O Books

I first lend this book from collage developer an have read with great enthusiasms and finally ordered my own copy of this book.
The book gives detailed information on how to developing software from scratch, taken you by hand and leading you de hole way step by step.
With the different way to present the information en with lot of illustrations its newer a boring read.

Anders Kjaer

[...]

I've been eyeballing the Head First books for a while, specifically the Java and Object-Oriented Analysis & Design. I don't program in Java and I think I understand OOP very well. Because of this, the Head First structure looks to offer a bit less structure - so a good "read as you can" book.

I got this title in a raffle. I'm glad I did. It whetted my appetite for more Head First. Not so much for the content (Which I will review further down) but because it's almost like reading a comic book. Easy, entertaining and something my busy dizzy mind could readily grasp in small chunks. I will probably get another Head First book in the future. Probably more than one.

As for the content of this book, it was well laid out and for someone new to the concepts of formal software design, it was nice to see all the little pieces come together. I did have a hard time with the Java specific environment, but I guess it would be a much larger book if they covered other systems. The steps were clear, some of them a smidge corny, but most of them logical.

After having read this, I was inspired to put it to use. That's when it hit me. I can't see this working unless the entire development group reads the book - or they were all newbies. Well I can see it, just not in the places I've worked.

The way this book is writen is just fantastic. Wonderful book to LEARN how to develop GOOD software.

Head First Software Development is another home run from the Head First series. I have bougth the HTML/CSS, Design Patterns, Object-Oriented Analysis & Design, and now this book. These "Brain-Friendly Guides" are such wonderful learning tools packed with great information, and so much fun to read. Keep them coming!

Although I was initially put off by the non-serious cover and gimmicky premise, I decided to trust to O'Reilly and give this book a try. That turned out to be a great decision!

Be forewarned that the real title should be "Head First AGILE Software Development," so don't expect other methodologies, but it definitely delivers. Whether you're just beginning to take the plunge into agile development, or you've been sort of trying to do it for a while but don't have a real clear picture of your goal, this is a great book for you.

However, if you've been developing agilely for a while, then what you'll find here isn't much more than a refresher course or reminder of how you should be doing things.

Thoreau's journals ran to two million words and contained survey information and other matter most readers would not find interesting. This smartly edited collection spans Thoreau's writing career and reveals him as he truly was, in dialog with himself and the world.

It has become a cheap fad in some quarters to criticize Thoreau as a would-be outdoorsman when in reality he lived at Walden Pond on his friend Emerson's land and visited Concord almost daily. But Thoreau never claimed to be a John Muir. As this collection makes clear, his talent had to do with focusing on the ordinary but neglected. His mood is one of almost constant celebration of natural images and forces he did not see (as we tend to do) as necessarily in conflict with urban human life. As he says about seeing the beauty in people and things, "If I seek her elsewhere because I do not find her at home, my search will prove a fruitless one."

There is, of course, the less admirable Thoreau. He was prone to moralizing and offering suggestions of the "let a man do such-and-such" variety about how to live one's life. His comments about women generally do him very little credit, and they also explain the lack of an enduring feminine presence in his life. Fortunately, those thoughts are brief and few. Thoreau the activist and lover of freedom is here too, and Thoreau the social critic: "The council of nations may reconsider their votes; the grating of a pebble annuls them."

An entire life cannot be summed up, but this journal entry hints at the shape of his own: "It is not words that I wish to hear or to utter, but relations that I seek to stand in..."

How could this man have read every thought of mine over 100 years before my birth?! Timeless truth in all of his writings...not just this one. This is a most intimate example being his personal journal. Every word, every well thought out phrase speaks to my heart and idea of what truth should look and sound like. It should make you catch your breath and Thoreau absolutely accomplishes this for me.

We all know Walden and some of the other famous essays but the journals are sometimes hard to get through. This book of excerpts provides some of the gems from the journals and shows Thoreau in a new way.

