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Adoption is supposed to be an act of goodness, but there are those who would corrupt it. "The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, The Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption" tells of Memphis-based black market baby merchant Georgia Tann, who operated from the 1920's to the 1950's conning mothers out of their children or just out and out kidnapping them, only to turn around and sell them to the wealthy to claim as their own. Her orphanage was applauded in spite of its horrifically high death rate. She habitually hid adoption records, a practice that has unfortunately become standardized in today's adoption industry. An expose of a dark individual who treated babies worse than cattle, "The Baby Thief" reveals why, despite its more stringent modern regulations, modern adoption needs to rethink some of its practices (such as sealing records). Highly recommended.

This book exposes the history of adoption in the United States, particularly its corrupt underside. The book addresses four themes:

1. Changes in attitudes about adoption, as well as adoption laws, in the past 100 years.

2. Corruption in adoption, embodied in "The Baby Thief," Georgia Tann. This includes the long-term impact on her victims.

3. Georgia Tann's long-term impact on society as a whole, including her lasting impact on today's adoption laws.

4. A call to revise adoption laws.

It's an engaging read, but loses a star for several instances of repetitive information.

Definitely recommended.

Georgia Tann ran an adoption agency from the 1920s until the 1950s. Supported by a corrupt government, she stole children from poor Memphians and sold them across the country to wealthy families. She ignored background checks and rated people by the amount of money they could pay her. As a result, children were torn from their mothers arms, sometimes right after their births, and many were placed in abusive families. Some tricked mothers never saw their children again. Raymond has a personal interest in the story as an adoptive mother herself, and her enthusiasm makes for a quick read. Her interviews with people who knew Tann and the people affected by her shady practices are excellent additions.

Raymond does a good job of getting at as much information as she can, and this book is well researched. However, I would have liked to know a bit more about the celebrity cases involved. Christina Crawford is perhaps the most famous Georgia Tann adoptee; why wasn't she discussed? Was she stolen from her birth parents? Pamela Powell is also mentioned; Dick Powell threatened to fight if her birth parents tried to reclaim her. Whatever happened to that case?

Overall, this is a good read and not just for people with a specific interest in adoption.

Excellent recollection of a horrible, horrible time in our so-called Democratic Society. I appreciate the efforts of the author and all who helped her. I wish Steven Speilberg would turn this into one of his epics. His Holocaust movie set in motion positive reactions, respect and awareness. Let's hope he can bring this to fruition. But more importantly-the research presented here and the stories told should affect our Elected Officials and our Supreme Court....they should OPEN ALL THE RECORDS sealed because of the manipulation of a criminal, evil woman and her corrupt support system. As an adoptee I want to know who I am-it is my constitutional right to know. To quote Alex Haley:"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are, and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning; no matter what our attainments in life, there is the most disquieting loneliness." Alex Haley Thank you again Barbara-Bravo

A couple of years ago I watched a docudrama on A & E starring Mary Tyler Moore as the depraved monster Georgia Tann. When I searched for a book written about Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society, I found this one and read it in two days. It was riveting, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking. What a shame that her lies were not exposed years earlier when more of her victims may have had the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones. She and her cronies destroyed countless lives with their deceitful practices, and I hope that this book will create an awareness of people who prey on others so that history can never repeat itself in this way.

A cute story about how children see their dolls and dolls see their children. Perfection is in the eye of the child. And the most worn are often the most loved. Any one with a passion for dolls would love this story.

Absolutely love this book for girls ages 0 to 12 -but most compelling for ages 6-10. This was a favorite of mine when i was young. My 8 year old daughter is so enamoured wtih the story she wants to have a Best Loved Doll birthday. Don't hesitate - buy this book!

This wonderful book captivated me as a child. It is probably my most favorite book from my childhood and I loved it so! I remember so much how I wished I could have owned the best loved doll, and how it made me tear up after my mother read it to me for the first time. I cannot wait to read it one day to my daughter(s)!

