Abortion Books

I read this book from cover to cover two times in a row and am still amazed at the clarity given by God in the messages for 'all of humanity.'

The only part I felt myself entirely change my view was regarding the death penalty, which I used to advocate. Since reading this book I no longer do, and the reasons are so simply put, I can't imagine anyone not changing their views.

The areas about parenting, suicide, same sex marriages, telepathic communication, abortion, fidelity, human cloning, space exploration, toxins in our foods and environment, all of them and more are profound.

I can see where much of the population can definitely benefit from this book. It took me out of the labyrinth of the media maze that covers our news, and gave me a fresh and enlightening perspective that harnesses the true meaning of God's messages. They are abundantly clear.

I would give this book at least 100 stars if I could. God really does speak to humanity through Barbara Rose. I listened in on one of her teleconferences and was taken back at what she said. I also love her other book "Know Yourself" which was life changing for me. "If God Was Like Man" is life changing for all!

In "If God Was Like Man", Barbara Rose wrote the words of God given to her for humanity in a way that is simple, and what God selected are the most heated present day topics facing every society and culture on earth.

The manner and language used to convey the solutions that plague life on earth are clear and cannot be misinterpreted. I found many areas and prejudices I used to believe vanish because of the clear and direct logic, and tell-it-like-it-is approach that made more sense to me than what I used to believe. This book opened my mind and turned around prejudices I used to have. It is the same prejudices that many people still have and fight over.

One thing is certain about this book; we do have one God who does not judge anyone. On page 134 God says, "All I can ever do is work through you. I am not physical as one being; I am physical inside of every being existing throughout the universe."

There are many topics discussed in this book. For each one God brings humanity the solutions for that topic. The solutions are a must for humanity!

"If God Was Like Man" is EXTRAORDINARY! This is one of the best books I've ever read.

Life on earth would be distinctly better for everyone if this book was read and applied by all. No matter what area of life has brought distress to humanity, it's all covered in a crystal clear manner for every side involved.

If God Was Like Man is one of the best solution oriented and mind opening books I've read. It's clear that the messages can only result in the most peaceful planet, where life on earth can actually be what it's meant to be. In short, If God Was Like Man is a gift to the human race.

God has things to say, Barbara Rose was one of the chosen vehicles to deliver the message. Once again her work is magnificent. A must read, a life-changing read, regardless of religious practice. God/our higher consciousness/ supreme power is non-denominational. When I first read this book, I was in awe! I thought, this is it, raw and to the point! This is all humanity needs to read, to hear, to understand and realize as truth! If each one of us would practice and live by this wisdom, our world would ONLY be filled with self-truth, self-love, inner and outer peace. Only love and joy would be in our lives. "If God Was Like Man" is about Unity, not You versus Me; it is about "All You Need Is Love", not love versus fear; it is about stabilizing our planet earth by meeting in the middle, not Left versus Right. It teaches us how clearing away all pre-conditioned judgment, accepting each other as equal and part of ourselves and God, there would be no right versus wrong, competition, greed, and hate. There would be no need for divide and conquer or forgiveness. Some of the most important subjects concerning our lives are covered. Any of my questionable beliefs that still existed, all vanished, and many of my perspectives changed too, after reading this book. "If God Was Like Man" is a true gift to all of us, humanity and beyond. You will want to read it at least twice!

I've read several other 'channeled' books and this is the first one I've read in which God is judgmental, shaming, crude and sarcastic.

'God' often scolds the reader with questions such as, "Why do you leave adult children alone when they are not mature?" When discussing honesty and using the example of a teen-age boy who wants sex, 'God' uses terminology like, "So he may have wanted to get laid." When discussing why prostitution should be legal, 'God' says, "I say to you: If you were to arrest every woman who remains with a man for financial profit when she is truly deceiving him in terms of her feelings, then nearly 80 percent of all women who share a bed with a man would be behind bars."

On some topics, 'God's' opinions seem nothing more than a convenient justification for Ms. Rose's shortcomings in life. On the subject of education, 'God' says that if students, "have no need to study a specific standardized area outside of their field, they should not be prevented from earning a degree..." 'God' goes on to say, "I bring this up because it is the reason Barbara does not have a degree."

