dang. I dunno what else to say about this book. This is the most amazing, beautiful thing I've ever read. The book was written for children, but it is certainly something anyone can appreciate. It has a simple, charming, beautiful story, illustrated with some of the most amazing artwork I've seen in a book. A 1800's professor wishes to prove to his colleagues that mythology and imaginary things are important. So he and his two daughters set off for this fantasy land aboard the ship "Basset" who's motto is "Credendo Vives" by believing, one sees. As the story unfolds, the reader learns an unforgettable lesson about faith.

As a lover of fantasy stories, mythology and art I found this book to be amongst the absolute best!. As a female my one complaint used to be "where are the adventures for girls? " Now we have "Cassandra" and her sister who travel on the Basset and have wonderful adventures.

Now we have everything you could possibly want in a book, great drawing, great charecters and a great story that leaves you satisfied yet wanting more.

Girls and Guys of all ages should get this book. If you have kids get it. If you dont have kids get it. I have purchased several copies as gifts, for a new grandmother to read and share over and over with her grandchildren. For a friend to make her and her husband smile. For a set of twins to let them travel togeather.This book is for everyone!

Take a trip with Cassandra and the wonderful crew of the Basset, climb aboard and sail away. The characters will linger with you forever and you will learn that "to believe is to see".

Please Mr Christensen write more!

Christiansen did a fascinating and exceptional job on The Voyage of the Basset! The story is phenomenal; taking you through a dream world full of magic, imagination, and wonder. What a great book! And no matter how wonderful the book is, the paintings are absolutely exsquisite! They are all beautiful! I have to tell you to buy it and read it right now! You're going to love it! And if you loved this book, I know more that you are going to love! Dinotopia (James Gurney), Dinotopia: The World Beneath (James Gurney), The Goblin Companion (Brian Froud), Good Faeries/Bad Faeries (Brian Froud), and Faeries (Brian Froud)! I know you're going to love them all! Enjoy!

An honest review of the author's life and coming to terms with his relationship with his abusive father, and men in his life that shaped his coming to learn to understand him self. A book that handles facts that many of us face. A book well worth reading and discussion with friends.

A beautiful book in which alot of us can idnetify with by being gay. It is an enlightening book, discovering about a persons life in the beginning and revolving throughout the years. A book about courage, shortcomings and and turning your life around into being successful. From the varied relationships of the writer, and coming about to finally find himself as a person. The book lets you think about the writers experiences and comparing his life to many others being gay. I have recommended this book to many friends, and they find it hard to put the book down. An inspiration to us all.

The struggles we find ourselves in while becoming men are numerous. The struggles we find in being a man and being gay are even more numerous. Add to this growing up in a broken home. The odds are surely stacked against us.This book covers the life of a man that could be any one of us or are best friend.Randy had all odds stacked against him. A abusive and alcoholic father, a mother that could only protect him by taking the abuse herself. Coming to terms with his own sexuality Randy overcomes and gives hope to all who struggle with being gay.This is his life story filled with sorrow, lovers, friends and finally hope and strenght and success. I will read it again. OH yea!

I've just finished reading "Push Not the River" by James Conroyd Martin. I couldn't put it down. Mr. Martin's characters were fully fleshed out members of their era, but they spoke with a universality that rings true today, 200 years later. Mr. Martin has a command of the English language that is rarely seen in contemporary novel writing. He has meticulously built his novel and researched his subject matter so well that he made me feel I was a Polish patriot fighting for my life and the very existence of my country against the ruthless invading armies of Poland's neighboring empires. "Push Not the River" is an engaging and exciting book. I was a child of the 60's, a decade when ubiquitous Polish jokes were taken for granted as humorous, harmless and accurate depictions of Poles, their abilities and their place in history. Mr. Martin educates us by obliterating those stereotypes and misconceptions. After reading "Push Not the River" and learning of the nobility of these progressive, proud and oppressed people I'm ashamed for every Polish joke I ever told or laughed at.

This historical novel by James Conroyd Martin is based on the true story of Countess Anna Maria Berezowska, a young woman who lived through the tumultuous events in Poland during the years 1791-1794. The author discovered the diary that had been kept in sealed wax for almost two centuries by the Countess' family, and has been researching the historical period it covers for the past 25 years.

