F Books

Reading The Hard Truth is like taking a cool shower. Its' two most powerful messages are that salespeople don't have to sell the way the gurus say to sell and that how you chose to sell doesn't have anything to say about how ethical you are. The authors say that is question about honor, not selling style.

This book needs to be read by everyone in sales trying to resist being forced into a mold. It might make you mad. Parts of the Hard Truth will sting sales big shots telling everybody else what to do. Salespeople will laugh out loud because every salesperson who has ever been made to sit through training classes taught by the likes of big headed frauds like Rev. Dr. Reginald David Barfkon will instantly connect with the Hard Truth About Soft Selling. The chapter called the final irony at the end whacked me with something I never realized. Their revelation about soft selling and the big guns that sell it packed a jolt that opened my eyes forever. I will never listen in the same gullible way again to so called sales experts telling me what I have to do to succeed in sales. If you are in sales you need to read this book and get your sales life back.

The Hard Truth About Soft-Selling is phenomenal. The research is so thorough; the message is clear; and (if you'll forgive my wording) it creates a paradigm shift in thinking. Also, I got such a kick out of reading it - it was dripping with unique humor, metaphors and writing style, which made me read it more slowly to savor the experience. I loved how the authors backed up statements with so many quotations from soft-sell gurus. What's more, "the hard truth" about soft-selling will surprise you.

Every salesperson and sales manager should read this book regardless of their sales processes - it will change thinking and provide clear vision for better decisions. It could, in fact, change our industry in very positive and flexible ways.

This book is about so much more than selling. The authors use a funny, irreverent style, and story after story to illustrate their points about what makes selling so hard, but good salespeople so valuable. Dr. Tanner is an academic but, other than the lapidary research statistics included in the book as fodder for the authors' claims, the writing style and examples are anything but academic. As a CRM consultant, I'm often vexed by the time spent de-constructing why companies can't compete. This book emphasizes the people issues, and takes on the well-worn sales shibboleths that have ultimately impeded so many corporate strategies. Kudos to Tanner and Dudley for getting it right, and being so original in the process.

Internationally noted behavioral scientist George Dudley and Associate Dean of Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business present The Hard Truth About Soft-Selling: Restoring Pride & Purpose to the Sales Profession, a discussion of the latest trend in "soft-selling", and how modern salespeople are often told they must present themselves as "advisors" or "consultants" while remaining accountable for closed sales same as always. Chapters discuss the lexicon of soft-selling; the many types of selling styles; sales training across cultures; how to sell with "radical honesty"; and much more. Written in terms easily accessible to novice and veteran salespeople alike, The Hard Truth About Soft-Selling is a must for any salesperson striving to stay on the cutting edge of their career path.

The most popular kind of packaged training program bought in corporate America is for sales people. There's a dirty secret though: Those sales training programs are more likely to hurt sales performance than improve it. If you buy such training programs, sit through them or have to deal with their aftermath as sales droop, you owe it to yourself to read The Hard Truth about Soft-Selling.

What is soft selling? The authors lump together a broad variety of styles that have in common " . . . a client-centered approach to sales in which the primary role of the seller is to create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation which enables the consumer to reach an informed buying decision free from pressure or manipulation." Anyone who has ever been made acutely uncomfortable by an aggressive, hard-sell sales person probably wishes that such people could be banned. Since we've all had that experience, that's probably one of the sources of the search for a kinder, gentler side to selling.

But that search hasn't yet paid off, as this book documents. That's the bottom line for this book.

If you are pressed for time, I suggest you begin reading on page 154 and continue through page 161. Everything you need to know is there. If you want more detail on any point, you can use the excellent index and thorough list of references to answer your questions.

I've met hundreds of trainers and people who design training course. Within those groups, rarely have I found anyone who is interested in using experimental techniques to identify best practices, improve on those practices and help people learn how to master better methods. Instead, these are people who feel good with the material they are presenting and evangelize based on faith in the "logic" or "ethics" of their approach. The people who buy training courses usually buy on the same basis. They don't bother to check out the track record of a course . . . but rather look to the feel good qualities and techniques for keeping people awake.

Few new methods can be learned and employed successfully with less than 30 days of continual reinforcement. The typical sales training course is less than a week. That's the good news. People don't learn too many bad habits through adopting soft selling. But apparently, they do learn to be less aggressive . . . and that's what hurts sales after sales training.

The authors also point out that many sales people are demoralized. They know their profession has low public esteem. They are also afraid of offending people. So when asked to change, they assume that they should . . . in the absence of any compelling evidence that this will improve matters.

Beginning on page 156 the authors propose practical ways that sales people can improve their performance. It's good advice. I recommend you follow their suggestions whether you are a sales person or a sales manager. Beginning on page 159 there's good advice on how to find a potentially beneficial sales training program and books that will teach helpful skills. I was particularly pleased to see that this book comes down hard on unethical selling . . . regardless of the style in which the bad behavior is couched.

To me, the most amusing part of the book comes where the authors point out that most soft-sell authors, writers of sales training programs and sales people for soft-selling training use hard-sell techniques.

These days almost every job has some elements of sales in it. I was intrigued by the research reported about bad selling habits that soft-selling approaches can encourage: becoming reluctant to canvass for leads; investing time in "upgrading" presentations rather than going to meet with prospects; over preparation for meetings; and becoming rigid in how sales calls and contacts are handled. In over thirty years of supervising people who have performed in various sales roles for me, I've seen all those bad habits in action. The only thing those with these bad habits have had in common is that anyone with these habits never amounted to a hill of beans as a sales person. I've also found that I could never persuade a sales person with one of those bad habits to change to better habits. My best sales people have always been the most uninhibited, friendly people who enjoyed meeting others and firmly believed that we wouldn't sell anybody anything unless it would do the person a lot of good.

This is one of those books that can be identified as the book of books on Harley-Davidson. If you own a Harley, this book is a MUST HAVE. If you don't have a Harley, you will want to get one after reading this bok and after looking at all the terrific pictures. It is a two volume set, now out of publish. To find this may be hard, but check for this with Amazon's serach for books that are out of print. Because this book is two volumes and is coffee table size, it can be read, looked at and studied by many. This is the Bible of Harley. Without a question, if anyone picks this book up with the interst of bikes they will love it. FIVE STARS AL THE WAY!

The Author of this two book set succeeds in something that all Harley-Davidson riders have, at one time or another, tried to do. Explain why we have this love affair with 650+ pounds of oil, steel and Milwaukee Thunder, and a lifestyle of unspoken Brotherhood. Words in themselves would not be enough, but the pictures therein speak volumes to us who, "Live to Ride - Ride to Live. I am sure that they will speak the same to you too.

bought it at borders for 25 buck

This two volume set has lots of history, lots of information, and fantastic color photographs of Harleys, Harley riders, and the Harley culture. A great gift for the Harley rider in your life and a great gift for yourself. How often can you get such terrific Harley stuff for so little cost :-)!!

I was introduced to this book by a friend who bought it as a gift for a family member. I asked to borrow it, and to my amazement I could not believe all the information and history the book contained. I immediately started searching the web for a copy. This book is a "keeper" for anyone who owns or has an interest in a Harley! I cant wait to see what Dieter & Oluf write about Harleys next!

As the owner of many of Bob Dorr's books, I have come to expect that anything he produces will be well-researched, well-presented, and very well-written. "Hell Hawks!" is right up there not only with Dorr's other works but with the best in Be There combat writing. Here's an example: "The German pilot ran flat-out low...threading the needle between a church steeple and tall brick smokestack. Narrow streets raced under the wings of Kraman's P-47 as he engaged the throttle button triggering emergency water injection. His Pratt & Whitney surged as Kraman squeezed off short bursts at his quarry, the enemy banking abruptly left and right to throw off the American's aim. Across the Rhine, farther into Germany, the pair raced east..."

Dorr and co-author Thomas D. Jones (USAF Academy grad, ex-B-52 driver, veteran of four NASA space shuttle flights) also rightly recognize the guys who weren't strapping into the 365th Fighter Group's P-47s: "The men with stripes on their arms didn't pilot Jugs, but they made warfare in the Jug possible." We tend to forget that the aircraft of WW II, after all, were just 15 years removed from Lindbergh's Ryan NYP of 1927 but were very complex machines. The authors salute the men with the stripes well.

The results of close to 200 interviews of 365th FG veteans, other combat vets, family members, and more, plus four years of research, "Hell Hawks!" is loaded with the day-to-day details of fighting a tenaciously fierce enemy, demonstrating throughout the book that ground attack combat was a deadly way to earn your flight pay. The authors bring the personalities of the young pilots alive as well as provide a big picture of Allied strategy and the pace of war from D-Day to victory. This is an excellent book not only for military historians but for anyone who enjoys aviation writers at the top of their game. Splendid!

