Day Books

This book is fun!
My favorite story is "I Thought I was Over That"
Ariel and Shya are genius in a non-judmental seeing of how we are and don't
try to change, fix or make us better.
These stories give us compassion for ourselfs and I never, ever before
experienced Enlightment in such an easy, light way.

This is a great book written by modern sages Ariel and Shya Kane, shining lights of Presence in these (potentially) complicated times.

In a chapter called A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius, Ariel talks in simple, straight-forward terms about finding well-being in the seemingly impossible task of keeping her desk clean. I responded to this immediately. I seem to live at a desk in perpetual disarray.

At Shya's (her husband's) prompting, Ariel slowed down at her desk work by no more than 5%, and actually spent a little bit of that slightly-decelerated time with each object on the desk. She gave each piece of paper its due attention, not long, and each piece of paper and the work it represented was completed. In doing so, she has kept the desk clean of clutter since. I have employed this strategy on my own desk, and have succeeded, not permanently, but often, and for longer spans of time each time.

The subtitle of this invaluable little storybook is Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, and it's very fitting. Ariel and Shya teach a technology called Instantaneous Transformation that takes everyday occurrences like a messy desk and transforms them into opportunities in the present moment (Now) for well-being, and yes, even enlightenment. Their other books go into great detail about this technology, and are just as quick, easy, illuminating reads. They are Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation and How To Create a Magical Relationship.

For anyone who's into Eckhart Tolle's books The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, and A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61) (like I am,) I strongly recommend the Kanes and their books. You can learn more about the Kanes at www.TransformationMadeEASY.com. They are amazing teachers, dedicated to bringing well-being and enlightenment to normal people, and easily.

This is an astonishing book - beautiful, elegant, practical, and highly readable!

One of my favorite metaphors in this book is the idea of "backing out" of upsets.
The author's, Ariel and Shya Kane, suggest that upsets are in fact mechanical, and often based on ways we handled situations in early childhood - but that, with awareness, we can in fact 'catch' when we are on the slippery slope of an upset BEFORE we have to go all the way down that slope.

You can find yourself well down the road to upset and -without recrimination or judgement - just say to yourself 'oh - this is an upset' and BACK OUT, just like you might if you suddenly looked up and found yourself driving down a one way road the wrong way. You wouldn't keep driving the wrong way, you wouldn't sit there and tell yourself how horrible you are while traffic is coming at you - you would put on the brakes and back out.
Well that is exactly how they suggest you deal with an upset when you suddenly discover you are in the midst of one. To make the choice to back out instead of indulge the desire to get further upset, whether it be angry, sad, depressed - there is a choice!

I just love this idea that upset is a choice - life presents stuff, but upset isn't the only next progression, there are lots of options.
An insightful and deeply moving take on life - Many thanks to the authors, Ariel and Shya Kane.
I also highly recommend How To Create a Magical Relationship by the same authors.

I am continually being surprised! Out of many books that I have read, I find myself going back to a select few because I get a new perspective each time I read them. Ariel and Shya Kane's "Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment" is one of these books, and I should say, a truly unique one.

Pearls of wisdom in the stories are woven together in this lovely book. The stories are so sweet, tender and profound. They deeply touched and inspired me. As I went along on the journey of self discovery from one story to another, I found myself smiling, and feeling centered, as if some place deep in my heart expanded; I felt love and compassion for people around me. It wasn't always like this for me in the past. I had the idea that life is hard. I used to believe that I needed to work extra hard to get what I wanted, and someday somewhere I would eventually be happy when I reached my goals. Most of the time I was stressed and always thinking about what I should fix (usually myself and other people). I was very surprised and relieved after reading the Kanes' books to realize that there is another way to approach life- a fun and effortless way to have a magnificent life and truly enjoy what life has to offer when we live the moment (and yes, it's accessible to everyone should we choose).

This book holds a special place in my heart and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a brilliant life! Don't forget to check out other books by Ariel and Shya- Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation and How To Create a Magical Relationship. You might just be pleasantly surprised!

This book is truly a delight. The authors, Ariel and Shya Kane, deliver stories of everyday life with a twist of transformation (which they define as an anthropological look without judgment into how you are living your life). We are all perfect representations of us. This book shows that if we bring awareness to our lives the opportunities for expansion are endless.

