This is the final volume in the set of four, in this series about George Washington, written by James Thomas Flexner; and the most intensely dramatic covering Washington's second term, his retirement and death.

George Washington takes his oath for a second term as President of the United States, in a time when the young United States is growing following a time of relative peace and a policy of non-aggression with France and England. And grow the young Republic did, by leaps and bounds, but with this growth, evolved some discontent. Factions in the fragile government wanted to be self-serving... Hamilton's lust for power and control, contrasted by Jefferson's lack of anything having to do with a central overseeing government. All of this coupled with the growing friction between North and the South, East and West, Federalism and Republican views all differing wanting a better stake in the government. If this wasn't enough, the French Revolution... with its pro and anti French sentiments creating unrest throughout the republic.

We see the ever dominent Hamilton trying to further himself at the expense of Washington... and again Jefferson wanting nothing further in the government... retiring to his Virginia agrarianism, but later both men working toward Washington's anguish and distrust. Washington wanting to retire himself and enjoy what little time he had left to him at his beloved acres... Mount Vernon.

We see again Washington's self-doubts, but with his aging, his brilliance fading and his body wreaked with infirmities, we see his judgement being clouded and distrusted. This book gives us the contrasts of Washington the public figure and the private Washington... a man deeply hurt by his attackers, now apprehensive, and forced to remain in office and in power, in thought a man weakened by age. Yet his last major services to the nation were as vitally important as his previous services had been. A man that wants to retire and leave the running of the government to others... wanting the cycling of power to be peaceful... a demonstration that humanity could rule itself, the orderly relinquishment of power by one elected representative to his elected successor. This, making the cycle complete, vindication that the new government is viable.

We next see Washington get his long awaited dream of retirement albeit shortlived and the freeing of his slaves as his final act to free ones bondsman. This is the most engrossing and engaging of all the books in this four volume set... knowing Washington as a man with real human emotions and feelings.

I highly recommend reading this volume, but to get the whole picture, reading the four volume set is a must.

What a fascinating man, brought to us in a brilliant and scholarlly work.

This is volume #2 of the four volume masterpiece written by James Thomas Flexner on the life of George Washington. As we have read previously, George Washington was content living a life at Mount Vernon with his wife and family, but the tides are turning in the life of George Washington, bringing him to the forefront of leadership... albeit woefully prepared.

Now, in the skillfully written volume, we see the wartime deeds and the soul searching that Washington goes through. A man thrust from the bosom of his home and hearth, a civilian who is now to lead the Continental Army for the American Revolution. An army that is hardly an army... more like a patchwork of the American cross section of life and skills. No formal training, little leadship, under equiped was the army Washington was to have.

Washington at heart loved his army as they loved him is very evident. We see Washington's mood swings here, his wild furious temper... like an untamed bull, his mistakes, indiscretions,
and a great deal of personal misery... we now have the man of Washington revealed. Washington's path was that of a mortal man, not that of an Icon, a man all-to-human, frought with inadequacy. Washington has to reach down deep to keep his dream alive and instill it in the men he has to lead.

And to lead he did... being out-generaled by far superior forces was the norm for Washington, but nevertheless, always on the lookout for that shread of hope to call victory. Flexner writes of Washington's failures and the anguish of what Washington felt as the battles turned against him... but we also see the resourseful resolve coming to light, learning though trial and error... becoming the master of the American Revolution and the Continental Army.

But Washington never happier to be at home with his wife Martha is not forgotten either. Martha seemed to know what was really troubling Washington.

I found this volume much more interesting and with an impeccable eye for detail. Written in an engrossing and an engaging style that keeps you reading to find out the tidbits left out in your school's history books.

This is a solid and well documented work.

