Family Books

The book IS great, you can read about its value in every other review on this site. I will not repeat them, instead I will tell about the little "but..": most of "healthy" or "non-pathological" relationships we support is not of the bipolar model of the offender and the offended one. Usually we use some forms of lightweight blackmail in one place where receive it in another: it is very hard to draw a distinct rule between asking and manipulating, and the more we need/want/desire something from the partner the blurrier is the border. And unfortunately you will find anything but help in "double blackmail", "crossfire", where BOTH sides of the story can read the book and find that they are the victims. The only hope is that they both get smarter with reading the book and start talking to each other. Which is very likely, as the book IS great indeed ;)

This Book is great on its own. The transaction was easy and the book came as described.

This an amazing look into the reality of emotional abuse. As a therapist I have been recommending this book to my clients. Watch out for an eye opening read!

I felt this book provided an eyeopening perspective on how we are manipulated by others and in fact may manipulate others. I think it helped me to gain perspective and move forward as I have emerged from an abusive marrige.

I myself am currently in the FOG that she describes in this and it has hit home very well and helping me redeem myself. She's VERY good at explaining and assisting. Sometimes I feel she's right there. Very informative about the different types of emotional blackmailers. I'm not done reading, but have gotten 3/4 of the way and I am so happy I bought this book. It caught my eye one day browsing through the bookstore, never bought it out of fear probably. My friend coaxed me into buying it and I'm glad I did. If anything, it will bring confidence and give you some sort of support while trying to figure out what is going on. Put you in the right direction so you can be free and clear! Basically, this book is AWESOME, INFORMATIVE, and a must read for current victims of emotional blackmail.

Someone gave me Sandra Boynton's Family Calendar several years ago as a gift. It was so useful that I buy it every year and I've also given it to my friends as a gift. There are only four of us, but it is large enough to keep the schedules for a family of five. It is vertical so every family member has a box for each day of the week/month. It comes with pre-printed stickers, like "concert", "dentist", "doctor" so that you can easily tag your days. I could use more tags so I purchased another set, but otherwise this calendar is a lifesaver. Everyone can clearly see what is going on and when!

This is just your basic calendar. Nothing special. There is enough room to fit a couple of people.

Those cheery Boynton characters star in a useful calendar. There's space each day to write appointments for Mom and up to four others.

We've used these for several years, and the blocks have provided enough room to write what we've needed. Meanwhile, the illustrations have brightened our days. We'll be back for another of these calendars next year!

I love this calendar more than any I've ever had. It takes some getting used to at first because you read the calendar vertically rather than horizontally. But other than that, it's perfect in every way. The stickers are really cute and add some pizazz to my scribbly mess. My life stays organized at a glance. It the first thing I look at when I come down to the kitchen in the morning.

I highly recommend this item to anyone looking for a easy way to get your family organized.

Words can't describe how usefull this has been for my family. We have 4 people in our household so the unused 5th column gets to be the Birthday notice - again, super useful. The stickers were ok, but not necessary. In a busy household with 2 realtors, 1 teenage girl who is vety involved in school and 1 old man with lots of doctor's appointments, this calender has been FANTASTIC. I'm going to recommend this to all my friends.

I bought this for my 3 year old son after reading it in our pediatrician's waiting room. My son thinks it's hilarious and it's one of his favorites. It helps show him that moms love their kids no matter what, while keeping his interest with its silliness.

I just love reading this book to my grand child. It is a great introduction to unconditional love. This book should be on every bookshelf! All of us have times when we wonder if we are loved. It would do us well to remind children, starting at a very young age, just how special they are to us. I Love You Stinky Face

I love this book!! It is a must have!! This book is great for all ages and it has a great message! There are little puppets that can be purchased to go along with this book; they are really cute and get students really engaged.

The best childrens book ever! I almost cry everytime I read it to my daughter. She loves the illistrations and the story will melt anyones heart.

No matter how many times we read this story, my boys laugh every time. It is a warm-hearted story with a nice amount of spunk in it.

This book is deeply moving, inspiring and challenging. Thomas a Kempis lays out what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus, not just an adherent or a church-goer. The simulated conversations with Christ in the book are especially powerful. Aside from the Bible, no other book has touched and moved me like this. Highly recommended reading.

