Burns Books

The hero is a con man, but the author certainly isn't. He provides an excellent story here while at the same time providing a Christian witness in a realistic fashion. The courtroom scene in which the con man tries to plead guilty to impersonating a minister is a real hoot. This was a real western where you could smell the powder of Colt 45 and see dust from the wheels of the stagecoach. It also was evidence that even in the wild west, there was a law superior to even the gun.

In this inspirational western, Burns introduces us to Amos Taylor, an outlaw whose only concern is taking care of himself.

Amos comes up with a great idea: he's going to pretend to be a preacher to throw suspicion off of him. And it works! Now his only problem is that people expect him to preach on Sunday.

With help from Joseph, a blind man who happens to be a devout Christian, Amos successfully preaches his first sermon. He quickly figures out that the contribution plate passes every Sunday. He doesn't even have to believe what he's preaching, and the people just eat it up. He also begins courting Miss Judy Valentine, a sweet young lady who wouldn't have given an outlaw the time of day.

To come up with some extra money, Amos pulls a "dodge" on the Prescott brothers in a nearby town. Outraged, they go on the hunt for Amos.

Meanwhile, instead of using the sermon that Joseph helped him prepare, Amos decides to preach what he wants to preach. Quickly, the townspeople figure out that they have been duped, and put Amos in jail.

Joseph intercedes on Amos' behalf to the county judge, and Amos gets community service--preaching--instead of jail time. But will the townspeople trust him after what he's done? Will the Prescotts catch up with Amos? Will he finally believe what he has been preaching all this time?

Burns has masterfully painted an accurate picture of the old West. Dialogue, characteristics, setting, all are weaved together to create a wonderful western read. The novel does include a lot of Scripture and a strong inspirational message, which is expected, as the main character of the book is a preacher. Burns handles the message carefully, without coloring it with his own views. Burns also shows Amos' struggle with his past versus what he is learning in a realistic way that many readers will relate to.

Armchair Interviews says: Terry Burns is a very prolific writer in this Western genre. If you like westerns and inspirationals, this is a must-read.

Terry Burns has crafted a deceptively simple, often humorous story that reveals layers of profound truth as you turn the pages. And turn those pages, you will! Whether you like Westerns or not, you'll be captivated by this story of a thief's redemption. Burns brings his characters to life with a deft and easy touch, and before you know it, you not only care deeply about their fates, but you're actually rooting for the "bad" guy to see the light and laughing out loud as his well-laid plans lead him to a reward considerably more valuable than what he had in mind. Read this story for entertainment, but don't be surprised if you find yourself moved in ways you didn't expect.

"Mysterious Ways" is the story of Amos Taylor, accomplished conman and thief. Fresh from the successful hold-up of a stagecoach and looking for a way to lay low for a while, Amos spots a minister's outfit drying on a clothesline. Thinking he has stumbled onto the perfect disguise, Amos dons the clothes and wanders into the town of Sweetwater. As expected, he is mistaken for a circuit-riding preacher and is soon roped into conducting church services for the local congregation.

When his secret is discovered by a blind man working in the jail, Amos expects to be turned in. Instead, the blind man, Joseph, understands that, while Amos is operating under false pretenses, he is bringing good to pass. So, under threat of exposure, Joseph forces Amos to continue the pretense. As the two continue, Joe's faith begins to influence Amos. But the will the lawbreaker allow himself to be won?

"Mysterious Ways" is a well-written, entertaining story played out against the background of the Old West. Highly recommended.

Craig Hart - CraigHart.net/ChristianLit Magazine

Terry Burns has a way with characterization, and his inspirational western "Mysterious Ways" kept me turning the pages until the end. Not an easy feat, because I usually shy away from westerns. But this story, with clean language, a quick paced-plot and Scriptural content, compelled me to keep on reading. I will be watching for Terry's next book!

richie was a friend first and later my brother-in-law. you need to read this book to understand what the brave pathfinders endured. i was very lucky to have personally know him before and after the war. writing this book was both theraputic and heart wrecthing for him but, he knew he had to write it. the big c took his life much too early. rest in peace brother.

This is one of my favorite audio books. The narrator does a fantastic job.

