Book Description

For twenty years, Candice DeLong was on the front lines of some of the FBI's most memorable and gripping cases. Some have called her a real-life Clarice Starling and a female Donnie Brasco. She has tailed terrorists, gone undercover as a gangster's moll, and was one of the agents chosen to carry out the manhunt for the Unabomber in Montana. For the first time, she reveals the dangers and rewards of her career as a field profiler in the FBI -- the world's most powerful law enforcement agency.   Now retired, Agent DeLong offers a "day-in-the-life" glimpse of her work. Field profiling -- pioneered by John Douglas and Roy Hazelwood, who trained Agent DeLong -- is one of the most fascinating and challenging branches of the FBI. She traces the unusual career path that led her to crime fighting and recounts the obstacles she faced as a woman and as a fledgling agent. DeLong takes readers step by step through the profiling process and shows how she helped solve several incredible cases. The story of her role investigating leads on the notorious Tylenol Murderer case is utterly compelling. And she gives a true, behind-the-scenes, inside look at the efforts leading to the arrest of the Unabomber, including the media interference that nearly botched the case.

A remarkable account of courage and grace under fire, Special Agent offers a missing chapter to the annals of law enforcement literature and a dramatic and often funny portrait of an extraordinary woman who has dedicated her heart and soul to the crusade against crime. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

I Led Three Lives
This is the most inspiring book I have read about a woman's career since I became familiar with Ms. Jane Goodall's books about her pioneering work in Africa with chimpanzees.

Many people will see Ms. Candice ("don't call me Candy") De Long as a real-life Clarice Starling (the FBI agent in Hannibal). I think she is more impressive than that. This fascinating book recounts her three lives as a psychiatric nurse who worked with violent patients and did home health care for poor people, an FBI special agent (specializing in profiling of repeated, sexually violent offenders) from 1980 through 2000, and as a divorced mother raising a son alone. Each side of her life is equally impressive, and she is the kind of person we all should admire. She has always done her duty, and we are all the better for that. While many pioneering women in "men's" professions often were given "token" roles, Ms. De Long wanted and went to where the action was. During her career, she rescued a child from a pedophile abductor, captured a terrorist who had murdered three men, and caught a Class A fugitive. She was also present and part of many famous investigations. Her memoir will give you a much better idea about crime and how the FBI and DEA combat it. The book also contains many lessons for how women and children can avoid becoming crime victims.

When J. Edgar Hoover died in 1972, there were no women field agents. By 1980, around 4 percent of the agents were women. At her retirement in 2000, this had risen to 15 percent. Ms. De Long sacrificed a lot to become an agent. She had to leave her young son for 16 weeks for the initial training. She missed a lot of evenings and weekends with him to do surveillance. The training included a lot of harrassment (female and general). For example, she was made to fire a shotgun so often in one day that she developed a permanent injury that kept her from being able to use that shoulder for firing a shotgun again. Another time, she had to box a large man who knocked her out cold. Her starting salary was half what she had made as a nurse. She could accept that. "I wanted to lead a heroic life." She certainly did succeed in that objective. She took the men on at their own game, and was proud of being called one of the "b_____s with badges." Her signature was the fedora she always wore at the Bureau.

Some of the famous cases she worked on included the Tylenol tampering, being part of the surveillance team on the Unabomber leading up to the arrest of Ted Kaczynski, and the brothel closings in Chicago.

She correctly says relatively little about her personal life. But some of the anecdotes will keep you laughing for days. When she was asked to be a hot dog mother in her son's third grade class, the children noticed that she was packing. She got a lot more respect after that, and was invited back to talk about her work. Another time, she accidentally noticed a surveillance suspect while driving around and tailed her. The team had lost the suspect. Only well into the chase did she realize that her son was in the back seat. She kept him safe while her eye was peeled on the suspect.

The profiling work will intrigue you. You will learn about all of the different kinds of creeps who victimize women and children. It was amazing how well the profiles predicted who the guilty party was. Using the profiles allowed the FBI and local police to find the suspects much faster than would otherwise have occurred. Since these are repeat offenders, lives were saved and injuries were avoided as a result. Part of the worst of this was that many times the women could have been saved if someone had called the police. "If you are ever assaulted, never count on help."

The stories of the harrassment she endured from insecure males in the FBI will amaze you. She indicates that conditions improved over time. One of the most ridiculous examples was when she was sent to the home of an informant to babysit his child while the bust went down. She put up with this only because the safety of an innocent child was involved.

I was even more impressed by her work as a psychiatric nurse. Shooting tranquilizers into writhing, distrubed patients being held down by 7 orderlies was probably more dangerous than any of the arrests she did for the FBI. There she had a gun and usually lots of backup.

Her courage was most impressive. When she arrested the terrorist, she kept waiting for her partner to put the cuffs on while she had the drop on the suspect. Eventually, she looked around and realized that her partner was sheepishly waiting in the car calling for back-up. In her haste to make the bust, she didn't take time to put on her bullet-proof vest. Fortunately, the error did not lead to harm, but she took a grave risk in the process. She was astonished to find that the terrorist was more frightened of her than she was of him.

Money problems eventually caused to need to moonlight as a nurse. The moonlighting stories are very entertaining. At first, she kept bumping into agents while she was working the wards. To avoid this, she started doing home nursing in the poorest neighborhoods. This dual career eventually led to her needing to retire in the middle of administrative hearings about whether she was being unprofessional in her moonlighting. Someone should have cut her more slack.

I was impressed by her courage, her idealism, her persistence, and her commitment to doing the right thing. I hope that all young women (and their parents) who are thinking about taking on a dangerous career will read this book. You will be very inspired.

My hat's off to you, Ms. De Long! You're way more than a five star person.

Ms. De Long and Ms. Petrini have done a fine job of writing about this fascinating life, and you will enjoy what they have to say.

After you finish reading this book, I suggest that you rethink your ideas about what women and men can and cannot do. This book once again proves that anyone can do anything, if they want to badly enough.

Live up to your potential to serve others!

The Story of a Woman in the FBI
From 1980-2000, Candace DeLong was a highly respected agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now retired from the agency, DeLong no longer has to abide by confidentiality rules. Teamed up with Elisa Pedrini, DeLong chronicles her career as a woman in the FBI.

Candace joined the agency at a time when few women were considered for the job. Sexism and harassment were the accepted norm back then. Like many women in male-dominated occupations, DeLong had to work twice as hard as male rookies to earn the respect of her superiors.

In "Special Agent," DeLong describes many of the cases on which she worked including the Tylenol tampering case of Chicago. She was also on the front-line as profiling became a valid tool in crime solving. In fact, one editorial quote on Amazon compares her to Thomas Harris' popular character, Clarice Starling.

DeLong doesn't discuss much of her private life, yet she is very candid about her work experiences, both praising and criticizing those within the Bureau. I figured there would be a lot of camaraderie, but I was also surprised to read how petty and competitive the agents can be as well.

My favorite portion of "Special Agent" discusses DeLong's involvement in the Unabomber case. She was part of the surveillance team in Montana and was responsible for detaining Ted Kaczynski while other agents searched his shack. The dialogue and interaction between the two described here is completely fascinating.

The details and pacing of the book held my attention the entire time. The subject matter may be tough for some. However, these are true stories within the FBI, and can't be sugarcoated.

"Special Agent: My Life on the Front Lines as a Woman in the FBI" is an interesting book. Readers will be fascinated by the lenient glance into the files of the FBI. DeLong is an incredibly brave woman and her story is worth your time.

