Amazon.com
Deborah Layton was, by her own account, a typical rebellious youth, with nothing in her dossier to indicate that she would eventually find herself in Jim Jones's People's Temple in Guyana, looking for a way out of the green hell that had become the People's Temple Agricultural Project. She barely escaped in June 1978. Within months, more than 900 people drank Jones's cyanide punch and committed "revolutionary suicide" in the face of mounting stateside pressure on the cult, some of it prompted by Layton's own testimonials upon her safe return home. Her brother, Larry, also survived, and as one of the few left alive in Guyana became a scapegoat for Jones's crimes; he is now serving a life sentence in federal prison.
There is a simple naiveté at the root of Seductive Poison. Layton's own youthful innocence, foremost, but also the desire to trust another person, the need for belonging and meaning, which led so many perfectly normal Americans to place their faith in a suicidal madman. Far from confirming the simplistically monstrous Jones of the public imagination, Layton paints the man as a dark, twisted shaman, by turns soothing, then suddenly malevolent and petty, with a hugely sadistic streak that belied his perfectly coifed hair, expensive suits, and impressive political connections. The scenes in which she describes her escape and flight to safety are wrenching, her last-minute conversation with Jones and his seductive appeal for her to return home to Jonestown are chilling, and her fear and indecision are still palpable on the printed page. For Layton to recount tales this personal and horrifying must have been tremendously difficult. For her to lift those recollections above the bargain-basement freak-show reputation the People's Temple has achieved in the popular imagination and depict them with the power of great tragedy is nothing but extraordinary. --Tjames Madison
Book Description
Told by a former high-level member of the Peoples Temple and Jonestown survivor,
Seductive Poison is the "truly unforgettable" (Kirkus Review) story of how one woman was seduced by one of the most notorious cults in recent memory and how she found her way back to sanity.
From Waco to Heaven's Gate, the past decade has seen its share of cult tragedies. But none has been quite so dramatic or compelling as the Jonestown massacre of 1978, in which the Reverend Jim Jones and 913 of his disciples perished. Deborah Layton had been a member of the Peoples Temple for seven years when she departed for Jonestown, Guyana, the promised land nestled deep in the South American jungle. When she arrived, however, Layton saw that something was seriously wrong. Jones constantly spoke of a revolutionary mass suicide, and Layton knew only too well that he had enough control over the minds of the Jonestown residents to carry it out. But her pleas for help--and her sworn affidavit to the U.S. government--fell on skeptical ears. In this very personal account, Layton opens up the shadowy world of cults and shows how anyone can fall under their spell.
Seductive Poison is both an unflinching historical document and a riveting story of intrigue, power, and murder.
Customer Reviews:
Haunting.......2007-08-09
This book is horrifying. I could not put it down, and since I have finished it I can't stop thinking about it. I would highly recommend it.
Chilling well-written memoirs.......2007-07-24
This is a detailed account of what really went on in The People's Temple.
It is very upsetting and at the same time not able to put down!
Deborah Layton writes with passion, details and a timeline.
Deborah's personal account on how she was raped, taken from her father, forced into marriage with a man she wasn't allowed to interact with and many many more terrifying accounts.
One is obligated to know of such cruel terrible events, such as the mass-suicide-murder, to be able to prevent similarities in the future.
MUST BUY MUST BUY MUST BUY!
Excellent Book.......2007-07-09
I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Jonestown tragedy. How Deborah Layton escaped with her life is a miracle. What is even more amazing is how she was able to go on with her life and survive; to be able to reclaim one's mind after such an experience is truly a testament to her strength of character.
A very well-written historic account of the Jonestown massacre.......2007-07-08
I was just a kid when the Jonestown tragedy hit the news. Like most kids my age we did not understand how one man could convince 1000 people to kill themselves. I never understood it and so I figured that they must have all been "crazy". I never researched the tragic story and don't recall hearing much about it after the initial story. But then I saw a special a few months ago on public TV and was mortified by what Jim Jones had done to the people who trusted him with their very existence. That was what compelled me to find and read this book. I thought the author did a fantastic job of telling her story. She never once made herself out to be any one special. She was brutally honest about herself and her thoughts and feelings of and for Jim Jones. She was really just a sheep like all the rest of them and completley under his spell. Somehow she started thinking for her self and woke up to the fact that he was crazy and getting crazier everyday. It is sad that her initial accounts and warning of the mass suicide were not taken more seriously. Had the government listened they would not have let a congressman and a news crew - do their job. This story is a very well-written historic account of the Jonestown massacre and I think everyone should read it.
