Book Description

What price would you pay for adventure and knowledge?

Chris and Chrissy Rouse, an experienced father and son suba diving team, hoped to achieve widespread recognition for their outstanding but controversial diving skills. Obsessed and ambitious, they sought to discover the secrets of a mysterious, undocumented World War II German U-boat that lay under 230 feet of water.

They paid the ultimate price in their quest for fame.

This gripping narrative recounts the Rouses' growing lust for what many consider the worlds most dangerous sport -- as well as for the cowboy culture of the deep diving community. Many friends wondered which would win out if it came down to a life or death diving situation: Chris's protective instincts, or Chrissy's desire to surpass his father's successes.

Author Bernie Chowdhury, an expert diver and a close friend of the Rouses', explores the thrill-seeking world of deep sea diving, including its legendary figures, most celebrated triumphs, and gruesome tragedies. By examining the diver's psychology through the complex father and son dynamic, Chowdhury illuminates the extreme sport diver's push toward and sometimes beyond the limits of human endurance.

Read by Kevin Conway.

Reviews (103)

A Must Read for Divers and Those Interested
As a newly certified OW diver, I read this book on the recommendation of my instructor. I would say this is a must read for those with an interest in the world below the surface. Chowdhury does a good job at presenting an overview of diving from a diver's perspective, risk management, wreck and cave exploration, vignettes of the dive community, and a little bit of the story of Chris and Chrissy Rousse. The content of this non-fiction book gets 5 stars from me. The organization and writing style leave room for improvement. Good effort for authorship when one considers the fact that Chowdhury is a diver and not Dickens or Twain. For the diver, this book is an eye-opener. For the non-diver, this a volume of many entries into our world. This book is a gift I will pass onto any of my friends who are new to diving or have an interest in diving.

Riveting yet disturbing I couldn't put it down
Bernie takes you on a trip with the Rouses. At the same time you learn some history of wreck diving and the people that (for better or worse) were involved. I was truly disturbed by the attitude of many of the wreck divers, especially one quick passage about a diver that let another die when he might have been able to save him. I also disagree with the philosophical statements, but I must admit, these were very few, two that I can think of. Overall it was an intriguing story, one that I couldn't put down. You feel as if you know some of the people when you are done and wish you could join them. If you are a diver READ THIS BOOK. Most accidents are diver error and reading of others might help you be better prepared. If you are not a diver but like adventure books you will enjoy this because you will feel like you are there.

A diver's must-read
As a wreck diver and technical diver in training, I jumped at the opportunity to read The Last Diver. I could not put it down, partly because of the gripping narrative, and partly because I had done so many of the things writting about in the book. But unlike the divers in the book, I am not a cowboy and I am SAFETY all the way. The lesson of the book is that both recreational AND technical diving is still relatively safe as long as you obey the rules of the game. The divers who lost their lives in the book The Last Dive all violated the rules - big time. Do that, and sooner or later you are going to pay the price. Its a lesson that we all need to learn again, whether we are doing our first dive or our thousandth.

Dive safe,

D. Keith Lamb
Master Diver

Essential Reading
Essential reading for any budding deep or wreck diver. This book is not a technical diving manual, but rather an account of what not to do when you go diving. The book is well written and you will have difficulty in putting it down. Well worth the money and essential reading for any diver with intermediate experience.

Hardcore divers must read - others would enjoy
Cave and wreck divers all over the world should read this book. Excellent story and well written. Even nondivers would enjoy this book. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

An inspiring, heartbreaking, unforgettable book.
Vera Brittain is not always easy to like. She's frequently disagreeable, usually opinionated, always challenging. But she also has more courage, strength and vision than most people you will ever encounter. As part of the first generation of women to achieve a university education in England, she put her studies aside to volunteer as a nurse on the front lines of World War I. This seminal event in world history profoundly altered her philosophy as she suffered the heartbreak of losing the two men she loved most in the world. Her triumph over tragedy should be inspiring to anyone who has ever lost a loved one, as she turned her grief and anger at the war into a lifelong committment to the cause of pacifism. Brittain is a beautiful writer with a sharp wit and an incisive mind. Her portrayal of the brutality of war and the tragic consequences of "God and country before all" makes for perhaps the most powerful anti-war book ever created. This is not only a testament to youth, but also to the courage and resiliancy of the human spirit.

A wonderfully moving personal account life during WW1
This book by Vera Brittain is one of the most moving that I have read. Written as an account of the experiences of young men and women at the onset and during the First World War, it gives a particular insight which is different from, but equally absorbing as, those accounts, so often understated, of soldiers who fought in the trenches during the conflict. To be more accurate, while she recounts the feelings and experiences of the men who were closest to her, hers is the only woman's viewpoint which is given in any depth - and, indeed, it is her personal account, given in such depth that it draws in and involves the reader in a way unlike any simple factual account of events. While it recounts in some detail her own work as a nurse in the war theatres, it is a story with as much muted romanticism as those of the Brontes or Jane Austen, and belies to a degree the orthodoxy of Vera Brittain's feminism. This is a book to be recommended without hesitation, for anyone interested in the period, but also as a timeless account of human endeavour, endurance and love.

Why isn't this GREAT Book better known here in the States?!
Reading the first few pages of this extraordinary memoir convinces me that Vera Brittain was truly one of the great writers ever! In fact, it must be among the very greatest memoirs ever. So when I mention this book to friends, they without exception , have never heard of it! Granted it's about a war from long ago, starting 90 years ago, a horror that Vera B. looks at, and condemns with all her passionate genius. And there were hundreds of classics written at the time, written about this most senseless of wars, a slaughter worse than anyone could ever have predicted. But she describes with great compassion this nightmare, and its effect on herself and her generation. When you read about how her fiance is killed, it will be difficult not to put the book down, and do some serious thinking. And her nursing efforts aboard the SS Brittanica (later sunk by a German U-Boat) make a fine story as well. The book may be a bit dense, and overly literary, but it seems that during this era quoting poetry was a normal part of conversation, unlike today!.Anyway, give this book a chance and you'll be completed entranced by this incredible author!

