Insidious, he certainly is. Yes, he certainly is insidious. And to think he's a doctor, as well!

Fu Manchu is an outdated, appallingly politically-incorrect criminal mastermind who, in this intro to the author's famous series, basically goes on a killing spree to eliminate anyone even remotely threatening his plans for world domination. This simple plot device creates a fast-moving romp, but it does mean that brave and noble protagonist Nayland Smith, teamed with Petrie, the story's narrator, is mostly on defense throughout. If they are not trying to prevent a murder, then they are trying to solve a murder that has been done in some exotic way dreamed up by the elusive Fu. There are scads of locked-room or related scenarios popping up like done toast all through the story, and the reader is usually trying, along with Smith and Petrie, to figure out what poisonous creature got loosed in a dead fellow's study, or what trained killer, human or beast, made those weird marks out on the windowsill, three floors up.

Meanwhile, Fu Manchu is thankfully not one of those megalomaniacs who blindly trusts his lackeys to do all the dirty work; the big man himself is occasionally "on site" meaning the heroes can try to put the grab on him before he pulls a vanishing act. He is adept at slipping away, though, and has a knack for disguise. But the best parts of the book are arguably when Fu Manchu is directly confronting the heroes, sometimes when he's got them helpless.

So the book is essentially a frenzied cat-and-mouse game, not much slower than air whooshing out of a bellows. The better to tempt you on to the next installment, I suppose. For sex appeal, there is the good-guys' help on the inside: beautiful and exotic Karamaneh, she of the curves, who emerges from disguise, or the shadows, just long enough to intoxicate our narrator with her charms, and pass along snippets of info that keep Smith and Petrie on her master's trail. But--can she be trusted, or is Fu Manchu's hold on her too great? Once it becomes clear just how the evil genius keeps her in thrall, naturally our noble do-gooders seek to set her free.

This plot twist, among others, speeds us to our conclusion, where finally our staunch defenders of the free (that means British) world manage to go, definitively, on the offensive. A shame their own sense of honour, even in the face of a master villain, keeps them from fighting dirty, while said villain has no such qualms. The lesson: don't get stuck in such a position where you have promised Fu Manchu you'll put your gun down, because if you're an English Gentleman, you'll have to keep that oath (or feel just terrible about yourself later that night...assuming you survived after putting your gun down and hoping Fu's henchman will drop his knife).

Lots of thrills, a world famous villain, loads of politically incorrect descriptions of various races, murders and deathtraps, opium and assassination. It's all here, waiting to be breezed through before you have time to really pick at it.

I must say that I blush in confessing that reading this book gave me the chills.

One way to gauge a story is by the force of antagonism raised against the hero. In this book, the force of antagonism is perfectly ominous, artfully deadly, and rancidly horrific--the Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu rouses high expectations, and chapter after chapter it exceeds them. Everything that you would want from a mystery/suspense/action/adventure novel is here in this book, and it is here in high doses.

Brimming with intrigue, romance, mystery, murder, mayhem, zaps, traps, pitfalls, poisons, hair-breadth escapes and miraculous revivals, the 'Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu' grabs you from the start and doesn't let you go 'til the end, and by that time you're so intoxicated from the deep pleasure this book has provided that you either A: Read this book again, and/or B: Yearn to get your hands on copies of the next books in the series (which, unfortunately, are hard to come by these days).

Have I mentioned that this book gave me the chills? Chills, thrills, and the greatest of heart-pounding, nail-biting, deviously sublime episodes of reading you'll ever have. Great fun!

Sax Rohmer dabbled in various types of writing but he is today best remembered for creating one of literature's great villains,Doctor Fu Manchu. Basically a product of the early 20th Century its fixation on saving the West from the "Yellow Peril" from the East might rile those suffering from political correctness. The stories though and some of their attitudes were not just Rohmer's but reflected his time's and its thinking (even among the so-called enlightened). Most folks though will by pass intellectual verbage and take these tales for what they are- grand old fashioned adventures. Inspector Nayland Smith matches both wits and brawn with with Doctor Fu Manchu to foil his various attempts at world conquest. The chase spans the globe and the action rarely pauses for breath. Rohmer's writing style is crisp and no nonsense just like his characters. All in all a great times and if you like this one there are plenty of others to satisfy your appetite.

