T Books

We just lost our Golden Reteiever of 10 years totally unexpected due to cancer. She ran off to die. We were able to find her and bury her in our backyard. "Amy", the Golden in the book is like our Chantal who loved the Gulf beaches. For any Golden owner, this is MUST have book to help with the loss of the best breed of dog I've ever encountered.

I laughed and cried when I read this book. Vanderbilt truly depicts life with a Golden. My son was devastated when we lost our twelve-year old Golden; I sent him this book so he could, like the author, reflect on the joy of having one of these incredible dogs in our life. The author truly touches the sacred moments we share with these beautiful creatures. A must read for Golden owners.

You don't have to own a golden retriever to read and really enjoy this beautiful book. As a dog lover that I am, I read anything which has to do with dogs regardless of breed. This book is similar to "the dogs of our lives", a book which touches your heart and brings tears & laughter as you read it. Thank you Mr. Vanderbilt for sharing your memories with us.

This is a beautiful, honest book about a family's love for their Golden Retriever. While the humans in the story are skillfully drawn, the central character is Amy--a loving and loved Golden Retriever. I cried at the end of the book. The lesson of the book is that a much loved dog can have a dramatic impact on a family's life--even if she isn't a search and rescue or therapy dog.

I will admit right off the bat that the Chatham neighborhood that Amy and her human family inhabit is also my neighborhood. But I am sad to say that I never met Amy who sounded like a wonderful dog. All dogs are wonderful, in my book, and certainly in Arthur Vanderbilt's book "Golden Days." This is one of those tales where, although you know how it ends, you still weep at the end. Months later, certain scenes-- such as Amy's unusual love of bananas-- stick in the memory so that you feel you really knew Amy. "Golden Days" is a book about a golden retriever and it's also about those golden days of summer in a certain special place that Arthur Vanderbilt knows very well. I recommend this book for anyone who has ever cared for a dog. For anyone who has ever loved Cape Cod. In fact, I recommend this book, which is profoundly moving without being sappy, to everyone!

then 4 years of high school, college and graduate school put together in a fun and concise way...

loved it..

My son started showing an interest in Geography in the 3rd grade so we bough t him a couple books & this was one of them!! He is now a walking text book! watch out!! He has won several Geography bees & this helped!! Plus he just loves reading the information & sponging up the information!! Enjoy!

I can't say enough good things about this book. I'm not a Geography Bee competitor like some of the reviewers here. I'm just a guy who loves trivia and I had a great time reading this book.

There is a newer Hardcover which was just released by B&N. It's the same content by and large, just a few editorial corrections.

The quality of printing is still somewhat low. But the price point of the book is a lot less. For those who love trivia, this book is priced right! Go looking for it.

That being said, this book is great because it has a lot of information and it's organized well. The question format is great because it helps you digest the info. "What is the Longest River?" is easier to swallow than, "The Nile is over 4100 miles long." All the same info is in there, it's just presented really well.

One other small criticism I have of this book is that unlike many other trivia books this one doesn't list line by line sources for it's info. That can sometimes be important. Granted, the vast majority of Geography trivia is static so this is not too big of an issue.

All in all, this is a great read. Enjoy!

I'll tell you one thing for sure, this here book is handy. Matthew Rosenberg's "The Handy Geography Answer Book," gets near daily use in our household. Let me tell you why. Some people think "bathroom readers" are socially on the borderline of being trailer park chic. I for one disagree.

We use "The Handy Geography Answer Book," for all sorts of purposes around our house but most of the time it sits on top of the throne de porcelain as an entertaining and engaging piece of text. It comes in handy then as iffin' it wasn't there...one would spend a good deal of one's day just sitting and staring at a gold macrame moonlight gold shimmer bathroom wall (hey...I didn't paint the bathroom mind you...that was the wife's doings). So every time I ups and decides to drop a load off at Uncle Sam's if you know what I mean, I read Rosenberg's Geography book. And boy howdy, it sure makes the time pass fast.

Here's some tasty tidbits from the book de la commode garnishment. What is the smoggiest city in the world? I'll just tell you it sure ain't Boise, Idaho. I ain't provided you the answers here mind you...that'd be considered spoiling the punch line. These here's just teasers. If you want to know the answers...well you'll just have to up and buy it on Amazon your own darn self. I tell you. You won't be sorry you did it neither. You'll find some entertaining moments as you are downloading a file (if you know what I mean). What is the highest point east of the Mississippi? Well who knows and who cares? It's east of the Mississippi for heaven's sake. Who'd want to visit there much less leave in those god forsaken parts? What is the Forbidden City? This answer's kinda surprising to me as I always thunk it was Las Vegas out there in the desert in Nevada ways. Around these parts (or at least my domicile) it's always been called the forbidden city. Well at least by the missus you see. After that infamous 1987 business trip, any future visits to that there neon palace of a place have been strictly forbidden for yours truly.

