O Books

I grew up on a farm with my mother having a vegetable garden, so growing plants is not a totally foriegn concept to me, but non-the-less, it's been a while since I've "hoed a row." I read the reviews of several books, including this one, and felt confident I was getting a good "go to" book with most everything I would need to start my garden - I was so pleased to be right! I live in the MN, Zone 4, which happens to be the same Zone the author lives in. So though the specific exampels I can apply to my garden, the information is so thorough and sound, I believe the principles can be applied to any Zone! The non-traditional ideas he presents in the book make so much sense! If you want the traditional straight skinny rows your grandmother or neighbor has, this book is not for you, but if you are interested in producing more with less space this book is a must have. I am a good third into it, and I felt every page so far has plenty of good advice without being too wordy, or technical. A very easy read, I can't wait to finish it and start planning my garden!! A thanks to the author for putting his knowledge and love of gardening on paper!

I am a beginner/novice/newbie to the growing food world so I want to get myself empowered with as much info as possible.

So this is just one of an arsenal of info I'm getting.

But the book is well written, came in good condition and was very prompt on delivery

What an incredible person. Ed wrote an invaluable book. There is so much information and it is so detailed. He makes gardening easy. Read this book and it leaves the guess work out of managing your garden!

This was a Christmas present and I spent most of the next few days reading and daydreaming. Now that Spring is around the corner, I'm planning and getting ready to plant.
This book has everything!
Now I understand why things didn't work previously - I hadn't used the right fertilizer, planted in the right sun/shade mix, or, most often, I'd planted veggies that didn't get along well right next to each other. But I approach this growing season with more optimism because this book has given me the knowledge I didn't have before.

Among a whole bookshelf of gardening books, this one is by far the best reference for vegetable gardening that I have found. Some of the examples and procedures are a little more in depth than I care to go myself, but the amount of information and details are amazing. He really knows his stuff. I keep going back to it over and over and over as a guide. I originally found this book in my local library branch and now I love having my own copy.

If you have aspirations of being in radio or t. v., or film, or just being one great individual in life. You should read the book "Personality Radio" by Dan O'Day. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Especially if you are in radio. You can't go wrong. In this book there is a lot of how to's. It is your road map as you travel the airways.

Al MacDonald, K A T Z Radio St. Louis

I am a radio announcer in Australia, unfortunatly noboby here is teaching what Dan O'Day has put in this book, It gave me the edge over all the other jocks. I go back over it when Im becoming stale it really is a must read book for anyone in the industry.

I bought this book after seeing Dan at a workshop. There is no real secret to the stuff Dan teaches, most of it is simple common sense. But how many of us actually stick by the rules on-air each day? The material from jocks around the globe makes interesting reading, and although everything they suggest may not be relevant to your market, just one suggestion could make a difference and it's therefore worth buying the book to see. As Dan says "Don't be better, be different"! Buy it!

Whenever I need to recharge myself about this great business of radio, I breeze through the number of stories by the pros that Dan features in the book. Whether you're new to radio or you've been at it for years pick it up and get behind a mic.

Personality Radio will quickly become more important to you than a good pair of headphones or digital editing. The advice and instruction are of the utmost value for rookies and veterans alike. The book is well written and simply put...a great read!

More importantly, you will find inspiration and energy in this book. I read a small portion every day before I go on the air to draw on this inspiration and to crank up my energy level.

You will take heart to find there are hundreds of people who've walked down the radio path that have had the same problems, fears, adventures, and joy you have.

Personality Radio should be on ever air talent's bookshelf and in the air studio of every radio station.

