Educational Books

If you want to get one calculus-based general physics textbook for review or self-study, this is the one to get. No wasted space on glossy photos or fluff. Just good clear, concise diagrams, explanations, and worked out examples. There are plenty of exercises at the end of each chapter, review questions, and answers to some of the problems in the appendix. If you're prepared to work for it and make this book your bible, you will learn the material and have a solid foundation of understanding.

I agree with the previous review. This is a good book for the serious student of Physics or Engineering. The amount of math is just right, and the physics is presented lucidly. Lots of solved problems, and even more problems for you to solve. If you are a physics student and would like to see a second (much more idiosyncratic) opinion on one of the "classical" topics (up to the Sixties), consult the Feynman Lectures. These two books will give you a thorough grounding for everything else in Physics.

The book I am reviewing ("Physics" by Marcelo Alonso and Edward J. Finn. Harlow, England. Addison-Wesley (1992). reprinted 1995-96. 1138 pages. ISBN 0-201-56518-8. paperback) is in my opinion the best first year undergraduate book (thankfully!) still avaliable in the US. Strangely, even though written by two American professors - one from The Florida Institute of Technology and the other from Georgetown University - this book became more famous abroad, especially in Europe. It was translated in several European languages including Dutch, Italian, German, Swedish, as well as Spanish and Portugese (i.e. also used in Latin American countries).

This book was originally published under a longer title: Fundamental University Physics (Reading, Mass., Addison-Wesley (c) 1967-68). It was divided in the following three hardback volumes: volume one: Classical Mechanics and Thermodynamics; volume two: Waves and Fields; volume three: Quantum and Statistical Mechanics). It was reprinted for several years until a new edition came in in 1980-83. This new edition left the book's strenghts essentially unchanged, and simply updated the earlier edition. The same way, this current textbook (Physics, 1992) leaves essentially untouched the classical as well as moderns strengths of its original predecessors. It is up to date up to 1992 - for example the chapter on space exploration has a lucid discission of the VEEGA Galileo mission based on information available at that time.

The strengths of this classic book are primarily classic themselves. First of all the book is characterized by consisting of a central backbone of mathematical equations that have been rigorously and carefully derived . Where other books say "it is obvious that eqn. 117 transforms into 121..." the authors here derive the fundamental equations of current physics from first principles as much as possible. It is obvious that rigorous analysis of physical models, systems, and empirical data requires the use of integral as well as differential calculus. While other authors either rely little on calculus, or never bother to use it at all, Alonso and Finn make effective use of calculus as the need arises. (Actually, there are physics texts out there that are not even calculus based... three hundred years of mathematical power and elegance ignored simply because college students today do not have a workable knowledge of basic calculus)

The organization of the book blends classical topics with modern ones in as natural a fashion as possible. For example, in Chapter 7 which deals with the the applications of the laws of motion, the fundamental concepts that govern rocket propulsion are laid out. In chapters 19-20 the special and (less so) general theories of relativity were discussed followed by an exposition of the pronciples of modern high energy and particle physics. One whole chapter is devoted to Statistical Mechanics (which no other introductory book dares or cares to include). This chapter then sets the stage for applications in transport phenomena, thermodynamics, etc.

In other words, the field of Theoretical Physics blends with that of Experimental Physics in this book. The 41 chapters cover the standard material (classical and modern physics) taught to bright students in their first year of university studies. This may seems both laborious as well as intriguing for the young but bright student (i.e. not below 1300 SATII). Once familiar with the basic anatomy of the book, the user should be able to locate modern physics material spread in the 1100+ pages. The book actually ends with a discussion of the attempts at unifying the forces, the success of the electro-weak theory, as well as future GUTs (Grand Unified Theory).

The number, nature and topics of exercices and problems are traditional and well chosen. This helps make the book compact; truly in its 1100+ pages it conveys more information more effectively than 1600+ page books (like the current book's original edition). Actually, pictures have been reduced in size as compared to the first two editions, and they are incorporated in-text, making the book heavily packed with standard physics information.

