Never Give In

出版者:Thomas Dunne Books

作者:Sen. Arlen Specter

页数:0

出版时间:2008-03-18

价格:USD 24.95

装帧:Hardcover

isbn号码:9780312383060

具体描述

This is not simply the memoir of a cancer survivor. Nor is it just the memoir of a respected senator. This is an unprecedented glimpse into a man who is both. It is inspiration for people of all political persuasions; of how to persevere and succeed---despite what the doctors may say, despite what the tests might show.

In early 2004, Senator Specter was in the midst of a grueling primary race, facing significant opposition from the right as he worked to win his party’s nomination to run for reelection for his Pennsylvania senate seat. It would be the most difficult election in his quarter-century career in the Senate. Following on its heels were two more challenges---the general-election race and opposition to his elevation as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, his lifelong ambition. He overcame all three challenges in time for his seventy-fifth birthday.

But exhaustion and fatigue---initially thought to be the aftereffects of months of vigorous campaigning---were found to be far more serious. After a series of tests and consultation with several doctors, Specter was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, Stage IVB, the most advanced stage.

He had received death sentences before and lived to tell about it. To Senator Specter, this diagnosis was another challenge. After all, he still had a job to do.

His cancer treatments came as he reached the height of his power---surrounded by political storms that polarized Washington and threatened to shut the Senate down. His leadership positions made it his job to manage Supreme Court nominations and public- health appropriations as he faced his own illness. He had fought on public-health issues for years, but now it added potency to the message that the messenger was ailing himself.

The phrase “Never give in” became Specter’s mantra, invoking the famous words from Churchill in his battle with cancer. This moving book describes the treatment the Senator received and offers his advice on how to handle the side effects (both visible and private), hair loss, and of course, maintain a nearly daily squash regimen. So, how does one move forward when faced with mortality? It’s simple. Work.

 

"Understanding Arlen Specter's steely endurance is a key to understanding his success in the Senate and in life.  Look up tenacity in the dictionary and you'll find Arlen's picture.  Trial by fire has tempered him and made him stronger, and wiser."-- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee)

“Written in Senator Specter’s trademark candor, Never Give In is a compelling tale of survival – both personal and political – from one of the Senate’s most independent voices. Riding the train home with him now for almost 25 years, I count Arlen among my closest friends in the Senate.  The words courageous and inspiring hardly do him justice – but trust me, he is both.”-- Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)

“I’ve been privileged to work side by side with Arlen for over 18 years.  While I respect his intelligence and honesty, and value his friendship, perhaps most of all I have admired his toughness in the face of adversity.  He just never gives up.”—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

 

用户评价

这本书给我的体验，更像是一次深度的心灵探险，我跟随作者的笔触，走进了一个充满矛盾与挣扎的世界，但最终，我在这片看似荒芜的土地上，寻找到了一片属于自己的绿洲。故事并非直线型的叙事，而是像一张精心编织的网，将一个个看似无关的片段巧妙地连接起来，随着阅读的深入，我才逐渐明白其中的逻辑和深意。我被书中人物的复杂性所吸引，他们有优点也有缺点，有辉煌也有失落，但正是这种真实，让我感同身受。我看到了他们在面对巨大压力时，内心的动摇与挣扎，也看到了他们在绝境中，是如何依靠自身的力量，一次次地重新站起来。这本书并非提供“标准答案”，而是鼓励读者去思考，去质疑，去寻找属于自己的道路。它没有给我任何明确的指引，却让我开始审视自己的内心，去理解那些曾经让我困惑不解的情感和选择。我发现，那些看似微小的坚持，在日积月累中，也能汇聚成改变命运的力量。合上书，我感觉自己仿佛进行了一次深刻的自我对话，那些曾经模糊的界限变得清晰，那些曾经纠结的问题，也找到了新的视角去理解。这是一种精神上的洗礼，让我对生活有了更深刻的认识。