Candice gives as good as she gets!
What an excellent read! The characters and relationships are very intriguing-the author's world is filled with both obvious and subtle villains, as well as obvious and subtle heroes. Candice herself is fun, likeable and strong enough to give as good as she gets. Though she is being constantly second-guessed, undermined and underestimated, she ends up turning her "weakness" into advantage time and again. The author sets up the rivalry between the FBI and the DEA and her unique role walking between the two. Highly recommended.

An incredible profile of dedication and compassion
Candice Delong tells it like it is. This book held me riveted and page turning. I could not put it down. Ms. Delong exemplifies a woman who is dedicated to justice and the right thing to do. At great personal expense Delong did her job. However, as a mother, she had her priorities clearly defined. Delong's son was her greatest priority. The part about the Unibomber wearing her son's coat touched me deeply. This lady is indeed a national hero. In all the turmoil that America is involved in, it is wonderful to read about a woman who has made a difference in so many lives. Courage, integrity, and ethics all apply to this amazing woman.

FANTASTIC !!
Very well written. It gave me chills and I actually got out of bed to double check the locks on the doors and windows (twice) during one chapter! What an amazing life Candice Delong has lead. Any girl or woman interested in a career in law enforcement must read this! ... Read more

Book Description

A gripping memoir that reads like a political thriller--the story of Malika Oufkir's turbulent and remarkable life. Born in 1953, Malika Oufkir was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir, the King of Morocco's closest aide. Adopted by the king at the age of five, Malika spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom, surrounded by luxury and extraordinary privilege.

Then, on August 16, 1972, her father was arrested and executed after an attempt to assassinate the king. Malika, her five younger brothers and sisters. and her mother were immediately imprisoned in a desert penal colony. After fifteen years, the last ten of which they spent locked up in solitary cells, the Oufkir children managed to dig a tunnel with their bare hands and make an audacious escape. Recaptured after five days, Malika was finally able to leave Morocco and begin a new life in exile in 1996.

A heartrending account in the face of extreme deprivation and the courage with which one family faced its fate, Stolen Lives is an unforgettable story of one woman's journey to freedom. ... Read more

Reviews (197)

five stars for story and three stars for style
Malika Oufkir tells us the powerful and tragic story of her life in the book Stolen Lives. She begins the story describing her life as a princess after being adopted by the king of Morocco. She lived an almost unreal life of luxury while at court. The opulence Malika describes is comparable to the time of Marie Antoinette. From the resplendent court, her life is irrevocably altered when her father fails in an assassination attempt and her entire family is placed in prison including her three year old brother.

The family's story is extraordinary. Their triumph of spirit is remarkable considering the duration and horrors which they suffered. We see the importance of unity and belief of oneself and each other. We see incredible love and sacrifice. But we also see how imprisonment can degrade the human spirit and affect the psyche.

We learn in the preface of the book, how Malika came to hire Michele Fitoussi as the co-author of her book. Throughout the book, the reader cannot help but wonder why. It is a shame that such an interesting and compelling story was so poorly written. The author fails terribly in her attempt to describe herself as a sympathetic person prior to her imprisonment. The continual jumping back and forth in time is confusing and annoying to a reader. I also wondered if perhaps the translation was poor, because of the use of certain words and general lack of eloquence from a person who entertained her family with her stories in their darkest hour.

Another book which may interest readers who liked and appreciated Stolen Lives is In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. Readers who appreciate stories about the triumph of the human spirit will enjoy Stolen Lives.

Amazing story that deserves a better telling.
"Stolen Lives" needs to be evaluated on two different levels - the moving tale of a family imprisoned under the worst conditions for 20 years and the way this amazing story has been memorialized by Malika Oufkir and Michele Fitoussi. The subject is engrossing and important, but the book itself is not well-written. This accounts for the disparity in ratings that the book has received.

It is fascinating to read about Malika'a unique and frequently heartbreaking life. The eldest daughter of a Morococcan general, she was taken from her family and adopted by the King. Western readers will find the tales of her life in the royal household surprising and enlightening. Not only was the lifestyle outrageously lavish, it was also consisted of customs and traditions that are completely different from our own. Malika was allowed to return to her own family as a young teenager. She only had a few years to get to know her father and enjoy life outside the confines of the palace. Her father before General Oufkir was implicated in a coup attempt against the King and was assassinated. The rest of the family - Malika, her mother, her oldest brother, three young sisters and three year old baby brother were summarily imprisoned. For twenty years they lived in increasingly brutal and inhumane conditions, persecuted by the King for their father's crimes and forgotten by the world. Thanks to their uncommon courage and ingenuity, the family was able to survive and eventually escape. It's not easy to read about many of the horrors and indignities that were heaped upon the Oufkirs, but it's important that the world know about their story.

Unfortunately, the book is not worthy of this amazing story. It was written by Malika with the assistance of Michele Fitoussi. The first problem is that the book does not give sufficient background about either the history of Morrocco or General Oufkir's powerful role as one of the King's chief aides. Those unfamiliar with Moroccan history will frequently find themself at a loss for context. Second, given that this is Malika's first person account, it necessarily is a very one-sided version of history. Not that I doubt her version of events - I just would have preferred a more complete and well-researched book that included not only Malika's story but also those of her siblings. Malika frequently portrays herself as the backbone of the family, the strongest member who kept them all from succumbing to madness. This very likely is true, but it would have a much greater impact coming from someone else. Finally, the writing style is very repetitive and immature. While Michele Fitoussi is very sympathetic to Malika's story and deserves much credit for persuading her to tell her story, I have no doubt that a more objective and skilled writer would have improved the quality of the book immensely. Hopefully a serious scholar will undertake a complete telling of the Oufkir's story. I, for one, will be anxious to read it.

Shallow and Poorly Written
After living off and on in Morocco for 7 years in the 90's I'd never actually heard of the Oufkirs but I did hear much of the supposed royal excess. I was always taken the stories with a grain of salt. To see them recounted on the pages of this book was interesting to say the least.

It's too bad that this is so poorly written because the story definitely deserves to be told....please someone tell it with a bit more depth.

**Unforgettable**
Some of you may have seen this woman on Oprah a few years back telling of her ordeal. I put off reading this book & had come to the conclusion that I didn't want to read a depressing nightmare of being locked in a remote prison for decades. Then along came a friend of a friend, who encouraged me to read it, that I "needed" to read it.
This book, to me, was life-changing. As I recognize how spoiled us Americans truly are, nothing could've prepared me for this family's struggles.
Malika & her family displayed such amazing gifts of courage & strength that I was blown away. In awe and humbled. Their "tale" was almost just that: a tale. I simply cannot fathom the conditions that these poor people survived in.
As I was continuously mesmerized by their strength during their imprisonment, I was later caught in Malika's greatest feat of all: forgiveness. This woman showed me what a powerful thing it truly is. She forgave with such grace & eloquence that I was just speechless. I speak mainly of her due to the fact that she was "adopted" by the royal family as a child & later cast out in a most horrifying way. As us readers were not given as much detail of her siblings (especially after their release), I can make no assumptions for them. Nevertheless, this family as a whole is an unwavering symbol of love, strength, & survival.
I hope that they are doing well now & thank each one of them for their story.
I hope that I never forget it, for it is a daily reminder of what I have in this life with my freedom & my family.

