Attractions Books

Love this book! Very helpful when planning your trip to an island for the first time.

This book is helpful in terms of finding accommodations and dining places that are kid friendly. However, I have 10-months twin girls and this book doesn't provide much information on things to do with infants. I look forward to using this book again when my girls are older.

While searching for information on traveling with a wheelchair user I came across this book with on line excerpts that contained just what I was looking for. The tips and special advice found here have answered many questions concerning travel around and accessibility of the various islands. Well worth the money.

I think that of all the Hawaii-related travel books out there, this one is the best because it is full of pertinent information without getting to involved. It is perfect if you are planning your vacation to include children. It gives you everything from choosing family-friendly accommodations and dining to planning events everyone in the entire family with love. I am very happy that I chose this book.

This book had a lot of good general info on both Hawaii and good spots to visit with children. However, the restaurant reviews in general were not helpful. Restaurants rated positively for kids menus were often poor quality with limited children's selections. In one restaurant, the only thing our 3 year old could order was garlic bread!

Please do not let the title of this book mislead you.The author,
Neil Zurcher, Cleveland Press Journalism Hall of Fame inductee,
and, Fox TV-8 "One Tank Trip" travel-show host, certainly
introduces the reader to many "oddities";however, he also uncovers unique and fascinating places, stories, and curiosities.
You will read of things spectacular and metaphysical, as well.
This book, for Mr. Zurcher, represents a departure from his
traditional travel theme;however,he draws from his extensive
travel writings and TV documentaries in order to present to the
reader concise accounts of his research.
The author's attention to detail is evident, as he provides the reader with clear-cut analytical historical references that
substantiate his research. Furthermore, the reader will enjoy
the clever usage of humor mixed into his story-telling, which
makes the reading less clinical and more fun. So....for all you "One-Tank_Trippers" out there, fasten your seatbelts, and,
get ready for an exciting trip through Ohio. And, for the "virtual" traveler, Neil's presentation will keep you entertained for hours!!!! This book represents an "odyssey"
that you do not want to miss. Step aside, if you please,
California and Florida.....Neil Zurcher has explored territory
which truly defines our state as the real "Magic Kingdom."

Having lived in Ohio for only seven years - being a transplant from Tennessee, I have made it a point to learn as much as possible about my adapted state. In the process I have visited every one of the 88 counties in the Buckeye state and many of them several times over. Being a travel writer, I probably know Ohio better than most natives. So when I picked up "Ohio Oddities" by Neil Zurcher I didn't really expect to learn much that I didn't already know.

How wrong I was. This delightful book is chock full of information which is sure to lead even the most experienced traveler (including the armchair variety) to new discoveries.

People with an inquisitive streak will thoroughly enjoy reading the many interesting tidbits of culture and history that are in "Ohio Oddities." Even after exploring all 88 Ohio counties, more than half of the things chronicled here were new to me. It's an absolute goldmine of information that could only have been written by a man who has spent a lifetime "discovering wonderful little curiosities around the state." Thanks Neil Zurcher, for a fun book which gives me lots of reasons to get out and explore Ohio again.

We are a family of Ohioans who love this book. I have lived here for several years and never knew there were such interesting things to see and do in a state that I had thought was so boring. Even my 11 year old son who hates to read devoured this book. We plan to search out several of Mr. Zurcher's suggestions next summer!!!!

Some of the most interesting features of Ohio are now brought to light by Zurcher. Some curiosities we have heard of, but never investigated. Now it is all before us to study and then go see for ourselves. This book adds much to the appeal of traveling around Ohio. If you like adventure of a curious nature, this book is for you.

I have a friend who I met while interning in Cleveland who still remembers the first thing I ever said to him: "Did you know the average person eats a pound of bugs a year?" It was one of the many facts I gleaned from Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things. I can't say that my bug fact was the smoothest ice breaker, but it was clearly memorable.

For some off facts about Ohio, refer to Neil Zurcher's Ohio Oddities.

Sample Facts:

- The First Traffic Light
The first traffic light was invented by some men in Asheville, Ohio. It looked nothing like today, but resembled more of a UFO.

- World's Fastest Pumpkin Carver
Jerry Ayers, from Baltimore, Ohio, can carve a pumpkin in under two minutes. He's even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

- Largest Working Model of a Mousetrap
If you ever have a mouse the size of a large man, head to Lisbon, Ohio, to get your hands on a mousetrap that measures about 10 by 4.5 feet.

- Former Home of the Underwear Festival
Remember those red long johns with the flap in the back? They were invented in Piqua, Ohio. In honor of the town's great invention, Dav Pilkey chose it as the setting for his children's series Captain Underpants.