Great book. Absolutely loved it. Very sad he's gone and won't be able to follow up on the next tour he did.

I was in Vietnam with the 9th Inf Div Pathfinder Det (13 Pathfinders for the entire division) and the 1st Bde 101st. I knew about half of the people that were with Rich Burns at the time, but don't remember meeting him. I can vouch for his accuracy of a lot of what happened during that period of the war.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about what we did. There is a US Army Pathfinder Association that is trying hard to gather more information from those of us that did this job. It's located at www.USPathfinders.org. For those interested, There is a history section that might be helpful.

i cant say anymore but its a must read dam good book

It took me longer than usual to read this book. Not that it wasn't good, because it was; I just didn't want to continuously read and cry at the same time! I'm usually sensitive to matters like this but the fact that this story is realistic made finishing the book at my two day record time...difficult. I was so pleased to read Alvaro and Shawn were able to heal and live their lives. I commend the writer for going through the depths of the healing process with these young men and bringing that experience to the readers. Excellent book! I recommend this to others but make sure you have tissue handy!

Purchased this book for my husband who was burned 42 years ago. He really enjoyed the book and re-living thru this book everything that he had gone thru--only technology was not as good then. He read the book in 2 days he was that interested in it. Recommend it to everyone to see just how terrifying being burned really is.

What a wonderfull story and an awesome read. I could hardly do anything for 2 days, because I was reading this book. It just made you want to get up and go hug someone close to you. I would have loved to have known more about the individuals now and after the accident. What are they doing now and are they still close and in touch. It was just a great book and it put a warm feeling in your heart.

The book "After the fire" is one of the most heartfelt, moving stories that I have ever read. It is the story of the fire at Seton Hall University's (in New Jersey) freshman dormitory that left 58 people injured and 3 people dead. Among the 58 people injured were roomates Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos. The book concentrates on them and their comeback from being severly injured. Both were severely burned, and required extensive stays in the hospital (Alvaro also went to a rehabilitation center)before they were able to return to society. Their casual friendship turns into a deep bond as they encounter their setbacks in re-entering the world together.
This book moved me to tears several times as it described what Alvaro and Shawn had to go through to get to where they are today. There is a special place in heaven for the victims of burns, as well as for the Doctors and nurses who choose to treat burn victims. "After the fire" introduces you to many memorable characters in the hospitals who are truly unsung heros. It also discusses the story of the detectives who finally bring the arsonists to justice in their trial in 2007.
This book has been my favorite read of 2008 so far. You will not be able to put it down. I hope the author, Robin Gaby Fisher, writes more books. Her first one has been unforgettable.

This is an absorbing non-fiction book, a book I couldn't put down. The author does an awesome job describing the characters, their struggles, and their feelings. When I finished the book I felt like I knew the two young men so caringly described in 'After the Fire'. I don't regret a minute spent reading this well-told story.

Wonderfull stories actually written by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. The woman was a tireless worker with a special kindness to her fellow man. You can picture in your mind just what she lived. Her descriptions are as good as they can be. Her kindness will melt your heart. She makes me wish I had lived in the area at the same time. It's such a world of difference from todays progression. I'm not so sure we have progressed to a better life. Even though it was a hard life and a short one I think it may have been a slice of heaven back in old Wyoming. She will tug at your heart at times and make you smile at others.
A great easy enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
Steve from Boulder Creek, Ca.

The audio version of this book is so well read -- it is well worth the cost. You cannot help feeling cheerful and energized about your own life, as you hear it. I gave the paperback version to a couple of discouraged women friends who prefer to read rather than listen to books. Both women loved it, and were inspired to face their own hardships more buoyantly. The very gifted author has blessed us with a wonderful history and narrative!

Genuine substance and sincerity describe Stewart's letters from the early twentieth century while homesteading in this remote corner of Wyoming. Whereas most women would not even consider putting down roots in such an isolated area, Mrs. Stewart was determined to make a life for herself in this territory. And she did just that. It took a special kind of person to live in this far-removed landscape.

Her writing, subject matter and approach to life were most admirable. Hard working and always enthusiastic for adventure, she writes of various encounters with surrounding neighbors and experiences into the countryside. If she had any dull moments on the ranch they must have been few and far between.

