Chances of a Lifetime

Average customer rating:

Excellent memoir

Solid, Positive and Truthful

More Politicians Should be Like "Chris"

Chances of a Lifetime
Warren Christopher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B0000645W6

Amazon.com

There are no earthshaking surprises in this memoir by Warren Christopher, the first secretary of state in the Clinton administration. No revelations, for example, about what Syrian strongman Hafez Assad really said to him behind closed doors. Yet it is an engaging account of how a boy born in rural South Dakota came to occupy the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. Before rising to secretary of state in 1993, Christopher served at high levels under Presidents Johnson and Carter. Along the way, he earned a reputation for buttoned-down decorum. Clinton once called him "the only man ever to eat presidential M&M's on Air Force One with a knife and fork." Christopher doesn't reveal much about his personal life on the pages, but he does impart lessons learned from a life in public office: "Silence, once associated with discretion, begets confidence as well as confidences. I learned that people also tend to read wisdom from silence--even when silence means only that you know nothing about what they are talking about."

Christopher was involved in many important events during his career, from race riots in the 1960s (when he was a Department of Justice official) to the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 and1980 (when he did his first stint at State). About this latter episode, he writes: "Never before nor since has any foreign policy problem engaged me so intensively for so long. One of the most interesting sections of Chances of a Lifetime describes the extraordinary security measures Christopher learned to live with when he became secretary of state. He couldn't visit a friend's house without it undergoing a sweep several hours beforehand. Dinner at a restaurant involved reserving an extra table for a pair of agents who would do nothing but drink iced tea and watch for trouble. For a morning jog in Israel, "agents arranged for me to run at sunrise inside a deserted soccer stadium." Christopher came under intense scrutiny, too. He relates, for instance, the minor flap over choosing to edit a speech in which he referred to American Chinese relations as a "cooperation" rather than a "partnership."

Regrettably, the book does not include much discussion of Christopher's role in Democratic politics since leaving the Clinton administration; among other things, he led Al Gore's effort to challenge the Florida vote count in 2000. Yet Chances of a Lifetime is full of crisp and straightforward prose about an important public figure; it's required reading for foreign-policy aficionados, and anybody else interested in Washington's ladder of success. --John J. Miller

Book Description

An engaging insider's account of some of the most fascinating domestic and international episodes in contemporary American history, from the highly respected former secretary of state who remains a Democratic elder statesman.

Warren Christopher is that rarest of Washington personalities: a wise and witty public servant once described by the Washington Post as "the antithesis of the glitz-hungry, self-aggrandizing, corner-cutting political figures who dominate Washington today." In this memoir, the man whose sage counsel and sometimes parodied discretion brought him to the right hand of mayors, governors, and presidents shares his personal recollections and impressions of leaders and events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century.

Writing in tightly crafted, often self-effacing prose, Christopher chronicles how he left the privacy of life at a premier law firm to heed calls to public service from Supreme Court justice William O. Douglas, Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, and California governor Edmund "Pat" Brown -- as well as presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. Throughout his career, Christopher faced diverse challenges: He advised a president on whether to dispatch federal troops to quell civil disturbances; led negotiations to free American hostages in Iran; investigated a major city's police force gone awry; and helped cope with Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

From "Starting from Scranton" and "The Johnson Treatment" to "Middle East: Antipodes" and "Yesterday a War, Today a Country," each chapter is a compelling story on its own. Together, they offer the first clear picture of the impact of this quiet North Dakotan on modern American history.

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Warren Christopher is that rarest of Washington personalities, a warm and witty public servant, once described by The Washington Post as "the antithesis of the glitz-hungry, self-aggrandizing, corner-cutting political figures who dominate Washington today". In this memoir, the man whose wise counsel and sometimes parodied discretion brought him to the right hand of mayors, governors, and presidents, shares his personal recollections and impressions of leaders and events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century. Writing in tightly crafted, often self-effacing prose, Christopher chronicles how he left the privacy of life at a premiere law firm to heed calls to public service from the likes of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, and California Governor Edmund "Pat" Brown -- as well as Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. In his career, Christopher faced challenges as diverse as advising a president on whether to dispatch federal troops to quell civil disturbances; leading negotiations to free American hostages in Iran; investigating a major city's police force gone awry; and coping with Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Each of the chapters is a compelling story on its own; collectively, they offer the first clear picture of the impact of this quiet North Dakotan on modern American history.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent memoir.......2005-11-21

