Carter Books

My son loves this book. I ordered Easter bugs next and this is one of his favorite books. Definitely would recommend.

My son absolutely loves David A. Carter books!! I get him one for every occassion. Jingle Bugs is his favorite. I highly recommend any David A. Carter book for your young children!! They have wonderful illustrations, you can move the bugs and some even come out of the book. These books just make you smile! I'm so glad I found them.

David visited my Kindergarten class yesterday and provided a wonderful show. The books get better and better! His CD-roms for Kindergarten are the best I've seen. My kids almost demand to take them home for a night or a weekend.

Jeff Fulweiler

Now we own 4 of David Carter's books, and we LOVE them all, but I think this is our favorite. Almost every night my 1 1/2 year old son and 3 1/2 year old daugher love to pile in the Laz-E-Boy for me to read this book. They never tire of it, and it is so cute! It's got jumping bed bugs jumping on the bed, giggling bathtime bugs in a bathtub, a tiny bug-lullaby book within this book that they love for me to sing (and this tiny book also has pop-ups itself which is so neat), a bug where you turn the dial showing the thoughts in his head as it gets more and more sleepy till it's finally asleep, a bug angel that is a big pop-up, and a star behind a curtain that my kids love me making it glow (against the lightbulb for a second, turn the light off, and the bug-star glows in the dark). It's very fun!

Unlike my firstborn, my 1 1/2 year old is unfortunately not a book lover, and these are some of the only books he'll sit still for and actually takes a great interest in them. So thank goodness for these books!

i was very much so surprised it came with the other book of core concepts and that i got both of them for that price thank u!...

I read this as an undergraduate while taking a course in medical ethics. I later went on to medical school, and I read a few other texts and many other sources for most of the same material. This book is by far the best of all of these that I've seen. It's almost perfect in the scope it covers and in its readability. It gives a good overview and raises intriguing questions in each section. It almost perfect. I can't recommend it enough. It is well worth a look.

Biomedical Ethics is a wonderful introduction to bioethical issues. The authors' styles of writing are (usually) easily understandable, and the inserted case studies make for interesting reading. More of a textbook than a "quickread".

This is an excellent overview of the myriad of issues that fall under the term "biomedical ethics". This was used as one of the texts for my health care ethics graduate course, and I could actually read this. Although Childress and Beauchamp may be considered the "standards" in the field, they are also when known for being very difficult to read (my prof warned us on day one that their "Introduction" would be very heady, and the warning rang true the moment I opened their book).

This book brings together writings from numerous excellent authors that are all very easy to digest, particularly in light of other "introductions" available. I enjoyed this book immensely. Not only did it help me greatly in my studies, it has also helped me greatly in navigating my own health care. Whether you are reading for academic pursuits, or are otherwise interested enough in the field to buy a book about it, I highly recommend THIS ONE!

This is a very nice pop up book with spooky illustrations. My children want it read to them over and over again. Definitely worth the money. However, my toddler has ripped the pop ups several times, probably better for kids over 3.

I love this Halloween pop-up book as well as the other "Bugs In a Box" books. If you don't know what to be for Halloween-buy this book. There are many spooky pop-ups, such as Dracubug, Frankenbug(shouldn't there be a glow-in-the-dark feature in this book?), and for the finale-there's a free surprise on the last page. I won't ruin the surprise for you, but when you get the prize, it will help you decide what to be for Halloween(you'll be able to look "buggy", too!).

My 14 month old loves this book. He is a big fan of other pop up books but these pop ups and moving flaps are creative & new made-up bugs, not the ordinary animals he sees in all his other books. We also like the "spooky" theme.

My 14 month old son loves the book. It has great pop ups and flaps of creative made up bugs. It's great to see funky bugs rather than the usual barn animals etc. The spooky theme is also fun and different.

"The word 'caregiver' encompasses a great deal: choices, responsibilities, emotions and even hidden joys. Chicken Soup for the Caregiver"s Soul embraces all of these, leaving you with the greatest emotion of all, laughter through tears," notes Lisa Copen of Rest Ministries. "You"ll find yourself giggling while choking back a sob, realizing that through any circumstance you can still find hope. A perfect gift for a friend or yourself."

