attack

When Panic Attacks: The New, Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life
$15.95
As someone who has struggled with anxiety for many years, I cannot reccommend this book enough. I'm in my early 20s and have already been on and off medication/therapy for years. When I started to feel like I was losing control I decided to take matters into my own hands and this book has helped me tremendously.

One thing of note: do not get this book unless you are serious about getting to the root of your problems and willing to work to feel better. It requires you to examine your thoughts and feelings and complete exercises that will help you think and feel better.

It is great for those looking for real change. For people looking for some magical cure without putting in any effort: look elsewhere.

About Time! Definitive Mod-Pop Collection 1966-68
$18.98
Hey, if you like 60's British Rock and Psychedelics then, you will understand why I always begin with the vinyls that I own. I grew up in that era and what started me with British Rock? The Beatles,of course, but I turned to obscure British Garage, British Rock in general. Now, I only own one vinyl of this band and that is the single "Neville Thumbcatch" b/w "Lady Orange Peel" on British Decca. I always wondered if there was more where this came from.Sure enough,out of the blue, 40 some years later and shazam, a full disc of golden nuggets.The first disc that I owned by them was "Magic in the Air" on the Aftermath label. The aftermath of what? A disaster? It was of the utmost poor quality recording. Then, along came "About Time" and truly, it was About Time. Better quality recording of this amazing phenomenon. However, I wish I could say the same about Atomic Rooster. I never really liked them, although Death Walks Behind You, the expanded version,is really pretty darn good. Anyway, I really enjoyed the tunes on this disc,they are really a great band and highly underrated. Such a shame that they were passed over. Do not ever get the aforementioned version of Magic, it's quality is terrible,like a bootleg. But, do get About Time,You'll Love It!

The Attack: Novel
$18.95
A thought provoking fictional novel from Yasmina Khadra.

The setting for this book is in present day Israel, replete with all the trappings surrounding the pent-up hate, rage and suspicions that predominant this area of the world.

*SPOILER*

This is the story of a young, well respected, Arab-Israeli surgeon (Dr. Amin Jaafari) who lives and works in Israel. Shortly after he attends to the victims of a suicide bombing (not an unusual occurrence for him) he is made aware of a development that is about to change his life as he knows it; the suicide bomber was his wife! The news is met initially with denial and disbelief, then a grudging acceptance and finally 'why'.

The 'why' leads Amin on a dangerous trail of discovery that uncovers and discusses many of the tenets of belief that occupy the thinking of the Arabs and Israeli in this tinderbox known as the Middle East. Needless to say, Dr. Jaafari also discovers many things about himself and his life that had, up to this time, remained hidden from him.

*END SPOILER*

The story is well written and holds your interest; the book is hard to put down. Khadra's development of the main character, Dr Amin Jaafari, is parallelled superbly with his (Jaafari's) ever increasing knowledge of the extraordinary situation that is opening up before him. My only minor concern with Dr Jaafari's character was that some of the decisions he made on his 'quest' were somewhat ill-advised (IMHO); but this may be partially explained by stress the man was under and also because I'm dealing with a culture and attitude that I'm not familiar with.

It is not, as you might imagine, a pleasant tale, but one does get a sense that the author knows what he's talking about when discussing the 'politics' of the area. What I found particularly interesting was that Khadra, in weaving Dr. Jaafari's story, was able to give a deeper insight into the thinking of both sides. You begin on one hand, to understand the Arab sense of repression and the loss on dignity, but as well, the Israeli increasing distrust and frustration for the Arab regime, particularly since the suicide bombings have begun.

Conclusion:
An intriguing novel. Although fiction, the story is not outside the realm of being plausible.

Even more important is the light shed on the circumstances that reflect the partisan thinking that prevails in this area of the world. You begin to understand that hate, rage and distrust have dominated for SO long that it's hard to consider other more peaceful options; hard to consider because for things to changes it would mean that both side would have to 'give a little' and giving a little would mean 'losing face'. And of all the options available, 'losing face' is not one of them. Easily 5 Stars.

Ray Nicholson

P.S. Yasmina Khadra also wrote 'The Swallows of Kabul', another one of my favorite books.

Attacks
$17.50
Company level actions in WWI. Written by Rommel after WWI, there is nothing about tanks in this book but plenty about taking the initiative and aggressive maneuver. The core of Rommel's later style of warfare is on display here. The English translation is very readable.