One The Books

These CD's are filled with so much wisdom and insight into married life i felt like i was in the presence of a guru. (particularly with the first speaker.) The advice they give makes a lot of sense, and will save you a lot of heartache, so buying it is soooo worth the investment.

When I first heard about "Get the Ring," my initial reaction was, "Do we really need another series of advice on relationships?" The market seems to be flooded with them.

But then I listened to it. Impressed is not the word.

First of all, let me explain what "Get the Ring" is and what it isn't. It is a six CD/cassette series on dating and marriage. However, it is not preachy, and it is not dry. It is based on a series of interviews with seven top marriage counselors, each with his or her own style and manner of presentation. The interviews are lively, humorous and unbelievably on target. You can tell that the interviewees are dealing with these issues on a daily basis.

One of the most unique aspects of the series is that it's not geared to any specific population. Lots of books on relationships focus on either singles or marrieds. Rarely do they offer information that is useful to both. But I would highly recommend "Get the Ring" to anyone, whether never-married, divorced and looking, married but having difficulties or married happily. I, for example, have been happily married for 8 ½ years and I still found lots of great ideas for making our marriage even better. My husband listened, too, and he said the same thing.

Another unusual facet of "Get the Ring" is the source material of its content. All seven speakers plus David LeVine, the producer of the series as well as the interviewer, are practicing, traditional Jews. As such, their presentations are based on Judaism. But their advice and guidelines are so right-on, and ring so true, that you'd never know that they're formed by a tradition thousands of years old if nobody told you. The series is geared toward an entirely secular audience, so everyone can enjoy and benefit.

The range of topics is so wide that it's hard to believe that it all fits into just over five hours. Some of the topics include defining love, differences between men and women (unbelievable!), detailed dating advice, how to discern true character, and how to make time for each other despite hectic schedules. One of my personal favorites is the "Ten Ways to Marry the Wrong Person." I thought it to be an absolutely mind-boggling presentation, especially the down-to-earth, practical advice on discovering true character, common interests and life goals. Just that information alone could totally change the way a single man or woman would approach dating - and it gave me some interesting ideas on how to enhance my own marriage. I could add some more details, but I don't want to spoil it for you.

A word of caution, however. (Some people might consider this a "con" even though I think it's a "pro.") A lot of the ideas presented seem at first glance to be revolutionary, especially in today's day and age. An open mind is a prerequisite for listening to this series. So if all you're looking for is to have your old opinions and preconceptions reinforced, you're not going to be very happy after listening. Then again, maybe the series will open your eyes and you'll see where you've been going wrong and how to fix your mistakes.

If there are any real "cons," the only one I can think of is that, because the recording was done in an office, there is occasionally some background noise that can be distracting - although the sound quality happens to be excellent. As far as I'm concerned, it's a small price to pay for information that could change your life.

Having listened to "Get the Ring" over five times, my opinion is that anyone who seriously wants to get married or to have a better marriage cannot go wrong by following the advice in the series. In his introduction, David LeVine says that your chances of finding the right one increase every time you listen. I couldn't agree more.

David LeVine is the pretend interviewer for this series of CDs, which is to say it seems obvious that he has taken some recorded seminars and other recordings and spliced in questions which the sources then sort of seem like they might be answering. Ignoring this phony interview format, which only occasionally intrudes, these CDs contain some really useful information from the perspective of some conservative rabbis and other conservative Jews. As a Christian it was very interesting to have some excellent ideas stressed coming from a perspective from a different religious culture, and my thinking has definitely enhanced as a result of hearing these CDs. I have a book by one of the sources, but audio CDs are so much better than books for thinking about this sort of information, at least for me. I paid more than the Amazon price at a web site by the same name as the book because I didn't know it was available up here, but decided that the price would be worth it if it had good information, given the cost of getting into or maintaining a bad relationship or marriage.

There are several topics. One is 10 Ways to Marry the Wrong Person. It is not useful for those who are having trouble getting the wrong person to marry them, but rather 10 things to be aware of so that you don't get into a marriage that will not work. And it is not a checklist, but a set of well articulated insights. If this CD set helps keep you from just one disastrous marriage or helps you get into a good marriage it will have paid for itself (duh!).

Two quick ideas from the CDs: Don't marry potential; many think their partner will change, and they will--for the worse. Find someone you want to give to, because love is about giving.

I am very happy I got it the Get the Ring CD series and I would highly recommend this set to anyone who is dating or contemplating marriage.

