I Books

I remember Dr. Poliakin giving me this book when I first saw him while pregnant with my first child. I already had a stack of pregnancy books but this is the one I ultimately referred to throughout the pregnancy. Dr. Poliakin gave straightforward advice that went past current trends and was based on his extensive knowledge and experience. Unlike the What to expect books - his book actually allowed you to enjoy pregnancy while knowing that you were doing everything in your power to keep your baby safe. Plus, he's a great cheerleader when it comes to trying to get pregnant and going through pregnancy!

I highly recommend this book to all expectant mothers and fathers. This book gives you straightforward and down-to-earth answers to all your questions, without causing undue concern as some other books tend to do. The Q&A format makes it easy to read and refer back to. Buy this book!!

More of an easy to read reference book than one of those long-winded pregnancy "manuals," this book is fantastic! Every possible concern and question I had was answered clearly and quickly. Dr. Poliakin also addresses hundreds of things I hadn't thought of and I'm sure I will go back to this book over and over again for the answer to different questions. I highly recommend this book to any woman who is expecting. As a side note: I left the book laying around the house and my husband picked it up and has since read it cover to cover - so he liked it too.

I got this book from a friend as a gift and I absolutely love it. It has answered so many of my questions and I constantly refer back to it. This book by far has been my favorite pregnancy book and I would recommend it to everyone.

This well written book is an all in one source of information that every pregnant woman should have. What You Didn't Think to Ask Your Obstetrician addresses the typical and non typical questions any woman might have during pregnancy and postpartum. I am going to recommend this book, written by Dr. Raymond Poliakin to my clients and friends.

I did the est training in 1981 and had the experience of my mind shutting off and discovering that who I am is not my thoughts but the witness to my thougts. That's a start. Now comes the work. After that experience what became available was the possibility of watching your "mind" react to your day to day experiences and seeing that what you thought was a "real" reaction was just that, a mind reaction that you no longer had to follow. You could now look in the moment and see what was really wanted and needed. This book presents many concepts, like jealousy, and gives you an enlightened perspective that is very to the point and impactful. You can not go wrong in buying this book and absorbing what is in it. In fact, to fully absorb everything presented in this book and make it your own, so to speak, can take many years. Really! The stuff is that dense. If you are into expanding your awareness of yourself and how you percieve reality then this is a must read. Combine this with The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle for some real insights. Be aware that your "mind"/thought system will want to be right about how it has been percieving things and it is those reactions that you are confronting with this material.

This book helped put life in perspective. I believe everyone should read this book.

Dr. Smothermon has transcended the boundaries of conventional perception of Self - genius! Don't buy it unless your IQ is 150+.

I have read Dr. Smothermon's "Enlightenment" book many times and also pull it down from time to time to savor his dynamic writing style: 2-3 page chapters just sock it to you and move on. To the point. He describes the way the world ( and that includes us ) works and if you pay attention, are patient and read (and re-read) it with an open mind you will get a lot of great insights to chew on. I've read his other books and they are also good, but this one, for me, is the classic. Thanks Ron!

The other day a friend asked me what was the most significant book I had read in my life....THIS IS IT. Smothermon's book is certainly not mainstream, and it contains the most densely packed wisdom of what life is about that I know of. Over the years, I have recomended this book to MANY people, and the feedback is fantastic. Get it.

Great book and I am waiting for the next one.
The author is very talented to keep the reader on the go.

The author gives us a connection to Lexielle and her role in Von's life. It's wonderfully written book, well worth the time to read. I guarantee that you'll have fun reading it.

I found Wireless In The Fabric Of Time a very good read and would recommend it to my friends (35-55 yr. age bracket), as well as my chidrens' generation (16-25 yr age bracket) . I was pleasently suprised at the depth of interests that this book touched upon. It was described to me as SI-Fi, but I found it more akin to historical-fiction. This book is an engaging and fresh approach to weaving a plot through the past, the present,and the future. It touches on life styles and technology in both present day America and early 1900's England. With a plot that moves at the speed of light, the book is laced with lots of spicy diologue, which developes its characters and their personal connections through generational family ties, similiar interests, and historical occurances. It is a curious study of 'what if?' and 'reality' as we know it.