The last volume of Flexner's 4-volume biography of Washington. The complete set is a wonder. You'll feel you've watched a man struggle with ambition, pride, betrayls and extreme disappointments...and then serve his country magnificently, setting precedents for its future that time has proved almost unfailingly correct. It's not an exaggeration to say that the country's fate rested on his shoulders. When unanimously elected by Congress, he accepted the position of Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. This was before that army existed: he was THE symbol of the cause (and willing to expose himself to British retribution to further it). He could have become king (not so much in title as through use of the powers granted the president) but he consistently refused to abuse the office's powers, leadng to restraint in later presidents (no one before Roosevelt was willing to run for more terms than Washington served, for example). By my count, he single-handedly changed the course of history 5 times through his actions (in his youth, not always deliberately: he unwittingly started the French and Indian War!). At the end of this volume, if you've read the previous three, his death will be wrenching. It a great telling of a great man's life (his "final" act was in his will to free his slaves - of all the Founders, including Jefferson, only Washington took a step so revolutionary - and so true to his ideals)

A great fast read! I couldn't put it down. The story draws you in immediately. George Thomas is a source of inspiration. Not only does his story impact those afflicted with epilepsy, it gives us regular folks reason to get off our couches.

This is a book that anyone can get into, athletic or not. It's about setting goals, gaining strength from within, and going for guts over glory. You'll want to get off your duff and not only cheer but participate.

Makes a great gift.

A sensitively told story of loss and growth. It definitely has a message. A superb story about the persistance of desire and the perils of commitment. I give it a 5 star rating.

I recently finished reading "The George Thomas Story: Going the Distance" by G. Thomas and J. Welsch. I feel, unequivocally, that this book merits a 5-star rating! The story entails the many moments of personal agony and anguish of a determined and courageous bicyclist by the name of George Thomas. The drama of this story, so eloquently and vividly expressed by the authors (Welsch and Thomas), took place during a 9 to 11 day, 2911 mile long bicycle race named the Race Across America (RAAM). This bicyle race, which started in Irvine CA and terminated in Savannah GA, is recognized by exercise physiologists as the most grueling athletic event in the world, far more strenuous then, e.g., the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon and requiring considerably more exertion then, e.g., the Tour de France. To add substantially to this incredible story is the recognition that George Thomas suffers from a relatively common but seriously debilitating disease known as epilepsy! The Forward of this book is written by renown Harvard Medical School neurologist and epilepsy expert Steven Schachter, M.D. who states...."At least once in a lifetime, you may be fortunate enough to meet someone truly inspirational, someone whose influence becomes a change in your life. I know this to be true, because I have met and been inspired by George Thomas." I would be remiss to share with you, in advance of your reading this book, the ultimate success/failures of George Thomas in this incredibly arduous solist bicycle race. I will say, however, that this is a book that I could not "set down", a book whose drama will remain in my memory forever. In essence, I enthusiastically and whole-heartedly recommend this superb and riveting book to you.

A Bicyclist in Michigan

This book is a 2002 collaboration between the most knowledgeable trout/salmon biologist and the best illustrator! Tomelleri is the all time out standing trout artist. There are several books out that attempt to do a similar compendium like 'Trout' by James Prosek which is also excellent, and a great addition to your library. But the synergy between Tomelleri and Behnke is unbeatable. It a sad description of sub species of Salmo lost forever, but does offer a ray of hope for some species. If you have any interest in N.A. Salmonids this is a must buy. It is written for the layman: no high level back ground in Ichthyology is needed to enjoy it. Buy it - you will not be disappointed.

