Oliver and Company Books

This is yet another book about dieting!!

It says that Diets are bad, they don't work etc etc etc etc but then offers it's own opinions on how to cut back which effectively make this a diet!

I found the tone very pretentious and the lady clearly has her own problems which she is pushing on the reader.

The fact is if you eat less calories you lose weight, if you eat more calories you put on weight, there is no secret!! So when the writer starts labelling everyone then people start believing that they have a problem whereas most of the time they haven't.

A painful read and I recommend you spend the money on a book with some healthy low fat recipes and lose weight properly!!

If your ready to say no more dieting and say hello to No-Diet Fitness.. this book is for you. Its a must read!!!!!

I own every diet/weight loss/fitness book known to man AND I've wasted thousands of dollars on various diets, prescription diet pills and alternative treatments for my weight. I've battled bulimia, starved myself, gone on all liquid diets, acupuncture, weight watchers - you name it! Nothing has worked long term. Now I know why. Pyatt lays it all out for you in plain english. I felt like she had witnessed my entire life and wrote this book especially for me!

Everything is addressed in this book - Unrealistic expectations set up by the media, medical issues, how not to pass the food obsession on to your children. She helps to take away the guilt without giving excuses. No more diets doesn't mean more weight gain. So don't worry. She's not trying to make you be happy with an overweight and unhealthy body.

Even though she does say that MY medical condition (PCOS) does require a diet with certain restrictions to achieve any kind of weight loss (bummer), I wish I had this book when I was 13 years old. It would have saved me alot of grief and I'd probably be a healthier more fit person today.

I'm planning on buying a copy of this book for all my friends and loved ones that have been and are going through the same thing. I may even buy an extra copy to give to my doctor and a few to leave in his waiting room!

Heck, I might even take up a collection to hire a fleet of helicopters to drop a few copies over every junior high and high school in the United States!

My fiance bought this book for me as a gift and I have been grateful ever since.I am on his account so the review will appear with his name, which is why I signed underneath.

This book changed my entire outlook on life, not just my weight. I was trapped in a vicious cycle of dieting that was causing me severe depression and a general lack of appreciation towards my entire existence. This book taught me to look at myself in the mirror and know that I am beautiful, and that there is so much more to life then food.

I think the best piece of advice is to really tell yourself that you can eat, anything you want whenever you want, then you just stop craving food and start having a healthy relationship with it.

I don't know what to say, now that food is slowly taking up the space it should be in my life (less space!), I have so much more energy and passion towards a lot of other things, so thanks wendy. one of my wishes in life now is; may every girl or guy who has struggled with their weight read this book and start to love themselves like they should!!

and wendy...thank you

-dalia

I first read a blurb about Dr. Pyatt's book in a fitness magazine. I was intrigued and, as a medical writer, wanted to learn more. So, with an editor's blessing, I arranged an interview with Dr. Pyatt and wrote a feature story about the work she has done throughout her life to help both men and women find their way back from the chaos created by dieting and disordered eating in response to the messages society bombards us with every day. We can never be thin enough. Thus, we are not "good enough." It's a vicious cycle, and difficult to break.

Dr. Pyatt's voice, in person and throughout her book, is encouraging, gentle, supportive, and wise. She does NOT ignore nutrition, potential medical problems, or the necessity for regular exercise. Neither does she leave readers feeling that if they DON'T exercise, they are "bad." In a world full of diet- and weight-related myths, "Fed Up" is a volume of common sense.

The method may be frightening at first to those of us who have been "brainwashed" from our youngest days--admonished for being overweight, perpetually dieting, falling prey to the promises of every new "program" that comes down the pike. It's hard to let go of the fear of NOT dieting, and Dr. Pyatt knows this. But by turning to her book again and again, readers will find that they gradually learn to accept their bodies, to set more realistic goals, and to stand up against the impossible expectations of a society obsessed with anorexic ideals.

