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I had a literature class once that didn't teach me anything about writing; but pushed a decrepit humanist agenda through each selection we studied. This book demonstrates that before Rousseau, Dewey, et. al. got our education system fouled with their socialist indoctrination agenda; there was a way of teaching western thought and methods that made our people groups truly excellent in a global context. Mr. Gamble's compilation is the most concise answer I can give for why I bought a home in Hillsdale, MI - where he is a history professor at Hillsdale College (...). Cheers, Mr. Gamble, and thank you for a great tool for educating my children - and myself!

A happy neighbor

"The Great Tradition" is a heavy tome, both in its size and the material it covers, but it is an important contribution to the field of education. Richard Gamble has assembled excerpts of works on education from the past 2500 years. Beginning with Plato, and including such notables as Aristotle, Origen, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Milton, John Henry Newman, and T.S. Eliot, the writers offer their insights into what they feel is the true purpose of education, and how best to go about that aim. What is perhaps the most interesting feature of this collection is that many of these writers were struggling with the same educational issues we struggle with today. It is somehow comforting to learn that people 2000 years ago were equally concerned about the state of education and the proper way to raise children. "The Great Tradition" would be a great addition to a college class on educational theory. It also makes for valuable reading for anyone interested in the very important question of "what makes an educated human being?"

One of the finest works of Christian Humanist scholarship to come out in the last decade, Dr. Gamble's new book, The Great Tradition, should open forgotten but vital realms of the past to the modern reader. Expertly chosen selections--forming the narrative and educational backbone of western civilization--pull the past, the present, and the future back into continuity. Dr. Gamble lovingly and painstakingly introduces us to a vast treasury of wisdom from Plato, Cicero, Seneca, Tacitus, St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, John of Salisbury, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Petrarch, Melanchthon, John Calvin, Edmund Burke, Cardinal Newman, Paul Elmer More, T.S. Eliot, and Christopher Dawson, to name just a few of the authors. Truly, Gamble ably demonstrates, one can find a direct line of thought and a continuing conversation transcending the generations about the most vital questions regarding the nature, limitations, and potential of our humanity. Indeed, Gamble, a true scholar and gentleman, understands liberal education in its proper sense. A proper education liberates the human person from the tyranny of the moment, allowing him to see the wisdom of the human race across time, the cardinal virtues, and the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. Most importantly, an educated person sees behind all of these things the One who made them each not only possible but also desirable.

Richard Gamble has accomplished a Herculean task that we should hope bears fruit worthy of his efforts. Between the covers of this large, but very moderately priced book, is the distillation of thousands of years of thinking about education and what it is to be an educated human being. Every parent, teacher, and educational administrator who is truly concerned about educating our youth, would do well to have this book at hand. Let us hope Gamble's work becomes the inspiration for a new wave of educational reform in America that undoes some of the most damaging trends of the 20th century.

Historian Richard M. Gamble edits The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What It Means to be an Educated Human Being is an anthology of essays written by great figures throughout history concerning what it truly means to be educated. Since ancient times, the Great Tradition has described education as the hard work the human soul undergoes in order to better understand itself and its maker. Individual writings quote Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, C.S. Lewis, T.S. Eliot, and many other historical, literary, religious, and scientific figures concerning the goals and true value of education. Each selection is prefaced by a brief yet insightful commentary about the author's life and identity, as well as comments about the selection itself and why it was chosen. The result is a cohesive picture offering much-needed insights into the ever-evolving education system, its purpose and its needs, particularly in today's era of debate concerning public schools and the rise of homeschooling. Highly recommended, especially for public and college libraries.

My daughter, too is enthralled by Geraldine McCaughrean's retelling of Greek myths. Her selections are the same stories I was told at a similar age and which I think whetted my taste for narrative and helped turn me into a lifelong reader. McCaughrean manages to get across the failings of her human and divine characters in a way that a child can understand, so the stories have wit and moral resonance in addition to plot. This book has us racing through the bedtime routine so we can read the next story together; I don't know of a better endorsement than that!

