Extreme Books

Book was a challenging depiction of how to alter your outlook on life and others. However, book doesn't describe or teach how to perform the extreme methods listed: breaking arrows, firewalking, and so on, seems they want to force you to spend money on their seminars instead, so while the book was a good read, it fails to deliver what was promised.

Tolly is a man who not only walks what we writes about but more importantly for all of us he shares with others his learning's in his seminars. Never will you find such a more congruent, compassionate, happy and contented individual. As he says Let it Be Easy, all one needs to do is Pay Attention, Expect the Best and Go For It. There is no place in the world for False Evidence Appearing Real. We live in an ocean of abundance and Love is the Ki to make it manifest. Spend some time with Tolly and be tranceformed by the teachings, you owe it to yourself and then more importantly to teach the techniques as metaphors to others. It's time to stop playing small and to take your life in all areas to the next level.

Richard Midgley

Tolly Burkan is a man on a purpose...his mission is to demonstrate to all of us that living small benefits no one and living with Extreme Spirituality benefits all. Next to actually firewalking, this book can assist the reader ii questioning their beliefs about fear and what is holding them back in life. The book exposes fear for what it is, false evidence appearing real. If you're stuck in life, or want to take your living to the next level, this book will assist you that 10000% I highly recommend it.
Gregg Swanson
[...]

Extreme Spirituality is a simple read. Each chapter is short and about a practice that heightens spirituality, such as: firewalking, piercing, skydiving, fasting, etc. Though it doesn't really go into depth about any of them or try to explain how they work, it does open the mind up to possibilities and perhaps encourages people to challenge their fears and preconceived notions.

This book was good but not great.

Tolly is one of the world's foremost experts on transformational events, fire walking, glass walking, brick breaking etc. I hoped that this book would be more of a review of the techniques and how they work rather than talking about his own transformation as a result of learning the techniques.

The book is good because he does a wonderful job explaining the resistance and fears that most people have to any major transformational event. He talks about his own experiences and overcoming his own fears.

Overall I thought the book was good but incomplete in some areas.

Kingbird Highway is a must read for every birder. It is a real adventure story; complete with life and death struggles! If Kenn Kaufman's life work wasn't birding - he could easily be a writer. Do yourself a favor and read this book.Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder

This is a good book, but not what I expected. It's about a specific time in birding and America. This makes Kenn Kaufman's experience unique. This was during the "early days" of birding and bird listers. There was not the instantaneous information of the location of rare species we have now. If you are interested in birding, the search for rare bird species, or the effort to see bird species out of their normal range, I would recommend this book.

Written many years after the fact, this book is well worth reading many years after the fact. Kingbird Highway is an autobiography, a travelogue, and a `where-to-bird' guide for 1973. It is a tale of life, liberty, and the pursuit of birds. Kingbird, alias Kenn Kaufman drops out of high school to pursue his dream (obsession) of seeing more birds in a single year than anyone had ever seen before. There are several catches to his liberty and pursuit of birds. He must see the birds north of Mexico, a technicality that affects his dream. He has almost no money, so he does cheapest Big Year ever with the lowest dollar to bird ratio ever. He spends only about $1000 by hitchhiking everywhere and living off Little Friskies in a can of cold soup for dinner. Kingbird Highway provides a wonderful map of where to bird even now over forty years later. For example, the Brownville Texas Municipal dump is still the place to see Tamaulipas crows. Read in conjunction with a field guide, Kingbird Highway opens a world of birds, their habits, and habitats that might otherwise escape notice.

Kenn Kaufman began birding at an early age, and as a young teenager he hid his "geeky" habit from his friends. Eventually, as he became older, he realized that there was a birding fraternity and he began to bird with others who loved it as much as he did. At 16, with his parents' blessing, he dropped out of school and began doing cross-country birding by hitchiking around the country. His knowledge of birds grew and his contacts with other birders increased. In 1973 he decided to go for a Big Year, that is a year in which he attempted to break the record for most birds seen in a year. The pace of Kaufman's quest was amazing and he relates his adventures in an interesting and down-to-earth style. Towards the end of his Big Year, Kaufman begins to question his own motives for building up his list and his introspection brings a new maturity to him and his methods of birding. This is a great book for any bird enthusiast.

As a birder, I empathized with Kaufman's desire to see rare birds in Aleutians, explore the unknown, and experience the American wilderness through the binocular lens. For those of us who might be apprehensive about dropping out of high school and hitchhiking around the country pursuing our dreams, Kaufman makes it easy. He does it for us.

This is the story of a young kid who was obsessed with birds. He left behind a life in small-town American in pursuit of his dreams (meaning to see new birds), and made a niche for himself in the then budding birdwatching sub-culture. On virtually no budget, he managed to navigate his way all around the United States, learning and growing as he traveled, making new friends and seeing wildlife all the while.

His writing is gripping. The excitement that he feels in seeing each new bird, meeting Roger Tory Peterson, or having a car stop to pick him up after having walked for hours on a roadside is very real to the reader. This journey transcends the birds that define it, and background discussion make this book accessible to birder and non-birder alike.

Perhaps most importantly, Kaufman provides an unconventional model for success. Not everyone has to go through the motions of securing a college degree, going to graduate school, or finding an entry level position someplace and begin climbing the corporate ladder. I wouldn't condone abandoning education, but think that Kaufman's case is useful in that it shows that self-education outside of the classroom can be just as (or more) informative and fulfilling.

