Rebecca Books

I have lived in central Illinois most of my life and often pass through
the Amish area, seeing only part of the picture of their lives and wanting
to know more. Rebecca Mabry, through beautifully written words, and Vanda
Bidwell, with her sensitive photographs, have filled in the missing parts
of the picture with this superb book. The Amish faith, which places
priority on faith in God and the importance of family, is an inspiration
to us all. I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to know more
about a fascinating and admirable people.
-- Cindy Pringle

I sit and read this wonderful book and honestly feel you will never get a better understanding of the life of the Amish. Rebecca Mabry has put her heart and soul into this book and it shows. She brings these wonderful people to life and shows how they live each day and continue with their lifestyle among the hustle and bustle of day to day living. I think the rest of us could learn some valuable lessons from the Amish. Don't hestitate when it comes to buying this book, you will love it and send it out as a present, your friends will love you for it.

This singular and sensitive exploration of the Amish culture is beautifully-written and photographed. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered what life is like in this religious community that continues to live in the world, yet be not of the world. Readers will enjoy a journey into the hearts, minds, homes and businesses of the Amish Community in the Illinois' Heartland, and emerge feeling peaceful and whole themselves.
Ruth Siburt,
Children's Writer

This book takes you straight to Amish country and into the homes and hearts of the people who live there. Chances are, anything you ever wanted to know about the Amish - weddings, funerals, religious beliefs, schooling, clothing and much more - are included in "The Amish of Illinois' Heartland."
Breathtaking photos illustrate just how different the Amish are from what they call the "English" - but show they're thriving as a separate society.
By the end of this easy-to-read book, you'll feel like you know the Amish personally.

Wow! Rebecca Mabry has taken time to study the CURRENT Amish community and smashes many of the widely held beliefs. For example, no longer do most Amish depend on farm income to support their families; instead, they are woodworkers. Sensitive to cultural issues, tender in portraying individuals, and comprehensive in its approach, this is the best book on the Amish culture that I've seen in the last decade. Add to that Mabry's fine writing and this is the new standard on the topic. Stunning photos.
If you want to know what the Twenty-First century Amish are like (instead of the Twentieth century Amish), read this book. Recommended for middle grade and high school classrooms, as well as a great read for any adult.

I travel to France and especially Paris often and love to have an insiders look at shopping places that visitors often don't know about. I can't wait to get there in October and use my little green book to check out some of the places in it. Love having the email addresses, phone numbers and the many pictures. Thank you Rebecca!

Travel through the best of the insider's Paris in 208 beautifully written and photographed pages. In concise, but through narratives, Ms. Magniant brings the best of Paris to your mind while Allison Harris' photos are each a well composed tableau of the individuals shop's wares. From wall designs to unique notions to toys, antique printed matter, designer clothers, jewelery, perfumes, all manner of foodstuffs, and other off-the-beaten-track treasures- if you can't find something of great interest to you, don't see Paris-see your doctor!

The perfect book for exploring Paris via shopping! The book is divided by neighborhoods for easy reference. The descriptions are extremely helpful and the photographs could be postcards of Paris themselves. The small size of the book will fit into your purse for easy access. I read this on the subway before I went shopping and couldn't wait to start shopping.

I just purchased a copy of "Chic Shopping Paris." It's a delightful guidebook. The information is absolutely essential if you plan to visit Paris, and, of course shop. If you don't plan to visit Paris, you can still injoy the beautiful color photos and dream!

even if it's only window shopping.

My wife and I love travel and we have had the privilege in shopping in many of the great cities of the world: New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Rome, Milan, Houston, and many many others. Paris is without equal for shoppng in a number of respects: elegance, beauty, quality, knowledge of staff and the pure joy of seeing fine products in a beautiful setting.

We both admit that we are a little intimidated, and frankly it's only in Paris we have that feeling. Partly it's the attitude of the sales people -- worldly, fashionable, speaking impeccable French. Partly it's our awe that the French seem to have discovered how to imbue even the simplest product with a level of sophistication.

