Beyond Survival

When life loses its meaning, when suddenly the world is turned upside down, when there's nothing left that resembles life as we've known it, where do we find the strength and sustenance to go on? For naval aviator Jerry Coffee and others who were held as prisoners of war in North Vietnam, there was only one to go within. Beyond Survival is a journey into the invincible human spirit that unites heart and mind in a compelling and unforgettable experience. Drawing from his seven years as a POW, Captain Coffee provides timeless lessons that apply to the physical, emotional, and ethical challenges of everyday life. Proving that leadership and creativity are possible in difficult and uncertain circumstances, Captain Coffee offers a message we can draw on in any trying situation. His story demonstrates that conviction must come from within, and in telling that story he touches the place inside of us where growth begins.

Beyond Survival is a positive statement about love and commitment in the midst of war and division. It contrasts the cold reality of war, degradation, and torture with the warmth of human connections, inner serenity, and kinship with all of life. It poignantly illustrates that to be stripped of everything that is familiar and by which we identify ourselves leaves us with only what unites us - our human identity. It conveys truths about relationships at every level - with ourselves, with others, with our country, and with our God. Without inflaming the wounds inflicted by America's involvement in Vietnam, Beyond Survival explores an issue at the heart of every free the willingness of ordinary individuals to maintain a passion for freedom so compelling that adversity strengthens rather than weakens personal resolve in the worst of circumstances. Through Gerald Coffee's story you will discover the universal principles of survival and triumph that empower anyone to overcome adversity.

Retired 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.

Coffee 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.