Christopher's book is highly readable. . .until he reached the point in his tale of becoming Secretary of State I found it difficult to put down. Chris was instrumental in handling and reporting (and in the aftermath dealing) with many of the urban riots in 1960s after the assassinations of King & RFK, and the urban riots surrounding the political conventions in Chicago. As undersecretary of state under Carter he was the key U.S. player in the Iranian hostage release, warmly adding how a restaurant applauded him at dinner shortly after coming home from those negotiations. Once he reaches Sec of State status in his book, the tale is less engaging but still informative, giving us a sharp and clear inside look at Chris' view of his job, and the policies and outlook of the U.S. government he represented for four years.

Solid, Positive and Truthful.......2002-10-09

If you are looking for a kiss and tell book full of gossip or new and exciting state secrets this is not the book for you. The author may be the last true nice guy in politics and his book echo's his character. The book spends about 30% of its time on his boyhood, working with the LBJ administration and working on different riots in he country. To be honest, this was not what I really was interested in. The rest of the book deals with his work in the Carter and Clinton administrations, which I felt was the most interesting sections of the book.

Christopher spends a good deal of time on his involvement in the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 and 1980 and on the Middle East peace process during his Clinton years. Both areas are well written and interesting, he brings a sense of a true gentleman to his writing - always taking the civil high road in his descriptions. I also found the sections on the personal security given to the Secretary of State and how he travels around the world new and interesting. Overall the author does a good job in this memoir; it is well written and understated. You understand why the author is so well respected; he goes out of his way not to include snide little comments and back- handed attacks that fill so many memoirs.

More Politicians Should be Like "Chris".......2001-02-02

Warren Christopher gives his personal history the most cursory of treatments before plunging into exposition of his interactions with some of modern history's greater figures. At first I found this self-effacement irritating--I wanted to understand what would propel someone to work so tirelessly for his nation, under such trying circumstances as the widespread civil unrest of the late '60s and the hostage crisis at the end of Carter's term in office. Then I realized that Christopher's approach to his memoirs reflects his approach to public service: it's not about _him_, not at all. It becomes very clear as the book progresses that Christopher's modesty, discretion and unrelenting focus on the task at hand have made him the epitome of the gentleman statesman and a model to which other politicians should aspire. Sure, other ex-Cabinet members might write juicier memoirs. But they very likely are not be as widely-respected, or as consistently in demand over decades of American political life, as Christopher. "Chances of a Lifetime" is a worthwhile read for that lesson alone.

Ain't Nothin' But a Winner: Bear Bryant, The Goal Line Stand, and a Chance of a Lifetime

Average customer rating:

Great motivational memoir!

Ain't Nothin' But a Winner: Bear Bryant, The Goal Line Stand, and a Chance of a Lifetime
Barry Krauss , and Joe M. Moore
Manufacturer: University Alabama Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0817315411

Customer Reviews:

Great motivational memoir!.......2007-03-18

Barry Krauss' memoir captured and held my attention throughout. I wouldn't compare Krauss in either the areas of memoir writing or sports writing to Mitch Albom, but I doubt Mr. Albom could participate head-on in a goal line stand and live to tell about it--much less write a book about it. So, after we take the likes of Mitch Albom out of the equation and look at Ain't Nothin' But a Winner on its own merit, I can easily say that I found it to be a well-written, compelling memoir. After all, it's not every football player (turned writer) who can come up with descriptions such as "Alabama again came within one single puff of Coach Bryant's unfiltered Chesterfield cigarette of winning two national championships...." That's nice imagery. That's writing that keeps me reading.

Beyond looking at the book from a literary standpoint, the story and the message within the story make this book stand out. Krauss recounts his career in football with humor, with touching sensitivity, and with frank honesty. From high school through his years in professional football, Krauss gives the reader a rare inside view of that world. As he says, he lived the life many dream about and he's appreciative of the experience.

