For the Record Books

This is a great book that I would recommend to all for those quite moments just before sleep. This gentle story leads you through an array of animals as they settle down for the night. I find the pictures great and the gentle rhythm of the book a delight. I could not as more of a bedtime story.

I read this book to my daughter many nights from the night she was born until she was old enough for chapter books. She loved the cadence of the rhymes and would repeat them along with me as she got older. Now my oldest step-daughter is having her first baby so this is one of the books we got her - we hope it will be a favorite in her house as well!

I love this book -- it is to soothing for both adults and children. Beautiful pictures and sweet, simple rhymes.

we've been reading this book every night for a very long time, and our daughter still likes it very much. she looks forward to it ...

This gentle rhyming book is the perfect bedtime book. I buy it to give to all my new mother and grandmother friends. The illustrations are beautiful and peaceful. In the book, the animal moms are talking with their babies about it being time for bed. When I close my eyes, I can hear my son reading it to his baby boys. If you want to share the love and joy of books, buy this...the best bedtime book ever!

I just received the book and am still reading it. I really like how he explains the lesson then has 2 students add their comments after their training session with Clinton. I find this helpful as it gives me insite how I might come across a problem similiar to theirs when I start my program.

My trainer suggested Clinton Anderson's book and it has really been very helpful for me. He is very clear in his instructions and possible problems one may encounter with various horses and issues.

Useful, but only if you're willing to buy the equipment. From his site. For quite a bit of money.

So yeah.

Yeah this book is the most helpful I have found. Everything makes so much sense. My horse loves it too - she tried to eat the book. I take it out with me when I work with her so I can refer to it as I am working, because I find I make most of the common handler mistakes. As one trainer told me I have a 2 year old in a 5 year old body, she has gotten a late start, but this is definitely working. I have never even tried to train a horse, and I am finding the relationship with her just keeps getting better, she would not lead, nor look at me and those are sooo important. No shouting at her, just a calm no nonsense approach and we are both much happier. Thanks Clinton. And best of all I took it with me to one of the tour appearances and it is signed! And ladies...Clinton is definitely some eye candy!

I had been watching Clinton Anderson on RFD TV and decided to read his book. The book was an easy read. I have been able to take the information and use it with my horse. I have read several books including Parelli's Horse-Man-Ship; Leslie Desmond, and Tom Dorrance. Anderson's book is by far the best if you want something that will give you a step by step program for working with your horse. He also includes the reasons for the steps that make the process logical. This is a really great book and addition to your library!

I saw this book on the "Bargain" table at my local bookstore and, after reading the inside flap, decided to give it a read for the $5 cost. The book centers on the chase to break the 75-year-old largemouth bass world record and I had no idea that such a wonderful read awaited me!

Starting with the story of Bob Crupi, a black-or-white-with-no-shades-of-gray policeman who pretty much sacrificed his entire non-working life to chase the record, and ending with the story of Samuel Yera, the easy-going husband and father living in Havana who puts his family before fishing, Monte Burke weaves the tales of the "big players" in the chase for the record in a way that makes the book surprisingly easy to read.

Between Crupi and Yera, we meet the Long-Kerr duo, a pair of the most accomplished largemouth fishermen out there who work together to fight for the record. We also meet the trio of Jed, Mac, and Buddha who are a bit Johnny-Come-Lately and chase the record for the money. The details of the two groups' rivalry will make any casual fisherman or non-fisherman scratch their head in amazement.

And what would the book be without meeting the top lure makers who are helping make it all happen from the "other" side of the pole? Burke introduces us to Jerry Rago and Mickey Ellis. How the state-funded group in Texas, led by fisheries biologist David Campbell and director Allen Forshage, that is trying to grow the record bass in a fishery? Even better, how about Porter Hall, who has seemingly given up a wife and child in his pursuit to grow the record bass in lakes of his own?

Finally, Burke gives us a look at the "bassholes" who are doing their best to swindle their way into the record books. His look at some of the more notorious examples of "bassholes" is simultaneously hilarious and mind-blowing.

Over and over again, Burke finds a way to keep the reader interested in this colorful cast of characters, while interweaving the feel-good story of the current record holder, George Perry. But, and maybe more importantly, Burke manages to keep all the characters straight in the reader's mind by not complicating their relationships. He keeps it all simple, as it should be, and gives such a telling description of each that when you finally look at the pictures in the middle of the book, you feel like you've already viewed them.

This really is an "anybody" kind of book, but those who have had some fishing experience will truly get the most out of it. Those who have never fished may be scared to touch a rod and reel after reading this book for fear of catching the bug caught by the characters within.

Though the book is written in an easygoing style it contains a lot of fascinating and in-depth information on fishing and the American history of the sport.

Burke is both a capable writer and a fisherman and his intelligence, sense of humor and love of the sport come through in the stories he tells.

I could not put the book down. What a great writer. I don't fish for the Big bass but I really enjoyed reading about the men that do. A great read. I would recommend this book to any avid or even weekend bass fisherman (woman)!!!

Wow and I thought I was an obsessed fisherman. The book is all the more relevant now that one of the anglers mentioned in the novel has garnered recent publicity for his unofficial world record. It covers all the aspects of the hunt for the world record: the guys trying for it, the lure makers, the scientists, and many others. The author even goes to Cuba for a fishing trip and talks to an eccentric angler in the U.S. who's trying to grow his own world record bass. It's an eye-opening read.

Mr. Burke....Excellent. From California, to Cuba, to Georgia, I loved this book. Very well researched, and written. I felt I got to know each character in the book. Being a fisherman myself, I knew the names, but not the stories.....again, BRAVO!!!

I bought this book for my three kids. It is actually for one child to fill out about the new baby. I have adapted it for all three kids to share. It makes them feel involved and adds to the excitement of the new baby. I think all new brothers and sisters should have this book.

This book is really adorable. I can't wait for my 3 year old to fill it out with me. It has really great checklists and places for pictures for your older sibling to fill out.

This is a great product. I have been really worried about how my 3 year old daughter is gonna take being a big sister. She has been very spoiled her whole life. When we got this book in the mail she was so happy. I am only 13 weeks so she has plenty of time to wait until she can use the book but she thought it was really cool. I think this a good idea to keep them involved.

I bought this for my 4 year old to fill out for he new baby brother. Some of the questions are hysterical and she loves filling out the information and tracing her feet and his feet. I'm sure both kids with treasure it when they're older to see what she thought of him when he was born.

I bought this book for my 3 year old and it is perfect for her age level. With its large text, humorous check lists, and simple art and observational activities, it is perfect for the younger, new big brother or sister (3-6 yrs). This book allows the child to compare themselves to the baby which shows them how special they are, and how much care the baby needs.

I'm a bachelor and this book meets my dietary consumption. I eat a lot of food because I am training for a marathon and for competition. This book has great recipes for a single guy like me. The leftovers are great too. Really like this recipe book and the food that is suggested. Healthy for an athlete.

I followed the authors Tips and Strategies
And save 20% on my groceries bills and made
Healthy meals while losing 10 pounds in two
months

In these times of skyrocketing prices of virtually everything across the board, tips on saving costs are essential for many people's survival, particularly families.

5 Meals for $5 offers excellent advice on saving money when it comes to creating and preparing meals. Not only are the meal ideas cheap to make, they nutritionally balances as well; which is even more important than the cost.

Every reader will find recipes to suit their tastes, and there is certainly no shortage of variety to please and be appreciated by even the most discerning of palates.

This is not just a book of tasty recipes, but a wealth of cost-saving information.

How To Keep Your Man: And Keep Him For Good

Real Life Dramas - Volume One

Darren G. Burton

This is incredible! I hardly ever cook on my own and consequently I am not aware of the normal cost of preparing one's own meal. But after reading this book I started shop for my own groceries and cooking my own meals. It's interesting how much money one could save by simply putting his mind to it. And for those who still go out for their meals I suggest getting hold of Eat This Not That!: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!.

I think this book is great. It has wonderful recipes that are healthy and in the correct portion sizes. The Asian cuisines are absolutely wonderful and are some of the few recipes that have the rice listed as part of the recipe.

I have a family of five, and the recipes are all well received and feed my family nicely. The Asian society has the lowest rate of heart disease. The AMA suggests that rice is a big part of the reason they have a low rate of heart disease.

The book is an excellent book, with many of resources in addition to the recipes, which I was rather surprised by. It appears this author really does know how to save money, which is refreshing.

