References Books

If you are into gardening like I am, this is an excellent, colorful resource! It will help identify those interesting little bugs in your gardens. I only wish it had a section of natural preventions/controls to go along with each insect.

THIS WILL SHOW YOU THE REAL DEAL OF THE DOG EAT DOG UNIVERSE OF BUGS, IN YOUR FRONT AND BACKYARD...............

This is a great book it has wonderful pictures so that you may identify the bugs that you are looking for. I purchased one for myself and one for my daughter and we both love them.

I received this as a gift after I mentioned that I loved the Orkin insect zoo at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. It was not a book I would have bought for myself, but it has become indispensable bedtime reading! The pictures are vibrant and accompanied by hard-to-forget descriptions and explanations. I especially love the pictures taken by Whitney Cranshaw himself. This book is very accessible to those who are interested in the secret tiny life that exists off of their back porch, people who don't know where to start and therefore keep pushing it off. Even the way the bugs are organized in the book is perfect- Leaf Chewers, Sap Suckers, Gall Makers, Twig Damagers, Branch Borers, Bulb Feeders... doesn't this sound like the most beautiful poem in the world??

This bok is very inclusive in it's content and very easy to look up insect for information or identification. It is used by Master Gardeners in our part of the country wth great appreciation for a book of such quality buyt yet affordble.

I found "Your Disgusting Head" on the clearance rack and just had to have the rest of the series. These books make for great conversation and are actually interesting coffee table books. Giraffes Giraffes tickles funny bones you never knew you had.

This is art and one rarely comes across art that is this beautiful and this close to being relevant. It's hard to deny the randomness in the order with which thoughts, figures, questions and answers appear in this book but that's what makes it so much more enjoyable. The story seems to be powered by a secret source of energy that exists at the boundary between "real" and "imaginary." The authors frequently cross this boundary on either direction without missing a beat, reminding us how great it is to think freely. What's really great is that this story has no beginning and no end so you can really go back and read it over and over again. Just make sure you don't read it 12 times...

I bought this book yesterday and haven't stopped laughing. I work at a zoo and we just got Giraffes so I thought it might be educational. Boy was I right! It's the funniest book I've read in a long time. I highly reccommend it if you are wanting a good laugh or need to know how to make sandwiches for them.
As for the reviewer who gave this book one star (the only negative review I might add) Are you disappointed that you didn't read what the book was about ahead of time or just unable to laugh at anything? You act like this book was in the reference section! This book is hilarious to humans and giraffes!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R15GVECJQ1T8V5

Simply one of the most informative books ever written. I would recommend "Your disgusting head" as a good second read.

I enjoyed reading this soon after my doctor prescribed a pet. Attributes are its varied content, volume of experiences, positively helpful advice and Dr Becker's insight. Supportive and encouraging but also keys in on the responsibility we have to add quality to our pet's life. Was a huge factor in obtaining a "good match" in my adopted pet.

If you are interested in the ways animals and humans have found ways to help and heal one another -- then this is the book for you. I am deeply impressed by the layers of information and deeply researched examples of ongoing pet and human partnerships in living well, healing, and transcending personal tragedy. If I were to offer one book to both the pet lover who is already persuaded at the amazing gifts of animals, and to the skeptic who isn't sure that pets do more than entertain or receive our projections -- this would be the book. It is a serious book with beautiful, remarkable stories and scientific efficacy to support its claims.

The book arrived in an excellent condition at the promised time.
As this was a present for a friend it was greatly appreciated
Susan

The fact that this book was written by a co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" (a book that I loved) is one of the things that made me pick it up. However, "Healing Power of Pets" is more than a collection of animal anecdotes. There's a lot of good, solid scientific information woven in, too. Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has worked with Animal-Assisted Therapy programs, cites numerous studies which show that people who are bonded with their pet(s) lead longer, heathier lives.

On page 74, for example, he refers to a 1995 study conducted by Erka Friedmann, a professor at the Department of Health and Nutritional Studies at Brooklyn College. She recruited 392 patients who had suffered heart attacks and were part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. Of these, 87 owned dogs and 282 did not. A year later, only one of the dog owners had died, while 19 of the non-dog-owners had passed away. In other words, people who own a dog are far more likely to be alive a year after having a heart attack.

