Death Books

I can only look at the events of September 11, 2001 in a spiritual sense. After those terrible acts, I went to church to seek solace, pray for the victims and their families and also pray for the perpetrators. All humans are members of God's family despite the atrocities we commit against each other and we all will face God on Judgement Day. Therefore, I don't believe that the terrorists won: their hatred was and is totaly alien to God's nature and wishes for God's children and I believe they will suffer eternally. And, as Reverend Jakes wrote in his sermon, Jesus took many to be with him at the end of their lives. Christ is the Christian's hope and light in the terrible darkness we are walking through today. His love is a salve to me as it is to many others. The author's in this book accurately pointed out the many mistakes American politicians have made in foreign policy and have supported evil when it was to in their minds, advantageous to America. This book is well-written and I believe a must-read for those of us who are seeking answers.

So many people are turning to faith since September 11, looking for reassurance, trying to find answers to hard questions. This remarkable book skips the banal platitudes; instead, it gave me real, solid guidance to begin to face those hard questions and try to make sense of it all. The variety and depth of this astounding collection of essays is breathtaking. I was astonished by how many different faiths are represented. Especially moving, to me, was a New York parish priest's account of ministering to victims. We also get to eavesdrop on the Beliefnet community as they helped each other cope in the days following the attacks; the personal interactions are riveting. Only Beliefnet could have created this book. This is a gift that truly will help us all rise "from the ashes."

I stumbled across beliefnet.com a few days after September 11 and found it to be full of much of the best and most insightful writing to be found anywhere. This book, which compiles many of the articles Beliefnet has published on the tragedy, demonstrates that the spiritual issues raised in the articles Ñ justice, evil, retaliation, even the very existence of God Ñ are not just timely. They are issues we are going to have to deal with over and over again. And this book is loaded with wisdom for anyone who is attempting to deal honestly with those issues.

The authors range from traditionalist Christians to Bishop John Shelby Spong, who argues that after September 11, we have to picture God in a different way than we ever have before. The ideas range from strong supporters of military response to the Dalai Lama and Bishop Tutu who counsel forgiveness. One of the most interesting pieces, for me, was Karen Armstrong's essay on Islam, comparing its attitude toward violence to that of Judaism and Christianity. There has been so much nonsense published on that subject over the past month. It was wonderful to read the insights of someone who understands and respects all three faiths.

The best thing about this book is that despite the range of opinions (which guarantees that every reader is going to find many ideas they disagree with), I did not find a single essay to be without merit. Even the ones I disagreed with all said things I felt I had to think about. There is no political or spiritual posturing here, but, in every case, an open and honest discussion of issues.

This is a beautifully written and important book for anyone who cares about spiritual issues.

I can only look at the events of September 11, 2001 in a spiritual sense. After those terrible acts, I went to church to seek solace, pray for the victims and their families and also pray for the perpetrators. All humans are members of God's family despite the atrocities we commit against each other and we all will face God on Judgement Day. Therefore, I don't believe that the terrorists won: their hatred was and is totaly alien to God's nature and wishes for God's children and I believe they will suffer eternally. And, as Reverend Jakes wrote in his sermon, Jesus took many to be with him at the end of their lives. Christ is the Christian's hope and light in the terrible darkness we are walking through today. His love is a salve to me as it is to many others. The author's in this book accurately pointed out the many mistakes American politicians have made in foreign policy and have supported evil when it was to in their minds, advantageous to America. This book is well-written and I believe a must-read for those of us who are seeking answers.

Picked this book up at an airport just before
my flight and was unable to put it down during
the entire flight! It is filled with healing
words, inspirational thoughts, and wisdom from
some of the greatest spiritual leaders of our
times, at a time when so many are desperately
seeking answers to questions regarding this
horrific tragedy against mankind. I strongly
recommend this book --- a must read for all of
us who care deeply about what happened to our
nation on September 11.

