5 comments about Why I Wore Lipstick: To My Mastectomy.

1. I loved this book. I am a breast cancer survivor, and I can relate to everything she is saying. It is also so hilarious! I gave this book to my mom and my best friend to help them understand my world. It really helped.



2. I had to have a bi-laterial mastectomy last year and this book was recommended to me by my oncologist. I found it very inspirational and have decided to pass it on to anyone that I know that has battled breast cancer. It was funny at times and sad at times, just like my own experience with this devastating disease that affects so many women.



3. I agree wholeheartedly with most of the positive reviews here. This lady faced her dark hours with a sense of humor about herself as well as those around her who couldn't know what it exactly felt like to be in her shoes. The path of cancer or any serious condition is fraught with faux pas of medical staff as well as loved ones and acquaintances. There is no set script for anyone to follow. The author meets these issues and her illness with a fighting spirit. Well-written,funny and a stark view of cancer victim reality with a empowering edge.



4. please see, "Goddesses Don't Buy Green Bananas" THis is a photographic story about more than one person with cancer... read about their bravery and courage and fear.



5. Geralyn Lucas was 27 years old when doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. Her career was in high gear. Her marriage to a young physician was solid. Her hopes of one day having a baby were ever-present. The last thing she expected to hear was that she had a diagnosis that she equated with only older women--breast cancer.
   
   The 27 year old was a graduate from Columbia University School of Journalism and had secured a position as the editorial producer for ABC News' popular 20/20 show. She hadn't bargained for breast cancer to threaten her career, her hopes of becoming a mother, or her life. But that is exactly what happened.
   
   In her poignant and refreshingly honest book, Lucas shares her emotional rollercoaster, her physical ups and downs and her walk through the treatment phases of her disease. Complete with the issues of chemotherapy side effects, reconstructive surgery, and marital strains, this book is gut-wrenchingly honest in its portrayal of a life turned upside down and inside out at the pronouncement of a life-threatening disease. It is also a totally life-affirming reflection on how one woman faced down the monster that is called breast cancer.
   
   From 'victim' to 'survivor' to 'advocate' Geralyn Lucas walks us through the maze of a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. While her focus is on the younger population with this diagnosis, this book is a healthy and honest glimpse into the real world of any woman who is dealing with the disease--and for anyone who is helping her deal with it--at any stage. Newly diagnosed women will be inspired, those going through treatment will nod in agreement, those who are disease free will applaud her work with survivors' groups, and family members will thank her for allowing them to peek into what might be going on inside their own loved one's head during the whole process. Geralyn voices for all women what most women do not dare to admit--their own fear, their vulnerability, their ambivilence.
   
   Readers will cheer when she defiantly yet confidently swipes her lips with lipstick as she prepares to enter the operating room. They will continue to cheer as she returns time and time again to her source of feminine power and courage--her lipstick--to remind her of the hope and promise she carries deep within.
   
   This is a must read for anyone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. Having read many books on the topic, I can honestly say that this is by far, one of the most candid and uplifting. Geralyn has become my heroine for she is a champion of the feminine powers in all of us!
   
   After seven years as the editorial producer for 20/20, Geralyn became the director of original programming for Lifetime Television. She is a member of Lifetime's Stop Breast Cancer for Life initiative. She, her husband Tyler and daughter Skye (born after her cancer treatments) live in New York City. She is said to never leave home without her lipstick.
   
   As if the wonderfully inspiring story is not reason enough to go out and purchase the book for yourself or someone you love, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to the Young Survival Coalition.
   
   by Lee Ambrose
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women

5 comments about Fatal : The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer.

1. This ranks among Professor Schechter's best books. Though less gory than his books on Fish and Gein, it is just as terrifying. He brings his sterling insight to bear on the psychological workings of the mind of a female serial killer, and shatters the myth that such creatures are less depraved and evil than their male counterparts. As is often the case, he is willing to feel a certain degree of sympathy for the killer in relation to the environmental and/or congenital forces that contributed to her psychopathy, while remaining careful to never exculpate the killer of her crimes (he remains neutral as to whether insanity is an exculpating factor) or mitigate the degree of evil and pain caused to the victims. Schechtermakes it clear he views Jane Toppan as a monster driven by depraved urges and longings.
   
