People Books

I took many interesting courses in my early-1980s MBA program: strategy formulation, marketing, consumer behavior, and others. But the most exciting course was taught by Vijay Govindarajan. A star in higher education in India and later in the United States, VG (as we students called him) had us on the edge of our seats each and every class. Using the "case method," he embedded what he wanted us to learn inside interesting business problems, and he challenged us to solve them. My classmates and I energetically debated the cases both before and after class. The subject VG taught? Accounting.

One might not expect the world of disease and pharmaceuticals to be exciting, either, but Robert Shook does the same thing with drugs and the people of the pharmaceutical industry that VG did with accounting. Each of the seven stories in Miracle Medicines describes a health problem that afflicts people all around us, perhaps family members - maybe even you. (Like the author, I suffer from asthma.) Shook introduces us to the people of Big Pharma (as insiders call the industry) and vividly describes their struggle to develop an effective drug and bring it to market. It is not an easy process, and, after reading this book, you will understand why pharmaceuticals can be so expensive.

This book is a must read for three groups: those who want to know more about the drugs they depend upon for health, if not life itself; anyone who wants to understand the business side of the pharmaceutical industry and how drugs are developed; and readers who enjoy good short stories, for Miracle Medicines is really a collection of fascinating tales with a common theme - how people working together bring life and hope to others.

Americans who criticize the pharmaceutical industry need to read this important book. Author Shook went behind locked doors to show us an insight on the tremendous costs and risks that these pharmaceutical corporations take. We all complain about the high costs of medicine, but Shook clearly describes the years of work and dedication by brilliant scientists as well as the many millions of dollars that these corporations front to bring a new medicine to the market place. I still may complain about the cost of my prescriptions, but I am now appreciative of the many dedicated people in the industry who made my medicines available.

There are two elements to any industry. Research and making money. At no point we should question the integrity of people who do everything they can to find cures for human ailments. This book tells all that. In this world of Wall Street expectations to show quick and continuous profits, some times, Pharma companies might make some bad judgment calls and those decisions cause more harm than anything. Pharma is being criticized for its practices in drug research with all the myths and lies, and at the same time pushing those companies to produce and show quick returns on stock market so that investors can make quick profit without realizing the effort that goes into the research, clinical trials and marketing of a drug. Drugs are not commodities and only that realization can put things perspective to everyone.

For years, the media has been knocking Big Pharma,and many of us are be duped into believing that the pharmaceutical companies are deceptive, devious and inhererently evil. Even the movie, "The Constant Gardener," a fictious story, has influenced public opinion to think that Big Pharma will do anything for the almighty dollar.

Robert L. Shook, a highly respected independent business writer, with no ties to the pharmaceutical industry has penned an eye-opening book that takes the reader behind the scenes of seven companies--Abbott, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis amd Pfizer to meet the real people who dedicate their lives to finding cures for diseases. In doing so, Shook puts a face on these dedicated men and women, most of whom spend their entire careers working in their labs without ever having a new drug ending up in our medicine cabinet. After reading MIRACLE MEDICINES, my take on these individuals is that they are truly committed to humankind. They are hard-working, decent people who spend their lives to benefit others. As the author states, these are highly educated people, many who have medical degrees and Ph.Ds and could earn far more in private practice or working elsewhere. Why do they work for pharmaceutical companies? To paraphrase one chemist in the book, "I could have made more money working for a chemical company, but I wanted to work where I could do the most good for humankind."

The author does an excellent job in presenting an otherwise very complicated subject in a way that can be enjoyably read by all. This is a tribute to his writing skills. The book is very informative and interesting to read. I recommend that you buy it.

I expected to be enlightened by this book, but I never expected to enjoy it. I was in for a big surprise. Author Robert L. Shook's writing is always first rate. However, in this book he has accomplished three rather remarkable things. First, instead of simply presenting well-researched and well-organized information - which could have made for a dull read - he has brought the information to life, creating seven intriguing stories about the dedicated and talented people who embody the pharmaceutical industry. I'll offer one example. Over a relatively short period of time we have come to accept AIDS as a (tragic) feature of contemporary society. I was fascinated to read about how, when, and where AIDS actually began; how it spread in this country; how physicians eventually identified HIV; and how pharmaceutical companies rushed to develop tools to diagnose and treat it. And, by the way, I found the profiles of the pharmaceutical companies quite inspiring - great things really can come from rather humble beginnings. Second, Shook takes technical information and makes it simple and easy to understand. This is no small feat. Finally, Shook helps the reader understand - yes, even appreciate - the contributions of pharmaceutical companies. In recent years, people have come to regard "Big Pharma" as they do "Big Oil" - i.e., as companies that exploit consumers who have no choice but to buy their products. Shook helps us to see pharmaceutical companies in a far more sympathetic light. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read and wants to learn about the ever-changing world in which we live.

