D Books

The book never arrived at 3 weeks, so canceled the order and hope the charge is reversed on my card. Woody's books was nice about the problem and sent me a $5 check to aid in buying the book at a higher cost in a local book store.

This is a fantastic book for the newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient. It was given to my by my surgeon's office. It does a great job explaining things on a level that the average person can understand. It also has great diagrams, lists of questions to ask your medical team, glossary of terms, websites to check out and comments from breast cancer survivors and/or significant others of survivors. I highly recommend this book.

We give this book to surgeons in our area to distribute to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Before purchasing it, we had a group of 4 breast cancer survivors review and rate 3 separate books on breast cancer. This book "won" hands down, based on numerous criteria -- everything from its explanation of breast cancer treatments, to its index and glossary, to its discussion of life after cancer. It is clear and easy to read, provides comprehensive information on types of breast cancer and corresponding treatment alternatives, has wonderful graphics and photos, and provides interesting anecdotal stories of actual patients in its sidebar. Highly recommended!

I was introduced to this book at work and am now giving it to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I am on oncology certified nurse in the radiation oncology department of my cancer center. In January 2007 I also became our Breast Cancer Patient Navigator. I find this book gets excellent reviews from patients and their families alike. It is a great source of information, covering all the topics from diagnosis to living life 'after cancer'. I only wish I would have had this book when I was on my personal breast cancer journey! I highly recommend this book for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Many experts believe that Herceptin represents the future direction of breast cancer drugs, because it targets a particular protein on the cancer cell, rather than attacking all cells at random. As research progresses, scientist hope to make all anti-cancer drugs as specific as possible." ~ pg. 97

Designed to compliment the book, the DVD provides an environment of understanding with explanations for all the procedures and various situations that will occur after a diagnosis. New treatments like Immunotherapy are discussed and there is an extensive resource section with additional CD options, including a CD-ROM program that is an interactive guide to treatment.

Helpful up-to-date information about why you may not need a mastectomy and only a lumpectomy is encouraging and gives hope. Radiation and Chemo is also discussed in detail. Throughout both the DVD and book, women tell their stories and that gives a sense of the range of experience. There are over 150 color photographs and graphics to illustrate important points.

A variety of questions are given in each section so you know what to ask your doctor. The stages of breast cancer are given so you know exactly what your doctor is talking about. The main sections include:

Facing Breast Cancer - Your feelings, support groups, healthcare teams and overview of treatment options.

Breast Cancer Basics - Types of Breast Cancer

Diagnosis and Staging - Tumor Testing, the Pathology Report, Additional Tests, How Stage is Determined

Surgery - Reconstruction, Lumpectomy and Mastectomy options, Lymph Nodes

Reconstruction - Choosing a Plastic Surgeon, External and Internal Options

Radiation Therapy - How treatment is given, Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy - Side Effects, Common Chemotherapy Drugs

Hormone Therapy - How Treatment is Given, Who should be Treated, Side Effects

Immunotherapy - Future Therapies and Herceptin

Clinical Trials - Participation Ideas and getting the newest treatments...

Life after Cancer - Emotional Recovery, Physical Recovery

The Guide for Your Partner is a special section your partner can read. If possible, watching the DVD together would be ideal because it explains all the basics in the book.

Be a Survivor is an excellent resource because it gives you all the questions you need to ask and answers a number of pertinent questions any woman will be asking the moment she is diagnosed.

Vladimir Lange, MD is one of the most respected doctors in this field of study and this book came into being after his own wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

~The Rebecca Review

I can also recommend "Reconstructing Natalie" by Laura Jensen Walker.

This is an exhaustive account of the role of intelligence leading to the eventual success of the Normandy invasion which opened the last chapter of the Third Reich. It is a dramatic story, with a wealth of plots and counter plots featuring the most guarded secret of the war: Ultra, the machine which solved the Nazi's codes .
It is also an excellent account of the most massive invasion in history, complete with all of the attendant peculiarities of the key participants. Although exhaustive in content, its interest never flags, for it deals with the "make or break" nature of D Day. Highly recommended.

An accumulation of some of the most stimulating and exhaustively-researched details on the intel and counter-intel during WWII, particualrly surrounding D-Day. Truly amazing events chronicled extremely well; even after these many years since the book was first published, Cove-Brown's work stands out.

