Associations Books

When my sisters and I are together a conversation often starts "remember when...". Reading On Seven Mile is like eaves-dropping on another family as they recall vignettes of their lives in the 40s and 50s. Although I was from another place, memories of growning up at that time is something with which I connect stongly.

WHAT A DELIFUL BOOK. BROUGHT BACK A LOT
OF MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN THE LATE 40'S EARLY
50'S EASY EMJOYABLE READING

It is a delightful read. I so enjoyed this book, we are going read it for our book club selection this summer. It brought back such memories of my own childhood that I know it will evoke a great discussion for our club. It is a quick read but challenges us to remember our formative years. The author's family and friends come alive for us in the vignette style chapters and charming sketches of the Seven Mile Road neighborhood. Enjoy the smells of your grandma's kitchen, the games you played with your neighborhood friends or just sit at the table until you finish your peas. It will bring a warm heartfelt smile. It is a great read for all ages. I am looking forward to the sequel.

This book brought back the sights, sounds and smells of growing up in the 40's and 50's in the most delicious way. It recalled the long forgotten words and phrases, feelings, thoughts and past times of childhood. You once again feel the frustration of limping home with a broken roller skate, the dreamy pleasure of naming the shapes of clouds on a summer day, the piercing smell of those Toni home permanents, and the cozy sound of the rain on the front porch. The writing is elegantly simple. The author shares her loving extended family with you in such a way that you feel you are having coffee at the kitchen table with them. A must read. You'll love it.

This book took me right back to my childhood. All the memories of growing up in the 40's and 50's came flooding back. It was sweet, simple and fast reading but I kept pausing and thinking of my own memories of those carefree days of childhood.I would recomend it to anyone who grew up in those times and to anyone age nine on up,to give them a look at what life was like back then.

It is a well-written (text)book outlining and discussing, in an accessible and at the same time scholarly manner, the organizational patterns uncovered by organizational theorists studying the emergence and co-evolution of organizations and their socio-politico-economic environments.

There are three features of the presentation of material I especially like:
1) The organizational phenomena/patterns discussed are often considered from the different perspectives of different schools of organizational theorists, each emphasizing very different aspects/interpretations of the same organizational phenomena. This ensures an unusually rich, multi-faceted perspective on and thus a clear understanding of the organizational phenomena/patterns under consideration. You may consider/interpret a red rose, for example, as a geometrical object, as a biochemical system, as a botanic variety, as an object of esthetics, as a symbol of love and passion and in many other ways. Neither perspective alone will give you, however, an adequate understanding of what red rose actually is. Only together, when coordinated within an overarching conceptual context/framework of life, they will provide you with an understanding of the red rose phenomenon. In "Organizations Evolving", the overarching conceptual framework coordinating different interpretations of and perspectives on organizations is the evolutionary framework built on the four conceptual patterns common to all living systems - variation, selection, retention/inheritance and struggle. Notwithstanding the limitations of Darwinian framework for adequate description/understanding of living systems, it is currently by far the best one as compared to any of existing alternatives, and its use as an overarching framework of the organizational theory is a brilliant advance.
2) The organizational dynamics is presented as inherently contextual, i.e. defined by the environment and defining the environment at the same time.
3) The organizational patterns/phenomena are considered across several levels of organizational hierarchy, from intra-organizational dynamics through inter-organizational relationships to the dynamics of organizational populations.
All of these features together with a broad coverage of topics in organizational theory and a well-structured, clear and scholarly presentation of material, make this book a must-to-have resource for any intellectual.

Please keep in mind that everything around you and inside you are organizations. Your thoughts (if they are organized, of course), the organization of your psyche, your cells and tissues, your family, your social network, your organization, your country and your planet are all, in their essence, organizational phenomena. Therefore, if you would like to gain a better understanding of any of those phenomena, and of all of them together, buy and study this book. It is one of those rare texts, the value of which is so overwhelming that any critical comments you may have in mind while reading it eventually fade into insignificance.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Alexei, you have captured the spirit in which I wrote the book! Maybe you could log on & amend your review to include this? (I know that it is allowed).

best,
howard

This book is a must read for organizational scholars in any discipline. This book not only summarizes and synthesizes decades of research in organizations but also provides new insights and understandings of the evolving organization and its environment. Selection, Retention, and Variation are key oncepts that make sense for understanding organizations from their creation and disbanding to innovation and stagnation within organizations. The book has created and encourages news ways to think about organizations by combining what was thought of as opposing theories in the past.

