Burton Books

I guess some of the most important things I feel I've learned from this book is: don't dwell, take pride in your work, and focus on the power of beauty. This man (as thousands and thousands of others) had to endure more mental abuse in his life so far, then a million men, but was able and lucky enough to swim to top of that putrid pond of a life he was given and see the good in it, as fleeting as that was. I was thinking of this book as a mirror and what message I saw in it, that would be "Have a Lion's Heart" .

This book enlightened me and really got to me, much more than I expected. I was delighted to read about the life of a 102-year old african american man from the south, as I am a 30-something white woman from MT. He has a lot to teach us, and a lot to remind us of and has a way of doing so that makes us thankful for what we have. George Dawson is a gem and I am pleased that someone took the time to put his story on paper. What a great book!

Even though this book was published six years ago, the message of "Life is so good" is timeless. It is a window into a world that we are all a part of, but some of us rarely see. Truly memorable! Dawson sees literacy as an incredible gift and he in turn gives the reader numerous ones in return.

Richard Glaubman's "Life Is So Good" is a real comeuppance for anyone whose outlook towards life runs along the lines of "I wish I had done X, but I'm too old to start now." Here's a man, George Dawson, who learned how to read at age 98. As a USA Today review aptly summarizes, "Dawson has become a literary hero, a testament to the power of perseverance." First-time author Glaubman expertly fleshes out Larry Bingham's award-winning 1998 Fort Worth Star-Telegram short story.

Dawson's tales of life in the Jim Crow-era South, his unquenchable work ethic, and his travels throughout North America make for compelling reading. Here is a man who was never given a shot to read when he was younger - economic circumstances forced him into full-time manual labor at a very early age. Despite significant hardship, his optimism and sense of self-worth never waver. The title really sums it up well here. Glaubman's final words from Dawson are "Life is so good and it gets better every day."

As other reviewers have noted, Chapter 1 of this book could stand alone as among the best short stories you'll ever read.

I like the memoir because George Dawson never gave up his dream to read and write. George was born in the late 1800's. His parents were not slaves, but his grandparents were once slaves. George was raised in Texas. His family was poor, and he never attended school. Georges started working at a very young age, drawing water from the well each morning for the house. George worked alongside his father in the fields. The work was hard, so was their life. They had to watch what they said and went in fear of the K.K.K. Twelve year old George went to work, and stayed with a white family to help out at home. His cousins came to live with his family because their parents died, so George was needed at home. George left home at twenty-one and worked in Tennessee building levees. It was two years before he returned back home.

Life is So Good is a story about George Dawson's dreams of receiving mail, learning to read and write at the age of ninety-eight, and his work ethic. I can relate to George's hard work and his work ethic. I beleive in hard work and doing it right the first time.

This book is sad and tells of struggles he had to go through. It is not easy reading at first because the chapters jumped around. But overall, it is a good book to read.

This was one of my favorites as kid. Then, sadly, I forgot about it until stumbling across it in the school library. It is once again one of my favorites. Cynics might roll their eyes at this tribute to good ol' days gone by, but I personally appreciate the nostalgia and the house with its subtle face parts is adorable. You feel so bad for the cute little house! It is also an observation at the change of time. I don't know how intense that is as a theme, but I found it touching and Burton tells the tale with such heart and care.

We live in a very old house in the country and this book was such a cute story about just that. We enjoyed it.

Another timeless classic by this author. It's an amazing story about appreciation. Completely entertaining and like the other books in this series, the artwork is phenominal!!!

This was my favorite book as a child and I am so happy to find it again!! Now I will enjoy it as I read it to my grandchildren.

It was my favorite book when I was little, now it's time for my children to get know bout little house story. I got today from Amazon with free shipping. Great story book delivered to the door. Saving time to seaching at book store with carrying 2 little childrens especially summer hot day!
Thank god Amazon... I'm looking forward to reading this book tonight ^0^/

Though I appreciate her effort to label each recipe, when appropriate, "wheat free," these wheat free recipes generally use spelt as a replacement. Though it is correct that spelt is not wheat, spelt does contain gluten, so these recipes, while more appropriate for those with a wheat intolerance, would not be appropriate for someone with Celiac disease.