I'm not an avid football fan, but this book pulled me into this life devoted to the team and the game. I felt the tug of the ups and downs players and fans rejoice in and suffer from. The highlight of the book, of course, is Krauss' recounting of his years playing for Paul "Bear" Bryant on the University of Alabama football team. The climax is the one play-- the Goal Line Stand, on January 1, 1979, in the Sugar Bowl game against Penn State--where Krauss stopped Penn State's Mike Gunman from scoring. Football enthusiasts will enjoy Krauss' description of the play that stopped time. While reading that section, I felt the crack of helmets and came away with a better understanding of football fanatics.... (reviewed by Lou Belcher, freelance writer and editor)

Kentucky Chances: Last Chance/Chance of a Lifetime/Chance Adventure (Heartsong Novella Collection)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Christian Romance
Great read
Disappointed
Three chances brothers find romance

Kentucky Chances: Last Chance/Chance of a Lifetime/Chance Adventure (Heartsong Novella Collection)
Cathy Marie Hake , and Kelly Eileen Hake
Manufacturer: Barbour Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1597893668

Product Description

In Salt Lick Holler, Kentucky, three women healing from past hurts aren't looking for love, but love comes looking for them. Lovejoy Spencer is so determined to keep her sister from making the same mistakes she did, she almost misses her own last Chance. Hattie Thales is accepting her lot in life, while Logan Chance longs for adventure. He leaves the ranch in Reliable, California, unaware he's launching God's plan for both lives. Daisy Thales thinks she'd rather go it alone until God sends the last Chance bachelor, a rancher who has a quiet way with her son and with her heart.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Christian Romance.......2007-08-08

I loved this book - so much that I read it twice within 3 weeks. Lovejoy was my favorite character! Cathy Hake writes with humor, great love, and perfect doses of scripture. Absolutely ADORE this book and would recommend it to any of my friends who LOVE happy endings. All the stories in this book have heavenly endings and that's what pleased me the most. This book is Enchanting!

Great read.......2007-01-30

If you like Cathy Hake's books you will love this one. I waited anxiously for this one to come out to find out about the three remaining Chance bachelors. Was not disappointed. Am looking forward to more books by this mother-daughter pair.

Disappointed.......2006-11-10

I gave this book two stars and that's being generous....There's no passion, no chemistry...nothing.

Three chances brothers find romance.......2006-10-17

Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (9/06)

"Kentucky Chances" includes three romances that tell the stories of brothers from California and women from Salt Lick Holler, Kentucky. All three widowed women find love again when the Chance brothers come into their lives.

In "Last Chance" a young widow and healer, Lovejoy Spencer, takes three mail-order brides to Reliable, California. Concerned that her sister and the other two women not end up married to a mean husband like she experienced, Lovejoy remains in California to supervise the courtships. During her stay, her services as a healer are needed on the nearby Chance Ranch. Lovejoy spends much time nursing ill and pregnant members of the family and watching over widower Daniel Chance's daughters. Neither Lovejoy nor Daniel were looking to remarry, but they take a last chance at love.

In "Chance Adventure" Logan and his brother, Bryce, travel to Salt Lick Holler so Logan can experience life away from the ranch before settling down. His sister-in-law, Lovejoy, arranges for him to stay with Willow, the healer that trained her, and Hattie, a young widow learning about herbs and natural ingredients used in healing. Hattie has accepted the disappointments and the way her life has turned out. But when the Chance brothers arrive, Logan's adventure reveals God's plan for this young couple.

In "Chance of a Lifetime" Bryce prepares to return home now that Logan and Hattie are pledged to each other. But he's attracted to Daisy. When her house burned, the young widow and her son Jamie came to stay with Willow. Bryce, the quietest Chance brother, introduces young Jamie to many activities the crippled child couldn't normally enjoy. Daisy thinks she has to solve her problems and find a new home. But Bryce can provide what she needs back at his ranch if she agrees to marry him.

All three stories are well-written by this mother-daughter team. The Chances and the women who love them are interesting, likeable characters. Despite the twangy dialect, the Hakes conveyed the dignity and ingenuity of the people who dwelled in the hollers of Kentucky in the late 1800s. The stories in this three-in-one book share the hope that despite past hurts, love is possible.

Stepmothers and Stepdaughters: Relationships of Chance, Friendships for a Lifetime

Average customer rating:

A Good Read
Love prevails
Excellent stories of triumph in very difficult roles!
The Wicked Step is dead!
A little too confusing.