A great introduction to Greek Mythology for adults and 4+ yearolds that flows nicely from one story to the other incorporatingrecurring characters. Well arranged but stories are kept succinct without oversimplification. Cheerful illustrations avoid the gore from cutting heads off multitudinous mythical creatures. A worthwhile book for any complete children's library!

I read this book to my 4 year-old daughter when she became interested in Greek mythology, and it quickly became her favorite. The stories are lively and interesting, the pictures colorful and engaging, and each one is just long enough to engage without becoming boring.

I bought this book for my 5 year old daughter and we have read it all in just two sittings. She is begging for me to read it again tomorrow! That's an endorsement if I ever heard one. It's lots of fun to read too because each story is only a couple of pages long and the illustrations are very nice.

Ancient Greece is part of our 6th grade Social Studies curriculum. My students looked forward to hearing a myth a day and were disappointed when I finished the book.

This book is great for short, easy-to-understand, fun, read alouds.

Great book and was very pleased with my purchase. Book covers all the basics of every type fruit tree I can think of. I've already used it in the planting of my apple and fig trees as well as my grape vines. Soil preperation, early care, and yearly pruning and maintanance are all covered in clear detail. Lots of basic pruning sketches and I think a good balance of text info and helpful diagrams.

Book arrived exactly as discribed and in great shape. Excellent book from excellent seller.

I am very glad I purchased this book before I started planting my fruit trees. I did not realize what needed to be done, for best results, before the trees were planted. I also got a better idea of the size fruit trees I needed for our use. The book is very informative. I look forward to studying it during the summer and, hopefully, starting the planting of trees in late fall when everything is prepared. It is a little complicated to follow and I found I needed real quiet to get the details lined out. I had to take many notes in order get everything into a easy format to follow.

This is an informative book without being boring. Lots of diagrams. The book is laid out well and it's easy to find the information.

I have an extensive home orchard with 56 trees (18 varietals) of fruit and nut trees. This little volume covered everything I needed in a short, erudite and amazingly well-detailed volume. I live in the Southeastern US and this book was spot on everything from blueberries to stone fruits and pears and apples, (not to mention Walnuts and Filberts). It covers everything from soil preparation, pruning, fertilization, pests and diseases, propagation, healing-in, ad infinitum. I have nearly every book available on fruit and nut production for the home orchard. This is the best one I own by leaps and bounds.

I never tire of looking through my Growing Fruit book, and find endless new things about fruit everytime I do read it. The subject is fascinating and the drawings well executed. I work in a garden nursery, am a horticulture student, and have a small garden of my own; helping customers with their fruit tree problems and small garden fruit needs is one of my tasks. Some people are looking at fruit trees for their smaller gardens, having never been able to consider them before due to size issues and the like. This is a small career investment I am glad I made.

Guests Without Grief...has so many useful tips to make the job of a host/hostess
easy that you'll wonder how you ever had a party or had overnight guests before.
The pressure is off after reading about how to set up for a party, what to serve,
how to clean up, etc.

A must read for old and new host/hostesses alike.

I first checked this out of my local library, and then didn't want to return it!

I love friends and cocktails but HATE entertaining, cooking, cleaning, yadda yadda. This gave many practical tips and ideas that actually had me looking forward to giving a party!

ANYONE looking for simple entertaining ideas that WORK will love this book.

I left home with NO skills at all, and had to learn a lot from scratch the hard way. This book takes the scariness out of entertaining with simple steps, a lot that can be done ahead of time!! I recommend this book to anyone who is hesitant to have anyone over!

I was at one time a hesitant host. I figured you had to be the perfect housekeeper/decorator/cook in order to host a decent party. Since I'm none of these things (not even in my wildest fantasies), I was always very intimidated by the thought of having people over.

Well, I decided I needed to get over that. Along with some decent cookbooks, I picked up this book in my local library and LOVED it! In addition to some wonderful advice, Paula dispels the "perfection" myth, proving all a good host needs is a little organization and a lot of heart. :o) If your guests are made to feel like you REALLY want them there, they won't care if the soup is blue (ala Bridget Jones) or the cat licked all the salt off of the mixed nuts. Serve enough alcohol, and they won't even notice.