I own an earlier edition that was more detailed and expansive, while this newer edition appears to be more vague. The sections of Ethnicity and Religion used to be more interesting as sections called Minority Rights (showing the various minorities of the world and their varied types of struggle), while the religion section told us the religions that were followed and their variants. This has been changed and not for the better. The sections on women are somewhat bigger and better however as we get to see Women Working and Mothers Working which would have helped the last edition. The economic indicators have also been changed, but not for the better as things are more vague. The US, UK, and Japan have a similar Stock Market value we are led to believe (as they all exceed 1 trillion dollars, but this is obvious. Shouldn't the US be in a class of its own in this regard? The book has a European perspective which I can appreciate as I am tired of the American perspective which I've grown up on, but I was actually looking for a more global perspective. Still though, this is a one of kind source for this sort of information for those of us looking for a quick look at how the world is today. I'd recommend it until something better comes along or they take some of the old and some of the new and do a better job with the next edition.

Every social scientist should have this book in his bookshelf. The book clearly conveys a broad array of data in a simple way (graphics), that enables you to retain the information for longer periods of time. Also, issues such as gender equality, pollution and genetically-growned food are included in this atlas.

This book is very informative, yet concise. I was looking for an atlas that would provide a good amount of information to get the "big picture" of countries. This one does it for me. The only other one I was considering (from The Economist) was not in stock. In retrospect, this might be better. Well, we'll call it a tie.

For most Hellenes and many Orthodox-Church followers the Asia Minor Catastrophe is only second to the Fall of Constantinople. The description of an event of such an historic dimension is by itself a riveting story even to a party that is rather unfamiliar with the larger episodes that surround it. This by no means reduces the quality of unrivalled research and scholarship displayed by the author. The enthralling text itself is written using a conventional yet fine diplomatic style that is most enjoyable.

This book, together with other historic references to this calamity, clearly shows that the involvement of the Great Powers in Asia Minor was turned out to be of paramount significance in influencing the events of that period. Furthermore, this 'involvement', as often it is the case with history, it has continued for many years, indeed up to the modern times, to cast its inexorable shadow to the future of an area that, for millennia, has been an integral part of the cradle of the Western civilisation.

The main criticism is that it is rather surprising that such a detailed, well-presented and balanced piece of work, dedicated in describing the Minor Asia disaster itself, does not include further information pertinent to what it is largely considered to be as the highlight of this affair: the Destruction of Smyrna. Indeed, it feels rather appropriate that a whole chapter should have been dedicated to this particular event not just in order to commemorate the magnitude of human loss and drama that took place but, equally as important, to throw more light as to the reason(s) why such an important and vibrant Mediterranean port should be totally left to the menace of an avenging army.

In the period from mid 1921 to the day when Smyrna was destroyed what was the position of the Americans? Furthermore, was there ever a point during the aforementioned period where the British government, unequivocally, made it 'crystal clear' to the Greeks that no aid of any sort will be forthcoming?

Finally, are there any plans for the book to be translated in other languages such as Greek, Turkish, French etc?

This book tells a rarely told story about one of the greatest human catastrophes of the 20th century - the destruction in 1922 of the Greek Community in Asia Minor by the Ottoman Turks. The story of the destruction of a community which had lived in the West Coast of today's Turkey since before the time of Homer. I say, "rarely told" because it is story that is indeed "rarely told" to anyone who is not Greek or Turkish. The author, Michael Llewellyn Smith, does an extraordinary and, I might add, well- balanced job in telling this fascinating story to the English-speaking world.

In a gripping narrative, coupled with unequalled scholarship and detail, this book tells the tragic story of Greece's ill-fated dream for a "Greater Greece" - the Greek Irredentist Passion of the early twentieth century - and the fascinating characters, English, Greek and Turkish (among others) who played profound roles in shaping of this story. The dream of a joint Anglo-Greek Entente in the eastern Mediterranean - a dream shared by Prime Minister Lloyd George of England and Eleftherios Venizelos of Greece, which ended on the bloody and burnt quays of Smyrna in 1922 and haunts the psyche of every Greek to this very day.

