Day Books

I was given this book for Christmas and - being a huge nostalgia fan - I LOVE it! So many great photos and interesting stories. This is a must for anyone who loves show business success stories.

This is one of the most entertaining reads I've ever had...WOW! What a surprise! Highly recommended!!!

This book is full of wonderful information on the subject of ventriloquism and is a great history book as well, about a bygone era that was once a vital part of American TV entertainment. It's a must read for any trivia buff!!

Oh My gosh, this is THE BEST BOOK I've EVER read! This awesome book is garenteed to educate you on 4 of the best ventriloquists in american history! This is an awesome book, filled with lots of photos and fun stories. WELL WORTH YOUR TIME AND MONEY!

Okay, I admit it: I grew up watching Paul Winchell on TV. And my best friend carved his own dummy, and practiced ventriloquism, while I acted as "audience". So, dummies and ventriliquists formed my warped view of life, later leading to Monte Python and Firesign Theater. What makes ventriliquists fascinating is their combination of surrealism, fantasy and real-life issues, projected into their own, small theater. By "suspending disbelief", these performed create real persons and real stories. If you love imagination and those who create imaginary worlds, you'll enjoy this book.

I have great admiration for Yvonne Bornstein for having lived and breathed this horrific criminal act. The people who committed this crime should be shot, drawn and quartered! No-body should have to live through this kind of horrendous ordeal.
This book has been marvellously written and should be listed on the New York bestseller list.
I read via Google that Ms Bornstein is currently negotiating her life rights with a major Hollywood studio.
Out of something bad comes something good.
I truly hope that Yvonne succeeds in her venture, she really deserves it.

A Fantastic book. I highly recommend that you read it. It was interesting and I learnt a lot.

Monica.

In a popular Hollywood movie, one of the characters, playing a tough businessman who fancied himself a master of negotiating, expressed the opinion that in a business deal, there is no difference between a gun and a fountain pen. To believe that this is true is to believe that the use of force or violence to obtain monetary reward is equivalent to using artful negotiation, rational persuasion, or skillful selling. Coercion then becomes just another technique for the acquisition of wealth, and individuals in the business community who refrain from using it are to be viewed as "unrealistic" or even weak-minded. Strength of character therefore has its origins in a willingness to intimidate physically other people in order to bring about a desired end. Real business involves "doing whatever it takes" to increase wealth, even if this means causing extreme pain or even death.

There are many who believe in this equivalence, but thankfully there are many who do not. As the events of her life and skill in entrepreneurship indicate, the author of this book is a member of the latter category, and in this book has written an engaging (and terrifying) story of how she and her business partner/husband were forced to deal with some individuals of the former category. Kidnapped for eleven days, where they were beaten and intimidated by a collection of moronic and confused thugs, who could not distinguish the acquisition of wealth from its plundering, and who sadistically enjoyed the pain they gave their captives, the couple nevertheless got away with their lives, with the assistance of a unexpected collaboration between East and West.

For those, such as this reviewer, who are extremely skeptical of the competence of governmental security personnel, and of their abilities to cooperate constructively with foreign governments, this story will alleviate some of this skepticism (although the author describes the FBI as being reluctant to get involved). There are not too many things that are more frightening than the prospect of being caught in a foreign country where the laws and sense of justice are different, and where envy towards Westerners is predominant. And if one does find oneself in such a situation and does survive it, the natural thing to do it seems would be to obliterate it from memory. Reminders of it would be draining, both emotionally and intellectually, and would serve no useful purpose in everyday living.

The author though has chosen to tell her story, and has written one that is fast moving but still gives insight into her moods as well as her captors. It focuses of course on the concrete details of her captivity, but also motivates the reader to consider why her captors behaved as they did, and whether the wealth that they expected to obtain was really worth the energy they expended to get it. It is always perplexing to see a group of individuals conniving, planning, and engaging in violent acts, and expending vast amounts of energy just to obtain by relative standards a paltry sum of money. Considerably less energy is needed to obtain the same sum by legal and creative means, but for some reason these types of individuals cannot see this. The answer must be that they love the intimidation and sense of power that violence gives them. The neurons in their brains are over trained by sadism, polluted with cynicism, and allow no expression of compassion or empathy. The money they obtain is spent in no time flat, on fruitless physical indulgences or one meaningless card game after another. They idolize and prop each other up, with their handshakes and backslaps, and any real sense of achievement is completely alien to them. Taking is always better then earning. They unite under the creed that "only suckers work."

