Abuse Books

I am an English teacher who has been looking for YA books to read in the classroom. I used to teach ninth grade but am now moving down to eighth grade, which is incredibly disappointing because I won't be able to read this book with the younger students. I loved, loved, loved Iggy! There are moments of beauty so poignant that they almost brought tears to my eyes. I found myself talking to Iggy--"No, Iggy, don't do that!" Rarely do I get that involved in even adult literature books. I think any teacher who deals with difficult students should be required to read this text. I wish young adult writers would take the swear words out of their books so I could read them with my eighth graders!

I LOVED "Saint Iggy", and I don't say that lightly. Iggy was lost from the start. He was born to a drug addicted mother and an alcoholic father. Although there was no physical abuse he was raised in a roach infested drug house and basically left to raise himself. He didn't have the good fortune to be intelligent or talented and was never taught to think before acting. His impetuous nature gets him into trouble so many times that he gets kicked out of school. With no place else to go, he goes to get help from an adult friend that needs help even more than Iggy.
This book should be required reading for every teacher, or other adults who have contact with young people. It does a great job of portraying how a young man from unfortunate circumstances views the world and himself and will help you view some of these kids with different eyes.

Randy "Igmund" Corso is a third-year freshman with a colorful track record at school. When you have a record like he does, teachers can lie about you, and no one believes you, especially not the court system that's supposed to decide if you're expelled from school or not. With the way everyone treats him, you'd think he's a bad kid, but he's not. He attends class, sometimes. He doesn't use drugs, even though he was born addicted. He does his best to stay away from his father's drug dealer Freddie, who is always knocking on their door looking for money.

With his dad most likely passed out drunk or high at home and his mom "visiting someone" somewhere, Iggy doesn't have anyone to tell when he gets indefinitely suspended from high school for an offense he didn't commit. Even the social worker can't get through because the phone has been disconnected.

With a few days until the hearing, Iggy turns to his friend Montell, a law school dropout from the rich side of town who is investing his time in pot and philosophy. Iggy needs a plan to straighten out his life, but that's more difficult done than said for a 16-year-old with no skills or money who has just been kicked out of school. His makeshift plan is to:

1) make a plan
2) get out of the projects
3) do something with my life
4) change everyone's mind about me
5) get back into school

During the week before Christmas, Iggy drags himself around the city looking for answers and enlightenment. He keeps thinking about his principal, who told him to "do something that contributes to the world." That seems like such an easy thing to do until he tries it.

How exactly can one kid do something to contribute? What if he's never had any examples to follow? What if the only differences he can make are too small for anyone to notice? And does it even matter if people notice?

Author of the Printz Honor Book FAT KID RULES THE WORLD, K. L. Going has put together another enjoyable read. The contrast of Iggy's dark urban world against Mo's posh lifestyle provides the story with an ideal backdrop for a grim hero like this to emerge. An entertaining novel with more depth than you'd imagine at first glance, SAINT IGGY takes the life of a fringe-living outcast from the projects and makes him someone unforgettable.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

Randy "Igmund" Corso is a third-year freshman with a colorful track record at school. When you have a record like he does, teachers can lie about you, and no one believes you, especially not the court system that's supposed to decide if you're expelled from school or not. With the way everyone treats him, you'd think he's a bad kid, but he's not. He attends class, sometimes. He doesn't use drugs, even though he was born addicted. He does his best to stay away from his father's drug dealer Freddie, who is always knocking on their door looking for money.

With his dad most likely passed out drunk or high at home and his mom "visiting someone" somewhere, Iggy doesn't have anyone to tell when he gets indefinitely suspended from high school for an offense he didn't commit. Even the social worker can't get through because the phone has been disconnected.

With a few days until the hearing, Iggy turns to his friend Montell, a law school dropout from the rich side of town who is investing his time in pot and philosophy. Iggy needs a plan to straighten out his life, but that's more difficult done than said for a 16-year-old with no skills or money who has just been kicked out of school. His makeshift plan is to:

1) make a plan
2) get out of the projects
3) do something with my life
4) change everyone's mind about me
5) get back into school

During the week before Christmas, Iggy drags himself around the city looking for answers and enlightenment. He keeps thinking about his principal, who told him to "do something that contributes to the world." That seems like such an easy thing to do until he tries it.

How exactly can one kid do something to contribute? What if he's never had any examples to follow? What if the only differences he can make are too small for anyone to notice? And does it even matter if people notice?

