Fitness Books

I don't think I've ever quite understood the whole Eric Carle thing. Still, I have to hand it him that his paintins are incredible and the books are simple enough one can force a dozen school lessons from them. This particular one gives repetition to the "I can" phrase as kids imitate the movements of various animals--that's a fun side effect.

Our 20 month old and 3 year old boys love this Eric Carle gem. It combines beautiful pictures of animals with simple rhythmic text showing body parts and actions -- turning heads, bending necks, raising shoulders, arching backs and others. Best of all, it allows active participation by imitating what is on the page. We have purchased quite a few books but this one is magic.

My 18 month old son loves this book! He watched me do the movements as I read it and now he does them on his own when I read the book! Very cute and interactive.

In this book, various animals and children move parts of their body and encourage other children to do so.

Eric Carle is truly a master of this kind of text. Each spread follows the same repetitive structure - "I'm a $ANIMAL and I can $VERB my $BODYPART - can you? I can do it!" - which makes it very suitable both for young children learning to speak and older children figuring out how to read.

The only part I don't like is at the end, when the little boy says to his parrot (in a neat turnaround) "I am I, and I can wiggle my toe". It doesn't sound very idiomatic to me - I would say, in normal speech "I am me", or perhaps (in the form followed in the rest of the book) "I am a child" or "I am a person" or "I am a human".

This book is also, obviously good to encourage kids to move during a rainy-day storytime, or to let them move if they always are fidgeting during storytime.

This is an excellent, fun book. My 2yr 7 month daughter mimics each of the animals. Its a lot of interactive fun!

I have found this book to be an effective approach for back and hip pain. I recommend and have gifted this book to several people. It does take doing the exercises. I had some hip pain that was bothersome for a couple of months and went away never to return after using Dr. Brownstein's approach.

My husband was experiencing crippling lower back pain, that was also running down his right thigh. We were wanting to avoid pain pills and another surgery. I bought this book based on the reviews, and he has been faithfully doing the back exercises at least every day. He found relief within a few days. It's worth a try if you are going through this kind of stuff. He had been through one back surgery that relieved his pain, but we misunderstood the need to do exercises initially. When the pain started coming again, in a different area, we thought he should try this first. I would highly recommend this book.

This book is excellent. Suffered for over 20 years with back pain, diagnosed with degenerative discs and multiple level herniations. Experienced many times the kind of intense pain that finds you on the floor. Tried physical therapy, chriopractors, acupuncture, pain management, anything to avoid surgery. But I was afraid that surgery was my only hope. Now since I've read this book I no longer worry about surgery. Because I'm pain free and can even do yoga - something I never thought possible.

As someone who has had back pain for many years, I learned alot of helpful techniques and strategies to ease the pain. I am now practicing many of ideas outlined in the book and am feeling somewhat better. Definitely worth reading for anyone with chronic back pain.

I purchaed this book for my elderly mother, a retired nurse, who had been to four back specialists and resorted to pain block injections for her spine, which looks like a twisted road in an X-ray. Nothing the doctors told her to do or take, including physical therapy, seemed to alleviate the pain. But when she started doing the exercises in this book, she was able to sleep and function 85% better than before. She does the excises in bed morning and evening. I would recommend it to anyone with back pain, regardless of their age.

For three years I've been looking for just the right book to fit my needs for fitness and for the martial arts. As I studied Kung Fu, I knew I needed to improve my total fitness AND my performance. I started with many of the traditional exercises workout plans (centered around squats, deadlifts, and bench presses), but I knew I needed something different; I just didn't know what. I heard about coach Dos through my soccer playing friends who had him as a strength coach. "He's the head coach, and man does he work you out!" When I happened upon his book, I decided to give it a try. Not only did I gain muscle size and strength at a speed I didn't even think was possible, I busted plateaus I had been in for months! If you're an athlete, or just looking for a fitness plan that'll give you more bang for your buck, This is the book for you! I recommend it not only as a personal trainer, but also as a martial artist who's gotten fantastic restults with it.

