References Books

After slaving away at high school and college science classes I had completely lost any interest in the subject because I assumed it was too darn hard! But this book takes a HIGHLY complex subject, and with just a few backtracks on my part for clarity, takes, genetics, DNA, and the important differences between patriarchical/matrilineal and makes them meaningful and useful. Because I am working at establishing a tribal membership, the suggested sources and unique patterns to Native American DNA increased my confidence in applying. I am already in contact with a company they recommended for Native American tribal identification. Excellent and useful purchase.

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN GENEALOGY, THE BOOK BY MEGAN SMOLENYAK TITLED TRACE YOUR ROOTS WITH DNA IS MOST INFORMATIVE. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR EITHER THE BEGINNING OR PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGIST.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak - her real name - provides an excellent introduction of what DNA can and can not do in Genetic Genealogy.

Anyone starting their "Roots" research effort is advised to buy this book. It will help you save money by allowing DNA to focus on your line and not someone elses. Read the book for more details!

Helps to clarify the most commonly used terms in genetic genealogy. But goes off-topic with details concerning paternity tests, etc. Additionally it seems to go too far in making the case for forming online groups to identify potential connections. Would be a lot better if it stuck more to the topic of using genetics in genealogy and spent more time discussing the various tests in the marketplace and the existing sites associated with them.

As a DNA-surname research group administrator, I tend to buy every book, VHS, or DVD I can find regarding the use of DNA research in support of traditional genealogy.

Of the 12-15 books I have purchased so far, Megan Smolenyak's touchstone reference work continues to be the one I reach for when I have a question myself.

Easily read and understood, this book makes complex concepts readily accessible with clear illustrations, definitions, real-world examples, and authoritative references when needed. I am not naturally science-minded, but as a good researcher, I want to be able to use every tool in the box. This is my go-to book for that purpose.

Buy as many DNA books and tapes as you want, but your DNA library will not be complete without this classic introduction to the concepts involved in genetic genealogy.

I highly recommend it!

CHT in Virginia

The Transformers Identification and Price Guide by Mark Bellomo is the greatest for the Transformers, More then Meets the Eye show every action figure created from Gen 1 and more. I have not seen a more detailed Transformers toy book with strenght, weakness, and more in one complete book. I recommend this book if you are Transformers More then Meets the Eye fan.

This is the best Action Figure guide I have ever seen. It is very informative and very accurate, the author even adds his personal take on most of the figures. And talk about bringing back old memories. I actually bought this book for nostalgic purposes and was very pleased. It was nice seeing all the old Transformers from the 80's in one piece. Makes me wish I knew what happened to all my old ones, man I'd be rich if I would have taken better care of them. Hope Mark Bellomo does a guide book for the rest of the Transformers. If you are looking for the ultimate 80's Transformers Action Figure guide, this is it!

I had heard good things about this author, and this guide, from reviews at other Transformer sites, so I bought it (it was also being sold for half price at amazon.com when I bought it). It was well worth every penny! It is very thorough and gives great details on each type of Transformer and each of the "lines of Transformers" that were made up to 1990. Each Transformer is also given approximate prices for what they are worth as well. Granted, the prices will change over time, but this guide will still be a worthy identification reference for a very long time.
I would have given it a 5, but there were quite a few grammatical errors in the book, but it won't affect your ability to understand the information.
My favorite part of the book is that the author appears to have had fun writing it, but takes it seriously enough to make it a very thorough reference guide. A must have for any Transformer fan, from beginner to expert!

This is a great book about the 80's transformers toy line. It has plenty of info on many transformers like their favorite motto to stats. If you are fan and/or collector this book is a must!!!

This is great reference guide. It shows all the Generation 1 Transformers (84-90). It shows all the pieces and a bio of each character. It also shows the value.
As kid I had over 50 of the originals and they are worth a ton of money. I use this book as a guide to purchasing used transformers at Ebay.
I wish he would come out of with with a volume 2 (92-07) which would show all the generation 2, Beastwars, Alternators, Universe,Cybertron, 07 movie, and classics. Which I think are better than generation 1.
Awsome book. I reconmend this book to all collectors.
Also check out the G.I Joe guide.

