Roger Books

This is a handy little volume. I purchased it when I was studying Greek at Denver Seminary. It goes through the NT verse by verse. Important Greek words are given in Greek letters, with a short definition and sometimes an abbreviated parsing. Short exegetical comments are also sometimes provided. What makes this book valuable is its small size. My edition is 5"x7" with a leather-flex binding. So it is easy to carry.

Of course, with its small size, it is not that detailed. So I did not refer to this volume much as I was working on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition (ALT). I mainly used more detailed lexicons, but I did refer to this book on occasion. So it was good that I had it on hand.

This little gem was hard to find, but absolutely worth it. Mine is approximately 7" x 5" with a flexible plastic binding, so it can go anywhere with me. I wish Zondervan would bring this version back into print (anybody listening in Grand Rapids?) The Linguistic Key is on a short list of tools I would recommend for any serious student of the New Testament.

This book already has another revised edition but I have found this version to be very helpful when I am attempting an interpretation of a particular passage. Not only is it quite easy to locate the word in question because the book is arranged in the order of the New Testament, but you can also be sure that the definition of the word is the intended meaning for your specific phrase, and not just a general meaning that might not be appropriate. Knowing how to read Greek is definitely recommended, but you can get around that if necessary by simply looking up the word from your Bible in Strong's Concordance. A very handy and useful tool.

"A Linguistic Key To The Greek New Testament," by Rienecker has been a tremendous help to me as a pastor in the study of the New Testament. One of its values in in its ease of use - important words are listed in the order they appear in the text. More importantly, the definitions are very scholarly,accurate and objective, reflecting very little, if any, of the author's prejudices. I have recommended this book to many scholars over the years.

More than any other Greek reference tool, this handy volume has been my steadfast companion to NT. While I still use other Greek reference books, this remains my most treasured book. In sum, these are the reasons why:
1. It is arranged according to the order of the New Testament (book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse). Therefore, it is tremendously easy to use.
2. Every important verbs, nouns, prepositions are mentioned with accuracy and clarity. The definitions are given to understand the meaning of the word in the context.
3. It provides important cultural and historical background of the word used. This is important in exegetical work.
4. The typeset is easier to the eyes.
5. It is portable. This book is light and small, therefore you can carry it anywhere.

NOTE:
(a)The new edition came out, but I quickly went back to this volume. The new edition is large, heavy, and less appealing.
(b) This book is out of print. So you might have to find it in used book sale. I was fortunate enough to find another one (via Amazon.com) since my old one is quickly falling apart.

The littles go exploring is a story about when a family of
very small people called the littles
and there adventres.
The names are Tom Lucy baby Betsy, and Granny, Uncl;e Pete and Uncle Nick.
The Littles were tiny people with tails. They lived secretly inside the walls of the house owned by George W. Big and his family. No big people had ever seen a Little or any other tiny families that lived in th houses in the big valley. They kept in touch by letters that were delivered by cousin Dinky and wife Della in his glider.
I thout thils story was cool because we got to go exploring. I would recommend this story to a friend. I look forward to reading other books in the series.

The book is about littles or little people. They live in the Biggs wall. Their grandpa disappeared.They are trying to find him. They found a little room. Do you think that grandpa was in the little room? Read the book and find out! I like the part were they find the room. I do not like the part were they go down the chimeney.

The Littlies go Exploring was so exciting. The Littlies are a family of small people. The interesting part of this family is that they have tails! In this story the characters are Mrs. Little, Mr. Little, two uncles, a sister, a bother, and a young baby sister. The family goes on many adventures in the book. There was one main adventure but all I'm going to write is that they are looking for someone in the family that went missing a long time ago. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves adventures and exciting settings.

