Education Books

i've read lots of books on method of discipline, etc. This is the best i've read so far. it goes beyond the subject of discipline. raising a child is truly complex and this author knows it and writes about all the little things a parent wonders about or should be concerned about. most of all, he expresses "the Jesus compassion" that i look for in life and strive for personally. just in reading two pages from a single chapter, i can perceive immediately what i've done wrong in handling my son's behavior, but the book doesn't leave the reader with questions like other books. i can also know how to properly handle the current struggles and better improve my relationship with my son.

This book is the epitome of biblical wisdom, and humility. Henry Clay Trumbull is undoubtedly an expert in his field. He was a father, an educator, an author, and an evangelist. This book is not the "know-it-all" rantings of a new father, but the humble wisdom of an experienced father. The original book was written in 1890, when Trumbull was 60 years old.

In the preface he relates an encounter with a friend who questioned him on his theory of child training...

"`Theory?' I responded. `I have no theory in that matter. I had lots of theories before I had any children; but now I do, with fear and trembling, in every case just that which seems to be the better thing for the hour, whether it agrees with any of my old theories or not.'"

In a world where everyone views themselves as an authority on every subject under the sun, it is refreshing to see one, so worthy of the title, admit with humility that he does not deserve it.

This book is a collection of "hints" from one who has been down this path before. These hints are not presented as a fool-proof method for raising a godly child. They are practical tips, deeply rooted in biblical truth, and proven over time in the lives of this man's children and grandchildren. (He is the great-grandfather of Elisabeth Elliot!)

This book starts off by defining the terms used. So often the idea of "training" a child is used interchangeably with the idea of "teaching" a child. As it is used in the context of this book, "the training of a child is the shaping, the developing, and the controlling of his personal faculties and powers; while the teaching of a child is the securing to him of knowledge from beyond himself." (pg. 1) He quickly points out that although both are a necessity in the upbringing of each child, training is a possibility long before teaching is. In fact, he says, the training is begun much earlier than is the teaching.

Chapter 2 - The Duty of Training Children:
This chapter, in my opinion, is right on target. He starts off by saying, "It is the mistake of many parents to suppose that their chief duty is in loving and counseling their children, rather than in loving and training them; that they are faithfully to show their children what they ought to do, rather than to make them do it." (pg. 5)

He carefully explains how it is both a privilege and a duty of parents to train their children to do and be what they should. Just because a child has natural tendencies in one direction or another, does not mean that he or she cannot be trained to restrain themselves in certain areas, or to develop proper interests in another. He offers a reminder to parents that "there are no absolutely perfect children in this world. All of them need restraining in some things and stimulating in others." (pg. 7)

Chapter 5 - Will-Training, Rather Than Will-Breaking:
I found this chapter particularly interesting for two reasons. I have a stubborn little girl. I often find myself engaged in a "battle of wills" with her over one thing or another. I have always heard that it is sometimes necessary to break a child's will in order to get them to do what is right, even, or especially, if they have no desire to do so. But, Trumbull suggests a different approach:
"To break a child's will is to crush out for the time being, and so far to destroy, the child's privilege of free choice; it is to force him to an action against his choice, instead of inducing him to choose in the right direction." (pg. 20)

As parents, we have to remember that the final choice, and the consequences associated with it, belong to the child, not the parent. It is our responsibility, as parents, to see to it that his will is strong towards right choices, and to guide them in that.

Chapter 11 - Training A Child Not To Tease:
I often read with a yellow highlighter in hand, which I use to mark thoughts, sentences, or quotes that stand out as particularly educational or inspiring. I like to be able to easily reference these portions when I return to the book at a later date. This chapter is exactly why!

It begins by saying that "a child who never `teases' is a rarity." In this chapter more than the others, it is important to remember that this book was written over 100 years ago. "Teasing" is not what we might think of when we hear that word used today. He defines it as "to pull, to tug, to drag, to vex (or carry) with importunity. A child teases when he wants something from his parents, and fails to get it at the first asking." (pg. 57)

He is referring to what we today commonly call "whining!" The practicality of this book is clearly seen in this chapter. He simply states that, "If a child never secured anything through teasing, he would not come into the habit of teasing; for there would be no inducement to him to tease." (pg. 57)

For one reason or another most parents to give in to their child's request after some amount of whining. But, no child should be under the (mistaken) impression that his parents decision was based on his teasing (whining), rather than their own understanding of what is best for the child in a given situation. If a child knows that he can eventually get what he wants by teasing (whining), the parent does not have that child's respect.

