Education Books

I enjoyed the book and it has an incredible amount of resources in it. It addressed a lot of homeschooling concerns for gifted kids. I don't feel it is a stand alone resource and maybe after a few years and some revisions it will seem more "complete".

I read several dozen books on homeschooling when I decided that my kids were going to be homeschooled. Creative Home Schooling by Lisa Rivero was by far the best book I came across. Initially I just checked the book out from the library as I did with the rest of books on homeschooling I read. I actually bought this book and am happy about it. Most of the home schooling books are designed for the average family that pulls its kids out of school, often for religious reasons. Ms. Rivera targets the audience of people who homeschool because their kids are just too smart for normal public school. She discusses different learning styles, the differences between gifted children and high achievers, child-directed learning, and asynchronous learners.

This is absolutely the best book I have read about homeschooling. It is intended for gifted children, but is so much more than that. It talks about all types of homeschooling methods, suggests materials, gives experiences from parents already homeschooling - it is just wonderful. I have given this book to friends considering homeschooling and they agree - this book is a MUST READ!

Book provides many helpful hints for homeschooling gifted children. It does focus more on families that are newly considering homeschooling so it was less of a help to me than expected. It still helped me with some insight into alternatives for gifted children and provided many lists of resources.

If you are new to homeschooling and your child is gifted, this book is a must-have. The different styles of homeschooling are reviewed and presented in an objective manner. The first section of the book deals with gifted children and why homeschooling is an ideal solution for many. The next section helps you to find your homeschool style, and the final portion is a resource guide. Informative quotes from kids and parents are liberally sprinkled through the text. Go ahead and borrow it from your public library, but you're going to want to buy it after you see it!

This book reads first as a mystery, then as a drama, then as a total reality check. Any experienced teacher will quickly recognize the situation the author is in and the struggles he meets in trying to make the public school a better place for kids, teachers and administrators.

As in real life, there are no true winners, but Jack Bender's book IS a winner. I highly recommend every new and every experienced teacher read this book and pass it on to others. It is only through shedding light on what happens behind the scenes in education that we can truly improve the workplace.

Jack's efforts to make a better place for all of us is not only touching, it is enlightening.

Whether you are a student of conflict and want to gain insight into its mysterious innerworkings or simply want a fascinating read on one man's journey through personal conflict, Jack H. Bender's "Disregarded" will not disappoint.

The subject matter of this recently published work was of keen interest to me as a mediator. I blithely picked it up with the intention of breezing through in order to gain a little more perspective on this aspect of human nature and the conflict we engender by virtue of being human.

I got much more. I was presented with a book that immediately earned a place in the "classic" section of my personal library, and a book that has been marked up, read, re-read, shared and used as a springboard for further reading, reflection and knowledge.

Bender has written a multi-layered book with two seamlessly interwoven narrative lines. As he unwinds his personal journey through a series of retreats called the Courage to Teach, he also relates how the conflicts in his professional life collide with the teachings of those retreats. Life imitates art, indeed.

Each chapter's story contains a wealth of topics that suggest further exploration for the reader from a wide cross-section of disciplines: philosophy, spirituality, psychology, peacemaking and conflict, power, family, stress, relationships... Even in writing this I feel I have left something out, and yet the book advances effortlessly while tying the threads into a thoughtful package.

There are meticulous references in each chapter as well as a bibliography that could easily serve as the syllabus for a course on human nature and conflict.

I highly recommend "Disregarded;" it is not only a comprehensive discussion on human conflict, but also a memoir of courage and heart.

Bender's journey of personal growth, chronicled with both setbacks and triumphs, is truly an inspiration. Disregarded is a powerful yet readable narrative that will fill the reader with hope.

A must read. Humor is great throughout. Great sentence Structure. Everyone must read this book.

You have probably read enough of the previous reviews to grasp the content of Bender's book, Disregarded. However, if you also want to occasionally laugh, shed a few tears, and constantly search your soul, don't wait any longer to read this book. Fantastic reading!

Thomas Watson, born in England around 1620, was a Puritan preacher and author of more than ten books. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. In 1686, he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret (from Wikipedia). The Doctrine of Repentance, first published in 1668, is a small book that offers a complete teaching on biblical repentance.

Watson begins with a brief discussion of the order of salvation. Which comes first, faith or repentance? After defending his conviction that faith is wrought in the heart prior to seeing the fruits of repentance, Watson moves on to an explanation of how the Spirit and the Word work together to bring about repentance.