This is simply the best conditioning book I have ever read. If one is looking for a program to become functionally strong and athletically conditioned, this is it.

In essence, the type of training detailed in this book is the type of training done by athletes, not bodybuilders. So although there will be increased muscle size, it is not the same type of muscle size desired by bodybuilders. In addition, the programs focus on core stability and exersises that translate into everyday activities as well as sports.

As stated earlier, this is simply the best book of its kind that I have read so far. This takes nothing away from other similar books on the market, of which I have read some, however, this is just the best.

Men's Health Power Training: Build Bigger, Stronger Muscles with through Performance-based Conditioning]]
The training philosophy is very sound and the exercise descriptions, photos, and adaptations belong in any trainer's, or enthusiast's library.

I've been lifting since '96, and working out all my life. I've tried all kinds of programs: bodybuilding, strength training, powerlifing, powerbuilding, olympic lifitng, bodyweight, you name it. I have to stay in shape for work, and also because I love it. This book contains the best program I've ever run. It combines my love for the olympic lifts and variations, core work, rotational work, and unilateral (one limb,ie, lunges, or dumbell work) work. I'm telling you guys, this coach knows his stuff. He took the best parts from the various types of lifting and combined them into his workouts. If you've never worked out much, or have only run a few different programs, you may not see the genius in this system at first glance, but it's there.
I've found a flaws in most other routines I've tried. Some leave out unilateral work, some don't change up exercises, most don't include olympic lifts, some have rigid rep ranges, so on and so on. Coach Dos's book contains no flaws that I can speak of. I do disagree on whether some of the exercises are unilateral or bilateral, but that's a small point of argument.
You can run this workout for an extended time without burning out. The "you choose" exercises and rotating rep ranges ensure this. You can do this workout at home or in a commercial gym. All you need equipment wise, is: a power rack or squat stands, a freeweight barbell set, and dumbells in a wide range of weights (or adjustable), and a adjustable bench. Some things that would come in handy are: a swiss ball, a high-low cable weight setup, and elastic workout bands (like the bodylastics bands).
All in all I have to say that if I were to pick one routine to do for life, this would be it. I don't say this lightly, as I've tried MANY different routines. Try it for yourself!

Oh, and incase you may believe that I'm one of those people who will rave about the latest thing, know that out of all the routines I've done, this is the only one I've left a review for. It's that good.

I have been power lifting and bodybuilding for almost 30 years. Even so, I found this book very useful. I highly recommend it. I liked it so much I even bought one for my brother who lives in Oman.

This book was very helpful in dealing with a narcissistic in-law family. I suppose I would have gotten more out of the book if it had been my family of origin. Lots of good information, at times a bit too technical for this lay-person, but overall an interesting and helpful read.

I also recommend "The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissistics" for those dealing with a malignant narcissistic in the family.

My mother is still narcissistic in virtually every relationship she has. I now recognize what it is about our relationship that leaves me empty. I no longer provide her narcissistic supply and I have established some clear boundaries with her. I can't change my childhood but I am aware of how it can affect me in my daily interactions and, armed with that knowledge, I have been able to be a better mother to my son.
I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who has to deal with a narcissistic family member; it doesn't necessarily have to be your parents. It could be a sibling, too.

This book was quite an eye opener for my husband and I. We actually read it together and was able to identify many of the issues addressed. We feel armed with the knowledge of what we are dealing with (as knowing is 1/2 the battle), but we are still uncertain as to how exactly to deal with the narcissitic parent/family system in certain situations. We plan to continue reading about this topic, discussing how best to be in control of our own actions/feelings, and moving foward past the narcissitic upbringing. This book was definitely the place to start.

