5 comments about Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob.

1. The book offers a mix of human interest, police how-to, mafia and sports and will entertain readers of various backgrounds. The storyline is excellent and very well written. Mr. Delaney is first class citizen. I don't care at all for basketball but liked learning about officiating a game and how he got into the field after his law enforcement career. "Covert" gets an 'A' from me.



2. Entertaining read. His story is quite remarkable. You don't come across someone who has his life experiences very often. I would recommend this book very highly.



3. From the first pages, I just could not put this book down. The suspense in dealing with people who could turn on you any moment was thrilling. It is obvious that Bob Delaney is one of our true heroes in the fight against crime.
   I highly recommend this book to those who like true real life thrillers.
   Tim Berg.



4. This book stinks! Just another cop glorifying himself. Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob



5. This book is a must for anybody who enjoys Mafia stories, but inside is so much more.
   
   Bob Delaney has a story to tell that few people can truly appreciate, let alone relate to. The detail in the tale of his undercover life is amazing, and Dave Scheiber brings the Jersey waterfront to life in front of you. We all know what today's high-tech world is like, where you can bug a man's house from top to bottom without the slightest clue, but imagine what it was like back in the 70s, when state of the art devices were still pretty sizeable tape recorders. Bob Delaney was undercover, surrounded by the Mafia, wearing wires and carrying tape recording devices that weren't exactly nano-technology.
   
   Hearing his depiction of the events and his life before and after the experience is an incredible privilege, and I urge anybody to read this book.
   
   Good journalism is nothing more than the art of telling a story. Bob Delaney had a one in a million story to tell, and Dave Scheiber told it to perfection.

5 comments about One Ranger Returns (Bridwell Texas History Series).

1. Ranger Jackson tells more of his life inside and outside the Rangers. The book adds a personal aspect to the history of the Twentieth Century Texas Rangers. I always have preferred to hear it from someone who was there.



2. Book No. 1 was by far the best, but I enjoyed this book as well. There were some good stories about his family.



3. Sometimes there is not enough material for a second book, and this sequel is proof of that fact. Mr. Jackson has interesting tales to tell; his wife and sons do not. I highly recommend One Ranger; the "Return" should have stayed away.



4. Couldn't put the book down. Great sequel to his first. A great sense of history in plain spoken words. Hope he writes another.



5. Seemed a reach to have enough material for a second book--not as interesting as the first book.

1 comments about In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream.

1. I came across "In Cod We Trust" while working on a newsletter for a Scandinavian specialty store and was attracted to Dregni's account basically because I loved the title. After sitting down with the merchandise, I read it straight through -- fascinated because his book ultimately tells me how many Norwegian tendencies we retain in Minnesota, or, as described in his book, "Norway's colony in America."
   
   Dregni and his wife spent a year in Trondheim, Norway, on a Fulbright fellowship. Knowing no Norwegian at all, he approached their experience as a blank canvas free of ethnic sentimentaily and preconception. And he has much to report, from encounters with taciturn neighbors to surviving the dark winter months and his requisite quest to locate his family's roots.
   
   But he's also describing life in the Upper Midwest communities in which we grew up. Here's the key that unlocks our sometimes-mystifying hyper-humility and self-deprecating sense of humor. If you've never heard of Janteloven, the semi-satirical "laws" that keep Norwegians humble, this is the place to start.
   
   That Eric is a terrific writer is a wonderful gift on this voyage of discovery. His stories are sharply observed, engaging and funny ... so much so that you don't even need Norwegian roots to enjoy it!

5 comments about A Three Dog Life.

1. "A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas is a wonderful telling of one woman's struggle to deal with life after her husband's life altering accident. Thomas pulls us into her life and her mind as we venture through all the changes with her. The book is written so conversationally that the reader can't help but feel as if the author is a close friend and one we care strongly about. While there are struggles and sadness in the book, the tone doesn't become heavy or depressing. Thomas manages to keep it upbeat so that we're not bogged down by the events. As she learns to live again, we are right there with her and learn much about our own thoughts and feelings. What would we do if our lives were twisted in a way such as her's was? Would we come through it as strongly as she? These are questions that flicker through the mind and it gives one pause to wonder. This is an all around great book and a quick read. Definitely well worth the time.



