Z Books

My Bichon, Bailey, has food allergies. I bought this book to do research on this subject, and found it had lots of other very informative information. I am looking into natural homemade diets and natural care. It did the trick! It was very resonably priced for the size and information it has in it... Also so easy to read and understand.. I would highly recommend it!
Sharon Coombs
Herndon, Ky.

This is one of the more detailed books I have found. I also got Health for Happy Cats and Your Cat by Elizabeth Hodgkins. This one has a lot of details about what to feed, how to feed it, what the diseases are and what the treatments are. You can look it up by both disease and symptom and treatment, which is fantastic. They discuss pros and cons of various things. They also have a good section on cooking natural diet versus raw natural diet. They are more advocates of cooked diet as far as I can tell. They also have a few diets. If you are going to get one book on natural health for cats this should be it. there is a lot of information on supplements.

This book contains lots of helpful information for those seeking alternative treatments for their pets. I was pleased with the level of detail in the explanations given for specific health conditions and the suggested treatments.

I've owned this book for over 4 years and I use it here and there. Although no book ever covers everything, it covers quiet a bit and it is worth every cent you pay for it. If you are into natural health for your dog, this book is a must have.

I am a certified alternative healthcare consultant in NY and for PEOPLE I know alot, but dogs , especially my beloved Elmo, are quite different. While we use a holistic vet and Dr. Dym was here and gave free consults. I wanted and needed MORE so I personally was well informed and was doing the BEST I could to give all of my pets the longest , healthiest lives .
I think most all of us know the basics of GOOD quality food, exercise, emotional closeness, etc.(real Age .com gives you a questionarre and advice on your dogs real age and where and what to improve upon)
So this book gives you a multitude of preventive and curative advice in one easy to read and to use book that is quite accurate.
I am glad to have it . AND a MAJOR point is that this is not a fear inducing book i.e. your dog will die from generic dogfoods, cancer is rampant etc(We own a grooming shop and these dogs even on awful generic food are doing quite well and many are pretty old) I do agree premium dog food is best BUT that is not the ONLY factor in good health,and this book stays on an even keel not going off the wall in either direction.
Very useful.

I adore Jewish humor; I was raised on Jackie Mason, David Brenner, Mel Brooks, and every comic who ever played at a resort in the Catskills.

Sadly, this collection of essays is not only seriously lacking in humor, but it reads as though it were written by a third-grader for a first-grade audience. And the accompanying illustrations seem to have been drawn by the author's classmate, which made this book doubly disappointing.

I very rarely don't finish a book that I've started, but "Why Jews Don't Camp" was so unreadable that I set it aside after about 50 pages. I am undecided about whether or not I should donate it to an upcoming community yard sale, as I don't want some unsuspecting neighbor to pay even 10 cents for this book.

I thought I was the only one who based group dinner plans on who else was attending and how much I thought they'd eat and drink. Arnie's chapters are full of extremely funny stories that everyone can relate to. We often complain about the guy with kids in the middle seats at a ball game who makes frequent trips to the bathroom. It's nice to hear his point of view. Very easy to read. Skip the camping trip - read the book instead!!!

This is one on the funniest books ever - anyone can relate to the stories in here - you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate the humour - just plain funny!

Just as you don't have to be a Jewish mother to make a reservation, you don't have to be Jewish to laugh with Arnie Goldberg as he regales us with one funny story after another. Not only do Jewish men not camp, they don't do well with yoga, living in Japan, or blind dating. Each story is a little gem that will have you in stitches.

This book is a pile of laughs from cover to cover. The author has a way of finding the hilarious in otherwise mundane situations, and exposing them in engaging prose. The stories in this book will have you laughing out loud, which is fitting, considering the publisher.

If you need your funny bone tickled, but this book.

Michael's book is wonderful!!! It is a weekly read for me and has added so much to my gratitude for my recovery. This book truly embraces and passes on to it's readers the BEST of the 12 step recovery rooms. So much wisdom is found in AA, yet... filtering through some of the "nonsense" shared by individuals at an AA/NA/OA,etc. meeting is not always easy for the person seeking recovery.
Seeking "the Wisdom to know the difference" for our recovery is when God truly blesses us with that very GIFT! I suggest we use the Wisdom of the Rooms as a format for some awesome recovery meetings! Michael Z. has given us the perfect book to do that. with!