Paula also throws in some funny stories, facts and quotes. I enjoyed the book so much, I went ahead and bought myself a copy so I can refer to it whenever I'm planning something. It never fails to a) give me confidence and b) make me chuckle.

I purchased this book on the way to a diplomatic assignment. It offers a wide variety of useful and entertaining information. I often give to new brides and recommend it to experienced friends who want to entertain more. It covers a range from parties in the home to welcoming house guests. The friendly easy way it is writen inspires confidence in the new hostess and encourages experimentation for the more experienced party giver. It is a smart addition to any library and a great gift.

This is the second video I have watched from Frank Klausz (Mortise -Tenon Joints was the first) and I am again impressed with information relayed through out the program. Frank's passion and pride in his work is evident in all of his mannerisms. If you are a thrifty woodworker and can pick up old used hand tools at yard sales, auctions, etc., this video will show you how to rehabilitate them into excellent tools for your own use. Another great resource and inspirational tool!

In this 72 minute video, Frank Klausz walks the beginning woodworker through setting up his likely first three new tools. He sharpens, sets, and tunes an inexpensive backsaw, a newly purchased chisel, and a flea market smoother plane. In the style of his other videos, the complicated and intimidating suddenly becomes straightforwardly simple.

The most important tool for the woodworker is a sharp edge. You'll learn to hollow grind a bevel; waterstone the back flat; and quickly hone an edge that shaves hair. The dull, store bought saw becomes his scalpel after quickly filing a rip profile on the teeth and adjusting the set. A beaten up old saw becomes a new jewel after jointing and filing the teeth, and adjusting the set with a small screwdriver. If you haven't set a saw this way, there might be a thing or two for you learn here. Last, the dusty, crusty, rusty plane becomes a tool again after a good cleanup, flattening on wet/dry paper, and then properly setup for work.

As in his other videos, the work is shown in its entirety, in 72 minutes. Aside from some common tools you might already have on hand, you'll also need a slow speed grinder, a good set of honing stones, and some wet/dry paper. A flat plate and wet/dry paper can substitute for the stones. I use waterstones for the tool edges, but just stick abrasive sheets to a granite plate with a film of water for everything else.

Keeping the edges sharp used to seem an arduous task, but now feels no more complicated than a draftsman putting a point on his pencil. There is a danger, once you start sharpening, of running around the house looking for other things to sharpen. I'm done sharpening for now, and even found time to cut some wood.

This video is very highly recommended for both sharpening, and basic use of the most important woodworking hand tools -- the backsaw, chisel, and smoothing plane.

Terrific video for a beginner woodworkers. Frank Klausz has a true knack for teaching, without going over your head. Thats the true sign of a master, he has nothing to prove, just teach.

We're luck that the Tauton Press people didn't go the route some publishers do and overcharge their material... $20 is real bargain for what you are getting.

The section on how to tune up old tools, and the demonstration on how new tools are not as sharp as you would assume it is, were very interesting (at least for a novice). I also appreciated the practise routines he added at the end.

I'll admit that I'm a bit biased about Frank Klausz because I admire his abilities so much. From him (his DVDs), I've learned to hand cut dovetails, make pefectly fitting drawers without a tape measure and now with this CD, I have learned a great deal about hand tools.

I wasn't really a hand tool guy because I couldn't really get or keep them sharp. In Frank's direct method that doesn't mince words, he shows and explains how to do it. As a result, I've used his method and can now get chisels and handplanes sharp enough to push the hair off my arm without spending a great deal of time to do it. I also really liked his method of saw sharpening and so I bought a cheap one to try it out so that I wouldn't be out anything if I messed it up. I was able to turn an $18.00 dovetail saw into one that cuts as thinly and effortlessly as my friends saw that cost almost 10 times as much.

In short - he teaches you no-nonsense sharpening of chisels, hand planes and saws. Then, he gives you easy to understand practice methods of how to effectively use those tools. I got more out of this CD than I hoped and for less than $20, I picked up some great lifetime skills that have enhanced my woodworking.