Interestingly, when the author discusses her emotional state with respect to her captors, she mentions the "Stockholm syndrome." This is supposed to be a kind of brainwashing that causes the captive to express sympathy for or even admiration for the captor. On the surface this does not seem too surprising, since when in a situation of dependence one's emotional processes are completely out of equilibrium, with a consequent loss of self-esteem. It is difficult to find definitive research on the reality of the Stockholm syndrome, due no doubt to low occurrence of situations like that of the author, and lack of explicit documentation of the emotional states of the captives, before and after their confinement. Such a syndrome could explain the reason why so many abused wives tend to remain emotionally attached to their abusive husbands.

At the end of the book, the author describes her homecoming and the skepticism that she and her husband encountered by some members of the press, who did not believe her story. Their business in shambles, they did pick up and move on, although the author describes her life as being very stressful for sometime after the kidnapping. And what happened to their captors? "Whereabouts unknown" says the author. Unfortunately these creeps are still wandering around, and their behaviors have been emulated on a grander scale in the form of the Russian mob, part of which is active in the United States.

This is a true story of "man's inhumanity to man" and a wake up call for those living in the television provided security of their living rooms. One cannot accuse Yvonne of of any zest for growing roots into the sofa, au contraire. However, the dangers she encounters go far beyond anything she ever imagined. Russia's organized crime proves too tough, too well organized, and too cruel, when Yvonne and her former husband, Danny Wienstock, are kidnapped by predatory thugs. This terrifying account of the torture and dramatic rescue is recounted in vivid detail Bornstein's suspenseful tale, ELEVEN DAYS OF HELL.


Yvonne's testimony drives home the fact that the events taking place in Russia affect everyone ... it's a small world we live in today. This is a read that tears at the nerves; Bornstein paints a lucid picture of the events of her and her husband's captivity in the town of Noginsk, involving horrible mental and physical abuses heaped on them. Fortunately, back at the ranch some good guys still work at the CIA, and they manage to unite forces with Russian and Australian authorities. The two stories are entwined in a way that builds tension nicely to a thrilling rescue, yet this is not the end. Yvonne must now grapple with the internal demons unleashed by her tormentors. The made for TV drama may be over, but, in the aftermath, her real battle has only just begun.

For anyone who wishes a peak into the horrors and mind set created by events that few of us have or will ever experience, this book is a must read. That said, those who have already experienced "man's inhumanity to man" may have a difficult time getting through the disturbing sequence of events. On the other hand, other victims of violence may be reasssured that justice does exist in the world, and it is sometimes served to the thugs who deserve it.

Yvonne Borstein and her husband Danny were kidnapped by a band of Russian gangsters and ex-KGB villians in early 1991. They were tortured physically and emotionally for a 1.6 billion dollar random (which was orders of magnitude above the liquid assets of the heavily-mortgaged Australian business-couple).

Was Yvonne an innocent tourist kidnapped in Russia? No. A do-gooder helping revive post-Iron Curtain Russia? Well, no. How about a profiteer involved with shady business deals on Russia's black market? Yep, that's it. In hindsight, Yvonne admits that she and Danny were dazzled by wealth, heavily over-mortgaged on their house, gambling by paying out millions in anticipation of high (but dubiously legal) returns, and they were unwilling to wake up to the many signs of trouble in their Russo-Australian import/export business. As a reader, I appreciated her candor and lack of excuses or assignment of blame.

Even shady entrepreneurs in economically ravaged countries don't deserve to be tortured for an insanely high ransom. Yvonne's book is the story of her entire life, from her childhood to her early troubled relationships before meeting husband Danny. Yvonne lays out the events which unraveled and lead south to the kidnapping. In captivity, Yvonne and Danny leveraged one another's strengths, plotting to get messages out to the world and to present the right "face" to their kidnappers. The couple only survived because of their union. When Yvonne was sexually assaulted, she knew she had to hide it during the captivity, to prevent her husband from violently assaulting their tormentors.