It is difficult for parents to refuse to give in to a child's teasing (whining), without exception. But, in this chapter, we are wisely encouraged to give careful thought to our child's request before giving an answer. A quick, or thoughtless reply will only result in furthering a child's belief that he can push just a little farther to get what he wants. A parent's answer should be final, and the child needs to be trained to accept it as such.

Chapter 14 - Training a Child's Faith:
Faith is instinctual in a child. But, the "knowledge of the One on whom his faith can rest with ultimate confidence is not innate." He clearly sees the responsibility of the parents in training a child in a knowledge and understanding of God - a concept that a child is capable of grasping.

"...Children...can receive the profoundest truths of the Bible without any explanation. When they are older, they will be better fitted to grapple with the difficulties of the elementary religious teachings. The idea that a child must have a knowledge of the outline of the Bible story before he knows the central truth that Jesus Christ is his loving Savior, is as unreasonable as it would be to suppose that a child must know the anatomy of the human frame before he is able to believe in his mother's love for him." (pg. 77)

This is unquestionably the most important duty that rests on a parent in the area of child training.

Chapter 30 - Good-Night Words:
Thirty chapters make up this book. It ends, appropriately, with a chapter about saying "good night" to your children. He emphasizes the need for these last words of the day between parent and child to be pleasant, encouraging, gentle words of affection. This is not the time for sharp rebuke. He closes this chapter, and the book, with this gentle admonition to parents:
"Let, then, the good-night words of parents to their children be always those words by which the parents would be glad to be remembered when their voices are forever hushed; and which they themselves can recall gladly if their children's ears are never again open to good-night words from them." (pg. 181)

We would all be wise to carefully consider the words in this book, and "take a hint!"

I came across this book in the 1990's, I was familiar with Elizabeth Elliot, H.Clay Trumbull's great grand daughter, and had great respect for her. I always wonder, about what the parents were like, of a person like Elizabeth Elliot. I was also looking for something fresh on Child Teaching and Training. I wanted a biblical perspecitve but was frustrated for years with the status quo "christian based" parenting books.
Our own family at the time, consisting of 4 sons, one in particular so very strong willed, while the children were doing well and respectful, I wanted more. I wanted to do better as a parent, and to gain new insight.
Now that we have 3 younger daughters, I am enjoying reading this book once again.
It always seemed that the "christian parenting" books were more about how to "control" than disciple.
This book is so refreshing. It is about discipling little ones. It is compassionate, caring and not a "how to" book. I am so thankful for that.
Trumbull makes you look at yourself, are you being tender? compassionate? Understanding? Are you depending upon the Lord for HIS wisdom for your little one? When your child goes to bed, are the lasts words they hear from you harsh or loving?
I cannot say enough positive things about this book.
And I just love, that he dispells the assumptions of modern day parents that in the "olden days" every parent was harsh and beat their children. It couldn't be further from the truth.

Of over a dozen child training books I have read, this is the best. Not only that it is full of Bible-centered wisdom, it actually put convictions in my heart on how to be a parent as God originally designed us to be. This is a God-send, so well-rounded in the areas of child training it covers. It does not just rest on the side of discplines nor does it just emphasizes on the role of love. It shows both the loving and righteous sides of our God in a good balance.

This is not a book for Christian believers only. Any parents seeking hard for good philosophy and practical tips about parenting will found it helpful. I read it many times already and everytime I get new insight and revelation from it. It calms me down when facing parenting issues and it provides hope. We all love our children, but a lot of times we are doing it in such a wrong way that we in reality push our children away and become negative forces in their development. That's why this book so stands out amongst all parenting books because the author's love for children and his profound wisdom on parenting is so evident throughout the book. He was so humble in his tone of writing that you don't feel condemned or pressured but just wanted to read on, read again and again and wish you could listen to him talk...

If you're looking for a light read, Trotsky's History of Russian Revolution is not the way to go by any means. But, despite its length, and despite the enormity of its topic, this is an amazingly accessible and engrossing account of one of the modern world's most important political and historical events, written by one of its main players. There are certainly some parts that are more difficult than others, and some where clearly Trotsky assumes an understanding of what happened in Russia during 1917 - an expectation of his readers that would have been utterly reasonable for the audience he was writing for, at the time he was writing, but which at times can be a bit confusing for a Westerner reading it almost 100 years later. But this is only occasionally frustrating and there is, in any event, a very helpful set of appendices and glossaris at the back that help you know who's who and what's what. It is, undoubtedly in my view, well worth the effort that it will take you to get through it. I don't think any other history of the revolution is as detailed, as comprehensive, and as engaging as this. There are times when it really has you on the edge of your seat - and that, no doubt, is largely because it is written by someone who was actually there.

