One The Books

In the dangerous post 9/11 world we live in today, Giandomenico Picco's "Man without a Gun" should be a primer for anyone wanting to understand the complex intricacies of Middle East politics. "Man without a Gun" is an unique firsthand account of Mr. Picco's diplomatic experiences at the UN during the 1980s and early 1990s. The setting of "Man without a Gun" takes place in some of the most volatile areas of the world: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel.

It is fascinating to read Mr. Picco's first hand account from someone who successfully negotiated some of the most intractable crisis of the late 20th century including: Afghanistan/ Soviet-Russia war, Iran/ Iraq war and the Lebanon hostage crisis. Very interesting for US readers is that Mr Picco as an Italian and a UN diplomat, provides an important outside the Beltway perspective that Americans need to hear. Too often the US views the world as black and white, this simplistic world view has been the cause of many misguided US policies, not the least was our myopic view of communism. Mr. Picco refers to this US narrow world view when he describes how the US continued to provide arms to the Afghanistan Mujahideen in violation of the peace treaty signed with Soviet Union in 1988. Ultimately, the US arms hasten the fall of the Afghanistan government in 1992 that led to more fighting and ultimately led to the notorious anti Western Taliban regime.

The highlight of the "Man without a Gun" is Mr. Picco's successful efforts to free the Western hostages based in Lebanon. Its a fascinating to learn about the behind the scenes intrigue and the Herculean efforts pursued by Mr Picco in the Middle East and beyond to free the hostages. At a great personal risk, Mr Picco describes how he made secret rendezvous with the hostage takers and gradually over time earned their trust that formed the basis of the successful negotiations to release the hostages.

Unlike so much of the disturbing news coming today from the Middle East tinderbox, during Mr. Picco's tenure at the UN there was a streak of successfully negotiations with this part of the world and there seemed to be genuine hope for deceleration of tension in the Mid East. "Man without a Gun" provides insightful lessons on how the West can co-exist with the Middle East regimes. It is a shame that Mr. Picco's book is currently out of print, "Man without a Gun" should be re-issued so that more readers can have access to Mr. Picco's vast experience and excellent analysis.

I recently happened on to this book and bought one used from Amazon. I found it to be an interesting and very personal account of dealing with Iran behind the scenes. I think it is helpful and very applicable to the current situation with Iran. I found it to also be a quick and easy read that kept my attention throughout. You will like it - enjoy!

Picco's vivid description of his courageous efforts to win the freedom of all persons (not just the Western hostages) who became involuntary pawns in the politics of Lebanon's civil war is fascinating indeed. The most remarkable aspect of Picco's work was his ability to gain and keep the trust of the kidnappers, despite the actions of the U.S. and Israeli governments which often undermined his efforts.

Picco is to be commended for risking his life on multiple occassions to save the lives of people whom he had never met. He did it because it was the right thing to do. Picco is a remarkable diplomat who simultaneously juggled the conflicting interests of the kidnappers, Iran, Israel, Syria and the United States.

This was definitely a story that needed to be told. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the now largely forgotten hostage crisis in Lebanon.

Thanks for enriching and inspiring us again with your views on the true art of diplomacy. This book represents the materialization of something we were all waiting for after your unforgettable lessons in Gorizia. Credibility's once again is what will ultimately make us succeed in achieving results, a notion that may go, as it is masterfully explained in this great book, as far as saving human lives. Ancora grazie!

I found this book to be absolutely fascinating. I went into it with a limited memory of what I had heard through the news of the time of the hostages and the Iran-Iraq war, but came out with a much deeper understanding - not only of the times, but also of the people, the real players. I have come to appreciate the work of the brave Mr. Picco and those who worked along with him, and I am grateful for their service to those who could not serve themselves.

I was never much a fantasy fan before. I watch the Si-Fi Channel and I love the fantasy movies but I would refuse to read. Then my dad gave me the original hardcover copy "MYTH Adventures" (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, Myth Directions, and Hit or Myth) with the original cover illustrations (just to show how old my copies are) and ever since I have been addicted to fantasy books. Especially the MYTH series.