I used her first cookbook quite a lot before needing to stop eating gluten because her muffin recipes, especially, were excellent. Admittedly, I haven't had much luck trying many recipes in this cookbook because of needing gluten-free recipes (not just wheat free) but I think this would be a good buy for vegans without other restrictions.

This book has a little of everything-- appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, side dishes, desserts and drinks. I love how it's organized, and I have had great success with many of the recipes.

The absolute best recipe in this book are the Chocolate Peanut Butter cookies. You need to buy this book for that recipe because they are SO GOOD!

I love dreena burton! She is so creative in the ingredients she uses and the dishes she creates. She has a lot of options with each recipe so you can keep your diet varied. I have only tried a few recipes, but the ones i have are great: several types of hummus, cashew-banana ice cream, and the maple pecan blondies.

I completely enjoy using this cookbook to discover new vegan recipes and learn new ways of looking at time tested ones. The recipes are generally very simple, easy-to-follow and very tasty.

My only wish is that she included more photos. Otherwise, it's a great cookbook for vegans and the folks who love them. I highly recommend it.

While I am not a vegan, I do dabble in vegan/vegetarian cooking. So far this cookbook has blown me away! The ingredients are focused on healthy fats and sugars and, of course, the emphasis on whole grains and organic veggies, which is really key for me. The Supercharge Me! cookies are mouth watering! They passed the "kid test" at home and with 2.5 grams of fiber per cookie, no proccessed sugar and loads of whole grain, passed the mom test also. :) Thank you Dreena for creating easy and delicious recipes!

From the preview this would definately be on my list as a must read. Action packed and filled with detail the author draws you into the story from the first paragraph. The mystry and intrigue are apparent from the start and you are left wanting to know more and how the various players will tie together.

I don't make it a habit to read mysteries and so I was surprised to be quickly drawn into "Conspiracy of Fear". I believe it is due to the intriguing and rapid establishment of the initial characters and plot. I am drawn in and eager to delve into the lives of Dr. Stone and his assistant Lamar as they move towards uncovering a mystery of complicity between industry and the CIA; an alliance that appears to be feeding an epidemic of violence. I'm hooked.

I love reading books that have a thrilling plot and a gripping hard to put down subject books that really get your interest right off the bat. This book really has it all, the way the authors descriptions in each scene truly makes you feel like you're in the room and can relate to the characters. There is nothing like a good mystery! This author has a great talent for pulling in his readers. I look forward to reading more and finding more work from E.L. Burton!!

I like to read a book that captures my interest from the begining and makes what seems to be impossible completely possible. I felt this exerpt to be one that drew me immediately into the story. I loved the descriptive nature of the characters and enjoyed the feeling of being in
the church and could almost smell the musty dank odor of an old cathedral. I also could visualize Dr. Stone's office and how he would look as well as his diener, Lamar. The author's ability to create such a
vivid image in ones imagination is excellent. This is indeed a book I would love to read. I have always felt a good book provides When?, What?, Where?, and Why? This book having captured my interest would be
one I would purchase to read and not put it down until I had finished it.

In these first few pages, the author claims control of the imagination with such descriptive detail that all readers, from the most advent to the novice, will have a difficult time waiting for the remainder of this piece of literature. It is amazing how actual events are intertwined using suspenseful, plot-driven depth that draws the reader into a true investigatory state where the line between good and evil becomes hazed. E.L. Burton has found a way to add just enough information from various scenes without becoming overly entrenched on any one side plot. In the end, all the ingredients are present for a truly captivating novel.

Mr. Burton does a bang up job of putting the reader right in the action as he chronicles his experiences with the State Dept's Diplomatic Security Service. The reader gets a front row seat at what was going on inside the Beltway and behind the scenes during some of the most critical events impacting US and international security. A low-threat, but riveting read for anyone interested in national security affairs.

I recommend this book for everybody. It is important to understand why our government does what it does to combat terrorism.

This is an extraordinary account of one of our (U.S.) first counterterrorism agents. The experiences encountered by 'the ghost' will help you put into perspective where your job fits on the stress curve. It provides some unnerving insight into the world of terrorists and those determined to thwart them.
Very exciting and well written,once you start it you won't want to put it down until you finish it!

