Book Description
In this "thoughtful, entertaining, and often insightful" book, a former CIA director explores the delicate give-and-take between the Oval Office and LangleyWith the disastrous intelligence failures of the last few years still fresh in Americans' minds -- and to all appearances still continuing -- there has never been a more urgent need for a book like this.In Burn Before Reading, Admiral Stansfield Turner, the CIA director under President Jimmy Carter, takes the reader inside the Beltway to examine the complicated, often strained relationships between presidents and their CIA chiefs. From FDR and "Wild Bill" Donovan to George W. Bush and George Tenet, twelve pairings are studied in these pages, and the results are eye-opening and provocative. Throughout, Turner offers a fascinating look into the machinery of intelligence gathering, revealing how personal and political issues often interfere with government busines -- and the nation's safety.
Customer Reviews:
CIA CHIEF REVEALS EVERYTHING!.......2006-11-11
Admiral Stansfield Turner's 2005 tome is entitled `Burn Before Reading,' a tongue-in-cheek expose about the often tempestuous relationship between a DCI and his boss, the president, since the agency's creation as the main intelligence gathering agency for the executive branch.
Turner's book offers a realistic, yet sometimes humorous examination of how the DCI works for his president and tries to explain the often combative relationship between each DCI and their respective boss. He candidly reveals that many chief executives did not trust or even like their CIA chief which seems odd because the DCI is hired and works at the president's own behest.
He writes that Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton refused to see their DCI's on a regular basis and Richard Nixon had apparent contempt for his three DCI's whom he viewed as the enemy.
The Watergate debacle occurred on Nixon's watch yet the true role of the CIA in that political scandal have never been fully explained. But, with Gerald Ford taking over after Nixon's resignation, the agency was forced to disclose the `family jewels' of its worldwide covert operations and the nation was appalled at what was revealed.
The CIA was then blamed for all sorts of nefarious activities for the previous thirty years. Some were true, some were fanciful tales. Yet all put a negative light on those working in Langley.
Turner writes that his own time as DCI under the newly elected and CIA reform minded Jimmy Carter in 1977 was a unique challenge because of the many changes in intelligence gathering as required by the new laws enacted by the Congress at that time in an attempt to restore the agency's credibility that took place during his watch.
But he admits that while he was trying to make those changes he was in constant conflict with the military bureaucrats at the Pentagon who wanted matters done their particular way, even if it was to later prove detrimental to a president's specific policy.
Turner's greatest accomplishment as DCI took place during the 1979-80 crisis with Iran when the CIA was able to get six of America's embassy personnel out of Tehran through subterfuge after the rest had been detained by the invading student hostage takers who had overrun the U.S. Embassy.
A Worthwhile Read.......2006-02-28
A great book describing Presidential relationships with their respective DCIs and the Intelligence Community.
Hearing about the dynamics of these personal relationships and interactions beyond the shallow perceptions one gets from the media (printed, internet, television, talk shows) was very insightful and intriguing.
The book would also give the general public a little more of a pause before jumping to conclusions, as they do when watching television news and just reading only headline news. Then again, our short attention spans and selective memories probably wouldn't allow this to happen.
The book is a fast read and is worth your time.
A View From the Inside.......2006-01-17
From his position as Director of Central Intelligence during the Carter presidency Admiral Turner is able to present a view of the CIA from an inside that few of us have seen.
In this book he reviews the relationship between the agency and the president that they served. Sometimes the relationship has been cordial, sometimes you would use other words. Over the years there have been successes and failures, with the failures getting a lot more press.
While the main part of the book is a discussion of the relationship between each of the presidents since Truman and the agency, perhaps the most interesting part of the book is recommendations for strengthening the agency so that it provides more useful assistance to the Government.
His basic proposal is for more of the same. More authority for the director, more budget (of course) more control of the other agencies. There is also a suggestion to tie togeather the fifteen or so agencies that currently collect information. Needless to say, the other agencies have different opinions.
