James Capuano's BEAST delivers the author's highly idiosyncratic, inspiring and informative take on his diagnosis of Stage IV colon cancer, and his long journey to remission.

The book is sure to provide entertaining reassurance to others diagnosed with cancer in its various forms, as well as those who care about and for them.

"Here's something crazy for you," writes Capuano. "There's a kind of thrill that goes along with the uncertainty of a late stage diagnosis. Granted, my initial reaction wasn't: 'Boy, this is kind of exciting.' But as I wandered a little further down the road, it hit me: There's something about being in the general vicinity of death that brings you back to life. It snaps you right out of complacency. Suddenly, every thought counts, every action. You can't put off until tomorrow anymore. Things became crystal clear and my mind so sharp I could have slayed the Beast with just once glance."

In the end, his message is this: No matter how hopeless or dire a situation may seem, nothing is inevitable, and the will - no, the conviction - to fight counts for a hell of a lot.