2. I really enjoyed this one. It was relaxed, easy reading, easily devoured in one sitting. I found myself in tears throughout the book, starting very early on in the story. The realistic and candid way in which the story was told made me want to hug both my significant other and my dog. It made me want to be the kind of person who is brave enough to continue to find joy in life while at the same time being there for her loved one in the most difficult of situations.
   
   I probably will not re-read this one, as all the crying exhausts me emotionally, but I am so glad that I did read it. This is a book that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.



3. This book is a must read especially for anyone who has been or is going through an unexpected life changing event. It is about courage, flexibility, acceptance, and finding the positive aspects of life's difficult situations. It is written in a wonderful style that doesn't leave the reader morose.



4. What a moving and insightful novel. This is the type of book that you savor....re-reading sections, sentences to fully digest the thought. A friend has experience working with traumatic brain injuries and is going to recommend it to her group.



5. A beautifully written story of loss and survival. Anyone who loves someone and who also loves dogs will understand and be heartened by this book.

5 comments about Blood Brothers.

1. I highly recommend this book for the information and the point of view which I think most Americans have never heard. Most Americans are not even aware that Palestinians include Christians as well as Muslims and we have grown up hearing how wonderful it was that Israel was "set aside" or "given" to the Jews as a homeland after the horrors of the Holocaust. It isn't that simple. It never was. This very personal story of Elias Chacour is told in a way most people can understand and empathize with and, hopefully, will add strength to the movement toward peace in that region.



2. Blood Brothers is a poignant biography of the experiences of Elias Chacour, a Palestinian Christian who lived through the violent and traumatic events surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the ensuing political conflict that plagues the region still today.
   
   I found myself teary-eyed at several points throughout this book. The most powerful parts were the detailed descriptions of how Chacour, his family, and his village of Biram, were led out of their homes by Israeli soldiers with promises that Biram would be defended against ravaging militants. When Chacour and his village returned they discovered that they had been deceived, and eventually, the village was bulldozed. Chacour tells the story of his own village, but notes that the same story unfolded in other Palestinian villages.
   
   Chacour tells of how Palestinians and Jews lived in peace with one another for centuries before the early 20th century. With the success of the Zionist movement and the horrible atrocities of WW2 and the holocaust, European Jews began emigrating en masse to Palestine. Ironically, while Western nations strongly supported Jewish immigration into Palestinian on the basis that they needed a homeland (Chacour fully accepts that they needed a place to live in peace and security as they were clearly unwelcome in Europe), Western states refused Jews entry into their own nations.
   
   Chacour emphasizes that between WW1 and WW2, the peaceful and violent tactics of Palestinians fail to gain them any sympathy in the international arena, whose leaders ignored Palestinian diplomacy while continually urging Palestinians to accept their Jewish brethren while European states had persecuted them and refused to make amends by opening Jewish immigration quotas.
   
   Utterly mind-boggling is the fact that he has been called an anti-semite by some reviews on Amazon. Anyone who reads this book will see that he exhibits a deep love and admiration for Jews, and expresses heartfelt sympathy for the persecution of Jews throughout European history and culminating in the holocaust. Chacour points out that these sad facts only make the Palestinian plight more ironic.
   
   At times, I felt Chacour depends too much on the kindness and good nature of human beings, and that this made his political opinions somewhat naive. By the end of the book, however, I concluded that this was not a fair conclusion. He understands very well that Palestinians were persecuted and that Israel has a right to exist, but he doesn't believe violence ever leads to peace. Whether this opinion is very naive or very wise is up to the reader to decide.
   
   Lastly, one should always be skeptical when reading personal accounts of political conflicts. One man can only see so much, and if one wants to really discover the facts of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, one has to read several books. This is not a book of facts, but it is not intended to be. Thousands of books on the history of this conflict have been written, and any earnest and disinterested endeavor to learn about what actually happened will not result in much confusion as to what occurred (is occurring). Note that there is no devoid of personal stories and ethnographies either, although I would very people have ever read these, even though they would do everyone some good. But this is a rich addition to the literature, in that it successfully de-dehumanizes the Palestinian people and avoids anything but the most basic historical political facts.