"The Best Loved Doll" was the first book I fell in love with as a little girl. Even after I grew up I still remembered this book. When I got pregnant and found out I was having a little girl, I knew I had to find this book. And to my astonishment, I found it and didn't think twice of purchasing it. I can only hope that my little girl will love it as much as I did. A true treasure for all little girls with a good meaning: just because something looks old and is in tatters, it doesn't mean it can't be loved or give love.

I have loved this book my whole life. I think it is a great reminder for today's materialistic youth.

Just thumbing thru the book already has me laughing out loud. The business plan in disarray... the Family Friendly policy... and my personal favorite - the office thermostat! I wish I had Alice's chutzpah." I wouldn't be freezing to death all day!!!

Journey to Cubeville is a 224-page collection of Scott Adams' hilarious Dilbert cartoons. Dated between 11/1/96 and 1/4/98, these cartoons include all of the normal Dilbert crew: Dilbert, Alice, Wally, Asok, Dogbert, Catbert (a personal favorite), and so forth. The cartoons themselves appear as they did in your favorite newspaper, with the big Sunday ones printed in bright color! Plus, as a bonus, this book includes pop-out finger-puppets, which includes Dilbert, Wally, Alice, Dogbert, Ratbert, the Pointy-Haired-One, and a cubicle. (Dilbert wouldn't be Dilbert without a cubicle!)

This book is great, a must-have addition to the library of any Scott Adams fan. And, the finger-puppets make it that much better. This is perhaps the best Dilbert book of them all - buy it!

JOURNEY TO CUBEVILLE is the absolute best collection of Dilbert comic strips!!! The whole hilarious gang (`specially Wally,Alice and Dilbert et. al) just saturates every single page with their best laughs.So whether you`re wandering through a bookstore,or on the net,DO NOT miss out on JOURNEY TO CUBEVILLE.It`s worth the money!

It's amazing how Scott Adams is able to produce hundreds of hilarious Dilbert strips that revolve around just a few themes -bosses are stupid, engineers are geeks, and the whole purpose of management, marketing, and the like are to squash productivity. This book is proof that Adams is a genius because not a single strip fails to produce at least a chuckle. Get this book and laugh your a** off.

Dilbert is the perfect hero for the modern office, which consists mostly of cubicles, or cubes as we frequently refer to them.

What happens in a cubicle? Oh, you know. The boss comes around and indicates that he is the great power behind everything, though he actually knows nothing about the product. If anything goes wrong, downsizing of those best suited to fix the problem follows.

What of marketing? Well, they are selling a product we have yet to build, for a price we are unable to achieve, with features that marketing neglected to tell engineering about. When all else fails, hire a consultant!

But Dilbert also has to face things like synergies. What are synergies? Ah, well, Dilbert can tell you that when you hear a cliché word like synergies, down-sizing is sure to follow in Cubeville, along with additional doses of cluelessness.

Any Dilbert book is perfect for a modern office worker, especially if they are in engineering, as Dilbert is. This collection of cartoons published from 9/1/96 to 1/18/98 are sure to give you more than a few chuckles as you recognize behaviors from an office you once worked in, or, if you are unfortunate, an office your are currently working in. At least you get gain some perspective and humor from your misery!

Enjoy!

Like everyone else on this list, I read this book over and over when I was a child and then misplaced it. I can honestly say that I never forgot it, though I did forget the title and twenty-some years later I was still going online from time to time and doing random hopeless searches for it. But - !I came across my battered old cover-less copy in a storage box over the weekend and reread it, and it is just as lovely as I had remembered, and the illustrations are even lovelier. It is a very simple but beautiful story; I highly recommend it for every little girl. I'm so pleased to have finally found it, and doubly pleased that it's been reissued.