Khyber Knights is beyond best seller! It took me wholly to another world. This story is gripping, captivating, and intriguing, one of the best reads I've had in a long while.
Masterfully told, it reaches to the core of humanity while also providing valuable insight into a place and culture that is all but lost to us in recent years of global turmoil. On a contemporary horse journey, the author takes the reader from the crossroads of the ancient silk routes into the forbidden heart of Asia, to the hidden valleys of the Hindu Kush and the Karakorum, to cultures which extend hospitality to all, even the enemy, but also embrace evil and deceipt, as we know it.
O'Reilly calls his work fiction, based on a sequence of actual events, but it could only be written by one who experienced it. It's an artistic weave allowing the author to tell a bold and intimate story, straight from the heart. It encompasses personal dreams and convictions, hopes and delusions, adventure and heartbreak, horses and lovers, and the stark reality of embracing a country and culture that is not one's own.
Horses are the heart of the story, however, the golden mare Shavon, the fleet dun Pasha, the young roan Pukhtoon, and others. It's an account of passion and feeling in the realm of adventure, misadventure, and romance, a tale only a man could write, a story unique in the remarkable relationship of man and horse in journey.
As a horse traveler myself, I could only dream of such adventures, though I would never have survived them, let alone write the tale so boldly and true.
Khyber Knights takes us far beyond adventure, straight into the soul of humanity. The eloquent and vivid descriptions, historical background, poignant documentation, glossary, and superb illustrations contribute to better understanding of a culture so rich and ancient, while allowing the imagination to soar. It's a work of art. I treasure this book.

Today many of us live lives of relative comfort, insulated from the rigors of daily survival by the mechanisms of civilization. The ability to "escape" the confines of modern civilization has become considerably less attainable, making even the most determined explorer's attempts to find isolated and undiscovered locales difficult, if not impossible. No matter the venue or the feat, a safety net of communication and rescue is available even in the most extreme aspects of exploration. Nonetheless, in the1980's, CuChullaine O'Reilly, undertook travel that would seem impossible to most of us. Far from the protections and comforts tacitly assumed in modern travel, CuChullaine ventured into what is still considered one of the most dangerous regions of the world on a true quest to explore bushkazi, the world's most violent equestrian sport.

On horseback, CuChullaine rode into the backlands of Pakistan, isolated from the modern world of technology and social niceties. Reduced to the basic requirements of survival in a primitive and basic culture where the day-to-day concerns center on essentials such as the next meal, dodging the next bullet, lasting the next day in prison, and enduring the next illness, CuChullaine reports on his trek in a reflective and philosophical manner. His use of narrative is artful and compelling; his tale flows unimpeded by complaint or request for sympathy. Riding by choice into a primitive setting, his journey is as much an inner one of self-discovery of personal limits and capabilities as it is a record of overcoming physical hardships in a savage land. As such, Khyber Knights is an astounding chronicle of physical and mental challenge.

Those from the traveling set who seek warm beaches, fine dining, five-star hotels and first-class accommodations might not choose Khyber Knights as their primary travel guide. However, here is a tale of a journey worthy of all types of readers from those who enjoy vicarious experiences from the security of their armchairs to those bold explorers seeking inspiration for their next quest.

Khyber Knights looks like a perfectly normal book from the outside. A handsome painting graces the front cover and the back cover promises an epic journey that it dares you to survive. 'How exciting,' you think happily, sinking into a comfortable position and turning to the first page of what you expect to be a long, richly entertaining memoir into which you can look from the outside.

But to your shock, the saga of Khyber Knights has a peculiar, vivid power. It reaches up to grab you by your very soul with a frightening force. It pulls you down to face it with what courage you find in yourself as you follow the footprint of the author's true odyssey on horseback through one of the most dangerous places in the world in the early 1980s--Pakistan. And you learn soon enough what international journalist turned equestrian explorer Asadullah Khan (CuChullaine O'Reilly), has insinuated about surviving the experience of reading this book.

We converge with the fiery young Khan, a visitor who is so fascinated with the colorful Pakistani culture that he embraces living in Peshawar to carve his way into the soul of this savage, medieval country. When he finds eventually that he has entered, in his words "a portion of the world devoid of mercy," it is the genius of this book that he takes us with him. Perhaps at the start the young Khan has no idea of what a world devoid of mercy is really like any more than the rest of us, we who can deflect the challenges of real life with the shields of our eternal 24-hour conveniences, our enviable rights and privileges, and our almost egregious recourse to any measure to resolve our problems.