Great reading, kept turning the pages to see what could possibly happen next. Author knows how to entertain and keep the audience's attention. Great book for all readers, but most specifically, young adults. Highly recommended. Great use of technology. Good job on dialect of early twentieth century England also! Great use of historical and futuristic ideas. Great book cover. All in all, supreme. Can't wait for more books from E.I. Johnson.

This book was a great blend of past (Oxford, England circa 1900s), present (University setting, 2008), and future (2048). Well-written for the young-adult reader. Captivating knowledge and wordplay with reference to technology, history, the contemporary college-student, both male and female. I recommend highly. Watch out for more from E.I. Johnson!!

There is an inexplicable fascination around relationships and the dynamics between people. There is something bizarrely enjoyable about watching or learning about other people's lives - perhaps as a means of escape from our own or better yet a subconscious desire to compare and contrast or even live our lives vicariously through others. This is why we are so drawn to reality shows in today's day and age.

This book doesn't quite satisfy the latter part of my hypothesis but I did pick it up because I was immensely intrigued to read about the dynamic between the all-American Irene and the pure-bred Palestinian Khalid. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that the "differences" referred to by the author were not of the generic and expected nature referring to the current political state of affairs between the superpower and the defenseless rapidly dying country but rather a story about a boy and a girl who fall in love and happen to endure their own set of ups and downs.

Not to say there is no reference to the political state - as there absolutely is - but it is cleverly and nonchalantly folded into the story as no more than a backdrop as opposed to taking center stage. This book is so engrossing, so rich and so dramatic in description, symbolism and in the simple construction of words. It is like prose on a treadmill.

The author tackles a lot of significant and very deep issues in her story thereby setting the stage for a mesmerizing and culturally enlightening ride. As a Palestinian, I can attest to the accuracy with which she captured the political and social mood, the exile, the emotions and the passion and fire with which Khalid lives his life. The events in this story are so intense that you will experience love in its purest form and anger in its most raw and ugly state. This book has the power to rock your emotions in a state of frenzy - like a rollercoaster - your emotions will soar and then plummet in a matter of minutes.....It is a book of rare proportions - not to be missed.

This book started out poorly, built a crescendo and finished interestingly. It is a noble effort for a first time book and throughout, presented some interesting concepts for the reader to think about.
In a sentence it is the story of a secular young Palestinian man living in America and his romance with a well to do, Caucasian college woman. It is told from her perspective.
The weaker aspects of the book primarily arise in the beginning. There is too much reliance of stereotype when describing the "enemy". There is also a simplistic use of popular culture to make a point. Having tyrannical bosses at the bakery use a double standard or informing the reader that BMWs are referred to as "Beemers" made me wince but they occurred early and the story got better.
There is an underlying beauty to this mid eastern culture. Historically there was a beacon of art and science shining from that part of the world. Fundamental religious/political leaders of course have used the last several centuries to suppress that, but lore and poetry and music can survive even if relegated to the underground.
The protagonists, Irene and Khalid are presented very believably. Their relationship is tempestuous and it is largely due to the significant cultural variance in their lives. It is thought provoking throughout. Two of the several questions posed to the reader are:
-"Is there a reason or faith that humans can best make sense of their painful experience?"
-Which is a stronger human trait-The will to power or Desire? Which compels us to respond in this world?
Jensen makes several points in the book that particularly interested this reader. Her Palestinian characters were secular. This suggests that within this culture so demonized here in the US for its radical fundamentalism, there are free thinkers and perhaps there are millions of them.
She also rips into the lazy sort of Post Modern thinking that suggests we are incapable of making value judgments because we are bound by the fetters of culture. Khalid, in one of his rages suggests to Irene threat "You are so liberal here, everything has the same exact value, which comes down to NO value whatsoever"
Jensen introduces skeptical thinking when Khalid states that "Getting Real" means maintaining an attitude of deep suspicion. Though not stated in the book, it is important that the suspicion be based on some identifiable causes and also not be understood as cynicism.
Finally the author's characters voice atheism in the face of the experiences they have had and shared. In lament, Irene imagines "...a god crucified for nothing...there was a real god named No God; and she lived in the center of its expanding absence."
Ms Jensen has a good running start on becoming a great novelist. Those of us who may desire publishing their own first novel hope to do as fine a job.