Kaufman's journey takes him through the full range of human emotion, introduces him to people from all walks of life, and opens up a natural world that a young, lonely kid in Kansas could only dream about. Mixing in some self-deprecating humor, Kaufman's book is both thrilling, and relaxing.

I am currently 1/4 of the way through this and I keep wishing some photos of these places had been included. I'm a bit surprised that a story about such unusual places has no photographs of such. The few photos in the story are mainly of people, although I did see one of a sign and someone's wall. Very dissatisfying.

I spent some time looking on the web but some of the places he described have since changed (in some cases drastically) and I have not, as yet, found any photos showing some of the things he describes. In particular, Whittier Alaska is now inundated with thousands of tourists from cruise ships every year. It would have been nice to see photos of it beforehand.

A decent read but if you're like me, you'll be spending time online trying to find some visuals to enhance the experience of learning about these places.

A writer at the New Republic, Halpern found himself drawn to individuals living in unusual locales after writing a story on Centralia, PA, where a 40-year-old coal mine fire has been burning underground and most people have been evacuated by the government. Halpern grew up in Buffalo "best known as a place people like to leave" & while he has a little experience with the long-term residents of his hometown, he himself has lived a fairly peripatetic life.

The locales he visits includes Princeville, NC - the oldest incorporated African-American US town that was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Floyd. Whittier AK is primarily one 14-story building, perched on a ledge of a mountain with a single tunnel entrance for train/car access. The lack of privacy and dark, windy winters send most folk running after 3 years. Jack Thompson runs a bed & breakfast in Hawaii - it's not terribly busy, because it's surrounded by lava. Halpern visits the last of the Malibu homesteaders: the Decker family has lived in one of the area canyons since the 1880's and has never fled from a fire. A barrier island in the Louisiana delta has faced its share of hurricanes, yet may not last through the end of the century.

Halpern proves himself more than a reporter - he stays with these "kooks" for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, showing them to be individuals with a strong sense of belonging, who can't imagine themselves anywhere else. His outlook is occasionally self-centered, but also provides insight into what it means to truly be "at home".

Recommended to anyone interested in human-interest stories with a touch of the unusual & very little syrupy-sweet sentiment.

Many philosophers have attempted a definition of "home" as more than just the physical location where you live. Jake Halpern actually comes pretty close to that elusive definition in this enjoyable travelogue. Halpern visits some rugged regular folks who have made their homes in unlikely or dangerous locations. While this book is now a few years old, a couple of Halpern's stories have gained some new poignancy post-Katrina – those being Halpern's visit with the old-timers of a Louisiana island that could be literally wiped off the map by any major hurricane, and who have made a lifestyle of riding out the storms; and the story of a retired gentleman in North Carolina who refused to break his deep ties with his town and its history, even after a major flood destroyed his house. Here Halpern also reports on an odd small town in Alaska that is almost totally contained within a single high-rise and is also almost completely cut off from the outside world; a loner in Hawaii who perseveres in his house even after being totally surrounded by lava from an active volcano; and the diehard Wild West-ers who are still living oldschool style in Malibu and fighting back brush fires themselves. Within these narratives of hardy souls and their lives of creeping hardship, Halpern discovers why these folks stay in their precarious locations, and why each has a stronger sense of "home" than most of the rest of us. Halpern's attempts to get philosophical could be a little stronger, but he reports successfully on some very hardy and likeable folks. [~doomsdayer520~]

I thoroughly enjoyed Jake Halpern's travel memoir of extreme places and the people who chose to live in them. Halpern's writing style is disciplined and readable--an ideal combination for a journalist--with just enough of a sprinkling of the wicked turn of phrase to keep the reader engaged and laughing. Halpern brings his subjects to vibrant life, and makes me want to know what has happened to them since his writing. I look forward to a volume two. Perhaps Halpern could explore whether those who "brave home" are a dying breed? Is there a next generation of extreme inhabitors awaiting discovery?

Halpern has terrific subject matter here--an isolated man living in a lava-ridden town, an indoor city in Alaska, a submerged North Carolina town, and more--but what makes this book work is Halpern's personality. He appears to be a truly amicable guy, and he gets his subjects to open up to him and invite him into their lives. Halpern doesn't just pop by for an afternoon interview, he gets invited to stay for days and immerse himself in these people's lifestyles. His connection with his subjects is evident in the fact that he gets invited back for repeat visits when his book is complete, and he thoughtfully includes updates on everyone at the close of the book. The reader can't help but be touched by all these people living in extreme circumstances, and I was sad to leave them when the book came to a close.

Usually, I dislike when non-fiction authors expound on the philosophical reasons for their subjects' behavior. Halpern, however, did an excellent job tying together the common threads that made people refuse to leave their homes despite the risks. People who have been rooted in their home for generations as well as those who have been transplanted to their own version of paradise make similar arguments for staying in their homes no matter what.

Halpern manages to find a Louisiana backwater in which trailers are constantly washed out into the ocean, as well as multi-million dollar homes on the Malibu coast that are constantly in fire danger and repeatedly re-built. The desire to "brave home" crosses economic and cultural lines across the country, and Halpern invites the reader to learn about some unique cases. Overall, this book is highly recommended based on the subject matter and on Halpern's excellent delivery.

