Book Description

Soon after September 11, the news media stepped up its coverage of the plight of Martin and Gracia Burnham, the missionary couple captured and held hostage in the Philippine jungle by terrorists with ties to Osama Bin Laden. After a year of captivity, and a violent rescue that resulted in Martin's death, the world watched Gracia Burnham return home in June 2002 with a bullet wound in the leg and amazing composure.

In this riveting personal account, Burnham tells the real story behind the news about their harrowing ordeal, about how it affected their relationship with each other and with God, about the terrorists who held them, about the actions of the U.S. and Philippine governments, and about how they were affected by the prayers of thousands of Christians throughout the world. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

You Have Got To Read This Book
During their long struggle in the Phillipine jungles, an entire nation was praying for the Burnhams. I followed their plight and even put their picture on my computer desktop at work to remind me to pray for them.

However, this book was absolutely refreshing--first to hear the real story behind the account. (It's amazing how poor our news media is at getting the story right!). Secondly, Gracia writes in a moving, human way that inspires all Christians to love and serve God with all their heart.

Gracia is a human being who echoes what all of us would feel were we put in the same position. Furthermore, she doesn't edit out her frustrations and doubts--her internal wrestling matches with God. I'm glad for that.

Unlike most books of its type, the editing on the book is superb. Dean Merril manages to tell a compelling story in Gracia's voice. You'll enjoy her sense of humor in difficult times. There are moments where I was tickled to death and moments I was in tears.

Gracia also pays a loving tribute to her husband, Martin throughout the book. She really doesn't take any credit for herself, pointing only to God and to her husband. And after reading it, I think all Christian men will aspire to live like Martin--selfless, caring, and devoted to Christ and family.

I would strongly suggest picking up this book, especially if you've grown depressed, doubtful, or weary of your calling. You can't help but be thankful for what God has given you and you can't help but grow more committed to His calling.

Incredible
This is an incredible account of two people who found themselves held against their will for over a year. Not only were they held against their will, but also they were mistreated and lied to on a consistent basis. The story was truly amazing, a demonstration of how love and kindness can be shown in the most adverse of circumstances. Yet the most interesting part of the book was the contrast of the captors' view of God (Allah) and the Burnhams' view of God.

I found it absolutely terrifying at how the Abu Sayyaf captors viewed and responded to their concept of God. At the same time, I was amazed at how Martin and Gracia Burnham responded to their concept of God. In the jungles of the Philippines, theory and debate about abstract terms were not important. These two groups of people lived their day-by-day lives based on their views of God. This story is an amazing apologetic for and attestation to the Christian view of God. Every Muslim should read this book and face the questions that the story so obviously brings to the forefront.

I read the book in two days. I could not put it down. But I found the last chapter the most remarkable. If nothing else, read this chapter.

An Unforgettable Story Full of Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness
IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES is the true account of the horrendous ordeal that missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham endured after they were kidnapped by terrorists while celebrating their anniversary in May 2001. Held captive for a full year, the couple were within minutes of rescue when Martin was killed by "friendly fire" --- gunshots from their rescuers, who were soldiers in the Philippine army.

The skeletal story of the Burnhams' captivity and mistreatment at the hands of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group active in the Philippines, is well-known to American audiences given the understandable media attention Gracia Burnham's release and homecoming generated. That story pales in comparison to the compelling account Burnham and veteran Christian author Dean Merrill provide in this book.

Whether due to Merrill's deft touch or Burnham's natural instincts, the two skillfully manage to avoid turning the memoir into a sensationalistic politic diatribe or melodramatic evangelistic treatise. The contributing elements were there: tireless workers on the foreign mission field enjoying one night of extravagance during their first real vacation in years, yanked from their cabin at gunpoint, subjected to horrific circumstances and conditions, with only one missionary left alive to tell the story. But Burnham and Merrill realized that the drama was inherent in the facts of the story, and any attempt to overdo it would have diluted the impact of Gracia's straightforward narrative.