Max Eastman, who was a friend of Trotsky, gives us a translation that feels tremendously fresh and was enthusiastically endorsed by Trotsky himself.

Leon Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution is partisan history at its best. One does not and should not, at least in this day in age, ask historians to be `objective'. One simply asks that the historian present his or her narrative and analysis and get out of the way. Trotsky meets that criterion. Furthermore, in Trotsky's case there is nothing like having a central actor in that drama, who can also write brilliantly and wittily, give his interpretation of the important events and undercurrents swirling around Russia in 1917. If you are looking for a general history of the revolution or want an analysis of what the revolution meant for the fate of various nations after World War I or its affect on world geopolitics look elsewhere. E.H. Carr's History of the Russian Revolution offers an excellent multi-volume set that tells that story through the 1920's. Or if you want to know what the various parliamentary leaders, both bourgeois and Soviet, were thinking and doing from a moderately leftist viewpoint read Sukhanov's Notes on the Russian Revolution. For a more journalistic account John Reed's classic Ten Days That Shook the World is invaluable. Trotsky covers some of this material as well. However, if additionally, you want to get a feel for the molecular process of the Russian Revolution in its ebbs and flows down at the base in the masses where the revolution was made Trotsky's is the book for you.

The life of Leon Trotsky is intimately intertwined with the rise and decline of the Russian Revolution in the first part of the 20th century. As a young man, like an extraordinary number of talented Russian youth, he entered the revolutionary struggle against Czarism in the late 1890's. Shortly thereafter he embraced what became a lifelong devotion to a Marxist political perspective. However, except for the period of the 1905 Revolution when Trotsky was chairman of the Petrograd Soviet and later in 1912 when he tried to unite all the Russian Social Democratic forces in an ill-fated unity conference, which goes down in history as the `August Bloc', he was essentially a free lancer in the international socialist movement. At that time Trotsky saw the Bolsheviks as "sectarians" as it was not clear to him at that time that for socialist revolution to be successful the reformist and revolutionary wings of the movement had to be organizationally split. With the coming of World War I Trotsky drew closer to Bolshevik positions but did not actually join the party until the summer of 1917 when he entered the Central Committee after the fusion of his organization, the Inter-District Organization, and the Bolsheviks. This act represented an important and decisive switch in his understanding of the necessity of a revolutionary workers party to lead the revolution.

As Trotsky himself noted, although he was a late comer to the concept of a Bolshevik Party that delay only instilled in him a greater understanding of the need for a vanguard revolutionary workers party to lead the revolutionary struggles. This understanding underscored his political analysis throughout the rest of his career as a Soviet official and as the leader of the struggle of the Left Opposition against the Stalinist degeneration of the Russian Revolution. After his defeat at the hands of Stalin and his henchmen Trotsky wrote these three volumes in exile in Turkey from 1930 to 1932. At that time Trotsky was not only trying to draw the lessons of the Revolution from an historian's perspective but to teach new cadre the necessary lessons of that struggle as he tried first reform the Bolshevik Party and the Communist International and then later, after that position became politically untenable , to form a new, revolutionary Fourth International. Trotsky was still fighting from this perspective in defense of the gains of the Russian Revolution when a Stalinist agent cut him down. Thus, without doubt, beyond a keen historian's eye for detail and antidote, Trotsky's political insights developed over long experience give his volumes an invaluable added dimension not found in other sources on the Russian Revolution.

As a result of the Bolshevik seizure of power the so-called Russian Question was the central question for world politics throughout most of the 20th century. That central question ended practically with the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's. However, there are still lessons, not all negative, to be learned from the experience of the Russian Revolution. Today, an understanding of this experience is the task for the natural audience for this book, the young alienated radicals of Western society.

