I Books

This book has a wonderful story and beautiful pictures to go with it. This is a fun book for people of all ages.

It takes me a long time to find good picture books for my kids. This is a great one, especially if your kids are into pirates. Beautiful pictures and a cute story.

My [...] absolutely loves reading this book with her dad every night! My daughter loves learning pirate language and the idea of burying treasure in the back yard. She also wants to brush her teeth because she doesn't want to have green teeth like the pirates. Great book to read together!! I highly recommend it to pre-schoolers!

This book is a must have in your collection of childerens books! Of course the illustrations by David Shannon are amazing. Illustrations that are colorful and creative but beautiful for adults to enjoy also. The story, even though about pirates is wonderful for any gender or age range. The story is funny but also gives the reality of what would happen if you lived with pirates, and how much you would miss the little things your parents do for you. One of my two daughters, 4&5, and my favorite books. I give this book out as a gift as often as possible!

I always wanted to be a pirate, and if your kid wants to be, they will love this book.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

The definition of the word `requiem' is a musical service or hymn in honor of the dead. How fittingly that word rests with the subject matter of this novel. `Requiem for a Dream' is just that, a musical hymn in honor of those crushed and shattered dreams. When reading Selby's phenomenal (and I mean that in the most extreme sense of the word) novel about abolished hope and sheer desperation the reader is forced to face the ugly truth about our horrific society.

You ever read that novel or watch that film that just eats away at the pit of your stomach and pains you to your very core? You ever struggle to turn the page or fight to watch the screen because the onslaught of negativity is picking away at your spirit and bringing you to a dark and lonely place you never wished to visit? That is the feeling experienced when reading (or subsequently watching the Aronofsky film adaptation) this novel.

The novel opens by introducing us to four people. We have Sara, an older Jewish woman who lives for television. The opening scene depicts her son Harry, strung out as usual, stealing her television to pawn it for money in order to get his next hit. Harry also has a girlfriend Marion as well as a best friend Tyrone C. Love. The three of them enjoy a nice taste of heroin every now and again and will do just about anything to get it. Sara dreams of one day being on television, and when she gets to opportunity she grabs it by the horns. She is convinced to lose enough weight to fit into her favorite red dress, the one she wore to Harry's bar mitzvah. This leads her to diet pills which she quickly and dangerously forms an addiction to. Harry and Marion on the other hand begin to develop a plan to buy and sell heroin for a profit, that way they can one day by that little coffee shop and make a life for themselves. This little plan involves Tyrone as well, and as the dope starts pouring in, their idea of a small taste begins to grow until they can't stomach the thought of selling any of it but feel compelled to keep all of it for themselves.

The novel brilliantly portrays the mind of an addict; the `I'll never get that bad, I can stop whenever I want to' mentality that cripples the mind and fortifies the very essence of the domination of the soul. All four of these individuals are taken over and beaten down by the disease that is addiction. There is a scene where Tyrone is arrested and spends some time in the jail cell with an elderly addict, a man who is so far gone Tyrone is disgusted by him. Tyrone is determined never to be that man, never to become that dependant on the taste, but the first thing Tyrone does when he gets out is cop him that taste. He doesn't realize that he is already there.

The novel, like I mentioned, is horribly depressing and utterly frustrating, especially as the novel comes to a close and everything begins to spiral into oblivion. As we watch Sara, Harry, Marion and Tyrone's lives completely fall apart in a gradual yet perpetual tumble towards rock bottom we are left with the bitter taste of pain and misery in the back of our throats. Experiencing Sara's mental deterioration at the hands of the pill; watching Marion degrade herself to escape the sick feeling of withdrawals; seeing Harry cast aside his own well being in order to keep that high; watching Tyrone come to realize he is no better than the men he despises; all of this eats at our very being and transports us to a place unlike any we've ever been.

Like the movie, the novel excels when focusing on the female characters. Sara and Marion are by far the most sympathetic and interesting characters in the novel; with that said they are also the most depressing and utterly devastating to read about. Their final outcome is far from pretty and makes the reader feel helpless and alone; much like these characters.

`Requiem for a Dream' is far from pretty. It is dirty, gritty and at times unbearable; but there is no denying that it is a masterpiece; literature at its finest. Hubert Selby Jr. is a deeply controlled and phenomenally capable writer who understands the appropriate darkness of his subject; an author who takes something so terrible, so bleak and painful and makes it quite frankly one of the most important novels ever penned. In my humble opinion this is the type of novel that should be mandatory reading at any substance abuse rehabilitation center. After reading this grisly novel (and of course watching the equally grisly film) I could never even stomach the idea of drug use. In a world that glamorizes any and everything harmful to the soul, `Requiem for a Dream' stands apart as a very real depiction of all you stand to lose.

