J Books

I wish all college students would read this book. Provides insights and truths about the real world of work. Great examples of individuals who have navigated the world of work, and struggled with their careers. How do people decide on careers, is it okay to change, what if I'm not certain about what I want to do, what if I don't like what I'm doing. This could save many students a great deal of frustration when sorting out their career plans.

Others have written good reviews so I'll keep mine short. This is an excellent book, in part because it's very readable (you don't feel you're being lectured). Also, the lion's share of the book is personal stories of Liberal Arts grads finding their way into career paths, with plenty of ups and downs. If experience is the best teacher, this book gives you the benefit of 30 other people's experience. Highly recommended!

As a sophomore in college, I'm almost to the point of entering the "real world." But instead of feeling unprepared and anxious about this process, I am actually looking forward to it. This is entirely due to Smart Moves, and I cannot even begin to emphasize how much this book has already helped me - even though I'm still 2 1/2 years from graduation!
What really makes this book a pleasure to read is it's format. At the beginning are extraordinarly helpful pieces of advice on what to do in and once you graduate from college. Next, the book goes on to provide real-world examples of people who are enjoying their careers in just about every major field. Smart Moves chronicles their stories while not only including their successes, but their mistakes as well.
At home, my mom and my 17 year old brother looked through the book while it was laying down on the coffee table. They both loved it. Here is what my mom had to say:


"Your purpose in life is not to find yourself...it is to create yourself."
My son, a student at Duke University, received this book from the University the summer between his freshman and sophomore years. He asked me to read it, and I was delighted to find it offered, through biographical examples, some truisms that we had been trying to explain to him.

1. Follow your passion; your happiness and enthusiasm will attract the money you need to survive.
2. Be willing to work hard.
3. It doesn't always matter what you major in, there is a good chance you will change careers several times in your life.
4. Every job you have will teach you something about yourself and give you the experience to make yourself available for the next opportunity.
5. Remain open and flexible.
6. Remain curious and research-oriented.
7. Use your summers between school years to take internships or volunteer in the areas of your interest.
8. Explore the career counseling center early during your undergraduate years.

I felt the lively and entertaining writing style of the authors, Sheila Curran and Suzanne Greenwald, made this book a fun and informative read for both undergraduate students and their families.

Beth Zarian, author, Around the World with Historical Fiction and Folktales.


Once again, I'd recommend Smart Moves to anyone who has an open mind!
-Paul Zarian

A refreshing and timely read for every recent college graduate. Curran helps job-seekers (and their parents!) understand the challenges - sychological, cultural & socio-economic - facing every graduating liberal arts major. Her years of experience counseling the best and brightest of the country's youth has taught her a simple truth - happiness is in doing what you love to do.

What's so fascinating is the complete relevance it has to the day-to-day decisions that my 22-30 year-old peers are making every day. I can't tell you how many times I have felt compelled to share the "Smartest Moves" chapter with colleagues who find themselves "disenchanted,"
"disengaged," or otherwise, with their current career path.

Every college graduate should read this book - and so should their parents.

A college sophomore at Duke University, NC, I received a copy of 'Smart Moves' over the summer, at a time when I was extremely confused over which major I should choose, which career path I should follow etc. That was, until I received this book.
Through the stories of 23 other students, all ranging in a wide variety of careers and fields, I have realized that the next 3 years of my life will be about finding out what my passions are and where my interests for the future lie, rather than about working my way towards a preordained career goal on a predetermined path which I might regret later on in life. Several of my course selections and internship plans are now being reinforced after reading this book.
Smart moves has been a really useful eye-opener and myth buster for me, and I highly recommended to all students in liberal arts colleges, regardless of whether they were in a similar position as I was in or not. Read this book, and you would have made your first of many smart moves.

This book was recommended to me by several people who are into tarantulas. I had no interest in reading any more than the care of tarantulas, but I've now read the whole book, simply because it was so interesting.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the critters, and especially to anyone considering keeping one as a pet, or breeding them.