The book was very imformative if you feel you come from the type of family written about

I have read this book recently and am amazed at how much it is helping me become a better person. The stories are amazing, the analysis is genius. I can't but help recommend this book for people who are interested in learning about themselves and how to improve themselves.

If you would like help to improve the way you eat, you should read this book and keep it as a reference. This book stays in my waiting room and is in the waiting room of a number of cardiologists.

I found this book to be a fascinating, but very practical study of nutrition. It was presented in a way that is easily understood. It lays out a plan that the average person can apply to their daily life to change over to a healthy life style. I would say that reading this book was a life-changing event for me----I have also shared this book with my family and loved ones.

I looked into buying some books to discuss the Mediterranean/Crete/Omega diet. I did like this book the best compared to the others I had bought (Mediterranean Prescription, and The Anti-inflammation Diet and Recipe Book). This gave a worded description of how the author ate growing up and gave a concise way to think about what you are eating - think fresh and simple.
Like most "diet" books there are sections on why this works scientifically and some meal plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is helpful but I did skim the first few chapters. There is also a "food pyramid" and many helpful tables as to what you should try to fit into your diet.
I have been following the advice of this book (adapting the meal plans to what is doable long term for my spouse and I) and I can honestly say that I feel good, calm, and not hungry. Plus I love it that drinking a glass of wine with dinner is acceptable!
For people who are looking for a face lift on your diet, I do recommend this book.

I was surprised that this book was copyrighted in 1998. It seems that we have just now caught up with what she knew back then about essential fatty acids. That part of the book is very good and I am glad that we have finally caught up with her on this.

I haven't tried any of her recipes but I it seems that many of the recipes do not follow her traditional Greek way of cooking. I mean canola oil, for instance, certainly is not a part of traditional cooking anywhere. It is a relatively modern phenomena. She also uses white sugar and white flour in some of her recipes. Come on! These things were not part of the traditional Greek diet. And, really, do you think they used low-fat dairy products. Give us a break!

Nothing contained in the book that hasn't already been printed about food and etc. They advocate Canola Oil over Olive and that is the first I ever read that. Other than that I wouldn't recommend to purchase it.

I have Lupus and was looking for a cleaner, something different daily eat book.

My first (and only) birth was quite horrifying. After being induced because my contractions slowed the contractions became very painful, after 18 hours I asked for an epidural. The resident put the tube in wrong and the epidural didn't work properly, immobilizing my legs, but leaving the horrific contractions. After 30 hours the midwife broke my bag of waters and after 36 hours I had a fever and my son's heart rate was becoming erratic. They put me in for an emergency C-section, but gave the anesthesia through the same tube as the epidural. Well, it didn't work properly, and I felt almost everything during the 45 minute c-section, so long because my son was stuck and the doctor stopped midway to do a "cease and assess" and to formally complain about the overseeing anesthesiologist.

So! Bad things that you are totally unprepared for can happen! And while this book IS completely biased, it is better to know about all of the possibilities and be mentally prepared for them rather than be blindsided by them. If you are an intelligent woman/couple you can take from this book what it offers: perspective. It will also help you understand what you may and may not want to do during those "informed decision" times they tell you so much about during birthing classes. Yeah, you make the decisions, you can always ask for more information if you need it. Well, what they don't tell you is that if you ask your doctor, your doctor is biased, so if you don't do your own research going in you will do whatever your doctor says because it is the only opinion you have, besides your own, which seems meaningless and naive next to a doctor's recommendation.

Read it, be scared for a little while, and then know you are going into your birth with more information. I am pregnant again, I found that this book helped me decide what kind of physician I wanted to go with. My husband is very against home birth, and I understand his fears, he was traumatized by the first birth, too, he feels that we should still be in a hospital "just in case." So, this book helped me choose a doctor that understands that I want a "home birth" in a hospital. I hope it will help you, too.

This is the most important book that any expecting mother could read. This book reveals the truth about how hospital birth is not the best and safest way to have a baby. Mothers need to know that they do have a choice and that their pregnancy does not have to be treated as a disease. This book is eye-opening and empowering to all women whether pregnant or not.

