Rating: 
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: John Walsh is a man of tremendous courage. He has helped countless victims, and in this book, he gives his own heartbreaking story. I cried when I watched the movie on TV, but the book gives all the details that a movie simply cannot. Everyone who cares about children should read this book, whether you are a parent or not. Reve Walsh went shopping at a local mall, and let Adam play in the toy department while she quickly went to pick up something. That is when a pedophile got a hold of Adam and took him. John takes us through this miserable journey of searching for Adam, and then the horror of learning about the way he was killed (they only found Adam's head). We find out how little law enforcement did in those days for missing children, and how one man, John Walsh, fought to change those laws. Many people would have had nervous break-downs if they went through what John Walsh did, but he chose to fight for all missing kids instead. He also gives advice to parents about keeping their kids safe. For instance, he said that parents should never hire a male babysitter, no matter how nice he seems. I thought this was a bit extreme, but he had a point. Since most child molesters are male, he feels it is best to always hire a female to take care of your children. John also gave advice on how to deal with extreme grief. He said that you should take care of yourself, eat right, work out, get enough sleep, etc. Too many people neglect themselves physically when they are in the midst of a tragedy. It is uplifting to see how John came out of the depths of despair to be the crusader he is today on America's Most Wanted. John Walsh won't rest until every last criminal and pedophile are behind bars. He is an inspiration to people everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking, Disturbing And Informing.
Review: Few memoirs can have the kind of honesty, self-examination and disturbing insight into a horrific type of crime as found in "Tears Of Rage." Though John Walsh, best known as the host of "America's Most Wanted," has written recent books that deal with capturing wanted felons, this is his most stellar work because it is him stripping himself bare to show us the horror of losing a child and the heartbreaking struggle to move on. This is the story of the disappearance of 6-year old Adam Walsh, abducted in a department store and later found decapitated. Walsh describes in wrenching detail the anguish him and his wife Reve endured while searching for their son and wondering what had happened as well as dealing with a police force which in 1981, was ill-equipped when it came to finding missing children. It is fair to say that there might be no better book that tells the story of a family's loss of this nature, Walsh writes with a truth and bluntness that keeps the reader emotionally gripped onto the pages. But yet aside from a powerful story, "Tears Of Rage" also informs us with the evolution of missing children programs in America, it took the Walsh tragedy to wake-up America to the monster that is child murder and abduction. Beasts prowled the fields and no one noticed while many suffered in silence, not knowing where their sons or daughters were. Walsh takes us on an in-depth look at his own efforts which have taken him to congress to help the mothers of the disappeared. But the interesting thing here is the haunting story of Adam Walsh, when John Walsh describes in detail how he believes the murder took place one is surprised at the courage this father has to describe how the horrific murder of his son might have taken place. In essence Walsh takes us on a journey through emotions and scenarios many of us hope we will never have to live through, but the lesson here is that in his baptism of fire, Walsh came out a wiser, stronger man and from his story we learn we must all be careful, especially with something as precious as our children.
Rating:
Summary: I Have No Idea How This Man Survived
Review: When I was thirteen years old, my mother showed me an article in the paper about a boy who told his mother he was going to play in the toy department at a store, and that was the last time she saw him. The police had just found his severed head in a canal.This autobiographical story of John Walsh, and his murdered son Adam, is so tragic, and so heartbreaking to read. I have absolutely no idea how this man ever survived. Most people would have gone home and drunk themselves to death. The true story is very well written. After he and his wife had found that their son had been murdered, he said that they had went home, but home was no longer home, it was just a building to keep your clothes. There is nothing more that I can say about this book.
Rating:
Summary: This book struck a cord with me
Review: Being a parent of a 5 year old, this book touched me and terrified me. It really delves into what a parent goes through after losing a child. It absolutely broke my heart to read what happened to that innocent little boy. It was easy to see by reading John Walsh's words how much he and his wife adored Adam and how devastated they were over his kidnapping and murder. I didn't realize how much John and Reve have done for the familes of missing children. It angered me how hard it was for them to get things done. It's as if, according to some of the [people] Walsh came across, children aren't even people...yet they are the most important people in this world and must be protected. Very well-written book, heartbreaking and hard to read, not to mention hard to put down. The night I finished reading it, I stood and watched my kids sleeping safe in their beds. I will never take that for granted again.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Unforgettable Tale...
