D Books

I'd recommend this book for anyone who has ever been bitten by a tick, or wondered what to do if they were. Doctors love to shrug a tick bite off with a round of antibiotics. Obviously, if it were that easy to get rid of Lyme Disease, people wouldn't still have it. I'd also recommend it to anyone who suffers from chronic pain, illness, or injury. I don't have Lyme disease. However, I'm suffering from an occupational injury at work, and I found the natural detox strategies outlined in the book to be helpful. I think the information about wellness in general and the role that hope and faith play in a person's recovery to be universally relevant. I love the author's honesty about the emotional and practical struggles she encounters. She talks about real things that other authors often overlook in health books: money woes, job concerns, doubts, and moments of emotional crisis. Yet the book leaves me with a great sense of hope - for recovery, for wellness, and for emotional healing. She goes beyond the medical and speaks to the spiritual aspect of suffering. Unlike other books, she manages to do this without being preachy or dogmatic. If you are currently suffering from Lyme Disease, there are excellent references and resources contained in the book. I don't think most MDs would know about a lot of the therapies here. Lyme Disease is still not fully understood. The author has a way of spinning the woes of being human into something that can be digested, understood, examined, and ultimately laughed at, or at least smiled upon. A big thumbs up for this book.

A must read for anyone suffering with Lyme, trying to find strategies to cope, accurate information on Lyme disease and some good belly-laughs! Connie Strasheim has given us a gift of information in a very personal and real way. She has outlined essential basics as well as choices for many healing modalities that she has explored. I highly recommend this book - it is a pleasure to read and an invaluable resource.

Connie's writing is heartfelt and important, especially for anyone wanting to find out about lyme disease, current tests, treatments and lifestyle strategies for dealing with lyme. Important information on lyme can be hard to obtain and is often difficult to read and understand. Yet Connie has done the work for us and organized the information in an easy to read, understandable way using real life examples and a little bit of levity. She has also provided us with various resources and links for further, indepth information on a variety of related topics. It is a must read. John E., J.D.

I have found the information in Connie's book, "The Lyme Disease Survival Guide," to be of extreme help as I deal with my own case of Chronic Lyme Disease. Her book is fresh and full of really good, practical strategies. It is in a class of its own. Her approach to healing Lyme Disease comes from a perspective that is full of wisdom. She understands how the mind, body and spirit work together to influence health. She beautifully conveys her humble convictions with humor and solid advice. She understands the mind of a Lyme sufferer and gives hope to the reader. Her book not only provides practical, up-to-date information, but also contains the potential to inspire. Her book is a treasure indeed.

When I first met Connie, and began reading her blog, I could tell right away she was gifted in sifting through information and finding the "nuggets" with the most value. But writing a good book requires more than just that skill. It also requires having the clarity and vision to know how, and when, to communicate the information to readers. Connie brings all this to the table unquestionably. And as a bonus, her writing style is very encouraging and uplifting and after reading her book, you really do feel better and more hopeful in a way that allows you to keep fighting and researching. I truly believe this book is an asset to the Lyme disease community.

Bryan Rosner
Publisher, Lyme Disease Author
BioMed Publishing Group

Swami Radha has made a profound contribution to Yoga and related lore in her writings; this is an outstanding example. Written with candor and intense spiritual insight, she adds an important volume to the literature of Mantra Yoga. Moreover, her personal experience and eminent qualification to address this topic adds power and depth to her treatise. This is a book to read slowly, reflectively, savoring her elegant yet remarkably simple manner of revealing one of India's great secrets. A valuable addition to the library of any serious student of Yoga or Eastern traditions.

This book is so beautifully written and to read it is to experience and connect to all those ancient sages who heard them, chanted them and turned them into a heritage of treasure for us.
OM Shanti, Sannjasi Shraddhamurti

This book gives many ways to use mantras, how they benefit you during meditation, the power of specific mantras, etc. The author includes her own story and uses it to inspire as well as educate. A very good book for those of us who are new to the eight-fold path.

