At the age of thirteen, I fell on a beat up copy of Norstrilia, and fell in love with Smith's works. I soon got a copy of "The Best of Cordwainer Smith" and it vanished on a summer camp trip. It took me years to replace it. Imagine my delight to have all those loved stories in one (heavy) volume, unlikely to go astray!

As you probably know, Smith was actually Dr. Paul M.A. Linebarger, a Johns Hopkins professor and specialist in Asian affairs. He was a master of psychological warfare.

His stories fit no easy category. They are not fantasy, they are not hard science fiction, they are not alternative history. They incorporate bits and pieces of Asian culture and myth. They are often troubling, haunting. "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" ends with most of its characters dead or with their minds wiped, yet it is a happy ending for all that, with Joan's views obviously spreading through the underpeople. "Under Old Earth" is a fascinating tale, filled with allusions that must be beyond the scope of this note. Even "War No. 81-Q", the original version of which was written by Smith as a teenager, is an excellent story. "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is simply one of the great SF short stories of all time. I could go on, but . . .

The volume also includes the Casher O'Neill trilogy, that I had read of, but not seen before.

If you haven't read Smith before, this is how to buy his stories, so that you have them all. If you have--well, again, you'll have them all.

It's worth it. Buy it.

I first encountered Cordwainer Smith when I was in grade school, checking every book out of the library that I could find under Science Fiction. Some of my favorite stories were the often-anthologized "Game of Rat and Dragon" and "Scanners Live in Vain." I began seeking out his stories anywhere I could find them, but aside from the wonderful novel Norstrilia, I could find few more.

How exciting that the NESFA Press has brought all of these stories together in one book. It was such a joy rediscovering old favorites, and also finding real gems (such as "The Dead Lady of Clown Town") I had never seen anywhere before.

This volume is a must-have for anyone who cares about classic science fiction short stories. In it are some of the best examples of the genre. A short list of the stories in this volume that you MUST read would include: "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard", "The Game of Rat and Dragon", "A Planet Called Shayol", "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", and the aforementioned "Dead Lady of Clown Town."

The title of one of Smith's collections that originally contained many of these stories was You Will Never Be the Same. What a great title, and how accurate. You won't be.

Cordwainer Smith was actually the pseudonym for Dr. Phillip Linebarger, who was a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University, if I remember right, but anyway, at one of the Ivy League colleges. He was a sometime advisor to the government and wrote a classic book on psychological warfare back in the 40's that I read was still in use by the CIA in the 60's. Perhaps it was this background that gives Smith's stories about the future such a darkly pessimistic tone. As someone observed here in another review, such a view was in stark contrast to the other authors of the Golden Age of Science Fiction (circa 1930 to 1960), during which it was still believed that science would solve all of society's ills. Wherever it came from, Smith's vision is certainly different, his writing style is like no other sci-fi author's, and even his titles are different--giving them names like "The Game of Rat and Dragon, "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell," and the sinister sounding (for a psychological warfare prof) "The Burning of the Brain." If you've never encountered Smith's stories until now, you are in for a rare experience, because Smith is a great storyteller with a uniquely dark and disturbing vision of the future.

I first read "The Witches of Karres" when I was twelve years old and happened across it in the stacks of my hometown library. I have never found any science fiction book before or since that could match it in terms of pure enjoyment. It is one of only two or three books that I will not lend under any circumstances (and given that it's a perfect first edition, that I won't even let someone touch). I fell in love with Goth and fancied myself as Pausert in many a happy dream. I had nightmares in which the Sheem Assasin came alive, the fur moving and the body taking shape. I still shudder at the thought after all these years. It's a shame the book didn't win the Hugo that year, because it's so excellent, but that doesn't change anything. My only regrets are that Schmitz never published a sequel (though from what I've read he thought about one and maybe even worked on it a bit) and that I didn't buy a stack of the original Chilton first editions for two bucks a pop while they were still in print! Given today's special effects wizardry, "The Witches of Karres" would make a one heck of a fun movie...