It is imperative that students, scholars, and anyone who interacts with organizations (that is all of us!) should read this book.

Indicative of the North Carolina Sociology tradition of serving as an incubator for ecological-sociological perspectives, the book opens by quickly stating its goal to apply ecological principles to the study of formal organizations. Aldrich and Ruef define evolution as occurring via four major principles: variation, selection, retention and struggle for scarce resources. Environments shape and select heterogeneous organizations competing for market share, legitimacy and survival. Since Herbert Spencer and his eventual fall from theoretical prominence in sociology, the imposition of scientific analogies to explain social science phenomena has been controversial. However, the evolutionary metaphors presented are lucid and intuitive, and may be especially compelling to newcomers to the field, who are immediately presented with a clear heuristic to understand markets and organizations.

Aldrich and Ruef adroitly apply the evolutionary perspective to all main organizational theories, including population ecology, institutional theory and resource dependency theory. However, regardless if one accepts or prefers the ecological rubric that is sketched out in the early chapters, I believe the book's prime contribution is serving as a comprehensive and contemporary review of the literature in organizations, markets and networks. The standard chapters on organizational forms, boundaries and populations are included, but the book also stands out for its emphasis on the dynamic and fluid nature of markets, institutions, networks, organizations and other relevant social entities. Numerous chapters focus on the emergence of new organizations and populations, showing how the dynamic and static states of organizations and social phenomena in general are intertwined and how organizations often serve as harbingers of social change and development.

The chapter on entrepreneurship and the emergence of new organizations emphasizes the author's emphasis on the dynamic processes that underlie organizational creation. Entrepreneurship and the decisions entrepreneurs make serve as the precursors for the development of organizations in addition the environments they are situated in. Forming (or at least strategizing) one's organizations and networks is an integral part of commerce and economic behavior, and may be one of many areas where economic sociology and formal organizations overlap. As was the case with the book's 1999 edition, the emphasis on nascent and dynamic organizations and entrepreneurs provides valuable perspectives on the struggles of individuals and organizations for survival and legitimacy, and driving forces of innovation and change within populations and industries.

A question the book left me pondering was to what degree formal organizations can be treated analogously to markets and other institutions. While the broad ecological principles Aldrich and Ruef sketch out may provide such an analogy, neoclassical and evolutionary economists have also used similar analogies to evidence their own theories. When an evolutionary perspective is applied to formal organizations or economic phenomena, how does it differ (and should it differ?), if at all, from the Darwinian/Smithian notion of "the survival of the fittest" often invoked by many economists. Some sociologists argue that contemporary economic life is characterized by much adverse selection, with insufficient or undesirable variation, unfair struggle and the retention of undesirable firms and behaviors, which may or may not be uniquely human/social issues and problems that transcend evolutionary theories and phenomena. At the very least, an evolutionary perspective provides an interesting metaphor to explore these macro-level questions.

In short, the second edition of Organizations Evolving can serve as a textbook for introducing undergraduates to organizational, market and network phenomena, in addition to providing a clear, comprehensive and up-to-date review of a vast array of relevant literature that more experienced scholars will also appreciate.

(A similar version of this review appeared in Accounts, the Economic Sociology Newsletter of the ASA, Summer 2006.)

I bought this book despite having the first edition. It is a welcome addition, and is really well executed. There's a new section on organizational forms that examines organizational cognition, organizational knowledge/culture, and knowledge/cultural diffusion. Addressing culture was a particularly important improvement to a classic work, which now cites more recent literature. For the classroom, it also includes "student friendly" questions at the end of each chapter, although it would be well worth buying regardless.

Focusing primarily on businesses, and using a multidisciplinary approach, the book examines organization from three standpoints: the challenge of studying organization; the genesis of organizations, organizational populations, and communities; and the evolutionary processes through which new organizations, populations and communities emerge.