I have not been able to find any new authors that I absolutely love and for the first time ever I purchased an author's entire series solely on the strength of the reviews by readers. What a mistake. The reviews gushed about the author and personally I found that the book was too detailed in some areas, absolutely dragged in others and my jaw hug down over the stupidity of the heroine in others. So much so that I could not decipher for the life of me why the hero was attracted to her. I think I read someone refer to the heroine as TSTL and by the end I agreed.

While I won't get into the plot, suffice it to say that I did not find that the central characters spent enough time to even warrant the pedestal placing the hero put her on and I could not fathom why such an obviously intelligent dashing man would even waste time with a nitwit like the heroine. Also, anyone who puts their child to such risk for the sake of their job makes my blood boil.

At times the book showed flashes of promise but they were just that flashes. I returned the remaining books for a refund and will head to my library to try out the authors next offering.

Author Pamela Clare has called on her own experiences as an investigative reporter to write a stunning romantic suspense story that takes you into the world of corruption, high stakes government, and reckless abuse of power. A story that's part romance, part action-adventure, and part police procedural, EXTREME EXPOSURE is a roller-coaster ride that will have you turning pages long into the night.

For single mother Kara McMillan, finding a man hasn't been a top priority for several years. The only problem is that her body is urging her otherwise, and Kara has to admit that five years without a man-and without sex-has been about five years too long. Her friend Holly's advice? Go to a bar, have a few drinks, find someone you want to spend the night with, and make your intentions known. For Kara, whose life has revolved around nothing but her son, Connor, and her job, journalism, Holly's advice is easier said than done.

Unfortunately-or fortunately, depending on how you look at it-after one too many margaritas in that bar crowded with fine male specimens, a man enters who has all of Kara's juices flowing-the private and the professional ones. State Senator Reece Sheridan is a man to be admired, feared, or lusted after; depending on which side you fall upon. For Kara, this smooth-talking, well-dressed man who could be a male model is a cause for alarm-he gets her bells ringing, and it's been a long, long time since that happened.

A drunken conversation about sex in a crowded bar somehow leads to an invitation for a date, and Kara finds herself growing more and more attracted to Reece. And as their relationship develops to the next level, Kara finds herself on the other side of the newspaper for once-there's a lot of public interest in her relationship with the Senator, not all of it good. Someone is urging her to investigate her lover in something more sinister than having Reece get to know her son; something, in fact, that might have Reece Sheridan as a government official abusing his power in the Senate, and doing things that are strictly illegal-not to mention dangerous.

Suddenly both their reputations are on the line-Reece's as a Senator, Kara's as a reporter and a mother. Can the fact that their growing attraction, admiration, and respect have grown even deeper save them from the storm of bad publicity around them? And why is someone so desperate to see Reece Sheridan removed from the Senate?

Kudos to Ms. Clare for such a great story! An innovative and intriguing story line made better by real life characters, EXTREME EXPOSURE is a hot, sexy novel that has enough twists and turns to keep everyone satisfied. Romantic suspense that's heavy on details that only a true reporter would know, I highly recommend this book, and look forward to her next release, Hard Evidence (Berkley Sensation).

I have read and loved every Pamela Clare historical romance novel she's written so I hoped to feel the same about her contemps. Alas, it was not to be. In fact it was like night and day. Her normally strong and enigmatic heroes was elusive in Sen. Reece Sheridan. Yes, he was charming and sexy, but I was completely unconvinced he was a senator. No WAY could I stretch my imagination that far.

As for Kara: she had one too many TSTL moments for me to stomach. After the first death threat any mother would have more than brushed it off for the safety of her child(ren) if for nothing else. She put herself in the line of fire for the call of duty using no sense whatsoever!

The clincher for me was the lack of romance. Yes, I understand this was a 'romantic/suspense', however, a little more romance with my suspense would not have been remiss. The hero and heroine spent a lot of time apart doing there own things.

For my part, I'll stick with PC's historicals and hope Morgan's book will be finished/published soon.

I am typically strictly a historical romance reader but a friend of mine reccommended that I read Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare (which is classified as a "romantic suspense". I was not dissapointed. I was hooked from the start. The characters have great chemistry and are very believable. They story line itself is so intense and kept me from setting the book down. (Not to mention the sexy, hot love scenes!!!!) I went right out and bought the other book in the series, Hard Evidence.

Investigative Reporter ("I- Team") Series:

Extreme Exposure

Hard Evidence

Unlawful Contact



Pamela Clare wrote some of my all- time favorite historical romances. ("Carnal Gift", "Sweet Release", and "Ride the Fire", are one series. "Surrender" is the first in another series about 3 brothers... we're still waiting for the sequels.) One of the things I always loved most about Clare's writing is her hero characters. They are written to be strong, devoted, passionate, and willing to sacrifice everything for their women. The hero in "Extreme Exposure" is the same kind of man.

Reece is a Colorado state senator. He is intrigued by a daring female journalist who is known for going to the limit to get the truth for her articles. On a few occasions, Kara has interviewed Reese over the phone. The first time they meet in person, Reece knows he wants to have time to get to know her better. Kara is an overwhelmed single mom with a full time career and a bad history with men. She is determined not to get involved with a senator who seems too good to be true. Reece doesn't mind putting a lot of effort into changing her mind. He feels both she and her son, Connor, are worth it. He wants to be the man Kara needs, and the father figure Connor so yearns for.

