Works Books

A beautiful tribute to those who have given their lives for our country. The pictures chosen reflect the dignity and beauty of this final resting place better than any words can. Excellent historical documentation. Everyone should own a copy for their personal libraries.

Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery: is an inspiring tribute to hundreds of thousands of our uniformed men and women who served this nation - in war and in peace. Arlington, like other military cemeteries at home and abroad, is ground made sacred by their dedication, their lives of service, and their sacrifices. This book tells the history of Arlington Cemetery and through it the history of many from our nation's heroes, ordinary and extraordinary. The selection of photographs is excellent, and Rick Atkinson's essay informative and inspiring.

Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery Outstanding in pictures and facts. The emotional response evolves as one gets further into the content. What a tremendously powerful book!

As a former member of the 3rd Old Guard Infantry, the ceremonial unit at Arlington, I very much appreciate the great photographs and fine writing that went into this beautiful tribute to the Garden of Stones. I visit my brother, my father-in-law, and a half dozen brothers-in-arms at Arlington at least once every year. With this book I can visit that hallowed ground more often. It's a wonderful tribute to the fallen and those who tend the fallen at Arlington. bb

Stunning pictures and moving text combine to give you an awe inspiring tour of probably the most revered area of the United States. You may have visited Arlington on a tour of Washington D.C., but Rick Atkinson and National Geographic takes you past the tourists and delivers a book that shows the care, dedication, and honor that envelopes the cemetery.

Contents:
Preface
Essay
History
Final March
Autumn
People
Caring
Salutes
Ceremony
Sacrifice
Tomb Guards
Services
Afterglow
Afterword
About the Contributors
Photography Credits

Beginning with the history of Arlington, which was once General Robert E. Lee's estate, and ending with pictures of Arlington at night, Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery is a beautiful, lovingly photographed book. The Afterword tells you that after every internment, this book, along with the flag, are given to the family. And I can see why.

I've been to Arlington, but not the Arlington presented in this book. That Arlington is populated with people that dedicate themselves to the care, maintenance, history, ceremony, and protection of 300,000 graves of the fallen. Exquisitely photographed, this book brings you more than a tour ever could. You see the cemetery in all seasons, you see veterans of World War II honoring their comrades, you witness the burials of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan (Section 60). You learn that ever since July 2, 1937, every minute of every day, someone has guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every. Single. Day.

Think about that for a moment.

There are pictures that show the guards in snow, at night, and other times when not a single other soul is in the cemetery.

It was difficult for me to read the captions on those pictures.

While I have read a few books this year, none of them affected me like this one. None of them included pictures like the ones that are in this book. This is an amazing tribute to Arlington National Cemetery, the 300,000 interred, and those who protect, care, and serve within its boundaries.

An incredible work. One that everyone should experience.

I use this book as part of my 100th day of school celebration. It helps my k students to have empathy for the elderly. We also discuss what they may look like when they are 100. Wonderful illustrations - typical Mem Fox style - perfect! Love it!

I discovered this book when my roommate told me it was one of her favorite children's book. Both my roommate and I are currently pursuing our Master's Degree in Elementary Education and are always looking for great books for our future classrooms. She informed me that this book is one she had to have immediately after reading it! Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a young boy who lives next door to an "old people's home" and he describes each of the elderly people he has become friends with. His favorite is Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just like he does. When Wilford overhears family members discussing the sadness of Miss Nancy losing her memory he sets out to find out what a memory is by asking all his elderly friends. He takes all the things he thinks are a memory and gives them to Miss Nancy. She begins to reminisce about the memories that the items remind her of and she is so happy that Wilford has given her back her memory. This book is incredibly sweet and will have you "awwwww"ing on each and every page. The illustrations are hilarious and depict abstract pictures of the elderly people and Wilford. As a 21 year old I found the book touching and think that children of any age will also be able to relate to it. It is a wonderful book to read to children who have grandparents or family members who have Alzheimer's and can make a little sense about the aspect of losing a memory. This book will most definitely be in my classroom no matter what grade I teach. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age!
-Andrea W.

This book was a favorite of mine when I was young and now I love reading it to my girls. It is so sweet and wonderfully illustrated. My absolute favorite from the spectacular body of work of Mem Fox.

This is a beautiful story. It's perfect for reading to children who have grandparents with major memory loss. The illustrations by Julie Vivas are equally beautiful.

All I can say is I have had this book for many years and it is one of my FAVORITE children's books. Cutely written and the message is wonderful.