- First Banana Split
Soda Shoppes would not be complete without a banana split on the menu. They have "Doc" Hazard at Hazard's Drug Store in Wilmington, Ohio, to thanks for that invention.

- Birthplace of Clark Gable
Cadiz, Ohio, may not be known for a lot of things, but it I where Clark Gable was born and grew up. You can still go and see the house where he was born.

- Headless Chicken
One of the weirder facts in this book, in Ashtabula, Ohio, a couple cut the head of a chicken to eat it for dinner and the chicken didn't die until a month later. The couple let the headless chicken live in their basement and even fed it, admiring it's will to live.

Ohio Oddities probably isn't a book you will read in one sitting, but guaranteed you'll use facts from the book in conversation. Come on - who doesn't want to hear about a living headless chicken?

Be Your Best to get the Best.

This book talks a lot about being your best, and that's very important. Whether it be looking your best with what you've got to work with, being a positive person, learning more about yourself, growing in your strengths, improving your weaknesses.

All of these things make us that much more attractive as individuals.

The author of this very helpful book has a great insight into what makes a person attractive; and he's right in that it's the entire package. It's not all about looks. It's about a person's entire persona. Being a great person, a fun person, a happy person and a confident person creates an attractive person.

Very good advice from a writer who knows his stuff. This book is somewhat of a blueprint as to how to be the most attractive person (in this case, woman) that you can be. I think it's definitely true that we all have the potential to be attractive - in many different ways.

Having already read a few books on this subject matter, I was a little skeptical when I decided to read this one. Would it be full of limp, commonsense advice I'd read so many times in the past? Or would it offer something new and fresh? In all honesty, it did both. Some of the advice was commonsense, such as grooming etc. Some of the tips I'd read before. But the thing that stood out to me with this book - something that sets it apart from all the others - is the invaluable insight offered by being written from a man's point of view. Let's be honest, girls. If we really want to know how to really attract and hook men, who better to tell us than men themselves? We girls think we know men. But do we really? Reading Mr. Burton's book certainly gives an added insight into the male mind. The writing is also surprisingly sympathetic and genuine. The author has something to say and comes across like he actually cares about the reader. This, more than anything (and there is some good advice in here), is what inspired me most to recommend this book.

I was given this book to read by a friend recently as I was having some trouble regaining my self-confidence (and faith in men) after a rather troublesome breakup.

I'm glad she did and I'm even more glad that I read it.

This book is filled with very good advice on how to increase your self-esteem, self-worth and confidence. Things I greatly needed. And it's worked. I realise again all the good things I have to offer, that I am attractive and that I deserve to be respected and treated well. I found this book to be very positive and uplifting and I recommend it to all women seeking to learn more about themselves, and those women looking to increase their dating skills and self-belief. I've actually recently met a man a quite like since reading this book.

I'm glad I bought this book. Although the catchy title and suggestive cover could lead one to think that the book is a little sleazy, it is anything but.

Turn Me On: How to Attract a Man contains some very pertinent and topical advice for today's woman hoping to attract and keep Mr. Right. I regularly read passages from the book to keep reminding myself that I deserve to meet decent guys and that I am truly an attractive woman.

Whether you are just starting out in the dating game, or you are a woman of experience, there is some great advice in this book for all of us women. As the book states and explains, we all have the potential to become the ultimate woman.

Two thumbs up from me.

Four and a half stars is how I would rate this book. If it was a little longer I would have given it 5 stars. However, it is definitely worth the money spent and the time taken to read it.

I personally gained quite a lot out of this book. If you want to learn how to be more attractive for your own self-esteem, or to attract quality men into your life, this dating advice guide really helps women to do just that. The "attraction factor", a clever ctach phrase the author uses quite regularly, is a combination of a number of things: Not just physical attraction, but also confidence, knowing oneself and awareness of one's good points and weaknesses. There are tips on flirting, dating, where and how to date, and improving yourself to be the best and most desirable woman you can be.

There is truly a lot to be gained from Mr. Burton's book. He writes with great insight, empathy and understanding; and the male perspective adds a new and positive slant on the dating game and how men think and react to women.

This book is definitely worth a read.

"Life was too short to waste being a productive member of society. My job was an imaginary life, and I felt deeply I should be paid to live it."

Such is the prevailing sentiment of Luke Soloman, the unassuming protagonist of Beginner's Luke. The first in a six-part series of his various adventures & misadventures, Beginner's Luke introduces the reader to the mind of a man on a search to find his true self- even if that search does take him backwards in time.

