This is another strong addition to the series. Mr. Willis has chosen well in his selections. If you (or your gift recipient)read Outside, Men's Journal or Nat'l Geographic, or if you like the Discovery Channel - then this is a book for you. It's thicker than last year's anthology, a hefty 330 pages that go by quickly. The best part is always seeing pieces you haven't seen before, especially book excerpts, because now I know some books I want for Xmas. Mr. Willis has used tantalizing excerpts that don't always give away the ending, as is his habit and he doesn't summarize the story, so it leaves you wanting more. I will say this - if you do read those adventure magazines during the year, you've seen about half a dozen of the 17 stories already. Oh well. The up-side to that is that you probably didn't save the magazines, but now you have the best work in one volume. Great bang for the buck with this book, or with any book in the series - put them on your 'give' or 'get' list.

Not just "there I was in a whiteout" stories, although those are in there. The sixteen pieces represent attempts on Everest back to the Twenties when Mallory disappeared. They are in chronological order, which is helpful because many of the writers refer to past history in their work. All but three are excerpts, but as always, carefully chosen so that you enter and exit the work without feeling confused. There are selections about the early exploration of Everest and then a detailed third-person account of the first ascent in 1953. Geoff Tabin writes about the dynamics of an expedition and the labor that goes into making even an unseccessful assualt on the mountain. Willis puts an interesting spin on the idea of "survival" by including two interesting accounts - one explaining why the previously strong bond between Messner and Habeler didn't "survive" after their 1978 triumph without oxygen, and a first person account by Maria Coffey, who after losing Joe Tasker to the mountain traveled ther with Peter Boardman's widow to find closure for her own "survival". And there are the epics: Venables' near fatal overnight bivouac on the mountain, Anatoli Boukreev's rebuttal of "Into Thin Air", which cast him in a poor light, an account from Lene Gammelgaard, a less-known participant who nearly died that brutal night in 1996, and my favorite - an emotional yet self-effacing first-person story of that same disaster by Michael Groom, one of the guides, who reflects not only on his own near-death, but the helplessness of a guide who could not save his clients: it was he (among others) who walked away from Beck Weathers and left him for dead. So all in all a great read on many aspects of Everests history, and if mountaineering gets your blood going, don't overlook the earlier series volumes"Epic", "High", and "Climb", all packed with riveting tales of death and survival from mountains around the world.

Heart-breaking, tense and on some level maddening, this is the story of Pete Boardman and Joe Tasker's last expedition. Copious quotes, especially from Pete's diary, give it its emotionally touching quality. Bonington chillingly describes the survivors' long wait and gradual realization that something has gone terribly wrong. No one really knows what happened to Boardman and Tasker, especially since their bodies were later found, indicating they were not killed in a fall as Bonington surmised. This book cannot illuminate the mystery, but can illustrate the magnitude of our loss.

Way more than just the LA Crip/Blood stereotype. That's in there, sure, but Sean Donahue has also chosen really readable selections on soccer hooligans, neo-nazis and the skinheads who are NOT nazis, NY gangs of the 1800's, common street tough gangs, organized drug dealers, kidnap rings in El Salvador, Vietnamese gangs and two fascinating "anti-gang" pieces on a DA who turned to the dark side trying to bust up a gang, and a gang being decimated by drug addiction. It's fast-paced, exciting, and you'll find yourself staying up late to read "just one more" story. My only off-note: regrettably there is none of Hunter Thompson Hell's Angels work; I'd have swapped that for the Clockwork Orange excerpt. But you'll really enjoy what IS in there and probably learn something. About half the selections are full pieces, not excerpts, but the stuff pulled from bigger works is well chosen and you don't feel left hanging. It's just over 300 pages.

This is one of the stongest volumes the series has produced. It delivers what it promises - stories of battle and adventure. You will think you are aboard ship feeling the spray. Great selections - the nonfiction is riveting and the fiction is so strong that it's hard to remember that it's fiction, which it may not be entirely - most of the writers were seamen in their youth and it shows. The selections are well-chosen in that they are closed-ended; you don't feel like you are left hanging at the finish. And as I've said before about this series, the best books- - like this one - leave you looking for the source volumes to read in their entirety. A thick volume as well - this one's over 375 pages. You can even pick up some education when you aren't looking. This one's a great gift even if the recipient doesn't have any other books in the series.

