Series Books

I went to a Sarah Vowell talk. She talked about American History. She had a fascination with Puritans. She disparaged "Sinners in the hand of an Angry God" and Edwards. I wanted to ask her if she will read any other book by Edwards. If so, she would realise that his portrait of the beauty of God and of Holiness is far more powerful than his view of Hell. He is one of the greatest thinkers that the North American continent has ever produced and Vowell was judging him on one short sermon.

Don't get me wrong. This book is dry in spots. The language is a little convoluted. He is so systematic and precise, I wanted to skip ahead, but that would have been a mistake. It took me forever to get through it. I read it because Piper recommended it, but I stuck with it because my soul was being fed. Even in the first few chapters where he is setting up his argument, he throws out sentences about how we should enjoy God, how we should not judged others, and how we can better live the Christ life. He taught me how I should enjoy God and how I should more accurately view salvation. Every body should read this book and read it slowly. The prose lulled me to sleep and then he gave me another insight into the Christian life I never thought about before.

I like Piper, but this book is far better than anything Piper has written. This is one of the main sources where Piper derives his "Christian Hedonism." People criticise Piper because they think he is flippant. They think Christian Hedonism doesn't address suffering and other aspects of the Christian life. They should read this book. Our enjoyment of God and our desire for God is what sustains us in our suffering. It is a thirst we will never fully quenched. It is a well in which we will never reach bottom. Piper's theology is not new and it is not shallow. He draws his theology from the deepest and most thoughtful writers of Christian history. "Religious Affections" will deepen your walk with God.

The Religious Affections is probably the most profound analysis of spiritual experience ever written - and by the most brilliant philosopher/theologian to ever come from North America (and possibly the English language).

Jonathan Edwards wrote this book after the Great Awakening with which he was closely involved. He wrote as both a friend, defending the authenticity of revivals - and also as a critique, warning against putting trust in things which were not certain signs of genuine Spirit-wrought affections.

His treatise takes three parts. In part one he defines his terms and gives twelve reasons why genuine religion (i.e. Christian spirituality - "religion," in Edwards day, did not have the negative connotations that it carries today) consists much in the affections. The affections, for Edwards, are more than mere emotions - they are the strong and lively inclinations of the will, seated in the human heart.

Part two discusses twelve things which are not certain signs of true religious affections. These are things which Edwards warned should not be trusted as evidences of grace OR discarded as evidences that the Holy Spirit has NOT worked in a saving way. They are not indicators one way or the other.

Part three is the most lenghty and examines twelve things which are signs of a true work of the grace, wrought by God's holy Spirit in the heart. This is where Edwards is at his best - carefully, logically, biblically, and passionately describing the true evidences of regeneration. His analysis is keen, his thoughts clear, his argument orderly, his scholarship extensive, his knowledge of Scripture profuse, and his understanding of the human heart profound.

This particular edition - produced by Yale and edited by John Smith - is the best critical edition in print. The introduction and notes on the text are very helpful, as Smith summarizes Edwards' arguments and backgrounds the Puritan writers and their books which Edwards quotes in Religious Affections. This volume also includes Edwards' related correspondence with Thomas Gillespie from Scotland - this being the first time the complete correspondence has been printed in the same volume with the Affections.

This is not an easy book to read. Edwards takes getting used to. But it is very worthwhile. I'm currently reading it for the third time and I continue to find it useful. I highly recommend it for pastors and preachers and all Christians who yearn for a personal and corporate work of the Spirit in revival and spiritual awakening.

This is one of the three Edwards works every Christian should read, along with Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and The Prevailing Notion of the Freedom of the Will... (the original title was a mile long!). Sinners is the shortest read, then this, then Freedom. This will help you understand the Great Awakening from Edwards perspective, while kindling in you a passion to know God more intimately.

