Book Description
The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, "Don't hesitate to use these."
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
Download Description
"
The heartwarming and unforgettable
story of a family in the making and the
wondrously neurotic dog who taught
them what really matters in life
John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same.
Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever, a dog like no other. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, and ate nearly everything he could get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry. Obedience school did no good—Marley was expelled. Neither did the tranquilizers the veterinarian prescribed for him with the admonishment, ""Don't hesitate to use these.""
And yet Marley's heart was pure. Just as he joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. Marley shared the couple's joy at their first pregnancy, and their heartbreak over the miscarriage. He was there when babies finally arrived and when the screams of a seventeen-year-old stabbing victim pierced the night. Marley shut down a public beach and managed to land a role in a feature-length movie, always winning hearts as he made a mess of things. Through it all, he remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.
Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans.
"
Customer Reviews:
White washing a troubling event in Marley's life.......2007-10-19
I'm not a member of PETA, nor want to slander the author's wife, but I had a difficult time understanding how Marley, a loved member of Mr.Grogan's family almost ended up abandoned. This story is all too sad and familiar for millions of unfortunate stray dogs & cats who languish in desolate roads or kill shelters throughout the US.
No matter your circumstances, never abandon your family...his wife is still on my poop list, that was quite a whitewash.
The book in general was a pretty good read, it awoke in me a sadness and hurt I still carry (2yrs) since the last difficult months and days of my 13 year old Red Siberian Husky's life..
An excellent read: 5 Stars
The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind
Boring.......2007-10-18
There are two camps of haters of this book. The first are those who feel that Grogan and his wife were terrible owners.
I belong to the other hater camp. I thought this book was boring and tedious. I have a dog. My dog dribbles water on the floor when she drinks. Your dog does too? What a coincidence! Hey, my kids push Cheerios off their high chair tray to our dog too! Hilarity! "Our front door had a small oblong window at eye level, four inches wide by eight inches long." Gripping. This book is filled with cliches and factiods. One chapter starts, "You don't give birth to your first child every day...." And here's a well formulated sentence: "Jenny began working the phone from her hospital bed, and a couple of days later my sweet, dear aunt Anita, a retired nurse who had come to America from Ireland as a teenager and now lived across the state from us, magically appeared, suitcase in hand, and cheerfully went about restoring order." You get the idea.
A final and tiny complaint: This couple only decides to move their small sons out of their neighborhood because their house is too small, and not because of all the MURDERS! But maybe I'm just overprotective.
If I wasn't reading this for book club, I would have stopped after Chapter 2.
Top-notch canine story.......2007-10-14
I just finished the best dog book I've ever read! No kidding. I often laughed out loud ) and eventually cried silently . John and Jenny are beginning their married life together and they introduce a wggly furball of a yellow Labrador retriever puppy into their wedded bliss. "Life and love with world's worst dog." says the book jacket. Maybe that's why Marley is expelled two times from obedience school. If you like books about man's best friend, get this book and you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Great book.......2007-10-14
This was an adorable book. I loved reading it and will probably read it again... Such a cute story. This book brings to light what it's like to have a dog, a dog like Marley. I understand the things they went through with Marley, because we have a dog exactly like him. I highly recommend it. You will have a good laugh.
Excellent!.......2007-10-14
I listened to "Marley and Me" during my commute, and it was excellent. Both the story and John Grogan's narration were terrific, and I highly recommend these CDs.
Book Description
Meet Denver, a man raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana in the 1960s; a man who escaped, hopping a train to wander, homeless, for eighteen years on the streets of Dallas, Texas. No longer a slave, Denver's life was still hopeless-until God moved. First came a godly woman who prayed, listened, and obeyed. And then came her husband, Ron, an international arts dealer at home in a world of Armani-suited millionaires. And then they all came together.
But slavery takes many forms. Deborah discovers that she has cancer. In the face of possible death, she charges her husband to rescue Denver. Who will be saved, and who will be lost? What is the future for these unlikely three? What is God doing?
Same Kind of Different As Me is the emotional tale of their story: a telling of pain and laughter, doubt and tears, dug out between the bondages of this earth and the free possibility of heaven. No reader or listener will ever forget it.
Customer Reviews:
What a Great Read!.......2007-10-10
This book was recommended by a colleague and I could not find it here in Key West. I ordered two copies from Amazon and gave them both to friends (after reading). I was moved to tears by parts of the book. If anybody has any concerns about homeless issues, this book will renew one's faith in what can be done. It is one of the finest books on homeless issues that I have read in many years.
Very touching.......2007-10-01
This is a very readable book. It is also extremely touching. Several times as I read,I found tears streaming down my face. It will restore your faith in mankind and that there is more to a person than meets the eye.
A must read book.......2007-09-29
I don't have proper words to express this "amazing" book.
I can now better understand how it used to be in Slave times,
and feel a better understanding of my own faith and life after death.
I cried at moments of revealation! Would help anyone become a believer.
This book changed my life!.......2007-09-25
It's very easy to forget that this is a true story - it is such an amazing story that it could be fiction! It's a beautiful, poignant, touching book and it changed the way I view the homeless and how I share my resources with others. LOVED IT and I've been telling everyone I know to read it too!!
book.......2007-09-18
I ordered this book for my husband who had heard it was wonderful. He thought it was the best book he had ever read and he highly recommends it!!