Usually when I purchase a money saving book on how to live frugally and save money, the authors of those books do not give real life examples. However, this author, Jaci Rae, does give real life examples and great advice.

The recipes, as I stated, are not only delicious, but they are healthy and feed more than the allotted amount and the advice in the book about debt and how to get rid of the debt load as well as the money saving advice is a great piece of education.

This is on my list for great Christmas Books to give for Christmas and for birthdays. My son is going away to college and I just purchased another book for him to take with him. He has been using the recipes and loves them.

I do believe that my favorite recipe listed in this book is the homemade turkey Thanksgiving Dinner recipe or perhaps the Vegetable Chow Mien (for those people who are Vegan or Vegetarians, this author has included many recipes that are for this category of family or single person or the author has suggested substitutions. Really, quite unique for a cookbook.)

The Lentil Soup is incredible too and my husband loves the Oyster Chowder recipe (I did not know I could make this from scratch, but it can be done and it is healthy as well as delicious.)

My children's' favorite recipes (they range in age from 10 - 18) so far are the Citrus Chicken recipe and the Mexican Chicken Enchilada Lasagna or for desert the Chocolate Chip Popcorn or the homemade Chocolate Angel Food Cake.

This book is definitely a cookbook that will be in my kitchen for some time to come.

This is an excellent book for any serious Beatles collector. Perry Cox really knows what we, as Beatles fans, want in a book. A lot of nice photos and useful and interesting info. Definitely a must have!

Now, let's face it; you won't be carrying this price guide with you to garage sales. No, this will be the reference book that stays at home. And what a book it is! Similar in size to Bruce Spizer's record books on the American Beatles' releases, this baby is published in a hard-cover format on nice glossy paper. The color photos are wonderful for fans to view the items, and the whole book is entertaining as well as informative in terms of accurate prices. Some of the color on some pages seemed to have a purplish haze to them, but hopefully that is remedied on new issues. Overall, a top-notch job by Perry. Now, Perry, what I would like to see from you is a price guide on international pressings. Maybe concentrating on the UK and Japanese pressings since many of these are collectible. Also, tell Bruce he's not done yet. He may have called his last book "Swan Song" as a way of saying goodbye, but I'm sure many fans, including myself, would like to see him tackle all of the British pressings.

for many many years,perry cox and bruce spizer have done thier best to uphold great quality items on beatles reference subjects.
they have finally started to do it in a very good way by showing COLORFULL scans of every capitol or apple product you can think of is the united states.
perry worked his butt off on this book.
why am i giving it 4 stars instead of five?
one reason.
nothing is included from canada(he gives credit to another book on that subject)which would have really been helpfull on the capitol issues..but spizers books covers canadian lps and 45s.
also bootlegs are missing..and many times there were infamouse ones that would make a good fan laugh ..like "how do you do it" on the swan label which was never released but would have been a hoot to see here.
knowing this book was never intended to show boots it is forgivable but two or three pics wouldnt have hurt.
other than that,there are guides to show you what lps were issuerd on what label variations and finally some good pricing.perry has been a seller of beatles records for many years and in this book he shows you just how incredible the beatles were to not only groove to,but to collect.a MUST for any beatles fan or collector!
also other formats are finally addressed and treated with respect(reel to reels and 4 tracks especially!)

Great book, fulled with information and high quality pictures. What makes this book nicer than the previous book is that the pictures, which correspond to the description, are on the same page. The only negative comment I have is that it's a hard cover book, that's too big and bulky, making it more difficult to flip through the pages and quickly look up an item. The last edition was a nice, small paperback book that I kept at my desk to flip through for a quick reference. This book is big, and heavy, and not made for flipping, but rather individual page turning. Being too big for the desk, I keep it on a book shelf, and more often than not, find myself thumbing through the more convenient last edition, rather than the new one. It went from being a guide to a reference book, but a great reference book!

This 6th edition from Mr. Perry Cox & Frank Daniels continues the long tradition and reputation of Perry's top price guides with the highest degree of research, knowledge, sources and listings available anywhere!

First, I give my strongest praise and congratulations to the co-authors (Perry and Frank), along with additional kudos to Mr. Bruce Spizer who contributed the Foreword, layouts, editing and publishing in this beautiful edition (and yes, I own most of his incredible "labor of love" books surrounding The Beatles records). These gentlemen are what we collectors consider "The Source" when it comes to being specific, detailed, precise and answering the tough questions that come with collecting what I consider "the greatest music memorabilia of all time".

