Heather Thomas Books

Recently I started studying to get my Vet Tech certification. This was one of the text books for the Physiology class. It is an awesome book. It goes into enough detail to give a good understanding of physiological processes. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about veterinary physiology. Five paws up rating all the way!

This is a great reference book. I gave it to my husband who is a vet tech. He keeps it at the clinic so everyone can use it.

I'm heading to vet school in the fall and I bought this book to review topics and as a shelf reference. I've been very happy with it. It is well organized and easy to understand.

This is a great book for students and graduate techs alike. I wish we had this text when I was in tech school. It is not too simple, but neither is it too complex. It really makes harder to understand concepts, such as the electrophysiology of the heart, very easy to understand. Everything is arranged by system, and the illustrations and glossary are wonderful. I like the section on avian anatomy and physiology, too.

I got this book for Vet A&P class, and I'm switching to a human anatomy book for next term. This book is printed in monochromatic blue, with lousy diagrams and scant information (24 pages dedicated to the skeletal system, and a whopping 14 for the muscular system!) In short, this is the most uninviting textbook I've ever opened, and it's been completely useless to me. A total waste of 50 bucks.

Bit of a tedious read. Mostly obvious. Very cautious and circumspect at times. It could be a feel good book for those afraid to enter the bleak world of abstinence but its not. Heather's new book might be titled: "Smoke one cigarette a day in relative safety".

Sometimes it seems like 12-step programs have taken over the world! Their adherents zealously insist that the 12 steps/AA is the ONLY way to cope with alcoholism. This book presents a welcome escape from the tyranny of 12 steppers. In a thoughtful, balanced way, the author reports that there really are other answers for alcoholics, answers that might suit some of them much better than abstainence programs do. She carefully examines all sides of the abstainence argument and details a variety of alternative programs. In addition to the very readable narrative, the book contains an extremely valuable appendix that describes more than a dozen different programs/organizations and gives contact information for each as well as a list of therapists who offer moderation training.

This relatively recent compilation of treatment methods for alcoholism is a well-researched summary of alternatives to the popular AA-style abstinence method. The book has an agenda, as will any work on this subject--Ogilvie asks why, in a world where medical treatments are increasingly being tailored to fit the individual, treatment methods for alcoholism other than complete abstinence are so controversial. A very useful resource.

I liked this book because it describes different options than the only one I knew about before I read the book -- Alcoholics Anonymous. As a person who is not particularly religious, the idea of giving up drinking completely AND beginning a new religion at the same time was never going to happen. Now I have some ideas to help me try to cut back, and see if that will work for me. If not, maybe I'll try one of the other groups mentioned in the book. Easy to read, too! Also liked all the web addresses for help and research.

I liked this book because it describes different options than the only one I knew about before I read the book -- Alcoholics Anonymous. As a person who is not particularly religious, the idea of giving up drinking completely AND beginning a new religion at the same time was never going to happen. Now I have some ideas to help me try to cut back, and see if that will work for me. If not, maybe I'll try one of the other groups mentioned in the book. Easy to read, too! Also liked all the web addresses for help and research.

Bio of a Cocaine addicted NFL star that played for the Dallas Cowboys when to be a Cowboy in Texas was to be like a rock star. Nicknamed "Hollywood" because of his flashy personality and fast lane lifestyle Henderson gives his life story with an emphasis on his party lifestyle and a behind the scenes look at the sleazy underbelly of the Dallas Cowboys football team. People want to talk about how Al Davis and the Raiders were back in the day but they had nothing on the Cowboys of the 70's and 80's as far as the sleaze factor.

But yeah this was an entertaining enough read. Henderson of course ended up going to prison for a few years and strangely enough years after this book was published won $30 million dollars in the Texas state lottery in the year 2000.

ISBN 0671663267 - As a penny book, destined for the landfill, I read Out Of Control only because it was there. I didn't have high expectations - I'm not a football fan and never heard of Henderson. It turned out to be better than I expected, but not great, leaving me oddly disappointed.

