Product Description
The definitive look at one of the most iconic rock bands of all time. Joy Division pioneered a genre of music and defined the look and sound of the post-punk era, and thirty years after the suicide of their lead singer Ian Curtis, they remain one of the most influential rock bands to have come out of England. Between their infamous live performances and two studio albums in the late 1970s, Joy Division set the Manchester scene alight, established Factory Records as the most influential label in pop music, and recorded some of the most enduring songs of the era. Kevin Cummins began his career just as the band formed, and for the few short years of their career was given closer access to them than any other photographer. Joy Division collects more than two hundred of his images of the band—sensitive photographs that capture their quiet introspection offstage, their close relationships as bandmates, and Curtis’s legendary energy in live performances—and supplements the iconic images with concert tickets, unreleased record sleeves, fan club badges, Factory Records flyers, and other rare ephemera. This book is the most definitive and heavily illustrated celebration of the band ever produced. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The classical social theorists were the best
Durkheim is sometimes characterized as "the sociologist of constraint," meaning that, as he saw it, an unregulated life is devoid of meaning and a source of misery.In a very limited way, one might argue that Durkheim, in contrast to Marx, held that man does have a rudimentary nature, at least in terms of social and cultural needs.People need norms, standards, and social ties to provide them with direction, purpose, knowledge of realistic limits, and a sense of belonging.This is one reason for Durkheim's life-long interest in religion as a social phenomenon.His emphasis on constraint and stability also helps explain why he is commonly regarded as a conservative.

Durkheim was less optimistic than Marx with regard to prospects for the variegated development of human potential.While Marx envisioned opportunities for people to develop a broad range of talents in a self-actualizing way, Durkheim was more cautious.His emphasis on an evermore complex division of labor characterized by increasingly narrow specialization held his expectations in check.

At the same time, however, Durkheim was convinced that a more complex division of labor and the organic solidarity it occasioned enabled individuals to become more independent and self-determining.As with Marx, however, Durkheim was aware that increasing specialization did not serve all interests equally well.

While Durkheim and Marx have more in common than is typically acknowledged, Durkheim did not view the antagonistic character of the capital-labor relationship as inevitable or basic to the structure of capitalist society.In Durkheim's judgment, increasing social and cultural complexity, along with the rise of modern industry and an attendant ethos of reciprocity and complementarity, were more important than the emergence of mature capitalism and the capital-labor dichotomy.

In my view, Durkhiem was wrong.Nevertheless, his struggle to find a basis for social solidarity for modern industrial society prompted him to develop the powerful concepts anomie (or cultural de-regulation) and egoism (or social deracination).These, in turn, led to this brilliant work on the social sources of suicide.Perhaps it's a mark of genius that failures lead to new discoveries which give important areas of intellectual endeavor an entirely new and unexpected conceptual direction.

The Division of Labor in Society
I received the book in a timely fashion and it was properly prepared for shipment.

An Outstanding Book
A unique thesis: the division of labor is morally cohesive, and inheritance of capital is the flaw of capitalism.It is a great counter-argument to Marx and communism. I read this book at the University of Chicago, and I can only hope other institutions also assign it; it is a must read for anybody interested in human interaction.

Although some people may not think this is important, I must also commend The Free Press for producing such a durable book. Many of my books wouldn't survive my travels and annotations as well as this one has.

The Division of Labor in Society
Excellent condition as promised.Timely delivery as well.No complaints, I would buy from this seller again.

Classic...
If you are a) an undergrad. in sociology, economy, or political science, you must have this for grad. school; b) a grad. student in sociology and unsure of its application, what theory is, or what the masters talked about, you must have it; and c) a theory freak like myself, a must for your collection (but you already knew that!).This book is a classic in sociology, and while Durkheim recanted much of what he said later in his career, his ecological model for the evolution of society is still relevant today.Furthermore, his discussion of the integrative effects of the Division of Labor are unmatched, and while this mechanism is probably not the only one of its kind, it is still important especially in a postindustrial society that is increasingly compartementalized... ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Don’t Just Learn Division … Master It! Brimming with fun and educational games and activities, the Magical Math series provides everything you need to know to become a master of mathematics! In each of these books, Lynette Long uses her own unique style to help you truly understand mathematical concepts as you play with everyday objects such as playing cards, dice, coins, paper, and pencil. Inside Dazzling Division, you’ll learn the basics of division and then quickly begin to solve division problems. You’ll find out what divisors, dividends, and quotients are and how to look at division as simply putting items into groups. Once you’ve grasped these basics, you’ll practice your skills with such fun games and activities as Division Tic-Tac-Toe, Off to the Races, and Three-in-a-Row Bingo. Finally, you can move on to become truly dazzling at division by mastering the mysteries of remainders, prime numbers, and long division while playing Prime Mania and Shout It Out! So why wait? Jump right in and find out how easy it is to become a mathematics master! ... Read more

Product Description
In April 1945 the American 71st Infantry Division exacted the final vestiges of life from the Reich's 6th SS Mountain Division in central Germany. This analysis of the battle demonstrates that the Wehrmacht's last gasp on the Western Front was anything but a whimper, as some historians charge. Instead, Stephen Rusiecki argues, the Wehrmacht fought to extract every last bit of pain possible. The book follows the histories of both the German and American divisions from their inception until their fateful confrontation in April 1945 and serves as a testament to the human experience in war, both from the perspective of the soldiers and from the civilians who suffered the brunt of the fighting. This book is published in cooperation with the Association of the U.S. Army. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

IN FINAL DEFENSE OF THE REICH
This is an excellent book, on several levels. Not only did Rusiecki conduct meticulous research, but he wrote this tale very well.

The first three chapters introduce the reader to the 6th SS Mountain Division, describing some of the key members, and its history from the beginning of the war up until spring of 1945. As the reader gets closer to March, more detail is provided to better acquaint the reader with what is going on. The third chapter also introduces the units that are going to factor into NORD'S demise, along with their leaders. It is in this chapter that NORD begins to come apart.

From the fourth chapter onward, the reader spends a good bit of time in various headquarters, German and American, from company level all the way up to corps. By making good use of records kept, the author is able to recreate the confusion, tension, excitement and trepidation in the various commands. It is here that the reader begins to understand how in fact NORD was able to function coherently as long as it did.

By pure coincidence, when Gruppenführer Brenner's division fell back through the Palatinate, it happened to travel right along the boundary between two corps. Normally, this would be a good place to be, as coordination of sub-units along a boundary like this can be difficult in good times. In running combat, as the corps drive into the enemy's heartland, it gets even more confusing. Rusiecki has done a fantastic job showing not only the difficulties inherent in an operation like this, but clearly illustrating how the various units were able to work together in harmony to crush NORD.

At the same time, the author's relationship with several veterans of NORD holds him in good stead as he is able to describe the German side of the battle all the way from the division headquarters, through the two elements of the division that separated in order to improve their chances of escape, down to the lowest rifleman. We are able to follow generals, colonels, lieutenants and privates as they slog their way through a cold, drizzly, miserable battle.

One of the good things about this work is its objectivity. Sadly, too many of the books on WWII, especially those that deal with the SS, are somewhat polarized. One side is often portrayed heroically, while the other is derided at every turn. Here, no one is demonized. Honor and courage are shown on both sides, as is fear and treachery. Nothing is held back. I expect that some will chastise Rusiecki for not showing the NORD men as slathering butchers. I would point out that NORD is probably the only division in the Waffen-SS that has been cleared of all allegations of war crimes. Two of those allegations are dealt with in this book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in any of the divisions involved, the Waffen-SS, the end of the war, or the war in general. It is informative, engaging, and a damned good read.

Great story of a little known battle in the closing days of the war
This is an outstanding account of the final battle of the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord" and its destruction at the hands of the U. S. 71st Infantry Division.I heartily recommend it.As the events occurred in an area familiar to many veterans of the United States Army, Europe; this story stands to remind us of the tremendous changes that have occurred since the final shots were fired over 65 years ago.Furthermore, this story is representative of the historical back drop similar to many other communities in Central Germany that are unfortunately fading into memory with the passing of a generation.

In this his second book, "In Final Defense of the Reich," Mr. Rusiecki combines the detailed research of an academic, the experience of a combat veteran, and the skill of a novelist to produce an outstanding history of a little known action that occurred in the closing days of World War II.This is a truly remarkable yet largely unknown story of a desperate encounter between an experienced formation of the Waffen SS and a relatively inexperienced American Infantry Division. Even more, it is a story typical of the vast majority of veterans in largely unremembered units that is representative of the experience of war for many veterans of the U. S, German, and other armies in other times and places.

The soldiers Mr. Rusiecki writes about are not in the marquee organizations that are the over exposed stars of most histories or dramatizations of the war.They are ordinary men and women who belong to an average unit on both sides of the firing line.While the Germans are members of an SS Mountain Division; the Americans are, for the most part, members of the little reported 71st Infantry Division, along with elements of the 5th Infantry Division, 2nd Dragoons (Cavalry Group), the 761st Tank Battalion(composed of African-American soldiers), and various units of the U. S. XII Corps.While all of these units performed well and honorably, none figure prominently in popular history or mass media.Mr. Rusiecki traces the story of the major units as they move toward their final meeting in Central Germany.In doing so, he also illuminates the mechanisms and actions behind the scenes that each of the combatants established to focus and sustain combat power, secure lines of communication, and meet critical requirements throughout the area of operations.This includes ordinary and mundane, but combat power sapping requirements to guard critical bridges and passages, secure POWs, as well maintain the flanks and momentum of fast moving armored spearheads.A myriad of requirements recognizable to any veteran and yet too often ignored or forgotten in histories.The ancillary demands and circumstances on both sides are crucial in understanding the circumstances that is the focus of Mr. Rusiecki's book.It is also a tribute to Mr. Rusiecki's writing style that this adds to the narrative as he moves it toward the climactic battle.

