Education Books

The best of the Fulbright Program in a brief book. Interesting descriptions from various students, who witness the most important aspect of the Fulbright Program: it promotes a shift in the way of thinking about life and work, changing mentalities and opening minds, giving the chance to brilliant students and researchers to spend a period in an American University. Useful for future perspective international students and Fulbrighters! Interesting for the Fulbright Alumni, to share the wonderful experience they have lived!

I started the book and by the time (i thought) i should goto sleep, the book was over. I couldn't able to put it down before reading upto the last page.

Great book, so many experiences, so many advises, specially for student like us who came from other side of the world to study in USA.

I have one complain though, the book should have included more essays from more fulbrighters of other parts of the world.

anyway, it is 5 start book.

I have applied to Fulbright Scholarship this year, and this book as i thought proved to be a perfect virtual tour of this prestegious program and its impact on one's life.

Anyone interested in Cross-Cultural studies, and planning to be a Fulbrighter should read this book.

I reall like this small to-the-point book.

I am a trainer in one of Fortune 500 companies on Cross Cultural issues. I have found this book a great source to see our own country (USA) from totally new perspective(s).

One of the Essay "5 Definitions of America!" in this collection of essays can be used as a reference material in IR and Cross-Cultural learning.

Another essay "Get Back to where you now belong" from an Austrain Fulbrighter who lost her passport is great.

Should read if you want to travel to any of the contributors' countries.

Well! When I got this book as a gift from one of my friend, my initial thought (after reading few pages was) that it will have similar definitions and "New things" again and again by different scholars in the following pages.

But, that wasn't true, each scholar experienced USA in a unique way, every one has their own set of definitions and likes/dislikes about USA.

USA is the most diverse country (I believe).

I really enjoyed the essay of a scholar from Pakistan.

I highly recommend this book for all who are intersted in Fulbright Program, USA or different cultures.

As the mother of a challenging teenager with a long list of `disorders', I cried while reading GENIUS! George and Joanne Lynn write with a raw honesty that cut straight to my core.

In the Editor's Preface, Joanne writes "Families such as ours live in a crucible, that chemistry lab vessel made of a material, steel or platinum or porcelain, that doesn't burn away in a furnace...George and I live in the furnace of our son's wild neurology, and our job is to contain him so that he can grow, without burning up in his own heat. And we must not burn out in the nurturing of him."

This beautiful book, is written from the intimate perspective of parents who have lived in the furnace with their own son, as well as their perspectives as therapist and poet. George Lynn writes with professional authority about attention differences - in particular AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, bipolar disorder and Tourette Syndrome. Yet this is not just a book about coping with syndromes and disorders. It is about seeing the brilliance within our child. It is also about how we parents need to focus inward, nurturing our own genius, and giving it expression. Taking care of our own health, mind and spirit strengthens us to meet the challenges of living amidst the daily chaos. This book is like finding an oasis in the lonely desert of cultural misunderstanding and judgement. Thank you George and Joanne for this gift.

This book is fantastic as well as all of his books. George Lynn is not only a therapist, but also a parent who has raised a child with many neurological challenges. I would highly recommend this to anyone!

While acknowledging that ADHD and other "neurologically different" children can be disruptive and have problems affecting both others and themselves, the authors - whose teen son has been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome - acclaim these exceptional people as also having a "genius" or "guiding spirit" that can help them make important, even vital, contributions to society.

As a counselor of children and adults, George Lynn says many of his AD/HD adolescent clients "are sports champions or team captains at the high school level. As performers or musicians they tend to be creative and innovative composers, and charismatic on stage." And there are many examples throughout history of prominent achievers who are neurologically different.

This book will be high on the short list of titles I recommend to parents of challenging children who ask "which books are worth reading?" This title is clearly worth the investment of time, not only because George Lynn is a skilled therapist who has seen and helped scores of neurologically challenged kids, but because he has lived it as a parent. In addition to wise advice, this book records a very personal journey in which we can see what he and his wife experienced from the inside out.

I was particularly struck by his reminder that every human being needs a "Great Story" with which to frame their talents and strengths, something to serve as a beacon in darker times, a reminder that we each are much more than the sum of our liabilities. Kids with multiple difficulties need such a beacon especially, but while dealing with the stresses of daily living, it is all too easy to forget.

In the process of reminding parents and kids to seek the Great Stories they all have to tell, George Lynn has given the gift of a Great Story for himself.

