5 comments about Let's Roll!: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage.

1. "Let's Roll" is the story of the lives of Lisa Beamer of her husband Todd, who was killed aboard United Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001. See my review of the hard cover for details.
   
   The two stars are for the horrendous job of narration. Lisa Helms gives Lisa Beamer a voice that is so chirpy, perky and mindless that I could hardly stomach the book. The first 3-4 CDs were so relentlessly cute and smug that I almost couldn't stand listending to more. Only when the book rolled around the describing the events of 9/11 and its aftermatch did Helms calm down enough to be tolerable.
   
   Read the book, or skip the first 4 CDs if you have a weak stomach for saccharin.



2. This audio book went into a complete background of both Lisa and Todd Beamers lifes: from childhood, through school, to college and how they meet. It gives you great detail on the background of these two peoples lifes, but I felt it was too wordy at times, especially when I was expecting this book to be mainly an account of the 9/11 incidents. But when Lisa finally gets to this account in her book, it is very detailed and interesting. Lisa and Todds closesness and devotion to God give hope to the reader and our Nation .. a great reminder.



3. The book Lets roll is a good book for people to read what happened to Lisa. In this book she talks about her life, marriage, children and staying home taking care of her kids. A normal staying home mom. Lisa beamer is a wife of the 9-11 hero Todd beamer. Lisa was talking to Todd her husband on the phone while the terrorist were on the plane with him. Lisa has a lot of courage to write this book and put her life on the line for all of the nation to read she wrote the book of her life and her family. To tell the world what she was thinking the day of 9-11 and the days before and after the attacks was very hard for her as she said in the book but she was incredible open about it. Lisa talked about how her and her husband was a very close. Lisa now has three wonderful children. The title of the book Lets Roll came from when she was on the phone with her husband Todd and He was talking to another person on the flight and they were talking about how they were going to take down the terrorist or they wouldn?t make it through the day. I give this book four stars. Lisa beamer had a great deal of courage to talk about her life and her husband?s last words. Lisa was a great mother to her children. In 9-11 the attacks made a lot of family?s go lonely those nights. I liked this book because it shows a women who has great courage to talk about her husband she expressed her emoations. In a way that no women usually would



4. The book Lets roll is a good book for people to read what happened to Lisa. In this book she talks about her life, marriage, children and staying home taking care of her kids. A normal staying home mom. Lisa beamer is a wife of the 9-11 hero Todd beamer. Lisa was talking to Todd her husband on the phone while the terrorist were on the plane with him. Lisa has a lot of courage to write this book and put her life on the line for all of the nation to read she wrote the book of her life and her family. To tell the world what she was thinking the day of 9-11 and the days before and after the attacks was very hard for her as she said in the book but she was incredible open about it. Lisa talked about how her and her husband was a very close. Lisa now has three wonderful children. The title of the book Lets Roll came from when she was on the phone with her husband Todd and He was talking to another person on the flight and they were talking about how they were going to take down the terrorist or they wouldn?t make it through the day. I give this book four stars. Lisa beamer had a great deal of courage to talk about her life and her husband?s last words. Lisa was a great mother to her children. In 9-11 the attacks made a lot of family?s go lonely those nights. I liked this book because it shows a women who has great courage to talk about her husband she expressed her emoations. In a way that no women usually would



5. I think this should be required reading for every married couple with children. Lisa explains how dedicated (sometimes too dedicated) Todd was to his job and how he discovered there was more to life than just his job. It discusses the couple's negotiations over family time versus work time, and strong work ethic and faith values. I highly recommend anyone to give this book a read or a listen!

5 comments about Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1).

1. escape via rocket, October 6, 2008
   By V. N. Dvornychenko (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews
   
   
   Part "Angela's Ashes" (Frank McCourt) and part "I Aim for the Stars" (Werner von Braun), this book chronicles the efforts of a teenage boy to escape the confines of his West Virginia coal-mining milieu. Fourteen-year-old Homer/Sonny Hickam (the protagonist and author) is determined not to follow in the footsteps of his coalminer father - who is already showing signs of black-lung disease, a disease which will eventually kill him.
   
   Homer/Sonny has an older brother, of whom he is very resentful. Among his brother's "sins" are ease with the girls, success at high school football - and most of all - favor with the parents. Normally there are only two paths for escape from Coalwood: the military, or a football scholarship.
   The brother, Jim, holds a strong suit in the football option. Homer, slightly built and very nearsighted, knows he has no chance at footfall - and, so it would appear, with the girls. Then a miracle happens.
   