This is the most interesting book in my collection. I am shocked that since this volume has become avaiable, only a single review has been submitted. Being a fisheries Ph.D student and long time salmonid fanatic, this is the book I've been waiting for my whole life.
The design of this volume is great. Have any of you ever looked at a book's layout? This masterpiece should be studied in a graphics design course.
I specialize in scientific illustration (black & white technical stuff). Much of my work has been published in Dr. Balon's: Environmental Biology of Fishes and I dare say I have an eye for what's good within this field. While Tomelleri's early salmonids (see Fishes of the South central USA) are okay at best, the ones featured in this book are out of this world. Strangely, he includes some of his earliest works(p.71, p.261). These must have been added for sentimental reasons and have little value being included with the otherwise superb lateral views.
I find it strange to see the reaction of people when I show them particular pictures from this book. They seem to get equal enjoyment from all the illustrations, mainly because of the flamboyent salmonid colors. No one picks up on the astounding progression in style/technique that Tomellerri has gone through over the years. Yet it is very evident indeed. No one has pointed out that while all the renderings are lovely, stuff like the pink salmon on p.43-45 represent the technical limit of what can be achieved with color pencil realism. My favorite? The Presidio trout on p. 121. I hate to say it, but the pictures (and book overall) are too good. Anyone can pick up a leica and enjoy its smooth mechanical functions but how many of us can appreciate the beauty of German industrial design and fine craftsmanship? This book suffers a similar fate. It will sell because we all love pretty trout, end of story.
I can't stop reading and looking at this book. I fall asleep next to it and in the morning, look through it some more. Our family collects antique books and my love for books extends into other fields as well. This is the greatest of all my prize posessions.
I enjoyed Dr. Benke's text. He is able to convey scientific information in a style that appeals to naturalists, fishermen and those of us within the sciences. I first came across his writings in the magazine Trout and like many of you, I fell in love with his AFS book on trout of western North America. Maybe the fact that I am fascinated by phenotypic plasticity and morphological variation within species has placed me in a situation to better appreciate what this book has tried to accomplish, but I hope not. I only wish that some of you can feel what I experienced when I first received my copy of Trout & Salmon of North America. This book beautifully articulates the complex and fascinating world of salmonids through stunning pictures and wonderful text.

Dr. Behnke is one of the foremost authorities on the taxonomy of Salmonidae. I can think of no one who has done more to save fisheries management from the one-size-fits-all mindset that has dictated the stocking thousands of miles of streams containing healthy populations of native trout with non-native hatchery stocks of rainbow trout. The policy of planting poorly adapted (and often diseased) hatchery fish on top of healthy populations of native trout, caused the outright extinction or local extirpation of native subspecies and stocks of trout throughout the western United States and Canada. Many of these fish had unique life histories that enabled them to successfully exploit habitats that hatchery rainbows cannot successfully utilize (without the continuation of massive and expensive stocking programs). At the very least, they represent a diversity form and life history that would be impossible to replace with the limited gene pool available in hatchery strains. Many of these fish, such as the golden trouts, interior cutthroats, and redband rainbows are living jewels, breathtakingly beautiful and perfectly adapted to their respective environments. The loss of any of these remarkable fish would diminish any person who cares about our natural heritage.

Professional biologists, such as myself, may have wished for a little more technical information than the book contains, such as was available in his 1965 PhD Thesis, A Systematic Study of the Family Salmonidae with Special Reference to the Genus Salmo or his 1992 mongraph, Native Trout of Western North America. Dr. Behnke has published a continuing series of articles on salmonid taxonomy, distribution, and life histories in Trout, the journal of the Trout Unlimited organization. He has used these articles to bring the importance of preserving the diversity of life histories present in each species to the attention of anglers and managers throughout North America. Whether a population is a species, subspecies, 'race,' or 'stock' has little meaning from a management standpoint, if it displays unique life history traits that enable it to exploit habitat extremes or niches that are inaccessible to other populations or hatchery stocks. As with agricultural crops, the loss of wild genotypes can never be fully compensated for and adaptations to local environments make many of these stocks the only fish that can successfully maintain naturally reproducing populations adapted to local disease organisms and environmental conditions.

I was hoping the book would include appendices that described all of the new technical information available about the family Salmonidae. Instead the book is a wonderful publication for the general public, containing a though and highly readable description of the wonderful diversity of form and life history represented by North American salmonids. Combined with Joseph Tomelleri's incredibly detailed and lifelike representative illustrations, this is a welcome addition to the library of any angler or biologist.