Naturally, the things that turn off a nontradionalist will turn on the tradionalist when choosing a book for a course or reference or other purposes. This book includes the "standard" information that should be contained in the first year of a physics major's curriculum. It spends proper time explaining key principles. For example it does not attempt to derive a form of Schrodinger's Equation but it uses quantum mechanical principles to illustrate the problem of the particle/s in a variety of wells (primarily in 1D). The in-text problems chosen to illustarate and emphasize physical principles are mostly classical, standard problems. Many have several parts which are designed to "bring up" the reader from first principles all the way to the ultimate applications in physics.

Further, the nontraditionalist may note that this thoroughly black and white paperback lacks the glamorous, color illustrations of current textbooks such as those from Beisner, Serway, Sears, Fishbane, Pasachoff, Giancoli, Halliday, Lea, Hecht, Rex, Nolan, etc. etc. (note: I am listing the above books based on a simple query on physics textbooks on amazon. And not all of the above texts are equally poor or dumbed down! Some, like Pasachoff are actually reasonable texts to teach or learn from).

Followed with a semester in mathematical physics (using texts such as the book by Mary L. Boas), the student of Alonso/Finn will be ready to compete against any students trained in fundamental physics by other authors. The student can make use of this book well after the first year, especially when reviewing general physics material for the GRE Physics Subject Text. Other advanced undergraduate books that are as comprehensive and pedagogically effective for the brighter students include the series on Theoretical Physics by Walter Grenier (e.g. Classical Mechanics II, Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics & Thermodynamics). This certainly seems to be the level of preparation of generations of European graduate students.

Clear, well-motivated, concise and focused. This is a masterpiece for sophomore-level physics.

Each topic starts off with a clear motivation and slowly leads the reader deeper into the topic through a logical path with just the right amount of mathematics. There are no gratuitous paragraphs or missing links, making the learning experience a focused one. A true testimony of economy of thought.

This book is fundamentally different from other undergraduate physics texts that dominate the market like 'Resnick and Halliday, Sears and Zemansky, Serway, Tipler, etc.' in that all topics are integrated into a coherent whole. A student does not simply read a chapter in Mechanics and forget about it when he advances into Electrodynamics. The later chapters make use of the foundational knowledge acquired in the prior chapters and builds upon it. This is unlike many other physics books that seem more like a disparate set of topics strung together with no apparent link.

No unnecessary examples are given and where they are given, they serve to illustrate and reinforce understanding of certain principles or ideas. This is also in contrast to other physics texts that profess a lorge number of unnecessary worked examples that serve to drive in the same point. There are no fanciful coloured diagrams or glossy pages. This book is serious about educating the reader in physics and it goes straight to the point.

A note however to beginning physics majors: this book makes unscrupulous use of calculus. But once a student has mastered undergraduate-level calculus, the learning experience is a rich one and the profits that he can reap from this book are immense!

As Physics should be! Alonso and Finn provide a vigorous treatise of the subject with a great deal of calculus. That is not necesarily bad as--contrary to the belief of fresher students--physics is about mathematics. Alonso and Finn's book has certainly made it into the category of Classical Physics Textbooks as much as the "Therory of Relativity" by Albert Einstein. It is ashaming that in the US the book did not seem to get the right credentials, but given the many translations of Alonso and Finn's book into European languages, this side of the Alantic the book has had a very positive resonance indeed. And just take a look at the very extensive list of reviewers of the book: This list tells the potential buyer of the book that really great minds have been working on it: Professor Tomas Bohr (Copenhague, Denmark), the late Professor Karl Luchner (Ludwig Maximillian University Munich, Germany), Professor William Poon (University of Edinburgh, Scotland) etc. etc.
All in all a very satisfiying book for first year physics students and beyond.

It has been awhile since I had thought about my quest to read all of Andrew Lang's color fairy books. If I'm right, this completes it, and I will say that I was thoroughly impressed with this collection that pretty much avoids Grimm while getting the juciest of Hans Christian Andersen and a multi-cultural array of other stories, from humerous animal tales to hilarious folktales, to daring and imaginative stories of fairies and princesses and goblins.

