Resources Books

I bought fours books of the series thinking mostly on my daughter, I thought my really boy 6y son (who likes Ricki Ricotta kind of books) wouldnt want to read them. I was so wrong!! We read two tonight and he is taking the other two to class tomorrow to share with everybody!!
I absolutely loved them.

All these books are amazing. My grandmama read them to me; and I read them to my children. All four of us (including Grandmama) loved these precious stories. I love the moral at the end; it helps me and my three year old talk about how the moral applies to the story and our lives. The large text and beautiful pictures help children with shorter attention spans stay engaged in the story; and it helps young readers read on their own. These are classic stories that should be on everyone's shelves.

This book made a huge impact on me as a child and I've never forgotten it. There was something about the combination of illustration and story that made this very memorable. As my daughter reached the age where books with a moral lesson became more relevant I was thrilled to find that these books by Stephen Cosgrove were still in print! If you read my other reviews you'll see that illustrations are very important to me -- a book has to be visually interesting to appeal to small children. The illustrations in this book are so crisp and just plain cute! Also the story is a fun and easy night time read and has several great messages. The story of a unique pink creature named Serendipity promotes individuality, self esteem, and a sense of social responsibility.

I absolutely adored this series as a child. They share timeless messages and morals that I think we have lost as a society. My mother gave me the book that contains 7 of the stories and that made me really want to track down and find them all again. I was so excited to find them on Amazon.com after not finding them at any other book stores. I plan to begin a career of working with nursery school children and these books will provide the perfect stories just before nap time. Anyone who has never read these stories is truely missing out on a gem of children's stories. I highly suggest collecting the entire series, I know I'm going too!

The book contains a morale about beauty can bloom anywhere, I think it might be Lady Rose but not sure. Its a Serendipity book for certain. There is a rose that blooms on ice or iceberg I think. Does this sound familiar to anyone if so then please E-mail me at Arcimedes8@yahoo.com . I really want to find this book. Please help =)

Great for Bible studies or Sunday school but also just as a stand-alone book even though it's written for a group. The book teaches the simple method of asking questions to get people interested in hearing the Gospel. The lessons are easy and well written so any age should be able to understand it. We have people in our home fellowship that never shared Jesus with others (for many different reasons) and now they've changed their minds and have answered the high call.

1 Star = I've been robbed!
2 Stars = Why'd I finish it?
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

This is an exceptional Book on being a witness and on sharing Jesus Christ with others. It is easily read, very learnable, easily applied and can be proven to be very fruitful when adapted. This is a must in the library of the person who wishes to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers. Exceptional

Evangelism doesn't have to be scarey and Bill Fay keeps it simple. No memorization or lengthy speeches...just straight forward presentation of the gospel of Jesus. If you get the chance look up Bill's testimony!

I will have to say that this has been the most effective tool I have used to help others share thier faith in Christ. Many of us are unsure how to share Christ with others while we know it is our responciblity as a believer. I don't think you will find a more effective means of sharing Christ than the method here!

I know Bill Fay personally, and I have been with him many times when he was evangelizing. I have personally watched him leading dozens of people to Christ.

The material in his book is not oversimplified or rationalized; Bill personally uses the methods he teaches. Everything in his book has been tested and refined in the crucible of experience. I have seen him successfully use the things he teaches over and over again in real-world evangelism.

What readers of the book need to understand is that Bill treats each person he talks to as if he or she is the most important person he has ever met. There is nothing rotely formulaic in his approach - people respond to him because they see that he cares, and that he truly means and believes everything he says. Bill combines his straightforward methodology with a very personal approach. He genuinely cares about the people he evangelizes, and that shines through everything he says and does.

When he asks people if they were wrong, would they want to know it, and they reply, No, he really does walk away. Yes, most of them call him back, but when they don't, he keeps walking. It's not a gimmick. Bill means exactly what he says. If Bill has a "secret," that's it - he genuinely cares about people, and absolutely believes and means what he says.

I guess that's what the intent of this book and it gives examples from an expert in Training. The articles from several experts in the field of training also supports the content and adds value.
Recommended if you need an overview, although in some chapters goes into details. Yet, there are several other books that focus on preparation, presentation, evaluation etc. which might be more focused on these topics.