From an outsider point of view, the CIA has become very oriented to collecting intelligence from 'National Technical Means' that is satellites. This worked pretty well when the target was the Soviet Union. It has not worked so well against al Queda or Iraq. Changing the target, the procedures, the languages and perhaps some major changes in philosophy may be needed.
Detailed History of U.S. Spying Operations.......2005-12-29
"Burn Before Reading" is comprised of twelve chapters, each covering relations between CIA directors (or equivalent) and their associated Presidents. Early on Admiral Turner makes the basic point that the relationship between the director and the President is crucial to good intelligence operation.
The "bad news" is that infighting over roles/relationships in U.S. intelligence-gathering and analysis has gone on from the days of FDR (Chapter One). The Armed Forces and FBI have been major opponents in this ongoing struggle, and they still are. Meanwhile, from time to time analysts (or the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) periodically have chosen to go beyond reporting the facts to also making recommendations - making the whole effort subject to political attack.
Curiously, Eisenhower was in a particularly good position to recognize the value of a strong DCI (and did), but allowed the position to deteriorate during his administration because Allen Dulles was not personally interested in such direction.
We've gone from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 to India has the bomb (surprise!) to Pakistan has the bomb (surprise!), to WMD not in Iraq - has our intelligence gotten any better?
Future of the DNI.......2005-10-19
It would be nearly impossible to improve on Robert Steele's excellent review (below) so I won't even try. Instead I'll just mention a few conclusions that this book brought me to.
1. The events of 9/11 starkly illustrated that our Intelligence structure is broken. Infighting, lack of communication, personal rivalries and flawed methods all contributed to the greatest intelligence failure in our nation's history. Rearranging the deck chairs isn't going to fix it.
2. Adm. Turner's book is not about our intelligence failures (as I'd hoped) however; it's a history of Directors of National Intelligence and their relationship to their Presidents. It has been, as Steele noted, a rocky relationship -- and Turner is not above throwing a little monkey poo himself, calling Reagan's transition team "as unbalanced, opinionated, and unwilling to listen as any group I have ever encountered."
3. It is not a foregone conclusion that strengthening the DCI would have prevented 9/11, or any future terrorist act. Undoubtedly it would help, but there's only so much one man (or woman) could do against entrenched parochialism.
4. Nevertheless, both Turner and Steele feel obliged to offer suggestions for DNI strengthening. Steele's idea of making the position independent of the Executive branch has merit, but perhaps puts too much power (and influence over decisionmakers) in the hands of a non-elected official. Turner raises and dismisses both a ten-year fixed term (dismissed for the same reason, essentially) and making it a cabinet position (dismissed as making the position even MORE partisan). Turner's ultimate recommendation, spread throughout the last chapter, is to substantially strengthen the position without changing it, although he does not specify exactly how.
5. Finally, in the Appendix Turner lists the 15 agencies, offices and bureaus which make up the "Intelligence Community." But these are less a "community" than a collection of siloed bureaucracies, each fighting each other over priority and budget -- and therein lies the real problem. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 was intended to address this situation, and if it was allowed to be implemented in full it would do more to resolve the intelligence gridlock, I suspect, than redefining the role of the DNI.
Book Description
His Mission
When six canisters of a lethal nerve agent are stolen from a military testing lab, Admiral Jake Robinson must recover the chemicals -- by any means necessary. He defies convention and decides to infiltrate the compound where religious fanatics have stored the deadly toxin.
His Partner
Dr. Zoe Lange is a biological warfare specialist and an expert in espionage. Zoe agrees to assist Jake on the case, and, posing as husband and wife, they manage to gain access to the compound. But Jake fears his instant attraction to Zoe might compromise the mission.
His Crisis
Their marriage may be a hoax, but Jake's growing feelings for Zoe are anything but make-believe. With each hour he's in Zoe's company, the stakes get higher, the game more real. And the dangers within the compound escalate out of control.
Now everything is on the line.
Customer Reviews:
Kept my attention 3.5 stars.......2007-05-02
I love this authors ability to tell a great love story along with some suspence. Most of the time if the romance is lacking then the action makes up for it. This book was pretty short in comparison to her more recent novels, in addition it focused more on H/H then mutiple charaters ( which is GREAT for me because sometimes her books have way too many sub plots that takes away then adds to the story).