I am a practitioner of mantra chanting, I liked the way Swami Radha explanied the subtle concepts which helped me to enhance my practice also her explanations cleared my doubts and increased my faith. Mantra chanting sometimes feel dry and boring, we get many doubts as the process is long and slow, Swami Radha addressed such questions, it is a must for all people who are interested in Mantra chanting.

I found this book to be an excellent resource for my Mantra practice. It is clearly written and describes the benefits of Mantra practice in a way that speaks to my heart. There is a strong focus on the devotional aspect of a mantra practice, and also on the specific effects of various mantras.
Swami Radha is direct and inspiring, encouraging too. As a Hatha Yoga teacher, I would highly recommend this book to students who are interested in knowing about the practice of Mantra Yoga.

Great book. Insightful writing.

I purchased this book for my American Religious Diversity class and found that it gives you a clear timeline of the Civil Rights Movement and how Martin viewed it as the American dream and how Malcolm viewed it as a nightmare. The book's chapters follow the Civil Rights Movement chronologically by date and discuss Martin's and Malcolm's personal lives, religious obligations, beliefs, priorities, and virtually every other aspect in enough detail to give you a clear picture of the time. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement.

Dr. Cone really points out the differences between Dr King and Malcolm X like no one else. But more importantly he sees so many simalaities. For erxample Malcom X encouraged blacks to go to Christian churches and get involved in social isues. Further, Dr Cone points out that Malcolm X wanted to go to Law School!!.

Also it is interesting that Dr. King refused to debate their respective postions.

Every time I am in Harlem at Lennox Ave and 125th St. I reflect on Dr Cone's masterpiece.

Have all children and adults read this book.

Darrell Pone,MD
Old Westbury, NY

Dr James Cone's MARTIN AND MALCOLM AND AMERICA: A DREAM OR A NIGHTMARE is one of the best books I've encountered.

Cone discusses the rhetorical strategies of Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X as they applied to their particular audiences: King to the South and Malcolm X to the North. Cone argues that Martin King's strategy of non-violent protest, while effective in the extremely segregated and anti-integrationist South, was not effective in the North (particularly in cities like Chicago and Detroit) because the discourse and policy of "integration" was already superficially accepted by Northeners. The "liberal" North found King's rhetoric to be more or less agreeable even as the structures of discrimination continued to subject black people to a brutal double-standard. Thus Malcolm X's policy of Black Nationalism (separatist rather than integrationist) that allowed for violence epitomized by the slogan "by any means necessary" was more successful in the North because it more effectively confronted personal and systematic racism. Long story short: two different rhetors with different rhetorics because of different situations, different audiences, with different immediate goals. Interestingly, near the close of both men's lives--Malcolm X killed in 1965 and Martin King in 1968--Malcolm began to sound a little more like Martin; and Martin began to speak even more forcefully, not unlike Malcolm had been known to do previously.

I had the great luxury of hearing Dr Cone present a lecture based on the book back in 1992. Twelve years later, my assesment of the book remains constant: Outstanding.

This book is one of the best books I've read concerning MLK Jr. and Malcolm X in a comparative manner. From beginning to end it is written in a fashion that keeps you intrigued. I won't provide a summary because that has already been done but the detail of these mens lives is remarkable. I definitely feel that you can not go wrong with purchasing this book because you will not be disappointed.

very efficient delivery.
product in very good state.

This is the standard by which most other Cardiology board review texts are measured. This new version is not as readable in my opinion as its previous version. The whole reason I bought it was to avoid the Brunwauld-esque style, but alas I think this text book is becoming like the Braunwald text which certainly is not a review book. On the other hand, the ECG section in outline format was too bare bones. All in all, not the greatest review book in the world but not too many viable alternatives when trying to review for Cardiology Boards. I guess it's the only game in town.

I bought this book as a resident transitioning into a cardiology fellowship. The content is between a board review book and a more comprehensive text, i.e. Braunwald. It is an excellent resource for a focused, yet thorough, review of most cardiology topics.

Strenghts are that it is very readable, has key points emphasized in outline format throughout text, is sufficiently detailed to learn a topic relatively well, has pertinent cardiology trials integrated into the text, and a nice very focused key point review at the end for last minute board prep.