This is one of the great devotional Christian classics of the 18th century, but it still packs a mighty punch today. It began its life as a series of sermons preached by Edwards to his Northampton congregation in 1742 and 1743, and was first published in 1746. Edwards discusses the place of religious fervor and feelings in the Christian life. For those who prefer a more staid and serene Christian existence, Edwards discusses the prevalence of such scripturally based affections as love, joy, desire, compassion, and zeal. He concludes this opening section by asking how can people sit and hear about "the unparalleled love of the innocent, and holy, and tender Lamb of God, manifested in His dying agonies, His bloody sweat, His loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart, and all this for enemies, to redeem them from deserved eternal burnings, and to bring to unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory, - and yet be cold and heavy, insensible and regardless! Where are the excesses of our affections proper, if not here?"

After this stirring salvo, Edwards then addresses those who have gone overboard in emphasizing emotional experiences by giving 12 false signs which are thought by many to be indicative of someone who is experiencing true religious affections from God. Many people trust in the depthness of their emotions, the zeal for doing churchwork, the experiences they have had when a scripture verse came to mind, the appearance of love in a person's life, etc, but these things in and of themselves are not conclusive proof of God's divine grace.

Then in the body of the book, Edwards discusses 12 clear signs that God is at work in the life, and the chief sign is that there is a greater appreciation and love for God for who He is and not primarily for what you can get from Him.

Another sign that you are expression truly divine religious affections is that you continue to live for Christ every day. If you have one or two days in church where you feel genuinely inspired and then go back to living a life of sin, then you have not experienced a genuine awakening from God, because when God awakens you, you will be changed forever. Everything you do in life will be motivated by a selfless love for God and for His divine qualities and a selfless love for others.

This book was a shattering read for me because I have often looked upon the religious experiences in my life as proof that I was 'in the Lord,' or proof that I was walking with the Lord, when in actuality, a changed life is the proof.

I should also say that the book is a bit wordy. Many sentences are almost a whole paragraph long. You really have to concentrate to get the main idea in certain portions of the book. The reader not used to 18th century writing might have to adjust to these long and sometimes meandering sections.

But you will be greatly rewarded if you give this book the time and study that it deserves.

An essential work on Christian faith and its natural manifestation in human emotion. Written by arguably the greatest Calvinist preacher to ever live.

In THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, the third book in the Colton Parker Series, Brandt Dodson engages us once again with suspense, murder, and corruption. When Colton Parker is hired to find the illegitimate son of a dying multimillionaire, he is faced with sorting through back alleys, biker gang hangouts, and the offices of a political official in order to get to the bottom of what seems to be a tangled web that has no boundaries.

Colton Parker is a modern-day gumshoe. He uses his tough exterior and dry humor to cover the pain he feels at the loss of his wife and his constant struggle to maintain a relationship with his teenage daughter. There's not a lot of flash or fancy dialogue in this series, just good old private investigative work. Though Brandt hints at Colton's feelings for his former FBI partner, Mary, there is little romance played out in the Colton Parker Series. These novels are definitely geared toward the armchair detective who wants to follow along as Parker pieces together faint clues and barely-there evidence. A great read. Especially for men who want a straight forward suspense novel without getting bogged down with the romance that most women readers prefer.

I loved this book. I have read all of the Colton Parker books through this one. They are suspenseful and very well written. I am looking forward to The Lost Sheep!

Marilyn Fitzgerald
Carlsbad, CA

This new series are thrilling mysteries. Colton, as a detective, does not hold back in getting information from potential witnesses and he's not easily intimidated. Very much nail biting, humorous and action all rolled up in one. I recommend all four books in this series. I'm currently reading the 4th.

"The Root of All Evil" is the 3rd in the Colton Parker series. I liked this one very much. It has lots of plot twists and turns and interesting characters. There may be a bit more violence in this novel than the first two, but it is done in a non graphic manner and is fitting to the storyline.

I recommend this book.

