One The Books

Phillip Done portrays life as a teacher in a humorous, enjoyable manner. His writing style is engaging and easy to read. As a teacher, it's easy to relate to many of the stories he shares. I enjoyed the book so much, I bought a copy to share with my co-workers. A fun, must-read for all teachers dedicated to the task of helping children build upon their self-esteem as well as grow academically.

As a third grade teacher I just want to say that Mr. Done has put my classroom into words-thank you, it makes me feel good to know that all third grade teachers are in the same boat, and enjoying the ride....most of the time.

If you want to laugh until you cry, then read this book! Phillip Done captures all the joys of teaching and expresses it in a way that is hilarious. As I tried to share passages with my family, I couldn't get it out because I was laughing so hard. Anyone who has taught or is starting their first year of teaching should definitely read this. You will be truly inspired!

If you teach, this is a MUST read!

Mr. Done was my fourth grade teacher. I was positively THRILLED when I realized he had written a book. He was, by far, one of my most memorable teachers to this day. His book is amazing, and brought back a lot of awesome memories I have of elementary school. Excellent read.

As a Christian Counselor I use many books in my work including this one and "The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His! 2" (the second book by this same author. I also like the new book A Forever Love Story Surviving Trials in Marriage These books are useful in showing how a Christian marriage should be. They are great "instruction manuals" on doing marriage right that goes well with the Bible. I would certainly recommend all of these books to any couple wishing to better their marriage.

This book is very informative and helpful in the age old conflict between husbands and wives. Joel is to be commended for his eye opening stand on issues that have for too long kept women in mental outlooks of defeat, especially when it comes to a troubled marriage. Joel and Kathy have taken a position of determination to help people realize their responsibilties in contributing to the foundation of trusting love and wholesomeness between a couple. For me, this book has been invaluable for supporting and even encouraging regaining hope that was lost and a renewed self image. That, in itself, is healing. I appreciated the emphasis on men recognizing their God-given responsibilty to lay down their own interests in life, as the head of the home, for the good of their wives. I have always believed that good would come back to them in abundance, if they caught hold of that vision. Love and respect is the main theme throughout this book. What better platform can you speak from then what God has already declared to be His design in the first place.
Hats off to Joel and Kathy! And prayerfully, may this type of writing/ministry be a forerunner to many ministries and counselors who seek to help in the marriage arena. Here is "hole" in our society that needs to be addressed and fixed. I would recommend this book to anyone who is married or even thinking about getting married!! Full of common sense.

This book is awesome and powerful. Joel and Kathy are truly amazing and hit the nail right on the head in every area of how to have the marriage of your dreams!!

Made in Heaven!

When it comes to communicating how struggling marriages can be healed, God has done a mighty work in authors, Joel and Kathy Davisson. And the good news is they have shared what they learned in not one, but two of the most innovative marriage books around.

Book I, The Man of Her Dreams, The Woman of His, tells how their relationship was restored, using sound biblical principals, after the sins of adultery and abuse had taken a huge toll on their marriage.

In Book II, The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His 2 - Livin' It and Lovin' It! (Volume 2) Joel and Kathy continue to share the insight God has given them which has produced the "outrageously happy marriage" they now enjoy. Such ideas as the husband as initiator in the relationship--the husband sets the tone of the marriage--he is the leader in that sense. They also champion submission--not as it has traditionally been taught, but MUTUAL submission, wherein the wife submits to the husband AND the husband submits to the wife. As in Book I, men are called to "become the man God is calling you to be by being the husband your wife needs you to be."

In both of their books, Joel and Kathy teach tried and true concepts gleaned from the Bible that they have applied to their own once struggling, now very successful marriage. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to have or help others to have a marriage (literally) made in heaven!

Kay Sons

This book, along with using scripture, can help couples identify and address marital problems and remedy them so that their marriages can be blessed and happy. As each spouse is overflowing with the love of God, then their marriage will be happy and blessed. The church and society at large will benefit as happily married christian couples bring God's kingdom into this world.

