RaveUSA TodayThere are many pieces to the Apollo 8 story, but Kurson brings them together effortlessly. We see the human aspect of the flight from stories of the astronauts and how their families cope with the danger of the mission. We learn the engineering challenges that must be overcome. We learn the engineering challenges that must be overcome and how Apollo 8 paved the way for subsequent flights, most important the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. All of this is going on as America seethes and riots over civil rights and the Vietnam War. But times of trouble give way to hopes for the future. Kurson puts us in the command module as the astronauts read movingly from the Book of Genesis and on Christmas Eve as Anders takes the historic photo that astounded America and the world.
Benn Steil
RaveUSA Today\"Steil, author of the acclaimed The Battle of Bretton Woods, has given us a thoroughly researched and well-written account of the crucial years of 1947-49 and formation of the Marshall Plan … Most books on economic politics may be written for economists and other specialists. The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War, however, will appeal to history buffs in general and those seeking a definitive record of America’s first diplomatic confrontation with Soviet Russia in particular.\
Josh Dean
RaveUSA TodayIt’s a complicated affair, but Dean relates it simply and completely. From undersea searches to maritime architecture to spy agency intrigue, the author excels at making complex operations understandable to the layman. The story’s level of detail is impressive. We learn the major players in the undertaking, how they work together and what skills they bring to the endeavor … The Taking of K-129 is a worthwhile addition to the shelves of military history buffs, nautical enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a well-told story.
Laurie Gwen Shapiro
RaveUSA TodayShapiro has rescued Billy Gawronski’s story from obscurity and given us a nuanced portrait of an extraordinary young man. It’s also a fascinating window into the life of Richard Byrd and America itself in the exuberant 1920s and crushing Depression that followed ... The Stowaway is a must-read for all polar exploration enthusiasts and lovers of well-told adventure stories.
Bruce Henderson
RaveUSA TodayHenderson meticulously crafts a riveting non-fiction account ... Henderson’s research and interviews with scores of veterans gives us a richly detailed story that puts readers alongside the Ritchie Boys in some of the darkest moments of history, from Kristallnacht to D-Day to the liberation of the Buchenwald death camp. In addition to providing sobering insight on how Jewish soldiers fought the Nazis, Sons and Soldiers is a spellbinding account of extraordinary men at war.
