Education Books

I received my first copy of And There Was Light in 1977. The book was out of print at the time and members of my spiritual group had to resort to copying it for study. I'm grateful that it's back in print and Jacques Lusseyran's life and work are receiving more attention. Regarding the subtitle, I wonder what Jacques would say about being called a hero? Perhaps he would just laugh and shake his head since he conveys so clearly in And There Was Light that he was just an ordinary person who trusted his heart in a world gone mad. I think the best compliment I can pay the book is it makes me long to be better myself.

As others have said it's a book about blindness, coming of age, WWII, the Holocaust, the French resistance, etc. What is truly unique about it though cannot be easily described, and is best appreciated in the reading. Just get a copy and read it.

This is a very unique perspective that has a miriad of themes. Keep in mind that this book has been translated from french. The semantics and verbage is somewhat awkward at times, but the message remains clear. This meling pot of personal experiences encompass: blindness as a youth, minds-eye interpretations of a blind individual, internal strength, the occupation of France during WWII, the French Underground, detailed brutality of the Nazi Party, prison camp conditions, and repatriation. Once again, I will stress that the themes are broad and this is a translated text, yet it still succeeds in painting a well orchistrated picture of each theme. Most importantly, the theme of hope and strength solidify the foundation and triumph in the end.

This is a beautifully writen book. Read it for yourself. You will really enjoy it.

This is the autobiography of a blind hero of the French Resistance during WWII. Lusseyran lost his eyesight as a young boy through an accident at school, caused by a bully. But instead of sinking helplessly into darkness he gradually developed his other senses to extraordinary capacity.
When seventeen,while interviewing volunteers, willing to join the Resistance, he perceived colors when they answered questions. These colors revealed to him whether they could be trusted or not. Once, however,his friends disagreed with his recommendation. They all were taken prisoner and sent to the Concentration Camp.It was there, that the 18 year old found his second calling: Poetry. Reciting poetry by heart, he assembled the prisoners daily. The imagery had life-sustaining quality for them and a moment of renewal to all that participated. His experiences and observations there, later led him to choose to study philosophy and literature at the Sorbonne.He lectured at the various American universities until his death.
recommended additional reading by Lusseyran: "Against the Pollution of the I"

A classic study in overcoming adversity and finding hope in hopeless situations. If it were a work of fiction, we would doubt the author's credebility - but this is not fiction, this is the real life of an ordinary individual made extraordinary by the light of his saviour. It is an inspirational book and adventure action novel all in one. Rarely do we find a hero so authentic and humble as Mr. Lusseyran - and only he could share the story because only he has access to that light so necessary for the complete telling.

This book was Great, not only did it keep my interest, but it was very helpful and i would sudjest it to any married couple (with or without relational struggles). This book gives great advice, and has many strong points giving the reader an understanding as well as a level of relation as many of the situations the reader will be able to relate too. Buy the book or Borrow it! it's an important part of every marriage.

What an incredible book! This was required reading for a counseling course but it's purpose served more than that. Roseneau does an incredible job of communicating how beautiful & sacred an intimate relationship with your spouse should be. God created man and woman to please one another in many ways in addition to intercourse and this book does a great job of instructing couples how to deepen their sexual intimacy.This is definitely worth your money! Roseneau also has a Newlywed version and an over 50 version.

This book contains good info and answers and tips that are often not found in "Christian" books on sexual matters.
The version for newlyweds is great as well..my husband and I do much pre-marriage counseling and recommend this and give it as gifts as well.

This book is helpful for couples who are confused about what God expects of us in our sexual relationships with our spouse. It helps to create healthy bounderies and teaches couples how to have a healthy God ordained sex life.

The best Christian sex book out there written by a licensed psychologist/Christian sex therapist. This book is written for the mutual benefit of both wife and husband. It takes a very comprehensive and holistic approach, includes the spiritual elements as well as practical techniques and everything you can think of and some things you might not have even thought of. I highly recommend this to every married couple and to the engaged couple -- about one month before their wedding.