The Heart Of Thoreau's Journals provides readers with an intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of American literature's premier individualist. Consolidated into 218 concise pages by Odell Shepard from the 39 volumes Thoreau left behind upon his death at 45 in 1862, the journals reveal Thoreau as an irreverent and shrewd observer of the human character who was happily fated with the gift of forever seeing the king riding proudly in public without clothes ("The mass never comes up the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to the level with the lowest," "After all, the field of battle possesses many advantages over the drawing - room. There is at least no room for pretension or excessive ceremony, no shaking of hands or rubbing of noses, which makes one doubt your sincerity, but hearty as well as hard hand - play. It at least exhibits one of the faces of humanity, the former only a mask," "This lament for a golden age is only a lament for golden men").

Requiring solitude in the manner most require food and shelter, the philosophical, ascetic Thoreau lived most of his life in isolation ("The poet must keep himself unstained and aloof") as an ardent lover and keen observer of the natural world ("All of nature is my bride," "My profession is to be always on the alert to find God in nature, to know his lurking - places, to attend all the oratorios, the operas, in nature"). A comedic misanthrope ("I have lived some thirty - odd years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors," "The society of young women is the most unprofitable I have ever tried"), Thoreau also wrote with sympathy, understanding, and concern about the townspeople whose company he preferred not to keep. Even his plain - spoken contempt for the boorish, the smug, the pretentious and the assertively conformist ("What men call social virtues, good fellowship, is commonly but the virtue of pigs in a litter, which lie close together to keep each other warm") was often tempered with humanity and matter - of - fact acceptance for the inevitable variations of man's psychology. The simple, the genuine, the uncomplicated and the sincere came in for high marks in Thoreau's estimation of people, places, and things.

A Harvard graduate who was born and spent most of his life in New England, bachelor Thoreau set the standard and defined the blueprint for all introverted American artists and thinkers to come. Though Thoreau wrote incessantly and found work as a lecturer, schoolteacher, editor, and tutor at different periods of his life, he typically worked as a gardener, handyman or land surveyor, and spent a particularly frustrating period working in his father's pencil factory. Though he knew himself to be misunderstood by most, Thoreau was uncomplaining ("Ah! How I have thriven on solitude and poverty! I cannot overstate this advantage"), confident, ultimately self - satisfied, and generally unconcerned with what, if anything, future generations would make of him. The respect, acknowledgement, and honor of society meant far less to him than his day - to - day, moment - to - moment freedom to continue to enjoy his perceptions, sensations, and ideas, which he rightfully understood to be his life's work and birthright.

As one of the founders of Transcendentalism, the idealistic Thoreau was a dryly passionate believer in man's capacity to overcome mundane (and often self - imposed) obstacles, identify and focus his attention on the eternal fundamentals of life, and enjoy personal communion with God by utilizing nature as a lens. The journals abound with declarative passages which readers have found enlightening, guiding, and inspirational for generations ("Despair and postponement are cowardice and defeat. Men were born to succeed, and not to fail," "We forever and ever and habitually underrate our fate...ninety - nine and one - hundredths of our lives we are mere hedgers and ditchers, but from time to time we meet with reminders of our destiny"). Thoreau's journals, along with key American text and masterpiece Walden, represent the cream of his work.

I found this book on the shelf at my school's library after I had read a selection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's in which he praised Thoreau for being a particularly clear-seeing individual. I had never read Thoreau and did not know who he was, but this book immediately became my most valued possession after my own journal.

The editor did a wonderful job of selecting from Thoreau's many (often tedious) writings those that offer most in the way of communicating what he felt about life, love, society, government, death, religion, nature, science, beauty and self. The writing is in many ways flawless. Along with Emerson and Whitman, Thoreau embodied the spirit of American Transcendentalism, the philosphy under which one aspired to realize a word beyong the physical and social world. "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" is the best evidence that Henry David Thoreau realized such a world and lived contently in it many of the days of his life.