But in the epic Khyber Knights, Khan takes no prisoners with his readers. As he journeys across Pakistan with his companions and he learns about the spectrums of mercy and brutality, love and hate, courage and cowardice, strength and weakness, and much more, so do we. We struggle as he does to understand the foreign mind. We too fall in love with the exotic, the perfumed, the alluring and exciting, the curious, the sensuous, the astounding beauty of the remote geography, his loyal and passionately loved horses who accompany him sometimes to their cost despite his extreme efforts to keep them safe. Alongside Khan we are betrayed by corruption and barbaric, sadistic cruelty, exhausted to near death by ever-present danger, fear and the inhuman strain of the barren wasteland, bewildered by mercenary greed and inhumanity, heartbroken in despair, loss and loneliness. It is no exaggeration to say that Khan's collective experiences are unimaginable to the average postmodern.

Here we have the opportunity to realize how much dimension and richness of living we have lost in our sanitization of the authentic sweat, dirt, blood and tears that we have just about made extinct in our society. Many times during the reading of Khyber Knights I had such dread about what was going to happen next that I realized I was tensed, cold and stiff. At these times I had to force myself to keep reading. I happened to know that the author was still alive today, but what of the other people and the horses I had grown to care about? What had happened to them? I dreaded to know, but I had to. When I finished the book I felt that in a way I didn't just accompany Khan, I had made my own passage.

So at the same time that we are reminded what a joke the caricaturized Schwartzenager-esque "mow-em down" killer-hero has become, who destroys everything in his path, the good with the bad, we recall an older wisdom about the hero. This wisdom concerns not only the mythological or legendary figure or warrior of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability who performs acts that save the community from harm, or the man admired for his achievements and noble qualities. The hero is also the individual who shows great courage.

And in this sense Khan grows so visibly in strength and spirit and understanding, though no such achievement is claimed by him. The reader who is searching for meaning can read between the written lines and see beyond any possible doubt a young man who demonstrates steadfastness and pure heroic courage through trials that would simply destroy most people.

You will not only learn how safe and sheltered your life and will look at it with new eyes, you will get so used to looking at the world through Asadullah Khan's eyes, if you are an awake, aware person, by the end of this tale you will find yourself taking a hard look at your mirror to see who looks back. I did. And what I truthfully wondered, looking back as best I could into the eyes of my own image, was if I had a right to the pure luxury of standing there looking at myself in a mirror. Meeting Asadullah Khan made me question why I wasn't out there living instead of even for a moment watching my own image as if it were a symbol of my own self, something hanging in a dark closet behind closed doors.

Khyber Knights is a recounting of true events skillfully, realistically yet colorfully and compellingly, even passionately told, and in all these ways it is a work of art. And certain acts of creative imagination that we define as art call home the parts of our soul that linger outside us, as silk broken from a spider web rides a soft breeze. They reach into our longing for wholeness and for a moment, pull a sense of loss into our awareness as a bittersweet cosmic loneliness. Since art is so confused today with the media's distractions and entertainments, it is a rare work that has the power to trigger a shift in consciousness like this book.

Khyber Knights has a great deal of power indeed and it will force you to question many things. What they are depends on you. Yet, as 19th century Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle wrote, "Thought once awakened does not again slumber."

Dare to explore this antidote to postmodern complacency.

Khyber Knights is a rattling good account of high adventure in wild - and not so wild - places that could, with a little chronological adjustment, have been lifted straight out of the Great Game at the height of the British imperial raj. Almost in fact what the British used to call a ripping yarn. It keeps faith with the derring-do of Henry Pottinger, Arthur Conolly, Alexander Burnes and Josiah Harlan and in some instances exceeds them. Indeed it is almost a study of imperialist behaviour without the imperialists. When I came to the end, I felt that real sense of loss that invariably comes with the last page of a really good read. Wonderful stuff. Kipling would have loved it. If this doesn't get armrchair travellers out of their chairs and heading off in search of peak to climb or a desert to explore, then nothing will.
Derek O'Connor, author of The King's Stranger.