To all readers who are interested in the history of 20th-century Greece, this book ,along with Mark Mazower's "Inside Hitler's Greece", is required reading.

As an aside, in the paperback edition, on page 31, there is a description of some "ethnic cleansing" committed by the Turks on "Old Phocea" - "a seaside town of about 9000 inhabitants, in June 1914". As I read the description, my heart began to beat rapidly. My father - aged seven months at the time - was one of those who survived. I suppose I am here to write these few words, all these many years later, because he did, in fact, survive.

Lovers of well written and accurate history will love this book!

I started reading this book on a lark and quickly became enthralled with it. It explores a subject I have previously only vaguely heard about, the Greek "Asia-Minor catastrophe", which led to the expulsion from Turkey of 1.2 million Greek Christians, many of whose ancestors had lived in Asia Minor for the millenia since the Hellenistic era.

The Greeks, egged on by the British, who had promised them "valuable territorial consideration" for their allegiance to the victorious allies in World War I, occupied - pursuant to the Treaty of Sevres - the region of Asia Minor surrounding the ancient Greek city of Smyrna on the Aegean Sea. The ostensible reason for this occupation was to protect the largely Greek population of Smyrna from the rise of Turkish nationalism associated with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. However, underlying the expansion to Smyrna was the dream of uniting all of the millions of Greeks living under foreign powers (from Cyprus to Rhodes to Smyrna to Constantinople and the Black Sea region of Pontus) into the Greek nation. This idea of a resurrected "Greater Greece" was appealing as well to many European Hellenophiles, particularly the British.

What happened to wreck the dream of a "Greater Greece" - a Greek state incorporating the predominantly Greek regions of the former Ottoman Empire (perhaps even including Constantinople) - is immensely complicated, but an oversimplified explanation is as follows: After the Greek political party which had championed the Smyrna/Greater Greece cause lost the election, and the British (who favored the losing party and were in any event seeking an accomodation with the Turks) withdrew all economic and military support for the operation, the Greek army was gradually forced to abandon Asia Minor, leading to the uprooting of the Greek populations of all parts of Turkey, who were "exchanged" for much of the Turkish populace of Greece, in perhaps the largest internationally-sanctioned "ethnic cleansing" in modern history. The ensuing economic and sociological catastrophe devastated Greece, reducing the country to virtually a Third World status from which it did not emerge for generations, and cast a pall over its politics through the late 20th century. It has also left the Greeks with a profound sense of betrayal by Britain.

Llewellyn Smith, formerly British ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, has written a reasoned and balanced account of the forces underlying the catastrophe. His writing style is entertaining, and he includes fascinating insights into the Byzantine deal-making which occurred behind the scenes, and which involved not only the fascinating post-WWI leaders of Greece and the other allied countries, but also the glamorous Greek international jet-set of the time, whose wealth, influence and entree in British society was ultimately of no avail, but whose occasional appearances lend the story some romantic appeal.

Ionian Vision is a worthwhile book for anyone with an interest in history. The story is particularly relevant in light of the present situation in the Baltic countries, where the Christian versus Muslim ethnic rivalries left over from the Ottoman Empire are still turning neighbor against neighbor and destroying nations.

Plot seems unoriginal and story ends abruptly, and characters seemed to lack complexity, but I appreciated two aspects: (1) this novel recognizes a discontent and distrust of power in America and shows how it might be tapped; and (2) this novel presents the idea that if people believe in a person's message, that message can start to become reality even if the originator leaves the scene.

I can't say this book is a masterpiece, but I can bet it will soon be made into a movie. It has everything a Hollywood blockbuster needs. It has the sexy anchorwoman, rugged FBI agent who doesn't always play by the rules, and ,of course, the extremely intelligent mad man bent on mass destruction. Not turning this book into a blockbuster movie would be a crime.

This is one of the best books I've read in along time. The use of the News Media is so close to the possible truth it is frightening. I am waiting impatiently for the sequel,which I hope is to be written or released soon. Thank You Mr.Smith for an thoughly enjoyable 24 hours.