I am a project management trainer. This book gives and reminds all the things. What the trainer is, adults learn, the training cycle, increasing participation, icebreakers etc... In fact I like the "dummies" series. I recommend it.

Although I've been a trainer for years, this book reminded me of some basic training concepts I have not used in a while.

Don't feel silly for getting this book just because it says "for dummies."
I have a masters in training so I wouldn't say I am a dummy in the field, and I believe this book is a fantastic resource to remind you of many training techniques and principles. I Def. Recommend!!!!

One of the pitfalls of being a training specialist for such a long time is that it is easy to become complacent with your knowledge level and your writing habits. "Training for Dummies," which should be titled "Training for Schmarties" is one of those books that will help you avoid that.

Author, Elaine Biech covers the instructional systems design model (ISD) or A.D.D.I.E., in detail. These are analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. She states the difference between what it means to be a teacher vs. being a trainer. This is one of the only texts I have seen that offers some construction of an instructional design draft, although I wish she would have shown and explained a two-column format in depth. She did provide samples of a three- and four-column format.

Biech goes into overdrive regarding implementation from room set-up, the things that could go wrong, dealing with nervousness, and handling the disruptive influence, all types of them, to mention just a few. She also covers the four (or five if you prefer) levels of evaluation superbly.

One area I was hoping that she would address is how trainers can deal with managers who make disastrous training decisions that will be a supreme waste of time and money, but will blame the trainer rather than recognizing their decision as the reason for failure. (I was once asked to do training to control or reduce absenteeism. Thank God, he had a poor memory)! This is a constant uphill battle for trainers and I see half-hearted training efforts squandered on almost a weekly basis. (If you're out there reading this, no, you can't have Team Building in only one day Why? Because it's not enough time to build teams, dummy)!

I have a few dozen texts on training. If you could only have one of them, this would be the one I would give you. If you're serious about training, it is one book you need to keep on your table instead of your shelf.

Remember...

No train, no gain.



P.S. Don't get overconfident if you have a full seminar in Hawaii or Scottsdale, AZ. They might have other reasons for being there.

I love this book, it has to be my favorite book of all time. Abby is the new girl in town and she moved her from Long Island with her mom and twin sis, Anna.

Anyways Abby is made to write a bio about her life for English. I seriously think this is the best one out of the Portrait Collection. Abby is so down to earth, humorous, and down right honest it's hard not to like her.

There are painful siturations in the book such as the details of her father's death, and the way she and her family handled it. It was with such honestly, you felt for Abby really bad espeically if you lost someone you truly and honestly love.

The hightlights of the book were whenever her family decided to go to Florida for Winter Break, and they althrough started out in seperate ways, but ended up retelling their favorite holiday stories, and creating new ways to celebrate the holidays together as a new family.

If you haven't read this book you should have. You will not be dissappointed. The way the book was written you find it hard not to like Abby especially after all the tragic situration her and her family had to endure, makes her a winner in all levels.

This book was so sad, it went into alot of detail about Abby's dad's death and how her mum never really gets over it (well, thats my impression) and how and how she went through everything. You really start to feel bad for Abby in the end! Read it if you like serious books, but not if you dont!

This book is the best, since Abby's the best baby-sitter! I really miss her in the new series, Friends Forever! I wish that there was a real person like Abby, so I could meet her! Please write some more regular BSC books, Ann, I really miss Abby!

Abby is, without question, my favorite member of the BSC series. (Yes, folks, the BSC has a following of ALL ages). Abby is smart, funny, wonderfully clever and gifted with natural expression. She's great! I like the way she tells her story in a tone of unflinching honesty and the part about the deep bond she and her dad have is classic. I also loved the way Abby's twin, Anna used musical terms to name the chapters of her version of their lives together. The sisters balance one another well. Abby is a very distinct personality and she is sorely missed in the new series. I wish Ann M. Martin would bring her back. Abby rocks!

The book has some parts which are funny and sad. Abby tells us how she was born and how she lived on Long Island.