Secondly, I would like to take a moment and get personal about Perry Cox and what he means to me in this business. I have done business with Perry since the early 1980's (when, at that time, I was just a young sailor in the U.S. Navy and spending as much of my extra money on my #1 passion - Beatles records and memorabilia). Perry immediately befriended me and has been more of a "mentor" and a "personal confidant" during these 25 years of our friendship. He has yet to steer me wrong or not provide the tough answers throughout all these years and I greatly admire his passion, dedication and genuine love for the hobby more than anyone else that I have had the pleasure of sharing this excitement with in this hobby. I remember back in the 80's and most of the 90's when I would receive Perry's "mailer lists" that he religiously mailed out to those of us on his distro list. Receiving those lists in the mail has long been replaced with the technology and real-time convenience of the internet (specifically Ebay), but I will never forget what those first 15 years were like when we couldn't see the items and relied on Perry's specific details on each item for sale in his mailer list! Times they were a-changin'. Regardless of the resources, Perry has always been top-notch and quickly became my favorite source (which he remains to this day). I have since retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years service and now live in the Tampa area - but I still email Perry whenever those technical questions need to be answered (or merely for his advice on items I am considering for my personal collection). Bottom line is that I give my full and unconditional recommendation (without hesitation) to any source that Perry endorses in this hobby - and his price guides are legendary among the amateur and professional collectors alike - across the board! Thank you Perry for your deep friendship over the past 25 years my friend.

Next, I would like to humbly thank both Perry and Frank for recognizing me under the "Acknowledgements" section in this price guide. It is a labor of love for all of us and all I can say (after all these years collecting and sharing knowledge, experiences, etc.) is "How cool is it to have your name inside the actual book of your favorite lifelong hobby?" It is a dream come true and I am touched for that recognition! I have had the unbelievable fortune of meeting all four Beatles in person throughout my life, along with being stationed in London for two years with the U.S. Navy, and having my name mentioned in this book completes a long journey for me (for a little boy from Flint, Michigan who originally watched those "four lads from Liverpool" tear it up on that black & white television while dancing with my mother and older sister)! Little did we "Flintoids" know that we would also be treated to our own hometown heroes just six years later from "Grand Funk Railroad". Imagine that...

As for the 6th edition of "The price guide for The Beatles American records", I would like to echo some of the wonderful comments from Mr. Robert York of Tacoma, WA (scroll through the reviews and you will find his detailed analogy of this new guide). I agree that it is very fitting that this book is the same size and lines up beautifully on the bookshelf with Bruce Spizer's books (not a coincidence I assure you - these gentlemen do all the extra work to ensure high quality products from start to finish). This new guide also has more colored photographs and layouts than I've seen to date and it is absolutely gorgeous. It starts out in the inner cover with many of the single (45's) in their respective picture sleeves in bright colors - and ends on the back inner cover with all 24 American Beatles' albums (in order of release) all in color as well. Everything in between these covers is simply magic and very nicely laid out! I am a stickler for detail and for making things "make sense" and this book does exactly that. One of my favorite things is the color-coding throughout the book. The authors got it right and made this very easy to use for all hobbyist - and the outer edges of the pages are actually color-coded so that the user can go right to the appropriate section he/she is seeking (without having to thumb around and find things aimlessly). The guide is broken down into sections, starting with Beatles singles and EP's, then Beatles albums, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pete Best and George Martin, Apple, Dark Horse Records, Compilations, and ends with Vendors (and those who paid to be sponsored in this publication).