Each time I read this book I get something new from it. Reading a quote from this book is like attending one of those meetings that changes your soul, and Michael Z's interpretations seem to reach out connect with me on almost every level. The spiritual wisdom in this book touches those in and out of recovery, and the people I've given it to not only identify, but often buy copies to give as gifts - it's that's kind of book.

Quotes like "When fear knocks on the door and faith answers, no one is home", seem to be just the thing I need to read when I pick it up. I can literally just glance at any page and find something that speaks to me right when I need it. Whether I'm struggling with my concept of God, or with my fear, or even with setting healthy boundries ("No is a complete sentence"), it's all here for me.

If you're looking for a book of spiritual yet practical wisdom that can fill your well with faith and hope, this book will become a favorite of yours, too. I love "The Wisdom of the Rooms" and look forward each week to the new quotes Michael Z puts out for free (visit the website: www.thewisdomoftherooms.com) and you can sign up.

This is a must have for those in and out of recovery, and it will enrich any spiritual practice you currently have. For those of you who haven't read it yet, you're in for a wonderful treat. Enjoy the wisdom!

An outstanding spiritual guidebook for those in recovery or those who just want to embrace their higher power. It helped me stay connected to what's really important and not feel so alone in this world. It's one of those books you can read again and again and always grasp something new. Thanks Michael Z!

For an "on the go" person in recovery like me, this is like the blackberry of 12 step meetings. Any page I open in this book, seems to give me exaclty what I need to read at that time, to give me a spiritual perspective on any situation. The way the author explains the quotes with ease, and then allows the readers to internally answer some questions regarding the quote, can bring tranquility to a turbulent head.

I wish more books on recovery were written this way.
Thank you Michael Z!!

I have been in AA for 15 months and love the new life that I have been fortunate to receive. I first became familiar with Wisdom of the Rooms a year ago when a recovery center in Arizona sent me my first one. Since then I look forward to receiving my weekly mailings from Michael Z. When I found out that Michael was compiling a book, I bought 20 of them. The reason being is that there are 12 people who, in my early recovery took me under their wing and helped me to work the program of AA, to have the Promises come true and to have a Spiritual Awakening. The least I could do is share the love that Michael has put into this book with them.

This was the best book I have read in a while. C-Murder is a great writer and I am looking forward to more. I have a 15 year old cousin that is captivated by the street life and I will be purchasing another book for him to read.

This book was interesting but at first a little confusing since I thought the book was about C-Murder. This book goes into the life of a boy playing a man's game in a grown up world. I found myself wanting to know what was
going to happen with the character in the book. I find that I would recommend this book to my friends. It's a must read.

A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out
I must say I was very reluctant to read this book when it was suggested by my book club president. I was surprised at the content and life lessons shown. I had difficulty wading through the language, but I was not so narrow minded that I failed to see that there was dissapointment, intrigue, love, family failures and many societal failures taking place in the life of the characters.I realize that obcenity and profanity are very prevalent in the life of certain segments of society. I so much wanted the influence of the grandmother to dominate more, but that didn't happen. There was definitely a battle between evil and good taking place. I felt Daquan's pain as he attempted to struggle with the issues life threw at him. The book came to an inevitable end.

I cannot believe that I slept on this book for so long. From the first to the last page it grips you. C-Murder has some serious talent in the writing game, I can not wait to see what he has in store for us next and with his new publishing label. I will be buying anything he drops. This book deserves more than five stars. ONE of the best books I have ever read! Pick this book up you will not be disappointed!

In an instant, young Daquan Watson's world was turned upside down. One act of violence has shattered the family life he once knew. Now living with Grandma Mama in The Calliope Projects, Third Ward, a notorious, drug-infested housing projects, it's just a matter of time before the lure of the streets is too much to resist. With death around every corner, will Daquan escape?

