Greens Books

I have had this book for years and I have to say it has help me a lot in learning and now in my new relationship. Its a great base to have the best relationship of your life.

Though I've always been a bit skeptical about self-help books, I am supremely impressed by "Lesbian Couples." So much so that I have also, like another reviewer, recommended it to my straight friends. Never have I seen such a comprehensive, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and helpful book. Although I did recommend it to my straight friends, I highly appreciated having a book written by and for women loving women. I particularly appreciated the chapters relationship phases, maintaining separate identities, and negotiating conflict.

My partner and I communicate well and have built a strong relationship, but I can already see how little things I picked up on in the book have reshaped our relationship for the better.

I hardly think of books I read as worthy of 5 stars, but for it's comprehensiveness and quality insight into relationships, I can say nothing bad about it.

This book helps seperate the similiarities and differences between lesbian and straight couples. It helps dispel some of the myths and assumptions and helps you look at your own relationship with a new understanding. Fabulous!

This book's advice has been so wonderful and has definitely helped enrich mine and my partner's relationship. I have even suggested this to some of my strait friends and they have benefitted from it's advice as well. The only advice I disagree on is the whole non-monogamy thing that they offer in part of the book as an option, but that's a personal preferance of mine and I am sure to those who prefer open/multi relationships will find it helpful.

This is a definite MUST READ!

And that's really what this book is--a necessary part of any healthy lesbian relationship. Get it, read it with your partner, try to incorporate its tips into your life, and you will see the difference in your relationship. It covers every aspect of the lesbian relationship from both a personal and a theraputic aspect.

It is great to have a look into Mao's China from the eyes of a child. I agree with many of the good things said, and just want to say this is a great book. Lyric, and a child's view, and great insight.

It's one thing to read the history of China's Cultural Revolution, quite another to see it through the eyes of a little girl who lived through it. In "Little Green," Chun Yu, born the year the Cultural Revolution began (1966), chronicles the first ten years of her life, from the revolution's inception to its ending with Mao's death.

What's startling about "Little Green" - the title comes from Yu's childhood nickname - is not just the vivid clarity of her memories but the beauty of her words. Written in verse, the book has the crystalline luminosity of Peter Matthiessen's prose and David Whyte's poetry. On one page Yu will speak eloquently of the gift of a blue silk ribbon; on another she'll share her pain - without being overly sentimental - at having her family's garden torn out after the state decided that private gardens were capitalistic.

"After a whole spring and early summer
of planting and watering,
the tomatoes were just starting to ripen under the green leaves.
Some melon flowers were still blooming on the fence.
The biggest melons had grown to the size of my little fists.
The sunflowers along the roadside
were only a couple of feet tall,
with tender yellow flowers following the sun around.
Nainai [Grandma] sighed.
'It hurts the conscience to destroy these crops.
What crime did the plants commit?' "

In this slender volume, Yu shows how her family is affected by the Cultural Revolution. Her mother, a teacher, becomes a target of the anti-intellectual movement; her father is sent for several years to a reeducation camp. In "We Saw Baba Only Twice a Year," Yu writes:

"Baba lived in May Seventh Cadre School,
where he was being reeducated.
The cadre school could only be reached by boat,
slowly moved by a long bamboo stick.
It took a whole day each way.
We saw Baba only twice a year,
in the summertime
and Chinese New Year.
After not seeing him for a long time,
it felt so strange to call him 'Baba' again."

The cover quote, from Maxine Hong Kingston, calls "Little Green" a "miracle" which initially sounded a bit over the top. But as I read the book and learned Yu's story, I didn't find this to be an exaggeration. For someone who learned English as an adult and spent much of her time in this country studying science, "Little Green," written with elegant simplicity in English, truly is miraculous.

I found "Little Green" so enjoyable that I began rationing it, reading just a few pages a night, to make it last. Thankfully, this is the first book of a trilogy, and Yu says she's already finished the second volume. I'll eagerly await its publication. Until then, I'll return often to Little Green's clear, bright lines.

Little Green is a wondrous work of art, like an ancient Chinese painting brought forward into modern time. Where a Western painter might fill up the entire canvas with paint, traditional Chinese painters used sparse brush strokes to vividly illuminate the very essence of their subject. So does Chun Yu use her poetry to bring to life the world of a ten year old child in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Like the unfolding of a Chinese scroll, to read her verse is to journey across the landscape of that time. We see her family, other children, revolutionaries and "counter-revolutionaries," political struggle meetings, war trainings, cold streams, warm meals, forbidden ancient poetry, and the sound of snowflakes falling past her ear.