George and Joanne Lynn know first hand that the process of taking care of a neurologically eccentric child is emotionally taxing and all consuming; so much so that the child's deficits tend to take center stage at the expense of an appreciation for their gifts. Many of these gifts, they explain, are the results of the very eccentricities that brought on the diagnoses. With empathy and amazing insight, Lynn helps us to appreciate and learn to cultivate these gifts in our children so that our children may develop the positive self image necessary to reach their potential. This potential may exceed our wildest imaginings. Their disabilities are an undeniable part of their genius and the tapestry of their lives telling a story of where they have been and where they are going. With care, their genius can be cultivated and become a powerful and positive force in their lives. The Lynn's emphasize strengthening the positive without denying the challenges of these children, as both contribute to the child's sense of self and their path thru life. In-as-much as every virtue when examined from a different perspective can be seen as a flaw, so the struggles and "symptoms" of these remarkable children can influence them in very positive ways. A very encouraging read for the parent who is lost in the sea of doctors, diagnoses, frustration, and hopelessness and may have lost touch with their child , their family, and even themselves in the process.

Clark Howard should be regarded as a scholar and classified as "required reading" for everyone after the 10th grade. I don't always agree with everything he says and he does come off as a little goofy sometimes as well as unnecessarily cheap (at a salary of over $2M a year, Clark, you can "Super Size" your lunch- it's okay!) but the man knows how to make money and- most importantly- keep money.

Unlike most other wealthy business-savvy professionals, Clark's not pretentious and does not mind sharing his beliefs, experiences, and advice for the rest of us. The man has experiences in just about all areas of consumerism- he knows his stuff and these books are more like reference books than "nighttime reading". I always refer to Clark when beginning a financial transaction and have been very thankful I have more than once!

This book is awesome. It should be required reading for consumers prior to considering autos, homes, investing, insurance, warranties, long distance, cell phones, travel and many other topics. This is the kind of information a parent would want their child to be armed with before leaving home and learning the hard way. I feel like I owe the author more money because the price of the book was so low compared to the thousands of dollars I will save in the upcoming years. Would make a great gift for any friend and especially someone who struggles with finances.

Without a doubt this is the best consumer information book on the bookshelf today. Clark Howard presents a no nonsense, straight to the point look at what everybody should already know before you go out into the marketplace. I sincerely wish that I had this book before I left my parents house to start out on my own. If universities were really interested in informing the average student, this book would be a required class at schools across America. PLEASE GIVE THIS BOOK TO ANY RELATIVE WHO IS GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. IT WOULD BE THE BEST PRESENT THEY COULD GET

I've been listening to this guy for a couple weeks on his talk radio show. I have to say that the common principles of personal finance and consumer rights presented in this book are invaluable lessons that we were never taught in high school or college (at least I wasn't). So, if you 're interested at all, check it out--you won't be dissapointed.

... I could have saved myself a lot of money in the past 10 years. I highly recommend this book as a gift to those young men and women in your life who are just starting out, newlyweds, new parents--anyone who could use a quick course in savvy consumer education. I enjoy Clark's radio show, and his easy, friendly style translates very well into print. Clark, this was worth every penny!

I know why they call this a program you will love, because it is not hard. I enjoy the exercises and will continue to perform them, but I am not making this my primary workout. Instead I will adapt it for use three days a week on my easy days, as this is a perfect complimentary workout. I consider myself in good shape, but not great, and I was easily able to jump in and do the 12th week workouts precisely how Fitzgerald specified, boots and all. There were only several out of the 46 total exercises that I could not perform easily. The only way someone could say that it is deceptively hard is that a few exercises are nearly impossible. I found those are strictly for the abs though however and not any other part of my body feels a workout. I am not sore or exhausted, and the cals are the only valuable part to me as the running in week 12 was not that advanced- anyone can tell you to run for two 20 odd minute intervals with 5 minute walking breaks. The ab work is good, but other than that it is not challenging for someone who has some flexibility and performs cals regularly as I had. I have no doubt that these are valuable exercises, but this is far from the billing that I was reading on everyone else's review about what a workout you'll get from it. If you want a challenging workout buy something from Stew Smith and adapt this workout to include all the exercises for the off, or easy, days. It deserves four stars because this is probably good for most people who don't stretch enough and/or want to ease into a workout. All the supporters of this book must forgive me for making it sound so bad, it is a quality purchase, this just doesn't seem like the ultimate workout.

Like most I also received thisbook thru a military book club. At the time, I was beginning my long hard road to the SEALs, this pub helped tramendeously!! I was in better shape then in boot camp. This book is truely a keeper, that won't collect dust on a shelf.

The workout programme described in this book is deceptively difficult! Having read many of the recent titles which detail Navy SEAL workout regimens, I have found this one to be the most practical and time efficient. Some of the exercises would be considered obsolete by many, but once you get down to the nitty gritty this is a hardcore training programme (As one would expect from a former Navy frogman!). The instructions are very clear and presented with wry humour. The weekly and daily schedules are particularly effective as you can monitor your progress daily which is very motivating. It is also interesting to note that this book was first published in 1985! If you can find a copy, Buy it!

This is the most amazing exercise book I've EVER read. It's literally a crime they don't publish it anymore. Fitzgerald's exercise regimen is guaranteed to give you unbelievably "cut" muscles in a short time. His regimen will also force you to dig deep inside yourself for stamina, willpower, and endurance. Sound familiar? It should: Fitzgerald is ex-UDT.

