D Books

This romance is a great stand alone story! The characters are well-rounded and the turns of phrase are amazing!

It also introduces you to all of the people who arein the Grea Brain series as well.

Excellent book I will read to my children.

I read the Great Brain series as a kid, and continue to re-read them as an adult. Recently I discovered "Papa Married a Momon" and was not disappointed by Fitzgerald's story telling. But after doing a little online research I was disappointed to find that it is only very loosley based on his life in Utah (i.e. Fitzgerald was born in 1906 and the stories take place in the 1880s-1890s and papa lived until 1937). But I would highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed the adventures as told in the great brain series.

This wonderful book is a perfect mix of the Little House on the Prarie and Great Brain books. What I found the most interesting was the equal treatment of Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even Agnostics in frontier Utah. In fact, there are both good and bad examples of each. The overall religious message of the book is that "all religions are but windows in the same church letting in the light of God," which stresses the ideas of tolerance, love, and respect for all people irregardless of their religious beliefs. I highly recommend this book for all people who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald or even pioneer life and Utah history. Although it's out of print, you can probably find a copy in your local library. For 300 pages, it's a quick read. I have to warn you, though, it'll make you cry in the end. Even I teared up a bit, and I very rarely get emotionally involved in books. I also laughed out loud a few times, too. This book is really special.

I have loved every book by John D. Fitzgerald that I was able to get my hands on. All of his books are wonderful but perhaps the best one is Papa Married a Morman. The true story of the Fitzgerald family is uplifting, powerful, and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to any one who loves history and who loves a good story. The other two books in this serious, Mama's Boarding House, which takes place after Papa Married a Morman, and Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse, which tells the story of Uncle Will from childhood up until the time of the end of silverlode, are also great to read.

I found this book at a swap meet--took it home more from the quirky title then anything...and I discovered my favorite book! The story is an easy & non-demanding read with pictures of the family--your unable to set it down! I once lent this book to my Mom, she in turn lent, and so on. The book was returned to me 2 years later, and had visited over 25 homes!! I know of no other book that has had that wide of an appeal, regardless of religious background...a DEFINATE must have!

This is a great little book. It's a fast and easy read, but some how it manages to pack a ton of accurate material in there anyway. I bought a copy to give to my peanut allergic sons' teachers - and they actually read it. That tells me that it truly is an easy read - and that isn't a slam on teachers - it's just that they usually don't have time to read any of the info I bring them on peanut allergy.

It isn't hysterical - it doesn't call for peanut bans in school - but it does take it very seriously and gives the reader the information necessary for them to make their own decisions about how to deal with the allergy.

I highly recommend this book to anyone recently diagnosed with, or having a child diagnosed with peanut allergy. Grandparents and other close family would also benefit from this book. (This should also be on the reading list for daycare employees and teachers!) Peanut allergy should not be taken lightly because of the serious consequences (which most people seem to be ingnorant about).

This book is written in an easy-to-read question and answer style and covers all aspects of the condition. I have learned so much from this book and continue to reference it. I have highlighted many passages and am quick to show them to family or friends when they just don't seem to be "getting it".

I can't recommend this book enough!

I read all the reviews on this book before buying it. Plus, it came recommended by my son's allergist. Amazon has a great price on it too. It was a quick read. I will hold on to it for reference. I just wish it had more resource listings for helping you locate peanut free foods.

I purchased this book when I found out my 6 month old was allergic to peanuts. I learned so much from it and parent that has a child with this allergy should buy it. I am fortunate that it was Dr. Young's partner that is my daughter's doctor I do intend to transfer to him as a doctor after reading this book if he is accepting new patients. I had no idea when I purchased this book the author was from Boston. I'm so glad he is!!

This is the most thorough book I've read on peanut allergies. You probably won't find this information on the internet, because most of the answers are substantiated with trials performed by experts.

The book is set up in a question and answer form. All the questions are listed in the contents with pages showing where to find the answers. It is also easy to read, so you won't be stumbling over annoying medical jargon.