Oftentimes, it is helpful for a teacher to show what a thing is not in order to effectively show what it truly is. Watson does this with repentance. Before he delves into the specifics of what repentance is, he first discusses what repentance is not. Watson gives several examples of how we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are repentant, such as a troubled mind regarding our sin, the making of resolutions against sin, realizing that sin and its consequences are painful, quitting sin for fear of future evil, and quitting one sin only to take up another. None of these equal biblical repentance.

True repentance is explained over two chapters. Watson defines gospel repentance as "a grace of God's Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed," and includes six ingredients:
1) Sight of sin
2) Sorrow over sin (which includes six qualifications)
3) Confession (including eight requisite qualifications and two ways it is used)
4) Shame (including nine considerations and two ways it is used)
5) Hatred of sin (including five ways we can know if we hate sin)
6) Turning from sin (including five requisite qualifications and three uses)

In these chapters, Watson gives special attention to those times when repentance is absolutely necessary, such as prior to participating in the Lord's Supper and upon one's death bed (if one is so fortunate to have a sound mind in his moments before death). He also expounds on sin's origin, nature, consequences, comparison to hell and affliction, and the coming judgment. Like many other protestants of his day, when writing about the need for confession, Watson takes issue with the catholic church and papacy. He explains that it is not only because of their obvious misapplication regarding confession to men, but because of their mishandling of gospel repentance. Watson, after giving his main points, asks and answers possible questions that may come to mind while reading, something he continues throughout the book.

In Chapter 5, Watson offers five reasons, centered on the nature of God, to enforce repentance. This chapter also includes an exposition of two kinds of people who will find it especially difficult to repent, and ends with a warning to the hard-hearted.

Chapter 6 is a many-faceted exhortation to repentance. Here Watson exhorts all kinds of people, the great and the small, the nation of England, those who are moral and think they have no need of repentance, hypocrites, and God's own people, "Christians indeed," to repent. Repentance is necessary for all people and for all sins.

In Chapter 7, Watson gives sixteen reasons for why we should be motivated to repent. And Chapter 8 includes all the reasons for why we should be motivated to repent posthaste.

In Chapter 9, Watson uses 2 Corinthians 7:11 to teach the reader how to test whether or not his repentance is sincere. According to Watson, there are seven fruits and products of repentance. Only when we know that our repentance is true can we then speak peace to ourselves with scriptures that tell us our sins are pardoned and passed into oblivion.

Chapters 10-12 deal with impediments to repentance and the means for repentance. Watson writes, "When you lack water, you search the cause, whether the pipes are broken or stopped, that the current of water is hindered. Likewise when no water of repentance comes (though we have the conduit-pipes of ordinances), see what the cause is." These ten impediments to repentance can be summarized as ignorance, presumption, laziness, love of the world and sin, the idea that one's sins are to great to be forgiven, fear, and the opinion that repentance means no more joy. Watson then takes two chapters to prescribe the means for getting passed the impediments. The means include, but are not limited to, an education in sin and its hellish effects, the coming judgment, and the mercies of God.

A few quotes:

Tomorrow may be our dying day; let this be our repenting day.

Spiritual sorrow will sink the heart if the pulley of faith does not raise it.

Repentance must be kept alive in the soul.

When the soul is going out of the body, it should swim to heaven in a sea of tears.

A wicked man acknowledges his is a sinner in general.

Christ is never loved till sin be loathed.

Loving sin is worse than committing it.

God has two places he dwells in, heaven and a humble heart, so the devil has two places he dwells in, hell and a hard heart.

The hypocrite feigns humility, but it is that he may rise in the world. He is a pretender to faith, but he makes use of it rather for a cloak than a shield.

A repenting person fears and sins not; a graceless person sins and fears not.

A true penitent pursues his sins with a holy malice.

Watson writes with sharp insight and understanding of our sinful condition. He knows how we will seek to deceive ourselves in order to assuage our consciences. We need to be aware of this human tendency and grow in our ability to discern our own hearts. I believe this book will help do that. Watson's biblical tests for proving our repentance will be invaluable to any believer. The Doctrine of Repentance is easy to follow and comprehend, however, it is best if the reader takes his time to deeply consider each point and see if there may be an immediate application to his life. I can attest to needing to stop and evaluate my own heart several times. In a religious culture where the words "sin" and "repent" have fallen out of vogue, I daresay many believers have never heard the truths presented here. Watson's treatise on repentance will be a helpful addition to any believer's library, especially those who have been granted the responsibility to teach others.