Henderson, poor kid from a family that is poor in more than one way, finds football. Football will save and destroy him, but he doesn't know that in the beginning. As the first pick of the Cowboys, Henderson expects recognition and applause and when that goes to number 2 - a white guy - Henderson states over and over that it's clearly racism. Then (on page 259) he writes "I knew about black pride but I felt that anyone who claimed that he'd been blocked by racism was just a poor soul himself." This is one of the two worst examples of contradictory storytelling; the other is the downward spiral that drugs takes him on. The covers, front and back, mention how many bad things happened to him because of his drug addiction, but Henderson spends a majority of the book somehow bragging about the drugs - hardly a warning to others. Henderson goes into some detail (not graphic) about orgies, and the number of women he has in bed at one time, all thanks to the drugs. At the same time, the reader is supposed to believe that drugs are bad. The message is somewhat muddied.

In the end Henderson is difficult to like. He seems to take far less responsibility than he should and blames others, the Cowboys in particular, for things that make him sound paranoid. When he is nearly put on waivers, he retires. They try to work it out, but he refuses. Then he discovers that by retiring, he has given control to the Cowboys and says "I am convinced that that's why they set it all up." clearly not "owning" the fact that HE quit, and HE refused to work it out. Like his rants that his signing wasn't celebrated because he's black, his paranoia makes him a remarkably unappealing, unsympathetic character.

I know that the main story is supposed to be the drugs and his recovery from them, but the truth is that little of the book is given to that. The book begins, as it should, in his childhood and covers his pre-NFL years before the Cowboys and drugs come along. The largest portion is about the years of addiction, partying, etc. Henderson makes sure to be clear about his sexual relationship with anyone famous, again giving it a bragging tone. By the time he starts his slide into poverty and unemployment, it seems certain that the only reason he's written the book is to make some money - his career is over, he's lost everything - not to make sure the rest of the world learns from his mistakes. In fact, 7 women in bed with one guy might just be enough incentive to make some guys think drugs sound like a great idea.

By now, Henderson's written another book, In Control. He's spent years talking to others and has given back far more than he was ever given. For that reason alone, I have hope that the second book is better. This one, though, kinda average tabloid-y junk, but right from the horse's mouth.

THIS IS THE STORY OF THOMAS HENDERSON FORMER NFL PLAYER FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS. THOMAS TAKES US THROUGH HIS LIFE AS AN NFL STAR TO HIS ADDICTION AND RECOVERY FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. HIS STORY IS TRULY SCARY, BIZARRE, AND TOTALLY RIVOTING. THOMAS LIVED THE HIGH LIFE IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. HE SPEND MONEY LIKE WATER, HAD TONS OF WOMEN, TONS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. HIS COCAINE BECAME A WAY OF LIFE, FROM THE MOMENT HE AWAKENED EACH DAY, HE WOULD START STUFFING HIS NOSE WITH IT. AT ONE TIME HE WAS USING PAIN KILLERS, COCAINE, MARIJUANA, QUALUDES AND ALCOHOL AND STILL WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE PLAYER. HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TOM LANDRY AND HIS FORMER WIFE IMAN, ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS HARD TO PUT DOWN BOOK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL PEOPLE IN RECOVERY AND ALL FOOTBALL FANS WHO REMEMBER HOLLYWOOD IN HIS FINEST HOURS AS A DALLAS COWBOY. A POWERFUL STORY.

Henderson's Out of Control is one of the most revealing and honest books I've yet to read that documents the world of big-time NFL football, or any sport for that matter. It packs a heck of a punch by basically chronicling in great detail, the partying and good times that were had by the 1970s Dallas Cowboys. The drugs, booze, women and carousing are all here in abundance. Of course Henderson's athletic life is the focal point, however I found the behind the scenes stuff enthralling and worth the price of the book alone. Much in the tradition of Bouton's Ball Four, Out of Control takes it to another level.

The usefulness of Out of Control is its brutal honesty and fly on the wall glimpse into big time sports. Anyone who's played any level of competitive football will find Out of Control to be a magnificent read you won't be able to put down. I devoured the whole thing in two days. Henderson's assertion of covert racism regarding just who would start at linebacker was also interesting and made for great reading.

The NFL's Public Relations department won't be sponsoring Henderson's book signing tour anytime soon.