I am a teacher and I read many stories from The Pink Fairy Book to my class. They were amazed that there were so many more wonderful fairy tales that they had never seen on cartoons. I recomend this to all teachers and parents to read to treir kids.

I was at the library with my father and mother when I first saw this book. I looked at all the colors and decided by pink being my favorite color. I read the whole book in gaps between 2 days and at bedtime. And I was so amazed at the mermaids, princesses, and fairies and all the wonder that a few days later I took out the orange, green, and crimson fairy book just so I could dwell in the land of fairy tales for a few more weeks! Im a young girl of fourteen, and I love fantasy stories. The Pink fairy book is my favorite because it was my first, but the whole collection are my favorites and I recomend them to boys and girls (There are plenty of stories boys would like too) and adults! (for they are just as interesting) I love art, and the pictures by H.J ford are so amazing and attractive, I stared at them for hours!

Having a complete collection of the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales, I was a little disappointed when I opened this book and found so many stories with which I was familiar. But as I read further along, I found additional tales translated from Danish, French, Swedish, German, and Japanese. I have definitely found some new favorites with this collection, especially in the few Japanese stories. Uraschimataro and the Turtle is wonderful. I also loved Peter Bull! I wish there were more Japanese stories but, as this is the first volume of this collection I have read, I am hopeful to find more in another one of the series. Depending on your existing collection of fairy tales, this may not be a must-own but it is certainly a must-read.

The Andrew Lang collections are well worth it. I read them when I was a child (bless that library) and when I saw them for sale I couldn't resist. The stories have retained their freshness and it is interesting to see similar themes dealt with by different cultures.

These would be great for parents reading to their children or for children looking for something interesting and fun to read.

Definitely worth it!

Noonie Fortin follows up her successful book, "Memories of Maggie," (about the life and legend of entertainer Marta Raye) with "Potpourri Of War." For those of us who loved reading that memoir of Colonel Maggie and are still hungry for more personal stories and antidotes about her life and the people she influenced--then this is the book you have been waiting for!

Noonie takes us at times across country on her book tours to meet and learn about people and places that are related to the Vietnam War and in particular, dealing with old "Big Mouth" herself. From all the stories you cannot help but see how much she came to be loved by veterans of that era.

There are several small bios mixed into the book like one would carefully mix a powerful herb or spice into a pot of stew; just enough to add some sharp and savory flavors to the well written structure of controlled rambling prose that is already cooking with lots of LOVE.

This book is best read as a companion to her first book on Martha Raye but it can be read alone. An easy-to-read and entertaining book that at times makes one feel as if you are eaves dropping in on a conversation in the kitchen or living room of close friends.

Potpourri Of War: Labors Of Love Remembered is the story of Americans who were not "career military" but who loved their country and everything that America has come to stand for within the community of civilized nations. This compelling volume of wartime reminiscences ranges from the stunning to the fondly nostalgic to the profound. Here are the stories of the women of World War II -- the USO performers, military personnel, Red Cross Workers, Hollywood celebrities, as well as the legions of mothers of sons and daughters gave up their lives in the defense of their country on far flung battlefields. Potpourri Of War is a timely and much needed contribution -- both as a remembrance of things past, and a clarion reminder of how we can meet the demands of war that have suddenly come upon us in our own time.

I really loved reading about women who put their lives on the line, they are true hero's.

I think it is a good book and well worth reading. The part that has really grabbed me and not let go is Susan Christiansen's story...this story [and others included] will help people understand not only the women's problems but also the men's problems with memories...as a result of the Vietnam War. You wrote to the readers, not "down to " them. The section you devoted to the history of the Vietnam War...is a necessary part of your book. There are young people today who have no knowledge whatsoever of that War or that period in our history. You have done a good, professional job of writing.

It is a great joy to see someone recognizing the work that women did for this country. It is equally sad to read of the many lives that were lost. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront and making us aware of their sacrifices. I for one have never been aware of "Colonel Maggie's" extensive contributions to entertaining and working with our ttroops. I will spread the word. Thanks Noonie.

