5 comments about There Are No Shortcuts.

1. I read Rafe Esquith's newer book (Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56) and loved it. So I started reading this book as soon as I could get my hands on it.
   
   Having so enjoyed his other book and getting so much practical advice out of it, this book was quite a disappointment. Since writing this book, Mr. Esquith has obviously learned how to sound humble - one of the things I loved about Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire was that he wrote with humility - he was lucky and wanted to share what had happened to work for him in his class. In this book he constantly lists the habits and beliefs of "people who think they're good teachers" and then immediately explains that they are, in fact, not good at all. It can be hard to pick out the kernels of good advice that ARE present in this book when you're feeling that your hard work and sacrifice are being judged and insulted by someone you've never met.
   
   Another thing I loved about Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire was that it contained very practical advice that "real" teachers could actually - if with some difficulty - put into use in their classrooms. This book is more theoretical and focuses more on feelings and goals and the journey to becoming a good teacher.
   
   I have to say the thing that bothers me the most about this author is that he completely ignores the world of amazing children's literature that exists especially in this country. He may have success reading Steinbeck and Shakespeare with his 5th graders, but the truth is that most teachers will not meet with the same results. There is nothing wrong or shameful about using Mr. Esquith's methods and philosophy with truly high-quality, meaningful children's literature, yet he does not even concede this fact.



2. Wow. This guy is amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone aspiring to be a teacher because his teaching methods are truly inspirational. I'm planning to use many of his methods in my classroom when I start teaching. Wonderful book. I'd highly recommend getting his other book "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." Both great books. Enjoy!! =]



3. This book is clearly written by a teacher who is proud of his noteworthy achievements and who invests an immense amount of time and effort in his job. As his first book, it suffers from some self-centeredness and a desire to share stories of failures and successes within the public school system with his readers. The anecdotes are generally interesting, but he doesn't go far beyond them into specific classroom methods. Most discussion of methods happens at a high level. His second book, "Teach Like your Hair's on Fire," is much more interesting to read overall, but I'm glad to have read both.
   
   As a private school teacher myself, he makes it sound like public school teachers must be masochists to put up with the many obstacles keeping them from success in the classroom. I have experienced precious few of the obstacles he describes, but my public school teacher wife assures me that his stories are ever so representative. This book is likely more applicable to public school teachers, especially new ones to the profession.
   
   The audio version of this book is, unfortunately, not aided by the author reading it himself. It makes an already self-centered text come across as almost arrogant, at times. His intonation is somewhat monotone and his rhythm is strangely strained for such a stalwart shakespeare fan.



4. ... and I'm quite positive that Rafe Esquith stands firmly on the "insanity" side. This was an interesting read, though I would never use it as a guideline for how to teach, which is how it was presented to me. More of a how not to, or a jumping off point for thinking about the demands of education today.



5. As a teacher, I highly reccomend Rafe's first book. His life story is truly inspiring and encouraging for those of us in the trenches of the classroom. I think it is a mistake to criticize his way of life or dedication, but rather look at your own situation, and see what you can learn from his experience. For instance, I applied his economic system (discussed in detail in the book) and my students loved it and learned so much from it.
   On a personal note, Rafe, as busy as he is, has always taken the time to try and answer my questions regarding teaching. He truly practices what he preaches, "Be Nice, Work Hard." He came at the right time in life, when I was wondering whether I had chosen the wrong profession. My wife noticed how he helped change my attitude.
   This man has dedicated his life to improving education, his student lives and now teacher's lives, as he travels the country speaking and writing. He puts the proceeds from his books into his classroom's non-profit group, which pays for student trips, etc. So by purchasing the book, you are not just helping him, but are helping the kids he teaches in the poor sections of L.A.
   Thank you.

5 comments about The Last American Man.