In describing the three day battle and destruction of a weakened yet still dangerous SS Mountain Division, Mr. Rusiecki effectively interweaves the perspective of leaders, soldiers, and civilians from each side through a well crafted narrative.Mr. Rusiecki includes first person accounts from both sides of the line to ensure balance to the story.It is here that he truly hits the target.His descriptions of the confusion of war, the stress of combat, and the vicissitudes of command are reflective of one who has "seen the elephant."Mr. Rusiecki's skill in describing the action makes this a great read; the book has the feel of a novel.Mr. Rusiecki grabs the reader and carries them into the fight as if they were riding on the back deck of a Sherman Tank like the infantryman he describes in the story.

An outstanding volume that would be a welcome addition to any collection, I heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in World War II, the ETO, The U. S. Army, or has served in Central Germany (as they will recognize most of the locations described).
... Read more

Product Description
"Thirty Three and a Third" is a new series of short booksabout critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the last 40years. The authors provide fresh, original perspectives – oftenthrough their access to and relationships with the key figuresinvolved in the recording of these albums. By turns obsessive,passionate, creative, and informed, the books in this seriesdemonstrate many different ways of writing about music. What binds theseries together, and what brings it to life, is that all of theauthors – musicians, broadcasters, scholars, and writers – arehuge fans of the album they have chosen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Must read!
Any true Joy Division fan will see this as a must read! Chris Ott does a great job!

Oh sigh.
I thought this would be an overly pedantic study of the album, but it is really more of an overview of ALL of Joy Division's recordings with little focus on "Unknown pleasures" itself.This wasn't unwelcome to me as someone who always gets confused as to the chronology of Joy Division recordings.Moreover, the book contains a decent (but not overwhelming) amount of biographical anecdotes which, ultimately, makes this a very readable and enjoyable book.

Not quite Closer, but ...
quite informative nonetheless.Chris Ott does a good job after setting the stage, a little clunky in the beginning, but afterwards, he settles in and gives all the info any fan would either enjoy ... or already know.Now, if somebody would do Closer ...

Good stuff!

JCS

Confusion
I haven't actually read the book yet but a few of the reviews that I saw seem to have mistaken Joy Division for The Chameleons and Interpol.

not too many pictures
this is a book about there worst album.my favorit Joy Divison albums are script of the bridge and turn on the bright lights.i want to have ian curtis's baby. ... Read more

Product Description
This practice book is designed to help students develop proficiency with their long division skills by offering ample practice.This book is conveniently divided up into six parts:Part 1 reviews division facts with single-digit divisor and quotient since swift knowledge of these is critical toward long division mastery.Part 2 is limited to single-digit divisors.This way students are not challenged with too much too soon.Part 3 focuses on double-digit divisors.Parts 4 and 5 provide practice with remainders.Part 6 features a variety of multi-digit long division problems with and without remainders.An introduction describes how parents and teachers can help students make the most of this workbook.Kids are encouraged to time and score each page.In this way, they can try to have fun improving on their records, which can help lend them confidence in their math skills.A multiplication table is provided to help students who are just learning their division facts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great practice book
I bought this book for my 4th grader who was having trouble with fast facts. This book is "grown-up" enough (not filled with little children cartoons or colouring activities) to make her feel she is doing important math, but it also starts with basic facts that gave her a lot of practice and reinforced concepts. Her grades improved and we are all really happy with it ... Read more

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An inventive study of relations between the National Guard and the Regular Army during World War II, Guard Wars follows the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division from its peacetime status through training and into combat in Western Europe. The broader story, spanning the years 1939--1945, sheds light on the National Guard, the U.S. Army, and American identities and priorities during the war years. Michael E. Weaver carefully tracks the division's difficult transformation into a combat-ready unit and highlights General Omar Bradley's extraordinary capacity for leadership -- which turned the Pennsylvanians from the least capable to one of the more capable units, a claim dearly tested in the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest. This absorbing and informative analysis chronicles the nation's response to the extreme demands of a world war, and the flexibility its leaders and soldiers displayed in the chaos of combat.

Product Description
“Cooper saw more of the war than most junior officers, and he writes about it better than almost anyone. . . . His stories are vivid, enlightening, full of life—and of pain, sorrow, horror, and triumph.”
—STEPHEN E. AMBROSE
From his Foreword

“In a down-to-earth style, Death Traps tells the compelling story of one man’s assignment to the famous 3rd Armored Division that spearheaded the American advance from Normandy into Germany. Cooper served as an ordnance officer with the forward elements and was responsible for coordinating the recovery and repair of damaged American tanks. This was a dangerous job that often required him to travel alone through enemy territory, and the author recalls his service with pride, downplaying his role in the vast effort that kept the American forces well equipped and supplied. . . . [Readers] will be left with an indelible impression of the importance of the support troops and how dependent combat forces were on them.”
—Library Journal

“[DEATH TRAPS] FILLS A CRITICAL GAP IN WW2 LITERATURE. . . . IT’S A TRULY UNIQUE AND VALUABLE WORK.”
—G.I. Journal
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Customer Reviews (49)

Great book from a seldom seen perspective
First of all, to all the "armchair generals" giving this book a bad review. It's intended to be a memoir from a individual soldier, not a scholarly thesis written by a professional historian. Sure, like most memoirs from WWII, he gets a few facts wrong, especially when it comes to the big picture. Lieutenants got their info from the grapevine, just like the average GI. But what Cooper gives is an expert eyewitness view of a seldom heard story, that of the maintenance effort behind the front lines. He knew the M4 Sherman inside and out, and understood what it took to keep them running in the field. His general theme is absolutely correct. The Sherman was inferior to German tanks. It burns me up when I read people who have never been in action criticizing a veteran who risked his life traveling behind the front lines, with just a driver and a carbine. So what if he missed a few dates and towns. What were you doing 60 years ago? War is not a game. It's blood and guts and fear and misery. The author portrays that accurately. One of the best books I've read in a while. Buy it if you love reading accounts of those who were actually there. If you are looking for a sterile comparison of armor thickness, gun velocity, etc, this is not it.

Death Traps The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War ll
Great reading. Being a vet myself and a memeber of 126 maintains in Germany from 68 to 70 I saw just what I read in the book. No it was not combat but the waste of man power and equipment was a joke.
Reading the death trap goes to show that nothing in the Armed forces has change from WWll to today. We will have leads not leading from the front and the book calls it has a man in the front saw it.
Only trouble is if you never been in the armed forces you will think this book could be so. But believe me a vet and service brat the book is more real than you think. A lot of things have not change.

Too much fiction, not enough history
I'll keep mine simple, as Robert Forczyk already provided an excellent review. This work is more a work of fiction than history, and I was sorely disappointed in the content. Of interest, I had spoken to one of the reviewers who is quoted on the dust jacket and he told me that he had not endorsed the book in entirety, but the publisher cherry-picked a quote from his review to buttress it. For additional points see my comment I attached to R.Forczyk's one star review.

The Cost of Tank Warfare
This is a memoir of an Army Ordnance Officer who was "lucky" enough to get the job of finding broken down or destroyed Shermans in WW2 France and Germany, getting them back to the maintenance folks for fixing up and getting them back on the front lines.

Author Belton Cooper tells the reader exactly what the consequences of the decisions that led to the creation of, and use of, the M-4 Sherman tank. In 1941, the US did not even have a medium tank and the knowledge of tank warfare was still in its infancy. By 1943, our factories started mass production of the Sherman tank, which was a good tank, but not a great one. The US opted for ease of production and reliability at the expense of armor protection and firepower. The crews of the tanks are the ones who paid that bill. Cooper also had to pay a price by finding salvageable tanks that had been knocked out, crews dead and burned inside, get the mess cleaned up and repair the tank. He leaves you with no doubt of his opinion of the usefulness of the Sherman tank.

There is excitement in the book - battle lines are fluid - sometimes, you find yourself all alone, out in front of your lines in enemy territory - at night, in a jeep with only you and a rifle trying to find a tank. When asking for directions, a German POW tells him which way is safe - do you trust him or not? These are just some of the everyday challenges Cooper faces in doing his job. He does it well and is justifiably proud of his contributions in WW2.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in tanks, WW2, heroism, the behind the scenes service that millions of Americans gave without being in combat. It's an eye opener, a revealing tale of what goes on behind the lines and how important that it.

Changes your perception of American equipment in WWII
We Americans are given great propaganda for free.Our aircraft were second to none in WWII except when you find out one german ace knocked down 7 P-38 aircraft in one mission.Stalin generally didn't like most allied fighter aircraft.The Russian Army called the Grant tank "a coffin for seven brothers".The B-24 had one wing spar that was over a fuel tank.Hit the tank, the spar would break, and nobody could bail out.

Belton Cooper was a army Ordnance officer with the 3rd Armored Division and it was his job to make sure the M-4 Sherman tanks ran.And few tanks were as dreadful as the Sherman tank.Cooper got his degree from the University of Michigan as a marine (ship) engineer.So, the army made him a vehicle maintenance officer.

Belton does a great job describing the pitfalls of the Sherman.Yes, it was a better tank than the Grant, which was perhaps the worst major production tank of '41 to '42.But Mr. Cooper gives the average reader a lot of insight into the absolute problems of the Sherman.Indeed, on the follow up T-26 tanks - the fairly good Pershing tanks - you can almost read the Army reports that say "don't follow anything done one the M-4 Sherman.