I would also like to add that just before the color-coding starts in this publication, the authors have compiled some of the most important pages that will benefit collectors ten-fold (these pages are priceless, trust me). They have added sections on introduction, Market Analysis, Beatles records worth $1,000 or more, Grading records (very important especially for newcomers in the hobby), Acetates and Test Pressings, Promotional Records and Markings, Sealed Albums (which I have been involved in with Perry over many years), Capitol Inner Sleeves (nice explanations on what sleeves go with which albums, etc.), Records from other countries, Capitol-Apple Labelography (these are truly valuable pages here because it is so detailed and collectors need to become aware of all the differences on these labels), Capitol-Apple Tapeography, Pressings of "A Hard Day's Night" on UA (this is not testable, because 99% of us would fail the exam), Beatles U.S. Discography (you'll love this section and is perfect for "quick reference" or when creating your own personal spreadsheets, discography, or collections), and the last item in these white pages before the color-coding starts (and perhaps among the most important of all) is the "How to read the guide listings" section. This section specifically educates the reader on the Spizer Identification Number (which Beatles author/historian Bruce Spizer developed this numbering system for identifying items pictured and described in his books on The Beatles American records). This numbering system is quickly becoming popular among collectors and I would not be surprised if Mr. Spizer's system will one day be the universal standard for identifying all Beatles' American records (I have almost finished numbering my own personal collection with his numbering system and it just makes good sense)! Again, those white pages (pages 1-43) are some of the most valuable and educational sources that you will ever find on collecting Beatles American records (the price guide is worth its price for this information alone, not to mention pages 45-316 "the meat and potatoes" of the entire price guide).

Lastly, I highly recommend this price guide to everyone interested in gaining knowledge on Beatles American records, their history, how to identify exactly what you have, and it is simply the top-notch book available anywhere on this subject. A superior book cover-to-cover and I am so impressed with various elements throughout this guide. It takes the reader on a journey itself and you will experience the roots, growth and unbelievable spectrum that The Beatles records went through from the start to present day. After traveling through these pages several times I found myself in many different stages of my life, in retrospect, thinking about where I lived when a certain album was released or what girl I was sharing those moments with, etc. An incredible 5-star book which should be owned by all Beatles hobbyist (I own three myself and had to ensure I got the low serial #'d edition in the slipcase signed by all three gentlemen mentioned above). Purchase the guide, you'll be amazed at the weatlth of knowledge, perspiration, inspiration, dedication, and how cleverly laid out it really is! "I read the book today, oh boy..." and Perry, Frank & Bruce "made the grade". Cheers!

No matter what area in the music or recording industry you are in, these contracts are absolutely relevant. I found them extremely useful for my company and have highly recommended it to others in the industry. I would suggest that anyone who needs help with contracts purchase this product, you won't be sorry.

I bought this book 2 weeks ago and I could not help myself from dropping by here and saying how i use and feel about this book. Basically it is a life saver for me, it cuts the time I use do deals and it's a fountain of information if you don't have an outside source. My thought it ..buy it!

I loved this pack ever since day one when i first bought it, it brought a while new perspective to my office and the work being done there has increased in efficiency not at my desk but at my colleagues to. Great title

This binder is very well balanced for such a low price. At first, I thought that these contracts would be cheap and of poor quality. However, you can easily customize these contracts to your liking. I would highly recommend these to anyone!

Let's face it- no one likes contacts. In this business though, you need them, pure and simple. This is one of the best collections of legal contracts I've seen in a while- and I've been in this business for quite some time. Do yourself a favor- pick up a copy while you still are in business.

Wonderful, for those of us who are Packer-backers and even for those who aren't. Good history, honesty about his addiction.

As a Londoner, who learnt to appreciate American football at 21, I wanted background reading to enhance my enjoyment. I started by looking into favourite players of mine, so came this book!

I wanted to understand what goes on in players mind before a big game. How they react to the coach barking orders. How they conduct themselves on and off the field. This book helped me to do all these things and more. Favre is not a roboback, he is an individual with flair and creativity, which is why this book is so entertaining.

I seem to be able to climb right on into Brett's head, and into his personal life through the pages in this book, which is enlightening to say the least. We hear about his highs and lows, and he is frank about his addiction to Vicodin, and his relationships with players and coaches alike.

I think this book is for American Football fans only, which explains why this was my first Amazon purchase, (This book isn't in print in the UK) but for a fan of the Packers, or just a Football fan in general, you can do no wrong in buying this, which will no doubt increase your respect for the stress players endure every game.

This is a good book ,the problem came from the fixation they put on his painkillers addiction and the problems it bring with his wife and teammates.You also have a lot of details about the health problems this addiction caused to him,a little bit like "Drugs is bad to you,see what it do to me."His wife almost let him down for that,his teammates are tired of him asking for Vicodin and others painkillers.The two or three first paragraphs talk about that, but chapter after chapter they come back with it.The book talk to much about his "post popularity" life and not enough of him when he was unknown.His "post popularity" life are report in all the daily newspapers,that why I expect to learn more about Bret Favre before he was a star.They pass to fast on his teens years,his collegiate years.The reason to write a biography his to talk about the unknown parts of someone life,but in this book you just found what everybody read on the last five years newspapers.That a good but incomplete book.