The central preoccupation of Trotsky's volumes reviewed here and of his later political career concerns the problem of the crisis of revolutionary leadership of the international labor movement and its national components. That problem can be stated as the gap between the already existing objective conditions necessary for beginning socialist construction based on the current level of capitalist development and the immaturity or lack of revolutionary leadership to overthrow the old order. From the European Revolutions of 1848 on, not excepting the heroic Paris Commune, until his time the only successful working class revolution had been in led by the Bolsheviks in Russia in 1917. Why? Anarchists may look back to the Paris Commune or forward to the Spanish Civil War in 1936 for solace but the plain fact is that absent a revolutionary party those struggles were defeated without establishing the prerequisites for socialism. History has indicated that a revolutionary party that has assimilated the lessons of the past and is rooted in the working class allied with and leading the plebian masses in its wake is the only way to bring the socialist program to fruition. That hard truth shines through Trotsky's three volumes. Unfortunately, this is still the central problem confronting the international labor movement today. Read this book many times.

This is one of the most exciting books I've ever read. It tells the amazing story of the Russian revolution of 1917, from the overthrow of the Czar to the Bolshevik Revolution of October. What makes it an incredible read is that the author, Leon Trotsky, was at the middle of it all, as one of the central planners of the insurrection that took power. Trotsky was a great revolutionary and great writer. But one thing I especially like about the book is that Trotsky uses excerpts from many other accounts, including those who hated him with a passion, to tell the story accurately. It is an inspiring story, especially for new generations of young people, workers and farmers who need to learn about an example showing that the dog-eat-dog system of capitalism we live in can be overthrown. For the definitive account of how this great revolution was later derailed, see Trotsky's Revolution Betrayed.

In spite of its length, I've read this book several times. It isn't just a widely acclaimed historic and literary masterpiece, written by a leading participant in the events he describes. It isn't just vividly written and thoroughly researched.

More importantly, it's one of the best books ever written about revolution, as relevant today as ever.

The most important conclusion that emerges is the crucial role of a revolutionary party with an overwhelmingly working class membership, leadership and political orientation: a party that has trained itself in the many years of partial struggles that precede a revolutionary crisis; studied together the lessons of past revolutionary struggles throughout the world; and done everything possible to educate broader layers of workers in those lessons.

(The point is illustrated both positively and negatively. More than once, Lenin had to turn to the Bolshevik's working class rank and file against wavering intellectuals in the party leadership.)

Please don't be put off by the first chapter, the driest and most difficult in the book. The basic idea is that capitalism arrived late in Russia, imported from abroad in the form of huge factories, which laid the basis for the rapid development of a strong, militant labor movement. As a result, the emerging capitalist class was reluctant to mobilize the masses against the feudal nobles and landlords that stood in their way, for fear that the aroused workers might turn on the capitalists themselves.

Under the impact of war and economic crisis, the resulting mixture of different forms of class oppression exploded in a combined revolt of workers, farmers, and oppressed nationalities, destroying both feudalism and capitalism by the time it was through.

Several postcripts:

(1) If you're wondering what went wrong in the Soviet Union after such a promising start, I recommend "The Revolution Betrayed" by Trotsky; also "Lenin's Final Fight" by Lenin.

(2) I disagree with Trotsky's assessment of the pre-1917 differences between himself and Lenin concerning the role of working farmers, the relationship between democratic (anti-feudal) revolution and socialist revolution, and Lenin's formula, "the democratic dictatorship of the proletariat and the peasantry". I think Trotsky's discussion of this is confusing. I recommend "Their Trotsky and Ours" by Jack Barnes. There is also a good debate in "Bolshevism and the Russian Revolution" by Doug Jenness, Ernest Mandel, and V.I. Lenin.

(3) Another reviewer pointed out that this book is available online. However, the printed version has glossaries of people, places, organizations and unfamiliar terms; a more complete chronology; and a thorough index. I relied very heavily on all of these, so much so that I used color-coded post-its to turn to them easily. Also, parts of the online version are full of obvious typos; books from Pathfinder Press are proofread very thoroughly.

(4) Finally, I recommend the ads in the back of the book. Pathfinder Press is defined by a political goal, not commercial success. It aims to provide a platform for revolutionary leaders speaking in their own words. If you like one book, you will probably like others.

This is a huge and wonderful book-- three volumes in one book, some 1200 pages in all. The story Trotsky lays out is most inspiring and encouraging: how revolutionary-minded workers and peasants in Russia, led by the Bolshevik party, overthrew the centuries-old Czarist monarchy, defeated the attempts to impose a capitalist dictatorship and went on to establish a worker and peasant revolutionary government, opening the road to the possibility of building a socialist society. It's a book you can read repeatedly, getting more out of it each time.