This book is a must read for any football fan. I shared it with friends and family before losing it and re bought to read again. Just as good 2nd time around.Helped some friends and self deal w/ drugs. Highly recommend.

Review by Deah Jackson for Reader Views (3/06)

I have to say that I was skeptical of an "educational novel" or "religious fiction" as some have categorized this book. But if any book is an educational novel "The Path: A Spiritual Journey" is just that! To me, I would call it an "educational page turner", so that more people would pick up this fantastic book. "The Path" follows the journey of a young Jewish boy Nathan, who experiences tragedy early on in his life and goes on a life journey. Along his journey, Nathan meets and encounters different people who become his teachers/mentors and also finds and experiences love. I don't want to give away too much of the plot - but it is such a great story with an excellent message about how more similar than different religions are, and about faith.

I was surprised how much I learned about other religions by reading this book. The authors must have done so much research gathering accurate and historical information, and then weaving it into the story line. One would think that the story would be lost with all of the information that is contained in this book, but that is not the case. I almost cried within the first several chapters, and rooted for Nathan coming into his own and finding his place throughout the whole story. It is a story that will pull you in emotionally and intellectually.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a good read, or anyone who wants to learn more about other religions;...basically anyone. I wish that my Philosophy and Religion professor knew about this book when I took the course my sophomore year in college, because I got so much more from reading this book than 16 weeks in a college course!!

All I can say is that when I finished "The Path," I was pleasantly surprised, educated and finished the book a more inspired and open-minded woman! Five stars!

This book was one I couldn't put down. Not only was it entertaining, it was educational in a "non-lecturing" way. It introduces the concepts and fundamentals of many religious beliefs and reminds us that many of the world's religions are more similar than we think. The authors obviously have a passion for their topic and thankfully shared their passion with us. I highly recommend this great book!

Ask me to study ancient history, and I would decline. Ask me to study information about the world's major religions and I would reluctantly. Provide information about the major religions as the adventuresome journey, between 7AD-16AD, of a young man in his teens, and you have me hooked. And hooked I was on Heather and Verne Thomas' well-crafted and imaginative book, The Path: A Spiritual Journey, which sets the adventurous journey of Nathan, a young man in his teens, against the historical background of the Silk Road. Instruction packaged in an entertaining "coming of age" adventure renders it an excellent book for reading/discussion in book clubs, Sunday School classes and other avenues of religious education. As a retired teacher of English literature, licensed professional counselor, and published author, I highly recommend it.

Not only does this book give clear, concise descriptions of various religions, their beliefs and practices, but it tells an interesting and compelling story of one boy's journey into adulthood. I really enjoyed the story, felt connected to the characters and got great synopses of the main religions of the world along the way. A perfect blend for someone who, like me, went reluctantly to Sunday school, or someone like Nathan, the protagonist of the book, who has a natural curiosity for culture and religion.

The Path: A Spiritual Journey is a great read for anyone interested in other religions. The story of Nathan's journey to manhood is so engrossing you forget you are learning along with him. The commonalities in the religions that Nathan encounters are thought provoking, and I was moved by the sameness of people throughout the world and throughout time. Definitely worth the read!

This book is a riot and has everything you'd want in a good read - - from high comedic farce to international spy mystery and then to touching tug-on-the-heart moments. It got me from the first page, and I was surprised that it continued as a real "page turner" till the very end.

It's a smashingly well-crafted book with a very strong voice - - a voice that is more expected from a writer with more than 1 novel under her belt. And, the reader really gets an insider's view of life as a Hollywood "trophy wife." These women, on the outside, seem to have an enviable life, but the author lets us peek in on their lives using wickedly sharp prose. A shallow and unrelenting focus on their appearance rules the lives of these "trophies" - - from the exercise they chose (Power Plates) to their cosmetic procedures, to the cars they drive - - Maybachs and Porshe Illusions, and finally to the credit cards they carry - - Black AMEX.

It's a priviledged life to be a "trophy wife" - - with their Major Domos and chefs and stylists, and it seems to carry a high price. What a LOT of work to ALWAYS look hip and young and to live in the stratosphere of this type of charity work. I loved watching all of the Machiavellian power struggles and back stabbing of these "trophies!"