Favre for The Record is the best book I ever read.It is totally a must buy.

First I want to say something about the book. It's great!! If your a true fan of the Packers and want to know about one of the teams, and NFLs greatest players, buy this book. It shows you the kind of person Favre is on and off the field. He takes you through the ups and downs of his life and career that have made him the person and player he is today.Now, for the other reviews I read before writing this one. What promted some numbnuts to write about the packers loss to St. Louis in the playoffs in a book review?? They must be a Bears fan! Another one decided to write that Brett and his family were (...) That's intelligent. I know when I go to read a review about a book that interests me, I want to have to wade through the garbage that idiots like that jerk take up space with.For those of you with a brain in your head, trust me, Farve: For The Record is a great read!!

This book covers the scene at Bonneville from the perspective of a driver involved with two teams. Not a whole lot of technical information for gear heads, but basically from the inside of the cockpit - oh my God! - and team dynamics. It was worth adding to my collection of moto-journalism, and made a good read for my light rail commute.

Say you are born into a family in which your father had to have been the coolest dad ever being a fearless motorcycle racer. Your older brother is fearless just like dad and follows his footsteps in racing motorcycles. You have a cool mom too that rivals the Kool-Aid mom in the TV commercials. With tough acts like that to follow, there's only one thing left to do.....Break the world land speed record.

Meet Rocky Robinson. One of the fastest men on two wheels. How did he do it you ask? In his book, titled Flat Out, Rocky takes you along with him on his long journey to putting his name down in history.

Reading Rocky's book is like having him sitting in your living room talking to you one on one about how his day went in the life and times of a land speed racer. He writes his book as history was in the making, while it was all fresh in his memory and all his emotions on his sleeve. After reading this book, you really feel like you know Rocky. OK, well almost. I'm sure he left out some details. *wink*

Rocky takes you into a whole different world where there are skids instead of kickstands, parachutes instead of breaks, fire suits instead of leathers, the racetrack is in the middle of nowhere and is made entirely of salt, gas powered blenders for making margaritas (what other cocktail do you make on a salt flat???), 20 foot long motorcycles that look like Oscar Meyer Wieners going at jet speeds, oh and the cockpits to these things also double as Dutch ovens (You have to read the book to get that one). Many of Rocky's associates were some of the funniest crazy characters one could ever meet. Which is a good thing to have when the air gets thick and there's a lot of money is at stake. Rocky's life even changes and makes a turn around as he develops personal growth and success in this journey. Some heartaches, set backs and disappointments happen. Rocky probably doesn't realize this, but he does teach a valuable lesson and reveals a secret that all high achievers like Rocky know. You'll just have to read the book to find out for yourself.

I am not a motorcycle enthusiast nor am I a race fan but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about land speed racing. Rocky is a very good writer and made me feel like I was right there in the seat experiencing the thrill of traveling 300 plus mph on two wheels. After reading Flat Out I have a great desire to make the trek to the Bonneville Salt Flats and witness first hand Rocky's next attempt to regain the title "fastest man on two wheels."

After watching Rocky race speedway bikes without brakes I got a real chuckle of him describing in great detail the need for real brakes on the streamliner. His details and descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the pits with him. I really enjoyed reading his story and appreciate what he has accomplished. Little does the non racer understand the consequences of great speed and I think that Rocky has described it very eloquently.

I can hardly wait for Rocky to hit the salt, set some more records and start writing about it all over again. In the meantime, maybe he could write about his speedway days.

Cheers
RC Jones

Although I must say that I know the writer from a close and mutual friend, I am an avid reader and although I do not have much knowledge in the field of racing, even I get it! The detail of events that he gives in the book of his very personal experience puts the reader in the driver seat as if you are really sitting beside him on his journey, if not behind the wheel yourself!

Enjoy this great read!