Bob Cassaro is my father.
My name is bret branon.
b@westparkfoundries.com
Yesterday was fathers day, and we didnt talk.
Sometimes I wish things were different.

An absolute must read for anyone interested in Viet Nam War History, flying and adrenaline. First hand stories from the pilots who flew recon and rescue missions in Nam. Repetitive? Absolutely not as each person tells his story, as it happened to him. You get a well rounded view of each mission. I couldn't put it down. It is an adrenaline rush just to read. Bess Carnahan

This book is, in my view, a companion to another book entitled "Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail." That book took a slice in time through the "Misty" mission and discussed the actions of a narrow group of flyers, apparently those with whom the author served and with whom he was most familiar. This book takes a broader view and essentially presents the complete history of "Commando Sabre," termed "Misty," as told by many of the men who flew in that top secret unit during the Vietnam War. As such, it is a valuable piece of military history and well worth reading.

The book did, however, come across as a little repetitive, but in all probability that couldn't be helped. For many of the stories were written in 1970, seemingly for some other purpose, while others were written in response to solicitations by the author/editor, apparently without specific guidelines (e.g., Don't tell us how the unit was formed or why, how many missions you had to fly in the back seat to qualify, etc.). Furthermore, since "Mistys" flew in pairs and when in heavy action were often supported or replaced by other Mistys, more than one story author often wrote about the same event from his own perspective.

Nevertheless, this is a great read, particularly for those interested in military history or the Vietnam War. For all others, I would suggest that you at least check this book out of the library and read the following excerpts: "A Trip to North Vietnam," by Don Jones (pgs. 162-170); "Combat Photographer," by Wells Jackson (pgs. 240-252); "Rescue in POL Valley," by Steve Amdor (pgs. 280-283); "What Was That?," by Bob Bryan (pgs. 306-309); "Tidbits," by Bob Cassaro (pgs. 314-319); "Gutsy Gunner," by Tony McPeak (pgs. 338-341); "War," by E. Lynn Farnsworth (pgs. 411-419); "The POWs" (pgs. 435-477); and "Then and Now," by P. K. Robinson (pgs. 523-537) These are the best written stories, and most are told in an entertaining way. They will give you the flavor of Misty and tell you much about the brave men who flew in the Vietnam War, in general, and those who flew in this top secret unit, in particular.

This is the companion book to "Bury me Upside Down". Any complaints that you might have about that book not staying on message are immediately dispelled in the more than 600 pages and 81 personal "stories" by the Misty pilots. The stories would seem fantastic if fictional, but these are real life stories. From the training in the US to the POW camps in Hanoi, from the multiple ejections to the "Mig sweeps" at the officer clubs, you will be fascinated by each person's stories. The references in the back are beyond useful. I found myself constantly flipping back to see what this pilot was doing today or who the other pilots were in his "generation" at Phu Cat.

And the ultimate farce of war is also present. Joseph Heller did not even com,e close to the truth in "Catch 22". When Colonels from Saigon would complain about the FACS getting their F-100 "damaged" by ground fire and write up the pilots and maintenance people for not taking better care of the US Government equipment, you had to wonder how we ever made any progress in that war.

If you want a read on what the "real" war was like for the US Air Force in Vietnam get this book and read it. You will not be disappointed.

This book is terrific, plain and simple. Any person interested in the courage and bravado of true fighter pilot heros in the VietNam War will be well-served reading this work.....you'll be glad you did!

There's a deceptive simplicity about this back-and-forth between two birds. One's red, the other's blue, and the idea is that you read one color and your kid reads the other as they mimic each other.

Or, in my case, I read both, but in different voices. But before I could stop myself, I took on a cadence, and began to notice the story's singsong quality.

In the book, the lines are also staggered, so alternating colors and layout work in harmony with its jazzy meter. Eventually, the two birds join up, chirping purple lyrics, until a purple bird joins them as their songs spread this way and that across the page. Even the wires where they perch become bars of music.

Simon, who worked in advertising, channels Milton Glaser, the guru of modern design with his "I [heart] NY" and "LOVE" logos. Her minimalist style makes the most of a few simple shapes and primary colors surrounded by ample white space. The way the figures appear on the page is part of the book's musicality, with their own visual rhythm.

