Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born

Book Description

When Diane Diekman became an aviation maintenance officer (a "greenshirt") in the U.S. Navy in 1978, her challenges included proving herself professionally before gaining the acceptance and respect routinely granted to men. _Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born_ is the story of a female pioneer who struggled and succeeded in the male-dominated world of naval aviation. The commanding officer of her first squadron fired her when she failed his hidden test to assert herself as a leader. That painful lesson strengthened the timid South Dakota farm girl and defined her future leadership style. _Navy Greenshirt_, which offers hope to men and women not born to lead, describes the experiences that molded Diekman into a successful leader.

Customer Reviews:

Admiration for a great gal!.......2002-03-11

After reading Dianne Diekman's story it would be hard to express greater admiration for the courage, dermination and tenacity that kept her motivated to achieve each milestone on her way to becoming a leader in the maintence department of our nation's air force. From the shy farm girl who attended a one-room schoolhouse to the commanding position she holds today, every challenge that confronted Dianne strengthened her resolve to surmount it. From air base to air base, each new assignment brought greater resonsibility as her duties esculated. And she mastered each one, never letting disappointments when co-workers weren't fair detour her. All the while, Dianne maintained her perspective and was respectful and considerate of those she commanded. Distressed by the serious illness of her beloved brother, her inability to conceive a child so she could become a mother, her long separtations from family, and the frequent wrenching from the bonds she formed at each current airbase assignment, she never-the-less did not waivered in her dedication to duty. I thrilled with Dianne as the plane she was in was catapulted from carriers; as she soared high above our country and foreign countries; and shared her feminine emotions when she was the only woman aboard ships. I'm happy to recommend Navy Greenshirt to anyone interesting in going step-by-step with Dianne, as she shows her transition from a young farm girl to a leader of distinction.

Mona Leeson Vanek
Freelance writer

Writing Consultant, Montana Arts Council
Writing instructor, "Access The World & Write Your Way To $$$

Captain Courageous.......2002-03-06

In this memoir Diane Diekman has given us both a compelling personal success story and a valuable document of American history.

The tale itself is dramatic enough: smart girl off a South Dakota farm joins the U.S. Navy and, against all odds, rises to the rank of Captain. In persistent detail, and with courageous candor, she spells out why such an achievement for any woman is especially difficult in "this man's Navy" -- the residual bias against females; the social exclusions; the daunting loneliness (at one point she is the only woman on a carrier with 3,700 men); having to decide when to be "one of the boys" and when to stand her ground; the personal cost of placing career above private yearnings for husband and family. She is not afraid to tell us that, yes, Naval officers can permit themselves to cry on bad days or nights. She notes her desperate but unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant without a man in her life, through artificial semination. (She now has two adopted daughters.)

Historically, this is an authentic record of the changing role of women in the U.S. military over the last few decades. The book offers useful guidance to others seeking to follow this career -- particularly in illustrating how, within the military system, one can overcome shyness with self-confidence and an aura of leadership leading to success.

Almost as a bonus the reader is treated to the flavor of Navy life: the never-ending competition for promotion; the traditions of social events; the obligatory partying (we get some insights to the "Tailhook scandal" of a decade ago); the required mobility. Standard for the naval careerist is variety in geography, from a Pacific island to Japan and Europe to the White House -- with frequent side trips.

"Join the Navy and see the world." Diane Diekman did just that, and a bit more. Her honest book about it makes for rewarding reading.

NOTE: The writer of this review is acquainted with some of the territory, having also grown up in rural South Dakota and experienced a career in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Greenshirt Review.......2002-02-03

Great reading. I couldn't put the book down. I began reading it Saturday evening, and finished it Sunday afternoon. I was able to relate to so many of CAPT Diekman's stories. Many mistakes and lesson learned that the CAPT went through can be avoided by individuals who read this book. Sometimes we don't see the writing on the wall. CAPT Diekman managed to overcome many obstacles that few of us ever do. It was an encouragement to me to press on in the face of adversity.

Book Description

One of literature's most enduring figures is revisited in this collection of three essays. Peter Werres' "The Changing Faces of Dr. Faustus" analyzes classic and modern manifestations of the Faustus theme, from Goethe to The Simpsons. A member of a Washington, DC international law firm, James Campbell takes a novel legal approach to the population dissertation of the Faust character in "Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus: Weighing the Testimony of Serenus Zeitblom." The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari, a 1919 motion picture with distinct Faustian influences, is creatively examined in regard to the original work in Peter Beicken's "Faust in Film: The Case of Dr. Caligari."