Little Green is suitable for all ages, both children and adults. From her readings in the San Francisco bay area, I also learned that this book is the first in a coming trilogy. I give it five stars.

This book powerfully tells what life was truly like under Mao and his cohort. Chun Yu brings a new voice with an amazing ability to enable the reader to imagine life inside China during the Cultural Revolution.

This is a fresh and new voice to the history of that era.

PS I am not a kid although submitting a review as a child is easier as there is no password stuff to climb through.

Chun Yu's "Little Green" is a great corrective to much of the highly effective propaganda that emanated from China during Mao Tse-Dong's Cultural Revolution. Chun Yu has achieved this with a unique voice and with a unique literary form that is unusually poetic and that is not in itself a propaganda piece.

I believe that "Little Green" should be classified as suitable for all ages. While children will undoubtedly enjoy and learn from "Little Green," I think it ought more properly to be included with literature also intended for adults.

I heart this book! It's not your regular Amercian Abe Lincoln Log Cabin type of book... lots of international examples and a great little history in the front. I reference often when scheming about my vacation home I'll someday have!

Received the book in the time limit specified. It arrived packaged well and in excellent condition as stated by the seller. I am very pleased with the book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this seller to my friends, or to do business with them again in the future.

Radek Kurzaj's lovely color photos compliments the first chronological survey of log houses designed in Europe and the U.S. from 1890 to modern times, and covers a vast range of architectural designs and builder innovations in the process. Libraries strong in woodworking or homeowner's titles, especially general-interest public library collections, will find LOG HOUSES OF THE WORLD an eye-catching display title that fulfills its cover attraction and promise with equally compelling interior photos. But don't think it's just a picturebook coffee table addition: it's packed by Architectural Digest magazine editor Richard Olsen's commentary and history as well. The depth and coverage can't be beat.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I'm one of the architects whose work is published in this collection. At the risk of sounding preposterously self-serving, I wanted to chime in that I just received my copy of the book and I was very taken with it. It's a diverse collection of projects, nicely photographed, and in particular I found the writing to be refreshingly well done. The author captured the distinct elements of the built works and the narrative behind them very skillfully, and in my case, quite accurately. It's a great volume and I'm honored to be included in it.

Great insight into the world of the log house. This will shatter your preconceived concept of what a log cabin is, and show you what it can be. Very educational and beautifully photographed. A great addition to anyone's book collection who is interested in log cabins, architecture, or history.

I was leary about Modular Homes, but a friend suggested to my wife and I that we look into it as we are going to be building a home soon. Seems like it's a concept who time has come! Seems to me to be a very sturdy way to produce a home and the cost-savings are significant. This book was very helpful in understanding it all.

I have to admit, this is not the type of book that would usually replace David McCollough on my summer reading list. However, with two small children, our family is rapidly outgrowing our condo, and, with single-family homes in Massachusetts being so expensive, my wife and I have begun to look more intently into modular home ownership. If your situation is at all like ours, this book is near-required reading for you.

Michael and Atilla do a fantastic job of giving the "30,000 foot view" of the industry, and they do it in a way that clearly conveys their status as subject-matter experts, without ever lapsing into jargon or insider-speak that would make the message harder to understand.

In many respects, this book reads more like a well-constructed white paper that might appear in the Harvard Business Review, or some other publication of that ilk. It offers both strategic insight and tactical advice that can help you and your family cut through a great deal of the misinformation that exists about modular homes, and allow you to make an informed decision about what is best for you and your family. In an area where a wrong decision can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, this $20 book offers a guaranteed return on investment.

I give "Modular Homes" a thumb's up. Here is what I liked about it. It was easy to understand, a quick read, and it explained what modular homes are and what they are about. I thought modular homes were manufactured homes, or mobile homes, until I read the cover. But these are nothing like mobile homes. The book even goes into how modular homes evolved and how they differ from these other homes that seem to be tornado magnets.

Anyway, points well covered included the quality, durability, design, cost savings, time savings and the building process of these homes. If you don't have a great idea about modular homes and how they compare and differ from regular homes after reading this book, I would be amazed. Everything is simplified enough yet gives great details and examples.

I was going to build a new home, but have decided to wait when real estate gets better. When I do I am confident I will build modular unless something new comes along before then.

While researching in preparation for my first home purchase I came across this book and bought it on a whim. Truth be told, it was a huge eye-opener. I was shocked to learn how outdated my perception of "modular" was. After reading & learning the lessons from the authors, who are unquestionably years ahead of the curve on this subject, it is clear modular is the way to go in this market. The superiority over "traditional" production in terms of cost, quality, green technology and efficiency is mind boggling.