Amazing Story of the Human Spirit!
I have not done any research to verify if the information in this book is accurate or not. However, it was an excellent read and I highly recommend it! It provided an extraordinary glimpse into the world of human rights abuses and leaves the reader with a deep appreciation for the simple joys that we take for granted.

Malika Oufkir was a teenager in the prime of her life when she was put into horrible prison conditions for twenty years with her family. Her family was being punished for the political actions of her father.

Malika is an excellent story teller and has lives on the inside of the royal family in Morocco so it is very interesting to hear details of her upbringing.

It is extraordinary to hear of the atrocious jail conditions inflicted on this family that was used to such a lavish existence. If you have any interest in human rights or the politics of Morocco then you will be fascinated by this read! ... Read more

Book Description

4 cassettes/ 6 hours
Read by Leo Burmester and Allison Daugherty

From the time they met in 1950, through the 1990's, Ronald Reagan wrote letters to his wife, Nancy. In this beautiful book, those extraordinary letters are woven into a moving portrait of a long and loving marriage as Nancy Reagan shares not only the letters but also her reflections on them, and on the life that she and Ronald Reagan shared, from courtship, young marriage, and the White House years on through to her life today.

No matter what else was going on in his life or where he was - traveling to make movies or for G.E., in the California governor's office, at the White House, or on Air Force One, and sometimes even from across the room - Ronald Reagan wrote letters to Nancy Reagan, to express his love, thoughts, and feelings and to stay in touch. Through letters and reflections, the characters, personalities, and private lives of a president and his first lady are revealed.Nancy Reagan comments on the letters and writes with love and insight about her husband and the many phases of their life together.

The author's proceeds from the book will go to The Alzheimer's Foundation and to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation for the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
... Read more

Reviews (60)

What love! What devotion! Truly sweet and sincere ...
Sweet and sincere best describe this lovely collection of love letters from Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan. The media seemed to show that Nancy Reagan was a control freak and overbearing during The White House years, this book tells another story. The story is of a man and a woman deeply in love and totally committed to one another. What impressed me most was the sweetness and the vulnerability of this once very powerful man.

Many of the letters have been scanned from the original copies so you get a real taste of the time and the personality of Ronald Reagan. The letterhead is often from various places and penned in his own handwriting. These letters show his most private and personal feelings of loving his wife and just how much she meant to him. You also get some insight into his sense of humor and in his ability to love and express love. I was charmed by the feeling that he never took his position(s) in government life so seriously that he lost his true core and his true heart.

At first I was a bit shocked that Nancy Reagan would share something so personal because that was not the impression I once had of her. I also wondered what was in it for her? Fame, she has, fortune? But I later learned the proceeds from this book will benefit the Alzeimers Foundation. Whatever her motivation this is a wonderful surprise of a book and a great way for her to share some really neat things about one of our ex-presidents.

Beautiful Glimpse into the Private Life of Ronald Reagan
What a warm, touching tribute to our late President from his wife! The letters lovingly saved by Nancy Reagan show us a portrait of a genuine, down-to-earth man. I just finished reading this book for the second time, (it's a very quick read), and I was reminded how much I enjoyed the book. Mr. Reagan's integrity, charm, and sense of humor are clearly evident in every letter and "doodle" in the book.

More than half of the letters are from the period before Reagan entered politics. For several years, Reagan was the host of the General Electric Theatre and spent huge amounts of time travelling the country to promote the show. The letters from this period are particularly poignant.

Thank you so much, Nancy Reagan, for sharing your treasures in this lovely book.

GREAT LOVE STORY
seldom read books written by celebrities as too often they are only self serving pap. HOWEVER, this is one of the greatest love stories of all times. Hard to imagine that a man who led such a busy life would find the time, inclination and energy to put his thoughts in writing. A greater gift I can't imagine. The thoughts that occurred to me were the minor things that made him and Nancy so happy with each other and with themselves. My husband was in the Air Force and was gone a lot and was constantly in touch with me either by phone or letter so I know how much it means to have someone thinking of you even when they are so busy and so far away.Thank you Nancy for sharing these intimate parts of your life with us. You have a wonderful husband and I am so sorry you have lost him. But in his own way somehow I know he is still communicating with you.

If You Want to Know What Makes a Good Marriage - Read This
I loved this book. There was little commentary by Nancy so you're left to judge him for yourself. The vast majority of the book is composed of the actual letters he wrote to her and what woman wouldn't love to have a husband say these things to her?? I also appreciated that she put in a couple of non-positive occurances and verbiage that things weren't always perfect. The other thing I liked was that she wasn't embarrassed by their pet nick-names they had for each other. I've been married and my late husband and I had silly nick-names for each other. I'd be embarrassed to tell them publically in a book so I admire that she spent about two sentences explaining them and let it go at that. If you want to understand a truly loving relationship (no matter what your politcal views), this is a must read.

Reading some of the rotten reviews has really
made me mad. But whereas I might get mad or Nancy would be furious, Ronnie would laugh it off as "they're just having a bad day." This was the type of marriage we hope for, dream about, talk about. It is the kind most kids want to see from their parents, the type parents desire for their children, one where they are newlyweds for 50 years. Patti Davis said she knows her father loved his children but when Nancy walked into the room, there was no one else. Just perfect!!

These letters reveal a man helplessly and deeply in love with all his heart. If this is corny or childish, so be it. The world would be a better place if relationships could be this strong. He says it over and over, "You are my life, you saved my soul." The President could wax poetic and plumb the depth of emotions, something few ever manage. The letters were not only loving and tender but also erudite, witty, colorful and quite original. (My favorites are those written in the same room or those in which he refers to himself in the third person.) This is perhaps one of the best personal portraits of an American President that exist.

The letters range over a period of several years and contain some biographical data. Just to set the record straight, the proceeds from this book went to an Alzheimer's fund; the family received not one penny. ... Read more

Book Description

In this reflective audiobook, Pope John Paul II highlights the profound importance of the act of prayer as the cornerstone to faith. An Invitation to Prayer stands as an eloquent testimony to Pope John Paul II's message of peace and love -- a powerful collection that invites us to actively participate in prayer as a duty, a privilege, and an infinite source of comfort and hope. ... Read more

Book Description

Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century.In this riveting account, he tells of his journey from a prison cell to Mecca, describing his transition from hoodlum to Muslim minister.Here, the man who called himself "the angriest Black man in America" relates how his conversion to true Islam helped him confront his rage and recognize the brotherhood of all mankind.An established classic of modern America, The Autobiography of Malcolm X was hailed by the New York Times as "Extraordinary.A brilliant, painful, important book."Still extraordinary, still important, this electrifying story has transformed Malcom X's life into his legacy.The strength of his words, the power of his ideas continue to resonate more than a generation after they first appeared. ... Read more

Reviews (214)

Forget all the Minuses About the Man
Growing up in a home where Martin Luther King, Jr. was considered the closest thing to a saint, I was not aware of much about Malcolm X. He was the ONE who was too radical, too opinionated, and too controversial for my parents to accept.

However, when I saw Spike Lee's masterful motion picture autobiography, I had to find out more about this man. I was led to read the life story in his own words and am I glad that I did.

Malcolm X was an individual who encompassed the rage and the determination of the black man of the 1960's. He began, as have so many struggling to survive in the inner city, as a hustler involved in the numbers game. This led to an incareration which brought him into the "light" of Islam.

His views changed and he spearheaded much of that movement designed to faciliate black economic survival and pride. He was misquoted, misunderstood, and underappreciated by the very people that he sought to uplift.