As a psychologist specializing in treating people for spider phobia, I found this book brilliant in teaching how to look after the tarantulas I own. As time is an issue for me, I wanted a book that would cut to the chase about keeping tarantulas so I could learn quickly about how to keep them so I could use them in therapy. This book delivered the goods and has allowed me to happily keep tarantulas so as to treat spider phobics. A must for anyone interested in keeping tarantulas.

Anthony Gunn, psychologist and author of Fear Is Power: Turn Your Fears Into Success

a very useful and understandable book. An essential text for the lovers of the tarantulas

Being new to the tarantula keeping world I found Mr. Stanley's book an excellent source of information on all aspects of spider keeping. Especially helpful was the chapter on raising spider babies when my pet store bought Chilian Rose Hair decided she wanted to suddenly and quite unexpectedly give birth! If you are thinking about raising tarantulas I urge you to read this book first; you will enjoy the hobby so much more if you do.

Best reference on Tarantula's I've found. Answers most questions. Will be the most used book on my reference shelf.

This is a wonderful book....written in a way that is easy to understand..as if she is sitting there talking to you in a normal conversation....I loved this book...couldnt put it down!!

I bought this book because I had signed up for a seminar with Tama Kieves. The book is a wonderful inspirational tale for anyone who doubts in their abilities to forge a new path in their lives. Tama shares her vulnerable side and foibles along with her success, making her story accessible to the reader. She did it and so can we! She is especially good at leading the reader to trust in themselves. I followed her recommendation of savoring each chapter,rather than reading it all in one sitting. If you are thinking of leaving your career to be an artist or writer, this book is helpful. I plan to read it again. Better yet, sign up to hear her speak!

This book is so well written, funny, and has truly helped me to question my fear and dare again to be the person i most want to be. i yearn less for a partner to complete me and now am more curious about the ways i can draw out of myself the qualities i so often seek in others.

I enjoyed Tama's writing style and honesty. This story is inspirational to people who are stopped by 'shoulds' and judgment in their lives. She shows us how to trust our inner voice during times of change, how to remain constant and sacrifice the superfluous for what matters most. She is an example of making a difference in this world by having the courage to follow her true path.

Tama Kieves was a successful Harvard grad/lawyer who walked away from her office with a view and high paying job to do what she most wanted to do. When she made her choice to jump in with both feet, she lowered her expenses and took a waitress job to sustain herself while she followed her dream.

She believes that people can and should be able to make a living doing whatever they are naturally gifted at and love to do. She wrote this book and when it didn't get picked up by a publisher, she self published it and then a major company approached her and bought it.

I have read a lot of self help and "Do what you love.." type books and I have to say that this one is awesome. I couldn't put it down. There is so much good advice on just about every page, and the thing is, it's all stuff she knows because she's experienced it.

I wish I had known that the secret to life is doing what you love to do when I first started working. But then, how would we know what we love if we didn't do all those things that we didn't/don't love in the first place?

This is a great book that I highly recommend and would give as gifts.

this book was written by carol spinney, fan of henson, who ended up working with him and doing big bird and oscar the grouch for years.

i had seen an interview with him prior to reading the book where he equates working with henson to being asked to be a member of the beatles. just awesome.

this book has many anecdotes of his times working with henson, on sesame street, the story of the girl they did "big bird goes to china" with, getting punched in costume by rappers, and he tells the story of hensons death and how it affected him.

for any henson fan, it really is a must have.

To be honest, I have not kept up on Sesame Street since I was a regular viewer from say, oh 1974-77. So I was surprised that there was but a single guy playing Big Bird! I would have otherwise presumed the role was like Vader, a guy in the suit and a guy doing the voice. Moreover, the same guy did ALL the public appearances, award shows, White House dinners. I was floored; what an interesting time this guy had stemming from the Big Bird suit. He's very matter of fact about much of this so I am perhaps overly impressed? In any case, he comes across as very genuine and extremely kind and generally a good person. He also offers odd but intriguing insights into the puppetry world. A neat short read.

