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The central thesis is that Lee's offensive strategy, combined with overly complicated battle plans,led to the destruction of the Confederate Army and their inability to respond to Grant's offensive
strategy in '84 and '85. There is much evidence for the proposition that the offensive strategy bleed the Confederacy to the point where Lee was forced to retreat to Richmond. There is also much evidence to support the proposition that most of Lee's victories resulting in a higher percentage of casualties then suffered by the Union were phyric, at best. The most obvious fact is that the Union could absorb the losses and the South could not.
Whether a change in strategy would have resulted in a Confederate victory is an open question. However, given the political nature of the war, and the Northern war weariness, Lee's ability to continue to bleed the North could not have helped Lincoln get reelected.
Lee forgot that he did not have to win, just not lose. If there had been more Frederickburgs and less Chancellorvilles, both Lee "victories", Lee may have not lost. Bonekemper does a fine job bringing these issues to the forefront. If for only this reason, this is a worthwhile book.
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In his latest novel, Mr. Shaara introduces us to many of the Civil War's greatest leaders as they learn their craft under fire in Mexico. The book follows the exploits and deeds of one General Winfield Scott as he leads the campaign to defeat Santa Anna's army.
At his side is a young engineer, Capt. Robert E. Lee. Shaara's portrayal of Lee as a young officer, unsure of his untested abilities and his place in the command structure, is truly wonderful. It is a whole different Lee than the polished General of the Civil War. With each new mission Scott assigns him, we can see Lee grow and mature as an officer.
Many of the other men who would later become Generals are also with Lee in Mexico, Grant, Jackson, Meade, Johnston, Pickett, Longstreet, albeit as Lieutenants. They are not given the same in depth treatment as Lee, but already you can see their abilities developing for command.
General Scott and Santa Anna are also portrayed in manners rarely seen. Few modern Americans have heard of Scott, which is a shame since he was one of the best Generals in our early history. Santa Anna is usually mentioned only in conjunction with the Alamo, but here he is given a very fair treatment.
Overall I would say this book is every bit as good as the Shaaras' works on the Civil War. Once again Jeff Shaara has restored life to a long dead period of our nation's history.
Like his father before him who's book Killer Angels brought to life again the battle of Gettysbugh as seen through the eyes of some of the people found in Gone For Soilders. The characters are well fleshed out and the story moves along well. It should help bring more people to read up on Pre-Civil War America and some of the men whos names are covered in this fine novel.
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The first time I read this book I came away thinking that I learned something new. Then I tried talking to a few breeders and got the old... "You have been reading Clarke haven't you?".... Breeders recognise this book as being shallow and out of touch with the cannabis breeding community. I will give you my case for this comment too. Here are a few questions about this book I had after reading it. Why doesn't he go and site a few comments made by actual cannabis breeders or a case study from a known cannabis breeder? (Who are more than willing to talk about their work if you search on the internet). Why doesn't he actually tell us about the history of a famous strain? Why does this book seem very vague?? I guess the only reason he has not done this is because he has probably never wanted to listen to a real breeder talk about their work. He does talk about people like Warmke who did some research during World War 2, but nothing about the breeders of today. That should set off a few warning bells for you about this book. When I buy books like this I want to read about something substantial behind the theory. That never emerges.
If you want to learn about cannabis breeding then read about Gregor Mendel and follow this up by reading books on 'How to true breed traits in Dogs and Cats'. Any book on plant genetics and breeding will give you a much better insight into cannabis botany than this book will. Growers and breeders will only recommend this book for a quick scan and forget. Cannabis breeders use techniques that most common plant breeders do. This book is not good and not worth the hype. It even has a quote from some guy called Richard Evans Schultes-Director, Harvard Botanical Museum who says - "Robert Clarkes splendid effort will be widely appreciated. His Marijuana Botany will be constantly consulted by a wide variety of researchers in the years to come." Well unfortunately that prediction has been short lived. No good cannabis breeder will recommend this book to anyone who is serious about cannabis botany. It is out of touch with the market, out of touch with breeding techniques and out of touch with the growing community. This book is in a world of it's own.
