Triumph Reviews

Heard BEYOND SURVIVAL: THE NEXT CHAPTER, written
and narrated by Gerald Coffee, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.), who
endured seven long years in a communist prison in North
Vietnam . . . this was a live recording of a speech he has made
throughout the country, in which he tells how he survived and
what lessons he learned from his experience . . . he advises the
listeners to have faith, as well as to learn to rely upon themselves, others, country, and their God . . . doing so will enable us to get through our own "struggles for survival," which only speaking for myself, seem insignificant to what Coffee had to endure . . . my only regret was in not being able to hear Coffee deliver this powerful message in person . . . he seems like he is quote some guy, and I was so impressed by his message that I had to listen to this powerful tape twice . . . in fact, I'm now going to seek out his original book: BEYOND SURVIVAL.

Gerald Coffee was a POW in North Viet Nam for seven years, most of it spent in a small cell alone, out of visual contact with the other POWs. In this powerful tape, the first thing evident is the love of life and spirit of community heard in his voice. There doesn't appear to be a hint of bitterness or revenge. Instead he tells how he survived and what he learned from the traumatic experience to become a wiser and more generous person since his release in 1973. He advises the listeners to have faith, and learn to rely upon themselves,others, Country and their God. He gives examples of how he was able to survive by practicing what he preaches and encourages all of us to apply the same lessons to our own lives and our own "struggle for survival".

Gerald Coffee survived for a reason. The message he gives could be that reason. It is very inspirational and highly recommended.

This book is not only a great read, but a wonderful insight into Chinese thought.

This book should be required reading at all the military institutes AND for business executives.

Have you ever been trapped in a crowd, a hysterical crowd,terrified of the future? Imagine being a young Jewish woman doctor in Stalinist former Soviet Union during the Second War - and each decision might be fatal. Fear, terror, and blind hatred rule the day - and everyone wants the young doctor to perform miracles when God seemed silent and remote.

This fascinating autobiography, written with a sharp sense of life's ironies and injustices, conveys the wisdom that comes from being a true survivor. Compassion and knowledge can sometimes save a life - or mean nothing except dying with a conscience. (It's worth juxaposing the Machevillian logic of Rich on that silly island TV show where ethics were jettisonned for money with the heroism of the partisans of WWII.) Ruzena also illuminates the brutality come so easily to so many individuals in the name of so abstract ideology like fascism or communism.

Perhaps Oprah could interview Ruzena so television viewers can see how a true hero behaves in a crisis! This inspirational story of a woman's survival, sacrifice, and success (living and enjoying life in the California) combats the easy cynicism that seems so pervasive today. We should never, Ruzena shows, underestimate what a smart woman can do - especially in a crisis!

Cattle Car To Kazakhstan: A Woman Doctor's Triumph Of Courage In World War II is the story of a young woman in her twenties, married to a dynamic lawyer, a leader in the Zionist movement, whose world was torn apart in September 1939 when her home town of Przemysl, Poland (bisected by the River San) is occupied by the German army on one side, and the Russian army on the other. Ruzena's husband is arrested by the Soviet Secret Police because of his political activities, leaving her alone and six months pregnant. After her baby is born three months later, the NKVD (Soviet secrete police) arrest her, put her into a cattle car packed with other women and children, and ship her off to the a primitive Kirghiz village on the wild steppes of Kazakhstan, south of Siberia. Cattle Car To Kazakhstan is a vivid account of Ruzena Berler's deportation and the years she spent in the wild steppes and, later, in the Czech Legion. She and her companions worked hard to simply survive. A lot of women and children didn't. Ruzena later served as a doctor in an immense agricultural complex, battled a devastating typhus epidemic, was pursued in winter by wolves, used a high-wheeled cart through muddy floods of sudden springtime snowmelts, fought (and became an officer) with the Czech Legion in what is now Kazakhstan against the Germans, and worked in the field hospital day and night with little sleep. During all of this, she took care of her child. After the war, Ruzena learned that her family died in Auschwitz, and that her husband had been executed by the Soviet Secret Police. The war being over, she left newly liberated Prague as Czechoslovakia was becoming Communist, moving to Southern California, remarrying, raising her daughter Olga and having sons. Cattle Car To Kazakhstan is an astonishing, candid, revealing autobiography, the story of a woman's successful struggle to survive overwhelming odds for herself and her daughter in times of war, oppression, violence and despair.

This book is well produced, lavishly illustrated, and full of interesting facts touching on the highlights of aviation's first century, from daring or crazy men strapping wings to their arms and launching off hills, to the stealth fighter, Mach 3 jets, and beyond.
The illustrations are marvels in themselves, and depict aircraft in stunning detail. The "peel away" graphics showing the inner construction of some aircraft are particularly well done and interesting.
This is a lavish book, and of top quality. It would be a perfect book or gift for a person that has an interest in aviation, and military aviation history in particular. It's extensive without being overly dry or laden with dense text.
I particularly enjoyed the extensive coverage of World War One aircraft from all of the combatant countries.
It lays out the design advances in a logical order so the reader can follow the historical development of the airplane from pre-Wright Bros. to current military and commercial jets.

Also, I particularly enjoyed the many odd-ball aircraft that are illustrated and captioned. It shows the mind boggling array of ideas and designs that have been tried at one time or another.

A great book for an adult, or even for a child interested in planes, though the text level is perhaps better suited for post-elementary age.