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2002-04-10

A great collection of essays if you want to know how the legend of Dr. Faustus from a literary and cultural standpoint. I have to say the best essay is the second one, in which a DC lawer weighs the testimony of Sernus Zeitblom, the narrator of Dr. Faustus, by Thomas Mann. If want to do a study of Dr. Faustus and are looking for bibliography, I recommend this book highly!

Customer Reviews:

Very good, but "The Knee Crisis Handbook" is better..........2007-07-31

I bought this & "The Knee Crisis Handbook" by Dr Brian Halpern. "The Knee Crisis Handbook" is better. Both cover knee surgery and sports, but Dr Halpern's has a whole exercise plan for your knees - stretching, "quickie" workout, ACL workout, general knee health, etc. Dr. Halpern is also more realistic about living with your 'bad' knee(s). For example, Dr. Halpern discusses how to protect your knees when playing football, etc. Whereas Dr Scott just tells you not to do 'em. Dr. Halpern's was also more personal - many patient interviews included. Helps you to get a feel for what you can & can't do with your knees. And Dr. Halpern's book seemed more informative & detailed without being boring or long. Wish I'd had this when I first injured my knee in college nearly 20 yrs ago. But better late than never.

A Huge Help.......2002-05-26

This book is must reading for anyone with knee problems. Since it was written by a doctor,it gives a lot of information that you feel you can trust, because he writes in a very frank, honest,informative manner. Very helpful,informative---a real life saver when you first get a diagnosis of knee problems. A must read!

The Best Source For Knee Information.......2002-02-10

Being a student and wanting to be a doctor, I read lots of medical books so I can gain a better understanding for anatomy and medicine.

In Dr. Scott's Knee Book, Dr. Scott writes as if he were on your level as to what you know about the human knee. He doesn't write like he's a big shot orthopaedic surgeon talking to incompetents. In his great book, Dr. Scott focuses on the anatomy of the knee, diseases and inhuries of the knee, and treatments for knee problems. He basically covers everything that somebody would want to know on the knee.

I recommend this handy book to a medical student, soembody that has knee problems, or anybody interested in the anatomy, treatment, and diagnosis of the knee. This is a great reference that should be in your home medical library.

HAPPY READING!

Outstanding.......2000-10-19

I live in Europe and bought this book because I realized my doctors were never going to tell me anything about my upcoming ACL surgery except when to turn up at the hospital. I found the information concise yet thorough, well-organized, and well-written. Scott explains injuries, solutions, prevention, and "how to" from every angle. In short, the book was exactly what I was looking for. My only comment would be that anyone getting operated on outside the US (probably very few or zero readers of this review!) will probably have a very different experience, but still I felt much much more secure and better equipped to handle the whole thing after reading this book.

Meniscus cartilage question.......2000-04-10

Good information but in addition, I need to know if anyone out there knows about auto grafting/auto transplantation/autoplastic graft as it relates to meniscus cartilage and/or articular cartilage of the knee joint

Dr. Scott's Knee Book : Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Knee Problems Including Torn Cartilage, Ligament Damage, Arthritis, Tendinitis, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Total Knee Replacement

Average customer rating:

Dr. Scott's Knee Book : Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Knee Problems Including Torn Cartilage, Ligament Damage, Arthritis, Tendinitis, Arthroscopic Surgery, and Total Knee Replacement
W. Norman Scott
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU2QZK

Average customer rating:

A seductive memoir of Japan

Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto

OK Book, but what's up with the weight comments?

Don't read this while you're hungry!

A wonderful book to savour slowly

Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto
Victoria Abbott Riccardi
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Japanese | Asian | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Daughter of Heaven: A Memoir with Earthly Recipes

ASIN: 076790852X
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Book Description

Two years out of college and with a degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Victoria Riccardi left a boyfriend, a rent-controlled New York City apartment, and a plum job in advertising to move to Kyoto to study kaiseki, the exquisitely refined form of cooking that accompanies the formal Japanese tea ceremony. She arrived in Kyoto, a city she had dreamed about but never seen, with two bags, an open-ended plane ticket, and the ability to speak only sushi-bar Japanese. She left a year later, having learned the language, the art of kaiseki, and what was truly important to her.

