"Muscle and a Shovel"  This is a important plea to read this book!!
356199
Muscle and a Shovel ranks as one of the best books that I have ever read.  I recommend if your searching for biblical truth as taught in the Bible it's a must read.  I bought copies to give away and to share with my friends and neighbors.  It would make a perfect gift or class study book.  I like that it's documented by book,chapter and verse from the bible. There is so much falsehood in today's world.  People today are searching and it's refreshing to read such a true straight forward writing.  The bible states that (Israel under the old law are destroyed) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.  And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 6:6)."  People today are perishing because of lack of knowledge. May all those who read this book read,study,understand and come to the knowledge that saves souls.  "This is good, and it is pleasing to God our Savior,who desires all people to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4)."  Let's all take our commission seriously (Matthew 28:19) and do our part in passing the gospel or good news on to our family,friends and neighbors.  "If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32)."  Let's not find ourselves like described in Paul's letter to Timothy: "(21) for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.  Grace be with you (1 Timothy 6:17-21)."  It's my prayer that all will follow Jesus commands by searching for truth and that may be accomplished by: hearing,believing,repenting,confessing,being baptized for the remission of their sins and to live the rest of their life in obedience to Him.  Thanks Michael for this book.
1690540
Me, being an aspiring writer of these type of books, wanted so bad to love this book!!!!

I LOVED the movie!!!  I am so freaked out by pedifiles and wanting to get all of them off
the streets.

When I first started reading it I was so confused by how everything was worded and then
to find out that in the book she said they found her "elbow"... seems unbelievable, an elbow?
That's made up of several bones - like the end of the ulna or radius, right?

I feel bad about not liking this book and I think Alice Sebold is awesome, it's just for me, it was shoddy
and all over the place.  And at least she has the guts to get her book published- unlike me, I am so
critical on myself I can't finish one adult novel!! (have 3 childrens books written but zero adult ones).

Maybe I should just write and not care about it being perfect and see if others like it, what the heck, if
this was made into an awesome movie!  You did something right Alice :0)
100631
I am half way through this incredible book. Posting snippets on Facebook. Discussing the implications, the profound sadness and anger that have surfaced within me. On my chest, is a tattoo of a Bald Eagle, our flag in his talons. On my left arm, "Death Before Dishonor." An American flag, wrapped around a dagger. Have studied the "inconsistencies" in the world for many a year, but this is the first time, I wish to disfgure myself, and remove these flags with acid. Or sandpaper. Or, even deeper cuts.

Have, as a Libertarian, and Constitutionalist been moving towards leaving America for quite some time. Now, as I think of the evils of FDR, Harry Hopkins, and feel the pain of those Russian soldiers we beat, incapacitated, and repatriated to certain death and torture in the USSR...I know I will never sing our National Anthem again.

The perfidy, monsters, and destruction of our nation I have been reading for the past three days, have sickened me. A very strong man. A cold warrior still.

Read it at your peril, The Matrix clearly offers a poison pill to those who leave it.

Will follow up upon completion.
362482
I am a voracious reader, and lover of all things literate.  I will only judge this book on its ideas and delivery, not on its author.  While I do enjoy listening to Michael Savage on occasion, that doesn't give me the necessary depth to judge him as a man.  I believe he tells the truth as he sees it, but again, I don't know him personally.  The book is another story.  A book is divorced from the author once it is released, and as such must stand by itself - without explanation or apology.  Trickle up poverty is full of good ideas and obviously well researched.  One should read it for these ideas, then do some research into their validity, and only then judge for yourself.  And some these of ideas are so crucially important, we have an obligation to look into them.  I am not saying I agree with every aspect Savage espouses, but I recognize their importance to my country.  As a citizen, I have an obligation to be reasonably informed BEFORE I go into the voting booth.  Savage gives me food for thought.

I am sorry to say I voted for Obama, and regret the hole he continues to dig for us.  The book calls it a conspiracy.  I'm not sure I can accept that.  It would take a lot of coordination to break the back of the world's largest economy.  However, I'm not saying it is not worth understanding.  If there is enough evidence, enough logical and irrefutable proof, then we have to accept it.  I'm not convinced Savage has done that.  But there are plenty of other ideas short of that that are worth listening too.  The horror of socialism is real, and I have no doubt anymore that this is Obama's goal.  And that is enough for me.  If you need further reading on that subject, read: Ayn Rand, "We The Living," and George Orwell, "1984."

