C Books

These principles of Leadership are timeless and outstanding. It should be read and put into practice by everyone. This really is the True Essence of Leadership. I wish I could have read it years ago.

"The Servant" is a good story bringing out keep attributes in the leaders of today.

This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down, I strongly recomend it to anyone wanting to grow as a leader.

Item being reviewed
The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership

I needed 8 of these books quickly for a manager meeting and could not find any locally. I received all 8 in perfect condition within 3 business days. All for a reasonable price! Thanks Amazon!

This book is such a simple and quick read, yet the meaning and impact can be dramatic. James C. Hunter is not on to anything new here, but the presentation of the topic is done in a very non-academic way, allowing the reader to enjoy the story.

The Servant has made a difference for me at work and at home.




The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership

I was not aware of what is going on in the Sudan. This should be required reading, not only for every adult and parent in this country, but also every teenager who thinks they have a raw deal in life...

I particularly enjoyed reading the story of these brave young men who miraculously found each other from time to time, after undergoing such terrible hardships trying to find help. My church offered our extra parsonage to six of the "Lost Boys" and they were a part of our congregation for almost two years. Several became members of our church, and still attend once in a while. Truly God was with these children during that time of horror. They were more resourceful than any American child would ever be, and we pray none will have to suffer as these kids did. We are so proud of "our" boys who learned to speak American English, who learned to get around the city on bicycles, and later in their cars. Most have finished college now. I'm sure the stories of our young men parallels that of the three who shared their stories in this book. Ann Luna, Nashville, TN

This book is on our UMW 2008 reading list. The book is very well written and takes you on this journey that these boys made. It is amazing that they survived and overcame all obstacles

It is hard to believe that in this 21st century, the atrocities that take place in Sudan are still happening and the rest of the world is blind to them. My heart goes to these strong boys that survive. I cannot imagine my own small son having to endure even a fraction of what Benson, Ben, Alphonso and so many other children had to live during their perilous journey.
I hope many read this book and open their eyes to what goes on in other countries. Let's not be quiet about it... This is a must read for our own leaders in hopes they get some perspective of what international conflicts are really important to stop.

My favorite little independent bookshop, Latitude 33, recommended I read this when they found out I was interested in African Affairs. Melanie, the manager, said that she and several of her book club customers read the book and loved it. That was encourgement enough for me.

I was completely caught off guard.

"They Poured Fire on us From the Sky" changed my life in a profound way.
After reading this book about the Civil War in Southern Sudan, I felt compelled to do something on behalf of Darfur. The story told by Benjamin and his brothers is now tragically repeating itself with devastating consequences to the Fur.

Thankfully, the editor used at light hand so that it retained the Dinka voice, which is the
heart and soul of the story tellers.
You will fall in love with these boys. You will pray for these boys, and you will thank the IRC for bringing them hope in the form of a mentor and friend, Judy Bernstein. READ THIS BOOK!

I could not exist without this product for reviewing old songs and artists

thanks

This edition lits the hits that most people forgot! I was looking for info on one it wonders and other fun trivia that we could enjoy at work. This book was it!

This is a great book for laying musical artists and song arguments to rest.It is also very informative and fun to read.

For some reason this book is very hard to get in the UK (a bit like a good train or bus service). Hence the need to purchase it from the international site of Amazon. Once obtained it is very useful.
It now also seems difficult to get the UK version, so good luck if you are hunting for either.

An excellent reference for any music enthusiast wishing to narrow his or her research. Well written, informative and accurate. Another typical Whitburn product worth every penny. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (Billboard Book of Top Forty Hits) 8th Edition

Supplement this one with his Billboard Hot 100 Charts (The Sixties) Billboard Hot 100 Charts - The Sixties. And lastly, while we're still in the 60's music Era, don't forget Whitburn's Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100, 1959-2004.Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100: 1959-2004: Joel Whitburn Presents

You can't go wrong here. The research he's done in these references to ensure accuracy and simplicity is incredible.