Awesome Summer read!!

Don't analyze it - Just read it! And enjoy it for it's entertainment value! Remember Heather Thomas from "The Fall Guy" with Lee Majors back in the '80's? Well, she's a very clever author! Trophies is a densely plotted book about an elite group of high profile women. Their antics are hysterical and their personalities addictive. The main character, Marion Zane is a modern-day heroin - you'll want to cheer for her! Marion is beautiful, rich, intelligent, and the lead Trophy. Although Marion's the envy of Hollywood Society, she has very few adversaries due to her extremely benevolent nature. A plot by Marion's "so-called" friend (the jealously twisted Lyndy Wallert) to de-thrown Marion causes her to lose everything but her pride and dignity. Through it all, Marion's friends remain loyal to her. The antics of the Trophy wives will make you laugh out loud (check out a comical glimpse of Chapter 45 on YOUTUBE). You won't be able to put it down. Although it's over 300 pages long, this book will leave you wanting more. This is definitely the most entertaining book I've read in a long time!

I LOVED this book. Great summer read. Hilarious and touching. Amazing book about women's strength and loyalty. Every woman should read this!

I picked up this book after seeing Heather Thomas on Chelsea Lately. I think Chelsea and her book Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea are hilarious so I got Trophies even though I didn't find Heather Thomas to be all that engaging. She did, however, look fabulous for her age!

I found Trophies to be a three-star book. However, I had to dock it one star due to the myriad of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Had I made that many errors on a college paper, my professors would have unhesitatingly taken a grade off. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, but I felt a story that gives such devoting detail to the minutiae of the lifestyles of the rich and famous should have been more careful with its presentation. The mistakes just needlessly took me away from the story.

Onto the actual story. Plot: Marion Zane, wife of billionaire Richard Zane, is on top of the world...HER world. Her world differs from ours in that she inhabits the insular, rarefied air of the 1% of Beverly Hills. She is the TOP of the trophy wives - a Stage III trophy without a prenup, a position she loves and fought her way to get. It all starts to unravel though after she encounters a seemingly familiar woman at a party. Marion separates from her husband and moves into the Beverly Hills Hotel until, horror of horrors, she is put on a $30,000-a-month budget during her divorce proceedings. Because of all her obligations to charities and fundraisers, the money quickly runs dry and she finds herself living in her car. Only her trusty maid Xiocena knows of her situation because Marion doesn't want people finding out she is broke and thus jeopardize her position in society. Somebody or somebodies though seem hellbent on dethroning and destroying her. Will Marion find out who they are before all her deepest, darkest secrets are revealed and she's ruined forever? Will she be forced to reveal the secrets of those nearest and dearest to her? Will she be able to raise the $400 million to fund her dream hospital downtown? All that and more are revealed in the 500+ pages of the book.

Aside from Marion, the main trophies are:
Maya - world's top supermodel and wife of Brad Pitt-like character
Patti - serial wife; married 6 times
Pepper - Southern wife of Greek tycoon; whiz with numbers
Lyndie - Marion's frenemy; TOP trophy before Marion
Claire - Midwestern beauty queen; newly wed to Hollywood director

All in all, the book was entertaining. It's the West Coast's answer to The Manny. Each trophy is given a background and some are quite colorful. Like Sex and the City, I like how the bonds between a group of women are portrayed. Despite the length of the book, there are enough characters and moments of hilarity to keep the story moving.

However, unlike The Manny, Trophies is much more self-aggrandizing. In the beginning, someone dismisses trophies in general as a bunch of "poodles with no real power." Heather Thomas, a member of the group herself and perhaps a recipient of such sentiment, spends the rest of the novel trying to disprove that notion. The trophies see themselves more as philanthropists. Aside from the obvious "bad" character, these women are friendly with their maids and pay them well. They'll rush out of their own party to be at the side of a maid in need. Right. One character, a former government spy at that, even acknowledges, "He'd never dreamed that a human being so caught up in trivialities could have so gigantic and positive an impact on mankind...Marion accomplished more social good than most governments or corporations." Roll eyes here.