Very optimistic about life, Mrs. Stewart affirms, "...all my own efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to take things as they come."
To further quote, "It has always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't think without bias."

A wonderful read furthering an appreciation for life in the homesteading era.

Dear fellow Book-lovers:
I found this little gem at the local library today and I can't put it down. It is so good--easy to read (perfect for a busy Mom of 5 like me), inspiring, wholesome, funny, and informative. I am fascinated with this woman: her love for people, her giving heart, and her passion for fun and for life. I'm only on page 81 (out of 282) but I can already sit here and tell you to buy this book and enjoy it! I'm buying myself a copy and also one for my best friend. Christmas is coming!

I listened to the audio version of this book and after the first part, I went online to check to see if this was actually taken from real letters or just a modern novel. It was so interesting and so well-written that I couldn't believe it wasn't the creation of a novelist. But no, they are the authentic letters of an incredible woman. Ironically, she apologizes in her letters, for writing too much. If only she could have known that a century later, people around the world would be wishing she wrote even more.

If you choose the audio book, try to get the Sound Room Publishers version, narracted by Kate Fleming. It is far superior than Blackstone Audio's version read by Rebecca Burns (who does a good job, but whose voice is too much like a young girl's to express the wisdom and experience that Fleming projects).

Striking It Rich is my bed-sided book. I used to live in Phnom Penh for a few years and understand the people as well as their culture. A society in which the power is Gun and Money. I really admire Doctor Sheftall because he dared to risk his life by playing golf with those military generals. The author is a super intelligent, talent and funny person. Through the very incredible, amazing golf stories and other ones in his life in Southeast Asia, Doctor Sheftall shared his life experiences in a very funny way but he really means it: My eyes darted between my beautiful angel, her husband, the AK-47, her nipple pressing against the front of her pajamas, the door, her husband, the AK-47, her nipples, the door... Then a strange calm came over me......

I couldn't help laughing with the way he wrote the stories. You will enjoy it. I would recommend to anyone to this book and of course to the golf players.

Rein Forest

Reid Sheftall, an American doctor who specializes in burn and reconstructive surgery lives and practices medicine in Cambodia, a country in which feuds are sometimes settled by splashing acid on one's enemy.

At 46, Dr. Sheftall wondered if he, a practicing surgeon, could return to the game of golf and play respectably on the professional tour, while keeping his day job. He had been a promising junior some 28 years ago when he quit playing golf to pursue other sports. It wouldn't be easy to qualify for the Malaysian Pro Golf Tour, but the temptation lingered. While running a medical center in Phnom Penh and treating children of unfortunate acid attacks, he practiced his swing by hitting balls at ships cruising by on the Mekong River.

How he became part of that pro tour is revealed in his recent memoir, Striking it Rich: Golf in the Kingdom with Generals, Patients and Pros. Sheftall utilizes his golfing adventure as the framework to chronicle his work as a surgeon, as well as the joys and pitfalls of being a 46-year-old bachelor living in Cambodia.

For instance, when he played in his second pro tournament, the Chevrolet Open, Dr. Sheftall was concerned about his travel expenses to and in Pattaya, Thailand, where the tournament was being played. An expensive hotel in a Thai beach resort could be a budget-buster for the third world surgeon. So, he found an inexpensive hotel - a real bargain at only $[...] per night - even if it was located down a dark alley. It did not occur to Sheftall that this was a house of ill repute until the all- female "bell-hop" staff appeared dressed in string bikinis. All night, he heard banging on doors and giggling girls running in the corridors. Due to the commotion and lack of sleep, he nearly missed his tee time the next day.

Striking it Rich includes numerous entertaining experiences and tips that are appropriate for golfers and non-golfers. What appears to be a story about a middle-aged fellow and his quest to become a professional golfer after years away from the game, morphs into a collection of stories of unexpected humor and heart-touching encounters. The reader is treated to a peek into the life of a struggling golfer on the pro circuit who is also a doctor that continues to treat patients. Dr. Sheftall must also learn dating etiquette in a foreign country. This is one of those rare books this reader hated to finish, knowing the story continues as the doctor continues to golf his way across Southeast Asia.