Detective Colton Parker is back for a third time in Brandt Dodson's hard-boiled detective series. Parker is still low on cash, struggling to find a bond with his teenage daughter, and full of attitude. The novel opens with Colton hired to by Berger Hume. Hume is rich, old and dying. In his youth, Hume fell in love and fathered a child, but never married the girl. Now, on his deathbed, Hume wants that long lost son found, and believes Parker is the man to do it. The man he is looking for, Miles Poole, is a thug operating at the fringes of the law and is involved in motorcycle gangs. One particular gang, Satan's Posse, wants Poole, also know as Pork Chop in gang vernacular, killed. Parker faces the problem of letting Hume know he has found his son and not bring Poole's problems to Hume. To make matters worse, Parker finds himself right in the middle of the action when he and his daughter are threatened.

I really enjoy this series, it is easy to read and Parker is a great character, full of tough guy attitude and action yet with a soft heart for his daughter and former co-worker FBI agent Mary Christopher. To me, THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL, struggles in the area of plot. The connections between the bikers and the Hume family and other shady characters seemed confusing at times. The book excels during the personal moments, when Parker has to reconcile his violent profession with the disinegrating remnants of a family life.

Dodson ties up all plot threads at the end and some good things actually happen to Parker for a change. I have the LOST SHEEP (4th book in the series) sitting on my shelf at home and can't wait to read it. THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL is a good book, but probably the worst in the series because of the confusing plot. Of course, with so many 5-star reviews, maybe I was the problem and not the book.

We have a few pop-up type books and a lot of them just have something stand up, or have pieces that are too delicate for younger toddlers. Although this one is also easy to rip, there aren't tiny pieces so it takes a little more tug than some others. But the pop-ups are bright, not too busy, and really engage my toddler. Heads bobble, arms wave. We'll definitely keep an eye out for others in this series. On sale, only, of course, since the lifespan of this will surely be limited as much as my daughter loves it and will eventually manage to rip the pop-ups!

The book Snappy Little Colors is great because not only is it a book to teach kids about colors, it's a pop up too. They kids can have fun learning their colors as well as learning to read better. You get to see different animals with different colors on them. I would say this book would be good for kids the ages of 1 and up.

My son is 18 months old and he loves this book-- especially the shark and the bear! I am buying 2 Snappy books for a friend's 2-year-old's birthday. Excellent!

My daughter (26 months) LOVES this book! I read it to her often but she really spends lots of time looking at it on her own, too. She will flip through it saying each animal's name, then again making the sound of each animal, then one more time stating the main color on each page. Great big pop-ups really catch her attention. This book is especially helpful for learning colors or animal names. She loves it so much I have ordered her a couple of other Snappy Books for Christmas. Enjoy!

A friend gave this to me as a baby shower gift and I started reading it to my son at about 4 months.

At first it was the only book (out of many) to hold his attention all the way through. It still holds his attention now at 9 months no matter what he's doing when I open it.

The print and mechanical quality are first rate. The text is very well written and if I quote phrases from the book (at non-reading times) my son will recognize them and start giggling. The illustrations are quite clever and make learning entertaining.

If you buy no other children's book, buy this one! I plan to give it as a shower gift to all new moms from now on.

This is the best Spanish verbs book for beginning or intermediate students because it has about 300 of the most frequently used verbs with all the tenses, and it is of a size and weight to easily fit in a crowded backpack, briefcase, etc. 99 out of 100 verbs that you need to check the tense on will be in this book.

This is a quck reference card intended as a companion to the Barron's book -- 501 Verbs. It is not sufficient on its own. However it is a very dense compilation of essentials, much more easily accessed than having to dig through the 501 or similar grammar books when one is first learning the ropes and framework of Spanish.

I used this card very, very frequently for my first month of independent spanish study. I greatly appreciated having a compact source of key things I needed to read over and over while trying to form a landscape view of this language. I am still pulling it out often to review key points. I am now at the start of month #3.

On one side of the card (3 pages worth when unfolded), it describes the purpose of each of the 7 simple tenses, the 7 compound tenses, the imperativo, the progressive forms, participles (Present and Past) as well as active versus passive voices. Key examples are given. On the other side is a very detailed conjugation plus English translation of a model verb (comer). Then the same table used in 501 is given for several strategically chosen regular and irregular verbs: dar, decir, estar, haber, hablar, hacer, ir and lavar.