"Bodyguard Of Lies" is one of the most compelling and important reads out there. Lovers of Clancy novels should put them away for a year and concentrate on some of the most real bizarre, yet important, machinations of espionage and counter-espionage ever created and implemented. What gives this phenomenal work its incredible allure is the knowledge that these creations of historical intelligence import occored only a little more than a half-decade ago. The book takes its title from Winston Churchill's remark regarding the crucial role of good intelligence, where he stated, "In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." Using for his research information that had only been de-classified the previous year (1975), Anthony Cave Brown takes us through the minefield that was "Ultra", the Allies means of reading the secret ciphers of the Third Reich. "Ultra" was of such devastating importance that the entire city of Coventry was sacrificed in order to keep secret the fact that the Allies had, early on in the war, broken the German "Enigma" ciphers. This top secret cipher would time and time again put vital information directly into the hands of the Allies. It is safe to say that "Ultra" may have been the difference between victory and defeat. Brown also details what can only be referred to as the most convoluted espionage and counter-espionage schemes that only the minds of men at war for the highest stakes ever perceived could conceive of. In one instance, a false 'cadaver' was planted in an apparant shipwreck, replete with false identity papers, false obituary, false love letters, fake funeral, and, more importantly, false maps and information intended to persuade the enemy that they had stumbled upon ACTUAL information, and act accordingly. Brown relates other tales - some quite unsavory on both sides - for instance, Allied baiting of French resistance in order to convince the enemy of the plausibility of invasion (or non-invasion, as the case warrented) at a given place or time. Agents were sometimes dropped into situations where their 'handlers' knew that cover had been blown or compromised...all done to keep a certain game afloat or a certain secret intact. Perhaps the most interesting revelations, for me, in the book came from the 'dangling' of certain German Generals and Intelligence officials who were not simply sympathetic to the Allies, but in many cases actually working against Hitler and taking incredible, traitorous risks to help defeat him (the Schwarze Kapelle, or, in English, the Black Orchestra). Abwehr head Wilhelm Canaris is studied in depth, and his behavior, not to mention his persona alone may be one of the deepest level secrets of the Second World War. Churchill is again quoted at the start of the section on 'Special Means', "In the high ranges of Secret Service work the actual facts in many cases were in every respect equal to the most fantastic inventions of romance and melodrama. Tangle within tangle, plot and counter-plot, ruse and treachery, cross and double-cross, true agent, false agent, double agent...were interwoven in many a texture so intricate as to be incredible and yet true. The Chief and the High Officers of the Secret Service revelled in these subterranean labyrinths, and pursued their task with cold and silent passion." This book will leave you relieved that men like Churchill, Sir Stewart Menzies, Alan Turing and the like were on the side of the Allies. The book may also leave some disturbed concerning what deep levels of intregue - double, triple, even quadruple-cross - can be invoked when men, and women, are convinced that they are fighting on the side of right against what they are sure is the side of wrong.

The new and warranted reinterest in World War II, and D-Day specifically has given this book new life. What I am wondering is whether or not the content has been changed, Not an easy read back in 1975 when Anthony Cave Brown first slogged through the newly declassified material which help to make this book fascinating, I am tempted to wager that some things have been re-written. Only a guess of course. This could also be a good thing, as in the case of Pearl Harbor, where after 1995 declassification documents were used to prove ("Day Of Deceit by Mr. Stinnett) that the attack was not, in fact, a complete suprise. Seeing that the original was out-of-print I suppose that this is a welcome development to have a new edition, retitled or no. 30 years is a good long time - and perhaps more information is included while staying true to the "old" edition.

This is an extremely detailed book on Allied (mainly British) deception operations during World War II. While it was written in 1976 it still hold up well, though some new information on the role of GCHQ and signals intelligence has been released since 1976. I am still amazed at the scope of operations the British ran during World War II. A very well written book, though it is by know means a quick read. It took me almost a month to get through it. If you are keenly interested in intelligence operations try to track down this book.

As much as I respect Brent Morris, I do think Hodapp's book is better because he really writes it as a layman--but this book is very good too. It's a toss up, but I have both so how can I go wrong. They are both invaluable books to explain and demystify Masonry throughout history and time. I hope these books will both help to move the Craft into the 21st century as it belongs with us as long as the world exists.

I enjoyed it thoroughly--did a great job of separating fact from fiction. I highly recommend it.