Gift Book
I first became aware of this author when I saw the PBS series of this book. Another reviewer was right, it should be a movie, instead it was a television series. I also had this book, then someone borrowed it and they lost it. I found a new copy at a garage sale and everytime I find a copy, I buy it as I am always giving them away as gifts telling people that they must read this book.My 16 year old daughter loves it also. It is well-written. As someone who taught high school history, I know how important having an interesting book dealing with history is when trying to get most teens to think about the past.. I also recommend reading Testiment of Friendship and Testament of Experience, the continuation of this story.

it never ends
it has been a while since i have read this book, & i have to replace my lost copy, but, i still remember how unsparing it is.
i got it to learn more of what my maternal grandfather went through. several years ago, i learned from listing to john mccdermot's version of eric bogle's "and the band played waltzing matilda" my mum listened to it with me. i have never been able to listen to this song without at weeping or at least tearing up. as i wiped my eyes, my mum casually informed me that her da had miraculously survived gallipolli! knowing that fact let me on trying to find out about the nice little corner of hell known as the great war. (i am not a christian any longer, but, i retain a very real idea that hell is real, not a place you goto when you arn't a christian, but, a place we put each other in) this book is more important than ever, & i would like any person who is thinking war is glorious, or willing to rush in head first, it should be reqired reading. writing this on sept 11th, & as a person of whom some of their earliest memories are of watching the veitnam war on television, & who knows all too well the damage war does: (my paternal uncle jaime died in italy five weeks before ww2 ended) in memeory of the dead of all wars, the sept 11 victims, & the ones whose bodies lived, but their souls died. sometimes, i think the first two catagories are the lucky ones, to quote long john silver via robert louis stevenson. thank you, vera brittain. i hope that you are back with your finance, your brother, & his mates, young again, & i deeply hope that all of you are at peace now. (revised slightly on date indicated, but, written on the first anniversary of 9/11) ... Read more

Book Description

My Utmost has sold 5 million copies in the last two decades

alone, but remarkably few people know its fascinating story.

Learn of Oswald Chambers’ life, his sense of humor and his

love for children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Man Behind The Mission : Trust God In Everything
I've been reading my utmost for his highest since 1986(14 Years).Eachtime I read it I draw closer to our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. AsI read his biography, I again was drawn closer to God.His life is areflection of Jesus Christ in our modern day. While we live in a day ofpleading and begging for funds and help, Chambers has again brought us backto the reality of trusting the Father and Jesus Christ, for our most basicneeds.When we trust and obey, Jesus can move mountains.Jesus neverwhined, nor begged, nor worried; neither did He ever seek for Himself.Itwas always for the Father.Oswald's life always pointed to Christ, neverhimself!His eyes were always focused on our Lord, and material possesionsnever obstructed his view (That's because he continually gave awayeverything he ever had).David McCasland has done a tremendous job ofresearching, compiling, and blending: the life, writings, and the humanessof Oswald Chambers.Seeing his life has really helped me to understandhis radical devotion to Christ, and how I can practically give my utmostfor His highest.If you desire to be a disciple of Christ, this is amust read for you.No other man has brought me to the feet of Jesus, likeOswald Chambers.

Bob Moorer A man who loves Jesus ... Read more

Book Description

"This is the story of an extraordinary boy with a brilliant mind, a heart of gold, and a tortured soul. It is the story of an illness, a fight to live, and a race against death."

From the day he was born, Nick Traina was his mother's joy. By nineteen, he was dead. This is Danielle Steel's powerful personal story of the son she lost and the lessons she learned during his courageous battle against darkness. Sharing tender, painful memories and Nick's remarkable journals, Steel brings us a haunting duet between a singular young man and the mother who loved him--and a harrowing portrait of a masked killer called manic depression, which afflicts between two and three million Americans.

Nick rocketed through life like a shooting star. Signs of his illness were subtle, often paradoxical. He spoke in full sentences at age one. He was a brilliant, charming child who never slept. And at first, even his mother explained away his quicksilver moods. Nick always marched to a different drummer. His gift for writing was extraordinary, his musical talent promised a golden future. But by the time he entered junior high, Danielle Steel saw her beloved son hurtling toward disaster and tried desperately to get Nick the help he needed--the opening salvos of what would become a ferocious pitched battle for his life.

Even as he struggled, Nick's charisma and accomplishments remained undimmed. He bared his soul in his journal with uncanny insight, in searing prose, poetry, and song. When he was finally diagnosed and treated, it bought time, but too little. In the end, perhaps nothing could have saved him from the insidious disease that had shadowed him from his earliest years.

At once a loving legacy and an unsparing depiction of a devastating illness, Danielle Steel's tribute to her lost son is a gift of life, hope, healing, and understanding to us all. ... Read more

Reviews (165)

Heartbreaking ... Felt like I knew Nick ...
I am 27 years old, have bipolar, and often cried during my reading of
this book. I read most of it. At times, I felt I couldnt finish
reading it, because the pain described by Danielle Steel is so real.
God Bless her for writing it.

I felt more heartbroken about Nick
than any woman who broke my heart in the past. I think the phrase
"brilliant mind, heart of gold, and tortured soul" sums up a
lot of it. It's amazing to describe so much in those few words.

I've research bipolar very extensively since accepting it almost
two years ago. I felt this book hit me hardest in terms of emotional
response.

Danielle Steele's phrases, "Fly well my darling
boy, till we meet again" and one about this not being the book I
planned to write and dedicate for you brought tears to my eyes.

This Bright Light In A Dark World
After reading Danielle Steel's book and during the time that I was reading it I found it very haunting in the sense that living with bi-polar disorder myself how unfortunate and sad it really to suffer with this. I know that as a teenage I had put my peers and family thru a great deal of heartache and stress. I found it difficult to read in some areas because it reminded me of myself and how others viewed me. It is all the more tragic that Nick could not be alive today to write a personal perspective of his life and living with this disorder. It sometimes is very difficult to try to make others understand when you explain the disorder yourself and what you feel and all of the emotions you go thru. I found the book very insightful on Danielle Steel's perspective of living with a child who had this problem. I very much recommend this book to any parent or close friend who lives with a loved one who is bi-polar.

My 1st Danielle Steel Book...Ever.
I admit it. I've never read a Danielle Steel book. I've never been interested enough, although I know many people who rave about her. Her stories just aren't necessarily my "cup of tea." However, I was highly recommended this true-story book about her son's life by a friend of mine, so I decided to give it a try.

I got to experience DS's flair for writing and its conversational style. It was very easy to read and held my interest. Pages flowed into the next. I can see her widespread appeal.

Not only was the story sad yet uplifting, but "His Bright Light" helped me to understand manic depressive behavior intimately as DS learned it herself over the years. It was quite the lesson in psychology for those who don't want to get bogged down with or can't quite grasp the technical or scientific aspects of it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to know more about the disease, her son's life, as well as DS's life. She provides some great autobiographical material for those interested. It's a quick read, and it'll be worth the effort, especially if you know someone with similar challenges in their own life...

His Bright Light
This book is a true story written by Danielle Steel portraying the life of her son Nick Traina who was diagnosed with manic depression and committed suicide at the age of 19 yrs. Danielle Steel, a picture of beauty and strength, writes very candidly about the struggles she endured in raising him amidst a large family and a busy schedule. The book tends to be somewhat graphic, a little morbid, but might be very helpful for parents who struggle with difficult children or those suffering from mental illness in their lives. I appreciate Danielle Steel as an author even more after reading this book because of her willingness to share her true feelings and pain.