That's just to say there's more than meets the eye here, and more to the ear as well.

"Mocking Birdies" heralds the spring with a jazz poem for several voices.... What a clever, amazingly fun book! Young kids will enjoy the color-based joke and bold illustrations, but the book's stylish design will win adult fans, too. Simon is an author/illustrator worth watching. In appreciation, I can only echo the birds' words: "Encore! Encore!"

Wikipedia explains that mockingbirds are "best known for the habit of some species of mimicking the songs of other birds, often loudly and in rapid succession." The Mockingbird is the state bird of Texas. This could be a fun book to add to the "state symbols" lessons. Kids understand that copycatting is a sure way to get under someone's skin. The book flap reminds us that "stop copying me" is a frequent childhood refrain.

The bright primary colors and geometric shapes of the birds prepare the readers for a bit of fun as they read this book. The birds sit on lines that resemble a music staff and then later, telephone lines. The text varies in size and color, which would make the book interesting to share as a choral read with a class. I would put the book under an Elmo so the whole class could see the colors and read the words. One group could read the red lines, another, the blue lines, and the purple lines together. The echoing quality of the text would make all students feel successful. This is also a good book to share sitting side by side with just one special reading friend.

Good design. Does it help or hinder a picture book? Ask me that same question about a year ago and I would've answered you with an overly-enthusiastic "HINDER!". Ask me today and now I'm not so sure. When I read picture books like David Pelletier's laughable, "Graphic Alphabet" I decided to shun any title for kids that cared more about layout and composition than who its intended audience should be. Other books have had their design sillinesses, but that one in particular took the cake. Then this past December I had a chance to see David Carter's remarkable pop-up extravaganza, "One Red Dot". Now there, ladies and gentlemen, is a beautifully designed book that never forgets for a second that kids may be part of its intended audience. So my opinions started to shift oh-so slightly to the maybe-well-designed-picture-books-ain't-so-bad-after-all. Good thing I did too. Otherwise I might have immediately pooh-poohed Annette Simon's amusing exercise in combining children's copycat behaviors with an upbeat well-designed cacophony of sound. Design has never had a young audience so keenly on its mind.

A single blue bird on the left-hand page looks across a vast white space and says, "You!". A single red bird on a right-hand page looks across a vast white space and says, "You!" as well. What the blue bird says, the red bird repeats. The blue bird is convinced that the red bird is doing the imitating and the red bird believes the opposite. It's only when both birds come to understand that they want the same thing that they sing together a bright purple song. Of course, this attracts the attention of a purple bird with his own purple music. He joins in the song as well, and a green and orange cat (perhaps the original copycats) say, "someone's singing my song". The book ends with the birds copying and repeating a tune of their own.

With simple shapes against a white background, the colorful birds are like little bright musical notes. They perch on telephone wires for much of this book. Those telephone wires, in turn, become the lines on a sheet of music when the birds finally indulge in out-and-out full-throated singing. The book doesn't go so far as to explain what the combinations of different primary colors are, but it still manages to get the point across. Kids can see that when the blue bird's blue lines merge with the red bird's red lines, the result is purple lines ah-plenty. The words themselves were fine. Sometimes the lines didn't scan as well as I would've liked. Sentences don't always rhyme or work, but overall they convey the bright and cheery intensity of the characters.

Out of curiosity I tried to see whether or not anyone prior to Ms. Simon had ever thought of doing a book of this nature. If mockingbirds mock then logic would dictate that there might be other copycat type picture books out there. There are, but none of them have ever dealt with mockingbirds themselves. There was Peggy Rathmann's, "Ruby the Copycat" and of course the, "Copycub" books by Richard Edwards. But insofar as birds are concerned, mockingbirds usually just appear in different picture book versions of that old song, "Hush Little Baby", and that's it. "Mocking Birdies" will be a hit with any kid just learning to read who needs bright colors and simple words to follow. It may even make fairly good readers theater if one kid takes all the blue lines and another all the red. Consider it enjoyable fare.

This picture book is a real treasure.

A blue bird sings in blue text; a red bird copies that singing in red text.

Stop singing my song!
Stop singing my song!

But after the initial copycat dialogue, the two begin talking:
"i sing red as the dawn, when the sun peeps hello"
"i sing blue as the noon, when the sun calls to play"

Next thing you know, the two birds are singing together. And red and blue voices overlap to make purple. And then the purple bird shows up! And then there's a green cat. "Skit scat" "copycat" "copycat cat CAT."