1. 
   This book is more than the biography of an American eccentric. It allows us to look at our own, peculiarly American, mythologies through the lens of one person's life. Many American men aspire to the kind of skills and challenges that Eustace Conway provides for himself. We have a long tradition of reinventing ourselves by way of trials-by-nature. And we are running up to the end of an oil-based economy that has given many Americans unprecedented freedom and mobility, as well as the luxury of ignoring the limitations imposed by natural systems. It is good that Gilbert, with her gentle sense of humor, has documented Conway's achievements and philosophy for us by way of the durable technology of the written book. It may come in handy in years to come.



2. I have purchased approx. 10 copies of this book-- I find it entertaining, amusing and cannot decide if I liked this man at the end or not. As I live in North Carolina; not far from the subject- guests often think it would be fun to meet him and see how he as aged. Great gift book for -mostly the men in ones life.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It gave an unbiased account of a man, who even in his best intentions, falls short of what he wants to be. Contrary to some of the negative reviews, Gilbert DOES see all that is not right about this man, and she tells us about it.
   This book is a journey through the mind and heart of a troubled man and those people who were raptured by his personality and then inevitably disappointed. I loved it!



4. I enjoyed reading this book and I have often dreamed of living the type of lifestyle that Eustace Conway lives, though not quite so harsh. It seems to me that his many hang-ups have created a personal "river" that no one is able to cross and join him. He seems to be a carbon copy of his father, with just enough minor differences to convince himself that he is nothing like him. Sadly, he has decided to turn away from the only source that could give him true happiness, a relationship with Jesus Christ. I think the old saying, "no one is as blind as he who refuses to see" fits Eustace well. His desire for acceptance from his father has blinded him to the joys of life. The disatisfaction that his apprentises experience and which Eustace cannot understand appears to stem largely from his use of them as slave labor. The expectations of those who come to work on Turtle Island are not the expectations of Eustace himself, which seems to be based on a phylosophy of, " hey, I dug a one hundred foot long ditch, three feet deep through solid rock! It took me two months and nearly killed me, and though I didn't really learn anything about living off the land, by golly I know I can dig a ditch through solid rock and knowing that gives me a warm feeling about who I am." No. The book gives the impression that the apprentises thought they were there to learn how to live off the land but Eustace failed to tell them that they were there to find out what he himself had always practised, "I will do one thing no matter how hard or how impossible it may seem until it kills me or I master it. Then I can stand straight and in my mind know that I am worth something if to no one but myself."
   This is somewhat of a harsh review of a book about a man I've never met but it is based on the impression I got from the book. I wish you eventual happiness Mr. Conway. You've certainly strived for it.
   I recommend this book.



5. This is the biography of a man who has spent his whole life in the woods, living off the land. The difference between him and the many others who live off the land? He has flourished. Plus, he does it partially to convince others to give up the trap of luxury and return to a simple nature-centric lifestyle. The author gives us a solid background then weaves interesting tales about the "last american man" and how hardworking and different he is compared to an average man. A well-written book that drags a little in the end reiterating the same dogma that keeping up with the joneses is futile. However Elizabeth Gilbert hadn't quite polished off her writing style as she does in Eat, Pray, Love. A worthy read for anyone disinterested in suburban sprawl along with Into The Wild.

5 comments about Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter.

1. My 6th grade class just finished reading this novel. The majority of us absolutely loved it. We had great discussions about how Adeline's parents never appreciated what wonderful gifts she had to offer in life. Also- we were all amazed how tragic her life was and her ability to overcome the continual abuse. The major reason why some of my classmates did not enjoy the book was because it was simply too sad. Every teacher in middle school should give their students the opportunity to read this work.



2. Chinese Cinderella is a memoir, also known as a story of bravery endurance and a strong little girl who goes by the name of Adeline. Adeline ,also known as the Chinese Cinderella, needs to be brave to survive life. she has great endurance when it comes to school. Adeline is a strong character when it comes to her family because they tease and beat her. The setting of Chinese Cinderella was obviously in china. In the middle of the book the Chinese were having a war against the French. Adeline's mother died because of her birth. As a result she was considered "bad luck". Another conflict is she has an evil step mother whom has two kids and treats them like they are the only kids in the house. Her relationship between her and her father sucks one reason is because he does not even know her own birthday.



