B Books

Excellent advice from a incredible coach. From time management to management contribution this book offers what you need to achieve management positions. A must.

Peter Drucker was such a prolific and important writer, thinker, researcher, teacher, and philosopher! Although he is best known a the father of modern management theory, I find that his ideas are applicable to a wide variety of positions and enterprises.

The Effective Executive, like most of his works, is written with the assumption that the reader is part of an institution and needs to learn to function within the challenges of the corporate environment. I have never had a traditional job or position in a large institution, but can totally relate to the challenges of what Drucker refers to as executives and knowledge workers.

As a professional musician and holistic music teacher ([...]), I have worked to integrate the creative, intuitive sides of human nature with the organizational, rational aspects, both for myself and my clients.

Like many artists, I was never taught the principals of management and have had to adapt and educate myself along the way. I owe a lot to Peter Drucker for helping me make sense of the nature of effectiveness and management.

Drucker's wisdom transcends culture and industry. Just the acknowledgement that effectiveness is a skill in-and-of-itself, apart from intelligence, talent, charisma, or creativity, is a powerful distinction. His encouragement that it can be (and must be) learned is a relief!

His 5 basic practices for effective executives are invaluable insights. Here they are, paraphrased:

1) Be aware of and manage your time
2) Focus on results, not efforts
3) Play to and develop strengths, not weaknesses (yours and others')
4) Concentrate and align your actions and your purpose
5) Learn to make good decisions

The examples in the book are a bit old-school, but the principles still hold true. Thank you, Peter, for putting into words what so many of us were never taught at home or in school!

In the spring of 1980, I spent a full day with Peter Drucker.
He then made a full-day presentation at the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles. I made sure to arrive early
so I could sit front row, center. I spent a stimulating day
listening and watching as "the master" spoke on the subject of
managerial effectiveness.

Drucker, a true renaissance man, supported his points with
examples from the worlds of business, government, sports, music
and war.

In "The Effective Executive," Drucker likewise draws on his broad
knowledge. He writes that, to be effective, an executive (whom he
defines as any knowledge worker responsible for making decisions) must master five specific skills...

-- Managing time
-- Choosing what to contribute
-- Mobilizing strength
-- Setting the right priorities
-- Making the right decisions

About managing time, Drucker offers that the effective executive
eliminates time-wasting activities and consolidates time spent on
important projects.

On choosing what to contribute to the organization, he tells that
the effective executive asks "What can I contribute to
significantly affect the performance and results of this
organization"? And he stays focused on results rather than on
efforts.

Regarding the subject of mobilizing strength, Drucker councils
executives to hire and manage people with an emphasis on their
strengths rather than concern about their weaknesses. And
he advises executives to discover and mobilize their own
individual working style.

About setting the right priorities, he offers two important
thoughts. First, "It is more important to convert an opportunity
into results than to solve a problem -- which only restores the
equilibrium of yesterday." And second, "Concentration -- that is,
the courage to impose on time and events his own decision as to
what really matters and comes first -- is the executive's only
hope of becoming the master of time and events instead of their
whipping boy."

On making decisions, he advises stimulating disagreement among the
management team. For disagreement brings consideration of alternatives, in turn, brings understanding. He also reminds us that a decision isn't complete until it becomes a detailed work assignment. Until then, it is merely a good intention.

As with each of Drucker's books, "The Effective Executive" is
loaded with quotable "Druckerisms." For example...

-- "The truly important events on the outside are not the trends.
They are changes in the trends."

-- "He [the effective executive] always assumes that the event
that clamors for his attention is in reality a symptom. He looks
for the true problem. He is not content with doctoring the
symptom alone."

-- "One of the most obvious facts of social and political life is
the longevity of the temporary."

Upon finishing writing my own book, "Strategic Thinking: A Four
Piece Puzzle," I wrote to Peter Drucker asking if he'd write an
endorsement for the book. Sure, I knew it was a long shot, but
what could I lose except a postage stamp?

Sure enough, he turned me down. He mailed back my letter on
which he had scrawled four words, "I don't do that."

I've kept that letter. For two reasons... Not only is it the shortest rejection letter I've ever received, but, more importantly, it's a personal note from the master himself -- Peter Drucker.