Bornstein bills her memoir as evidence of al-Qaeda alive and well in early 1990's Russia. This is certainly a good advertisement in the post-9/11 world, but it is a shaky claim at best. Sure, there is evidence of al-Qaeda, but don't pick this up expecting some all-conclusive smoking gun expose on Afghan terrorism.

Yvonne is a survivor and as inspiration to women everywhere. She dug up a lot of information to provide context to her own personal (and painful) narrative. Thanks for sharing your story, Ms. Bornstein!

Andy's book is a very interesting look at a very difficult time in our history. The details were interesting because you knew it was genuine through and through. Andy gets your interest early on and keeps it till you've read the last page.

The Good Old Days Surviving Appalachia has given me
quite a trip down Memory Lane. Life in East Kentucky
for me, in the early thirties, was a little different
than the life young folks have today. He reminded me
of things like the grapevine swings, which was the only
"playground equipment" we had when I was in early grades
at school. Of course we never
heard of calculators, computers, cell phones, etc., that
seem so necessary for young people today. Mr. Baker
covered many areas such as a lack of textbooks, school
interactions, what was for lunch - so many things that
now are taken for granted. Perhaps this could be
required reading - but I am puzzled by the right time.
Education is so advanced now, where would it fit in the
student schedule? Everyone must read, just to touch on
"How life was..." We must appreciate a warm bed on
these cool nights, as well as appreciate that we do
not go to bed hungry. vg

Andy's first hand accounts and those past down to him from family and friends of life in the hills of southeastern Kentucky are a refreshing change of pace from today`s world. Sometimes happy, some sad, but always compelling, The Good Old Days is well worth your money and time.

A wonderfully honest look at the many facets of life in an Appalachian home in the "good old days". At times funny, at times heart wrenching, this book gives the reader a true peek at Appalachian life's joys and hardships. Readers with Kentucky roots as well as those without will enjoy reading the author's memories of life, which is so different from how we now experience it.
Pam Fraley

Great story of growing up in the hills of Southeast Kentucky. That is a special area and Andy does a terrific job of bringing it to life for all of us. Thank you Andy! It left me wanting more!

I have a collection of dozens of quilting books and this has to be the prettiest, most compelling and easiest to follow. I'm on my second quilt from this book and it couldn't be easier. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Very informational book on quilting processes. The pictures are helpful and the information is presented well.

Lots of Quick and Easy patterns in this book. Eleanor explains
things so that you can put them together quickly. My copy is a
class book, and my quilt turned out gorgeous. Has hung in my
quilt shop for several months now.

I enjoyed reading this book and learned a few new techniques for building blocks and I have decided to start some of the book's projects as soon as possible.

The instructions of this book are so good that I made the quarter log cabin quilt in just a few days. The illustrations are very helpful.

I relied on someone else's review when I decided to purchase this book, and I'm very glad I did. The authors don't sugarcoat the whole breakup experience, but they do offer realistic ideas on how to approach each day and mark progress. They don't demonize the other party, which is helpful, and similarly, they don't idealize what led to the split. I found myself looking forward to reading each day's blurb and contemplating the associated exercises. While I am still very sad about my breakup, I know there are better days ahead, and that having spent the time following the heartache constructively analyzing myself and the circumstances will prove beneficial down the road. If you are in a similar situation of feeling overwhelmed by a recent breakup, I highly recommend this book. And good luck to you.

My sister got me this book after my girlfriend of 4 years and I broke up. Thanks, sis! I found it to be a helpful way to occupy those newfound and oftentimes unwelcome free hours that accompany the loss of a loving relationship. The book discusses various emotions associated with the loss of a relationship and offers insight on how to deal with them. For each topic discussed, there are practical suggestions on generating the healthy perspective necessary to move on and become a happy person after a break-up. It's been a few months since I got the book, and I can definitely look back and know it helped me think about a lot of difficult things. After a few months, I feel a lot better and have a much better outlook on what a healthy relationship is and how that wasn't what I had.

I thought this would be an easy read. Boy, was I wrong. Well, it *was* easy to read because it is very clearly written, and very direct and focused. It took me longer than expected to read because the SUBSTANCE of the book is so compelling. The chapters and exercises really hit home and provoke a lot of contemplation and action. I have already ordered a copy for a friend and highly recommend this book to anyone who has either recently lost a love relationship, or who hasn't really recovered from the hurts of one or more past relationships, recent or not so recent. This book basically says, YOU are in charge. YOU do the work. YOU need to recognize where you are and what you CAN do about it. This book does not permit you to wallow unnecessarily in the stages of grief but instead encourages you to recognize what IS and what ISN'T and to CHOOSE to deal with your situation constructively and actively. Spot-on!