Are you tired of the dating game and looking forward to form a meaningful relationship that will last for a lifetime with someone special? The Get the Ring audio program was designed by David LaVine to arm the listener with key dating and relationship concepts of Traditional Judaism. Traditional Jews have been reported to have the lowest divorce rate of any cultural group in the Western World and David LaVine wanted to know why and how could that knowledge help him find and keep the love of his life. At first he thought that Traditional Judaism does not allow for divorce, but was surprised that not only that Traditional Judaism allows for divorce, it actually requires it when the two partners cannot resolve the rift that separates them. After finding out Traditional Judaism's secrets to successful dating and marriage, he married the love of his life.

This audio series presents the findings of his search by having seven of Traditional Judaism's most dynamic religious and relationship councilors expound on Traditional Judaism's approach to finding and keeping a life partner. The fascinating, attention demanding, and sometimes, humorous lectures in this series are eye opening as the information shared in them is radical in comparison to modern dating norms. With an open ear, a willing heart, and girded with the information, you can find that special person, bring a budding relationship to full bloom or make an already great relationship better. Whether you are single or married, this series will be certain to bring more meaning to your current or future relationship.

I listened to the whole series and am very impressed with it. It gives clear definitions of what we need to look for in a mate. What areas we can not compromise on. What areas are less vital.

It offers suggestions for how to be in the right relationship and it also talks about making ourself into the person we would want to marry. A person who is looking to give is the person most ready for marriage. So many of us look at marriage as a give and take and this can hurt marriages a lot.

It offers some very traditional advice that include not touching before marriage which may be going a bit far for most. But most importantly it gives solid guidelines for what to be and what to look for in order to really have a great chance of a truly successful marriage. May GOD bless all of you with just that since you deserve it.

GLORY ROAD IS ABOUT TEXAS WESTERN COLLEGE WHO WON THE 1966 NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY DON HASKINS WHO COACHED THIS GROUND BREAKING TEAM. BY THAT I MEAN FIVE BLACKS WERE IN THE STARTING LINEUP AN UNHEARD OF THING BACK IN THE 1960'S. HASKINS REALLY KICKED PREJUDICE IN THE ASS. HE WAS NOT PREDJUCIDE TO COLOR BUT TO GUYS WHO WOULD NOT GIVE A 100% EFFORT. HE WAS A REAL S.O.B. TO PLAY FOR, MAKING HIS TEAM PRACTICE VERY HARD AND LONG. (SOMETIMES EVEN AFTER A GAME HE WOULD WORK THEM UNTIL WELL INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS) THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR TODAY WOULD GET HIM SUED OR TEMINATED OR BOTH. HE IS VERY DRIVEN AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WINNING. HE ALSO TRIES TO COME ACROSS AS BEING A NO EGO TYPE OF GUY BUT HE ALSO BRAGS HOW GREAT A POOL PLAYER HE WAS. NOT ALOT OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE ACTUAL 1966 TOURNAMENT ITSELF BUT MORE ABOUT HIS RESPECT FOR LEGENDARY COACH HANK IBA AND MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS WHO HELPED MAKE THEM CHAMPIONS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ AND I RECOMMEND IT MOSTLY FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS.

An amazing person as well as basketball player and coach, Don Haskins relates the history of Texas Western/UTEP basketball in a way that the movie "Glory Road" (though very good) simply could not. Even though the title makes it sound like the 1966 season is all that is covered, this book actually tells the history of Haskins' long tenure here at UTEP, from his first years at the school through the historic championship in '66, and beyond. His insights into the players, coaches, and personalities he came into contact with were enthralling, and the wonderful storytelling really makes you feel like you were there through all the good times and bad. I read it cover to cover the same afternoon I bought it, and highly recommend it to any fan of UTEP, Coach Haskins, or basketball in general. Thanks for everything you've done for the city of El Paso, our university, and the game of basketball, Mr. Haskins.

Your current published reviews are enthusiastic but in some cases contain factual inaccuracies. The movie and the book are related in title and subject (Don Haskins); but that is about as far as it goes. The movie which focuses on 1966 is moving and concludes with a happy and factual ending - that is, that Texas Western won that game in 1966 --- but the movie not always true to the facts. Understandably I suppose when you try to compress a life story, even if only one year of a life, into a 2 hour or so movie. The book, from someone who played for Coach, reviewed and commented on the galley proof, and has represented Coach Haskins and the '66 team as a lawyer and a friend for 35 plus years, is "spot-on" and should be read by everyone who has ever had an interest in basketball.

