K Books

This is a great story of the magic that Christmas brings each year.

A dear teacher friend recommended this book and said she couldn't read it to her class without crying! I thought I would be able to read it to my grandson without tearing up, but alas...he had to finish the last few pages! (Much to his delight!) It is such a gentle, tender story. Even when you KNOW what the outcome will be, you can't help but FEEL the emotions the writer conveys so well! Outstanding illustrations put this book in a rare class!

This was a beautiful story written and illustrated. It allows one to discover how people can reach into the hearts of so many with a simple act of kindness. It also reassures children that one does not have to have a lot to change the lives of another. And that dreams do come true.

Karen

I like Chris Soentpiet's book called Silver Packages. The pictures he drew were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The book was outstanding! I like the part when the boy is holding his first one in front of the Christmas tree.

If you want to read a great book then read Silver Packages because it will just touch your heart. It all started when no one had anything so every Christmas a man came and threw silver packages out the back of the train. Chris Soentpiet's illustrations are colorful and interesting.

Sister Anne's Hands are different; that is one of the first things Anna Zabrocky notices about Sr. Anne. Set in the 1960's, in the days of hatred toward anything that made a person different, this book explores Civil Rights, learning, and love from the perspective of a black-skinned nun and a white-skinned child. Through the course of the book, we see through word and picture the image of how Sr. Anne's hands tell a story. They go from being the object of Anna's curiosity about all the colors in them, to being the expression of a child's love for her teacher in a card Anna makes for Sr. Anne. Anna learned the greatest lesson: to look beyond the fear of our differences to learn of the love we share in our similarities. This is a very intimate look, through the lens of diversity, at the love that grows between a teacher and a child.

This book is particularly useful to me in my work as a Catholic religious educator because it demonstrates through historical fiction, an approach to respecting life in all of its forms, and celebrating that which makes us unique! This book is special to me - I was attracted by the name. I have two aunts who are nuns, one of whom is named Sr. Ann. My aunts shared their vocations as nuns and their professions as teachers. I remember seeing pictures of Sr. Ann and Sr. Alice Marie in their full habits. I recall thinking about how strange they looked in their pictures because by the time I was born, nuns no longer wore a habit every day! The best memories of my aunts involve the feeling of being loved and whole in my aunts' presence, and that sense of love and being whole is very prominent in this book. Perhaps one of this book's greatest strengths is the author's ability to weave together many challenges to a person's dignity (exclusion by color, creed, and vocation) into a theme where differences and diversity are celebrated! The theme of this book aligns very closely with the tenor of the current presidential race in the US. In that, it is a timeless treasure and does not seem to have any apparent weakness.

Having lived as a child in the '60s, I found Sister Anne's Hands to be a authentic mirror of this era's racial biases and a gentle reminder that education is our best hope for an end to "isms."

Marybeth Lorbiecki takes a situation of racism and turns it around. She shares with the reader how a negative can become a positive between two individuals, even if the community at large stays negative. And with that, human lives are changed forever.

First, this is an outstanding book. It has substance and a wonderful message that makes its point without being preachy. Second, it is still a children's book that kids will enjoy reading or having read to them. Finally, the artwork is first rate and a joy to look at. It is the complete package. With so much mediocre childish children's 'literature', this is the real deal: a quality, substantive, enjoyable book. Enjoyable to read for parent and child.

Sister Anne's Hands is an incredible picture filled book about a girl growing up during the time when Blacks and white's were still at war. She learns through her teacher (Sister Anne) that it doesn't matter what's on the outside it matters what your like on the inside. Through this heart warming book your child will learn important lessons on building good character. I liked reading this book because it gave me inspiration to follow my heart through everything I do. Your sure to love Sister Anne's Hand!!! Author of Sister Anne's Hands: Marybeth Lorbiecki

Yes, you must read it. This book tells about two girls that live 100 years apart that think that life in 100 years or 100 years ago will be better than the life they lead. So, while Amber is transported back in time, Ada is transported forward in time with the help of a mysterious wishing well. Both girls must go to orphanages, as they have no family in this strange time, and both figure out that life in either time isn't what they thought it would be. Now they long for home. But they have one problem. How in the world are they going to get home?
A book filled with suspense and fantasy is the best book, in my mind. The only thing wrong with this one: the author never reveals what creature was in the well. Still, I would highly recomend this book for anyone who loves fantasy.

