Pteridophytes of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota, USA (Nova Hedwigia. Beiheft, Vol 61)

Book Description

For eighteen months Robert Hanna put his architectural career aside to drive his faithful Dodge Aspen back and forth across Nebraska. He logged fifteen thousand through all seasons and weather. He ducked tornadoes and braved snowstorms to draw barns, bridges, depots, mills, storefronts, mansions, courthouses, churches, theaters, band-stands, ballparks, and other monuments to the human proclivity for building.

"My book of drawings and watercolors is a celebration of spaces—little spaces, really. Set down a towering county courthouse in the middle of a wide Nebraska horizon, and even government looks mighty small," writes Hanna. "I have drawn and painted these pictures from inside the world of the buildings and places they represent."

This record of an appreciative journey from Santee to Bayard, from Otoe County to Sioux County, from Carhenge at Alliance to the train station at Weeping Water, from Maskell's one-room city hall to the state capitol, from Omaha cityscapes to Sandhills landscapes, from North Plane to West Point and points in between is a work to savor and treasure.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-08-16

Great book. This book is perfect for someone thinking about buying a APBT. Even a great book for someone who owns one. Good buy.

Disapointed.......2007-06-08

When I bought this book I was looking for various training techniques that have been sucessful for pit bulls. I figured a book called "How to train your american pit bull terrier" would be a perfect match for what I was looking for. The only thing I did find was a thin reference geared towards pit bulls with a tiny section reserved for training. Most of the training information consited of how to find a good trainer, not specific techniques. This book is very basic and vague and I was quite disapointed.

Hmm.......2006-08-09

Unfortunately, this book wasn't what I expected it to be. I have a puppy that's rambunctious, loud, stubborn and playful... I needed help learning training techniques that would help me keep me under a little more control.
What I got from this book was a lot of common sense put down in book form.

Sure, if your first dog EVER is a pitbull, this book might be helpful. However, as a person who's owned and been around dogs all of her life, the techniques and proceedures in this book are so basic as to be absurd when included in this book.

There were perhaps one or two points in the whole of the text that taught me anything, and then they weren't anything to do with obedience training.
Telling the reader to take his/her dog to obedience class was not what I was looking for in a book.

In short, the book is lacking.

It might be useful to a novice, but not to an experienced dog owner.

Waste of money.......2004-01-29

This book describes only puppies who are "fearful" - afraid of a leash, afraid of your absence, etc. etc. Most of the pit bull puppies I know are rambunctious and self-assured. There are no helpful tips for training those puppies.

Also, the author says that if you have a full time job, you shouldn't adopt a pit bull. Most of the dogs in local shelters are put to death, and pit bulls, as well as pit bull mixed, are quite common in this state. If you have a fenced yard and will spend time, effort, and money to lovingly raise a dog, then I say go ahead & adopt one. They have barrels of energy, but are very loving animals and deserve a chance.

Excellent book.......2001-11-06

Well, i have a bull terrier, but i didn't find a book like this to raise and train my dog, however this book had been a great purchase because these breeds are very similar in their behaviors.
so if you have a pitbull or bully, just buy it.

Training Your Pit Bull (Training Your Dog Series)

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Training Your Pit Bull (Training Your Dog Series)
Jos Stahlkuppe
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0764133098

Book Description

Because it was originally bred as a fighting dog, today's typical American Pit Bull Terrier requires special training and handling by its owner. Canine expert Joe Stahlkuppe advises that not every Pit Bull is right for every home. This breed adapts best to homes where the dog owners maintain a structured lifestyle and regular habits. Although Pit Bulls typically form strong bonds with their owners, they are often aggressive toward other dogs, and sometimes hostile toward human beings they don't know. Stahlkuppe asserts that preventing aggression and fighting becomes a matter of limiting opportunity. He points out many ways and methods for limiting that opportunity, and goes on to offer a wealth of details for training and maintaining a happy, healthy, and friendly American Pit Bull Terrier. Color photos throughout.

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Antique Car Models: Their Stories and How to Make Them
Frank Xavier Ross
Manufacturer: Lothrop Lee & Shepard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classic Cars | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0688518338

Book Description

This beautifully illustrated collection includes an account of the making of the authors' celebrated garden, Millstream, and many essays on alpine and woodland plants.

