Customer Reviews (10)

Wish there was a movie
I loved the final book of the trilogy. What I don't understand is why there is no movie made of this. Would be a wonderful continuation of From Here to Eternity and The Thin Red Line.

A Book About Post-War America
Although Whistle takes place in 1943, it is really about post-war America and the effect it had on the psyche of American males. We have met all of the four main characters (with different names, but the author identifies them in a foreword)in earlier volumes of James Jones great trilogy: From Here to Eternity and The Thin Red Line. Now they are in a hospital in Tennessee.

They all come to bad ends, but it isn't really the war that destroys them. It is the peace and their inability to live with the changes wrought by the war. One can't cope with his inability to protect his men, one rebels when he is forced to become a public relations flack in order to stay in the army, one rejects the honor and traditions of the military ethos only to regret it and the other one is appalled by the nihilism which he sees as the wave of the future.

Jones fought a battle to complete this book before he died. He didn't quite succeed - a few chapters toward the end are sketched out in summary form - but this is a complete and important work by one of the greatest American writers of the Twentieth Century and a very worthy finale to a trilogy comprised of masterpieces.

If you read From Here to Eternity and The Red Line...
you might enjoy this Third volume of Mr. Jones opii[sp?]. If you aren't a fan then this is the one to skip.
pete saussy

Not his best, but good enough
No author captures the mind and plight of the ordinary soldier better than James Jones, and "Whistle" is the third book of a trilogy that includes the indomitable "From Here to Eternity" and the gritty "The Thin Red Line."

From Here to Eternity portrays barracks life in Hawaii just before the attack at Pearl Harbor; The Thin Red Line is a wrenching account of island fighting in the South Pacific; and Whistle is the story of four men from the same infantry company, all wounded in battle, who are brought back to the U.S. on a hospital ship and then sent to an Army hospital in the South.

The book does a fine job of portraying the complex relationships between the four men and the inner demons each has to face. First Sergeant Martin Winch is a cynical, but superb leader who struggles with congestive heart failure while trying his best to protect the other three men. Mess Sgt. Johnny Strange is the nurturer who looks after the others while he struggles with the infidelity of his wife, and the injustices of the Army pecking order. Buck Sergeant Marion Landers tries but fails to handle the monstrous fury that wells up inside him. Corporal Bobby Prell fights to save his legs from amputation and copes with feelings of guilt over a Congressional Medal of Honor that he does not believe he deserves.

This was Jones’ final book, and he was unable to finish the final three chapters before he died of congestive heart failure (his death is portrayed in the movie "A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries" based on the book written by his daughter, Kaylie.)

Unfortunately, the last book of the trilogy doesn’t measure up to the first two, and it pains me to write this because I am one of Jones’ major fans. The story, the writing, Jones’ unique ability to get into the head of the GI just aren’t as sharp in this work.

There is also the matter of his preoccupation about a man performing oral ... on a woman– he goes on and on and on about it throughout the book. The ... is graphic, even by today’s standards. All well and good, but the preoccupation with oral ... stretched and exceeded the limits of its role in the story line. It’s like Jones’ had a statement to make, and he made it too often; and he made it too important for credibility.

And then there is the end of the book, which should have been handled differently. Jones was unable to complete the final three and one half chapters, but he let his intentions for the finale be known in detail. A friend and neighbor, Willie Morris, wrote the last chapters from notes and recordings. They are not written as fiction, but as a summary of what the author intended to happen. The novel would have been much better had a skilled writer done the end as a continuing fictional narrative, imitating Jones’ style. (Of course, there would need to be an appropriate explanation of how it was handled at the beginning of the book.)

Whistle is not James Jones best work. But it’s still a fine story by one of America’s most underrated authors.

Whistle
"Whistle" is one of the best books I have read. WWII is my favorite story genre. James Jones has never been disappointing in showing the reality of the soldiers' character.There were parts of the story where I audibly gasped at what had taken place.Although some of the language was Army technical and foreign to me, it was an easy read. The sexual encounters and explicit descriptions of them, was not offensive,but enlightening. It was very real and a breath of fresh air compared to the sugar coated versions of what happened during the war in other stories and films of the same time period. Themain characters, Winch, Landers, Strange and Prell are so different from the stereo-type "war hero" It is a story of WWII which reveals the horror but does not dwell on it with blood, violence & gore and shows it from so many different perspectives. ... Read more

Product Description
With a voice as rich as it is recognized, James Earl Jones brings the King James Version of the New Testament alive with his narrative talents. Oscar®-nominated, Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones has earned a worldwide reputation as one of the world’s most versatile actors and voiceover artists. In over 19 hours on 14 digitally re-mastered compact discs, James Earl Jones Reads the Bible interprets the most enduring book of our time utilizing the acclaimed actor’s superb storytelling and skilled characterizations. James Earl Jones, who includes in his credits The Lion King, Patriot Games and Star Wars, has provided what is hailed as the greatest spoken-word Bible version ever. With over 400,000 copies sold, this exquisite audio treasure is certain to entertain and inspire.

Complete New Testament (King James Version)
- Digitally Re-mastered
- Bonus! 12 classic hymns recorded by the Nashville Faith - Choir and Friends
- International Bestseller with over 400,000 units sold!

Bonus
Old Time Gospel Hymns sung by the acclaimed Nashville Faith Choir and Friends is a collection of 12 classic hymns including Victory In Jesus, The Old Rugged Cross, and the ever popular Amazing Grace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

King James bible on disc
I've listened to the first CD (Matthew 1-13)and find it most helpful with my bible study.Since I've not listened to all CD's yet I can only comment on the first one.The sound is acceptable. It's not scratched; occasionally the volume rises and then falls, but it doesn't disturb my ability to understand James Earl Jones.The case in which the CD's are packaged came to me partially broken.I won't know until a future date if any of the CD's are scratched due to the damaged package.

Pleased
Very pleased with it. I didn't at first realize it was just the New Testament. Only a few errors as i discovered by following along in my Bible with it but nothing doctrinely terrible :-p. Highly recommend for all christians to own a copy of an audio Bible. It puts things in a new light for those who are learning it and applying to their life.

A great way to get religion.
I have to be honest - James Earl Jones has read more Bible to me than I ever read on my own.And you can listen to the Bible while you're multi-tasking.James Earl Jones has a fantastic voice and there are no extraneous choirs or music in the background.The only negative I can add has already been pointed out by other reviewers.This collection covers the New Testament only.I was kind of hoping to get the Old Testament too but, based on what's out there now, I can wait until James Earls Jones reads the Old Testament

New Testament by James Earl Jones
What a marvelous narrator!I wish I would have read the other reviews prior to purchase as I too was under the impression that this was the entire Bible, not just the NEW TESTAMENT.I would highly consider letting buyers know that even though it says Deluxe, it is referring to the lovely box it comes in.This is very deceptive.Now I have to spend another $41 to get the entire Bible.Please correct this if you value your feedback.

Wonderful!
This is an excellent reading of the King James Version New Testament. Jones reads clearly with excellent pronunciation and makes it easier to listen to and understand. His voice is wonderful to listen to. There is no music played in the background, which is good.