3. I couldn't put this book down, being 1/2 chinese myself I loved the historical comments found in this book and could relate to some of the coldness shown to her by her family. Favortism runs deep in this book as it does in alot of chinese families as well as american families. I felt sad while reading this book yet her strength and determination was inspiring and so powerful throughout this whole story. A great story for all to read.



4. bought this book for my daughter for summer reading assignment. the retail chain near me said it would take a few weeks but i bought the book for a great price and received it within a few days with no hitches thanks amazon!



5. As an Asian American whose father remarried I can relate to the Author. A wicked step-mother and two wicked step-sisters and a father who hated me because my mother left him. I am an unwanted child. I will never forget these words as long as I live and I quote my step-mother "You may have not been an accident; but you are certainly a mistake".
   
   This story is truly inspiring and conveys so much more than I could have possible have retold about my own life. As a 33 year old woman with two daughters, I will continuously give them the encouragement that I lacked, inspiration I craved, and all the dreams they can reach-every single one of those dreams. The Author has true conviction and fortitude far beyond her age.
   
   "...and to all unwanted children, in the hope that will persist to do their best in the face of hopelessness, to believe in the end their spirit will prevail, and to nurture their childhood traumas into the source of courage, creativity, and compassion".--Adeline Yen Mah

1 comments about Nexos, Media Edition.

1. I bought my book from a private person by way of Amazon.com. The book was brand new and it had everthing I needed for my class, it was an extra bonus. The book was a lot cheaper than what the school wanted for it. It is very easy to understand and not only that but I like the way it is layed out. When I thought it was missing the workbook I contacted the seller to see if he had sent it, he had. I was very pleased that he responded right away. Turns out that wookbook was part of text. I would recommended the book and the transaction highly.

5 comments about Travels with Herodotus (Vintage International).

1. Ryszard Kapuscinki's final book is a wonderful synthesis of historical musing and inquiry with his own observations during his travels as a journalist. He draws on Herodotus' Histories, quoting from them extensively while drawing the reader into his own fascination with the ancient writer's motivations and sense of wonder at the episodes he recorded. This aspect of the book weaves seamlessly with the author's equally entertaining descriptions of the people and places he is personally experiencing while traveling to some of the 20th century's dark corners of the world.
   
   A perfect blend of historical essay and journalistic reportage that is never boring.



2. The last book by this great journalist. It makes perfect sense that he traveled with Herodotus, and that this ancient Greek writer, the first historian, or the first reporter, was like a companion to him. History is stories. Kapuscinsky was most wise in always remembering this and he learned it from Herodotus. His writing is transparent. He writes so you can know. He never forgets that nothing is definitive. He has some very wise things to say about Africa. I like that he sees Africa as part of the world and not as a special case. Herodotus did too. Herodotus wrote before the psychopathology of racism became a kind of law. Kapuscinsky writes in the aftermath, as the damage trickles down. He narrates in vivid snapshots. In this book he tells you where he came from. He describes Poland after WWII. He describes life under Stalin. He shares his first travel experiences. India! Completely unprepared! Culture shock! In this book you get to understand where his abiding clarity came from. I just loved it.



3. A poetic view into the experiences of a Polish man raised with Stalinist-era values, and how he deals with these values' total deficiency in helping him understand and cope with the rest of the world. A little-kid-in-big-city book. I can't dissociate myself from my classicist leanings enough to know what to do with his expansive interpretations of Herodotus, though. Try to enjoy them as fiction, as musings? Tough to do!
   
   Sadly, the book seems to me to lose steam halfway through: it becomes a regurgitation of Herodotus's stories about war (the LEAST interesting bits of Hdt., I think), literally paraphrasing Hdt. for chapters on end. I'm not enough of a literary gal to sustain the attention necessary to make these expansive retellings interesting as new literature. If I wanted to read Hdt., I would. And it would be far more interesting, because I'd get the neat ethnographic and mythological excurses mixed in with the boring accounts of battle formations.