Book Description
- In his debut as an author, Denzel Washington shares his personal story of the mentors who helped guide his life.
- Washington pens the introduction for the stories of more than 70 of America's leading personalities in theatre, sports, business, and politics as they tell their life-changing stories of mentorship.
- Contributors include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Antwone Fisher, Bonnie Raitt, Cal Ripken, Alex Rodriguez, Dick Vitale, Whoopie Goldberg and more.
- A portion of the book's proceeds benefit 4.5 million children currently involved in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Customer Reviews:
A Push to a Certain Path at a Certain Time...to Reach Our Certain Purpose.......2007-07-22
In "A Hand to Guide Me," American film star and legend, Denzel Washington, sets out shine a light on the 100 year old Boy's & Girl's Clubs of America, an organization of 3,700 serving more than 4.4 million children in all 50 states. Washington's eventual success can be traced directly to the Boys Club in his home town, Mt. Vernon, New York. It was there, by necessity, that he learned purpose, consequences, and how to be a man.
"A Hand to Guide Me" is a collection of short stories by ordinary people from ordinary beginnings, accomplishing extraordinary things. Six dozen people from diverse backgrounds share their memories about role models, mentors and positive influences in their lives. Some are household names like coach John Wooden, director John Singleton, author Toni Morrison, General Wesley Clark and former President Jimmy Carter. Many are alumni of Girls and Boys Clubs of America, while others have taken on leadership roles in these clubs. And some were asked to contribute because there was something to learn from their voice. These are very readable stories ranging in length from two to four pages.
All of the contributors have outgrown a hardship or two to reach a significant level of success and can draw a line from their success to some rock solid foundational experience - sometimes it is a parent, a coach, a neighbor or the inspiration derived from a tragic event.
Washington's resonant message is that we are all extraordinary in our own way but we don't go it alone. There are people on whose shoulders we stand and we, in turn, can provide a shoulder for others.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are the center of everything for many kids today, providing a shoulder for millions of kids and making a vital contribution to the future of our society. They are a breeding ground for hope, purpose, and direction - where many have learned strength, confidence, and the freedom to dream...to think big.
Diverse Reflections of Role Models.......2007-06-15
Denzel Washington uses his star power to assemble personal recollections from assorted successful folks (primarily alumnae of the Boys and Girls Clubs Organizations) about the people who shaped THEIR lives as youngsters.
Some of the stories are more interesting and inspiring than others, and I couldn't help but wonder if this volume couldn't have benefitted from more cohesive editing. But the bottom line is that these are positive and uplifting pages that remind us "if you want to change history, start by changing the life of a child."
A wonderful and inspiring read.......2007-04-10
Denzel Washington has captured the most interesting and inspiring series of short stories and memories I have read in a long time. The people on these pages have very compelling stories and are well written.
Useful in and out of the classroom.......2007-04-06
I bought this book to use in the classroom. I teach high school students and I think its really important that students these days read about people who made it in life and have a good message to give to the students. In this book there are so many positive stories and very short stories that students will not get bored.
Washington really pulled it off by making the book and the stories in it the star. One can look at the cover of the book and think that maybe its all about Washington but its not. There are stories from Bill Clinton to Jimmy Carter. It's really a fantastic read and I think it has helped many of my young male students who have been searching for a role model.
My Son.......2007-03-10
I sent this book to my son who is an Army Officer in Iraq...
He recently lost a good man from his group due to an IED
He said ....
"He changed my life and will be with me always"
this book made me think of them ....
my son loves to read so it seemed as though this book would be a good match .....
Book Description
In classic Hollywood tradition, Farley Granger, a high school senior, was discovered by Sam Goldwyn's casting director in an off-Hollywood Boulevard play. Granger describes how he learned his craft as he went on to star in a number of films, giving an insider's view of working with Hitchcock on Strangers on a Train and Rope, Luchino Visconti on Senso, and Nick Ray on They Live by Night.
He is eloquent about his bisexuality and tells of affairs with Patricia Neal, Arthur Laurents, Shelley Winters, Leonard Bernstein and Ava Gardner and his involvement with Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, and Tyrone Power.
Granger recreates his legendary struggle to break his contract with Goldwyn. He had to buy his way out to work on Broadway. He describes the early days of live television and working with Julie Harris, Christopher Plummer, Helen Hayes, and Claire Bloom. He captures the thrill of acting on the stage with Janice Rule, June Havoc, Larry Hagman, Barbara Cook, and the National Repertory Theatre, where his determination paid off with an OBIE for his work in Tally & Son.
Granger's delightful and elegant memoir captures the extravangance of Hollywood's Golden Age-and provides colorful portraits of many of its major players.
