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Wonderful Ways to Love a Child
I wish I had this book when my children were growing up. I bought this for my daughter when she had her first daughter. It is a great reference manual with good suggestions for any parent on ways to guide your child as he or she grows up to be a well-balance, loving, child, - adult, and at the same time develop a close relationship with them.

Can you combine love and wisdom and deep insight while writing in a simple, inspiring style? Judy Ford has written "Wonderful Ways to Love a Child" in such a direct way that you feel warmed by her words at the same time you are inspired by them. I am so grateful that this book was written.

Jay Schlechter, PhD Author of Intimate Friends: An Antidote to Loneliness.

Many years ago when my children were in pre-school I bought your book.
When the kids were toddlers and I was tired and feeling swamped and

cranky, it helped remind me what was important and what was not. My
kids are in 8th, 6th and 4th grade now and life is busy and fun. I
pulled your book off of the shelf to find a quote for a friend and found
myself re-reading many of the stories. Your book centers me and sort of
re-sets my attitude toward parenting. Your stories are concise and
insightful; I appreciate your sense of family and fun. Just wanted to
say thanks for the times when your book has helped me.

Ms Ford. will stress the same point over and over again from very different angles. If you want your raise your kid as a responsible, caring, inquiring, loving and lovable adult, you shall not use fear, cohersion and guilt as the tools of your education. Chances are that you will fail in a big way.

Rembember that children are independt beings who need your support and guidance, not your control. Be open to what they came to teach you and both will benefit in ways which no words can precisely define, since they will take you to the world of the spirit.

The author makes sure that every parent who reads this book mustr a clear understanding that feeling love is not enough you MUST express it.

I wish I had read this 'gift' book before I spent so much money on all the other parenting books that I have bought. These little stories/anecdotes/lessons are very helpful reminders in aiding me to be a mindful, caring parent in this world full of distractions. I have just purchased this for all my mommy friends as a Mother's Day gift. I plan to keep this on my bedside table to read a new chapter everynight to remind me to provide loving, attentive companionship to my daughter. The stories are short and well written - even my husband with his very short attention span finds them wonderful.

In 1904 a little book was written called As a Man Thinketh. This book is a rewriting of that classic by the grandson of the original author. It is not just a self-help book, a self-empowerment, but a truth that will grip your heart. Each of us has tracks that we play in our minds, things spoken over us in our youth, by parents, teachers, coaches and friends. We have believed these things and lived by them. This book reminds us that what we believe in our minds and hearts will live out in our flesh. It will help us understand that all we achieve or fail to achieve is first a perception in our minds.

This is a recently published version of the classic volume "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. It has been skillfully edited and de-genderized by publisher/author Marc Allen in order to serve as an inspiration for both men and women in our modern times. Throughout the last century, countless individuals have been moved and inspired by this easy to read little primer on the secret of successful living.

The premise of this book is the spiritual wisdom from the Book of Proverbs:
"As you think in your heart, so you are."

In the course of the volume, James Allen clearly describes how clarity of mind, linked with good intentions, can transform our experience of life and release the creative spirit within us all. The ultimate outcome of embracing the simple philosophy of this book is: Serenity.

In this edition of "As a Man Thinketh," Marc Allen (no relation to author James Allen), neuters the male overtones by replacing all references to "man" (which I always interpreted as "humanity," not a male or female) with the more sensitive third person and he/she variations. Somehow the statement "as a man thinketh, so is he," does not translate well to "as a person thinketh, so is she or he."

Marc Allen points out that in the Buddhist tradition, a book opens with a poem. If the reader can understand the poem, he or she has grasped the meaning of the book, and need not read the entire book. Here is James Allen's opening poem:

Mind is the master power that molds and makes,
And we are mind, and evermore we take
the tool of thought,and shaping what we will,
Bring forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills.
We think in secret,and it comes to pass--
Our world is but our looking glass.

Thoreau said something similar in a shorter version where he alludes to how the mind of man can create a heaven or hell for itself.

Audio books are excellent reading options or gifts for persons with little time to read or who's sight is challenged or who spend significant time commuting. This audio version is very well read and is of excellent recorded quality. BEWARE that there are some horrifically cruddy readings / very poor audio versions of this book being sold on Ebay and other online places, but this particular audio version from Amazon is excellent in every way. I listen to this tape frequently and something always stands out as very pertinent, almost as if new, every time I listen.