And with that, DEATH AROUND THE CORNER heads off into a violent, complicated, gritty and fascinating storyline. Books about the hood appear in a steady flow today and the flow just seems to continue to increase. However, quantity does not make up for quality. DEATH AROUND THE CORNER beats the odds. C-Murder's gripping account of one young man's experiences adds immeasurably to one's understanding of the challenges faced by many of our black youth. Its setting is rich in local color and local characters. DEATH AROUND THE CORNER proves to be exciting, with a jaw-dropping climax. Multi-platinum rapper C-Murder takes a gamble and wins, so does the reader. Maybe he can do for New Orleans literary what his brother Master P has done for New Orleans ' rap scene. Highly recommend. Looking forward to Tru Publishing.

Reviewed by: Toni

A year ago I had a 'panic attack'. I could not seem to get past it. My life seemed to have changed over night. Things got really scary. I've been extremely successful in my career and never before had I felt 'stressed' or even thought about anxiety. I feared that my panic attack was a sign of weakness and my life would crumble.
After reading through several books, I was blessed to have come across this one. Most of the other books I read lost me about half way through when they became corny and unrealistic.
This book is easy to follow and takes you step-by-step through explaining to you what's going on and what you can do about it. I can't tell you how much better I feel already. READ IT!!!

I am very familiar with the pain of anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia for I suffered from these maladies for several decades. During those years of suffering I believed that my problems were purely mental and underwent treatment by psychiatrists, psychologists, and hypnotherapists. I took various prescribed medications and read many books such as this, but experienced little relief. And then something wonderful happened: I began taking a daily supplement of chelated magnesium (for a different ailment) and shortly thereafter experienced a significant diminishment of anxiety in addition to cure of the ailment for which I had originally taken the supplemental magnesium. There seemed to be no explanation for why taking supplemental magnesium caused this wonderful loss of anxiety until the publication in 2003 of the important book The Miracle of Magnesium by Dr. Carolyn Dean. Early in her book Dr. Dean reveals that a major cause of anxiety and panic attacks is deficiency of magnesium and that magnesium deficiency is quite common in the U.S. Therefore, I beg all sufferers of anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia -- whatever else you may do -- please purchase and read The Miracle of Magnesium by Dr. Carolyn Dean and please try the magnesium supplementation which she recommends. It may change your life as has changed mine.

I began experiencing discomfort and then panic attacks after some stressful periods in my life several years ago. The panic attacks got so bad that I had trouble going to and being at work, going out for entertainment, and at various other times including when I was at home.

For a while I couldn't figure out what was happening to me. After finally figuring out that I was having panic attacks I bought this book. Following the chapters in the book, it took about four weeks to have complete control over my anxiety. The methods for eliminating the episodes were fantastic and have really saved me in many areas of my life.

I would highly recommend this book. It addresses anxiety as well as OCD and various phobias. It's been several years since I got this book and went through it and I have not had a single panic attack since. While I still do experience everyday stress, and sometimes a lot of it - this book has made me better at recognizing and handling very stressful situations far better than I ever could prior to reading it. I wish I had read this book prior to ever having the panic attacks. It will help you change your perspective and turn stressful events into exciting and enjoyable ones.

I can't say enough good about this book - If you have panic attacks or experience anxiety or even just want to improve your ability to handle pressure, you should _definitely_ buy and read this book!!!

I have had problems with anxiety for a few years, and this is definately the most helpful book I have read. It is easy to read and it gets to the point, which I appreciate.

I found this book to be very helpful. The first few chapters help you to learn the cause and effect of your anxiety/phobia/panic and coping skills to deal with these issues. The further you read the more you learn how to overcome your issues and REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
I was desperate when I started this program. I thought that I would never live a normal life again, but after reading this book I am. This program really does work. Great read!

If you want a great book that completely covers all areas of inspecting your house or condominium, then this book is a must. I based my purchase decision on the 5 star ratings this book received many of the Amazon Top 50 Book Reviewers. I knew that those reviews are always valid and real and now I know why this book is so highly rated.

When my house was built I worked alongside the builder to learn as much as I could about construction. If I had this book during that time it would have been a great help since there are areas discussed in the book that my builder never mentioned but obviously a top home inspector would know about. I didn't realize that building codes are only the minimum standards my builder had to oblige by during the home construction. This book opened my eyes to what my builder could have done to go beyond the minimum standards.