I wont go on about the plot, you can read that from other reviers my only complaint about this book was that Jake being so in love with his deceased wife through out the whole book, he does not realize he can love the heroine, in a different way til the very end. To me, it took away from "great-love" apsect of reading a romance novel. I mainly just felt sad for the heroine because there she was actually falling in love with the much older hero ( YES, it IS believable, I am 29 yrs old and I find Clint Eastwood HOT! Being 29, I would consider myself sane, mature and know what i find attractive. The poor heroine is 29, not 19! )and the hero keeps pushing her away because he's still inlove, and prb always will be. H/H "should've" been Jake and Daisey( deceased wife ).
To me it felt like he was just settling since his TRUE love-of-his-life has passed from cancer. It didnt help that most of the time all he thought of and talked about was his deceased wife. Just seemed so sad. Later when he explains he can love the heroine in a diff way then he loved his deceased wife, to me it seemed lukewarm kind of love. However, it was a good story, different because of the great age difference, I would def consider recommending this book to any action-romance fans.
2nd in series -- good, not as good as the first.......2006-09-12
Admiral Jake Robinson connects with Dr. Zoe Lange to infiltrate compound of religious fanatics to retrieve stolen canisters of lethal nerve agent. Ok -- liked Unsung Hero better
Great hero... boring (and far too young) heroine.. uninspired plot.......2006-09-12
A religious zealot and his cult of merry Montana polygamists have stolen a deadly nerve gas and plan to release it as a political statement. Admiral Jake Robinson decides that it's time to return to undercover SEAL duty to infiltrate the group using his elite "gray" ops group with the aid of Zoe Lange, a beautiful and young CIA agent/scientist.
It's been three years since his beloved companion of 30 years passed away (non-comformist artist Daisy only agreed to marry him just before dying), but this assignment has Jake taking a wife - at least for the mission. He soon finds himself attracted to his "intended." Turns out she's the daughter of the 427th person that Jake's team rescued in Vietnam.
I wanted to like this book. The character of Jake is so charismatic and deserving of his own story after appearing in Crash's story. I loved that Jake still mourned the loss of Daisy and had a difficult decision moving on without her. But at the same time - ick. Zoe was way, way too young for him. And I never got a feeling that she felt anything more than hero worship while he was just itching a scratch after three years of celibacy. It would have been better if her character was at least a little mature, but she was completely petulant and childish throughout the story. And if Zoe said "Holy Mike" one more time...
I wasn't really enamored with the plot line overall - the military action/suspense just wasn't there, and what little there was, was highly implausible. There was very little action in the plot. The fact that the highly trained active duty SEALS were relegated to basically hanging out and playing cards (or watching Zoe on video while chatting about her and Jake's relationship) was a complete joke. In order to fully appreciate Jake's character, read "Hawken's Heart" first which features Jake and Daisy in a secondary storyline, as well as giving insight to Jake's relationship with Crash Hawken.
Readable, But Ultimately Unsatisfying.......2006-08-21
Suzanne Brockmann is a formidable talent, and has written many books that are far superior to The Admiral's Bride. As always, her writing offers many edge-of-your-seat moments, but plot elements and characterization are inconsistent instead of her usual complex, multilayered portrayals. If this will be your first Brockmann novel, start elsewhere. Long-time fans will enjoy it on a certain level--that of a readable diversion--while knowing that they've read far better efforts and can expect far superior ones from this gifted author.
fair to middlin'.......2006-05-10
I don't see this as her best effort (but not her worst, either). I think really the book is too short to get into the kind of character development she does in other SEAL books, and so you might not care as much about these characters as you do in other of her novels. Also, as another reviewer said, the "action" in this book is not believable (and I'm not even in the military, and I can tell). It reads a little like it was written by a teenager living out her fantasy on paper. Lots of thoughts from the main characters on their emotions, but not enough interractions to flesh out why they feel that way.