Through special introductions and personal favors, Victoria was able to attend one of Kyoto’s most prestigious tea schools, where this ago-old Japanese art has been preserved for generations and where she was taken under the wing of an American expatriate who became her mentor in the highly choreographed rituals of this extraordinary culinary discipline.

During her year in Kyoto, Victoria explored the mysterious and rarefied world of tea kaiseki, living a life inaccessible to most foreigners. She also discovered the beguiling realm of modern-day Japanese food—the restaurants, specialty shops, and supermarkets. She participated in many fast-disappearing culinary customs, including making mochi (chewy rice cakes) by hand, a beloved family ritual barely surviving in a mechanized age. She celebrated the annual cleansing rites of New Year’s, donning an elaborate kimono and obi for a thirty-four-course extravaganza. She includes twenty-five recipes for favorite dishes she encountered, such as Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl, Japanese Beef and Vegetable Hotpot, and Green-Tea Cooked Salmon Over Rice.

Untangling My Chopsticks is a sumptuous journey into the tastes, traditions, and exotic undercurrents of Japan. It is also a coming-of-age tale steeped in history and ancient customs, a thoughtful meditation on life, love, and learning in another land.

Customer Reviews:

A seductive memoir of Japan.......2007-03-23

For those of us obsessed with Japan and its' fascinating culture, this book is a fun read. The author studied kaiseki cooking at an exclusive school in Kyoto, and the book spends most of its' time recounting her experiences at the school and in Kyoto. Along the way she also gives us several terrific recipes well worth exploring. True indulgence for Japanophiles!

Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto.......2007-01-10

Untangling My Chopsticks: A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto by Victoria Abbott Riccardiis a fabulous book filled with savory recipes and detailed cultural intricacies.

OK Book, but what's up with the weight comments?.......2004-09-27

I've just read about 120 pages of this book. Fun, light reading, cruised through it in a couple of hours of Sunday afternoon lounging. It's an interesting read, but lacking in details. So far, it doesn't seem that the author has actually *eaten* any of the food she's prepared. Which begs the question of: why? She's offered opportunties to take things home and inexplicably turns things down. Huh?

In general, that's the weakness I've seen with the book so far. There's just not enough detail. Just interesting fluff.

And what's up with the weight comments? I'm only halfway through the book, and three time (count 'em, three!) the author has commented on someone's "rice belly" or some other way of saying that someone is a bit portly because they like to eat. I can't see the point of complaining about someone's size. Not because it's not PC, but because it takes away from the story. Either a detail is relevant (in which case, make it relevant, tell me why I should care about some Japanese woman's weight). Or it's irrelevant and it distracts from the story. In which case I'd much rather hear about why the author isn't eating the food she prepares. To be work for hours on this labor of love that you came to Japan to learn, and then not eat the food! That must be torture.

Don't read this while you're hungry!.......2004-04-09

and after you do read it, you'll need to find a Japanese grocer in your city, because you'll be inspired to hunt all over for soba sauce and azuki bean paste.

What a delight this book is! It veritably sparkles like diamonds and rubies, and in fact she compares tea kaiseki with jewels.

I borrowed a copy from a friend to read, but now I'm inspired to buy my own copy so I can re-savor it and also contribute to Victoria's royalties. She deserves so much for this splendid book.

Her insights into the spirituality of food, even simple things like wrapping packages carefully like the Japanese do, make it a book that you can apply to your daily life, even if you never attend a tea ceremony.

My *ONLY* gripe, and I really hate to say this, is that her connection with Zen Buddhism was tenuous. She does go to Mount Hiei toward the end of the book and tries to sit with the monks, but she spends a lot more time talking about recipes again. But really that's okay because her main emphasis is not to meditate until satori, but to appreciate the food connection.

I can't think of anyone who would not fall in love with this book! Thank you, Bi-cu-to-ri-ha! (That's Japanese for her name, as heard from the lips of children.)

A wonderful book to savour slowly.......2004-03-21

I so enjoyed reliving Victoria Abbott Riccardi's year sojourn in Kyoto. I cannot wait to go to an authentic tea ceremony next time I am in Japan (my friends in Tokyo told me it must be in Kyoto). The Japanese do everything beautifully but until I read Untangling My Chopsticks I was not really aware of how much thought and detail go into the visual and tactile presentation of food. The texture of the food, of the dish, the color, the shape, the season, the spiritual message. A book worth writing and reading.