Why claim trinkets when you can read one of the best devotionals on the market. I use it to keep my daily life in check, to remember to have the right focus and to live what I believe. This is the top of the charts for a "Christian" work. Brother A'Kempis was a great instructor and a wise disciple. So much of todays mediocre fluff is twisted by society, self centeredness and lazy Christianity where the thinking is done for those who don't see the value in meditation and self examination. Next to the Bible, this is my favorite work.

This wonderful book was written by the priest Thomas a Kempis in the 1400's and is very reminecient of the Apostle Paul's writings by encouraging readers to live a simple spiritual life. It recommends that peace is found in the heart of the humble and that in overcoming the ego you overcome the world. Joy is found in a quiet conscience and you are only happy when you have done what is right. This may also be the original source of the advice to choose the less of two evils. It also warns that pleasure and desire carry the seeds of sorrow. This book is spiritual focusing on living the inner life and not getting entangled with the world. A must read for all Christians or anyone on a spiritual path.

This book was originally a handbook for monks, by a monk. It never was designed or written for the layman. Since it was written, it has served as a kind of guidebook for laypeople. But to take it as a guidebook for us is incorrect. It was by a monk, Thomas of Kempen (Germany) for monks. It should not be judged according to what we think it demands of US.

This is not a review of the book per se (just got it, have not read it yet), but thought I needed to share this. Book arrived with another book (a textbook) in the usual Amazon box, each laying side by side. It was left out in the rain for most of the day by the local carrier until I brought it inside. The entire box was soaked and ruined, tape fallen off and box literally gaping open, all of the paperwork inside was falling apart in pieces and soaked, my textbook was completely ruined (soaked through, wavy wet pages etc - got returned), yet this book was absolutely dry - not a trace of even a microdrop of water - perfect condition. Take away whatever message you want...

All stories from Richard Paul Evans are wonderful and this is no exeption.Read the trilogy is forth it.

The reviews were uniformly quite good for this novel, so I decided to give it a try. The story starts out slowly and takes some time to work up a bit of interest. The central character is a twenties-something working in a nursing home. Not typically the setting for a compelling plot.
A quick read-not one of my favorites.

The old lady is one of the strongest female characters in modern literature. Evans is a very capable writer.

With The Locket, Richard Paul Evans proves once again that when it comes to feel good, sentimental stories that tug at your heartstrings, he has no equal. As with his previous books The Christmas Box and The Letter, he utilizes his unique blend of fiction and inspirational writing to convey valuable messages of love, faith, forgiveness and redemption. His words take us on an emotional journey that leaves us reaching for the kleenex box as well as motivated to incorporate these precepts into our daily lives.

After the death of his mother, Michael Keddington takes a job at the Arcadia nursing home, where he meets parient Esther Huish, a woman who is instrumental in teaching Michael many valuable life lessons concerning forgiveness, overcoming insecurities, second chances and never putting things off until tomorrow.

The Locket of the title is Esthers gift to Michael. It serves as a symbol of the missed opportunities in her life and for Michael represents an opportunity to overcome a myriad of obstacles and begin his life anew.

This warm and beautiful story should kindle the flame of hope that burns in each of us. 4 1/2 stars

This was an excellent book! It wasn't just a typical romance, instead, it focused on what comes after falling in love. Devotion, kindness, and respect were themes in this novel. It was well-written, and kept my attention until the end.

I cried reading this book, because it is so beautiful. Recommend it for all kind of families with small children, my son just loved it.

love this book. it gently opens a discussion about what being a mom to a child really means. we dont always "look" like our children and this book addresses that. specifically good for adopted children.

I love this book and my adopted daughter loves this book. Granted she is about to turn 2, however, she still will pick this book up for me to read regularly. I have recommended this book as well to the adoption forums I belong too. Great message we are all different and it is about the love.

My three-year-old adopted son from Ethiopia loves this book! Warning, though, the grumpy Mrs. Walrus has kind of freaked him out. I have to read her line with a really happy lilt to my voice. Depending on how sensitive your child is you may want to edit Mrs. Walrus's words/tone the first time you read it to your child. I don't think my son can imagine how/why an "adult" would say to a child, "Now go away. Leave me alone."

