Home Books

inspirational and pleasant! an eye candy, a page turner, I could not get enough! Pages filled with interiors variations from vintage cottage to modern with a chock of color. Unexpected combinations of textiles and wall hangings mixed with truly amazing architectural details. the book is the celebration of eclectic style. Almoust every page shows a fantasy home, created with such ease, charm and playfulness - it's contagious.

This book is eye candy offered at a great price! Wonderful photography, colors, and graphics.

Out of all the books from Tricia Guild, this one is her very best, I think! I am a huge fan!!!

This book is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. Rich and colorful, it's a feast for the eyes! If you design interior spaces or home textiles, this book will be an especially great addition to your collection.

You will not want to put this book down! If only I could magically transport myself to one of Tricia Guild's ethereal spaces...I would never want to leave. Opening this book is like taking a journey...it's an adventure in sumptuous fabrics, luscious colors and tactile textiles. Her patterns are romantic yet whimsical, and she masterfully juxtaposes modern and antique elements and motifs with themes of flowers and nature accented with candy colors! This book appeals to feminine sensibilities!

Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My mother is in a nursing home and has dementia.

The variety of emotions and experiences in this beautifully written and profoundly felt collection covered about 80% of my gifts and disasters during my 12 years of 24/7/365. It's wonderful when we can read that others share our sorrows and joys while putting careful and caring words and analysis to them. New Wave CareGivers are not your father's Buick anymore.

Most of us are amateurs in caring for ill people. As one reviewer wrote, the burden of doing so "is apt to descend upon us like a blow from fate, stunning and unforeseen. ... [Then] something cracks open -- a father or a friend gets cancer, a mother succumbs to Alzheimer's, a husband has a terrible accident, a child dies -- and what Virginia Woolf once called "extreme reality" floods in." Any one of us can find ourselves unexpectedly tested to the limits of our endurance.

In number terms, there are 30 million caretakers in this country, and of course at least 30 million patients. As our population ages, both numbers are sure to grow, and the number of patients will undoubted grow faster than the number of caretakers.

These 19 people have written honest accounts of their experiences. The essays will help anyone understand the possible tests to their own endurance: the blow may happen to you as a caretaker or as a patient -- in either event, it will help to be as prepared as you can be.

Caretakers in this book describe the burden as "a black hole of time and energy," a "Black Balloon," "our own little prison," "Planet Autism" and "this unfamiliar country with different weathers, different rules." The caretaker's love is often meaningless; "You and your love don't help me," Helen Schulman's father says. "How could this be? How could this endless reservoir of affection and attachment and respect that I felt for this man prove so powerless, so worthless?"

Dr. Jerome Groopman finds that when a friend is diagnosed for cancer, "for the first time in my career I had reached my limits as a treating physician... [Now I'm only a] physician once removed."

Many caretakers can't escape at all. Scot Sea, the father of a severely autistic 15-year-old girl, describes the daily routine as "just the same scene from the same interminable clip on the late show from hell". He has contempt for those "New Age pests, overdosed on media mythology," who tell him "that being the parent of an autistic child is a blessing." Nevertheless he continues to take care of his daughter.

Helen Schulman echoes the thought: "I think that people like to believe there is a reward in the end for caregiving. There were no rewards."

So does Ann Harleman: "MS is something that goes on happening .... Something huge and black that descends slowly and inexorably and surrounds you ... Bruce and I have christened it the Black Balloon. To anyone who sees me ... I seem to be in their world, the world of the well. Going about my work, going about my life. But, actually, I am inside the Black Balloon with Bruce."

Eleanor Cooney writes of reaching her limits: "I felt hard and mean and full of sorrow all at once, and it drove me truly mad. Drove me, in fact, to drink." She moves her mother into an assisted living center, who finds her too "high maintenance" for the staff to handle. With her mother back home, she asks" "What would you do? I'm still waiting for the answer."

Abigail Thomas cares for her brain damaged husband: "Sometimes I feel as if I'm trying to rescue a drowning man and I only have time to rise to the surface for one gasp of air before I go back down again. There is an exhilaration to it, a high born only partly of exhaustion, and I find myself almost frighteningly alive."

Ann Harleman writes that her marriage improved when her husband was moved to a nursing home: "I'm no longer his physical caregiver, I'm no longer implicated in his illness. ... Because our bodies don't connect, our hearts can."

There are essays here by Andrew Solomon, Amanda Fortini and Julia Glass discussing the patient's perspective: "the helplessness of surrendering to another, the paradox of both wanting attention and not." No one speaks for the patients who have no one to be their caretaker, an increasingly large group of people. And, you may find some essays weak, too light hearted or too New Age or even too self indulgent.

