On the Finland Watch: An American Diplomat in Finland During the Cold War

Customer Reviews:

An Ever-Changing Political Landscape: A Visit to Finland.......2001-11-19

"This book is a big piece of me," says ex-U. S. Consul General James Ford Cooper, referring to ON THE FINLAND WATCH, which happens to contain deeply penetrating insights about the Cold War.

Cooper examines in detail Cold War policies, which he feels succeeded in balancing many delicate vital interests, in particular Finland's success in maintaining its independence from the Soviet Union. He puts into historical perspective the difficult relationship between two such neighboring states, while introducing colorful statesmen, such as the long-time uncanny Finnish President Urho Kekkonen, who "tried to shape publc opinion 180 degrees."

Cooper reveals how U. S. diplomatic missions fared during his two Helsinki tours, always mindful of the characters he knew personally. He and his wife Magda participated in Nordic society, enrolled their children in Finnish schools and partook in recreational activities, including Cooper's memorable finish in the 13th annual Finlandia ski race.

Such ongoing support and understanding on the part of such a keen career officer may allow the U. S. and its allies to maneuver all the more successfully in the world's ever-changing political landscape.

On the Finland Watch.......2001-11-03

Ford Cooper's book provides great insight into the Cold War era when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were at their peak. He provides an interesting--and mostly sympathetic --perspective on Finland's delicate balancing act between these super powers.

A look Inside the Cold War.......2000-04-05

This is a truly fascinating book about Finland and her high-wire act guarding her independence in the shadow of the Soviet Union.

The author spent several years in the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki during the seventies and eighties, and experienced many of the crises first hand, and had access to the main players in the Finnish government and media. This made it possible for him to research the previous crises, prior to his arrival in Helsinki around 1976.

The most important example was the "Note Crisis" around 1961-62, when the Soviet Union appeared to turn the screws on Finland quite a few turns. Living in Sweden at the time, I felt the fear emating from this incident, and seeing it described and analyzed by an insider was fascinating. The author is fluent in Finnish, unlike most diplomats posted to Finland (except, of course, the Russians, who made a career out of managing the Finland relationship).

The only problem is that the book sometimes presupposes more knowledge than that which the average reader is likely to possess. I would recommend the book, but also that the reader arm himself with a map of the area, and a pencil, and that he make a list of the many abbreviations as they occur.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Scandinavian Studies, published by Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study on June 22, 2001. The length of the article is 576 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: On the Finland Watch: An American Diplomat in Finland during the Cold War.(Review)
Author: Ralph V. Larson
Publication: Scandinavian Studies (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2001
Publisher: Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
Volume: 73 Issue: 2 Page: 225

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

For six decades, Brookman lived his dream: his home a fishing boat, his estate the waterways and island wilderness of southeastern Alaska, his family table supplied from land and sea.

Customer Reviews:

An insightful text of a man and his Alaskan wilderness dream.......1998-07-28

Al Brookman Sr. does an excellent job of recalling his past in vivid detail. Each reader will experience his eccentric lifestyle as a commercial fisherman in Alaska along with his many seasonal jobs in the Alaskan wilderness. Readers who enjoy true-life adventure stories will delight in Brookman's hunting adventures, "great fish" stories and WWII recollections. If you have ever spoken to an elderly person about their life and times, and enjoyed the conversation, this book is for you. Though Brookman may repeat stories is irrelevant, each recount is as enjoyable as the first. A short, easy to understand and charming text you could read with a grandparent or grandchild and enjoy twice as much.

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Sitka Man
Al Sr. Brookman
Manufacturer: Alaska Northwest Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OP5KE2

Book Description

Queen Victoria of Great Britain made a tremendous impact on

the world, so much so that the era of her reign was given her

name. Items from the Victorian period have a reputation for

beauty and elegance, which is why they are such popular

collectibles. This one-of-a-kind reference covers the beautiful

jewelry of the Victorian Age, from 1837 to 1901.

Gemologist C. Jeanenne Bell offers collectors this fascinating

all-color exploration of the illustrious age and the elegant

jewelry that it produced. Decade by decade, Bell reveals how

the fashion of the time influenced the style of jewelry, and

how innovations in manufacturing affected jewelry production.