But don't just take my word for it. What are you waiting for? Go get this here book from Amazon. Place it on top of your shi eittter and go to town. If your guest think it's a little too "trash" if you know what I mean...well screw 'em...they probably shouldn't be visiting your house anywho with that kind of uppity attitude. ...mmw

Easy to read, will keep a student's interest, relevant material. Most of Rosenberg's books are ideal for Geo Bee competitors. I've coached Geo Bee teams for five years now, and I always recommend this book to students and parents. Good as a teacher's resource too.

**Be careful about buying used copies of this book. Two of my students used this option to save a few bucks, thinking they were getting to version pictured (red cover) and ended up with 1998 versions of the book, which has outdated population and other relevant info (yellow cover).

This book continues a couple of generations after the first in the Genesis Trilogy left off. I quickly got into this new heroine, Keren's, life, though it was hard to say goodbye to the previous heroine, Annah and her husband, Shem. They make appearances, though, in this story.
Keren's life quickly heats up when she's taken captive by Nimr-Rad (Nimrod) and taken to his city. Again, I really enjoyed reading about this ancient time. The author does a really good job at describing the way of life, both in the rural, highland areas, and in the fledgling city on the plain, from clothing, food & its preparation, even to make-up. Again, I really liked the heroine & hero, but was disappointed that the framework allowed so little communication between the hero & heroine. There was very little development of his character, especially, though the author hinted at past traumas in his life. Then there was a sudden 5 yr. jump in time which threw me off, also, b/c suddenly he and the heroine had an unspoken understanding which the reader had no time to enjoy seeing develop. It wasn't until the very end that they can finally talk to each other. Very frustrating for a romance lover!
But other than that, really good story, and I'm looking forward to diving into the last part of the trilogy.

"Keren noticed Nimr-Rada shifting impatiently. She glanced at him; he was watching her closely, his eyes impenetrable. She felt like prey. Was he wondering why she hadn't bowed? Or if she had returned to the ways of the Most High? Well, let him wonder."

"He Who Lifts the Skies" begins several hundred years after the Great Flood and revolves around the lives of Noah's descendents, specifically Nimrod the great hunter mentioned briefly in the Bible. The earth has drastically changed since before the flood, and man has been given another chance to serve God with a pure heart. Once again, man is beginning to turn his back on the Most High and already the story of the flood is considered folk lore. However there is a remnant who stand true.
Keren, a firm believer in the Most High, is taken captive to the Great City of Nimrod and threatened with her life should she refuse to bow to the king. Will she go against her convictions and bend her knee to someone other than the Most High?
Her beautiful yet immoral sister is a constant source of anguish for her, and a forbidden love tugs at Keren's heart. Her years are filled with persecution and trials, which leaves the reader hungry to know how this young woman will handle each difficult situation.
The storyline of He Who Lifts the Skies is captivating and original and one of the best reads around. A continuation in The Genesis Trilogy, by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow, "He Who Lifts the Skies" should be classified as "a book that can't be put down".

He Who Lifts the Skies, second in the Genesis Trilogy, is a captivating follow up to The Heavens Before. I found myself eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

While The Heavens Before tells the story of the great flood, He Who Lifts the Skies picks up many years later, after the sons of Noakh have had time to multiply and begin replenishing the earth. Already, many of the tribes are walking their own paths and refusing to honor the Most High. Nimr-Radr, a mighty hunter, has declared himself Great King (or He Who Lifts The Skies). Those who refuse to pay tribute to him face swift and painful death.

Keren and her sister Sharah create quite a stir when they are born because of their unusual, light-colored eyes. Until their birth, all people had been born with dark hair and eyes. When Nimr-Radr hears of the sisters with pale eyes, he travels to meet them, wanting them for his own.

While Keren ignores his interest, Sharah seeks the power and honor that the Great King can give her. But Nimr-Radr doesn't want just the one sister, he wants both, and Sharah will not let her sister's wishes come between her and her goal. Keren finds herself in the difficult and dangerous position of being the only one with the power to end Nimr-Radr's rule of tyranny, but at what cost will it be to herself, and to those she loves?