Customer Reviews:
GOSSIP, GAYS AND THE GLORY DAZE OF YESTERYEAR.......2007-07-28
There's an aging celebrity in Sondheim's musical Follies whose anthem is "I'm Still Here." Well, Farley Granger is one of those stars who we all thought left the party, but he, too, is still here, and he has a new autobiography---more of a series of reminiscences---called Include Me Out to prove it. Written with his long-time partner, Robert Calhoun, the title refers to a Goldwynism, that is, a malapropism created by the legendary movie producer. In Granger's situation, it refers to a decision to get off the Hollywood merry-go-round and go after life, and a level of happiness, that was simply impossible in his day and age in Tinseltown. Although there may be a degree of ingeniousness here (and a major error recounting Boston history), the book is long on charm, anecdotes and fuzzy warmth. And, frankly, there is such a list of sexual congress with such a variety of genders, that one wonders where he found the time for acting. Two minor masterpieces in America (both directed by Hitchcock), Rope and Strangers on a Train, and the truly magnificent Luchino Visconti's Senso, in Italy, should make for the foundation of a spectacular career. Granger was tall, dark and handsome, groomed by several studios, yet he suggests he walked away from it all. His sexuality at the time may well have been a problem, as after his initial explosion of successes, his career dwindled to some truly rotten films in Europe, a fair amount of television guest shots, a couple of less than successful runs at Broadway, and finally, in the soap As the World Turns. There are great anecdotes here, lovingly told, about the likes of Shelley Winters, Ava Gardner, Count Visconti, Danny Kaye, Sam Goldwyn, Eva Le Gallienne (with whom Granger did two national tours) and our own, Julie Harris. Some of the stories ring truer than others, yet the love he has for Calhoun seems genuine, and his long and eventful life makes for fascinating reading of another time and another place.
Mildly entertaining.......2007-07-01
In ORIGINAL STORY Arthur Laurents describes his homosexual relationship with Farley Granger in a way that indicates that Granger was important to him, but that Granger was very concerned about his public image and was not really willing to live an openly gay life with him. He describes Shelley Winters as Granger's "beard." A decade later, Granger has written his own memoir, but it is a very different kind of book than Laurents's. I suppose that's to be expected since Laurents is a fairly major American playwright of the 20th Century and Granger is a fairly minor movie star of the same period. Granger's book is a rather typical actor's memoir, trying to put a positive spin on a career that must have been frustrating to actually experience. The good thing about Granger's book is that it demonstrates the basic passivity of an actor's life. He never really DOES anything. Things just sort of happen. He starts his career as a movie star in major films like NORTH STAR, ROPE and STRANGERS ON A TRAIN and slowly slides to Broadway flops, foreign movies, touring in repertory theatre, episodic television, soap operas and off-Broadway. He has very little control over which direction his career goes. He claims to have had affairs with several screen goddesses along the way, including Ava Gardner, but none of them is alive to refute him. The way he tells it, Shelley Winters was no mere "beard," but a genuinely serious romantic interest who was also a friend. Whatever is true, she comes across as quite a character and I enjoyed all the parts about her. He does mention his affair with Laurents, although his version is somewhat different. He claims that they broke up because he caught Laurents being more than friendly with a delivery boy. I think Laurents's version has more credibility. He also mentions other homosexual relationships, including a fling with Leonard Bernstein. But my feeling here was that there were a lot of omissions and half-truths, not that it really matters. The parts of the book I found most interesting were the sections dealing with making the movie SENSO in Italy with Luchino Visconti and the out-of-town tryout of the ill-fated musical, FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Overall, this is a mildly entertaining memoir and not a bad book for the beach or a long airplane flight.
Rather dull.......2007-06-27
After reading many celebrity bios, this one needed work. He makes rather stupid blunders in his bio. For instance, he mentions movies and stars at the Fox studio when he arrived and what were being being filmed at the time. Some of these titles were filmed at MGM !! When he descibes how much he started to love show music he mentions CAROSEUL in the early 40's. The play and album were done in the late 40'S. A few other errors in time are also noted. Since he is in his 80's, perhaps his memory is failing. I never thought he was all that talented. His ego seems bigger than the talent. He really just skirts his sexual life and one never really knows what his exact relationship is with his so-called partner. He never mentions his parents or what happened to them after he leaves them. Are they still living? Probably not, but he didn't even mention their death. After all, good or bad, they WERE his parents and deserve some kind of note as to their fate. Good thing he turned down THE EGYPTIAN as he would have really made it more of a bore than it was. What I did enjoy were some of his slants on the people he worked with and why and why not he liked them. He states that certain actors/actresses were difficult to work with. Perhaps they could have said the same about him!! There are TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.
Totally enjoyable.......2007-06-05
This "tell all" book from a truly talented guy is fun, interesting and a really good read. Farley reveals some of the truths of being a star in the 40's and 50's and his rejection of the mainstream for someting more creative.
excellent.......2007-05-26
it was great to read this book,as i have always wanted to know where farley granger went to as all off a sudden he was on broadway
Product Description
A courageous and inspiring true story. The groundbreaking book on surviving infidelity and coming out stronger
and more in love than ever, told by wife, husband and teenage daughter.
Customer Reviews:
Very helpful book.......2007-08-23
I ordered this book after my husband of 35 years told me he was having an affair and I didn't know where to turn. It offers some very useful information and advice and helped me make some important decisions. The only thing I would find negative is that this couple was able to reconcile and make their marriage better and of course that isn't the case every time. Since this is their personal experience though, it probably wouldn't be appropriate to include stories on those who weren't able to stay married.
My marriage can survive and I can heal.......2007-06-30
This book is the best purchase I have made since finding out my husband was having an affair. I have read many books about affairs and healing from an affair, but this book is by far the best one. It really hit home and offered me hope and strength when I thought I had none left. My husband and I are trying to repair our marriage and I am working on forgiving and letting go of the pain and devastation I felt for many months and still face, but this book provided me with the hope that I can forgive and our marriage can be whole again. I recommend this book to anyone that is trying to put the pieces back together and find happiness again with their spouse.