The overall presentation of the card utilizes good graphics and color coded variations to assist in quickly finding the highlights. Without this feature, the very dense amount of information would be overwhelming -- but given the authors/publishers attention to detail -- I find it to be very user friendly.

The card is laminated and should be durable if kept reasonably protected in a notebook. Using it during my novice stage of exploring Spanish clearly saved a lot of wear and tear on my copy of 501 Verbs -- a resource needed indefinitely.

I have been learning Spanish at home by trying to combine several resources which I have learned work best with my learning style. I have had no prior Spanish training. Instead, I was inspired by a recent trip to South America. However, I did have 2 years of high school Latin and 2 years of college German -- none of which I even vaguely remember 30 years later.

The primary wisdom I gleaned from this lost Latin and German exposure is that I wanted to balance the current "fad" toward total language "immersion" with some solid sense of its grammatical structure. The audio programs (such as Learning Spanish Like Crazy and Earworm) as well as the travel phrase books work much better for me when I have a skeletal structure on which to hand all those neatly compiled, oft repeated phrases.

Therefore, this review card, the larger 501 book from which it is derived, and Dorothy Richmond's Spanish Verb Tenses (part of the Practice Makes Perfect Series) were my among my most used companions. I still pull out my review card, maybe even with a bit of fondness now, when I am returning to working on a new verb tense or when work has been so busy that I had to skip a few days of my home study plan.

I bought this item for my daughter, who was having a problem learning verb conjugation in her Spanish 101 course in college. She started using it from the moment it arrived, and her instructor saw a marked improvement in her performance in class. It made sense of verbal conjugation for her, and will undoubtedly result in her doing much better in this class.

I bought this verb book when I started learning Spanish. I find that verb books in any language are very useful. This particular book contains about 300 verbs fully conjugated in all the tenses. It makes looking up a certain verb conjugation very easy.

I'd say use this one to carry around in your pocket. There are other Spanish verb books, but they're much larger and not very portable.


Brandon Simpson

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2VEGEHB5XLGR6 Watch my video review and find out how this book compares to Barron's 501 Spanish Verbs. And also watch this video review to find out exactly what you must do in order to buy Spanish Verbs (Barron's Verb Series) here at Amazon and also get lots of BONUS video lessons from your's truly, Jazmin, where I teach Spanish words and phrases.

This book is very well laid out and answers many qestions based both on past experiences and present. It also provide a excellent strategy to survive in a "real " world.Great book for the person looking for insight into a "healthy relationship"

RW

When I am dealing with a married ACOA client, I follow giving as homework the basic ACOA text the author wrote with this volume to help him/her understand how their lack of intimacy skills may have thwarted their reaching the deeper level of attachment with the spouse that they desired. It has always proven helpful to my clients as they move into a healthier spousal relationship.

The book I have read over and over. I slip back into my old patterns very easily and this keeps me on track.

I love and recommend Janet's "Adult children of Alcoholics" to my counseling clients...but I must say, I love this book too! And I love the John Bradshaw's "Healing the shame that binds you" book.Healing the Shame that Binds You: Recovery Classics Edition (Recovery Classics) ...... and the "Getting Them Sober, you CAN help" book by Toby Rice Drews (this book is a real lifesaver--- my counseling clients tell me that Toby must have had a crystal ball in their living rooms! And that they read it and read it again, and sleep with it under their pillows, it helps so much.) Getting Them Sober: You Can Help! (Getting Them Sober)

I didn't grow up in the typical alcoholic household Janet constantly portrays in her books, so I didn't have all of the ACOA myths as expected - which she stated you may not have all of them. I did see a few lines that I connected strongly with (the actual "Myths" did not ring true, but rather her detailed description fit better). For example, not knowing how to get angry or what is appropriate enough to get angry. I see this in my relationship, and it wasn't until others who cared for me would say "Why are you putting up with that crap? I would never let that fly!" Alot of things seemed to roll of my back. It's not because I'm easy going and forgiving (well maybe!), but I didn't know when it was appropriate to be angry, or how, or what good getting angry would even do! The scenario about the security guard who turned off the lights and one person was angered and the other was not really hit home. Good starter book, you may not fit every myth, but it's an informative read nevertheless. If anything I understand my own parents even better as they are ACOC too.

