The Most Productive People in History by Michael Rank

Genre: Nonfiction, History

First Sentence: Nobody drank as much coffee as 19th-century novelist Honore de Balzac.

In his book, the author had identified eighteen historical figures who he believes displayed exceptional productivity in their lives.  Each individual accomplished significantly more in their lives than would seem possible.

The author has divided the group into four categories: Scientists and Inventors, Writers and Artists, Statesmen, and Philosophers and Theologians.

For each figure, the author provides an essay which includes a brief biography. The author then describes each person's work habits and how those habits  lead them into being so prolific.

As I read, I discovered some of the habits that seemed to be common among all of the individuals:

• Stay focused on the important things.
• Ignore the unimportant things.
• Use your time wisely.
• Read a lot.
• Delegate when possible. 

This book was an OK read.   Each essay read like a history class report.  There were a few misspellings. 

I did learn a few things so, that's good.


                                                                  

With the Old Breed by E. B. Sledge

Genre: Nonfiction, History, Military History

Setting:  In battle on the islands of Peleliu and Okinawa during World War II.

First Sentence:  I enlisted in the Marine Corps on 3 December 1942 at Marion, Alabama.

This memoir served as source material for the HBO miniseries The Pacific.

This book is unique among war memoirs.  E. B. Sledge gives us an unvarnished description of life and death for the front line marines.  The battles for Peleliu and Okinawa are remembered as two of the most savage battles during the Pacific campaign.  The fact that the Japanese soldiers preferred death to surrender made these battles especially gruesome and barbaric.

Sledge describes for us the horrors of the battle field.  The Marines endured extremely harsh conditions.  From the heat and coral dust of Peleliu to the rain and muck of Okinawa, the marines faced death from the climate as well as the Japanese soldiers.

The Marines were ordered to attack against a well fortified enemy.  They were driven to exhaustion carrying ammo and supplies to places mechanized vehicles could not go.  And they lived for weeks amongst rotting corpses, squirming maggots, and human excrement.

The experience of war for the front line soldier is very different than our sanitized movie version.  "Sledgehammer" shows us what battle is really like.  In the end, for Sledge, there was no glorious victory. There was only the knowledge that he was one of the lucky ones.

I liked this book.  If you are a military history buff, I believe you would like it too.  The descriptions of the battle field were gruesome, but not graphic.


         
                                                           
 

Legend City by: John Bueker

Genre: History

Setting: Arizona

If you lived in the Phoenix area during the sixties and seventies, then you remember Legend City.  Legend City was our theme park.

Entrepreneur Louis Crandall envisioned a theme park similar to Disneyland.  Legend City opened in the early sixties and lasted for twenty years.  Through a succession of owners and bankruptcies Legend City entertained a generation of Arizonans until it closed its doors for the last time in September of 1983.

In this book, John Bueker tells a brief history of the park.  He has also included a unique collection of photographs which document the park, the rides, the attractions, and the people of Legend City.

If you remember Legend City, this book will be a nostalgic reminder of that time long ago when Phoenix had its own theme park.