I recommend this inspirational book to anyone looking for more than mere entertainment in their leisure reading. Striking It Rich opened up new areas of interest for me, including a fascination for life in a part of the world I knew little about prior to reading this book. Dr. Sheftall's story inspired me to face new challenges in middle age and to provide assistance and awareness for the unfortunate victims of acid attacks in Cambodia.

Half the profits of the $19.95 book go to Operation Kids, a charity founded by Dr. Sheftall in 2001, to provide free surgery for burned and disfigured children of the developing world who otherwise can not afford treatment.



A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Reid Sheftall graduated with a physics degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When he was only 21, he became a member of the University of Southern California faculty. Later, after a brief stint as a card counter in Nevada, he went to medical school. He completed his surgery residency and a fellowship in pediatric burn reconstruction. Dr. Sheftall currently lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he serves Director of the American Medical Center, Phnom Penh.

Dr. Sheftall is also the author of The Tour Player's Handbook: Strategic Decisions Under Pressure in Tournament Golf. Readers may email him with questions or comments at [...].

This is a fantastic book which combines a unique golf odyssey with some fascinating cultural insights on southeast asian culture. For a full review, please see my article on thesandtrap.com, at [..]If you aren't intrigued enough by the story line to buy the book, remember that half of all proceeds from sales go to fund Dr. Sheftall's charitable efforts in Cambodia. Happy reading!

What an incredible book. While there are a lot of Golf stories in this book it really is about so much more and can be applied to any sport or business venture. I couldn't put it down.I learned a lot about the importance of the mental aspect of the game/sports and how you must play it one shot at a time and forget the bad ones as well as the good ( something I had never thought of). I laughed out loud and was amazed at the incredibly awkward situations the author was capable of getting himself into ( over and over and I laughed harder each time). He must be brilliant, scoring 800 on the SAT Math, Physics degree from MIT, Med School and Re-constructive Surgical training and then decides at age 46 that he wants to become a PGA
golfer ....all while doing recontructive surgery on children in Cambodia.
I am making my kids read this book ....there is so much to learn here.
You owe it to yourself to read this one...you won't regret it.

I first noticed this book while looking for something new to read about Cambodia which is the birthplace of my adopted daughter. Being the father of an avid junior golfer myself, I figured this book would be a great change of pace from the usual geopolitical issues which plague this poor nation. The fact that the photographer who took the cover photo was a college friend of my wife's and that Dr. Sheftall practices both golf and medicine at the hotel where my only Cambodian friend is employed as a bellman made the book irresistable. I was not dissappointed.

This book is about golf and much more. It is about a man who has made the most of his talents both on and off the course. It is about taking a healthy attitude toward golf and life, about being part of something bigger than yourself and recognizing both the obligation and reward of giving back to others. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sheftall shows that it is possible to have a heck of a good time along the way and this is how you'll feel as you read this book. Sure, both life and golf can be really bad at times, but if you, like this truly gifted man, really want to be a player in both, you can have a grand time.

So pick up this book and have a better time than you probably will out on the golf course. The author is one of the good guys in the world and I hope he takes the time to write a sequel. With or without golf, this is one fascinating life.

An excellent book! It is so rare to find a book on a controversy in history and not have it be biased towards the conclusion the author wants you to believe. The people behind this book spend as much time trying to debunk their own evidence as they do the evidence of others! What a breath of fresh air.
The authors belong to an organizarion (TIGHAR) which research topics related to antique aircraft (and their pilots.) Their biggest project for years has been the Earhart project. Members from around the globe have spent years examining archives and conducting archaeological surveys trying to find out what really happened. This book presents their evidence and was more engaging to me than any fictional mystery book.

