I saw SUE in Chicago last week. In this book I learned that SUE was named after Susan who found the fossils. Susan had a dog named Gypsy. They kept on digging up duck-billed dinosaurs. Sue's boned weighed 4 tons!! The Field Museum bought it for over eight million dollars! SUE is a T.rex. I think that SUE did fight with other dinosaurs. SUE is 67 million years old! I was happy to see SUE in Chicago and to read this book!

Dinosaurs are a hot topic right now...and A Dinosaur Named Sue: The Find of the Century really teaches young kids about the job of a paleontologist--in a positive light. SUE, the most complete T. rex fossil ever found, is an amazing discovery, both educationally AND on basis of interest, and children should definitely read all they can about this dinosaur. This book approaches SUE on the level of a 3rd grader, yet the language and subject matter are intelligient enough for a parent to find interesting--maybe even to learn from! I definitely did!

A marvelous miniature, Yankee Doodle Dandy tells what at first blush is the story of Tod Sloan, an American jockey, who revolutionized horse racing by changing the way a jockey sat on the horse. (Prior to Sloan, riders sat comfortably on the horses back, ramrod straight. Sloan leaned forward over the horses withers, leaned over the horses neck.) His innovation initially met with jeers and scoffing from the traditional race crowd, but within less than 5 years, nearly every jockey had adopted the technique. There was no arguing with Sloan's success. Winning two, three, four and even five races at tracks featuring an average of seven races daily, Sloan's new technique, coupled with his remarkable sense of pace and often brilliant strategies, was unstoppable.

By following Tod Sloan's career we are given a vivid tour of the U.S. and England in the latter 19th century, from the life of the lowliest stableboy, to glimpses of the English royalty. We also witness the last gasp of British "imperialism" in its Jockey Club barring Sloan from ever applying for his license again. His infraction, suspected gambling, had never been cause for such a stringent punishment before. But, as Dizikes points out, there had never been anyone quite like Sloan before either. A brash American sportsman, spendthrift, ladies man, vaudevillian (briefly), he was the first sports superstar.

A short, masterful evocation of a uniquely American life, Yankee Doodle Dandy is a great ride!

You may not know who Tod Sloan was, but after reading _Yankee Doodle Dandy: The Life and Times of Tod Sloan_ (Yale University Press) by John Dizikes, you will understand that Sloan was as important to his sport as Babe Ruth was to his. You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy this book; it is full of racing, but it is full of history and many Gilded Age politicos and capitalists wander through its pages. It covers the rise and fall of Sloan, who introduced the way we all have seen jockeys riding their mounts, forward on the saddles, almost hugging their necks. Before Sloan invented this position, all rode back in the saddle and upright. Sloan introduced the "forward seat," and he won with it, causing a revolution in racing. Many didn't like the new style, but took to it when it won. Many didn't like Sloan. He became a crowd pleaser, and his dandified dress in miniature, his constantly smoking a cigar "as big as a policeman's club," his inability to let others take the tab, and his eagerness with women made him a star of the sport.

Sloan's success was not just due to his gimmick. He was a skilled jockey. He was known for quick starts and blazing finishes. His judgement of pace was unequalled. Horses that had not performed well would succeed under his control. They knew his voice; a trainer said, "When Sloan enters the paddock, horses that he has ridden recognize his voice and turn to look at him."

But Sloan made such a spectacle of himself that he was resented by some members of the British racing establishment, even though he had occasionally been tapped by the Prince of Wales to ride royal mounts. A minor betting incident, not a big deal at the time, led to his being exiled from the sport he had revolutionized. Sadly, his drinking and gambling ruined his two marriages and any business prospects, and he would up as a ticket taker at a race track in Tijuana.

Dizikes's readable book is a beguiling history of racing as it used to be, illuminating a good deal about the history of racing, and the attempts to regulate it, and make it fair. It also is a little parable about what can happen to revolutionaries.

After completing The Barnabas Way, I felt compelled to accomplish three tasks with some dispatch: to read it again, to jot the author a thank you note and to buy another copy to send along with the note, asking the author to inscribe it to my best friend.

