EXCELLENT Follow-up to "Mark II"
932533
They just don't stop!!!  Tracks 5-10 are a solid block of top-notch songs. Excellent vocals from Ulla Bendixen matched with superb instrumentation.  This group's music is addicting - so beware!  I can't stop listening to this CD, along with its predecessor "Mark II".  DEFINITELY a CD that leaves you wanting more.  Sorten Muld's 2 CDs even have me motivated to learn Danish - now that's powerful music!
477499
One of the two best treatements of Mark's Gospel I have ever read or studied in 26 years of pastoral ministry. I very highly recommend this book both for its scholarship and its insightful application to radical discipleship in our times. I would catagorize this book as a must read for anyone in the band of 21st century Jesus followers and for those inquiring as to just what that is intended to be.
4529704
Mark Steyn is an excellent writer and this book is no exception.  I received this book as a gift while I was deployed with the military the first time around to Iraq....Mark makes some excellent points about the future of the world and how current events are having a large impact on how the world views us and will view us in the future.  Be very aware of the world around you....start with this book and it will lead you in the right direction.  Mark is a brilliant writer with a very easy to read style.  I recommend that you pick up all of his books....as this is just a taste of what an excellent writer he is.  And I agree with Mark, Europe has sat back and allowed their country to be overtaken by religious zealots and didn't fight back all in the name of "expression of freedoms", the Dutch have learned a difficult lesson from this, the British are learning their lesson and the Norwegians just don't want to admit their troubles.  The trouble isn't with Islam however...the trouble is with RADICAL, MILITANT Islam...there is a difference and we must stand up and face that today...or we will see ourselves in the same boat at the European nations are today.  The riots may be in France today but they could be in California or Michigan just as easily tomorrow.  Although this is a serious issue and Mark writes with this in mind...he can be a quite humorous read at the same time.  Kudos to Mark Steyn for yet another fantastic product!
3306511
Twenty one months after the Great War finds Mark and his wagons (plus a Jeep and a bike) heading for California.  The small band is wondering if anyone survived the radiation and they feel compelled to find the truth.  One needs to pay attention to the multiple characters in this novel.  There are lots of them and most do have a role to play.  In other words, they aren't just there for the "fluff factor".

President Rissman is in West Virginia and has issued a couple of Executive Orders.  One being # 12919 which allows the government to take control of personal property.  The second is # 13603 and this one has to do with Martial Law.  Guess you can see where these two orders are taking the country.

Personally, I felt great empathy for Jon and his estranged family.  Just imagine being in his situation and worrying about Mary and the twins.  And, Mark continues to be my hero!

The main question is whether or not a nation is able to recover from two types of radiation.  The first Alpha, Beta and Gamma rays and the second is the one caused by the Red Mercury.  And, the latter was the one that created the monsters.

All in all, quite the read for me and found it to be interesting and compelling.

Most highly recommended.
2390657
It may be hard to find a better commentary on Mark. The writer is extremely well-informed and he shares his learning without wasting words. Edwards obviously loves Mark's gospel, taking on all detractors and defending Mark's historicity. In fact he is so zealous about Mark's reliability he seems to show little hesitation about making the other gospels look inferior in comparison.

Some of this one-sided comparison is ok. Many of today's scholars believe Mark is the earliest gospel and the other Synoptic gospels are partially dependent on it for source material. That's alright. But if you read this commentary carefully, soon it might dawn on you that the writer sees the other gospels in a way conservative evangelicals should not.

The problem reaches a climax in Mark 14, the episode of Jesus' arrest where the ear of the high priest's servant was severed. John 18:10 names the attacker as Peter but Edwards considers this to be nothing more than unreliable "later tradition". Let me quote from the commentary (pp 438-439):

"Later tradition identified Peter as the sword-wielding assailant, but this is not as certain as is often assumed, for Mark attributes the deed not to a disciple but "to one of those standing near". This same phrase will appear in vv 69-70, where it obviously does not refer to disciples. It is far more likely that the arrest squad, and not the disciples, were armed with swords. Indeed, if the assailant were a disciple we should expect an arrest to follow. But no arrest follows, which at least suggests that the severed ear fell from the misguided valor of a henchman rather than of a disciple or Peter. Peter, of course, figures prominently in the events of chap. 14 and is likely Mark's source of much of it. If Peter were the assailant, it would be surprising for him to conceal his name here and include it in the much more discriminating denial scene."

With this, not only does the writer make John's account unhistorical but Luke is affected as well. By saying that "It is far more likely that the arrest squad, and not the disciples, were armed with swords", Luke 22:38's account of the disciples being armed with two swords before Gethsemane becomes a "far less likely" record.

Further, in a footnote on pg 438, Edwards writes:

"A comparison of the account of the arrest in the Gospels shows how some details were heightened in the retelling. Mark, the earliest evangelist, says simply that "one of those standing near" drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. Somewhat later Matt 26:51 sharpens the designation to "one of Jesus' companions". Later still, Luke 22:50 identifies the servant's wound as "the right ear"; and near the close of the first century John 18:10 identifies the swordsman as Peter and gives the servant's name as Malchus!"