As for myself, I have lost and gained weight time and again. I have re-read this book three times. Last night, I completed the questionnaire in Chapter 4 for the third time, and was extremely happy to see that my highly negative body image and damaging weight obsession has significantly decreased in intensity. I don't expect 40 years of brainwashing (and dieting from the age of 7) to go away overnight. I just want to live a life free from constant obsessing about food and weight and how I look. This is the peace of mind that Dr. Pyatt offers, through the process she outlines in "Fed Up."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any man or woman who 1)is tired of endless, futile dieting; 2)wants to lose (or gain) weight; and 3) wants to take a stand against the unrealistic messages and expectations of our weight-obsessed society.

Try the newest publication at ISBN 1564148599 either through Amazon.com or Amazon.ca -- www.tarotreader.ca

This is the best book I have ever seen on this TYPE of subject. Studying astrology, numerology, cards, fung shui, etc., most books leave you with the feeling that after about 47 more books of the same type, you might start getting to the meat of the subject. Not these. This two-volume set tells you everything, from the ground up. There is no colorful formatting that the info. has to fit into, no little gimmicks to make it interesting. Goodwin is a graduate of MIT, and this book looks more like a textbook -- one fitting the serious student of numerology. But the book is still readable; this book is VERY thorough, but NOT AT ALL complicated. No other texts will be necessary for a lifetime understanding of how to use numerology.

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This book is one of a two volume set. I highly recommend that one buys both. However, if you can only buy one the volume 1 is a must but save up for this volume since it completes the subject.


Numerology : The Complete Guide (Volume 2) by Matthew O. Goodwin

I had used this book and its accompanying Volume 1 since the 1980's. For you trying to decide whether to purchase this, my nearly 20 years of experience with this volume is not as effective as my pointing to solid facts:
My grandmother is in her 90's so she has had a lot of life lived to this point. I could take her chart, from following the directions in this book, and match it chronologically to major milestones in her life.
One such example is that her year 1961 change from 6's and 2's to straight 1's. For the novice, 6's are love and balance traits, 2's are teamwork traits, 1's are independence traits. So what happened in 1961 you might ask... Her loving companion and husband, my grandfather died shy of turning 52. She has been single ever since.
I could named hundreds of examples from calculating life readings from this book, but this is simple example to which all can relate.
I highly recommend this book and, if you can get it, Volume 1 is must have! Matthew Goodwin truly has made some very valuable tools with his two volume on Numerology.


Numerology : The Complete Guide (Volume 1) by Matthew O. Goodwin

I cannot emphasize how strongly I feel that this book can help you in life.
I am an IT professional by trade and I am an Intuitive Counselor in my spare time. I use the knowledge gleened from this book daily.
You're still not impressed? I have been using this book's information since the 1980's when I first discovered this. I did life calculations on all of my close family and friends. I was amazed. This was better than any astology chart ever made for them. ACCURATE and USEFUL!
As a parent, I have saved myself some anguish by guiding my children into their strengths rather than fighting them into a weakness. An example is I have a child with strong 7's and no 3's. (7's are analytical and 3's are creative) She excells at geology and gardening and all things nature bound but cried after a couple of months in music lessons. She was better in music after having her relate the notes to mathmatical function so that she could "figure" them out.
You can tell if your boss is a team player by the location of his "2" traits. (2's being teamwork tendencies)
I could go on and on but you are probably reading this to determine if you should purchase or even just read this volume. THIS IS A MUST FOR ALL LIFE'S PATHS.
This volume cover the general gifts you have received based on the name you were given and then use and your birthdate. It can show you how you change when you have a name change (i.e., a woman marries and takes her husband's name or John calls himself Skip in certain situations).
If you would like to plot your life out similar to an astrological life reading, you will need volume 2 by Matthew Goodwin.

The best book on numerology by far.You will need volume 1 and 2 to put it together. This should not be your first book as it is so good and technical that you should have some knowledge prior to commencement.Just great.

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This book is one of a two volume set. I highly recommend that one buys both. However, if you can only buy one the volume 1 is a must.