This book was definetly one of the best books I've ever read, and I strongly recommend it. It was so true when Khalid said of Irene, but it applies to every American, she has an inborn, cultural arrogance that makes her blindto other ways of acting,perceiving, thinking about the world.This explains the bumper stickers, Proud to be an American and flags everywhere. Americans don't see the pain they are causing because they are all blind with arrogance. I learned, and laughed and cried from this book! It was hard to put down and I hated to finish reading it, I wanted it to go on but I would like to see Israel end it's occupation of Palestine!

After reading this wonderful book I find myself compelled to write a review in an effort to encourage others to read it as well. It really is an intelligent piece of literature keeping you enthralled to the point that when it finally comes to a conclusion you want nothing more than to pick it back up and start reading it again. I cannot say enough about this book and urge you with great sincerity to not only read this book, and love it as I am sure you will, but to also tell others about it and share it with them. This is a little known piece of literature that I really believe will stand the test of time and deserves national recognition.

The very best qualities of Kim Jensen's spicy first novel "The Woman I Left Behind" must be experienced for one's self. From the vivid descriptions of historically-accurate war-torn vignettes of a life forever lost in Palestine & Beirut to the airy coast of California, the setting frames the tumble of fast-paced emotional events. I couldn't put it down!

The freshness of youthful experience merges into resolution of distinctly different personal histories of a rocky intercultural relationship to create new threads of connectivity between Irene & Khalid in unexpected ways. Although from two very different worlds--she a child of White Western Privilege & a recovering rape victim; he a displaced Palestinian refugee who has forever lost his home & family through violent injustice of the IDF Occupation, each brings their unique pain & universal struggles to the relationship. Each has experienced forms of oppression which define their identitities. While they endure & sometimes transcend so many obstacles in their path, they are stunned to discover they are each capable of taking on the role of the oppressor as well. As their sense of social justice grows, they become more aware of this tragic possibility.

This is a perceptive first novel--it is about paying attention to details & listening to the signals around us. It is about building bridges, not tearing one another down. Its analogies hold a greater message involving the causes of suffering & redemption, between will-to-power & desire.

"The Woman I Left Behind" contains an elusive key to peace--within ourselves, within our culture & the greater world around us. If we would only listen.

Whether this work perfectly parallels the expoits of the character's real lives, should not be of concern. This book is beautifully written, with a literary gem on almost every page. It is one, if not the best book I have read in 10 years. What a shame it has not gotten more attention.

I have had no interest in literary interpretations of the world until I read this book. Here I found other lives struggling with the same staleness of mathematics and logic and their implications that I could not escape. I found lives exemplifying the difficulties of pitting one's factual evidence against human assumptions. I found, that is, that my own life is not so different as it's felt.

Well done, Duffy.

I bought this book in 1988. It then got buried under tons of other books until I unearthed it this weekend. What a great find. Rich characters, engaging prose...a thoroughly satisfying read. At 500+ pages, I'll admit it's a bit overwritten, but once you get going it's difficult to put down. Ranks up there with "In the Memory of the Forest" as gripping and memorable. Go work out really hard, take a hot shower, then grab an herbal tea and melt into its pages.

Surprisingly readable, given the subject matter, and from an author who obviously loves to write. This quality seems less than apparent in many books, but Duffy, I felt, took great time and applied careful skill in making his characters emerge on the page as recognizably full-fledged people. Whether the clumsy and appealing, if fanatic and mysterious Max; Ottoline's bony limbs; Wittgenstein's trench nemesis Grundfeldt; Russell's liberated flapper DD and her dentist father from the Illinois prairies the philosopher visits in a wonderful chapter; DH Lawrence's fulminations about blood knowledge; Moore's gustatory enthusiasm when dining at Hall; or Russell's attempts to write an article for Parents' Magazine on "Are Parents Bad for Children" while trying to seduce yet another lissome lass and take care of his failing marriage, faltering children, and chaotic progressive school--this book's most engrossing.