This book is probably the best possible choice for anyone looking to read or know Thoreau. It is necessarily as honest as any other work. And unlike "Walden" or other commercially-produced works, it lacks the endless musings and explanations of ideas and events for the audience's information. It is only the bare naked thoughts and feelings of the author. I would suggest it as preliminary reading for anyone who wants to read his other books. It will give you the foundation of an appreciation for Thoreau that puts all other work in proper perspective.

This book is very fun and imformative. It gives us information, but in a fun way...I recomend this book to anyone under the age of 13, and who enjoys history...if you get this book in school, dont be scared it is fun!

I love the writing in this series, it's such a pleasure to read, I wonder why are so many other textbooks so boring?

I'd love to give it five stars, except that there are recurring themes I find grating - some of her "fan club for the US government" stuff is just in totally inappropriate places. For instance, "American slavery was a horror. We should never pretend it was anything else. But the American system of government lets us correct mistakes. When you study history you see we usually do. Of that we can be proud." Gag me with a spoon, slavery was not abolished until more than 240 years after the first slave was delivered in 1619! Hakim does such a great job of fairly telling the story, why ruin it?

Another place I found disappointing was the perpetuation of the myth that the first settlers at Plymouth were called "Pilgrims" and that the Europeans started Thanksgiving. She has a box on Thanksgiving saying the story of the first Thanksgiving is a "real turkey", lists some other European Thanksgiving celebrations, and then neglects to mention that the Indians had been conducting Thanksgiving celebrations at harvest time for generations. I'd love to see someone do such a great job TELLING the story, who could also not perpetuate those irritating little false stories that schoolchildren are always taught.

Gosh, this doesn't sound like the positive review I inteded, but I see others have already told the good stuff. It's wonderfully well written!

I just borrowed this book from the library and now plan to buy the whole set. As a home schooling parent, I am always struggling to find quality materials and this series is just that. Hakim's books are easy to read and comprehend. Most importantly, they give a realistic view of history, not the politically correct one so often taught.

As I teach my children U.S. history, I want them to know that, yes, the white people were sometimes violent and unfair to the Native Americans, but some Native Americans were that way too. Before the Europeans came, they kidnapped and killed each other. I want my kids to know the whole truth and these books are very fair. No matter what the race, some people are good and some are not.

I highly recommend these books for teaching history to children and even adults.

"Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740" is the second volume in Joy Hakim's "A History of US." The first volume covered how the first Americans crossed over from Asia to become Indians and the first Europeans, mainly the Spanish but also the French and English, began settling the New World. This volume focuses on the narrow string of settlements established by the English that became the thirteen colonies whose people began moving westward and who also started to question the relationship they had with England (there is a small amount of overlap between this and the next volume, which covers period of American history from 1735-1791).

Hakim begins with a preface that looks at the vast mixture of ideas that were brought over from the Mediterranean world and took root in the Americas. Along with the first chapter, which talks about the comet that appeared in 1607 as a portent of great changes for the world, this preface sets up several key themes that will be revisited throughout this and future volumes. "Making Thirteen Colonies" has 42 chapters and it the book is divided into five main sections. The first (chapters 2-12) tells how English settlers came to stay by establishing the first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. The second (chapters 13-23) looks primarily at the Puritans arriving in New England, although Hakim also touches on what was happening between the Indians and the Spanish in the southwest. The third section (chapters 24-30) tells about the mid-Atlantic colonies, most notably New Amsterdam/York and Pennsylvania. The fourth section (chapter 31-39) returns to the South, looking at not only Ole Virginny but also the two Carolinas and Georgia. This unit also looks at the Triangle Trade and other considerations that united the four southern and nine northern colonies. The final section (chapters 40-42) is a transitional unit, that looks at how the colonists began to move westward and the stage was set for the period of history that would make those thirteen colonies into a new nation.