One con is that there are no references to journal articles for more detailed reading.

I would recommend this book to any resident wanting a good cardiogy text or for fellows in training. Also a nice review for practicing cardiologists.

Excellent resource book that is written clearly enough for people who are not necessarily medically trained. Reading the chapter on my own heart condition allowed me to have a great conversation with my cardiologist that went beyond the usual "this is what you have, take these pills, see me again in 6 months....". This book is great!

Very good review for Cardiology Boards. Not necessarily an easy read but the review books which are as such tend to be too simple. This is probably a good happy medium between the quickie review books and a Braunwald's

The top featured reviewer of this book on Amazon at the time of my writing this was wrong, this book is very definitely correctly rated by Amazon as normally suited for children of nine and upwards, and younger in exceptional circumstances. It is also suited for, and most definitely not beneath, parents, teachers, and other caring professionals who might deal with with transsexual children or are interested in the rights and treatment of minorities.

Although the book is now long out of print some copies do get offered for resale and are worth securing for key libraries and collections. The author has also, for the sake of those who need the information, need to know, permitted the book to be made available on the Internet, for free, but without the photographs. For which there is a reason - the privacy of her daughter.

The book is real, rather than "heart-warming", although the outcome is good, candidly telling the problems, mostly with "caring professions", the family faced and largely overcame. Unfortunately many of those problems might still be the same today in many locations, eight years on from the date of publication, unless the right connections can be accessed, the wrong people avoided. But in some locations, with the right information, things can be rather better.

Some prescribers will intervene in time to prevent a child having to face the painful and prolonged facial hair removal detailed, or the pubertal drop of the voice, excess height, excess foot size, etc., that might have been suffered (or breast growth and menstruation in the case of transsexual boys). The best surgeons will now accept 16-year-olds for surgery if both parents agree, and there is utterly convincing evidence that the child has been living, including with the appropriate hormonal regime, as the sex of identity for a substantial time. In other words that the child absolutely needs and desires the surgery, has full support, and the surgeon's legal position is secure. Thus the tortured and exploitative need the family in the book suffered, trying to collect, as a "qualification", letters from a succession of "mental health professionals" who had no experience or ability in the field but basically wanted the fees and took advantage of the chance to project their uninformed opinions and prejudices upon the child and their family, can be avoided. Which is not to say there are no able and supportive professionals.

In a few countries public health services will handle the entire path, although none yet do it perfectly, entirely without anxiety or an approach of "testing" the child, as opposed to acceptance of their core and unchangeable identity, which is supposed to be every child's right.

No one should be astonished at this. Such children have been documented at least back to Roman times, and in many cultures. It is supported by some religions whilst being cruelly condemned by others. It is clearly a natural phenomenon.

So the book should be taken as a warning as well as an example, a very real and true example, indeed an historical record, of how a case of transsexuality (note: NOT transgender, this child was, from first asking her mother for help, always clear of her need to be physically female, and considerable effort and devotion was expended in securing the necessary surgery) can be experienced, treated, and survived. A very important and valuable book.

Mom, I Need to be a Girl
by
Just Evelyn
Reviewed by Dave Parker
This heartwarming story describes the transition of Daniel to Danielle as a teenager with the incredible support of her courageous mother. Unlike many transition stories, it is told from the mother's viewpoint.
What do you say when your 15 year old son states "I need to be a girl?" How can a parent cope? Is love enough?
Daniel's dad and mother split when he was 5. With three boys to raise, Evelyn worked 2 jobs while the oldest took care of his younger brothers. Eventually she started her own business. The two older boys moved out and shared an apartment when the oldest started college, leaving Daniel and Evelyn to work through Daniel's transition together.
The book follows the usual steps of a parent confronted with a transsexual child - anguish and confusion; learning about transgender; acceptance; and finally, joy. Danielle transitioned during high school, with great help from both her mother and her school administration.
A single mother with no child support, Evelyn learned electrolysis in order to save money on treatments for Danielle and to earn money for doctors, medication, and sexual reassignment surgery. Evelyn relocated in order to put Danielle in a school willing to accommodate her transitioning daughter. When Danielle was 17, they traveled together to Wisconsin for surgery. Evelyn was her recovery nurse afterward.
The book discusses their journey together as they freed and welcomed Danielle as a new young girl. Both positive and negative experiences with medical professionals, school administrators, and family are reviewed. Suggestions for those following the same path are offered.
This book is the story of a very loving and dedicated mother helping her unhappy son become her outgoing, joyous daughter. There are important lessons here for all parents of transsexuals, but especially for parents of very young transgender children. The entire story exemplifies unconditional love for one's child.