I agree, every professing Christian should read this book and then pass it on. This is one of my favorite Puritan Paperbacks that is out there. This is a rare topic within todays watered down messages.

The Doctrine of Repentance took me a little while to get through. The Puritans usually packed an awful lot of truth into very few pages. I find if I just read through it I learn very little, but if I read little by little I retain a lot more.

Watson really changed my idea of repentance. There is a whole lot more in the concept of repentance than just asking God for forgiveness.

He cautions the reader about "Counterfeit Repentance" Being sorry for your sin and being repentant are very different from each other. Judas was very sorry for his sin after he betrayed Jesus, but he was not repentant. A man may leave one sin and only replace it for another. Or perhaps give up a sin for ulterior motives, such as a man may stop stealing because he's afraid of going to prison. "True leaving of sin is when the acts of sin cease from the infusion of a principle of grace." (p. 17).

Watson wrote for about 30 pages on The Nature of True Repentance, which he says that repentance involves 6 things:

1. Sight of Sin - you must first be aware of their sin before they can repent of it.
2. Sorrow for Sin - you must feel sorrowful for the offense rather than the punishment of the offense.
3. Confession of Sin - your confession is not of sin in general, but you acknowledge specific sins by diligently inspecting your heart, and take whatever steps necessary to ensure you will not go back.
4. Shame for Sin - sin is vile and filthy, and that's what it makes us. An interesting point Watson makes is that our sins are worse than those of unbelievers because we sin against light.
5. Hatred of Sin - "Christ is never loved till sin be loathed." (p. 45).
6. Turning from Sin - you must truly forsake your sin and never return to it.

Watson goes on in the book to give numerous reasons to repent, and to repent speedily. To those who plan on repenting on their deathbed he makes some interesting points. Many times death comes quick and you wouldn't know when your end was coming. Many people also loose their minds on the deathbed, so who's to say you would be in a stable frame of mind? Furthermore, it seems that God usually punishes those who have neglected repentance all their lives with hardness of heart in the end.

I heartily recommend this book to every believer. There are many truths in this book to be learned and applied. As with all Puritan books, you just need to give it the time it deserves - a quick, cursory reading will profit little.

Sadly, we live in an age where everyone does what is right in his own eyes; An age where there is no distinguishable difference between the Church and the unbelieving world. Too many "Christians" today want to be saved "in their sins" not "from their sins". But Jesus said, "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." There must be a change of heart. There must be a turning away from all sin. This book addresses an issue that is not heard from the pulpits of today's churches nearly as often as it should be. This book speaks not only of what true repentance is but also the importance of genuine sorrow over sin. Every believer in Christ should read this book.

Repentance is a word whose meaning and the force thereof has been incredibly diluted and cheapened. I am one of those responsible for doing so and therefore, like many others, need to be rebuked and corrected. I have known of no exposition on repentance more forceful than what Pastor Watson does here, who begins with St. Paul's address in Athens recorded in the book of Acts that God commands people everywhere to repent. He then goes on with a warning of what he calls counterfeit or deceitful repentance (p.15-17) or what I call expedient repentance whose characteristics consist of either fear of punishment only, resolution only without actions, and half-hearted repentance which has something to do with love of sin and love of the world, discussed in a separate chapter (10) where Watson talks about impediments to repentance.

The meat of this book is the nature of repentance that consists of sight, sorrow, confession, shame, hatred and turning from sin. Something that I thought interesting is when it is pointed out that though confession is directed primarily to God, there are occasions where it should be done to "some prudent, pious friends, who may advise him and speak a word in due season (James 5:16)." Then Watson adds, "It is a sinful modesty in Christians that they are not more free with their ministers and other spiritual friends in unburdening themselves and opening the sores and troubles of their souls to them. If there is a thorn sticking in the conscience, it is good to make use of those who may help to pluck it out" (p.37).

Sight, Sorrow, Shame, Hatred and Turning from sin are certainly some things we always need in an increasing degree everyday. Not only when discussing these, but also throughout the text, Watson uses some graphic and vulgar words that are both necessary and true. Something that should strike our conscience is when he points out that the sin committed by Christians is worse that that by unbelievers because Christians sin against clearer conviction. Not only are we worse than the unbelievers when we sin, but we are also worse than the devils, where Watson points out, "The lapsed angels never sinned against Christ's blood. But we have affronted and disparaged His blood by unbelief" (p.42).