If you've seen the film, better fasten your seatbelts. Aronofsky went easy on you. I can't adequately describe what Selby achieved in this novel, or in "Last Exit to Brooklyn". He is capable of describing the most brutal things with apparent (but ONLY apparent) objectivity, but at other times he writes with astonishing delicacy. I can't even think of another writer who can do that half as well as Selby.

If you found the last 20 minutes of the film as horrifying as I did, Selby's account of the fates of Harry, Sara, Marion, and Tyrone will make you want to cry for all of them.

This is not going to be an easy read for a lot of people, but it's a masterwork.

It's just that good.

If you've read "Last Exit to Brooklyn," you'll be familiar with Selby's habit of not using quotation marks when he writes dialogue. But even if this is your first exposure to Selby, you'll figure out who's saying what pretty quickly.

And don't skip Selby's prologue.

As an aside: ELLEN BURSTYN WAS ROBBED! (As Sara in Requiem for a Dream, she really should have gotten an Oscar. I'm just saying.)

Hubert Selby Jr writes with in a way that is astounding. Bringing a story like this so heavily to life, to a point where it completely envelopes and engrossing you, all the while disgusting you is a great fete. I saw the movie, which is great in its own right, but not near comparison to the language of the book. Definitely recommended!

Selby's ability to capture inner monologue is incredible. You not only empathize, but you believe with each one of the characters. You hold on to the dream and it crushes you. Should be read in highschools everywhere.

You need to be ready before you read this book. Upon finishing this little dandy I was physically shaking. I can't think of any other book that has made of shake. The manic style and never ending punch in the face flow of this Hubert Selby Jr. masterpiece will stay with you for the rest of your life. If you saw the movie and so decided to not read the book, you are making a mistake. The book is a totally different experience then the movie. Each is a masterpiece in a completely unique way. It's amazing how real this book is. You will feel insane compassion for the lowest of individuals. You will want to reach out to these amazing characters. I don't know how Hubert Selby Jr. does it. His mind must have been a dark but beautiful and loving realm. If you want to be a book this one will make you its own. Read it.

How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling

I have read this book over 15 times in the past 10 years, because it is the BEST book on selling that I've ever read. It is common sense and real world in its approach. It has been in print since 1947, and that speaks volumes.

Every book on sales uses the core principles that Frank Bettger laid out in this classic manual in 1947. These principles remain an effective part of the repertoire of most successful sales professionals. Bettger shows his belief in Dale Carnegie's putting-people-first tactics with his inspiring language, skilled storytelling and bedrock principles. While some of his syntax, especially the gender-specific pronoun use, is dated and the dollar amounts are small compared to today's figures, getAbstract suggests that every salesperson should read and master this basic, practical guide.

My initial contact with Bettger's wisdom was some 27 years ago through an audiotape version of his book. Now, I've been reacquainted with the man through his book. What a timeless nugget of wisdom! This book,in its virtuous compactness, has turned out to be The BEST book from which I've learned much that is priceless in effective communications (sales). In fact, it is so priceless to me that it has become a constant companion, occupying an enviable corner of my briefcase. I recommend this book very, very highly to any serious-minded sales/communications apprentice, anywhere, anytime. Read, re-read, internalize, practice, and watch the positive results materialize, inexorably!! Things (generations, perceptions and culture) may change, yet there appears to be a constant theme and thread common to them all. This book, in my opinion, transcends those boundaries...

While this book was written a very long time ago, the tale and techniques are timeless in motivating any individual in ways to gain success in their newfound sales career, regardless of product. But it is of particular benefit to those in Financial Services.

The ideas and stories are timeless and are a particularly beneficial way to look at the power of persistence after you have made a career change.

Raise your eyes and realize that if you keep going, you'll eventually get to the finish line.

This is a classic book on fundamental sales techniques that remains sound after 60 years and dozens of printings. Yes, some of the pronouns are out of date (he assumes that all the sales professionals are men and all the secretaries are women - or that there are even secretaries - and so forth) and the dollar amounts given are made largely irrelevant by the inexorable power of inflation. However, the principles Frank Bettger laid down in 1947 will still work for any sales person working today.

Bettger is closely associated with his mentor, Dale Carnegie and his compelling use of language and story will remind you of the sound of the self-help books of that era. He provides 35 short chapters divided into six parts.

