Will Self Books

Suddenly my beloved uncle was gone. Just two days before he had come to our home for dinner with his new finance. My aunt, his first wife died of cancer three years earlier.

A week after his visit with us, I attended his funeral. Only 42 years old, he left three children. He did not have a will, or a living trust. All the children are under 16 years old. The legal complications could go on for several years to free up the funds.

Having seen this complex matter get more tangled up as time passes--his assets were impressive--I purchased a copy of The Art of Passing the Buck. Not only does the author emphasize setting up how to pass on wealth long before it is needed, but explains the complexities in simple terms.

I found myself reading and pondering, then being drawn back to the book. The chapter on Heirs: Favored and Flawed, alone is worth buying the book. What an eye opener!

With sufficient footnotes and court cases, this is not only a fascinating work to read, but it can also serve as a reference book.

My mother asked me to be her Trustee. Never did I think something, I though so simple, could be so confusing. My sister gave me a copy of The Art of Passing the Buck as a birthday present. Because I felt so overwhelmed about the subject, I didn't tackle reading it for at least a month.

Wow! The flashbulbs starting going off, as I read page after page. I began to put together what I was expected to do, what my priorities should be, and how to handle various parts of giving out the wealth. I found people to help me get my parents residential home properly transferred into their living trust so it could be sold, and I figured out the task of the paper work until the home sold--I'm still struggling with the administration, but at least I know what I am supposed to do.

Although many of the issues addressed in the book refer to how to educate beneficiaries about wealth-building protocols and learning how to discuss money with family members, I found the history of trusts more fascinating. Here is where I discovered what a political nightmare passing on and holding wealth has been since the beginning of time.

With the many trust types available, I'm surprised my parents did not get a little more education about the subject. Although the living trust I now manage is simple, it would have helped me if they had included more instructions. If they had read this book, they would have been more specific about many of the assets and where they were located. That would have helped me a lot.

Because some of my siblings are jealous, I found some of the insight about family relationships insightful. Unfortunately, the causes of our squabbles are rooted in how our parents raised us, and so the solutions are not so easily found.

There is much to be gained in this book, because if people want to keep their wealth in the family, they need to get the education, and this book was an eye-opener!

Now I know how to get there

The real estate deals I made twenty years ago were a long-term gamble. Three out of five turned out to be enormous gains. In one year, I went from an average, hard-working administrator to a real-estate tycoon. A couple of more deals and I was on a roll with both accountants and lawyers advising me about how to handle my cash flow.

My daughter brought to my attention The Art of Passing the Buck. I thought I knew all the ins and outs--after all that is what the CPAs and lawyers are for, to ensure I do not make any mistakes; but lawyers and CPAs did not write this book! Obviously written by those with hands-on experience, the tidbits of information are vital for the survival of the family.

The unbelievable variety of trusts available to those with creative thinking bewildered me. Who thought up a trust where all the income is passed through to a child for ten years? After that, the parents get the original funds back, while the taxes saved pays for the child's education. I wished I knew about that one, but when my kids were young I did not have this kind of money.

Another shock was how ownership of anything at all can be used against me and how not owning anything worked to Ted Kennedy's advantage. The stories about beneficiaries and heirs and their gain or loss depending on how a trust is set up made me rethink everything I ever knew about inheritance, which I realize now was miniscule --except for the disaster stories told in the entertainment industry.

How the wealthy retain their goods did make me angry. Rigged by the power structure, they keep getting richer, while the rest of us live on a small portion of what they have not tied up.

Not much into politics, I read with interest the ways the rich abscond with the money and control it. While the author did not share this information to cause alarm, but to ensure those who handle money do not step on the "wrong toes," the methods described are still disturbing.

Now involved with professionals to set up a trust for my children, I find in some instances, I am clear about how to structure passing on my assets.

