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I've ready many books on how to get the life you want but by far this is the best yet. Easy to read, there's little exercises to do to get you thinking and she even provides ideas for making more. Brilliant. If you know you're not living your best life, then this book will really get you going in the right direction with motivation. Get it!!!

Does it seem strange to anyone that all of the 26 reviews for this book sound exactly the same? Almost like the same person wrote all of the reviews.......or coached others on how to write them.....hmmm...

If you feel that you work to hard and earn to little, this book is for you. Jennifer White shows you how to be more effective in whatever you do. When you become more effective--you will start earning more money-because your more effective, more valuable. Jennifer is one of the top coaches in the nation and it's not for no reason. Her methods are sound. Proven. They Work. Highly recommended.

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

I have read a lot of books on how to be successful--from these books I learned it takes hard work to make money. But what about life? Having a balanced life yet still making lots of money seems impossible--from all the reading I had so far.

Then when I pick up this tape I was really suspicious. After I listened to the 1st tape, I absolutely LOVE it! Absolutely fantastic! I found myself talking this to myself (happily): Paraphrase: Do what you'are best at (your "brilliance") and "Laser day/support day/free day" building momentum theory, 80/20 focus phylosophy (this is not new, but it's nice to hear it from a different person again in a different way of explanation), delegate, duplicate, saying no (I said no to a meeting that does not let me focus on my brilliance--yes, I'm so happy!!!), when is enough for adding value(talking about a sincere wise phylosophy!!), free up space and time to focus on your brilliance, write journal. All in all, it confirms my own beliefs that when you have a life besides work you can sustain your brilliance better than overly working. I haven't finished the tape now, I'm on Innovation now. She said most of people think they are not innovative. But you are, everybody are. If you think you are, you are! Using a new way of doing things better, that's innovative! You don't have a dead soul...

Some of the suggestions are not new, a few examples are not that convincing, yet, those are so minor!!! Nobody or no book/tape is perfect--this tape are exceptional!

Jennifer White's book is not for wimps and losers.

A self-help book written by one of the finest success coaches in the country, "Work Less, Make More" is an innovative tool to help self-driven, highly motivated individuals who are probably already successful do more and do better - to pull themselves out of a stalled rut, perhaps; to work more effectively; to make a quantum leap to a higher level of success; and clearly, to make a substantially higher level of income while working at a physically less demanding level.

Jennifer White's focus is on results and the premise, while difficult to envision, is achievable for those who are willing to make a paradigm shift in their outlook on what constitutes success, to undergo a sea change in their relationships with their family, their friends, their customers and their constituents.

This book is NOT for those that are unwilling to subject themselves to an intense level of scrutiny and, for a significant period of time, to pull themselves a long way out of previous comfort zones and to instill in themselves new habits.

My personal opinion is that this book is most likely to be successful for those individuals that are to a significant extent self-employed, self-driven, highly motivated and worrying with the realization that their career needs a lift. For those that qualify and are willing to change, Jennifer White's perscription will help you to become more deeply fulfilled and earn substantially higher financial rewards without driving yourself to an ulcer, without insulating yourself from your family and friends and without contemplating an early grave.

And isn't that what we all want, after all!

Paul Weiss

excellent. i can't wait to read the rest. a beautiful writing style and and intriguing characters.

Thought provoking and stirring, Lin uses few words with much power. Humor
is well integrated into a tragic plot-line, and though historical fiction is not my forte, I would certainly read this novel if I saw it on a bookshelf. The switch between different times is smooth and barely noticeable within the poignant story. - Raviv Huntington

Lin's evocative, vivid prose captures the scents, sights, emotions and culture of Taiwan/China perfectly. The short chapters are just the right length to give us a glimpse of a point in time, and each delicately crafted vignette contributes to the larger story of the novel.

In one such chapter, Lee Tong is interested in wooing a poor peach grower's daughter as his wife, and his auntie, who is trying to unload an unmarried relative on him, says:

"My cousin is delicate and yet has the fleshy cheeks of good luck. Your peach girl's cheeks are sharp as stone cliffs. She'll surely dominate over you, Lee Tong." (Lin)

Such realistic and authentic dialogue and cultural concerns (such as physiognomy) make this a totally believable and thoroughly enjoyable excerpt. Look forward to more, especially since there isn't enough literature about Taiwan out there yet!