In Edwards' mind, as time passes the writing of the gospel becomes less historically accurate as human embellishments are woven in.

If you are an evangelical whose faith in the inspiration and infallibilty of Scripture is strong, this book will do you good. Edwards loves and honours our Lord and it's infectious. Just keep in mind that the author handles the Gospel accounts in a way evangelicals will not be comfortable with.
4894926
'CHOSEN' is a great follow up and Mark Cooper continues to entertain.
685258
Following the families from the first book was easy, but not essential if you had not read the first one.  I knew a fair amount about the second World War but this book exposed me to so much more and was skilfully handled by the author.  The relating of the Russian side was very well done and at times such an eye-opener to the horrors that went on during the war, and after.  A well written book all round.
4957121
An excellent follow up to Hamilton's previous book.  I think he might overstate the case against Churchill, but not by much.  Churchill's problem was that he lacked a team of subordinates who could argue or contest certain tactical approaches to the Prime Minister's strategic insights.  Churchill was a legend after 1940 and that at times proved problematic.

The book retains the essential strength of the first book which is that it provides Roosevelt's essential strategic vision for the war and its outcome.  Roosevelt sought an approach that provided the US with the ability to develop battle hardened forces when 1944 began. He also demonstrates the struggles Roosevelt had not only in winning the war, but the thankless task of managing the Grand Alliance.
67050
Hey Beatles fans, Macca fans, and yes, you diehard Lennon fans, this is an important, well-written book worth picking up. Concise, perceptive, thought-provoking and at times quite funny, Peter Carlin gives us an excellent read as well as intimate insight into one of our most beloved cultural icons.

Some things that impressed me most:

- I didn't expect to learn anything new from the Beatles era (especially after reading Bob Spitz's book as well as Tim Riley's), but by recasting so many events through Paul's eyes, a significant dimension has been added. I think that's a remarkable feat, especially considering how much has already been written about that time.

- Without trying to draw conclusions where none really could be drawn, this book illuminates Paul's contradictions without simplifying or over-analyzing them. He is a complex man, and probably still is a mystery to himself at times. His life 'arc' is more complicated than John's, and not just because he's still alive and making music. Paul was raised to work hard, keep his chin up, and put the bad stuff behind him (admittedly, this not always the best long-term approach). Peter Carlin does a great job of threading Paul's father's lessons throughout the book to remind us what propels him forward, as well as what impulses sometimes hold him back.

- As always, this book keeps it focused on the music. Where other Beatles-related bios can get bogged down in endless pages about the bickering, fighting, and petty B.S., this tale primarily focused on how these relate (when/if at all) to the songs we know and love. I think Paul would approve of that.
2156998
While the German Operation Typhoon, intended to capture Moscow in October 1941, has received a good deal of coverage in Second World War literature, the Battle of Kalinin which was an important sub-operation within Typhoon has received scant attention.  Researchers Jack Radey and Charles Sharp have corrected this gap in Eastern Front historiography with The Defense of Moscow: The Northern Flank. This book represents a quantum leap in the English language coverage on this aspect of Typhoon and serves to alter entrenched depictions of the Battle of Kalinin as a mere sideshow. Both authors display a superb grasp of the German and Russian source material, which they seamlessly weave together into a very tight and compelling narrative. Although the writing style is a bit wooden at times - causing me to have to re-read some critical passages several times - this is the kind of book that is beloved of history aficionados, full of new information and packed with primary source research and historical documentation from both sides. Overall, The Defense of Moscow: The Northern Flank is a superb addition to any Eastern Front library and highly recommended.

 The book consists of ten chronological chapters and begins with the opening phase of Operation Typhoon on 2 October 1941. Wisely, the authors do not belabor the preliminaries and move rapidly toward the main focus on the Battle of Kalinin. Readers should not expect an overview of all of Typhoon and realize that the tighter focus allows for greater detail. By the third chapter, the authors detail the capture of Kalinin by the 1. Panzer-Division on 14 October, which then sets in motion the Soviet counter-response. The narrative has a nice action-reaction angle going for it, with both sides having the initiative at certain points. One very interesting chapter covers the raid by the Soviet 21st Tank Brigade on Kalinin on 17 October, which is usually not even covered by a footnote in other books. Subsequently, the German advance up the Torzhok road and the encirclement of the 1. Panzer-Division - which lost most of its tanks and vehicles - is another example of an episode from Typhoon that often goes unnoticed. The authors have mined memoirs from both sides, particularly Pavel Rotmistrov's, to produce a very revealing portrait of the Battle of Kalinin from each sides' perspective - a rarity in Eastern Front literature. Each day, from 14-24 October is covered in separate sections, in considerable detail.