The color coded dialogue contributes to the fun. I'm not sure how well it would work in a traditional story time, even with a storyteller who is good with doing different sounding voices, because of the great moment where red and blue overlap to be purple. Instead, I think it would work best with multiple readers, whether its in a small group with one or two beginning readers, a parent and child, or with a larger number of storytellers.

I like how the electric wires the birds are sitting on become a music staff. And I like how the colors of the rainbow are used. And I also like how the book jacket is different from the actual book cover, with the book cover incorporating the clever red and blue make purple motif.

Lee Silber is a flat-out genius when it comes to teaching the business side of life to artists (right-brainers) who may have a block about such key issues as money management, promotion, and career choices. For everyone who has a starving artist in your family, do them and yourself a favor and get them a copy of this book. These books are well-written, funny, entertaining, and are taught by a man who has learned how to combine practicality with great creativity. This is a must read.

This book was an excellent read, helpful, and gets you brainstorming. It gives advice that motivates one to look for opportunities and to use one's strengths, which is to find creative ways to make more money and save more money.

It is definitely a great book to get you started and thinking about how to be smart about money and an artist. Lee Silber adds comedy and fun facts to the information making one's efforts to handle finances a little more approachable. This book opens your eyes and gets you thinking, the rest just takes action and more learning about investing, budgeting, cutting back on costs, and creating more opportunities to increase income.

I just finished this book and it's amazing! With most books I just read it then put it away forever. With Money Management for the Creative Person I am already putting Mr. Silber's valuable advice to work. What is so great about this book is that you not only get a ton of financial advice, but inspiration to keep creating in the face of adversity. The book it packed with real life stories from himself, celebrities and real-life people. It's very motivating. I highly recommend this book even if you feel like your finances are in order and you don't need help.

...and reading Mr. Silbers book has convinced me of this. Mr. Silber shows you how to set goals for money management and artistic endeavors without putting your life on hold. You can pay your bills and still pursue your art. This book shows you the way and explains how it is all about choices. The choices we make. The author's writing style makes the book fun to read and his easy to understand philosophy makes it believable.

Little did I know that AFTER I thought I'd never see the "light of day" concerning my finances, that this book would come into my life. It's informative, funny, well written, and just a great book for everyone. I've given it out to a couple of friends and then I thought, "Hey, GO BUY YOUR OWN!" Lee Silber is an author that makes it easy for someone, like me, that doesn't read a great deal, to flash those pages quicker than the remote on my TV. Thanks Lee! I can now go to sleep feeling like I can use your guides and NOT have to worry about what the Hell is going to take place tomorrow!

I love this inspired book. I've been using these principles of financial management ever since I read "Money... It's Not Just For Rich People" over a year ago. Not only have they worked for me, but I have become fully dedicated (or should I say "addicted"?) to the 60/40 principle, especially donating 10% to charitable causes. It has become less of a sacrifice and more of a game as I search for opportunities to help the needy. And the benefits of doing so pour in.

Thanks Janine!

Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised by anything new in the personal finance/frugality field, along comes a fresh new approach such as Janine Bolon's in her book Money...it's not just for rich people. I was blown away by this book, and I can't say enough good things about it!
Based on experience gained from her personal life and her research in financial education, Bolon's approach is scientific yet her tone is warm and personal. Her advice is neither too prescriptive nor annoyingly vague. She is persuasive and convincing without being overbearing. In other words, this book is a perfect balance of financial advice, instruction, coaching and direction: everything you need to get started (or continue) to achieve your personal financial goals!

Bolon's book does not offer advice on investing your money in specific vehicles; she teaches you how to apply the basic principles of money management so you too can become a conserver of money and life-energy, and achieve both financial independence and peace of mind.

Bolon's approach is not just about wealth accumulation, but of realizing a better life. She also emphasizes the importance of concrete goal-setting, actually writing things down, and continuing to do so every three months as you are on the road to success. She also discusses the emotional side of money which is something many authors neglect to address. "Unhappiness and fear are the keys to our spending habits," Bolon states.

She tells us how to take action to "initiate the flow of money" into our lives. One way she advises is to start giving money away; Bolon has a very interesting chapter about philanthropy that discusses tithing, the difference between charity and philanthropy and the universal laws which govern the movement of money. This is where she really excels, in capturing an elusive principle and convincing you it works! There is something irresistible about the enthusiastic way Bolon presents her case.

