Barry Strauss’ informative and entertaining analysis of three of the greatest generals in history highlights the strengths and flaws of each of these iconic leaders. I learned Alexander went to war because Greece was broke. I learned Hannibal was a master of cunning and maneuver on the battle field. And I learned that Caesar pardoned five of the senators who eventually assassinated him. Strauss provides excellent commentary on key moments in each general’s life: Gaugamela, Cannae, and Pharsalus. Each general takes risks that lead to victory…and eventual loss. Strauss lifts the fog of war to show what Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar did well and what mistakes they made. I can’t think of a more concise and lucid account of these great leaders. If you have any historical or strategic interest in these masters of warfare, I highly recommend Masters of Command. GRADE: A

I’m a big fan of Italian food. Friends have recommended Marcella Hazan’s cookbooks to me for years. I finally got around to reading one: Marcella Says: Italian Cooking Wisdom from the Legendary Teacher’s Master Classes, With 120 of Her Irresistible New Recipes. Just a few pages into Marcella Say I discovered Marcella Hazan is a cook, not a chef. No exotic ingrediants, no bizarre techniques, no need for a blow-torch, just straight-forward cooking. I’ve tried a few recipes and found them delicious! I really liked the Asparagus and Shrimp Risotto. If you’re into Italian food, Marcella Says is worth a look. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction
At Master Class
Crostini, Antipasti, Spuntini, and Pickles
Soups
Rice
Pasta Sauces
Homemade Pasta and Gnocchi
Fish
Chicken
Veal
Beef
Lamb
Pork
Vegetables
Salads
Baked Desserts
Gelati, Semifreddo, and Mascarpone
Appendix
Index

If you’re a fan of The Wizard of Oz this incredible 75th Anniversary limited collector’s edition needs to be part of your collection. Bursting with extras, this set includes:
-Sing-a-long feature with the film
-Complete Magic Cloak of Oz silent shorts (60 min)
-All-New Feature Length Documentary The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
-The Dreamer of Oz TV Special (101 min)
-Munchkins at the Hollywood Walk of Fame Featurette (20 min)
-Patchwork Girl of Oz (60 min)
-6 hr. MGM Documentary When the Lion Roars (exclusive to Blu-Ray)
Exclusive Promotional Items:
-52 pg Hardcover Photo Book
-Ruby Slippers Sparkle Globe
-Collectible Award Pin Set by The Noble Collection
-Journal
-Frameable Map of Oz
Amazon exclusive Promotional Item:
-4 GB “Wicked Witch of the East” flash drive
It doesn’t get much better than this! And this set would make a great present for that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative!

Rebecca Lando’s fascinating The Working Class Foodies Cookbook: Real Food for Real People Real Cheap: 100 Delicious Seasonal and Organic Recipes for Under $8 per Person delivers on its promise. Lando shows you how to find quality food at reasonable prices. And then she shows you how to prepare 100 yummy recipes. Check out Rebecca Lando’s video below.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: My Quest to Eat Well on a Tight Budget
Chapter 2: How to Be a Working Class Foodie
Chapter 3: Your Pantry
Chapter 4: How to Use This Book
Chapter 5: Basic Cooking From the Pantry
Chapter 6: Appetizers and Snacks
Chapter 7: Sides, Soups and Salads
Chapter 8: Main Dishes
Chapter 9: Desserts

The Bills lost more than a game in Cleveland. Rookie QB E.J. Manuel strained his LCL and is out six to eight weeks. The Bills activated Thaddeus Lewis from their practice squad to fill in at quarterback. I dubious about this strategy. But the Bills intend to run the ball a lot on offense and hope the defense can keep them in the game against the Bengals. The weather today is supposed to be perfect: sunny and 70. How is your favorite NFL team going to do today?

Director Paul Greengrass manages to amp up the suspense in Captain Phillips even though the audience knows how it’s going to end. Captain Phillips is based on the 2009 invasion of a container ship by Somali pirates. Captain Phillips is taken hostage by the pirates and only the intervention by the U.S. Navy and SEAL Team Six can save him. The suspense level in this movie keeps ratcheting up. Tom Hanks portrays Captain Phillips as an average guy in an extraordinary situation. Barkhad Abdi, as the Somali pirate leader, scared the hell out of me! I was on the edge of my seat for most of this movie. I can confidently predict Captain Phillips will grace many Best Movies of 2013 lists. And, of course, the Oscars. GRADE: A

When I was a teenager, I loved Eric Frank Russell’s clever tales. Wasp was my favorite. But Next of Kin (aka The Space Willies) provided plenty of amusement, too. Erie Frank Russell specialized in stories where the hero would outwit his powerful opponents with double-talk and confusion. In Next of Kin, a Terran space scout enters enemy space flying a super-fast ship. His mission is to map enemy territory and send the information back to Terran Space Command. But the scout ship’s propulsion tubes wear out and the scout is forced to land on an enemy planet. That’s when the fun begins. The aliens know nothing about Terrans so the scout baffles them with wacky information. There’s not a lot of humor in Science Fiction, but Eric Frank Russell’s sly story-telling has plenty of it. I also highly recommend the Eric Frank Russell volumes published by NESFA.

Mysterious aliens set up a space elevator in Darwin, Australia. Then an equally mysterious alien plague kills 90% of the people on Earth. The survivors struggle in dystopia conditions as the few scientists left get ready for the next alien surprise. These are the premises of Jason Hough’s “Dire Earth” trilogy. But the Big Question is: do you want to read 1500 pages to find out what happens? The pluses are action-packed pages and quirky plotting. The minuses are cardboard characters (both Good Guys and Bad Guys) and very clumsy romances. Hough leaves the door open for another trilogy, but I’m not sure I’ll read it. GRADE: C+ (for all three books)

Bill Crider recommended Harlan Ellison’s graphic novel, 7 Against Chaos, here. This is Ellison’s tribute to The Magnificent Seven. A band of misfits take on an Evil that could destroy Earth. Ellison’s clever plotting and bizarre characters generate plenty of excitement. Paul Chadwich’s wonderful artwork perfectly complement Ellison’s story. It only took me an hour to read 7 Against Chaos, but it was an hour full of that Sense of Wonder. GRADE: A

For Breaking Bad fans, here’s the perfect Christmas present: The Complete Collectors set of Blu-rays with a collectible replica money barrel, over 55 hours of special features from all seasons, all new two-hour documentary, 16-page booklet with a letter from Vince Gilligan, a commemorative challenge coin designed by Vince Gilligan, and a Los Pollos Hermanos apron! This set goes on sale on November 23, but they’ll sell out fast! Order now!