Those persistent TIGHARs are back with more suggestive but inconclusive research about what happened to Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 -- somewhere.
Every so often, somebody shows up in Hawaii with a kooky theory about Earhart, ranging from shot by the Japanese as a spy to still alive and keeping house in New Jersey.
The International Group for Historical Aircraft Recovery is far from kooky.
For one thing, they appear to have managed the trick of being zealous without becoming zealots. As lead author Thomas King puts it, "Most people have more pressing things to do" than hunt for a lost airplane that, given the odds, would more likely than not be under three miles of water.
The TIGHARs work, for free, in their spare time, on the assumption that, despite the geographical odds, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan didn't just run out of gas and sink under the ocean. They think Earhart missed her target but may have crash landed on an intermittently inhabited (but in 1937 empty) island named Nikumaroro, where Earhart and Noonan might have either survived for a while or been eaten by crabs.
It's "a mystery that can't be put down," King says.
But hard to pin down.
Since the publication of "Amelia Earhart's Shoes" in 2001, the TIGHARs have run down more physical evidence, including things that look a lot like panels from a Lockheed Electra, but nothing definitive yet. The revised, 2005 edition is preferred over the first edition.
The story of the hunt also reveals a great deal of fascinating information about the South Pacific, which is big, mostly empty and weird.

Who says historical research and science have to be boring? In Amelia Earhart's Shoes, Dr. Tom King and others take us on a winding (sometimes loopy, even!) journey that tries to answer the question: What happened to famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart and renowned navigator Fred Noonan in 1937 after they vanished during her around-the-world flight attempt?

Amelia Earhart's Shoes does not pretend to solve the mystery - it does show that by applying the scientific method to a popular event, you can strip away all the myths and fables and assumptions and come up with relatively simple explanations that can be tested to see if they are true or false. That the scientific method may upset a few of those legendary apple carts along the way is proof that it works - something is either true or not true, provable or not provable. In Earhart's case, the truth may turn out to be much more mundane than some of the more colorful "solutions" to her disappearance would have us believe.

There is a lot of information in Shoes, but it is presented in an easy to read, almost chatty style (think ghost stories around the campfire while making s'mores) that keeps you turning the pages to see what the heck is going to happen next. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) has now been to the South Pacific eight times to try and prove or disprove their hypothesis that Earhart and Noonan missed their destination, tiny Howland Island, and landed on another deserted island, only to die (or perhaps be completely missed) before the frantic searchers could get to them.

Amelia Earhart's Shoes is a great read that should be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in what really did happen out there in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean almost 70 years ago.

I saw one of the people involved in this project speak at EAA's big national air show in Oshkosh, WI last summer. It was the most popular lecture session I attended while I was there. Interested, I picked up this book expecting a thorough but dry, academic read.

Was I ever wrong! This book is not only fascinating, it's funny! It's written with some dry humor that made me want to keep reading more. And the authors lay out a strong argument, to boot. It does make one wonder...

"Amelia Earhart's Shoes: Is the Mystery Solved?", Udated 2004 Ed., Thomas F. King, et al., AltaMira Press, NY 2001, ISBN: 0-7591-0131-0, PB 374 pgs., plus 23 pg. Notes, 9 pg. Biblio., 20 pg. Index, & 104 B & W photos, illus. or maps., 6" x 9".

This is an academic work by a contingent of skilled scientific experts whose writings & basic investigative work was coordinated, in part & on behalf of TIGHAR (Int. Group of Historical Aircraft Recovery) & updated 2004. The 27 chapters describe a forensic approach to solve the mystery of aviatrix AE's disappearance enroute 2,223 miles to Howland Isle from Lae, New Guinea, July 2, 1937.

The book's format & length makes for difficult reading: -- it is based on best available scientific evidences & hypotheses of multiple disciplines of archeology, geophysics, aeronautics, anthropology, and review of both private & governmental archival information in addition to tabulating their search findings on tiny remote South Pacific Phoenix Isle "Gardner", but renamed Nikumaroro, or "Niku". Author was a principle TIGHAR investigator taking part in expeditions to Niku, & he writes with authority, -- having "been there, done that!"

Inclusion of more than 100 photos, illustrations, maps, etc., makes the reading more easily understood & tolerable: -- for it is not a book one picks up and being enchanted 'reads from cover to cover' without pause. For readers who want an up-to-date analysis of AE's disappearance this book is best read after the reader is thoroughly familiar with AE's character, avocations, skills, life experiences's and accolades by the press, politicians & the powerful, -- for Amelia was a complex person living in exciting, changing times on the cutting edge of new technologies.