What a fantastic helpful simple book - really helps you wade through the jargon of typical self help books and get away from marketing it is the instruction book on the mind...

easy to read and excellent to keep and read over and over..

I only had the privilege of reading the excerpt and it left me wanting more! So now my only hope is to be able to get my hands on the rest of the book so that I can continue this enjoyment. The style of this writer grabbed me within the first few paragraphs. I am already intrigued by the characters and am curious to find out how they develop and what unfolds. Kudos!

Great timing for a novel of this type. Solid characters and love the human touch. A lot packed into just a few chapters. Feel this could be a real page turner and would look forward to reading the entire book.

I had the delight and the honor to read the entire manuscript and frankly I could not put it down. At times,in the reading, I became surprised and also filled with apprehension. In other areas throughout the script I became a cheerleader...and a vocal one.
In my retired years,when my mind isn't filled with workplace stress and "the daily grind" I found this draft to have been most relaxing only adding to my easy years. Thanks to Mr. O'Donnell for the entertainment. Good Luck.

Michael

A true page-turner. I wanted to read more, but only had the excerpt. I would love to read this entire book. In the year 2019, can our democracy survive despite the politics in place? Can't wait to read what happens next, and to find out what happens to the richly described characters only briefly introduced here. Suspenseful, thoughtful, and well-written.

Benevolent Dictator by James O'Donnell.--With technology that will certainly capture the imagination of the Gen-X reader and steam-rolling politicos that older, more cynical types will recognize--this book has the earmarks of a page-turning read. The story captures your attention early on and keeps you riveted to the pages through thrust and counter-thrust of characters and plot. It's a great escape while it lasts and yet it poses some thought-provoking questions when it ends. I can think of all kinds of friends who wouldn't be able to put this one down.

My 6-year-old daughter loves this book. Like Cowboy, she also doesn't quite "get" knock-knock jokes but thinks that lettuce knocking on a door is funny.

Reviewed by Grace Schaefer (age 7) for Reader Views (8/08)

In "Cowboy & Octopus," the main characters of the book are Cowboy and Octopus. This is the story of how they met and became friends. Even though they don't get along very well, they know it is important to have a friend.

There are 7 chapters in "Cowboy & Octopus" which makes for easy reading for early readers aged 6 to 8-years-old. The recycled pictures are my favorite part. They are funny and weird to look at.

One of the other parts of the book that I really like is the chapter called `Very Scary.' The Octopus makes a great tooth fairy and Cowboy thinks Octopus is very scary. I also like the knock-knock joke but Cowboy doesn't understand it.

Overall I did like "Cowboy & Octopus" because of the silly stories and interesting pictures. I don't like the `dang' part. It is inappropriate. I recommend leaving that word out of the book.

We took it out from the library and, like a previous poster, will be purchasing it soon.

If I had to sum up this book in one word, that word would almost certainly have to be "quirky". Not a word I like, but an excellent description of this book :)

The book is a series of very short stories about two paper cut-outs, a cowboy and an octopus. (Boy, you weren't expecting that, were you?) Mostly, the vignettes are just pure silliness, but there's an element of "What does it mean to be a friend" in many of them as well.

Most of the jokes aren't going to take an adult by surprise (or, for that matter, a lot of little kids), but they set-up and illustrations still combine to make them really, inexplicably funny.

I fully recommend this book to anybody who has a five year old, will have a five year old, once had a five year old, or has ever come within 1000 feet of a five year old.

There are so many books at the library, that many times, I just grab books for my sons based on the covers. I am so glad I did this with this book. I love the art and the concept - cut-outs and paper art. You can even see the "sticky tape" on the front cover. The pages are rich and the colors are gorgeous. This is definitely a great book for a gift.
The book is divided into very short stories. The stories are hilarious - my 3 and 5 yo sons made me read it 3 times the first time. My 5 yo got the joke in "Help" when I didn't! Like other reviewers, I intend to buy Cowboy and Octopus for our collection.

I love Jon Scieszka's books--we have most of them on my kids' book shelf--but this one is by far my favorite. I think it is the perfect mixture of simplicity, good underlying messeges about friendship, and humor that an adult can appreciate. My daughter loves it too. Lane Smith's illustrations are also fun and unique. Good job, Jon and Lane! Keep them coming!