The horror of what she experienced and witnessed during her year of captivity is difficult to fathom: beheadings, near-starvation, day-long marches that ended exactly where they began, forced "marriages" between captors and captives, even the fear that the Philippine army would make a rescue attempt --- a fear that proved to be well-founded with Martin Burnham's unnecessary death. And yet, Gracia relates the events of the year with such grace and skill that her story maintains a steady forward movement; she never stops the momentum by expressing outrage or analyzing the reasons why certain incidents occurred. What happened to the hostages on Sept. 11, 2001, for example, would have compelled a lesser person to rail against God and reject him completely, but Burnham --- who must still wonder about the timing of the events of that day --- seems to have come to terms with every aspect of her ordeal.

Perhaps the most surprising element of her story is the relationships that developed between the terrorists and the hostages. Their conversations were often friendly, and at times, the hostages realized that, in a sense, they were all on the same side, trying to avoid a deadly confrontation with the soldiers who were tracking them. In a particularly enlightening section, Gracia takes the reader into the mind of a terrorist who expressed genuine shock that the hostages thought they were being mistreated. Similarly, she recounts a conversation about the Koran in which her captor maintained that a verse condemning killing did not apply to him. Neither did an admonition against stealing.

Most of all, Burnham's account comes across as honest. She openly writes about those times when her faith in God vacillated, when her hope would turn to despair, and when the sheer boredom of the daily routine began to get to her. In short, her story rings true.

Burnham and Merrill deserve whatever honors and attention this book gets, because this is far more than a dramatic account of a momentous event --- it's an unforgettable story saturated with grace, mercy and forgiveness.

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

Amazing book, a must read!
This was one of the most innspirational books I have ever read. Gracia and Martin are so spiritual through the hardest time in their life. The Burnhams have such strong faith and never question or blame God. Truly an inspiration and testimony of faith. A must read!

Exciting and Very Sad
Gracia Burnham dedicated the book to her husband Martin who died while in captivity. Gracia is an intelligent and educated woman. She does an excellent job in retelling their story by interweaving flashbacks of her life while bringing the reader back to the kidnapping. The digressions are interesting and add depth to the story. The reader learns of the Burnham family's history before they were married and their life as missionaries delivering supplies and encouragement to sick patients in the Philippine jungle. The few disturbing visual descriptions of their year of terror are retold without gory details. Martin and Gracia were courageous Christians while facing many near death circumstances in the jungle. They redeemed tedious hours of captivity by singing psalms and quoting scripture. They prayed for their enemies and encouraged other missionary captives. As the book concludes, it is hard to hold back tears. The Burnhams' exemplify God's command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt 5:44). God's word was written on the hearts and minds of the Burnhams. His word uplifted and encouraged their spirits during the most difficult trial of their lives. I recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Martini Man goes beyond the simple caricature of the boozy lounge singer with a penchant for racy humor to reveal the substantive man behind that mask. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A good look
This book is a nice, basic look at Dean Martin's life. I am a Frank Sinatra fan and of course became interested in Dean as well. I watched several biographies of Dean Martin and so I had a good overview of his life. This book helped with some details, mostly his movies. The author talks a lot about Dean's movies and I found this helpful, but had I already known all of Dean's film roles I probably would have found it tiresome after a while. However, I'm glad I read the book. It was helpful on dates and smaller details that are glossed over in television biographies. I recommend this book for new Dean Martin fans. If you are a diehard Dino fan, this stuff won't be news to you. Its an easy read.

Martini Man - The Boring Story of Dean Martin
I was anticipating a great book about Dean Martin as I was pleased with Schoell's work on The Rat Pack book he co-authored with Quirk. This book was highly disappointing. It delved way too much into details about the movies Dean made and the people involved in those movies. I was hoping that it would examine Dean's life, his attitudes, his relationship with the Rat Pack, mob and of course, all those women. The book, Living in the Dirty Business of Dreams. by Tosches is by far a better examination of Dean's life. Sorry Schoell but: Everybody don't love your writing sometimes. Ooooh, how's all these people get into my room?

Author Apparently Wants to Be Roger Ebert
I read this book thinking I'd pick up some interesting insights on Dean Martin, his partnership with Jerry Lewis, and his friendships with people such as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. While "Martini Man" does present some interesting information about the aforementioned subjects, too much of the book, as other reviewers have noted, contains endless movie reviews of Dean's movies. I mean, do we really need every plot turn of every movie Dean ever made? I think the reader would have preferred to read about Dean's relationships, and, while some of that is there, the bulk of the book seems devoted to detailed story descriptions of Dean's movies.
There is very little discussion about Dean's recordings, and his career as a singer. Dean, when he wanted to, could really sing, and it's a shame Schoell did not spend more time discussing Martin's music.

