Customer Reviews

Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The best autobiography inspires us to do better ourselves, as well as illuminating why people act the way they do and their influence on others. By this standard, this continuation of the story of the life of Arlen Specter deserves a read by anyone interested in the world-shaping recent events in which Senator Specter was a key player. More importantly, like autobiographies of his hero, Winston Churchill, Specter's book argues that the most constructive response to adversity is to fight it with all the strength you can muster. Few will have to confront political and military trials like Churchill's, but most of us can learn a powerful lesson from Specter's health trials, and his forceful response to them.

Diagnosed with advanced Hodgkins Disease cancer in 2004 after a grueling re-election campaign, many who didn't know Specter assumed that he would soon disappear from the Washington scene, one way or another. Even those who knew of his energetic response to earlier serious health threats thought that his luck had run out. They were wrong; Specter made his own luck. If possible, he worked even harder during his very public chemotherapy, a campaign that he credits with his beating the odds of recovery.

Specter's brand of moderate Republicanism guarantees that everyone disagrees with him on some things. The one constitutent letter I have written him urged him (fruitlessly) not to to support the appalling nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General. But the world needs more men of principle like Senator Specter, and I'll bet that the next challenge he faces will be handled in the same brave way that he faced the ones in this book.

As we enter a period of all-politics, all-the-time tv, this is a good break from the usual talking heads. Senator Specter provides a behind the scenes look at the Senate--from whence the presidential nominees spring. In addition to an inspiring story of battling cancer, and of the life and death struggles of other senators and their families, are memorable vignettes about the politics of judicial nominations, senate committee campaigining, and medical misdiagnoses of terminal illness---all stirred with dry wit and frank discussion of illness and fate.

What a wonderful read.. it has been a long time since i've found a book that I could not put down. It is so interesting to see Senator Specter's relationships with his family and other members of Congress. The detailed exchanges with Senators Biden, Harkin, and Coburn provide a rare look into the camaraderie of our elected officials-- something that cannot be found on CSPAN 2. I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone battling cancer or anyone who has an interest in politics. I hope he writes another one in the near future.

I am neither a Democrat or Republican. I saw Senator Spector interviewed on a late night program and was fascinated by his demeanor. He was charming, witty , and spoke freely of his battle with cancer. He had many foes in his political career, but none as strong as this one. Some of his 'good friends' offered synthetic sympathy, but he kept smilin through the rain and the pain. I bought the book the same night and, although it ddin't keep me glued to it throughout, it was well worth the time spent reading. With the way things are going today, we could certainly use him on the Presidential ticket in November.

I'm somewhat biased, as a former staffer and co-author for Sen. Specter, but Never Give In is a terrific read and an important work. This first-hand account of a solon's battle with cancer offers expert advice on combating deadly disease, an inside view of the highest levels of government and politics, and timeless insight into the human spirit. All the more rare and revealing -- and courageous -- from a senior U.S. Senator, who operates in a world in which any personal detail is potential fodder for critics and opponents. My 10 years working for and with Sen. Specter gave me the equivalent of a PhD in politics, government and life. Readers can get a good chunk of that value in this one volume.

As a former intern for Sen. Specter, I can say that working in his office and watching him work was fascinating and inspiring. The more I observed him on the floor and as ranking member on the Judiciary committee, the more I respected him. Senator Specter is an icon for Republicans and Democrats alike, and his thinking transcends party lines. This book is a wonderful read, and I couldn't recommend it more. His dry sense of humor and great anecdotes are unmatched.

I believe that every human being suffers the same terror in front of death and this makes every serious illness look like a mission impossible.This book will help everyone to be inspired by the correct life examples.

Cancer survivor and cancer battler Arlen Specter has written a book of optimism from the viewpoint of one who can see cancer as both a political issue and a personal struggle. He sees the growing number of people affected directly and indirectly by cancer and other serious diseases as forming a movement demanding that cures be found. The National Institute of Health, which has been strongly supported by Senator Specter, is working with research universities and pharmaceutical companies to find these cures.

Senator Specter recalls how President Nixon declared war on cancer. He frets how, if only we had devoted the resources towards health care research as we did towards war, we probably would have won the war on cancer by now.