My Husband's Affair Became the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.......2007-01-04
Excellent book. I would highly recommend it to couples who are experiencing marital difficulties involving extramarital affairs and
also for those who are support persons for a couple in trouble.
Anne does an good job of explaining what was helpful and what was
detrimental from their support system. She also was very open about
how difficult it was to recover from her husband's betrayal and all
the work involved between them to rebuild their marriage.
A "Friend".......2006-12-29
This book is amazing, I don't normally give books 5 stars but, this book I am. I received this book 2 days after it was shipped and I read the entire book from front to back in less than 3 days. It was so good, I could not put it down.
If you need books on healing, tips, advice, or just good reading on this subject I highly rec. this book. I found this book to be my "friend" during the time I read it. Anne goes into detail every experience, every emotion, every thought. Although, I wish Brian would have added more to his stories he still shared a lot in this book about his side.
There is one issue though, in this book that I do not agree with. When Anne finally realizes her faults she compares them to be equally as bad as what Brian had done. Not true, her faults were nothing even remotely close to the pain Brian had caused her. Yes, it's great that she finally realized her faults and began working on them but, no, they are not equal to his affair at all.
Best Book on this life changing subject........2006-11-10
I have read several books on this saddening subject and this book is by far the best. It was realistic and was not engulfed in medical terminology. Great book for the every day person going through a difficult time in their marriage.
Book Description
One woman's story of why she left the culture of Islamic Jihad to support American liberty and tolerance
Why are so many Muslims embracing jihad and cheering for al-Qaeda and Hamas? Why are even the modern, secularized Arab states such as Egypt producing a generation of angry young extremists?
Nonie Darwish knows why. When she was eight, her father died while leading Fedayeen raids into Israel. Her family moved from Gaza back to Cairo, where they were honored as survivors of a “shahid”—a martyr for jihad. She grew up learning the same lessons as millions of Muslim children: to hate Jews, destroy Israel, oppose America, and submit to dictatorship.
But Darwish became increasingly appalled by the anger and hatred in her culture, and in 1978 she emigrated to America. Since 9/11 she has been lecturing and writing on behalf of moderate Arabs and Arab-Americans. Extremists have denounced her as an infidel and threatened her life.
In this fascinating book, she speaks out against the dark side of her native culture—women abused by Islamic traditions; the poor and uneducated mistreated by the elites; bribery and corruption as a way of life. Her former friends and neighbors blamed all the their troubles on Jews and Americans, but Darwish rejects their bigotry and calls for the Arab world to make peace with the West.
The only hope for the future, she writes, is for America to continue waging its War on Terror, seeding the Middle East with the values of democracy, respect for women, and tolerance for all religions.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome autobiography and cultural analysis.......2007-10-17
Now They Call Me Infidel is a gripping narrative of the author's journey from the upper echelons of Egyptian society to a staunch defender of the West. Like Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Infidel, the book is part autobiography and part analysis of a severely dysfunctional culture. Unlike Ayaan, Darwish is not against the Muslim religion per se, focusing mainly on the destructive aspects of polygamy. This primitive practice harms women, men, the family and ultimately the whole culture.
She further examines the nature of modern Arab society showing how the ruling classes exploit religion in order to advance their oppressive agendas. Darwish confirms the existence of the pervasive Antisemitism that Hirsi Ali observed as a child in places like Saudi-Arabia. For examples of the Anti-Jewish hatred in the mainstream Arab press, please consult Peace: The Arabian Caricature of Anti-Semitic Imagery by Arieh Stav.
On a 2001 visit to Egypt, she noticed the illiteracy, anger and unemployment amongst ordinary people. They blame all of these problems on Israel, obviously brainwashed by the Egyptian media. There is a lack of self-criticism in Arab culture - a taboo against criticizing the family, religion or their leaders. But there's no denying that the constant drumbeat of propaganda against Israel and the USA emanates from, and has totally corrupted the educated segments of Egyptian society.
Observing how many Muslim immigrants do not appreciate Western values, the author warms against radicalism on campus and in mosques funded by petrodollars. Long ago she became aware of the two-faced behavior of Islamist radicals in the West: they speak soothing words to the clueless Western mass media whilst spewing forth hatred in their sermons and the Arab media. To Darwish, the terrorists are pirates who are intent on robbing Western democracies of their soul. She dismisses the misleading portrayal of Jihad as a "personal spiritual struggle," stating bluntly that it has always meant a religious holy war against non-Muslims.
There are many beautiful moments in the book, like her account of experiencing Christian worship for the first time, and her moving description of a visit to Israel and how it altered her perception of that brave little country. And this is the most important message of the book; for Nonie, the most valuable reward of moving to the USA was religious freedom and learning to love: "I had turned from a culture of hatred to one of love." May she be blessed.
Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America by Brigitte Gabriel
The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
The Force of Reason by Oriana Fallaci
Light in the Shadow of Jihad: The Struggle for Truth by Ravi Zacharias
Londonistan by Melanie Phillips
Menace in Europe: Why the Continent's Crisis Is America's Too by Claire Berlinski
Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left by David Horowitz
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within by Bruce Bawer
An Informative Perspective.......2007-09-15
If you're like me, you might know very little about Mideastern culture and life. This book is a highly readable and personal account of one woman's life, experiences and views on Muslim culture. I'm enjoying it; she puts a "human face" on this part of the world and it's issues.