I was drawn to this book by the author's own description of the book's message. In the past few years we have witnessed such incredible horrors in our schools, on our streets, and most recently, in New York and Washington. It is easy to blame, to feel helpless, and to feel that life is unfair. GIDEON promised to awaken a sense of hope in this confusing time. To this goal, the book was true. The message was clear and welcome. However, the writing in this book was distracting. Mr. Marshall relied too heavily on the use of simile and metaphor, and it became tiresome when every sentence included some form of a "like or as" statement. Further, the effort to create symbolism was forced, and this too became off-putting. I wished that Mr. Marshall would simple tell his tale, without trying to create a literary "masterpiece". The book was worth reading, but it took me several sittings to get through this relatively short text simply because of the annoying efforts to impose "deep meaning" on every phrase.

Gideon McGee's Dream is full of good direction for a meaningful, joyful and peaceful life. This book may be rated for young adults but many of us actually missed youg adulthood and I feel this book is excellent reading for anyone. Gideon McGee's Dream is a well told story of the things that keep us in our "box" -- fear,distrust and a lack of knowledge. The book is fiction but the "lessons" that the author is presenting are not. Please take the time [short] to read it and make it a must for your young adult to read.

I'm eighteen and graduated from highschool in June. I was on a fast track to nowhere when a friend suggested I read this book. I'm not much for reading, but I trusted this friend. Get this book if you think there's no reason for why things happen! It made me realize that all my misery was self made. Things that made no sense before, suddenly made sense. I've read it through three times now and at first I didn't think the story really took off until about page forty. But each time I read it I find that every page has something to say. If you think life isn't fair, read this book. It could save your life. It did mine.

This book is wonderful reading for both adults and children, especially adolescents. And especially during these times when there seems to be so much focus on the dark side of what is happening around us. Gideon McGee's Dream takes us to the only place -- inside ourselves -- where we can find the key that will open the door and introduce light where the shadows threaten to deprive us of the hope and enthusiasm necessary to live life fully and with courage. Thank you Bill Marshall for such a jewel. :-)

Very good book. I really enjoyed it. Bill Marshall wrote ane-mail to me to let me know about this book. He had read my review ofHarry 3, and thought I'd also like his book. I would never have discovered this book otherwise. I've never heard of the publishing company, and the book hasn't been heard of at the local booksellers or libraries. The book had a couple mistakes in typing, but it didn't take away from the great storyline. I feel like Marshall would need to find a new publisher for this book to make it mainstream, or at least his agent needs to work a bit harder to get readers to know about Gideon McGee. I started and finished the book in one day, which added to the enjoyment of this book.

I loved this book so much I'm buying one for my church library and some for friends. I witnessed my own glimpses of heaven through my grandparents and if those won't make you believe in God, nothing will. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, this book will provide great comfort for you.

Glimpses of Heaven was incredibly comforting. I lost my mother 2 years ago and this book seemed to help put it all into perspective for me. The stories were heartwarming instead of sad or devastating. The writing was excellent, you almost felt like you were right there with the characters. Excellent book if you are struggling with understanding death in the elderly and how you can help them to make that transition when the time comes.

This book was very heartwarming. The people that work in Hopice are angels. This book really helped me understand what a family member is going thru. Death is not an end just, another beinning.

As a former hospice nurse, and now pastor, this book was an affirmation of all of the experiences I have also been blessed with in both vocations. Trudy Harris HAS written a book full of vignettes that provide hope and peace for the natural process of death...and a wonderful glimpse of the Life yet to be!

This is a must read. I couldn't put it down. The stories are very moving and really touches your heart. It really gets you to thinking of how things will be for us. I have hope through this book. Look forward for a Vol II.


God Bless,
Linda

This is an awesome and outstanding book from someone who understands chronic pain, fatigue and the loneliness it can bring. Judy points you to God. It is just what you need each day to remember to look at our Savior rather than our circumstances. Judy writes in a beautiful style that is easy to read, and profound in its conclusions. Judy gives help just when you think you can't go on another day in this painful earthly body. I hope to see many more books by Judy.

When you have a family member or friend in chronic pain, it's hard to know what to do or what to give them. Flowers are temporary and a little plant doesn't seem to be the right gift. Here's the perfect choice with this book from the personal stories of Judy Gann and the seventeen others where she gathered moving stories.