I received my copy of the Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul as one of the book's contributors, and read it cover to cover. LeAnn, Jack and Mark have really captured the heart and soul of the caregiving experience with this finely edited book. As founder of Today's Caregiver magazine and caregiver.com (as well as a family caregiver), I have been blessed to read many books and articles about caregiving over the past nine years, and I find this to be extremely inspirational, touching and true. I would recommend it not only to caregivers but also to all of their friends and family members. I am proud to be associated with this book.

Caregiving can be a lonely, desperate job. Chicken Soup For the Caregiver's Soul helps to ease that loneliness and desperation. The laughter, tears, joy, and most of all, love expressed by the caregiving heroes in these inspiring stories will fill caregivers with a sense of hope. Regardless of the situation, Chicken Soup For the Caregiver's Soul is a must read for caregivers and those who care for caregivers.

Over 54 million people are involved with caregiving, yet everyone feels alone with their roller coaster of emotions. This inspirational book will give you a quick pick-me-up at any moment you feel that you could really use a hug. These lovely short stories are by real voices of courageous caregivers who share their triumphs and sorrows, helping you to have an easier journey. Your heart will be warmed as you smile and nod in recognition, and realize that you've gained valuable insight, solutions and hope.

Jacqueline Marcell, author, 'Elder Rage', and host of the 'Coping with Caregiving' Internet Radio Program.
I was honored to have my story included in this delightful book.

I liked this as much as "Sunrise". Good read, but like 'em a little hotter like my newest favorite "Anything, my Love" by Cynthia Simmons.

Tracie Peterson takes the lives of some very interesting and prevocative people, separates them into four spell-binders, and then puts one cover on all! True to style, the author lets the reader learn all about the budding romances, the extreme disappointments, the rational and irractional fears and the final triumphs of faith!

Set in the Colorado Rockies, the love stories unfold slowly, entwined with tremendous complications of suspense, suspicion and subtle sub-stories.

The characters from story one continue over to story two and so on, just the lead changes. Tracie keeps the reader comfortable with glimpses from the previous stories as she unfolds the mysteries of the subsequent ones.

This 4-story book is not only romance, it is faith in God and faith and trust in other people at its best!

Kudos again Tracie!

This book was excellent! All four stories are linked together beautifully, and when you finish one, you'll want to start the other. The mystery element was a nice, added touch. If you enjoy Tracie Peterson's work, you should NOT miss this novella collection. It's a must-read!

These four novellas are Peterson's best. I could not put the book down! Go get this book - you won't regret it.

Many of the pastiche works are letdowns in comparison to Howard's immortal stories, though there are exceptions. What most of the books miss is faithful adherence to the established character of Conan, as opposed to some fellow who does X, Y, and Z and happens to be named Conan. This is not the case with these delightful tales by de Camp, Carter, and Nyberg. By sticking to a shorter length tale, they have succeeded in packing more emotional punch into the individual adventures. I was most struck by the entry called "Shadows in the Dark"--because it represented the real Conan, the one I know, better than any other non-Howard work. In the span of only a few short pages, Conan (in addition to the major plot elements) abuses an arrogant young king; knocks said king senseless because he blabbers and could thus disclose their position to the enemy; considers murdering him (but relents); steals his purse, minus a handful of coins; and, finally, leaves the king stranded on a ship to Lord-knows-where. Now, that's the Conan we all love!

This book includes these pastiche stories, de Camp, Carter and Nyberg in various combinations :

Legions of the Dead
The People of the Summit
Shadows in the Dark
The Star of Khorala
The Gem in the Tower
The Ivory Goddess
Moon of Blood

and also a piece by De Camp on the naming strategies that Howard used in his work, and also gives an dictionary style listing of them, and where they are used.

A young Conan is fighting in the North, and against the Witchmen. He rescues his jarl's daughter from captivity, but the Queen sends an undead band of their former warriors to stop them. He manages to get the girl to freedom before being taken captive.

3 out of 5


Conan and companions are attacked by weird apes with ropes, killing one of them. He fakes being strangled, and is drawn up to the remants of a strange people with no irises. He manages to save the girl, and kill the many legged monster.

2.5 out of 5


After Black Colossus, Conan is still serving Yasmela. Not servicing her enough is his problem, even though he has a general. She is too busy with the duties of a queen. If Conan can get her captive brother back, this may change.

After betrayal by a travelling companion and rescue of the king, who doesn't think much of a barbarian in the family, and offers Conan a lesser post. Conan takes money in payment, and starts to go back. He changes his mind, and decides to leave, and seek adventure elsewhere.

