Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II

Top positive review

This is one of the best historical true life stories I have ever read

Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2021

If You like historical , real, life changing reads, then this is a book that should not be missed.
I will not spoil the adventure of these Men. This book is fact, not fiction. Not romanticized. Not embellished. It is strait up true facts that are laid out in a very well written book. This is not a work of fiction nor are the facts distorted to flower up a great story of human decency. The author has done the men in this story an honour, as the men themselves have done human kind.

One person found this helpful

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John chamberlin

Wonderful story

Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2013

A very moving story. I like the way the author goes into the lives of both pilots. However, writing is not the best. It is inconsistent in quality.

4 people found this helpful

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From Canada

sarnia1

This is one of the best historical true life stories I have ever read

Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2021

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One person found this helpful

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Katja L.

Very Enjoyable, But Has Some Content

Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2019

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4 stars & 5/10 hearts. I enjoyed this book as a unique glimpse into Germany and German pilots during WWII. No other WWII book has ever presented the Germans as this book does—fighting for their homeland, disagreeing with Hitler and his government, enduring the war and broken-hearted over the pain of their countrymen. There were so many wonderful characters. And there were some beautiful lessons and thoughts. The writing was a little weak, and there was quite a bit of content (see my list below)—all of which removes .5 stars. I recommend it for ages 18+ unless it’s edited. Honestly, I didn’t find it very bad. It was pretty low-key and not in your face. I loved it more than I disliked it, though I do wish I could edit my kindle copy, and I don’t regret either the money or the time I spent on it.

[Content: Lyrics of a song where a guy kisses & hugs his girlfriend; quite a few swear word; many mentions of drinking; vulgar words; a couple scenes set in a bar (nothing happens, they just drink); a mention that a pilot didn’t try to get a woman in bed; a couple kisses; a mention that a woman is busty; mentions that a guy has lots of girlfriends; many mentions of alcohol; many mentions of women (not more explicit than “beer, women, &c”); mentions of pubs, etc; mention of having girlfriends & living with vigour; a mention of Soviets raping girls; mentions of being drunk; mentions of dating; a divorce; the pilots fly over a nudist camp; mentions of pictures of naked girls; a mention of a guy sleeping with lots of actresses; a mention of a guy sleeping with a marshal’s daughter.
*This list is liable to be updated*]

A Favourite Quote: “He was days away from an easy chair in Florida’s opulent bar while the rest of Germany suffered in the cold. But Franz now had a problem with that notion. He had seen a little girl living in fear, without sleep, collecting bomb shards for toys. He knew the government of the 44 percent had long abandoned her. He would not join them. His sense of duty had never been to Hitler or The Party or Goering, it was always to Germany. But now, in the war’s last days, Germany had a new face, that of a little girl.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Steinhoff had declined to assist them and had said to the Gestapo leader, ‘You’ll be lucky if you leave Russia alive.’ The man asked if the skies were that unsafe. Steinhoff said, ‘No, it’s because you just made enemies of forty fighter pilots who have never added a Ju-52 to their victory list, and I think that’s yours sitting on my runway.’”

One person found this helpful

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MusicFan

What a great Read!

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is an incredible and compelling true story, that anyone interested in history, compassion, and the found goodness in humanity will want to buy. I have just received Makos' next book from Amazon (in one day!) entitled Spearhead. You can Google it, for the short intro video, and know that as 'A Higher Call' was itself a New York Times Bestseller, 'Spearhead' promises to be another 400+ page engaging read, and a great price on Amazon Prime, with free next day delivery.

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L.Lorentzen

Doing over and above

Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2022

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A bit too much personal detail about the German pilot. We thank him for getting the American flight crew through German air space. The American crew had many more issues to overcome. A very good read.

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Sharon Bott-Leis

More than 5 if I could

Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2017

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A Higher Calling reflects the values of two men in particular who benefited from the generosity of each other's lives lived by a model that was not typical of the time and place.
By the last part of the book, when they found each other, I would have been a blubbering, emotional wreck had I not been in an airplane full of people who would not understand the reason for the tears.
If you love history and personal accounts of lives that survived the worst of times and the best of times buy this book.

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Consumate Consumer

A Moving and Thought-Provoking Story

Reviewed in Canada on July 9, 2020

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There was quite a bit of technical detail, which I love - but the overall effect was to leave me wondering why this war was fought at all? It seems so pointless from this distance - but suppose every war does, eventually.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Well Written

Reviewed in Canada on October 2, 2020

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The book is well-written giving both pilots' points of view. Pre- and Post-war Germany is also clearly explained from a German's angle.

2 people found this helpful

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Pierre Turgeon

A HIGHER CALL: A STORY OF BRAVERY AND COMPASSION!

Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2017

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This book is a must read for persons interested in military conflict stories; it combines drama with human emotions that show that combat isn't as brutal and final as everyone thinks. I have read many books on the WWII Luftwaffe pilots like Gallant, Hartmann, Barkhorn and many others that reveals that these pilots weren't die-cast Nazi thugs who viewed their world as the master race who will rule the world and force the population of the conquered countries to submit to their doctrine or die. They were soldiers that fought for their country like any other soldier of the other countries who fought against them, they had a job to do and they did it bravely even with mounting force against them. Franz Stigler was a fine fighter pilot who was an establisted ace when he encountered Charle Brown's shot-up B-17 bomber, he could have decided to finish off the barely flying plane and claim it as another kill to add to his tally; but he chose to let the plane to continue its laborious journey back home instead. He also flew with it to cross over the anti-aircraft batteries that were waiting to shoot down any bombers who returned home, he also knew what the consequences of his actions could lead him to the firing squads if knowledge of his actions were to be reported to his superiors. Also, after the war was over both former enemies sought to find each other and try to exchange on that day when they met for the first and final time. When they finally met after all those years, they hugged each other like lost friends and knew that their bond was strong; both had survived a bloody conflict and had shared a moment in history when both met in the air where both were enemy pilots but fate had played out the destiny for the rest of their lives. This book is top reading materiel and hard to put down to continue the read later on, the facts are true and the reader is embarked in a fine story of hardship, bravery and sentiments all combined to make the reader want to be part of this fantastic scenario and befriend these two persons.

One person found this helpful

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Allan R

Great book; quick read

Reviewed in Canada on May 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

Very well-written and engaging book detailing the back stories of the men involved in one of WWII's most interesting stories. The writing style flows nicely, the pilots all fascinating characters and the book is perfect for a lazy weekend day.

My only knock against the book is the author's seeming preoccupation with peoples' lips! I lost track of how many times he described a pilot as having "thin lips".

2 people found this helpful

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Mohamjip

IT WAS A GIFT

Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

My friend said it was the best book he has ever read. He's 81 and an avid reader.

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