Book Club... And Then Some!

59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot
by Richard Wiseman

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In a word: fascinating! 59 Seconds is one of those, “I just couldn’t put it down,” types of books. Having previously cited some of Wiseman’s research on humor in the final chapter of Edgar E. Willis’s book, How to be funny on Purpose: Creating and Consuming Humor, I was already familiar with one area of his research. Other areas include deception and luck. What makes this book utterly fascinating is his ability to distill (and make palatable) thousands of papers (research studies) in psychology, then apply them directly to the way we (readers) live their lives. The way he destroys many of the myths that often are taken for granted, is eye-opening.

Wiseman’s chapter titles reveal how closely the research studies (and his applications of them) relate to our lives: happiness, persuasion, motivation, creativity, attraction, relationships, stress, decision-making, parenting, and personality. How can anyone deny that at least one, and probably more, of these areas relates to his or her life?

Wiseman’s close dependence on scientific studies, while maintaining complete and easy readability, I might add, makes this book a valuable resource and practical guide to change. Wiseman explained his method and approach in this manner: “Over the course of a few months, I carefully searched through endless journals containing research papers from many different areas of psychology. As I examined the work, a promising pattern emerged, with researches in quite different fields developing techniques that help people achieve their aims and ambitions in minutes, not months. I collected hundreds of these studies, drawn from many different areas of the behavioral sciences. From mood to memory, persuasion to procrastination, resilience to to relationships, together they represent a new science of rapid change” (p. 8).

Wiseman’s delightful, sometimes dry, sense of humor not only makes the text engaging, but it makes it entertaining as well.

With the specific, practical tools Wiseman offers, clear reporting of the methods the researchers used, and the delightful encouragement of the author himself, you cannot help but be moved to grow, develop, and change in new purposeful and meaningful directions. His 59-second sections full of useful, applicable advice are thought-provoking and valuable. I remain fascinated! (If you want to see a short video of Wiseman, there is one on the Amazon.com website where his book is advertised.)

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What would Google do?
by Jeff Jarvis

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

I found this book fascinating simply because it challenges you to think. Jeff Jarvis has numerous credentials. He is on the faculty of the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He was the creator and founding editor of Entertainment Weekly. He writes the new media column for the Guardian in London.

What would Google Do? has three parts, and if I was asked which part I enjoyed the most, I would be hard pressed to give an answer, and here’s why. I have always been intrigued by Google, and the first part of the book explains its philosophy in a set of 40 rules divided into 10 categories. For example, his opening section, “New Relationship,” includes 4 rules: 1) Give the people control and we will use it, 2) Dell hell, 3) Your worst customer is your best friend, 4) Your best customer is your partner. This is just one example, of course. But I found great information in the rules, “The link changes everything,” “If you’re not searchable, you won’t be found,” and “Simplify, simplify.” There are many more.

The second part of the book, “If Google Ruled the World.” Jarvis simply applies the rules discussed in the first part of the book to a long list of businesses: media, advertising, retail, utilities, manufacturing, service, money, public welfare, public institutions, and exceptions. In the third part (only 10 pages long) called, “Generation G,” Jarvis focuses on social implications of the new power structure, dramatically democratized by Google's solutions. In one Amazon.com review, B. Mann writes, “While many companies were sleeping, the rules of business changed, at least as it pertains to business built on, or enabled by, the internet. Or maybe not all the rules changed (e.g. Wal-Mart, the big dog, will remain the big dog), but a new set of rules has been layered on top (e.g. small is the new big).

With those new rules (plus, admittedly, luck), Google has become a behemoth, cyberly speaking. In the process, Google helped redefine the fundamental nature of the relationships between seller, buyer, advertiser, and the "middlemen" whose value in society is rapidly evaporating.”

Although there is a bit too much of Jarvis in this book, it is still a worthwhile read. It is not a book about what Google does, but a book of what we can do with Google. And, furthermore, it is not a practical book, a well-organized book, or one that offers a deep understanding, but I think it offers a preliminary look at the way Internet-based relationships fuel a new business model, and I found it enjoyable simply because it is speculative. It makes you think!


Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet
by Ian F. McNeely with Lisa Wolverton

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In this delightful, well-written, and fully documented 276-page (of text) book, with 25 pages of notes, you will discover a wonderful, fully absorbing, history book that, in my mind, completely and satisfactorily answers the question the authors set out to answer: How does history help us understand the vast changes we are now experiencing in the landscape of knowledge? Further, what are the pivotal points of institutional change and cultural transformation from the classical period to the present?