This is a great reference for my ongoing maintenance and any repairs needed for my home since this book covers all the topics in detail. There are hundreds of helpful photographs with detailed descriptions of what problems or postive aspects are shown in the photos and how to inspect them in your own home. There is a complete index so I can reference any section I need to without having to search through the 400+ pages to find exactly what I want to know about.

If you need an outstanding reference book for house inspections then this is the one to get!

Guy Cozzi knocks it out the box with this very informative book on what to do look for when buying a House&things that must be on point when you want your House.I had the pleasure of reading this book&was moved by the details&things were said in a way that everyone could relate to.very classy on Mr.Cozzi's Part with all of His details&helpful tips.a must have.

The primary purpose of this book is to help you become an effective inspector of homes, but the audience is much broader than that. If you own a home or are thinking about buying one, then you should read it. It will help you develop that critical, discerning eye concerning what to look for in spotting flaws in a house.
I spent almost eight years as a construction worker, six where I was the foreman, and have performed many repairs to my own homes. And yet, there was much in the book that I was unaware of. It was a learning experience for me, and it will be for you. Unless you find the perfect house or are already an expert, buying this book and reading it will be time and money that will be returned many times over.

I own a very successful home inspection business in California. We use all of this authors products to train my staff since they are the by far the best products for real estate training on the market. We originally found out about these products through excellent book reviews in the local real estate publications. From that we learned the following details and decided to purchase the whole "Real Estate From A to Z" series by this author:

Nemmar Real Estate Training is ranked as the most exclusive real estate appraiser training, home inspector training, and real estate investor consulting service since 1988. Our real estate books, DVDs, CDs and Videos are rated number one in their real estate categories nationwide! Our products have taught thousands of home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals worldwide. You too can learn everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. With this knowledge you will save thousands of dollars when you buy, sell, or renovate your home. You will also learn how to eliminate safety hazards and properly maintain a home. Statistics show an average savings of at least $4,700.00 per home for customers who have our books and DVD videos. Our real estate investment, home inspection, appraisal, and home improvement books have been called the "Bible" of the real estate industry. Written by Guy Cozzi, who has decades of experience as a licensed appraiser, home inspector, consultant, and real estate investor. This top selling author has been quoted as a real estate expert by the New York Times and many other publications. He has been a guest speaker on real estate investment TV shows and has taught thousands of people how to conduct home inspections, real estate appraisals, and how to invest in real estate. He also provides real estate advice to many banks and mortgage lenders.

If getting to know your home is important to you, then HOME INSPECTION BUSINESS FROM A TO Z is a good place to start. It addresses safety concerns; Purpose Of A Home Inspection; Description Of A Home Inspection; Setting Up A Business; Tools That Are Helpful; Operating Systems; The Interior; The Exterior & finally Reality Talk & Straight Talk.

Rebeccasreads recommends HOME INSPECTION BUSINESS FROM A TO Z for those who want to learn everything their Realtor doesn't want them to know, without the sugar coat. You'll learn how to catch problem conditions in any house, how to close the deal & get paid sales commission, in one of the hottest markets today.

some of the stories - i felt that it was too exaggerating. but the "naughty" action parts are really good (; i especially like the fancy pant story!

Its all here - M/M, F/F, F/M and M/F spanking action and it is all well-written, imaginative stuff. That is great if you like EVERYTHING. If your tastes are more particular, for example, you are not interested in one or two of the categories above, you may not be enthusiastic about some of the stories.

Something to take note of - you will learn a new way to learn the musical scale that is bound to leave an impression.
And there is as much variety as A to Z.
In another story a "student" is not likely to forget the scientific method after the "hands on" approach by her teacher.
You'll probably be kept busy doing your homework as you re-read this textbook over and over.

What struck me about this book was the true diversity of each short story. I loved the idea about erotic stories from A to Z, and this was not at all cheesy in the case of this book.
Not all of the stories were turn-ons for me, but all were intersting and each had a unique perspective. There are stories about married couples, singles, gay men, lesbians, and stories involving multiple partners.
This book was an intriguing read, and each tale gave me ample material to think about in one way or another.
Whether you are curious or have already had erotic spanking experiences, I strongly recommend this book. And don't miss Bussel's essay compilation on spanking, coming out soon. I already pre-ordered mine!