Chic Shopping Paris is a great passport to discovering the joys of shopping in that great city. The photographs by Alison Harris are beautiful -- the book is almost a postcard collection of beautiful products beautifully displayed. The text is descriptive, educated, loving even -- Rebecca Perry Magniant proves her learning not only in this sampling of her work, but also on her frequently updated website. If the following passage resonates with you to any degree, visit the website, and carefully consider buying this beautiful little book:

Nicole Lehmann
19, rue de Turenne, 4th arr.
01 42 77 57 21
Métro: Saint-Paul
Tuesday-Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 2pm-7pm, closed Monday
nlparis.com

Nicole Lehmann's new shop just a block away from the Place des Vosges is small but elegant, the perfect setting for showing off her luxurious purses. Each of her bags is entirely handmade, with attention to fine details, in high-quality leathers and skins with metal accents. The bags come in three basic styles: the cabas (tote), the pochette (clutch), and the besace (messenger). Each comes with either long or short straps and in different finishes (grained or smooth leather, suede, alligator, ostrich). Some have unique details such as a long chain strap that can be removed and worn as a necklace; another style has a slim leather closure strap that is interchangeable with straps of other colors, and any of the straps can be worn as a bracelet. A small line of jewelry, cuff links, and belts rounds out the collection."

And if this book doesn't interest you, at least visit the publisher's website; The Little Bookroom publishes a number of delightful books that will enhance your travel experiences.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Not only is DEAR JENNIFER a must read, it is an enjoyable read. Redshaw introduces you to Jennifer and her family and friends in such a way that you feel you know them. Funny and poignant, Jennifer's life is revealed in letters to her. I wish it hadn't ended - I want to read a sequel!

Writers often ignore the subject of AIDS fearing it's not "publishable." Not so, Rebecca Redshaw. Her insightful novel about a young man who contracts AIDS when little was known about it draws you in with the first letter written to Jennifer and keeps you enthralled through the last. Ms Redshaw is masterful in developing her characters merely through their letters. Even without descriptions, I felt I knew each person in Jennifer's life. As I got deeper into the book, I found myself wanting to have Jennifer as a best friend and Michael as my little brother. A terrific first novel, I hope to see more soon from Ms. Redshaw.

"Dear Jennifer" is an intense series of letters that reveal Jennifer's journey from childhood to authentic selfhood and outing. The letters reveal the bewilderment and anger of her parents, the honesty of her sister and the deeply loving support of her friends. Sprinkled with humor, pain and acceptance the reader experiences living in the emerging world of AIDS. A must read for anyone who seeks to understand and appreciate this revolution in our society, and who cherishes good writing.

"Dear Jennifer" is a deft and graceful epistolary novel that thrums many emotions in very few pages. Highly recommended.

IT IS A BOOK THAT STIRS STONG EMOTIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STRAIGHT - GAY QUESTION. IT MIXES OCCASIONAL HUMOR WITH STRONG FEELINGS OF LOVE, EMPATHY & THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIPS. THE INTERACTION WITH A DOMINEERING MOTHER, SUPPORTIVE SISTER & ALWAYS THERE GRANDMOTHER INTERFACES WELL WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JENNIFER PERONALITY & HER GROUP OF GAY FRIENDS. I READ THIS IN ONE SITTING & COULD EASILY RELATE TO THE AUTHOR'S FEELINGS!

Genre: Special Interest

Title: Ex Cathedra

Author: Rebecca Maines

Let your mind travel from Biblical times when Abraham and Sarah have their faith put to the ultimate test, through the futuristic `Lockdown' when Retha gets locked out on the street because of yet another suicide on the train tracks. Can she make it through the terrors of the night? Is this where we are heading?

Let yourself feel Linnea, a cryogenics auditor. After a devastating financial crash she has the monumentous task of deciding which human beings stored in the facility will still have a chance at life and which ones are to be "disposed of." - The financial tier system that forever looms in reality.

There are eight more such stories in this collection with interesting takes on our past and possibly our future.

Rebecca Maines stimulates your mind to think and feel through a variety of beliefs. Each story characterizes female strength in faith, morality and the ability to survive. She is a considerably skilled writer and compels you to read on in Ex Cathedra and its variety of subjects.

Rebecca Amines is multitalented as an author, editor, actor, cat person and wife. She has published fiction as well as nonfiction such as Jolting' Joe: The Best of
Joe DiMaggio.

I would recommend this book to all readers looking for a new perspective on life as a human. For further interest check [..].

Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbooks Reviews

Title: Ex Cathedra
Author: Rebecca Maines
Publisher: Twilight Tales, Inc. Book Publications
ISBN: 0-9779856-0-1
Pages: 165
Price: $12.95 USD p/b

A lot of successful writers do not write short stories, which is a shame because the talent of a great writer is most revealed in that particular form of expression. Even some best-selling writers just don't have the talent to tell short stories effectively; it's not easy, in a couple of dozen pages or less, to bring any character to life or to build the context of a meaningful and interesting event that will truly speak to the reader. Those who master the art of the short story should be celebrated, and Rebecca Maines deserves to be among that number. The eleven stories compiled in this collection cover an amazing range of settings, from ancient Biblical times to the distant future, as well as an eclectic mix of subjects, including religious faith, science fiction, baseball, and human psychology. Ex Cathedra is a fabulous collection of short stories born of equal parts imagination, literary sophistication, and insight into the human condition.

The collection opens with "Sarah, Who Speaks to the Lord" offering a new and morally instructive perspective on Abraham's call to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Next up is "Plowshares," a most memorable story indeed featuring a surprisingly effective twist. "The Age of Maturity" is the only story that didn't really grab me emotionally, but it nonetheless offers a most revealing insight into artistic expression and appreciation. Baseball stands at the foundation of two stories, "They Still Play the Blues in Chicago" and "The Next Ted Williams," the latter of which is a thoroughly entertaining look at the depths some fans will go to will their team to success. Then it's back to the future with "Lockdown" and "Returned Mail from EALTGELD," with both stories examining the sense of humanity and personal interaction that has been lost in a futuristic technological society. "Liquidation," in contrast to the somewhat disheartening visions of the previous two stories, offers a personal sense of hope that what has been lost will not necessarily be forgotten. The precarious role of humanity in an increasingly technological age also animates the story of "PRAVI."

Memorable priests stand at the forefront of the book's most impressive stories. In "Things Left Undone," an almost otherworldly priest leads the protagonist through a journey of cathartic soul-searching into the deepest depths of her heart. Then, in the book's culminating - and, to my mind, most impressive - story, a literally otherworldly priest offers one holy man - and the reader - an amazingly poignant new perspective on the true meaning of sacrifice that basically defines the Christian religion. "The Canterbury Path" is nothing short of a monumental achievement in storytelling, in my opinion.

Rebecca Maines really gets to the heart of humanity in virtually all of these nine stories, melding morality and futurism in incredibly effective and unique ways. There aren't many authors who can take you out to the ballgame, transport you hundreds of years into the future, and compel you to reexamine the meaning of faith all in the same sitting. I really can't say enough about Ex Cathedra - it's just an incredibly special, deeply impressive collection of short stories.

The most wonderful thing about Maines's stories is their deeply felt humanity; add to that her marvelous inventiveness and dark sense of humor, and you have a fine collection indeed.

Whether you lean more toward science fiction or contemporary fantasy, you'll find plenty here to enjoy, all with the same sure storytelling, and all with an unmistakeable sense of heart and authentic insight.

Really fun read loaded with cool ideas. Highly recommended.

Rebecca Maines
Twilight Tales 2006
165 Pages
ISBN# 0-9779856-0-1

Like speculative stories? How about ones with messages eerily possible? If you don't have enough time or the desire to read a novel try Rebecca Maines' anthology. It's especially for readers who enjoy speculative fiction with moral flavor. Each of the eleven tales within whispers a truth, hailing emotion and interest. All contain worthy hooks, interesting settings, smooth pacing, and characters to care about. There is also a pleasing variety to establish Maines as a woman to keep an eye on. This author holds insight to the human condition with her lively collection. Ex Cathedra is a terrific blend of achingly real possibilities and of fiction.

Two especially good stories are "Sarah, Who Speaks to the Lord' and `Returned Mail from Ealtgeld.' In the first, we re-visit an old tale from the Bible. As with the Bible, God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to kill his only son. This son is Isaac, Abraham and his wife Sarah's miracle child. God gave Isaac to them in their old age even after Sarah's menses ended. Isaac was precious and dearly loved by his parents, so following God's orders wasn't easy. In both the Bible and Maines' versions Abraham fully intends to follow God's will even though he doesn't want to. At the very moment Abraham is about to plunge the knife into his son's chest on an alter God stops him. He tells Abraham not to kill Isaac. God tells Abraham he'd passed the test of faith. In Maines' adaptation we hear Sarah's version of what happened. She speaks with God and when realizing what Abraham is about to do, does what any good mother would. The ending is surprising and most satisfying. Most female readers will find themselves smiling and possibly chuckling.