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当我第一次接触到这本书，脑海中浮现的并非波澜壮阔的史诗，而更像是一幅褪去了色彩却依旧生动的黑白照片。它以一种近乎冷静的笔触，勾勒出一些平凡人物在时代洪流中的微小身影，但正是这些微小的身影，却折射出最耀眼的人性光辉。我特别喜欢作者对细节的刻画，那些不经意间流露出的情感，那些在沉默中传递的坚定，都让我感觉像是亲身经历了一样。我看到了他们在困境中的无声呐喊，看到了他们在失败后的默默舔舐伤口，看到了他们在黎明前的黑暗中，依然努力寻找一丝曙光的执着。这本书没有强行灌输任何道理，而是通过这些人物的故事，让我自己去感悟。它不像那些鼓吹成功学的心灵鸡汤，而是像一位老朋友，坐在你身边，用一种温和却充满智慧的语气，与你分享他的人生阅历。我从中看到了人性的韧性，看到了在命运的重压下，依然能够保持尊严和希望的可能。它让我明白，真正的强大，并非来自于战胜别人，而是来自于战胜自己内心深处的恐惧和退缩。合上书页，我感觉自己获得了一种内在的安宁，一种能够坦然面对生活挑战的力量，这是一种潜移默化，却又深刻的影响。

这本书带给我的感觉，就像是在一个漆黑的夜晚，我迷失了方向，心生绝望，却突然抬头看到了那颗最亮的星，它并不耀眼夺目，却稳定地指引着我前进的方向。我翻开它，最初是被封面那简洁却充满力量的标题吸引，一种莫名的冲动驱使我想要一探究竟。阅读的过程，与其说是情节的跌宕起伏，不如说是一种内心深处的共鸣。它没有那种让人喘不过气来的悬念，也没有华丽辞藻的堆砌，而是以一种近乎朴实无华的方式，缓缓地拨动我心弦最柔软的部分。我仿佛看到了书中人物的影子，他们或许不是英雄，没有惊天动地的伟业，但他们身上那种面对困境时，不屈不挠的精神，却像一股暖流，逐渐融化了我内心的冰冷。那些细微的挣扎，那些在绝望边缘的坚持，那些看似微不足道的希望，都深刻地印在了我的脑海里。我开始审视自己，在生活中，我也曾无数次想要放弃，想要退缩，但这本书像一面镜子，映照出我内心深处被遗忘的勇气。它没有告诉我如何去“赢”，而是教我如何去“不放弃”。这种“不放弃”并非盲目的固执，而是在认清现实的基础上，依然选择继续前行，去寻找属于自己的那片天空。我合上书的那一刻，心中涌起的是一种平静的力量，一种即使明天依然充满未知，也敢于拥抱它的勇气。

这本书带给我的感受，如同在广阔无垠的沙漠中，我以为自己已经走投无路，却在即将倒下之时，发现了一片绿洲，那里没有惊心动魄的故事，只有一种深沉而持久的力量。作者的叙事风格，朴实而真诚，没有华丽的辞藻，没有刻意的煽情，却以一种近乎白描的方式，勾勒出人物的内心世界和他们所经历的挣扎。我沉浸在这些故事中，仿佛看到了自己曾经的身影，那些在迷茫中徘徊，在挫折中失落，却依然不愿意放弃的时刻。这本书最打动我的，是它所传递的那种“不认输”的精神，这并不是一种冲动的反抗，而是一种发自内心的、对生命的尊重和对未来的执着。我看到了人物们如何在一次次跌倒后，重新爬起来，如何在一次次失败后，继续尝试。这些过程，虽然没有惊天动地的壮举，却构成了最动人的生命篇章。它让我明白，真正的强大，不是来自于不会失败，而是来自于即使失败，也依然拥有重新站起来的勇气。合上书，我感觉到一种深刻的平静，一种能够继续前行的力量，这是一种悄无声息的改变，却足以影响我未来的道路。