Each author give's their story on spanking. Their saying it's okay to do that if you in the mood and if he or she like's to take charge in the bedroom.

I bought this book for my husband to read to our [..] son. It's been a year since we've been reading it and now whenever we get the book out, Ben has to run and get his mini "zamboni tractor" and mini hockey stick that we bought him separately. He holds them tight and at each page he points and repeats hockey terminology. Even when we're not reading the book, the terms stick with him. At about 20 months, when I had my arms folded, Ben said to me "Mommy ref". This is thanks to one illustration, the referee has his arms crossed for the interference call. This book is for hockey loving families and fans of all ages.

Hands down, my 18 month olds favorite book. Beautifully illustrated - he looks at the pictures all day. Very durable and highly recommended.

This book is a great way to work with the ABC's when you have a classful of sports-minded boys. Being a primary teacher, I am always looking for different approaches to the alphabet. What a great way to interest boys. I first heard this book from the Philadelphia Flyers/Phantoms Organization. They came to our school for an assembly. Since it was a little over our children's heads, they read this book to them instead. The children were enthralled. I then had to order it to become a permanent part of my personal school library! Not only does it explain the basics of hockey, it brings in some of its history. Very enjoyable!!

This is the very best of Zach's collection of books. I am so glad I found it on your website! It has great pictures and a nice story. He has me read it all the time.
Jan

This board book goes through the entire alphabet, giving each letter it's own page and it's own hockey term or reference. The terms touch on the game of hockey itself and the history of the sport. However, I was a little disappointed in a few of the references.
There are some that are so old, obscure, or nonsensical that parents may not even know what it means or who the person is (e.g. "Y is for two glorious Canadian Years-- the Summit Series and the Salt Lake Games"; huh?) More than a few are just plain unimaginative. And there are plenty of terms I would like to have seen in the book but didn't. There's no Playoffs, no Faceoff, no Net. It refers to the Stanley Cup as "Lord Stanley's Cup" (putting it under the letter L) which is technically correct but isn't how it's really referred to.
Also, the writing is iffy at best. Nothing rhymes or has any sort of rhythm whatsoever, and at times really isn't even grammatically structured very well.
Overall, though, even though it doesn't sound like it, I do like the book. Most of my dislikes are nitpicky. It's a cute book, especially for the hockey fan who wants to get their kid into it the sport as well. It's a fun and educational read.

This is the story that got it all started. If you haven't read this book then you are in for a treat, and before you finish this book make sure you have chances, lady boss, dangerous kiss on hand because you are going to need to know what happen next. I assure you.

Readers, please get all of Jackie Collins books, they are sensational. Get the book (Chances) first, then continue on to Lucky. The books will knock your socks off. All of Ms. Collins books are rated 5 stars as far as I'm concerned. Good reading material. You will like all of them.

Jackie Collins' Lucky, is a novel about power, love, lust, sex and crime. Daughter of a powerful man, Lucky Santangelo, an erotic and wild beauty, plans on continuing the family tradition with honor. Hungry for power, success and pleasure Lucky sets out seeking for her desires. Before she knows it, Lucky embarks herself on an adventure full of glory, passion, trouble, sex, vengeance and suspense. From Vegas to New York after her father's unexpected and undesirable wedding. Pregnant by the world's richest man, Dimitri Stanislopoulos, a passionate lover, Lucky lives her life between her East Hampton home in New York and her son's father's private Greek Islands. Off on business in Atlantic City, Lucky hits the road with power, money, glory and love. Her glory is cut short, when her dangerous past catches her back leading her to court.

This novel is extraordinary. This novel kept me reading, I couldn't take my eyes or mind off the book. Jackie Collins gets deep into descriptions making you feel the characters emotions and desires. As you read on and learn more about each one, you feel that you know these people. You can just imagine each scenario in your head, and feel that you are part of the scene but that no one can see you.

