Tools Books

Unplug
Unplugged: How to Disconnect from the Rat Race, Have an Existential Crisis, and Find Meaning and Fulfillment (Culture Tools)

The other day I heard of a friend who was planning to go off on a year long sabbatical at Christmas. My mum rather dryly remarked 'Why would anyone want to do that? The girl's 35 not 25!' A typical baby boomer response to a modern day dilemma? Perhaps. My first response to this might be that many of us in middle adulthood are living quietly desperate lives. In the words of Henry David Thoreau 'The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation' and this isn't a situation which appears to have moved on much since he said this in 1854.

The problem with quiet desperation is that it is not so easy to get away from. How many of us wanted to cheer when we saw Lester Burnham in 'American Beauty', get up and leave his job, get fit and 'get it back'? How many of us wanted to get up from our seat in the cinema and follow his example, leave the prisons that we have built up around ourselves within the pretence of respectability.

As Abba suggest in their hit 'The winner takes it all', is building me a home and a family, and playing by the rules really such a good idea or a kind of false reality? Do a lot of us live in a fake half-life, of the type derided by Paulo Coelho in many of his blogs and writings in which he talks about the drive of many to acquire a status of permanent Sunday afternoon-style peace in their lives, with not too many challenges and everything played by the book? The human existence craves for so much more than this, and Nancy Whitney-Reiter is one person who appears to have realized this.

Her book 'Unplugged: How to Disconnect from the Rat Race, Have an Existential Crisis, and Find Meaning and Fulfillment' responds to the inner and unexpressed dilemma of many which asks, how do we reconnect with ourselves, when all around us the modern, fast-paced world appears to be going slowly mad?

As a mother of two small (ish) boys, I found myself reading this book somewhat wistfully, as it was clear that a person with no dependents would find everything they needed in this book to help them unplug. I was enthused and encouraged by the first chapters and compelled to read on and discover exactly how I would be able to unplug too.

Nancy talks about the reasons why you might need to unplug and I would suggest many of them are relevant to many people, everywhere.

All of this is laced with her own experiences, which are candid. The reader is given a glimpse into the journey Nancy has been on, having been caught up in the catastrophe of 9/11. She paints the picture of her former self, a full scale achiever, top earner and successful corporate player who, on the surface of her life, had everything. Maybe someone I would never have come across in my life. Thankfully for me and for many others who will read this book, this twist of fate meant that I did (albeit in the virtual sense).

The book also goes into the necessary details you must consider if planning to unplug, be it during a sabbatical from work, or a full scale, life-changing, no going back style experience. It also looks at the different ways in which a person can unplug, as of course, not everyone considers travelling in the physical world a vehicle for life change. For some, unplugging whilst remaining at home, must also be an option, something this book recognises.

So back to me. How can I unplug after reading this book? I think that, for all my wistfulness, I realise that we make our own cages to live within. Mine is a somewhat hackneyed response about having too many responsibilities and people to look after to be able to get away, but forgetting something. The best moments of my life have been when I've made the effort to take myself out of my comfort zone, and this can be done by anyone, regardless of circumstance. At the heart of Nancy's book is the idea that we all can, and should, unplug in one way or another.

In case, like me, the book leaves you at a precipice of wanting more, in order to explore the idea of unplugging more fully, Nancy also offers ongoing support and links to helpful resources through her website ([...]). Nancy is brave and has come out of her comfort zone in a big way, but so can we, if we really want to. Reading her book will make you want to. Reading this book will help you to take that very necessary first step. As my husband's Sicilian grandfather used to be very fond of telling me, the hardest step is that of your threshold.

So, read this book! It is well worth it.

Nancy Whitney-Reiter has permanently removed any fears left I had of disconnecting from the "Matrix". In her debut non-fiction book, she clearly and efficiently demonstrates how people need to climb out of their boxes and do what Rousseau would have applauded, a real "retour à la nature". Her wit combined with her wisdom and knowledge shall surely help all people ready to step out of the American Dream phase and step into their own selves.

We Americans work more hours a week than our counterparts in other industrialized nations. Yet, while many of us have found our society's "official trappings of success" (title, income, cars, houses, stuff), many of us haven't truly found ourselves. Why not? Author Nancy Whitney-Reiter suggests that before we're even out of high school, we're being fast-tracked into careers that we then dutifully perform until we wake up one day and finally say, "Even though I appear to have it all, I'm not happy."

