Buck Books

Finding Buck McHenry was written by Alfred Slote. This is a fiction book about a kid named Jason Ross. One day Jason hits the baseball and just jogs to first base thinking about baseball cards. Eventually he gets cut from his team. Then he goes to school and talks to the custodian (Buck Henry) who is crazy about baseball cards. Buck names some present players that Jason doesn't know. Buck shows Jason that those guys really are real from the Negro Leagues. Then Buck offers to coach the new team and to find players. They go to a neighbor's house and meet a sportscaster from channel 4. Now they have a team player and a sportscaster. After they recruit players for their new team, they are pretty darn good. Jason's dream had come true to be a starting catcher on a good baseball team. Buck and Jason had become good friends, a custodian and a boy. Will other adventures come into their lives? Will they win the championship? Will they meet any new people? Who in the world are his mom and dad? These questions can be answered if you read this story, Finding Buck McHenry.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and a good baseball story. My favorite part was the ending but I can't tell you that. My least favorite part was when Jason got cut from the team. Jason didn't even get a second chance. This book was written in 1991, and was one of the best stories I've ever read. This is a story of friendship and amazement. This is one question you can answer. Will you read this book?

The book finding buck mchenry was a great baseball book. In the book an older man named Mack Henry. At first he says that he was the great Buck Mchenry but after he lies about it to a television crew he confesses that he is not who he said he was. Mack Henry coach a three person three person team called the grandstand. the grandstand won almost every game that they played. i liked this book because everthing in the book had to do with baseball, and baseball is my favorite all around sport.



erik cartmen

Jason Ross loves the game of baseball, but he loves collecting baseball cards even more. When he is cut from his Little League team and forced to play on the new expansion team (made up of rejects), he is devastated. Then Jason notices an interesting coincidence: the life story (and name!) of local school custodian Mack Henry appears to be eerily similar to that of Negro League legend Buck McHenry. Mack Henry does know a lot about the game, and Jason gets him to be the coach of the new team. Amazingly, Mack then admits to being the star pitcher! However, we learn later on that all is not right with his story, and with a sportscaster preparing to do a major show on the situation, time is running out to set the record straight. The plot of "Finding Buck McHenry" is a bit of a stretch, but for the most part, the book is enjoyable. This is a very emotional story that can also teach you some life lessons, and a little history as well. Young baseball fans and non-fans alike will definitely get something out of this book.

This book is a great book for baseball lovers and non-baseball lovers alike!
Jason loves baseball, but likes collecting baseball cards even more. Unfortunately, Jason is not a very good baseball player and is cut from his team and sent to play on an extension team with other rejects.
Trying to cheer up, he goes to the Grandstand, a sports store, and discovers a legendary Negro baseball player named Buck McHenry who just might might be a school janitor in his town living under the name of "Mack Henry"!
When Mr. Henry admits that he is Buck McHenry to his grandson, Aaron, and to Jason, the news leaks out to Kim, another player on the extension team. Kim's father, a great, famous newscaster finds out and is about to tell everyone Mr.Henry's real identity! Soon Kim, Aaron, and Jason realizes that things might not always be what they seem!
This is a wonderful bok with a surprising ending. Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down. Overall, I give Finding Buck McHenry five stars! Vivian Grade 5

I liked this book because it was a great story, had great details, and was about a sport that I play, baseball.
Jason is a backup catcher for the Baer Machine team. Jason gets cut from the team and gets put on a new team that is sponsored by the Grandstand. Jason likes the Grandstand store because it sells baseball cards, which he loves to collect. Jason sometimes thinks about baseball cards when he is up at bat during a game. Mr. Henry, a janitor he met at Emberwoods School, is the person who coaches the team during the season. Mr. Henry has a grandson on the team named Aaron. Aaron's parents died in a car accident while he was playing a game in Tennessee. Since Aaron's parents died, he moved to live with his grandparents. Aaron is a great pitcher and Kim Axelrod is a great fielder. Kim Axelrod is Chuck Axelrod's daughter. Chuck Axelrod is a sports reporter and has just moved into town. Chuck is going to be the president of the baseball league for this season. The Grandstand team has a great season and in the end they come in third place. Before they had a team they were on TV to try to recruit players. After the show 15 players called and they were all on the team.
I think that sports readers would like this book because it is a great sports story, has great details about baseball, and has a great storyline.