I'm flying to Europe alone with my 18 mo old daughter next month and I found this book to be a great help in preparing for the trip. It contains a lot of useful information, tips, and things I would've completely overlooked had I not read this book.

If you have kids, and like to travel... you need this book. There were so many ideas there that I would have never thought of. It has made our lives easier when traveling and I've learned some really helpful things. It's hard to travel with small kids, especially if you're a new parent and just have no idea what to expect. So for me this has really been a great find!

Ok I know the title of the book is Travels with Baby, but it also says toddlers, and children. And truly did not tell me anything I didn't already know. Now if you are a first time mom, who has never traveled with a baby up to age 2, then sure its probably very helpful, especially if you have never had any advice from anyone else. Though it was how ever informational on, how to obtain passports, now that we (the) parents are no longer together, what you need to do. It also had lists of contact info on where to rent baby/ child items, like strollers, carseats, for traveling where you dont want to bring all that stuff, which can be rather helpful, so I give it 3 stars, for being semi-helpful!

Seriously, this is a travel bible for new parents. What a huge help this book has been from selecting a good stroller (wished we would have found this BEFORE we had our baby for car seat info too!) to calling ahead to find out if a hotel has a crib saving our trunk space from a pack and play or other. Prepping the diaper bag and carry ons have never been simpler and I have memorized the shopping list for baby must haves while traveling. Never would have thought of some of that stuff! The blog is excellent too. Please give this gift to new mommies and daddies with your baby shower gift...I am so grateful for the different age sections and different types of travel reviews. Thank you Ms. Rivoli!

I am about to travel to Europe for 2 weeks (cruise for part of the time) with my 7 month old and I found this book to be very useful. It had ideas that I would not have considered and I am now much less stressed about the trip. It seems very realistic about what to expect and what to pack and she also does not ignore the fact that no matter how prepared you are going to be, things will still not go as planned and you must be flexible. She gives great tips for these types of situations. Would recommend to anyone about to travel with baby and/or toddlers. Very easy read and easy to reference when necessary.

In his observation of the organizing principle of the Tanakh, whereby Westerman concludes (Elements of an Old Testament Theology, 1982) that the general theme of Torah being the deeds of God, and Nevi'im (The Prophets) being the words of God, he rightly describes Ketuvim (The Writings) under which Psalms fall, as the people's responses, or I should say, God-inspired people responses; covering the entire range of expressions of human emotions; fear, desperation, faith, hope, compassion, love, submission, indignation, repentance, sorrow, joy, and praise; the reality of life in a fallen world. Spurgeon laboriously and masterfully unearths these jewels from the rich treasure chests of David that the readers may enjoy, adore, cherish, worship, and love God in the display of his grace, power and glory through these expressions with solid theology, Christology and soteriology in mind because in some of the Psalms; Psalms 2, 8, 22, 45, 102, and 110, for examples, they undoubtedly speak of vision about the Lord Jesus Christ. If the readers are familiar with the format JC Ryle used in "Expository Thoughts on the Gospel," Spurgeon implements a similar one. He begins with introducing the theme of each Psalms, then continues with verse-by-verse exposition that attempts to bring the readers as close as possible to the affections, the state of mind and the vision of the Psalmist when he wrote that particular verse. In the next section called "Explanatory notes and quaint sayings", he includes commentary for each verse, though may not be exhaustive but definitely extensive, from other theologians; mostly the Reformers and the Puritans. The last part called "Hints to Preachers" consists of outlines to aid ministers for preaching purposes. Here are some samples to show the style of exposition the readers would be benefited from, intended to wet their appetite and to support my recommendation:

"Proud hearts breed proud looks and stiff knees. It is an admirable arrangement that the heart is often written on the countenance...A brazen face and a broken heart never go together... there is much more to be learned from the motions of the muscles of the face than from the words of the lips. Honesty shines in the face, but villainy peeps out at the eyes. See the effect of pride; it kept the man from seeking God. It is hard to pray with a stiff neck and an unbending knee. `God is not in all his thoughts' he thought much but he had no thoughts for God. Amid heaps of chaff there was not a grain of wheat. The only place where God is not is in the thoughts of the wicked. This is a damning accusation; for where the God of heaven is not, the Lord of hell is reigning and raging; and if God be not in our thoughts, our thoughts will bring us to perdition" (on Ps 10:4).

