Image Books

I am a therapist and use this CD in an Anger Management Group that I facilitate. After hearing this CD, all of the group members rave about how helpful it is. Ms. Naparstek has the most soothing voice I have heard, and the group members agree that the imagery she uses in the CD is quite useful in helping them "visualize" letting their anger go. I would highly recommend this CD!

I turned to this CD when I realized that my anger at my ex-husband over his failure to pay child support and co-parent was making me sick. This is one of the few resources I found that address anger specifically. Naparstek keeps the focus on me, and how my anger, now that it has become habitual, is preventing me from having a full emotional life. I've known that I needed to let go of my anger for awhile, but I haven't known how. This really helps.

I have suffered from spastic colon for at least six years. I get cramps and other unpleasant symptoms that often require medication. Since I started doing relaxation exercises and listening to this guided meditation my symptoms are down by half and I have much more energy. I find the words, voice and music pleasant, soothing and comforting. Evidently my digestive system feels the same way. Maybe this is a placebo effect, but if it is, who cares? Not me!!!

I have had many struggles with forgiveness, because of some pretty horrendous things that have happened to me. My heart was closed and shut down and I honestly couldn't see how that was going to change. This tape is a mind-blower. Very simple but very effective. It's making a dent on me in a very beautiful way, day by day. (I listen to it every night.) This woman's work is a great blessing. I have many of her audios.

I have used this product for the past few weeks most nights as I am falling asleep. It has really done wonders for me. Not only to let go of past hurt and anger, but also to build a comfortable sanctuary within myself to buffer the effects of present difficult relationships. My anger related to past hurtful relationships that caused my self esteem to fall. This meditation and affirmations have helped considerably.

This is a fabulous book for getting an idea of what Mary does, how she behaves, what causes merit her dramatic intervention, and how devotion to her - fervent devotion in numbers - makes a huge difference.

It is SO clear after reading this book that she is here, she is listening.

In addition to fortifying faith, this book provides extremely entertaining reading! The stories are better than most novels.
For example, in Italy she stopped 35,000 violent ruffians and soldiers by telling them to "Get back! This land is mine!" because the women and children of that town had mobbed to the churches to pray for her protection.

Truly spellbinding stories, some scary ones!

Mary has been busier than we know. These are thoroughly witnessed and well-documented miracles that occurred at various Images. If you have ever had your doubts, or know anyone else who has, about Mary's power to intercede with God on our behalf, this book will settle them.

Highly recommended!

This book was very exciting and thought provoking. God is alive. The book came in good condition and on time.

This is a truly lovely book. The stories associated with dozens of statues, icons and paintings of the Blessed Virgin Mary are told in a clear, interesting manner. There are quite a few pictures, but I'd love to have seen more color photos. Some of the images such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help are famous, others such as the Madonna Tal-Ghar and Notre Dame de Foy (a copy of which is enshrined in a three at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs at Auriesville, New York) are not so well known. This is the third book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

This is a very interesting and informative collection of historical stories about varying pictures and statues of our Blessed Mother that have exhibited miraculous actions and effects. The history alone is fascinating, and the miracles associated with each icon underscore the beauty and power of our Blessed Mother. Each item is roughly four to five pages in length, which provides plenty of detail without being overly verbose.

Another wonderful "collection" book by this popular best-selling author. Here are 100 true stories of approved miraculous statues, paintings and other images of Our Lady from all parts of the globe and spanning almost 2,000 years. Included are images that have spoken, that have brought miraculous cures and other special favors, that have helped in construction of Catholic churches, that have shed luminous rays leading to their discovery in hidden places, that have given off a celestial fragrance, been suspended in mid-air for over 5 centuries, or that have suddenly and unexplainable become extremely heavy so as to resist being moved from a favored place. Also described are images of Our Lady weeping blood and tears, of Our Lady lovingly holding the Infant Jesus, as well as the ornate and costly garments the faithful have created for these dear figures plus the special feast-days in their honor. Ranging across Italy, France, the U.S., Japan, Mexico, etc., the stories shared by Mrs. Cruz tell of the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Akita, Pompeii, Prompt Succor (New Orleans), Our Lady of the Smile (through which St. Therese the Little Flower was cured at age 10), Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, The Comforter of the Afflicted, The Comforter of the Afflicted, The Madonna of Consolation, Mother of Divine Love, Our Lady of Zapopan (Mexico) and many, many more! Scores of pictures, 33 in full color, make this terrific book come alive. 125 illustrations in all. A great Catholic treasure for every home library! 441pp. PB. Imprimatur.