   The "miracle" that provides a third avenue of escape is the launching of Sputnik by the USSR. The shockwaves produced by this event change American values almost overnight. Intellectual "nerds" suddenly become fashionable. Homer hatches a plan which he hopes will eventually land a job designing rockets for Werner von Braun. The plan is to design, build and launch model rockets. Homer collects a circle of followers - mainly other "nerds" -- and together they put the plan into action.
   
   Besides the shockwaves produced by Sputnik, another kind of fault line runs right through the Hickam household. On one side stand Homer with his mother, on the other his father and brother. A major reason for the fault line is that the mother does not wish to see her sons follow the fate of her husband. But that is not all; it appears the mother has certain misgivings about her marriage. With her artistic bent, and something of a free-spirit, she harbors feelings that perhaps -- just perhaps -- she married beneath her station. A consequence of her frustration is that she succeeds in pulling Homer/Sonny over to her side, resulting in a more-or-less permanent rift with the father. It is also interesting to speculate what other personality traits may have resulted from Homer's closeness to his mother. Homer appears to have a penchant for being attracted to girls that give him conflicting signals - somewhat in the manner of Lucy of the famous comic strip, they entice him, only to pull the ball away at the very last second. Homer is also attracted to an "older" woman (though she is only in her early twenties), his science teacher, Freida Riley.
   
   Although Homer appears to fear and hate everything about mining, some of the most spellbinding moments are excursions into the mine. His favorite science teacher would not, however, approve of the chemistry in the book, which contains several mistakes.
   
   I began by characterizing "Rocket Boys" as part "Angela's Ashes" and part "I Aim for the Stars". In retrospect, is little doubt that "I Aim for the Stars" constitutes the minor component. Although much of the book details the design and building of rockets, Homer's fascination with rocketry and Werner von Braun appears to be mostly motivated by this "ticket out of Coalwood." The epilogue to the book reinforces this. After some delays, Homer Hickam does indeed go to work for NASA, and enjoys a successful career. But sadly, no speculations appear in the book regarding man's role in the cosmos - the "extraterrestrial imperative" Krafft Ehricke called it - nor did any subsequent books on astrodynamics or space theory emerge.
   
   The author produced a sequel "Coalwood Ways." Published only two years later, it covers much the same territory, but has a very different flavor. It concentrates on interpersonal relations, and is much "sweeter" in its outlook than its precursor. It gives the appearance that the author underwent some personal event between the two books which changed his outlook. A film, titled "October Sky," was made based on "Rocket Boys." It has a different flavor yet. "Rocket Boys" is a fine book, and after all is said and done, it would appear that Homer Hickam's true calling is writer.
   
   THE EXPERIMENTS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED.



2. Loved this book. Was on the last chapter when I threw October Sky into my Netflix queue; Hoping I'd have it in hand when the book was finished. Timing was perfect. As usual, the book eclipses the movie, but both are great. Passing it onto my 10 year old son who already has aspirations of going into the sciences. Enjoy!



3. Was purchased due to a requirement by my childs school. He has informed me it is a good book.



4. Homer Hickam grew up in a rural isolated mountain town but went on to win the National Science Fair.
   
   This book is his story and how he was successful.
   
   I bought 24 copies of this book to inspire my advanced 6th grade Reading class. They loved the book. In our discussions they mentioned never giving up. Homer and his friends kept trying until they had success.
   
   Thank you for sharing your life with us, Mr. Hickam.



5. ... "On June 4, 1960, the Big Creek Missile Agency, fresh from its medal winning performance at the National Science Fair, is sponsoring a day of rocket launches at its Cape Coalwood range. Everyone reading these words is invited..." This quote can be found on page 356-357 of a book called Rocket Boys; this statement showed me that the success of the main characters was a result of personal hard work and teamwork.
   
   "Rocket Boys" by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. is a nonfiction account of a group of friends from Coalwood, West Virginia in the early 1960's who have a fetish for making rockets. Homer and his friends have a dream to shoot a rocket up into the clouds. This story gives the reader a message that dreams really can come true.
   
   Rocket Boys is one of the strongest books I have ever read. The author accomplished his goals to tell people that team work is one of the most important things to know in your life. This book is recommended for people that like space and rockets and who want a hopeful book to read. Reading Rocket Boys really gets you thinking about team work and how far you can get with it.