Especially noteworthy are Duffy's depictions of trench warfare as Wittgenstein might have experienced it in WW1. I didn't expect that the relatively brief part of the philosopher's life would be so much a part of this novel. It serves, once you finish and can see the whole work completed, as the titular centerpiece and the fulcrum for so much of his subsequent reactions to the middle of the 20c. I had recently read Sebastian Barry's Booker Prize-nominated novel "A Long Long Way From Home," and while Duffy spends less than his whole novel on the hell endured on the Western Front, he gives a variety of vividly rendered scenes that match Barry at his best--no mean feat for Duffy's not a professional full-time writer, apparently, and this was his first novel. The depictions of war are simply and terrifyingly superb.

While I had difficulty even with the simplified explanations of Wittgenstein's thought, I confess, full comprehension of them may well be beyond any of us. W's own battles with his homosexuality, his family history of suicide, and his Christian ideals vs. his Jewish heritage make for engrossing material that eases the challenge of keeping up with W's ratiocinations. Duffy shows dramatically W's refusal to start a circle of fawning disciples or imitators of his notoriously challenging thought-experiments and investigations into what does and does not underly logic. Perhaps even Moore and Russell, as shown when they conduct the viva voce doctoral exam of W., cannot understand their candidate either.

The novel is not perfect; the latter chapters especially after WW2 appear rushed and the author seems winded by so much previous exertion on behalf of his complicated characters. The first section takes place around 1912; the wartime is largely early in WW1, and the latter part is around 1938 for the most part. Appended to this are detours back and forward in time that expand W's family history. It may sound cumbersome, yet it gives you enough of a context for each period to feel that you can find your way around.

Somehow over so many thousands of sentences, Duffy manages to avoid cliche, to write fresh and efficient prose, and to take the reader into a series of realms that would have seemed the least likely areas that a novelist would want to explore, let alone re-create over 500 densely printed pages. It took me most of a week's free time to read this, and it flows best when you have a few hours straight to immerse yourself in it. It's a novel that works by association, accruing patiently the rewards that pay off for the thinkers if not always their long-suffering supporting casts of lovers, relations, colleagues, and spouses.

The reason for so much reasoning gradually grows as the novel continues; you will begin to understand at least a bit how everyday life impinges upon and stimulates rarified speculation. This happens subtly, as it does in reality, and may take the space of hundreds of pages to connect, but it will cohere--for the most part, which is quite an accomplishment for a book that aspires to not only enlightenment but sophisticated entertainment. The novel does take its slow time to warm up; get beyond the first hundred pages, and know that with the middle section, part two, "The World as I Found It" will start to deepen its spell.

I certainly wasn't hampered in my enjoyment of this book by a lack of familiarity with (or, until now, interest in) twentieth-century philosophy. "The World as I Found It" taught me what makes a great fictional characters: such compassion and detail that I feel I know them as I know myself. Duffy's Wittgenstein, Russell, and Moore are forged from such different materials and live such different lives. But their struggles and motivations are painted in such rich detail that I intimately recognized the humanity in each of them. Great writing.

This was a great book. My daughter loved it and all her friends have since read it. Very funny. This author has found a new fan in my daughter and her friends.

This humorous story, written like a diary, is about Jamie Kelly, a girl not-so-happily attending Mackerel Middle School. In her diary, she writes about stuff like the perfect girl, the number eight cutest boy, her ugly lump of a dog, and disgusting meatloaf. With Isabella, her weird best friend, she tries to win Hudson, a.k.a. the "Eighth Cutest Boy" from Angeline, the perfect girl. Isabella is known to be pretty gullible sometimes, or even makes up some stuff of her own. One day, Jamie makes a comment about the horrifying meatloaf, and Miss Bruntford, the cafeteria lady hears, and tries it. She then has to leave school for a while, and handsome Mr. Prince substitutes for her. Suddenly, love notes are appearing for Jamie, and she spends days thinking of Mr. Prince writing out his affection... but it is really him?