Just to warn you this is a laugh-out-loud story. I would not recommend reading this in public. You might get some odd looks from people that obviously have no sense of humor. Everything is a play on words and the characters are amazingly thought up. The plot is actually imaginable and it flows smoothly. The magik (not magic, there's a difference) has rules. What Skeeve and Aahz can and cannot do in the world of magik does not change throught the series.

To make a long review short, get this book. If you don't enjoy it then don't read it. It just means that you are a boring and unimaginative slouch. However, I can guarantee that from the very first chuckle you'll be hooked. Take it from a fantasy skeptic turned MYTH addict.

First, if you haven't read the first two books in the Myth series, this book is a great chance to correct that. If you own the first two books, there's not much point in buying this collection. However...

According to the Asprin's new publisher, Meisha Merlin, the next few books, Myth Adventures 2 and 3 will both have NEW Myth Adventure novellas written by Asprin and Jody Lynne Nye. The short story in number 2 will be Myth Congeniality.

Also according to Meisha Merlin, there are at least two new Myth titles forthcoming, both of which will be by RLS and JLN. The next is due sometime in 2003 and will be called Myth-Alliances. The one after that is is Myth-taken Identity and is due August 2004.

Just thought you might want to know.

If you like fantasy books, if you don't like fantasy books it doesn't matter you'll love this series of Books. Robert Aspirin (who by the way, edited the theives world books) has written an inceredibly hilarious series of books. Skeeve and ahz are the main characters and the situations they get into and the witty and inventive way they get out of those situations is very comical these books have everything from demons ( not demons as we know them but demons= short for deminsion traveler) to dragons ("Bleep"). I have been blind sided more than a few times by these books they are anything but predictible... you can't even count on the main characters being alive at the end of a book..( of course it's just a cliffhanger for the next book). Each book is a continuation of the last. I could talk about these books for hours, and i can get lost in them for even longer.... I have never met anyone who hasn't finished one of these books after starting it.... It is a good idea to start with the first book in the series, Another fine Myth, that way you have a good idea of what kind of relationship ahz and skeeve have and how they became friends.... the myth series is hilarious witty inventive and overall the funniest books i have ever read. I have read and re-read these books a hundred times and they never get boring

In reading the back of the book you would think this is anything but the first book in the sieres. But it is. Other then that I only have good things to say about this book.

ok! I'm a long time Myth fan, so I was very suprised to see the new (old?) books brought to life again! Now, I hate to say it, but I always felt that pretty much all of the Myth books have pretty....short endings. Some are cliffhangers, some, maybe the publisher said, no only X # of pages and are very abrupt, and some are just totally unexpected.

But the concept of the Myth books is fascinating, and I have gone back many times to read then again and again... Much better when you have the whole series to continue on to! But the series is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a sci-fi fantasy fan! They are hillarious and definately worth the read (I don't suggest reading them IN a library cause I always end up stiffling my snickers and laughs!)

A large boulder of a meteoric origin found on the island of Blue Heron transmits radio waves of the frequency associated with the Big Bang. The quite unusual activity of a rock from space is picked up by the military. If the observed behavior and the unknown danger was not enough to drive the head of a special military unit crazy, the measurement equipment was detecting unexplained changes in the transmission pattern. A renowned Cosmology scientist provides a simple explanation of the phenomenon - the entire thing including the measurements is simply impossible and just a joke of a colleague who loves nothing more than to make fun of fellow scientists ... except that it is not! Another government agency considers the information so secret that it does not stop from anything including "taking care" of those who get in its way.
The intensity of the events makes the book captivating and enjoyable reading. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series during my April vacation.

The first volume of Scott Baker's debut novel, Neitherworld Book One Akiiwan, treats the reader to an imaginative and entertaining story that reaches across centuries and multiple dimensions. It is a blend of mystery, mysticism and mayhem structured to hold the pieces together while keeping the action moving forward.

As with any large-scale work of art, the viewer occasionally needs to step back to appreciate the complexity yet move in close to absorb the details the artist is expressing. This is true of Baker's work, as well, especially since the story requires another whole volume (Book Two Ishpiming) before it is concluded. If the reader is captivated by the storyline, the commitment to see it through will follow.