Trotsky explains with rich detail the growing social crisis that wracked Russia, the devastating impact of World War I, the economic collapse, and the incapacity of the old regime to offer any way out. He takes up political developments amongst workers and peasants and the oppressed nationalities of the Russian Empire, including the many millions forced into the Russian army. You understand their growing conviction that the old society had to be and could be overturned and a new order established. And Trotsky gives real insight into the leadership that made possible an actual revolution under these conditions-- the development of the Bolshevik party led by V.I. Lenin and it's successful fight to win the allegiance of the struggling millions.

Trotsky was, along with Lenin, a central leader of the 1917 revolution and of the government it established. After Lenin's death in 1924, he led the international fight to defend the Bolshevik's revolutionary course against the conservative and reactionary bureaucracy headed by Joseph Stalin that came to power later in the Soviet Union. This work was a key part of Trotsky's efforts to make the real facts and lessons 1917 available to future generations of workers, farmers and radicalizing young people. Read it along with some of his many other important works, including The Transitional Program for Socialist Revolution, In Defense of Marxism, The Revolution Betrayed, and The Struggle Against Fascism in Germany.

A thorough review of everything you can do to save money and make your home energy efficient. Helpful photos, illustrations and charts. Good resource for understanding and maintaining major systems of a house such as heating and cooling, electric and appliances.

The first third of the book is general information about energy, how it is made, how to count it, how to work the numbers. It should be a required class textbook for High School seniors. This background information is very well written and easy to understand. But, that is not why folks should buy this book.

The real meat starts at about page 93 with some very important electrical power safety tips, followed by an appliance-by-appliance list of items that use energy in a typical North American home. It is alphabetical and organized like an index.

Each item listed includes information about the amount of energy it uses and tips on how to save money using it. The "what to do" information is very specific and easy to put into practice. It starts with Air Cleaners and goes right through to Well Pumps.

Some items get just a sentence or two and others get a whole chapter. The biggest energy users get the most page space. Hot water, heating and air conditioning get their own chapters, as they should.

Like most grouchy old engineers, I read the book looking for details to disagree with. That approach was rewarded with frustration. In fact, there is so much good stuff in this book that I put it on the shelf next to my desk where it will be a handy reference.

I am forever getting questions from folks wanting to know how much they save when they shut off the item in question. The book has a handy chart, as appendix C, which does a good job answering that question.

More importantly, it provides focus for action by letting you identify the big energy users in your home. I get too many questions from people worried about the cost of running a computer when they should be focused on their heating, cooling and kitchen energy use.

The book is targeted at folks who own a house, but renters should read it too. If you pay the energy bill at your home this book will pay back the cover price many times over.

Consider starting with "Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start to Finish" by Bruce Harley instead which is a more practical "Go Do It" book with lots of photographs.

Good read, I got a lot out of this book. The author really knows his stuff.

This is the best book I've read on the subject of improving household energy efficiency. Many of the books I've read in the past go through the basic things that homeowners can do to improve efficience, but this book explains the hows AND the whys.

The book surprised me when I first started reading it. I expected another "easy reader" on the subject. I was pleasantly surprised to find detailed explanations on why things should be done, situations where a particular improvement may not be the best, and how to approach the many different systems in a house - air heating and cooling, envelope, insulation, water heating, ventilation, etc. It was also refreshing to find different ways of examining the same system - for example, amount of fuel used for different heating systems, amount of heat generated for a particular type of fuel, and all the relationships between them.

As you start reading, you will find a lot of sidebars and short stories to highlight the discussion in the chapter. One thing I found slightly annoying is the number of Math Boxes that interrupt the flow of the book early on. These are sidebars that present sample calculations for the various topics, e.g. efficiency, fuel used for different heating systems, etc. I'd prefer the Math Boxes to be contained in an appendix with references in the main body of the book, but that's just me. Other readers may not find this annoying, and it's certainly not enough for me to reduce my rating of the book.

I highly recommend this book if you are serious about exploring ways to improve your house's efficiency. It's not an "easy reader", but it's well worth the time to read through it.

I bought this book a couple of months ago because I needed a pep-talk and figured this was a fluffy rah-rah type book that would give me one.

Well, the author IS very warm and authoritative, and the book DID give me the pep-talk I needed, but it was also full of very useful information -- not fluff at all!! I found the chapters on organization, record keeping, homeschooling with baby, the good and bad aspects of homeschooling, building lesson plans and turning lesson plans into units, to be VERY helpful.