The hymns by the Nashville Faith Choir are enjoyable. They sing several of them with a traditional shape-note tone quality. For some this is an acquired taste. But I love shape-note singing. ... Read more

Product Description
* For the first time ever - the International Best Seller - James Earl Jones Reads The Bible, is now available on CD!!

Includes the entire New Testament - King James Version
Over 19 hours on 16 compact discs!
Digitally Re-mastered
Featuring a beautiful music soundtrack (background)

In a voice as rich as it is recognized, James earl Jones lends his narrative talents to the King James Version of the New Testament. In over 19 hours on 16 compact discs enhanced with a complete musical score, James Earl Jones interprets the most enduring book of our time utilizing the acclaimed actor's superb storytelling and skilled characterizations. Hailed as the greatest spoken-word bible version ever, and with almost half a million copies sold, this exquisite audio treasury is certain to enthuse and inspire.

James Earl Jones possesses the most recognized and rich narrative voice of the modern era. His film credits include The Lion King, Hunt for Red October, Star Wars, Field of Dreams, and many others, as well as being "the voice" of CNN. In this extraordinary box set, an incredible talent reads the New Testament of the Bible in its entirety. You will be mesmerized by Mr. Jones’ style and punctuation, and will listen to this beautiful recording over and over. Without doubt, the greatest spoken-word audio product ever produced on the Bible. Digitally re-mastered, and enhanced with a beautiful background music score, this will be a collection treasured for a lifetime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (72)

Grat buy
This was purchased for another family member and they love it.They listen to it all the time.

Not the Bible, just the New Testament
When I search for "The Bible" on CD, and I find on title "THE BIBLE", I expect it to be the WHOLE Bible.Not just one part of it."James Earl Jones Reads the Bible"It should say he reads the New Testament.Other than that, it is great.TRUTH in ADVERTISING!!Especially when it is the BIBLE!!

Excellent
Product arrived on time and in new condition. No concerns with this order. The product itself is great, just spoken in old english which can be difficult to understand at times.

Mislabled, misleading
This is a very soothing and pretty much precise reading.I do find the labeling to be misleading due to the title "The Bible"I did not read the small print (I have eye problems) and thought it was the complete Bible not just the New Testament. I think this should be in larger print.All in all I truly like it.Now I have to buy the Old Testament if there is one or spend additional monies on the Complete Bible.

JAMES EARL JONES
I REALLY LIKE THIS ITEM.JAMES JONES DOES A WONDERFUL JOB. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE BIBLE, BUT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IT WHEN THEY READ IT.
THANK YOU. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent writing on Jones' part as usual.......
I was raised in Robinson, Illinois as well as James Jones (he was born and raised there) and he returned to Robinson after serving in the military in World War II.Most of his writing was about his life growing up in Robinson and the surrounding area which we natives refer to as "the Wabash Valley" - Mr. Jones wrote much about his experiences during the war (WW II) as well."Some Came Running" was based on his actual life with friends from this area and trips that they made "across the river" over into Terre Haute, Indiana.While he may have seemed to be a dark personality at times, he led a very distinct and interesting life and his writings reflect that.There is even a Literary Society in his honor in Robinson (see following links, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jones_(author) and http://rking.vinu.edu/j.htm)

A Man in The Middle
You either liked "some came running" or you didn't, and there doesn't seem to be anything in between.And the movie of the same name was a typical Hollywood treatment at the time with little about it that followed the objective of the book.If reading this book, I sincerely recommend taking the "abridged" version.Nothing of the story is lost in the excellent editing but removes the non-essential rambling that Jones was going through when he wrote the original.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me, there was an honesty about it from all angles; from the black sheep, insecure would-be writer to the over-achiever brother of same, and all the widely diverse, yet associated personalities in between.Jones got into the psyche of each as he penned their thoughts and actions against the thoughts and actions of those they associated with.

It's true it dealt with the seamy side of life, but it dealt with the middle class striving for the high society life, too.Each striving, striving, for something elusive; and self-destruction lived close to the surface within all of them.

It begins with the black sheep brother, the non-conformist Dave Hirsch, returning by bus from a stint in the army and a war, and stepping off into the old hometown from where he had been helpfully banished several years before by his brother, Frank, for an indescretion.One immediately feels that he has returned solely to embarrass the older brother, who has achieved a measure of social standing and wealth, thereby exacting a subtle revenge - after all, it's his home too and he can return if he wants.

Then the action begins; Dave has long desired to become a writer and has a certain amount of unrealized talent; but he has no drive, no motive, and lapses into the dark recesses of the local bars and it's correspondingly dark female companionship much too often to allow him to concentrate.He feels some guilt about it, not enough to reform it; he is overly sensitive about his weight; and he suffers from all sorts of other insecurities because of these truths about himself that he dislikes, but isn't strong enough to overcome. One of the most pitiful of the female characers, Ginny, figures prominently in the life of Dave almost immediately.Lost, dull witted, unable to have any normal relationship with a man, she nonetheless has the use of men because she provides a use "for" them. The reader feels sorrow along with the adult knowledge that there are really such people out there.

Along the way, Dave is introduced to a wonderful old gentleman through his brother, Bob French, an intellectual who has a correspondingly educated daughter, Gwen. Dave is immediately attracted to the daughter, and although his personal obstacles are still there, he has one advantage: She has somehow gone slumming in her choices of reading material at one time and discovered Dave's work which she feels has merit but not enough polish.She sees hidden potential in him and determines to assist him write a new novel. (she can cook,too) Gwen also has problems of her own.This, then, becomes the underlying theme of the story, complete with unrequited sexual tension between Dave and Gwen.

There are others that figure prominently in Jones' tale of small-town injustices, secret and not-so-secret lives: 'Bama, the Gambler was one of the most interesting.Street smart, possessed of common sense under his debauched life style, the reader somehow senses he may be one of the only sane ones among the characters and then immediately wonders why one thought so.The trip Dave takes to 'Bama's farm to meet Mrs. 'Bama was truly one of a kind.

My take on the whole thing was that Jones was perhaps more than a little like his character "Dave" in his own life.He seemed to know him intimately.

Running.......away
I'm a big James Jones fan, especially of The Thin Red Line and From Here to Eternity. If you want to read Jones, and you're into combat, military or that WWII genre, you must read those two books.

"Running" is not like those books at all. Set in small town America after the war, it's an indictment of post WWII society: EVERY CHARACTER in this book is either an alcoholic, immoral, indecent, or in some way, a loser. Here's some examples: Dave, the main character, a combat veteran and a wannabe writer, turns into a fat slob who runs around with "whores" (his words, not mine) and eventually marries a "slut" who he has routinely termed a "fat pig." His brother, Frank, a successful business man, has several girlfriends on the side and at the end of the book, after being forced to give up his mistresses by his neurotic wife, gets off on walking around at night looking into windows in the hope of seeing someone naked. One of Dave's (unrequited) love interests (Gwen), an English professor at a local college is widely regarded as some type of sexually experienced woman of the world. However, in fact, she's still a virgin. On and on and on. About the most endearing character isfifth of whiskey a day gambler, "'bama" who keeps his wife and kids on a farm down south while he is "up north" gambling and "whorin'" around. Wow. Jones must have been REALLY going through something when he wrote this one. By the way, it was made into a movie with Sinatra, Dean Martin, Shirley MacLaine - the Rat Pack crew - and the screenplay was highly modified. I first read this book in '72 and now 35 years later I'm rereading it. Now I know why I waited 35 years to read it again! It is BRUTAL. I'm one of those "every book is worth reading once" people who believes that sometimes you have to read crap to appreciate good, but frankly, I would say avoid this one.