One of the great advantages to writing a ten-volume history of the United States is that unlike most standard American history textbooks "A History of US" is able to clearly establish the unique identities of each of those original thirteen colonies. I recently finished reading an excellent series of books, each of which was devoted to an individual colony, and Hakim ends up being closer to those volumes than she does the standard textbook. Consequently, in addition to the traditional stories about Pocahontas and John Smith in Jamestown, William Penn and the Quakers of Pennsylvania, the Salem witch trials, Ben Franklin as the quintessential American, and Daniel Boone finding routes through the mountains, Hakim establishes an individual identity for each colony.

However, the main strength of this series is how Hakim engages young readers, the same way you would expect a "real" teacher to do in a "real" classroom. This shows up primarily in her ability to anticipate and answer questions that students might have (e.g., why the Indians were not enslaved). I can easily see why this series is popular with parents who are home schooling their children. The book is richly illustrated with dozens and dozens of historic paintings, etchings, drawings, maps, engravings, and assorted reproductions. The margins are crammed with interesting facts, definitions, and quotations, and features on topics such as Land Green and Africa: The Unknown Continent are sprinkled throughout the book. The After Words this time around are devoted to cartography and has some superb examples of 16h- and 17th-century maps. It is easily to see why this series has impressed so many people and why Hakim is able to get such good responses from young students who are used to getting their information from computers and the Internet.

"Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740" is the second volume in Joy Hakim's "A History of US." The first volume covered how the first Americans crossed over from Asia to become Indians and the first Europeans, mainly the Spanish but also the French and English, began settling the New World. This volume focuses on the narrow string of settlements established by the English that became the thirteen colonies whose people began moving westward and who also started to question the relationship they had with England (there is a small amount of overlap between this and the next volume, which covers period of American history from 1735-1791).

Hakim begins with a preface that looks at the vast mixture of ideas that were brought over from the Mediterranean world and took root in the Americas. Along with the first chapter, which talks about the comet that appeared in 1607 as a portent of great changes for the world, this preface sets up several key themes that will be revisited throughout this and future volumes. "Making Thirteen Colonies" has 42 chapters and it the book is divided into five main sections. The first (chapters 2-12) tells how English settlers came to stay by establishing the first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. The second (chapters 13-23) looks primarily at the Puritans arriving in New England, although Hakim also touches on what was happening between the Indians and the Spanish in the southwest. The third section (chapters 24-30) tells about the mid-Atlantic colonies, most notably New Amsterdam/York and Pennsylvania. The fourth section (chapter 31-39) returns to the South, looking at not only Ole Virginny but also the two Carolinas and Georgia. This unit also looks at the Triangle Trade and other considerations that united the four southern and nine northern colonies. The final section (chapters 40-42) is a transitional unit, that looks at how the colonists began to move westward and the stage was set for the period of history that would make those thirteen colonies into a new nation.

One of the great advantages to writing a ten-volume history of the United States is that unlike most standard American history textbooks "A History of US" is able to clearly establish the unique identities of each of those original thirteen colonies. I recently finished reading an excellent series of books, each of which was devoted to an individual colony, and Hakim ends up being closer to those volumes than she does the standard textbook. Consequently, in addition to the traditional stories about Pocahontas and John Smith in Jamestown, William Penn and the Quakers of Pennsylvania, the Salem witch trials, Ben Franklin as the quintessential American, and Daniel Boone finding routes through the mountains, Hakim establishes an individual identity for each colony.

However, the main strength of this series is how Hakim engages young readers, the same way you would expect a "real" teacher to do in a "real" classroom. This shows up primarily in her ability to anticipate and answer questions that students might have (e.g., why the Indians were not enslaved). I can easily see why this series is popular with parents who are home schooling their children. The book is richly illustrated with dozens and dozens of historic paintings, etchings, drawings, maps, engravings, and assorted reproductions. The margins are crammed with interesting facts, definitions, and quotations, and features on topics such as Land Green and Africa: The Unknown Continent are sprinkled throughout the book. The After Words this time around are devoted to cartography and has some superb examples of 16th- and 17th-century maps. It is easily to see why this series has impressed so many people and why Hakim is able to get such good responses from young students who are used to getting their information from computers and the Internet.