As to the fortunes of 1966 team and the gentlemen representing that team so well, then and now, suffice it to say that the past 3 or 4 years have indeed been a trip down Glory Road: The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA this past April, only the 6th team to ever be so honored - and the first collegiate team --- with the enshrinement proceedings to be held on September 7 and 8, 2007 at the HOF facility. The team has also been honored with dinner and a movie at the White House with President and Mrs. Bush; the team will be inducted in the Boys Clubs of New York Hall of Fame in October of 2007, and some of the members volunteered to take an Armed Services Entertainment Tour to Germany, the Netherlands and England in February of 2007 to entertain our country's troops and their families. Also, Texas Western's victory on March 19, 1966 in College Park, Maryland over Hall of Fame Coach Adolph Rupp and his great Kentucky Wildcat team, that included Pat Riley, Louie Dampier and Larry Conley, among others, was selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") as one of 25 defining moments in the 100 year History of NCAA sports.

I could go on but I think this should at least clear up a few matters and hopefully whet the appetite of prospective readers and reviewers to pause and consider reading this book, viewing the movie. Coach Haskin's story is presented in an interesting manner, containing both Coach Haskin's well known skills as a pick-up riding around story teller and the literary skills of Dan Wetzel who spent hours upon hours riding, listening and recording those stories.

It is well written and factual to a fault; and points out what people can do when they put aside prejudices, rediculous stereoptypes (blacks had no discipline, couldn't be a point guard or quarterback) and circumstances and judge people by character and performance; not color and privilege. Every one of those (then but now not so) young men -- all are still alive except Bobby Joe Hill who passed away of a heart attack in 2002 --- that comprised the Texas Western Team in 1966 had talent and skill; more importantly they had character and heart and respect for each other and their coaches and that combination took them to over the top.

Enjoy this story and share it with others - because of their courage and accomplishments, and those of others in other aspects of the 60's civil rights movement, questions surrounding recruiting, playing, starting and honoring people of color in sports today seem strangely quaint, and beyond the imagination of most people born after the '60s. But it wasn't always so and for this all of society owes a debt of gratitude to Don Haskins, the members of his '66 team, the University of Texas at El Paso (formerly Texas Western College) and the citizens of El Paso for contributing to the environment in which we now find ourselves with respect to race relations in sports.

I have the honor of being Don Haskins teammate at Oklahoma A & M, now Oklahoma State University and couldn't be prouder and happier for a very good film about a very historic Coach and athletic event. Please be advised that Don's whole 1966 team was just inducted into the new Collegiate Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri. Buy it, you will like it...!

In one of those quirky moments in the book and movie industries, the autobiography of coach Don Haskins was already "in the pipeline" before the development of the picture.

The book and movie share the title - Glory Road - which is a name of a street on the UTEP campus to commemorate the championship basketball season.

The book obviously gives a more fuller picture of Haskins and does not solely focus on the monumental victory by Texas Western College (UTEP) over Kentucky in the 1966 NCAA Finals. There will be areas "filled-in" where the movie takes artistic license with some facts/scenes to push the plot along.

The years after the title run are especially interesting, since the basketball program somewhat faded from national view as the sport became a multi-billion-dollar industry.

It is a shame that history - especially when it comes to matters of race - oftentimes become blurry as the years lumber forward. Though Haskins has always downplayed his role in what was a defining moment on the court of race & athletics, he truly deserved the attention from the national platform that propelled the book to national bestseller status.

The lessons learned along that glory road are as important today as they were 40 years ago.

Too often we read and hear of women with eating disorders. This book was very enlightening. I think it took a lot of courage for Ron Saxen to write this book and disclose so much of his life -- the good as well as the bad. Thank you, Ron, for taking the time to write. I hope many women and men that deal with the same issues will find answers, hope and help for themselves reading this book.

When I read a blurb in NEWSWEEK a few months ago about Binge Eating Disorder and Ron Saxen's book, I was quick to pre-order the book. Binge Eating Disorder (BED)is becoming more and more common, yet, very few books address this problem. I expected THE GOOD EATER to be the salvation that held all the keys to unlock the mysteries of BED. THE GOOD EATER was a very different book than I expected. It is really the story of Ron Saxen's life and struggles and his use of food for comfort. A very difficult childhood left him emotionally vacant and lacking in self-confidence. He turned to food and gained and lost weight for years. At one point, he lost enough weight to be signed with a modeling agency and the chance for a promising career. Despite the successful start to his career, he was still overweight and unattractive in his mind. For an emotional eater, handling success can be harder than handling failure. Ron turned to food and gained weight and left his modeling career behind him. For the next 20 years he struggles with various careers, including as a stand up comedian. He even briefly joins the Marines. In a search for love and acceptance, he enters into an unhappy marriage. 20 years after his modeling career, he finds the strength and the love to turn his life around and have a proper relationship with food. The book really is not self-help in nature but the brutally honest story of one man's struggle with food. Ron tells it like it is and rarely is the story pretty. There is hope in his dedication and determination. It's hard to let go of the past and our childhoods can haunt us forever. Only in the last few pages is the issue of binge eating addressed. If you suffer from binge eating disorder, THE GOOD EATER isn't your salvation but there is comfort in knowing you are not alone. It's easy to relate to Ron's downward slide into uncontrollable binge eating. Food was his best friend and gave him temporary relief from the emotional pain of life. His journey is heartbreaking but there is hope around the corner for all of us.