Running With the Big Boys
Take a little Lewis, add Farrell, Faulkner and Dreiser.Mix all that up and you might come close.Jones creates characters that stand up and talk back. They cast long shadows.Jones creates a real town out of paper, ink and imagination.This town is in the Midwest, but it could be anywhere.His people have problems like you have problems. At times they work it all out.At times they don't.This is life lived.This is great literature.This is James Jones best work.And they don't come much better than James Jones.

A Brilliant Slice of Americana
What happens to the Band of Brothers when they return home?

Jones explores life in a small midwestern town when soldiers returned home from WWII. Unforgettable characters. An indictment of the hypocrisy of Main Street USA.

One of the last Great American Novels. ... Read more

Product Description
The World War II classic by the bestselling author of From Here to Eternity and Whistle, now a major motion picture from 20th Century Fox.

They are the men of C-for-Charlie Company--"Mad" 1st/Sgt. Eddie Welsh, S/Sgt. Don Doll, Pvt. John Bell, Capt. James Stein, Cpl. Fife, and dozens more just like them--infantrymen in "this man's army" who are about to land grim and white-faced on an atoll in the Pacific called Guadalcanal.This is their story, a shatteringly realistic walk into hell and back.

In the days ahead some will earn medals; others will do anything they can dream up to get evacuated before they land in a muddy grave.But they will all discover the thin red line that divides the sane from the mad--and the living from the dead--in this unforgettable portrait that captures for all time the total experience of men at war.Amazon.com Review
"When compared to the fact that he might very well be deadby this time tomorrow, whether he was courageous or not today waspointless, empty. When compared to the fact that he might be deadtomorrow, everything was pointless.Life was pointless. Whether helooked at a tree or not was pointless. It just didn't make anydifference. It was pointless to the tree, it was pointless to everyman in his outfit, pointless to everybody in the whole world. Whocared?It was not pointless only to him; and when he was dead, whenhe ceased to exist, it would be pointless to him too. More important:Not only would it be pointless, it would have beenpointless, all along."

Such is the ultimate significance of war in The Thin Red Line(1962), James Jones's fictional account of the battle between Americanand Japanese troops on the island of Guadalcanal. The narrative shiftseffortlessly among multiple viewpoints within C-for-Charlie Company,from commanding officer Capt.James Stein, his psychotic firstsergeant Eddie Welsh, and the young privates they send intobattle. The descriptions of combat conditions--and the mental statesit induces--are unflinchingly realistic, including the dialog (inwhich a certain word Norman Mailer rendered as "fug" 15 years earlierin The Naked and the Dead appears properly spelled on numerousoccasions). This is more than a classic of combat fiction; it is oneof the most significant explorations of male identity in Americanliterature, establishing Jones as a novelist of the caliber of HermanMelville and Stephen Crane. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

The grim butchery of warfare in WII Guadalcanal
James Jones was one hell of a writer. His book The Thin Red Line demonstrates a mastery of the craft by telling essentially the same story through the eyes, hands, wounds ands deaths of many different men as World War Two raged in the South Pacific. In the middle of fierce fire fights, his characters reflect, almost emotionally detached from the merciless deaths they encounter on the grim butchery of warcraft:

"This was war? There was no superior test of strength here, no superb swordsmanship, no bellowing Viking heroism, no expert marksmanship. This was only numbers. He was being killed for numbers."

This brutal and graphic account, based on Jones own experiences as an Army Sergeant in combat at Guadalcanal, is easily one of the best books about war and the senselessness that overcomes the men who wage that war.

WW II in the Pacific
This is a must read for WW II readers.Delivered as promised in good condition.

good book, poor formatting
I'm enjoying the book but those who buy the Kindle edition should know that all paragraphs are double spaced. The publisher apparently made no attempt to proofread it so all paragraphs and also many quotes are formatted oddly, just enough to interrupt the reading.

I suggest that you download a sample first to see if the formatting errors cause you concern.

So So War Book
So here is my review for The Thin Red Line.This book is basically about an extended series of battles on Guadalcanal.Most of the men have never seen combat before this and are rightly terrified.The author goes from man to man exploring each ones fears and thoughts.This could've been a good thing except for the fact that there are like twenty guys that he does this with.It just gets overbearing at times, at a lot of times.Also, none of the characters was particularly likable.At best, I found myself just tolerating them and at worst, hating them.They are either arrogant, cowards, selfish, whiny, or any number of unappealing character traits that completely define them.Something else I did not understand was the overt homesexual theme that ran throughout the novel.I didn't know that so many U.S. soldiers engaged in guy on guy action just because there were no women around.It seemed awkward to me and, though I wasn't there, I found myself doubting whether it really happened to the extent that it did in the story.This book pulls itself along like a snail and except for the battles, nothing else remotely interesting happens.Like I said, you see what each man is thinking, and then you see that man get gunned down.And you don't even care.The author does do a good job of describing the battle scenes themselves, but I found myself not really understanding what they were doing as far as strategy goes.I just concentrated on the combat and not the tactics themselves.I forced myself to finish this book because I was on a war-novel binge and this was supposed to be a good one.Now I wonder why I even bothered at all.Approach with caution.

Thin Red Line is the ultimate historical fiction novel


The story follows members of Jones's beloved C-for-Charlie company, who ascend the beaches of Guadalcanal to fight the Japanese. I'll admit, it was hard for me to get past the first chapter or two. But for some reason, after Charlie Company arrives and begins to explore the land, Jones's writing seemed to change, and he was able to completely drag me in. It was after this point that the book became personal, I didn't leave home without it, and finished it in about a week. The reason it becomes very personal is because Jones magnifies each character individually. We see their reactions to the horrors around them, which often turn out to be veryuncomfortable for the reader (sexuality is a stand-out theme here). Unlike the recent film version, the novel centers mostly around Fife, a solitary, shy soldier who has an especially hard time adjusting to the violence and lifestyle of war. Witt (the main character in the movie) does appear here, and he's an interesting character, but he comes and goes. There are handfuls of other characters that you come to know and love (or hate). I knew from the beginning that everything the author said and explored would have to be believable because he went through the ordeal himself in the 25th Infantry Division. With that in mind, the way Jones jumped seamlessly from character to character, sharing their true thoughts and actions, was incredible. I've never experienced anything like it. There was nothing at all about the book that dissapointed me; in fact, I plan to read it again. My only regret is that I saw the movie first, and while the two are similar, they shouldn't be compared at all.