The "Hell Hawks" is an excellently written and accurate presentation depicting the role of the P-47 pilots from D-Day through the end of WW II. The combination of fascinating aerial accomplishments and statistics are woven together to present an extremely accurate and equally fascinating tale of the role these dedicated and daring pilots played in destroying the vaunted Nazi war machine. It is a "must read" for anyone interested in World War II as it puts the American dedication and sacfrice into perspective.

Although I am only halfway through this book I am really enjoying it. I deals with American P-47 fighter bombers in the European theater. I never realized before how much more dangerous air-to-ground combat is compared to air-to-air. Pretty exciting stuff and very well written. (P.S. I do not live in Rock Hill, SC. I live in Denton, TX)

A very enjoyable book concerning the 365th Fighter Group, IX Tac, 9th AF. The author does an excellent job of covering the unit's campaign throughout the ETO, blending both the "big picture" and personal experiences nicely. My only complaints are that the time line seemed to jump around quite a bit in places and a tendency to throw quite a few names at you in short order, so I found myself re-reading paragraphs to make sure I knew what was going on and who was doing what. But this was a very minor distraction from an overall excellent book that I would recommend highly to anyone interested in the bloody air-to-mud war conducted by the 9th AF... a war that has for far too long been hidden in the shadow cast by the "Mighty Eighth".

Hell Hawks! brings to life the air war in Europe, using daily missions of the 365th Fighter Group, 9th US Air Force. My dad flew a P-47 Thunderbolt with the 371st FG, and was lost on a mission over Cherbourg two weeks after the D-Day Normandy Landings. There are many books out that tell the story of our heroes on the beaches. We thirsted for one that describes the "band of brothers" who took part in the Liberation of Europe from the air. Now we have one! Anyone interested in a detailed history of one group that was so typical of all should have this tome!

The author has done a wonderful job conveying a complex set of issues in a user friendly manner. This killer disease is the subject of intense research and it was good to get an up to date perspective on the topic. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in being empowered on the subject.

This book let me finally understand where my doctor was coming from. I read the book three times, I found it so useful. Being able to understand both the potential dangers that lie ahead and how to avoid them has made me a stronger person as I confront this disease. I have read several other books on hepatitis C, and I liked this one the best. I really liked learning about the PEGYLATED Interferons as well as the safe use of alternative antioxidant treatments along with the ones my doctor is prescribing. This book seems really up to date. I am pumped about it.

A non-technical, easy to read approach. Short chapters cover the realm of topics and FAQ's. This may not be the only book you read if you want an in depth knowledge of the disease but it is excelent starter book. The information is current and timely. Timely information is important on this subject.

Excellent! Up-to-date information in understandable terms! The new edition of Hepatitis C, The Silent Epidemic gives basic explanations and also features recent breakthroughs in the use of PEG Interferon treatments. This paperback brings valuable and hopeful news!

This book reads like a conversation with a concerned, experienced and optimistic doctor! It describes Hepatitis C and its life threatening effects with the sincereintention of making the public "...aware of the potential danger lurking within thelivers of so many unsuspecting Americans..." For those of us who may already beinfected, it gives easy-to-use tables listing diagnostic tests, people who should be screened, treatment side effects, and more. In addition, there is understandableinformation about everything from the newest research to alcohol consumption, to nutrition, and even to "alternative medicine" discussion. If you have Hepatitis C,if you think you may have Hepatitis C, if you are thinking about getting a tattoo,this is the book you've been looking for!

This is a beautiful book by any standards, I think, and is supplied in a protective box. It is jam-packed with excellent colour images and informative text on high quality paper. I saw an older version of this book in a local shop and when I checked Amazon, found I could buy the uptodate version for far less money. I study interior design and I have found that History of Art is marvellous as a reference tool, or even for just browsing through when seeking inspiration for designs. So much work has been put into this book over many years and editions. It is amazing value for money! Be warned - it weighs a ton!

I am 300 pages into the book. Its rich and indepth. A fatantastic book so far.

I think its a pity though that the slipcase edition does not come with study CD rom which another version carries, as shown on the prentice hall website. I am sure the CD rom is well made too and would enhance the learning experience.