I am truly enjoying this book. I grew up in Mountain View and I remember a few of the images in the photos, but there are quite a number of them that are astounding, esp. the very early photographs. I've shared this book with my mother who loves looking at the pictures as much as I do. She too remembers some of the old Castro street buildings and El Camnino Real sites. It's great to see my old high school mentioned, Chester F. Awalt High School and even saw a friend pictured in a photo. Thank you for sharing the history of this beautiful town. I've learned so much more about the town I grew up in. An invaluable book to have.

I bought this book for my husband, we are both from Mtn.View, which has changed over the years dramatically. So, to see all these old photos of when we grew up in the 50's and 60's in Mtn View was pure delight. All of the photo's in the book speak a million words, taking us way back to when life was simpler, less hectic, and the valley was covered with cherry, apricot, and peach orchards!

This book is awesome! Very amazing photographs of Mt. View before it became Silicon Valley...Hopefully the talented author will do Mt. View (STORIES of America)!!!

I love any opportunity to get my hands on local history; so I have several titles from this series. I just want to report that this specific one, on Mountain View, is especially well done! Where it shows is the care given to the researching of the photo captions. Eg, the captions in this volume detail which way the camera is facing. (This is something I do not universally find in local photo collections.) Also, the photos cover a satisfyingly broad spectrum.

If you are a collector of history of Mountain View, then you might have reason to already own the excellent book "Milestones" by Mary Jo Ignoffo. If you do, then get this one too: the coverage does not overlap.

Paging through this book is like revisiting my young adulthood spent in Mountain View, my favorite city in what is now Silicon Valley. This book is a collection of photos from circa 1900 (old houses) to the 1990s (Shoreline Amphitheater). If you were there in the 1970s - 1990s, paging through this book will bring back a million memories. Look, it's the Mountain Bay Plaza (being built from the TOP DOWN!)! Look, it's the old Emporium! The Old Mill! The hangars at Moffett Field! The garbage dump that became Shoreline! Castro street over many years! Isn't that bank now a bar?! Fantastic! (I don't know if it's profound, but it's FUN!)

I just love the Images of America series. I have spent pretty much my whole life in the Groton, CT area, and have all the books about Groton and the surrounding towns. So, I was just THRILLED when I saw a historic 'Images..' book about the Groton/New London Naval Submarine Base. This base has been at the center of my entire life. My father served on subs for 20 years, my step-father for 22 years, and my husband is currently a Lieutenant Commander stationed in Groton on subs as well.

My dad managed to spend 18 of his 20 years in Groton, so the subase became a second home to me...it's so cool to see photos of the base in it's early days, and to actually see the growth and expansion of the base through pictures. I learned so much about the whole facility, and now look at certain buildings and areas with a whole new outlook. I know what used to be in places, and things that were torn down so newer buildings could be erected. If you have any ties to this base, I DEFINITELY recommend this book. Even if your not overly interested in the history, the photos alone are worth buying the book for. Very, very interesting.

Arcadia's Images of America series of books are beautiful collections of photographs centered around a single subject. Here they've given this treatment to the home of American submarines, the base at New London, CT. As is usual in these books, they start with the first pictures available (which probably came from before it was a base at all), through the initial uses of the base, i.e. a coaling station for the Navy, and the first submarines.

The first was the USS Moccasin (SS-5), built in 1903 and in New London shortly after that. In 1916 it became the Submarine Base, it had a flotilla of subs being used in World War I. Gradually it grew to include the school that by World War II was producing the crews to take the war to the Japanese.