I spent the last two days reading Khyber Knights.
I couldn't put the book down and now that I have read the last sentences I feel orphaned. What an amazing account of even more amazing adventures.
Expecially the second part of the book captured me, the words were no longer words,
they were an avalanche, a tidal wave, a hurricane.
I read so fast that I must have missed sentences - I indulged in the raw beauty and horror of what was written. The book is not your usual superficial travelbook, no, it takes you to the heart of the matter. While we travel with CuChullaine on his splendid horse through the wild wild north of Pakistan we search our soul and we ask ourselves what risks we are prepared to take to find fulfilment and to live life to the full.
CuChullaine's love for horses brought tears into my eyes, the loyalty to his friends made me
wonder if it was madness or courage that made him do what he did, the descriptions
of nature gave my heart wings, the craving for freedom and the longing to follow
the wind obliterated the doubts I sometimes have about my nomadic life style.
Khyber Knights is a must read and I must warn you, after you've read the last pages you won't be able to read another book for a while.
Arita Baaijens, Dutch desert explorer and writer

I am a very beginning knitter. I do know how to knit and purl. This book has you make a sampler to start off with. She walks you through step by step. It is so easy and I am amazed at what I was able to do. I am getting ready to make the sweater, but with the sampler, I have already proved I can do the stitches.

This is a wonderful book! I'm just now working on the sampler and I can see that I am learning a lot of new techniques. There are lots of great ideas and techniques for making and creating your own sweaters! A worthwhile purchase!

Jan

I am a learn-by-doing-and-watching person. I do not generally learn well from books, although I have purchased several, including Barbara Walker's Knit from the Top and several Zimmermann books. Nevertheless, if you are serious about improving your knitting and want to have a little fun at it, too, this is the book. The key to this book is to knit the "sweater sampler" by which Fee takes you through all the techniques she can think of to construct a sweater. Fee's writing style is deceptively simple and VERY easy to follow, even for this very visual learner.

Even if you're not into knitting sweaters [I live in Mississippi, VERY little use for wool, although I love it]the techniques acquired working your way through the book give you the capability to make it past the "bumps" we all experience with traditional knitting instructions.
Which brings me to my second major point. I absolutely abhor line-by-line knitting directions and any knitted pieces requiring sewing or other seaming. By that I mean seamless knitting is the only way to go and Fee's workbook takes you there, although she includes instructions for "flat" knitters as well.

So, regardless of your preferred method of knitting, flat or circular, seamed or seamless, there is a great deal to be gained from this book. Although I have also acquired a great fondness for Elizabeth Zimmermann's writing, the DVD's for Zimmermann's instructional sections are better and make the techniques far more accessible to the average knitter who lacks a more experienced knitter for assistance. There is no such shortcoming with Fee's workbook, which means you can take it with you and work your way through it without access to video or computer equipment.

I really, really like this book and of the several knitting books I have purchased this one has taken me a long way to designing my own sweaters and other items without having to resort to a pattern wedded to a particular gauge, needle and yarn size.

I also strongly recommend you get the spiral bound version - it's definitely worth the few extra dollars you spend on it

Many thanks, Ms. Fee. And I would adore a DVD workshop "book" as well; if it would turn out to be anything like the book, I'd be glued to the computer with wool and needles in hand.

This is a really great book. If you take the time to knit the sampler, you will learn so many useful techniques. I learned a lot from this book. This is a good book for beginners or for anyone who hates to sew seams. The only complaint I have is that all of the sweaters in this book have raglan sleeves. But other than that I would recommend this book.

This book is for knitters who want to take the next step and design their own sweaters. It is not a book to glance through in order to glean ideas - it is a book to STUDY. There are some patterns/designs included, but whether or not you like the author's designs is irrelevant - the whole point is to understand how to make your OWN designs from any yarn. I spin my own yarn. I don't want to use anyone else's patterns! This book, along with KNITTING IN THE OLD WAY, and KNITTING FROM THE TOP DOWN, is a teacher, a class, and a reference book all in one. It is not for the faint-hearted! It is for the knitter who says, "I CAN DO IT MYSELF."