My personal advice: don't judge others too harshly. Sometimes the very best that someone can do is far below your own standards. Each of us has to face these challenges, whether caretaker or patient in our own way. It is very easy to criticize how others face their challenges, but if this book does nothing else, it should convince the reader that there is no "right way".

Robert C. Ross 2008

This is a wonderful case book for caregivers. Many different situations are included and the essays are thoughtful and well written. It's a must for all those involved in such cases, including health and psychological problems. I came away with many ideas to help in my own caregiving.

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All of us at some point in our lives will need to confront the issues written about in this eloquent collection -- whether it's our parents, our spouses, our siblings, our friends, or even ourselves. The writers here tackle the subject with intimacy, poignancy, grace...and a great amount of courage.

There are stand-outs for me in this collection: the writer Helen Schulman asking her father, "We all love you, we still have fun together, we still can enjoy one another, does any of that help at all?" Her father's reply: "No, you and your love don't help me." As a daughter myself trying to tackle my mother's depression after my father's death, this line really resonated.

Then there's Eleanor Cooney's remarkable essay, "Death in Slow Motion", about her mother's descend into Altzheimer's disease and the toll it takes on her -- unflinchingly real, not at all flowery, straightforward and raw. Or Ann Hood's essay "In The Land of Little Girls", about the death of her five-year-old daughter...which broke my heart by the courage it took to go back to those emotions and write it so perfectly. And Amanda Fortini's "The Vital Role" about her own debilitating tropical illness and her symbiotic relationship with her caregiver: "a story that arose from a perfect confluence of needs: one person's desperate need to be cared for and another's equally urgent need to care."

I could go on and on about these gems, all focusing on the most elemental of needs -- connection, intimacy, loss, courage. This is an important book, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Sherri Silverman's VASTU book is not only erudite but also practical - and absolutely gorgeous.

Vastu: Transcendental Home Design in Harmony with Nature is an exquisite work of art from the front cover to the very end. Extremely informative in conveying ancient knowledge, yet easy to read and understand. A "must have" for those of us seeking to create beauty, balance, and harmony in our everyday life and surroundings.

This is a well written book that offers the lay person a great deal of knowledge about Vastu. It is concise and easy to understand and provides tools to create a more harmonious home. Sherri Silverman did a superb job!!!

Finally, I had purchased a few Vastu books to enhance our home as well as to plan designs for a new home in the future. This book answers all the questions in a sensible, practical and logical format.
There are many resources as well. The photos are beautiful and it seems to put it all together.
Highly recommended.

This book is stunningly beautiful! I want to move right into the rooms, homes, and gardens featured in this book. The photographs alone would make this book worth owning. But on top of the great beauty, the book is filled with helpful information on how to improve our homes so we can feel more grounded, serene, and joyful. I have used some feng shui techniques in the past, which is why I was interested in this title. I made a few changes recommended in the book and have experienced an enhanced feeling of well being. The biggest change has been in our bedroom. My husband, who has historically been a poor sleeper, and I changed the direction of our bed. He is now sleeping much better and sometimes even sleeps through the night, rather than waking up 3 or 4 times as he used to. I also moved the extra books out of our bedside table, which makes the bedroom feel more peaceful even though the books could not be seen where they were. Next, I plan to investigate "yantras," which the author recommends for making our homes more sacred and correcting problems that we cannot correct because of the limitations of our homes or budgets. In summary, I highly recommend this book and recommend that you use some of the Vatsu principles. You will definitely feel the benefits!

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from Vegan Vittles. As a dairy-free consumer who is just dabbling in the vegan lifestyle, I was certain that the Uncheese Cookbook would be my favorite from among her collection. To my great surprise, Vegan Vittles has emerged as one of my favorite cookbooks. There are several things that don't quite flow with me in this book, much more so than most other cookbooks I have read. Yet, the overall usefulness far outweighs any disconnect that I feel towards it.

While I have already tested a few of the recipes (Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Macaroni and Cheez, Carrot Butter) I can't even begin to tell you the recipes I am eager to trial. Just a few on my list include: Muffins that Taste Like Donuts, No-knead Whole Wheat Herb Bread, Hot & Sour Pad Thai (no fish sauce?), Cheez Please Soup, Chickpea Oat Burgers, Spicy Peanut Sauce, Aunt Bunny's Carrot Cake, etc., etc., etc.

The recipes are all so simple, using easy to find whole foods (think spices, veggies, fruits, and whole grains, not white flour and sugar). The most exotic ingredients that I spotted were quinoa and miso, both of which can now be found at Trader Joe's and in most major grocers. I think the fact that I could make so many of the recipes without having to make a special trip to the grocery store, was a real draw.