Soloman's exploits begin on the streets of New Age City, a wondrous place to rival the glitz & glamour of Disneyland. There, he quickly finds himself overwhelmed, eventually falling (literally) into the realm of Perver City, New Age City's ersatz suburb. Rife with similar individuals who couldn't make it in New Age City, Perver City introduces Soloman to such clans as the Folarians, Pietarians, and Breatharians, all rival factions with obvious predilections. Following a nearly tragic turn of events within their midst, Soloman is then taken in by the inimitable Blue, who indoctrinates him with, among other things, the finer points of the art of begging.

Blue soon realizes, though, that Soloman is destined for more, so he shoos him off, encouraging him to set his sights higher and expand his horizons further, which leads Soloman "back" to his college days, surrounded by a host of equally intriguing characters who further enrich his experiences and enlighten him on his quest.

One may think Luckman's metaphysical approach to storytelling would potentially alienate readers who may find his prose difficult to follow; however, it is precisely his originality that lends his narrative the authenticity he needs to pull the whole thing off. Through his liberal use of colorful metaphors and similes, Luckman engages the reader's imagination and fosters independent thought regarding his assessments that often leads to rewarding conclusions. Also, his witticisms and acerbic observations lend his critiques a comedic touch, serving as the proverbial spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine of truth go down.

Beginner's Luke is a welcome start to what promises to be a mind-bending journey through the mind of the ultimate iconoclast. Fittingly, one can only imagine what's next in store.

Solo Man, a.k.a. Luke Soloman, peels off the layers of identity to reveal or maybe even expose the naked truth of the inner individual--the only One. And the zip strip he uses is the words that make up his thoughts and via the tool of writing, using those words to make up a reality for all of us to explore. It's not just any ol' words either, it's an amazing and articulate collection that makes you want to strap on your dictionary for a Personal Flotation Device as you push your craft off toward the other side.

At first, the storyline seems a little trite or maybe juvenile, but as one continues to read, it becomes obvious that's the intention. It's all background, a sort of history that one needs to connect with the character. And the criticism seems validated when the rest of Luke's writing class (Creative Writing 101) has the same superficial reaction to his "story." Digging in, it starts to get deeper.

How often do we take things at face value, without understanding how something seemingly simple has serious significance? How much do we overlook in our everyday experiences as we search only for the extraordinary? What might appear to have little merit but could be the fulcrum that moves the mountain? That's part of the point--we miss so much by assuming a superior stance without realizing there's always a lesson--that there's always something to learn.

And Luke's story has a mighty moral: we're making it all up! Our imagination is both seed and soil, water and sun. It's how we cultivate our circumstances and fashion our future. Luke takes us on a tour of time and quaintly confuses the quantity and quality of something we've all come to take for granted, the timeline that creates cause and effect. It reminds me of a quote I've seen attributed to a number of individuals, including Tom Robbins: "It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

The BEGINNER'S LUKE Series fits first and foremost into the category of adventure; the fact that it's also educational is a sort of furtive free lunch. (Who says there's no such thing?) So, gentle friend, read it and weep, but be well warned, those might be tears of joy.

Reviewed by Thomas Gabrielli for Reader Views (5/07)

Luke Soloman's chronicles of starting a new life--backwards--begins as a beggar in New Age City, where everything is almost perfect. Perfect, except for his new career; the residents of this town are frugal when it comes to charity. To escape, he passes through a brick wall and lands in Perver City, where he joins a group of people known as The Folarians. (You'll have to go with me on this one, please.) After being busted by a licorice twist, he takes up with a vagrant known as Blue, who he stays with until Blue decides it's time for Luke to move on. When he leaves Blue, he ends up back in college as an eighteen-year-old, where he meets an assortment of still stranger characters.

Okay, so maybe the synopsis in the above paragraph isn't really "selling" this novel quite the way it should. Trust me on this one: this is a very unique and entertaining read. Think modern-day "Alice in Wonderland," where anything can come alive when you start with a blank page. The author, Sol Luckman, warns from the very beginning that as a writer, he can do whatever he wants with his characters or the storyline. And he substantiates that feat throughout the novel. He needs a new character for a plot point? Poof! He invents one. I half expected him to give Luke wings and have him fly.

This book to a conventional novel is what an animated film is to a documentary. It is creative, imaginative, humorous and very distinctive. Sol Luckman's character, Luke Soloman (notice the similarities in names?) could be described as the author's inventive alter-ego. Yet all the time, the author makes the reader aware that he is in control here. He steps out from behind his craft to announce twist in the plot, or new character development. Think the final chapter of Armistead Maupin's "The Night Listener."