Stepmothers and Stepdaughters: Relationships of Chance, Friendships for a Lifetime
Karen Annarino , and Jean M. Blomquist
Manufacturer: Wildcat Canyon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1885171463

Book Description

In Stepmothers and Stepdaughters, Karen Annarino explores the increasingly common yet rarely examined connections between stepmothers and stepdaughters. This book's powerful and inspiring real-life stories offer a candid look at relationships that can be as pleasurable and painful as their biology-based counterparts. They also honor the remarkable women who have worked to overcome negative stereotypes and create balanced, loving relationships based on mutual respect, love, and self-awareness. Exploring the role of these relationships in today's increasingly complex family structures, the stories and commentary here present them as strong, loving, lifelong unions. The book offers a positive outlook for every woman who dares to look beyond the societal labels and to honor a relationship that brings its own special rewards.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read.......2002-09-09

It was interesting and anecdotal. A very helpful guide and joyful celebration of possibility.

Love prevails.......2002-05-15

I bought this book as a gift for my friends who are steps or have steps. I think it's wonderful there is a book that highlights the positive and gives hope to so many woman perservering in this often difficult relationship. It sheds a welcomed light.

Excellent stories of triumph in very difficult roles!.......2001-12-17

This book was excellent. I have been a custodial stepmother for 13 years and have read a LOT of books about stepfamilies. This is the first one to shine a positive light on steps. Usually books about stepfamilies are designed to overcome the horrors of it all. This book reflected upon the wonderful experiences of stepmothers and stepdaughters. The ups and downs, and the wonderful relationships that develop. I first read it, gave one to MY stepdaughter and also one to my stepmother! I am both a stepmother and stepdaughter and found this book to be an awesome read!

The Wicked Step is dead!.......2001-02-19

I have one of those wonderful relationships with my two stepdaughters and I thought I was the only one. For years, I've only heard the horror stories from all of my friends about their stepchildren.

It's refreshing to know that stepmothers have warm and loving relationships with their steps. It's also refreshing to know that other stepmothers have managed to create a healthy, functioning relationship that started off less than perfect.

You read this book and see that it is possible to start with a less than perfect family dynamic and turn it into a viable, loving relationship.

Long live stepmothers and stepdaughters. Ms. Annarino is right, the myth of the Wicked Step is just that, a myth. The wicked step is dead!

A little too confusing........2001-01-08

This book was okay, but a little confusing. The book caught my attention in the beginning by the author's explanation of her own relationship with her stepmother. The author used a number of stepmothers and stepdaughters for examples; however, she did not organize her story subjects as well as she could have. There were so many stories and names given, that eventually I couldn't distinguish who was who and who did what in their personal sagas. I gave the author the benefit of the doubt and finished the book, but I did not learn much from it. I would like to remind you that the author's motivation to write the book was partially based on the fact that her own stepmother is an author and encouraged her to write it. My recommendation to the author is: don't quit your day job.

The Chance of a Lifetime; Under the Window; and a Voice in the Wilderness (Grace Livingston Hill Collection)

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The Chance of a Lifetime; Under the Window; and a Voice in the Wilderness (Grace Livingston Hill Collection)
Isabella Alden , and Grace Livingston Hill
Manufacturer: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1577488261

If There's One Thing I've Learned...: How To Seize Your Once-in-a-lifetime Chance To Get It Right

Average customer rating:

Required reading for all students of life...
Compelling stories where you find yourself
A "Moving" Gift
Life Is To Be Lived Each Moment
A wonderful read!

If There's One Thing I've Learned...: How To Seize Your Once-in-a-lifetime Chance To Get It Right
James Green
Manufacturer: Sound View Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0976105845

Book Description

If you only knew then what you know...now...

You're in good company. Few of us get through life without wishing we could get a do-over. But you know the rules: You only go around once. So what's the secret to making better choices the first time through? And what practical wisdom and insight will help you to re-shape your destiny to match your dreams?

Learn from those who have come before you.

If There's One Thing I've Learned is an inspiring and life-affirming collection of everyday epiphanies from people recalling pivotal moments in their lives. The stories speak of life's lost and found: love, time, career, money, dreams, childhood. Bring them along for your journey so that, like a well-traveled companion, they're always nearby to move and comfort you and help guide you to the life you were meant to live.

Let the experiences of others show you that:
*You should think twice before you let love walk away...
*When you're not appreciated at work, you can move on...
*You can change your life before it's too late...
*Time passes and before you know it...
*When you do what you love, the joy will follow...
*Your children need your presence...now...
*To act on your dreams you must awaken...