In a time when bookshelves are crowded with variations on the "what's in it for me?" philosophy of the spiritual life, Mr. Sloan answers that question elegantly by refusing to recognize it as the appropriate question. He declines to preach or promise; instead, he points the reader to Barnabas, illuminating his hero's story with contemporary illustrations that bring him to life. In so doing, he allows us to see for ourselves the way to "an unexpected path to God."

To read this deceptively slim volume is to be reminded that "what's in it for me?" is far richer than we suppose, that it's available to all of us and that the path to it diverges from what many of us assume. Barnabas and his modern descendants put feet and hands to the revolutionary ideas about who and how God loves that Phillip Yancey makes clear in What's So Amazing About Grace.

Until reading this book, I was wholly unaware of efforts by General Motors' lawyers to prevent the publication of Sloan's memoir My Years with General Motors which is generally considered one of the most important business books ever written. McDonald was Sloan's ghost writer (hence the dual meaning of the book's title) and provides a compelling account of how and why the book was finally published in 1963. McDonald suggests that a study in 1921 (discussed in Sloan's memoir) recommended "covering" all prospective buyers of automobiles by designing, manufacturing, and marketing a complete line for various "price steps." In that event, GM lawyers feared, federal regulatory agencies would become involved and seek to dismantle what could be perceived as a monopoly. In 1962, McDonald initiated a lawsuit against GM. He was at that time still employed by Fortune magazine. Almost immediately, Time Inc. "entered the game", fearing loss of GM advertising. It would be a disservice to both McDonald and to those who read this review to reveal what happened next. To my surprise, the book became a "page turner" and remained so to its conclusion. McDonald tells a lively story with colorful characters, a complicated plot, all manner of crises and conflicts, subtle (and not-so-subtle) manipulations, and conflicts of interests while -- along the way -- examining a legal system exploited but which ultimately prevailed. A great read.

Actually I haven't read the book. I just want to buy a book about gas hydrates. However, before I want to buy any book from amazon.com, I want to know what contents it covers. But I can find any information about this book here. Can someone help me? Thanks.

This book, transcribed by Sloan's wife (who was a former student of his), reads something like a working notebook at times, but, if you are a serious student of art (as every working artist should be), there are sentences in this book worth digesting over and over again. You might not agree with everything Sloan says, but there is an obvious strength here, built during a lifetime of study and teaching. Sloan was yet another great teacher from the Art Student's League (other teachers included Bridgeman, Hale, and Nicolaides who published significant books of their own), and one of the major painters of the Ashcan school of painting. I'm grateful for this book and wish that there were dozens more written by other significant painters.

The mystery of Swiss wines uncovered at last

By way of introduction to this book review I will start out with some brief comments about how I came across "The Surprising Wines of Switzerland", the background for preparing the review, and some observations about the author John Sloan.

Like John, my interest in Swiss wines developed after being transferred to Geneva as part of the international expatriate community. Unlike John, I stayed. In pursuit of my passion for fine wine, and to further develop my knowledge of Swiss wines in particular, I became a member of the Swiss wine association, the "Jeunesse Viti-vinicole de La Côte". La Côte is a Swiss wine region in the Canton of Vaud that extends some 45 km along the shores of lake Geneva (actually lac léman to give it's true name), from the border of Geneva towards Lausanne.

Being the only computer professional in this group of wine professionals, I assumed responsibility for establishing and maintaining the Internet web site for the wine association. The web site now includes a section devoted to books, magazines and other publications dealing with the subject of Swiss wine. In researching the available titles and sources of information to be included in the web site I came across this book by John Sloan. John is a Canadian diplomat who served 4 years at the Canadian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva and is now based in Tokyo. His book, "The Surprising Wines of Switzerland", first published in 1995, is the only authoritative book on Swiss wine currently available in the English language.