I have read everything Drucker has published. This one is as good as all the others.

Peter Drucker wrote this book back in 1966 and it is as pertinent today as it was then. It concentrates on a small number of practices to help executives manage themselves - a precursor to managing others. Drucker makes the point that, "No one is born an effective executive. No one is a natural... It must be learned...In addition, it is not exceedingly difficult." That's welcome news for all of us. We simply need to follow the practices outlined in this book.

The book is meant for a wide audience as Drucker's definition of the executive is broad - "Anyone that is responsible for a contribution that materially affects the capacity of the organization to perform and to obtain results."

The first step on the journey is to "know thy time." Too many managers have no idea where they spend there time. Drucker recommends managers start by recording their time to discover where it is being spent. Once identified, they need to stop wasting time on things that are not important and then work to consolidate freed time into chunks. Significant blocks of time of 2 hours or so are needed to complete important things.

Next executives must ask of themselves, "What can I contribute that will significantly affect the performance and results of the organization." This helps the manager look outward and to identify and prioritize those tasks that are most important to complete.

Then the managers should do the first things first and do them one at a time. "The secret of those people who do so many things and apparently so many difficult things is that they do only one thing at a time. As a result, they need much less time in the end than the rest of us."

Finally, Drucker outlines how to make effective decisions. He craftily breaks down the elements of the decision process and explains how managers can improve in this discipline.

The book is filled with examples and supporting information. Drucker writes in a refreshingly honest and straightforward style. Many refer to this book as a classic. It is worthy of the designation. So much of what is written today is borrowed from Drucker. Managers can not go wrong adding this one to their arsenal of tools.

-- Nick McCormick - Author, Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Successful Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager

For those that love real rural blues this must be one of the best insights into the lives and music of the last of the old time juke joint musicians. It has all the drive and raw power that most of us white kids seldom get a chance to experience even when we were lucky enough to see some of these guys on tour. Go and buy this one and see a little of the life of these great characters and experience some their great driving electric blues.

This is a wonderful DVD. The highlights for me were seeing
R. L. Burnside at his home and getting to see Roosevelt Barnes
perform Heart Broken Man. Sadly both of these great performers are no
longer around.

this is the the best concised book on the blues. few books provide so much insight in so few words

this is a serious history of the blues treating the blues with the same respect & seriousness given jazz, classical and other forms. it is a wonderful book combining interviews with blues legends like muddy waters and howling wolf with in-depth musical and cultural analysis.

for serious blues lovers or the novice looking for a deeper understanding of the music's roots, the culture that spawned and the incredible musicians who created it.

Hi,my name is Steve Kaplan.I play the keytar behind Big Jack Johnson in the movie DEEP BLUES.I just released a cd called "BITTER LEMON REVIVAL".If you liked the movie call 901-355 7210 and order my cd for 12$ plus shipping and handling tot 13.95$ Order today!!! They could pull this ad anytime! Sincerely
Lemon Bitter Kaplan

This is a very nice book, thanks to J.Carroll. I liked it too much and I ill refer it to my friends and professors..
I learned more about Mr.Gulen.

This book provides a wide angle for the problems of today and offers solution methods for those. Once again we understand how much we need the dialogue today more than ever, and how Mr. Gulen achieves to maintain the bridge between the East and West.

Having recently read Dr. B. Jill Carroll's "A Dialogue of Civilizations" ordered through Amazon, I felt compelled to you my appreciation for making available this most interesting and thought provoking work. Dr. Carroll has been able to summerize the essence of thoughts from the works of the contemporary Islamic writer Fethullah Gulen and contextually interact these with ideas posed by philosophers from ancient periods to the Twentieth Century. With each she selects a theme or central issue common to all - "Freedom," "Humanism," "Morality," "Education" and "Responsibility." She is able to find resonance and agreements between all which further supports the concept of promoting dialogue as a means of philosophical resolution.

Especially since "9/11" there has been a growing and pervasive distrust by the American public of anyone and anything Middle Eastern and Islamic. We need to learn more about the beliefs and faith of the majority of peaceful Muslims who live within our country and throughout the world. I believe we will find common dialogue if we make the effort.