The book is organized into five sections:
1) introduction to the evolutionary approach;
2) a discussion of the role of individuals and groups in the creation and maintenance of organizations;
3) an examination of organizational transformation by exploring the historical context and social change;
4) the emergence of new and established populations; and
5) an assessment of organization evolution at the community level.

The book offers many insights and an extensive discussion of each topic. Each chapter ends with study questions and exercises. Includes an extensvie list of references. For scholars seeking to understand organizations from an evolutionary standpoint, this book is very highly recommended.

David Geary texts are always a pleasant reading! This is a book to understand about the evolution of our mind and a prelude of what is coming on the field.

This is an thoughtful, erudite and complex book weaving together various strands of research in evolution, neural organisation, cognition and mind together. Every page is littered with references, not carelessly I hasten to add. The author's main thesis, as i understand it, is that the mind essentially 'runs' simulations, and this is an evolution endowmnet arising from ontogenetic requirements to exercise control of behaviour and the environment. Anyone locked into folk psychology, especially Stich's simualtion theory, will find much to ponder here. Geary holds that folk psychology has many 'anchors' that orient the human organism towards fundamental activities to sustain itself, e.g. social cues. These anchors are shaped in development under evolutionary imperatives. Much of the book is devoted to teasing out in detail the framework that allows this to occur. The notion of a fluid intelligence is introduced to debnk the g factor (as too limitinf a construct) and explain adaptive behaviours. Each chapter deserves a review by itself. Overall, the book is tremendously impressive and detailed however, it still faces to problem of splicing folk psychological concepts with neuroscientific data, and it is here that most critics will focus there attention. Geary has assemled a welther of piece sof evidence and argumentation to make this work, but eliminativtists will not be satisfied. Having read this book quickly, I can state baldly that it is the first book in years that I will reread. Lots of food for thought.

People often complain that modern psychology is a ragbag of phenomena without a theory to make sense of it all. The Origin of Mind makes that complaint obsolete, because in it David Geary has given us a coherent and satisfying framework for the sciences of mind. It combines an impressive coverage of the latest literature with hard thinking about how to synthesize topics like evolutionary psychology, neural plasticity, human development, and intelligence testing. The Origin of Mind is invaluable both as a reference work and as a road map for the sprawling territory covered by modern psychology and neighboring sciences.

-Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of How the Mind Works and The Blank Slate

Human nature is one of natural selection's most stunning feats. David Geary takes seriously the implications of this for psychology-that it must be an evolutionary discipline. He sets out the theories with admirable clarity and deals systematically with the wealth of multidisciplinary evidence. This book pioneers a Darwinian synthesis, pulling together the disparate strands that currently criss-cross the study of the human mind. Here lies the future of psychology. So now read on.

-Helena Cronin, Professor, The London School of Economic; author of The Ant and the Peacock: Altruism and Sexual Selection from Darwin to Today.


In his book, The Origin of Mind: Evolution of Brain, Cognition, and General Intelligence, David Geary shows that he is indeed a scholar for the 21st century, providing a truly interdisciplinary synthesis on a topic of both great theoretical and practical importance: human intelligence. He presents clearly research from neuroscience, behavior genetics, and cognitive science (among others) and integrates them in an evolutionary framework to yield a comprehensive theory of the human mind. This book will be must-reading for anyone interested in intelligence, cognition, or human evolution.

-David F. Bjorklund, Professor, Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, F; coauthor of The Origins of Human Nature: Evolutionary Developmental Psychology

I purchased this book based on my professional and personal interests and the positive reviews on Amazon. I am a practicing psychiatrist with a research background in neurophysiology and a longstanding interest in the origin of the human mind and the nature of consciousness. This is an exploding area in neuroscience and Dr. Geary's efforts to bring the latest developments in evolutionary theory to bear in a comprehensive review are admirable.