In `Returned Mail from Ealtgeld' Maines examines possible results to human's obsession with technology. Technology provides conveniences, but also isolates. With computers and the Internet connecting everyone with every place, there is little need to leave the house to speak in person. What happens if a shy, and sensitive girl never goes out? She talks with multiple people and has friends through holography, but doesn't speak face-to-face. This girl is called Fippy, and she grows into a young woman who doesn't experience life outside her home or human touch. One day her sister finds and reads a story that Fippy hadn't published yet. It's based on a real woman who grew up without holography, is afraid of technology, and likes real people. The story and what happens to Fippy speaks volumes. Maines drives home a point that makes readers realize Ex Cathedra is not only entertainment, but messages worth weighing.

The book's 5.5" x 8.4 is the perfect size to carry along. The stories contain unforgettable scenes, characters and messages. At moments Ex Cathedra is disturbing because the tales address life, yet are captivating, thoughtful, and compelling. Definitely attractive reading.

All of the stories had interesting turns
to them, and all of the characters held my interest.

The plots are great and all, but the characters were really the strongest part of the book, I got the impression from all the
stories that these were fully formed people, with robust lives outside of the small piece that the story represents.

Readers will leave with the feeling that
they all had more stories to share, if only we could ask the author to share them.

Every recipe that I have tried from this cookbook is great! All the appetizers are delicious, try That Jr. League Pesto Mold in the appetizers and you can make this into 2 small molds out of one recipe. The Lemonade Cake in the Children's section is the perfect take anywhere cake! The Black Bean Salsa incredible! Or if you need a fast and easy appetizer, try the Crab & Caper Dip you actually bake it IN the bread! Great history of Gainesville, FL, too! Fantastic Cookbook!

Every recipe in this book is very good. Most (almost all) recipes are very easy to make and looks like you worked a long time on them. The Pesto Mold on page 20 is easy to make and everyone will ask for the recipe. The sausage snacks on page 30 are a nice change to meatballs. Pesto tortilla snacks are very easy and great tasting also. The pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and fruity muffins make great gifts around the holidays. The Parmesan Caesar salad is a salad a I make all the time. All the potato dishes are great tasting; the squash casserole is the best I have every had. The sweet potatoes are great (even if you don't like sweet potatoes. I could go on. This cookbook has a nice feature with the children's section. I have used this book so much and bought so many as gifts.

This is a wonderful book. It is full of great recipes that are not only good, but easy to prepare. I highly recommend it!

I have tried many of the recipes in this book and like 99% of them, so do my family and my friends. My favorites include; Frogmore Pickled Shrimp, Swamp Chili, Okra and Tomatoes, Pasta with Shrimp, Lemon and tomoatoes and many more than I should probably list. The book is well laid out (easy to follow), ingredients are easy to find and the serving suggestion are on target. Try this book. You'll like it.

This book is great. Everything I cook from it is a hit with family and friends. Try the Frogmore Pickled Shrimp in the appetizer section if you cook for the pleasure of receiving compliments. It is simply best shrimp appetizer you'll ever make.

This is a wonderful, fun loving story. The author is down to earth and knows well how to keep it simple so that little minds can understand what's happening and get a real kick out of the story. My five-year-old daughter asks for it again and again. She especially enjoys the part about the mother screaming as a real grasshopper is placed in her mouth. She can't stop laughing. I'd recommend this book to anyone with young children!

This is a terrific book for young readers. The story is straight out of real life-- something most of them could identify with. The illustrations do an excellent job of portraying the action visually. Plus, there's nothing scary or moralizing-- it's just good clean fun. I highly recommend the book.

Grasshopper Pie is a humorous picture book by Rebecca and Angela Talley about imagination and the dangers of taking ideas too literally. A mother dreams up and talks about unique dishes such as "grasshopper pie" to her children, yet her young boy and girl decide to surprise her with a "pie" that has not-so-imaginary ingredients! A funny story, nicely illustrated with simple yet charming color drawings, Grasshopper Pie is a welcome addition to school and community library and especially recommended for young readers ages 4 to 6.

This story sets my 6 year old into fits of giggles every time we read it together. Fun story, cute illustrations!

Our whole family just loves this cute story! Our children really enjoy this book very much! They want to read it again and again. The illustrations are extremely well done! We are very impressed with Angela's talent. Having young children we can truly appreciate this true to life story. It is well written and fun to read!

