Field Books

A big thank you to Julie!!!! This book guided me every step of the way. I ordered the book on 3-17-08, and on 6-3-08 I was on my first boat!! Julie not only gives you an accurate view of what working on a yacht is truly like, she includes her own personal accounts out at sea (which, by the way, are quite funny!!). Julie includes EVERYTHING you will need from training, accomodations, to local spots to network in various ports. I bought this book with no real intention on changing my career. I had always wondered about the industry, and once I got the book, I couldnt put it down. The very next day I started taking the steps toward making this dream a reality. You will find Julie's stories entertaining and the book will engage you from page one. If you have ever thought about becoming a yachtie, you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

This book is not only a "How To" it's a very good insight on how things really are once you get out on the big sea. The author does a great job by not leading you on that everything is fantastic all the time and tells it like it is. The "I must Confess..." are great additions and I found myself sometimes skipping ahead just to read some of those. I bought this book because I was interested in the profession and couldn't find anything worth reading about it. This is the book to read! And after reading it, I am certain that I am going to Ft. Lauderdale and becoming a Yacht Stew.

I must confess I didn't buy this book from Amazon but directly from the author at the Ft Lauderdale Boat Show.

This would have been invaluable to me a few years ago when I took the overnight sleeper to the South of France with a tent and box of CV's to seek a career change onto large yachts.

Full of practical advice but entertaining as well this book is an excellent read even if the closest you will ever get a large yacht is standing on the dock.

If ever a book has been available that tells it like it is, as this book does, about the process for landing a dream job in the yachting industry as a Stewardess (OR OTHER CREW MEMBER) aboard multiple million dollar luxury Yachts.........SHAZAMMMM!!! AND BINGO!!!...THIS IS IT!!!!

The book is packed with humor and numerous "innocent" confessions of the author's experiences aboard. It's as close as a complete picture can be for preparing to enter this magnificant industry with more info than you'd ever need to taking the first step to a sucessful career in the ultimate world of travel excitement......immediately securing employment as a fully trained crew member after a minimum of two weeks intense training at the finest training facilities available in the world.

College grads with no immediate plans and looking for the perfect job...ATTENTION...,this is what you've been looking for and didn't even know it!

This book is definitely for someone wanting to know what it is "really like" to work on a yacht. This book is funny,informative and a good source to find out what mega-yacht life is like,one you will go back and read a second time. Her adventures were delightful and am hoping Julie writes another book soon!

I thorougly enjoyed reading the novel, The Journey Home by Marigold Fields. I wanted to discover the suspense held in the very first chapter and I might add, the synopsis made me curious! Well, Ms. Fields definitely delivers! Her writing style and her familiarity with family relationships and personal kinships wrapped me into her plot. She knows "what is important" in life! At a time when everyone is reaching for "self-help" books and listening to Oprah and Dr. Phil, all everyone has to do is grab this book which is a very easy and comfortable read and the answers to many of life's problems are revealed. It is a fictional story with a nonfictional lesson. I could relate and I am willing to bet many people may say the same thing after reading this book.

I find it hard to believe that there are only a few reviews written about this unbelievably candid novel about returning home to past memories, experiences, etc.I throughly enjoyed reading this novel and I hope that by the next time I visit this site, there will be more reviews from more readers who share my same experience! Please read it - it is a treasure!

I really enjoyed reading THE JOURNEY HOME by Marigold Fields. I felt as if I were swept back in time when I was younger, spending time with my grandmother. Ms. Fields has a way of relating the incidents in this book to times in my life that I can remember. I would often hear my grandmother interject pieces of her childhood in daily things we would do. When I was little, I would just absorb her advice temporarily; now I keep thinking of her advice with more meaning! Ms. Fields takes two generations and two different time periods and unites them into a common understanding. She doesn't hold back on the vivid details as she ploughs through her rural setting and makes the reader truly believe he/she is there. I believe more books like this that capture your attention and make you evaluate your path in life, need to be written. Ms. Fields, I look forward to more of your novels!

This was such a delightful book! It will make you laugh and make you cry, but more importantly, you will feel you are right there with the main character, Rosie. This author has one of those rare traits of making you feel as if you are right there experiencing life with the characters. I always enjoy reading books that take place near the vicinity I grew up. I can't wait to read more books by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Journey Home. The author did a splendid job of taking the reader on a journey through the life of her main character, Rose Marie. We were able to understand through the flashbacks of her childhood how she came to be the strong woman she is today.Only her journey to her past could help guide her to her future. The characters were ones I could relate to and I was full of anticipation to see what would happen next to Rose Marie. It was inspirational!