Once I saw this book ¡¥The Littles Go Exploring¡¦,
written by John Peterson,the natural colour and the beautiful picture of the cover attract me to choose this book.
The story was said about some tiny people who went exploring to find an old man called Grandpa Little.He was a smart man who was the first little to understand electricity and had made the trip to explore the place,but unfortunately he is unsuccessful and lost his way.
After I read it,I think the most interesting part was the part about the Littles family found Grandpa Little.they tries to solve all theproblems when they went exploring.
I think the main character Tom and Lucy were the cleverest and bravest children in the family.They told their parents immediately when they discovered the secret room and they discuss with them.It shows that they were cooperative with the family members.Also,when UncleNick said that he needed two volunteers to go along,Tom answered that he could go very quickly.he didn¡¦t mind to lose his life tio find Grandpa Little.And Lucy,she was curious about everything and had her own decisions.Although she was very little,she provided a lot of opinions about the plan to find Grandpa Little.It shows that she was a wise girl and did all the things sensibly.
I really enjoy this book because of two reasons.First of all,I think the story is very interesting,it made me easily to put in it.Also,it is very meaningful,because it can tell us a lot of things about our life.I hope I can make myself clever,brave,confidentand mature like Tom and Lucy.I think this book is suitable for everyone,so I think you shouldn¡¦t miss it!

I think this is a good book because it keeps you interested. This is probably the best book I ever read. Let me tell you what the book is about. The story is about old Grandpa Little who everyone thinks is dead except Granny Little until Tom and Lucy find a secret room with Grandpa Little's journal. And then the Littles go exploing to find out that Grandpa Little is not dead. This is a good book for any age and so are all The Littles books. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.

Most often it is the unimportant details that hold up a workable project. By zeroing in on the problem or what is to be accomplished, the problem answers itself. This book helps get to the Nitty-Gritty!

I'd like to comment on this book as it has assisted our group at work to organize our thoughts, simplify our approaches to planning and become focus oriented in executing projects. Thank you!

Unlike many self-help books (many of them far more costly) that talk AT you but don't really focus on the specific challenge you are stuck on, The Magic Megaphone actually talks you THROUGH getting your projects unstuck and back on track...in under 6o minutes! The book offers easy-to-follow examples, and guides you through every one of the simple five steps involved with "megaphoning" yourself (and your team) to getting unstuck and on the path to success. Nick Montoya's process is explained in clear terms, with real-world examples from other "megaphoners" who also were "stuck" on various projects.

Reading The Magic Megaphone is money and time well spent...albeit less than one hour worth of time! How many other books can make a difference in your life so quickly (within an hour)? The Magic Megaphone is truly in a league of its own!

The Magic Megaphone is also a perfect holiday, birthday or graduation gift for that loved one, family member, friend or manager who can use a little help getting "unstuck and back on track." I put the principles taught in the book to use and have seen unbelievably quick results. Nick Montoya and The Magic Megaphone truly uphold the mantra that "It's simple. It's effective. It works like MAGIC!"

Where was this book (and method) years ago? After reading this my first thoughts were of the countless hours I have spent in meetings about projects that went nowhere! I love the simple, easy to use outline and having the case studies available to refer to. As a consultant who now has to manage projects on behalf of clients, this is a book I am going to pass on to each of them. This process is something every project team can use and in my opinion, every project team should use. Get unstuck...get this book and we'll all move along faster with our projects!

I have to say the Magic Megaphone is a very simple and easy project management process. It's easy to glance at the process and possibly dismiss it as useless. I almost did. I'm very critical at times and maybe even a bit skeptical. Once I learned the process, my skepticism was silenced. It's a simple tool, and sometimes the simplest tools are the ones you can't do without. You don't hear people dismissing the lever or the wheel because they're not complicated enough. Allow me to share some of my insight into the process.

When creating a Magic Megaphone, you go through 5 steps. By the end of those 5 steps, you've brainstormed the answers to some questions that are important to the success of your project. Step 1 is short and sweet - you're describing your mission in a sentence. Step 5 can be pretty involved - you're developing a plan of action.

Step 5, your Mega Plan, will end up being the most important part of your Megaphone. It's the component that will get you unstuck and back into action. If the project is new and you haven't even started it yet, the Mega Plan will make sure you don't ever get stuck. It's hard to get stuck when you always know your next step!

In order to get the best Mega Plan possible, Steps 1 through 4 are invaluable. Those steps truly give you the tools to construct the Mega Plan that will get your project to the finish line with the best possible results. That's why it's a p-r-o-c-e-s-s with 5 steps, not just 1.