With Reinventing Knowledge you must enjoy an intellectual challenge, it is true, but if you are interested in the key institutions (i.e., the library, the monastery, the university, the republic of letters, the disciplines, and the laboratory) that have shaped and channeled knowledge in the West, this is certainly a book that will both dazzle and exhilarate your senses.

Because of my background in speech communication, I was particularly drawn to the early section in which they explain the public arenas of democratic Athens where competitive speech and writing took center stage, but were considered an inferior path to truth. There was, then, a shift to knowledge as written then, in another shift, to libraries that could produce Homer’s epics as well as the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible — which made knowledge portable. In yet another shift, monasteries arose as key knowledge institutions to not just preserve written culture of the ancient past but create new frameworks for understanding as well.

It was with the creation of universities that knowledge was again embraced and there was an emphasis on performance, use of the spoken word, and the questioning of texts. This is how the authors proceed through the book, and it makes for fascinating reading.

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Speech-Less: Tales of a White House Survivor
by Matt Latimer

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

I immediately sought out this book when I read parts of it at my father-in-law’s house. He had just received Speech-Less: Tales of a White House Survivor as a gift, and I read a portion of it that I wanted to include in the public-speaking chapters of the tenth edition of my book, Communicating Effectively (McGraw-Hill, 2009), on which I am currently at work. What I didn’t realize was what a wonderful, funny, honest (and, generally, non-partisan) work of art this book truly was. I say “work of art” simply because Latimer is such a gifted writer. His insights, insider information, and the examples he uses are truly revealing and enjoyable.

He is so open, honest, and straightforward, and although these are, indeed, Latimer’s own viewpoints and opinions, you quickly grow to trust his perceptions. I was fascinated, as were other reviewers, to read Latimer's views of Rumsfeld, Chaney, Bush, Colin Powell, Condi Rice and many other of the big names in the Bush administration. The book is 294 pages long, and it includes an index. Once you get started reading it, however, you won’t be able to put it down. As a writer of speeches for myself (never for others), I am somewhat awestruck that anyone could get as excited and enthusiastic as Latimer (or any other speechwriter, for that matter) about writing speeches to celebrate non-events. Oh, I realize there is no such thing as a true “non-event,” but what I mean are trivial, commonplace, celebrations of little importance to the world. I guess being close to the president of the United States, working for him directly, and knowing that you have to perform (prove yourself with) the little assignments to get the big ones that have the potential of making a major difference, is sufficient.

It was for Latimer; however, his experience as a speechwriter was disappointing: “Still, I wasn’t satisfied with my overall experience in the White House,” he writes. “I’d hoped I’d come on board, impress everyone, and craft the great speeches I’d dreamed of since childhood. That wasn’t happening. In fact, the speeches for the most part were disappointment. And the speechwriting process at the White House was nothing like I’d expected it to be” (p. 179).

Nonetheless, moving among the power brokers of the world—and being depended upon by them—was a serious “head trip” for Latimer like when he said, “Knowing that I was dying to meet the vice president..” (p. 172). You must understand that I have not just a little distaste, but a huge and overwhelming dislike (revulsion), for the people of the administration of which Latmer writes; however, I must add at once, his “no-holds-barred,” full-disclosure, honest descriptions of all the characters is refreshing. Of Cheney, Latimer wrote, “I liked the guy from the outset. I truly did. And unlike many people in the administration, he never once did anything that caused me to change my mind” (p. 174). His admiration of Cheney and Rumsfeld, I might add, surprises me, just as his total dislike of Colin Powell, Jimmy Carter, and all liberals. But that doesn’t destroy the entertainment value of the book! It is a real pleasure to read great writing that flows well, engages you, and regularly tickles your funny bone.

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Telling lies: Clues to deceit in the marketplace, politics, and marriage
by Paul Ekman

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Telling lies is a book that everyone can read: expert and layman alike. There is no sophisticated vocabulary, scientific terminology, or eloquent theoretical discourses. If you are looking for a specific formula, exact template, or reliable protocol that can be used to investigate or detect liars, this book will serve little purpose because there is no such system. However, if you are looking for a catalog of the wide variety of cues that liars manifest (e.g., words, voice, facial cues, or body), and the results of numerous scientific studies on lying, and examples from politics, sales/business, government, and everyday life that reveal the various cues, this is a delightful, well-written book.