Since completing it, it's now hard for me to believe this book was written all the way back in 1962. James Jones comes off as a genius, a modern genius. Created into two movies, I don't think anyone should dream of going without reading this book, unless you're someone who has a hard time stomaching very dramatic themes. Jones explores issues of sexuality, violence, death, brutality, loneliness, homosexuality, and a variety of other serious emotions that do create a disturbing novel. An amazingly-written book. ... Read more

Product Description
This title has been discontinued by the publisher. A new version will be made avaialble soon (Jan 2010).
The vocal talents of two of the worldÂ’s most gifted artists combine in service to the most popular book of all time, resulting in the Complete Audio Holy Bible on compact disc. Exalt in the Word, as every syllable of the King James Old and New Testaments are brought to life, providing hours of inspirational listening.

- Jon Sherberg reads the entire Old Testament (KJV). Having worked with everyone from gospel singer Scott Wesley Brown to Oscar® winner Sir Ben Kingsley, Jon Sherberg brings his rich theatrical background to the forefront, with this masterful recitation of all 39 of the books of the Old Testament.
- Oscar®-nominated, Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones lends his celebrated vocal talents to this distinctive reading of the complete, unabridged text of the New Testament. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Bible On CD
What a coincidence.I've been listening to The Old Testament a lot today, and one CD had
a lot of scratches on it and it was difficult to hear.I had to advance the
better part of 5 tracks.This has been an absolutely wonderful way to "read"
the scriptures.I'm not the world's best, but I'm a pretty good multi-tasker
and to be canning tomatoes, baking cookies, and listening to the Bible has
been a very good experience.I'm getting more out of them by listening than
by reading.I really like the speed of the first reader.He really clicks
along.I'm also looking forward to hearing James Earl Jones who reads the
New Testament.

Enjoy the audio bible
I really enjoy listening to God's word while driving. I keep the case in my car and turn it on everytime i'm in the car. Since i've been listening to the WORD in my car, i am a whole lot less stressed while driving and has noticed that peace carry over into the work place. Nothing but GOD!

EXCELLENT
I absolutely love having the entire bible on CD.It allows me to receive the word of God while commuting to and fro work. The narrators are loud and clear and easy to understand. Best purchase I've made in a long time.

Pleased Again!
Everytime I order anything from Amazon.com it comes to me faster than expected, in good condition and is (sometimes unfortunately) EXACTLY what I ordered. (ha)

ms. osby
I love the cds great listening speaking is very clearly, the case is nice that stores the cd,s the only problem the cd is labled one thng but when i rip it to my computer the verses are diffrent ex: lable joshua on the screen says genesis so thats difficult for my mp3 when listening in order overall im enjoying the cds. ... Read more

Product Description

All the ILS expertise needed to achieve a more supportable system and cost-effective support infrastructure

Engineers and managers can turn to the updated Third Edition of Integrated Logistics Support Handbook for expert guidance on applying Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) for acquisition and procurement planning in new product development. Long-established as the definitive ILS resource, this handbook distills thousands of pages of directives, instructions, and related material into a coherent, one-stop reference that can be used to enhance any military or commercial project. The Third Edition features new information on reliability and maintainability engineering…testability…supportability engineering…cost of ownership…personnel…support equipment…training…technical documentation…level-of-repair analysis…software support…life-cycle cost…logistics plans…contracts…and much more.

Filled with step-by-step guidelines and 300 illustrations, the updated Integrated Logistics Support Handbook explains how to:

Product Description
Diamond Head, Hawaii, 1941.  Pvt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt is a champion welterweight and a fine bugler.  But when he refuses to join the company's boxing team, he gets "the treatment" that may break him or kill him.  First Sgt. Milton Anthony Warden knows how to soldier better than almost anyone, yet he's risking his career to have an affair with the commanding officer's wife.  Both Warden and Prewitt are bound by a common bond:  the Army is their heart and blood . . .and, possibly, their death.

In this magnificent but brutal classic of a soldier's life, James Jones portrays the courage, violence and passions of men and women who live by unspoken codes and with unutterable despair. . .in the most important American novel to come out of World War II, a masterpiece that captures as no ther the honor and savagery of men.


From the Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
This is a long, satisfying, commanding novel of the soldierswho were poised on the brink of real manhood when World War II flungthem unceremoniously into that abyss. Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt isthe nonconformist hero who refuses to box at Schofield Barracks and isslowly destroyed by his own rebelliousness. Around him, others arefighing their own small battles--and losing. It's worth noting thatJones' 1951 audience was shocked by his frank language and the sexualpreoccupations of his characters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

A Brutal - and Brutally Good - Book
This is a brutal - and brutally good - book.It's certainly not an easy read; but it's worth the discomfort.Milton Warden: the custodian of Paradise Lost.Robert E. Lee Prewitt: the "good soljer" who finally loses his personal "civil" war.Jones does nothing new with language, or stream of consciousness...nothing Joyce or Forster didn't do before.But he sure gets the lingo down solid.The way these people talk is almost poetry.You most definitely smell cinema in the dialogue, as if the author knew this warren of webs would become a movie.And forget the movie!There's no way Hollywood could've made a flick back then (or even now for that matter) that was even the most remote adaptation of this gross and engrossing tome.The two-page conversation - between stockade prisoners Prewitt and Malloy and about the evolution of God - is worth the price of admission alone.Considering the novel took Jones three years to write and was published in 1951, while the US was mired in the muck of Korea- and simply reading that last shipboard conversation between Karen Holmes and her son - this is one powerful hell of an anti-war protest.It almost begs for a good second reading: "them Reenlistment Blues."

Outstanding Writting with Old Hawaiian setting
Living in Hawaii you can not help but love the local setting, especially because it was set in "Old Hawaii". A Hawaii most readers will not be familiar with, one I know only from the stories passed down by parents. It's characters are captivating, and his analysis of what seems to be a pretty straight forward guy from Harlan County Kentucky becomes very complex. The author reveals many sides of this character I'm sure if he were real he would not even realize. Maybe that is how good this authors fictitious tale is that I already see the character as authentic. The story closely examines class difference from a perspective I can relate to. I had seen bits and pieces of the movie and of course was familiar with the famous Ha'alona Cove "roll around in the sand kiss". I will have to go back now and see the complete movie. This is just a great book and I highly recommend it to everyone.

novel:from here to eternity
From Here to Eternity
This novel has always been a favorite of mine since seeing the 1953 film.
The later Television version I thought was awfull. The book was about
the American Army before Pearl Harbour .There is obviously much more
in the book than the film, seems to cover a lot of subjects.though I
was in the British Army myself (National Service) there are probably
some similiarity.I purchased this copy to replace my old 'tatty'
paperback.

All for Naught
From Here to Eternity is James Jones' masterfully envisioned tale of soldiers and their lovers on the eve of 1941's Pearl Harbor invasion. The rest of the world is already at war, and the neutral United States has begun a peacetime draft as the prospect of war seems inevitable. Despite this impending calamity, the soldiers of Schofield Barracks go on about their daily lives as if nothing had or ever will change: they spend their days routinely and begrudgingly performing their military duties and their nights drinking and whoring, while rarely examining their existences for any greater meaning.