I first read this book when I was eight years old (in the late 60's) and still have my copy of it. It is a great book about a long lost doll that is finally found after many years. I always wanted a grandfather clock because of the one in this story and mine has a proud place at the top of my staircase too. Wouldn't it be neat if there were hidden treasures in every aunt or grandma's house! This is a must read if you love spooky, but not too spooky, old fashioned stories.

bought one for myself and my sister. My first copy was from the Scholastic book sale at school in 1973. This is a very delightful and innocent mystery that captivated me as a child. This is a beautiful book to share with your daughters, nieces, granddaughters,etc. It is nice to sit back and remember when it was very cool not to be whiny, materialistic, over exposed and selfish..when it was wonderful to just to be a sweet, kind, helpful and respectable little lady.
Metaldiva Sez: Buy as many as you can for all the little girls in your family..great book about a tantalizing and gentle mystery..

I had to buy this book! I read this book as a child, but misplaced my copy decades ago! When I realized that I could find it on amazon, that it wasn't lost to me forever, and that I could have my daughter read it, I felt like I was being given a gift. There is nothing like a truly good book when you're a child, and this book is a timeless wonder. I bought one for my daughter, for her third grade teacher, and for her second grade teacher whose daughter is named Elizabeth. Now its magic will inform further generations.

I read this book over and over as a kid of eight or nine - it was an especially good book to curl up with when I was feeling lonely or blue. My dog-eared copy gave out finally, and I never could find another. Often I have been sad that I couldn't share some of the most beloved stories populating my imagination as a kid with my daughter. Imagine my joy when this lovely book came available again! I'm not ashamed to say I was emotional and shed a few tears of happiness (a good book will do it to me every time). And, of course, I bought a copy for my little girl, to whom I'm going to read it aloud.

This book is sweet without being cloying, it's an adventure mystery without villains or violence, it's a puzzle to be solved without competition, it's a "growing up" book without preachiness. It's charm is boundless. Adults will enjoy it, I think, as much as their children. Good reading!

LOVE this book! It's completely marked up with yellow highlighter and dog-ears. Must Get for Spa Owners!

I read this book in one day while I was on vacation. I was so inspired, I couldn't wait to get back to work to begin a new customer service policy in our salon. We already do some of the rituals for our guests, but this book gave me so many more ideas. John Dijullius is so right about creating systems and sticking with them, day in and day out. Can't wait for the second book!!!!

By far the best book I've ever read on customer service. Nice work!

This is a book that I reccomend to all of my franchise stores that I support. This is a glossary or handbook of great service and marketing. There is no reinventing the wheel in this little book but a refernce of the tried and true. Each example is supported with results and successes. The multiple companies referred to are known companies who lead their markets in service.

I encourage my stores to take a highlighter to this book of concepts and write notes in the margins. They will refer to this book often. This is 165 pages of good information.

Even though I am in the same industry as the author, this book is full of great ideas any business could use to implement systems to improve their customer service. We have used many of the ideas with great results. Mr. DiJulius gives you these wonderful ideas and how to implement them. If you read his book you'll see why his company is so successful. I require my staff to read this book when they are hired. This is one of my favorite business books!

As a foster parent this book was very realistic and hit home on a lot of levels.

I highly recommend this wonderful book!! I read it in one sitting; I simply could not put it down. The Hannah family's journey through foster parenting and adoption mirrored my own. My family started fostering children around the same time that the Hannah's did and we have experienced many of the same break downs in the child welfare system that they have. This book is a must read for anyone looking into the possibility of fostering children and also for anyone who knows foster families. The isolation foster families feel when everyone around them starts questioning their parenting, not realizing that the children are very, very ill and need to be parented differently is devastating. The journey towards healing and forgiveness is very uplifting and motivating. Deborah Hannah conveys her joy, betrayal, disillusionment and forgiveness simply and clearly. She gives us the message that life does go on.