Do you like dumb books? Dear dumb Diary [Am I the princess or the frog?] is for you. In this book Kelly doesn't want to eat her meat loaf but Mrs. Bruntford said she had to. You will have to read the rest to find out. Recommended for 7 year olds thru 13 year olds.
by; Morgan

Am I the Princess or the Frog is a funny book. It is a girl named Jamie Kelly and her diary. In the book she goes through many obstacles. Her mother is a very bad cook, but she doesn't know it. Jamie Kelly also has a friend named Isabella who tends to be a little mean sometimes. They both go to "Mackerel Middle School". Their enemy is Angeline who is pretty and perfect. Jamie Kelly has a crush on Hudson (the seventh cutest guy in school). In the book she gets notes from a secret admirer. Who could it be? You'll have to read the book to find out. This book is for girls ages eight and up. It is a great book.

This book is really funny, because there are a lot a twists. (A lot of things that you would not think would happen) I have never read a series that is so funny! So if you do get ths book you might want to get book # 1,2 first. This is a great book!

The writing is straightforward and the story is fast-paced. The book furnished me with a far greater appreciation than I had of the difficulty and complexity of conducting a national campaign and of the demands made upon the candidates and the many workers, mostly volunteers, who surround and assist them. The personality and character of the narrators comes through quite clearly and with considerable honesty and self-knowledge (although I must add that Mrs. Lieberman's insights are often the more interesting ones). The narrative makes clear that these are real human beings with real children and parents and problems. When their lives are stirred into the soup of arguably our most chaotic Presidential campaign, a very interesting tale emerges.

The reviewer below - An.McCracken - is a fake. He reviews countless books each day but he does not read the books, just paraphrases other people's reviews. REPORT THIS TO AMAZON. Click on (Report this) link under the review, next to the voting buttons.

One cannot possibly read this book and not develop a greater appreciation for the sacrifices, courage, determination and faith that the Liebermans made throughout the campaign and throughout their lives.

Not only is this a "biography" but it is also an excellent book on the political process, namely the campaign process. Throughout the book, the reader becomes acutely aware of the amount of work, energy and choregraphing a national campaign requires.

In the last election, I did not know much about Joe Lieberman and that is because I did not give my self the opportunity to do so. When this book first came out, I scoffed at it, because it looked so "light" and yet after reading it I was taken aback, not only on what an interesting look it is into a presidential campaign, but also into the man himself.

Suffice it to say I agree with much of the man's politics, but that non-withstanding, this book was an interesting look at a family who lives their faith while working on the campain trail. It was touching as well as eye-opening.

In addition this book was able to tell its tale without totally stomping on the opposing party. It was obviously written by a man with good character and ethics. Perhaps it was released to coinside with his run for the presidency, but it has made me take a second look at this man and boy am I impressed!

It's a light, quick, fluff read. If you liked Gore/Lieberman in 2000 you'll like the book. Lieberman falls all over himself emphasizing his religion while feigning shock that it could be an issue. He also sidesteps any criticism from fellow Jews that his positions are decidedly unorthodox. He emphasizes that everywhere his wife ever went and everyone she ever spoke to always loved her. If something went wrong in the campaign, it was because he didn't follow through with his instincts. He even quoted an editorial where someone said that Lieberman can make an attack not feel like an attack. Hardball politico, but with a smile.

I really liked this book. It was about a girl that lived on the island Rass. Her sister,Caroline, was so perfect. They treated Caroline better than they treated her. This book was so awesome! I definitly reccomend it for young audiences or for old audiences. This is an all around good book. You might think its boring at first but you have to hang in there, because the end is GREAT!

Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Patterson, is a book that I highly reccomend to all readers around in the world. It is a great book that has several themes such as: love, jealousy, and goals. These were the themes that were shown most in the book. It explains the pros and cons of having a twin sister. It also shows the love between Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw towards each other. What I mostly love about this book is, how Lousie realizes that she is not in her sister's shadow and she dosent feel hate towards her. Lousie matured and finally accomplished her goal, which was to leave Rass and have a great life. The thing that keeps you wanting to read this book without putting it down, is how Katherine Patterson makes you wait for eveything. She lead you to Louise accomplishing her goal in life, but she made you wait. Thus, making this book one of the best books I have ever read. I thank Mr. Rome, my reading teacher, for picking such a great book out, for us to read. In closing, i would just like to say that this book helped me in many ways realize how my life could be, how it could turn out, and what i can do to make my life better. I am postively sure that this book will help me in my future, and I know I will never forget the book JACOB HAVE I LOVED!

