Death Books

Karen's story describing her days and thoughts concerning caring for her parents is such an accurate description of the feelings I had caring for my mother. In my case, I know Karen and I grew up in the same area where she grew up. We attended the same church and my mother knew her family. Whether one grew up in the same town, or whether you have been through the caring for parents, this book is a must read. Everything the author writes about flooded my memory with the same feelings as she experienced. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has cared for elderly parents or who may be facing future care of parents.

Karen wrote this book as a tribute to her family, whom she dearly loved. The stories of her early childhood were definitely seen through a child's eyes. Karen told this story with much forethought, and very much love! I felt as though I were reading her personal diary at times, and then found myself immersed in a story about her family at other times.
Excellent reading, a poignant story!

When Karen Flickinger was searching for a French cookie baker (gallette iron,) she was led to my website where I have family stories posted. As a result of this encounter, I found and bought Two Journeys to the Father and Karen Flickinger found and bought her cookie iron. I read the book in less than one day and found it to be an easy and delightful read. The book so closely paralleled my own life, I couldn't put it down.
The Two Journeys to the Father is a tribute to her parents and grandparents as she remembers and relates their life stories even unto death. Since I feel such a debt of gratitude to my own ancestors, I could relate to these vividly revealed stories with exciting memories of my own.
As I compared my life stories to those of Flickinger's family, the similarities were uncanny. It was then that I realized this is a book for almost everyone, since most of us have memories of our lives and those of our families. If you are young and have not yet experienced these "slices of life," you can learn a lot. If you are older and have lived through many of these experiences yourself, you will enjoy vicariously feeling and enjoying many beautiful emotions once more.

My emotional response to "Two Journeys to the Father" and identification with the author's memories and thoughts pleasantly surprised me.

Karen Flickinger succeeds very well in her telling "this is the way it was" with terse, interesting description. She draws deft pictures with her unusual choices of words.

I was especially impressed with Karen's loving demonstration of respect for parents and elders. That is a much needed emphasis today. Honoring parents' wishes, with love, is a valuable societal quality, as well as a religious teaching with promise of reward.

I have passed a complimentary copy on to the administrator of the assisted living facility which now is my home. I think "Two Journeys to the Father" is entirely appropriate to add to our library as a resource book here, even though Karen's mother rejected the assisted living option.

I have seen how we here, at The Inn at Chappel Creek, have had to struggle with acceptance of relinquishing control, and with looking at our own end of life. In her book, the author has made the gospel clear and compelling in an appealing way. New life with The Father is our ultimate assurance and joy.

Two Journeys to the Father is a heartwarming book about family values and being there for your family through the years. As the author takes you through her journey of growing up and eventually being the care giver for her parents you will identify with her joys and sorrows. It will take you back to your own childhood and you may even feel as though you had a part in writing the book somehow. It was tastefully written and will bring satisfaction, as you Journey to the Father, through the true lives of these characters. Let Karen take you through this memorable journey!

I hav'int read this book but by the way this girl skakes her mini i can tell she been used up a bad bok bt still you should read it, it's GOOD!!

This book was terrific! It is a must read for all teenagers. It has a quick plot with at least one character that everyone, no matter who you are, can identify with. I'd recommend it to everyone!!!

Though it was set in the cold muddy tundra of Alaska, 'Unseen Companion' reminded me of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Dove Alexie is as mysterious and haunting as Boo Radley, though he's a completely different kind of character. The reader is left with a sense of outrage at the racial injustice that takes place, and yet there is humor to lighten the darkness. The characters of Lorraine and her mother are particularly enjoyable. Though the narrators (four of them) are all teenagers, this is not just a book for teens, any more than 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a children's book because the narrator is a child. The narrators speak in an authentic vernacular, and yet the writing is lyrical and beautiful. The images of stars and planets wheel in the background, along with the wonder of man's first step on the moon. I expect this book to become a classic.