In reality, this seems to be a book about Ms. Rose's opinions. Or, if she truly believes it was channeled in some way, perhaps she has another personality of whom she is unaware. In any case it hardly seems likely that the book was channeled from God. Perhaps that was the only way to sell it. Sad.

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of "Grey's Anatomy" only it takes place in the early 1970's so it's interesting to see how many things have changed since then (women in the surgical field, major technology differences, etc.) Good character development, I felt like I really knew the characters by the end of the book. Sequel! Sequel!

The struggles, challenges, and rewards of being a medical intern are realistically and graphically portrayed in Pierce Scranton's "Learning Curve". The vivid accounts of medical conditions and procedures described in the book are offset by the constant reminders that doctors are, after all, human! The downside of that humanness is that medical mistakes can and are made, resulting in adverse affects on patients...sometimes in death. The upside of the humanness of doctors is that most of them really do CARE deeply about healing their patients, and they work so very hard toward that end.

The author has given us a very honest and insightful account of the everyday high drama that surrounds our physicians as they practice and learn how to blend their professional skills and knowledge with their humanness and love and respect for life.

Thank God for duck hunting!

A really excellent book for anyone interested in the medical field. A true insight into doctors in training.

I read Death On the Learning Curve while recovering from ankle surgery and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, someday in the future, I plan on reading it again! It was a hard book to put down and I couldn't wait to see the outcome of the medical drama. I now understand how hard it is for interns to make decisions that could cost another's life. While reading this book, I often gasped, laughed, and got teary eyed. You won't be disappointed if you invest your money and time into this book.

This review was written by Linda Gardner.

Dr. Scranton's book is a candid and realistic portrait of internship in the 1970's. Although some things have changed, many more things have remained the same. His attention to details makes this story very real and delightfully entertaining. This is a wonderful read for anyone in the medical profession, but medical knowledge is certainly not needed to follow the story line and thoroughly enjoy.

I just loved this book. It is wonderful to read about a person who lives their convictions (not that I necessarily agree with her personally but that is nearly beside the point). She shows a great deal of courage by continuing a work that she believes in even after threats and other difficulties. Any book that makes me think about the shades of gray that exist in the world instead of my more comfortable black and white is a good book.
I hope she keeps writing

Professionally qualified specialist explicates her background and experience of many years in following the pathetic result of females' unique dependence and sexual vulnerability. This problem is clearly attributable to the human condition pre-menopause, regardless of age.
As a specialist in OB-Gyn, she does her best to ensure that her patients
are examined to discuss the patient's decision thoroughly and to ascertain early stage of pregnancy. The setting provided in this way goes
to ensure minimal frequency of complications of the event in the life of the individual both emotionally and physically.
The sacrifices involved for this doctor are beyond personal. She describes the forms of protest against her self and family and the
clinic and the clinic staff.
This book is an opportunity to hear from an insider in the confidential
corridor serving "women's health."

Ms. Wicklund's book is interesting and complex. The author travels to different states to abort fetal tissue. Protesters try to block the entrance to the clinics. They harass her family, and scream slogans in her face, such as, "Murderer, stop killing babies".

Susan Wicklund seems to have genuine concern for her clients. She writes that she lives in fear of doing an abortion for women, who would regret it latter. Instead of simply getting rid of the fetal tissue, she counselor's women so they will not regret their abortions. If a women seems hesitate to have an abortion, Ms Wicklund suggests different options like adoption. In spite of her counseling, I wonder how many women regret their abortions.

The book does a good job of describing the complexities of abortion. I learned from the book, as I suspected, that men have no rights over a fetus. Should a woman decide to end the life of their baby, a man has no choice in the matter.

While reading the book I recall seventh grade, when my teacher, Ms. Glen, taught us during environmental week how we should only have two children per couple (ZPG), and that abortion was just getting rid of useless tissue. I shyly asked "Isn't that tissue going to be a baby?' My classmates all looked at me with disdain. One boy sneered, "You must be a Catholic!"

The teacher explained again, that it was just useless tissue. In other words, the teacher explained abortion, like it was similar to taking out the trash.

In spite of the cliques of the abortion advocates. Abortion is not just about "a women's right to choose." The fetal tissue is a separate entity no matter how much women talk about "their rights."

This generation according to a poll in Time Magazine states, that teenagers' attitudes on abortion are different. They do not glorify abortion, and they recognize that abortion is ending a human life. Abortion should not be celebrated, but discouraged. Not everyone who opposes abortion is a religious zealot.