The setting for Akiiwan is a small island in the middle of a lake in northern Minnesota, considered to be sacred by the Native Americans of that area. The Ojibwe nation had called the region home for several centuries and was particularly protective of the island in the center of the lake. Baker populates this setting with an archeological team hired by a man posing as a real estate developer. The team's purpose is to explore, identify and set aside any historical artifacts found to clear the way for the developer to begin construction.

As with any good yarn, the conflict is set early: "However, there may be something significant in the island's central clearing. There's a cave and a large boulder there with what I'm told may be ancient petroglyphs. If so, I'd like to know what they mean."..."So would I...so would science," Sam said, her eyes narrowing with curiosity over both the Ojibwe site and the developer's motives."

The introduction of a security team to accompany the dig team clues the reader in to the real motive driving exploration of the unusual island and is one of several strong threads of mistrust woven throughout the tale. The science fiction element takes it place alongside the mystical ceremonies of the ancient shamans in the form of an anomaly that intrigues the secret government agencies who hope to learn more about it through the guise of the archeological dig.

Tension and interaction among the team members, led by Dr. Samantha Horner, is believable as is the communication and relationships with other characters who become involved in the dig and its revelations. Baker also brings to life a set of animal characters who serve a purpose in revealing conflict within the spirit world which brings yet another degree of intrigue and drama to the disharmony building throughout the novel. A ten-year-old child, Orenda, is the catalyst for making things happen between the past, present and future states of the island and its mysteries.

Well-done illustrations interspersed throughout the novel add clarity and a sense of realism to support the storyline.

While I enjoyed the story, I must say I was distracted by the lack of good editing and proofreading. It is rare for a book to be totally mistake-free but this one had more than I am used to seeing. Good editing would certainly have eliminated sentences such as "It was a dark and rainy night" and tightened up a few scenes that had perhaps too many details along with the occasional awkward passage. It is always difficult to know what to cut and what to keep when weaving a fanciful tale but I think it is particularly important when telling a tale with a long, complicated storyline.

Overall, NeitherWorld Book One Akiiwan is an engaging escape from the world, as we typically know it, and it will delight readers who enjoy the mixed genres represented in Baker's work. I look forward to reading Book Two Ishpiming.


Review by Paula Buermele, a reviewer for Bookpleasures and the author of the fictional novel, "The Dream Catcher Tour".

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Entertaining,
interesting, smart. Am awaiting its sequel.
Libby

The setting is Blue Heron, a small island in Northern Minnesota. Is it an archaeological site, renowned as the home and resting place of legendary Native American shaman Voice-in-the-Sky? Or is it a radioactive anomaly, generating power that could explain the growth of the universe? Or is it a gateway to a world beyond ours, a world only visible in the visions of a shaman?

It may be all of these or none of these, and the search to find out which is the nexus of "Akiiwan," the first book in Scott Baker's "Neitherworld" series. A novel that fits into mystery, science fiction and historical genres, "Akiiwan" focuses on the archaeological team of Doctor Samantha Horner and their research into an obscure Ojibwe sect native to Blue Heron. The end result is a brilliant, elemental tale that defies description as much as the island does.

All of the characters have a different explanation, and their diversity is the first strength of "Akiiwan." In one chapter a professor of cosmology explains how astronomical constants and constellations are tied to the island, while a paleontologist interprets a boulder of Native American pictographs only a few chapters later. Mixed with the natives' fantastical prophecies and traditions of Ojibwe culture, characters - and readers - have to look closely for the right answer.

A genre hybrid like this runs the risk of collapsing into obtuseness - especially at over 500 pages - but Baker holds the text together with a strong narrative and thorough detail. The particulars of exactly what Voice-in-the-Sky represented and the truth of his teachings unfold gradually, and we learn what happens at the same pace as Samantha and her team. Several scenes build an impressive level of suspense, including various attacks by wild animals and a rainstorm on a primordial scale.

To further break the uniformity of a long novel, Baker incorporates several structural alterations in the form of illustrations. These are not complicated paintings inserted to distract from poor writing, but simple black-and-whites which adroitly reinforce a reader's mental images. Text is altered in a nonconventional manner as well, with the closing chapter including of a 1600s French lieutenant's diary physically printed in an antique-style type.