Author of the Printz Honor Book FAT KID RULES THE WORLD, K. L. Going has put together another enjoyable read. The contrast of Iggy's dark urban world against Mo's posh lifestyle provides the story with an ideal backdrop for a grim hero like this to emerge. An entertaining novel with more depth than you'd imagine at first glance, SAINT IGGY takes the life of a fringe-living outcast from the projects and makes him someone unforgettable.

Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

Copyright 1997-2006, [...] All rights reserved

There's something about Christmas in the city. The lights, the shopping, the darkness. December is the darkest month of the year. KL uses wonderful imagery to describe the life of Iggy, who you care and root for, but it is December, and Iggy is surrounded by darkness.

Yet, around every corner, a light.

It's refreshing to read a book where drugs play a role, but don't get a hundred pages in the protaganist's head or with his/her friends trying to decide what to do. For Iggy, there is no decision. The answer is simply no.

Having been born addicted to crack, he spent his whole life watching drugs destroy his parents. Now, as a teenager, he sees his worthless dad, strung out on the couch each day, and his mother - missing because she is possibly with the local dealer, Freddie.

Iggy wants to do something "good". After a misunderstanding at school in which Iggy's so called reputation causes a teacher to vastly misinterpret his intentions, Iggy is kicked out of school. But first he is given a lecture by the principal which sticks in his thoughts. Haunts him. Wakes him up to the world in which he is perceived, and makes him ache for an answer.

He doesn't have access to things others take for granted, namely money. World peace would not cross Iggy's mind. In his world, he imagines himself saving a kid from a drug dealer. Or, perhaps he could simply find his mother, and with her, the world itself would be good once again.

So, Iggy forms a plan...

Iggy Corso is one of the most detailed characters I've ever read. I would swear if I were to visit the city I would find him walking down the street, or sitting at the barber's getting his hair cut.

This book isn't the typical teeny bop pink fantasy. It's a rare literary masterpiece for the teen market. I hope it gets the attention and the audience it deserves.

Fantastic. There's no other way to say it. I can easily and thoughtlessly recommend this workbook to anyone. Not only does it work (if you put forth the effort, obviously), but the author even slides in a few interesting personal anecdotes and philosophical points--but simultaneously keeps it brief and doesn't bog you down with tangent stories or distasteful polemics. Get an extra one for a friend. :-D

This book explores the harm reduction model. It provides a variety of techniques to decrease addictive behaviors, many of them new and all of them coherent, logical, understandable, and practical. For people who struggle with addiction--expecially those who have explored 12-step programs and not found them useful--this book is a must read. I highly recommend it as an excellent source of strategy and treatment planning.

One of the best things about this workbook is that it lets you decide what degree of change is best for your recovery. Choosing between total abstinence or moderation may not seem like a wise approach if your addictions have your will power out-gunned. But Horvath models his strategies on the idea of harm reduction -- i.e., some improvement is better than none, particularly since taming a major negative fixation usually takes changing many smaller unhealthy behaviors too. He defines addiction as an extreme form of habit, and makes a logical case for conquering it by increasing self-awareness, resolving conflict, substituting positive behaviors, finding support, avoiding temptation, and being persistent. Much of the guidance you'll get in this book will come from you. The work you'll need to do is customized by your responses to questions designed to help you understand how addiction issues affect your life. Projects at the end of each chapter encourage you to try out the ideas you've just read, and the space allotted for your own notes makes this a valuable personal journal of your progress. This is a process you can return to as often as you need to. Additional resources, including a detailed bibliography and a list of support groups, offer an innovative network of help and info. Horvath acknowledges that 12-step programs work for a lot of people. But he doesn't believe they are the ONLY way to overcome addictions. For those who might prefer a more flexible alternative, this one offers an effective, creative range of options.

Not everyone is a candidate for 12-step programs like Alcohol Anonymous. Clinical psychologist A. Thomas Horvath provides an alternative to 12-step in Sex, Drugs, Gambling, & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions. He says "the purpose of this workbook is to draw together ideas and techniques that have been well studied and used in the field of addiction psychology and to present them in one readable workbook."
Dr. Horvath begins with the concept that addiction is a habit, and like other habits, it can be changed. While addiction usually has worse consequences than most habits, and changing it can be extremely difficult, it is still a habit, and it can be changed. He defines addiction as "repeated involvement with anything, despite excessive costs, because of craving." He adds that "an addiction is a type of relationship between an individual and [a] substance or activity." The idea that the person is a victim of the substance or activity is erroneous.
He divides his workbook into chapters on the perceived benefits of addiction, the costs of addiction, understanding and coping with craving, choices, and building a new life. Each chapter has an overview, followed by a detailed discussion of the subject. Then comes questions which help readers connect the information to their personal circumstances. Each chapter also includes two or three simple projects designed to help individuals apply the previous information in their lives. Chapters end with a section titled "What's Important Now?" which give readers an opportunity to record their personal growth.
Horvath is at all times encouraging and supportive, realizing that change comes in small increments. He also keeps his advice very practical and doesn't resort to jargon or "psychobabble." He maintains that we all have choices, and recognizes that people feel resentment when told that they have to overcome addictive behavior. Horvath says "regardless of what anyone else thinks, its up to you what happens with your addiction."
Sex, Drugs, Gambling, & Chocolate is designed for those who are choosing to overcome any addictive behavior and need practical help with achieving their goal. Horvath's workbook is based on taking personal responsiblity for your behavior and does not require total abstinance or turning your life over to a "Higher Power," unless you choose to do so.