Review: As a loyal fan of "America's Most Wanted" and a person who cares about children, I had to read this book. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive about the contents when I first picked it up. I had heard about the Adam Walsh case prior to reading about it, so I knew how terrible his abduction and murder was. For this reason, I was afraid that I might come across some details that would be so graphic that I'd get discouraged. It's kind of like knowing about an incident that is so bad that you almost do not want the details. But John Walsh's book was informative, compassionate, and just plain well-written. It was not overly gory or negative. In fact, I had a hard time putting this book down. In this book, John Walsh was not merely an author recounting the events of a true and terrible crime. He was a human; a caring, grieving, and determined father who was pouring his heart out to you. Strange as this may sound, I felt his presence in the room when I was reading it. It was as though he was actually sitting across from me, talking to me. He told me his heartwrenching, yet inspiring story. His story held my full attention. Hearing about what happened to Adam and the terrible injustice that John and his wife faced brought tears to my eyes. It angered me. And it changed my outlook on life. I developed a whole new way of thinking. I learned that though I may not have always thought so, crime can happen to me. I do need to be aware. I learned that even though I deeply sympathize with the Walsh family, I will never truly know of their pain and other feelings because I have never actually walked in their shoes. It is only when you are a parent and your worst nightmare has come true that you can truly understand those feelings of anguish. Their story reminded me that we never know what we really have until it is gone. That's why it is important to be thankful for what you have. The Walsh family seems to really be trying to emphasize that: If you have children, realize that you hold a bond for each other that cannot be duplicated. Love those children with all your heart. Accept each of them as they are. Teach them as much about the world as you can. Give them everything you've got. And be careful. Be aware. Because you might wake up early one morning, and like John Walsh, kiss your child good-bye, go off to work (or somewhere else), and never see him or her again. Or like Adam's mother, you may go out with your child to do an errand and discover that your day has taken a terrible, unexpected twist. I will continue to watch "America's Most Wanted" until the show ends for good. I will also continue to pray at night for the security and safety of our children. I have started John Walsh's second book, "No Mercy". Though I have yet to finish it, reading it always leaves me on the edge of my seat! The Walsh family's caring and dedicated efforts are indeed an inspiration. Their work is making a difference in the lives of many. And I know in my heart that some day the Walsh's 3 children (1 daughter and 2 sons, all born after Adam's death)will follow in their parents' footsteps. They will succeed, and stand up for their beliefs. They will always be appreciated. And because they were raised in such a loving environment, they will find only happiness, courage, and strength. They will make wise choices. And have a world of wisdom and inspiration to share with their children and grandchildren. Each day they will be able to thank their wonderful parents- who started it all.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Sad, Sadly True
Review: Most of us open the mailbox and barely glance through the junk and flyers that clutter our letters and bills. But sometimes a chilling picture stares back at you from the top of the mail stack. "Have You Seen Me?" It asks. And that alone is enough to make me stop in my tracks and stare right back. In those eyes there is no crime. There's no reason that something so horrible should happen to anyone. In this book, Tears of Rage, by John Walsh, there is little that compares to the horror and sadness of murder. John Walsh and his wife Reve had a beautiful son, Adam. They were a happy family, and just as normal as can be. This book broke my heart as John described when his son Adam was abducted from a department store and murdered. No one should have to ever go through something like that, and it's really important to me that people, who are faced with that pain, show others what happened. It's like when you trip over a tree root or something. It's important that you tell the other kids in the playground what happened so that they won't overlook it too. People nowadays are growing more and more careless, and books like this one are all it took for me to appreciate what I have and look at things more carefully. It not only made me sad, but it also enraged me. The police were described in this book in such a way that made me feel unsafe. They looked at the abduction of this little boy, and were hesitant to even lift a finger, leaving John and his family to do the dirty work. When someone's hurting, I think everyone should work together to solve the problem, instead of leaving the burden on that one person. I suppose this book is not intended for younger readers, and even though I don't have kids or younger siblings, it is still heart wrenching to think of murder and loss. We're all human, and hearing other people's painful stories is always going to affect us. This is very different from the books I'd normally read, but I was inspired by a TV documentary on the Adam Walsh case, to read this book. If I had one thing to say to John Walsh, it would be "Good for you, John. Good for you." If he hadn't written such an honest and powerful book, I think a lot of us would be victims, because of carelessness. Additionally, John Walsh was invited to host America's Most Wanted, which helps locate more and more missing children every year. In a nutshell, I highly recommend this book to anyone. You won't find a true story like this one anywhere else, so take advantage of it. I have to warn you that it's a very deep and moving story that you have to be prepared for. Some of the parts made me really emotional, so please remember that this is the true story of the murder of a child, and a father's coping. This book is real, and strong, but I'm really glad I read it. I give it five stars because it really hit me, and it is very well written in my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Heart Wrenching
Review: This is one of those books that stick with you forever. One minute John Walsh's son Adam was in the mall, the next minute he was gone. John and his wife basically used all the money they had to search for Adam, all the while hardly receiving any help from the authorities. If you have children, this is one book that you need to read.