Numerology : The Complete Guide (Volume 1) by Matthew O. Goodwin

I cannot emphasize how strongly I feel that this book can help you in life.
I am an IT professional by trade and I am an Intuitive Counselor in my spare time. I use the knowledge gleened from this book daily.
You're still not impressed? I have been using this book's information since the 1980's when I first discovered this. I did life calculations on all of my close family and friends. I was amazed. This was better than any astology chart ever made for them. ACCURATE and USEFUL!
As a parent, I have saved myself some anguish by guiding my children into their strengths rather than fighting them into a weakness. An example is I have a child with strong 7's and no 3's. (7's are analytical and 3's are creative) She excells at geology and gardening and all things nature bound but cried after a couple of months in music lessons. She was better in music after having her relate the notes to mathmatical function so that she could "figure" them out.
You can tell if your boss is a team player by the location of his "2" traits. (2's being teamwork tendencies)
I could go on and on but you are probably reading this to determine if you should purchase or even just read this volume. THIS IS A MUST FOR ALL LIFE'S PATHS.
This volume cover the general gifts you have received based on the name you were given and then use and your birthdate. It can show you how you change when you have a name change (i.e., a woman marries and takes her husband's name or John calls himself Skip in certain situations).
If you would like to plot your life out similar to an astrological life reading, you will need volume 2 by Matthew Goodwin.

Numerology : The Complete Guide (Volume 2) by Matthew O. Goodwin

I had used this book and its accompanying Volume 1 since the 1980's. For you trying to decide whether to purchase this, my nearly 20 years of experience with this volume is not as effective as my pointing to solid facts:
My grandmother is in her 90's so she has had a lot of life lived to this point. I could take her chart, from following the directions in this book, and match it chronologically to major milestones in her life.
One such example is that her year 1961 change from 6's and 2's to straight 1's. For the novice, 6's are love and balance traits, 2's are teamwork traits, 1's are independence traits. So what happened in 1961 you might ask... Her loving companion and husband, my grandfather died shy of turning 52. She has been single ever since.
I could named hundreds of examples from calculating life readings from this book, but this is simple example to which all can relate.
I highly recommend this book and, if you can get it, Volume 1 is must have! Matthew Goodwin truly has made some very valuable tools with his two volume on Numerology.

In living with someone with a disability, the hardship is obvious. The reverse side of this life, as the author describes from his own experience, is the beauty of God's face, His love for us, and how the ability to show compassion and love grow as we care for disabled individuals. Mr. de Vinck's beautiful book will renew one's faith, or light it for the first time.

This book is so perfect for anyone, but especially someone who has a disabled person in their life. It is touching and beautiful...you'll want to read it again and again, and you'll definately want a copy to give to others! I wish everyone would read it and maybe change the way we think about certain things!

The Power of the Powerless is a beautiful testimony to the power of love. It includes true stories of four individuals whom society would consider to be disabled and shows how they brought growth and joy to their families and others. The book is a reminder that we ought not judge the worth of others by how much they can do, but rather by how much they can cause us to grow. We are the ones who benefit from the power of the powerless.

This is one of those books that can cause a dramatic change in perspective for some people; you will never view a mentally and physically challenged person in the same way again. It confirms the wisdom that God has a purpose for us all, and is written with great tenderness and intelligence by Mr. DeVinck.

My daughter is Special Needs and this book is so heart warming. It is always a pleasure to read that other people see the love and joy that I find in my daughter's eyes in others. If you are just looking to open your eyes to the Special Needs community this is a great start. Happy Reading!!

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is a demonstration of New England civility in the 1850s. I believe it went through more than 50 editions by the end of the nineteenth century, so it must have been very widely read at one time. The book is packed with amazing observations. Holmes takes the time to wonder why the sense of smell is the quickest path to memory. He rails against puns in a way that is better than punning. He points out human flaws and praises examples of good living. Trees come alive, through prosaic description and poetic flights. Would you like to go back to the 1850s and have a conversation with a Boston intellectual? Here's your chance. There are many old copies of this book sitting around, but it's nice that it's come back into print (again).... (it's also a quiet love story, by the way)

The imaginary scene is a boarding house breakfast. Conversation is dominated by a lively gent who's seen it all. He holds forth on women, school, philosophy, rowing, interrupted from time to time with verses such as the Deacon's Masterpiece. It's witty, poignant, and rightfully a classic.