I was also a little disturbed by the repeated references to how the female lead had had a crush on the Admiral since she was a child. There was only lip service as to that her love now "was so much more" than her hero-worship crush. I wasn't convinced. Seemed to me that they hadn't been around each other enough for her to have other than a crush, and him to have other than a wish to end his celibacy.
Also, as others said, if you don't like may-december romances, skip this one, because the age difference is mentioned frequently (and then wrapped up in a neat little package and tossed aside right at the end).
Product Description
the original navy seals that it started it all!tall,dark and dangerous team ten navy seals!11 volumes in all!bestselling series!!!
Book Description
Book # 2 in the best selling Helmsman saga! Ursis nodded soberly out the Hyperscreens toward the merchant ships, then turned to Brim. "Out there, Wilf Ansor," he brooded, "are real heroes of war. To fight from behind disruptors of warship is something anyone can do. One can always count on lucky shooting to save him from disaster—or heavy armor plate at least. But to face enemy with only black void and thin sheet of hullmetal separating you from disruptors—and then stay in formation—that is kind of bravery we Sodeskayans record in Great Books."
Customer Reviews:
A great sci-fi tale.......2003-11-18
I was a bit hesitant, after reading most of the first chapter, because it seemed like there was a ton of really "heavy" description of stuff, and it was starting to bog down.
But I continued reading, and I was glad I did. Though the "heavy" descriptions may not get any lighter, the pace definitely picks up to a good level. This book is an excellent sci-fi tale, with interesting (not to mention fun) characters, a terrific plot (except for at least one point which I'll bring up later), and an ending which makes you want to read the next book in the series (which I want to).
There was a slight disturbance for me with the relationship between the main character (Wilf Brim) and his love interest. The fact that she decides to continue on with her arranged marriage to another man, and keep Brim around `on the side' seemed to rub me the wrong way. The marriage didn't happen in this book, though, so there's always hope things will turn out for the best.
Plenty of action, a little romance thrown in, and plenty of cool technologies to marvel over make this book a good one in my opinion. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I believe you will too.
Midwest Book Review - an excellent adventure.......2003-11-09
In this re-release of Bill Baldwin's best selling The Helmsman, Timberwolf Press kicks off the Wilf Brim series. If this first installment is any indication, the series should reach best selling status once again. The first paragraph of chapter one was so well written, I read it through three times. This man can write!
Wilf Ansor Brim - the helmsman - is a charismatic character indeed. Through intelligence, skill, and grit he has raised himself from humble beginnings to reach what to most would be an impossible goal. Determination has taken him from life in lowly Carescrian mines to one as officer of the Imperial Fleet. His courage eventually transforms him into a decorated hero of space battles, mingling with royalty in palaces of State.
Wilf Brim is a warrior with the soul of a poet. In The Helmsman, we meet his compatriots - Nik Ursis, the huge Barbousse, Capt. Collingswood - as Wilf sees his first battle action. He soon gains a reputation as one who excels at whatever he's assigned, whether it be blockade duty, ground battle, or rescuing prisoners of war. Through it all he forges strong bonds of friendship, gaining respect from peers and commanders. Oh, and his life is not all battle action all the time. Wilf finds love with Princess Margot Effer'Wyck. The beautiful royal is scheduled to marry another man, but seeks out Wilf to be her secret lover. Does she really love the commoner, or is he simply a pleasant diversion? Maybe we'll find out in future books if Wilf and Margo stay together.
The battle action is tremendous and the characters well defined. Bill Baldwin turns a fine phrase. Whether you are a sci fi genre fan or not, give this one a try.