When you see on the cover of a book testimonials by James Patterson, Clive Cussler, Tim Green, and other big hitters, you pay attention.
Reid Clark is named by the press as 'The Bad Boy of Golf'. Think John McEnroe only more volatile! He is a brilliant player on the PGA, but shoots himself in the foot with his temper. He has made some enemies, but never would he have thought that someone wanted to kill him.
He plays The Masters under death threats, and he continues on toward The Classic where the threats escalate: if Reid wins the tournament, he will die.
Reid is surrounded by security and family, and starts transforming from 'Bad Boy' into a well rounded man who happens to be one of the top golf players in the world. He learns it isn't 'all about him' and starts to understand what the truly important things in life are.
It is all about golf - the play, the endorsements, the risks, but also is about Reid's progression to see what is truly most important in his life.
Balkind writes with amazing clarity that puts you there in the middle of the action of play on the greens - We come to like Reid, and Balkind's character portrayals are eloquent in their execution.
You will learn a lot about golf reading this book. You will also be in for a great treat as it is a top notch mystery too.
It will make one heck of a movie -
Think you'll have fun with this one too.
Those of us who are terrible golfers, but think we are much better, and those who truly know the game and do well at it, will love this book equally - I usually get relegated to driving the cart!! But know it takes lots of skill to play the game, and to play under more pressure than just winning the tournament takes more than determination - focus focus focus.
Excellent read!

Reid Clark, the "Bad Boy of Golf" has just received a death threat- DO NOT WIN or YOU WILL DIE. They are referring to the biggest golf tournament in his life. The suspects are numerous because, after all, he IS the "bad boy", having assaulted reporters and their photographers on numerous occasions who all seem obsessed with the golf star.
Reid and his agent Buck make a great winning team and after landing a million dollar endorsement they should be very happy sportsmen, but how can they be with these threats hanging over their lives? Reid's mother Joan, his two sisters and girlfriend Shane are his cheering section as the excitement builds.
Surrounded by bodyguards, Reid plays the final round of golf in the Masters, but will that be enough to save his life? This reader does not play golf, but as the tension builds, became highly involved with the game and the characters in Mr. Balkind's book. Very much recommended for sports fans and everyone else who loves a good mystery!

Imagine this; you are an athlete, born with a gift. You work hard to improve and better yourself in what you love and crave to do, and when you finally get to live your dream, someone spoils it with a threat of `simply' taking your life if you - win.
Reid Clark, a professional golfer, has a rude awakening as he receives such a threat during the tournament of tournaments; the Masters.
Not a stranger to challenging situations he finds himself just a bid over his head and has no choice but to surround himself with a colorful team of bodyguards and investigating cops, because he surely is not going to easily give in.
What follows is a well written tale of a cat and mouse game on a different level. Intrigue and suspense can be painted in many vivid colors, but spinning them into the `game of kings' is certainly a new twist author Michael Balkind has discovered.

Though I play a little golf myself, I'm not a huge fan and certainly don't watch it on TV. However; ever since I read this story I find myself taking a glimpse at the tellie whenever I catch a game and I wonder - what would it be like to perform at such level if indeed one would encounter a death threat.

To me, Balkind made the story believable and I enjoyed the read through out. There were just a few instances where I would have liked to see a lesser degree of explanation of the physiological pressure of the game. I also wondered about a scenario where Reid, while still under extreme stress due to his threats, takes his family on a shopping spree.
All in all however, I recommend Sudden Death to anyone who seeks a satisfying thrill ride down the fairway and I will be looking for more sport related mystery from this new, exciting author.