I just finished this book, the 2nd time travel I've read, and I thought it was excellent. It was a real page turner. For the most part, it didn't have a lot of funny scenes (except when it finally dawns on Nadine that she isn't in Kansas anymore, just after deciding that everyone was not in on some kind of a joke involving her), but
the last line in the book was hysterical! It ended on such a happy note. I really liked Faulk, and I realized fairly early on that he truly loved Nadine, though he denied it through to nearly the end. The book was more of a reincarnation book than a time travel, I thought. If it had been more of a time travel, it would have been interesting to see the medeval Nadine in our modern times.
I hope to read Sandra Landry's other book, The Wishing Chalice,
soon.

This was a wonderful story full of heart and wit and was a enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance or especially time travel romance.

This is a book I couldn't put down! Great characters, great plot,great pacing-- this book has it all. Do yourself a favor and buy it today!

Modern day Nadine du Monte reluctantly leaves her family in Rouen, France to study in London. Prior to leaving, Nadine and a friend decide to visit a gypsy--who prophesizes that 'death is only a transitional time' which initiates a vision in which Nadine sees herself--or at least a woman who LOOKS like her and shares the same name 800 years in the past. Unnerved by the experience, Nadine seeks comfort from her beloved mother before she leaves for London. Upon her arrival, however, Nadine learns that both parents perished in an auto accident that day. Unable to get a late flight, Nadine faces her crippling fear of water and boards a ferry across the English Channel. Once again, Nadine is overcome with a vision of the medieval Nadine and falls overboard. Lord Faulk of Whitecastle, loyal knight of Richard II, had long delayed acting on his promise to his father to return from the battlefield, take a wife and sire an heir. Upon his father's death, Faulk guiltily returned to Whitecastle intending to immediately carry out his duty. Only when he found the waterlogged body of Nadine du Monte lying upon the beach near his home did he recall the witch's prophesy: a golden vision with the mark of the rose would come from the water and would be the only woman who could bear his children. Cared for by Faulk's beloved retainer, Nadine recovers and finds herself, unbelievably, in the 13th century. Reluctant to accept her circumstances, plagued with the grief from her parents' deaths and trying to understand the flashes of "memories" she experiences of her apparent previous life in medieval England, Nadine must temporarily rely on Faulk's largesse. She refuses, however, his offers of marriage, but does find herself powerfully attracted to the honorable man who believes she is the woman of a prophesy. To complicate Nadine's identity crisis even further, a man claiming to be her betrothed arrives at Whitecastle and demands she return to Rouen with him immediately. Nadine's memories of her medieval life return in bits and pieces and she cannot recall her bethrothed. She decides to return to Rouen to learn more about herself, but the man she has come to love and the man who claims to be her betrothed constantly posture and fight. Upon her arrival in Rouen, Nadine learns of her medieval life and is inundated with the memories of her former life and, conversely, her memories from her modern life become vague and distant. Faulk knows Nadine is the woman of the prophesy and must find a way to make her his. He cannot, however, offer her his love because of the betrayal he suffered from his first wife. Nadine loves Faulk and realizes that she could live happily in medieval England with him--if she could believe that he wanted her for more than just her ability to bear his children and fulfill his promise to his dead father. But the prophesy must be satisfied or Nadine will be returned to the future--and only Faulk's love will hold her in his time.

An original combination of time travel, reincarnation and prophesy. A great debut from Sandra Landry.

I really enjoyed reading A Perfect Love. It's a very interesting story and made me laugh and feel tender at the same time. All the confusion situations of past and contemporary are showed in a very funny way during the dialogues between the two main characters. A love with no barriers, even time... I'm longing to read something else from this author, definitely she has her own style!

Book arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

I recently purchased this book through an South African bookstore and it rocks ! It is great book to read .

For years my family has wondered what happened during this period of the conflict. I was eight years old when my brother, Bruce Walker - Covey 282 Alpha, was declared MIA. This book gave my family and I a real view of what happened to him. This is something the government was never willing to do. I'm thankful to Darrel Whitcomb for this well researched and well written book detailing the rescues and attempted rescues during the Easter Offensive.

The lone survivor (Bat 21 Bravo) of a six-man crewed American warplane shot down by a surface-to-air missile parachutes near the DMZ and seeks cover to await recovery. Heavy clouds obscure visibility, but other than that the search and rescue aircraft crews have no reason to believe that this won't be anything but a moderately easy pickup.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jay Crowe commanding an Air Force rescue helicopter drops through the clouds heading for the survivor when enemy fire comes up from all directions. The dashboard begins to disintegrate. Crowe and his copilot struggle to control the helicopter and clear the area. The crew is amazed at the scene below. North Vietnamese Army trucks, tanks, guns, and soldiers are everywhere. Bat 21 is trapped between two enemy divisions barreling across the borders in a full offensive to conquer South Vietnam. Still, the rescue attempt goes on.

As the author of "Coast Guard Action in Vietnam," I am pleased to read, not only a darn good true book about the Vietnam War, but, one that brings out the fact that Coast Guardsmen were active in that long engagement. Flying combat search and rescue was only one of their numerous missions. For example, LORAN, the electronic navigation system used to keep Bat 21 pinpointed and to place ordnance on enemy positions, was installed in the theater and manned by the Coast Guard.

Do yourself a favor, get both "Bat 21" by William C. Anderson and "The Rescue of Bat 21" by Darrel D. Whitcomb. Read them in tandem. Read "Bat 21" first. It puts you with the survivor on the ground evading capture for twelve days. Then read Whitcomb's book. It pulls back the camera to take into view the entire panorama of situation, equipment, and people, that went into this remarkable rescue exploit.

When you start the reading make sure you have a block of uninterrupted time because you may not want to stop until--the end.

This book is an extremely accurate history of this rescue and its heros. I was the on scene commander who arrived to find the Jolly in flames. There are other books written about this rescue but none are as accurate and well presented. The author did an excellent job in allowing a "non" military reader to understand this rescue situation without missing the power of the enviornment.

Yes, I'm biased. Despite my connection with the authors, I truly promise a fine read. It took me a little over one year to finally finish the book because of my emotional connection. It's really tough to relive some of the most difficult moments of my life. I guess you did your job--reader pathos. Awesomely done, Dad & Krissy!

This book is fabulous. A great introduction to the art and science of paleontology which is easy to follow and reads very warmly. It also tells the maddening story of a justice system gone absolutely berzerk. It is a fascinating example of how a handful of horrible judges, attorneys, agents, and other ne'er-do-wells can ruin lives. It really makes you shake you head in disbelief that this could have possibly happened in OUR country only a few years ago.

"Rex Appeal" is the amazing story of one of the most significant fossil discoveries in the last fifty years. The story of "Sue" the fossil Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered by Peter Larson's associate Susan Hendrickson spins a web of intrigue from the moment the dinosaur's bones are discovered. With splashy headlines and national press coverage "Sue" becomes the darling of science, then the bane of Larson.
The landowner from whom the fossil was "bought" cries foul. Maurice Williams who is one eighth Lakota Sioux had put his land in trust with the United States Government. When Williams realizes the fossil may be worth many multiples of the $5000 he was paid for its excavation, the United States Government gets involved and when that happens it makes an IRS audit look like a toddler's birthday party.
The problem for Larson is that he is not strictly a scientist, but has established a for-profit organization called the Black Hills Institute. Not to say that Larson has nothing to contribute scientifically to the study of dinosaurs. His science is outstanding by current standards. But, the government suspects that Larson has nefarious intentions and pursues him with the fury of, well, of a pissed off T.Rex.
"Sue" is seized by the FBI and the South Dakota National Guard and the ensuing legal battle is extremely one-sided, according to Larson of course. He is confronted with an over-zealous prosecutor and a biased judge. Without hearing the other side of the story it's impossible to pass judgement on the veracity of the case against Larson. But it is safe to say that the judge in the case certainly defied all logic when he declared "Sue" real estate. 65 million year old bones hardly qualify as real estate, especially if the landowner was paid a handsome sum for their retrieval.
In the end Larson winds up in prison for nearly two years, his marriage to co-author Kristin Donnan dissolves, and his Institute is nearly bankrupt. Somehow Larson manages to emerge at the other end of the tunnel a changed man. He still pursues fossils with vigor after learning what many who have gone before him could have told him, "you can't fight City Hall".
The only criticism of the book is the complete lack of any intimations about Larson's relationship with co-author and ex-wife Kristin Donnan. Donnan is a free-lance writer who covers the "Sue" story and eventually falls in love with, and marries Larson. There is nothing in the book about their affairs. Whether that is intentional or not it would have at least contributed something to the story and clarified some of the events.
In all the book is highly recommended. Larson's theories about T.Rex and other issues related to dinosaurs are well thought out and informative. This book is a must for all us amateur paleontologists who can't get off our couches to go out west to do a little digging ourselves.