"Akiiwan" does experience a few bumps here and there - a slimy government official feels like too much of an archetype, and an oral history in Ojibwe fashion isn't exciting enough to open the book - but those are unimportant next to the myth that Baker has created. It's three times as long as most novels, and yet right after finishing it I wanted to delve right into the second volume.

The setting is Blue Heron, a small island in Northern Minnesota. Is it an archaeological site, renowned as the home and resting place of legendary Native American shaman Voice-in-the-Sky? Or is it a radioactive anomaly, generating power that could explain the growth of the universe? Or is it a gateway to a world beyond ours, a world only visible in the visions of a shaman?

It may be all of these or none of these, and the search to find out which is the nexus of "Akiiwan," the first book in Scott Baker's "Neitherworld" series. A novel that fits into mystery, science fiction and historical genres, "Akiiwan" focuses on the archaeological team of Doctor Samantha Horner and their research into an obscure Ojibwe sect native to Blue Heron. The end result is a brilliant, elemental tale that defies description as much as the island does.

All of the characters have a different explanation, and their diversity is the first strength of "Akiiwan." In one chapter a professor of cosmology explains how astronomical constants and constellations are tied to the island, while a paleontologist interprets a boulder of Native American pictographs only a few chapters later. Mixed with the natives' fantastical prophecies and traditions of Ojibwe culture, characters - and readers - have to look closely for the right answer.

A genre hybrid like this runs the risk of collapsing into obtuseness - especially at over 500 pages - but Baker holds the text together with a strong narrative and thorough detail. The particulars of exactly what Voice-in-the-Sky represented and the truth of his teachings unfold gradually, and we learn what happens at the same pace as Samantha and her team. Several scenes build an impressive level of suspense, including various attacks by wild animals and a rainstorm on a primordial scale.

To further break the uniformity of a long novel, Baker incorporates several structural alterations in the form of illustrations. These are not complicated paintings inserted to distract from poor writing, but simple black-and-whites which adroitly reinforce a reader's mental images. Text is altered in a nonconventional manner as well, with the closing chapter including of a 1600s French lieutenant's diary physically printed in an antique-style type.

"Akiiwan" does experience a few bumps here and there - a slimy government official feels like too much of an archetype, and an oral history in Ojibwe fashion isn't exciting enough to open the book - but those are unimportant next to the myth that Baker has created. It's three times as long as most novels, and yet right after finishing it I wanted to delve right into the second volume.

This book of poems uses an extraordinary use of vocab that helps the writing pieces come to life...With stories full of heart warmth and stories full of tragedy, this book contains poems for any feelings one might have. A great book...not that expensive...i surely do not regret reading it.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It gives an insight to a time in our world that is usually surrounded in negativity. I found the heartfelt emotions of the author to be very refreshing and moving. I loved the poems about the waitresses as well, it's good to know what men really think as they sit alone in diners across the country. I recommend this collection to all who need new input into a world that has been closed to us.

Never before have I read a book that I can relate to more and keep coming back to on a daily basis that has made my life better! Thank You for helping me keep hope alive.

Thank you Joe Hertel.

I found this work by accident, lucky me. this book is insightful, showing those of us who have known no war what loss can feel like on many different levels. The narrative at the end of the poetry shows how things can change just that quickly. the ability to peer inside someone's mind doesn't come along to often; i am happy to have stumbled upon this work of poetry and prose. it has opened my eyes just that much wider to the world.
I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT MORE!

An emotional, moving siloque of love and war, its aftermath and innocence lost. Through his poems, Mr. Hertel has gotten to the core of why it is so important to look for peace, love and understanding in this world.

Notes from the Waiting Room provides an unflinching view of death in a hospital. Having experienced "almost death" at and by many hospitals, it is a wake-up call for baby boomers about what they face in years to come. I hope they are more willing to look at the issues with hospitalized dying than my personal experience has lead me to believe.

The most compelling sections for me dealt with the act of dying and the poor treatment of both family and patient by hospital institutions and providers. The "hair-splitting" by the treatment team was horrifying. Bart has also provided us with some new language to use when describing the hospital team, the services they do and don't provide as well as a goal - dying on our own terms.