Switching Well is one of the best yet most confusing novels I've ever read. As they switch times through chapters it was kind of confusing. Peni R. Griffen sure has a way of grasping your interests.
The quality of the book on a scale of 1-10 would be 91/2. Most of the characters are almost real. You can feel the emotions they face and the hardships they endured. My favorite character is Ada because as she experiences the modern world it is just one more discovery after another. This character is special to me because even though her father believes women are inferior she still tries to earn his respect. The author did a masterful job in development of characters. Peni R. Griffen was able to grasp my interests and hold on throughout the entire novel. As she switched off characters she would leave you with many questions such as: What about Ada? Will Amber be in trouble? etc. My favorite scenes in the book are when Ada and Mrs. Bauer hang out with each other because they were interesting. I wouldn't have made any changes. I think Peni R. Griffen's way was the only good way this novel could have been written.
From this book I learned to take nothing for granted and that you never know how important something is to you until it's gone.

Switching Well, written by Peni R. Griffin is an outstanding narrative about two girls who switch centuries in a magic well and can't reach their times. Ada is a 13 year old girl with a peaceful and normal personality. Amber is a spunkier girl but feels sad when she finds out her parents are divorcing. They meet new friends, people that aren't very nice, and have to lie along the way, but somehow tell the truth. The girls learn about one another because people think they're missing. I recomend this book... it's absalutly fastinating.

Switching Well by Peni R. Griffin has two main characters. The first is twelve-year-old Ada Bauer, who lives in San Antonio, Texas, in 1891. Women in her time are not considered as important as men, and her father thinks so. Her teacher was tempted to fail her essay about a woman's rights. So she goes to the Haunted Lot and wishes in the well to live a hundred years in the future. The second main character is twelve-year-old Amber Burak, who also lives in San Antonio, but in 1991. Her parents are thinking about getting divorced, and she seems to be the last to know. She, too, goes to the Haunted Lot and wishes in the well that she lived a hundred years in the past. Ada and Amber switch places and are completely confused in their new lives. They try to wish themselves back home, but it doesn't work. The longer they stay a hundred years away, they wonder if they will ever be able to get home.

Yes, you must read it. This book tells about two girls that live 100 years apart that think that life in 100 years or 100 years ago will be better than the life they lead. So, while Amber is transported back in time, Ada is transported forward in time with the help of a mysterious wishing well. Both girls must go to orphanages, as they have no family in this strange time, and both figure out that life in either time isn't what they thought it would be. Now they long for home. But they have one problem. How in the world are they going to get home?
A book filled with suspense and fantasy is the best book, in my mind. The only thing wrong with this one: the author never reveals what creature was in the well. Still, I would highly recomend this book for anyone who loves fantasy.

I would love to see this book updated and organized with color coded tabs for easy reference. It had a lot of good tools and ideas, for both parents and teachers. We pass this along to our teacher every year.

As a parent of children with TS, I obtained this book for teachers to have a better understanding of techniques in the classroom. Consistently, I came across teachers who would apply the techniques uniformly and dismiss the "it depends" approach which is critical in dealing with TS... from the standpoint that the condition is ever changing in an individual, and it is different from one person to the next. (Too many teachers would say, "Oh I've had a TS child before"... I have *two* as well, and they and the *effective* approaches in teaching them couldn't be more different from one another.)

For example: putting a child near the front of the room for attention issues and to help them keep on track... may be devastating for a child who does not want their tics on display, and of course not necessary for the child who tics but who does not have attention issues.