"This prayer evinces a humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart... A path is here desired which shall be open, honest, straightforward, in opposition to the way of the cunning which is intricate, tortuous, dangerous. Good men seldom succeed in fine speculations and doubtful courses; plain simplicity is the best spirit for an heir of heaven: let us leave shifty tricks and political expediences to the citizens of the world, the New Jerusalem owns plain men for its citizens" (on Ps 27:11).

"The unusual strength which overleaps the bound of threescore and ten only lands the aged man in a region where life is a weariness and a woe. The strength of old age, its very prime and pride, are but labor and sorrow; what must its weakness be? What panting for breath! What toiling to move! What a failing of the senses! What a crushing sense of weakness!... Such as is old age. Yet mellowed by hallowed experience, and solaced by immortal hopes, the latter days of aged Christians are not so much to be pitied as envied. The sun is setting and the heat of the day is over, but sweet is the calm and cool of the eventide; and the fair day melts away, not into a dark and dreary night, but into a glorious, unclouded eternal day. The mortal fades to make room for the immortal; the old man falls asleep to wake up in the region of perennial youth" (on Ps 90:10).

"It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honor, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good" (on Ps 91:10).

"A survey of the solar system has a tendency has a tendency to moderate the pride of man and to promote humility. Pride is one of the distinguishing characteristics of puny man and has been one of the chief causes of all the contentions, wars, devastations, systems of slavery, and ambitious projects which have desolated and demoralized our sinful world. Yet there is no disposition more incongruous to the character and circumstance of man. Perhaps there are no rational beings throughout the universe among whom pride would appear more unseemly or incompatible than in man, considering the situation in which he is placed. He is exposed to numerous degradations and calamities, to the rage of storms and tempests, the devastations of earthquakes and volcanoes, the fury of whirlwinds, and the tempestuous billows of the ocean, to the ravages of the sword, famine, pestilence, and numerous diseases; and at length he must sink into the grave and his body must become the companion of worms! The most dignified and haughty of the sons of men are liable to these and similar degradations as well as the meanest of the human family. Yet, in such circumstances, man, that puny worm of the dust, whose knowledge is so limited, and whose follies as so numerous and glaring, has the effrontery to strut in all the haughtiness of pride, and to glory in his shame.

When other arguments and motives produce little effect on certain minds, no considerations seem likely to have a more powerful tendency to counteract this deplorable propensity in human beings, than those which are borrowed from the objects connected with astronomy. They show us what an insignificant being, what a mere atom, indeed, man appears amidst the immensity of creation!

Though he is an object of the paternal care and mercy of the Most High, yet he is but as a grain of sand to the whole earth, when compared to the countless myriads of beings [in the universe]" (on Ps 8:3-4, quoting Dr. Dick).

"Communion with God in secret is a heaven upon earth. What food can compare with the hidden manna? Some persons have excellent banquet in their closets. That bread which the saints eat in secret, how pleasant is it! Ah! What stranger can imagine the joy, the melody, which even the secret tears of the saints cause! Believers find rich mines of silver and gold in solitary places; they fetch up precious jewels out of secret holes, out of the bottom of the ocean, where are no inhabitants... Saints have often sweet joy and refreshment in secret; they have meat to eat, which the world knows not of... They that know what it is to enjoy God in secret, would not leave it or lose it, to be kings or commanders over the whole world" (on Ps 63:6, quoting George Swinnock).