Rebecca Lerwill, author of Relocating Mia.
Relocating Mia

Reid Clark, an angry, rude PGA touring pro enters the Masters with a death threat hanging over his performance there. The 'Bad Boy of Golf' mellows somewhat when the fear of his death lingers over the fairways and greens of that cherished magnolia lined golf course. He even lets loose some of his millions won on tour and through sponsorships to buy his mom a house and the sport car she desires. The would-be killers suspected are many because of Reid's past 'bad boy' reputation in golf and business. But it's the one on the bottom of that long list who plans and executes the threat.
Reid ties for the lead and The Masters goes into sudden death and fearing it could be his own quick demise, he putts for the win...a gun-shot is heard. Did the putt drop in or did Reid drop before the ball missed the cup? Reid doesn't know and the reader will find out later when the book concludes.

Don't read Sudden Death on an empty stomach you'll crave for such as Tarragon Lobster, Salad Nicoise and then wish for the libation offered by a cognac infused with vinilla accompanied by a good cigar. Michael Balkind knows the good life and writes with an excellent knowledge of the game of golf. If you love a mystery and/or exciting golf-play read Sudden Death. It's all there.

Sudden Death is a fast paced page burner. The characters are personable, and realistic as our hero struggles to win the elusive "Green Jacket" at the Masters, while trying to avoid an assasin. The writing is smooth while the plot is pockmarked with exciting twists. This is a great read whether you like golf or not. Everyone likes a good whodunit, and this is a good one.

I am so glad that Janette Oke contuied with the story about the Davis Family. In this new series Belind'as daughter Virginia is the main charecter. I love this story because it talks about a lot of the kinds of things that teenage girls deal with. Jenny is the girl that we all know from High school. I think that every girl shoul read this book because it really helps you get through your problems.

The tender years by Janet Oke is a very good book. Janet Oke is a very good author, I can relate to this book because just like virgina I am to a teenager. There is so much you learn from this book and is a wonderful experiance. Virgina and her family is a big family like the brady bunch. Almost every one wants a big family. I think every one should read this book it can teach you alot. Happy reading!

I think all 13 - 18 year old girls should read The Tender Years by Janette Oke. It really teaches and tells that in your teens, life just doesn't seem to go your way. Everything seems to wrong. No matter if it's your family or friends; life just seems confusing and frustrating. I also think 13 - 18 year old girls should read this book, because they could, at least, compare themselves to one part of this book. And I'm sure most could relate to the problems the main character, Virginia, goes through. I know this mostly because I'm going on 14 and can relate my friends and me, to this book. You should really pick this book up and give it a try...and it's not just for teen girls either...if you have kids or are planning on them the Tender Years might help you understand your kids a little more.

So far, I like every books I have read that was written by Janet Oke.

Growing up is hard to do. Virginia Simpson, granddaughter of Love Comes Softly's Marty and Clark Davis, finds this out first hand. At the tender age of thirteen, Virginia makes friends with daring and popular Jenny, a girl at her school. Feeling proud to be in the "in" group, Virginia begins to go on some of the group's fun after-school outings. But things start to lose their fun once she gets in trouble with her family. She knows she is disobeying her parents by going out with Jenny and skipping her chores, but she doesn't want to lose her friendship with Jenny. Virginia thinks her family is unfair and strict . . . why shouldn't she be allowed to have fun and grow up without so much supervision?

One day Jenny and her friends go too far. They "borrow" a raft from a neighbor and steal candy from the store, then plan to go rafting on the flooded creek. Virginia realizes that she does not really belong with her group of friends. How could they stoop to stealing?

She leaves the group angrily, knowing it would likely be the end of her friendship, but too angry to care at the moment.

Then, Virginia hears some dreadful news that puts her in turmoil. . . .

As time goes on, Jenny and Virginia become friends again, of sorts. Jenny comes over to the Simpson's house more and more frequently and is fondled by her family. Virginia feels left out and jealous. When it is too hard to bear, she goes by herself and sobs. But she realizes she is wrong. Wrong to feel jealous. Her sister finds her and gently reproves her. Virginia's awful burden of sin is too hard to bear anymore, and she prays to God, feeling a peace she's never known before.

