Beck Books

Wonderful book especially as it is up-dated for current use since new equipment has been introduced as well as new products. Even if I don't use it to cook, it makes wonderful reading.

This is the classic cook book, and anyone building a library should have it. More easily digestible than other classics like Larousse's Gastronomique; while less rudimentary than The Joy of Cooking. I covers essential culinary classics and maintains the original recipes' integrity. This book is the jumping off point for those whose want to create the classics, and have the fundamentals to add their own flavors and flair. Julia is all about loving to cook.

Continuation of Volume I. This volume has breadmaking for one that wants to duplicate wonderful French bread. Unless you live near a fabulous bakery, the recipes in the bread and pastry section will make life better.

Both Volumes I and Volumes II are must have and make absolutely wonderful gifts for any new bride.

Julia's book was recommended to me by a French Chef we met in the Caribbean. It is the perfect book from which to learn French cooking. Julia's instructions are very detailed and make it easy to prepare each recipe. I highly recommend this book.

Being french and a lover of cooking, and living in United States for the last 15 years, I was intimidated by this thick and presumably academic American Cook Book, until I read "my life in France" also written by Julia Child.
In this book,the way she describes how she wrote "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was so lively and appealing that I decided to give it a try.
And I was not disappointed.
Not only she gives all the equivalent proportions, quantities and temperatures, but she explains very clearly and simply how to make a dish a success. I tried several of the recipes, my best being a "souffle with orange and Grand Marnier" .
To get the most of her explanations I also borrowed a couple of DVDs of her first cooking shows from my local library, and I got the same good feeling.
The reason I gave only 4 stars is because of the presentation of the recipes, with a very detailed master recipe, and just a few lines for the variants. That makes a little bit uneasy to go back and forth during my usual rush cooking time. But that is part due to my own lack of organization.
I was so thrilled by this book that I also gave it , as a gift , to a friend who loves cooking.

It was a very good purchase and does an excellent job of covering a wide-range of topics in an understandable way.

It arrived quickly, I got it for a great price, and it gets the job done. Perfect :)

its a great book to start your studies with psychological concepts and helps to think from diffrent ways.

Everything arrived promptly and in good condition. Also, the correct edition which was a major concern. Thanks!

I purchased this book for my Psychology class. It was a introductory class, and I was surprised as heck to see this thick, 700+ page book was what I needed. I bought it out of necessity. I was hesitant to take this course, but at the same time interested. Hesitant because I didn't want to find out that I had some psychological problems and read about myself, and interested because I was curious as to which psychological problems I may have. So I guess you could say that I was torn inside psychologically just with the prospect of purchasing a darn book. After reading the entire book, I realized that I had no less that a half a dozen different mental problems- self diagnosed of course. I mean dag nam it. I belong in a loony bin according to this book. I've got some bolts loose, I'm missing some screws, I'm a few cards short of a deck, and I probably need some mental meds and to be put in lock down. Heck, I have no need for a shrink, this book saved me money by helping me realize exactly what my mental condition consist of. And next semester I am taking a biology course, so I'll be able to determine all my health problems and be my own doctor too. Books are amazing, they really are. Even a psycho would buy this book. You would have to be insane to pass up on this one. Buy it now.

Review by A'JA Lyons
Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dane Bauer is an assemblage of eight distinct tales about young adults experiencing firsthand the perils of what comes with being gay or lesbian or being close to someone who is. Though this book was published 14 years ago, most of the stories still apply today, especially in areas of the Country that are less progressive.

In the story `Am I Blue' by Bruce Coville, a young man gets heavenly help after being assaulted by a fellow classmate. `Winnie and Tommy' by Francesca Lia Block details a situation where a young couple's love is questioned when one of them questions their sexuality. In `Parents Night' by Nancy Garden, a GSA booth on Parents' Night gives a teenage girl the courage to come out to her seemingly liberal parents.

Some of the stories are relatively lighthearted and others show the melancholy side of being a sexual minority. Each author manages to tell a creative tale about finding and knowing oneself without ending up with a stereotypical "sad homosexual story."

This book is dedicated, "for all young people in their search for themselves." These are short stories about teenagers who are trying to find their identity, Teenagers face who they are and find support from their parents and friends. In some stories, they do find support from school, parents and friends. In additional some even find the right person to be with. There are three scenarios: teenagers not being accepted from others, not getting support from others and themselves being confused with their identity.