The book left me feeling sad, but I am giving this book five stars because it was well written and interesting

Hooray for Wicklund's heroic struggle on behalf of abortion! I very much sympathized with her enduring persecution from the anti-choice fascists. Because lets face it--abortions are great! The right-wing Bible thumpers claim that abortion is "killing". But what's wrong with that? Killing, obviously, should be a choice left to a child's mother, not the government.

I was shocked to read that there are so few abortionists available in rural America. O, the trials that these women must go through to abort their fetuses! I wept in triumph as each fetus was--against seemingly insurmountable odds--aborted! Thank God for courageous warriors like Wicklund! Fight on, brave abortionists! Unite, I say! Unite behind Abortion's billowing star-spangled banner! Surely a nobler cause was never championed!

This is a remarkable story about a courageous woman who - despite ongoing threats to her self, family, practice, and property- vigilantly protects a woman's right to choose.

Dr. Wicklund's stories about her patients are both inspirational and heartbreaking; her interactions with abortion stalkers/protesters - who violated her privacy and terrorized her family - are absolutely chilling. Before I read this book, I thought I understood the risks that doctors assumed when they worked at a facility that performed abortions. I didn't have a clue.

God bless you, Dr. Wicklund, for your eloquence, grace, and devotion to woman's health. You are an inspiration.

This book is easy to understand, easy to put into practice. I was trying to get pregnant in my late 30's and was able to do so within 3 months. After the birth of my first child I waited a couple of years before trying again. By now I was 41. Again I got pregnant within 3 months. All my friends around my age were going crazy taking hormone shots and doing in vitro. Of course, it could be that I am a very fertile person. However, even at that, at the age I was, I did not have any time to waste! So I do credit this book for giving me the right information so I could be get pregnant naturally within the shortest possible time frame. If you have had trouble conceiving, I strongly recommend you try this natural method first before getting any expensive treatments.

This is by far one of the easiest books on knowing your body and tracking your fertility signs. this book is a must own by every woman it truly takes the guess work out of trying to figure out your fertile and non fertile days. I'm a former nurse and I found this to be the most concise and reader friendly book on this subject. everyone from the novice to the expert can learn from this book. kudo's to the author on demystifying the ovulation cycles of womens bodies.

I found this book before I even meet my hubby of almost a year now. Back in 1997, I was in collage and knew from a experience with the pill for health reasons that when I became active in this area I would not be able to rely on chemicals to control fertility, I tend to become sick after a short time of take a pill. Plus I did not like the idea of being on pills or what ever to limit how many kids I might have. This was the only information I could find on a natural fertility method of birth control and I found it in a used book store. When I read this book it cleared up many Questions I had and help me feel more confadent that I would be fine with out pills. All though I did end up using the NuvaRing for a few years before I married my guy(he is allergic to latex), that was do to miss placing the book through a cuple of moves. As soon as we were married I tracked bown this book again and fond Cyclebeads as well, I have been off chemicals for almost 6 months using both methods to learn and understand my body. I know when we are ready to have kids we will be well informed and have no problems. I wish this information was standard class tought in high school. Peace & Blessings, Cloe

This is an extraordinary book. Every woman should own a copy. I still don't understand why we are not taught about our own bodies since childhood. If this was the case there wouldn't be so many unplanned pregnancies. Not only that but we wouldn't have to put harsh chemicals into our bodies to avoid pregnancy.

I was searching for holistic methods of contraception and thankfully discovered this book.
The author's tone was inviting and engaging: the words and images were clear, accessible and deeply informed. The text was constantly accompanied by illustrations that varied from relevant technical descriptions, to decorative or humourous images, making it an pleasurable read as well as an informative one. The book is aimed at both avoiding and attaining pregnancy so that even if like myself, the reader has an exclusive emphasis on avoiding pregnancy, she will be better informed if she does decide to have children in future. The book also offers useful ways of relating to your partner should any challenges come up in your sex life which I found practical and necessary given how much misunderstanding can happen in sexual matters between men and women.

I continue to order these Post-Abortion Bible Study books for our local Pregnancy Helpline. Many clients have found this study to helpful both individually and as a group. We always have some on hand.

It is an excellent study book that has helped many ladies. I recommend ir for any lady who has gone through an abortion.