As for the disconnects - Certain portions of the intro get a bit wordy, and I found my eyes wandering off on many occasions. While full of useful information that I couldn't get enough of (do you know how hard it is to find a list of GMO foods to avoid? And what about that wonderful explanation of egg alternatives?), many sections tended to drag on with less pertinent details. Also, I was perplexed by the veganization of quotes throughout the book. Finally, the recipes weren't always spot-on. I found the author's taste buds to be more sensitive than mine, as I require a bit more flavor injected into my meals. Also, I often had to adjust the moisture content.

So if the recipes didn't always work perfectly, why did I like it so much? Simply put, Vegan Vittles really is a fantastic primer for all of those basic comfort food recipes that I often miss. As someone who is typically less than experimental in the kitchen, I have had a lot of fun "tinkering" with the recipes. The very idea that I can successfully customize almost every recipe, has made this a cookbook that I actually use (of which, there are few). Trust me, I am not a fabulous cook, but all of Jo's recipes are so simple that they remove any fears I have in the kitchen.

To note, Jo tends to reuse some of her recipes across cookbooks. While each one contains a ton of unique recipes, there are always a few crossover recipes, another pet peeve of mine. Yet, I found that Vegan Vittles contained the perfect collection of her recipes; a nicely sized section on cheese alternatives, and a good array of baked goods, full meals, snacks, and desserts. If I could only pick one Jo Stepaniak cookbook, this would be the one. Though we have our differences, Vegan Vittles will stay front and center in my cookbook collection!

The thing about the author is that I think she may have been vegan for a little too long--not that that's a bad thing by any means, but she's forgotten what some things really taste like. I've been a vegetarian for a long time, mainly vegan and three months ago I finally decided to commit. For instance, I just made the brownie recipe and they are not so good being that they taste like silken tofu dusted with cocoa. When things taste "vegan," which many of these recipes do, it's hard to cook these things for other non-vegans. Some of these recipes take some time and it's disappointing when you've cooked a meal for other people and they try to assure you that it's good(and you know they're thoughtfully lying). The cheese recipes are not so good either, so I just buy Follow Your Heart cheese and I'm satisfied. There are some useful baking tips in here and I can't deny that I don't appreciate the authors stance on the treatment of animals and people like her who make it easier to be vegan. BUT I might recommend that someone who really wants authentic tasting vegan substitutions that they look elsewhere.

I own at least a dozen vegan cookbooks and this is by far my favorite. Whenever I want to make nutritious comfort foods--which is pretty much everyday--I turn to this book first. I have tried nearly every recipe in Vegan Vittles and have only been disappointed by about three of them--all the other recipes yielded fantastic results that everyone in my family enjoyed.

I highly recommend this book to folks who are new to vegan cooking and cooks who want hearty, traditional American veg food without too many expensive exotic ingredients, heavy spices, or mock meats.

You can read more of my opinions about this book on SuperVegan.com.
http://supervegan.com/blog/entry.php?id=790

I have been vegan for more than 5 years, and I have about 20 vegan cookbooks. Vegan Vittles: Second Helpings is my favorite.

I discovered the original Vegan Vittles a few years ago when I was looking for the perfect vegan pumpkin pie recipe. I found that and more in Jo Stepaniak's classic book. I was so happy when she published this revised and expanded edition of the original. All of my favorite recipes are in here. I'll just name a few: Maple Walnut Granola, Chickpeas a la King over Buttermilk Biscuites, Southern Fried Tofu, Potato Kale Soup, Noodles and Greens, Messy Mikes, Golden White Cake with Rich Fudge Frosting, Butternutty Chowder, Mahvelous Millet Loaf, Rich Chocolate Pudding Pie, Farmhouse Stew...I could go on and on. In fact, I haven't encountered a recipe in this collection that I don't love.

I often prepare these dishes for my omnivorous dinner guests, and always get rave reviews from them as well. This cookbook serves up a variety of "veganized" familiar dishes. The ingredients are very wholesome, pure, and healthful. But this health food is actually comfort food. I always turn to this cookbook when I'm searching for that comfort food fix.

The recipes are very simple, and the directions for preparation are very clear. The design and layout for the book is very user-friendly.

Most of all, I love this book because it has a lot of heart. The descriptions of the animals living at Farm Sanctuary are all very inspiring. The book is brimming with compassion and positive energy.

I think that this book is a must-have for any vegan cook, or for anyone at all who is interested in good, wholesome, delicious food.

I've been a Vegetarian for a while and a Vegan since July 2007. This cookbook has so many wonderful recipes. The recipes are not 'weird' like some other cookbooks, which is what I like. The stories of the saved animals are very touching.

Homer Hickam wrote a very enjoyable and informative book about his hometown of Coalwood, West Virginia, and the people who helped nurture him as a young boy. With his childhood stories, he took me on a journey through time to a place that many today would dismiss as "old-fashioned," and Hickam would argue was "the way things can and should be."

Inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, Hickam reflected on his youth and realized the values he grew up with in Coalwood were what many people needed to move on with their lives following the tragic terrorist attacks on America. Hickam expertly wove his thoughts and experiences into the four "Coalwood Attitudes of Strength and Courage" (We are proud of who we are, We stand up for what we believe, We keep our families together, and We trust in God but rely on ourselves), which led to the "Coalwood Assumption" that most Americans found themselves either wanting to say or saying repeatedly following 9/11: "We are not afraid."

In his introduction, Hickam explains the purpose of this book: "If you want to stop being afraid, or if you want to avoid the habits of fear and dread, this book can help by teaching you a philosophy of life that will fill your heart and soul with a sense of well-being and confidence. It is a philosophy that was developed by real people who led good, happy and hearty lives while managing to raise a crop of children who went on to have successful lives of their own."

Hickam is a master storyteller, and his stories contained many powerful moral and inspirational passages. Some I related to as personal memories, others as things I missed growing up or never thought about, and still others as a father wanting his young son to experience in his childhood.

This book has a lot to offer to many different people with many different needs in many different situations. I encourage everyone to read this book and let Hickam take you on a journey of discovery into your heart and soul.

We Are Not Afraid is a very inspiring book about strength and courage in perilous times. I think everyone who reads this will come away a stronger individual for it. If you have children, sons, daughters, nieces or nephews I think it is even more important to read this!!! The book was just such a "thinker". It is only 213 pages, it reads quickly but it lasts long after you close the cover.
While it is a collection of stories about growing up in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia it makes you stop and think hard about what really should be important in life, the values, the morals, the spirit, all the things that went into creating our great Nation. Mr. Hickam points out that yes times are perilous, but that there have been many perilous times and many hardships and challenges and being afraid is not a way to meet these. He pulls no punches when he discusses the United States of America. He dismisses those who want to focus on our failures as a Nation and fail to acknowledge our ability to correct our errors and move forward as a whole. This book is a life lesson on how not to live your life in fear, and how to overcome and surmount obstacles in your way. This is not accomplished by promising "pie-in-the-sky" but by learning from the examples of others ways to be strong and have courage and face life with your head up. This revolves around four important attitudes. #1 We are proud of who we are. #2 We stand up for what we believe. #3 We keep our families together. #4 We trust in God but rely on ourselves. These may sound simplistic to many people, but when they are broken down and explained you will know that it is possible to live a good purposeful life and not be diminished by fear and to pass this on to those around you.

I read this book. It changed my life for the better. Enough said. Hickam is very gifted. Who are his people? You'll be surprised.

I'm a strong person,an Idaho farm boy, but, I too, was weakened by the events of September 11. I needed salve for my soul, softening of my hardening heart,a mental map to see my way out of this mess. I found it in Homer Hickam's incredible new book, WE ARE NOT AFRAID. Homer writes with a wit and warmth that envelopes you like a comforter and touches the full range of your emotions. From your funny bone to the childhood memories you have tucked away in your mind's attic, WE ARE NOT AFRAID hits the brass notes and the softest keys. The world needs more Homer!...

The advice I found in this book has changed my life, too. Somebody told me I should read this when they caught be dragging around filled with worry. What can a little book do to change that I asked and they said well, just read it and see. The insights in this book have been just amazing. Homer teaches through stories that are fun to read but after you're done, you just sit back and go I really see that. I really, really do. Honestly, I've spent money on a lot of these selfhelp do better kind of books but the way Homer does it, I think I really got my money's worth this time.

This book is a very good resource if you have a loved one diagnosed with FTD (Frontal Temporal Dementia). There is very thorough information about this disease. It is a shock when a loved one receives this diagnosis but this book is a very thorough resource.

Very helpful book with many "tips" and list of resources for dealing with a devastating illness that has a devastating impact on family members and friends. Helps to know what to expect and how to cope. Highly recommend for anyone (friend or family) dealing with a loved one with dementia.

After I read the book that I purchased for myself, I purchased copies for every other effected family member. It helps so much with understanding what is going on with this bizarre disease.

My sister is 39 had was diagnosed with FTD, probable Pick's Disease. My mother is her full-time caregiver and I gave this to her for Christmas. She said it's the most helpful, interesting book she could imagine on the subject. It's great to know you're not alone when there's such little information available!

