ERA Reviews

Given the recent terrorist attacks, I spent some time reviewing literature on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. However, I found it very difficult to find a book that dealt with the actual history of counterterrorist operations and not counterterrorist theory. Mockaitis's book filled that gap for me.

Mockaitis presents an excellent analytical history of British counterinsurgency (which includes counterterrorist) operations since 1960. He clearly explains why the British failed in Aden, succeeded in Oman, and eventually got the upper hand in Northern Ireland.

Moreover, Mockaitis implicitly makes a strong case for a version of counterinsurgency operations in which winning the population's hearts and minds takes precedence over beating them into submission through heavy-handed military operations, reprisals, or internment camps. Again, with the recent terrorist events, this book is well-worth reading.

I am not well-versed in the history of the Royal Navy but found this book to be quite interesting. The author's willingness to take an unsparing look at the professional and personal motivations behind naval policy-making during this time is refreshing. Would recommend it to colleagues and naval buffs, definitely.

"Building a New Nation: The Federalist Era: 1789-1801," the seventh volume in "The Drama of American History" series has nine chapters, which is usually how many you find in any two given volumes. The approach of Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier in this series aimed at 6th-9th graders is aimed at providing the "core content" rather than deluging young students with names and dates. The previous volume looked at just one topic, the creation of the U.S. Constitution. However, the three years in which George Washington and John Adams were in the White House was the equivalent of (1) Setting Up a New House, which justifies the unusual number of chapters.

(2) The First Elections is something of a misnomer, because Washington's election was a forgone conclusion. What then became important was his decision to create a cabinet in general (which is not outlined in the Constitution) and to appoint Alexander Hamilton as first Secretary of the Treasury. (3) The Whiskey Rebellion is essentially the first crisis of the new nation's federal government as some Americans decided taxation with representation did not thrill them either. (4) Foreign Problems looks at how problems with the British, especially in regards to shipping, continued, while the French Revolution affected relationships with America's closest ally. (5) The Rise of Political Parties reminds young readers that originally the nation did not want political parties; the Federalists did not really exist until the Jeffersonian Republicans were created. The beginning of political parties in the United States does not look any better than the recent activities of the current pair of such creatures. (6) Washington's Farewell looks at the significance of his departure from the national stage and the fact that his speech is still quoted today regarding the dangers of foreign entanglements. (7) The Administration of John Adams basically boils down to one good thing (avoiding war) and one bad thing (the Alien & Sedition Acts).

I am not sure why, but the last two chapters of this volume are essentially covered in more depth in the next volume in the series, "The Jeffersonian Republicans: 1800-1823": (8) The Revolution of 1800 is about the end of the Federalist period with the election of Thomas Jefferson, which was the first peaceful transfer of power between two "sides" in world history. (9) A Coda: Marbury v. Madison talks about the Supreme Court decision that established the principle of judicial review.

The end result is that "Building a New Nation" covers in broad strokes the important things that happened during this time period. Certainly this was a period of trial if not outright error and what becomes apparent is that the success of the nation came down to what its leaders did during these early days. If young students learn anything from this chapter it will be that what Washington, Hamilton, Adams and Marshall did were of supreme importance in the creation of the new nation. They will also understand that for the most part, their actions are still considered to have been the not simply good decisions, but the best of all possible decisions.

This excellent book covers (from 1943 thru 1957) a section of the pin-up calendar genre, the Artist's Sketchpad. The calendar publishers of the day hit on the bright idea of having additional sketches and paintings surrounding the main pin-up image. This had the added advantage of not requiring the artists to think of humorous situations in which to place the 'girl next door'. Leader of the pack, Gill Elvgren, didn't do sketch pad calendars, he could always think up some credible situation to show a gorgeous female with a raised skirt, he does have some paintings included though.

The book wisely shows each complete calendar page, so you can see the names and addresses of the companies that bought these give-aways by the million (those were the days when phone numbers had a bit of character, like MUrray Hill 2-4090, DEarborn 2-1935 or HYacinth 7-3595). Each monthly chapter has, on average, thirty-two pictures displayed on light colored pages and some pages have displays of those terrible four-line poems that seemed to be a requirement of any respectable girlie calendar.