In addition to his contributions to the establishment of saner management policies for native fish, Dr. Behnke described or collaborated in describing literally dozens of distinctive populations of salmonids. Many of these fish; such as the Sheepheaven Creek Redband, Humbolt River cutthroat, fine-spotted Snake River cutthroat, and Whitehorse cutthroat; were simply described as a new subspecies without assigning a subspecies name to them. Dr. Behnke generally only assigned new scientific names, where a species or subspecies designation was incorrect, and a prior name already existed. Hence, the Yellowstone cutthroat became Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri instead of O. c. lewisi and the interior Columbia/Fraser River rainbow became O. mykiss gairdneri, rather than O. gairdneri. This brings me to one of my few quibbles about the book.

In the 1995 book, Many Rivers to Cross by M.R. Montgomery (a Boston Globe columnist), the author included the descriptive information from Dr. Behnke's monograph, Native Trout of Western North America, under the name Oncorhynchus clarki behnkei. I'm a fisheries biologist, rather than a taxonomist, but as I understand the process of naming a new species (or subspecies), the name should accompany a species account that includes a description of the species and information on the collection where the type (type specimen) is or will be deposited (perhaps Mr. Montgomery included all of Dr. Behnke's original description in his book and this is sufficient). This information is usually published in a journal or book (but I'm not sure if it has to be published by a professional taxonomist in a professional publication). The first name assigned has priority. If a non-professional can assign a name in any form of publication, then I believe that Ernest Schwiebert beat Mr. Montgomery to the punch by a couple of decades in his 1978 book, Trout, when he assigned the name Salmo carmichaeli (after a Wyoming tackle shop owner) to the Jackson Hole cutthroat and included an excellent illustration of a fine-spotted cutthroat from Blacktail Spring Creek in Wyoming. While its true that Schwiebert gave it species status, the same can be said of the rainbow trout, which was originally named Salmo gairdneri before it was reassigned the name Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri (gairdneri was assigned to the interior Columbia/Fraser River subspecies). Will some taxonomist please name a trout after Dr. Behnke?!! He certainly deserves the honor. It would be a nice gesture if a committee of taxonomists would decide which of Dr. Behnke's many unnamed subspecies of Oncorhynchus most deserves subspecies status and assign it the subspecies name, behnkei. The fine-spotted Snake River cutthroat seems like a fine fish to name after Dr. Behnke, but I'm sure any of the salmonids he has described over his long career would serve as a fine honor.

This book takes you throug the depths of reasoning from different angles viz. science, philosophy, spirituality, humanity and more. And the ultimate aim: how ther are just different parts of the same string. Must read !!

With this debut collection of essays, George Klein, Holocaustsurvivor and one of the world's foremost cancer researchers has joinedthe growing list of scientists willing to share their experiences in science with the general reading public. By all accounts, this is an impressive start. The essays range in content from personal anecdotes about science and scientists, travelogues, discussions on virology, genetics and cancer, misuses of science in Nazi extermination camps to reflections on death, religion and ethics. His writing is simple, unpretentious, original and a delight to read. If this gem of a collection is any indication of things to come, we are in for many such treats in the future. Read it, enjoy it, treasure it, this book is a memorable reading experience.

Not since I read Sir Peter Medawar's essays on science and scientists have I encountered such clarity in language and thought and a commitment to portray science as it is really practiced, subject to the same motivations and biases as any other human endeavor. The first section of the book, "The Wisdom and Folly of Scientists" deals with such issues. The tempo and style of Klein's writing is defined early in the book in the essay "The Emperor's New Clothes" (my favorite in this collection). In this story he explains the phenomenon of scientific "conformism", the tendency of scientists to accept or reject a new finding without critical thinking, and how this may hinder or even damage scientific research.

In the essay "Are Scientists Creative" Klein uses the biologist Sol Speigelmann's dilemma, Is my work worth anything? (Something that many scientists must have agonized over at some point) to explore the nature of scientific creativity and to contrast it with the artistic temperament.