An excellent publication for all those who have desired to implement eastern theology and the soul's path into the corporate realm, but didn't have the tools or know how. This book is revolutionary in providing the practical tools to bridge this tricky terrain.
Apply the soul's work in an "acceptable" format that won't raise the eye brows of CEOs. Execute exercises that seem sincere and truly contribute to well-functioning individuals and organizations. Review organizational and personal experiences with the new perspective of eight steps of the change journey realizing that they do exist, and how you can work with each step for the best possible outcome.
Highly effective in my work as a consultant and organizational behavioral specialist.

Guiding Change Journeys is a masterful fusion of Eastern and Western wisdom,science and mythology presented with great insight,clarity and warmth.It is full of new ideas,tools and practical applications that are guaranteed to energize and re-orient your thinking and approach to organization transformation.

Rebecca Chan Allen has written a masterful book that bridges
ancient eastern wisdom and modern western organization problems.
The book illuminates both the practical and theoretical side of some of our greatest organizational issues, and supports leaders
in playing full rich transformational roles in organization change.

Finally!... A book providing both practical guidance AND sound theoretical reference materials for change leaders and organizational effectiveness practitioners. Chan Allen's book is clearly organized, easy to use, and accessible at whatever level of conceptual depth her reader wishes to work (or to start from). Her examples are creative, original and fun to use -- in both professional and personal contexts. I highly recommend this for organization development professionals and those interested in transformation methodology.

One of the greatest challenges an author can undertake is to write a book that is both theoretically complex and strongly pragmatic. Rebecca Chan Allen has accomplished this in Guiding Change Journeys. In combining the philosophical underpinnings and conceptual bases of a wide variety of organizational change strategies with practical approaches, examples, exercises and illustrations, she skillfully supports change practitioners in integrating Eastern and Western perspectives. Through her integration of stories from mythology and concepts from organization development, new science and wisdom traditions, Chan Allen takes us on an "Archetypal change Journey" based on Jungian archetypes, which describe enduring patterns of transformation.

In a spirit of integration, the book implies throughout that successful organizational change is dependent upon individual and group psychological approaches, conceptualized within a systemic framework. The author's intention seems ultimately holistic, in that she continually addresses issues of mind/body/spirit, whether individually or organizationally.

Though the book may seem esoteric and philosophically dense at times, it carefully balances the more theoretical introductions to each chapter with a plethora of practical examples and exercises, which bring the theory to life and make the concepts infinitely usable. The overall impression is a treasure-trove of ideas. The many insights, methods and resources are offered by the author as gifts, with the invitation to "tinker and improvise" in order to adapt them to one's own needs.

In this simple offering, Chan Allen summarizes the heart of her book as a journey of discovery - which may well alter the life of the change practitioner, as well as the very nature of his or her organizational context.

I was already a huge fan of Rebecca Lobo before reading this book. 'The Home Team' gives you a look into the lives of Rebecca and Ruthann Lobo. It's such a real look at how their lives truly are and how much they love each other. After reading this book I was blown away by the courage both of these amazing women have shown in thier lives.

I had the opportunity to meet the Lobos at a seminar, and they are as congenial in person as they appear in this fantastic book. Each personal chapter of this narrative made me feel like I was almost a part of the Lobo family. I liked reading about how Rebecca and her brother and sister grew up, what it was like to be part of a team as tight as the Huskies, and how the family dealt with RuthAnn's cancer. I have read this book over and over, and my mother and grandmother both love it as well. It is definitely worth sharing!

Very well written and inspiring. Surviving with strength and heart to carry her family, Mrs. Lobo is amazing! Rebecca's tales of life and the heart ache of her moms struggle with breast cancer. They stuck together and beat it out! WAY TO GO MRS. & MS. LOBO!!!

I really love this book! I did not want to put it down. A couple of reasons I love the book is because now I know she was a normal child once and she did'nt always play basketball. I also liked it because her mom talked about her life. Now I know they had problems just like any other family does.

This book is a must read for all WNBA fans. Rebecca Lobo's life is revealed in many aspects, that of her point of view and her mother. It talks about many issues such as Ruthanne's struggle with breast cancer and how the family dealt with it. As a 15 year old girl, reading is not one of my favorite pastimes. When I heard of a book about my idol Rebecca Lobo, I decided maybe I should give reading a try. I finished the story in a total of two days and found myself waking up in the middle of the night wanting to know what was going to happen next. It is an extremely moving book in which I fould that it was very easy to relate to. As a basketball player, some of Rebecca Lobo's theories such as playing basketball to relive stress and cope with problems I use also. It gave a new perspective to why I am two different people a hustler and leader on the court and a shy and proscinator off of it. Athlete or not, this book will get you moving. It will leave the message in your heard that anything is possible and it will help you to get out and reach that goal that you have been striving for.

I found this book to be very simple in its explanation that it's not what God can do for you, but what you can do for God. It's His will that one needs to seek in order to undstand what He requires of us in order to glorify Him.

An excellent, life changing book that helps you to align your perspectives and priorities in God's will.

Gotta give it up to Mommy, her new book is quite
thermal. It is entitled "It's Not About You," by
Mommy--I mean--- Rebecca Osaigbovo.
She's funny, and she cuts to the heart of one of the
biggest strongholds we can have- pride. Its also very
encouraging, because in it she shows how God can use
our trials, struggles, and infirmities for His
Purposes.
Its targeted at black women, but everybody should read
it; even if she's not your Mommy.

This is the first book outside of the Holy Bible that TRULLY spoke to my spirit. I've just begun reading the book [I'm currently on page 57] and I can't seem to get enough of this TELL IT LIKE IT IS reading.

If you are at a season in your life where you feel like
"There's Got To Be More to Life Than This" then this is the right book for you.

I'm very grateful that the author was obedient to the Holy Spirit and wrote this book for this season in my life.

The author does a great job of explaining and giving examples on how "we" CAN uncomplicate matters in our lives by simply giving it over to God.

I personally understand that it can be challengning to give it over to God because my mind has not been fully renewed in this area. This book is helping me to make a decision to throw off my old mind and put on His New.

Quite frankly, many of us "Strong Black Christian Women" and I use this phrase loosely are missing the mark. This book is an excellent tool in helping "us" sisas begin to understand life from God's perspective.

God desire's much more for us than a husband, 2.5 kids, and a phat house with money. He HAS So much more for us!

As a result of this book, I'm challenged to take a good hard look at my inward man. To be honest, there's some stuff that I'm seeing that I don't like and needs to be corrected.

If you trully want God to Do More for you in 2004, I highly recommend that you purchase this book. You're eyes will be enlighted and opened. You'll get the AHa!!! on the situation.

Meditate and constantly chew on this book. You'll get something fresh out of it everytime you pick it. Excellent choice for a Book Club.

When I started reading this book I knew that it would be a challenge to my belief system. The title "It's Not About You" troubled me, but it was what I needed to hear. This book reminds us that the world does not evolve around us! God has the big picture in mind.

Although we may go through many trials and tribulations, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The author did a great job reminding us that God is not surprised about what is going on in our lives. He is in control and He cares!

I guarantee that once you start reading this book, you will be encouraged. You will gain more knowledge on how to have joy in times of adversity. This book is a must read!

In this work, Rebecca Herold deftly lays out a framework that is easy to follow and comprehensive. She has skilfully managed to compile material that would otherwise take a significant amount of research, time and work to collect, and has created tools for the reader that are easily modified and transferred to any industry and indeed any country.

Ms. Herold consistently produces high quality written information centered around current and often complex subjects. The kernel of what she offers is the rare ability to present these topics as easy to understand and enjoyable to read.

As I live and work in Canada I was concerned that this book may be too centered on American laws and methodologies. I could not have been further off the mark. The methodology meticulously laid out by Ms. Herold could be applied in any country on the planet and ensure that whoever is following its plan is successful in their delivery.

In my 17+ years in Information engineering, security and education I have only kept a handful of texts on my bookshelf. This will be one of them.

If your organization is considering a security or privacy awareness program, this book will pay for itself many times over. I am not aware of any other resource that includes this much material about the art and science of awareness and training. Although this book is over 500 pages long, I found it easy to jump to specific chapters to get just the information I needed. The main chapters cover every aspect of program development including: planning, establishing a business case, budgeting, selling management, audience selection, material design and development, implementation, and measurement. Chapter 10 alone - which maps over 50 different awareness topics to various job roles - should save an organization thousands of dollars in program planning. And don't overlook the Appendices. Almost every sample form and worksheet you would need is available as an appendix. The assessment questionnaires alone should save dozens of hours of development. Definitely one of best security awareness investments your organization will ever make.