Jacob Have I Love was a very intellegent book. It was very realistice. At times it gets confussing, but after awhile it all comes togethger. The book is sad at parts, I feel sorry for "Weeze." She seemed so lonley. I liked the ending, it proved that people really do get good things, no matter what they have done.

I really liked this book. It was about a girl that lived on the island Rass. Her sister,Caroline, was so perfect. They treated Caroline better than they treated her. This book was so awesome! I definitly reccomend it for young audiences or for old audiences. This is an all around good book. You might think its boring at first but you have to hang in there, because the end is GREAT!

"Jacob Have I Loved" was most definitely the best book I have ever read. It is an amazing novel. Katherine Paterson is a wonderfully honest author with a dazzling sense of creativity. I recommend this book to almost any good reader, ages 10 and above. It is a book that should not be missed.

This is a wonderful book combined with an extraordinary collection of plates. The only problem is that virtually all the references in the text do not refer to the correct plates. This is really disappointing is such a fine, and expensive, book.

The Anatomy of Glory is a wonderful account of Napoleon's Guard, from its beginnings during the Revolutionary Wars to its end after Waterloo. The text is highly readable and engaging. The accompanying prints are wonderful, as are the useful appendices. I would recommend this to any student of Napoleonic history. The Tondu and his Grumblers seem to march across the pages of this seminal text.

I concur with the supportive opinions expressed here that this book, The Anatomy of Glory by Commandant LaChouque, et al, is the ultimate reference material for serious students of the History of the Imperial Guard.

I first came upon this wonderful book as a Senior at the University of Minnesota in 1984. My senior thesis was a study of Anglo-French Diplomacy during the Napoleonic period, and I find this book to be a wonderful source of information, not only information concerning the History of the Guard, but also more generalized history of the period itself.

This book, as stated, has a fabulous collection of artwork from the Anne Brown Collection at Brown U., and also does a wonderful job getting down to the nitty gritty concerning the Marshals, the Campaigns, the Politics of the Period, etc. Commandant LaChouque leaves no stone unturned in this hugely successful documentary on the Era.

The fact that this book centers the majority of its attention on Napoleon's Guard specifically is especially attractive to me since even now with the advent of the Internet it's still a bit of a tooth pull to get so complete an analysis of the history of one of the most courageous, loyal and dedicated organizations of professional soldiers the world has ever seen...La Garde Imperiale! These hardcore heroes richly deserve to be remembered, and this book does their memory ultimate honor.

The day I lost my original copy of this book was a sad one, and I'm very pleased I have now had, thanks to Amazon.Com, the opportunity to get a replacement. I most highly recommend this book for any gung-ho student of Napoleonic History...Vive L'Empereur!

The glory of the Imperial Guard resounds above all others in the annals of war. Created, built and nurtured as a bodyguard for Napoleon, it grew from a brigade of fewer than two thousand men into a virtual army, and became 'a human fortress which no one but [Napoleon] could dominate and no enemy could penetrate'. And, on such battlefields as Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Waterloo, it won the laurels of undying fame. Written by France's foremost historian of the Napoleonic Wars, Commandant Henry Lachouque, and translated and adapted by Anne S. K. Brown, this sumptuous work is enhanced by over 180 illustrations, including 86 plates in full colour. This new printing from the second, revised edition of Lachouque's masterwork will be especially welcomed by students of Napoleonic history. The plates alone are uniquely valuable as a source of uniform colours and style, and the text provides the definitive history of an elite body of men. With its vivid narrative and lavish illustrations, The Anatomy of Glory can lay justifiable claim to be one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published. The critical acclaim that greeted it upon its first publication provides ample testimony to its reputation. The Anatomy of Glory is both informative and entertaining: a work of unquestionable quality - termed a masterpiece by Elting - and a monumental contribution to Napoleonic literature.