In "Ultima Thule" he talks to the German geneticist Benno-Muller Hill about the ugly history of the eugenics movement and its culmination in the mass murder of Jews. How could this have happened? How could respectable scientists commit such unspeakable misuses of science? Were they all psychopaths? Klein discovers some surprising answers. One would have thought that after the excesses of the Second World War and our current understanding of genetics, the theory of genetic inequality would have been finally put to rest. Instead, this distasteful topic keeps surfacing every now and then. H.J Muller's 'genetic deterioration' hypothesis, our attitudes towards AIDS patients and Singapore's "race improvement" program through preferential matrimony are recent examples of such misguided thinking. Will we ever shake ourselves free of these prejudices? Klein offers no easy answers, just a warning to keep vigil.

In the section Viruses and Cancer, Klein displays his abilities to explain the difficult concepts of virology, genetics and cell biology in uncomplicated and understandable language. The essay "The Tale of the Great Cuckoo Egg" is particularly fascinating. It traces the history of cancer research, from the early days when all cancer was thought to be of viral origin to its present state of understanding. The story beautifully illustrates how 'pet theories', coincidences and pure dumb luck all played their part in some of the most important discoveries of 20th century biology, finally leading to the discovery of oncogenes, the growth regulatoy genes of the cell.

La Condition Humaine, the final section, is also the most philosophical, as Klein reflects on our will to live, our sexuality, attitudes towards death and dying and religion. 'Eternal Printemps' begins with some entertaining examples of our attitudes towards sex. Klein uses quite a few examples, from classical music to the sexual mores in Sweden, the Masai and the orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem to summarize his 'kaleidoscope of sexuality'. A section on sex as a genetic process and how it evolved as the dominant mode of reproduction in the eukaryotes, puts the preceding discussion on human sexuality in a more sobering perspective.

The last chapter 'The Atheist and the Holy City' set in Jerusalem, is his most personal writing. Here, George Klein, scientist, humanist, philosopher, attempts to reconcile his atheist beliefs in a city steeped in religion. No one can convince him of the existence of God. The scars of Auschwitz are too deep to heal. What has this century taught us? Where is mankind heading? Like Peter Medawar, Klein also believes that this century has been what it is because of science, and this conviction resonates throughout his writings.

In the end, this book is George Klein's personal journey, undertaken to make sense of some of humanities most basic constructs; religion, sexuality, ethics and morality, how they conflict with, and are sometimes better understood within the framework of modern biological thought. I suppose, anyone who has lived the life he has, will finally have something to say. As he admits in the preface," the words have welled up in me. I needed only step aside and watch them flow". Indeed they flow, in a calm, soothing, passionate and gently persuasive manner. We need to just immerse ourselves in them to experience the mind of an extraordinary scientist.

A father and his son discover that Kansas does have mountains, and many other wonderful things, as they spend a Sunday afternoon bonding on the plains of Kansas. The charming story by George Shannon is beautifully illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Gorgeous pastels of the wheat fields, grain elevators and sleepy main streets will be quickly recognizable to anyone from the midwest. The twist is - the words and illustrations will make you see your surroundings in a new way, just like the little boy in the book!

Hey--Kansas isn't flat-there are many hills, and this book is an awesome read---and sooooooo funny. You don't have to be from Kansas to enjoy the midwest humor---everyone from Kansas doesn't not have a dog named Toto! You will also find little tidbits of history.

I read this as A book and not Thomas' book, to try and be objective!

Now it's THE book, presumably until their next one!

The authors' advanced thought, expertise and experience show through a beautiful synthesis of principles, real applications, predictions and analogies.

As professionals we find ourselves in an era where strategy has to be very fluid - and I find myself constantly needing to zoom in and zoom out of the various aspects of my start-ups for a perspective view as well as detailed focus...

Much deeper than the first reading, this is where I think is the REAL value of 'Ecosystem' - to visit and keep re-visiting it for defining different pieces of our business, regardless of what stage the business is in!

The framework for the principles, the examples and the insights across a broad spectrum of high profile and/or unusual businesses truly create an environment that spark creativity and enable new possibilities.