All in all, this book is a great read that fulfills a great need!

(I also reviewed this book in my Dollar Stretcher (stretcher dot com) Book Buzz blog.)

Easy to read and practical, the advise in this book works! My four children even began following the quick-start steps detailed in chapter nine. Triumphantly, we have all been blessed with less debt, more money and most importantly; more peace. With our new perspective of money after reading this book, we look forward to future finances with anticipation rather than stress. Thank you Janine Bolon! I highly recommend this book as well as her other books, seminar on CD, website at http://www.smartcentsinc.com/, and newsletter. Don't miss this wonderful resource!!

A year ago my parents went to a Financial Seminar taught by Janine Bolon (covering the same stuff as in "Money...It's not just for rich people.") My parents were amazed by the sound financial principles she taught, and urged me to read this book since I was unable to attend the Seminar.

I read it, and like my parents I too saw how profound the principles taught were. Since reading this book, I have applied what I learned(especially the 60/40 principle), and guess what?!?...It works.

This book is not about get rich quick schemes, but about being financially mature. It is about learning the principles/ laws that govern money so as to reap the benefit when followed.

I view money differently now, and I use it differently. In doing so I have never been in want, and yet I am not burdened by debt as so many of my fellow Americans. This is financial freedom. Isn't that what we all want?

For those who feel overwhelmed by debt, or merely want to learn more about how money works I recommend getting this book, reading it, and applying it today.

The sub-title of "Money...It's Not Just For Rich People!" is "A Ridiculously Simple Path to Wealth Accumulation".

Wealth accumulation? I'm all for it. Ridiculously simple? Well, that's got to be too good to be true, right?

We've all seen books, infomercials, and seminars that promise to teach us how to get rich. But how do we know if any of the techniques work? Do these people really know what they're talking about?

One of my methods for evaluating whether or not to trust a person's opinion is to ask: "Have they done what they are teaching?"

The author of "Money...It's Not Just for Rich People", Janine Bolon, definitely meets this criterion. Starting from nothing, she and her husband have accumulated enough wealth that they no longer have to work - and they did it by applying simple wealth accumulation principles.

Janine's journey to financial independence starts with a typical story - a young couple, a child, mortgage debt, and a desire for the mother to stay home full-time. At first, she experimented with frugality and cost-cutting using, as guides, the classic books, "The Tightwad Gazette" and "Your Money or Your Life". As time went on, her financial knowledge grew and she set the goal of creating enough wealth so her husband could retire from his corporate job in fourteen years. She accomplished it in seven.

According to Janine, there are two paths to financial independence, the sexy way and the methodical way: increasing your income (sexy) and decreasing your expenses and saving (methodical). Because we often have little control over our income, Janine focuses on the methodical way - decreasing our expenses and increasing our savings. Based on her personal experience, the methodical way works. And if you can increase your income as well? More power to you!

Janine breaks down her wealth accumulation method into five basic principles:

1) Create Your Financial Goals
2) Live Within Your Means
3) Pay Yourself First
4) Pay It Forward
5) Philanthropy

The key lesson in the book is the 60/40 principle where 60% of your income is used for living, 10% is for short-term savings, 10% is for long-term savings, 10% is for tithing, and 10% is for philanthropy. (If you're not religious, don't get tied up with the term "tithing". Janine does not limit this to religious institutions. Tithing can mean giving money to any group or institution you feel is doing good for humanity.)

An interesting part about her approach is that Janine believes giving away and sharing a portion of your wealth is a crucial part of wealth accumulation. She links tithing and philanthropy with creating a "flow of money" back into your own life. The book often refers to a belief that the "Universe" will respond positively to anyone who uses these principles. Before you dismiss this idea as too "out there" or "New Age", realize that this concept is not new. I have read many books that allude to this principle. In fact, most religious texts, including the Bible, describe this principle although they often use different terms.

Janine's writing style is approachable and conversational, which makes the book a good read. The concepts are sound and can be implemented in anyone's financial life.

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Michael Mihalik is the author of Debt is Slavery: and 9 Other Things I Wish My Dad Had Taught Me About Money. Learn how to gain control of your finances, pay off your debt, and create financial security!

What a sweet story of connection. My 4 yo liked it a lot, and i was moved to tears. Lots to the story.

What a beautiful story to show children that, despite our differences, i.e. age, race, family background, we still have some many important things in common. Characters have wit, charm and integrity. Story is very moving and good for all ages.

