Customer Reviews

The Nicholas Effect: A Boy's Gift to the World

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There is a verse in the bible which reads "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil by doing good." Reg and Maggie Green have embraced this creed wholeheartedly. When their beautiful son was senselessly murdered in late 1994, instead of sinking into the depths of grief, they proved how well he had taught them about the power of love during his brief time on earth by using his example to save millions of lives around the world. If such a tragic thing were to happen to me, I hope that my actions would be identical to theirs. I thank Reg and Maggie for sharing little Nicholas with the world and I am sure he would be very proud of them (as we all are). Through their unselfish and life affirming actions, they have proven yet again that the power of good will never be overcome by the power of evil.

As a liver transplant recepient almost four years ago, I had heard of the Nicholas effect. Shortly before reading this book, I discovered through a letter from my donor family that my donor had been inspired to sign his donor card based on Nicholas Green. This book is a stunning and true story of a boy's life, a family's grief and the heroic decision to make a difference to many others whom they did not know. Nicholas Green is still making a difference today becuase his story continues to ripple outward as when a pebble is dropped into a pond. I URGE you to read this book for yourself and prepared to be touched.

I would like to start by saying Snoogy Cat, you do not know what you are talking about. Reg Green is a man who dedicates his life to getting out the message of organ donation. He uses the media attention to spread the word of donating life. Almost weekly he goes to meetings and conferences (at his own expense) to try and convince people to do their part to save lives. This story is one of compassion, love, and breaking barriers. Reg Green is witty and intelligent, and does his job in convincing me to do whatever I need to do for this cause.

Reg Green draws the reader into his family and we can further revel in the joy of giving life rather than just reexamining the tragedy that started The Nicolas Effect.The book flowed in a journalistic, yet moving style.

I took the book on a cruise and was stopped my many people who did not know of the book,but recognized Nicolas Green on the cover. Reg Green convinced me that he is still in awe of the celebraties he encounters and can even laugh at himself when he suspects that he may be showing signs of too much self importance. If any of the readers have an opportunity to visit the Children's Bell in Bodega Bay, please don't pass up the opportunity. Rarely is there such a perfect sculpture anywhere in the world that captures the essence of this event. I have taken two friends at different times and they were as touched as I.

I thank Reg for his book.

I found The Nicholas Effect to be stunning and cathartic. Truly an exceptional book written by an exceptional man. For anyone who doubts that there is much good at work in the world today, please take the time to read this book. It could change your life as it has changed mine.

This story is a heart breaking testimony of what a gift of the spirit can accomplish. So many lives can be saved by the gift of organ donation. The story will inspire you to consider the gift of life after yours has ended.

I envy anyone who first picks up Reg Green's beautifully-written tribute to his son, Nicholas. I envy them for they are about to set out on an incredible journey--a journey that passes through despair and sadness on its way to hope and deliverance. The Green family's story is probably familiar to millions of people but few have had the chance to see behind its headlines. Here, in the hands of a skilled writer and proud parent, is that chance. Buy this book; it can truly change your life.

Through his son's tragic death, Reg Green has captured the essence of Nicholas lived life and what a shining example he was for others. By becoming an organ donor, Nicholas saves the lives of people he never knew. This story is heart-wrenching and beautiful at the same time. For a parent to have told the story of his son's horrific death without bitterness and anger is remarkable. What we see in Nicholas' story is love, compassion and value for all human life. After reading this book, it becomes apparent that Nicholas was a young boy who, even after death, continues to teach us all about the importance of living life to the fullest and sharing the gift of organ donation so others may have an opportunity to live life. You cannot put the book down....plan on spending an afternoon to laugh, cry, reflect on life, and talk to your family about organ donation.

Gist: An extraordinary boy meets an extraordinary fate, producing extraordinary effects: After Nicholas, a young traveller to Italy, is killed, his parents' gesture of donating his organs ignites the gratitude of the world. Hammock-time: Requires no more than a long week-end to absorb via your hammock or beach chair. The book is fast-paced and relatively slim compared to the encyclopaedic nature of some non-fiction works. Substance: When the tragedy happened, I wept. When I saw the film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, I wept. And I wept again when I read this book. I thought at first it was because I'm Italian-American, but so many non-Italians around the world have been touched by the Greens' story. I had begun to lose faith in this world, especially dismayed by the New Thought/New Age field, with their greedy, plagiarizing (long dead philosophers are robbed boldly) authors, some truly inane ones sanctioned by Oprah, with their ineffectual techniques -- unproductive affirmations, visualizations, rigidity of mind that everything must have a reason, etc. etc. Yet the Greens, even though the father, Reg Green, is most likely an agnostic, restore my faith, refresh my soul. Something beautiful upholds this world, deeper than the surface chaos and craziness, and superficial philosophies that seek to explain life. A subtle chiascuro effect underlines this book: of deep dark pain playing against light-filled love. Reg Green's sense of humor creates a delightful poignancy. I sense many readers like myself will re-read the book. It's difficult to analyze, but I left sensing stronger than ever that an afterlife truly does exist. My heart goes out to the Greens, and to my fellow spiritual seekers who need a book like this to understand and experience the concepts of love, attunement -- concepts freed from the manipulative twists by a good ole guru network of popular authors who claim to know such truths. Complementary book: Can You Drink The Cup? by the late Fr. Henri Nouwen, is Christian-oriented, but it so lyrically and sensitively explores the universal experiences of love and grief, I enjoyed reading it, as what I'd term a sort of Seekers' Survival Guide, concurrently with the Green book.

I think everyone remembers hearing about little Nicholas, only seven
years old, killed by highway robbers in Italy. His family donated his
organs and started a rash of others doing to in Europe and throughout
the world. This is his story as told by his father. The wonderful
effect of that act made me want to give the book a better review. The
father's attitude made me want to give it a worse one, so it's right
in the middle. Maybe I would feel differently had I not read this
book directly following John Walsh's book. Walsh seemed like an
ordinary man doing his best to cope with extraordinary circumstances.
Green seems like a man who's enjoying all of the attention. His
writing style isn't great either. He flitters around topics in a
disjointed manner and goes about his mind's own ethical ramblings far
to often.