T Books

This book requires more concentration than others to comprehend. However it is worth the effort. Am still reading and will reread again. We can explore other dimensions ourselves, given enough energy and correct techniques.

With a deep interest in Toltec philosophy, I purchased this book based on the reviews on Amazon. My initial reading along with my experiental unfolding of the content of the book, simply does not comport with the claims of others in the review section of Amazon. I have no malice against the author, nor do I wish to impugn his work. I am only reporting my experience. Within the context of my expereince, Lujan's book read as any novel might. As far as the book being a catalyst for non-ordinary states of perception - never happened for me. That is not to say the relative merit of the book is to be avoided. The only one that can make that judgement is you!

I will say that my most powerful experiences of the Toltec Teachings have mostly been driven by the work of Theun Mares and Carlos Castaneda. Both of whom stand alone in my view.

I am a long-term student of the study of consciousness, altered states, Castaneda (and his crew), Chi Kung, Gnosis, Lucid dreaming and meditation. These have allowed me to understand what it is like to objectify not only "external" reality, but also the various levels of the mind/personality, mainly and formost the EGO!

This type of inner objectivity will come and go, as consciousness moves in and out of it's phases of distraction and "waking sleep". This sleep and distraction cause us to lose track of the fact that we are unconscious psychologically when we are walking around with our eyes open daily or in bed snoozing. This means also being unaware of our reactions to our environment, impulses from other levels of the Universe and to our own inner workings.

Though i have done my best to remain vigilant and wakeful, when it comes to recognizing all of the shrouds to consciousness, moment-to-moment in my life, i have never recieved such an immediate boost (over the course of a week) to this ability (besides, occasional spontaneous inner experiences) as with the slow reading and digestion of the imagery created by this book .....imagery seems to be the key factor here. I now view my own inner activity in minute detail, and remember, when interracting with impressions from beyond me, that they are indeed that. I also keep a-mind that what we call "reality' is shifting cosmic dust, that i, less and less, need to be reactive to. This type of awareness also now naturally accompanies me on my way in and out of the sleep state, which i think will lead to breakthroughs in dream awareness, as i continue.

For those who have not responded to this work with changed perception, it may be due to not having a foundation for knowing what to look for.....otherwise it may be that they may already be "there"! There may also be a problem if you have trouble allowing imagery to unfold in your mind's eye.

I also have plans to accompany my reading with Carlos's Tensegrity/Magical Passes work. This, as well, has caused an immediate energetic response in me, after viewing the beginning of the Magical Passes disc, while casually trying only four of the basic movements......i can't even imagine what full-blown practice would produce! Having a strong prior foundation in Chi Kung (Qi Gong), may afford me an edge with this though.

Whether or not Castaneda and these guys are authentic, in the eyes of their critics, i have to say, personally, that they have truly hit upon something that carries monumental significance to our race. Why not try it before you trash it?

The Force is out there for us all.

Most of the 5 star reviews here are the ONLY reviews that the reviewers made.

What's up with that?!

I found the book to be well-intentioned while also rambling and perhaps a bit confused.

obviously the author is doing his best to convey his experiences through the written word and that is something to be commended. the allusion of the author's name to Castaneda's "don Lujan" is a bit comical.

Im quite fond of this book, I have read all the carlos castaneda books easily 30+ times, taken notes.. the works. This is definitly worth checking out if you have an interest in this type of thing, I find it to be much more practical. Im on the verge of buying a few more copies to give to my friends and family. Onward to infinity!

This was a wonderful addition to my Christmas advent celebration (audio version)! Others have explained the story line, so I'll only add that I found the quality of the narration and sound to be excellent (one demon has a very funny/cheesy voice, but upon reflection, it seems appropriate that a lesser demon would have to pretend to be scary since the poor things have no true power over us!) This production reminded me of the excellent Focus on the Family Radio Theatre productions which I also enjoy.