This is not just another dinosaur book. It is not just another dinosaur book with some fascinating facts about T-rex. This is THE book about T-rex by one of the foremost authorities on this bad boy of the Cretaceous.

Peter Larson's intimate knowledge of this beast comes from excruciatingly hard-earned experience. While it is a recounting of the nightmare saga surrounding the Sue specimen, it is also a manifest of the current thinking regarding T-rex, its lifestyle, and place in prehistory. Despite his own grievous experiences with the legal system, there is no self-pity in Mr. Larson's book. He simply states the facts as he knows them to be, as any researcher worth his salt should.

An A+ all the way.

I found reading Rex Appeal to be highly entertaining and informative book. I learned quite a bit about the people who dig dinosaurs and about the T-Rex itself. The author's legal problems smack with pure malice by the justice department. I wondered why such a thing was allowed to go as far as it did. Highly readable book, it revealed the world of paleontology and its rewards and risks. I wonder if Judge Battey can look in his mirror and see a honest man?

I was looking for ideas on simple structures for the homestead. The book is a bit dated, but you have to go back to find simple, uncomplicated ideas. We have grown so accustomed to specialized fasteners, tools and other hardware. Building a simple shed can be expensive when you have to buy materials. We have an abundance of raw materials and this book provided some ideas towards cost effective structures.

This book is great! I would recommend this to anyone 12+, because the shelters are quite hard to build. It is excellent for boy scouts. I got this for Christmas and in my troop were starting on plans already! Great for any wilderness lover and I recommend all the related books!
1/16/08

I know that most people will find this book to be anything but "green" however, I found this concept to be perfect in a world that sometimes forgets what it is like to be young at heart. Some of the shelters are not safe and one should always supervise young children who if left alone will build forts and such, yet there is a certain allure about thinking you are back in time and surviving on your own wits. Great ideas for survival campouts or if you like getting out "there" and just might once or twice get too far out "there" and find yourself in the need of an overnight shelter. Loved the book and will use or adapt many of the detailed plans.

This book is great! I would recommend this to anyone 12+, because the shelters are quite hard to build. It is excellent for boy scouts. I got this for Christmas and in my troop were starting on plans already! Great for any wilderness lover and I recommend all the related books!
1/16/08

This book is geared towards building structures that were used by outdoorsmen from years past. It covers how to make a bed from natural materials, a log cabin, Native American log house, and how to work an axe just to name a few topics covered in this book. The drawings of the dwellings in the book are simple (but not in depth plans or charts). The author does a great job of explaining how to construct these devices, but as I said a drawn picture is all your going to get if your a visual learner. Over all the book does what it says it will do, gives the reader good information, and I personally wouldn't be caught dead without it if I was trapped in the middle of nowhere by myself.

This was a favorite childhood book for me and I was thrilled to be able to buy it for my boys (2 and 4) this Christmas. It has quickly become a favorite of both, especially my two year old. Here's to many happy readings!

I love this book as it is a classic from my childhood and was excited to read it to my two year old son. He also enjoys it and I imagine will like it even more once we get some snow here and he can relate more to the images in the book.

I bought this book for my three boys (aged two to four) hoping it would be as good as the most excellent book "Summer". Sadly, "Snow" is not in the same league. Indeed, it's a bit on the boring side, with forced sounding rhymes that aren't nearly as much fun as those in "Summer". My boys never ask me to read it. Summer, on the other hand, is a frequent, favorite request.

Still, it fits winter and the drawings are enjoyable. While not a must have it still has a place in our library.

I read this book all the time when I was young and was quite thrilled to have found it for my little one. It's so neat to read what is possible to do in the snow, all the while describing it in a rhyme. My favorite part is when they go skiing and the dog slides down on his tail! He's the first to discover the snow and gets his little child friend to come out and play. They go from there and it is just very, very cute. Especially in the end when they put an umbrella on the biggest snowman so he wouldn't melt, but wind up putting snowballs in the freezer to play with another day. Highly recommend!

Two children, a boy and girl, experiment with the lovely things you can do with snow. It is in simply rhyming verse and is a great beginner book for children readers, the expectation of what words are to come are fairly obvious

I especially love the simply drawn and coloured pictures. They are basic but rich. Each character is roundly appealing. We don't get snow where we live but my children run outside just in case. WE often read the two books (snow and summer) at the same time. The same two children doing nice wintry and summery things.