For lower body conditioning, nothing I've seen compares to Fitzgerald's book. However, readers should add the upper-body and cross-training exercises found in the recent publications by Caracci, Helvenston, DeLisle, Smith, and other Navy SEALs.

This book is designed to put the reader through two workout programmes simultaneously. There is a Calisthenics programme, and a Running programme. This is a 12-week cycle; as Fitzgerald says, special forces are always changing and adapting, so there is no 'official' cycle that remains constant forever. Thus, this is flexible here, too. This book is all the reader needs except his own muscles and desire to succeed. No special equipment to buy or anything else. The back cover says this is not for the timid or the lazy. This is like being in the military. No excuses - just do it!

The author is a former Navy frogman named Tom Fitzgerald. He continues his fitness goals by running in the Boston Marathon and other such events. Fitzgerald promises better self-esteem, better motivation, and better accomplishment for those who will complete this programme.

The conditioning programme targets five different body parts with 46 different exercises. The running involves running and rapid walking with some intervals of sprinting. There is also a good deal of stretching involved. If you cannot give this one or two hours a day every day for 12 weeks then maybe this is not the book for you. But one could still get it and look at the exercises that have good descriptions and are useful, even if not following the programme.

Stretching
There is stretching prior to each session. This helps prevent muscle injury and makes one limber. Stretching after also helps healing faster, too.

Diet
This book does not go too much into diet since there are other books ready for that, but it gives some general rules. Vitamins and supplements are discussed and basic common sense like not drinking alcohol or too much sugar or caffeine before a workout. Their advice is humourous: 'If you're looking around for a mate, consider marrying a nutritionist.'

Other general instructions
This section deals with sore muscles, shoe and foot care (very important for the heavy running schedule). Keeping count and keeping at it is important too! At the end of the book is a record for keeping track of progress.

The Stretching Programme
There are 14 stretches in this, and each of them are done both before and after the calisthenics and running programmes. An important note is that this stretching routine was developed at a university training programme and not by the Navy. The chart at the end of the section shows what you should do, including how much time this should take. The opening stretches should take 5 minutes, and the final stretches should take 2 minutes.

The Calisthenics Programme
There are 46 exercises that are done over the course of the week that will exercise ever muscle in your body. There are five main categories.

General Warm-up
There are 10 exercises in the general warm up, and these exercises work to prepare the whole body for work.

Abdominal Exercises
There are 11 exercises in the abdominal section, and they work to strengthen and stretch the abs and your lower back.

The Side and Obliques
There aren't too many exercises in this part -- only 5, but they are important. These are really tough exercises beyond the usual stuff for sides and obliques.

Leg and Groin Exercises
There are 12 exercises in this section and legs are one of the major muscle groups in the body and often get overlooked. People think of abs and arms for fitness, but the legs carry the body weight all day long.

Arm Chest and Shoulder Exercises
There are 8 exercises in this final section for the upper body. The book said no special equipment is needed, but once will need a place to do pull-ups.

At the end of this section is the 12-week chart for how many exercises need to be done. Out of the 46 exercises you will do about half of them each day. Some things like leg stretchers are done almost every day. Some things like the one-legged push-up are done less often.

SEAL training calls running programmes 'conditioning hikes'. These involve running, walking double-time, and sprints in a programme on varying terrain, mostly on sand, which goes from being soft to hard-packed to ridged to in the water, often done in boots. The book makes recommendations for running in boots, and running with ankle weights or other kinds of terrain variations.

The first week involves running two miles in 15 minutes and makes progress up to eight miles at a maximum for the rest of the programme.

The exercises are described in good form each with pictures of each step. All exercises can be done by males or females. The pictures are basic black-and-white and sometimes a little grainy.

One drawback is that this is a tough workout programme from the very beginnin, and some people not be able to tolerate the stress and muscle effort from the outset. A Week Zero or prep conditioning programme would probably be a good idea to add if the book is ever reprinted.

The last part of this book involves setting out the schedule in a good format. There are also pages are for recording a personal record of progress and that can be motivating.

This second edition has many of the numbers updated which reflects the most current demographics being taken into account. Specific research includes data released during 2007. The new appendix makes the demographic situation of American Jewry even more clear. The book continues to be a great call for action. I recommend Getting Our Groove Back as a manifesto for Rabbis, Synagogue Presidents or anyone interested in the vitality of American Jews. Kudos to Mr. Shay for his candor and commitment to such important issues we face for the future of American Jewry and as it affects our children and future generations.

This book is a fantastic call to action. Mr. Shay has clearly done his research and used his qualified experiences and level-headedness to lay out convincing and practical solutions to the crisis that faces American Jewry. His dedication to American Jewry is refreshing and his optimism is inspiring. Because Mr. Shay writes to the point, the book is not dense and can easily be read by any individual regardless of education or religious experience. As a 23 year old recent college graduate, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in seeing the amazing tradition, culture, and religion that has helped shape the lives of great Americans continue to shape the lives of others in the future.