This book provides twelve principles for successful e-commerce. The principles are the synthesis of keen observation and deep thought, and are presented in a dispassionate, objective manner.

The principles themselves are divided among four stakeholder groups that form the ecosystem. "Ecosystem" is an appropriate analogy because each stakeholder group has a different set of needs, yet all stakeholder groups are interdependent in the value chain. The principles are each presented in a consistent format - presentation of the principle, two case studies each from the supplier's perspective giving a supplier profile, an interview with the supplier and showing the principle as it applies to the customer, and an executive summary of the principle.

Stakeholder and principle groupings are: Business-to-Shareholder (learning and planning principles), Business-to-Employee (system, network and security principles), Business-to-Business (payment, buying, supplier and inventory/logistics principles), and Business-to-Customer (selling, customer and personalization principles).

By dividing the principles and focusing on stakeholders groups the authors have provided a systematic and structured template to apply to an e-commerce strategy and associated tactics.

What I like about this book is the utter lack of hype or hyperbole, and the presentation of each principle in a consistent manner. I also like the careful selection of the case studies, each of which highlights the principle to which it is associated. Finally I applaud the authors for their straightforward writing, which makes this book highly readable (even at nearly 400 pages it can be read on a day off or on a coast-to-coast flight). What impresses me, however, is the research and deep thought that the authors put into this book and the care with which they structured and sequenced the information.

I highly recommend this book to anyone involved in strategic planning, or who wants to understand the complexities of modern supply chains within the context of e-commerce. The keys to success are between the pages of this outstanding book.

Thanksgiving is given a new point of view and retelling in this very special picture book. Jean Craighead George, the Newbery Medal-winning author of JULIE OF THE WOLVES, as well as nearly 100 distinguished nature books for young readers, presents the story of the first Thanksgiving with warmth, fascinating detail, and lyrical as well as informative storytelling. Thomas Locker's colorful, classical paintings beautifully complement the author's words. The story begins with the formation of Plymouth Rock, a huge, two-million year old glacial mass that comes to rest in Cape Cod. Then the Pawtuxet tribe arrives, earning their living from the land, including Squanto, who is later captured by Englishmen and sold into slavery. Across the ocean, Pilgrims seeking religious freedom set out on a perilous voyage to America. Upon reaching the New World, they must deal with many hardships including disease, starvation, and death. Still the Pilgrims endure. In the springtime, Squanto, freed from slavery and now a member of another Indian tribe, arrives, bringing peace to the people of Plymouth. He teaches them how to grow crops, catch fish, hunt deer and turkey, showing the Pilgrims the importance of respecting the land and using it wisely. In 1621, after a bountiful harvest, a great celebratory feast takes place for three days, in which the people gather and eat and play games--the first Thanksgiving. This story is a unique portrayal of historical events, always keeping the reader intrigued and awed, with its terrific writing and inspirational illustrations. As she does in every one of her books, Jean Craighead George reminds us of the need to honor our natural resources and every living thing on the planet. In this story, too, she sends a message of peace that will inspire every person and reach beyond one day in November, to give thanks every day for what we have.

Want to know where Plymouth Rock came from and what it has to do with the pilgrims? What happened when the Mayflower finally sighted land? This is the book for you. The First Thanksgiving is history, community, geology, and science in a very beautifully illustrated and believable story of the colonization of Massachusetts. The pilgrims came to the New World looking for religious freedom only to be met by fear, death, hunger, and an insightful and helpful Pawtuxet, Squanto. It was from his willingness to share his knowledge that we have the celebration of Thanksgiving.

This the third installment of a four volume series by James Thomas Flexner on the life of George Washington taking us through the years 1783 - 1793.

We see Washington returning to his beloved acres... Mount Vernon, after the British are finally leaving the American shores. Washington is exhausted and wants to retire and live out his life in the resplendency of his home and family. We begin to see Washington open up so to speak, relaxing in his quiet country life. But again the matters of the New Nation are begining to pull and strain the rather reluctant Washington to a leadership roll.