I love the fact that this story is presented in visions of warfare and heavenly battles since it is so very easy to forget that the battle that has raged since the beginning of time hasn't ended yet. We are still called to be warriors; remembering that our enemy is not flesh and blood and our weapons are not made by human hands.

Listening to this story will put you in a place of awe and wonder and maybe even cheering out loud for our conquering King! There is love, truth, and redemption in this story. A genuinely uplifting way to prepare for Christmas!

p.s. For those who critique everything "spiritual" by requiring that every word come from the Word and be filtered through your doctrinal beliefs, you are missing the point entirely. God's story didn't end hundreds of years ago when the Bible was written, nor does the Bible contain every bit of human, much less spiritual, history of the world. Nor does it contain all of the future (after all, it doesn't mention each of us who passionately believe and are "on mission" for Christ in this day and age,) and we are very much a part of God's cosmic story!

A Cosmic Christmas is without doubt one of the best books ever. I'm 11 years old, in the 4th grade, and want the book for Christmas. Even if you're not a Christian you should read a Cosmic Christmas because it is so entertaining. The plot makes you want to keep reading and holds you in suspense. This book is a major contribution to our world literature, and I think it is just as good, if not better, than Harry Potter.

Max Lucado looks at the Christmas story from a very different angle in his first novel. Loosely based upon the scriptures, the story tells of Gabriel being summoned by the Lord to go to Earth and deliver a great message3 that is reminiscent of the opening scenes of "It's a Wonderful Life". There are some fictional angels who appear now and then, but it helps to flesh out the story. The most poignant scenes are when Gabriel does arrive on Earth and actually is protecting Mary from Satan just before the birth of the Messiah - this is, of course, a fictionalized account.

However, the book does have its drawbacks. First, the size and shape of the book make it awkward to hold and read. This sounds petty, but it was a real problem for me. Also, the illustrations did not add to the story and were misplaced. I could have done without them. Most importantly however is that the book is just too short. There are not enough details and it really feels more like an outline than a compete story.

Why 3 stars?:
While Lucado's first novel is an interesting take on the story of the Nativity, it was not designed particularly well. It will make a nice addition to Lucado fans' bookshelves, but otherwise it could be skipped.

what i understood the intent of this book to be was that lucado wanted to convey the message of the vast love of God. i think he did this exceptionally. the books reads quickly (about 2 hours), and is worth buying for your personal library.

I am especially intrigued by how lucado described the Godhead (oneness) -- very accurate!

I always imagined Jesus' birth as a peaceful event, lambs lowing, all's right with the world. This book opened my eyes to other possibilities and it's probably much closer to the truth.

"The Divine Plan of the Ages" was written in 1886 by Charles Taze Russell, one of the innovative religious thinkers to step forward in the United States during the 19th century. Other examples would include Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy and Ellen G. White. Russell founded the Bible Students, a movement that much later developed into the Jehovah's Witnesses. However, the Witnesses have abandoned many of Russell's original ideas, so this edition of "The Divine Plan" is not published by the Watchtower Society, but by a independent group of Russelites in Canada. Amazon customers should note that this is only the first volume in a seven-volume work, known as "Studies in the Scriptures". The entire set is available at another product page.

Russell's ideas are really to complex to be commented upon in a short review. Only the bearest out-line of "The Divine Plan of the Ages" is possible here. Anyone who reads the Bible is immidiately struck by real or apparent contradictions, for instance between the Old Testament and the New Testament, or between the Pauline epistles and Revelation. Russell attempts to harmonize the various end-time scenarios with each other, creating a fascinating synthesis of his own. His main idea is that God have offered different kinds of salvation to different categories of people. Jesus came to gather a small minority of really devout followers, who would be willing to sacrifice their humanity to follow him completely. These will be transformed into mighty spirit beings at the Second Advent, seated in Heaven next to Jesus, from where they would rule the world. The majority of Christians, however, while justified by faith in Jesus, will never reach such a high level of perfection. They will be resurrected to an earthly existence during the Millenium. Russell imagined that the Millenium wouldn't be completely perfect. Mortality and evil would still exist, but at a much smaller scale than today, since society would be ruled by the resurrected saints of the Old Testament, and ultimately by Jesus himself. Esentially, the Millenium is a kind of benign theocracy. Thus, Russell harmonizes the more spiritual Kingdom of God of the Gospels with the more political Kingdom of Revelation or the Old Testament, by declaring that they are both true.