The introduction mentions ten artists who painted most of the pin-ups shown but the book has a major omission in that none of the pictures are credited. Artists like Moran, Munson, Elliot, Mac Pherson or Elvgren have signatures you can recognise on the paintings but I think it would have been helpful if the all the names were printed by each picture. However, here's an idea, get a copy of the stunning 'Great American Pin-up' (ISBN 3-8228-1701-5) and spend a pleasant hour or so using the nine hundred pictures (by sixty-one artists) to identify all the paintings in 'Calendar Girl'.

The "Quay" Level 23 2 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Carlino Polia Esq." Australian Gentleman, which is a delightful romp through Australian history. My wife and I along with our four children, are business migrants to Australia. Of all the books and magazines given to us by the Australian government in the program, Carlino Polia Esq. shed more light and resolved more questions about Australia. Two of our children, aged 22 and 19, had difficulty putting your book down. They both read to the early hours of the morning enthralled by your yarn and the actual events. When we visit America after emigrating to Australia, we are often besieged with questions about Australia. It is Amazing how little Americans know about Australia in spite of the experiences of world war II. Carlino Polia Esq. relates experiences of the early auto industry not at all unlike that of my family in Cleveland, Ohio which had 22 automobile companies headquartered there prior to World War I. As an attorney who has acquired property in over 30 states in the United States, these sections on Australian property transfer were very enlightening. Over and over again you very subtly bring home to our children that education combined with experience and ethics will likely be rewarded with a quality of life. Again, my ancestors in America cherished the same values as Carlino Polia. I strongly urge you to find an American book distributor. There is a strong likelihood once Carlino Polia is reviewed, it will be well received and movie/TV rights will be sought from you. I could see Carlino Polia Esq. in a TV series, especially in commemoration of Sydney 2000. Just yesterday The Australian newspaper had an opinion column stating "Shrimp on the barbie" and "Crocodile Dundee" image of Australia has overridden the millions of dollars of government ads trying to re-image Australia as a global competitor in complex industries. Maybe tracing Australia's roots through Carlino Polia Esq. is a better antidote to the Mad Maxes and Bushwacker string of movies and books that seem to define Australia to America and other parts of the world. Carlino's involvement with the young artists, taking his paintings to a soirée, a good golfer, then his appearance in white tie and tails with a top hat, tells of Sydney with a sophisticated cultural society from the early 1900s; not much different to that in New York London or Paris at that time.

Wishing you the best for your book and in finding a distributor in America.

John Wagner. B.A.(Econ), L.L.B. The "Quay" Level 23 2 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000.

This book has great description of all the fabulous cartoon toys made in the sixties. The photos are outstanding. Wow! This book really captures that feeling you had when you were a kid. I love the honesty and the perfection that the author put in this book as well. This book was put together with great preparation. If you want a guide to all the great cartoon toys of the past, I recommend you to buy this book.

This biography of the colorful 19th century activist, statesman and politician who worked most of his life to make slavery illegal in the USA seems mostly to stay with facts and avoid speculation - as tempting as speculation can be when all of the facts are not known. The book was well-researched over a long period. In part, it emplasizes CM Clay's influence on Abraham Lincoln regarding his political stances on emancipation. I found it a very interesting and easy read - its only about 150 pages. Great for those who want substance not fluff but aren't looking for ponderous details.

Having had the chance to borrow a friend's copy, I soon found that I had to have one of my own. The photographs of these wonderful boxes are stunning and makes me wish I could have one of everything in this book. The price guides are accurate and the general information interesting.

THIS TERRIFIC BOOK RECAPTURES BLACK WOMEN'S EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE UNIQUE LIVES THEY LED. WE KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT FREE BLACK WOMEN IN THE SOUTH AND THESE LETTERS AND DIARIES BRING TO LIFE A NEGLECTED CHAPTER OF OUR HISTORY AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.....PLUS THE DIARY OF THIS YOUNG BLACK WOMAN DURING THE CIVIL WAR IS A COMPELLING HISTORICAL VOICE. THE EDITOR HAS DONE A TERRIFIC JOB SETTING THESE VOICES IN CONTEXT SO WE CAN ONCE AGAIN HEAR THEIR STORIES AND READ THE WORDS OF LOST BLACK WOMEN FROM THE PAST.

The author of this book has done a marvellous job in analysing the dramatic changes in China's legal system in the era of Deng Xiaoping. The period covered by this book is of immense historical and economical importance to modern China and the author has done the legal aspects of which full justice.