Very stimulating
I read this book about five years ago and I still think about it and some of the things that happened in it. I am bipolar and do not have people that I can talk about it with and sometimes I think I am totally crazy for some of the feelings and thoughts I have. Reading this book helped me to see that I am not alone, that others with the illness have the same actions. I also feel for his entire family because I know what I have put mine through. I was around 30 when I started having bipolar episodes and I have lived with it for 10 years. I hope they find a cure some day so we can all be free. ... Read more

Book Description

"I started out to write a book called A Portrait of the Artist as a Housewife.I wanted to write a collection of stories, poems and vignettes about things like my toaster oven and my relationships with plumbers, mailmen and delivery people.But life dealt me a much more complicated story..."

Gilda Radner died on May 20, 1989, shortly before publication of her book It's Always Something.A month before her death, Gilda entered a Los Angeles recording studio to deliver what would be her final performance -- this remarkable audio autobiography, in which she reveals the inspirational story of her struggles with cancer...a private, personal battle in which the humor and humanity that has touched millions became her most powerful weapon. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

this book is heartbreaking and inspiring all at once.
it took me only one day to read this entire book. gilda was a brave and inspiring woman. god bless all who have cancer.

I truely couldn't put it down.
When I found out I had to do a project on Gilda Radner I was stunned. It was for my American history class. I had never been a huge Gilda fan, but seen a few of her SNL skits, so I thought to myslef 'how did she change history'. I had no idea, until I read this book. Not only did Gilda change comedy forever, but she gave many cancer patients a reason to try and live. My Aunt had ovarian cancer durring the 80's, and told me that with out Gilda's advice, she would have wanted to die. Gilda wrote this book while she had cancer, what an amazing thing to do. She wrote a beautiful book that truely I wouldn't put down. I read the book 4 times, and still wanted to read it again. Gilda finds a way to tell her story as your own. She touches something from your past or future. It's such an amazing book, and i recomend it to people of all ages.

It's Always Something........Something Wonderful
On Sunday, May 21, 1989, I was dining at a favorite restaurant, poring over the front page of "The Kansas City Star." When I saw the cruel headline ("Gilda Radner Dies at 42"), my appetite vanished - and I felt as if I had lost a very close friend. Two months later, battling my own chronic illness, I was given a copy of "It's Always Something" while hospitalized with major depression. I had always loved Gilda from "SNL", but now I loved her even more.

The gifted comedienne's gripping, poignant, wrenching (and, yes, at times humorous) account of her fight with Ovarian cancer touched my heart, and I mourned her death even more fully. Ovarian cancer ended Gilda's life, but Radner's tragedy didn't begin and end there. The medical community failed Gilda. Her maligancy was not diagnosed until TEN MONTHS - that's right - nearly a near - after her symptoms began. By the time she underwent surgery in October 1986, she was at Stage IV in the illness - a time in which survival rates are distressingly low.

I'm angry. I was angry in July 1989 - and I'm still angry nearly 15 years later.

But the sorrow and regret do not mitigate the joys and beauty of Gilda's wonderful book. Her vulnerability, endearing childlike innocence, her abundant wit, her lovable nature, and her enduring kindness pervade "It's Always Something." And that's probably why I loved this book, even at the lowest point in my own life, when I was facing potential long-term hospitalization.

Luckily, I didn't have cancer, but I still relate - in spades - to Gilda's frustration with the medical establishment. I'm still fighting the condition diagnosed 15 years ago, and I still love and revere the beloved comedienne who inspired such loyalty from so many.

I adore Gilda Radner, and "It's Always Something" I'll carry in my heart.....forever.

Truly Inspiring
I have always loved Gilda Radner's sense of humor, but this book showed me there is much more to her than just her ability to make people laugh. This book was written by Gilda herself and chronicles her battle with ovarian cancer. She goes into detail about certain procedures she had done, about how she reacted when she lost her hair from chemo and about how the Wellness Community helped to keep her sane when she could no longer cope with having cancer. I had tears in my eyes thoughout the book, but I was able to smile and rejoice along with Gilda when she managed to put a positive spin on a bad situation. It doesn't matter if the reader can relate to her experiences or not. This book will touch your heart either way.

A brave woman...
I read this book during the big blackout (using my trusty booklight), and it really affected me. Such a vital, funny, and brilliant young woman who was lost to ovarian cancer much too soon. It made me laugh, cry, and all the emotions in-between. A must-read book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Compassion only occasionally lightens the grim tone of Jamaica Kincaid's searing account of her younger brother Devon's 1996 death from AIDS. As in novels such as Annie John, Kincaid is ruthlessly honest about her ambivalence toward the impoverished Caribbean nation from which she fled, her restrictive family, and the culture that imprisoned Devon. That honesty, which includes chilling detachment from her brother's suffering, is sometimes alienating. But art has its own justifications. The bitter clarity of Kincaid's prose and the tangled, undeniably human feelings it lucidly dissects are justification enough. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

ENIGMATIC
Kincaid is one of the pillars of American literature at present. Her AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MY MOTHER was nominated for the prestigious Dublin-IMPAC Award, and a widely-praised writer. Her brother, Devon Drew, died of AIDS at a very young age (he was only thirty-three). He was an intelligent, charming young person, and a dreamer who could have been something. He died, however, as an unknown, "of a disease that had a great shame attached to it."

Their mother is a powerful and, at times, threatening figure. She, of course, is the central character of this biography (despite the fact that its title suggests otherwise). What she did in the past (The burning of Kincaid's books when she was a child) consumes a quarter of "My Brother".

I found the MY BROTHER frustrating when I first read it (In fact, I wrote an earlier review trumpeting how bad it is). But this is a very confronting, powerful book, and worth reading. One that is enigmatic, and humane underneath

Enlightening
I first read Jamaica Kincaid's work in "Talk Stories", and I loved it.

I discovered this book (My Brother) when reading the book "Writing as a Way of Healing" by Louise DeSalvo.I was curious about Jamaica's life and her writing style intrigued me.

Through her writing, Jamaica brings beauty to even the most difficult of life's experiences.She writes, "That sun, that sun.On the last day of our visit its rays seemed as pointed and unfriendly as an enemy's well-aimed spear."(p.73)

Her writing is honest and balanced between expressing the hard aspects and the kindness within her family life.This book is mostly about her brother dying of AIDS, a very difficult subject matter to read.I also enjoyed reading about how she became a writer, and what it means to her to be a writer.

This book also tells about life in Antigua, which I was especially interested in learning about.The next book I will read by Jamaica is "A Small Place", to learn more about life in Antigua.