3. This book as assigned to my son for reading for an online class. I picked it up and starting reading it to help him and got glued to its pages. Easy and quick reading.



4. This is an incredible, heart-touching book that helps one understand the Israeli and Palestinian conflict much better than just what you see on the news. Incredible morals are woven through the book too.



5. Blood Brothers is the story of a very brave family during an incredibly controversial time. This conflict between Israel and Palestine is an ongoing struggle and causes a large amount of change and strife on both sides of the issue. As native Palestinians this family, the Chacour's, are part of this difficult journey with their village. This struggle beginning with them being tricked out of their house to losing some village members and the heartbreak of knowing life could never go back to "normal."
   
   This book revolves around a young boy who we see grow up throughout the book named, Elias Chacour. He is a Palestinian Christian, who lived in a small town Biram for most of his young life. This boy is full of life and a spirit that grows throughout the entire story.
   
   His father, a peaceful man with incredible amounts of wisdom, plays a large role in this Elias's life as well as rest of his family and the village. At one point Elias's father and two brothers were torn from their family and taken away by Israeli soldiers. After finding their way back this is all he did, "turning those sad eyes upon us, `if someone hurts you, you can curse him. But this would be useless. Instead, you have to ask the Lord to bless the man who makes himself your enemy. And do you know what will happen? The Lord will bless you with inner peace-and perhaps your enemy will turn from his wickedness. If not, the Lord will deal with him.'"
   
   The strength Elias's finds within himself and family to deal with these real issues that surround him is inspiring. This is a characteristic that we should all strive to have.

5 comments about A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck.

1. I could hardly put it down!!! I learned so much about Trace. He is a very interesting and smart man! I love him even more after reading this book. I will read it over and over.



2. I'm so glad I bought this book! It's a great insight on the music business and personal observations.



3. Loved reading this book! He is a unique person - not afraid to say anything. I'm sharing this book with many friends who all have enjoyed it as well. He is a fascinating person - wish he had email so I could write him a note.....He says what he thinks and lives it as well. Good read. Way to go Trace!



4. A very well written book by a down to earth country boy made good. He cut no corners and did not wash over his faults. We would have a much better democratically elected republic if more people thought about life the way this man does.



5. This book was excellent. I couldn't put it down. His ideas are exactly what I've been thinking and wish the Presidential Candidates would talk about. Trace proves that country people AREN'T ignorant and that hard work pays off in the end. This book is refreshing since the media and the Candidates avoid the truth of our nation.
   
   Trace is a true man. Works hard for his family, stands by his beliefs (even when they aren't popular), and has values that make America BETTER. This book gives us an excellent glimpse into the music business. Plus, it is an inspiration for those who work hard despite the challenges and ups and downs of life.
   
   He has some good ideas and points in the book. A guy who actually tells the truth and stands by his beliefs, that is the kind of President we need. Americans should be demanding this but we aren't. We just believe what the Candidates say instead of questioning them when they keep flip-flopping on the issues. Trace will you run for President?
   
   Plus, his focus is his family. Who can argue with that!! I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you don't agree with all of his political views.

5 comments about The Paths We Choose.

1. Love this book. Read it 4 times already. More about his life not the aspects of fame, just everything leading up to it... the good and the bad.



2. Just as the title suggests Sully takes us back to his childhood, teenage and adult years ending with his mega succesful band Godsmack! He didn't have an idyllic childhood. This book shows what courage, motivation & dreams are made of. As the title "The Paths We Choose" suggests it is just that. Sully knew at an early age he wanted more...and was capable of acheiving his goals! It's all about the paths we choose in our lives. The negative and the positive.
   
   This is an absolute must read!
   
   Miss Dark



3. Big fan of GodSmack and all his work. What a great read to actually get to know the artist and his work. Wonderful book couldnt put it down.



4. I was so excited to read this book. I have been a Godsmack fan from the beginning. I too could relate to growing up in the 80's. Sully's life growing up in a hard knock city. His trials and tribulations. Overcoming drug abuse. I commend you! I saw Sully in Las Vegas last May 08, acoustic performance. He was so laid back, good looking, and very entertaining. He is also very talented. He made it to the top of the rock scene by NOT GIVING UP! Also by reading this book it makes the music mean so much more, because you understand the meaning and source of his lyrics. His music does touch your sole.



5. One of the most interesting facts stated in this book is that Newbury Comics in Boston,Mass.starting selling Godsmack's first CD's ever printed.
   Newbury Comics is a chain of stores like Hot Topixx. They are one of Amazon's biggest and most popular sellers.But more importantly Sully gets down to the roots of who he is and all the torture he went through to be a million-dollar rockstar.If anyone thinks that his level of success is easy,then just flip through a few chapters.At one point Erna quit music altogether and had a job as a collection agent. He pulled odd jobs and had very interesting,funny and borderline psychotic relations with the ladies.Sully reveals that he could have choked to death from doing too much coke and the period of his life where he suffered with anxiety attacks.And some chapters play out like screwball buddy movies.The whole cocky hardened rocker image fades away and you find out that this dude is as fragile as the rest of us.He says there is nothing wrong with showing weakness and emotion and that you need to release those feelings or they could kill you.This is where the music and songwriting comes into play.Sully is a machine and he has mastered every aspect of a hard rock band.Everything from writing,guitar progressions and drum arrangements.You will never find a more greatful person like Erna or his band Godsmack.But in the end he states that hard work is the price of fame.Life is full of disappointments but what you survive will make you a stronger and better person. If you have a dream of being a rockstar you should follow it. You will be surprised what paths it will take you on!

No comments about Soccer Dad: A Father, a Son, and a Magic Season.

5 comments about Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab.

1. I was almost EMBARASSED to let people see me buying this book! I was somehow afraid people would think me odd, gross, macabre, etc. However, as soon as I began reading the book I was taken in, and almost couldn't put it down! I am recommending this book to everyone I know. It is an amazing, eye-opening, gentle view of "life" after death, as in what happens to our bodies and what goes on in the minds of those who are still living. This is an excellent book for anybody interested in medicine, life, human nature, death, the body, you NAME IT! EXCELLENT BOOK!



2. This is the book I should have written, wish I had written, and Dr. Montross does it so much better than I ever could have. My experience dissecting a cadaver in medical school was 30 years ago, and her thoughts, musings, and observations of herself and others helped me know I was not alone. This experience does have an effect on students, and it is not even remotely addressed in a way that allows the students to process their full range of emotional response in a safe and supportive manner.
   This book opens the door to a psychological but little discussed trauma that is the initiation of a medical career.
   Bravo and thank you!



3. XXXXX
   
   "When I listen to any patient's heartbeat or lungs, or feel for someone's liver or pulse, or find tendons to tap with my hammer in order to test for reflexes, the structures I picture hidden beneath the skin are all--all of them--Eve's. [Eve was the name the author gave to the cadaver she had to dissect during her first year of medical school.]...I cannot begin to know what led Eve to give me such a gift [of her dead body for dissection], whether it was practicality or altruism or cynicism or love of science or some other, equally unknowable, aspect of her personality or life. What I do know is that she neither knew me nor knew anything about me, and yet she bequeathed to me this offering, unthinkable for centuries, that has formed the foundation of my ability to heal...Bit by bit, I cut up and dismantled her [dead body], a beautiful old woman who came to me whole. The lessons her body taught me are of critical importance to my knowledge of medicine, but her selfless gesture of donation will be my lasting example of how much it is possible to give a total stranger in the hopes of healing."
   
   The above is found in this mesmerizing book, a memoir authored by Christine Montross, M.D. (now a resident in psychiatry at Brown University.)
   
   This book brought many memories back for me as I at one time had to do some dissecting of a human body. The author does not clarify this but dissection is a technique used to study the structure of the body, whereas anatomy is a field of scientific study. Studying the body by dissection is called macroscopic or gross anatomy.
   
   This book is not only about Montross' dissection of Eve during her first year in medical school. Montross was so affected by her dissecting experience with Eve that she set out to learn more about the history of cadavers and the discipline of anatomy. Her curiosity took her from such places as an autopsy lab in Ireland to the University of Padua in Italy (where Andreas Vesalius (1514 to 1564), a forefather of anatomy, once studied); she also learned about other things such as about body snatchers, grave robbers, and anatomists who practised on live criminals (called vivisection).
   
   The author also sprinkles throughout the book her own views about various issues including her thoughts on becoming a doctor. Here is one of my favourites that I can identify with:
   
   "It's not that med school is difficult conceptually, it's just that there's such an incredible amount of information to learn and attempt to retain [or memorize]. There is no need yet for any kind of original thought. So far our learning is regurgitation at its most pure."
   
   At the beginning of each chapter is a back and white image or picture. All these images (except one) are from the first anatomy book (actually book series) entitled "De Humani Corporis Fabrica" (1543), literally meaning "The Fabric of the Human Body" by A. Vesalius, who was, as mentioned above, a forefather of anatomy.
   
   Also, at the beginning of each chapter is a thought-provoking quotation from others. This is my favourite since it is so true based on my own experience:
   
   "Anatomical textbooks give the misleading impression that everything in the [body] is immediately distinguishable. The unsuspecting student plunges into the laboratory carcase expecting to find these neat arrangements [found in the text] repeated in [the cadaver], and the blurred confusion which he [or she] actually meets often produces a sense of despair." (Jonathan Miller)
   
   Finally, my only minor complaint with this book concerns a section in the last chapter where the author pays homage to her grandparents. I felt that this section was a bit too long.
   
   In conclusion, this is truly a unique book--lyrical, insightful, introspective--that takes the grossness out of gross anatomy!!
   
   (first published 2007; preface; 12 chapters; epilogue; main narrative 290 pages; bibliography; acknowledgements)
   
   <>
   
   XXXXX



4. It's certainly an interesting concept for a book--observe the process of first-year anatomy lab at a medical school and watch the fur fly. There are a lot of good details here from Montross on both what the process means in historical terms as well as how it affects those who do it. However, Montross' prose when it comes to her self-observation is too simplistic to carry this book much beyond average. She writes in the tone of an emotional fourteen year-old on an online journal complaining about how someone has wronged her--the descriptions are too emotionally-loaded, too extravagant, too...much to do anything other than get in the way. But if you move quickly through these parts, there's a lot of good to see here as well. Mildly recommended.



5. We have all thought of death. We have all imagined our bodies rotting after death. Many prefer incinerating their bodies, preferring ashes to decaying flesh. However, not all religions allow cremation, and thus, some of us are stuck with living with the thought of a decaying body. This thought is scary to most of us.
   
   All of life is about death and decay. Every day, people around us die. Within our own body, death looms all the time. Cells in my body are dying as I write this. Indeed, we are born to die. And maybe we die to be reborn, sort of like a computer reboot. Some scientists believe death is beneficial to evolution, knocking off the weak genes and improving them in subsequent generations. If we all lived forever, evolution would have no opportunity to improve us. Death can therefore be looked upon as a way of improving ourselves, or an evolutionary upgrade. Any of you been watching the TV series Heroes?
   
   In this book, you will follow the life of a medical student during her journey in body dissection. You will learn what it is like being around a dead body. What does a dead body smell like? What is it like cutting a dead body into pieces? Can a dead body know what we are doing to it? Those are all questions, among many others, medical students (as well as philosophers) ask all the time. And you'll be joining the circle and asking many more questions at the end of this book.
   
   The author traces the history of body dissection, and actually flies first to Italy for her research. In the old days, doctors were desperate for dead bodies in order to learn more about the functions of the living body, and thus help the living. But not many people would volunteer to donate their body to science. The business of body-snatching was thus born. Bodies were often stolen from cemeteries. So prevalent was this practice at the time that families hired armed guards to watch over their family's burial grounds. The poor obviously could not afford such luxury, and their bodies were often stolen and then sold to hospitals.
   