While hammering relentlessly on the danger of sin, the assumption that there is no need of repentance, or that repentance is easy or it can be put-off to a later time, and hypocritical repentance, the hardening of heart which is the most dreadful state one can ever fall into, as well as an all-out commitment and action (Watson calls it endeavor) against sin, he balances it out with the hope of the gospel. What is done here is to prevent one to fall into either extreme of presumptuous cavalier antinomianism or despair. The former is cured and guarded against with the warnings of the hardening of heart and the threats of apostasy, while the latter is conquered by the hope and grace of the Gospel. Just as there is a grave danger in antinominanism, so there is also a mortal danger in despair in the sense that it "rejects mercy. It throws the cordial of Christ's blood on the ground. Judas was not damned only for his treason and murder, but it was his distrust of God's mercy [through Christ] that destroyed him." Therefore, it is critical to remember that God "has bowels of love to repenting sinners (Joel 2:13). Mercy rejoices over justice. God counts his mercy his glory (Ex 33:18-19). He is the God of tenderness and compassion No sooner do we mourn than God's heart melts. No sooner do our tears fall than God's repentings kindle (Hos 11:8). Do not say then that there is no hope" (p.103).

What I suggest is this. Get the book and after reading it, write a summary similar to what Prof. JI Packer suggested after or when reading John Owen's texts. Why? First, it is because there are indeed similarities between Watson and Owen. Both understand both theology and human heart and the corruption thereof at a depth only few ministers and theologians have. Second, though Watson is much more organized than Owen, throughout their texts, they teach so many incredibly striking truths that it is necessary to write them down on a separate note that we may be able recollect later without having to re-read the text and start all over again. Though Watson sometimes uses Scriptural references that are out of context and plenty of Latin words which the Banner of Truth thankfully translates to English, his study on repentance is a beautiful tasty bitter sweet cordial that I pray for myself and every reader, that by the grace of God, He may use to drive us into a genuine sense of bitterness and sincere forsaking of sin and the sweetness of Christ.

If you're looking for a guide on writing e-mails in a business setting, look no further. This book covers every aspect of writing e-mails and even some tips on how to organize your e-mail as well. The chapters take you through different topics regarding e-mail and at the end of each chapter are some activities that you can do to help build your awareness of your e-mail writing skills and how examining the messages you receive from others can help improve your awareness of writing skills. This book is perfectly designed for training courses, since each chapter could be completed in one training session. I recommend this if you are looking to write e-mails as professionally as you can.

Like it or not, we live in a world of electronic communication. E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide is a practical and helpful guide for those who aren't totally familiar or comfortable with the medium as well as for those who use it routinely, but perhaps not always effectively or appropriately. Most important, it urges people to take their e-mail communication as seriously as their other written communication - and tells them how.

This book is exactly what every e-mail should be (and so few are): clear, sensible and pointed. Compare the advice here to the emails you receive daily and you will agree that it is filled with uncommon good sense. You'll find yourself trying to figure out how to secretly get copies to your colleagues! Jim Knutsen, President, Boatz Knutsen Communications

Like it or not, all of us are up to our eyeballs in emails everyday. We feel pressed for time yet need to write coherent emails that effectively communicate important information. This guide is an excellent resource on how to write readable emails that come to the point quickly without leaving any of the important stuff out. After going through the material, I recognized a lot of mistakes that our company frequently commits in our frequent volleys of emails with clients. I wish I would have had this book sooner! Thanks for cutting through the jungle for us, Write it Well!
Thanks,
Mike O'Quin
PowerPointPartners.Com

As the author of an English reference guide/workbook, I think this book is exceptionally helpful to everyone needing to send out professional e-mails. E-mail has just about replaced informal memos and even reports. Therefore, we all need to learn how to convey the right tone, present a professional image, get our messages across clearly, learn the etiquette of e-mail, and avoid the pitfalls and hazards that e-mail technology poses. The author provides excellent, relevant examples and lays the material out in a logical, easy-to-understand fashion. I highly recommend it to individuals, HR departments, and training professionals.
Jane Straus
Author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
and
Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life

Why are we educating our children?
Do we love them enough to have them question the "respectable values" of our present day society or do we want them to be "good citizens" (hence good soldiers) and imitative human beings?
If we loved our children we would teach them to question and not simply try to fill them with knowledge.