Where's the story?
Normally a fan of Jamaica Kincaid, this book was terribly disappointing.Kincaid tells the story of her brother's battle with AIDS . . . well, sort of tells it anyway.

This book tells the reader surprisingly little about any story.Kincaid, wrapped up in age-old animosity toward her mother does not tell the story of her brother's fight with a deadly disease, or the story of her brother's death, or the story of her brother's life, or even her own story of how she dealt with all of this--all of which would have been fascinating stories had they been told.Kincaid's feelings toward her mother seem not quite unfounded to the reader but certainly a bit mysterious.There is deep conflict between the author and her mother but as readers we have only two or three explanations for the mother/daughter difficulty.If this were only mentioned in passing we could overlook this flaw, however, Kincaid is extremely hung up on the issue and the ill feelings toward her mother cloud the true story of the book (whatever that may be).

Kincaid's style, usually quite interesting, was lacking in this book.Her wandering, redundant sentences build her excessively long and redundant paragraphs, which are full of distracting and also redundant parenthetical comments.

However, the book is not without a few strong points.There are some good detailed descriptions--particularly of her brother's physical condition and of specific places.Kincaid also does a fine job of describing her various feelings when she realizes toward the end of the book that she knew her brother even less than she had previously thought (and she never claimed to know much about him to begin with).

My advice is to pass this book by and pick up one of Kincaid's novels, or--even better--get your hands on one of her short stories.

A Complicated Work
I'm still thinking through the issues raised in "My Brother" -- and I suspect that it will be one of those books which, though it feels a bit hollow as I read it, will turn out to haunt me in the future.Only time will tell.The most remarkable thing about it, I think, is the way that Kincaid refuses to valorize any of the characters she describes.The incredible ire towards her mother is the only emotion that feels puzzling, given the lack of context for it -- I kept waiting for a revelation there that never came.With this exception, however, Kincaid seems committed to presenting a balanced portrayal:she does not heroize the dead, nor does she portray herself as particularly wise or noble in the face of death.It is this commitment to a human, complex portrayal that makes the description unique.

I just want to add that I am only posting this to counteract what appears to be a long list of high school book reports that make up most of the "reviewing" on this page....

Jamica Kincaid, a story of family and loss
Jamaica Kincaid tells the story of her ill brother and his encounters with the virus HIV. The story has the title of My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid. The story is essentially written to save Jamaica's own life. Whenever there is a tragic happening in her family, she writes about to let her feelings out and she also tries to exclude herself from her family. She moves away from Antigua once she became old enough to do so. Jamaica goes through sever years without connection to her mother and her siblings. Jamaica struggles to find feelings for her sick and dying brother as he spends his last days in an old run down hospital in Antigua. Jamaica is only able to let her own feelings out in a comfortable manner to Dr. Prince Ramsey. Jamaica is unable to communicate with her own mother. This is due to Jamaica's feeling that her mother was only a mother at certain times. Jamaica is driven on the idea that her mother only wants to care for her children if they were sick or in need of caring. Any time other than that, Jamaica thinks she had a poor mother. Jamaica is pleased however with few things her mother did. When Jamaica was only fifteen years old, she was forced to look after her younger brother who was only age two. She decided to read her books all day long and decided that looking after her younger brother was not a number one priority.Jamaica realized at the end of her reading that her mother would be home soon so she tried to clean up the things she thought her mother would realize first. One of these things was her brothers diaper but Jamaica did not have enough time to change so once her mother found this out, she took all of Jamaica's books, took them outside, doused them with kerosene, and burned them all, every last book.Jamaica recalls this event as driving her to become a written to make up for all for all of the books that she had lost at a young age.
Throughout the book Jamaica conveys her struggle to find love for her dying brother, Devon Drew. She never was close at all to her younger brother and as her brother became more sick, Jamaica knew she need to do something to redeem her self for all of the years she was absent in the presence of her brother. On page 72, Jamaica and her mother have a conversation about bringing her brother the medicine that prolonged his life several months more. Her mother said to her that god would bless her richly for providing her brother with the medicine, AZT. Jamaica was not sure if what her mother said was true but she was really not concerned with gods or being richly blessed. Jamaica was constantly thinking about how her brother was sick and how much Antiguan society shunned HIV positive people. Even though her brother was feeling better from the AZT, Jamaica knew that eventually her brother would die. On January 19th, 1996, at the age of thirty-three, Devon Drew died.
At certain times throughout the story, Jamaica thinks that it is perhaps better if her brother would just die, but when Devon was no more, Jamaica did not know what to feel. At certain points throughout the story, Jamaica feels that Devon is becoming a burden to her, making fly from her home in Vermont to Antigua, every time her brother needed more AZT. On page 87 she states that it seemed that his dying was a good thing, she was relieved when her brother finally did die. She says " when that moment came, the moment I knew he was no longer alive, I didn't know what to think, I didn't know how to feel" I think that this sentence conveys the struggle Jamaica has internally about her brothers illness and about how she felt about him when he was alive. During the story Jamaica also remembers the death of her father. She got word of his death right around Christmas time and she felt increasingly depressed. On page 119 Jamaica says " In the letter telling me that my father is (that is, the man who was not really my father but whom played I thought of as my father, and the man who had filled that role in my life) had died, my mother said his death left them impoverished, that she had been unable to pay for his burial, and the only charitable of others allowed him to have an ordinary burial, not an extraordinary burial of a pauper, with its anonymous grave and which no proper mourners attend". Throughout the second half of the book, Jamaica demonstrates her increasing anger toward her father and her brother. She becomes very angered at the thought of anyone dying and she keeps feeling that she really did not care about the loss of her father, only how to try and make up for the lost time with her brother, who in retrospect never really seemed to love Jamaica as a sister, just perhaps someone who provided him life with more AZT. Jamaica has difficulty dealing with all of the tragic experiences that has happened to her family, that is why one could feel that Jamaica isolated herself from her family. She feels that at certain times throughout the book she feels that perhaps she is to blame for being in the absence of her ill brother.
One could feel that Jamaica Kincaid does represent a hero but in defined terms. At times the only reason she is able to provide her brother with AZT is because she has had a better life than the rest of her family and she also has more money than the rest of her family.She tries her hardest to find love for her brother, even though she really cannot relate to any of his problems. She buys him temporary relief with the AZT medicine, but she knows that is not enough to make up for all of the lost years she had been without her brother. One might not necessarily think that Jamaica wanted to reconnect with her brother and the rest of her family, one might think that she just wanted to see him again before he died. While visiting her brother the experiences Jamaica had with her mother did make her more stressed out and more prone to mental and physical breakdowns. One could say that Jamaica did triumph all of the death and stress that was associated with her mother and the rest of her family.
One cold imagine that this story is heartfelt at times and a very good read. Some parts of the story were somewhat confusing when Jamaica puts things like my father (not my father but my brother's father) in parentheses. It seems as though she does want a mother and father but at times is seems as though Jamaica knows that maybe they do not want to be parents to her. This book is touching on several levels and anyone who has family members who are sick can relate to this book. This book was moving and really from the heart (of Jamaica Kincaid). One could feel that this book could be given to almost anyone and that person would be moved emotionally as well as physically. This book tells the story of hardship and death a young girl inspired to write her feelings in order to save her own life. Jamaica was inspired by the acts of her mother burning the few items she truly loved in live. Her books. She is familiar with the act of saving herself, so when she found out her brother was sick and dying. She started to write she knew that was the only was to understand his sickness, and she also began to write so she would not die with him. This book was amazing and is truly one of the best works of all times. It deals with emotion and real life situations. One feels that anyone who wants to learn the story of a girl who overcame the impoverished life of her family and the way Jamaica tried to save her own brother even when she could not relate to him, and she did with grace and inner strength that is unprecedented and amazing. She tried to keep a smile on her face and have a strong heart through it all. ... Read more