Bytes Of Poetry: A Lovestories.com Anthology features 155 poems by 80 poets, sampled from over 56,000 postings by people worldwide. The diversity of the poets showcased is reflected in short bios. For some their's was a remarkable first effort, for others the result of a lifetime of writing. These are poems to be read aloud, shared with family and friends, and even inspire their readers to take up the craft of lyric verse themselves. Unspoken Words: I should have told you darling.../That I love you/Should have made it very clear/My unspoken was so true/No I'm wishing you were here/If I could do it all over/And turn back the hands of time/I would tell you that I love you/And I'm grateful that you're mine/I always thought it was something that I said/But it was unspoken.../unspoken words instead. (Maurice Sherry)

It was a delight to read this book. Real poems by real people of all backgrounds. I really liked "Mirror". Pick up a copy and you'll be inspired to put your own feeling on paper.

I must confess I am one of the poets, but that aside, I love this book. It is such an honor to be among these poets in such a fine collection. The lack of commercialism is one of the finest attributes of this book. It warms the heart with its honesty, even though sometimes brutal. My favorites would have to be Love Unrequited, 10 Rules of Love, and of course my own Peanutbutter Kisses, He let me Hold His Hand, & A Butterfly. As I read and reread this book my list of favorites keep growing. I've watched Bytes of Poetry keep a 14 yr old, a 62 year old, and a 31 year old riveted. I recommend it to everyone.

I am not one to read poetry and I admit that I primarily bought this book simply because I am one of the authors. However, I found I loved reading every poem that was included. I have read some more than twice. This is truly an inspiration and Alanna did a tremendous job. I applaud her and also thank her for including my poem. I have bought several as gifts and since I am in danger of wearing one of my copies out I am thankful I have more than one! I feel that there is something in this book that can touch everyone. I recommend this to anyone who loves to just curl up and read words that will move you to so many emotions ranging from unrequited love to an everlasting love, from sorrow to pure happiness, from sad memories to memories of laughter. Now, not only do I love writing poetry, I also enjoy reading it.

I found the selection of poems in Bytes of Poetry to be as delectable and intriguing as the contents of a good candy sampler. The poems address experiences we have all had in the course of living, experiences of an emotional nature, particularly those involved in relating to loved ones. Topics such as loving, longing, mating, finding meaning together, and parting are tastefully explored. The poems manage, again and again, to strike home with insight and directness. They touch the heart as they should because they are sincere and heartfelt. Everything is within the range of empathy and rings true. I am pleased to see poetry "come home" again. The book is worth reading several times.

Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

I first read this book when I was a child (in the 60's) and immediately fell in love with it. It has everything I adore in a book; a little magic, a little ghostliness; an English castle; lovely animal companions; characters from times past; people with manners, morals and down to earth values and last but not least--love. I have re-read this book many times and have just finished listening to an audio-version. This is forever a beautiful and enchanting book.

The book I'm going to talk to you about is called; The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston. I didn't really like this book. It was a little confusing and hard to understand. There just wasn't a clear point. There was not middle, or a climax and resolution. I thought this book was about a mystery or a ghost story, by the cover and the blip from the back. I was very disappointed in the ending, and that it was appoint-less fantasy, that bored me half to death!

The Children of green knowe was about a boy named, Tolly, who was the age of 8-11,whose parents die (they don't say how),so he was sent to live with hisGreat-Grandmother in Penny Soaky. Her house was called Old Knowe.
Three children, Alexander, Toby, and Linnet, died in Tolly's(the boy's name), Great Grandmother's house many centuries ago. They started appearing around the house just days after their death. They played with Tolly, and went on great Adventures. Enjoy one of Granny's stories every 20 pages, and learn about Tolly and Granny's love for the flute andthebirds.

Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

I recently bought 2 books on Staging, since I'm currently wondering wether to pursue it as a new career. Right off the bat, this book is very inspiring in it's voice and the writer's accomplishments. I'm barely into it, but it's already gotten me back to feeling excited about the possibilities. As opposed to the other staging book i'm about to review, and ended up returning.

The layout is like reading a term paper, but it's kind of nice reading on such a big format for a change. No color pictures to speak of, but if you're buying this, you're not looking for color ideas. Just tell me what the biz is all about, and what i could expect from giving it a go, is all i'm looking for.

I'm really enjoying the way that it's written as if the author is talking to you. It's much more entertaining, and it makes me feel like she's there for any questions, which she says she is!

So based on the 30+ pages or so i've read, this book is a definite for those looking for some insight into this growing business.

