Beyond Survival

From Library Journal\nCoffee found some eternal principles within himself and others during the barbaric and brutal experience of being a Vietnam POW. "Invincible Principles," such as faith in himself, faith in God, self-forgiveness, humor, and love of fellow POWs, enabled Coffee to survive seven years of extreme mistreatment and abuse. His gripping, compelling narrative of imprisonment certainly testifies convincingly that with a few simple certitudes one can survive dire circumstances. Coffee's ordeal makes most of life's ordinary setbacks seem eminently survivable. A well-written book; for general readers interested in the POW experience or inspirational and self-help advice.
- Mark K. Jones, Cincinnati
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.\nFrom Publishers Weekly\nRetired U.S. Navy captain Coffee was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from 1966 to 1973, most of the time in Hanoi and in a cell by himself. How he endured and what he learned from the experience are the subjects of this inspiring book. By calling on his inner resources, such as his faith in God, his conviction that the United States was right to be in Vietnam, his love for his wife and children, and his respect for his fellow prisoners, he was able to overcome loneliness and the pain of occasional torture. Each chapter is headed by a paragraph of invincible principles that Coffee discovered for himself during his ordeal: "The only real security we have is the certainty that we're equipped to handle whatever happens to us"; "Humor is integral to our peace of mind and ability to go beyond survival." First serial to Reader's Digest; Troll Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.