An inspired concept - that presidents in crisis are in an "adrenaline rush". If you doubt that, read this book. May chose tightly written selections that get right to the point - the nation (or the world or even his job) is at stake and the President must make his move. Should Washington use troops to quell an uprising? Can JFK get missiles out of Cuba without a world war? I was fascinated by the summary of Nixon's struggle to duck Watergate blame. The beauty of this volume (like the others) is that you are exposed to great writing you might not otherwise have seen. This volume easily holds its own with the others - it's still survival - just of a different nature. In the interest of accuracy, enlarge the cover shot to see the actual list of authors. The catalog description is a bit off, no Shelby Foote or RFK work - but plenty of strong stuff you'll enjoy.

Ice stories of survival from polar expedition By, Clint Willis is 370 pages and was published in 1999. Is a Collection of short stories about extraordinary people who traveled to the ends of the earth where they faced the most inhospitable conditions. The conditions they faced ranged form raging gales to -78 F to endless crevasses. This book is about adventure and determination. Some of the stories include Sr. Edmond Scot's last expedition, The story of the crew of the Endurance as they made their trip for land after their ship got crushed by the floating ice pack, A story about 24 men and there attempt for survival in the Arctic. Some of the authors of the stories include an interview by Charles Neider of Charles Wright one of the people that turned back on Scots last expedition, Michel McRae, and Marie Herbert. This book was written to inform people about the hardships involved in the people that risked everything for the sake of science. This book is for adventures people who like the cold and ice and exploration.

The story "The Worst Journey in the World" Is about Cherry-Garrard, Henry Bowers and William Wilson and their Journey in the long Antarctic winter for the elusive egg of the emperor penguin. The Emperor penguin is the larges penguin standing about 4 feet high. lay their eggs during the Long winters of Antarctica so that their chicks hatch in the spring and can get a large coat of fur by the following winter. The eggs are balanced on the penguins feet to keep them warm as temperatures are as low as -78 F. When the penguin leaves to fetch food the childless penguins all run to nourish it and in the process many of the eggs are squished. Scientists believed at the time that the Emperor penguin's egg may hold the key between birds and reptiles. Cherry and his men set out to Cape Crozier where ships and expeditions have confirmed that the cape is an Emperor penguins hatching ground but they have only found chicks. The trip to the cape is very difficult in daylight and they went in the winter where there is little daylight if any. They some how survived the -70 F temperatures and wind but they did bring back a few eggs which were then examined.

This book is about Antarctic and Arctic expeditions. Not all of the Stories end happily but the risks are known and if the risks weren't taken We may not have all the things we have today. They also were very caring people and would sacrifice them selves for the greater good as Otis said "I am going outside and I may be some time." There was a raging blizzard going outside and he was very weak and knew the end was near. He did not want to be carried at the expense of the others. These people also care about the environment for they would hate to see the last truly wild places on the planet being ruined. Edward said "we practice no trace camping to preserve this last part of the united states, Alaska.

I have learned a lot about this subject one thing that I learned form this book is that we need to take care of this planet because if we don't we could lose everything. People are so desperate to earn $$$$$$$$$$ that they will go to the harshest of climates and the most unspoiled parts and ruin them. I also learned that people do extraordinary things when they are desperate. They will die to keep the others alive. People partake in polar expeditions for many different reasons but all come back with a new understanding and a new attitude towards others. I also learned about how the emperor penguin egg survives the long cold Antarctic winters. This list of stories changed the way I look at things It is truly a great book.

Ice stories of survival from polar expedition By, Clint Willis is 370 pages and was published in 1999. Is a Collection of short stories about extraordinary people who traveled to the ends of the earth where they faced the most inhospitable conditions. The conditions they faced ranged form raging gales to -78 F to endless crevasses. This book is about adventure and determination. Some of the stories include Sr. Edmond Scot's last expedition, The story of the crew of the Endurance as they made their trip for land after their ship got crushed by the floating ice pack, A story about 24 men and there attempt for survival in the Arctic. Some of the authors of the stories include an interview by Charles Neider of Charles Wright one of the people that turned back on Scots last expedition, Michel McRae, and Marie Herbert. This book was written to inform people about the hardships involved in the people that risked everything for the sake of science. This book is for adventures people who like the cold and ice and exploration.