This was an amazing book!! I am currently on my way to becoming a foster parent, so I decided to read this book. I started reading it yesterday morning, and finished at 2 o'clock this morning. I couldn't stop reading. I cried while reading it, it was so sad, but I don't regret hearing the story. It needed to be told.

The author has a beautiful way with words, and the book was an easy read. It flowed very well.

This book is fantastic! It takes an honest look at the adoption and foster care system and the sometimes heartbreaking trails that come with fostering and adopting. I felt like Deborah was writing my story and the story of so many other families I know. I deeply appreciated her willingness to be transparent. For so many of us who feel alone in our struggles, this is a must read.

I couldn't put this book down! As a foster parent for 14 years and an adoptive mom of 6, I found this book to be thought provoking, reaffirming and truthful. I, like the Hannah's, went into fostering thinking it would be a great way to help children in need and also found that love was not enough. This book really spoke to me and it really helps to know you aren't alone in having faced these kinds of problems. I would recommend this to anyone considering older child adoption because these problems are prevalent (although not always to the degree that the Hannahs faced) and you need to go into it with your eyes wide open. There are significant ramifications to be faced by every member of the family in older child adoption.

Another book I highly recommend is The Limits of Hope, by Ann Kimble Loux.

I gave this book 4 stars and it would have been 4.5 if that had been an option. I only had 2 problems with it. First, I thought the introductions to the chapters were very wordy and an attempt at writing a great work of literature, but they were strained. The author did much better in just telling her story and letting the truth of her voice come through in the body of the book than in trying to write a literary treasure as it sounded in the introductions. Second, this is not the first time that I have bought a book from Amazon that is clearly (and stated as such on the book cover) from a Christian point of view, but they don't state this in the sale listing. Amazon should really include that in the item information. The book does include bible references, but the author does not spend a undue amount of time on religious matters.

Great book and a must read.

have a problem with using words like "brilliant", "masterful" and "intelligent." But willing apply all words to this brilliant book, masterfully research and intelligently told.

The author gives a very full and complete treatise on Brown versus the Board of Education, but of greater interest, he writes of all the history that lead up to the ruling.

An exceptional book chronicling an extremely important issue in our country's history.

This is certainly the best book ever written -- the best book that ever will be written -- about race, law and American society. It is a remarkably insightful history and one of the most stunning existing examples of narrative journalism. It is a masterpiece.

I'm a fan of nonfiction works and this easily moved to my top 5 favorite books. When I was growing up there were no courses on the contributions blacks made to America. There was no black history month. And I was cheated. I'm a 50+ white woman who lived through desegregation and had no clue that it was a struggle. I honestly don't remember a time when my elementary classes were all white but they must have been. I do remember clearly when my elementary class stopped being all white. That was when Richard Harris became my Batman buddy. On the aftenoons following the show we would go to the neighborhood soda shop and have a coke and discuss all the action of the previous evening's show and check for new Batman bubble gum cards with the intensity that only 5th graders can bring to such an important endeavor. It felt normal to chat Batman with Richard; and I'm so sorry for all the children that had such a dumb practice as segregation rob them of those moments.

This book read like a thiriller for me. Couldn't put it down. Underlined and highlighted parts. Read other sections out loud to my husband and to some friends at work. This is American history. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn about the value of education, the value of varied experiences and the perseverance to acquire the rights that should never have been denied to the black people. It's made me hungry to know more and I'll be keeping my eye out for other works by Kluger. Excellent author.

I just finished this book, A Simple Justice, and it is fantastic. It's the story of Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka, which is the landmark Supreme Court case that desegregated compulsory public schools in America. But it's so much more than that. After reading this book, I felt almost ashamed of my previous ignorance to the struggles and condition of black america at the hands of almost everyone else in the country. It is comprehensive in its scope and perspicacious in its analysis, sparing no feelings on either (or rather, any) side. I believe myself to be, for the most part, a judicious man when it comes to philosophical or sociological observations, but Kluger was able to open my eyes to angles I had previously missed on issues I thought I had resolved long ago. So if you're not too scared of big books, this one's worth the time.