This amazing book tells the story of one courageous mother who walks a difficult path with her child. The sacrifices she makes along the way for her daughter demonstrate her unconditional love. Every transgender child should be so lucky as to have Evelyn for their mother!

This out of print book is written by the mother of a young transsexual. Highly readable, it is the heartwarming account of how Evelyn helped her new daughter, Danielle, negotiate her way through the various social institutions in the USA. The book contains useful advice for parents and transgendered children on how to deal with family, schools, the medical profession, and day to day life. Evelyn wisely advises: "Let your teen make the decisions about his or her life whenever possible. Keep a sense of humour and use lots of hugging." She also notes that if transgendered kids see themselves as "brave and proud" others are less likely to view them as outcasts.

Although Amazon.com seems to have placed this book in the Children's Section, it is definitely NOT a child's book. Written in a language that any high school student should be able to comprehend completely, it is primarily a book for the parent of a transsexual child to read. It chronicles the extreme difficulties faced by a single mother of a transsexual teenage boy transitioning to womanhood. The reader will quickly become angered at the politics which come into play at the local level and at the incompetence rampant within the medical establishment, particularly in the psychiatric arena where so-called experts, who seem to have little knowledge of the issues involved, don't blink an eye at charging exhorbitant fees for their incompetent services and advice.

This book is a MUST READ for every adult with a transsexual child. I firmly believe there should be a copy in every public library, and it should be on the bookshelf of every counsellor, psychiatrist and psychologist.

This book chronicles the problems faced by the single mother of a transsexual male child. The anguish, the heartache and the unnecessary turmoil, through which mother and child are forced to endure, caused by society at large and the professional medical establishment, makes compelling reading. Just because this outstanding work is written in language easily understandable by any high school level teenager, don't make the mistake that it is a child's book.

Highly recommended for all who are facing the same life story, as well as for those who counsel and provide professional 'advice' to those having to deal with a transssexual life. Every public library should have a copy as should every professional dealing with the phenomenon of transsexuality.

as film student, this text is very inspirational and i keep going back to it for motivation. i read the whole book through the moment i turned the first page. this is a great inspirational book for anyone who is interested in studying or working in film.

This is, hands down, the best collection of advice -from the world's best directors- that I've ever laid my hands on. I came away from each of the interviews feeling illuminated and motivated to tackle my next directing job.

If you want to read something that is actually helpful, rather than some long-winded, boring 'how-to' book (which, let's face it, are almost always terrible) then this is the book to pick up. It is loaded with practical advice, articulated by very intelligent and respected individuals.

Want to know how Woody Allen shoots his films? He sums it up in about two paragraphs! Want to know what lenses Cronenberg shoots with? Well, he tells you! Whether you agree with the techniques of each of these directors, it is fascinating to hear them describe their unique approach.

I will always reference this book before tackling a film project...

Great stuff. Gives a lot of info on each director. For example; Sidney Pollack was an acting coach before he became a director.
This book is filled with insight, knowledge and terrific stories all from the top directors of our time.

This book is great and has a wealth of insightful conversation with some amazing directors but my one complaint is that the bulk of the book is framed too similarly. While the directors all have their unique take and insights, Tirard essentially asks them all the same questions which leads to repetition over the bulk of the book. In no way am I saying not to purchase this book but I'm simply criticizing it's redundancy.

This is exactly what a moviemakers master class should be. It asks technical and artistic questions to some of the greatest directors of all time.

