Free Books

The less expensive version of this book has a different title: Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.

We have been searching for The Edison Trait online today since the copy we are using is due back at the library. Fortunately we discovered that it has been retitled and is now sold as Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos : How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School.

My wife has kept the library copy until it is overdue and has a hold on it. This is the most excited I have seen her about a book since we were married. She has found some very practical tools to help us with our children.

Pharmaceutical drugs are only one line of defense in treating ADD. Drugs can alter brain chemistry but the patient is fundamentally the same personality. Medication alone will only go so far. A combination of prescriptions and psychotherapy yield better long-term results. Thomas Edison owed his life to his mother who believed in him when the schools kicked him out at 6. There is something to be said about love ... love itself can rewire the brain of a "problem" child.

****************************************************************

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT? by Lucy Jo Palladino

He was a boy who learned only by doing. At age six, he had to see how fire worked and accidentally burned his father's barn to the ground. The next fall he began school, where he alternated between letting his mind travel to distant places and keeping his body in perpetual motion in his seat. Because he was distractible and restless, he did not last long in a formal classroom. His teacher called him "addled." Eventually, his mother had to home-school him. As an adult he would recall: "My father thought I was stupid and I almost decided I must be a dunce."

The core of his learning was his passion for experiments. As his new teacher, his mother gave his talent free rein. At the same time she infused him with the disciplines of study. With time and determination, he mastered his runaway mind. He grew up to become a prolific inventor, bringing the magic of electricity and sound recording into the world. He either invented or improved hundreds of practical conveniences. It is said that Thomas Alva Edison succeeded where others failed or never tried, because it was his nature to dare.

Today, a growing number of children have that nature to dare. Like young Edison, they are easily distracted and disorganized, but also wildly imaginative and inventive.

They have minds that are at home with meanderings and leaps of vast proportions. They make unexpected, sometimes startling, connections.

QUALITIES OF A CREATIVE MIND
There was once a man who drove a truck on a road through a town and got stuck under a bridge that had a low clearance. The men of the town gathered around the wedged truck to think of ways to dismantle the truck or the bridge. Finally, a young boy came up and asked, "Why don't you let some air out of the tires?" That is what they did, and the truck went on its way.

This was a child who had the Edison trait. He saw an element of the scene that no one else saw, because they were busily and systematically focused on what to them was relevant to the solution.

An Edison-trait child:

Expects the Unexpected
A child with the Edison trait makes sudden, astonishing connections. Because his inner critic disallows neither the ridiculous nor the sublime, he can be innovative, ingenious, and fascinating. He can see ordinary things in extraordinary ways, which is the very essence of creativity.

His sense of humor is disarming. It stems from keen perception and the ability to see things from a different perspective. Sometimes he exhibits the kind of straight-from-the-subconscious humor that makes successful stand-up comics so funny. He blurts out ideas that are just under the surface, things that most others would have automatically censored.

Thinks Autonomously
This is a child who stands up for his own ideas, especially when they are uncommon or nonconformist. He is an independent thinker and does not rely on the opinions of others to form his own judgments. In a matter of personal interest to him, he stands firm with conviction, even in the face of strong opposition.

Hyperfocuses and Persists
When the Edison-trait child is intrinsically motivated, he has formidable mental power. If he is working on a project that is his own brainstorm, he is determined, tenacious, and persevering. As if by magic, he can work for hours involved in what he is doing. He finds ways to overcome barriers; his passion sees him through. In matters of his own choosing, he has inner direction and resolve.

Is Diverse and Intense
Edison-trait children are pluralistic, nonconforming, and multifarious. Once they begin to speak on a topic of their choosing, clear your calendar ... you'll be here for a while. Flights of fancy are common. One thing leads to another, though sometimes the connections are not apparent to the rest of us.

Has a Mind That Is Holistic
The Edison-trait child notices and reacts to things from any and all directions, so he is likely to have a global sense of places he has been. Take this child to the shopping mall and he'll probably be able to lead you back to your parked car.

Lives on His Own Schedule
Time passes slowly for this child when he is not engaged in an activity of interest. Otherwise, watch out! When an Edison-trait child works on a project of his choosing, he is dedicated and determined.

Loves to Come Up with Ideas
Some do this slowly and dreamily. Others are like kernels of popcorn popping. Many do both. They have qualities of being both a whimsical Dreamer and a high-charged Discoverer or turbulent Dynamo.

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE EDISON TRAIT?
All children are imaginative and enjoy make-believe, but children who have the Edison trait live even closer to their imaginations. It is their lifeblood.

Children manifest the Edison trait in various ways. Some are quiet and reserved and live in their own worlds. Others are loud, interruptive, and bold.

Your child may be a Dreamer, a Discoverer, or a Dynamo. Or he may combine features of any or all of these patterns.

Dreamers drift from place to place, on a schedule of eternal time.
Discoverers have to find things out for themselves and do things their own way.
Dynamos are always in motion, with a flair forsurprises, power, and speed.
To see how closely your child's patterns match the profile of children with this trait, take a moment and think about him since his earliest days. Then ask yourself these questions:

If your child is a Dreamer
1. Does he get absorbed or intensely involved in his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is he prone to saying things out of the blue?
3. Does he procrastinate to an extreme?
4. Are his interests and activities eclectic?
5. Does he start at least three projects for every one he finishes?

If your child is a Discoverer
1. Is he easily attracted to sights and sounds around him?
2. Is it vital for him to express his opinion?
3. Does he crave novelty, power, and excitement?
4. Is he always ready to speak, especially if you're talking?
5. When he wants his own way - which is almost always - is he relentless?