My favorite story from the book was Parents' Night. This story was about a teenager who had her girlfriend but her parents didn't know, they thought they were just friends. At the beginning of the story she says that her father didn't give her a rose in her birthday. This was because they were at dinner when Karen gave them the news; she told them that she was involved in a club at school. This club was the Gay Straight-Bisexual Alliance, which every one in that club they were going to represent in on Parents' Night. Karen tells her parents that she was going to be there with her girlfriend Roxy. Her father wasn't happy with the news, so he didn't agree and he was really mad. In Karen's birthday her father was really quiet and he didn't give her a yellow rose like he used to every year. My favorite part of the story was when her parents go to Parents' Night and her father gives Karen a rose. He tells her that it was a little late and that he is happy that she got a really nice girlfriend. This part really got me, Karen was crying and my eyes were watery. She knew that her parents were now accepting her the way she was.



All stories have a main idea. The writer sends messages that after reading each story you might think differently. The idea is to understand and support those who are in situations like that. I think that people don't have to experience first in order for them to write stories. All these authors give really good stories, which really touch the readers heart and at the end of the book you put it down and have a different view of those who are confused with their identity.



The book has sixteen stories. The story Am I Blue talks about a gay teenager who has a fairy godfather who helps him out throughout his time of not knowing what he wants. The stories were different but they had the same idea in all of them. In Michael's Little Sister, his sister shows him that it's okay to be that way; she gives him support and understands him. Slipping Away is a story where a gay teenager tells his friend Maria who likes him, that he is gay but like any other girl she got mad at him instead of supporting him. Running from the book is really interesting; it's about a girl that starts seeing her sister's friend differently. Sheila was Heather's friend who brought her because she was having problems at home, and that's how Heather's sister meets Sheila. All these stories are really interesting and they throw good messages in each story written.



I like this book mostly because in each story the writer gives an idea why he wrote that story and why he/she wants us to read it. Also when the reader reads the story, the writer clearly states how the person feels. It is really important for those who read this book to understand what and how it feels when a person who is in a position like that might feel when he/she doesn't have any support or is not accepted from others.

There are some stories in this book that are absolutely phenomenal. "Am I Blue" is one of them, and it is a great first story of the book. This books helps people to understand what it is like to be GLBT from many different viewpoints. "The Honorary Shepherd" is probably the story that impacted me the most, as it deals with interracial relationships as well. Having bought this book on accident, I am glad I did. I've probably read the book 15 times through and I don't know if I'll ever tire of it.

Written over ten years ago, AM I BLUE? is still as important today as it was then. A short-story collection dealing with GLBT (gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender) issues by some of 1995's top authors, this book is a true gem for teens searching for their identity--or just looking for a good read. With stories ranging from contemporary paranormal, to ones set in the 1950's, to one based during the Vietnam War, and even one in another world of Amazon warriors, there's something here for everyone.

Stories include:

AM I BLUE? by Bruce Coville
WE MIGHT AS WELL ALL BE STRANGERS by M. E. Kerr
WINNIE AND TOMMY by Francesca Lia Block
SLIPPING AWAY by Jacqueline Woodson
THE HONORARY SHEPHERDS by Gregory Maguire
RUNNING by Ellen Howard
THREE MONDAYS IN JULY by James Cross Giblin
PARENTS' NIGHT by Nancy Garden
MICHAEL'S LITTLE SISTER by C. S. Adler
SUPPER by Leslea Newman
HOLDING by Lois Lowry
BLOOD SISTER by Jane Yolen
HANDS by Jonathan London
50% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING by Cristina Salat
IN THE TUNNELS by William Sleator
DANCING BACKWARDS by Marion Dane Bauer

It's hard to pick a favorite from this collection, as each story has something different to offer. From allowing everyone in the world to see who is gay, to wondering what it would have been like to have two gay shepherds at the birth of Christ, to manning a booth about gays and lesbians at a school parents' night, each short story has an engaging story to tell.

The only thing that would make this book better is to have a part two--another AM I BLUE? published in 2006 with some of today's best GLBT authors like Julie Anne Peters, Brent Hartinger, David Levithan, and more.

_Am I Blue?_ is a brilliant YA anthology that should be required reading in every classroom! Dealing with homosexuality in teenagers and their parents and friends, these stories will move any reader--gay, straight, questioning, or bisexual. This anthology helps gay kids understand that they are not alone, while shining a light on what it feels like to be homosexual for straight readers. The stories have similar themes, but range in genre, giving every reader something to thoroughly enjoy. I can't recommend it strongly enough!