This is an eloquently told, often nearly heartbreaking story of what a young German boy endured as a refugee in the closing days and the years following WWII. Wolfgang Samuel tells his story with grace and heart. He dedicates the book to his mother, a major character in his story who, to keep her family alive, sacrificed nearly everything, even to the point of prostituting herself so her children could eat. As Samuel put it -

"People were hungry and would do whatever was necessary to put food on the table for their children ... We were the people who had nothing and lived from hand to mouth. We were the human debris of that evil war. We had no reserves of food, clothing or anything else that sustained life. We were desperate people, easy to exploit."

In a passage startlingly reminiscent of Gone with the Wind, the classic novel of the US Civil War and its aftermath, Samuel tells of how for many years immediately after the war, his mother had no new clothes. "The nicest looking dress she had owned ... she had made herself from curtains which hung in our barracks apartment ..."

And this is not just a book about being refugees and the awful conditions after the war; it's also a universal coming-of-age story, about a boy grappling with the physical changes of puberty and having no one to talk with about what's happening to him. It's about a boy left to take care of himself at the tender age of 14. It's also an homage to his grandparents, who helped sustain him through these worst of times. In other words, there's an awful lot of stuff in here that so many people will relate to, regardless of their own backgrounds.

I know I'm several years late in discovering this book, but I plan to recommend it highly to everyone, particularly history buffs and humanists interested what the human spirit can endure and still rebound. Because after his eventual emigration to the U.S. in 1950 at age 15 (where German Boy ends), Samuel went on to complete college and made a distinguished career for himself in the US Air Force for 30 years. The next book to go into my Amazon cart will be the sequel to this memoir, called Coming to Colorado. This guy can write! And I want to know the rest of his story. But start here, folks. READ THIS BOOK! - Tim Bazzett, author of Soldier Boy

I have always been interested in WWII history and this book is excellent as it deals with the consequences of war. Wolfgang was blessed with an incredible memory and this book tells the story of the time from 1945 to 1950 in Germany and how things were. I will not recap the story since others have done it so well, but this is in the top 10 of the hundreds of books I have read.

This is a great book. I gave the book to a few German friends who lived in Germany during the war. They could identify with the author's experiences.

The author became a U.S citizen and fought in Vietnam. I would have liked to read about the author's experience in this country, and his experience, as a pilot in our Air Force.

A well written book and interesting too.

Wonderful and descriptive first hand account of living through WWII in Germany and the life there afterwards.

The author, who was 10 years old and living in eastern Germany when WWII came to an end, has an amazing memory for telling details and an irresistibly engaging personality. His memoir of that dreadful time is framed as a tribute to his mother, who certainly deserves it, and an unforgettable lesson in history as it is really lived. Once you start reading this book, you will be unable to put it down and you will never forget it.

Though the Dear America series of books [written in diary form] are works of historical fiction, the times they are set in are very real, and the way the series is written enables readers to gain insights into the lives of the young protagonists.

In "A Picture of Freedom", 12-year-old Clotee is a slave who lives on the Belmont Plantation in 1859 Virginia. She may be a slave with no personal freedom or rights, but Clotee has a secret - she is able to read and write, something she picked up by observing her mistress's son during his tutoring sessions. She writes in a secret diary which she keeps hidden for fear of punishment. When a new tutor arrives on the plantation, she is surprised to find him sympathetic to her cause [he is an abolitionist] and they work towards Clotee and her friends' freedom. The choices Clotee makes in this book attest to a truly remarkable character - fiercely determined and courageous.

There is a historical note at the end of the book, as well as historical photographs of slaves on plantations, photos of important leaders of the abolitionist movement, and many more. An inspiring read that i can't recommend highly enough.

I read portions of this book aloud to several people and with no exceptions grownups and children alike, it touched their very souls. I found it in an elementary school library but just had to have a copy of my own after I read it. It is a quick read as well as a must read. It will change your entire life view about the importance of reading and writing and learning. I can't say enough about this book. Read it. You will immediately see what I mean.

