I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to discuss controversial topics.

The author discusses subjects such as the KKK, gangs, the effects of crack on society, so called "experts" giving biased opinions, abortion, crime rate, corruption, just to name a few topics.

One chapter that I found interesting was about the NYPD in the early 1990s. David Dinkins, before being defeated by Guiliani, upped the number of officers by 45%. Then, Guiliani became mayor and handpicked the new commissioner named William Bratton. He had a unique approach to the crime problem. He used technology to fight crime by focusing on the popular crime spots. He also made the decision that all crimes, even the small ones, should be taken seriously. This was called the broken window effect. Basically, if a house has a broken window and goes unfixed, over time people will start to think it's ok to break a window -- then break all the windows, then even destroy the house. By charging the people with the small crimes, it in fact, prevented the same people from committing bigger crimes. His effect on turning around the crime in NYC put him on the cover of Time magazine. After which, Bratton was forced to resign. Perhaps Guiliani wasn't good at sharing the spotlight?

Overall, I found this book very interesting. It makes you want to look at what is presented from the media in a more analytical way.

This is a great book. It is not a simple story about a young man who went off into the wild Alaska wilderness unprepared and died. It is much more than that. This book goes through several historical accounts of persons making similar risky excursions. The primary focus is of course, Chris McCandless. His story is complex. The author has an amazing way of making the reader feel like Chris is someone that has affected so many lives in a short amount of time. Making us feel like we, too, would have liked to have known him.

Chris graduated college, gave away his trust fund, changed his name (not legally) to Alex Supertramp, avoided all contact with his family, and traveled across the country on very little. The author has done extensive research into the time period where Chris left college to the point where he died.

At first, I thought that reading this book -- I already knew the ending so what was the point? Well, after several pages into it, I was fascinated by this story. I couldn't put the book down. This book makes you think about what you really need to live -- companionship. A few field guides would also help.

This is a book that every woman should read.

This is a story about a woman, a mother of 8 children. She was married off to a man she didn't love who was married to several other women. Polygamy was introduced into FLDS in the early 1800s. In order to become a god and get his own planet -- a man needed a lot of wives. A woman's role in the FLDS community was to have as many children as she could. Her husbands name would be told by God to the prophet. Children as young as 14 are married off to men as old as 80. No sex education -- women often were married thinking that pregnancy was caused by kissing. Chapters in textbooks would be torn out. Dinosaurs never existed.

The author has an incredible story. She endured a lot of abuse. Her children were also physically abused by the other sister-wives. People of the FLDS community were told that children needed to be abused from the time of birth - to instill the fear of God. Abuse is supposed to save their soul.

Fear of impending doom is one key factor in keeping the FLDS community alive. Even local police are part of the FLDS -- they will return any woman trying to leave without direct permission from her husband. The author decided that she would take her chances on ending up in hell, rather than spending an eternity with her husband. And soon after... she escaped. To appreciate the extreme difficulty of this, you would have to read the book. It is amazing that she was able to escape -- and with all of her children and only $20. As the author details her story and the history of FLDS, the reader is taken aback by this horrific place that exists in America. It is hard to believe there are terrorists among us, born here, as the FLDS leaders are, in fact, by any definition - terrorists.

The author discussed some terrifying new changes in the FLDS that were implemented. This book will make you keep asking -- why is this allowed to happen here -- in America?

Overall, I found this book hard to put down. It makes you appreciate your everyday freedoms. It makes you want to hug your children and be so thankful that they are safe.

I recommend this book to any parent.

Whether your child has autism or not, this book speaks volumes about a problem affecting thousands of children. It is a quick page-turner. I have read and enjoyed all of Jenny McCarthy's books. I can appreciate the way her books are written as if she is speaking to the reader, very uncensored at times. She allows the reader a glimpse into her life, as a mom, not a celebrity. She tells the story about her son, Evan. This book makes you start asking questions. Why isn't more attention being brought to autism? What about testing a child to see if their immune system is strong enough to handle a vaccine? Why the sudden increase in austistic children? What about the link with food allergies in autistic children? Children who seem normal until they are about 2, all of a sudden one day seem lost. It is tragic. It deserves more attention. This book is inspirational and hopeful. She was able to break through the window of opportunity and her son is now -- healed of autism.

A classic must read.

I originally read this in high school. It's a great book to read more than once.

A story about a young man named Charlie who has an exceptionally low IQ level. He befriends a mouse named Algernon. The mouse undergoes experimental surgery, then Charlie gets the same surgery. The mouse is tested daily and starts to do well in mazes. Meanwhile, Charlie tranforms into an extremely intelligent person. He develops a relationship with a woman. He also confronts the people who tormented him and took advantage of him when he had a low IQ. Then, Algernon starts to deteriorate. Will Charlie meet the same fate? Buy the book and find out!

A timeless classic. A must read for all.

George Orwell wrote this story in 1949 about the life of Winston Smith in 1984. In Orwell's 1984, the government is in control of everything. "Big Brother is Watching You." There are no laws. The government even controls the laws of nature, or so they make people believe. If a crime is committed the punishment is death. There is also the "thought police." All children are conceived via artificial insemination. Hidden microphones are everywhere. History is constantly being rewritten. He talks of technology and wealth, along with ignorance and strength. Constantly questioning what is real and what does "Big Brother" want you to believe? Finally, there is Room 101. To find out what's behind that door... you must go read this book!

I would recommend this book to any bird enthusiast, a wildlife conservationist, and anyone who loves sports.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I found myself interested in this world of pigeons. The author does a great job of making the pigeon seem important. He talks about history of the pigeon, pigeon shoots, pigeon contests, different types of pigeons. He obviously did a lot of research.

One inspirational story about a homing pigeon was that there was a contest, the pigeon never returned home, but after two weeks the pigeon showed up on the owners doorstep -- with a broken wing.

What facinated me the most was the research about why homing pigeons poses such a capability. It is very interesting... buy the book and read all about it!

This book will change the way you look at life.

I've read some other Mitch Albom books. I've enjoyed "Five People You Meet In Heaven" along with "For One More Day", but this book, above all others, is in a class by itself. Simply spectacular.

This story, a true story, is about a young writer (Mitch) and his old professor (Morrie). Morrie is dying from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or otherwise referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. He had an amazing attitude about death, and an appreciation for life. For example, he decided to have a "living funeral" in order to hear all the things people want to say at his actual funeral, but it would be too late to tell him.

This book is filled with wonderful life lessons and quotes.

I highly recommend this book. It is one of those books that you never forget after reading it. It will touch your life -- forever.

I have read some of Nicholas Sparks' fiction books, but this autobiography written by him and his brother is my absolute favorite.

It is a wonderful story about hope and faith and family.

Nicholas Sparks and Michah Sparks are brothers, who live across the country from one another. They decide to take a break from their busy lives and go on an excursion of a lifetime. They traveled to several countries over a short amount of time. They do a lot of reflection of themselves, their childhood, and the family moments that shaped their lives.

This story is about a young woman who is in a long relationship with her high-school sweetheart, but starting to have doubts about their future together. In an effort to try to impress his girlfriend, he jumps off of a pier into a lake they frequently would visit. Unfortunately, there was a drought that year, and he broke his neck, paralyzing him. Now, faced with a mix of emotions, the young woman has a very difficult time dealing with the reality of her life. She decides to go to NYC to get away to find herself and figure out where she fits in the world.

This book makes you ask difficult what-if questions.

I recommend this book to any book group. This book makes for a great discussion.