As a computer guy, I should confess that I do not read a lot, unfortunately.
However, Writer Carroll's writing style has helped me a lot read this book. In order to understand the meaning of the phrase "dialogue among civilizations", we need to understand if human value, moral dignity, freedom, human ideal, education, and responsibility mean similar importance and have similar definitions for different civilizations and for the thinkers who influence formation of those civilizations. Thank you Jill Carrol for putting all these themes and references together in one book and comparing them in an organized and simple way for people, like me, who do not read 14 books in one month but barely read one book .

It is good to know Islam has scholars like Fethullah Gulen. This study is unique in the sense that Jill Carrol compares him with thinkers that have completely different backgrounds. She shows that they have important common points and using these common points a dialogue can be built enriching love and tolerance. I enjoyed a lot reading the book.

Great Place to eat. The book is great. Very well written.
Eat there alot. Great atmosphere. The BEST BBQ . Great family place.

I wasn't aware that this bar and grill even existed. While In Syracuse NY we stopped and had lunch. WOW!!!! It was awesome..... Esp liked the sweet potatoe pie. If you buy it for just the recipe (pie) you'll love it.Would recommend this book!!

Drunkin Shameless Shrimp, Sausage Bread, Mac N Cheese Sheperds pie....
Our dear friends cook from this book all the time. Book is user friendly and creative. Found the above mentioned are just a few that are now, staples in our lives....Yum! Thanks L & L!

As a recent graduate of Syracuse University, the one thing I'll miss most about the 'Cuse is the Dinosaur. They don't take reservations and they barely let you finish your meal before handing you the check and wisking you off, but that's some cookin I'll never find down south.
This cookbook allows me to have my bbq without a $300 plane ticket. And that's not too bad.
Love the sauce too. I should buy in bulk!

My husband and I used to go to Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse when I was in graduate school there. It's one of the only things I miss about Syracuse. We were given a copy of the cookbook as a wedding gift, and have made many recipes from it; all of them have been wickedly tasty, and there is not a single one I would not make again. Our particular favorites are the mojito marinade, the cornbread, the tomato soup, the spicy drunken shrimp, and my husband is a big fan of the ribs. We have made the ribs for friends and family and the recipe is now being circulated throughout the Pacific Northwest, quite happily (even by my mother-in-law to random people in [...]). We have bought four copies of the cookbook now to give as gifts. This is a great addition to your cookbook collection.

From beginning to end this amazing story of unwavering love and faith speaks to anyone who has ever held a dream in their heart. The Fullers are truly fascinating and inspiring people. It was vicious what the Board did to them when they were ousted out of their own agency, but they simply rose from the ashes. As would be expected of these two. Thank you for telling the story, it is well worth the read.

A great read for anyone looking for guidance in the area of what to do with their lives that truly matters. The story of Millard and Linda Fuller and their journey that ultimately built Habitat for Humanity is a story worth telling anyone you can find. This is not just a "feel good" story but one that also points out that doing something good with our lives is not always easy. I appreciated most the willingness of the Fullers to share what really went on without any sugarcoating.

Faith in action is what this book is all about.

What a profound love Millard and Linda Fuller have for each other and for their neighbors, here and around the world. The Fullers gave up wealth and a lifestyle envied by many to save their marriage and move in a new direction outward to help others. The Fullers have a ministry that no one, not even corporate America, can take away. One man and one woman can, and did, make a difference. If this book doesn't motivate you to do something for someone else, read it again.

Whether you know Millard & Linda Fuller or not, just read the first few pages of the book, I bet it will engage you to read more... Bettie Youngs has done a excellent job in bringing to life the true and inspiring story of the Fullers.
Sam

The House that Love Built is truly a gift. Ms. Youngs follows the story of the Fullers and their founding of Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center with care and dignity in a way that makes you want to keep reading long after you finish the last line. It's not only a book that tells, it is a book that teaches us how faith, love, and trust are really what turns this world around--not money, property, and investments. In what is sadly becoming a "what's mine is mine" world, the Fullers shine like a rare jewel, showing us what the world could be with a little hard work and a lot more kindness and warmth among humankind: "what's ours is everyone's."

