3 comments about Acknowledged A Man.

1. I read with intererst the story of the Del Buono family as they fought for services for their son/brother. Barbara obviously has tremendous faith courage and strength. Her husband and children, esp. Mary, are also amazing. As the mother of a brain injured son I also am caught in the maze of TBI--and it is not pretty. Barbara has done a good job describing nursing home situations. Even though Nick's nursing home experience was years ago conditions in these homes, at least in Indiana, for TBI survivors has not changed enough. Reading this book has helped give me the strength to continue to fight for services for my TBI son.



2. It is an excellent resource which can help us all to deal with the difficulties of life and use them to create a better world where the wounded are cared for with heart, not just hands.



3. After reading this book I was so greatful for the excellent care hospitals now give.I am also thankful for all this family has done.

5 comments about Twilight: Losing Sight, Gaining Insight.

1. This is a brilliant analysis of the deterioration of vision by Mr. Grunwald who has gone through it. He handles his unfortunate situation with grace and class.

   I am very surprised that this text has not been published in audio form since there are so many individuals who cannot read because of AMD, but would gain so much from Mr. Grunwalds words.




2. My mother has macular degeneration and needed this book on tape. .... My mom found the book to be very helpful. I also read it to try to understand better what she deals with every day. She also purchased 2 copies of the book in hardcover for her eye specialists. Although they know all the medical information already, the book can give them insight into their patient's plight. I recommend the book to anyone who knows or works with someone with low vision.



3. This book has so much to offer my alert and intelligent 90 year-old uncle, who is struggling to maintain his existential connection with life as macular generation cuts him off from the reading that has given him intellectual sustenance over so many years, that it is really depressing not to find an audiotape version available on Amazon.

   June




4. Written by a retired Editor-in-Chief of Time, Inc. publications, this slender tome gives the author's musings on macular degeneration, which is an incurable, age-related, gradual loss of vision that affects millions of Americans. It is a loss that the author himself experienced, though initially, having worn eyeglasses all his life, he simply thought that he needed a prescription for stronger lenses.

   The author gives the reader a historical perspective of age related macular degeneration and the state of this disease in the medical world today. He also recounts his early struggle with the permanent loss of vision and his somewhat difficult transition to the world of the blind and partially blind, given the fact that his life had always revolved around the written word and voracious reading.

   This is a very personal chronicle of one man's journey, both physical and emotional, to a new phase in his long and rich life. It is clearly a journey that the author would have preferred not to have taken, but having taken it, though against his will, he makes the most of it. A gifted writer, the author shares his experiences with great candor and insight.

   This is an informative, inspirational work from the heart. Those who read it will gain knowledge of the insidious disease that is macular degeneration. It is certainly a disease with which all those who may potentially become afflicted should be familiar. Baby Boomers, in particular, should take heed.




5. This is not a review per se in that I have not read the book. However, I wanted to buy it on CD for my father-in-law, who is 89 years old and HAS macular degeneration. As a result, he is now unable to read at all. It is peculiar to me that this particular book is not available on CD since many in its target audience would likely be victims of the degenerative eye disease that is its topic. Are there plans to put it in an audio format?

4 comments about I Think I Scared Her.

1. When I told my mom I was having horrible nightmares and hearing and seeing things a little over 3 years ago, she was horrified, but moreso, she wanted to help me. Countless pill bottles and 4 diagnosises later, I stumbled across this book. The tall-lettered title caught my eye, but when I read the subtitle, it made me grin. My problems were no longer taboo. It's ok to write and publish a book about psychosis and have it out in plain sight in Borders.
   
   I bought it immediately and my mother and I read it together. It helped us both understand a little better on a more human level what it is I'm dealing with and the struggles that go with that.



2. Though reading about Brooke's psychosis was interesting, the chapters towards the end of the book seemed to be lacking something. This may be from her being on antipsychotics or it may have been something else, but towards the end of the book, the book got less interesting than it had been at the beginning. If you have psychosis, you might want to check this out, though it might be a bit triggering for self-injurers as there are some descriptions of how she cut herself.