As usual, I find it difficult to see where they could have found all the photographs reproduced in this book. The normal layout is two pictures per page, so there are probably a couple of hundred pictures in this little book. It's a fascinating book.

Bishop beautifully captured the history of the New London Subase in such a way that I felt as through I'd just browsed through photographs stored in my grandfather's old military footlocker! I enjoyed reading the factual and interesting captions under the chronologically arranged photos. It was refreshing to read a historic depiction (of the subase) that maintained a personal and intimate look into the faces and places that shaped the "submarine capitol of the world".

I am a submarine fan and live near the Naval Submarine Base New London, in Groton, CT. The base has a long 137 year history, the first submarines having come from our area of Connecticut. It is home to many of our U. S. submarines, the Submarine Force Museum and the Naval Submarine School. Often as I drive by the base, I wonder what it looks like inside. So when a recent newspaper article mentioned this book. I decided to get a copy. This is the first book I have seen with so many old photos of the base and old submarines. I enjoyed it and the look back in time it provided. I was amazed to see how the base came into being and its evolution from a rural site in 1868 to the home of the sub base and school it is today.

Photos of the old submarines as well as the old wooden buildings that were there years ago are fascinating. There are maps included that show the base in 1868, 1915, 1919, 1944 and 1988. These maps really help place the old and new buildings and show how the base expanded. This book is a true history lesson. It would interest anyone who was ever stationed at the base, submarine aficionados, World War II history buffs, and folks like me, who just wondered about the base.

Born in New London 76 years ago while Daddy was attending Submarine School, returning in 1937 while my father was in charge of the landmark submarine escape training tower standing 100++ feet tall on the base waterfront and then taking command of a locally built and one of the first WWII famed fleet subs, and then returning a third time to attend "Sub School" myself, I feel kind of close to "The Base!" And immensely relieved that it was spared the ignominy of being shut down recently by a somewhat ignorant decision of the Dept of Defense. This book, rushed to completion to help influence the reviewing committee, is excellent, a superb photographic compendium of the cradle of the superb US Submarine Force. The contribution of this Force and this Base to victory in first the Pacific WWII and then the Cold War is immeasurable. Author David Bishop, intimately familiar by both profession and interest in Sub Base, New London, has compiled a photographic essay that is to be treasured by all proud wearers of the twin dolphins (the submariner's qualification insignia) as well as the vast number to whom submarines and submariners are fascinating subjects. Well done!

I do not know when I have read a novel so quickly. I read it quickly in order to send it off with my daughter who was headed to Africa to work with a missionary team and I wanted them to be able to read this book.

Those of us in ministry think that everything is automatic if we are "faithful" (whatever that is). Mrs. Elliot helps us focus on the God we serve in ministry and not on the idol of ministry itself. This is must reading for every missionary, ministry person or any Christian who has bought the line that says: "If you are faithful God must bless your work".

Pick up and read to the betterment of your soul and your relationship with God.

This book has been on my wishlist since before I had a wishlist. It's written by Elisabeth Elliot (one of my favorite women *ever*), it's about missions, and it's fiction. Unfortunately, it's also out of print. While wandering through a discount bookstore, I found one copy on the shelf, so of course I picked it up, and read it over the course of one day. Just over 250 pages, it was a quick and engrossing read.

In her preface to this edition, the author says, "When I wrote [this book], I felt that the implications of my message would best be conveyed in the garb of fiction. As it turned out, many readers would have preferred a happily-ever-after ending and they have remonstrated with me about the plot, saying 'I just can't believe that God would allow things like this to happen.' Sorry, folks, He does."

That alone intrigued me enough to put my other reading (even Agatha Christie!) aside. Due to our ministry, and the direction God has led in what I've taught over the past three years, I've focused a lot on unexplainable or "unacceptable" circumstances, and I was interested to see how she'd handle it in fiction.