Going off to College? A must Read........2007-06-21
This book should be handed out to high school graduates. Ms. Layton gives a vivid and very moving account of her expriences with The People's Temple and Jim Jones. Those naieve and going off to college would do well to familarize themselves with the way people can disillusion others and the almost silent way cults can sneak into a young person's life. As a survivor of a cult myself, I highly recommend Ms. Layton's book to parents, teens, and also those who have experienced cults first hand, as it helped me come to terms with what had happened to me.
Book Description
"Where were you when Diana died?For Trevor Rees-Jones, the answer is simple: he was in the same hospital as Diana, fighting for his own life a few rooms away.As bodyguard to her companion Dodi Fayed, he was with the couple when, hounded by paparazzi, and with a driver who turned out to be drunk, their Mercedes crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in Paris.Dodi and the Driver, Henri Paul, died instantaneously, medics say; Diana was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors worked feverishly to resuscitate her before giving up in the early hours of Sunday morning.Miraculously, Trevor survived.But his condition was critical--internal chest injuries and a broken wrist were the least of it.His head had taken the brunt of the impact and suffered catastrophic damage; his face was crushed beyond recognition.In a stunning medical drama, however, a facial surgeon performed a miracle of reconstruction, and--along with Trevor's own indomitable will and the support of his family and friends--the bodyguard was able to leave the hospital after just over a month.His goal then was straightforward: to return to a normal life as soon as possible, go back to work for his employer, Mohamed Al Fayed, and to the simple pleasures of rugby and his mates at home in Shropshire.But the crash that nearly killed him had killed Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most famous women of the late twentieth century.A normal life was no longer an option.An as Mohamed Al Fayed's grief at the loss of his son quickly turned into a desperate hunt for reasons, for culprits and conspiracy, Trevor found his unswerving loyalty to the Boss at first questioned and then, ultimately, destroyed, as Fayed pointed the finger of blame at him.The Bodyguard's Story grippingly describes, for the first time, Trevor Rees-Jones's part in these astonishing events.From the prelude to Paris, when Trevor found himself minding the Princess and her two sons in the south of France, to the crash itself and its causes and consequences, this book reveals the true, first-hand account of one of the most sensational news stories of the last century.Compelling, alarming and yet deeply moving, it is a remarkable story of courage under fire, and of how ordinary people can react to extraordinary circumstances and survive, scarred, but with their souls and values intact."
Customer Reviews:
A book to end the conspiracy theories?.......2007-04-22
'The Bodyguard's Story' is ghost written and very readable. It has the intimacy if a biography, a pace befitting the events, and the readable style of novel. Recommended to anyone for a good read, 'The Bodyguard's Story' essential reading for those interested in the events of Diana's death.
As the sole survivor of the crash, the bodyguard's story should be the book to end the conspiracy theories. Its doesn't. First because of the inevitable pre-shock amnesia endured by all crash victims, especially a victim who injuries were so horrific as to bring him close to death. The Bodyguard's Story leaves gaps. Gaps left by the investigation, such as the existence of the Fiat Panda. However 'The Bodyguard's Story' does cover the exhaustive French investigation and accounts for the long period between crash and arrival at hospital for both Diana and 'her' bodyguard.
The book does reveal one fact that is not commonly perceived. The Body guard was not Diana's but for Dodi Al Fayed as employed by his father Mohamed Al Fayed. Diana had no body guard that day.
'The Bodyguard's Story' paints a picture of incompetent security and security officers as worried about instant dismissal by a dictatorial boss, Al Fayed, as they were for the security of their charges. The bodyguard's enduring loyalty to his 'Boss', Al Fayed, leaves a open the possibility, may even appear to suggest, that there were other reasons for the employee's amnesia. The book begs the question as to why Diana put herself at such risk, in the hands of a person known to be at odds with the British government and in a relationship which was bound to be of concern to all.
An intriguing and well written read.
A true account of what happened.......2004-08-08
There is only one person that knows what actually happened before, during and after the horrific accident that left most of the world in shock and disbelief and that is Trevor Rees-Jones.