3. I have a friend whose daughter has psychosis and I've never really understood what that meant. Reading Brooke's candid and intelligent account opened my eyes to the effect this has had on both my friend's daughter and on her family. I wish everyone would read this book and appreciate the courageousness of this young author and how she has made a life for herself despite living with psychosis. It's very impressive.



4. This book is amazing and actually destigmatizes a lot of other human experiences in addition to "mental illness". The author's honesty and intelligence are empowering and truly inspirational. There is a long history of mental illness in my family and it has brought joy, pain and loss to my own life. This book removed the layer of icky fear that coated me every time I thought or talked about "mental illness". It helped me better undertand that a lot of the human experience of growing up and entering adulthood is shrouded in myth and fear. If we were all as brave and clear-headed as Brooke, the world would be a far, far, far better place.

5 comments about Accidental Genius.

1. This book could have benefited from better editing- it has a lot of typos, some incomplete sentences, and at one point two paragraphs are repeated almost word-for-word in two different chapters. It is, however, an interesting case study of an exceptionally gifted child and the family who raised him. Parents seeking advice from other parents of gifted children might find this book hard to put down, but I think they could find better resources by starting with "Smart Boys" or "Smart Girls" by Barbara Kerr, or the books "Re-forming Gifted Education" and "Stand Up for Your Gifted Child."



2. My daughter entered full-time college at age 13 and graduated at age 16. This book gave the most accurate description of what it is really like to go through the acceleration process. Although the book details the personal experiences of the Kearny family, the reader should know that many families that accelerate will experience a lot of what the Kearny's write about. The first chapter of the book that is provided in the Amazon description is not really representative of the book. Once you get past Chapter One, the real story begins. The authors are painfully honest about their feelings and experiences; and do the reader a great service by sharing their personal stories. I have been through the acceleration process with my child and I believe that the Kearny's had a lot to do with the academic acceleration abilities of their children. They should be congratulated for thier enormous efforts and brilliant teaching methods.

   The Kearny's are pioneers in the area of acceleration. There are now hundreds of accelerated kids attending colleges across the nation. If you are interested in accelerating your child, I highly recommend this book. You will encounter many of the same roadblocks and negative opinions from teachers and administrators. Reading this book will give you an idea about what you will encounter so you're prepared to deal with the negatives when they happen. The book also shares the joys of acceleration and shows how beneficial early college can be. My daughter and I would do it all over again and encourage others to think about it too. This book is a great way to start your journey. Give it a try!




3. Yes, that's right... this was a fascinating story. And it was easy to read almost non-stop until I had heard it told. However, the book really does have many shortcomings. Perhaps just because the story is so fascinating that it raises all sorts of questions that are not addressed here. Most notably missing is Michael's own view on his childhood. How could the parents not think of including him in his own story? His own analysis would be at least as insightful as that of his parents. Especially since some of the speculation engaged in by the parents is of limited cogency. Particularly unsettling, in the midst of an already loose and casual narrative style, is the large number of spelling errors or similar proofreading errors that are in the book. Apparently this small press charges more money but offers less quality in its product. The story is fascinating and merits a 4 out of 5 rating for its interest alone. But the parental interpretation could have greatly benefited from editing, proofreading, and supplemental material provided by a third author - either a subject area expert or their "whiz kid" himself. Strangely, they refer to Michael's autobiography as if it is a published book somewhere, but web searches have turned up no sign of it. Nor is it included in the reference section at the back of this book. This book is fascinating, just as if one could meet directly with the parents and talk with them all day long. However, it really feels like a draft manuscript, rather than a polished and completed work. I am grateful it's available, but the story and subject deserved more thorough treatment.



4. This is one of the worst books on giftedness I've ever read. I bought the book thinking I would learn something about acceleration. What I got was nothing but a sad tale of a dysfunctional family whose mother is completely obsessed with her son's intelligence and her rationalizations for why she kept pushing him. Everything in their life is put on hold and everything in their life is sacrificed for the education of this ONE child. I'm sure Michael believes the world revolves around him -his family certainly believes it...and they don't do anything to teach him any different. Sadly for Michael, life only revolved around him,his education and his intelligence. He never experienced what it was like to be part of a family where EVERYONE was valued for who they are...not just their intelligence.