3 out of 5


After Shadows in Zamboula, Conan arrives in Ophir. He sees things are not right, and soon finds out why. The king and others plot against the queen, and problems abound. Conan rescues the female noble head, but ends up under siege.

No mean shot with an arbalest, the queen uses the Star of Khorala to summon aid, allowing Conan, the Guard Captain and herself freedom. She leaves for Aquilonia with her military man, and Conan goes on his way.

3.5 out of 5


Following Drums in Tombalku, Conan ends up serving under another Captain. One night, he dreams of a bat-man, only to awaken and find he is real, the product of a dead sorcerer.

3 out of 5


Conan is still travelling with the actress Muriela after Jewels in Gwahlur. He thinks that her skills could be put to use in a similar scam.

However, an actual goddess has a suse for her body in a lot more pragmatic a manner than impersonation.

She spares the Cimmerian and says she will look after the girl when she is finished.

3.5 out of 5


Conan is still beyond the Black River, fighting the Picts with the Aquilonians. Serpent sorcery and a traitorous General are causing lots of problems.

Conan's axework and fast thinking puts paid to this, and gets him a promotion.

In fact, he does so much damage with the aforementioned weapon that both Kull and Druss the Legend would be more than a little impressed.

4 out of 5

CONAN THE SWORDSMAN, the latest reprint of the now legendary 1970s-1980s Conan revival, is a marvelous short story collection. Each story holds its own with the overall Conan mythos and most add depth to the celebrated character and his world. The delightful eight stories are well written with each tale co-authored by L. Sprague de Camp (had to be a Howard clone) with either Lin Carter or Bjorn Nyberg. Especially good is "Legions of the Dead" that Robert E. Howard would have believed he authored because it reads so much like his original works. Equally fascinating to readers is a seven-page essay that provides plenty of insight into Conan and his world as well as Robert E. Howard from the late L. Sprague de Camp's perspective. Fans of Conan will want to read this wonderful anthology that showcases one of fantasy's most endearing and enduring protagonists.

Harriet Klausner

Though nothing compares to Robert E. Howard's original Conan stories, these additions to the canon by Carter and de Camp and Nyberg are welcome newcomers to the mythology. Those unfamiliar with Conan should begin by reading the originals-- several good editions now exist of Howard's seminal stories. Once competed, there are lots of these volumes of stories based on the originals, and this is among the best. de Camp and Carter have a real flair for mimicking Howard, and they clearly revel in the fun of creating new fixes for the barbarian to escape from.

The book also includes a nearly 70-page (!) addendum with all the names Howard made up in his stories, everything from Abdashtarth to Zyras, with notes from de Camp on their derivation. Fun stuff for fans!

These long poems set in Indiana leave one with a sense of wonder. They tell stories about places and link us to the people who walked those places in past times. Lovers of history, Hoosiers and ex-Hoosiers will especially feel at home with Jeb Carter.

The fourth collection of poems by Jared Carter, Cross This Bridge At A Walk intersperses verse with the rare snippet of musical notation, allowing for a deeper combined experience for those skilled at reading music without disrupting the poetic flow for those who prefer to immerse themselves in words. Centering upon the history and experiences surrounding a long bridge and the river that lazily drifts underneath it, Cross This Bridge At A Walk flows much as river water does, the poetry coalescing into long, free-verse paragraphs that run, ramble, and drift, sometimes open-ended, yet always sparkling with hidden depth. "They said there was nothing left at all, after the rising and falling / of the water level, over twenty summers and winters. / But I still wanted to go back, that November day, along the old road, / dropping down through those same hills, the valley up ahead"

"To go, if there is time, to look at what
the land holds..."

So begins "Raccoon Grove", the first narrative poem in Carter's newest collection of poetry. Decidedly Hoosier, the stories are lean, honest, and reflect the tellurian watershed of the silent Mississinewa River -- a river as enigmatic as the towns and people that lay within its valley. While Twain's Mississippi embodied freedom, Carter's Mississinewa is a twilit messenger, an ancient witness to all things buried, drowned, and nearly forgotten.

Past the glass factories, the paper mills, the gas wells and the sycamores, the river winds through five counties of the Indiana heartland. It is here, in this area, that Carter's mythical Mississinewa County lies. It is here where musselmen know "ebony shell from monkeyface, and why you never forked pimplebacks"; of tent revivals, midwestern thunderstorms, and preachers who discover miracles of a different sort; of young women creeping up the darkened stairs of the local photographer, a loner who indeed knows the difference between "art" and the hidden ambience of spirit; and of a rebel captain, a covered bridge, a Hoosier militiaman, and a handful of matches...