ADVANCED. This is NOT the book to read if you have never grown or have no knowledge of basic concepts of growing marijuana. This is not a BASIC 'How-To' book. It says ADVANCED and it means just that! This is a study in ADVANCED MJ techniques and information of selective genetic manipulation and breeding. If you want an 'I just need to know how to grow herb.' book, DON'T BUY THIS ONE.
This book is amazingly easy to comprehend; if you are serious about learning all you can about the BOTANY aspect of cannabis. It does require a degree of concentration, and is not for people who wish to have a quick "fix" for a plant problem.
This is one of those books that ANY grower could benefit from having in their library.
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He isn't a bad director. He IS a bad writer, unless he is a master sandbagger.
I have been a Bruce Lee fan for more than 20 years so I naturally thought I would love this book. I didn't. It was one of the few books that I was unable to finish. After 125 pages, I just couldn't bear to have my intelligence insulted any longer. Neither will you.
Buy this for your 12 year old nephew who watches Kung Fu theatre and who takes Tae Kwon Do lessons at the YMCA. He will love it.
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It is valuable for the behind the scenes information and the great photographs. It is a story that needed to be told. It is valuable as a history, but nearly every sentence that Clouse penned is an insult to your intelligence.
I do recommend buying this book, however. Hopefully one day, Mr. Clouse will write the same story, except for grownups, and this sloppy, rushed, middle school kid version will be forgotten.
Most of the book is about the hurdles Clouse overcame producing the movie. Considering the obstacles he had, which included the budget, lighting, props, gang fights, and challenges toward Bruce, etc., he and Bruce did a remarkable job. The book is full of photographs, however there aren't any great pictures of Bruce that you probably haven't already seen.
Ted Weimann, author of Warrior Speed.
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Unfortunately, this one really loses its way about half way through its course. What starts out as an excellent outline of prehistoric human development devolves into a meandering, unrealistic plea for changing human behavior.
Of course, you could just ditch the second tape in the set and listen to the first cassette several times. It's quite good on its own.
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I'm disappointed too in the general trend for many historians to ever search and highlight as much negative as they can about our historical figures, especially military leaders.
It's easy to second guess and use modern beliefs to define the past. Blount (or anyone else for that matter go lead men in battle for four years) and then write your book.
No, these books -- essays, almost -- are introductions to, surveys of, key historical figures. The question shouldn't be, Did Blount give us all the answers about Lee? but rather, Has Blount painted a sharp enough portrait that we have a clear idea of who the man was, why he did what he did, and what impact his life had? I think the answer to that latter question is a decisive Yes.
Unlike Keegan and Johnson, Blount is not a professional historian. But he's done a fine job with a subject all biographers admit to be a man very difficult to get close to. This fact in itself forms part of Blount's theme, as he explores the roots of Lee's famous reserve and inapproachability. He largely avoids pop psychoanalysis -- when he wades into those waters, he tells us he's doing so -- and his insights seem to make sense.
I particularly appreciated the way Blount addressed the issue that defines (many, if not most) modern treatments of Lee: the question of whether he can justly be called a Great Man while having fought, if not explicitly for slavery itself, at least for a nation and a culture in which slavery played a central role. The fact that Blount sees nuances to the discussion, instead of making the absolute, unarguable, definitive statement "Lee = slavery = evil", may cause ideologues, or people who just don't know any better, to reject his reasonings entirely. But that would be their loss because this section, too, is rewarding reading.
I said this book is good pure biography. That's because Blount is an excellent writer and storyteller, as well as a fine presenter and interpreter of facts. As a "humorist," (I've always hated that term), he has a keen eye for the ridiculous, both in human behavior and in historians' more labored interpretations.
So, no, this isn't a scholarly, definitive, biography that will become the new gold standard in Civil War Studies. But as a highly readable thumbnail portrait of one of the most loved and reviled, admired, misunderstood, and dare I say, greatest, figures in American history, I think it will be hard to beat.
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Heinlein's troopers wore armored suits and carried weapons sufficient to destroy everything alive within several hundred yards. They had to pay attention when they got within half a mile of each other so they wouldn't wipe each other out. Not these fools, they have to fire a hundred rounds to kill one unarmed bug. Pathetic and unbelievable.
The original Starship Troopers spends half the book discussion moral philosophy of government, command structure of troops, and the morals of space exploration. This has none of that. What a waste.