A Gently Whispered American Family Epic John Philip Riffice has produced a biography/memoir of his life as a child in Illinois and the family of which he was a part. While there are countless such books published in good faith every year, few of them are as genuinely touching and absorbing as this book WAITING FOR POPS: A JOURNEY FORM BOY TO MAN. While the book does not declare itself to be a memoir, it is so pungent in detail and in emotional appeal that it would be surprising if it were solely a novel. Riffice's background is bipartite: the first half of his adult life was working in heavy industrial construction, but when a serious work injury ended that career he turned to teaching and currently is involved in education of children with disabilities. Knowing this background - in light of the main character of the story - makes it seem very plausible that John Philip Riffice is indeed the Johnny Ryba of the story. The choice of belief is up to each reader: suffice it to say that whether this book is based on a life well led or simply a novel well composed, it merits our attention and our praise.