5. Imagine this. Doctors tell you your premature child may be burdened with slow mental development throughout their life. The child is fussy and can't sleep without some kind of mental stimulus- a quick fire candidate for ADD drugs. Rather than medicate you quickly find the best way to calm your child down is to interact with them and the child picks up things quickly. In fact, your child loves learning, retains most anything you present it and can recall the same information with voracity. You've hit the jackpot! Your kid should cruise through their classes and is likely to be the pride any school they attend. Colleges will be lined up around the block with scholarships and your baby's future is assured. Right? Not even close.
   
   The Kearney's found themselves in just this situation and quickly discovered there is a vast difference between learning and the US education system- big emphasis on the word "system". The first thing they found is that our system prefers children to step through it at the it's pace- not the child's, regardless of how disinterested the child may be in the curriculum. The first assumption our education makes is disinterest represents laziness or reluctance to learn- even if the child has already learned the material, finds repetition dull or just needs a small break. Aside from trying to feed a bottomless mental appetite the Kearney's had to make a very difficult decision: Let the public education system take a bright child and knock that bright light down to a normal level and possibly create endless behavioral problems in the process, pay an expensive private school to do the same or home school their child and hope the state recognizes their efforts. They tried the first two but eventually accepted the last option and even then they were always plagued by double standards, dimwitted officials, inept professionals, and little to no outside help. In fact, it seems that rather than foster intelligent students the US education system is simply more interested in simply reporting that they have students. Why is this? Because our education system is a joke.
   
   Think about how teachers are resented on all sides, ridiculously underpaid, under budgeted and checked by conflicting bureaucratic standards then think about how dumb someone must be to consider that as a career choice. There is humor or at least an illustration of a nation which pays education lip service but doesn't really take it seriously. Perhaps the thought of intelligent children eventually competing for our jobs is frightening. Perhaps the thought of not raising a generation of consumers who define themselves only by consumption is frightening to corporations. Perhaps the old guard (i.e. Ivy League alumni with vast contributions) are happy with things the way they are. Again, who is most precious to our future- another parent's prodigy or our own child? And does our education system really matter when two of "the best Ivy League" schools are churning out people like George W. Bush through? To quote him "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." This book highlights the problems with and conclusion any hopeful parent will discover about raising a gifted child in America: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. It may bankrupt you, bring you under suspicious of child endangerment, create envy in pretty much every parent you know and wear you to a nub, but that's the gift of having a gifted child in our current system.
   
   Should you be looking for "how to create a prodigy" advice, there really isn't much here. The parents don't outline lesson plans. In fact, they seemed to simply do what many parents should: encourage, support, provide positive reinforcement, take their child's education seriously and try to make learning as fun as possible for their child. In that respect I believe they deserve an A+. The rest (prodigality, genius) is really genetic.
   
   I would give this book five stars but the editing is the worst I've ever seen in a published work. Numerous spelling errors and accidentally repeated passages litter the book. Even the title is odd considering the authors state repeatedly and clearly that they don't consider their children geniuses, but prodigies. I had to wonder if anyone actually bothered to edit the manuscript at all or how drunk they were when they did. I can forgive the shoddy jacket artwork but I really feel the publisher did a half-hearted job on this one, which is unfortunate for such an interesting book and wake up call for our national education system.

2 comments about Helen Keller.

1. Many people have heard of Helen Keller, the first deafblind person to graduate from college, an author, and the individual honored on Alabama's state quarter. Many fewer actually know what sort of person Keller was, what she stood for and believed in. Keller's activism on behalf of women's suffrage, pacifism, civil liberties, and radical socialism have largely been stripped from the sanitized images of her in popular consciousness. This short collection of some of Keller's best-known radical writings can help address this ignorance and raise consciousness about an American radical and militant socialist most often remembered as little more than a "poor little blind girl".
   