The book will bring the reader greater insight into this most complex human being. Previous biases about him should be placed aside and take him for what he was: a Black man with a mission, a mission to instill integrity and self-sufficiency in a people long denied many of America's basic principles.

Do NOT underestimate X
Knowing Malcolm X for a colored person is a prerequisite to being socially aware. Time Magazine calls this one of the top ten non-fictions ever. The reasons are clear. This is the most comprehensive, dauntingly honest, transcending account of X. No one energized the colored community with such "self respect" on a mass-level as Brother Malcolm. Malcolm X's charismatic influence as a genuinely intellectual, and intensely thought-provoking leader remains unmatched. The greatest aspect of Malcolm X was his committment to his very own thoughts and thus, speaking his mind. He didn't necessarily say what America's majority wanted to hear. That is why he was so phenomenal, so radical, so involving. His teachings on self-defense, "freedom by any means necessary", true Islam (after the Mecca trip); his urgency in creating forums for colored people, oppressed people world-wide; and his logical prioritizing of human rights before civil rights, are evidential of his deep/complex understanding of race and human nature. The latest version of the book includes a very special message by X's eldest daughter, A. Shabazz. She gives a personal insight into her father's life, goals, and philosophies. But most importantly, she clarifies the misconceptions surrounding X. "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is top-notch. Frantz Fanon's scholarly writing, "The Wretched of the Earth" probably comes second.

This is incredible.
I have only one thing to say about this book: Wow, what an amazing life-story. Anyone who reads this book will be changed in some way. Buy it.

A story about the life a great man and his important life.
a very interesting story about a man's life. The book is written beautifully by Alex Haley as he tells about malcolm's life which is educational and inspiring. This is a recommeded read for people of all races. you will never regret spending money and time on this book.

English 230
So... did these Chicago students have to submit their book reviews to amazon.com as one of their class requirements, or what? ... Read more

Book Description

Rick Husband wanted to be an astronaut since his fourth birthday, but it wasn’t always for the right reasons. Initially, he thought it would be neat . . . cool . . . a fun thing to do. It wasn’t until he came to a spiritual crossroads and was able to give that dream up to discover the true desires of his heart before he actually got into the space shuttle program at NASA. Three failed attempts didn’t daunt this driven pilot—and the fourth interview process, though lengthy and difficult, proved successful for him.

Husband’s years at NASA served not only to develop his integrity and character, but also to increase his faith in a Creator that could not be denied in the vastness of space. His story is not only inspirational but exhilarating and invigorating, as readers will witness the life of a man who consistently pursued the desires of his heart even as he served a faithful God.

Reviews (15)

Finding hope in the face of tragedy
Evelyn Husband's book 'HIGH CALLING' is one of the most powerful books I have ever read, for despite the uniqueness and very public nature of the Space Shuttle 'Columbia' tragedy, it highlights the personal nature of sudden loss and grief which everyone who has experienced it knows. Whether by accident, loss of a loved one thru illness, or even a broken marriage by betrayel, the pain of sudden loss is often overwhelming, and Evelyn's testimony of faith shining thru as her achor is such an inspiration, having experienced personal tragedy in my own life. But as Evelyn Husband shares so openly, only her faith in Jesus Christ gave her the ability to cope in the face of such public mind numbing loss, that God truly is a present help in time of need for all those who will cry out to Him. Her book also higlights what really matters most in life; our relationships! For what does it profit anyone to rise to great success at the expense of one's family, and Evelyn's story of Rick getting his priorities right is such a profound challenge for any man wanting to get his life in right balance - God first,then family, and finally one's career; a timely challenge for many men to follow Rick's example. As for inspiration, Evelyn's declaration of Rick's belief in God as author of the cosmos is so refreshing in the face of so much scientific agnosticism and unbelief, and being an astronomy author myself who believes in God as Creator of the cosmos, Rick's own testimony about the magnificent splendour in God's creation is a welcome affirmation which warmed my heart. Although an account of awful tragedy, it is also an account of great hope, for Rick's journey of faith made him the person he was, a loving man, a loving father, and a man whose faith in Christ made his life such a blessing which shone thru in the way he lived and why he was loved by so many. I hope this inspiring story will bring hope to many lives touched by grief and wanting to find renewed hope and faith. Indeed, such has been the impact in my own life,I have given away seven copies of 'High Calling' to different people including ministers, doctors, pilots, friends and family, for no-one can read this book without being profoundly moved and inspired, especilly about asking the BIG questions about life and faith and God, and finding renewed hope beyond tragedy. This is the most inspiring story I have ever read - thankyou Evelyn. James Waterhouse, BRISBANE, Australia.

Not a random accident
Evelyn Husband writes about her husband's life and faith during a time when I would still be in bed, crying. Her ability to use humor as she tells about their life together is a testiment to the faith she professes in High Calling. The writing is simple, but the people she talks about (not just her husband) are anything but. I found it very comforting to find out, through her walk through of what led up to the launch of the Columbia, that the explosion wasn't just a random, freak accident, but an answer to the earnest prayers of two godly men. The life of Rick Husband is proof that you don't have to "look out for number 1" or "take care of yourself first" to achieve your dreams, as people today would have you believe. I think anyone, whether you love space or not, would find inspiration in Rick's story. Thank you, Evelyn.

Recounts the Columbia Tragedy Historically and Personally
This book provides both an account of the Columbia breakup in February 2003 as well as Rick Husband's wife and childrens' reaction to the tragic loss of their husband and father. The book begins with the family expectantly waiting for Columbia to land, then sensing that something is wrong based on the behavior of the people near the landing site. We then learn of Rick's life, and how the family's faith in Jesus Christ had been so important in their lives. We also learn how Evelyn Husband had to tell her children that their father had tragically died.

Excellent, but not without flaws
At times it felt like Evelyn was going to say something, but then she holds back. The portrait that she paints of Rick is someone without sin, a Godly man, who always aspired to be an astronaut. I felt she could have been more open and honest, and a bit less preachy at times.
Otherwise this book was touching. The real tragedy is that before the Columbia Disaster we as Americans did not consider the Astronauts who routinely risked their lives in manned space flight heroes. Space Shuttle launches were considered routine. The Columbia Disaster was a horrible wake up call. Reading what Rick had to do to get into the Space Program, all the training, all the sacrafices he made, was facinating. Rick Husband was a hero before he ever got into the cockpit of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and this book shows why.