Why is this? Many reasons are given in the book: dog owners get more exercise, they take better care of themselves because they feel responsible for the dog, they relax while petting the dog, they are less lonely because of the dog, etc. Other studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal's fur lowers the human's blood pressure like a form of meditation.

As a Jewish educator reading this book, I could not help but reflect on the fact that, compared to the general population, far fewer Jews have pets. In the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, especially, it is rare to see a dog in the house. One reason is because dogs were used to track and kill people during the Holocaust and other persecutions, so they have bad associations for many Jews. I understand this. Still, I found myself wondering how many of those 282 non-dog-owners in the Brooklyn College study were Jewish. (Brooklyn has a high percentage of Jews.) Are we allowing Old World fears about dogs to deprive us of a valuable form of therapy?

The pet doesn't have to be a dog, however. Cats (of which I have ten!) are equally therapeutic. So are other species, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Even watching a tank full of fish can help a person to relax. The important thing is the Bond between the animal(s) and the human(s). Reading this book confirmed in a scientific way what I have always believed in my heart: this special Bond is a healing gift that God designed into the very fabric of creation.

I am a dog lover in particular and a pet lover in general. Pets definitely have healing powers. The interaction between human and pet is healthy. In terms of my love for a dog the benefits are extensive. This book is scientific and gives the evidence that proves the healing power of pets. It is not speculation. As you read the book you will learn of the many ways in which your interaction with pets will maintain and enhance your good health.

This book is absolutely inspiring! Unlike many other books geared toward military spouses(that just tell you how to understand the military), this book tells you how to enjoy and thrive in your military life!I recommend this to all military spouses, a must read book. Thank you Kathie and Holly for all you do! -Alison Turner, Fort Lewis, WA

This book was great on giving advice on how to create a life for yourself (from getting a job, meeting people, volunteering). It listed lots of other books and websites that I didn't know where out there for me.

Kathie and Holly were the keynote speakers at a Women's Conference on our base recently. They were funny and inspiring. Hearing them speak and reading their book was the kick in the pants I needed to start setting goals for MYSELF again. I bought a book for myself and for a friend that was struggling with the military lifestyle.

Every military spouse should read this book! I read it TWICE and learned even more the second time though. It has inspired and motivated me to "Get a Life Too". I have had so much fun writing my list of 101 Things to Do Before I Die. I discovered that there are so many amazing things that I have already experienced thanks to nearly 10 years as an Army wife. I even managed to get my husband to read a few select chapters and he agrees that it is well written, very informative, and hilariously entertaining (read: funny but true stories). After reading this book you will want to buy one for all your military spouse friends. Yes....it is THAT GOOD! Happy reading!

This book certainly answers the cry for "Help!" expressed in its title. It uses personal examples from the authors and many other military spouses, and gives positive, practical steps for thriving, not just surviving, in military life. The authors have thoroughly researched, thought through and lived out their own advice. An excellent resource for new military spouses, this book is a bright spot of encouragement for spouses of every experience level.

This book gives a great introduction to theatre production for kids - grades 4-5 and up. The author uses productions with which children might be familiar - Lion King and Mary Poppins among others - to illustrate the technical aspects of putting a show together. As a former professor of theatre, I would highly recommend it for kids who are already interseted in the theatre.

As a high school musical theater teacher, I wasn't sure that I'd be able to use this resource. All of the material presented is related to the Disney musicals that started in the 1990s. It turns out, this actually makes the material familiar to virtually all students. The book is well organized, and offers dozens of "behind the scenes" artifacts that students will enjoy. My students have benefitted from this great book... and I've also enjoyed it.

This is the best book on Theater I have ever seen. The design, story, and the interactive pieces are well put together in this book.

A really great overview of the wonderful world of Broadway! My daughter, (11 years old) who is a musical theater kid, absolutely loves it!

