5 comments about Butch Cassidy: A Biography (Bison Book).

1. Butch Cassidy: a Biography is a well-researched and readable account of the life of the famous outlaw. Thoroughly annotated and drawn from nearly every work on the subject, Patterson's book presents the tale in an exceptionally balanced and inclusive way. Patterson is no apologist, nor does he appear to be a critic. While he points out that Butch Cassidy may have held social and political opinions that might fit the social bandit model, the author does not attempt to portray the outlaw as the Western version of Robin Hood and accomplishes the task of telling the tale using as many facts as are available, including contradictory as well as corroborative accounts.
   It is not hard to understand the appeal of the Robin Hood myth of the western outlaw. The West was a place of vast geographic expanse that did not easily lend itself to rapid and efficient law enforcement. Massive corporations, particularly mining interests, railroads, and cattle companies often used vigilantism to punish thieves and to drive minor competitors out of business. The social bandit, stealing from the rich and the powerful, drew tremendous loyalty and admiration from the average citizen, even if he did not share the wealth.
   Butch Cassidy is best known as a bank and train robber. He also was a cattle rustler, horse thief, and, in spite of his extensive criminal history, a very well liked man. That fact along with the fact that he apparently never killed anyone might justify his status as an American Robin Hood. Richard Patterson, however, is less than convinced and provides detailed accounts of Cassidy's exploits that lead the reader to the conclusion that while Cassidy did indeed share some of the social and political opinions of the typical social bandit, he was primarily motivated by a quest for excitement and easy money.
   The first recorded criminal act committed by Cassidy, at the time still going by his real name, Robert Leroy Parker, involved his breaking into a general store near his home of Circle Valley Utah and taking a new pair of overalls. Cassidy left a note promising to return to pay for the clothing. In spite of Parkers apparent honesty, the proprietor filed a complaint with the authorities. The matter was eventually settled but it caused considerable embarrassment for the Cassidy family.
   The second incident involved the alleged theft of a saddle for which young Butch Cassidy was arrested between 1879 and 1884, in Garfield county Utah. There is no record of the arrest and Patterson offers the testimony of only one person as evidence. Apparently during his time behind bars for this incident Cassidy was "mistreated by the authorities." (5) Other than these two incidents, Patterson offers no other early evidence that Cassidy was pushed into a life of crime out of resentment against the law or corporate greed.
   Drawing his details mostly from secondary sources and interviews conducted by other historians with people who may have known Butch Cassidy, Patterson provides a gripping narrative account of the life and times of the famous outlaw. Sorting out all of these tales and taking into account the motives of those telling them is the strength of Patterson's book. Repeatedly using phrases like "according to" and "may have been" Patterson never makes a firm claim to have discovered the truth. He simply tells the tale.
   In reading Patterson's account, it is hard not to like Butch Cassidy. While Patterson does not seem intent on portraying Cassidy in a positive light, it becomes clear that most, if not all of his sources were possessed of a certain fondness and respect for Cassidy. Patterson suggests early on that Cassidy may have had at least some measure of Robin Hood hidden in his motivations. Patterson points out that Cassidy's partner, Matt Warner, thought "Butch was angry over the big cattle barons waging war against hungry cowboys... and struggling homesteaders" (53). Patterson hedges this supposition with a qualifying statement that Matt Warner had always justified his criminal conduct with some lofty social purpose. Warner's assertions aside, it is impossible to determine if Butch Cassidy actually held those beliefs.
   Adding to the Robin Hood quality of the Butch Cassidy legend is Cassidy's reputation for helping his friends and not allowing unnecessary abuse of his victims. Patterson points out that one of Cassidy's friends, an African-American ferry operator who claimed to be a regular visitor to Brown's Park, one of Cassidy's hideouts, stated that none of the whites who frequented the Park were allowed to mistreat him when Butch was around (123). Yet another story involving the generosity of Butch Cassidy involved Vic Button, then 9-years-old, who lived on a ranch where Cassidy once worked. Button related that one day he told Cassidy how much he admired Cassidy's horse and Cassidy responded with "Someday he will be yours" (166). Later while running from a posse, as he exchanged the admired horse for a fresh one at a pre-arranged relay Cassidy instructed a nearby ranch hand to see to it that the horse was delivered to "the kid at CS ranch" (168). Vic Button got his horse, and Butch Cassidy got an unapologetic admirer.
   While Patterson's book does not contain many undeniable facts, it is compelling and seems to be a reasonably accurate account of the life of Butch Cassidy. It does make clear the fact that the myth of the "social bandit" or Robin Hood of the West has its roots in the minds of the small farmers, ranchers and other members of the less wealthy classes. The existence of a class struggle in the West, and the fact that the robbers stole from those who had, rather than those who had not, is not proof that the robber possessed some sort of social agenda. It proves that the robber was smart enough to know that a railroad express car would likely contain more money than the passenger car. Indeed, for the western outlaw, cultivating a pleasant and mutually beneficial relationship with normal people would have its practical value as well, especially when one was hiding from the law.
   Even he was a very likeable, generous and pleasant person who never harmed any of his victims Butch Cassidy was no Robin Hood. He clearly was a criminal who kept or spent most of the money that he stole, and was motivated by misguided sense of adventure the lure of an easy dollar.