Vancouver wash does not Know talent!!!
While the book is a bit of a dissapointment, and does not really discuss the things one would want to truly know about Dino,I am more amazed that one of the people that wrote a review for this book called Dean an "Overrated talent" and that TWO BIT HACK Jerry Lewis a genius. Other than the partnership with the truly GIFTED Dean Martin what has that arrogant no talent ever done that would be considered worthwhile, and please dont mention the Nutty Professor because he even admitted that the suave version of the professor was him doing a POOR Dino imatation,and the best thing about his telethon is when he is not on screen.If I were you I would also get my facts straight on the music of Dean because the song list is endless Volare ,aint that a kick in the head,oh marie,return to me,welcome to my world ,the things we did last summer,kiss,your nobody till somebody loves you,memories are made of this,imagination,Please dont talk about me when im gone,All of these in addition to the ones you mentioned and I could go on and on.The same goes for his movies academy award nominations for The young Lions,and Rio Bravo and criticaly acclaimed movies such as Kiss me stupid(something YOU probably hear often....then again NOT)and Some Came Running,and of course Ocean's 11.The man was also a civil Rights activist,and received an award for donating huge somes of money to charitable organizations.All this just to say Martini Man was not a great book but still more interesting than anything written about Jerry Lewis and the guy from Vancouver Wouldn't know talent if it jumped up and bit him on the ass.

A straightforwardly presented life story
Superbly written by William Schoell (the co-author of "The Rat Pack"), Martini Man: The Life Of Dean Martin is an informed and informative biography of the famous celebrity and entertainment legend Dean Martin (1917-1995). One result of this authoritative biography is to dispel the public image of Dean Martin as a ladies' man and hard drinker who casually used and tossed aside comrades, colleagues, associates, and ladyfriends alike. Martini Man also defends Dean Martin's memory against allegations that he was a "Mafia singer" claiming that Martin's contact with gangsters was inevitable and unavoidable as they owned the best clubs and most popular casinos of the day. Martini Man is an upbeat, detailed, thoroughly researched, and straightforwardly presented life story that is a "must read" for the dedicated legions of Dean Martin's fans. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Insincere Balladeer: Tosches' Dino

Ornate, pretentious, entertaining and ultimately depressing, Nick Tosches' souped-up take on anti-legend Dean Martin (born Dino Crocetti) is an essential work on an underrated performer. Make no mistake, however: this is a thesis-bound book, and in no way qualifies as adoration, or even respect.

Tosches portrays Dino as a virtually schizoid burn-out waiting to happen, a man so distanced from his own humanity that casual sex, hard drinking, and a laissez-faire work ethic are the inevitable results. A frightening
image - but is it the "real" Dean Martin? Likely we'll never know, as Martin never revealed much of himself to his public (or, apparently, to his loved ones either). It's a forced choice, then: take Tosches' account as the closest thing there is to fact, or dismiss it entirely; in either case, still no Dean. As he'd have liked it, no doubt.

I'm a fan of Martin's music, film and television work; as such, it seems to me that Tosches invests so much time attempting to reveal the unknowable that he loses all sight of the performer. Perhaps he's right - that the entirety of Martin's life and career was an increasingly flimsy and facile put-on, that his status as an entertainer was rooted in a sinkhole soul and not in the desire to bring even fleeting joy to his fans. But he did anyway. With all due respect, Mr. Tosches, you can't take that away from me.

True or False - A Great Read
Here is a question for you to ask about any biography that isn't about, say, George W. Bush -- how much do the facts really matter? Do we care that Hemingway's "A Moveable Feast" is far less than 100 percent accurate as far as the facts go, or do we, as strangers to all the people in the book (who are now dead anyway), simply enjoy a great read?

I am no expert on Dean Martin or the Rat Pack. I read this book because I continually saw it referred to in reviews of other books as a classic show biz bio. And it is a wonderful thing to read, with much to say about the shady milieu of mob-controlled clubs that Martin came up out of.

Parts of it read like fiction to me. Tosches writes often from Martin's perspective, giving us his sometimes bitter, mostly don't give a damn sardonicism about everything going on around him. I don't know where Tosches got this stuff. I'm not sure I trust it. How can he know a dead man's thoughts?