However, while the novel meanders to over-the-top places and possibilities, this reader found himself asking, "So, what's the point?" Perhaps to show the reader that as individuals, we, too, have choices and potentials. There are no boundaries or rules to limit us. If this was the lesson in Book I of this six-part series, then I can't wait for my next one. Or, if I have totally missed the point, if indeed there is one here, I need to read the next installment.

I recommend "Beginner's Luke" for Luckman's sheer brazenness in stepping out of the box and ending up somewhere out in the stratosphere. This is a good place for the reader to go, where, like me, there is a curiosity about where else Luckman will take us the next time around. Just think of the possibilities!

Until I encountered Luke Soloman, metafiction didn't give me much satisfaction. All too often I found it precious, with authors more intent on showing off writerly parlor tricks than providing credible, sympathetic characters or a coherent story. But the eponymous hero of Sol Luckman's picaresque novel, BEGINNER'S LUKE, is delightfully down to earth: he's often restless, sometimes guileless, perpetually seeking, and, apparently, perpetually horny. BEGINNER'S LUKE is the first installment of a series of six Bildungsromans designed to show how Luke grows, what he gains and how he learns to perceive the world. Readers will have such a fine old time following his adventures it may not dawn on them for some time that they, too, are meant to question their assumptions about reality.

In Book I, the self-generated Luke, determined not to be a tourist in his own life, sets out on his travels and promptly manages to blunder into one mishap after another, including an idyll with the leaf-eating Folarian tribe that comes to a rapid and near-disastrous end and an apprenticeship as a beggar and dumpster-diver in crime-addled Perver City. He eventually seeks refuge in his past (real? imagined? does it matter?) and relives his transition from an alienated, marginalized teenager to a college man in hot pursuit of meaning and mating material in roughly equal measures. The lessons he learns make him wiser, but does that add up to contentment? (Get real: if it did, would there be a reason for Book II?)

Sol Luckman's writing makes BEGINNER'S LUKE a rewarding romp from start to finish. This is the sort of book that could easily have self-destructed in a lesser author's hands, but Luckman makes it sing. You'll like Luke often; you'll want to wring his neck on occasion. But what you won't do is forget him. What is life's purpose? Are things always what they seem? What's the difference between living and existing? Are we the hero of our own lives? When can we be said to have finally grown up? Luke Soloman will no doubt tackle these--and scores of other burning issues--as he continues his education in Book II of the series, THE TOY BUDDHA. I, for one, can't wait to go along for the ride.

For those who have molested, been molested, or been interested in more on the subject of molestation, Hastings says it all. From Generation to Generation helps us all to see that judging others does no good, we must reach out. The book also lets us know that we must seek the help we need, whether in this area or another. I can't say enough about this book

Dr Hastings gently speaks the unspeakable. For all of us who were sexually abused as children, this book helps us understand why.

For those of us adults that have gone on to be sexual with children, Dr Hastings helps us tackle our deep shame and secrecy. Required reading for all healing from society's betrayal of the child.

Dr Hastings deals with women who are sexual with children. The least known and harshest treated. She objectively debunks the myth that "sex offenders" can be treated by just tackling the now issues. Sex addiction, including that to children, has to be dealt with holistically. Focusing just on so-called "deviant" behavior just moves the problem elsewhere.

A hard book to read; one best kept to discuss with your therapist or better still, with your 12 Step sexual recovery group.

Thanks, Dr Hastings, for all your help.

Hi. I read this book a few years ago. This was a powerful book for me, and I think it will speak to all those who are trying to understand their "deviant" attraction to children. I give the book very high marks for describing the unfortunate situation of the pedophile; the shame, loneliness, and self-hatred that the pedophile experience due to factors over which he has no control and about which he probably has little understanding. The book by no means encourages sexual interaction between adults and children, but it does provide a rare sympathy and understanding for the adult who is sexually attracted to children. The author also acknowledges the widespread nature of this "deviancy," which may be comforting for the pedophile to hear, since the media and most in the medical profession believe that pedophilia is extraordinarily rare. However, it is not clear what the actual frequency of this "deviance" is within the population, and the author cannot offer any empirical data.

My problem with the book is that it presents a simple answer to the question "why am I a pedophile?" that as far as I can tell is not accepted by the leading researchers in the field. The answer provided in the book is that attraction to children in adult life is the result of sexual abuse in childhood. While one can identify a pattern of victims becoming abusers, this is not a pattern that is exclusive to the sexual domain, and it does not address the experience of those who are highly attracted to children but were not abused themselves (and perhaps never become abusers). A leading researcher and therapist on pedophilia told me with a good deal of honesty that "we don't really know why some people are attracted to children". While the author's theory of cyclical abuse may have some value, a truly believable theory must incorporate a broader biological and cultural explanation. (Perhaps this can be found in the Springer-Verlag book edited by Feierman). Another troublesome aspect of the book is the neo-Freudian approach to the issue, which will strike many moderns (like myself) as being too much theory with too little evidence. The Carnes addiction model of sexual deviance, which is frequently adopted in the book, has also been the subject of some criticism, and is not universally accepted.