I began an interior design business a year and a half ago. I am specializing in window treatments. This book showed me how I can incorporate home staging and redesign into my current business. This book was wonderful in encouraging me to pursue home staging. I would suggest anyone looking to go into home staging to pick up a copy of this book.

I loved this book- it is very thorough and contained everything I needed AND more that I haven't even gotten to read yet- I am still implementing ideas from what I have read! Barbara is not trying to impress people with her credentials, she is trying to help them with her experience! If you are considering staging for a living- get this book!

I was blown away by how much there is in this book of genuine value -- it is unquestionably the best of the bunch and since I am also a trainer, I have purchased many books for my personal reference and library. I have to admit, I was sure amazed. I found many ideas and suggestions to add to my own training processes, which was an added bonus to me. If you can only buy one book, get this one. If you can buy more, only buy this one. Seriously. Only buy this one.

In a sea of books that deliver generalities, this book stands out as refreshingly filled with tips galore and the best useable, practical help of all. I was astonished at the openness of the author and her willingness to divulge literally everything one ought to know. Her checklist on the tasks a stager should consider when taking on a project was the most complete I've ever seen and goes on for pages. She gives you a list of questions to ask homeowners up front so you know in advance whether they are do-it-yourself types or not. I found this important so I'll know how to proceed in my presentations and calculating my pricing. Excellent.

Her advice on how to work with clients is well thought through and mirrors my own beliefs. I consider myself to be pretty savvy as a business person, but I found gems everywhere that gave me pause to think and reconsider what I was doing. The lists of questions for agents and owners, and pricing guidelines are worth the price of the book just by themselves. She also gives a pretty thorough list of tools you'll need on the job and a list of the kinds of furniture and props you might inventory if you want to stage empty properties.

There are books out there that never get to the really "good" stuff, but this one is filled from cover to cover with topic-specific practicality. I also enjoyed her occasional humor. I can imagine it's very difficult to write for beginners as well as experienced readers, but I thought she did a masterful job of explaining the basics while getting into the meatier details too. She kept me interested at every step.

Most books of this nature have no pictures to speak of, but this one has plenty. I appreciate the "on the spot" nature of them and that they are representative of all the varied types of homes and predicaments a stager will run across.

The "ready to use" forms at the back of the book are adapted to the industry, yet generic enough to be used by any one just as they are. And since the book is the same size as a sheet of paper, you don't have to make any adjustments or resize them in any way. I appreciate that the author obviously considered this when electing to do a large sized manual. More kudos to her for that as well.

Of all the books I've purchased on the subject, I found this one to be by far the best and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to start a staging business. It's clear the author is an expert and also a very generous person. On a different note, I also purchased her other book on redesign, and found it to be excellent as well.

Through the wide and varied teaching experience of the author, he has compiled a new approach towards teaching consisting of essentially four diverse avenues to knowledge acquisition. These learning styles include the"Professor", who immediately wants to know What is the vital information, the "Trouble-shooter" who wants to know Why and How things work, the "Inventor" who wants to take the knowledge and tweak it for better understanding, and the "Guide" who is looking for the connection with others and is mostly concerned with the bigger picture. Mr. Kennedy explores these four categories into greater depth and spends quite a bit of time describing practical exercises anyone can use within a teaching and learning environment.

I think that one must respect Mr. Kennedy for the incredible amount of background and research he has compiled for this enlightening book. While there are so many different approaches and theories out on the market, I found Mr. Kennedy's tried and tested approach to be extremely intuitive and refreshingly logical in comparison. I enjoyed reading about his personal experiences that I felt added to the overall benefit of the book. I particularly was impressed with the easy to understand practical ways highlighted throughout the book and feel that these will be easily implemented within an educational context. Due to this user-friendly emphasis, I can only imagine how when put into practice this can revolutionize your teaching and job satisfaction at a job well done.

Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views (2/06)

What? Why/How? What if? So what? These are questions that Mark Kennedy answers in his book, Lessons from the Hawk. Kennedy breaks down learning styles into four perspectives, nicknamed the Professor, the Troubleshooter, the Inventor, and the Guide. The Professor is the traditionalist who wants to know "what", and the Troubleshooter needs to know "why" or "how". Inventors discover by asking "what if", and Guides ask "so what".