"Bethel, Alska- a small community in a stark landscape where a powerful and richly textured story spins together, one voice at a time.
It is late 1960s as beaten teenaged Dove Alexie sits in prison. One day, Dove suddenly vanishes, and there is nothing in the prison records to mark his arrival and departure. Out of the tundra, four young people step forward with their sotries.
Lorianne Hobbs, a precious loner who brings meals to the prison; Annette Weinland, the local ministers daoughter, who volenteers at the prison; Thelma Cooke and Edger Kwaigly, two yup'ik adolescents orphand and displaced from their native communtites.
At the core of each narriation is Dove - and the mystery of his disaperance.
lIke planets in the solar system, these four young people travel in seperate orbits with an unseen companion,..... Dove! Denise Gsoliner Orenstein's masterpiece of interviewing voices captures the complexities of human exisitence with humor and insight."

After reading that I can tell that there are going to be alot of discription, because they way she ties the solar system into the review of the story, I know she has imagination.
So I would really want you to read this book!

This book was recommended by a friend, and I have to say I am eternally grateful to her. I couldn't put it down. Ms. Orenstein writes with compassion and understanding of the complexities which bind and separate people. And in a single paragraph I was often moved to both laughter and tears.

In addition to a compelling plot -- a young man who is jailed and then seemly disappears (the book is also a bit of a mystery story!) -- the author rights authoritatively about Alaska, making you almost believe you have visited the town of Bethel, and have wandered its street, and feel your heart tugged by the relentless poverty and isolation. More than anything, she writes of the terrible toll this takes on the children, who have no escape.

READ THIS BOOK! I hope it finds its way into many hands, and that the author receives the recognition she deserves. Barbara Johnson

I couldn't put the book down. UNTIMELY DEATH is just about the best novel of its kind that I have read. It drew me in in a way that even the best mystery writers never could.

Fred and Jan Yager obviously have delivered the foundation for a franchise series of mystery novels. Hope to see Kimberly Stone and Alan Blake in action again soon.

I've read mysteries for over thirty years, and most of them are forgettable. Untimely Death was one of those joyful reads, because I knew I'd met a detective that I wanted to read a whole series about, and because I couldn't figure it out. Well drawn, interesting characters, and easily worthy of adaptation to film. Hope to see more. Soon.

This book is wonderful. I don't read mysteries very often, but I enjoyed UNTIMELY DEATH right up to the last page. The characters are exceptionally well drawn, quirky, as human beings are, and twisted, as murderers are, but not bizarre or grotesque. The plot, as they say, is a page turner and there are so many surprising gems that the resolution is truly a mystery until the end.

Don't pick up this book if you have something important to do because you will not want to put it down. Untimely Death is a real page-burner.

Character development is good -- the people are real, and I can't wait for another book featuring Kimberly Stone. The Yagers' familiarity with New York gives us Left Coasters a view you won't find in a travelogue, and the descriptions are fascinating.

The well-designed plot moves at a perfect pace, and the suspension builds steadily, until the end, when you might discover you've been holding your breath a long time.

When I see the name Yager on a title, I'm not going to look any further. I'm going to get it, find a nice chunk of time and settle down for another good read.

This book is a fast, fun read. And while that may sound odd for a book about murder - it illustrates the real power behind this book. Like any good murder mystery, there has to be strong visualization, but without dwelling on the gory details. Here, the authors take you a step further, by dealing witthe psychological and emotional side of murder. As your read on, you develop a sense of understanding about the murderer and the motivations and demons that lead a person to kill. And this is the real breakthrough. Unlike most who-dun-its, which leave a trail of breadcrumbs and red herrings, Fred and Jan Yager plant their clues by taking you inside the killer's mind. In fact, you solve this mystery by carefully matching the killer's thought patterns with the behavior of the characters in the book. I haven't seen this technique used before. I eagerly await the sequel.

Valley of Death is one of the sexiest and most exciting books I have ever read! The love scenes sizzle and the action beats the Lethal Weapon movies! The characters are beleivable and so real. I'd like to meet Jack Riley in person to see if he's really that good in the sack!

Craig's book pulls you into the world of Jack Riley and Moria Clark, full of fast-paced adventure and romance. Valley of Death was a nonstop thrill ride that kept me intrigued with each new twist and turn. Ceaselessly exciting, Craig's novel keeps you turning pages until the finish.