I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THIS BOOK, IT'S FULL OF INFORMATION THAT DESTROYS PREJUDISM ABOUT FREEMASONRY. THERE'S A LOT OF SIMBOLISM THAT COULD BE MISINTERPRETATED AND OBVIOUSLY PREJUDICED. SO, THIS BOOK IS AN IDEAL GUIDE TO REVEAL THE MISTERY OR "SECRET" AND GET WELL INFORMATED ABOUT THIS ANCIENT AND EXCELLENT FRATERNITY THAT CONSTRUCTS BETTER HUMANS IN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

ESTE LIBRO ME SORPRENDIÓ, ESTÁ LLENO DE INFORMACIÓN QUE DESTRUYE LOS PREJUICIOS SOBRE LA MASONERÍA. HAY MUCHO SIMBOLISMO QUE PUEDE SER MALINTERPRETADO Y OBVIAMENTE PREJUZGADO. POR TANTO, ESTE LIBRO LO CONSIDERO UNA GUIA IDEAL PARA CONOCER LA MASONERÍA Y SUS "SECRETOS" ASI COMO PARA ESTAR MEJOR INFORMADO ACERCA DE ESTA ANTIGUA Y EXCELENTE INSTITUCIÓN QUE HA CONSTRUIDO MEJORES SERES HUMANOS EN TODO EL MUNDO.

It seems there are copious books out there for true beginners or "idiots" as the book calls them. There are also numerous tombs for experts, what seems to be lacking are books for the indoctrinated, but non-experts among us. It seems that the Complete Idiots Guide Series is for those of us with absolutely no knowledge of the subject matter at hand, and it does a good job of whetting the appetite. However as a source for information and knowledge it is sorely lacking on all fronts. A quick Google search would provide a greater level of information at a more reasonable cost, and with greater authority.

I have been a Freemason for over five years and have read over 40 Freemason related books. This book is the first one that comprehensively covers the entire Masonic field. I often lend this book to friends who are considering joining a Masonic Lodge.

I bought this with high hopes after reading the reviews. I was hoping it would be something I could give to my daughter when she was older. However, some of the questions (such as "how are you feeling about your postpartum body?" or something like that) are things that I wouldn't want her to read. Also, questions are very redundant from week to week. It's difficult to write on the left side of this book due to the spiral binding - a 3-ring binder would be better where we could remove pages, write, and then put them back. I also found it difficult to respond to some questions and on others, I ran out of room too soon. It just wasn't a good fit for me - I stopped using it after 2 months and am much happier with a more traditional baby book!

I received this 3 years ago and wasn't sure if I liked it. Yes, some of the questions seem redundant... But! Your child changes that fast! This week, he loves peas! Next week, he hates them! It seems minor, but it's so much fun to look back and remember the little things that could have been lost to amnesia-due-to-sleep-deprivation. This was a great way to record the joys of baby- and mother-hood.

Since then, I've bought this for every new parent, and keep a couple on hand for baby gifts. Be sure to point out that there is a special area in the back for special events (holidays, etc.) I didn't have time to pore through it the first time, and almost missed it. Also, this could be really special if presented with a special toy or blanket or something that they can be pictured with each month to measure their development.

I have just purchased my sixth copy of this book for another friend. I received this book as a gift when I had my son and bought another for myself for the birth of my daughter and have given the book as a gift 5 times! It's easy to complete - walking you through every stage and first year event. It makes me reflect on things I may not remember if I was free journaling. And I love that I have my son's book to look back on and compare my daughter's growth to. The book is quality and the binding makes it easy to leave the book open to the week you are on. A must for any new mom!

My son is now two years old and having some developmental issues. During our screening process I was asked a lot of questions about his development as a baby, things no mother would ever be able to pull out of her head. Having such a well written journal that asked so many good questions was monumental in helping the professionals assess my sons past and current situation. Thank you Ms. Nelson for putting pen to page and providing this tool for me and my son. It not only helps me remember that first precious year, it is also helping us get a sense of where my son has been and where he is headed!