One of Russell's more innovative ideas was the notion that all humans, living or dead, would be given a "second chance" during the Millenium. In this way, he solved the vexing problem of the unsaved millions of humans, who according to traditional Christian belief go straight to Hell, for no other fault than never hearing the message of the Gospel. In Russell's scenario, all humans are resurrected during the millenial reign of Christ, and put on probation. If they refuse to accept the Gospel message even then, they will eventually be destroyed. Thus, Russell was not a strict Universalist, but his scenario nevertheless allows for more people to be saved than, say, Calvinism.

Other ideas usually associated with Russell are also expounded in this book. Russell denied the existence of Hell and an immortal soul, no doubt because of a literal reading of the Old Testament, some would say over-literal. He believed that the resurrection of Jesus was spiritual. Jesus rose from the grave as a spirit-being, not as a human. This idea, anathema to "traditional" Christians, explains the curious appearences and disappearences of the resurrected Jesus recorded in the Gospels. Also, Russell points to Paul's statements about "heavenly bodies" as proof of his contention. He is not unsympathetic to the plight of the workers, and occasionally lashes out against giant corporations, predicting sharpened class struggles and even socialist revolutions. However, Russell eventually recommends his followers to abstain from politics, instead concentrating on spreading the Gospel and live moral lives. Russell was also a Christian Zionist, believing that Israel would become the most prominent nation on Earth during the Millenium. While it would be a Christian Israel, in other writings he explicitly rejected attempts by Christians to convert the Jews, instead supporting a return to Orthodox Judaism. The rationale behind this is not explained in "The Divine Plan of the Ages". Russell's failed prophecy about the Millenium commencing in 1914 is not included in this work either, but belongs to the second volume. However, the curious idea that God has a body, and is hence limited in space, although omnipotent in power, is mentioned.

Some of these ideas sound vaguely familiar, probably because we associate them with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Others sound odd to us, since the Witnesses rejected them during their amazing expansion through-out the world. In a sense, Russell is the least known of the innovative religious founders of 19th America. Reading this book fills a gap.

A absolute must read , if you want to know the God of Justice and not the God of Just Us.

This book abolutely opened my eyes to the incredible Plan God has as revealed in the Bible! The author lays out beautifully how God has different periods of time which progress toward the blessing of all mankind. There are so many good people today who are not Christians, but the DIVINE PLAN explains everybody will actually have their first real opportunity to choose God when Satan is out of the way in God's Kingdom. Everybody is already praying for His will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven." But this book explains how that will work. And it explains how all the evil in the world is not because God doesn't have enough power or love to stop it. It gives scriptures for everything. It makes so much sense!

This book is the only one that accurately and harmoniously presents the truth of the Scriptures. It lives up to its title, "The Divine Plan of the Ages". It answers all reasonable questions on the Scriptures. A must have and a must read.

It is truly a vindication of the character of God.

As an explanation of the problem of evil, this book is the best ever written. C.S. Lewis made a valiant attempt in The Problem of Pain, but his book is an apologetic of discredited Christian traditions, and as Amazon reviews demonstrate, is unsatisfying at an emotional level.

The Jewish answer is famous, too: "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People." It's conclusion: there are some things even God can't do.

The Divine Plan of the Ages, which was written in the 1880s, was a seminal work that, as Progress and Poverty by Henry George did to the world of economics, turned the religious world upside down. It was considered so subversive that bookstores refused to sell it, and churches organized book-burning parties to destroy it. It's a credit to our day that Amazon carries this book, which has been almost entirely promoted for the last 120 years by people who love the Bible, whose lives were changed for the good by the powerful insights contained in this book.