Seating arrangements need to be assessed INDIVIDUALLY for every child; and for those with TS, it needs to be assessed more than once... the condition is dynamic, not static, (it waxes and wanes), the techniques need to be dynamic too. Too often I see the techniques gleaned from the book used statically and never re-visited throughout the academic year as to wether they are working, and/or if they are needed at any given moment.

The book doesn't necessarily indicate static approaches, it just seems to me that once the book is read, (or skimmed is more likely what I found to be the case by our educators), that the educators we've dealt with will focus on one erroneous technique that may have nothing to do with our child's current needs or situation, and claim that they are modifying their techniques for our child with TS, with no consideration as to the effectiveness. Or worse, (from our child's standpoint), they will read about *behavior* approaches when in fact our child has no associated behavior issues, (the book tends to lump different but sometimes associated conditions like ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Mood disorders - and offer techniques without clearly delineating if the symptoms are TS or from other conditions), and the resulting assumptions as to the root cause of any given *in-classroom* behavior can have a devastating impact on a child with TS, especially if *intention* is thought to be behind *disruptive* behavior.

Don't use this book unless you plan to delve deeper into your student with TS, and their exact manifestation of symptoms, and their pattern of symptoms and then be prepared to re-visit the THEN resulting specific application of techniques, on a continual basis, other wise you can do more damage than good by ASSUMING that you are applying techniques covered in the book, when in fact you may not be addressing the specific situation your student finds themselves in, in any given week, in any given hour.

The plan needs to be flexible, use the book ala carte or for brain storming solutions... don't apply it like a recipe, your ingredients will always be different with a TS student.

I have a now 17 year old daughter who began really struggling in school at age 10, 5th grade. We had her evaluated by the school and they determined that because her IQ was high, she was not eligible for special services, despite the fact that she was failing almost every subject and had trouble socially. I took her to our own child neuro-psychiatrist and, after a lengthy interview and eval, she was diagnosed with tourette syndrome. Further it was determined that she was manifesting her TS with many symptoms of ADHD and OCD...something the school district refused to take into consideration.

I stumbled upon this book at our local book store and literally sat in the aisle just soaking up the most accurate description of my daughter that anyone had ever been able to give me - and it was a BOOK! It was as if I could have written the list of symptoms and the various methods they offered that work (most of the time). I immediately paid the $35 for this book without reservation and read it from cover to cover, several times. There are about 10 pages in the back of the book with many many other resources for parents, DR's and educators.

The thing about any brain disorder is that they vary in degree and there are very few who have an exact definition or symptomology...iow, no two are ever truly alike. It is VERY common for kids with TS to have crossover symptoms of ADHD and OCD and vice versa. This book addresses those symptoms. This book also talks a lot about the common 'rage attacks' that many of these kids experience and how it's such a normal reaction to what they are going through...it really helps the parents to put their child's behavior into perspective and rather than parent from a purely punitive standpoint, the parent can custom fit their parenting styles to suit that child. This book shows you how to do that. It offers tips and resources to help teachers deal with these types of kids in a way that is not humiliating and embarrassing to the child or his classmates. This book helped me to 'read' my daughter and learn how to diffuse a rage attack before it happened - any idea how incredible that is??

Most teachers have been trained to teach one way. They have a population of about 24-30+ students in their class and they have to figure out a way to teach them all so they teach to the majority. Who does that leave out? The bright shiny star students and those who need a helping hand or those who need just a little encouragement and a few secret code words to get through a lesson plan. The majority of teachers do not have the time or the wherewithall to accomplish the goal of moving from one lesson plan to the next with ease when she has even ONE special needs kid in her class. Someone loses and most often, it is the student who needs the help the most. Sure, the schools provide paras, but only in the classrooms that have a named special education student in them. If you have a kid who has TS and isn't designated Spec Ed, then his/her class will not have a para in it.