2. Well researched yes! Boring - yes! What can be more frustrating than reading a book which is so obsessed with minor, irrelevant details as to render the readability an incredible chore. Surely there must be a better, more accessible and entertaining detailed account of the lives of Butch and Sundance than this!!!



3. Not so good for telling an interesting story in an interesting way. The author gives a tremendous amount of information on the life of Butch Cassidy, as well as on his sources for that information, and does an admirable job of admitting that we really don't know how that life ended; he gives a detailed account of the standard version of Butch & Sundance's deaths (shot in Bolivia) as well as detailed accounts of the various alleged sightings of Butch after that, and the pros and cons of those alleged sightings. He admits that he just isn't sure what the truth is, and leaves it at that. But if you expect a biography of as exciting a person as Butch Cassidy to be itself exciting, this book will be a disappointment; it is not told in a narrative style, but in the style of a researcher, and very little of the character of Butch comes through. It teaches facts, but does not really give much of a feel for the person it is about.



4. If you are interested in the life of Butch Cassidy, this is the book to buy. Patterson has successfully written an objective book trying to sort out the myths from the truth. He writes about all the different rumours and documented materials that exists, thus allowing you to draw your own conclusions. Intriguing as well as funny!



5. This is the most thoroughly researched biography of Butch Cassidy ever written. If you're looking for the facts, this is the place to find them. Patterson's experience as a lawyer has made him admirably skeptical, and he does his best to sort through the many conflicting accounts of Cassidy's life and death.

5 comments about Chinese Playground : A Memoir.

1. I just finished reading Bill Lee's book "Chinese Playground," it was a book that I could not put down. It is a must read. I found I had a lot in common with the author of the book, we both have had our own experiences in our lifetime, but it comes down to getting through the problems. It's a matter of SURVIVAL and learning something from our experiences. I admire the author for what he has been thru and what he has made of his life inspite of the obstacles.
   
   I would recommend that everyone read this book!



2. I've seen this in Chinatown Toishan parents and the kinds of effects that their nastiness has on their kids and the conflicted confused ideas of Confucian obedience that prevent intelligent kids from healing as fast as they could especially when in other Chinese families, Confucianism does work and families are peaceful and happy or if the kids aren't targeted by their nasty parents, they grow up smug and snug and sly. I can't even imagine what it is like to grow up with such parenting in parts of Asia where Western psychobabble isn't pervasive and there are no clues at all for kids to suss out why their parents behave terribly.
   