This book provided a fascinating look into Blanche Barrow's life as well as great detail into the lives of Bonnie and Clyde and their fellow outlaws. The author/editor did an outstanding job of compiling Blanche's memoirs into what was occuring in the world during her lifetime. I wasn't too sure if I would like this book when I ordered it because I normally don't read biographies/autobiographies about criminals. However, when I began to read it I became totally absorbed into this woman's ife and the pictures are great too (there's lots). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Blanche Barrow's account into the turbulent and volatile few months in 1933 she spent with Bonnie, Clyde and W.D. Jones on the run is fascinating reading. The one point which comes across over and over is her true love for Buck Barrow - which really supports that old saying: "Love is Blind". There was certainly nothing apparent which made Buck an intelligent or appealing type of fellow, but to Blanche he was everything. This lovely lady is very much a victim of circumstance - drawn into the dark scheming world of hatred and revenge of the law of Clyde Barrow. Clyde was certainly the orchestrator of their life on the run. For some reason, Buck Barrow was overwhelmed and dominated by his younger brother Clyde and Blanche was continually trying to get Buck away from this life of running and hiding. Bonnie Parker too was entranced by Clyde's domination as well. It seemed as though she was in awe of Clyde and everthing Clyde said or did was the gospel. It is very much an encaptivating read - however I was hoping to find out more what her prison life was like after the Dexfield Park capture which the book seems to skim over very briefly. The accounts of Joplin, Platte City and Dexfield Park in this book are excellent and you really do wonder how they all survived as long as they did. I thoroughly recommend it to all Bonnie and Clyde fans.

I really enjoyed reading this book. However, you must keep in mind that it was told by one of the participants and that self image and self preservation were apparent in telling her side of the story. I would advise doing what I did. I read the Knight book, "Bonnie & Clyde, a Twenty-First Century Update" and the John Neal Phillips book "Running with Bonnie and Clyde" at the same time as this one. I think by combining and sifting through the information in all three, you can come away with a pretty clear picture of these peoples lives.

I often wondered what had become of Blanch Barrow as the movie did not tell us much of anything. At the end of the book I found myself with tears in my eyes. I am not saying she was totally innocent in everything that transpired, but she paid dearly for the mistake of loving her husband and I being a woman can synpathize with her greatly. I can just picture her sitting in a chair, an old woman, forgotten, left with nothing but her cats and memories of days gone by...nothing is sadder than what might have been. What really made me realize how human these characters were was when Blanche tells us about bringing her dog Snowball on the run when she and Buck took off with Bonnie and Clyde and then loosing her dog during the shootout in Platte City, as the dog was spooked by the gun battle, he ran out of the house and this was the last she ever saw of her beloved pet. These were very much people like us that I firmly believe were victims of the times they lived and the desolation that surrounded them. I often wonder what would have became of those four people if they would have grown up in New England perhaps or New York where even though the depression was going on, there were more opportunities for work or perhaps they were born at the wrong time in history. Maybe if Bonnie and Clyde would have been born and came of age in the 80's or 90's, they would have been different people....but we will never know. This book is a must read for anyone, not just fans of Bonnie and Clyde, but its just a damned good book to read.

This is about the best book I've read on Bonnie and Clyde so far. Although as Mr. Phillips states it is slanted in the favor of Blanche, it still is very well written and I think more historically correct than other books I have read on this subject. It was interesting to read how these people really lived on the run and how human they were. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Bonnie and Clyde.

You just can't go wrong with Pearl S. Buck, she writes so beautifully. The Chinese culture is so interesting and beautiful itself that her books are a joy.

Pearl S. Buck's "Peony" is a lovely story that both touched me and informed me about an era of history of which I was unaware. The copy I found was a hardback published by the John Day Company in 1948; so I'm glad to see the story is currently in print. The story is an episodic tale that covers a number of years. Peony is a bondmaid that is apparently a well-treated slave. Buck's text discusses how her owners have the right to sell her, even separate spouses. Peony was sold by her parents as a baby and raised in one of the few Jewish households in China. As the Jewish families have blended with the Chinese, their Jewish identify has become less pure, eventually resulting in the abandonment of Judaism for Chinese philosophy. As Buck traces this, it is due to the welcoming nature of the Chinese whereas Jews in other parts of the world were separated and shunned. Through the wise Chinese merchant character of Kung Chen, Buck indicates that this is due to their own philosophy that theirs in the only God, which encourages their separation. The unrequited love of Peony for her master David and his development as he grows is quite beautiful. When Buck changes gears with the violence in Chapter VII, it happens so swiftly and abruptly that I felt literally stunned as a reader, unable to believe it had happened, much as one probably feels in life after a tragedy. As the story unfolds with David's marriage, the trip to Peking and the consequences of that visit, I found the ending strangely peaceful as Peony's love for David turns to a universal love for mankind. Peony is a masterful work 60 years after it was first published. Enjoy!

I accidentally found "Peony" while I was trying to find a book that would teach me how to grow peonies. The title, the topic and Buck's reputation helped me decide to read it. I am so glad that I did.

Other reviewers have told of the understated, beautiful use of language. They have spoken of the interesting juxtaposition of the Jewish and Chinese cultures, the gentleness of the story, and Buck's decision not to satisfy our need for a Hollywood ending.

All of these wonderful aspects allowed me to focus on other layers of the novel. The fact that the Jewish community in Kaifeng eventually allowed themselves to forget their own culture was fascinating. Their acceptance of and integration into the Chinese culture is portrayed as inexorable. Most slipped away easily; others faced the loss with overwhelming grief. Buck describes the Chinese characters in this book as being accepting of others while being a bit hedonistic themselves. They choose to seek pleasure and temporal fullfillment while the Jews focus on the horror of oppression, complex ritual and the absolute truth of their history and destiny. In other words, it seemed that the Jews were willing to give up their faith because it was difficult to maintain personally and for the community as a whole.

The final destruction of the core of the Jewish community is, ironically, a product of being a "chosen people." Kao Lien (a business associate of the Ezra family) tells David ben Ezra (Peony's young master) that the Jews, "were hated because they separated themselves from the rest of mankind. They called themselves chosen of God." This is David's first inkling that the world has alternate views of the Jewish people. This is a pivotable moment in the novel. This conversation gives David enough distance from his own culture to allow him to choose a Chinese wife and to move farther from the religion of his mother. Because he chooses not to become a leader of the Jews in his city, the Temple and the culture eventually fall into ruin.

More than most novels, this one is a rare combination of attributes. It is entertaining, informative, thought provoking and good literature. I will certainly read more of Buck's work and urge others to read this novel.

I loved this story about a servant girl in a wealthy household and her selfless love and service. But, this is not a sugar-sweet story. Pearl Buck is an author who is able to take you to a time and place and make you feel the characters are real people. The twists and turns keep this book interesting. This is my favorite of her novels.

This is a wonderful story with well-drawn characters the reader can empathize with. When reading, you feel as if you have been picked up and plopped down in China, in the middle of this Chinese/Jewish household. I wanted it to go on forever. This book is profoundly sad and profoundly joyful at the same time, while also being interesting and informative. I was never before aware of Jews in China and now have a jumping-off point from which to do some research. Fascinating! The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was how quickly the end of the story came; near the finish of the book, the years pass too fast and everything is wound up. Mrs. Buck does not give us a "Hollywood" ending, however. She was a tremendously gifted storyteller, and I so look forward to reading her other works.

This novel was assigned to be read in my English Literature Class at Shepherd University. That is how I came about reading/hearing about this novel. I was pleasently suprised about this novel. I enjoyed the story and the style of writing. I am in the process of reading more novels by Terry Kay. I would recomend this novel to anyone that is looking for a good read.

Ben Phelps and Foster Lanier share a train ride home in 1904 after being cut from a low minor league baseball squad in Georgia. Another Georgian not only makes the cut, he advances quickly to the major leagues, where he is universally hated by the players for his dirty style of play and the public for tales of his wife-beating, drinking, and low-living. Ultimately, he becomes the top player of his age and very wealthy through Georgian business ventures (think Cobb and Coca-Cola), but he always refuses to see the old town and gang.

Ben and Foster meet Lottie Parker on that train. This enigmatic creature is both innocent and way too worldly for her teenage years, but never one to be forgotten. Lottie changes their lives for several generations. Foster and Lottie marry, and name their son Little Ben. Ben goes home, takes a job in the dry goods store, and becomes engaged to the proprietor's daughter. Foster, Lottie, and Ben have a subsequent encounter; when Foster and Lottie are working a travelling carnival baseball game of skill, they make Ben look like the town hero and get him very nearly killed.

Several years pass and then Ben comes to see a dying Foster, who makes him promise to take Lottie home. Both Ben and Little Ben take ill, and end up in the care of Ben's lonely widowed mother and Ben's fiancee. Lottie becomes the talk of the town, first rumours spread that she and Ben had an illicit relationship, then she wins over all with her charm and grace, then she falls in love with Ben's long-suffering father-in-law, finally she leaves town to return home, just as rumour surface that she is the famous carny girl of many years earlier.

I have not read any other Terry Kay novels, and I highly recommend this one. It has a few slow places, especially in the beginning, but it gracefully ties together America's past-times of baseball, commerce, and raising families in the hard-scrabble turn of the century days without much medicine, transportation, employment, or money, especially in the rural South.

"Taking Lottie Home : A Novel" is a good summer read that will pull you in, without knowing it. I saw this book on the discount shelves at the nearby conglomerate bookstore, and with its warm cover, I bought it. I was worried that the plot would revolve around baseball, but it only ties the characters together. It revolved back to teamwork and comradeship. The chapters will fly by, and before you know it, you're at the epilogue. That's where the story lost me, and I became confused. The references to grandma, Gra-Ma, mother, father, etc., made me confused about who was who. It's best to just leave off after the final chapter is finished. An enjoyable read. I recommend.

Some books, as well as characters, can haunt you for days, maybe years, after the reading is done. "Taking Lottie Home" is such a book. And Lottie Lanier is just such a character: part girl, part woman, and all too giving, with eyes no one ever forgets. So, too, is the character Ben Phelps, the young would-be dream-catcher, who catches the ball but only worships the dream, living it vicariously through the faraway exploits of the intangible, aloof Milo Wade. And there's Foster Lanier, who tastes the dream, only to see it turn bitter before finding his final, brief comfort in the arms of Lottie. Then there is Arthur Ledford, a lonely, tormented, fair but angry man, whose role in Lottie's life turns out to be nearly as surprising as Lottie herself. Even the minor characters are hard to forget: Ben's mother, Margaret Phelps, who clings to Lottie's child, little Ben; Ben's fiancee, Sally, who sees Lottie as the greatest threat to her happiness; Arthur's wife, Alice, a cold, hateful woman who seems to believe all women should be miserable by nature; Coleman Maxey, a pain-in-the-butt redneck troublemaker, and an assortment of other town characters who are either enthralled by Lottie or unnerved by her. There is also the strangest alliance of carnival bad guys ever to appear in a Kay novel: a one-armed giant and a midget. Lottie's story takes place in early 1900's Georgia and Kentucky, when it was still the train that took people to faraway places. It, too, could be considered a character in this story, as could the town of Jerico, which sounds a lot like long ago Royston, Georgia, just as Milo Wade sounds a lot like the baseball great Ty Cobb.

Two great contemporary Southern writers are Terry Kay and Pat Conroy. It struck me, while reading this book, that the two men are interesting contrasts, especially regarding the way they write about the South. It reminds me of two men I once heard trying to describe the taste of a persimmon. Both liked the taste, but one said it was bitter, with a little sweet in it; the other said it was more sweet than bitter. For bittersweet stories about the South, it's hard to beat Conroy or Kay. And "Taking Lottie Home" is a sweet story, with just the right amount of bitter. It's the kind of story that stays with you for a long, long time.

At first I didn't like this book. I picked it up and thought, oh great, it's about baseball. How wrong was I when I picked this one up at a bookstore? So I put it down. A few days later, after finding myself at loose ends because nothing I picked up sounded good, I gave it a try again. And this time, I was hooked. Terry Kay's writing just ensared me and I couldn't put the book down till the last page was turned.

Kay's characters just came alive in this book ~~ their dreams, their passions, their loves and fears. This is an wonderful book that will haunt you with its lyrical writing and true characters. There is Ben who is kicked off the Augusta baseball team at the same time as Foster Lanier, an older baseball player. They meet up again on the way home from the baseball fields. Ben struggles to make a life again in his hometown, Jericho, as he struggles with ending his dreams of playing baseball. Throughout his life, he kept track of his best friend Milo who did remain behind to play ball and eventually played for Boston Red Sox. Then there is Lottie, the woman he meets on his journey home ~~ and he continues to meet her over the years. And this is their story ~~ of friendship and eventually taking Lottie home. Foster married Lottie and fathered her son, but Ben took her home.

It's an enchanting story of the deep South at the beginning of the 20th century. These characters are just as real as your grandparents were ~~ and very interesting too. It's a great book to read on a lazy day swinging on the hammock ~~ just be prepared with lemonade and cookies ~~ once you start reading this book, you don't want it to stop!

5-25-04

This book Big Bucks! was read in one day, it was very enlightning and motivational, read it, you'll enjoy it! Thanks Ken Blanchard & Sheldon Bowles. I look forward to reading your other books.

My profile. 43 yo begining entrepreneur.. scared to death and sceraming like mad in this freefall period.

This review refers to the audio cd book

5 stars for content 21/2 for production

First the production setback- the audio has a very low recording volume so I have to put the normal listening volume in the 27 seting of my car set, causing severe acoustic shock after I take it our and radio comes into play! Then there is the fact that each cd has 2 or 3 tracks each ove 30 min, so if you want to rehear a part, forget it!

I listened to this cd for over 2 years while being a travelling salesman for a major corp here in Vnza. The approach taken here is very original and a extraordinairy complement to the Millionare Mind and the Rich Dad series.

Three basic principles or secrets are revealed to an average Joe (I identified with him) by wealthy and successfull millionaires who are rich in advice giving as well... new paradigms come into being as common notions of wealth generations are dispelled here... be prepared to be enlighten.

Personally, I found great comfort in the first principle of " You can' make money unless you are having fun" for I know what I like to do in my life, and selling has always been part of that... but the message is, if you know what you like then set those gears of imagination moving to make a profit our of it.. do not fight your natural tendencies.. of course the other principles work on the focus and balance to be provided to his one.

Reading this book will take you on a journey inside your own world, but the perspective will be from the outside looking in. Big Bucks can help clear the FOG that sometimes clouds our minds when we are thinking about a problem and not finding solutions.

Success in business is a ongoing process and this book is like having your own Mentoring Team working with you on reaching your goals.

If you have questions in your mind about how to earn BIG BUCKS ! and are open, you will find YOUR answers inside.

I received this book along with three others for free upon joining a real estate investors group. Thus, I was not expecting too much from the volume. I also was blissfully ignorant of the authors and their prior successful works, and have not read the other two volumes in this motivational trilogy.

As such, I was pleasantly surprised by the narrative and novel style. The use of the protagonist "Len" is quite refreshing and works extremely well. His visits to the "three Wise Men/Woman" are amusing. The three lessons learned are absolute truths in the working world and totally reinforced my personal belief that having fun while making money is essential. If you love what you do you will be great at it.

I highly recommend this book to everyone with a open mind. It is a quick read (about a weekend ought to do it) and if read and followed, is sure to enrich your life both spiritually and financially.

About my only criticism is that it is somewhat derivative of other motivational types such as Lou Tice (reticular activating systems); Ivan Meisner (givers gain);and the grandaddy of them all: Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich).

In RAVING FANS, authors Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Knowles
concentrated on the importance of delighting customers . . . in GUNG
HO!, they focused on how companies could become the "employer of
choice" and attract the best employees . . . I liked both those
books and thus looked forward to listening to the taped version of
BIG BUCKS! . . . this third book promised me in its subtitle "How
to Make Serious Money for Both You and Your Company," something
that could be done by focussing my time and energy.

Like other works by Blanchard and Knowles, the points are
presented in a parable . . . here, we're introduced to a man struggling
to make ends meet . . . he goes on a journey to discover the secret
to becoming rich and meets three wise (and successful) people
who present simple truths that can be applied to virtually any
situation.

I liked the above fact; i.e., that when listening, I found myself
thinking that this stuff makes sense--and I should and could

apply it to my situation . . . there's nothing overly earth-shattering,
yet I should add that it got me thinking . . . and it made sense.

Also making sense was the conclusion, in which the authors
reviewed the simple tests that should have been learned from
either reading or listening:

The test of joy . . . you can't make money unless you're having fun.

The test of purpose . . .you can't make money unless making money
is more important than having fun.

The test of creativity . . . incomes, less expenses = profit.

And, lastly, there's perpetual prosperity . . . which comes to those
who help others.

This is dark humor at it's best. On first reading, it hit me like a freight train as I was literally doubled over, laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath. Later, reading it again to catch underlying meanings that I might've missed earlier, I realized that I either knew people, personally, that fit the various categories of folks Ms. Bane was talking about, or had at least witnessed the various "types" in action. The book definitely has a way of making you think about your own behavior. What I found refreshing is Bane's totally, and unapologetically politically incorrect approach. She tells it like she sees it and if there are issues with it, then leave it alone. However, I still recommend that you, the reader, at least check it out and see what it is for yourself.

...which are three reasons why you will want to pick up your copy of The Bloodthirsty Weasels.

Terry Bane should be ashamed of herself for indulging these dark, somewhat disturbing fantasties, shouldn't she? Well, no, not really as this is nothing less than a Tim Burton-esque look at our wonderful world through the eyes of weasels bent on world domination.

_I_ should be ashamed for enjoying it so much. Nicely done, Terry!

I couldn't help but laugh all the way through this book! Theresa Bane takes point-blank aim at bloodthirsty weasels in every walk of life. I know some, and I know you do too!

This is just about the funniest, most pointed commentary on social behavior I've ever come across. Weasels are everywhere, and although they may disguise themselves, their behavior always gives them away. Gary Larson fans, pay attention!

Today is a busy time for most career people, myself no exception. But Bane's Weasels held me riveted as I picked out not only the annoying habits of those around me depicted on its pages--I ran into myself! I challenge anybody to read this book and not laugh out loud. A true joy to read, The Bloodthirsty Weasels is thought-provoking humor at its finest.