The book really targeted the key issues I was looking to address in deciding about a new home. My uncle had told me that he was thinking about a modular home, and I was ready to build a new home as well. I read "Modular Homes" and sent him my copy because it really was great at covering all the bases.

The history section of the book which is in the early part was of little benefit overall for me but was still interesting by providing a perspective in home building. But the most helpful part was the part describing the process and the chapter detailing all the benefits. These helped me understand why modular is doing so well.

I have picked a modular home to build, and my uncle still has to read the book. If you are wanting to know what modular homes are, and why they are better, this book is easy to understand and very thorough. It also was quick to read at the same time. I think someone ready to build would enjoy the stuff described.

Everyone wants money, but few understand what to do with it. "Money Sucks!: Money Strategies for Real Life" offers lessons that few people have ever been taught about the importance of planning with one's money. Aiming to give readers the essentials, and deliberately not a ten pound financial textbook, "Money Sucks!" is an excellent read for anyone just starting out and seeking to plan their money usage to avoid future problems.

Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (6/08)

I always enjoy reading personal finance books - I often wish I had started reading them at a much younger age. Yet, I also remember thinking how dry and boring most of these appeared to be. However, Money Sucks, Money Strategies for Real Life (2nd Edition), written by Miryam Gordon is exactly the type of book I should have been reading. Although it is not a big book (only 74 pages) it does cover most of the important points that any young adult, just starting off in the financial world (and the real world, for that matter) must know.

This book is quite complete and explains crucial topics such as budgets, paying taxes, how to fill out your first tax forms (this is a great addition), banking, credit cards and debt (this is such a scary, yet often underestimated topic, especially for the up-and-coming generations) as well as savings and even understanding your credit score.

Written in a clear, concise and impartial way, this book can be used as a referral manual for any issues that may come up with respect to your financial wellness. One of the most important topics covered (and in my opinion one of the hardest to understand) is the creating and following of the budget. The author gives us detailed and yet simple ways of drawing up and living within a budget and even manages to make it all sound achievable (okay I can't say enjoyable - because, we are, after all talking about a budget here), but her advice will make it easier to live with.

Along with the valued financial information, there are also some interesting side bits. For example, Gordon details for us the history of paying taxes (The Boston Tea Party), the dos and don'ts of bankruptcy and even how credit card companies make money. While I was reading all of this I was thinking, `it seems I should know all of this! Why don't I?' It is my belief that many adults may be in my situation - thinking I have the basics down, but in reality, am in need of a serious refresher course. As with many things, I think I picked up my knowledge here and there and now need to figure out what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to my finances. This book has helped me do this - it has me questioning the habits that I have developed over the years and it has me looking at the validity of these habits.

The little cartoons at the beginning of each chapter are a nice touch and send the message that reading up on this topic does not have to be dry and serious all the time.

Although I probably would not recommend this book for people looking for high finance information (detailed investments or tax breaks), I would absolutely recommend this to any child who is old enough to start earning (and hopefully) saving money and to any adult who wants to go back to the beginning and put their financial building blocks securely (more securely?) in place.

"Money Sucks" is full of straightforward, practical tips for the financially clueless. While many older adults could learn from these financial tips - I didn't know I should be careful about giving my birthdate out to inquiring minds - the book is especially helpful for younger adults. Even 16-year-olds have checking accounts, debit cards, and borrow money from their parents for cars, vacations, and prom dates. Now they can learn why it's smart to balance your checkbook, keep track of receipts and due dates for bills, and to know the perils of runaway credit card use. It helps that the book is written with a splash of humor, some fun drawings, and is easy to read.

Identity theft is a huge problem today, and this book offers advice on how to monitor your credit rating, protect private information from getting into the wrong hands, and resist the lure of no interest/easy payment options for buying high-priced items. And who among us did not have trouble filling out our income tax withholding form at our first job? Even the other employees - and sometimes the managers - didn't know how to advise us on how to fill in the blanks. "Money Sucks" give you a step by step explanation so that you will never again have trouble choosing your options.

It's important to learn all you can before you leave the protection of your parents' home. 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother And I recommend that before you earn your first paycheck you read "Money Sucks" because someday the money you earn - and may lose - will be your own.

As the mother of seven children, I am thankful for this book! It is packed with the wisdom that every parent should instill in their child for life-long success - in a convenient, fun package!

Ms. Gordon's book should be a part of every high school's Economics curriculum and every family's library.