Here are the points I found most interesting. The human mind is unique in it's ability to create a sense of self which is stable over time and capable of utilizing past memories of self to generate behaviors likely to produce a desirable imagined future (a mental time machine). Human evolution was not driven so much by climatic or ecological change as by the need for different human tribes and subspecies to compete for and defend available ecological nitches. This produced brain systems supporting complex social behavior, abstract reasoning, the use of tools, and verbal communication. It also resulted in what the author calls an "evolutionary arms race". Read: evolution favored a war-like species capable of forming powerful inter-group attachments and loyalties and deeply rooted hostilities toward outside groups defined by geographic, racial, and cultural (and I would add religious) boundaries. Does this ring a bell as you read the newspaper?

However, unless you are a professional evolutionary neurobiologist, be warned. The task of diving for valuable pearls (and they are there) in this book is formidable. There is excessive use of undefined jargon. The organization is poor. Sections headings are uninformative. The badly needed glossary is simply absent.

I immediately abandoned any attempt to read the book cover to cover. Fortunately, an Introduction and Overview is provided which summarizes the content of each chapter. It also explaines the author's central theses and allows one to skip directly to the chaptes of most interest. For instance, Chapter 7 elaborates the brain functions distinguishing humans from apes and lower animals, their anatomical correlates, and the pressures driving their evolution.

Alas for a good editor! What is "folk biology" and "folk psychology"? With luck we will have spotted their parenthetical translations: "understanding other species" and "understanding other people". Ponder this sentence: "Comparative similarity is particularly divisive, as it provides strong evidence in support of the proposal that the human brain and mind are products of natural selection." The surrounding text doesn't help either, although one gleans that "divisive" has something to do with nature versus nurture.

My suggestion: read the introduction and overview very carefully. Skip around in the book. When something makes sense, highlight it. Take time, leave the book and come back to it. Your efforts will be rewarded.

Wayne Phillips

The brain has long been the most mysterious of the organs. Part of the problem has been that the brain can be viewed in so many different ways. The same organ can think of Einstein's Theory of Relativity in one instant and be smiling and talking baby talk to an infant the next.

In this book Dr. Geary brings together research from neuroscience, behavior genetics, and cognitive science along with the behavioral sciences such as primatology, anthropology, and sociology to present an integrated view of the brain as we know it today.

The chapter "General Intelligence in Modern Society" is brilliant in it's explanation of IQ testing and its relationship with society. It both confirms, explains, and rejects the findings in the best seller "The Bell Curve" from 1994. "The IQ test," Dr. Geary says, "was designed to predict educational outcomes." And in this it works very well - in one study 20% of the people in the 99th percentile had Ph.D. degrees. He then discusses other aspects such as motivation, family, social presures and more as reasons for achievement in education, work and income. There's far too much to cover in a short review like this one.

This is not a book that has been dumbed down for the general reader. It is a definitive tome on the state of the understanding of the brain as it exists today. It is fascinating reading, but not something that you're going to race through in an afternoon.

Fun for the whole family. Read this a chapter at a time at bedtime. My children couldn't wait for the next chapter each evening! Thank you for a wonderful family story!

First read this book when I was a young girl, after attending a church campmeeting where the author was a featured storyteller in my age group. My mom bought me this book and I had it read in 2 days! Re-read this story about twice a year for years! It was one of the most exciting stories I'd ever read. Now that I'm a grama... it was one of the first books I started looking for to pass on as a GREAT read!

I remember this book from my childhood 40-some years ago. Though the text is the same, it's not the original publisher. The book is put together more cheaply in this edition; past the cover, it just has a cheesy look to it. I realize that I'm making a subjective statement, and a relative one as well, but overall the book just doesn't have the quality to it that I hoped it would have. Thank goodness the story is still as good as it always was!

This captivating story has never left my memory for 30 years! It was a favorite "read aloud" at the Christian school I attended and I enjoyed hearing it again and again. Now that I am a 3rd grade teacher, I too will read it aloud to my children! It also falls into meeting Social Studies California State standards with regards to learning more about the American Indians.

You want a fascinating adventure? This is it. What makes it even better is that it's a true story. Read the book about ten years back yet lots of books later, it still stands as one of my very favorites.

This is a five star book that is especially useful for 8-15 year old players. If you know any aspiring Ronaldo's, this would be an excellent choice. It looks great and has lots to offer in 96 pages.