Practicing clinicians know that while the 12-step treatment programs have been very successful over many years, there are significant numbers of pstients/clients for whom these approaches have been unsuccessful. The author, Thomas Horvath, a highly experienced and nationally recognized addictions specialist, has provided in this second edition of his work, an alternative approach to treating addictive behaviors. His observations are not limited to the four addictions listed in the title. He mentions at the start of his work 111 addictive behaviors. Are there more? Most likely. He feels that the common denominator of most, if not all of addictive behaviors are two points:addiction is an extreme version of a habit,and, overcoming an addiction uses the same processes one uses to change other habits. From this base, Dr. Horvath presents both research and rich clinical experience supporting his position. The final product is an excellent workbook for the addicted person and a wonderful reference for the professional who would undertake treatment with an addicted person, regardless of the addiction.
The first section, "Getting Started" deals with those seekiing help or those who are still in the contemplative stage. It presents clear examples based on research and experience helping readers to place themselves regarding their addiction, and move them toward commitment and action.
Chapters three and four help the patient explore and understand the initial benefits of addiction and the current benefits of maintaining the addiction. These chapters are well detailed and provide an important reality base, leading to motivation to change.
Chapter five looks at the real costs of addictive behavior, again moving the patient closer to an openness for treatment.
Chapters six through thirteen take the individual from initial coping, recognizing choices, and working with craving. In eleven, the focus is on developing other life satisfactions and alternative responses. Finally, in twelve and thirteen, guidance is provided for building a new life and maintaining gains. The appendices are rich in reading and resources for those with additional questions.
In summary, this is a really excellent work that should be in everyone's library for patients use and as an aid to the professional. Even better news is the incredibly modest price for this work.

"Stepping Out of the Bubble : Reflections On the Pilgrimage of Counseling Therapy by James P. Krehbiel is an amazing and outstanding book that provides help and direction to the many people that are suffering from problems described in this book.

I was amazed at how many of the problems and challenges, that the author writes about, are problems and challenges I have seen many people suffer with.

The counseling theory and practice information in this book provides a direction for people that have a problem and are willing to go to counseling and risk moving forward in their journey toward finding personal growth and development, and eventually stepping out of the bubble.

Many people have problems and challenges that they never seek help for and they and their loved ones continue to suffer. This book goes a long way in bringing the thought of counseling to people and helping people to better understand the counseling process.

To author James P. Krehbiel thank you for writing your great book. I am convinced your book will help many people and because of your book many more people will step out of the bubble. I recommend this book very highly and also feel it would be a great college text.

After reading Stepping Out of the Bubble a year ago, I went back and read it again for a second time. I was able to pick up even more information this time around that helped me understand and overcome some of my own internal conflicts. This is a book you can read at any point in your life and always find information that pertains to that particular moment. Krehbiel has a way of explaining things that others may consider unexplainable. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or just a guy like me, this book can and will change your life.

For me, "Stepping Out Of The Bubble" was reminiscent of the renowned books of author, M. Scott Peck, in the style of presenting profound insights into sensible, easy-to-understand language and clear ideas an average person can relate to. Practicing Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and author of "Stepping Out Of The Bubble", James Krehbiel proficiently shares a portion of his expertise, condensing great weight into accessible and workable solutions for a more fulfilling life's plan.

The "bubble" represents our security and comfort zone, but it is also the inner place where we store the pain of our past experiences and the unpleasant reality of that not being made conscious which keeps us bound in unhealthy and self-defeating patterns. Staying within this bubble limits our emotional responsiveness as we numb ourselves to the coexistence even as unresolved issues unconsciously filter forth. To step outside of the bubble is to courageously examine the contents in all honesty and to face life's reality outside of the bubble. Once outside the bubble, one can move forward to experience life in more emotional depth, fullness and passion. "Being a fully functioning individual is about being true to whom you are and letting things be the way they are," explains author, James Krehbiel.