Ballet dancers know that talent isn't always enough to keep their career afloat. They have to have determination, dedication, passion, and technical accuracy, give amazing auditions and performances - and maintain a certain physique. There are those who adhere to strict diets in order to maintain a certain weight, and some sadly resort to dangerous tactics to keep a slim figure, jeopardizing their health AND their career in doing so.

But what if a healthy, talented young dancer is naturally curvy?

When teen ballerina Kayla becomes, how shall we say, more shapely up top, a teacher recommends that she have a reduction surgery. News spreads quickly at her performing arts school, causing a private matter to become even more public, more obvious, and more embarrassing. Then a pair of red shoes appear with a note bearing the book's title. With both her career and life in danger, and with her peers (especially the boys) openly and enjoyably discussing her appearance, Kayla becomes uncomfortable in the limelight.

This book offers revelations and relevé, music and art, costumes and conflict. Years of rigorous training has made Kayla nothing if not determined, and, with the support of her sister and a few other supporting players, she holds her head up high and retains both her integrity and her love for dance. Dorian Cirrone has written a story to celebrate, all about sticking up for yourself (and others), sticking to your dreams, and having a positive self-image.

This is a delightful and fast-paced book, which also thoughtfully explores issues such as body image and artistic passion. Not only is the main character endearing and makes us root for her as she worries about her body, a boy, and rivalries at school, but each supporting character is fully drawn. I liked the humor throughout the book, as well as the inciteful glimpses of the pressures of being a voluptuous ballet dancer.

Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You is an important novel by first time author, Dorian Cirrone. Ms. Cirrone tackles the politics of female body image through the story of Kayla, a ballet dancer with size double D breasts who is heckled by classmates and encouraged to pursue plastic surgery by her dance instructor if she wants to get leading roles as a ballerina. Another more subtle message in the book is females supporting other females in their success.

Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You has a fantastic cast of characters--from Paterson, the feminist, to Joey's humor to Gray, Kayla's hot love interest--and a plot that will keep the reader turning to the next page and the next and the next...

This is a must buy book for mothers and fathers who want to reinforce the importance of a positive self-image for their daughters.

This is an excellent book to share with someone who has lost a child. It's a small book, easy to read and contains words of comfort to help a parent in their grieving process.

I've known about, and used, this book in my ministry since the late 1980s. I feel it is absolutely the best book available to give to families who have lost a child...whether it is a new-born, a soldier killed in Iraq, or an elementary school child with a brain tumor. The opening words "I had a child who died." introduce the reader to a large community of people who know the inconsolable loss that the death of a child represents. I highly recommend pastors to buy a copy and read it...then buy a bunch more copies to keep as a reference. We always have some available that our parishoners can buy to give away as their own ministry to those whom they know who are grieving.

I have bought copies of this book to give to friends who have lost a child because this was so helpful when I lost my daughter. It explains without preaching the process of grief...it allows you to be a part of a community who knows your pain without telling you how you should feel. It gives additional reading as well. It is short and doesn't waste your time when you don't want to read ...but the pain is so great you need to know what to do.

C.C Roundy is amazing! She is like the Sherlock Holmes of psychology. Where others scratch the surface, she really gets at the root of what is causing you pain in your life. Her refreshing approach is unlike any other author I have ever read.
This book gives you a taste of her remarkable gift for soothing savaged hearts.

C.C. Roundy is amazing! She is like the Sherlock Holmes of psychology. Where other people may scratch at the surface, she really gets to the heart of what is causing you so much pain in your life. She helps you to see the truth about yourself in a refreshing way that is unlike any other author I have ever read.
In this book you will get a taste of her truly remarkable gift for soothing a savaged heart.

I loved this book! My favorite parts of the book were the case studies that went along with the different topics she is discussing in the book. I felt like I could really relate to how some of them felt. I really liked the ideas she had for finding out more about yourself- some of my answers surprised me! She gives wonderful ideas on how to truly live out your potential- to not let someone else dictate who you are and who you should be. I loved the quotes she uses as well. I really feel that someone who is interested in living a life that is more fulfilling and happy must read this book. SING YOUR SONG!