But it feels true. It feels right to the character that Tosches evokes -- Martin as a guy who was accidentally famous and can't take much seriously. If it were a novel, it would feel true. Tosches has shown himself to be a good enough reporter here and elsewhere that I'm willing to believe what he has his Dino say here. (There's certainly plenty of backup documentation among the notes.)

For the average reader -- what does it matter? Here is a chance to get inside another person's head. This is the rare gift literature allows us -- we can understand another human being.

"Genius"
It takes a "genius" like Nick Tosches to show us that Dean Martin had a sleazy side. Whoever would have guessed? But that's the genius of Tosches. As Nietzsche once said of Zola, Mr. Tosches "delights in stinking." And he can sniff out squalor even in the most unlikely places -- like Las Vegas in the 1960s. What's next for him I wonder? Maybe an expose of the dark underbelly of suburbia.

Stunning
As someone who's read a lot of celebrity biographies, I think that people need to keep in mind that no single volume will ever completely "explain" a person's life.

That said, I found DINO to be a stunning read. Having grown up in Ohio where Dean was always regarded as a "hometown-boy-made-good," we watched his movies, listened to his records, and faithfully watched his TV show every week. The lovable drunk persona he cultivated made show business look fun and easy and everyone in my family referred to him as Dino as if they all knew him.
So it was something of a shock to read how aloof and distant he was throughout his life. And I don't mean that in a bad way: it's just odd that someone so easy-going and affable to millions of viewers could keep those closest to him so remote and baffled.
Tosches zeroes in on that and makes it very hip. Dean eases through New York clubs of the 40's, Hollywood in the 50's, Vegas in the 60's--and nothing really impresses him. Frank Sinatra, the Mafia, JFK, Hollywood studios. Eh, whatever. This was the first biography I've read where I felt I knew LESS about a person after reading it.
Stylistically, some parts of DINO are laugh-outloud funny and Dean comes off all the cooler for it.

Does this book sum up Dean Martin's life? No. I've skimmed his son Ricci's book (and will read it someday) and I found BACKSTAGE AT 'THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW' also interesting for another side of Dean (written by his musical director).

From all of these books, you might get a decent picture of what he was really like.
And they all add up to a very smooth king of cool.

Disappointing Biography
At times I found Nick Tosches' prose practically unreadable and incomprehensible. Every other sentence [used much profanity]. This is hard to believe in spite of Dean Martin's decline during the 1970/1980s. Tosches makes too many assumptions about Martin and the author's reputation as a "stylish" writer is ludicrous. Unless one is a diehard Dean Martin fan, I do not recommend this book unless you want to learn how NOT to write a biography. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It's Fantastic
If you love Dean Martin this is definetly the book for you!! I actually put the book down and stopped reading it to make it last longer. It was wonderful! Ricci takes you to their home and places you right there to watch their life unfold. I laughed at the good times and cried with the sad times. Makes me want to turn back the clock of time. This book is well written. The love of a son for his father & family is apparent. Now that I have read it, I will definetly read it again. This is a must read!!!!

Very entertaining read, like spending time with the family
Ever since I can remember, I have been a fan of Dean Martin, and after reading this book I no longer wonder why. Ricci tells us what I always suspected, that Dean was real, he was a loving person, a good Dad and his son reports he didn't put himself above anyone else. I like that in a person. I remember seeing the lovely Olympic Ice Skater Dorothy Hamill interviewed on TV, shortly after Dean's death several years ago and she said he was one of the kindest people she ever met. Dorothy had been married at one time to Dean's son, Dino, of the 1960's Rock'N Roll Band, Dino, Desi & Billy. There are some wonderful photos in the book, heart-warming memories from his son and an insight to life must have felt like having a super star for a father, although I got the impression Dean was very much a regular guy once he arrived home after work. The book has some great (funny!)stories about Ricci and his brother, Dean Paul (Dino). How I wish I could have seen Dean in Vegas with his buddies on stage. This book could have been a few hundred pages longer! Good job, Ricci, thanks for sharing memories of your father and your family with us. Funny I could write this review without mentioning Dean's wonderful singing voice, and who in the world didn't love to listen to Dean!

Meeting Ricci Martin
I am a huge Dean Martin fan and when I went to Vegas and discovered that Ricci Martin was going to be at the Riveria, I jumped at the chance to meet him. I expected him to be a stuck up man, who would just tell about him father and try to promote his book. Boy was I wrong.