I bought this book a couple of weeks ago and he has, a few times since then, talked about being sad when he had no mommy and no daddy in Ethiopia. He was just a few months old when he was adopted and was in excellent care while living there so I'm guessing that this book has put that idea into his head. Not a bad thing...just be aware that it might bring out emotions in your child that he or she hasn't discussed before.

I absolutely adore this book. My sister gave it to us before we traveled to China to adopt our daughter. She's just over two now and has read this book with me dozens of times. We both love the illustrations, and even at a very young age, she "gets" the idea that Choco finds a mother in Mrs. Bear, regardless of the fact that they look nothing alike. (I confess I still get misty every time I read it.) The message is delightfully done--not schmaltzy, not overdone. I would recommend this to any family--adoptive or not.

I buy these bibles by the case as an evangeliziing tool - to give to people as gifts. Last week I heard a teenage girl light up in her group of friends expressing joy that this bible was a comic book - this made the others wish they too had listened and engaged in thoughtful discussion about the meaning of life. Of all the comic book like bible books, I like this one the best because it is very detailed and sticks to the words of the bible. It's good for all ages - helps people read the bible who otherwise would not, and learn the life lessons through biblical stories.

My parents purchased a Picture Bible for me in the early 1980's when I was a child. It truly made the bible stories come alive to me from a child's perspective. As a child it is sometimes difficult to visualize all the details within the a story of the bible but, the picture bible presents the stories in a pictorial comic-book layout that really brings it to life makeing it fun to read. I just purchased this picture bible for my daughther. It appears to be a reprint of the one I read years ago as a child. I would highly recommend it.

My Godson and his mother are really pleased with this Bible. It provides a good teaching tool, that is easier to follow than the King James version of the Bible. It is colorfully illustrated, and very easy to read.

I purchased this bible for my oldest daughter when she was only three years old. She has enjoyed reading this bible for years. I even went out and purchased this bible for my other three daughters as well since it was a hit with my first one. The pictures make learning the bible so much easier and make it so much more exciting to read for everyone. I would recommend this bible to everyone.

I've bought at least 4-5 different comic/picture Bibles for my kids.
This one stands out as the best in all categories.
The details, the accuracy to scripture, the color, the amount of picture, the price, all in all, this one tops them all.
During one summer, my son read the picture bible 7-8 times cover to cover.
He now excels at all bible trivial questions in Sunday school.

I have one for my son and one for my daughter.
Buy it, it's a great buy!

If you are reading these reviews, then you are most likely the parent of a teen and you need some support right now. I work with teens. I wrote a book for teens. Teens talk to me. Parents of teens talk to me. Most importantly, I am a mom of teens.

What I can tell you is that parenting teens can be HARD. We all know parenting is the hardest job in the world and parenting teens is the hardest part of parenting. Michael Bradley's book, "Yes, Your Teen is Crazy!" is worth its weight in gold. I have read it and I recommend it very highly. (Read the whole book, not just parts!)

Bradley supports you with stories that let you know you are not alone in the struggle to grow your teen safely. He uses humor and he doesn't hold any punches, he tells it like it is even though it may be hard to hear.

Be ready for some self-examination. We are doing our best to grow our teens but in the process we are meant to grow as well. You may need to heal some of your own wounds from the way you were raised. You may need to develop new parenting skills. The good news is that you CAN do this. You are not alone. Yes, your teen is crazy AND you can get through this in spectacular ways.

One of the things Bradley wrote that is really sticking with me and that I've shared with a lot of other parents already is that your shining moments as a parent are not the happy, easy times. They are the challenging times when you rise. If you can stay calm in the face of insanity, those are your shining moments as a parent.

Read this book from cover to cover and then do it again as needed. We all fall on our face as parents AND we can get up and try again and do a little better each time.

Big blessings for a great relationship with your teen!

Aunt Laya
Mom to teens, and the author of the self-help book, "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way."

Amazing book! It has not only helped me with my 16 year old - but is helping me change my relationship with my 14,10 and 8 year old boys for the better. I've already sent copies to friends with younger children - to give them a head start.