Larry Swedroe's newest: "WISE INVESTING MADE SIMPLE", imparts both knowledge and valued advice, in a series of easy-to-read tales (i.e., chapters), each ending with a morale aptly emphasizing the point of his tale for both the novice as well as the quite-well-informed investor. Swedroe is a persuasive advocate championing passive asset-class investing (buy-and-hold but re-balancing annually to restore target asset-class allocations) in a diversified portfolio of index funds and ETFs. He makes a compelling case--with outstanding clarity--just how this strategy advantages any long-term investor compared with any of the "hot methods de jur" that periodically (constantly?) are found being touted by the financial media and-- sadly for investors--much of the financial industry. (How this latter barrage of media-driven "picks" of one kind or another serves the interests of the promulgators themselves, and only secondarily-- if at all--serves the interests of the investor whose money is being rolled-around in brokerage and fund-accounts, is another eye-opening highlight of insight that the careful reader gets to see.....(the Emperor's clothes get removed, so to speak, and the Emperor is found to be unflatteringly avaricious!) And Swedroe arms his reader with the fortitude to withstand the occasional market downturns that come along every decade or so, and come out ahead when it's over! Although this book is the most recent of Swedroe's excellent series, I specially want to mention how excellent I feel a set of five chapters--Chapters 7-11 in Larry Swedroe's earlier published book, "The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need"-- are. Few investments, in my opinion, are as likely to reward the investor with a higher reward-to-cost ratio, than the purchase of these two books! Thanks, Larry, for a terrific job for all of us!

Wise Investing Made Simple: Larry Swedroe's Tales to Enrich Your Future (Focused Investor)[ASIN:0312339879 The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Preserves Wealth Today]]The Only Guide to a Winning Bond Strategy You'll Ever Need: The Way Smart Money Preserves Wealth Today

I have really benefitted from Mr. Swedroe's earlier books on Winning Investment Strategies for equity and bond portfolios. This book's common sense interpretation of the important research on investing is great for an individual investor like me.

The new book uses examples of typical investor thinking and behavior to illustrate key elements of planning and discipline. I have passed the book on to two friends of mine who have been switching strategies mid-stream, paying high commissions, etc. I know that this book's approach to explaining how professionals view investing will be more accessible for new investors like them.

Excellent book on investing. It's all perfectly clear to me now. This really lays out what is going on in the investment community and how to have your own self interest in the forefront.
Can be a little dry reading (to be expected), but well worth the time.

This is a really good book if you want insight in how to invest your money.It speaks to investing in a way that is understandable even if you aren't a financial genius, or should I say especially if you aren't. And it's fun to read.

I'll admit, I'm a very neophyte investor. I found Swedroe's description of how the market works to make a lot of sense and the first few chapters alone gave me high hopes for the rest of the book. Instead, those few chapters are the only part I found very helpful. The rest was a combination of rehashing the same points over and over, or introducing some pretty generic pieces of advice.

When Swedroe used 'concrete' examples to make his points, the statistician in me felt his spidey sense tingling. Almost all of his examples involved someone trying to outcompete the market using an investment method that Swedroe obviously doesn't like. Often, the first person is contrasted with someone who uses the passive investment method that Swedroe does like. The problem is, a lot of these examples use the setup that the first investment method did well the previous few years, but at exactly the moment these people chose their respective methods, the market changed, thus 'proving' that the passive method was really the better one to choose and therefore since it was better to choose in the 'story' presented, it must be better now.

The problem, as anyone who knows statistics can tell you, is one of 'cherry picking'. If Swedroe had instead set the two investment methods against each other and chosen a decent number of random starting points to make his case, and they had indeed shown that the passive method of i nvesting works better in a significant number of those cases, I would have given a lot more credence to his arguments. Instead, I had the impression he kept looking for starting dates that would make his case, which is a very misleading way to present a case.

Now, I'm not saying he's not right, nor am I saying that he intended to mislead, but the evidence he gives doesn't convince me.

This book was almost impossible to put down, with such compelling content that I actually forgot I was having lunch in a restaurant while reading it! This book takes little time to read but should provoke considerable reflection in the reader. We ALL need this reminder of the impact of our words and that we CAN CONTROL our reactions to events and to others and that we MUST consider the consequences of our word choices on others.

The best book around on this subject. Intelligently written without being scholarly and academic. Get copies for yourself and all of your friends. The Bible and Jewish tradition have much to say about speech and that muscle in our mouths that causes so much trouble. Applying the wisdom in this book can change one's life. Be quick to listen, slow to speak. Heed the words of Proverbs and James 3:5-6. Speak like you want others to speak to you. Speak words that build up--not those that tear down.