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The natural and other lessons

Detailed and nuanced biography of a legendary warrior general

One of the best PAtton bio's I have read

Well-Research, Insightful, and Hilarious

Patton: A Study in Contradiction

Patton: A Genius for War
Carlo D'este
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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War As I Knew It

Patton: A Biography (Great Generals)

If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story

A Soldier's Story (Modern Library War)

Patton on Leadership

ASIN: 0060927623

Book Description

Patton: A Genius for War is a full-fledged portrait of an extraordinary American that reveals the complex and contradictory personality that lay behind the swashbuckling and brash facade. According to Publishers Weekly, the result is "a major biography of a major American military figure."

"This massive work is biography at its very best. Literate and meaty, incisive and balanced, detailed without being pedantic. Mr. D'Este's Patton takes its rightful place as the definitive biography of this American warrior." --Calvin L. Christman, Dallas Morning News

"D'Este tells this story well, and gives us a new understanding of this great and troubled man."-The Wall Street Journal

"An instant classic." --Douglas Brinkley, director, Eisenhower Center

Customer Reviews:

The natural and other lessons.......2007-09-25

Patton is often described as "controversial". To those who have never fought in war, or perhaps even just engaged in competitive sports, or who otherwise have only a sort of normal, everyday idea about how people ought to act, I suppose he is: Arrogant, sometimes outwardly cruel, demanding, competitive, a taskmaster, single-minded, agressive, angry, all the rest. I've never fought in war, but I've played my share of competitive sports (a paltry parallel, but the best I can do). In sports, everyone (if they're lucky) had a coach like this somewhere along the way, and they most likely took more lessons away from that man or woman than all the colorless middle-of-the-roaders combined. They most likely achieved things under that person's direction that they didn't know they had the capacity to do. They most likely recall details about that person many years later, after they've forgotten most of the others. When the old team-mates get together, that's who most of the stories are about (many told as being funny, now - not so at the time).

To me, that's Patton: An American original who just barely escaped being a bombastic buffoon. He avoided that fate and scaled the heights of history because he was a born leader of men - one who either broke them (rarely), or got the best out of them (much more often); because he knew his business inside-out; because he worked at it day and night; and most of all, because finally, he WON.

I think that this intensely personal essence is what is most completely captured in this book. It fills in many of the overlooked or understated details from the well-known George C. Scott movie, and adds much new material besides. An excellent book, worthy not only as a war biography, but as a study of what it honestly takes to do REALLY well at any endeavor in life.

Detailed and nuanced biography of a legendary warrior general.......2007-04-01

This is a massive biography of General George Patton (820 pages of text, and more pages of footnotes, references, etc.). It begins with the roots of his predecessors in the New World. The first Patton, Robert, emigrated to Virginia from Scotland about 1770. The first chapter outlines the development of the family from that point to the Civil War. Many of the men in the Patton family (including the Mercers) were actively involved in the Confederate Army, fighting in many major battles of the war--with two in the family dying at Gettysburg and again at Winchester. The second chapter follows the family to California, where George S. Patton III was born in 1885.

The book traces his childhood and then his entry into West Point, after a brief time at VMI, early in the 20th century. One of his challenges academically was his affliction--dyslexia. During his time at West Point, he began to see his future wife, Beatrice Banning Ayer. It is interesting to note a change in his persona at the military school, closer to what he thought a military man ought to be like (profaner, tough, ruthless, and aristocratic). As the author puts it (page 77): ". . .while he succeeded beyond measure, in so doing, `he killed much of his sensitivity and warmth and thereby turned a sweet-tempered and affectionate child into a seemingly hard-eyed and choleric adult."

His military career, after graduation, began with the cavalry. He was selected, after doing his own lobbying, to serve as an aide to Black Jack Pershing on the punitive expedition to Mexico, thus securing the patronage of an important leader. He behaved with courage during this expedition. And when the Americans entered World War I, Patton journeyed to Europe to take part. When he saw the opportunity, he joined the brand new Tanks Corps. He was an innovator in development of a doctrine of tank warfare; he also led tanks in combat. In the interwar years, Dwight Eisenhower joined Patton with the tank corps. However, with demobilization, the army declined in number and tanks became downgraded. Patton returned to the cavalry.

As World War II drew Americans into the conflict, Patton headed to North Africa, where he was to gain his first glory as commander of II Corps, energizing that body and leading it to considerable success. He also would find himself in disagreement with fellow allied commanders. He was a key player in the Sicilian campaign, which ended with his regrettable slapping of an American soldier. This put a hiatus on his active combat leadership for awhile, as Eisenhower "sat him down."