AMERICAN MOON is a fictional account inspired by my father-in-law's incarceration on death row in Taiwan and the family's subsequent struggles. I found their undying persistence and devotion to family so touching and fascinating that I had to write it, share it.

It is the story of one family over generations, transplanted from Taiwan, to China, to America. AMERICAN MOON is narrated by Father Lee and his favorite daughter, Sha Ling.

Father's story begins in 1919 when he loses his mother to starvation in Mainland China. His subsequent wandering ways, gambling troubles and a mysterious mistake he makes in the process of blowing the whistle on corrupt government officials, condemn him to jail and his daughter to instant poverty.

Homeless, the Lee children are farmed out to unpleasant relatives. Sha Ling and her sister must live with the aunt who "bites your knuckles." Too poor to continue with their education, the sisters' only escape is marriage. This solution leads to failed relationships. After rescuing her sister and nephew from an abusive marriage, Sha Ling watches wistfully as her sister and brother escape to America. The entire family eventually land in California only to encounter cultural, legal, and financial obstacles. It seems the American moon isn't always brighter than the Chinese moon.

I chose not to make this into a sob story. Instead, it is a tribute to a man whose integrity outweighed his shortcomings. It celebrates the unflappable spirit of his surviving wife and children. It is about family and forgiveness, security and love lost and regained through great struggle.

Raised a Midwest girl, I married into an incredibly rich heritage and had the privilege of living with this family, allowing their stories to become a part of my life. I infuse Asian themes into many of my writing projects: novels, screenplays, short stories, and nonfiction. I'm also a food writer and so ended AMERICAN MOON with recipes taken from the chapters. More on me: www.karenalbrightlin.com

"American Moon" is a Taiwanese-American family's saga that unfolds in the simultaneous weaving of a parent's history - Father Lee Tong in the era of Chang Kai-Shek - and its impact on daughter Sha Ling's search for a better life. The themes in these pages resonate with all readers - all of us have dreams - but it is uniquely fascinating to feel like an insider in this family's story of hardship, survival, and hope. Lin's rarefied writing style effortlessly imparts Taiwanese culture to readers who appreciate an opportunity to be authentically transported to another place and time. In this excerpt, the journey from Taiwan to America has clearly just begun, and I can't wait to read the entire book and learn how the story ends! Julie P.

The middle ground between memory loss -- with normal aging and Dementia is the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This is the only book I have found devoted entirely to MCI. Unless you have CMI, or you know someone has CMI or Dementia, you cannot speak intelligently about cognitive problems NOT associated with the normal aging process unless you read this book. The author pursued many options to improve her cognitive functioning and documented them all. She found out she did not have AZ, and she did improve her memory using several of the options. I too have CMI. In addition to Aricept, I have had to use oxygen, alpha-lipoic-acid and other supplements reviewed by the author to maximize my brain's performance. I did extensive research on the internet, but before I tried anything, I read "Carved in Sand" as a second source for the remedies I found most recommended on the internet posts. This is an Excellent Book by someone who deals with MCI.

I bought this book because of all the 5 star reviews, after seeing it at a book show last year. If you want a scattershot sampling of most of the available techniques for dealing with normal/abnormal change in memory over time this is for you. However, the author herself never sticks with any method long enough to see if it would be effective before ditching it and trying the next thing. The A.D.D. drugs are effective for her, and I can see why.

Carved in Sand by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin is a must read for anyone interested in how the brain functions and what happens as it ages.

Chock full of valuable information and presented in a highly readable style this book will take its place on your reference shelf for frequent revisits as it has mine.

What is especially extraordinary about Ramin is that she is completely honest about the results of what she calls a series of "Interventions" into the world of improving brain power. For
instance she finds that meditation doesn't work for her. Hallelujah! It doesn't work for me either. At last someone I could identify with instead of wondering what was wrong with me.

Ramin's journey through the research into the brain and the methods and drugs used today to help with problems is fascinating, educational and a great read.

Ms. Ramin's book is a fun, informative and sometimes scary ride down memory lane. One part scientific research and another part a personal quest of what was happening to her, she does a fine job of balancing the two in an easy to read style. It helped me to understand certain aspects of aging. Well worth reading for some peace of mind.