Kacy Barnett-Gramckow does an amazing job with her research, not only making it a fascinating part of a page-turning story, but also leaving the reader with plenty to ponder. The romance is quietly woven into the story, and while it is not as prominent as Shem and Annah's romance in book one, it is equally compelling. Next in the series is A Crown of Stars, which I look forward to reading with much anticipation.

Armchair Interviews says: Second in a wonderful trilogy of stories.

I have been looking forward to reading HE WHO LIFTS THE SKIES for sometime. It is the second part of the three-part Genesis Trilogy. I wasn't for sure what to expect from the first book in the series, THE HEAVENS BEFORE, but really enjoyed that book. I was eager to see how that story would connect with this one.

The Great Flood ended over a century before and once again the Earth has begun to be peopled. However, God told the people to spread out across the Earth and multiply, but instead many of them are coming to live together in one place, the Great City. In the Great City there are no wide pastures for animals to roam or large fields for children to play. Instead, everyone lives in close spaces and it seems that the extreme nearness breeds wickedness. Keren and her older sister, Sharah are descendants of Shem and Annah (the heroine of THE HEAVENS BEFORE). They are unlike any people they have seen because of their pale skin, light hair, and bright eyes. Some would claim that because they are so unique, they are the most beautiful women on Earth. As the girls become women, tales of their beauty reaches the builder of the Great City, Nimr-Rada (Nimrod). He wants the girls for his wives. Sharah eagerly agrees, abandoning her husband and son, but Keren protests and is taken to the Great City against her will. When she arrives she discovers that Nimr-Rada is planning even more wickedness--a huge tower he plans on building that will reach to the Heavens, proving once and for all that mankind does not need the fabled Most High. Keren becomes torn as she tries to find temperance between her own desires and the will of the Most High. Something must be done, but who can stand against a man who kills leopards for sport?

Like THE HEAVENS BEFORE, HE WHO LIFTS THE SKIES is a fictional tale that remains true to the Bible. It's full of vivid images and engaging dialogue. However, THE HEAVENS BEFORE seemed to be more of a romance to me. HE WHO LIFTS THE SKIES includes some romantic elements, but the book reads more like a tale of suspense. For instance, Keren's eldest brother Ra Anan is very mysterious and it isn't always clear exactly what he is plotting and what his plans are. In that since, HE WHO LIFTS THE SKIES is a story that appeals to a bigger audience. I also liked how the story connected so seamlessly with THE HEAVENS BEFORE. The stories complement each other nicely.

If you've read the first book in The Genesis Trilogy, then you definitely need to read HE WHO LIFTS THE SKIES. Even if you haven't you can still enjoy the book. Especially recommended for fans of Biblical fiction.

I have almost given up on fiction retellings of Biblical history as very rarely does an author actually stick to what the Bible states on the subject. Therefore, I was tremendously pleased to read this wonderfully, vividly written story! It stuck faithfully to the Biblically provided information, though there really wasn't much there for this period (post-Flood during the time of Nimrod and the building of Babel). This author not only is a talented writer, but she put a lot of time, research, and thought into what the post-Flood world during this time period would be like. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

This is an excellent overview of the OT, with helpful chapters on each book. But, it's a 1994 and somewhat dated. The book now has a second edition, which Amazon curiously does not list. The newer version is a year or two old, published by Zondervan, with Tremper Longman III listed as the first author - e.g., "Longman and Dillard."

Professor's Dillard and Longman's Introduction to the Old Testament is an outstanding resource for understanding the literary, theological, and historical background of every Old Testament book. It is evangelical in its perspective, yet interacts with historical - cricial methods of interpretation that have been prominent over the past 100 + years or so.

A typical overview of each Old Testament book will start with an overview, useful commentaries and articles for each book, the historical background (date, author, and purpose), a literary analysis of the structure of the book, its theological message and how it applies to the New Testament.

The reader of the book will find an outstanding reference book for understanding and studying the individual books of the Old Testament. A real strength of this book is its description of the literary style of a book and what that means for the reader. Yet, the authors warn wisely that while it is important to take into account the book's literary context for the reader, the importance of understanding a particular Old Testament book, the importance of placing literary context within the historical context is paramount.

The authors make solid use of previous scholarship in their introductions for each book, even wisely dividing what is useful from the neo-orthodox and critical scholars and what is not.

This reference book will be of great use to ministers, lay teachers and the general student of the Bible.

This is an excellent book for those who are studying the Old Testament.

This volume should be in every serious student of the OT library. Pastors especially should delve into this concise yet reasonable volume.

I highly recommend this volume.