Wonderful, thought provoking, life changing book. Really caused me to examine my speech habits and to consider the great power of my spoken words. This would be a great book for a club or even a study group. Jew or Gentile could gain much from reading and applying this book.

This book's awesome! Powerful messages that change the way one looks at the words. Loved it. Received as described!

I have owned this book for many years, both my son and daughter have a copy. This is an absolute must read not just for those of the us who are Jewish; but for anyone who struggles with the truth or is incapable of telling it. I have given this particular book many, many times. Only recently I thought of a business arrangement involving a particular couple who would benefit from this book. I have ordered this book for them and hope this reading sets them free.

Writing The Right Word by writer, editor, and educator Dave Dowling (President of Write On Course, LLC, a company specializing in business and technical writing seminars...) is an excellent practical resource for writers of all skill and experience levels and backgrounds. Featuring entries in a lexicographic order, Writing The Right Word teaches aspiring writers the proper definitions of easily misused or confused words, such as levee versus levy, lightening versus lightning, spoor versus spore, and much, much more. A useful 235-page reference tool for avoiding common errors that computerized spelling-checkers will not detect, Writing The Right Word is a highly recommended and much appreciated addition to any personal or professional writing reference collection.

This is one reference book that won't languish on your shelf. Once one starts using it, it becomes second nature to double check your accuracy. My initial thought was that it was a bit slim (230+ pages), with largish type, but this is only a plus. Access becomes very quick and straightforward. The examples are clear and concise...it obviously de-fogs the memory banks (re proper word usage). ANY writer will use it and the book should be mandatory for any high school freshman (and your college student would thank you forever for the gift). Indeed, Dowling has presented us with a book that makes it much easier for writers--at the very least--to appear to be smarter...and that's a bargain. No regrets on this purchase. ((On second thought, it will help you with spoken english as well...ever use the wrong word at a meeting and feel like a schmuck?))

As a college-level instructor, I am often struck by how poorly most students use the English language. 'Writing the Right Word' is a unique and indispensible tool that can help anyone, from high school student to professional writer, learn how to write what he (or she) really means. In today's complex world, the importance of using the correct word cannot be overemphasized. This book explains the most common word confusions in a clear, concise, and 'user-friendly' format, complete with thought-provoking quotes at the beginning of each section. I found myself reading it for the sheer pleasure. Personally, I think this book should be required reading in the schools, and is definitely a 'must have' for anyone who makes his or her living as a writer. Dowling's descriptions are clear and understandable, his examples vivid and sometimes amusing. The sections on 'affect versus effect', 'that versus which' and 'who versus whom', words that rank among the most notorious for confounding the average writer, are themselves worth the price of the book.

The book is very useful and to the point. It is an excellent
resource for my business correspondence. Since people still
judge you on your ability to communicate in writing, it will
be very helpful. Will be using it frequently.

This concise guide is an excellent reference tool for any writer: published, aspiring to publish, business professional, or student. It contains most of the common word pairs that are likely to cause confusion, and provides clear definitions and examples for each. Equally importantly, this guide fills a gap that other reference texts fail to address. No writer should be without a copy!

ZEN IS THE DIRECT KNOLAGE OF THE MIND WITH OUT THE EGO! THATS IT. THERE IS NUTHING ELES TO IT. LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT ITS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN EVER EXIST! EVERY THING BUDA TOUGHT WAS DIFERANT WAYS OF TELLING YOU THE SAME THING! JUST BE! THIS BOOK IS OVER LOOKES BECAUS ITS SO SIMPLE BUT THE TRUTH OFTEN IS!

Simply an outstanding and lucid translation of four teisho by the original Chinese Zen Master, Bodhidharma. 'Bilingual' in the title refers to the inclusion of the original Chinese text, taken from a Ch'ing dynasty woodblock editiion. Please read this, and give a copy to someone you care about.

The original stuff from the man who brought it all to China. Reading this book is like reading Thoreau's Walden. Peaceful. It is so interesting to read Bodidharma focusing on the central core of the teaching. Brief, concise. The text with the chinese characters on the facing page is pleasant to look at.

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, Red Pine San Francisco, CA: North Point Press, 1989

Bodhidharma is recognized as the Founder of Zen in China by all schools of Zen Buddhism. As the First Ancestor of Zen in China, his is the very manifestation of the archetypal Zen master.

"Seeing your nature is zen." Says Bodhidharma, in his straightforward, no nonsense style, "Unless you see your nature, it's not zen."

