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STAY OF EXECUTION A -SORT OF MEMOIR A sort of memoir
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312 pages, Unbound
First published January 1, 1973
13 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Stewart Alsop
23 books1 followerJoseph Wright Alsop with Stewart Alsop, his brother, wrote the syndicated column "Matter of Fact" from 1946 to 1958.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 21, 2016
This is my father's book written in the early 1970's when he was dying of leukemia. I still believe it to be one of the best books and certainly one of the earliest on what it feels like to be given a death sentence. I've heard that the book, sadly long out of print, is used all the time in medical schools.
Update: STAY OF EXECUTION is now available as an ebook, published by Open Road Media and on all the ebook platforms.
Update: STAY OF EXECUTION is now available as an ebook, published by Open Road Media and on all the ebook platforms.
March 1, 2010
One of the first narrative non-fiction books on cancer. Excellent. How I wish I had gotten to know my late father-in-law personally.
September 6, 2011
I re-read this book every ten years or so. Mr. Alsop was one of my favorite columnists during my adolescent years. having now reached the age of Mr. Alsop when he wrote Stay of Execution, his book continues to give me an appreciation for his life. I wish I'd had the opportunity to meet and speak with such an eloquent and decent man.
January 12, 2025
When sorting through boxes at my parent’s house, I ran across a few volumes of Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, one of which included Alsop’s 1973 memoir. As I read the synopsis, I realized that he had had the same type of leukemia that I had and knew I had to read it. I tracked down an uncondensed copy at the library and dove in.
Alsop lived an amazing life, born in Connecticut, a grandnephew of Teddy Roosevelt. He served in WWII with both the British & American military, married, and had a successful career as a journalist and political analyst. In 1971, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, or so his doctor thought but his symptoms weren’t completely in line with the diagnosis. Faced with this dread disease, he put his writing skills to good use and wrote about it dealing with the treatment, the physical and strain of the diagnosis, and the mental stress of facing his own death. He succumbed to it in 1974, shortly after finishing the book.
This book is a window on a political and medical world of a different era. While in the hospital waiting for test results, his wife brings him a martini. Blood draws are done with a finger prick, treatment is iffy at best. It gave me pause to realize that had I gotten my leukemia diagnosis with only 1970s medical treatments available, I would be dead. But I learned from his story and more of the how and why of my own treatment. Alsop faced his fate realistically and with humor and relied of the love of family and friends to get him through and so much of it resonated.
I hope Mr Alsop’s spirit is somewhere that he can sense that his memoir is still touching the lives of readers long after he left this life.
“There is a time to live, but there is also a time to die. That time has not yet come for me. But it will. It will come for all of us” ~ Stewart Alsop
Alsop lived an amazing life, born in Connecticut, a grandnephew of Teddy Roosevelt. He served in WWII with both the British & American military, married, and had a successful career as a journalist and political analyst. In 1971, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, or so his doctor thought but his symptoms weren’t completely in line with the diagnosis. Faced with this dread disease, he put his writing skills to good use and wrote about it dealing with the treatment, the physical and strain of the diagnosis, and the mental stress of facing his own death. He succumbed to it in 1974, shortly after finishing the book.
This book is a window on a political and medical world of a different era. While in the hospital waiting for test results, his wife brings him a martini. Blood draws are done with a finger prick, treatment is iffy at best. It gave me pause to realize that had I gotten my leukemia diagnosis with only 1970s medical treatments available, I would be dead. But I learned from his story and more of the how and why of my own treatment. Alsop faced his fate realistically and with humor and relied of the love of family and friends to get him through and so much of it resonated.
I hope Mr Alsop’s spirit is somewhere that he can sense that his memoir is still touching the lives of readers long after he left this life.
“There is a time to live, but there is also a time to die. That time has not yet come for me. But it will. It will come for all of us” ~ Stewart Alsop
March 9, 2014
I read the book when it first was published and was deeply moved by the writing and the intimate knowledge the author confided in this memoir. Years later I can recall many parts of the book in great detail. Mr. Alsop wrote movingly and with acute details about his experience with being diagnosed with leukemia, treated and then told that his odds were not good. At no time is Mr. Alsop consumed with pity. Rather, he tries to look back and see what he could have done different, not only for himself, but for others including the physicians who were treating him. Having been diagnosed, treated and continuing to be treated for two different types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma I can appreciate the struggle to remain positive and objective while dealing with a disease that constantly wants to remind you that, death is not only around the corner, but will decide when to make that turn. Mr. Alsop wrote a book free of self-pity yet full of admiration for his ability to remain dignified and hopeful to the end.