Or, if your child is a Dynamo
1. Does he get aggressive or intensely emotional about his own ideas much of the time?
2. Is some part of his body always in motion?
3. Are chances to run and climb as vital as the air he breathes?
4. Does he have boundless energy, enough for about three children his age?
5. Do you find yourself wondering if he lacks common sense?

The more "yes" answers you gave to these questions, the more reason there is for you to read on.

DREAMERS
Dreamers are mind wanderers. These Edison-trait youngsters seem to be lost in timeless space. From time to time, they have blank expressions on their faces or may look a little dazed. Actually, they are floating through one or several ideas in another realm, a world of their own.

I dwell in Possibility
A fairer house than Prose,
More numerous of windows,
Superior of doors.

Like Emily Dickinson, the author of these words, Edison-trait Dreamers are self-styled visionaries and poets. They have an ephemeral quality, a digressive style of thinking, and an inclination to see things from an unusual, even quixotic angle. In the classroom, after a lesson is taught, the Dreamer may not give the expected response, so others presume he just didn't "get it." But ask him and you'll find out that if he was tuned in, he probably "got it" all right - in an entirely unintended or uncommon way. He produces the kind of answer that makes you think twice.

Dreamers like sensory experience. They are drawn to color, sound, texture, taste, and fragrance. Often, Edison-trait Dreamers remember odd and seemingly unrelated facts and details, knowledge of an idiosyncratic nature. Seldom can they say exactly why they are drawn to these particular thoughts or recollections, but their fascination can become intense. What appears as spaciness to us is felt as absorption by them.

DISCOVERERS
Discoverers are Edison-trait adventurers who must blaze their own trail. They are high-spirited and have to see "what would happen if . . ." They are spontaneous and they must do things their own way.

Discoverers are multi-sensory, usually with a strong preference for visual input. This is a child who craves, and often creates, the stimulation of power, surprise, or diversity. He wants to explore his own ideas and express his own opinions. He wants life to keep him interested. If he does not find people stimulating, he will stimulate them, usually by provoking laughter or anger.

Discoverers like to live in the moment, without giving too much mind to what will happen in the future. Typically, they are not planners. Discoverers live with the attitude that they'll discover what's going to happen when it happens. That's what makes life interesting.

When a Discoverer is on the trail of an idea or project of his own, he feels a sense of urgency or impatience. During these times the Discoverer may "hyperfocus." He pays attention to what he is doing with an unusual degree of intensity and to the exclusion of all else. Discoverers also "multitask." Multitasking means doing more than one thing at a time. Dreamers and Dynamos hyperfocus and multitask, too. But Discoverers do it more.

DYNAMOS
Dynamos are fuel-injected speedsters. They have erratic spurts of energy. They overexcite easily, and when this happens, trouble is on the way.

In some ways, a Dynamo is also a Discoverer. He is impulsive. He acts first and thinks later. Like the Discoverer, the Dynamo loves power and speed. And like the Discoverer, the Dynamo is strong willed and immovable in his position.

The distinguishing feature of the Dynamo is his boundless physical energy. Dynamos keep their bodies in motion, one way or another, almost all the time. They walk, run, skip, kick, climb, jump, bounce, leap, bound, pounce, bolt, dash, race, sprint, dive, swim, splash, and fly.

Dynamos act with gusto and zest. They are risk takers and daredevils. And they are constantly entertaining. Life in their company is never dull.

THE EDISON TRAIT IS LIFELONG
The Edison trait is a personality characteristic. It endures. As Edison himself did, people with the trait have to make good matches between their aptitudes and their life work.

TURNING THE LIGHTS ON
As the parent of an Edison-trait child, you have probably asked yourself some variation of the following question: "If my child can recall the entire roster of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, why can't he remember that eight times seven is fifty-six?"

To better understand your youngster, picture him wandering through an empty house alone. Most of the rooms are dark. One or two are well lit. When your child enters a bright room, he is filled with enthusiasm to explore. He remembers those bright rooms and develops a strong preference for them. Of course, the way you see it, he should be able to turn the lights on in any room, if only he would use the light switch. When you ask him to and he doesn't, a strain of tension develops between you.

From his point of view - and this is his house - his lights are wired differently. In the past, your Edison-trait child has tried to use the same kind of switch he sees others use, but to no avail. He senses that he doesn't operate the same way. He has a different configuration. Problems start getting solved when you work from his blueprints, not yours. You empower him to figure out his own circuitry, and the rules and methods to turn his lights on.

CONVERGENT, NO - DIVERGENT, YES
Having the Edison trait makes some things easier for your child and some things harder. The things that come easy are

Thinking up wild or unusual ideas
Standing up for, feeling strongly about, and getting involved in those ideas
Making things up, and imagining the future
Trying things out
Starting new projects
The things that come hard are

Focusing on someone else's ideas
Letting go of his own ideas
Remembering things he's been asked to do
Practicing skills repeatedly
Finishing things
The things that come easy are divergent thinking skills. In divergent thinking, one thought stimulates many others; thinking branches out. The things that come hard require convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, many thoughts reduce to a single one; thinking funnels in.

Read the lists again. It is no surprise that Edison-trait children will not shine in a typical classroom, or on the playground, or in most forms of organized sports. In settings like these, their chemistry sets them apart. They are the exceptions to our implicit rules of how children should think and perform, rules that say they should behave like uniform convergent thinkers.

CONVERGENT THINKING AS THE NORM
It is a natural human tendency to assume that all minds work the same way. We tacitly agree that all minds should naturally be able to follow through on one idea at a time, from beginning to end, with attention to detail. We call convergent thinking the norm and we presume it's what comes naturally if a brain is "normal." Divergent thinkers are viewed as having "attentional problems."

