Works Books

Mary Kay's autobiography tells of a woman with indomitable spirit and profound emotional intelligence. How she reached the pinnacle of success despite the tragedies and measly capital is a life lesson we should all learn from. I like Jim Underwood's writing style. His closeness to Mary Kay and his first-hand knowledge of her leadership style certainly provided credibility to this book. Highly recommended!

I was really impressed with the work that Jim Underwood put forth to create this woderful book. One of the most inspiring things for me is the fact that he shares insights that I didn't know about the company that I am proud to represent. I left each reading session with an added sense of pride and inspiration.
More Than a Pink Cadillac...is a great tool for sharing with prospective team members and their spouses/spices as it comes from a person who doesn't represent MK Inc and shows how much corporate does care about those who represent MK in the field.

When I decided to start my own business, my goals were lofty and to the average person unattainable. Many people in my life were unconvinced that I could accomplish them. Desperate to grown personally, I began working my way through self-help books and the like. By mistake I picked up MORE THAN A PINK CADILLAC" and my life was forever better. Jim Underwood offers us a look into the life of a remarakable woman who refused to let anyone hold her back. Not only does this book share her personal/professional journey, it shares the journey's of women just like myself. It's not just about business, it's about people. It reminds us that this world is nothing without the people in it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever thought they couldn't make it work...no matter what "it" is. Pure inspiration!

Mary Kay, Inc., is perhaps best known for two things: the cult of personality surrounding its founder, Mary Kay Ash, and the fact that it rewards successful salespeople with pink Cadillacs. In this illuminating book, management expert Jim Underwood delves into the guiding principles of Mary Kay, Inc.'s daily operations, which remain, 40 years later, true to Ash's founding vision. Countries or corporations founded by a charismatic leader often sag or sink when that leader inevitably steps down. Mary Kay's leadership was unique in that she built a solid foundation for the company so it could continue without her day-to-day guidance. This corporate biography represents the first time the privately owned company allowed an outsider complete access to its managers and employees, enabling Underwood to persuasively illustrate nine leadership rules with testimonies from members of the "Mary Kay family." We recommend this to anyone who aspires to leadership. Mary Kay may look fluffy, but it's all about the firm.

I cannot say enough great things about this book. Mary Kay Cosmetics is truly a wonderful company and Mary Kay Ash was a very inspiring businesswoman. Even for those people not in leadership positions, this is still a fantastic book. This exceeded my expectations. I was very thrilled with my purchase.

This is a must have book for anyone that is trying to get more healthier or just to find out what is out there other than prescriptions!!! Easy to read and understand, I walked away knowing more about what options are out there!

I have to say that with the great reviews I was expecting something wonderful. I was very disappointed. In my opinion, the layout of the book needed more organization. Also, I bought this specifically for treating acne and the "cure" in the book says it may or may not work!

I agree with the other 5-star reveiwers. This is a great reference book. I have read many other books on this subject (e.g. Prescription for Nutritional Healing), and Jonny Bowden is very knowledgable. I particularly like the editing of this book--it is very accessible and not as bulky and overwhelming as PFNH.

The Most Natural Cures on Earth, by Jonny Bawden, is a well-researched, cutting edge book that is a must for any home library. The book covers pure cures, combo cures, food cures, plant cures, natural treatments and "desert island cures" (cures the author would bring to a desert or the equivalent.)

Bowden believes that the body has a "natural tendency to heal itself," but these cures help boost our systems. The author writes, "the goal of this book.... is to empower you." I like that!

He suggests natural cures for depression, appetite control, cravings, goat, migraines and much more.

In addition to being a fantastic reference book, the book itself is beautifully laid out and well organized.

I recommend it with one of my favorite books, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet, because it addresses how to detoxify the home and make it healthier for you.

Who doesn't have a "natural cures" book out these days? With diet and health books coming out of our ears these days, it seems everybody and their momma has their own take on what it takes to get and stay healthy in modern society. Sadly, many of these "experts" are nothing more than fly-by-night shysters who are simply in it to bilk you out of your hard-earned dollars by making you buy some obscure products that can (SURPRISE SURPRISE!) only be purchased from the author's web site. AVOID THESE "natural cures" books!