Krishnamurti challenges us in a way that no one else has. I have read every book of his I could find as well as
watched videos of his talks. He talked all over the world for 60 years and his talks are just as relevant today.

Why haven't politics, organized religion or war solved our problems?
Don't expect answers but be prepared for the beginnings of understanding the problems.

This book really challenges the reader to understand the relationship between teacher and student. Many barriers which hinder most educational relationships are pointed out, allowing us to see how best to go about teaching while avoiding the pit falls which prevent us from fully engaging with the student. Great book....please give it a read.

I've read quite of Krishnamurti's books and this one is the most unique. If you are an educator or a fan of Krishnamurti's teachings, you NEED this book. He points out the problems troubling modern education with such clarity you'll feel like Krishnamurti is putting your very own unarticulated feelings into thought.

You will definately leave this book a better, more intelligent person. But it now.

At first glance I thought this type of writing might be too heavily philosophical for my small mind to comprehend, but it engaged my interest by agreeing with me that our educational system is flawed and that children will benefit from being taught in small groups by people who love them. I homeschooled my two youngest children for nine years, and this book fits in well with my homeschooling philosophy.

Krishnamurti hoped to change the world for the better by helping parents and teachers become more effective. In chapter four, entitled Education and World Peace, he wrote:

"Peace is not achieved through any ideology, it does not depend on legislation; it comes only when we as individuals begin to understand our own psychological process. If we avoid the responsibility of acting individually and wait for some new system to establish peace, we shall merely become the slaves of that system." (p.68)

Some of the other chapters in the book are: Intellect, Authority and Intelligence; The School; Parents and Teachers; Sex and Marriage; and Art, Beauty, and Creation.

Krishnamurti encouraged us to take responsibility for the education of our children, rather than to leave this task to the public education system.

"Government control of education is a calamity. There is no hope of peace and order in the world as long as education is the handmaid of the State or of organized religion. . . . Education throughout the world has failed, it has produced mounting destruction and misery. Governments are training the young to be the efficient soldiers and technicians they need; regimentation and prejudice are being cultivated and enforced." (pp.75-76)

I totally agree that governments should not control education although I've never objected to the idea of parents educating their children in the religion of their choice. However I see Krishnamurti's point in wanting to free the minds of the people from organized religions. He idealized a state of 'creative intelligence' for the people of the future, something that is impossible when people are pressured to accept limited ideologies.

"If those who are young have the spirit of inquiry, if they are constantly searching out the truth of all things, political or religious, personal and environmental, then youth will have great significance and there is hope for a better world." (p.40)

Sadly, it seems the world hasn't been listening. This book was first published in 1953, and since then, society has disintegrated. The strength of the typical family unit has eroded, schools now focus on teaching to the test, and children turn away from the ways of wisdom and toward mind-numbing video game systems as well as other distractions. Perhaps it is time for parents to reconsider Krishnamurti's educational philosophy.

Interestingly, and totally against the Westernized concept of education, Krishnamurti taught that children should not be pushed to succeed. He wrote:

"As long as we want our children to be powerful, to have bigger and better positions, to become more and more successful, there is no love in our hearts; for the worship of success encourages conflict and misery." (p.102)

I enjoyed reading the book, and am fascinated by Krishnamurti's depth of understanding, the originality of his ideas, and the concern he showed in writing so passionately about the education of children. Naturally I wanted to know more about him and soon found several sites on the internet with information about his life and writings.

Krishnamurti was born in India in 1895 and died in Ojai, California in 1986. He was discovered as a teenager in India by C.W. Leadbeater, a leader of the Theosophical Society, and was trained by Leadbeater and Annie Besant who believed Krishnamurti was the promised incarnation of a world spiritual teacher. However in 1929 Krishnamurti denied this idea and dissolved The Order of the Star of the East, an organization set up to promote this claim of his greatness. Though she was not pleased with his decision, he remained a close friend of Besant until her death in 1933. He spent his life traveling and teaching about his philosophy, which is that "truth is a pathless land." In other words, that people can come to truth only on their own, and not through any teaching, organized religion, government, philosophy, psychological technique, dogma, ritual, priest, guru, or creed.