This book is by far the best Bible story book we have found. I have been a children's minister for 20 years and have reviewed many books and this one tops them all. The stories are biblically accurate and incredibly easy to understand. We have bought this for every family/friend that has had a baby for the last 5 years and will continue to do so because it is so wonderful.

this is nice to have. it hasn't become a favorite yet, but some of the pictures are really beautiful. the idea of passing our family history is wonderful and this is a great aid to jump start teaching your children their ancestry.

This book has been great for family read aloud time. The story like format is very easy to read and understand.

One day my 15 year old son told me that he didn't know the stories in the Bible. I got to thinking...I knew bits and pieces of all the main stories, but I didn't really think I could repeat them to my son. I was embarassed, so I went right to Amazon to find a book that explained the Bible in a fun, understanding, interesting way. I also wanted something that hadn't been "modernized". I didn't want to read that God is our Mother, or words like "humankind". I wanted a good old-fashioned, biblically true book. This one exceded my expectations!! I am halfway done and have learned so much! I read it to my son, and he enjoys it. I have not been able to put it down, so my son is not as far as me. I can't believe how much I DID'NT know. I would highly recommend this for anyone. Even if you are very familiar with the Bible, it's a great refresher.

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I love this book!! My kids (7,4) and I read a passage every morning after breakfast. The stories are easily understood by my kids. They are short and capturing. Sometimes my kids will ask questions regarding our reading. I enjoy this special time with my children. Most of all it is coming from the Bible!!

This is a great book. I enjoy it thoroughly, and so does my 4.5 year old daughter. During the Olympics, she has asked for it every night. She loves finding out about the other children and looking at the pictures. It is one of the best multicultural books I have seen. It does not focus on other cultures as historical curiosities or emphasize their differences. Instead, it provides a snapshot of what each child's life is like (parents, home, school, friends, etc.). It shows what is different while emphasizing common everyday life vs. festivals and traditions. It sparks her curiosity (why does that girl paint her face and body, etc.). The book can't begin to answer those questions, but that's what the internet is for.

My 6 year old loves reading this book. It shows how children around the world dress, live, and play. It is interesting to see what other children like to do for fun, or what they like to eat. It is also teaching her about the different countries around the world.

This awesome book shows children around the world and what their everyday life is like (homes, schools, families, pets, friends, churches, food). Having a daughter adopted internationally,this book helps us learn more about her birth country and about all the children of the world. We've started giving this as birthday gifts to her friends.

I hope that all children can someday enjoy this book with their friends and caring adults. It makes real the lives of children all around the world - their hopes, their dreams, their families and their daily routines. It's a delight to see our similarities and a great lesson to learn about our differences. Thank you to the authors and publishers.

I purchased this book for my son Ben when he was 2 1/2 yrs. old. He is now 10 and my daughter Maria reads it continuously. This book is by far the best young children's awareness book about the differences and similarities between all children on this earth. I work for the YMCA and have purchased it for our summer camp so that the children coming to stay at Camp Silver Beach can learn more about the childhoods of the international counselors who are role models for them during the summer. At 2 1/2 years, my son knew the continents and could point out where "Ari or Celena" lived and tell me their favorite toys or food and point to the countries in which they live. This book is colorful and timeless expanding a child's view of the world and helping to instill the compassion we need to get along with all kinds of people.

Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

I first read this book when I was a child (in the 60's) and immediately fell in love with it. It has everything I adore in a book; a little magic, a little ghostliness; an English castle; lovely animal companions; characters from times past; people with manners, morals and down to earth values and last but not least--love. I have re-read this book many times and have just finished listening to an audio-version. This is forever a beautiful and enchanting book.

The book I'm going to talk to you about is called; The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston. I didn't really like this book. It was a little confusing and hard to understand. There just wasn't a clear point. There was not middle, or a climax and resolution. I thought this book was about a mystery or a ghost story, by the cover and the blip from the back. I was very disappointed in the ending, and that it was appoint-less fantasy, that bored me half to death!