My only complaint is that there were no stories that really focused on a bisexual character.

This book draws from simple everyday stories and the ancient and modern teachings of various cultures. Dr. Gettis' joy for life and for writing infuses each reading with a feeling of exuberance and enchantment.

Dr. Gettis, a full-time psychotherapist offers his readers golden nuggets in each of these entertaining, informative stories. The author's wit grabs you when he starts the first story, "Singing in the Rain," like this: "It was a dark and stormy night. Not really. I always joked that I would start a book with that sentence, so I did."
In "Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place," we meet Aron Ralston, an engineer, who went mountain climbing by himself in Utah, only to end up pinned between a boulder and a canyon wall. On his sixth day of entrapment, he evaluated his situation, and with the use of a dull knife, somehow found the courage to cut his own arm off to survive. He lived to tell the tale.
In "Do the Right Thing," the Dalai Lama suggests asking yourself the question, "Will it bring me happiness?" If you are pondering whether to have the affair, eat the cheesecake, go to the party, gamble, take the drug, exercise, watch television, or volunteer, asking yourself that question may help you to pause, reflect, and decide upon actions that help you to create happiness.
Gettis tells us, in "What, Me Worry?" how the noted author Carlos Castenada studied for years with a Yacqui Indian sorcerer who was the antithesis of a worrier. The sorcerer taught Carlos that as life passes by quickly, there is no time for worries and regrets, only time for decisions. He told Carlos to make a warrior's decision (decisive, with no waffling back and forth). "For happiness, be a warrior, not a worrier."
With these stories, parables, and quotes from extraordinary people, we are given new insights into the awesome capabilites of the human mind and spirit. This is a book to keep on your nightstand. Have it handy for inspiration in the morning, or for positive thoughts at the end of the day. For in today's troubled world, we need all the help we can get. A lovely book from a masterful storyteller. Highly recommended!

...so I could give this book (4) four thumbs up!

"At last, happiness' rubber meets the road! The Happiness Solution is a wonderful blend of the teachings of The Law of Attraction, Far East philosophy and Positive Psychology. I highly recommend this book to all and will be rereading it soon." - Donald A. Wilhelm, Author of This Time's a Charm; Lessons of a Four-Time Cancer Survivor

This book is great. It offers the right kind of advice. I enjoyed the book. It was precise to the point. I think everyone should read this book. I hope there is a sequel. I enjoyed the book. I hope everyone reads this book. They will find the right advice.

The Happiness Solution is subtitled Finding Joy and Meaning in
an Upside Down World. The author's premise is that happiness is
not an elusive 'something' you'll have if you're lucky--but
it's a quality of life everyone can find and learn to
experience.

There's an Indian proverb: "Tell me a fact and I'll learn. Tell
me the truth and I'll believe. But tell me a story and it will
live in my heart forever." This book isn't some psychologist's
textbook about the science of happiness. It's more like a
friend's journal, in which he shares anecdotes and stories
about happiness.

It's not a book that's stuffy and hard-to-read. It contains
over 80 short chapters, each one focussing on an anecdote or a
quotation. I love these: they make me think about my own life.
Here are a couple of quotes that made me ponder:

"Everyone dies, but not everyone lives." (Zoe Kaplowitz)

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you
do are in harmony." (Mahatma Gandhi)

In one chapter, I came across two little anecdotes that made me
think:

"If one places gnats inside a test tube and closes the top, at
first the gnats try to jump out and each time they hit the
closed top. After about an hour, they give up and one can open
the top and the gnats will remain put and eventually die of
hunger." Have I given up because of some past negative
experiences?

"In India, elephant keepers train baby elephants to stay put by
tying a rope, with a stake on the one side, round one leg and
placing the stake in the ground. The baby elephant pulls and
pulls on the rope to no avail. This teaches the elephant that
no matter what he does, he cannot get away when attached to the
rope. Later, when the elephant is grown up and the keeper wants
the elephant to stay put, all he does is tie a small piece of
rope on that leg and the giant elephant is held in place by his
own mind." And I think: to what extent am I being held in
place--limited and bound--by my own mind? Have I "learned" to
not be happy unless I have this possession or that relationship
or these experiences happening just right?