Book Description

I went to the University of Arizona and I majored in civil engineering because that's what my two brothers had done.

I thought it was the right thing to do.

When I got there, I found that I couldn't pass anything. I couldn't pass a damn thing. I was flunking out and that would be a big scandal in my family. I was getting desperate.

I didn't know what to do.

That December, the Japanese government saw fit to bomb Pearl harbor.

So, next month, January, two weeks before finals, I got very patriotic and I went down and enlisted in the Army Air Corps.

Old Man in a Baseball Cap is a wonderful, hilarious, and haunting memoir. Written when Rochlin was seventy, after he took a storytelling workshop with Spalding Gray, it was originally performed as a monologue and was described by the New York Times as being "about an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances, [it] has elements of an epic: love and death, honor and betrayal, vengefulness and martyrdom, and ultimately, the fortuitousness of survival."

Old Man in a Baseball Cap is an astonishingly fresh, candid look at "the last good war." At once naive and wise, Fred Rochlin's voice is unforgettable. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A Gift For My Father
Author Fred Rochlin implores us in the beginning of his extraordinary memoir to tell our stories. Everyone, not just artists or great thinkers, not just adventurers or philosophers. Five billion people, five billion stories, is the way he sees it. "Tell your story. Tell your story."

And with this you begin to read his: poignant, self-deprecating snapshots of a guy beginning with a classic stumble into the war effort and then just trying to survive when everyone else around him is dying, physically and spiritually. There is a fatalistic bent to his humor, self-deprecating, dry, keenly observant but still achingly innocent. Life, as Fred remembers it seems to be a series of incidents, one inexorably leading to another, and another until you either survive, or you die.

Fred's mission to us in the forward of his book now makes sense: living with those memories and the loss of innocence that is never recoverable has left him with the belief that all human life is sacred and every life is a memory to be cherished. Perhaps if more stories are told, there will be less of a void left by those who did not survive the bombings, the shootings, the camps and the marches.

I know my father, who was given this book for his birthday, and who has never talked of the war, will see Fred as more than just an old guy, but a fellow traveller who blossomed out of the adversity of life and created a miracle out of memories. My father couldn't have a better gift to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday than that.

Old Man in a Baseball Cap
It may be impossible for anyone who personally experienced World War II, or whose parents or grandparents lived through those dramatic and traumatic years, to remain unmoved when reading this profoundly insightful memoir of that time by artist/architect/social and political activist/writer and now performer Fred Rochlin.

Rochlin here tells stories of his role in that war, when he joined the then Army Air Corps right after Pearl Harbor, at the age of nineteen, and flew some 50 missions over Italy as a navigator on B-24 bombers. It is a story filled with horror, humor, pathos, and great wisdom, and it's told by a man who wrote it when he was 70 years old, but who clearly has never lost the wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm of that nineteen year old boy.

Better on Tape
The audio version is the only way to go. Do not listen if you are easily offended by frank talk of the things young men do when they have resigned themselves to unpleasant circumstances. Rochlin is NOT an exemplar of Brokaw's "Greatest Generation." He and his comrades at arms were decidedly human.
Rochlin acknowledges that men of his generation were discouraged from talking about traumatic experiences. He also acknowledges that his memories are factually suspect. While current opinion seems to hold listening in higher esteem than talking, Rochlin maintains that sharing one's stories is a gift to others. It's too bad they didn't give WWII combat veterans a "transition debrief" before they sent them home. Many of them suffered from post traumatic stress for decades and their loved ones never knew exactly what had happened to them. A chance to talk to someone about their experiences might have helped many combat veterans and there might be a better understanding of what that war was really like.

Great Read
Well written in an easy to read, intelligent style. Reminds me of the clarity of Hemmingway's the Old Man and the Sea. Whether embellished or not, the stories transfer to the reader the feelings these young men must have had to go into the meatgrinder week after week. There is a gentle humor surrounding the constant tragedy that was WWII for them. Was a nice follow-up read to Ambrose's book on the 15th Air Corps.

Worst WWII Memoir I've Ever Read
I've been reading WWII vets' personal accounts for more than thirty years and this book JUST DOES NOT RING TRUE. I understand that the author has a stage act where he talks about his experiences. It sounds like he wrote this book with the idea of embellishing his act to (what else?) make money. His adventures come across as the fantasies of a dirty old man, writing what he WISHED had happened. A tryst with his aunt in the back of a truck while his uncle obliviously drives only a foot away? Yeah, right. An affair with a female Yugoslav partisan during weeks of evading Germans in the countryside? Forced to cut a young German prisoner in half with an automatic weapon? Come on! Worst of all, catching a CO (that he obviously hated) in a comprimising homosexual encounter when Mr. Rochlin just happened to peer through the window? Give us a break! It sounds more like petty revenge fifty+ years later. I bought this book at the airport and was looking forward to a diversion during a long flight. How utterly disappointing! Upon my return I expressed my opinion with a friend who'd also just read "Old Man In a Baseball Cap." We were both disgusted and felt completely ripped off. Short, silly and obviously a load of nonsense. Don't waste your money! ... Read more

Book Description

The #1 bestselling author of Embraced by the Light shares her journey of spiritual awakening.

Following the unprecedented response to her #1 New York Times bestseller Embraced By The Light, Betty J. Eadie has shared her message with millions of people eager to enrich their lives with the powerful faith, hope and love she has so memorably described. Now, she takes us to new levels of spiritual discovery by showing how she has transformed her own life with the mind-opening vision that captivated the world.

The Awakening Heart expands on the invaluable knowledge and insights she has received -- showing us how the healing power of positive energy can affect and uplift every aspect of our daily lives. Drawing on Betty's own spiritual awakening following her return to this life, as well as the ennobling experiences shared by some of the people she has met on her journeys, The Awakening Heart radiates the strength of unconditional love, helping each one of us to seek and find the light of God within us.