This was a Hugo runner-up to Heinlein's "Moon is a Harsh Mistress", and "Witches" is a much better book than even this Heinlein great. This book is my favorite sci-fi novel, although Schmitz's "Agent of Vega" (a collection of stories) is one I enjoy even more. I re-read this book a few months ago for the first time in 25 years, and was just mesmerized by this timeless story. This book has everything, in grand J.H. Schmitz style. It moves you as it thrills you; makes you smile and moves you to tears; more than anything it makes you wish he had written a sequel. (as I wish he had done with "Agent"). He is my favorite sci-fi writer and I enjoyed this book so much that I purchased it in a First Edition after reading it this time around. Nothing compares to it.

This book is one of my all-time favorite space operas. I have read and reread it many, many times, wearing out serveral paperbacks.

The science of the story is unscientific (to put it mildly), but the book is a space opera, not science fiction.

Good versus evil, David versus Goliath; it has all of this, but it has more. Akin to the Xanth novels and the Myth novels it adds the tone of bewilderment. The hero never knows exactly what he is doing.

This draws the reader into closer empathy with Captain Pausert.

The author has demonstrated with his other works that he can write a true science fiction novel, so I feel that the unscientific, but delightful character of this novel was completely intended.

It is really unfortunate it remains in the "out of print", and "hard to find" catagory.

About 25 years ago I had a book dealer find me an original hardback first edition of this book. I treasure it, and frequently reread my well preserved paperback.

I hope these reviews of an unavailable book will encourage publishers to reissue the book before my copies wear out completely.

This book, with whom I share a long and one-sided love-affair, is a perfect gem. I have read it during my life again and again, and I never have escaped without laughing--hard--out loud at all the Thurber family goings-on. Thurber has the rare gift of constructing a symphony of a story with the sparest but most meaningful instruments. His other books, The Thurber Carnival and the Thurber Album are also worth reading.

Unlike most autobiographies, My Life and Hard Times is short and extremely sweet. Despite its length, however, you can pick it up again and again and always be delighted by it. As Thurber says, he talks "largely about small matters and smally about great affairs." And the great affairs he talks about are quite meaningful, adding yet another dimension to the book. After reading it, I had the feeling James Thurber was somewhat depressed because of the limits of life. He only hints at this at the beginning and end of the book in his "Preface to a Life" and "A Note at the End," but it is there, and it is powerful. As for the nine anecdotes that make up the bulk of the book, there is simply no equal: they are very funny, displaying the occasional and humorous insanity of people. This is a book to be read again and again, and to be treasured.

This has got to be the funniest book I have ever read and read and read. Simple stories of Thurber's early years will get you laughing out loud.

In this book Mark Twight asks everyone who packs in climbing equipment to consider how much gear you really need. Twight writes that climbing quickly with less gear is safer than packing all the useless junk we seem to carry. And his critique of outdoor apparel manfacturers is right on. He recommends that outdoor equipment be simple, functional and light weight. All mountaineers have garages full of stuff which didn't work out. Following Twight's lead would reduce this clutter. There is a downside to this attitude however: minimum equipment in the mountains can leave you really exposed. In fact, the subtext of Twight's book could have catastrophic results for less expert climbers. Twight writes that if the conditions on a climb deterioriate and your equipment isn't adequate, then simply come down. Good advise if you're able to do it. Twight says that climbing is organized "chaos." While you can't pack in everything, you need enough gear to survive this chaos. The goal is to use everything you packed in and not need anything else. That's tough to accomplish and I don't agree with Twight that you should error by taking less. The book starts with a fine description of mental attitude and preparation for successful climbing (and almost everything else). Twight is right on here, too. But don't forget that climbing is talent, technique and mental preparation. German climbers call mental attitude "muntz," which I found means courage. I certainly recommend reading Twight's book. Stripping equipment down to simple, dependable items which are really used is a great goal. And I want to try his ideas for climbing wear, although they seem risky. Just remember that Mark Twight is a world-class climber and can get himself out of situations which the rest of us can't (I hope).

This is THE best book I have ever read regardging climbing, period! It not only gives practical insights in to climbing but the nuts and bolts on training, gear selection and route selection for you ability. I especially found the sections on training to be extremely insightful. This is a topic never discussed in detail by any of the worlds top climbers. This book, the text and the pictures has done more to motivate me than all books combined. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am ready and capable to move my climbing to a new level!