I like the book. It's Zen and psychology and practical. It
challenged me to not settle for less than what is possible.

I have just recently started looking at smalltalk and like many people (being used to c++), when starting out in smalltalk, just going through the code didn't actually tell me much about anything, it's hard to find where anything is actually being done. After reading this book this task was significantly easier, the reason is simple, after going through this book one gets a much deeper understanding about why the code is split the way it is and gains a real insight into why this is a better approach than the usual C++ style with 100-200 lines of code methods. Kent Beck's writting makes the book a very nice read, must admit i was actually sorry when i finished it.

I wish more Java/C#/C++ programmers would read this (and maybe even learn Smalltalk) so that they can appreciate the weaknesses in those languages and possibly in their practices that they might not even realize today. I certainly did. While Robert Martin and others have offered up some of the canon of good design for contemporary developers, this little gem really reveals the "feel" of good OO.

I'm always looking for ways to make coding work better, at any level from nanosecond arithmetic operations to decade-long enterprise operations. I didn't find much of use here, but there were a few good points here (very few). Let me start with those.

The "Execute Around Method" pattern is good idea, applicable far beyond this Smalltalk context. The Beta language has "inner" inheritance, which makes the idea easy, but most other languages lack a good mechanism for undefined logic between matched operation pairs (open/close, setup/cleanup, etc.) "Enumeration" is another good one, enshrined as "Visitor" in the Gang of Four book.

Most of what's left is either trivial or Smalltalk-specific and face it, Smalltalk is mostly a cult language with nearly no commercial significance. The Smalltalk pretty-printing and variable-naming rules, fatuous at best, are just not applicable to most langages. Some of Beck's "practices" are language features (like 'super'). Other "practices", like the long chapter on Collections, seem to describe standard library classes and messages. Yet others (e.g. Type Suggesting Parameter Name) correct language defects - Smalltalk chose to give up the error detection capability offered by variable typing. Beck tries to sneak it back in with variable naming conventions sort of like Microsoft's old Hungarian naming. Some of his suggestions are just dangerous, like that one that says a constructor should "half-way construct an object in one place, then pass it off to another to finish construction. (p.23)" This distributes an object's setup responsibility across its client classes, leaves unusable and incomplete objects floating around, and causes subtle exposures in multithreaded systems - I'd rip out any code I saw built this way.

The good news is that no new trees died to make my copy of this book - I got it used, and it's returning to the used market. At least my conscience is clean on that account, no matter what I'm doing to the poor guy who buys this book next.

//wiredweird

I wish I had read this book when I started getting into OO programming. This is OO to the max, at maximum granularity.

Beck's style is clear and concise, the patterns are understandable even by a non-senior Smalltalker like me.

SBPP has changed me. Kent Beck has changed me.

SBPP shed a new light on my previous knowledge of "patterns" in computer programming. I was deep in the DP tar pit. SBPP saved me. SBPP changed almost all my thoughts on programming. It has changed what I value, and how I pursue it.

Kent Beck says that he is not a great programmer but just a pretty good programmer with great habits. Build great habits with this book. Read and reread this book every morn.

If you have studied DP, this book will open your eyes to the wider world of patterns. You will think about DPs quite differently after this book. You will be able to escape from the bad effects of DP abuse.

If DPs were nouns, verbs and adverbs/adjectives, SBPP are articles and auxiliary verbs. SBPP are used much more frequently than DPs. When you learn a language it is very important to learn more frequently used words first. It could be less efficient(or even dangerous) to learn "appreciate" before "thank (you)".

--JuneKim

When I read don't start reading until you have the time I had no idea how true the statement really was. I found myself not only captivated, spellbound, and utterly mezmerized by the story that evolves on the very first page, I was blown off my chair literally.

Like so many other readers I was expecting a terrorist 9/11 story but I was fooled. Instead I got the very best Vietnam story I have ever read bar none!

Harold Beck tells a tale of the war unline any ever told. I enjoy modern day thrillers and this one is set against a totally believeable historical backdrop every American can identify with. It was a book I just couldn't put down

Where did this author come from and why haven't we heard about him on television? I found myself thinking the story was real, especially the part on Che Guevara. The story is historically accurate as Guevara died on the date he dies on in the story and he also died in the same village he dies in in this story. Is it a coincidence or is the author revealing some well kept secret, as is the main story line in this book? I could not put this book down and I also didn't want it to end. The images created in this story were all too real.