Features include: A useful skills/drills section; an informative Brazilian soccer history lesson; and best of all, a ' moves to beat your opponent' section, that profiles a number of famous Brazilian soccer stars, and gives a signature move for each player, including the big three: Pele, Romario and Ronaldo. By the way, these one-on-one moves are helpful for adult players too.

One of the problems facing young soccer players in North America is they play soccer, but don't watch it. Compare that to the aspiring basketball player, who religiously watches the NBA, and then practices and emulates the moves of the star players.

Therefore, the 'moves to beat your opponent' section is truly useful for injecting some creativity and imagination into youngsters' developing games.

This book is also just plain FUN, and I wish I had it when I was 10...

This is a five star book that is especially useful for 8-15 year old players. If you know any aspiring Ronaldo's, this would be an excellent choice. It looks great and has lots to offer in 96 pages.

Features include: A useful skills/drills section; an informative Brazilian soccer history lesson; and best of all, a ' moves to beat your opponent' section, that profiles a number of famous Brazilian soccer stars, and gives a signature move for each player, including the big three: Pele, Romario and Ronaldo. By the way, these one-on-one moves are helpful for adult players too.

One of the problems facing young soccer players in North America is they play soccer, but don't watch it. Compare that to the aspiring basketball player, who religiously watches the NBA, and then practices and emulates the moves of the star players.

Therefore, the 'moves to beat your opponent' section is truly useful for injecting some creativity and imagination into youngsters' developing games.

This book is also just plain FUN, and I wish I had it when I was 10...

I have been playing Football since the age of 4 years old, and until now, have not come across a better 'Soccer' book for players of all ages and coaches alike.

After moving to the U.S. 7 years ago, I found that the young players in the States love to play the game, but have never really watched it, and therefore new ideas, moves and skills were hard to develop.

This book lays it out very simply, and provides a world of knowledge. Finally someone got it right, Tremendous book!!

I have had the pleasure of meeting with Simon Clifford, the author, when back in Leeds, England. He is a truly great guy with tremendous dedication to Football/Soccer.

Great gift for any player or caoch.

If you've witnessed the skill and pure creativity of Brazilian soccer, you're bound to be amazed when you open a copy of this book. As I stood in the stores, pondering my decision for my next "skills and drills" book, I happened to stumble upon a copy of "Play The Brazilian Way", the last one on the shelf. Out of curiosity, I opened the book, and the next thing I knew, I spent over an hour gazing at the amazing techniques taught in this book. From one-on-ones to skilled passing and fluidity, this book has it all. In full color, and displayed in a finely-illustrated step-by-step format, this book is a joy to read. Coaches and players alike will benifit from the drills and skills taught in this book, playing according to the legendary Brazilian method of soccer.

For those of you who are content-conscious, there's nothing to worry about. Each page is filled to the brim with useful tips and information, plus profiles and advice(not to mention deadly one-on-one moves) from some of the greatest Brazilian players of all time(Pele, Garrincha, Rivelino,Tastao, etc.) You'll never stop learning! The author encourages readers to attempt techniques and the moves taught in the book on their own, thus makes this book truly practical and not just a waste of money.

In conclusion, this book stands out from other books of it's category. Get this book!

This is a five star book that is especially useful for 8-15 year old players. If you know any aspiring Ronaldo's, this would be an excellent choice. It looks great and has lots to offer in 96 pages.

Features include: A useful skills/drills section; an informative Brazilian soccer history lesson; and best of all, a ' moves to beat your opponent' section, that profiles a number of famous Brazilian soccer stars, and gives a signature move for each player, including the big three: Pele, Romario and Ronaldo. By the way, these one-on-one moves are helpful for adult players too.

One of the problems facing young soccer players in North America is they play soccer, but don't watch it. Compare that to the aspiring basketball player, who religiously watches the NBA, and then practices and emulates the moves of the star players.

Therefore, the 'moves to beat your opponent' section is truly useful for injecting some creativity and imagination into youngsters' developing games.

This book is also just plain FUN, and I wish I had it when I was 10...

I am a 60 hour student pilot. I found Schiff's book to be broken down in easy to digest sections. I've learned much.