Of all the topics in woodworking, caring for hand tools is the one (at least for me) which is the harder to get by only reading books.
Sharpening in particular is a topic where everybody has its own method which gets very confusing.
Through this video, Frank Klausz will show you how to prepare chisels, planes and saw with no fuss.
I think the video would have benefit from having a little more closeup as well as maybe covering some extra tools such as card scrappers.

I loved the book. I cried all the way through. This is a great description of what can happen in any pregnancy. Each baby is a gift.

Johnathan, keep writing!

Margaret M. Bowden

Hannah is a wise book written by a man with a huge heart. I love how the cabin-building provides a framework, always something to fall back on when loss otherwise wants to swamp me. I love the honest voice describing people who love each other enough to risk anger and fighting. I love how there are always elk or eagles, mud, a river, a runoff--how grounded the book is in the created world. I hunger for that & Jonathan Johnson feeds it to me. I myself am a better person with more to give when I finish this book.

Jonathan Johnson, Hannah and the Mountain

reviewed by Jacob Powers

It is difficult to find a text that gives balance between nature and family. Granted, each genre holds its own, but to find a book that discusses both the love of the wilderness and the love of family is rare. Fortunately Jonathan Johnson, with his memoir Hannah and the Mountain, has successfully done just that.
Johnson's narrative at first focuses on his goal to renovate a cabin owned by his extended family for over forty years for him and his wife, Amy, in the Idaho wilderness: "[We] came to the mountains because our adult lives were rushing toward us and we wanted to go out and meet those lives in a place that would keep us young and free and filled with passion. After years of school we were ready to settle into the long story of home." This feeling of home quickly takes a step forward when Jonathan and Amy discover that she is pregnant with their first child. Now, with the combination of extensive renovations and the limited amounts of resources to do so, the intent to form a home suitable to raise his future child in quickly takes off. Yet Johnson does it all in hope-hope that his firstborn will experience the beauty and awe of the wilderness that he and his wife adore.
Tragedy, however, ensues as the memoir (which reads a lot like a novel) quickly disintegrates from its optimistic dreams into the harsh realities of a complicated pregnancy. The baby is carried too low, putting pressure on and stretching the lower uterus, threatening a premature birth: "Amy'd been having pains low in her abdomen all along...the hope was that the pains were the result of these problems, not the contractions that could be causing the problems." Yet all hope is not lost as Johnson guides the reader through his and his wife's pains and grief towards a strong anticipation that they will be able to tame their dreams again: "We've got our little cabin on land I've come to think of as an extension of my own body...that will be more than enough for Amy and me to build a life on. I will not create sorrows in a life where sorrows find me on their own."
While most of the themes and settings in the book take place Idaho, many are reflective of Michigan's landscape as well. Johnson writes of Marquette where both he and Amy grew up several times throughout. There are also moments where he and his wife consider where they would rather have the baby-in their own formed home in the Idaho wilderness, or back in Marquette where their parents and past lives are. But what stands out the most is Johnson's connection with a past friend and writer, Mac, who experiences the death of his sixteen year old son when he died in an accident on the icy roads just outside of Marquette. It is in this moment of the book where Johnson connects his own experiences of a possible future father with the tragic loss that Mac experiences: "Odds are that being a father will forever be like walking on the thick crust on top of four feet of snow in the cold, February sunlight." As the memoir progresses, it becomes apparent that the love and fear of family cannot simply be contained within the borders of our own state or within Johnson's past life. Michigan may be where Johnson grew up, but Idaho is where his home and life is now.
Although the story is one that has been heard before, it is Johnson's heavy experience in the poetic realm and ability to capture emotions of joy and distress that makes Hannah and the Mountain stand out amongst others. With an interwoven reflection between the lyrical love of the wilderness with the preferable avoidance of the busy city life, Johnson paints a landscape that is powerful and unforgettable. Yet what lies in the foreground of Johnson's affection of the wilderness is that irreplaceable love and desire he has for family itself-"If any of us are ever saved, whatever that might mean, we aren't saved by the stories we create for ourselves to inhabit; we are saved by our loves." For Johnson, it is the family that makes the life; the rest is replaceable.



___

Jacob Powers is a senior at Grand Valley State University, graduating in the winter of 2006 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in English. After graduating, he plans to take a year off and then apply to graduate programs.