This was a fascinating look "behind the scenes" of a royal and much beloved figure and a very foolish "commoner". The fault of this accident seems to rest with Dodi making a bunch of unwise decisions that ultimately led to 3 people losing their lives.
A fascinating read, albeit a bit slow in some chapters, but fascinating none the less!
From the source.......2004-01-14
I have always wondered what kind of a person Trevor Rees-Jones was and his book gave an in-depth view of him, personally and professionally . . . in his own words.
The saying goes that "truth is stranger than fiction." The truth is also less sensational and colorful than the portrait painted by tabloid hacks and unethical "journalists" the world over.
From the start, I didn't think Trevor was trying to cash in on his time with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the foreward, he stated that writing the book (author Moira Johnston helped him write it) was his way of dealing with the situation and moving on with his life.
Trevor is an ordinary guy who had a very high profile job. It was because of circumstances on the job (that lead to what Trevor called "an industrial accident") and the fact that he was in a car with the world's most famous woman that has put him center stage for the rest of his life.
I felt sorry for the entire Rees-Jones family as diary entry after another explained the turmoil going on inside each of them: His mother and stepfather's struggle to getting Trevor on the road to recovery, the whole family having to deal with the intense media pressure, having Trevor's professionalism called into question by so-called experts (that, in his own words, were not at the Ritz nor in the car), Trevor's having to cope with the fact that he was the only survivor, the family's having to deal with the first overprotective and subsequently vicious hand of Mohammed Al Fayed. The list goes on.
I did get mad at, but then later understood, Trevor's wanting to keep his job with Al Fayed. He was the textbook case example of a loyal employee. Unfortunately, Mohammed Al Fayed was (and still is) so hung up on his conspiracy theories that he thought Trevor was lying to him about how much he remembered of the accident. It was only when he (Al Fayed) was more forthright in wanting to take complete control of the investigation that Trevor had finally had enough and quit (his good friend, Kez, would also quit about two years after the crash for the same reason: He told Al Fayed to his face that he thought his theories were rubbish).
I give Trevor and his family (his real last name is just Rees but he changed HIS name to Rees-Jones because he was so in love with his now ex-wife Sue Jones) MUCH credit for coming through such a trying time in their lives not only intact but stronger than ever. They did not let any of the media attention go to their heads (even as Trevor's so-called friends and even Sue were selling themselves to the highest bidder in the media). They remained true small town folks to the end (and Trevor was even able to play his beloved rugby not a year after the crash).
Some folks may find this book boring as Trevor is a very down-to-earth chap who just shoots straight from the hip. He doesn't trump up the facts (or make things up entirely as the media decided to do time and again while Trevor refused to give interviews). He presents Diana in a very positive light and tells the unexciting truth about the goings on of the case and behind the scenes shananigans of one Mohammed Al Fayed.
Highly recommended (if you can still get it) for a first hand account of wha it's like on the other side of the camera and news reports.
An Indepth View of a Royal Tragedy.......2003-08-11
Although somewhat hard to follow ; this is a book definitely worth reading.An indepth look , from the only survivor of a car crash that changed history!What could be more exciting.Somewhat rough around the edges;but ,nevertheless honest and telling Never knowing how these fateful events would unfold as they left the Ritz with Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana , Trevor
and Kez only knew that they were between a rock and a hard place.You don't disrespect the Boss's son when he's entertaining a Princess .It wouldn't be the first time Dodi's last minute change of plans surprised the bodyguards .At the recent screening of "Air Force One" Dodi had seated Diana in Trevors' usual seat by the door.Trevor nearly landed in Diana's lap.That same evening on route to the theatre with the Princess,Trevor had shown professionalism in eluding the paparazzi - so why the change in plans at the Ritz? Dodi's former girlfriend ,Kelly Fisher testified that Dodi was a "real dictator to Trevor".It was apparent that Dodi began to mistrust those around him ; and he just may have tried to impress the Princess with Henri Paul ; someone he knew he could trust. Trevor should have been compensated handsomely for his injuries.Money and justice just don't seem to mix .
Basically a waste of time.........................2003-01-23
For those that were truly fans of Diana, this book does nothing. I am not, but still can respect a well written story which this book is definitely not. All it does do, is give some slight info to the curious of what took place a few months prior to her death. As far as any real insight into her life, personality, accident and all the miscellanoeus issues surrounding it, this book just touches the surface. Nothing gained or lost here except a little bit of time in the reading.