Long a mainstay of every 1L's pre-law school summer reading list, SIMPLE JUSTICE is more than a retelling of the tortured history of the landmark cases now known collectively as Brown v. Board of Ed. It is more than a retelling of the agonizing struggles of both gifted and ordinary people---black and white and every other---to reverse the four centuries of racial disparagement that make up the ugliest of all underpinnings of the American Experiment. What SIMPLE JUSTICE is, is an exhaustive sociological history of race relations in the United States to the 1950s.

It is a book every American should read. The endemic quality of racism in the American psyche is so overwhelming that it is easy to lose the human element. SIMPLE JUSTICE restores that element with sensitive, intelligent writing, exhaustive and documented research, and a tone which is pitch perfect, strident when need be, reasoned and thoughtful throughout. Ultimately optimistic, SIMPLE JUSTICE will renew your belief in the American system even while tempering it.

In it's retelling of nightmarish incident after nightmarish incident (the explosive and hideous lynchings are often easier to understand than the equally hideous and more subtle segregation and caricaturing that endured for, it seems, ever), SIMPLE JUSTICE shows us an America riven by its view of itself as a noble nation being eaten by the canker in its soul.

Although many Americans now consider race discrimination passe, it is not so hard to see the continuation of a pattern of violence toward blacks and the denigration of the black experience, even today. And yet, there is more, for not only are Black Americans denigrated, but White Americans as well, both suffering because this nation is only a fraction of what it might othewise be.

SIMPLE JUSTICE is a crucial Civics lesson. Read it to learn. Read it to know. Read it. Read it again.

This book has a lot of potential to be interesting, but in the end, it falls short. This book is decent, a very quick read, and at times it does a very good job of capturing the reader's interest.

The major problems I had with this book were the two I mentioned in the title of this review, namely a lack of depth and style. All of the author's stories seem to stop just when they're about to get interesting. Furthermore, Dunn doesn't write with enough detail or style to effectively convey the intensity and feeling of any of these situations to the reader. While I am sure Dunn is an excellent police officer, he is obviously not a professional writer. Overall, this is an okay book, but that's about it.

I read this book years ago when it came out in hard back. It really helped me understand what my son was going through as a police officer. I just bought it again to give to a friend who's son is coming back from Afghanistan and wants to join LAPD, and I read it before passing it along because he says he added a few new tales. It is a fun, and fascinating book to read, and i recommend it for every young person who wants to be a police officer, or any mom who wants to know what their kids are going through thier first year out.

I believe this is a fantastic book for anyone thinking of joining law enforcement - or just trying to get a feel for what its like to become a cop.
I've also just completed the book "Gangs of Los Angeles", a candid look into the world of LA street gangs. I've done my best to retell their history and explain their culture in a way only an LA street cop with gang expertise could.

I first read this book when I was in High School I thought it was great, few weeks later I joined the LAPD Harbor's Division Explorer Scouts. One day while working at the station I met Sgt. Feula (a character mentioned on the book) I was very surprised, he did not know his name was mentioned on the book. He took me on several ride-alongs and I learned alot from him few months later I shipped out for the Military, he retired and I never heard of him:.... ///Sergeant Feula if you ever see this messege; thank you for everything, day by day I get closer and closer to become an LAPD officer, I will take what I learned from you and put it to use... Martinez///

This book is hands down the best book relating to firsthand police work I've read. Truly does give you a good sense of what it might be like to work in L.A. as a cop.

When I was diagnosed in 2005, I was absolutely overwhelmed with fear, information, and decisions. This book is the only one I found that made sense to me. It is clear, concise, and very encouraging. Dr. Link's approach is from a place of genuine respect and regard, and he knows exactly what survivors need to know right away. Reading this book really helped me make the best treatment decisions for myself, with the best information available. The book teaches survivors (who for the most part are not medical professionals, but will unfortunately have to get to that level pretty quickly) how to read pathology reports, and helps you formulate the questions you need to have answered to make your choices. I recommend it to everyone I know who is newly diagnosed.