I read this book after my fiance broke up with me after our year-long engagement. I didn't have this book from Day 1, so I caught up by reading through it in one sitting and then referring back to the book when I was having a particularly rough day. Some of the information is pretty powerful stuff, but I had a hard time with some of it. This book assumes that the relationship you were in was unhealthy in some way. Not all relationships are unhealthy, and can end for other reasons. I realize that the point of this book is to make you look at the flaws in your ex-partner, and not put them on a pedestal. But for someone like me -- who felt loved and cherished straight through to the end -- it was hard to relate to some of the text. The overall message of the book, which is to value and love yourself, and to take care of yourself, resonates clearly, and I was therefore able to skip over the parts that didn't seem to apply to my relationship and still get some benefit from the other messages.

One of the more unique aspects of this book is how the author team has included helpful actions that you can take at the end of each chapter to further your recovery. I found that these helpful reminders, such as working out and eating right, felt as if they were being delivered by a concerned friend offering tips to make me feel better.

This book has truly become an important part in helping me in my life.

I read this book and marked it up a whole bunch and have been going back a lot, looking at specific chapters as they pertain to me. It really has been great to read and has given me a lot of new perspectives on what I have been going through.

I am recently out a relationship in which I fell head over heels in love with a girl. We started dating and to say I was on top of the world would be an understatement. We dated for a year (talked marriage and kids) and at about that point I started getting feelings that it just was not right for me. I broke up with my girlfriend and for a long time after we went back and forth with dating each other, each time me breaking up with her.

I thought I was going to be able to move forward and move on with my life and at one point we stopped talking. About a month later she informed me she was seeing someone else and my world pretty much crashed. I was in such a bad place as I went through all those feelings of "I gave up the best thing ever," to "what is wrong with me," to "I will never love again," to "how could she be with someone else," to "why could I not love her before, this pain is unbearable," etc.

To say the last few months have been hard would be an understatement. But this book has been a big part of my life and helped me get through those sleepless nights, those unending days, and I can see now that I am now on a road to recovery. It is a process and this book has helped me see how to make it through that process.

One's first true love has been so hard to get over, especially knowing I was the one who ended it every time. I could not understand why I was saying goodbye every time to the one person I loved. All I could do was try to figure out what was wrong with me, there had to be some defect within me. Then to add to the confusion even more, after all the times I said goodbye, when I found out she was with someone else, was when I really hit rock bottom. That was when I really started to question my decisions. That is when I picked up this book and started reading.

This book takes a look at things from both sides, whether you are the one breaking up or you are the one who was broken up with. I feel like in my situation I was on both sides! I have learned so much about myself and I really have started to take a turn for the better. I have setbacks, but I have to understand that I am going to have those days and the good thing is is that those days are a lot fewer and farther between than thirty days ago.

I lost my best friend, the one person that I truly opened up to and really shared my core with. It has been hard for me knowing she is out there and close to me, yet so far away in so many respects. It has been hard having the one person that I really want to talk to about all this, not there for me. It is not everyday that we lose our best friend. It is something that I have struggled with, but I have realized it is something I have to deal with. This book shows you how to work through that.

I know I have a ways to go, but I am progessing. This book has been an amazing help to me as I have truly had the hardest time of my life. I even emailed the authors and they got back to me right away, what a great feeling!

I would recommend this book highly to those who are working on mending their heart, no matter what the situation.

Jock Sturges will probably stand as one of the great photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries....someday. His work with the friends and strangers who populate summer beaches and cottages where clothing is optional, year after year, testifies to his respect for his subjects and his affirming humanity. In current American culture, where hypersexuality is the marketing tool of choice, and merchants exploit every normal insecurity about appearance to sell endless crap to yearning multitudes, Sturges's pictures show us how beautiful we are, in all our shapes, sizes and ages, in nothing but the skin we are born with.