That's another reason this book is so valuable to ALL teachers. Each of our children learn in their own way...there is a way to teach them and teach them well. This book should be mandatory reading for all prospective teachers. Every teacher should have this book in her library!! I made 3 copies for my district, one for the elementary level, one for junior high, and one for the high school level. I don't think one person ever cracked it open; if my daughters experiences at our local public school are any indication. We transferred out to a charter school in 9th grade. She did very well there. The entire staff was very up on their special needs kiddos and my daughter benefitted from their style of teaching and their empathy - something that is sorely lacking in our public schools in my opinion. Buy this book!

I am 19 and when I was in elementary school tourette's was still looked upon by many proffessionals and most authority as something that "didnt exist"or the parents fault. My [...] teacher mrs. streneva used to poke me so hard in the chest when i disbehaved that i recieved many bruises on my chest. the doctors said i would never make it through public school. My mom paid 40 some dollars for this book back then, and we didnt have alot of money, and it cost a fortune, and this book was my moms treasure and she never ever let me hold it and never ever let any of the teachers borrow it, instead, she made then copied pages & such, and then the teachers would request more information on a topic and my mom would copy it from this book. this book educated alot of authority and all the teachers at Pleasant Elementary in Warren, Pennsylvania. This is a big miracle, I have a huge thanks for the writers who did this. This book is a 100% MUST HAVE for ANYONE with ANY amount of children with tourettes syndrome, ADHD, Depression, bi poklar, or any such. It is a strictly MUST HAVE. I reccomend this with everything in my heart and for helping me get through elementary school. As for for making it through public school? I am now a freshman at edinboro university of pennsylvania and even though my grades arent very good, I have made it this far, and I can do things with my life that doctors never thought would be possible. I am almost tic free, thanks to my medications. And it all started with this book.

I love this book, which I have found invaluable in educating my son's teachers about the disorder. It is basically a compilation of information that any well read TS parent has probably found in 20 different locations, but for the novice looking for a thorough overview in one book, "Teaching The Tiger" goes a LONG way toward increasing their TS education. It gives practical advise re behavioral interventions that work, and more importantly those that DON'T.

I find teachers are more receptive to this book because it is written specifically for teachers (rather than taking advise/instuction from a parent). I've found it to be quite credible and informative to them. I believe the answer to stigma, ignorance, and misinformation (ex: the 20/20-60 Minutes/media representation of TS), is education. This book provides it, specifically aimed at giving teachers tips on dealing with TS in the CLASSROOM environment. My son's teachers have been really grateful for these TS-specific insights.

If you can afford the $35 for this book, DO! It is a worthwhile investment into making your child's educational road a smoother one. In the meantime, you may be able to do what I did. I borrowed a copy from the library and made photo copies of the most relevant chapters for each teacher/aide involved with my son. I also either showed them the book itself or made a photocopy of the cover, in case they wanted to purchase/borrow the entire book themselves. If you have a good relationship with the principal or school librarian, suggesting that the school purchase a copy for the staff library is also practical.

Those are my two cents, on "Teaching The Tiger". "Taming the Tiger" came first and provides a similar compilation of info for parents and others learning about TS. I hope you'll check out these books for yourself.

AMM

Don't miss this one! Mainly about the lives of school girls in modern England, with enough eccentrics and quirks to keep you smiling throughout, with nice Mozartian references, not to mention PG Wodehouse, "The Leopard", Oxford, aging hippies,and several disorganized, but loving families. The heroine's mixed up love life is mostly amusing, though it does seem to hit a strange wall with the very odd Giavanni at the end. Still, this is miles ahead of most popular fiction out there,and worth re-reading too!

I must agree with another reviewer who stated that while pretty good, this novel is not her best effort (that would be "Brother of the More Famous Jack" and "The Travelling Hornplayer") I never found the characters in this novel to be as engaging as in her other works. Our main character Alice while intellegent and lovely, is so easily swayed by the men in her life I was beginning to think she was incapable of knowing her own mind. And the men in her life....ugh, I was having a hard time deciding who was more obnoxious, the foppish "my poppet" Roland, the "marry the bosses daughter" Matthew, or the egomanical Giovanni. By the end of the novel I was hopeful for Alice but something about Giovanni.....Hmm.

