Rating: 
Summary: Blows the covers off of a PBS Nova Special!
Review: Many years ago I read cover stories about undersea rescue vehicles in Cousteau books and undersea mining in a number of other books. This book is the closest the general public can come to appreciating the glory and significance of the submarine force. For years I had the distorted image perpetuated by aircraft carrier commanders and their "Top Gun" pilots that the oceans revolved around the aircraft carrier. After learning from this book and the associated PBS special--I was mistaken. The ocean really does belong to the submarine force. This book is a refreshing treat after years of the aircraft carrier-centric press coverage (there seems to be 100 surface ship publications for each submarine publication). These authors give submariners their first nonfiction piece to justify the value of their service to the country.This book is a journalistic tour de force by debunking the misinformation surrounding the Glomar Explorer and Trieste submarine. No book can replace the entrance tests required to live aboard a submarine but this book is the closest that a member of the general public can come.
Rating: 
Summary: Great reasearch, Rare Insight into the lives of Submariners
Review: Although the writing style needed work, this book is boon if you're interested in the world of the Sewer Pipe Navy. Thanks to the authors for providing us a glimpse of their world and it's hazards,and a BRAVO ZULU to all those who wore dolphins. Their sacrifice to the Nation has gone unremarked for too long. While I certainly wasnt thinking about them while toting a rucksack and rifle in Germany and S. Korea, I now certainly have a great respect and admiration for all involved, and can only imagine the hard work of the enlisted men, who as enlisted of ALL services know, make things work regardless of tech manual or regulation when need be. If you ever see a former squid wearing a ship's cap with SSN or SSBN and dolphins, buy 'em a round, I certainly will. Would have liked to see more of the day-to-day life on the subs and the concerns and lives of the crew, but you can't have everything. An imperfect book, but great nontheless. I would also recommend "Hostile Waters", and Hackworth's "Hazardous Duty" (for those concerned about the current state of the military from someone who actually gives a damn)and also "Blackhawk Down"(the inside story on the failed raid in Mogadishu-should be out soon) for interested readers and vets of all services.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: An interesting telling of tales from the world of undersea warfare. Using newly unclassified sources, the author opens the door on vents that were only talked about in whispers. I also like Bob McGuire's use of some of this material in his novel THE LINE. Might want to check it out.
Rating: 
Summary: Outsider Examines Submarines
Review: This is a well written, and aparently fairly well documented book examining the operations of US (and to a lessor extent USSR) sumbarines in the 1945-1995 timeframe. I am an ex-submariner and worked on many of the projects discussed as an engineer - and at times operations. So, I could vouch for accuracy but will of course not so indicate, for I might get a "call in the night" I would not enjoy
Rating:
Summary: More Khaki Worship, Seconded
Review: This book is certainly better than all that way-too-precious Tom Clancy tripe, but it still tells only a small part of the Cold War submarine story. All you civilians are really being cheated. For instance, how come no one ever blows a sh*tter in a Clancy book? Or how about all the EOOWs who went into PD-8 withdrawal after they started standing Dive? What about the top-secret radio system that read the R-114 guages from the shaft lube oil bay? You're missing Snide Order Books, graping sigs, xoxing logs, sucking rubber, growling the Eng's stateroom on the midwatch (long and steady, matey), meggering the Machinery2 head, and of course, those True Patriots who stood TDU duty on halfway night - these American Heroes truly served their country. I highly recommend you read Steinke Hood Richie's review below (1/2/99) -JohnnyC, Bilge Diver for Democracy 1980-85
Rating: 
Summary: Bang head on pipe, repeat . . . and See (be near) the world!
Review: I've read the book twice. After the first read, I reviewed it at B&N, gave it 4 stars, and asserted that it wanted for a bubblehead. Takes one to know one, afterall. I was delighted to receive the recognition we all deserved, and knew would/could not be forthcoming. Twenty years later, look at them and look at us . . . Wow! We won! After the second read, though . . . The geo-political plot, and the psuedo-technical score still make this book worth getting through. It does achieve occasional hits, although with shotgun accuracy. This book is a work of fair research and writing. But, it begs for a witness. It lacks intamacy. I poked holes in the Barents Sea, saw people on the beach, heard "torpedo in the water", and know well the accoustic profile of a quartermaster fainting, and crashing to the deck! The authors should have spent more time with the witnesses. They were off by a mile on angles and dangles! They likened a ride on the space shuttle to a spin on a tilt-a-whirl! Longer and more lifelike would have made this a better book. If you've never been on a submarine, this book may fascinate you! ps: Special thanks for Scorpion research, Golf tribute, and page 211 . . . it was a blast!
Rating:
Summary: Great read, much new material, some inconsistency
Review: For all those interested in the undersea genre, this book is a winner. The authors did their homework and deliver much new material in a highly readable format. The book is strongest in its coverage of the post-WWII period, when submarines transitioned from torpedo attack to missile and espionage missions. The book's main focus is on those espionage missions, and it covers them well. Two problems prevent this from being a five-star book: First, the treatment of some events is inconsistent or incomplete. Specifically, Project Jennifer is examined more from a political than from an operational viewpoint. Second, the book is strongest in its coverage of events from 1945-1970, then gets weaker. This may be due to the authors' reliance on interviews with actual submariners who are reluctant to discuss more recent events. Buy it and read it. It is well worth while.
Rating:
Summary: This book is excellent
Review: This book is not only fast moving, hard to put down, but covers in great detail an important part of this nation's defenses. Blind Man's Bluff tells the story of the Navy's "Skunk Works", with sometimes all too sobering details of the sacrifices made by our servicemen. It is on the Best Seller list and deservingly so.
Rating:
Summary: Great reading for all who served and enjoyed the 'Subs'
Review: I received this book for Christmas and once I got into it, it was hard to close and lay down.I highly recommend this book to all who spent time on Subs and remember a lot of the detail which the book goes into.
Rating:
Summary: Fasinating, I couldn't put it down
Review: I was very interested in this non-fiction account of the submarine service during the cold war era. The facts, places, names and stories were right on the money. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It was unbelievable to know that during my life time, all of these covert operations were going on right under the American public's nose and no one knew. Must reading for any American history buffs!!
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