But he not only survived but he prevailed.Īudiobook. You will wonder how David and his siblings survived.

It is too exciting, too pathetic, too dramatic. When you read his book you wonder if it is fiction. What I marveled at is how he not only faced down his vindictive and manipulative father, but also went on to create a highly successful lobbying business and father remarkable children. Both of us marveled at what deep, dark secrets from this man that we both thought we knew well.

I read him many books, but this was his favorite. I read this book day after day to my 95 year old dad who had suffered a broken hip. David uses this same skill in writing this book. Once an angry federal department head lashed out about how American Indians had taken over the Department of Interior and David calmly used his first hand experience of the conditions that they faced to both calm her and create sympathy for them. When I lunched with him Congressman and Senators would interrupt us to ask his advice on pending legislation. When we ran track together at Walter Johnson High School he would have all the long distance runners roaring with laughter at his quick wit.

Even our teacher would delay class so he could finish his latest story. Kids would gather around his desk to hear stories of living on an Indian reservation in Arizona. David is a life long friend - since we sat together in 7th period Science at Kensington Junior High over 50 years ago. This book is just as amazing as the author who wrote it. Raw and palpable, The Pale-Faced Lie is an inspirational story about the power of forgiveness and the strength of the human spirit. When he finally found the courage to refuse his father’s criminal demands, he unwittingly triggered a plot of revenge that would force him into a deadly showdown with Thurston Crow.ĭavid would have only twenty-four hours to outsmart his father-the brilliant, psychotic man who bragged that the three years he spent in the notorious San Quentin State Prison had been the easiest time of his life. Through sheer determination, David managed to get into college and achieve professional success. David’s mom, too mentally ill to care for her children, couldn’t protect him. Intimidating David with beatings, Thurston coerced his son into doing his criminal bidding. But as time passed, David discovered the other side of Thurston Crow, the ex-con with a code of ethics that justified cruelty, violence, lies-even murder. Growing up on the Navajo Indian Reservation, David Crow and his three siblings idolized their dad, a self-taught Cherokee who loved to tell his children about his World War II feats. A violent ex-con forces his son to commit crimes in this unforgettable memoir about family and survival.

The pale faced lie by david crow