   When the author was four years old, he required medical appointments once a month and his mother would not speak to him during this once a month escort but she would sigh throughout the bus ride and sometimes not sit next to him to indicate that he was an imposition. I've seen this happen. I've also seen parents threaten to leave toddlers and sometimes actually walk away from children and stay hidden watching their child's distress. It looks like the parents who do this imply to their kids that this can't be held against the parents since it not a regular occurence and will soon vanish in their infant memory. I know exactly what the author means (because I have seen it) when he writes that his mother was "unpredictable," intensified abuse when her child "cried harder," "perceived [her children] as her enemies ...[and] was a master at making [her children] feel repulsive." It's not a secret and he's not exaggerating or demonizing his parents. Other people see but why don't things change? I think that things don't change within a closed community and there has to be certain conditions in place with regard to subgroup's historical attitude towards entitlement, money, education and subgroup dogmatism for the problem to exist. This is not an entirely Chinese problem. It is at least specific subgroup's problem as far as I am aware. I know that irrational injust parenting had to have had something to do with later judgement. These parents are so socially insulated even within the larger Chinese hierarchy of provenance nevermind in American society that there's unlikely to be any occasion when someone holds a mirror up to them or lets them know just how they appear to others which means their kids are really isolated in processing the abuse. This is another good book for examples of narcissistic personality disorder both covert and overt. I don't respect more fortunate Chinese American kids who think Chinatown is glamorous and lap up all the exploitive media products while living an otherwise boring but at least safe existence in suburbia. This is another person's misfortune that is being used as entertainment. I guess this is a good book for those kids who have no sympathy only voyeuristic interest for Chinatown. I'm not sure that it would be effective for an at-risk child though.
   
   Born to Lose is a better book by the same author. It has greater depth. For some one with birth defects, he's a much better writer than many others I've read.



3. I was born in San Francisco. It isn't like that anymore as you can see, I didn't live in Chinatown but regularly go to my Grandma or grandpa after school in chinatown. I lived in Japantown til I was six years old. I moved to Oakland ever since.

   When I brought this book, I didn't know what to expect, but when I read about his life, I could really relate to his childhood. Not as extreme as his was, but I can really relate, and how I would turn out if I was still in San Francisco. Would probably be the same as him with those family issues like that. Can turn a kid to look at their enviroment for support. I too am Toishanese, does that mean most toishanese parents are stubborn and ignorant? I don't know.

   And the Enviroment in Oakland is no different. Kids want to be goo wak jais and hard ghetto punks.




4. this is a very well-written book for a non-fiction plot. It was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say the plot was not boring, the author was very descriptive in his writing. Don't miss out on this.



5. Yeah-- so forget about some of the editing problems-- this book is a must read! There are so many similarities between this and cultish groups. It doesn't matter if you're a poor kid in Chinatown or a rich kid in a brainwashing group-the lessons remain the same:One's inner voice--thinking for onesself and then of course--running away when you can --are universal stories. We have seen it in Nazi Germany, with Waco, in Chinatown and in Jonestown. KIDS of all ages should read this truly eye-opening account of how easy it is to get pulled in to an ideology that then kills its own....

5 comments about Mob Nemesis: How the FBI Crippled Organized Crime.

1. Satisfactorily written but unless you really need to know the day-to-day activities of the mafia and the FBI this will be a tough read. If you've read one chapter, you've read the entire book: bad guys sell drugs, gamble illegally, kill each other, then, when caught by the good guys, do whatever they can to cut deals to avoid jail time. Kudos for not romanticizing La Cosa Nostra, though. These people are crude, dull-witted, morally challenged, and, perhaps the worse crime of all, boring as heck.



2. The author describes his life in the FBI and how he fought against the mob. The first part of the book is about him trying to become an FBI agent and does not discuss many details about the Mafia. The author comes off very conceded but at the same time describes details of the mob that contradict numerous other books. The biggest example is when he describes Agent Joseph Pistone aka Donnie Brascoe. He describes Pistone as a good friend yet says he infiltrated the Colombo family for 8 years. Any mob enthusiast knows Pistone was involved with the Bonanno Family. It's hard to trust the other facts he lists when getting major facts like Donnie Brasco wrong.