Customer Reviews:

Required reading for all students of life..........2006-01-05

James Green's book encourages the reader to look within himself/herself, to focus upon their goals, what's important in their lives and also offers some solace that we can learn from our past, in order to improve upon our future. It's refreshing to read a "guide" which isn't another fad. Rather, the author offers thought provoking experiences from diverse individuals, which can be of benefit to all.

Compelling stories where you find yourself.......2006-01-03

Reviewed by William Phenn for Readers Views

James Green, airline pilot turned writer, turned motivationalist. All he has seen and all he has done, does not compare to what he has written in this compelling volume.

Green has interviewed eighty seven people (I shall have to find out why 87 and not 90?) from all walks of life. Taken one aspect of a person's life, he gives the reader an insight into that person which no one has ever heard before. This book has true accounts of lost love, internet love, disappointing careers, unfulfilled dreams, shattered lives and few successes. Successes such as Green, who includes an excerpt from his own life, tells of how he made the right choice in his early years and how that choice, that one single moment in his existence, made an amazing difference in his life.

Green has filled "If There's One Thing I've Learned" with over two hundred and fifty pages of the most interesting accounts of people. Recollections they have had of the good, the bad, and the ugly. One such example is Steve, the thirty seven year old architect, that discovered internet dating. His humorous account of cyber sex and internet dating left me in stitches. Then there is Ron, the thirty nine year old technician, whose story was in the chapter titled "The One Who Got Away" - a heart breaker that will read like a Greek tragedy. On and on, the examples are endless, the stories compelling.

Green has combined every facet of enjoyable reading into this volume. There is joy, drama, tragedy, sex (not erotic) and no violence. If there's one thing I've learned, this is a very enjoyable book that is general audience. Lessons learned in the book are many; see which one relates to you and your life.

I highly recommend this fine piece of literary work to all who can read. You are in here somewhere, mark my words.

A "Moving" Gift.......2005-12-09

I received this book as a gift and was very moved by its content. The author's personal experiences, as well as those of others he shares, serve to remind the reader of the importance of living life without regret ... something I promote in my romance seminars and coaching. This book is definitely worth the read, not to mention you may want to gift someone you love with a copy. Oh, and don't be surprised if you discover that one of the stories you read is very close to your own. Congratulations, Mr. Green!

Life Is To Be Lived Each Moment.......2005-12-02

IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED by James Green is about "how to seize your once in a lifetime chance to get it right." The author has interviewed hundreds of people of all ages and walks of life and asked what is the most important lesson each has learned and how he or she learned it. The stories and the lessons are told in the interviewee's words. Many are followed with a related wise saying from Wisdom teachers of various faiths through the ages

A wonderful read! .......2005-11-02

"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back."
--Chinese Proverb

James Green's interviews with 87 people helped them reveal their moment of truth--and what truth it is. Each story is only a few pages based on: If you could go back and change anything in your life, what would you do differently?

The subtitle of the book is "How to seize your once-in-a-lifetime chance to get it right." It's pretty obvious we will see ourselves in more than one of the stories.

You cannot have a favorite in these stories as each one makes a strong point. For example:
-- A retired NYC cop says he wishes he had been more open minded as a young man relative to people of different races.
-- A young woman tells how she loved men who didn't love her; and was loved by men she didn't love, and how she finally decided to save herself physically and emotionally for the right man.

The author is an airline pilot who decided that "He would listen to the whisper and not let life pass him by, and that he would live his life without regret."

The interview questions he used are part of the book, and if you read them, you will be forced to think about things you learned as each one is a subtle nudge down memory lane.

Can you tell I loved this book! And as a bonus, he included some really great quotes.

Armchair Interviews says with so much downer news in the media and our lives today, these stories so very uplifting.

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first,
the lesson afterwards."
-- Vernon Sanders Law, pro baseball player

Average customer rating:

another page-turner
Not Bad for a Hackneyed Plot Device

Chance Of A Lifetime
Jayne Ann Krentz
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373833180

Customer Reviews:

another page-turner.......2002-12-08

Courtesy of A Romance Review

Chance of a Lifetime was published in August 1997 and was still out of print. It was another page-turner of Ms Krentz that you can easily finish reading within one day. In this book, Rachel and Chance had very similar characters - smart, independent, intelligent and very protective of their family. The whole story was simple, entertaining and full of love. The attraction between the hero and heroine was strong from the very beginning and you could just predict they would be together and perfect for each other. That's what romance is supposed to be. Don't you think?