Customer Reviews:

Very good book for beginners.......2007-08-19

Very good for beginners. Covers all important topics. Very simple language, without technical jargon which is often overwhelming people who just starting with hobby. Very nice stocking guide and chapter about biotops which is not found often in similar position.

I recommend it to anyone who thinks to start with reefkeeping hobby.

Excellent.......2007-01-10

Loved it! Has some of the best reefing information available, without the over-technical mumbo jumbo! The stocking guide is excellent; just lacking on a few species.

Inspiring, detailed, practical.......2006-01-09

One can appreciated the authors' long experience with marine aquaria who elegantly and with simple language explained larger biological concepts yet provide detailed instructions on how do to what and why. Very inspiring are the suggested biotopes that include among others "seagrass aquarium", "reef gorge aquarium", "pizza anemone aquarium", "rubble zone aquarium" as well as the standard reef tank. These are refreshing ideas that are needed with the current predominance of grocery store shelf-like stocked, overcrowded best-of-the-month SPS tanks. Also contains a comprehensive guide about most creatures possible in a reef tank and essentially makes e.g. Sprung's "Quick" guides unnecessary in one's library.

Think out of the box.......2005-05-07

You won't have to go over the ammonia cycle again here, though there is enough info to get you started. The title is a great indication of what to expect. This book is about thinking out of the box in aquarium keeping and planning them correctly.

My favorite section talks about ideas for aquariums and how when we start, we usually try to replicate a hodgepodge thrown together because we want a little of everything instead of a real underwater scene which could be much more interesting. This book has opened my eyes to new planning possibilities, I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

It has a great section on all types of fishes, invertebrates, cnidaria, etc... of options for choices with clear and concise care guide and potential pitfalls.

There is one or two things that might surprise if you have aquariums in the Americas, such as stating that 10% of water changed per year is reasonable. Maybe very large aquarium, but I change that per week. Then again, only because I have read elsewhere and heard advice to do so even though it does seem to make sense to me.

I wish I had found this book before planning my current aquarium, but it has certainly gotten me thinking about the next one. I recommend this as an additional starter book (perhaps to accompany Paletta's New Marine Aquarium) or for anyone who knows the simple basics and wants interesting new ideas to rehash the passion. Without question, worth it.

another great microcosum publication.......2004-03-29

an exalent read for beginers! covers many important aspects of reef keeping in understandable languege.

however, there are a couple problems. 1st, since its such a recent publication it has some confusing types and errors. they arnt terrible but i can see them confusing some beginers. 2nd, they have a couple places where they say somthing like "this is an important topic but its beyond this book to explain".

still, its a great starting place for beginier marine aquarists.

Average customer rating:
Starting Your Marine Aquarium
David E. Boruchowitz
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Fishing | General & Anthologies | Hunting | Shooting
Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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The Simple Guide to Marine Aquariums (Simple Guide to...)

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The Guide to Starting a Marine Aquarium (Aquatic)
David E. Boruchowitz
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0793833574

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Starting a Marine Aquarium
Craig S. Barker
Manufacturer: T. F. H. Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KF6C5M

Average customer rating:
Starting a Marine Aquarium
Craig Barker
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0876667515

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Starting a Marine Aquarium
Craig S. Barker
Manufacturer: T. F. H. Publications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0876661010

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Starting a Marine Aquarium
Craig S Barker
Manufacturer: UNSPECIFIED VENDOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TXCC4U

Average customer rating:
STARTING A MARINE AQUARIUM.
Craig S Barker
Manufacturer: T
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GR9G5C

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Starting and maintaining a marine aquarium
Neil W Crenshaw
Manufacturer: Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00073ENW6

Average customer rating:
Vogue Knitting on the Go: Baby Blankets Two (Vogue Knitting On The Go)
Trisha Malcolm
Manufacturer: Sixth&Spring Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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One-Skein Wonders

ASIN: 1931543437

Book Description

Rompers and booties and cute animal designs: there’s nothing more adorable than babies’ outfits, and these small and precious garments make easy-to-carry and quick-to-knit projects. That’s why Vogue’s first Knitting on the Go: Baby Knits collection was so popular—and why this follow-up will absolutely entice knitters and warm their hearts as the needles click along. What could be sweeter than a tiny “faux fur” coat? Amazingly, it’s simple to make, with only a few stitches and rows; the thick yarn does most of the work. Baby will look completely endearing in an Origami Jacket, Giraffe Cardigan and Hat, Aran Pullover, or Bonnet and Booties. Other practical and good-looking accessories include the Felted Baby Bag to carry it all and Gingham Blanket.