January 26, 2014
I grew up reading his columns. I didn't agree with his politics, but from this book I admire him as a decent man. He approached his coming death with humor and wisdom and a sort of stoic fortitude. I particularly enjoyed the reaction of one of his family members -- perhaps an aunt -- who upon learning of his illness said, "Cancer -- what a nuisance!"
He handled the nuisance with grace and style. I salute him.
He handled the nuisance with grace and style. I salute him.
June 25, 2020
I picked up this book only by looking at the title: STAY OF EXECUTION by Stewart Alsop because of my love for reading murder mysteries!
I expected the book to be a cloak and dagger thriller, a murder, a false witness, a wronged sentence and the ultimate justice! The book was this and much more. It held me day and night, I was spell bound, it was dfficult to put down.
As I started to read, the enormity of the title hit me! It was the Red Blood Cells and Platelets that were being killed, the killer was untraceable, the tests stood as mute witness to the sentence of imminent death. Stewart Alsop had leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia. However, later tests were to reveal that there was no evidence of cancer, doctors remained baffled, his illness remained a mystery.
Stewart Alsop was a famed columnist and his book, The Stay of Execution is ‘a sort of memoir’. He writes with both the pain and pleasure . First, he made a decision – to shun out future thoughts and delve into the past. He recollects the love and friendship of family and friends along with his trips to the hospital for the tests and the treatment.
At the same time, he presents his views and opinions on every topic of note and significance, some of which are truly inspiring. He writes about the ‘neurotic emotional interdependence between parents and children” and provides examples towards a healthy relationship.
‘Nature is cruel’ he says and through experience, shares how one ignores this truth in youth but lives to realize it, without panic and fear, by coming to terms with death. And finally the golden words…There is a time to live but there is also a time to die. That time has not yet come for me. But it will. It will come for all of us!
I expected the book to be a cloak and dagger thriller, a murder, a false witness, a wronged sentence and the ultimate justice! The book was this and much more. It held me day and night, I was spell bound, it was dfficult to put down.
As I started to read, the enormity of the title hit me! It was the Red Blood Cells and Platelets that were being killed, the killer was untraceable, the tests stood as mute witness to the sentence of imminent death. Stewart Alsop had leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia. However, later tests were to reveal that there was no evidence of cancer, doctors remained baffled, his illness remained a mystery.
Stewart Alsop was a famed columnist and his book, The Stay of Execution is ‘a sort of memoir’. He writes with both the pain and pleasure . First, he made a decision – to shun out future thoughts and delve into the past. He recollects the love and friendship of family and friends along with his trips to the hospital for the tests and the treatment.
At the same time, he presents his views and opinions on every topic of note and significance, some of which are truly inspiring. He writes about the ‘neurotic emotional interdependence between parents and children” and provides examples towards a healthy relationship.
‘Nature is cruel’ he says and through experience, shares how one ignores this truth in youth but lives to realize it, without panic and fear, by coming to terms with death. And finally the golden words…There is a time to live but there is also a time to die. That time has not yet come for me. But it will. It will come for all of us!
June 5, 2019
This is one of the first books written about the end of one's life fighting cancer, in this case a rare form of leukemia. It was, years ago, the first "sort of memoir" I'd read by a person who recounted his end time. Engaging and moving.
September 15, 2021
This is a deeply touching book. The author tells about his journey through a very rare type of blood cancer. The attempts that were made to save his life and how this deeply affected his outlook and hopes. One can not read this book and not be moved to tears at times. The man was amazing!
December 2, 2011
This book demonstrates how strongly culture influences perception and how it is often misconstrued as ultimately the "right" answer. The value of the writing is in the communication of one person's experiences and sharing those with others who have equally valid experiences.
January 24, 2011
NEED DJ
October 12, 2015
In the early 1970's a man is diagnosed with anemia, later rediagnosed with a type of leukemia. This is his journal of his 3 year struggle with the disease. Some days he would be up, some down.
April 7, 2016
Stay of Execution: A Sort of Memoir, Stewart Alsop, RDC-M, #1, 1974, @ 1973, 1/76.
Nonfiction,
Nonfiction,
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews