Bradley Books

Love MZB and her anthologies. If you like this and Sword & Sorceress series you will also like "Chicks in Chain Mail" and "Did You Say Chicks?"

Another bradley anthology, with all the quality one would expect. Authors like: Laurell K. Hamilton (before Anita Blake was well known), Dorothy J. Heydt (of many MZB anthologies-Darkover/Sword and Sorceress/Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine), Deborah Wheeler (Darkover/Sword and Sorceress/Warrior Enchantresses/Witch Fantastic), and many others. In any anthology edited by MZB you will find new authors you ahve never heard of and well as famous ones. One has to remember MZB loved to give "breaks" to unknown authors...in point of fact she gave breaks to many famous author, the most currently prominant is Mercedes Lackey. I bleieve I also read articles that she gave the first big breaks to Diana L. Paxson (this I cannot independentely confirm), Deborah Wheeler (pseudonym of Deborah J. Ross), and many others. This anthology remains one of my favorites from MZB.

Dr. Homer Rice, retired Director of Athletics at Georgia Tech recommended this book to me - and I'm glad he did. After reading this practical, inspiring, and entertaining work, I can understand why Dr. Rice wrote a testimonial that appears in the book. Part of his testimonial reads, "Carl has taken proven principles and presented them with a fresh, new approach... I especially suggest you spend a lot time with chapters seven (Set Goals) and eight (Visualize). Chapter seven alone is worth much, much more than the price of the book!"

Over two dozen other testimonials from such personalities as Major League Baseball manager Tony La Russa, women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, legendary entertainer Art Linkletter, businesswoman Mary Kay Ash, businessman and NBA team owner Rich DeVos, football coach Lou Holtz, and NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw all attest to the fact that Carl Mays presents 'mile markers' on how to win and how to stay on track to win again.

What makes A Strategy For Winning stand out from among other such self-help books? Well, according to the testimonial by former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown, "There are probably thousands of books written on 'how to' do something, but very few tell you what to do after you try to do something and don't succeed. A Strategy For Winning is different because it not only tells you how to do it, but also how to pick yourself up when you get knocked down. It's a wonderful book and provides an excellent game plan to finding peace, love, happiness and success in your life." I concur with Dale Brown.

Thank you Dr. Rice for recommending A Strategy For Winning to me - and thank you Carl Mays for writing it!

I agree with Lou Holtz - great book!

Football coach and motivational speaker Lou Holtz wrote the Foreword to this book, and that is what first drew me to it. Then after I got into it, I was captivated by the author's 'down-to-earth' style and the practical suggestions and easy-to-follow guidelines he suggests. This is a how-to book. It shows the reader how to be more efficient, productive, creative and successful. The author says we all have things we can do well; we all have abilities we can tap, but sometimes we don't know where to begin. That's where A STRATEGY FOR WINNING comes in. Mays emphasizes nine principles that lead to success in business, sports, family and life. A chapter is dedicated to each of these principles: (1) self-image (2) attitude (3) creativity (4) building on failure (5) values (6) goals (7) visualization (8) teamwork and (9) overcoming procrastination.

With degrees in communication and psychology, Mays is a professional speaker who has spoken to over 2,500 businesses, sports teams and other groups, and I like the way he uses real examples to illustrate the points he makes. One of my favorite points Mays makes is, 'In the history of the world, there has been only one you. There will never be anyone else exactly like you. If you don't develop what you have, the world will never experience the contribution you could have made. The victories, the completeness, the success and the lifestyle you can achieve is only for you. And you deserve to be the best you possible.'

I highly recommend this book. It is not only a great practical instructional tool, it is a very interesting and entertaining read.

This is a timely, and timeless, book that lyrically explores the wonders of earth and redemptive power of nature as they relate to our daily lives. Bradley writes of issues such as genocide, hunger, nuclear threats, and violence and confronts social injustice in its myriad forms. Through it all he manages to bring the reader closer to the earth which he argues is an indispensable part of our body, soul, and identity. He is at heart an optimist, with humility, as evidenced by this poem: "With each line I write, I pull the world back a little/from the edge...No wonder I sit and stare out the window."This is a worth while effort at an amazingly reasonable price and another reason independent presses are an American treasure.

Prize-winning poet John Bradley presents Terrestrial Music, a collection of poems inspired by Pablo Neruda, Thomas McGrath, Muriel Rukeyeser, and Martin Espada. The haunting stanzas, which range from free-verse to narration approaching stream-of-consciousness, deals with the severities of social injustice, mankind's brutal impact on nature, and the power of the earth as part of the human identity - if only humankind can learn to recognize this and change its destructive ways before all is lost. "Terrestrial Music/2": I want to sleep / until we float / out of our skins / catch / on the maple's / wet leaves / dripping / onto the sleepless earth.

In this paperback of 150 pages Bradley Holt, professor of Religion at Augsburg College, Minneapolis provides a brief and clear overview of Christian spirituality through the centuries. It is written in a textbook style without any theological jargon or presumption of previous knowledge. Since it is intended for college students each chapter includes discussion questions, exercises, aids for exercises and a list of suggested readings. The book also provides at the end a glossary of difficult words, end notes of each chapter, a common bibliography, an index of names and another of subjects.

It is written in an ecumenical style without any prejudice against any denomination or sect of Christianity. The book is multicultural in the sense that it includes the approaches to spirituality in various cultures outside the West, namely Africa, Latin America and Asia. Just like the people of color, the women too get a good representation in the book. A delightful book of this sort was long overdue.

If you are thirsting for a comprehensive and historical overview of christian spirituality then this book is for you. Thirsty for God is a concise traveler's guide into the history of Christian spirituality. It examines the expression of spirituality in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions and is inclusive of Christian spirituality's expressions from non-western cultures.

The text is accessibile to the reader. It is free from theological jargon and enables you to engage the ideas. Holt asserts that spirituality is to be lived. In looking at the richness of these varied traditions you can a better appreciation of the faith. Holt also suggests that we need a spirituality that addresses our times and is free from the distortions from previous generations. Enjoy this great work which will certainly quench your spiritual thirst.

Wow! This book had great twists and turns. I kept thinking I had it figured out only to get drawn deeper into the "who done it." I had to stop occasionally to try to solve it myself. The ending was awesome. I should have seen it coming but I was so wrapped into the story and all the possibilities that I missed it. This is a very entertaining book!

Congrats on the new book, Joe - I know it's going to be a winner!

Chris Lemmon - A Twist of Lemmon: A Tribute to My Father

The book received was exactly as described. It was delivered on time and in great shape.

This five-star, totally hot Vergil workbook will make the difference between being a young person with maximal command of the Aeneid and being a young person with a goofy "duh" look on his face at AP Latin test time. Also, the price is right. Go for this workbook, kids.

This is a great well written book. The author does a great job of writing. It's a very enjoyable book!

I LOVE this book! It is soooo funny! I wonder if they are All true stories????

Review By Jade Caines, Emory University, for Michigan State University Libraries

[...]

In today's climate, accountability is paramount. Specifically, within education, high-stakes standardized exams are commonly used to measure student knowledge of key domains. Undeniably, reading comprehension is necessary for successful performance on these exams. But how does vocabulary development affect reading comprehension abilities? Research shows that poor reading comprehension skills often stem from low vocabulary skills. Vocabulary Power, a program of lessons targeting students who use African American Vernacular English, aims to address this gap through research-based strategies and practices for improved reading abilities.

The national debate over African American Vernacular English (AAVE), affectionately called "Ebonics," dates back to 1996 when the Oakland School Board brought attention to instructional barriers schools faced in teaching African American school children Standard American English (SAE). Vocabulary Power addresses these barriers by providing 20 weeks of lessons to help students bridge the gap between AAVE and SAE.

The program includes a teacher manual and a student workbook. Many of the books used in each lesson incorporate African American cultural elements or are written by African American authors. This distinguishes Vocabulary Power from other vocabulary development programs. By making each text relevant to AAVE-speakers, student engagement will increase, thereby improving word retention and reading comprehension. Below are some of the books used in Level 1, targeting students at a third-grade reading level.

Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter

The teacher's manual begins with a brief introduction that previews key instructional strategies used throughout the program. Next, the authors describe a sample 5-day schedule that details how teachers should use the vocabulary program. Each week consists of 5 days of vocabulary instruction with a different text each week over a 20-week span. Day 1 previews the lesson, allowing teachers to display the 15-word list for that week. Students recite the new words collectively and write them down in their student workbooks. Next, the teacher reads the words and definitions aloud, as students read silently. Students then take turns reading sentences containing the vocabulary words aloud. Finally, for homework, students will study the words and definitions and complete vocabulary activities.

Day 3 and 4 follow a similar format, interweaving key reading strategies such as making predictions and using context clues. Furthermore, students develop vocabulary skills through identifying multiple meanings and analyzing prefixes and suffixes. Engaging vocabulary activities vary from crossword puzzles to bingo. On the final day of the week, students are given a 15-item assessment. The items include matching exercises, identifying words that do not belong in a given list, and multiple choice items. Each week follows the same format for a total of 20 weeks--the program is very repetitious, making teacher usage easier and student success more likely. Every 4 weeks, students spend a week reviewing for a 28-item multiple choice exam.

Vocabulary Power is a unique vocabulary development program. Few vocabulary curricula target students who use AAVE and develop other important reading comprehension strategies. Also, each lesson previews the next week's vocabulary words within classroom activities, familiarizing students to upcoming words. Finally, this program steers away from rote memorization, giving students an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of vocabulary through word etymology. These practices can improve word retention and reading abilities, lessening the gap between students who use AAVE and students who use SAE.

The activities are varied and engaging. Vocabulary development is not simply a boring, mundane process that students eventually dread. Unlike other programs, Vocabulary Power engages students, increasing their intrinsic abilities to learn new vocabulary words. Overall, this program gives power to students who are historically overlooked. Every teacher who instructs students who use AAVE will greatly benefit from this tremendous resource.

Reviewed by Jade Caines, Emory University.

Review By Jade Caines, Emory University, for Michigan State University Libraries

[...]

In today's climate, accountability is paramount. Specifically, within education, high-stakes standardized exams are commonly used to measure student knowledge of key domains. Undeniably, reading comprehension is necessary for successful performance on these exams. But how does vocabulary development affect reading comprehension abilities? Research shows that poor reading comprehension skills often stem from low vocabulary skills. Vocabulary Power, a program of lessons targeting students who use African American Vernacular English, aims to address this gap through research-based strategies and practices for improved reading abilities.

The national debate over African American Vernacular English (AAVE), affectionately called "Ebonics," dates back to 1996 when the Oakland School Board brought attention to instructional barriers schools faced in teaching African American school children Standard American English (SAE). Vocabulary Power addresses these barriers by providing 20 weeks of lessons to help students bridge the gap between AAVE and SAE.

The program includes a teacher manual and a student workbook. Many of the books used in each lesson incorporate African American cultural elements or are written by African American authors. This distinguishes Vocabulary Power from other vocabulary development programs. By making each text relevant to AAVE-speakers, student engagement will increase, thereby improving word retention and reading comprehension. Below are some of the books used in Level 1, targeting students at a third-grade reading level.

Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World by Mildred Pitts Walter

The teacher's manual begins with a brief introduction that previews key instructional strategies used throughout the program. Next, the authors describe a sample 5-day schedule that details how teachers should use the vocabulary program. Each week consists of 5 days of vocabulary instruction with a different text each week over a 20-week span. Day 1 previews the lesson, allowing teachers to display the 15-word list for that week. Students recite the new words collectively and write them down in their student workbooks. Next, the teacher reads the words and definitions aloud, as students read silently. Students then take turns reading sentences containing the vocabulary words aloud. Finally, for homework, students will study the words and definitions and complete vocabulary activities.

Day 3 and 4 follow a similar format, interweaving key reading strategies such as making predictions and using context clues. Furthermore, students develop vocabulary skills through identifying multiple meanings and analyzing prefixes and suffixes. Engaging vocabulary activities vary from crossword puzzles to bingo. On the final day of the week, students are given a 15-item assessment. The items include matching exercises, identifying words that do not belong in a given list, and multiple choice items. Each week follows the same format for a total of 20 weeks--the program is very repetitious, making teacher usage easier and student success more likely. Every 4 weeks, students spend a week reviewing for a 28-item multiple choice exam.

Vocabulary Power is a unique vocabulary development program. Few vocabulary curricula target students who use AAVE and develop other important reading comprehension strategies. Also, each lesson previews the next week's vocabulary words within classroom activities, familiarizing students to upcoming words. Finally, this program steers away from rote memorization, giving students an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of vocabulary through word etymology. These practices can improve word retention and reading abilities, lessening the gap between students who use AAVE and students who use SAE.

The activities are varied and engaging. Vocabulary development is not simply a boring, mundane process that students eventually dread. Unlike other programs, Vocabulary Power engages students, increasing their intrinsic abilities to learn new vocabulary words. Overall, this program gives power to students who are historically overlooked. Every teacher who instructs students who use AAVE will greatly benefit from this tremendous resource.

Reviewed by Jade Caines, Emory University.

I read this book in college and it was a haunting beconing of my ancestors from the past to prod me on and become something more than the traditional wife and mother. Woman warrior in the book symbolizes true women inner strength and abilities that can be transferred to modern society in America, as little girls grow up to be voters, tax payers and soldiers defending this country was well as mothers expanding and raising the next generation.

This is one book you won't be able to put down! It kept my full attention all the way through. If you like adventure stories with heroines here's another great one from the author of 'Mists of Avalon'. Zadieyek of Gyre is a warrior woman you will not forget!

This is a good book for understanding anger. Although a book alone probably won't work to learn to handle a severe anger problem, learning more about it can be useful for some. What's provided by B. Barris, PhD. is some of the most pertinent and sound information on anger I have read.

If you are interested in reading this review, then I highly recommend you read this book by Dr.Brad Barris. I did and it has had a profound effect on my life!I believe that now more than ever we as individuals and as a society desperately need to have a grasp on understanding where our anger comes from in an 'increasingly angry world'. In his book, Dr. Brad Barris enlightens the reader in regard to better understanding anger, and how to manage it. He presents the tools and then teaches one how to use them to acquire the skills necessary to manage this basic human emotion. As Dr. Barris speaks to health professionals, parents, teens, husbands, wives, and others through this straightforward, practical, and reader-friendly book, we can learn a great deal about ourselves and understand the role anger plays within our relationships, our careers, and in our parenting roles. I feel that we can begin to see that it is actually possible to make our world a less angry place in which to live and in which to raise our children. There are only a few books that I keep close by and also recommend highly to others because of the nuggets of truth and the life lessons contained in them. This is one of them!