An excellent, informative overview of cursory introductory matters. OT introduction is quite a mindfield; however, Dillard and Longmand present a well-informed discussion. It is brief often on issues of dating and authorship, which makes this an excellent "first grab" off the shelf when a question arises. The volume is probably worth double its asking price for the literary analysis. This volume takes into account literary compentency and provides genre discussion (thanks to the illustrious Tremper Longman's coauthorship). All in all each student of the Bible needs a basic OT introduction; this is an excellent choice for the reader of today.

I brought this item as a gift for someone who was dealing with fibroids. Prior to ordering the book on line, I had the pleasure to review the book as well. It is an excellent and informative book, which is well written. I recommend this book for any women who is dealing with fibroids.

Thank you.

the best book on the market for women of color who suffer from fibroids.when i was thinking of surgery monique's book helped me make the final choice.I am so glad I bought it.I will recommend it to all those who are going through the same thing.

First, let me say that, "It's A Sistah Thing," by Monique R. Brown, is one well written and well researched book on fibroids. Ms. Brown's credits include: senior editor of Black Enterprise Magazine, an adjunct professor at Long Island University, and President and Founder of Professional Women of Color.

The author, Monique Brown, had fibroids and has herself faced the horrible specter of hysterectomy. She was one of the lucky ones and got a myomectomy. She reports that her myomectomy improved her sex life.

The main thrust of the book is to advance alternative approaches to fibroids; however, she does take the op to sound many important alarms. She is delicately raising the hysterectomy/race connection. She notes UAE is new with few studies done and then adds Dr. Scott Goodwin's remark, pg. 203, "If you embolize and block the blood supply to the nerves going into the uterus, those nerves may very well be damaged. And if you were feeling something in your uterus that was pleasurable, you may no longer feel that after embolization."

And Monique is pretty straightforward about hysterectomy and sex. On page 204 she quotes Herbert A. Goldfarb as saying that 40% of women indicate a reduced sexual response after a hysterectomy and then goes on to briefly explain why. But what made me buy the book?

One short sentence found on pg. 201, "There's also a theory that the vagus nerve, a nerve that shoots from the cervix to the brain stem, is a pathway for orgasmic sensations." Readers, that is not common knowledge. Ms. Brown has done her homework.
Let her share what she has learned with you!

This book is WONDERFUL. It is easy to read and the humor is great too! It gives you more information then you can image. It prepares you with questions to ask your doctor; what foods to avoid, how to share what you are going through with your mate and much, much more. More importantly, she praises God! A book to have in your library. An EXCELLENT Reference tool. I have recommended this book to four women within the last two months and told at least twenty or so about it. Ladies, we must not keep this to ourselves... SHARE it with others.

I found Monique Brown's book more informative than any I read of its kind. So much so, I recommended it to a number of women and even purchased it as a gift for some of my friends.
Many of them wished they would have known about the book prior to undergoing a hysterectomy or a myomectomy.

I found the case studies inspiring and the resources quite helpful for my research. The diagrams were awesome as they helped me to picture what fibroids actually look like in and on the uterus. Furthermore, the natural healing information has been extremely helpful in providing alternatives to surgery. Overall, I especially liked that it was an easy warm read and not cold and clinical.

After reading Eric Whitfield's book, The Job, readers will be forever changed. Eric's story is all of our stories--losing a loved one, not knowing how to deal, not wanting to. Taking Eric's journey will give those in mourning the blueprint for healing. Readers will believe, love and embrace life again, thanks to The Job.

Your book is a masterpiece..incredible. I am so moved by every detail. It will remain one of the most important hours of my life, honestly. I had no idea it would speak to me like it did. The insecurities and web of uncontrollable thoughts, etc. that you describe are almost a blue print of me. The encouragement in this book is so special. Thank you for sending it to me.

The Job is a very empowering book. It illustrates the significance of relationships changing through death, not ending.

"The job" by Eric Whitfield, is a heart warming journey, through Eric's eyes, about the great love between a child and his Grandfather.
If you have ever lost anyone you love......you must read this book! It brings hope, and serenity to your soul and the peace of knowing that loved ones that have left us, are really never to far away. Good job, Eric!

Eric's story had an immensely effective insight into his past, present, and future. The moment I picked up the book and started reading I did not put it down until I was finished.
This very spiritual and poignant story had an ironic parallel to my own relationship with my grandfather and father who have since passed on but will be remembered dearly.
This book has helped me remember them in more ways than one.
Read it and be inspired...

This book contains an excellent compilation of speeches that cover John Bogle's career and philosophy of investing. Investors at all levels will glean important information and motivation from his recommendations and thoughts on indexing. His thoughts give important ideas to keep financial information and markets in perspective. The only limit on the information in the book is that how much more global investing has become a part of the financial markets. However much valuable information is relevant and available which is key to effective investing.