At the center is Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt who has just requested a transfer out of the Regimental Bugle Corps, where he had a soft existence, and into an infantry company, where he will perform "straight duty," soldiering as any other man of the ranks. He immediately incurs the wrath of his commanding officer, Captain Dana "Dynamite" Holmes, when he refuses to join the company boxing team, preferring to think of himself as retired from boxing after blinding another man in a sparring match. Holmes needs Prewitt to box if he wants to field a championship team, and his superior, Lieutenant Colonel Jake Delbert soon makes clear that such a victory would likely earn him a long sought promotion. The conflict thus established, the characters hurtle unwittingly towards America's humiliation at Pearl Harbor and their own mortal humiliations.

Even Prewitt in his self-righteous suffering is guilty of pride--there are no innocents in this book as in life. Jones draws the Army as a microcosm of society: men and women at odds with their surroundings as they search for meaning. Ultimately, all the characters efforts are in vain; even as they struggle mightily against one another, the reader knows that on December 7th their lives will all be smashed as trivial and meaningless by a calamity far greater than any of them.

The Finest Novel I have ever read
This novel is truly amazing. The characters are well developed and the reader truly becomes attached to each one as they undergo their personal trials and tribulations in the days before Pearl Harbor. The work provides an excellent examination of the pre-war Army, a professional army preparing for war, inducting draftees, and operating under a proud system of tradition. The novel is full of great stories, advice, and sayings that are as relevant today as they were in 1941. Serving in Iraq while reading this novel, I was amazed at the very real connection I found with its soldiers; many things have not changed. Again, a great novel that I would recommend to anyone interested in war, the army, or the human condition. ... Read more

Product Description

From Here to Eternity and The Thin Red Line, both wartime novels (and major motion pictures), established Jones as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th-century. For this first and only collection of his stories (out of print for more than 15 years), arranged chronologically, James Jones wrote, in addition to a general introduction, individual and very personal prefatory remarks that illuminate his development as a writer over 20 years, beginning in 1947. The 13 penetratingly sensitive, remarkably varied stories are about men, women, and children in circumstances ranging from war to marriage to childhood to courtship. Each story is distinguished by the classical simplicity, emotional resonance, and lasting impact that is the hallmark of the great short-story writer. Brand new preface by the author’s daughter, Kaylie Jones. The James Jones Literary Society will participate in the promotion of this book.

"Superbly realized stories . . . Personal, vigorous, meaningful."—Library Journal

"We feel the impact of Jones’s vitality. He is masculine, uninhibited, not abashed by whatever he uncovers of human weakness and sexuality."—Chicago Sun-Times

"The thirteen stories are anything but dated . . . a compact social history of what it was like for Mr. Jones’s generation to grow up, go to war, marry, and generally, to become people in America."—The Nation

James Jones (1921–1977) became internationally famous with his first novel, From Here to Eternity, a classic portrayal of Army life in WWII, which won the National Book Award. Over the next 25 years, he wrote 10 more books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Kaylie Jones, daughter of James Jones, is the author of four novels, including A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (also a major film) and Celeste Ascending.

Customer Reviews (2)

"Writing stories is like having a series of high-fever ailments in which the crisis comes soon and either passes or doesn't."
After reading James Jones' daughter Kaylie's memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me, a few months ago, I thought I should read something by her father for perspective. And short stories, a genre I enjoy, seemed a better choice than From Here to Eternity. The thirteen stories, most of which can either be categorized as childhood or war-themed, are ordered chronologically based on completion date. I loved some of them, especially A Bottle of Cream, which, in the before-story blurb, he claims is "probably" his "favorite in the whole book." It's about a guy gone wrong who did right...back in the day. These background-information containing blurbs preceding each story are one of the book's best features. Of the war stories, some of which contain characters from other books, I most liked Greater Love (read the spoiler-containing blurb on this one afterwards) about some soldiers that go out "to dig up casualties." The five childhood stories are autobiographical. He answered his nine-year-old daughter's question about them thusly, "They're all true...I just had to change a few things sometimes, you know, lie a little, to make them better stories." As a parent of children of about that age, I question his decision to suggest she read the two stories I liked least: The Tennis Game, involving a young boy, which was, according to Jones, about "male masochism, and the title story, which gave me the creeps due to its, as the author calls it, `"near-but-not-quite-incest" thing.' My only other complaint would be the less than thrilling study guide. In summary, The Ice Cream Headache is an interesting, unconventional collection of short stories by a man most famous for his award-winning war writing. Also good: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, The Turning: Stories by Tim Winton, and Flyboys by Jim Bradley.

A writer whose stories never get old
I read these stories many years ago and was thrilled to see how well they hold up. The study guide by Prof. Judith Everson makes me want to teach these stories to my graduate students. I'm particularly fond of the childhood stories, which seem so perceptive and sincere and harsh at the same time. It's nice also to see the development of the writer over a ten-year period, from his early years after he got out of the Army, to his later stories, after the publication of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

don't be fooled
This is one of the worst works of scholarship I have ever read.The book consists mostly of plot summaries, badly written ones at that.Jones needs to re-read (read?) The Elements of Style.

As for the theory--whew!It's awful.Jones attempts to provide a Freudian reading, which would be fine if he'd bothered to understand Freud first.But he didn't.In the Works Cited, he lists only a couple works by Freud, and I believe that's because that's all he read.

Jones shows no understanding of Freud.He seems to argue that Kerouac read about Freud's theory of the Oedipus complex and then consciously tried to organize his novels around that theory.Of course that's ridiculous, but Jones seems to have no clue that the complex operates unconsciously.It's absurd to argue that Kerouac chose to apply it.

It's transparent that Jones doesn't believe the very Freudian theories he (superficially) presents.Generally, he avoids referring to psychoanalysis at all, focusing instead on plot summary and occasionally popping in to point out hostility to a father figure, etc.The theory is NEVER discussed in depth, just referred to in an offhand fashion.

Jones often claims that Kerouac's novels were modelled on the works of other writers, but he offers no support for these claims.He seems to believe that pointing out parallels constitutes evidence.

This writer is in over his depth.

A New Kerouac finally emerges
This book is among the first to finally piece together a coherent path in Kerouac studies. Jones's book thoroughly delves into Kerouac's Proustian-like epic approach to the Duluoz legend. It is so refreshing to emerge with fresh ideas apropos Kerouac's technique verses the over zealous biographers and cultural blow-hards who pipe in regularly on the Beats. Much of Kerouac's real life had little to do with Beat ethos, and much more with that of the writer. What the author provides is much more than a run-down of the authobiographical mystique that Kerouac injected into his work, but moreso, the complexity of a narrative that turned American literature on its end. This book deserves much more attention and suffices itself as the most import and vital accomplishment in Kerouac studies to date. It will far outlive much of what has been written about one of America''s most misunderstood novelists. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SINGLE VOLUME–THE THREE THRILLING NOVELS INSPIRED BY THE BLOCKBUSTER FILMS

With bullwhip in hand, Indiana Jones has unearthed a wealth of ancient treasures. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the fearless archeologist journeys from Nepal to Cairo to the Mediterranean, dodging poisons, traps, and snakes, battling rivals old and new–all in pursuit of an ancient artifact that holds the key to dazzling, invincible power. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom finds our intrepid hero in a remote village in India, where a mysterious old shaman tells him that his arrival has been foreseen–and that he must retrieve a stolen mystical stone. And finally, Indy must face the most challenging and personal endeavor of his life: rescue his estranged father, the eminent professor Dr. Henry Jones, from a Nazi’s lair, and recover the legendary Holy Grail. Yet Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade doesn’t mean the adventure is over. . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Movie Adaptions
After seeing the new "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" movie, I got on a kick to read some of the older Indiana Jones books that had been released in previous years. These consisted of mainly the movie novelizations, as well as the 14 book series from writers like Rob MacGregor, Max McCoy, etc.