Even you are familiar with the principle of flying, the book can provide new insight in every flying aspect. It uses different point of view to elucidate the basic theory. I am sure you can get more understanding about what you have learnt in flying.

Schiff's wisdom and clarity are tough to appreciate when you don't know anything about flying. Save this one until after you've soloed at the very least. Then reread it once per year. And don't forget Volume 2 when you can learn how to fly the North Atlantic and also how to ditch if your flight to Europe doesn't go as planned...

As a physicist and private pilot, having read a few dozens of books on aviation, I find this book (in fact the two volumes I and II) the best aviation reading I have ever come across. Strongly recommended even if you think you have read it all.

Being a helicopter and fixed wing instructor pilot for 7 years, I thought I knew how lift worked. NOT. Read what they did not teach you in flight school in this great book by Mr. Schiff.

I was introduced to this book by a talk that one of the authors (Arthur Benjamin) gave at the MAA Mathfest in Albuquerque in August of 2005. The talk was one of the very best mathematics talks that I've ever attended. Everyone in the audience could follow what was going on, and we all left with an understanding of the basic approach to combinatorial identities used in this book. The authors' approach is to prove combinatorial identities by defining a quantity and then obtaining different formulas for that quantity. One formula becomes the left hand side of an identity while another formula becomes the right hand side.

When I read the book I found that it was just as clearly written, with lots of beautiful examples.

I haven't read this book yet, but I have a signed copy after seeing Jenny Quinn speak at the 2005 meeting of the Northwest chapter of the Mathmatics Association of America. If her written work is anything like her speaking, then this should be a great book. Her combinatorial proofs are an interesting approach to old equations, and she presents them in a very clear manner. A most enthusiastic lady.

The proofs in this book are easy enough for a bright high schooler or even an exceptional middle schooler to understand, while still making use of insightful tricks that keep the solutions far from being obvious.

"Thoroughly engaging... Accessible to a very broad audience... While the theorems covered may not be new to research mathematicians, I would wager that very few of us have seen them proven in quite this way." -- American Mathematical Monthly [http://www.maa.org/reviews/reallycount.html]

I am not a mathematician and I learn something cool and useful from this book every few paragraphs. Highly recommended.

The back cover of this book has a brief biography of the author, and it seems that the book benefits from his diverse background. His time as a professor shows in his insistence on backing up all his assertions with hard data. His current job as a consulting partner is reflected in the clear, non-academic, and easy-to-follow style and organization of the book. And even though he generally speaks well of the industry, this is no hagiography. A number of illustrative anecdotes (the book is full of these) describe less than exemplary behavior, such as how one Minneapolis money manager ran his funds into the ground speculating on interest rate movements. Anyone interested in learning more about U.S. mutual funds should read this book.

Ever since I began work in the mutual fund industry six years ago, I've looked for books that would increase my understanding of the industry. Many books tell you how to invest in mutual funds and a couple attempt to describe (but in my view unsuccessfully) how the industry works. This week I found and read Gremillion's book on mutual funds. And I was amazed. It's all there. History of the industry, the laws that affect it, how funds are manufactured and distributed, e-business and a lot more. I really enjoyed reading the author's impartial discussion of industry issues like the debate over fees and expenses, active vs. passive management, and the state of the market.

Gremillion's clear and concise writing makes his book an interesting and easy read. Too bad it wasn't available when I was in college.

Must reading to learn the ins and outs of the industry .

This book is written in a clear, non-academic, and easy-to-follow style. And even though he generally speaks well of the industry, the author does not sugar-coat it. A number of illustrative anecdotes (the book is full of these) describe less than exemplary behavior, such as how one Minneapolis money manager ran his funds into the ground speculating on interest rate movements.

The book is full of data as well. For example, the author doesn't just tell about how much a few star portfolio managers get in compensation. When he discusses what investment managers get paid, he includes the results from an industry survey that show averages and ranges for a variety of positions. John Bogle appropriately calls the book "authoritative" in his foreword.

A thoughtful, well-written, unbiased examination of the mutual fund industry, from an insider's perspective. This book is a good investment for anyone with any connection to mutual funds - from studying or working in the industry to being a mutual fund investor. You'll learn more than the industry itself wants you to know about how funds are managed and administered. Mr. Gremillion keeps a potentially dry subject entertaining with interviews and anecdotes, and his "plain-English" writing style makes the book very easy to read - no technical knowledge required!