It's amazing what she does! I'm in awe. Noah's Ark is great too - I'd highly recommend it, and all the others. This one is my favorite.

I really loved this book. I could never tell quite where it was going but I loved where it ended up. One reviewer on this site commented that he was tired of Alice being a doormat for men, but I could easily see why she would be this way. Her development into a person with enough self-confidence to assert herself is an imporant part of the book.

I worked backwards, first reading The Travelling Hornplayer, before I read this. A measure of a good book for me is whether or not I think about the characters when I am not reading, and how much I enjoy them--for good or bad--when I am reading. It is delightful to finally see Alice get away from Roland "my poppet" Dent and head back to Jem. This is a book well worth reading! Go and find all of Trapido's books, you won't be sorry.

There is a drive within the genetic code of human beings that can be as urgent as the need for food, water, or sleep. It is the urge to procreate. When Kelly Damron and her husband tried to have children in 2001 she had to deal with the problem of infertility. She was finally able to conceive only to have her twin daughters born prematurely in 2004. Then after their troubled birth, Kelly found herself experiencing postpartum depression. She went on to join the march of Dimes as an active volunteer in 2006 and became the co-chair of the Family Teams Committee for the March for Babies (formerly known as WalkAmerica). She was the Mission Family presenter for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica event on May 17, 2007, and has become involved with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, assisting in their Marketing and Events Committees. In "Tiny Toes: A Couple's Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, And Depression" Kelly candidly records her personal story, drawing upon both her experience and subsequent hard-won expertise. Now the mother of two happy and healthy little girls, Kelly has written "Tiny Toes" for the benefit of the thousands of others who every year must deal with what she's had to cope with -- infertility and premature births, and sometimes a combination of both. Strongly recommended reading, especially for the one in eight couples encountering infertility and the 12.5% of women whose babies are born prematurely, "Tiny Toes" is as informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring.

As an individual who dealt with infertility in the past and currently works with couples struuggling with these issues in outpatient treatment, I found Tiny Toes by Kelly Damron to be an excellent resource to anyone facing infertilitry and/or prematurity. Not only does it provide informative technical information, but also honestly and directly addresses the emotional stuggles faced by couples going through this process. This book is an invaluable resource to those early in the process in identifying, preparing for and dealing with the many emotional issues. Those who have already gone through the process of infertility and/or prematurity will find this book to be normalizing and validating. Furthermore, this book is a wonderful resource for extended family and friends who want to learn about the physical and emotional struuggles in order to be understanding and supportive to their loved ones. I will continue to recommend this courageous and helpful book to anyone I encounter struggling with similar issues!

I have several friends in various stages of IVF and that have delivered premature children. Until this book, I didn't know the internal struggles, day to day struggles, and strength needed within a family. I now have a much better understanding. Read this book so you can be a better person to your child, your friend or co-worker going through this challenge.

Kelly Damron's book Tiny Toes is a must read for everyone. We all know couples who struggle with infertility and the challenges surrounding this issue. Tiny Toes is very educational, entertaining and enlightening. The specific infertility terms, methods and process were amazing to learn about. Kelly shared in such a realistic way her personal journey through this difficult and learning process. Once you begin reading you won't want to put it down! Like me you'll think of dozens of others who can benefit by this excellent book!

Kelly's story provides an inner glimpse of the struggles of a family during infertility, premature birth, and depression that will touch anyone. Although it may be especially poignant for families that share this struggle, I was moved by Kelly's honesty and passion even though I have not had the same experiences. As a similar personality type, it was especially meaningful for me to understand the process Kelly went through to overcome her depression and how she found joy and hope through these adversities.