The National Institute of Health, followed closely behind by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are among the best of all Federal agencies, according to Senator Specter. He is proud to have been a leader, along with allies such as Sen. Tom Harkin, in the fight to increase NIH funding on medical research from $3.6 billion in 1981 to $11.2 billion in 1994 and to $29.1 billion in 2006. Progress have emerged directly from these projects on combating heart disease, cancer, AIDS, stroke, and many other leading health problems. Millions of lives have been improved.

Arlen Specter writes of the shock of being told he has cancer. The mind has many questions, of one's mortality, of chances, and how it will change one's life. It is also traumatic having already been told once before he had cancer, underwent operations, and told in a misdiagnose he was soon to die. Having gone through these fears twice helped make him realize that we need to do what we can to reduce the number of people who have been subjected to these worries and pains of illnesses.

Cancer cells have developed their own survival means. They produce proteins that fool immune systems into not attacking the cancer cells. Research, Senator Specter believes, will someday find a solution so that cancer cells can be eradicated without otherwise damaging the body.

As a politician, Arlen Specter notes how the concerns regarding cancer and his political life have become intertwined. He notes that stress can be a cause of cancer, and that the stress of campaigning, especially when the race is so close, is very emotionally draining. He further notes that his support of stem cell research has caused some Pennsylvania political activists to openly demonstrate against him. Another connection the Senator noted between his cancer and politics was that, shortly after he announced he had cancer, Governor Rendell received six calls within one day from the announcement from people seeking to be appointed to Specter's vacancy should the cancer prove fatal.

Several politicians have disagreed with Senator Specter on stem cell research. Specter believes an embryo does not become life until it is inside a woman's womb. Others such as Senator Sam Brownback disagree with Specter's position. The author notes that Senator Brownback asked him "when did your life begin"? Specter notes he replied, "well, Sam, I'm a lot more concerned about this point about when my life is going to end." Specter notes that hundreds of thousands embryos are discarded that could have been used for research, and there are plenty of embryos available for use for fertilization. The Specter-Harkin Bill on stem cell technology became President George W. Bush's first veto.

Arlen Specter wondered how to get through the worries about his health. He took, and passes along, advice from Senator John McClellan to how to handle personal crises, and this is "work, work, work, work. That will pull you through." The author further recommends to people in similar situations to acknowledge the threat, to concentrate upon and improve one's mental and psychological strengths, to keep as regular a work and exercise schedule as before as possible, to listen and question your physicians and conduct your own research on your problem, and to challenge experts when you have questions, and to keep yourself busy.

Arlen Specter jokes that he may be remembered for believing something most people did not believe, namely the single bullet theory in President Kennedy's assassination, and for not believing someone who most people believed, namely Anita Hill. Arlen Specter, as of November 2005, became the Pennsylvanian serving the longest time in the U.S. Senate. Whether you have mostly agreed or disagreed with Arlen Specter, he has been one of the most skillful of Pennsylvania politicians and one of its greatest survivors, in multiple senses. This book shows he has handled his trials and it is strongly recommended to those who wish to learn more about fighting cancer and serious illnesses.

As a Pennsylvania independent, I really enjoyed reading Specter's story on his trials and tribulations in the Senate while facing Stage IVB Hodgkin's lymphoma (the WORST stage there is, folks). He is feisty, ambitious, and, frankly, a braver person than many, in going forward and taking the chairmanship of the Judiciary committee, undoubtedly his life-long dream, while facing the ugliness of cancer. Reading this, you learn, this diagnosis is not the end, that life can go on and that, as Mr. Specter states many times, attitude is everything. However, this optimism is helped by his luck. Not all cancer survivors have a tumor that readily goes into remission. Inspiring for all and great insights into the Washington political process, including the surprising support and humanity with which he was treated during his personal crisis. If only all employers allowed naps during chemo and allowed you to come back to your job! Specter gets my vote!

really inspiring. after reading this book, I have no doubt that Specter will be able to overcome his recurrence on Hodgkin's with flying colors. probably take names along the way.