Jewelry listings provide current marketplace values, and also

cover American and French jewelry styles from the time. Over

1,000 color pictures and illustrations convey the true beauty

of Victorian era jewelry.

Customer Reviews:

pretty dresses.......2006-08-19

It was intersting reading. More on style, than on collecting. Interesting if you like history. Lots to learn. And a true collector neds to learn alot.

A "must-have" for antique jewelry collectors.......2005-05-13

Gemologist C. Jeanenne Bell presents Collecting Victorian Jewelry: Identification And Price Guide, a full-color showcase of the distinctive jewelry of the Victorian era. Vintage photographs and artwork as well as close-up detailed of pieces, extensive price information, tips on discerning real pieces from imitation and general background information on gemstones and fashion of the time fill this lavish volume. A "must-have" for antique jewelry collectors, and recommended for anyone interested in seeing these wondrous works of art and adornment up close.

Book Description

Fifteen more quilt patterns from Hawaii's celebrated quilters, John and Poakalani Serrao.

Book Description

The custom residences of Barry A Berkus AIA bring to life the personalities and programmes of their clients.

Book Description

From resolving conflict to strengthening communication to building intimacy, this insightful gift book offers eight sections of sage advice on accepting, pleasing, and truly loving a mate.

Customer Reviews:

One mighty blessing.......1999-09-23

Though i've not really read the book i've only heard about it.Could someone out there just bless me with this book i really wish i could afford it so that i would not make unnecesarily mistakes in my marraige. Tola

It Takes Two to Tango: More Than 250 Secrets to Communication, Romance and Intimacy in Marriage

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It Takes Two to Tango: More Than 250 Secrets to Communication, Romance and Intimacy in Marriage
Gary; Smalley, Norma Smalley
Manufacturer: Focus on the Family Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JC6AFI

Customer Reviews:

There's Are Too Many Good Books on B. B. King to Read This!.......2002-02-19

B. B. King wrote his autobiography, Blues All Around Me in 1996, and if you're interested in the story of B. B. King that's the book to read. Charles Keil's book Urban Blues is also quite good. Mr. Danchin adds no new information to the B. B. King story and includes some misinformation and bad judgements that are misleading.

It would be difficult to overstate the influence B. B. King had on Blues music in the 1950's. B. B. was impressed by T-Bone Walker's sound. T-Bone recorded blues songs with jazz musicians in his band. The sound was light and swinging and T-Bone's singing was smooth and sophisticated. T-Bone featured his own guitar playing, using single note guitar solos, which blues players hadn't done before.

Compare T-Bone's approach to B. B. King's approach. B. B.'s band was made up of blues musicians instead of jazz musicians. The beat was heavier than T-Bone's. B. B.'s singing style was more emotionally intense and gospel flavored. His guitar phrases were shorter than T-Bone's.

Many of the young blues stars of the late 1950's liked B. B. King's sound and used B. B. King as a model for their own styles of singing, bandleading and guitar playing. Think of Freddie King, Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy.

Danchin is often dismissive of B. B. King's early records like "Three O'Clock Blues" which he calls "pretty unpolished" and "not a new song". Danchin summarizes B. B.'s early appeal as "the climax of his development as an interpreter; rather than the triumph of an originator." But Freddie King, Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy knew something that Danchin missed. Lowell Fulson's version of "Three O'Clock Blues" didn't sound like B. B. King's version. B. B. King had a new exciting sound that made other people want to play like B. B. King. B. B.'s success was absolutely 'the triumph of an originator.'

Danchin makes an egregious error when he writes "the importance of Jules Bihari in building B. B. King's career has been insufficiently appreciated. It was Jules, rather than King, who usually decided on the arrangements and the musicians, and sometimes it was his ideas that decided the repertoire, as his brother Joe explained in a rare interview: 'On some songs, they had them in their head, but couldn't quite get it together, and there was help. . .You might notice the name of Jules Taub on some songs. That was a pseudonym for Jules Bihari, who worked with the artists."