Before giving my own comments on the book, let me provide some comments made by leading wine critics and journalists :

"Switzerland is producing a far wider range of wines than the casual visitor to the ski slopes might imagine.... The problem for outsiders is finding more information.... Canadian Diplomat John C. Sloan has written and published an admirably thorough ... guide, The Surprising Wines of Switzerland.... Jancis Robinson THE FINANCIAL TIMES

"The book is in no way a compliant tourist brochure. In 280 pages, he addresses the various facets of Swiss wines, from their history to their vinification processes via a description of the vineyards, the grape varieties, a selection of the best producers.... He should, by default, become an ambassador to the English speaking world." Cristian Bernet JOURNAL DE GENÈVE

"John C. Sloan describes Swiss wines in their broadest context; their history and the landscape, the science of wine making, folklore, little-known facts and tasting notes are all reported as thoroughly as those who make our wine could do. Criticism, where appropriate, is not missing. I can recommend this book with confidence." Hanns U. Christen (-sten) BASEL ZEITUNG from the German

To the above "expert" reviews I would now like to add my own personal comments. To start with I will refer back to the title of this review - "The mystery of Swiss wines uncovered at last". Why the title? Because, when reviewing other available wine books such as Sotheby's Encyclopaedia of Wine, any reference to Swiss wines is usually limited to a few lines that state something to the effect that the majority of Swiss wines are usually comprised of Chasselas, a white neutral wine, lacking in distinctive taste, rarely exported, and designed to accommodate local Swiss taste as an aperitif or to enjoy with Swiss cheese fondu. This does not exactly stimulate the informed wine connoisseur to seriously pursue the exploration of Swiss wine. However, John Sloan, through his extensive research, interviews, and visits with wine makers throughout Switzerland, has prepared the first comprehensive and authoritative work on this subject which is reflected both in the title of the book, and the accompanying sub-title "A practical guide to Switzerland's best kept secret".

What are the secrets? There are so many that only reading the book will reveal all. But just to give some insight, few people know that Switzerland is host to the highest commercial vineyards in Europe located at Vispertermin in the Canton of Valais. Here you will find wines made from the Heida and the Rèze grapes. Heida has been grown since the middle ages and there are references to this wine dating back to 1586. The Rèze is another one of the oldest and increasingly rare speciality wines of Valais. It is used as a foundation for the sherry-like "Vin des Glaciers". Then there are the wines made from the Petit Arvine, the Amigne, and the Findling grape which is a Müller-Thurgau clone found in Geneva. The wide diversity of grapes provides the reader with an abundance of opportunities to explore and enjoy some of the unique wines of this remarkable wine producing country. Even the much maligned Chasselas, which in France is enjoyed as a table grape, provides wines that are as distinctive as the wine regions that produce them. The neutrality of the grape enables the wine maker the opportunity to express the "terroir" (soil and climate) of the region, and even the vineyard, that it is grown.

I heartily recommend this book. The reader will not only discover Swiss wines, but will also learn a great deal about the Swiss wine regions, the grape varieties, wine making styles, future trends for Swiss wines and not forgetting the "Fête des Vignerons" which seems to be the world's largest and oldest wine festival. The "Fête" held every 25 years in Vevey near Montreux, has continued without break since the 1700's. The wine festival is celebrated in music, dance and parades, plus wine tastings of course, involving up to 40'000 participants seen by some 500'000 visitors over several days.

In closing I can do no better than echo the words of John Sloan from his introduction to this book. Swiss wines are generally not well known beyond the borders of Switzerland. They certainly deserve a wider, international appreciation. Wine lovers, in their never-ending search for fine wines which are novel, uncommon or singular can profitably investigate the varied offerings from Switzerland's alpine vineyards. "The Surprising Wines of Switzerland" is a welcome addition to the library of all wine enthusiasts.

philipweights@yahoo.com Geneva April 3, 2000

When I first opened the book, I did not understand all the trials and tribulations a Black man had to go through during that time period. After reading all of the detailed pages, I didn't only understand the book, I became a part of it. In this book, he not only speaks of the troubles he went through, but he speaks for thousands of other Black men and women who endured racial societal discrimination. I rate this book a "Must Read."