Written by Scott A. Shay, Chair of UJA-Federation of New York's Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal, Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry is a straight-on look at the numerous obstacles confronting American Jewry today. Chapters question whether Hebrew schools can ever be made to effectively transmit Jewish identity, why Jews are giving less to Jewish causes and what can be done about it, to the modern erosion. of the American Jewish population due to intermarriages without conversion and declining overall birthrates. "In my view, if we accept zero population growth as desirable - which not all people do - Jews should be exempt from this concern. Contrary to other populations across the world that have grown exponentially, the Jewish population has declined in the past fifty years. Jews still have a great deal of catching up to do, whether it be to restore the population lost during the Holocaust or simply to reach numbers proportionate to the level of population growth internationally and in America." Getting Our Groove Back also stresses that the state of Israel is utterly important to the Jewish identity, and encourages trips to Israel for all Jewish teenagers. A hardcore guide to strengthening the cultural identity and influence of the Jewish tradition among American Jews of all branches of Judaism.

Scott Shay's book, Getting our Groove Back: How To Energize American Jewry, is masterful. Mr Shay has applied his keen, scientific, problem-solving mind to important issues facing Judaism.
Jewish community problems are discussed with reference to today's best sociological research. Mr. Shay presents thoughtful, forward-thinking answers to help the Jewish community solve its issues.
Practical solutions are Scott Shay's contribution to the Jewish community.
Anybody who is serious about improvement and change within Judaism must read this thought-provoking, creative book.

I was intrigued by a review in the Jewish Week and devoured the book. I've since bought copies for the Rabbi and President of my Conservative Synagogue... bought more copies to give to our Seder guests.. Shay brings a thoroughly refreshing perspective on both the problems confronting American Jewry as well as possible solutions. He is totally non-partisan or denominational. His only agenda is securing the future of American Jewry. He's critical of Orthodoxy for assuming that if they are successful they can save us on their own. Shays shows they don't have the critical mass. He's critical of Reform for patrilinear decent and the havoc it creates.. and he's critical of Conservative Judaism for loosing it's position as the largest denomination... if they are loosing members... we all lose. You don't have to buy all his solutions.. but they will certainly make you think. Get the book. Read it. Get copies for agents of change and let's energize American Jewry!

Green Wilma is an adoring, rhyming tale of a girl who wakes up one morning and discovers she is green. This story is full of bright colors that fill the pages of this book and show the personality of the characters by illustrating the eyes bulging out of their heads. This book expresses the talent of children's imagination. Your children will love the characters and the silly illustrations that give hints about Wilma's metamorphosis. The ending was a surprise because something happened that I would have never expected. Green Wilma is a sweet childish book that your children will adore.

Reviewed by Erin

After reviewing the book called Green Wilma, I discovered it was not only a satisfying book but one which made my eyes water and lurch out from their sockets. This book is about a young girl, Wilma who wakes up one morning with an appetite for flies and soon discovers she is a green amphibian. Her parents, feet trembling on the floor, appear scared half to death by Wilma's slimy, green, new texture. Rebelling against her parent's orders, Wilma goes to school and ruins other kid's appetites by her repulsive act of devouring filthy, many-eyed flies. As I easily turned each page filled with detailed illustrations, the hilarious book approached the end. This book, even with me being a picky reviewer, I rate at 4.5 stars. Why, because my only unanswered question is, how does Wilma turn into a frog anyway? If the author would explain this phenomenon, I would gain more understanding of the book's main character, Wilma. The book Green Wilma, funny and entertaining, in my opinion is a book recommended to children and adults as well.

Reviewed by Josh

The writing in Green Wilma was like a baby's board book. There were only three or four words on a page. The language, simple, unappealing, and childish, did not earn my liking. The book, absolutely no phrases contained in it, made me get really mixed up while reading it. It was hard to understand and hard to know what's happening with no phrases.



The pictures, simple images of people with bulging eyes, did not go with the story. The story was carefully written to rhyme, while the pictures were sloppily done. The people in the pictures have huge eyes, tiny bodies, tiny legs and arms. Because of these exaggerated features, I did not enjoy looking at them.



Green Wilma was very confusing in the ending. Something happens where the girl (Wilma) is chasing a fly into a pond. She jumps after it, catches it, and falls into the pond. Then the text says all frogs know better than to sit on a log while dreaming and there's a picture with a frog on a log. I think it is confusing because I wasn't sure if there's just a frog dreaming on a log or if there's really a girl named Wilma. Overall, I give this book three stars out of five stars. by Alina

This is a very cute book and it's a fun book to read over and over again. It's actually fun for all ages!

My daughter and I love this book! We've had it for several years now and it continues to one of our favorites. (Actually she is now reading it to me!) I'm sure we will be reading it for many more years to come!

I bought this for my husband and he says it's wonderful. The cheat sheets are extremely helpful and the layout is very user friendly.