The story "The Worst Journey in the World" Is about Cherry-Garrard, Henry Bowers and William Wilson and their Journey in the long Antarctic winter for the elusive egg of the emperor penguin. The Emperor penguin is the larges penguin standing about 4 feet high. lay their eggs during the Long winters of Antarctica so that their chicks hatch in the spring and can get a large coat of fur by the following winter. The eggs are balanced on the penguins feet to keep them warm as temperatures are as low as -78 F. When the penguin leaves to fetch food the childless penguins all run to nourish it and in the process many of the eggs are squished. Scientists believed at the time that the Emperor penguin's egg may hold the key between birds and reptiles. Cherry and his men set out to Cape Crozier where ships and expeditions have confirmed that the cape is an Emperor penguins hatching ground but they have only found chicks. The trip to the cape is very difficult in daylight and they went in the winter where there is little daylight if any. They some how survived the -70 F temperatures and wind but they did bring back a few eggs which were then examined.

This book is about Antarctic and Arctic expeditions. Not all of the Stories end happily but the risks are known and if the risks weren't taken We may not have all the things we have today. They also were very caring people and would sacrifice them selves for the greater good as Otis said "I am going outside and I may be some time." There was a raging blizzard going outside and he was very weak and knew the end was near. He did not want to be carried at the expense of the others. These people also care about the environment for they would hate to see the last truly wild places on the planet being ruined. Edward said "we practice no trace camping to preserve this last part of the united states, Alaska.

I have learned a lot about this subject one thing that I learned form this book is that we need to take care of this planet because if we don't we could lose everything. People are so desperate to earn [money] that they will go to the harshest of climates and the most unspoiled parts and ruin them. I also learned that people do extraordinary things when they are desperate. They will die to keep the others alive. People partake in polar expeditions for many different reasons but all come back with a new understanding and a new attitude towards others. I also learned about how the emperor penguin egg survives the long cold Antarctic winters. This list of stories changed the way I look at things It is truly a great book.

ICE

Stories of Survival from Polar Exploration

Ice: Stories of Survival from Polar Exploration was written by Clint Willis. The book was published by Thunder's Mouth Press/ Balliett & Fitzgerald Inc. It was published in New York and copyrighted in 1999. Ice is about survival from polar exploration, although not all end up surviving. This book is meant for people that have an interest is survival and the polar regions. Its basic pupose is to tell stories otherwise publicly forgotten, that depict the hardships of polar exploration as well as how a few explorers survived them.

A number of the stories presented in this book have an ecological context. In many of these stories, the expedition's purpose is to record the climate and biological ecosystem in the area. Mr. Willis portrays in this book a relationship of the explorers, extremely violent conditions of the area, and the local ecosystem.

"October 22d, Saturday. - One hundred and thirty-second day. Too weak to carry the bodies of Lee and Kaack out on the ice. The doctor, Collins, and I carried them around the corner out of sight. Then my eye closed up." This is an excerpt form The Voyage of the Jeannette. It depicts the great fellowship between the explorers. The men who carried out their dead friends were starved, weak, and frost bitten. Yet, out of respect and fellowship, they took their friends outside around the corner out of sight.

"The pounding of the steely ice jarred his knees, and he felt the skin split; snow crammed his gloves and crept into his clothing. He kept crawling, lugging the weight across the snow, his whole concentration focused on making the distance." This is a passage from Mawson's Will. It exposes the harsh conditions he was forced to struggle through.

"...so they were able to see the birds, about a hundred of them, mournfully huddled together, trying to shuffle away from the intruders without losing the eggs from their feet and trumpeting with curious metallic voices." this is a section from A Bad Time. It is describing the penguins as they try to protect their precious eggs balanced on their feet.

This book was written is of the highest quality in reality and in entertainment. I feel it is scientifically sound because these are factual stories, first hand notes of experiences in a hostile environment. The people this book writes about were real scientists and explorers that were trained and educated to embark on these journeys.

The book Ice is a window into the world of the polar regions and gives first hand experiences of its unforgiving nature. It has spellbinding chapters from 15 other manuscripts. It is a must read for all.

Only the most ardent organized crime reader probably won't find something new in this collection of short stories dealing with reader fascination with dangerous lifestyles. This sampler of mob-lore covers stories allegedly by the folks who lived and died it, and some history to add dessert to your meal.

For those who like the relative safety of their reading chair, we get a step-by-step process of the so-called "hit men" of the mob. They are so-called because most members who have reached any decent level of leadership have all done at least one hit, so the true full-time professional is not that common. For this profession though, we do get an evolution of the man, and his general techniques.