I have found this book to be very helpful with alot of information regarding FTD.... It has been a great help

Wishing Makes It So is a horrific tale about a mini-monster infiltrating a sympathetic family. Belinda, a beautiful five year old orphan, moves in with The Chrestmans, a loving family willing to share their hearts and home. But being compassionate can prove fatal when the new member of the family isn't the center of attention.
Marilyn Meredith weaves a skin crawling web of manipulative scheming and diabolical actions that will make you cringe. This book is addictive. Its pages turn as if it has a will of its own. Her story telling is artfully done making the characters seem as real as a person sitting in front of you and the antagonist as threatening as a stranger tailing you in a dark alley. Loved it!
Violette L. Reid, PeachPublishing

"A psychological thriller is played out in Wishing Makes It So. This incredible story will amaze readers as the devious acts of a sociopath are revealed."

"Steven and Alyse Chrestman are the proud parents of three adorable children, Andrew, Holly and Pammy. They feel that they have been blessed with a loving family and decide to open up their home to a four-year-old girl named Belinda."

"Little do they know that Belinda has been place and moved from several foster homes due to behavioral problems and demented incidents that have endangered the lives of others."

"Belinda immediately begins to cause havoc in the Chrestman's home. Alyse becomes suspicious of her as she catches her in numerous lies and it appears that she is intentionally trying to harm the other children. Unfortunately, Steven turns a blind eye to the deceitful deeds of Belinda. He doesn't realize until it's too late that they have opened their home to a killer."

"This is a chilling read that will intrigue and surprise readers."

Wishing Makes It So is a shocking thriller about a couple with three children who take in a female four-year-old formerly bounced around a variety of foster homes. Secure in their belief that they can give their new charge a loving, stable environment, they are unaware of the seemingly innocent girl's all-consuming drive to be an only child. It is a yearning that will drive the little girl to ruthless and deadly acts, even as her nautral charm disguises her murderous intentions, in this taut and chilling novel.

With a heartfelt conviction that "love conquers all", Alyse Chrestman convinces her husband, Steven, and their two older children, Holly and Andrew, to open their hearts and home to an unfortunate foster child. Four-year-old Belinda Sleigh seems to be the perfect candidate and fits in nicely between eighteen-month-old Pammy, the youngest Chrestman, and Holly and Andrew. Steven's experience as a counselor and Alyse's teaching skills, along with their combined success in a marriage where love and nurturing are the norm has already produced three happy, well-adjusted children and leaves no doubt as to their capabilities to handle whatever initial challenges might arise. With the help of housekeeper, Celina, and her husband and groundskeeper, Juan Miguel, little Belinda's life is about to turn into a fairy tale.



Dismayed that Belinda shows her no affection, Alyse watches as the beautiful little waif seeks comfort and acceptance in the arms of Steven, who has always strived to show equal attention and time to each child. It is soon evident that Belinda has Steven wrapped around her little finger when he continues to dismiss devious pranks played on Belinda's new siblings as accidents. Little Pammy alone is unwavering in her love and acceptance of the newest member of the family. When Alyse and the older children realize little Belinda's malicious behavior is more than they can handle, Alyse is accused of jealousy and their once-solid marriage may be moving toward rocky ground.



An unheeded warning, a heart-wrenching discovery and an unbelievable accusation keep this plot moving at a fast and furious pace. Despite the fact I was warned that Wishing Makes It So is a dark novel, I was unprepared for the raw emotion I had to deal with as I agonized with this unsuspecting family. Just when you think you can let down your guard and life is returning to some semblance of "normal", the terror starts anew.



Put an extra cushion on your reading chair, folks. If you like edge-of-your-seat suspense, that's where you'll be perched until you reach the very last page. Meredith dispenses suspense and horror with equal disregard for your anxiety level as she interrupts the cozy life of the Chrestman family in this superb tale of blood-curdling psychological suspense.

Author Marilyn Meredith has written some very good books over the years--many of which I have read prior to reading her latest suspense thriller "Wishing Makes It So". However, this is not like any of her other creative efforts--and it is certainly her best work to date. She takes a four-year foster child with such an innocent looking persona and gives us a charming and evil little manipulative monster. The storyline involves malicious and dangerous behaviors by poor little Belinda that ruins a wonderful family whose only intentions were to give her a loving family.

Meredith is a master at using a good mix of dialogue and characterizations with her narrative, so that the plot unfolds to give the reader a great psychological horror story. The story is fresh and alive and will grab the readers fullest attention--not allowing them to walk away form the book until they have devoured the last pages to find out what conclusion awaits them. It is a page burner that readers will find un-nerving but very much entertaining. This will become a classic novel of its genre someday, once others in the media discover this hidden gem as I have!

The American Authors Association (AAA) gives this book a FIVE STAR rating and a recommendation to buy and read this book!

As the author of this book I am bias. But I hope you'll read this anyway because I want to tell you why I wrote the book. For over 15 years I've worked as a Professional Organizer helping people pare down to just what they use and love. While we cleared the clutter I would find a pile of books to be read (usually on the nightstand) and in the pile there were always a few books on how to get organized.