I have read this book cover to cover and I think the book covers pretty much every aspect of parenting teenagers - I've got two in my home. I bought the "Yes, Your Parents are Crazy" for my teens, as well. I wish Dr. would have mentioned something about cell phones, but I think I can figure them out, too with the help of other info. in this book. I have found some excellent ideas in this book and it has definately helped me maintain my inner "dispassionate cop" when dealing with those inevitable teen moments as well as help my sense of humor resurface. I have often been heard saying that there are lots of similarities in raising infants to teenagers including the number of people giving you unsolicitated advice. I think this book provides more then just more advice; it provides prospective.

This book is a Godsend! EVERY parent should read it...if possible, even BEFORE their child enters adolescence! You will gain the key to reaching your child! You will learn what TO DO and sometimes more importantly, what NOT to do regarding your parenting of your adolescent. His insight is REAL and APPLICABLE! You will be rewarded with a rich and mutually beneficial relationship with your child where you both feel respected and valued. This book was remarkable! I couldn't put it down. I am sure I will read it and reread it a few times. It's the closest thing to a how to book I've seen. He is brilliant!

Too many moments where your teen will just blow you away with something you never saw coming! The craziest things they do...you might understand after you read this book. I definetely recommend it.

This is an outstanding book if you're looking for something that helps challenge your way of thinking about relationships. I've found it useful in both personal and work situations.

This book does not teach you to slow yourself down it teaches you how to deal with your life in a better manner while still maintaining the pace you wish to live. This is a life changing read and I also think if you are in business you should read the Self Deception book by the same author(s). You will not find a better read even for someone who hadn't finished a complete book since college (yes many years ago), I read them both in less than a week. Good Luck (this will help)

Kevin Eliason
Lakeside Mortgage

I just finished this book last night. Hard to put down. Well written and easy to follow, using a fictional narrative to teach principles of avoiding conflict.

Set in a treatment program setting, several people discover how they are destroying their relationships with their children/co-workers. The reader learns first, how they are wrecking their relationships; second, how to view themselves in a different way; third, how to change AND maintain the new outlook and heal broken communication lines. The Change Pyramid at the end was very helpful.

Essentially, all this boils down to the Golden Rule and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Where people go wrong is seeing where they fail in this setting. This book, a sequel and a much better personal substitute for "Leadership and Self Deception" gives practical advice and entertaining examples that many could relate to on some level.

This is a must sequel to Leadership and Self-Deception. These two books have been of the most influential books I have ever read.

Well, that is pretty impressive. At the time of writing this review there are currently 64 reviews, and of those 59 are 5-star and 5 are 4-star. Really, that should say a lot.

The Arbinger Institute has crafted one of the best works on understanding the root of peace in humanity that I have ever seen. The "warring in your heart" concept is something we all probably innately understand, but rarely, if ever, think about in the way presented in this work. Were all of us to understand this concept and the principles around "getting out of the box(es)" that keep us at war in our hearts, we would surely root out many problems in our families, workplaces, communities, and international relations.

This truly is one of those rare books that I would recommend to anyone.

I am a new mom (5 month old baby) and found this book amazing. I really enjoyed reading it and I love that it covers both the theory and the practical side of how a child develops emotionally. It is very well organized; the first part covers the goals for emotional development, and the second part covers the challenges one encounters. Each chapter finishes with a very specific list of tips for parents, which are summarized at the end by theme, with a note of age relevance for quick reference. You can't get better organized than that!

Absolutely wonderful and very psychologically-sound! Helps you understand your baby's feelings, needs, and temperament. Provides great advice to help your baby grow up with a secure attachment. Well-researched and well-organized. It is a must read!

My daughter is only three months old and already the information I've learned and applied from this book are working wonders. She's just such a happy baby and I believe that this book has made that possible. From the beginning she's been a sweet heart but from what I've read thus far I'm able to keep her smiling and understand what it is she need's from me. Every night I read this aloud to my hubby and we are just amazed how simple but effect the teachings in this book are. You may say that don't have the time to read this book but after reading just a few pages this book will make you want to find time to read it.

If you are like most new moms, you will not have time to read this book. I have to read through a few pages just to get one piece of good advice from it. That's time that I just don't have to spare. This book is not good as a how-to book and is not organized well enough for anyone with children.

I have 2 babies. One 5 months old and the other 2 years old. This book it is helpul because can help in both cases. It is very easy to read and very simple make those little things that makes the big difference. Thanks. You are fantastic.