Average customer rating:

Fun gardening with kids

A must for you and your little gardner!

Gardening with Mommy
Kristen Joyal
Manufacturer: Straight Forward Technologies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Family Activities | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Baking with Mommy Cookbook: Recipes for Kid-Size Ovens

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0971851557

Book Description

Mommy, Mommy, Let's plant something! Thought you have done all you can with your flowerbeds, lanters and garden? Are you looking for some fun and educational family gardening activities?

Well then look no further!!!

If you have a flowerbed, garden site, planting container or even just a few flowerpots, then the Gardening with Mommy book is for you!

With over 52 kid-tested gardening activities, the gardening with Mommy book will provide your family with the information needed to have fun gardening all year round. Loaded with fun activities, the Gardening with Mommy book includes projects like:

Peanut Butter & Jelly Garden
"Wild" Animal Zoo Garden
Itsy Bitsy Spider Garden
Plantable Seed Cards
Wizard of Oz Garden
Outer Space Garden
Pizzeria Garden
ABC Garden
Rainbow Garden
Chocolate Garden
Loofah Sponge Soap
Tin Can Pumpkin Man
Swimming Pool Garden
Hawaiian Aloha Garden
Grass Sock Caterpillar
Balloon Plant Garden
Litter Box Garden
Cotton Hull Angel
Pansy Painting

So grab your gardening gloves and tools, find some soil and let's get planting.

Customer Reviews:

Fun gardening with kids.......2007-02-13

This book has some neat theme gardens like a Wizard of Oz garden, pizza garden arranged in the shape of a pizza, and projects like indoor gardening starting from your grocery store. This has lots of pictures and my child is already asking for me to read it and points out favorites. We will have some special kid friendly elements in our garden this year!

A must for you and your little gardner!.......2006-12-23

I received this book as a gift along with the Baking with Mommy Cookbook Recipes for Kid-Size Ovens. I cannot say enough about this book! It has so many wonderful ideas for you and your little one. It discusses theme gardens, container gardens, outdoor gardens, indoor gardening activities, gifts that you can make from the garden, holiday gardening, as well as, gardening resources. Some examples of some of the fantastic ideas that can be found in this book are the pizza garden and the peanut butter & jelly garden. The pizza garden is great! It will show you how to grow just about everything you will need to garnish your pizza, as well as, an adorable way to set up your gardening space. The peanut butter & jelly garden will show you how to grow the peanuts and fruit that you will need for you to make your own peanut butter and jelly if you choose. Those two ideas were just a very small sample of the many terrific ideas that this book holds. The book is easy to follow with material lists and step by step instructions. Children really do take pride in things that they can do themselves and what better than for them to create their very own garden! Also, what better than an excuse for adults to spend time with their children. This book would be a great gift for parents, grandparents, and teachers. I would also recommend the Baking with Mommy Cookbook as well. Anyone who has a light-bulb kid's oven will love these wonderful recipes!

Book Description

"What great messages to pass along! The world needs more books like this, and teenagers need more reminders like these..."

This inspiring book reaches out to teens in ways that few other books will ever do… and with words that few others will ever say. One of the endearing qualities about it is that it's such an easy read -- but it's so hard to put down. Open the book to any page and you'll see: there's a gem there just waiting to be shared, heart-to-heart, with someone who needs to -- and deserves to -- hear these encouraging words.

Here's what this book says…

You're not just a "teenager." You can't be defined by a simple label like that. You're a one-of-a-kind wonder. A marvelous individual who's growing and changing and coming closer each and every day to becoming an adult.