4. This book steals the reader away from the present in a journey through time. Although his own stories and narratives are fascinating, Kapuscinski's enlivening of Herodotus becomes what holds you. You can't help but feel excitement for the reading journey ahead when you pick the book up after having put it down for a break. Furthermore, his analysis of a certain type of "traveler" (versus tourist) will haunt (or inspire) any of those who find themselves more the former than the latter. In the realm of memoirs, this book is of par excellence.



5. Kapuscinski reports on the people and political culture of the third and fourth worlds( the third being countries like Iran and the fourth countries like the Congo).
   
   He is very humble to recognize that it is difficult if not impossible to report on a country if a reporter does not speak the foreign country language such as India and Iran.
   
   He laments the total chaos of countries in Africa, the total anarchy !
   
   He also made us realize through Herodotus Histories that a good reporter is more than the reporter who provides snippets of sound and images clips for immediate daily consumptions.
   
   He forces us to realize that men in their psychological makeups are still the same as in Herodotus times.
   
   Through the Histories of Herodotus underatand today's events.

5 comments about American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed Professor Ellis's book about that enigmatic man: Thomas Jefferson. It is not a biography of Jefferson nor is it a complete history and those of us who want to know more about this period in American history will need to look to other sources.
   
   For me, the value of this book is the articulation of some of the perceived contradictions between Jefferson's idealism and his actions as a man of his time. Regardless of Jefferson's likeability as a man, he had a profound influence over the shape of the emerging American republic. In exploring the character of Thomas Jefferson, Professor Ellis provides an historical and social context as a prism through which to view the man and his actions. It is ironic that a man with the vision to work with others to set in place the foundations of a great nation was unable to manage his own affairs so successfully. Public life is so often accompanied by significant personal cost.
   
   It may be true that `The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.' I doubt that in 1787, when Jefferson uttered those words, he could foresee how thirsty the tree of liberty would prove to be.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



2. I am a well educated person with a particular interest in Jefferson. I was amazed at the assertion by Ellis that Jefferson formed the republican party. The republican party was not established until 1854. The party the Jefferson formed evolved into the democratic party. Are we living in the soviet union now? if you don't like real history you just change it. How do I get my money back on his piece of crap book? I knew this guy has a history of stretching the truth but I didn't know it went this far!



3. A common theme amongst many reader reviews that appeared to be neophytes to American history was that this book is painfully slow and lacking a compelling narrative. While I disagree with the former claim, I agree with the latter. I believe this is a book that best serves more ardent students of history who've already studied Jefferson and are more than willing to wade through a lot of uneventful anecdotes to get to know the man better, which Ellis does a great job on the subjects he covers except Jefferson's position on religion - so for those that want to go deep into history, this is a very interesting, worthy book. Ellis purposefully strips out much of the narrative by design, it is a character analysis (see subtitle of book for goodness sakes!), and therefore a narrative would threaten the very purpose of the book.
   
   Ellis' Jefferson comes off as perfectly brilliant, utopian, progressive, somewhat dogmatic, impractical, subversive, and most importantly - all too human. Ellis does a wonderful job of describing the events where Jefferson was obviously on the wrong side of history as we look back in time - e.g., Jefferson's belief that the states would better defend individual liberty rather than the federal government, especially the Supreme Court which has ultimately become our greatest defender, along with eloquently analyzing his greatest accomplishments and contributions to mankind. Ellis brings Madison and Adams into this study in just the right amounts to provide an understanding of how Jefferson interacted with the other framers along with how Jefferson viewed the Revolution and ratification of the Constitution vs. their very different perspectives.
   
   Ellis's treatment of Jefferson's contributions to promoting the limits of government and its obligation to defend its citizens' liberty rights was well covered from a philosophical perspective but completely lacking from a constitutional perspective. While Ellis covered Jefferson's firm position on the importance of secular government if men were to fully enjoy liberty was noted, this analysis was all too brief given the current times where the religious right continuously mischaracterize Jefferson's position on religious freedom, e.g., President Bush's 2008 Independence Day speech is a good example of a modern day character distorting Jefferson's writings to achieve a political objective perfectly contrary to Jefferson's clearly stated position. Given that Jefferson believed that individual freedom is only possible with a secular government with zero evidence to date he was incorrect; Ellis shortchanges his readers by not spending more time on this critical contribution, especially given Jefferson's radical position, and in hindsight his genius on this subject. In fact, Jefferson's position is still so radical there is no way a modern-day politician could espouse views like Jefferson's and get elected in America.
   
   Ellis also leaves out some out critical time periods in Jefferson's life, like Jefferson's second term as President. Given the paperback's main body comes in at 367 pages, I felt one hundred fifty more pages to include more on Jefferson's religious viewpoints and his second presidential term was well deserved given the importance of Jefferson relative to America's founding ideals passed down by him and the other framers.



4. This book is quite pleasing, it is well argued and well written. If you like "juicy" biographies full of details and trivia you will be disappointed, nonetheless, it still has a wealth of biographical data that makes the book interesting and instructive. The main focus of the book is on Jefferson's achievements and legacy. The man (Jefferson) was an intellectual colossus and was never short on peculiar and original ideas; he remains an icon for all Americans that are wary of big government and all Americans that defend the sovereignty of the individual. I am glad I picked up this book as my starter on Jefferson.



5. Absolute claptrap from a morally bankrupt excuse of a human being who cannot find his niche in his pathetic underachieving life. He resorts to "tabloid" history, finding it makes up for his inability to do real research or be able to critically evaluate it. His personal ability to read into the heart and motivations of the founding fathers is ridiculous.
   Save your money and buy a real book by a real historian. The more read you are on one of his "targets", the more you will find his writing vacant. He must have worked for the enquirer.

5 comments about Freaks, Geeks & Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence.

1. This is a MUST READ for everyone who has a child or adult in the Autistic Spectrom!! Gives first hand information into the reasons why they react like they do to different situations daily in life!! Thanks to the author, Luke Jackson, we can now have a better insite into how to help them have less stress and help ourselves in the process!! Verleen (our 17 yr old grandson, Zachary has AS)



2. This book is intended for a person with Asperger's however, it can also be used by a child being bullied.



3. This was a great resource for us as parents of an Asperger son to get an idea of how the adolescent with Asperger thinks and relates to others. It will eventually be a great book to let our son read. The adolescent author of this book feels very strongly that all Asperger children should be told what they have (by name) so that they won't feel like something is wrong with them, but will come to understand that they are the way they are because of Aspergers.



4. This book is a keeper. Luke speaks from experience and shares his experience and suggestions for kids with aspergers, parents, friends and physicians on how a an AS kid can handle real-life situations by sharing what has worked for him. This book is an easy read and would be good for teens and adults to read whether they have AS themselves or are related to or know someone who does.



5. I read it, my Dad read it in 2 days. Very practical, humorous.When my son, with Asperger's, gets a little older, I will give this book to him. I want to meet Luke Jackson. What a great personality!

5 comments about A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties.

1. I got this book because of my interest in Bob Dylan and his involvement in the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early 60's. I enjoyed the parts of Dylan's recent book devoted to this subject. Rotolo really captures the time and place well. I felt I was there. A lot of personnal information about her relationship with Dylan is also revealed, but I felt that she was also holding back a lot. In 1962 she leaves Dylan in the Village to go to Italy for 8 months, He writes to her several times and she reveals that these were excellent letters "full of pain, humor, and storytelling." The book shows photos of a few envelopes. She excerpts a few paragraphs in the book. BUT I WANT MORE OF THOSE LETTERS!!! I WANT EVERY WORD OF THOSE LETTERS!!! Why tease us by saying the letters are incredible but then not reveal the contents??? I felt there were many instances were she starts an interesting episode and then drops it right before we get to the juicy part.
   The parts of the book about her life outside of Dylan I found to be boring, not because the facts were not interesting, but because she does not develop them well and often repeats herself.
   Rotolo has said she has not spoken before out of deference to Dylan and her own reticence at becoming involved in celebrity. I can't help but wonder what she could reveal if she were willing.