I have been using this study for years with individuals and small groups- it is amazing to see how women change after 10 weeks in the study and God's Word, the Bible. They truly are FORGIVEN AND SET FREE! I've been through the study, and my husband did the Healing a Father's Heart- we use what we've experienced to help others.

This study has proven to be very healing and I highly recommend it.

We use these books in our Post-Abortion classes and so many women have experienced God's TRUE healing because of it. Women no longer have to live in shame from their abortion. Once they're able to confess it, forgiveness abounds them! AMEN! I recommend this book to anyone who's needing to be set free from the bondage of abortion.

couldnt put it down.... was reading it during traffic stops.
oh...was truely great enjoyment... a must read...

- But with deeper sex drive and shallower roots. Raleigh-based and just-fired pharmaceutical representative Buchanan Forbes is really a bit too young for a Herzogian mid-life crisis. But his wife pushes him over the edge when she packs up boys and goes to live with his father in Charleston. Buchanan's reaction is less than heroic - he has overlapping affairs with three sexy ladies. But perhaps he can be forgiven since the first one is his lawyer. And we hope that the Feds won't be able to bag him for the candy store operation he'd been running with the free physician samples. His wife needed the extra money for a new SUV. As Buchanan runs around and is shadowed around the Carolinas, we experience the charms of the southeastern coastal resorts and the ladies you can find there. Ragged, disconnected and improbable in spots, Buchanan's story nevertheless kept me turning the pages until the morally ambiguous end. Thanks to Brewster Milton Robertson for showing us a new kind of southern novel.

Enjoyed! Liked the use of short chapters. Gets the point across without being too wordy. Would like to have seen ending embellished more...with a chapter where Long was drilled by cops as a suspect as Forbes and the doctor were.

Enter Buchanan Forbes. Devoted father, out-of-work pharmaceutical salesman,with a crumbling marriage and under surveillance from several governmental agencies for black market wholesaling of prescription drugs. And an array of beautiful women who find him attractive. Something for everyone here! A man not immune to women's rights nor sexual emancipation. Lots of Southern sense of place - food and the smell of Carolina beaches, believable characters, many also good old Southern boys wearing college T-shirts and cut-off jeans. Only the women appear liberated and strong-willed. The social problems in the background often appear unnecessary - closing of abortion clinics, a return to back alley butchers, problems with the IRS, possession- hungry wives trying to climb social ladders. Buchanan faces them all as he tries to put his life back on track. What a man! What a story!

Brewster Milton Robertson's hot thriller, RAINY DAYS AND SUNDAYS, set at the Carolina seashore is a heck of a read. The protagonist, Buchanan Forbes, star pharmaceutical salesperson, devoted father and family man, intellectual, and all around good guy, finds himself on the wrong side of a Federal drug bust. The Feds are aiming to clean up the multi-billion dollar black market in prescription drug and medical device samples involving manufacturers, crooked detailmen, and physicians. To make matters worse the Feds are following the lead of a dingbat conservative President who has just outlawed all abortions and seems determined to return to dark ages politics of the 1950's.

Forbes finds himself in the middle of this mess when several young Carolina women die as a result of botched abortions involving experimental IUD's. The Feds pour on the heat and Forbes is wrongly accused of prescription drug theft and sales. His life is further shattered when his faithless wife leaves him taking with her Forbes's four beloved sons. Forbes sets out to put his life and reputation right and he has to fight mighty odds. If and how he is to succeed makes great suspense and a powerful read. Get the book and read it now. It won't wait for a "Rainy Day" or a "Sunday."

The book was average, with characters who were a bit flat. The twists at the end were good, but a bit contrived. But approximately a quarter of the book is proselytizing for the Christian faith and has little to do with the plot of the book. Because of the length of the book and the amount of time the author spent on the Christian religion, the plot and character development were a bit rushed. The author is a good writer and sections of the book were very well written. But the book appeared to have the secondary goal of proselytizing.

A Trial of Innocents is among the tops of the finely woven courtroom thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading. Danial Solomon is brilliant in his capacity as defense attorney in a seemingly open and shut case for the prosecution. The manner in which Michael Andrew weaves the handling of several issues into one dramatically conclusive ending is masterful. Well done Mr. Andrew. I trust there are many more to come in the future. I know that you are geared toward another purpose but I would be ever so greatful if you were to find the time and energy to include continuing your writings for our entertainment. Thank you for this novel; it will be one I revisit many times.