Also to note is that this is the last edition written by a Janson. The edition after this is written by a team of writers who reinterprets and adds on the Janson's work. I am sure there will be merits in doing so as well.

Hope everybody will enjoy the book as much as I do.

In the introduction to this edition, Anthony Janson (whose father, H.W. Janson, still has top billing for the volume) talks about the long tradition he and his father have had toward this volume and the larger work that carries the same name. It has been a standard in Western art education for decades, and the revisions periodically placed serve to bring new interpretations, perspectives and finds into the mix of history.

Prior to diving into the depths of art, Janson provides a primer - art history is a relatively new discipline, and often studied by historians and others with interest but relatively little training in artistic areas themselves. This book is about the visual arts (those of drama, music, etc. are not included here, but architecture is to some degree); Janson gives a brief survey of key concepts that are critical to understanding the mediums (artists, Janson states, prefer to use the plural of medium as mediums rather than media). Geometric and visual appreciation concepts are introduced, as are philosophical/aesthetic ideas.

The majority of the text is divided into four broad sections: The Ancient World, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance through the Rococo, and the Modern World. This is a book that really a survey or history of Western art - it does have a brief section at the beginning of the Ancient World on cave art and neolithic art in North America, but apart from this never wanders outside the main courses of Western art even in the modern period. As an introductory text, this is not surprising - many of the values and concepts of art in non-Western cultures require more explanation for adequate aesthetic appreciation of their art than an introductory survey course could cover. Still, it is a deficit worthy of note for those who are looking for a more comprehensive volume.

The Ancient World covers art of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent and Persia, Aegean/Greek art, Etruscan art, and Roman art. The section on the Middle Ages begins primarily with the rise of Christendom as the dominant political power - this includes Byzantine art, early Medieval art (Carolingian and Ottonian times), Romanesque, and the ascendancy of the Gothic style, including the great Abbey of St-Denis. The Renaissance focusses early on Italy, but also explores the Renaissance influences in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and England. The Modern Period is the most diverse, with movements such as Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau and other schools that had a greater tendency to cross national boundaries. The twentieth century brought about a great explosion of artistic expressions, in architecture, sculpture, painting and photography, each of which get a chapter. While the fourth section begins with a discussion of modernism, it ends with the discussion of post-modernism, a period of transition.

The colour reproductions throughout are stunning, and the use of black-and-white images to highlight details is also useful. Two-thirds of the 600 illustrations are in colour. The photographs showing architectural styles are interesting, far from being boring 'sample' shots. The text is engaging and informative, achieving a good balance between the artistic, the philosophical and the historical. There are maps, chronological tables, a glossary of terms, suggestions for further readings arranged topically, and a very useful index (always a plus for students and scholars).

This small review relates to an older edition of the work, and not to the revised and expanded one ( sixth edition) listed here. The Janson Art History textbook I know has a skillfully written text and many beautiful illustrations of the masterpieces of world - art. Janson was a first- rate historian who was in contact with the giants of the generation, Panofsky, Meir Schapiro, and others. The work itself is an overabundant one rich in detail and insights. As a reader I would have liked to take it all in so as seemingly to have in my mind a full - map of world history. I do not think I managed it all, but wherever I read I found much to learn and study.
I do not think anyone who wishes to begin to understand the history of the world's great Art can go wrong with this volume.

I purchased this book to prepare for an art certification exam. I used this test back in 1984 while earning an art degree. It traces the history of art from the Ancient World to the Modern Art. It has four sections stating the primary sources which serve as a self review. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text contains plenty of interesting facts and descriptions of the art and their meanings. I found the typeface size slightly small, but it is clear and precise. The book weighs seven lbs. and it has 1,032 pages. It is a hardback and it comes in its own hardcover pocket.

First of all, I agree with other reviewer's assertions that this is not a book for beginners. Without a basic understanding of foundational Buddhist thought and Buddhist cosmology, this book wouldn't make much sense. Vimalakirti is one of my favorite characters since he is a great example of how a lay person can achieve Buddhahood. He could enter gambling halls and other dens of iniquity, engage in business and family life, and still remain unsullied as he taught the Dharma. This book is one of the few readable texts about him. Although very well translated, it still retains some of the repetition and obscure references found in any ancient Buddhist work having a basis in an oral tradition. If you have an intermediate knowledge of Buddhism, this is an excellent work.

This and the Flower Ornament Scripture will keep you busy for awhile. Not easy or light reading by any means.