Kara is investigating a cement company who has been poisoning the local environment. The billionaire company owner wants her out of the way. He threatens Kara with death if she continues to dig into his company's health department records. When she refuses to back off, her home is invaded and she is nearly murdered. Reece wants to know who is threatening her. Kara won't expose her sources. Reece has no choice but to begin an investigation of his own. Now both Reece and Kara are targets. They discover that by working as a team, they can find the answers they need. Kara is still reluctant about getting personally involved, but Reece will not give up on her. He'll risk his career and even his very life to save her.



The writing is so good in this tale, I was holding my breath at times. This story has so much more to it than a basic romance novel. The action scenes are intense. The romance is super steamy with ultra yummy love scenes. Reece is a dream hero. The plot thickens as you go, with surprises at the end.

I liked Kara's character as well, although not as much. She is strong, independent, determined, honest, and a devoted mom. My only problem with her was the length of time it took her to accept to Reece. About 3/4 of the way through the book, she is still pushing him away. It got to the point that I felt she didn't deserve Reece's undying affection. For weeks he gave her all of himself, she would only give him sex in return. Finally, at chapter 25 (over 275 pages into the book) her icy armor breaks away for good. From that point, she's extraordinarily dedicated to Reece, even risking her life to save him. I liked her more and more throughout the rest of the story.


Want to read the series? Here are the links for the next two books:

Hard Evidence

Unlawful Contact (Berkley Sensation) (Best of the series so far!)


Pamela Clare's Historical Romance favorites:
Three Part Series:
Sweet Release
Carnal Gift
Ride The Fire (Leisure Historical Romance) --One of my personal all- time favorite historicals!

First in Clare's second historical series:
Surrender (Leisure Historical Fiction)

The sequel, "Untamed" is scheduled for release in November 2008

If you enjoy romantic tales between protective men and modern women, try the "Bullet Catchers" series:
Kill Me Twice (The Bullet Catchers, Book 1)
Thrill Me to Death (The Bullet Catchers, Book 2)
Take Me Tonight (The Bullet Catchers, Book 3)

I thoroughly enjoyed Extreme Indifference. Kane keeps the plot and characters vivid and with so many turns in the book, I was again captivated until the very end. For anyone who enjoys the psychological thriller, Kane is a must read.

The main character, Jackie Flowers is a well thought-out and totally believable protagonist. I particularly enjoyed the dyslexia twist and the techniques Jackie uses to function in her world. Pilar, Jackie's side-kick, is also a very substatial character and greatly adds to the book. Ms Kane's plot twists are well written and exciting. I very much liked the ex-lover woven throughout the story. This was nicely done and with a light touch.

However, there were several frustrating issues. Firstly, there were too many inside references to legal issues that Ms Kane failed to explain. They almost seemed like inside jokes and frustrate and exclude the reader. There are age specific references that don't add up. For example Jackie compares another character from the book to be as paranoid as President Nixon. I'm ten years older than Jackie and barely processed this.

Another frustrating issue is the fact that the book takes too long to explain that Jackie's problem is indeed dyslexia. As well it's too far into the book before we totally understand why she left the PD office six years ago. Confusing is the reference to Dennis's law firm. Kane needs to just come out and explain this clearly in the beginning. The whole poro trial in which Dennis was somehow involved is way too vague for way, way too long.

After saying all this I will also say I liked the book and look forward to reading Ms Kane's next Jackie Flowers novel.

It is not often you will see a book review written by me, especially for a novel of any sort. However, I felt more than obliged to write this one. You see Stephanie Kane is not only a wonderful writer but also a champion for dyslexics everywhere.

I won't go into details about the book's story or plot those reviews can be read anywhere on the web and are far better than I could ever write. I will go into the hero of the book Jackie Flowers because I seem to have known her all my life.

That last statement may make me sound a bit odd; then again, I have felt odd most of my life. To me, the importance of the underlying story of Jackie Flowers far outweighs the wonderfully entertaining novel.

Jackie Flowers is a attorney that has a brilliance she can't see. Her high confidence in court gives way to little in her private thoughts. Through out the twists and turns of her cases she always prevails. Yet, she would give the credit of her success, to the mistakes of her opponents and lucky breaks. (I know this mindset all too well.)

She has a champion in Pilar Perez her assistant and street tough private detective. Pilar of course, can see Jackie's brilliance. Pilar knows Jackie's successes are nothing compared to her capabilities, so she is constantly prodding Jackie toward bigger and better things. (I have been blessed to know several "Pilars" in my life)

Resiliency is as common a trait of successful dyslexics as is self-doubt. A lifetime of focusing on disability will always leave a hole in one's self esteem. However, resiliency and wit got Jackie thorough law school even though she was barely able to read and write. (Though I am relatively uneducated, resiliency has contributed to my success more than most things I learned in school)

I know Jackie is a fictional character but I want so to reach out to her. If she could only see that in reality, her disability is really the source of her ability. If she could just know that, it is not bad to be different, if she could only see her abilities are all that are really important! (These things I had to learn before I could be truly successful)

I must mention one other unique realism about the book. Jackie's problems reading and writing are not the most troublesome dyslexic challenge she faces. I mention this because if you ask any successful dyslexic they will say the same. (Still reading and writing are the single-minded educational intervention for dyslexia)

I don't know if a fictional character can help dyslexics see them selves in a better light. I don't know if others reading this underlying story will ever know how much they help to disable dyslexics.