Can't go wrong with Spurgeon. I bought these volumes for a deeper study of the Psalms, and so far they have been amazing. There's more for each psalm that I can really get in to, but that which I do has been all that I could hope for: reinforcing lower view of self next to high view of God; the only kind of perspective that brings any real sense of hope and encouragement.

Spurgeon is still the best. This 3 volume set is essential for a deep and meaningful study of the Psalms. Great for teaching and preaching research. I'm happy to have purchased it and I recommend it highly.

While Spurgeon's magnum opus is neither technical nor devotional it can meet either of those needs. It is inconceivable that anyone would have an interest in the Psalms and not have these volumes on the shelves.

This is a great commentary series on the Psalms and has the same feel as Spurgeon's sermons. Great resource for any teacher and pastor to prepare in study for the Psalms. Very detailed, which I can't say the same for other commentaries done during this same time period.

The price once again shows how many people have lost interest in both commentaries and our past church saints.

If you are going to be going through the Psalms in your own study or teaching you should definitely have this at your disposal.

Underdog Advertising is a unique book written with the small business in mind. It shows how the small business can take proven marketing principles and compete in the marketplace and win.
The author opens the book with the tale of David and Goliath. Just as in the old story, David represents the small business and Goliath is the giant advertising agencies.
The underdog principle consists of the Underdog Advantage Principles, the Big Dog Branding Process, and the Junkyard Dog Execution. The Underdog Advantage Principles goes into depth on the ten foundation priciples that guide the development of marketing strategies and tactics to help your business compete and win. It teaches you how to consistently deliver creative, nontraditional ways to win the high ground with limited responses. Big Dog Branding Process is essential so your business can carve out a niche in your chosen field and puts your company in the minds of your customers. The Junkyard Dog Execution shows you how to find unique ways to stand out from the crowd and how to impliment them.
David and Goliath are revisited as a review of how to use all three of the disciplines to help your business compete and win advertising spots against the Goliath's. To help you put the principles and disciplines into action, the author provides a workbook at the end that takes you through each ten principles. Also included are branding worksheets that allow you to find your target prospect, define it and validate it.
Every small business should have this book in their libraries so they can follow Mr. Flower's principles to help them define an advertising campaign that will reap benefits for their business.
This is a book that will be used over and over again. A must have, keeper for your business.

This book is a great tool for helping small businesses focus their marketing efforts. It is a great follow up to taking a marketing course. The former primarily provides the "what", this book provides the "how". The concepts and strategies are equally applicable to large busnesses.

First of all, let's have a look of the proven principles preached by the author:-

1. Think outside the box
2. Take risks
3. Strategy before execution
4. Be contrary
5. Select your battlefield
6. Focus! Focus! Focus!
7. Be consistent
8. Demonstrate value
9. Speed & surprise
10. Have patience

Cliche and common sense? Depends! Nevertheless, the beauty of it is not the provision of unique and extravagant concepts, but easily understandable and adoptable ideas furnished with plenty of real life practical examples. The two workbooks from page 175-206 of step to step guidance to apply the 10 principles well worths the price of the book (consider how much you have to pay for an external consulting agency). If you had not taken any marketing course before and you have to do marketing now, highly recommended! (though I think the much emphasized David vs Goliath metaphor is quite out of place)

Below please find some of the passages I like the most for your reference:-

You miss 100% of the shots you never take. - Wayne Gretsky pg 32
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. - Sun Tzu pg 34
Strategy is the who, what, when, where, and why of advertising...Execution is the how...Because the key to creating effective advertising is to have the right strategy. pg 35
The superiority in numbers is the important factor in the result of combat...the greatest possible numbers of troops should be brought into action at the decisive point. - Karl von Clausewitz pg 78
Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until they are brought into focus. - Alexander Graham Bell pg 90
It is better to overwhelm a few than to underwhelm many. pg 100
Any damn fool can put on a deal, but it takes genius, faith and perservance to create a brand. - David Ogilvy pg 134

p.s. In the very case you want to read something of the advanced level, "The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding" by Al Ries is a very good choice.