I tend to side with free market economists on many issues, but I am always open to convincing arguments against that thinking. For me, Bernstein almost gets there. I agree that power is a major issue in many of the decisions that are made regarding economic policy, I just don't know if things play out as nefariously as Bernstein suggests. His approach also is a little too glib, which makes it a bit of a turn-off and a distraction from his fact-based arguments. For example, don't just repeat your claim that certain businesses are "addicted" to low-wage employees - show something empirical. Some of the Mexican workers in New York City's service industries may find this addiction beneficient.

Bernstein does have some serious and strong claims. For example, that growth is not benefitting people equally but rather mostly those at the top, leaving the vast middle class trailing, is a major problem. Also, the fact that the middle-class is hit hard by higher than overall inflationary increases in areas like housing and higher education, is also a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

I'm just not so sure that his solutions are the most workable. Where, ultimately, does sustained job creation come from? Is it from small businesses or from the large invesors whom Bernstein so disdains?

I think that Bernstein poses serious questions but is weak on the answers.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the facts behind the newspaper headlines. Bernstein doesn't bother with dry theories. He delves right into explanations. The book is worth reading just to debunk some widely believed myths, such as Social Security going bust and benefits of lobbying against technological changes.

Bernsein has made technical information accessible and even humorous. Commenting on a random graph, he writes (p 32): "I kind of see a little doggie running, but that's me."

The key to this book also comes on page 32:
"We're clearly kickin' back, spending money hand over fist, with little regard for what works and for what's cost effective and what's' not."

Although he's writing here about the medical system, this statement also applies to our programs of education, criminal justice, economic development, employment and poverty. Let's face it: societies don't run on scientific or logical principles.

I do have some quibbles about some of Bernstein's specifics and solutions.

To revamp the medical system (I like his term, "Medical Industrial Complex"), Bernstein supports a single payer system like Canada's. I lived in Canada for a few years (although as a certified medico-phobe, I never saw a doctor).

Countries with single payer systems have huge tax rates - higher than 50% at the upper levels. If you're earning $40-45K or more, you may be able to buy a comprehensive policy in the US for less than the additional sums you'd pay in taxes for a single payer system.

Single-payer systems require huge investments of time. I knew someone whose operation kept getting delayed till she got an infection and had to be admitted as an emergency. Others told me they had to return a dozen times for a simple check-up because doctors got paid small amounts for each office visit, whether it took 7 minutes or 70.

Often these systems are supplemented by private care or the overload is handled by paying US providers. I kept hearing about an underground market for health care: for as little as $1000 you could jump the queue.

I would also supplement Bernstein's answer to, "Why are teachers paid a lot less than stock traders?" Value and ability to measure output matter, but so do supply and demand. Desirable jobs pay less. Big companies pay more because they want to choose from a larger applicant pool. Airlines offer very low salaries to flight attendants, but thousands apply.

Of course supply can be controlled artificially, through rigid or even bizarre licensing requirements. Unions also can control supply. Unions tend to be most powerful with employees who feel powerless and/or are just not marketable or in demand. In unionized universities, English professors support unions and finance professors often wish they'd go away. On a micro-level, I would recommend staying marketable, not appealing to unions or waiting for the government to get around to fixing things.

On page 171, Bernstein notes that unions face organized opposition. Folks who have been in unions can be quite cynical too. The combination of dues and a long strike can wipe out financial gains. Union presidents tend to get very close to company presidents, not their own members. Unions make deals and enjoy wide latitude when deciding who they will help and how much, with little real accountability.

Finally, Bernstein addresses the opportunity costs of war. We could make an even stronger case for the opportunity costs of the criminal justice system, which is based on ideology and emotion, not scientific analysis of human behavior.

Overall, though, the book is intended more as a primer than a stimulus to thought or action. For this objective, Crunch is more successful and far more enjoyable than most.

This is a fantastic book. I love the author's no B.S. approach to the economic troubles that face Americans.

He explains why much of today's economic policy is little more than rationalized greed. In particular how the Federal Reserve Board's hiking of interest rates when labor markets get tight is great for the large investor class, (lowers wages by increasing the number of unemployed in a slowed economy), but hammers working people.