A Rollicking GOOD Time!!!!.......2003-10-13
This book is the start of a classic, fun, SCI-FI series that you will not regret reading. The Directors cut is worth every bit for its quality, printing and layout. The story is as fun as ever, and is one of those fun books that you can read and reread again and again. It is a lot like the stories of the late Robert Heinlein, in the lines of "The Rolling Stones" and "Starship Troopers". By the time you finish, you will find you do care what happens to Wilf Ansor Brim, will he get the Princess Margot, and what will happen in the Galactic war? The story loosely follows WW1/WW2 history, with many of the grand battles, long deployments, and special missions. It has a lot of the elements of fun and adventure, where Wilf meets up with characters from every spectrum, and beats the odds. Bill Baldwin has created a wonderfully fun series, which ages well, and is well worth the investment. Give it to your kids to read, and get them hooked on reading by having fun, and going back to the days when SCI-FI was an adventure, and not always hooked on deep technical accuracy to explain everything. In the Wilf Brim universe, starships travel faster than light because they can, and Bear like people have replaced Scotty as the ever present "fix it" engineers. Get it, and have fun!!! ...
The readers Triumph!.......2003-09-06
I also first came across this book when it was first published,some 20 years ago, and have reread it probably 100 times since then. It is based on the real experiences of the world between World War One and World War Two, in fact you can easily pick out what is happening in this series, such as the Battle of Atalanta is clearly based on the Battle of Britian. But that does not distract from the enjoyment, as this series has lots of plot twists, heros and villians. But one of the great things is that many of us readers have contacted Bill the last few years and encouraged him to write more books in the series, and he was able to find a new publisher and get the series republished and a new book is coming out!
The Helmsman.......2003-08-23
I picked this book up a little over 20 years ago. I was working a night shift and once I started reading this story I just couldn't put it down. From the very first you can't help but Cheer Wilf Brim on. As you get drawn in to the story you find yourself wanting to fight his battles with him. As Brim flies his way to glory he builds respect and friends in his travels and the respect of the royal family who see his as the greatest weapon in their fight against a tyrant bent on controling the galaxy at any cost. Be warned once you start reading you'll be on the edge of your seat. The rest of this series will hold you captive from book to book and thankfully the next in the series is almost here and all I can say is it has been a long wait.
Average customer rating:
- Helmsman Series , No 7
- a future cover of WW1 and 2
- New Book
- another great book in the series
- Wilf Brin gets nailed...
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The Defiance (Helmsman Series , No 7)
Bill Baldwin
Manufacturer: Aspect
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Baldwin, Bill
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Space Opera
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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THE TROPHY
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Canby's Legion
ASIN: 0446603341 |
Customer Reviews:
Helmsman Series , No 7.......2005-09-29
I was thoroughly disappointed with this book.
First, the switch from 3rd person to 1st person was annoying. It broke the continuity and made it feel like I was starting a new series.
Second, while this started in the earlier books, Wilf completed his transformation from a John Waynish hero-type into a guy who has no problem sleeping with married women. He's not likable anymore. Having his brain "hanging between his legs" was amusing when the character was in his twenties. Now that he's supposed to be in his forties and still can't control himself paints a picture of depravity. In addition, he never seems to get any wiser to the world around him.
Overall, I got the impression that Baldwin was sick of writing these stories and tried to wrap it up quickly and with as much sex as possible. Characters that Brim "loved" at the end of one book were never heard from again in the next and the conclusions to subplots were disappointing at best.
Were it not for the fact that Brim slept with practically every female in the series, I'd at least say that the first half of the series was entertaining enough for teenage space opera, but not much else.
a future cover of WW1 and 2.......2004-12-10
I don't want to say I was disappointed, I thought that maybe, just maybe Wilf would catch a break, but in the end he loses. I am not sure I want the series to go on because he never catches a break. The series was interesting as it followed the end of WW1, the time in between and into WW2 with future weapons the bears as the russians,the empire as germany with there own SS in controllers,the imperials as the British Starfuries being spitfires, it goes on and on. I can't be the only one who could see it that way.