In part 1 Bettger wants you to learn to act with enthusiasm. Even if you don't feel it now, if you learn to act with energy and enthusiasm, you will soon feel it and it will become the fuel of your success. He also talks about the power of making calls. You can't sell until you get in front of people and you need to call a few people to get the appointment (he calls them interviews). Soon you will have a ratio of calls-sales-close that you can study and make more efficient. Bettger also wants you to get over fear and hesitation in talking with people you don't know by taking a public speaking course - one where you actually get to speak a lot and learn from supportive and constructive criticism. He also wants you to plan you schedule by the week so you know what you are doing and then execute the plan. He also tells you to record what you did and what came of it. There are examples planning sheets. However, you can find great day planners nowadays from many different companies.

Part 2 takes you though his sales method. Basically, he shows you ways of finding out what a person wants and providing it for them. Bettger shows you how to find what your client's "vulnerable spots" are. That is, what his motivators and needs are. You also need to learn how to connect with people. One way is to learn and use their name, find out about their hobbies, their family, and so forth. Write it all down and refer to it before you go to see the client so you can ask about his interests and show a personal interest in him. Bettger also takes you through his steps in the sales process, how to overcome objections, why you should ask why to get past the stated objection to the real objection.

Part 3 is all about confidence. You need to be confident in yourself and nothing is more important to that than your personal integrity and honesty. You also need the confidence of your clients, and Bettger shows you how to earn that by being honest, using testimonials, a professional appearance, and a courteous demeanor.

Part 4 discusses the importance of getting people to WANT to do business with you. He advises you to identify young people with talent and to encourage and help them in their career. You are going to be in business for a long time and helping develop these young people will help connect them to you as they rise. He wants you to smile, remember names (and tells you how), warns you against talking your way out of a sale, and how to approach what he calls "big men" - what we might call C-level executives.

Part 5 takes you through the mechanics of the sales process and how it begins before the sale. He is totally committed to selling by appointment, how to get "secretaries" (gatekeepers) on your side, why you must prepare for each sales presentation and why you must right down what went well and what went poorly immediately after you leave. You also learn why you should let the customer work your demo, getting leads from new customers, rules for closing the sale, and why you must show up with a prepared order or contract where all the person needs to do is sign the order. Assume the sale!

Part 6 talks about the powerful learning experience you get from failure. You must never let setbacks cause you to give up or quit. He uses Benjamin Franklin's method for moral perfection as a model for perfecting your sales process and then talks to you about why you need to get to work now and how fleeting time really is.

Excellent book for anyone in sales, considering a sales career, or managing salespeople.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

I had very bad neck pains due to stress. Doctors prescribed muscle relaxants, but after doing Chi Kung neck exercises and the exercises, I have finally found relief. I truly believe these Chi Kung exercises work. Even my doctor testified to these exercises.

I thought it was wonderful. So easy to understand and follow the movements; along with lovely personal ancedotes and helpful nutritional information in the text.

I usually don't write reviews about the books I bought, but I felt that I should do it about this one after reading the amazing review from the "avid reader".

I have the book, I have done the exercises, and from my experience, I can tell you that they work, very easilly. In fact, I felt to my surprise the movement of chi in my body, the first time I did the first exercise. What else can you want from a book that actually delivers what his writer promises?
I have the book and also the videos from the same author. In those you can hear several persons reporting the "miracle cures" that ocurred with them, that this "almost" costumer complains about.
You know that is something that puzzles me: how can a person criticize a book that he doesn't know (he doesn't bought it, and as so he didn't invest time reading it,and doing the exercises)? How can a person judges a work "from the table of contents"?
If any of you is decided to buy the book and invest your time in these exercises I guarantee you'll be positively susprised.

One last thing: English is not the only language in this world, and when someone write a review in a foreign language usually makes mistakes. That is natural fact. I would like to see this gentleman trying to do a review in a foreign language without errors.

I am in awe of this man who calls himself Luk Chun Bond, it could be James Bond for all we know, who is a true master of the martial arts that not many can even begin to realise just what it takes to become one. Just read his book, The First 16 Secrets of Chi, and you will have a idea of what it means to sacrifice your life to what you believe in, no matter what field of endeavour you attempt to achieve. And to think he once shared part of his art for free, for years and years to whomever and whatever, no questions ask, just come and be healthy and happy, unheard of in this age of money, money and more money. Read the book first, then you will have a small idea of what this "man" is all about. By the way I had my book autographed which to me is priceless.
Brian Nakamoto

75 five-star reviews??? And all of them from first-time reviewers, many of whom seem to be struggling with english and making the identical mistakes, and each of them writing reviews of roughly the same length, and most of them reporting miracle cures for some ailment of other??? Puh-leeze. Instant healing just does NOT happen with Qigong. It's not supposed to.