That's what makes Dr. Jonny Bowden's THE MOST EFFECTIVE NATURAL CURES ON EARTH so special. He presents well-researched and commonly-found cures to many of life's ailments that completely run the gamut. From obesity to diabetes to joint pain and everything in between, Dr. Bowden has got you covered. You may be surprised to learn a particular dietary approach that is often erroneously labeled as a "fad" by much of the medical community and the media is one of the primary "cures" that is shared for a cross-section of ailments.

Unlike most books of this genre, Dr. Bowden makes this stuff sound cool, too. His engaging writing style is what fans of his have been loving since he wrote LIVING THE LOW-CARB LIFE and THE 150 HEALTHIEST FOODS ON EARTH. You get more of the same with all the very latest studies to back up every claim made in this book. This is DEFINITELY one book you won't want to be without if you care about your health.

The exercises found in this book are great, when you are first diagnosed and the coming years.

It is a great tool to have because you do not deal with your MS the same way on a daily basis. There are times that, even if it is in written form, you need to look for answers.

The way the book is written, it is a sure sign that you do not have to have MS to write a good book, but as an MSer you do know what we face every day.

Great book, will keep using for future reference.

this book provides the person with MS or their caregiver with much needed information on emotions, thought problems, communications, and other areas in which MS symptoms affect functioning. it is well-written and quite easy to read. it offers a nice summary of functioning as well as a few strategies for managing the different symptoms. i found that this book is a good augmentation to the MS Workbook, which provides a more comprehensive background and worksheets than the current book. several times, the author stated something that i hadn't read before, and i wanted to read the original source, but none were provided. i only discovered about one dozen typographical errors, no errors of fact or grammar. this is a very good book for the non-clinician and non-academic.

I originally got this book at the library. I hesitated because some MS books can be very heavy or dry. This book was excellent! I found it very helpful, even though I've had MS for years. I bought one for myself & had some of my family read it, too. I even got a couple for gifts for friends with MS. I highly recommend it, especially if you have people in your life who could use a little MS education. It's also great to validate things for you personally. It's an easy read & definitely worth the time.

When I read this book I felt it was written for me! I could relate and identify to almost everything the author was saying. I wish I had extra copies to give away, it is sooo relavent to anyone. You have to get this book for yourself and your library. You won't be dissappointed!

As someone with MS, it's good to know that you are not the only one struggling with certain feelings and insecurities.

As a medical professional, RN, I feel qualified to tell everyone that this book saved my life. After 12 years of Premarin, I had developed every side effect listed in this book. I thought I had a terrible disease process happening to my body. Then I asked myself " If a patient came to you with these symptoms, what would be the first thing you asked that patient." The answer was simple, "What medications are you taking?" The culprit was Premarin!!! And I now have a new lease on life. I take the Tri Est/ Progesterone discussed in this book and I feel 20 years younger, some say I look it too!

This is a MUST read book for every woman who is concerned about menopause and the decision to take hormones or not. We CAN have the best of both worlds: relief without the risk of cancer.

It should also be read by every doctor who writes HRT prescriptions for their patients.

I loved the book and found it to be very easy, exciting, informative reading, I was glued to every page.

Buy it, read it, and pass it on to all of your friends and doctors! I just ordered a second copy for my doctor as a gift.

I've read six books on menopause and "the Naturals" and I think it is the best. This book has the most information presented in the most concise format. There is much useful "hands on" information about diet, exercise and the use of natural progesterone. If I could buy only 1 book on the subject, this would be it.

I am a 53 year old woman who underwent menopause at 43, and since I still have my uterus, I struggled with Premarin and it's ugly sidekick Provera for almost 8 years. I even tried Dr. John Lee's Progesterone alternative, but to no avail. Then finally, a female friend suggested that I go see her naturopathic MD here in Scottsdale. She put me on the "naturals" and within a few months I was feeling better than I had in years. With just a couple more "tweaks" I was feeling great, and mentally I knew I was now free from all the looming fears of HRT induced breast or uterine cancer.