In summary, while the book is valuable for the sensitive manner that it addresses the issue of pedophilia, the answers that it provides to the "why me?" question are highly suspect, and come out of a particular psychoanalytic approach to treatment. The reader interested in starting therapy is advised to find an honest therapist who can explain the various forms of treatment available, and the theoretical underpinnings of each. A reader who remembers a healthy childhood may not feel comfortable with a psychoanalytic therapy that assumes that childhood trauma caused his sexual orientation. Modern science recognizes a wide variety in human sexual preference... if we no longer believe that childhood trauma causes homosexuality or transsexuality, why should we be ready to believe that childhood trauma causes pedophilia? Nevertheless, regardless of the causes, the pedophile must seek help from a qualified therapist to ensure that children will not be put at risk.

This book does an admirable job of staking out the issues necessary for individuals and society to address in order to begin true healing from the forces that compel people to act out sexually with children. Hastings alludes to her own history in this area and thus models the courageous stance that replaces shame with honesty. I found myself having a wide variety of feelings while reading this book, and found it harder to read than I had anticipated. While not a definitive work on the subject (such a book hasn't been written yet), this work will be seen as instrumental in pointing the way for future growth in the area of pedophilia recovery.

People who read this book may want to believe that this never occurs, or that the author is just using some extreme examples when they fail to view the other side of the story as well. These people will just be denying their belief systems the sad truth - that your looks matter most to everyone you will ever come into contact with in your life. After all, if there are no pre-conceived notions of a person, what else is someone going to judge you on? They don't know what you're like on the inside, how much money you have, etc. All they can see about you at first meet is what you LOOK like. And first impressions, they say, are lasting impressions, and count the most in how people evaluate and think of us.

The author even makes mention of the show "Average Joe" in his book to highlight the fact that given someone who has everything going for him with lesser than perfect looks versus someone who has reallt nothing else going for him except for his looks, the female candidate in this case chose looks over substance.

The chapter on looks and how they affect you in the workforce is quite eye-opening, and may explain countless people's frustration as to why they never got the promotion or given the leadership role when they, and everyone else around them knew that they were the best candidates for the job.

I also like his analysis of how the population keeps on getting better looking as all the "uglies" are left on the single scrapheap, and beacuse of better genetics we look for better looking partners.

I don't agree with the last chapter though, where the author highlights 2 case studies and says they need to re-affirm their use of affirmations to convince themselves that what happens in their lives is not solely based on their looks, whereas everything else up untiil that point in the book is stating the obvious otherwise.

Still, I can realte to the guy in the last chapter and his case in life. But I do not that these affirmations won't work, especially in the pursuit of true answers to the questions that plague people about why they cannot achieve as much as others in life, given that they are on equal footing in all other areas.

Myself, I'm a shorter than average 5"6 male living in a western society where height is THE MOST sought after value looked for by a female for their mate. I know I've always had problems getting promoted at work over my colleagues, even though my work was of the same standard. I long to meet a woman who i'm physically attracted to, but the women I am attracted to always seem to rule themselves out of anything with me. I went prematurely bald (age 18), spent hundreds of dollars on self-help books and colognes that make me "smell" more attractive to women. Spent over $3000.00 on a sorry-looking hair transplant at the age of 20 which made the front of my heasd look like an un-attended rice paddock (thank god, after wearing this hairstyle for 9 years I had the deceny of mid to shave it all off, which left me with these horribly big scars across the back of my head), and over $2500.00 on a course to meet and be more confident with women, which after over approaching over 1000 women I haven't managed to find the woman of my dreams yet (nor i believe has any other guy who took the course wih me). I wish these companies had just been upfront with me about all of this in the first place instead of scamming me of all my hard-earned money. It took me reading this book to re-affirm why none of the above had ever worked for me.

When I think about it LOGICALLY my next big saving is for some scar reductions and leg-extensions in order to get me up to around an average male height for a western society. And after reading this book it has only re-affirmed my belief as the best course of action, the best reason to save my money. I wonder if they do a face-off style operation too (like from the movie "Face Off") where they can change my whole facial look as well. Some more incentive to save my money for.

Don't let anyone try to convince you ever again that looks aren't everything in life. Sad, but true, they are everything in life and affect every single area of your life, whether you conciously know it or incorrectly deny it.