This is a wonderful, heartwarming story that is perfect for introducing the plight of slaves to children without frightening the children to death. Clotee, though a slave, retains power from her masters by learning to read and write and keeping a hidden diary of her observations. Though this is admittedly unrealistic (where is she getting all these writing materials), the power she retains in doing this keeps the situation from ever feeling overwhelming or helpless to the child reader.

"Clottee get me food!" Think if you were a house slave how you would feel like a piece of meat always being bossed around and made fun of. If you want to read a book about a slave girl this is the book for you.
A Picture of Freedom is a Dear America story, like you would have never thought. You might think she is always tired and sad. However she works day in and day out just to stay alive. This girl Clotee wants to be like others as free people not a as a slave. She wants freedom. Her friend Spicy and her aunt Tea respect her. Furthermore one day she thinks about running away. Then she thinks if she runs away and gets caught, she might be killed. If she stays here at the plantation her life will be rotting away and working for nothing for the rest of her life. So what would you do if you were a slave?

I picked up this book because I am interested in slavery and Dear America. What a great read! Having to use "thinking squares" for it the first time I read it didn't ruin it for me. Clotee is likable, intelligent, and respectful to older slaves. The ending is not stereotypical (no more details given). My only complaint is its portrayal of slave owners (they are people just like the rest of us), but I see where Clotee would get that negative perception of them. I recommend it to pretty much anyone!

I will begin my first garden next spring and I wanted to know everything right away. I'm thrilled with this book because it includes sections on soil, companion planting, garden design and more. Very good for me since it's the only gardening book I own.

This is a must-have book if you garden; it is easy to find information, very well organized, and the explanations and directions are clear. The second half of the book has detailed information on most vegetables including what plants are best to plant before and next to this plant as well as common problems, depth of soil etc ... This book is wonderful because it is helpful if you already have a garden or if you are starting a new one. I appreciate that he talks about beneficial insects and organic gardening techniques. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Other great books to use with this book:
Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)Crocketts Victory Garden

Excellent book - I checked it out at a local bookstore so I knew it was what I wanted. Next year will be our first year with a garden so we're excited to read this book over the winter to prepare. GREAT book for new gardeners.

Excellent book to read through and then keep as reference.
There are MANY nice color pictures (especially at the end there is a vegetable reference guide for planting/care/info).
This book gives you step-by-step instructions to designing and cultivating a high-yield WORD garden.
If you are clueless about gardening, get this book.
If you think you know everything, then get this book (even if you have memorized the companion planting reference matrix).
From small planter box gardens to acre sized garden plots..
If you want to learn how to grow vegetables, then this is the book!

Hoping to make the most of my new garden, I picked up this book and hoped some of the techniques would work. WOW doesn't even begin to describe how great this was. The techniques outlined in this book will take a relatively small garden and produce veggies like you've never imagined! I can hardly wait for next year when I'll have more time to build beds and plant even more! I really believe it'll be possible to feed my family with just the vegetables we can grow ourselves.

If you wnat to get the most out of your garden space, you need this book!

I grew up with these books but had not read them in a while. They were just as I remembered them as a kid. But I liked the new cartoon artwork on the covers, especially of Killer the "rabbit?"
It was a journey back in time.

Wonderful series. Very imaginative and fun. Very clever and witty. Wonderful characters including some really great strong female characters. Plenty of quirky humor. What more could you ask for in a book? These books were a favorite of mine when I was a kid and now that I'm rereading them as an adult I still think they're brilliant. Definitely one of the most enjoyable fantasy series I've ever read and I've read a ton of fantasy books. I highly recommend buying this series. You won't regret it.