One of the biggest changes the theater has seen of late was Disney's successful track record with bringing their story-telling to the stage. As with most of Disney's greatest successes, their efforts were immediately unique as they ignored many of the rules along the way. In the process, their shows introduced a new audience to the wonders of live theater. So it's only appropriate that the coolest book that ever covers the theater experience comes to us from Thomas Schumacher, the head of Disney Theatricals.

A good play begins with its script- its storyline. Here the journey is suggested in text, providing a beginning, middle and an end. Likewise, this book begins with a telling, informative narrative. It describes in simple yet effective words practically every element of the theatrical experience, be it on stage, backstage or in the 3rd row of the balcony. What will you experience from the moment you arrive at the theater all the way through the end of the curtain call? This book and a little imagination provide answers to that question quite fully. But watching a show is only the beginning. We also experience the many house activities, to the backstage work, to belting a song center stage and even at the initial creative meetings. It's quite simple and informative.

Like any play that begins with a good script, the creative job to follow is how to tell that story. For anyone who has seen any of Disney's Broadway shows, you know that their "way" is simply stunning. From THE LION KING's introduction of Simba to MARY POPPINS' flying retreat over the balcony; from TARZAN's use of vertical stage work to AIDA's mix of modern stagework with a classic tale, the Disney audience usually leaves richly experience. So it should come as no surprise that the book is as beautiful and wild an experience as the works it trumpets. Not only is the book a collage of beautiful photographs easily identifiable to the Disney fan, but they are also surrounded by mixed media samples such as removable ticket booklets, script pages and even costume designs.
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON? is a great book for the theater novice and also the seasoned veteran. It's a nice wink to the audience, a pat on the back to the backstage crew, a nod to the creators and a standing ovation to the performers. Check it out!

This is one of those books I found as a child AFTER seeing the Disney movie and reading that it was based on a book. As usual, the book is so much better! If you've never read this book, but you're fond of the movie, or of dogs, you will love it. The story is truly heart-warming, and I love that certain scenes are oh-so familiar if you've seen the movie, but so much of the story is completely new! Did you know Perdita is NOT the name of the "leading lady"? That's all I'll say about the actual story, but please, read it for yourself, even if you don't have kids. It's a wonderful read-aloud book, too--the first time my husband ever heard about this book was when I made him lie down and let me read it to him. We didn't have a child then, so now we get to share it with our son, too. Truly, a wonderful book. However, just so you know--the second book is not nearly so good! I own both of them, but I probably won't read the second one more than one more time, when I read it to my son. It's just not at all the same thing--aliens in London? Anyway, read 101 Dalmations and I know you'll enjoy it!

I loved this book I read it when I was very young, I fell in love with it then, I lost the book and for years thought of getting it again. I feared that I would not like it as much, it was as I remembered, and not the Disney version. I still love the book it did not let let me down. It made me laugh, cry and now understand my dog a little more (ha ha)

I owned this book by Dodie Smith when I was a boy. I loved it and from this story I developed an even stronger love for dogs and animals in general. Written in a most loving way, the story takes us beyond the later Disney film's watered down presentation of the story and dives deep into the realm of dogs. We discover the magic of "dogdom" and how dogs of every kind communicate with each other and with their humans (as Dodie states, and I am certainly paraphrasing, dogs own their humans, but let them think they own the dogs because it is so sweet!)

I have only one complaint about this publication of the book. the illustrations are just short of atrocious. I had an earlier edition of the book that had wonderful drawings that clearly were created with a real understanding of the story and what Dodie was trying to say. The illustrations in this edition look like they were pulled from someone's generic dog clip art. They are technically fine in their own right (I could NEVER draw like that), but they just don't capture the magic of the book.

If you can look past the illustrations, this is a wonderful story and a well written book.

101 Dalmations has appeal to dog lovers of all ages, breeds and sizes.

Dodie Smith - Thanks for leaving this gem for all to share.

This is a charming and delightful book that is deserving of its status as a classic of children's literature.

It takes a dog's eye view of the world, and features as its heroes Pongo and Missis, a pair of Dalmatians whose litter of puppies disappears one day.

As they set off to reunite their family, they find themselves in a struggle against the illegal coat-making operation of one Cruella Deville, an iconic villainess whose name and passion for high temperatures hint that she may be the devil incarnate.

