One The Books

I was hooked after I read the first few pages! A true story, that reads like a mystery! Laurie Anthony has captured the reality of homelessness through her experience with a homeless man. She tells his story (and hers) in such a honest, soul-searching way that I also examined my own beliefs and misconceptions about the homeless. In addition, the research she sites about homelessness, poverty, mental illness, shelters, welfare, and unemployment was informative and helpful. This book can be read as a memoir, a self-help book, or an introductory text to the problem of homelessness.

With remarkable skill and resolve, she managed to whittle away at J.C.'s paranoia and distrust, and the resulting chronicle, "Have a Great One!" is a triumph. Stirring and joyful, it's a perfect seasonal example of heartfelt benevolence - and manifesto for extending year-round kindness to fellow strangers everywhere. The Boox Review

Have a Great One! A Homeless Man's Story is about a panhandler named J.C. struggling to survive in New York City. But it is also the story of a womanon a journey of self-discovery. It is the story of the bond that can form between two people who make a connection by chance, and find enough courage to tell each other the truth. It's about coming to an understanding: that some mistakes in life can be rectified, while others never will. Yet, the message in the book is uplifting. If you let go of blame and let in compassion, you can grow and make a difference in the world...

I would recommend this book, especially for students. It would be a great way to introduce them to this whole issue. The book is written in an easily readable style, with many resources listed at the end of the book for further research. Diane Morgan, Editor in Chief, New Books Review

Have A Great One!: A Homeless Man's Story is the personal account of Laurie Anthony's encounter and subsequent experiences with J.C. Simmons, a homeless man residing on the streets of New York City. This is a compelling exploration of the psychology of homelessness and a journey of self-awareness, knowledge, trust, and compassion as Laurie learns about a homeless man's plight and strategies for survival on the streets. Have A Great One! is a carefully researched and sensitive account of the problem of homelessness and an inspiration to anyone wanting to make a difference, wanting to deal with this growing American phenomena of the homeless in our urban cities.

Although I have never been to Charlotte Motor Speedway, after reading this book I felt as if I had.

and now I feel like I could drive it. This is the book that lays it all out in a logical order, explains the terms, the rules and the strategies while taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Will the car qualify for the race? You can feel the tension because for that week Huler lived it. This isn't a book full of old stories that drivers told a writer - this is an observation, full of detail - it's good old particaptory journalism like Plimpton wrote, talking to (and about) everyone from the owners and spnsors to the fans and the scalpers. What a great book!

I'd never heard of NASCAR, never wanted to know anything about it. But when I heard a short reading by Huler (the writer) from this book, I had to buy/read it. His writing could be on any topic: ice, dirt, race cars... it's just facinating in an accessable, fun, fast read. I'll read anything he writes now, and gain an appreciation of worlds I never knew. Great read. I just may join the 200,000 on site NASCAR fans next year because of it!

If you want to read one book about NASCAR, I recommend this one. Not because it's a hand-holding introduction, but because it's the best. It just does such a great job describing so many aspects of NASCAR. The organizing principle of the book is to examine a week in the life of Kenny Wallace's Square D Racing Team, but along the way, the author looks at NASCAR's personalities, history, technology, tracks, and fans. Huler has a real flair for description, and a genuine but not fawning affection for the sport.

I've also read Shaun Assael's "Wide Open" and Paul Hemphill's "Wheels," which are similar in many ways but to my mind are both inferior. Assael's book seemed flat compared to Huler's, though fans of Dave Marcis and Bobby Hamilton may enjoy the coverage that those drivers receive in "Wide Open." Hemphill's book spent a lot of time on a thesis that I soon found repetitively handled: NASCAR was once the province of the Southern working man but is now corporate entertainment. Both Assael and Hemphill follow NASCAR for a whole season and seem to get bored with it. Huler stays focused on a shorter timespan to much better effect.

I've read some more technical approaches to NASCAR as well, and found that Huler almost always snuck the information in those books into "A Little Bit Sideways."

Although I find this the best introduction to NASCAR because it's so engaging to read and so comprehensive in the bargain, those who are interested in learning more about NASCAR might also try "NASCAR for Dummies" by Mark "Awesome!" Martin and Juliet Macur. That book lacks Huler's style and story-line, but it does have a lot of interesting information about NASCAR, including some tidbits on strategy and technology that I haven't seen elsewhere.