Author A. R. Homer creates a captivating story of the D-day invasion and all that leads up to it by mixing actual historic facts with both real and fictional characters. His novel, "The Sobs of Autumn's Violins - A Novel of War and Love," is a wonderfully creative and devious mixture of history and imagination.

Although this is only Homer's second novel, he is already being viewed as one of the more credible and exciting up-and-coming mystery, thriller writers of his generation. This book is not just a story of WWII spies and espionage; it is laced with great interplay between characters and is partially a love story as well.

Actual facts are weaved into and throughout the storyline which adds a touch of realism and believability to the plot. The only thing lacking for this book to make it to the best seller's list is marketing and being "discovered" by the media. This book is a must read for all avid readers of thriller or WWII books. This book is destined for greatness and gets the MWSA Highest Book Rating - FIVE STARS!

I recently watched Ken Burns's magnificent series, The War, which left me with a desire to read some good fiction about D-day. A friend recommended "The Sobs of Autumn's Violins" to me, and I was glad he did. Like the Burns series, this novel tells the larger story (in this case, the preservation of the D-day secrets) through the tales of ordinary people who become extraordinary in the face of life and death struggles. However, this magnificent novel adds a new dimension to what is portrayed in the Burns documentary, namely the personal stories of English and French participants; for me, this really fleshed out the story of D-day.

I particularly enjoyed the way Homer structured his novel, interweaving several plot threads in short chapters, all of which end with a cliff-hanger. Somehow he makes all the diverse plot threads come together at the end without any awkward contrivance.

Make sure you have food and drink handy when you read this book, because you won't be able to put it down!

Fantastic! Very well written with unexpected twists and turns. I am sad to have finished it. Wish the author was more prolific. I am planning reading his other book.

When I was considering buying this book I saw the Amazon reviews were all 5 stars and my immediate thought was "how many friends did the writer get to send in these reviews?". Then, however, I read the book and, believe me, they were right. Not too many of these stories can generate these types of reviews because this story has been done many times already, but Homer carries it off and exceptionally well. His writing is clear, precise and flows well. I really enjoyed this and before I finished the book I ordered the "Mirror of Diana" his next one. If you enjoy novels about spies, WW2, nazi's and D-Day you'll love this. The only book that is as good is "Eye of the Needle" and that is saying something special.

This is a very well written, articulate well constructed story. I know it is said often, but I really could hardly put it down. I very seldom buys books for others, just based on my enjoyment of it, but I have bought several copies, and had them shipped to friends all over both coasts. Excellent read.

Hello avid readers of true stories. I appreciated The State Boy's Rebellion, as I too was a victim of the mental health system when I was 8 years old. I remained institutionalized for 10 years; even though authorities were informed I was not retarded. Like the kids in The State Boys Rebellion, I was deprived of my civil liberties, denied an education, and horribly abused. If you want to read a remarkable story of the human spirit to survive horrific odds, read my true story. You'll be glad you did.
Charles A. Carroll, Author, Victim/Victim's Advocate
HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies Over the Cuckoo's Nest

A must read for anybody. I am currently employed at one of the said institutions in MA and heard of this book through a co-worker. I have worked here for over 20 years, long after they stopped admitting people. The residents that currently reside there get the best of care available and the staffing ratios way outnumber the amount of clients residing here. I am in no way condoning what happened to Freddie and all the other state children, I just wonder how some of the residents would have turned out if not institutionalized. My supervisor and I have roamed through the old dormitories and found a wealth of info and pictures. Some of the pics show young children about Freddies admission age that looked scared to death, it brought tears to my eyes to think of what these poor kids went through and reading Freddie's story helped me better understand just exactly why these children were admitted. When I started working here, over 1,000 residents lived here, now we have under 300 and the remaining people really do benefit from the care they receive. I just could not comprehend why some of the residents were there 20 years ago, now I know. My family has welcomed in a former resident in the shared living program and it has been benificial to both him and my family. After reading the "State Boys Rebellion", my only regret is that I never got to meet Freddie Boyce. In my eyes, he and all the other state children are true heroes for surviving the great injustice done to them. In closing, I have to truly say that I have been humbled.