Mark Twight has not written an instruction book filled with clear drawings about how to tie a clove hitch. Beginning climbers looking for basic technique info should buy "Mountaineering: the Freedom of the hills" and go on a course first, but this does not mean that Twight's book is for extreme climbers only.

Any climber that knows these basic techniques benefits from his thoughs and experience. The book is divided in 4 parts:

(1) Approach: about 12 pages about your mental state of mind, very useful for the climber and anyone who wants to achieve specific goals as his thoughts about self-knowledge, focus, confidence, suffering, failure and learning can be applied to a broader range of goals.

(2) Training: this is the first time I have seen a real mountaineering training program in a book like this. He covers a 20 week training cycle in detail, with chapters on mental training, strength, endurance and importantly, nutrition. This really helps set a goal and work towards it. It's impossible to climb any mountain unprepared and unfit and depending on your goal you can adjust his schedule.

(3) Equipment: Clothing, Gear and Potection.
Twight has become (in)famous for refusing the accepted 3 layering system as it's too bulky, warm and heavy. He stresses the lightweight system which was an eye opener for me. Although his thoughts are not applicable for every mountain area (if you wait in Scotland for the rain to stop before climbing, you might as well not come at all...), it helped me to better pack my stuff for my trips: lighter and more useful.
His thoughts about gear are just very useful, learn from the expert, not from someone who is trying to sell the stuff...

(4) Technique:
No it will not teach you to climb a 5.14 at -40 degrees, but it covers things mostly overlooked in other books:
- Staying Alive
- Partners
- Going up
- Bivouacs
- Going down
Especially the latter 2 are things mostly ignored in climbing books (and some courses!), but these are things that also come in handy when lost in a not so extreme environment.

Overall I could not put this book down until I finished it.
The book is filled with experiences, good as well as bad. No drawings, but quite a lot of pictures, some of them useful for understanding the text, some just funny or cool to look at and dream away...
If you own Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills and you are not a complete beginner, buy this before you go higher, even if it's not extreme.

The River Why has become a family favorite ever since the winter I read it aloud to our precocious kids.... who are still fond, 3 years later, of saying things like "got him!" or "witlesses" or "twinkies catch big ones!" They will even occasionally quote Isaak Walton as they hawker into the fire...

My thesis is that any book about a solitary young man's learning to see the entire world as a metaphor for fishing, only to be hooked himself by the power of love, while being funny, profound, serious, uproarious, symbolic, cathartic, and a love story about the world and the Fisher of Souls must be packing a wallop... and this one is.

The River Why was published by the Sierra Club, either in one-dimensional reflex, or in a sudden access of Light to an editor.... and it is a book about living in harmony with nature. But more than that, it's about aligning one's soul with what has been said, thought, felt, and done over the past few hundred years.

This is a book that has made me guffaw, cry, and, always, think. I re-read it every couple of years with joy... and wish that to every reader who ventures on the trout-laden waters of the River Why.

A few years back, I talked to a friend I hadn't heard from in a few years and she asked how I was doing. I replied, "Pretty good, but I have this incredible urge to go stand in a river for a couple of weeks fly-fishing." (I've never fly-fished in my life.) She said, "You just read The River Why, didn't you?" Duncan is masterful at playing the reader as well as Gus plays a fish. He sinks the hook into you so subtly, you're not even aware it's there and guides you to realizations about yourself. The River Why may be the most spiritual book I've ever read, and yet is never santimonious. When I travel, I take a copy of this book along to read on the plane. More often than not, I wind up giving it away to a perfect stranger in the seat next to me.