He started the concert off by talking about his father and what he really was like. The stories touched me so much that I almost cried. I was surprised to see that Dino was, infact, a family man and how much love his son had for him. He talked about him with such admiration that it showed just how great of a man his father really was. Ricci sang many of his father's songs with such passion.

I discovered that Ricci was a down to earth person. After the show, I came up to him and we talked for about 10 min. He was surprised that a 17 year old enjoys his father's music. He gave me a hug, a kerchief, and autographed my ticket for my boyfriend.

I have not yet read the book, but because of this expiernce, I definately will. Seeing Ricci Martin connected me with someone who I have never had the pleasure of seeing in my time, which is a shame.

Wonderful tribute to Dean Martin
This book is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Dad. Dean Martin is remembered by his son Ricci. Forget all the negative stuff you have ever read about Dean Martin. This is the true Dean. Dean was a man who loved to golf and loved his family. It is refreshing for a son to write a tribute to his Father. Enjoy it.

Chris added...continuity---
In final pages...'afterword'..Ricci visits his dads tomb,& a woman visiting- from Pittsburgh recognizes him...Meta Bishop helps present annual 'DeaN Martin Festiva' in Steubeville,OH each June since '95. We hope he'll visit--002, for book signing here,too. Ricci is busy (online) in entertainment/media---i.e....Show Biz, see: riccimartin.com ... Read more

Book Description

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of the most celebrated figures of the twentieth century. A crusader for nonviolent social justice, he led African Americans in their demands for equality through peaceful protests during one of the most tumultuous times in recent history.

Set against key moments in the civil rights movement, here is the story of the powerful, eloquent spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used to overcome racial discrimination.

Walter Dean Myers's moving narrative and Leonard Jenkins's compelling paintings portray a vivid and striking image of the man who moved American society closer to the ideals of freedom and fairness. Dr. King's dream that all Americans would be judged by their individual actions and character is one we still cherish today.

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of Martin Dean, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 431 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description

This is the only book to document Dean Martin's achievements on records, in motion pictures, on television and radio. Nearly 5 years in the making and featuring 30 black and white photographs (several previously unpublished) and unused cover art (including the "Bing Dino 'N' Dixie" LP by Dean and Bing Crosby), this book stands as a testament to the career of a true show business legend. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must for the Dino-holic!
Just got my copy and man, does it make my head spin with such meticulous detail! I'm taking it down to the Hollywood Hills coffee shop (although never a Dean haunt) to read while listening to his great music in a big red booth! Bravo, Mr. Chintala! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Learn more about the Dean Martin Show than Dino Knew!
Lee Hale lived, breathed, and helped run the Dean Martin Show for its duration, even when the variety show was no more, replaced by the Dean Martin Roasts. Lee actually played Dino during rehearsals, so got to meet and know all of the stars that guested on his show. If you loved the show, as I did growing up, you will be fascinated by this inside look (Dino's wife Jeannie loved it, as she knew nothing about it either! )into one of the most successful variety shows of all history. A warning, however, is: don't expect to learn a lot about Dino; his manager didn't let Lee (or anyone else) get especially close to him, just small talk from time to time; the only extraordinary insight from Lee regarding Dino was that YES, that WAS scotch in his glass! Actually, Lee, an observant man, made several interesting observations of this legenday performer as he drifted away from his wife and pursued what can only be describecd as a mid-life crisis, "Rat Pack Style", which in the end, he seemed to highly regret. To wrap it up, the book was a lot of fun, its a good read; its chock full of photos of the likes of Duke Wayne, Orson Welles, etc, so you can't lose! Give it a try!

From The President of the official "Dean Martin Fan Center"
This is a must read for any admirer of all those great television variety shows, as well as the many fans of Rat Packer Dean Martin. The ONLY book written by anyone who EVEN MET Dean Martin, author Lee Hale spent nearly two decades with him as musical director and later his producer. Aptly titled, "Backstage at the Dean Martin Show" is an exciting and loving inside look behind the scenes documenting this great top ten show and its star, with fascinating anecdotes of the biggest names in the business. I caught myself laughing out loud, then I would turn a page and be totally blown away by something that I didn't expect.