Just as God's grace is multifaceted, I believe that solutions in life will be as well. There are many good marriage books. I just read an unflattering book review by the couple that wrote this book (which is how I got here), and I am concerned on a variety of levels. The following statements are from the bible and should be lived out. Christians are to submit to God first and then to one another. Christians are to love other christians and non-christians. Husbands are are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Wives are told to submit/obey their husbands. The weight of emphasis is what Joel has an issue with. He expresses frustration with the emphasis that if wives would only submit, husbands would love. I agree with him. But God's order and design for marriage should not be dismissed. I need to love my enemies, regardless if they deserve it. Husbands and wives have responsibilities in marriage whether the spouses deserve it or not.

It is astounding to me that Joel would publicly denounce another book on the same subject matter in a book review on Amazon. He never finished reading the book he criticized. He claims that the bible teaching of women having to submit to their husbands is based on one LONELY scripture and is actually the reason that the church's teaching on marriage has been 'upside down' for 45 years. He purports that his book teaches something inspired by God and corrects the generally accepted church marriage paradigm. On this topic, Joel claims to be prophetic.

He also claimed in his review that his greatest need as a man "is for me to learn what it means to lay my life down for my wife and love her as Christ loves the church," not to be respected by his wife. These are not analogous. Actually, one is his responsibility/obligation (dying for his wife and loving her), the other is a reference to a desired response from his wife (respect). The author of "Love and Respect" (the critically reviewed book) makes that distinction. Husbands and wives are responsible to behave as the Bible teaches, regardless of the number of scriptures that support a behavior (for instance - being a living sacrifice). Respect is something I appreciate from others, especially my wife.

Another strong statement in the review is "I do not want my wife to feel like she is supposed to "respect" me simply because I am her husband or because the bible tells her to respect me. Yes, every man would like to feel respect - but does a Christlike man want his wife to respect him just because he is a male whom she is married to? No. A real man wants to live a life that is worthy of respect and wants to be respected because of the life that he lives." He obviously was not worthy of her respect for many years in their marriage. In fact, his behavior while being a pastor was bad enough to disqualify him from ministry. We as christians should be living lives that please God which will engender the responses of respect and love in return. I would like to illustrate this from a wife's perspective, using Joel's quote, "I do not want my husband to feel like he is supposed to "love" me simply because I am his wife or because the bible tells him to love me. Yes, every woman would like to feel love - but does a Christlike woman want her husband to respect her just because she is a female whom he is married to? No. A real woman wants to live a life that is worthy of love and wants to be loved because of the life that she lives"? I would hope so. We should live what the bible says, even if others are not living the way they are supposed to be living. Proverbs 31 exhorts women to be virtuous. Men and women, regardless of being spouses, are called to be holy and loving.

Joel was a pastor when he was guilty of abusing his wife emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He eventually committed adultery. Interestingly, his parents were involved with pastoring as well, and his father had also committed adultery and left the family. It makes one wonder when a family of pastors can behave so badly. Joel, as the egregious offender, he needed to change, and not blame his wife. But what about when a wife commits adultery? Is it the husband's fault? As David proclaimed, I have sinned against the Lord. Good marriage counseling addresses spousal accountabilities, thoughts and behaviors that are inconsistent with them, and strategies to help change the marriage for the better. Rarely is a bad marriage one spouse's fault.

Before Joel's book was written in 2004, many wonderful helpful biblical marriage books were already written. And if he had read those books, he may have avoided or shortened the length of the abuse and adultery that he was guilty of. A book that balances a husband's responsibility in marriage and a wife's responsibility in marriage is called "The Way of Agape" by Nancy Missler, written in 1995. Her marriage was in shambles as well, but she fought to preserve her marriage just like Joel's wife fought to preserve theirs. Another book that was written from the perspective that a husband's behavior alone could turn a marriage around is called "Rekindled, How to Keep the Warmth in Marriage" by Pat Williams, also written in 1995. Both books take different approaches, but the end result was the same - a saved, vibrant, restored marriage.