The Children of green knowe was about a boy named, Tolly, who was the age of 8-11,whose parents die (they don't say how),so he was sent to live with hisGreat-Grandmother in Penny Soaky. Her house was called Old Knowe.
Three children, Alexander, Toby, and Linnet, died in Tolly's(the boy's name), Great Grandmother's house many centuries ago. They started appearing around the house just days after their death. They played with Tolly, and went on great Adventures. Enjoy one of Granny's stories every 20 pages, and learn about Tolly and Granny's love for the flute andthebirds.

Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

Every once in a while you read a book, and you can not let go of it. You recommend it to friends, you buy it for family and people you care about and you actually go back and revisit it long after the first read. This is one of those books. With four young children, my wife and I constantly worry about a myriad of things, mostly having to do with giving our kids the skills the need to become good people, successful adults (by whatever measure they deem successful) and all around better prepared than we were.

This book is a great framework for discussions with your kids about what is important to know, and it is really shocking how little of this we give them in school.

In my family, we were told never to talk of money. How was I supposed to learn about it. Managing the green in this book is a great example of real world tactics for kids to become responsible young adults.

I read a lot of business books, and I am happy when there are one or two key points that stick with me and become a part of the set of tools I use everyday, but to be honest this book is so full of them, I had to go through it with a highlighter!

Do your kids a favor, buy this book for them, but read it first. You will be amazed at the conversations you will have and you can go sleep at night knowing that maybe just maybe, everything is going to be all right for them.

I bought this on the basis of the reviews. I thought the book was pretty good, but the content was not as comprehensive or helpful as I thought it should be.

Cool Stuff they should teach in school is a guide to jobs, people skills, goals, and money for young adults written by two normal teenagers. This book covers everything from trying to figure out what you want to do with your life and how your attitude actually determine how successful you'll be through how to make a good impression and what not to do during a job interview to how to manage your money and how to make your savings work for you.

I loved the conversational style of this book as well as the straightforward no punches pulled advice. I also liked the colourful Cool Stuff quotes and 2K tips. This is the advice your best friend would give you if he could. Cool Stuff they should teach in school will make a really great gift for any teenager or young adult needing just a little bit of nudge to start their future on the right track.

great book for anyone feeling lost as far as what they want to do with their lives. It makes it really easy to understand all the financial stuff in today's world. I used some of the people skills they have written about and noticed improvemnt.

this book = miracle

From the standpoint of intent, scope & substance, this wonderful book is exactly similar to 'The Power of Focus for College Students' by Andrew Hewitt & Luc D'Adabie. I have reviewed this latter book earlier.

The 'Cool Stuff' book is apparently targetted at high school students (& graduates). The 'Power of Focus' book is targetted at high school graduates & college students, even though the delineation is really not an issue. The earlier book is written by two brothers during their late teen years, in 2004. The latter book, which has been published one year later, is written by two university graduates in their early twenties. This book is also an extension of the earlier 'The Power of Focus' by Les Hewitt, Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen, which is obviously targeted at adult professionals.

Essentially, the 'Cool Stuff' book is designed to help students GET REAL...to help them face a multitude of challenges as they grow from teens to young adults & while they move into the real world. The abundant information in this book are packed into bite-sized nuggets, illustrated with zany graphics.

Whereas, the 'Power of Focus' book is more sober of the two books, with abundant information, as well as inspiring stories, packed into nine focusing strategies. Tactically, it has been designed to help high school graduates & college freshmen in finding fulfilling career pathways.

While the 'Cool Stuff'book has a more light-hearted approach, both books generally help to answer these critical questions:

- why 70% of graduates are unhappy & disillusioned within five years of leaving college?
- what 3% of Yale students do that lead them to become wealthier than the other 97% combined?

One interesting point: The entrepreneurial flair of the authors of both books is exemplified by their own respective websites: namely ccolstuffmedia & focusedstudent, which continue to promote their books, seminars & workshops & other stuff.

One last point: The 'Power of Focus' book has a seemingly subtle & yet direct slant towards 'GET RICH' partly because of its association with Donald Trump...so it's also designed to help you build the financial future you so desire.

To sum up my review, both books are really great stuff! If you are a high school student or college freshman, I strongly urge you to go & get a copy to read & to learn how to maximise your high school - & college - experience & also how to deal with a rapdily changing world out there!