This book does a very good job of telling the story of a very minor piece of scientific research, the discovery of yet another species of large dinosaur (of which there are many) and the geological context in which it may have lived. Thus, as science, it is small potatoes. It does, however, cast the tale in the midst of a good review of elementary geology and paleontology, and consequently, should be accessible even to those who the read the book starting in complete ignorance of those fields. It fails to credit the Alvarezes (a physicist and a geologist) by name for finding out what happened to the dinosaurs, but that may only be the paleonotologist's resentment at having their best puzzle stolen from them by a physicist who didn't dug up so much as a single fossilized bone.

Overall, this is a book for fifteen year olds, but it is a good one.

"The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt" is the fascinating account of the rediscovery of the work of a German paleontologist in Egypt. Just prior to First World War, Ernst Stromer, a Bavarian aristocrat, made a remarkable discovery in a particularly inhospitable region of Egypt: the fossil remains of three different huge carnivorous dinosaurs. Painstakingly reassembled in Munich, they were destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in 1944. In 2000, a group of young American scientists returned to the area where Stromer had worked, unvisited by paleontologists in the intervening nine decades, and there discovered bones of what is believed to be the second-largest dinosaur ever, an 80 ton plant-eating behemoth.

The book juxtaposes these two stories in an entertaining and informative way. Ernst Freiherr Stromer von Reichenbach of Nuremberg arrived in Egypt and headed off to his dig with four boxes of water, a handful of camels, a Bohemian assistant who was not feeling very well but knew about collecting bones, an Egyptian in charge of the camels and their drivers and a cook. Stromer was looking for evidence of early mammals but instead stumbled onto an unknown and important dinosaur graveyard. He was correct and precise and meticulous and quite brilliant. With his little band he made amazing discoveries but the coming war overshadowed everything. The Bohemian assistant died and the cases of fossils, damaged by inept handling, did not reach the now-impoverished Stromer until 1922. For the next twelve years he wrote up wonderful monographs on his Egyptian dinosaurs. One of them, Spinosaurus, looked like a giant T-Rex with a sail on its back. But only the monographs survived the bombing raid. Stromer was a respected man of science but did not suffer fools. It appears that his opposition to the Nazi regime came with a heavy price as two of his three sons died in the war, and the third son was a Russian POW for six years. He himself was twice threatened with deportation to a concentration camp for urging the removal of the natural history collection in Munich to a safer location. After his death in 1952, he and the wonderful dinosaurs seem to have been forgotten.

The time, but not the scene, switches and we enjoy reading about the antics of a group of enthusiastic young Americans, paleontologists and geologists, who decided to mount an expedition to the same Bahariya Depression where Stromer went. But this is a an expedition in a different century, and the group travelled with Land Rovers and GPS equipment and a film crew and actually stayed in a rustic hotel near the dig rather than in a ready-to-blow-away tent that served for Stromer. But besides their somewhat better equipment-it still seems to come down to picks and shovels and hard physical labour-the group brought an interdisciplinary approach and the advantages of nine decades of additional science and understanding. Part of the interest in the newer story is the importance that the group places in trying to understand what kind of environment the dinosaurs of the time faced.

The book conveys the excitement of an expedition very well. First there is the hassle of fund-raising and then the irritation of all the paperwork and the physical discomforts and the fruitless searching. But then there are breakthroughs, sometimes lucky, and then there is the ultimate detective work of adding up all the little shards and scraps and a 5 foot long humerus and some rock profiles and coming up with an answer to what this all means.

One of the great riddles posed by Stromer's finds was how three large types of carnivores could co-exist. This discovery of the huge herbivore answered this question nicely. But the book also makes the important point that very little is really known about dinosaurs since the fossil record is so incomplete. I was astonished to learn that fewer than 500 species of dinosaur have been definitively identified, amazingly few for the millions of years they existed on earth. As a comparison, there are about 330 known species of in the parrot family alone!

The authors do not mention that fact that the number of field paleontologists is minute and that the startling discoveries of the last decades have been the result of dedicated work by only a handful of people around the world. "The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt" tells an exciting story while recognizing the accomplishments of the past and would be a fine addition to the library of any student considering a career in this field.