Ron Saxen's The Good Eater is one of the first, if not first, books written about binge eating from the perspective of a male. When reading the book I could vividly see the events playing out and the impact on Ron and his family.

Ron's work has inspired me to move forward in my own personal journey to confront binge eating and the emotions that drive me to binge. That alone should be the true test of the book and in my opinion it passes with an A+.

The inspirational book, The Good Eater, is a candid and absorbing memoir of author Ron Saxen's struggle with BED (binge eating disorder). The author's revealing recollections of his life are often hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking. The Good Eater is well paced and written in an entertaining conversational style. Highly recommended!

This book is about a man who grows up in a dysfuntional home and tries to make something of himself by going after all the wrong things. Number one being food and then girls, sex, jobs and even marriage. In the end though he realizes that the only thing that makes him well is realizing he will never be perfect and learning to accept himself with his flaws. I found the book very interesting. The only reason I gave it a 4 is becuase of the constant swearing. Ok, I am not a prude and I understand that at times swearing can get across the point of pain. But, the F word was used constantly and I got tired of it in the end.

It is like Andy Andrews is standing there telling you the story. And it is an amazing story! If you want and need a good book, choose this one. You will never be sorry!

I loved the book. Andy Andrews does a wonderful job retelling a true story while he teaches eternal truths. Awesome!

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....But is it?

Andy is an amazing storyteller, and this book is proof positive of his skill.

Pulled from the little known theater of World War II, the American Gulf Coast, Andy weaves fact and fiction into a story about two people on opposite sides of the war, but on the same side of the heart...

This was my first Andy Andrews book. I picked it up in a Christian bookstore off the discount book shelf and assumed it was a book with a religious message.

While it does contain a good message and I appreciate it even more because I see the "principle" as one that Christ taught, it falls somewhat flat. The fact that this "principle" is biblical doesn't excuse the fact that the characters end up being a bit too much of the "self-help" variety. True love works wonders and can teach us this "principle" because God modeled it for us, and the story is very effective in explaining why it is so helpful for all involved. This story is very much about good ethics and morals, but is also too humanist in it's approach to be considered profound or even remarkable.

The story is believeable, while the character development is bit light. The historical element was interesting and pretty accurate, I believe. This is the kind of book I'd recommend to a light reader as beach or vacation fare so that, if they don't get around to reading it, it won't seem like they've missed out on a life changing lesson.

I was surprised that the book includes instructions for obtaining a study guide and a video. That's a bit presumptuous on the part of the publisher I think. This is not ground shaking stuff and any study group based on this book might do better to wean themselves off Dr.Phil and Oprah for a more lasting benefit.

Read (and believe) your Bibles and you'll get a much deeper and meaningful explanation of this "principle".

When I picked up this book, I had no idea what it was about. I only knew it was written by one of my favorite authors, Andy Andrews. I found this to be a little different from Andrews' other books, but like the others, ISLAND OF SAINTS did not disappoint me.

This is a true account of Andrews' own personal discovery of some WWII memorabilia that just didn't seem to belong when Andy had found it. His curiosity sent him searching for clues as to how and why these items ended up buried on his little Gulf coast island property. What he uncovered was a riveting true story that promotes valuable lessons of forgiveness along the way.

The story does take a while to develop. Several times I wondered just where the story was going and it was not until about half way into the book that things really began to take shape. The subject is one I have long been fascinated with, and that is the German activity along the east and gulf coasts during WWII. The fact that we hear so little about this aspect of the war makes one wonder just how many prominent citizens were a part of the effort to supply the Nazis.

The underlying message here is learning how to forgive. In this vain, there are some very profound observations here, as one would expect from Andrews, although they do come quite late in the book. Overall, this is a wonderful true story that includes some valuable life's lessons.