New Book.......2003-02-27
Like many of you, i have despaired being able to continue the tales of Wilf Brim. I have read these 7 books repeatedly, and basically haunted Bill Baldwin's website to get moe news. Recently, it was announced in his website that Timberwolf Press will be releasing the next book, Turning Tide, as well as re-releasing the earlier 7 books again. I cannot wait for it to be available here.
another great book in the series.......2001-11-05
Bill Baldwin keeps getting better. I really enjoy this series: I've read every one of the books many times. The books keep growing on me: each time I re-read them I find more details that I missed the previous times through. The publisher is insane not to be encouraging Baldwin to write the next six books in the series. Hopefully enough fan support will cause them to rethink this foolish decision. This series is great Space Opera: far better then the vast majority of the military sci-fi that gets published.
Other readers have complained about the change in writing style: I get so engrossed in the story that I don't even notice.
The change of technologies over the course of the stories has been particularly interesting: as a military history buff and particularly a navy buff I really enjoy this aspect of the books. I like the fact that while the big ships are no longer dominant the smaller units are still much more substantial than mere fighters: there is no carrier dominance in this universe.
I like the way Baldwin set up the character for more adventures: he's dealing with the same problem David Weber is starting to have with Honor Harrington (too much rank!) in a creative way.
I'd really like to see a Role Playing Game supplement for this universe with pictures of the ships and equipment (and maps): I've thought of running my own campaign in this universe since there's such a tremendous amount of detail in these books, but more information can't hurt (hint,hint)!
Wilf Brin gets nailed..........2000-09-20
Plenty of action and a couple of new characters you will really, really, REALLY hate. A lot. Wilf, like usual, does his job and does it well - but gets back-stabbed. Read it - you'll see.
This was the first book in the series I read, and hunted up the previous 6. All are well worth the read. One warning - the publisher has no plans to renew the series, even though Bill Baldwin wants to - maybe a little pressure from fans would help!
Update: Bill Baldwin has a new publisher. His books are re-released in expanded versions, and a NEW novel is due by 2007. Wilf will be back!
Average customer rating:
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Helmut Schmidt: Helmsman of Germany
Jonathan Carr
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
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General
| Germany
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0312367449 |
Average customer rating:
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Diesel Engine Maintenance (Helmsman Guides)
Peter Caplan
Manufacturer: Crowood
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Naval
| Military
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Repair
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
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| Body & Fenders
| General
General
| Automotive
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General
| Ships
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Repair & Maintenance
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Military Engineering
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Marine Diesel Engines
ASIN: 1852236965 |
Book Description
Everything the boat owner needs to know to keep the boats power plant in good working order. Covers all basic maintenance procedures, explains the workings of turbo-chargers and inteRCoolers, and how marine cooling systems work. Fuel systems, lubrication, converting an ex-vehicle engine for marine use, on-board tools and spares are also covered.
Average customer rating:
- Better second time around.
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The Helmsman: Director's Cut/Special Edition
William Baldwin
Manufacturer: I Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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Similar Items:
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THE TROPHY
ASIN: 0743498135 |
Customer Reviews:
Better second time around........2005-05-14
I am a true fan of the original Helmsman series. My only issue with the original series was way it ended. It seemed incomplete and left me wanting more. I was truly overjoyed when I found out that the author was going to reissue the series with some modifications and complete the series with new book. I eagerly signed up for all the new issues. I was not disapointed.
Average customer rating:
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Black Ralph Or The Helmsman Of Hurlgate
J. H. Ingraham
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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| Literature & Fiction
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Action & Adventure
| Genre Fiction
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ASIN: 141911025X |
Book Description
Ralph's indignant surprise--his fierce wrath may easily be conceived when the brief will was read by the solicitor and the full intention of the deceased testator known. For a few moments he was silent with rage, shame and disappointment. He then strode up to the lawyer, and snatching the will from his hands keenly examined his father's signature which he had given such proof of being familiar with. It was Sir Walter's writing. He then cast the will in the face of the solicitor and strode fiercely towards Edward.
Download Description
Ralph's indignant surprise--his fierce wrath may easily be conceived when the brief will was read by the solicitor and the full intention of the deceased testator known. For a few moments he was silent with rage, shame and disappointment. He then strode up to the lawyer, and snatching the will from his hands keenly examined his father's signature which he had given such proof of being familiar with. It was Sir Walter's writing. He then cast the will in the face of the solicitor and strode fiercely towards Edward.