Avoid buying it used. I've bought this book used twice now from different sellers, and in both cases the book was missing the tear-out wall chart on pages 189 through 202. Not all sellers check this, so if you buy it used, know that you risk paying for a book that has missing pages. (And people, if you're going to tear pages out of your books, don't turn around and take them to a used bookseller.)

Joyce's workout is great for busy people. I work two jobs, have two busy children, and do this work out 6 days a week. It takes more then 15 minutes most days but the results are well worth it. I actually weigh 20 pounds more than I did before my first child, but wear the same pant size. You really do lose a dress size in a month. Losing inches is a great goal. I have more energy, strength, and stamina. It is also quite adaptable for traveling and economical. I actually use my son's old daycare mat for the floor exercises!!! I would recommend this for all of us who just can't get to the gym.

I am 60 years old and had been pretty skinny all my life. I was always very active..horsebackriding, scuba, belly dancing, but after our retirement and move to Florida, I had too much time on my hands (and not enough weights IN them), cooked too much, (ate it all, too), traveled alot with my husband, and pigged out on easily obtainable and horribly fattening "road grub". I finally took a long, hard look in the mirror and was horrified at the fat person staring, equally horrified, back at me. WHO WAS THAT FAT PERSON?? Gasp! ME! We are not too Gymmy here in retirement heaven, so I scoped out a few books online and liked the approach of this one best. My (fabulous)Husband agreed to help me out and for the last 6 weeks, we have been following the diet that Joyce sugests, and I have been doing the Definition Workout, now up to 6, 8, 10 lbs and Dragon Lady Status. The workout is easy to understand and follow. The equipment is inexpensive and easily obtainable. The diet highlights sensible, nutritious food. The upshot is that so far I have lost 11 pounds, one jeans size, and my (faboulous)Husband has lost 10 pounds and gone from a 36 to a 34 inch waist. According to bio, Joyce is only 3 months older than I am, and (next to Cher) she is definitely my ideal "golden ager". I still have a looong way to go, but it is MARVELOUS to feel enabled and in control of my weight and my life again! THANKS JOYCE!

This was the first book I ever bought when I decided to try my hand at free weights at home. I used it for about three years solid, then began working with a personal trainer to really up my workouts. Recently I quit the trainer and have built up my own little home gym, and guess what - I'm back to this same book all these years later. I've found that even though I've got a lot more experience now, and have built up good muscle tone, I can still use this workout because of the advanced options she offers to add-on to each routine. It worked for me as a beginning book and helped me get started on my road to better fitness, and seven years later, it's still helping me stay in shape. I have some of her other books, too, and they are all in heavy rotation in my weekly workout routines. Some of the best books out there for all levels of weight trainers, in my opinion. But this particular one is still the best!

After doing Joyce's 'Bone-building body-shaping workout' for a few months, I did not enjoy 'Definition' as much. The full pyramid method was a real bore - too much of the same thing, sorry to be so honest. I am also confused as to what 'definition' really means, if it does not involve adding ANY bulk. As some others mentioned, putting avocados on the forbidden food list really saddened me - we eat avocados every day while they are in season because they are delicious, and cheap where we live. As far as the workout goes, I am looking for a few to rotate through every few weeks, but 'Definition' will not be one of them.

Inspired by a potato on her kitchen table, Esmé Raji Codell wrote this book to let parents know that just as a potato is "plentiful and versatile" (p 3) so too is children's literature. She states that this is a "recipe book" to give parents ideas for how to incorporate children's literature into their child's life, whether it be as a "main course or a sustaining side dish" (p 3).

The book is divided into nine main parts. The first part is an overview for parents of why reading is important. Codell uses research, theorists, and practical first-hand experience to give parents an understanding of the importance of reading and a basic knowledge of some of the lingo that educators use when discussing reading. She then moves on in parts two through eight to share ideas for how to incorporate reading into your child's life in a variety of different formats and using different types of literature. The ninth part, "Storytime Central", shares lists of recommended books for a variety of different topics not previously mentioned.

Looking through parts 2-8, you will find ideas for encouraging children to read both with a parent and on their own. Using humor and personal anecdotes, Codell shares a plethora of ideas ranging from simple (sit down and read a book) to complex (organize a "parade of books' for your community). For each idea she gives examples or tips for how to actually do the activity. These ideas are coupled with lists of recommended book titles. Pictures of actual book covers are found throughout each section, enticing the reader to go find a copy and flip through the pages for themselves. Also found throughout are sidebars and boxes containing book reviews and "Dear Madame Esme" questions and answers.

The main strength of this book is its lists of book titles. The lists of books in each part are a resource that can be utilized by parents and educators alike when searching for quality children's literature. Codell covers a wide range of topics such as math, history, science, folk tales, breakfast, mysteries, and baseball. In addition to these topical lists, there is a list of all of the Newbery and Caldecott award winners among the appendices at the back of the book. Also at the end are detailed indices that are broken up by author, title, and subject which allow for ease in finding information among all of these lists.

This book is not an exhaustive list of all of the quality literature available today, but it is definitely a huge springboard for launching into the wonderful world of children's literature. Codell encourages reading as often as possible beginning from the day children are born. By reading with children she says that you are doing something for them "that is not only fun, but essential, important, and lasting" (343).

I thought it was a book on how to get my child to read, to enjoy reading. The title is deceptive. Instead, its a book advertising other books and it doesn't even tell you what the books are about or for what age group. A total waste of money!!!

This book is loaded with great ideas! I school my children at home and love to find any type of book activities to encourage reading. There is so much in this book. I was checking this out at the library and renewing it until I reached my limit on renewals so I would take it back and then request it online again. I finally bought it.

This book is packed with great ideas, methods, and resources to inspire children and parents for reading activities. My family enjoyed it very much. It clearly brought up my son's reading interest. Day after day, he has read a lot and has become one the best readers in his class from below average. He often ranks high in the Beestar weekly reading program (a nice web site http://www.beestar.org). I'm very happy with this book. I highly recommend it.

I am very pleased with this purchase and found it to be a great value. I didn't realize what a huge book I would receive and I am thrilled with the information crammed inside. There are so many wonderful ideas with book lists galore. I have actually carried this book around my public library looking up different recommended titles! This is a wonderful book for both parents and teachers and makes a perfect gift!

A senior moment - forgetting something that should be obvious. Is it inevitable or can the mental decay of age be avoided? "In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging" looks at the brain and how it ages, revealing that the loss of brain function as one gets older does not have to be the destiny of all seniors. Encouraging a program to keep one's brain in tip top shape much like one would work a muscle, "In Full Bloom" is a seminal guide for anyone getting up there and fearing losing their mind. Especially recommended for community library health collections.

This book contains so many useful exercises! Just doing the body balance activities has helped a lot with body awareness. The relaxation exercises are wonderful and help with more peaceful rest. It is fun to do all the brain balancing doings. To think these simple activities can help stimulate the brain. Thinking with more clarity is important, don't you think? Please give this book a try! You'll soon discover the power within our brain!

As soon as I heard this book was published and available, I ordered six copies from Amazon.com. To my surprise I had to wait as they were already sold out. I have given all six to friends, organizations, and a club. This book is true, simple, and life saving. Every exercise is celarly illustrated, easy to perform and needs no special equipment but ones body. It fully debunks brain myths that many of us grew up with and allows us to understand our responsibilities in aging gracefully, creatively and retain our faculties at the same time. I highly recommend this book for all adults to understand how their lives can be more rewarding and fulfilling. More power to the over 60.

As a practitioner of Hatha yoga with 10 years of experience, I was thrilled to find this book which shows what I would call a "martial-arts style" yoga. Ilchi Lee makes Eastern philosophy and exercise accessible to Americans in a way that we can understand and apply to our everyday lives. Thank you!!! I'm 42...not a senior... and I find the exercises in this book a great way to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Great illustrations and descriptions.

This is a short story about a `friend'. My `friend' spent most of his adult life as an unhappy individual. This `friend' hated the work he was doing but stayed with the same employer for 25 years. He didn't particularly care for his neighbors but is living in the same house for 17 years. He didn't want to keep in touch with friends or relatives unless he absolutely had to.
During his 30's and 40's, he was always complaining about his health and the aches and pains that conveniently kept him home from work and was also a good excuse to avoid keeping in touch with friends and family. He spent too many days going from doctor to doctor and hospital to hospital, throughout his life, only to get the same answers to all the tests he subjected himself to. The tests were all negative, but this `friend' was not convinced that there was nothing wrong with him.
This `friend' was living a self-fulfilling prophecy. He had used his failing health as an excuse for so long that he had convinced himself that he was really sick. Instead of being happy that all the test results were negative, he complained that the doctors could not find the problems, which made him feel sicker.
Finally at age 58, this 'friend' went to see a doctor who happened to be of Korean origin. After another round of tests with still negative results, this doctor told this 'friend' that he was in good health, in fact, he was in very good health. The doctor recommended that he should get into an exercise and diet program before long or his health would start to deteriorate. The doctor suggested that he should look into a Yoga program which is both physical as well as educational.
So this `friend' found a Dahn Yoga Center only a few blocks from his home. He gathered enough courage to go upstairs and speak with the Instructor. After a 20 minute initial exam, the instructor was describing all the ailments this 'friend' was experiencing, and he was right on. After an introduction to the Yoga exercise routine, this 'friend' attended his first Yoga class the same evening. Although he was always skeptical and doubting everything in his life, something about the Yoga class made him feel different. He continued with the classes and participated in educational programs called B.E.S.T.
The instructor recommended the he read a book named; In Full Bloom: A brain Education Guide For Successful Aging, by Ilchi Lee and Doctor Jessie Jones. This book helped this `friend' to understand how he was creating his own problems and how to start to correct his physical and mental balance back to a healthy body and mind.
If you didn't guess by now this `friend' is really me. At age 58, I am now able to realize that my negative outlook was causing my aches and pains. It all took place in my head. For over 25 years my constant complaining and whining brought myself and everybody around me down.
Just to be able to write this story shows how much I have changed. In one year I lost 14 lbs., my aches and pains have gone away, and my attitude has changed from negative to positive.
But writing this story serves another purpose. If anybody reading this story has the same or similar attitude, I urge you, I'll even beg you, don't wait for your life to pass by without changing how you feel. Get a copy of: In Full Bloom, and / or visit a Yoga center near you. You owe it to yourself to enjoy the rest of your life. It's never to late to change.

Through the wide and varied teaching experience of the author, he has compiled a new approach towards teaching consisting of essentially four diverse avenues to knowledge acquisition. These learning styles include the"Professor", who immediately wants to know What is the vital information, the "Trouble-shooter" who wants to know Why and How things work, the "Inventor" who wants to take the knowledge and tweak it for better understanding, and the "Guide" who is looking for the connection with others and is mostly concerned with the bigger picture. Mr. Kennedy explores these four categories into greater depth and spends quite a bit of time describing practical exercises anyone can use within a teaching and learning environment.

I think that one must respect Mr. Kennedy for the incredible amount of background and research he has compiled for this enlightening book. While there are so many different approaches and theories out on the market, I found Mr. Kennedy's tried and tested approach to be extremely intuitive and refreshingly logical in comparison. I enjoyed reading about his personal experiences that I felt added to the overall benefit of the book. I particularly was impressed with the easy to understand practical ways highlighted throughout the book and feel that these will be easily implemented within an educational context. Due to this user-friendly emphasis, I can only imagine how when put into practice this can revolutionize your teaching and job satisfaction at a job well done.

Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views (2/06)

What? Why/How? What if? So what? These are questions that Mark Kennedy answers in his book, Lessons from the Hawk. Kennedy breaks down learning styles into four perspectives, nicknamed the Professor, the Troubleshooter, the Inventor, and the Guide. The Professor is the traditionalist who wants to know "what", and the Troubleshooter needs to know "why" or "how". Inventors discover by asking "what if", and Guides ask "so what".

Kennedy provides a wealth of information on how to implement lessons for all styles of learning. He offers a questionnaire for the reader to answer to find his or her personal style of learning, and then gives suggestions for discovering students' styles. Ideas for specific subjects are listed and general goals for the different learning styles are listed as well. Basic ideas of classroom management are also offered.

This book was enlightening because I discovered different styles of learning I hadn't thought of before. I not only learned about ways to improve the lessons in my classroom, I learned more about my own style of learning. Kennedy expresses insightful ideas in his book and I found it to be helpful for myself in creating a more meaningful learning experience for the students in my classroom. I recommend all teachers and administrators read this book. I also think this book would be helpful for parents as well.

Lessons From the Hawk by Mark Kennedy
ISBN: 1-885580-05-3
$18.95

BookWired Book Review


At Universities and colleges across the world want-to-be educators are being taught the tried and trusted version of teaching. The problem is, only 50% of our children learn from this method. 25% do well enough to hold a job, and the others become the "Lost Souls" of the system.

Either because of word or mouth or insightfulness on their own parts, some teachers have pulled away from that type of teaching, lost in the maze of styles and philosophies. Some of those include the Greek Schools of the turn of the 20th century; Magnet; Sudbury; Windsor House; Military and Montessori.


As the nation wakes up to the fact that their exceptional children are flunking in a traditional education system, those who can afford it look to these styles of schools to help make their children happy, well-contented members of society. Other educators work to improve and change it, trying to keep the system as status quo, and finally reach those children.


Mark Kennedy is hardly the first educator to promote modest or radical changes to the poor system we have now. What he does for us in his book "Lessons From the Hawk" is to take the best of the educators of all time, compile, translate and adding his experience, finally giving those of us looking, something to work with.


You will, in this book, find out what type of educator you are. You will find out how to manage your classroom better, and you will learn how to get your fellow teachers to follow suit on their own. They only need to see the changes in your class at your level to understand the benefits.


This is a book that not only should a teacher own, but constantly read to better themselves, their class, and the children they hope to raise in an ever changing world. You will be the better for it. The children will be the better for it. The world will be the better for it. Lastly, parents, officials and the government will benefit the most. They only have to get their heads out of the sand.






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Lesson from the Hawk by Mark Kennedy is an excellent book if you are trying to figure out what in the world just happened in your classroom! His observation that the Hawk is both "perspiacious and focused" is exactly how teachers today need to be, that is everywhere at once.

In reading his book, Mr. Kennedy expands on his metaphor with the Hawk and teacher to include his own take on the various learning perspectives. He also compares them to Bloom's taxonomy and comes up with a unique recipe that is his own, and at the same time hits just the right spot.

As a teacher with medium to low SES students in the Middle School, Lesson from the Hawk gave me new perspecitves for teaching and more importantly, student's learning. I have incorporated his philosophy into my classroom and it is amazing what students can do when you apply the right perspective. "Right" being the perspective for teaching and learning that best meets each student.

Mr. Kennedy's book takes you step by step from vision to action in meaningful ways that everyday teachers may incorporate in their classrooms with great success. I suggest you read "Lessons from the Hawk".

Mark Kennedy has adapted the metaphor of the hawk to broaden the perception of four basic learning approaches. Individuals vary as to which of these styles create a comfortable, and productive learning experience.

Kennedy presents a classroom management system which supports the four essential learning diversities. The author takes you soaring with the hawk to give you a glimpse that takes teaching and learning a giant step beyond the traditional classroom

Thorough and workable lesson plans are provided that include all four basic learning perceptions with specific goals for life preparation curriculum. These lesson plans are well thought out and have been tried and proven to be effective in the classroom.

The illustrations and reality checks are a springboard for more in-depth study of the principles found in this book. .

Like a good story teller the author weaves the characters introduced in the first chapter throughout the book to reinforce a learning perspective or a teaching principle.

Kennedy calls for school reform through two-way efforts in coming to conclusions with input from those being directly effected. He compares linearity with responsiveness in school reform and presents a collaborative action research plan for school revitalization.

The final chapter envisions the school of the future and concludes with a final lesson from the hawk. The book is well researched and documented. The busy educational practitioner will find this volume an invaluable handbook for frequent future reference.