   His usual approach towards describing his subject via historical and cultural context as well as a meticulously researched recreation of the killer's career is adhered to fully. You will learn about the appallingly meagre salaries available to most women in the 19th century; the brutally draining workload experienced by most nurses, within both institutions and private homes; the terrible state of medical care available to the public; and the shocking fact that substances such as arsenic were not only sold over-the-counter in huge amounts for household purposes (killing rats, etc.), but appeared as well within patent compounds that claimed to have salubrious cosmetic benefits (young women ingested a beauty compound made with arsenic that promised to remove blackheads, pimples, and all other such facial blemishes).
   
   Everyone has their favorite Schechter books. I cannot guarantee that this will rank with your own personal favorites, but I think I can assume with a fair degree of confidence that, if you have enjoyed other books by the author, you will enjoy this one. The intelligent formula for success you associate with Deranged and Deviant and Bestial, et. al., can be found intact in Fatal.



2. Harold Schechter brings to our attention the fact that there are more female serial killers in history than we actually suspect. In this case, Jane Toppan is revealed to the world in what would otherwise have been nothing more than a footnote in New England history. Schechter presents the history of this murderous poisoner who used morphine and atropine to extinguish upwards of three dozen people, many of the latter were 'dear friends' of hers. She is finally caught and avoids prison on an insanity charge where she spends the next 30+ years of her life. After reading this morbid story, I'm not so sure she was insane by our terms today as much as just off-kilter. I think she truly went insane once her freedom was taken away and her paranoia at being poisoned herself by the asylum staff drove her to quit eating. Schechter shows us the transgressions of Nurse Toppan and how she got away with it for so long. It's truly an interesting story but there were two or three parts where Schechter goes off on a sidenote (history of the asylum for one) where I lost some focus. Otherwise, it's another true crime story that we never would have known about and Schechter does another great job of weaving the events into something nearly unbelievable.



3. After an informative introduction, Schechter sets the mood for Jane Toppan by briefly covering serial murderesses Lydia Sherman and Sarah Jane Robinson, two predecessors to Toppan with affiliations for arsenic. Then along came Jane Toppan with her morphia and atropia cocktails.
   
   Born into the world as Honora Kelley, Jane was indentured to, and adopted by, Mrs. Ann C. Toppan and thus became Jane Toppan. Jane resented growing up as a servant to her family, and especially resented her sister Elizabeth, who would later fall victim to Jane's careful ministrations.
   
   Jane took nursing school, a rigorous training in its day, but never graduated with a certificate before taking herself out of hospital care and into family home care, where her poisonous ways became more noticeable. Still, it was years before Jane was ever suspected and brought to trial, leaving a wake of corpses behind her.
   
   'Fatal' is very well written, although drawn out at times. The prose enchants you back to the era of the murders, specifically pointing out many differences in both medical and courtroom procedures between 1901 and our modern day world. Schechter rounds out the case with Jane's life as a child and the unsavory circumstances of her childhood, to her early years, on through her active killing spree and ending with court proceedings and what happened to Jane afterward. There's a lot of detail on Jane's life, and while there is no bibliography there's an Acknowledgements section that lists Schechter's resources. If you like true crime, you'll like this unique account of one of the first female serial killers ever documented. Enjoy!



4. I'm a psychologist by training. Schechter is the first person I know of to explain a female serial killer's experience during the act of murder. I wanted to gag! Then I spoke to a few female associates, who confirmed what Schechter revealed. OMG! I had no idea women have the capacity to be so....reptilian. 'Reptilian' may be flattering, now that I think about it.
   
   The book features other female serial killers besides Jane Toppan. Theyre bad enough, but Jane is the arch-snake.
   
   The subject is fascinating, the writing is excellent, and it's a wake-up call about the fair sex. Be afraid. be very afraid!



5. "Fatal" tells the story of Jane Toppan, a psychopathic nurse living in the 1890's. Her childhood was a difficult one, and though little is really known about it, what the author tells is points to one filled with abuse and turmoil. At a young age, she was put in an orphange and "adopted" by the Toppan family. Her part in the family was that of a servant, though it seems that the Toppans treated her well.
   