I wanted to read a copy of the Ramayana for a long time now, even though I was already told and was familiar with many of the stories from my parents. I am a Hindu, and was looking forward to read this.

However, I had to stop on page 16 or so. It provided descriptions of Rama being born with forty teeth, green skin, hair and eyes. It also told Bharata of being born with red skin, hair and eyes. Nowhere in the world except for this book will you find descriptions like these. If you want the true essence and factually certainty of the Ramayana, pick up another translation.

This is an incredibly poetic and beautifully told story.

It is easy to forget the story is ancient because its themes are so human - love, loyalty, greed and jealousy - and insightful.

Also, an understanding of Indian culture or religion, even limited, is not necessary to enjoy it because it is wonderfully imaginative.

My favorite character is Ravana, the best bad guy I've come across yet - a devilishly handsome ten-headed demon who strokes his black moustaches.

I like to think fiction itself sprang from stories like these.

Although the book is sufficiently detailed it is very easy to read. Humorous at times and marvelously poetic it is expertly adapted for a Western reader. The old epic of Rama's life explores one's imagination with vivid pictures af far as the reader is ready to go.

On reading this book I was disappointed. The author has changed and omitted some fundamental parts of the Ramayana. For example, in the original text when Rama saves Sita from Ravana, Rama initially rejects her because he questions her fidelity, although this was all part of a divine scheme to ultimately show her greatness - but these important events are recounted rather differently in this book. Buck has not really understood Rama, in my opinion, and he certainly does not show him to be an incarnation of the Supreme Godhead, one of the main aims of the original text. He thus fails to convey the book's spiritual import and message. He also omits many other details which tends to make the narrative hard to follow. He seems to have gone more for poetic effect than clarity in many places. The language is simple and it reads more like a fairy tale than a great epic. Good for beginners, otherwise only average. Find another edition if you want the complete story presented in the mood of the original.

I was enthralled with this story years ago and continue to be. This condensed translation I think is excellent because it allows those who don't want to read an exhaustively long original version to experience this masterpiece of mythology. As an influencial piece in Hindu culture, understanding this writing is crucial for understanding human nature.
But I am appalled by the writer from October 2003 who ignorantly trashes the Ramayana and in doing so the whole Hindu culture. Sure there are parts of the Hindu culture that are hard to understand--but must I point out the Christianity is not the easiest to understand? A culture that promotes peace and loving thy brother only if they are Christian--if not kill them--is not one I find any easier to understand than culture that promotes turning away from a raped woman.
Oh, and let's not forget the Crusades. Christianity is chock-full of war, rape, and killing--it is called the Old Testament.
Importantly, if some readers are constantly turning their mind to their own lives while reading a delicious piece of historical art such as the Ramayana, maybe they should open their minds, realize that these were tales told to teach and build morals (like don't rape women or bad things will happen), and try to learn from other cultures--not to criticize everything your close mind cannot comprehend.
So, pick up a copy of this classic for a cultural experience that you'll be thinking about long after you have finished it.

My read was well timed. I was reading the manuscript for review during the 2008 election cycle and waited to published this review until I was able to see if the concepts in chapter three were valid. A favorite line in the book, "But when it comes right down to it, voters are far less concerned with eating than they are being eaten, and that makes them much more attentive to danger than the dinner bell." Needless to say, Tasler's "THE IMPULSE FACTOR" was right on.

Although politics isn't the core of this great book, it does help you understand all the political ads we distain! As I read through the book, I found more and more examples with well written explanations why people tend to do what they do. We all have some risk taking in us, some more than others. What's interesting is the WHY some do what they do and others don't. You'll see yourself in many examples and those examples will clearly help you understand yourself and others.

This book is not only an enjoyable read for any reader interested in behavior, but for those that want to better understand people in general. It will help you identify the `instincts' you have about someone into understandable theory. Although packed with great information and sourced examples, the book is not a complicated read.

THE IMPULSE FACTOR joins the great company of the works of Dr. Robert Cialdini, Dr. William Bridges and Dr. Victor Vroom and Dr. Daniel Goldman.I yellow pened this book so much I bought a second copy and the audio CD for myself and another copy for my family to read. The Impulse Factor is that good a book. A top five book for 2008.

The Impulse Factor is a research based book from Nick Tasler of TalentSmart. At its core, it offers a quantifiable measure of decision making tendencies based on one's personal tendencies toward impulsiveness. It is a very logically structured book. It starts out with five chapters that provide the motivation based on research and observation of both man and animal throughout history. The final four chapters deal with the "Impulse Factor" test and how it applies to everyday life. Each chapter begins with a real world example that sets the stage for the particular topic, and the remainder of the chapter provides the technical details in light of the example. In addition, each copy of the book comes with a unique code on the inside cover of the dust jacket that gives access to take the online version of the Impulse Factor assessment. Afterward, you have unlimited access to your results as well as tools to help you improve your own decision making based on your results.