With brilliant and compassionate understanding, Mr. Krehbiel briefly details methods used and pertinent case examples within his therapy practice. "Self-regulation is a goal of therapy. I educate people in the fact that all the answers are ultimately within." "Stepping Out Of The Bubble" strives to do the same, by giving information on how we become trapped in the bubble and how beneficial the making of conscious choices to leave, can be.

Some of the many topics included within this book are: being assertive, characteristics of an "authentic" person, the integration of each of our different personality parts, the difference between true guilt and false guilt, setting boundaries, addictions and addictions to "manic" relationships, awareness (staying in the moment or mindfulness), grounding, honoring one's inner voice, panic attacks, OCD and mood disorders. The section regarding kids and parenting was exceptional, in my opinion, and I found many points about discipline that made much sense. Also appreciated was the section relating to religion (dogma) versus faith (spiritual) as well as what needed to be said about pop culture.

I enjoyed reading "Stepping Out Of The Bubble" and would recommend it to anyone. It is enriching and inspirational.

James P. Krehbiel's Stepping Out of the Bubble was a fascinating read. I found myself underlining various passages. His explanation of how we get stuck in the bubble (comfort zone), and how we find our way out is powerful. It provided me with hope as I move through my own personal journey. I found myself experiencing an emotional reaction to many of the case examples and concepts he explored. He definitely hit some "hot buttons" in my life. But Mr. Krehbiel also provided specific guidelines and tools for stepping out of the bubble. At one point he says, "Courage can be defined by those who live outside the bubble as opposed to those who live in it. I like to compare stepping out of the bubble to wading into the water."

His chapter which includes ideas on multidimensional thinking is appropriate in today's political climate. He indicates that true dialogue takes into consideration the appreciation for differences in opinions. He makes some profound statements about pop culture's affect on the lives of today's children. He also gives parents tools and resources for assisting their children in bettering their behavior. The book ends with a resounding "yes" to life with a hopeful, powerful way of perceiving and reframing life's problems. This was an excellent book!

Stepping Out Of The Bubble by James P. Krehbiel, Is an outstanding book on Counseling Therapy. Krehbiel, is able to put life patterns and fears into perspective so that the lay person can fully understand the mystery that most think is behind counseling. His approach to show that so much of what we seek answers for is within ourselves and with the right counsellor we can become free and step out of the Bubble or Bubbles that a lot of us are in.

This book should be a gift to every teen and their parents, no home should be without it.

i really love this book a lot. I read it only one day because i liked it so much. i love that is about real issues and about a kid around my age. But it's also amazing only 17 being on top of the drug game! now that's hard to find in real life. but i like that it's so realistic to make you feel that you're really there, and you're always hanging back on the last sentence to see what happens next. It's a book you don't ever want to put down. The author says this is her 1st novel, so i'm looking forward for more books to come from her.

I thought that this book was outstanding because of the honesty it had. I enjoyed reading about real life things and something that I could relate to because of the boy's age.

Ty Johnson knows how to survive in the real world, to take care of problems on the spot. He has everything in control and knows the way to run things. He's intelligent, patient, and skillful, everything he needs when he inherited his father's business. Everything is running smoothly for Ty and that's the way he wants it.

But then a series of struggles and obstacles ruins the way Ty does things. Not only does he have to take care of a competitor who wants to run him out of business, but he has to deal with school, the only thing his mother wants him to focus on. That could be especially difficult when a girl like none other, Alyse, enters his life and makes him feel happy for once. The hardest part is trying to hide from his mother, and almost everyone new he meets, that he is involved in dealing drugs, the business that Ty's mother hoped to forget after Ty's father went to prison for it.

Ty starts to question every action he does, from the moment he entered the business. With so many problems to handle, can Ty get through it all?

Allison van Diepen takes on a risky plot that so many teens have heard about, but never knew much about, and pulls the reader in. STREET PHARM is a true coming-of-age story that causes the reader to be at the edge of their seat, quickly turning pages, and in the end wanting more. A quick, fast-paced read that is necessary for all teens to read.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

"Street Pharm" is an excellent novel,especially for teenage males.It's
the gritty,powerful story of a young and very successful drug dealer who
decides to change his life.The book is violent and raw,but brilliantly
written with fully developed characters.It is an astonishing debut by
a talented new author.I can't wait to see what she does next!

I am adult who enjoys reading good teen lit and this book qualifies. While I did not really care for Ty in the beginning of the book, you can slowly see his progression into "the real world" and it is a joy to go through it with him.