I got on the library hold list early for the book Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent by Fred Burton. From the standpoint of a "been there, done that" memoir, it's a good read. You get a feel for how difficult it is to fight terrorism on a global basis. But the book loses a bit when it comes to style and storyline. It seems to be building up to something that never quite happens.

Contents:
Part 1 - Rookie Year: The Buried Bodies; Down the Rabbit Hole; Night Train; The Dark World's Redheaded Stepchildren; Chasing Shadows; No Space Between Black and White; The Mad Dog of the Middle East; Two Hits for El Dorado Canyon; Human Poker Chips; One More Gold Star; The Gray Hell of Wait and Hope; The Stench of Good Intentions; Shipwreck; The Beer Hall Encounter
Part 2 - The Veteran: Little Italy; Mice; Threat Matrix; The Bronze Star Assassin; PAK-1 Down; Night Flight; In Country; Pakistani Two-Step; One Hour to Nowheresville; The Buffet at the End of the World; Puzzle Pieces; The Perfect Murder; Autumn Leaves; Two-Minute Free Fall
Part 3 - War Weary: Street Dance; The Colonel's Revelations; Watching the Watchers; The World's Most-Wanted Man; Deadly Equation; Money Changes Everything; Finale In Pakistan; Lillybrook
Epilogue - Brotherhood of the Badge; Author's Note; Acknowledgments

Burton's story begins in 1986 when he was assigned to the Diplomatic Security Service's (DSS) small Counter-Terrorism Division. It was made up of a whopping three people, two of whom were brand new, and all the work was manual and fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants. Imagine everything being paper files, tons of filing cabinets, and all the growing institutional knowledge of terrorism in certain areas being all in the head of one or two people. Burton was quickly crowned the Middle East "expert" and as such became deeply involved in terrorist activities in Beirut, Iran, Iraq, India, and Pakistan, just to name a few. As major terror figures like Abu Nidal and Ramzi Yusef carried out their plans, Burton and his small (but growing) team tried to anticipate, warn, prevent, and ultimately capture (or kill) these criminals. His front-row perspective on these events makes you realize that luck and chance plays a much bigger role than you'd like to believe or admit. It really is a wonder that more events like the first World Trade Center bombing don't happen...

While I found the material interesting, I struggled with the style and pacing of his story. 90% of all the action takes place in the mid-80's with the kidnappings and air bombings. Any one of those incidents could be a full book in itself, so by necessity he can't go as deep as you might like. He's writing in as "as it happens" style, so there are times you feel as if you already know the outcome of the story since the major players may have already been caught/jailed/killed. Part 3 jumps to the mid-90's and gets a bit more personal as to what the job has cost him, but the gap doesn't necessarily bring you further along in the DSS story. And for all intents and purposes, it end in 1994. Nothing much on why he left, why he joined a private security firm, and so on. For a book written in 2008 and for a topic very much in the forefront of today's headlines, the 15 year gap from then to now just screams to be addressed somehow. Maybe it's all classified or he's forbidden from writing about later events, but how do you not even touch on 9/11 and the full impact it had on his agency or his private firm?

I would still recommend this as a good read if only to understand the battle that goes on in The Dark World. Just don't expect to come away with a full up-to-the-minute analysis of where we are today.

Excellent read. Supports opinions expressed by other non-fiction authors writing in the world of CIA, NSC, FBI, MACVSOG, Delta, etc.

This genre is especially interesting to one who has lived through the WW II to present era, in that some activities behind the scenes and headlines are brought to light.

During a visit to my parent's house about 6 weeks into my son's life, my father presented me with his 30 year old copy of this book. Clearly it had made such an impression on him while he was raising me, that he had not only kept it, but remembered it when it was my turn to raise my first child. After reading the What to Expect series, Dr. Sears, Dr. Spock, and other various finds studiously like textbooks while I was pregnant (highlighting, note-taking, comparing ideologies), I found this book refreshing, simple, honest and captivating. The "rules" are so commonsensical they may seem at first like a waste of time. But the author discusses the reasons why babies and young children do the things they do and need their basic needs in a way that makes you feel like you can really see the world through your child's eyes. It is a delightful read and many times brought tears to my eyes as the lightbulb went off above my head and I could see how simple raising a child can be. My son is 7 months now and this book has never left the side of my bed. I re-read it frequently as he develops just to re-center myself when the stresses of parenthood ever seem too weighty.