We label convergent thinking as right and divergent thinking as wrong. We base the methods we use to train our children on this premise. We expect children to focus in a linear fashion for as long as we say they should. This is true at home and at school. And at school, as class sizes get larger and children get more diverse, a teacher's tolerance for a student's divergent thinking necessarily diminishes. The same curriculum gets taught to all students in the same way and at the same pace.

The brains of Edison-trait children are misunderstood, not inferior. As students they are attentionally disadvantaged because we punish, and fail to appreciate, their unique creative slant. They get blamed for not completing desk work in the allotted time. They are scolded for not staying in their seats until recess. They are forced to work at an unsuitable tempo, and then get graded down for poor handwriting, and errors in grammar, spelling, and math facts. These outcomes are inevitable artifacts of a mismatched approach.

We teach to their weaknesses, not to their strengths. We insist that they see things our way, but we won't see things theirs. These children are stunningly divergent. They are on a quest for discovery, exploration, and stimulation. Surely we can be flexible and accommodate their style. They can and will develop convergent skins, but only if their desire to learn is protected and kindled with success.

WE CAN HELP EDISON-TRAIT CHILDREN DEVELOP SKILLS

We Can Guide Them to Motivate Themselves
These children need extra incentive and stimulating rewards. They need to experience success so that they can believe in it. They need reasons compelling enough to keep up the extra effort to get through the glass maze.

We Can Communicate - Think and Talk - in Their Language
A child with the Edison trait needs to feel he's in control. He will accept help only if it does not threaten his autonomy. He is prone to feeling crowded and seeing adults as overbearing.
The Edison-trait child is easily overwhelmed. For this reason, he needs clear direction, phrased in brief, concise messages. He needs his workload assigned in manageable portions. He needs structure, simple categories, and prominent visual cues.

For this same reason, he needs frequent breaks and relief from tension. He responds best to a calm and steady voice, devoid of emotional charge.

The Edison-trait child thinks in images and stories. He needs instruction that is attractive and captivating. He responds to metaphors and identifies with characters he likes. Creative approaches work best. Humor is a strong ally.

Your goal is to value your child's divergent thinking, while at the same time teaching and encouraging him to think convergently. With guidance and support, he will learn how to concentrate, shift focus, and do things in sequence. He'll make his own ways to organize his thoughts, words, papers, time, and money, to follow through, plan, schedule, and stay on track. He will come to appreciate conventional wisdom and the merit of reflective thought.

BRIDGES, NOT FENCES
Pretend for a moment that when babies are born, they already know how to talk. Right from the cradle: "Hello, Mother. Hello, Father. Please feed me. I'm hungry."

Now let's say 80 percent of the babies in the United States are born speaking English, but you're a parent of one of the 20 percent who speak a foreign language. You know you must help him to learn English somehow, so he can get along with everybody else. But it's clear your little guy likes his language better than yours.

He learns barely enough English to get by, but no more. He prefers the sound and the flow and the feel of his own tongue. He doesn't know how much of your language he can learn, even if he tries. And why should he try, when everyone acts as if he already should speak English fluently, and people make a bigger deal over his failures than his efforts?

At first, you forbid your child to speak his language. That doesn't work.

Next, you reward him when he speaks only English. That works some, but it's a strain on everyone.

Finally, you make a commitment to learn and appreciate the language he speaks. You enter his world - through his sounds, his words, and his expressions. You don't insult his language; you find what is beautiful and useful about it.

At the same time, you acknowledge every attempt he makes to speak English - regardless of whether he succeeds or not. You let him know you recognize his efforts and his desire to communicate with you. You tell him that you see his courage and his hard work.

And then, a funny thing happens.

The more good you see in his world, the more good he sees in yours.

You build bridges, not fences.

You become enriched by your knowledge of his language. And he grows in his motivation to learn yours.

Excerpted from Dreamers, Discoverers and Dynamos by Lucy Jo Palladino

I now understand my child so much better after reading this book.

This is a very compassionate book about smart but difficult to manage children. These "Edison-trait" children are spirited, passionate children who are very intense and hard to live with. The author calls them "divergent thinkers", who are very creative, imaginative, and see things in a different way than others. They have problems focusing on others' ideas and letting go of their own. School can be very frustrating for them. For example, they don't like practicing skills repeatedly. I found Chapter 12 on School to very helpful. It gives some good tips to help these children succeed at school and to feel good about themselves regarding school. There are ways that parents and teachers can help them and provide encouragement without the child feeling labeled or stigmatized. There is also a large section in the book on ADD and ADHD. The author writes "While just about all children who have ADD have the Edison trait, not all children with the Edison trait have ADD." While they share the same traits, such as being easily distracted, disorganized, and disobedient, in the child with ADD, these traits are excessive and disrupts his functioning. The problems are more severe in the ADD child. This book is very compassionate regarding the needs of the children. It provides hope for parents.

This is the first book I have EVER found myself in. I have always been fascinated by psychology, but have never fit into anyone's theory or box. I have usually found myself relating to the negative characteristics of two opposite types in someones personality groups. My spirit was broken by well intentioned parents trying to make me fit in with what is supposed to be "normal" in our society. Lucy Jo Palladino has seen in children what so many professionals refuse to, or cannot see. I saw Dr. Palladino on TV promoting this book and was drawn to it because at that time I was beginning to see the hopelessness in my 2yr old son that I remembered feeling as a child, but never did understand. Dr. Palladino understands how my brain works. I never understood it, I just knew I was different but didn't know why. The book is invaluable now that my son is 5 and I need guidance on how to teach him self control and discipline. It's not easy, but the methods in this book help me nurture and teach to his strengths instead of trying to change the very nature of who he is. The biggest surprise in this book was that I found out my husband is also an Edison thinker, just a very different one than I am. He's a dreamer and I and my son are discoverers. By the way I don't label lightly, this book seems to be written about my family. Is there anymore out there about this? Is there any way to write to the author? I am so thankful for this book and would recommend it to anyone who thinks their child might be in this book. It could literally save their life. I am very fortunate that my attempts to check out of this world that did not accept or understand me were not successful.