I have (and would) recommend this book to any woman who will listen to it's message. It is a thorough, direct and comprehensive alternative to horse pee and PMS (as we "natural women" refer to our previous regimen) and it is my belief that these are the hormone replacements of the future. And, thanks to Laux and Conrad, some of us have it now!

My husband told me about this book, he purchased it, I read it, followed their advice and now I feel like a 'better than' normal person! No more Premarin! Thanks for the advice....

Like many of the other reviewers, I was moved by the pictures - especially the more deserted, rural-looking streetscapes. The text (except for his suggestion that downtown Detroit be turned into a national park) doesn't really add that much to the photography.

Anyone interested in the health of our older industrial cities must read this book. The photographs are truly riveting, and the text really sounds like an account of an extinct civilization. The repeat photographs of the same cityscapes over several years' time are particularly captivating, and usually saddening. Mr. Vergara's focus on Detroit is also fascinating, although I can't say that I agree with his proposed solution for downtown Detroit's woes. I'm looking forward to buying Mr. Vergara's "American Ruins," a more recent work.

Anyone interested in the health of our older industrial cities must read this book. The photographs are truly riveting, and the text really sounds like an account of an extinct civilization. The repeat photographs of the same cityscapes over several years' time are particularly captivating, and usually saddening. Mr. Vergara's focus on Detroit is also fascinating, although I can't say that I agree with his proposed solution for downtown Detroit's woes. I'm looking forward to buying Mr. Vergara's "American Ruins," a more recent work.

The photographs in this book are gripping. While the narrative is interesting regarding the sociology of the rise (and fall) of the ghetto in several American cities, what is most stunning about this book, perhaps obviously, are the photographs.

How many of us have driven by abandoned or decaying buildings and have either reminisced or have wondered about its history? I think most of us have experienced this. Vergara has captured those moments on film. Yet his interests and the style of his photographs reveal life bursting, or seeping, from behind the apparent emptiness and abandonment. Snippets of conversations or ponderings from those who live in the neighborhoods photographed and quotes from various 'experts' give a framework through which the photographs reveal what is behind the facade.

Graffiti reveals insight and inspiration. And there are various characters outside of the mainstream who find meaning and life in what those who have abandoned these buildings called 'decay'. An intinerant preacher, a modern day Noah and her ark and a whole host of other individuals reveal to us that no matter what it looks like on the outside, there is a spark in all of us that hopes and dreams and envisions a better tomorrow.

This book succeeds on many levels, a sociological level, a picturesque level, a historical level and, most important in my opinion, a human level. It's a book you can peruse over and over again and find something new with each visit.

Vergara looks at some major American industrial cities that suffered some horrible disinvestment after World War II. He takes an honest look at the people and buildings in some of America's poorest cities (Camden, Newark, Detroit) and how ugly, cheap, security-conscious and modernistic buildings to serve the ghetto's poor residents have replaced fantastic movie palaces, upscale housing and fading remnants of a wealthier, more egalitarian period in U.S. history.

Vergara's prose gets a bit preachy and predictable at times, but the real strength in this book lies in its collection of bleak photos that make you wonder why this nation abandoned its industrial past so quickly and so thoroughly. They speak more than any words can ever do on the plight of America's cities.

He shines when he looks at how buildings transform over time - some for better, most for worse. The majority of these photos were taken in the early-1990s, as the crack epidemic was at its peak and the double-digit decline in urban crime was just beginning. With crime down and the urban real estate market up, I view these decade-old photos with a mix of sadness and hope.

Vergara's later work, _American Ruins_ does an even better job of looking at how the United States has turned its collective back on its cities. If you read this book, make sure you check out _American Ruins_. They both make Vergara our best chronicler of urban decay.

I thoroughly enjoyed this play. I watched the film awhile back, and since I wanted to change choose different films for my Film Appreciation class, I decided to review the play before adding 'Night, Mother to my list. What a powerful play. It sheds light on a very difficult subject. Jesse, the main character, makes the decision to "get off the bus early" after careful thought. She shows that some people contemplate this critical experience probably more carefully than buying a house or a car. Her decision is hardly spontaneous or emotional, nothing that I imagined at all. The power of the read helped me to decide to buy the video later on. I also ended up buying a collection of Marsha Norman's other plays, hoping that I will duplicate the insight gained by reading this play.