If you're a Christian who, say, wonders about the controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism, this book is for you.

If you're a missionary who feels like you are trying to sweep back the tide with a broom, this book will revive your faith.

If you're a skeptic who has become disillusioned with the answers offered by Christian apologists, you'll discover that the Bible is more harmonious than you ever dreamed, and the reasonable prospects for the future of mankind are brighter than even Christians have dared to hope.

I read this book at the age of 17 and it changed my life forever, leading me to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life. More than that, it unlocked the simple, Biblical keys that present a victorious gospel, a fair and just God, and a balanced view of what's happening in the global village today.

This book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever; is about a girl named Melissa and her struggle with getting leukemia again. Jory is Melissa's best friend and she throws a party at the beach for Melissa, because she was one of the finalists for a National Merit Scholarship. It is at this party that Jory finds out Melissa's Leukemia is back. The first time Melissa was able to have chemo therapy but this time Melissa has to have a bone marrow transplant and her brother is the bone marrow donor. For a long time Melissa is sick after receiving the bone marrow. To help pay for the medical bills Melissa's best friend Jory has a carnival and calls it Melissa Austin Day, all the money raised and donated on that day goes towards paying the medical bills. Also Jory is able to get her parents (who are rich) to get their friends to donate money to Melissa's family. Later the bone marrow ends up taking and then Melissa gets sick from meningitis.
I liked this book because it is sad and touching how Jory is such a good friend to help Melissa's family by raising money to help pay the medical bills. If I was ever sick I hope my friends would care enough to do the same for my family. It shows me how bad thing happen to good people even when they don't deserve to have this happen to them.
There is not anything that I did not like about this book. I found it a very fast reading book and hard to put down.
The author of this book, Lurlene McDaniel, is one of my favorite authors. I like her books because they are touching and have a lot to do with people with illnesses and real life issues.

What a great book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever is! It is the sequel to Too Young To Die. I recommend that you read Too Young To Die first, in order to understand better this one. This book is about two best friends, Jory and Melissa, and about Melissa fighting with leukemia. It is really a very sad story, it almost made my cry! I felt as if I knew Melissa myself and I was watching her suffering leukemia and the bone marrow transplant. I wish I had a friend like that, who would always be with me, no matter what! And I really liked the way Michael (Melissa's brother) and Jory's relationship ended being much better in the end.

Have you ever stopped and thought life is too short so enjoy it? If you have not you need to read the book called Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever by Lurlene McDaniel. The reason why you should read it is because it proves we get so wrapped up with school and jobs. That we hardly ever stop and give thanks for the time we have now.

A girl named Jory found out life was to short. Jory Delaney's best friend since 5th grade Melissa Austin found out 1year ago when she was 16 that she had leukemia a type of cancer. It changed Melissa's life and Jory's. Melissa started chemo and it caused her to start loosing hair, she had to stay out of the sun and she had to be careful not get way to excited. It also caused her to start loosing weight and caused her to loose her skin color and became really pail. She ended up getting better then it turned and she got worse. She ended up having to go to the hospital again. Do you want to know more? If so, read the book and you'll find out the rest of the story.

It's through this experience and loss that Jory came to realize you should live life to its fullest because you really don't know how long you got to live. Make sure thought that you are safe because you could be the one that causes it to end sooner that it should.

Sometimes the things we see and experience through life teaches us the importance of life. That is why I thank Lurlene McDaniel for teaching me the importance of life in the book Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever. Not only Jory gets to experience that lesson but its like your right there experiencing it too.

This is a great book for middle school and high school students, also older people, because we all experience a type of loss and wonder what could we have done to make it better for them. We also all need to learn the lesson of life and respect our life before it's all gone because you only get to experience it once.

In Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever, Lurlene McDaniel tells a heart-felt story of a teenage girl who is struggling with cancer.
Melissa finds out early in the story that her leukemia, which has been in remission for two years has relapsed. Jory, Melissa's best friend promises to help her have the best senior year ever, because of all the stress and pain in Melissa's life. Melissa's older brother, Michael, who is also Jory's life long crush, is asked to donate bone marrow to Melissa, because that is her only hope. Soon after, Melissa becomes well and in a couple of days, the doctors say she will be able to go home. Jory goes to visit her two days later, only to find that Melissa has caught a fever and that her body is rejecting the bone marrow. At school, a boy named Lyle tries to help Jory with all the sorrow of her sick friend. Eventually, Jory falls in love with Lyle, but still has feelings for Michael. Will Jory find true love? Will Melissa overcome cancer? To find out, read Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever.
I highly recommend this book to any girl ages 12-112 that enjoys romance and drama novels. It is an amazing book and I promise that if you read it, you won't be disappointed.

Goodbye Doesn¡¦t Mean Forever
By: Lurlene McDaniel
Reviewed by: J. Ku
Period: 1

This book is continued from the book Too Young to Die. In this book, Melissa has a relapse and needs to get back into remission. The doctors say, ¡§For a person to get into remission the second is harder.¡¨ The doctors recommended that Melissa try a bone marrow transplant. Since they needed to find a compatible donor, they said that a sibling would be the best donor. So then took some bone marrow from Michael, and sure enough, their bone marrow was compatible. Not long after that, they put Melissa into isolation. They needed to get rid of all her bone marrow and put Michael¡¦s bone marrow in her body. When people came to visit her, they had to be careful and not bring in any germs because her immune system couldn¡¦t fight off germs. Her brother¡¦s marrow was working fine, but then Melissa got a fever. It was either an infection or a sign or rejection for the transplant.

I like this book because it was exciting to learn about medical technology. I learned about things I never would have wanted to learn about. This book teaches friends not to give up on each other. Melissa always trusted Jory. Jory always did what she could to help Melissa. They depended on each other whenever they needed help. ¡§Melissa needs blood will you help me?¡¨ They never gave up on each other, even when Melissa died, Jory always knew that Melissa would still be there to help her, even if she couldn¡¦t help Melissa.

I dislike this book because this book I was very sad and Melissa died. When you read about people suffering makes you feel bad. I wanted to change the whole story and make it have a happy ending. I didn¡¦t like it when the doctors gave Melissa bad news about her leukemia.

My favorite part of the book was when Jory held a carnival and called it Melissa Austin Day. I really liked that part because not only Jory was doing it for a good cause, everyone was having fun. They raised a lot of money, and a lot of people donated blood to Melissa. I think that it is wonderful to have a friend that does these things for you.

i am enjoying this book . it has given great spiritual in sight to my broken heart. it also has help me to see my self as i really am. i recommend this book with great plus plus status.

I found this book to be both practical and inspiring. The journal in the back of the book gave me additional references to look up and a space to record my thoughts. This is a book that can be read by an individual or enjoyed in a group. It offers the reader something to reflect on and grow from each time you pick it up.

Stormie Omartain has long been one of my favorite authors. She shares her personal experiences with her readers. She reminds us that when God called Abram, He did not hand him a detailed map. He called Abram (Abraham) to follow. God still calls us to follow. We are to follow Him through faith. We are to live for Him day by day. He gives us strength and grace for each day and faith to face tomorrow. "Regardless of what your situation is at this moment, God has an abundance of blessings for you."
We want to see what tomorrow will bring, but that is not God's way. Stormie Omartain's style is simple and easy-to-understand. She shares her story and faith in a manner that keeps the reader reading. Each chapter contains supporting scripture and prayer. There is a Prayer and Study Guide included. Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On would make a very good group study. Ms. Omartian and I share beliefs.. As my faith has matured, I have learned to depend on God. He has never let me down. Storms of life strike all of us; if we would only turn to Him in prayer before, during, and after the storm, we would have the assurance that He is with us. Ms. Omartian is a prolific author. She sheds light on how to experience the joy of living a life walking with God. I strongly recommend Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On to all.
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com

This book was a lifesaver for me. It put light into my dark, dim world. When I found this book, I was in a severe depression, going through a most difficult time in my life. I credit it with saving me. And I give glory to God for putting it in my hands.