Born and raised in the Indiana town of Elwood, educated at Yale and Goddard, Carter has recreated the midwest as only a true Hoosier can. Behind his tales rise the shadows of Tecumseh, the Delaware and Miami, the frontier forts, and the people who came after to flood the land with change. The mark of their desires and tragedies live on, much as the Mississinewa dam still remains as both scar and savior. It is Carter's voice that demands we neither seek nor expect explanation from what we see here in this mystical landscape -- merely the acceptance of a real and ancient truth.

In a recent interview, Bob Dylan, commenting on his early days playing the coffee houses in Greenwich Village, said a lot of the folk singers used the songs to project themselves, their own personalities, onto the audience. Dylan didn't approve or condemn that approach, he just distinguished it from his own, which was to focus on the nature of the song itself. I'm paraphrasing from memory here, but it is Dylan's idea that I am getting at - that it is the song that matters, more than the singer. Many folksingers used the songs as a mode of self-expression; the songs were used to delve the personality of the singer. Dylan preferred the opposite tack: to use his personal style to probe the character, history and resonances of the song itself. This is probably why Dylan, the true protean artist, never sounded like the same performer from decade to decade, or even from year to year, as opposed to someone like, say, Neil Diamond who, for all his strengths, seems to be singing the same song from one decade to the next.
This is all a round-about way of discussing the new book of poems by Jared Carter, `Cross This Bridge at a Walk'. In the same way that, with Dylan, the emphasis is all on the songs; with Carter the emphasis is wholly on the stories themselves. As with Dylan, who places all his mastery of technique and tradition at the service of the individual song, who never uses a song simply to showcase his ability, or his personality, Carter subordinates his considerable mastery of formal technique and literary tradition to the stories themselves. Immediately, as you begin to read this book, the stories, and the characters they contain, press themselves on your attention, and it is very easy to read a considerable distance into the book before realizing how all the poems, whether strictly or loosely, are erected on the foundation of the iambic pentameter line, or fall into regular stanzas, or even, in one instance, form a sequence of sonnets. This, of course, is only as it should be. The mark of a master is to make his craft appear effortless, unconsidered, and entirely natural.
Which brings me to another aspect of Carter's poetry worth noting: his voice. Like his formal technique, it is unobtrusive, and subordinated to the voice of his characters, of his narrator, and to the natural speech appropriate to the time and place of his stories. Once again, nothing detracts from his characters, and their particular stories. Carter is a quiet master, steeped in the millenia-old conventions of the storyteller's art, an immersion, without which, mastery is impossible. You don't notice Carter's technique, or his `voice', or his personality; what you notice, and remember, are his characters, and their stories.
Finally, there is the matter of Carter's `regionality'- apparently a term of ridicule in some quarters. There is perhaps a tendency among younger readers (and not a few professors), to confuse regionality with provinciality. Both qualities arise from being `rooted', of having a long history in a particular region. One result of being deeply rooted in a region can be to remain naive, or to become narrow in one's outlook. But another result of rootedness can be to arrive at an understanding of one's immediate world so thorough, and so true, as to transcend locality altogether. It can be credibly argued, (and often is), that genuine universality can be obtained in no other way, except through a lifelong familiarity with one's own native region. (Certainly a consideration of such acknowledged masters as Faulkner, Hardy, or the Brontes, and many, many others, would bear this out).
As a poet, as a storyteller - indeed, as a man, Carter is who he is, without apology. He is old enough to be able to look back over a lifetime of experience, and to see clearly what is dross and what is gold - what is worth his time as an artist, and worth ours as readers. As regards questions of form, technique, voice and any other of a hundred literary issues, he is beyond them. He is a master of the long, relaxed, and replete sentence, as natural as casual talk or idle thought, flowing easily through literary forms of every stripe, like a stream through a rocky landscape. If you are the sort of reader who opens a book with a serious purpose, and expect a serious return for your time and attention, give Carter a serious hour, or several. He is one writer who deserves it.

Rollo May was a psychologist, but don't let that bit of information scare you away from reading this book. May examines the importance of mythology thru the ages, as well as its nexus with psychology and psychological theories. In doing so, May points out the didactic properties that myths have had throughout human history.

