Directories Books

The perfect reader for southern enthusiast and small town living fans. Does an excellent job of describing, in deatail, the towns and their enviroments. Gives me a years worth of weekend trips at my fingertips. A must read!

This informative volume describes a number of towns that would otherwise surely go unnoticed by the non-Southerner. Basic population, economic and climate data are followed by descriptive sections on recreation, housing, health resources, and the like. An occasional anecdote or personal interview might have added a bit of color, but this is a more complete book than most others about those charming, artistic, or undiscovered places we want to find out about, and it may be the only one of its kind on the South. I am happy to own it.

This is a very handy, concise and yet comprehensive guide to help in your search for that delightful Southern town offers good quality of life and yet within reach of a city's conveniences.

There are useful statistical highlights, Cost Of Living index and web links. The books provide information on the community, eateries, attractions,education,etc.

I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a guidebook to assist in their search for a delightful town to re-locate and live.

Most people spend more time planning where to spend their vacations than they do deciding where to spend their lives (or their retirements). Fortunately for us, the authors of this book have done a huge portion of the legwork for us: finding the best small southeastern towns, evaluating them through a set of clearly defined and excellent criteria, visiting each one, and gathering relevant information to help us not only decide where to go, but to also help us connect to the community once we get there. I would be lost without this book, not even knowing where to begin. The books is also well-written, engaging in style, and easy to use. For example, you can skip sections you're less interested in because there are frequent headers common for each town, and you can also search towns by state, climate, geography (e.g., coast or mountains), and other factors of interest.

...

This book was recommended to me by an architecture student. While not an architect, I must say that this book is one of the most valuable architecture resources in my library. As someone who has always had an interest, this almanac has really allowed me to explore and enjoy my interest in architecture. This book has a lot of information that will be of interest to professional architects, but it goes well beyond that and has something for everyone. There is a lot here that you won't find anywhere else, and its as up-to-date as it gets. I will be adding a copy to my library every year. Highly recommended.

An annual compendium of architecture and design information, articles, and facts, James Cramer's Almanac Of Architecture & Design 2001 offers rankings of the top Architecture and Design colleges; state-by-state registration laws; ratings and rankings of the leading firms; the Pritzker Prize and other major award speeches; the latest state and city "Salary and Compensation" survey results for designers; a comprehensive design competition calendar; the latest records, rankings, and achievement sin design; "need to know" facts on architecture and historic preservation; exhibition schedules for top museums of design; a locator for architecture bookshops; comprehensive and updated award histories, deadlines, and winners; recent obituaries of design leaders; student leaders on education and the profession's future; and an exclusive ranking of the "most visited" historic house museums. Almanac Of Architecture & Design 2001 is a core reference title for personal, professional, and academic reference collections.

A good resource, for a number of reasons. The variety of information the editors provide, from hard building cost data to locations of architectural bookstores, makes this guide useful in many ways. Although the book bogs down in spots with lists that I will probably never use, most of the material is stuff I just KNOW I'll need to look up at some point (such as average architectural salaries, by level and state; that "some point" is when I change jobs again). In fact, I've already referred to it a couple times already, and the year 2000 is still young. Plus, the book enlightened me to the fact that Walter Gropius shares my birthday (how do you compile that knd of stuff? call his house?). Anyway, I can't possibly enmerate all the ways this book is useful. I can say its a pretty good one to have on the shelf.

I bought this book and have not been able to put it down. It has more information packed into it than I had originally thought. The best sections I think are on liscensing laws in landscape architectue, architecture, and the 250 leading design firms in the U.S. I will make my own recommendations to the editors but this is one of the most informative sites that I have visited. The section on journals and magazines is especially helpful. I recommend regional magazines be included such as Architectue Minnesota and Texas Architect. Quality of the paper and print is outstanding. Thanks for this breakthrough book on architecture lists and rankings.

I think it is a much needed and valuable item that every Internet connected animal lover should own. This book gives greaet Internet addresses. It has everything you need to spend many hours of fun and discovery on the Internet with other animal lovers!