The narrative form that Ekman uses is interesting and engaging. What led me to this book in the first place was some recent research on lying. As reported by Benedict Carey, “Judging Honesty By Words, Not Fidgets,” in The New York Times (May 12, 2009, p. D1), he writes, “In part, the work grows out of a frustration with other methods. Liars do not avert their eyes in an interview on average any more than people telling the truth do, researchers report; they do not fidget, sweat or slump in a chair any more often. They may produce distinct, fleeting changes in expression, experts say, but it is not clear yet how useful it is to analyze those.” The study, according to Carey, draws “on work by Dr. Vrij and Dr. Marcia K. Johnson of Yale, among others,” and was conducted by “Dr. Colwell and Dr. Cheryl Hiscock-Arisman of National University in La Jolla, California. [They] have developed an interview technique that appears to help distinguish a tall tale from a true one.” The actual interview technique is not as important as the conclusion: “People telling the truth tend to add 20 to 30 percent more external detail than do those who are lying.” When liars concoct their prepared deceitful script, it is tight and lacking in detail, whereas those without a deceitful, previously prepared script, recall more extraneous detail and may even make mistakes. “They are sloppier,” say the researchers. The researchers point out that their interview, content-based approach does not apply to individual facts, may be poorly suited for those who have been traumatized and not interested in talking, and it is not likely to flag someone who changes one small but crucial detail in a story.

The point is that in the interview, content-based approach, those who seek to detect lies are not looking for specific nonverbal or verbal clues; they are looking more holistically at content. This “new” science is evolving fast says Carey.

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Life is a verb: 37 days to wake up, be mindful, and live intentionally
by Patti Digh

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Digh’s book, Life is a Verb, is arranged around her six-point guide to life that includes intensity, inclusion, integrity, intimacy, intuition, and intention.

The following is an accurate “product description” for this book: “Within these pages—enhanced by original artwork and wide, inviting margins ready to be written in—Digh identifies six core practices to jump-start a meaningful life: Say Yes, Trust Yourself, Slow Down, Be Generous, Speak Up, and Love More. Within this framework she supplies 37 edgy, funny, and literary life stories, each followed by a “do it now” 10-minute exercise as well as a practice to try for 37 days—and perhaps the rest of your life” (Amazon.com)

Of the book, Sarah Morgan of Stewartsville, NJ, said: “The writing exercises are excellent, bite-sized, and spur you to much deeper consideration of the topics. And the writing itself is funny, real, down-to-earth and extremely moving. I've bought one copy and will buy several more as gifts.” Morgan has put her finger on an important aspect of this book: It is either a gift-wrapped present (because of the fancy presentation and original artwork that makes the book stunning) to yourself or it can be a brilliant choice (because of the vibrant colors, various fonts, poetry, and artistic designs) as a gift for someone else. This is one of the best conceived, imaginatively produced, creatively expressed, and sensitively presented books I have ever read.

Artybeth from Colorado writes in her brief review of the book, “The writing is wonderful and I've seen so many things I've not seen before. Her insights and observations immediately put one in tune with their inner creative self and there [is] much food for thought. It has a beautiful layout and visuals including wonderful quotes trailing along the pages.”

Digh’s writing is outstanding, the quotations she adds are delightful, the artwork is sensational, her examples are captivating, and her “Action” boxes and “Movement” suggestions are practical and useful. Overall, your senses will be assuaged, your feelings will be soothed, and any harsh or violent thoughts you have will be calmed as you read — really absorb — this wonderful creation.

Married to Africa: A Love Story
by G. Pascal Zachary

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Married to Africa: A Love Story is a fascinating story about contrasting cultures. It is the zoo located in Accra, Ghana, where Zachary meets Chizo Okon, and this book is about their warm and humorous story. I found the in-law introductions by both partners captivating and truly priceless. Zachary depicts life in Africa—the spiritual fervor of some Africans, the mysterious power of juju, and the rewards of eating bushmeat and other African dishes (from the front book jacket). What it was like being white in a black society offered information and insights just as how Chizo experienced being very black in San Francisco. The vignettes are both wacky and wonderful, such as when police mistook Chizo for a black male robbing Zachary’s house, surrounded the house, and saw her come to the door which a large knife in her hand—not out of self-protection or malice, but because she was using the knife in the kitchen. Driving without a licence, charming a stern Jewish mother-in-law, and managing requests from poor relatives in Africa are among other delightful vignettes. If you enjoy love stories, cultural comparisons and differences, and are looking for a witty well-told tale, this book will suit your reading interests just fine.