5 comments about Partners in Power: The Clintons and Their America.

1. This is a highly reputable book with loads of revealing information about who the Clintons are and how history will ultimately judge them. It explains how they could bring so many enormous disasters to themselves, to Al Gore's campaign later, and to Hillary's campaign after that. Even though the Clinton years were ones of overall prosperity, people are tired of their scandals and foul character as detailed in this book.
   
   Roger Morris, a reputable Democrat, served with distinction for Democrats Lyndon Johnson (president of the United States), Dean Acheson (Secretary of State), and Walter Mondale (vice president and candidate for president). He is NOT a Republican attack dog. He is reputable and this book is well researched with the facts.
   
   For his biography of Richard Nixon, Morris was a finalist for the reputable National Book Award, a very selective award of integrity. His biography of Nixon was authoritative and accurately showed Nixon to be ambitious, intelligent, willing to be ruthless, and at times paranoid. His biography of Nixon was not a Republican whitewash. It was fair, and Morris was part of the reputable PBS American Presidents documentary of Richard Nixon.
   
   Partners in Power presents the facts. It is NOT a Republican attack book.
   
   However, this book does not cover the many later scandals, such as Bill Clinton giving away numerous pardons for donation, including on the lamb, wanted by the FBI. It does not show the hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth that the clinton built with Bill Clinton working for a billionaire in California and clients in the Middle East while his wife influeneced policies in Washington D.C. They refused to release their tax returns for most of the primary, except at the end after Super Tuesday.
   
   It does not mention Hillary Clinton's race-baiting remarks in an interview in USA Today, 'I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,' she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article 'that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.'" Or remarks from Geraldine Ferraro, a high-level clinton campaign employee and former candidate for Vice President, that said, "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position." No mention of how half of Americans said they would not vote for her under any circumstance and the overall disgust with the Clinton scandals.



2. His title sounds convincing for the evidence he sugests has already been proven to be fabricated lies, this is pure dirty political propaganda from the republican party propaganda machine.



3. The 'Prologue' of this 1996 book describes Clinton's Inauguration. The face in the White House changed, but the same people were pulling the strings (p.4). Clinton's highest margin was with voters under 30. Morris notes the decay of cities and the loss of jobs (p.6). People hoped for a change with Clinton. Clinton's past in Arkansas would soon catch up. The opening chapters tell of Clinton's middle-class life in Arkansas. Uncle Raymond was the power in the family (p.4). He went to Georgetown (p.64), then to Oxford (p.84), and avoided the draft (pp.81-82). Morris suggests Clinton was tied to the "intelligence community" (pp.102-103). Hillary was raised in Park Ridge, a bastion of right-wing extremism (p.111). She was a gifted mimic and chronic teacher's pet. In 1964 she was a "Goldwater Girl" (p.122). Hillary was elected president of the student government when she was a junior (p.128). She then went to Yale Law School. She became involved in the legal rights of children (pp.160-161). [Do children know what they really need?]
   
   Arkansas was "the most oppressed state in the union" (p.194). Their farmers were like medieval serfs. The newspapers and broadcast stations were controlled by the ruling class (p.196). [Is it different in your state?] Half the state Senators were paid off by the gas utility (p.197). Clinton had the support of the Stephens financial empire (p.199); he opposed local labor unions (p.200). Jimmy Carter's victory was a triumph of big money (p.201). Examples of Clinton's honesty are on page 211; he lied about the draft. Clinton talked liberal but acted reactionary (p.219). Hillary's financial prowess is on pages 229-230; BCCI is on page 234.
   
   The Reagan reign was a return to the past (p.253); government openly backed Big Corporations. Wealth was taken from most Americans and given to the rich (p.254). People were worse off than before. Carter's election brought more millionaires to his Cabinet than Ford, Nixon, of Eisenhower (p.264). Carter's cuts in capital gains and corporate taxes, Reagan's reduced taxes for the rich and increased them on wage-earners, both led to today's impoverished America (pp.266-267). The high cost of media advertising makes candidates depend on funds from the rich. [That is the plan!] Page 294 describes the "corporate seizure of power in Washington" and the effects on pages 295-296. Huge debt increases by Reagan and Bush are measured by devalued dollars (p.299), lost jobs, lower wages, and fewer middle-class businesses (pp.302-303). Increasing wealth at the top led to poverty everywhere else (pp.303-305). Median family income was less valuable than for earlier generations. Now America is less egalitarian than Europe. [Morris does not mention Nixon's 1971 devaluation of the dollar as leading to this.]
   