Well worth the money for any new homeschooler.

PS: In case the author ever updates her outstanding book: The one thing she left out of her chapter about the "bad" aspects of homeschooling (things like, messy house, sometimes your kids won't want to homeschool, etc...) is that, as a new homeschooling parent, YOU might feel a little isolated. It takes time to build comfortable and strong relationships with others, and sometimes homeschooling groups are not open to having new members, especially if they are large. You will have to work harder to maintain friendships with friends from your pre-homeschooling days.

I planned my family's homeschooling journey for an entire year, but I focused my efforts almost entirely on CURRICULUM. It never occurred to me that I SHOULD have also been scouting out homeschooling groups and support groups, etc...

After three months, I have found several groups that I enjoy very much, but I still wish I had been cultivating relationships with other homeschooling families LAST year.

I bought this book when I found that I was faced with the choice of either sending my Montessori schooled 5 year old to public school or taking on the overwhelming task of homeschooling him next year. I found the title amusing, and just what I was looking for. As I read the book, I found that it gave realistic advice (not just statistics on why homeschooling is "good"). It also made me consider the ways in which I wanted to interact with my son in general, and as a result, I have started to have a better relationship with him already while afterschooling, not just in 6 months when I plan to really begin my homeschooling adventure. And the chapters on how to start, and how to convince family members that homeschooling is ok made me laugh.

I've read several intro to homeschooling books, and this is by far the best one. The tone is very down-to-earth and reassuring unlike some other authors who can make homeschooling seem very intimidating. Mrs. Bittner also discusses situations that are common but not often talked about in how-to-HS books such as what to do if your spouse is dubious about the idea of HS and also how to HS only one child without causing jealousy in the traditionally schooled siblings. I also really appreciate how the book treats religion/spirituality as important but doesn't promote any particular faith (unlike other books I've read that are either completely atheistic or written from one particular viewpoint). If you're going to read just one intro to HS book, this is it!

I love Terrie's tone in this book and her helpful information. I am planning on homeschooling (and have been since my first was in utero) so I already knew a lot of the information presented here (from John Holt), yet I was beginning to doubt myself as my daughter became older. Would I REALLY have the guts to keep her home and not enroll in kindergarten? Terrie reminded me of all the reasons that I want to homeschool: 1) the education will be better--lighting a fire rather than pouring information into a bucket, 2) it will strengthen our family, 3) we will be freed from the schedule and politics of the school system.

I have read many resources and none were quite as honest as this one. Not that Terrie is divulging all these deep dark homeschool secrets, but she is honest about the challenges you face in choosing to homeschool.

I especially enjoyed her resource lists. No one book will tell you all that you need to know--she has helped me assemble a library of information that our particular family needs.

The book's tone is great and it is an enjoyable read. I've been taking it into the bathtub to review certain chapters since I keep finding new gems each time I read it.

I have been reading in preparation for homeschooling for two years. I discovered this book about a month before I started. It is just the best! Terrie Bittner gives such detailed information on all that we homeschoolers need to know and do. She offers us great suggestions for record keeping, organizing our materials and teaching our children. This is absolutely the most helpful of all the books I have read.

This book is FILLED with wonderful information about our brains. It is required reading for my graduate class,and I know it will be one I pull off the shelf to use again and again. Fascinating stuff that can be useful for teachers.

This book was required reading for a seminar. It is very easy to read, but it also contains a lot of good information. I was particularly taken with the Practitioner's Corner at the end of each chapter with suggestions for using the information provided within the chapter inside the classroom.

Excellent resource for lay person. Written in a very understandable, practical style with good illustrations and examples. Great aide for educators who want to better understand how their students learn. Also teaches you something about yourself!

Dr. Sousa has an unbelievable way in teaching us about the brain ;the learning brain! His book is very user friendly with instant applications available after each chapter. This is his 3rd Ed. so you know he keeps on top of the everchanging findings in brain research and learning. I highly recommend that this book be in every house. Don't wait for teachers and college professors to introduce the way your brain learns...get going yourself! Teach others how the brain learns best!
Barbara McKenna, MEd.
Private Educational Consultant, VA

good book, i pass ATSW in one try after i study this book, provide almost everything you need for the ATSW.