Although I think it may be a bit advanced for my 9 yr. old, I'm still glad I purchased this book for my most recent book club choice. A gentle book that flows easily, and the characters change for the better in wonderful ways. The one thing that bugged me was Mrs. Shaw and her smelling salts. It almost seemed to me that Polly Milton was the better 'mother' to the Shaw family. All in all, this is truly a memorable classic.

This book started off a bit slow, but if you read more than a page or two at a time, I think you will like it. This story is about a girl from the country who goes to visit her cousins in New York. Polly's cousin, Fanny, and her friends find Polly "coutrified" and "old fashioned". Everyone falls in love with her because of her quiet manner along with the fact that she dresses and acts her age. Although their are multiple hardships along the way, you couldn't have wanted the book to end any other way. I recomend that you don't read the book until you are at least 11 or 12 because some of the wording is odd because it was writtedn so long ago. Happy Reading!

Alas. In my opinion, both "An Old-Fashioned Girl" and "Eight Cousins" audio versions would benefit by having a much younger narrator. Despite her long and illustrious career in audio, Flo Gibson is now too old to bring these novels to life. They are books about young girls, and they are obviously being read by a grandmother. Rather than illustrating the timeless quality of these fine books, an elderly reader makes the books simply sound old and out-of-date. What were the publishers thinking?---CaroJ11

An Old Fashioned Girl begins with a teenage girl, Polly who visits her cousins in the city. There, she realises that they are exactly the opposite of the old fashioned girl that she is, and this causes some distress on both sides. Being a modern woman, I expected that this book would be a wonderful read but the initial chapters where Polly was a teenager were hard to take in. Alcott created what she felt to be the "perfect" teenage model in Polly, but I found myself wishing that this "perfect teenage model" would loosen up a bit and do something for herself instead of serving everybody else, which was the "proper thing to do." Ironically, Alcott herself wrote in the book "excessive virtue doesn't last long ...except with little prigs in the goody storybooks." She should have taken herself more seriously because her main character came very close to becoming exactly that! Compared to other classics like Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden and The Railway Children, the teenagers in the book were very unrealistic, I dare say even for that time. Alcott wrote too much of what she wanted children or teenagers to be, opposed what they actually were, which can get exasperating. However, that is less than half the book, which follows into young adulthood. In here the characters become more realistic, and Polly begins to be truly affected by her poverty and to long to be different. To avoid spoilers, it morphed from an exasperating read into a very good read. Overall, the valuable lessons in the book make it good addition to any collection, especially for children.

Do you ever feel like you are tied up in our times? Worrying too much about cell phones, fashions, and the latest whatevers? This book can set you straight. It gives you a peace of mind and fills you with simple pleasures.

The stories main character, Polly, we meet at the age of 14. She has come to stay with rich friends for a while. THey do everything so differently from she. The family has two daughters. One that is two years older than Polly called Fan, who cares for fashion, balls, and beaus. The author daughter is six and she is fixed onoo having her own way about everything. THe young man in the family Tom is a trouble maker, who no matter how hard he tries can't seem to stay out of trouble very long.

Polly is a gentle, kind, loving, caring, selfless, practical, and sensible girl. SHe becomes a great service to this family, touching each of them in a special way. She moves in the same town six years later and gives piano lessons. The family needs her more than ever and she helps them all in the end. This book has heart, romance, and realness to it that we can all relate to, rich or poor, young or old. It will make you feel warm fuzzies. Read on a rainy day underneath a flanel blanket!

I just reread this book, about ten years after my first reading. It definitely lives up to its subtitle. Most impressive is the placing of the battle in its full context militarily and socially. Can't recommend too highly for a readable but detailed history.

All but one of the other reviewers has given this book a four or five star rating. There is a reason. This is an exceptionally well-written book that covers a broad range of topics. Most military historians pick one type of warfare--ground, naval, or air combat--and focus on that area, even if they look at a number of different wars. Guadalcanal does not lend itself to such a focus. It was an air, land, and sea battle with each part influencing another. It was also an extremely important campaign. The one sided outcome of the World War II in the Pacific has blinded us to the fact that it was possible that the Japanese could have won this war had things gone a little differently. Guadalcanal was a tough series of battles in which the Japanese scored a number of victories.