I would highly recommend this book as well as the Kanes' other two books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation and How to Create a Magical Relationship. These books can bring you out of an ordinary life and into a spectacular one. Reading the words in this book took me on a journey by teaching me about an easier way to live my life. With stories about Intuition, Love, Compassion, etc. the Kanes' teachings of Instantaneous Transformation is presented in such a way that is easy to understand.

This is a must have referance/gangster/outlaw book. If this subject or even this era of history intrests you at all this book is a goldmine.

If there's a bible to crime, this is it. There are hundreds of books out there that deal with Depression Era crime. You can buy them all and plow through them for information, but seldom know how accurate that information is. On the other hand, you can get this one volume and have it all at your fingertips. Researched in detail and written with a light finger, this well-laid out book is easy to read. You get the dates, times, details, photos and personnel that made America's Golden Age of Crime what it was. Get it; read it; refer to it. It's a winner on all levels.

Not much can be added to previous reviews. This updated edition has given my earlier dog-eared copy a rest. For anyone who does any kind of Prohibition era crime research, this book is a must have by two of the masters in this field. The most complete compendium of crime information from that period available today. Whether you research or just enjoy reading about crime, this book is tops.

For those of us interested in true-crime, particularly the Roaring Twenties and the Depression era, this is THE reference book. This hugely informative and significantly expanded version of the earlier Public Enemies Almanac by Helmer and Mattix has photos, timelines, biographies and lists galore. Not a book that is intended to be read cover-to-cover, this is a crime browser's dream. The bibliography, which is fully annotated,is worth the price.
Writer, researcher, crime aficionado, or whatever, this book should be at the top of your list.

Respected authors William Helmer and Rick Mattix have provided us with a reference book of nearly 900 pages relating to "the gangster and outlaw era: 1920--1940." The book is divided into seven sections dealing with all facets of crime during this turbulent era. Parts of this book can be read like any other book while criminal incidents from various years are listed chronologically. I feel this part of the book can be best used as a reference. The book contains numerous photos, several of which I have never seen before. The big shots of both Chicago and New York are all here as are the depression-era desperadoes. Depending on your interest level you may feel you are being told more than you care to know. However, as I said, much of this book can be used as a useful reference book to your crime library. If you do have such a library this book would be a worthy addition. Co-author Rick Mattix has reviewed numerous crime books on Amazon, and his opinion carries considerable weight with me in whether or not I decide to purchase a book.

I received this book in brand new condition and quick shipping. I am satisfied yet again with my experience ordering from Amazon!

Thanks

The book is excellent reading both for kids as well as grown-ups.
The language keeps the balance as few books do - not condescending, but appropriate for children

The youthful adventures of the ever-sensible Frog and his seemingly naïve companion Toad demonstrate important qualities of lasting friendship. This dynamic duo cleans a house, flies a kite, shares ghost stories, celebrates a birthday gift, and even discovers benefits to being alone on occasion. In each of the five vignettes there is a unique balance between the elements of repetition and surprise. Also remarkable about this book is Lobel's one-of-a-kind illustrations. Each green and brown image brilliantly depicts action which serves as a cue for early readers. The simplicity of the drawings allows readers to focus on the text while enjoying the illustrations. In addition to the close match of images to words, the large print, short chapters, and overall themes of the book lend themselves to younger children ages five to eight. While Frog and Toad have many dissimilar characteristics, their differences do not get in the way of their close friendship and their love for each other. Lobel's masterpiece leaves children with several new lessons while remaining exceptionally entertaining.

I've bought several of the Frog and Toad books for my grandson (who is now six) and we loved them all, this one included. They are delightful and refreshing. There is a lesson in every book, and my grandson never loses interest in hearing the stories. One of the characters is a pessimist, the other an optimist, and I think this causes children to really think about life, and consider looking at life as the glass being half FULL! Frog and Toad really rock!

My daughter's nursery is decked out in Frogs, so the discovery of these books made them books we had to consider. They are fun and the illustrations are grest. At eleven months she is too young to read them herself, but we read them to her - and she enjoys them. The stories are simple with a central theme - do good for others, treat your friends with respect, help your firends when they need help, laugh, and aporach life with adventure. These are great virtues to instill in young minds. If the books were made in cardboard stock, Teah would be even more happy with them - as it is she frequently grabs one of them when it's time for her bedtime story - and great bedtime stories they are. By the time she starts to read she will know the stories by heart, but that's ok - fond memeories of bedtime stories like these should help her build a lifelong interest in reading on her own.