Craig's book pulls you into the world of Jack Riley and Moria Clark, full of fast-paced adventure and romance. Valley of Death was a nonstop thrill ride that kept me intrigued with each new twist and turn. Ceaselessly exciting, Craig's novel keeps you turning pages until the finish.

Valley of death was an awesomely paced page turner that I couldn't put down! It has the action and humor of the Lethal Weapon Movies and the romance of Romancing the Stone! Form Chicago to the Arctic, it never stops and never lets up! if you buy no other book this year, buy Valley of Death!

THis book reads like Dannielle Steele with a gun. It's a fun book, action packed, and full of surprises. Everyone should buy and read this one. It's worth the money.

Quoting from the back cover:

"In November 2002, before the invasion of Iraq, the CIA responds to a report from a highly placed British spy about an Iraqi operation to recover and sell nerve gas to terrorists, by dropping Jan Vandermeer into a remote valley in northeast Iraq to determine whether or not the report is correct. He discovers that the lake at the head of the valley is contaminated with VX nerve gas. Using Predator surveillance, the CIA watches the Iraqis recover a canister of the gas and deliver it to the initial transporters. Now the CIA must make a decision - destroy the gas before it moves out of Iraq or let it proceed to protect the source of the report as well as to try to roll up the network of terrorists engaged in moving it to its ultimate but unknown destination.

"The decision to track the gas requires a team of CIA and British agents as well as the National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office. Vandermeer and his Iraqi partner, the beautiful Sophia, are assigned leading roles in the operation. An intensive two-week battle of wits follows, taking Vandermeer and Sophia on a gripping journey through the deepest recesses of the Middle East toward what they come to believe is the final target in the United States."

I must tell you that I did not read the entire novel. When I got to page 35 and the following ...

"I don't need to tell you guys how important it is that we keep track of this thing," said the briefing officer. "If we lose it and it gets into the hands of terrorists, we could be looking at a disaster that would make 9/11 look like child's play. The purpose of this exercise is to find out who is behind this and to put whoever it is out of action. It also shows that Iraq indeed has weapons such as this hidden away and is prepared to use them. If the trail leads to al Qaeda or some other terrorist group, it shows that Iraq not only supports terrorists but also supplies them with such weapons."...,

I felt to' track' rather than 'pick up' the VX nerve gas (a bird in the hand ...) when they could was an ignorant decision, considering the potential deadly disaster nature of the gas, and chose not to read further. I read to page 35 and the last few chapters. My decision certainly does not take away from the quality of writing which is very good. Gwynne Wales is an accomplished, knowledgeable writer, and his novel is well organized, edited and filled with interesting details. If you like espionage thrillers and don't mind poor decisions, I'm certain your will enjoy The Valley of Death.

Kaye Trout
Reviewer

Gwynne Huntington Wales has written quite a professionally detailed first novel about a canister of nerve gas discovered in Iraq in November 2002. Based on information received from British intelligence, the CIA sends Jan Vandermeer, code named Aardvark, on a covert surveillance mission into an area the agent nicknames The Valley of Death. Aardvark quietly watches a handful of Iraqis retrieve a metal canister from the bottom of a lake in the valley. There are no signs of life in the area, not even any bugs or plants, hence the name. This American secret agent is assigned to track the canister throughout parts of the Middle East while his superiors desperately try to decode the plans of the obvious terrorists who most surely will release the deadly gas in a very populated area.

The most interesting thing about Wales' character, Aardvark, is that, unlike his British counterpart created by Ian Fleming, the CIA agent has not had a girlfriend for a decade! The story of his past love life unfolds in bits and pieces as a subtext of the main plot as he comes to know a dark-haired, beautiful double agent assigned to work with him on the trail of the canister. Gwynne Wales does a credible job of intertwining the love story with the military suspense thriller. The lead characters also discuss sociopolitical issues privately between themselves, bringing a poignant genuineness to the storyline.

The Valley of Death is a fine first effort from an author who most certainly has joined The Hunt for Red October. Gwynne Wales' book is destined to be compared with Tom Clancy's legendary novel, and I think the comparison will be favorable. Wales' book captures the same level of tension between nations in a touchy situation, and the author's credentials as a U.S. Navy pilot seeps from the pages. I hope Agent Aardvark has many more adventures, sharing readers' bookshelves with Jack Ryan.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (9/08)

"The Valley of Death" details the events of a two-week espionage operation conducted by the CIA, the British Embassy, the National Security Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office in November of 2002. A report from a British agent that Iraqi terrorists had brokered a deal to recover and deliver a supply of VX nerve gas triggered an all out campaign. These agencies combined their high-tech resources in an effort to track the identity of the Iranian arms dealer and his Al Qaeda customer.