To digress, this is not a book for specialists but that is not to condemn it in any way. "Popular science" is a genre that is often sniffed at but there is a huge demand to be filled. At a time when 18 percent of Americans 18-24 years of age cannot even identify where the United States is on a map, anything that arouses intellectual curiosity should be welcomed. That this book is simply-written and provides a summary of the history of paleontolgy is a good thing; that it was filmed and turned into a television documentary even better.

It is to the credit of the team of Americans that they have recognized the achievements of their predecessor in the desert in a particularly apt way. The prepared bones of the giant herbivore will return to Egypt, where they will be displayed with the creature's newly-assigned name: Paralititan stromeri.

This book is absolutely great reading. What it makes the book very interesting is the dual story. There is always a very good alternation of passages which describe Ernst Stromers expedition in 1912-14 to the Baharia Oasis (Egypt) on the one hand and the recent expedition of Josh Smith on the other hand.
Apart from this it is told a piece of paleontology which has been nearly "forgotten" although Baharia has been the origin of very unique predatory dinosaur species. In the years of 1912-14 Stromer excavated bones of three big theropods: Spinosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus and Bahariyasaurus. As a continuation of this story which has been sleeping for so many years we get to know how Josh Smiths team has solved the riddle Stromer left: the discovery of a huge plant-eating new dinosaur species: Paralititan. For everybody who is interested in an entertaining story on straight field paleontology I can recommend this book.

The book additionally contains 2 very fine passages with b/w photos. The first one shows photos and the well known monographs from Stromer while the second one shows impressions from Josh Smiths expedition. The second passage also contains two very fine life restorations and skeletal reconstructions of Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus as well as of the new discovered Paralititan.

When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be a "sugar coated" writing by one more musical artist, trying to wax eloquant, when actually doing little more than delivering a half-hearted self-gloification piece. Not so with M.Smith's book. Granted, his true talent is better captured in both his songwriting and his vioce, the book never the less delivers a well thought out message. It is clear from the book, Michael dearly loves those he sings for. His inspiration comes from God, his reward is evidenced in his acknowledging the impact his songs have had on others. While M.Smith writes about the impact, he also reminds us how music can both bring us closer to God and to strengthen our relationship with Him. M.Smith takes us beyond the comfort of being a mere listener of music, he wants us to see music as a way of advancing the Gospel but also as a ministry unto itself.

It's Time to Be Bold is an excellent read for anyone who wants to believe in and preach the Bible, but feels it is irrevelant to today. Through personal stories of his own and those of his fans, Michael W. Smith creates word pictures never thought of before. You will see church as the best hang-out on earth and the Bible as awesome as any romance or action novel. The bottom line: Smith is real. He realizes that young Christians need to evangelize more than ever in today's society and that with a few basic rules you can do it. This is a must read and, believe it or not, even more inspiring than many of his songs!

This book has many spritual messages for young and old alike. Based on some of Michael's own life experiences, he gives incredible first impressions about his experiences and touches the heart of the reader. You too will find it "It's Time To Be Bold" to stand up to face the challenges that life seems to present. Some of his experiences are near the same things I went through and can relate to. He really spoke what was on his heart and touches the reader.

"The Ortho Problem Solver" is a wonderful reference book on pests, fungus', etc and controlling them with inorganic methods. Of course, Ortho is not known for organic pest control, but I still feel that maybe they should include this information considering that many that wish to control certain pests also live in wildlife areas--such as areas where there are birds, or are environmentalists or oriented towards this area when it comes to certain issues such as vegetables and fruit.

Environmentally correct methods do often work. Some will do nothing about pests no matter what because they fear any interruption in the wildlife.

I purchased the book because of the information it has in a variety of other areas--soil PH, lists of pests/fungus/other and photos of the damage they do, and overall general information. It is a very interesting and comprehensive reference book. It has a good layout with several sections.

Having just completed training in the Master Gardener program in our state, I found that I still needed a better visual reference to correctly identify garden problems. Recently, while shopping for a pesticide, I was able to pinpoint my exact problem because the store had prominently displayed a copy of "The Ortho Problem Solver" by Michael D. Smith! Its brilliant photographs and easy to understand narratives were surpassed only by its explicit and wonderfully cross-referenced index feature. I was unable to tear myself away - and kept calling my husband over to help me remember photos for later diagnosis at home.