I do feel obligated to point out a flaw. At the conclusion of chapter 10, Joseph and Helen are having a conversation in which Joseph describes the rise and fall of democracy, attributed to Professor Alexander Tyler of Scotland in 1787. The trouble is, even though the description of the self-destruction of any democracy is, I believe completely accurate, study has shown there is no record to indicate that this notion originated with Professor Tyler.

Our 6 year old as well as us (2 parents), love these stories. While other books we've read are very worthwhile (Wiz of Oz, Little House, Polacco books, and more), the Children's Favorite Stories series (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean) is a good change. They offer divergent themes, varying settings, and an interesting incorporation of magical elements. The stories in the books are fairly short, which makes them adaptable to bedtime or day reading. We have the two Japanese, the Chinese, and Korean story books. All are very good.

I recently purchased this book for my granddaughters who recently moved to Japan. The book arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. The book has very colorful and fun artwork and the stories are very interesting. Was great to see a different style of storytelling.

My grandparents, who had lived in Japan, had this book at their house and I loved reading it everytime I visited. It just was a wonderful escape where the stories were so foreign, unique and amazing to a child - and still appear so in my adulthood. I'm convinced it's what made me a world traveler.

This book, in my opinion, should get 4.5 stars because it is interesting but also a bit confusing. It was fun to read the first few times, but after awhile the stories seemed predictable. Occasionally, the stories were random and confusing. The pictures aren't very detailed, but they show the point of what they are discribing. I also like the book because of the creativity of the authors. I know that as a writer you must construct creative and understandable stories and I am almost overwhelmed by the uniqueness of these stories. I recommend this book to younger children who enjoy reading simple fantasy stories with adventure.

This book is very special to me as it was a dear part of my childhood growing up in a Japanese American household in the early 1960s. When I was about three years old, one of my "uncles" gave this book to me with a pink hardcover and it has stayed dear to my heart since. I was quite delighted to see it still in print and being offered here on Amazon. What's even more amazing, is that from what I can tell by the image previews for this newest edition, the illustrations are the very same ones as my forty-some-odd year old book. This collection of stories would be similar to a Japanese Grimm's Fairy Tales and were also part of my father's childhood in 1920s Japan. Overall, they are quite simple and to the point and have a cuteness typical of Japanese stories. In recent years, my ex-girlfriend had enjoyed listening to me tell her these stories at bedtime even from my 40 year memory. I'm sure I've mangled some of them and combined them into a hybrid monkey, ogre, old man, cookie tale. I've been meaning to find my original copy, but now I know I can relive my childhood with a fresh new copy.

As an adult diagnosed with adhd a year ago, I've been doing a lot of reading and searching to learn more about it. Out of a huge stack of books I've read, only a handful give genuine insight into the mind of an adder. Most of what I've found is either too clinical to keep my attention, or too trite to be taken seriously.

Well ... thank God! Bryan is neither a psychiatrist, nor a professional copywriter. He's just some dude with adhd.

His is an amazing, yet disturbing story. What makes it amazing is how similar his story is to mine. At times I felt I was reading a story about myself, just with different scenery. What makes it so disturbing ... well ... is how similar his story is to mine.

The most helpful thing the diagnosis has done for me, is provide a new window from which I can review my past. Some of the mistakes I've agonized over for so long, were nothing but the symptoms of adhd. Communication issues, scheduling issues, work issues ... the list goes on and on ...

Reading about Bryan going through the same things in life I have, has helped me realize I'm not alone. There ARE actually people out there who DO know what I'm talking about!

I can't possibly recommend this book more. Put it at the very top of your list! Buy it now! It's that important.

Just one more thing ... after I was done reading the book, and took a few days to absorb it all, something hit me ... it's why I'm here recommending the book to you right now, and it's gonna hit you the same way too ...

I can't help but feel that I know Bryan, like he's a personal friend of mine.

That's the style of book he wrote, it's that personal. And that should tell you just how genuine "One Boy's Struggle" truly is.

Thanks Bryan!

Are you still reading this? Stop. Go buy the book! :-)

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone entering the field of teaching or who is already teaching, counselors, resource teachers, juvenile workers. ADD is often undiagnosed (unlike ADHD where hyper is apparent) and the child struggles and never knows why. I wonder how many sit in prison today wondering why they never fit in with society or runaways who could never conform to their families rules. I am recommending this book to everyone I know so hopefully they could recognize ADD in a child (or adult) and make a positive difference in their life.
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I knew relativly nothing about ADD and how it can affect your life and all those involved. This is a wonderfuly written story of a young struggling boy who knew that he was not bad, but had to wait for years to find out the truth of whý his childhood had been the way it was.
'One Boy's Struggle' is a must read for anyone, not just for someone wanting to find out more information regarding ADHD. This is a poignant story that moved and deeply touched me and made me care for this young man. Thank you, Bryan for the wonderful story that is yours, and that you share you struggle with us.