Michael D'Antonio has provided us with a very interesting book that he has subtitled "The Inspiring True Story of American Eugenics and the Men Who Overcame It". There is no doubt that he cares tremendously for his subject, but this is not a comprehensive history of the Eugenics movement or even of the the State Boys Rebellion at the Fernald School for the Feebleminded.

From a journalistic perspective, this is a tremendous piece of writing & investigation. Evaluating the events primarily through the eyes of Fred Boyce, the author skillfully weaves in the stories of fellow inmates at the Fernald school and the events leading up to the rebellion. Unfortunately, the key point that I see as the "rebellion" only gets about 4 pages of treatment, with regular references to the people involved in the riot throughout the rest of the book. Boyce's life is traced up through the time when the book was written, and is a compelling story.

From a historical standpoint, although there is no clear thesis, the book obviously was written to educate the reader about the Fernald school and a few key residents that were able to make great strides in their lives and lead a relatively "normal" life after being released from the institution. The most interesting argument the author presents is that some of the medical experiments conducted within the confines of the Fernald school were reflective of Cold War America, where government aims included furthering science in an effort to find a way to defeat the Communists.

Overall, this is a very interesting book and an easy read. The story is enthralling, and keeps the reader entertained throughout. If the reader is looking for a comprehensive story of the American Eugenic movement, this is not the book; I believe there are probably better scholarly works out there that address eugenics in America. I would recommend this as a book to start one's understanding of eugenics and how this one school in the Boston area plays into the bigger picture.

I never gave the imposing Fernald School campus much thought, even though the house I shared with my friends was literally across the street from the large brick buildings. It was not until I researched the effects of radiation on soldiers during the Cold War that I learned Fernald's dirty secrets. I immediately bought this book, and it filled me with rage and despair. D'Antonio's style is not preachy, nor does he editorialize. He allows the recollections of those who were there to speak for him. Wherever he can, he uses several sources to shade each event, from conversations with the boys, to the memories of the staff members, to the cold, un-enlightening medical records from the school. As others have said, the story ends not in misery but in triumph. It is a cautionary tale about society's complacency and willingness to let the horrors of our past remain behind the locked doors of our crumbling institutions.

The State Boys Rebellion tells the story of the Fernald State School in Massachusetts. Michael D'Antonio does a great job of telling the story through the eyes of Freddie Boyce, a child that grew up in Fernald. The story is quite chilling, specially to those of us who did not live through that time period. It is disgraceful that we, the United States actually started Eugenics, although I was taught in school that Nazi Germany was the creator. This book should remind us that as a society, we sometimes leave out the bad stuff our forefathers did, even if they meant no harm. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone, but it will touch the heart of anyone with a child who is considered "special".

Striking It Rich is my bed-sided book. I used to live in Phnom Penh for a few years and understand the people as well as their culture. A society in which the power is Gun and Money. I really admire Doctor Sheftall because he dared to risk his life by playing golf with those military generals. The author is a super intelligent, talent and funny person. Through the very incredible, amazing golf stories and other ones in his life in Southeast Asia, Doctor Sheftall shared his life experiences in a very funny way but he really means it: My eyes darted between my beautiful angel, her husband, the AK-47, her nipple pressing against the front of her pajamas, the door, her husband, the AK-47, her nipples, the door... Then a strange calm came over me......

I couldn't help laughing with the way he wrote the stories. You will enjoy it. I would recommend to anyone to this book and of course to the golf players.

Rein Forest

Reid Sheftall, an American doctor who specializes in burn and reconstructive surgery lives and practices medicine in Cambodia, a country in which feuds are sometimes settled by splashing acid on one's enemy.

At 46, Dr. Sheftall wondered if he, a practicing surgeon, could return to the game of golf and play respectably on the professional tour, while keeping his day job. He had been a promising junior some 28 years ago when he quit playing golf to pursue other sports. It wouldn't be easy to qualify for the Malaysian Pro Golf Tour, but the temptation lingered. While running a medical center in Phnom Penh and treating children of unfortunate acid attacks, he practiced his swing by hitting balls at ships cruising by on the Mekong River.

How he became part of that pro tour is revealed in his recent memoir, Striking it Rich: Golf in the Kingdom with Generals, Patients and Pros. Sheftall utilizes his golfing adventure as the framework to chronicle his work as a surgeon, as well as the joys and pitfalls of being a 46-year-old bachelor living in Cambodia.