The book was easy reading, took me about 3 hours and filled with life stories/lesson's from Caroll Spinney, the man behind Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch. I laughed and cried and totally enjoyed the book.

A fun read. Carol Spinney is a man whom I never knew much about besides seeing his name in the credits of Sesame Street, and other productions where Big Bird made an appearance.

It was interesting to read about how Big Bird's character was developed, and how just playing the part of a lovable children's icon changed Carol's life.

Worth your time. For sure.

I'm still in the middle of reading this book. but, I'm admiring the work of Carroll very much and every time I look at Big Bird or Oscar now I imagine the position that Carroll is in to make the muppet come to life.

It was almost as lovely as the first one that was given to my children when they were very small....a gift from their great-aunt who was a Catholic nun with a degree in Library Science...I tried to locate one exactly like the original which was received in about 1964. It was about half the size, hard cover with the most beautiful artwork and my 5 children loved it. Somehow it was lost in one of our moves, but I bought this one for my oldest daughter (now 51) who always wanted a copy..She loved reading it to her younger siblings. She loved it and so did I, so we consider it a wonderful little book.

The familiar poem from childhood paired with beautiful illustrations makes the perfect bedtime read to share with your grandchildren.

Captain Kangaroo sang this song on his show many years ago. I was fortunate to have
the leather bound edition of children's poems by Eugene Field that included this poem.

I sang "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" to all our children and all the children I have loved. The original
is a bit different and has more lyrics but the feel is the same. The color pictures
are beautiful. The song is a wonderful bedtime routine and the imagery is lovely. Also,
it is appropriate for either a boy or girl. This book makes a wonderful addition to any children's library.


We will be gifting and singing this poem to the children of the many children we
love.

Eugene Field spins a marvelous bed time yarn with Wynken, Blynken, & Nod. Wonderfull Illustrations by Johana Westerman enhance this century old tale. It was my favorite bedtime story as a child, no violence, no villians, no nightmares. A fantasy delight that will send all young children off to dreamland with vivid and happy thoughts. Highly reccommended to parents and teachers, or anyone who cares for a child.

I was thrilled when I discovered Wynken, Blynken & Nod was still being printed. I believe of the two books I have saved from my childhood (I'll be 65 next week), this was one of them.

I treasured this book. It's a classic.

Today I found it has arrived. I am so sure that my grandchildren, 4 and 2 will love it as much as I did, that I bought it for them.

It is a very good book, the reading is really good!!! I loved reading the letters between Jefferson and Adams!!!! The letters are very good!!!!

What an incredible feeling reading the words of two of our country's founding fathers. To feel the respect and affection , as well as irritation, of these men is astounding. I am grateful that they have been made available to us to have and hold in our own hands and libraries and to pass on to our children.

This is a very intersting book. The letters are all preceeded by an introduction that gives the reader historical context as well as a description of the relationship at the time between the writers of the letter.

Out second and third presidents began their political career as friends, fell out, and then fortunately became friends again. In this wonderful collection of personal letters we see not only the men but the times until their deaths July 4, 1826. One of our most beloved presidents and most mis-understood are brought into reality by this collection. They were after all both remarkable men and human beings.

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall and to be able to share in the thoughts and happenings of important places and people? Well, if your desires in that regard include the office of the Presidency of the United States and the early days following the American Revolution, that is exactly what this book provides.

As was typical of statesmen of that day, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams maintained a lengthy personal and professional correspondance the subjects of which were both mundane and highly intellectual. This book takes that correspondance, chronologically arranges it and then groups it according the characteristics of the time and the themes of their correspondance. As an additional bonus, John's wife Abigail Adams is included as well.

My attraction to this volume was to seek clarity and focus on several questions that are quite relevant to today. What was meant and intended by the concept of Separation of Church and State and what was the philisophic and religious thinking of there two important figures? There's no shortage of resources out there to tell you what these men thought, the context of their society and usually as an added bonus how these matters in one way or another support the agenda or perspective of the one putting the source together.