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful (in language and illustrations) books I have read--period. Patricia Polacco is a master at bringing diverse, meaningful relationships to life. Every sensitive, mature parent should buy this book for his/her child!

Ms. Katz and Tush is an excellent choice for educators and parents to use when explaining diversity.
In the book, a young boy is introduced to an elderly jewish woman through his mother. The boy develops a bond with the elderly lady, and the two are friends forever.
This book enables children to develop an understanding about life in different cultures. It shows them that different is good and you can learn a lot from someone of a different culture.

This is the story of a loving friendship between an elderly Jewish lady from Poland named Mrs. Katz, and an African-American child named Larnel. Mrs. Katz lives alone in her apartment and doesn't have anyone to visit her. (It's not stated in the book, but, since this appears to be a predominantly African-American inner city neighborhood, one wonders if she was left behind by the Jewish community when the more affluent members moved to the suburbs? In real life it has happened...) Larnel's mother stops by to visit her every other day or so, and brings Larnel with her.

One day, Larnel gets the idea to give Mrs. Katz a kitten from the litter that was born in the basement of his apartment building. (Get the pun -- Katz/cats? Actually, the name "Katz" has nothing to do with "cats," but it's cute anyway.) Mrs. Katz names the kitten Tush, which is Yiddish for "bottom," because it has no tail. Larnel agrees to help her care for Tush, and from this sharing, a lifelong friendship grows.

The story is well-written, the characters are well-developed and "real." The illustrations are vibrant, beautifully done, and ethnically accurate. Well, almost. There are a couple Jewish bloopers. For one thing, the menorah sitting by Mrs. Katz's window only has seven branches. A Hanukkah menorah has nine -- eight for the eight days plus an extra for the "servant" candle. The seven-branched menorah mentioned in the Bible was specifically for the Jerusalem Temple, and is not usually found in the home. Since Hanukkah was mentioned in the story, I have to assume that this was supposed to be a Hanukkah menorah.

The second blooper is the scene in the bakery. Mrs. Katz is shopping for PASSOVER -- a time when no leaven is to be found anywhere in a Jewish home. It is not just a matter of eating matzoh. The entire house is cleaned of anything even resembling leaven, and even owning leavened products is forbidden. That being the case, why is she shopping for her Passover feast in a bakery, of all places? She is clearly pointing at a cake or some rolls, and these would NOT be served on Passover! So nu, maybe she's a Reform Jew and not so strict? But in that case, why is that very Hasidic-looking gentleman in the corner shopping there? Surely HE would not serve bread for Passover! (...)

These are relatively minor quibbles, given the overall good quality of the book. But when it comes to children's books, I insist on total accuracy with regard to Judaism, because these are the images that will stick in the mind for years to come. Granted, this is not a "Jewish" book per se, it's a multicultural book -- which is all the more reason to pay more attention to the Jewish details, lest the reader(s) be misled. For the bloopers I'm docking it a star, but it's still a great story and I highly recommend it to both Jews and gentiles.

LOVE Muhammad Ali - always have - didn't know alot about the young 19 year old Cassius Clay. The boy who becomes the man who is Muhammad Ali - This book tells some interesting stories about Cassius - I'm not sure why I'm suprised, or how I seperated the two in my mind...I mean...they are the same person...and you can see how Cassius is Muhammad - think to when you were 19 and imagine if your greatest qualities grew and become better etc -

Anyway - the book is really good - not 5 star, but 4 - I would have liked MANY more pictures of Cassius and more stories too - I was left wanting more - which is normally a good thing - but here it felt somewhat incomplete

Don't missunderstand - I would buy this again and buy it as gift for folks - if you don't have it - get it - it will make you smile

This is a book that's hard to put down. Just when you've thought you had read all you can read about Ali, a book like this comes along. The pictures make you feel as if as though you were there yourself. This was one of the best gifts I've ever received. I plan to pass this treasure on to many for Christmas.

I received this book as a gift and I find myself going back to it over and over. Like going back to a museum time and again to look at a favorite work of art. The photographs of Clay/Ali are so personal and so beautiful. Odd as it sounds, I feel grateful that Mr. Schulke has shared these photographs with me, with everyone lucky enough to discover them. I came to Amazon just now to order this book for a friend and found myself moved to write these few words. There's something about the book and about the story of Clay/Ali that wants to be shared.