From her sister's marriage, to the trial of a neighbor accused of theft, Virginia's story, The Tender Years, is a book that will touch you and keep you turning pages. It is a book about forgiveness, love, friendship, and happiness that is found only in God.

It is a very good book for teens (or for anyone)!

Edward De Bono had the wonderful insight of bringing together many disparate and orginally isolated ideas and repackaging them with a binding theme he called lateral thinking. The world has never looked back. De Bono's insight and salesmanship have been a wonder to behold.

So too, Eli Goldratt has taken critical thinking skills from various areas, put a graphical front end on them, and repackaged them with a binding theme he calls Thinking Processes. Not as powerful as De Bono, but certainly in the same ballpark.

Lisa Scheinkopf does quite a marvellous job in providing a didactic introduction to these Thinking Processes. At the end of the day, she unfolds a systematic way of problem solving - and this is, indeed, what the thinking tools are all about.

I understand that Scheinkopf's choice and ordering of chapters was meant to reflect her belief that the individual tools can be used independently of each other. It would have been nice if she had provided a bit more detail showing how the tools complement each other; but, her book, her prerogative. In regard to matters which require the the systematic and complementary use of each and every tool in the toolset, I think Bill Dettmer's provides better insight.

The book is generally clear, with one or two minor slips into obscurity.
I think Scheinkopf falls into the same trap that most authors who present these type of tools. They occasionally have a rush of too much Oxygen to the brain and push their product beyond its elastic limits and start to hand-wave a little too much. In this regard, I find the "So What Test" which forms part of her discussion of Current Reality Trees one of those hand-waving areas. Apart from being something to do with simplifying a current reality tree by means of a review of "entities" from a systems perspective (whatever that really means), I find the actual application of the test as described quite obscure. (As an aside, Bill Dettmer also hand-waves at this point too. I think that both authors attempt to transform craft into some sort of science in a manner which needs a rethink).

Anyway, overall, I think Scheinkopf's work is very good. I think it deserves to be read in support of an understanding of the TOC Thinking Processes, but, it simply isn't enough to read as the only source of understanding. I recommend reading some of Dettmer's work too. Between the two (and Goldratt himself of course), the whole system of TOC and Thinking Processes adds a useful set of tools to problem solving.

You may have heard of "Theory of Constraints" or "TOC" as a project management method that focuses on placing buffers on GANNT charts. But that's just one application of this general analysis and decision-making method called Theory of Constraints.

If you've ever wanted to "brainstorm" or "think outside the box," or just want to plan your next big task in a more complete way, but didn't know where to start, this book is for you. It actually offers a lot more than a start: methods, a simple notation, and when to do what in great detail.

A lot of what you read may seem like "just common sense," but perhaps that's what makes it fun: a powerful, verifiable thinking tool that's also simple and makes sense.

You don't have to read the whole book at once. Try reading some, and then applying it. See how it goes.

I read various books regarding the Theory of Constraints. Except for the chapter on prerequisite trees, this book explains how to use the theory very well to solve your daily problems. It also gives you a wealth of exercises that you can use to improve your practice of the theory.

This book puts it all together and can lead anyone down the path of logical thinking, be it solving a problem or creating a plan. Combine the teachings of this book with the other TOC principles and you've got a recipe for success. I highly reccommend this book to all my consulting clients and friends for use in both business and personal life.

I really hesitated to pay [$] for a book that is not directly related to my profession, somewhat short, and had an unkown beneficial value. Being casually familiar with the thinking processes from It's Not Luck, I went ahead and bought the book. I'm not disappointed. In about a month it has paid for itself several times over. It's not an easy read, but if your curious enough to be reading this, you can understand it. If your a professional with a wife and kid(s), it is a must for both work and home.