Whether a child, parent, or first time coach with no prior knowledge, this book is the perfect introduction to children's soccer. Add your league specifics and develop technically as you go. A first, must read.

This book provides a brief introduction to soccer, at the right level of detail for those new to the game. My 11-year-old son found the summary of the rules and strategies quite helpful. As a new coach, I was glad to have a compact volume that included most of what I needed to know. There are other books that provide more detail on the game and more exercises and drills for soccer players -- but this is the ideal "first book" for someone just learning about the game. I recommend it highly.

I am the first time coach of a second grade boys soccer team. This book was very easy to understand for the kids as well as myself. For kids that are relatively new to the game it explains positions, the different kinds of kicks and the all around basics of soccer without getting too technical. It has been a great aid for our team.

As a long time recreation coach and soccer parent, Brooks Clark offer the side of the game perfect for all coaches just starting out, or for any parents who know little about the game their children are playing. Concise and fun, a great read for the basic rules and strategies of soccer.

I read this book and now I feel all the more confident while training my son and his friends. I can explain them about the basics and the game and how to plan their game. Tecnicalities of the game are exaplined well in this book. Go ahead and buy this book to learn the basics of this game.

As we know, there 's a popular film showing in US named' The

Lizzie McGuire Movie'. Unluckly, I'm not in US, so I can't

watch the film.I've watch the preview and I like it very

much.This book is full of imagination, it's a bit similar to the

book' The Princess Dairies'. It's the best book for all the

girls who liked to dream(including me) ------being a famous pop

star, having all the clothes and food you want. I like the

ending best, because it is unexpected. I think that it will be

one of the favourtes of the girls who liked to dream !!!

- Lucia Lee, one of the readers of this wonderful book

This book was really great. I would reccomend it for ages 11 or 12 and up because it has a bad word in it and it has the word sexiest in it. So if you know any 11 or 12 or older person get it for them if they are a Lizzie McGuire.

This is the best book around! It tells the exact same story as the movie. There aren't differences in this book as the movie. I read the first two pages of the book when I first bought it

i'm a big fan of lizzie, i think this book was very cute, it's very funny. i hope the movie turns out the same way.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie by Susan Estelle Jansen is an awesome story about one girl that is to clumsy to do anything and then she goes on a trip to Rome and finds out otherwise.

Lizzie is just about to graduate from junior high and she messes up real bad! Her brother tape records it and sends it to Good Morning America. Then she goes on a class trip to Rome and she tells her best friend Gordo that they need to find adventures. Then Lizzie bumps into pop superstar Paolo and she does find adventures. He tells her that she looks just like Isabella the girl he sings with. He tells her his story and she agrees to help him. She becomes Isabella for a couple of days dodging her new principal while doing so. Gordo covers for her and gets himself in tuns of trouble. Read this wonderful story and find out what happens with Lizzie and her singing career and Gordo and Isabella.

The characters really jump out at you. Lizzie is so clumsy and she seems to always fall down. The characters were really believable and the story seemed to be real to me. This book is really hard to put down you always want to know what is going to happen to Lizzie and her friends. You have to pay attention very closely so you aren't lost or confused. The plot is so interesting and the ending will blow you away. I really believe any girl who reads this would want this to happen to them.

I loved this book. It is every teenagers dream. This is such an exciting book it really lets you feel like you are leaving the `dream'. I would recommend this book to teenage girls looking for a good read because they would enjoy it and keep it as one of there favorites. The book will be enjoyed by all whom read.So read this book and please with all means `enjoy'!!
-Patricia Harnish 13

Dear fellow mediators or anyone looking into the mediation profession:

Mosten's book, Mediation Career Guide, is just the book I was looking for to strategically guide me through deciding whether to go into mediation as a profession. The book is well organized and can be read cover to cover or as a reference guide. Some of the key parts of the book are 1) Deciding if Mediation is Right for You and 2) Building Your Career as a Mediator.