Maybe a dyslexic hero will be an inspiration for dyslexic's to read more and that is always good. (That is why I read the book.)

However, some dyslexics might even realize they are far better than they think they are. (It just doesn't get any better than that!)

Bless you Stephanie Kane! All your research and effort to understand dyslexia have opened a window that is truly accurate, combined with a story full of surprises that was a joy to read!

(That "joy" word means allot coming from a dyslexic man)

Stephanie Kane has done it again. I first met Jackie Flowers in Blind Spot and welcomed her back with open arms. Kane's construction of this perfectly wonderful, perfectly flawed, woman draws you in and keeps you there.

A horrendous crime has taken place. Jackie's old college professor is accused and, against her better judgment, she takes the case. The college professor, now a federal judge, displays all the warmth of the South Pole. Jackie has to fight everyone, the judge included, to present a defense.

Jackie and Pilar are a team that have it all. Jackie is dyslexic and works with and around her learning disability in the most creative ways. This book offers insight into this world that really opened my eyes. I've been aware of this disability for a very long time but I now have a better understanding of the challenges in doing little things I take for granted.

The book is well written, the characters well constructed, the mystery is tight and the pace is quick. Be sure to start the book when you've got time - you're not going to want to put it down.

The heroine having dyslexia I thought was a nice twist. This condition is something that most of us can't relate to and don't think about very often. The plot takes some nice turns, especially toward the end and the author does a nice job of weaving multiple people and events together so that each chapter holds some meaning, some clues to the end.

My feeling is this author needs to stretch a little more though. After reading the author bio on the jacket cover, I see she is a lawyer in Colorado who is married to a federal judge. The heroine in this novel is a lawyer in Colorado who represents a federal judge. From this bias come some annoying habits. Too often the author uses legal expressions or slang as a way to impress the reader. Instead, it becomes annoying as none of it is explained. Everything about the read revolves around "lawyering" to the point where the rest of the world is viewed as window dressing. As well, is it really plausible that a federal judge accused of murder would be represented by one "rag-tag" lawyer and her assistant? Fiction is fun, but this seemed unreasonable.

I think the author has some talent, but I would encourage Jackie Flowers, our heroine, to become a more rounded character in future installments.

Whether you are a patient wondering more about how to enhance your smile, a dental student learning how to treatment plan aesthetic procedures, or a seasoned clinician looking for patient education, look no further. Dr. Dorfman's explanations of cosmetic procedures is both simplistic and to the polnt. I'm in dental school and saw Dr. Dorfman speak at my school and purchased this book so my patients could browse through it during our long appointment times and everyone really enjoys the read. A couple of patients "accidentally" tried to take it home with them then I told them to buy it from Amazon :)

When I receive this book I was expecting some damage, at least a little bit, but the book was in a such condition that I was even able to give it as a gift to the Dentist that I work for...excellent gift!!

Great Book. Dr. Dorfman has contributed to dentistry enormously. He is widely considered on of the best. Great guide to cosmetic dentistry. It is so important for patients to do their research.

This book is what everyone with a set of teeth real or otherwise should have. Don't go to another appointment with your cosmetic dentist without it. Of course, you will wind up having to leave the book because your dentist loves it so much. That's okay, Amazon isn't short on supply..... yet.

OK EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME IT'S IMPORTANT. TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH. I THOUGHT I HAD BUT, IF A SINGLE TOOTH NEEDS TO BE PULLED, PLEASE PLEASE GET A SECOND OPINION PLEASE. THIS BOOK "BILLION DOLLAR SMILE" OFFERED SO MANY SOULUTIONS TO MY DENTURE PROBLEM AND OPTIONS WHICH MY DENTIST NEVER OFFERED. THE AUTHOR IS DIRECT AND SO KEEN TO NOT ONLY YOUR SMILE, BUT FUNCTION AND THE EMOTIONAL SIDE. I HAVE SUFFERED FOR 2 YEARS NEVER KNOWING I HAD AND HAVE ALTERNATIVES!!! IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TODAY FLOSS! IF YOU ARE HAVING A PROCEDURE DONE = READ THE BOOK BY DR. DORFMAN FIRST. PLEASE. I HOPE YOU KNOW FUNCTION IS BETTER THAN LOOK AND HEALTHIER BUT DR. DORFMAN DOES IT ALL. IF I WIN LOTTO? I WILL FIND HIM AND ASK HIM TO PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVENT EATEN SOLID FOODS IN 2 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS SOME DAY YOU JUST MAY THANK ME. SINCERELY KAREN IN FULLERTON

This is one of the first books that I read for pure enjoyment. It's about a boy named Dennis O'Mally, 13, in the 6th grade who gets a snowboard for Christmas. When his parents say that they have already done their Christmas shopping, but one of his best friends had gotten him a snowboard. Read this book, it is awesome! (written by Alex, age 9)

Can a skateboard pro conquer the slopes? Dennis O'Malley is tested when it starts to snow, and he has to shelf his skateboard. Dennis is a hard core skater who learns to snowboard. He learns at a school with the help of his friends.