Eye-opening insights into the causes of Islamic extremism........2007-09-11
The author grew up in Egypt under Nasser's dictatorship, but later moved to America. Her father was an Egyptian military officer killed in Gaza by Israel because he organized raids to cause mayhem inside Israel. She reports on the problems in Egypt and Gaza, and on the government and religious propaganda which is polarizing the Islamic world to the point of Jihad. This is an eye-opening read, and it gives insight into how difficult it will be to ever correct this problem.
EXCELLENT BOOK.......2007-09-01
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW THE MIDDLE EAST FEALS ABOUT AMERICA AND WHY. NONIE DARWISH IS A VERY BRAVE WOMAN AND I THANK GOD SHE HAD THE GUTS TO WRITE THE TRUTH.
Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror.......2007-08-25
This is an excellen book for those seeking to understand Arab Muslim perspectives. The culture is based on a background, history and value system entirely foreign to our way of thinking. The author relates her life from early childhood, through her school years and early adulthood living first in Gaza then Cairo. She is from the upper middle class, the daughter of a high ranking military officer who is martyred. She describes what it is like to be a woman in the arab muslim world. She raises the issuesleading to a lack of trust both within the society and in relation to other societies. She discusses the inner thinking and the daily propaganda regarding Israel. She also gives important information on the Arab view of Palestines role in the conflict. She distinguishes between the radical Islamic movements and moderate Islam. She notes the purpose and intent of fundalmentalist Islam is the eventual overtaking the world. She discusses how this is being taken to countries throughout the world to bring about this change. We need to understand those with whom we are dealing. This is a book that is easy to read, direct and highly informative.
Book Description
Borderline Personality Disorder. "What the hell was that?" raged Rachel Reiland when she read the diagnosis written in her medical chart. As the 29-year old accountant, wife, and mother of young children would soon discover, it was the diagnosis that finally explained her explosive anger, manipulative behaviors, and self-destructive episodes- including bouts of anorexia, substance abuse, and sexual promiscuity. With astonishing honesty, Reiland's memoir reveals what mental illness feels like and looks like from the inside, and how healing from such a devastating disease is possible through intensive therapy and the support of loved ones.
Customer Reviews:
Terrible!.......2007-10-18
I have never written a review on here before, but having just finished this god-awful book, I am moved to. This may be the WORST book I have ever read...the writing is flat, boring, redundant and Reiland explains every little thing to the reader to make sure they "get it" (even simple things like the meaning of every possible bit of symbolism in a dumb bear she gave her therapist). By the end of the book, I honestly wanted her husband to leave her (with her poor kids)and for her therapist to call the cops. Mental illness is one thing but for Reiland, it seemed like she just didn't want to take responsibility for her actions and her husband and therapist enabled her to be a giant turd.
Bravo Rachel!.......2007-10-04
Rachel is courageously and intelligently honest as she describes the inner experience and outer impact of her battle with borderline personality disorder. As I was raised by a parent suffering from this disease, I felt my core pain touched and healed by Rachel's raw descriptions and her relentless pursuit of a healthy life and love. Bravo, Rachel!
Outstanding insight on BPD!.......2007-07-04
I thoughly enjoyed the first-person account of recovering from Borderline Personality Disorder. Rachel Reiland is a truly talented author who happened to suffer from this form of mental illness. If you have been recently diagnoised or have a loved-one who has been diagnoised with BPD, and you want to know what it is truly like to suffer with BPD... You NEED this book! I can not say enough about how much it helped me to understand this disorder. Furthermore... it's a page turner...I could hardly put it down!
Ruthlessly Honest Autobiography.......2007-06-18
For those seeking to understand the intense, chaotic, and conflicting love/hate behavior of a woman afflicted with borderline personality disorder, "Rachel's" ruthlessly revealing story is eye-opening. Admitted into a psychiatric hospital after striking her son, Rachel does not appear to be a lost cause; she is, no doubt, violent, unpredictable, and disordered, but she grasps her situation and wants to recover. A caring, insightful and loving psychiatrist chooses her and so begins her painful, frustrating journey of self-discovery and healing. But therapy is no magic elixer. Instead it tears away her facade, leaving her exposed as a frightened and traumatized child. Her behavior worsens as the psychiatrist loosens her tight reins on her emotions and cracks her protective walls. Her emotions swing wildly between her unbelievable love and her unmitigated rage toward the psychiatrist doing his best to pull her from the abyss. I don't know who was more courageous or inspiring, the psychiatrist who withstood her rages and navigated her toward mental health or Rachel, who suffered from such terrible inner turmoil, worked so hard to recover, and emerged a strong and loving woman. One of the best books I've ever read.
Best Book Ever on BPD!.......2007-05-09
I've been diagnosed with BPD for about 10 years now, and this is always the first book I recommend to people newly diagnosed and struggling to understand their disorder. I think it's the best book ever written on BPD--and better yet, it's written "from the inside", by a woman who struggled for years with severe BPD and overcame it. This is a WONDERFUL book--honest to the point of being painful, insightful, and above all, inspirational--it gives hope to all who suffer from this illness. If you suffer from BPD yourself and want to understand it better (and to know you're NOT alone)--buy this book! And if you live with someone diagnosed with BPD, please read this wonderful book--it will give you insight into this disorder you will find nowhere else!!