The story begins in a remote area of Northeast Iraq, an area deplete of any life, and takes the reader from Iraq to Turkey, Iran, Israel, and other Middle East locations along the Caspian and Arabian Seas. The plot revolves around agent Jan Vandermeer and his partner Sophia as they match the latest intelligence technology against the rigors of a remote terrain, inhabited by their enemy.

A romantic thread is carried throughout the plot as Aardvark and Sophia are caught up in a relationship that threatens to endanger the completion of the mission. Wales introduces the difficulties involved arising from the differences in cultures, religions, and values in establishing an idealistic, intimate relationship.

Intrigued by the works of Le Carre and Deighton, Wales became steeped in the stories about British intelligence during the Cod War. William F. Buckley's series "Blackford Oakes" opened to him the genre of world espionage.

Gwynne has portrayed his protagonist, Aardvark, as a dedicated patriot, working in difficult situations, for no recognition, risking his life and career if things go wrong. Wales has made his characters genuine and believable, allowing their frailties to be seen. His dialog is tailored to the individual character and moves the plot along in an informational and entertaining mix of subtle humor and reality.

As a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, a former Navy officer with advanced flight training, and a career in the legal profession specializing in international corporate law, Gwynne Huntington Wales has a background that adds credibility to "The Valley of Death." Gwynne's creative, inventive, and often vivid, imagination brings freshness to the reality of the complexities of communications technology and the risk involved in international espionage.

I especially appreciated his thoughtful detail in describing the terrain, and the desolation of the remote areas surrounding the action setting of the story. The debriefing rooms, the ambiance of hotels, and the cultural differences within the cities visited, added to the immense pleasure I received as I was confronted with smugglers, roadblocks, and the ever-present danger of a leak of lethal poisonous gas from the canister designed to release deadly germ warfare.

"The Valley of Death" gives serious thought to the question of "What If? What if the media is wrong and there are hidden, in the lakes and streams of the vast remote areas of the Middle East, highly dangerous biological Weapons of Mass Destruction? Gwynne Huntington Wales engages in a genre of fiction that will fill the gap for those who love espionage and spy thrillers no longer written at the end of the cold war. The action, dialog, and locale of "The Valley of Death" make the novel a natural for a Hollywood movie. Compelling. Riveting.

Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (3/08)

"The Valley of Death" begins in the namesake valley in Northeast Iraq in November of 2002. CIA agent Jan Vandermeer, protecting his true identity by using the call sign of "Aardvark" is positioned in the valley with instructions to be on the lookout for Iraqi Army Activity. After three days he spots a group of six Iraqi men entering the secluded area on some sort of mission. As he sits and watches them, he ponders as to why there is no sign of any wildlife or insects in the area. It dawns on him that it could be the water in the lake that is the issue. Insects and animals need water to survive. He wonders if maybe the water could be contaminated in some way and makes a mental note to take a sample back with him to have it analyzed. His question is answered when he watches as one of the Iraqi men goes over to the lake and gets a drink of the water. Within minutes the man is dead.

It is discovered that within the lake is a canister of VX nerve gas. One end of the canister is rusted thus accounting for the seepage into the lake. However the amount that escaped was only minimal and there is a large quantity of deadly gas remaining inside the canister. With high-tech surveillance the CIA monitors the Iraqi's removal of the gas and makes the decision to trail the canister in hopes of determining who the recipient is going to be before they try to intercept it. What follows is a suspenseful two-week tracking operation through the Middle East interjected with a little bit of romance when Aardvark is paired up with another agent, "Sophia," with whom he becomes intimately close.

"The Valley of Death" is a phenomenally written debut novel. The author biography states that Wales is "a former U.S. Navy pilot with operational experience in the eastern Mediterranean" and "also a retired international lawyer who practiced in Brussels, Ankara, and New York." His prior work experience definitely must have had a hand in providing him with the knowledge necessary to write such a detailed and convincing international thriller.