Dennis wants to board, but his parents don't want him to, so he boards on his own time. But when he goes the mountain is divided into two. His experience is tested when he must race on Ford's Mountain, to share the mountain.

Personally, my favorite part is when Dennis catches big air, and has to ride down the mountain to get help, to save his friends, which are stuck, because one decide to try and drop in, but she had no real experience with the sport. This is my favorite part because it shows how strong Dennis's friendship really is. This book is really about a teenage boy who falls in love with a new action sport. The theme of this book is just really about following what you love.

What I personally liked about this book was that it dealed with snowboarding which I love. If I could change one thing though, I would make the plot not so near the end. Anyone who enjoys action/sports books should read this.

Once there was a boy named Dennis who could skateboard very well, but in a few days it would be winter season and he could not skateboard because in his place it would start to snow and he can't skateboard in snow.
So his two best friends Robbie and Tasha said that they would teach him how to snowboard and Dennis said yes. But he had a fear of it also because once he had fallen and gotten hurt. He started by learning how to fall. After that he started by going down the school house hill.
Now whenever he used to start, there used to be a small fright coming up his back and you know why. Then he raced one of his friends down, he did not know but his friend gave him a head start. He was thinking where she was and then she zoomed down and won.
Then suddenly the two school bullies came and challenged Dennis and now they will race at Floyds Mountains and that is the place Dennis fell and Brock his bone now read the book and see what happens to Dennis at the race. I recommend this book to people who like snowboarding or who like snow. I rated this book 4star because this was a very good book to me.

By Ali Soorty
(Pakistan)

The book I'm reviewing is Snowboard Maverick by Matt Christopher. I think this book deserves four out of five stars. It is a interesting book. This book is about a boy who is great at skateboarding, but his friends want him to try snowboarding. He likes it but he gets into trouble. The problem of the story is he gets dared to go down Fords Mountain. I recommend this book to anybody who likes snowboarding.
Emerson, NJ Fifth Grade Student

The book Snowboard Maverick was a very great book.It tell you about a person who loves skateboarding and whenever it snowed he couldn't skateboard cause it was too icy.So all of his friends are snowboarding adn he wants to learn how.Whenever he learns to be pretty good he is challenged buy a big bully who is a very good snowboarder.He is very scared of the bully but his parents encourage him and he takes the challenge.Whenever he showes up they go down the hill and it is the first one down the hill who wins and he beats the bully and quits skateboarding and becomes a snowboarder.Every winter when it snowes him and his friends go snowboarding.This book is one of the best books i have ever read.

I read only the first 100 pages of this 200 page book and decided to stop there as it became obvious that it would not improve any further. However, looking at all the five star reviews of this book, I suspect the good part must indeed be the second part. I quickly went through the second aprt as well but frankly, could not find a single thing which was novel and worth reading. If you are a person who has read books like The World is Flat, Three Billion New Capitalists, China Inc., The Wal-Mart Effect, and especially the recent book "The Origin of Wealth" by Eric Beinhocker, then you will immediatelty realise how simplistic this book is. All the ineffectively-worded arguments that you find in Extreme Competition were already singled out with great depth in the other works I mention. This book does not have the depth of intellect and empirical evidence of those other much superior books. Hence I would not reccommend it to people who are looking for a good account of globalisation, and the implications of it on companies and countries. Instead, I highly reccommend the ones I have already mentioned.

Before writing a review of this book, I skimmed the reviews already posted. I especially made note of the fellow from Turkey who disses this book in favor of muich larger books, esp. Origin of Wealth, a book about complex adaptive systems and panaceas (e.g., Publishers Weekly writes: Though he asserts that complexity economics can reduce political partisanship and increase social capital, Beinhocker stops short of saying that it cures sexual dysfunction. By the end, the concept emerges as a great idea that the author tries to make a panacea." It's a very interesting book, especially for those who like to ponder Complexity Economics, entropy and 'fit order' and the theories of complex adaptive systems.

Let's see, if you have time on your hands, start with Friedman's World is Flat (story after story, metaphor after mixed metaphor) + Beinhocker's Origin: 1,120 pages in all.
If you don't have a lot of spare time on your hands and are looking for concise practical information, Fingar's 222 page book is as Clyde Prestowitz says: "the definitive guide to business success in the new age of total global competition." Prestowitz is the author of Three Billion New Capitalists, recommended by the fellow from Turkey. As a guide, Extreme Competition explains the 5 drivers, 16 new business realities, and 13 practical strategy paterns you'll want to consider as you come to grips with globalization. It incorporates the work of 14 expert contributors from around the globe, and was carefully edited to make the book a quick read for busy people.

The book closes with a call for readers to begin the journy to becomming extreme competitors, and has 4 pages of suggested follow-on readings to let the journey continue. So, if you want a zillion page book that covers all in this vast arena called globalization, look elsewhere. If you want a concise and comprehensive overview, and are as busy as most Americans are today, start your journey here, for globalization affects all of us, not just economists or researchers.