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT gives short bursts of hope in each devotion. The stories are pointed yet easy to read in a brief amount of time. The prayer is right to the target and a verse from the Bible or a relevant quotation wraps each reading in a tight, crafted package.

For example in the devotion called "The View From The Top" concludes with this quote from Warren Wiersbe, "You can't understand why the road doesn't get easier, why God doesn't remove the stones and straighten the path. If God did that, you might never get to the top, because the bumps are what you climb on."

When you cross paths with someone who is challenged to live with pain and chronic illness, this title gives the right dose of encouragement. I highly recommend it.

Two weeks ago, my precious mother-in-law passed away after a long battle with cancer. As I was cleaning out her things, I discovered her journal in which she had written down each day's pulse, BP, heart rate, nausea, hair loss, etc. Right next to the journal, listing all the terrible things happening to her body, was Judy Gann's book with page after page marked with all the wonderful things God was doing in her soul. Everyday of her suffering was met with a day of God's comfort through one of these touching devotionals. Now I get to read through these devotionals, sharing the same hope - the same comfort - my mother-in-law did in her last days. Our God is indeed the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles so we can comfort others when we ourselves have been comforted.

Judy's book is tender and empathetic. I've long felt that friends and family are great in a short-term crisis. But those who struggle with chronic illness (and she includes a wide variety of kinds in the book) often see their support fade away over time. It's a lonely road. Judy understands the experience, and offers bite-size wisdom for weary hearts, minds, and bodies battling trials that have no immediate end in sight.

This book is THE ideal gift for a friend or family member with ongoing health issues, or for someone newly diagnosed with a chronic illness.

The God of All Comfort by Judy Gann is the most helpful book that I have read in the course of my struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. This daily devotional has short readings that pack a lot of punch. Gann addresses all of the daily battles of those who suffer from chronic pain: guilt, anger, frustration, depression with stories of real people along with helpful Scripture. There were time when I opened it up and found exactly what I was feeling that very day. It felt as if the story of my life was written by a perfect stranger, and it was wonderful to know that I am not alone in my pain. It also gave my husband insight into how I feel on occasion. Gann's book is full of hope and understanding for those who suffer. Even if I don't have relief from the pain, I have a friend in Gann and a promise from God for a new, healthy body some day. A must read for those who suffer from chronic pain and for those who love them.

This heartfelt book about deceased pets and the memorials their owners have made for them will strike a beautiful chord in the hearts of anyone who has ever loved and/or owned an animal. As a photographer myself I was immediately moved by the colorful images, predominately pola transfers and infrared shots, that adorn the pages throughout. The list of resources towards the back are also a great addition for pet owners interested in creating their own special memorial to their truest friends who have departed. I highly recommend this book to any pet lovers' book collection.

I love this book. Anyone who has ever loved and lost an animal friend will love this book. Anyone fond of cemeteries will love this book. The author's heart speaks to us through touching stories and beautiful images. She allows us to share in a universal love and remeberance of our animal companions. Not everyone understands the place they share in our lives. Through this book we can feel we are not alone and find some comfort during one of the most difficult times in our lives, the loss of a beloved friend.

This 1st edition with the beautifully done cover is both thought provoking and deeply emotional as well as indispensable for those who have lost a dear pet/"child".
Highly recommended.

Animal lovers face a double problem when a pet dies. The sense of loss can equal that which we feel for a human; but many people look askance at the person who mourns a pet. After all, it was "just" an animal.

Michele Lanci-Altomare's touchingly beautiful book, "Good-Bye My Friend," gives us, finally, permission to weep. The book is a loving compendium of poems and essays written by a variety of people on the deaths of their pets, combined with tender photographs of pet cemeteries and individual graves in the U.S., England and Canada. If you have a friend who has recently lost
a pet--or if you've lost one yourself--a gift of this book is a gift of comfort.

This books not only celebrates the beauty found in pet cemetaries, but the beauty found in the human/animal bond. Michele illustrates through her magnificent photos how deep and eternal the love can be for the animals in people's lives. The stories told are endearing, encouraging the reader to reflect on his own fond memories of the pets in his life. "Goodbye, My Friend" is a gracious tip-of-the-hat to pets and petowners everywhere!