Frank provides a subtle and nuanced account of this conflict, giving equal attention to the American and Japanese sides. He also avoids painting his pictures in black and white. Some wrong decisions did not necessarily seem like bad ideas when they were made and a number of leaders that faltered in the battle had legitimate reasons for their decision making process. The result, is a rich story that fully develops the human side of these engagements. Frank also explains what life was like for those down at the operational and tactical levels, discussing things that might easily escape the notice of other writers like the amount and type of food that people were getting and how this affected their morale and performance.

At the same time, it is a rousing read. The coverage of the naval battles is particularly engaging. The maps are quite clear and easy to follow. In short, this book is very, very, very good.

I concur with all the highest praises for this book but for two irksome faults. One, there is no decent overall map of Guadalcanal island. The whole island is only pictured on a 4" wide map covering Japan to California where it's a dot with a name, and on another map of the Solomons where Guadalcanal is only 3/8" across (obviously without any sites or beaches indicated). All the other maps are tight zoom-in's and often without any scale. On the plus side the author tracks troop movements meticulously, but you'd best have along side a war atlas or expert memory and visualization skills.

The second disappointment is more minor, and not all will think it a drawback - the author's painstaking detail on...everything. I, too, love detail, but with one or more excellent maps the author could've saved a fifty pages of "ninety-five yards north, then angled seventy yards northwest, then backtracked to the southwest one hundred fifty-seven yards until...". A GOOD map is worth a thousand directions.

Last word: still get this book, it is a remarkable work.

I have been a serious student of WWII military history for a few decades now. Even though I spent years in the US Navy, I have, until lately, concentrated on the war in Europe, the North Atlantic, Russia and North Africa. I have read Jones and Mailer and their South Pacific war novels and am passing familiar with Pearl Harbor. After reading "Shattered Sword" (Five+ stars from me)which brings modern history and recent fact to the still-misunderstood Battle of Midway, I was led deeper into the war in the South Pacific. After both of Lundstrom's "First Team" books recounting the Naval and Marine air war from Pearl through Guadalcanal, I turned to Frank's book for an overall history of this campaign.
This is a thoroughly well-researched book, well written and comprehensive. If you are at all interested in this most crucial of the battles in the Pacific, and, in fact, the one that turned the war against Japan.

Buy it. Read it.

WOW! An extremely well researched account of the battle of Guadalcanal that allowed me to grasp the events on land, and in particular the tragically catastrophic and sometimes confusing Naval engagements in this campaign.

I thoroughly recommend this account, which is written to allow for a chronological understanding of each significant battle. In particular the Naval engagements around Savo Island are dealt with in a mastery fashion with Cape Esperance, Santa Cruz and Guadalcanal battles brought to life in a fascinating descriptive. Rear Admiral Tanaka and other Japanese Naval commanders are given their dues and from a US perspective although victory ensued, it is illuminating to view the tactics and skill, or relative lack thereof, of the US Navy early in WW2. The author brings to life the tragic consequences of being ill prepared.

What's particularly impressive about this writer is that the Japanese perspective and is highlighted bring a rounded view of the campaign. This is more factual and perhaps could be considered 'dry' next to Sledge, Tregaskis & Bergerud yet I consider this to be the definitive Naval account of the decisive campaign. Those interested in the timeline of events around the historical battles around Guadalcanal in WW2 will not be disappointed.

I found it hard to read much of what Cliff Acree wrote, because he tells us how badly he was treated while he was in captivity. He was tortured; badly beaten, denied food and in so many ways humiliated and ill-treated. Still, he never lost his faith and dignity.

Since Cliff Acree was a higher ranking officer, it was obvious that he was better informed than his fellow prisoners of war. When he refused to share any of this information with his captors, it made Saddam Hussein's men treat him harsher than many others.

Col.Cliff Acree decided he had to lie to Saddam Hussein's men, and that may be a reason he is still alive. If he had kept on refusing to speak, the ill-treatment may even have been worse. Another reason he is alive is: When Saddam Hussein used the captured pilots, as well as members of the SAS and a CBS TV crew as human shields, only two instead of five bombers attacked the building they were kept in. The bombers didn't bomb the part where the cells were sited.