I have really appreciated this book for its honesty and candidness with the author's struggles as well as some practical information on how to navigate the infertility world with hope, grace, and a view on the Lord.
Thanks

This is the best book I have read on infertility! Easy to relate to, wonderful biblical reference, and brought me peace in a time of hardship. Enjoy and share!

OH what a wonderful book! We struggled with Infertility for years and spent thousands of dollars on treatments with what seemed like no end in sight. I felt so broken, so desperate....I always questioned WHY was this happening to me. Even though my husband was always wonderful & supportive I still hurt...we BOTH did. This book helped me out so much & completely changed the way I looked at my Infertility. I learned so much about myself & the "burden bearers" section of the book was most helpful in telling family members how they could handle this delicate situation as many of them unknowingly can sometimes say the most hurtful things. I had relied on God in the past for support & know that I wouldn't have made it without His comfort & strength as long as I did...but when I began reading this book and found the right places to search in the bible for specific verses, I was a changed woman. This book taught me great patience and that this was a time for me to grow & become closer to God. It gave me great hope and understanding about my struggles with Infertility.....and before I could even get to the end of the book....I got pregnant!!! All in God's time...and what perfect timing it was....just a few days before Thanksgiving! I'm now 13 weeks along and have seen my baby at 3 different times on ultrasound....the baby is perfectly healthy and we are so blessed. I was at my wit's end before starting this book. Of all the books I'd read on Infertility this one helped me the most & I would highly recommend it to anyone else who loves the Lord & is ready to trust in Him completely with their Infertility struggles. Best wishes to all those trying to conceive...may your journey be a short one!

This book is really life changing. It opens your heart and mind up to issues, thoughts, and feelings you may never have dealt with. This book is very well written and easy to understand. I can't imagine someone NOT liking it and gleaning something from it.

Since we began this new leg in our journey, I've been reading everything infertility related that I can get my hands on. The first full length book I've read dedicated exclusively to this subject is Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart In The Midst Of Infertility.

Hannah's Hope is written by Jennifer Saake, previously mentioned on this blog and mother to two living children. She and her husband have walked the road of infertility for 15 years and they have had their hearts broken by several miscarriages and even more failed adoptions. The book is appropriate for women at any stage of infertility, though she writes mostly for a general audience and less for specific problems within infertility.

The structure of each chapter of Ms. Saake's book is a passage (usually a single verse) of scripture, a historical fiction retelling of Hannah's story (the mother of Samuel), Ms. Saake's writings on the subject of the chapter, probing questions on the subject at hand, a list of scriptures for meditation, and a passage (never more than a page) written to the loved ones of people struggling with infertility, designed to give the loved ones special insights and ways to support their friend or family member.

One thing I appreciate about Ms. Saake's book is her conversational tone. The book is a very easy read, and Ms. Saake's pen flows as easily and comfortably as I imagine her tongue would if she were sitting with you having a cup of coffee. Throughout the reading, I felt as if I were sitting across the table from a friend as she shared some of her innermost thoughts. This put me at ease to explore my own thoughts, agreeing with her in most cases, disagreeing with her in others, and overall deepening my intentional thoughts on our own journey.

The historical fiction retelling of Hannah's story from I Samuel 1 is designed to explore the thoughts Hannah (and occasionally some of the other main characters) may have had as she grieved her way through her own infertility journey. Through the process, the reader develops a kinship with the biblical heroine, taking comfort in the fact that though she lived thousands of years ago, her struggle was largely the same as that of a woman today and is not unknown to the heart of God.

As Ms. Saake divulges her own history and feelings, the reader is taken on a journey through exploring anger, jealousy, fear, bitterness, grief, disappointment, stress, hope, and intimacy with the Almighty. She tackles issues from fear, to bioethics, to the strength of the marital relationship, and most importantly, the infertile couple's walk with God. She is sensitive and gentle while still bold with her convictions.

There is no false piety at all in Ms. Saake. Everything is brutally honest yet still respectful of the sovereignty of God. On more than one occasion, I felt like I was reading my own thoughts simply penned by Ms. Saake's hand. There was comfort and validation in "aha! someone else has felt this way too!"