I was immediately drawn into the story of the young Anna Maria and the dramatic events that shaped her life. Orphaned at 17, she's sent to live with her aunt, uncle and cousin Zofia who is her own age. These two young women are very different and there is conflict between them throughout the book. However, the author's skill in developing Zofia's character kept the story from falling into the trap of stereotyping and these two characters emerge as complex individuals.

The story is rich with romance, intrigue, passion and love. And it's all set against a backdrop of Polish history. There's a bridge in New York City named after the patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko, but until now I had no idea who he was. Neither did I think about how the events of the French revolution directly affected the rest of Europe and Poland in particular. I learned about these things in this book as I followed Anna Maria's story, my eyes racing over the pages and holding my breath through her many ordeals. It's a fast and easy read, and, in spite of being 608 pages long I yearned for more when it ended. Hopefully the author will sit fit to write a sequel.

Every country has a history, but few countries suffered the repeated tragedies of Poland. Immersed in a feudal system that oppressed Poland's poor, the nobility became fatally divided. Within this country's class struggle, James Conroyd Martin puts a personal face on the events of the time by introducing the reader to the Berezowski family. In particular, two cousins, Anna and Zophia, battle each other and the country's system of nobility to an end which is both bitter and hopeful. Mr. Martin gleaned his story from the reading and translating of a true-life diary that is almost 200 years old. Written by a woman who lived through many of the trials of Poland during its multiple partitions, PUSH NOT THE RIVER fictionalizes her family's experiences around the tru historical occupations and partitions of the land. Along with the fictional characters, the reader is introduced to some of Poland's greatest heroes and most breath-taking landscapes. The River Vistula seems to work as a beautiful metaphor in illustrating all that divided the sides during that period of time in Poland. Open the first page of this book, and begin to know the Berezowska cousins and their country. It is well worh the effort.

"Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals" is the equivalent of a "Roget's Thesaurus" for supervisors and managers who have to evaluate employee performance on a regular basis. It organizes effective phrases under headings such as 'Communicative Skills" and "Leadership". You pick the most appropriate phrase to describe your employee's performance, e.g. "optimally utilizes all channels of communications", and write the review. Even if you don't want to use phrases out of this book, I've found that it is a good pattern book for brainstorming my own phrases.

The only omission (in my opinion) in "Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals" is the lack of phrases for below average performance. Try "The Definitive Performance Writing Guide" by Douglas L. Drewry for your below average performance appraisals.

I've been writing performance reviews for five years now, and found this to be the best guide ever to help fill in the blanks. Almost every appraisal form requires analysis and precise commentary about the employee's behavior, and this book is well-organized and chock-full of helpful phrases to adapt for just about every performance situation. I also used this book as a resource for a class I teach, How to Conduct Effective Performance Appraisals.

I purchased a previous edition of this pocket handbook some years ago and replaced it recently with this newer edition..

I get the impression that this thoughtful and well laid out guide was originally for use in the military and other government agencies. It is a very useful tool for allowing your own creative juices to work for you when writing up an appraisal.

The best method that I've found for this little guide is start in with an employee appraisal, then scan through the relevant pages when you feel you are at a sticking point and need some time in order to place the correct phrase that just doesn't seem to come to mind at the moment.

Rest assured that taking a break, scanning through this guide for a while, and then putting your work aside for a few hours will result in some very constructive ideas for you..

s/ Patricia Gibbons

Lieber writes about a company that taught its employees to fix prices, steal technology, dispose of waste by mixing it with feed, hire prostitutes for corporate espionage, use shareholder money for illegal campaign donations and other crimes.

Mark Whitacre, president of the bioproducts division, was a very good student and also the FBI's cooperating witness for two and half years. During this period Whitacre was also helping himself to illegal bonuses. Lieber shows the company was aware of the bonuses, yet they denied any knowledge or involvement. Whitacre underestimated the power of ADM's Chairman Dwayne Andreas and landed in federal prison for 10 years. Dwayne Andreas got immunity for himself and other executives for the above mentioned crimes, except his son Michael Andreas and Terrance Wilson who were indicted on one count each of price fixing. They received only 3 years in federal prison camp after bilking ADM's customers out of $100s of millions over the years while the FBI witness got 10 years.