As a serious photographer, I was able to appreciate the clarity and specificity of the photographs - and as a gardener, I was determined to own my own copy of this book immediately! (I will only be disappointed with this purchase if a newer version of the book is published before I receive my copy!)

This book is the best source I have found to help diagnose plant problems. The fifth edition has better color pictures than previous editions, and it is wider to allow more space for the pictures and writing. Of course, since it is an Ortho book, the product recommendations are for Ortho products. However, this gives the reader a clear indication of the type of compound they should consider for control. Well worth the money for the avid gardener.

The author is a British chef who was the culinary advisor to the PBS Masterpiece Theater series "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "The Duchess of Duke Street." The first 80 pages contain information about tea -- its history, how to make it, how to serve it, the names and uses of every type of implement, and so on. The subsequent 174 pages consist of recipes, and are followed by 15 pages of index. The entire book is sprinkled with amusing anecdotes, some from his childhood.

I found the book fascinating, but I don't know that I'll ever try any of the recipes. These are authentic British recipes (this man has cookbooks dating from the 1700's, and he quotes from them!). The recipes have all been updated for the modern American kitchen and are easy to follow, but I'm not sure how many will appeal to American tastes. I know I'll never convince my family and friends to eat sandwiches containing minced tongue! I couldn't wait to check out the recipes on potted meat because I'd read about it so many times in novels, but discovered it's boiled, shredded meat turned into a paste via melted butter! And there are 8 different potted meat recipes!

If you are interested in history, authenticity, and details, this is the book for you. If, on the other hand, you just want to have a lovely party with foods that more Americans are familiar with, try "Tea with Friends" by Elizabeth Knight (for how to give a tea party), and "The Book of Afternoon Tea" by Lesley Mackley or "Totally Teatime Cookbook" by Helene Siegel (for recipes).

Over all, I thought it was a good book. But if you are looking for ideas on how to throw your own tea parties, this probably isn't what you want (SEE "Tea with Friends," "Country Tea Parties," and "If Teacups Could Talk"). If you are looking for a history lesson on tea (first 81 pages) and a whole ton of recipes (next 178 pages) then this is your book. Or, if you are looking for a lot of tea recipes, it is well worth your money to buy this book (I would take it back if it didn't have all those recipes!) This book reads like a history book, and me having little interest in history, found this part of the book a little boring, but it is a wealth of knowledge on the subject and has tons of useful recipes.

As far as I'm concerned, this book is the definitive book on tea, its history, and authentic tea-time recipes. Many of the recipes may not seem appealing to our American palates, but they are nonetheless authentically British. The author shares a wealthy of knowledge on the history of tea, tea customs and maners, as well as a robust section of recipes. If you're interested in having an "authentic" tea, you can't possibly go wrong in purchasing this book!

Evans' training methods are midieval, at best. The current world of dog training boasts many methods, some effective, some not, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, rarely these days do you see any responsible, effective trainers supporting any methods of correction that include "swatting" or "shaking" your dog(s). For example, Evans advice on how to correct your dog when you come home to find he's had an "accident" in the house? Lead him to the scene of the crime and "swat" him....well, that's if he doesn't get it when you just growl at him. Has this dog been left for 8-10 hours with no other choice but to relieve himself in the house? If so, the owner should be swatted and re-educated, not the poor dog. In talking about teaching and reinforcing the long down, Evans advises, if the dog "stress-whines", "give the dog a slap under the chin and say NO!". Advising unwitting, uneducated dog owners to slap their dog when it shows stress??? Deplorable.

This book does have a lot of good advice for dog owners; however, it also supports many negative methods....punishment....that have no place in the current world of dog training (and never should have, in my humble opinion). Unfortunately, although experienced trainers, like myself, will read this book (or as much of it as they can stomach) and be appalled, new dog owners, not knowing any better, will employ these methods out of desperation. There are beter ways; my recommendation would be to buy a book by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson (I have no affiliation with these trainers,just admire their methods and knowledge).