If you want to hear why Tim Burton likes wide lenses, which contemporary directors Scorsese admires and why, Jean Pierre Jeunet's theory of camera movement, David Lynch's "secret dolly move", John Woo's method of shooting and cutting scenes to music, The Coen brothers writing process, Lars Von Trier's take on the rules of Dogme 95, Jean-Luc Goddard's theory of filmmaking out of desire vs. need, then this book is your ticket.

This is a goldmine of knowledge. There are no fluff interviews here; only the best filmmakers in the world relating solid technical advice and tried and true shooting strategies developed from years of experience.

with so many biographies about 60s era icons coming out now regaling their bygone days and sometimes nightmarish tales of sex, drugs and r&r, it's refreshing to hear a story that is not only current, but enlightening as both author D'Mot and folkstar Donovan play their parts in bringing forth the music once again. A well written, entertaining, and easy to read book that anyone from who recalls the summer of love will enjoy.

I found this an engaging book, one that I could hardly put down once I started reading. Although this is Lucy's first published book, her writing style flows like a conversation with a friend. A friend who sees evidence of a higher mind at work in everyday happenings. I found this book strengthening my metaphysical faith in a force for good at work in the universe. This book is inspirational to all who desire to follow their own path. Lucy certainly did, but it takes much courage. A wonderful read, highly recommended.

I've been a Donovan-fan since first hearing Catch the Wind 40 years ago. My wife and I visited California two years ago and saw the tribute to Donovan and loved that too. This book tells the story of the making in an entertaining, easy to read, conversational style that makes you feel like you're sitting in the author's living room. As she describes her every day miracles, it gives one pause to take notice of the special things in our own lives that we might be overlooking. The author's humor is evident throughout. I'm touched by this this book, by Donovan's music and the tribute music and hope they all continue forever.

I found this book so compelling that I just couldn't put it down. So many of the thoughts expressed resonated with me as well. Inspiration really does come to those who seek it, and people really are drawn together for a reason - even if that reason is only understood in retrospect. So many people talk of writing a book, or pursuing some other dream, but never do it. Ms. D'Mot has led a fascinating life, and has done things others only dream of. Her courage and creativity enabled her not only to overcome grief, but to touch the lives of others in a positive way. Her life demonstrates, in a most uplifting way, that it CAN be done!

There is an old saying that a moving target is hard to hit. I think this also holds true for both life and Lucy D'Mot's book Moving Mountains. It's a great first-hand tale of being open to the universe, even while having a doubting streak. I hope this book allows other folks to be able to have the courage to listen to those voices, omens, signs (no matter what manifestation they come in) to pursue their dreams.

The images in this book are great and truly inspiring. The panoramic format really adds to the impression. Mangelsen has shot the images around the globe from Alaska to the desert in Africa.

What a beautiful display of God's wonderful creation! The books great, but there are two pages that are smudged. However, I can live with the smudging for the price I paid.

...this is the one. Tom Mangelsen was named by American Photo as one of the "100 Most Important People in Photography" and this book shows why. His work is not what one would usually expect in nature photography. He breaks through a genre that has become something of a cliche and surprises the viewer/reader with a broad, holisitic look at nature that astonishes and moves. This is my favorite book on nature, ever.

This book makes a great gift. It's big and beautiful and unusual, and the photography is spectacular. The book is bound at the top for optimal viewing of the panoramic scenery. Mangelsen is a genius with a sophisticated eye for composition, color, depth... The text is wonderful, explaining the story behind the photographs. This is the consummate coffee table book. It lives on our coffee table and everyone who sits on the couch instantly becomes mesmerized with the beauty of each page.

I was a fan of Mangelsen's photos before I bought the book, but wow! Page after page of excellent photos. it's the coffee table book that is rarely ever on the coffee table because people are oohing and ahhing over the wonderful content

I write educational songs for a living, stuff in the vein of Schoolhouse Rock. I used to rely on online rhyming dictionaries until I found this book, which is about 20 times more thorough than any website I've found. This book has saved me countless hours and made my songs immeasurably better. I love this book!

I use this book often to write poetry. It is helpful that it has many phrases that I would not usually think of on my own.

I bought this, not too long ago, for a friend of mine who is a high school English teacher. She raves about how helpful it is to her in class and how much the kids enjoy using it.