I lived in the South all my life, always aware of NASCAR, watching races every now and then. Even so, I haven't tuned into to a NASCAR race in probably 25 years. Because of this book, I will when the next season starts.

One can truly begin to understand the mystique of NASCAR after reading A Little Bit Sideways. Scott Huler's obvious love for the material really shines through. His writing transforms what, in lesser hands, could have been a dry and boring recitation of minute details into an interesting and compelling human interest story.

Read it. You won't be disappointed.

It's all Laura Griffin's fault. I lost precious hours of sleep devouring her debut novel, One Last Breath. While spying on her ex-husband, reporter Feenie Malone realizes there's more to Josh than just being a lousy ex. Hoping to kill two birds with one stone, Feenie decides to investigate Josh's connection to a well-known criminal and use the story to advance her career. PI Marco Suarez is convinced Feenie's ex had something to do with his sister's disappearance. Suarez has spent the last two years "unofficially" working his sister's case. When he meets Feenie, he's determined to find out if she's just the innocent bystander she claims to be or if she's Josh's accomplice in Paloma's disappearance. As Feenie and Suarez work together uncovering Josh's seedier side, sparks fly and their relationship grows. Feenie begins to wonder if they could have a future together, but Suarez's quest for revenge seems to keep getting in the way.
One Last Breath is an engaging story from start to finish, one that suspense fans will not want to miss. The explosive prologue hooked me right from the start. I connected with Feenie quickly and as Suarez grew on her, he also grew on me. In short, I wanted to work out in Chico's Gym, be a best friend to Feenie and I just plain wanted Suarez. With a tight plot and an endearing cast of secondary characters, One Last Breath is a great read from an author who is sure to entertain us for years to come!

I could not put this book down! This is her first suspense book and it is a winner.

Feenie Malone is a cub reporter hoping to make a name (and full time job) for herself at a local paper. When she stumbles across the story of a lifetime - the possibility that her cheating ex-husband Josh might be involved with a notorious drug dealer, she soon becomes a target. Enter sexy PI Marco Juarez, who caught Feenie at her worst when he was a beat cop. Trumped up drug charges led to his dismissal and distrust of the corrupt police force. Marco enlists Feenie's aid in investigating Josh and his cohorts, who he believes are involved in the disappearance of his sister Paloma, a narcotics officer who disappeared without a trace two years earlier.

Griffin's debut romantic suspense is laced with some pretty comical moments. The pairing of Marco and Feenie is at times hilarious; the two work together making Nick and Nora look like professionals. I would have liked for the character of Josh to be a little more developed, he is pretty one-dimensional in the story. But overall, it was a well written, funny and engaging romantic suspense.

A great novel that draws you in and doesn't let go. Incredibly sexy and believable characters. Can't wait for the sequel!

One Last Breath, a debut novel from Laura Griffin is an exciting romantic suspense novel with plenty of mystery, romance, and comedy mixed in.

Feenie Malone is a struggling journalist who is trying to make it on her own after a nasty divorce from her rich cheating husband, Josh. He got everything except the house that she adored. The initial introduction of Feenie is comedic in that she just found out her husband was cheating on her and she is shooting up all his trophies. A cop named Marco Juarez responds to the incident. Fast forward two years, these two meet up again in an investigation involving her ex husband, Josh. Josh is rich and well connected but he is up to something dangerous involving drug lords, child trafficking, money laundering,etc. Marco is now an ex cop/PI who believes that Josh is connected to the disappearance of his sister, Paloma, who was a police officer, and disappeared two years earlier along with her partner. Feenie is a struggling journalist looking for her big break and a full time position at the Gazette as well as trying to get revenge of her ex. Marco uses her connection to Josh to get answers and insight into the man that she had been married to for 5 years.

Feenie is no shrinking violet and knows how to take care of herself except when somebody is trying to scare her off or kill her before she finds out the truth. Marco Juarez is watching her back and trying to keep her out of trouble and from being killed. Too bad she is too curious for her own good. Sometimes Marco wonders why he even cares what happens to her. He takes her to the gym and the firing range so she can protect herself. She already knows her way around a gun thanks to her father who is a card carrying a member of the NRA.

Marco is your typical alpha male who is dead set on revenge for his family especially the daughter his sister left behind. During the investigation, he finds another cause to get involved in: falling in love with Feenie and keeping her safe.