Mr. Cooper really hates the machine and says great things about his mechanics.I was always impressed with their can-do attitude.Here is another story from the book.The M-4 Shermans used a radial aircraft engine.Tanks tend to do a lot of sitting around waiting for action.So, the spark plugs on the engines would fowl.Those spark plugs had to be cleaned.Lieutenant Cooper organized parties to go to the French beaches, get the sand, wash the salt from it, dry the sand, and used that sand in the sand blaster to clean the spark plugs that kept the tanks running.Yes, the Army didn't buy enough spark plugs for the tanks.

Lieutenant Cooper's maintenance section was the union that invented the hedge row cutters that allowed the allied break out from the hedgerow country at Normandy.Cooper says they never did have enough hedgerow cutters.But since the tactical employment was as a mass of breakout all at once it took the Germans by surprise.

Cooper's book really gets across his hate of the M-4.Seriously, he hates that machine.And he gives good reasons for the hate.In one battle the Shermans mix it up with some Tigers.A group of Shermans take cover behind some knocked out Shermans.No problem for the Germans.The Tigers merely shoot through the knocked out Shermans and kill the Shermans in the battle.

Lieutenant Cooper also documents the rather grim job of tank recovery.Cooper's maintenance section, if they could salvage a tank, would totally rebuild the knocked out Sherman.Indeed, this could be done in a matter of days.However, if the Sherman caught on fire it would cook the crew, like a huge human pot roast.So, Cooper's men working with the graves registration soldiers (mortuary) would extract the bodies, wash out the tanks, rebuild the tanks, and paint the tanks.But it never quite worked.The new crews would notice the smell of cooked flesh over the fresh coat of paint.That was a pretty grim read.Who needs Stephen King's novels after reading that.

Cooper's indictments of the M-4 do not stop at its combat short commings.Lieutenant Cooper lays some of the blame of the stalled fall offensive squarely on the M-4 Sherman machine.The official story is the allies ran short of supplies.Considering the excellent job that the transportation corp did and the masterful job of U.S. Army logistics in WWII, Mr. Cooper's writings make absolute sense.The bottom line is it appears one of the reason that Operation Market Garden failed is because the British Shermans were knocked out in droves.When the American forces stall in the post October advance it's squarely the fault of the Sherman.It appears that nearly any German anti-tank weapon was successful against the Sherman.

Lieutenant Cooper's book is an absolute counter-point to all the bragging about American equipment in WWII.While some historians, like the late and overrated Stephen Ambrose, would wax poetic about Americans and their equipment the bottom line is our equipment made the men gun shy.Why?Who wants to burn to death in a second rate tank?

I would say any WWII university level studies should have this book on the required reading list.This book knocks out some myths of WWII and gives good insight into the problems our soldiers faced in WWII. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with detailed artworks of vehicles and their markings, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Waffen-SS Divisions, 1939-45 is the definitive study of the equipment and organization of Germany's elite Waffen-SS divisions during World War II.

Customer Reviews (9)

Excellent
The book is well written in a excellent format. The illustrations are fantastic and work well for armor modellers who are looking for paint schemes! I will buy additional volumes in this series!

waffen ss divisions 1939-1945
Rapido escursus ricco di disegni e di informazioni su storia, simboli e mezzi in uso alle divisioni panzer delle ss, consigliatissimo per gli appassionati di modellismo militare, ne consiglio l'acquisto, anche in questo caso è un peccato non averne una traduzione in italiano.

A disappointment
I found this book a disappointment, but then again I'm not a "Waffenista" who will unquestionably accept anthing written that portrays the Waffen-SS as the greatest multiethnic pan-European combat arm of all time.

Bishop's research is only fair, with some glaring errors. I found his omission of the mass executions committed by the 8th SS Florian Geyer division against Jewish civilians to be a grave error that only further perpetuates the myth of the Waffen-SS as "separate and untainted" from the crimes of the Third Reich and the SS in particular. He also doesn't cover the units such as the 25th or 31st SS divisions, which barely had enough rifles, let alone vehicles. Books like Bishop's give the mistaken impression that all W-SS units were armed to the teeth with Tiger and Panther tanks, which was certainly not the case.

The illustrations are good-quality, standard 4-color airbrush work of similar caliber that you'd see from Squadron or Osprey.

The Orders of Battle (i.e. unit structures) are basic and don't get into the "devil in the details" level that would be useful to get an understanding of the vehicle types used by the W-SS. One is better off tracking down one of the ORBATS from James Dugdale.

In short, WAFFEN SS DIVISIONS, 1939-1945 (The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide) will satisfy the more impressionable, less knowledgeable WWII researcher at a good price point, but isn't a work that a more well-read consumer should purchase.

The non essential essential guide
I didn't mind the first volume on the Panzer Divisions of this 3 part set but by the time this one has come out I think they have run out of colour plates. This is meant to be a vehicle guide but there are only so many times I can see the same Flak or Pak gun reprinted and presented as belonging to different divisions. If you're a keen reader of German armour who'll easily pick up the many glaring mistakes such as the GD Panther 01 which is printed a number of times, the 251/9 1144 which was a 2SS vehicle presented belonging to more than one division. Surely they could have done more colour plates with vehicles from the more photograhped divisions. I appreciate it would be virtually impossible to get an accurate photo from each division but to just make it up seems a bit lazy. I've seen the same trucks, kubelwagens, Pak guns, bikes through the whole series and that's just either laziness or poor editing. I think I have seen the same 250/9 and 251/9 from 19 Panzer Division at Kursk printed at least half a dozen times through the whole series and that's bad. If these are your first books on german armour ok, but there are better ones out there and these will eventually end up in the bottom of your pile never to be read again. sorry Mr Bishop

Waffen SS Divisions 1939 - 1945
GOOD BOOK WITH THE HISTORY OF THE ss DIVISIONS, HAVE GOOD DRAWINGS OF THE VEHICLES USED. ... Read more

Product Description
The four real division algebras (reals, complexes, quaternionsand octonions) are the most obvious signposts to a rich and intricaterealm of select and beautiful mathematical structures. Using the newtool of adjoint division algebras, with respect to which the divisionalgebras themselves appear in the role of spinor spaces, some of thesestructures are developed, including parallelizable spheres,exceptional Lie groups, and triality. In the case of triality the useof adjoint octonions greatly simplifies its investigation. Motivatingthis work, however, is a strong conviction that the design of ourphysical reality arises from this select mathematical realm. Acompelling case for that conviction is presented, a derivation of thestandard model of leptons and quarks.
The book will be of particular interest to particle and high energytheorists, and to applied mathematicians.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I am waiting for Dixon 's Octonians...
I have not yet received my command. P. MERAT

Mathematics behind physics
This is an excellent book for those who want to study Hamilton's quaternions, and other algebraic structures, used in modern physics. Dixon believes that octonions and triality of Spin(8) are essential in understanding particle physics. This clear exposition contains many ideas which have gone unnoticed from other researchers. The book is a treasure trove for mathematical physicists. The author also compares the Cayley algebra of octonions to other algebraic systems used in physics: matrices and Clifford algebras, in particular the Dirac algebra. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the only in-depth biographical account of the legendary lead singer of Joy Division, written by his widow. Revered by his peers and idolised by his fans, Ian Curtis left behind a legacy rich in artistic genius. But although mesmerising on stage, in his private life he was introverted and had desperate mood swings. In "Touching from a Distance" his widow pieces together why - despite his impending international fame and young family - Curtis took his own life on 18 May 1980. Regarded as the essential book on the essential icon of the post-punk era, "Touching from a Distance" includes a full set of Curtis' lyrics, discography and gig list. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

informative
Well written and informative about the relationship Curtis had with wife and family... if you love the band well worth a read.

This Book Should Have Been Written By Someone Else
In my honest opinion, this book should have been written by someone else because his wife just complains and complains about her dead husband and all the bad things he did until his suicide. It could have been better if a band member wrote it because they would have told his most of his struggles living his life with epilepsy. They could describe how hard it was for him to perform in front of thousands of people with bright lights beaming on him causing him to fight his epileptic episodes. Even though this book was some what interesting it could have been better.

not for everyone
I thought the box set was great.Tunes that stick in your head.I had never heard of them until I saw the movie "Control",which also is great. This set is not for everyone,but each disc can stand alone by itself.

"It was almost as if it was unfashionable to be happy"---Deborah Curtis
As another reviewer noted, "Touching From A Distance" is the perfect title to this book.The further one reads, the greater the distance grows between Ian Curtis (legendary singer/songwriter for Joy Division) and his wife Deborah.The five years of their marriage (at the age of 19) moved quickly to ruin.The most detailed accounts of Ian were their teen years and the early part of their marriage. By the end of book, it seems like Deborah and Ian hardly knew or understood each other at all.Probably no one truly understood Ian Curtis.He is painted in this book as a self-destructive young man full of contradictions.He could be extremely caring and generous giving away possessions to friends or empathizing with those he helped as Assistant Disablement Resettlement Officer, and he could be possessive and controlling choosing his wife's friends or rejecting a band member's girlfriend.Those who know Joy Division's music see the dark side of Curtis through his lyrics but he was known to his band mates as a fun-loving guy who liked to play pranks.

Deborah interviewed the band members and others connected to Joy Division (i.e. Tony Wilson, Rob Gretton, Paul Morely) to fill in gaps in her book which help especially when the band and touring created a gulf between Ian and his family.Although "Touching" is over 200 pages, the story is only 139 pages long.It is beefed up with a detailed Joy Division discography, gig list, and57 pages of song lyrics including "unseen lyrics."I had not read much about Curtis and Joy Division, so I learned a lot.I had just assumed Curtis was born with epilepsy and did not know he acquired it as an adult and after studying it for his job in the civil service.He actually performed his curious dancing style that seemed to mimic epileptic fits at his wedding reception, years before he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Deborah's account seems very honest.I think she was fair in her treatment of her husband's mistress Annik Honore.She relays stories of how Annik was demanding and bossed Ian around and was not supportive during Ian's fits, but I did not sense a mean spirited tone that one would understand from a jilted wife.She admits that they were rivals and, when Ian wrote that he hated Annik in his final letter, Deborah admits that he probably "wrote that to try to please me" (132).She included in her book that he wrote "give my love to Annik" in the letter written before his earlier failed suicide attempt (115).There is also no anger towards Ian.One issue I don't think is addressed much is that he killed himself in their home where it would most likely be his wife who would find his body.What if she had daughter Natalie with her?How traumatic for a child to see her father hanged.Fortunately that did not happen, but there was no regard to how the way he killed himself would affect his family much less committing suicide in and of itself.Whatever the illness, medication, stress, and demons were doing to Ian's mind, the effect his death had on his family and friends probably did not factor into his ultimate decision and action. As incomplete as it is, I am glad Deborah told her story as it gives some insight into a legend who will remain a mystery.It was made into an award-winning biopic called "Control" in 2007.The book offers eight pages of photos including the last photo Deborah took of her husband with their daughter taken 5 days before he took his life.

Great quick read with enough details of Ian's Life w/& without Joy Division
This is a must READ !! Very powerful and very sad...

Deborah Curtis tells it like it was to be married to Ian Curtis, his life as she saw him, and his band Joy Division. The best thing about this book, is that Debbie includes all of Ian's lyrics (made to to real song, to complete unreleased songs, to notes, and poems. The book is a short read, but it is very well written. If you haven't seen the movie 'CONTROL (2007)'...which is based on this book; Ian Curtis (frontman of Joy Division), his life (on stage and off), his band Joy Division (with it's rise to FAME to nothing), and of course Ian's tragic SUICIDE the night before they were to embark on their U.S. tour in 1980. Read the book and get the movie...in either order.

The best handbook to both the movie and Debbie's book, is the DVD Documentary called "Joy Division - The True Story of the Meteoric Rise & Fall of 1 of the most Influential Bands of out time". It goes hand and hand with the book, and then drills down in detail from all of the band member's of Joy Division regarding Ian's suicide; his influence on the band, his battle with epilepsy (& the effects on everyone's life), and how 4 guys that could barely play or sing turn into 3 great musicians and a song writer that has ended up in the top 10 songwriter's of all time...

I promise you will be amazed how many Joy Division songs you know...mostly because so many bands and artists have covered them.

As their manager, Rob Gretton, said when they met the 4 young kids from Macclesfield..."I am a [...] believer in Joy Division !!"

"Touching from a Distance" is a beautifully sad, true story of a young man that was surrounded by love, and ultimately killed by it...and those around him suffered as a result of his love and his fight with both Epilepsy; as well as, his mental illnesses (bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, mania).

An almost unbelievable TRUE story of a Rock Band, their troubled Frontman (Ian), and their rise to stardom in just 2 albums...and at the same time, their FALL...

Only a very brave woman, could have wrote this book. Deborah Curtis become an author (and a great writer), due to circumstance (the death of her 23-yr old husband...Ian Curtis), rather than ambitious intentions. Hat's off to ya Deborah Curtis !!

I give the book; as well as, the Movie, and the DVD Documentary, a 10 !!

Go out and buy all 3 at once. I read and watched all 3 in less than a day. Since then, I have re-read the book twice, and watched the 2 DVDs many times over (bc I keep showing them to friends and fans of true, raw, almost LOST music...)

Some stories truly are more SAD, than what Movies or Fiction Books can come up with.

"Walk with me, take my hand and See !! "

Frontman
WHITE DOVE RED
September 29th, 2009 ... Read more

Product Description
In May 1945, as the triumphant Red Army crushed the last pockets of German resistance in central Berlin, French soldiers fought back. They were the last surviving members of SS Charlemagne, the Waffen SS division made up of French volunteers. They were among the final defenders of the city and of Hitler's bunker.

Customer Reviews (3)

CharlemagneSS 33dDiv
Not the book I thought it would be.My advice is not to buy.Lacks any real new research data.Author did not do his homework

Short, thus incomplete, at times plain, history of the sole French SS unit
Yet another short story of the short-lived ss-division « Charlemagne ». But this time by THE famed specialist of the battle of Berlin and its region.

Once again don't expect any unique photos, all are well-known, alas too dark and a little blurred.

The book reposes on the comments of the divisional commander, general Krukenberg and the only too-well known and much lauded French ss-junior officer H. Fenet. A pity these are the sole testimonies found in this book, knowing that there are other survivors (after all, isn't it the job of a historian ?) and that quite a few have written books or were interviewed by history magazines .

The only too often-related scene of French ss combatants being decorated with the coveted knight's cross in the candle light of Berlin's underground has been repeatedly counted in less serious publications. A pathos I find too romanced.
A study of the Red army's tank losses in the district defended by units of the division would have been preferable as well as Soviet accounts of the fighting.
Also the origins of the French ss-sturmbrigade, its members, and the impact in its amalgamation with the newly created division, would have been welcome.
What happened to the few truck loads of French ss that were cut off on their way to Berlin ?(the author explanation is too general)
How did the capture of the different French ss (officers, groups, stragglers,formations,etc ...)occur and what happened from there would have been an invaluable addition. I have seen in another publication a photo showing three French-ss having just been captured by Red army's Polish soldiers. I have also read that the French ss Christian de la Mazière (who wrote "le rêveur casqué") was also captured by regular soviet army Polish soldiers.
What about their fate ? At least for some of them. A study of individuals that joined the Foreign Legion in Indochina would be a premiere.
Oddly enough no mention is made of the young ss-officer Albert Chapy who after bouts of hard fighting and heroic stands was court-martialled by the WH for having executed some German REMF ?
All in all I would have liked to learn more about divisional commander G. Krukenberg's career as well as Ustuf. Weber's and his compagnie d'honneur/ Kampfschule, about the equipment the division received, down to the uniforms they wore (camouflaged or feldgrau ?)and so on.

The author nevertheless tries to stay factual although once again one cannot escape the usual prose like: "the voices of women not far from us howling in their distress, despair and anguish as the men from the steppes assert their bestiality".
Oh yes the fact that the Soviets raped the whole city as well as the numerous places they occupied is beyond doubt.
But what of the Wehrmacht that helped itself with the women encountered during the victorious blitzkrieg advances on the eastern front and its following merciless occupation ?
How should the German soldiers have been described ? The men from one of the most civilized and advanced part of western Europe who asserted their profligacy, by raping and torching entire regions ?
Naturally, one doesn't absolve the other. Atrocities remain atrocities whether exacted in revenge or not.

Not a bad book, but yet incomplete. No this is not the definitive book on the waffen-ss division named "Charlemagne". We will have to wait ....

An Account of the French Division...
Tony Le Tissier has written a number of books on the last battles of World War II and in particular, several books on "The Battle of Berlin". I have read two of his other books on the Berlin fighting and this one I rate as a good book, overall. The book weaves together eyewitness, first person narrative from former members of the division and information from the historian/author's own research. The fact is this subject matter does not have a large amount of detailed records and data to draw upon as there is with other divisions and subjects in World War II history.

The book relies heavily on materials collected by Robert Soulat, who was a Corporal with the division. The division was made up of several groups: the Legion des Volontaires Francais (LVF), the Milice Francais and the French Storm Brigade of the Waffen SS. The book covers the history of the formation in detail.

The LVF first fought on the Eastern Front with the Wehrmacht-Heer's Infanterie Regiment 638 in 1941. In 1943, they were sent back to the East Front, again. In the spring of 1944, all foreign soldiers were transferred to the Waffen-SS. This division was officially formed in August, 1944. The division was led by Waffen-SS Brigadeführer Dr. Gustav Krukenberg. The general accounts for much of the narrative in the book. Total division strength in January 1945: 6,363 men.

The work has a fast paced, lively narrative and covers the brutal combat with the Soviet Army. Starting with Chapter 8 the "Battle of Berlin" is covered. At a time when many were trying to leave Berlin, this division answered the call and went head-long into the abyss. Knights Cross winner, Captain Fenet is another main narrator of this section. Biographies of Knights Cross winner, Sgt. Eugene Vaulot and Lt. Wilhelm Weber are two that are featured in this section.

Chapter 9 covers the end, after the "Battle of Berlin" and the fate of the remaining units that did not make it to Berlin. After that is: Annex A & Annex B, that cover the formation history in summany and the Initial Command structures. The book tries to give the history of the division in an objective manner and is not overly political. I rate the book four stars. It is easy to read. ... Read more

Product Description
The groundbreaking book that first made Studs Terkel a household name.

Division Street: America, Studs Terkel's first book of oral history, established his reputation as America's foremost oral historian and as "one of those rare thinkers who is actually willing to go out and talk to the incredible people of this country" (in the words of Tom Wolfe).

Viewing the inhabitants of a single city, Chicago, as a microcosm of the nation at large, Division Street: America chronicles the thoughts and feelings of some seventy people from widely varying backgrounds in terms of class, race, and personal history. From a mother and son who migrated from Appalachia to a Native American boilerman, from a streetwise ex-gang leader to a liberal police officer, from the poorest African Americans to the richest socialites, these unique and often intimate first-person accounts form a multifaceted collage that defies any simple stereotype of America. As Terkel himself put it: "I was on the prowl for a cross-section of urban thought, using no one method or technique….I guess I was seeking some balance in the wildlife of the city as Rachel Carson sought it in nature." Revealing aspects of people's lives that are normally invisible to most of us, Division Street: America is a fascinating survey of a city, and a society, at a pivotal moment of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent Look at Chicago & USA
This early effort stands with the best oral histories by author/radio host Stud's Terkel.In the mid-1960's Terkel took his tape recorder and let dozens of ordinary Chicagoans open up.Showing our City's diversity and divisions, we hear from executives, laborers, teachers, factory hands, social workers, rich, poor, and middle-class.Many are white, others are black ("Negro") or Latino, and they range from young swingers, to stressed-out parents, to aged retirees.Nearly all offer engaging tales, views, and outlooks.Among the major issues are life in Chicago, work, racial tensions, Vietnam, worship, Martin Luther King, the Bomb, opportunity, and (President) Lyndon Johnson.Anton Faber describes tool-and-die making in The Kaiser's Germany and then Chicago after arriving in 1912.Eva Barnes recalls coal miners, teen marriages, and bootlegging in her small town, plus working in Chicago's once-vast stockyards.Janice Majewski and her colleagues describe teaching at Marshall High School, then as now one of our city's more troubled facilities.Luci Jefferson arrived seeking work in the Great Migration of Southern Blacks, while activist Florence Scala fought City Hall.Many support the elusive goal of racial reconciliation, others nervously sense the decline of the traditional factory economy (replaced by white-collar services).As with many later Terkel efforts, the interviewees lean more left than right, with definite strains of anti-establshment sentiment - even among some we'd labed as distinctly "establishment."

Studs Terkel (1912-2008) made his mark by letting his subjects do the talking, and readers are better off for it.I'd have liked to hear from even more persons, plus those then fleeing to suburbia due to racial fears - what greater division existed both then and today? Still, this stellar book is as worth reading as many later Terkel efforts like HARD TIMES, WORKING, AMERICAN DREAMS, COMING OF AGE, etc.

Chicagoans on Chicago
Division Street is Studs Terkel's attempt to make sense of Chicago. Terkel constructs Division Street in the "oral-history" style that he used in so many of his other works; specifically, he went out into Chicago, recorded a group of interviews with people who represented a cross section of 1960s Chicago, and then included verbatim quotes from his interviewees in Division Street.

Perhaps the best part of the book is the candor with which Terkel's subjects speak. I am not certain how Terkel got his interview subjects to drop their guards, but it seems that no subject is taboo. After reading the book, you do have the feeling that you "know" each of the interviewees on a fairly-deep level.

If I have a criticism of Division Street, it is that the book is something of a downer. Terkel's books focus on the disappointments and frustrations of life. In Division Street he is particularly concerned with race relations and The Bomb. Though I liked the book, prospective readers should be aware that it is by no means uplifting.

Each reader will come away with a feeling that he or she knows something of Chicago. In the end, Terkel leaves the conclusions up to the reader. I suspect, therefore, that different readers will interpret Division Street in different ways. For those readers who want to learn something about Chicagoans, the effort will be worthwhile.

One of the finest from a master
I just reread this book as a kind of wake to Terkel after his passing.I first read it in my mid-twenties and was completely absorbed.Now, almost twenty years later, I've just finished it alongside Joseph P. Lash's "Franklin and Eleanor" and I'm fascinated by how topical both books seem as Obama prepares to take office amid economic catastrophe, internal homeland strife, and war.The '30s, the late '60s, and our times seem like stepping-stones in history, so similar in revolutionary content:forward-thinking, transformative and yet violent and painful.Yet the differences are clear, too.Depression-era policies focused just to establish social programs; civil rights had to wait 'til another day.That day emerged during the time covered by "Division Street," which reveals how far from black-and-white those issues were even to people who felt strongly about them.Time and again as I read I thought, this book was written forty years ago...some of these people must still be alive.What do they think now?And that question begged another:What will we think in forty years?If for no other questions than these, "Division Street" is abundantly worth reading.It's a true American classic--the voice of her people.

Sweet Home, Chicago
As I have done on other occasion when I am reviewing more than one work by an author I am using some of the same comments, where they are pertinent, here as I did in earlier reviews. In this series the first Studs Terkel book reviewed was that of his "The Good War": an Oral History of World War II.

Strangely, as I found out about the recent death of long time pro-working class journalist and general truth-teller "Studs" Terkel I was just beginning to read his "The Good War", about the lives and experiences of, mainly, ordinary people during World War II in America and elsewhere, for review in this space. As with other authors once I get started I tend to like to review several works that are relevant to see where their work goes. In the present case the review, his first serious effort at plebian oral history, Division Street: America, despite the metaphorically nature of that title, focuses on a serves a narrower milieu, his "Sweet Home, Chicago" and more local concerns than his later works.

Mainly, this oral history is Studs' effort to reflect on the lives of working people (circa 1970 here but the relevant points could be articulated, as well, in 2008) from Studs' own generation who survived that event, fought World War II and did or did not benefit from the fact of American military victory and world economic preeminence, including those blacks and mountain whites who made the internal migratory trek from the South to the North. Moreover, this book presents the first telltale signs that those defining events for that generation were not unalloyed gold. As channeled through the most important interviewee in this book, Frances Scala, who led an unsuccessful but important 1960's fight against indiscriminate "urban renewal" of her neighborhood (the old Hull House of Jane Addams fame area) Studs make his argument that the sense of social solidarity, in many cases virtually necessary for survival, was eroding.

Studs includes other stories of those , including the lumpen proletarian extraordinaire Kid Pharaoh who will be met later in Hard Times and the atypical Chicago character who gladly joins the John Birch Society in order to assert his manhood, who do not easily fit into any of those patterns but who nevertheless have stories to tell. And grievances, just, unjust or whimsical, to spill.

One thing that I noticed immediately after reading this book, and as is true of the majority of Terkel's interview books, is that he is not the dominant presence but is a rather light, if intensely interested, interloper in these stories. For better or worse the interviewees get to tell their stories, unchained. In this age of 24/7 media coverage with every half-baked journalist or wannabe interjecting his or her personality into somebody else's story this was, and is, rather refreshing. Of course this journalistic virtue does not mean that Studs did not have control over who got to tell their stories and who didn't to fit his preoccupations and sense of order. He has a point he wants to make and that is that although most "ordinary" people do not make the history books they certainly make history, if not always of their own accord or to their own liking. Again, kudos and adieu Studs.

One of his better sets of interviews
"Division Street: America" isn't the first title that would pop into most people's minds when they think of Terkel, but I think it should be. I'll admit, I'm totally biased being in Chicago, but maybe that's the best way to read this book.
There is a lot of upheaval and suffering throughout the city due partly to the constantly changing demographics of the neighborhoods, and many of the ethnic pockets and pyschological ghettoes that Terkel talked to people in during 1967 were in the middle of those changes. From the near north area, tight in the protective grip of Mayor Daley to the old Eastern European neighborhoods of the north and west sides which would soon become almost purely Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican.
You can really see firsthand, how stupid, how intelligent, how altruistic and how mean people can be in a big city. That's the best part of this whole book: you're left at every page feeling that something monumental is taking place in urban America while the interviews are happening. Civil rights, white flight, Latin immigration, the decline of the manual labor factory job, Viet Nam, etc.
Reading this in 1967 must have been interesting, but knowing what we know about Chicago today and how it's still in a state of flux (and maybe always will be) is really a reason to go back. The problems, the people and the strange mix still exists throughout Division Street today; but thanks to Terkel, we have a little hindsight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A Time to Reconcile
(posted by Christopher Laird)
I read Consuming Jesus with great interest to see if the bases were covered on race, class and
consumerism in the Church to my satisfaction. So I even read it critically. They were even covered
more thoroughly than I expected!I really appreciate Paul's coverage of religion and politics and the negative influence that this toxic mix has had on the Body of Christ.As an African American, and as Director of a Ministry of Reconciliation I was constantly looking for Principles I could use in my Ministry.There are lots of them. Paul blasts the "Retreating Battle Camps and Homogeneous Units." Andrightfully so.After all the subject of oneness and unity was heavy on Jesus' mind as he prayed on the night before his crucifixion (John 17:20--23). Paul courageously calls out those elitist churches that are fraught with racism, classism and consumerism. As a son of Alabama born in the 1940s (I left there for good in 1963 after graduating from high school), I was not welcome in white churches. It tainted my view of the Body of Christ and of white people in general (I have long-since repented of that). In fact, I found it hard to imagine even heaven being integrated. How many young people today I wonder are forming biases like this toward the Church and God Himself? Paul courageously addresses the need for the Church to properly represent Jesus, that the world may know that the Father sent Him. And that the world may know that he sent us today. Paul ends by sharing steps toward a solution to the problems. And the afterword by Dr. John M. Perkins is great on the solution.
Curtis May
Director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries
Glendora, CA

Finally...
Finally...a book has entered the dialogue that holds together the difficult tension of pragmatic and local ecclesiology with profound theological depth.Metzger is refreshing in his critique by not suggesting some sort of new and better moralism, but rather, offering reflections on the most ancient of christian practices (eucharist) as the antidote to our unfettered consumerism, and the inevitable divide our consumerism causes.As one who longs to see diversity in ethnicity and economic status live in the church, this book serves as a mandatory primer.

Metzger suggests that the practice of consuming Jesus as our daily bread requires that we hold together both the church's unique identity and its call to serve the world.He states: the church must "hold firmly to the politics of Jesus," to serve "without abandoning their distinctive qualities and traits, all of which can bring richness to church and civil unity."For those who yearn for the church's transformation of culture, this book is a necessary check for the temptations which will accompany that journey.

I was recently asked to recommend a book that describes the church as it is meant to be.Though they are being written every day in the evangelical spheres, I could think of none more worthy of a hearty endorsement than Consuming Jesus. Buy it.Read it.Consume it.

Upside-down Consumption
The reorienting of the Church's vision is the path towards moving beyond `race and class divisions in a consumer church.'Now more than ever it is essential for academics, pastors, laypersons, seekers, philosophers and the like to have a book that illumines the profundity of God's actions for the world in and through His Church-- 'Consuming Jesus' is just this book.One does not need to look hard to read about racial and class tensions today in society.From the `Beer Summit' to the commodification of one's virginity upon eBay, society is saturated with the overarching effects of consumerism.The Church has lost its first love and is in need of a `great awakening.''Consuming Jesus' is the trumpet's call for the Church today as there is no greater need for the follower's of Christ than to be consumed by Jesus.

Dr. Metzger is the voice crying out in the wilderness leading the Church towards the holistic vision encompassed in the incarnational life of its Saviour.In order for the Church to be the `bride of Christ,' it must `move beyond the debased visions of moralism and escapism' (93) towards the living God so to participate in His `captivating love' and `downward mobility that overturns structures and frees captives' (97).Dr. Metzger's words are a call for `true discipleship' that seeks the `upside-down living' that flows from an `inside-out heart in which heaven dwells' (98).The absoluteness of divine love is rooted in the overflowing love of Father, Son, and Spirit--this love has been poured out into the hearts of the body of Christ.The consumption of this love--the consumption of Jesus--is that which propels the Church towards the pouring out of itself into the lives of the other.

In his final dialogue with the Church, Dr. Metzger illumines how the Church of Christ, with a heart focused upon the wedding feast, is able to engage in self-examination as self-examination is essential if we in the evangelical church truly desire to fully engage culture.Self-examination is a boycotting of the market forces that seek to commodify as opposed to building communion.Spirit led self-examination is not an examination done through the power of self, but selflessness as it is in the truest sense a look at self through a Spirit driven heart that is in union with Jesus Christ.The type of self-examination being discussed is one that should embody the Church as it is bound up in the mutual union with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Metzger's discussion involves reconciliation and redistribution which entails: (1) the redistribution of responsibility and blame, which is based in corporate solidarity in Adam's sin; (2) the redistribution of need through the `humble sprit of giving and receiving replacing the haughty spirit of charity and snobbery toward the poor'; (3) redistribution of resources, talents, and goods whereby affluent churches work together with churches in downtrodden communities `to foster and maintain an "incarnate" presence of healing and hope'; (4) redistribution of ownership, allowing for the poor to take ownership of their own communities through the intentional actions of churches who can provide the means for this to be done; (5) redistribution of Glory, in this case as with all cases, `giving it all to the Lord' (143-63).Only through the action of God can the Church examine herself from the inside out, to take responsibility for the sins of the Church so to be able to purify herself through the Blood of the Lamb as she eagerly awaits her wedding feast.Metzger's assessment of the Church today is spot-on as society is need of the Church to 'be' the Church, and this is exactly what 'Consuming Jesus' illumines.It is not an exaggerated statement to say that this book is a timeless must read.

Paradigm-Shifting Book
I loved this book for several reasons.
1. I love this book because it is a critique of evangelicalism by a man who is a committed evangelical. I love the humility of the book as Dr. Metzger admits to being a part of the problem, but boldly calls us to move and take action. I think this brokenness and humility is very Christlike. It is definitely something that I want to follow him in.
2. I love this book because it deals with a major blindspot of evangelicals: race and class divisions in the church. I was talking to a Hispanic pastor (Jessie) who I met in Nashville. Jessie is pastoring in Texas, and Rich Stafford and I were asking him about his ministry. He commented that Texas is completely integrated. Mexicans and Caucasians do everything together. The only place that is not integrated, he said, is the church. This is tragic. And this is not just a Texas problem.
3. I love this book because it helps to identify subtle ways that we contribute to race and class divisions in the church. We often run our ministries and programs in such a way that they feed our comfort levels. We willingly divide by taste. We have a homogeneous model, which basically drives us to appeal to a certain kind of person and then surround them with people who are like them. We do this all kinds of ways, whether it is by small groups that are affinity groups, whether it is by having a contemporary service and a traditional service, or whether it is by highlighting and emphasizing ministries that are more about appealing to tastes than about following Christ (not wasting our lives).
4. I love this book because it rediscovers the biblical emphasis of walls being broken down by the gospel. Ephesians 2 talks about Jews and Gentiles becoming one in Christ. 1 Corinthians 11 (the communion passage) rebukes the Corinthians because the rich are disregarding the poor. Jesus said that outsiders will know that we are his disciples by our love for one another. The gospel is reflected beautifully when we experience unity between young and old, rich and poor, black, white, hispanic, asian, native american, and any other group that we often segregate. That's what I want! How awesome would it be to have our churches reflect the unity that Christ brings, instead of unintentionally communicating that you need to be like us to go to our church. Otherwise, go find one that meets your tastes.
5. I love this book because it challenges me on who my heroes are. Are my heroes those who have glowing success stories? Or are my heroes those who have been poured out for the work of the gospel? At the end of his life, Paul said that he had no regrets. He said that he had fought the good fight, run the race, kept the faith. Then he talked about being poured out as a drink offering. Paul's version of success was to be poured out for Christ. Jesus himself, in John 12, said that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground, it cannot bear any fruit. I want to follow Christ (and Paul, and Wilberforce, and MLK, and others) by losing my life for him.
Anyway, I obviously recommend this book. It is convicting and challenging, but it is hitting on a blind spot that many of us have (I know it is a blind spot of mine). It is well worth the time that it will take to read.

Why the Kingdom Should Be Reflected in our Local Congregations
Does the consumerist mindset of contemporary evangelicalism harm our witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ? In Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church, Paul Louis Metzger answers "yes." And Metzger goes even further: consumerism affects the church by reinforcing the race and class divisions of society.

Consuming Jesus is one of the most engaging books I've read in recent days. Metzger exposes evangelicalism's consumerism for what it is: a capitulation to the market forces of capitalist culture that is detrimental to the unity of the gospel across races and classes.

Meztger begins by showing how evangelicals first retreated from culture and politics, which prepared the way for a disordered consumerist vision that blinds us to racialization, the market mindset, success, and social structures. He critiques the political aspirations of both the Religious Right and Left. He takes on the church growth strategists' emphasis on homogeneity. He challenges churches to no longer prop up the materialistic lifestyles of congregations that keep rich and poor, black and white apart.

What I Liked

1. Metzger is prophetic in his call for evangelicals to open their eyes to the race and class divisions in our churches. I like how he pulls from all corners of the church for his critique: from Jonathan Edwards to Martin Luther King, Jr., from John Wesley to John Perkins. Metzger is not interested in promoting another already-in-practice agenda. He looks at the faithful witness of Christians throughout history to challenge the church to move back to its mission.

2. Metzger challenges us to avoid the moralistic trap. No one can accuse Metzger of advocating a social gospel that challenges societal structures while leaving individual human hearts unchanged. Throughout the book, Metzger praises the evangelical emphasis on personal regeneration, even as he chides us for being too self-focused sometimes to see even our own glaring weaknesses.

3. The first half of Consuming Jesus is heavy on critique, but the second half is heavy on practical application. Metzger does not merely complain about the current state of evangelicalism; he offers clear suggestions for changing things. Especially helpful is Metzger's call for us to minister with the poor, not just to the poor as a way of bridging the divide.

What Needs Work

1. Metzger's suggestions for changing things are sometimes superficial. He spends way too much effort on critiquing our current church architecture. While I'll be the first to say I love a magnificent cathedral, I do not believe that aesthetic changes (like moving the communion table to the front of the church) will produce the type of transformation Metzger would like to see. The New Testament has little to say about what church architecture should look like. History shows that churches that look like Metzger's proposal have had racial and class distinctions of their own.

2. Metzger is right to insist that we need to take responsibility for humanity's total act of sin, not merely our individual sinfulness. That is why it is valuable for Christians to apologize for the actions of previous generations, for example. But Metzger does not take this as far as he should. If whites should apologize to blacks for previous injustice, so too should blacks apologize for injustice towards whites. The doctrine of original sin means we are all victimizers even as we are victims (a point that Metzger affirms, only he tends to emphasize the white's reponsibility more than the black's). What we need is an atmosphere of mutual grief and repentance toward one another.

Overall, Consuming Jesus is a book I highly recommend. Metzger's book calls us to rethink the current structures of the church and he offers an "all-consuming" vision of the Kingdom which should work its way out into our local congregations and communities. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Chock full of useful insights into the music business
(I know Amazon's preference algorithms are going to bombard me with gay titles now that I'm reviewing this book, but they'll just have to learn how to hit the broad side of a barn someday.)

I am halfway through the soft-bound version of this book, and I am enjoying Jon's honesty, earnestness, and especially the generosity of his insights into the music business. He also shares candidly his choices about musical style, lyric content, and performance venue.

This is a very useful book for any songwriter, band, artist, who wants a clear perspective on putting together an act, how to sell music in the changing marketplace, and on how social and political trends can be harnessed to maximize their success.

Crowd Pleaser
Jon Ginoli may not have been the bestlooking guy in rock and roll, nor the most talented musician, but he was cute and aggressive and a fantastic lyricist, and the success of Pansy Division never spoiled his basically right-on attitude.Nowadays it's hard to recreate all the handicaps an openly gay rock band faced in the late 80s, early 90s when Pansy Division was playing local shows like crazy.Even in San Francisco, straight kids were sometimes hostile and, when they were "tricked" into listening to the band at a show, could get upset and show it.For Ginoli & Co were nothing if not in your face.

His memoir, DEFLOWERED, accelerates this Rabelaisian mode, showing us that he was a late bloomer in a way; late to act on his nascent sexual feelings; late to leave the area where he had grown up; late to put together a band that would serve his vision.But once he had it all together, that pentup energy found expression, and at the exact time that would be most propitious for him, during the so-called homocore days when, in the wake of ACT UP and Queer Nation, it really seemed as though a new gay and lesbian culture was being born and even better, conquering the world.

It might not have always been easy dealing with Ginoli (and his right hand man, guitarist Chris Freeman), since the narrative arc in DEFLOWERED is consistently about badmouthing every drummer they play with.But he's so great one forgives him all the things he leaves out of this otherwise hard-hitting and fascinating tour through your pants.

This will someday be regarded as a punk rock classic!
Back in the early 90s, Pansy Division revolutionized punk rock by being the first openly queer punk band, thus giving birth to the queercore movement. In Jon Ginoli's riveting memoir, we hear about his early activism with with ACT-UP and Queer Nation, forming Pansy Division, going on tour with Green Day, confronting homophobic audiences, performing at Pride events around the country, doing benefit shows, challenging censors, touring across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and, yes, his sexual adventures. Combining radical queer politics with humor, passion, and righteous anger, Pansy Division's confrontational and sexually explicit lyrics are both a celebration of gay male sexuality and an attack on Moral Majority conservatives. They also hold accountable right-wing queers for their body fascism and embrace of consumerism. Like their music, Ginoli's book is a fun, rollicking experience. Whether you're a long-time fan of Pansy Division or just someone who really enjoys good punk literature or gay male memoirs, I encourage you to read this fabulous book!

A GREAT Read
How many people really get to live their dream?Jon and his bandmates sure do, and their dream was not necessarily to get wealthy or famous.This fascinating and amusing tale gives you a look at their real accomplishment, to make a true honest living, being who they want to be, against tremendous pressures of all sorts.

It is a great inspiration - to succeed according to your own measure and to have a hell of a great time doing it.I've rediscovered their music and picked up their new stuff, and I must say the music and this book never fail to delight.Jon and company are heroes to more people than they will ever know.

You will love this book. I sure did.

Out and Proud
Ginoli, Jon. "Deflowered: My Life in Pansy Division", Cleis Press, 2009.

Out and Proud

Amos Lassen

It's been a Pansy Division week for me. I received both the DVD, "Life in a Gay Rock Band" and "Deflowered", the book by the band's founder, Jon Ginoli. I have already reviewed the film so I will concentrate on the book here. I have long been a fan of "Pansy Division" as I admire them for singing about the things they do and I believe they have a positive influence of our community. Jon Ginoli shows us his pride in his memoirs here and as you can imagine his road to success was not easy. The book looks at two different aspects of his life--the recording industry and being gay and out.
Ginoli was born in Illinois and he grew up there but it was not until the got to college that the idea of having a gay band actually became a reality. In his book he takes us with him on his journey of self-discovery as well as his passion for music. What is interesting about his passion for music is that it led him to write songs like "Queer to the Core", "Fem in Black Leather Jacket" and many others that amazon.com would not welcome me to write here.
Pansy Division was and still is the first out and proud queer band to go big time but it was a struggle to get to that point. Jon together with Chris Freeman worked their "buns" off to get to be where they are.
Ginoli is a good writer and his book reads smoothly. I felt as if I was with the guys as they forged their way and I have a sense of pride that they made it.
It is hard not to repeat what I said in my review of the film because the two are so similar and both are great. Get them both and be twice as knowledgeable---then drop them a line at
info@pansydivision and let Jon know how much you enjoy what he does.
... Read more

Product Description
Includes 30 photos and index. Almost without exception, the histories of the Church available in print are, in fact, histories of Western Christianity, with only brief and superficial mentions of the East. This volume - the second in a planned series of six - attempts to achieve a more balanced approach. Filling the needs of students, but also of a wider readership, it describes the expansion of Christianity in the East and the West in the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries - from Ireland and the Indian Ocean and from Germany to Nubia. It exposes the tensions which arose between the inevitable cultural pluralism and the needs of Church unity - an issue which stands at the center of modern ecclesiological concerns. It discusses the debates on the identity of Christ, formally solved by the decrees of the great ecumenical councils, but which left Christendom divided. It defines the problems raised by the arbitrariness of Eastern Roman emperors and by the gradual development of Roman primacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions
The late John Meyendorff wrote perhaps the best general history of late Christian antiquity in "Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions." Reading it will help readers to understand the present Christian world, and dispel the myth that the Christian church was a unified institution, or that the union of church and state was solely the work of Constantine.

The title of the book implies Meyendorff's themes quite well. He talks about imperial unity and Christian divisions. The imperial unity he explores is the idea, present in Christian thought at least since the 2nd century, that the Roman empire had a providential role in the spread of Christianity. "Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus, the one who reduced to uniformity, so to speak, the many kingdoms on earth so that he had a single empire. It would have hindered Jesus' teaching from being spread through the whole world if there had been many kingdoms...everyone would have been compelled to fight in defense of their own country."(Origen- Contra Celsum) In other words, before Constantine's conversion, the emperor was regarded as the providential manager of earthly affairs. After Constantine's conversion, the Roman emperor was looked on as bringing the kingdom of God about. The bishops were then granted imperial posts, and the church in general started to develop a structure mirroring that of the imperial government. The church in general was granted privileged status until Theodosius banned Pagan cults; Justinian stamped out the last vestiges of Paganism in the Roman empire.

The Christian divisions were many. Meyendorff explores the many doctrinal disputes that took place in late antiquity, and in particular those of Eastern Christendom, an area that until his work had largely been neglected in church histories written in English. The sects included arians, monophysites, monothelites, apolloninarian, etc. He details these groups as well as the numerous schisms that took place. The divisiveness was particularly striking in the "three chapters" controversy. Justinian, in order to heal the schism with the monophysites and unite the empire, asked Pope Vigilius to condemn the works of 3 theologians. When he did so, virtually the entire west protested; the North African church excommunicated him, and even the Roman deacons refused to concelebrate with him. So Vigilius retracted his condemnation, and Justinian convoked the Second Council of Constantinople, which excommunicated Vigilius, who then changed his mind again. Justinian then repressed dissent against the council by force, and Constantinople II was not widely recognized as a council in the west until the Middle Ages. Two lessons can be learned from this: many sects claimed to represent true Christology, and no one had the foggiest idea of who was right and who was wrong; the only way that the unity of the empire could be maintained was through the emperor's force.

Another interesting aspect of this book is the history of the development of the papacy. Briefly, the papacy in late antiquity was not what the Vatican (and modern Catholic apologists like Steve Ray) says it was. The popes did not exercise any kind of jurisdiction outside of the Italian suburban dioceses, and even then it was largely to confirm episcopal elections. The turning point was in the 7th and 8th centuries, which in addition to the Islamic invasions in the middle east, saw the iconoclastic controversy in the Byzantine empire and the Lombard invasion of Italy. The Byzantine empire, its hands full with the iconoclast controversy, refused to help Rome against the Lombards. The Pope looked for a new protector, and found one in Charlemagne. "He was now called to save the See of Peter abandoned by its legitimate protectors in Constantinople. But in doing so, he also gradually assumed the imperial legacy itself, in opposition to Byzantium, with the pope becoming a crucial factor in this new version of Romanitas. None of the main actors of this fundamental change of political geography realized the future consequence for the fate of Christendom: the religious and cultural polarization between East and West." (p. 327)

Things you never knew...
Fr. John Meyendorff, professor of church history and patristics, has produced in Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions, the second volume in a series on church history published by the Seminary Press of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, a unique and sweeping view of the early development of the Christian church, which gives insight into the nature of later Christendom, as well as new perspectives on why our history of Christendom came to be so Western-Euro-centric, despite the fact that much of early Christendom was independent of (and in some ways opposed to) the western/Nicea/Romish orthodoxy that has dominated the church historically, politically, and theologically for the past thousand years.

Of course, early Christianity grew up in the Mediterranean basin, based on missionary activity out of Palestine through the Roman imperial world largely via trade routes. This part of history is well known, and it is no surprise to us -- the history of Christian development from Jerusalem to Rome to the rest of Western Europe is the best-documented and most-often-repeated form of history. And, as Rome was the centre of the 'civilised world' at the time of the New Testamentary developments, this makes sense from a political point of view. However, while people were heading toward Rome and other points west, there were simultaneous missionary and expeditionary activities to the north, east, and south.

Meyendorff recounts the early and continuing development of the church in Africa, Asia, and non-Roman Europe in addition to the developments within the Roman Empire. Additionally, Meyendorff recounts in great detail the lesser-studied divisions within the Roman Empire, the struggles for dominance between senior sees (Rome struggling for dominance; Constantinople arising as a power when the political centre of gravity shifts to the East; Alexandria striving to maintain at least second priority worldwide and unhappy at being relegated minority status). The impact of geography, the dissemination of theology, hymnody, and scripture along trade routes, the development of independent structures of the church outside the Roman/Byzantine Empires -- these are parts of the grand diversity of Christian history which is often neglected by both Catholic and Protestant historians, who, due to language barriers (few scholars read Syriac, Coptic, etc., today, languages required for careful study and understanding of these other Christian branches; even fewer scholars knew these prior to the last few generations of researchers), the unavailability of texts, and simple cultural and geographical ignorance, were unaware of the foundation and continuation of Christian communities beyond the Roman imperial borders. Also, in the intellectual prejudice against the East, all non-Roman Catholic or Protestant groups in Africa, Asia, and Northern Europe were lumped together as 'Orthodox' or 'Eastern Orthodox', as if this were one uniform, monolithic group for whom this description would be adequate.