   Chapter 16 tells about the wide open town of Little Rock where money could be made fast (p.300). Was prosperity based on drug trafficking and money laundering (p.311)? Clinton's trick of "educational reform" is on page 320. Clinton's supporters for his 1984 campaign are on pages 331-332. Without Congressional oversight the special interests that donate to the President go unchallenged. The media monopolies won't tell (pp.349-350). Reporters who uncovered scandals saw their careers ruined (p.353). They avoid non-acute scandals to cover sensations. Chapter 18 covers the deregulation of S&Ls which allowed new scams with other people's money. Hillary was involved with McDougal's banking excesses (pp.324-325). The Clintons did not lose money on Whitewater (p.386). There was a multi-billion dollar drug smuggling operation in Mena that was linked to national politics (p.390); see Chapter 19. Clinton knew (p.405), and so did Bush (p.410).
   
   Clinton did in Washington what he did in Little Rock (p.432). It tells how Gary Hart's campaign was sabotaged (p.433-434). Did Clinton have a psychotic lack of control (p.441)? Clinton, like others, grew rich from their political success (pp.446-447). Clinton always served the special interests (p.453); he did less for the state than Orval Faubus. Arkansas was worst in the nation for health care (p.456). Clinton's first term was not a new beginning but the same old show (p.467). Morris asked if he was linked to drug money and organized crime.



4. I looked forward to reading about the early life of Bill Clinton and his early marriage and the Arkansas days, etc, and this book has a lot on that--quite substantial. So I was a little shocked to arrive at page 440, where Morris refers to "Clinton's extra-marital relations with literally hundreds of women" Hundreds? That would be a minimum of 200. That's really quite a lot. I had always assumed a dozen or two.

   I began to wonder how that would work. Is a governorship such an easy job (just a lot of paper signing and speechifying) that an accomplished shmoozer can fit it in between hundreds of trysts? Whatever you think of his politics, it must be admitted that it's quite an accomplishment, especially considering he wasn't really all that interested in the governorship or the trysts, but rather the presidency.

   And what of the "Partner in Power"? Could she see early on that her husband was a politician of such consumate skill that he was a shoe-in for the presidency, and so chose to overlook his turning Arkansas into his personal harem? And what of Hilary's other partner in power, Vince Foster, now dead? If Morris touches on their "semi-private kisses and furtive squeezes", an "intimate professional bond between two attorneys", then surely he ought to dig a bit deeper on the cause of Foster's death. No sign of depression prior to the suicide. No death threats. What on earth happened to Vince Foster.

   All these deeply intriguing topics--Bill's monumental multi-tasking, Hillary's apparent acquiescence, Foster's mysterious death--are touched on but lightly. What really interests Morris is financial scandal, into which category he places, seemingly, any transaction over $10,000. The book is larded with endless, and I mean Endless, details of money for campaigns, money made in teal estate, many made in banking, in retail, in government, in law, in public and in private--all with the implication or explicit assertion that a crime was committed. And Morris doesn't stop with the Clintons. The Republicans and Reagan in particular come under his moral lash for using too much money to get elected or to celebrate having been elected. Literally hundreds of pages are devoted to venting his indignation at the expenditure of money in politics, almost as though he believes that the only ones fit to govern are indigent altar boys or investigative reporters.

   This reader would have liked less of the sort or quasi-incrimminatory fodder that fills the pages of the Village Voice and more probing into the feudatory state of Arkansas, perhaps interviewing some of the hundreds of women. There's a gripping story there, a noir classic, but I doubt it will be revealed by poring over old account ledgers.




5. This is an excellent read! If you are unconvinced of the corruption we have had for the last eight years, then this book will cause you to reconsider. It also goes into detail as to how Bill Clinton got into this terrible condition.
   

   Anyone who dismisses this book as unsubstantiated is obviously partisan and hasn't been paying attention to the news for the last eight years nor of late. An objective and reasonable person will see the truth and the truth is what is written in this book. It is well written and well documented. Mind you this is a close friend of Bill Clinton who wrote the book! No agenda - just truth for those who can accept it.
   