Lieber shows how the government and the powerful Washington law firm of Williams & Connolly worked together to hide all the crimes and make an example out of the FBI witness so no one will ever think about standing up against ADM in the future.

Every American should read this book to realize it is the corporate criminals who operate with impunity and immunity that are the real threat to democracy, yet we are loading our prisons with the young who have made minor mistakes compared to the enormity of ADM' crimes.

If you read one book this year, read "Rats in the Grain." Behind the facade of "ADM Supermarket to the World" a criminal element operated that would have made Al Capone envious. The author reveals how a criminal empire was built on political donations to elected and appointed officials of county, state and federal governments dating back fifty years. It was these connections that kept the chairman out of prison. ADM had the power to thwart FBI investigations, decide who should be indicted, and send the government witness to jail for ten years. They concocted a coverup with the help of devious lawyers from Washington DC. The government witness Mark Whitacre is a hero and also a casualty of a corrupt Justice Department. If it can happen to him it can happen to you. This is required reading!

AGRIBUSINESS ANTITRUST CASE LEAVES WHISTLEBLOWER IN PRISON The book, "Rats in the Grain; The Dirty Tricks and Trials of Archer Daniels Midland" by James B. Lieber describes what Nicholas Hollis, president of the Agribusiness Council called "one of the most important antitrust cases of the century. It certainly was the most important to agriculture." The case developed because one of ADM's highest officials, Mark Whitacre became "one of the most productive...and...courageous" whistleblowers in history," Hollis added. He noted that Whitacre "stood up to two eight-hundred-pound gorillas, ADM with the Andreases and the federal government." He's talking about ADM's primary grandfather, Dwayne Andreas and his relatives. Ironically, the federal judicial system treated the whistleblower more harshly than it treated ADM and its leaders. Whitacre was given up to 10 years of prison (probably until 2007) while only two of his supervisors were tried and given a couple years. One of them, however, was Andreas' only son, Michael (Mick). Helpful in Lieber's 400-page account are various appendices that list people and places linked with white-collar crime close to the case. Despite its lawyer-like detail, this is not a tedious book. It suspensefully chronicles case events. Lieber also includes useful data on U.S. trust busting history. Lieber describes an epic struggle for justice and his part IV, "The Cover-Up" shows how the government avoided giving ADM the usual punishments for such major crimes. It seems justice has yet to be served. This book ought to be require reading not only for every journalism, law and business student who wants to know what goes on in the 'real' world but for every high school class studying the U.S. government. Lieber documents every truth about the ADM scandal. Read "Rats In The Grain!" - end -

I have read this book at least three times. My father gave it to me about two years ago. I remember I couldn't put it down and for days later parts of it kept coming back to me. Not so long ago I started thinking about it again after reading some John Connolly and James Patterson and had to locate the book and read it again, that's the kind of effect this book will have on you. Elliot is up there on a pedestal with Connolly and Patterson and Harris with this book.
It does have some graphic detail and some very gruesome killings but what good is a book without detail??
Mike Culley was a Government agent but is now serving time for lying to congress. His wife killed herself while he was inside and he blames not only himself but holds a serious grudge against those who left him in there. He has a daughter that he has not seen, only because he would not let her come to the prison to visit him there. He gets his chance to be free early when the CIA (his old work buddies) come asking him to track a counterfeiter John Malik, which is the secret identity of a defector that he ran as an Agent in Place in Moscow before getting him out. The CIA convince Culley that he is the only one who can track Malik after he disappears with a wagon load of blank currency paper. They do not however tell him that they also suspect him of being a particularly gruesome and Cold-Blooded killer, one that has been cutting up and mutilating College Co-eds. So reluctantly Culley takes the case, but soon finds out what's really going on when a reporter recognises him. *Enter ex-cop Julie Houser* Together they try to track Malik down but the Plot can only get thicker. As their relationship develops, Malik finds out who is after him and sets about destroying Culley's life by taking the one and only thing that Culley holds dear.
Set at a blistering pace, Elliot doesn't let up for a second and the end result is a book that you will not be able to put down once you begin. Read it and See ;-)

We thought the book, which we understand is Elliott's first, to be an exciting thriller. The villan, not unlike Hannibal by Harris, or Becker by Sandford, was scary in his hunting for further victims. The hero, Culley was left out to dry by his former employers, the CIA, and brought into the hunt to save their face. He meets a reporter who was a former detective and with a number of other interesting characters in the book, the hunt is on!! A very good read!