This account of the life of a dearly loved first child called Elie, and of the profoundly difficult choices her parents confront so early in her life, is nothing short of luminous. It is one thing to suffer the pain of your child's illness; it is entirely another to put pen to paper and to share this extraordinary story with the world. In doing so, Kent Gilges inspires us to find joy, hope and resilience as we witness his family's struggle. A Grace Given spans a young couple's courtship, the joy of their first child, the tragedy of her declining health, the sense of powerlessness in dealing with an unknown medical landscape, the unwavering love a family shows a little girl living every day against the odds, and the inevitability of her loss. It also sheds light on how individuals cope with tragedy differently, yet still comprise a strong web of support as family, friends, and community. It takes real bravery to open up your family's life in a published book, and the author certainly exposes his heart to us. Beyond that, in grappling with his own deeply philosophical questions about the meaning of life, he prods us gently to do the same. As a "lapsed Catholic" (certainly in terms of organized religion) myself, I approached what seemed like religious inquiry skeptically; I admit I didn't fully appreciate the import of the author's meeting with the Pope. But what I did fully appreciate was the context of Kent's inquiry as a human being and as a father, which inquiry was to my mind perhaps more philosophical than religious: inspired by his daughter and the questions her life and her illness raise for all of us. This book forces us to confront questions about the role of spirituality in our own lives. It helps us to see the valuable role faith can play in others' lives. And it does so with intelligence, warmth, and wit.

Recently I received A Grace Given for review written by Kent Gilges. This book was both a joy to read and hard to read. In it Kent Gilges who is the father of Elizabeth a child born with a brain tumor is told. This is truly a story of faith and profound grace. Often it reminded me of what C.S. Lewis had told to Sheldon Vanauken that the had received a severe mercy.

The book is written quite wonderfully and it is evident that the author is a talented writer able to relate a tragic story that becomes not so tragic through grace. The author came from a pretty much non-religious background and could be best described as a lapsed-agnostic. There was not a denial of God, but neither much acceptance of God in his life. His wife is Catholic and you can see his own journey in faith and his questioning throughout the book. While his trajectory towards the Catholic Church is evident in the book, it does not appear evident that he has yet joined the Church.

It is such a testament to grace that this couple in the struggle of acceptance of the reality of their daughter illness and the subsequent time caring for her that they never went through a period of doubting and blaming God. There is such beauty and acceptance in them and so much love for their daughter that this book is best read with a box of tissues nearby. You come to know and love their daughter yourself through her fathers' eyes. Their praying for a miracle and going to Lourdes and receiving a private audience with Pope John Paul II are part of the story, but it is the miracles of grace that are most evident in this book.

The book is written as both a sequential retelling of the events as they occurred and with various stories and reflections throughout. This book deserves a wide audience as a testament to Elie and her parents love for her along with the effects of grace in their lives.

The life of Elie can heal your faith and transform your life. Read this book and make peace with the world around you. A great theologian and leader of the Catholic Church has once told me that in all our discussions about suffering we must not forget that there are people out there who live the answer. Elie has lived the answer.

My copy of A Grace Given was received on a Monday. I put it aside until a later date when I would have time to look at it. Well, that time came the followng Thursday as I was relaxing after lunch at home. I work a lot at home. I picked up the book and read a few pages and the next thing I knew it was nighttime and I had finished the book. And, I felt all aglow! It was an intriguing journey and one which will stay with me forever. One thing is clear, Kent Gilges knows how to write! He knows how to put his feelings, beliefs, worries, knowledge,compassion, and most of all love on the written page.Perhaps its because I know his wife's family that I took this so personally, but I don't think so. Anyone who has ever known someone who has had illness in their family will appreciate this journey. And who has not? I'm thinking of buying perhaps a half dozen or more so that I might give it as gifts to the young people in my family for birthday, graduation, Confirmation, or any excuse I can dream up -- it is that powerful. Kent not only received a tremendous Grace from God but the fact is he "received" it, he took it and he used it and he loved it as we all should with the graces given to us by God. A high school friend of mine has been bed ridden for thirty years with MS and she had seven children. They took that grace and they loved her and cherished her and took care of her as no other ever would. They would fight over who would take care of her! She spoke not a word for the last ten years of her life and was on life support and feeding tubes for the last two. That family, as Kent's and Liz' has, received this wonderful gift of grace, named Elie, and loved her and let her lead them to a closer relationship with God. This book will enlighten your life as no other ever has. Enjoy it and your future life!