Along the way, May takes a critical look at fairy tales and discloses hidden "messages" that we normally pick up on only subliminally. His inquiry helps to elucidate many of the themes that we teach to our children, and hints at why fairy tales have such an abundant popularity in diverse cultures.

May also describes to us how myths evolve and develop over time, changing with the sociological paradigms of each successive epoch. In doing so, he uses the Faust legend as an example. The text offers some nice highlights on the transcendence of the motif as it was first penned by Christopher Marlowe and subsequently revised by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Thomas Mann.

This is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in mythology, and is a serious warning of the consequences that go along with marginalizing the importance of liberal arts.

The Cry for Myth was May's last major work prior to his death at the age of eighty-four. It contains the hard-won wisdom of a lifetime. Much of it had been published elsewhere over the years--long before Joseph Campbell's sudden popularity-- but May felt strongly about making a cohesive statement regarding the vital importance of myth and how much we need it today. Myths are how we make meaning of life--no myth, no meaning. May's therapeutic approach to myths links him closely with figures such as Sigmund Freud, Otto Rank, and Carl Jung, and comprises an essential and enriching feature of May's own existential psychotherapy. In this fine collection, May analyzes the archetypal myths we are living out--or maybe better, that are being lived out through us--and offers some new myths and interpretations that may help us make it more meaningfully into the new millennium.

I read this book several years ago and I found it to be a fascinating read, from back to front. May's astute analysis of the place of myth within human life, sense of self and community is very sensible and relevant. Many may find his understanding of myth to be surprising, as it deviates greatly from the conventional existential perspective.

From time immemorial, cultures have woven intricate, fantastic stories, parables, myths and guiding narratives about the world, helping them to understand the universe, carve out a unique place within it and establish values. As societies grew, cultures passed these myths and stories down to their descendants. Communal traditions developed from these myths and guiding narratives, building among participants a sense of cultural kinship, identity and solace. People derived strength and direction from their guiding narratives, and these myths unified individuals in a commonality, supplying them with a vision.

Carl Jung's influence here is distinct, as May attributes the sense of meaninglessness, isolation and disoriented alienation of modern culture largely to the human "cry" for new myths (similar to Jung's Weltanschauung) that incorporate all facets of our humanity (both spirit and matter) and address our current reality.

May defines the myth as follows: "A myth is a way of making sense in a senseless world. Myths are narrative patterns that give significance to our existence [...] myths are our way of finding meaning and significance. Myths are like the beams in a house; not exposed to outside view, they are the structure which holds the house together so people can live in it." May is also careful to address our modern misunderstanding of what myth entails: "There can be no stronger proof of the impoverishment of our contemporary culture than the popular - though profoundly mistaken - definition of myth as falsehood." Read the book for more on this and for a clearer understanding of how the traditional "myth" is distinct from things like fundamentalism, or dogma. Nowhere is myth more evident than literature and the rich, vivid literature of past cultures demonstrates this. In fact, May goes to great lengths in his analysis to amply illustrate the crucial need for literature and the arts.

As scientific rationalism has swept in and usurped the position of omnipotent "God," our sense of meaningful myth has been eroded, particularly in America, where a strong sense of rich, cultural myth has not been as rooted in our understanding of community as it has in other cultures. (May discusses an entire spate of prevalent American myths, as expressed through literature.) The technological advances of the industrial age have all but completely divorced humans from the natural world, further contributing to our schizoid sense of spirit and matter. All in all, this has resulted in a severe fragmentation of community and knowledge of self, as we believe the appreciation of myth to be beneath our superior rationality and reason.

Despite this surface disdain for myth, we are still clinging to the old, impoverished myths which play a great role in our lives ("beams" in our "structure") and how we view the world, whether we realize it or not. We have not yet created new myths and guiding narratives to help us find meaning, and so we remain fragmented, repressed and separated from ourselves, the natural world and one another.

Like Jung, May asserts that self-knowledge and communal anchor arise from the search for the spiritual and awakening of the spiritual consciousness. May further asserts that our rejection of myth has left us drifting along, leaving us prone to depression, mental illness, dysfunction and fundamentalism of all kinds.

One of the elements I most appreciate about Rollo May is his ability to elegantly write readable books, without muddying the waters or losing the reader in a fog of dense language. I think that anyone who loves classic literature will also love this book, thanks to May's thorough discussion of Faust among a number of other literary and mythical characters.