Because of what happened, John's actions have sparked an international victim's rights movement that gives a voice to the millions each year whose lives are touched by violent crime.
Rating:
Summary: A story of an amazing man
Review: Tears of Rage by John Walsh (with Susan Schindehette) TEARS OF RAGE by John Walsh is a first hand look into the man behind the television show AMERICA'S MOST WANTED and what makes him tick. Yes, it is mostly about the murder of his young son Adam Walsh, and John's obsessive search for the murderer, but it is also a book about John's life so far. John's life reads like a novel. He's never done anything on a small scale; he's done everything big. He started life after college working as a cabana boy at Florida resorts, enjoying the tips and the sun and the sand, and spent a lot of time in the water scuba diving, which was his first love. With the right connections, he moved on to bigger things, becoming a big hotel marketing bigwig, using his skills as a scuba diver to bring in clients. Things were going pretty well for him. He had by that time met and married Reve, and soon they had their first child, Adam. When Adam was abducted and murdered at the age of 9, their good fortune turned a quick 180, and soon their life became a nightmare. What this book shows is how this single tragic event changed the life of John and Reve Walsh. It motivated them to do something about the fact that there were no government agencies, local or national, which aided in the search of missing children. Adam's death made them realize that there were hundreds of kids that go missing or are abducted every day, and no one was out there that could help the parents locate these missing children. What is so amazing is how the Walshes turned a tragedy into something wonderful. If anyone could truly be said to have made a difference in this world, it is John and Reve Walsh. This book showed that Adam Walsh did not die for nothing.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This book truly amazed me. I read it because I was bored over the Summer (I'm 13), and I picked it up because I saw a kid on hte cover. "the kid" turned out to be six-year-old Adam Walsh, a murdered child in 1981. Mr. Walsh amazed me with his style of writing, it captured me in and I felt as if it was 1981 and I was re-living the Walsh case even though I wasn't alive to actually live it in the first place. It's nice to know someone used his grief for good, instead of taking it out on the rest of his family or someone else, or killing himself. John Walsh fought for other children's rights as his son's case remained unsolved, when most people would dwell on the case related to him. It's also scary to know that that beautiful boy would be murdered...What about me and my loud, middle-school friends? If someone could snatch a sweet littel boy what would they do with kids wild? I've read this book three times, and each time I get more emotional at the emotions John portrays as he begins to realize what has happened to him and Rieve', and especially to Adam.
Rating:
Summary: Forging positives out of the most heinous crime
Review: The title says it all, and hearing John tell the story himself makes this a difficult story to listen to. The opening (of the audio-book) tells of how his lifelong friend identified the remains of John's son, Adam, or rather Adam's decaying head.
How any human can suffer what John and his wife did, and still somehow find a way to persevere and fight for others is a remarkable story of human endurance and the human heart. Each week on America's Most Wanted, John continues his quest to put behind bars the low-lifes who have eluded capture.
But, the true passion of this story is still Adam, and John's determination to find some justice. In the end, the probable killer died without ever being charged with this specific crime.
However, the good news from all this is how John channeled his anger, his rage, his heartache into the drive to have law enforcement agencies work in a co-ordinated way to find other snatched children. Each time that AMW helps in a capture of a criminal is a testiment to what John started years ago.
The memory of Adam is well served by his dedicated and loving father, and by the passion and determination evidenced in this book.
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