The stories here are excerpts from other works, so if your a mob junkie, you might have read a lot of it already. I previously had read the Sammy Gravano book that contributed this excerpt. You not only get a sample of the self-admitted bad man, but also a taste of what I didn't like in the full-length book, which was a constant jabbering of what a decent, honorable guy Sammy really is. This book, was, of course, before the guy got busted out West for running meth labs while in witness protection.

My favorite of the "true life" stories was the one that inspired the movie "Donnie Brasco". Here we have the story of how a guy had to sacrifice a lot of family time over a period of years to do his undercover work, even once having to spend Christmas with mobsters when he promised his own family some quality Holiday time. The book I'm reviewing is good because now I want to read the whole "Brasco" saga.

In the history part, we do get a brief glimpse of how this whole type of society came about. True, the people of Italy were extremely oppressed at the time of it's formation, but it also tells how the local culture first establishes male "honor", then expects him to prove it via competition, and if you won by using your own rules, that made you that much more of a worthy opponent. To his credit, the editor of this compilation does not glorify this behavior, and makes it clear to the audience that any honorable "codes" only last as long as is convenient for anyone involved.

Overall, I think that this book was exceptional. The stories contained are, for the most part, gripping and real. I couldn't put the book down when I read the story by "Joey", the anonymous hitman. The most exciting thing about this book is the reality of it. The mojority of stories contained are about real people and real things. I recommend this book to everyone

Fans of The Sopranos, the Godfather, and mob/crime fiction/nonfiction will find this Clint Willis-edited book a virtual Hometown Buffet of delicious crime treats. If you like mob fiction/nonfiction and don't read this you deserve to wake up with a horse's head in your bed.

A sign of this book's huge success is that it truly leaves you wanting more. You'll be so fascinated that you'll DEFINITELY want to go to each of the primary sources and read them too. It's a fast, fascinating read: chapters comprised of well-edited excerpts from books, magazine articles and two works of fiction.

I was especially fascinated (and motivated) by the excerpt from the fictional (I think) Godfather. I read the book when I came out, saw the flicks a zillion times but realized in reading this excerpt how great the original book was and how it differs from the movie (the Michael character actually seems stronger in the original story). I'll be re-reading that book soon.

Every chapter is a gem and there are too many to go into here. My favorites included Peter Maas' excerpt from Underboss, the story of Sammy the Bull Gravano; an excerpt from mob hitman "Joey's" book Killer (the code of honor, precisely how he makes a hit with such efficiency and low risk); part of Nicholas Pileggi's Casino, describing how a horrified businessman one day found himself cemented to mob-connected business partners; Defending the Mafia, the eye-opening and ultimately sad story of mob lawyer Gerald Shargel's use of his considerable talent to keep mafiosos out of jail; part of Boss of Bosses, the bittersweet saga of aging Don Paul Castellano, eventually murdered by ambitious John Gotti's skilled associates; and the saddest and most poignent piece of all, Jeffrey Goldberg's The Don Is Done, about the lives of children of bigwig mafiosos.

This book MOVES. And it'll send you scrambling to read more. A MUST to read or to gift.

Willis has a genius for searching climbing literature and coming up with gripping passages to incorporate into his anthologies. Some readers will find that they already own most of the original books, making the anthology unnecessary. However, for those who only like the exciting bits, or who don't want to collect dozens of volumes, Willis' works are perfect. The latest installment continues to incorporate writings on many different climbing styles and historical periods, both fiction and nonfiction.

This is a great compilation of climbing stories. Some are inspiring while others will make you think about whether this is really something you want to be doing. Also highly recommended for those addicted to mountaineering literature is the editor's book "Epic" for more of the same...

As you can see from the table of contents and the editorial reviews, this book contains writings by lots of great mountaineers and climbers. Many of the authors discuss experiences when they have had to deal with fear, loss, and the difficult question of risk; they also share some of the lessons that they have learned from years of being challenged by nature and other people. Willis' compilation includes a selection of both fictional and true stories that I found to be a balanced combination of very funny, poignant, sad, and--best of all--inspiring. Reading this book really made me want to get outside! One of the convenient things about this book is that the stories are rather short, so it's easy to pick it up for a brief escape from the hustle and bustle of the city...There is also a bibliography so one can read further about any of the stories, if one chooses.