Kent Gilges writes beautifully. Following his spiritual journey during the ten years that his daughter, Elie, was physically present, was a very positve experience for me. It has reinforced, validated and broadened my own views on life--arrived at only after 82 years of experience. I am impressed that one as young as Kent has arrived "there" already--and even moved beyond; it must be Elie's blessing.

Valuable both for individuals contemplating alternatives and for cemetery managers like myself thinking of establishing a green cemetery.

What a great book, really well done. Mark Harris has written a concise but very informational book on alternative options to the traditional method of caring for the dead. I've been uncomfortable with this method since I was a pre-teen and attended my first funeral, for an uncle who died of cancer in his early 20s. It seemed so strange to me, the artifical blush of his face against the voluptuous bedding in the enormously ornate and polished coffin. It seemed so removed from him, his life, and who he was. The actual burial place seemed removed as well, very sterile and manicured, the standard level emerald green lawn with no understory, trees, and little wildlife. I juxtapose this method with the natural burial method in the last chapter of this book and I'm blown away at how different it can be. Mark Harris has done a fine job of illuminating the realities of the funeral business today in a non-confrontational manner, without sarcasm or a posturing. I appreciate the description of the alternatives in under 200 pages; so many authors these days feel it necessary to expand on a topic ad nauseum for 500-600 pages. This book isn't perfect; there are a few contradictions in the summaries at the end of each chapter when he compares state requirements and Harris doesn't really address the high costs of burial at some of the natural cemetaries (the ones in California come to mind), which is only fair after he extensively discusses the costs of traditional funerals. But these are minor issues with an overall excellent book. Highly recommended.

This book is concise and informative and provides a great overview of the various burial alternatives that are accepted in the US today. It presents the options, which range from one end of the spectrum to the other. This is an eye-opener for those who think the modern funeral industry is the way to go (pun intended). I have already passed this book on to my family and will encourage all my friends and loved ones to read it. At least they can make decision about their own burial from an informed point of view.

I really enjoyed this book. It's organized very systematically with each chapter covering one topic or burial scenario. The first two chapters lay out the current state of affairs in burial. One was on the specifics of embalming and funeral-prep, which was nauseating yet fascinating, and another on the funeral business of selling services - both needed and unneeded - to grieving families. From there, the book goes into actual burial options, starting with the least green of the eco-friendly options (cremation), following through to the most eco-friendly scenario at the end. The chapters themselves are broken down even further with the bulk of the chapter telling a story of a family burying their loved one in the prescribed manner, and ending with a basic informational snapshot or "how-to."

The storytelling tone of the book made for a quick, entertaining read (well, as entertained as one can be when peering into the funerals of others), and occasionally left me a bit choked up due to touching nature of each of the burials and contentment that each family seemed to feel by taking the "green" route and fulfilling their loved ones wishes at the same time.

The book often referred to other well-know books on the funeral industry (Mitford's "American Way of Death," for example), which was smart seeing as the information presented here is more brief than I had hoped. But, really, that's the only criticism I can give it. And if "it was too short!" is the worst the author can do, he should probably be pretty pleased with himself :)

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a more natural way of death and burial, whether to protect the environment or to just keep life - and death - as simple as it should be.

These pages do the human race a great service. Every Funeral Director needs to read this book. Death is not a pleasant subject. This book is more than worth the price. Everyone has trouble thinking about grave matters. Just as cremation came to America, so comes the green funeral. This book is the future in Funerals, it is well thought out, researched and well written. Practical How to tips are in the back of each chapter. Everyone needs to read these tips. Everyone! Great work, Mark Harris.