"'night, Mother" is a tour de force conversation between a mother, Thelma, and her daughter, Jessie, who has just told her that she is going to commit suicide at the end of the night. The play is a taut high-wire act that leaves you spellbound as Thelma tries to convince her daughter not to go through with it and Jessie sternly insists. Thelma and Jessie are extremely dimensional, deep characters with an achingly believable relationship. Through the course of their conversation it becomes apparent that there is a yawning chasm between them despite their seeming closeness, and while Thelma thinks that the two can put it right Jessie doesn't believe it -- or want to try. The fierce, emotional back-and-forth between Mother and daughter keeps you on the edge of your seat. The dialogue is very natural and believable, and the playwright, Marsha Norman, displays an extraordinary acuity for what her characters are feeling and have gone through to reach this point. Norman has crafted a devastating portrait of two women that leaves an enormous impact on the reader. I only finished it two hours ago, but I seriously doubt that "night, Mother" will be leaving my thoughts any time soon. Highly recommended -- but keep the Kleenex on hand, just in case.

Marsha Norman's 1983 Pulitizer Prize-winning 'NIGHT, MOTHER is frequently described as a play "about suicide." Although the play does indeed deal with suicide, this is actually a shallow designation; it is about a lot of things, but most particularly control: who has it, who wants it, and the extent a person will go to obtain it.

The play involves two characters: Thelma, an elderly woman, and Jessie, her middle-aged daughter. They have lived together in an isolated house on a rural road for a number of years. Thelma describes herself as "a plain country woman;" she enjoys life in a fundamental way, not expecting more than she already knows, watching television, knitting, nibbling at sweets, and enjoying regular visits from her son and his family. Jessie, who suffers from epilepsy and is divorced, has become something of a recluse, and her life consists largely of managing her mother's home and thinking on the past. One evening, as the play begins, Jessie informs Thelma that she has decided to kill herself right after she gives Thelma her weekly manicure.

Thelma does not take Jessie seriously at first; clearly there have been too many scenes between the two for Jessie's statement to have any real meaning for her. But Jessie is serious indeed, and over the course of an hour and a half the play evolves into a battle of wits, Jessie determined to kill herself, Thelma equally determined to prevent her from it. In the process, we learn quite a bit about the family and their lives and the various emotional and factual secrets the women have hidden from each other over the years.

The play is brilliantly constructed, performed in "real time" without any scene changes or intermission; the characters--and the equally vivid people they discuss but whom we never see--are equally well rendered. There are moments are laughter, even more moments of insight, but the play is progressively intense, progressively dark, with all the power of a noose that slowly tightens around your neck. One of the most fearsome bits of theatre of the past thirty years or so, easily the equal of such legendary works as Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

This is one of my favorite plays of all time. it's a great discussion on the issue of suicide. There's one line Ive always remebered: When the daughter is trying to justify the idea that she wants to off herslef, and she uses an illustration of someone riding the bus and riding the bus, and they could just stay on and ride it around the block another round, but why bother. It's really well written, and how the mother and dauther get along is interesting.

*I did not read this, but saw it recently on Broadway at the Royale Theatre.

'night, Mother is a hell of a play. For a two person play, which takes place in real time, it is a moving decent into the demon world of two women, mother and daughter, co-dependents, best friends, enemies, like no other.

Jessie, the daughter is a woman deeply in pain, so much so that her capacity to live has gone, as has her capacity to love. Thelma is her mother, desperately clinging to the one person she loves, whom she needs more and more, and loses sight of more and more.

There were many sobs and sniffles in the audience towards the end of 'night, Mother, and though reading the script is different than seeing it performed by terrific actresses (Edie Falco as Jessie and Brenda Blethyn as Thelma), the story is good enough and in your face enough to do the job.