Magic Megaphones aren't rocket science. They're far from it. Once you really know how to construct these things, you can do them in a matter of minutes. You'll use it all the time because it's an effective way to manage your projects, big or small. It's about getting organized, understanding what's important, and getting into action.

Mr. Kasanoff's book is a great way to open eyes. Whether its within your own corporation or your clients, this book is a great place to get literate about the intersection of privacy issues, 1-to-1/relationship marketing and customer experience. In addition to sketching out scenarios that bring the issues to life, Kasanoff shares helpful frameworks, both tactical and strategic, to help make the connections to your own business issues. I highly recommend reading it and I also recommend using it as a corporate educational tool.

An enjoyable and provocative read, but very importantly, Bruce adjusts the dial and focuses a great deal on stakeholders and employees, who are, after all, critical elements in the achievement of customer satisfaction,loyalty, and profitability.

Bruce provides lots of examples personalization and privacy (and the lack thereof) that make one gasp, think, and question some of the longer term ramifications. He also offers some reasonable solutions and guidelines to help companies prevent a privacy faux pas.

Your next visit to the grocery store, weekend getaway, or web site will never be the same after you read this book!

Enjoy and beware!

I started jotting down some one-word descriptions of
Making It Personal while I was reading it-

Insightful
Readable
Practical
Creative
Compelling
Important
Entertaining

But then I forgot about taking notes. I guess I'll just
have to add Absorbing to my list.

Bruce does a wonderful job of presenting personalization
and privacy issues in an amazingly accessible way. It's
not pedantic. It's not ominous. It's not dry. Besides
being extremely topical, it's a darned good read.

Here's an idea: Forget about the web personalization that makes Amazon such a wonderful site, or that has writers from Wired still breathing heavily, and instead imagine a world where personal memory is "everywhere" -- where your every conversation, trip, purchase, phone call, or jog with the dog is recorded, turned into a data file, and shared with parties beyond your control. Kasanoff explores this world, and notes that it's coming the day after tomorrow. This book is one-third business strategy guide, two-thirds global forecast, and the tale is plausible enough that executives who read it may want to pull the CEO aside at the holiday party.

Consider:

- Data trails are proliferating, and most companies have no plans in place to manage the privacy, legal, ethical, moral, managerial or competitive impacts of this information boom.

- A plan requires anticipating new privacy laws -- and there are ways to do this by examining history and the fundamental constructs of personal protection legislation.

- Acting on information can provide the economic benefits outlined in every 1to1 book or CRM software manual, but success requires self-critique. There are proven models to gauge your firm's ability to succeed with new products and services.

- Personalization means moving beyond technology to carefully migrate to a diverse business system, where complexity is constrained to keep costs to a minimum and modular capabilities change everything from product design to employee behavior.

These ideas are powerful. Along the way, Kasanoff shares stories about data pitfalls and exercises that inspire a team meeting at the nearest coffee shop. Consultants can always explain which way the wind is headed, but for a look at the weather beyond the next quarter, I recommend this book.

There are very few books on the personalization issue so far. This is one of them. And it's very good.

The central DILEMMA of Kasanoff's book is this:
No one can enjoy the benefits of personalization if he is not willing to share the personal information necessary to make those benefits possible. And yet, by sharing that information, the person is risking his privacy in the bargain.

And the issue is much more complicated than most publications suggest: "Just as different customers have different needs from your business, different people have different levels of sensitivity with respect to protecting their own privacy".

Kasanoff refers to a story that we have all already heard, but this time it has a different ending: "We would all like to get back to the old-fashioned service where you return to your local merchant and he remembers that you buy large white eggs and that you like a special kind of fabric. But we wouldn't think so wistfully about this type of relationship if the merchant had run off and shared intimate details of your life with the blacksmith, the saloon owner, and the dressmaker".

Here are the four primary INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS OF PERSONALIZATION:
1. SAVE TIME: Eliminate repetitive tasks; remember transactional details; and recognize habits.
2. SAVE MONEY: Prevent redundant work; eliminate service components unnecessary to the person; identify lower cost solutions that meet all other specifications.
3. BETTER INFORMATION: Provide training; filter out information not relevant to a person; provide more specific information that is increasingly relevant to a person's interests; increase the reliability of information; replace "average" information with information specific to that person's environment.
4. ADDRESS ONGOING NEEDS, CHALLENGES, OR OPPORTUNITIES: Provide one-stop services; allow flexibility in work hours, job responsibilities, and benefits; accommodate unique personal preferences; recognize and reward achievement with special treatment.