Betty's message of love is eternal: when we truly serve others, we grow spiritually. The Awakening Heart is an exciting inner adventure and a moving personal quest that will help us open our hearts, light our own spiritual paths, and infinitely strengthen our ability to love and be loved. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

My perspective on life's troubles has changed
After listening to Embraced by The Light on tape, I purchased this book on tape. I've listened to it several times now and benefit greatly each time. I believe that Betty speaks real truth because her message is simple: See with the eyes of love and the world is very different. I think it is best to know Betty's story from Embraced before reading or listening to this book because it is a continuation. I gained an inner peace and calm nature from learning this story that years of psycho-therapy could not have produced.

Another favorite book . . .
Betty J. Eadie continues her message of love in The Awakening Heart: My Continuing Jorney to Love. In this book, she just as delicately conveys her message of an afterlife and that the most important things in life are love and knowledge -- those are the two things we take with us.

In The Awakening Heart . . . Betty tells how her life was affected by the success of Embraced By The Light, and how she struggled with the message she had recevied from the near-death experience. She explains how she felt that earth was so drab and conveys her yearning to return to her real "home" where there was colors like we've never seen here on earth, and where there is love like we've never felt.

Painstakingly, Betty knew she had to live her life fully for her family, and that she had a job to do. She didn't know what her purpose was, but she knew she's be on this earth until it was completed.

An so, The Awakening Heart is Betty's continuing message, in more detail. If more hearts awakened to messages like those that Betty has delivered, it would be a better world.

hoping to repeat embraced
I so loved Embraced by the light that I sought out other books by Betty J Eadie. This book gives the message of hope and love, but not like her first book. Still worth reading if you are a fan of Embraced.

Keep Reading
I loved "Embraced By the Light". It changed my life and way of thinking! "Awakening Heart" did not have the same effect until the end of the book. "Embraced By the Light" challenged old belief systems that were not working in my life and really made me stop and think and want to learn more. "Awkening Heart" seemed redundant until the end, where new information was given. Overall, it is worth the read.I can't wait to read Betty's latest book.

Good, but no "Embraced"
This is a very enlightening book. It can help you to understand your spiritual self. This is not as awe-inspiring as "Embraced by the Light" but I definitely recommend this one to any person trying to understand themself and God. ... Read more

Book Description

Admired and beloved by movie audiences for over sixty years, four-time Academy Award-winner Katharine Hepburn is an American classic. Now Miss Hepburn breaks her long-kept silence about her private life in this absorbing and provocative memoir.

A NEW YORK TIMES Notable Book of the Year

A Book-of-the-Month-Club Main Selection


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
This book is just like Katharine Hepburn herself. Uniquely funny, unconventional, different and beautiful. I found the last three chapters to be especially the one simply titled 'Love', about her unique relationship with Spencer Tracy. Any fan of Hepburn, or of Hollywood's golden era must read this book. It was amazing.

Screwy people who don't like this book shouldn't speak....
I adored this book to no end and have read it about six times - I also own it. The reason that it seems so disconnected is because Kath is telling it just as she would speak it - it is not in true novel form, and as a writer myself, I think it holds up better this way. If you truly appreciate the grandeur of Katharine Houghton Hepburn, then you will love this book, for it sounds as if Kath was right there in the room, talking to you. So, for all of those who gave it a bad rap, I feel this was very ignorant on your part. Read this book!

self-aborb
This is a egostict ramblimg, coherent only in the timeline of
relationship. Its a voyer,s delight, a canidate for National Enquirer publication. This is not edifiying reading---it promote self (as noted by the book title), is not good reading
and obcures the art of writing well. It may be a bestseller as
noted by the New York Times Book List but there are also best selling magazines next to the supermarket checkout stand.

Loved it
I usually dislike non fiction, biographies and autobiographies but this book was so interesting and kept my attention like any fiction novel i usually ejoy. Wonderful woman and wonderful story.

Kate remembered
Please dont write about her if you cant spell her name
-katharine ... Read more

Book Description

How to Supervise People is a step-by-step guide that teaches the proven secrets of inspiring others to perform with pride...of delegating effectively and watching productivity climb.You'll learn how to empower your team members and staff to take ownership of their jobs and work better with one another. This friendly interactive format is ideal for team or individual use. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Good Read!
Donald P. Ladew's book is exactly the sort of manual that all supervisors should have. While the ideas are not generally new, they are effective. The book concisely presents many tools for supervisors. You don't need to sort through jargon - just turn to the thorough, step-by-step lists and scan them for quick reference. The simple and easy-to-follow techniques provide all of a supervisor's essential tools. Experienced supervisors can use this book to refine their skills and improve any weak areas, while neophytes can use it to supplement their knowledge as they gain experience. We at getAbstract recommend this book to supervisors at all levels and to employees hoping to be promoted to supervisory roles. If you keep this straightforward guide in your top desk drawer and refer to it regularly, you can sound like an expert anytime.

The sixty-minute Supervisor
The edition of this book that I read is part of the 'Sixty -Minute Training Series' published by the National Press Publications, a division of the Rockhurst College Continuing Education Center, Inc.It's the type of book that is handed out at two-day training seminars for new supervisors, i.e. heavy on bulleted lists and self-assessment quizzes, and somewhat light on content.

What does it mean to be a supervisor at a large to medium-size corporation, trapped as we are between the rock of upper management and the hard place inhabited by the people we are supposed to supervise?For one thing, it means we don't get much respect.Here is a direct quotation from the feedback section of my company's March newsletter:

"I see little contribution to our company's success when it comes to any employee in a supervisory/area leader role!"

Supervisors also don't get very much training (my company is a refreshing exception to this rule-although I'm not sure it helped in my case). Many of us come up through the technical ranks without a clue as to how to manage people instead of computers or warehouse stock or company finances.Therefore books like "How to Supervise People" can play an important role.This particular book, written by Donald P. Ladew, has valuable (although terse) guidelines in areas such as demonstrating leadership, handling people, team-building, and communication.At the beginning of each chapter, the author tells us what we're going to learn.Then the bullets and summaries come flying at us.We are given a brief pause to write up a plan, or reflect on the qualities of a supervisor we admire, or take a self-assessment quiz.The chapter then ends with yet another summary of what we should have learned.Biff.Bam.Boom. The End---an example of what the back cover calls an 'interactive format'.