I agree with many of the other reviewers in this space. This sutra is quite simply my favorite Buddhist text, and Prof Thurman's translation is my favorite translation. I travel with this book because it is so compact and precise in describing the way of the Bodhisattva, the great vehicle of the Mahayana path. I have heard Prof Thurman read from his book, and his transmission is no small contribution to the progress of Buddhism in the West.

Several reviewers have mentioned the humor. I have fond memories of reading this text out loud to my fellow dharma students, and having a good laugh each time a disciple sheepishly declines Lord Buddha's invitation to go visit the ailing bodhisattva, Vilmalakirti. The replies of Vimalakirti, on the other hand, are the highest wisdom I know of in Buddhism, and reflecting on them is a great treasure.

The Vimalakirti-nirdesha Sutra, though almost certainly not spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha himself, is nontheless held in the highest esteem by all schools of the Mahayana. It belongs to the category of sutras which are, in all probability, fictional creations of Mahayana scholars, and not expounded by the Buddha. Despite this, the Vimalakirti Scripture is still given the title of a sutra. For the doctrine it expounds is in perfect conformity with the highest teachings of the Buddha, and, more than any other sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra shows the perfection of the bodhisattva ideal for laymen and women. Robert A.F. Thurman's translation of this masterpiece is close to perfect. Working from a Tantric perspective (being himself a Vajrayana Buddhist), Thurman details, in his notes and introduction, the clear relation between Buddhist Tantrism and the Vimalakirti sutra, which can lead one to the conclusion that its composition was largely influenced by the esoteric teachings of the Tantras. Yet, the teachings of the Vimalakirti Sutra are in no way exclusive to students of the Vajrayana, or of Tibetan Buddhism in general. This scripture has historically been of tremendous influence on Chinese Buddhism, and is the subject of some of the greatest works of Chinese Buddhist Art. It is also held in the highest esteem by Zen Buddhism for its emphasis on the practice of the layman amongst the cares of the world. Indeed, it is one of the few canonical scriptures that are of particular value to Zen. The scripture tells the story of the layman Vimalakirti (almost certainly a fictional character), a bodhisattva of the highest order, on par with such figures as Manjushri, who, in order to develop living beings, lives as a layman in the crowded metropolis of Vaishali, participating in business and government and teaching the dharma in accordance with conditions. On this occasion, Vimalakirti manifests himself as being sick, in order to develop beings who come to inquire after his health. The Buddha, desiring to know how Vimalakirti is doing, requests several students and bodhisattvas to go and visit him, all of whom decline, however, saying that their skill in the dharma cannot be matched with Vimalakirti. Finally, Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, goes to the house of Vimalakirti along with a retinue of several hundred disciples. The vast majority of the scripture is composed of the dialogues that occur between Vimalakirti and Manjushri, as well as with the disciples and bodhisattvas. Finally, the entire retinue (Vimalakirti included) return to the Buddha, who delivers a final section to the discourse. Many famous incidents in Buddhist lore occur in this sutra: the exchange between Shariputra and the Goddess, the chapter concerning the Dharma Gate of Nonduality, Vimalakirti's explanation of the cause of his sickness, etc. To any Buddhist practitioner, particularly those of Vajrayana Buddhism and Zen, this sutra is of the utmost importance. The only two major translations available in English are those of Thurman and Burton Watson. Thurman's translation, however, is the better of the two, rendering in clear, poetic English the difficult doctrines of the Mahayana. His notes provide excellent insight into the historical relations of the Sutra, and its importance to Tibetan Buddhism, as well as to Chinese Buddhism. Highly, highly recommended.

This is the Vimilikirtisastra, a Mahayana treatise that deals with nonduality. What this means is that the construct of the Therevada (or Hinayana-- meaning devotional Buddhism) is replaced by something other-- larger-- (from Sanskrit little vehicle to larger vehicle).

What does this mean to you? You have a book here in which all of the paired items (good/bad, monk/layperson, holy/inholy) start to be broken down. Buddhism becomes 'purer' through being less pure, more people are offered the ability to have salvation...

More than that, this is a fun read that can be gone through multiple times-- which will be necessary if you want to fully grasp all that this book says. It will alter your conception of what the Dharma is, or introduce you to one if you're just beginning to learn about it.