Not Bad for a Hackneyed Plot Device.......1997-10-23

Krentz (also known in the Historical Romance Genre as Amanda Quick) uses the plot device of mistaken identity to get this novel started. The heroine is a typical Krentz heroine--sassy, agressive, and determined to see "justice" done. Similarly, the hero fits the mold of the tough, sarcastic loner just waiting for the right woman to arrive and bring him the stability he (supposedly) craves. A couple of confusing subplots and some annoying behavior by the hero (frequently he bellows for his Scotch before dinner) prevent this from being a great book, although it is a good beach or airplane read. I've read better from Krentz/Quick.

Chance of a Lifetime: Nucky Johnson, Skinny D'Amato, and How Atlantic City Became the Naughty Queen of Resorts

Average customer rating:

Inside history of how Atlantic City earned its reputation
Interesting subject matter...rambling prose
A great book on Atlantic City in the pre casino days!!

Chance of a Lifetime: Nucky Johnson, Skinny D'Amato, and How Atlantic City Became the Naughty Queen of Resorts
Grace Anselmo D'Amato , and Vicki Gold Levi
Manufacturer: Down The Shore Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0945582757

Product Description

A personal history of Atlantic City during its heyday as the nation's center of popular entertainment, Chance of a Lifetime focuses on the decades before and after World War II, when celebrities and tourists flocked to "America's Playground" -- and political corruption, illegal gambling, bootlegging, and prostitution were all sanctioned as part of the Atlantic City experience. Beginning with the early attractions of the resort, then exploring the power base of political boss Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, and later Paul "Skinny" D'Amato and his famed 500 Club -- a venue that encapsulated everything good, bad, and fun about the resort town -- we are given a nostalgic tour of the "good-bad old days." This intimate account is told by insider Grace Anselmo D'Amato, whose husband managed the 500 Club for his brother Skinny. The book includes a foreword by the renowned Atlantic City historian Vicki Gold Levi, who experienced the 500 Club at its height in the 1950s as a teenager. With an extensive private collection of celebrity, 500 Club, and historic Atlantic City images, Chance of a Lifetime is lavishly illustrated with 178 photographs specially printed on 96 gallery pages -- with additional images throughout the text.

Customer Reviews:

Inside history of how Atlantic City earned its reputation.......2003-08-09

Chance Of A Lifetime is the inside history of how Atlantic City earned its reputation for being the Queen of Resorts, especially focusing upon the lives and labors of political boss Enoch "Nucky" Johnson and 500 Club owner Paul "Skinny" Johnson who founded an economy on vice as a matter of civic pride. An engaging, uproarious true tale of sin, scrambling, and glittering legacy, Chance Of A Lifetime is a unique and welcome addition to 20th Century American History in general, and New Jersey State History in particular.

Interesting subject matter...rambling prose.......2002-09-12

While the subject matter of this book is quite intriguing, the writing style of Ms. D'Amato leaves a great deal to be desired. Quite frequently the text goes off on a tangent, then quickly returns to the subject at hand, and the reader is left scratching their head, wondering why the author even brought up the "sidebar".

As it is probably the only book available (to my knowledge) on Mr. Johnson and Mr. D'Amato, I can recommend it from a subject perspective. Just be prepared to have to go back and re-read sections trying to make some sense of them.

A great book on Atlantic City in the pre casino days!!.......2002-05-06

Being a native New Jerseyan, I really appreciated this book. the author makes you feel as if you have a front row seat at the "Queen of Resorts" a.k.a. Atlantic City, New Jersey! The reader will get a close up view of the "Rat Pack" boys,Frank Sinatra and Dean Martine..and the close relationship they had to "Skinny" D'Amato. This wonderful book is packed with photos of life Atlantic City back in the 40's and 50's...how different life was then in the "nightclub" era..when people dressed up and went out in search of entertainment..how different we live now with cable TV, computers, etc. This book can almost be an historical document..into the past..and what a contrast between the Atlantic City of today with her towering casinos, and the Atlantic City of yesterday!

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT!
You don't want to put it down!
This book was really great!!
A truly touching story.
About two skaters who have followed their dreams.

Chance of a Lifetime (Silver Blades)
Melissa Lowell
Manufacturer: Skylark
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 055348527X
Release Date: 1998-01-12

Book Description

Book Three in an exciting Olympic trilogy!