Thank you for writing this fantastic book, Rachel, and God bless you--you have offered hope to many, many people.
Average customer rating:
- An informative memoir on the Vietnam War
- The first step
- A Good Time To Revisit the Vietnam Experience
- Good, but not his best
- A good book
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If I Die in a Combat Zone : Box Me Up and Ship Me Home
Tim O'Brien
Manufacturer: Broadway
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ASIN: 0767904435
Release Date: 1999-09-01 |
Amazon.com
Over time, Tim O'Brien has used both art and artifice to shape his fictional accounts of Vietnam. Award-winning novels such as Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried offer up a surreal view of the war: a soldier who decides to walk to Paris, leaving only a trail of M&M's in his wake; a young man who imports his high-school girlfriend to his base camp high in the jungled mountains, only to lose her to a shadowy squad of Special Forces Green Berets and to "that mix of unnamed terror and unnamed pleasure" that was Vietnam. O'Brien's first account of the war, however, was written in the raw, unfiltered months following his return from Southeast Asia in 1969. If I Die in a Combat Zone has all of the eloquence and attention to language and detail that are a mark of the author's work; what is different about it is its straightforward, unembellished depiction of his personal experience of hell.
"When you are ordered to march through areas such as Pinkville--GI slang for Song My, parent village of My Lai ... you do some thinking. You hallucinate. You look ahead a few paces and wonder what your legs will resemble if there is more to the earth in that spot than silicates and nitrogen. Will the pain be unbearable? Will you scream or fall silent? Will you be afraid to look at your own body, afraid of the sight of your own red flesh and white bone? You wonder if the medic remembered his morphine."
O'Brien paints an unvarnished portrait of the infantry soldier's life that is at once mundane and terrifying--the endless days of patrolling punctuated by firefights that end as suddenly and inconclusively as they begin; the mind-numbing brutality of burned villages and trampled rice patties; the terror of tunnels, minefields, and the ever-present threat of death. Powerful as these scenes are, perhaps the most memorable chapter in the book concerns his decision to desert just a few weeks before he was sent to Vietnam. "The AWOL bag was ready to go, but I wasn't.... I burned the letters to my family. I read the others and burned them, too. It was over. I simply couldn't bring myself to flee. Family, the home town, friends, history, tradition, fear, confusion, exile: I could not run." Tim O'Brien went into the war opposing it and came out knowing exactly why. If I Die in a Combat Zone is more than just a memoir of a disastrous war; it is also a meditation on heroism and cowardice, on the mutability of truth and morality in a war zone and, most of all, on the simple, human capacity to endure the unendurable. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
Before writing his award-winning
Going After Cacciato, Tim O'Brien gave us this intensely personal account of his year as a foot soldier in Vietnam. The author takes us with him to experience combat from behind an infantryman's rifle, to walk the minefields of My Lai, to crawl into the ghostly tunnels, and to explore the ambiguities of manhood and morality in a war gone terribly wrong. Beautifully written and searingly heartfelt,
If I Die in a Combat Zone is a masterwork of its genre.
Customer Reviews:
An informative memoir on the Vietnam War.......2007-08-30
This memoir brought me closer than I had been before to the Vietnam War..it was interesting. Another perspective on the Vietnam War.
The first step.......2007-08-09
If I Die...is Tim O'Brien's first book, and his first of many inspired by his tour of duty as an infantryman in Vietnam, 1969-70. Later, more successful books, like Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried, deliberately smudge the line between reportage and invented story (and, in GAC, he takes it all the way to outright fantasy) but this debut is intended as a soldier's field memoir, the facts as O'Brien saw and remembers them, although with much brooding personal commentary added.
More than 30 years after its publication, the book is still quite powerful, reviving the sights and sounds of a war that America decided a while ago not to forget, but rather to remember in a way it finds most convenient. There are still too many people who believe we could easily have "won" Vietnam if we hadn't been "stabbed in the back" by politicians and hippie protestors at home; that is nonsense, much of which O'Brien's book helps disprove. Indispensible works like The Best and the Brightest, and of course The Pentagon Papers, prove how various US administrations allowed themselves to be deluded about the progress the US military might make in solving the political problems of a small SE Asian country. By the time O'Brien arrived as a foot soldier in early 1969, the war had reached a high-level stalemate, was essentially over, and the Vietnamese simply had to wait us out. LBJ and Nixon knew this but they continued to send our soldiers over to be killed and mangled; too precipitous a withdrawal would have hurt their administrations politically.
What O'Brien does so well is dramatize this fatal stall at the personal level. His book is loaded with stories of ranking officers, brave men with Army careers, allowing their commands to ease off in the field, avoid pointless enemy engagements, even file fake patrol reports, especially at night. O'Brien's tour commenced a year after Tet and My Lai occurred, and in their aftermath, as O'Brien tells it, Army morale at even the officer level had sunk so low, and the failure of US goals was so evident, that few Americans wanted to get killed for a misadventure.
What lingers most in my mind is O'Brien's struggle with his own self-loathing: he believed even before being drafted that the war was wrong, and made serious plans to desert the Army, but found himself unable to make that great break, fearful of the reaction he would eventually encounter from parents and the small Minnesota town of his birth. He gave in to tradition, rather than do what he felt to be right, and it seems he has never forgiven himself.