I began casually reading this book and was hooked by the end of the first page. I give it 5 stars as it is the best I've read in a long, long time.

Reading The First Terrorist Act was as if I was reading the newspaper. This is a story that could easily be non fiction and I found myself living the experiences of Charley Reed.

I am a Vietnam Vet and I remember the battles as the author describes them. The battle for the City of Hue was exactly as he described. No doubt he was there!

Arc Light was Operation Archangel and there is little doubt in my mind his account in Bolivia with Che Guevarra is factual.

Where has this author been and why haven't we seen more from him? I'm hooked. When do we have a sequel or when will this be on the big screen?

This book is a must for all thriller fans.

What can be said about Harold Thomas Beck other than he is an extraordinary author cut from the same cloth as a Tom Clancy.

There is little doubt in my mind that this novel will rank with those Clancy has given us. I know. I am a Clancy fan. Now I am a Beck fan also.

"The First Terrorist Act" was given to me with Clancy's "Rainbow Six". Clancy and Beck are pure page turners! There are no if's, ands or buts about it.

As most Clancy reader's know, his characters are all well developed characters. Beck does it even better than Clancy. I couldn't believe it. Where has he been? His bio indicates he is not a youth new to writing.

I initially did not want to read this masterpiece because of the obvious inference to that tragic day of September 11, 2001. However when I was told this was along the lines of a couple of Clancy's novels I thought better of it and went forward. I was not disappointed. I loved this book.

From the first page to the last this novel, like Clancy novels, is purely enthralling and you will hardly be able to put it down. Even if you've never read a Clancy novel before, pick this up and then go to Clancy for a mild let down. He is better than Clancy.

If you're looking for pure intrigue, thrilling action and a few good laugh's along the way, as well as real life women, something missing in Clancy, you won't be disappointed. I wasn't.

A huge thank you to the Author for this one.

My husband told me I would like this book. Why would I like a book about spys, soldiers, and the Vietnam War?

Hello!

There are women involved with spys, soldiers, and the Vietnam War - especially the soldiers who served in the Vietnam War. And are there ever women in this story!

Jerilyn and Cindy are the opposites yet so much alike. The dark haired slut versus the blonde who did everything she was supposed to do. They shared Charley, they lost him, and now they have him back. Wow!

Then there is the driven reporter, also a woman who faces all the problems women face in their drive to the top.

We also have daughters. How does this man know so much about women? Moreover, how does a man write so expertly about women?

The historical backdrop as well as the current events unfolding and me remembering where I was when makes this all the more interesting. I loved this story. When will there be more from this wonderful author?

It's been a while since I've been able to grab a book and really have a good read for myself. This was it. Right from the first page, the character Jerilyn is exciting and the mystery starts with how this is all tied together and what the women all have in common and what they have up their sleeves.

The book is very well written. I had never read any of Mr. Beck's books before and needless to say, I am now reading another. I figured what could top "The First Terrorist Act", but another book by the same author.

The book is very good all along, without giving away any of the juicy details, but be prepared not to be able to put this book down until the well-done ending.

My daughter recently turned 7 and she can't put these chapter books down. Great books to read over the summer for girls or any child interested in fairy fantasy. Definitely recommend.

We own all of this series! Started reading them when my daughter was 4 (she just turned 5 now), and they are age appropriate. Not too scary and always a happy ending. One book only takes us about 4-5 nights worth of reading together. The longer ones are good too "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" and "Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand", but they are a little bit scarrier than the short books (more appropriate for ages 5-7 I would think).

My daughter loves the Disney fairies and she is learning how to read. Because of the topic, she is having a great time reading these and learning faster than she would with other books. Great books!

Its a lovely set of books for beginners to fairies land. Great for grade schoolers. Beautiful pictures easy to read.

We purchased these books for my 6-year old daughter. We read them together and love the stories. We also enjoy the life learning that can be extracted from them.

I am learning German, so I thought buying a book that I have already read both in English and Spanish would be a nice experiment. I was very pleased with the translation and the fact that overly complicated words had apparently been avoided, keeping the book highly readable.
I do not think there is need to review the Harry Potter literature itself, I can just say I love this book in any language.

I just got a second copy for my sister to practice her German, too. Very enjoyable way to learn a second language.