I liked the book overall. Tasler has a good writing style, and I never felt that the book bogged down even when he was dealing with genetics or psychology. As a result, I found that it was a fairly quick read in spite of the fact that it is fairly technical in these areas. One area for readers to be cognizant of is that Tasler bases a lot of his ideas on the theory of evolution. The data and current observation and research that he presents stand on their own, but you may find that you draw conclusions about their origins differently based on your own worldview. However, I found that the insights and online tools were worth the effort, and most people will find The Impulse Factor useful regardless of their worldview. Given the importance of decision making in the business world, people in leadership positions stand to gain the most from reading this book. That's not to say that other decisions are less important, but they do tend to be less frequent.

Nick Tasler says the world divides into two kinds of people: the risk managers and the potential seekers. Risk managers avoid getting hurt and prefer sure but small gains to big gambles. Potential seekers make the big gambles that can change the world, but that can also leave you landing flat on your face. Which is better? Neither. Without the potential seekers, we'd never risk trying anything new - perhaps the most dangerous course in an ever-changing world. On the other hand, the world - and especially the potential seekers - often need someone at hand to ask, "Is this really a good idea?"

It's nice to know there are potential seekers and risk managers, but the more important question is what to do about it. The first thing, Tasler says, is to find out which one you are. Then you need to figure out how to emphasize the strengths that come with your approach. One thing you don't want to do is to try to become the other personality type - the only sure thing this will bring you is ulcers. Better for a risk taker/potential seeker to learn to identify smart gambles and a risk manager to learn the risks of indecision.

Whether you're a risk taker or a risk manager, this book has some great strategies for seeing how with a new perspective on the world and your approach to it you can make better decisions and feel better about them, both in the short term and in the long term.

Warning - it's very easy to start to read for a few minutes and then discover that you've read through your lunch. I particularly liked the real world and historical anecdotes used to illustrate the different ideas - such as the story of Henry Dunant or why tulips once hurt the Dutch economy. I would recommend this as a good week-end read or maybe one to take and read while traveling.

The world, says author Nick Tasler, is divided into two types of people: the potential seekers and the risk managers. The former comprise about 25% of the population and these types tend to be more impulsive and take greater risks in order to achieve a perceived higher reward, than do the majority group, the risk managers, who favor safety and certainty over risk and reward. There's evidence that much of this is genetic; that certain people simply have a natural tendency towards being more impulsive due to their genetic structure.

Being a potential seeker can be a good or bad thing, depending on how one utilizes this disposition. Be too careless and you wind up eliminating yourself from the population. But channel it the right way and you may wind up developing that innovation that takes humanity forward.

The author has an online test to measure your degree of impulsiveness and how much of a potential seeker you are. I took it and discovered I am one of the 25% who is more of an impulsive potential seeker. I found myself nodding my head at the description in the book of this type of person. I also read the risk manager description and while I saw a part of me in this as well, I agreed with the test in that overall I am more of an impulsive type.

The author states various ways in which those who fall under one or the other category can make the most of that tendency, to maximize their productivity. I found this useful although I felt the author did get long winded at times. I found the research he cited to be fascinating.

I would recommend this book to anyone whose attention is captured by the title. If the title makes you interested in what the book is about, I'd say you would most likely benefit from reading it. If it doesn't, then perhaps it is too risky for you to read.

This book could be a textbook for a master's degree in whitetail hunting. If it were, its course description would read something like this: "How to use topographic maps, aerial photos and plat books to develop a terrain strategy, giving consideration to wind and approach avenues, to find and predict when to use high-percentage stands for harvesting mature whitetail deer in forest and farmland." Since a master's degree in hunting mature whitetails isn't available, you can do no better than immerse yourself in this book.

According to the author, hunting mature bucks is all about terrain strategy and wind. If you don't handle these two things correctly, your success may be dependent on nothing more reliable than luck. He gives plenty of information, including case studies, to demonstrate how these two things interact and how you can use them to your advantage.