I like Margaret. The setting is completely different from our own, and the attendant difficulties look quite different, but underneath, there is something in her that would probably resonate with most women. Missionary or not, we each have at least watershed encounter in our life that is a turning point in our relationship with the Lord; we come face to face with who we *thought* God was, and with who He now reveals Himself to be.

I liked Margaret's freshness and enthusiasm at the beginning of her spiritual journey, and then, of course, life happens. And as she becomes more realistic, the author didn't shrink from describing her doubts and questions. "Is this really the way it's supposed to work?" "This isn't how missionaries reported their work back home..." "What am I really supposed to be doing?" Margaret, though young, began to see straight through the trite and euphemistic, and slightly deceiving language that are the signs of becoming a politician-missionary, a danger of fixing our gaze on the results of our work, rather than on the God who called us to the work, and Whose responsibility it really is to produce results. It's an important realization, and one I'd not thought seriously about before.

Many who read No Graven Image might be tempted to "remonstrate," as Elisabeth Elliot said, about the lack of a happy ending, but I don't think she could have or should have written it any other way. The spiritual journey Margaret takes is one on which God will probably lead every one of His people at least once in their lifetime. He begins to teach her that if she is to trust Him, she must trust Him as He is, not as she wishes Him to be. We must trust God *Himself*, as He reveals Himself in His Word, in our circumstances...not the God we often remake in our own image. That is no god at all, and He will do whatever He needs to, to shake us to the core, to wake us up, to open our eyes to the fact that our God is not tame, not someone we can "get a handle on," and He is not willing to fit Himself into the boxes we build for Him.

But He is always good. He accepts our questioning - as He does Margaret's - with patience, grace, love, and mercy. A "happily-ever-after" ending? Not quite. But there is the hope of one, one day, because God is God, and He is worthy of our worship, even when we don't understand Him. No Graven Image reminded me that He is true.

This book is an awesome representation of missionary life. A young, unmarried, woman named Margarat is working as a Bible translator to the Quicha Indians in the mountains of Ecuador. Most of the action takes place in her mind, where she tells you about her previous ideas of missionary work. The end is astonishing and will leave you with a new view on how God works. This book makes you search your soul for what you believe and why. It draws you into the story line, as if you were actually in the mountains of Ecuador with her! I highly recommend it for anyone planning to go into missions or just with an interest in missions.

This tremendous book must be read by all sincere christians who are trying to live a life pleasing to Jesus christ. Every one of us have our own fanciful idea of God which sometimes contradicts the Bible. This book will free us from all christian myths and will lead us towards a richer christian life.
Ellisabeth elliot shares her experiance and things she learned in this novel.
If you are a chritian missionary, pastor, or any worker this book must be read by you.

The only thing wrong with this book is that it is out of print. In The best thing about it is that it shows how important good Christian fiction is. In her own plucky style, Elisabeth Elliot shows what it means to be a real missionary. One of my favorite parts is when the missionary (Margaret) helps a not-so-helpful but well-meaning American visiting Ecuador realize that giving gospel tracts to South American Indians who can't read at all (let alone read Spanish) is less than helpful. Don't miss reading this book. Buy it and share it with those you love (including your pastor). You won't be sorry!

Simply better than the first... and it's on my bookshelf now.

I got this book from a local bookstore. Only one was available and the cover was not in a very good condition. But I find the content stunning... the combination of photographs and no faults with the manipulations/modifications done could have easily fooled many in earlier days. Today we know such mastery is possible powerful computer software.

This book eye candy to me.

Paintbox No.1 shows the power of image manipulation. With a simple digital pen these artists blend together images that will amaze your eyes. Pages upon pages of eyecandy!

This book is chocked of photographic pictures that are skillfully modififed to blend seamlessly. Some of these may be done by using plug-ins, but others require more effort, skill and thought. For example, you cannot just mask an object and paste it on another photo; need to consider shadow, lighting, etc. and I think the pictures here involved such considerations. Great work. When I look at the pictures, I think, "That's great..." and a great challenge to me to produce similar results.

I am also intending to get "Paintbox No. 2" !!