Mr. Hale divides his book into one chapter for each TV season, with extra ones going beyond to 'The Golddiggers', 'The Roasts' and 'The Specials', with over 200 color and b&w photos of great stars, most never before seen. The index itself lists hundreds of celebrities from Hank Aaron to Ed Wynn.

As chairman of the current 'Dean Martin Fan Center', and someone who was actually there at NBC during those golden years, I was lucky to have a firsthand look at the Dean Martin Show phenomenon, but Lee Hale uses a magnifying lens... and no one can get closer than this! It is truly a wonderful story from the bizaare beginnings to the touching end. I can't say enough!

admin@deanmartinfancenter.com

Adding to the Dino Enigma
I buzzed through this book and was completely fascinated by the backstage comedy/dramas of putting on "The Dean Martin Show." I'm still floored by a Jimmy Stewart quote on page 131 of the hardback edition: wow. Thank you, Lee Hale, for naming names.

If you were around to see Dino's shows or the roasts, this book will open your eyes to a lot of what happened behind the scenes and give you some insights into many celebrities who showed up on these stages.
And at the center is the enigmatic King of Cool himself, the star who breezed in and out only for the show's taping, kept a photo of himself with Cardinal Spellman over his dressing room bar, kept even the closest people guessing whether that was apple juice or liquor in his glass.
The more you learn about Dino, the less you knew him--and the cooler he seems for it.

An enjoyable look at Dino's TV career
Lee Hale, who staged most of the musical portions of Dean Martin's TV variety shows, takes pains to explain that the show's relaxed, effortless charm was really the result of shrewd pre-planning by the production team, so the star seldom had to worry about anything. Hale takes us through these intricate logistics and the miraculous results, telling us which celebrity guests were solid professionals, and which were less so. There are a few surprises here -- one seemingly sweet and humble comedian appears to have been a Class-A jerk offstage. Hale also touches on the Dean Martin summer shows (not enough information about this two-season hit, unfortunately) and the Dean Martin celebrity roasts (which ultimately eclipsed the variety series). The text is at its best when the author describes "The Dean Martin Show" at its height; Hale's enthusiasm soars and anecdotes flow when the show is going like gangbusters. The later chapters are more distant, reflecting the author's disappointment; we never quite know why Martin went into decline personally and professionally, and the author's memory is hazy at least once (second-banana Lou Jacobi is misidentified as Abe Vigoda). Readers expecting a no-holds-barred expose will be disappointed that Hale seldom shoots from the hip; his overall tone is affectionate and restrained. Fans who recall "The Dean Martin Show" will like this book most, but there are enough show-biz tidbits and photos to intrigue the casual reader. All in all, a very enjoyable book.

Book review
Excellent but sad chronology of the end of the variety era. Very well written, insightful and seemingly accurate portrayal of the times. Worth it for the Dean Martin fan. It certainly was for me. Devoured it in a few days. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Needs a revision...
This book was really good. I am a big Dean Koontz fan, and was wicked excited to see this book. However, this book has it's flaws: one major flaw is that it tells WAY too much stuff about his novels, i.e. secrets that you learn in the climax of the suspense are told throughout the book. What's more, it was made in 1994, it has missed a lot of newer books since then, including Dark Rivers of the Heart, Intensity, TickTock, Sole Survivor, Fear Nothing, Seize the Night, and False Memory. It should be revised every time Koontz comes out with a new book. There is plenty more I need to know about Koontz than is told here, therefore it could stand some improvements. Oh, well. All in all it was good.

The story-behind-the-man-behind-the-stories!
Anyone who enjoys Mr Koontz's work should get a real kick out of this book. You come to know the forces that shaped him into the writer we have all come to love. If you're curious about what impact the grep had in his life, this book will tell you the answers (actually, it wont tell you anything...you have to read it...unless you get the book on audio cassette, then it will tell you) Seriously, this is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who would like to read a story of one mans struggle to recieve a paycheck for something he loves (an what a paycheck it must be!!) And he must be a hell-of-a-guy for his wife to do what she did for him. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK AND ENJOY.

This book kicks! Funny man!
If you are a Dean Koontz reader, you must be curious where he got his unique imagination and peculiar style. This is a funny and creative explanation of his life and work. It is not just a chronological biography, but a creative touch of this and that. FULL OF HUMOR! ... Read more