"Unplugged" asks us to question whether we're enjoying the "success" we have while being connected to the "consumption driven matrix." If our answer is "no," or even "maybe not," then this book is a smorgasbord of food for thought. Whitney-Reiter tells us the stories of others have temporarily gotten away from it all, including herself, and then provides practical advice and resources for unplugging and re-thinking our goals without losing our shirts or our sanity. Our planning includes attending to family, friends, career, debts, house and car, and prospective world wide volunteer opportunities and other travel options.

The author reminds us that unplugging is NOT a vacation trip: it's turning off the chaos of cell phones, WiFI, the hustle and bustle of work, and even grand-tour sight-seeing agendas and making time to ponder who we are and what we want. We must plan how we leave work, perhaps through a corporate sabbatical, and how we return to the world we know some 3-6 months later.

This well-written book provides you with the well-thought-out advice you need to begin your journey and return with a new lease on life.

Unplugged: How to Disconnect from the Rat Race, Have an Existential Crisis, and Find Meaning and Fulfillment (Culture Tools)

Burned out? Had enough? Even if you never leave your backyard, this book is filled with tips on how to de-stress by unplugging. If you do venture forth, you will find Ms. Whitney-Reiters' book a plethora of suggestions on how to accomplish even the most minute details you will need to take care of before you pack your suitcase, in a realistic, logical, warmly human, and humorous way.

First of all, this is way more than a travelogue. As you read, you may find yourself questioning your own motives for wanting to disconnect. When I got to the end, I said to myself, "Time to put this plan in motion." I read through rather quickly because I found that I wanted to keep learning. Now I want to re-read it so that I can actually study it and do the writing exercises with which Ms. Whitney-Reiter has concluded each chapter.

Secondly, the source guide at the end is chock full of useful resources. I've been plugged in exploring websites and researching suggested reading.

If you've decided you are in need of a break from the life you're tied to, I suggest you give this a read. As I wrote in the beginning of this review, even if you never leave your backyard, I bet you'll look at your life with fresh eyes.

I am not a 'car buff' and never buy new cars but I have good friends that know cars who help me through the torture of buying a 'used car.' This book is the next best thing to having a mechanic you trust as your friend: very practical and readable - the 20$ will probably save you a lot of GRIEF!!! It was an eye opener and a $$$ Saver. If you're about to buy a used car, do yourself a favor and read this book.... and good luck out in The Jungle.......:)

If you dont know much about cars and dont know what to look for then this book will help you.This book is all about what to look for when you inspect a vehicle for sale whether its in a 2nd hand car dealer,private auctions or at a private sale.There is so much advice here.Plenty of tips will help you buy a car.It gives tips on what to look for when inspecting any car,things to do on a test drive and so on.Written in simple to understand format with appropriate photos throughout make this book superb.Read this book before you buy your next car.Comprehensive advice.Good value.

There are plenty of books on buying cars that cater for negotiating the deal,financing,etc.

Highly recommended.

Well written, quick read, lots of important illustrations. This book is for used car buyers looking to not get burned and put the right amount of effort into inspecting potential purchases. Great for both the mechanically inclined or inept. Specifics and illustrated examples and photos of problems to look for. Covers quick filtering by phone, quick walk arounds, thurough test drives, careful inspections of potentially good vehicles, and a final inspection by a mechanic. If everyone read this book used car buying would lose its stigma and shadey used car sellers would go out of business.

This book tells you the kinds of things to look for that you wouldn't know unless you knew a bit about cars. Not only does it tell you more commonly known stuff like where to look for rust, but then gets into more detailed handy information like how to tell if there is body filler underneath paint, what you can learn by looking at the exhaust pipe(i.e. black and gummy could be burning oil or covered with white stuff shows that the fuel mixture is too lean) and has photographs of all of these. This is well worth the money if you are looking at a car because you can find out a lot just by inspecting the car. You could also save hundreds or thousands(or just avoid getting ripped off) by being able to point out problems that may not be considered in the price asked. You will also appear(and be) more knowledgeable so the seller may not try to take you as a sucker. This levels the playing field a bit so you have a better chance of finding a car that is appropriate for you.