Overemphasizes the religious aspects of this hero
Although I enjoyed this book, it became tedious because of the overwhelming emphasis on Rick's religious beliefs. The book is co-authored by the astronaut's wife, who is evidently very comforted by her religion. Nearly every statement attributed to Rick, whether it mentioned his wife, his children, his family members, or his close friends -- incorporated his religious beliefs. I was more impressed with Rick's determination, skill, leadership qualities, and his desire to do the best he could in whatever he undertook -- which happened to include becoming a test pilot and astronaut, as well as a husband and family man. Don't get me wrong. Our American astronauts are my heroes. Rick Husband was heroic even before his tragic death. A more balanced picture of Rick would have been preferable. The saddest part of the story is that it took the loss of Columbia before most of the world learned how incredibly special the crew was. ... Read more

Book Description

The most riveting political biography of our time, Robert A. Caro’slife of Lyndon B. Johnson,continues. Master of the Senate takes Johnson’s story through one of its most remarkable periods: his twelve years, from 1949 through 1960, in the United States Senate. Once the most august and revered body in politics, by the time Johnson arrived the Senate had become a parody of itself and an obstacle that for decades had blocked desperately needed liberal legislation. Caro shows how Johnson’s brilliance, charm, and ruthlessness enabled him to become the youngest and most powerful Majority Leader in history and how he used his incomparable legislative genius--seducing both Northern liberals and Southern conservatives--to pass the first Civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction. Brilliantly weaving rich detail into a gripping narrative, Caro gives us both a galvanizing portrait of Johnson himself and a definitive and revelatory study of the workings of legislative power. ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Best of the Three Volumes
After reading all 1,040 pages of this biography cum political history there is something to be said for the book. Richard Caro does not admire LBJ. But there is much not to like about LBJ. In the worst way he was deceitful, manipulative, crude, selfish, cowardly, and dishonest, however he was also smart, a very hard worker, willing to make sacrifices to serve ambition, a student of human nature and thrived on politics. He knew what he had to do to get power and, when he had power, he knew how to use it. Caro's research is thorough yet he does not get lost in minutia. There is not a dull page in this tome. For an historian he has a smooth, if not elegant, writing style - reminiscent of David McCullough or Doris Kerns Goodwin.
While this book covers only about 12 years of Johnson's life, it is rich in politics and history. For each biographical episode Caro sets the historical foundation to better understand the flow, the impact and importance of events. A compelling example of this concerns civil rights legislation. Caro does not limit his investigation to the weeks and months preceding the passage of the voting registration law of 1957, rather he goes back to Reconstruction and gives an historical thread up to the 1950's just to get the proper perspective. In this connection, LBJ for years stood with the South and shamelessly blocked civil rights legislation - doing do as a Senator, as minority leader and then as majority leader. It was at the 1956 Democratic convention that he got a rude awakening. He sincerely believed that he had a respectable chance at the nomination for president. It was there he learned that in the eyes of the rest of the country he was just another southern bigot. For the 1960 presidential run he would have to change that image by becoming a champion of civil rights. In executing this turn-around and orchestrating the passage of the first civil rights bill in 72 years Johnson's performance is truly masterful. History and personal ambition came together to serve the county. You can take the last 200 pages of this book alone and sell a 100,000 copies!

Caro Delivers on LBJ Again.
As usual, Mr. Caro's work on LBJ is excellent. In particular, the book starts with a very absorbing overview of the US Senate, showcasing the concept of the founding fathers to make the Senate a bastion of calm and reason. However, he also shows the Senate's inherent flaws so keenly exploited by the southern senators who for many generations successfully fought off Civil Rights legislation. Mr. Caro includes a sobering and retrospective view of the Senate's inherent isolationism to include "what if" the Senate had ratified the Treaty of Versailles and America had joined the League of Nations.

As an historian with a deep background in 20th Century America, I have a professional interest in the topic, but so should any reader with an interest in 1950's America, in particular during the tumultuous challenges brought on by the Cold War and the fight for Civil Rights .

However, this book definitively showcases LBJ's years in the Senate. He remains a larger-than-life figure in American politics and his "history" is truly extraordinary.

A master work with a central flaw
I have read all three of Robert Caro's volumes on LBJ with fascination. Caro is unsurpassed as a researcher, and while there is far too much repetition here (similar evidence marshalled to make a similar point) and too wide a sense of relevance (was it necessary to spend a chapter, for example, on Coke Stevenson's happy marriage AFTER he lost the 1948 Democratic Primary for the Senate to LBJ?) and a lot of stagey writing, too (eg, thundering one-sentence paragraphs), the degree to which Caro succeeds in reconstructing a context for the most minute of LBJ's machinations gives priceless insight and makes this a truly exciting work to read.
The great flaw of these books, however, is that they make Johnson a one-dimensional character, a tireless self-seeker and manipulator of men and women who cannot live a day without furthering his ambitions. In the service of his cause, Caro's Johnson never commits himself, never gives a hint of his true views, if he has any. He started out as a New Dealer but with Southern Conservatives he always behaved like one of them. Then finally, added to this portrait of the shamelessly sycophantic bully, Caro also would have us believe that Johnson all along was an idealist who really wanted to help people, a trait that Caro sees expressed in LBJ's heroic early performance as a teacher of poor Texas children. This assessment will be borne out by the record of LBJ's presidency (Caro is still at work), when Johnson did abandon his Southern base and revert to the emulation of his original model, FDR. But there is no way that the Johnson has described so far will be able convincingly to be transformed into the idealistic reformer president Caro hints at in volume theree. The complexity of motivation simply isn't there in these three volumes. Caro's LBJ seems always to be approached through the eyes of others, whereas LBJ's own point of view remains elusive.
LBJ's life makes a fascinating story--that of a man who used every dirty trick in the book on his way to the top, then tried to use his position to help people. Caro's book would have been better titled LBJ and the Art of Corruption, for he shows that part of the story brilliantly--how money and power work together (roughly, power equals money squared). It's the other side of the story that is unconvincing here, and we are still left wondering Who is the real LBJ?

Like chinese food: an hour later, you're hungry again
I should start by saying I feel badly that I am only giving this book two stars, but I think the biggest factor affecting the rating should be the book's substance and general tone, and that is what I take issue with. That said, I will point out that the style of writing is classic and the sort that only appears in great works of nonfiction. Caro really is a very skilled writer and others should emulate his phraseology.

The problem with the book is that, even though it's 1000 pages long, it feels oddly unsatisfying. I read it through and found myself asking, "Wait, how did he get control of the Senate again?" When you really look at it, Caro tends to say things like, "If so-and-so senator couldn't be persuaded by money or by concessions [or whatever else], then Johnson would just use his power to get the vote." Caro seems to keep using this phrase - Johnson would just use his "power" - to explain things. But that doesn't explain anything, and when you dig down to see what it means, Caro doesn't have any more of an answer than anyone else. He fails to really convey the "why" of things - why no one would vote for Estes Kefauver to get one some committee, or why everyone followed Russell's word so closely, or why the Policy committee decided so much. Any attempt to explain it just hits up against some well-written but basically empty passage saying how "clever" or "feared" or "powerful" Johnson or Russell was.

The real reason for this failure is the basic exaggeration of Johnson's power. Caro makes him out to be the wisest, cleverest person since Solomon. But instead of being "Master of the Senate," Johnson is really just "Master of His Times." That is because Johnson, instead of imposing his will on the majority, like some seem to believe, really just shepherded the pre-existing will to passage. The heart of the book, the struggle over the 1957 Civil Rights bill, proves this. It passed not because Johnson singlehandedly made them do it, but because there was finally enough liberal support, coupled with Republican votes, to make it happen. Johnson may have insisted on making the deal, but any majority leader in office at the time could have done so as well.

So the book's main failure is one of emphasis. By devoting so much well-written copy to a great story (but re-telling it with Johnson as the prime mover), Caro gives too much credit to his subject, and his slippery definition of the exact source of Johnson's power is a symptom of this. Many future politicians will surely try to use this book to imitate Johnson's feats; too bad there really isn't anything particularly exceptional to learn from them.

4 Volumes on a Dead Man. What a Waste of Time
4 Volumes on a Dead Man. What a Waste of Time.

Homo-Erotism of a Dead President. LBJ Dead since 1973.
I am always curious why smart people devote years obsessed with dead people, not to mention dead people from the long past.

It must be a man acting out their homo-erotic fantasies out of another man. Of course, LBJ was Texas roughneck, cowboy, and Robert Caro, the pencil-neck geek must find this guy attractive.