Diane

"How refreshing to find a book that tackles the societal mores revolving around adoption with such clear and concise explanations of the evolving institution. If you know nothing at all about adoption and the way that society views this institution then this is the book for you. If you think that you know all about adoption, read this book and you will find that there is more to learn. Ms. Small clearly outlines the views that were prevalent surrounding adoption from the past to the present with an insiders understanding that could only be arrived at through having lived within that very system. Her extensive education, as well as her work within the adoption field, allows her a center seat on the adoption stage. Historically all adoption decisions have been made without input from the adoptee and it is only relatively recently that adoptees have found their voices. I, for one, am more than pleased to have Ms. Small speak on my behalf and on the behalf of all adoptees. Three cheers for such a well written, informative book. It should be required reading for all who participate in adoption, including those who regulate and/or facilitate it." --New Hampshire State Representative Janet F. Allen

The Adoption Mystique by Joanne Wolf Small is a book that every adoptee rights activist needs to keep on the nightstand. I first ran into Joanne in 1980 when somebody gave me an article about sealed records and identities she'd written for a social work publication. It was from Joanne that I first heard the peculiar legal concept that the adoptee and natural parent(s) are "as if dead to each other." That article stuck with me, and I credit Joanne in large part for raising my consciousness and bringing me into my strange adoptee rights "career" a decade later. But Joanne has done more than write. In 1980, she was the only adopted member of the federal Model Adoption Legislation Procedures and Advisory Panel (Model Adoption Act 1980). The panel's sweeping recommendations, including unrestricted records for all adoptees nationwide, was a broadside on the secret adoption system. The report sent the industry into such a tizzy that Gladney formed the strong arm lobby, the National Council for Adoption, to "guarantee" that records remained sealed.

This year as I re-read The Adoption Mystique I realized that Joanne had said it all. In a just world, we should be able to fold up our tents and go home. Unfortunately, we live in an unjust world.

The Adoption Mystique was published in 2003. This year it was republished with some additions. In November US Book News named The Adoption Mystique a social change finalist for its National Best Book Award 2007.

Joanne Small is an adoptee rights revolutionary and is happy to know her and recommend her book. Give yourself a Happy New Year and read The Adoption Mystique. And act on it.

This little book of essays takes on big sacred cows both of the adoption industry and the adoption reform movement, and makes hamburger of
them! Ms. Small, an adoptee, social worker, and long-time activist for
adoptee rights, makes the case that the adoption system as it now exists, a culture of secrets and lies, is itself dysfunctional. She also questions the medical model of adoption (everyone is wounded and in need of therapy) and the pathologizing of adopted persons in such theories as "Adopted Child Syndrome" and the public fascination with adopted killers and other criminals. All of her essays are liberally footnoted, providing both documentation of her research and a whole world of adoption reading that readers may want to follow up on. This kind of careful scholarship is refreshing in a field full of unproven theories, unsupported claims and over-generalized statements.

Ms. Small was the only adoptee on the Model Adoption Legislation and
Procedures Committee in 1978.Out of this committee came the Model State
Adoption Act, which recommended open records for adopted adults. The
National Council for Adoption was formed to combat this progressive act, and we have been battling them ever since. In her many years as an activist, Ms. Small has learned many lessons about politics and adoption reform which she shares in "The Adoption Mystique".

The most valuable and timely part of this book is the section on compromise and legislation, and what happened in Maryland in 1997 when a bill was introduced that featured contact vetoes and an elaborate and expensive mandatory intermediary system. Some adoption reformers supported this bill with the rationale that without compromise nothing could pass, most adoptees could have reunions, and that this was a "baby step" to full adoptee rights.

Ms. Small neatly and logically demolishes this flawed argument in her essay. She makes a clear distinction between unconditional adoptee rights legislation, and search and reunion legislation, and why the latter is always in danger of compromise. Her analysis of the Maryland legislation is clear and well-reasoned and can serve as a guideline for other state groups on what not to do legislatively, and why a real civil rights bill can not have restrictions, vetoes, or conditions to the exercise of those rights.

I hope everyone working on legislation in their own state makes this book their bible on what kind of legislation to introduce, support, and hold out for. This is a well-written, well thought-out book that should be in the library of every adoption activist. Some may not agree with all of the conclusions or ideas, but all certainly can learn and question and begin their own dialogue on legislative activism, and how the mystique of adoption has become so ingrained in popular culture that it is hard to break through with reality and truth. I highly recommend The Adoption Mystique.