Kennedy provides a wealth of information on how to implement lessons for all styles of learning. He offers a questionnaire for the reader to answer to find his or her personal style of learning, and then gives suggestions for discovering students' styles. Ideas for specific subjects are listed and general goals for the different learning styles are listed as well. Basic ideas of classroom management are also offered.

This book was enlightening because I discovered different styles of learning I hadn't thought of before. I not only learned about ways to improve the lessons in my classroom, I learned more about my own style of learning. Kennedy expresses insightful ideas in his book and I found it to be helpful for myself in creating a more meaningful learning experience for the students in my classroom. I recommend all teachers and administrators read this book. I also think this book would be helpful for parents as well.

Lessons From the Hawk by Mark Kennedy
ISBN: 1-885580-05-3
$18.95

BookWired Book Review


At Universities and colleges across the world want-to-be educators are being taught the tried and trusted version of teaching. The problem is, only 50% of our children learn from this method. 25% do well enough to hold a job, and the others become the "Lost Souls" of the system.

Either because of word or mouth or insightfulness on their own parts, some teachers have pulled away from that type of teaching, lost in the maze of styles and philosophies. Some of those include the Greek Schools of the turn of the 20th century; Magnet; Sudbury; Windsor House; Military and Montessori.


As the nation wakes up to the fact that their exceptional children are flunking in a traditional education system, those who can afford it look to these styles of schools to help make their children happy, well-contented members of society. Other educators work to improve and change it, trying to keep the system as status quo, and finally reach those children.


Mark Kennedy is hardly the first educator to promote modest or radical changes to the poor system we have now. What he does for us in his book "Lessons From the Hawk" is to take the best of the educators of all time, compile, translate and adding his experience, finally giving those of us looking, something to work with.


You will, in this book, find out what type of educator you are. You will find out how to manage your classroom better, and you will learn how to get your fellow teachers to follow suit on their own. They only need to see the changes in your class at your level to understand the benefits.


This is a book that not only should a teacher own, but constantly read to better themselves, their class, and the children they hope to raise in an ever changing world. You will be the better for it. The children will be the better for it. The world will be the better for it. Lastly, parents, officials and the government will benefit the most. They only have to get their heads out of the sand.






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Lesson from the Hawk by Mark Kennedy is an excellent book if you are trying to figure out what in the world just happened in your classroom! His observation that the Hawk is both "perspiacious and focused" is exactly how teachers today need to be, that is everywhere at once.

In reading his book, Mr. Kennedy expands on his metaphor with the Hawk and teacher to include his own take on the various learning perspectives. He also compares them to Bloom's taxonomy and comes up with a unique recipe that is his own, and at the same time hits just the right spot.

As a teacher with medium to low SES students in the Middle School, Lesson from the Hawk gave me new perspecitves for teaching and more importantly, student's learning. I have incorporated his philosophy into my classroom and it is amazing what students can do when you apply the right perspective. "Right" being the perspective for teaching and learning that best meets each student.

Mr. Kennedy's book takes you step by step from vision to action in meaningful ways that everyday teachers may incorporate in their classrooms with great success. I suggest you read "Lessons from the Hawk".

Mark Kennedy has adapted the metaphor of the hawk to broaden the perception of four basic learning approaches. Individuals vary as to which of these styles create a comfortable, and productive learning experience.

Kennedy presents a classroom management system which supports the four essential learning diversities. The author takes you soaring with the hawk to give you a glimpse that takes teaching and learning a giant step beyond the traditional classroom

Thorough and workable lesson plans are provided that include all four basic learning perceptions with specific goals for life preparation curriculum. These lesson plans are well thought out and have been tried and proven to be effective in the classroom.

The illustrations and reality checks are a springboard for more in-depth study of the principles found in this book. .

Like a good story teller the author weaves the characters introduced in the first chapter throughout the book to reinforce a learning perspective or a teaching principle.

Kennedy calls for school reform through two-way efforts in coming to conclusions with input from those being directly effected. He compares linearity with responsiveness in school reform and presents a collaborative action research plan for school revitalization.

The final chapter envisions the school of the future and concludes with a final lesson from the hawk. The book is well researched and documented. The busy educational practitioner will find this volume an invaluable handbook for frequent future reference.

A really good "eye-opener". This is the third copy I've bought. How blissfully unaware most of us are about what is going on around us. This book might encourage the latent environmental leanings in all of us.