I read this book at the insistence of my boyfriend, an avid flyfisher and owner/operator of a fly fishing shop. Not being a fisherman, I approached the book with some hesitation as to whether I'd enjoy it. I found the story of the piscatorial and philosophical pursuits of a guy named Gus to be endearing, enlightening and entertaining. A knowledge or love of fishing is not required to enjoy the adventures of Gus nor the clever prose and talented use of language by David James Duncan. I believe just about anyone would like this book, whether they are a worm-dunker, dry fly purist or non-fisher. I plan on purchasing a copy for my father, a dreaded worm -dunker according to my boyfriend

This excellent compilation of essays by James Allen truly holds the key to success, amongst other things! I feel so inspired after reading this book, so ready to put into practice what this powerful, little book is teaching. This "classic" has been around since the turn of the century and it seems to be even more relevant in today's stressful and competitive society. I underlined so many wonderful and inspiring passages that I intend to refer to on a daily basis. As Allen states, "a man is literally what he thinks", or as the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out! Or put another way, "All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts."

I have learned that I cannot blame others for my life, or my state of affairs - they are my creation, the end product of my thoughts and actions. Allen states that man makes or unmakes himself by the thoughts he keeps and cultivates. Man is truly is his own worst enemy!

I really resonated to his quote on fear, "Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplish anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in." How profound and how true. How we let fear run our lives - again proving how powerful our thoughts can be. Allen further expounds by saying, "He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure."

The garden of our mind is only cultivated by us. What kind of crop we want to consistently yield is solely determined on our positive, enriching, and encouraging thoughts or on our doubting, destructive and negative ones. We alone hold the key to our future, and our success, and our attainments in life. We can either have a feast or a famine - it is only up to us.

This highly inspirational book cannot help but to motivate you in some degree. I feel like I have been given the keys to a door that was once rusty and would not open, but now will yield freely in my hand. Another great quote is, "The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will build your life by, this you will become." This is one book that you will want to keep constantly by your side, especially for those times when you get discouraged, or when the road seems rough. Just reading one page will have you having a change of heart, with its motivation putting you back on that right path.

This book is a MUST read if you are desiring to change your negatives into positives! The power of the mind is incredible - in all areas of our life!

Ever feel like your life is out of control? Got a bad attitude that you can't get rid of? Do you find yourself complaining a lot? Maybe you think it's your circumstances or the people around you that are responsible. James Allen doesn't believe it for a minute. It's all in your head. Literally.

Allen writes, "Out of a clean heart comes a clean life and a clean body. Out of a defiled mind proceeds a defiled life and a corrupt body." We ARE what we think. It's not mind-over-matter. The mind IS matter. You can improve your circumstances, your surroundings, your station in life...but until you conquer your thoughts, nothing will really change. When your mind is pure, your body, your language, your actions...all will follow.

Whether you choose to believe Allen or dismiss him, AS A MAN THINKETH will occupy your mind far beyond the time it takes you to read its 72 pages. Read it. And think about it.

A coffeehouse friend loaned me this thin book and encouraged me to read it. "It's one of my favorites," she said, smiling enthusiatically. Derived from his own "meditation and experience," James Allen (1864-1912) wrote this inspirational, turn-of-the-century book on the eve of the Industrial Revolution in England. He gets right to the point of his book in its opening sentence: "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." We are literally what we think, Allen explains, and our character is the sum of all our thoughts. "Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results," he writes. "This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world."

Life is complicated and Allen is frequently simplistic, but his little book should not be underestimated. Short in length but deep in content, it will take you on a life-affirming journey through seven chapters in which Allen asserts that life is better lived with self-control, right thought, and calmness. His observations will appeal to deep-thinking contemplatives and visionaries, alike. A calm, contemplative man, he observes, is like "a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. 'Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm'." The dreamers are "the saviors of the world," Allen writes, and our dreams are "the seedlings of realities." "The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs." And for those "tempest-tossed souls" seeking more tranquility and balance in their life, Allen's book offers an excellent starting point to a sweeter life.

G. Merritt

Perusing the comments below, I would like to offer my two cents. First, Ott's book is good for what it does--namely, it is a great encyclopedia of dogmatic theology. It is steeped with citations from Scripture, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the various Ecumenical Councils, and Popes. But again, it is only an encyclopedia.

Furthermore, I would contend that it is not a book of systematic theology per se. To systematize ideas is to show how they are interrelated, how the are put together and form a whole. This book does not do it. For example, if I want to learn about the Trinity, I can. However, if I want to learn about how the multi-layered relationship between the Trinity and, say, the Eucharist, I'm out of luck. Why? Because it's not a book of systematic theology.