Perhaps more than any other theater of war, the Alaska/Aleutians campaign may be the least known and most misunderstood series of battles in WWII among both the general public and many history aficionados. Japanese troops on American territorial soil in and of itself is a shocker for many readers. Brian Garfield created a classic with this book first published in 1969 and periodically republished. Well written and researched, Garfield manages to keep the reader avidly engaged through all 400 plus pages. He is particularly effective at conveying the horrible weather conditions across a continent sized battlefield faced by ill-prepared troops with inadequate supplies and protective gear, grinding away on a daily basis. Brutal weather was accompanied by brutal combat both at sea and on land. Fierce fighting was the norm and both sides took heavy casualties. Still the best book of this part of WWII.
Steven Bustin, Author: How The USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII.
Humble Heroes: How the USS Nashville CL43 Fought WWII

For many military history buffs, it is the pieces of history that remain laregely untold (or at least unheard) that hold the most appeal. Brian Garfield's dramatic--yet detailed--account of the American/Japanese chess match in the Aleutians is one of the best-written accounts of an overshadowed campaign I have yet to come across. Garfield's attention to detail, honesty, and even-handedness results in the type of read rarely found in modern military history volumes. From the mundane life of a soldier on the uninhabitable Alaskan islands to the overwhelmingly costly combat that occured on, around, and above U.S. soil, the story of the Aleutian campaign is anything but forgettable. A must-read!

Very good book! Having spent three years living in the Alutians (Adak)in the early 90's, I can't imagine the living conditions there 40 years earlier. One summer day in 1991 stands out in my memory. We were blessed with both a clear day, which are very few, and far, far between, and a Reeves Aleutian Airline's pilot that took us on a sight-seeing tour on our way out to Shemya, before heading towards Anchorage. He flew low over several islands allowing us to see the reamins of an old airstrip, a ship that had been sunk near another island, whales in the Bering sea, and gave me some memories of things not a lot of people will never see. Having read the book before this flight, it gave me an odd feeling knowing of some of the events that had taken place there years before. I think you'll enjoy reading this book,

Having served in the Aleutians durning the Cold War and part of the Vietnam War, my interest was heightened. Also, having a dear friend who was actually there from 1940 through 1945 and hearing him tell of the characters in the book was enlightening. The book was well written, well researched and gripping in its "real life" portrayal. I recommend this book to all who like to read about actual events and see their realationship to the bigger picture.

Brian Garfield's "The Thousand-Mile War", first published in 1969 and periodically reissued since, may be the definitive popular history of a largely forgotten theater of the Second World War. In a highly readable narrative account, Garfield describes the savage struggle between the United States and the Empire of Japan for control of the Aleutian Islands and the territory of Alaska.

Alaska was still a sparsely-populated territory when the Second World War broke out. General Siomon Buckner, commander of U.S. Army and Air Forces in Alaska, immediately grasped the importance of Alaska's proximity to Japan, Russia, and the U.S. West Coast. Buckner began a single-minded campaign to build military bases, airfields, and railroads in preparation for a Japanese invasion. That invasion arrived in June 1942, simultaneously with the Battle of Midway. The Japanese Navy bombed the U.S. Base at Dutch Harbor and landed troops at Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands. It would take fifteen months for U.S. forces to dig them out of their strongholds.

The campaign in the Aleutians was unique in the annals of the Second World War. The United States and Japan were fighting at the extreme limit of their respective supply lines, in an area where extreme weather conditions were a third combant in the struggle. Garfield vividly describes the appalling weather conditions under which the U.S. Army Air Corps conducted thousand mile bombing raids, first against the Japanese garrisons on Attu and Kiska, then against the Japanese home islands. U.S. and Japanese ground forces suffered more casualties to the windy, cold, wet conditions than to their respective opponents. U.S. and Japanese naval forces groped for their opponents in fog-bound Aleutian waters; decisive results were rare.

Garfield's account highlights the strong personalities of leaders on both sides of the fighting, who were forced by the harsh weather and austere supply situation to be innovative in providing the means of war and in motivating their soldiers, sailors, and airmen. That military planning was often as confused as in any other conflict should come as no surprise; that U.S. forces overcame so many obstacles to be successful should be a source of inspiration, thanks to Garfield's account.

This book is highly recommended to students of the Second World War seeking an account of the fighting in Alaska, and to students of the history of Alaska seeking to understand how the Second World War changed Alaska.