Michael Andrew has opened a contriversial and thought provoking topic in this well written novle.

I would highly recommend this book to other readers!

Michael Andrew is a truly talented writer. It is hard to believe that this is his first book. Michael's words and descriptions flow as though he has written numerous books. This book grabs your interest and holds it until the very end. It is like reading 4 books in one. There are several different stories that take place in the pages of this one novel. I would have to say it is one of the best written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I am looking forward to his next novel.

If you are looking for a well written book that will keep you on the edge and deliver a great message, this is the book.

If you liked this book, you will love "A Murder of Innocents", it's sequel. Mr. Andrew's writing skill has continued to improve , not to mention that you HAVE to find out what happens next!

If you are just looking at "A Trial of Innocents" for the first time, you should definitely read it first. Then check out the sequel.

Update: After reading more about how crisis pregnancy centers operate, in addition to my own re-thinking of this issue, I can't endorse this book. (I will keep the plot summary I originally wrote just for information sake, however.) As purely a novel, it's well-written. But the picture it gives of crisis pregnancy centers is skewed from the reality of them (just do a search for crisis pregnancy centers in Google News or an academic database, and you'll see what I mean). In addition, the abortion issue is not really explored beyond a surface manner. So, caveat emptor.

The basic story concerns one Dr. Red Richison, a 2nd-year resident who after treating women for complications resulting from botched abortions at the local VIP (Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy)abortion clinic, begins to suspect some shady dealings. In his investigation, he finds out that the head doctor, Dr. Ophion, is not giving clients with substantial insurance coverage the proper medication along with RU-486. The result: they develop further complications and have to come back to the clinic for more procedures, resulting in more profits for the clinic. Along the way, he becomes romantically involved with Bethany Fabrizio, the director of the Women's Choice Clinic (a crisis pregnancy center). Also prominently featured in the novel is Dr. Dalmuth Kedar, who struggles to keep his sister Regan's premature baby alive in an artificial womb, with Red's help. The ending is a happy one, yet everything is not exactly "all right." If you read the book, you'll understand.

The authors are not "balanced" in the presentation of their message, and don't pretend to be. Yet the book is not preachy, and is accessible to a wide audience. One problem I had with it is that some of the conflicts were resolved a little too neatly. For example, someone at the VIP clinic, on learning of Red's investigation, tries to sabotage him. The way the perpetrator is caught, it just seems too easy. Plus, Red and Bethany have a fight over Red's ex-fiance and Bethany apparently going to the clinic for an abortion. The way this was resolved did not ring entirely true for me. But still, the authors know how to craft a page-turner, which is mainly what the intended audience is probably looking for. This is one of the few novels that has abortion as an explicit part of the plot that I'm aware of, so it's worth checking out at the library; just don't expect a compelling exploration of the issue.

I could not put this book down. It it a great story with an amazing message. Instead of unrealistically making the abortionists all bad and the pro-lifers all good, the authors have crafted multi-dimensional and human characters. You will love it!

False Positive is a fast-paced novel that handles the volatile subject of abortion in a tender and compassionate way. So often the debate between the pro-life and pro-choice camps deteriorate into name calling and vicious attacks. This book does NOT do that, but gently probes the deep questions without bogging down in theory or theology. The characters in the book present a variety of views and circumstances drawn from the real world are incorporated. (One of the authors is an OB-BYN physician.)

The characters are real and it should be required reading for those who have strong opinions on either side of the abortion question. All but the staunchest defenders of abortion, under ANY circumstances, will find this book worthwhile. This book is especially timely for women contemplating abortion as well as comforting to those who may struggle after having an abortion.

The heroes of the book (and the real world) are the tireless volunteers who give of themselves to help women facing unwanted pregnancies. Thumbs up to the authors.

I couldn't put False Positive down. The authors really have a knack for clear, page-turning writing. Characterization was great, and I appreciated the humanness of the characters as well as the real struggles that people face in the abortion arena. It was dealt with sensitively, and with candor and reality.

A morality play...disguised as a medical mystery...with the requisite dash of romance? Hmm, was this worth my time?