This is a play about when, if, why and how we stop being parents or kids, and start being our own people, or if that is even possible. Somewhat depressing, but serious and true.

Even for the true classic music afficiando, this is a helpful compendium of names and selections to use when purchasing albums or for general hands on reference.

I hope that no potential readers were offput by the very silly and petty Publishers Weekly review. This is a very helpful and at times facinating guide to classical music and recorded music performance. Libbey's expertise and passion make for great reading. Very insightful and very helpful when searching for a good recording of a favorite piece.

"The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music" is a delightful combination reference book and video game for all classical music buffs. Besides its nearly 1,000 pages of listings, from Claudio Abbado to Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, the book gives you access to a page on the Naxos Music website which allows you to listen to more than 500 musical selections online. I just signed on to the page for the first time, and listened to the very first listed selection--John Adams' "Shaker Loops." I look forward to hours of fun with this wonderful new toy! I appreciate the breadth and depth of knowledge author Ted Libbey brings to the project, as well as his inclusion of favorites of mine who aren't necessarily well-known to today's listening public, such as the Danish tenor Aksel Schiotz. In his introduction, Libbey notes he tried to avoid the gaps and errors in such standard reference works as Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and adds, "Doubtless there will be errors still, and for these I accept full responsibility." Alas, I have already caught him in two. The first is the listing of Beethoven's birthday as December 17, 1770, when even "Peanuts'" Schroeder and Lucy know that Beethoven was born on December 16. Of course, that could have been a printer's or proofreader's error, but the second mistake is more serious--when Libbey states that Vladimir Horowitz withdrew from the concert stage in 1953 in a severe depression over the suicide of his only daughter. Actually, Horowitz's daughter, Sonia, did not commit suicide until the 1970s (which caused Horowitz a second bout of severe depression); I'm not sure exactly what caused Horowitz's 1953 breakdown, but I had always understood that an addiction to prescription drugs was at least partly to blame. Nevertheless, these are minor caveats to an otherwise enjoyable and informative volume. Any classical music lover with computer access would be happy to own it.

Couldn't choose between the NPR ecyclopedia and the Vantage Guide so bought both. The NPR book is younger, more detailed, more information on a wider variety of artists and composers and in my opinion ; much better.

Don't get this if you are looking for an overview of music history, this is a reference book--exactly as advertised.

It comes with a login to naxos.com that allows you to listen to literally hundreds of hours of music from the naxos library for free! This is a tremendous value.

I was most impressed by the sheer amount of information--not just the historic information, even my favorite 20th and 21st century composers were given a fair amount of coverage.

I could not put this book down. It is a beautiful story about a girl who found strength and determination against the odds.

What an amazing book this is! Christina's story, in and of itself, is truly astounding. But the message is truly powerful! For me, personally, I gained a new sense of having "hopeful expectations from the Lord". It inspired me to remember the power in "asking" Him to "show up" and to provide His wisdom, direction, and literal road signs in life! I have a renewed sense of hope when it comes to praying about things and looking expectantly for His answers.

In addition, Christina does a terrific job of explaining "how" she experienced coming to know Jesus and what it is to have faith in a living God.

I am inspired to pass this book on to several friends who do not know Jesus, yet!

* Read it on a beach for an even greater impact. :)

This is one of the best books I have ever read. This is inspiring, truly inspiring.

Christina DiMari's OCEAN STAR, a memoir of overcoming a dark childhood of violence, abuse and substance addictions to find faith, love and the creative life, offers hope and encouragement to anyone who has faced seemingly insurmountable challenges.

DiMari was raised in an Italian family in California that loosely belonged to the Catholic church, but didn't practice faith at home. "I had always believed in God, but I really didn't understand how believing in him made all that much difference to us while we lived on earth," she writes. "...We simply didn't really know how believing in him could make our life any different in the day-to-day stuff."

Regularly beaten by her mother, who was otherwise mostly absent, DiMari grew up feeling she was her father's favorite. Yet, as the violence between mom and dad escalated, her parents separated and she lost touch with her father. Life at home was unbearable. Over the years, DiMari estimates she ran away more than 100 times.