At some point however, if you really want to grapple with these issues or just understand the times and importance of these two men, there is no substitute for simply reading and allowing them to speak for themselves.

The added benefit of reading it through in its entirity is that you are not subjected to the judgement of another as to what is significant, what isn't and you aren't relying upon snippets and quotes that may or may not be in context and may or may not be representative of all that either man had to say upon a certain matter.

Certainly, this is just a small cross-section of all that these two men wrote and by itself there is much more that should be added. However, more than any other correspondance preserved from that day that these men engaged in, this was an exchange between men who considered the other his equal and for whom, with exceptions in time periods that are noted, mutual respect and a desire to explain themselves to one another motivated a candor and depth of intimacy that is difficult to find in other sectors.

Certainly, any student of American History needs this resource as a reference and as such it affords a ready means to add information and topically flip through the pages to see what each man had to say on a particular subject.

Every such student though, in my opinion, owes it to themselves, at least once, to just sit down and read the entire volume. Do this, and you'll have a handle upon the style of communication of the day, a feeling for many of the issues of the day and how they were viewed by the participants who did not have the advantage of knowing at the time how something would resolve. Idiosyncrasies in language and social custom will become more self-evident and the chances of being mislead by a quote isolated from its context will diminish considerably.

In short, for anyone who loves History, this is an experience not to be missed.

The footnotes and introductory passages to the different sections in my opinion do a remarkably good job of providing the reader with just enough context and outside information so that the letters themselves make sense and are not misunderstood. The reader is not told what to think about the letters per se, but rather equipped to make a better informed evaluation and come to their own conclusions. Those elements make the book valuable as well.

5 stars if ever there was a book worthy of 5 stars; again, this IS history.

Bart Breen

My husband and I loved this book after we read it , it has had many outings to friends and family. The book takes a real approach to changing how you eat. It was a good purchase.

It's a decent approach, and there certainly is some good information to be found in here. I did not like it. But every approach to a healthy life comes from different places. The layout was not overly appealing to me for starters. I thought that there were an awful lot of pictures and not an awful lot of information.

OK, for all of you who have literally tried everything within your reach and have failed or it was too drastic/hard you NEED to try this.
TRUST me when i tell you it will change your life for the better its fun! and simple yet cuts down to the point and you can still eat the things you grew up on and love!

i lost 65 pounds of PURE fat simply within a few months when i bought this book i didnt weigh myself every week but i knew i was losing because my pants were always looser on me then the previous week.

ive tried every diet out there (or at least it seems like it) and im only 18 and cursed with obesity in my family and a slow metabolism. Dont think i lost all that weight cause im young! my mother tried it with me and she lost 35 pounds! easier than she ever has and best of all kept it off! for about 2 years now EFFORTLESSLY!



good luck to everyone whos smart enough to buy it!!!
its a true GODSEND!

so honestly do yourself the biggest favor you can and buy this book..i promise it will help and it'll make it easy along the way =]

I've been on Atkins, Weight Watchers, low-fat, no fat, no fun, and all of them brought too much restriction to the table. Change One uses common sense and doesn't restrict anything except the size of your portions, which are usually much larger than they need to be anyway. I've lost weight slowly and sensibly on this diet without suffering or feeling restricted. One note: The hardcover has actual-size graphics of the recommended portions (baseball, tennis ball, golf ball, two CDs, etc.). The soft cover does not. I found these graphics to be much more helpful than trying to imagine what two golfball-sized portions of rice should look like. If you can, get the hardcover. If not, get a golf ball...

I have been on many diets, from weight watchers to all protein, and this is the best one I have ever tried. You are never hungry and there are so many different choices. The best thing is you only change one thing, once a week. There's no way that you won't lose weight and inches on this one.

Book arrived quickly and in shape described. I am very satisfied with the seller. Thanks.

From Sea To Shining Sea is an excellent account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Northwest It also describes most interestingly the participants and how they related to each other.