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Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to embrace the hidden strength of positive emotions, overcome negativity, and thrive
by Barbara L. Fredrickson

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In her review of the book, Bonnie Snyder says, “For me...reading this book narrowed the gap between the major premises of many faith traditions and science. If you are a skeptic she has the numbers that really document how positive emotion shifts your ability to see more options, be physically healthier and how to feel better.” Although there is little doubt that this is a self-help book, Fredrickson does not just use anecdotal evidence to support her ideas. She uses lab research results in addition to other scientific evidence to illustrate her findings. As the review in Publisher’s Weekly noted, “The book includes compelling case studies, concrete tips, a Positivity Self Test and a tool kit for decreasing negativity and raising the positivity ratio.“

The book is divided into two major parts. The first deals with her research on positivity, and the second, application of the research and how to increase a reader’s positivity ratio. There are 10 forms of positivity that Fredrickson discusses — joy, gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, and love. Her examples are fascinating, her writing style is engaging, and the background and research she brings to her ideas is impressive. In addition to discussing the 10 forms of positivity, also she examines techniques for increasing positivity such as savoring, finding positive meaning, gratitude, kindness, hope, flow experiences, connecting with others, mindfulness, developing distractions, and positivity portfolios. There is something here for everyone.

One thing you will discover as you dig deeply into this book, changing a positivity ratio (trying to achieve a 3 to one ratio) is not an easy, overnight task. Fredrickson uses the analogy of changing the course of a river. It not only takes time, but it takes a great deal of effort as well.

I thought that Annie, a reviewer of the book from Modesto, CA, said it very well, when she said, “‘Positivity’ living is thriving, flourishing, appreciative living. It's looking for what's good and what's right in each person and situation.” That is what this book is all about, however, what you get after reading the book is a solid understanding of, a firm foundation in, and a convincingly sound approach to achieving a positive approach to everyday living. I highly recommend this book.

Find Positivity at Amazon:
Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive

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Ecological intelligence: How knowing the hidden impacts of what we buy can change everything
by Daniel Goleman

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This book can be reduced to its ultimate simplicity: reduce consumption, and buy smartly. If nothing else, this book will cause you to become aware of the choices you make when you purchase “stuff,” and, at the same time, educate you in how to become more socially responsible. Mark Mccaffrey, from Lafayette, CO, concluded his review of this book by saying that the approach Goleman takes is “well reasoned, well presented investigations into "stuff" in all its shapes and sizes, providing fresh insights into the complexities and hard choices that must be made at all levels of society in order to turn the tide of waste and social/environmental degradation and foster the new energy economy with resilient, sustainable communities.” The examples are interesting, the writing style is engaging, the insights offered are instructive, and, overall, the book is a worthwhile purchase — especially for those unaware of the environmental footprint they are making as a result of the choices and decisions made when purchasing “stuff.”

Find Ecological Intelligence at Amazon:
Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookClubAndThenSome.com website.

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Embracing the wide sky: A tour across the horizons of the mind
by Daniel Tammet

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This book could easily be called “self-help for the brain” — as one reviewer of the book noted. Written in a simple, engaging style that is straightforward, Tammet (an autistic savant) offers his insights, research results, and opinions much as a professor lecturing to students; however, you must not allow this approach to render the book unapproachable or difficult. Indeed, this is a primer on the human brain, and through Tammet’s descriptions, you will quickly discover the immense potential we all possess.

I was fascinated with Tammet’s explanation of how he recited the mathematical constant Pi (3.141) from memory to 22,514 decimal places, or how he remembers the dates of the kings and queens of England or the presidents of the United States. This book allows you inside the mind of a savant as much as it educates you in how the mind developed, works, and can work more effectively. His insights on language and the language instinct, and numbers and the numbers instinct, creativityas a result of hyperconnectivity in the brain, are both instructive and astounding. The stories, examples, studies, and personal experiences will hold your attention.