Average customer rating:
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Survivor In Death
J.D. Robb
Manufacturer: Berkley
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ASIN: 0425204189 |
Book Description
The newest in the number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke. Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb returns to the New York City of 2059-where Dallas will struggle to solve the murder of a seemingly ordinary family and to protect one small, terrified survivor.
The members of the Swisher family were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night-vision equipment to find their way through the cozy, middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. It seems the only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the darkened kitchen.
Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan-and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas's strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. With her partner, Peabody, back on the job-and her husband, Roarke, providing the kind of help that only he can give-Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who's behind them.
Download Description
"The newest in the number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke. Nora Roberts writing as J. D. Robb returns to the New York City of 2059-where Dallas will struggle to solve the murder of a seemingly ordinary family and to protect one small, terrified survivor. The members of the Swisher family were murdered in their beds with brutal, military precision. The state-of-the-art security was breached, and the killers used night-vision equipment to find their way through the cozy, middle-class house. Clearly, Dallas is dealing with pros. It seems the only mistake they made was to overlook the nine-year-old girl cowering in the darkened kitchen. Now Nixie Swisher is an orphan-and the sole eyewitness to a seemingly inexplicable crime. Kids are not Dallas's strong suit. But Nixie needs a safe place to stay, and Dallas needs to solve this case. With her partner, Peabody, back on the job-and her husband, Roarke, providing the kind of help that only he can give-Lieutenant Eve Dallas is running after shadows, and dead-set on finding out who's behind them. "
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-07-19
Nora Roberts Rocks! Lt. Eve Dallas makes the best protagoniost and it's like a ongoing series so there is always a new story!
Sci-Fi.......2007-06-16
Good mystery story if you skip over the sci-fi stuff.
EMOTION STIRRING.......2007-06-02
I read a lot of books every year. I don't cry much over books or often. The fact that this one has moved me to tears is by and of itself a commendation to the power of Ms Roberts writing.
Something's off.......2007-05-27
I guess I wouldn't have noticed, either, if I hadn't just finished reading Survivor before listening to the audio. A significant character mistake was made in the book (Katherine instead of Elizabeth) and a major scene of Roarke's is left completely out (Nixie's step-aunt). The character change was just confusing, especially since they mentioned Sharon, but leaving out an entire scene makes the book NOT unabridged. It's an excellent story still, and yes, Eve doesn't deal well with children, but that's not a big surprise considering her history. As a purist, I found the changes to the story disturbing, but still a great story
Death Books.......2007-05-06
Another In Death book by JD Robb. Another great book to keep all her characters alive and the future bright.
Book Description
An account of the extraordinary strength and courage exhibited by americans under the extreme and seemingly unending stress of three and a half years of captivity under the Japanese on Bataan. Photographs and maps.
Customer Reviews:
Gripping AND Complete!.......2007-08-25
This book is both Gripping AND Complete. It may not be conventional in the way it is written, but it certainly carries you every step of the way. It will grip your soul and force you to see the depths of humanity. Both the good and bad. This is a must read for anyone who is even slightly contemplating reading it. My heart goes out to all servicemen and servicewomen past, present, and future. As well as thier families. Thank you for your sacrifices!
Death March.......2005-09-14
Have not read the book as yet but pleased with prompt delivery.
Such a great book........2004-12-14
I am a college student and I originally picked this book up to due research for a project of the Japanese atrocities of WWII. While I specifically picked up for the accounts on the Death March, I ended up reading it cover to cover. The more I read more it became useful for information on the Hell Ships and the conditions of the labor camps. It's a shame that while the stories of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany are told and retold the horrors in the Pacific Theater are barely talked about. The stories that the soldiers tell of struggle and hardship show the true heroism. I often find myself with them hoping them on. I completely recommend this book for anyway with any interest.
A First-Hand Account of the Atrocities of War.......2003-06-05
Author Donald Knox has taken personal narratives from over sixty survivors of the Bataan death march and combined them into this gripping story of the struggle to survive. On April 9, 1942, the penninsula of Bataan fell into Japanese hands. The surrendering Americans were then subjected to a ninety mile march without adequate food or water. Men were shot and bayonetted for sport by the Japanese. Once the Americans reached their prison camp, they were herded into a tiny area with only two water spigots. Hundreds of men died each day from dysentery, malaria, and starvation. Many healthy men were soon reduced to skeletons. Others simply refused to go on any further. Still others found that the only way they could survive was to find a friend to help them get through.