One of the comments in the book also made me think of Captain Scott Speicher, since he is the American air man that Saddam Hussein most likely kept.

Addressing the memoir "The Gulf Between Us" by Cynthia and Cliff Acree is a bit difficult. It came out around 1998, and thus a completely different era than our current misadventure(aka quagmire) in Iraq. Since I am a moderate Democrat, I kind of have a bitter taste in my mouth when I think of the Bushes. However "Gulf" is really the story of the Acrees, and thus I do recommend this because these two are great people. Col. Acree is a hero because he withstood torture and would not reveal critical intelligence to the Iraqis during the first Gulf War. His wife is also a hero because despite her own pain, she fought to get better recognition of POWs and their families. The stuff that Col. Acree had to go through is heartwretching, and it is a miracle in itself that he lived to tell us. For that, I salute him. The book also makes a good move in mostly avoiding political matters(both parties seem to be portrayed well), but Acree should not have kept mentioning how he wouldn't even give in to the demand that "he call [President George H.W] Bush a donkey". Well Bush 43 is certainly worse than that for treating de facto POWs in Gitmo the way he has, but again Acree couldn't have forseen that, so he gets a pass. Recommended reading. Should be read by any who believe torture is a good way to get intelligence(Acree never gave up anything that was good) and by those who believe in the Geneva Conventions, and of course by those who want to admire true American heroes: our soldiers.

I have read many POW stories since WWII and this is one of the best. The perspective is a little different as the wife talks a chapter about what is going on at home and then Col. Acree talks about his ordeal while a prisoner of war in Iraq during Desert Storm. The internal fortitude and resolve of Co. Acree is astounding and what he went through is heart rending. At the same time his wife did much in creating a force of help and an attitude of compassion among the entire citizenry of the U.S.A. You will rally 'round the flag after reading this and appreciate the downfall of Hussein!

I truly believe that there are never any random accidents of fate at work in our lives--everything happens to us for a reason, even if we do not understand why! Reading the inspiring memoir "The Gulf Between Us: A Story of love and Survival in Desert Storm" you cannot help but believe that prayers are truly answered; and that there must be a divine purpose to our lives even if it is not understood at the time of the events. One thing is evident; this book is about the power of faith and love.

The Husband and wife writing team of Cynthia and Col. Cliff Acree have written a duel storyline that is more than just about war--it is a love story. They chronicle the compelling emotions and the events surrounding the Colonel's capture and his time spent as a POW during Desert Strom. It is a triumphant tale of courage from both Cliff and Cynthia as they endure, survive, suffer and embrace once again. They both have this underlining strength and faith that comes through very loud and clear.

No matter what you have read about the experiences of the POWS in Desert Storm there was much more to that story that was left untold --or incorrectly reported. Some of them were subjected to brutal beatings and life threatening treatment. Colonel Acree was subjected to a harsher treatment than others for various reasons, including his strong loyalty and patriotism and the fact that he was a Marine pilot and company commander. He would not give an inch or compromise on his core values and for those reasons he had to endure the brute force of his Iraqi capturers. Truly an American hero!

Equally courageous and inspiring is the corresponding story of Cynthia's experiences, as she has to face all the uncertainties of the situation. Working from a base of great faith and personal strength she takes positive actions and organizes a movement to get world attention focused on the fate of all the POWS and MIAS. Her personal and emotional journey did not come without its own form of pain.

We learn a lot about who the authors were and how they met and became high school friends. The background story gives us a look inside their relationship and what kind of people they were prior to the life changing experiences of the war. I think this adds greatly to the power of their story. These two individual souls seemed destined to become spiritually connected in the very fabric of their lives. This book is more than a war story it is about their own personal spiritual journey. It is a story that will inspire many others and perhaps change a few lives along the way. And maybe, that was one of the divine purposes that the universe had in mind for all that they went through. I know that I was touched by their story on many levels. I am a better person for having read their book.

It is a well-written, easy to follow story. The authors share a huge part of themselves with the reader and that honesty comes through and makes you feel good about them as people. The MWSA gives this book its highest book rating of FIVE STARS. I also add my personal endorsement and recommendations that you buy and read this book.