Wow, on the heals of reading Our Stolen Future, this was a bit of a shock...you know I had no idea the Black Sea was in such bad shape...I guess I really am out of touch with the world these days. Living in my own particular inner bubble, as it were, I seem to have missed out on some doings I used to pay a great deal of attention to.

I've long felt that we're slowly destroying our oceans and seas; I didn't realize we had actually accomplished it somewhere already. I strongly believe that nature is resilient and that it rights itself by restoring balance after we wreak havoc...but we also need to be taking some action and this book really brought that home for me. Ocean's End follows Woodward from the Black Sea forward on a global journey that touches on Newfoundland, the Mississippi Delta, Belize and the Great Barrier Reef, the Federated States of Micronesia, and finally to Antarctica.

In a compelling journey the documents the once pristine conditions, teeming with in all of these areas with their intensely interesting and varied ecosystems and the native peoples who lived (and still are trying to live) there, to the decline/destruction of these ecosystems and the empty bag they fisherman and villages in these places are left holding. He also takes care to point out that the decline of each ecosystem affects others and the world wide "chain" of them are all interconnected. Additionally, he points out that it's not a localized problem, many of the causes of an ecosystems decline happen far from the location where the ultimate damage is done (the Mississippi Delta for example).

Woodard really weaves it all together into a nice package that lays out the depth of the problem and he does give tentative solutions...if anything can successfully be done to "fix" this problem, it won't come easy or cheap and we definitely need to get away from the short-sighted profit driven solutions that have been developed in the past. I'd recommend this in a heart beat, if you don't think this is a serious problem, you should definitely read this book!

This is a great book. Thoughtful, balanced, readable. Buy two copies and give one to a friend.

Each chapter in this book tells a story illustrating a different crisis, and each gives something new to be outraged over. The stories are well-written, and Ocean's End gives the best summary of global warming that I have read. It is easy to understand (making the reader feel almost intelligent). I would recommend this to everyone, and wish there was a way to get this into high school curricula.

My only complaint is the summary. Woodard draws the reader's passions out, but doesn't suggest explicit ways to get involved in the issues. I ended up writing letters to my congressional representatives.

Read this book, and start your own letter campaign.

Ocean's End is one of the most compelling examples of how bad Coastal Zone policy has destroyed vast areas of ocean and shore. It is not too strong a point that human beings in recent history have behaved themselves very, very badly as they looted the seas and dumped their waste and industrial toxins down river or directly into the sea. I am using this book in my International Integrated Coastal Zone Management class as the first assigned textbook. (...)

Why? Because I want my graduate students to first see how wonderful the world's oceans and coastal zones are and secondly, how incredibly stupid and short sighted we can be as we mismanage our responsibilities as stewards of these ecosystems. Colin Woodward has done a wonderful job of narrating a gripping, exciting, and enfuriating story from the killing of the Black Sea to the plundering of the Newfoundland Grand Banks and all of the other case studies in between.

This is a book worth reading and also one that is compellingly interesting and enjoyable. Take it on your next trip or read it and then take my web-based graduate class in International Coastal Management. You'll be ahead of yourself!

Having read a number of books on parenting, this book was found to be the most inspiring in terms of causing us to reach to God. As Christians we are called to walk by faith in every area of our lives. This book shows us how to be loving and strategic in our parenting whilst reaching to God in faith believing for our children also to walk with Him.

Reading parenting books takes time of which parents have little. This book has been encouraging and convicting- well worth the time. I highly recommend Age of Opportunity to any parent!

GREAT BOOK.
If you enjoyed "Shepherding a Child's Heart" and desire to train your children to be thoughtful and caring of others in their heart - not just training behavior - you will love this book. It looks at the great opportunity we have in the teenage years to help them see their self-centeredness and trust in Christ to be transformed.

As a young pastor who does not have any teenagers of my own, this book has been a great resource to hand out to parents. Tripp's book has really helped open many of our parents' eyes to the wonderful opportunity for discipleship through the teenage years.

This is the best book I've read on parenting teens from a Biblical perspective. Tripp helps parents think about what the heart issues are, not just control the external behaviors. If you're interested in taking the time to use the trials of life to point your child to the gospel of Christ, this book is for you.