Here's what it acknowledges…

This time of life can be extraordinary. A mixture of so many things! Depending on the moment, the day, or the circumstance, it can be… challenging. Rewarding. Demanding. Exasperating. Incredible. Confusing. Frustrating one minute. Fantastic the next. Being a teenager means being in the middle of a time of discovery, finding your way over, around, and through the obstacles, and (hopefully!) arriving on the other side with a smile on your face, a newfound confidence in yourself, and a lasting hope in your heart.

And here's the message it sends…

I care about you. And I want this book to help me say some of the things I want you to remember forever. You have so much potential! You have so many adventures ahead of you. You're like a walking miracle on the way to a wonderful life. On your journey there, I want you to make yourself proud. Make the right choices. Dream your dreams and make them come true. And remember that someone will always be here, believing in you, cheering you on, and wishing you the very best… everywhere you go and in absolutely everything you do.

Book Description

The Nazis came late to Hungary because until early 1944, Germany and Hungary were allies. But when they did arrive, their orders were to put "the final solution" into effect with deliberate speed. This unique account of survival is told by a Budapest lawyer whose courage and savvy saved not only his family but scores of other Hungarian friends and relatives following the invasion of the Germans in March 1944. Soros views his experiences with a beguiling humor, deep humanity, and a wisdom that is humbling. MASQUERADE is a very personal, low-key testament of the Holocaust, of how one man managed not only to escape, but to retain his integrity, compassion, family unity, and humor by "dancing around death."

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Book.......2003-03-22

This book has it all: drama, humor, philosophy, and history. The author is an unprepossessing, very clever, unsung hero, who makes humane, practical, difficult decisions daily and keeps his nerve under the Nazi occupation of Hungary. The number of lives he saves can never be properly tallied. You will find yourself alternately holding your breath and then cheering.

A window into a warped world.......2002-11-12

I lived in Budapest for several years and became fascinated by the stories of those brave souls who survived there through the trials of the last century. This recently translated memoire is one of the best. Mr. Soros is able to convey convincingly his experiences in Budapest during the last years of WWII. Like the best memoires, it offers a window into the mind and thoughts of the author in a way which rings true and resonates with the reader. For those who are interested by the human experience in this period of history, this is a must read.

Inspiring Tales of Holocaust Survival.......2002-01-10

"Life is beautiful - and full of variety and adventure. But luck must be on your side." So begins a remarkable memoir of Jewish life under the Nazis in Hungary, _Masquerade: Dancing Around Death in Nazi-Occupied Hungary_ (Arcade) by Tivadar Soros. Soros was a thoroughly remarkable man who certainly had variety and adventure in his life, and his share of luck. There are many accounts of the horrors of the Holocaust, and Soros certainly does not minimize the death and terror that he witnessed. Unlike many such accounts, however, this is a story of optimism and triumph. Soros and all his family survived.

His memoir begins in 1944 when the Nazis occupied Germany. Soros realized that "Since we can't stand up to Hitler's fury, we must hide from it." He and his family hid, but since they had to be seen in order to take care of daily needs, they took on the aspects of Christians. This involved his forming close relationships with a series of forgers, and once he took care of his immediate family's documents, he took care of other relatives, and then friends, and clients. "If anyone asked for my help, one of my principles in life was never to say no - if only to avoid diminishing their faith in human beings." Amidst narrow escapes and harrowing close calls, Soros kept a sense of humor which frequently emerges on these pages. As a "Christian," Soros was able to obtain cigarettes when those were denied to Jews, and since he didn't smoke, he would leave them at a watchmaker's, so that people with stars could get some. He went to the watchmaker to get his watch fixed, and asked the price. "How can you ask such a thing? It's on the house," the watchmaker said, and then whispered to the woman working beside him, "This is the Christian gentleman who brings us the cigarettes, you know." Soros says, "At least the Jews got to see that there were still a few decent Christians." Much of the humor is tinged with humane sadness; according to one of his sons, Soros used to say, "It is amazing how well people can bear the suffering of others."

This wonderful memoir has been in print before. Soros, that practical idealist, as an Esperantist wrote the original in Esperanto in 1965, three years before his death. In libraries of Esperantists the book has been an outstanding volume from the literature the planned language has produced. It is here translated by Humphrey Tonkin, a linguist whose name is familiar to all American Esperantists. It includes brief, loving memoirs by his sons, one of whom, George, has become one of the world's richest and most influential people. If there is room on your shelves for history with hope, written by a thoroughly humane and lovable man, this book is perfect.