The book has five parts - the first four are speeches, and the last is his famous thesis. Part I is Investment Strategies for the Intelligent Investor, Part II is Taking on the Mutual Fund Industry, Part III is Economics and Idealism: The Vanguard Experiment, Part IV is Personal Perspectives and Part V is John Bogle's famous Princeton Thesis: The Economic Role of the Investment Company. All speeches are well worth the read, however, the book lends itself to a good ability to pick and choose what you are interested in. A clear and interesting read from a brilliant investment strategist.

I thought I was out of luck to own the book with Bogle's thesis...I'm very happy!!

A good, practical, no-nonsense book on investing that emphasizes returning to basics and tried and true approaches that have always worked over the long term. This advice is especially timely coming as it does in the aftermath of the recent bear market. Bogle points out that it's important to implement an investment program that matches your needs and risk tolerance, perhaps the most important thing in an investing program, since if you can't sleep at night, you probably won't be able to maintain it over the long haul. He also emphasizes that investing needn't be, and perhaps shouldn't be, rocket science, and that you can do quite well in the market over the long term just by matching the performance of the market. As many people found out recently, pursuing a momentum strategy in an era of already overheated PE's and buying the latest hot story stock can be very risky. Following a value-oriented fundamental approach with at least part of your portfolio can be a useful way of reducing volatility and improving your performance even if you're a died-in-the-wool momentum investor.

The best to do this is by following a strategy of just investing in a fund that tracks the major indexes, which does two things. First, it minimizes costs, so you won't pay any management fees as you would for your typical mutual fund. Also, most investors don't realized such costs as advertising and sales expenses are minimal for an index, compared to other funds, and those are typically passed on to the investor in the load or management fee. But the most important reason is that 90% of fund managers fail to beat the averages over the long haul. Since there are now more mutual funds than there are stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (which is over 5000) and as I said, 90% of them fail to beat the indexes, it's hard to imagine a more sobering reason for making an index at least a part of your investing strategy. So overall, a good book on investing emphazing a no frills, common-sense, and back-to-basics approach.

A brief side note here. I noticed the forward is by Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve Chairman who was succeeded by the present Al Greenspan. Volcker went on to head up the World Bank after that job, and I was glad to see he's still around and working.

John Bugle, one of the brightest minds of our century raises some of the most important financial questions, of the last 50 years. Bogle on Great Ideas in Financing includes four criteria: 1. Simplicity - Buy the whole market haystack, an index capable of matching the market. 2. Focus (Seek the hard crusted but nutritious bagel of earnings, dividends, and interest yields rather than the sweet donut taste of price with its high price earning multiples) 3. Efficiency (minimize frictional costs of fees, commissions, and taxes with an Wilshire 5000 index). 4. Stewardship (keep the interest of the client first). Bogle's index was free of tax, include a small transactional fee, represented 8000 stocks in the market, and matched the market rate of return.

Mutual funds have become a vehicle for short-term speculation, a trend fostered in part by the industries focus on marketing. Today the average fund holds stock for 400 days compared to six years when Bogle graduated from Princeton. Most investors hold their mutual fund for 3 years rather than 15 years. Since 1980 - 2000 mutual fund assets have risen 70 fold from $100 billion to $6.5 trillion and assets of stock funds have risen 120 fold or $4.0 trillion. In a 15-year span there were 426 mutual fund boats and 113 sunken mutual fund boats. Survival was strong because of the generous returns of the market. However, Mutual fund efficiency was problem: 1. Sales tax, excessive fees, spending too much on marketing, failing to share economy of scale with the investors, and 90% turn over of the portfolio each year suggested one thing, "short term speculation" was becoming the norm. Mutual fund sites charge costs included a front-end sales commission of 6%; opportunity cost meaning held cash positions equal to 7% of assets with these asset earning smaller returns than available in stocks; a transactional cost of 1.7%; and operating cost equal to 1.2% per year.

Bogle's outlook of the stock market is brilliant. Bogle states: financial economist cannot predict the future. The DOW may hit 36,000 and it may not. Who can predict accurately what the market will do? The market is not a machine. The market is not an insurance actuaries spreadsheet. However, the market performed remarkable well with price gaining 17% a year and at this rate doubling every four years. To understand the market lets look first too dividend yield and earnings growth because these elements provide the steady underlying force over the long pull. For two decades dividend yield equaled 4.5% and earning growth paced at 5.9% producing a 10.9% return. In 1970, P/E fell 50% from 16 times to 7.3 and dividend yield equaled 3.4% and annual earnings equaled 9.9% producing a 10.4% investment return and Bogle preached "stay the course". By 2000, dividends equaled 1%, earning growth rate reached 8%, and P/E ratios top 30. Again, Bogle preached, "time, risk, and control" raising a cautious outlook and a cry for investors to return back to investor basics of earnings, dividends, and yields.