Ms. Saake does not dwell in the depths of her feelings. She provides thoughtful scriptural encouragement while at the same time refraining from giving pat answers and comfort cliches. She adds her own thoughts and insights as revealed to her through meditation and experience.

My favorite passage in the book reads:


She [the woman at the well] sought happiness in the arms of men. Jesus provides peace that could be found in none other than Himself.

I sought joy in the new life of a baby. Jesus offers New life in Himself.

I wanted to know the feeling of carrying another soul inside my body. He provides the Holy Spirit to indwell me.

I longed to nurse a child. Paul wrote, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:2-3).

I dreamed of watching my baby grow and mature. But am I ever-growing in Christ? "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14).

I bemoaned the "bread of adversity" I felt unfairly called to taste. The Lord answers with the cross: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).

I pleaded for a child to enrich my days on earth. He commands, "But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:20-21).

p 95



Ms. Saake does not promise anyone a happy ending. She admits that even though she now has two living, biological children, the scars of infertility will always leave an ache in her heart. The journey God has taken her on through this process has not been completed or nullified by the successful conception and birth of children. I would guess that this would be of special comfort to those either struggling with secondary infertility or who still feel a loss that their family is not what they imagined or hoped it would be.

She exhorts the reader,

While Satan imprisons some with bondage to past sins, he can entangle others in what seems to be a good and righteous goal, causing them to lose sight of God in the midst of self-evaluation.
p 49



That hit me as especially poignant because I've been stewing so much about this lately that I need to guard my own heart against making motherhood my idol. That is an important challenge for every mother, mother to be, or mother at heart.

I found some of the "Burden Bearer" passages (written to friends and family members of infertile couples) to be helpful, and others were not of particular significance to me. I appreciated her frankness with her advice of how to support, and in some cases, how to refrain from causing more hurt, on infertile loved ones. One thing that should be noted is that the passages are to be read in conjunction with the rest of the book and are not intended to be read independently.

My primary critique of the book is that each chapter is very brief. Just when I thought "ok, we're tackling something I'm really struggling with," Ms. Saake moves on to another subject. I longed for her to exegete the scriptural passages she offered and share more details on the HOWS of her journey and the conclusions she's made. I don't think that this is a flaw, per say, because I don't think it was ever the author's intent to give an exhaustive chronicle of infertility and so I cannot blame her for not writing as if it were. This was simply was more of a disappointment--I longed to delve deeper with my new found friend in to emotions that are for me, still raw and in need of exploration. The approach is just a matter of personal preference and I'm sure for as many as there are of women like me who longed for more depth, there are equally many women who appreciated the brevity.

However, the ease of the flow of the book makes this a very excellent, easily accessible and processed resource for pastors, ministerial staff and anyone else truly interested in learning an "insider's perspective" on infertility. One of my very favorite chapters in the book was on how the church could help break its own silence on this matter and offer comfort to those in their congregations who are burdened with this grief. I only wish it were longer!

Overall, my impression of the book is very positive. I would heartily recommend it to anyone at any stage in their infertility journey. I also recommend it as a must-have resource for any pastor. I do recommend it for loved ones of the infertile, with the disclaimer that this book is not written specifically to give you (the loved one) advice, and reading it should be done with the intention of understanding the heart of your infertile friend or family member, and not specifically equipping with you with the "how tos" of what to do as the friend (though there is some).

Brava, Jennifer! A valiant, sincere, and godly effort that is very much appreciated.

Since my book is older, it was a used version, the hints are for older things. It does have some helpful tools, but lots of the annoyances, I already knew about.

This book is written in a very easy to understand language. The hints are pratical and should help everyone in some way. Microsoft will not tell you much of how to make your operating system work the way YOU want it to. Steve Bass takes care of that. It is a valuable resource for anyone who has a PC, novice or experienced. I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about computers and I even learned a few new tricks.

I am still pretty much a neophite where computers are concerned, so I bought this book hoping that it could get me out of the "messes" I'm always getting into. It really DOES help! Thank you!!! Steve Bass, I'm now searching for other books you have written.