I stumbled across this book accidentally, and boy was I pleasantly surprised. Taylor's book is a fun, lively, short (that's a good thing, so students will read it), and most importantly, filled with outstanding suggestions. In a loving and positive way, he tells students that college is THEIR opportunity, and nobody is going to hand them anything, they need to go for it themselves. He then gives numerous concrete suggestions, ranging from the very broad (form study teams, avoid negative people) to the very specific (like wash up -- and believe me, plenty of college students need to hear that!), and everything in between. I've suggested this book to dozens of college freshmen and they LOVE it -- they say it motivated them to take responsibility for their college studies and to do well. I think every college freshman should be required to read this book. Nice work, Mr. Taylor.

It's been quite a while since I started reading a book and had a hard time putting it down...Morris Taylor broke that streak with this witty and engaging manual! In addition to the organized structure and flow, Mr. Taylor packs some nuggets of wisdom and insight and delivers them in a bold, yet fun way. This is one you'll want to keep handy and pick up over and over again...though you may not need to because the principles and strategies mentioned have a way of sticking in your mind. I highly recommend this to anyone who is serious about being successful-in any area of their life.".

Morris Taylor has written a book that teaches time-tested strategies for success in a very conversational, easy-to-read style. This book is a treasure trove of wisdom that is essential for any college student, but can also be applied to business and personal life as well. I wish I had this book years ago when I attended college. It is a "must-read" for anyone who wants to achieve success in life!

This book is a perfect example of "good things come in small packages." While short- you could read it in an afternoon - the strategies discussed will greatly benefit you not just during college, but your entire life, if you apply them.

The strategies include essential personal and study habits, and the skills you should acquire to give yourself an edge during and after college life.

Like the author, I wish I had this book in my possession before starting college, and made use of the strategies presented. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone currently enrolled or will be attending college soon to get the book, read it, and apply its lessons... Your college career and life will certainly be more fulfilling.

I am a high school teacher and recently during a break from class, several students noticed "How to Create a Magical College Life" sitting on my desk. They wanted to know what kind of book it was. I simply told them to read the book cover. After each student read the back, I was stunned to see just from them reviewing the back cover how excited and inquisitive they became about the book. I'm sold that this book is a must have for anyone young or old who is serious about being successful in college. Taylor has made this book easy to read with practical, real life examples that everyone can identify with. I especially like his approach to time management, goal setting, and visualization. I highly recommend this book to be apart of every serious students' library.

John Scott
Director of Bands
Henrico High school
Henrico Public Schools

It is amazing what this tiny little book is selling for, but it is chock full of great information to help the aspiring teacher develop an excellent portfolio and land that job. Lots of helpful tips and examples of many different examples of artifacts to make your portfolio stand out among the rest.

I needed this book for an on-line class. It was cheaper at Amazon than it was in the school's bookstore. I'm really glad I checked for it here. It came within a few days. I'll be checking for all of my textbooks through Amazon.com.

If you have to create a portfolio for your education program as a teacher, I recommend this. It has a lot of good information in it and is very helpful.

This reference guide is an excellent tool for developing your own portfolio at the end of a professional development project. It helps you organize the information in a way that will enhance final publication of your portfolio.

I used this book to help me compile my e-portfolio during my last class of grad school. It helped me decide what was important and what not. If you buy this book, it will help you as well.

I would definetely buy this book if I were to take the AP Psych exam again. Of course, I won't have to do that because this book prepared me so well for it. It really doesn't matter which edition you buy, they contain the same content and only vary in page numbers. There are two practice tests in the back that have answer explanations and various free response questions that include points you should make when writing for each topic. I would get this rather than Kaplan's or the Princeton Review's because they have been known to have the wrong answers in the answer key in the back, which is completely unacceptable. Enjoy this book, and the exam too, it is probably the best that the Collegeboard offers.

I would definited reccommend buying this book if you are looking to take the AP Psychology Test. It was a great review manual. I started reading this book probably a week before the test, and after taking the test I felt really confident that I did well, and I did; I got a 5! Granted throughout the course I read our issued textbook, but this review manual refreshened my memory and went over some new topics that were not covered in my textbook. Overall, this was a great book and I would HIGHLY reccommend it.

most pysch classes require it anyways, but if yours doesn't get this book. It really helped me study and prepare for the in class tests and ap exam [which i got 4 on thank you very much]
just get this book, you'll be happy you did :]

This book was excellent.

I read all the pages. I took one or two practice tests, I wish I had taken more because the questions were almost the SAME as the real exam. The tests are harder than the real one meaning you will be well prepared.

I scored a 4. If I had done more practice tests, I could have gotten a 5. This book is the best, it is fun to read and pretty easy to read aswell. Don't waste your money or time on others.