Jonathan Johnston writes with the evocative prose of a poet. He tells the story of his path toward fatherhood and toward the fulfillment of his childhood dream of building his family's cabin home in the mountains of Idaho. He does so with passion and care. The reader sees clearly the autumn twilight as it fills the fields and sees the full moonlight come spilling through the windows of the cabin. On these beautifully written pages the reader learns of the profound love Johathan and his wife Amy share. It is a book I shall love giving so others might come to know this incredible author.

I am a former student of Jonathan's...in fact, I am one of the students who sat on the lawns of the Western PA College during his Nature in Lit class that he mentions in the book. That was six years ago and I have been a fan of his work ever since.

This memoir is beautifuly crafted as only a poet-turned-prose writer could do. He weaves the story of building his home, following his dreams, and starting a family in a touching and compelling fashion. The reader relates to the joy and hope of the young couple and feel their pain in times of trouble. This is not a memoir that serves to glorify the life of the author, but rather, it serves as a connection to each of us who are in pursuit of identity (be it individual or family or whatever else)and who are all on the journey through life.

This is a beautiful work. I have never cried so hard over the pages of a book before. Johnson has been couragous and honest in his prose which makes it such an inspiring read.

I liked the Book. It was practicly the same In german as it was in english. the only problem Is That germans dont have all the words we do so it lost some Of its Fabulous Detail That we know J.K writes with. Its a good book but read it in english first.

I first read the English version because I was visiting England. Then when I got back to Germany, I read the German versions. I loved both of them, but you really have to read the English versions for any other language to make sense.

I read this book twice in English before I decided I should read it in other languages. It was so easy because I pretty much knew every word they where saying in English and German is not my foreign language (Spanish is) but I still learned LOTS of vocabulary it was fun learning some words and sentences in another language.

Preface: I am not a native German speaker and I read the book in English before reading it in German.

While reading a book about flubberworms and magic potions is difficult from the standpoint of new vocabulary, it is so exciting and satisfying when you realize that you are enjoying the story and not just the struggle to understand a foreign language. This is definitely a good way to maintain or add to a good, but not perfect facility with German as a second language.

I originally read this book in English, which is my native language and loved it. I later read the book in German to try and improve my language skills, and I got so caught up in the story, I forgot how difficult it was to read a novel in a foreign language! The plot is enchanting and the fantastic characters made the book a really enjoyable read. People, young and old, will fall in love with Harry all over again when they read about the dilemmas he encounters in his 3rd year at Hogwarts. For native German speakers, alle die Deutsche Kinde and foreign language students like myself, Harry Potter und der Gefange von Azkaban will be a favourite!

That is the new book by Alice Gunther!! Not only is she a great friend, but she is truly a great writer! Her gift at story telling and putting these very necessary words to paper will be a treasure to the home school community at large for a long time to come! This is a book to give anyone you know who might be interested in home education, and then get one for all the grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles that want to know why you might choose this wonderful lifestyle of home schooling your children. You will not be disappointed to hear about all her delightful adventures of a home educator on Long Island. It was a privilege and a pleasure to read such a heart warming and intellectual book on a topic so near and dear to me and my family. Congratulations Alice my friend!

Have you ever had a friend so wise, so creative, so full of good ideas, such a gift to your circle of friends, that you've found yourself repeatedly telling her, "You know, you should really write a book"? Alice Gunther is that friend, and at long last, she has written that book. Even as she was writing it, her ideas were bearing fruit in my own home and homeschooling circle: inspired by her Shakespeare chapter, I organized a Shakespeare Club for my children and their friends. I've never been a natural hostess, but Alice makes it seem easy.

What makes Haystack Full of Needles so compelling is that it is much more than an explosion of the myth that homeschoolers lack "proper socialization"--it is a vivid, lively, and detailed account of how homeschooling families can build community and friendship. The perfect blend of personal narrative and practical advice, Haystack Full of Needles is an inspiring heartwarming chronicle of the growth of a lively homeschooling community. At first, readers will wish they could live in Alice's neck of the woods and be a part of all the marvelous events she describes, but by the book's end, they'll be overflowing with excitement to put Alice's ideas to practice in their own homes, parishes, and homeschooling communities.