In an earlier review, I said Collins wrote trashy reads; I regret that now. "Trash" is sexist as it often only refers to light fiction written by women and there's LOTS of pop fiction by men that is hardly prize-worthy. I also think calling her work "trashy" was a way for me to act as though I was above it and just reading it ironically. The truth is, Collins is great at what she does and that's writing compelling, "can't put them down" novels that can make you turn off the phone so you won't be disturbed.

"Lucky" is Collins at her best. Don't worry if you haven't read "Chances": Collins summarizes the previous book in the opening chapters. Also, don't be turned off because there is a Mob element if that's not your thing because the Mob barely figures into this tale. What we get instead is a sprawling, multi-character tale full of coincidences, surprising developments (at least once a book, Collins springs something on me that I didn't see coming) and the usual doses of sex and money.

"Lucky" is an insanely fun read. Despite the fact that it was published in 1985, the novel is as enjoyable as ever and is my highest recommendation for a fun summer read of 2007.

What more can I say? All of the money in the world could not get me to pry my fingers off of this book. In Collins' sophomore release of the Santangelo saga we get reaquainted with the awe-inspiring, business savy and headstrong Lucky Santangelo, daughter of the notorious Gino "The Ram" Santagelo -- former mob boss.

Not one iota of what Collins' writes in this book comes off as being unrealistic, boring or repeptitive. Writing a book like this takes pure, unadulturated talent!! How she manages to come up with new and exciting characters, keep us thouroughly updated on old ones, intertwine all of their storylines FLAWLESSLY and leave her fans begging for more is harder to comprehend then learning Chinese Arithmatic in Latin!

Lucky comes back geared and ready for a whole new peril. I don't know if there is much I can say about this book without giving too much away... It's just all so JUICY and addictive! I will say that we are introduced to some new characters -- Lennie Golden being the main one. As well as reuniniting with some characters some of us may have thought wouldn't come back -- Olympia and Dimirti Stanislopolous ... These three characters will influenece Lucky's life in a MAJOR way... You will just have to read to find out. This is yet another 10 star read from Ms. Collins.

I've watched a lot of television in my 28 years. I've read newspaper articles, seen press conferences, and listened to radio interviews. But I never realized the deliberate steps those people were taking to get their message across.

I had no idea that there was a thought process behind how often to plug your new venture in a radio interview (as opposed to a newspaper interview). I didn't realize that you should address a T.V. reporter differently (and more often) than reporters in other media. And I certainly didn't think about the methods used to create those "talking points" we hear so much about these days.

I'm not sure this book prepared me to immediately jump in front of the cameras. But, it caused a definite shift in my thinking. This book is an important first step for anyone who is naive about the effort required to effectively communicate with the public (via the press). It's also vital for those who are cynical about preparing for interviews, or worried about "selling out" for the purpose of gaining attention.

This book could easily be subtitled "How To Respect Your Audience." Mr. Walker spends a fair amount of time explaining that when you don't properly prepare yourself and your message, you do a huge disservice to your audience. I recommend this book as a primer in dealing with the media. It gives lot of techniques with examples. But, most importantly, it explains the rationale for each tip. Because all the techniques, tips, and tricks in the world won't help you if you don't firmly understand and believe in the power of preparation.

I wasn't to excited as I started reading this book, but it got much better. I found quite a few great ideas and helpful information if you are going to be on television. TJ Walker really gives some good tips and advice on how to sit, what to wear, what to do with your hands, and common mistakes so that you can avoid them.
I have been researching analogies since I came up with my 3 message points and am trying to come up with my own.
I would recommend this book, it is a quick read and will give you some valuable information if you have to go "on the air".

T.J. Walker is a true genius when it comes to looking good in the media. His advice, based on decades of media exposure himself, paired with a solid foundation in media best practices, have yielded the #1 methodology for getting the right message across and looking good in all forms of media. His advice is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Media Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to anyone who plans or hopes to be in any form of media spotlight - TV, radio, or print. The advice in this book is packaged concisely enough to be read the day before you're on air, but dense enough to prepare you thoroughly - and even teach the pros a new thing or two...

TJ Walker is a clear and concise in his Media Training A-Z book. this is a very user-friendly book that is a perfect handbook for anyone who needs or wants to work with the media.

When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.

I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."

To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).

For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.

The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.

A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.