I caught myself rolling my eyes a couple of times, especially towards the end of the novel, but it was an easy, enjoyable read. Grammatical errors and proclamations of grandeur aside, this was a fun glimpse at how the other 1% lives. A solid three-stars for the story.

Trophies - A Novel - is a wonderful romp based on Hollywoods movers and shakers written by first time author and actress Heather Thomas. Instead of the ususal book about the tossed aside, first wives, we get to learn what it's like for the second wives, better known as the Trophy Wives. Add to it that there is also a mystery and suspense hidden inside of all the humor and gossip and you have the perfect beach novel.

This is the story of Marion Zane, the top Trophy, and her fabulous fall from grace orchestrated by Lyndy Montgomery Wallert, AKA The Beast of Revenge. Lyndy has had this dream that soon she would reclaim, what she thought of, as her rightful spot as top Trophy which she had lost to Marion and when that dream comes true she's going to treat herself to "ass-implants, resplendent and high." Lyndy was going to use her ass dream as incentive to fight her way back to the TOP.

Marion is not your typical "Trophy"; she is,wise,smart,loyal, loving, caring and politically savvy. She has it all: lovely body, looks,money, a solid marriage and best of all, no pre-nup. She has it all. Until one fateful night while hosting a political fund raiser at her home, a child dies needlessly while waiting for medical care at the hospital, and in her enthusiasm to right a terrible injustice, she does the unthinkable, she stages a fund raising "Throw-Down" and succeeds beyond her wildest dreams.
The means to Marions destruction has now been set in motion.
Also meet - Maya, Pepper, Patti and Ivan. All of them have secrets better left hidden. Will they aid Marion in time of need or will they betray her too?


One of the most entertaining, mysterious, funny,well written, first novels to come out of Hollywood in recent years. The brain of Heather Thomas must filled with pure creative evil to be able to think up something this cruel, yet entertaining.

A pure,unapologetic "potato chip" based, cleaverly written, beach read. One that you can't put down because you're afraid that you may miss the next "Mean Girls Grown Up" moment.

Watch for the last chapter and the last bit about Claire, a very "All About Eve"moment .

You will adore this gossipy, back stabbing look at the ultra-rich second wives and wonder how much of this is the truth. It goes to prove the adage that 'living well is the best revenge' and I certainly hope that there will be future books coming from Ms Thomas.

I originally got 'Raising Horses', from the library. My daughter's horse had a 'baby'(our first). This book held so much, and such great information that my family decided to order this book and 'Training Horses', both by Heather Smith Thomas. I highly recommend Ms Thomas books to anyone, at any horse knowledge level.

Out of all the horse care books I have read.. This one is very clear and covers most every area in raising horses. Anyone looking for a good horse care book, this one is the best I have found. I have other horse care books but I refer to this one the most.

Has everything you'll need to take care of horses effectively. Many useful pictures too.

I have owned, raised, and trained my own horses from a very young age and even though I already know the basics, I found this book to be very useful. From basic horse keeping to in depth descriptions of many equine health problems, this book is one that even the experienced rider and horse owner should have. It contains fabulous drawings and seperates each sections accordingly. I have not found a basic question that this book couldn't answer. It is a must have for any horseman.

I bought this book because I wanted step-by-step instructions and I like to see a picture of the finished product. In this respect, the book is a success. However, I was confused by the hodge-podge way the text, ingredients and procedures were presented. The photographs were not as helpful as I had hoped and the lay out very artsy. Please note there is no Nutrition Information Per Serving available. And don't forget to stock up on oil. My suggestion is to try a different book, unless you need something pretty for your coffee table. It did make me realize that I really should buy some more festive dishes

I purchased this book a few weeks ago when looking for recipes for Cinco de Mayo. It is now one of my favorites out of my many Mexican and Latino cookbooks - the recipes are simple and turn out well. They may not be the most low fat recipes, but the editor stayed well enough away from ChiChi's fare. Mexican cooking appears to require much oil - blend the recipes from here with those in 'Latina Lite' for better health.