The work is well-organized and the maps provided in the center are very helpful in following the route of the tracking mission. Although the book is quite lengthy, over 400 pages, the pages just fly by with the many twists and turns along the way. It is very hard to put down until you know exactly where the canister is headed and what the end result is going to be. I highly recommend "The Valley of Death" to anyone who enjoys engaging, thought-provoking thrillers!

The Valley of Death is a gread read--it got me through a week's vacation with nary a dull moment. There's no need to reprise the story line here. Let it simply be said that it is cleanly written, reads smoothly, and is completely absorbing. It's hard to ask more of recreational fiction. The author's bio is skimpy on the his background, but his apparent knowledge of the details of international intrigue are completely convincing. I like his characters, too. I bummed out on Tom Clancy--too much high-tech hocus-pocus hardware. Here, that stuff stays in a supporting role: it's the characters that carry the load. For my money, The Valley of Death is better than Tom Clancy.

Davis Temple has created yet another compelling story of southern mystery and intrigue. The novel is a melange of colorful characters with the story line set in the backdrop of New Orleans and surrounding swampland. You can just taste the gumbo as the plot thickens. Find a comfortable chair--you're going to need it.

Davis Temple takes his readers on a wild ride into a world of mystery and the supernatural. But don't even think about getting off this ride; you won't want to. Temple's characters and plot keep you turning pages (and sometimes tempted to look in the back of the book to see what happens). Those who do so are their own worst enemies. Vodoo Storm is one hell of an armchair adventure, and people who love a good mystery will relish every chapter.

Voodoo Storm: Hurricane Katrina, Death and Mystery in New Orleans This book is a terrific mystery set in New Orleans. It really is a good number of mysterys in one novel and when near the end, moves to a connecting different mystery. I had trouble putting the book down and a little trouble getting to sleep when I did. It borders on a possible reality that scares you at every turn. You learn a little about Voodoo and are shocked when it turns to terrible treatment and murders by Devil Worshipers. Have fun :)

Temple's novel does a wonderful job of exploiting the mystique of New Orleans pre- and post-Katrina. The present work also provides for the emergence of previously developed characters (from Temple's earlier works) as well as a whole cast of new cleverly portrayed characters which, hopefully will appear in future works. VOODOO STORM cost me a weekend, because I could not put it down. You will not be disappointed with this action packed surprise filled thriller.
Les Rblet
Killingworth, CT

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, this entertaining action thriller got me with a very clever twist involving the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The ingenious plot combined with a cast of very intriguing and well-developed characters, as well as the supposition of intervention by darker forces, kept me spellbound. There are few books that I want to read in one sitting, but this one had me from the beginning. Temple is a gifted writer, and I hope to see more of his work in the future. Be sure to get this one, a must read!

The author seemed to be a little arrogant when it came to all the women he was with, but after reading the whole book I realized he had to come off that way otherwise the Karma part wouldn't have really come into play.
I would recommend this book, for it makes you think, and any book that can get the mind going, is worth my time.

After reading The Vortex, I am left with the nagging question of, "Is there something more to our lives than we know?" That is to say, what about this thing called `karma' and how does it affect our daily lives? OK, that is several questions, but the fact remains, The Vortex travels down a long road as it exposes one man's life and how it is affected by his own personal karma. Can we learn something from Austin's journey? I think the answer is yes, to that question.

Throughout the book we, the reader, are faced with numerous examples of karmic events and how they play themselves out in Austin's life. At times, it truly feels like a ride on a tornado as he attempts to deal with each of these situations. With the help of other guides and his own training, he is finally able to put the pieces of the puzzle together to create a whole picture of his life.

Is this a book worth reading? The simple answer is YES! Can you find parallels in your own life? Again, the answer is YES! I would recommend to anyone interested in the answers to their life's questions - read the book!

Exciting and Insightful - The Vortex is a karmic excursion through the trials of time, perception, understanding, life and love. The author chronicles the implications of his personal modern relationships as independent psychic revelations untangle past karmic turmoil. The Vortex shaves the threads of perception, leaving the reader pondering the relevance of reality. Who are we? What are we? Why are we? For one man, the answers to such philosophical quandaries are partially unveiled as he spirals through this metaphysical adventure - The Vortex. Can't wait for the sequel.