I learned from Notes from the Waiting Room and, as a result, will hopefully be better prepared when I face the inevitable with my family.

I finished this superb book with tears in my eyes and a smile on my lips, a fondness for the author's family, a blessing for him to come to peace with his memories, and a grand thank you for all he has given us. I hope others will have the same good learning experience as I had from his generosity.

Every chapter begins with an overview and ends in action steps. More importantly, Windrum provide suggestions, solutions and proposals for moving forward. Calling the medical profession on its lapses in fulfilling its promises and duty is fine -- the lapses occur and we all know their impact. Yet Notes balances criticism by understanding providers' huge problems and with praise for what they do right.

Notes from the Waiting Room has motivated me to finally attend to our end-of-life responsibilities so my survivors' load can be as light as possible when I pass on. What better result from any book?

Notes from the Waiting Room is an excellent resource for those with aging relatives and is an inspiring motivation for all of us to realize that it's never too early to think about our own health care delivery choices. The author's personal experiences and clearly-stated stories and examples remind us that the most opportune time to address these issues is well in advance. This book can be utilized as a gentle way to broach end-of-life decisions with loved ones and ensures that the reader won't overlook any important subjects. The fact that the author has lived through these experiences with both of his parents gives him credibility and authority and the time and effort he has devoted to researching his subject matter is evident. Notes is easy to read and is written in a way that the average person will easily comprehend. Bart Windrum has done us all a great service by sharing his experiences and his expertise with the goal of making our inevitable journey down this path much easier.

Perhaps no one statement that author Bart Windrum makes in his examination of how the United States health care system approaches end-of-life hospitalization is more important to understand than, simply, "death is a part of life." Yes, and he continues, in his "Notes From the Waiting Room: Managing a Loved One's End-of-Life Hospitalization," that all doctors should be trained for it.

Overly simplistic? Think about it. Think about the Hippocratic oath our physicians take upon themselves as they enter their medical careers, "do no harm." If our definition in American society is of death as a state that is to be avoided at all costs, and life as a state that is to be prolonged at all costs, then doing no harm becomes a tricky proposition. Harm by whose definition?

Windrum explores how our health care system treats death and the dying, and those who care about the dying, first and foremost as an adult child of two parents whose death he has experienced in every excruciating step. These were not peaceful steps. In his "Notes," Windrum shares with us how often and how, to his view, unnecessarily these final steps were made painful, confusing, alienating, and undignified. All because our typical approach to death is one of avoidance. Within a culture that is obsessed with staying young forever (i.e., never dying), to over-the-top violence in our various forms of entertainment that gives us a very false and unrealistic concept of death, to an overall cultural avoidance of facing death at all - we treat death as unnatural. We either avoid it completely or we see it as something other than what it is. Windrum consistently makes the valid point throughout his book: death is natural. It is how we treat death, how we approach it, that too often becomes unnatural.

So that others may not have to experience the indignities and sometimes black comedy of errors that the author experienced with his own family members and their hospitalization, Windrum has written this well researched and thoughtout book. It begins with establishing his own experience with the death of loved ones. From that, the author goes on to recommendations on how to become an effective personal representative, what essential legal documents must be in place (and often championed and reviewed) when death becomes an unavoidable reality, how to effectively manage hospitalization, the role of family involvement, the importance of "forecasting" (presenting all possible outcomes to those involved in the dying of a loved one so as to make timely and reasonable, informed decisions) and ethical support, the too often avoided descriptions of what death is really like (forget the movies), and, finally, his proposals for change. This includes PEACE, or the Patient Ethical Alternative Care Elective. Windrum also makes proposals and suggestions for the health care industry (by which time, the word "industry" in this usage seems wincingly apt) and for you and me - every day people who at one time or another will have to face death, whether that of a loved one or one's own.