Rarely does a book break from the pack and proclaim its message so clearly and pragmatically. We recommend this book as the most practical guidance as to why the rules of business have changed. Forever.
The Dawning of the Age of the Customer is outlined with succinct examples - Zara's profound 'outside in' approach compared with their retailing competitiors for example.
This is my personal favorite for 2006, and I have no hestitation in recommending it to friends, colleagues and the global business community!
Steve Towers, CEO & co-founder, BPM Group (www.bpmg.org)

This book provides a pulse of what is going on in the world in terms of competition. The lines between geographical boundaries are blurred and Peter provides some good examples that all global businesses must be aware of. If you produce products domestically in the USA, you better be aware of competition at a global level. Extreme Competition drives home the point that the world is a smaller place and businesses need to adapt to the new business environment. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending how you look at it, the USA is going through some interesting economic transitions in order to adjust to the increase competition from overseas. Take oil for example, there is a direct correlation to the increased price due to competing buyers (i.e. India and China). This is only one of many examples you can gain from reading this book. The book is a must read for anyone who does not have the opportunity to travel overseas and experience the examples Peter has seen first hand. In many ways this book is a portal view into the global environment around us. I highly recommend it.

If you are a citizen of India or China, this book will warm your heart and swell you with pride. If you are an American, it will scare you to the end of your toenails. Fingar describes the modern economic world and how it continues to change. I cannot describe him as a pessimist, although his projections describe a great deal of future economic difficulty for the United States. It is hard to tag someone as a pessimist when they are almost certainly correct.
I have seen this before, in the 1980's the mantra of fear in the United States was about the Japanese taking over the U. S. and the rest of the economic world. That turned out to be overblown but there is no doubt that the current situation with India and China is more genuine. Japan is a small country with few resources and a small population relative to the rest of the world. Furthermore, their population is growing very slowly, so this combination means that it is difficult for them to sustain significant economic growth.
That is not the case for most of the other nations of Asia. With populations measured using nine zeros to the left of the decimal point, China and India have an enormous capacity to produce goods extremely cheaply. Even a relatively insignificant $1 increase in their per capita earnings will grow their economies by over a billion dollars. However, the source of their economic power is not just in their ability to provide cheap labor for manufacturing. Both countries have embarked on significant programs to improve the technical skills of their population.
The numbers of highly skilled technical people that the university systems of India and China are producing compared to the United States is enough to make you question the future stability of the U. S. economic and social structure. Combining this with the fact that the U. S. is running enormous budget deficits that are being financed by foreign countries makes you realize that there is a crisis in the making.
Fingar uses examples and data to emphatically make his points. This is one of the few business books, and I have read a lot of them, that I couldn't put down. As I read through it, I repeated to myself, "That's right", and started thinking about ways in which I could modify my business strategies. As a decades-long news and political junkie and occasional activist, I was able to relate his case studies to the past and projections for the future. The business and political leadership of this country needs to get a symbolic swift kick in the sit-down in order to get motivated to face the fierce realities of business in the 21st century. Fingar provides a great deal of excellent advice on how to survive and thrive in the modern world. In politics, the phrase is "All politics is local." The modern slogan for business is now, "All business is global."

The basic ideas underlying this book - that people should follow their dreams, work at what they enjoy, don't blindly follow the crowd, etc., are unquestionably good ideas. But the expressions of these ideas as espoused by Mr. Simmons in this book should give every parent pause.
Some examples - in the introduction he talks about African rituals such as putting a child's hand in a bag of ants as a ritual of becoming an adult. He then proceeds to directly equate this with the 'ritual' of attending school. His intended argument is that one should not consider oneself a 'bad person' because of poor performance in school. Feeling good about poor performance might be the politically correct thing to do these days, but I don't think it's the message most parents want their child to receive from a book such as this.
A couple of pages later a list of facts is presented that show that failure in school is not a 100% reliable predictor of failure in life. True enough, but all this is presented in a context that seems to say its OK not to study, that its OK to fail if you don't like school.
He further goes on to say that an education is becoming less and less valuable over time as evidenced by the idea that a high school education used to set one apart, then a college degree was required, and "this transition from the respected to the expected is now occurring with the master's degree." Similarly, "internships have become devalued" as more and more people get them. I could not disagree more. In today's environment where people compete globally, more and more education is required just to complete.
Among many other similar examples, one in particular stands out. In chapter 12, the case of Jubair Chowdhury of a company named Sybess Technologies (a web address is given, but the company apparently no longer exists) is presented. Mr. Chowdhury decided that, in order to save time and get into business right away, he would drop out of school, get a G.E.D., "focus on his business for a few years, and then go on to college." The author says that he "like[s] this path because it bypasses paying dues (high school)". While I may be wrong, my guess is Mr. Chowdhury probably now wishes he had stayed in school.
There is some good information in the book about networking, the value of compund interest, and other basic concepts. However, most of these can be found in many other books that do not proclaim themselves to be "extreme."
I bought this book with high expectations that it would give my teenage son some good ideas about life and living. I was very disappointed. This is pushing young people in the wrong direction. Yes, entrepreneurship and "extreme endeavors" are vitally important to the future of this country, and we need more people to adopt these attitudes. But this book is on the wrong tack when it disavows the value of education.
I am having my son read "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" instead.

"Your personal growth is your core asset and therefore has the most leverage. Making a small investment in your growth can lead to extremely large dividends over time in both personal growth and your other assets." ~Michael Simmons

Michael Simmons founded his first business, Princeton WebSolutions when he was only 16. He has written numerous articles about student entrepreneurship and they have appeared in College Bound Magazine and Whizteens in Business. His unique perspective appeals to young audiences and in The Student Success Manifesto he guides students towards a success frame of mind.