   After she became a nurse, she began poisoning some of her patients as they lay in their hospital beds, with a mixture of morphine and atropine. She did this for pleasure, because she enjoyed it. She murdered her family members and friends, preferring people she knew over strangers. This went on for decades before the police finally caught on. Some estimate the number of people she killed being close to 100.
   
   The author does a good job telling the story. It's amazing that more people haven't heard of her - this was the first time for me. There were some parts that were a little too gory for my taste, and I feel that the author occasionally pontificates. Of course, it's not enough to stop me from reading another one of his books. Those who enjoy true crime and history should enjoy this.

5 comments about Katie.com: My Story.

1. Some have been critical of the author, but keep in mind, she was only a teenager, and it is told from her perspective. I enjoyed the story, and it is a quick read.



2. Plot: 14 year old chats with older guy on AOL...they meet in person.
   
   Pros: Engaging, quick read, no big words, appeals to teens, adults, parents. The mother and stepfather come off as jerks, and I love reading about messed up folks
   
   Cons: Ending wasn't enough of a "conclusion" for me, I would've liked to know more and was kind of let down.
   
   Other Thoughts: Although the title did catch my eye, it is essentially a lie as no .com figures into the story and the book isn't about a specific web site. The book reads like it was written by a teenager. Granted it was written by a teenager but the writing made me very aware of this fact. While not badly written, the prose is unimpressive



3. This book was poorly written and plain old boring. It's like just sitting there going through a teen girls email inbox. I could do that for free. None of the characters are likeable and you really can't feel sorry for the protagonist.



4. Regardless of the content of this book, the publisher Penguin has deliberately 'hijacked' the katie.com domain from its legitimate UK owner - Mrs Katie Jones.
   
   They have ruined her small online business by deliberately naming the book and an ensuing TV program "Katie.com" even though they knew the domain belonged to someone else. So a hard-pressed mother gets thousands of often unpleasant emails, while the 'heroine' of the book enjoys TV celebrity.
   
   Please don't support this type of greedy commercial behaviour. Buy another book.



5. Katie.com was a very good book in my opinion. I think that Katherine Tarbox was very brave for writing about the troubles she experienced when she was younger. I don't know many people that would be brave enough to do that. Me, personally, I would be too afraid. She took on her situation full speed ahead. Instead of dwelling in the past she moved on. She moved on to become a wonderful author and possibly a role model for young girls everywhere. Yes it is bad that she had to experience such a truamatic event, but in a way it just made her a stronger individual. She can know look back at what happened to herself and think, "I've been through that. I made it and just look at me now." Seriously though, many people would just stay in a little whole and not come out for the rest of their lives. Those people are not cowards, they are just afraid that they will be judged for their actions. Katie was judged yes, but she proved to those people judging her that she wasn't afraid of them or the person that helped bring her up to point of her life.

3 comments about Celebrities Between the Sheets.

1. I would have given this a two but the fact she talks about a celeb i like that bumped her up another space ..in my opinion she cant write anyone basically could have wrote this go around an sleep with celebs an write the book at least give us something else..if you do buy this book which i recommned you dont you will see what i mean an she gives you hints she doesnt tell you who they are



2. This book tells about who this Hollywood Vixen has slept with. She gives clues and it's a day read.



3. Wow, this is a tell all book and gets down to the nitty gritty bordering on hardcore info on the rich and famous sexual exploits. It even rates each ones performance while in the act. The book is filled with clues as to the participants. Are they lovers or just another lay? My best guess produced the following players, Jamie Foxx, Shaquille O'Neal, Method Man, Sleepy Brown, Jah Rule, Shemar Moore, John Sally, Bobby Brown.

5 comments about Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan: The True Story of a Freedom Fighter's Escape from Iraqi Vengeance.

1. I briefly had an understanding of where Kurdistan was. That the "Kurds" were yet another minority being persecuted in our world. "Love in a Torn Land" has somewhat educated me as to their history and current situation. In a most entertaining manner. I salute both the author and the heroine. Thank you for letting me into the Kurdistan situation. Why can't we not only just not get along but need to bomb and chemically bomb a nation out of existance? The thing is, it is happening right now in Kurdistan and "most" other parts of our earth. I lie here in my comfortable bed wishing I could help. THANK YOU again.
   peter



2. It is hard to believe that this story is non-fiction given the never-ending twists and turns, intense drama and the perfect love story that unfolds. It was hard to put this book down!
   