Dr. Makarowski has hit on something that can carry over to all aspects of adult life, making this much more than a simple parenting book. Scripps Howard News Service

I think the general approach and specific techniques advocated in How To Keep Your C.O.O.L. With Your Kids is excellent. I especially endorse the emphasis placed on the parent/adult effecting change in their own behavior as a means of not only increasing their own effectiveness, but avoiding making the situation even worse. I am not aware of any other resources available that adopts this approach and I'm sure this book will prove to be a valuable tool for parents. A. Mitch Cooper, Ph.D.

One of the best books I have read in the last twenty years...first of its kind...applications are universal...great benefit to me, my administrators, teachers, parents and ultimately the students that are served in my school district.. an effective informational vehicle to educate parents...I particularly liked the sample exercises and the protocols from which individual and group work might be initiated...very powerful...It integrates behavior and stress management techniques with practical parenting strategies. I believe that this melding will prove useful to many conscientious parents with school age children. Frank Cranley, Superintendent of Schools

How To Keep Your C.O.O.L. With Your Kids is a practical helpful book for parents. It offers parents practical advice on dealing with their children that is based on solid psychological principles.

Guy T. Doyal, Ph.D.,

This book helped me look at some of my own situations in a new light and I almost cried when I realized that I had been sending some very negative messages without ever intending to to my children. It taught me to see how I would react if someone was sending those very same messages to me -- and I found out that I would have probably reacted the same as my children did (defiantly, angrilly). The author reminds us that our kids are not perfect and we can't expect perfection from them at all times. And that kids who are harder to be around can cause us to tense up even when they just walk into the room (a nonverbal sign that we don't mean to send, but the kid probably picks up). I have done better around my kids and have had at least two or three encounters that really, really tested me and would have sent me through the roof in the past, but I was able to get through with great results without screaming. Of course, I still slip up, I'm definitely not perfect, but the book says that is all part of the learning process. And I know I've gotten better and hope to keep on working on what the author has taught me.

"...a high-quality, hard-cover, beautifully crafted book, which could be a gift, a prize possession of a golfing fan or player-or to anyone who enjoys a little humor."

"The Humorous Golf Poetry of Tom Edwards is quite a good read. I got a kick out of it and I'm a pretty tough critic."

"...a delightful new book...Although I'd rather be beaten with sticks as play golf, I thoroughly enjoyed reading his [Edwards'] witticisms. Edwards may not have mastered the game itself, but he is a gifted wordsmith when it comes to describing his sport in verse."

I got this book as a gift. Being an avid golfer I thought it was a hoot. I'm getting more for gifts. Great illustrations too.

Tom Edwards slim book is packed with whimsey and verse so charming that every golfer needs one in his bag. Clever drawings only amplify the twists of rhyme that lead one down the fairway between sand trap and trees. Fresh, quotable lines for venting the frustration only the game of golf can create. This book was more refreshing to read than eighteen holes on an empty green.

The Island of the World is so much more than a wonderful
read. It is life-changing. The story of the earthly journey
of the soul of Croatian Josip Lasta is so beautiful that
there were times I wept.

There is nothing more I can add to indicate the profound
power of this book. Read it.

If you grew up, as I did, a child of the Cold War, and heard the stories of the repressive nature of Communism, then watched the Soviet system and empire fall apart, you might like this as much as I did. It follows a child of Croatia from WWII to contemporary times, chronicling his struggles and spiritual growth. The book is Roman Catholic to the core. Rather long, but it never seemed that way.