A refreshingly true read. Don't believe the lies!

I was looking on Amazon for a book that could tell the hard, cold, objective facts about the influence of physical appearance on general success in life. First, I found Dr. Patzer's earlier book. It seemed chock-full of studies and as much objective material as I could ask for, but the reviews complained it was too textbook-like and scholarly. Dr. Patzer must have taken the criticism to heart, because he published "Looks" in 2008, so the average layman/woman can understand the profound influence that their LOOKS can have on every single aspect of their lives.

I didn't need to be convinced of this, but I wanted some proof and data. "Looks" provides ample proof and data, along with true stories from the past and present, quotations and even statistics. For instance, did you know that highly attractive people may earn from 7.5 -15% more than their average looking peers? See page 82! "Looks" is loaded with details like this that will make you re-evaluate everything about your social and economic life -- your job, your friends, your education, even your relationships with parents and siblings.

And lest you think that this is merely a phenomenon of the modern era, Dr. Patzer has some proof that our bias towards the beautiful is not only ancient, but built into our very genetic code.

If you ever need to be convinced to lose some weight, dress for success, get your hair cut, rethink that total-body tattoo project, "Looks" is the book I would highly recommend.

Dr. Patzer also touches on the subject of "lookism" and identifies the few states that have laws that prohibit it.

About the only criticism I have is the end portion that focuses on what you can do to avoid being personally obsessed with the way you look and how others perceive you. While this subject has its place, it seems self-defeating to me to take chapter after chapter to prove how looks influence virtually everything in your life, and then end by telling people they shouldn't be worried about that pesky 5 pounds. Seems to me most of the world is right on worrying about the pesky 5 pounds, if 10 or 20 can influence your love life, employment status, economic security, influence over others and social class so profoundly.

In general, however, this is an eye-opening book about the world, the way it REALLY works, and anyone who takes the time to read it is doing themselves a huge favor. I was grateful to get the unvarnished truth from a social scientist committed to studying this aspect of human relations.

College-level collections strong in social science, business and psychology alike will appreciate LOOKS: WHY THEY MATTER MORE THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED, a review of the history and modern research surrounding appearance. From how medical personnel give more attention to healthy babies to how teachers except better-looking children to perform better, LOOKS delves into the underlying influences on success - and dispels many myths. General-interest collections will also find it a popular pick.

As the Dean of Chicago's Roosevelt University, and the Director and Founder of the Appearance Phenomenon Institute, Dr. Gordon L. Patzer summarized his 30 years of research and investigation of lookism for both women and men in "Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined."

"Almost from the moment of birth, each of us is judged­ - silently, unconsciously, and nearly instantly - on the basis of everything that goes into the mix of qualities known as" `physical attractiveness.' Dr. Patzer wrote, "...Sometimes termed `lookism' - treating people in ways biased by their perceived individual level of physical attractiveness - the `physical attractiveness (PA)' phenomenon has been studied in depth for decades by social scientists of many disciplines, including psychologists, sociologists, biologists, and anthropologists."

Dr. Patzer continued to cover other aspects of his research of looks, he divided this book into 10 chapters: Older Than Civilization; Pass the Genes, Please: How Looks Drive Dating, Courtship, and Marriage; As the Twig Is Bent: How Physical Attractiveness Affects Family Dynamics; Readin', Ritin', Rithmetic,' n `Ridicule; The Job Is Looking Good; Rendering Judgment: How Looks Affect Courtroom Results; Physiognomy and Public Service; Seeing Is Believing; The Dark Side of Physical Attractiveness; What Price for Good Looks? The Big Business of Beauty, and an Epilogue entitled "Rising Above the Effects of Lookism."

The following are some other interesting facts and statements covered by the book:

PA has a profound influence on how we define role models, who governs us, what products we buy, and what services we consume.

"Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference" - Aristotle

To ancient Hebrews and the Christians, physical beauty was a reward from the Almighty, and its opposite was punishment.

A Woman's face is most beautiful and alluring once a month - exactly when she is at the peak of her fertility.

America's last PA-challenged president was elected in 1860.

"Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined" has 288 pages. It is written in simple and plain English. It is an interesting and informative book for people interested in beauty and its effects on our life.

Gang Chen, a Book Reviewer for Bookpleasures
Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

Ha! This book was hilarious! The sex scenes were either written by a man or by a woman who had never had sex before. (I think the author uses a pen name, kind of like I do, because I'm really a woman.) The author actually uses the words "swollen labia" in the middle of a sex scene. Heh heh. But this book is definitely worth buying if you want to read a romance novel out loud over the campfire with your friends. You'll have people rolling on the ground.