What were the factors associated with the 87 crash? 1. Stock prices were simply to high to the underlying earnings and dividends in comparison to higher yields available on fixed income securities. 2. Deterioration in economic outlook with no progress to reduce the federal deficit, no improvements in the trade imbalance, and inflation in the air. 3. Program trading in the futures market sparked massive computer driven sales. The impact being 35% of the equity traded out of the market. In 87, if you're a Contrarian, it is a good time to buy or hold.

Thinking about 2000, Bogle observed for growth to remain constant over the next ten years, the P/E ratio would need to move from 30 to 67 an unlikely possibility. If in 2000, the P/E ratio fell too 12 then the market level would be 580 rather than 1400 with a P/E of 30. If the P/E fell from 30 to 20 then market return would drop to 5.5% less than the percentage rate of high yield bonds and such an event would be the first in stock history. Is the market comfort zone, a P/E of 15.5 and this fact suggests the market has moved to a level of high risk and possible correction? Bogle states, "Looking back 70 years, major market highs were almost invariably signaled when the dividends yield on stocks fell below 3%, or price earnings rose much about 20 times earnings". The purpose of any stock investment is cash now with the expectation of future flows of cash. A high P/E ratio means investors are expecting a large flow of future cash. The high prices are based on speculation about the cash flow in the future. If the future cash flow expectations are not rational does this mean short-term profit taking is picking clean the amateur investor?


Bogle was left to reflect on two questions: 1. Will the bagel of investment fundamentals give us its usual sustenance? 2. And will the doughnut of speculation get even sweeter than it is today, or will it finally sour? Bogle concluded, "We are in a new era of investing".

Warren Buffet said, "The art of investing in public companies is ... simply to acquire, at a sensible price a business with excellent economies and able, honest management. Thereafter, you need only monitor whether these qualities are being preserved."

Bogle suggests two principles when dealing with risk 1. Get your asset allocation right, maintaining a long-term horizon, and stay the course. Bogle observed that the long term real return on stock is 7.5%. Assuming one has a million dollars that is $75,000 annual income. 2. Diversity some of the risk away by introducing equities with reliable different correlations with the U.S market. Maybe, we will see the creation of a worldwide index, 60/40 - 60 percent U.S stock and 40 percent other? Bogle stresses investors not too speculate, however, life is short and if one needs too speculate they should limit the amount too 5 percent in the gamble for higher profits. Bogle's is betting on the performance of the whole market index rather than one sector mutual fund. Bogle is saying the market price is too high and a risk at its current levels. Bogle thinks mutual funds should be able to buy bonds and other stable securities as a part of the mutual fund mix.

Thinking about bonds, bond yields drop as the economy moves to a recession because investor flee from stocks into bonds and since money is easy to acquire the rates drop. In this scenerio, short term traders buy bonds now with the anticipation the yields will drop more in the future and investor will pay more for these bonds with a higher yield. Again, a short-term speculation to capture a quick profit. However, if haystack of stocks continues producing 7.5% real returns then stay the course.

A good, practical, no-nonsense book on investing that emphasizes returning to basics and tried and true approaches that have always worked over the long term. He points out that investing needn't be, and perhaps shouldn't be, rocket science, and that you can do quite well in the market over the long term just by matching the performance of the market, and not trying to beat the market. As many people found out recently, pursuing a momentum strategy in an era of already overheated PE's and buying the latest hot story stock can be dangerous to your portfolio's health. Following a value-oriented fundamental approach with at least part of your portfolio can be a useful way of reducing volatility and improving your performance even if you're a died-in-the-wool momentum investor. This advice is especially timely coming as it does in the aftermath of the recent bear market. Another important point that many experts emphasize is that it's important to implement an investment program that matches your needs and risk tolerance, perhaps the most important thing in an investing program, since if you can't sleep at night, you probably won't be able to maintain it over the long haul.