This is a fabulous read for those of us who are still bummed out by our calculators. or hate the idea of budgets in general or just need somebody like Gordon to whip us - kindly but firmly - into shape. It's painless and fun at the same time. I glumly laughed at the cartoons and truly appreciate the neat ways she works out the interest payments for us. I recommend Money Sucks heartily, and think it's the perfect gift for graduates, whether from high school, college, or some of the more crocked ladders of life ...

The CD in the back of this book is worth the cost. The graphics are ingaging and imaginative. The poems of Rumi are inspiring as always and will awaken your spirit.

I was fortunate to be present at a live performance of the Illumination Band, and the initial distribution of One Song, at a conference in Haverford in 2005. I've since bought and given away as gifts at least 12 copies of Green's book, and I love the IB. I think the juxtaposition of Rumi to bluegrass is a great expression of the inherent crossover nature and humor of Rumi. By all means get it, read it, listen to it.
(Rev) Hank Galganowicz

Spectacular! I am a Rumi scholar and I learned a great deal more from this fabulous presentation of the thoughts and works of Rumi as brought over from Persian by Coleman Barks. Michael Green's illuminations and his thoughts on the insights of Rumi are profound and relevant to understanding our spirituality and our humanness. Fantastic!

Michael Green's mastery of graphic design is the perfect complement to Rumi's mastery of mystical poetry.

I highly recommend this to everyone who loves mystical poetry and appreciates illuminated design...

PS - I don't consider the musical CD much of a value-add, but even if you didn't resonate with the music (as was the case with me), the book is well worth the expense.

An absolutely beautiful book!
The combination of the prose and the illustrations makes this book a treasure for generations to come!

Doing a performance evaluation on an employee can be a real pain. I know from years of supervising employees and then from teaching the process in human resources management classes at universities for many additional years. That is why I really enjoyed finding "Painless Performance Evaluations" by Marnie E. Green. This book makes the performance evaluation process understandable and as painless as possible. In fact, after reading and studying this book, you will probably never dread doing performance evaluations again.

What I found important about this book was that performance evaluations are detailed as a central part of the whole human resources management process and not as an isolated event. By learning all of the aspects of working with employees, you can more easily deliver an accurate and helpful performance evaluation.

The book is written in a textbook format although geared to every supervisor, manager, and executive who has faced doing performance evaluations. The explanations are very clear about what to do while working with employees so an effective evaluation can be given. Exercises and case studies provide ample practice situations so the real thing won't have to cause a lot of stress. I found this book made a usually mundane topic actually quite interesting. It would be a great addition on the shelf of any professional involved in a human resource capacity in a business or corporation and would also be a great supplemental text for the college level class on human resource management.

This book is an easy read, and it is filled with practical information that can be applied immediately. You may be preparing for your first performance review, or you may have completed hundreds of performance reviews--read this book and you will walk away with a hands-on approach to performance management that will make a real difference in the performance of your team and the overall performance of your organization.
Susan Shoemaker, Head, Education Development Center, Ministry of Health, College of Health Sciences, Kingdom of Bahrain

Painless Performance Evaluations - A Practical Approach to Managing Day-to-Day Employee Performance is an excellent reference for easy-to-apply tools and ideas related to the dreadful subject of performance evaluations. Marnie Green's book successfully provides tips and guidlines that management can implement and follow, making the challenge of evaulating employees a positive experience!

As an HR professional, I am constantly looking for ways to coach the management teams on performance management. Marnie Green does an excellent job of outlining an efficient and truly 'painless' evaluation process. This book not only gives good advice on writing evaluation comments, but also advice on how to effectively deliver evaluations. I look forward to coaching our management team using some of Marnie Green's techniques.

Marnie Green has written a well laid out and easy to use guide for anyone who performs employee performance evaluations. Employees dread their reviews, wondering what they could have done better and how they will stack up against other employees. They come to their evaluation with sweaty palms, a nervous stomach and high hopes. Marnie gives managers and HR professionals an easy, practical outline to streamline and create a positive evaluation experience for the manager and the employee. She helps you conduct an evaluation with confidence, build employee respect, understand that the evaluation is not just on past work, but to plan for the future and help employees succeed. This is a valuable guidebook that should be in every managers office and be required reading.

Red or Green: New Mexico Cuisine
Once again, Mr. Casey has encapsulated the diverse - complexity of New Mexico Red and Green chili into authoritative simplicity. Mr. Caseys' refinement of organization with explanation of history, process and selection of fine New Mexico products is a real winner. A absolute requirement for the novice or culinary professional.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy Clyde Casey's latest cooking book:
1007 - Red or Green New Mexico Cuisine is Clyde's newest publication. It is superb, interesting, scholastic, educational and very informative --- It is just outstanding.