I've read over 25 Krishamurti books, including all the "big ones" like Freedom from the Known, The First and Last Freedom, Total Freedom, Awakening of Intelligence, Flight of the Eagle, Krishmaurti's Notebook, etc., many of which I've read more than once. I've given all of them away to share K's message but kept four of them which I keep as references for focused daily reflection/meditation (as opposed to the meditation of all waking life). The four I've kept are Freedom from the Known, On God, On Right Livelihood, and Education and the Significance of Life (the last one of great relevance to me since I'm an educator). And so now I always recommend (and often give) the first three books on that list I just mentioned to anyone who wants to learn more about K's "teachings." "Freedom from the Known" is the single best, most concise and thorough summary of all K's teachings. "On God" should greatly help anyone who is searching for ultimate reality, Truth, God, Enlightenment, Nirvana, The Meaning of Life, or whatever one wants to call it. No summary will do it justice; you must read it for yourself. "On Right Livelihood" addresses the issue of our daily living, in work, leisure, and even to some degree home life and family relationship, becuase, as K emphasizes, they all should be an integrated whole, not fragmented parts of our lives. "Education and the Significance of Life" is also or relevance to anyone who has children or who teaches; it will transform the way you view childrearing and education. I would say that those four books would be all a person would need to transform one's life; to have a radical revolution in living.

I enjoyed reading this and passed it on to my kids who are visiting the Loire Valley this summer and living with a family there. Proper etiquette is always noticed, and a general knowledge of fine wines can only add to their experience.

Highly recommended! The audio format is a great idea! It makes learning very easy and the information is all relevant. This is one lesson that is interesting and easily finished.

This was my first wine book, and it is still the best beginner's reference. It covers everything you need to get started. The real benefit, however, is the audio format. You actually get to hear the narrator (who is fantastic!) pronounce the names of the various grape varieties, wines and terms. This is a huge benefit and something that cannot be replicated in the written word.

A good etiquette book should sit on every professional's bookshelf alongside "how to win friends" and "7 habits." I purchased this book along with Essential Etiquette Fundamentals, Vol. 1: Dining Etiquette and The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success to cover all the bases. These books do an excellent job covering the important etiquette skills often overlooked in today's environment. Although often underappreciated, exhibiting proper etiquette signals to others (especially your boss and clients) that you are well educated, care about detail, and have respect for others. I highly recommend these books for anyone new to the business world or for those of us who may need to brush up on the basics.

Although drinking good wine isn't difficult, learning about wine can be. Once on a winery tour a vintner explained that there are 15,000 different choices that can be made from grape to bottle. Sometimes picking out a wine can seem daunting. Food Scholar's Wine Selection & Etiquette does a superior job of teaching those of us who would like to learn more without the information being overkill.

While there are more comprehensive books out there on Wine, I really like this book because it excels at being written for the average person. The book is divided into logical sections. I also like that the effect of climates in a region on the grape are covered. This is an easy way to tell what kind of wine you are getting just by looking at where the grape was grown.

This book will enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to pick out wines that you and your guests may enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn about wine, as this book does an excellent job of giving a basic education about many of the wines of the world.

I'd highly recommend this book for people who already know something about Catholicism, but need a bit more depth in order to understand why Catholics believe what they do. I have used it as a resource for people who are Catholic but it has been a long time since they have had catechesis, or for non-Catholic Christians who want to understand more about Catholicism.

It may be a bit too detailed for someone just beginning the Inquiry or RCIA process unless they want a thorough resource book, but in this case I would definitely pair it with a simplified copy of the Catechism.

It makes a great gift book too!

My seminarian friend recommended it to me. At times Opus Dei can be too black-and-white with no gray in between, but this book is still a wonderful way to connect all of Catholicism. I go to Mass regularly and have gone to a Catholic HS, but I still didn't feel like I knew my faith. This book was able to show me how we do know a lot about our faith, but we just have a problem making sense of what we know. Also, his analogies are brilliant. I use them constantly in explaining Catholicism to others.

This is required reading for the Catholic, literally as many catechism classes require it. It is also very useful for those wanting to learn more about their faith or the Catholic faith in general. It is full of useful information laid out in an informative and well written manner. It is easy to find information and questions. That being said it is also very dry, but its hard to make a book like this a page turner.

I've owned this book now for about 3 years and have read it through all the way, once. I've gone back to sections for refresher information, many, many times. What I like the most about this book is, if you do not have the capacity (time, or stamina) to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) all the way through - this is an excellent way to get "more than the basics" of what is in the CCC in a very clear, concise manner.