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK, IT IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIM

I used this book from about pg 200 of Ulysses onward, and I think it's just about indispensable. There should not be any embarrassment in this: unless you know Latin, German, French, Hebrew (together with a good cross-section of literature from all these languages), Catholic & Jewish culture, English literature more or less entire, and (hardest of all) Dublin slang, culture, politics, and all the knick-knacks of daily life from 1904, Ulysses presents many baffling passages. This book helps out with all these things, plus plenty of other stuff: myths, songs, internal reference cross-indexing (for those of us who can't remember that Stephen Daedalus thought of the same Latin quotation 600 pages earlier), Joyce's basic scheme for each section, and more.

There are two failings, and they are minor: (1) there are still plenty of obscure words and phrases that aren't annotated (the introduction acknowledges this) and conversely (2) there are a number of things that don't need annotations that get them (particularly galling are the annotations that simply tell you that they don't know what Joyce is talking about either).

Still, an essential reference, and pretty entertaining in its own right (like flipping through an encyclopedia or Brewer's Phrase & Fable).

Ulysses Annotated is essential for understanding Joyce's seminal work, Ulysses. The Introduction, prefaces and notes explain how to use this book, and suggest why and how it was compiled. Each episode is preceeded by a map that helps the reader to visualize the movements of Bloom and Stephen throughout their journeys. It is somewhat difficult, even for a well-read student to understand Joyce's allusions without a reference guide book like Giffords.

Also recommended: REDEFINING THE 'SELF': SELECTED ESSAYS ON SWIFT, POE, PINTER, AND JOYCE by John Condon Murray

"Ulysses Annotated" is an essential Book for reading, and understanding Ulysses, and the previous four reviewers are right on the mark. It is impossible, even for a well read reader to understand Joyce's allusions without this extremely well presented, and well priced, Reference book.

Introduction, prefaces and notes explain how to use this book, and how it was compiled. Each episode is preceeded by a map of where the action takes place helping the reader to visualize the movements of Bloom and Stephen. Each entry is preceeded by the Chapter Number and Line Number according to the Gabler edition of "Ulysses". In addition, a fairly comprehensive index cross-references all entries. If the reader wants to find all allusions pertaining, for example, to the Book of Luke, these can be easily found. I found this Index quite useful.

Personally, I found the following method best for using the book. First, to skim through the allusions, marking those of particular interest, and then laying the book side by side with the Novel and reading the Episode.

As for realiability, I took Gifford and Seidman up on their offered Short Title List, and was able to find almost every reference, including "Thom's Official Directory of the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Ireland for the Year 1904", and have found them to be reliable in their entries.

This Book should suffice for reading, and understanding Ulysses, though many a reader may get caught up by Joyce, as I did, so that the following may be useful: Weldon Thornton: "Allusions in Ulysses", Richard Ellman: "James Joyce", Harry Blamires: "The New Bloomsday Book", Stuart Gilbert: "James Joyce's Ulysses", and of course "The Riverside Shakespeare", "The Oddyssey", and the Bible.

This book is powerful and unsettling at the same time. But that's a good thing, that's just what America needs, a sharp wake up call to the realities and horrors of racism. James Baldwin's commentary on race relations in America rings truer now than when first published. What he says may sound militant, but his words of wisdom coupled with his observations speak volumes. He doesn't just voice his ideas and then leave the reader hanging, no, he offers suggestions about problems that have to be resolved and realities that need to be faced before this country can move forward as a truly United States of America. James Baldwin stands out not only as a superb writer but also as a contemporary philosopher. I would recommend this book along with Mr. Baldwin's fictional masterpieces, "Giovanni's Room" and "Another Country" as a means of discovering this mans exceptional talent.