Trying to figure out where all these relationships, strange sexual encounters and the resulting angst are going will make it difficult to put this book down. You just want to keep reading until you get to the conclusion. Once you're there, there's still more to ponder -- like, could this possibly be happening to me and everyone else, and we just don't know it? Definitely the most fascinating story, and amazingly -- it's all TRUE!!

After reading The Vortex, I am left with the nagging question of, "Is there something more to our lives than we know?" That is to say, what about this thing called `karma' and how does it affect our daily lives? OK, that is several questions, but the fact remains, The Vortex travels down a long road as it exposes one man's life and how it is affected by his own personal karma. Can we learn something from Austin's journey? I think the answer is yes, to that question.

Throughout the book we, the reader, are faced with numerous examples of karmic events and how they play themselves out in Austin's life. At times, it truly feels like a ride on a tornado as he attempts to deal with each of these situations. With the help of other guides and his own training, he is finally able to put the pieces of the puzzle together to create a whole picture of his life.

Is this a book worth reading? The simple answer is YES! Can you find parallels in your own life? Again, the answer is YES! I would recommend to anyone interested in the answers to their life's questions - read the book!

Life inside prison walls has long been of interest to those not employed by or incarcerated in such an instiution. Having worked inside the walls for twenty years I can attest to the de-scriptive accuracy and the range of emotions offered as this former Warden tells his tale. Interesting throughout, this book truly gives the outsider an inside glimpse into the daily inter-action between the keeper and the kept. I believe the author is a good man who was tasked with one of the toughest, most un-appreciated jobs in America,i.e., maintaining order among soci-ety's disorderly. This account of his career will not fail to give the reader true insight into real prison life.

Rarely is a 'civilian' afforded the opportunity of viewing the prison system from such an honest and insightful perspective. Messrs. Willett and Rozelle have succeeded in creating a compelling work of non-fiction that reads as well as a good work of fiction. My appraisal of Mr. Willett is that of a totally dedicated, honest and compassionate man who did an outstanding job--few men could have done better. This book will remain a permanent part of my personal library.

Warden is a genuine daily chronicle of life within the Texas Prison System.
Jim Willett not only provides an honest insight into such a society but reflects on the humanity of both the "guard" and the guarded and the daily personal struggles and decisions that are required for such a profession.
Warden is well written and provides histroical information on a personal and interesting level from start to finish.

Long-time correctional administrator Jim Willett and his college roommate, Ron Rozelle, have produced an exceptionally interesting book on prison life from a very personal perspective. Drawing on Willett's distinguished career with the Texas Department of Corrections that spanned three decades, the authors bring to light aspects of a prison employee's life that rarely find their way into print.

Willett, who began his prison career as a correctional officer, worked his way up in the organization to become, at the time of his retirement, Senior Warden of the historic Huntsville Unit, where court-ordered executions are carried out and over which Willett presided.

Persons seeking a better understanding of the Texas criminal justice system and life behind bars would find value in this wonderfully thoughtful and revealing book.

Jim Willett was what some people might think of as a contradiction in terms--a compassionate prison warden. He did his job, which included giving the signal for executions to take place, while inwardly questioning the humanity of capital punishment. This is a fascinating story of a man who began his career in the prison system as a part-time guard, trying to earn some money for college. He fully intended to leave after graduation, but somehow he never did and as the years went by and the promotions came, he continued in the work for which he seemed so well-suited. This book is written in the first person and this adds to the immediacy of the description of prison life and the relations between prisoner and prison employee. The stories which are told in this book show the depths to which human beings can go and also the common humanity which binds us together. This is a fascinating and well-written book.