This 54 page (including covers) booklet contains more information that other books many times its size. This is not a casual read book, and could be somewhat overwhelming for someone just starting out. However, it's a treasure trove of useful information for someone willing to study it. The Cheat Sheets are loaded with information. Spend some time with them. The more I study them, the more I see. Helpful for learning the fretboard, scales and chords.

Guitar players seem to fall into two categories. Those who can read notation and those who can't. So why is learning to play music such a killer?

For the biginning guitarist reading notation is like learning geometry. For the advanced player its learning Einstein's "Theory of Relativity.

But, it doesn't have to be that way. As mentioned in previous reviews this book takes the reader visually into the world of note theory without the usual dragged out chapters written in "Latin Text" which is associated with most books written about music theory.

For beginning guitar players this book helps to bridge the communication gap sometimes left at the end of a lesson between student and teacher. To quote an old adage "Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words".

For the advanced and re-entry level player this book is filled with instant visual information showing scale definitions, transposing, cord spelling, intervals, cycle of 5th diagrams, arpeggios, voice patterns and fingerboard layout relationships that are essential to becoming a better guitar player.

The bottom line is this book will open up a new world to your musical abilities. But, you will still need to devote time and effort to reach your full potential as a guitarist.

I am an avid reader and since I got back into music last year, I have purchased at least a hundred books on guitar playing. Since I underline everything, I wanted to go back and take notes from my reading so I could have all the important information in one place. Thanks to Robert Frazier and his Guitar Oriented Condensed Music Theory book - I don't need to bother. He has taken literally every critical highlight out there and put it all together for me. He's also added a few pieces that I didn't find elsewhere and/or made sense of things I'd seen before. In my opinion, you could spend a whole day just unpacking a single page from this material (it's that loaded). I recently took a trip to Croatia with my guitar in hand and had very limited luggage space to spare - this was one of three books that I brought with me. It's not packaged in a fancy way, it's just full of great content. I highly recommend it.

I travel a lot, and this book is a terrific concentrated Guitar Theory course that fits easily in a briefcase, and is packed with information that is innovatively displayed in a variety of color charts. I have learned a lot already, and will continue doing so from this valuable tome.

Highly recommended!

This was my favorite (so far, we'll see what #6 is like) of the Harry Potter series.

Harry is coming of age and starting to get caught in that horrible world between being an adult and being a child. Ron and Hermione are there and are going along for the ride.

The part I like best about this series, is that these are real kids. They act like it. They're not perfect, they screw up, and they are fiercely loyal to each other.

The plot is like most of Ms. Rowlings works. Lots of twists and turns and surprises. Plus a few things are explained that I had wondered about and a few things that I hadn't caught on to. I have never read an author who could reach all levels of readers. Whether you are 4 years old, 25 years old or 72 years old, you will enjoy this book.

I would greatly recommend this book to any science-fiction lover. However, reading the first two books or seeing the movies of the books would be highly recommended so you can keep up to speed with the story and not feel clueless.

When I first came across this book I was a little hesitant on whether I should read it or not since I have had a lot of opinions about the book, good and bad. Finally, after seeing the first two movies I decided to give this book a shot. This book was AMAZING!! After reading the first few pages of the book I was already hooked. This book is about Harry Potter and his 3rd year at Hogwarts. There is a mysterious criminal that has broken out of one of the toughest prisons in the wizarding world. And to make matters worse it seems that he is after Harry. Why is this person after Harry, and what is the true story behind this person? This is what you will figure out after you purchase this book A.S.A.P

Question: Can you have a better book than this? Answer: NO!!!!!If you like Harry Potter or just like to read you better buy this book! It rocks! It makes happy every TIME I read it. GO OUT AND BUY IT!!!!!! You won't regret it!

I love this book. The only book I have found better than this one is Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. I have been reading it for years.

This book starts out with Harry doing his homework in the dark on his birthday. When he goes to the kitchen, a murderer called Sirius Black is being reported as and escaped prisionor and highly dangerous. The report doesn't say where he is from, and the Dursley's are angry. It turns out that Sirius is from the wizarding world and killed thirteen people with a single curse. He escaped from Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and became the only person to achieve that.

The whole book is based on his troubles in school and the extra security everyone seems determined to give him. In this book, Professor Lupin is intruduced and becomes everyones favorite teacher. Lupin has a mysterious thing going on in his life, but I won't spoil it for you. This book is a definate read, but I recomend reading the first two fist if you haven't already.