Hopefully, in the spirit of Christian love and humility, Joel will refrain from writing additional poor book reviews on marital topics, while promoting his own books. The love he promotes in this book for his wife comes from the Holy Spirit. The same source should influence Joel to be less critical of other marriage books.

After reading some of the enthusiastic and grateful reviews for this book, there is little that I can add. Clearly, everyone who reads Trisha's tale is able to extract something that aids female life in today's world. Apart from cessation of hot flashes following Trisha's suggestions, the most important information for me was that menopause does not immediately throw ladies into the visage of dried up sexless old crone. No one should start gulping hormones in fear of losing youth and good looks--Trisha has blazed the trail for all of us, looking much, much younger than her years and living and loving life.

I had heard about this book but when I went to get it in the hardcover it was out of print. Well, when it hit my local bookstore in paperback, I got a copy and devoured it in a few hours. It's been a lifesaver! Thank you Trisha for not making menopause into the negative journey that most books cast it as, and thank you for not only giving those of us who fear hormones a choice, but for so clearly setting forth a natural path that works. Since going on Trisha's regimen, my hot flashes are history, and I feel much better and in control (not to fail to mention 12 lbs lighter on the scale!)
With all the new news on hormones, this book is a MUST for any woman approaching menopause!

I have long been troubled by the two available sources of menopause advice: 1) questionable medical research relying on broad generalizations and possible drug company resources; and
2) women who have "passed through," and present their experiences as if they had just fought the Gulf War single-handedly.
I've never trusted "research" on HRT, and I'm very tired of the "rite of passage" horror stories.
There's also the unasked question--HOW DO WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY VERY PHYSICALLY FIT AND EATING WELL FARE IN MENOPAUSE?
Those of us who have been following many of Trisha's suggestions for years are lumped in with all other women and told we're going to shrink/dry up/get fat/fall apart at exactly the same rate as the rest of the female population. I don't buy it. And I'm glad Trisha has written a quick, personable, and very readable book about the alternative opinions and options.
I'm 52 and I've been resisting HRT now for several years. I work out for an hour six or seven days a week--I'm a black belt in Shotokan Karate. I welcome Trisha's suggestions for the non-HRT path. I'm with you, Trisha!

Anyone facing menopause either directly or indirectly (you men out there could benefit from reading this book, too) should read Trisha Posner's account of her own battle with the changes being forced on her, and how she dealt with them. From the most common - hotflashes - to the least - auditory hallucinations (one which I have experienced) - Posner lists the symptoms and side effects of menopause in a highly organized and informative way.

Posner's own interest in a less clinical approach to menopause arises out of her family's history of breast cancer. She had a very real fear that hormone replacement might trigger cancer in her own body, and so she went out to research the alternatives. She's a professional researcher, and has done the research for her husbands books on history and current events. She is meticulous in her work and it pays off for her readers here in the assurance that she has thoroughly investigated the available information on each aspect of menopause.

While she never prosletyzes for any regimen, she does outline her own program very throughly (exercise, nutritional supplements, particularly soy; dietary changes) explains the thinking behind each point, and gives the reader an honest assessment of her progress. It is not her intention to persuade any of us that this is the right way, only to show that there are always alternatives to medical intervention for treatment of menopausal problems.

Her research is persuasive, her plan of action one that virtually anyone could follow. That doesn't mean that everyone will be won over to her way of doing things, but that's okay, too. The benefit of this book is in its wealth of information, not in any plan or magical formula. I recommend it for anyone who wants to understand this life passage a little better, and recommend it highly for those who want to take more control over that passage.

According to Posner, reducing fat intake, running, and weight training are a really great way to lose weight and reduce menopausal symptoms. She expresses great suprise about this, which makes me think that she slept through the 1980s. Who wants to pay for yet another book that discusses this subject in great length without adding a single new thing?