This book basically collects the first three Indiana Jones movies adaptions, which I'd actually read as a young teenager back when they first came out. It was neat to reread them again, and here's my thoughts on each.

1. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - There's something about this one, and I don't know if it's the way Campbell Black writes or just the fact that the original Indiana Jones story was so memorable that it's hard to screw it up, but I liked reading this adaption. The closest I can come to describing it is that it was like watching a "Special Edition" dvd of one of your favorite movies, only in book form. You get to read all of the "deleted scenes", as well have have certain things added. For instance, we get to see a bit more of the rivalry between Indy and Belloq, or at least their thoughts about the rivalry. We get to find out how Marion survived her father's, (Abner's), death in Tibet and Nepal, and how she came to own the Raven's Nest bar. You'll also see how it came to be that Belloq was hired by the Nazi's. Some of the action scenes are shortened, like the truck chase, yet still feel fast paced and interesting. We also get surprises, like the fact that Toht doesn't live to see the Ark opened like in the movie, he's one of the guys that get snuffed when a car goes over the cliff during the truck chase. We also get to see how it was that Indy survived the submarine ride to the Nazi island base. (Which is something this novel and the Marvel Comics adaption explained, but that otherwise we were left guessing at!)

2. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM - A lot of people think of this movie as the weakest of the original trilogy. If you're one of those, reading the novel probably won't persuade you to think more highly of it. I enjoyed the fast pace of the movie and still like it today. However, the book really doesn't add a whole lot to the reading experience like "Raiders" did. We don't know much more about Short Round other than we do get to see how he kills a little bit of time before meeting up Indy at the Club Obi Wan. Something that got annoying to me was that Shorty constantly mentions Chinese deities in his thoughts, sometimes the same one more than once. It doesn't add much to his character or purpose. It's enough for me to know he's an oriental street kid who's a part time thief hanging around Indy now. It's almost like the author, James Kahn, researched Chinese lore and then tried too hard to fit in certain things he learned. Once or twice would've made the point. Also, one of the things I've never understood was how a small kid could "karate kick" and knock out some Thuggee guard who was pretty oblivious to pain due to being under the influence of the "blood of Kali". The book doesn't help this any either. Other irks: No background is given on Wu-han, Indy's friend who bites the dust early. Willie Scott is supposed to be a knockout, however all you'll see is Kate Capshaw in your head and she's far from a knockout in my opinion. Willie's just as annyoying in the book as she is in the movie as well, so you tend to not sympathize with her character. The way the author writes and describes Indy when he under the influence of the "blood of Kali" is kind of strange and could've been done differently I thought. Some good things: We get to see how Short Round came to find out that fire would "wake up" Indy. We also get to see how it came to be that Willie got captured and made the next sacrifice. Mola Ram is even more disgusting to look at than in the movie, so he's amped up a little as a bad guy. Other than that, the book overall stuck pretty close to what you see in the film. If anything, it felt slower paced, which isn't a good thing to me.

3. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE - This one sticks very closely to the original screenplay and what we see on film. Not much pro or con either way for me. It took me awhile to really appreciate "Last Crusade", because to me it was a bit more family friendly and commercialized by the time it was made. The book plays up a little bit more of Indy's background and relationship with his dad, which plays up better in print than the limited time on screen, so that was nice. The way Rob MacGregor writes Indy, (as well as some of those who have written Indy for the Dark Horse comic series for that matter), is a mixed bag. He seems to understand what makes a good Indy story, the pacing, etc., but his Indy tends to cuss a little too much for my taste, as well as comes off kind of arrogant sometimes. With any hero, you want to be on his side through whatever he/she goes through. This Indy's not necessarily "fun" to hang out with, yet interesting enough to want to see what he gets into. Not much as far as "deleted scenes" or added material go. A good story though.

Bottom line, if you want to read each of the novelizations, you may be able to find them individually for less in a used bookstore or something. I wouldn't pay more than 2 or 3 bucks apiece for them, being movie adaptions. If you want to collect them, then I'd get them all in one nice volume like this one here.

Classical Novel
When I was 10years old ,I saw the film(Indiana Jones Trilogy). It was the fantastic adventure stories,I love it so much.Now I'm seeing this book ,recalling the past times which gave me lots of inspiration.

A treasure trove of Indiana Jones greatest guests all in one volume!
It's been years since all these paperbacks covering Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade have been on bookstore shelves -- so it's great to have them all in one volume! They also contain scenes and back stories left out of the final films. It's a must have for any Indy fans library.


So if you want to brush up on the stories before seeing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, start reading now!

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Great James Jones gateway...
The Pistol is a quick, economical work which would be a great book to use as a "prologue" into the Army world painted by author James Jones with his trilogy:

From Here to Eternity

The Thin Red Line

Whistle (Delta World War II Library)

Addendum To "From Here To Eternity"


Please Note:the title of this book is THE PISTOL


This short novel as JJ called it, or novella as others labeled it, begins on December 7, 1941, and continues into the short future until Hawaii realizes that the Japanese are not going to return and invade. The book did have an option also to reach the movie screen.

The book was written in New York sometime after From Here To Eternity and Some Came Running, with Some Came Running yet on the bestseller charts. Soon after completion he moved to Europe while at that time beginning work on The Thin Red Line.The entire writing took only 5 weeks for JJ to complete, and he was later to say in his letters that the writing had been enjoyable.

The issues at hand of both the pistol and other dramatic events are mainly autobiographical coming from events JJ participated in. As true with all fiction, many other items of plot come from the writer's direction and imagination. The theme of security and protection coupled with salvation are all interlocked in this short writing, with the touchstone being the pistol. JJ said in his letters that though he had showed the work to many people, the book always seemed to mean different things to each reader.

The Pistol, as with many other of JJ's writings, has generally been viewed a critical failure, but a popular success. Since his death in 1977 though, certain critics and biographers of insight have taken second looks at his works realizing this writer was one of our better ones. With no work of the 20th century portraying WWII as JJ experienced it any better than the trilogy he left us: From Here To Eternity, The Thin Red Line, and Whistle. In all of these books James Jones' soldier's eye and voice speak from hard experience. It was a war in which he participated and one he knew well.

For me this book is a wonderful addendum to From Here To Eternity, for it extends and adds to that work. For a couple night's reading no better work on Hawaii early in the war exists.