I also enjoyed the explanation of the "education myth", how it is naive to think the 70% of the population that does not attend college should somehow do so and all will be well. The author pointed out this is an easy way for the free market apologists to place the blame for gross inequality on "other people"...if only they would do this, or that, they could live worthwhile lives. Right. The devaluing of others labor and the addiction of American business to cheap labor in general is an age old sport.

Mr. Bernstein seems to enjoy poking fun at the free market zealots and economists who think all will be well for everyone through the magic of the market place. As if greed and injustice do not exist. This "Easter Bunny/Santa Claus" economic approach is ripped by the author and I loved every single line. Finally someone from Washington with the guts to tell it like it is.

This was just a great book. Easy to read, and gets to the heart of real issues impacting average Americans. I loved it.

Anyone can get a firm handle on the concept of economics claims "Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed(and Other Unsolved Economic Mysteries)". Speaking in plain terms, cutting away the misleading euphemisms and jargon that the modern media goes on and on with, author Jared Bernstein explains everything one would want to about America's current economic status, and makes it clear that it's all really about choices and that there is no clear cut right answer to make all the problems go away. "Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed(And Other Unsolved Economic Mysteries" is highly recommended to community library economics shelves and for anyone who wants to fully understand economics without a four year college course in the subject.

I've always wondered whether I should believe the pundits who insist on "letting the free market take its course," and about why positive economic indicators don't seem to reflect the way people are really living. It never made sense to me. In Crunch, Jared Bernstein explains that the reason accepted economic wisdom doesn't always make sense is that some of it is just plain wrong.

One of the things I loved about this book is that it explains economic principles--as well as the motives of those who try to misrepresent them for their own purposes--in terms a non-economist can understand. I feel like I got an in on the knowledge that the experts had been hoarding for themselves. One of Bernstein's key arguments is that economics is about power, and in sharing this information he gives power back to those of us without PhDs in Economics.

Another thing I really liked is that this book doesn't stop with what's wrong. The author offers insights about and suggestions for how we can change to work through really big economic problems like health care, social security, and globalization.

I first very much liked this book and wanted it to never end. But then I came upon a few stories of people which grated with me because they depicted the person as much too positive. For example, C. G. Jung is described as nothing as a genius and saint. Unfortunately, his real life was far from saintly. For example, he was very nasty to his wife and tortured her by inviting his mistress for years to every family Sunday lunch.
Another story that is much too positive is that of Joseph Schwarz, the founder of the mormon church. Joseph is described in the most positive way but the fact that he brought untold amount of suffering to thousands of women through introducing polygamy has been left out. Why, I wonder.
Unfortunately, these biased reports made me suspicious of the rest of the stories.

Every story seems better than the last. Just an amazing collection of brief biographies, that make you want to read more about each individual. I'm half-way through the book. I may write to the author of my own stories: My wife had a tumor the size of your thumb disappear from her neck after a prayer circle with a gifted healer. Verified with x-ray and ultrasound that is totally gone. Years before, she woke the moment a distant friend of mine, whom she had never met, passed away 350 miles away. In her dream, he shook her hand and died. I confirmed his passing the next morning. It was at the moment she had woken up.

One of Dan Millman's stories is of a skeptical doctor who went to Lourdes, and witnessed a women on the verge of death from advanced tuberculosis be cured in 30 minutes after having water from the Grotto poured over her. The doctor first describes her near death state, and then the implausible minute by minute improvements in her appearance and condition.

DIVINE INTERVENTIONS lifts the spirits as it soothes the soul... it is the perfect antidote to all manner of news media, which more often than not emphasizes things that seem to be going wrong, usually without much of an explanation as to why things happen or what makes them happen in the first place.

This refreshingly inspirational set of fifty stories, each less than seven pages long, that describe amazing events in the lives of people from all continents, spiritual traditions, and walks of life. What these stories have in common is that each of them illustrates something so extraordinary that it changed someone's life... sometimes in ways that would likely not have been predicted.

I love the way stories are told from all walks of life and all parts of the world... with a sense that there are indeed more things in heaven and Earth than most of us have dreamed. All kinds of amazing miraculous events have been occurring for thousands of years, and it's just delightful to read about some of them in one fascinating volume.