As Bogle points out, since 90% of fund managers fail to beat the averages over the long haul, the best strategy is to buy a fund that tracks the major indexes, which does two things. First, it minimizes costs, so you won't pay any management fees as you would for your typical mutual fund. Also, most investors don't realize such costs as advertising and sales expenses are minimal for an index, compared to other funds, and those are typically passed on to the investor in the load or management fee. Since there are now more mutual funds than there are stocks on the New York Stock Exchange (which is over 5000) and as I said, 90% of them fail to beat the indexes, it's hard to imagine a more sobering reason for making an index at least a part of your investing strategy. So overall, a good book on investing emphazing a no frills, common-sense, and back-to-basics approach.

Although Bogle amply documents and demonstrates that most fund managers can't beat the averages over the long haul, and so the best way to invest in a mutual fund is to buy one that invests in the indexes and avoid the costs of managed funds, this doesn't mean a small investor can't beat the averages. The reason most funds don't is that most own so many stocks, as in the case of the Magellan fund, which used to own 1400 stocks, that they're forced to buy too many second and third tier stocks (or worse), which degrades their performance. The individual investor, however, can cherry-pick and do much better that way, assuming he's successful at it. But the point is that mutual funds have an inherent disadvantage in terms of owning a quality portfolio that inevitably stacks the odds against them, a limitation which small investor doesn't have.

A brief side note here. I noticed the forward is by Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve Chairman who was succeeded by the present Al Greenspan. Volcker went on to head up the World Bank after that job, and I was glad to see he's still around and working.

Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.)--The Foundation for Participative Management and Employee Involvement
Leadership is the "in" topic with top business schools like Harvard and Stanford. It is basically what students get judged upon. In the masses of books on this subject however, no other book goes to the deep roots of the relational approach generating unimposed leadership (the essence of leadership is that it speaks by itself, when it has to be imposed it is called authority).
This book offers a model for developping the skills generating instntly accepted leadership.
It is a must read not only for every student aiming at an MBA but also for every active business man (already gifted or not).
The beauty is that it is pleasant to read. It is not a boring student type of analysis. It is just lively, practical, based on solid common sense, but far reaching.
An added quality is that the style grasps the reader emotionally, and most people read it from cover to cover (a rare feat with business books).

This was the first training and book that I ever participated in on leadership. And, that was 21 years ago! It is still timely and effective. I was impressed in re-reading the book how much of the practices that I had incorporated and made my own. This training and book made a remarkable impact in my life.

If you want the basics on leadership in one bundle - then you want this book. Read it. Use it. Re-read it. Become a more effective and influential leader.

Good, but since I have already read the Parent Effectiveness Training it was a little redundant, and slow moving.

easy to read, we are using it for our class, communication and conflict resolution skills in our team.

I bought this book to use as a reference for a paper that I was writing on the subject of leadership for a communication class. The class had to do with small group communication. As I read Dr. Gordon's approach to leadership, I found that his participative management style was really what I was looking for and a great fit for how leadership can work effectively in a small group. Although the style of his book is definitely written as a "training" book for effective leadership, it has many thought provoking and practical insights that you can apply in many other areas of your life. We all find ourselves in groups throughout our lives in various and diverse situations and circumstances. This book offers some down to earth, common sense advice that you can take and apply when you find yourself as the "leader of the pack" so to speak.

I particularly enjoyed the section on " Doing it yourself - or with the groups help". I think that many people mistakenly believe that you have to use your power and manipulate people to be a good leader and to get a job done. Dr. Gordon shows the advantages of being a facilitator and drawing upon the strengths and resources of all members of the team.

The principles described in this book will not go out of style, because it deals with people communicating with people. Times may change, but leading people will still be the common factor that spans the ages. It can be a great tool for a new leader or for one who wants to brush up on their leadership skills. As a student, I know I'll be referring to it in future classes. This will definitely be one of those books that I'll keep on my bookshelf for future reference.

The commentary is true to the text and serves the reader well.

This is a really great commentary on Ephesians. I went through it with a bible study and it was extremely helpful. It is thorough and academic (others are probably more qualified to talk about the scholarship) but also readable and devotional. O'Brien, of course, is solidly evangelical and very well respected in the academic world. If you are looking for a commentary on Ephesians for use in a Bible study or personal devotions, this is the one, provided your group is already fairly grounded in the scriptures and in theology and is willing to invest some time into their study. Other commentaries in this same series (Carson on John etc) are also excellent.