"Was I fooling myself?" she writes. "Was I really bad and not worth anything? Would it have been better if I'd never been born? Did my life matter to anyone?"

She regularly smoked pot, dabbling in LSD and other drugs, shoplifted clothes, hung out with the hippies in Haight Asbury, and listened to The Grateful Dead. Pods of dolphins appear in various places throughout the memoir, symbolizing DiMari's strong friendships with others and as a symbol of hope. Her friends became her dolphin pod, with a trademark saying, "Life's a trip! Enjoy the ride."

Despite DiMari's poor performance in school, one determined high school counselor helped her get her high school diploma and pointed her toward college. It was there that she grew weary of her choices and began looking for deeper meaning. "I was tired of living my life with no direction or purpose. There had to be more." Through a loving pastor and a fellow student at the college, she decided to make Christ the center of her life.

Changes followed. DiMari found herself drawn to young children in the Philippines and got involved in mission work. Eventually, she met and married Michael, a concert violinist, and had two sons. As her faith grew stronger, however, she realized she had to revisit the dark places in her childhood. She also realized she had to come to grips with her relationship with her father and mother. As DiMari forced herself to explore the past, she uncovered some terrible secrets that shed light on her dysfunctional family.

The starfish on the cover is appropriate; it's a symbol woven throughout, which DiMari uses as an example of how broken things (such as a starfish losing an arm) can heal and become whole. They are saved, she says, when they cling to the "rock." This is not literal nonfiction for sticklers about the genre; rather, it's a creative retelling of one woman's story. Some liberties have been taken, such as using recreated dialogue extensively throughout; these are acknowledged at the beginning of the book.

DiMari crafts a motivational card and gift line, and hosts "Designed to Shine" workshops on the beaches of California where young girls are encouraged to dream big and become the women God designed them to be. "If I have learned anything at all, it's this: The journey is not always easy, but if you are willing to surrender the dreams that you hold in your heart and let God replace them with the dreams he has for you in his...and never, ever, ever give up, your star will eventually SHINE the way it was designed to." This is an inspiring book for older teens and adults who have overcome difficult experiences and are looking for hope.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at phrelanzer@aol.com

Ocean Star will open the eyes of PARENTS and reemphasize the importance of kind, encouraging, loving words to their children.It will make every CHILD learn that there is a way out, that they don't have to make bad choices to make themselves feel better, and that it is not their fault. It will let every ADULT who has been physicall, mentally, or sexually abused by family members learn how to process that life to be able to move on and realize the undying importance of not repeating past behaviors. It will let every FRIEND realize the importance they have in each others lives. And for those of you who were lucky enough to be born into a family with good, loving parents, you can learn how to be a light to those children who only see the darkness. You will learn how to teach those children how to see the good in themselves, how to teach them it is not their faullt, and how to extend your hand so they have something to hold onto while they ride the storm. You can learn how to be a pearl to someone who needs you.

Hillary Johnson's fascinating book, first touched upon in her article in Rolling Stone is a compelling read. The poor response by the CDC and the NIH to an epidemic that has now affected more lives than both AIDS and Lung Cancer is tragic. Ms. Johnson's beautifully woven story (though at times technical) would make for a very moving film in the tradition of And the Band Played On.

The author does an outstanding job of revealing how some of our most "respected" agencies in western medicine attempt to deal with what they can not define, despite what the patient says. Through constant shifts in focus, we are shown how several different groups deal with this syndrome. The writings illicit a tremendous amount of rage at the incompetence, pain at the ignorance, and confusion in the beurocratic anchors. This book reads like a mystery, and keeps you intrigued until the last page. It concludes like the reality of the search for this anomoly- with no 'pat' answers.

I read this book when it first came out. I would highly recommend it to any health care professional, any sufferer, or any relative of any sufferer. Society has come a long way over the years. Around 1990 I took a copy of one Dr. Jay Goldstein's books on chronic fatigue to a lecture on another subject. One of the other attendees picked it up, read the title, and disdainfully tossed in back on the table declaring, "Chronic fatigue? There is no such thing. It's only depression." On the other hand, myths are still all too common.