I give this book my highest recommendation to everyone interested in spirituality, miracles, and the divine.

This collection of people and their life transforming experiences is simply excellent! Each chapter, which summarizes the experience of a different individual, is just the right length (not too long, not too short, and very well written).

My favorites here are the very interesting stories of Byron Katie, Valerie Vener, and Peace Pilgrim.

Open to any page; after reading a paragraph you're hooked on the fantastic experience another has had in the out-of-the-ordinary.

Dan Millman and Doug Childers have included 50 stories in 50 short chapters about real experiences that inspire the reader to realize there is more to understand than science currently knows.

These life-changing events happened to people of all ages, including those as young as 8 year old Lucia dos Santos, one of the 3 children of Fatima, Portugal, in 1915.

This 5-star book reinforced my value on virtues, while giving me a boost of energy!

The Georges Bank lies about 120 miles east of Cape Cod. It is no place to be in a small boat; especially when the weather turns bad. Wind-driven waves building from the fetch of the Atlantic collide with the shallows beyond the continental shelf and can build to frightening proportions. And weather in the month of November on the Georges Bank can be extreme. Ordinarily, automated buoy data provide the National Weather Service with information that enables relatively accurate forcasting. But in November 1980 the National Data Center's Georges Bank Buoy, located 170 nM east of Hyannis, MA, was not functioning. It had not been for some time. With inadequate data, the National Weather Service issued a benign forecast. Based on this forecast, four deep sea lobster boats headed for the Georges Bank. They did not expect a killer storm packing 100 knot winds and 50-60 foot seas. One boat pitch-poled; it's lone survivor spent 50 frightening and misearable hours in a rubber raft before rescue. Another boat badly damaged by a rogue wave and leaking badly fought on and eventually limped back to port. Brave men and women of the U.S Coastguard, in spite of fatique and grave danger to themselves, doggedly attempted to rescue the crews of these vessels. Fatal Forecast is a story of survival, duty and triumph of the human spirit. The book is well-written and grabs you from the Prologue and does not let go. In fact, I read this book at a single sitting. I could not put it down. When I got to the end I read the Epilogue and even the author's notes. I did not want it to end.

Spellbinding! An amazing true story of a fishing trip that turned into a disaster. Excellent writing and the author weaves multi-tales of many people caught in this non-forcasted storm. Very readable, the book you can't put down!

Probably my favorite catastrophe book yet! Very well written, making it so hard to put down once you start reading. I got this for Christmas and finished it within 3 days! Tougias not only rendered an awesome account of a real life dramatic fight for survival but also relayed vividly the other events that occurred in the lives of the men and families affected by the disaster at sea. A must read for those who enjoy seeing man triumph over the most trying adventure.

Well written, gripping account of tragedy at sea. Worth reading if you like the "disaster book" genre, but not quite as good as The Perfect Storm.

If you liked "The Perfect Storm," you'll love "Fatal Forecast."

Michael J. Tougias' book is a gripping page-turner about fisherman fighting for their lives amid a severe storm off the New England coast.

Tougias' taut storytelling puts the reader in the middle of the action. Like the best survival stories, you can feel yourself in the characters' place, trying to figure what to do next.

I also like that Tougias includes related stories of fishing boat disasters (and near-disasters).

I do have one small complaint. This book, like many of this type, includes a batch of pictures in the middle. I suppose it's cheaper to print the photos altogether like this rather than insert them at the appropriate place in the story. But in this case, if you look at the pictures (and what reader wouldn't?), some of them give away the ending of the book.

That said, it's still a great story. Allow yourself plenty of time when you pick up "Fatal Forecast" -- it's hard to put down.

Recently, I read Fault Line, by Janet Tashjian. I first picked it up because the author also wrote The Gospel According to Larry and its sequel, Vote for Larry, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and read multiple times. Later, I was intrigued by the subject of the story. Rarely do you read novels, especially young adults', that deal with abusive relationships. I have noticed the signs in several, but none actually call it abuse. It's kind of a touchy subject. But this book deals with it straight out. I really appreciated that.
Becky and Kip are very original main characters that drew me into the story. I liked that they were both aspiring comedians. I was able to laugh at this book even though it has a serious topic.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book was that the story was told from both points of view. It really helped me understand how abusive relationships work and why the girl doesn't just leave. I blamed the girl in the relationship for not leaving before I read this book, but now I see why it's so hard. I also don't perceive the abuser as a heartless jerk any longer. It's more complicated than that. However, that doesn't make what they do right.
I would definitely recommend this book to every girl in eighth grade or above. These are important issues that need to be recognized. Not only should everyone girl read this so that she can recognize these warning signs in her own relationships, but also because this is such a good and interesting book. Read it!