I would suggest, though, that you have some background in the Therevada stuff before you start-- otherwise this book would kind of be pointless: excepting that parts of it are amusing. Prof. Thurman has a knack for translation...

The Dragon DelaSangre series reached a great peak with this story. Here's hoping Alan F. Troop delivers more in this series.

Yet again he does it, Peter beats the odds but yet at more then one point I wasn't sure. And yet again Troop also creates another great book.

Of the four books in the series, I feel that this one is the best. Troop manages to give it a mobster movie feel while maintaining the traditional fantasy edge. This series just keeps getting better. I certainly hope that Troop continues to write about our favorite dragon. I will certainly be there to plop down my money for any future books! This is one of the most orginal treatments of dragons I have ever encountered. Even the secondary characters are developed so strongly that you feel like you know them. A wonderful read.

Another great book by Alan Troop. I love reading his books about dragons.

This is a good book. It really follows up were the last book left off. Eventhough it starts out slower than the Seadragon, it really gets going towards the middle of the book. Would have liked a little more interaction between Aric and Peter.

Why didn't my mother tell me all this? I believe that reading this book should be required along with every marriage license, lease and mortgage agreement. This book is a natural for a bridal shower gift, or anyone just setting up housekeeping. I'm giving it to everyone on my gift list for Christmas!

A friend gave me this book as a housewarming present and I thought she was nuts because I've had my own home for 30 years. What could I possibly learn from a book about keeping house? As it turns out, plenty! I cannot believe how many hints, ideas and shortcuts I've used from the book -- on taking care of my house, clothes, car, pets. Mine is by my bedside, so I can read a little passage on how to get wax out of carpeting or iron a shirt efficiently before I go to bed. Lest you think I'm a cleaning fanatic, I am not. My house is littered with papers and junk because I work full-time. What this book has done is show me how to use shortcuts and techniques that make keeping things under control easier and less tedious. I salute Janet Sobesky and the publishers. If the whole series is as useful as this book, I'm buying them all.

A friend gave me this book as a housewarming present and I thought she was nuts because I've had my own home for 30 years. What could I possibly learn from a book about keeping house? As it turns out, plenty! I cannot believe how many hints, ideas and shortcuts I've used from the book -- on taking care of my house, clothes, car, pets. Mine is by my bedside, so I can read a little passage on how to get wax out of carpeting or iron a shirt efficiently before I go to bed. Lest you think I'm a cleaning fanatic, I am not. My house is littered with papers and junk because I work full-time. What this book has done is show me how to use shortcuts and techniques that make keeping things under control easier and less tedious. I salute Janet Sobesky and the publishers. If the whole series is as useful as this book, I'm buying them all.

This book is a "wonderment." And a "wonderment" is a thing of wonder. Don't bypass this book if you are anal. Anals have super clean houses and are frequently
nurses. They start sniffing the air for dirt as soon as you walk in. The author calls
them "clean-o-holics." This is such a great book. It's like being at Disneyland.
We first go to section 1 (there are six sections). Here we may be in for some disappointments. The author won't say it. But she really hypothesizes that you
can't have (this is hard to grasp) a user-friendly house or dwelling unless you have
a minimum of some time-management or organizational skills. Now she doesn't
write separate books on time-management or organization, but she does give the
bare minimum of these skills. That includes calendars and "to-do" lists. She does
say that you can go right to the other sections to learn. But the implications are
what I just stated. Sections two through four give us all the stuff that we need.
The messy bathroom. The messy kitchen. And so on. This takes up a lot of room
in the book. About 180 pages of this 350-page book. Section 4 is about "troubleshooting." The stuck door, bugs, the plunger. Section 5 is about safety.
Burglars, bad food, accidents. Section 6 is "The Part of Tens." Basically everything
that we didn't cover in the previous five sections. One of the points that I am trying to make is that this book is even good for the "clean-o-holic." Because they can find out how much they don't need to do. Thank you. I hope that I have helped

This book is great for the kids going off to live on their own (either school, marriage or moving in with boy/girlfriend, or just leaving home) My mom just passed away so its up to me to keep the house tidy and I dont have the advisor I used to have so this book is great!!! Hints on everything from cleaning the right/easier/faster way to keeping home clutter free, getting kids to help out and even tips on little household jobs and keeping bugs away. Book has lots of hints and easy to see icons alerting u of dangers or more tips.