From the very first page (just like all catechisms of the Catholic church) it starts with the three fundamental questions. Who made me? Who is God? Why did God make me? Just that first page will have you hooked and you will not want to put it down. I constantly recommend this book to anyone over the age of 13 because it is that clear in it's method of explaining the faith. I do not believe this book is for anyone looking for a "dumbed down" version of the faith, and by that I do not mean there is anything wrong with the book written by Fr. Tregilio called "Catholicism for Dummies." Quiet the contrary, these two books are just for different types of readers.

Another interesting observation on this book is the different kind of people that love it. I have met such different personalities and ages of people (13 to 79) who love this book that I think that fact is also a recommendation of the book.

Read it, it's good for answering all your questions AND will untangle any misconceptions you have developed along the way, or just remind you of what you may have forgotten.

I highly and unreservedly recommend this book.

I use this text frequently for inquirers into the Catholic Faith. Every one says it is witten in a very interesting style. Many can't put it down once begun. Well written and faithful to Catholic Church teaching.

This book is really funny from a teacher's point of view. I plan on reading it the first day of school to a group of third graders. It's a great way to promote your school.

This is an excellent book. Especially in light of our demands on schools these days...with testing...the amount of information we are req'd to cover...the amount of material students are expected to know etc. This story really brings us back to the basics of living life and enjoying each day.

I love this book!

The characters and illustrations in this book develop a fun and entertaining story which carries the theme "too much of a good thing can be a bad thing." In this case, the "thing" is school. The Principal of Tillie's school has decided to increase learning by continually adding days to the school year. Tillie finds a way to gently convince her Principal that although school is a wonderful place for students to learn, there are some things they need to learn and participate in away from school.

This book has loveable and relatable characters as well as charming and informative illustrations that clearly come together to display that too much of a good thing can indeed be a bad thing. Even though there is a clear lesson to be learned, the story is also very humorous and entertaining by itself. This is a great book to read to--or be read by--young elementary students and enjoyed for years to come.

This book is a great book to ease the stress of the first day of school. It has a great repetitive text for kids learning to read and it is a humorous story so even the picky reader will enjoy it.

The pairing of children's author superstar Sharon Creech (Newbery winner "Walk Two Moons" anyone?) and New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss (the modern equivalent of Margaret Bloy Graham of "Harry the Dirty Dog" fame) was not an intuitive one. It was not a given that these two wunderkinds would find one another and produce, for the world, "A Fine, Fine School". It was even less of a given that the book would turn out to be as good as it was. It's just nice that it worked out that way.

We are introduced to the bespectacled Tillie, her oddly unnamed toddler brother, and her dog Beans. We are also introduced to Mr. Keene, the kind of guy whose first name is probably "Peachy". Mr. Keene is the principal of Tillie's school and he is just overwhelmed with delight at his fine children, their fine teachers (no winking), and the fine fine school they all work and learn in. Mr. Keene is so delighted, in fact, that one day he calls all the students and teachers together and proposes that the school be open on Saturdays too. The kids and teacher are, needless to say, not thrilled with this notion. Mr. Keene has apparently never heard of there being too much of a good thing, so he quickly makes Sundays mandatory school days as well. Next, holidays are abandoned, making this the first picture book I have ever seen containing the phrase, "Easter Schmeaster". Finally (amid much rending of hair, tears, and lapses into unconsciousness), Mr. Keene declares the summer to be a time of learning as well. Tillie, for her part, has been unable to help her little brother learn and play. It's up to her to explain, kindly, to the cheery Mr. Keene the flaws in his delightful plans.

The story, in and of itself, is fine. I mean, it's a novel idea to have a sympathetic principal character who does increasingly well-intentioned but blundering things. Also, this is the first children's book I read where the children have to take summer school because they're doing so WELL. Honestly, however, there's not much to say about the plot. I like Sharon Creech, but nothing in this storyline really blows me away. Harry Bliss's illustrations on the other hand...

Now, I should preface this a little. I grew up reading a heckuva lot of Steven Kellogg growing up. I was entranced with any picture book artist that could slip a million tiny details into an illustration that would later be found and poured over by children worldwide. I continue to be entranced by such artists to this very day, and Harry Bliss has become one of my new favorites. Under his guidance this fine fine school moves from simply being okay to becoming fabulous. Kids in it read books like, "Catcher in the Rye" and "Pleasing the Ghost". They define words like "futurism" and "cubism" and construct nine feet tall dinosaurs out of paper mache. In Bliss's world the dog Beans is near human, reading New York Times articles on Al Hirschfeld and drinking coffee. Heck, every picture in this book has a million different little details and delights to discover. Mr. Keene is the ultimate happy-go-lucky guy. The kind of fellow so nice and sweet that no one has the heart to actually come out and say that school on week-ends, holidays, and in the summer might be a bad idea. And when he announces that school will no longer fall on those days, Bliss taps into the joy and energy kids feel on the last day of school. There's a whole lot of joy going on in this book's finish.