Funeral Directors please read this book with an open mind. Personally, I have found this book helpful in my work with families in the Funeral Profession.

So many grief books ask parents to go to a place of acceptance and gratitude - long before they are ready. At least that was (and is!) true for me. This book tells it like it, this path of agony, is: challenging, painful, relentless, and far longer than anyone thinks. I especially appreciated the perspective of older parents, of which I am one, and parents who have one or no other children, without the possibility or choice to have another. The wisdom, the honesty, the application to my life....it took my breath away.

Nancy Levin, Ph.D.

The death of one's child - a crushing event no matter their age. "The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child" is a compilation of twenty two parents sharing their stories of tragic events, ranging from car accidents to suicide - and the process that they all must go through. Discovering the tragic event, seeking support from others, and finding hope after it all, all are discussed in "The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child", making it highly recommended for any parent seeking similar support for themselves.

My 18 year old son died suddenly 10 months ago. I have read many, many grief books since my world shattered. I found this book very helpful. Hearing from 22 other parents and how they dealt with their horrific loss somehow helped me deal with mine.

After my daughter died, and then another shocking death of my grand-daughter, not only did I feel shut out of the world, but confused that my grief seemed so private. I felt so disconnected from the world. This amazing book helped me realize that we all grieve differently. There is no right or wrong way. I understood my feelings after reading the insightful and varied reactions by the wonderful writers of "The Grieving Garden". Thank you for settling my soul.

Reviewed by Marilyn Doak, Sent by David Lake
Green Valley, Arizona

I bought this book to preview before giving it to a dear friend who had just lost a daughter to cancer before deciding if I should pass it along to her. I read it in one night and found it captivating, sensitive, practical, and inspiring. It presented issues, and possible suggestions to solutions for those issues, which I never would have even anticipated. My friend will now be able to anticipate the shock of the first time someone asks her "So how many children do you have?" and she will know that her feelings of overprotection for her remaining daughter are normal and to be expected. This book will also help her to know that eventually, she will see a tiny light at the end of this very deep tunnel in which she now exists, and that in time, that light will brighten. This book inspires those who grieve to learn that the human spirit can indeed face a new day while at the same time honoring the memory of those we will always hold dear.

I was looking for a book for my teenage niece, one with answers for life's situations. Even though there were only 5 star reviews on this book, I was sorry I bought it for her after I realized just how serious the content was. I hope no one else is mislead by the 5-star reviews as I was, and to realize that this book might not be for your intended audience. Please read the Table of Contents first!

Unfortunately, troubling times come up for people close to us all the time and when you least expect it. This is a great resource book to have for those unexpected occasions when you're caught off-guard and aren't sure how best to help your friend who is going through a difficult ordeal. It's scary to think that you might say or do the wrong thing when someone close to you is suffering, so this book gives that reassurance we're all looking for.

Divorce. Scandal. Suicide. So many awkward times leave you speechless -- or worse fearing you'll say the wrong thing. Fortunately, Kaplan's kind yet no-nonsense book gives you the power to speak -- and help those you love when they're hurting. It's a must-read for tough times.

For someone working in the world of non-profits and charities, I found this book a helpful tool in dealing with many situations where you want to offer comfort to people who are facing difficult or challenging circumstances. The book offers helpful advice, examples and even sample letters for a wide variety of situations. Robbie Miller Kaplan uses her own experiences as well as consultations with many professionals to create a thoughtfull resource for anyone working in the helping professions.

This book is a phenomenal guide to finding the perfect words when you want to provide support in the ideal way. As we all know, some situations require a careful approach, some people have delicate sensitivities, and some of life's trials are beyond our comprehension. Especially with loved ones often living so far away, your words may be all you can give. In professional settings where hugs are not appropriate or natural, it's so important to know what to say and how to say it. Robbie Kaplan's book provides the right words, in the perfect way, so that you can be the kind of friend or relative, supportive colleague or neighbor, that you want to be. Highly recommended for all, since the best thing we can do for the people we love is support them...and words are what stay with us the longest.