This review is more on a personal note, than an explanation of what the book entails (the other reviews have got that covered!). As a newly natural black beauty - I was still struggling with others perecptions of me and my "new" (e.g. natural hair). And of course - I was struggling with my own perceptions of beauty as well. This book allowed me to finally see that our hair is a unique source of pride that needs to be flaunted - not "fixed". Something shifted for me when I read this book, and I finally was able to own not only my new hairstyle (a budding 'fro) but to love my hair in its natural, uninhibited glory. Black women, regardless of our hair texture - straight, wavy, curly, kinky, nappy - we are all so wonderfully beautiful! Hallelujah - I FEEL SO FREE TO BE ME! This book is a must read - share it with every black woman you know - and encourage them to teach our children and our men how to live a life that says "black is beautiful". Spread the knowledge to people of other cultures as well! God bless!

Excellent book about black hair and black culture. Would recommend it to anyone wanting to know more about both and how they relate to the "American" ideal.

This book is great begining for people that are redescovering themselfes aftermaking the decision or are trying to decide wheter go natural or not. It helps you to understand how we got here , how black beauty is not well accepted and why. It make you wonder, questionning yourself and others, and in my case keep learning.

I've recently made the decision to go natural and as I did, I pondered, "Why do I have to 'decide' to be the way I naturally am?" It was then that I realized how unfortunate it was that black women, more than half, find their "naturalness" to be unattractive. I myself have gone through hair extensions, braids, and the dreaded relaxer that has damaged my hair and scalp for years. Now I wonder what it was all for. I wasn't being true to who I was.

This book helped be to know something that I should have already known: my hair. The history of black hair is one that is very interesting and telling. I learned more about my hair in this book than I have ever learned, even from members of my own family. There is also a sense of confidence one gets from reading books like these. I am letting all of my friends and family read it as well.

You will not be disappointed in your purchase.

If you don't already know, this book is definitely worth the time that it takes to read. The book goes into detail about the history of Black hair. Prior to slavery, Africans took pride in their hair. The intricate braid designs date back to that time. It wasn't until after the slave trade that hair straightening became common. Also, it's a little known black history fact that Annie Tumbo Malone was the first black woman entrepeneur to market black hair products. Madame CJ Walker actually worked for Malone before going into business for herself. This book chronicles so much history about Black hair. After reading this book, I was really encouraged to stop chemically processing my hair.

The book "Kiki's Journey" is a excellent story. It is about a little girl named Kristina (Kiki) who goes back to her Tiwa Tribe where her parents are from, to see her Grandma Santana and her uncle Tim.When she goes back to Taos Pueblo she forgets becuase she hasen't been there in a long time,ever since she was a baby. During her journey,Grandma Santana takes her for a walk after she comes out of the giftshop and tells her that she is still part of the Tiwa culture even though she lives in Los Angles. At night she thanks the Creator for making her an Native American and for her Pueblo. So,if you are going take a chance to read this wonderful book, your own journey will begin on the first page you read!!!!

The story of Kiki`s Journey was a marvelous story because she goes to see her grandmother and grandfather in her village. Kiki was from her grandmother's village, so she goes and visits. You should look at it. It`s for all ages.

KIKI'S JOURNEY WAS A TERRIFIC BOOK. KIKI'S JOURNEY WAS A SUPRISING BOOK. I FELT GOOD ABOUT IT.THE THEME WAS TO REMEMBER`YOUR PEOPLE. IT WAS A SAD AND HAPPY STORY AT THE SAME TIME.

A heart warming book for all ages, "Kiki's Journey" is delightful. It works as a story, a read aloud story, as a lesson in cultural differences, as well as a lesson of acceptance. The book would be great for kids of all ages, parents, and teachers. The illustrations are also a wonderful addition to the story.

Written by Kristy Orona-Ramirez and illustrated by Jonathan Warm Day, Kiki's Journey is a picturebook about modern Native American life. A young Tiki girl living in Los Angeles knows little about her traditional culture and heritage, as her parents brought her from the pueblo to the city when she was a baby. During spring break from school, she has the opportunity to experience the pueblo with her parents for the first time. At first she feels like a tourist in a place that should be home, but the more she learns and sees, the better she understands the proud cultural history and traditions that precede her, and above all, the importance of family ties. The boldly simple and colorful artwork is the perfect complement to this heartwarming story of discovery.

This book seems to cover many great hiking areas in Sedona. It is quite explicit re: directions and information about the hiking trails. Great book for a person new to the area or even people who have been around awhile. Very informative!