Back to this book. It leaves me dumbfounded how many of the issues clearly dealt with in this book are still reported incorrectly. Example: Epstein-Barr virus. It has widely been reported that since EB virus does not appear in clusters/epidemics, and that antibodies are present in a very high percent of the population, attributing chronic-fatigue to and EBV outbreak is, well, wrong. And that the doctor(s) should have known that.

However, in the book is it made clear that the doctors at Incline Village where an outbreak occured did know that. So when one of the doctors started seeing many of his patient's showing up with positive blood tests for EBV, he sent some samples to a researcher. The researcher found an antibody pattern that was not indicative of new infections, but rather of a recurrence or reactivation of a prior infection. This was a pattern the researcher had never seen before, and implied another cause, possible a weakening of the immune system. But not an epidemic of new EBV cases. By the way, that also argues against the assertion some have made that EBV is a possible cause, although it should be ruled out clinically.

The book is replete with many stories and issues, that differ remarkably from what is commonly reported about this issue.

One final chilling note. In the book dozens sufferers are introduced, some in depth, some obliquely. In an annex at the end of the book, the is a short follow up on many of the sufferers. What is chilling is how many have died.

This is the most informative book I've read on Chronic Fatigue. The reading is dry at times, but very informative. This book is about the Center for Disease Control (CDC) involvement in investigating CFS up to the date when the CDC was found quilty of misappropriation of funding for CFS research. Anyone new to the illness should have this book in their library, even if it is just used for references.

This book really gives you an understanding of how and why ME has been stigmatized, ridiculed and ignored as much as it has. It makes it very clear that it was not a mistake or an oversight at all but that it was in fact utterly deliberate. The pure stupidity and lack of basic human compassion involved is astounding. It's important to know how we've ended up in this mess so we can see how we might get ourselves out I think. It's also important that we not underestimate how low these people will go - its lower than you could even imagine.

A must read if you are well enough to tackle such a long non-fiction book, it'll just blow your mind and really fire you up about how badly we have all been treated historically and the...well you'd have to call them evil, people behind it all. A fantastic book to fire up your activism urges.

Don't fall victim of your own success. This book reveals the paradox of success, and how to avoid downfall.

This is a very good, perhaps great [?], book masquerading as a "how to succeed in business" tome. It is in reality a powerful handbook for those of us in the 4th period of life to try to make some sense of all we have done, all we have left undone, & what is the purpose of it all. I'm 65; I found this a clever combination of Jung, Jung's theory of the 'shadow', & strong suggestions for living with inner tranquility & financial success; O'Neil is a gifted & insightful writer; I doubt that many under the age of 50 would find this book worthwhile - my opinion. A minor criticism: O'Neil cites 6 - 8 - 10 authorities in this field who have written books; he provides an index; but no bibliography? Why? A very minor criticism. Extremely well done. Easy to read.

It is an amazing journey through our deepest fears and questions about life whether personal or professional. The first part goes through those questions all of us have or have had combined with real life examples and a second part where the author shares his insight as to what to do with all those questions and answers we start to get by reading the book.

I have read this book once before back in 1995. Since then I have learned a lot about shadows. I am aware of my shadows and this book is helping me to be a better person.
I have a friend who is intellegent and smart. However, after reading this book second time I am beginning to know his hubris and. I do not know how to relate with this person.
Knowing my own shadows I am now less critical of others. We all have multi-selves.
The book should be read by any adult who wants to have a balanced perspectives of life and deal with others appropriately.

I first read this book when it came out, at the time the O. J. Simpson story was just breaking. It was PERFECT timing - offering insights into how otherwise highly-successful people can have darker sides show up in their lives unless they periodically renew themselves and take stock - what might be called taking an "internal audit" of oneself. I've often thought the title for this book could have been "The Shadow Side of Success."

I highly recommend this book for anyone who's in a position of influence, power and responsibility (or who WANTS to be). The author has included a rich assortment of ways one can avoid the egoic pitfalls of success and fame - a real MASTERPIECE!

John Renesch, author, Getting to the Better Future