After two to three years of living in this nightmare, the American forces returned to liberate the Philippines. Fearing that the prisoners would be liberated by the returning Americans, the Japanese loaded the surviving POWs into "Hell Ships"; massively overcrowded freighters to be transferred to the Japanese home islands. Some of the men went mad, while others drowned when their ships were sunk by American submarines. Once in Japan, the men were forced to work long hours in Japanese factories and mines while still receiving little in the way of food or medical care. The conditions in the Japanese labor camps were as unimaginable as they were in the Philippines; little food and water and constant beatings by the Japanese guards.
I've read several oral history books about World War II, and this book is one of the best. Knox lets the survivors' stories create this book. I was in awe of the horrible conditions that these men were forced to survive under. It is a true testament to the human spirit that these men were able to overcome the merciless beatings and the extermely meager food and water rations they received to survive and return home. Anyone who questions why the Americans used the atomic bomb should read about the Bataan prisoners and what they were forced to endure. I highly recommend this fine piece of oral history. Read it and understand what some of the true heroes of World War II did for their country.
GRIPPING ... COULDN'T PUT THE BOOK DOWN!!!!.......2003-03-15
As a descendant of soldiers who were in the Philippine Scouts (they survived the March by escaping into the jungle), I found the first hand accounts of Americans who were there fascinating. It gave me a feeling of being there. It's a story about survival and the indomitable spirit of man.It's amazing what men will do to survive in stressful conditions and adversity. It separates the men from the boys, the strong from the weak.
I'm not accustomed to reading books in the first hand account style, but I found it more interesting to read the text as opposed to the typical factual style that a history book would have.
This a great read for you military history buffs out there! It's almost as good as sitting down with the vets and hearing them telling you their experiences.
Book Description
Honest, gentle advice for those who have survived an unspeakable lossthe suicide of a loved one. Transforming suffering into strength, misconceptions into understanding, and shame into dignity, Beverly Cobain and Jean Larch break through the dangerous silence and stigma surrounding suicide to bring readers this much-needed book. Cobains achingly honest account of dealing with the suicide of a loved one, along with personal stories from others who experienced this profound loss, provide powerful insight into the confusion, fear, and guilt family members experience. A chapter about the suicidal mind helps families not only comprehend the depth of their loved ones pain prior to suicide, but also understand why such desperation is so difficult to recognizeeven in the closest relationships. By sharing survivor stories as well as the latest thinking and statistics about suicide, Cobain and Larch break through myths, misinformation, and misunderstandings. The result is a book of extraordinary compassion and steadfast guidance for anyone awash in the aftermath of unfathomable loss. "This frank book about suicide is a giant step toward bringing another form of mental illness out of the closet." Mindy Greiling, Minnesota State Representative and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) National Board of Directors
Customer Reviews:
Dying to Be Free.......2007-09-26
I found this highly readable book not only informative but feel it helped save my own life....it gave me hope at a time that made no sense at all, the suicide of my son. I read it in one sitting...and will re read it again. My mom loved it too. I will highly recoomend this to anyone who I know is touched by this type of tragedy.
Just O.K........2007-09-18
This was a good basic book. My problem with it is the large amount (nearly last 1/3) of the book that talked about warning signs. To be honest, dealing with the suicide of my father, I found so much on "warning signs" a slap in the face. Sure, I see them now, but I wouldn't have bought a book that is supposed to help me heal when so much made me feel like "Why didn't I see this coming?" The first two-thirds and last chapter were fine though and I found myself making a lot of notes in the margins and highlighting. If you're like me though you'll end up skipping the last 30% of the book and it's a short book already.
After Ten Years.......2007-07-15
of trying to sort out my own daughter's suicide, and now coping with the attempted suicide of her oldest child, I am profoundly grateful that this book found its way to me. I have found much helpful information and good advice. The powerful knowledge that the book presents in a clear and concise style makes it a wonderful companion to those of us who have already begun the grief journey and to those of us who might face it in the future.
The pain and anguish, guilt and fear, shame and depression are all addressed in a way that tells us that the authors really do know what they are talking about. They have put the words to paper in an eloquent and compassionate manner.