Red Pine has collected and translated the four most important records attributed to the undisputed Father of Zen in this excellent volume. Each meticulous English translation is accompanied, page by page, with the original Chinese characters. These records include:

Outline of Practice

Bloodstream Sermon

Wake-up Sermon

Breakthrough Sermon

Every Zen student, (and teacher for that matter) would do well to familiarize themselves with these most time-tested, straight talks on the authentic teachings of Zen. Bodhidharma insisted that the truth of Zen could be realized by anyone, "People who see that their mind is the buddha don't need to shave their head. Laymen are buddhas too... once you see your nature, you're a buddha even if you work as a butcher."

Bodhidharma's teaching revealed the truth of Zen, shaking up the entire Buddhist establishment, which had fallen into the sterile doldrums of imitation and pious self-righteousness. Bodhidharma came to China from India with a mission; to bring Buddhism back to the heart of the Buddhas message--that all beings are inherently Buddha and need only see their true nature to realize the fact.

The Father of Zen balked at institutions and individuals that claimed exclusive teachings or demanded specific spiritual practices.

As Red Pine translates, "To find a buddha, you have to see your nature. Whoever sees his nature is a buddha. If you don't see your nature, invoking buddhas, reciting sutras, making offerings, and keeping precepts are all useless. Invoking buddhas results in good karma, reciting sutras results in a good memory; keeping precepts results in a good rebirth, and making offerings results in future blessings--but no buddha."

You can't find any Zen more authentic than that of Bodhidharma. Red Pine has done us all a great service by bringing the Founder of Zen to life for English readers, and allowing him to remind us of the simple truth. Zen has nothing to do with enlightened "roshis" "Dharma-certificates" or sectarian purity. Zen is not about escaping the world, does not demand renunciation, or sitting in particular postures for long periods.

Bodhidharma gives us the straight scoop, "Seeing your nature is zen. Unless you see your nature, it's not zen." Period.

By all means, avail yourself of Red Pine's translation of Ta-Mo. Then go to John Bright-Fey's "Whole Heart of Zen" for an in-depth expounding of Ta-Mo via the oral tradition. There's more to the story than meets the proverbial eye!

The Whole Heart of Zen: The Complete Teachings from the Oral Tradition of Ta-Mo (The Whole Heart series)

I am not a big fan of diet books,but I decided to give it one more shot. My girl-friend Susan bought me this book about a year ago because she was not happy the way I look in hip-huggers. I had gotten lazy since I met Susan, as I thought I had met the partner for life. I let my appearance go and Susan was about to drop me for my ex-husband. Well, I started working out and following the lifestyle changes. Guess what? Susan is giving me a backrub as I write this, telling me that I have great bod and we should get into the tub.

So far I've read half the book and I'm fascinated at what I have learned. I'm looking forward to applying all the secrets and see the results. This is the motivation I needed to get off the junk and do what's good for me. Now I understand why eating very few calories but most of it being sugar has been making me gain weight. I don't eat fried foods or stuff myself I just eat too much sweets. There are more suggestions in here that I think everyone should know. We'll just see if this book is quackery as I read someone elses review. I'll report back in 30 days with the results!

I am not a big fan of diet books,but I decided to give it one more shot. My girl-friend Susan bought me this book about a year ago because she was not happy the way I look in hip-huggers. I had gotten lazy since I met Susan, as I thought I had met the partner for life. I let my appearance go and Susan was about to drop me for my ex-husband. Well, I started working out and following the lifestyle changes. Guess what? Susan is giving me a backrub as I write this, telling me that I have great bod and we should get into the tub.

Never thought I would turn to a diet book until my best friend turned me on to the book after hearing that I had refused to expose my thighs at a local softball tournament. It was 90 degrees and there I was, wearing a pair of sweats, vainly trying to cover-up my saddlebags. It has been about 9 months since then and I feel great and look great if I say so myself.I followed the instructions and worked out to the max.My lifestyle has changed, much to the chagrin of the local ice-cream parlor,which I single-handily supported during the winter months.
Thanks for a fun, easy to read book.

Oberbeil puts all the common sense information I had gathered over the years into one easy to read book. I would advise anyone who wants to read a sensible guide to weight loss and general health to purchase this book. Well researched and well organized!

I received this book for my 10th birthday from my parents, many years ago. At the time, I was very impressionable and this book made a significant impact on my life. I learned then that what we as fallible humans consider to be "imperfect" according to our standards of ignorance and bias is usually the most precious of all things to God.

Now, I have a two-year-old son with Down Syndrome and I can relate in so many ways to this book. As I look back over my life and various correlating events that have taken place, I see that God was preparing me to be the mother of a special needs child all along. And it all started with this one little book.