Will Marco find the answers he is looking and get the revenge he seeks? Will Feenie find out the truth and get the story that could make her career? Will Feenie and Marco survive to have a future together? You will have to read this exciting debut novel to find the answers. Can't wait for her follow up novel involving Feenie's best friend Cecelia.

There are so many easy recipes (especially for brunch) that usually take less than 30 minutes to prepare. My favorite are the yummy overnight breakfasts -- I can take 15 minutes to make blueberry french toast before going to bed and then just pop it in the oven when I wake up -- a delicious breakfast that didn't take long to make!! Most of the recipes are designed for moms who have a little one on their hip. You only need one hand to make a delicious meal that doesn't take long from start to finish. You can add little touches to any recipe (or change ingredients to your liking) -- it takes the stress out of cooking when you're pressed for time. Great buy!!

I am the mother of 3, and I cook EVERYTHING from scratch. I like the spiral binding. The book is sturdy and the pages stay open. There is a lot of advice in the beginning of the book but I did not find the advice helpful because I've already "been there, done that" and figured it out on my own by making mistakes. The advice may be very helpful to a new mother -- would make a great gift. As far as the recipes go, some are great (Mediterranean Chicken, which is adapted from The Silver Palate) and some are not. There are a lot of short cuts and adaptations from other cook books, which is kind of unoriginal. Some of the recipes I don't get -- there's one for stir fry chicken which consists of buying veggies, chicken and bottled sauce (why buy a cookbook when the recipe is on the back of the veggies package?). And, some of the recipes are not for kids -- my kids wouldn't touch the food. Although this book is good for the one-armed cook, I think that the recipes in my Gourmet (5 Ingredients), Bon Appetit (Keep It Simple, Everynight Cooking), and Rachael Ray books are just as easy and great.

I received this cookbook as a birthday gift over a year ago and it is - by far - the best, most useful cookbook I've ever owned. I was a decent cook (definitely not a chef!) but, over the past year, this book has elevated tremendously my ability to provide delicious meals for my family. My husband even publicly commented about this recently at a party we were attending! I knew I liked the recipes, but I didn't realize that he had noticed so much!

The recipes are wonderful, delicious, and easy to prepare, and even the non-recipe chapters are full of useful information (such as how to stock your pantry). I can't recommend this book highly enough!

I have raved about this cookbook to my friends. I have several cookbooks but the recipes in this one are actually for meals the children WILL eat! Yay!!!! :) The meals are easy to prepare, simple and delicious! I especially love the sections on planning simple get togethers (with specific menus all spelled out) and the slow cooking section. I use this book several times a week and have to say I finally have more selection for what to make for dinner and I'm enjoying the variety too. BUY IT!

I bought this book not for a new mother but for a busy mom, I would buy this book again without hesitation for baby showers in the future.

This is one of my favorite books. I always joke that pugs are better therapy than I could ever provide!! My husband and I are profoundly pug people, and this book exemplifies the natural humor and grace of our curly tailed loved ones! An absolute must have if your favorite therapeutic tool snorts a lot and farts like crazy!!! (smile)

This is just an adorable gift book with equally adorable pictures of pugs in costume and in their natural condition. Little tidbits of advice are given, but mainly this is just a feel good book with some cute pictures of cute chubby curly tailed pugs.

This is the most adorable book with lovable pugs. The captions are so cute and fit the charm of the pug.

I went through a really dark period in my life. After trying everything, even electroshock therapy, I found this book and it changed my life. Thank you, pugs!

As a wanna-be pug owner, this book is the next best thing! This is the perfect gift for the pug-lovers in your life. The photographs are beautifully done with inspired captions. It's nothing less than page after page of cuteness. If you are a fan of pugs, this is the book for you.

Kevin Eikenberry's book is especially useful to anyone who wishes to become a better leader. Not only does Eikenberry outline what skills remarkable leader's posses, but he helps to show the reader how he or she can improve their own skills. Each of his chapters begins with a self assessment set of questions which helps one to think about their current skill level. Eikenberry then provides tools and techniques relevant to each of the leadership areas that he discusses. After the reader has been exposed to the leadership skill within the chapter, there are "your now steps" which are provided at the end of each chapter. These are suggested actions for one to take to immediately begin their development of the leadership skill. In addition to these steps, Eikenberry also supplies the reader with two more helpful resources. These are Bonus Bytes and Remarkable Resources. Bonus Bytes indicate additional information on the subject found on the web. They are tools to help apply a specific concept. The Remarkable Resources are websites utilized to find information that it is more in depth on the subject.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is how interactive Eikenberry's writing is through the use of the self assessment tests and the additional websites provided. I honestly didn't find this book to be as boring as much leadership readings can usually seem to be. I also agreed with Eikenberry when he discussed the fact that all great leaders are constantly learning; a concept which many people seem to forget. At the beginning of the book he asks the reader to list out the qualities of a great leader and he expresses the fact that many people do not realize that learning is essential to being a remarkable leader. Within this book Eikenberry presents a learning process or cycle which I found to be useful.
I believe this is a great read for anyone who wishes to improve their leadership skills whether it is at work or even home or personal life. I would definitely recommend this book!!!