I have read a lot of books on becoming debt free but I must say this is one of the very best. More than the book being great the staff at The Money Planner are awesome! I am enjoying becoming debt free because of this book.The Four Laws of Debt Free Prosperity

Easy read, and the principles are excellent...... This is a book everyone should read......

I purchased 3 books. One for myself, one for my daughter and one for a friend. I have read 3/4 of the book and find it easy to read and to put the suggestions into practise.

My daughter read her book in a few days and sat down with pen and paper and starting tracking their spending so they could improve their lifestyle by becoming dept free.

This should be required reading in every high school. If you can't learn to manage your money from this book, you don't really want to. It makes it so simple. This is the second time I've bought this book because I sent the first one to someone I thought needed it. Now I am trying to get my son to take control of his finances and can't think of a better way for him to learn the rules.

1. It's an easy read! My wife and I read it a couple days apart and neither of us could put it down! I was amazed at how simple the suggestions were based on solid financial principles.
2. By implementing the methods in this book, we were able to immediately identify things we needed to fix financially and implement a plan of action.
3. Everyone you know should read this book. After reading it yourself, all your friends will want to know what you know because you'll be out of debt, and they'll want to know how you did it so quickly!
4. Being in debt is a major cause for concern in any relationship. If you can get a handle on debt, and GET RID of it, your relationships WILL improve, as will your lifestyle.

This book can assist you in becoming completely debt free, and giving you the wisdom you need to STAY that way.

More people are gluten sensitive than they realize. This book points out many diseases that are caused by gluten sensitivity. After reading this book, I realized many of my symptoms were caused by eating foods that contain gluten. After I went gluten free, I am feeling like a brand new person. All doctors should read this book. Many are not knowledgible about gluten sensitivity.

The Gluten Connection is so informative! I am currently reading it for a second time. Have purchased copies for my family and have recommended it to others.

I owe my good health today to the information that I gained by reading this book. The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control NowIt is a must read for people who are experiencing digestive difficulties as well as young parents deciding what to feed their children to insure better health.

Very enlightening even if you don't suspect gluten sensitivity! Read it! This book contains a lot of worthwhile information that will open ones eyes to the hazards contained naturally in our foods. My mother has celiac disease and even a trace amount in a nongluten food (i.e. oatmeal which becomes contaminated when produced in a facility making flour) will create extreme pain. This book will have you reading all labels! The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control Now

Excellent resource for anyone who is concerned about gluten and wheat. This book is easy to follow, it provides excellent tips and guidance to see if you have intolerance or sensitivity to gluten, and provides excellent information on where to find gluten free products. It also provides receipes that are easy to do! It is a valuable source of information.

The Joy of Freedom is like Atlas Shrugged in that reading both books ignites a passion for liberty in me. Henderson, like Rand, is a zealous advocate of freedom. The difference between the two books and their authors, however, is that Rand tends to be combative whereas Henderson tends to deliver a pleasant message.

Henderson tells of his intellectual journey as a free-market economist and libertarian. Along the way he applies the principles of freedom and free-market economics to the vital issues of the past, present, and future. "This book", he writes, "is about freedom, about how well freedom works and how government, by crushing freedom, messes up our lives."

Henderson didn't take economics until his final year of college. His evaluation of introductory economics: "The course was a profound disappointment." The text and the lectures did not raise questions that were interesting to him about how markets work. The model of "perfect competition" turned him off, as it does many students. Fortunately, Henderson attended lectures by economist Harold Demsetz who did explain how markets work, which rekindled Henderson's interest in economics.

What sort of questions does Henderson find interesting? In 1969 he asked Hubert Humphrey: "Then how do you reconcile your belief in the Thirteenth Amendment [prohibiting slavery] with your belief in the draft?" Henderson devotes an entire chapter to property rights and emphasizes their efficacy throughout. He poses the following scenario: "You walk by a yard and see someone painting a house. Pointing a gun at him is another man who orders the first man to stop painting." Then he asks: "Who is in the right?" Henderson might alter your view of the world. Consider this way of thinking about taxes: "Imagine that a thief takes your money at gunpoint, uses your money to buy a steak, and then brings the steak to your house and gives it to you." His question is: "Would you say that he didn't steal from you?" He even dares to ask: "Should we have taxes at all?" He raises the question of why the standard of living in the U.S. rises despite the shortcomings of government schools. About schools, he also asks: "If you went to a government school, or if your children go to a government school, is `exciting' the first adjective, or even the fifth adjective, you would use to describe the experience?" Concerning the environment, he asks: "How far could we go in the direction of using private property to solve environmental problems?"

A reader of this book can expect to encounter many thought-provoking points as well as serious contributions to policies on social security, health care, education, and the environment.