I really like this book in different ways from the way I liked Sarah Dessen's Dreamland. I like the detail better in Dreamland but Faultline was still a very good book.

Becky Martin is a 17-year-old comedienne who believes she has found true love with fellow comedian Kip Costello. As Kip becomes increasingly more possessive and controlling, however, Becky finds herself enmeshed in an abusive relationship she has difficulty giving up. This novel is written with great sensitivity as both sides of the abusive relationship are explored, and all the characters are very believable. Recommended for young men as well as for young women.

Book Response:

The book Fault Line by Janet Tashjain deals with a girl named Becky Martin who is struggling in an abusive relationship while at the same time trying to balance her career as a standup comic. It analyzes the steps of how men can take control so easily. Through this process of controlling and abusive behavior, she comes out as a new person who is stronger, wiser, and majestic.
Starting off, Becky is a very self-conscious girl who relies on the opinions of others to form who she is. For example at the start of her career as a standup comic a simple insult of her performance caused a major breakdown. She thought she was a lost cause and could never have been worthy of any real career in this profession. Also as she gets deeper into her relationship with Kip she feels that she isn't worth anything unless she has a boyfriend. Becky stays in the relationship after repeated physical and emotional abuse because of the peer pressure to have a boyfriend, which comes from her friends. Finally, because of the constant insults from Kip she started to become isolated from her family and friends. After this she only plummeted into a world of insanity and suicidal. She even went as far as keeping dead animals in her bedroom. Of course by the end of the book her skin became thicker. When an insult was made about her performance she took it as constructive criticism instead of a remark dealing with the quality of her character. Also Becky discovers that a woman doesn't need a boyfriend to be accepted by her friends. She even starts giving lectures to other women who were previously in abusive relationship just as she was. Finally because Becky starts to come out of her isolated world of insanity she finally starts interacting with her friends and family once again. This leads to a healthier environment in which she takes more risks in her career as a standup comedian.
Becky Martin not only becomes a stronger individual but also uses her new wisdom to impact the lives of others going through these same circumstances. In a lecture given to women in the same position she says that, "A relationship is a lot like a hot bath. The more you get used to it, the more you realize it's not so hot..." She means that in this instance it can be hard to determine how dangerous the situation is because of how manipulative the man can be and how easily he can get away with treating women violently. Also Becky starts to go after her dreams of college and a career as a comedian. She realizes that in order for things to happen she must do it herself by focusing on her grades and working on her act as a comedian. Finally, Becky becomes more confident with herself and creates a clinic for abused women. Through this she obtains the tools necessary to help others in need.
Because Becky becomes wiser and stronger through the hard times of her relationship with Kip she becomes an icon in the world of jokes and laughter as well as an icon to the people she works with at her battered women's shelter. Her transformation of a simple struggling comedian to a majestic and influential individual shows how extreme her character has changed form the beginning. For example in the beginning of the book she had stage fright and constantly feared rejection from the people she was entertaining. By the end her act onstage was solid and took the rejection as a way to figure out how to improve her performance. She even lands a spot on MTV where she is able to perform some of her material live. Also with the women that she helps through her shelter she is able to give them a voice by making this issue more aware to the public through her fame as a comedian. Finally through her struggles she manages to achieve everything she wanted; acceptance to a good college and a career in the comedian business.
Becky Martin never expected to be so violently transformed from the self-conscious teenager to a famous comedian who advocates the abolition of abusive relationships. She not only changes her resume, but changes a person as well. She does this by becoming stronger, wiser, and more majestic as a person who was once weak, ignorant, and still trying to find her spark in life.

Abuse. You've heard about it a lot, it happens everyday; it may even happen in your own lives. Whether you're the victim or the perpetrator, whether you're a young teen, whose relationship just began, or an older lady who's been in the relationship for years, it happens all the time.