Peter O'Brien's outstanding commentary on Ephesians completes his trilogy on the Prison Epistles (see his commentary on Philippians in the NIGTC and Colossians-Philemon in the Word series) and, in my judgment, ranks as first among commentaries on Ephesians. Writing from a solid Evangelical stance, O'Brien defends Pauline authorship and wrestles honestly with Paul's majestic, but often complex, letter. While Harold Hoehner's commentary is broader in its coverage, O'Brien brings an amazing depth of insight to the table, and interprets Paul with skill and clarity. I especially appreciated O'Brien's keen eye for biblical-theological connections, which helped draw out many of the Old Testament references which lie behind Paul's letter. O'Brien is excellent with the Greek (though all Greek words are transliterated in the actual text of the book - actual Greek words are in the notes) and almost always has good reasons for his positions. Also, unlike Hoehner, O'Brien doesn't seem tied to a theological system (like Hoehner's dispensationalism, which occasionally slips in) and lets the text say what it says. I've read most of this book as I've preached expositionally through Ephesians over the course of nearly two years, and it is the main commentary I would recommend to others. Hoehner is a close second. The two commentaries together will serve an expositor well. But if you can only get one technical commentary on Ephesians, get O'Brien.

This commentary on Ephesians is a mainstay in my research on this letter by Paul. I am reading and researching Ephesians for the purpose of writing my own commentary for eventual use in a sermon series, and use this book as well as others as a check on my own exegesis. It is highly readable, very insightful, and contains enough detail without being overly simplistic on one hand and overly academic on the other. This was one of the first commentaries I picked up and just read, and found that it read well, unlike some commentaries that are great reference books but just plain hard to read. O'Brien rigorously defends Pauline authorship of Ephesians, and falls squarely within the conservative evangelical camp. The book is technical, with solid exegesis and transliteration of Greek words in the body text with actual Greek in the notes. I would highly recommend this book on Ephesians along with Hoehner and Stott and Bruce. If you can only get one commentary on Ephesians, O'Brien is a good balance of technical and pastoral insight.

Over all this commentary is one of my favorites. (I'm a pastor who does exegetical sermons from the Greek text).

He interacts with many scholars on a variety of details without getting bogged down. It's easy to read yet gives substantive arguments that summarize well the opposing views as well as explaining his own view.

One issue I would take exception to is his exegesis in Ephesians 2:1 where he labels the phrase 'trespasses and sins' as a hendiadys. The term is probably simply a synonym use-not a hendiadys. I checked with a number of Greek experts who all concur that he is probably off on that point...not a biggie...but I did remember it for some reason.

One issue I really liked was his handling of Ephesians 5:18 ff. Some miss the linkage of the participles which follow 5:18...but O'Brien nails it. His explanations of the Household Table and it's header/title in 5:21 are more convincing than most I've read. I think coupled with FF Bruce on Ephesians and Stott for preaching/teaching phraseology this commentary ranks right up there as a top notch..ya gotta have it...commentary for the 'prince of epistles'. I highly recommend it and still use this book.

The binding on my copy was pretty cheap. The book started falling apart the first time I opened it...and I am seeking another copy. Hope that was just a fluke.

If you are a pastor or bible teacher who works through Ephesians I think you will find yourself referring to this book over and over. Buy it if you have the funds...you won't be sorry if you are a serious student of Ephesians.

I have a number of books pertaining to machine quilting, including the McTavishing book. That one is good, but this one is better. The ideas and instructions are superior. I've already put some of it to use and the improvement in my free-motion is very satisfying.

This is so much more than patterns. It gives you ideas on how to look at your quilt and then decide what to do. The hints it gives you on how to make your free motion work is well worth the price.

Looking for a book that goes into detail of free motion quilting after you already have the basics down? Then this is the book for you. Builds up skills and gives detailed instructions on how to design the quilt and map out designs. Step by step on how to practice the patterns so no marking is needed. Love this book!

This is one of the best books (and I have dozens)I have purchased regarding quilting the quilts. Actually, only one other author impressed me as much, and that was Karen McTavish. Great pictures, easy and fun to read. Read the whole thing twice and will again as soon as I get time. Have a pen and pad ready to draw. Great fun! Hope Christine is writing more books real soon!

This book is a supreme example of the old adage "don't judge a book by it's cover." I found the cover quilt extremely boring to the point I couldn't imagine why in the world the book had so many good reviews. When I got the book I didn't even like the quilting design on the cover. I didn't like and wouldn't make any of the quilts in the book, either. They were way too basic for me. However, forget all that! The bland quilts in the book were just a quick way for the author to show her quilting designs, and I get it! The free-flowing designs are wonderful, and doable by all! There is no marking involved, no stencils, nothing to stop you! I suspect long-armers have known how to do designs like this for many years, but they just haven't been available to domestic machine quilters. I am grateful that I bought this book, and I think both beginning, intermediate, and advanced domestic machine quilters will love it.