Unique as Pete: How Autism Does Not Mean Different

This is an excellent guide to raising a new baby. I love it becuase it's all based on sound research and the advice in this book has been right on with our daughter. This is a MUST have if you are raising a new baby.

When I was pregnant with my daughter - there was a lot of worry since this was my first child. Obviously, children do not come with a manual! I bought and read this book and used it constantly as a referral. Our daughter is happy, polite, shares, intelligent, kind, etc. She is constantly invited to parties and restaraunts that other childdren are not invited to. After meals at restaraunts, the managers/owners come and comment on what a well-behaved child she is. She does have many friends and can get along with varied personalities. We purchase this book for all new parents - and they read it stating they would like a child that is as polite and respectful (of others and their properties) as our daughter is. You really cannot go wrong in purchasing this book!!

From describing each developmental phase to suggesting toys, this book provides invaluable information that can help parents navigate the early years. Great shower gift for first time parents!

This is a great book for anyone interested in developmentally appropriate activities, toys, etc. for their growing baby/child. It gives excellent descriptions of what is going on in baby's development to help understand how to handle challenges and opportunities in rearing a self-confident, intelligent, happy child. Much of the activities are simple things you can do with little or no money, which is great. The national foundation based on this book is fantastic and I tell everyone about it: [...]

a must-have!

This story is a great allegory for young and old. I read this to my son when he was young and he has always remembered the story of a young boy becoming a hero through a series of events in his life. It has wonderful character building lessons and will leave an imprint on your heart.
I bought this for our son for a Christmas gift (he is now 25 years old). He was ecstatic when he opened his gift. He is now reading it with his fiance. Her mother read it and has bought 3 more copies to give as gifts. I highly recommend this for all ages.

My son andI read this book together. The lessons in it are incredible. The story is interesting and the opens the doors for great disscusion about life issues.

I was introduced to this book as a kid at a summer camp in PA and later as a college student at a weekend conference I was re-introduced to it. It is a fabulous collection of stories for children and adults alike that mirror biblical principles. Later when I returned to PA as a camp counsleor I read it aloud to my teenage girls and they loved it! They would ask each night if I would read to them. You won't be disapointted in this book, or the other two that make up the series!

David & Karen Mains' Kingdom Tales consist of three volumes: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. First published in hardcover in 1983, 1986 & 1996 with delightful illustrations by Jack Stockman, these three books have been reissued in softcover in 2000, but now with a limited number of black-and-white illustrations by Linda Wells which don't do much to enhance the text. Each volume consists of twelve fantasy short stories, set in a city ruled by an evil Enchanter who has usurped the throne from the true King. The stories are all separate events often involving different characters, but are bound together as part of a larger story as the Enchanted City is rescued by the exiled King and becomes the Bright City, leading to a joyous conclusion as the people of Great Park and Bright City begin the Great Celebration at the conclusion of the Restoration. The main returning character is Scarboy, an orphan boy who escapes from the Enchanted City with his brother, Little Child, and becomes Hero in the service of the King.

Although the stories have distinctive allegorical qualities, they are more like religious fables or fairy tales, drawing on the imagery of the kingdom that Jesus Christ Himself taught in His ministry. Under the influence of the evil Enchanter, the people of the Enchanted City prefer darkness to the light, and so sleep during the day and work at night. But the King is at work delivering the city and rescuing the poor and needy and bringing them to the Great Park. Even though the Enchanter's men proclaim "There is no such thing as a King", the King's men know "that "Things are not what they seem." They realize that even though the Enchanter had said "Seeing is believing", reality is different: "You have to believe in order to see." Christians will understand that these are important spiritual truths about faith and serving the King Jesus Christ.