I also liked the honest look at the street life and the fact that the author did not make it sound like a romantic thing.

The writing is good and the storyline goes at a steady stream. I would be interested in reading a second book in this series to find out how Ty and Alyse make on and how Ty deasl with his father.

The only thing that would have made this book better would have been if it had been a true story.

This is an enjoyable read.

I really like this book because it comes from various survivors. They tell their stories. This is positive from a theraputic standpoint when working with survivors of sexual abuse.

As a therapist who has done considerable work with incest and sexual abuse, I give this the highest rating. I think it makes an important contribution to the field and particularly to people of any age, gender or sexual orientation that are dealing with their own recovery. It is sensitive and soulful.

Strong at the Heart presents very personal stories. These individual stories together present the resilency of the heart. Very moved and inspired to continue my work as Rape Crises Counselor

I have not suffered childhood abuse but was recommended this book as a source of inspiration and education on helping people to face and overcome the abuse they've suffered and suppressed for years. This book is a breath of fresh air for victims and friends interested in helping loved ones heal persistent, bottled up wounds; it provides hope and can be a great source of inspiration for all readers.

I purchased two copies of this great book for Christmas. One for myself and another for a survivor that wrote me after she read my story of abuse in the local paper, the Rock River Times. Speaking as a victim of a brutal rape at the age of 13 by a priest, this book deals with all aspects of stories told by victims/survivors of sexual abuse in all areas. The abuse itself, the relentless shame that comes with it, coming forward, going public, getting the much needed medical help, finding the strength, truth, faith and hope to live because so many do not. Those that took their lives are so often forgotten and we should never stop fighting for what happened to them at the hands of these perpetrators. There are many books that deal with facts and figures regarding sexual abuse but this book has a wealth of information for survivors to utilize. It would be great to see more books of this nature published to help calm the minds and souls of so many survivors and their families that thirst for this knowledge. It gives contacts, websites, phone numbers, etc., for organizations such as SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, The Healing Alliance (LINKUP), Male Survivor, CONTACT crisis lines, and much more. Simply put, buy this book, survivor or not - it'll warm your heart, educate you in the process and bring a tear to your eyes. Thanks for reading my review and peace be with you, always.

Donald Bondick
Rockford, Illinois

I am hoping that this book will encourage victims of rape to come forward no matter how intimidating it may seem. It is important particularly in the black communities to come forward after being victimized by sexual abuse. Someone very close to me was sexually assaulted several years ago and never went forward. In fact, she has attempted to move on with her life as if nothing ever happened. It cannot be an easy thing to be violated and try to forget about it. This book is important for those who have suffered from rape, family member of rape victims, friends of victims, or spouses. This book is the first step toward healing and is a guide for those afraid to come forward. Buy this book, it is worth every penny.

It is incredibly powerful and intense. The end of each chapter, where Pierce-Baker responds to the survivors draws the stories together in a meaningful way. Also, this is the first book I have ever seen that gives voice to the men who support survivors of sexual violence. I read it in two days, despite work and classes, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the effects of sexual violence.

This is a wonderful, well-written, honest book. I especially appreciated the author's inclusion of the voices of young people and of adults who were raped when they were young. Most rape in the US happens to people under the age of 25, so these voices need to be heard! I am strongly recommending this book to everyone I know who works against sexual assault. The author's openness about her own experience over time is very helpful and moving. She indicates that some parts were written years before other parts. There were places where I wanted to insist "don't blame yourself for that, the rapists are responsible for the fact that you and your family are dealing with this." This books adds greatly to our understanding of the long term impact of sexual assault.

This is one of the most important books I have read in my struggle to recover from the harrowing effects of rape. I have found several books on this topic, but this is the first that addresses my specific needs as a Black woman trying to heal from sexual violence. Charlotte Pierce-Baker and her fellow witnesses are people of immense courage who offer hope and strength to other survivors and their loved ones everywhere. I highly recommend this book to all members of the Black community. It's fluidly written, carefully structured and filled with painful truths and hard-earned wisdom about individual and communal healing. If you want to share your own story of survival and healing or to discuss this book, please join me in one of these online forums: Black Survivors of Sexual Assault Forum (Delphi) and Black Rape Survivors (Yahoo). Feel free to contact me for more information.