For all things except CCReations and VBOOP there really is a single book that covers it all for beginners to severely advanced coders. I first bought the VB3 edition and the VB4 edition is still the first grabbed book whenever I hit any non-oop walls. Graphics & palettes, optimizations, and a devious VB-ONLY encryption technique that is as secure as any system you would pay for (and that only needs to be converted to a VBdll to get rid of the documented limitation ... prior to VB5 you could not reset the initial "engine" without restarting the app... think about it). Seriously, this book is the ace in the hole. Says "VB4" on the cover, excellent for any VB version (cd includes the full VB3 version too). Get it, you'll never regret it. If Amazon can't get it for you (nothing against Amazon at all but it is listed as out of print) try calling "Computer Books @ Half Price" (ask you operator for the numbers in Bellevue or Seattle Washington) for a brand new copy ... at half price .

For anyone who knows a reasonable amount of general visual basic. The language is ENGLISH. It's not scientific, you can understand more complex concepts. Proof of all statements made are backed up with code. Their are plenty of examples. I do not write book reviews, but this book deserved one. I only hope that they write another one, or someone else can write as good a book for VB5.

I never used the API before. I got this book and in minutes I knew how to READ, WRITE and EDIT an INI file using the API. Add mail-aware and mail-enabled to all your applications. It just shows you all the stuff you thought where impossible to program in a couple of lines of code. Would of got a 10 but only the bible gets that rating

This is a great book. Very specific and clear. Uses plain English to describe the power of the visual basic. I recommend this book for beginner and advanced a like. If you want to master vb you must have this book.

I love everything of Wilton's. I bought this book to find out that I have the same one with just a different cover! But, it had a couple more ideas that I didn't have, great book, very simple to follow.

This was my first time at cake decorating and I was determined that this summer would be the summer for this project. I searched for several books, but in the end the cheapest book I bought (this one) was the one that I turned to when I wasn't sure about the process. It also gave me the confidence to get creative.

recieved on time and in the description I ordered. I am pleased with my order

I was pleasantly surprised to order what I thought was 1 book and receive a 6-pack of these 40-page booklets. These would make great gifts for friends interested in learning the basics. It covers baking, leveling, stacking, icing the cakes; preparing the cake board, making and coloring buttercream and royal icings, preparing bags, filling with icing; bag position; decorating with various tips (round, star, petal, leaf). Then it gives instructions for specific projects including a bear cake, fish cake, swirl-topped cake, lettering, cupcakes, clown cake, balloon cake, star cake, castle cake, flower/heart cake, baseball cake, big cookie.

This book was very well written. It covered many extremely interesting topics useful to most people using a modern OS. It's a shame MS did not include it with their over-priced Windoze XP. Well worth the price.

Windows XP Power Tools is a jewel for advanced and power users of Windows XP, both the home and professional versions. It is well organized and can be read from cover-to-cover or by individual sections. Each section covers the topics in detail with excellent examples and illustrations.

Windows XP Power Tools is not just a rehash of vendor documentation or other authors that leave out important information. Rather, each topic is presented in enough detail to be complete and really useful.

To me, a good technical computer book allows the reader to stand on the shoulders of the author to get a jump-start on rapidly evolving technologies. The author, Jim Boyce seems to have broad shoulders on which to stand.

If you are an advanced computer user and want good, focused information on Windows XP, then get this book.

"Windows XP Power Tools" is a fantastic collection of tips and tricks for really using Windows XP to it's fullest potential. Each of the advanced techniques is fully explained in a way that you can feel comfortable implementing it without concern that you will be breaking something else. Topic coverage is extensive and includes advanced setup information such as startup and shutdown control, networking, OS components, FTP hosting, hardware, remote access and VPN connections as well as maintenance information on items such as the registry, security, automated tasks, the command console, policies, and recovering from disasters.

If that weren't enough reason to purchase the book (which, believe me, it is), it also has a CD with many useful utilities. If you want a book that is well written and comprehensive with detailed instructions to make you a real power user and troubleshooter then this is an excellent choice - A highly recommended book.

Regardless of your Windows XP level, professional systems administrators using XP Professional to first time home users using XP Home Edition can find value in this title. The author has succeeded in putting together an easy reading and comprehending, one-stop reference that puts Microsoft's Windows XP Resource Kit and Step by Step books to shame.

The book does an excellent job of addressing the needs of users where Windows XP is their first OS away from Windows 9x, while not bringing the information level down for seasoned NT/2000 administrators who need a source of information for the features so poorly documented by Microsoft.

The printed portion of the book covers everything from Windows Shortcuts, Policies, the Recovery Console and EFS to slipstream deployment of service packs, designing network topologies, web mastering with IIS and VPN Connections. The included CD-ROM includes many useful shareware/professional utilities and tools (and unlike some other included CD-ROMs, many of the titles are used quite frequently within the industry). A nice note about the CD-ROM and the book is that the author hasn't written an 800 page advertisement for the utilities - the CD-ROM can stay sealed in the pouch, never seeing the light of day, and the book will still stand on it's own.