She has stressed its value so much that I now feel it is a must for my reference library. After all we've all been there, trying to find a rhymne for that odd word. It's like trying to think of a synonym something and there not a thesaurus to be found.

I teach a college course in songwriting, and in preparing to teach the course did an extensive review of many rhythming dictionaries. This one is by far the best, for the reasons other reviewers have stated.

If you buy one rhyming dictionary, make it this one. It's the one I use.

Hi

It has been my good fortune to songwrite with many of the world's greatest songwriters, and to have had a bit of commercial success. So, for what it's worth, I offer the following review of this dictionary, plus a few other recommendations for aspiring lyricists and songwriters.

I own eight or nine rhyming dictionaries, and am constantly on the lookout for others, and basically, they all pretty much suck compared to this one. You certainly don't need any of them but this one, and I am continually surprised when browsing through bookshops to see many of those other lousy books on the shelves, but not Sue Young's excellent reference book. I don't know what the explanation for that is, but whatever it is, it has nothing to do with quality. If something has superceded it, I don't know about it.

Young's book has four main strengths which put it above the pack:

1.) It simply has a greater number of rhyming words than other dictionaries;

2.) It includes rhyming phrases, e.g., when you go to look for rhymes for "ground" you will find (amongst single words) phrases like "merry go round", "lost and found", etc. This feature is a valuable rarity.

3.) It arranges the rhyming options under each suffix in groups according to numbers of syllables: first there are the single syllable options, then the two syllable options, and so on. Believe it or not, I have a number of rhyming dictionaries which instead list options in alphabetical order (mixing up one, two, three, and four syllable options), obviously a cumbersome and time-wasting arrangement.

4.) Unlike those found in most other dictionaries, Young's rhyming lists include slang words/phrases, contractions, acronyms, obscenities, abbreviations, etc. Beat poets to Broadway lyricists to Ogden Nash humourists to rock writers will all appreciate these.

Perhaps I might also add that if you are an aspiring songwriter who wishes to enjoy commercial success (i.e., getting on the radio in whatever genre, or in broadway shows, etc.), Young's book could help form a kind of "starter reference package". The components would include:

1.) The New Comprehensive American Rhyming Dictionary by Sue Young

2.) Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus by Barbara Ann Kipfer (this is the best one out there).

3.) Any or all of the Sheila Davis lyric writing books, especially, "Successful Lyric Writing: A Step-by-Step Course and Workbook". (Davis' books are clinical and mechanical, but you need to know song mechanics in order to be a consistently successful songwriter. Her books are really good for this, though won't be appreciated by those certain that each aspect of a song is dictated by heavenly muses rather than largely being the product of conscious and unconscious mental effort).

4.) If you would like an in-depth, "artistic" perspective on songwriting by a successful songwriter, add to this list the Jimmy Webb book, "Tunesmith: Inside the Art of Songwriting". (This one isn't necessary, it just may be of interest to some people).

I should add that most of the other "How to Write a Song!" type books out there are total garbage, so I wouldn't even bother with them.

But by far the best thing aspiring songwriters can do is deconstruct their own favourite songs to see why and how they work, and then incorporate what they discover into their own catalogue of creative knowledge.

Anyway, bravo to Sue Young for coming up with the best rhyming dictionary out there.

I hope this review has helped someone. Good luck.

I ordered this book for my father, whose brother died in WWII. The family was given almost no information at the time, but by piecing together details, my mother determined that he was almost certainly on a particular boat when it was sunk by the enemy. That fact was confirmed by this book, and it offered a lot of information that is offered only sketchily in other areas. We appreciate the author and the information he was able to provide families, as well as the story of the wonderful chaplains. My mother, an avid reader (particularly about WWII), said this was one of the best written histories on WWII that she has read.

If you ever feel that your fellow man has no regard for you, pick up this book and don't put it down untill you have finished it. What an inspiring story of four 'Men of God' and their dedication to that God, each other, and all those fortunate enough to have crossed their paths. You will be stunned by the character of each of these great men.