My grandad was Sgt. "bay" Garrison. He won 2 bronze stars & told me unbelievable horror stories about his time in Italy. He was with 88th,351st co.G for the entire campaign & lost 3 of his best "buddies". The history of the 88th that he related to us was different from what this author claims is history. The language in this book is that of an academic & is totally unlike the language used by the men who fought & died in Italy. The author turned one of the most horrible & incredible campaigns of WW2 into a dry, technical list of facts. Some of the most ridiculous inclusions: 2 mathematically equations design to prove that the 88th wasn't inferior to the Germans, several pictures of generals, extensive discussion & misleadingly detailed charts about about equipment(Granddad said he would grab weapons from dead GIs & sometimes German & what good are all the trucks if they are bogged down in mud & mules were, literally, a life saver). Rather than focusing on the men who died & what history they were experiencing, the author mistakenly focused on the generals & then he had the audacity/stupidity to declare how he took every measure to be accurate...well, he was far from accurate & seems to have totally missed the history of the 88th, for it was not with the men who sat well behind lines in warm beds/food. The history of the 88th occured in the foxholes where the men fought under unbelievable circumstance. All of this is lost on the author of this book. My granddad said many times how 15 minutes of combat is more than enough(he logged over 180 days on the front lines). This author needs that 15 minutes. His view of the 88th would do an about face. Worse, his facts aren't correct. p51"rationing never proved a serious problem...." Grandad said many times how he would go without food/water for days while on patrol or mission. The author seems to be in denial about the men whose lives ended & whose families were destroyed since he doesn't document any of that history. My advice to the author: read Stephen Ambrose, study his philosophy/literary style, & imitate it & maybe then you can claim to have produced an accurate history

Why so good? First of all, the author points out that leadership was a prime factor in the success of the 88th Infantry division. The first men came primarily from the New England area and after a very successful participation in Louisiana Manuevers the ranks were filled with Texans mostly the Tex/Mex. The men from the Northeast were as a rule well educated, many with college degrees, While the Texans at that time had not had the same educational opportunities. As Brown points out the comination of the jelled and when the 88th went into action it was recognized immediately as as the leading division in the breakthrough of the Gustav Line and the leaders of the First 5th Army troops to enter Rome. Brown continually points out the leadership of the Jr. Officers and the fighting ability of the Texans. The outfit went overseas as the Cloverleaf division which was changed quickly by Axis Sally to "BLUE DEVILS" a name that has never been relinquished. The 88th continued its march all the way to the Brenner pass where it joined up with the 7th Army, HERO an Historical Organization of evaluations of Infantry Divisions rated it fifth amongst the Infantry Divisions in the EAME Theater only ranking behind 4 German Divisions and well above any other American Division. Again Brown continues emphasizing leader ship. The book has many technical aspects and is not always easy reading but at the same time he brings the officers and men into an unbeatable team

While most US division where pre-war regular Army, or National Guard formations the 88th was formed from manpower pool the draft produced. The author has a personal connection to the division (his father commanded it), and tells its story with a great level of detail. While the story is not as colorful as some of the Guard formations (books on the 29th, 45th and 30th have more of a regional flavor) it still covered some new ground about these unique formations. If the reader is familiar with the Army's WWII manpower and unit/personnel formation policies, some parts of the begining of the book can be skipped.

Book is too massive to hold while reading. Pages not sequential due to frequent insertions of other articles and reproductions. Good nautical history but doesn't flow . A difficult read and practically impossible in bed.

"America and the Sea" is a magnificent study of our maritime history. It is magnificent in breadth starting with Norse settlements in North America and continuing through the end of the 20th Century. It is magnificent in depth as it delves deeply into key areas of historical importance. With numerous vignettes, the authors are joined by others in capturing detailed views of people and events that make history come alive. It is magnificent in presentation as it uses colorful illustrations and pictures, many with captions that are history lessons in themselves.

Writen by several of our nation's pre-eminent maritime scholars, "America and the Sea" successfully blends together our naval history with the more traditional view of maritime history.

While handsome (and large) enough to be a coffee-table book, it would be a shame if that were its only use. "America and the Sea" should be read time and time again by all who have an interes! t in our nation's history.