I would ask why the books were ending up in these to read piles. I also asked what would make the book better. I took those ideas and wrote my book, a portable, no nonsense, cut to the chase book that even the busiest person can find helpful. This book will not sit on a shelf, you'll find yourself going to it all the time!

My style is non-judgmental and motivating! I promise to only give you practical ideas; you won't find any silly or complicated steps.

I cover everything from separation anxiety to homes with small closets to kids and spouses to how to find time to organize and so much more. Plus the resources in the back of the book are extremely helpful, things like retention schedules.

The book NOT meant to be read cover to cover, if you had time to read the whole book now you could have organized already. Instead I hope you will turn to the chapter where you want to start, read a few tips and then go do the tasks. Then come back and read more.

You can find lots of FREE tips on my website which is my name dot com. Please stop by where you can get your own clutter challenge, find a clutter club near you, learn about how to be a Professional Organizer and view my schedule to see me live or listen to me on the radio. Hope to hear from you soon! Happy de-cluttering- Jamie

Everyone,

I want to share a special story with you. I am an adult special education teacher who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome/Disorder. Almost everything in my "personal" vs "work" life has been so disorganized. I have tons of late fees, I dont pay the bills on time, ect, ect. My apartment is so cluttered that I almost was ready to give up. I would come home from work, get on the computer and then fall asleep. when I went out shopping, I would impulse buy rather than think first "Do I really need this?" I never donated items, I just kept them because I "thought I would need them someday." i found Jamie's blog on a website. I purchased this book and i'm about 1/2 way finished with decluttering my 1 bedroom apartment. Yes folks, this works for us single people too. Jamie, you have the most "fun" job in the world. I love organizing and decluttering my classroom, but I never knew how to do it with my own living space. I have made over 4 trips to Goodwill this week alone. Trust me if you have a home, you need this book. It won't cost you a thing to buy extra either. She shows how to turn a pile of junk into an organized living space.

AspieTeacher

I am a really organized person so I wondered if this book would deliver any new ideas for me. IT DID! I am so glad I purchased it! The format is quick and easy to read, the ideas and suggestions are easy to follow and not duanting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a little more organization in their life. Whether you are good at organizing or not, this book makes it easy and painless

Jamie Novak is a professional organizer and tells how to get organized; from the three basic steps to reducing clutter to letting go of junk and understanding how home layout can contribute to clutter. A room-by-room organization considers everything from whether to keep photo negatives to how to store them, how to incorporate a drying rack into a limited room size, and much more. It's packed with ideas and insights and not to be missed.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I found the book extremely easy to read and easy to see how the suggestions could be incorporated into our everyday lives.

I would recommend it to anyone with clutter issues or even a new bride wanting to set up her household clutter free.

This is a wonderful book. I bought a couple of how-to books awhile back and was disappointed that those books didn't offer more inspiration photographs. This book fits satisfies that need exceptionally well. Just page and after page of beautiful woodwork.

When I first got the book, I started reading it page-by-page. It took at least an hour to get through the first half. All of the boxes are wonderful to look at and contemplate.

There is no style depicted. It covers everything from the small trinket holder, to jewelry boxes to turned boxes to the "Well, I guess someone would like that".

All of the photos are in color and are captioned with the artist's name, dimensions of the object and types of wood used to create it. An index is in the back of the book that provides the city and state of each artist.

There is absolutely no discussion of technique.

Time to head back to the shop...I've got a couple of board feet of absolutely stunning bastogne walnut that needs my attention.

If you, like I, can make whatever you see, this is the book for you. It is approx 400 pages of photos. All of which are fantastic boxes (works of art). This book is a must for when you don't know what to make next. It oozes originality. One of the boxes was my inspiration for new kitchen cabinets!

Great collection to make you think and to inspire you to "build out of the box".

Very nice book, lots of great looking boxes. Great for new ideas (woodworker) or if you are looking for something special. Only downfall, is most do not offer a picture of the inside of box.

I have always been fascinated by boxes.An avid puzzle enthusiast,I am always on the lookout for what I call puzzle boxes.These are boxes that have a secret method required to open.They are designed with hidden panels,magnets,bars,bearings,and everything imaginable that keeps them from being opened until the "Puzzle" is figured out.Unfortunately, there are no boxes of this sort in the book;though there are many that could be adapted to include a locking device or mechanism.Design wise these boxes are beautiful artistic objects and a joy to behold.It would be an even greater thrill to be able to pick them up and open them.
All the other reviews are very good and warn that what you get with this book is a picture of the box ,its overall dimensions ,color,some info on the material;but no construction methods.Not that there is any suggestion that construction methods or details are provided,one might think they are.In other words;what you see is what you get.
Anyone who designs and makes interesting boxes should find this book a real gem,and a storehouse of design ideas.
To someone who is interested in buying boxes like these,but not really interested in making them,you might have some success in contacting the artists.In addition to that,I attend a lot of Art and Craft Shows and without fail there are always a few artists who are selling wooden boxes similar to these.Common are inlaids,stacking,burls,sectionals,jewellery,chess,games,and at times I come across "puzzle boxes".