In this journey of an adult son's witnessing the deaths of his mother, soon followed by that of his father, Windrum brings valuable insight. At a time when this country's health care system (to whom it is provided and how it is provided) is in such great need for reassessment and improvement, one can only hope that enough of us will make our voices heard both in the political arena as well as in our own doctors' offices, that we might accomplish and insist upon change. Change, as Windrum reminds us, occurs when continuing to do the same thing becomes more painful than change itself is perceived to be. And it is increasingly painful to see, or to be victim of, health care that is evolving in terms of medical technology, while too often ignoring the simple dignity of the human condition and the validity of one's own choices over how to live and how to die.

Our medical technology and expertise is keeping us alive longer and longer, yet is that always the best option? Even when legal documentation is in place for "do not resuscitate," Windrum shows how this may not always be enough to prevent unnecessary procedures and painful outcomes. He reminds us of the importance of every patient having his or her champion at their bedside, without which an endless stream of indignities if not medical errors might take place, in spite of legal documentation.

A better approach, beginning with the acceptance of death being a natural part of life, may be to take a closer look at how we understand hospice and palliative care. And, how we protect an individual's choice in how to die. Once a diagnosis of terminal illness has been made, Windrum argues, to make the choice to die with dignity, at a point in time when one is ready, should not be considered suicide but a choice in the manner of how one wishes to conclude a life.

If there were moments in reading this book that I felt the author may be too harsh and cynical about modern health care, that is, the health care professionals that care for us (my own career path often crosses with those in this industry, most all of whom strike me as persons who have chosen their careers driven by their caring hearts and deeply held motives to ease human suffering), then I couldn't help but think he brings to surface many very important suggestions for improvement. And improve we must. Our population is fast aging. Our medical technology is fast advancing, keeping many of us alive longer and longer by various artificial means.

We must have a new and better understanding about how we approach death and dying. If Windrum accomplishes nothing more than to encourage us to get our own legal documentation in place(and there are five such documents that we should have completed) to ensure our personal choices are taken into consideration when that inevitable moment arrives, this book is worth its price.

Published studies have demonstrated marked shortcomings in end-of-life care in the hospital including untreated pain, insufficient communication and support around difficult medical decisions, and high financial burden for families. Notes from the Waiting Room is a powerful and important book. It eloquently personalizes one family's repeated journey through the all-too-common chaos and distress associated with end-of-life hospitalizations. Notes provides both practical suggestions for patients and families. Equally important, it challenges the medical profession to find better ways of ensuring "care" when "cure" is no longer possible, and highlights the importance of the emerging field of palliative care.
Daniel Johnson, MD
Palliative Medicine Physician
Director, Life Quality Institute

What an ordeal Matthew has overcome, he shows remarkable faith.
From childhood to adult he has "watched" those heartbeats, because, for him, they often go awry.

Now he sells the devices that help stop sudden cardiac death. A real testament to someone using their own product!

If you liked this book, try another on the same subject, written from the perspective of a spouse (me!) of a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. It's called A HEART TOO GOOD TO DIE: A shocking story of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

I am a Pacemaker/ICD nurse and was recommended this book by one of our reps. I LOVED this book...and read it in a day. I can't wait to share it with my husband and teenage sons, my friends and co-workers, and our church youth group leader. I will definintely recommend it to my patients...and plan on purchasing extra copies just to share.

Matt tells his story with so much clarity...I just felt like I knew him! There is never a hint of self-pity, instead there was a focus on how God has a plan for our lives and by releasing our own plans and fears to God, we can find hope. His faith in Christ is presented in such a way that it couldn't help inspiring believers and nonbelievers alike.

"One Beat at a Time"--simply put is riveting book. The author grabs the reader and tells an incredible story of hardship, uncertainty, and leaves the reader with questioning themselves: what is really important in life?
The manner in which this story is unraveled reveals insight into what it would be like to live each day as if it were your last.
As a physician, this book has provided insight into the daily thoughts, feelings and fears of patients that have similar conditions (implanted defibrillators and being at risk for sudden cardiac death). What is striking is the positive attitude and fortitude the author incorporated into his writing. One cannot help but empathize for him and his family.
I would highly recommend this book to patients, family members, medical care workers and everyone looking to put their own lives into perspective. After reading this book, I feel I learned more about the vulnerability of life and the need to prioritize the way I live.
Without revealing too much, my favorite parts were about how these events in his life psychologically impacted the people around him.
Secondly, one part of the book that struck a chord with me was on Page 34. He states that "None of us lives the perfect life.....we all do things in life that depart from the choices expected.... This part of the book really go to me in that, sometimes people are lead to believe that wrongs committed are reasons for current misfortunes especially in circumstances that are beyond control such as medical events. In my life, this dealt with these feelings I had about an illness that occurred in my mother when I was a child that I felt I caused by my wrong actions.
As a cardiologist "in-training" I verify that this book is very accurate. As a person and a family member, I recommend this book to anyone to "put their own life in perspective".