I used this book for planning a 2 day visit to Sedona. I was extremely happy with the format. It has 2 pages per hike, with a high quality photo of what to expect for views, driving/hiking distance/time, as well as selections of their favorites. We didn't visit long enough to do a lot of the hikes, but we truly felt that we were able to select 3 hikes that were perfectly suited to our tastes and with nice variety. Overall, I don't think you could go wrong in Sedona, but I felt like this guide was well worth the price and only wish I could find similar guides for other locations. The Magnum's have done a great job, deserving of 5 stars.

The only shortcoming you may find is that their maps are very general and mostly help you find the trailhead (which was flawless). But, I prefer to have a quality map as well and I purchased the Emmitt Barks Cartography - Sedona Trails Map (not sure if it was on Amazon), and was very happy with it. Personally, I don't think you can create a detailed map inside the book for each hike, so I don't consider this a flaw to the book - just a bit of advice if you are planning a trip.

This book was very helpful in deciding which hikes to do. We were not dissappointed by any of the hikes. It was good that we knew about the pink jeaps ahead of time.

I have read five books about the Sedona hikes, all written approximately across the same time period, and this is why Iknow what I am talking about.I have also been to Sedona twice and know about it in a general sence. Short and sweet...this is the best all around Sedona hiking book filled with lots of bits about popular and unheard of hikes. This book is good because it is created by a Husband and Wife writer and photographer team who have lived in the area for years. The book includes maps of how to get to the trail heads and where the trails go from there. Also, descriptions of weather related to time of year and level of exertion required to do the hikes. The hikes that include VORTEXES are clearly marked. The photography is great. The five other books are best described by one or several of the following phrases: sickening and homespun; the writer as spiritual guru who is grandiose; might as well not bother; information repeated elsewhere ad nauseum. GET THIS BOOK

This book is good you want to look up a specific trail by name. I am more interested in researching trails in a specific area and found the layout of this book VERY frustrating. This book NEEDS a trail map overview where one can see where a specific trail is in relationship to the other trails. If you purchase this book make sure to purchase a Sedona Trail Map as well.

This was an interesting book, but it is not much of a first hand account. The author obviously went through a lot, but he was at a very high command level and his participation in the battles were very limited and in all honesty not very entertaining. If you want an exciting book to read about Nord and what it was like to be a soldier, I highly recommend "Black Edelweiss." This book is a very detailed account that often goes over the logistics of the battle and the planning on both sides. A great resource for somebody doing research for something larger concerning the western front late in the war, but not a page turning thriller likely to keep you up all night.

This book is remarquable.
The author is an excellent writer. The book is well written and of great historical value for people interested in the battle of the low Vosges.
The book describes the battle of Wingen sur Moder from the point of view of a very young German officer leading a whole battalion.
In January 1945, Wingen was 2 miles behind a stabilized front line. It was the hardest Winter of the century in Alsace. The aim of the Germans was to seize a valley in order to send 2 tank divisions to take Strasbourg. The 6th SS mountain division which has been fighting the Russians for 4 years were sent to take Wingen. They slipped through the main front line and took half of Wingen.

The memoirs available on line of the veterans of the 70th infantry division describe the battle seen from the US side. Wolf Zoepf gives us a stunning description from the German side, from a battalion commander view.

Leaving a few miles from Wingen, I was truelly impressed by the precision of the description of the battlefield.

Although the emphasis that this book gives to the "technical" aspects of the operation "Nordwind" and the fine accuracy of the terminology may cause some readers to avoid it, it is a very interesting and thought provoking analysis of the battles that the famous 6th SS Mountain Division fought in Alsace. The first 56 pages are devoted to that division's operations in Finland where, in late 1944, it was forced to retreat under attrocious conditions. Transferred to the Western Front, it participated in the operation "Nordwind" fighting excellently against the US 70th and 45h Infantry Division and causing many days of alarm and consternation to its opponents. Unfortunately for the 6th SS Mountain Division, the success it achieved outflanking the US positions and capturing Wingin-sur-Moder, proved to be just another "lost victory" since the other German divisions didn't advance in the same depth. The author was a junior officer in the Division "Nord" and he wrote this book with the help of many German and US first hand accounts, presenting a complete picture of the battle, from both sides of the hill. The book contains dozens of excellent three dimension maps, some two dimension maps and a few black and white photos. There is also an appendix with the German and US equivalent ranks. The book is higly recommended to the serious students of military history, since it is not only a battle story but a very critical and professional analysis of the operational and tactical factors that led the battle to its outcome.