I am truly grateful for Bryan writing this book and for me to have found it. For many years I lived with undiagnosed ADD, never understanding why, but always knowing that I was different, and did things differently than other people all my life.

When I was finally diagnosed with ADD it was a tremendous relief to know there really was a reason. I had learned the basics through talking to professionals as well as reading the various books available on the subject. This book is very different from all the basic texts that are available. You can only learn so much at school from reading textbooks. It is not until you finish school and go out into the real world when you realized how it all applies.

Bryan's book is the real world. The ADDer World so to speak. The other books show you the cause but Bryan's shows you the effect.

I highly recommend this book to be read by all people living with ADD/ADHD. It will help you understand the impact that this disorder has actually had on you through your life. I really had no clue myself before reading this book. It is also really nice to know that we are not alone with our struggles. If you did not have it before, you will finish this book realizing that there is definitely hope for an incredibly productive enjoyable future for you.

Even more so however, I recommend this to parents and teachers dealing with children with ADD/ADHD. No one can ever truly understand what it is like to go through life having ADD/ADHD unless they have it themselves. This book shows you the truth dead on, and most likely will be the closest you will ever get to really understand what your kids are dealing with on a daily basis, in both their minds, as well in the world around them.

I also highly recommend checking out Bryan's website: ADDerWorld.com. It is a safe harbor to connect with, and understand others dealing with ADD/ADHD. From my personal experience I can pretty much guarantee that he will personally answer any question you may have if you contact him.

Not a fabulously well written book, but it provides invaluable insight into the heart and mind of a child/young man suffering from ADD. If I were president for a day I'd make it mandatory reading for all elementary teachers and parents of boys with or without ADD. The author clearly has extensive knowledge of ADD as well as first person experience -- a powerful combination that really helps the reader understand some of the many nuances of ADD. This book opened up very enlightening dialogue between my spouse and I and then my immediate family. We were able to confirm what we have long suspected; that in my family most of us have varying degrees of ADD but as adults have learned to compensate in interesting ways. We are productive and happy adults, but felt validated at the similarities we found with the author. Thank you so much for being so generous with your life experiences!

I think that "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge, is the best WWII book ever written. In my opinion, "One Square Mile of Hell" is second best. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Military History.

This is a gripping account of the pure hell of war, the title says it all.
The author has taken you into the bloody slogging match that was Tarawa, you live through the expierence, imagine being a Marine on a landing craft heading for a beach that you can see, is probably going cause your death, and there isnt a thing you can do about it.
Very scary and realistic

Based upon the The Ratings and Reviews of this book, I figured I would broaden my knowledge of the WW2 battles most Americans dont often hear of. Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, Midway We all hear about and rightfully so.
Tho I am ashamed being an American I never heard of the Island of Tarawa and its contibution to victory against Japan in the Pacific.

I must say It was a great read, altho horrific in how Men lost and how they sacrificed there lives for their country.
The books details on the Marines approach to the island could make you break out in a sweat. It was so intense and brutal.

I am sad to say I dont think we will ever see this kind of courage and dedication in the USA again.
The Men of WW2 were one of a kind and to this I am grateful. For those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so others could appreciate freedom.
To all those who served as well, Thank You!!
Freedom isn't Free!
READ this BOOK America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was like the Marine move I never saw but that needed to be made. If your a person who likes to read about the Marines in the Pacific, this book is a must!

Peruse all the technical manuals, strategic narratives and overall battle histories you'd like. Then a book like "One Square Mile of Hell" comes along and takes you to the inner hearts and minds of those who participated in the fullest measure of devotion to their country and it's people, and the cause of Freedom. Measures of devotion that took them to places like Tarawa, where dreams of the future can be so quickly and terribly whisked away. To know the childhoods, lives and aspirations of the men who waded ashore applies an emotional attachment you cannot deny upon learning their fates or futures. Their story, so tenderly and eloquently put by John Wukovits, will move you to tears.

I gave this book to my son-in-law for his birthday in 2001. He is a policeman locally and love the book so much. He had his wife to read the book because he says that every woman married to a policeman needs to read this book so they will understand what they go thru. Personally, I have the same condition that Richard Smith has which is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I think its great that Richard wrote this book because living with pain all the time isn't that easy, but Richard shows us that we can do anything even though we have a disability.