As a photographer, I am amazed at Sturges's ability to convince people to simply offer themselves up to his visual instincts. He returns to the same venues again and again, and becomes part of the places himself, rather than an intruder, and the people in his photographs see the work that results. Seeing themselves as he sees them, they appear to trust him completely. He steals no souls, but rather, affirms the conviction that we have souls in the first place. When asked to suggest a present for my own 16 year old daughter, a young woman with endless interests and curiosity, including photography, I could think of no better work to show her at this point in her life.

This is what children, young people growing up, and parents with children look like: people in bathing suits, jeans, everyday attire, as well as nude. There are photographs on the beach, in a tree, on a tricycle (one of the best as a photographic design, in my opinion), in hammocks, standing...a whole range of locales and postures.

While it astounds me that anyone could think this wonderful collection is child pornography, I *can* see the concern. There's no doubt in my mind that a genuine pedophile would be attracted to this, and for all the most unfortunate reasons. Still, this is an accurate and sensitive representation of something that seems almost vanished from the world--the innocence of people comfortable with themselves, their bodies, and with each other. Alas, this is our loss.

This collection of touching, humorous, and occasionally beautiful photographs is our gain.

If you are after pictures for the sexual excitement, look somewhere else. Yes there are naked women and men, young women and men, and even boys and girls of adolescent age, but you'd have to have a pretty sick mind to find them sexually exciting.

Rather on the contrary this are works of art with some of the best printing you'll see in your life (I'd love to see the originals, as I suspect as good as the book edition is, it still doesn't make it justice), with that simple beauty and simple "laiser faire" that is simply breathtaking.

Mr. Sturges first photography book, it shows the style his fans all know and love but as a first effort has a less polished feel to it. I was surprised to see some pictures taken in Rhode Island, the later books seem to consist of France, California and Oregon with no East Coast U.S.
As always with Mr. Sturges books the subject matter is mostly nude but there are several clothed photos here as well, more than will be found in later books. The style is all well done,(many very nice images), the book is certainly worth owning but doesn't seem quite the quality of the books from "Radiant Identities" onward.

A superb example of natural people doing what comes naturally captured in a wholesome way. Through Jock Sturges' images, we see what we see around us every day - families growing older. His nudes are prime examples of beauty - of which Jock captures with a particular reverence. The subjects represent whole body acceptance - something our society lacks today. The book is well done, and the images crisp and of excellent tone.

This book is very easy to understand. It gives you step by step information and resources on tax liens and deed. I would recommend this book to any one that wants to know about tax lien and deeds.

A good book that demistifies any confusion about tax sales throughout the country. Easy to read and easy to follow. Breaks down all the information into an organization fashion. Unfortunately, the author's website isn't working.

I was curious about the topic of tax liens after reading about it. This book clearly explained what it is. It showed examples, and illustrations. And it didn't carry the usual garbage of having too many pages with no content. This book is a quick read but every page is filled with information that I was able to use.

This is a very very quick read and a definite time saver for people on the go. I think if you are new to this and didn't know how tax liens work, you will really find this book to be helpful as it guides you step by step. It is very specific on what you should do and what forms to fill out. I have looked at other tax lien resources mainly John Beck's expensive tax lien program on TV. I found this book to be cheaper and more direct to the point, while the latter having little or no resources unless you want to pay more for coaching and stuff.

Also I was surprised to find the free online community with this book. It makes the learning process a little easier when you have questions and you can ask people including the author directly.

I've bought a couple of tax lien books after seeing some commercials on TV. This is the easiest so far to understand because it breaks down the auction process and the research process into steps and checklists. The other books tend to give you an encyclopedia article of what tax liens are, but this one clearly tells you HOW to do it not just WHAT it is.

I had heard good things about this book when I picked it up, but I didn't expect to fall in love with it. The style is delightful, the characters dynamic, and the story creative and new. I look forward to seeing more from Jessica Day George.

This book is great. The story was easy to read but kept my attention the entire time. If you like fantasy, this is a great find.

This book was the best book I've read in my whole entire life!! I love the characters Creel, Prince Luka, and Shardas! I loved it when Creel knocked out Princess Amalia! I was also very annoyed with how Larkin just took Creel's shoes without asking and just gave them to Amalia! You would love this book if you're into adventurous, funny, fantasy, and action books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
________ Lael sommer !!!