So why not 5 stars?  The delivery itself can be grating.  It reads too much like Savage's radio show.  And frankly, I suspect he recorded his own diatribes and had them transcribed.  It is not enough for him to write, "in my previous book, xyz."  It is instead, "in my previous best selling book, xyz."  Unfortunately, for a broad audience, I think all this could lose readers.  If you know him, and listen regularly, you are already on board.  If not, all the inside allusions and jargon will be unfamiliar and perhaps jarring.  That's what I mean about transcribed vs. written.

The bottom line: The ideas presented here are too important to ignore.  If you agree or disagree, use your vote in November to express it.  It is now or never friends.
903713
Have you ever picked up a book and had it grab you from beginning to end? Are you interested in the plight of a woman that faced challenges as she gingerly steps through a period in history( 1914) where "divorce" is taboo at all costs? After Gertie blasts through that challenging chapter in her life she creates a focus on "doing for others" that touched my heart in such a positive way.  Gertie is a not only a " survivor of her circumstances", but one that goes on to embrace a "new life" filled with patriotism and joy!  There are character conflicts as well as twists and turns in the plot that left me in total amazement! Oh, the feeling of nostalgia over family life in rural America ...the strong family ties that enable Gertie to move forward to do incredible things. The book really had me thinking about what importance does my life have....how will others benefit from my time here on earth?  There is a common thread of emotions that wind through the book....a feeling of "wanting to be accepted just for who you are" in all stages of life. Can you imagine the excitement of having Eleanor Roosevelt recognize Gertie for years of service to the veterans? What a twist in the novel.  This book is not only a fantastic read for women, but men as well.... it also has the full potential to be an awesome movie! I am going off to ponder "how will my life make a difference"?  To the author..."Is there going to be a sequel????  Don't leave us hanging! "
1658494
I recently happened upon a moral dilemma that had me both indignant and perplexed. I bore witness to two men engaged in a contest of strength. Glory, wonder, and excitement pulsed through my veins as the two met in fisticuffs. Flesh and muscle glistened with sweat until at last one contender cast his opponent down in what appeared a clear victory. Alas, the weaker man's wife approached the rightful victor from behind and grabbed him by his genitals. I was appalled as triumph was so brazenly stolen with one firm squeeze. I knew something must be done, but what? I headed to the county library in a desperate search for any book that might offer justice and quell my outrage. Hopeless, I conceded that this most serious offense would go without vengeance. With one last, desperate effort, I dove into the King James Bible. Unable to contain myself, I abandoned library etiquette as a shout of ecstasy escaped my lips when I stumbled across Deuteronomy 25:11. Who would have known proper justice for this exact scenario would have been documented in God's perfect book. Of course it was in there. As for the woman, let's just say that raising her hand in to protest God's justice was the last thing she ever did with that hand. Finally, I can sleep. It nice to know there's a book out there to solve these relevant moral dilemmas of the 21st century.
2566488
I love this story.  When I was quite young, in the mid 70's - I used to read all of the time (still do).  Even when I was suppose to be doing something else, I couldn't resist a book that was just lying there screaming at me to pick it up.  One day I was outside helping my parents do farming chores.  We were, among other things, burning brush.  My mother told me to run up to the house to get a shovel and I made a detour and got a book too.  Of course a 2 minute task turned into a 15 - 20 minute one.  When I brought my mom the shovel she realized that I had gotten distracted by a book - yet again - and burned my "Tall and Proud" book.  With that seemingly terrible event, I learned prioritizing, responsibility and obedience.  Since that day, this book has been very special to me, not just for the wonderful story, but for the lessons learned.
3212049
Frankly, I think this is a dangerous book to read! Before reading this book (which takes only a few hours) I had never heard of S. Truett Cathy (co-author) & (I'm from the West Coast) but I can't remember a book that emotionally moved me more (in a long time) than this one. Being generous has nothing to do with how much material abundance you have but with the attitude of your heart once you realize how truly blessed you are and the joy that comes to your life in being a blessing to others. Dr. Phillip McGraw (Dr. Phil) said in his book, "Life Strategies," in strategy #1 about being a person that "gets it." He says, either you'll get it or your won't, so make sure you "get it." You may read this book and say, "this is corny, life's not this simple" or you might say, "a great story, I need to give some more time to my church, or the local rescue mission or send some more dollars to hunger relief organizations" and still not "get it." I pray that after you read this book you "get it." Ken Blanchard and S. Truett Cathy pray you not be "just inspired," but that you "get it!" Because once you "get it" your life will never be the same. You will be living on a plane that most people never attain in life. I truly pray you "get it."
4948235
If a reader does not want to read about poverty and doing without - then do not read this book.  There have been a few comments saying they could not read so much about poverty -  Guess What - it is a part of life for so many!  This story is about Nate trying to keep his family together (2 sisters) after their parents are killed in an auto crash.  And is about Emma who has had cancer, off & on, since a young girl which has caused problems with their families financial situation.
This occurs in 1999 & 2001 so my problem is why is Emma's family so hard up, this is modern times and there has always been St. Jude's Hospital (yes there would have been travel - but they did send her to Calif. at one point) and there are many cancer hospitals even closer.  Plus there is financial assistance and food assistance, etc despite their living in a small town.
To some, 1999 may seem ancient but it was not so long ago. ------  Other than that, it was an interesting story of two people getting together after being years apart.
3347214
I've been thinking about writing Alice Seabold.  Mainly because the ending to her book and the ending to mine is a bit similar.  My book is about living with veterans of WWII - actually being a "veteran" of living with veterans - and also ending up with Post Traumatic Shock Syndrome...  My book is called "Eating Corn Through a Picket Fence" and I hopes she reads it - and this too!!
2181066
i really want to appreciate the author of this book who really work hard to get result for another lonely people to start there life again......<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Feeling-Lonely-Why-You-Be/dp/B008LW6V1Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Feeling Lonely? Why You Be?</a>&nbsp;Lets have what happens now to me !!!!
3481459
I am flabbergasted that Democrats are not waving this book at any sorry passerby who happens to walk by them. This book will CHANGE YOUR LIFE! This is especially true for the white, straight, able, cisgender, male, flowing-haired, shoe-owning, book-reading, literate, chocolate-eating, and car-driving PRIVILEGED MEN who are going through life they are NOT the problem in America! And you KNOW who you are. I guarantee that anyone who reads this book will walk away feeling spirutally, emotionally, and bowelly fulfilled. Please do yourself a favor and buy this book immediately. This book has the potential and ability to cross party, gender, race, and nutritional lines! Five FEMINIST stars!
344905
While this book is a very important historical work and the necessity to read it, especially by young people, grows each year, I must say something about this cover. Why, oh, why would you put such a sexualized picture of a young black woman on the cover? It is not only racist but incredibly sexist. This book is about the battles of Harriet Jacobs to overcome sexual advances from her white male owner and her harrowing escape. Please, please use a different image that does not continue to violate the bodies of women of color, specifically black women, who were victimized not only physically but psychologically by the white male gaze under slavery.
4292786
This book is one of the must reads for people who are nutrition fanatics or at least have a great interest in learning more in depth about the food we eat and what it's doing to us, which is why it is a good read but also a bad read. I say "bad" only in the sense that it is not for the millions of consumers who just want to get the basics without being overwhelmed by the numbers and technical jargon. Sometimes the numbers get in the way. I think it's too much of a text book for most people which is a shame because I wish everyone would read this book. For me, personally, as a consultant to the biggest food manufacturers for twenty-five years, I loved it and poured over the numbers. Every book that informs people with regard to nutrition and the products they consume helps our society move in the right direction. The China Study is one of them and an important one at that!
4490408
Wrestling with the Devil is such a necessary read. Its in no shape or form an easy read though. You may actually want to put it down and forget about it, pretend you never picked it up. I admit that I wanted to a few times, mainly because I felt consumed by guilt. Its not the first time that I feel guilty. I feel guilty a lot, guilty about a lot of things my ancestors have done to others, how as white colonial powers we created a world of hierarchy where we subjected others to discrimination, oppression, slavery, torture, famine, and often brutal death. Its a necessary guilt, it teaches us to fight for change. While I was reading through Wrestling with the Devil one thought kept reoccurring in my mind... After WW2 the western world acted shocked about the absolute horrors of the Holocaust, never again we said, but at the same time we were just as brutal in the countries that we colonized! Even up until the 1960s if not later. The hypocrisy of it all is lodged in my throat, it hasn't gone unnoticed. (Ngg wa Thiongo actually does bring up the Hitler comparison about a quarter into his memoir, rightly so).

Wrestling with the Devil was written in the early 80s after Ngg wa Thiongo was in prison for a year, for the crime of having written a political play. Detained without trial, kept apart from other political prisoners for certain amounts of time, and away from general population all through-out his incarceration, Ngg wa Thiongo wrote his now acclaimed novel, Devil on a the Cross, on toilet paper in his cell. Wrestling with the Devil recounts his time in prison, how he wrote the book, and how he managed to keep his sanity intact and continue to resist oppression. Its also a brilliant overview of the oppression endured by the Kenyans during the brutal British rule, and how this oppression led to another kind of oppression once independence was finally gained.