The book becomes a fantastic quest book that takes place in the heart of England. The adult dalmatians find friends and foes along their path, and end up liberating nearly a hundred little puppies.

Smith has fun with the details and logistics of feeding, disguising, and transporting the refugee puppies, and young readers will enjoy learning the particulars of the secret lives of dogs.

The original animated movie adaptation is a good and fairly faithful movie in its own right, but the book is better by far.

Some parents might shy away from the book because of the gruesome idea that Cruella literally skins her young charges, but I think that the darker elements are an integral part of the winning tone, which refrains from talking down to children.

Highly recommended!

I won my tattered, dog eared, Disyned-fied copy of "100 Dalmatians" in a school auction when I was 7 years old. I learned to read late because I'm dyslexic (hence any bad spelling you may notice) so this was the first real chapter book that I ever owned and the very first I read.

It was great. This is a fabulous novel for all ages but especially for kids. I'm not going to re-hash the plot because I think the whole world knows it by now. The themes of good parenting, loyalty, and of course, good, intelligent, kind dogs are things that every child should learn. It is true that this book contains some talk of puppy killing, which didn't disturb me, and I'm guessing that today's 7 year olds wouldn't be scared by it either.

Another reason to read, or let your child read this book is that it will encourage a love of dogs, and having grown up with dogs every minute of my life, I can tell you having one (or more) helps immensely in all kinds of situations, social and otherwise. It provides an example of love and loyalty, as well as the responsibility involved in feeding and caring for a dog. However on that note Dalmatians, contrary to the lovable Pongo, Missus and Perdita in this book, do not make good dogs for children. They don't have the temperament for it. If you read this book and decide to get a dog for your child (an excellent idea) I recommend a good old fashioned mutt (they're smarter because they're not inbred) or a border collie, which can actually be trained to be nannies for children because of their sheep herding instincts.

Anyway, five stars. Great for the whole family, and an excellent way to encourage reading in a child of any age. At 18 years old I still love reading this book. And the sequel, "The Twilight Barking" isn't half bad either.

Living is easy when you follow Jane Brody's advice to health eating. The recipes are easy to follow and have ingredients common to most kitchens. Some of the recipes are a bit bland but can easily be spiced up with a little help from a kitchen herb garden or spice rack.

I have used Jane Brody's book so much that the pages were yellow and torn. I was glad Amazon could supply me with a crisp, clean copy.
I put the old one in our high-rise book exchange area. It was gone the next day.

I have a 20-year-old softbound copy of this cookbook that is in tatters, so I am very happy finally to find a fresh copy. I have made many of the recipes in this book and my family has a couple of all-time favorites, especially the pork with green beans and the vegetarian lasagne. While the basic recipes are wonderful, I frequently find them to be bland. My cookbook is filled with margin notes about what herbs and spices I have tried over the years to enhance the recipes. Nonetheless, this is a treasured part of my cookbook library.

The first part of the book is lots of info about nutrition and so on, very interesting and informative (like talking about how potatoes have gotten a bum rap, there really healthy, she mentions one guy who lived healthily for 300 days on nothing but potatoes (and a little margarin). The second part is a few hundred recipes, which are great - easy, delicious, pretty fast, a lot of them with ingredients we keep around the house. Some of our favorites - the chili recipes, the spaghetti pancakes, multigrain pancakes (good with soy flour and blueberries), etc. This (along with books from Moosewood, Tara Duggan, and the Quick Vegetarian Pleasures book) is one of primary cookbooks; we use it all the time. Highly recommended.

I bought this cookbook back around 1992 and the tattered paperback is the most used cookbook in my kitchen.

I live with a vegetarian, so most of what I've cooked has been the meatless recipes, and without exception, they have all been wonderful! Some of these recipes are also my potluck dinner staples (esp the Tri-Color Chickpea Salad). The Quick Lasanga with Bean Sauce has been the hit of every party I've taken it to, and the Lentil soup is to die for.

At one point, I went through a heavy-duty baking phase, and tried many of the muffin and quick bread recipes in this book. Again, there wasn't a dud in the bunch - everything I baked was excellent and won praise from all who partook.