All in all, a very well designed, written, and illustrated book sure to be enjoyed by any fan of planes, jets, or aviation in general.

I don't often praise big, handsome, expensive books that were so obviously designed for Christmas giving. But here's an exception. Chant is a British writer who's done lots of good aviation histories, for Osprey and such, so he knows what he's writing about. Batchelor is a marvelous artist, whether he's painting combat scenes or doing meticulous "x-ray" drawings of a plane's inner workings. What they've created here is a reference book for the aviation library--one that just happens to be a nice coffee-table display as well. It really is "a history of aviation," as the sub-title promises. Five stars! -- Dan Ford

I have read this book twice, have given several copies as gifts, and hear myself quoting from it on occasion. It's amazing how the success stories of others can inspire us to realize our own dreams. This is a perfect gift for graduates, Mother's Day and Father's Day, and award presentations for any business-minded person. I especially like the practical lessons that Mr. Elliott draws from the real-life experiences of people like Walt Disney, Bill Gates, Andy Griffith, Mary Kay, and Martin Luther King, Jr. We all need heros and role models like these.

I highly recommend this very interesting book of stories of success and inspiration. There is a one-page story for each day of the year. These stories provide interesting facts about successful Americans as well as information on how they became successful. Each story ends with a comment concerning how it can be applied to your own life. It is a very good book!

On page 24 the book indicates that Baseketball was Dale's silver screen debut however it was in Stroker Ace in 1983 that Dale did his first cameo. Just a small oversight I am shure but I found the book to be a must to complete my collection

This book talks and shows how Dale Earnhardt really is. A true champion in his sport, and in his private life as well. No one can compare to the way he was on or off the track, and no one ever will. this book is a great addition to any and all nascar collection one my have. don't let this book pass you by. get it while the getting is still good.

This is one of the best WWII social histories I've read (and I've read a few since I am grad student studying society during WWII). It is thorough, covers a variety of topics, and is engagingly written. A must for any history buff or student of WWII.

In doing research on life in the United States and events leading to World War II, I stumbled upon this book. The details and the varied information in this book leaves me thinking that Mr. Perrett's work is a marvelous achievement. I was between 8 and 12 during World War II, and no work I have seen better covers these war years on the homefront.

I also am a cancer survivor and found this book very inspiring. Mrs. Walker's positive outlook was in inspiration. If she could smile through her ordeal so could I. It's a must read.... If I could have given it 10 stars I would have.

this is truly an inspiring story of one woman's long fight against almost insurmountable odds. She is able to find humor in the most unlikely situations. She writes in a breezy, upbeat style

I strongly feel that The Force of Finance must be on the desks of all current and aspiring leaders who want to bring prosperity to their people.

Dr. Brenner shows and proves that 'democratised capital markets' are the bringer of prosperity, and the bringer of the governments and institutions worthy of generating and sustaining the back-cloth of trust. Writing in the vein of Ronald Coase, Peter Bauer and Friedrich Hayek, he explains that 'political democracy' can only come about by capitalism at the grass-roots... because "mercantile interests are diverse, not dogmatic"...

Moreover, Dr. Brenner explains the emergence of Pax American w.r.t. 'democratised capital markets' (i.e. highly competitive banks, underwriters, venture capitalists, etc.); for US capital markets create an exceptional 'trial-by-error' meritocracy:

(i) alluring the creme de la creme from around the world, and (ii) reshaping - bottom up - regulatory bodies and political parties.

Dr. Brenner is covetous for solid research, and understands the wisdom in the dictum: "Persuade with facts, not speech!" Also, he has a remarkably vivid writing style, free of jargon, free of gerrymandering...

After careful reading - and re-reading - The Force of Finance, I find credit and collateral to be vital in creating a mobile people, bubbling new riches, ideas and experiments.

Dr. Brenner is a bearer of light! I can say no more, I will say no less.

Reuven Brenner, an intense, dynamic, and iconoclast economist, has entered a very weighty two cents into the current thought on the world economy with this new book.

With multiple clear examples of politics and history, he shows the difference between America's open capital markets and most of the world's nations closed capital markets, and why America has been at the forefront of econonomic and capitalist development for more than 50 years.

His main argument: Citizens of any nation should have access to capital in order to embark on ventures that will produce profit. The most valuable resource any nation has are its talented citizens, by denying them access to the ability to be entrepreneurs, the nation is hurting itself and its growth. The answer: Let them access the resources they need, but hold both sides accountable. It won't keep an Enron from happening, but it will keep it from happening again, as is obvious with new accounting reforms.

Using examples from pre/post Communist Russia, Latin America, Islamic Fundamentalist states, and budding open capital markets, Brenner proves that any system that restricts access to capital is doomed to fail. Sure to open your mind and expose you to the true story of the global economy, The Force Of Finance is the penultimate book on how to turn a third world nation into a modern state that is living up to its potential.

This was a very informative book and gave lots of insight into the hugh effort that must have gone into this age-old quest. The focus at the personal level gives a nice picture of what the individuals must have gone through. Makes you think "Hey, I could have been there..." Very enjoyable.

Morton Grosser came to Shafter and to our homes while we were trying to build the first man-powered plane. He wrote a book that centered on the people that were working, thinking and arguing towards the goal. If you want a feel of what it was like to do something for the first time ever, read this book.