Becky and her family are working on Becky's career in comedy. While performing Becky and Abby, Becky's best friend, meet a new guy who they think is real cool, sweet, and the best comedian ever. Becky and Kip begin a relationship that doesn't go as they dream. Becky finds herself trying to be the perfect girlfriend, trying to do what she thinks is best, but Becky's relationship, may not go like the fairytale she's always dreamed of.

It's all through all the tragic events that Becky figures the dating life out. She realizes that she doesn't have to have a boy to make her comedy career, really something.

Sometimes the most important lessons are learned through a tragedy. Its also been said, that everything happens for a reason. Janet Tashjian gives us a realistic view of relationships; she lets us know that a relationship doesn't always stay the same. The harsh realities of our decisions don't only affect one person, but everyone involved in our lives.

This is a great book. A lot of people will enjoy this reading material. I would recommend this to any teen, but I'd recommend it more to teen girls or even grown women. This book lets us know some of the dangers of abuse and how it can worsen, but it also lets you know that you can get out of the relationship. This is a really great book and anyone could read it and enjoy it.

Wonderful book for understanding well-known people's relationship with God. It is also a good source for figuring out how to develop one's own relationship with a higher power.
The contributors discuss what their childhood religious background was like, how it "evolved" and how it has changed.
The book brought up the question-Does it take a tragedy to bring a person closer to God?- and others to contemplate about "human nature." Meditation,prayer and contemplation are the most often suggested methods for developing a relationship with God.
Our "retreat" will be using this as our basic text. I think that the way it is "organized" can lead to many interesting, spiritual discussions.

Handbook for the Spirit (3rd edition)
Edited by Richard Carlson, PhD, and Benjamin Shield, PhD

Spiritual leaders from every tradition clearly point to a new direction in the human understanding of our relationship to our divine source of being in the Handbook for the Spirit. In today's complex world, the message remains as simple as ever: "The way back to ourselves is to understand, through compassion, that we were never separate." Only through the harmony of our minds and hearts will we ever be able to embrace our differences, which is the key to tolerance. An excellent confirmation of the common ground of all religions.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide Magazine ([...])

I really liked how this book was done. It's a collection of spiritual essays from people as diverse as The Dalai Lama, Wayne Dyer, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Father William McNamara, Thich Nhat Hanh, Mother Teresa and many more.

The purpose of the anthology is to show the common denominator of all religious teachings, which is an individual's personal relationship with God.

I was really moved by the messages from the authors. To give you a feel for the book, here are a few quotes from some of the essays:

--The Dalai Lama: "The essence of all religions is love, compassion, and tolerance. Kindness is my true religion."

--Wayne Dyer: "Gandhi was asked to describe in twenty-five words or less what his life mission was. He said, "I could do it in three: 'Renounce and enjoy." You renounce all worldly attachment to everything and enjoy what God gives you."

--Rev. Michael Beckwith: "We don't really have a personal life apart from God."

--A.H. Almaas: "To truly find God, truth needs to be found independently from the opinions of others. The truth has to be found in our hearts."

--Barbara Marx Hubbard: "The way to becoming a cocreator is, first, to meditate in silence at least once a day. Have a journal present. In the deepest silence and relaxation of your being, ask for anything to come forward - any information from God on any question you have."

...and there were many more great quotes I could have chosen from. This is a very special book. Though it's less than 200 pages, it provides great insights and inspiration from some very spiritual people. I highly recommend this book.

In a world that seems so terribly fixated on our differences, it is nice to be reminder of the truly important things that we share. Handbook for the Spirit brings together some of the most well known people in the world (The Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Thick Nhat Hanh, Brooke Medicine Eagle, and Wayne Dyer just to name a few) to share their view and experiences about spirituality. It doesn't seem to matter if they refer to God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or the universe, nature, or the I Am. The foundation is the same, that something connects us all as one.

There's something deeply touching about Handbook for the Spirit. As I read, I was reminded about the really important aspects of my life. Suddenly, all my petty cares and anxieties didn't seem so all consuming. I felt empowered. In that moment, I knew that interconnection that the author's spoke about and was renewed in my life purpose.

Joseph Campbell said it well - and says it again in this new collection: "An intense experience of mystery is what one has to regard as the ultimate religious experience."