After becoming disabled with PTSD, I went in search for others who might understand and be able to offer me some insight. That's when I found and purchased Richard's book, from the moment it arrived in the mail, I couldn't put it down. One Stands Alone not only met, but it exceeded all of my expectaions. Reading Richard's book helped me to understand that I wasn't the only one in the world who had been over exposed to situations and scenes while doing my job. Richard, describes scenes which bare his sole and must have been very difficult, yet he keeps such a positive attitude. That alone gave me faith and understanding, it doesn't matter who you are, this is a great read written by a very talented writer.

One Stands Alone is a book that I can very much relate too. Having been a special education teacher, I was able to relate to many of the events and episodes that Richard went through as a police officer. It really made me think back to the days as a teacher and the students that I worked with and how this world "really is " . I also became injured and got RSD through my job as a teacher by being injured by a student and how the system did NOT protect me but rather wanted to cover up things. There was humor, danger and a lot of dedication on Richards part that I was able to relate to. I think that that anyone who reads this has a better incite into what a "real/ dedicated" police officer goes through on a day to day basis. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was not all bored with it. I learned much from it and everything was explained in terms that were easiliy understood. Watching "Cops" on television, is nothing compared to the life and dangers that are depicted in Richard's book. He tells it like it is.
Great Job Richard!!! I am just sorry that you had to end up with RSD!!!!

One Stands Alone is a spirited and honest account of a long, intense career in Law Enforcement. Richard A. Smith fearlessly describes his own learning process, his mistakes, accomplishments, and those of others in actual situations. He shows incredible respect for the needs of his readers, though respect was usually not what he received while on duty. Technical terms and situations are explained, often with humor, even at his own expense, in such a way that the author is never "talking down" to his audience.

The positive frame of mind that Richard maintains overall throughout the book is even more remarkable when you read about his harrowing and discouraging experiences and life-changing line-of-duty injuries. He shows that officers are not just uniforms with badges, but are real people who share all emotions and experiences of daily life with the rest of us.

I give a lot of credit to Richard for reliving incidents to give us a view of a very unbalanced and often frightening world that the police face daily on our behalf. I thank him for sharing such a great part of his life, and as importantly, for sacrificing so much of himself while "protecting and serving."

In the writing, Richard shares a number of nicknames he received throughout his career. With this book, he has earned yet another, that of "Master Storyteller." As I hear a siren or watch officers at work, I often reflect on things said in One Stands Alone. It is much easier now to understand that what appears to be happening is often very different from the actuality. I only hope that this book is the first of many from this gifted author.

Richard Smith lets us into his many years as a diligent
policeman,protecting the citizen's of Durham-Raleigh,N.C.
The long hours,working different shifts and seeing what
human's can do to one another. Especially, when they are
drunk or taking drugs.
After all the years, missing Holidays,common in police work,
Richard gets felled by serious health problems. Not a man to
complain, he likes his work and does it well. He starts to get
injuries that are work related.He has to take time off, for a
leg and wrist injury he sustained.
His Orthopedic Dr. did surgery on his leg tendons. It failed
to help so another Dr. a physiatritrist, diagnosed RSD.
Which means Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a disease that can
be treated but not cured.Richard remained on disability and
had ten spinal blocks to help him.
He described his pain like a combination of arthritis, muscular
dystrophy, and cancer. It crippled you like the first two ilnesses and spread through your body with excrutiating pain like the last. This is the sufferers excellent description.
Having to relie on others tested his perserverance. He was sent to a caring psychologist, who worked with him and told him he had Post-traumatic Syndrome Disorder, common among police from their type of work.
After 18 years on the police force and obtaining an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification, the highest level to acheive in this field of police work in North Carolina. Richard could have retired peacefully. But he continues help others in various ways. He has suffered the result of a chronic illness, few of
the cops he worked with stop by, but he is tutoring children and say's "I'm Never Standing Alone".

i've only read some of the book so far, but i love it. i think it's great for preschool age kids. May God bless you when you read it with your little ones.

I love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and the messages are wonderful. I especially like the way the devotions are written for the small child. They are easy for them to understand and relate to everyday situations that they have probably experienced.

Preschoolers can relate to the stories in these devotionals and have often experienced something similar in their lives. The stories are short, so a little one can pay attention throughout. The prayers fit the stories very well and again, are short and sweet. I also like that actual the Bible Verse is included in each devotional.

I read this book to my daughter every night. The messages and illustrations soothe us and help us connect with each other.