LSAT deconstructed was the perfect self-study guide. I took the practice tests, pinpointed my weaknesses, and found the best approach to the different types of questions. -Whit Remer

I actually pushed back my LSAT until after this book was published, and it was worth the wait. Without having PowerScore classes in my area, I've relied on the PowerScore bibles and real LSATs. They have all helped immensely.

I have read the PowerScore Logic Games Bible and the PowerScore Logical Reasoning Bible and both were extremely helpful to me. I have been preparing for the upcoming June LSAT and I needed help increasing my score. With these books my score has already gone up 10 points! The 2004 LSATs Deconstructed was very helpful as well. It walked me through an entire LSAT with very clear and detailed explanations. I would highly recommend this book.

This book, published by Powerscore, contains the 3 LSATs administered in 2004 and comes with comprehensive and detailed solutions to each test.

The solutions are 90-120 pages long and give you great insight into how to answer these questions efficiently and accurately. The explanations tell you why each right answer is right and why each wrong answer is wrong. And it's detailed too. They don't just give you a one-liner like "no, out of scope". There's usually a paragraph explaining why the wrong answer is wrong and should be eliminated.

After doing the tests, it's worth reading the entire solutions to questions you got right as well as wrong answers because you start to think like an LSAT question writer and see where they are trying to trick you and how to avoid these traps.

LSAC's own Superprep is also an outstanding resource in this regard.

It's too bad no company publishes solutions sets this detailed on a regular basis.

This book is EXACTLY what I needed. The explanations are written in a very clear and easily understood manner. This book is really what made the LSAT "click" for me.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to face the underlying causes of compulsive overeating. This book was the first step on a journey of making changes in my relationship to food. I wrote down many of the prayers and carry them with me. I believe the prayers made me aware of and receptive to the "compassionate and wise sources of healing" that are available to everyone.

I strongly believe in the power of prayer and credit it for helping me in my low-carb weight loss journey back in 2004. God gave me the strength to stay on plan even when I felt like giving up and He rewarded me with a 180-pound weight loss in just one year. So naturally I am supportive of anyone who wishes to implore the Almighty as part of their weight management plan.

The Prayer Diet espoused by Dr. Matthew Anderson is focused specifically on making prayer the central focus of your weight and health plan. By taking the focus off of food, your weight, the health problems you may be facing, and all those other issues that tend to dominate the discussion regarding your diet, Dr. Anderson shifts the focus to God where it belongs and His sovereignty to make the necessary changes in you to bring about weight loss.

If you're not a Christian, then you probably won't understand why this diet could possibly work for you. But any believer who trusts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will tell you how essential prayer is to a healthy spiritual life. And The Prayer Diet simply extends this to your physical life, too. Specific prayers for yourself and others are included in the book to help guide you towards God's will regarding the weight and health of you and your loved ones.

One person in a review above gave one star, saying she didn't have the book, that everyone raved about it, but didn't say how much they lost, how long it took and if things in the book helped them keep it off. This misses the point of the book. I was drawn to it because I know prayer works for other things and I thought, why not for weight loss? But there are so many more gifts in the book, or actually, ways to give yourself gifts. The book is very well written too. Dr. Cooper manages to gradually add, in each succeeding chapter, more depth to what he had written in the chapters before. It is a book I will refer to again and again.

Anderson is no Billy Graham type. In his introduction you will find out he is definintely a different kind of Christian Minister. His writing and beliefs sounded New Agey to me but to my surprise, by page 162 Anderson was criticizing the New Age movement for its lack of depth and discipline of mind and heart. He says the New Age movements cannot provide guidance into the dark areas of life such as grief, self hate and self sacrifice. I agree with him on this point.

Anderson's ideas about weight loss are based on two assumptions: first, that man is instinctively spiritual and secondly, that Americans are spiritually deprived.

Anderson's solution to overweight is not so unique. He takes the perspective of Overeaters Anon that people can be addicted to food and that they are powerless to end the addiction on their own. They need divine intervention and must be in constant prayer. Interestingly Anderson says we are not to ask God to reach a specific target weight. Our ideal weight should be left to the will of God.