The Animal Lover's Guide To The Internet includes nearly 600 Web site addresses and decriptions. In addition, Bonnie included several chapters in the book to help newcomers. The first time I attempted to get on the Net, I felt like I was lost in the twilight zone. Nothing made sense and the books I read on the subject just confused me more. This book is written in simple, easy to understand language and is focused on getting you up and running quickly and painlessly!

An excellent reference guide for animal lovers to the world of Internet in six easy steps to the site of general interest, health, chats, newsgroups and on-line publications about birds, cats, dogs, fish, rabbits, reptiles, horses and even dinosaurs.

First of all, the cover illustration by Bonnie Shields is adorable. Aptly depicted animals gathered around a computer monitor are a visual treat. Look for the cat that is curled around the monitor's base. He is shown rather true to form. The inside illustrations by Sharon Redfield are charming and show an eye for detail. This is a great gift for the animal lover in your family or circle of friends. More so if that animal lover is yourself. Happen to have one or more grandchildren or a niece or nephew with a computer? Animal lover or not, this book would constitute a wonderful study tool. As a comprehensive, yet easy to understand manual for everything from choosing the right computer, accessing the Internet, to fossil hunting, this book excels. The author's words are friendly, warm and serve as the wisdom of a knowledgeable friend. I feel this makes for a perfect package. Well organized, with more than 500 Internet addresses for you to explore, you will find the material broken down into easy to understand classifications. Have fun reading and exploring. I did!

I don't know why Amazon says this book is from January 2003, as the used one I ordered says 2001. I already had this edition and used it well to seek out a Bachelors completion program in 2001. I read it cover to cover and selected a school based on some of the more specific comments on completion programs - very good advice, and a very good school - great personal service. I also have Bear's Guide to Earning a Degree by Distance Education, which I used to search out an MBA in the UK, and I've loaned that one to friends. He does a great job. I've also read his work on accreditation extensively, since I work for a non-accredited school. Too bad this book isn't up to date as now I want an MSc in Education and Technology and there have been alot of changes in the past two years particularly in this area. For example, the London program I liked in 2001 has been discontinued and the new one won't start til 2004. I was hoping for more ideas on where to turn now.

Dr. John Bear has once again provided the distance learner with an excellent resource volume. This newest addition to the Bears' Guide collection is a must have for those interested in educational programs via distance learning. Co-authored by Mariah Bear, Tom Head and Thomas Nixon, "Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees" profiles over 350 fully accredited distance learning credential and degree programs, ranging from the bachelor's through the doctorate. An entire chapter is devoted to meeting teacher licensing requirements, along with contact information for all fifty states.

As in previous editions, the value and importance of a properly accredited degree is discussed. Since degree mills have become problematic, both in the US and abroad, a degree from a properly accredited school is essential. Accreditation by an agency recognized by the US Dept. of Education, or its foreign equivalent, assures broad utility and recognition of a degree. By profiling only schools with this type of accreditation, Bear provides the distance learner with credible, legitimate and substantive options.

Several specific areas are detailed in terms of degree emphasis and specialization, e.g., administration, educational technology, religious education, library science, special education, distance education, K-12 and early childhood education, curriculum, etc.

Without reservation, this book is recommended for anyone interested in distance learning educational programs, as well as for reference use.

You can trust Bear to give you acurate, honest information on the schools he covers. This book is specifically written for anyone looking for a degree in the education field. Childhood development, elementary, ect. He covers it all including teaching credentuals, bachelor's degreees, master's degrees, and doctorates. I've bought other distance learning books but it's hard to go through each school looking not only for creditionals you can trust but also for the degree you want. I like the fact that this book only covers the type of degrees I'm interested in. Bear's also has several other distance degree books if education is not your field of study.

I have a few of John Bear's books in my study and this book is a terrific publication. If you would like to earn your Education degree via distance learning...this is the book for you. You will find its authors have compiled an excellent resource pointing you in the right direction. Plenty of information is given concerning specific state certification and how you can navigate the need for student teaching via distance learning.