I think books like "How to Supervise People" are particularly valuable for a quick review when I'm trying to solve a stressful, possibly long-term problem.It gives me a chance to organize my thoughts, come up with a plan to achieve a positive outcome (instead of giving in to my natural tendency to strangle the person who is causing the problem), and reflect on what I'm really trying to accomplish. Here is a list of the basic qualities that this book feels a supervisor should possess.I think it's a good one:

"1. Be an advocate for the people who report to you. 2. Be fair without playing favorites or being a 'pal.' 3. Create an environment where work can be accomplished. 4. Provide stability during times of change. 5. You must have courage."

Maybe I should post the above list on the wall of my cubicle, for those times when someone else claims that we supervisors make "little contribution"! ... Read more

Book Description

Following the success of the international bestseller Crossing the Threshold of Hope, Pope John Paul II provides the world with a glimpse into his past in RISE, LET US BE ON OUR WAY.Chronicling the years he spent as a bishop and later archbishop in Krakow,Poland through his election as the first Polish Pope in 1978, he recounts everything from communist efforts to suppress the church in Poland to his efforts to adopt a new and more open style of pastoral ministry. With recollections on his life as well as his thoughts on the issues facing the world now, Pope John Paul II offers words of wisdom in this book that will appeal to people of any faith looking to strengthen their spirituality. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A marvellous piece of audio history
As one not old enough to have heard Winston Churchill's speeches at the time he originally gave them, I found this tape simply marvellous.

All one tends to hear nowadays of Churchill's speeches are short excerpts/the highlights. Instead of that, to hear his speeches in full and going back to before the war, is simply a revelation. Has there ever been a greater political speaker? I doubt it.

A must for anyone interested in modern political history and with the added bonus of some brief excerpts from speeches by other notable figures of Churchill's time-eg Harry Truman, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt.

MAGNIFICENT SAMPLE OF ONE OF THE GRETEST WORLD STATEMAN
SUPERB WORK AND FIRST HAND ACCOUNT AND NARRATIVE OF THE DESTROYER OF NAZI TYRANNY IN THE WORLD. ALSO THE NARRATIVE IS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE EVIDENCE OF HOW GRAVE THE SITUATION WAS NEVERTHELESS THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAD WORDS OF HOPE AND SALVATION THRU HIS OWN MADE DETERMINATION TO SAVE THE NATIONS OVERUN BY NAZI TYRANNY BUT MOST UNIQUE HIS BLIND FAITH AND CONVICTION THAT ALMIGTHY GOD WILL DELIVER THE WICKED MAN UNTO HIS HANDS FOR THE MAINTAINANCE OF CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS ON THE WORLD.

An Excellent Compilation of Speeches during WW II
I enjoyed the speeches compiled for this two tape series. They were quite informative, and reflected the mood of the man and the country before, during, and after WW II. I was disappointed the publisher didn't make an effort to clean up the radio static recorded. With digital editing these days, the static could have, and should have been removed.

Winston Churchill's most famous speeches on audio cassette.
Just after the tragic death of Princess Diana in August 1997, Mr. Churchill, a distant relative of the late Princess, began showing up in my dreams. Though I had never been much interested in history before, the dreams compelled me to consume every fact and facet of Winston Churchill's life, and his life has deeply inspired me.

Months ago, I wished aloud that I had an audio tape of Mr. Churchill's speeches -- and then I discovered these tapes from Amazon quite magically. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe the enigmatic Mr. Churchill still has influence in our world.

The cassettes aretapes of Mr. Churchill's most famous speeches before, during and after World War II when he was the most important man in the world -- the prophet of truth and the architect of peace. The tapes also include some of the more famous speeches of Adolph Hitler, portrayed by actor Tonio Selwart. Other speakers include George VI, Eleanor Roosevelt, Goerge S. Patton and Harry Truman. Two of the world's most talented actors -- Sir Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud lend their talents in reading excepts of Mr. Churchill's memoirs.

The tapes containstunnning oratories by Winston Churchill who reaches through the veil even now to inspire and support us through whatever battle of mind, body or spirit that engages us at any given moment. Mr. Churchill was a Visionary. He always saw the possibilities. He always had hope. His advice to us is, "Never despair!" And somehow, his words, his voice, his optimistic spirit will help see us through our own darkest hour and inspire us to be victorious over the forces of darkness, without or within.

History comes alive!
It's interesting to use the word "read"; this cassette presentation of the immortal Winston Churchill allows the 'listener' to picture in her/his mind the late, former PM of England and to capture those great and perilous moments of early 20th Century history. Well done! ... Read more

Book Description

A revealing look at the true beginning of American politics

Until recently rescued by David McCullough, John Adams has always been overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson. Volatile, impulsive, irritable, and self-pitying, Adams seemed temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Yet in many ways he was the perfect successor to Washington in terms of ability, experience, and popularity.

Possessed of a far-ranging intelligence, Adams took office amid the birth of the government and multiple crises. As well as maintaining neutrality and regaining peace, his administration created the Department of the Navy, put the army on a surer footing, and left a solvent treasury. One of his shrewdest acts was surely the appointment of moderate Federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Though he was a Federalist, Adams sought to work outside the still-forming party system. In the end, this would be his greatest failing and most useful lesson to later leaders.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great short analytical "biography"
To start with and to avoid disappointment for those looking for something other than what this is, some of the trade reviews are just plain wrong: this is not a biography focusing on Adams childhood and youth. In fact, it isn't really a biography at all. What it is is a short, to the point but nevertheless fairly deep analysis of Adams' political thought with a particular emphasis on the politics of his presidential administration. It is written from a very positive view point (one shared by David McCullough) and from a view point that is quite hostile to Thomas Jefferson. As such it is an invaluable read for anyone interested in the development of presidential politics in America as well as anyone seeking the "rest of the story" regarding Adams, Jefferson, and their relationship. ... Read more

Book Description

Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky were all members of the famed 1940's Boston Red Sox. Their legendary careers led the Red Sox to a pennant championship and ensured the men a place in sports history.

David Halberstam, the bestselling author of the baseball classic Summer of '49, has followed the members of the 1949 championship Boston Red Sox team for years, especially Williams, Doerr, DiMaggio, and Pesky. In this extremely moving book, Halberstam reveals how these four teammates became friends, and how that friendship thrived for more than 60 years.

The book opens with Pesky and DiMaggio travelling to see the ailing Ted Williams in Florida. It's the last time they will see him. The journey is filled with nostalgia and memories, but seeing Ted is a shock. The most physically dominating of the four friends, Ted now weighs only 130 pounds and is hunched over in a wheelchair. Dom, without even thinking about it, starts to sing opera and old songs like "Me and My Shadow" to his friend.