Two oral practices flourished in antebellum America: the lecture (or sermon) and the conversation. Lectures, such as Emerson's "The American Scholar" and sermons, such as the abolitionist sermons of Henry Ward Beecher, are well-known examples of this era. But it was also known as the Golden Age of Conversation, and its greatest practitioner was generally agreed to be Oliver Wendell Holmes, Senior.

Holmes was considered an important American writer until the 1920s when he was excised from the American canon by the modernists. They depicted him as willfully provincial, and elitist. What those critics failed to understand was that the Autocrat is also a comic pose, and that Holmes is making sport of everyone, including elitists. Holmes' democratic view of conversation as an open, free-wheeling discourse where anyone could join the Autocrat at his table, as long as they enlivened the conversation, ran counter to the views of his more elitist friends in Boston's Saturday Club in Boston. Holmes loved to talk, and his love for talk made him a democrat, or perhaps a true republican.

His Autocrat is a many sided character: stern and foolish, admonitory and celebratory, a polymorph who will don any temporaty mask necessary to keep the conversation alive. Holmes' playful metaphorical imagination is also a revelation. His gift for translating complex ideas into homey metaphors, aphorisms, and similes is nothing short of miraculous. In the words of another seriously comic American whom I'm sure Holmes would have delighted in, the Autocrat "floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee."

The Autocrat of the Breakfast table begins "in media res," in the middle of a conversation, with the Autocrat attempting to set the rules for conversation at his table. They are generous rules, but even they are open to sabotage by his tablemates at the boarding house. He begins by banning "facts" from his table as impediments to conversation, (a condition that should prevail on today's too numerous current event talking head shows. But I, like the Autocrat, digress).

Here's how the Autocrat starts: "I was just going to say, when I was interrupted, that one of the many ways of classifying minds is under the head of arithmetical and algebraical intellects. All economical and practical wisdom is an extension of the following arithmetical formula: 2 + 2 = 4. Every philosophical proposition has the more general character of the expression a + b = c. We are mere operatives, empirics, and egoists, until we learn to think in letters instead of figures." "They all stared. There is a divinity student lately come among us to whom I commonly address remarks like this. "

In other words, as Gibian says in his marvelous OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES AND THE CULTURE OF CONVERSATION: [The Autocrat] only asks us to study his beliefs the way a pragmatist would study the doctrines of any religion: "I don't want you to believe anything I say; I only want you to to try to see what makes me believe it." How refreshing in this age of factoids and statisticoids recited with rancor and ideological certitude, to hear the Autocrat and his tablemates at the boarding house attempting to fashion a democracy through and by their conversation. Nowadays all we have are the unironic Autocrats, control freaks like John McLaughlin, Ted Koppel, Rush Limbaugh, and that guy on FOX whose name I have, pleasantly, forgotten.

Listening to the Autocrat you can almost hear American singing. It's not exactly Walt Whitman's America, but it's still America in the hopeful, experimental antebellum era, and thus a good antidote to the cold technocratic chatter and lukewarm public relations cant we are showered with in this hypermediated century.

An interesting range of thoughtful opinions, imbedded in a look at American life in the 1850s, by the father of a future Supreme Court Associate Justice. Part of the charm of this book is in the fact that at that time horses had been the only means of human-assisted transportation for the last few thousand years (with the exception of the new-fangled railroad which was changing the world). Electronics were not even imagined. Automobiles were 50 years into the future.

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table is a demonstration of New England civility in the 1850s. I believe it went through more than 50 editions by the end of the nineteenth century, so it must have been very widely read at one time. The book is packed with amazing observations. Holmes takes the time to wonder why the sense of smell is the quickest path to memory. He rails against puns in a way that is better than punning. He points out human flaws and praises examples of good living. Trees come alive, through prosaic description and poetic flights. Would you like to go back to the 1850s and have a conversation with a Boston intellectual? Here's your chance. There are many old copies of this book sitting around, but it would be nice if it came back into print.... (it's also a quiet love story, by the way)

As a distant relative of Oliver, I was surprised that I had never heard his story. What amazes me more is the fact that countless people like Ras never recieved recognition. All in all, however, the story is one of the best I've ever read in my life.