Most Americans are in the 15 percent tax bracket and pay 3 to 4 cents per dollar in State tax. On top of that American's pay 7.65 percent in social security and medicare taxes. Thus, even the modest-income people are in an overall marginal tax bracket ranging from 26 to 33 percent tax. High income people in states with income taxes are in a moverall marginal tax bracket of 50 percent. High tax rates cause deadweight losses in two ways: 1. loses by spending tax revenue wastefully. "When government spends money on things, there's a strong basis for believing that those things are worth less than the items we would have bought with our money." "Governments have little or no incentive to spend money carefully because it's not their money." 2. Every tax causes people to alter their behavior in some way. These distortions in behavior designed to reduce the amount of taxes they pay. The deadweight loss from a tax is proportional to the square of the tax rate. The main thing we need to do is cut taxes drastically, especially at the federal level. The flat tax will create two taxes, one for income and the other for sales. Proponents of big government oppose tax cuts. "The reason they give is that such tax cuts generate disproportionate higher benefits for high-income people than for low-income people. The top 5 percent made 32.5 of the income. Low and middle income people would gain from tax cuts. Higher-income people would work harder because they could keep more of their earnings and lower marginal taxes would give people an incentive to save. The more capital and high-skilled workers there are for low-skill workers, the more productive and higher paid the workers become. EITC has incentive problems and may encourage pushes for bigger government and EITC incentives exist causing low income people to elect not to earn additional disqualifying dollars. The death tax is unjust. The death tax is unfair because it levy on people wh have already paid tax on what they have accumulated. The capital gains tax is unjust. "The tax on capital gains is another particular unjust tax because is does not take account of the increase in asset prices that is caused by inflation." The capital gain tax does not allow individuals to index their prices so that they are paying capital gains taxes on real capital gains and not on phantom capital gains.

Roughly 80 percent of payroll taxes collected from current workers today are sent out to current retirees The Social Security Administration claims they will be solvent until 2037 meaning "the last of the special federal government bonds that the SSA has bought and kept in the Social Security Trust fund will be sold off to the US Treasury." This sale is between the left and right hands of government. 2024, the cost of benefits will exceed income from payroll taxes. In 1987, Michael Boskin presented data on the rate of return earned by the social security tax and calculated it to be minus 0.79 to 6.34 percent dependant of the peron's age, income level, and martial status. A person born in 1915, the sole wage earner for a married couple earned 6.34 percent. Every other category of income earner earned a lower return percentage. At the same time index portfolio of stocks earned about 7.7 percent adjusted for inflation. 4 percent is a good pessimistic real rate of growth. 4 percent represent a portfolio of stocks for the worst 30 year period for stocks. A person working from the period 1929 to 1994, would have been $120,00 better off with a private savings plan instead of social security. A minimum wage earning for his whole life would have still been $9,000 better off without social security. Social security cost the maximum wage earners $262,000 in lost wealth and cost the average wage earner to lose $160,000. Absent social security people would save for their retirement. In 1991, the median financial assets of households with heads aged 55 to 64 were only $8,300. Social security is one of the main reasons people don't save. Steps to save social security without increased taxes are to 1. increase the retirement age 2. change the benefits formula 3. change the index of benefits. The author proposes, "I would allow anyone who is at least 45 years old and who ahs paid social security taxes for at least 10 years to immediately leave the social security system. A person who left would never be allow back in and would give up all claim to past taxes paid and future benefits." 70 percent of generation X does not believe they will receive social security benefits. Bad proposals include : tax rate increase, government investment in stocks, and affluence tests that reduce claims on benefits.

Heilbroner pointed to the Soviet Union, China, and Eastern Europe as giving "the clearest possible proof that capitalism organizes the material affairs of humankind more satisfactorily than socialism." In the Soviet union, no one person or company could own private property, so there was no incentive to take care of the grain, so much of it rotten each year. Soviet factories were judged by quotas rather than their ability to satisfy customers. The soviet government set prices that were too high causing huge surpluses and the surpluses sometimes ended up in landfills. Likewise, much of the soviet oil production ended up costing, instead of profiting the people, the chaos of economic life under socialism. "Alchian pointed out that a huge amount of human behavior could be understood if you got straight what the property rights were." Property rights give incentives to the individual to earn a profit, produce, and satisfy the customer through generosity-courteous-thoughtful behavior. The price would be determined by what people were willing to pay for the product or service. "When something is allocated to the highest bidder, the bidders, no the auctioneer, determine who gets it." "When government hands things out or underprices them, politically well-connected people inside and outside government will take advantage of this and capture much of the value that would have otherwise been capture by property owners."

Some facts: Things are getting cheaper and better. Poverty is temporary. Americans are getting wealthier. American's live better than any king in the past. "Whatever your criterion of culture, the odds are extremely high that, with capitalism-that is with free markets- you will get more of the kind of culture you want than you will get when government rules the economy with a heavy hand. There is no greedy hand, only social, political, and financial incentives and when incentives are artificial high the system revolts, as in the case of Nixon's oil price fixing and Carters conservational efforts. Capitalism delivers the goods both abundantly and with quality. Artists and actors thrived becauses their works were popular in a freemarket. There is a labour shortage. Freemarkets are creating infinite resources. There are no shortages of resources. Welfare impoverishes individuals. Government operates on principles of force.

This is an enjoyable book. It is part autobiography and part political philosophy and, perhaps best of all, it provides well supported and practical solutions to many of our country's biggest problems -- including the environment, public schools, social security and medicare, health care, etc. I rarely read a book where I feel, as I did with this one, that I would love to meet the author and discuss these issues. A very clear and intelligent writer who doesn't pretend to know all the answers. He clearly has a great deal of experience with these issues but has none of the ego or arrogance that we so often see these days. This is an excellent book.