Carved in Sand has graced my "Top 10 List of Books to Read" and the stack on my nightstand for the past several months.
This past weekend, it made its way into my hands and I can't put it down! Solidly planted into my "fifty-something" years, my thoughts turn toward aging in the best of health and with dignity.
Memory loss and the inability to focus a big concern that hovers over many of us.
Your book is a gift.
One I plan to give to sisters, cousins & friends.
Jackie R.

This is a re-read from my youth and I am glad that it has been reissued. I love all of Engdahl's work and I only wish that she would write more after her long dry period. A well-writte intelligent and charming female protagonist learns and grows within a setting much like early (good) Andre Norton- reminiscent of Ice Crown, in fact.

This is an interesting book. I like the three different voices she uses to narrate the three different worlds, and the way the most advanced world, being the most self-aware, is done in first person.

Interesting questions are raised and about truth, right/wrong, etc. I do not agree with everything the author seems to believe, but this book would be a good springboard for discussion of questions like, "What is truth?" and "What/who is God?" and "Is there anything beyond what we can see and study with traditional science?"

There are a lot of other interesting questions that can be pondered that the book raises but does not answer. For instance, was Alana's father exploiting her young heart and propensity to fall in love in order to save the world of Andrecia and, if so, is that a morally defensible thing?

Not the absolute best book I have ever read, but worth reading, and probably worth reading more than once.

Having read Sylvia Engdahl's excellent novel, The Far Side of Evil, several years ago, I approached this book with a positive outlook that it would be just as thought-provoking and well told. I wasn't disappointed, though this novel is indeed different in tone.

The Enchantress of the title is Elana, whose exact age is never given but can be assumed to be in her late teens or early twenties. Elana, looking for adventure and real life experience, stows away on board a starship that is sent to Andrecia, a medieval planet that is currently being colonized by a more advanced society. Once her presence is known, her father and boyfriend decide that Elana can indeed help with the plan to oust the invaders, which will allow Andrecia to continue to develop at its own pace. Elana becomes the "Enchantress"; she befriends two locals who are off to fight the "Dragon" (a massive rock-chewing machine), and helps them by awakening their own skills so that their quest will be successful. In the process, Elana finds herself falling for the local known as Georgyn, and in her inexperience, putting them both in grave danger.

This book moves seamlessly between points of view, which gives it a much more universal feel than had we only known Elana's side of the story. When Georyn's voice takes over, the story almost becomes a fairy tale; indeed, that is how he sees Elana and the invaders who have come to his world. Elana is, of course, young and inexperienced but desperate to do the right thing; and Jarel is the lone voice of the invaders, unsure of his world's plans but unable to do anything to stop them.

I enjoyed this novel but did feel that at times it was a bit on the fantastic side. I felt the plans Elana's father made to dupe the invaders weren't necessarily believable, but I was able to keep in mind that this is indeed a fantasy. Elana could be infuriating in her lack of knowledge and her headstrong ways, and her poor boyfriend Evrek is relegated to the background while Elana forges ahead with a relationship with Georyn. Overall, however, this is a well-written novel and Engdahl has a gift for telling a tale that will pull you in from the first pages. Over thirty years since its debut, this thought-provoking novel holds up well and is just as relevant today. Recommended for lovers of fantasy.