This book has helped me in ways too numerous to count. I have purchased copies for friends and recommended it highly to others. As African-American women we have the dual burden of sexual and racial violation. Our African-American men are suppose to protect us - not rape us! White men and society has been raping us for years and justifying it. Charlotte Pierce-Baker and the other survivors have laid the foundation of healing. From each of the stories I found Strength. I learned that I was not 'going crazy.' I learned that this inner turmoil of racial responsiblity, societial perceptions and the deeply embedded history of rape toward African American Women was not an uncommon pandemonium of thoughts. I listened and felt the pain and suffering. I discovered that the death of my former self 'REALLY DID HAPPEN' and this new Woman I have become must once again discover her strength. My strength. As my 1 year anniversary approaches, I am re-experiencing the symptoms. Yes, I am dealing with this unbearable pain, once again. But the worst part is over, because I survived! Loud and clear. I SURVIVED!

Also recommended: Can I get a Witness, Black Women and Depression; Yesterday, I Cried; Too Blessed to be Stressed; After the Silence;

If you are ready to dive into deep adventure in worlds you likely have never known, this is a book you don't want to miss. Courageous and zany mystic Lance White has traveled to places and realms where few dare go. I loved getting a peak into these many aspects of life I have never experienced. I even more appreciated having them described by one who comes from a place of wanting more than anything else to spread love and light in the world. Buckle your seatbelt and have a great ride through the life of the Zany Mystic!

There are few books so absorbing it becomes impossible to put them down. This book is one of the few! I read the entire book while flying across the country, traversing through countless airports, but the journey in my mind was far more intriguing than the one on the plane. Mr. White's honesty, rawness, beautiful spirit and elegant wordsmithing offers readers the trip of a lifetime, from his irreverant welcome to the world that kept him a prisoner of drugs, sex, disease and delusion up to the eternal now where he soars freely in the uncaged infinity of All That Is. Some might have pity for a life so full of struggle and grief, but White never resides there. The wisdom gained through trials and tribulation earned his wings to soar with angels. And the good news? He scoops us up and allows us to review his experience from both the depths of hell as well as the heights of Heaven. White shares the words the world is ready to hear...that demonstrated potential of perfection is available to everyone. Forgiveness of self is all that is required, and there are no mistakes too horrific to release. The moment we stop living as human beings and start understanding we are humans, being, we slip out of the mind's bondage, and begin living from the heart. L. B. White is the miraculous personification of how awareness unveils the mask, revealing the God within all. "Tales of a Zany Mystic" will have you crying, crying laughing, shaking your head in agreement, gasping in disbelief, and standing in awe of his remarkable transformation. If you only have time to read one great book this month, this is the one to read!

You know how they say that when you die, you are presented with a review of your entire life as it flashes before your eyes? Every image, fragrance, thought, emotion and connection streams across your mind's eye as you re-live it all in intricate detail, except very, very fast? Well, other than the mistaken identity, where you die and St. Peter accidentally pulls up the WRONG life-review file and shows it to you as though it were yours, complete with all the appropriate (and inappropriate) nuances, THAT is exactly what it is like reading this book. At times I felt I was just a little TOO privy to details of a life that I never lived, but surely felt like I actually had (lived).

There is a very strong sense of laying one's life bare for all to see, warts and all, and yet an infused thread of spiritual and intuitive insight that is undeniable. Reading this book, while at times a bit "in-you-face" with the blunt facts, and a bit risqué to the naïve out-of-the-loop mindset, was like a thrilling roller-coaster ride that won't let you put it down.

Lance has offered up his soul for all to experience and learn from. I must say I am very impressed and honored to have learned so much about life, spirit and the evolution of consciousness through the eyes and heart of another.

Thank you Lance.
Rich

White's early life was one of the most dysfunctional family situations a person could ever be born into and survive. He pulls no punches in describing growing up in a family where anything went in an atmosphere of drugs, sex, and alcohol. Homosexuality, soon followed closely by a cornucopia of drugs and alcohol, brought his life even closer to the edge of disaster where he remained poised dangerously for many years.

He now lives a quiet life, clean and sober, the respected host of the radio talk show "A Fireside Chat with Zany Mystic", where I've been a guest twice as author of "Raechel's Eyes." He is truly spiritual, a mystic healer, a most compassionate, gentle person, and without doubt one of the most courageous people I know. It took a lot of guts to tell this gritty story with the grace and humor displayed throughout, and I admire him for his honesty.

"Tales of a Zany Mystic" should be required reading for every individual undergoing drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation as well as those still contemplating major changes in other self-destructive lifestyles. White's traumatic journey is a masterpiece of living proof and encouragement that one can overcome life's challenges no matter how daunting the obstacles.

I wholeheartedly applaud Zany for his courage in writing this marvelous book.

Few can muster the honesty, clarity and wit to look at the dark path behind them, turn around, and walk into the light. L.B. White has superbly accomplished this for himself, and now, through sharing his "Tales", he is an inspiration for all who have not dared to hope!