When I was a little boy, I grew up hearing about my Uncle Oliver's story and some of the wondrous adventures he had and shared with us. Finally I am able to read a accurate accounting and in-depth look at my family's history and its impact on my life.

When Oz's brother, Danwood, (my father), died, Oz became my father and mentor. Over the years, I would talk to him and feel his story come alive.

Before I took my turn as a warrior protecting my people, as a young Marine, I went to see Oz in California to talk about my turn in combat. His words to me gave me strength during my time in hell. Bakite ishin, "hit me if you dare," was his gift to me that protected me along with my heritage and my father's spirit.

Oz's spirit live on within these pages. His gift of life for his children, wife, and his relatives is one of struggle, within his own roots, happiness, and glory. To many in the Native American community, his life is one of the Ogitchidaa, (warrior): one who defends, protects, serves his family, community and their way of life. Now in this time of mourning over the World Trade Center disaster, his story can provide a special insight into a way of strength and overcoming the hardships of life.

My uncle's gift to me lies within those simple words,Bakite Ishin. They continue to give me the strength and insight to survive in today's world. I sit here now putting a Native American publishing house together with my wife. We suffer and endure for the people of our lives and heritage. Our first book, "Freddie Came Home & Other Coyote Tales," reflects the courage of my uncle's spirit and life. Our struggle with life, whether it be in business, traditions, family or community is supported by my Uncle Oliver's legacy. He truly gives hope to the world and to the people.

Bakite Ishin. Hit me if you dare. Words of the old ones in our proud heritage. Words for people to stand up to, to be proud of, and to stay strong. Che-Miigwech, Uncle, Che-Miigwech

This is a gripping tale of a real American hero surviving behind enemy lines in WWII. It is a definite must-read. Kudos to the author for bringing this story to print!

I met Oliver Rasmussen in the 1950s when I was a U.S. Navy apprentice and he was a chief. He was short, dark, rugged, didn't talk much and there was a kind of legend about him. He had walked down out of the Japanese hills at the end of the war and had quite a story to tell. But he didn't.

He also did strange things-going without food, making marathon runs (long before they became popular), and peeling paper matches to get two lights out of one. He didn't waste words or anything else.

Rasmussen had given a press conference after his ordeal in 1945. The media kissed it off as a joke with headlines like, "Aviator Wandered Around Japan." So he stopped talking.

I left the Navy in 1955 after a four-year hitch but I never forgot the mystery of Rasmussen's sojourn in Japan. In 1997 I was retired and decided to find him and ask him about it. I found his widow, Esther, living in California. She told me that in the late 1960s a friend asked her husband if she could tape his story. He agreed with the idea that she would write a book so he could "leave something for his children." But the book never materialized. Chief Rasmussen died in 1980 and his friend died not long after, without starting the project. The tapes were delivered to Esther Rasmussen who kept them in her garage for seventeen years, but didn't listen to them. Esther loaned me the tapes. The book they produced makes an exciting read, with plenty of tips on how to survive in the wild.

As Chuck Yeager put it: Rasmussen went down in Japan and I went down in Nazi-occupied France-a couple of bad places for Americans to visit during World War II. But both of us knew how to trap and hunt and live off Mother Nature. That helped. We were country boys-combat fliers, but still country boys. When our planes went down and we found ourselves in the wild, we knew what to do.

This book is about my uncle Oliver (Oz). I wish some reader has an "in" with Steven Spielberg. My uncle survived in Japan for 60+ days, undetected. His skills, stamina and heroism deserve legendary status. In our family he has that and more. I hope others find this book of interest. Heroes come few and far between, this book is a real heroic tale.

This book addresses most of the emotional issues for spousal and chilren who caregive someone with dementia. It shows how you can think your way out of the deep hole you put yourself in while caring for your loved one. Change your thinking and you will automatically make things better for both you and your whole family. Buy this book!!!

so many books out there focus on the person with alzheimers and very few address the caregiver adequately. My ailing mother is caring for my father and her inability to do a good job was fodder for all sorts of of emotional issues - she needed more than a small chapter in the back of a book. This book was wonderful and validated all her feelings and let her know she was not alone. Too bad it's so difficult to find. It has a question and answer format with questions like "I feel so bad when I yell at him for not remembering. I know he's sick but I just get so frustrated! What can I do?". Practical, useful, and true to life.