2. I read the book and found out pretty quickly that Suze appeared to be capitalizing on her relationship with Bob Dylan without revealing very much of anything. The writing was sincere and without any information that added a new slant. Sorry, but I think this one's a waste of time.



3. I purchased this book because I currently rent a studio in Greenwich Village and wanted to learn as much about the neighborhood as possible. Reading it served that purpose but I enjoyed the book on so many other levels as well. I learned the context of Dylan's early songs. Never a big BD fan, I bought a CD featuring his early hits and listen to it often as a backdrop to the love story of two young artists. Moreover, anyone who has ever experienced betrayal by a lover can feel Suze's almost indescribable heartbreak when she learned at a party that Bob had been with Joan Baez. Truly wrenching. Most meaningful of all to me, however, was her frustration at having feminist feelings before there was a feminist vocabulary. As a woman of the same age, I can remember and relate. I loved this book!



4. After spending 45 years as a subject of one of America's most iconic images, Suze Rotolo is entitled to say her piece. To her credit, she says it with great humility and dignity. This is not a "tell-all" about Bob Dylan. She treats her relationship with Dylan with respect, and presents an engaging portrait of young love in general. While I enjoyed Rotolo's overall picture of artistic life in NYC in the early 1960s, it tends to be a bit slight. Her lengthy love affair with Dylan provided entree to a fascinating scene. But while her other experiences and artistic endeavors were interesting, I never felt she quite succeeded in connecting them to any larger context. Still, as a fairly small-bore portrait of the life and work of a bright young woman in an exciting time and place, the book succeeds. I pondered whether to give it three or four stars. I went with four because the book is pleasantly readable and Rotolo comes across as such a likeable person. I wanted her to end up OK, and while she doesn't bring her story beyond the 1960s, it sounds as if she did.



5. In A Freewheelin' Time, Suze Rottolo pens a beautiful and nuanced portrait of Greenwich Village in the `60s. Her position was a unique one, as she was Bob Dylan's girlfriend during his sudden rise to fame, but the book is much more than just an after-the-fact tell-all. From her Communist parents to her own acts of civil disobedience, Rottolo focuses on the spirit of a place and time, crafting a really lovely memoir.

5 comments about Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.

1. My respect for Jenny McCarthy has increased ten fold after hearing about and then reading her story. I first 'met' Jenny McCarthy back when MTV was still in its first stages and never would have guessed! Yes, I admit, I probably would have judged her on first impressions back in those days but she has taught me a valuable lesson. What a wonderful beautiful mom she is! I heard of her story when I caught a few moments of a TV interview when the book first came out. I was instantly touched and rushed out to purchase the book. My heart breaks for the struggles she and her son have faced. Her courage, determination, and love for her son have shown the world one person CAN make a difference and there is always hope.
   
   I hope others will read of their journey together and be inspired as well. Jenny and her son certainly touched my heart and have made me more aware of nightmare families dealing with Autism can face. May those with the ability to limit those nightmares be inspired to do so as well.



2. Some things which should be noted about this book before going into it.
   
   1. At no point does Ms. McCarthy claim to be a medical expert. Indeed, she goes out of her way to note her lack of medical qualifications and notes that this book is just a journal of her experiences as she grew into being the mother of an autistic child.
   
   2. She does not claim that mercury vaccines are responsible for causing autism. She only mentions mercury once and that is to mention the theory and say that more research needs to be done to confirm it one way or the other.
   