I can not believe that nearly ten years has gone by since this book was first published. I thought that everyone had read this book, and more importantly was "using" this book. It took a room full of educators and parents indicating that no one knew of this book for me to write this review. It is less a review than a sales pitch, but it is a pitch that needs to be made.

From personal experience as both parent and teacher, this book changed my outlook on both. I have experienced considerable success at both, and it has to do with a fundamental switch in thinking. In fact, once you read this book, and get the point, you will see how simple it really is to help students become capable. But, everyone has to have their oars in the water and be working in the same direction.

Just yesterday, I heard from one my students that he and his partner won Bronze at the Canada Wide Science Fair. This is the third time we won Bronze, and incidentally we scored Silver a few years ago. This book helped me "coach" kids. I had little to do with the science, but I believe that I was influential in the primary aspect of this book - pointed out the paradigm of their only capabilities - their success.

I have an email from one of them, and it has squarely hit this point.

Earlier last week, at a wonderful seminar on Assessment by Damian Cooper, I was struck by the way that he also used questioning techniques of the participants, but as well the students in his videos. He uses the materials in this book to a tremendous advantage. I see strong similarities, and attribute his success for working along these paradigms.

Seven Strategies for Developing Capable Students is MOST DEFINITELY A MUST READ by any parent and/or teacher. It is a wealth of information, tips, and tricks, but more importantly allows any parent or teacher to focus on the student - making them capable, and feeling this as well.

Let me quote a passage which I see as prophetic as it is more of a problem today, than it was ten years ago.

"Parents often FEEL they must run to school to CONFRONT the teacher or principal with the responsibility of solving children's problems. This may be called for at times, but such occasions SHOULD BE RARE, and should only take place after we have done all we can to EMPOWER OUR CHILDREN TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS."

The capital letters are my own, and should point to the emphasis for which I see as integral to proper parenting. SADLY, there has been an apparent increase in this type of CONFRONTATION. It is wrongheaded, and is actually bad for the student. While it might make the parent feel good, and this is also problematic, makes the child see a FICTION for which they must bring to the REALITY of life. It arms them with the inappropriate tools of success. When the school unions need to add language to their collective agreements that protect them from this type of confrontation, it is clearly a sign that there is a problem - a problem to the process of parenting.

"We do a DISSERVICE to children when WE communicate a perception that everything is SOMEONE else's problem rather than theirs. 'You are doing poorly in school because the teacher doesn't like you'. 'You didn't make the team because the coach is prejudiced.'" p. 53

While it could be rumour or gossip, I have heard that this is said quite often, and am shocked. There are a considerable number of parents who blame a teacher for many different reasons. As a teacher, there is no defense to this type of claim. The logical fallacies riddle the event, but it is nonetheless pointless to argue - a parent's mind is made up at this point.

BUT, I have spent 25 years at teaching, and NOT ONCE HAVE I EVER HEARD ANY TEACHER say anything close to this. I can't imagine any teacher being so very shallow that they would willingly and knowingly do this to a child. In STARK CONTRAST, to help a student who might even be trouble in a classroom, to experience success would be something that would help the student not be a trouble maker. It is in the teacher's BEST INTERESTS not to be like this, and for this reason, I believe that blaming someone is a parental fiction.

I believe that the problem with many students now-a-days is that they come to teachers with the meta-understandings or the paradigms of "shields up", if I can use an old Star Trek phrase, where there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, and they simply need to sort out who to blame.

This book will help anyone see the problem with this thinking, and get them to think towards helping the student develop a capable nature.

"The perceptions of being capable, significant, and able to influence one's own life are powerful confidence builders that instill the courage to take healthy risks, improvise, and transcend failure. PARENTS WHO INVEST TIME HELPING CHILDREN INTERNALIZE THESE PERCEPTIONS ARE GOING A LONG WAY TOWARD ENSURING THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND ENJOY LEARNING".

This book is WELL WORTH the read, and I hope that every parent read this. Form discussion groups, and share your observations and creatively work toward making this happen. It was relevant 10 years ago, and is more relevant today.

Some times faces are not deceptive. The face, they say, is the index of heart; and so is the book in hand. No kidding about this fact.

Was wondering why don't such creative visualization minds write a similar book for adults (i.,e other than children and parents).

Nevertheless, 7 Strategies is a value-added resource for the concerned group. I envy the readers of this book. This book directly works as a guide on the three R's: Responsible, Repectful and Resourceful.