When I first bought this book, I thought it would be something I MIGHT pick up and read...if I didn't have something better to do. Being a new Marine spouse in a post-9/11 world, the story was, at least, an intriguing one, and any new information I could get was a bonus. I had NO idea what was in store.

This is a story of patriotism, of survival, of fear, of strength, of new and old friendships, of new and old adversaries. A story of triumph and most of all an enduring love; Cindy and Cliff's story is one that will touch anyone.

It is written in perfect format as Cindy chronicles her daily life in unison with what happened to Cliff thousands of miles away in captivity. It demonstrates how even in the most grim of circumstances, the spirit perseveres and is, indeed, made stronger. From a military point of view, their amazing story can also serve as a reference for families on how to handle difficult situations, when their loved ones' lives could be at risk. It certainly has for me.

I am a better person for having read this book. I am better Marine spouse after reading this book. It truly is one of the best investments I have ever made. It demonstrates, beyond a doubt, the Honor, Pride and Commitment that signifies the Marine Corps, and all our servicemen and women. I appreciate the Acrees sharing their story with the world.

I'm not kidding... I did. The juggling balls are a perfect fit to anyone's hand. I bought the kit because I needed to learn how to juggle for a class, and I got an A! Pretty good for a first timer! Besides, it's a great exercise for your arms.. try it for a couple of hours and you'll see the effects!

I bought this book after seeing a few friends juggling and finding the book on sale at my local Borders store. I didn't think it would take me long to get the hang of throwing and catching three beanbags and now, almost 6 months after buying the book, I am quite proficient with a 3 ball cascade, making a few catches with a 4 ball fountain, and I've been bought juggling clubs!

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to get into juggling, for fun or sport, it's simple to use and fun to follow along with. The only thing I do not like is that the book's format makes you wish it was spiral bound or bound in a way it can easily be laid flat.

This person is a great dealer with fast prompt service. Would buy from again.

I loved the hole pack. I was trying to find a cheap set of juggling balls to to start learning, when I saw this pack i didn't notice that the beanbags weren't balls but cubes and I was a bit worried at first. Anyway they are great, well balanced, with the right weight, and the unusual format is perfect to beginners, since you will drop them a lot they won't roll away from you like the rounds' ones.

Within an hour of getting this book, I was able to juggle ( though not skillfully at all)three balls. Granted, I've had a little bit of prior juggling experience from years and years ago, so I wasn't totally unfamiliar with the motions. The instructions were very clear and so were the illustrations after I used a hi-liter to keep track of the otherwise black and white balls.

I thought this book was very informative,and yet unusual. He reverses your brain by opening our minds to the the brain-washing we were programmed from many years ago.I thought this book is quite incredible. I would recommed this book and Allan Carrs book on How to Quit Drinking as well to anyone who is considering quitting.It's a MUST HAVE!He is an inspiration and genius!

I don't usually write reviews but all the positive reviews about this book helped me make the decision to purchase it and gave me hope. So I hope this helps you.
I ordered this book out of curiosity and was very skeptic about the outcome. It took me over a month to finish it and I doubted myself the whole time. Yet after I finished reading, I put out the last cigarette and felt immediate relief. The first couple of days were a little strange, because I used to plan my whole day around smoking, but it turned out OK.I have more energy, feel better and even endure the company of smokers easily, without being tempted. This book is about putting your thinking in a different perspective, adopting a non-smoker's frame of mind.
Try it even if you're skeptic about it. You have nothing to loose and so much to gain!
I am getting it as a Christmas gift for all my smoking friends.

This book is magic. It really really works. Not scary stuff, just makes you face the facts of why on earth do you smoke. I don't anymore!!!

My sister stop smoking with this book after many years of trying and given this book to all my friends and family to stop smoking.
Is worth every penny!
Probably the best thing you can do for you !

...and I am still free from cigarette smoking.

The writing style took a little getting used to, but I allowed myself to believe what it is saying, and I found that I was freed from my previously-held beliefs about smoking. "Cured" sounds far-fetched, but that's how I feel now. I smoked for 16 years, and of the many times I attempted to quit, this was the only successful method.

Try it, even if you don't feel ready to. After all, you can keep smoking while you read the book (indeed, the book instructs you to do so).