The highlight of the book is the Dieter's Prayer to be said before each meal. There are other prayers as well to deal with the difficult emotions that contribute to over weight.

It was a very interesting and motivational book. Easy to read and easy to follow. Throw away those diet books and take on Anderson's prayer challenge

What a great book! I couldnt put down this book and read it in less than one week. I am a Jewish man who has fought the battle of food addiction my whole life. After OA, hypnosis, therapy, medications and a lifetime of frustration, Dr Anderson has opened up my eyes to the world of prayer in fighting my weight problem. This book has released me from the self-imposed restrictions of asking God for help and believing that I was not worthy nor capable of receiving it. Dr Anderson is upfront and personal in his style. You get the feeling that he really does understand the pain of repeated weight gain. The basic prayers that are layed out are simple and can be offered by those of any faith or belief without causing any religious conflict or discomfort. Just basic spiritual truths that make a connection with God easy.
This book may truly be the missing link for those of us who are searching for peace and permanent weight loss. Whether rebel or visionary, Dr Anderson has earned his place among the great spriritual teachers of our time.

Inspiring, I give it two thumbs up for offering a sane point of view about minimizing bully and violence in schools, while staying sensitive to the young people at the same time.

I also went to the Safe School Ambassador website and saw a 4-minute NBC Today Show clip about this program. The clip gives a good summary of the authors' point of view, and you also get to hear some unscripted responses from young people who have been through the program.

Every school administrator should take the time to read this valuable, well-researched guide to the problem and solutions to the issue of mistreatment in schools. The authors have made a strong case for student empowerment, and have given school personnel the practical tools to make their schools safer and more welcoming for everyone.

The most important aspect of this book is that the strategies suggested PREVENT mistreatment, thus changing the norms. As a facilitator of adults ordered by court to take anger management classes, I would like to see more of this taking place. That way we are up stream solving the problem rather than downstream picking up the bodies. I have shared much of the information in the book in parenting classes I led. Students found the information extremely useful. To my knowledge several of them did go back to their children's schools and obtained information on how the school was addressing bullying. It's the ripple effect. Take the time to read the book and then make a difference in your community. I'd love to work myself out of a job.

As the parent of a girl who was a mistreated in middle school, I have often wondered what can be done to bring about change for students like my daughter. I know from my own experience, that top down discipline does not provide for a safe school climate. If it did, my many calls to the school about how my daughter was being treated, would have brought about change.
What I have learned from this insightful, compelling book is that by empowering the students, we can build safer schools, from the inside-out, an obvious, and simple solution. Research based and well written, Safe School Ambassadors:Harnessing Student Power, is a must read for Professionals and Parents alike.

I have worked with young people for over 30 years as a theatre educator and drama therapist. The problem of schools being unsafe and uncivil places in which to learn is growing around the globe. In addition to providing a clear overview of the problem, I believe the authors express quite eloquently the key to the solution: youth empowerment. It is through relationship that young people develop their behavioral repertoire and, as is expressed in this book, "Outside-In" approaches that focus on rules, monitoring, and enforcement cannot effectively change the social norms that make it O.K. for students to mistreat each other. Kudos to the authors on creating such a valuable resource.

This is not a book about Waldorf education per se, but rather an inspiring look into the dedication of a master teacher. The author's depth of understanding of every one of his students is simply amazing. As an experienced, sometimes discouraged preschool teacher, I found hope and affirmation in this book.

This book gives outstanding detail and theories behind classroom instruction in a Waldorf School. He includes actual stories, poems, and math exercises used in class - and shows which elements appealed to various temperaments. Have you ever thought about adding somber details to a math problem to appeal to a melancholic temperament? How brilliant! All through the book I kept finding myself saying, "Yes! This is what school should be like!" If you've wondered what's wrong with schools today... when you read this book you'll know... and you may find yourself wishing you could go back to school and be in his class even if just for one day.