I've spent the last 15 years in marketing and always enjoy reading about principles and concepts to apply to my work. This book focuses on the "underdogs" - but not necessarily the small business owner. Some of the "underdogs" he profiles have large enough advertising budgets to allow them substantial print campaigns to compete with their bigger competitors. For this reason smaller business owners should read this book and take note of the bigger picture of what author Paul Flowers is saying. The concepts he mentions are solid and refreshingly free of the usual marketing jargon. I especially appreciated the attention Flowers paid toward attitude and mindset, as I feel this is something that can define success in an organization.

Paul Flower's UNDERDOG ADVERTISING is a gem for every small business owner. I especially appreciate Mr. Flower's honesty throughout this book, particular in the anecdote he shares in his introduction, where he reveals how he and his partners realized (to their horror, no doubt) that they themselves had "...fallen into the trap of copying what our bigger competitors ... did--the same trap we were warning our clients to avoid." It takes guts to be honest in marketing, and Mr. Flower's has guts ... in spades.

His recognition of David (of David/Goliath fame) as the archetypal underdog is brilliant, and Mr. Flowers uses the David/Goliath metaphor as a touch-stone throughout the book. BTW, much of the Underdog Advertising philosophy seems to be very much in keeping with the philosophy of the non-violent martial art of Aikido.

Mr. Flower's Ten Principles of Underdog Advertising are worth the cost of the book alone (for myself, I'm continually working on the last one - #10. Have Patience).

Kudos to Mr. Flowers for his discussion of psychographics for in the chapter on "Know Your Prospect". (I continue to be amazed at the marketing books that I read that stress demographics without ever mentioning psychographics).

Finally, when approached with an open mind, the appendix of the Underdog Advertising Workbook can provide you with a wealth of information for improving your brand.

My copy of Underdog Advertising is full of highlighted passages and notes in the margin. I'm planning on implementing these strategies over the next six month.

I can think of no higher praise to give a book.

It's clear, clever, engaging and informative. It's smart and interesting and packed with great and pertinent information.

Too long we have ignored most of the human brain. Brian Walsh's book clearly shows us how to take advantage of the rest of it.
Parents should read it, too.

Former educator

Traditionally, teachers have relegated students into two camps: those who show potential and those who teachers pass up as being unfit for the academic track. Many schools employ the rout method of learning, and while this serves some students well, for others, this approach leaves them lost in the corridors of our educational system. In comes Brian E. Walsh's, "Unleashing your Brilliance" a book that shows us that with the right tools and ingenuity all students can excel.

Walsh exhibits a breath of knowledge in a text that covers every subject from how your brain learns (left and right hemisphere) to different types of intelligence, such as verbal, emotional, musical and naturalistic. After a thorough explanation of the thought process, Walsh offers examples of various learning techniques that can improve our skills, everything from taking short breaks while studying to jump start our thinking, to what types of background music stimulate our thoughts. Explaining everything from hypnosis to positive thinking, we are asked to change our early assumptions of how we were taught to learn.

Mr. Walsh makes many compelling arguments, the first being that schools adhere to conventional teaching methods that do not meet the needs of all students. He stresses that teachers need to understand the different personality types to bring the best out of each student. Tools to enhance learning can be as simple as making certain that students get plenty of physical exercise, to employing varied teaching techniques in the classroom. For instance, if tension arises in the classroom setting, Mr. Walsh suggests that a teacher..."defuse conflicts by balancing structured and unstructured activities through both inductive and deductive course material." Another topic covered is word-association brainstorming, an exercise that encourages a student to tap their creative energies. Walsh praises techniques like hypnosis and positive thinking. Being a perpetual skeptic, I actually had the opportunity to test this method last week when faced with a daunting project at work. I repeated to myself, "I have the ability to do this job and I will excel." At first I had absolutely no confidence in myself, but as I continued my mantra I actually found the self-assurance to accomplish the project to my complete satisfaction. Walsh offers the reader these as well as a myriad of other skills to stimulate and enhance learning.