Sometimes we come across advertisements (eg. posters) that catch our attention and make us wonder---"How REAL!!" and amaze us. This book is filled with wonderful pictures, carefully designed, composited, etc. with consideration of details such as shadows to make things realistic. Everything in the pictures blends well with other elements in the pictures. With the power of today's photo editing software, some of these may not be difficult to produce but for the rest, they seem like wonders to me. Imagination and skills are essential.

If you are in advertising and designing, it would be a great challenge to yourself to try to produce similar effects in the book. Or if you are just looking for a book that shows you great pictures in advertising, you will find this book to be an eye-candy. However, this book does not teach you how to produce the effects; which, I think is not the aim of the book.

I am happy to have a copy of this book.

A complete analysis of the subject with the risk to be excessively rich of information

Plenty of Photoshop CS3 books on the market update information to this latest Photoshop release, but few offer an extensive desk reference packing in the latest tools and techniques of the latest program with easy details on how to do everything from simple adjustments such as specifying size to using layering and blending modes for advanced compositions and refinement. From full color screen shots and color examples of modified photos to techniques and strategies, Photoshop CS3 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies is one of the most extensive coverages on the market - and a perfect pick for any who find detailed Photoshop coverages confusing.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

If you are like me -- an intelligent (I hope) experienced computer person who has never used Photoshop but wants to learn how to do useful work (not just play around) -- this book is for you. For example, you can actually look in the index and find what you are looking for.

This is a great resource at a fraction of the price of the book from adobe. Highly recommended!

I liked "Photoshop CS3 for Dummies" as a good overview text - then I use this "Photoshop CS3 All-in-one Reference for Dummies" as a detailed text on most of the heavy features of Photoshop. I was pretty good with Photoshop CS and all the versions of the program before - but I am learning a GREAT deal from this tome on the more sophisticated features.

If you have a preteen or teenage daughter who has ever voiced thoughts about negative body image, this may be the perfect book for her.

This book is a straight-forward, useful and fun read and might be the key to unlocking a strong sense of self in a girl you know!

For my complete review, please visit http://2passthetorch.com/2008/06/06/book-review-and-giveaway-picture-perfect/

Unfortunately, many girls and adult women in our society put way too much pressure on themselves and each other to look and be perfect. In her book, Picture Perfect, Jill Zimmerman Rutledge helps to empower tweens and teens by addressing body issues girls constantly struggle with and worry about--from weight, body type, and fashion concerns, to the cruelty of peers who tease or harass you for how you look. You'll find practical advice and tips other girls have used to help them appreciate and respect their bodies and learn that they are perfect by simply being who they are meant to be--themselves!

Picture Perfect is great reading for teenage girls; very understandable and clearly written. It really focuses in on the issues young ladies face with their body image. Great scenarios and solutions are provided. Quizzes are included, as well as a wonderful inspirational pages! This book makes a great gift for a young, teen girl!!!

Jill Zimmerman Rutledge is as skillful with the world of teen girls as a composer is with sounds. She cares about every feeling, every heart ache, every joy, every concern of girls' lives. The coping strategies she suggests are geared to every personality type of teen girl. Reading the book feels as if Jill, the writer is a wise teen girl who is reaching out to other teen girls out there with compassion. I recommend this book for every teenager, grandparent/parent, the faculty/administrators of girls schools and just about anybody who deals with girls.

This book is very useful. It speaks directly to teens and offers several ways to deal with negative thoughts about body image, eating, and other issues. The sections on positive perfectionism and negative perfectionism are helpful for teens and adults alike, offering specifics about how perfectionism can be a positive force in any person's life. As with the author's last book, I have bought copies for each of my teenaged nieces and our baysitters. I recommend it to any teen girl and her parents.