For about the price of a box of shells, Mapping Trophy Whitetails might be your best resource for positioning yourself within bow or gun range of a mature buck. Whether you're a trophy hunter or not, deer hunting is now more challenging than ever and the lessons here will aid your success.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ ON HOW TO AND WHERE TO HUNT BUCKS.
IF YOU CAN'T LEARN FROM THIS BOOK THAN YOUR EGO HAS GOTTEN IN THE WAY, BECAUSE I DON'T CARE IF YOUR A NOVICE OR SEASONED HUNTER YOU CAN DIFFENTLY PICK UP TACTICS ON WHERE TO HUNT IN THE WOODS BY READING THIS BOOK. A MUST HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTION

As a recently new hunter I found this book to contain quite a variety of useful information on using maps as they relate to whitetails. I wish there weren't so many full page pictures or stores about the author's hunts but all in all I am satisfied with my purchase.

We run a hunting education program in Arizona called the Arizona Hunting Club. We recently built an online Arizona hunting workbook that teaches new hunters how to hunt. In compiling this workbook, we researched a lot of hunting books. Most of them give a lot of personal hunting tales on the way an individual hunts. This book way was completely different. It tells you exactly how to pin point where animals will be eating, drinking and sleeping. If you want to learn how to hunt animals and predict where to find them in the woods, this is by far the BEST HUNTING BOOK you will every buy. And while it is written about deer hunting, the same exact principles work great for hunting elk in our home state, Arizona. NO we dont work for them, but we did include a ton of their material in our hunting workshops. You should definitely include this book if you want to learn how to become a successful hunter.

I've hunted since the 60's. I got serious about Whitetails around 92'.

I talk to a lot of hunters and read a lot of books and watch videos and spend as much time as possible in the woods. Mr. Herndon's book has started to make everything gel in my mind.

As I read and think about this book I keep going over successful hunts I've had. Now, I am able to determine why they were successful and focus on more success in the future by using the stratagies discussed in this book.

There is no replacement for time in the woods and experience. But this book will definitely introduce structure and logic, to where and how to hunt instead of just instinct.

What I love about deer hunting is there is always something new to learn. And, of course, the adrenaline rush. Deer and especially Trophy bucks just aren't always predictable,too many variables, but this book will help organize all of your whitetail wisdom.

I read a copy of this book from a library a while back and then was happy to find a new edition had come out. The Benoits are the best true deer hunters on the planet and Bryce Towsley is, far and away, one of the best writers in the business. I hunt in Wisconsin and Michigan and find this info very helpful.

If you're a deer hunter, buy this book!

This is a great book . I have all the Benoit books and dvds. I think this is the best of the Benoit books. There is so much info in these books it's not right out front , it's between the lines but be assured its there. Tracking is regional but the Whitetail info is not. I have learned more about mature Whitetails from the Benoit books and dvds than any other source. Larry's the man no doubt but Lanny Benoit may be the best pure deer hunter alive. Theres a little horn tooting in the book but as someone once said " If you can do it it ain't braggin ". I have Hal Bloods book too it is also very very good. If you buy just one book on tracking buy this one or Hals.

The book does a good job outlining the tracking methods that the Benoits use to consistently harvest large bucks. There are also several interesting stories of deer hunting adventures within the book.

These tracking methods are regional in nature and not very useful in the midwest where I primarily hunt. For anyone who hunts from a stand, this book will be a dissapointment.

I read the book from my local library rather than purchasing it and I am glad that I did.

Overall, it is a good read but not worth the money unless you hunt in the northeast like the Benoits.

This is one of the best and most unique whitetail hunting books I've read. The classic and now out-of-print "How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life," did a great job of describing the Benoit tracking method. This newest book is even better.

"Big Bucks the Benoit Way" is an excellent presentation of how the Benoits hunt. The Benoits are almost exclusively trackers, and they base their techniques on what their vast experience has proven to work best: not on the theories of others. This independent thinking makes this a very refreshing book, and their dozens of 200-pound plus bucks prove that they know what they are doing.

This book is loaded with great photos of big bucks and the Benoits in their trademark green and black wool jackets. There's plenty of shots of sagging meat poles, the deep woods on snowy days, and the tracks and rubs of big bucks.

Most valuable though, is the great information on how the Benoits find, identify, and then follow the track of a heavy buck until they successfully bag him. While few of us will ever be so spectacularly successful using these methods, all of us can learn from this book. I've successfully used these same Benoit methods to track down and bag trophy bucks from Montana to Wisconsin.

Hunters who enjoy this book share a kinship in understanding the magic of the deep woods and a fresh tracking snow and the smoking hot track of a big buck. If you are that type of hunter, you will like this book.

Bruce L. Nelson, author of "Hunting Big Whitetails."

If you track or stalk deer then you can learn a lot from this book. The Benoit's are quite remarkable with their year over year successes. However, if you are a stand hunter or hunt in private land areas that don't allow tresspassers then this book is basically worthless other than the nice pictures in it.