BIOGRAPHIES

Last update 8.18.07

BIOGRAPHY

Alphabetical order by Book Title.

�ARNOLD (Schwarzenegger): An Unauthorized Biography.� LEIGH, WENDY (1990) Chicago, Illinois: Congdon & Weed, Inc. BIOGRAPHY. Arnold Schwarzenegger�s life from his childhood in Austria to 1990. Wendy Leigh did an outstanding job interviewing many people for this book. I found Arnold�s determination, focus, and ability to overcome challenges to be impressive. His life is a rags to riches story.

�Don�t Be Afraid Anymore.� PERRY, TROY D. (REVEREND), with SWICEGOOD, THOMAS L. R. (1990) New York, NY: St. Martin�s Press. AUTOBIOGRAPHY/SPIRITUAL. This is the true story of the Reverend Troy D. Perry, founder of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) and how they became the fastest growing Christian denomination in the world. I think it�s a great book!

�Freddie Mercury� FREESTONE, PETER (1999) New York, NY: Omnibus Press.
BIOGRAPHY. A memoir written by the man who knew him best. The truth behind scandalous rumours. Very interesting, though I must admit I wanted to find out more dirt on Queen�s lead singer. When I was growing up it never stuck me that a rock star could be gay. I was surprised to find this out years later.

�Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia� BIN LADIN, CARMIN (2004/2005) New York, NY/Boston, MA:Warner Books BIOGRAPHY. �Perhaps the most vivid account yet to appear in the West of the oppressive lives of Saudi women�She has emerged from her ordeal with some urgent insights into the kingdom from which she escaped�Let�s hope that more brave dissenters-male and female-will follow her lead.� Wall Street Journal �a must for anyone struggling to understand the culture that produced the evil Osama Bin Ladin.� People (Four Stars) This book educated me on the culture of Islamic people in Saudi Arabia, many of whom have arrogant views of the West, their oppression of women, intolerance for people of other religions (bibles are illegal in Saudi Arabia) and minorities, and the goal of many to destroy western civilization. It held my interest from beginning to end.

�Kyle Maynard.� MAYNARD, KYLE (2005) Washington DC: Regnery Publishing.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY. The true story of a congenital amputee who became a champion in wrestling and in life. I saw him on Oprah and had to read his book. Very moving. Shows how if you think you can do something, you can. He became a wrestling champion against people with all four limbs. Incredible.

�Peter the Great: His Life and World.� MASSIE, ROBERT K. (1986) New York, NY: Random House Publishing Group. BIOGRAPHY. Tells about his life from beginning to end. How he overcame much resistance and brought Russia into the modern world.

�Prayers for Bobby.� AARONS, LEROY (1995) New York, NY: HarperCollins
BIOGRAPHY. A mother coming to terms with the suicide of her gay teenage son. Bobby was an all-American boy, and he was gay. His church, his school, and his mother taught him that being gay was wrong. Friends supported him. Faced with an irresolvable conflict Bobby chose to take his life. Interviews with family, friends, and Bobby�s journal make this an extremely emotional true story. A must read for parents with children that might be born gay.

�The Big Lie� LEITNER, ISABELLA (1992) New York, NY: Scholastic. TRUE STORY. Hitler knew that if he blamed the Jews for all of Germany�s problems long enough that people would eventually believe his �big lie.� On March 19, 1944, with WWII raging throughout Europe, the Nazis took over their ally Hungary, and everything changed for Isabella Leitner, her family, and all the Jews of Hungary. This true account, a simple narrative communicates the tragedy of this time, the murder of 6 million Jews, far better than any dry history book.

�Wonder Bread and Ecstacy: The Life and Death of Joey Stefano a.k.a. Nicholas Iacona.� ISHERWOOD, CHARLES (1996) LA, Ca. & NY, NY: Alyson Books.
BIOGRAPHY. I learned a lot about the porn industry through Joey�s life as described in this book. As James Spada, author of Streisand: Her Life says, �This book may titilate you, it may disturb you, it may break your heart, but it will never bore you.� There were many times I felt sorry for Nick, and sorry that no one tried harder to help him, or could help him. He lead dual lives, as many Gay people do. One life with his family, and one life in the Gay (for Nick Porn) world.