I've been teaching obedience classes and training and exhibiting Toy Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers in advanced obedience for about 20 years. This book is always the FIRST one I recommend to dog owners who have a dominant or spoiled or aggressive dog.

It is filled with practical, commonsense training methods that work just as well today as they did in our grandparents' days. Dog does good, he is praised and reward -- dog does bad, he is corrected. Perfectly understandable -- both by dogs and by kids.

In my opinion, the people who dislike this book are those who don't believe in negative consequences for anyone or anything. (You usually see the results of this philosophy in their spoiled children.)

"Old-fashioned," they call it. Well, it IS "old-fashioned." And it produces "old-fashioned" good behavior and respect for authority. Good old common sense is what it is, and dogs respond beautifully to it.

Yes, dogs are perfectly capable of understanding positive consequences (petting and treats) AND negative consequences (a sharp word, snap of the leash, or swat on the hind end).

Job Michael Evans' book is just terrific. I have a dozen happy, cheerful, well-behaved dogs to prove it, and as an experienced instructor and trainer, I highly recommend it.

I've noticed a wonderful change in my relationship with my dogs, after only 3 days of practicing the methods in this book. The inciteful knowledge has shown to be the key to improving the relationship with my dogs and loving them even more.

For any historian, there is a constant struggle between what to include in any writing and what to leave out. Michael Smith has attempted to solve this problem by keeping his focus relatively discrete; he doesn't try to bite off too much.

The Battle of Bloody Ridge, Sept. 13-15, 1942 was indeed crucial to winning Guadalcanal and Smith does an excellent job of showing the reader why. What is more compelling is his description of what a close-run victory it was. There were many opportunities for the Japanese forces to defeat the US. How those chances were lost makes the overall story more enthralling.

For the most part, Smith is a good writer but he falls into the manner for writing for the professional military man. This style hurts his narrative as might be read by the general public. Those of you who have read the historical journals published by the three services will understand. He is hampered by a tendency to name all the officers leading particular units prior to telling what happened. Frequently, it's the only time the names appear and, hence, begs the question of why mention them at all.

Quibbles aside, this is an excellent book and tells an important story which more people should read.

After reading Frank's work "Guadalcanal", this book should be next on your list in describing the most important battle in the Solomon's campaign. Done with great detail, and vivid first hand accounts (including the Japanese, bravo Mr. Smith), this book is to the history about Guadalcanal that "The Thin Red Line" is to the fiction of it. Mr. Smith has a keen eye for the naval movements that shaped the battle (as a Naval officer their is no doubt he is an expert), as well as the role of (or lack of) airpower played in the battle. Very quick and enjoyable.

Just finished reading this book -- it is quite good. My father fought at Guadalcanal, so it is something I have grown up with. Having read several descriptions of the battle for Bloody Ridge -- the most important battle in the six month's long campaign for Guadalcanal -- I consider this the most lucid account. The new, detailed maps and description of movements by both sides paint a clear picture (for the first time) of what went on; they show how the three day drama unfolded as "Red Mike" Edson held his tiny force together against the onslaught of more than three times his number.

This book combines the detail of Richard B. Frank's "Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account" and the personal narrative style of Eric Hammel's "Starvation Island" to make a very readable version of the battle. The wide diversity of sources which have been used adds a lot to the perspective and context; much of this information has never been pulled together to my knowledge into a single coherent account. "Bloody Ridge: The Battle that Saved Guadalcanal" is rich in particulars, with plenty of detailed appendices and footnotes. Nor is the opponent's side of the battle neglected; the author's research includes many Japanese sources to tell what was going on at the other end of the island.

I would love to see Mr. Smith's wonderful scholarship and clean narrative style applied to the closing months of 1942 and the final battle of the Matanikou in October which put the lid on any future Japanese offensive effort. Maybe Mr. Smith will write another book about that (hint, hint)!

Thank goodness for Vandegrift, Edson and the USMC! They were tough, smart jungle fighters who were in just the right place at just the right time. The nation owes much to these largely forgotten heroes of the Pacific. Thank you Michael Smith for reminding us of the debt we owe to their memory.