The chapter on deciding whether to get your law degree or not for mediation was an especially important chapter for me. I completed one year of law school and then decided to re-evaluate my J.D. path. I enrolled in SMU's Dispute Resolution program to help with my decision. Mosten's book is the only mediation book that directly dealt with the J.D. dilemma. The chapter did not tell me what to do or what Mosten thinks is best. Instead, the chapter asked certain questions about my background to see whether a J.D. is a good choice or not.

Mosten's book is a MUST HAVE if you are deciding whether the mediation profession is right for you and how to build a mediation practice.

Thank you Forrest (Woody) Mosten for this book and all of your contributions to the peace-making profession!

Roseanne Pierre

I am just beginning my mediation practice. This book stays with me all day. It gives practical advice, plus deals with the emotional issues attached with such a leap of faith that is required for entering this field. I highy recommend this to everyone!

This book is one of the most helpful and insightful books that I have read. If you are thinking of, or already are, a mediator, this book is full of great information, ideas, and helpful hints.
This book is an easy read, you could read it in one evening and then be on your way to implement the things that you have learned.

Forrest Mosten has written what must be the definitive book for those who are considering or might consider a career in mediation.

I have known the author since 1970, when he was a law student working part time for me in the foreign student office at UCLA. Even then he was thinking about how he might incorporate his strong social conscience into the practice of law. Ten years later he found his answer when he committed himself to becoming a professional mediator. For Mosten, mediation is more than an efficient means of resolving disputes, it is a way to work as a peacemaker at the person-to-person level. It provides its practitioners who are attorneys with an alternative to the adversarial nature of the legal system, which weighs heavily on many lawyers. Of course it provides the same benefit for clients. He makes his point about mediation as a peace effort dramatically in chapter one, where he states "...don't jump into a growing but still uncertain field like mediation unless you eat, breath and dream about creating peace and resolving conflict and are willing to risk everything to make it happen".

In addition to maintaining a highly successful mediation practice in Los Angeles, Mosten trains future mediators and he has established a nation-wide network of mediation centers. He also is the author of three previous books on mediation.

The author's purpose in writing the book is stated in the first paragraph of the preface, where he says "It was an uphill climb to build my mediation practice. This book is my effort to help you avoid many of the costly mistakes I made along the way".

The book is organized into three parts, each with several chapters, followed by nine appendices. In the first part, "Is Mediation right for You?", he covers the question of what it takes to be a mediator, such as being a good listener, patient, tolerant and neutral, flexible, and empathic, among other traits. In the chapter on "Education and Training", he discusses the question of non-lawyers as mediators. Mosten admits that lawyers have certain advantages, but he lists other fields which often provide a good background, such as therapists, business persons, teachers and clergy. Whether they come from the law or other fields, he states, extensive training in mediation will be required. Here Mosten goes into some depth on this subject which is dear to his heart because he wants "...mediation to be the first stop on the conflict resolution highway", which means having "...enough trained and experienced mediators available to meet this need".

Part Two, "Building Your Career as a Mediator" deals with the creation of a mediation signature, which includes advice on writing vision and mission statements to distinguish your particular practice. He also advocates having a board of directors to help with these tasks and to provide a sounding board along the way which he had earlier described as an informal group of persons whose judgment you trust. (He might more accurately have called them a "board of advisors). Another chapter, "Creating a Mediation-Friendly Environment", gets down to reading materials and arrangement of the reception room. Most important, he introduces the idea of the client library, described as a consumer-friendly collection of books, video tapes and other resources which will help clients learn what they need to help solve their own problems. This concept is related to Mosten's preference for informed client consent, and he reports that his library is well used by his clients.

Part Three is "The Nuts and Bolts of Private Practice", which covers topics such as finding a place to practice, naming your practice, forming strategic partnerships and networks. With respect to networks, he uses his own Mosten Mediation Centers as an illustrative model, in which he has established local mediators around the country as subcontractors. In the chapter entitled "Strategic Planning and Investing in Yourself", he gets very specific about the time and money required to establish a mediation practice, including a breakdown of out -of-pocket costs which add up to $57,000 over a five-year period.

Even though he has stated his desire to see a great increase in the number of practicing mediators, Mosten in no way sugarcoats the obstacles and challenges facing anyone who plans to enter the field. His candor, at times, would almost seem to discourage, but at least anyone who has read the book would enter the field fully warned. More important they will have read a well integrated combination of philosophy and nuts and bolts, each supporting the other.

This is a critical book for those contemplating a career in mediation, it is a useful book for anyone contemplating using the services of a mediator, and it is an interesting book for those who are attracted by the concept of mediation as a force for more peaceful interpersonal relations.

It is one thing to learn how to mediate, it is another to learn how to start your business as a mediator. This book focuses on the second task. I found that this book contains good, practical advice for analyzing your own abilities as a mediator and setting up your practice. It even talks about how to establish the physical environment of your office. Combine this with Allan H. Goodman's new, second edition of Basic Skills for the New Mediator, and you should be ready to hang out your shingle.

I live on the Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley to be precise, and this book portrays the beauty we are now experiencing this spring. We have a beautiful Poppy Preserve on the westside of our valley. Jane Pinheiro was a woman who not only painted pictures of many of our wildflowers , but she was one of the people instrumental in seeing that the Poppy Preserve came into being. A number of her paintings are on display at the Preserve. I have one of her paintings, and with this lovely wildflower book, I was able to ascertain which of the wildflowers is depicted in my painting. If anyone is interested in not only viewing the array of colors during our spring wildflower viewing, but is interested in learning some of the names of said wildflowers, and a bit of background for each of them, this is the book to buy.

Money well spent. We are ready for wildflower season! A lot of color pictures with good information. If you live in or near the Mojave Desert this is a valuable book.

I love these Falcon guides mainly because of the lavish color illustrations. Every flower in the book has its own color picture, along with helpful descriptions. The front matter in this book includes all sorts of background material about the Mojave, along with the usual educational stuff about plant types, leaf distribution, etc. And the book is made to last -- if you take any care of it at all, it will last you forever.

This is probably the easiest to use desert plant book I have (and I have eight that focus on desert plants in all). What it lacks in completeness, it more than makes up for in terms of ease of use. There is a picture for each plant and the plants are grouped according to flower color. So as long as the plant is in bloom, it's not too hard to find out what it is. This book does a great job of covering the plants you are most likely to come across which makes it a great book to thumb through in the field. If you are dealing with similar species within the same genus or rare plants, you'll probably want to get the Jepson guide.

Pam MacKay's 'Mojave Desert Wildflowers' is a wonderfully informative & beautifully photographed guide to the wildflowers of the Mojave. This sturdy plastic-coated field guide contains over 300 gorgeous photos, finely detailed plant descriptions, and is virtually an introductory textbook on Mojave Desert ecology. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the Mojave Desert. The author lives & teaches in the Mojave and her dedication, attention to detail, and love of the desert are revealed on every page.

Jim Otterstrom

Holy smokes! If this had been my grammar book back in junior high, or whenever it was that the tedium of rules overcame my innate joy of learning, I'd have probably learned all this stuff. Learned it and spared countless teachers, professors and bosses along the way the trouble stumbling over my confusion of punctuation and mixed tenses.

Want to tune up your grammar and have a good time doing so? Buy the book!

Mr. Spina covers every aspect of grammar in the book, and it's actually understandable!

Not only do I no longer make silly grammatical errors, but my writing style has tremendously improved. Being a college student, I have to be able to write good essays. So far in my college career, I have never gotten under and 'A' on my essays, and all my teachers think they are wonderful.

To be honest, everything I know about writing essays came from THIS book.

P.S. It's a fun read. Not even slightly boring. I didn't really understand how interesting mountain men were until I read this!


If you want to learn about grammar from A to Z or just want to improve your writing, I highly recommend this easy read over any other grammar book!

This book is delightful! Mr. Spina weaves his story with lessons in grammar that is original and enjoyable. I never knew the study of grammar could be so much fun. I highly recommend it.

Crittur:

Reading this grammar book is like tapdancing with your sweetie at the rendezvous. Who ever heard of a grammar book written by a mountain man? No one. Those are supposed to be penned by bespectacled spinsters. But not this one. It's a hoot! The grammar is muscular, too.

Gary Spina has succeeded in producing a grammar book comparable to the best-selling "Eats Shoots and Leaves" tainted by a mountain man's flare. His book is a laugh-out-loud way to master the rules of grammar. It is a truly painless way (except for the stitch in one's side caused by laughing) to learn. If you're one of many clueless people who can't tell an expletive from an appositive, this book is for you. As well as introducing you to the life of a mountain man, this book will help to keep you from embarassingly dangling your participles in public. It's the most fun you'll have with the English language, and it will even fit in your briefcase. Mary Louise Helwig-Rodriguez

Colorful and easy to read. Nice acompniment to the show. Easy to follow each misson. Cool extras, including - the radio station list and things to see and do in each state visited.