Here are 11 WAYS TO MAKE IT PERSONAL, i.e. this is how a firm can deliver the benefits of personalization:
1. COMBINE: Merge information a person already has with that of others, to provide additional insights.
2. COMPARE: Show how prices, quality, or specifications of one option match up to others.
3. CONNECT: In most large firms, data exist in "silos" or departments. Firms can connect this data, providing a more accurate picture of the firm's interactions with that person. The flip side of this is that connecting previous disparate data removes a level of privacy.
4. EXPLAIN: Clarify how, when, or why to use a product or service, or to perform a task, precisely when a person needs such help.
5. FIND: Locate a person, product, or service based on supplied specifications.
6. MONITOR: Track the status of events, news, or actions of others.
7. RECOMMEND: Suggest a course of action based on historical data, the current environment, or predictive models.
8. REMEMBER: Most people are still more frustrated about what firms forget about them than what they remember. Mantra: "Never make a customer tell us the same thing twice".
9. REVEAL: Highlight a pattern or conclusion that was not previously evident.
10. SORT: Change the order or grouping of information, making it easier for people to see patterns.
11. TRIGGER: Prompt an action when certain criteria are met, such as the purchase of an item when its price falls below $150.

Finally, Kasanoff suggests that by making two changes in the ways employees are compensated; any company can simultaneously become more profitable and achieve the right balance between privacy and personalization.

Change #1: COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES TO SATISFY MORE NEEDS OF EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
In Kasanoff's experience - and I agree -, most privacy abuses stem from efforts by firms to use personal information to acquire new customers, not to better serve existing customers.

Change #2: DEVELOP MODULAR CAPABILITIES
To make the first change, companies need to accommodate the differences between individuals. Mass customization or Modular capabilities make it profitable for a firm to support personalized relationships. Customization becomes routine and cost-efficient, and in many cases costs will go down, not up. Much of the savings comes from the elimination of waste and the reduction of inventory levels.

Kasanoff was one of the original partners of the Peppers & Rogers Group that coined the term "one-to-one".

Having May 2004 finalised my Graduate Diploma in E-business with a thesis on Online Personalization, I must say that this book was one of my key sources, especially on the complex issue of balancing Personalization, Privacy and Profit.

If you're really interested in personalization, you may want to read my online review of: "The Power of One: Gaining Business Value from Personalization Technologies" by Nirmal Pal, Arvind Rangaswamy (2003).

A final quote from the foreword by Peppers & Rogers:
"Big brother is almost here. His sister is the telemarketing operator who called you during dinner last night. His nephew runs a sweepstakes and magazine-subscription service just outside of London. The same rapid advances in information technology that are pushing businesses into a new paradigm of competition - the one-to-one marketing paradigm - are simultaneously generating more and more opportunities for the abuse of consumer privacy by mass marketers. Making databases of sensitive, individual consumer information available to marketers interested only in next quarter's sales is like providing chain saws to a tribe of slash-and-burn farmers."

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

Children's detective stories seem to be perpetually "in," The Mary Celeste: An Untold Mystery from History plays on that theme successfully. Without giving us a name, the author introduces us to the narrator, a young girl who is curious...a trait that every detective needs! This young lady isn't curious about just anything, she's particularly curious about her fathers file of mysteries that have never been solved..."histories mysteries." The narrator then goes on to detail her "process" for trying to figure out the given mystery...first she reads as much as she can about the incident, learning everything she can, and she keeps a notebook of the most important clues and information. Sometimes she even includes maps and timelines!! This particular "case" focuses on the Mary Celeste a ship whose crew disappeared on the high seas more than 120 years ago.