Of the fifty-some children's books I own, this is one of three I actually enjoy reading. :)

This book was given to my 3+1/2 year old for Christmas, 2007. We have been reading the one page devotions every night before going to bed. I really enjoy the short sweet messages, prayers and scriptures. My daughter talks about Parker, Zoe, Kaitlyn and Jack as if they are a part of our family now! The illustations are adorable. A few words of caution...some of the readings bring up subject matter that might prompt a few questions from your little one (Holy Spirit, Heaven, death etc.) I would certainly recommend buying this for a parent and child to share together.

The author has a charming flair, but quite trite at times.The story is filled with cliche's, that grew wiresome at times.I won't recommednd it, but a so so read!

Dr. Mandell is my doctor, and I think he is awesome. Only he could write an amazing book like this. I can't wait to read it!

-DAR

The One-Foot Waterfall is a book of rare grace and heartfelt beauty. The story and lessons gleamed from it resonate well beyond the page with the impact of a well-wrought haiku. Like the traditional Japanese poetic form, it is compact, but pregnant with meaning beyond the literal.
Literally, it is the story of Michiko, a young Japanese girl and her life journey through war, grief, love and dreams, deferred and fulfilled. Essentially, it is a story of friendship, perseverance, the persistence of history, memory and most of all - healing. The specific events and plot are not secondary, but the mysterious power of the book lies in the curative qualities inherent within it; one leaves the book changed in the most subtle, yet profound way. It's like the difference between the sound of hot and cold water...
Michiko's journey is the reader's journey. It is a spiritual quest, a vision quest, an inward, but never inaccessible passage into the soul, an encounter with the second heart - in essence, with the stuff of life.
From a narrative point of view, a great achievement of the book is the intimacy between the storyteller and the reader. Although governed by a conventional omniscient narrator, one never feels a step removed from the "action" or the characters.
In Dr. Mandell's skillful narrative, the characters are vivid and real, but never too good to be true. They are so true to life, in fact, one feels their presence viscerally.
That is, if one allows oneself to engage in this story, which is really about listening to one's heart, hearing and speaking the words that are not said, akin to Keats' tuneless numbers, I might imagine.
It is a book about what it means to be human rendered even more profoundly in these very inhuman times. Are we not reminded on a daily basis of the cruelty and violence humans have learned to inflict on each other? In that light, this story harmonizes with an urgent need for healing our hearts, minds and bodies . . .
The catalytic event that propels the story is the bombing of Hiroshima, but the substance and ligature that gives this book its profound beauty and movement and beauty in movement is what it means to be humane.
Absent, however, is any sense of didactic high-ground, which renders this book all the more remarkable. Mandell eschews judgmental polemics in favor of nurturing storytelling . . .
The One-Foot Waterfall reverberates in your heart and mind with a Niagara-like resonance. The smallest gestures contain the grandest impact. A fledgling crane impacts a young boy with the same force that a thousand folded paper cranes eventually change the life of a whole village. The impact a single life can have on the world is not underestimated or taken for granted. The opposite, in fact, is the substance of Dr. Mandell's lovely book. Akin to the significance of a single step on a journey of a thousand miles, an individual, heart-felt gesture can have the same rippling, life altering affects.
But the actions of this book are not ripples on still water. That's what makes it all the more profound. The actors herein are not moved by mysterious forces outside themselves. Rather, they act according to an atavistic governing spirit that reaches beyond the bounds of mere mortality and history and traces the arc of what it means to be humane, not merely human.

The "One Foot Waterfall" is a touching story about deep friendships in a Japanese village and which are affected by the tragedy of Hiroshima. There is a powerful message of friendship, of the consequences of nuclear war, and of triumph. There is powerful message of humanity. The conflicts and decisions of the characters are illustrated beautifully. The ending and resolution is quite satisfying to the reader.

The author is a renowned pediatrician. His life experiences are clearly evident in the book and greatly augment the story development. His sense of compassion and humanity is clear and powerful in the characters. One could easily imagine the author as one of the young and impressionable doctors in his book. Overall, this is an excellent first effort from a new author. The book is quite enjoyable. My message to the author: keep writing!

In the One-Foot Waterfall, Frederick Mandell transforms history into something personal and meaningful for the reader. He invites the reader into the world of three young friends whose lives are forever altered by the tragedy at Hiroshima. What makes the novel so moving is the authentic quality of the characters and setting. Dr. Mandell clearly knows children, understands the richness of their imaginations and the power of their emotions. Michiko and Tamami evoke sympathy and love from the reader. The setting of the novel is both magical and convincing, described in vivid detail. The language has a poetic quality which intensifies the impact of the story. Although I visited Japan many years ago, reading The One-Foot Waterfall gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture and its people. The novel reflects the writer's deep sense of humanity. It is a must read.