As the other reviews explain....this is a teacher's story of his unique journey with the same group of students from their entry into school as first graders through eighth grade. What an interesting idea....for the teacher and student. The consistency of teaching from one year to the next, ties in perfectly with the developmental model of the Waldorf curriculum. And with the right teacher, the students much derive a great deal of support and nurturance.

I picked up this book because I was interested in learning about the Waldorf system. This book accomplished that goal. Now, I'd love to read a book by an adult/student who has gone through the Waldorf system, on to college, and their perspective.

Parents who are contemplating or have enrolled their students in a Waldorf school will benefit from this book, and be reassured by the teacher's dedication. Other teachers will gather new ideas for presenting material and be inspired by this teacher's love of his work and his students. A win-win situation.

A teacher's synopsis of teaching his class from grade 1 through 8 in a Waldorf school. Mr. Finser is enthusiastic and motivated and it is clear that he loves teaching and loves his students. This was a wonderful introduction to what a Waldorf education is all about. I recommend it for as the first read for parents interested in learning what Waldorf education for grades 1-8 is about. (If one is interested in Waldorf Kindergarten, I suggest "Work and Play in Early Childhood" instead.) This book is easy to read. I found just the notion of the same group of students staying together for so many years, and keeping one teacher as the main lesson teacher throughout was fascinating. Mr. Finser explains what is taught during each year and goes into detail about the unconventional methods used. One example is using motion-exercises to teach multiplication. We are introduced to the Waldorf-approach to artwork, circle time, music making and songs, eurhythmy (a movement exercise), and how and why myths, legends, and fairy tales are used as teaching tools. The author includes the applicable poems, myths, and fairy tales rather than simply stating that they are used in the classroom. One of my favorite sections was a collection of poems written by the students. Mr. Finser states in the preface that he will not attempt to give a lengthy description and explanation "of all the dimensions of the Waldorf curriculum and the stages of child development as seen from the Waldorf point of view, or of Anthroposophy, the spiritual orientation that underlies it" and he remains true to that statement. For example, a lengthy description for what eurhythmy is and why it is important is not discussed. For further information or explanation, both the author and I urge the reader to further explore the writings of Rudolph Steiner (the founder of Waldorf education) or other writings... The book closes with an essay written by Joan Almon on the subject of Waldorf education as a method of teaching creative thinking and the goals of Waldorf education.

I bought this book because of my interest in Waldorf education and it does a superb job of demonstrating the practical application of this rich curriculum. But it is much more than a book about a Waldorf school. It is the warm, human story of a teacher who himself struggles to do the best for the children under his care. An inspiration to all teachers (I have purchased 6 copies to give away !) and a very approachable introduction to Waldorf education.

School Hazard Zone: Beyond the Silence/Finding a Voice brilliantly exposes structural forces--which stem from self, school, and society--that have contributed to the persisting "achievement gap." Through Joyce's own critical reflection as a teacher who is concerned with culturally responsive education, the perspective she presents in her book allows for an inside view into daily pedagogical experiences of minority students, the ways in which the system perpetuates minority academic underachievement through practices that silence students and teachers, forms of agency that students and teachers do and can enact to resist systemic prejudice, and possibilities for alternatives that promote a democratic education for all students to close the racial achievement gap. Joyce's scholarship and creativity offer parents, educators, and concerned individuals a path for advancing an agenda of educational transformation, rather than simply superficial change that fails to address deep-rooted inequities. As a literacy specialist and education consultant, myself, I found Joyce's detailed analysis profoundly informative about the "what is" in contemporary education and inspiring as to the "what can be." I highly recommend this book for all those interested in the state of education today and the potential for how it can evolve for the future.