I became intrigued by this story when I was no moare than 10. I was a stamp collector and came into the possession of the stam honoring the four. In those very pre-internet days and in a very small town with few resources I was only able to learn a small amount of the story. Since then there were pieces here and there but it was not until this book that the whole story was made available to me.
I was almost uable to put this book down once I started. It's well written. It's abook that you can read for factual historical content or faith and inspiration. The story of the four chaplains is one of the many little known inspiring and interestng stories of World War Two. Don't pass this book over thinking it is just another relilgous book. It is much more.
In this day and age when we hand out superlatives like they were penny candy, the story of the Chaplains and the sinking of the Dorchester is an almost must read not just for people of faith, but all people.

Everyone who's already reviewed this book has said so much about it that it's hard to find anything more to say about how well it's written, what a great gripping true story it is, and the amazing heroism of the four chaplains. This book is so well-written and has such a compelling and involving story that I read it in like two days, and wished there had been even more. Additionally, this heroic tale from WWII has special meaning to many of the people in my area (New York State's Capital District) because Rev. Clark Poling's church was in nearby Schenectady, providing a local connection.

The book itself follows a somewhat nonlinear format, going back and forth between the pre-war lives of the four chaplains and their lives during the war, particularly after they boarded the Dorchester and arrived in Greenland for a very brief stay before going back on the ill-fated ship. After this point, the narrative switches entirely to a linear format, discussing the ship's final night before being torpedoed by a German U-boat and the chaos, heroism, and tragedy that ensued. Not many people could honestly say that they would give up their lifejackets if their ship went down in freezing waters in the middle of the night (Rabbi Alex Goode even gave up his gloves) or remain calm in the midst of such frantic circumstances and such a life-and-death situation. Many people back then also weren't so forward-thinking about interfaith relations, with a Reform rabbi, a Catholic priest, and two reverends from different Protestant denominations being such close friends and reaching out equally to everyone on the ship, largely being nonsectarian apart from when they did things like conduct services. This was still an era in which many Protestants and Catholics didn't associate with one another, to say nothing of the rampant institutionalised prejudice against Jews, and, in a number of areas, against Catholics as well. They set a moving and heroic example for all time, not just in the area of interfaith relations, but also in the area of selfless sacrifice. It was interesting to read in the Afterword about some of the people who have since been awarded the Immortal Chaplains Prize for Humanity Award, such as the Japanese Righteous Gentile Chiune Sugihara, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Omri Abdel-Halim al-Jadah, a Palestinian Muslim who died while saving a young Israeli Jewish boy from drowning. The Afterword also provided information on what happened to the survivors of the Dorchester sinking and the near and dear ones of the chaplains.

As we find out all throughout the book, this tragedy could have been prevented (it was kind of like a smaller-scale Titanic) if only the Dorchester had been inspected more closely or refurbished, or if there had been enough lifejackets and safety instructions provided, and even after disaster struck, the casualties could have been reduced if the nearby American ships had begun searching for survivors and bringing them onto their ships right away instead of thinking nothing serious had happened or going after the attacking U-boat first, but even in the midst of such bungling and such a chaotic disaster, the amazing heroism of the chaplains shone through as well as it would have in calmer circumstances.

With a sickening thump, an explosion wracked the troop transport S.S. Dorchester - a German torpedo had found its mark. It was shortly after midnight, February 3, 1942, and the ship was about to sink into the deadly cold waters off of Greenland. As men panicked and struggled to find a way to save their own lives, four men walked amongst them spreading calm and encouragement. Helping everyone they could find, even giving away their own precious lifejackets, the four chaplains - Rev. George Lansing Fox (Methodist), Rabbi Alex Goode, Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Fr. John Washington (Catholic) - sought to serve their God and the fellow men. And when the end came, survivors saw the four chaplains, locked arm in arm, praying on the upside-down hull of the ship, just before it dove beneath the waves.

This book tells the remarkable true story of four men who joined the American military as chaplains, their experiences at their Massachusetts training camp, and their final tragic mission. It is a story that is bound to bring a tear to your eye, but it is also a great story of faith and truly living the life of godly sacrifice. Overall, I think that this is a great book, on that I highly recommend to everyone.