In the 1950's it was common practice among independent record label owners to collect songwriting royalties that should have been paid to the artist, by claiming phony songwriting credit. When questioned about this practice later the label owners often gave explanations like the one above. A writer familiar with industry practices of the time should have been suspicious, but Danchin isn't. B. B. King writes in his autobiography that the thing he liked best about recording for the Bihari Brothers was that they left him alone in the recording studio and allowed him to do whatever he wanted! Danchin makes B. B. sound like a puppet of Bihari, which the evidence of King's continued sucess after leaving Bihari's record label doesn't support.

The good news is that Sebastian Danchin wrote a book about blues guitar player Earl Hooker, which is much better than this book. The Earl Hooker book is well worth reading if you think you might be even slightly interested in the subject.

Average customer rating:
"Blues Boy": The Life and Music of B.B. King.(Review): An article from: The Mississippi Quarterly
Walter Liniger
Manufacturer: Mississippi State University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B00098UVO8
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Mississippi Quarterly, published by Mississippi State University on December 22, 1998. The length of the article is 891 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: "Blues Boy": The Life and Music of B.B. King.(Review)
Author: Walter Liniger
Publication: The Mississippi Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 1998
Publisher: Mississippi State University
Volume: 52 Issue: 1 Page: 201

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Blues Boy: The Life and Music of B.B. King.

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Blues Boy: The Life and Music of B.B. King.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ICJCD6

Book Description

The History of Yud-Tes Kislev

Charged with the grave crime of treason, the founder of Chabad- Lubavitch Chassidism was arrested and imprisoned by the Czarist regime in the year 1798. The charges were the result of a malicious slander brought before the government by his opponents. His only "crimes" were his selfless efforts to strengthen the Jewish people and to disseminate Chassidic teachings. Rabbi Schneur Zalman's arrest imperiled not only his own life, but also the future of Chassidism. Ultimately he was cleared of the charges and released, his teachings vindicated. The day of his liberation, the 19th of Kislev, has since become recognized as a historic milestone in the development of the Chassidic movement.

Customer Reviews:

The Story Simply Goes:.......2002-12-20

The little maple tree loves to watch a nearby family doing Mitzvot, but is disappointed that it can't do any. This book helps children discover that helping others is a very important Mitzvah.

Book Description

The book is a complete seminar on effective saving and investing that can be read and immediately applied no matter what the present income level of the reader. The first half of the book explains the benefits of 401(k) & IRA. It shows how to save, even if you are living from paycheck to paycheck. It provides very high motivation to start a 401(k) and/or IRA. The second half of the book provides extremely easy to understand investment education for 401(k) & IRA investors. The book is appropriate for complete beginners as well as for those with an intermediate financial and investment background.

Customer Reviews:

Practical approach to retirement planning........2000-11-20

Information on retirement planning can be difficult to understand. Davis's book thoroughly covers the 401K and IRA options. It is a positive, straightforward analysis beginning with why we should plan for retirement then moving on to the advantages of IRA's and 401K's over saving after tax dollars. Tables illustrate how the value of early saving multiplies over time. As you get farther into to book the author's financial expertise shows positively with his clear, but detailed explanations of sometimes difficult financial concepts. He writes clearly and builds the explanations step by step. We were bombarded with information on the Roth IRA a couple of years ago, but have found the clearest explanations in this little book. It is a worthwhile book, well-organized and well-written and covers the subject matter clearly. Our 401K provider at work should have their salespeople read it!

Customer Reviews:

A Very Dry and Tedious Account.......2004-07-19

The lost memoirs by Marchand are important historically as they set the scene for Napoleon's demise, with multiple conspiracy theories.
The problem is that these memoirs are really truly boring. For those who cannot sleep, read this book.

Customer Reviews:

Fine intellectual biography.......2002-02-06

Mr. Gordon concentrates on Mcluhan's intellectual development and shows McL.'s work as a single work in progress built on a unique foundation. It is not as merely gossipy as Marchand's biography, and not for the reader unfamiliar with the world of ideas McL. dealt with. There is nothing of the pop celebrity here, but a serious presentation of the intellectual ground under all of McLuhan's work.