Perhaps the most significant indictment on racism in America written in the twentieth century, The Fire Next time ignites the mind and soul, causing the reader, whether black or white to reexamine the state of human relations in this country. With the intensity of a million flames and the insight of a prophet, Baldwin details the struggles faced by African Americans (American Negroes then) in a culture that has brutalized, vilified, and rendered us powerless. His insight into the white psyche and its dehumanizing effect on African Americans is frightening and yet as real today as it was in 1962 when this essay was published. How unnerving it was to read this book in 1999 and be faced with the realization that some 37 years later we as a nation are no closer to bridging the racial divide in this country.

I particularly applaud Baldwin for his eloquent discussion of what must be done, by both black and white America to release this country from the shackles that prevent us truly becoming the greatest nation on earth (in deed, not just rhetoric). I highly recommend this book as a must read for the country. In 1962, Baldwin's level of candor may have been somewhat off-putting to white America (the government considered him a Communist), for the truth can be an awfully bitter pill to swallow. Still, it's my hope that at that some point, white America will reckon with their own physiological, spiritual and political ills. Until then, African Americans must continue to hold a mirror before the face of injustice of this nation, while struggling to claim a place in a country that seems dead set on keeping us a drift.

Originally published in 1963, James Baldwin's, "The Fire Next Time", is an indicator of what society was like as many viewed it, and forces questions about the degree of change that has happened since he originally wrote the work. The position or the perspective of the reader, will greatly affect how each reader reacts. One issue that I do not believe can be doubted is that this is a powerful, and passionate book, written and published at a time the Author risked all manner of hatred and violence upon him. Published when Mr. Baldwin was 39, the book is not the rose colored view of youth, nor the writing with an entire lifetime to reflect upon. It does not suffer from the first, nor does it fall short do to the latter. It is writing that will elicit powerful emotions by all those who read it.

Great change for the better has taken place. Former Joint Chief Of Staff Colin Powell will soon occupy the most powerful post ever held by a person of color in this Country's History. This was probably unmanageable in 1963. However this example does not represent the state of change in our Society. As an argument for how much change has taken place for the better between the races, a person pointed out to me the march on the anniversary of the sick events in Selma Alabama, and the lack of any violence. My feeling was that if the President Of The United States had made the same march with the same people in 1965, as the President did recently, the violence would surely have been different. The participation of The President and all that surround him tend to minimize Civil Rights abuse in his presence.

There is no definitive measure of how much change has taken place, who is responsible, and who if anyone is to blame. The ease with which "The Race Card" is played by individuals of any color, at any level of our Country may not measure change, but it certainly does indicate that whatever change is needed is not yet completed.

A very powerful work about a conflict that still occupies too much time as an issue in our Nation. This book is one man's views, and his shared personal experiences. He writing is not the final word, but after 38 years, the fact that his work and his thoughts are still relevant, speaks for the work and the man who wrote it.

The back cover of "Devil In the Moon" uses the word "epic" to describe the plot of the book and this entry in the Outlanders series certainly is that, in a series already marked by a number of epic adventures.

I looked forward eagerly to Book One of the "Dragon Kings" and I wasn't disappointed. A lot of major events are on the horizon with this novel, from the beautiful new cover art to the new technology and cutting edge weapons introduced in the book itself. Actually, the interphaser isn't exactly new, but it's a new way to use the device. It's a lot more efficient way to get around than the old mat-trans units. There are also new and even shocking slants on established characters not to mention old mysteries finally revealed.

Like most of the Outlanders books written by Mark Ellis, the pace is at the speed of light, the writing snappy, the background thorough and believable. The dialogue is snappy, witty and as other reviewers pointed out, the characters are back to being themselves instead of the cardboard cut-outs as they were protrayed by the fill-in writer in the previous book.

There is action, adventure and old-fashioned heroics aplenty with genuine cliff-hangers scattered throughout. The scenes on and in the Moon are very ominous and even spooky...and you can't get any more epic than your heroes crossing the face of the Moon and finding the ruins of a long-lost civilization in a crater! A threat hanging above the Moon that menaces all of humanity is a much more epic and frightening menace than a machine that might make food out of the air as in the the last book.