If you're caring for an Alzheimer's patient, you already understand how demanding, and often frustrating, the job can be. Olive and Bock understand as well. They approach the problems with true help for the caregiver.

If you don't understand the problems of caring for Alzheimer's, read this book! If you do, read this book! There's real help in these pages!

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D.
author, "How to Find Great Senior Housing"
and
"128 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's and Other Dementias"

Coping with Alzheimer's is a very practical survival guide for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's. It is very well written and easily readable, not preachy or "textbooky." Highly recommended.

This is a remarkable and extremely useful book for all caregivers and family members of Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. It utilizes principles of "RET" or Rational Emotive Therapy pioneered by Dr. Albert Ellis. Simply put, the concept holds that one's perception of events will determine the corresponding feeling or emotion. A deceptively simple but powerful concept in battling depression, anger, and frustration. In the case of Alzheimer's caregivers, this premise can be a literal lifesaver and Drs. Oliver and Bock use their own case histories of treating caregivers to demonstrate pratical, powerful "inner dialogues" that can be used when the daily stress and frustrations of dealing with this challenging condition come to bear. Specific chapters are devoted to: Shame,Guilt, Anger, Depression, and even Self-Pity. This book not only provides the means to lift the spirits and emotions of caregivers, but by doing so, potentially change for the better the necessary interactions between them and their stricken loved-one. Highly recommended!

Of course, Luther and Calvin account for the majority of the reformation, and the O'Donovon's do a fine job of bringing them to life (as much as one can say that about Calvin). However, this text makes references to Anabaptists without giving them 'equal time.' Of course, they should not expect this pacifist and somewhat isolationist sect to raise a stink over being left out (in fact they would probably be in favor of maintaining a low profile), but it is intellectually incomplete. What is there, however, is excellent.

This collection truly is indispensable to anyone interested in the Christian tradition of political theology. A vast array of sources-many of which are quite inconvenient to obtain-are placed at the fingertips of anyone interested. Additionally, the authors distinguish their collection with numerous erudite, probing essays preceding each collection and author. These not only provide historical context but also the outlines of modern scholarly debate. Also, for further reference, bibliographies are concluded. In a word, it is a `sourcebook' par excellance.

There are omissions, as is the case with all collections; however, this does not detract from the overall utility of the collection.

Oliver O'Donovan, a Brit, and Joan Lockwood O'Donovan, born and raised a Canuck, of Christ Church College, Oxford, do a tremendous service to our understanding of the West's pre-Enlightenment constitutional tradition.

Political theorists and philosophers seemed to suffer an epidemic of historical and philosophical amnesia beginning about the 17th century with Hobbes, Locke, et al. Although their writings clearly rely on some sixteen centuries of thought with respect to political authority in the Christian tradition, 17th-c. theorists and on give little hint of the extent of their claiming the ideas of "dual (or plural) authority" and the rule of law as developed in western Christendom.

With selected excerpts from early church father Irenaeus to father of modern constitutionalism Grotius, the O'Donovans trace this development from an early church in tension (and persecution) with the sacralist Roman state; through the power struggles between church and imperial, and church and feudal authorities; and the development of Lutheran and Calvinist theories of resistance vis a vis 16th-c. absolutist theories of the divine right of kings.

Far from its being an invention or child of the Enlightenment, the O'Donovans make clear the West's tradition of plural authority and consitutionalism was delivered to Enlightenment theorists as a mature creature which continues to inform and instruct Western constitutional thought to the present, albeit far too little.

The O'Donovans have compiled an exquisite collection of "family thoughts" -- a collection of Christian thinkers who took the polis seriously.

This text provides essential sources for the collective Christian memory up to the edges of the modern period. With that kind of foundation, Christians and non-Christians alike will find long-suffering arguments of the faith that extend beyond short term political "wins."

This anthology is extremely valuable. It provides accurate translations of the most important writings in the history of Christian political theology from the 2nd to the 17th century. Quite a notable resource.