   In "Helen Keller: Rebel Lives", editor John Davis brings together a collection of letters, articles, and essays (all written by Keller except for one interview) outlining her radical social visions. Davis opens the volume with a 14-page biographical sketch, chronology, and introductions to the documents written with Karen Fletcher. The remaining 75 pages are organized into four sections, each including 5-7 brief documents, that explore Keller's views on disability and class (and the links between them); socialism and industrial unionism; women and women's suffrage; and war, militarism, and pacifism. Also included is a very short bibliography of electronic and printed resources for more information.
   
   The documents I found most interesting were those relating to Keller's involvement with the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a radical anticapitalist union. Even though I was already familiar with Keller's revolutionary socialism, Keller's lively and witty articles on socialism and the IWW were a pleasure to read even with the burden of hindsight. I can only imagine that readers who know little about Keller the radical leftist will find these writings much more of a revelation, and more interesting as a result.
   
   This volume is in no sense a complete biography of Keller. It includes only introductions to her activism and revolutionary politics, and could have benefited greatly from providing background and analysis that was both more comprehensive and more in-depth. However, this slim volume is plenty to burst the bubble of sanitized history that surrounds popular views of Keller, and help readers get past her whitewashed image and learn a bit about the least-remembered aspects of the real person. It may also be of special value to teachers looking for primary sources on Keller or any of her fields of activism.



2. Essays and transcripts of speeches by Helen Keller, which reveal her true concerns and her work on behalf of others. For example, she advocated on behalf of public health measures to prevent causes of blindness. She advocated for social and economic reforms which she believed were morally just and socially necessary.
   
   Keller's concern for others shines through this text, transcending the specific political alignments she felt were necessary to achieve her goals, so that any reader of any political persuasion will find herein much value.
   
   Highly recommended.

No comments about Birth in a Chicken House: A Collection of Stories.

5 comments about Breaking Autism's Barriers: A Father's Story.

1. You can't miss the hard-headed commitment, the dogged won't-take-no-for-an-answer determination of this father in his loving and relentless pursuit of appropriate services for his son with autism. Bill Davis "tells it like it is" -- no wishy-washiness, no pie-in-the sky, no empty promises or fairy tale endings. His book makes clear the unfathomable depth of his love -- his passion -- for his beautiful son Chris, and the unyielding belief that no work is too hard, no frustration too crippling, no sacrifice too great if the goals are to provide for his son avenues by which this child with autism can make sense of our complex, swirling, overstimulating world, and find ways to express his own rich perceptions, ideas, and wit.

   Read this book if you have a child with autism. Buy it and give it as a gift (as I have twice already) to someone you know who has a child with autism.

   Read this book, too, if you have or know a child with ANY disability, for in Bill and Jae Davis' story of working with educational authorities, "working the system", "fighting the system" , improving the system, and not "settling" for halfway measures is a model for all parents of ALL kids with so-called special needs.

   But read this book if what you're looking for is just a good love story. The love that springs out of every page is real and unsentimental. The whole story is here -- the love of Bill and Jae for each other despite fatigue and frustrations and fights, the love for their daughter Jessica and Jessica's love for Chris, and the loving personality of Chris himself, the true hero of the book.




2. When starting this book I felt it would be a technical rendition of an Autistics child's life. Boy was I surprised to read the heart felt story about a father, a mother and two children caught up in the baffling world of Autism. From the diagnosis, through the stress of daily life the commitment between these family members was so touching and compelling forcing me to reexamine my own life's priorities. The Davis' obstacle ridden devotion to further education and community awareness of this disease is nothing less than admirable, and hopes that through Mr. Davis' advocacy work he can compel others to open their eyes.



3. When starting this book I felt it would be a technical rendition of an Autistic child's life. Boy was I surprised to read the heart felt story about a father, a mother and two children caught up in the baffling world of Autism. From the diagnosis, through the stress of daily life the commitment between these family members was so touching and compelling forcing me to reexamine my own life's priorities. The Davis' obstacle ridden devotion to further education and community awareness of this disease is nothing less than admirable, and hopes that through Mr. Davis' advocacy work he can compel others to open their eyes. I would encourage everyone to read this book, you will never regret or forget it.