This is a part of history that is of vital importance for study today, as it helps clarify the issues that were at the heart of so many things taken for granted today, but which beg further study and understanding. Early creedal understanding cannot be gained unless the controversies, many of them Eastern in origin (both intellectually and geographically), are understood in the context in which they arose, and not simply in the polemical exposition laid out by the more-victorious Western scholars. Canonical development likewise cannot be understood without an examination of the world in which the canon was formed, and without an understanding of what was left out of the canon. (I would argue, as I did in a previous review, that what was left out of the canon is important to study to help put the canonical scriptures in greater perspective.)

Meyendorff writes with care toward developing a comprehensive view of the church universal. Despite claims to universality given by creeds of Western churches, or mandates and charges given to particular sees or scriptures, there is in fact no universality of Christianity without the inclusion of the study of these divers and unique forms of Christian worship and belief. In conjunction with Meyendorff's other writings, a broader view of the church can be gained than is generally available in most popular or scholarly texts on church history.

This is a fairly dense text. For long stretches of the narrative, new characters are introduced with each paragraph, and the narrative flow can become confusing without keeping the various missionaries, bishops, church-planters, emperors and kings straight. Likewise, the geography becomes very confusing, as the text introduces lands and polities generally unfamiliar to Western readers, and Meyendorff strives to maintain historically-contemporary consistency, which means, if a kingdom comes to have a new name during a new period, Meyendorff will then use the new name, but not always with a reference back to the old kingdom, etc.

Plan to read this book twice for true understanding, but much can be gained from one reading, too.

Roman Imperial government and the church
The late Father John Meyendorff was a deeply knowledgeable historian of Christianity, who, unlike most of his peers was Orthodox, but also of the west. Church history has lost a major scholar and writer.
The material in this volume covers a period during which the Roman government at Constantinople sought to unify the church. Unfortunately, many regions (Egypt and Syria, as well as those areas which had never been part of the empire) were hostile to theological developments championed by by the government and to the position - second in the pentarchy of patriarchs, after the pope - that the councils decreed belonged to the Patriarch of Constantinople. This estrangement was a major factor in the spread of Islam.
There is also an excellent summary of Christianity in areas that had never been in the empire. (Persian, Caucassian, Armenian, etc.)
It is very unfortunate that volumes 2 and 4 are the only ones to appear of a projected six volume history.
I have been informed that a new editor has been hired and the first part of volume one is to be out in Fall, 2007, with the rest to follow (date not set).Also volumes two (this one) and four The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D (Church History, Vol 4) are scheduled to be reprinted in Winter, 2007.

The period of ecumenical counclis
The late Father John Meyendorff was a deeply knowledgeable historian of Christianity, who, unlike most of his peers was Orthodox, but also of the west. Church history has lost a major scholar and writer.
The material in this volume covers a period during which the Roman government at Constantinople sought to unify the church.Unfortunately, many regions (Egypt and Syria, as well as those areas which had never been part of the empire) were hostile to theological developments championed by by the government and to the position - second in the pentarchy of patriarchs, after the pope - that the councils decreed.This estrangement was a major factor in the spread of Islam.
There is also an excellent summary of Christianity in areas that had never been in the empire. (Persian, Caucasian, Armenian, etc.)
This is volume 2 of a series of 6.Volume 1, part 1 Formation And Struggles: The Church Ad 33-450: the Birth of the Church Ad 33-200 (The Church in History) and volume 3, Greek East And Latin West: The Church AD 681-1071 (The Church in History) appeared in late 2007.Volume 4 The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D (Church History, Vol 4) appeared earlier.Volumes 5 and 6 are yet to appear.

Christian division survived the vanished Empire


History of Church Dogma
To write a record of these schismatic and tiring years of the Church, when thousands of Egyptians and Syrians paid their life in defense of their miaphysite belief of the hypostatic union of Christ's incarnate nature, the ecclesiastic history writer needs to master Christology. Fr. john, revised and published his other gem "Christ in Eastern Christian Thought", qualifies what he wrote about Christological developments during these centuries.

Setup of the empire and Churches
A systematic account of Church-state developments are narrated masterfully in chapters I,II,and III. In chapters IV you will enjoy understanding the cultural variety of the Greek east and its founding Churches, and their robust theological traditions. Chapter V will give you a glimpse of the Latin west.

Chalcedony and its aftermath
chapter VI recounts in a relatively unbiased tone this critical time of the Church and Empire.The age of Justinian is a pleasure even if of a sour epoch, the modus operandi of Justinian and his ingenuous wife Theodora left their imprint, not only in Ravenna's St. Vitale glorious mosaic, but in the memory of Christianity.
chapter VII explains how Constans II tried to establish Ravenna as the center of Imperial Christianity.

Byzantine Emperor and Pope Gregory
Here you will see the first pontiff Maximus, the Byzantine Emperor striving to keep unity of an empire, in disintegration by applying a "Standard Orthodox" faith from the Henoticon to the three chapters, condemning writings of long parted Church thiologians and Chrismatics and the great 'monophysite Orthodox' contra the diophysite orthodox.

New Vocabulary, Ancient personalities?
Yes, indeed, entertaining and confusing. What about monothelites and Monoenergism, and all the other monos, theopaschites, akoimetai, hesycasts, iconoclasm, and all the other ism's.
Can you distinguish Severus of Antioch from that of Asmonien? Or,all the Al's; Al-Harith, Al-Mundhir,and Al-Noman ;Arab kings who influenced the Christian East?

400 pages of ecclesiastics
This is the most honest concise Eastern Church record that is available at hand, since 'History of Eastern Christianity by the late eminent coptologist Aziz Atiya is out of print. For this critical period, in the life of the Empire and the Orthodox Church doctrine. Meyendorff historical mastery with enlightening analysis of the Holy Church of the East as Neil calls it, its Emperial politics to keep its unity throug an enforced Doctrinal belief. .

Jean Meyendorff
Fr. john, of blessed memory, a master of patristic and dogmatic theology is qualified to give us a skillful tour through the maze of these schismatic centuries. A fellow of the Guggenheim Memorial foundation, Fr. John had an opportunity to perfect his in depth study on the history of the Church during its critical years 450-680.
Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan wrote "There are very few scholars in the East or the West who would be in a position to undertake this assignment. And that is, of course, precisely what John Meyendorff is."

History of Eastern Christianity
The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology (Theology and Life Series 21) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great WW 2 US divisional history
Summary: This is a limited edition reprint of this exceptional U.S. World War 2 divisional history. The 27th Infantry Division arrived in Hawaii, 21 May 1942, to defend the outer islands from amphibious attack. Elements of the Division first saw action in the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 21 to 24 November 1943. One battalion of the 106th Regiment participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 19-26 February 1944, returning to Oahu in March. During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island, 1 February, and completed its seizure, 3 February. The Division began preparations for the Marianas operations, 15 March. On D-day plus 1, 16 June 1944, elements landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marines. A bridgehead was established and Aslito Airfield captured, 18 June. Fighting continued throughout June. During a pitched battle, 7 July, Japanese overran elements of the Division in a banzai attack, but organized resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Beginning in the middle of August, the Division moved to the New Hebrides for rest and rehabilitation. On 25 March 1945, the 27th sailed from Espiritu Santo, arriving at Okinawa, 9 April 1945. The Division participated in the XXIV Corps general attack, 19 April 1945, securing a dominating ridge line south of Machinato and Kakazu. Machinato Airfield was captured, 28 April, after a severe struggle. On 1 May, the Division was relieved by the 1st Marine Division and attached to the Island Command for garrison duty. Tori Shima was seized, 12 May, without opposition. The 27th attacked from the south end of Ishikawa Isthmus to sweep the northern sector of Okinawa. The enemy fought bitterly on Onnatake Hill from 23 May until 2 June, before losing the strong point. After a mopping-up period, the Division left Okinawa, 7 September 1945, moved to Japan and occupied Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures. 2001 new hard bound reprint of 1949 edition, no dj as issued, division patch embossed in color on cover, 6x9, viii, 710 pages, numerous maps, and a photo section.

For My Father
The 27th Infantry Division was the first and only square division sent to the Pacific theater after Pearl Harbor. Formed within the New York National Guard during the Civil War and nick-named "the O'Ryan Division" after its famed World War I commander, elements of the 27th Infantry Division fought in nearly every island campaign against the Japanese during World War II. While most people think of the Pacific theater as the Marines' war; the U.S. Army was there, too. The 27th Infantry Division was the first Army unit sent in and the last to be sent home from the Pacific. This book is not the romantic, entertaining story that one might expect. Instead, it is a matter-of-fact historical account of the men, their units, and their war. It is a compilation of detailed unit records, painstakingly gathered and recorded for posterity.Some of it is the story of my father, Pfc. Abraham Wesley Kent, Company K, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, who fought on Saipan and Okinawa. Although he is not mentioned by name, I have been able to glean some information as to what he and his comrades went through, the battles, the firefights, and the terror that is war. The book leaves nothing out, including the bitter disputes between the Army and Marines commanders on Saipan. I found the book fascinating, and full of information that should help me learn more about my father and what he went endured. It is said that people who advocate going to war probably never fought one. Reading this book will help you to understand why. ... Read more