The best way to tell if this is the kind of book your kid will enjoy is to flip through it yourself. Just take a look at the illustrations for a moment. Spend some time with this tale. If you don't find yourself charmed and delighted after a few minutes of sifting through it then this book will probably do nothing for you or your child. But if you find yourself intrigued and delighted, snatch it up tout suite and give it to a child who'll appreciate it. This is a book that understands the worthiness of school, and the ecstasy of not having to go.

As the Educational Director for our residency and a practicing internist, I found this to be hands-down the best resource out there as far as a database of old exam questions in prepping the internal medicine boards. We also found that the book to which this is a companion (i.e. Frontrunners Syllabus), was extraordinary in laying out all the key material in a nicely-organized, concise, and outlined format offering "recently and commonly asked material". Together, these 2 books form the core of our own ABIM Certification residency training program and were mission-critical to getting our perfect pass rates last year. [...]

I was looking for a source of old Q&A for all the medicine on the USMLE Step 3. My friend successfully used Frontrunners Internal Medicine Q&A Review for her Step 3 and used it again with equal success on her Internal Medicine Boards. He said there was no better Q&A review for those 2 exams since it's all clinical medicine. I used it and scored well, but what I liked the most was that the questions are kept short and to-the-point so you're able to get thru alot of Q&A in one sitting. Best of all, the Q&A you see in the book are realistic and train your eye to recognize keywords in the question so you can go right to the answer, which is exactly what I did on my boards! Super find. I'm highly recommending.

This was a dynamite review and was a major find for me for my Internal Medicine Boards. From a content point of view, everything I saw on the exam I'd already seen in this Q&A review. A down-to-earth Q&A review with a realistic "this is what you need to know" style that appealed to me. It was the only Q&A review I used and saved me loads of time over other more archaic reviews like mksap and, bottom line, I pass easily.

And that's by getting it and studying the questions. Most of the questions come right out of the boards. I easily passed my I.M. Boards using this along with Frontrunners Syllabus (it's a companion thing). The AudioVisual CDs helped with all the images. So, a solid curriculum. Best one I've seen. An easy 5 stars, but a must for the ABIM exam.

The book is an overdue, refreshing Q&A review that allows you to cover all the same ground in a lot less time. Explanations were to-the-point and just what I had to know. Scored very well using it for my internal medicine boards. As with many of the other reviewers, I got my copy for free when I ordered my Frontrunners I.M. Board Review Syllabus thru the Publisher's 866MDBOARD number which is also on the back of my book.

We absolutely LOVE this book. I pulled my son out of Kindergarten to homeschool him because he was miserable with all of the worksheets and it made him hate writing! This book saved us. These games are fun and it doesn't really even feel like "work". Writing doesn't have to be boring. He has improved 100% and no longer complains about writing... It's even fun for me!

This book has lots of good ideas that can be implemented in writing workshops for any age.

This book gives great ideas on how to stimulate your child's interest in writing it's ideas are so practical and user friendly that anyone can start to apply it right away.

This is a great book. I just received it and have put it to good use with my students. I look forward to using it with my own children too!

This is a wonderful book for the homeschooling environment. First, the author is a tutor for children struggling with public school methods, so she offers enjoyable, imaginative alternatives to the plug and chug kids get in school. Second, as a tutor, the author works with children primarily one-on-one. These games, therefore, lend themselves naturally to the experience of home schooling. Third, the author provides meaningful explanation of the kinds of writing and thinking skills each game addresses; in this sense, these games are more than games. Finally, many of these games can be tied in easily to whatever other content you may be covering at the moment. For example, I found a wonderful game in here that I plan on using when my son and I cover the artistic concept of "line". I also appreciate the chart in the back of the book that categorizes each game according to grade level.

On the whole, the author takes a "bottom up" approach to writing. Ditch the spelling tests and grammar grind for now, and teach kids to love writing by providing writing exercises that they'll love. She respects and celebrates the kidness of kids.

You can really get several years of use out of this book, even with no other writing book.