If that's where you are in your own spiritual journey - then this book is for you.

"Handbook for the Spirit" is a Who's Who of "old friends" in the spiritual field - too many names to list here. But the co-editors Dr. Richard Carlson and Dr. Benjamin Shield are old hands at sharing insights into the healing and happiness that can surprise us in our spiritual journeys. They've collected here some new, and some old, thoughts specifically about a person's relationship to the divine - to God or to other higher realms of spiritual truth.

What I love about this particular collection is that, while it does share some speculative approaches to spirituality, the community of voices here also is rooted in traditional faiths as well.

So, for example, we've got a great piece here by Sue Bender, author of the memoir, "Plain and Simple," about life among the Amish. Writing with her characteristic clarity, she gives us an 8-page reflection on what she's learned from the Amish -- and from her experience of writing about the Amish.

Rabbi Harold Kushner appears in this collection, too. For so many readers, his voice is like an old friend returning to share a few thoughts. As in most of these inspirational pieces, there's nothing here that's stunningly new to longtime readers. But it's like coming to a family reunion in which Kushner leans back and reminds us of various things, including the importance of Martin Buber's teachings.

And, every now and then, there's a flash of awareness, for example: I enjoyed finding, toward the end of Kushner's chapter, this little gem: "When people ask me, `Where is God?' I tell them I would rather rephrase the question to, `When is God?'" Now, truth be told, I've heard this great question from a number of rabbis through the years. It's a brilliant reframing of our windows toward God. Nevertheless, as I finished Kushner's chapter, seeing the question afresh in that context - was like a little ray of light.

That's how the very best "readers" in this genre are supposed to work. A huge "Bravo!" to Shield and Carlson and the whole circle of old friends who assembled this wonderful little gift.

James "Ty" Tyrone writes sports columns for a "rag," but his excellent salary supports the tremendous medical expense of his wife who must live in an iron lung, a victim of polio. FORFEIT is a masterful thriller from Dick Francis.
Ty meets Bert Chekov, a fellow writer, on the street. Bert is drunk, but warns Ty not to sell his column. A short time later Bert falls or is pushed to his death. Thugs demand Ty's support for their race fixing scheme and resort to intimidation through his wife's frail grip on life. A must read for Dick Francis fans.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This was my first Dick Francis novel. Took a while to get into it, but it was a page turner by the end. 3 stars for those who aren't racing fans.

I've probably read all of Dick Francis' many books and always await the next one happily. In between the advent of his new books, I occasionally re-read some old ones with pleasure, which I rarely do except in the case of classics. He writes literature equaling, for example, Eric Ambler's writing in quality.

Forfeit, by Dick Francis, tells the story of sports writer James Tyrone beginning when a drunken colleague, Bert Checkov, warns him not to sell his column. Making vague allusions to blackmail and bribery, the man is so drunk that he's all but incoherent and then goes his own way. Chalking it up to the booze, Tyrone leaves his friend only to learn minutes later that the man has just fallen out of a window and died. A short while later, we learn that Checkov has been heavily touting a large number of horses that end up getting scratched from their races shortly before post time. This is the tip of the iceberg that leads Tyrone into conflict with bookmakers who will stop at nothing to continue a scheme that has already netted them a small fortune.

Tyrone is a remarkably strong character who deals with a home life that could only be called difficult, an editor who doesn't mind risking his life to get a story, and a gang of thugs that don't mind dishing out a beating or even murder to get what they want. He is not perfect, but he does have a good heart and readers can't help but root for him. Most of the characters are interesting and portrayed uniquely enough that they remain distinct and not just cardboard cutouts put in place to fill their assigned roles. The story builds momentum as it goes. In the beginning, I found it mildly interesting but as it progressed it became a real page-turner.

This is the first novel by Dick Francis that I have read but he has been one of the most respected mystery writers for many decades. His writing style is very clear and crisp, easy to read and understand. Some English novelists use language that can make it hard for Americans to follow but I didn't find that to be the case here. I am not particularly interested in horses or horse racing but I do like good stories with interesting characters and there was a healthy dose of that in Forfeit. After reading this book, I'll be ordering more Dick Francis novels soon.

I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.

My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.

In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.

In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.

Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.

A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.

We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.

We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.