Henderson is one of the few economists who can cogently communicate the "Joy of Freedom" passionately to an audience new to the magic of markets without getting sidetracked. Too often, when one reads introductory economics texts they cast the science as boring, impassionate, and overly analytical. Most other introductory books I've read begin by prematurely stating that economists must be value neutral and going on to immediately talking about supply, demand, elasticity, and trying to use a graph of supply and demand with an extra line and some shading to convince new, reluctant minds that policies such as price controls and the minimum wage are inefficient. This runs in sharp contrast to the introductory texts of other sciences, such as sociology and psychology, which openly begin with sometimes corny lines about the relevance of their thoughts and feelings to society. Although I believe that the authors in these other sciences often lack a solid background in critical thought and data analysis, they generally are more effective in getting new people to think about their fields.

Henderson is the welcome and notable exception that tactfully extends the "invisible hand" to readers who might hold very biased prejudices against economics and economists to guide them to a whole new world of thought and analysis. Through a collection of personal experiences backed by a reasonable and digestible amount of economics in each chapter, he is effective in his goal of doing what most economists cannot -- explaining the most relevant aspects of economics to the most important audience. Ultimately the effectiveness of the highlighting the implications of public policy for the lives of common people is more influental in changing the world than any article in the American Economic Review. While adding to existing knowledge is vital, attracting new thinkers and altering the biased beliefs of the Median Voter is at least equally as important.

Professor Henderson does not disappoint with this book. During the early 1990s, I had the pleasure of taking a class from Professor Henderson at the Naval Postgraduate School. Professor Henderson was then, and I expect he still is, one of the most popular teachers at the school. That isn't because he's an easy grader or that he has an incredible grasp of economics. It is because he possesses an innate ability to communicate the most difficult of subjects with ease and clarity. He is an engaging advocate for liberty. In fact, economics is not the dismal science when he instructs.

He explains, in a sometimes-personal way, how markets work and many of the issues that we face today with a pointed lucidity. The arguments put forward are not new. In fact, I'd be surprised if many readers have not heard them already. What makes this book different and so enjoyable is how Professor Henderson's optimistic outlook and perspective pervades his explanation of issues so critical to our understanding of the world and our personal freedom. More importantly, Professor Henderson is an advocate for liberty. In a world that is increasingly controlled by government, this is a must read.

As an educator I found this personally helpful and bough a copy for our food service manager. It also gave us more information for parents who have complained about our ban on ALL junk foods including those with high sugar content.

I read Dr. Kathleen DesMaison's "Your Last Diet" and followed her program for about 9 months. It changed my life! I lost 30 pounds and I feel so much better, physically and emotionally. I have more energy, self-confidence, inner peace and zest for life. I was well on my way to healing my sugar addiction and was ready to help my children.

Then, I read "Little Sugar Addicts" to help my children. "Little Sugar Addicts" helped me guide my family through the process of healing their sugar addiction. It had everything we needed: easy to follow step-by-step instructions, recipes, ideas for the holidays and inspiring stories from other parents. The transformation of my children was amazing. What's more, Kathleen's program is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix or a bunch of other things to buy. It is economical, simple and it works. Our family has been healed by this book and I highly recommend it.

My experience is much like the previous reviewer's, only I was a bit older when I found Dr. DesMaison's
work, and started following her food program. Her books explained my whole life....depression, mood
swings, meltdowns, temper tantrums, low self-esteem etc. "Doing the food" changed all of this. I've just
finished reading "Little Sugar Addicts", and I think how wonderful that families today have this
available to them, and what a difference it would have made in my family's lives. What is so different
about this is it is not the parent/s *telling* the children what to do, but inviting the whole family to
participate in what and how changes will be made. Lots of quotes from real people that are doing this plan.
It works. I recommend this book to all parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, friends with children.
What a difference it will make.

Kathleen DesMaisons first book, Potatoes Not Prozac, changed my life. I went from a completely depressed person well on my way to taking anti-depressants, to a happy, confident person who loves life--all because I changed the way I ate! Since healing my own body and mind I have changed my children's diets with miraculous results.

Before Kathleen's program my kids would whine, scream, hit, be totally out of control, throw tantrums and in general, I didn't like them very much a lot of the time. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong?!? How could I feel this way about my kids and what could I do about it? No amount of parenting advice or classes could change what was going on with them. Well, after getting myself steady on Kathleen's program I started to look at my kids diet. It took a little time and adjustment, but now by feeding them differently and at consistant times they are mostly fun, loving, compassionate, focused, easy to talk to and the joys I always knew they were. Food was the answer, pure and simple!

Get this book if you've ever had those feelings of helplessness with your kids. It will change your life and your families life!

The program that Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons designed for children in her book Little Sugar Addicts is wonderful. The book describes the program is simple, plain language. Dr. DesMaisons has dedicated her life to helping people heal and her compassion, warmth and sensitivity comes out in her latest book, Little Sugar Addicts. I read this book and started doing the program with my kids and I have seem miraculous changes in them. It has been such a blessing. This book is very easy to read and the program is very easy to do. I highly recomend it to all parents.

As a publicist who has worked on the journalism side like T.S. Peric, I learned that he "gets it". I devoured this book as a refresher for myself and to learn what others are doing to generate publicity for their clients. I found Peric's tips and advice sensible, simple to understand and applicable to any product or service. It's one of the most thorough and user-friendly books about publicity that I've ever read.

"Wacky Days" is a book that leads you through the many steps you can take to obtain huge amounts of free publicity.
Anyone who has a business, product, or book is sure to find this will become their Bible to return to time and again gleaming nuggets of information from it's pages.
The author uses examples from his own experiences to show how it can be done. The information can be easily adapted to fit your need for publicity.
An interesting and entertaining read that is a definite keeper which will sit on my reference shelf to be used whenever I am doing publicity. In my opinion, Tom Peric does for publicity what Dan Poynter does for self-publishing.