This book is a beautiful story of one man's journey through unthinkable tragedy to find love and meaning in life. O'Brien weaves parallels between his character development and the stories of the Iliad and the Odyssey. With rich symbolism and an astounding sense of literary genius, O'Brien has created a masterpiece, a work of art. I couldn't put it down and found myself pondering the mysteries of human suffering and existentialism as related to the Christian world view. Very captivating and thought provoking.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this large novel, but I didn't expect something that made me look at my own life a little closer.

O'Brien does a perfect job drawing the reader into the life of his characters. I found myself identifying with Josip Lasta even though we have very little in common. Throughout the entire novel, I couldn't wait to find out what happens to Josip next. I had to keep reading to find out if he finally achieves and keeps happiness.

The tales of life under a series of totalitarian regimes made me feel grateful for my freedoms, and reminded me to be more active in preserving them. Josip's grappling with faith was inspiring, and caused me to ponder my own spirituality at length. I tried--as best I could from a novel--to learn from how Josip interacted with the people in his life. All of it put together left me thinking, and wishing I could go right back into the book and recapture the joy of first discovery.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thought provoking, deep stories where the true meaning may take a bit of consideration to unearth.

Excellent! Should become a classic. I have read all of his other novels and they are also excellent. He is the greatest novelist and storyteller of our times and Josip Lasta (the main character)is an example of moral courage and character in overcoming life's trials. Should be assigned reading for all high school students.

I really liked this book! I have studied reiki a lot before coming across this book. What I liked about the book was: authentic/passionate/in depth/no fluff/caring authors! They really wanted to know where reiki came from and why.
Here in the US we want stuff faster and now...
I like how the authors want you to truly take your time and get/understand level 1 before moving on to level 2 then 3.
No shotgun wedding here:)
I run an energy meet up in Boulder for all energy healing types, and when asked which reiki I recommend, I say the International House of Reiki.

I am a Reiki Master and I love to check out books on the subject whenever I can. I was recommended the Reiki Sourcebook, by the same authors, through an online Reiki group. I ended up buying this book as well because I was interested to see Reiki from a more traditional view. I was not disappointed. Both books are very unbiased and easy to follow. Very very informative and original. I was pretty sick of books retelling Reiki histoy and the new age type "airy fairy" take on Reiki. Although there is some history in Sourcebook it is not as dry and overdone as other books. It seems to also be better researched by the authors.
These two books were a breath of fresh air and I had a hard time putting them down. I actually enjoyed The Japanese Art of Reiki more than the Source Book. I thought it was more in-depth on techniques and the practical side of Reiki, which was what I was looking for. It gives you a view of Reiki as a solid daily routine. It just seemed to click with me better than some of what I was taught in my Reiki classes. This book has a lot I have not seen in any other book. The Sourcebook is more of general take on things. Though, there is not much redundant material in each if you buy them together. ( I highly recommend you do) If I could only have two Reiki books it would be these. If I could only have one it would be Japanese Art of Reiki.

There is so much emphesus that Reiki is only about healing others, when in fact..."Reiki is about self-practice, self-responsibility and personal development."
This book takes you back in time to what reiki is on a personal level, and what Usui-sensei originally taught. Reiki was not meant to be of just "palm healing" only, becoming a Reiki master/teacher and just healing others, look inside yourself and listen, Reiki is all about "you"!
Get the book, read it and when you are done, read it AGAIN! There is no other book that can compare!

Whether you are new to Reiki energy or have been practicing for years, this book will give you the knowledge and awareness of a comprehensive approach to using Reiki for self healing. You will come to understand the true history of Reiki, and then move on to learn the various techniques used in Japanese Reiki which will allow you to deepen your practice. These techniques are rarely taught in Western courses, which are typically greatly abbreviated, and often filled with misinformation.

Bronwen and Stiene have built a rock solid reputation for the accuracy and integrity of their work.