The pain will always persist, the hole in the heart will never fully heal, but what I have craved most of all is information and knowledge that can lead to some measure of relief. Some answers will never be revealed but much work can be accomplished with the help of skilled professionals. This is an important work in the examination of suicide--a terrible but real event. I will read and reread Dying to be Free.
Very basic.......2007-05-11
Having been a grief educator with years of hospice experience, I found this book to be very basic at best. Having lost my father recently, I have turned to reading as a form of self help and this book was not helpful to me. I think I may have marked three passages in total. If you like the idea of reading the stories of famous people that have suffered loss, there is something for you here. Also, I found the poetic, Christian hymns, and prayer elements to not really speak to me at all... and I am a Christian. If these things appeal to you, then fine. If you are looking for a very personal, understanding, and insightful work on the loss of a loved one or friend to suicide, I strongly recommend the author Hsu for an excellent 5 star read.
Recognising the danger signs and surviving the ultimate loss.......2007-03-23
The authors take profoundly emotionally charged subject material such as suicide, the most extreme outcome of a loved ones individual grief, anxiety, and turmoil......and successfully write about it in ways bereaved families can understand and relate to.
They cover the intense feelings of dejection and hopelessness which can lead to suicidal tendencies, they cover the warning signs to be aware of , they cover the chemical imbalance involved in the illness of depression, they cover the trauma involved for those who witness the scene, and they assist the reader in understanding where our loved ones were at that critical moment in their lives, they ease our need to know WHY.
They can do this because they once were where I am today and just knowing that gives me hope...that one day my family and I will see the light thru our recent horrific loss........and hope is all that sustains us for today....and all our tomorrows.
Thank you Bev and Jean for opening doors to a subject that just isn't talked about enough.I find myself reading it over and over and each time I come away with something new.
Book Description
Last Wishers A Funeral Planning Manual and Survivors Guide is a complete consumer manual that will help your customers today and their survivors tomorrow.
This book recommends the reasons for pre-planning your own funeral and will help your customers every step of the way with the funeral services, caskets, cemetery, cremation and/or burial choices. The various types of funeral services are explained in plain, straight-forward terms that everyone can understand. The rights of a consumer when dealing with the funeral industry are clarified. There is a section for frequently asked questions about those confusing legal documents are answered. Throughout the manual there are many lists to help make choices including flowers, hymns and Bible readings. In the back of the book there is a complete set of forms that are to be completed and a listing of business professional and consumer groups.
Customer Reviews:
Learn before you Urn.......2007-03-15
Benjamin Franklin once said, "In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes. At least now, thanks to the internet, death doesn't have to be as expensive.
According to AARP, the average funeral in the United States can easily reach $10,000 once a burial plot, flowers and other costs are included.
Educated consumers are no longer in the dark about how the funeral industry works. Big conglomerates are mercilessly buying up family-operated homes with their eyes solely on the bottom-line. Caskets alone average a 600% mark up. They may be the last example of a legal monopoly left in the United States. Mourners are literally gauged, as they haven't the time or presence of mind to comparison shop.
It has always been tradition to call upon the neighborhood funeral parlor, cemetery or monument dealer when a loved-one passes. But, due to the internet, that traditional is starting to change.
MonumentsInStone is the sister company of Interstate Granite, a family-owned, monument manufacturer that has been in business in the Atlanta area since 1916. They have recently launched a website, offering granite headstones, bronze markers and crematory products at a fraction of their retail price. "We have been there." Say the owner, Robert Womac. "And, we want to right an industry-wide wrong."
MonumentsInStone supplies headstones and memorials directly to the consumer. Although cemeteries might not like this, they have to, by law, accept a stone from an outside source. The savings have been a blessing for many customers.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance has many tips that should be followed when planning a funeral. They told us that savvy consumers need to shop around for a grave marker or monument. The Better Business Bureau also warns to resist high-priced sales pitches from funeral industry vendors. They should treat you with compassion; not pressure you.
Perhaps, asking a friend or neighbor to work the phones or search the net would be a good idea. Even a check on Ebay has produced a number of beautiful choices. I found an elegant, Granite Companion Monument for a third of the price my funeral parlor was pitching. A Tombstone on Ebay? I emailed the highest bidder to find out why. "I'm sorry," He told me. " I see no reason to pay top dollar because of some outdated
Last Wishes Book Is Very Helpful.......2001-01-31
I purchased a copy of this book for my elderly mother who has been talking about planning ahead for her own funeral. This book is loaded with information about funerals and funeral homes, many things that we were unfamiliar with. In particular, she liked the detailed appendix with all those biblical phrases and the facts about different flowers. I liked the forms in the back of the book that helped her to become organized and share information with me, that I never would have known about. An excellent resource for anybody who wants to preplan a funeral themselves.