His challenge to readers can be captured on page 219, where he says, “[Cultivate] a healthy curiosity about yourself and the lives and the world around you. Never stop asking questions, even if the answers seem far removed from your ability to immediately glimpse or grasp them. Find joy in learning.”

This is a fascinating, gripping, and highly informative book that I highly recommend.

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Rules of thumb: 52 truths for winning at business without losing your self
by Alan M. Webber

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Here is one of those books you can pick up, read a little, learn something new, then put down until you have another moment. The brief essays/rules are stimulating, accurate, and interesting, and because each is supported with an example, story, personal experience, or fascinating anecdote, the book will both grab your attention and hold it. From the front flyleaf, it describes the rules as “a collection that is as wise as it is useful and as honest as it is helpful.” Some of the rules that I found useful and instructive were, “Learn to take no as a question,” “Facts are facts; stories are how we learn,” “The soft stuff is the hard stuff,” “Words matter,” “Everything communicates,” “Everything is a performance,” “Don’t confuse credentials with talent,” “Failure isn’t failing. Failure is failing to try,” and “Take your work seriously. Yourself, not so much.” This book is a joy to read, and having it at arm’s length means you can read it and read it and read it — whenever you choose. It’s truly a gem of a book.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

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Get Motivated! Overcome any obstacle, achieve any goal, and accelerate your success with motivational DNA
by Tamara Lowe

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

This is exactly the kind of book to which I am not attracted, especially when you read the lengthy subtitle or when you notice that for a book of 267 pages of text, there are only a meager 25 endnotes total for the whole book. DNA stands for “drives,” “needs,” and “awards,” and as the title of the book suggests, they are the heart or core of the book.

There are a number of useful ideas in this book that, according to the front flyleaf, is “grounded in eight years of research with more than ten thousand people — which simply means Lowe has “trained more than two million people in seventy countries” (written in her brief biography on the back flyleaf). We’re not talking formal, documented, controlled experimentation.

The first useful idea is that plotting your own DNA (how you are best motivated) is easy to do, and once done by following Lowe’s perameters, there is a chapter to describe you. The second useful idea is the way Lowe has categorized the eight motivational types: 1) directors, 2) visionaries, 3) chiefs, 4) champions, 5) supporters, 6) relaters, 7) refiners, and 8) explorers. I wish I had taken the time to plot my own DNA so I could share it with you; however, from just looking at the categories, if I had to guess at my own DNA, it looks like I might traverse a number of categories — but I don’t know.

The third useful idea is how each “communication style” differs. Each one is clearly and explicitly explained in a separate chapter.

There is much useful and interesting information on motivation. Her Chapter 16, “Finish First,” and the related 31, “Motivational Rules of Life,” (“Follow them,” she writes, “and success will follow you” — p. 248) are outstanding.

For a book to which I was initially not attracted, this is a well written, practical (applied), fun book, full of great quotations, useful advice, and a sense of enthusiasm and positive spirit. It is definitely a valuable book. You’ll enjoy it.

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The lost art of listening: How learning to listen can improve relationships, 2nd ed.
by Michael P. Nichols

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

I have written about relationships all of my professional life, and I have included information on relationships in my textbook, Understanding Interpersonal Communication — which, I might add, is “on sale” at Amazon.com for $124.20! Also, I have co-authored a book on listening (with Curt Bechler) which is out-of-print, but Amazon.com lists the book, Listen to Win, “on sale” for $70.00! I mention these as my credentials for reviewing The Lost Art of Listening, which is a book that directly relates the two (relationships and listening), and I want to mention at the outset that this book deserves accolades and recommendations. It is well-written and a true pleasure to read. It is full of practical, applied information, which means you can both understand and use the information immediately. Also, it touches on the very core of the listening problem: that we seldom listen well to the important people in our lives. Most people think they already listen well so would not even consider this book relevant. The “Quiz” on pages 67-69 (along with directions for scoring the results) may help disabuse readers of this belief.

In this 314-page paperback (with a 5 1/2-page index), some may believe the book too forbidding at first glance; however, the author offers numerous examples, interesting and useful boxed inserts, short sections, highlighted (boldface) quotations that offer suggestions and insights, and end-of-chapter exercises that assist you in applying chapter information. It is clear just from a quick glance through the book that Nichols is an accomplished textbook writer — all the essential ancillaries are here. (If you check out his other books at Amazon.com, you will notice from the number of books and froml the reviews, that Nichols has achieved success in a number of subject areas.)