This was purchased as a gift. I own a copy and relatives find it very useful. It is easy to use and the service was prompt for my order.

As an interpreter of numerology, rather than a teacher, this is the book I recommend to all my readers who want to learn more about HOW numerology works, and it is the first book listed in my book's bibliography. Sandra Kovacs Stein offers her own unique perspective on your personal numerology along with greater clarity through simplification. There is nothing complicated about this book, but there is a lot more to "Instant Numerology - A Manual For The Beginner" than its title suggests. If you are interested in numerology, this is essential reading.

This was the first numerology book I ever read, and it was so easy and fun, that I was inspired to go on and learn more about this fascinating science. But even tho I've read many more sophisticated books, I alreays return to this becouse the information, while simple, uses an economy of words to say precisely what the big books say in a much better format. It's really fun, and surprisingly accurate. Great book to take to parties. Everyone will love it. Thanks :-)

This book is written in a simple straightforward manner. It is succinct and to the point. It is a book for those who are only interested in the calculations and meanings without studying any background history. An excellent starter book.

O. Edwards is a master. This book fastracks a tyers ability.

Maurice W. Robertson
South Africa

As a life long fly fisher, I really have to hand it to Oliver Edwards respecting his first book on the subject of fly tying. Mr. Edwards is a professional fly tier and is a regular contributor in several British periodicals and web sites focusing on fly-fishing. The stories are noteworthy regarding how he came to develop the patterns in his book. He is very through in his description of each pattern including well-drawn step by step instruction. I also have been tying flies since I was a child and find his wit and experience a benefit. In his words, "90% of the fish are caught by 10% of the fishermen". His book will help you to be in the top 10%.

All I can say is Brilliant. I have been tying for over half my life and still love learning! Oliver produces not only beatiful, but extremely effective creations. Its a pity there are only 20 patterns! I would encourage any tyer to have a go at these patterns and produce tight lines !

Mr. Edwards little guide was recommended to me by the good folks at the Los Pinos fly shop in Albuquerque. I am grateful.

This book shows how to tie very effective and substantially more representative flies & nymphs with about as much time at the vise as the common dressings require.

The best thing about the dressings and their descriptions is that any tier can master the techniques due to their clarity of illustration and step-by-step instructions in the text.

I finally have a "killing" Rhyacophila (green caddis) larva that I can lose to rocks and other debris (fished correctly, this will always happen)without regret. I can tie 20 of these in an hour and the hook costs more than the dressing!

E. H. (Polly) Rosborough's pioneering work is clear in this dressing.

There are twenty different dressings included in the Masterclass and dozens of clear illustrations penned by Mr. John Roberts. A first class addition to any library.

Songs for a Savior is an excellent Advent resource. Dr. Oliver's insights are deeply spiritual and thoroughly biblical. He examines the poetry/songs that were spoken about the Advent of the Messiah. Not only does the book look back to the first coming of Jesus, but considers how we are to live in anticipation of the second Advent of Jesus. The sermons provide challenging and practical insights about how the songs should impact our lives today. The book provides complete worship resources for the 4 Sundays of Advent as well as a Christmas Eve service. I have found the book a very helpful resource and would highly recommend it.

Oliver's messages help the congregaton identify with the experiences and feelings of the Biblical characters. He does a very good job of providing just enough historical and cultural background to bring understanding of the Biblical context while keeping the focus on our application. Always the goal of his messages is a deeper relationship with the Savior who loves us as we are. I thought his discussion of the paradoxes in "Mary's Song" was especially helpful.

In "Songs for a Savior," David Oliver gives us another helping of nourishing family fare. These sermons for Advent and Christmas are biblically based, pastorally informed, and culturally relevant. As in his earlier book, "Gifts We Bring to Honor the King," Dr. Oliver's writing bears the mark of a true shepherd of God's people. Read, and you will be inspired to worship.

This is a great resource for pastors and worship planners. Can also be used as devotional material by anyone. Contains calls to worship, prayers, sermons, and other ideas. Can be used as is or used as a spring board furnishing ideas to get your creative juices flowing.