The author was the adjutant of a German SS mountain infantry battalion that successfully infiltrated through the mountains and American lines before seizing its objective, a small village where most of these highly trained and well led soldiers were surrounded and killed in action while awaiting a relief force to link up with them that never came. The combat performance of this superb unit, and its strict adherence to the rules that govern modern warfare, so impressed their American opponents that both sides routinely met at annual reunions after the war. Parts of the book read like poetry, particularly the all too brief description of the German retreat across Finland and into Norway where the soldiers embarked on rusty transport ships that would transport these doomed soldiers to the shrinking perimeter of the Thousand Year Reich where they would be sacrificed on the fields of Mars during the last operational level German counteroffensive in the west.

At the tender age of 22, the author was the senior staff officer and second in command of the 3d Battalion, SS-Mountain Infantry Regiment 12, 6th SS-Mountain Division NORD. This book is his story.

It begins with an amazing account of how he was captured hiding in a foxhole with two American soldiers that he declared were his prisoners of war. One of the soldiers in the foxhole had shot at the author, hitting him from about 30 meters away. The author instinctively charged right at the foxhole. The surprised soldier got off one more round before the author jumped in the foxhole, hit the soldier on the head with his fist, and declared him to be his prisoner as he unbuckled his pistol. He then discovered that there was yet another soldier in the foxhole who had slept through all this. The author declared him to be his prisoner too. The author was eventually captured when a GI sergeant became upset that one of the men would not leave the foxhole and grabbed the soldier's blanket, uncovering the author as well.

The author then recounts in a very absorbing way his introduction to life as a German soldier where he became a member of the division of German mountain troops that eventually (in 1943, when Waffen-SS Divisions were officially numbered, based on seniority) became the sixth Waffen-SS division, the 6th SS-Mountain Division NORD. In so doing, he also provides a fascinating history of the training, experience, and development of this division, which, after an inauspicious beginning, obtained a well-deserved reputation for being a skilled and respected fighting force. This division spent almost the entire war fighting in the rugged, mountainous terrain of Finland with the Finns against the Soviets until the Finns and Soviets achieved an rapprochement, part of which included that the Finns capture, disarm, and turn over to the Soviets any German soldiers left in Finland after a 10-day allowance for their withdrawal. (The German wihdrawal was designated Operation BIRKE ("Birch").)

After the division's withdrawal from Finland, at the end of 1944, the Germans decided to utilize it (as well as other troops) in Operation NORDWIND ("Northwind"), an adjunct to Operation WACHT AM RHEIN ("Watch on the Rhein"), the offensive launched in Decermber 1944 through the Ardennes forest, better known in the West as the Battle of the Bulge.

The vast majority of the book describes in great detail, not only day by day, but hour by hour, the 7 days of fighting by the author's battalion and other elements of the 6th SS Division ("Combat Group Wingen") in January 1945 in and around the mountain town of Wingen-sur-Moder, in the Low Vosges in Northeastern France, primarily against forces of the U.S. 70th Infantry Division.

Drawing upon a wide array of sources from both sides of the battle, American and German, including numerous personal recollections by participants on both sides, the author not only describes what happened in an engaging writing style but objectively analyzes and criticizes the strategies and tactics of each side, giving credit where credit is due, during each stage of the fighting. The book is an invaluable addition to the history of this battle, mountain fighting, World War II, and warfare in general.

The entire book is enhanced by the use of about 3 dozen well-drawn and clearly stated maps of the fighting in Finland, the withdrawal, and Operation NORDWIND, including the daily battles around Winger-sur-Moden. There are no photos to speak of (the cover photo is not that of the author).

Taylor is a very believable character, the isolation of youth followed by some awareness as she got older were well portrayed. I wished that the ending were left a little more ambiguous.

This is one of the few books I have read that I wanted to just go on and on. It brought a tear of joy at the end when you knew everything had worked out for her. At the beginning, you weren't sure she was going to make it to eighteen! I will recommend this book to everyone I know.

I LOVED this book~~I did not want it to end.
Help! Any suggestions what to read next? I may just read it over again. Thank you Angie Day for writing it and I will definitely be watching for your next book!!!