The story available in the "Look Inside" link on this website is ridiculous. Did Deng Ming Dao write this book as a ghost writer?

If you want a reputable, reliable Qigong book, look to Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming or Roger Jahnke. These very excellent, well-established, highly esteemed authors don't have as many reviews combined as the unknown Luk Chun Bond has for this one book! Believe me, that reflects more on Bond than on them.

The excersises in this particular book, judging from the table of contents, may be good, but the insecurity demonstrated by the bogus reviews here and the make-believe story in the introduction cast a poor light on the book from the get-go. If the "sixteen secrets" are just sixteen basic Qigong excercises and some diet tips, then where's the secret?

And to think, I *almost* ordered it.

I loved this book as a kid. When my family moved it was never seen again. I have been trying to find it again for years. I just found it! I read it to my daughter now and she gets so excited to turn to the next page. I am having fun sharing these kind of books with her. :)

This book holds the attention of my 18-month-old for quite a while, especially the rain page. It should last forever.

I love this book! This is what a toddler/child book should be all about. Touching story that shows the bunny enjoying nature and the beautiful seasons. I cried when I first read it to my baby boy.

Easy to read with great big and interesting pictures that you can change with your own stories that never get old. Richard Scarry was a great influence on my reading as a child and his work will never get old. I believe that even though it is in several of his compiled works, this book, alone is a WINNER!!!

This tender story is so excruciatingly cute, it makes me want to punch Nicholas the Bunny in the face. I love this stinking book.

Small steps was an enjoyable book and i would definatley recommend it to all of my friends. During this story, a polio patient named Peg, changes, not facial or look wise but mentally. At first she would worry about winning first in something however when she gets diagnosed with polio those worries change. Now she worries about whether she'll make it or not, and she realizes how lucky she really was without the polio. One of my favorite things abobut peg is that she can always take a sad thing and make it better, such as whenshe needs a wheelchair, instead of outing she learns how to wheelie on it! there is one thing i would warn you about; there isnt a lto of dialoge. If you love dialoge and cant get enough of it, then you are just like me! I dont really like books without dialoge. however, when i read this book I realized it has enough dialoge to keep me coming back for more. Although i really like the way it was written too. When in saw that this was a biography, i hesitated to pick it up. But when i started to read, i realized that this wasnt one of the ordinary boring biographies, but a biography written in fictioin form! Also, if your looking for a book written by the author then that is anothter reasen for you to, go out and get this book. Small steps is written in frist person. The plpot of this book is very easy to follow now read carefully; a 12 year old girl named peg is diagnosed with polio, and is taken to many different hospitals. While she is being transfered, she is fighting with all of her gut to kick this polio out of her system. That is as far as i am going with that.
Wait there is more, if you are also not a fan of long expositions; this book is probably the best one or you. Tyeh exposition is npt long at all. It simply describes where Peg lives how old she is and what she like sto do, and then the action starts.

p.s. if you are going to read this book i hope you enjoyed it as much as i did!

My daughter, age 9, was assigned to read this book as part of a Reading Olympics program in her school. I found it at the library and read the first chapter to her while we were still in the library. She did not want me to stop reading. We read it together every night after she had finished her homework. She was so fascinated with Peg Kehret's story that she would work hard to finish her homework in order to leave time for reading before bed. I highly recommend this book for older elementary and middle school age children. The author offers a very engaging glimpse of her experience as a child their age going through an enormously difficult and challenging ordeal. Her courage and humor in the face of her disease will give children insight into coping skills they can use someday.

This book is a must if you are looking for a book for your Mother/Daugther book club. We read it when our daughters were 10 yrs. old, but you could certainly be older. All the moms loved it.

I loved this book! It is about a girl named Peg who is stricken with Polio. My fav. part was when her temperature dropped by drinking the chocolate milkshake. I would recommend this book for anyone!

This book was certainly good but it sounded as if a child was telling. It really didn't describe things very well and it jumped to fast. It was a good story but it wasn't set up totally right. I liked it though and I think you will too. I was required to read this in 6th grade and I read it ahead of the class because I couldn't put the book down because the story was interesting and...touching. I wish it would have explained what she did when she went to school and what her friend's reaction were. I usually don't read books like this and actually like it though.

Having been a long-time Good Eats viewer, I knew that this book would be a fun gift for my foodie geek spouse. And it was so good that he lent it back to me.