This book caught my eye when I was walking down an aisle in the library, what are the odds? But I am so glad that I found it. Volk is a really great writer and his insight about death from the standpoint of a scientist makes me feel at peace. Highly recommended

There is nothing morbid about this book. Tyler Volk's openness and sincerity about the sometimes difficult topic of death had just the opposite effect. My understanding of life, and my gratitude for it, was enhanced. - In just over 200-pages, Volk covers a lot of territory. In three parts, he sensitively explores what neurologically makes us a conscious self, warmly discusses cultural attitudes, and knowledgeably looks at how the myriad forms of death make biological life possible. - If you enjoy reading about the natural sciences or social-cultural topics, you will enjoy this book. Because I enjoy both, I had a great time. It brought to mind cell biologist Ursula Goodenough's "The Sacred Depths of Nature," which I also found edifying. - As the author of "What is Death?," Tyler Volk comes across graciously human and without pretense. Unlike an aloof scientist narrowly consumed with a field of interest, I experienced Volk as down to earth and someone who shares the foibles and joys of being alive. Like each of us, he also is trying to come to terms with his own life and death. Volk's honesty in relating some of his personal journey enhances this fine volume.

Interestingly, I found this book to be inspirational. Even though the book flies in the face of religion, it does have a certain spirituality about it. For example, one of the book's messages concerns living in the "present". I.e. being present in our world right now and experiencing life to its fullest. The author even includes a beautiful poem by William Blake to bring the point home.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the science including the explanation of programmed cell death and basic biology which was all new to me. In addition, the psychological perspective was interesting as well. Here Mr Volk does a nice job explaining "terror management" and the primal clash.

The book really whetted my appetite for these and other topics. Luckily Volk also includes a nice bibliography for further study.

Although beautifully written, "What is Death?" may be a challenging read for some because Tyler asks us to confront our mortality. The book is worth every second you spend with it.

Tyler presents information which is powerful and important to us as individuals. Equally important in this time when we are all confronted with the causes and effects of terrorism, Tyler presents important research about what all human beings do when confronted with mortality--which includes defending our worldviews more fiercely...

In an era when religion's malignancy is becoming increasingly apparent, we urgently need to be shown that spirituality is quite compatible with a rational, scientific, areligious worldview. This task has been taken on by some very good books recently, notably "The Problem of the Soul" by the philosopher Owen Flanagan and "The Sacred Depths of Nature" by the biologist Ursula Goodenough. Another excellent addition to this genre is "What Is Death?" by the biologist Tyler Volk. He begins his narrative on a personal note, describing how a near-death experience left him anxiously pondering his mortality. We then follow him as he explores death from many different perspectives-genetic, neurological, ecological, cultural-and eventually arrives at a better understanding of how vital death is to life. Particularly fascinating is Volk's discussion of recent research showing how death influences our thoughts and behavior even when we are not consciously thinking about it, often by making us cling more tightly to our beliefs. These findings obviously have tremendous relevance for understanding post-9/11 events. "What Is Death?" has not entirely dissolved my fear of mortality; I don't think any book could do that. But after reading it, I felt more sympathy with the lines that end Robinson Jeffers's great poem "Night": "A few centuries/Gone by, was none dared not to people/The darkness beyond the stars with harps and habitations./But now, dear is the truth. Life is grown sweeter and lonelier,/And death is no evil."

This combinationg book and CD arrived in a timely manner and was in excellent condition.

I was sitting in the Christian bookstore reading this, looking for a book to give my father-in-law because he was dieing with cancer. I sat their crying and crying...the song is beautiful and what the book says is even more beautiful...because if you know you are going to Heaven, then there is joy in the passing, joy in the pain, joy knowing it will only be getting better, much better when we are home with our creator and out of this painful world.
God and His home is the final word.

We sent a copy of this book to friends who lost their son in a senseless car accident. It reminds all of us to focus on the life to come and make the most of this journey here on earth. I've ordered extra copies for my family and friends. Death is just a door that is opened to the rest of our life. God Bless the ones who wrote this book. Mary Beeman Durango CO

The book has great pictures along with the words. The Cd just add extra. It is a beautiful thing. It brought tears to my eyes and everyone else who read it. It also helped me through a rough period in my life.

My father passed away unexpectantly right before Thanksgiving and this song was played at his celebration of life service. A friend gave me this book and I cried, with joy, all the way through it. The message of hope and eternity in the book and song are beautiful and give me peace of where my Dad is. Beautifully written and illustrated. Now I am ordering several for my siblings as Christmas gifts.