   This book highlights the ongoing pattern of deceit, illegal substance use, womanizing by force and corruption. Frankly, I'd rather not be in denial but admit the obvious about this man. Hopefully the American people will never allow someone of this low caliber ever become President again.

3 comments about Valvano They Gave Me a Lifetime Contract and They Declared Me Dead.

1. Very engaging and motivating story. You didn't want to put it down after you started reading. Valvano was not treated fairly. Too bad he had to leave NC State prematurely. The school would probably have had another championship had he stayed.



2. This is one of the best books I have ever read it should be a inspiration to us all this will be a book that will move you




3. The Audio cassette version of Jim Valvano's book, THEY GAVE ME A LIFETIME CONTRACT AND THEN THEY DECLARED ME DEAD, features the inimitable voice of Jim Valvano telling (not reading--TELLING) the story of his life with all the enthusiasm we remember and cherish. There is a laugh in his voice and genuine humor in his stories, most of it at the expense of the author; there is sadness, of course, and hurt; but there's no cynicism.

   The listener will be, perhaps, surprised by Valvano's early desperation to achieve goals he set for himself--and entertained by the lengths to which he went to reach them. The result is both inspiring and enlightening, considering the cloud under which he left his position as the head basketball coach at N.C. State.

   The brew of life, joy, and good humor at the top of the sports world has made this tape a favorite among my family and friends. It's the only one we can all agree to hear in the car on long trips; I can't keep a copy in the house. That's why I'm ord

5 comments about PT 109: John F. Kennedy in World War II.

1. As Daniel Schorr in the new forward to this book suggests, World War 2 brought out the best in many men, and the ones who manned the motor torpedo boats were among the bravest, setting out in small plywood boats to fight an enemy in often large ships. The ordeal that Kennedy and his crew went through after PT-109 was destroyed is a story of courage that will last the ages. It is obvious that Robert Donovan was very careful to get the facts straight as he wrote this book, it is a great war story. For me it was a page turner, written in an easy to read, flowing style. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, a gem of a book about a small piece of American history, a fascinating account indeed. Kennedy is portrayed, and rightly so, as a compassionate and intelligent young man.

   In a very fine afterword to this 40th anniversary edition, Duane Hove give us additional details of Kennedy's military service, and also interesting text on the history of the PT boats before, during, and after the war, and also where you can see PT boats on display today, only a few of these magnificent boats remain with us.




2. I was about 10 when the Saturday Evening Post ran a serialized version of Donovan's book. I'll never forget coming home from school the day the next edition was due, and dropping everything to read the next installment. With the passage of 40 years, and a rather older perspective, I can see that the book isn't perfect. Other reviews pick on the flaws. But it's great regardless. If you've never read the story, or like me want to relive a bit of the past, I recommend it highly.



3. This was an exciting book on John F. Kennedy. It had lots of action, and suspence. John F. Kennedy had a lot of willpower, that was surprising. The bravery was outstanding in this story. If you like action and adventure I could not recommend a better book. I gave this book a five star rating, because it was truely a good book. Even though this was an old book, it was exciting. This would be a very good book for kids, because there was not a lot of hard words.



4. The 40th anniversary edition of PT-109 is an enjoyable read despite its many flaws. The story is true and sheds light on a young John Kennedey and a small part of naval warfare in the Pacific during WWII. Yet, Donovan's writing is simplistic at times. It is somewhat obvious that when he wrote this book he did so under the gun, or in other words under a very tight deadline, something he admits in the beginning of the text. Another point of contention is his glossed over view of Kennedy. I guess when he was writing of the then sitting president it was hard to escape, but Donovan praised Kennedy at virtually every turn of the page. Something that frankly gets in the way. It would have been better to tell the story of Kennedy -- flaws included. What young man at war is --or is-- expected to be perfect? Nonetheless, PT-109 is a worthy read for WWII buffs. If you enjoy reading about the war in the Pacific, this will help carry you through the other obvious downfalls of the book.



5. Human beings are capable of incredibly noble acts when they are faced with the most terrifying circumstances. Such was the case with Lt. John F. Kennedy in command of PT 109 in the South Pacific during WWII. Faced with the alternative of action or death he rose to the occasion and was able to save the lives of his shipmates through great physical trauma and hardship.

   Without going into the details of the incidents described, I would merely say that this is a good example of what the best of us are capable of doing when forced to think and act or face death. If stories of this kind interest you, this book will gratify your desires.