I have purchased several cookbooks from Heather Thomas. She simply has the skill to explain cooking in a non intimidating way. Every publication of Heather Thomas that I have purchased is excellently illustrated with photos, which help make it easier to understand the whole process from start to finsih. This has brought my guests and me a lot of pleasure. If you have previously been a failure in the area of cuisine mexique, you will gain selfconfidence after reading and cooking with this book. I highly recommend it.

I'm surprised that I'm the first person to review this item!

This wonderful collection edited by Heather Thomas is a gem for homeschooling families using the Waldorf method. Wonderful for all ages, this anthology includes poems and verses for morning and evening, graces, prayers, and meditations for parents and teachers as well as (from the table of contents):

Action Verses
Finger Games
Skipping
Fables
Animals
Farming and Building
Numbers
Tongue Twisters
Grammar
Alphabet
Parts of Speech
Voewls
Consonants
Riddles and Runes
Alliteration
The Elements and Nature Spirits
Flowers and Trees
Earth, Sun and Stars
Seasons
Autumn
Winter and Christmas
Spring and Easter
Summer
History
Imagination
Shakespeare
Narrative Poems

Each section is arranged roughly by age, so that the verses and poems toward the end of the book are suitable for high school use, where earlier sections like Fables (2nd grade) and Farming and Building (3rd grade) work well for elementary school. In short, this is a book you will turn to time and time again.

Don't hesitate to purchase this one! It's a treasure.

This is a great book with a huge content of poems, verses, rhymes, songs and prayer. There is a little something for every occasion, some old favourites and some never heard before. The reason this book has received only 4 stars is due to the number of entries with a Christian tone, it is however, nothing that could not be remedied with the changing of a word or two. All in all a great buy.

This book is very helpful to me as a Waldorf teacher for finding verses to use in Circle, as "graces" before meals, opening and closing verses, poems for recitation, and to practice letter sounds, to name a few. And this is only in first grade. I foresee using it all eight years. My only complaint is that I can't use some of the verses or have to alter them for use in a public charter school because of the references to God or angels, etc.

the most beautiful manuscript ever !
the hardcover is recomended.

This is one of many fine reproductions produced by the Geo. Braziller company. This particular manuscript is a 15th c. book of hours generally considered to be a masterpiece in the book-art community. It's a very nice reproduction.

My personal opinion, of course, colors my perception of the quality of the art of the Rohan hours. Frankly, I think the art in the Rohan Hours is of medium quality; its miniatures are cetainly emotional, but the technique is rougher than most of the books of this era that are considered to be "masterpieces."

Individuals who find the art charming, of course, would give this book a higher star rating, because it has all the usual nice qualities of a Braziller publication. There is an essay detailing the history and discussing some of the manufacture information , followed by lots and lots of pictures of manuscript pages accompanied by a short paragraph detailing the actions of the people in the pictures. The clor reproduction is nice.

I own it; it's a pleasant enough book. I don't mean to discourage a lover of the illuminated manuscript from buying this book. However, you should also be aware that the art of the Rohan Hours isn't quite as finely done as you might expect.

I too am biased (I'm a historian of Italian Renaissance art), and while the as yet unknown master who illustrated the Rohan Hours meets none of the usual criteria for "beauty" in 15th-century painting (say, the style of Fra Angelico's angels or Botticelli's maidens--both of these painters produced fine book illustrations), there is no question that he was a brilliantly inventive, keenly expressive artist. His illustrations for the standard repertoire of Christian Bible stories totally push the envelope of what was usual within a book's pages. He combined achingly precise realistic description with a total freedom in the scaling and placement of figures, and a luxuriant decorative sense, creating powerful images that virtually burst from the page. Gestures, facial expressions, accessories from hair to drapery, seem driven by powerful currents generated from the prayers to which they give shape. A Renaissance original, with a refined, if bold, technique.

I was very happy with the way the book was written from start to finish, it gave me alot of information and very easy to understand. It was agreat book.

I got this book because I wanted to understand more about hoof care, as at the barn I was at there were many discussions on whether a horse should be barefoot or wear shoes. I think this book is good at covering the basics of horse hoof care but does spend more time on the topic of shoes and types etc. I only gave it 4 stars because I would have liked more information on keeping your horse barefoot. But for a first basic book I think it is a good first step and gives you the basics so you can decided what you want to look further into.