Last Wishes.......2000-11-21
Found this book to be not only educational but also in a format easily understood. I purchased several copies for my family and friends.
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- Airline book
- Great Handbook on Poise: "a lost art"
- Author took no payment for the book
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Exit Row: The True Story of an Emergency Volunteer, a Miraculous Survivor and the Crash of Flight 965
Tammy L. Kling
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1570718601 |
Customer Reviews:
Airline book.......2007-01-09
Was interested in this because I, too, have trained for responding to a major airline disaster. Learned alot from this book.
Great Handbook on Poise: "a lost art".......2006-02-10
Though not necessarily the author's intent, I deeply appreciated this writer's insights regarding communication skills (both verbal & nonverbal), self-presentation, discernment, and crises managment.
I recommend EXIT ROW for individuals pursuing corporate careers, (especially in areas of communications, marketing or sales) or emergency management professions.
Author took no payment for the book.......2003-10-05
In response to doubletrouble... I read in a newspaper article that the author is giving 100% of the proceeds of this book to a children's charity. So, anyhow, I felt the book very interesting and a great testimony about airplane crashes and crisis workers! Everyone involved in the Sept 11th activation should read it. It was very moving.
Response to doubletroublefive-o.......2003-10-05
Review for Exit Row and response to doubletroublefive-o
I was deeply touched by this book, and surprised to find it contained much more than the title and subtitle hinted at. Not everyone is going to get the same thing out of a book, but in all fairness and honesty, I can only conclude that doubletroublefive-o did not read to the end of the book. Had he or she done so, the full picture would have come clear.
In a serendipitous way, two survivors of Flight 965 (one of the actual crash, the other the aftermath) meet and allow their lives to be enhanced by the other. Together they create a project to benefit orphans around the world, building swingsets as evidence of their love and concern. In truth, Mercedes became an orphan as a result of the crash, even though she was an adult by then. I can attest to that, because it's the way I felt the day my second parent died and I was already an adult and parent of several children myself. The loss of parents, so closely allied with our past, helps us empathize with those who are orphaned in a more profound sense as children.
Connected with this is the fact that the author mentions (to me a foreshadowing) the loss of her father at age 7, the details of which she doesn't learn for many years.
I applaud the writer of this book and her close ally and friend who helped inspire it. This book is one more proof that mankind has the capacity to turn tragedy into a lasting expression of gratitude for life.
Don't bother!.......2003-08-21
This book was NOTHING like what I expected. The author leads you to believe she was thrusted into a traumatic experience that changed her life. Her experience dealing with plane crash victim's families was brief and inconsequential! It appears she wanted to benefit financially from an event she was only slightly involved in. I'd give it 0 stars if I could.
Average customer rating:
- An outstanding guide for handling a devastating process
- Comprehensive guide to Sensitive Subject
|
Grave Words: Notifying Survivors about Sudden, Unexpected Deaths
Kenneth V. Iserson
Manufacturer: Galen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
-
Pocket Protocols For Notifying Survivors About Sudden, Unexpected Deaths
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Death Notification: A Practical Guide to the Process
ASIN: 1883620023 |
Customer Reviews:
An outstanding guide for handling a devastating process.......2001-01-13
I am the director of a university counseling center and have had to perform survivor/family notification several times. I welcome Dr. Iserson's book (really a manual)as there is, to my knowledge, no other comprehensive guide to handling this task. I know I had to improvise on the occasions I have been called upon to perform this function. By luck, what we did followed his guidelines; I can also say that our university staff grappled with many of the issues he discusses, albeit without his guidance. He provides detailed suggestions and checklist type guides for many types of situations. The guidance he provides serves two functions: First, to prevent terrible mistakes or oversights from occuring; second, to provide the professional with some comfort that the best response to terrible events has been made. I strongly recommend this work to individuals who, through their professional roles, may find this task thrust upon them, or to the general reader who desires some guidance against the day that the reader may be called upon to do this. His suggestions are mainstream, compassionate, and provide guidance in handling many variables in these situations.