The back cover says it's a must-have. I've used Windows XP since it was in beta, deployed the release to my network users, and certified in the OS by Microsoft - and I couldn't agree more.

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from this book. The tips have really made a difference in both my personal and professional life. From the smallest tips (clearing the space around you) to the more involved ideas (do these things every day), Jane Schulte's book will truly change your life.

There are great techniques described that can be applied to any office or home. It makes being organized easy, and eliminates stress and worry from tasks that seem overwhelming!

I have used many of the tools in Work Smart, Not hard. With the PEND System, I am able to confidently know that all tasks will be accomplished on time. Learning to delegate has elevated me to be able to do work on higher level projects.

Organizing my email has kept my mind clear to take on more work.

Meg Frodge
Employee Support Manager

Busy professionals and busy moms juggling many tasks. Executives in need of organization. Office managers trying to run their offices more efficiently. Average joes trying to find the work/home balance. Anyone who feels like they are going to explode from the mounting stack of work in front of them. This book is for everyone. Jane Schulte is an insightful writer who reminds you to be patient if you do not see immediate results, and to adopt one tool at a time starting with what interests you most.

Be sure to check out the chapters about the PEND System and Do These Things Every Day. These are simple and effective methods to get your desk -- and your brain -- organized (at work and at home!)

This book is concise yet thorough - perfect for busy people in need of smart tools that will make their lives a bit easier!

Just starting to dabble in woodworking as a hobby, I have acquired several books, but this is definitely one that I keep coming back to, and there a several reasons for that.

First and maybe most important is that it's bound in such a way that I can lay the book flat on the table. It allows me to go set up a tool, and constant refer back to the book without having to put weights to hold the book open, photocopies, etc. It's at much a tool as anything else in the shop.

Second, it covers all the major power tools, and their intended uses. It doesn't just tell you what each tool is, and how they work, but the best methods of how to use the tool.

Third, it is chock full of all sorts of tips and tricks to help make the work that you're doing easier and/or more precise. While sometimes it may be hard to remember exactly where a particular trick may be, the book does have a well put together index to help finding things.

This is easily the most important book that I have in my workshop, and have recommended it to others that I know. Now if only other book manufacturers would bind their books in the same way.

This is a great reference. There is so much information in this book, in an easy to read format, that is has become my primary reference around the shop

As other reviewers have noted this is a great reference book for the workshop and I know I will use it constantly. My disappointment lies in the fact that the book jacket is terribly flimsy and made of really thin card. I can't imagine it lasting long even given that the spiral binding makes the book easy to use.

This is a good reference book - there's just enough information to be useful, not too much so that it's overwhelming. If you are looking for your first woodworking reference, this is a good overview of all the basics, from wood types, to tools and techniques, project design concepts, and home shop setup. There's a really nice appendix at the end the book, with a list of other recommended reads, and lots of "woodworker geek charts and graphs" to ensure that this book stays in the shop. Lots of good info at a value price.

Patrika Vaughn's "The Writer's Tool Box" is an excellent source of information for every writer who has learned the basics, and serves as a follow-up to her highly-recommended book, "Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish and Market Your Book." Ms. Vaughn is an "author's advocate" and, as such, attempts to help the author from concept to polished product ready for submission. Each audio CD is approximately 43 minutes and has a brief, repeated introduction. The first CD is a diagnostic tool to help the writer polish his/her writing. The following CDs cover more in-depth details on openings that hook readers, author's voice, giving life to characters and developing intriguing plots. Each topic is geared to help authors make the right decisions, and the works of well-known authors are included to substantiate Ms. Vaughn's instructional examples. These CDs are great to listen to while driving in a car or doing work around the home, though I suggest listening to them at home. Even though I'm a published author, I took down notes and obtained some wonderful ideas from these CDs. I highly recommend "The Writer's Tool Box" for every writer and author.

I read McFarland's review and disagree. I'm one of those writers who can't quit my day job yet, so I only get to study and write intermittently. I always carry one of these five CDs in my car so I can listen as I drive. The repeated intro on each tape helps me get back in the grove...reminds me of who I'm listening to, and what she's all about. By the time the new material begins, I'm ready to absorb it. What follows is great, worth listening to many times. I think everything about this CD set is terrific. Wouldn't change a thing.