The book is mapped out in logical order, beginning with the physiological and ending with practical techniques for learning. Every chapter has topic headings, and each section is broken up with quotes and/or cartoons that reinforce the material and help the reader remember the content. After each theory is explained, Walsh provides a website address, if the reader wishes to pursue the material further. At the conclusion of each chapter is a crossword puzzle with review questions. This is an extraordinarily enjoyable method to help jolt your memory and retain the information just gathered. The writing style is succinct and well thought out. Walsh successfully employs different teaching styles and techniques with his writing style; in short, "Unleashing Your Brilliance," mirrors the creative learning approach he is promoting. The book's premise, that we all learn differently and have the promise to be more effective learners, is a compelling narrative that will change the way you think.

Quill says: A very well written book that challenges traditional learning assumptions.

I've read a lot of books about superlearning, photoreading, success habits, brain functioning, mind mapping, memorizing. But here's a book that brings it all together in one place, full of way more realistic information than I'd known about before. In 273 pages, Brian Walsh gives a practical overview of state-of-the-art learning tools and techniques.

The book was a pleasure to go through! Not academic and heavy and boring, but a fun, informative read. Filled with great quotes, illustrations, internet links, practical information--heavy-duty reality--the structure itself is an example of facilitated learning.

In a sense, the book is a portal: one opening up a host of resources for the mind. Walsh points the reader to all kinds of ways for producing change. We learn how to break negative patterns and how to experience more productive and satisfying lives. He shows us how to best learn--and teach--a second language. He writes about brainstorming, about effectively influencing others, about real listening. We learn how we learn: what works and what doesn't.

It's a handbook for the human brain. I learned a lot by reading it. And I'm learning a lot by checking out some of the other sources referred to. If "unleashing your brilliance" is one of your goals, here's definitely a book to read.

"Unleashing Your Brilliance" by Brian Walsh is a well-written, well-researched book about the great potential each of us has within us. It's fascinating the way in which we absorb and process information. Brian's book gives a thorough, simple and comprehensible explanation of how we learn.

I'm drawn to self-help books that explore the human mind. I think the science of human understanding is vastly changing. Brian points out in his book that more progress has been made in understanding the human brain in the past five years than we had in the preceding decades. Imagine what we will know in five more years.

The techniques Brian introduces to stimulate thinking, creativity and learning are helpful. I used several of them before writing this review. I pinched my right nostril to get more oxygen to my creative, right brain. I cross-crawled (left elbow to right knee, right elbow to left knee) to improve my focus and concentration. I tapped my K 27 to increase the blood flow to my brain.

The book is targeted for teachers, parents and students wanting to improve performance. It is also designed for corporate HR personnel wanting to better understand how employees learn in the workplace. I recommend this book for anybody who has an interest in the human mind and its potential.

The book was recieved in fine condition took a little longer than I figured on to arrive. It has been informative filled with great Westy advice. I have delt with many breeds working for a veterinarian, and managing kennels, but the Westy is new to me. It is always good to get expert advice. Dee of NY

This book is an excellent resource to the westie fan. You will get something out of it whether you have had westies for years, or are just deciding on getting one. A lot of detail is covered that is easy to understand. Would recommend to anyone.

If you are serious about Westies, you absolutely MUST have this book. Faherty has a writing style that's humorous and informative, and she gives the nitty-gritty on the mysterious art of handstripping. No other resource out there gives this much detail. I've taken the plunge and am stripping my own Westie, and Faherty's comprehensive chapter on grooming has been a tremendous help. This book is really geared for Westie connoisseurs, who have an interest in showing their dogs. In addition to the grooming chapter, several sections are devoted to the art of showing your dog as well as breeding. This may be too dense a book for a general pet owner and the more general Westie books may be more appropriate. However, if you are looking for THE resource on Westies, buy this book!