A Good Time To Revisit the Vietnam Experience .......2007-08-02
Tim O'Brien is one of our more gifted, living writers in the genre of war literature, and although IF I DIE IN A COMBAT zone isn't his strongest book, it is certainly worthy reading, especially in the echoing din of George Bush's Iraqi adventure.
A straightforward account from a soldier's point of view, O'Brien's book includes the before, during, and after of his Vietnam experience -- especially the daily grind of soldiering (during) and the soul-searching and debate about fleeing (before) instead of answering the call of the draft. He had a rather quixotic escape plan to Sweden (of all places), but ultimately did his "duty," all along meditating on the nature of sanity, obligation, and patriotism. There are frequent excerpts from Plato, even, as O'Brien explores that ancient philosopher's take on "courage." As his fellow soldiers are killed, O'Brien details the nature of fate and chance, along with the more realistic details of the many ways "Charlie" (the VC) could arrange for you to die.
Here is a typical excerpt in which O'Brien compares Vietnam to the Trojan War:
"But losing [Captain Johansen] was like the Trojans losing Hector. He gave some amount of reason to fight. Certainly there were never any political reasons. The war, like Hector's own war, was silly and stupid. Troy was besieged for the sake of a pretty woman. And Helen, for God's sake, was a woman most of the grubby, warted Trojans could never have. Vietnam was under siege in pursuit of a pretty, tantalizing, promiscuous, particularly American brand of government and style. And most of Alpha Company would have preferred a likable whore to self-determination. So Captain Johansen helped to mitigate and melt the silliness, showing the grace and poise a man can have under the worst of circumstances, a wrong war. We clung to him." -- (p. 145)
Philosophical riffs like this are frequent -- as are accounts of the soldiers' lives (and deaths), their nicknames for killer devices, their fear and superstitions, and their ways of surviving in a strange land where even women and children could, and often did, mean death. The literary weave of abstractions on war and history with specifics on Vietnam itself make for a potent read. You will come out of it not only feeling better educated about what Vietnam was like, but sensing that many of the arguments of the American government and the officers in charge ring as familiarly hollow now (in Iraq) as they did then (in Vietnam). If I could, I'd buy a copy for the President. But I know he wouldn't read it or, if he did, seek meaning from it.
Pro or anti-war, Vietnam or Iraq, you, however, can glean something from this early effort of Tim O'Brien's. Check it out.
Good, but not his best.......2007-04-28
Having read O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" first, this book seemed a bit dry and journalistic in comparison. It started out slow, and never really pulled me in the way the other did. In this book there are flashes of O'Brien's lyrical, dream-like brilliance, but never as consistent or as seemingly tangible as in "The Things They Carried."
In this book, O'Brien brings the reader along with him from the moment he first learns that he is to be drafted until he is on a plane heading home from Viet Nam. He shares his fears, doubts and political views of the war. The book is mostly about O'Brien's experience in the war, and how it changed him and matured him.
Overall, a good book. Probably of particular interest to anyone interested in a personal, almost documentary-style account of O'Brien's experience in Viet Nam. In a purely literary sense, however, the stories in "The Things They Carried" are far better examples of Tim O'Brien's skill as a writer.
A good book.......2007-01-11
A little too in depth for me. But i do recommend that it be read. A good book.
Book Description
There Is No Me Without You is the story of Haregewoin Tefarra, a middle-aged Ethiopian woman of modest means whose home has become a refuge for hundreds of children orphaned by AIDS. It is a story as much about the power of the bond between children and parents as about the epidemic that every year leaves millions of children, mostly healthy themselves, without family. Originally a middle-class woman with a happy family life, Haregewoin fell into a deep depression after the death of her recently married daughter. But then a priest brought her two children, AIDS orphans, with nowhere to go. Unexpectedly, the children thrived, and Haregewoin found herself drawn back into daily life. As word got out, an endless stream of children began to arrive at her door, delivered by dying parents and other relatives who begged for her help, and, pushing against the limits of her home and bank account, she took more and more in. Today, Haregewoin runs a school, a daycare system, and a shelter for sick mothers. Without medication for her charges—some HIV-positive, some uninfected, and some infants trying to fight off the virus, but almost all of whom come to her terrified and malnourished—she forges on, caring for as many as she can handle. Increasingly, she also places them for adoption with families like that of journalist Melissa Fay Greene, who has two children adopted from Ethiopia. In Haregewoin Tefarra’s story, Greene gives us an astonishing portrait of a woman fighting a continent-wide epidemic.
Customer Reviews:
Opening our eyes to global needs.......2007-06-30
Melissa Fay Greene has the gift of story telling. The book beckons the reader to think beyond themselves and consider what contribution they may make to the cause of the orphan/Aids in Africa. Thank you Ms. Greene for inviting us on the journey...for educating us on real life on the other side of the globe...for jolting us out of our comfort and compelling us to action. One would need to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this powerful story!
awesome, informative book.......2007-06-09
I am so thrilled that I spent time reading this book. I loved it. This is a well written, informative book. I enjoyed the writing style as it moved through factual historical perspectives to the story of one women making a difference. Take time to read...you will be happy you did!