Comprehensive guide to Sensitive Subject.......2000-07-20
I applaud the work that went into this book from the standpoint of how widespread the author's subject matter stretched. From a chaplain's perspective who has worked in an ER for several years, I found its content refreshing, especially coming from an physician. It is my experience that many doctors have trouble in breaking bad news. Grave Words gives many good ideas for different kinds of situations and specific pathways that one could integrate into their setting. I have given copies to my ER head nurse, the Trauma Specialist and to the Trauma Surgeons in my center. It had served to bridge our discussions around family care. I reccommend it to any professional who deals with death and bad news on a regular basis.
Book Description
This book is designed for adult caregivers to read to surviving youngsters following a suicidal death. The story in this book allows individuals and opportunity to recognize normal grieving symptoms and to identify various interventions to promote healthy ways of coping with the death of a special person. Although the language used in the book is simplistic enough to be read along with children ultimately stimulating family discussion, it can be beneficial to all who have been tragically devastated by suicide. It is recommended for this book to be utilized in conjunction with therapy.
Customer Reviews:
Must read for infants to early teens.......2005-12-27
I bought this book for my daughter who is almost 12yrs old. It looks like a young child's book, but the words are meant for all! Must read for all child survivors of suicide. The book explains that what happened is not the child's fault. Which many children go through a stage of feeling the suicide was their fault. Children need to know from other sources than the ones who love them that it's not their fault - this book does that
What a wonderful resource!!.......2003-07-03
As a trained psychologist and former Children's Program Coordinator at a local Hospice, I was very pleased to discover this compassionate and supportive book for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to suicide. The issue is sensitively handled, and practical and healthy ways of coping are facilitated. A helpful support for families faced with this loss and an INVALUABLE tool for all professionals who work with children and loss. A great resource for school personnel to have on hand as well!
Book Description
Everyone's heard the stories: An aunt's husband dies and the vultures sweep in. She ends up paying $10,000 for a coffin, even more to a lawyer and then loses the rest of her money in shady investments.
The financial services sector has become a do-it-yourself marketplace—and the point where that hits people hardest is in dealing with worldly matters after a loved one dies.
Thornton brings more than a decade of experience in human resources and financial education to an extremely emotional issue. And she gives vulnerable people easy-to-use tools for avoiding…or dealing with…crooks and crooked business.
Customer Reviews:
With focus on checklists and tools.......2004-05-03
What do you need to know or do when someone close to you dies? The Survivor's Guide covers the many issues and concerns which suddenly arise in such cases, from questions about funerals, burials and handling fees to watching out for swindlers and setting the estate. Its focus on checklists and tools at a time when loss has just occurred makes for an important, essential guide packed with information. Highly recommended.
Monetary realities arising from a death in the family.......2004-04-06
The Survivor's Guide: What You Need To Know & What You Need To Do When Someone Close To You Dies by journalist and consumer advocate V. K. Thornton is a practical manual to coping with the difficult decisions that face people dealing with the end of a loved one's life. Emphasizing the point of "don't rush - you have more time to act than you think," The Survivor's Guide teaches the reader how not to be taken advantage of at a time when strong emotion can blind one to funeral business overcharging. From the hours after learning of a death in the family, to disposing of the body, planning a memorial service, dealing with the estate left behind and more, The Survivor's Guide is a very highly recommended guide especially focusing upon monetary realities arising from a death in the family.
The Survivor's Guide: Is really helpful.......2004-03-28
My Dad passed away suddenly and I was not sure what to do first. My friend recommended this book and it was great. It really told me what to do and what to think about each step along the way. It told me things to watch out for for from funeral directors and the writer was right! His advice about settling the estate was also useful. Everyone needs to read this book!
Incredibly helpful and informative.......2004-02-21
Wow -- what a great handbook to help in difficult times. Nobody wants to think about the subject, but at some point we all have to face planning a funeral for a loved one. It's well-written and informative. I highly recommend it.
Well written and very informative.......2004-02-06
V.K. Thornton made a difficult subject easy to read about. Excellent book to have as your parents get older and as life goes on. A good book.
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- Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Business: Using Knowledge Management to Win Government, Private-Sector, and International Contracts
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- Tell No One
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- The Alibi Man
- The Atrocity Archives
- The Best 361 Colleges, 2007 Edition (College Admissions Guides)
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