This is truly a treasure. Even if you don't like history, you will find yourself wanting to know more after reading this book. It would be a great read, side by side, in an American history class. Students reading about the lives of people and how they were affected by each of those early events in our history would surely enjoy the class a lot more.

I wish it was printed in hardcover or large print.

I found this book in my mom's book shelf when I was 16 and never gave it back. The cover has fallen off and I lost most of the last page! It is exciting, colorful, sometimes funny, sometimes frightful but a great step into the history of the US through the eyes of a proud mother of 10!

This is an remarkable view of the early history of the forming and then growing United States through the experiences of several generations of the extraordinary Clark family. The story weaves together the real life experiences of this family showing the trials, challenges and rugged life in our western frontier as it moved from western Virginia into the the Ohio river valley and on to the vast region west of the Mississippi river that culminates in the Rogers & Clark expedition. If one enjoys early american history or an intense novel packed with drama, this is a book that will hold your attention.

Very good information. Gives the reader a step by step process of getting clients without insulting intelligence.

I own a small business and I am looking to find more clients. This book is a must have for anyone who wants to offer services to businesses. I have already found this book to informative, simple to understand, and it has given me new skills to market my business without all the expense. Although I haven't done this for 28 days, I already have some leads on new clients just by doing some of the steps mentioned. Any one who offers a service related business should read this book. Truly a lifesaver!
Thanks

This book demystified marketing for me. I read other marketing books, but could not then commit to one course of action. In plain language, C. J. Hayden helps you to pinpoint where to focus your energy. Then she helps you to develop a step-by-step plan based on your needs.

If you are looking for a book about how to write a great sales letter, this is not it. If you are looking for a way to develop a low-maintenance business development plan, buy this book. You can spend as little or as much time as you want on this program. She explains how to get the ball rolling, and reminds you that development can be an ongoing activity.

Thesis: With this 28-day marketing program, you will locate, land, and keep new clients in greater numbers than you've probably ever dreamed possible. It includes steps that are easy to follow and practical for professionals and consultants.

Structure: A 28-day program described in ten chapters spread over three sections: The Setup, The System, and The Strategies.

Here are some sections I found especially valuable:

What Really Works? Effective Marketing Strategies (Ch. 1; pp. 5-21)
C.J. delivers a great lead-in that primes the reader with sound and specific information about what to consider. She speaks to the "hows" and "whys" behind marketing. Graphics such as the one on page nine ("Marketing strategies for the service business") make the material easily accessible to reader, helping break down any possible barriers of intimidation.

You're Ready...Let's Go! Putting the System into Action (Ch. 6; pp. 85-127)
This chapter leads the reader through the entire 28-day process with excellent details and tools (such as the worksheet on page 89) to help track progress. It's the culmination of the previous two chapters that discuss building your own system from a menu of tried-and-true marketing ingredients. C.J. tells you (1) what marketing ingredients to choose from, (2) how to choose what's best for your situation, and (3) specifically how to put the plan in action.

Following Up: When You Have Plenty of Numbers But You're Not Calling (Ch. 8, pp. 171-184)
This chapter is one of four in the third and final section: The Strategies. These four chapters help the reader focus on practical solutions for common problems encountered during the 28-day program and beyond. Chapter Eight focuses on breaking down barriers that cause inaction. It provides practical solutions to help the reader actually follow through on acquired leads.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with business and self-help books because authors provide a wealth of suggestions and no clear path. This is where Hayden's book stands out. She breaks everything down from the six marketing strategies and setting up measurable goals to selecting ten doable activities.

The book also includes two worksheets that work with the program for easier reviewing and tracking progress. While you can follow the program alone, she recommends having support from someone other than family. It could be a coach or a colleague in the industry.

The organized and methodical program guides you through each step. Reading the how doesn't take long and the program begins mid-way through the book. The latter half of the book describes the activities you can do while following the 28-day program. So you won't get overwhelmed at the thought of "too many pages to read."

