About
Reviews (2)
08 May 2007
What Terrorists Want by Louise Richardson
I purchased the book because a book club I am a member of chose it as the book to review. It gave a very clear picture of the fact that terrorists are not psychological misfits, but rather members of society who become enamored with a cause. Usually associated with a charismatic leader or a cause such as a religion. Analyses of specific terrorist actions and of the people involved were given and quite helpful. The writing was somewhat like one would expect from a graduate thesis preparation. but clear and easy to read. there was some repetition, but it was not intrusive. I believe it to be one of the best analyses of how terrorists think and of what drives them to commit their acts of terror. The fact that they are not openly psychotic is of great importance in the analysis.
12 April 2007
Opinion of the Book "Sea of Thunder" by Evan Thomas
I read a review in,I believe the Los Angeles Times that recommended the book. I was also interested in the subject because my brother served on the Heavy Cruiser Portland during thia whole period. I believe the author wrote the book in the way a historian would do. I keeps you more or less on edge about battles you knew about because it brought you into the thick of the action. The discussion of the difficulty of command decisions and of conflict between admirals in the great battle off the Phillipines with the ongoing discussion of the thoughts and actions of the Japanese admiral were particularly gripping. I would recommend the book to other readers because it combines accuracy with suspense even though we already know the answers. The Second Wporl War is history, but the difficulties in proper intelligence and in making correct command decisions still exists. In my own mangement of about 2500 workers the same difficulties apply, so the book also applies beyond the military.