A great book if you're learning German (like me) and want to try your hand at some pleasure reading. Most books in second hand shops that are printed in German (at least, the ones near me) only have books by authors that I've never heard of, or who are a dime-a-dozen. Maybe I'm biased because I've loved the Potter series from its beginning, but I would definitely recommend this book.

For those who have read the Harry Potter books and who are also interested in learning German this book is a great tool. I have found it easier to learn new words when I already know what the plot is.
Diese Buch macht sehr viel spass!

This book is a great way to improve your german language skills. I would strongly recommend it to any student of the german language... not to mention it is a great story!!!

Ich finde Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen absolut fantastisch!! Ich empfehle dieses Buch weil es sehr spannend ist. Das Buch kann dir auch mit der deutschen Sprache helfen.

Uplifting. Inspiring. Passionate. True. Reading SIZZLE for escape I found Mary Cavanaugh had personal and work things going on like me. It sounds so true. Why aren't there more writers like C.J.Beck out there today? Those over-hyped bestsellers I see all the time on Amazon seem a safe bet but I always go away feeling empty. Like eating Chinese food. This one stays by the bedside for midnight snacks.

"Sizzle has everything a connoisseur of fabulous ficition seeks. Compelling characters taking the reader on loads of adventure evoking tears and laughter simultaneously, an exquisite command of the English langauge and excellent use of details. Summer reading hasn't had it this good in quite some time." - Antoinette Walters review in Hi-Riser,Sun Sentinel Group, a Tribune newspaper. Couldn't agree more!

Sizzle surprises at several levels. It's a keeper that will be on my birthday mailing list since I know it won't disappoint. Border's has lots of copies.

I saw a display in Palm Beach and then later in Fort Lauderdale where apparently the author lives. Missed the signing unfortunately. Looking forward to the next one. Great Value!

How could Amazon let this sell out? It's such a great read for all burgeoning writers. Mary's the little lady who could. A protected spouse who blossoms and blooms in her late twenties to take on Madison Avenue, Hollywood and Washington D.C. by storm as to the manner born. C'mon Amazon. Follow Mary's lead!

Excellent book! Well written! Well worth reading! Also read her book/bio expose of the Mormons...it is excellent as well...she is/was a professor & writes very well!

This book is fantastic--I've never read anything that explained so clearly why women feel so miserable about their choices in the land of infinate choice. It explains why feminism has never resolved basic life issues and why the alternatives to feminism are so unsavory. This book is for any woman who finds herself confused about life choices. Martha, you're the bomb!

I've read her most recent works and have immensely enjoyed the bright and kind wit of Martha Beck. This book is scholarly, hard-hitting and wise; I found myself nodding deeply more than once with a deep "Aha!" of recognition. She is nothing short of wonderful and her books are excellent!

I came up against conflicts and obstacles in my life as a 20-something woman--smart, good-looking, well educated, successful. I had no idea what kept hitting me. There were the reasons everybody cites, but there was something deeper that was insoluble, it seemed to me. I couldn't figure out why I was the only woman I knew who was stopped in her tracks, overwhelmed by the horror of people's expectations and everyone's acceptance of the fact that these expectations all contradicted each other. It was even worse in my 30s. Late 30s, I gave up.

Yup, this is it. This sidesteps all the quick-fix, superficial explanations about how to feel better and be more successful at X, Y, Z as a "modern woman". Most people who write those books have no idea what that is, even though they think they do. This book is funny, smart, honest, well-researched. It sidesteps the typical cliches and categories used by 99% of all who write about women's lives. For that alone, she should get a medal.

A lot of money, time, effort, and grief wasted over the decades in trying to come to the very conclusions Martha Beck describes, but at least that means I know the real thing when I see it. I'm so grateful I came across it. When you've identified the real problem, the solutions you come up with have traction. They work. What a gift, to be pointed in the right direction.

Apparently this book did not have the success that Martha Beck's subsequent books have had - perhaps the reason why it is out of print. I have read most of her books, but this one, in my view, surpasses them all; I regard it as a superlative working manual. I agree with previous reviewers that Beck is both scholarly and humorous, but I think the book's greatest strength is the way the author brings together so many women's stories - the rites of passage that we all need to know about for our own sanity. I go to this book not only for validation, but also for much needed refuelling. Beck's analogy of the chrysalis (although other authors have used it) is especially lucid, and is sufficiently empowering on its own. If, as a woman, you are on a personal "vision quest" this book is a great map. Find a second hand copy, and never let it go.