I first read these books aeons ago when I was in middle school. Now, being 26, I still secret my copies among my much more mature literary fare and pull them out to read every so often when I can't sleep or need an instant pick-me-up. I can't tell you how many times I've read this series, but my paperback copies are all in sad need of replacement. I want to buy a set to tuck away to read to my (future)children and hope they love these funny adventurous fairy tales as much as I do.

this is about a princess who's captured by a dragon, and then chooses to stay with the dragon rather than wait to get rescued by a prince. in fact when a prince comes to rescue her in the first book she turns him away, all of them. the series follows the pattern of a typical 'princess story' and the princess is put in a bunch of stereotypical princess situations, but then she defies the stereotype and takes charge of her own life and makes things happen for herself. basically she beats up her own bad guys, with her brain. there are boys in the series, but she isn't waiting for them to save the day, she takes them along for the ride. the dragon who kidnapped her ends up being one of her good friends.

it's a fun series i really enjoyed in elementary school, but it an appropriate read for anyone interested in the plot (as are all stories... age ranges close your mind). a light fun read, i recommend.

This is one of favorite series. After lending this book out and never getting it back, I was recently able to order it again and it is still great 15 years after I read it the first time. Would definetley recommend to anyone who likes fantasy with humor.

m.a.c

Sproul does a nice job of defining the Holiness of God and our response. It comes across as a meditation. He quotes Calvin, Edwards, Luther and others. The doctrine is definitely reformed, which makes sense since Sproul is one of the most outspoken proponents of the doctrines of grace. The early chapters are especially good. I am a bit at a lost on the signficance of the latter chapters. In the early chapters, Sproul works on defining holiness, its relationship with God's other attributes, and our response. I thought his chapters on justifying God's just acts in the Old Testament were a little light and little dismissive. Although I agree when we put God's infinite holiness and his absolute sovereignty over us, the injustice seems inconsequential. I didn't fully understand the significance of the last chapter on "Holy Space and Holy Time."

Sproul has a tendency to grow on me after repeated readings, and this one is definitely worth rereading. There are not many books out there that goes into the attributes of God this deeply and are so easy to read. Maybe I'm reading too much Edwards, so I am a little disappointed at its depth. However, this book is very good for the audience it is trying to reach: the serious layman who wants a deeper understanding of God.

This book is soooooo good! A few things that don't jive with Catholic theology, but other than that, RC will give you a deeper and more profound respect for God's holiness.

I received this as a gift and am so grateful for this book. It is not a book to be rapidly read but rather it is to be sipped on and to ponder. It is excellent and i loved it and HIGHLY recommend it.

At first I was a little disappointed in the audio-book since it was another speaker other than R.C. Sproul. However, after the first ten minutes I could hear the speaker, as if it were Sproul himself (since, of course, he is the author).

The book is EXCELLENT! It has a way of bringing you to a place of "awe" concerning God's holiness. It helped me to understand holiness and to desire God to bring forth holiness into my own life.

R.C. Sproul is one of my favorite Theology teachers, and this audio-book shows how God has gifted him to teach the truths of God's word clearly and effectively. ENJOY :)

I told someone recently that I was reading The Holiness of God by Sproul and they looked at me like I was an alien. They responded with surprise that I had not read it and went on to rave about the book. Sometimes books get a bit too much pub and then don't live up to the hype; however, this book is not one of them. The Holiness of God is classic Sproul and it is a much needed message for the church of any age, but in particular, the message of a transcendently glorious God is desperately needed today.

Sproul starts off the book in a chapter entitled The Holy Grail. It is in this chapter where he recounts a story of how God forever changed his life by revealing the majestic holiness of the God to him. From this point on, Sproul says he was captivated by the holiness of God.

The chapter on Isaiah 6 entitled Holy, Holy, Holy is just plain awesome. Sproul combines transcendent theology with passion and delivers it in a clear, lucid manner that is engaging to the soul.

For example,

"To be undone means to come apart at the seams, to be unraveled.... [It is] personal disintegration.... [Isaiah] was considered by his contemporaries as the most righteous man in the nation. He was respected as a paragon of virtue. Then he caught one sudden glimpse of the holy God. In that single moment, all of his self-esteem was shattered. In a brief second he was exposed, made naked beneath a gaze of the absolute standard of holiness. As long as Isaiah could compare himself to other mortals, he was able to maintain a lofty opinion of his own character. The instant he measured himself by the ultimate standard, he was destroyed--morally and spiritually annihilated. He was undone. He came apart. His sense of integrity collapsed."