Dr. Joyce's conception of "spherical learning environments" (SLE) was even more fascinating than I had imagined (Joyce, 2008, p. 178). The multitude of ideas presented in this book for expanding learning environments is impressive, and I am in the process of incorporating some of them into my online teaching practice and course designs to create meaningful learning experiences for the students - and, ultimately, to promote positive change. I was at a loss for devising more than just a few instructional activities that would be applicable to the online setting until reading this book. The dozens and dozens of ideas have opened my eyes to the enormous number of possibilities, even given the space constraints online learning presents.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in supporting high quality learning experiences that will help students reach their potential. Teachers, parents, counselors, administrators, instructional designers, or anyone who wants to make a difference in students' lives and education should read Dr. Joyce's book. As she asserts, "The old African phrase `It takes a village to raise a child' is pertinent..." (p. 79), and she shows, by citing her own experience during her many years as a teacher, how anyone who wants to make a difference can do so. Education need not be restricted to the four walls of a classroom. This book will open minds to the many possibilities, as well as provide practical guidance for planning and implementing some of the successful programs she has used during her teaching practice.

Wow. Dr. Joyce really hits home with this one. A practical and introspective look at the state of education in today's society, it is a must-read for every educator dedicated to student achievement. This is a powerful text from a woman whose voice needs to be heard.

This book gives a broad aspect of information from research about the continuous achievement gap, how and why it exists, and the many possiblities in closing it. Throughout this book, I read about student concerns, the faculty/staff concerns, and what seemed to be the hidden lack of concern and support from the administration, as well as things that have been done and can be done to change that. Dr. Joyce expresses deep concerns for the future of our children if we continue on the "norm" of the educational path we are currently on. One of my favorite excerpts from this book was on pg.216, where she stated," Acceptance of the norm is a disservice to the self, school, and society. Ultimately, we deny ourselves exposure to the untapped energies and abilities of these students and deprive the world of possible greatness." This book had a lot of interesting insight to the resolution of the achievement gap. Part of Dr. Joyce's main goal is to find results by ackowledging the complexities, forming positive outlooks, and reducing negative influences. In my opinion the bottom line was that there are a number of things you can do to help close the achievement gap and if we all work together, "proactive behavior is contagious," this change can be a reality. Her passion for resolving the achievemet gap was touching and informative. She states that her motivation comes from,"the realization that broken-spirited students are a part of the universe and within my power to heal." This was truely an unforgetable book. Thanks

This book is a must-have for teachers, administrators, college faculty, and anyone who has a vested interest in the public education system. Dr. Pamela Joyce is speaking from the inside on two fronts--both her classroom and her heart. When woven together with a strong theoretical grounding, this book provides a clear sense as to why we need to think differently about the minority achievement gap and the students who are stigmatized by this label. Not only does Dr. Joyce provide keen insights based on years of working with students, but she provokes the reader to ponder questions that they will be considering long after they finish her book. If you don't already own it, don't hesitate to buy it now!

Although cast more as an encouraging model for adults involved in nurturing and shaping children's lives and their imaginations, this is a delightful read for any age. We can all remember our childhoods. We all have imaginations that still need nurturing in a fast-forward world. And, we can all enjoy beautiful writing wherever we find it.

I especially enjoyed her chapter, "The Stuff of Memory," which reads smoothly like a personal essay that reveals hints to twitch our memories and the telling detail.

--Janet Grace Riehl, author Sightlines: A Poet's Diary

Buy and read everything Ms. Kephart writes. No disappointments, EVER!!

Given the title of Beth Kephart's new book, SEEING PAST Z: Nurturing the Imagination in a Fast-Forward World, I was prepared for a straightforward analysis of the very real challenges facing parents trying to raise imaginative, creative children in a culture that seems to eschew imagination and creativity. I expected a well-reasoned and well-researched argument, perhaps with specific suggestions for fostering young people's creative processes.

Instead, much to my surprise (and eventual delight), what I found in SEEING PAST Z was something quite different, and no less valuable. In this slender volume, Kephart strings together a series of personal essays and anecdotes, some of which focus on her own childhood, but most of which center on her fourteen-year-old son, Jeremy, and his development from a reluctant reader into a passionate storyteller, comic strip artist, and aspiring filmmaker.

Kephart primarily lets her stories speak for themselves, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions about her parenting approach --- discouraging competition and adult-oriented achievements in favor of pursuits whose rewards are not so easily quantified. Her stories are told with a quiet, lyrical grace rarely found in nonfiction.