Further, the book is hopelessly outdated. It doesn't take into account the theological richness of Catholic thinkers such as Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac, Yves Congar, Karl Rahner, Walter Kasper, or Joseph Ratzinger; nor does it contain the deep insights provided by the Second Vatican Council. It is hopelessly stuck in a neo-Thomistic framework that Catholic theology has (thankfully) outgrown (mind you, I am currently writing a Master's thesis on Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas is great; neo-Thomism is very limited!) Ludwig Ott, however, can't be blamed for this, since the book was written in the 1950's.

If you are interested in gaining a limited yet solid knowledge about the Catholic faith--a knowledge based solely on the hard facts, then you have found the book. But if you are interested in a theologically rich synthesis of a particular doctrine, then I would suggest reading a book from one of the authors mentioned above. And, if you are an apologist or catechist, you need more than this book. Post-modern men and women are more open to someone who has grappled with mystery head-on than someone who has absolutized the dogma's of the Church. You need to read Balthasar, Kasper, Congar, de Lubac, Rahner, and Ratzinger--you need to read them and make them your own if you really want to be an effective Catholic thinker.

Theology is something that is supposed to be living, breathing. This book makes is dry and boring--a necessary evil if your really interested in theology, but one that can surely be avoided if you are interested in meditation on the beauty of Catholic theology.

I do have the book on my shelf, and I do reference it on occasion. But I would much rather read, say, De Lubac's MOTHERHOOD OF THE CHURCH than the dense and sterile prose of Ott's treatment on the Church.

Ludwig Ott's work is an extremely useful reference tool for anyone wanting to know what the Church teaches. The book not only lists the teachings of the Church, but also lists whether the teaching has been declared dogma. In addition, it lists from which scriptural text a teaching has been derived and what various fathers and councils have said. We learn of the major heretics who denied various teachings and what their denials were based upon. Contrary to what an earlier reviewer claimed, the book does state (although very briefly) which teachings upon which any given dogma is based. Even speculative theology is touched upon. Ott's work has proven to be consistently useful to me in apologetics, systematic theology, and history. I believe it will be useful to nearly anyone interested in these subjects.

This great book is very comprehensive, structured, and a great resource to look up (or just browse!) what the Catholic Church teaches and why. Generally, for each doctrine, Fr. Ott lists scriptural, historical, and rational evidence as well as evidence from Church Tradition. This makes it a very handy compendium, especially when looking for the *sources* of Church teaching. After each teaching, Ott lists the degree of authority with which it had been promulgated up until 1954. And no, the fact that it was written in 1954 does not make it old or out of date, by ANY means. Truth is truth, whether it was written in 1954 or in 2001. You will not regret purchasing this book.

These stories are true treasures. While the BBC series is amusing, these stories are far more personal. You get to met Dr. Herriot (a pseudonym for James Alfred Wight) who starts as a young veternarian just out of school and joins a country practice. Cows get the better of him, the local Yorkshire farmers one-up him, he gets his car inevitably stuck in the mud and yet prevails as a caring, resourceful vet who loves his quirkly rural clients as much the animals he cares for. He also writes with such laugh-outloud humor and self-deprecation you just wish the book would go on and on. Fortunately, he wrote four more of these books (each named for a line in a hymn) and a memoir of his father, in whose practice he began. They really give you the flavor of rural life in England before and after WWII.

I can't believe these stories are 30 years old, and Dr. Herriot has passed on. Thankfully he left this legacy behind for us to savor. These are books to re-read on dreary days with a cup of tea or just when you really need something to lift your spirits.

I found this book to be a very easy read, and would recommend it to anybody that reads at the fourth grade level or higher. The Scottish author, James Herriot, describes his life as a newly hired veterinarian, in pre-WWII England. He shares with readers his experiences in handling distressed animals, their owners and caretakers, the business of being a veterinarian, and the successes and failures of love and life.