Rollo May's "The Cry for Myth" is a testimony on American mythology. A fantastic novel, it encompasses a variety of issues by relating them to classic pieces of literature, such as "The Great Gatsby" and "Dante's Inferno". The book was a pleasure to read (and I don't even like to read). It opened my mind to think in different ways.

I highly recommend this wonderful, beautifully presented cookbook, filled with amazing desserts and witty, insightful quotes. It would be a great gift-something different and thoughtful. My friends and guests are always flipping through its pages, looking at the photos and reading the quotes. They're shocked to find a cookbook so interesting!

It would also be great recipe source for both the novice (like myself) and experienced baker. The recipes are not overly elaborate, and the photos are helpful.

Can't recommend Desserts with Character highly enough, especially at the price.

Desserts with Character is more than desserts. I found that the book really represents a lifestyle based on comfort, style, warmth, family and friendships. Don't just think recipes - think of a beautiful book for yourself, or a gift to share with those you care for...or also a nice gift to give to friends or clients for that special occasion. I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. The recipes are fantastic and unique
-- not like what you'd find in a traditional cookbook. This is
southern-style charm at its best. It's kind of like your own
grandmother wrote a book to pass on her recipes and wisdom.

I now plan on buying a few more to give to friends for
Christmas(maybe I can encourage my family to try some new
desserts for Xmas) since the book makes a nice coffee table-type
gift as well as a dessert book.

I have purchased this book as a gift item for 10 of my closest friends and relatives. Yes, it is a cookbook and we all have more than enough cookbooks. However, I doubt many people will ever even use it in the kitchen. This book is beautifully done, and I mean beautifully. The front cover is awesome and looks great sitting on my coffee table. I have another one sitting upright on a plate holder in my china hutch. I have more people notice the book than the [expensive] plates in the hutch. Each person I have given it to has loved it. The most frequent comment has been "I've never seen anything quite like it." It's an original. I highly recommend it as a gift, or for your own enjoyment.

This is the most unique book I have ever read on gardening/landscaping. I was overwhelmed by the thought of landscaping a .44 acre lot, but she breaks the whole thing down into very manageable pieces and carefully outlines the RIGHT ORDER of doing things. Her writing style and sense of humor make this fun to read and not a CHORE like some of the others. This is one of two books I recently bought on landscaping: the other one I will likely shelve or sell!

If you are looking for a book with lush color photographs of breathtaking gardens, this book is not for you. If you are looking for good solid practical advice regarding building the structural bones of your garden, you will hit the jackpot with this engaging little book. Written in an breezy style by a person who obviously has a sense of humor, you will learn how to properly grade your dirt, design your garden, plan your irrigation system and avoid making your yard into a swamp with small patches of the Sahara here and there. She even gives advice on defeating the wiliest of deer (deer can jump high, or jump wide, but not both). What's not to love about someone who describes juniper bushes as "the vermin of the plant world"? I also particularly liked her diagram on how to properly dig a pond and put in the liner so it doesn't just look like a plastic tarp-lined hole with rocks around the rim. I sat down and read it cover to cover, and felt empowered to go out and tackle what needed to be done.

Kate does an amazing job of sharing the hard lessons she's learned doing landscaping over the years. She also writes in a style that is very enjoyable to read. Even if you aren't in Northern California there are lots of great tips related to design, drainage, irrigation and planting. I found this book a real gold mine of tips and tricks, guaranteed to make any landscaping project go easier.

If you're embarking on your own northern California landscape installation project, this book will pay for itself very quickly. Author Kate Anchordoguy shares time- and money-saving landscaping advice in a casual and often opinionated manner. Having landscaped hundreds of yards, Kate reveals herself to be a seasoned pro who's learned...often the hard way...what to do and what not to do. She says, "If wisdom is measured by the mistakes we've made, I am very wise." Chapter 1 focuses on planning, shopping, and working efficiently (i.e. how to save time and money). Chapter 2 covers basic landscape design. Chapter 3 discusses construction projects and their timing. Chapter 4 addresses the all-important (and often ignored) subject of drainage. Chapter 5 teaches you how to prep and improve your soil. Chapter 6 covers irrigation. Chapter 7 teaches you how to "plant like a pro". The final chapter tackles lawn installation and renovation. Also tells you when it makes sense to hire out!