Most of the recipes in this book are very good "as is" (they don't need much futzing with). There is some prep work involved (lots of chopping of veggies and the like), so many of the recipes do take some time. Almost half of the book consists of information about food, nutrition, cooking hints and techniques, which I've found to be very useful. Personally, if you have to have one main cookbook, I'd say that this should be it!

Looking through the book again after all these years. Back when a fast modem was 14.4 and AOheLl was new. It is good to see the faces and the "Stories We Could Tell" To learn of the 'roots' of Parrot Head Madness, this book is a must. Phlockings keep us from Growing Older But Not Up. Great to re-live the moments captured in the photos of "The Evolution of a PHan" Happy to see they are not Poloroids barely in PHocus. We can look at when we finally slow down. Great job Jackson (BubbaFreak) Quigley
"Bank Of Bad Habits" Card carrier 282

BubbaJePH
the Bubba of Buckroe

PHinally, the PHirst and PHinal PHixating PHlourish of PHan-PHlocking-tastic PHlockings, PHilosoPHy, PHreaks (BubbaFreak), and PHriends--da collectors' Book set.

It's worth any price--if only to see all the other PHans that you may have only heard about on the internet, or just IM'ed or emailed once--even ole Unca Rum is in da book.. hehehehe (you'll have to buy it and read it to find me--I'm not naming pages.. lol)

My personalized copy cost me a tix to Jimmy's Initial N'awlins Arena Bash (for BubbaFreak), and it was more than worth it. =)

The best part of this book, isn't Jimmy Buffett, but the PHs and their PHlockings that make wasted away in Margaritaville on island time a national pastime PHor those that love a bit of escapism PHrom modern times.

At a time when too many downplay healthy escapism, Jackson shows how da PHlock merges good old PHasioned PHun with more than just a lil bit of charitable civil involvement. Party hard--but also help others, harder...

BTW, I hear there will be a copy of BubbaFreak (Jackson) and Rum showing off their outlawed Bank of Bad Habits ATM cards in the sequal. =)

A parrot-heads `Alice in Wonderland".
I over paid for an autographed copy of this book at our club's annual charity event, and have loved every page - A must for your collection. -Beverly Metzger, Chicago, IL.

I usally don't write reviews but i am making an exception. If you are a parrot head or wondering what one is. this book is a must have. It is well written and the information is great. Alll around fun book. And if you ever went to a concert watch out you might be in the book:-)

You all read my pre-review: "It was 1971 and had been a long 3 months at sea and Subic Bay looked mighty good. I hooked up with my old Honey Ko, had a few San Miguel's and headed for the hotel...a shower, shave and then to bed. In the middle of a very passionate session she blurted out "Jackson Quigley". I could live with that. Afterall, I'd never promised her anything. Marriage was the last thing on my mind. Later, as she reach climax, she yelled out "JimmyDOTcom". For some silly reason I took that as an omen and the search began. 30 years later I finally found the answer......"
Now that it's here, the book is much more than I had hoped for. The amount of research and work Jackson put into this is incredible...... thankfully the "research" was enjoyable. To say this captures the "whole" parrothead experience is an understatement. Years from now (or this evening) when someone asks what a parrothead is, just hand them this. This will do what you could never put into just words and will more than answer the question. I'm just wondering what future civilizations will think when they uncover this in someone's library.... phins up, Mayday.

I seriously encourage any couple of either mixed faith, culture, heritage, or any couple seeking guidance for their wedding to purchase this book. Rev. Susanna has put together a wonderful book that will put a stressed brides mind at ease. She gives you ways to deal with the stresses both large and small of your wedding. My Fiance and I are of mixed race, faith, and culture so we knew going into this wedding there would be challenges but not to the extent we have seen. Once I recieved this book I couldn't stop reading it. There are stories of both happy and sad times surrounding a wedding. I am at a better state of calmness after reading this book and want to thank Rev. Susanna for creating this book for brides like me needing help.