Catholic Media Review [....]

Ask a mother who home educates her children, ask which question she encounters most frequently and she will undoubtedly respond, "What about socialization?" In the decade since I began teaching my three daughters at home, this question has remained, even as other questions like, "Is that legal?" and "are you qualified to teach?" have vanished due to the increasing prominence of home instruction.
Now, thanks to the experience and literary gifts of home educator and author, Alice Gunther we have not only an eloquent answer to this question, but an inspiring guide on how to help our children find friendship and acceptance outside the domestic church. "A Haystack Full of Needles" is the book we have been waiting for, the book we may give as a gift to questioning family members, but one we will also keep close as we seek opportunities to help our children develop socially.

Alice, like so many of our family members had concerns about a home educating mother's ability to meet her children's need for social interaction. She takes us back to the days when she thought home educators were doing the impossible, to her early attempts at finding companions for herself and her young daughters, to the successful support group she is a the center of on Long Island. She inspires the mother who feels alone in her decision to home educate with her fond anecdotes and down to earth suggestions on how to find other Catholic home educating families, how to build community, how to run a successful social event, and how to support one another in good times and bad.
" Home-educating mothers share a unique cultural experience. We understand one another, and a large part of "socialization" should be geared toward nurturing friendship for mothers who choose this narrow, but incredibly rewarding, path"
Haystack is far more engaging than a dry how-to manual, however. Alice, whose childhood involved many trips to family in the Emerald Isle has inherited the legendary Irish facility with language gives her prose a poetic lilt which leads to such picturesque images as,
"The truth is homeschooling groups are not founded--they trickle together gradually, like a barrel filling up with rain. Still, there are ways we can help the process along, fastening the hoops around the staves of the barrel, lest we lose a precious drop."
The secret to the success of Alice's home schooling groups is her heartfelt compassion for the struggles of the home educating mother and her natural generosity in reaching out to meet their needs. "Socialization for homeschoolers is every bit as much about friendship for mothers as it is for the children. Many best friends have been made around the kitchen table"
Haystack includes an impressive array of Alice's social involvements, nature study groups, Shakespearean plays, creative crafts woven into celebrations of the liturgical year, but the greatest strength of this book lies in the fact that no one in the community is overlooked, not even the special needs child who is shy to become involved in a group activity. Alice has tips for getting these children involved and making them feel loved, "One trick I have is to pull out something especially fun, like a game or interesting little novelty. Not only does this entertain the child who happens to be alone--it also attracts others to be his companions." She describes the pains she has taken to teach her children the art of making the newcomer to the group feel welcome in her home, and that explains why at some of her Little Flower meetings, her lawn is filled with hundreds of happy participants.
Many people wonder if home educating is possible through high school. Alice admits that though many high school age boys attend school; home education social groups nurture the teenage soul as well.
"When I think about home schooled teenagers, the image that presents itself in my mind is that of a rose freshly blooming. Those little children who once played in our house or crafted at our table are fine young men and women now, and they are a joy to behold. How many mothers of teenagers are able to say that they love all their children's friends? Yet this is what I can say wholeheartedly, and I believe that these vivid roses are even more beautiful when arranged together in a bouquet."

That is why I recommend Haystack for all mothers seeking a sense of community in a fast-paced world in which children fail to savor the sweetness of childhood in their headlong rush to emulate questionable role models. Alice Gunther in her distinctly poetic manner, reminds us of the riches of a childhood fully lived in the loving embrace of the Body of Christ. The advice she offers in Haystack, is valuable even if your children are in school you are seeking ways to find like-minded friends for your family. She explains her balanced view of home educating here,
" As I mention this, let me be clear in saying that I do not think families who are not called to home educate are any less faithful or blessed by God. Yet, I do think, for whatever reason, God calls some of us to serve him in this specific way--not a more exalted way--but a different and necessary one."
I agree with my friend Alice that communities like the Immaculate Heart of Mary group which we enjoy on Long Island may just be the seedbed of the New Springtime of Evangelization which our dear Pope John Paul II predicted. One innocent child spending a pleasant afternoon among friends in the garden, one family sharing the joy of the Faith with another, young families are rediscovering Christian community and renewing the Body of Christ.