Each volume has some stories that were especially memorable. Volume 1 describes how Sarboy escapes the Enchanted City, where orphaned and handicapped children are enslaved. In the Great Park he discovers the wonderful truth about God's kingdom. One of my favorites in this volume was "The Baker who Loved Bread", which describes the King's Baker who bakes the King's Bread, but withholds this bread from poor and needy people, thinking he is doing a service to the king by doing so. When he beats a person whom he believes to be a thief about to steal his bread, he discovers that he has actually harmed the King himself, and learns an important lesson: "Love for the King is measured by one's love for his people. So the Baker fed the hungry and fed them well - lest the One he loved the most should starve." This concept is very clearly based on Christ's teaching in Matthew 25.

How successful these stories are on their own apart from the underlying spiritual truths is hard to tell. The moral of the stories is generally quite transparent, although in the case of a few tales it is rather obscure. But on the whole the message about serving and honouring the King Jesus Christ comes through loud and clear. I found the stories thoroughly enjoyable particularly because of this deeper meaning. I suspect that those who don't appreciate the deeper meaning will find it hard to enjoy the tales as stand-alone stories for their own sake. The concept is similar to the Narnia Chronicles, although not with the same degree of success, because the Narnian stories can also function on the level of stories alone. But although the world isn't as fantastic as C.S. Lewis' Narnia, Narnian fans may find themselves appreciating the Kingdom Tales of the Mains for the same reasons: the spiritual depth. They will certainly lead to a greater love for the King and His Kingdom! -GODLY GADFLY

I came to Amazon to purchase a copy of TALES OF THE KINGDOM by David and Karen Mains. There were several reviewers that were disappointed in the illustrations of the newer editions. So, I sprung the extra money to buy an older copy. BELIEVE me, the old illustrations by Jack Stockman are only "fabulous" if you have some childhood memories to make them special. Otherwise, they are rather ordinary and do little for the stories. The stories themselves shine and shine. Such excellent stories. If I had to do it again, I would buy the newer edition and save my $$ for other books.

A fun book but with really straight forward, easy to understand, insights that all of us guys & gals should know but don't.

To know your Pig is to love your Pig. This book is Fun, easy and insightful. Great read. Thanks

Witty, wise and eye-opening, this book offers a refreshing perspective that ... it's never too late to start understanding and appreciating the Pig in your life !!!

I read this, then gave it to my wife to read. It should be a user guide for newly weds, or newly dating! The guys who wrote this must be gender challenged or they had great insight from their spouses in order to know how to position us to the Venus crowd.

A hilarious and insightful book that is a must read for all couples!!! Highly recommended for BOTH men and their women.

I purchased this book for my Grandson. Mike Mulligan was one of my favorite stories. It brings back great memories, plus there are the other stories which I didn't know of when I was a child.

If you have young sons, this is a great book to have. I have 4 sons and they have all loved the books "Katy & the Big Snow" and "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" My other copies were so worn, I had to order a new one for my 4th son. It's great to have these 4 stories together.

This is a very good book. It is nice to have all the stories combined in one hardcover book.

These stories are timeless. Sure the cars and truck (and steam shovels) are dated, but your young kids will love the stories. The Little House and Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel are must reads. This book helps to fill those nights when you need a story that's just a bit longer, a little richer in plot. The illustrations are simple, but truly enhance the story. These stories will entertain you and your child for many story-times to come.

It is a great book and I sent it to Tim Dexter in Minnesota, he has a grandson now and his grandson will have his 1st birthday in March of 2008.

Very good book, has lots of information beyond just bird identification. Only thing I would have done different is have pictures of both the male and female (typically each kind of bird only has one picture).

I purchased this for a gift for my husband for our anniversary. It came looking great, still in the package. It came fairly quick, about a week after I ordered it.

Thank you!

Beautiful book. Highly recommend this book to any bird and garden enthusiast. Quick delivery as well from vendor.

Purchased The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens for my mother for Christmas, she is very pleased with the book, more so then her other books she has collected for Bird Watching.

This book is great and has everything for every area of the country from how to design your yard (plants, placement, type of wildlife plants attract. It has information on all the plants ,zones to plant and where birds are in areas (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). I brought this book to work and there are at least (5) people that were so impressed as I was and am that they are ordering the book too!!