Pam Vredevelt writes from a Christian point of view. She is a wife of a man in the ministry, a woman who gives talks, and a mother of three. Their third child was born with down syndrone. Pam went through a period of depression. Slowly, she began to realize that there is beauty in having a "special needs" child. The messages of hope throughout this book make it an appropriate book to give to any friend who is going through a difficult time. (ie cancer, divorce, etc.) I received mine as a gift, and have dog eared pages to refer back to.

Anyone who has faced disappointment, death or any kind of tragedy this book is for you. It is filled with hope. I will give this book as gifts to many of my friends and family. I hope others will treasurer it as much as I have.

I loved this book by Pam Vredevelt so much that I am reading it a second time. It is so encouraging because it gives the perspective of a parent in clear and heartfelt wording. I have many "Nathan's" in my classroom whose parents have surely felt some of the same grief and joy expressed by Pam. I applaud her for writing such an emotionally open and inspiring book becuase it has given me new perspective into what the parents of my students continually deal with.

Someone gave me a copy of this book years ago when I was going through tough times. Though details of my situation were in no way similar to the author's, I could relate to the fears and spiritual/emotional struggles she faced. Her story of hope and spiritual strength helped me to face and then conquer my own fears. I have since given several copies of this book to other friends facing their own life struggles, and have received much positive feedback. Highly recommended.

I am the mother of a child with Down Syndrome. My neighbor gave me this book and it was at a time when I most needed it. Sometimes raising a child with a disability can be challenging and this gave me hope. I sent it to two other people who could also use the same hope at a difficult time. It is inspiring to know that these children are not alone. I learned that from this book and it helps us as we go on this journey. Thank you Pam Vredevelt!

If you are interested in developing new skills in how to do the relationship dance, this is the book for you. Fearless Loving is a must read. It doesn't matter whether you're currently in relationship, whether you would like to be in a relationship, married, single, recently split up, or divorced. Rhonda has a talent for bringing together concepts and distilling them into bit size, chewable skills for taking action, which most any one of us can implement, given our commitment.

This book is a valuable tool for me, personally and for my sixteen year marriage/partnership. I'm finding new ways to really listen, communicate, to set boundaries, to clarify perceptions, to honor my feelings and to play.

Fearless Loving also offers an insightful and helpful protocol for people who are interested in a new way to date. I highly recommend this book to my friends and anyone interested in Love.

Rhonda Britten just gets it. This book is so wonderful. She can guide you along your path to loving in a way you never thought you could, but always wanted to. The most poignant truth for me is that everyone is innocent. That's so hard to think and act on, but she's so right about it. I would have everyone believe me innocent until proven guily, so it only seems fair for me to believe that about everyone else. This book will help you with understanding any type of love and how to do it best! She never coaches you to be someone you're not, and even highly discourages behaving as if you were playing a game. She teaches you how to test your prospective partner, or current partner so you can hear what they're not saying (which is more insightful than what they are saying). Rhonda will fill you full of courage and you will feel that you can love confidently without ever sacrificing who you are, or ever compromising what you need from a loving relationship.

Fearless Loving is well-written and packed full of useful tools that if followed will send you on your way to building new love relationships, enhancing the one's you already have and uncovering and discovering the ways in which we block or deny ourselves love. The author jumps into the trenches with you as she reveals her own personal experiences. This approach made it feel real and tangible. The best self-help book I've read in a long time!!

If you've ever been through divorce -- if you've ever had a failed relationship and aren't quite sure why things couldn't have worked out better -- if you're tired of playing relationship roulette -- READ THIS BOOK!! It's the guidebook for finding and keeping love that you've been looking for. And don't forget to read Fearless Living, too! It's your ticket to freedom and to the real YOU!

ok, i only first heard of Rhonda by watching the TV reality show "starting over" + then got hooked onto watching the amazing clarity with which she brought women from all walks of life to.
so my roomate bought this book to assist her from dating another jerk, and boy, is this book stellar! its not thick, not complicated, but really packs an emotional + mental punch. i have even more respect for this woman, who has been through so much + has found a way to positively help others. i've been telling all open-minded pals of mine who really do want to change any "failures" they have to read this. its really good stuff!