Road Rules, Road Trips gives a wonderful insight in what goes behind the first two seasons of Road Rules. It allows to not only see the process behind the missions and other aspects of the show but it allows you to get to know the chracthers behind each season in an entirely different light. While I enjoyed the television series this book showed it to me in a wonderful new light. A great read for those who want to know more about Road Rules and the people who make it. :)

I haven't seen Road Rules but I was curious about the series. The book is excellent and provides much detail into each mission and the performers. This book is much better than Road Rules Passport Abroad and Road Rules Journals (which assumes that the reader has seen Road Rules).

I am a big RR and RW fan. This book had a lot of really interesting information that you wouldn't get by just watching the show. I liked getting each person's reaction to situations. I would have liked more reaction to Mark's skydive that went wrong. All in all - a very good read for fans interested in the series.

I applaud the writer of the book for only writing about the first two seasons. They were the hands down winners for best seasons ever. It was interesting to find out everything that I didn't see on the show. The cast was also very interesting.

There is a tremondous amount of ideas in the beautifully written book, such as ideas and techniques that you can use. I've always loved nature and have recently wanted to start a nature journal, but never really knew how to go about it or what types of observations to draw or write about. Well, I don't have that problem any more thanks to this wonderful book.
My only complaint, which is minor compared to how usefull and informative this book is, is that some of the authors' handwritten notes in the sketchbook examples are a little hard to read.

I wanted to familiarize myself with nature in my new locale. As the homes spring up and push the wild spaces back, I feel the need to record some of it before it is gone.
This book, Nature Journaling, gives me the structure and the encouragement to start recording. My first attempt was a drawing of a lizard clinging to the screen. I'm so pleased to just get started with this book to inspire me.
The book suggests varied journaling styles, and asks questions to spark your observations. The drawing exercises also are varied (pencil, adding color, quick sketches, etc.). The book is delightfully illustrated with sample sketches from many different nature journals.
Journaling makes you really look at things and question what you are observing. I really recommend it.

An excellent book to get you started with capturing little pieces of nature to bring indoors with you. Truly helps diminish the "Oh, I can't do that" syndrome. Take the kids with you and make a project of it. You'll find it's easy and fun too.

This book was recommended in our homeschool loop. I bought the book hoping for some ideas to get me started, always wanted to start but felt uncomfortable about just doing it. The book will end all your worries! I was very impressed by the books contents and how easy it was to get started. My 5 1/2 year old daughter and I have started with the very basics as part of our daily school lessons and I plan to add more as we progress. You do not have to be an artist to do this! This is your journal and you do what you want in it, nobody needs to see it unless you want to share it. It will make you become more observant to your surroundings and the way things are constantly changing. A great base for any homeschool program.

If you're into nature and you haven't lost touch with a child's wonder, you will enjoy Nature Journaling. A great book for families who like to wander together or for adults who want to reconnect with their natural surroundings.

I've been using this guide in Southern Africa for the last 6 years, and it's never let me down. Great book for those traveling to the region, but keep in mind that most guides at the wildlife parks will already have a copy, so you could save the weight and space in your luggage.

Have not actually been to southern Africa yet, but plan to do so next summer. I have been an avid birder for 3 decades, and it looks like the format of this book will be very useful for my trip.

this is the best bird guide for birds of the region. I have carefully looked over others on the market.

Excellent book with very good graphics and organization. Just what is needed to confirm your observations or identify your sightings.

Now in a fully revised eighth edition, Newman's Birds Of Southern Africa is a field guide to 125 species of Southern African birds illustrated throughout with realistic full-color artwork. Each species has an entry with a map indicating their distribution, their common and scientific name, a brief paragraph with a basic physical description and notes on distinguishing characteristics, and a gorgeous, realistic color illustration. A revised introduction teaches the reader step-by-step how to use the guide to quickly identify avian species, and a glossary, index and birdwatching checklist round out this first-class resource. A treat for bird lovers due to the top-quality artistry alone, as well as being a quintessential identification guide, Newman's Birds Of Southern Africa is enthusiastically recommended for amateur birdwatchers and professional biologists alike.