Many of the chapters begin with stanzas of word parodies to be sung to certain melodies, attributable to TIGHAR but not author King. The parodies I found to be highly irregular, unsettling & not in best taste, so downgraded book from 5* to 4*.

Outstanding book that'll nurture your heart and nourish your mind. A must read! It's an awesome book, and I highly recommend it.

Dick Biggs' book has something for all of us, from leaders in our military, to industry, and our society. Every parent should have this book because it lays out what is important in life, read relationships, and how to achieve same. We are the leaders of our children, and Dick makes very stronge leadership points. This book is divided into twenty contrasts of life, twenty short chapters loaded with idea, thoughts, and recomendations that we need to study and commit upon. The first chapter, Image and Integrity, is the perfect start. Without integrity we don't amount to much, but too many of us today are only concerned with image. In this chapter, "grit" is found in the word integrity. This book is small, 5 X 7.5 inches, and the chapters are 4 to six pages that makes for handy reading. Read a chapter with your morning coffee, while waiting for the rest of the members to arrive at a meeting, and at other times when you have ten minutes for good thoughs about where you are going. Most importantly, if you take this work seriously, you can determine who you really are and how others know you. We all need to think about Richard Biggs' words, they will help us and our society. This is a great gift for those people you love.

"Burning Brightly without Burning Out" is a breath of fresh air to those pressed by the demands of life. Besides being easy to read, the content is straightforward and potent. With so many voices calling for our attention, it's wonderful to have some basic principles by which to evaluate our commitments. Bigg's solid foundation gives his life direction and purpose. Instead of trying to do it "all" half-heartedly, Biggs has discovered the secret of doing a few priorities well. Thanks for the lessons well-learned!

They say in five years, you will become the average of the books you have read and the people you have associated with. For two-and-a-half years, I've had the privelege of associating with Dick Biggs as a professional speaker--and now I've been able to read his book. Both have become indispensible resources for me.

Dick is respected among professional speakers for being a man who walks his talk. Reading his latest book, BURN BRIGHTLY WITHOUT BURNING OUT, is almost as good as knowing the man--it will provide very practical assistance if you want to achieve great things in your professional life while building balance into your personal life.

Are you a reader? Then you'll really enjoy this book. Are you working on developing the reading habit? Then this book will get you hooked. If Amazon allowed a SIX-star review, this one would get SEVEN!

A friend chose this book and left it at my house. I ran out of books for the moment and picked it up thinking it was another one of those...
How absolutely overwhelmed I was at my age (73) to learn so much in so few pages. Much of what he has said to help guide people to a fuller, richer life, I had already learned and applied, but none of us have ever reached the point we can't learn or see something a bit differently.

My life changed drastically when health dictated this master workaholic was ordered to shut down her thriving business overnight or else...For 2 years I have been under recontruction to learn to be at peace in every situation. I can see, however, how to start over again now that my health is back and the doors are slowly opening to be useful again to myself and the Lord but this time I am going to keep this book right along with my Bible so I will put into practice the principles Richard K. Biggs has put forth. For whatever years I have left I intend to do it right and be a blessing to all I meet because of these excellent guidelines.

Disguised Blessing is a deeply emotional book that really touches your heart. It seemed as if this book was very special to the author and she lavished loving care on every word. A very special read.

This was a typical book for this author, which is a pretty good thing. Her stories aren't especially gripping but she always delivers a nice love story, this time about a male firefighter and a divorcee who previously has only married/dated wealthy men. There is also a very good teenage daughter in this book who also needs the firefighter's help and affection and a great dog.

I am never disappointed when I pick up a book by Georgia Bockoven. Her writing pulls you emotionally into the story and doesn't let go, even after you put the book down. If you're looking for great women's fiction, this is the writer for you. If you're looking for a great read, don't miss Disguised Blessing.

Ever dread finishing a book because you just know the next one you start won't come anywhere near to being as good? This was how I felt when I read the last page of Disguised Blessing. Before this, I'd read and enjoyed The Beach House, but Ms. Bockoven's latest surpasses that.

I read the book in one sitting, not wanting to have to put it aside for the night to find out how it ended. The dialogue is convincing and the characters totally sympathetic and in one spot I was in tears. Ms. Bockoven does an admriable job of showing that us while life may be horribly unfair, with love and hope the score can be evened.

