Called to Account

With help from Hale, Switzer offers a first-person ""self-exposure,'' as she calls it, detailing how she and her family confronted their own domestic violence. She describes the abuse her husband, Chuck, suffered as a child, their meeting at college and his physical attacks on her, which began during their honeymoon. After 20 years of abuse, she decided she had ``no other choice but to use the system to call him to account,'' at which point the Switzers and their children began therapy at the Domestic Abuse Project in Minneapolis. They consider the results successful and now work to stop domestic violence by helping others and speaking out on various television shows. Hale comments: ``We believe we have something to say to people to help them understand the problem and to acquaint them with available resources and assistance.'' Written in a simple, straightforward style, this book is effective and compelling. (October)