4. Bill is so candid in his telling of the Davis family's life with Chris. He gives so much of himself and asks nothing in return. He is constantly out in the community advocating for not only his child but all children and adults with Autism. I'm proud to say I know him and I throughly enjoyed his book. If your child has been diagnosed you really should read this. Some parts will make you cry but many will make you laugh and say "Oh my god I'm not the only one!" It's an excellent book told from a point of view many never get to see. -Tracy Gipe, mother of a ten year old with ASD and his two younger siblings without.



5. I think this book is amazing because it let's you go into the mind of the author who is a man full of love for his son. He writes this book as if he is sitting in the room talking to you, and I like that. It's easy to read and easy to understand. And that is what people look for especially on Autism. I applaud this man and his family for doing wonderful things for the Austism Society and I'm proud to say that I'm a part of his world. I hope more people will read his books and get to know the love and suffering he and his family have been through. If anything he should get a medal in his honor.

1 comments about Knowing Stephanie.

1. "My body and soul do not function as separate parts. I pieced together a new self, unified and wonderfully alive." ~Stephanie Byram
   
   "Knowing Stephanie" is a beautiful gift and I am amazed at how a woman I will never meet in this life has affected my life in a profound way. I am also deeply touched by the sheer beauty of the souls who surrounded Stephanie during a time when she became so very human and vulnerable.
   
   Stephanie had a dream for her life. She was pursuing a career and wanted to start a family when her life turned into a nightmare instead of the dream she had envisioned.
   
   After becoming concerned about a painful, swollen breast, all the tests showed the presence of a tumor. At the young at of 33, she was diagnosed with a highly aggressive breast cancer. Doctors said she only had a 50 percent chance of surviving five years.
   
   Stephanie refused to see this situation as an obstacle to her dreams. Although she struggled with cancer for eight years, she decided to get married, buy a home, earn her Ph.D. and even travel the world. Stephanie didn't give up on life because life decided to take her on a path that would show her the limits of her own endurance.
   
   Knowing Stephanie is a combination of Charlee Brodsky's photographs and Stephanie Byram's words. There is also an wonderful essay by Jennifer Matesa to give us a story of the medical journey without being overly clinical.
   
   In "Reconstructing a Life" we learn how Stephanie found out about her cancer and how chemotherapy works. We finally understand what causes the nausea and why patients undergoing chemo go bald and experience neutropenia.
   
   In this collaborative effort, you will meet Stephanie and learn about her struggles. You will see how she took charge of her own life and relive the experiences of chemotherapy and doctor visits through photographs. There are also beautiful notes from her mother, father and niece. She makes of list of everything her friends and family did to help her including telling her is was "OK to cry."
   
   Stephanie had weaknesses and strengths and both are portrayed in this story. We are invited to share her love of gardening, the feelings she experiences as she wondered how men would accept her after her surgery, how she is suddenly confronted with her mortality and how she uses the experiences in her life to heal instead of withdrawing into the darkness of despair.
   
   A portrait of a woman who refused to see cancer as anything less than an opportunity to embrace life in all its beauty and sadness and learn from the experience. Her optimism and determination is an inspiration to us all.
   
   "What is my future: love, laughter, gardens, family, friends, spirituality, travel ...more of what I love in life. I surround myself with positivity, gentleness, challenge, and hope. I be, I am, until I pass, as we all shall." ~ Stephanie Byram
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about The Vow: The Kim and Krickitt Carpenter Story.

1. This is a beautiful story of love and commitment. In a world where so many couples get divorced for the sake of convenience, it's nice to read about a couple who stood by their vows (and each other) in the face of tragedy. Some of the chapters with Krickitt's journal entries get a bit long, but over all I loved it!



2. The Vow is one of the most amazing TRUE love stories that I have ever read. In our disposable society today, it is so refreshing to read about true love, faith, and commitment.

   Kim Carpenter's wife, Krickitt, was not expected to survive massive head injuries sustained from a head on collision with a truck. Miraculously and against all odds, she did survive. Her faith in God, along with the unrelenting adoration and help of her husband and family (and of course all of the doctors!) helped pull Krickitt back into a functioning world. Unfortunately, Krickitt lost all memory of her brief marriage, engagement and courtship with her husband. Kim held on steadfast to his marriage vows and never, never gave up, despite the unsurmounting odds of their marriage ever surviving such tragedies.