3. Griffin did a great and long overdue job of shedding an honest look into the lives and character of real mobsters. His book was facsinating and gives the reader a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes, both for the mob, and the FBI. I am an avid reader of mob related books, and this book is by far one of the best I've read, I'm sure it's going to make a great movie someday.



4. I guess this book was kinda interesting. It just seemd to drag on and go deep into FBI procedures and not so much into the everyday life of a gangster. Compared to other Mafia books I've read this is by far the worst. But it is still a mafia book, so I found it to be at least somewhat interesting. I would not recommend this book unless you are more interested in how the FBI fought organized crime, and not the everday operations of a mafia family.



5. This book detailed the FBI's fight against the mob and was very informative with regard to the psychological makeup of the so-called "Godfathers". In contrast to the constant portrayal of these characters as "upfront" and "honorable", Griffin shows their true colors in vivid detail. It was a quick, interesting read and a must for Mafia "aficionados". This book would make a great movie someday.

5 comments about Story of Cole Younger: By Himself (Borealis Books).

1. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR HISTORIANS. ALTHOUGH COLE OMITS SOME OF THE UNLAWFUL EVENTS. IT'S A GREAT AND EASY READ.



2. interesting -- although need to keep in mind that Cole Younger was as big a liar as he was an outlaw.



3. Inside the mind of a Missouri guerrilla, that alone is reason to pick up and read this wonderful first-hand account of a sad and violent time on the Missouri-Kansas border. The events are real and the tempers do not quickly disappear. Both sides considered themselves in the right and some Confederates never truly surrendered though the cause was clearly lost. What happened to those men and women when the fighting was ended by officials? Read and find yourself drawn in to relate to those you may have previously despised.



4. I must recommend this first hand account of Cole's own story. It is not the only story but must always be the most important source and story of someone's life. I would have given this book a 5 as I would have several other books of this time period were it not for the "out-of-place" intro. Someone must have decided that it was important to censor and disclaim Cole's first hand account at the very front of the book. As I have done in the past, I taped these pages of attempted censorship together and noted to subsequent readers my advice on just skipping this questionable intro. Since my books usually get passed around a great deal I felt this was necessary to preserve the great and rare first hand account that Cole provided us of his life.



5. Cole was a cousin of my grandfather and I remember him talking of Cole visiting them after he was released from prison. Therefore, this was a very interesting insite into the person that was Cole Younger. It also gave some information of his background that I did not know before. An interesting look in to the thinking of a person who most people know as a name but not as a person.

1 comments about The Gigantic Book of Pirate Stories.

1. Forget about Captain Jack, these are the Pirate stories that you should be reading about. This book is filled with adventure, thrills, chills, laughs, and great storytelling. Mark Twain and Joesph Conrad are two of the greats here, but none of the stories disappoint.

5 comments about Guns and Roses: The Untold Story of Dean O'Banion, Chicago's Big Shot before Al Capone.

1. It is obvious that the many years that Rose Keefe spent researching and writing the story of Dean O'Banion was time well spent! She captures the essence of a man that visually could have walked off the page and her knack of storytelling is top-notch. I was captivated in his devotion, not the brutality. Rose shares these images with the reader that really setup the framework of early Chicago. This isn't your run of the mill gangster book and the attention to accurate detail is deliberate. The book is well thought out and presented in a way that kept me wanting to read more, even furthering my education on prohibition and early Chicago in the process. This is a must read for true gangster enthusiasts and historians alike!



2. This is a must have book for anyone interested in Chicago's beer wars. Mrs. Keefe has written a brilliantly told acurate story that helps us understand how Capone became the legend that he is, for without Dean O'Banion on the north Capone may not have been as big on the south.



3. Chances are if you're reading the reviews for this book then you've read at least one Capone biography and walked away, like me, thinking, "Great story, wish I knew more about the Northsiders." Well Rose Keefe has heard our collective wail and has provided us with one of the best books on both Chicago gangland and one of its most interesting characters. There is much more to the O'Banion/Northside story than just being fodder for Capone's gunmen. If you're into Chicago's gangland past then this volume is a must.



4. This is about the people who nearly beat the Capone Mob for control of the Chicago boot-legging business. They were led by a florist and included a war hero, a cowboy, a bigamist and a practical joker who starred in an early stag film in the middle of a gang war. The wild Northside Gang is today best remembered for being the victims in the St Valentine's Massacre but in the twenties they were household names. This and Rose Keefe's book about Bugs Moran are both fascinating. A must read!



5. A great bio on the Chicago gangster gunned down in his flower shop during the "Roaring Twenties". The book focuses on the rivalry between the Northside Chicago mob and the Southside Torrio-Capone mob.Obanion and his cohorts are literally devoured by the inter-city "big time" mobs with connections to New York city.From reading this book I don't believe Obanion knew what he was up against,he was a small town boy who moved to the city of Chicago, yet he tried to run his crime empire like a small business. Cavorting around a flower shop by day,shaking hands,(without an enemy in the world?),with little to no protection,meanwhile engaging in criminal activity that would include murder.That's just asking for it,and Torrio's mob,later inherited by Capone,was only too happy to oblige. It seems Torrio's mob when they arrived in Chicago was already an experienced hard core criminal transplant from NYC and cites thereof.How could Obanion honestly think that when the control of rackets,gambling,bottlegging,and the millions of dollars at stake, there was a "moral" line that shouldn't be crossed?Especially when dealing with the mob and seeing as the mob eliminated its own so what could a rival gang expect.Capone listed his profession as furniture dealer but I doubt you would see him lifting furniture into trucks.His furniture business was a fort.The short baby faced Obanion never had a chance in dealing with the NYC mob. this book really brought this out as I read it.An excellent work on crime history but it sort of makes Obanion look like a "farmer".

5 comments about Ponzi: The Incredible True Story of the King of Financial Cons (Library of Larceny).

1. Written like a novel, this is the true story of Charles Ponzi, the most famous con man using the "rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul" scam. I found the book to be entertaining without a dull spot. After several unsuccessful cons, he started with a small stake and took people's money and paid them 50% in 45 days. When other people heard, the number of investors mushroomed. He finally made about $8,000,000 (in the 1920's) in this pyramid scheme before he was caught.



2. ?Ponzi? chronicles the life of Charles Ponzi who is synonymous with the scam of paying off new investors with old investors money. This entertaining character would promise a 50% return on investment in 90 days.
   
   To recruit investors Ponzi would hire people on a freelance basis, whereby they would earn 10% of new investors money. For example, if they located someone willing to invest $1000 they would earn $100. These recruiters would target both the poor and the wealthy. This caused such a surge in demand that Ponzi could afford paying off old investors with the new money that was constantly pouring in.
   
   Each major city eventually had someone working for him, and eventually there would be thousands of investors lined up, waiting patiently for hours for the privilege of investing.
   
   At one point major banks had to shut down because most account holders were withdrawing all of their funds to invest with Ponzi. Ponzi of course had enough money to rescue some banks from bankruptcy and became a majority shareholder.
   
   These investments were based on a bogus business of buying and selling International Reply Coupons.
   
   This is thrilling to read and at times what happens sounds too unbelievable to be. Other scenes are hilarious as the story moves around from one con to another. My only complaint with this book is that at times the author ?Donald Dunn? dictates what Ponzi is thinking, when there is no actual way for him to know.
   
   This is a great addition to the ?Broadway Books Library of Larceny?. You might also want to read another book in this series titled ?Where?s the Money?, which is the autobiography of Willie Sutton, a famous bank robber.



3. This book is a great read that all will enjoy! Fascinating story and very well written. I am recommending PONZI for my next book club meeting. And I can't wait for the movie to come out!



4. Like a great crime drama, "Ponzi" takes you down the amazing road of a simple huckster, and how close he came to making it big. I knocked it out in under 3 days; it's impossible to put down!



5. To understand the Ponzi scheme, is to understand the basic root of all types of [cheating]. This book gives a wonderful overview of the life and times of Charles Ponzi. It is written as a historical novel, but seems to be very well researched! The epilogue alone is full of details concerning an important subject about whom little has been written. I only wish the book was footnoted as to references. Donald Dunn has done history a great service by documenting the life of Mr. Ponzi. THIS BOOK IS A "FUN READ" ABOUT A SERIOUS HISTORICAL EVENT!

5 comments about The Truth About Jesse James.

1. An interesting and well researched Jessie James alternate history. Ms Duke cites her sources and lays her cards on the table....... I beleive she proves her case. A must read for James scholars, Knights of the Golden Circle researchers and outlaw hunters...... What a story!!!!!



2. A few copies of this book appeared with different cover and a different title. The earlier title was Jesse James History Mystery: Did He Fake His Death. Perhaps a more fitting title for this book would be Betty Duke in Wonderland. In this volume Duke takes us through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole. She uses a lot of smoke and mirrors. Duke would have us believe that Robert James, the father of Frank and Jesse James, did not die in California in 1850 as history relates. Instead he faked his death, acquired a new wife and began a second career as a Methodist (not Baptist) minister. Robert James becomes the father of the real James L. Courtney and then the real James L. Courtney morphs into someone named Haun.
   
   Jesse James, of course, was not shot and killed by Bob Ford on April 3, 1882, and the real Jesse James morphs into James L. Courtney, the great grandfather of the author. Jesse James did not marry his cousin Zee Mims, but Zee married a cousin of Jesse's Wood Hite. Wood Hite, according to Duke, is the man who is really buried in James' grave in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Clay County, Missouri.
   
   If this is not too confusing for you to follow, don't worry there is still a lot more smoke, mirrors, magic lanterns, secret societies, and coded diaries that are sure to disorient you. Quantrell (her spelling, not mine) did not die in Kentucky at the end of the Civil War, and "Bloody Bill" Anderson was not killed in Ray County, Missouri on October 26, 1864. Both men survived, took new identities, and had long careers in Texas and elsewhere. There is much, much more of this sort of mania in the book, including large doses of the Knights of the Golden Circle, myths, treasure tales, etc., etc., etc.
   
   Not only is this book bad history, but it is bad writing as well. Duke has apparently never made the acquaintance of The Chicago Manuel of Style, or any similar guide for writers. Her punctuation, footnotes, bibliography, grammar, organization, etc. leave much to be desired. A large number of her footnotes cite various internet sources, many of dubious validity. Very few of her footnotes for books give page numbers, and for newspapers she often only cites the year, but not the month and day. She cites at least one work of fiction as if it is a valid reference for historical matters, and several of the books listed in her bibliography are totally unreliable.
   
   Much of the material in the book is not the work of Betty Duke. She quotes pages and pages of other people's work. Some of this she says she has permission to use, but she is totally mum on the subject of permission in other cases. Some of the writers that are quoted at length may want to take issue with Duke about this. It is also interesting to speculate about how the five living great grandchildren of the outlaw Jesse James will feel about Betty's claim that she is also the great granddaughter of Jesse James.
   
   In summary, this book will likely be remembered as a burr (the size of a giant tumbleweed) under the saddle of the history of the Old West. This book has been repudiated by The James Preservation Trust,which preserves the family history of the Jesse James family, and this book has been reviewed unfavorably in The James-Younger Gang Journal, by noted historian and book critic Nancy B. Samuelson, author of The Dalton Gang Story, and by the Wild West History Association of professional historians.