I Was Tempted To Escape Into Sleep Far Too Often.......2001-06-30

I purchased this book because I was interested in learning as much as I could about the enigmatic Marshall McLuhan. Unfortunately, Mr. McLuhan has failed to find his ideal biographer in this work. Marshall McLuhan was the media intellectual from Canada who wrote, taught and spoke presciently of the effects of media on ourselves and our culture. Much of his work was rather heady stuff, and out of the reach of the dillettante. Even his most famous phrase, "the medium is the message" is poorly understood by many, including some who are thought to be blessed with large portions of gray matter. And the author of this biography W. Terrence Gordon can't seem to find the formula for delivering palatable explainations of McLuhan's catchphrases. The book unevenly shifts from the recounting of McLuhan's life, to the development of his groundbreaking research and novel ideas on everything from the ancient Trivium to electronic media, and he never settles into a comfortable pace. One can sense that McLuhan's life was unique, compelling and interesting, but it is rendered dry and antiseptic in this telling, and our author fares even more poorly in attempting to school us in the intellectual legacy of McLuhan, never properly defining terms in some instances, jumping way over our heads in others, and most maddening of all, sticking 80-some pages of notes at the end of the book which would have served us far better as foot-notes or inclusions in the main text. All this having been said, the subject was interesting enough and the materials included specific enough, where I was able to find many interesting paths for further exploration, which made slogging through this ponderous book, worth the effort at the end... But as I said, this fascinating man's life is deserving of a far more interesting and organized writer's efforts.

Marshall McLuhan: Escape into Understanding

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Marshall McLuhan: Escape into Understanding
W. Terrence Gordon
Manufacturer: Gingko Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1584231440

Marshall McLuhan: Escape into Understanding -- A Biography

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Marshall McLuhan: Escape into Understanding -- A Biography
W. Terrence Gordon
Manufacturer: Stoddart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0773730451

Book Description

Wiley Not-for-Profit GAAP 2000: Interpretation and Application of Generally Accepted Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations —Richard F. Larkin

Extensive coverage of accounting standards affecting not-for-profit organizations

Wiley Not-for-Profit GAAP 2000 is a comprehensive reference tool that helps not-for-profit organizations and their auditors, accountants, and financial advisors prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This annual edition covers FASB Statements, Interpretations and Technical Bulletins, APB Opinions, ARBs and relevant AICPA Statements of Position, and FASB EITF issues and provides a thorough examination of the authoritative standards for measurement, presentations, and disclosure.

Richard F. Larkin, CPA (Falls Church, VA), is Director of the Not-for-Profit Services Industry Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Book Description

Most home buyers are unaware of what occurs behind the scenes during the purchase of a home -- typically the biggest investment of their lifetime. The author has taken time off from training home inspectors and conducting home inspections to provide home buyers with detailed information on what actually occurs during the home purchase process with respect to home inspections. This informative book helps home buyers better understand the concerns they should have regarding the real estate agent/home inspector relationship. Through checklists, color photos, and tables, this book helps buyers evaluate a home they are considering purchasing, as well as home inspection firms. Hopefully this book will help many home buyers be smarter consumers in purchasing a new home, or in purchasing their next home.

Customer Reviews:

a good counterpoint to the typical home buying books.......2000-06-19

This booklet is unflinching in its depiction of unscrupulous real estate agents being out to get you. The author gives useful information about what tricks you should look out for during the inspection process and in how agent-approved inspectors may not be looking out for you as much as they could be. Self-serving information, no doubt, given the author is an independent inspector, but it is good to hear the story from all sides.

After reading this booklet I knew what kind of inspections I needed to have done. I understood what the inspector would and would not do, and what the inspector could reasonably tell me and what they could not.

The booklet struck me as overly paranoid with regard to the lack of integrity of real estate agents. But this booklet (yes booklet, it is stapled like a magazine, not bound) serves as a useful counterpoint to the home buying guides written by real estate agents, which usually paint a much rosier home-buying picture.

Book Description

Drawing largely on Busoni's own letters to his family and friends, and much material published since his death on Busoni himself and on others with whom he came in contact, Couling offers a truer picture of a very complex genius.

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