Please type your favorite Ashes book and when you first read it if you can remember.

Fire in the Ashes was my all time favorite Ashes book and I read it way back in 1996. That book was what hooked me onto Johnstone's writings.

Out of the Ashes has to be my favorite. It was my first WWJ book, so it holds a special place in my heart and my bookshelf.

I loved all of the early ones, but Out, where the tri-states philosophy was established, is still my favorite

Out of the Ashes was my first Ashes book and is still my favorite as it sets the foundation for Ben Raines and the series. I first read it as a teenager in 1986 or 1987 and I still have and read the entire series.

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Sincerely,

Bibliomaniacal

You have the entire series very nice, I'm lucky if I can find any of his Ashes books at a decent price anymore.

I would have to say the very first, the one and only... Out of the Ashes Little did I know that the author would eventually become an ally, my mentor and one of the only true friends I would ever have.

Bill's books all meant a lot to me because they were a part of him. It didn't matter which series or individual book you might be reading. If you are reading a William W. Johnstone book your meeting William W. Johnstone the man!

Rick Adkins

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A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once...

Out of the Ashes.
The character arcs were the most pronounced there and the action so intense.

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"...if they are angry, perturb them..." Sun Tzu - The Art of War

I can't really remember which series it was that I read but it was either the Ashes or Last Mountain Man. It was maybe 3 years ago that I read my first and I have been buying and reading and rereading them ever since.

I think if I had to limit it to one........ Either, Out of the Ashes or Fire in the Ashes...... I have everyone of the Ashes series..... sometimes more than one copy.....

Out of the Ashes.....

It introduced me to Ben Raines.....been hooked ever since

By far I think "Out of the Ashes" was the best and got me hooked on the series. Srangely, "From the Ashes: America reborn" was second. The reason is it put on paper and answered all questions about the Tri-States philosophy and goverment all in one book.

OK, Ogi...

Let me play devils advocate for a moment... "From the Ashes: America Reborn" answered all your questions about the Tri-states philosophy and government. So you 100% agree about everything, no variation? In layman's terms what does "being" Tri-states mean to you as a person and do you live your life as a Tri-state advocate now... at least as far as the law will allow?

How about all of you reading this, are we all in lock step with America Reborn or are there some issues that need ironing out?

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A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once...

TSCommOne, I didn't say I agreed with everything lock step. I said it answered all my questions about the tri-states philosphy. I like that its based on common sense and you don't need a lawyer to understand the laws. I like the way it promotes individual rights and property rights I also like the way it embodies the spirit of the law into its interpretation. The area of self defense is also a plus. Do I think that it's perfect? Of course not!! The ways of taking advantage of this form of goverment for their own means are many. Just like our Constitution is used in ways I'm sure the founding fathers never dreamed of. As the saying goes,"Nothing man made is perfect." Let me also answer you on how I live my life. I take care of my 3 kids and my wife financially and always include them in what I do. I teach them to treat people with respect until they are disrespected. I teach them to obey the law. I encourage them to join martial arts to learn how to protect themselves. Me and my wife work for a living. I have never been on welfare. I respect and listen to what my elders have to say. I am informed in politics and current events. I also know that there are bigger things than my own self interest. Is this part of the Tri-States Philosophy? You tell me. All I know is I am teaching and living my life on the example my parents and family set for me. Read the post as is TS. It answered things I had questions about. Don't assume what I think. You know what they say, " When you assume, you make an a** out of u and me.

You couldn't have answered my questions better if I had replied for you. Sir, if we all stood back and took the advise and examples of our elders (in most cases) we would be much better off. I was raised by an Apache mother and a Scottish/Irish father and believe me I knew right from wrong! That doesn't mean I didn't test the waters now and then but when I went to far it was off the Weeping Willow tree for a switch and a lesson!

I think a lot of us try to lead good, upstanding lives but society has blasted us so hard with political correctness that many are afraid to get involved in anything... even life. We have some local teens in my neck of the woods that have been terrorizing people. Daring people mowing their lawns to fight, throwing rocks at houses and animals, vandalizing cars and crazy stuff like that. The police can't "catch them in the act" so they do nothing. The neighborhood was almost at a stand still for awhile. Until one day three of these "young men" started up with my 15 year old wanting to fight him.

They started the fight, but Chris finished it! And naturally as this type of thug does why came back a short time after getting their bells rung with a couple more guys... That's when I went outside. One kid lifted his shirt to show me a gun... With my wife filming from the porch I told him leave, the police were on the way and he better be gone before they got there... Of course I was cussed out and told what to do to myself and the kid acted like he was going to pull his gun. Before he cleared his belt my laser was centered on the middle of his chest and I told him in no uncertain terms if he cleared leather he would die. As his friends ALL ran like hell he begged me not to kill him! He was a tough son of a bitch one second and a child the next...

In a TS society I would have had every right to end the situation right then and there. And had he drawn and started to come up with whatever it was he was carrying I would have dropped him anyway TS or US. I held him for the police who actually didn't hall me off to jail as I expected. I was issued a citation for brandishing (a $25.00 fine in Missouri) and assured by the cops that the kid had a airsoft pistol rather than a real firearm. The kid almost died over getting his ass whipped when it was a three on one fight and he lost.

You see sir, in actuality I didn't assume anything about you. I learned a long time ago to never assume anything. But by playing devils advocate everyone who has read our messages back and forth have thought about their own morality, their beliefs and expectations of themselves. And I venture to bet that some of them learned a thing or two about themselves. I learned that you sir are an honorable man who I feel I respect and one day may call friend. You see I have a very hard road to travel because I try to follow the philosophy of the Tri-states and the beliefs of Bushido. All the while being a half breed Cherokee white boy from the south... Try that on for size sometime! LOL

What I was trying to illustrate here is that as Tri-staters we need to understand that we all have differing opinions and beliefs but they all converge on that one fictitious point on the map known as TSP. Goddess forbid we ever have to enact such an endeavor but if we do its good to know that there are people who understand that flexibility is key but staying true to the cause is essential.

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A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once...

TS, You are a person I would and could call a friend. I am not perfect by any means, but I try. You also seem like I am. When I decide to trust a person and call them a friend I stand by that person. We may fight and argue at times, but i'll be there for them when the chips are down. I have found that in this society loyalty is really becoming a rare virtue. As for your problem with the punks. I'm glad to see your son can defend himself, tell him I give him an "Atta boy!!" from Hawaii. I understand that Missouri is called the "Show Me" State. Iguess you showed them! I believe that the TSP way of living is to be honorable and respectful of each other, we demand it, or you'll have a literal fight on your hands. Common sense and decency is key. Again we demand it! As to your beliefs of bushido, I understand you for I am half japanese. You can see me honor my Uncle and how he inspired me in my post on this forum. About honoring the troops. You take care of yourself, TS. Tell your son to leave some of the punks for the police!
Aloha,ogi.