Thomas E Vanhecke, MD
William Beaumont Hospital

I read this book in 3 1/2 hours. I was hooked from the beginning acknowledgments to the last printed word. I literally could not put it down until I had devoured every word. It was as if Matthew Noble was in my living room telling me the story of his life...and I wanted to hear about it! I was moved to tears at times, laughter at times and always inspired. I realized that my few "struggles" in life could in no way compete with the daily chore of "living" that Matthew had to deal with every single day of his life. He is an inspiration to behold and a man filled with courage, strength, and devotion. I recommend this book as a "MUST READ" to anyone and everyone...period. I promise it will make you evaluate your own life as it did for me. I want to thank Matthew for sharing his amazing life with me and with the world. I look forward to reading anything else he may be working on.

I enjoyed Matthews story of his personal struggle and survival with an early implanted ICD. He has lived with his for over 10 years, and it gives hope to those like me who have just received theirs. I had a massive heart attack at 40, and my ICD gives me and my family the peace of mind to go on living, just as Matthew talks about. This book is good for your soul.

My friends, if you plan on hiking Half Dome, this is your bible! It goes into every single little detail you can think of regarding this hike. It's well-written, well organized and extremely informative/helpful.

Half Dome is a hike that needs to be taken seriously and this book will walk through it with you. Be sure to read this well before your trip so you can prepare mentally and physically (especially if you have never been). Following Rick Deutsch's advice will make your hike a wonderful and pleasant experience! Going to Half Dome unprepared will most likely lead to misery.

I just wanted to thank Rick for a WONDERFUL guide. A couple of high school buddies and I (we graduated 30 years ago!) completed our hike on September 28th, 2007. The book prepared me for the arduous task of completing the most exhilarating hike of my life! He included references to many things that we would not have known about had I not read the book. FANTASTIC!!

This book is required reading for anyone attempting to hike Half Dome. The key to this hike is preparation - practical, mental and physical, and Mr. Deutsch does an excellent job of addressing all 3 of these parameters. By breaking the hike down he also allows one to "visualize" the hike before setting out, and provides useful benchmarks by which to pace onesself on hike day. His advice is circumspect and focused on safety at all times - there are many potential dangers up there, and without being alarmist, he shares his accumulated wisdom as well as regulations put forth by the NPS to educate hikers about what awaits them. An added bonus is that this book becomes a "keepsake" of sorts - his exquisite detailing of the hike itself allowed me to "relive" this wonderful day and recall details that would otherwise be forgotten. I purchased copies for everyone in my hiking group - and look forward to taking this book to the summit many many more times.

This is a great dvd collection if you are considering the half dome hike. It takes you step by step all the way to the top from a hiker's position. Great footage, even if you just want to have a souvenir from your own hike up the dome.

My brother and I had a perfect experience on our first hike to the top of Half Dome due largely to the advice and information in this book. It allowed us to psychologically and physically prepare as best as possible. Much thanks to Rick Deutsch for sharing his vast knowledge and experience.

Wake up people. Reading anything but the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is very dangerous. There are unseen forces at work trying to diminish God's word. Thank you Mr. Stauffer for opening our eyes to the truth. This book is highly recommended. After this, read ONE BOOK RIGHTLY DIVIDED and you will learn more in one Chapter than you've probably learned all year in church.

This work is excellent but certainly not the first on this subject, as a very few men, since the beginning, have always understood parts of the Bible are addressed to them and others are not! Although Dr Stauffer is deeply prejudiced against any version of the Bible except the KJV in this case he does not let that get in the way. This work unlike his "One Book Stands Alone" is very scholarly and very logical. If his subject had been fully understood by Christendom we would not have most of the silly fractures of the denominations that have occurred simply because we read someone else's mail and took it for our own instruction. He is to be commended for his excellent work and all Christendom should read it in my not so humble opinion.