While I realize this is a type of "journal", I ended up wishing I hadn't purchased this item or had supplemented it with another standard baby book. There are no pages for the baby's firsts so I ended up putting them at the end of the book in the blank pages section but didn't think to start doing it until my son was 9 weeks old. There is a lot of repitition in the book as well, such as asking every week "What is your baby's sleeping schedule?", "Describe a typical day for you and your baby", or "What have you done for yourself this week?" I ended up leaving so many items blank because the answers didn't change on a weekly basis. Other things I ended up putting in the weekly "notes" section only to find it touched upon a few weeks later - Example: "Have you used a babysitter yet?" "Has your baby been sick yet?". Again, I realize this is a journal but I think the format is a bit odd and I see myself filling out less and less as time passes. The idea behind the book is good and the book itself is nice so I am giving it 3 stars.

Man, I loved this book! It was such a dramatic conclusion to what, in my opinion, is a great series. I thought the whole thing was very creative. I bawled my eyes out at the end. Worth every minute. After finishing the series about 6 months ago... I'm reading it again and loving it as much as the first time.

Daughter of Ancients was definitely my favorite book of the series! It was a good ending though I think that Berg left room enough that she could have written more novels in the same world, so I am a bit disappointed that she didn't. Really a great series and good example of how talented Berg is to have been able to pull off something so complex.

This series has it all:

1. In depth characters
2. a good plotline
3. just a touch of romance
4. a whiff of magic
5. Strong storyline.

Miss Berg does not stray from her first intention, she does not stray from the morality of her characters, she makes them blossom, come to live and evolve like real people.

In fact it's all about the main characters and the magic is crucial yet second in command.

For me this series is well-thought, thorough, the characters jump of the pages into reality and well I enjoyed it a whole lot.

It's intriguing, surprising, unpredictable and yet a constant.

Well done

The whole Bridge of D'Arnath series has been riveting. The last of the series is not anti-climatic like many wrap-up books. It is a very good book.

Carol Berg, in my humble opinion, is the very best living writer of "dependable" fantasy...i.e. nothing that offends my sensibilities, but transports me to a place I'd like to be, filled with people I'd like to know. While I consider each of her books I've had the privilege to read as safe territory, her characters are anything but safe, each generally beat to a pulp one or more times in each story line. Some would consider this violence excessive, but it always moves the story forward and promotes the philosophy of pain and hardship's place in selflessness. A lost concept in the cocoon of ease and comfort in which most of us dwell.

Daughter of Ancients delivers all the promise of the preceding Bridge of D'Arnath books. It is satisfying, suspenseful, rich and so very human...with the delightful tendency of Carol Berg to often surprise us thoroughly and tie her plot lines together without the too-tidy endings that so many authors fall into. Thank you, Carol, for the gift of your imagination and the concise nature of your beautiful writing!

Based on the "Structural drama" we got a different option to see the incredible notes compiled after several interviews at Laramies' residents who was shock (as the rest of the world) for Matthew Shepards' case. I loved it.

The book was in excellent condition and was delivered even earlier than expected.Wonderful and smooth purchase.

Matthew Shepard was about two months short of his twenty-second birth when he was robbed, beaten, tied to a fence post and left to die in a rural area of Wyoming. The man who found him at first thought he was a scarecrow. Rushed to Poudre Valley Hospital at Fort Collins, he died on 12 October 1998--and when Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney were arrested for the crime they resorted to a defense known as "gay panic." Matthew Shepherd had propositioned them, they said, and they were so horrified that they killed him in response.

The gay community and numerous civil rights watchdog groups were outraged by the defense, and as more and more facts came to light it seemed that the crime was somewhat more complicated than Henderson and McKinney wanted the public to know. Witnesses stated that Henderson and McKinney had specifically targeted Shepherd because he was gay. After much legal wrangling, Henderson pled guilty and testified against McKinney, who was convicted; after still more legal wrangling, and at the request of Shepherd's parents, McKinney escaped the death penalty but has no chance of parole.

The case made headlines from end of the United States to the other and prompted numerous calls for Hate Crimes legislation, which had long been stalled both at the state and federal level. And in the midst of the confusion, chaos, and controversy, Moises Kaufman and the members of The Tectonic Theatre Project arrived on the scene, interviewing more than two hundred people about their thoughts and feelings on the case. These were shaped into THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a drama that debuted in 2000 and which has since shocked, impressed, and deeply moved audiences from coast to coast.

Playscripts are not really intended to be read; they are intended to be performed, and there can be a significant difference between how a script and how it plays. This is particularly true of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, which doesn't consist of scenes or acts but of "moments"--bits and pieces of monologue and dialogue and staging that non-play-readers will likely find difficult to envision. When performed, all those bits and pieces become like tiles in a mosaic: they may seem to mean different things individually, but when performed one right after another they become a unified whole.