Westies:From Head to Tail 2nd Edition is a most readible, comprehensive treatment of all topics of concern to both Westie breeders and neophytes to the breed. No serious Westie enthusiast should be without this attractive volume.

Every dog enthusiast, westie lover or not, should read this book, because even though it talks about westies, one can learn a lot about dogs in general. I have more than 15 years of experience in showing dogs and more than 12 years of professional grooming experience and I still learned a lot from this well written, very detailed and comprehensive book.

Another great biblical resource that is packed with great illustration pictures, concise information and easy to carry along.

I purchased this book as a gift for my mother-in-law. My parents have the same book and they love it. My mother-in-law had been trying to find the book after seeing their's. The book is great to just flip through for interesting Bible facts or to find answers to questions.

I teach Bible Church School and this book is great when you need to understand the gist of a person or place in the bible. It's not your exhaustive detailed reference work, but it is a 'to the point book'.

Great little pocket/purse size for information on just about anything in the bible. Places, people, etc...fun to read!

A super resource for anyone interested in Bible characters and Bible places.

I have dealt with depression and lack of motivation for many years. Whenever I feel like I need a pick-me-up, I whip out this book and start thumbing through it. It has loads of ideas on things to do in your life. I recommend it to anyone and everyone who feels a little hopeless or bored sometimes. GREAT book!

I wish I had bought two...my husband got his for Christmas from me and he hasn't even looked at it yet. I have looked at it and love it. I may snatch it from him...

I bought this book about 5 years ago and have had so much fun reading it. I know I'll never get to do all of the "wishes" but I do check them off as I complete them. I would love to see how many I can achieve in the next 40+ years. It's a great book when you're bored to just pick up and open to any page. My kids have fun looking at it with me too. This is one of the greatest books I've ever opened!

This book made me realize two things when I received it in 1997. First, I need to remember how many things I have accomplished in my life. Second, what an accomplishment or "wish" is to one person is not to me. I define my own success.

I have been keeping for sometime a notebook in which I write things that I want to do in my life from sailing, visiting Italy, and writing a magazine article to eating less fried foods, and stop worrying for once. I have about 500 entries and its a great feeling when I can slash them off after they are completed. I bought Kipfer's 14,000 Things to be Happy About and I liked the lists of things she mentions that make you happy since it was so diverse and amusing. When I saw The Wish list, I thought perfect for me because it was just lists of wishes like that of my notebook. I like this book a lot because its simply ideas and wishes that I would never have thought about. From simple wishes such as join a health food co-op, learn to play the piano, stand up for a friend to the challenging, have dinner with former governers, hike the Appalachian, sit next to Jack Nicholsen at a Lakers game, this book has tons of ideas. I have added many entries from it and have never failed to be entertained by Kipfer's ideas. This is a small thick book that would fit well in a stocking, on your desk, and in good reading spots such as an office or even a bathroom. I love to pull it out and pencil off or circle entries that I have done or wish to do.

WriterSpeaker.com--no, that's not a website-- well, actually there is a website by that name. But in this case, it is the title of a uniquely informative book.

If someone other than the book's author had asked me to read this book, I doubt I would have bothered to do so. And, oh what I would have missed had I not read it! "Technical reading" is not usually my choice. In fact, the last time I read a technical book it was assigned reading in college. I swore then that I would never use my precious reading time for technical reading again. Carmen Leal managed to change my mind on the matter, and I am very glad that she did.

My chance meeting with the energetic and engaging author of several books must have been one of those fortuitous moments we all hope for. I found myself face to face with a published author who was real, down to earth, and interested in my personal desire to write. Her energy is contagious. Her passion for writing--and helping others to do so--is overwhelming. She makes the whole writing process from beginning to end seem so easy. With an attitude that says, "If I can do it, so can you," she encourages writers and would-be writers to strive to reach their goals.

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of interacting with Carmen Leal on numerous occasions. She always takes the time to inquire about my writing life. She never misses an opportunity to inform or encourage. No wonder WriterSpeaker.com is so reader-friendly. Its author is reader, speaker, and writer friendly as well!