If you're an armchair historian on World War II,then this is an excellent account of Hitler's obscure rise to ultimate power.This is a fascinating look at all the secret saboteurs against the furiose fuhrer.If you're intrigued by the history surrounding the Hitler topic,you'll be spellbound by this book.I never realized the various plots ,inside and outside his inner court,that were being hatched around him.Some will argue it was fated that he would survive.Many would agree it was just bad luck.I still find myself asking if Hitler wanted to destroy Germany on purpose,in revenge for being an 'oddball outcast'.Hitler was seen as a backwood peasant,and not of Viennese artistic quality.Many 'Hitler Histories' claim he was a 'house-painter'.This was not true.He was a failed baukunstler student,that later painted postcards for tourists.Himmler is often listed as just a 'chicken-farmer's geek',when he in fact had technical training at an argicultural institute,as well.The sagacious Himmler was aware of Hitler's ill-gotten birth,ab ovo,and probably felt he was better off as the 'propaganda-direktor'.Rather than the Nazi party's leader.Himmler saw the potential marriage between Hitler and his niece ,Gisella Rubel,as another generation of 'genetic-trouble' for the Fuhrer and an image-problem for the party.It was not discussed in this book,yet it can be speculated ,that Himmler's SS had Rubel killed and Himmler then instructed a 'suicide-scene' staged.Hitler believed fully that 'in-breeding' was preserving of the Aryan race,when in fact it was creating genetic dead-ends for extinction of the human race.At any rate,the various Allied countries valiently tried to eradicate the polemic dictator from his post.This engaging book gives the agentry accounts of the agent-provocateurs involved.From his egregious wanderings into the beer-hall rants then onto his fusty bunker of despair.This is a gripping book about the assassins of change,who failed to curtail the actions of a desperate madman,whose demagoguery bedeviled an entire nation into ruin for a generation.

Well written, readable account of the major plots and attempts to kill Hitler over the course of his political ascension to his final self demise. Impressive telling from young Georg Elser's early attempt to kill Hitler in 1939 with an ingenious self made bomb that exploded on time but after Hitler prematurely left the podium to his military enemies the British who initially found the task undesirable. The telling of these grand and individual plots parallels the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The detail is quite refreshing discussing how initially vulnerable to assassination Hitler was partially due to his grandiose perception that he was supernaturally protected from death. Aside from external and internal plots within the military, the author explains in impressive detail how the various heroic undergrounds were successful in killing numerous Nazis while suffering great and shocking reprisals for their success particularly in Poland and Czechoslovakia. An ultimate example is the Czechs pulling off a major assassination with the killing of Heydrich. Impressive is the author's documentation of the various anti-Hitler networks involving such prominent military men such as Wilhelm Canaris and Hans Oster who both suffer once exposed. The highlight of the book of course is the great attempt that almost kills Hitler, the bomb planted by war hero Stauffenberg in the Rastenburg map room. The author also tells why the assassination failed that is an interesting and new revelation. Another interested party is Hitler's favorite architect and armories coordinator, Albert Speer, who the author recognizes as potentially self serving at Nuremberg but the author also recognized Speers' desire not to have Germany destroyed as Hitler wished at the end. The book also includes an excellent collection of photographs of the collaborators and other fascinating photos such as Goring inspecting the destroyed map room to a startling picture of the extraordinary intense gaze of British Colonel Noel Mason-McFarland during a pre-war German military review. Mason-McFarland emphatically stated before the war that a sniper could easily dispatch Hitler and save Europe.

I really enjoyed this look at the various attempts on Hitler's life. Moorehouse not only gives the reader the straight facts of the attempts, but manages to give the right amount of background information so you can see just how each plot came together. It left me wondering just how many other schemes were out there that were swept away by the winds of time. A book like this really makes you think of how things could have been so different.