I'm a roadgeek and figured I would like Erik's book. But it greatly exceeded my expectations. It is well organized, full of detail, and has terrific photography. The history of how roads came to be what they are adds an interesting dimension. Erik even discusses facets of road construction which I had never considered, such as lighting. Overall, what could have been a dry subject is coverered in a fascinating manner.

Wonderful book: totally comprehensive with incredible pictures and maps. A must buy for anybody interested in the history of Houston or in freeway design. Put it on your coffee table and amaze your friends: "So that's why that road is like that." "Wow, look how much this part of town has changed!" "So that's what a Texas T-ramp looks like." (ok, so maybe not that last one...)

Words cannot describe how intelligent, classy, and thought-provoking this book actually is. Of course, one should not expect anything less from Slotboom, a detail-oriented perfectionist.

Tremendous use of fascinating photos and maps makes this book a pleasurable read. This book will captivate the engineer and mesmerize even the most casual of highway buffs.

This book will not disappoint. The only negative point I can make about this book is that it is impossible to read a small number of pages; I set out to read 20 pages and, instead, ended up reading the entire book in one sitting.

Easily rates a 5/5.

This is the best book I've seen about the history of roads and highways in Houston I've seen. It's got a ton of full-color photography, historic photos, and is a well-written book. I'd been waiting on thia book for over a year, and when I found out that it was finished, I went straight to the bookstore (only in stores in Houston and Austin, I think: go to http://www.houstonfreeways.com to be sure) and bought it. If you're a roadgeek, or just want to know about how Houston grew, this book is well worth it.

I moved to Houston in Summer 2003 and wanted to know more about the when/where/why of Houston's freeways. I found the web site for the book, and when I got the book it answered all of my questions and then some.

Being a history buff I loved all of the historical photos, and when I drive these days I love looking around at the development and then remembering the pics I saw in this book. Amazing.

If you want to know why I-10 West outside the 610 Loop is a disaster and inside the loop is fine, Slotboom knows the answer. Every time I go to Ikea I think about those decisions made decades ago and how they impact me/us every day.

If you like history and/or are a freeway buff, this book will not disappoint.

'How I Got This Way' is a great book. My friend got me hooked on Pat McManus when she had me read 'Deer Magic', and now I can't stop reading. She gave me a couple of books from Amazon for my birthday, and I have to say that they're great. Even though I'm not an outdoor-type (I do enjoy fishing, though), I love the humor. McManus is a great author, and I can't read a single story without cracking a smile or laughing my head off, though I think I like 'How I Got This Way' the most. Enjoy!

McManus is a delight to read. His humor is easy to digest and transfers you away from the trials of today's world into his wonderful world of FUN!

- A real fan . . . ed

I have read all but one of Patrick McManus's books and love them all. This one is just as funny as the others. The things he writes about remind me of stories my own father would tell me about his misadventures growing up. If you love hunting, fishing, camping, and/or the outdoors in general, you'll like this book. OK, even if you hate the outdoors, you will still find this book funny.

I have always thought that Patrick McManus is the funniest writer on the planet. I read his stories when I need to laugh or relax. Sometimes I irritate my wife by reading it in bed. I try not to laugh out loud, but I only succeed in sounding like I am trying to muffle continuous sneezes.

However, not everyone gets it. I have been shocked by watching people read McManus without so much as a smile (though most start snorting like wild pigs on acid) . My only guess is that getting McManus requires a couple things. First, it requires some understanding of his experiences. He absolutely nails all of the stupid things 'outdoors men (outdoors people)' do and think, but don't want anybody to know about. Second, you have to see the self-deprecating aspect of his humor. Third, you can't look for great literature in integrated books. Patrick McManus is an excellent writer, if you see these as independent stories simply collected in a volume. They are meant for adults who want to laugh at themselves. So, If you are willing to or already meet the above three criteria, you will love this book.

By the way, I am a professor of clinical psychology and (other than worrying a little about McManus) I sometimes recommend this and other McManus books. I do this with people who have racing thoughts and anxiety at bedtime, and when I believe they have the necessary experiences to find it funny. It often works quite well. I think of his stories as little pieces of happiness. (Oh, that even makes me sick to hear. Sorry)

No matter if you are the outdoors type or not this book is funny. Out of all all his books this one is best since he tells of the characters of his youth, plus a little embellishments. Also makes fun of himself most of the time which he is supremely talented at. WOuld also recomend the audio version which gives a touch of humorous sound to the funny words.