Tori and Jill are getting the chance of a lifetime. They're going to Japan for the 1998 Winter Games--Tori as a member of the U.S. Olympic team, Jill as an alternate. They're both extremely excited.

But Tori is also scared. Very scared. She has a serious muscle disease that is slowly draining her body of strength. It took every ounce of Tori's energy just to finish her routine at Nationals and qualify for the Olympics. Now she must skate in front of the world. But even walking is torture for Tori lately. And she knows that if she fails, she'll let down everyone she loves...and her entire country.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT!.......2005-02-06

Lowell does excellent work in this book capturing life at the Olympics, mixed in with family problems, and how athlete's aspire to greatness despite all the odds. It is superb. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

You don't want to put it down!.......1999-11-15

This is the final book of a three-book mini-series. The end of every chapter leaves you hungry for more. It is about two girls trying to rising to the top of the world of figure skating. In Chance of a Lifetime, Tori and Jill are competing in the Olympics. Tori is skating with a serious muscle diease against all odds, and trying to be strong when all she recieves is pity. The other girl, Jill, finds out how differently alternates are treated at the Oympics than skaters competing. This book is sad at some points, funny at others, and really a thrilling book overall. It's a must for girls who love ice-skating.

This book was really great!!.......1999-06-06

This book was great and I liked the way it ended.The book shows Tori's feelings,and also had chapters on other characters insights.I give this book five stars,it was the best of all the books in the Silver Blades series.It's great!!!!!!!!!!

A truly touching story........1999-05-11

Tori must have felt wonderful after winning the Olympics. This book was sad and happy. I wished that Tori could've somehow worked her strength past this awful disease and still have been able to skate. A beautiful heart- wrenching story.

About two skaters who have followed their dreams........1999-04-24

This book is about two skaters who have followed their dreams to skate at the Olympics. Melissa Lowell uses her imagination to create two skaters going to the Olympics instead of Kwan and Lipinski. This book is one of a three-book miniseries and of all of them I think it's the best! I'd give this book 5 stars, the first one for the drawing on the cover, the second one for the creativity of the book, third for the surprises, fourth for the adventure, and fifth for the humor. At the end there is a big surprise! Tori, who has a disease that can have her end up in a wheel chair, won the gold and Jill is in third. It was a great book. I'd recommend it for ages 7-12. I hope you enjoy the book!

Average customer rating:

This one's a keeper!
A great romantic read!
An excellent book with wonderful characters.

Chance Of A Lifetime
Amy Leigh
Manufacturer: Amber Quill Press, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592799507
Release Date: 2003-02-07

Product Description

Auto mechanic, Trace Jones, wants two things from life-to be left alone and to start his own business. Crashing his car and becoming stranded on Emily Payton's pig farm in rural Missouri puts a definite kink in his plans.

Emily Payton knows her swine better than anyone. As far as she's concerned, she'd rather keep company with a pig than any of the men in her community, who don't even see her as a woman.

In danger of losing her farm to back taxes, Emily doesn't need the distraction of Mr. California gorgeous. Trace Jones is nothing but a sexy, brooding diversion from her worries-until she breaks her arm.

How can Trace ignore Emily's plight when he can't ignore the growing attraction between them? She is everything he isn't-innocent, kind, good. Now all Trace has to do is convince Emily he is her Chance of a Lifetime.

Customer Reviews:

This one's a keeper!.......2003-02-15

Chance of a Lifetime is Amy's Leigh's first novel, and what a treat it is! It's humorous, heartwarming, and the characters practically leap off the page they're so real-to-life. Ms. Leigh does an excellent job of creating regional flavor and dialogue, and the ending sent me rushing for my hankie. This is definitely a romance author you'll want to keep an eye on!

A great romantic read!.......2002-01-26

An excellent book with wonderful characters........2002-01-14

Amy Leigh's talent really shines in this warm and witty book. I love how her non-traditional heroine and her sexy-as-all-get-out hero make their way down the bumpy road to love. From the moment he crashes into her tractor to the last lingering kiss, these two are a wonderful couple.

I also really enjoyed Ms. Leigh's vivid use of language. She creates images that make the story really come to life. I look forward to more stories from her.

Don't miss Chance of a Lifetime. It's a wonderful book.

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