   This is Jean Sassoon's best book to date. There is far less of the distracting shifting back and forth that I found to be a problem in the construction of her earlier books. Her descriptions are richer, more vivid. I used to live in Kurdistan, and her descriptions are very true to life!
   
   I think this book does more to advance the Kurdish cause than any documentary I have seen! The harsh life under both the Baathists and the Iranian government is fairly portrayed. You will come away impressed with the strength of the Peshmergas and very grateful for your own soft bed and other creature comforts.
   
   I do wish that the author had not been in such a rush to move the characters from Iran to London. I would have loved to have read more about Joanna's trials and tribulations in the Kurdish area of Iran and in Damascus. The adjustment to living in London would also have made for interesting reading.



3. In Jean Sasson's book, "Love in a Torn Land", you will meet an astonishing heroine of an unbelievable adventure novel as well as hear a tender romance that survives against all odds. This is Jean Sasson at her best!
   
   Before I read this book, I did not even know what a Kurd was, but you will come to admire the spirit of the Kurdish people and their struggle to survive in the current day through war, suppression, genocide and their unfathomable faith in their right to survive. This is a truly harsh environment as the people struggle day by day to survive.
   
   Follow the story of a family's struggles in war torn Iraq as our heroine, Joanna, carries us through stories of oppression of Muslim women, heart breaking tales of torture and loss, warm sharings of people reaching out to comfort when none seems to be had, harrowing narratives of a people's struggle to survive. Against all odds, this brave woman survives and lives to tell the tale of how she was determined to live the life she wanted no matter the cost.
   
   As you cower under your covers, you will read of the bombings of Baghdad and the Northern Iraq mountains where learning "that whatever one might be doing here, half the mind will not be focusing on the task at hand, but instead on the sounds and sights from the skies" is a crucial lesson. Joanna applies this lesson as her ears are tuned for the shrill whistling resonance of shells, or for the noisy roar of an airplane or helicopter engine while she is preparing a meager breakfast that may only consist of rice. Our heroine suffered through narrow escapes in treacherous places only to place herself in an area targeted for race eliminating scourges. She suffers the heartbreak of the loss of loved ones, is often on the brink of starvation, poisoned and blinded by gas - but almost never loses her spirit and will to survive. Just imagine thinking you are in heaven to have a shelter over your head that is crawling with scorpions, `despite the fact that there was no electricity, no running water, and no toilets".
   
   This eye opening book just may have you clamouring for more of Jean Sasson's books as she supports the efforts of women whose voices must be heard.



4. As usual, Jean Sasson opened my eyes to a harsh culture where survival is your minute by minute goal. She has provided women with a voice and others of us a reason to be thankful to be Americans.



5. I love all of Jean Sasson's books. Like all the others, this is written to keep you interested in the story and wondering what could possibly happen next to this poor young woman, her husband and all Kurds, even though you eventually know about the general outcome. The fact that the story is true, makes it hair raising. The only unfavorable thing I could say about the book, is that in telling the story, Jean Sasson looses herself a bit by going into too many details of places, people, every day occurrances, and the constant back and forth conversations between the protagonists. Sometimes it is best to leave details to your imagination. Other than that, I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait for the next!

5 comments about Dork Whore: My Travels Through Asia as a Twenty-Year-Old Pseudo-Virgin.

1. I did expect an amusing story similar to William Sutcliffe's book "Are You Experienced?". This book however tells the story of a frustrated and embittered woman wallowing in self-pity and unable to socialize. I could not find the praised Jewish humour or a cynical story but an irritating and unexciting tale.



2. I really loved this book. Iris Bahr is pretty multi-talented, and I heard her in character on Studio 360, and later saw her on Current. This is so hilariouly honest, it's cringe-worthy, but I have a feeling that this is very realistic. I enjoyed the diversion, and even though this doesn't come to an ending you expect, it's still a great ride. Have fun explaining the title to others!