"There is a special kind of phobia from which we all suffer. It is called xenophobia. Xenophobia is a fear (and sometimes hatred) of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign. God is the ultimate object of our xenophobia. He is the ultimate stranger. He is the ultimate foreigner. He is holy, and we are not."

This is just great stuff. And it serves as a timely tonic for our current age that seems to have chiseled a God who looks and acts more like our little buddy than the transcendently enthroned King of kings.

Sproul also writes about Christ's holiness. In the chapter, The Trauma of Holiness, Sproul shows how Christ demonstrates his utter differentness and superiority over everything by calming the ferocious storms. Peter's response should be the model, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." (Luke 5.8).

My only criticism is Sproul's insertion of a chapter on Martin Luther. I was jamming along, just drinking up the radiant holiness that this book was warming me with and then...bam....a chapter on Luther. Now, I have nothing against Luther, but, it just seemed a bit unnecessary and out of place. Perhaps others disagree.

Overall, I think the book is a must read. I am catapulting it to the `top-ten' status.

I am a Christian who knows Christ as her savior and strives to follow biblical principals. I just have to say that I don't recommend this book to anyone. I found the book to be very confusing for children around my daughter's age (3). I agree with the other reviewers that the "He/She" references just don't make any sense to children and could be wrong altogether. I have to pose the question, Is the author trying to convey that God is whoever we want " him/her" to be? Because if that's the case, that simply isn't true. Perhaps, the author is trying to explain God's omnipotence, omnipresence, etc. That is true. He is all-knowing and everywhere all at the same time. I just don't think this book is the proper avenue to teach that to a child. They will learn that better through their interaction with the world around them. (i.e. taking them outside, feeling the wind, explaining that God is like the wind in that you can't see Him, but there is evidence all around us that He is there just like the way you see the trees move when the wind blows). Bible stories and how you apply them to a child's life will teach them all about who God is and the life lessons He wants us to learn. Not this book.
From what I could find about the author on his own website, he is referred to as one connected with nature. Yet while he acknowledges God in his books, I haven't seen anything that refers to any kind of biblical background in his own personal life. To me that is a red flag. If someone is going to explain God to my daughter, I want that person to know the Lord and have a close personal walk with Him. If this author does, I would like to know more about that concerning him.

this was a nice book on diversity. i think one of the things people get the most worked up over is spirituality. it's one of those things that can touch a person more deep than anything else, and everyone's perspective will differ, even if only minutely. wars have been started over the issue, and all because we're too pig headed and focused on our own validity. this book starts off with animals and rocks and trees each saying that what they think god is is indeed the true god, and that god seems to resemble the speaker. then the old turtle stops them and tell them of the coming of a new group, humans, and how they are supposed to be a message from god the the earth and a prayer from the earth to god. then people come and after while start to do not so nice things and nature says to stop. then the beings that said god was like themselves at the beginning of the book said they saw god in that which was opposite themselves. i guess the moral being have an open mind about that which is different from yourself, because it really isn't so alien to what you believe.

This book begins with the beings of nature having an argument as to who God is, an age old question. The old turtle speaks up and tells everyone to stop! And tells of a new being that will come and be in the likeness of god out of his love, humans. Then the humans start to argue and fight and destroy the earth. Till again the turtle said stop, and the people began to listen and realize the beauty they were destroying, the earth. The story is not specifically religious but more of a lesson of not to destoy what we have been blessed with. The illustrations are chinese watercolors and they are imaculate! Definately a must to add to your collection.

This is a book for children, but really is a lesson for mankind. Beautiful drawings. A good read out loud for children.Simply beautiful!

I am so torn here. I love this book - my mother would love this book. So what's the problem? It's a feel good book that seems like it would better reach a new parent, a teen, or someone going through hard times better than a child.