...
Reading 03
Book Report

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is an instant bestseller. It is a book that everyone loves. No one can resist Rowling's mesmerizing writing. She uses vivid descriptions to make all of her characters come to life. In this book Rowling uses a sentimental ending and a theme of working together to capture every reader's heart.
The famous Harry Potter is returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his third year after spending a grueling summer vacation at home with his Aunt and Uncle. Harry's Aunt and Uncle are Muggles or non-magic folk. Harry almost got expelled for inflating his Aunt until she exploded. Luckily Harry didn't get in trouble. When he was only a baby, Harry was able to defeat the evil Voldemort. For this reason, people are worried that he will be the next victim of the escaped murderer, Sirius Black. Harry and his two friends, Ron and Hermione foolishly go looking for Sirius Black, only to find out something unexpected.
One reason that you will want to keep reading this book is because the characters are so memorable and life-like. Ron is Harry's best friend. He has a great sense of humor and is never afraid to say whatever is on his mind. Hermione, Harry's other good friend is somewhat of a know-it-all. She's obsessed with getting good grades and is a loyal friend. She and Ron are always getting into little verbal spats. Rowling admits that she based the character Hermione, on herself. Harry Potter's archenemy is Draco Mallfoy. Draco is a rich, spoiled "pure blood" wizard. This means that neither of his parents were Muggles. He is a classical villain. He teases Harry incessantly and pokes fun at Ron and Hermione too. He loves to bother Hermione about the fact that she is half Muggle. My favorite character is Albus Dumbledore who is the Headmaster at Hogwarts. I love him because in this and all the Harry Potter books, he always gives out good, real life, advice. The lessons he teaches are for everyone, young and old.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is what a fantasy genre is all about. The magic in the book is infectious. One has to keep reading on to see what will happen next. It draws the reader so deeply into the story that he or she finds himself or herself dreaming and wishing that it were all true. A class in Potions would really liven up the school day for me! I could really get into a class called Defense Against the Dark Arts too. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for all ages. The best part about Harry Potter is that the books are a series so the magic never ends. I find it truly inspirational that this whole story was born out of the imagination of a woman who wrote it down in little bits and pieces, on scaps of napkins and papers. She was a single Mom who was struggling for the survival of her family and now her name is known everywhere in the world. Don't miss this or any of the Harry Potter sequels.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows is an all and all good book. You connect with the characters as the books goes on and you see how some friendships grow. Harry, Hermione, and Ron seem like they are the best of friends, but after you read this book, you see that they can be even better friends.
I really like in the book how some things are not completely explain and you have to think to figure some things out. I like to think when I read the book. When things are just given to you things get a bit boring. The ending is pretty good, but I just sort of wish that there would be a bit more explanation to it.
There are a few things that could have been better. It gets into a lot of detail and a lot of people their minds start to wonder and they get off topic so the explanation of some things could be a little less yet there are some things could be a bit more detailed.
So I think the book was very interesting and I would recommend the book to anybody who wants a good read and would take the time to read it. º

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the unabridged audiobook conclusion to J.K. Rowling's acclaimed "Harry Potter" fantasy series, about a boy wizard on the verge of manhood who must stake all he has - even his life - to defeat his murderous, virtually immortal archenemy Voldemort. Voldemort and his Death Eater minions have taken over - wizards who are not "pure blooded" are being systematically hunted down and imprisoned or executed. The Magic of Ministry has fallen. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is no longer a safe refuge. Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort ever feared, is dead. The one way to end Voldemort's menace is to find and destroy the pieces of his shattered soul - but Voldemort has hidden them well! Harry and his best friends Ron and Hermione must undertake an epic quest that will pit them against the most formidable of foes. Perhaps worse than the quest itself are the lingering secrets that Dumbledore has hidden from Harry. Three powerful magical artifacts, known as the Deathly Hallows, will have a crucial bearing on Harry's quest, but will they be his rescue - or his ruin? A monumental epic and a satisfying conclusion to the wildly popular saga, impressively narrated by Jim Dale. 17 CDs, 21 hours 39 minutes.

I wish to instill upon all my readers the solemnity with which I type these words today. It's been just under 48 hours since a large percent of Muggle-kind poured into bookstores worldwide to get their own copy of the most awaited book ever published. It was without a doubt the greatest novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Rowling writes so well that it all seems so real, real enough to become an international phenomenon that has made Harry's world leap into our hearts and homes. Hogwarts, Godric's Hollow, and Hogsmeade have all seemed to be out there just beyond the reach of our outstretched, groping fingertips. It is because of this that what I am writing now will be like no other review that I have ever penned. I have followed Harry from Number 4 Privet Drive, to the very end, and cherished every word. Ending the Harry Potter series is like drawing a line between his world and ours, it's the final breaking point at which our ever-growing curiosity will never be satisfied. And we know it. Even though it was voiced by J.K. long before the release was scheduled that this would be the final installment, I thought that, maybe, just maybe, there was some fleeting chance of another book. The first thing I ever read in the book assured me that it was a futile impossibility. In place of a synopsis, it simply stated 'We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter'. This was it. End of story. Literally.