Being a very popular figure in early American life... Washington now is growing in popularity and as such is called to lead the Constitutional Convention for ratification of a new and untested government. Washington is elected to become the First United States President. Flexner gives us a lot of detail and put into the writing feelings and emotions felt at the time.

From the writings that were written about Washington from his peers and thoughs of Washington to others, we again see Washington's fallibility, a man wrought with insecurity and heavy responsibilities trying to cope with a newly emerging government. Even present that others from overseas were watching and waiting for the new government to fail, but proving to them a government viable and alive. But, alas, Washington is now aging and retirement is begining to take hold once again in his life.

This volume take us through Washington's thoughts and thoughs of Jefferson and Hamilton and how does Washington really feel. Washington is now working harder than ever trying to forge this fledging government into a working model of that written on paper. We see Washington's self-doubts again arise... troubling him with insecurities. Then again, who can he trust, to give correct counsil and if he left too soon would the government fail. If he stayed too long, would he be no better than the Kings he fought. We feel Washington's dilemma.

I found this book to be very well written with sound documentation.

George Washington and the New Nation is actually the third in a four volume set, and continues to follow the life of George Washington after the Revolutionary War. From the years immediately following the last withdrawal of British Troops, up through the end of his first term as the President of the United States.

Flexner does an excellent job of describing the man behind the legendary hero. Through the actual writings of Washington, and those of his contemporaries, we see not only the "Great General" and the "Father of Our Country," but also see Washington as fellow human being, just as fallible as the rest of us.

This is also a remarkably telling book about the nature of politics and how in over 200 years, very little has changed. As distrustful as we are of todays politicians, Flexner's book puts those of Washington's days in an even less favorable light - and he uses their own words to do it.

Through this book (and the other volumes in the set) I gained an even deeper appreciation for the one who was "First in War...First in Peace...and First in the hearts of his Countrymen." I heartily encourage this book and this entire set to all.

George Dillman is a ninth degree black belt in karate and 1997 Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year. Together with Chris Thomas, a seventh degree black belt and writer, they have put together the definitive book on pressure point self-defense.

The focus of the techniques is gaining control or providing an opportunity for escape from a violent situation without causing serious harm to the other person. The information and techniques are easy to understand and very well illustrated. Not only does it cover the specific techniques but also provides additional information on the common types of attackers such as the career assailant, the intoxicated attacker, etc. From there it goes on to a discussion of the theory of self-defense, which is followed by the specific techniques for self-defense for just about every situation.

In a world, where violence towards others seems to becoming the rule rather than the exception, knowing how to protect yourself and provide for an avenue of escape can be some of the invaluable and useful knowledge to have. A highly recommended book for anyone wanting to take responsibility for their own safety.

For more information you can view his website at ...

Collaboratively written by renowned martial arts instructor George A. Dillman and knowledgeable martial arts writer and teacher Chris Thomas, Humane Pressure Point Self-Defense is a straightforward, "student friendly" guide to applying knowledge of the body's nerve clusters and vulnerable areas to quickly and humanely protect oneself with low risk of causing injury. Step-by-step instructions are clearly illustrated with black-and-white photographs and expressly demonstrate "Dillman Pressure Point Method" techniques for readers of all ages and skill levels in the martial arts. An excellent and recommended reference, Humane Pressure Point Self-Defense is wholly dedicated to explaining, defining, and teaching an effective, practical, benign self-defense method.

I was surprised and excited to receive a signed photo journal from George Thomas. I had looked in books that offered good quality, applicable pictures that I could look at while researching and reading other books (i.e. Undaughted Courage- Steven Ambrose, and Out West- Dave Duncan). I was surprised how hard it was to find a book with many pictures of the trail highlights

This book has not only pictures of the many landmarks along the trail but also suggested old camp sites and river forks described in the story books and journals (I believe they were taken around the same time of year the explorers traveled).

I would suggest this book for everyone!

The photography was breathtaking. It is an excellent book for the layman. I would advise any history buff to read this book. It is also an excellent resource for teachers.