I doubt even Dale Evans knew how much this little book would touch lives. It was published in 1953 and my 6th grade teacher read the book to all of us in her class years later. Of course, we were all Dale and Roy's fans so we could not wait until the next day when she read another chapter. It is one book that I have read over and over again. It is amazing how Dale got Robin's message which was told from her point of view. If you want to read a book that is life touching, then read "Angel Unaware". The Bible verse from Hebrews is still my favorite verse.

I bought this as a present for my wife and it moved both of us to tears. Wonderful.

I first read this book shortly after I learned to read, at my grandparents house. The book was hardcover with a pink cover page.

Every time I went to my grandparents I would reread the book.

This book will bring tears to your eyes, and it shows that you are truly not alone.

Karen

A brief story of a child with Downs Syndrome, born to Dale Evans & Roy Rogers, this story reaffirms the obvious...God makes no mistakes, & uses all things to draw us closer to Him.

This book has started me on the path of what God wants me to be. This book has 90 days of activities to help you get closer to God and change your lifestyle. I often read this book in the middle of the night while I am watching my special needs son. I have to help him clear his airway at night and my life gives new meaning to the part of Proverbs 31 that says her lamp does not go out at night. I also have a four month old.
I do get to sleep though. God gives me rest. The woman he wants me to be is not completely exhausted all of the time. He lies me down beside still waters too.
I know that God has a plan for me to prosper me and not harm me and to give my family a hope and a future.
There are fun parts of the book like the chapter on what is your signature color. I realized that I should be wearing more navy blue and I noticed a difference in how I look when I wear the right colors.
This book is a 90 day jumpstart and I can't wait to continue living the life that God has set out for me.

This book is your begining to a new way of life. This is the best guide to help you get to where you want to be. It will bring you closer to the Lord and help you become the woman you were ment to be.

This is a wonderful easy read. It helped me find my way back to the Lord. I can honestly say it saved my life. It's one of them books every woman who wants a deeper walk with God should read.

I wanted a devotional book that I could read every morning that would take approx 10 mins of my time with another 5 mins for reflection on what I just read. This book is ment to be read in 90 days based on Donnas day by day format. It is exactly what I was looking for. Donna is full of inspiration and guidance while applying scripture to every day life. I looked forward to every morning excited to read what Donna would have to say! This is a great read for any woman in her journey with god and in life.

I love the structure of this book! Being a mom of 4, I don't have alot of time to invest to reading. This book offers shorter chapters that go straight to the point. I'm also a very visual, hands-on learner, so keeping a book of the key points in this book, as the author suggests, is a total highlight to me! This is the first Donna Partow book I've gone through, but it will not be my last!

A must read for first time mothers. An unbiased reveiw of your options. I give this as a gift to all my pregnant friends. well written and relevant

The recurring message in the book is that YOU are the one who is best able to make birthing choices for yourself. I like that the authors don't push one method over another. We pregnant women hear so many stories about delivery. This book reminds you that during labor, you will still be you--only in a more heightened state--so go with options that fit the type of person you (already) are when creating your birth plan. Good over-view of options and choices to think about ahead of time.

A MUST-read! This book is a personalized guide to pregnancy and birth for every new mommy. Being pregnant for the first time is an awesome but overwhelming experience. This book helps pregnant women better understand all of the physical and emotional changes that are happening to them and is reassuring and comforting in that it guides you to do what's right for you. My pregnant world forever changed upon meeting Lisa Gould Rubin. Her guidance and support led to an incredible birth experience.

My husband and I were honored to have Lisa Gould Rubin assist with the birth of our daughter. The same spirit she brought to our lives is within these pages. This book is a must-read for all expecting mothers to empower them with the information to make choices that are right for them and their family.

This was a really great book although it was not what I expected exactly. I was expecting some sort of quiz that would send me in the direction of a specific method based on my personality. That didn't happen. But it did explain, it great detail, what goes down during labor, birth, c-section if you have to have one, and post-partum. Not a one size fits all explanation, but a variety of things that happen to different women kind of explanation. During these essays, it did go through various coping strategies based on what one might do if that had a dental abscess and had to wait for an appointment or something like that. The big question, how do you cope with fear, anxiety, pain in your every day life? Here's a list of ways that might correspond to that during the birth process. I feel like I know a lot more about what to expect, what things might feel like, and the wide variety of alternate endings that can go down. I feel better just knowing something about that stuff. And I feel somewhat empowered knowing what I can ask for if I want/need it too. This book really drove home getting a support system in place and that I do not have to conform to any specific method, which I really appreciate a lot. I would highly recommend this book to any first time mother who wants to know what she is in for and is not sure she and any specific method are a match. It will help you build a great foundation for your birthing plan.