Buy this book if you are serious about earning an education degree!

No doubt, a very useful guide to methods of financing a college education. Also check out "WEST POINT", by Norman Thomas Remick, which clues you in about West Point, the college at which everyone is there on full scholarship paid by the government.

This book unlocks the secrets of saving for college like the 401k plan did for saving for retirement. A real must for all families to understand. Makes a great present.

This book should be read by anyone planning to send a child to college.After reading this book, I started college savings accounts for my daughterin New York and New Hampshire. This is definitely the "sleeper" tax break which everyone should know about. Forget the pitiful Education IRA. The 529 plans are where it's at!!

Highly recommended. This is the first comprehensive analysis that I've seen of an extremely important and relatively new way to save on a tax-deferred basis for your children's or grandchildren's college expenses. It's well-written, comprehensive, and objective, and it gave me enough data to make an informed decision. Before I opened the book, I had researched New York's plan through another source; I was delighted to see the discussion in this book present all of the plan's features (pro and con) that I had discovered--and more.

I haven't met the author (Joseph Hurley). But when I e-mailed a question to him at the address published in the book, I received a thorough and helpful answer later the same day. That's great service from the author of an exceptionally valuable guide.

without a doubt - - - the most useful book i've ever seen. If you haven't bought it yet---order your copy now!

without a doubt - - - the most useful book i've ever seen. If you haven't bought it yet---order your copy now!

This is the book we have been waiting for. At long last, an easy to use, comprehensive guide that is as unbiased as it is informative. From internet newbies to experinced surfers, this book is terrific. I bought it as a gift, but ended up using it so much myself, that I bought a second copy. Be forewarned, one copy is not enough.

This is the best tool anyone could want this Christmas! It gives you the best online store locations to shop at! I don't even have to leave my house this year to buy a single gift.

The guide gives a great alphabetical listing of the good vendors listed on bizrate.com, along with their BizRating--so you know who you're buying from, and what type of reputation they have with other BizRate customers. Some entries even have comments straight from users' mouths. A great deal at a low price--something every avid online buyer should have.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in cultural resouces! As a social worker, I have found this book to be exteremely helpful for families and children. I highly recommend it!

This book is amazing! It has so much information. I have not been able to find so much information in one spot until I picked up this book. I particularly like the sites with Afrocentric children's games, online activities and books. But there is so much more than that. Parents: buy this book now! It is a worthwhile investment.

After reading this book, I was thrilled! There is so much useful information in it. No matter if you use the Internet sporadically or if you peruse the Net everyday, all day like I do, then there is something for you.
This book is simply a condensed and Black parenting specific search engine compiled into book form. No longer do parents have to be bothered with tooling around search engines, when most likely the results will be scant. Stacey Montgomery has done all of the work for you and keeps an updated list of Black parenting web resources on her website. A must buy for Black parents looking for Black parenting websites!

Stacey Montgomery has done a phenomenal job compiling about 375 web sites -- designed for the Black family -- into one resource. Her book is truly a "one-stop" shopping of information that is divided into 20 categories. There's something for everyone in this book.

For the regular Internet user such as myself -- who stays on the lookout for unique educational products for my family -- Montgomery's book is hard to put down. However, for those persons who surf the Internet very little or not at all, "Black Families Online" is still a powerful resource to have nearby because of its good-to-know information.

Thanks to this book, I have already begun compiling a list of my own of places to shop on the web for Christmas items and such. In "Black Families Online" I've come across web sites that I never knew existed that offer products that I never knew existed........a Multiplication Hip Hop CD and puzzles and interesting games that teach Black history, just to name a few.

In addition to providing an annotated list of web sites, Montgomery has added some nice additional touches, too. Quotes throughout the book from web site owners and parents answering the question, "Why go online?" or stating "Why my business is online" are also fun to read.

This book is a masterpiece. Montgomery should be proud of what obviously took a lot of time and effort.

Many thanks to her for a resource that has truly enriched my life. When not in my hands, this book is sure to stay close to my computer. I know I'll be using it often!!!

I have been helping folks produce and market their books since 1985. This is one of the best tools for finding an "angle" to pitch your book. Thanks for keeping it updated. Linda F. Radke, Five Star Publications (AZ)

This is my third copy. I use this book for my business every month, sometimes more often. I use it for marketing ideas. I bought the new edition because the older books don't have all of the environmental events in them. This is a great business source. If you are planning sales or events for you business this will help you know what events take place every month.
I teach marketing at my company and urge all of my new agents to own a copy of this book.

"Chase's" is a terrific resource for me. I write a cooking column and I use it to stay abreast of even the smallest events. When writing a weekly column it can be a chore coming up with fresh story lines and subjects. "Chase's" helps me keep my subjects current and me on top of what's happening, which I know is appreciated by my readers who must wonder where I get all my ideas...now the secret is out! Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections

We sell Fresh-Wave products, a consumer line that appeals to a multitude of markets. So special events and creative marketing has to be a big part of our mix. Chase's helps us identify fun opprtunties for promoting our line. Since may TV and radio producers use this book it helps get their attention when your event is tied into something they are already talking about!

This resources is packed with insight on advice for every trouble in life imaginable. A collection of the experienced pastor-teacher's insights for other pastors. Baxter lived the life of the servant-pastor and knew what worked and what did not for those God loves so much. He also knew the condition of all men's hearts and spoke to that as well. Everyone interested in Biblical counselling will find this book useful and handy as a reference.

Probally the best book on how to live the Christian life ever written. It is truly Christ inspired. Thats all I have to say. Just Get It!!!!!

Obviously, the most important book for a Christian is the Bible. And the more different versions of the Bible that one possesses, the better. Especially it is important to have highly accurate versions, such as the KJV, the NKJV, the NASB, the RSV (or the NRSV), and Greek-English Interlinears (again, the more of these, the better). Next, it is important to have a concordance, and dictionaries of Greek and Hebrew (and a Webster's dictionary, preferably an old one). The Word of God is the only pure source of faith, so I emphasize having a strong foundation in it.

Next to studying Scripture itself, and following the leading of the Spirit, one should seek the counsel of a good pastor, a wise and holy spiritual guide. Baxter is, from my own experience, an eminently fine choice for a pastor-at-a-distance. Do not let yourself be unnecessarily put-off by his archaic English, because he is actually easy to understand, and with just a little practice in archaic English, it becomes quite easy to understand.

Why do I like Baxter? Because I regard him as both very wise and very holy; he is a very safe pastor to follow, because he is very encouraging, yet he fosters such a healthy fear of sin and judgment, as to effectively frighten me away from sin; and he has such a hatred of sin, and such a love of holiness, as to effectively shame me away from sin; and because he has such a love for God, that he effectively helps me to see the goodness of God, that I may delight in Him also. Baxter is an exceptionally safe choice for a spiritual guide in today's age, because he does not condone sin in any form, as so many modern ministers are guilty of doing (and that without shame and fear). He is uncompromisingly righteous. He is severe, in coming against sin, because he sees the wickedness of it, and the onslaught of destruction that follows in its wake. He is effective because he is so genuine. He believes firmly in what he writes, and so he feels the truth of what he writes, and that conviction comes through compellingly to the reader. He is also effective because he is so persuasive. He leads one on, through reason, and makes the Christian life appear to be the only logical way, in a world of madness. Logic is his primary tool, yet he plies it in a warm, heart-felt way, which is certain to persuade the humble of the perfect reasonableness of the Christian life. He was a man of one book,--the Bible, so he was not excessively attached to any one group of believers, so as to parrot their "orthodox" doctrines, but he was orthodox, in the sense of holding to the primary tenets of the primitive church. Though he was a scholar's scholar, having written an amazing amount of literature, all of which is good, yet he was also a pastor's pastor, because he was also extremely successful at converting and shepherding his flock in Kidderminster.

Though many of his works are very excellent, I think that if you were to read only one, that it should be the first part of "A Christian Directory," which is basically a catechism of Christianity, to lead one to Christ, and then lead one by the hand, to show one how to live a holy life, and safely arrive in heaven. It is a manual of how to effectively live in Christ, and be victorious in all things. I cannot think of anyone safer to lead me, than Richard Baxter. Knowledgeable and devout Calvinists and Arminians alike, and those Christians who are neither, recognize the judiciousness, the sincerity, and the holiness of Baxter, though he cannot be rightly claimed by any single party, any denomination, as being exclusively their own (he actually had many enemies, though he diligently strove for reconciliation among the various religious parties that seemed unconcerned about unnecessarily dividing the church). Though many Christians during the last 333 years have not been in exact agreement with him on all aspects of theology, yet they recognized that he was a master of the way of Christ, and his intensely practical writings have been of great help to them (and me),--to warm my cold heart, to cultivate a right love for God and others, and to hate sin. I believe that if you were to follow the directions in this book, then you would very safely live in this life, and very safely arrive at your desired destination, after this life.

Baxter has an exceptionally clear view of eternity, which to me is such an abstract concept, and difficult to see, because this life, and the things of this world, tend to block my vision, and keep me from appreciating eternal matters; yet for him, it was as if he was continually peering into the vastness of eternity, and had somewhat grasped its importance, which enabled him to see the relative vanity of this "short inch of time," and keep everything in its proper perspective. I attribute this to the fact that he was sickly throughout his life, and was constantly faced with imminent death; he wrote, "I preached, as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men." No one takes spiritual matters, such as one's relationship with God, and one's probable eternal state, as seriously as a dying man does. No one can so feelingly appreciate the goodness of God and heaven, as well as someone who sees that he is just about to enter into eternity, and no one can see the odiousness of sin, as well as those that see that sin can ruin their chances of gaining heaven, and instead sentence them to eternal misery. Our problem does not generally lie in not knowing the truth, but rather in not truly believing the truth, and therefore in not having the benefit of truly feeling the power of the truth. It is very possible, and very common, to know a truth intellectually, and yet to seldom be mindful of it. Are you so mindful of the transitoriness of this short life, and your soon impending death and judgment, that you can seemingly taste your own mortality, and see yourself clearly, with your mind's eye, standing before the judgment bar of Christ, the holy and just Judge, from whom nothing is hidden, and who is no respecter of persons? Or is this all rather blurry and hazy to you, as your dreams at night usually are, when you are asleep?

Next to Scripture, and aids in understanding Scripture, I recommend this book, A Christian Directory. We cannot always listen to an effective pastor, but we can always read the writings of an effective pastor. Bless yourself, by acquainting yourself with Baxter, and let him become a close friend to you. Such a shame that the book is out of print! You can read this book online, by going to the CCEL website, and downloading it as a PDF document, and saving it to your own computer, for future reference. If you do not have the patience to read through the large first part of the book, Christian Ethics (the most necessary part of the book to know), then it may still be of great use to you, as a reference, because the Table of Contents is extremely detailed. Other books by Baxter that I have read, with much profit: The Saint's Everlasting Rest; A Treatise of Conversion; and, A Treatise of Self-Denial; all excellent. I hope to see you on the other side.

This book contains a staggering amount of information. Baxter begins by leading the person to Christ, and then he teaches him/her how to be an established and strong Christian. Further topics cover how one may profitably use the Sacraments, conduct family worship, educate children, engage in controversy, go to law. There is also a host of questions on matter relating to the church; how to know the true church, what makes a church true, is the Roman Catholic church a true church, etc. Baxter places heavy emphasis on training the mind in sound doctrine. He also recommends the use of catechisms. Perhaps not a book that you would read straight through, but one that you could certainly consult with great benefit. Far superior to anything written today. Delightful reading.

I have used previous editions of this directory several times in the past when traveling to areas where I needed a place to stay and didn't know anyone who could offer one. In addition to providing the necessary contact information, the articles in the front provided enough background in the "lingo" that I could ask intelligent questions about visiting, which saved a lot of time.

This publication contains listings of contact and descriptive information on more than 600 Intentional Communities (ICs) in North America and is unquestionably the best available directory for Intentional Communities (ICs) in print...

I've been lived in an IC for many years and the 1990 edition of this Directory was VERY important to me - and perhaps owning and using this new edition will be so for you. If you live in a "nuclear family" (or live alone), you can dramatically improve your life by joining and/or starting an authentic community. And adding your energy to one of the communities in this directory could even be your best way to help save the world!

This directory is published by the Fellowship for Intentional Communities (FIC), which has published these directories for years, along with Communities Magazine - the only magazine that directly addresses the IC movement.

This print edition is the first to publish output from an online version of the directory and involved the least amount of editorial hand-work as compared to any previous version. The data in the online directory (and by extension, within this print directory) is now largely maintained by the communities themselves.

Despite its importance, I was tempted to only give it a 4 out of 5 stars - why? read on...

I am responsible for the online directory database record for my IC (Songaia Cohousing Community). I edit our online record and am pleased with the editorial work of the FIC editors as they modified the online listing for the print edition.

Unfortunately, the ease with which the many contributors can now add/edit information is not balanced by much fact-checking by FIC editorial. My community's listing is scrupulously honest in the objective information - I continue to maintain it carefully, changing the data as our community changes. I have personal knowledge of several listings which are blatantly inaccurate. The biggest errors probably involve listings which claim larger community memberships than they actually have. For example, one community claims 8 members in their directory listing... and shows many more than 8 faces and biographies on their website. Talking with the community's founder, I learned that it actually has just one member who has been in the struggle of "building community" for many years, without much progress.

Another challenge is the inclusion and mixing of many different types of communities - in all stages of development. While it mostly contains residential communities (what most expect when they think of an IC), the directory also includes (1) community networks (groups of ICs - associations), (2) non-residential communities, and (3) even some fairly typical charities. And since the descriptions were written by many individual contributors, it can be difficult to tell the difference until you further research the group... visit their website, etc.

Even among the residential ICs, "forming" or "reforming" ICs are intermixed with ones which actually have groups of people living together... right now. Specifically, the directory has listings for communities with people with years of established culture, e.g. East Wind (commune of 75 people, formed in 1970), Nyland (cohousing of 140, formed in 1990), Ecovillage at Ithaca (162 people, formed in 1992), which appear side-by-side with MANY "forming" communities of just 1 or 2 people - that are trying to grow into ICs - some for just a few months and some for many years.

All of this means to get the most out of this directory requires research on your part and that its data should be considered critically and not assumed to be factual... Perhaps it goes without saying, but people seeking a life in an IC should be cautious when they choose with whom they will live.

The Community Directory's Introduction, part of which is entitled "What This Directory Is and Isn't" is totally up front about these limitations and given the web's impact on sales of print references, it is reasonable for the FIC to limit its investment in editorial work.

One reason that you should buy this directory is to help provide FIC with more funds to make the next version better... the people working on it are smart, hard-working, and generous with their time, but the funds available for their time are limited by directory sales.

In conclusion, an earlier version of this directory proved an important way for me to connect with the IC movement. I think it may serve that purpose for you as well - why don't you go ahead and buy your copy and start making your life better by living IN COMMUNITY!

The Communities Directory is an amazing gateway to much that is hopeful in the world. People engaging in all manner of cooperative living experiments; finding a better way to more richly be in this small world. The 4th edition is a testament to the enduring commitment of the publisher, the Fellowship for Intentional Community, to co-creating a more peaceful, sustainable world.

This is a must have volume on you bookshelf and in your road tripping backpack. Be careful - it may change your life.

This is an amazing resource. Not only does it describe hundreds of Intentional Communities in North America, it also has a chart with selectors which make it easy to figure which communities you might even want to research. It also has an extensive resource section which includes info about other continents, and interesting articles as well. There is nothing else like it. Well worth the $30. And that's coming from a tighwad! Definately on my must-have list.