I'm an interfaith minister and perform about 100 weddings per year. When I saw the title, "Joining Hands and Hearts: Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations..." I thought it would have some good reference information and practical perspectives for my ministry.
As it turns out, this is one of those books that seem to be popular today that encourages couples to conceive and write their own wedding ceremony and then find a celebrant to perform it according to their instructions.
In the real world, at least the one I know, there are very few wedding officiants who work this way. Yes, of course we try to elicit the couple's thoughts and preferences and prepare a ceremony to suit their beliefs, backgrounds and personalities. But the only celebrants I know who will simply step up and read the couple's text are the ones who are just going through the motions, for a fee.
Most of this book focuses on walking the couple through an examination of all their thoughts, feelings, and life experiences; discussing possible implications; and then planning the content of their ceremony-- none of it being done with any guidance or input from a professional (except the writer).
It has a lot of pages, and occasionally raises a good point for consideration. But I think any member of the clergy should have learned all this long ago, and a bridal couple should be doing their planning with the person they've selected to perform their ceremony, so they can benefit from the knowledge base and practical expertise.

Since we are based in the UK, I wasn't at first sure how useful this book would be to the European context but it has been a truly uplifting and empowering book, offering guidance on how to turn an interfaith wedding into what it is: a celebration of love that knows no religious or cultural boundaries. Susannah Macomb shows a good understanding of the sensitive nature of interfaith relationships, such as difficulties in articulating and managing our own and our families' expectations. The book deals with the often difficult realities of interfaith relationship while being optimistic and encouraging. By giving specific examples of how to integrate different cultural aspects into a wedding ceremony it is both a practical guide as well as spiritually nurturing.

This book truly shaped my special day. The author is tremendously knowledgeable about a wide array of cultures and rituals. I am a Black American woman married to an Indian American man. I knew that I wanted to infuse both of our backgrounds in our wedding ceremony. Her book provided all I needed to do that. We answered the questionnaire featured in her book where we were able to illustrate our feelings toward our upbringing, families, and each other. These words were then interlaced throughout our ceremony. We incorporated our families into the ceremony as well - having them take part in certain rituals and reading our words of love to them. From her book I was able to pick out the rituals that I liked the most and that I felt tied in both of our cultures the best. We poured libation, tied the knot, exchanged rings and garlands, took the seven steps, jumped the broom, and of course kissed. Her book even had a number of readings associated with each ritual that I was able to choose from. Everything was absolutely perfect thanks to Reverend Macomb and her book. Her kind human spirit really comes through. I could not recommend her book more passionately.

Rev. Macomb's book is a must not only for those who are planning interfaith or intercutltural weddings. I'd say it's a must for ANYONE who is planning a wedding b/c it is laden with wisdom, knowledge, and real compassion and emotion. There is a multitude of beautiful readings that are pertinent to various parts of a ceremony, as well as a treasure-trove of tid-bits and historical facts about so many cultures. Most importantly, the book keeps things in perspective: why you are getting married, why it is important, and what it means. The book is well organized and well written, and has an honest and spiritual voice that is both calm and soothing.

We were lucky enough to have Rev. Susanna conduct our ceremony--she is a genuine and kind person who really loves and cares about what she does, and if you can't have her actually marry you, then this book is the next best thing!

This book will answer most of your questions. Excellent explanations. Really a lot of information.

I ordered this book a week before the recipients birthday, nothing like waiting till the last minute, but, it arrived in 3 days - thank you....

I work in the restuarant business and this book is a highly recommended source for all things food related. Our executive chef recommends it for crossing the chasm between culinary institutional talk and layman's terms that you can share with your customers.

I purchased the first edition of this book almost 20 years ago and found it to be an amazing resource that I continued to use to the present day. I recently thought to myself, "I wonder if they have updated it since then?" Well, I checked Amazon, and the authors indeed have updated it (currently 4th edition). This new version is literally twice the size of the original book, which already seemed comprehensive. Of course, there have been new trends, fads, and other developments since the early 1990s and the Herbsts have addressed them.

Whenever I hear about a fruit or spice or dish that I never heard of before, the first thing I do is check the book! I have moved around to different parts of the US and as I discover regional delicacies, the book is a great resource to learn more about them. I highly recommend it.

This is so helpful at my work whenever I have no idea what the Chef is talking about