Great book on ideas and practical ways to generate PR for any type of business. From straight-forward tasks to some strategic planning like offering reporters story ideas for future reference or how to get seated on a Board, Peric' has something for everyone in Wacky Days.

Highly recommended.

Wacky Days... explains how to get free publicity and to be recognized as an expert in your chosen field. Mr. Peric' shows you how to approach the media through Tip sheets, professional looking Press releases, and of course the names, dates, and e-mail addresses needed to create your very own holiday!( Mine is going to be "Buy a piece of thrift store art day", 3rd Thursday in June!)his book is a must read if you spend money on advertising your business.
If you are an independent publisher, like me, YOU MUST OWN A COPY!
All fans of Dan Poynter should have this book right next to The Self-Publishing Manual.
Everyone else talks about getting publicity, but Tom holds your hand, and takes baby steps until your goals are reached, 37 small chapters.

His journalism background has really given him a true insiders edge.

At the end of the book there is a section that explains how to affordably hire Mr. Peric' himself by drawing up a plan from Wacky Days..., gathering up media list, writing your press release and allowing T. S. to assess the plan.
This book explains what journalists love to write about,(People and Ideas)

He also explains why stories get written (they were relevant, useful, or interesting!)

I fully recomend you buy this book.

I've never met or spoken with Tom Peric but as I read this book, it felt like I was listening to a trusted friend give me step by step advice on how to publicize my business. I liked his straightforward writing style and how he educates and empowers the reader so that even the most media-shy business owner can read this book and apply its suggestions about how to publicize his or her business. A great book, you'll be glad you read it.

This book (and the entire series) is a great teaching tool for little ones. Often times, when my daughter needs a "reminder" about choosing her words carefully, we put this in our bedtime story rotation.

This is a great book to teach children that hands are not for hitting but rather helping. Another book that should be read by every parent and teacher of children 3-12 is Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying.Parents and teachers can learn to create nurturing environments where children can get along;help children to express anger and use words to resolve conflict;teach social skills including friendship.... It should be on the shelf of every home and classroom.

Content of the book is great but the board pages of the book I received were bent and twisted.

I got this book for my son. He really enjoys it. It is simple enough that my toddler enjoys it also

Love this book. It's simple message is SO important, particularly for toddlers who are just learning how language can be helpful and hurtful. This book has great pictures and images, and a powerful message that should be reinforced in all toddlers (and parents, too!).

I bought this book based on the positive feedback of other reviewers. I don't generally eat many sweets, but I was desperate for something to make for special occasions, since traditional, wheat-based cakes and cookies were definitely not an option.

I first made the "Orange Pecan Streusel Muffins". I had to order some of the specialty starches and flours from companies on-line before I could begin this recipe, as they are not available in my area. Once I had all the ingredients, the recipe was easy to follow, although fairly time-consuming. I substituted chestnut flour for the pecan flour. And the muffins were delicious! You would never know they were gluten-free. My husband, who is not gluten-intolerant, polished off two of them immediately. The recipe says to let the muffins cool before eating, but you can eat them a little warm if you like. yum.

I'm looking forward to trying some of the other recipes. This is a GOOD cookbook!

This cookbook is wonderful. It has made the transition to GF baking easier and tastier. There are some very good tips found within.

This is a wonderful book for people who cannot have gluten. The recipes are tasty, simple and oh-so delightful.

This book is full of great recipes, and cooking tips for gluten free cooking. The recipes use a mix of rice, tapioca, and potato flours(you can get these at a local health food store). I loved the white bread recipe, it keeps well for about a week in the fridge, and freezes well to.

Both grandchildren have Celiac's Disease, so gluten is out. Special diet recipes can often be anywhere from so-so to just terrible. I really did my homework and read through countless reviews. I am happy to report this book's recipes live up to their promises. The standard kitchen isn't set up for gluten-free cooking, but once you find everything you need at the local health food stores, follow these recipes for great results.

When my counselor recommended this book I was not at all sure that the material applied to me. Boy, was I wrong! This book has proven to be insightful and helpful in identifying patterns in my life that came from a dysfunctional family of orgin. To do all of the work that the book suggests will require a significant time investment and I think to really get the most out of it at least one insightful and trained person to guide you through. I am just at the point where I am putting my action plan into writing and practice so I can't claim lifechanging events yet. It has, however, given me the insight and the tools to move forward. And I feel the first seeds of hopefulness sprouting in my life.

I am very thankful for this book, I learned things about myself that I couldn't quite figure out. This is the best thing I have seen about identifying these betrayal bonds. The problem I had with the book was it wasn't very helpful about where to go next and how to get better. I wish I would have had this years ago, and it was incredibly helpful in helping me identify things I never knew where they were coming from, and that is very helpful.

I read the book again and changed my review.

I felt this book identified the problem extremely well. I could see how a relationship I've been in fits the description of a betrayal bond nearly perfectly. However, I was disappointed in that I did not think the solution was very clearly explained. In fact, p. 35 says that trauma bonds "can be formed almost instantaneously, but they can last forever," leaving me to wonder if there is any hope. p. 165 identifies the dimensions of recovery as healthy bonds, boundary development, role development, trauma resolution, systems change, sense of self, key metaphors, and a recovery plan. However, I did not feel that these dimensions (except perhaps the recovery plan) were adequately explained in the book. One final criticism is that the suggestion to develop healthy bonds seems to focus only on developing healthy bonds with a therapist and support groups. Not everyone is going to feel the need for therapy and support groups, if they have adequate support from significant people in their life. Why doesn't the author address the importance of forming healthy bonds with family and friends? I would think a trauma survivor would be better off with healthy, supportive relationships in their life in the form of family and friends, than to become dependent on a therapist and support group. I am not much of a believer in psychotherapy, so I did not find this particular book very useful. I would have liked concrete suggestions for how to detach from the person who I have this unhealthy bond with.