Moving, informative, gripping picture of humanity in Ethiopia.......2007-05-29
This is the best book I have read in some time. It is meticulously researched, insightful, and explains difficult technical issues clearly. It is gripping in its description of the plight of AIDS orphans and the incredible poverty of Ethiopia. But it is particularly special in the even-handed description of Haregewoin, not as a saint, thought she has given of herself like one, but as a flawed human (as we are all flawed) who has accomplished incredible good at a time when doing so put herself in great jeopardy in her society. This book is a great accomplishment by an accomplished author. I hope she receives the National Book Award for this one!
inspiring book.......2007-05-27
I loved this book! If you want to learn about Ethiopia, the AIDS crisis there, or if you want to be inspired by a true hero, read this book.
A must-read for the globally minded!.......2007-05-25
Sometimes it is difficult to break out our own local environment to learn more about important events are taking place around the world. Melissa Fay Greene's book, "There Is No Me Without You," allows even the most superficial of us to learn about the AIDS crisis in Africa and begin taking steps to help support a solution to the social problems plaguing that continent. I was familiar with the AIDS crisis in Africa but was horrified to learn about the lack of available pharmaceuticals for treatment of HIV-positive adults and children. It was truly an eye-opener to hear about the gross (for lack of a better word) profits made by drug companies producing these medicines and then the reluctance of those same companies to allow these treatments to be shared with the sick and dying.I was appalled.
I would highly recommend this book. After finishing "There Is No Me Without You," I researched the websites in the back of the book and found it was possible to directly donate to AHOPE. Interested individuals can even sponsor an orphan for as little as $30 a month. I easily spend more than that on books every month.
I was inspired, enlightened, motivated and educated by this book. Thank you Melissa for writing about these wonderful people and sharing their stories with us.
Kathy Morones, Long Beach, CA
Book Description
The legendary coach talks about his life, his players, and his winning philosophies in this bestselling autobiography
John Wooden's dedication and inspiration made him America's "winningest" coach. His beliefs in hard work and preparedness brought the UCLA Bruins an unparalleled 10 NCAA basketball championships. Now in this bestselling autobiography--with a Foreword by Hall-of-Famer Bill Walton--the college basketball legend reflects on his record-breaking career, his life behind the scenes, and how his top players went on to shape and change the NBA.
From the everyday basics to important life lessons ("It's not how tall you are, but how tall you play"), Wooden shares his worldly wisdom on and off the court to offer a personal history of an unforgettable time in college basketball, answering the most-asked questions about his life, his career, and the players who made his teams unbeatable.
"They Call Me Coach is grass-roots Americana, a story bigger than basketball. One of those rare sports books that is must reading for everyone."
--Chicago Tribune
"What Knute Rockne was to football, Connie Mack to baseball, and Wilbur and Orville Wright to flying, John Wooden is to basketball. This book captures the full flavor of the man, the philosophies that work in life, and the philosophies that work on the court. I commend it to people who want to succeed at either--or both."
--Los Angeles Times
Customer Reviews:
They call me coach.......2007-01-28
Coach Wooden is the Monet of coaching. His philosophy and work ethic, both as a player and a coach, are unparalled. This book will instruct anyone on how to deal with adversity both on the court and in the game of life.
Excellent insight.......2007-01-15
Excellent book examining the life , philosophy and thoughts behind a great coach. Not just about basketball but good for anyone coaching any sport or anyone wanting insight to a great life.
Inspiring glimpse into a master coach's life.......2007-01-13
John Wooden is perhaps America's greatest coach. His UCLA basketball team won ten national championships, including seven in a row. Concomitant with winning was his insistence on character and virtue rather than getting caught up with results.
This autobiography is a fascinating glimpse into Wooden's extraordinary life. It chronicles his life as a player (many forget that Wooden was elected to the basketball hall-of-fame as a player and coach), his coaching days (mostly at UCLA), and a little bit about his activities after his retirement. Interspersed in all of this are Wooden's coaching philosophy, pictures, box scores of the national championship games, and Wooden's opinion on how to improve the quality of NCAA basketball.
They Call Me Coach is tremendous for any sports fan, especially basketball. It can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy reading about what it takes to achieve success. Wooden was not a dictator, but imparted his insistence on doing one's best to his players with meticulous detail.
TCMC is not a complete autobiography, and it omits many aspects of Wooden's life. It is certainly not a "tell-all" account, nor is it perhaps the best book on articulating Wooden's coaching philosophy. For that I would recommend another of Wooden's books, appropriately titled Wooden. There are also others out there.
They Call Me Coach is a wonderful account of a man who as achieved true life success, and you will enjoy this read regardless of your previous knowledge on Wooden or college basketball.
Great advice from a Greater man.......2006-03-20
You can't miss with Wooden's thoughts, words and advice. If you're coaching yong people, he hits home lessons that every player and coach should know and understand. Even if you're just a parent or someone's business supervisor, read this book to learn how to better deal with and motivate those who rely on you for leadership. Don't let the coach down and pass these wonerful skills on to the next generation. Wooden's vision will live long past his coaching days. Find out all about it right here.
A good text for leadership.......2006-03-09
I purchased this book as part of a Ph.D. level class as a lesson in leadership. Coach Wooden shows his ability to lead and educate through his expertise in the fundamentals and the basics. He demonstrates his ability to change tactics and styles with different individuals, which is essential in good,effective leaders. I would recommend this book on several levels. At face value, it is an exceptional story about an exceptional coach and man. At a deeper level, I think it portrays a good example of how to lead and and how to set an example for those you are trying to lead.
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