Perhaps the single most impressive thing about THE LARAMIE PROJECT is its refusal to "take sides." The play presents its characters and their words with commenting in favor of them or against them; you are instead allowed to interpret for yourself. The result is uniquely powerful. Strongly recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

We purchased this play because my son's High School principal decided not to allow the theater teacher to put it on at his school without even bothering to read the play before making this decision!!! Moreover, the principal essentially threatened to fire the teacher if the issue was pursued. We wanted to share this play with as many people as possible after that incident and so have been loaning it to friends, relatives, other teachers, anyone willing to read it. It is truly an important work, putting a human face on the people of Laramie, Wyoming. What happened there could happen anywhere, and we not only can't, but shouldn't, hide these difficult truths.

Like a quilt, each little piece of play is woven together beautifully. Some pieces are juxtaposed next to contrasting pieces, but step back -- the entire piece is a sight to see, and touch, and feel.

What a sad, revealing, fearful, fearless, exasperating and lovely work of theatre.

This truly is an American quilt -- the ugly, the bittersweet, the glorious.

Absolutely recommended for anyone mature enough to deal with a tragedy of hate.

I think this cd and book that accompys it is truly a comfort for anyone
who is trying to help with the death process or for someone who is dying
and looking for a peaceful way to die. It has helped me to look at
death in a totally different way and is a definite guide to aiding others
through this process. Thank you to the authors and musicians.........

I have used Graceful Passages in many ways. It is an excellent education tool to address the "Elepahnt in the Room" for those who have not dealt with end of life issues. It is an excellent support tool for those who grieve. Graceful passages embraces diversity of different faith practices in the messages that it uses to teach.

You can listen to the powerful words and beautiful music over and over and over....May God bless You..always

Graceful Passages is a book and CD with wonderfully spiritual passages from many different cultures and beliefs. Men and Women, each on their own differnt journey help me understand the different paths we are all on and that as birth is the beginning, death is the end - but of only this life as we now know it. And that is OK. It is not to be feared as in western society. It is normal and natural and being prepared, and understanding it, guides us to making decisions about our death that are thoughtful, purposeful and with meaning. I have given this gift with love to friends who are in their dying process and it has been received well. I highly recommend listening to the words quietly and and allow the compassion to come through to your heart.

While I think this would benefit anyone, it is most meaningful at the end of life. I brought it to my grandmother when she finally admitted she was dying - she fought off leukemia and pnemonia for years. She lay on the couch and I on the love seat as we listened and tears streamed down our faces. I will never forget that day. This CD helps create a ritual of death, a significant send off. It is the variety of perspectives that is so appealing as well as the poignant manner in which they are presented.

In "Howard Zinn: A Radical American Vision," Professor Davis Joyce has made a valuable contribution to twentieth century American historiography. This intellectual biography of Howard Zinn is scholarly and entertaining. Davis provides lucid summaries of Zinn's major books. He also skillfully places Zinn's works within the context of recent American history. Anyone who is interested in better understanding Howard Zinn's approach to history would benefit from reading this book.

This volume is a very good introduction to the life, thought, and times of Howard Zinn, which should be of broad interest to students of society. I found the details of Zinn's struggles with John Silber fascinating (such university presidents are not at all uncommon--right Kern?). While many readers will be familiar with Zinn through The People's History, they should especially enjoy the overview and critique of such writings as Disobedience and Democracy (very relevant today), and The Politics of History (addressed to all of the social sciences). Dr. Davis Joyce is an excellent writer; he obviously admires both Zinn and his thought (if not his grading policies). This is truly an excellent intellectual biography.

BUY THIS BOOK as a gift for someone in need of hope.

In these times of desperation for so many among us around the world, it is in the inspiring story of Howard Zinn that the message every individual makes a difference, shines bright. That our collective efforts, both large and small, do indeed change the world.

Howard Zinn makes me proud to be a liberal and an intellectual, and his well-written biography gives me hope that in the end, reason, compassion, and common sense will prevail over prejudice and dogma. After reading it, I feel energized, and optimistic about the future, confident that my efforts at stemming the tide of ignorance in this country are worthwhile.