I am a mother and homemaker, not an executive chef, and this book is exactly what I wanted! I love to collect recipes and have lots of cookbooks and clipping from magazines. Still, I seem to turn out the same old meals over and over. I read the excellent reviews on this book and had to give it a try. The recipes are very clear and concise, and taste "down homey." My children are very picky eaters, and we have been delighted at how many foods they've enjoyed from this book. I feel it's because the foods presented in this book are basic and simple, not full of strange ingredients children find unappealing. I find myself reaching for this book (and this book only) each week when I prepare my grocery store list. I love how the hardback cover can be folded into a cookbook stand; why don't more cookbooks employ that ingenious strategy!?! I cannot say that this book contains extremely fancy recipes, (Martha Stewart may not be impressed) but if your aim is to provide a variety of wholesome, nutritious meals for your family, then this book is for you.

My mother had this cookbook and now that I am older and living on my own, I have to make my own meals. This book has helped me along the way. The recipes are all SO easy to make and taste delicious. The ingredients are all the basics that you already have. Everyone should have one!!

I've owned my copy for 20 years now and nearly every recipe I've made from this book has been a hit with my husband and kids. The recipes use ingredients you will find in your own pantry; you won't have to run out to the store to search for odd spices or exotic vegetables.

As the title promises, the recipes are EASY and FAST! Even a busy, working (or homeschooling!) mom can get a tasty dinner on the table in a flash.

I love this cookbook so much, I purchase used copies to give to every new bride I know. I have copies for each of my kids, too!

This cookbook is full of easy, fast, tasty recipes. I have marked all my family's favorites. Even my 8-year old can use this book to make a great meal.

I received this cookbook as a wedding present 16 years ago. Since then, I have prepared nearly every recipe in the book. It is absolutely the best cookbook I have ever owned. It is so great, everyone in my family wants their own! I have copied hundreds of recipes out of this book to give to dinner guests who clamoured for the recipe for a particular dish.

If you believe that the Bible and the Creeds are inerrant and infallible then this is not the book for you. On the other hand if you are looking for an approach to religion that does not sacrifice reason and compassion then you will love this book.

As a woman raised by very spiritual parents in the framework of Catholicism, I often find myself experiencing the "dissonance" Dr. Elgin so eloquently describes. The chapters will strike a chord with those who want to make rational sense out of Christian teachings but also seek room for basic tolerance, love and acceptance of other wonderful and loving teachings common in many other faiths. I find myself literally saying "Exactly...he Gets It". I am reading the book for a second time as I type. This was a great gift at Easter for my Christian family members who agree that the hardline thought of "One True Religion...the rest be damned" is not only a very unloving path for life, but an uneducated one as well. "Open your Mind and Open your Heart" by reading this great book!

Heather C. Tackitt

This should be required reading for every minister, priest, divinity student -- heck, the pope should read this one! This is a refreshing and soul-lifting approach to Christianity -- it makes SENSE!!!

This is one of those books that differentiates itself by not pandering to the current fad of religious extremism. It offers a middle road for those of us left by the current religious traditions that have polarized to either a happy happy joy joy all is light and goodness, and the fire and brimstone apocalyptics at the other extreme. Presented is the solution; the viable combination of Gods gift of thought and reason, and the beauty, grace and peace brought by faith in something greater...

I cannot begin to decribe the joy, learning experience and the actual feeling of love from the convictions of this author.

Having been in VietNam and knowing the functions of the rational military chaplain of that era, it is truly plesant to read a book that is written to inform one how to be rational about their beliefs, understand where and how the histories of religion were (and are still) being written, and most importantly, how love is still the vital ingredient to a happy and focused life.

It is also important to let others know that I am Jewish and the way in which this book is written does not preclude any person interested in religions and well written opinion and logical points and references to read this book.

All who do, I am certain will feel and sense the energy and convictions of Dr. Elgin. A truly relevant and good read. Thank you Dr. Elgin and congratulations on this enjoyable, important book.