   It is so humbling to read of their devout faith in God, which pulled them both through some incredible life challenges, if not providing miracles in their lives, time and time again. Kim's heartfelt love for Krickitt comes through strongly and I do so admire his integrity, his devotion and the love he has for his wife. This story is a huge testament to the power and bond of love and marriage. I do believe that many men in his position would have walked out and not stood by Krickitt's side.

   The Carpenters renewed their wedding vows for a second time, as Kim had to woo Krickitt all over again, as she had no memory of her husband at all. Their lives will no longer be what it was before the accident and Krickett is not the same person she was before, as is Kim. Both have grown and both have a deeper commitment and love for one another.

   Living a nightmare in every conceivable way, the Carpenter's faith in God gave them the strength and will to persevere. God often gives us challenges in life and we do not understand why, and only later do the "lessons" or the meaning of all become clear to us. The messages imparted in this heart-felt story will hopefully ignite the love shared in all marriages and to help to heal those marriages in trouble and cement even further those solid marriages.

   This story will have you crying and cheering as well as have you questioning what is "really" important in our lives and how faith in God can pull us through even the darkest nightmares. Love and undying faith is what it is all about!

   Kim Carpenter you are one heck of a guy - the world needs more guys like you! Thank you both for a wonderful book - I recommend everyone read this book, especially couples that are engaged.




3. I purchased this book for my wife after seeing the Carpenter's story on NBC's "Dateline". It is a touching story of how one man will go to regain his wife back.

   I have yet to read the book, but I can assume my wife loved based on the fact that she finished the book in one day.




4. A newlywed myself, I bought this as an "airplane book" after seeing the Carpenter's story on "Today" and "Dateline." Not only is the story inspiring, it's also very easy to read. (I'm not the fastest reader in the world, but finished this book in 3 short sittings over a weekend!--it never made it to the plane)

   In a day when the "D" word is an "easy out" this is a great example of how two people put their faith in God and each other to keep a promise.




5. Has anyone else noticed that he didn't address this? The double standard lives on, IMHO. One star deducted for this.
   
   Otherwise, it's a beautiful story of love that triumphed over enormous adversity, and yes, they are still married. A movie is in the works and the Carpenters now have two children: Danny, born around the time the book was released, and Lee Ann, born in 2003.
   
   Even if you leave the religious aspect out of it, they stayed together for one reason: They wanted to.

1 comments about Insights from an Out-of-Sight Guy.

1. You don't need to be blind to benefit from the insights provided in this great "little" book (only 111 pages!) It is clearly written, easy to understand, and perfect for all ages. The author is a great public speaker, and now, an equally great writer!
   
   A few years ago I heard him speak at a conference, and was inspired to get out of my rut and begin living the life of my dreams...without the self-imposed limitations and negative and defeating "self-talk" that I was not even aware I was doing...and it was easy! I always wished his stories were available in a book that I could tuck into my bag and read in snips and starts during my day. Well, this is that book! In Insights, Colbert cuts right to the truth of why we struggle with constant change, and explains in everyday, nonthreatening words how our attitudes, emotions, and ideas keep us from experiencing life to the fullest.
   
   Insights contains a dozen funny and inspriational short stories, all set within the very personal story of a blind man learning to "see" his life. Every page...and just about every paragraph contains something meaningful, motivational, and thought-provoking, but this is not just another "how to feel good" or "pump-you-up" self-help guide. This is a "real life" story of a "real life" person, just like you and me, and will help you think about your life and the simple choices you make everyday...and begin making decisions and choices that bring the happiness and joy you deserve.
   
   There's a BIG message in this wonderfully put together "little" book, which you're sure to turn to again and again for a little comic relief, a gentle kick in the right direction, or a good dose of "get over yourself." I recommend it for everyone, no matter where you are on the journey of self-discovery, but especially for people, young and old alike, who are struggling with a sudden and dramatic challenge or change in their life, and those who need a little inspirational "jump start" out of one of life's many little ruts.