Semper Fi. ... Read more

Product Description

Expanded, updated, and more relevant than ever, this bestselling business classic by two internationally renowned management analysts describes a business system for the twenty-first century that supersedes the mass production system of Ford, the financial control system of Sloan, and the strategic system of Welch and GE. It is based on the Toyota (lean) model, which combines operational excellence with value-based strategies to produce steady growth through a wide range of economic conditions.

In contrast with the crash-and-burn performance of companies trumpeted by business gurus in the 1990s, the firms profiled in Lean Thinking -- from tiny Lantech to midsized Wiremold to niche producer Porsche to gigantic Pratt & Whitney -- have kept on keeping on, largely unnoticed, along a steady upward path through the market turbulence and crushed dreams of the early twenty-first century. Meanwhile, the leader in lean thinking -- Toyota -- has set its sights on leadership of the global motor vehicle industry in this decade.

Instead of constantly reinventing business models, lean thinkers go back to basics by asking what the customer really perceives as value. (It's often not at all what existing organizations and assets would suggest.) The next step is to line up value-creating activities for a specific product along a value stream while eliminating activities (usually the majority) that don't add value. Then the lean thinker creates a flow condition in which the design and the product advance smoothly and rapidly at the pull of the customer (rather than the push of the producer). Finally, as flow and pull are implemented, the lean thinker speeds up the cycle of improvement in pursuit of perfection. The first part of this book describes each of these concepts and makes them come alive with striking examples.

Lean Thinking clearly demonstrates that these simple ideas can breathe new life into any company in any industry in any country. But most managers need guidance on how to make the lean leap in their firm. Part II provides a step-by-step action plan, based on in-depth studies of more than fifty lean companies in a wide range of industries across the world.

Even those readers who believe they have embraced lean thinking will discover in Part III that another dramatic leap is possible by creating an extended lean enterprise for each of their product families that tightly links value-creating activities from raw materials to customer.

In Part IV, an epilogue to the original edition, the story of lean thinking is brought up-to-date with an enhanced action plan based on the experiences of a range of lean firms since the original publication of Lean Thinking.

Lean Thinking does not provide a new management "program" for the one-minute manager. Instead, it offers a new method of thinking, of being, and, above all, of doing for the serious long-term manager -- a method that is changing the world.Amazon.com Review
In the revised and updated edition of Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, authors James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones provide a thoughtful expansion upon their value-based business system based on the Toyota model. Along the way they update their action plan in light of new research and the increasing globalization of manufacturing, and they revisit some of their key case studies (most of which still derive, however, from the automotive, aerospace, and other manufacturing industries).

The core of the lean model remains the same in the new edition. All businesses must define the "value" that they produce as the product that best suits customer needs. The leaders must then identify and clarify the "value stream," the nexus of actions to bring the product through problems solving, information management, and physical transformation tasks. Next, "lean enterprise" lines up suppliers with this value stream. "Flow" traces the product across departments. "Pull" then activates the flow as the business re-orients towards the pull of the customer's needs. Finally, with the company reengineered towards its core value in a flow process, the business re-orients towards "perfection," rooting out all the remaining muda (Japanese for "waste") in the system.

Despite the authors' claims to "actionable principles for creating lasting value in any business during any business conditions," the lean model is not demonstrated with broad applications in the service or retail industries. But those manager's whose needs resonate with those described in the Lean Thinking case studies will find a host of practical guidelines for streamlining their processes and achieving manufacturing efficiencies. --Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

New Paradigm In Cost Management
The breakthrough idea I gleaned from this book is the power of not just cutting waste from your own company's activities, but in working with all of the companies that make up your product's supply chain to collaboratively find ways to cut costs for the consumer, thereby benefiting everyone's business. Great managers don't just work within their systems, they also work on their systems.

Toyota brakes and other cultural myths
The author's example of mind-set of the workers.P.22, the 6 and 9 year children of one, preparing their mother's newsletters in batch steps vs. doing all steps on each newsletter before starting the next newsletter.So, beyond example:Next, the consulting locust flies in with kaikaku, stops the newsletter production line, fixes the value stream the Toyota way, takes all the cash he can from weak management bedazzeled by Lean terminology, then flies away.What is left?Disheartened 6 and 9 year old child-laborers, who instead of mild praise for their work are insulted and the mother-manager, who has to take her newsletters and stuff them herself.Or she can force the children to help with the now "chore" or other chore while Mother gets her newsletters done.This works with a lot of indoctrination with exercises of bowing to the masters in the east:It is unfortunate but necessary that some Toyota drivers must be sacrificed for the overall good of society.

So as to not muda Internet electrons, read this review on this book. It is correct with facts to back up claims.It's not another "best thing I ever read in my life (today)" review by one who drank the kool-aid:

Hot Air and Vague Puffery, December 29, 2005
ByFuzzbean (Nangoku, Japan) - See all my reviews

"This review is from: Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, Revised and Updated (Hardcover)
I think this book is largely bogus. Sure there is logic in having an efficient system to your manufacturing process and in buying the machines you actually need instead of something too big or too inflexible. But while the Japanese may have ninjas and 'Asian sexual secrets,' they haven't discovered any new principles of manufacturing that we insecure Americans didn't already know a long time ago. Despite the stylish Japanese mumbo-jumbo, there isn't much in this 'lean thinking' that Henry Ford didn't already have figured out by 1914, although the limitations of the technology of that day prevented him from implementing his ideas fully."
more...

lean thinking
This is an excellent book on lean operations. Well documented and reality-tested.
Written in plain language, well focused to people who want to learn and understand lean operations.
An excellent guide for implementation

Alright for an early lean manufacturing book
This is the revised and updated version of the 1996 edition, however the only change is the edition of a Part IV Epilogue written in 2003.

For one of the first books to explore the concepts of Lean and the Toyota Production System (TPS) it does a fairly good job. I found Parts I - Lean Principals, III - Lean Enterprise, & IV - Epilogue most useful. Part II - From Thinking to Action: The Lean Leap, took up half of the book 170 pages of 340, to explain the lean journey of multiple companies of different sizes and cultures. While I found some of the examples to be useful, all of them were somewhat vague and very drawn out. Had I not needed to read this book for an exam, I likely would have set it down during this part and not picked it up again.

My favorite chapter in the book is Chapter 13: Dreaming about Perfection in Part III. The author takes 5 common activities and "dreams" about how they would operate if they were truly lean. Not just by implementing various tools and techniques but by truly revolutionizing them from the perspective of the customer. It really drove home what breakthrough concepts or paradigm shifts look like.

Overall I would recommend The Toyota Way over this book as a broad overview of what the concept of Lean is.