This book is a "must have" as it takes the reader to the Shinto/Japanese spiritual roots of Reiki and where Reiki comes from. This book has become my Reiki bible and has deepened my practice. When you perform the exercises, as specified, the energy is undescrible and so very spiritual as it takes the participant to another place and space. If you purchase no other Reiki book this is the book to have.

Several others have stated that this is a great beginners book and yes, if you have some knowledge of metal and how to manipulate it or are just inituitive with tools and metal. That being said, I would classify it as a beginner to intermediate level jewelry design book that is very handy and has helped me when selecting the appropriate tools when I started out working with metal in 2006.

The author first goes over the basic tools required and he knows how costly jewelry making tools can be. So the recommendations are sound and worthy to follow for the beginner. The "Getting Started" section is followed by various lessons to properly learn followed by one or more projects to make utilizing these lessons. Some lessons/projects build upon others, while some are stand alone. Each lesson and project have enough written information with appropriate images (color photos) to help when YOU are doing it for yourself. It would have been nice to have this book in a spirally-bound binding. I do feel that if you master each lesson in this book, you are definitely well on your way to becoming an expert in jewelry making for the confidence you can gain from this books organization is that strong. This type of organization is just like having an instructor working with you.
The DESIGN section (only a few pages, unfortunately, in the first section of the book) give you sound suggestions when you are in the process of developing/designing your own pieces. Unfortunately there is NO information on the safety issues involved (I am big on safety...too much training in my former careers - but necessary) and that is a big mark against this book - hence 4 stars.

I believe the book's best quotes to sum up how I feel about it is: "We learn by doing!....Always practice on base metals first before turning to precious metals to make your final jewelry piece." (page 21) This is how the book is organized and for those that cannot find a local instructor, use this book.

As a beginner you must have this book. I bought it while taking a Jewelry I class. My classmates were totaly amazed at what I could do. They all started searching for their own copy. I found this book so helpful with techniques and tools, terms and meanings. It covers all the projects that a beginner would take in a class. I also own a copy of Tim McCreight's "The Complete Metalsmith." The small book. It's all that I have needed since I began. I've already made a handful of projects already. See my Pink Tourmaline ring in the user photos above. This book will never be a waste of time and money.

I pour over this book again and again and I learn something new each time. The projects are really good and I'm much more inspired to work with wire since I bought this.

If you've been a little hesitant about branching into metal work, this is just the tool to boost your confidence. I took a metalsmithing class 2 years ago with every intention of getting started right after the class was over. Didn't happen. Was petrified about investing the effort until I found this book in a craft store a few months ago. This book explains procedures so well and the projects seem so "possible" that I have already purchased or made most of the tools, purchased the precious metals and have my uncle making me a bench. The explanations and photos are clear and easy to understand. The only (and it is the only one) thing that could improve the book is a conversion of mm to gauge.

A very nice book with relatively simple metalworking techniques that have been well photographed and explained. A pretty good primer for anyone that is interested in true metalsmithing. The projects are easy to follow and are useful. Overall a good read.

My husband of 46 years committed suicide 3 months ago. While reaching out to every resource available to me, I came across this book. After reading it, I went back through and highlighted it everywhere it hit the mark. It took two days. This is the most astoundingly helpful book I've seen and I've read a lot of them. I've also recommended it to my therapists as a wonderful source of wisdom, insight, and understanding for those who are dealing with all kinds of grief: death, divorce, job loss, giving birth and many other events. What a lot of helpful insights Dr. Bozarth offers! I recommend it unreservedly to all who are traveling down this road. God be with you. Elizabeth J. Riney, M.D.

I read this book after my mother died 16 years ago and I still recommend it when someone I know has lost a loved one. It really explains the grief process and lets you know that no matter how you feel and how you respond, you're not losing your mind. I found it very comforting. I also pulled it out and reread after having a miscarriage. This book is full of wisdom that will help with any loss. I highly recommend it!

