Shouting at the Sky : Troubled Teens and the Promise of the Wild

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Program, Poorly written
Review: A good concept, I would enjoy reading more about the program, but it's a program that helps these teenagers, and I don't think he really bothered to learn enough about these teens...or at least didn't bother to talk about that. There are entire chapters in this book that aren't even relevant to the story. I wouldn't waste my money on this book, I checked mine out from the library and I'm still upset that it took up a good two hours of my life that I will never get back.

Rating:
Summary: Pablum Puke!
Review: A mind-numbingly boring accound of wayward teens in the wild and their attempt at redemption as seen through the eyes of the author. Are we to believe that author Ferguson cares more about these kids or promoting the wilderness program? In all, this was more of an extended advertisement that would have been better crafted by an advertising exec - instead of hiding it in a non-fiction title.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Try - But No Cigar!
Review: As an avid reader of outdoor literature and magazines, I happened across this book by chance and was intrigued by the premise. But, I was sadly disappointed when I started to read. The author's story was vaguely interesting, but the jacket copy was much better written than the text. The jacket copywriter should have been given the task for chronicling this outdoor program and maybe it would have been more compelling and readable. I give this book two stars for effort because at least the author tried but overall nothing new, groundbreaking or interesting here that can't be seen or heard on any daytime talk show.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Doesn't come close to the wonders of a Paul Theroux or Aldo Leopold, etc. Save your money.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent personal overview of a wilderness program.
Review: Gary Furgason did an excellent job of relating the expereince of being in a 7 week wilderness program. My son went to this program last year and I felt like I could re-live our expereince of the program. This book would be helpful to those parents thinking of sending their teen to a therapeutic wilderness program. It is very in-sightfull and accurate. Thank you Gary:-)

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't have told the story better . . .
Review: Gary's book doesn't deseve the criticism it receives from many of the apathetic cynics at Amazon. As a former staff member at AAA I've struggled to tell my story to everyone I encounter - now I pass around a copy of shouting at the sky. I suppose I read it from a different perspective than most, but what Gary has created within the content of his narraration is an accurate portrayal unclouded by imagination or corporate whoredom. He doesn't attempt to sell Aspen, there is no need - a larger population at the program would only detriment from it's effectiveness. He is telling the stories of the lives of troubled youth and what they chose to receive from this program. Truth be told, every time I feel myself struggling with life I pick up the book and treat it as my memoirs of a magical time that not only changed the lives of those youth that I worked with but my life as well. "Shouting at the Sky" should serve as a pedagogical work to be included in every teachers' library. The wilderness may serve as the vehicle for the transformation of the lives written about within the text - but these experiences can easily crossover into the real world. Thank you Gary - your gift of story-telling warms my heart.

Rating:
Summary: Steaming Like A Pile Of Dung In The Wilderness!
Review: Good God this was a pathetic book. Poorly written, droll and extremely boring I hope I never encounter anything else by this so-called writer. IMHO one of the top ten worst books I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Shouting At The Sky
Review: Having a child who attended Aspen Achievement Academy I know first hand how real this book is. The Aspen experience saved her life and this wonderful book enabled those of us at home to relate to what she was going through step by step. I couldn't read more than 2 chapters at a time, I was always crying. This book is heartfelt, emotional and respectful of the program and all those involved with it. It is wonderful reading.

Rating:
Summary: A grateful mother loved this book!
Review: Having recently sent my son off to a therapeutic wilderness program, I was very grateful for the excellent view this book gave me about my son's experience. Other reviewers have criticized this book for being too "Shirley MacLaine" in its description of the program. But my viewpoint is quite different. I saw the same results that the author reported. My son was transformed from an angry, defiant, miserable young man to a strong, trusting teen. We aren't at the end of the journey for my son, but I can't begin to tell you how beneficial the wilderness program was to my son. Although the author's descriptions of his experiences with the troubled teens may sound unbelievable or simply trite, they are undoubtedly true. If you are a parent of a troubled teen, this book will give you an excellent view of an alternative treatment program.

Rating:
Summary: An honest account of wilderness therapy
Review: Having worked for several wilderness programs, I felt this book was well written and actually gave credit to the success of wilderness therapy programs. The therapeutic process was well explained from the group and one on one counseling to the metaphoric use of the wilderness component. A worthwhile book for parents, counselors, students, and especially wilderness instructors or therapists. Hope to see more books like this.