This is a book that cannot be passed up. It answers more questions in such a special way that only Rowling is capable of. If you wanted to know something about the previous books, the answers are in here. Every chapter was a good read, with nonstop action throughout. Many very important questions are left addressed, but unanswered until the latter part of the book, but within the first chapter, key elements of the plot are unveiled. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is one of those books that you will lay reading at night, fighting to overpower sleep, unable to put it down, and get through 100 more pages than you originally expected to before the drowsiness finally overtakes you. The dedication in itself is enticingly vague enough to make you want to read the book all in one sitting. Rowling addresses six of her friends and then has one final thing to say: 'And to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end.'. It made me uneasy, and it made me wonder, as I'm sure it will you.

I cannot say much about the plot that you do not already know, without revealing important determining factors in the book. I will however say that during Harry's search for the Horcruxes, he faces more obstacles that he has in any previous endeavor that he has undertaken. The power of evil is growing even stronger, and the magical world is not what it used to be at all. You'll have to read it to get to "the good stuff", and this is guaranteed a book that you won't find boring. It will be one of the best decisions of a read you'll ever make.

As we come to the end of this unique world of fantasy which JK Rowling created, kudos must be given to Jim Dale, who from the first book made every character come alive with a distinctive voice and personality. I have read the books, but for me, listening to the CD's of Jim Dale's narration made the experience fully real. He created little children, old women, giants, monsters, centaurs, and the hissing voice of the snakelike villain. Each voice so distinctive we came to recognize it instantly.
As for the this the final book in the series:
This is the last book in a seven book series that reads as one long fabulous story, a fantasy classic for all ages. It stands with JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" in that it started out as a children's book: "The Hobbit" in Tolkien's case; "The Sorcerer's Stone" in Rowling's case, and both moved on quickly, as if of their own volition, to proceed away from a simple child's story and become a real world in fact, with humor, tragedy, love, and loss and a great overwhelming evil that the decent people are required to fight in order to keep their self-respect and honor. In each case, the sagas are works that can be appreciated by every age. The Harry Potter series gives us characters as real as any people we have known. They have faults and frailties, we have seen them grow and mature before our eyes through the series from childhood to late adolescence with all that entails, and we have come to really care for them. Though surrounded by magic, by potions, by fantastic animals, and unknown species, the main characters are deeply human. The world they live in is similar to our own, but has the added ingredient of magic, which all the major characters can use. However for much of the story magic is a sideline---very important, discussed and used continually--- but not as important as those very human qualities of friendship, love and trust which actually pull the characters through their losses, to fight their battles, and get them through the on-going great battle with almost overwhelming evil. The human qualities inevitably trump the magical ones in this world: The protective spell of a mother's love...sacrificing oneself for one's friends...those qualities and others are more powerful than spells, potions and wand-work. This, the final book is an excellent entry to the series. Every thread is tied up, and a surprising new subplot is introduced. There is much fighting and death, but it is for a cause well worth fighting for, which mirrors events of our times, and no death is for shock value or the wantoness of blood, gore and pain. The losses suffered by the good people in these last two books have been enormous, yet, again, suffered meaningfully for that great cause, and always appropriate and always mourned. As the book ends, one feels that this world exists and will continue. The work which is the seven part series will stand, I think, in the fantasy literature genre as a classic to be read and remembered. The word "heart" is used frequently, and "heart" is at the center of this world: love, friendship and self-sacrifice are themes repeated over and over, and are the touchstones of this world and what make it special. No recent great work has so unashamedly been so clear on that point, and that is what has drawn so many to it.

This 17-disc audio version of the final Harry Potter book is a worthy way to experience the story without reading it. It features the rich baritone of narrator Jim Dale, who tells the tale with just the right understated touch, supplying all of the characters' voices.

As for Dale's accent, it's appropriately British but not at all too thick. Each word is clear and easy to understand. If you've bought any of the earlier Potter audio CDs you know what to expect: Dale narrated all of those, too.

By the way, note that this is an UNABRIDGED audio book. Listening to it all takes 21 hours!

The story is dark, and too violent for younger kids, but overall one of the best in the Harry Potter series. Nothing seems forced or thrown together. Author J.K. Rowling wraps up her many plot points and reveals the fates of her characters in ways that almost always surprise you, but afterward seem inevitable.

And how she does it is so inventive! Many throwaway moments and whispered remarks from earlier books foreshadow what happens here, and devices that had little importance before, such as Sirius's flying motorcycle, now play key roles. While creating yet another gripping tale, the author also ties her entire epic together with the skill of a true literary master. As a writer myself, I really admire her skill. (Last time I checked, Rowling was outselling me by about, oh, a billion to one.)

In addition, the book treats its title character with the complexity he deserves. It portrays the (now) young man as disillusioned, full of doubt, overwhelmed -- a tortured soul who, though a responsible leader in an all-out war, often seems to yearn to do nothing more than sweet-talk Ginny Weasley.

Parents should know, however, that this one is a real creepfest, with the most explicitly violent scenes of any book in the series. It's way too brutal for grade schoolers. Also, unlike the earlier Potter tales, the far-reaching vocabulary requires about a 6th-grade education.

By the way, if this page shows this set as out of stock, you can also get it here: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD).