Mary Anne Cohen

In the words of Howard Cosell, Joanne Wolf Small "tells it like it is up close and personal" in her must read book, The Adoption Mystique. In this well researched critique of adoption, Ms. Small destroys the myth that adoption is or ever was designed to be "in the best interest of the child" as touted by the Adoption Industry. In a series of cogent and insightful essays that are a culmination of both her experience as an adoptee and life's work as a clinical social worker, Ms. Small rips the veneer off the warm fuzzies of institutional adoption to reveal the rot at its core that even denies adults who were adopted as children the right to obtain a copy of their original birth certificate. In writing The Adoption Mystique, Ms. Small follows in the footsteps of Friedrich Nietzsche who fearlessly exposed the rot of the institutional sacred cows of his day. I applaud her integrity and courage for telling the truth of how adoption affects adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents.

Msgr. John W. Sweeley, Th.D.

Adoptee and father of three adopted sons

Author of:

The Historical Jesus: Man, Myth or God

Rights, Liberties, and Social Justice: Why the Radical Religious Right is Wrong (September 2007)

Oh, how I wish that my parents could have read this book when I was a youngster. And oh how I wish I had this book to read when I was a young woman. I'm a senior citizen now, adopted at birth. I spent too much of my childhood and adult life feeling ashamed of myself because I was adopted. I grew up believing that I was a bad seed because my real mother gave me away. I was completely buried under the shame of adoption that Ms. Small so adeptly describes as "The Adoption Mystique."

Had I read this book as a teen ager, I would have been astounded to learn that there were other people in this world who felt as I did. A light would have come on in my closet. A voice would have been heard in place of my silence. Most importantly, my feelings about myself would have been validated. All human beings need to be acknowledged and validated for who they are.

THE ADOPTION MYSTIQUE is a collection - a series of Joanne Wolf Small's essays and articles she has written over several years. In the book, she defines, describes and dissects the taboo-like adoption myths that unfortunately are still around today. The equation, "adoption = silence = shame" is what Ms. Small is writing about.

Ms. Small explores the history - what are the myths how did they begin. She analyses them and writes at length about the problems we as a society still have as a result our culture's reliance upon them as truths. Ms. Small also talks about the heavy consequences so many of us have paid because of these cultural taboos. Finally she addresses ways in which we can move forward to bring about changes in the ways our society views adoption.

Ms. Small establishes one basic tenet up front. Adoption is different. Adoption is not the same experience as being raised by your natural parents. Adoptees have two sets of parents. Now this doesn't mean that adoption is bad. What it means is that people need to recognize, understand and uphold the differences.

I was especially intrigued by Ms. Small's essay on "The Task of Telling." Sooner or later every adoptive family has to face this issue and in turn every adoptee is affected by it. The author offers us this troubling observation. "If people believed that telling children they are adopted would be perceived as good news, the difficulty of what to say, when and how to say it would be obviated. People want to shout good news from the rooftops. But when people are faced with the telling task, they are forced to face an unpleasant truth."

Ms. Small talks about the "hows" and "whys" of telling. She describes the pain and the angst that surround telling. She writes about the dilemmas of delaying telling or even not telling at all. Finally, she puts forward positive ways to go about the task. The most important idea to remember is not to lay the burden on the child. What wise words these are!

In THE ADOPTION MYSTIQUE, you'll read about discrimination against adoptees. You will see out how the media has contributed to the myths of "adoptee as bad seed." You'll learn about the history of sealed records in the United States and the movements that are afoot to change the laws. You'll read about the meaning of "search."

As you read THE ADOPTION MYSTIQUE you will begin to see how we can change - how we can begin to debunk these wretched myths. Knowledge is power!

THE ADOPTION MYSTIQUE is for everyone. Adoptees, it's your life line. Adoptive parents and everyone else who loves adoptees - gentle help has arrived. Teachers, social workers, doctors and other professionals - these extremely well researched articles will enhance your ability to help all the different people you meet whose lives have been touched by adoption. There are extensive footnotes following each article as well as a bibliography and separate subject and author indexes at the back.

Reviewer: Anita Walker Field is an adoptee, a retired Chicago public school teacher, and a long time advocate for adoptee rights. Ms. Field is currently Secretary of the Executive Committee of Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization.