Ford Books

Book was in perfect condition and came fast. Thank you!!

This book saved the relationship with my first son going through adolescence. Sometimes you just need a little perspective and this book gives that and more in lovely bite size pieces. Working in the suggestions that this author gives is natural and stress free, this is my second copy. I loaned the first out to a friend and she wouldn't give it up when my second started going through his "growing pains," I like to re-read it constantly to keep all of the tips fresh in my mind!

This is an excellent book, and I suggest starting it when you have a 12 or 13 year old - an age when you still have a little control over them! I have the hard cover, which has nice artwork on the cover, and it would make a great gift.

My 14-year-old daughter uses this book very effectively to gently prod me on issues that need a little more attention. Every few months, she puts a few bookmarks in at carefully chosen points. I get to feel like I'm doing most stuff OK, and she gets to give constructive criticism without a fight. THANK YOU

This book offers quick simple tips to solve any number of situations a parent encounters with a teen. Helpful advice will enable the adult to apply sound principals to parenting (and sometimes cause the adult to re-think the way we deal with our teen).

This book prefaces itself in that its intended purpose is not to cover all types of firewalls (e.g.corporate), but just personal firewalls. There are some great dives into previously unanswered questions I had:

1. Would I run a SW firewall if my DSL router already says it has a firewall built-in (answer is yes for a home LAN or a DSP WAN connection, no for low-speed dial up...)

2. How do various SW products (McAfee, BlackIce, ZoneAlarm) compare.

3. How do various HW products compare (DSL modems vs. Cable modems).(From a security viewpoint, there is a clear winner--you'll have to buy the book to find out though or else if I told you Time-Warner would send out someone to unplug my cable in retaliation)

4. How do I test these things once I get them installed? This topic was worth the price of the book alone...he emphasizes doing both Before & After tests to verify that insecure connections just become changed to secure connections. How many people might just install the SW or HW & then wonder "Did it really work? "What's different now than before?")

Overall, more useful information than I ever expected to find in this little book!

In the current environment where cyberbaddies are lurking everywhere, anyone who connects to the Internet without protection are a direct danger to themselves and an indirect danger to everyone they communicate with. There are many ways in which a user can find protection, and one of the primary ways to be protected is to install a firewall on your system. A firewall is either a software or hardware device that scans traffic to and from the system and flags or blocks any that is deemed suspicious.
Written for the beginner, the technical level occasionally rises up beyond what the absolute beginner can be expected to understand, but that is not a negative. As most system administrators will tell you when they are overcome with a fit of honesty, the ignorance of users is the greatest single security threat. Therefore, in my opinion, if a user cannot reach the point where they can understand all of the material in this book, then they are a threat and a prime target for a cyber attack. I consider the material in this book to be an expression of the minimal level of competence and commend the authors for being right on the mark.
The initial segment of the book is a set of explanations of what firewalls are and why they are needed. In the second segment, some of the most widely used personal firewalls are described in detail, including how to install and configure them. The third and final segment is a discussion of general security concepts and tools you can use to test the security of your system.
An excellent introduction to the critical role of firewalls in securing computer systems, this book should be read by anyone who does not know the basics of protection using firewalls.

This books leaves a mixed impression. First of all, although the book is called "for absolute beginners", it is not written as a book for housewives who never saw a computer before. It is interesting, informative, and the reader is assumed to be knowledgeable and capable of making informed decisions. In fact, one has to have a certain understanding of Windows (yes, it is not oriented towards Mac users) and TCP/IP to understand what the author is talking about. The author obviously has very extensive knowledge of internet security, and the book includes much of his practical knowldge. The negative side is that less than 1/3 of the book is generic and applicable to any firewall, i.e., discusses why home networks need to be protected, and where are the potential areas of vulnerability. The rest is step by step description of how to install and configure several commercial firewalls. Frankly, I do not understand who needs all these details since installation/setup guidelines are always included in the software manual which one gets in printed or electronic form together with the purchased program, whereas it is an obvious fact that any particular version of the program gets obsolete very quickly. I doubt that any of the descriptions of software from the book remains relevant two years after the book came out in 2001. I would rather prefer to see more generic (and less dependent on the software version) discussion of how to take advantage of the features present in most firewalls (blocking certain protocols, applications, IP addresses, etc.). All this said, this book is "beginner's guide" only because it does not get into too many details of what exactly firewalls do, and how they do it. However, those few items which are discussed are covered in significant depth and on a good professional level.

If you have a high-speed always-on cable or DSL connection then you need a personal firewall to protect yourself and your computer or home network from Internet hackers. This book covers both hardware and software based personal firewalls, including ZoneAlarm, BlackICE Defender and McAfee. You'll also learn how to lock down Windows security and test your computer's defenses by using any of a number of free Internet scanning services. Best of all, with this book you don't have to be a security expert or even know what a personal firewall is to get started using one. Highly recommended reading!

This is a wonderful idea! I hope there is a Part 2 coming up?SAY YES! I laughed until I wet myself! I admire anyone that can just look around and find humor in everything. Fantastic! I would have gave the book a 10 but they made me stop at 5. :( To the guy that rated this book a 1.
Sadly, some people have no sense of humor. You're really missing out on life. I must say, as I read through what you had written, I got the sense that you may have some kind of a vendeta. Perhaps I'm way out on a limb here but we are all entitled to our opinions. *winks* I'm sorry you didn't make fame whoever you are. I did hear that charmin was lookin for a spokes person. I'll put in a good word for ya. *GIGGLES*
LOOKIN FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOKS TED!

I needed some creative ideas for license plates and this book really came through for me. No matter what make of car you drive, you'll find custom-made awesome plates for it in this book. Not to mention it's hilarious, my husband the computer geek loved the "It's all Geek to me" section. Thanks for the fabulous ideas Ted!

This is a fun little book that is cleverly designed in the shape of its subject. It will definitely make you laugh and will give you tons of ideas for creating your own license plate, IM handle, or even email address. It is well worth the price!

I loved this book, it is full of great idea's for license plates and there is a plate in the book for everyone and every car. I think having a vanity plate is a great way to express yourself and personality. Thank's for the laughter! By the way John Sullivan you sound a little bitter, jealous you didn't come up with the idea first???? Get over it!!!!

In his year-end column for World War II Magazine, book review editor Robert Citino selected American Warriors as one of the best World War II books of the year. I agree. History books should be informative, accurate and readable; American Warriors is all of these and more. The author brings to light the military careers of five of our recent presidents, highlighting their naval service in the Pacific. Extensively end-noted, American Warriors draws on interviews with more than 100 veterans who served with the presidents as well as on a comprehensive bibliography of primary sources. Folklore has no place in this well-researched book. Presidential scholars will find it a dependable resource; more casual readers will find it swift paced and enjoyable. I highly recommend American Warriors.

As we currently ponder our country's military involvements and the credentials of those who would be President, a.k.a. Commander in Chief, this is a timely book to digest.

American Warriors is a highly readable, yet detailed account of the naval service of five United States presidents. Before picking up this informative book, I knew that presidents Kennedy and Bush Sr. served in World War II. I certainly did not know that five presidents were naval officers in the Pacific.

I am particularly impressed with the author's interviews of well over 100 veterans who served with the presidents. American Warriors is a reflection of his diligent pursuit of the details that are often passed over by political biographers. Time and again he sorts out conflicting testimony with rational explanations of events seen through multiple eyes.

Many Americans are aware that President Kennedy was the skipper of PT 109, which was sunk by a Japanese destroyer. I would venture a guess that very few are aware that Kennedy skippered a second PT boat, or equally surprising, that Presidents Nixon and Ford each served in the Pacific longer than either Kennedy or Bush.

American Warriors sets the standard for reporting these five presidents' military service. Presidential biographers would do well to take note of this insightful book. Military history fans will be delighted.

American Warriors is a detailed, annotated account of five American Presidents who also happened to serve their country as soldiers in the Pacific theater during WWII. The author has thoroughly researched the naval careers of each of these men, and has skillfully annotated their records by interviewing the many veterans who served with them.

The thoroughness of the research in American Warriors does not affect its readability. The accounts range from Lyndon Johnson's reconnaissance mission for General MacArthur, to the rescue of George H. W. Bush after his near fatal glide-bombing attack in his VT-51 Avenger. The details describing John F. Kennedy's heroism and dedication to his crew after the ramming of his PT-109 provide an equally important "rest of the story." The particulars of Richard Nixon as a young ground aviation officer stationed in the Solomon Islands present an interesting contrast to the Machiavellian characteristics that he later exhibited. And the natural leadership qualities of Gerald Ford are clearly displayed during his duty under fire as officer-of-the-deck on the carrier Monterey. In summary, the exploits documented in American Warriors serve as fascinating prologues, that should enhance the reader's knowledge of the more well-known political personas later developed by these Commanders-in-Chief.

American Warriors is highly recommended for those interested in modern presidential history.

American Warriors chronicals the time spent by Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Bush in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Most of us knew these five men from their times as President and their poltical careers prior to becoming President. Some of us knew about President Kennedy and the PT-109 story and the dangers he faced while serving his country in WWII; but few of us knew that the other Presidents served in the war and faced life-threatening situations that shaped their future views of the world prior to entering the political area.
All of these Presidents had to make decisions during their Presidency to send others to war. The book shows that these men knew war first-hand and were undoubtedly influenced in their future political careers by their dangerous wartime experiences. American Warriors provides information on these five Presidents that is not typically addressed in other biographies using interviews with veterans who were there to corroborate events during these Presidents' service in the Pacific Theater of WWII.

Absolutely hilarious! Makes me want to listen to the radio broadcast all over again.

These authors take you through the 5-book Trilogy (although they mostly focus on the first 3 books) in a series of essays. They are all light hearted, but some of them are more serious that others. It also includes a great interview of Douglas Adams from the 80s.

I had a lot of fun with the book and remembering my favorite scenes. The essays also helped me see different interpretations of the actions of the characters. I recommend it for the bookshelf of any H2G2 fan!

The book covers tons of details, from how important food is to the series, to computer design, the meaning of life, the meaning of 42, Marvin's place in the universe, Vogon poetry and even British humor. At under 199 pages, this tiny book seems to cover a lot, but I feel they could have done so much more. There is so much to debate and think about when it comes to Adam's universe that this book barely peeled off the first layer of the massive tome. But maybe we should leave some mystery for future readers to find and enjoy on their own?
To list just SOME of the contributors whose work is within these pages we have Stephen Baxter, Susan Sizemore and Adam Roberts.

Twenty essays make up The Anthology at the End of the Universe and each author basically tries to tell us what is so important about the 5 book Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy. It's sort of like the old joke about the blind men each trying to describe an elephant when they each had only a small piece of the animal in their grip. No one essay can be expected to give you a definitive answer as to what the Hitchhiker's Guide is truly about or what Douglas Adams' message was when he wrote it. What the essays do is give you an understanding of why the books are so popular and how so many people have found a place for them in their lives and hearts.

Some of these essays had me laughing out loud so that I had to read those parts to my husband to prove I hadn't really gone off the deep end. Other's had me wondering about how you could come up with such serious connections from a series of comedic science fiction books. Then there were the essays that had me saying, "hmm, never thought of that". And of course, being me, there were the essays that had me sniffling discreetly into a tissue. There's a lot to like in this collection of essays. However, they are essays rather than short stories and if you're looking for the latter this book is not for you.

Mike Byrne in "Beware of the Leopard", Cory Doctorow in "Wikipedia: A Genuine H2G2 - Minus the Editor, and Bruce Bethke in " The Secret Symbiosis: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Its Impact on Real Computer Science" talk about the impact that Hitchhiker's Guide has had on computer science, computer interface design, the internet as a communications media, and the impetus it was in starting many young people on a career in the sciences. The Guide in the television version, while done with colored gels and press on letters was heads and shoulders above what computers at the time were capable of achieving. Once people saw what a really good user interface could be like they demanded better than they had and the computer companies listened. In some ways, we have Douglas Adams to thank for the usability of computers because once users began to think there could be something better they demanded it.

Others see the Hitchhiker's Guide as a round about way to think of the truly important things in life: religion, humor, 42, looking at the world as it is. The following essays dealt more with the philosophical aspects of the books: "That About Wraps it up for Oolon Colluphid" by Don Debrandt; "The Holy Trilogy" by Selina Rosen (this one is so funny it should have a spew alert); "The Zen of 42" by Marie-Catherine Caillava.

No book about the Guide could be complete without a mention of Vogon poetry. Lawrence Watt-Evans in "A Consideration of Certain Aspects of Vogon Poetry" discusses the merits of quantifying poetry so that the Guide can equivocally say that Vogon poetry is the third worst. He also wonders about Arthur's seeming immunity to it.

Adam Roberts in "42" and Jacqueline Carey in "Yes, I Got It" discuss the philosophy of humor and its place in our lives. While Susan Sizemore in "You Can't Go Home Again, Damn It! Even If Your Planet Hasn't Been Blown Up by Vogons" realizes that the person she was when first exposed to the Guide and the person she is now do not view the Guide in the same way. Even with all the happy memories of that first reading, she finds that it doesn't have the same impact now as it did then.

Food, food, glorious food. Douglas Adams loved a good meal especially with good friends and food plays an important role in the Hitchhiker's Guide. The role of food is touched upon by Steven Baxter in "Lunching at the Eschaton: Douglas Adams and the End of the Universe in Science Fiction", A.M. Dellamonica in "Digital Watches May Be a Pretty Neat Idea, But Peanuts and Beer Are What Get You Through the Apocalypse".

When the world or universe is off kilter or just plain crazy, how do you remain sane when all about you are crazy? Well, some writers have evidently come up with some ideas on how to remain sane in a crazy world from their reading of the Guide: "The Subversive Dismal Scientist: Douglas Adams and the Rule of Unreason" by Vox Day; "Another Fine Mess" by Adam Troy Castro; "The Only Sane Man in the Universe" by Marguerite Krause; "Douglas Adams and the Wisdom of Madness" by John Shirley; and "Loop-Surface Security: The Image of the Towel in a Vagabond Universe - A Semiotic (Semi-Odd) Excursion" by Mark W. Tiedemann.

There's also an interview with Douglas Adam by John Shirley ("A Talk with Douglas Adams"). Amy Berner in "Words to Live " talks about how everything she needed to learn to life live she learned from the Hitchhiker's Guide. "Goodnight, Marvin" by Maria Alexander is the final essay in the book and a touching tribute to Douglas as a person who touched many of our lives with his writing.

This books is one of several that show wonderful works of art to kids in a friendly style. I provides an overview or the art and artist. The kids have really enjoyed using these books and trying to solve the mystery.

Henry Hammer is the owner of the city's auction house. The night before big art sale he learns that some of the paintings are fakes! The reader of this book will have to try and solve the crime by looking closely at the pictures are finding the fakes!




Each picture included art history information.



Yes. Mystery meets art in this unique story

For those who enjoyed Where's Waldo and other "look and find" puzzles, this book takes it a notch higher. On the eve of an art auction, the auction house receives a tip that 16 of the paintings are forgeries. The reader is invited to view the paintings and compare them with the originals to determine the fakes, which gang of forgers are the culprits, and how much money was paid out to the forgers. You can spend hours looking for the mistakes in the paintings and it is enjoyable (and addictive)! For children, and adults, who enjoy art and/or picture puzzles, this is an ideal gift.

I have always loved doing activities that we can ALL grow with and this definitely constitutes one of them. Its a great book with lots of twists for those who have a passion for art appreciation.

Athena's Disguises does not have to do with mentoring in the modern sense - i.e. where by one receives (or chooses/is chosen by) an individual in the same profession or area of study as oneself who guides and aids in one's own develop and progress...rather this book is about mentoring in the classical sense: "Mentoring in the classical sense, however has to do with discernment of choices rather than with self-advancement in choices already made. It as to do with the company we keep, some of it quite unexpected and perhaps short-lived. It has to do with risk and change as we continue to grow. So...I think in the modern sense, mentoring is generally looked upon as a safety net...an individual takes one on to guide and help...to keep one from taking risks and in the classical sense, it works just the opposite I do believe.

What I was struck by most in this book can be illustrated by this quote:

"Athena pulls alongside those whose need makes them open to help. She offers the right words in the right place at the right time, thereby empowering her companions to do for themselves whatever it is they uniquely must do."

And:

"In these disguises Athena imparts to each individual the courage and insight required to become one's best self. She empowers other for the sake of their own journeys. "

And finally:

"In the classical model elaborated here, mentors have our interest rather than their own at heart. They never want us to become like themselves. Rather, they care about us enough to want us to become who we are, discerning and living out the gifts that are uniquely our own, both individually and within our communities."

That more than anything deeply resonates with me...this is what I have tried to do with all my students and have been rebuked repeatedly for it...in some individuals actually feeling that I wasn't teaching them to be exactly like me...to do exactly what I do...and that rather misses the boat...what I strive to teach is a framework that allows each student to incorporate a core set of practices into THEIR beliefs and modes of being...one that they can use and modify for a lifetime...not one that make another a "mini me," that has never been my goal...and I wish I had read this a long time ago...it goes a long way toward explaining my own personal philosophy toward teaching...and that is basically that my "gift" what I have to offer of myself to others is available to EVERYONE without discrimination...that offer it without strings attached...but it seems that less and less people want to run with that, to be guided and nudged rather than told and prodded with a stick to do as I do or as I say and never question it...and you can be JUST LIKE ME. What I want is for my students to go away with something that is uniquely their own, that they can claim as something they did for themselves...not something *I* did for them.

I also find messages for myself in this book that keep cropping up for me over and over...the sort of "let go and let god" type of thing...whereby one still sets goals and makes plans, but where one cannot force the result in terms of time and actual outcome...where one has to be patient and let the universe move along as it should. That I cannot say I want this or that thing in X amount of time...that what I need to be doing is setting my goals and taking the appropriate action...and allowing that thing will, in their own sweet time and way, work out for the best in all ways concerned.

I was also astonished to find this quote, which is a tidbit about life that has always resonated with me and which I have tried to point out to both friends and students alike over the years and which is nearly always met with hostility:

"There is always time to do what you really want to do." I learned that moment that priorities, not hours, determine what we have time to do.

...Plates may be full, other commitments may have been made, schedules may conflict, but lack of time simply will not do as an excuse.

I'm finally learning to deal with "I don't have time" in myself and with others...and this book helped drive this home for me in a BIG way. I think most people would probably find this book boring...and for some parts of it, it really is...but it helped me immensely and I'm very grateful to have had the chance to read it.

I purchased this two years ago for my mentor, a terrific woman. She raved about this book to me and even took on one of the quotes to use in her many speaches to various mentoring causes. She said it was about time someone spoke about the importance of a mentor and how much societies need them.

Susan Ford Wiltshire walks the reader through the appearances of Athena in Homer's Odyssey. Athena takes on the appearance of close friends, family members, and strangers in her efforts to guide Odysseus home and help Telemachus into manhood. The word "mentor" comes from Athena's disguise as Mentor the old family friend and trusted advisor.

Mentoring has become a hot word for our time. Organizations have set up mentoring programs. Companies have set up mentoring program to offer larger companies. Accepting mentoring is accepting the fact that more can be accomplished through collaboration.

Many mentoring programs, however fall short. They have the skills, the knowledge, the time, the motivation but fail because the Mentor and the Mentee do not connect. As Susan F. Wiltshire began her studies and her career she watched the horizon for a mentor. Being on of the first women to enter the University setting as a professor, she longed for a mentor to help her along the rocky path that was ahead. She was well into her thirties when she read the Odyssey with new insight. She writes, "It was an important moment in my life when I finally came to see that the first mentor was a woman after all. Equipped with this story, I began to see mentors all around." (p. xiv)

Mentors are all around us, in our homes, our towns, our schools, our workplace, in politics, in chance encounters. Each adding to our life, marking the pathway before us, or pointing in a direction we had not previously considered. While this view of mentoring is very different from the many programs available, it is the view of the mentee. It is the humble realization of how many people have influenced your life.

Athena's Disguises was a very insightful book, in both my roles of a mentor and a mentee. As a mentee, I was humbled and grateful to the many people who have helped make me who I am today. As a mentor I saw how Athena never stepped in and took over, never gave strict advice but gently guided. As Wiltshire described Athena's role,

"She offers the right words in the right place at the right time, thereby empowering her companions to do for themselves whatever it is they uniquely must do. She helps people become themselves." (p. 131)

As I continue on my own life's journey I will encounter more "mentors" and will have the opportunity to be a mentor to those around me. This is a book that can be read again and again. With each new story, I was reminded of a similar incident in my own life. My role as a mentor has changed, as I have tried to do as Athena, and "help [others to] become [their] best self." (p. 132)

I am truly grateful that this book found its way into my library. As a student in a Depth Psychology program, I am required to do a community service summer project. For me, an obvious choice was to participate in the mentoring program at the middle school where I teach. In addition to on-site contact hours, I had to submit a research paper to summarize my experience and academic findings on the topic of mentoring. Having read three books on service and one on mentoring, I had tons of information but still no idea how to focus my paper until I found Athena's Disguises. Its appearance is rather deceptive. The beautiful cover jacket, the quality of the paper, and the slim size belied the impact the material would have on me.Through the use of stories, from the Odyssey to the author's recalling of personal tales that have affected her life, the historical and cultural importance of the goddess Athena's role in establishing the classical mentor model is explained in detail. This model is compared and contrasted to the more formal instrumental model often found in businesses and institutions.We traditionally think of a mentor as a wise and respected elder. Susan Ford Wiltshire points out that mentors not only come in all ages, but also in unexpected ways. She also takes the myth of the rugged individualist, who has made a go of it alone, and gently insists that no one's life is their own. Everyone is a reflection of someone else's influence. If we follow in Athena's footsteps, mentors will guide, inspire, and encourage the individual to realize their potential rather than to become duplicates of the mentor.Wiltshire references The Gift by Lewis Hyde when she suggests that, the task of finding one's gifts was considered a labor by the ancient Greeks. My labors this summer have been richly rewarded already through reading this book. I recommend it to anyone who is considering mentoring or sees themselves as an advocate. It would be an excellent present to a favorite teacher or other person who has enriched your life.

This book is an excellent resource for the new OTTB horse owner, or even an experienced horse owner with their first OTTB. Anna Ford does an excellent job at describing the life of the OTTB at the track and gives step by step information on how to help the OTTB transition to a new career. It made the transition for my new OTTB mare smoother,and she is turning into a nice riding horse.

By far, the most comprehensive resource for re-training the retired racehorse. The first book I've read that explains the thoroughbred's life at the racetrack, common injuries, conformation traits, and a detailed schedule for successfully transitioning the retired thoroughbred into companion and show horse. Wonderful interviews with top US riders and beautiful photos. A must read for anyone with a retired thoroughbred or looking to buy one.

If you are contemplating adopting or purchasing a race horse, this is the book for you. It covers every topic of transitioning a race horse into a dependable riding partner. It's a step by step training manual that will ease the process for you and your horse. Off the track horses are wonderful mounts; you just need to know how to treat them. This book explains it all. It is written by the expert in the field. Pick it up today!

Anyone who owns, rides, trains, vets, plans to own, or shoes an off-track thoroughbred (OTTB) simply must read and own this book. It is potentially the best thing that has ever happened to the retired race horse in the U.S. and Canada.

Here we get all the information that we so much need: What's different about the OTTB's training needs? What has the horse experienced in the past, from weaning to racing? How do this horse's metabolism, temperament, physiology, emotional psychology, and work ethic differ from those of the non-race breeds? How can we help an OTTB transition into new careers? What feed and turnout routine is optimal, and what are the tolerances for variation? Which types of conformation in OTTB's lend themselves to which riding disciplines?

I so wish I'd had access to this book when I purchased my OTTB 8 years ago. It would have saved us both many hours of mutual confusion and fright. Every single sentence of this book rings true to my own experience and all the best literature I've read on the subject of retraining a retired race horse. They are different! Emotionally sensitive, eager to please, often having been deprived of true herd membership by their previous lifestyles, the OTTB's are a conundrum to many ordinary training regimens including natural horsemanship techniques.

This book lays out the entire life of the average TB racehorse, from birth to retirement to rehab to new beginnings. Written by a racehorse trainer who is the daughter of a racehorse trainer, it is not critical of the racing industry but it is knowledgeable of the special needs these horses develop. A true love of the OTTB informs every page, and author Anna Morgan Ford now operates a retraining facility called New Vocations, so she knows both sides of the racehorse's life, from track training to second career choice. You will find answers to every important question here, and references to further reading and resources are generally provided.

The photos are gorgeous and you'll get to see OTTB's in all kinds of activities from dressage, eventing, and show-jumping to pole-bending and cutting. I got teary-eyed many times at the actually inspirational content: yes, the OTTB does every post-racing equine job imaginable, and yes, these wonderful horses will make willing partners in whatever job you give them, if you approach them with sensitivity and engage their willing and enormous hearts.

I'm so happy this book appeared. I really believe that the OTTB is going to benefit from it: more knowledge, more good sense, more successful adoptions and purchases, more great training and health advice, equals a lot of horses saved from slaughter and a lot of joy. If you have ever dreamed of owning a retired race-horse, this is the one book you must read: your lovely future horse will thank you many times with his whole great big heart and soul.

Simply stated, anyone who serves on a board will benefit from reading this insightful and practical guide to the multitude of issues facing owners and directors of privately-owned companies. This book is filled with great examples and useful information in an easy to read format that can help boards perform optimally in taking their organizations to the next level of success. A must read and future reference guide for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and board members.

Simply stated, anyone who serves on a board will benefit from reading this insightful and practical guide to the multitude of issues facing owners and directors of privately-owned companies. This book is filled with great examples and useful information in an easy to read format that can help boards perform optimally in taking their organizations to the next level of success. A must read and future reference guide for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and board members.

With its combination of descriptive instructions and candid experiences, Boardroom Basics is an excellent primer for current and aspiring board members. Additionally, this book brings to light the value of a well-organized board to smaller enterprises and as such is a must read for entrepreneurs and family business leaders. Formatted as a series of articles, Boardroom Basics wisely highlights key points on boardroom preparation and conduct. This clever layout allows for quick and effective reference. Board members of any size firm will find the book instructive and enjoyable.

Boardroom Basics: A Pocket Guide for Directors, by Roger H. Ford, Ph.D. (Harrisonburg, VA: Bear Mountain Books, 1998), answers the prayers of every director who has rifled through back issues of Director's Monthly in search of a past "Private Company Boards" column by this prominent consultant to family businesses. It can also benefit directors not yet acquainted with Ford, Showker Professor of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Management at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Basics offers practical guidance on a full range of topics, divided into six sections:

· "Introduction" contains articles defining the term "private company board" and defines the role of the board in such an entity. · "Board-Building" explores why, when, and how to build a board in a privately held firm, and what qualifications to seek in a director. · "The Director's Corner" asks and answers " What's in it for me?" and "How can I be an effective director?" · "Success and Failure in the Boardroom Battlefield" presents cases of interest to private-company directors. · "Special Cases" contains articles on start-up, family, and international boards. · "The Bottom Line" offers advice on evaluating the CEO-always a challenge when the CEO is also the chief owner of the company.

Cases abound in the "Battlefield" section, where Ford and coauthors present studies in takeover contrast. Tyson Foods failed to take over WLR Foods, a newly public company, because WLR had accumulated loyalty from its constituencies during its long years as a private firm. By contrast, raider Edward Lamb's easily gained control of the old Seiberling Rubber Company, a family business in Akron, Ohio, that had somehow lost its identity soon after going public. Basics also features a first-hand account on "relinquishing the helm" by Warren L. Braun, PE, retired chairman of ComSonics, Inc., a firm in Ford's home town of Harrisonburg.

Written in an engagingly personal style, this is the ideal "fireside chat" for directors.

I bought this book for my friend's baby shower gift. I looked through it quite a bit before I gave it to her and really liked it. I have since heard from my friend and it sounds like she really likes it too. It's an ecclectic mix of quotes, stories, cultural traditions, and poems in celebration of motherhood.

This book would make a fabulous gift for a woman who is expecting her first child. It is a book that can be enjoyed throughout pregnancy and the early months of motherhood. The book contains artwork and quotations from writings about what it means to be a mother and is designed to encourage a mother-to-be to reflect upon the amazing journey that she has embarked upon.

If you don't need information on the medical aspects of pregnancy or if you're like me and have a full shelf of expert opinions on motherhood and pregnancy, this might just be the book for you. It's short reading selections from a variety of sources and traditions, meant to keep you sane and centered during pregnancy and motherhood. I purchased it at about 7 months and feel like I will keep reading it after baby arrives. It's also a good gift idea for a pregnant friend who already has enough bouncy seats, pacifiers, diapers, baby doo-dads, and other "necessities."

Read this book and recharge your Mommy batteries.

This book would make a lovely gift for a mom-to-be, a book to be savored during the nine months of pregnancy and beyond. It's kind of like a crash course in motherhood for new moms, overflowing with thought-provoking readings on what it means to be a mother, but putting it that way makes it sound boring, which it is not at all. It's an amazingly poetic and beautifully designed book.