What praise can I give this book that has not already been said.

Jennifer is a brilliant investigative journalist. Everyone who thinks needs to read this book.

As a doula, CBE and LC I've read a lot of textbooks and advocacy about birth and breastfeeding. What I really enjoyed is this book reads like a novel or mystery. I loved the the familiar tone, and style of Jennifer's writing.

This book is so needed. Women need to know what is happening in hospitals concerning births. Knowledge is the key. I got involved in the natural childbirth movement a couple of years ago. I overheard two businessmen calmly discussing a scheduled c-section. It went like this, "no problems with the meeting. My wife has scheduled the c-section for 3 pm on Thursday." They might as well have been discussing a golf game. Something inside me snapped. This was so wrong on such a fundamental level. I was not a mother and not even married at the time, but I set out to find out as much as I could about this epidempic and it is an epidempic. We fight for so many rights, why not the right to give birth? This book is enlightening, informative, and much needed.

I'm a mother of a toddler and expecting my second baby at Christmastime. I was blessed with a beautiful (for a hospital) birth with my son and hope that I'll have the same experience with this baby -- but I know from experience that I may have to fight for it. I may have to argue with the nurse who wants me to lie on my back, I may have to tell the doctor that I do NOT want an episiotomy, and I may have to kick out the residents buzzing around.

Why do women who want a natural, hands-off birth (without induction, without epidurals, without C-sections) have to fight so hard for one in a hospital setting?

"Pushed" is a very well-researched, readable look at how we got to this point. Block talks to mothers, midwives, doulas and doctors and, I think, really presents all sides of this issue.

I particularly appreciated her interviews with doctors who were sympathetic to moms who want VBACs or vaginal breech deliveries but unable to offer them because of insurance liability reasons. (If I were a doctor, I wouldn't want to risk losing my home or my kids' college fund so that someone else could have a VBAC, honestly.) This is an issue that I think gets the short shrift in many books and articles on modern birth -- it's not that doctors are necessarily trying to manage birth so that they can get to the tee times or make a few extra bucks from a C-section. Many of them want to help mothers have their ideal births but just can't take the risk, from a legal standpoint.

I do wish that Block had presented more solutions -- ideas for solving the current problem weren't really addressed -- and had also taken more of a look at why the insurance industry seems so reluctant to cover doulas, midwives and birth centers, when they usually result in a substantial savings. (My first birth was in a hospital, and my second will be as well, because we don't have the almost $4,000 to pay out of pocket for the local birth center.) She does mention that some moms have hospital births because they can't afford the out-of-pocket expenses of a homebirth or birth center birth, so it seems like it would have been a small jump to investigate why that is.

Now, here's my one complaint: In the final chapter, "Rights," Block took a very obvious pro-abortion-rights stance that I thought was out of place in the book and could likely offend a good number of her readers. (Many of the "crunchy" moms I know are pro-life.) Not to get into an abortion debate here, but I don't know why we can't assert that a fetus (particularly a full term one) has rights, as well as a mother -- especially in light of all the evidence Block presents that VBACs, vaginal breech births, etc. AREN'T dangerous to the baby; it doesn't seem like an either-or argument to me. At any rate, the "fetal rights" cases that Block addresses feel crammed in and not at all relevant to the rest of the book, from my perspective. Not to mention, ending the book discussing abortion, after spending the entire thing talking about what's best for mothers and best for babies, was extremely jarring.

Overall, though, this was a great read and definitely a must for any pregnant woman or anyone at all who's interested in why American women are giving birth the way they are right now.

When it comes to clothing and make-up, we tend to fall into particular patterns by our mid-twenties. We've decided which clothes look best on us and we've perfected our hair and make-up. We know what works and we stick to it. And that is precisely the problem. We go through our thirties and well into our forties, failing to notice that our appearance has changed in subtle -- and not so subtle ways. What once worked simply doesn't anymore. Fear not, for help is on the way!