This is a handbook for improving your leadership skills. Each chapter starts with a self assessment on skill level and then it carefully lays out what you can do to improve. He gives tips, tactics and techniques to implement and measure how you are doing in each area. It is a valuable book, but I had a tough time completing it. What was missing for me was a method to engage me personally/emotionally in the book. I was taken by his comment on Q/As after a presentation. He suggests that the Q/A is never the thing you end on. You invite Q/As throughout and just before the end. But, after the Q/A you must wrap up and summarize the talk yourself in order to best present and control the key messages and call to action. If questions do continue, answer and then do a condensed close again. Borrow this one from the library.

Kevin Eikenberry and I met in December 2007 at 800-CEO-READ's Pow Wow for business authors. His new book entitled Remarkable Leadership is impressive. I'm not surprised. Kevin is an energetic individual who combines a passion for leadership with a bright mind and extensive experience. Reading Kevin's book is like working with a great leadership teacher and leadership coach combined in one individual. The teacher in Kevin explains leadership concepts in understandable ways and the coach makes practical suggestions about how to implement the concepts.

The book is exhaustive in the issues it covers and it is well-organized into a logically-sequenced presentation of concepts and practices. Throughout the book Kevin also points the reader to additional downloadable content available at RLBonus.com.

Let me mention several other reasons why Remarkable Leadership is a standout among leadership books. Kevin's positive attitude and conversational writing style make this book easy to read. I liked that Kevin shares gems he discovered in other leadership books. It says a lot about Kevin that he has the humility and curiosity to read extensively about leadership and that he has the confidence and integrity to share with us what he learned from others while conspicuously noting his sources in the text. He gives credit where credit is due (like a remarkable leader should). Kevin emphasizes that becoming a remarkable leader is a journey rather than something that can be easily and quickly accomplished. He also encourages reflection, including the use of a Learning Journal.

If you aspire to be a remarkable leader, you would be wise to purchase this book, read and reflect on its advice, and then put it into practice.

Kevin Eikenberry's book "Remarkable Leadership" has been a transformational read as I try to incorporate many of the leadership methods into my job and personal life. While I have tried to find information about various parts of leadership and communication from a variety of different mediums, it was with great pleasure that Eikenberry's book brought together views on the topic from many different sources.

"Remarkable Leadership" is one of the most authentic leadership books that I have come across, as evidenced by Eikenberry's willingness to reference other sources throughout his work. It is as if Eikenberry understands that there isn't always one perfect way to be a leader, but that there are several aspects to the role. Those feelings are evidenced from start to finish, especially with his "Now Steps".

The "Now Steps" are fantastic, and encourage immediate use of the tactics discussed. I found them especially helpful, since there are many aspects covered in each chapter and each category of Eikenberry's 12 leadership qualities. The "Now Steps" help secure the information and encourage a reader uncomfortable with one aspect of communication to take positive steps and put the practices into work. The steps provide a blueprint to follow without mandating that all of the methods are incorporated to be successful.

This book is also my first truly dual-platform experience, and I am not sold on that aspect. As a member of the "old-school" way of thinking, I expect all of the information to be present in the book that I am reading. It was a new experience to have some of Eikenberry's valuable information limited to the internet. I visited the Web site and downloaded some of the "Bonus Bytes", but did not enjoy having to take those steps to find out more about a topic I was interested in.

Taken as a whole, I would highly recommend "Remarkable Leadership" to anyone interested in improving not only their leadership abilities, but communication in general. So much of what is discussed by Eickenberry easily transitions to use away from work. I still count Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," as the most influential book I have ever read, but Eikenberry has put me on a similar path by encouraging the use of his methods much more effectively than other books on the topic.