If you have little to no previous knowledge of cooking, or are unsure of your techniques, this book will teach you how to cook the correct way from the start. Lots of information, theory, science, and humor make this book easy to read and incredibly informative. For example, if you ever wondered where the Boston Butt came from, there are diagrams (on refrigerator magnets) displaying where each cut comes from on a pig, lamb, chicken or steer.

If you already have been cooking for years, have only previously worked in professional kitchens or are confident with your technique, this book will help you hone your style to the home kitchen. You will likely come away with the book with a better appreciation for ingredients you may never have considered. And you might also finally make peace with certain techniques that may have plagued you in the past.

The recipes vary in difficulty but the comprehensive instructions make the book fantastics for cooks of all levels. It's a great addition to any home kitchen, or perhaps even as an elementary level text on basic cooking technique.

I simply love Alton's book. It was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted much more than a simple cookbook of recipes. Alton goes the extra mile to explain things in simple terms. The book is not as great as his TV show but it is the next best thing. As you are reading it you can easily picture him saying the words to you in that quirky Alton style.

Now to the bad part. My only problem with the whole Amazon "experience" was that my book arrived in a damaged state. It was never properly secured to any cardboard backing and the box looks like someone punted it across the room. It wouldn't be worth the hassle of returning it. I just hope that the book doesn't fall apart in the near future due to the damaged spine and cover.

I highly recommend the book! But watch out, Amazon's shipping department seems to be having issues lately.

Alton Brown is the man. He really is -- his common sense, no frills, easy to understand explanations about food and everything that can impact how you cook make his books and DVDs fun to read/watch. He has to have been a science teacher for elementary and/or middle school kids -- his innate ability to explain the most complex ideas in the most simplistic terms and ideas is uncanny. Love his books -- love the recipes in the books. Highly recommended for the cook in your life!

I love Alton Brown's show and I love this book. I really enjoy learning all the ins and outs of cooking and this book is great for that.

My wife and I always like everything that Alton Brown does, so I may be a little biased, but oh well.

The best childrens book ever! I almost cry everytime I read it to my daughter. She loves the illistrations and the story will melt anyones heart.

No matter how many times we read this story, my boys laugh every time. It is a warm-hearted story with a nice amount of spunk in it.

this book is fantastic, even for newborns! My sister-in-law reads this to my 5 week old nephew before bed every nigh and she adores it!

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

Don't be fooled by the "Stinky Face" title. When I first heard about this book, I thought it might be an odd approach to sibling rivalry. It's not at all. Instead, this is a beautiful, imaginative story about a mother who would love her child no matter what, even if he were a bug-eating Martian or a smelly skunk named Stinky Face. The illustrations are lovely - my 3 year-old finds it charming that the one-eyed monster sleeps in a hammock with a toy bunny.

In summary, the book conveys a strong message of unconditional love, but without being overly sappy. The scenes are clever and funny and full of little surprises. When shared at bedtime, this story leaves both parent and child feeling warm and happy.

I Love you Stinky Face is a sweet book guided by the imagination of a little boy. He asks his Mama what if....and his mama tells him she loves him no matter how mean, scary, stinky, or green he might be. The illustrations are enchanting and the story is just fun! It models the true unconditional love between a parent and child. A great book to read to your wild and adventurous little one!

Julia's book was recommended to me by a French Chef we met in the Caribbean. It is the perfect book from which to learn French cooking. Julia's instructions are very detailed and make it easy to prepare each recipe. I highly recommend this book.

For those who wish to venture into the world of culinary genius, Mastering the Art of French Cooking is the Bible. Specific, thorough, and accurate recipes guide even the novice to achieving gastronomic perfection. This is the first serious cookbook I owned as a young housewife. Now, I purchase the book for every serious cook. Simply a must have!

We have always enjoyed watching and reading about Julia Child. My husband asked for this book for Christmas, and although we haven't had a chance to peruse it thoroughly, he is very pleased with the gift. He bakes bread often and is interested in her recipes for breads as well as other French recipes.

This book bring together years of cooking by recipe. It actually explains things so I can understand why I'm doing them.

The best Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon recipes you'll find are in this book. I've had Mastering the Art of French Cooking for years and recently gave one to my son, who also loves to cook. This cookbook tells you what to do, how to do it, and where to easily find the ingredients in your American supermarket. I don't do much (any?) baking, so don't have Volume II Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 2 (Paperback), which I understand is primarily about baking, but this one, Volume 1, is fantastic.

This book and The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 are the first ones I turn to in the kitchen. Together, they will teach the new cook how to cook and the experienced cook how to cook much better.