Although I believe in the sanctity of life, the subject matter of this book almost kept me from reading it. I feared a thinly veiled anti-abortion discourse--and one thing I don't handle well is agenda-heavy fiction. If you want to make a point, make sure to entertain and tell a good story at the same time. That's why Grisham's legal thrillers continue to sell even while taking on the tobacco industry, the homeless crisis, etc.

Cutrer and Glahn dispelled my fears quickly. The medical details, the unflinching looks at difficult subjects, and the likeable characters drew me in. ...

Although "False Positive" doesn't have the immediate hook of a Grisham-type thriller, it does have the very human motivations, readable dialogue, and ethical dilemmas that Grisham has used to such marvelous effect. The authors handle this medical mystery with maturity, surprises, and grace. As the story draws a growing number of characters together, the action accelerates and the emotional impact rises. While never veering from their spiritual beliefs, the authors (and publisher) demonstrate open minds and open hearts. Beware: stanch advocates of either side of the abortion debate will cry foul, but this book rises above the mudslinging. Cutrer and Glahn raise questions not easily answered by either side. They write about real people who don't always agree. And I liked that.

In fact, I liked this book. A lot! Although "False Positive" was my first read by these authors, it will not be my last.

Hey TU.. Joven este es un libro para TI, te hará pensar antes de tomar cualquier decisión al respecto.Buenisimo

Desnuda, sin tapujos, sin que pretenbda inclinarte hacia el norte o hacia el sur, SOLO EXPONE.
Tremendamente bien escrita y documentada a prueba de tormentas !

QUE SE DE BUENA FUENTE QUE HA SIDO BOICOTEADO POR LOS QUE FAVORECEN EL ABORTO !
POR VALIENTE
POR HONESTO
POR BIEN ESCRITO
POR CRUDO Y REALISTA
¡BRAVO !

BUDISTA O AGNÓSTICO... Lo que importa es que seas un ser humano y que, a traves de este libro, veas LA REALIDAD

This is a very truthful book about abortion. No lies. It lines right up with the ethics course I took. One of the topics was abortion. I was glad I stayed for it truely changed my views from an emotional one to a scientific,rational logical one. When we plant human seed we dont get corn or puppies. This is an unborn child, human being,and is not a fetus. It is not an IT, this is a person who will possibly hold the key to solving a great mistery or just one who will be a blessing to his or her mom in the end. I know my own daughter,and I comtemplated my "free choice", but she is worth all and kept me going. If you know anyone who is contemplating such a final act that does bring emotional and physical scars give them this book. Have grace for the one who made such a terrible error in life. What is popular is not always right. Choose Life. Hugs blessings smiles.

Written in 1998, and criticized for stopping its retelling of the abortion story in the U.S. several years before that, Articles of Faith is nevertheless still an important book and may be increasingly so if the abortion debate heats up again now that George W. Bush is President. A completely even handed retelling of the history of the abortion debate in the U.S. from the 1960's through the 1990's told through the lives of dedicated partisans of both sides. Yet the author tells this story with sympathy to both sides. Its hard to read this book, your emotions swing from side to side in the debate as Gorney shifts her focus from chapter to chapter from pro choice to pro life. Each side is presented forcefully, but not stridently. Its an excellent book.

As an adult convert to Catholicism struggling for now five years with infertility, a non-American and the daughter of a founder of my hometown's Family Planning Association, I ordered this book wondering if it would help me sort out my mixed feelings about abortion. When it arrived my heart sank: though I had been interested in the topic, it looked long enough to remind me of the first-grader's book report, ``This told me more than I wanted to know about penguins.'' But it's so well-written, well-peopled and thoughtful it's a joy to read. When Cynthia Gorney describes a pro-choice activist she does it so carefully you feel certain she's pro-choice, and certain you must be. But when she describes a pro-life activist, you realize she might be pro-life -- and so might you be. If we were all be so generous and balanced, so readily able to enter into the subtleties of other people's positions, abortion might never have become a ``war.''

This book was wonderful. Though on first glance it seems very long and likely dense and dry, it is anything but. Gorney does a fabulous job of presenting both sides of abortion evenly and without bias. And she ties in the thoughts and feelings of the players with the actual battles of the day so smoothly that the book ends up being an easy and very enjoyable read. It should be mandatory reading for anyone involved in, interested in or having an opinion about abortion.