CREEL IS THE HEROIN OF THIS STORY. AFTER HER AUNT TRIES TO MERRY HER OFF TO THE LOCAL LORD'S SON BY BEING A DRAGON'S CAPTIVE SHE DECIDES TO GO TO THE KING'S SEAT AND TRY HER LUCK AS A DRESS MAKER. IN EXCHANGE FOR TALKING THE LORD'S SON OUT OF FIGHTING THE LOCAL DRAGON THE DRAGON GIVES HER A PAIR A DRAGON SKIN SLIPPERS, SLIPPERS THAT CAN CONTROL DRAGONS (UNKNOWN TO HER). WHEN SHE REACHES THE RATH FOREST (I THINK THAT'S WHAT ITS CALLED) SHE GETS ATTACKED BY BANDITS, WHEN SHE CRIES FOR HELP A GOLDEN DRAGON DROPS A GLASS WINDOW ON THEIR LEADER'S HEAD, PICKS HER UP IN HIS CLAWS, AND TAKES HER TO HIS LAIR (SHE FAINTS WHILE IN HIS CLAWS). AFTER SHE SPENDS SOME DAYS WITH SHARDAS (THE GOLDEN DRAGON) HE FLIES HER TO THE KING'S SEAT. TO FIND OUT MORE YOU SHOULD READ THE BOOK OR ASK SOMEONE WHO HAS. F.Y.I. IN THE SECOND LAST CHAPTER CREEL IS KNOWN AS THE HEROIN OF THE DRAGON WAR. AND THE KING TRIES TO MARRY HER TO HIS ELDEST SON MILES. (THOUGH CREEL PREFERS THE SECOND AND YOUNGEST SON LUKA).

I always preview any books I purchase for my grandchildren. I give this an A+ for its style of writing and for keeping it light enough for young minds. The storyline has action, is fun, and has some core values instilled in the actions of the chatacters. I was entertained and finished the book with a feeling of having had a good adventure. I wanted more.

I'm in the process of reading 2 of Barbara Jennings books.
Am finding her to be highly thorough and knowledgeable.
Every bit of info is useable. Let you know later if I
make lots of money putting her techniques to use.
Many thanks, Gerri

This is an important book for anyone starting a home staging business. I started a home staging business before I read this book. However, upon reading it I realized how much I did not know and decided to go through decorate-redecorate.com for home staging certification. The book is detailed, current and full of relevant pointers, tips and information on the art and business of home staging. Anytime Barbara Jennings publishes a book on this topic I will read it (after reading this book I bought two of her other books: Decor Secrets Revealed & Where there's a Wall there's a Way). Jennings is clearly a consummate authority on the subject.

I ordered the book based on another review about it. I was pleased with the information contained in it, however, I will say that it is written like she is speaking to you and feels at time to be unorganized as to topic. With the subtitle leading you to believe you can be up and running in 7 days, there really is not a Seven Day plan as such, but you need to extract what is needed from each chapter. I also found a few of the things she suggested in staging to be a bit odd, ie: cleaning out gutters. Although I realize this would be necessary in selling a home, I do not feel this should be the job of a Home Stager. There is a lot of marketing information and some good ideas as to how to market the business, which I did find helpful. Most books like this on this topic generally tout the products of the author and this is no exception to that. However, unlike another well-known home stager-author they are not mentioned on every page. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to start this business, but I also feel that if you have no design background, this book will not help in that. My suggestion is to read all you can on the subject, take what works for you, then build your business.

I recently bought 2 books on Staging, since I'm currently wondering wether to pursue it as a new career. Right off the bat, this book is very inspiring in it's voice and the writer's accomplishments. I'm barely into it, but it's already gotten me back to feeling excited about the possibilities. As opposed to the other staging book i'm about to review, and ended up returning.

The layout is like reading a term paper, but it's kind of nice reading on such a big format for a change. No color pictures to speak of, but if you're buying this, you're not looking for color ideas. Just tell me what the biz is all about, and what i could expect from giving it a go, is all i'm looking for.

I'm really enjoying the way that it's written as if the author is talking to you. It's much more entertaining, and it makes me feel like she's there for any questions, which she says she is!

So based on the 30+ pages or so i've read, this book is a definite for those looking for some insight into this growing business.

I loved this book- it is very thorough and contained everything I needed AND more that I haven't even gotten to read yet- I am still implementing ideas from what I have read! Barbara is not trying to impress people with her credentials, she is trying to help them with her experience! If you are considering staging for a living- get this book!