This book could easily have been a bore--yet another detailed legal explication of a Supreme Court case you know you should be interested in, but aren't, because you can't follow the jargon. But in Epps' hands an amazing story comes to life. This is serious constitutional law, with enormous consequences for our country, and it reads like a novel. Anyone concerned with religion and free expression should read it. Or you could just read it because it's a great read!

The very first part of the essential, very first amendment to our Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This ringing phrase, so seemingly simple and obvious, has been the focus of an enormous amount of controversy and clarification. It is a great legacy, but what does it really mean? We are still struggling to find out. In _To an Unknown God: Religious Freedom on Trial_ (St. Martin's Press) by Garrett Epps we learn how one of the latest struggles is turning out. It is a fine book to show in detail how a specific constitutional decision came to be made.

On one side of the story was Al Smith. Smith was born into the Klamath tribe, but was pulled out of it to go to Catholic boarding school. Rather late in his life he was introduced to sweat lodges and Native American religion. He was also introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous, and eventually became a respected counselor, speaker, and organizer of treatment centers for alcohol and drug abuse. As he traveled to different reservations to set up recovery programs, he came across peyote religion. It seemed to give some of his clients spiritual strength, and they seemed to do better in overcoming substance abuse if they participated in its religious ceremonies. He began to consider participating in peyote religion. He was told that taking peyote at a ceremony would violate the rules of the treatment center in which he worked, and so he did so. He was thereupon fired, and he filed for unemployment compensation. That filing set the stage for a subsequent battle within the Supreme Court and beyond.

On the other side was Oregon Attorney General David Frohnmayer. He had tried in his political offices in Oregon to mend fences with the tribes of his region. He was, however, very worried about the dangers of drug abuse, and so he felt he was doing the right thing in trying to squelch community acceptance of drugs, ceremonial or not. He approached the Supreme Court proceedings with the mantra, "Drugs are bad. Slippery slope." Not only was peyote illegal, but it was used in a minority religion; if it were allowed, then surely someone would be asking to use other drugs for religious purposes. But he did reflect sadly to his legal team, "How did we get to be the Indian bashers?"

Epps is not only a journalist and lawyer, but also a novelist. His ability to describe personalities and anecdotes serves him well, for although this is a legal story, the human stories within it are what make it live. He has used process of the legal arguments as a springboard for an examination of many connected subjects: the history of the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the story of Alcoholics Anonymous; the tale of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the Oregon town that was taken over by his devotees; the saga of the Road Man who is the ceremonial leader of the peyote religion. These set pieces are fascinating, and strengthen the main story. It is disconcerting that there is no pat final resolution, but Epps writes, "The law of religious freedom remains unsettled." Thus may it ever be.

This book is one of the best looks at a Supreme Court case in quite some time. Examining Oregon v. Smith, one of the most important yet unheralded legal battles of our time, Epps' book plumbs the depths Indian rights, religious freedom and states rights in a manor which devestates the intellectual pretensions of Court conservatives such as Justice Scalia. The only quible one can have with the book it that it has too much detail on Oregon Attorney General Frohnmeyer. Other than that minor matter, this is a top rate book. Of additional note, the book provides an exceptionaly concise yet comprehensive overview of the Rajhneesh cult afair in Oregon, relying to good effect on the journalism of Oregon Magazine's Win McCormack.

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of this book, and I found it astonishingly good. I had loved Epps's work as a novelist (his "Shad Treatment" is one of the best first novels I know) and I had always wondered if he could apply his writerly powers to non-fiction, as well. "To an Unknown God" draws on all the creative gifts that fans of Epps's earlier books will remember. He takes an important Supreme Court case about religious freedom (he's now a law professor) and tells the story through the remarkable personalities who were involved in the case: Al Smith, the Native American member of a peyote cult who was the plaintiff, and David Frohnmeyer, the all-American Republican wunderkind attorney general of Oregon, who argued that peyote use wasn't protected as an exercise of religious freedom. Epps deconstructs these billboard identities to provide a rich and very moving account of the real people and the heartbreaking pressures that shaped their actions in this legal case. This is a rare book--taking the sometimes dry subject of law and filling it with life. I hope it's a promise of more books to come from Epps, who is a vastly talented writer.