The list of successful college-age individuals is worth the price of the book. He lists companies like Hershey Foods, Dell, Federal Express and Subway. There are many more examples and he also includes a list of statistics like: "Over 50% of millionaire entrepreneurs never finished college."

Some of the highlights include:

The Fifteen Endeavors
Core Challenges
Elimination of Obstacles
Competitive Advantage
Rituals you can ignore to Excel

Michael Simmons seems wise beyond his years as he explores possibility and writes about following your passion and embracing learning for personal growth. The Student Success Manifesto contains some of the best ideas I've ever seen for pursuing a life of prosperity and success. The ideas are logical, the points well organized and the format intellectually appealing.

~The Rebecca Review

There are certain times when you are feeling down and out and feel really lost. I equate it to someone who is running a marathon and they get to the final mile, it is the hardest mile by far, you start to stumble, you start to lose your will to push forward even though you know you are almost to the finish line you feel like you have no more left and you begin to fall...

It was at this point in my life when I was lucky enough to be given a Copy of Mr. Simmons book. A friend gave it to me when I was in a down point in my life. I read it and I was completely revived with new energy and a new want to pursue my dreams. As a college student, The Student Success Manifesto made me realize how many opportunities I have as a student and how to best capitalize on them. With his simple straight to the point writing style I was able to breeze through the book at a pace I didn't think possible. In 2 days I was finished reading the book and that is completely unheard of for me to do. The advice and wisdom that Michael gave me allowed me to find a mentor in one of my school's professors who is a very successful self-made millionaire, from there I was inspired to start my own business, www.theplacefinder.com, a business geared towards college students. I got involved with SIFE and now have an internship with one of the largest CPG companies in the world.

Not only is Michael's book amazing, Michael is amazing himself. I wrote him letting him know my appreciation for his book and how it changed my perspective on the world and he was kind enough to meet with me to discuss being an extreme entrepreneur in person!
This Book is by far what every student who is serious about success must read. The principals and fluidity of his words makes you realize that YES, SUCCESS is not only possible, it's possible for ME!
If anyone has gotten to read through my entire mammoth of a review, I hope you take my words seriously and read this book, it will change your life for the better guaranteed! And that we all want, isn't it?

As I read the Student Success Manifesto things seemed to fall into place for me. Although a cliché, it was as if the words on the page were speaking to me. Growing up, so much emphasis was placed on getting high grades to get into a good school so I could eventually get a good job. About half way through my college career I realized that there was more to life than that. I realized that I did not NEED a job, if I could create my own business. I quickly learned many lessons running my own business and through my business experiences was able to create a vision for myself. Although I went off in this direction, I felt very alone because I did not know many entpreneurs and everyone I spoke to kept telling me the same thing... go to school, get good grades and get a job and that was how my success was measured. I wish I had this book at my disposal at the time I was going through this because this book measures student success in other ways and encourages students to pursue what they are passionate about. While society tells you to pursue what society deems "normal" and "acceptable", the Student Success Manifesto encourages students to create and pursue their OWN vision.

The Student Success Manifesto points out how significant it is that students think of themselves as ME, Inc. I never really thought of it this way before but everyone understands that a business is a financial asset yet often we do not look at ourselves as an asset. This book illustrates the importance of thinking of yourself as an asset and building your Brand. The book describes many different ways to build your Brand through relationships, personal development and growth, money, health etc. I think this is one of the most important messages addressed in this Manifesto. You can build your own brand and Me, Inc. to unreachable heights through networking, building relationships and continuous self development.

The Student Success Manifesto is for the student who dares to be great. So often students have great ideas and visions which may appear as extreme endeavors. As a result, when they share these ideas with others they often receive negative feedback and are deterred from their vision. The Student Success Manifesto embraces extreme endeavors and encourages you to pursue these activities. The book shows many ways that you can leverage yourself and your assets to achieve what you want in life. In a nutshell, the Student Success Manifesto will inspire you to create your own vision, and pursue your passions which will enable you to lead a life of prosperity.

Mr. Simmons' book provides higher-order-insight along with rubber-meets-the road applicability. Forward thinking people of all ages would benefit from this text. This book can help people with ownership of their own identity and lives and help them on their own road to personal fulfillment.

While this book is meant for younger people, its lessons possess a lifetime of value.

This is a great idea, but I wish the artist had spent a little more time on the illustrations and some color wouldn't hurt. But otherwise its a great way to get younger people into the bible. My artist eye is just a little harder to please :)

Although as a book it is very well done, some pages are badly cut. Overall it is a fair purchase

It's a very interesting book. the only thing is not to be in colour. But a very good idea

This is a great interpretation and summary of the old and new testament. I have some very minor theological quibbles with the summary but it is easy to see that this was a labour of love for both Siku and Akin. I love the application of a lot of manga styles to the story and art. I only wish it was longer and in colour - much like the gorgeous Heavy Metal work Siku has done in the past.

I think it is a great for any Christian who has an interest in the comic form or any anime/manga fan in general. Its an excellent way to introduce such fans to the Biblical account. Perhaps a Japanese language version one day as well?

Not crazy about the paraphrasing.
But Siko's artwork is excellent.
I like how Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant depicts a 20th century underboss.
I like somewhat that the creation story and the Moses story overlap.
The artwork for Job's story seems to set the story in modern time.