I worked on it as soon as I started reading the book. Having this guide took a lot of pressure off of me as I know exactly what to do once I'd put my plan together. Not many business books have urged me to take action and this one succeeded. I know that after a month of following this process, I'll see positive results.

While the book sounds simple, and it is — it takes work to make it happen. Instead of taking the long route and learning from trial-and-error, Hayden provides you with a direct route so you do the activities and don't worry about overdoing it.

Some people may not like strict rules. The book isn't like that. It's okay to adjust the plan so you do six or seven activities instead of ten. It helps you figure out where you're stuck in the marketing process and provides the tools for working past it. The book is over five years old and its contents are as relevant today as when it first came out. I can say with certainty that anyone who follows the plan will get great results.

great - timely service... I had no problems with my order or receiving my book.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is well written and the characters really come to life and feel like they are family and neighbors. A tornado destroys many homes in a small Missouri town where people live just as you and I with good and bad times in their lives. There are many hard feelings among them, but this tragedy brings out the best in people and many changes happen in their hearts and they come to depend upon each other and make changes to go forward to the future. Sometimes we need to suffer loses before we realize what is most important and that we only have one life to live.

I thought that this author's first book "Tending Roses'was very good, but this one is even better. I can't wait to read the next books in this series, "The Language of the Sycamores", "Drenched in Light" and "A Thousand Voices",

Good Hope Road by Lisa Wingate is her strongest book to date. After the entire town of Poetry, Missouri is destroyed by a tornado, the people within it are changed to their cores as well. Jenilee Lane has lived her entire life ducking blows and trying to stay unnoticed. Eudora Gibson, her elderly neighbor, suffers from a bad case of judging others until Jenilee saves her life. The entwining stories of Jenilee and Eudora are woven together until as one strong cord, both women pull themselves out of their former selves and find a better future. Jenilee's idea to pick up all the photos and papers she finds on the road, in her yard and fields and try to return them to the townspeople who have lost so much is moving, especially after how she's been treated by them throughout her life. Wingate captures the essence of a family caught in the cycle of abuse and trying to break free. The scenes between Jenilee and her brothers are especially poignant. The dialogue is extremely well done. This book is peopled with characters that everyone in a small town knows, and after finishing the book will be sorry to leave.

This is the first of Lisa Wingate which I have ever read. Now I definitely want to read more of her books.

Jennilee Lane and her family were the "poor folks" on Hope Road. Her mother was ill with depression, and later had terminal cancer, and her Dad was a loser as well. The family struggled just to eat. The other people in the small neighborhood were middle to upper classed people. Eudora Gibson was a big gossip and spread awful rumors about people to whoever would listen to her gossip. And then there was the lawyer's family, Marcella, of whom were big snobs.

All of this changed, when in the beginning of the book, a tornado hit hard and many folks lost their homes and precious items. Many lives were taken, some spared, and the whole neighborhood had to come together all living in a shelter together.

Jennilee saved the life of Eudora, and her granddaughter Lacy, who lost her parents and won't speak to anyone. While they are in this shelter together, Jennilee does a lot to help rescue items people have lost by posting pictures up on a board. She cooks, cleans, and helps the injured as well during all of this disaster. People gradually come to love and admire her, even the very haughty Dr. Albright.

On the other side of this coin though, Jennilee has lost part of her family, (Dad and brother Nate), and can't imagine where they are when the storm destroyed their town. She fears the worst that they were seriously injured or even killed, and as the story continues, what happens comes to light, and whether they are lucky to have survived remains to be seen. Jen's older brother Drew is finally coming around as well, but Jennilee holds a lot of resentment there as Drew left when her mom was dying and they needed him there.

It is just a good 'down-home' type of book. I look forward to seeing what Wingate's others are like.

After reading Ms. Wingate's two romances, I picked up Good Hope Road. Surprised it wasn't a romance, I almost tossed it, but the writing was so beautiful, I couldn't. This was a wonderful tale of reconciliation and survival populated with marvelous character that give real hope.