Popular Dr. Cyn's latest sexual advice columns are sending military men in D.C. running for cover - except Major Ethan McCormick. Cyn - real name Josephine Cynthia Gardner - is out to prove that guys in uniform don't make good relationship material or lovers.

Ethan is unfazed by the "attack" on his profession. Sure, he's a stickler for the rules, and you could bounce a dime off his neatly made bed. But he's more than ready to muss those same bedclothes with the right woman....

Dr. Cyn's on a mission to scout out a hot military man, seduce him and report back to headquarters. But after one sizzling night with Ethan, she's willing to confess to a major attraction. One that's far too real and all-invasive. But what will happen when Ethan discovers she's some kind of "under-the-covers" operative?

MAJOR ATTRACTION (4 1/2 stars) by Julie Miller takes the idea of a pretend engagement and makes it work. Watching these two (Major Ethan McCormick and J.C. Gardner) overcome obstacles makes for a heartwrenching romance. There is humor, extreme emotion, great sexual tension and mystery. ~~ ROMANTIC TIMES magazine (posted by author)

Doctor Josephine Cynthia Gardner - Dr. Cyn to her readers - is one of the hottest sex advice columnists on the East Coast. Her witty writing style, tempered with tried and true advice, is a hit with men and women alike. But her new assignment is making her have serious doubts. Her editor wants her to see if military men live up to their expectations of being great lovers. Cyn bets her editor that military men are just playboys with a girl in every port. Heaven knows, her emotionally cold, bigamist, career Navy father was like that. So Cyn goes undercover at a military bar, covertly writing down her observations and determined to prove herself right. But once Cyn meets Ethan, she begins to question if all military men are "love 'em then leave 'em" kind of guys...because she's tempted to have Ethan for keeps!

Major Ethan McCormick is the ideal Marine, and the ideal candidate for a promotion. But all of the other candidates have significant others, and he thinks it will be a detriment to his chances if he doesn't show up with at least a fiancee. The problem is, he's been so hurt in the past by a betrayal, he's devoted his entire life to his career and hasn't dated in over a year. Once he spots Cyn in a bar, however, he knows that she's the ideal candidate for his "fake fiancee" for the next two weeks, until he snags that promotion. Ethan discovers that his feelings for his "fake fiancee" are becoming all too real! But once he discovers that his J.C. is really Dr. Cyn, the woman who has been trashing the reliability and sexual prowess of military men in her column, will he walk away from her for good?

This book was a joy to read, I had a very hard time putting it down! I laughed out loud on several occasions, the book was hilarious as well as wickedly sensual. The sparks flew - literally. I never knew reading about learning how to dance or making dinner could be so hot ;) Ethan was just yummy - a Marine in every sense of the word, tall, handsome, strong, dedicated to country and family, and trust-worthy. As for J.C., I really identified with her. Having a bad father figure really works on you when it comes to adult relationships. She was a fun character - witty, smart, independent, yet painfully lacking in trust at times. Since Ethan had his own heartache in his past to work through, it was interesting to watch them work together on making their "fake" relationship a real one.

Did I mention how hot this book is? Be prepared to take a cold shower once you get done reading this one! ;) This book is definitely a winning combination of romance, humor, trust issues, sensuality, and a bit of a mystery (someone's stalking J.C. - who is it?). I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a passionate read.

This book title is a little misleading and it will initially disappoint those who are looking for a book on how to read faces. However, it should be the first book that anyone interested in the subject should read.

In Reading Faces, the author spends a great deal of pages (and well researched material) to dispel the myth that there is a direct and systematic link between our facial appearance and psychological traits. But, unlike what another reviewer said, Leslie Zebrowitz does not say that there is absolutely no link between them. Through her model of appearance-traits relations in chapter 3 and 8 she explains how biology and environment can influence directly or indirectly that relation and how an individual may react to it (surfing along ones appearance => self-fulfilling prophecy; fighting it => self-defeating prophecy...).

The point is that there is no simple (simplistic, rather I should say) or systematic (if you wide a wide chin, broad jaw then it automatically means that you are strong willed, authoritarian...) appearance-traits link as some books or people pretend there is. As a matter of fact, I have yet to find a book/article/speaker on face reading that backup their system or claims with scientifically validated studies (as opposed to Leslie Zerbrowitz who thoroughly references every point she makes).