The story clearly has a moral tale to convey. I tend to like that, and I love the message on diversity. Unfortunately, as far as plot/story, it falls short. It fails to go beyond just a morality lesson. And for this, it failed to captivate either of my children.

If the target audience are children: For lessons on friendship with story intact, try pumpkin soup. For a story about diversity and acceptance, try The Woman Who Outshone the Sun. For general moral tales - Zen Shorts.

I mostly read for a little escape, something to entertain and take my mind off reality and this book did it for me! I hadn't ever read paranormal/fantasy romance before, but came across an excerpt from this book in the back of another book and it peaked my interest. I am so glad it did!! I used to read romance when I was younger, but lost interest in the strong man sweeps innocent woman off her feet and they live happily ever after. I liked that the romance between Rain and Ellie in LOTFL was only part of the story (I also loved that Rain had to actually court Ellie, they didn't just instantly fall into bed), there was focus on the other characters in the book, building of the tension between good and evil, and the intertwining of learning about the fey, celearians, and this whole new world. I felt like the characters were real - Ellie was essentially a "good girl" struggling to find her real self and we see that as she starts standing up to her family, but yet still struggles with who she is and what may be inside her. I also liked that Rain was a strong male lead, but he also struggled with his flaws (well, his one big flaw of almost destroying the world 1,000 years ago). The action and suspense of the story kept propelling it forward. I couldn't put the book down!! I ran out and read Lady of Light and Shadows immediately after, and am impatiently awaiting my copy of King of Sword and Sky to arrive in the mail.

There are so many great reviews already written. I just wanted to add my 5 star vote. C.L. Wilson has done a brilliant job and I look forward to reading all the books in the series.

The Tairen Soul Series (Paranormal- Fae Fantasy/Medieval Romance):

Lord of the Fading Lands

Lady of Light and Shadows

King of Sword and Sky

Queen of Song and Souls (March 2009)


I can't believe I haven't heard about this series before. I just found it by chance at the local book store. After reading this first book of the series, I'm floored! Fantasy writing that brings me to an imaginary world worthy of "Lord of the Rings", combined with romance as sweet and seductive as a Nalini Singh novel. Not only that, but C.L. Wilson has managed to create a Fae people who are unique in their powers. With so many copycat series on book store shelves, The Tairen Soul men and women are a diamond in the rough. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Important Note:
This series is an ongoing story. You will want to read them in order. Here are links so far:

Lord of the Fading Lands

Lady of Light and Shadows

King of Sword and Sky (Tairen Soul)

Queen of Song and Souls (March 2009){Link not yet available}

Wonderful book, got me hooked on the series after the first chapter, cannot wait for the next installment.

This is a wonderful, romantic paranormal fantasy. Part Cinderella story, part Sleeping Beauty coming of age story.
Ellysetta, is a mortal Celierian Woodcarver's adopted daughter. She has been tormented all of her life by mysterious nightmares and the feeling of being an outsider. Ellysetta is unaware of her own latent magical abilities.
Rain Tairen Soul, is King of the Fey. He is responsible for the survival of his people and their soul kin, the winged Tairen. Rain, is a survivor of the terrible Mage Wars against the evil Eld Mages.
The Tairen's Eye Oracle crystal has shown Rain an image of Ellysetta's face. This is the Oracle's only reply when asked how the Fey and the Tairen can be saved from imminent extinction.
Upon meeting Ellysetta, Rain realizes that she is the rarest of the rare, his Truemate. Now he must protect her from Celierian intrigues, and the powerful Eld High Mage, Vadim Maur. Most difficult of all, he must court Ellysetta, and she must willingly decide to accept Rain and the matebond.
This is a pleasant change from many of the paranormal Alpha hero romances that treat the female soulmate as one to be dominated and not wooed. Basically, simplistic "You - Jane. Me - Tarzan." romances.
In this epic, the secondary characters are well developed, the world building is complete and imaginative. The hero and heroine are flawed but intelligent and independent. We can see them grow and mature as the story advances. Refreshingly, they are not totally sure of themselves or their truemate.
Recommended.