I am not a friend nor acquaintance of Ms. Herold. I believe this is a good book on Awareness Training and would recommend it to professionals in that field and to security professionals contemplating an awareness training program. I believe the book has especially good material on Legal and Regulatory requirements for training. However, it is too long at 515 pages. For a training program, the best bet is to collaborate with corporate training departments; security awareness training is no different from all the other types of awareness training. There is no point in security professionals reinventing the wheel on training methods. A collaborative approach will yield faster results than reading and understanding everything that is in this book.

The author introduces her book very eloquently: "I wrote this book to provide a starting point and an all-in-one resource for information security and privacy education practitioners. I incorporated much of the information and knowledge I obtained while working on my MA in computer science and education as applicable to providing education to adult learners. Additionally, I included the same type of information that I've used and found helpful over the years when creating awareness and training programs ... My goal was to provide a more comprehensive resource of everything involved with managing an information security and privacy training and awareness program than I had been able to find - a reference for practitioners to go to when implementing any part of their education program and get ideas that will help them be successful with their own program."

The entire `lifecycle' of a security awareness program is covered from program design (e.g. why awareness is important, legal and regulatory requirements and even `how not to do it') through program delivery and execution (getting started, gaining executive sponsorship and budget, topics to cover, methods of delivery/communications and motivational techniques, incorporating awareness into job responsibilities etc.) to program management (hints about planning, controlling and reporting progress) and program review (how to check that your program remains on-track and effective).

The book may appear overwhelming to someone just starting out on their information security and privacy awareness although it is not compulsory to read the entire book cover-to-cover in one sitting (tempting though that may be!). The chapter on `Getting started' is recommended reading, with details of how to identify key contacts, review the organization's existing approach to awareness and training, and a handy road-map that would serve as a good high level project plan. For more experienced information security professionals, and especially those considering or tasked with `doing awareness', this book is a must-read. Even seasoned security awareness practitioners would likely learn new things from this book, at least I did and suspect my copy will become well-thumbed in the months and years ahead.

The coverage is reasonably even throughout with plenty of meaty content in every section. The writing style is engaging, quite easy to read yet at the same time stimulating and thought provoking. The book is crammed full of good ideas, not just theoretical concepts but solid practical advice that can be put to use immediately. It really is hard to think of any way the book could have been better - praise indeed if you have read any of my reviews of other security awareness books.

This really *is* the definitive guide - a wonderful book for practitioners in our field, one I'm happy to recommend unreservedly.

I'll begin by saying that I have two broad comments about Ms. Herold's new book, Managing an Information Security and Privacy Awareness and Training Program. First, it may be the definitive book on the topic and seems to have enough meat to be the definitive book on the practice of information security in general. It approaches the profession in the right way: people-oriented. That is rare and important. Second, I actually read it from cover to cover - a rare thing for me. Professional books usually find their ways to my reference library and are used mostly for that purpose, not for general reading.

In the over twenty years I have been in the information security profession I have seen a lot of approaches to managing the security of organizational information. There is one common thread that ties all of those approaches together. The successful ones address the people who use and manage that information. Technology simply is a collection of tools to assist the information assurance manager with the task. It has been said that there are management solutions to technical problems but no technical issues to management problems. Ms. Herold addresses this homily head-on and does it with style, personality and skill.

Her experience shows as does the commentary from two icons in our profession, Donn Parker and Hal Tipton. If you have any questions about whether you should buy this book, read their comments in the Preface and Forward.

I have known Becky for many years and I respect her skill, experience and ability to present important issues clearly, concisely and understandably. Her latest book does all that and more.

If I was told that I was moving to a new office and could take only two boxes of books with me from my library, I would fill both with technical books but I would leave space for the only two general books on information assurance I will ever need. One is "The Computer Security Handbook" edited by my good friend and long-time colleague Dr. Mich Kabay. The other would have to be "Managing an Information Security and Privacy Awareness and Training Program". It would take more than the two boxes to cover technical issues in security, but I could put Mich's and Becky's books in my brief case. Then I would have the perfect security library.

This book is highly recommended for any information assurance professional (or aspiring professional), manager with information assurance responsibilities, or training coordinator. I'm sure there are others who need this new offering as well, but Amazon only allows so much space for these reviews. I also will be highly recommend this book to our students in the MSIA program at Norwich.

Peter R. Stephenson, PhD, CISSP, CISM, FICAF
Associate Program Director, MSIA
Norwich University