This is the first computer book I actually said down and read, cover to cover. It holds your interest, and each tip gets you excited for the one to follow. I call it my AHA book. All the time you read it, you go "Aha! That's the problem!" or "Aha! That's how to get rid of that!". Can't recommend it highly enough.

I've read many computer books, and I have to say this is one of the most informative. More important, Steve provides hundreds of tips to overcome the small (and large) problems of Windows. It's nice to konw that even a well-known computer columnist experiences the same frustrations we ordinary users do. Happily, he willing to share the solutions he's found.

In my first reading, I discovered the answers to at least 7 windows annoyances I've encountered.

And instead of including a cost-raising CD, the publisher has made 100 utility programs available online, a better solution that including them on a quickly outdated disk.

A useful, and often amusing book.

You need it!

In some (if not all) of the versions of the Teen Study Bible I have noticed just one of the Dear Sam letters that I don't agree with. When Sam wrote back to someone saying Blasphemy is an unforgivalble sin, I knew unless you reformed and turned to GOD, blasphemy can indeed be forgiven. It is a wonderful thing what Jesus, Son of God has done for us! To forgive all our sins. No sin is unforgivable. No sin is. Not one. The only way a sin is unforgivable is if you commit sins and never accept what Jesus did. Then how could your sins be forgiven? The choice of accepting Christ as savior is a matter of eternal life and death. Jesus makes it very clear that HE is the truth, the way, and the life!God is all powerful! In Luke 10 it says that "Whoever sins against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." That verse merely means that only if you sin and do evil things against the Holy Spirit, you apparently do not have the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, you can't accept Christ.
However, maybe Sam knew that. (And I'm sure she did). I just think it could be more clear. It is completely your choice wheather to NEVER accept Jesus, therefore if you are WILLING to avoid the point where you hate the Holy Spirit and never WANT to come back into the grace if GOD, than you shall be saved! The LORD is wonderful. Sam's letters are great and empowering. Jesus loves Sam spreading HIS WORD.

This is a GREAT Bible for teens because it is understandable, yet not cheesy. I love it! It makes it understandable and it includes a Bible Study plan showing what book of the bible to start and show how often you should read to finish it in 1 year or 2 years. Also includes real life situations...questions, answers, THIS is the book you need to get through LIFE!!

Being 14 years old I thought that the only Christan stuff cool enough for me was hardcore Chirstan rock. This book has proved me wrong. I know that BEHOLD THE BOOGNISH! I WILL CONQUER YOU AND YOUR PATHIC SHEEPISH WAYS everything about the Bible is totally awesome!...

My mom says that when she was, like, a teen or something, she couldn't understand the bible because it said like "Thou" and stuff and other words that sound like books written by old people. That's why she went to the mall and got me this bible because it's more, like, modern or something? Whatever -- it ROCKS.

The Bible normally seems confusing, rigid, and boring. This Bible is quite the opposite! The bible is colorful, easy-to read and UNDERSTAND! It definately makes the bible enjoyable and fun. The notes and other added things really help teens. I got this Bible as a 18 year old and still interesting at 19(although I am thinking about up-grading to a Woman's Bible).

Definately recommend to any pre-teen or teen!

But I have loved all the books in the series. That being said, this one was fabulous. They Gears do a good job of making the stories interesting and entertaining but if you are into the pre-history there is so much information in there well placed in broad daylight but it all blends together beautifully.

I have purchased the entire set of these books from Amazon. They were all delivered in great condition, not to mention how exciting it is to read about the "olden" days and how life was lived before trains, planes, automobiles, stupid music and electricity!!! WHAT????..No washer?..Go to the river! No dryer?..Wait for the sun to shine!...No toilet paper?..use your own imagination on that one! And get hooked on these great books.

I've loved everything I've read by the Gears and I've read just about everything they have published. Wonderful interposing of fiction onto the facts! They use their expertise as anthropologists and as story tellers to combine what really has been found about North American Indians and interpose a very believable story onto it. They really make the past come alive! The inclusion of what has really been found by anthropologists adds tremendously to the books!