This is a must read for anyone working with children or teens. Especially good for social workers, psychologists, youth leaders, and any family that has dealt with or is dealing with sexual or physical abuse of a loved one. I cannot give this book a high enough rating. Our daughter was sexually abused as a minor by a (used to be) good friend that we had known for 15 years. She had a very hard time getting out of the situation even as an adult. People do not understand the manipulation, brain washing, lying etc. that goes on in such a situation. If only we had known the signs to look for. Thanks you Patrick Carnes for your insight and for trying to open the eyes of the ignorant.

This is a sensitive but straight forward book on the roles that are played out in relationships between the addict and those involved with them. Dr. Carnes also runs a rehabilative center, "Gentle Path" for those who recognize that they are addicted to sex. This is recommended reading for anyone who is willing to give addiction a honest look and what role the non-addict plays in their lives. It is powerful and worth following to find sanity, answers, and peace.

This book touched my heart, to actually realize how one woman could bome so close to animals that we look at and call beasts. The compassion that one woman had is enough to change they way you may think about how we live. And once you read this book, dont forget that it is a true story. After seeing what Joyce had done wither her love for animals, any dream can come true.

Born Free
Joy Adamson
1960
ISBN: 0-375-71438-3
196 pages

When Elsa's natural instincts soften, reality becomes harder and harder to face.
After a young lioness has been raised and transformed from fierce predator to loving house
cat by her owner Joy, the thought of releasing Elsa into the wild seems to be the greatest
challenge the two have had to face.
Born Free is a true story about a woman ,Joy, and a lioness ,Elsa. Joy's husband
was a game warden in Africa, so the two went on many safaris together. During one of these
safaris, they find three orphaned lion cubs and decide to raise and take care of them during
their cub life. The day finally arrives when the cubs are to be shipped to a European zoo,
and Joy just cannot part with the smallest cub, Elsa. Elsa stays with the two of them and
becomes part of the family for many months. Between all of the fun and
suspense, the truth of the matter finally reveals itself. Elsa, though removed of all the natural
instincts she needs to survive, must soon be permanently released into the wild.
Filled with laughter and excitement, Born Free is a terrific bittersweet adventure,
giving people the ability to learn about a miraculous breakthrough in human and animal
interaction. This book is a timeless classic that you can read again
and again.
By: Amy Schmidt

Animals have always been a favorite topic of mine, but as a young person who just happened to find a copy of this book some 39 years ago, with the cover torn off, I consider it one of the great discoveries of my life. It was summertime, and I was headed to the 7th grade. I wasn't much of a reader until that momentous day. The story of Elsa and the Adamsons totally transported me to another place, and many wondrous adventures in Africa. Due much to this book, I now am a voracious reader. The story is heartwarming, and is the reason I insisted my 7th grade son read it for his current book report.

Whether you're 9 or 99, Elsa's antics and her loving bond with Joy and George will capture your heart. I guarantee it. And with Africa's Lion population dwindling to probably less than 30,000 today, I can't think of a more timely book, in honour of conserving their remaining habitat. Especially when one considers that Africa had over 100,000 Lions when I first read it.

This book is one of my favorites. This book tells you the story of a bond between a hunan and a lioness. This is a great book because it shows you a different side of wild animals and the way they live. When you read it, you will get the excitement as if you are along on the safari with them!

My first introduction to the Born Free books when I was a child learning to read in school. And what a great introduction to reading it was. The story of Elsa and the Adamsons who saved her life as a cub along with her sisters and raised her brought me into a world of wanting to be there with all the animals and see Africa. This seemed to be treated more as a children's book in my time than an adult book. The idea of the book was to teach people the importance of environmental conservation awareness. The first book, tells Elsa's early life from a cub raised by Joy and George Adamson and their pet rock hyrax, Pati. Joy is Elsa's surrogate mom and with great pains to teach Elsa the skills to survive in the wild. With lots of work Joy did it with success that Elsa was capable of living in the wild again. They released her near her birthplace and hoping Elsa would find and connect with her pride-in which she did. There is the tragedy not long afterward I had read this amazing story that Elsa had died in the Kenya bush of disease. Something of life that I learned early in my life that it was reality in the wilds of Africa or anywhere for that matter. But the cycle of life lives on in Elsa's pride. Still another grim incident ended the lives of Joy and George Adamson. Both were found murdered.

Joy Adamson has left behind a legacy of these fascinating books that moves us to treat our world with respect and have a better understanding between human-animal relationship. Joy Adamson before her death had also written, 'Living Free: Elsa and her Cubs' and 'Forever Free: Elsa's Pride.' Her family extended even further across the grasslands of Africa as she tells about them in her other books, 'The Spotted Sphinx' (about Pippa the Cheetah), 'Pippa's Challenge,' 'Pippa: The Cheetah and her Cubs,' 'Queen of Shaba: The Story of an African Leopard,' and 'Friends of the Forest.' Joy Adamson's book 'Peoples of Kenya' reflects upon the life of the Kenyan people, her concern for the people welfare there and their struggles to make an existence in a harsh, beautiful land. If you want to know more about Joy Adamson read her autobiography, 'The Searching Spirit.'