No comments about Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaskas Political Establishment Upside Down.

5 comments about Knee Deep in Paradise (Nova Audio Books).

1. Brett Butler is a real writer, and I didn't for a second view this autobio as pretentious. She has a decent vocabulary, and I see nothing wrong with her using it. I did, however, lose interest towards the end. The whole thing about coming to terms with her relationship with her father was dragged out, and the book became a biography of him. I was disappointed at so little about the TV show. Perhaps, as others suggest, we need a sequel.



2. The previous reviewer that felt Brett used words in a pretentious fashion should stick to Nancy Drew. I found the biography enlightening as to the character and strife that molded a fine comedian.I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised that she has such a versatile grasp of the English language. I read biographies for insight and that is what you get with Ms. Butler. It is not the more common joke fest that many other comic Bios proffer.
   A good read and an interesting person. Thanks for your memories Brett.



3. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to look back on old reruns of "Grace Under Fire" after reading this book and see how pieces of Brett Butler's life were incorporated into the show. It is the best book I've read in a long time. I want a sequel!



4. I've always been a fan of Brett Butler's show and frankly like just about any biography, even if I'm not a fan of the individual. Am I the only one who noticed Brett's attempt at sounding "smart" and using unnecessary long words in odd places? I would love to read the "real" story without all the long, pretentious words that just made this book irritating to read.



5. I have followed Brett Butler since i discovered the sitcom Grace Under Fire. Being in a relationship with a southern belle and being Australian myself.. i can relate totally to most of the things Brett has written about with regards to the southern ways and southern manners. The woman in my view rocks !! .... Instead of crying into her mint tea, she writes a no holds barred, except for diplomatic reasons, story of where she came from , who she was, is and has become. Nothing is glossed over.It is real. She in my view has remained grounded even after all she has encountered in her life. Brett, keep writing, you can only get better. This reader wishes you had another book written as an aftermath for this one. Where are you now ? WHat is your life like now... have you remained "clean" from the demon drugs & drink and where are you going .....PS : are you single and dating ...

5 comments about Going Solo.

1. If you see the classic Roald Dahl cover illustration you might think this is an appropriate book for young children. It's definitely a book for 6th or 7th grade and up. Scroll around and you'll find some excellent reviews written by teenagers. I just gave it to my dad who is a WWII buff--he loved it. Adults, particularly those interested in Africa and WWII, will enjoy it so don't think you're going to read a children's book. It's really a classic memoir. The great British actor, Derek Jacobi, has recorded a fantastic unabridged audio version (and a fine one of Dahl's "Boy")



2. I've always enjoyed Dahl's children's books, and so I was curious to see what he might write about his own life. To say that his early adult years were exciting might understate the matter a bit. This book opens with Dahl embarking on a ship for East Africa, to start his first job as a representative of the Shell Oil Company, and follows him through his career as a RAF fighter pilot in the Eastern Mediterranean theater during WWII. Many of his tales are so over the top that it would be tempting to believe that he has embelished the stories. But even if he did, the result is an thoroughly enjoyable read, full of adventure and the excitement of youth. We also get a glimpse of the last hurrah of the British Empire, the epic struggle of the second World War, and just the barest idea of the conditions he found in war torn England upon his return. Very entertaining.



3. i must say, this book was incredibly hard to put down!
   
   having read the previous roald dahl biography "boy," i was eager to read this book. i wasn't disappointed at all. i was absolutely fascinated by the things that this man has gone through. i feel like a coward indeed after reading about roald dahl's trip to africa and his terrifying wartime experiences! it's magnetic!
   
   this book is written in a very straightforward style, and anyone and everyone should read it, i believe! there is a lot to be learned from this book. it shows the true insanity of war. people lose their minds in the kind of situations described in this book!
   
   it has a happy ending, though. this, you can look forward to!



4. 
   What an entertaining read this proves--not surprisingly--by the author of the children's classic, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Continuing the autobiographical expose of British boarding schools as revealed in BOY, Dahl opens this meant-for-adults book with a delightfully wacky view of his fellow Englishmen en route to work in Africa. Scornful of the repeated falls from stoic grace by so many of his predecessors, this young Empire Builder is at first shocked by the sight of so many decent chaps who have Gone Native--a result of prolonged absence from the UK and intense heat exposure. Can an idealistic youth rise above heat, humidity and British bravado to maintain his unflappable equanimity, or will he too succumb to the national trend?
   