3. and I'm sure every guy can find someone they are akin to as well.
   
   I found this book to be almost impossible to put down and read it in two evenings (it's a great quick read.)
   
   Iris Bahr tells her memoir in the most humorous way possible. Granted, she is a comedian so her wit is not surprising, but the STORIES are just amazing.
   
   I would and will recommend this book to all of my friends.



4. Great book- great first novel. Entertaining, smart and very funny. 2 thumbs up.



5. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, from the title to the last word. I never knew a book could make me cringe so much with embarassment! She compassionately writes about it feels to be 21 - bold, insecure, lost, boundless, immortal, giddy, and aching. I read it so fast and wanted it to keep going! I am waiting for the sequel! :)

5 comments about The Civil War Diary Quilt: 121 Stories and The Quilt Blocks They Inspired.

1. This was a very interesting book. I find this time in our history rich. The stories are compelling and touching. I have become interested in quilts of this era and have began to do some piecing that reflect this period I was very excited to find this book for its patterns as well as it rich historical content.



2. I collect quilt history books and "The Civil War Diary Quilt" book is an excellent addition to my collection. The diairies are priceless pieces of our nation's history and I feel an emotional attachment to each one of the writers. The title of this book is misleading, however, because the main theme is not a quilt pattern, but the fantastic collection of diaries. Don't get this book if you want patterns - buy it for the wonderful history.



3. This is a lovely book but not as good as i thought it would be. I have wanted it for over one year and now that I have it, realise I could live without it. The illustrations and overall appeal ie. colour, setout and feel are lacking. Not a really appealing book in my opinion. Overall it is a lack-lustre offering. Some good facts re: real life stories from the Civil War however.



4. This is a great thick book of blocks that coincide with letters from the Civil War period. A group of us made quilts from this book. ITs a keeper.



5. I really enjoyed the stories, just wish that there were more. Good book for quilter's who like to take patterns and recreate them in EQ6 or other software to print out hard copy patterns. You could trace and draw out patterns in the book and do English paper-piecing too.

5 comments about Letters of a Woman Homesteader.

1. Wonderfull stories actually written by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. The woman was a tireless worker with a special kindness to her fellow man. You can picture in your mind just what she lived. Her descriptions are as good as they can be. Her kindness will melt your heart. She makes me wish I had lived in the area at the same time. It's such a world of difference from todays progression. I'm not so sure we have progressed to a better life. Even though it was a hard life and a short one I think it may have been a slice of heaven back in old Wyoming. She will tug at your heart at times and make you smile at others.
   A great easy enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
   Steve from Boulder Creek, Ca.



2. The audio version of this book is so well read -- it is well worth the cost. You cannot help feeling cheerful and energized about your own life, as you hear it. I gave the paperback version to a couple of discouraged women friends who prefer to read rather than listen to books. Both women loved it, and were inspired to face their own hardships more buoyantly. The very gifted author has blessed us with a wonderful history and narrative!



3. Dear fellow Book-lovers:
   I found this little gem at the local library today and I can't put it down. It is so good--easy to read (perfect for a busy Mom of 5 like me), inspiring, wholesome, funny, and informative. I am fascinated with this woman: her love for people, her giving heart, and her passion for fun and for life. I'm only on page 81 (out of 282) but I can already sit here and tell you to buy this book and enjoy it! I'm buying myself a copy and also one for my best friend. Christmas is coming!



4. Genuine substance and sincerity describe Stewart's letters from the early twentieth century while homesteading in this remote corner of Wyoming. Whereas most women would not even consider putting down roots in such an isolated area, Mrs. Stewart was determined to make a life for herself in this territory. And she did just that. It took a special kind of person to live in this far-removed landscape.
   
   Her writing, subject matter and approach to life were most admirable. Hard working and always enthusiastic for adventure, she writes of various encounters with surrounding neighbors and experiences into the countryside. If she had any dull moments on the ranch they must have been few and far between.
   
   Very optimistic about life, Mrs. Stewart affirms, "...all my own efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to take things as they come."
   To further quote, "It has always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't think without bias."
   
   A wonderful read furthering an appreciation for life in the homesteading era.



5. I listened to the audio version of this book and after the first part, I went online to check to see if this was actually taken from real letters or just a modern novel. It was so interesting and so well-written that I couldn't believe it wasn't the creation of a novelist. But no, they are the authentic letters of an incredible woman. Ironically, she apologizes in her letters, for writing too much. If only she could have known that a century later, people around the world would be wishing she wrote even more.
   
   If you choose the audio book, try to get the Sound Room Publishers version, narracted by Kate Fleming. It is far superior than Blackstone Audio's version read by Rebecca Burns (who does a good job, but whose voice is too much like a young girl's to express the wisdom and experience that Fleming projects).

5 comments about Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever: The Making of a Happy Woman.

1. I picked up this book on a whim and boy am I glad I did! I found the advice and the anecdotes within to be very motivational and inspirational. I've already begun applying them to my own life and have gotten wonderful results.
   
   All her advice is very down-to-earth. She explains negative female behaviors that are spot-on and how to realistically abolish them. The person she encourages you to become is something attainable.
   
   If you hate Judge Judy, you'll probably hate this book. She's not a writer, don't expect to be astounded by her writing. Do expect to read some great advice. If you are a fan, also expect to learn a little bit more about the woman behind the bench. If you've learned a lot from watching her show, you'll learn even more reading this book. Never once did I read something that left me scratching my head. Everything she says is very reasonable.
   
   I've seen the results already in my personal relationships, my job and my outlook on life. I've recommended this book to all of my friends. I can't say enough about it. Although it may not impact you as strongly as its impacted me, anyone will be able to take something from it.



2. This book was very informative for young women more then older women, but I think ALL women can learn from reading this. She told about her experiences in life, that she also had made some dumb mistakes, but that she learned from them and didn't make them again. I like her way of thinking. She's a no nonsense type person that I think many people should try to be like. Would I buy another book of Judge Judy's? Yes. Was I entertained while reading it? Yes. It wasn't a novel that you couldn't put down, but a book that whenever you wanted to read it you could pick it up and be familiar with where she was going.



3. I am a fan of Judge Judy. I like her no nonsense approach to life and the legal system. Having myself grown up in a family of police and police chiefs, I know full well the crap that goes on in life as well as the legal system. Having just gone through a legal fiasco of being accused of something I didn't and wouldn't do, I prayed to have a judge like Judge Judy preside over the case. This drug out for 2 years while the other person smeared my name in every media outlet she could think of - even the FBI - and every place where I was scheduled to give talks about my book. I finally had to sue her to shut her up and then she hid like a scared @*&%$! Well after dragging this out by not providing us with their evidence and discovery - which I am sure she didn't have, they decided to settle out of court with a public retraction and an apology as to what she had said about me. So I never got my day in court, but oh I wish I had just to hear Judge Judy tell her "you can't fix stupid and dumb is forever!" I recommend her books, they are funny, comical and down to earth legal approches to life in the court system. You will get a whole new perspective on the way things are done and they might get you fired up to get a wrong you have been dealt righted. Read Them!!



4. I recommend this book for gifts to women first starting out in their professions. It's quite empowering. Judge Judy has a extremely descriptive way of writing that is both enlightening and amusing. When people ask to borrow my book I give them a resounding NO! Get your own!



5. 
   Judge Judy has always been entertaining and continues to delight with this book of witty lessons for life. I really enjoyed her candor!

5 comments about The Man Watching: A Biography of Anson Dorrance, the Unlikely Architect of the Greatest College Sports Dynasty Ever.

1. This is one of those books that is hard to put down. It helps to unpack the man 'Anson Dorrance' and the sporting legacy that he developed.



2. This is a good book, and very interesting as a sketch of one of the most (if not the most) successful college sports coaches of all time. The details of his life history and the anecdotes are interesting, and the book goes quickly. It seems, however, that with such an apparently controversial figure that there must be another side to the story. The book glosses over the causes of the lawsuit that was brought against him and ultimately settled, and most of the rest is close to hero-worshipping. If there is another side to the story, a dark side told from the point of view of his detractors, you will not get it from this book.
   I would warn the soccer coaches who buy this book, it is not going to give you much that will help you become a better soccer coach. There are allusions to "the competitve cauldron" and some insight into the record-keeping and practice organization, but if you are buying this book to help you become a better soccer coach you will not get a lot out of it.