For some strange reasons, I am always attracted by books with the magical number `7' (seven) in the titles or sub-titles. Remarkably, they often turn out to be great stuff. Some of these books have already been reviewed here & there are more to come. Partly, my obsession with the number has probably to do with my impressionable exposure since I was a kid.

When I was twelve in the early 60's, my first `blood-thirsty' movie was the Japanese cult classic, The Seven Samurais, which reportedly inspired the Hollywood epic, The Magnificent Seven. Both movies became my perennial favourites & I have seen them countless times. In both movies, a ragtag group of fearless fighters helped a poor village to deal with & outsmart a gang of marauding rogues.

In this book, the magical `7' (seven) takes on a more serious & sober stance. It refers to the critical attributes that are embodied in the seven resources & skills necessary for your kids/teens to become capable - responsible, respectful, & resourceful - in dealing with today's complex world.

Firstly, let me reveal the author's Significant Seven resources & skills of capable students:

- strong perceptions of personal capabilities;
- strong perceptions of personal significance;
- strong perceptions of personal influence;
- strong interpersonal skills;
- strong intrapersonal skills;
- strong systemic skills;
- strong judgment skills;

I have always hold the view that understanding perception is the key to peak performance.

Maxwell Maltz started the ball rolling by coining the term as `psycho-cybernetics', even though ancient masters in the East have known about it for a very long time. Edward de Bono, the guru of lateral thinking, calls it 'First Order Thinking'. Steven Covey relates some insightful anecdotes about perception in his `7 Habits for Highly Effective People.' Joel Arthur Barker, a process futurist/consultant, considers perceptual understanding as one of five strategic tools necessary for navigating your future. Other consultants, like Mark Brown, Philip Kirby, to name a few, have talked at length about the intricacies of perception & their impact on personal as well as business (or organizational) performance. In the field of stress management, the research people at Institute of HeartMath, creator of the cutting-edge Freeze-Framer Technology, have linked `stress' to `perception'. Even in the world of esoteric practices, Harry Palmer, creator of the expensive Avatar training program, thinks along the same lines, as far as reality creation is concerned.

Henceforth, it is exciting for me to note that these two authors have drawn an excellent & compelling parallel in the academic arena.

I fully concur with the authors that, in the case of our children, strong perceptions of one's personal capabilities, personal significance & personal influence are the precursors to building one's strong assets in dealing with a world that is hurtling at us with breakneck speed, & compounded by hurricane-force changes.

Surprisingly, the book, written by two educators by profession, is presented in very clear, easy-to-understand language.

I highly recommend this book to all parents & teachers. This book can help you develop the resources & skills for your children/students to become capable adults.

I would go further to recommend parents & teachers to take a look at the following books, as supplementary reading:

1. What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids, by Peter Benson;
2. What Young Children Need to Succeed: Working Together to Build Assets from Birth to Age 11, by Jolene Roehlkapartain;
3. What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven Ways to Shape Your Own Future, by Peter Benson;

Just when you thought you knew everything about teaching; along comes another book claiming to do it better.

Well, this little book packs a punch so powerful that you might well be forced to re-evaluate your thinking and un-learn some ineffective habits and replace them with some of the recommendations offered by H. Stephen Glenn and Michael L. Brock.

Even if you have been teaching for some time, these ideas are fresh and simple enough to begin applying during your next lesson.

Even though the advice is geared towards the parent, it can and should be thoroughly studied by teachers of all levels from Primary to University. An awareness of the comparative stages of mental ability and emotional development will enable the teacher to identify and adapt the appropriate approach needed.

The book is not long on theory, it cuts straight to the heart of the matters discussed with practical and concrete recommendations.

For example, a anxious and impatient parent at a Parent-Teacher Orientation meeting, wanting to know the single most effective thing they can do to promote their child's lifelong success in education, is promptly told:

"Sit down to dinner with the television off every evening for 30-45 minutes".

So, at least for me, its "Back to the Drawing Board"; time to clean the mental attic again on the road to becoming a better teacher.

Thank you, H. Stephen Glenn and Michael L. Brock for sharing your ideas.

Does your child's notebook explode upon opening? Does your child do homework every night after supper and yet bring home dozens of missing assignment reports from school? Does your child come home with the book but no idea what the assignment is? Or perhaps with the assignment and not the book? Does your child frequently have no idea what the words of an assignment actually mean? Does your child weep over the tedium of homework assignments whose worth they cannot comprehend? Does your child go off to school in the morning moderately happy but come home looking beaten down by life? Are you looking for help for such a child? If so, don't look for the answers in this book. There is not a whisper of how to help the organizationally-impaired student. (P.S., If anybody knows of such a book, or can write such a book, please let the world know.)