When Elana's mission gets put in jeopardy she faces a lifetime of torture and imprisonment. Will she be able to save herself and the mission? Elana, the Enchantress, and her father were agents of the Federations Anthropological Center and it was their assignment to stop the Imperials from taking over the planet Andrecia. They led Georyn, a woodcutter's son, to believe that a stone was the source of his new magical powers; however, the truth was that they had taught him telekinesis and he wasn't even aware of it. Georyn was supposed to use his "magic" to defeat the dragon (a mechanical weapon used the Imperials). Elana and Georyn were on their way to the Imperials camp when natives captured them. The natives took them to the Imperials camp where they were locked in barracks. The Imperials planned to send them to a research center to be studied. Elana persuaded one of the guards, Jarel, to help them and he let Georyn out of his cell when no one was paying attention. When it appeared that the dragon was going to defeat Georyn, Elana decided to sacrifice herself to try to end the whole ordeal. As she ran and laid in front of the dragon, a flood of courage surged through Georyn. He used his magic powers to save her, stop the dragon, and scare away the Imperials. Georyn went to the king to announce that the dragon had been killed and to get his reward. He decided to explore the rest of the planet he lived on while he had the chance. Elana left Andrecia after accomplishing her goal and traveled back to her own planet. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys reading a great book.
This book is written with loads of details. Georyn was the youngest of four sons born to a poor woodcutter, who lived on the planet Andrecia. Elana was a young woman in the First Phase of her training to be an agent. Jarel was an Imperial medic who was determined to prove that his civilization was not right in trying to colonize Andrecia.
Even though this is a science fiction book some of the things in it are realistic to our own world. The cool, green, peaceful planet, Andrecia is the third planet of a medium sized yellow sun. The Federation tried to prevent weaker nations from being taken over by stronger nations. Some types of people tend to be better at some things than others.
This book will stretch the reader's imagination. The Imperials used a huge machine that resembled a dragon to clear an area on Andrecia for the colony they were planning to establish. Georyn was taught telekinesis on a subconscious level, therefore he didn't even know about it. The Federation was an organization meant to save weak planets from the more powerful ones trying to colonize.
I recommend this book to everyone. It is a great read. It is very imaginative but some of the elements of the book seem somewhat realistic. Even if you are not a big fan of science fiction books this is a story that everyone should read.
~V. Newberry

Please keep in mind that I really liked this book. "Enchantress" is well written and enjoyable. That being said, I could not entirely enjoy the story because I had a problem with the heroine. I know this probably says more about me than her but...

The heroine, as thoughtful and insightful as she is, is a bit of a hypocrite. She "suffers" enormously with guilt about even the smallest of lies she is forced to tell her "poor primitive" lover.

On the other hand she only feels a twinge of condescending pity for her fiancé whom she has been more-or-less betraying by concealing her "forbidden love" for the "primitive" for most the book.

And when it comes to lying to her father and sneaking around behind his back; forget about it! She doesn't even hesitate a second and even takes a certain pleasure in it, even when, inevitably, her "disobedience" endangers entire civilizations.

There are only four main characters in this book. The heroine, her male father, her male fiancé, and her male lover. I found myself many times wishing she had a mother, sister, or best friend to whack her upside the head and tell her to stop acting so ridiculous.

The one woman who COULD and WOULD have set her straight was killed as the book opened. (Actually there WAS one other female in the book; a practically-unconscious sacrifice victim being "delivered to the dragon.")

Anyway enough about my problems. If you didn't even notice the things I had issues with, (and you probably didn't) "Enchantress" is a good read.

I borrowed a friends copy of this audio book and was so impressed I had to get my own copy. Truly a gem and wonderful resource giving a tremendous amount of insight to intuition and spirituality

This is by far one of the best purchase I have ever made. Carolyn does an excellent job at explaning the 7 charkras. Truly amazing cd series. Highly recommended.

Carolyn Myss is brilliant, entertaining, witty, sarcastic, irrational, and high-handed at any given time. She admits that she teaches rather than heals because she isn't good at one on one. But she is a gifted teacher. Listening to the CDs the third time I still gained more information and have since shared them with friends of like mind. If you're drawn to increasing your knowledge of the spiritual journey, this is a great set of CDs to listen to. She offers several interesting theorys, some believable, some not, but still entertaining.

If you are feeling open and you'd like to "wake-up" today - I HIGHLY recommend this audiobook. You can thank Caroline Myss for her insight into the non-material presence in this life and with shining wisdom, bringing it quickly to the material world. This is a wonderful spiritual and scientific lecture series, not to mention a very exciting journey to listen to (even if you never enact her beliefs into your life). It has helped me profoundly with balancing my energy and I did not have to be a mystic to get it. She is a very good teacher.

This audio book is easily listened to in 9 hours, while driving in rush hour traffic on your way to work, but be forewarned that Caroline Myss is not joking around when she embodies the teacher's archetype. What was once a mundane rush hour drive will turn into a vibrant interaction of the energy paradigm. She will teach you and if you are at all a skeptic like I was (esp. about Chakras and unseen mysteries), thinking that you've got the world materialistically figured out, and your reality beat, then you are in for a sharp and exciting surprise. You may find yourself sliding down the rabbit hole of "Who am I? and "Why am I doing this?" and "What is the purpose of my life?" and "Where am I, now?"

These types of awareness-based questions are implied throughout her tales and experiences with anatomy of our body's energy systems. Thankfully, with insight, clarity and precision, Dr. Myss explains exactly what we are made of and it is very reassuring to know that when we do start to ask these questions of a deeper nature, there are guides like Caroline Myss who are brave enough to teach the stuff.

If you think that you might benefit from "therapy", listen to this program. A large part of the effort of therapy is getting an individual to open to themselves, to see themselves as they really are, as a precursor to making changes in their life. Caroline Myss' recordings of "Energy Anatomy" and "Advanced Energy Anatomy" open the door to that introspection, giving you a framework in which to see your past life, and present actions. True, you may not agree with everything she says. But I guarantee you will find yourself nodding in agreement over and over again, at the insightful ways she presents the workings of human minds and emotions. And you will find Caroline Myss offering you answers to many of the questions you've asked yourself ("Why do I do this?" "Why did I do that?") over the years. I'm not recommending you forego therapy, if you really need it. Professional therapy can be very valuable. But I am saying that Caroline's recordings are a terrific way of getting in touch with yourself, and seeing yourself clearly (maybe for the first time), regardless of whether you want to pursue professional counseling, or not. And because (as Caroline says) the mind and emotions are prime determinants of the health of the body, this is an excellent series for anyone interested in taking good care of their body, and creating the best health possible for a vibrant and very happy life. "Energy Anatomy" offers a new way of looking at yourself, at others, and at the world around you, and this program may be the best thing you try this year.

I enjoy reading the books written by Dr. Amen.
He writes so the lay person can understand and so the professional does not get bored. This book has been very helpful to many people.

This book was very informative and useful to me. Everything that is described about these conditions helped me feel that I was on the road to recovery with what my doctor had prescribed, and know with the added knowledge provided by this book I have added supplements, excerise, and a positive attitude to my dealing with my depression.

WOW! What a book. I have many books, on the above subjects, being a sufferer myself, and feeling like I'm hitting a blank wall trying to fully understand it, but also a book that actively helps you to accept there is more information about diagnosis, PROPER treatment available, and REAL solutions to these debilitating illnesses, not just psychotherapy, or medication. It delves into the psysiological reasons and chemistry of the brain and how SPECT scans can verify diagnoses and help to correctly pinpoint the specific type of illness you may have. I have read many medical books and was 'till now unaware of the physiological markers to look out for, but also that these scans help to pinpoint accurate treatment for your specific type, of which there are 7 main types. It is not for the novice necessarily as medical jargon is used, but is well worth the read and there are addresses and phone numbers for contacting doctors that help diagnose and treat patients.It helps to self diagnose to a point, and makes you feel like there is light at the end of the very long tunnel. About time a book like this has come along. I plan to use it extensively and rid myself of the bain I carry around daily!

There are a lot of self help books out there, and in that there are a lot of them that don't help. This book helps people do what they need to do to not suffer anymore. It talks about medication if needed, and other natural alternatives as well. I like how Dr. Amen stresses that it is a change in a whole lifestyle. Taking medicine, natural or not needs to be accompanied by a GOOD DIET (supplements) and EXCERCISE! For anyone that is sick of being anxious and or depressed, this book is a great place to start! He gives tools to help a person get out of feeling stuck.
Highly recommend to really read the book. Kind of like a textbook. Going back to pages if one has to, to really understand ones behavior, and what one needs to do to be healthy. Highly recommended!

I had knowledge on this subject for years, so most of the material written in this book was mainly old news to me. Most of the material in this book is an overview of the disorders and a lot of pics of brain scans. (Including before and after shots) There is a lot of talk about medication as well and different categories of antidepressants. Honestly there isn't that much extra material that books like "Don't Panic" doesn't cover (although this book isn't as dry as "Don't Panic"). If you are new to all of this, then it's is a decent read. If you been dealing with this for quite a while now, chances are that your doctor has found the right meds for you and that you've been properly diagnosed. You may want a book that goes a little deeper in the topics of "rational vs irrational thoughts", "self-esteem", or "phobias". I gave this book 3 stars only because I was expecting more with all the 5-star reviews and didn't pick-up anything new, but it's a good book if you are new to all of this and want a primer about the road that's ahead of you.

Molly Moon's Stops The World is a fabulous book for both children and young adults. I think that the characters in this book are unique, and right when you think you know the ending of the story, it turns again, making it more exciting, thrilling, and suspenseful! It makes you never stop reading! This book is simply fabulous! Children would describe Molly Moon as 'magical' and young adults would describe Molly Moon as 'mysterious'. The bad guys almost always aren't as bad as they seem to be. In this book, bad guys can turn good. It kept me very busy on a long trip.

As the title suggests, Molly Moon is hitting Hollywood in this book. But why is Molly heading to the USA after such a weird and hypnotic experience in the Big Apple? You will have to read the book to find out. Remember to read the first book to meet all the characters and work out what they are about!

This is a great book!! A great follow up to the first Molly Moon book. My boys and I take turns reading(ages 8 & 12) We can't put it down! I highly recommend it!

This is the second book of Molly Moon I've bought for my 9 year old. She loves them! It is a fairly thick book but she knocks it out in about 3 days. Highly recommend!!

my grandma got the first three books for me as soon as the time travel (book 3) one was in the book store. then she sent them to me in a package. when i saw them, i was in the middle of reading a different book (narnia, i think..), so i put them in my shelf so i could finish "the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe." when i finally finished that by thanksgiving '06, i pulled out the molly moon books and read the first one, the second one, and the third one, straight through in that one day! it was so much fun when molly and rocky (in the second one) were in New York, livin' the sweet life. and i thought my heart was going to burst when (also in the second book) the magpie could have made them into human being salsa!!!

but i thought it was great when they were in Sinclair's car, watching ms. trinkleberry and nockman. (hahahahahaha!!!)


i love this book, and ive loved all the other ones, too!

This is a wonderful and touching story. It is a good read, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever had a pet. I especially like that it has a jack russell in the story.

This book is the story of Willie Morris' childhood companion, a dog named Skip. Willie recounts his adolescent years and all the fond memories of his dog and friends as they grew up together in small town Mississippi. The story is heartwarming and the author paints a very clear picture of all the shenanigans, good times and bad that he and his dog had together over the years. I liked this book; but I think a male reader would appreciate the bond between a boy and his dog more than I can.

This was a great book! It was so touching and heartfelt. I love dogs and this book is an example of someone who loves dogs like me so I can connect! Greatly recomended!

Willie Morris was a truly great author! This story of his childhood with his dog was really heartwarming. It is so simple and warm and humorous, you will just love it. Warning: you will cry your eyes out at the end, but it's worth the pain. One of the best animal stories ever, I hope many kids read this in school. If you loved the movie "A Christmas Story" you will love this book. The movie version of "My Dog Skip" is also quite good, though it is kind of upsetting that in order to create drama the wonderful father of the book is kind of nasty in the movie. Willie Morris was a great author who also wrote a cat book entitled "My Cat Spit McGee" and several books about his life that remind me a little of Russel Baker's memoirs. One is entitled "North Toward Home", another "Good Old Boy" and one is about life in New York City.

Willie Morris has recounted the life of not just a boyhood pet, but a dear and close friend.
The Story of Skip's life as told by his owner is full of mythic adventures of childhood. Where every new day was full of joy and wonder. Morris' storytelling brings the dog, his family and the lush southern landscape into full and brilliant view.
When you read My Dog Skip you can just feel how much this young man loved and revered his dog.
Any of us who have had a much loved pet know that the bond between animal and human can reach so much further than just "pet and owner". Willie Morris makes the statement that Skip wasn't just his dog, but his brother... that is a beautiful thing. Morris grew up an only child but did not feel alone by any stretch of the imagination. He was loved deeply by and deeply loved his dog Skip.
Another great point made in this book is how Willie Morris learned so much from his dog Skip. He clearly states that the most lasting lessons he has learned about love and loyalty came from knowing his dog.
This book captures so well the love a boy or any human being can have for a pet... I loved the story and highly recommend it!

Although RC Waggoner is new to the general public, his way with words will leave a positive, lasting impression with any of his readers. His descriptions of scenes and situations provides a realisim that draws the reader in as though watching a movie. Well done!

This story is very intriguing. The little girl is quite the attention grabber, even though she tries hard to remain anonymous, she opens up a plethora of questions. How could George be entangled in all of this, I don't know, but I want to know now. Good job, I'm hooked!

The book caught my attention immediately, and held it throughout the entire excerpt. RC's word usage drew me into the story and helped me to visualize the world through the eyes and heart of the main character, George. As I read, subtle details of his past and present situations were revealed so that I while I felt I began to understood him, I still felt a compelling need to learn more. I look forward to reading the whole book to find out who the girl is and what affect she will have on his life and the lives of his family.

Ever since I read The Orchid, I've been waiting with anticipation for RC Waggoner's next book and here it is! Only, it's not but a taste! His first was a romance tinged with drama and enough mystery to attract even the most die-hard romance-hater; this one appears - right from the start - to set up a very intriguing scenario. So George is in rural Virginia - could Waggoner have found a more rural spot than Clear Fork? On Google Maps, it's just a highway with houses and a pretension that calls itself a town! - Okay, good. I see the creek that runs through Clear Fork, following the highway. If this map were any clearer, I could see Crystal herself standing at the hedge wondering if she dare try to make friends with George. It took five of the sixteen pages to whet my appetite; by page sixteen, I was mad at Amazon.com! I want this one published - and then I want RC to sign it! I like his style, his way of bringing you into the book as if you are watching it in HD instead of analogue. Oh, by the way, RC, thanks for writing The Orchid - and thanks in advance for the next few you write, including Saving Crystal! There's a bunch of us in Indianapolis waiting for it to hit the bookshelves and bounce to the NY Times Best Seller list.

What a well written short by RC Waggoner whose descriptive writing captivates you from the beginning. It's apparent that George Grant's life drastically changed when his wife Martha was killed. What happened between George and his children and who is this young girl that appeared out of nowhere? Why hasn't anyone else seen her except George.... I'm anxious to read the "rest of the story", I know it will be a fantastic read.

As a lover of military history, and WWII in particular, I was eager to read another great sea story, so highly rated. The title, Ship of Ghosts, was most intriguing, suggesting the story of a warship that kept up a fight while out of all communications. Unfortunately, the title turned out to be misleading. The USS Houston was sunk rather quickly, in its second battle of the war, so the bulk of the book describes how the American POWs survived a brutal Japanese imprisonment. An interesting read in itself, but not what it represents to be. I note that out of 420 pages, only 80 are about the sea battles. Hornfischer is a fabulous writer (maybe too good - once in a while the prose seems to get in the way of the storyline)and the story moves along, so "Ship of Ghosts" is worth reading, but readers should expect a story of survival, less so of battle and tactics.

very realistic book about what really happened. my uncle was on this ship and was captured by the japanese and spent the rest of the war in prison camps. he had told me quite a lot about what happened and the book backed up what he said.

At 69, I have never shed so much tear as I did reading "Ship of Ghosts"! I walked away from reading only to wipe or hide my tears.

In a way, I took "comfort" that my father was spared of the ordeal and that "comfort" helps fill somewhat the hole in my heart of my life-long yearning for the father I never knew. The survivors survived, not only to tell the story of the Houston saga, but also to spare the agony of their family members who otherwise would be like me.

Other good books such as Winslow's offered much information about USS Houston and her crew where I first saw my father's name. This "Ship of Ghosts" offers added views from non-Houston survivors.

And lastly, it is well written.

Eric Lien

This was one of those "why not?" choices of reading.

I knew of the heavy cruiser Houston but this book filled in the story. James Hornfischer did a wonderful job accumulating stories to present a good picture of what happened to the men of the Houston in the early days of the war and what happened to them during the war.

The Houston and along with a "rag-tag" collection of ships were given the all but suicide mission to defend Java from the Imperial Navy and the approaching invasion force. Suicide in the fact they were going to a fight severely over gunned and with no air cover.

They tried but were beaten and eventually only the Houstan the and Australian Cruiser HMAS Perth remained. Trying to make a run to Australia, they stumble on the invasion forces even though they thought it was only the navy. The Perth is mortally wounded and the Houston learns she has stumbled on the invasion fleet and rushes in. Four Japanese ships are sunk by the Japanese trying to get the Houston. Eventually she is sunk.

The story reads like an adventure which are greatly added by the personal stories of the survivors. The ship cats of the Perth and Houston. The cat from the Houston runs into the jungle just before the final voyage when the ships stop to refuel. The cat from the Perth is caught 3 times and ordered to be clapped into irons(ie a fuel can with four holes). Poor kitty knew what was coming. The grizzled old marine Sargent who stays at his post firing his 50 calibers while the ship tower sinks into the water(he could not swim). The chaplin who gave up his life in the life boats so the younger men would have a better chance.

The men of both ships try to figure out what to do. Some are picked up but surprisingly many are left by the Japanese. Some unruly Australians cuss out Japanese that try to rescue them. It was commented that in a disaster it's best to be with Australians as they have the penchant to look at everything as an opportunity. One group for instance, made it to shore, made a ragtag ship and sail and were going to make a run for Australia. They were captured.

Next came the stories of the camps. The brutality and the diseases of life in the jungle as a P.O.W. You get to hear the about the amazing doctor who had knowledge of Jungle medicine and probably saved countless men. One thing was surprising was to read these men were involved with the bridge and train system that was told by the move "The Bridge on the River Kawi" I knew Hollywood tends to glamorize things but you will see the full story from this book. One of my favorite characters from this cast is the supreme scavenger named Mccone. The Japanese were scared of him because they thought he was crazy. He assembled a crew which he called the 40 thieves. One story that made me laugh was the arrival of a delivery truck. The thieves stripped it down to the frame in minutes and the tossed the frame next to the junk pile. The driver came back and was subsequently beaten by the guards for loosing the truck. The guards were beaten by the NCOs for the truck being lost and the NCOs were beaten by the commander for the guards loosing the truck. The prisoners had to work from laughing and dreaded what would have happened if the commander had put his hand on the still hot radiator as he looked through the junk pile.

An interesting aspect was the mix of brutality and the rare instances of compassion shown by the Japanese. Beatings were a constant thing but then there were moments of were they would do things. When it came to the Korean guards it was down right brutal.

One interesting side note was the fact the river Kwai was not the original name. It was later renamed after the movie came out.

All in all this is a good book for the historian and the general fan of the area. Numerous sources are listed for further research if so desired. There is also a website listed that keeps track of the survivers and men who died on that day.

The story of the loss of the heavy cruiser USS Houston off the coast of Indonesia on 1 March 1942 is a story which strikes right to the heart of naval traditions which go back beyond the creation of the United State of America itself. It is a story of danger and brave deeds, of gallant actions and bloody combat. Most of all it is a story of ship that went down fighting against insurmountable odds - a ship which never struck her colours and was still fighting when the sea finally claimed her.

Famous for being President F. D. Roosevelt's favourite ship, the Houston was trapped in the Far East immediately after the events of Pearl Harbour and the loss of the British Force Z (Battleships HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse) just a few days later. In company with HMAS Perth, the ships fought off, avoided and evaded overwhelming enemy forces until, low on ammunition, they colluded in the most courageous action now known as the Battle of Sunda Strait where both ships were finally lost.

This, however, is where Mr Hornfischer starts his story about this legendary "Ship of Ghosts."

It is because the Japanese were so very ruthless in their bid to conquer all before them, that prisoners were treated with utter contempt. Consequently, those who survived the sinking of the Houston began a journey that became the stuff of legend and it would be a full 3 years before anyone beyond those Japanese forces would learn what had happened to the ship and that some survivors were still alive - though, by now, far fewer in number.

There is no happy ending to such a story as this because there never can be. War is brutal and warships on both sides get sunk. What actually happened to the survivors of the USS Houston has taken this author right through and beyond the ordinary realms of research into an area of personal accounts, life in captivity and life in the jungle at the hands of a regime far more cruel than anything seen since the dark days of WW2.

And yet, he produces an account of personal achievement for those who possessed that indefinable quality that always meant they were going to survive.

I congratulate Mr Hornfischer on an excellent book, an excellent job of research and a most complete account. Most of all, I congratulate him on making it all so very readable.

NM