LBJ died in 1973 from a Heart Attack. He got kick out after one term in office, the Vietnam War was a diaster. The welfare state left us with billions in debt.

All this can be debated in academic circles. But why devote three books to a man dead since 1973.

Robert Caro, please get a life, a real job. All humans born, live and then die. The USA life expectancy is about 72. We can debate politics and so on.

Weak males tend to be attracted to strong, dominating males and that explains why Robert Caro is devoting three books to a dead man. ... Read more

Download Description

A professor of history and the noted author and editor of several books on the civil rights struggle, Dr. Clayborne Carson was selected by the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to edit and publish Dr. King's papers. Drawing upon an unprecedented archive of King's own words--including unpublished letters and diaries, as well as video footage and recordings--Dr. Carson creates an unforgettable self-portrait of Dr. King. In his own vivid, compassionate voice, here is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as student, minister, husband, father, and world leader . . . as well as a rich, moving chronicle of a people and a nation in the face of powerful--and still resonating--change. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Outstanding! An excellent read!
The book "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr." is Stanford University historian Clayborne Carson's amazing account of one of the most impressive leaders to have ever lived.

This is an outstanding biography and it accounts for the full story of Dr. King, literally from cradle to grave. Martin Luther King Jr. at university, when he met his wife Coretta, their children being born, the movement begins, fights and struggles, getting arrested etc. etc. Carson does an absolutely amazing job transporting the reader into Dr. King's thoughts, ideas and feelings. I have only read a couple of other biographies that I rank as high as I rank this one. The other two are Che Guevara and Malcolm X's biographies.

Few people are given strength, means and opportunity to make a real and great impact in the world. Martin Luther King Jr. was not only given such opportunity; he seized upon his opportunity as well. His fights and sacrifices made life better not only for millions of black people in America - his fight made the world a better place to be for all of us.

The author uses Dr. King's letters, college papers, and speeches; such as the "I have a dream" speech from 1963, and the Nobel Peace Prize speech from 1964 when telling his story. I had never read the whole "I have a dream" speech, so I greatly enjoyed that.

Carson has done a great jobs combining his own research with Dr. King's own speeches and writings and this is all masterfully woven together into a unique biography. Dr. King had a huge impact on the Civil Right movement, and he made his way into American history as one of its greatest, most charismatic leaders ever.

My recommendation is given for two reasons. Firstly, Dr. King is an extraordinary interesting subject, but also because of Carson's excellent job writing this biography.

Great read - highly recommended!

The Manifestation of a great Man
The autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. is a manifestation of his thoughts, words, philosophies, and his way of life, reborn and written by Clayborne Carson. Carson has done a great job re-writing Kings life, and combining his letters, and speeches, and notes with his words to create the world of Martin Luther King again for us. The book gives us good insight on MLK's life, and his impact on the civil rights movement. You get to know his standpoints well, and how the man worked things out. Sadly you mostly can read about MLK's life inside the civil rights movement, and less about him at home, or his relationship with his family. This is a good one to help you gain insight on the civil rights movement of that time, and all in all, is a great and interesting book to read even if the civil rights is not your main interest.

If Nothing Else
This book should be must reading (or in my case listening) for all Americans. The threads of a single man's search for freedom for all are woven in a tapestry of the times he lived with powerful choices of recorded speeches.
I had two of my daughters listen to his reading of his letter from the Birmingham jail and the conversation that followed enriched all of us. Current "Black Leaders" would do well to seek inspiration from his words and recall a time when the motivating factors were the need for freedom, justice and equality independant of financial desires other than the monies needed to accomplish the task at hand. His views of Malcolm X were also well laid out and deserve attention beyond the hollywood version.
If you weren't black then, sympathy is easy but empathy requires study ... this book goes a long way.

Immortal Beloved
As I sit here listening to Beethoven, it strikes me that MLK, like Beethoven, will be a man for all ages to come. Both have given the world a gift that we must cherish and always remember.

Let me first say, that I too am glad that Dr. King did not sneeze. That would have been a loss of an unimaginable magnitude.

The other reviewers of this book are on target. This is an extraordinary piece of literature that should be a must read for all students. I was midway through my seventh year when Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis. And although I remember the event it did not resonate fully with me until last year when I took a master's level Civil Rights course. Throughout my own formative years of primary, secondary, and post-secondary liberal arts education, none of my history or social studies courses concentrated on this era of American History. This is a sad commentary and an oversight that needs to change.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a great man in American History and must be given the credit deserving of his greatness - the book, as articulated by the other reviewers, provides a comprehensive look into that greatness. It is my opinion that God was truly with this man as he undertook his overwhelming mission to obtain freedom and equality for a people so maligned by the majority.

This book was so well-written that I even read the Editor's Acknowledgements. It is so well-written that one can easily become lost in time and simply continue to read chapter after chapter. I could go on, but will stop. I wish to thank Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her undying devotion to her husband and his work; to console her for her unfathomable loss thirty-five years ago, and for not only reviewing this book for accuracy before publication, but also to permit its publication so that Americans from all backgrounds may appreciate and learn.

how can we change the world?
This is at one level an uplifting autobiography of an extraordinary man but at another level it is a guide to us a people living in a cynical (we call it "realistic") age in which we are bombarded by so many causes; all of them claiming to worthwhile, all of them claiming that they will uplift human dignity and freedom. How can we choose amongst these causes? How can we tell which cause is truly just and, having decided, how do we champion it effectively?

In his autobiography, Martin Luther King helps us do so. He explains that "constructive ends can never give absolute moral justification to destructive means, because in the final analysis the end is preexistent in the means" (20). Thus, if those whose cause we would champion are murdering babies to achieve justice, the end they and we will achieve will be child murderers whether we want it or not. But if those whose cause we would champion march peacefully to save a life, write countless letters on behalf of a starving child, collect money so that a woman who has been cast out by her society and is facing death might have a good legal defense, then we can be assured that the end we will achieve with our peaceful means will be a saved and happy life. Not least of all our own.

And how should we effectively champion our truly just cause; a cause we know is just because the means its proponents use to achieve their ends are right and noble? We should concentrate on one issue at a time, highlighting that one issue by non-violent means. And we must use nonviolence for today we do not face a choice between violence and non-violence but between "nonviolence and nonexistence" (360).

So let us choose, in our cause and in our methods existence over the nihilism of all too many movements that claim to be revolutionary and yet which "reject the one thing that keep the fire of revolutions burning: the ever-present flame of hope" (329). Let us choose those causes that would bring our fellow men and women life and that would bring us all hope. Let us follow in the footsteps of Dr Martin Luther King and, like him, not follow false causes that (like the Black Power Movement he gives as an example) promise much but deliver only death and despair. ... Read more

Book Description

Worrying about your marriage changes nothing… Praying about it can change everything!