Before Roe vs. Wade thousands of women a year were getting illegal, unsanitary and oftentimes dangerous abortions. Articles of Faith does a great job of presenting both sides of the abortion argument. The book focuses on the abortion wars in Missouri. It starts in the 60's with Judith Widdicombe, who is an obstetrics nurse and who had an abortion herself. She is a key figure in the underground abortion world in St. Louis. She recruits doctors and she directs women to doctors. Her opinions on abortion are formed from personal experience as well as occupational experience. She was strong in her opinions that a baby and a fetus were different. She had seen hospital beds full of women dying of infection from getting illegal abortions. This led her to her calling.
While Judy was directing women to safer but still illegal abortions, the laws state by state were slowly starting to break down. This created a movement of concerned citizens who were against abortion. These citizens would give presentations using medical and scientific information to support their position that life begins at creation. As to drive their point home, they would show pictures of aborted fetuses. These pictures featured a trash can full of little fetuses and a bloody mass of appendages. What they didn't realize is that people like Judy Widdicombe looked at the same stuff, in real life-not in photographs. She would bring women with gauze and bandages stuffed up their vaginal cavities and let them miscarry in her home. She would then examine the remains of the miscarrage and make sure there wasn't anything left inside the woman.
After Roe vs. Wade, Judy set up a clinic specifically for performing abortions-the first one of its kind in Missouri. She wanted it accessible for all women, and wanted a warm and medical environment that set women at ease-they knew their situation was understood and they knew they were safe. This is where Samuel Lee is introduced. He arrived in St. Louis in 1978 intent on studying theology at Saint Louis University's seminary. As soon as he arrives he becomes involved with the Franciscans. They hosted a meeting of people planning a protest on the steps of an abortion clinic. This was how Sam became drawn into the abortion argument-he was exhilarated by it. Sam researched both sides of the abortion argument, but the more he read the more he became convinced that abortion was never justified-it was putting an end to human life. He left the seminary and became engulfed in the protests and the research-he would protest and be arrested until there was no longer a need to protest abortion.
The abortion argument came to a head in the 80's when Sam and Lou DeFeo wrote a bill that was passed by the Missouri state Senate and the House. It became a Missouri law in 1986. The bill stated that public funds may not be used for abortions and public employees may assist in abortions. The bill also stated that life begins at conception, unborn children have interests that should be protected and the parents of an unborn child have protected interests in the child. But that's only the beginning. The bill says that unborn children at any stage of development should have the same rights of all of other people. This was the first attempt to reverse the ruling of Roe vs. Wade, and it seemed well on its way.
One month before the law took effect, a lawsuit was filed against the bill by Frank Susman. He approached Judy, who had been fighting for almost 30 years for the woman's right to choose, and she was hesitant to join the lawsuit. She was tired of the fight, but she couldn't turn her back on this lawsuit-this one was too dangerous to reproductive health. The judge in that suit came back in 1987 declaring that every provision in the bill was unconstitutional. In 1989, the law suit went to the U.S. Supreme Court for appeal and the justices left Roe vs. Wade alone. The problem with this ruling is the vagueness of the language in the ruling-saying that parts of Roe needed to be more defined, but that it needs to be argued for years to come. When I read the ruling in this book, I really didn't understand exactly what it meant. It almost seemed like the judges had very definite opinions, but they were all different from each other.
After reading this book, I was more affirmed in my own opinions of abortion. It was really interesting to read the other side of the argument. There's no arguing that at life begins at conception-just like a every cell in our body is life, so is a zygote. However, the foundation of my belief in the pro-choice movement lies in the belief that a woman has the right to decide if a fetus should be born. One of the best bumper stickers I've seen about abortion is "Don't like abortion? Don't have one." A woman deserves the choice, that's it-PERIOD.

Once in a while, there's a rare book that'll smack you in the noggin, grab you by the lapels and scream, "This is how it really is! Now learn something!"

Articles of Faith is one of those books. You'll learn abortion is never nearly so clear cut as "either side" would have you believe; you'll see how each side's arguments, legal status, movements and, later, extremism are developed. But most importantly, you get the honest truth about what it's all really about, or not about. Despite the serious of the issue, I was never even able to get a glimmer of what Gorney's own view is of abortion. It's not simply objective; it never fails to delve into the details of each side, while coming up with an occasional fresh insight.