However, as we all know, he was destined to command the Third Army after the Normandy invasion. The book portrays his lightning movements, his feuds with other commanders, his urinating in the Rhine, and so on. And, finally, his lingering death (having cheated death many times after bad accidents, it seems almost inevitable that a final accident would take his life).

For those wanting to learn in depth about Patton's background and his leadership in the way years, this is a valuable book. There is a useful postscript on Patton's legacy, including a nuanced assessment of his strengths and weaknesses. Most fair-minded readers would see this as a valuable volume, capturing reasonably well a complex person, who exhibited some pretty poor behaviors and who was at the same time capable of bursts of greatness.

One of the best PAtton bio's I have read.......2007-03-29

Excellent. Complete, and insightful. I would read this for pleasure. It flows well, contains many historical nuggets, and provides insight into the psyche of one of America's greatest Generals.

The book is long, but it is COMPLETE. One stop shop for anything you wanted to know about G.S. Patton Jr.

Well-Research, Insightful, and Hilarious.......2007-02-25

Absolutely fascinating biography of Patton, filled with stories about him that will have you laughing on almost every page (and weeping on some others as he slaps soldiers and especially as he lies in a hospital paralyzed in 1945). The writing is superb and the research impeccable.

The greatest strength of the book is the author's encyclopedic knowledge of Patton and his thoughtful analysis. He doesn't take the public image of Patton as gospel but has interviewed many people who knew him and read Patton's diary and other papers. The author does a great job communicating his main theme, the complexity of the kind and compassionate private Patton contrasted with the public Patton who was profane and brash, yet one of the greatest generals of all history.

Yet the book has one major weakness. Although it is subtitled "Genius for War," the author fails to explain his genius. He does a great job of communicating Patton's marvelous leadership skills, his sense of destiny, and his ability to motivate men to kill and to die; yet he fails to describe Patton's operational genius. What made Patton one of the greatest armor commanders ever? Sure Patton paid great attention to detail and drove his troops harder than almost anyone else, but he knew how to use armor and infantry better than almost anyone else. But D'Este misses his opportunity to tell us how Patton fought his battles.

Nonetheless, the book is an excellent and informative read, whether you are just looking for a good book or want to learn more about Patton or the European Theater in World War II.

Patton: A Study in Contradiction.......2007-01-17

In this biography of legendary General, George S. Patton, Carlo D'Este chronicles his life from birth, Nov. 11, 1885 to his untimely death Dec. 21, 1945. More than a recitation of battlefield successes, D'Este records candid impressions from friends and foes alike and gives the reader a good look at the man behind the "war face" he wore.

The book begins with Patton's early life in California and the influence of his Confederate ancestors. Young George was even schooled by legendary Confederate guerilla leader, John Mosby himself. At critical times he stated he felt his ancestors were watching to see if he would measure up. He struggled academically at the Virginia Military Institute and at West Point primarily due to dyslexia, an ailment unknown at the time. Still, he overcame this obstacle as he would so many others, by sheer determination and plain hard work.

Patton's marriage to Beatrice Ayer provided social status and financial backing for his ambitions. In the class conscious officer corps of the turn of the century, Patton's ability to entertain the social elite of society greatly aided his career. Beatrice was a full partner in achieving her husband's dreams. They were a formidable team!

All the major military campaigns are here: The Punitive Expedition into Mexico and World War I both serving under John J. "Blackjack" Pershing where he learned the art of command; "Torch, in Africa, "Husky" in Sicily; "D-Day," "Cobra," "The Battle of the Bulge" including "Bastogne" which many consider his finest hour, military successes unsurpassed before or since. However, D'Este also documents the birth of political correctness. Patton's career had to be saved repeatedly by Eisenhower himself for incidents that would have gone unnoticed in most armies: the slapping an enlisted man and an unfortunate slip of the tongue at Knutsford. The American army is truly unique!

D'Este records candid impressions of Patton from the men who knew him best. No one was neutral. They either loved or despised the man. Some described him as, "Ike's (Eisenhower's) pit-bull." When there was a fight to win, Ike would tell him, "Sic-um" only to have to muzzle the "attack-dog" later. Other's called him a show-off and a self server. Eisenhower described him best: "He was one of those men born to be a soldier."

This work shows he reader the many faces of Patton. He was a man's man who swore violently yet retired to pray before each battle. A man who reportedly loved war, yet cried unashamedly at the sight of severely wounded men. He could be loud, profane, boisterous, yet humble, contrite, and compassionate all seemingly at the same time. Undoubtedly the most effective of all allied Generals in World War II, he died believing he had not full-filled his destiny. These portraits, so vividly painted by the author make this work unique among Patton's numerous biographies. I whole-heartedly recommend it to any serious student of the war and the man.