Good luck!

I chose this book over many others was because i read the reviews other people wrote about this book, and it was very helpful. So thank to all of you who put your thoughts down!!

Like what other people have already said, this book is really helpful. it provides a comprehensive review of all concepts, and it even has things that my textbook doesnt. I read this whole book at least three times and made flashcards and did most of the problems, and even though i havent taken the actual AP test which is tomorrow, but i got a 5 on my psych final which was an actual AP test from a few years ago. So if you use this book and study really hard, you will definitely get a 5 on the exam!

GOOD LUCK on the test!

How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs by Gabriel Heiser is a terrific book. It clarified for me the issues surrounding Medicaid and asset preservation in a straight forward and easy to understand way. It provided me insights into complexities that are necessary for anyone who might be venturing down this path to be aware of and understand. It put into perspective the options that are available and perhaps most important of all, provided me with the background I needed to have a productive meeting with an elder attorney and to ask them the appropriate questions.

In particular, the book was written in a way that could be understood by a layman. It was presented in a very organized fashion and clearly went through the Medicaid process, a necessary pre-requisite for the subsequent chapters. The appendix was particularly useful in that it provided ways to find a qualified elder lawyer and other related resources as well as information on state Medicaid offices. But perhaps most interesting and helpful of all were the case studies. They provided a multitude of practical strategies, comparing and contrasting them throughout the book.

After reading this book, the bits and pieces of information I was able to discern from other books and from several lawyers I previously met with came together to form a clear picture like pieces of a puzzle. Armed with information and the possibilities presented and with an understanding of the implications of our decisions, we are now ready to move forward with plans for our parents with the confidence that we are prepared now to go down this very difficult road.

Thanks Mr. Heiser for all of your help!

I work in an industry where we have a need for such timely, topical and extensive information in the special needs planning area. I found Gabriel Heiser's book to be well written, easy to read, and very comprehensive. I have used it as a resource many times when I am questioned by one of our financial planners or attorneys in our network throughout the country. I have recommended his book to many who are struggling with the complexity of the medicaid system and how best to provide for a disabled individual. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a complete understanding of the rules and regulations pertaining to the special needs or elder law planning arenas.

Geri N. McHam
The Estate Plan

The System makes it hard to get accurate information about Medicaid coverage of long-term care--even for a former reference librarian like me. I'm recommending this book to Amazon customers and to my local library.

Attorney Heiser's book on protecting assets from nursing home costs is an invaluable and terrific read. For those of us unaware of the financial devastation a nursing home stay can do to a family it is a must read. It gives the reader a chance to ask important questions of attorneys and financial planners to get the most out of their advice and to get through the many different state and federal laws that vary from state to state. Don't see an attorney without reading this first.

This book provides valuable information on a complex subject. Although it may not answer your specific questions, the information given allows you to make informed decision when consulting an estate planner or attorney. Informative easy to read book on a complex subject.

I purchased this book for a graduate class. The instructor felt it would be better than any textbook. It is a very helpful, practical resource for everything ADHD. It is easy to read.

Esta obra puede considerarse como un handbook o completa recopilación de las técnicas para docentes en su trato diario con los niños que sufren TDAH. La consulta de esta obra les dara pautas muy útiles y les permitirá cosechar buenos y mejores resultados con sus alumnos impulsivos y disatentos.

After my son was diagnosed with ADHD I visited the bookstore and found a book that I thought would be helpful. When I visited my pediatrician I brought the book in for her to review. She thought the book had an agenda and cited those studies that supported that particular point of view. She recommended this book and after ordering it, I feel confident this is the only book I need.

As an educator, I appreciate the usefulness of this book. This edition captures Sandra Reif's passion for teaching ADHD students and makes it easier for teachers to better understand their needs. I highly recommend this practical book.

My daughter's teacher loaned me this book after I shared with her my frustration over understanding "how" my daughter thinks and how to help her with her homework and life in general. If you don't have ADD you can't understand why things that seem perfectly logical to you make no sense what so ever to the person with ADD. I sat down thinking I would flip through and read a few passages...I've been reading for two hours now and an hour ago got paper and pen to start taking notes. There are too many notes! I'm now ordering the book for myself. I have read many books on ADD and this is the first one I've found that gives clear detailed advice on ways to "teach" your child some impulse control, and help her improve her concentration and study skills...BEFORE jumping right to medication treatment.