If you are a fan of Muhammad Ali or sports photography, you'll find this book a joy to read. The book focuses on Flip Schulke's black and white photographs of Ali that were taken on a few occasions from the early to mid-1960s. Flip's comments about the photos and Ali provide rare glimpses into Ali's early penchant for showmanship and the racial prejudice that affected his views. If you admire Ali for his impact in the boxing, social and political arenas, this book will bring tremendous joy to your heart.

This book is worth the price for the pictures of 19 year old Ali alone. I have been an Ali fan since I was 12, and I have never seen these pictures before! Ali was 19, and made up a story about how he worked out in a swimming pool, so that the photographer would take underwater photos. They are incredible. So is the fact that, even though he had already won a gold medal, he wasn't allowed to try on clothes in a Miami department store because he was black.There are pictures of him running 5 miles to the gym in his dress pants and work boots, because he didn't have gym clothes! I can't stop looking at these pictures, and I can't believe how brave he was and how hard he had to work.

YAHOOOOOOO!!! The mysterious benedict society is back and better than ever! This sequal is almost better than the original... almost but, not quite. What this book lacks in the suspence that made the first book it more then makes up for in other elements that the first one lacked. The puzzles are the same old challenging things that we all know and love- REALLY love. In the story mr. benedict and number two are captured by mr. curtain and the society must save them! Overall a wonderful book i hope there's several more mysterious benedict society books-if they're all as good as the first two.

My son, 9, read this book in less than 24 hours AND he slept all night! (I know because I swiped the book from his bedside table so I could read while he slept.) Great sequel to MBS. Didn't think it could be matched! Makes kids the heros- no grown-up can do what the kids can as a team. Good read-aloud for younger readers.

This book was pretty good because of its suspense and adventure. The author describes the childrens' gifts, which is something that not all authors do in their books. The thing that first made me read the book was the cover, which had those funny dark shadows in the windows. What I don't like is that it's not like those books like "The Magician" and the "Percy Jackson and the Olympian" series books that are really creative and full of adventure. Overall, this book is cool, but not the best.

Trenton Lee Stewart did a great job this time! Is much more than I expected it to be, and lives up to all my expectations!

The Mysterious Benedict Society was,I can honestly say,one of my all time favorite books. After I read the first book, I knew I just had read this book. It's so interesting that I found I couldn't take my head out of it and found myself reading untill ten o'clock one night. I would recomend this to anyone who likes adventure or simply a good book.

This is a great informational book. I couldn't wait to get it. The only thing lacking that would really be complete would be a pictorial key which I know is impossible for the amount of info . Everyone interested in botany, gardening or the ancient ways needs this book.

This is a bible of plant uses that goes a LONG way! It doesn't include the dichotomic keys to identify the plant, but it tell you what has been done with them for the past millenia. Highly recommended.

This is not only a great text book for the ethnobotonists, but a great resource for the avid naturalist. In depth information on many species. A must have for any botanist.

This is a superb written reference. However, it has no illustrations, and should be on your shelf as an essential reference to deepen your knowledge of plants for which you have illustrations in other books, or prior first hand knowledge from actually seeing and handling the plants.

This book is the perfect combination of all the books in my library!

Squiggly Line

ISBN:031615525

The Wanna-be All-American girl

"He is still watching,waiting until she comes gliding down the stairs. Her golden bangels clinking together in a melodious song."
Meet Sunita Sen an eighth grader who's Indian. Her life was fine until her grandparents came to stay for a year. Ashamed of her heritage she keeps to herself. Her mom even tells her she can't have boys over-meaning her friend Michael. Sunita makes an excuse to avoid him. Over time Sunita grows fond of her family but not so fast. Find out in this wonderful historical fiction book.

Though the book can be a bit confusing it's a page turner. I thought the book was ok because I like the cultural stuff but sometimes my mind would go blank thinking about the book and I would not comprehend what Sunita was thinking sometimes. People who read this book I think should be 14-17 years old. Because people younger or even people who are 13 probably will easily be bored or won't quite get what is going on with the main character. To add more to the subject it was hard to concentrate on because sometimes I couldn't understand and have to re-read it and didn't know what they were wearing sometimes. I liked the book because I absolutely love the history of our world and I have never learned so much about India than I have in this book. I liked this genre alot because it taught me that some of us don't like our heritage or where we came from. Or that we are not like everybody else because we have diffierent customs than they do. My most favorite part about the book was the cliff hangers at the end of most of the chapters like this one: "As I flopped down on my bed I knew in a few minutes my life would come crashing down. Then the door bell rang." But all in all I totally reccomend this book to everyone who is willing to read a book about a cultural, pressured,Indian girl name Sunita Sen.