"Devil In the Moon" earns extra points from me for finally explaining the faceless Furies from "Tomb of Time" and introducing the inventive concept of meat-eating robots. The way the carnobots are explained seems technlogically sound even if they seem like something out of a horror movie.

Once I started reading "Devil In The Moon" I did not want to be interrupted by anything. I couldn't put it down. The ending of the novel was a new kind of cliff-hanger and left me frantic to read the next book!

"Devil In The Moon' is as satisfying as a wide-screen Hollywood summer blocksbuster. This is a wonderful book to celebrate Outlanders fifth year and I just hope I can wait for "Dragoneye"!

"Devil In The Moon" is the 21st Outlanders book in the series I'm almost compulsive about.

Outlanders appeals to me the way the sci-fi adventure books like Commodore Grimes, Tarl Cabot of Gor and the early Star Trek novels appealed to me when I was growing up in the late 1960s and early 70s. The Outlanders tales are filled with derring-do, wild action and adventure and with people battling not only an implacable foe but also their own personal demons - and doing it all so wonderfully well.

I have read all the Outlanders books, and they all grace my bookshelves. "Devil In The Moon" is a welcome addition to the continuing saga after the somewhat unsatisfactory previous entry into the series (apparently not written by the regular author).

"Devil In The Moon" sports new cover art and I'm very impressed by the work...it's not as pulpish as all the previous covers. It has a mood and dignity that this series definitely deserves.

The plot itself is somewhat different than the last few offerings as well, with a new technology in use and new relationships between a couple of the established characters--this is almost shocking but fascinating all the same. I'm looking forward to see how it develops over the next few books.

As the title suggests, most of the book is set on the moon, in an abandoned base first mentioned way back in "Parallax Red". But there is apparently more than one devil--one IN the moon and one above it.

The historical and legendary background provided by the writer is fascinating. He very skillfully weaves myth and scientific reality into a whole while never losing sight of telling a compelling story. This particular book combines heroic adventure, interplanetary peril and the in-depth depiction of an alien culture. And of course, like most of the Outlanders novels, it has plenty of sharp characterization and nice bits of humor sprinkled throughout.

This book also seems to be a conscious effort to move as far beyond its companion series Deathlands as it can, with its new cover, new logo and new technology. This is a wise move, to avoid further confusion and contamination.

For anyone who has yet to read an Outlanders novel, "Devil In the Moon" would be a good place to start. But be warned­­they are addictive!

What can I say--I loved this novel! It was indeed a real epic. I've been hoping Outlanders would get back out into space ever since 'Parallax Red' and 'Devil In The Moon' more than meets my expectations. Its full of action and colorful characters and real nail biting suspense, particularly during the scenes where the heroes are crossing the face of the Moon and get out on the "Sea of Ice" and are blinded by the reflected sunlight. And those carnobots--yeesh! A really nasty bunch of droids you won't see in a Star Wars movie!

The writer really knows how to balance characterization, action and plot development--this book and the all the others in the series compare favorably to the best sci-fi novels, movies and TV shows.

The book is not without a sense of humor, particularly in the some the dialogue between the heroes. I particularly liked the scene where Brigid, Kane and Grant are cornered by carnobots and Brigid gets afraid that Grant will lose his temper and jump down to fight them. She warns him, "Don't get any crazy ideas" and Kane says, "Yeah--that's MY department." The opening scenes set in the old mental clinic are pretty funny too with all the psychological jargon thrown around.

And I really liked the surprising development about Lakesh and Domi! The new cover was great too as well as the new technology in use. And the ending!!! Whoa!! When and if Kane, Brigid and Grant get back to Cerberus from this moon mission, they'll be in for a heck of a surprise!!

I realized after finishing this book that even though I liked Prodigal Chalice by Mel Odom, Devil In The Moon proves that only Mark Ellis knows really how to write this series. Every chapter gives us shocks, surprises, spills, thrills and laughs. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the Dragon Kings storyline. Two enthusastic thumbs WAY up!!

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!