 I was a bit disappointed by the maps, which were often not very helpful for understanding the flow of battle. However, the authors made up for this with a nice selection of photos, detailed foot notes and bibliography, as well as lengthy appendices.  The authors conclude that Kalinin was more than a sideshow, but a serious attempt by the Germans to mount a double envelopment to link-up with Heeresgruppe Nord in order to envelope the Northwest Front. That may be true, but this detracts from the idea that the fighting at Kalinin was relevant to the Battle of Moscow - it almost casts it as a separate action. It is clear that the fighting at Kalinin diverted significant German forces away from Moscow, thereby contributing to the failure of Typhoon.  The authors conclude with a very useful analytic chapter that sums up the meaning and results of the battle.
365762
I usually expect the sequel of a solid book to be a bit less than its predecessor. I was delighted to find Matt Bracken's "Domestic Enemies, the Reconquista" to be even better than his earlier "Enemies Foreign and Domestic".

 The first book was solid, fast-moving, and enjoyable, but the second was even better. The subject matter of the second book is even more compelling than was the preceding book's, and Bracken's skill at developing his characters is impressive.

  I did something I've not done since reading John Ross's "Unintended Consequences", which was to take every possible moment to devour the book on its first reading, stopping only for sleep and aspirin breaks.

  This is an excellent book, alarming in message and compelling in tone. If you read no other novel this year, read Matthew Bracken's "Domestic Enemies, the Reconquista".
2913855
When this was first released and I listened to it, I wasn't that into it. Later, when The Parallax II came out, it was so amazing that it kind of overshadowed this completely for me. Still, as a huge fan of BtBaM, I eventually came back to this and got my hands on a physical copy. Listening to it again now, I feel that it's right up there with the rest of the band's material in terms of aggression, technicality, and brilliant writing. I feel like this EP has been elevated a bit by the album that follows it, and they are excellent companions to each other. I very frequently listen to both back to back, and it's quite an experience. Definitely worth purchasing if you liked The Parallax II album (or anything by BtBaM for that matter;) there's 30 extra minutes of material here!
2136086
People familiar with Osprey's New Vanguard series and with Steven Zaloga will know exactly what to expect from this title; a well written, well researched book with quality photos and illustrations.  Mr. Zaloga also wrote the New Vanguard series books on the Soviet T-62, T-72 and T-80, so this volume completes the set nicely.  That the T-64 is the last of the Soviet Cold War MBT's to get it's own New Vanguard book is indicative of how this vehicle has been overshadowed by its more well known stablemates.  Ironically, the T-64 was perhaps the most important of the Cold War Soviet designs, setting the template for all the Soviet tanks that followed.  Zaloga does a very nice job in describing the internal politics that led to the development of the T-64, a tale with more than a few characters and plot twists.  It is perhaps appropriate that this book came out now, as it's only been in the last year that the T-64 has seen combat, being used extensively in the fighting in Ukraine.  If you are looking for something on the T-64, there are not many options out there.  Fortunately, this volume fills the niche quite nicely.
4486699
Over the years, I've heard the name "Mark Rivera" from time to time and kinda knew he played with Billy Joel and with Ringo's All-Stars, but never much delved any further.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of playing with Mark; What a great guy.  Fun to talk with, fun to jam with and he was gracious enough to give me a copy of this record. (I've since purchased a copy -just because)

I'd only heard one song from it up til then - "Money Money Money", which was his one track from this album that we played.  Great rocker with lots of soul.  Excellent song.  I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from the rest of the album.  Then I heard Mark sing "Rise" and STILL I get chills up my spine just thinking about this beautiful song.  Each of these songs alone are worth the price of the album.

Now, I'm a bit of a skeptic regarding music these days - I may buy a cd of 'new' music but usually expect maybe 1-3 songs to be good only.

This is not true for "Common Bond".  EVERY last song is top notch.  -Just like I've read in other reviews here, this album is like what we used to get in the 'old' days - a FULL album of great songs.  I do hope this catches on with the public.  It's the best thing I've heard in decades.  Can't wait for the next one, Mark!
626847
I just studied the New Testament under Dr. Minor this past semester, fall 2008, and she is a wonderful scholar and communicator.  That is what prompted me to buy her two books on Mark, "The Spirituality of Mark" and "The Power of Mark's Story".
"The Power" is quite easy to read and yet, full of scholarly insights that I am sure most of you will have never heard of before.

 It is not a verse by verse commentary, but rather, she takes up some of Mark's major themes such as, "the way" and "seeing", which are seen more prominently in the Greek.  She also intertwines Mark's stories with many awesome and ancient stories that, too me, are almost worth the price of the book.

Here's one of my favorites, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi asks Elijah when the Messiah will come.  "Go and ask him yourself," replies Elijah.  "Where is he?" asks the rabbi.  When the rabbi then asks how to recognize him, Elijah says, "he is sitting among the poor covered with wounds."

This would be a great book to use for a Bible study or discussion.
981473
Agree with another reviewer that this book could be better organized/indexed but that's not a deal breaker. Even though its not written for the Mk II, it  includes enough information on the Mk II to help get you up and running.
3784833
A darker turn for Mark Taylor in this novel. He is targeted by a cult leader for pure leverage in notoriety. The reason? Mark has gotten the newspaper expose treatment and now most of Chicago is in mob mentality at his front door wanting a piece of his 'miracle'.

I understand that the author had trouble writing 'that scene', but I found it spot on in the right amount of tension and detail. An excellent follow up to the previous novel, and a good builder toward the next.