Outwitting the Hungarian Holocaust like a Secret Agent!.......2001-08-06

This book will add another view of the Holocaust that few have seen before. When I told my wife I was reading the book, she said, "Isn't it depressing?" Naturally, any book that comes close to so much unnecessary loss of life will make the reader sad, and that is appropriate. On balance, though, this book will probably leave you feeling more optimistic than you were about what can be accomplished by well-meaning people.

Tivadar Soros was a Jewish lawyer in Budapest when the second world war began. Hungary had been an ally of Austria, so the Nazis did not occupy the country until March 19, 1944 as they began to fear betrayal behind their retreating forces in the Soviet Union and the Balkens. The country was liberated by the Soviets in January 1945. Unfortunately, the Nazis used this ten-month period to murder as many Hungarian Jews as possible.

But Mr. Soros also had had an unusual experience earlier. He had been a prison of war in Siberia during World War I. From that experience, he had learned that those who are prominent are in danger from totalitarianism, after seeing the prisoners' represenative shot to terrify the prisoners. Mr. Soros had been offered that "honor" just recently and had declined. He soon escaped from the prison camp, and had a most difficult time getting back to Hungary through the midst of the Russian Revolution. Where he had been idealistic and vocal before World War I, he came back determined to enjoy each day as though it might be his last. This exasperated his wife, who knew he could accomplish more.

This perspective served him well when the Nazi occupation arrived. As in other countries, the Nazis relied on Jews to follow orders. There was a Jewish Council whose families were exempt from the deportations who helped organize others into the death camps and ghettos. Many people voluntarily wore the yellow star. Wanting to cut off the potential leaders, one of the first groups being rounded up were lawyers. This was being done in alphabetical order, so Mr. Soros had a little time to prepare. Rather than complying (as did over 600 Jewish lawyers from Budapest who were killed in the Holocaust), Mr. Soros decided to resist. He quickly justified this on the moral grounds of self-defense.

Deprived of his livelihood and his property, Mr. Soros decided to use camouflage to protect his family (wife, two sons, and mother-in-law) by pretending to be Christians under assumed names. Although he knew nothing about how to undertake such a deception, he soon learned to acquire forged and real papers. He also shared what he learned with anyone who asked for his help. Those who were wealthy, he charged as much as he could. Everyone else, he either charged nothing or only what forged documents cost him.

To be safest, the family continually lived apart from one another, meeting occasionally for coffee or a swim, and moved frequently. He helped them learn their "cover stories" and helped them practice how to react if braced by Nazis.

There are many surprises in the book. Mr. Soros occasionally called on "Christians" for help who turned out to be other Jews using false papers. Some actual Christians took up wearing the yellow star, and the Nazis left them alone. While many people would not help, few turned Jews in to the Nazis. Some people would help for either profit or humanitarian reasons. You just had to keep looking until you found them. Most lost their nerve eventually and were either caught or stopped helping.

Mr. Soros estimates that about 5 percent of all Jews in Budapest eventually obtained false papers. He also describes what happened to those who tried other ways out, like bribing Nazis such as Eichmann.

The book is far more compelling than any spy novel I have ever read. It is also more inspiring because it shows what a committed "victim" of an evil regime can do. While other books portray Jews as being tough in concentration camps or in the Warsaw Ghetto, secretly hiding out in attics owned by friends, and being slaughtered, this one shows the side of a vigilent self-defense operating from an immediate defiance of the illegitimate authorities. This model needs to be well understood by everyone.

Contemporary readers will also be fascinated to read about the rest of Mr. Soros's family, which includes the then 14-year-old George, who is now one of the world's richest men and famed fighter against totalitarian regimes. What an incredible family! The book also contains introductory comments by both sons, which will interest you as they recount the remarkable father they knew whom you will meet in this amazing book.

The book was originally written in Esperanto, and was only recently translated into English for the first time.

Everyone who wants to prevent future Holocausts must read this book!

After you finish reading it, think about what you could do today to help someone else retain or gain their freedom and safety from injustice.

Be prepared to save yourself . . . when all else fails! Saving someone else today increases your allies for tomorrow!

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Masquerade Dancing around Death in Nazi-Occupied Hungary
Tivadar (Humphrey Tonkin, Edited & Trans) Soros
Manufacturer: Arcade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WA8JRY

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