Remarkable Leadership is a fine work, and I intend to continue following Eikenberry's methods for insight into both my professional and personal communication.

Kevin Eikenberry has experience in the real world. It makes this book better. He is an avid learner and experienced trainer. They make this book better. And he's worked with real people one-on-one to help them improve their leadership. That, too, makes this book better.

If you're looking for an informed, practical and effective way to accelerate your own leadership development, you should buy, read, and use Remarkable Leadership. This will also be a good book for you if you're responsible for the leadership development program in a company or for the development of a protégé.

Like the experienced trainer he is, Kevin states his goal at the beginning of the book. "This book is designed to help you identify the parts of your personal leadership package working in your favor and help you develop those parts, and any others you wish to work on, to become the leader you are capable of becoming."

He moves directly from that statement to setting up the material that will fill the rest of the book. He has you do an exercise I've done with groups in training for years: identify a great leader you know and define why you rate them as great or remarkable. Then he shares the core competencies as he sees them. Here's the list.

Remarkable leaders ...

Learn continually
Champion change
Communicate powerfully
Build relationships
Develop others
Focus on customers
Influence with impact
Think and act innovatively
Value collaboration and teamwork
Solve problems and make decisions
Take responsibility and have accountability
Manage projects and processes successfully
Set goals and support goal achievement.

After anchoring his thinking in the principle of building on strength, Eikenberry moves to the next chapter where he discusses leadership development in the real world. His model matches my Apprenticeship Model in all important respects.

The three most important are that most leadership development happens on the job, not in the classroom, good leadership development makes extensive use of feedback, and your boss and other more experienced leaders play a crucial role in your development.

Chapter 3 tells you how to get the most out of the book. Then comes the real meat of the book, a chapter on each of the competencies.

Each chapter includes examples and stories to help you get the concept. There are resources to help you develop. And there are two features that make this book stand out. "Now Steps" offer you suggestions for immediate ways to apply the principle of the chapter. And "Bonus Bytes" give you a link to a web site where more resources and ideas await.

This book is for you if you want a guided way to take charge of your own personal development. You'll get solid information and insight, coupled with learning tools and suggestions for action.

This is also a book for you if you're responsible for the development of leaders in a smaller company or for a protégé. The structure of the material and learning tools should make you more effective at that task.

If you support leadership development in a larger corporation you'll find many good ideas here that you'll be able to incorporate. You should also consider buying multiple copies to share with the working managers in your company to help them assume a mentor role.

Now, who should not buy the book? If you expect to learn leadership from simply reading this or any other book, save your money. Leadership is an apprentice trade and learning it takes work on the job. Remarkable Leadership can help you do it better.

Mike Henle does a wonderful job describing how he felt before and after his brain surgery experience, his fears of the unknown as to whether his surgery was a success, and trying to educate society on the subject of epilepsy as well. I highly recommend this book to everyone, whether they have epilepsy themselves or not.

Lisa-Marie Kinsman
author of Free at Last, My Lifetime Battle to Overcome Epilepsy

Mike Henle has graciously shared his slow dance with epilepsy. His book encourages the person with seizures;shows the cloud of fear that covers the family and friends; and describes a truly caring as well as gifted medical community. Above all, Through The Darkness gives us all hope.

I have known "Mad Dog" Mike Henle for more than 30 years, as a former sports writing colleague with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and, more importantly, as a dear friend. I have always admired his "dogged" determination in tackling issues. This determination is so reflected in Mike's book. Henle shows how an aggressive "don't-take-no-for-an-answer" persistence, combined with a wife's and family's love and support, and a faith in God can help overcome any obstacle, regardless how steep or severe the obstacle may be. I have two business associates who have read Mike's book. One associate passed it on to a neighbor who has a family member afflicted with epileptic seizures. Mike's book has given that person insight in the afffliction and more significantly hope in seeking a solution to their problem. The book is a great read and a great source of hope.

A true story of Mike Henle's illness and his perseverance in pursuing and effecting a cure for his symptoms. His inspirational story offers motivation and hope for others suffering illness. His perseverance in seeking answers is inspiring. Whatever your illness this is a must read. I read his book in a couple of hours and admired his ability to engage my empathy in his quest.