Having consulted with the likes of Lauren Holly, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Robert Wagner, and Stephanie Powers, among others, Christopher Hopkins brings his dramatic makeover techniques to you in his book, "Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45."

Christopher, known to millions of his fans as, "The Makeover Guy®," works his magic, from hair and make-up to a customized wardrobe, helping you to find your own unique style... without spending thousands of dollars. You'll learn the mistakes common to women over 45 and how to avoid them.

Excerpt:
"We have been programmed to believe that something outside our control is responsible for how we look: genetics, aging, time. But now more than ever, we have the power to change and improve what Mother Nature handed us and continues to hand us. Anyone can look, feel, and live better than ever before. Opportunities for a new love, a new career, and a new life are literally at our fingertips. Who would have imagined that Raquel Welch would become the face of MAC cosmetics at age sixty-six, or that a first-time mother would birth twins at age sixty-seven? What was once unheard of is now common, and what was once accepted now seems archaic. For women today, anything is possible. By preparing yourself for the part, you can create the scene, however you want it played. You're the star in your own show. It's your turn."

This is just a great book. I found it at a time in my life when I really needed some help. Christopher has a unique way of writing that makes you feel as though he is sitting right next to you while you're reading, he really cares about you and he's not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks. We all should have a friend like that, and that's what I feel I've gained with this experience, a new friend. He gives you information and a plan to carry it through, not just makeup and hair, but your total self, right down to cleaning out your closet and your makeup bag. He encourages you to eat right and get moving, stand up straight and be proud of who you are. This book is a must for anyone who wants to age gracefully and look good doing it.

ORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!! It's excellent! Around 55 I couldn't figure out how to dress my changing body, much less what to do with my thinning hair and forget the makeup...everything at the cosmetic counter was geared for a dewy 20 something. Now I know how to dress for my shape and what kind of makeup to use so I don't look like a circus clown. I'm starting to feel better about myself. Aging gracefully is just a matter of changing our outdated ways and this book outlines in detail new techniques for us old broads.

This book, graphically lavish, grabs you from the beginning and delivers. Hopkins is straightforward, endearingly honest, wickedly witty, and an expert in his field. He delivers the goods -- chapters on finding your "authentic self," things we need to do and the ones we must never, hair, clothing, makeup and stunning makeovers. Lots of books offer this information: Hopkins gives more. He isn't holding anything back -- he really does want you to bask in the beauty and self-confidence inherent in all women. So many "beauty self-help" books don't live up to their potential: this one does and it's worth every penny.

I'm only 32, but when I saw Christopher promoting his book on TV I knew I had to have it! I know the target audience is for ages 45 and up, but I had already fallen into the same ruts described on pages 11 and 12.

Below are several reasons why this book truly delivers on teaching how to stage a comeback:

The most important feature of the book is that it covers the major subjects thoroughly enough for the reader to attain success, but it is not bulky or overwhelming.

The journaling aspects of the book are very helpful, indeed necessary, so that the information being given can "sink in." The questions asked are right on the mark, so there is no time wasted.

In reading the pages, I could sense that Christopher really wanted the reader to succeed -- he has added a personal warmth that makes this much more than a cold-read textbook.

The book addresses common objections (that keep women from looking their best), teaches how to wear hair/makeup/clothes/accessories to the best advantage, and helps the reader identify their style.

After reading the book, I could begin to easily see what didn't work for me AND WHY! Shopping is now a lot more fun, since I know how to look for the things that suit me and walk out having purchased items that I'll wear again and again.

Even younger readers can benefit from Christopher's timeless advice.

I love this book i remember seeing it when i was like in the 7th grade an she had that picture of her in the book with no make up on an even pointed out flaws an zoomed in on it an then showed what make up does to her to cover it up for a model to do that with the rumours you hear bout how cut throat they are an how they like to pretend there perfect i started an all new respect for Ms.Tyra Banks, this book goes everywhere from Make-Up tips to relationships an sex its a good book for those girls who arent sure how to cope with break ups to how to apply eyeshadow correctly an do evening an day looks i would suggest this to ALL women of ALL ages especially to those who have teenagers an young adults like myself who are still trying to figure out who they are an also know there not alone as far as doing crazy things when it comes to guys. Tyra also gives personal stories of her experiences of broken hearts an even her stories on sex, (Also she has A lot of pictures of her modeling pics an of her family an just home photos.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's more than just looking good. Yes, there is a ton of information on skin care, makeup, body care, etc, but Ms. Banks also includes self-esteem, sex, generosity, self-respect, smoking, alcohol, and more.

I expected a more frivolous book from a supermodel, but this is real quality. Tyra seems like someone you would know. She has such a friendly, sweet attitude reflected in her writing and is so humble.

This book is filled with pictures, lots of color, and is fun to read. Great book!

I fell in love with this book since its release and highly recommend it. Sure, it contains tons of photos of Tyra, but this is the very nature of her work, people... HELLOOOOO. And it's obvious this book was going to focus on her by its title, it isn't called 'YOUR Beauty, Inside Out', now is it? Anyways, looking at her never gets boring because the pics are all varying in style and purpose. If you're a fan of Tyra or appreciate sexy-yet-wholesome beauty & personality then you'll cherish this book. It's one-parts autobiography, one-parts pictorial, and 1-parts self-improvement advice, the works mixed together! I get a strong feeling that this was the intention of Banks & Blake and I think it makes for a unique and fun reading experience.

As a model myself, I found Tyra's book to be informative and fun at the same time. I suggest it to all women, especially young girls just getting into the "make-up scene".

This book covers everything from pre-teen awkwardness to dating responsibly. Tyra has done an excellent job not only talking the talk but walking the walk! This book should be released and for all to enjoy.

I have tried to stop smoking many times. I have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for over 25 years. Each time I have stoped, I continued to crave cigarettes. Alan Carr's method for stoping smoking worked for me, I do not smoke now. I stopped in November of 2007. I dont crave it, I can hardly belive I ever smoked at all. This Method works so well, I have recommended it to many of my friends. Several have purchased the program and have also stopped. This was the best money I ever spent.

I thought this book was very informative,and yet unusual. He reverses your brain by opening our minds to the the brain-washing we were programmed from many years ago.I thought this book is quite incredible. I would recommed this book and Allan Carrs book on How to Quit Drinking as well to anyone who is considering quitting.It's a MUST HAVE!He is an inspiration and genius!

I don't usually write reviews but all the positive reviews about this book helped me make the decision to purchase it and gave me hope. So I hope this helps you.
I ordered this book out of curiosity and was very skeptic about the outcome. It took me over a month to finish it and I doubted myself the whole time. Yet after I finished reading, I put out the last cigarette and felt immediate relief. The first couple of days were a little strange, because I used to plan my whole day around smoking, but it turned out OK.I have more energy, feel better and even endure the company of smokers easily, without being tempted. This book is about putting your thinking in a different perspective, adopting a non-smoker's frame of mind.
Try it even if you're skeptic about it. You have nothing to loose and so much to gain!
I am getting it as a Christmas gift for all my smoking friends.

As a 15-year smoker, I have tried to quit many times, and have had partial success twice with the nicotine patch, quitting for 8-12 months before succumbing to nicotine again and starting back. I was very skeptical that anything short of a medically-prescribed shot or drugs could cure me of my addiction, much less a book. I tried Mr. Carr's book anyway based on the positive reviews here.

What I first considered a negative, was that Mr. Carr is not a doctor and has no professional training. I subconsciously assumed he was if he was writing a book about quitting smoking. He is just a man who used to be a chronic smoker who was able to quit. Several months after writing this review, I realized that this was a positive, since it seems that much of the medical community advocates Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and doesn't understand the true addictive properties of nicotine. This sounds like a ridiculous assertion to say that a doctor doesn't understand addiction, and I thought Mr. Carr was being pompous when he first made the same claim in his book, but given how many physicians smoke, and how many advocate replacing nicotine with nicotine, it is not so far-fetched. The second negative I initially gave this book was the minor annoyances at reading the book due to some of phrasing in it and how many times Carr repeats the same phrases and ideas. After reading it twice however, I realized that this is done on purpose to drill certain concepts into your head.

Carr's method is really just a mind set and a new way of thinking about smoking that makes it easy to quit. He doesn't focus on describing the dangers of smoking to you or try to scare you into quitting. The entire method revolves mainly around coming to the realization that you don't really like smoking, and that the only reason you do it is because you are a) addicted to nicotine b) brainwashed by social stigma. I have only been a non-smoker for a month but I am completely confident that I will never smoke a cigarette again. I am not worried about cravings, peer pressure, or the influence of drinking and being at a bar (my main problem in the past). Carr's method is different than what he calls the "willpower method," where you quit cold-turkey and see how long you can go. His book has completely changed my viewpoint on cigarettes and after 15 years, I finally realize how powerful nicotine is and how dependent I was on it. What's more, you don't even have to quit smoking while reading it. Carr actually recommends against this, and the book is so effective that by the time you finish it, you will want to quit smoking rather than be forced to.

After reading this book twice, the strongest advice I can give anyone is to FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS. If you haven't already (I had), do not quit smoking until you reach the end of the book. I can't stress this enough.

I strongly suggest anyone who is serious about quitting smoking to read this book, and then read it a second time to full understand it. It costs less than a carton of cigarettes, is a quick read, and likely will save your life.

As to the Audio CD Edition:

I previously read an earlier edition of "Easy Way" from the library, and have found that this 2005 edition is somewhat improved over the previous edition. I definitely recommend anyone considering this book to purchase the 2005 edition over an older one. I purchased this Audio CD edition because I wanted every single resource I could use to help me quit. It comes with two CDs, with about 70 minutes worth of material that they could have fit on one. The CDs are pretty worthless. 80% of them repeat the concepts in the book. That's it. Track 2 on the second CD does contain some new information that I found somewhat useful. It explains mainly how to deal with other smokers after you have quit, and how to deal with drinking after you have quit. Unless you are very addicted and think you really need it, I don't recommend the audio cd edition and would advise people to purchase The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-Smokers Using Allen Carr's Easyway Method instead, as it has everything you need.

...and I am still free from cigarette smoking.

The writing style took a little getting used to, but I allowed myself to believe what it is saying, and I found that I was freed from my previously-held beliefs about smoking. "Cured" sounds far-fetched, but that's how I feel now. I smoked for 16 years, and of the many times I attempted to quit, this was the only successful method.

Try it, even if you don't feel ready to. After all, you can keep smoking while you read the book (indeed, the book instructs you to do so).

I am glad I am not the only one who has read and reread With Love Form Karen so many times. I have probably read this book more times than I have read any other book in my life. This story inspired me because like Karen I was born with a birth defect. I am not disabled but Karen's story gave me the courage to face the obstacles in my own life (they paled in comparison to what Karen faced). Marie does focus a lot on Gloria and I feel this as well as the tragic fire that killed three of Little Marie and Gloria's children lead to estraingment later on. The family is old world and very private and will not make their individual stories public. Today they would be on the talk show circuit and making a movie deal. I respect that but it would be nice to know what has happened to them. I always felt there should be a movie but that wont happen because none of the family members will take part in it.

I wrote a review of "Karen" and won't repeat myself here, except to say I love this book--I read it when I was in about fifth grade. I had always wanted to live in a family like this.