His descriptions of the situations he was in, were right on. Being British, and the grandson of a blacksmith, I could easily picture in my mind what kind of weather he was experiencing, or how dark a barn, byer, or piggery might be. His characterizations of the local farmers and townspeople were great, and he met some really interesting people!

The book left me with a new respect for what life was like for people in the days when life seemed so much simpler than what it is today. I have just started "All Things Bright and Beautiful", and look forward to completing it, and the rest of Herriot's books in the future.

James Herriot was a country veterinarion who lived in Yorkshire before (and after) World War II. His stories are funny, heartwarming, sad, and highly educational. And after reading this, you will either want to be a vet or be very grateful that you aren't one.

The book opens (after a brief chapter taking place several months later) with James arriving in Yorkshire, to be the assistant to the eccentric but kindly Siegfried Farnon (yes, that is his name). He becomes accustomed to Siegfried, Siegfried's mischievous younger brother Tristan (yes, that is his name), and the gruff, kindly farmers who eke out a living in the Yorkshire Dales. Pampered pooches who are spoiled rotten, savage pigs who chase Tristan around the farm, a nightmarishly strict secretary who drives Siegfried up the wall, James's car-with-no-brakes, cows running on three cylinders, a sadistic vet who makes James wear a rubber bodysuit, and an elderly, immensely wealthy widow who adopts a pig. And through this, James falls in love with the beautiful Helen Alderson and worms his way into the trust of the farmers.

James Herriot (real name, James Wight) was truly a one-of-a-kind man. He let readers into his head throughout the book, where the cows kick him across the yard, farmers often treat him as an interloper or a nuisance, and his boss gives contradicting orders from one day to the next. But he never loses his drive or his love of animals. (Okay, he hates some animals, but only as individuals) He even lets the readers see him at his worst, when he's humiliated by some recalcitrant livestock, and one horrible scene where he and his date show up drunk and mud-smeared in front of the girl he adores. (Not to mention when Tristan got him to use very feminine-smelling bath salts) But don't think that all of these stories are funny or romantic -- quite a few are aggravating or outright sad. James didn't soften the blows at all.

The people around James are just as fantastic: Siegfried, his weird but genial boss who can kick Tristan out of the house and forget about it overnight; Tristan, the mischievous anti-scholar who usually manages to keep out of trouble; and Helen, who seems a little too saintly at times (which isn't surprising, since James married her). There are a lot of details about surgery and stuff like that that will gross out the squeamish, but at least you'll learn a lot of medical trivia. (For example, what is a torsion?)

It's sweet, sad, funny, romantic, dramatic. "All Creatures Great And Small" (and its four sequels) is a fantastic read for all ages.

This is the most wonderful Bible I've ever owned, and I have tried many over the past 20 years, including a variety of study Bibles.

Although study Bibles do offer value, I think that sometimes there is too much of man's option for me to use these as my every day primary usage Bible. The New Thompson-Chain offers something truly different from other study Bibles... it fully uses God's Word to explain itself without the help of man's opinions. It is an incredible tool to dig deep into the Word of God easily - it can be used by beginners or "road scholars" of God's Word alike. Top of mind benefits are easy to read text, incredibly thorough reference system, the pages just the right thickness, extensive maps, great archeological section, many blank pages in the front and back of the book to write your own notes. But what I like best of all is the unique index system where you can look up a topic and see all the scriptures on that topic printed out together, not just the scriptural references to look up on your own. That way, you can read 10+ scriptures on the topic, all on one page viewing, rather than flipping through 10 or more scriptures.

New King James Version + Thompson Chain Reference = AWESOME BIBLE!

For many years, I searched for the "ultimate" Bible. Being an avid New King James Version reader, we don't always have as many resources available as the King James or NIV people. My most useful Bible study tool is many, many cross-references, which I always looked for in NKJV Bibles that had the most. The Thompson Chain has much more than the standard cross-references. The chain references are just that: you go to the alphabetical index to find your subject, (which there are listed around 4,400 different topics) and you go to the first reference, and simply chain through the scripture references. In other words, they are cross-referenced in sequence order! The topics are as detailed as "blue" and as extensive as "God"; these more extensive subjects are then broken down into various sub- topics. Also, in the back of the Bible, the subjects are listed by title, then all the references are given, and the more main ones are chained throughout the scriptures, and some topics' scriptures are written out in the back also! There are also absolutely no commentaries, nor any conclusions drawn in this Bible! I would 100% recommend this Bible (in any version you use) for those of us who love many, many cross references, and believe first and foremost to compare scripture with scripture (1Cor. 2:13) in Bible studies. For those who like this, this Bible has everything!

I purchased my first Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a new believer back in the 70's. It was and continues to be the best study Bible for those who desire to search out the Word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture. And, the extensive Bible study helps in the back of the Bible do add a rich dimension in addition to the topical chain references.

I was a little concerned about the "new" TCR's as several reviewers mentioned degradations in quality and I certainly didn't like the thin glossy paper I saw in the hardbacks in the bookstore. I was delighted today when I received my large print deluxe leather edition Bible.

The Bible I received has excellent flat, opaque Bible paper perfect for note-taking. And, the binding appears to have stitching in addition to the glue, so I'd say the quality of the binding is fine and should serve one well for years.

One caveat in regard to the large print edition--It is LARGE! Not the print (it's 9 point instead of the regular 8), but the Bible itself. It's not so unwieldy that I would think twice about using it, but if size is an issue for you, check the dimensions and choose accordingly.

I can't say enough good things about this Bible. It has my highest recommendation; you won't be sorry in choosing this Bible.

This book is worthwhile reading. It's fairly brief and recounts the interesting experience of the author as a platoon leader operating near an important contested village in Vietnam, Truong Lam. He details his own struggles and triumphs as he takes control of his platoon and his responsibilities. Since his service was fairly late, starting in August, 1970, he had his share of problems due to the general war weariness of everyone involved. He spared the true identities of the other characters, which I'm sure was appreciated by his company commander and several others.

I didn't rate this a 5 star book because I didn't find the quality of writing to be in the same league as I'd expect from a professional writer. McDonough did a respectable job of writing and used a simple, straightforward style. Still, I thought his experiences would have been more gripping and interesting if he'd had some help from a professional writer. As such, I didn't find it hard to put the book down and was glad it wasn't longer. Basically, I found the writing to diminish the story rather than equal or enhance it. No disrespect to the author, who seems like a fine Army officer and a decent writer. It's just that I think the book could have been better if there had been some writing help.

I'd recommend this book to be read along with On Point by Roger Hayes (spelling?). Platoon Leader is a low level officer's experience and On Point an enlisted man's experience. The two books are similar in strengths and weaknesses and the two authors seem to share a lot of the same attributes.

It is not easy to be a leader if you are young and inexperienced. The book describes how a young officer established his leadership among a group of veterans. He faced a lot of difficulties at the beginning as the veterans perceived him just a "college boy" but they had to put the whole platoon fate to this "boy's" hand. Eventually, Lt. McDonough became a successful leader after he had devoted himself entirely to his platoon and his job.

The inside world of Lt. McDonough had a lot of similarities to mine when I was a probationary police inspector - similar capacity of a Lt. who normally leads a platoon or similar team size of policemen in the Hong Kong Police Force. We both experienced similar things for gaining the trust from our subordinates, we both needed to participate and devote ourselves in order to set good examples to others. We both needed to show firm and strong leadership in order to convince our men of our competence. I will recommend this book to my friends in the Force and I think they will like this book too.

Well I found a book that ranks with Macdonalds' Company Commander, the best military memoir ever. Platoon leader is an unbelievable glimpse into the life of a typical platoon leader sent into the bush of Vietnam. After reading this book it is obvious why the Army chose it as required reading for officer candidate school. Macdonough describes clearly and with brutal honesty his tour as a young LT sent in the fight with no idea what to do. His platoon was on an isolated outpost and has to not only spend the days patrolling but endures the nights of fierce enemy attacks. Here it is described in such a flowing exciting manner that I finished it in one sitting. This is no 'glory of war' type memoir, but a plain portrayal of the senselessness and viciousness of war. Truly one of the classic military memoirs ever written!