Through The Darkness is an accurate, touching, and powerful depiction of daily life, living with Epilepsy. While it is written with a compassion that makes it accessable to all readers, it is of special significanse to those of us who also live with Epilepsy. (It is important for us to be reminded that we are not alone.)
I found two chapters that describe the physician and medical staff that assisted Mr. Henle through his Surgery/Recovery particularly meaningful.
"The little guy with the answer", while written about his neurologist, is an accurate description of Epileptologist who has been responsible for improvemensts in my seizure counht and intensity.
"The Greatest Pit Crew On Earth" exemplifies the medical Staff who continue to support Mr. Henle, and myself, through our battles with this disorder.
Thank you Mike, for telling our story in such a powerful way!!!!!

1. A Time to Die/Lurlene McDaniel
2. Random House Children's Book, 1992, 154 pgs.
3. Young Adult
4. A Time to Die is a fiction story based on a young lady who has cystic fibrosis.

A Time to Die is a fiction story based on a young lady who has cystic fibrosis. Everyday she goes through therapy to help her breathe. She meets a boy named Vince, who also has cystic fibrosis. Vince helps Kara through the tough times, when Kara really needs someone by her side. They are both in and out of the hospital and are struggling to try to survive.
Lurlene McDaniel really showed in great detail the affects cystic fibrosis could have on a person's life. It is a wonderful book to read, especially if you do not know much about cystic fibrosis. Kara falls for a boy, which makes the book more interesting, because she does not want him to be turned off by the cystic fibrosis she has.
A Time to Die is a book you could not live without reading. This book left me with wanting to find more about cystic fibrosis and the book made me want to read more of Lurlene McDaniel's books.

this is a great book about a girl named kara who is dying of cystic fibrosis everyday she must endure therapy to thin the mucus so she can breathe i have cf as well and am so glad someone is trying to make people more aware of cf its such a horrible disease i hope other people read it and become more aware of this disease so a cure can be found

This story has to be on of the best stories in the entire One Last Wish series. It shows the hardships that teens that have Cystic Fibrosis have to endure daily. Kara Fischer, a girl with C.F., shows what she goes through every day with this disease, and how it affects her every day life. She deals with the same things we deal with and more; and it shows how determined she is to have a normal life. When she falls in love with Eric, and he finds out about her C.F., I was surprised to see what he did. This book is a heart-wrenching story that brought a tear to my eye while reading it. It is an amazing book with a great truth behind it. Showing all of the things that happen to the people suffering from the disease, in using a child for the main character, makes you relate to the character even more; whether you have the disease or not.
Lurlene McDaniel is an amazing author who does her research to make the story even greater. Knowing the facts about what is actually happening and putting it down with a plot and characters, teaches you about the disease or problem while keeping you interested. The powerful way she writes makes you stay intrigued, and makes you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens.
You want to know whether they are going to go out with someone or if they are going to get sick again. You begin to become that person and can feel what they are feeling, and can hear the voices of the other characters talking to you. You understand what is going on in their minds and what is in their hearts. Their feelings become yours; you cry when they cry, you feel the touch they feel, and you hear the words they hear. When you cry with them, you cry on both the inside and the outside as well. Your heart and eyes fill with tears and you just can't help but cry from both parts of you. You are them.

I really liked this book.I couldn't stop reading it.I realized how much I take life for granted.It is really sad to think about how much we take everything for granted.This book helped me.I really think it can help others be more appreciative.

A Time to Die has to be my favourite book in the OWL series. Kara and Vince's struggle to live is very inspiring and I admire them both for their courage and determination. Because I, along with my brother, am a victim of CF, I was glad to see someone trying to make the world more aware of this disease. I could really relate to Kara and Vince and found their thoughts and feeling about their disease to be similar to my own. This book is very well written with interesting characters and plot twists. This book brought a definite tear to my eye.

Now that I've finished "To Serve Them All My Days" I feel that I've lost an old friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, savoring it and rationing my reading so as not to finish it too quickly. A must read for those interested in teaching, education in general, and in understanding children. This story is a study in the trials and tribulations life offers us, and how one person not only overcame these setbacks but also flourished in spite of them. Although I watched and enjoyed the Masterpiece Theatre series on TV in the early 80's I did not really appreciate it then, as I would now if it were to be rebroadcast. I have exhausted all possibilities in trying to obtain a copy of a WGBH tape of this series. If anyone knows how to obtain a tape please let me know. I highly recommend this book.