With that bit out of the way, the book transforms into a fact filled narrative of the events, starting with the discovery of the Mary Celeste abandoned on open water by the captain and crew of the Del Gratia. We follow the crew through searching the ship (quite a detailed account, including showing that there was food for 6 months stored carefully and that all their belongings were left on board), reporting back to the Del Gratia's captain with their findings; the decision to tow the Mary Celeste back to port for salvage; and a summary of six of the most popular theories about what became of the crew of the Mary Celeste. This final section is done in the notebook style, and the narrator has included questions for the reader to answer, which if answered, will help the reader figure out which of the theories is most likely...at the very least, it's an excellent opportunity for a class project (dividing students up into groups and each exploring a given theory and presenting to the class, with discussion at the end on which of the theories are most likely...and maybe even encouraging students to come up with their own theories!). The story ends with the narrator saying she's really not sure WHICH theory is right...but she's got her own and now she hopes you (the reader) do too.

Each two page spread is given a narrative box and most include "post-it" style pink and yellow boxes which define terms used in the narrative box and most include a cut out of a spiral notebook which is meant to be the narrator taking her notes...which provides additional information and/or perspective on the information given in the narrative box. I love the section on the theories...the way they are presented with questions that the reader should be able to answer directly out of the text and/or with minimal additional research. I really do think this would make an excellent group project for a classroom, or the jumping off point for a written report by a single student...or just interesting reading!! I'd say this book is idea for kids ages 4-10, as a real aloud to about age 6, older kids will enjoy reading this alone...the text is EASY...but the opportunity for exploring the theories and doing additional research is what I think makes it suitable for readers 8-10. I give it five stars and think it would make a fine addition to any classroom or school library. I love the format; it presents the necessary information (and definitions) on the page (without flipping back and forth to a glossary) in a way that doesn't detract from the narrative or the illustrations. There is a bibliography, but it's located in the front of the book, just before the title page, rather than in the back. Pick this up for your curious young reader, you won't be disappointed!

Alcohol Fumes? Mutiny? Illness? Pirates? What caused the captain, his wife and child as well as the seven crew members to suddenly abandon the "Mary Celeste"? And where did these ten people who were never seen or heard from again end their lives? This picture book does a good quick job of explaining the mystery of the ship that started from New York in 1872 and was found as a "ghost ship" less than three weeks later about 600 miles from Portugal. The authors encourage young readers to come to their own conclusion about what happened though they include and explain a bit about the six most popular theories. Great book for young detectives who love history.

What a fascinating and thought provoking story! The Mary Celeste was found abandoned over 100 years ago leaving a multitude of still unanswered questions. The story engages students and leads them to propose theories of their own. Hopefully Jane Yolen and her daughter will write many more "unsolved mysteries from history"!

As a decendant of Captian Briggs' family, I am very familiar with the details surrounding this mysterious event! Jane Yolen does a wonderful job of organizing and distilling all the information that is available and making it accessable to children (my own children thank the author, this story makes more sense to them now!). In addition, I am going to buy it for several adult members of our family. A wonderful job, terrific format, very readable... Thank you!

The "Mary Celeste" was a trading vessel found adrift in the 19th century. The crew was missing and there was no apparent reason found or note made in the log to explain what had occurred. To this day there is still no answer to this mystery.

This book by Jane Yolen is a terrific introduction to the mystery that is a fun read for children and adults. It is designed to be thought provoking and to encourage kids to use critical thinking. All of the different theories about the ship are presented and the reader can draw his or her own conclusions.

It is highly recommended.

This is an asy to understand book for bigning Bass players. It helped me alot!

When I bought my first electric bass guitar I sorted through hundreds of instructional books, looking for the right one for me. When I finally asked some expirenced bassist' they all recommended this book. If you are looking for a easy-to-follow book with lots of practice tunes, and if you have little or no musical expirence then GET THIS BOOK NOW!

Is the music review of electric bass metho

In 1977 I went to my local music store and purchased this book. My dream was to be the best bass player in my town, and with the help of this book I achieved this dream. This book stressed the proper way to put your hands on the instrument and excellent drills and scales will give you a solid foundation to work from.I highly recommend it.

Electric Bass Method is a must-have for any beginner, or for anyone interested in learning to read music for a bass. The lessons are basic and fun, with several little tunes placed amongst the scale instruction. The back section offers bass notes to accompany various guitar chords. BUY THIS NOW!

I am a nanny and the 6 year old boy that I take care of loves these books. All the "Mr." books are great. My kids loved these when they were young too and that was 25 years ago!

Mr. Sneeze just keeps giving and giving. This book is amazing; our daughter has heard it over and over and still wants more. It is the perfect length, not too long, not too short (she never looses interest). I would definitely recommend this to everyone who has kids.

I gave this to my 3 year old nephew. After his mother read it to him, he called me on the phone very excited to tell me how much he enjoyed the book.

The electrifying opening of Mr. Sneeze smash-cuts into the Land of Mr. Men.

One of the more harrowing sections is when Mr. Sneeze accepts he will always sneeze.

The rage-fueled memoir is kept in check by Mr. Sneeze's cool, minimalist style. The book could have benefited from being a bit leaner. Nearly 40 pages is a long time to spend under Mr. Sneeze. His style may seem too self-conscious for some readers, but beyond the literary fireworks lurks a fierce debut.

This review owes a great deal to Amazon's review of James Frey's debut memoir, A Million Little Pieces,

The children in my family have recycled and shared many of the Little Miss and Mr. books by Roger Hargreave for the past several years. But the favorite seems to be Mr. Sneeze.I recently found an old copy of Little Miss Trouble that belonged to my youngest child who is now a junior in college. He was excited but said " I'd give $100.00 for Mr. Sneeze". It is still out of print, but amazingly his cousin still had my son's original copy! He was estatic to find it under the Christmas tree this past Christmas! So... Mr. Sneeze never grows old!

Mona Lisa's Seduction brings you in and keeps you there. Angelina Moreau, who says yes to what the universe is telling her instead of fighting it, lands appropriately in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Once a haven for writers and artists, P-town today is a well-known gay summer resort. As one who seems to have weathered an oftentimes-brutal childhood, "Angel" must face her past while finding her path for the future. Kim Rogers' Angelina is an inspiration for those of us seeking to discover our true selves--a character who says love is life's litmus test...to see who you are and to see who you want to become.

For those of you who are critical of the mannerism of what we read, Kim's novel is a blessing. Attentively interesting, concise, yet with just the right amount of discriptive adjectives. A story of a young girls search for her path in life with a suprising, yet acceptable ending. Moreover, Kim possess a great ability of phrasing the characters situations in a most unique way which keeps you reading for more.

A good book that everyone should enjoy reading. I cannot wait for Kim's next.

Kim Rogers exhibits a magnetic writing style and a commendable story for her first novel. One is transcended into the lush, energetic, youthful years of discovering adult through Angelina. Her desires create internal conflict and her actions continually weave in the complexities of other characters. One cannot help reflect on one's own past personal experiences. I can't wait to read Kim's next novel.

In this descriptive and beautifully written novel, Kim Rogers narrows in on, and successfully captures, the time immediately following college graduation when a young woman is looking for a direction, inspiration, and love. It's a time in a woman's life -- especially in one which most major decisions have previously been made for her -- when everything seems in flux while she begins the quest of finding her adult soul. Every woman makes decisions during this time that she comes to regret, but without which her growth would not be so remarkable. I reccomend it to all women, whether they want to reflect on those years, or whether they just want a good read in which to submerge themselves. I also reccommend it to anyone who has spent time on Cape Cod -- Rogers does a fantastic job in her writing of putting you right back on a sandy dune on the tip of New England.

This book is an excellent first novel for Kim Rogers. Set in the small Cape town of Provincetown, Kim's lush language sets the scene beautifully and tells a familiar tale of life after College. The story takes you through some unexpected turns, carefully documenting the life of Angelina Moreau, the main characted. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a good escape that addresses love, relationships, and our eternal quest to figure this life out.

More Than a Mutt hits the spot for anyone who loves dogs. Roger did a great job of humanizing a very special dog's personality. Our whole family enjoyed the book and we highly recommend it.

Having been a neighbor for many years, I observed his love for animals. Not being an animal lover, the book touched me deeply and made me think differently about my feelings. Reading this book brought proof that a dog can be man's best friend. Rusty's antics were memorable.

The book makes me happy in the sense that a mutt can make himself a part of a family, actually an indispensable part so naturally. The phrases used in the book are best chosen so that it is easy to read and feel the real emotion in it.

Rusty just had so many things to make you love him. It paints a true picture of some of the bad times along with all the antics he took part in. I'd recommend it to readers of all ages.

More Than A Mutt is an exceptionally good book, filled with good humor. One can sense the love, appreciation and joy this dog gave to Roger and his family. This is a story that all pet lovers can relate to.

I met Nathan while visiting one of the authors in Alabama. I was lucky enough to accompany him to several DMB shows and found him to be inspirational in many aspects. His perspectives are those of genius. Despite the many and various challenges he has experienced in life, he puts most of us to shame by maintaining a positive and persistant puruit of personal acheivement. He taught me most of all, that life is not for spectators and how we manage our challanges define our lives.

Many a year ago, when Nathan approached me on the University of Alabama campus to read a book he had spent 20 years writing, I did not think much of it. After spending that weekend reading what then were mere pages in a box, my life has forever been changed. My perspective on life and my attitude toward life has been irrevocably altered. Nathan's brutal honestly and total willingness to sacrifice his all to make a differnce resonates on each page as Nathan's story is brought to life. I wish everyone could read this book. Is it a literary masterpice, probably not. Will it change your life, I bet it will. If you are looking for a book that will inspire you and lift you up, this is the one. And, as one that has been blessed to have gotten to know the man behind the book, yes Nathan is the real deal!

"Nathan," the autobiographical story of Nathan Ballard, is the moving narrative of a man who has lived with cerebral palsy much longer than the usual life span allows someone in his condition. The reader is given a world-wind look at the trials and accomplishments of Ballard's life. The book immediately engages the reader and teaches him or her not to feel sorry for the disabled. Ballard has accomplished much more in his life than many people who are in perfect health. He is multi-lingual and has participated in many national activities regarding the well being of disabled persons, including the panel which helped create the Americans with Disabilities Act. Overall, "Nathan" is very easy to read and gives great detail of each period in Ballard's life. However, the book does tend to skip from one point in time to another. This can be discouraging to the reader in several instances, where it jumps quickly from childhood to the present. The character development in "Nathan" is exceptional. Readers quickly feel as though they know Ballard, his family and his friends. "Nathan" will truly open your eyes to the life of a disabled person. It is amazing to hear a first hand account of how people in wheelchairs are actually treated by their peers. Ballard is a fixture on the University of Alabama campus and is very friendly and positive to the students. As a student at Alabama, I know the author and his determination to succeed in his writing career. A screenplay is currently being written on Nathan, and he is now working on a book of poetry.

This guy is something else. I heard about him from a friend who read a story of his friendship with Dave Matthews online somewhere. When I bought the book, I thought there would be something about DMB in it. They are mentioned at the end, but this book is what it claims to be. It's about Nathan Ballard. What an interesting life. The book reads well, it is full of surprises and keeps you guessing.

I had no idea what life for a badly disabled person was like. The writers do a fantastic job of spelling out what the experience "feels" like, inside and outside. Nathan is honest about himself. He doesn't spare self-criticism. To me, that makes him more human. He's funny, too. I can see why Dave must like him so much. The dude has been through a lot.

The middle is a little lengthy about some lady who tried to rip him off and steal the book, but it doesn't detract from the story too much. If you are reading this, then by all means buy it. It's a great story. When I finished it I gave it to my mom.

Nathan is the compelling autobiography of Nathan Ballard, a man born with Cerebral Palsy, who worked with numerous committees on independent living for the disabled, provided input for the writing of the "Americans With Disabilities Act", learned to speak several languages, took a trip to Japan, was 22 years old when he learned to read, and went on to attend the University of Alabama. Assisted by freelance writer Michael Rogers, Nathan Ballard takes the reader on a remarkable journey that reveals what life for a person with a debilitating disease is really like. How there are times when life doesn't feel worth living. How some people take unfair advantage of the disabled. But the reader also discovers that no matter what the obstacles, Nathan loves people, life, and discovering what tomorrow will bring while enjoying the pleasures and overcoming the hardships of today. Nathan is a unique, engaging, and highly recommended addition to biography collections and reading lists.