There is no doubt that following the author’s guidelines will not only make you a better listener, but they will contribute positively to improved relationships (his main point!). I recommend this book without hesitation or reservation. Every parent should read it, and anyone, too, who is planning to enter, is already in, or has experienced any failed relationships in the past desperately needs the information in this book.

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.

Civilian in an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II

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Civilian in an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II
by Edgar E. Willis

Review by:
Major Zachary Miller, U.S. Army
Veteran of the Iraq War
Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart recipient
Graduate of Harvard and West Point

“In Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform Edgar Willis reminds us why the greatest generation has earned our respect and gratitude. More than just a vividly told memoir of his service in the Navy during World War II, it is a narrative of the entire war-time experience. From the fortuitous twists of fate that so influenced his path to his faithful portrayal of life aboard the “USS Alaska,” Willis weaves together a wonderful story. But this memoir also chronicles a consummate family man whose most crushing disappointment was not returning home to his wife and kids immediately after the war ended. In telling us how he came to serve and the sacrifices he made along the way, Willis delivers an engrossing account of a life well-lived.”

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Review by:
Darrell Trent, United States Ambassador
Acting Secretary of Transportation under President Ronald Reagan

“This book makes a significant contribution by detailing inefficiencies of war on a personal basis. It describes the impact war has on the lives of those actually doing the fighting. My wartime experience in Iraq gave me the opportunity to experience the tenor of combat, and to see the absurdity of a large military bureaucracy trying to deal with daily operational issues. Willis captures both initiatives in real time experience. I cringed at the moments of tragedy, and laughed at the absurdities of other events as they interplayed together.”

“Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform is a book that should be read by policy makers who are sending our young men and women into combat situations in far off places without having clear objectives or opportunities for success.”

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Review by:
William C. Orr, Ph.D.
President and CEO
Lynn Health Science Institute
Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

“This book provides a rare first hand account of a crucial time in American history, the end of the war in the Pacific in WWII. The book is compelling and insightful, and describes the experiences of a young PhD who is suddenly exposed during wartime to the rigors, discipline and dangers of military life. The book is replete with anecdotes which are riveting and sometimes quite touching and humorous. Reading the book is much like reading a book by the eminent American historian David McCullough, in that the accounts of events are as if you were actually there.”


Review by:
Rev. Daniel W. Bellavia
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Greater Toledo

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“Dr. Willis’s command of the written word is extraordinary, and as you read the book, the voice of the author is loud and clear. He is whimsical when recounting the story of Bing Crosby sharing an impromptu version of “White Christmas” on the eighteenth hole of a charity golf tournament, stark and graphic when writing about the effect of hearing General Schmidt’s plea for information during the early days of the Battle of Iwo Jima, and lucid and insightful when sharing the language of the navy in a way that is both instructive and easily understood.”

“Dr. Willis shares his conclusions as well as his memories. While some veterans would be content to simply remember through a haze of rose-colored reflection, Dr. Willis clearly reports the truth as he knows it. The most refreshing aspect of the memoir is how it reveals a mind at work—willing to share opinions and name names—rather than simply providing a stenographer’s account of events. This mind is perhaps the most wonderful aspect of the book as Dr. Willis spins tales of grim reality and utter joy with equal skill and interest. His stories are both intimate and at times shockingly public.”

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Book Club... And Then Some!
Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookClubAndThenSome.com website.

Book Club... And Then Some!

Book Club... And Then Some!
Staff Writer - Anthony Weaver

Every Monday we review two books that are available at Amazon.com. Our reviews begin here on Monday February 1, 2010. The reviews will begin again on Monday February 1, 2010 with special reviews of Civilian in an Ill-fitting Uniform: A World War II Memoir by Edgar E. Willis.

Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. What's great is these books aren't going to cost you a fortune. The majority of our books can be bought for under $15! We have plenty of great books with reviews you can trust. Now, I call that reading...And Then Some!

Interested in taking a sneak peak at what's ahead? Read our previous reviews: andthensomeworks.blogspot.com. Just use the Blog Archive in the right column and click on any Book Review Monday post. And don't worry... all reviews will still be posted on the And Then Some Works blog every Monday.

Also visit our website BookClubAndThenSome.com. The website is being redesigned and the changes are coming soon... stay tuned!