This book, is in my opinion, a must-read for all liberal-minded individuals. Howard Zinn's life is an inspiration, and his clear, concise viewpoints are brilliant -- a much needed counterpoint to Medieval, Dark-Age ideologies.

Zinn shows us that we are not, as special interests would like us to believe, "an obedient, acquiescent, passive citizenry." He articulates what many of us feel, that the ideologies which we take for granted "...are not the result of independent thought on our part, and indeed do not match the real world as we experience it..." A real eye opener. I enjoyed this book, and I'm sure you will too.

Howard Zinn: A Radical American Vision
Davis D. Joyce, Published by Prometheus Books
By Denis Mueller
I met Professor Zinn about eight years ago and began, with my Co-filmmaker Deb Ellis, a journey that would lead to a film about his life and the idea that the individual can make a difference. It was an amazing experience and one that has changed my life. I learned how to speak in public by watching this tall angular man walk to the podium and begin his talk with a joke usually about himself. I learned about his courage both physical and intellectual. Zinn was a bombardier who risked his life against the war on fascism, so when he gets to academia, it is nothing to risk his job for what he feels is the right thing to do. This gets him fired at Spelman for supporting the Civil Rights Movement and constantly at war with Boston University dictator John Silber.
What we did not do was chronicle was his development as a historian and teacher. A film cannot do everything, and some historians felt we had left out his importance in the study of American history, but if that was what they were interested in there is no better place to look at some of those critical debates than here in this book by Davis D. Joyce. Howard Zinn's book, A People's History of the United States, has sold over 1,000,000 copies and has helped change the study of history itself. He has been at the forefront of American radicalism, both as an activist and as an intellectual, yet some in the historian profession fail to understand the importance of the activist-scholar. He was a leader in the Civil Rights movement as an advisor to the Student Non-Violent Co-coordinating Committee, an adult who respected the students, and gave them the intellectual backing they needed in the antiwar movement during the Vietnam era. He remains an outspoken critic of our disastrous policy in Iraq.
Yet, when American historians are mentioned, some dismiss Zinn as a populist and fail to understand his importance in the study of American history. Davis D. Joyce, while acknowledging his work as an activist, goes a long way to correct that assumption and positions Zinn as a leader in what could be described as a revolution within the study of American history. Joyce looks at all of his work but plays special attention to his book, The Politics of History, which is perhaps as important as A People's History. It is here, more than anywhere else, where Joyce is able to fuse Zinn's influence as a historian and his life long commitment to a history that speaks to the great issues of our time. Joyce does this quite well when he illustrates the importance of a quotation by Denis Diderot on the writings of Voltaire, which Zinn uses in The Politics of History.
"Other historians relate facts to inform us on facts, you relate them to excite in our hearts an intense hatred of lying, ignorance, hypocrisy, superstition; and the anger remains even after the memory of the facts has disappeared."
Joyce has a keen eye for a quote and his selection of quotes from Zinn, whose quotes are a dream for any biographer, is one of the great joys of this book and they are used quite well to articulate Zinn's unique point of view. This is a book that is needed to help illustrate Zinn's contribution to the intellectual development of American history. In an essay about the historian as citizen, and the forgotten role of the public intellectual in today's society, we would be wise to listen to what he has to say:
"In a world hungry for solutions, we ought to welcome the emergence of the historian-if this is really what we are seeing- as an activist scholar, who thrusts himself and his works into the crazy mechanism of history, on behalf of the values in which he deeply believes This makes him more than a scholar; it makes him a citizen in the ancient Athenian sense of the word."

I am a second grade teacher who shared this book with my students as a read aloud during our daily story time. We read a chapter a day and then spent some time after each chapter analyzing the literary and visual elements of the book. My students thoroughly enjoyed this story, and they would love to have the author visit our school to share more of his thinking about this story, his craft in creating it, and the process of publishing a book. I have donated a copy of this book to our school library so that other teachers and students can enjoy it. I am also a proud owner of a signed copy of the book for my son!

My favorite thing about this book is that it's the best book I've ever read. It was so exciting! I liked reading about baby birds learning how to fly. I also liked that it had fiction with non-fiction parts. The illustrations were pretty. This book makes me want to fly!