This is a wonderful book, for it not only helps parents deal with the "What about socialization?" question they get whenever they mention the word "homeschool", but it also helps homeschooling parents understand the value of building up a strong community of like-minded parents and families for their family to interact with joyfully.

Practical as well as theoretical, Haystack Full of Needles helps new homeschooling parents to begin a group; helps answer the question--what are the essential parts of a gathering?- (coffee being one of them), and what kinds of things to talk about.

But Haystack is not just for new homeschoolers. I am a veteran, and found many good and practical common sense suggestions to put immediately to use in my own group.

Valuable, practical, filled with common sense, useful, uplifting and encouraging, I hope all homeschooling parents will read this book.

Brimming with love and generosity, this book offers practical ideas and enthusiastic encouragement to all homeschooling mothers, novices and veterans alike. There are ideas for a huge variety of social opportunities: all kinds of clubs, arts and crafts, drama (the Shakespeare play alone is hugely inspiring), and growth in the faith. This book is a beautiful guide to hospitality, for mothers as well as their children. The picture painted of the rich and happy social lives (which is what most people mean when they ask about "socialization") of these families is proof enough that homeschooling does not produce socially stunted children, but Alice Gunther also addresses the questions most of us face regarding "socialization" as "learning to interact with others in the world."

I think it will be the definitive book on the subject. A marvelous book!

I bought this for my niece who is 14 after loosing her best friend and cousin to heart disease. I read it myself before giving it to her. AMAZING BOOK TRULY HELPFUL I am now going to order the adult version ...

The book will be very helpful in working with students who are dealing with grief issues. On hands projects with students are proven to be very helpful tools to empower students and decrease their feelings of helplessness.

I stumbled on to Alan Wolfelt's books while browsing around at my local bookstore. His books on grieving really hit the spot and offer wonderful suggestions for teens, children and adults. There are books for caregivers and for those grieving as well.

This book is wonderful. My son passed away at the age of 24 and my 15 year old daughter was finding it hard to find her way through this difficult grieving process. The book touched upon so many important and pertinent facts such as your grief is unique, just like your relationship to the person you lost is unique. Whether it's the loss of a sibling, parent, grandparent or other person in a teen's life, I think this book really addresses many of the issues that teens are concerned with when dealing with a loss in their lives.

Wolfelt has written this book in an easy-read format, making it not only easy to pick up and thumb through, but the bulletted pages make it easier for teens to read. As a School Social Work intern, the activities listed on the bottom of each page are excellent sources of ideas for use with students with whom I work.

As a professor of nursing leadership, this is a very practical text for students. I use it as an adjunct for graduate students who have found it very useful.

As an Executive Director of Nursing Business Operations at a large (900+ bed) acute care hospital, I work with nurse leaders on a daily basis about finance/operational issues. I refer to this book on a regular basis and recommend it to all of our nurse managers. It's not a big to sit and read cover to cover, but reading through key chapters (those of interest to you or where you want to learn more) is so valuable. I go back and refer to different chapters/sections as the need arises.

It is written by a CFO and CNO; they well balance the business and clinical perspectives for nurse leaders (managers, directors, senior level executives). References are cited throughout the text which I find very helpful; nurse leaders continue to be driven by evidence based practice--certainly that can also apply to the business side.

As the title says, this book merges the heart with the dollar. I highly recommend it; it is the best book I have read on this topic. It sits right on my desk!

Great reference for nurse mangers/directors and any clinical mangager/director for that matter. Highly recommend it!

I've found this book to be a wonderful resource for nurse leaders with materials that go far beyond the financial management aspects indicated by the title. The contributing authors do a great job of articulating why nursing leaders must be financially savvy and build a great case for why financial resources must be made available to provide quality care.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is a nurse manager/executive or has aspirations to be. This book is informative and entertaining and gives the information that you need to know in a way that is easily understood and able to be put to immediate practical use.