3. someone should have proof read book before it went to print.and the more i read the more i beleave the auther is grasping at straws that her g-grandfather is jesse james.



4. Following many years of exhaustive research, Betty Duke's book now gives us the real story of Jesse James. This book details so much evidence regarding the events in the life of Jesse James, after the supposed "assassination" in Missouri, that the history books may need to be re-written. We find him to be much alive, living in Texas, raising a family, and then leaving clues for those after him, regarding his true identity. This book will cause the reader to re-think what he has been told regarding the life of Jesse, the preacher's son from a little town in Missouri. Perhaps, the reader will even be inclined, like myself, to dig into his own family's history. I highly recommend this book to all history buffs, and those who want to want to blaze the trail in search of the real Jesse James.



5. One word... WOW! Would I recommend this book? YES! History buffs or just Jesse James enthuses will be in for a treat! Betty Dorsett Duke's "Jesse James Lived & Died In Texas" convinced me back in 1998 that Jesse James didn't die in 1882, (I was a skeptic before) but her new book, "The Truth About Jesse James", should convince everyone, even if you are skeptic like I once was! Like the title, it is the TRUTH! From the beginning to the end I could hardly wait to turn the page to see what was going to happen next -- it's defiantly a GOOD read and will be timeless book.
   
   Many things impressed me with this book, I learned a lot of historical information about Jesse James, before his so-called passing which was defiantly a treat. I expected to be drawn right into the day he was supposedly shot. The research the author put into this book! Wow! Working at a community college, I see and edit history papers for peers all the time, this book would definitely be considered an "A" paper. Why? Betty Duke's research is very well done by the way it is presented and most of all you don't get bored, things stay interesting. I was very pleased with the citations, credits and how she used them properly. I wish more people would write like this.
   
   One thing that caught my attention after I read the book was a letter written by Emett Hoctor to Betty Duke, the author about this book. Mr. Hoctor was the man that pioneered the search for the truth about Jesse James through DNA testing back in 1995. Mr. Hoctor had chosen Professor Starr to head the project, and from his letter to the author he was obviously disappointed in Starr's work. The letter Mr. Hoctor wrote can be read by the public on the author's Web site: http://www.jessejamesintexas.com/emmett_hoctor_review.jpg
   
   In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to everyone interested in the TRUTH about Jesse James and his life. This book captures it all and if you are wondering if Jesse lived on after 1882 or died this book will seal the deal. I personally, feel comfortable now about what happened to Jesse James and I feel everyone will feel this way too after reading this book!

5 comments about Son of Hope.

1. The prison Journals of David Berkowitz is excellent. It gives great insight into prison life and it tells about David's spiritual responsibility in the prison. David definitely shares his new heart in this book and I would recommend it highly for anyone of any age. Teenagers should read this book because David speaks about how many young people are coming to prison and given long sentences. He shares his desire to see people avoid crime so they will not go to prison.



2. Perhaps over the years people have wondered how genuine the conversion of David Berkowitz is. All they have to do is read his journal book, "Son of Hope." David has a wisdom and a sweet spirit that can only come from God!
   I think people forget who the Apostle Paul was...a man who wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, but was formerly a violent and unbelieving man...until he met Jesus. Berkowitz is a tribute to the saving and transforming power of God on a human life, no doubt about that.--Kathie FitzPatrick



3. This is the news story that the public needs to hear about the Son of Hope(no longer Son of Sam) . It is clear to see that he is the "real deal." Having repented of his sins and experienced forgiveness in Christ 20 years ago, he is now the prison pastor of the Christian Church in his prison. His writing of his prison experiences and life in general, is vibrant and articulate. I would highly recommend this journal.
   DAN



4. David's writing is a ray of sunshine emanating from a place where very little gets in or out. David's love for his prison brothers and their families is shown throughout. Son of Hope will make you cry and fill you with sadness for lives which have been so damaged by sin! But, as David's life has been turned around by his acceptance of Jesus, he shows that the Love of Lord is there for everyone (Isaiah 1:18--"Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow"). David is a humble man who is living an extraordinary life (James 4:10--"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up"). Thank you David for a work so filled with the Love of the Lord.