   Most of this book, however, consists of Dahl's serious account of his contribution to the Allied air war in Africa's western desert, followed by a long recuperation from head trauma. Before he returns safely to England, he describes the deadly action in Greece where German planes far outnumbered the intrepid RAF pilots. Interspersed among the reports of the air war are his own b/w photos and letters (self-censored) to his beloved Norwegian mother in England. This account will easily capture the reader's interest as Dahl translates the global struggle by bringing it down to an intensely human level. With his treasured possessions--pilot's Log Book and his 2nd camera--we leave him when he is reunited safely with his mother. A fast read--well worth the effort even if you are not a war buff.



5. Going Solo (the sequel to Boy) is a collection of Roald Dahl's most interesting stories of his time in Africa. These include: meeting a man you gives himself dandruff, teaching an African boy to read and write, seeing a lion attack a cook, learning to fly without a teacher, crashing in the African desert, leading a unit of R.A.F. soldiers to stop a caravan of German people from leaving Dar es Salaam, becoming temporarily blind, meeting the girl of his dreams then falling out of love when he sees her and living on a Greek airfield soon before he was grounded. Roald Dahl's style of writing changes each time slightly changes to fit the story. Basically, you get the idea that you have known Roald for years and he is just telling you an amusing story. Going Solo was not as interesting as some of his other fiction stories. For some readers it may not be interesting enough to keep you in the book; but it is not boring, thrills and adventure are always happening. To compare this to Boy would be a little difficult because even though they are the same writer, Boy is about his childhood and is for younger readers. Going Solo is probably for older readers. Even it you do not like one of the chapters the next will bring you back in. So if you want a lot of good anecdotes to read then or if you really liked Boy, you should pick up Going Solo.

5 comments about Edgar Cayce: An American Prophet.

1. An extremely comprehensive book on Cayce's life and fascinating insight into inventions yet-to-be, past lives, the lost continent of Atlantis, soul development, etc.... The information is impossible to ignore. You'd have to be blind, insane or neglectful not to consider it as being valid.



2. I have read many books on Edgar Cayce dating back to the 70's.
   
   This book is by far the most complete. If you are a follower of the Edgar Cayce teachings, I highly recommend this book.



3. OK, I admit it. The main reason why I wanted to read this book was because it supposedly exposed the possibly of a sexual relationship between American's best-documented seer and the young lady who documented the psychic's trance readings, Gladys Davis.
   
   And, I was not disappointed. The book describes readings in Cayce's psychic source encouraged sexual union. Naughty, naughty, especially considering that Edgar was already married and was also 27 years older than Gladys.
   
   Evidently, the two of them had, in a long ago past, been one soul. Like Shirley MacLaine in The Camino, Gladys and Edgar had once been one androgynous being--the readings say female because female was stronger--and they had been separated into a male and female half. Eventually, in some future lifetime, they would unite into a whole again.
   
   To my delight, this book has many more tidbits of intriguing information that I, in my years of fascination with Edgar Cayce and his trance readings, had never heard about, for example, that inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla met with Cayce because of their interest in electricity and the psychic.
   
   Neither did I know that Cayce, in trance, had invented a perpetual motion machine that unfortunately, was never successfully manufactured partly because it did not have the required mental energy of high-spiritually-minded people. Verrry interesting!
   
   Read it! The book is jam-packed with titillating details "never before revealed" about Cayce's personal and professional life. It's all here--from Atlantis to an overview of Cayce's healing philosophy!
   
   One of a number of biographies on Cayce, all of which I have found fascinating: There Is a River: The Story of Edgar Cayce, Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet, and Edgar Cayce: Mystery Man of Miracles.
   
   Carol Chapman, Award-winning photographer of the Divine in Nature: With Quotes from Edgar Cayce and author of When We Were Gods: Insights on Atlantis, Past Lives, Angelic Beings of Light and Spiritual Awakening.



4. The Edgar Cayce legacy offers a new hope to civilization. Many texts have been written for those who would hear, and written well. Sidney Kirkpatrick offers an outstanding new level in writings of Cayce. It is a textbook that one does not wish to put down before finishing, and immediately picks it up to re-read. It is a terrific text and an invaluable assessment of Cayce and his work. I have nothing but the highest praise for Kirpatrick.



5. This book is very comprehensive and well-written. It is extremely informative about the life of Edgar Cayce. Highly recommended!

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