I recommend this book and author to all of my friends and my seminar attendees. This book will pick you up and gently shake you and you'll never be the same again. Your life will change and the future will become brighter and full of promise beyond your dreams. If for some reason you could only read one book......this is the one.

After reading Think Like a Winner, I was so eager to read anything Staples wrote. Though Think Like a Winner is definitely a "winner", this book by far was more powerful to me. The quote on every other page inspired me, and fed me when I didn't have time to read the text. His simple, easy to understand method of writing as well as the inspriring text has made this book my "bible" for daily living as I discover my true self. I love this book and recommend it to everyone without hesitation!

In his book, In Search of Your True Self, Walter Staples combines the best information available on mind management and personal excellence. I have read and listened to many, many programs on these and related topics. Mr. Staples'book was easy to follow. I enjoyed the accelerated learning approach used where each topic was first introduced with a favorite quote, then followed by a brief explanation, and finally summarized and exemplified with a true story. It should be read and reread by anyone serious about reaching their maximum potential.

i'm 30 and this book is really good...me and my girlfriends discussed the questions and they are dead on...not pie in the sky stuff but real things to help you think about whether you've got a keep or one you need to throw back. the stats, myths, and other factoids make this a nice book and worth the money. give it as a gift to a friend who's trying to figure it all out!!

I'm a Romance Coach, so every time I go to a bookstore, I cruise
the "Relationships" section to see what's new and interesting. I look for something "meaty" usually, thick, weighty, and serious, hopefully saying something new that I can add to my toolbox. On my last trip, I impulsively added an unusual choice -- the small, thin, and light-weight looking "Is He the One?" by Susan Swimmer. 6 by 6 inches, only 120 pages, and covered in pastels with a swoony looking cartoon woman asking the question ("Is He the One?" in a balloon over her head), it just didn't grab me, and I read all the books I bought first before even opening it.

Well, was I surprised. Yes, it's simple, and yes, it's a light-
weight and easy read. But Susan Swimmer has come up with some
heavy-weight questions to ask yourself about a prospective mate.
"How will I know if he's the one?" is a question I get asked
regularly, and Swimmer gives us some concrete mini-tests as a way of finding out.

Here are some of my favorites (and ones my Sweetheart would have
passed with flying colors): When he has a piece of news, does he call you first? Will he share his desert at a restaurant? Do you know how much money he has? And the last one, a real
cruncher: Would you marry him even if there were no reception,
not party, no nothing? Which is of course about you and not
him.

So if you wonder how you will KNOW, this might be a good book for you to add to your romance library.

Kathryn Lord, Your Romance Coach
www.Find-a-Sweetheart.com

Whether you're in your early twenties and trying to figure this out for the first time, or you're looking back on a marriage of more than 20 years and trying to figure out what works and what doesn't and why, this insightful little book can h elp you get through to the heart of the matter. If he's the one, Susan Swimmer helps to confirm it. If he's not, she helps you see that for real.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant! This book was a BIG surprise. I have read tons of self-help books over the years and this just may be #1. Her insights and depth are groundbreaking. And the book is concise and easy to understand.
I knew that I had some problems saying "no" to people in the past but I never had any idea how far the roots of this problem went. And I found that she is dead on, right. It is hard for me to describe this because I am not much of a writer.
The one criticism I have for this book is that I found some of her LABLES or NAMES of the situations (boundary breaking) to be harsh or just kinda weird, but I was able to look past it.
If you are even considering buying this book, I strongly encourage you to do it. I think you will be very surprised and grateful! I know I am!

For those trapped in family origin of codependence, you really need to read this book. My eyes were opened for the first time. I found that the book had to be read in segments because, I had to deal with many unresolve issues as I read the book. The author did an excellent job of presenting the information. I only wish I could order more books for my family. Hopefully the book will be republished soon. I have tried to order at least three books, have loaned mine to several people, and feel it is the most amazing book. I have been freed.