Today’s challenges and pressures can make a fulfilling marriage seem like an impossible dream. Yet God delights in doing the impossible if only we would ask! Stormie Omartian shares how God has strengthened her own marriage since she began to pray for her husband concerning key areas of his life, including:

- His spiritual walk
- His emotions
- His role as a father, leader, and decision-maker
- His security in work and finances
- His health and physical protection
- His faith and his future

If you desire a closer relationship with your husband, you will appreciate this refreshing look at the power of prayer in marriage. ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Amazing Power of Agreement.
I was not really having a major problem in my marriage when my friend recommended the book to me. Howewver, I am one who always wanted the best for my husband and could become smoulthering in the attempt; almost becoming " the Holy spirit" Also due to the nature of my husband's job I find it difficult sharing my hearts deepest pain and longing with even close friends because of the fear of being misunderstood or judged. I therefore found the " Power of a praying wife" to be a great help in talking to God about what I desire to see in my husband rather than nag and manipulate. Of course what begins to happen is the change within me first. I become more relaxed and at peace. I also found that I could even pray prayers of agreement with Stormie( By book proxy.... smile.) I would just say " Lord I agree with my sister Stormie that You will.....( I then pray the prayer at the end of the chapter.)" It has been very helpfull. I am looking forward to praying with other women using the book. I have also learnt to use the book as a spring board and guide. I still need to be sensitive to what the Holy spirit brings to my heart to pray about for my husband. When I find direct application in the bible I will use that first. God bless you all as we continue to lift our dear husbands up in prayer.

The Power of a Praying Wife
I have had this book for two months. It's a book with specific chapters for specific needs. It does not have to be read front to back. I recommend reading through the first chapter "His Wife". You think you're reading about how to "help" or even "change" your husband...you soon discover the Lord showing you things in your own life that need prayer and change! Don't you hate it when that happens? Me too. But, if you allow the Lord to speak to you through Stormie's writing and experience, you will not believe what happens! It is difficult to put into words the change that has taken place...in me. Attitudes, expectations, desires, wants, and needs, are all addressed. Biblically. I go to different chapters at different times on different days. Lately, I have been reading it along with Scripture in my personal time. I've known my husband since 7 yrs. old and have been married for 23 yrs. God is always faithful and always good. He will teach us if we take the time to listen. Married? Engaged? Hope to get married? Get this book. Then, read it. Then pray. Then apply it. God Bless.

Challenging to the Christian wife
I found this book to be very down to earth. I have read this book when I was enaged and after I got married. I wanted to get as much insight as I could on how to overcome differences in a marriage and make it work. This book seeks to give a biblical guide to wives that want to make their marriage work, but just don't know how. This book helped me to be less prideful, to see past anger and emotion and to step up to the plate as a Christian wife, which is not at all wimpy, but strong and controlled. It does not encouarage staying in abusive relationships at all. The point is not to teach submissivenes so much as it is to provide spiritual focus for a frustrated wife. If arguing and fussing was the key to resolving conflicts then this book would seem to teach wimpiness. That is not the key, those that critisize this book must not understand the depths and the power of prayer and how it changes hearts, minds, perspectives and ultimately marriage.

A Counselor's Recommendation
As a happily married counselor and minister, I (foolishly) didn't really think I needed this book when it was first given to me. But I was professionally surprised and personally comforted when I went ahead and gave it a go. Omartian's writing is warm, open, honest, biblical, and right on about the common problems today's wives and marriages face. She provides a tangible solution that moves beyond the complaining and manipulation that desperation often leads to. She shows that no woman has to live in frustration, even if her husband is sometimes, well, shall we say, less than a knight in shining armor?

I feel sorry for the new bride who wrote in thinking she didn't need this book because 'only women on the verge of divorce' have days when they don't really "like" their husbands. That is exactly the kind of idealistic thinking that leads to divorce once real life hits, and the kind of thinking this book will help any woman, newly married, tried and true, or packing her bags, to move beyond so she can go do something constructive to keep her marriage healthy. No one can change another human being (unfortunately), but this book helps you learn how to ask God to change the both of you for a better, peaceful marriage.

As for one reviewer's claims that the author advocates abuse, that is a tragic and surprising misreading. This book is clearly aimed at the average, salvageable marriage where 2 people make mistakes and let their own selfishness get in the way of a peaceful relationship. Sound familiar, anyone? It is NOT an encouragement for an abused woman to martyr herself at the hands of a dangerous man. Read "The Power of a Praying Husband" to see how the Omartians believe women should be treated.

This, coupled with the above mentioned book for husbands, is a wonderful, wise, and effective tool in any marriage, young or old. If more people read this book, I would have a lot more free time. I highly recommend it, professionally and personally. (:

Excellante'
I think this book is the best source for praying for your husband. It is clear, precise and simple read. Stormy makes you look at yourself in order to accomplish the goals you have for your husband. You must first put into perspective what's most important, and that is reaching your full spiritual potential as a wife! I love the book and read it over and over for the prayers themselves. I am buying the Power of a Praying Husband, Mother and Woman next. ... Read more

Book Description

Known around the globe for her indefatigable work on behalf of the poor, the sick, and the dying, Mother Teresa has devoted her life to giving hope to the hopeless. She inspires us all to find a way to translate our spiritual beliefs into action. How has one woman accomplished so much? And what are the guiding principles that have enabled this humble nun to so profoundly affect so many lives?

Now, Mother Teresa shares her thoughts and experiences that have led her to do her extraordinary charitable work. A candid look at her everyday life -- at the very simplicity and self-sacrifice that give her the strength to move mountains. A Simple Path is a unique spiritual guide, full of wisdom and hope from the person who has given us the greatest model of love in action on our time.

Mother Teresa, born in 1910 in Yugoslavia, went to Loreto Abbey, Dublin, in 1928 and from there to India to begin her novitiate. She taught geography at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta from 1929 to 1948 before becoming especially interested in helping the poor. She started her own order, the Missionaries of Charity, in 1950. She has won many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, and has founded hundreds of homes throughout the world.

Read by a narrator and supporting cast.

A Simple Path is available in hardcover from Ballantine Books. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A Simple Path but an Extraordinary Book
A Simple Path by Mother Theresa is an inspirational book. Mother Theresa wrote it as an informative narrative of segments of her life. It tells of her many good works and the works of others. Collectively, they share their many tales of heartwarming acts of love for the poor and less fortunate, the diseased and the broken-hearted, and the wounded and lost souls of the world. The sisters heal the wounds of those who have strayed away from the path of God and they urge everyone to help bring people back into the light, back to God.
The focus of the book is to promote serving others. It was once said that the best way to lead is by serving. This is the simple message and the simple path Mother Theresa explains throughout her many encounters with people of every age, race, and religion. She urges the reader to take this path as Jesus took up his cross. "One must not love and expect love in return, because that is not real love," as Mother Theresa once said. Love can be received by serving another and by watching that individual's happiness grow because of one kind act.
Mother Theresa does not want the reader to save the world, but to help in one small way. She says, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." It does not require money, but it does require time to love. A Simple Path describes the life every human should take up, the life of service. This book is inspirational and serves as a spiritual seed, helping spirituality to grow and flourish. It helps one's faith to grow and teaches how to act on faith as opposed to just claiming faith. This book helps to prioritize what is truly important in life, and that is God. In a world that is full of hatred, violence, and misery, it points to God. Mother Theresa shows the way to hope. She leads by serving. She serves by loving. A Simple Path shows the way.