No matter where you are in your life, this book will benefit you. You don't have to be as low as I was for this book to bless you. It is a must read for everyone!!

It is worth every dime that it cost and then some. Once you read it, you will want to put it next to your bible and keep it forever.

It means so much to me that I purchase it for everyone that I cross paths with, who seems to be in need of faith, love, comfort, and/or support. I use it as a way to minister to those in need.

You will LOVE it!

It is because of Stormie that I have grown much closer to our LORD. She has a way of just talking to you and you feel like she is your friend. I have read most of her books and passed them on!

Don't put her books away, share them with your friends and family! They will enrich their lives as well!

I love her books and recommend her HIGHLY!

Frank, Amy, Jerry, Vince and Alison are some of the quickly developed characters that produce a compelling, fast paced introduction to a horrific viral crisis. This first chapter draws me into a rich mesh of plots and people. I now want to know how the crisis enfolds, its outcome and what about the "warped family picture"?.

This chapter is creative, interesting and well articulated keeping a good flow without hyperbole. The book looks like it will be extremely engaging and entertaining, as well as an easy read. I can't wait to finish it.

Ripple had me at the first paragraph. The story was exhilarating with a fresh and direct literary style.
This riveting pageturner, rich with character development griped me from the start. I anxiously await the
complete story and hope to see it in the theaters soon!

Wow! I like a novel whose first chapter explodes like this one. The fact that it is set in the future makes it even more compelling. The story with a viral evil is new, at least to me, as also is the short fuse of terror time. The novel is exciting, challenging and scary....all important to a mystery novel. I do feel that, like the other reviewers, I can hardly wait to find out about "Dagger" and negotiations, if any.

The elements of this book are intriguing. The President of the United States is human and believable. The subject matter is certainly timely, with a unique twist. I'm not even a mystery and suspense lover, but I can't wait to read the rest of this book.

Although I am not usually drawn to mystery or science fiction literature , "Broken Clock" has grabbed my attention. Deadly viruses, terrorist threats and time travel are topics that have been featured separately in novels that I am aware of but to combine all three is very original. This plot is not only original but terrifying. I will definitely recommend this to my book club and am anxiously waiting to read more!

This book helped me realize my negative behavior and take steps to begin healthly relationships, instead of addictive ones.

This book is for men and women because both sexes suffer from this problem. For along time, I had become obsesse over a man to the point that I couldn't work or even think straight. This book made me feel like I wasn't alone. It also helped to explain why I had become obsessed and what I could do to deal with it. I have no doubt this book will help millions.

People often think that only women become obsessed with someone. It's good to see that someone has written a book for both women and men about the very real problem of obsessive, controlling relationships. John Moore's book cuts through all of the psychological mumbo jumbo and gets right to the heart of why a person becomes so obsessed with a love interest that stalking is the result. Thank you Mr. Moore for offering us all a book that is sure to become a classic.

I recently got found out about this book from a friend and all I can say is God Bless you John Moore. For years I had been caught up in a very controlling, abusive relationship with my husband. I never understood why he treated me the way he did until I read several of the case studies from your book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out more about why control happens in relationships. I will treasure this book always and forever!

I read Moore's book and was very impressed with each of the case studies. In some way, each person's story spoke to my own situation in a controlling relationship. There were many times that I had to put the book aside because it hurt too much to keep reading. As I kept turning the pages, I saw all of the patterns in my own life and then the lightbulb went off and I thought, "That's me!" If you are in a controlling relationship or are obsessed with someone else, you have to get this book. It will change your life forever.

I brought this book for two young girls. They both have told me that they love the book and it has help them to love themselves more. It has made them think about there self value in a way they never thought about. They both loved the book

This book will very good for your young girl or teen-ager. The workbook has space for journaling and is a great self esteem builder.

Iyanla is a very influential and inspirational author. She would be a top five person to talk to in my lifetime. I reccommend everything she has to write or say.

I found this book to be very helpful to me as to how to better understand myself as well as my teenage daughter. This is a great reccomendation for all teenage girls who are becoming women.

This book changed the way I viewed myself in this world. It really helped me change from a depressed teen to someone who sees themself as a smart, beautiful and loving person. I did a presentation of this book and the presentation actually changed lives. A must for teen girls!!!

Whether you are a new or experienced stitcher this book gives easy to follow instructions for a wide variety of stitches along with ideas to combine different stitches. I have referred to it many, many times on my current project: a crazy quilt. Money well spent!

The instructions were easy to follow and well illustrated. I am a novice at embriodery and this book was very helpful. It gave me ideas on how to proceed in my crazy quilt.

Bought the book as a gift. Recipient was very pleased with the book. It clearly describes the stitches and how to make them. Full of pictures that enable you to visualize the final result and the process of creating those stitches.

I have wanted this book for quite some time, I had seen it long before I purchased it. This book is one that any embroiderier would want for their library. The illustations are good, and the pictures are great.

This is an excellent book. It's everything I need in embroidery. love it.

The Guide to IT Contracting is essential reading both for those who are thinking of getting into the field and those who are already contractors. Although it is primarily aimed at the UK market, US contractors will find it invaluable as well. The text covers the full range of topics in terms of the business, from moving yourself out of "permie" - permanent employee - status to full-time contracting, writing an effective resume, securing contracts, selecting and hiring an accountant, what to do in case of litigation, paying taxes, offshore and foreign contracting, money management, securing benefits like health and life insurance, saving for retirement, and upgrading your IT skills. What makes this book different from the rest is its additional focus on the personal side of things: coping with the loneliness of working on your own, avoiding "geeky" behavior, handling personal relationships with clients, dealing with racism and other prejudices, even handling pregnancy and childcare. The appendices contain useful listings of "Friendly Societies" for those in the United Kingdom, Risks Investment Tables, and IT Certifications.

Samuel Blankson must have taken his own advice-psychological, motivational, inspirational-when he wrote his guidebook. If you have glanced through the reviews posted here, you know what you are getting when you purchase this book is thorough and comprehensive. And, yes, as has also been noted, much of Mr. Blankson's guidance can be generalized across contracting businesses other than IT. It would be challenging, however, to come up with an area related to IT contracting that is not covered in depth or touched upon: from IT and interpersonal skills to IT training; running a business and dealing with finances to goal-setting; interviewing to dealing with a range of on-the-job scenarios, and much more. Mr. Blankson's wry humour and writing style make for an easy read.
There are literally scores of links and references for research and useful information in every area covered.
The only drawback to the current edition is that much of the specific and detailed business information, such as comparative wages and incomes, tax and insurance facts, etc., is specific to the UK. An edition translating charts, tables and numbers for US consumers would be helpful.
That being said, even with acronyms and taxes and wages in UK-speak and pounds rather than dollars, the book still flies as exactly as the title states: a guide to IT contracting. Only the "comprehensive" is missing.

While reading this book ... the phase "Everything you always wanted to know" came to mind ... well Samuel Blankson as done it. He has put together all the information a novice IT professional needs but seldom get in school.

If you are somewhat wary of the uncertainties, even do-ability, in your current job, this book is definitely for you. Before this, I've always envied people who has the security of a full-time job. But now, let's just say I'm no longer averse to the idea of not being one of those "permies". This book opens your eyes to the reality of workforce, resources, do's and don't's, pros and cons; providing a step-by-step guide that is not only useful to the IT market followers but also to general public.

One thing that I extracted from this book that can be applied across all areas is flexibility, and its deep sense of belief. Thank you, Samuel.

This is a very extensive guide to IT contracting which covers pretty much everything you need to know about this business field. The technical, legal and financial aspects are explained clearly and in detail and are essential to this type of guides, although I found the "motivational" part of the book less relevant and at times containing some questionable advice.