cover image Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love

Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love

Christopher De Vinck. Doubleday Books, $14.95 (151pp) ISBN 978-0-385-24138-0

When de Vinck's appreciation of his handicapped brother Oliver appeared in the Wall Street Journal, it resonated across America. His book describes the widespread response to the articlefrom the White House to families of handicapped persons. Although Oliver might have been considered a ""vegetable'' by some, de Vinck vividly conveys the enormous impact his brain-damaged brother had on him and his family during his 32 years of life. Included also are stories of three other families also enriched by similarly handicapped children. Particularly affecting is the eulogy for Oliver given by a Catholic priest, a friend of the family. De Vinck, who teaches at a New Jersey high school, offers inspiration and support in facing the mystery of human suffering. (March)