Harold Y. Grooms

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The Most Gallant General in WWII!

Patton: a Genius for War
Carlo D'Este
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

The Most Gallant General in WWII!.......2006-11-22

Carlo D'Este has written a colossal an exhaustively documented biography of the unparalleled General Patton.

He starts portraying Patton's ancestors. Usually this is neglected in many biographies the micro history of the subject. Frequently, as in this case, is essential to understand the character. Patton is the offspring of deep rooted American families. Remarkable warriors populate his lineage. Then is not surprising such a Fighter emerged from that soil.
D'Este follows Patton thru his earlier steps, his education, first at VMI, then at West Point. His struggle with dyslexia and with a physical condition that was not superlative for the burning activity that Patton displayed, he was always pushing his limits.
Next: Patton falling in love, marriage and early experiences as Cavalry officer is shown; his first contact with "real war" at Mexico with Pershing's Punitive Expedition; his WWI career with the new tank forces and his meteoric ascension to Colonelcy.
Then the dark and stark interwar period, with the rank reduction included and the regular army boring life is presented in detail.
Finally the last and more known portion of his life: from Africa, as warrior and diplomat; thru Sicily and the "slapping episode"; the rupture of Normandy's stalemate till the crossing of the Rhine.

D'Este constructs a solid biography, presenting the "real" Patton with his merits and drawbacks. Patton is neither an icon nor a monster; he is a human being convinced of his destiny and committed to fulfill it.
A superb book to be sure!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

A Genius for War : The Life of General George S. Patton, Jr.

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A Genius for War : The Life of General George S. Patton, Jr.
Carlo D'Este
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OA4F9I

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Patton a Genius for War
Carlo Deste
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEYOZ4

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Patton: A Genius For War

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000F0JS44

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Patton: A Genius for War
Staff
Manufacturer: A & E Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000X6PQ8W

Patton: A Genius for War "Part One & Two" (Audio Cassettes) UNABRIDGED (Volume 1 & 2)

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Patton: A Genius for War "Part One & Two" (Audio Cassettes) UNABRIDGED (Volume 1 & 2)

Manufacturer: Books On Tape, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0736638083

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly: Perhaps the most renowned and controversial American general of the 20th century, George Patton (1885-1945) remains a subject of intense interest. D'Este (Decision in Normandy) provides new information from family archives and other sources about Patton's ancestry, childhood and pre-WWII military career. This includes his student years at West Point, his experience as a tank officer in WWI and various interwar staff assignments. The author emphasizes Patton's lifelong study and preparation for war and his conviction that God not only chose him specifically to lead an army but also stood ready to intervene to assure him battlefield victories. D'Este has much to say about Patton's impulsiveness, impatience and tactlessness, showing how these qualities often got him in trouble with the public as well as with his superiors. The account of Patton's campaigns from North Africa through Sicily, Normandy and the Ardennes enables the reader to understand why the general is regarded as one of the great military leaders. This is a major biography of a major American military figure. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Patton: A Genius for War (A & E Biography)

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Patton: A Genius for War (A & E Biography)
Staff
Manufacturer: A & E Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000X6NPPI

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Patton: A Genius for War: Audio Book
Staff
Manufacturer: A & E Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000X6RTOG

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Great biography of Remarkable Woman.......2002-11-21

I have read several biographies of Constance Markievicz. This proves to be the most complete as well as the most enjoyable read. Haverty does an admirable job of tracing Constance's life from her sheltered childhood on the Co. Sligo estate of her Anglo-Irish family, to her years in the Arts Salons of Paris, to her conversion to a revolutionary leading the charge of Irish Republicanism and Labour. The imagery and language of this book, will make this a treat for the reader. Quite informative and well researched, I highly recommend this book.

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Constance Markievicz (Cresset Library)
Sean O'Faolain
Manufacturer: David & Charles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Dream of Liberty: Constance Markleviczs Vision of Ireland 1908-1927 (Bibliotheca Historica (Helsinki, Finland), 34.)

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A Dream of Liberty: Constance Markleviczs Vision of Ireland 1908-1927 (Bibliotheca Historica (Helsinki, Finland), 34.)
Sari Oikarinen
Manufacturer: Finnish Literature Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9517100914

Terrible Beauty: A Life of Constance Markievicz, 1868-1927

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Terrible Beauty: A Life of Constance Markievicz, 1868-1927
Diana Norman
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0340395257

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