Although I was aware of some attempts on Hitler's life, I did not know that there were so many and from so many different sources - both within Hitler's entourage as well as far away from it. The author has provided well-researched and reasoned renderings of a subset of these attempts - the most fascinating and surprising ones. But in addition to discussing these various attempts in detail, the author has also presented much valuable information on the background history and evolving politics of Germany from the end of World War I to the end of World War II. The brutality of the Nazi regime is also amply discussed. As expected, particular attention has been paid to the instigation, structure and evolution of Hitler's security organization. The book's writing style is clear, friendly, authoritative and very engaging. It should be most relished by history buffs that have a penchant for the Second World War.

Roger Moorehouse's "Killing Hitler" is a tragic chronicle of the alarmingly few individuals and groups in Nazi Germany who saw early on (or too late) that their "leader" was a mass murdering psychopath and acted accordingly--to no avail.

Though their bravery is commendable, one cannot help feel terrible anger and frustration as one gets into the thick of Moorhouse's feverish narrative. At long last, one has to ask, why didn't someone in the Wehrmacht simply get on good terms with Hitler, stand next to him, and ignite a live grenade? Suffice to say that any evaluation of posterity is just that, and only a slight percentage of those still living have had the experience of living in a ferocious totalitarian state like the Germany of 1933-45.

Perhaps the most impressive of the would-be assassins is Maurice Bavaud, a young idealist with deep roots in Christendom who, in 1939, waited for Hitler to show up at his annual "Beer Hall Putsch" celebration (where the equally courageous Georg Elser would plant a bomb which missed only because of a chance early departure by the dictator) took a pistol, and was foiled because of a group of German civilians. This was not the first time Bauvaud would make such a naked, furious attempt on the Fuhrer's life. Captured and guillotined in 1941, Bavaud stated baldly that whether Germans would accept it or not, he had been acting not only in their interest but the interest of all humanity. Only Col. Claus Von Stauffenberg's already well publicized attempt rivals that kind of courage.

The Warsaw Uprising of 1944 is given an impressive, if limited, recounting here: the PHM (Polish Home Army) managed to kill 9,000 SS soldiers and, through the utlitization of suicide bombers and guerilla attacks, eliminate a few important members of the Third Reich. The RAF's bungled, halfhearted attempts to bomb Hitler's HQ in East Prussia really didn't need mention here.

How desperate some former Wehrmacht soldiers were for Hitler's death is given heart pounding illustration here, in history's first suicide bomber, Rudolf-Chriastoph Von Gersdorff. Having served as an unofficial emissary for Henning Von Tresckow, a lifelong opponent of the Nazi regime and a key figure in the July 20th attempt, agreed to an act of utter self-sacrifice in order to get rid of Hitler: "At this point it became clear to me that an attack was only possible if I were to carry the explosives about my person, and blow myself up as close to Hitler as was possible."
Lining his uniform with "clam mines" obtained from a fellow officer (Col. Brandt, who knew nothing of the attempt, and who ironically would be the man to move the briefcase bomb away from Hitler on July 20th), he armed the mines with a trigger that would give him exactly ten minutes in which to approach his target and "kiss the sky". Hitler was, at the time, speaking in a German museum--originally Gersdorff was to approach him while the speech was being made and stand beside him.

Hitler cut the speech, was intended to be thirty minutes, to two minutes, and despite Gersdorff having already activated the device--with 5 minutes left--his attempts to stay near Hitler were in vain. Hitler may have noticed that Gersdorff was unusually "eager to talk" and the demonic instinct of self preservation kicked in: in any case, he said goodbye very quickly. Gersdorff then ran to the restroom and defused the bomb with trembling hands.

Moorhouse gets downright unethical--probably desperate for material, but still--including Albert Speer in this book. Speer was Hitler's devoted architect from the beginning of the war to the end and was much a brainwashed Nazi as Himmler, Goerring or Goebbels; he was just charismatic and knew how to BS the judges at Nuremburg. He lied about his knowledge of the atrocities and the Allies, not having evidence ofhis full knowledge which would emerge years later, bought it. Aside from a few scholars who have an unhealthy fascination with him, the general consensus is that he should have been dangling at the end of a rope with all the rest. The only reason he had even a passing thought about assassinating a man he otherwise had nearly homoerotic feelings for was the destruction of Germany. And that's all it was, a passing thought. It should probably be removed from the book.