   3. The therapies she uses for her son are expensive and well outside the means of most families. But most therapies are, especially those dubbed experimental by HMOs and the health-care providers that most of us go through. Again, McCarthy notes this.
   
   4. McCarthy does use a lot of salty language. This shouldn't be a surprise for anyone who is familiar with her comedy but it seems to be enough to inspire some parents to ignore the message and give it a 1 star rating besides. If this bothers you, you don't have to read the book. But don't go out of your way to trash it.
   
   All in all, I found this book to be enjoyable for what it is - a first-person account of a young woman growing up and developing into a mother and a better person. And however you feel about Ms. McCarthy's comedy (I personally can't stand it), you have to admire her desire to try and share her story and give the parents of autistic children the respect that they deserve with her charity work.



3. I do not have a child with autism, nor am I a professional, but I am a psychology student and EXTREMELY fascinated by Autism. This book gave great insight to a personal struggle with a child with autism, and I loved this book!!



4. I finished reading Jenny McCarthy's book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism" and I have to say it was one of the best books I have ever read and I am so glad I read it. I read it in a day because I could not stop. It was so good, sad, educational, and some parts were even a little funny because of course Jenny McCarthy can find a way to make you laugh even when talking about something as serious as her child having autism. Her humor is truly a gift. It helps lighten the mood when reading so it is not the most depressing thing you have ever read and you can get through it because the whole situation is heartbreaking but she is so positive and has such a wonderful attitude which is what helps so much in healing her son.
   
   I had a couple reasons for wanting to read this book, one being I had read her other books: Belly Laughs, Baby Laughs, and Life Laughs and of course gained an interest in what was going on with her and her baby but also because with Autism now effecting 1 in 150 children I figured I should learn more about it because it might someday effect one of my children (I currently have a 3 month old and she is my first child) or if not surely the child of someone I know. I did not even know anyone with Autism, I only knew people that knew people who had Autism, or so I thought. I recently learned I actually know some people whose children have a form of Autism and I did not know it until now and I told them about the book already. I realized after reading the first two pages that I did not know much at Autism at all. Actually just reading the title made me realize I didn't know much because I did not think it could be healed. I always heard there is no cure, which technically there is not yet, but there are things you can try that work for a lot of children, especially if it is caught and addressed very early, and although they may never be completely healed they end up living almost normal lives. I also wanted to read the book because I was very curious about something that in the 1970's only affected 1 in 10,000 children now effects 1 in 150 and they are still not sure what the cause is. Jenny says in the book that this is something we should be concerned about more than global warming because if it keeps increasing and ends up being almost every child, what are people going to do, stop having kids? At this rate, I think we should be more concerned about this.
   
   Another thing I learned about Autism from this book is there are many forms. Some kids have severe cases and some have mild cases even before treatment (some go from severe to mild with treatment like her child). Also, Jenny believes, and I agree with her, that Autism does not seem to be one disease/disorder. It seems to be several problems children have that have been given one name which is another reason children with Autism are so different. I think it is basically a lot of problems children are having and they don't know what is wrong so if they have certain symptoms they call it Autism. One reason she has so much success in healing him is because she doesn't just do things to cover up the problems with a temporary bandaid, she always ask herself what is causing the problem and tries to eliminate the cause.
   