Filled with stories of their glory days with the Boston Red Sox, memories of legendary plays and players, and the reaction of the remaining three to Ted Williams' recent death, The Teammates offers us a rare glimpse into the lives of these celebrated men -- and great insight into the nature of loyalty and friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

"The Red Sox killed my father. Now they¿re coming after me."
The 1946 World Series match-up between Boston and the St. Louis Cardinals went to seven games before Boston finally lost the championship, and Halberstam makes this seventh game come alive in all its frustrating excitement. The book is unique, however, not because of its rehash of old ball games, but because it brings back an era, more than a half-century ago, when close and supportive friendships developed between players who spent their whole careers on the same team. Telling the story of the sixty-year friendship of baseball greats Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky of the Boston Red Sox, Halberstam shows the kind of friendship which was possible in an era in which players were people, not commodities.

Warm and nostalgic, the book opens in October, 2001, as Dom DiMaggio, accompanied by Boston writer Dick Flavin and Johnny Pesky, makes a melancholy car trip from Boston to Florida to pay a last visit to Ted Williams, who is dying. As the men drive from Boston to Florida, they reminisce about their playing days more than fifty years in the past, recalling anecdotes about their friendship and talking about their lives, post-baseball.

Halberstam uses these memories as the framework of this book, describing the men from their teenage years. All were from the West Coast, all were about the same age, all arrived in Boston to begin their careers within the same two-year period, and all shared similar values. Ted Williams, "the undisputed champion of contentiousness," was the most dominant of the group. Bobby Doerr was Williams's closest friend and roommate, "a kind of ambassador from Ted to the rest of the world," Doerr himself being "very simply among the nicest and most balanced men." Bespectacled Dom DiMaggio, the brother of Vince and Joe, was the consummate worker, a smart player who had been "forced to study everything carefully when he was young in order to maximize his chances and athletic abilities." Johnny Pesky, combative and small, was also "kind, caring, almost innocent."

Stories and anecdotes, sometimes told by the players themselves, make the men individually come alive and show the depth and value of their friendship. The four characters remain engaging even when, in the case of Williams, they may be frustratingly disagreeable. There's a bittersweet reality when Halberstam brings the lives of Williams, Doerr, DiMaggio, and Pesky, all now in their eighties, up to the present--these icons are, of course, as human as the rest of us, subject to the same physical deterioration and illnesses. In Halberstam's sensitive rendering of their abiding relationship, however, we see them as men who have always recognized and preserved the most important of human values, and in that respect they continue to serve as heroes and exemplars to baseball fans throughout the country. Mary Whipple

Friendship
Teammates is a story of true friendship. The book centers around three greats from the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams, Dom Dimaggio, John Pesky, and Bobby Doerr. Their final meeting is used as a backdrop for several stories from their playing days.

The story starts in the final months of the life of Ted Williams. Dimaggio and Pesky are inspired to reunite with their friend before his inevitable death. Bobby Doerr is unable to make the trip because of the health of his wife.

The book is formatted in the same way things were probably discussed in the car that day. The stories build up as each one of the four joins the team with the final addition being Pesky. The book continues as it goes through the teams years as a American League powerhouse. Unfortunately, World War II and the Korean War would be the main factor in preventing these baseball icons for playing in more than one World Series. The Red Sox lost that one World Series to the Cardinals. The play that allegedly turned that series is discussed in detail. The misfortune for which Pesky was blamed is a travesty. Even his teammates try to take the blame from Pesky. Being the stand-up guy that he is, Pesky continues to unjustly accept the blame. The book ends with each playing leaving the team until Williams returns from the Korean War to find all of his friends are gone. This drains much of the fun of the game for Williams. As a consequence he also leaves baseball.

Halberstam really does not write a book as buy as he retells stories from a car ride. This book is certain to become a favorite of those who enjoy baseball or the friendships developed in team sports. It should also be required reading for Red Sox fans.

Moving Tribute to Friendship
This is a moving book about friendship. As baseball legend Ted Williams' lay slowly dying at age 83 in the fall of 2001, his former teammates Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio, and Bobby Doerr considered making the long drive to Florida for a final visit. The narrative focuses on that trip, and the enduring friendship between these four that continued for five decades after their playing days ended. Readers come to know these men, their backgrounds, flaws, strengths, families, health conditions, and post-baseball careers. Fans will enjoy their playing memoirs from the powerful Red Sox squads of the 1940's - teams that often fell just short at season's end. Adding spice to the narrative are Boston sportswriter Dick Flavin (who made the trip) and occasionally the author David Halberstam. This is another outstanding baseball book by Halberstam (SUMMER OF '49, OCTOBER 1964); let's hope he'll write more. THE TEAMMATES is a concise and moving tribute to friendship, baseball...and life.

Life-long Lessons!
When we are young, most of us idolize certain sports heroes . . . usually because of their feats on the field rather than for their characters. Author David Halberstam had the great pleasure of getting to know some of his idols when he wrote the Summer of '49 about the Yankee-Red Sox pennant race in that year. He kept up with his new friends from the Red Sox including Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky after the book came out. When he learned that in 2002 about the last trip that Dom, and Johnny had taken to see Ted, Mr. Halberstam knew that he had a story. This book relates that tale.

The book recounts the backgrounds of all four players, details their friendships from the days when they were in the minor leagues through the end of their lives and provides lots of perspective on the Red Sox during the 1940s and 1950s when these remarkable players were on the team. The end of the book also has the lifetime stats for each player.

One of the intriguing parts of the book is how hard Ted Williams was on himself and his friends. It is a remarkable tale of friendship to see how others would tolerate his abuse by rolling with the punches. Behind the friendships, you get many glimpses of great character . . . character that actually makes their athletic accomplishments seem paler by comparison.

I strongly urge all Red Sox fans and parents who want their children to develop better characters to read this book, and share the story with their friends and family. I know of no better book about athletes that looks at the qualities of true greatness.

Great book about baseball and friendship
Back in the 1940's and 1950's Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr were stars for the Boston Red Sox. Over the next 50 years or so, they remained the closest of friends. This book gives us a good look at that friendship, on and off the field, and at these four men.

It's unusual for a group of friends to stay so close for so long, but reading about the friendship makes you wish you were part of the group.

The book is full of humorous stories about their playing days and the years that followed. It also shows how close this team came to being a dynasty, but ended up only playing in one World Series (which they lost).

Halberstam does a great job, as always, showing us what baseball was like in the good old days and how the friendship between these players grew and remained strong over the years. It's one of the best baseball books I've ever read. ... Read more

Book Description

Adventure/SuspenseLarge Print EditionA single cry from a young refugee shattered Pierres sorrowful resignation over the fate of his twin brother. Could it be that Patrique, a leader in the French Resistance, had survived an enemy ambush all that time ago? If so, why would he be hiding in Morocco? Racing against assassins and time across Europe and into North Africa, Jake Burnes and Pierre Servais pursue a long-abandoned hope. ... Read more

Book Description

When Paul Auster was asked to join NPR's Wee