Kephart makes the argument that kids' imaginations are vital, not only during childhood but for their whole adult lives: "I am hoping that the time we've spent on the imagination will enable him to foresee the consequences of actions not yet taken. I am hoping that it will reinforce a compassionate heart. I am hoping that it will steel him for the hardest times, by giving him faith in another, better day .... I am hoping, a mother's simple dream, that it deepens his happiness."

The author's success with her approach, not only with her own son but with the reading and writing workshops she conducts for other children, will certainly be an inspiration for other parents and professionals who work with children. She provides some practical suggestions for implementation in the several appendices at the end of the book, and includes many of the workshop exercises she used with her own son and other children. Parents and teachers will find many worthwhile writing prompts and reading suggestions here. More important than these practical guides, though, is what Kephart quietly suggests throughout her thought-provoking essays: a profound philosophical shift in how we think about children, imagination, and the definition of success.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I read Seeing Past Z with excitement and envy. Finally, a book that puts words to so many of the feelings I have as a mother, aunt, and teacher. Beth Kephart reminded me how important imagination is to every day life, and she's given me a book I can share with friends as we struggle to raise our sons and daughters with care. We're always complaining about how competitive everything has gotten in our kids' lives. Seeing Past Z has given me a way to do something about that. Thank you, Beth Kephart.

I'm not a teacher, or a parent--but I loved this book, and consider it extremely important.
Disguised as a collection of some of the most lyrical and evocative essays you will ever read, this book is really the operating manual for a child's imagination. How to nuture it, challenge it, and importantly, give it space to flourish--how to let the life of the mind grow into a garden, and not a parking lot. Yet this is not a book full of instructions (although there are excellent and very specific guidelines you can use to start a reading and writing group for kids on your own)--this book is an open door. Read it, give it to every parent, librarian and educator you know--and next thing you know, we might have kids who will be brave enough and free enough to imagine our world into new wholeness.

I am trying to be cute with my title. Maybe it didn't work. But what did work for me was how informative and all-around helpful this book was for me. A former Shar-pei "co-habitant" (at a home I lived at in the 90's), I had a birds-eye view of this breed, but couldn't quite remember all the details of what to expect. This cleared it all up for me. I recommend this book for people who are trying to learn about these wonderful dogs.

I have previously owned a shar pei before, but when my husband and I started planning on getting a new puppy I thought I would find a good book on shar pei. I bought three books originally but came to find that I like this one the best. Its simple and not very big, but is filled with lots of information. Info ranges from caring for you puppy or adult dog, health concerns, nutrition, obedience training and information about the shar pei breed. I would reccommend this book to anyone who has or is getting a shar pei.

I am brand new to the breed Shar Pei's and recently bought 2 puppies for my husband for Christmas (now 3 1/2 months old). I knew that the breed was an excellent temperment for families and small children (they met my niece who is 1 1/2 yrs old and they ignored her for the most part, but played well with her, and she liked them).

I wanted a book that would tell me about the breed, possible health problems that they may have, and general living and training tips. This book absolutley fit the bill. It's the square deal.

First off, the author recognizes that this breed does have health issues, and lists those off. For a new owner, or possible owner, this lets you know what happens SPECIFIC to the Shar Pei. I have read other Shar Pei books and found them to be very general to dogs, and not just to Shar Peis.

Surfing the net, it seems hard to find specific information that you want to know before going to the vet. We live in a rural area, so our vet has not dealt with many Shar Pei's, so as the owner, I want to be as knowlegeable as possible when discussing possible problems. I found this book to help out with learning those aspects.

Overall, I fully recommend you to buy this book. Buy this book if you are considering buying a Shar Pei, and it will let you know what you are getting into.

After 4 litters, I have decided to give one of these books to each of our new owners. It is a down to earth, easy read. Anyone who reads this book should feel comfortable with the contents. They will come to know that the Shar-pei is one of the best breeds around. That is why I breed them and would recommend this book to all.

This book tell you everything you want to know about the sharpei,even how to train and educate your dog,everything about health, behavior, etc... You won't need any other book.