The reason I'm writing this is because of a review where someone criticized Marie Killilea for allowing Karen to practice walking (in her leg braces) by mowing the lawn, saying it was dangerous. Once again, you have to keep in mind the HISTORICAL CONTEXT of these books. I doubt very much that they had a gasoline-powered lawn mower back then. She was probably pushing a hand mower, a big heavy non-motorized thing which actually would provide stability for someone who had trouble walking, much like the walker on wheels that my grandmother uses.

"With Love From Karen" continues the true story of a girl, born in 1940 with cerebral palsy, and her family. This follow-up to the 1952 book "Karen" picks up five years after the end of the first book. Karen is now 12; the family has found a suitable house for their unique needs; and Gloria has officially joined the Killilea clan.

As with "Karen," I have read "With Love From Karen" many times since my teen years. Although I enjoy reading it as a continuation of Karen's story, I have never found it as compelling as the first book. Perhaps it is because the breakthroughs are different, or perhaps the writing is simply not as strong.

For those whose interest was piqued by the first book, I heartily recommend reading the rest of the story. If you have not been introduced to the Killilea's by reading "Karen," then you should start there.

The tone of this book is matter-of-fact tending toward upbeat. There are many anecdotes and stories that illustrate the Killilea family's interesting life. Some will make you laugh, others will make you roll your eyes; many will make you think.

A few important things to consider: The Killilea's were devoutly Catholic, and their attitudes and decisions reflect this as well as the era (1950's). The book was written long enough ago that the language and situations, particularly with regard to matters of educating the handicapped, may seem outdated and "wrong." Welcome to the world before the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act!

Readers should also note that the "C.P. work" in the book refers to Marie Killilea's work with United Cerebral Palsy, which she helped to found. She remained active with the organization for many years; read the book to learn more.

I am glad that I own this book, as well as the original "Karen." I am glad to have it on my bookshelf, where I can periodically pull it down, read it, and be reminded how lucky I am to be healthy and have a healthy family, as well as of how much (and how little) people have changed in the last 40 years.

Marie Killilea (1913-1991) wrote WITH LOVE FROM KAREN (a sequel to her first book, KAREN) about her daughter, born with cerebral palsy at a time when little was known about the condition and when many were puzzled over or even afraid of persons with disabilities. The Killilea family's endeavors to ensure Karen a healthy, productive life are great reading, even almost a half-century later. This book relates the adventures of Karen and her lively family from approximately age twelve through her entrance into adulthood. Keep Kleenex handy, because you're going to weep for sympathy and then you're going to howl with laughter. Mrs. Killilea writes with resolute faith, tenderness, and great humor. Although developments in treating disabilities (and people with disabilities) have greatly changed, you'll love the courage and warmth of this book and you may wish that children who happen to be born with disabilities could all have families like the Killileas.

Both books are highly inspirational and leave one with the feeling of being "one of the family." The fight of the Killileas to give their daughter and sister the most "normal" life possible is awesome. When I first read the books as a child, I simply accept this wonderful family into my world without question. As an adult, I would suggest they could not be quite as saintlike at they seem to be depicted at times. Again, from an adult perspective, I know there must have been disagreements and quarrels from time to time. That would just be normal!
I would recommend these books to anyone facing challenges of his/her own. You will be inspired beyond a doubt.
I didn't know about the fire tragedy which took the lives of Russ and Gloria's two daughters and Marie and Ronald's daughter until a few years ago. I can't even begin to imagine the impact this tragedy must have had on the family. Amy@parsley has copies of newspaper articles about this as well as other pictures of Killilea family members.
The best praise I can give these books is that I wish more had been written, following all the family members, because they truly did seem to become "family" to readers. To this reader, anyway!!
To the Killilea children and their families - thank you for sharing such a large part of your lives with us. I hope you have never had cause to regret it. I suspect your stories have inspired more people in more ways than you will ever know.