3. I've been a college coach my entire life working with male and female athletes at the Division One level. Over a 30 year career I've read many many books on leadership, motivation, management and relationship building. Walk into any book store- there's thousands of them.
   This book stands apart in my mind as one of the best simply because it takes you inside the UNC program that Dorrance built and shares his thoughts, observations, beliefs and practices. What is so powerful about the man and the story is the simple things he values most and how he reinforces them over and over within his teams daily regimen.
   If you coach college sports at any level, this is a valuable read. If you coach female athletes at any level, especially high school or collegiate, this is a must read.
   No two people ever think alike and Anson's style is unique to him. But the lessons that any leader can take from this book will be well worth the time spent. There are certain universal truths that all coaches have to come to grips with if they hope to be successful. It's clear from the beginning to the end of this read, that Anson's ability to grasp these truths and consistently weave them into his daily life lessons to his players is what sets him and the UNC program apart. His style may not appeal to everyone, his approach may not be your cup of tea, but it's hard to read this well written book and not come away with a sense of admiration for way he molds his athletes into champions.
   This book is well worth reading and for anyone in the coaching profession, it will force you to re-evaluate how you approach your mission.



4. As a previous review noted the first half of the book, which dwells on the coaches life, is much more of a "biography" than the second half.
   The second half is more of a description of the "feel" of the UNC program, which based on the writing, seems authentic.
   The programs description doesn't really add much to the biography unless you have an opinion about the UNC program.
   The rituals and idiosyncracies of the program are no more interesting or poignant than any other D1 successful sports program.
   I believe this book, through its many quotes and reprinted letters, gives a sense of what the emotions of college soccer are like for the athletes. As a coach of male and female soccer players, I would recommend it for female players who wonder what college soccer is like. Of course, any fan of the UNC girls program would find this an inspiring read since it holds true to the title and praises the program at length.



5. The biography of Coach Anson Dorrance of UNC should appeal to soccer fans and coaches. As a general biography, I wouldn't recommend it, because the focus is clearly on soccer and not much else outside of the game, the Tar Heels, and Dorrance's personal life and family. The bigger view of the context in the greater world is mostly limited to some general trends, such as the rise of women's sports from virtually nothing to their much stronger state today.
   
   The historical background was easily the most interesting part, and the first half of the book is much stronger than the second. Coach Dorrance's background as a child of the world and an aggressive, competitive youth was surprisingly engaging. Even better was the origin of women's varsity soccer at UNC and elsewhere as women's soccer germinated to a critical mass within American colleges. Similarly, the creation of the women's national team with early stars such as Michelle Akers and its evolution into a dominant power with and without Coach Dorrance was also very informative. Tim Crothers has added a valuable historical record by capturing these stories with factual reporting and extensive interviews.
   
   Coach Dorrance is of course famous for the exceptional success of the program at UNC, and the Heels even won the next national championship after the book was published. The author draws out Dorrance's coaching philosophy, recruiting style, motivational approaches, and other aspects of his personality and performance. The various "aha!" moments where Dorrance learned to appreciate and exploit the differences between men and women have been fodder for stories and lectures for many years, and they make for excellent material and opportunities to compare with our own observations and attitudes.
   
   What got a little tiresome was the volume of material on how competitive Dorrance is and how great Carolina is and how special Carolina is, almost as if other teams don't have their own special bonds among teammates or play with intense effort and dedication. I ended up skimming a bunch of that as too much rah-rah and of little additional value. Fortunately, Crothers added a chapter on Dorrance's "dark side", such as his arrogance. Some juicy, bitchy stories can make up for an excess on the praise side.
   
   Crothers naturally had to cover the lawsuit. Based on the tone of the book, I surmise that the author has put the whole situation in a relatively positive view. Debbie Keller isn't exactly presented as sweetness and light. However, on the contrary side, the author reviews Dorrance's admitted mistakes, his agreement to training, his change in approach, and some remarks by people who were at least neutral on the whole matter. I'm not sure what to think, and the reader can still gather a lot from the biography if the lawsuit is secondary to one's interest in the book.