Lean Thinking is too rich
The concepts in the book are true and very well established. The problem underlies with business thinking preaching "lean thinking" at every meeting and thus drives the market price of this book up. The book was good but way too expensive. ... Read more

Product Description
What are the benefits of being a spiritual person?This is the question that James Jones explores in his newest book, The Mirror of God. Jones contends that true religious belief is not a passive process and that one must work hard towards believing in God through acts such as prayer, meditation and communal worship. He explores the boundaries between psychotherapy and religious practice, looks at what Christians might learn from Buddhists and shows their effects on the body and mind. Jones is a psychologist as well as a professor of religion and, ultimately, he provides a blueprint for worship that's smart, effective and grounded in the real lives we all live.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bhuddism V. Christianity

As the title of the book suggests, the author tries to present the Christian faith as spiritual practice using Buddhism's categories. To defend his thesis, he returns to the early church fathers and argues that in their writings, they made "the site of redemption the individual's interior struggle with themselves." This is important because Buddhism emphasizes this personal struggle and fears and the whole essence of meditation in Buddhism is to receive enlightenment and be freed from these struggles. He says the early Fathers of the church provided meditation techniques to help the mind to be quiet. He gives an example of the "Jesus Prayer." He argues that this is not unique to Christianity but is also present in Buddhism. It is a common practice in Buddhism to recite mantras as a way of reaching the enlightenment.

With regards to the role of the body, the author says the Tibetan Buddhists have something to teach Christianity about the body. Unlike the early Christian Fathers who saw the body as being antagonistic to the spirit, that the Buddhists approach the body not as an enemy of the spirit but as a means of expressing the spirit.

The author tries to compare Jesus and Buddha. He says "... both Buddhism and Christianity begin with a wandering teacher who gathers a band of followers. The births of both founders are surrounded with miraculous and supernatural events. After their deaths, both are recognized as more than simply mortal." He however recognizes that there are differences between them. He brings in the issue of attachment and detachment in both religions and tries to give a psychological perspective to them.

He says that "spiritualities and therapies of transcendence alone run the risk of a hollow and short-lived victory over interior forces. Spiritualities and therapies of immersion alone run the risk of drowning in the pool of Narcissus." This is a significant contribution in his work. The basic wisdom here is to acknowledge our emotions, explore them and then relate them in order for true transcendental transformation to take place.

His references to studies showing that spiritual practice helps in psychological well being are definitely a positive to his work. He says, "Those who gain meaning from their religion and practice it regularly enjoy better overall health than those who use religion instrumentally, as a way of impressing others or as a means to social status." The author discusses the contributions of modern psychology to spiritual practice. He says "Spiritual disciplines and the wisdom they produce add breadth and depth to the findings of psychology. Psychology adds grounding and realism to the spiritual journey."

The author does a good job trying to convince his readers to look at Christian faith as spiritual practice. His comparison of Christianity and Buddhism is well done.

... Read more

Product Description

Paris. May. 1968. This is the Paris of the barricaded boulevards; of rebelling students' strongholds; of the literati; the sexual anarchists; the leftists -- written chillingly of a time in French history closely paralleling what America went through in the late 1960s. As the Revolution sweeps across Paris, the reader sees, feels, smells, and fears all the turmoil that was the May revolt, the frightening social quicksand of 1968.

Customer Reviews (5)

based on jones' life in paris
I haven't read this book, but came here to read the reviews because i plan to read it in the near future.However, i just finished a disturbing book called "Savage Grace" (a film of the same name/subject matter came out in spring 2008)."Savage Grace" is a "true crime" book which tells the story of a troubled American family (the Baekelands) who spent a lot of their time in Paris during the relevant time period.James Jones and his wife Gloria were close friends of the Baekelands and Jones portrayed them and others of their "set" in "The Merry Month of May".

Perhaps his best
For those of us who thought James Jones could only write war stories, this relatively obscure title is a nice surprise.Of course, there is a warlike element to the story's backdrop of 1968 Paris, but ultimately the student riots are just that - a backdrop.

The main focus of the story is on the descent of an American expat family into chaos, in part as a reflection of the generational divides laid bare by the riots.There are bits of sex and violence thrown into the mix (although far more of both are referred to indirectly without actually being portrayed), but the story is more concerned with changing values and the bonds of family and friendship than with anything melodramatic.It turns out that Jones was far better at telling such a tale than his earlier and better known novels had let on.

Since most of the lead characters are defined by their uglier sides, there aren't many people to root for.But as the story progresses, it increasingly becomes a story of the well-to-do American community in Paris as a whole, which makes for a somewhat more sympathetic picture.Jones also did a great job of bringing in real-life events of May-June 1968 on both sides of the Atlantic to influence his fictional characters and their story, which is told from the point of view of an intimate observer of the chaos just a few weeks after it's all over.Is it really the end of an era for the Americans of Paris, or just for one dysfunctional family?For once, as the reader, you're free to decide on your own.

A Great Novel -- Could Be A Great Film
A classic that stands the test of time. Note the parallels with Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.

Courageous, unflinching portrayals of Americans in Paris.

Bertolucci's upcoming film covers the same time period. But this novel's the Real Thing.

I'm tired of dumb...reviews
... "The Merry Month of May" is a brilliant, perfectly structured novel which was misunderstood when it was first published, and is apparentlystill misunderstood. Like Jake Barnes in "The Sun Also Rises," Hartley is a wounded man who finds himself emotionally impotent to help the people he loves most, even when his own godchild's future is in question. He is an observer, in the tradition of Barnes, or Nick Carraway, and to observe is his JOB. His own feelings of guilt and shame come from the very fact that he can't bring himself to act, take sides, or take a stand, even when his friends demand it of him. This is actually, in my estimation, one of the few novels of its time that deals honestly and compassionately with women's true roles in the "sexual revolution" of the Sixties.

Hasn't Aged Well
The Merry Month of May is centered on the student protests of May 1968 in Paris. Jones' protagonist, Jack Hartley, is a middle-aged American writer who is friends with a family personally affected by the summer's events. The family, the Gallaghers, consist of Harry, a sex-crazed film writer, his long-suffering wife Louisa, and their rebellious, anarchist-wannabe son, Hill. Hill is involved with a radical group bent on filming the protests; Harry's sympathy and help is not welcomed by the boy. Meanwhile, Harry is having a hard time remaining faithful to his wife. Obviously, little of this has anything to
do with Jack Hartley. Because of Hartley's outsider status, he is able to make witty comments about the absurdity of the young idealists' perceptions of the world and the worth of what they are doing. However, Hartley's irrelevance to the action shows in dull passages where he is simply walking around before, during, and after riot action. He is an annoying meddler in the Gallaghers' problems; despite insistent claims to the reader that
he doesn't want to get involved, he continually does so. Here politics and social upheaval are awkwardly mixed with sexual dalliances, particularly Harry's irresponsible ones, for which Hartley condemns him. Gallagher's wife is portrayed as nearly a saint, while all the other women in the book (sexually
liberated by 1968 standards) are physically described at length in vulgar terms, considered amoral if not evil, and whatever efforts they make for the cause are belittled by male characters. This is not uncommon for a novel published in 1970, and perhaps it says something about the so-called sexual revolution that Jones can so easily milk it for sexploitation. Or, perhaps, it just says something about Jones.
Jones' writing has improved since the clunky, adverb-heavy prose of From Here to Eternity, or perhaps he simply acquired better editors by this, his sixth, novel. The book is at times funny in a cynical way that seems before its time, but for the most part, it's windy, too distanced, and terribly dated. ... Read more