Does that mean that the other books on face reading are a waste of time or trees? No, rather they should be used with a different optic. These books could help us understand better what our face tells other and how instrumental it is in forming a first impression. According to researcher Albert Meharabian ("Non Verbal communication", Chicago, Adline-Athernon, 1972) when we first meet someone, the words we say only represent 7% of our total messages. For the rest, 38% of what is perceived is through our voice (tone, speed, intonation...) and the remaining 55% through our appearance and body language. So, do read these other books on face reading, but not before having read Leslie Zerbrowitz one (herself a baby face in a self-defeating prophecy mode from what we can read between the lines). Also, keep in mine that facial clues are significant signals that will be perceived consciously and subconsciously by other and although they do play an important role in one's life they do not represent simplistic/systematic personality traits indicators.

I don't give this book 5 star rating because of the form. The content could have been a little better organized and reader friendly. Still it remains highly readable.

This was one of the books that changed the way I see people around me.
In a strictly scientific analysis, Zebrowitz explores the tendency to judge people by the way they look. Why? Can we trust it?
Almost all book is devoted to this first question - why we do it? And explains why we find some faces more atractive than others, the sex-appealing face cues, the main parts of the face that we look at and if they have some link to the way people are (their behaviour and personality).
The final chapter concludes that there is no scientific evidence that we can link the facial cues to one's personality. However the interesting thing of the book is the scientific facts and studies that you get to know before you come to the conclusion.

A massive study on all aspects of face attraction and perception.

I borrowed this book from a friend who is a psychology major and couldn't put it down. I am now getting a copy for myself to add to my library for personal reference. I find this text interesting and valuable because it is a survey of how we as human beings tend to make assumptions about people based on their facial features that are often very prejudicial and most often totally inaccurate at that. This is a scientific study of what prejudices we carry, and assumptions we make about others, based on such unreasonable criteria of facial features. Also, facial reading is scientifically proven to be a totally inaccurate basis for making any valid assumptions about a person's character. If you want a book on how to "read" people by their faces this is not the book for you. In fact, this book is the very opposite in that it clearly shows that there is absolutely nothing significant, other than perhaps just a person's basic current emotional states (happy, sad, angry, etc...) that can be gleaned from a person's facial features. We need more books like this that study our irrational behavior, that we all seem to engage in to some extent, so that maybe we can learn to judge people by who they really are rather than what they look like. The entire concept of being able to know much of anything about anyone from their facial features is tantamount to being able to know who someone is from their skin color. It just does not work and is not scientifically sound to judge others on such an arbitrary basis and this book examines that very well.

Very poorly and inconsitently written book. It seems that the author just couldn't make up her mind on whether she wants it to write it as an academic paper, a "how to" book you might see on a shelf at Kinko's, or a coffee-table book.
It does offer some very insightful ideas, but they are so broken up in chapters that don't flow with each other, that can't keep up the interest of the reader.
Also, I would have changed the title to "observations on the effects of facial configurations in the everyday society"

A good simple approach to cleaning up your issues so you can move on and attract that which you really want - exchange the word relationship with money, career - you name it...it works

Continuing the same kind of insightful and "on the nose" practical advice that the author provided in "Coach Yourself to Success", this book helps you understand what your real needs are and how to get them met, so you start attracting who and what you really want in life.

The author did a great job explaining the laws of attraction with examples and helpful suggestions. So much more is offered than in The Secret ...this will be a best seller.
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This is a wonderful book about dealing with life issues. I found the test not that helpful but the text more than supplied what you need to know. This book really addresses all relationships and is extremely helpful in assisting you in realizing why you repeat the same behavior over and over and what you can do to change your approach.

I became interested in yoga a couple of years ago and have gone to classes, retreats, read books, etc. This is one of the more interesting books I have read on the topic of yoga.
I love that it really explores the power of breath and discusses techniques to harness prana. Many recent books tend to skim over this aspect of yoga, but Haanel really devoted himself to this very powerful practice. He also explained the eight aspects of yoga and how they combine to form a a powerful way of life.
I recommend this book to those who want a deeper insight into yoga, its background, and its practice. Although it sometimes comes across as dated, I feel it has a wealth of information not readily found in many recent yoga books. Definately worth the price!

I have been practicing Raja Yoga for years. Haanel discusses techniques that will change your life, bring wealth, happiness, and good health. What I don't understand is why some of the great souls like Ramakrishna, and Vivekananda died so young. Maybe they should have read this book. Really, it is interesting reading, and well researched. I'm not sure about the techniques he describes.

It is a known fact that the yogi's in India and in the Far East are perhaps some of the most miraculous people. They devote their lives to the Law of Attraction even though it may be called a different name. Charles Haanel does a spectacular job at giving a glimpse into the yogi's lives and dedication. This is a great book and I would also reccommend a book by Robert Collier entitled, The Amazing Secrets of the Masters of the Far East. w w w . theexecutiveleadershipcoach . c o m