I urge anyone who wants an uplifting book to read to put this one your To Buy list. As for me, I'm off to hunt up the author's backlist.

Do you know that feeling you get when you look into the eyes of the person you love like life itself? That sense that everything is complete? Do you remember what it felt like when you were first falling in love with someone? Those heartwrenching feelings? The gut-twisting panic when you thought that maybe the other person didn't feel that way?

Some of you may remember how you felt when you got a phone call that no person would ever want to get--the one telling you that a friend or a family member had died. That numbing sense that this is not real, followed closely by the beginnings of the deep pain of the loss that can take years to overcome.

If you read this book by Georgia Bockoven, or any of her other books, you will most likely remember these feelings, and so much more. The good and the bad that make up this silly little thing called the human existence. How does Ms. Bockoven capture the essence of life, the emotions of love and loss, and put them to words so well that you relive the best moments of your life--and maybe a little of some of the worst? How does she weave a spell of words that touches your soul itself?

I have no idea--but I'll tell you that she then does the deed one better. Quite frankly, I would normally prefer not to be reminded of the sad events in my life, thank you very much. But Ms. Bockoven, after gently bringing you into the lives of her characters and letting you experience all that they do, gives the reader a priceless gift.

We have the capacity, each and every one of us, to chase away those dark shadows. All it takes is love. A simple little fact, easily forgotten in the midst of life's trials. When you are done reading a Bockoven book, you'll remember.

The information and techniques presented in this book changed my life in a profound way. Not only have I become a FAR less anxious individual in general, but I have the tools to combat every type of mood swing imaginable. My self esteem is at heights I could have never imagined. Whether you panic left and right, have mild anxiety, or are simply a human being, I GUARANTEE this book is worth your time. This is the real stuff: researched based and tested over and over again.

Also, while I agree that a lot of this information is the same that has appeared in Burns' older classics "Feeling Good" and the "Feeling Good Handbook" I do find that it is presented in a more organized, easy to digest format that is focused on anxiety instead of depression. Despite containing the same underlying theories, it has expansions, re-organizations, and specifics that I feel easily make it a worthwhile addition to the Burns catalog.

I, obviously, wholeheartedly and passionately recommend this book for ANYONE.

I found the book to be very helpful. It provided useful tools and skills that one could apply to reducing anxiety. It also gave good history and information about the positives of drug free anxiety therapy. I strongly recommend.

Of all the books and therapy that I tried for my growing anxiaty attacks this was the best help: I definetely recommend this book for anybody with this kind of issues; it will give you a truly way to cure your panic drug free!

Self-help books are usually very hard to read, I can't seem to get through them. This book is a very easy read. I find myself not wanting to put it down. It has practical examples and easy to interpret instructions that are helping me get control of my thoughts. I would recommend it to anyone with anxiety or panic problems.

Very practical method to cope with panic attack. I want to incorporate this method in my current work as crisis worker.

There was far more information in this book than just weights. The author really has put a lot of effort into creating a rounded book filled with relevant information. I'm very happy with this.

I decided to purchase dumbbells instead of renewing my gym membership, so I was looking for fresh ideas for home workouts. This book has a lot of compound exercises that are great at breaking up the monotony of the usual sets. The challenge of learning new techniques brings such a breath of fresh air. I intend to buy her book of stability ball exercises as well since I've found this book so valuable.

I liked this book. Never would believe this fitness pro was ever 40 pounds overweight, she looks perfect. Nice photos of proper form. Moves I never would have considered. A good sturdy bench is also a good addition to utilize this book's moves. Gave that persoanl trainer type instruction on form that I needed.

I LOVE this book! It gives so many different workout options. I have never seen so many good ideas incorporated into one exercise book. It even gives recipe ideas for healthy eating. The illustrations are very helpful and it is very easy to interpret how to do each exercise correctly. I'm just a beginner but this is the right tool for advancing.

This book is really great. There are a ton of exercises broken down by body part that can perform in the privacy of your own home with very minimal equipment. It is clear, concise, informative and very well illustrated. I definitely recommend it.