I first saw this book and read it in high school. Since then, it has been an indispensable part of my Napoleonic library. It is full of information unobtainable eslewhere in English. The superb illustrations, from the Anne S.K. Brown Collection at Brown University, greatly enhance the presentation, Mrs Brown also being the translator. The book traces the Guard from its inception during the Revolution, its emergence as the Guard of the Consuls, and into its final evolution in 1804 as the Imperial Guard. The personalities who populate it are a truly talented and colorful group, from Pere Roguet, to Napoleon himself. The book almost appears as a personal narrative of the author, Commandant Lachouque, and while he has been accused of being somewhat biased, his references used for the book itself are impeccable. That the book has already stood the test of time is a virtue in itself. The new Introduction to the latest edition is by Col John Elting the noted suthority on the Napoleonic period, and new information on the Guard was discovered by him for this introduction. It not only enhances the Guard's formidable combat reputation, but the book itself. This book is a must for every Napoleonic enthusiast.

Susan Yates provides genuine help and insight for mothers of young children. I just had my first child and am feeling a bit overwhelmed. This book has helped me realize that I am not alone! Her writing is easy and enjoyable to read. She is a pastor's wife, but has struggled just like the rest of us. Motherhood is not easy and she doesn't claim it to be. It is a huge responsibility, but taken way too lightly in today's society. She provides great perspective and encouragement for the journey.

I really enjoyed this book. This book offers (as the title indicates) "encouragement for Mothers of Young Children" from a Christian perspective. She has five (5!) children, so in my books she has credibility as far as parenting goes. She covers many aspects of parenting small children from self-image, discipline, the atmosphere in the home to setting priorities. Her advice was so helpful to me as I raised my girls and will be a great blessing to anyone who reads it.
I just finished reading her new book "And Then I Had Teenagers". I highly recommend them!

I was excited to get this book, but found it slightly dissapointing. It was nice that the author is honest and admits to needing to get away from her kids and that they can drive her crazy at times. Most moms these days will not admit to that. The book did not really tell me anything I had not learned already from other parenting books. But all in all it was a good read.

AND THEN I HAD KIDS is my all-time favorite parenting book, and I've read dozens. While so many authors give parents specific how-to tips and make us feel like failures if we don't follow their advice exactly, Yates shows us it's a tough but often hilarious calling to raise young children.

Because her book was first published in 1988, readers today can be assured Yates knows what she's talking about. Her five children are now grown, married, and raising their own families. Since her husband and children have also written books, the Yates' successful parenting experience is documented in the various stages of their journey.

From this authority, Yates offers expert survival tips for mothers still in the trenches raising young children. Her book opens with the sinking feeling that her house is too quiet. Where are the twins? She discovers little black footprints trailing from the fireplace, across the brand new carpet, to the utility room freezer. "Peering inside, I found two little girls black with soot joyfully looking at books!" By seeing her in this situation, we understand she's been there, done that, and she knows what moms of young kids go through every day.

The book is divided into ten sections: the first chapter offers a general overview of the challenges that face mothers, then the next eight sections look at each challenge specifically and offer tips for overcoming them. Examples include maintaining a positive image, establishing priorities that work, becoming a best friend in marriage despite the heavy demands of child-rearing, disciplining children, and shaping a Christian home. She ends the book with ideas for parents heading into the teen years, which is another age she writes about in AND THEN I HAD TEENAGERS.

If you enjoy this book, you'll also like Yates' essays, which are archived on the site for Today's Christian Woman magazine. Parents of college students will be blessed by another book written by the Yates' sons, THE INCREDIBLE FOUR-YEAR ADVENTURE: FINDING REAL FAITH, FUN, AND FRIENDSHIP AT COLLEGE.

I highly recommend Yates' book for young moms, even going so far as to say it's my "Bible of parenting." I've given away so many copies of this book to women in need of encouragement, and I've read and reread it dozens of times myself. Although many more recent books have been written on this topic, this is one of the absolute best.

--Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester

I definitely recommend this book! It is very encouraging. Susan strikes a good balance - she is real about the struggles and frustrations but she also presents encouragement through perspective, God's nature and perspective, and practical ideas. You feel like there is someone who knows exactly what you're going through as you read the book.