All I can say is wow!, what an incredible book. We have had problems with our 22 year old daughter for years and this book has really helped put things into perspective. Understanding family of origin has made us realize why. This is really not a book review, but a testimonial that this book has really helped our family. We wish it had been out many more years ago. However, we were hoping to get a copy for our grown daughter, but it is out of print. I can't believe that! I hope "Learning to Say No, Establishing Healthy Bounderies" will be printed again (and again and again). It is a worthwhile book that everyone should read.

"Simple brilliant! The Best Read I've had all year!"

"Edutainment at it's Best! The story is so believable you can almost hear the background noise of the park!"

"Never before have I been drawn into a story of such relevance like the one found in `The Lost Principles of Entrepreneurship'. The character spoke directly to my business, my heart and my soul. They re-energized me to focus even more of my effort into making my business a success."

"It is refreshing to read a book like `The Lost Principles of Entrepreneurship'. I have found that parables and story telling are the best ways to communicate truths that could otherwise be easily lost with a direct approach. This book has help solidify ides that were already apart of my thinking, but having them presented right in front of me cleared up a some what fuzzy picture."

"If this was a sermon, I would be standing to my feet saying, `AMEN!'."



Cicone Prince
3D Illustrator
3D Solution Providers, LLC
[...]

I enjoyed reading Dr. Gravely's book and believe that while Black America is in the midst of a wave of entrepreneurship that is focused on building wealth, leaving a legacy, providing job opportunities, and rebuilding this nations forgotten urban core, this book is a must read for anyone embarking on the path of entreprenuership. We all know that in accepting the inherent risk associated with entreprenuership, there are many obstacles along this path that often de-rails the would be entreprenuer. Dr. Gravely's book provides a keen perspective on the proper entreprenuerial mindset necessary to deal with these obstacles regardless of what they are. For entrepreneurs and prospective entreprenuers, the story encompassed in the book will provide you with a focus on how to effectively deal with the obstacles that you will undoubtedly encounter. I also recommend this book to all college students engaged in a business curriculum and those who have any entreprenuerial aspirations.

I have been giving a lot of thought to starting my own business, but the focus was always on, "How much money will it make?" Gravely gave me the right focus and the right attitude.

For a lighthearted, entertaining, and fascinating trip into the inner workings of children's minds and souls, and how they perceive God and religion, read this book! You'll chuckle, you'll giggle, you'll laugh uproariously, you'll smile in tender recognition. An adorable, fun book!

This book, in some respects, is a Jewish version of Art Linkletter's "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" These kids are Jewish and commenting on Jewish subjects. Many of their remarks demonstrate a guiless intuition that is at once entertaining and enlightening. A joy to read, and a book which will endure.

I enjoyed leafing through this book. It takes us through all the holidays and events in the life of a Jewish child, proving that kids DO say the darndest things!

"Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is the inspiring story of a native American girl who, with the gentle guidance of her grandfather, learns to find strength in her identity as a native American living in the broader American society. Elegantly illustrated by Robert Hynes, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" also includes the Seneca creation story and demonstrates how such ancient tales of native American cultures can be utilized to help children find their way in the world. Author Cheryl Savageau has written a superb story that will entertain and inspire young readers in grades 3 through 6. Enhanced with a 'Teachers Take Note' section devoted to suggestions for activities and thematically appropriate resources, "Muskrat Will Be Swimming" is an award winning and very strongly recommended addition to elementary school and community library picturebook collections.

I am the author of Muskrat Will Be Swimming. Thank you to everyone who's contacted me about getting a copy. MUSKRAT will be republished by Tilbury Books in Spring, 2006, in paperback. Look for it!

I love this book and so does my six year old son. Very sensitively deals with namecalling. The young girl's grandfather sees that she is upset and by telling her a native amercian tale helps her find pride in her heritage and herself. Weaves together the present day story of the girl with the folktale very well.