   She does not think that vaccines cause Autism but does believe there is a link there and so do I. She believes some kids are born with weaker immune systems and can't handle the vaccines. She is still for giving children vaccines of course, but thinks they should do something like maybe a test beforehand to determine the effects it may have on a child and she is also for greening our vaccines, which is not in her book, but I read on the internet that her and Jim Carrey are currently urging congress to makes vaccines safer because they have so many dangerous things in them. After reading several of her books, I personally think it also has something to do with an injury to the head her son received while she was giving birth to him. He had to wear a helmet for a short time as a baby to correct the shape or his head which was misshaped due to the difficulties in labor which resulted in a c-section and she talks about this in her Baby Laughs book not this book but I see a link because in this book the first sign of Autism her son has is seizures and the one thing they would always ask her at the hospital when he had a seizure was did he suffer an injury to the head and she would of course say no and did not understand why they were asking that until she later found out that injuries to a certain part of the brain cause seizures of course. I don't know if she ever even linked the two together but I did after reading both books.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to everyone because I think everyone should be educated on the subject but would especially recommend it to anyone who has a child with Autism because most doctors, including Jenny's just basically send you out the door with the comment "I'm sorry but your child has Autism" like there is nothing you can do and she found out from other parents with Autistic children that there are some things you can do, or at least try. If it were my child, I would try everything just like she did whether it worked or not, at least you are trying and there is some hope instead of just giving up. I think the book she has coming out next month, which I also plan on reading, would be even more help to parents with Autism though because she wrote it due to the response she got from other parents with Autism after reading her first book and things they did to heal their child so in that book she shares their stories since each child with Autism is different and the new book also gives you an update on how her son is doing now.



5. As a mother of a little boy who was just diagnosed, I thought Jenny is right on with everything she says that she did to help her little boy in this book! I don't know why the first reviewer found this book so offensive because I found it be the very opposite of that. I found this book as a source of inspiration and hope-especially with a diagnosis that can leave you feeling helpless and alone. There is help and out there and you can get that help to help your son/daughter. I really loved Jenny's passion when talking about her son, and I could totally relate to alot of the things that she went through while searching through the medical community to find out what exactly was wrong with her son. I also loved the "What to Do Pamplet" at the back of the book so that she can try and help some of us who have just received our diagnosis and need to know where to go. All in all, this book was helpful and inspiring that I too can pull up my sleeves and help my child with as much vigor and passion as Jenny has with her son!! I give this book two HUGE thumbs up!!!!

5 comments about Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories.

1. Many other reviewers have noted that some of the stories in this book are slow and dry. The drawn out descriptions of the castle builders immediately comes to mind, as does the personal story of Juliette Lewis. But overall this is a worthwhile look into the mind and life of one of the best authors of our time. I feel like I know Chuck Palahniuk on a more personal level now, and that's what I was hoping for. I find him a fascinating man, someone I would love to sit down for coffee with. With that desire in mind, I am very happy I waded through this book.



2. I was attracted to this book after reading fight club, choke, haunted and lullaby. So, of course, i had high hopes. I picked it up, and it was not any where near as good as I thought it would be. There are like 2 good stories but the rest are just bland. While i was reading, i kept thinking, "And why am i reading this?" try reading other palahniuk books such as choke. This, for me, was a dissapointment.



3. Chuck Palahniuk out-does his own fiction writing, (which can be strange at times) with this collection of "True" stories.
   Any fan of Chuck will appreciate this book. It lives up to it's title, and delivers it's helping of strange and obscure topics.
   One of these topics is masturbation. And, he has much to say about this, including the reactions of the listeners when he read this story at bookstores around the world. And, let's not exclude the "Testicle Festival," the yearly event near Massoula Montana, that includes public nakedness, sex, and debauchery of all sorts. And, of course, the consumption of fried bull testicles. (dipped in ranch dressing)
   So, get on...hold on tight. You may wish you hadn't, but, then again, if you are already familiar with Chuck's work, you probably would expect no less.



4. Interesting true stories told well. One story offering some insight into the man? A departure for Palahniuk but one of my favorites of his.



5. Reading Chuck Palahniuk's collection of oddball 'strange-but-true' stories, articles written for various magazines about twisted people and their twisted little hobbies, is like watching "America's Most Terrifying Videos" or reading "Ripley's Believe It or Not." You feel guilty for enjoying the freak show... but not enough to stop reading. The book isn't that thick, and there are 23 chapters so each one makes a pretty good (and somehow appropriate) bathroom companion. There are chapters guaranteed to offend almost any sensibility, and yet there you sit still reading long after your business is done. They say knowledge is neutral, neither good nor inherently bad. But does that mean that every story has to be told?