If you like the Gears and haven't read it you need to. If you haven't read the Gears try this one. This was the first one I read and I had a bit of a problem at first following there style of writing a book...but I got over that fairly quickly as things progressed and I realized what and how it was written.

These characters are absolutely endearing. Based on historical facts of the Hopewells it is a marvelous journey based on suspense, humor and the supernatural. It made me addicted and craving more of there books! Try it out, as you can see I am not the only one telling you you won't be disappointed!

Though the book does follow the basic formula of the other books in the series, it has quirks and differences that make it absolutely hilarious and engrossing. Not that the book is a comedy, but the way the characters interact is priceless.
I admit, I'm pretty bored with the basic plot of these books -- variations on Young Person Runs Away From Arranged Future (or abusive tribesmember) -- but even if this series has left you cold due to the politics (if that's the case, just ignore the beginning), get this book! A well-turned tale, with wonderful, sympathetic characters and a wonderful tour of maybe a third of North America.

New Slant on Life will show you things that you can use today to better enjoy your life. I was especially impressed with the section "How to Live With Children" that helped me greatly in my relationship with my child. If you only ever read one Scientology book, I'd recommend this one.

When of the first books I read when first starting to study Scientology. I still refer to it and use it 18 years later. Some basic ideas that can change your life!

ENjoy!

There was a chapter that changed my life and my idea on effort. The Chapter "Anatomy of Failure" explained that a person's downfall comes from things not happening the way they want. This was true for me. My life was a long chain of failures and I was miserable from failing. So, the change came with the advice to intend for life to keep on happening the way life keeps on happening--and a healthier way of living to try to change things for the better BUT not to be broken hearted when failure occurs. Hello! I thought I always had to be gung-ho and do or die and I was just killing myself because not everything goes my way. So I was stupid. I guess this is a confession, not a review. However, each chapter is a different subject and an excellent insight into the scope of the Scientology religion. Don't be scar'd! Books don't bite.

For anyone interested in finding out what Scientology is all about, I recommend this book first. It isn't "about" Scientology - rather, it is a little piece of the kinds of things we learn in Scientology.

Composed of essays, it gives a look into how the mind works, what the relationship is between the mind, spirit, and body, a brief look at what our capabilities are as spiritual beings, and some applicable rules about life and livingness. You can study the material, apply it to your own life, and see how it works FOR YOU.

This is a great first book for anyone interested in the subject.

Out of all of L. Ron Hubbard's works, this is the most straight forward and interesting. This book makes it easy to understand Scientology and apply it to your life.

I love this series. Besides being silly and fun to read, they also point out that it is ok to be different. This is a great message for kids, especially with the terrible shootings that have plagued our country. A message of acceptance is needed for all. Of course, my class just loves Tacky. He is a character everyone must get to know.

Very cute story, very engaging with hilarious illustrations. This is a great book - we travel alot so I tend to purchase a lot of paperback picture books (portable!) and this is one of our favorites.

It's been many, many years since I read this book, the last time being in my childhood. It's been a while, but I still remember Tacky with fondness. In fact, I was just thinking about him earlier today. I loved this book sooo much when I was a child, and highly recommend it for both kids and parents alike.

My son from an early age marched to a beat of a different drummer. We discovered this book when he was 5, and it was a great thing in his life. I was recently asked to name the most influential non-religious book in our lives and believe it or not this was it. Tacky helped our son believed that there was a place in the world for both the straight-laced run-of-the-mill kids and the more creative types. He is leaving to college today, his third year , and I just had to write this review in thanks. Our son has a lot of self-esteem and this book helped him find it. If you have a quirky kid, this book is a must. If you have a 'normal' kid, but they have a quirky friend this is a good book too, because it doesn't put down either sets of people, or penguins as the case may be. We of course have the whole book memorized and can make any of us smile by starting any of the phases in the book. If we save one of the children's books in our library, Tacky would be by FAR it.

My little sister was "Tacky" in a school play in about 4th(?) grade. (they put it on for the little kids) Now we're grown and have kids of our own and NEED this book because it's ingrained in our heads... Gotta love TACKY!