5. If you want to know what prison life is like, here is the book. But it's more than that; it is hope within the darkness behind the concrete walls and razor wire of prison--that it is possible to live a productive life, pleasing to God, while incarcerated. You may cry while reading this book, over the wasted lives of men who chose crime, but you may smile at the evidence of God's grace in the lives of other prisoners who have chosen the joy of following Jesus.

5 comments about Maximum Security: The True Meaning of Freedom.

1. Maximum Security deepened my understanding of the corporate CEOs who step on others to maintain or increase their own standard of living and feel they don't have "enough" as described in the book. What a wonderful message to give the world that we will never find enough "out there" - what we're searching for is and always has been within us, just waiting for us to connect to our expert within. That is true freedom!



2. Alan Gompers' Maximum Security: The true meaning of Freedom. As the title suggests, it is a sort of spiritual autobiography/memoir. But unlike other abstruse or contrived books of this genre, Maximum Security is a refreshingly simple and delightful read. Though Mr. Gompers' background isn't in writing literature, his open-hearted and generous approach result in a natural and inviting narrative. The descriptions are so colorful and the style so accessible, you feel as though you are with him through his entire journey. And this is no small feat when you consider all of the places he has been. At times I would be so engrossed I would forget I wasn't reading a novel and there would be a incredible scene where I would think: "wait a second! that would never happen" and then I would remember that it actually DID happen and that this is NOT a work of fiction, but rather the simple memoir of a simple man in his very indirect, yet remarkable journey towards the true realization of Contentment.



3. Making & losing millions upon millions of dollars, Alan Gompers has led an enthralling life - "Maximum Security: The True Meaning of Freedom" leads him to seek and somehow find freedom in the one place in modern society where the lot of us view it to be denied - a maximum security prison, where Gompers had been doing time for a drug dealing offense. Following his life, you see how he ended up where he is and how he finds what he truly wanted all along. "Maximum Security: The True Meaning of Freedom is enthusiastically recommended as both an autobiographical account of a mans turbulent life and for Christian studies community library collections.



4. Rene Descartes came to his now famous conclusion, Cogito, ergo sum, "I think, therefore I am (or exist)" after secluding himself in a baker's oven. The light turned on when he realized that, if he was thinking, he existed.
   
   Alan Gompers, in his enforced seclusion, took the next step to the cogito, ergo sum. He asked, "Who is the Me that thinks?" That led to still another question, "How may I change that Me to a better person?" Accepting grace to become the person God intended, he began a life of personal discipline, meditation and self control. His pilgrimage to a new awareness of self, of hope, and of meaning began as he moved through Biblical thought, Transcendentalism, the wisdom of Swami Mukanada, and his prison life. His efforts resulted in new insights, and in the very difficult task of changing the person that he found to the person he needed to become. Maximum Security is an easy read and people of all ages could benefit from what Alan says about himself, his problems, his denial, and his finally coming to terms with life.



5. This book grabbed me from the very first page. I could instantly identify with Alan's overwhelming desire to achieve external success (money, power, fame). When he described that at the pinnacle of success, he never felt more depressed in his whole life, it made me realize why movie stars and celebrities turn to alcohol and drugs...even though by all appearances they have it all! When Alan described "no man's land" it made me recognize all of the extreme fears I have in my own life. If he can survive prison, certainly I can survive the struggles and fears I have created in my own life. This book is a masterpiece and I wholly recommend it to everyone who wants to be inspired. In the end, you too will realize that peace and freedom comes from within!