This teen novel depicts the life of Sunita Sen, a 13 year-old girl of Indian heritage whose grandparents come from India to visit for the year. The reader witnesses Sunita's transformation from a shy, angry youth to a mature teenager. This is a young-adult novel that builds its plot around the theme of feeling different. Ms. Perkins' gives the reader the sense that she has lived the story herself, Ms. Perkins handles the topic of multicultural identity with great alacrity. The reader feels compassion towards Sunita as she struggles to gain her personal freedom amidst rumor mills, peer pressure, and the aromas of a distant land. The story is well written and artfully describes a contemporary teen dilemma. It is an enjoyable read. Because of the way it introduces the themes, it may prove to be a valuable book for beginning cross-cultural, multi-generational discussions.

This book takes place in California and at the main character's Sunits Sen's highschool, at the beginnig of the book. By this time her Indain grandparents Dadu(grandfather) and Didu(grandmother) as she and her family calles them has moved from Inda to live with them. Now at her highschool she is late for class and remebers that day when she and her guy freind Michel had last spoken to each other. He had asked if he could come over that day and she had completely blown him off and didnt tell him why because she was afraid he would think her family was weird. Her mother had changed when her grandparents moved in. She no longer wore the sweat pants and sweat shirt any more, but a saree to make her parents fell more at home. She also cooked constantly and waits on the hand and foot to be the perfect Indain daughter. Sunita is known throughout her school as the cleerful, smart and outgoing girl thats why one of her nicknames is Sunni. Now she is cold and distant to everyone at school and at home, exspecly to her mother. Theres only one place she isnt like this and thats in the back yard in her grandfaters garden, where he tells her stories of how he and her grandmother meet and resites many Indain poems. The Not So Star Spangled Life of Sunita Sen is a wonderful book, and i would highly recommed it to all ages.

This teen novel depicts the life of Sunita Sena, a thirteen year-old girl of Indian heritage whose grandparents come from India to visit for the year. The reader witnesses Sunita's transformation from a shy, angry youth to a more mature teenager who celebrates her place in the world.

Feeling different is a common theme in teen literature. Sunita feels at odds with her environment because her carefully scripted assimilation into American culture is rudely interrupted by the arrival of her grandparents. Her mother is suddenly bustling about the kitchen, wearing a sari and reeking of curry. Sunita is embarrassed at her mother's transformation and seeks to hide her own identity from the people she loves dearly. Her relationships with others suffer, but most of all, Sunita's relationship with herself suffers the greatest loss.

Ms. Perkins' well-written prose places the reader right in the midst of a contemporary teen dilemma. Giving the reader the sense that she has lived the story herself, Ms. Perkins handles the topic of multicultural identity with great alacrity. The reader feels compassion towards Sunita as she struggles to gain her personal freedom amidst rumor mills, peer pressure and the aromas of a distant land.

Sunita's relationship to her grandfather remains a constant staple throughout the book. His wisdom, calm and ability to handle conflict with grace will help the young reader find her own way in the maze of adolescence.

I highly recommend The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen. It is very enjoyable read!


Christine Louise Hohlbaum, award-winning American writer and author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff (2003) and SAHM I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe (2005), lives near Munich, Germany with her husband and two children. Visit her Web site at http://www.DiaryofaMother.com.

Sunita Sen isn't black or white, red or yellow. She was born in Kolkata, India. For most of her life that was perfectly okay with her. In fact her nickname, Sunni matched her sunny, cheerful outlook. At the end of her 13th summer, she is on top of the world. She and Michael Morrison are seeing more and more of each other and looking forward to 8th grade. But her carefree American life is shattered when her grandparents arrive from India to spend a year with her family. Her mom takes a leave of absence from her job as a chemistry professor. She starts wearing sarees and cooking Indian food. To make matters worse, she informs Sunni that it's no longer okay to have boys come to visit. On top of all that, her new social studies teacher begins the school year with the topic of cultural diversity, which only makes Sunni even more aware of her differences. Suddenly -- and for all those reasons -- she withdraws from her friends and family. Torn between her desire to be a normal American teen and her love for her Indian family, Sunni struggles to meld the two cultures into her life. In the process she must face up to her own prejudices.

Sunni comes across as so genuine that any teen will easily relate to her dilemma. Through her exploration and discovery of her heritage, Perkins offers readers an intimate view of Indian culture. "The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen" is a sensitive and realistic portrayal of the unique pressures facing multi-cultural teens.