When I recently decided to take my 12-yr-old out of school, I hit the book stores. I combed the homeschooling sections only to become more and more frustrated. Surely there was someone to inspire me that wouldn't assume that I was a fundamentalist Christian who asserts that a belief in evolution is a pathway to Hell! Surely there was someone who would not say things like, "Step One: Find an area in your house to use exclusively for homeschooling and clean the area thoroughly. Get on your work clothes and grab a bucket of soapy water......" Are you kidding me?!?

Then along came Mr. Albert. What a relief! I was sitting cross-legged in the aisle unable to put the book down.

I think that this book should be the first of David's that one reads. While it's not a "how to" (nor should it be) it's more stripped down to his fundamentals, if you will. The others are equally masterful but they seem to crescendo after this one, regardless of the order in which they were written. I'm inspired to subscribe to Home Education Magazine just to be sure I won't miss anything he has to say!

One of the most dynamic and prolific homeschooling writers today is David Albert, homeschooling father of two, popular speaker at conferences across the nation, regular columnist for two major homeschooling publications, and author of two of the most highly acclaimed homeschooling books ever published - And the Skylark Sings With Me and Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery. Now David has written a book he titles, in a very no-nonsense manner, Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow. Homeschooling and the Curriculum of Love.

The title says it all. Almost. David doesn't just write about homeschooling your children. He pokes and prods and questions and insists that you join him in analyzing the whys and wherefores of what you and your kids are doing every day. He wraps his writing in a warm sense of humor and adds plenty of his own life experiences, and somewhere in the middle of reading one of his books you start wondering why it feels as though you are reading the writings of an old friend. It's a comfortable feeling; encouraging, reassuring. Words have power, and David Albert knows how to harness that power and use it to help you help your children become who they are meant to be.

"Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow." You'll do all three with David's newest book on homeschooling.

-- Helen Hegener, Editor and Publisher, Home Education Magazine

David Albert is without a doubt, one of the most refreshing voices in the alternative education movement. He shows you what is possible in educating our children; and does it with infectious joy and good humor. Life should be fun! Learning should be fun! Why do we make such a drudgery out of it? Why do we torture our children so? I am speaking mostly to myself here, lest anyone take offense. David's book are the first ones I grab off the shelf when I am having a drag out the workbooks and sample tests kind of day. I just pray that I will have the courage to keep fighting against (and it is a fight) the old tired ways of doing things that I was subjected to. I hated it; and David's books help me remember that. I am lending, and/or buying copies for all my homeschooling friends. God Bless you David.

Imagine the revolution in parenting and education that would occur if our society took heed of David Albert's assertion that "childhood is not a problem to be solved, or an illness to be cured, but the germ of power straining to be unleashed." From the medicalization of childbirth to the pathologization of curiosity and rambunctiousness, today's child is assaulted on every side by experts trying to cure him of the disease of being young. Take all that expert intervention away, though, and what are you left with? How about learning? Fun? Growth? A curriculum, if you will, of love:

"The curriculum of love is not about externals. It is about what is essential in each individual human being, and in every child. Its watchwords are communication, inquisitiveness, acceptance, joy, honesty, courage, and curiously, perhaps above all, intimacy.It is about surprises, unveilings, moments of spontaneous recognition, journeys completed and new ones waiting to be undertaken. It is about being at home - in oneself - and going home - to a larger world that awaits us all."

This curriculum of love is not something you can order from a catalog or buy at the local teachers' store. It's different for every family, and even for different children in the same family. It's easy to talk about, but difficult to describe, and it doesn't lend itself to handy subject divisions or lesson plans. It's as easy as simply living and as hard as truly listening. The essays that Albert has collected in Have Fun, Learn Stuff, Grow are a good place to begin to get a taste of it.

Many of these essays have previously appeared in the pages of Home Education Magazine, and longtime readers of his columns will already have a feel for Albert's wide-ranging curiosity about not only children (including his own two daughters) and how they learn, but music, history, world cultures, storytelling, and much more. Not all of the essays bear directly on the topic of homeschooling, but the digressions are always interesting and worthwhile. Albert's special skill as an essayist is to look at any topic with the fresh curiosity of a child, turning it upside and shaking it until something surprising falls out, whether it's a new perspective on the ancient story of Noah, a different way of looking at the appeal of video games, or a jaundiced view of spelling bee success.

Such "moments of spontaneous recognition" come only to those who are free to think and learn in their own way, unburdened by the pressure to stay small, color in the lines, think inside the box. "Have fun. Learn stuff. Grow." It sounds so simple. Maybe childhood, maybe all of life, should be that simple.

As if channeled from the highest archangel, David Albert's new book Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow offers a fresh, crystal-clear look at the very essence of love and learning, and the critical importance of love for nurturing learning. Insightful, unique, and perceptive, this book is a gift for all homeschooling families and those considering it for the first time.

Jan Hunt, Author, The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart and A Gift for Baby