I would recommend this book to anyone, from therapists to coaches to artists. It's an excellent creative stimulant that would be applicable even in creative classroom settings.

fantastic book! i tried The Artist's Way but... too time-consuming - i'm busy!!!! maybe i'll get back to it, but maybe it won't be necessary. i found that within the first few chapters of THIS delightful book i'd already gained focus and answered questions... i found mine at the local library, wrongly filed under "metaphysical", lol... i'll be buying my own copy very soon.

Several years ago, I browsed through "The Nine Modern Day Muses" in a bookstore and decided to buy a copy for myself. What a gift that turned out to be! Since that time, Jill Badonsky's book has made a wonderful gift for others. I have given copies to my sister; my boss; close friends; colleagues from my former life as an attorney; fellow writers, zydeco dancers, meditators, Buddhist practitioners.... Their response has been unanimous - every one of them loves the book.

"The Nine Modern Day Muses" is so much fun. The book is an easy read - Jill Badonsky's sense of humor is delightful, and her writing is light and playful. BUT don't let this fool you. "The Nine Modern Day Muses" is packed full of substance: powerful tools for igniting your creative spark and overcoming creative obstacles, fun but effective exercises for generating creative ideas, thought-provoking gems, and page after page of inspiration and encouragement. The book has been a tremendous hit with my creativity coaching clients and creativity group/workshop participants.

I highly recommend buying Jill Badonsky's book for yourself, your family and friends, and anyone else you know who wants to be more creative.

Laurie M. Hawley
Certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach

If you haven't yet had the privilege of reading Jill Badonsky's magnificently motivating book The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) you MUST find a copy and read it.

A Master Muse of our time...Jill Badonsky is a witty , sometimes wickedly irreverent, delightful and brainy Tinkerbellesque Warrior of the creative enchanted mind; illuminating the magic and possibility of creative ideas, visions and artistic dreams. This is a writer that not only walks her talk...she lives it.

The Nine Modern Day Muses gives you serious tools to take your dreams and your goals from imagination to reality. This brilliant and delicious recipe is that of an intellectual gourmand with a sense of humor. Ms. Badonsky shares cutting-edge psychological technologies, specific exercises and the extraordinary power of guided imagery to aid us in winning the battle against self-sabotage and marauding inner critics. Add to that a dash of whimsy and several pinches of joyful, motivational merriment and you have a reference that takes significant information and presents it with a sense of ease and FUN!

You will find yourself picking up this timeless creative classic again and again and again. There is a mysterious energetic resonance that infuses THE NINE MODERN DAY MUSES. With each read, no matter what page you may choose, the book seems to reveal another layer of excellent information; as though the Muse Faerie Scholars come out when it's on the shelf and add more dazzling, thought-provoking ideas!

This is NOT just a book for Artists, Craftspeople, Poets, Writers and Lovers. This is a book for EVERY HUMAN BEING. We are all students of ourselves.

JILL BADONSKY'S THE NINE MODERN DAY MUSES (and a Bodyguard) will lovingly speak in non-judgmental voices and persuade you to consider the power of yourself...the Wildchild you still are... and the inimitable gifts you have to share with our world.

Post Script: A SECRET...The latest word on the streets of Museopolis is that Jill Badonsky and her Muses are soon to launch another inspirational and brilliant morsel...The AWE-MANAC. Keep your eyes open for it this September!

This book is delightful! As a lifelong creativity champion, the moment I saw it I knew I had to have it. Of all the books I've read on creativity, and there have been many, it's the most creatively written and formatted that I've found, providing not only valuable information on the creative process, but being itself a model and an inspiration as well. The author, Jill Badonsky, brilliantly presents creativity principles in a playful, engaging and interactive way, personified by fun and spirited muses. Being a former producer of training materials and a promoter of creative and interactive performance support strategies, I appreciate the concept of chunking bits of information into a sort of buffet of info nuggets that can be digested in either a linear or a non-linear fashion. This book offers such a buffet. It's chock full of metaphors, strategies, resources and exercises that provide a bountiful and delicious creativity experience. Whether you want to explore your creative potential, take your creating to a new level, or help others do the same, buy this book! You won't be disappointed.