I also love how Ngg wa Thiongo describes the immense amount of art, culture, and resistance that was forged in the underground and right in front of the British oppressors - and I feel like I really haven't done anywhere near enough work to learn more about Kenya, her history, and her culture. Something that I shall be rectifying this year!

Ngg wa Thiongo weaves history, politics, social politics, and all kinds of personal anecdotes on life in general in Kenya into his narrative in Wrestling with the Devil, while providing a vivid image of life in prison as a political prisoner who has committed no other crime than that of helping to educate people. This book is an amazing insight into human resilience, how one is able to take a really bad situation (prison) and make it into a work of reflection (and art) in order to maintain ones sense of self, despite outside attempts to destroy ones essence and beliefs.

Im now adding more of Ngg wa Thiongos work to my must read list this year  his talent and brilliance have captured my heart and my mind.
904540
This book is left me speechless even more so than the first, "I Cried, You Didn't Listen." The entire book, my heart was burdened and my mind couldn't stop thinking/screaming that "it did not have to end this way." Mr. Abbott is an amazing writer and human being. Yes, you will read that he has done many questionable and seemingly inhumane things but given his environment, who wouldn't? He fought to survive, to tell his story! He is a victim of circumstance. Mr. Abbott should you ever read this, I want you to know that I believe you are a GOOD man! There are few people who could have survived your ordeal and lived to tell about it. I am sorry that the system failed you. As a new social worker (5 years into the profession), I have hope that we can bring social justice to the prisons and youth detention centers so that we can help people rather than tear them down. No one no matter the crime or action deserves to suffer as you did. I know that you are not a man of faith but God didn't permit or cause your pain. He didn't want this for you. God gives every human "free will" and it is the inhumanity of humans who caused you pain. God is not a dictator. To interfere with free will is to take away your right to choose. People make terrible decisions but if they will turn and freely choose God, He will be there for them. I do not know if you will ever be able to believe this. I do not want to seem like I am preaching to you but in my heart it would be inhumane not to tell you that there is a God who loves you. A God who is loving. A God who doesn't care what you have done or the mistakes you have made. He is a personable God not some dictator in the sky looking to see your demise. It may not seem like much but I am praying for you, Mr. Abbott. I hope and I pray that you will find peace, love, hope and joy in the midst of your circumstances. You deserve it whether you believe so or not. Thank you for writing! Thank you for telling your story! It may take time but it will change lives. It has certainly changed mine.
4212412
I have not read a book in years that made my stomach clench like this one did. Not since I found out about the extermination of the unfit in both Germany and the U.S., have I had a book make such an impact on me. I have been telling my husband nonstop about this book. Most times when I've read about the Dust Bowl it was in conjunction with the Depression as a whole, or about weather. This was the first time I'd seen a book specifically on that time period 'the Dirty Thirties' and I immediately grabbed it. If there ever was a book you could shove at people who are feeling sorry for themselves about being poor or not having enough stuff, this is the book you use. It's almost unbelieveable that anyone, man or woman, would put up with what these people endured. The thought of raising my children like that and being cornered and stuck on a piece of dusty land that had no benefits at all, no greenery, no food, nothing of beauty...I don't understand how they managed to survive as they did.

Like with the mass extermination of the Jews in Nazi Germany, I don't understand why these people just sat there and took this. I know it was partly the time period and the attachment people had to owning land. I am glad that our parents got past that, and put more emphasis in getting jobs that could support their families. It was a different time, and though these people caused some of their own problems, they had no idea what agriculture as they were pursuing it would do to land like this. Conservation got started with not only Muir, and Roosevelt, but also with this horrible 'rape' of the land, that ended up impacting the world through weather and economy.

I am appalled that we seem to be sitting here and letting it happen again, only this time the takers are commercial agriculture and huge business farms that are draining the underground reservoir of water in the Ogallala currently. When that goes guys, there is nothing left...there are no more glaciers, no more ice packs developing anywhere that could possibly give us more water. And in case these guys neglected to take physics or science, I would like to remind them that matter, including water, cannot be c reated from nothing, and if the current trend continues in depopulating the forests and the scraping of the land, the entire world may become a Sahara, that we cannot do anything with...

Karen L. Sadler