Reading this book I related so much with the way Taylor feels and thinks. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only person in the world who has such strange thoughts and feelings as I do, but I found myself relating to Taylor on a level that I rarely find in a book. Even though our backgrounds are very different, it just goes to show how much in common you can have with someone and that underneath our skin we are all people.

As a eighteen year old college student, I can amaizingly relate to Taylor in "The Way to Somewhere." Her journey through life has been tried and tested in ways farely identical to mine, and Taylor resembles a little bit of myself. I am not much of a reader, but I just could not seem to put this novel down. A friend of mine let me borrow her copy because she said, "It's my favorite book and I want to tell everyone about it." I now feel the same, which is the reason for this reveiw. If you are even thinking of reading this novel, do, and I promise you will not regret your decision.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

Joanne,

Provided over 15 signed copies of her book for me to send to my daughter and her Company who are currently stationed in Iraq. I received numerous emails and thank you notes from not only women but the men in her company that shared this book with their spouses. I must admit I too kept a copy for myself in order to provide my 4 children with a better understanding of who I am. I am now back online once again to purchase 4 more books for co-workers with children. This book is a must have for anyone - man or woman- with children. I have a daughter who is about to marry and a son entering elementary--Time is priceless and Joanne's book has given me a tool to be a better "mom" and one could say I am paying it forward for my children and many more generations to come. My only wish now would be that my mother had given me such a timeless gift. Hats off to Joanne and a big thank you for your generous donation to our troops!!! Kudos

This book is fabulous. I have wanted to journal for my son so many times but wasnt sure how to begin. This book does it for me. It asks the questions that I want to answer. The perfect way to get started. I only wish that my grandmother was alive so I could get her "Answers"

What a wonderful legacy to leave your children. No matter who you are, some day your children will wonder what Mom or Dad would have thought about certain situations in their lives. If you follow this very user friendly book they will always have your wisdom and experience to refer to. Mrs. King's vivid imagery in the prompting questions is extremely helpful in evoking the feelings you want to capture on the page. I will be giving this special book to friends and family!!

I loved this book! My wife passed away a couple of years ago and I wish we would have had this book then for our children. It gives a great format for beginning a journal for your children. This book will help you leave a legacy for your children. I plan on using it for my writings but also to put some things down that I know my wife would have wanted to say. God bless the author for writing it!

Marta has brought forth a learner's manual for self empowerment. "The Courage to be Brilliant" is a step by step guide that gently teaches a new way of being-through love. I highly recommend this wonderful self improvement and life changing tool.
ElanthRa Maitreya

Ms. Monahan is gifting us all with her brillance. With her easy style she outlines five acts of improvement to challenge us and direct us to our greater good. She is like a "kinder-gentler" personal trainer, however, she helps us develop our most important attribute - integrity. Required reading for anyone interested in real self improvment

While attending a series of seminars led by Marta Monahan I saw her commitment to continuous improvement for herself and her students. As a result of her work I experienced a leap in my progress in both my professional and personal life. In her book "The Courage to be Brilliant" Marta presents ways to bring out your brilliance--five daily acts. The book is written in a straightforward manner and filled with wonderful examples. I found it deeply thoughtful and insightful. I was inspired by it and have been working on my five daily acts. They work! I've sold two books and have two publishers interested in others. I highly recommend this book.

Marta Monahan's "The Courage to Be Brilliant" tells you how, you too, can have the courage to take hold of your life, break out of mediocrity, and reach out to be the very best you can be, brilliant, through her "Five Acts of Improvement a Day".
Everyone should read her book and apply her "Five Acts of Improvement" so they too can be brilliant and shine.

Madeline Frank,Ph.D. author of "The Secret of Teaching Science and Math Through Music",how to have brighter children through music and "Musical Notes On Math", teaching fractions and decimals through the rhythm of music. www.madelinefrankviola.com

I've spent the last few days reading The Courage To Be Brilliant with great enjoyment. Having met Marta Monahan on a couple of occasions, I have seen her own brilliance, which shines from both her inner and outer beauty, so I know that she is practicing what she preaches.

As I began reading, I thought that this was probably going to be just another self-help book, but almost immediately I found myself making mental lists of the people I knew who would benefit from it. I loved all the anecdotes, the success stories of Marta's students, and was impressed by the great detail to which she goes to lay a foundation for her theories. It was quite surprising to see how long was the list of areas of life to which the Five Acts of Improvements could be applied, and all the practical suggestions for application. In fact, I truly believe there is something for everyone in this book.