My favorite part about the book is that I learned about baby birds, the book was exciting, and I learned about flying. The author used good word choice when he was talking about Christy feeding him, when Jamie tried to ride the jet, and when Jamie was on the hot air balloon. The book was funny when Jamie lost his tail feather and his feathers got all ruffled. It made me wonder if he was going to run into the thorn in the book. My favorite illustration was the birds in a circle on the cover.

My favorite part about the book is that I like the cover with the birds in a circle and the cute ending picture. I liked that Jamie changed his mind at the end of the story because it was unpredictable. I liked Christy's name and that she was added as a character. I also liked the adventure in the story, how exciting the book was, and the surprises the author included. The author used understandable language.

My favorite part about this book was that Jamie changed at the end of the story. I liked that the author added Christy as a character. I also liked the unpredicatable ending and that I learned about baby birds. The words the author used gave me good mind pictures, and the story was exciting and had adventure in it. I enjoyed how the author asked questions and then gave the answers. I liked the illustrations because they might give me some ideas about how to draw birds. I also liked that the illustrations had captions and they were realistic. The book had a cute ending picture.

Ten years ago, I had to read "KOAD" for a College English Course in high school. At first, I wasn't too happy because the size of the book, but after I started reading it, it became clear that this was one of the best book I have ever read. Even to this day, when I ever I talk about my favorite book, this is always #1.

With so many layers, and with a deep analytical thought process on how a good God-fearing Catholic Altar boy can become a criminal, Motley's character development is extensive, and thorough. It's a great look on the sociological and psychological aspects on falling from grace.

The story traces the life of Nick Romano from alter boy to cop killer,painting pictures of the disowned people and places in pre war Chicago.
To put it simply, this is a fantastic book. It is so readable;the pace never drops and Motley never loses the readers attention.Anyone from teenager onwards will enjoy reading this all time great novel and it will push them on to searching out and discovering other Chicago greats;Richard Wrights 'Native Son' or Nelson Algrens 'Neon Wilderness' for example.
A great story not only well told, but written how it should be.The original 'unputdownable' read!

This novel is Willard Motley's masterpiece. His subsequent books never approached the impact of "Knock on Any Door." The author set his novel on Chicago's West Side Skid Row. The book contains numerous Chicago street addresses and local references. Motley actually lived on Skid Row while writing the book.

Motley was an African American writer, but it might be difficult to discern this from his writing. As an author, he focuses so much upon his Italian-American characters that he seems to fade completely into the background. Motley once worked for "The Chicago Defender." He has been credited with creating the Bud Biliken character which gave rise to annual Back to School parade which is held in Chicago.

"Knock on Any Door" was adapted for a film with Humphrey Bogart and John Derek, but it had to be carefully revised for the screen. Much of the sexual content had to be removed or muted. Nevertheless, for readers and movie goers in the Forties, the material must have been considered somewhat shocking. The novel addressed several taboo subjects such
as adultery, capital punishment, communism, crime, gambling, homosexuality, illegitimacy and prostitution.

The success of "Knock on Any Door" inspired a sequel, "Let No Man Write My Epitaph." The second novel follows the character of Nick Romano's illegitimate son who may be following in his late father's footsteps.

Much of the Skid Row area along West Madison Street has been cleared due to urban renewal, but this sociological novel is still worthwhile and timely. I am somewhat surprised that Motley is not especially well remembered in his native Chicago. "Knock on Any Door" is a forgotten masterpiece. I had to find a worn copy in a public library to read a few years ago. It is good news, indeed, that the novel has been reissued in a new edition.

Of course there are writers that use their brains, and writers that write with their hearts...Willard Motley spills his guts all over the pages in every one of his four novels.

I first read KNOCK ON ANY DOOR when I was a freshman in high school, and got sent home with a letter to my parents for bringing "unacceptable reading material to school"!!! I have read that book at least three more times, and each time it is a belly punch. The Bogart movie did not do justice to this fine work.

I did not know Motley was African-American, until after I finished his thrid novel.

Willard Motley was not just a great novelist, he was what the heart and soul of this Nation should be.

I read this book 41 years ago , i was not very well educated my school only taught religion and self preservation, i left at 15 . One day i found this book on a bus and took it home it was on the shelf for a month or two then one night i started reading my first novel i could not put it down i found a new pleasure in life instead of going out every night hanging round with the gang and breaking the law for kicks i changed and i put it down to this book knock on any door, i found the author understood my feelings and it was so easy to understand thank you Willard Mottley