In addition to this, her first technical book, Leal is the author of Faces of Huntington's and the co-author of Pinches of Salt, Prisms of Light. She teaches writing classes for the Collier County Public School System's Adult Education Program, lectures on various writing topics for the Friends of the Library at the Collier County Public Library, and travels extensively to speak at various writing conferences.

Whether the Internet is a constant companion or a new acquaintance, this book offers an amazing wealth of information. Its pages are filled with information specifically designed to meet the needs of writers and speakers. This is a reference book unlike any I have ever read before. In just 269 pages, Leal has addressed internet features, research, tips for finding writing resources including copyright laws, self-publishing hints, business savvy, online writing opportunities and classes, website development, and much much more.

In a highly unusual move, Leal has taken her readers into the "web" via a web address which links to the untold numbers of resources found in her book. She is quick to point out, "All links are checked periodically, and dead websites are eliminated. New websites come with brief descriptions."

Written from her heart, Leal guides the beginning writer through the keys to becoming a successful writer: "Read and listen. Join. Work at your craft. Attend a writer's/speaker's conference or convention. Know the publishing industry." Internet sources to work at each of these keys are addressed in WriterSpeaker.com.

Leal writes that the internet can take us "beyond research and on to success" in our craft by (1)"allowing us to target our work to specific editors," (2) "providing a place to showcase one's work," and (3) "streamlining the communication process between writers and editors."

WriterSpeaker.com has been placed on my desk next to the computer. It is already looking a bit old and worn, but it will likely be my new best friend as I work at perfecting my own writing life with the help of Internet features and great friends like author Carmen Leal.

by Lee Ambrose
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I bought the book on impulse, based on a very strong recommendation, and found it contains the best help I have ever discovered for a writer and/or speaker using the Internet. I highly recommend it. She has an unbelievable amount of detailed research at her fingertips.

The world of the Internet is constantly changing. Without a bunch of ever-changing computer jargon, Carmen Leal has provided a set of tools and techniques for writers and speakers to learn how to research and market online. While there are many websites listed throughout this book, Carmen provides the updated links with something called Living Links.

No one can know everything about this topic of research and marketing but Carmen gives each writer and speaker a running start at the topic with this well-crafted book. It's a resource to get, read, then schedule time to periodically re-read and keep learning about this important area.

Carmen Leal is not just a very smart lady; she's very nice, too. Both traits come across loud and clear in this book. Reading her easy, straightforward, advice-rich prose is like having a conversation with the wise, affectionate aunt you never had. And, without a doubt, her collection of helpful sites for writers and speakers is unparalleled. She had pretty much every link in my own Internet bookmark folder, plus about 25-30% more than I had -- and mine were considerable, being the result of more than six years as a writer. Without a doubt, this book will stay next to my computer and become dogeared from all the love and attention it gets from me.

That said, I do have a slight issue with the marketing of this book as pure Internet reference, because that's not exactly what it is. Ms. Leal's target audience is actually NOT the seasoned writer or speaker who just needs to rev up his or her personal research engine. She's writing for, and to, beginning writers and aspiring professional speakers. Much of her book (some entire chapters and several partial chapters) is devoted to introducing neophytes to the craft and the business of writing or speaking. Thus, considering my six years of experience as a writer, I found myself skimming great swaths of text, with my eyes pausing only when I glimpsed the italic print with which all those juicy internet links are helpfully set apart.

Bottom line: This book is most definitely worth the $10 Amazon will charge you for it, and more. However, its scope is, in my opinion, a bit broad. It would be more useful to professional writers and speakers if it came in a separate, streamlined edition -- one without all the newbie advice we've already heard and benefited from long ago.

Carmen Leal has done a massive amount of research to write this book. She's done the work, and we reap the benefits. Two things endear me to Carmen:

1. She can remember when she didn't know about the internet, and can remember how she learned.

2. She writes in a easy-to-follow style that leads me on the path to understanding.

If only every book on computer topics were written this well!