Epps' book is one of the best in recent memory to explore a Supreme Court case. Examining the case of Oregon v. Smith, Epps deploys his skills as both a journalist and a novelist to plumb the depths of Indian rights, religious freedom and states rights. The only quibble one can have is that the book spends too much time on the minutae of Oregon Attorney General Frohnmeyer's life. Other than that minor matter, this is an elegantly told tale. As an aside, Epps presents a concise yet complete recouncting of the Rajhneesh cult saga of the '80's, relying to good effect of the work of Oregon Magazine Editor-in-Chief Win McCormack.

I recently read Evelyn's book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading. This book is a must read for anyone that is in what they feel is a hopeless situation involving domestic violence. She really took me with her on her journey while I read this book. She shows us all there is hope and a life after living through these kinds of horrors.

After reading this book, I passed it on to my friend to read. She has suffered domestic violence from her husband for several years. After she read the book, she found the courage to leave her husband and is now safe and happy. Thank you Evelyn for having the courage to write this book. It is truly a life saver. May God always bless you.

Evelyn Stewart has excelled in sharing the effects of abuse on the family. She opened her life to share with us how family violence was passed from generation to generation until one woman was ready to say "enough is enough." Totally Discombobulated keeps the reader spell bound. I would recommend this book to anyone, but particularly the woman that thinks she is in a hopeless situation. Evelyn shows with faith and fortitude, anything is possible.

I've always been one to read a book that teaches me something and reveals the life of a person who lives or lived a life of intrest. Evelyn is one of those people. She deserves to be heard. Domestic Violence is something we don't always hear about because I believe we've turned a deaf ear on the subject. I for one didn't believe it happened like this. It's hard for the average person to phantom the rage any one person could project toward someone they are suppose to love, honor and cherish. The way Evelyn tells her story is not only a history lesson but it is her true to life account of what she lived through. Some will say "why didn't she leave him?" Other's will say "I applaud her courage and I understand." Today more than ever this horror needs to be exposed for what it is. The suffering has to stop and people need to be courageous enough to run and hide from domestic violence. Every man, woman and child will benefit from Evelyn's story and realize that the silence and hiding of such a crime is only perpetuating the violence.
If this book becomes a movie it is a sure blockbuster. The way Evelyn relates her life story is a movie on pages. This book deserves to be read whether a victim or a survivor, the average person or not, it is an eye-opener. I never got the full picture when I read this book. It has made me aware and has equipped me with knowledge and compassion to help anyone who might be suffering in the life of domestic violence. This book is a must read for anyone with the heart of compassion and anyone who would choose to expose the ugly truth that goes on behind closed doors all over the world.

I have read this book two times and it is a wonderfully written book and will make you sit on the edge of your seat while reading it. Evelyn has a master piece here and it would make a wonderfull movie. Every one needs to read it.

I first came across this book at my brother-in-law's house. I picked it up and dipped in briefly, liked the thought I read and then put it down. Ever since leaving his place that day, the little book has regularly come to my mind, and the simply truth I read on the page that day. I feel an affinity with the book, partly because it is understated and never showy. It is serious, without being melancholy; it is deep, without becoming stereotypical. Reading it is like having an intimate conversation with a trusted friend, except the dialogue is inside, and silent. It makes me feel good knowing its there, for me to open and dip in again, to feel what I felt the first time I picked it up all those years ago: this is true.

I have used this gem of a book personally and in the wilderness program, Galena Ridge, I operate for at-risk teens. The beauty of the book is encapsulated in the April 1st reading....every experience we have, every choice we make, is a "medicine wheel" telling us much more about ourselves than it tells us about others or the world around us. The reflections in this book take on new meaning with each reading, helping us learn about ourselves as we embrace our courage to grow and change.

This book is the cornerstone of recovery for men and used by men as an aide in recovering from addictions, co-dependency. While not conference approved literature it parallels much of it in its focus.

I was given this book 20 years ago and have just recently gotten into the habit of reading it every morning. There are some days when the reading really hits me but even more when it doesn't. My main complaint is that there are many readings specifically directed towards men when only a few of those really have to be. It didn't get 5 stars because I have other daily reading books that speak to me much more often and others that I don't bother with or really hate. See my other reviews if you want to know which ones. This one is certainly worth buying.

My husband has used this book for about ten years and has found it tremendously helpful. It lives next to his chair in the den, and he spends about 30 minutes with it in the morning while I'm still asleep. He reads the daily entry and meditates on the suggestions and affirmations on each page. He's commented that it provides comfort without being sugary, and he values the thoughtfulness of each entry, the low-key approach, and the wide range of sources quoted. I've browsed in and believe that it would be helpful to anyone, regardless of one's spiritual orientation... or lack of same.

He recently bought a new copy to send to a friend who is having serious problems in his life, and we hope that its calm wisdom will help him as well.