I've settled on Photoshop Elements 6 and this book was written for 5. Since I'm a newbie the info in this book was still very informative. I also found a newer book that is specifically for Photoshop Elements 6 which has been a great refereance tool to my webinars with Michellle @ National Association of Digital Scrapbookers. It's finally starting to make some sense to this 50 yr. old Grandma who's going to WOW! her Family @ Christmas! I would read this book to get some good backgrond and basic information and the DVD w. freebies and lessons helps a lot. It will stay in my reference library! Reccomend!Linda in Indiana

This is a wonderful book for those wanting to learn how to do digital scrapbooking, but it is not just for beginners! There are techniques and discussions that can advance your skills even if you have been digital scrapbooking awhile. One of the best things in the book that I love is the use of multiple programs (i.e., PhotoShop, PaintShopPro, PhotoShop Elements, and more!) While so many tutorials or books concentrate on one program (mostly PhotoShop), this book shows examples created in different programs. And while the book is worth the cost by itself, the DVD is a fantastic bonus! The kits included are by well-known digital scrapbook designers; the fonts are unique and fun; and the filters (shareware, trial use, or free) allow you to take your layouts to new levels!

I've been sitting on the sidelines for several months, trying to start digital scrapbooking but spent most of my time looking at other people's layouts and chasing down "freebies" that I haven't even used! This book helped me get on the road. I bought Paint Shop Pro (PSP), on the advice of PCWorld's digital photo editor a few years ago (he since has switched to Photoshop as it is more popular with his readers) but I like PSP for the very reasons he suggested and don't want to switch just because Adobe is better at marketing their product. I've been searching for a scrapbooking book that focused on PSP. While this book gives equal measure to PSP and Photoshop, it fit the bill for me. This book does not give step-by-step instructions, only general guidelines. I found the format to be helpful although I don't think a reader is able to replicate the complex layouts illustrated in the book just from reading it. The DVD is a great feature, making this book a very useful tool for the digital scrapper!

I am a fairly advanced digital scrapper and I found a lot of new and helpful instructions in this book. At the same time I found the instruction clear enough for a beginner - I sure wish this book was around back when I started. The kits provided would all cost more retail than the book costs and the kits are very top quality - from some of the best designers out there. This is a must have for anyone contemplating or already addicted to digi scrapping.

A very comprehensive introduction to the world of digital scrapbooking. The authors cover subjects much wider than just how to put a page together, including general information on scrapbooking itself and equipment like scanners, printers and tablets. Both Photoshop Elements 6 and Paint Shop Pro techniques are discussed. There is instruction for many techniques, but this is a more generalised text than a straight "how to do it" book. The book comes with a CD containing digital scrapbook supplies from leading designers and a section containing sample pages using those items (very useful for a beginner to see the different ways people can use the same supplies). I found the book easy to read but there were some areas that could have done with more detail. For example, it discusses how to use Gaussian Blur to simulate depth of field but uses a selection to choose the area to blur instead of a new layer which I feel is less flexible and more prone to risk. Sharpening is discussed and High Pass Sharpening mentioned - but we are never told what it is. It is also a shame that the authors demonstrated the Magic extractor tool instead of the excellent and easy to use Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop Elements to demonstrate extracting a background. However, these are pretty minor quibbles in the scheme of things. I think this book would be useful to anyone starting out with digital scrapbooking (especially if they are new to the tools). It will provide you with all the information you need to start making your own pages.

The challenge of maintaining a positive self image and esteem into today's competitive environment is frightening. Points gives a step by step guide on how to positively reassess your perception of reality.

Mr. Gustafson's practical business experience offered me a real approach to life versus a viewpoint from a health professional who may not be entirely aware what the business world is like today. This is real!

This book matches the claims of its title. It offers practical steps to improve your self-image. I especially found the homespun wisdom something I could start doing right away. I keep the book on my nightstand and refer to it all the time.

While reading this book, I was captivated by the warmth and sincerity of its author. Mr. Gustafson seems to really care about the emotional and physical well-being of his audience. He definitely is one person, at whose feet I would sit, say in a park, and listen to him for hours.

The main point of this book is that the self-image is based on a summary of every action and thought you have ever had. The positive improves your self-image, the negative detracts from it. Every event results in positive or negative messages being sent to your subconscious. The subconscious tallies these messages and adds them to the messages already stored. You either receive points or lose them. The self-image is the sum of these points: POSITIVE POINTS MINUS NEGATIVE POINTS EQUALS SELF-IMAGE.