I found the author's perspective rather difficult to take. She repeatedly makes reference to her wealth, yet make no reference to how expensive her herbal recommendations are. She repeatedly makes the point that men are attracted to her still, that everyone is shocked that she's old enough to be going through menopause, and that her husband is the most supportive man on earth, which, frankly, he seems a bit creepy in the book.

If you're not bothered by her narcissicm and ignorance of excercise and diet information popularized in the 70s & 80s, you might find value in her herbal recommendation, so long as you can afford the hundreds of dollars it will cost you each month.

Instead, I recommend: New Menopausal Years : The Wise Woman Way by Susun S. Weed.

Forgive me if my review runs a bit on the sappy side, but I grew up with Calvin and Hobbes, and I sometimes think they are among the best friends I've ever had. Bill Watterson's comic is gentle, sincere, and magical. At its core it is an examination of what it means to be human, and the value of friendship. Watterson's philosophy of the comic strip was that it should be based around characters rather than gags; we should feel as though we know the protagonists as real people, rather than as interchangeable vehicles for jokes. That comes through on every page, even from the very beginning. Calvin's world has a cast you can probably count on two hands, but every character (except possibly Moe, the bully) has at least a hint of fully-rounded personality. Watterson's world is one of simple pleasures shared with good company.

As with any comic strip, the first collection is rather crude in pretty much every aspect--the drawings, the humor, the personalities--but as a prototype for what would come later, it is not without its own charms. Even at this stage I would hardly call Calvin and Hobbes a forgettable, generic strip. It still has heart and a sense of profundity, even if Watterson had not yet figured out the most effective way to illustrate these things in his strip. It's interesting to see the origin of Hobbes (even if this version was discarded later), the genesis of Calvin's relationship with Susie (the love-hate romance, which will later be toned down, is at the forefront here), the first appearance of Spaceman Spiff, the introduction of a then-unnamed Rosalyn, and so forth. Also, early Calvin and Hobbes are somehow a bit more adorable here than their later incarnations, but you didn't hear that from me.

In an age of disposable comics, Calvin and Hobbes is one of the few childhood experiences of my life that I can actually appreciate more with age. I would not find it an exaggeration to say that Watterson's perspective of life heavily shaped my own, as I find myself much less concerned with superficiality and the plastic culture of Hollywood than many of my reality-TV-addicted, Nike-sporting, iPod-blasting peers, and more appreciative of the little things in life that we tend to take for granted. All Calvin needs to be content is a good friend and a search for adventure, and even as I grow, kicking and screaming, into adulthood, I find I can still relate.

I ordered this item and received it within a week. Very good timing.

I love this book!When my friend got a Calvin and Hobbes book, I did'nt really like it because it was not in color. But once I got this book I loved it! I colored in the ilistrations so now I don't have ANY problems with this book! I want to collect all of the Calvin and Hobbes books, but right now I only have 4. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes funny books. They are so good my dad reads them! Other good Calvin and Hobbes books are Revenge of the Baby-Sat,Scientific Progress Goes Boink, and Attack of the Deranged Muntant Killer Monster Snow Goons. Well, I guess that's it. BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!

This is a funny book about a kid named Calvin and his stuffed tiger named
Hobbes. They do funny stuff and they have adventures. Calvin is a funny six year old. Hobbes is a smart tiger! YOU NEED TO READ IT!

This is the second of three little books, published in the UK, that contain the exact material of the very first Calvin and Hobbes book. I bought this book thinking it had something new in it, but I didn't realize it contained the same material as a book I already had.

It's probably a better investment just to go ahead and buy the first Calvin and Hobbes book (titled Calvin and Hobbes). Everybody loves C&H; who doesn't know a little boy somewhere "just like Calvin"?

Wade Davis is a lyrical writer and an accomplished scientist. This account of enthobotanists studying the amazing properties of plants and the way they are used by indigenous people is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Into the already-dense tapestry of medicinal, psychotropic, and industrial uses of plants he weaves fascinating details about the lives of several other brilliant and eccentric botanists, the administrative debacle of the U.S. government's rubber policy during WWII, the extraordinary lifestyles, religion and mythology of the tribes he encounters, the history of the missionaries, the cultural and nutritional significance of coca and the saga of its commercial exploitation, and the brutal history of the Spanish conquest. Add to this the sheer logistical difficulties of working in the remote rain forest -- the washed out roads, unusual diseases and parasites, harrowing plane rides, etc. -- that he, and especially his predecessors endured, and the book reads like a nail-biter adventure story. Left me with an overwhelming sense of awe as well as regret for the wonders that exist and those that have been lost.

It was in better condition than I expected (it was used). The cover isn't bent at all - it doesn't look like it's been read.

'One River' is full of great stories and anecdotes as well as a sense of place and time that are unforgettable. I'm giving it four stars for reasons stated below and so won't focus on the positives which have already been so well covered by many reviewers. These are fairly minor quibbles in an otherwise good book.

Stylistically, the narrative doesn't always flow well. Wade presents the life of the books central character, Richard Schultes, in some sort of chronological order, but interjects anecdotal stories out of order requiring the reader to have a good memory to keep everything straight. This is a long detail-rich book with 1000s of people and place names covering about a 150 year timespan from the Amazon Jungle, to the Andes to Central America and the American West.

The amount of detail is at times excessive, in particular with place names and locations, Wade sometimes spends as much time describing where a place is (a 50 person village in the jungle) as he does about the place itself before moving on to the next place - it feels like a rote travel log at times, probably because he used Schultes private botany journals as one source. There is so much detail it sometimes crowds out the big picture, lost in the trees. I think the book could have been edited back 100 pages or so, there is just a lot of material that is pure anecdote or trivia.

Finally and probably most importantly, as a life of Richard Schultes, this is pure hagiography. He is the hero of the story in all respects. Perhaps hagiography is helpful in motivating students to become scientists, but it is not a balanced objective biography, it is a tribute by one of his admiring students, Wade plays up Schultes accomplishments but does not question or examine his failures. For example, Schultes spent the majority of his career in the Amazon studying the rubber tree and became the world expert, yet he never did complete a book about it, what a tragic loss. I don't mean to disparage Schultes, but given his stature and reputation, the lack of any criticism naturally draws the question Wade never asks. The book was written in 1996 and Shultes died in 2001 so with time we may see a more balanced perspective.

This amazing book tracks the young career of National Geographic Researcher in Residence Wade Davis as well as the life of Prof. Richard Schulties, who was probably the best ethnobotanist the world has ever seen. Davis' task was difficult because Schulties kept no journals or logs of his travels. When he could, Davis interviewed Schulties whose failing mind made the process difficult. Davis also examined data and locality labels on herbarium (plant) specimens Schulties collected during his long career at Harvard University. What emerges is an in-depth look at Schulties' 12 years of exploration along remote rivers of South America in search of new and improved rubber-producing trees. This book provides a fascinating view of the scientific career of Schulties, from undergraduate student to career end, as well as vivid descriptions of travels in interior S. America. It is the most interesting book of explorations in South America that I have read. It also describes the lives of peoples untouched by western civilization; the health benefits of chewing coca leaves; the plague of aids; and the fragility of the world's rubber industry. Great book!

I actually teared up at the end of this book, not something I expected from a book about ethnobotany. At the end of the reading I had learned about the lives of researchers in such exquisit detail that I lived along side of them. This book is nearly perfect, much better than even the rave recommendation from some very respected friends. It's possible that there will never be anyone who will have the knowledge from experience that Richard Shultes had aquired in South America and that alone makes this book very rich, yet added to his story are the experiences of Davis and Dr. Plowman two researchers that also immerse themselves deeply into the Andes, the llanos, and the Amazon to learn about the forests, the people and the use of medicinal and psychoactive plants.

This is a long book, nearly 500 pages and is a serious commitment but well worth it as you will not experience anything quite like it unless Davis's other book is better (I have not read it yet). I only have a few complaints about the book and those are regarding omissions in some available photographs that Davis mentions in the end and a lack of maps for much of the area covered in the book. There is one small map on page 125 that shows the route of travels but it is too small and difficult to use. I resorted to a copy of International Travel Maps - South America North West to see the detail that I needed as I followed the travels of Schutes, Davis and Plowman.

Davis is an excellent writer and he has a way of conveying a sensitivity to the lives of all that he encounters. That along with his insight into the cultures that he experiences and the knowledge and history that he brings into this makes it a unique, rich read.

As a concierge at one of the French Quarter hotels, I recommend One Dead in Attic to any guests interested in learning the true story about Katrina. I draw the floodline line on the city map, mention Chris's book and tell them they must go on a city tour that includes the Katrina areas, only 80% of the city. The news media has certainly covered the 9th Ward but visitors need to see the rest of the city.

I tell our guests to buy an extra drink, buy another t-shirt and tip the waiter a little extra. It helps to feed a family. I wish there was a way our guests could write off their trip to New Orleans as a charitable donaton on their federal income tax return. It's better than charity.

Thanks to all the volunteers still coming down to help. We appreciate it!
Anne Brett

In those dark days after Katrina, after having moved 5 times in 10 days, after having finally settled into an environment where 10 people, 5 dogs, 8 cats and no electricity lived. But I had to have my newspaper. I had to have Chris Rose talk to me. I had to be comforted by commiserating with his words. He spoke for our beloved city. He was the comforting word of our disfunctional town that we couldn't abandon. Why, why would we stay, so many asked us. How can you abandon such a great love because she is sick and in danger of dying? Never under such terms could I leave her. Many days passed that had Red Cross food deliveries, CNN helicopters buzzing overhead and I prayed, "please don't let me be on CNN tonight as I rummage through the wreckage of my world." Spare me the humiliation. Where is Chris? Where is his column? I need to cry today, as I do everyday. I need to have his words torment me and comfort me and tuck me into bed in my FEMA trailer (that I was extremely thankful to have) I jumped up and down like a Publishers Clearing House winner when the little white box was delivered. It was the size of my walkin closet in my home, but it was the ability to stay with my city and my people that was delivered. Chris, if you ever left us, I couldn't handle that. His book is LIFE IN NEW ORLEANS after the storm. To read it, is to know our pain and to feel the shock of suddenly leaving America, to land up in a third-world country and to understand what we take for granted every day as Americans. This book describes that journey--from fat and happy American to 3rd world refugee. WE LOVE CHRIS HERE IN NEW ORLEANS. Only those who lived it will know what those newspaper columns that wound up as 1 Dead in Attic did to speak to us and to let those far and away experience our feelings.

Rose, Chris. "One Dead in the Attic", CR Books, 2006.

Feeling the Pain

Amos Lassen

I am very surprised that more books were not published about Hurricane Katrina given the literary heritage of New Orleans. There have been a few but there have not been many personal accounts. Chris Rose, a newspaper correspondent in New Orleans, put some of his newspaper columns together and gives a picture of what New Orleans was like after the storm. Reading it is painful and shocking and shows how much that we as Americans take for granted. (Believe me, I know. I was stranded in New Orleans for a little more than a week after Katrina hit).
He writes of what was once my city and the journey many of us took--from living comfortably to roaming around looking for somewhere to live. He brilliantly describes what day-to-day life was like for the citizens of New Orleans after the storm. I am sure many of you have never known what it is like to have to depend upon the kindness of others or to live on a cot in a convention center in a strange place with over 200 roommates who you do not know.
Rose gives us the anger and frustration and the sadness and the joy that we experienced and the beautiful way we were treated by people we did not know,
This is the book to read about Katrina because it is so honest and so well written. Rose accurately describes the sights and sounds of New Orleans and how it feels to see a city almost disappear. I cried and I laughed as I read.
This book is not about the levees that failed or the building that were destroyed or the ineffectiveness of the state and federal government. It is about the people who had to deal with losses which are beyond human comprehension, about loneliness and heartbreak and despair and above all, fear. But it also is compassionate and hopeful and has wicked humor.

Quite simply the best book about the aftermath of Katrina. Rose is a feature writer for the Times-Picayune, and this book is a reprint of the columns he wrote between August 30, 2005, and January, 2006. A must read.

I am a native New Orleanian. Although I evacuated for the storm, I endured all of the ongoing tortures of its aftermath. Chris Rose did an unbelievably wonderful job in this book, conveying the desperate insanity we all seem to have experienced. The two things this book does not convey (and believe me, be very, very glad of this) are the heat and the smells. The heat was constantly, unbearably oppressive. Even after Labor Day, when we usually get some small relief from the skyrocketing humidity, the weather remained like an enormous hot wet blanket weighing one constantly down. The odors best remain undescribed. THANK YOU, Chris Rose.

I first read "The Lesson of the Chopsticks" and must say that I was not disappointed reading "How to Keep Life's Small Problems from Becoming Big Ones"! Ms.Greenlee's unique view of life's everyday challenges is one we all can identify with on some level.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is in need of a boost to handle procrastination and prioritizing. Ms. Greenlee's uncovers a profound truth using vivid illustrations and metaphors to convey her point and shift us out of our "comfort zone". And, it's a LOT CHEAPER THAN THERAPY!

Finally, a most enjoyable and interesting book filled with practical and useful guidance that can be helpful for every age and every level. Each lesson is deeply meaningful, yet stated so simply. A true Gem!!!

Who knew that paying attention to inanimate objects could be so powerful? In "Paperclips", Ms. Greenlee has humorously and quite consciously given us a roadmap to sorting through the habits we all develop when faced with discomfort. Reading it again and again gives the reader a fresh way of envisioning life's way of offering opportunities to grow.

The idea of the book is good, if you don't take care of the little things when they first appear, they end up snowballing and becoming big things. However, I thought the book would include more to read and digest rather than just drawings of paperclips. OK I get the message now offer some insight on motivation. The message didn't need 109 pages of paperclips to get the message across. One cartoon would have done. It took me all of 5 minutes to "read". Sorry, wanted more for the money.

This charmingly simple book spoke volumes to me about the dangers of a disorganized life, and brought to mind several practical applications. If I don't hang up my clothes every night, my bedroom is soon an unworkable mess. If I don't take care of my mail (and other paperwork) diligently and often, it soon becomes overwhelming, and I can't find that piece of paper I really need. If I don't spot-clean the kitchen and baths (almost) every day, things get disgusting quite quickly, and germs can grow. And the list could go on. It's so refreshing to see a simple, highly useful truth presented in such an engaging way, and I look forward to the next "lesson." Way to go, Gina!

I bought this book because I've read very good reviews. I found this book amazing. This books shows you how to make good designs and develop in J2EE, all the chapters with full of comments from Rod's experience. Many of the concepts of this book were later applied in Spring framework. I strongly recommend read this book for advanced Java developers.

This book is for all level developers who have interest on J2EE platform and development. In spite of the complicated technology, it can let readers digest the knowledge without difficulty. On the other hand, the main theme of author(J2EE without EJB) has become popular trends nowaday and the whole idea can be found in this book.

Frankly, this book has gotten a little long in the tooth. One might say that, from the products it mentions and evaluates, it is out of date. But never mind!

Rod applies principles that never go out of date - only the examples do - or seem to. A product is stuck with its basic design forever. Thus a critique of the 2002 version of Struts is as valid as a critique of the 2007 version.

Pros: Readable. Insightful. It will make you a better architect.

Cons: Typos (how do chapters get mis-numbered in the ToC?!?) It really should be in a high-quality hard binding (though the binding is quite good for paper).

Summary: 'J2EE Design...' is worth much more than its weight in gold. Buy it. READ IT!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, particularly well-thought out design guidelines for developing J2EE application with or without EJB. The author introduced several best practices particularly the concepts and usage of Spring and Hibernate based j2ee development is quite helpful. In addition to this book, I find patterns and bestpractices from "Core J2EE Patterns /Deepak Alur", "Core Security Patterns /Christopher Steel" and "Enterprise Integration Patterns /Gregor Hohpe" would be helpful - especially if you are building a enterprise-class j2ee applications.
Now the downside, the book needs a complete revision to include changes with J2EE 1.4. The CODE SAMPLES explained in this book does'nt work now - please update.

It is a great book. But I give it only 4 stars is because it is hard to read. English is my 2nd language. I cannot read this book quickly. I even need check dictionary at least 2 times per page. I do not have the same problem when read other tech books.
"What is WebSphere" is another book I like. Also help me to learn system level stuff. It is much easier to read. Though it does not have so many stuff like Johnson's book.
I would like to suggest the auther to consider many tech readers are not very good at English.

Travis Hunter knows how to keep his readers engaged and interested in his books. I felt like I was right there with Jermaine as he walked out of his old life and created a new one. His issues with his father may not be the same as mine, but the fact that we had that in common gave me more reason to see how the end of the book would be. I would recommend this book to any young man who thinks he can't get out of the streets and live a respectable life. Travis showed America that not all thugs desire to be thugs they're whole life.

"Outstanding Read". My niece is 15 and enjoyed reading all of Travis Hunter's books. They are very realistic and extremely interesting--"page turners"!!! I've read A Family Sin and thoroughly enjoyed it myself!!!
Keep up the great work!!!

This book was excellent from the beginning to the end. It was easy to read and to understand. I felt like I was there with the characters. I could not put it down and would highly recommend purchasing his books.

Once I read the first chapter I was hooked. This story had a lot of real life issues and once I read the first few pages I had to see what was going to happen next. Jermaine was a good bad boy who saw the need to change and found a way to do just that. He made some good decisions and also found a way to forgive those who wronged him in the past. This book just made my heart swim with emotion and I can not wait until Travis Hunter writes his next story.

I really enjoyed looking into the lives and struggles of the hood and also of african american men. Jermaine is a dude that has never worked and always hustled to make ends meet. He has a son of his own and decides that he doesn't want to let his son down and be the type of father he had. Jermaine's father Calvin was never in his life besides sending money. So Jermaine was left for the streets to raise him. Everyone has to deal with the decisions they make in life. Mr. Hunter displays that alot. People having to deal with their life's decisions in the end rather good or bad. But this is a powerful story the tells stories on so many levels other than what I have written here. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

Hi
I ordered these books and paid for them but still have not received them
Lyn Bos

I first got this book as a gift in 1996 and it's been a great part of my daily life all these years. I've bought several copies over the years for family and friends and it's the most beloved book and heart touching devotional I've ever read. I've never read it cover to cover, but instead pray for direction and open to where I'm lead. God has never failed me and spoken to my heart every time through these pages. I would love to buy one for everyone on the planet.

This book is like having God right there in your living room. My friend with ovarian cancer recommended it to me because of the comfort it has give her during her illness. Now that I face an uncertain future with parkinson's, it is helping me the same way. It is the best devotional I have found.

My first copy has long since lost its cover and the pages are dog-eared and tear-stained. I use this every morning during my prayer time to launch a converstation between me and the Master of the Universe. If you have ever longed to hear the sweet, intimate words of God and His plan for you, this is the book for you. Encouraging, and uplifting. After 8 years, this book still challenges me to walk intimately with God each moment of the day.

I have probably given at least 50 of these books to people that the Lord lays on my heart. This book speaks to me all the time, whatever I am going through. It is like the Lord is standing right in front of you talking with you. Everyone I have given it to says that they have been so blessed by the words in this book. I highly recommend it.