   Fresh bodies earned the most money. A body sold right after death earned more than a day or more old cadaver. This gave rise to another business: killing the patients before they die. Why wait for a person to die? Kill him and give his body for research, and earn big money! Real criminals just killed a person, whether ill or not, and then sold his body. Why wait for the person to be terminally ill?
   
   Not only was there the fear of having your body stolen from the cemetery, but there also was the fear of being donated for research while being still alive. This often happened, and there are many stories of people having been buried alive! This of course gave rise to the tales of zombies! In fact, many acted as zombies for they were partially brain dead from oxygen deprivation. A person can quickly exhaust the oxygen supply in a coffin!
   
   Prevalent at the time was live dissection. This was the preferred method, since the body is still alive, and doctors can better study and understand the functions of the body. But honestly, who would want to be cut off while still alive in the name of science? Unfortunately, many did not have a say. Prisoners were often used as live dissection subjects!
   
   The author tells some horror stories that happened during her medical school. For example, students would cut off the penis of a cadaver and insert it into the vagina of another cadaver. How disrespectful to the dead! There are many other similar stories. Having sex with a dead body is not unheard off.
   
   What is it like transporting a dead body, or part of a dead body? Does the body become an object for study, or the thought that this body was once a person lingers in one's mind? What is it like being in a room alone with twenty dead bodies?
   
   I found it interesting that nowadays medical schools and hospitals are very cautious about which bodies they purchase. For example, if a person just died, the hospital or school researches the person's name and checks whether a student from the same family is one of their resident students. Could you imagine dissecting the body of your own father or uncle? Many psychologists will tell you that the dissection of a body gives trauma to a person, regardless whether the deceased is known or unknown to the dissector.
   
   Nowadays, there is a movement to dissect bodies using 3D software and virtual computer programs. Maybe one day soon, all the dead can rest in peace.
   
   A very prevalent multi-billion business nowadays is selling body parts. Many body parts are sold by poor people. Many body parts are taken from people forcefully. I once saw a movie about an American tourist going on a holiday in a South American Country, meeting a woman at a bar, who later drugs him. He wakes up in his hotel bathtub in icy water. One of his kidneys was surgically removed to be sold! Such stories do happen. There are reports that this is now happening in Iraq, with organs either sold by the person or being forcefully removed!
   
   One important question you will ask yourself at the end of this book: will you give your body for medical research? I already answered this question for myself.
   
   This is one of the best books I have read. The author has a great writing style, poetic at times. You will not be able to put this book down. And you will be scared out of your wits!

5 comments about The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family.

1. I found myself laughing throughout the book. Very snappy writing and a story that I could identify with within my own relationship. The story echos today's society and the struggle (conflict) that a lot of relationships go through whether gay or straight. I think I loved the reactions of his son the best. A must read for anyone conflicted about marriage or a commitment ceremony.



2. This one I liked; it was fun reading about D.J. and good to see he has done so well with his Dads. The issues with his mom made my heart ache, and I wondered how that would progress over time. But the theme of the book - commitment - made my head ache. Back and forth, back and forth with the marriage thing. Dan makes the angst sound funny, although it wasn't at the time, I am sure. Still, in the end - I never quite got the point. It was entertaining reading for sure. Dan Savage could write a book about brushing his teeth and it would be funny. It's just with so few heterosexuals caring to get married and half of those who do divorcing, why the yen to do this straight-y thing?



3. Take a closer look at the issue of same-sex marriage with this examination and criticism of both sides of the debate.



4. An excellent sequel to Savage's The Kid. Funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking all at the same time.



5. One of the things I liked best about this book was that Dan Savage didn't just destroy the arguments against gay marriage, but he also correctly criticized many of the popular arguments in favor of gay marriage for succumbing to the same double-standards as the opposition. What was left was arguments that are rational, clearly stated, and funny.
   
   Savage's personal story is well told, reflective, and entertaining.