This is one of my favorite books, too. You may purchase a copy of the DVD from "Deep Discount DVD" which has a web page
http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/index.cfm ..the price is $49 but
no shipping charges. I just finished viewing all 4 disks (rented from Netflix) .. good luck

Now that I've finished "To Serve Them All My Days" I feel that I've lost an old friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, savoring it and rationing my reading so as not to finish it too quickly. A must read for those interested in teaching, education in general, and in understanding children. This story is a study in the trials and tribulations life offers us, and how one person not only overcame these setbacks but also flourished in spite of them. Although I watched and enjoyed the Masterpiece Theatre series on TV in the early 80's I did not really appreciate it then, as I would now if it were to be rebroadcast. I have exhausted all possibilities in trying to obtain a copy of a WGBH tape of this series. If anyone knows how to obtain a tape please let me know. I highly recommend this book.

I love this book. It has been quite a long time since I've read a book with such depth and realistic characters. The people in this book ARE REAL. I am having trouble putting into words how much I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry, and I was very depressed when I had finished it. If you like Dickens, I think you will enjoy this author's style.
The mini-series is now out on DVD. I will be getting it soon, and it is hard for me to think about much else. I can't wait to see it; eleven hours! Excellent.

I ran across this book by chance in a hospital lending library, and it was just the thing to read during a tedious recouperation. This is an enobling book, it reminded me of how people can rise to wonderful levels of caring and integrity, it showed a person wounded in body and spirit who found that concentrating on the details of teaching the schoolboys under his care was, in a sense, a healing meditation. I am slightly sceptical that anyone can be that free of ignoble impulses; it seemed that none of the characters in the book did anything at odds with their personality or with a base motive. However, I don't care: I'd RATHER that people's best selves were always visible. And I'd like to believe that the everyday world can be a healing place, and that I too can go forward with courage, confident that I would be able to show the truest part of my personality. -- In addition, I appreciated the book's description of the changing political mood in England during the two world wars.

I enjoyed reading Margaret Wheatley's book, "Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future". This book is easy to read, applicable and possibly life-changing.

Read this book with a group of your friends, or neighbors, or with a group of the willing. The opening premise simply states: "I believe we can change the world, if we start listening to one another again. Simple, truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard and we each listen well." The book encourages us to actually listen to each other, to different perspectives, to our own perspective, with the aim that we are better off when we have genuine connections with others. One of the best parts of the book is "A Prayer for Children" by Ina. J. Hughes; the poem is poignant, humorous and intriguing.

So simple, and yet such a fresh way of looking at life, leadership, community and conversation. I learned a ton from this book, very helpful in specific situations I am involved in. It teaches me how to become an ever better listener.

Margaret has created such a powerful book on conversation, learning, and change. I can not imagine a more powerful book telling stories that can transform how we work, play, and learn together. This is a life changing read and one that I highly recommend. And even more importantly, in such a turbulent time, keeping in conversation with others may be the only thing that helps us hold this world together. Therefore, do not only read the book, but put into action conversations that can change the world.

Margaret Wheatley's Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future is one of the most important books I've read.

It is based on the incredibly simple premise that growth, real growth begins with two people having a conversation.

Part 1 discusses a range of subjects: Wheatley's views on conversation and listening, including the importance of staying with conversations that sometimes get "messy" to reveal deeper truths and commonalities; her belief in the importance of being surprised and even shocked by the person(s) with whom she converses, versus seeking people who agree with her, affirm her thoughts, or where the conversation follows either a predictable course, or safe outcomes; the belief that differences between people can lead to deeper commonalities and greater closeness.

Quite frankly, there are simply too many gems of wisdom and insight in this book to do more than recall a handful that particularly struck me.

Part 2 is very short, restating some fundamental principles or concepts explained in greater detail in Part 1.

Part 3 is a list and explanation of 10 possible conversation openers.

This is not per se a "how to" book, as if there is "one way" either to converse, listen or relate to another person. Quite the opposite. She talks, for example, of the reality that various people can have a seemingly unlimited number of interpretations and reactions to a given event to stress (implied) that what matters is the process, the act of conversing and relating.

Wheatley's book is about possibilities, the possibilities that everyone possesses in terms of relating to one another, personal growth, healing oneself and restoring hope in the future, compared to the fragmentation, isolation, pressures of day-to-day life, the impersonality of technology, etc.

It is an exciting book to read, a book that virtually anyone can benefit from no matter where they are in their lives. It is, fundamentally, a gift that those of us fortunate to read this book should be grateful Margaret Wheatley wanted to share.