Dr. Stauffer has made a significant contribution to the understanding of Dispensational truth. This book will aid the beginning in developing the ability to "rightly divide" the word of God. In addition, it will help the seasoned Christian who holds to the dispensational understanding of scripture to sharpen their understanding of this important teaching of truth. I have used it as a text for college students with great success in teaching them how to understand the Bible. I highly recommend this book to all.
Jerry Rockwell
Pierre Part, LA

You want to understand the Bible. This book will help you understand how the Bible is laided out. Not all scripture is to the Church or to the Christian. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This is a very good book especially for people who are not familiar with dispensationalism. I reccommend this book along with Clarence Larkin's Dispensational Truth, Dr. Ruckman's How To Teach Dispensational Truth, Timothy Morton's dispensational book on his website, and my book Sundry Times And Divers Manners.

This book is a must. I have many books on this topic, but this book is at the top. It is extremely important to get honest facts, and this book has them. Many books on this issue are written by those with an agenda to promote their world view, thus ending up being one sided. Please buy and read this book.

Dr. Stauffer's book is the most thorough and easy-to-read of all the books written on the King James controversy. Even the "thees" and "thous" of the KJV are there for a reason. Anyone seriously wanting to understand the Bible and what English translation to trust needs to read this book first before going on to the others.
Other books strongly recommended include: One Book Rightly Divided, The Da Vinci CON, Things That Are Different Are Not The Same, New Age Bible Versions and Legally STUPiD: Why Johnny doesn't have to read

This book shows you how to believe the true bible (every word) for the English speaking man. The whole basis is that God promised to preserve His Word. Stauffer proves beyond question that God did just that in the Authorized Version; The King James Bible.

Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Note: The King James Bible is actually the 7th English bible from the received text. (pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times) All of the other translations (versions) are from the Egyptian text.

Excellent book on the King James Bible. Excellent reading and sound. Ecclesiastes 8:4 "Where the word of a king is, there is power"

You can read another Bible, save the AV after reading this!

WOW... this book is AWESOME!! I am a police officer in upstate New York, and I am very impressed with John's way of telling his story. He gives great details, and it doesn't take much of an imagination to be taken away to the places in his book! I have always been interested in the New York State Police, and just wish I started my career earlier and became a Trooper!
I do wish I had the authors address, as I would very much like to contact him! [...]

I thoroughly enjoyed "One Cop's Story", John Briant showed me an 'inside look' at what life in the NY State Police was like in the middle of the 1900's when the State Police Barracks were called "Barracks" because that was actually where the troopers did most of there living. His portrail of this life in what now seems a by-gone age is a testament to the devotion and spirit of the troopers from the days of many years ago. And Mr. Briant doesn't sugar-coat any of it - he shares the good as well as the bad and together they weave into an excellent story of life on the Force. I truly enjoyed "one Cop's Story" and recommend it to all!

A candid portrayal of the author's 28 year career in the NYSP. A career often fraught with danger and full of personal obstacles but also a career of adventure, excitement and oftentimes humor. The reader will warm to John Briant's sincerity and warm personality. John Briant takes you on a tour of his life while modestly downplaying his often heroic achievements. I know because I worked with him. You will enjoy getting acquainted with this man who epitomizes your perception of what a Trooper should be. An enjoyable read.Wayne E. Beyea, author of "Fatal Impeachment."

One Cop's Story: A Life Remembered has reached and completed its fourth year on the market. It still is selling, especially to young men and women interested in the field of Law Enforcement. The book in its early publication almost made the national market, however it is still alive and well to those readers interested in the field and students participating in Criminal Justice Studies. Hardcovers and soft covers are still AVAILABLE.

Chalet Publishing announces the third printing of "One Cop's Story: A Life Remembered by John H. Briant. The book will be distributed by North Country Books, Utica, NY to regional booksellers. The book will be ready for sale in the middle of October. The reason for the reprinting is there have been numerous requests for this book.

Thank you,

The Publisher