Why do we make it so stinking hard?
Mother Teresa used to threaten me, the way all good people do. I thought she had nothing to say to me (that I wanted to hear anyway) because she would challenge a part of me that didn't want guilt. How could I relate to a non-stop self-denial works machine? Surely, a part of her had to be dead or dying or in denial. I wanted to find out more. In her book, "No Greater Love", I learned that Mother Teresa was a person who saw Jesus in "the distressing disguise" of not only the poor, but the abused and the cruel and the mean and the unloved. For Mother Teresa, response to that person is response to Jesus. ("When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat...") In "A Simple Path", two paths seem to be explored: the simple life path Mother Teresa herself followed, and the simple path the volunteers of the Missionaries of Charity (the order she founded) follow. The exploration of both pathways was, for me, an eye-opener. Here are people who simply minister to needs, and who do not force feed Jesus to the one in need. The paradox is that many who are ministered to end up turning to God...perhaps because they saw a little bit of God in the person who helped. And Mother Teresa's take on finding God? Pray. "If you find it hard to pray," she says, "you can say 'Come Holy Spirit, guide me, protect me, clear out my mind so that I can pray.'" I didn't realize a works machine could teach me so much. A Simple Path, maybe; a simple woman, never. This review may be wordy, but I'd never have enough space to quote the things she said that stopped me dead. Read this book and discover the depth of a woman who is called a saint, and how she happened by the name. I've learned Mother Teresa can teach me something, and I can still eat chocolate and spend money with no serious guilt. Means she said a few things that went beyond coughing up change for the poor. (I only wonder if she could see Jesus in the distressing disguise of a manic four year old.)

Inspiring
I bought this book about 6 years ago. It's one of those books that you pick up and cannot put down. I was totally enthralled with it from the first few pages and every chapter became more and more inspiring. I was not a Christian when I read this book, so it's not just for believers. Rather it is a book for those who long for something more in their lfe, to walk in a deeper yet more 'simple' way. All of the chapters such as the ones on prayer, love, faith etc touched me deeply and even though it's been several years since I read it, I would read it again most definately. I lent it to someone and have never been given it back. I may just have to buy it again! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A good reminder
This book is a good reminder of how to love. Many of us discuss, debate and guess at what real love looks like. This book reminds us that love can range from serving to just holding someone who is living their last days. This book often wisely suggests that we could preach less and serve more. Inspiring.

Fake
Mother Teresa was a self-aggrandizing fake. How can you all be taken in by her???? ... Read more

Book Description

"One of the most gripping stories to come out of the shooting at Columbine High School"

She Said Yes is an "intense and fascinating memoir" (Publishers Weekly) of an ordinary teenager growing up in suburban Colorado, and faced -- as all teenagers are -- with difficult choices and pressures. It is only now, when the world knows Cassie Bernall as one of the Columbine High students killed by two rampaging schoolmates, that the choices she made offer a profound relevance for us all. Once a rage-filled young woman who walked a path similar to that of her killers, Cassie found a way out of her personal snares and, through her faith and a family's love, chose to embrace life with courage and conviction.

Told with unflinching honesty by her mother, Misty Bernall, Cassie's story is "a profoundly human story that should be read by every parent and every teenager" (New York Post). ... Read more

Reviews (349)

Uplifting, Moving and Enlightening Story
I, personally, do not care whther or not Cassie actually said "Yes." First off, I don't think that that's the purpose for these reviews, and secondly, if you've read the book, it's obviously about so much more than the fact that Cassie said Yes when asked if she believed in God.

Misty Bernall and her family have been through so much, and I admire her for being so willing to share her and Cassie's story with us. This book has touched me as it has many others. It's just mean and cruel to suggest that Misty was trying to capitalize on her daughter's death. I don't think any mother could do that.

Misty tells of Cassie's early years, and then explains to readers how Cassie got involved with the "wrong crowd", dabbling in witchcraft, obsessing over death, and exchanging obscene and frightening letters with her friends, which Cassie's parents found in her bedroom. Fearing "losing" Cassie, her parents clamped down on her, and struggled with the anger and depression of the daughter they dearly loved. Then Misty tells of Cassie's "About face", how she met a friend at Private school who turned her life around through YOuth Group and just simple, plain companionship.

We all know what happened to Cassie. But it's not ABOUT what happened at Columbine. It's about the touching story of someone who was living completely for God during a time in her life when it extremely hard to do it. And Cassie tryed to keep a positive attitude even though she was struggling with adolescence, and she was touchingly unselfish.

Cassie's story isn't about whther or not she said Yes. Misty even says so (to an extent) in the last chapters of her book. Cassie's story is about a teenager who found herself and how from a dark, oppresed teen who wrote about murdering her parents emerged a changed person who, by a horrible tragedy, became an example for us all.

And I don't think Cassie or Misty or the Bernalls want celebrity status. Still, this book has been an extremely uplifting one, and I am motivated to be more like Cassie was.

I think everyone should read this book, because it will both make smile and make you cry..it tugs on your heartstrings. A truly touching story...worth the time to read.

a stolen life
This book is very different and unique experience to indulge into. The tales of a young girls' struggle to fight for her freedom, peace, and happiness ironically loses it after an amazing turning point. The overall theme being a parents love for a child that was destined for an untimely road. This book gave detailed accounts of this seventeen-year-old girls life and how it was so brutally taken away for her, months before graduation. Overall, the book makes the reader get physically in touch with his/her feelings and have a greater appreciation for the people involved in ones life and how little time you have to enjoy it.
I was interested in the book mainly because of the title, catchy. And to seemingly curious minds it some how makes you want to find out what she said "yes" to. This book is an excellent book to read if there are questions in ones mind on "why should I live?" mainly seeking to find the troubled suicidal teens. This book is captivating because it makes you feel a world of emotions such as: sorrow, pain, joy and lastly...love. Love stands out as the main theme in this book because through love uncontrollable minds are controlled, the untamed spirit, tamed and finally the ferocious teen within is the gentle, hearty, wholesome person you raised to be your own.
Reading this book not only made me realize all the things I should be thankful for, but it allowed me to see myself for who I really am and the possible traits I can change to be a better person for my family and friends. Reading this book also gave me a greater appreciation for life and how I should be grateful for gaining another day.

She Said Yes
She Said yes is a interesting book. It's about a girl named Cassie Bernall and she went to school one day and little did she know, she was about to be a muder victim. Her mother, Misty Bernall, tell about how Cassie's Life was and the things she did. You HAVE you read this to learn more!

Face Facts
After reading this book from beginning to end, I have only one word to describe it: trash.
First, no one is positive if Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold asked Cassie Bernall if she believed in God, as with Rachel Scott. They could have asked her anything, it doesn't matter, they were determined to shoot her. If they had asked her her favorite color, her mother would have titled the book "She said red."
Secondly, a few years before the shootings, Cassie was involved in such sinister activities that her parents made her switch schools to Columbine, sealing her fate. She was into the same music (Marilyn Manson and Rammstein), movies (bloody and gory), and sinister activites (witchcraft and satansim) that Harris and Klebold were later. This goes to prove these things have nothing to do to make you shoot your classmates.
This book has scarce information about 4/20. Instead, it is a memoir of Bernall's life, from birth to death, seen in her parent's eyes. The only reason I even give this book one star is because the first chapter gives an account of April 20th in Cassie's parents eyes. It made me stop to think what it would be like to loose your child to a senseless tragedy, where you think they are safe the most- at their school.

a stolen life
nicole, a mayfair high school senior, June 1, 2004,
a stolen life
This book was a very different and unique experience to indulge into. The tales of a young girls struggle to fight for her freedom, peace, and happiness ironically loses it after an amazing turning point. The overall theme being a parents love for a child that was destined for an untimely road. This book gave detailed accounts of this 17 year old girls life and how it was so brutally taken away from her, months before graduation. Overall, the book makes the reader get physically in touch with his/her feelings and have a greater appreciation for the people involved in ones life and how little time you have to enjoy it. ... Read more