Chapter 1, "Self-image and Success", tells that WE GET WHAT WE BELIEVE WE DESERVE: Winners win and losers lose. If you have a winning self-image, you will generally find a way to win. If you lose more than you win, improve your self-image and you will reverse this curse.

Chapter 2 , "Self-Image and Points", states that here are no neutral events. Your every thought and action creates an opportunity for you to acquire self-esteem points. The conscious mind edits your actions and sends messages to your subconscious consistent with your belief system. In other words, your conscious mind determines whether your subconscious receives positive or negative messages. Your subconscious does not know if a message is positive or negative. It merely stores the messages and then tallies all messages in its own scoring system. Therefore a positive message sent from the conscious will offset a negative message already in the subconscious. Of course, a negative message will also offset an existing positive message. As you earn points it will be easier to acquire even more. Your subconscious will impel you to succeed, which in turn enables the conscious to send more positive messages to the subconscious. This is a form of compound interest on compound interest.

Chapter 3, "Losing Points", affirms that it is impossible to completely hide a poor self-image. The greater point deficit one has, the worse the consequences. Low self-esteem manifests in many forms, from nervousness and a lack of success to the extreme of suicide. Be true to your conscience. It is your best guide to proper behavior. Evaluate your behavior to determine what you do to cost yourself points. Correct your behavior, and your life will improve. As you gain points, it will be easier to acquire even more, Your subconscious will impel you to succeed, which in turn will enable the conscious to generate more positive messages. This is a form of compound interest on compound interest.

Chapter 4, "Gaining Points", states that your attitude controls more self-image points than does any other aspect of your life. A positive attitude will generate positive points. Winners practice winning in all their affairs. You are a winner if you keep your word, do the right thing, eat properly, avoid sugar, are honest, work hard, practice temperance, are friendly, behave properly, don't procrastinate, and have an attitude of gratitude. Life is more pleasant for winners. Success comes easily; they radiate health, power, and prosperity; people are attracted to them; and they are secure within themselves. When you take a risk, you gain points. Establish the habit of winning by generating victories. Start small and gradually increase your challenges. Establish goals for yourself and work toward their achievement. Picture yourself succeeding. Keep a wish book of the goals you wish to achieve and objects you wish to acquire.

Chapter 5, "More Points", advocates using visualization to aid you in achieving your goals. Practice the relaxation techniques and use your imagination. Don't be discouraged; it will take many sessions before you are proficient.

Chapter 6, "Overcoming Negative Experiences", suggests writing your autobiography to determine your current score. Tell your story to another person to get a fresh perspective on your life.

Chapter 7, "Support Groups", advises to end your isolation or reduce your frantic activity by joining a support group which will enhance your self-esteem.

Chapter 8 "Love, Romance, and Points", affirms that WE GET WHAT WE BELIEVE WE DESERVE in relationships as well as in every other aspect of life. To attract a loving relationship, make yourself more attractive. Gain enough points and love will find you.

Chapter 9 "Special Situations" is that regardless of the situation, you can gain self-esteem points by taking positive and appropriate actions. Your relationships with other people are important. Each encounter, regardless of the situation, offers the opportunity to improve your self-esteem. No matter how painful a situation may be, you can make it better if you are willing to make an effort to gain points. By the same token you can always make it worse by falling apart or doing something inappropriate.



I also recommend "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey in addition to this book, as well as the books by Margaret J Wheatley: "Turning to One Another" and "A Simpler Way".

While other self-help books offer a spiritual get-rich-quick scheme, Points is more a guide to prudent investing.

A lot of authors make you feel good only while you are reading their book. Soon after, you're out looking for another "feel good about yourself" fix. It is becuase they help you build an inflated self image that it bursts easily, leaving you back where you started.

Dave offers a plan to solidly build a good self image based on taking stock of your actions. When you believe in your own self worth, it lasts, because it will be true.