I struggled with books, classes and other audio instructions for years and my writing didn't get better. Then I heard about The Writer's Tool Box and tried it. Zowie! I'm now a published writer, and I owe it all to this CD.

While Patrika Vaughn's earlier book "Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish & Market Your Book" was a solid winner of a book for the beginning writer, this work has both good and bad points. On the good side this work follows up on the prior book with much more detailed information on how to write better. The different CDs cover "Why Your Writing Isn't Working", "Openings That Hook Readers", "Choosing Your Voice", "Bringing Characters to Life", and "Plots that Intrigue". As usual she does an excellent job on these subjects and the information is sure to improve the writing of anyone trying to break into the writing market. She does a really good job with the ones on "Openings that Hook Readers" and "Plots that Intrigue". These are perhaps the most important parts of good writing and so many people do them badly.

There were two things about the CDs that I found annoying. First is that every CD had the same opening information repeated on it. It was appropriate on the first one in order to introduce herself and make sure the listener knows exactly what a writer's advocate does. But repeating it at the beginning of each CD was marketing overkill and annoying. The only other problem was the actual speech pattern used on the CDs. The conversation was choppy and hesitant like one of the old documentary school movies from the 1950's. At times I felt like shouting, "Just say it and move on".

The bottom line here is that the CDs are valuable and contain very good lessons on how to improve your writing. If you can patiently work through the presentation you will be rewarded. "The Writer's Toolbox" is a recommended purchase for anyone wanting to improve his or her writing.

These tapes were enjoyable to listen to on my daily walks. It was like having the author (Patrika) walking beside me, discussing the "how to's". When I finished my walks, I'd set about putting the ideas into practice.

addressed particular areas of writing that I needed assistance with and gave me a solid foundation in them. Ray

I loved the book (Write Publish & Market Your Book), but these audio tapes gave me hands-on practice with plotting, characterization, viewpoint,openings, etc. -- it was like having a workshop in a box. An absolutely great help to my writing career.

I had a few writing problems I couldn't shake, no matter how many classes I took. Hearing these practical instructions and examples made the solutions sink in. For any writer having problems with plot, or characterization, or viewpoint, or arresting openers - you need this.

This delightful and captivating book on gardening reads like a best-selling novel. The writing is creative and often uproariously funny. I often found myself laughing out loud, even on airplanes, as I turned the pages of this wonderful book.

Although highly entertaining -- and worth reading on that basis alone -- the book is also jam packed with good, practical information. I've learned an enormous amount about gardening in high and arid West -- and I've been gardening here for well over 15 years. This book will also inspire those who have become frustrated with gardening in this sometimes capricious region!
I can't wait to put many of Dave's ideas into practice.

This book is the single best resource for gardners in Colorado, especially those who lean organic, as I do. It is a book with passion, integrity, and common sense. I had the pleasure of meeting David at a small speaking engagement last year, and he is everything one would expect. I am shocked that there aren't more reviews here for this masterpiece. Gardening here can be hard, especially if one doesn't want to enrich corporate giants who use synthetic chemicals to force things. This book got me through some very discouraging gardening frustrations -- it kept my passion alive and my fingernails dirty. Get this book!!!! If your heart is in the soil, this book will become a very good friend.

Although the title of the book includes "in the High and Arid West," this delightful book would amuse and impress any gardener. Although I live in the geographic region covered, many of the gardening tips and techniques simply don't apply to me since I live over 2,000 feet higher than does David Wann, plus his down home methods simply wouldn't fly with my homeowner's association. Nonetheless, I thouroughly enjoyed this book for its infectious attitude. I picked it up expecting to thumb through it and then read straight through. Quite a unique offering in the world of garden literature and highly recommended.

In a world so filled with stress, poor health, and daily activities that lack meaning, it's great to have places of refuge, and David Wann's The Zen of Gardening is such a place. Filled with passion, "dry" humor, and hard-won gardening wisdom, the book makes even black thumbs like myself want to dig up a space in my backyard.

Not only does he draw on his own 25 years of gardening, but also taps the experience of some of "the fastest trowels in the west," which he estimates to be a collective 500 years of growing. The reader learns about the life teeming in a shovel full of organic soil, about the chemical signals transmitted between various species in a garden, and about the best varieties of vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs to plant in a "meteorologically challenged" region.

I had a hard time putting the book down, because the writing is so lively, and I found myself absorbing information effortlessly, the way a plant soaks up water!