Book Description
From the wondrous land of France to the coasts of America comes this story of love, passion and romance. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, the narrative is full of adventure that takes place at sea. The escapades of smugglers and the adventures of sailors captivate the reader’s attention. Exhilarating!
Book Description
From the wondrous land of France to the coasts of America comes this story of love, passion and romance. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, the narrative is full of adventure that takes place at sea. The escapades of smugglers and the adventures of sailors captivate the reader’s attention. Exhilarating!
Book Description
From the wondrous land of France to the coasts of America comes this story of love, passion and romance. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, the narrative is full of adventure that takes place at sea. The escapades of smugglers and the adventures of sailors captivate the reader’s attention. Exhilarating!
Book Description
This new, fully updated edition of Emma Guest's acclaimed book explores how the AIDs crisis has devastated the world's poorest continent, and shows how families, charities and governments are responding to the next wave of the crisis - millions of orphans.
Based on extensive interviews, Guest lets people tell their own stories. The result is a moving and disturbing account of the experiences of orphans, street children, grandparents, aunts, foster parents, charity and social workers and foreign donors across South Africa, Zambia and Uganda.
Customer Reviews:
If you read only one book on this topic, THIS SHOULD BE THE ONE.......2007-07-17
Emma Guest is an extraordinary writer and a superlative interviewer. In her capable hands, a tragedy of horrific proportions---almost too enormous for any one person to comprehend---is discussed through the experiences of individual human beings, so that what is a global health disaster becomes a series of brilliant essays about one person and one family at a time. Politicians and World Bank officials are wont to use vast statistics to make their points, whilst a sensitive, extraordinary writer such as Emma Guest has gone into the heart of the continent of Africa to interview, with enormous sensitivity and empathy, the hapless children who, through absolutely no action of their own, have been dealt a tragic hand. This is a rare book by a rare human being, who has used her time in Africa to elucidate the fate of millions through the stories of a well-selected few.
I cannot praise this book highly enough: I can only recommend it without reservation to readers from all countries, but especially the richer nations of the planet, so that they may truly understand the crisis that is afflicting so many innocent children. A truly brilliant book.
One of the most moving books I've read for years.......2001-11-09
Occasionally in the past I've read newspaper articles reporting that there are African countries where one person in four is HIV positive, or where a third of the population is expected to die of AIDS. Somehow, these extraordinary numbers never quite seemed real to me. Until I read this book.
Children of Aids is just a collection of stories, but they are all true, and they are more moving than any fiction I've read for years. There's the Kenyan girl who sells her virginity for an apple, because no one has ever given her a present. There's an extraordinary 17 year old whose parents died of AIDS and who is now left raising her brothers in a dusty South African township. And there's a Zambian grandmother who's lost five out of eight of her children to what she believes is witchcraft.
Guest has taken the trouble to listen to a lot of people's stories, and she recounts them with warmth, sympathy and a page-turning narrative style. Her great achievement is to take a global calamity and show what it means for ordinary individuals.
Books:
- Call It Sleep: A Novel
- Calling Out For You : An Inspector Sejer Mystery (Inspector Sejer Mysteries (Paperback))
- Coaching Youth Baseball: A Baffled Parents Guide (Baffled Parent's Guides)
- Collectivism after Modernism: The Art of Social Imagination after 1945
- Come Closer: A Novel
- Death at Bishop's Keep (Robin Paige Victorian Mysteries, No. 1)
- Death on the Installment Plan
- Design Principles and Problems
- Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins Mysteries)
- Elizabeth Costello
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington
- The Last Dance: Encountering Death and Dying
- Miguel Street
- Rhodesian Ridgebacks
- Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
- The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
- Soil Mechanics and Foundations
- Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mushrooms
- Napoleon III and His Carnival Empire
- Central African Customs and Economic Union Investment and Business Guide
The CIA and Congress: The Untold Story from Truman to Kennedy
My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy(3rd Edition)
State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration
Intelligence and the National Security Strategist: Enduring Issues and Challenges
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