For instance, when he played in his second pro tournament, the Chevrolet Open, Dr. Sheftall was concerned about his travel expenses to and in Pattaya, Thailand, where the tournament was being played. An expensive hotel in a Thai beach resort could be a budget-buster for the third world surgeon. So, he found an inexpensive hotel - a real bargain at only $[...] per night - even if it was located down a dark alley. It did not occur to Sheftall that this was a house of ill repute until the all- female "bell-hop" staff appeared dressed in string bikinis. All night, he heard banging on doors and giggling girls running in the corridors. Due to the commotion and lack of sleep, he nearly missed his tee time the next day.

Striking it Rich includes numerous entertaining experiences and tips that are appropriate for golfers and non-golfers. What appears to be a story about a middle-aged fellow and his quest to become a professional golfer after years away from the game, morphs into a collection of stories of unexpected humor and heart-touching encounters. The reader is treated to a peek into the life of a struggling golfer on the pro circuit who is also a doctor that continues to treat patients. Dr. Sheftall must also learn dating etiquette in a foreign country. This is one of those rare books this reader hated to finish, knowing the story continues as the doctor continues to golf his way across Southeast Asia.

I recommend this inspirational book to anyone looking for more than mere entertainment in their leisure reading. Striking It Rich opened up new areas of interest for me, including a fascination for life in a part of the world I knew little about prior to reading this book. Dr. Sheftall's story inspired me to face new challenges in middle age and to provide assistance and awareness for the unfortunate victims of acid attacks in Cambodia.

Half the profits of the $19.95 book go to Operation Kids, a charity founded by Dr. Sheftall in 2001, to provide free surgery for burned and disfigured children of the developing world who otherwise can not afford treatment.



A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Reid Sheftall graduated with a physics degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When he was only 21, he became a member of the University of Southern California faculty. Later, after a brief stint as a card counter in Nevada, he went to medical school. He completed his surgery residency and a fellowship in pediatric burn reconstruction. Dr. Sheftall currently lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he serves Director of the American Medical Center, Phnom Penh.

Dr. Sheftall is also the author of The Tour Player's Handbook: Strategic Decisions Under Pressure in Tournament Golf. Readers may email him with questions or comments at [...].

This is a fantastic book which combines a unique golf odyssey with some fascinating cultural insights on southeast asian culture. For a full review, please see my article on thesandtrap.com, at [..]If you aren't intrigued enough by the story line to buy the book, remember that half of all proceeds from sales go to fund Dr. Sheftall's charitable efforts in Cambodia. Happy reading!

What an incredible book. While there are a lot of Golf stories in this book it really is about so much more and can be applied to any sport or business venture. I couldn't put it down.I learned a lot about the importance of the mental aspect of the game/sports and how you must play it one shot at a time and forget the bad ones as well as the good ( something I had never thought of). I laughed out loud and was amazed at the incredibly awkward situations the author was capable of getting himself into ( over and over and I laughed harder each time). He must be brilliant, scoring 800 on the SAT Math, Physics degree from MIT, Med School and Re-constructive Surgical training and then decides at age 46 that he wants to become a PGA
golfer ....all while doing recontructive surgery on children in Cambodia.
I am making my kids read this book ....there is so much to learn here.
You owe it to yourself to read this one...you won't regret it.

I first noticed this book while looking for something new to read about Cambodia which is the birthplace of my adopted daughter. Being the father of an avid junior golfer myself, I figured this book would be a great change of pace from the usual geopolitical issues which plague this poor nation. The fact that the photographer who took the cover photo was a college friend of my wife's and that Dr. Sheftall practices both golf and medicine at the hotel where my only Cambodian friend is employed as a bellman made the book irresistable. I was not dissappointed.

This book is about golf and much more. It is about a man who has made the most of his talents both on and off the course. It is about taking a healthy attitude toward golf and life, about being part of something bigger than yourself and recognizing both the obligation and reward of giving back to others. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sheftall shows that it is possible to have a heck of a good time along the way and this is how you'll feel as you read this book. Sure, both life and golf can be really bad at times, but if you, like this truly gifted man, really want to be a player in both, you can have a grand time.

So pick up this book and have a better time than you probably will out on the golf course. The author is one of the good guys in the world and I hope he takes the time to write a sequel. With or without golf, this is one fascinating life.