The author has a way of making you want to read his descriptions of New Mexico cooking - clear-cut and succinct. I especially enjoyed the section on New Mexico wines. I particularly got a kick out of his suggestion to keep ice cream along with milk and yogurt handy for those over zealous cookers.

I probably would have said "it can't be done - if someone was to tell me that Clyde had published a new cooking book or New Mexico and those wonderful Southwestern flavors.

- 1997 - Sassy Southwest Cooking - Vibrant New Mexico Foods.
- 1994 - New Mexico Cooking - Southwestern Flavors of the Past and Present.

All three books are a must for your Southwestern cookbook collestion.

Finally...a cookbook that captures the utilitarian essence of New Mexico cooking!! If you are looking for a book full of presentation photos or recipes that must be followed precisely, move on. The author, forgoing these parlor tricks, has chosen instead to focus on the reader's personal taste. In doing so, he encourages the flexibility and experimentation that is the root of this cuisine's popularity. In keeping with that premise, he has sprinkled informative facts and historical tidbits throughout his basic guide. This further inspires the user to create individualized versions, tempered to their own palate. A marvelously flavorful way to travel to the Land of Enchantment inexpensively and as often as your taste desires.
Todd & Terry~

I've lived in New Mexico 16 years and never could tell one chile from another! Now I get it, thanks to Mr. Casey. And, like the other reviewer, I didn't know a thing about wine. I always had to tell the waiters whether I wanted dry or sweet, and they had to recommend something. So I've learned about two things of which I've been totally ignorant!

The bonus is all the wonderful recipes--favorite foods to order in a restaurant can now be prepared at home, such as chile rellenos and sopapillas!

Thank you, Mr. Casey!

This was such a well written and concise book to follow. I really enjoyed the wines area and the history of New Mexico foods and beverages.
I recommend this book to anyone looking to get a 'flavor' of the state!

This is a beautifully illustrated book which tells the fascinating story of Santa's Reindeer! My 7 year olds just love these books! Get the one about Santa Claus too.

This was all I had hoped it would be. The art work is excellent and the text is such that as the child grows, more and more of the text will be enjoyed. Myth and fact are included, allowing for the enjoyment of the magic of Christmas Myth as well as interesting facts about reindeer. This will be enjoyed with grandchildren at Christmas time for years to come.

Such a sweet book. A delight to all children and adults. It's so much fun to learn about Santa's reindeer! As good as the Santa Claus one!

THESE BOOKS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. I BOUGHT 2 FOR MY GRANDSONS. THEY ARE REALLY NICE COLLECTIBLES AND WILL MEAN A LOT TO SOMEONE AS THE YEARS GO ON. LAST YEAR I BOUGHT THEM BOOKS ABOUT SANTA AND THIS YEAR THE REINDEER. THESE ARE STURDY BOOKS MEANT TO LAST FOR YEARS WITH CARE.Santa's Reindeer

This book is just what I was looking for its very informative yet child like cute.

This book is perfect for a first six sigma book.
There are no negative points.

It is amazing book for study six sigma. Good explanations and practical examples in combination with Minitab software. For those who are dedicated in learning six sigma, this book can offer enough information and practice.

I was surprised by the well balanced and complete coverage of the Six Sigma methodology from DMAIC, including managerial steps, all the way to statistics up through Design of Experiments. The all inclusive topics seem to parallel full Black Belt training. I would expect green belts to be offered selections from the book in a standard course. I would say no other book has this "textbooky" look and feel (that is not meant as a criticism). At the end of chapters find Minitab instructions including screen shots. The material is well written, hence understandable, hence I think this is one of the best overall introductions to the subject without slamming the reader with high levels of mathematical theory.

I think this book is an excellent resource for experienced Six Sima managers. However, if you want to buy this book as a study guide for the SSGB certification test, or as an introduction to Six Sigma, it isn't going to help you out much. I guess my lowered rating is due to the fact that the book didn't meet my expectations as it was described on the Amazon site.

This book was well worth my time and money! Being a Six Sigma beginer, I found this book to be easy to follow and comprehend.

Explained is the DMAIC process model, Voice of Customer (VOC), Voice of Process (VOP)and Design of Experements (DOE) in clarifying detail. Best of all, it includes step-by-step explanations of project experiments and the statistical analyses from the expereiments using Minitab 14!

Whether you want to learn the basics of the Six Sigma process (Chapters 1-8) and / or basic Six Sigma statistical tools and methods (Chapters 9-15), I highly recommend this book!

Note: Minitab 14 (Statistical software)is free for 30 days and the associated minitab-formatted excercise worksheets are down-loadable from the publisher's website.