Lead Me Home:: An African-American's Guide Through The Grief Journey

At a time when I had lost 3 people that I loved very much over a period of only 6 months, I was not sure where to turn. Friends, family and co-workers said, "just take it one day at a time". Although this is a very true statement, understanding the emotions you are feeling and why can really, really help after a loss. This book doesn't just touch on death, it encompasses all losses from a job or divorce to the loss of a loved one. There are so many different things to consider and this book helps to drill down to your connect to the job or person and why the loss if effecting you in the way it is. I highly recommend this book, it does have a bit of a religious spin but not as a turn off, as a warm welcoming feeling that someone else understands.

This book has helped me so much during a very rough time in my life where I've split from my husband, lost my house that I dearly loved, and moved to a place that I hate. It helps you understand what you're going through, and it gives you things to do that can help. An amazingly good book!

I purchased this book after the sudden death of a friend. I was at a complete loss as to how to deal with it, and had never experienced this type of loss before. I was shaken.

I can't believe my good fortune to have this book. It taught me so much about the role Grief plays in our lives, as well as it's not just limited to the lose of a person or relationship. Grief can come in all forms from all things. I found it very comforting to discover this and it actually helped me to embrace grief as a natural precursor to healing.

This is definitely a great book to have around, and did give me some tremendous insights. I highly recommend this book for anyone having experience a loss or a feeling of loss that you can't seem to attach to anything. I really feel like this book was a sanity saver in a sense, as it helped me identify something I would have never recognized as 'grief-worthy.'

Very nice book of poems for children (my daughters are age 4 and 6). Each poem describes the various behavior of the same little dog. The dog reminds us of our Shih Tsu. Cute illustration. Pleasantly surprised with this book.

Little Dog Poems is a book full of short, cute poems about the life of a little dog and its owner. There is a one poem on each page with illustrations relating to the text. The poems go through one entire day in the life of the dog, from waking up, to playtime, and back to bed again. Children will love reading and being read this adorable little book.

The watercolor illustrations in the book tell the story perfectly. This makes it easy for a young reader, or even listener, to follow along with the words. The pictures are also very realistic, which would help the child relate to the story. The little girl even has to use a step stool in one picture. Children can easily see the love the little girl has for her puppy on all of the pages.

None of the poems use rhyming words, but they do use a poetic format. Sometimes the words are printed in straight lines or even in a spiral formation to help illustrate the story. There is odd spacing between the lines that changes the way the poems are read. Children will love to try and read these poems, and the spacing might actually help them pace themselves and succeed. The words contained in the poems are very basic and would be a great place for any beginning reader to start.

The poems in the book create many different emotions, such as happiness playing catch, sadness being left at home, and even frustration at chewed up socks. Some of the poems even create sensory images, such as taste in the kitchen poem and touch in the comfort poem. Children will love reading this book over and over, because what child does not love an adorable little puppy?

Ms. O'Connell George's simple prose come together beautifully in this lovely story. Perfect for Pre-K through early elementary.

Younger children will enjoy the simple verses. For my 8 year old son, who is a dog lover, he just enjoyed learning the story, but also had his eyes open to how simple poetry can be... doesn't have to rhyme and be some long hard to understand thing.

A great poetry intro. Also be sure to check out Little Dog and Duncan .. which seems even better than the original little dog and is a great friendship story.

I have read both of these Little Dog books to my first grade students and they enjoyed each and every poem very much!!! Many of my students bonded with the child and her dog and had lots of stories to tell and write about their own experiences with pets.
These are two of my favorite books to read to them when I talk about poems not having to rhyme to be poems. I wish Ms. George would write more books about Little Dog and his experiences!

Kristine O'Connell George has written one of the most endearing books of the year....Every poem illuminates another incident in the busy life of Little Dog, and dog-owners are sure to recognize their own pets in him. June Otani's watercolors are as charming as the text.