Very good basic guide for one suffering from breast cancer, one problem was that it was 8 years outdated. Would have been better had it been updated, new treatments are always being discovered. It was a good overview, though.

A book for those who are newly diagnosed with cancer. The book describes in detail the different stages of breast cancer. It also discusses how individuals should see doctors for a second opinion. Another great part about the book is the differences in opinion about how to manage breast cancer, and the different paths to take.

I bought this book when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The first advice it gives was a breath of fresh air in the middle of a maelstrom. It simply said "you have time." It also gives great advice on second opinions. Besides this first advice the book is filled with general information written in easy to understand english. Some of the info applies some of it doesn't, everyones cancer is different. I greatly recomend this book to all those of us faced with this challenge. It provides you with the information doctors usually don't take the time to give you. A must read before your next doctors visit. One caveat: if you are looking for a feel good read this is not it... this is a serious book of medical information.

I just had this mailed to a friend who was recently diagnosed with very aggressive Breast Cancer. She is only 41. When I was 41 in 2000, I was also diagnosed. This book helped me so much! It is informative and easy to understand. It is not a dry read, like other books on this subject. Most importantly, it is not a downer. While this book is realistic it is also upbeat. I tried reading Dr. Susan Love's book and it was so depressing I could only read one chapter.

I've read and shared many ideas in this book with my colleagues. Worth the money.

This book helped me get referrals when I was operating my own business. As the author of Don't Wait Get in S.H.A.P.E. - Drop Fat Fast and Get Fit Quick this book allowed me to attract people to purchase my services and help me sell my book. This book is awesome.

I decided to review the library's copy before I bought it and I could not get enough info out of it! I found myself taking notes and almost writing in the library's copy! I rushed and bought the book. Now it's covered in pink and yellow highlighter. I feel like I'm back in college preparing for an exam -- except this time, my studying is going to directly contribute to my bank account! Truly valuable!

This is a wonderful book. It is very well written and an easy read. Furthermore, it is full of great content. I highly recommend you take a look at the online listing of this book's Table of Contents and see for yourself what specifically is covered.

This book reminds us to not look too far astray for customers or clients. It's easier to cultivate an existing customer for a new sale than to convince a non-customer to buy from you. And it's easier to have a satisfied customer convince a non-customer to buy from you than you doing it yourself.

Focusing on getting referrals is probably the least expensive way to build a customer-base and sales. Keep in mind that there are at least two methodologies to getting referrals. One is the do-good-work for your customers and clients and to get them to refer you to their family and friends. The other is B2B where you get other businesses that compliment yours to refer work to you. You can pay a referral fee or send them an equal amount of referrals.

Some people are not comfortable with using referrals to build their customer-base. But then some people are not comfortable being self-employed either. If you are one of those people who want to be successful at being self-employed, then take advantage of referrals as much as possible. And a good way to start is probably by getting this book and reading it cover to cover. 5 stars!

Referrals now is an excellent book that explains how to obtain more business by asking for referrals. Most friends and existing clients are more than willing to recommend your product or sevices if you just ask for it. Sales people sometimes view asking for referrals as a sign of weakness or problems in the business. This is not true.

If you want to build up a business very quickly without a lot of overhead, this is the best method. It would be adviseable to first read the book "Masters of Networking" by Ivan R. Misner. Referral business has a lot to do with networking, so you must be ready to do favors for other people who help you out. Forgetting to help somebody else who has helped you will be very detrimental to your business.

Just asking somebody for a referral is not really good enough but asking the person for a personal introduction increases your chances dramatically for closing the deal.

Don't read the book all in one go. Read a chapter, think about how you can apply it, write down what you think is best for you and experiment with it.