"Atatürk" by Patrick Kinross was first published in 1964. I found this book to be a highly compassionate view of Atatürk's life.

Patrick Kinross' narration is insightful and reads like a story; very different from a dry historical text presenting fact after fact. He draws a rich picture of the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in terms of the changing political, religious and social landscape of his country in the first quarter of the 20th century. Atatürk literally created the nation of Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire as World War 1 re-drew the political lines of Europe.

He gives the reader a very personal understanding of the intense sense of purpose and duty that drove Atatürk throughout his life, and also how it led to many contradictions in his life. Atatürk created a secular nation by first engendering the support of eminent religious authority figures, without telling them his aim was a secular nation. Atatürk wanted Turkey to become just like a "modern Western democratic republic", but became a benign autocrat, leading a one party system where all representatives were hand picked by Atatürk.

Kinross begins with Atatürk's birth in Salonika and traces his troubled early school years and enrolment into the Military Secondary School where Atatürk discovered himself as a soldier and was given the first name "Kemal", meaning "perfection". From his portrayal of Atatürk in his younger years, we are given to understand that Atatürk developed very early a fierce sense of dedication to a country he recognized as flawed and in need of change. He demonstrates an astounding prescience, has a sharp mind, a passion for raki and debate, and an abiding abhorrence for what he saw as the role of religion in the decline of his country.

We follow Atatürk through the despairing times of World War 1, where Atatürk's actions and leadership are nothing short of heroic. The insights he develops into the military and political situation of the time picks him out as a potential threat to his superiors, but also identify him as an invaluable commander. For many years he works in the background to develop a network of resistance against the self serving Ottoman authority. Instead of bringing about a change of government, he finds himself pushed to the side as several revolutionaries take the fore, become despots in their own right and are then torn down - such as Enver Pasha. "Enver Pasha killed Enver Bey" is a telling quote I remember.

Eventually the situation for Atatürk comes to a head when the allies of the First World War begin plans to dismantle Turkey and occupy the country. Atatürk, using all his skill and cunning as a diplomatic, soldier and hero rallies a new line of defense that pushes the allies out of Turkey and forms a new government, the first Republic of Turkey.

I found some important subjects were left out or not given sufficient attention. There was only a passing reference to the swap of Greek and Turkish population in 1923. And although the Kurds' role in the independence war was described in some detail and the conflicts between Armenians, Kurds, Greeks and Turks over land was much discussed, there was no evaluation of Atatürk's attitude towards each group as a people or how this affected his actions.

At times, Kinross seemed too compassionate towards Atatürk, almost apologetic. The book made much of the contradictions within Atatürk, but rarely explored the darker side of his character. Instead, his actions were repeatedly explained or justified by his admirable sense of duty to his country. Nowhere was this clearer than in the portrayal of Atatürk's involvement in the Independence Tribunals of 1927. These tribunals were brought in to punish the leaders of a Kurdish revolt, but were also used to summarily round up all of Atatürk's political enemies at the time - including former friends and compatriots without whom the Republic of Turkey may never have come about.

I understand now, why there is still a deep reverence throughout Turkey for this politician and leader, Atatürk, who people still call the Father of Turkey. For he was truly the father of Turkey: he led a movement that completely and permanently changed the political and social face of the nation. Turkey changed from a caliphate to a republic, and that was just the beginning. After that, Atatürk gave the people a new language (yes, "gave" - he helped create it and personally taught it); laws were introduced changing the national costume; and women were made equal to men - all this in less than fifteen years!

I also understand that a major part of Atatürk's legacy is the shock of such massive changes introduced in such an extremely short time - a shock that still resonates today. At least one of the multiple coup d'état in the latter half of the 20th century (after Atatürk's death) were instituted by people who felt empowered to act by a sense of duty and revolution that Atatürk himself encouraged. The fact that religion lost its primacy under Atatürk also left his country with a deep and lingering conflict between religious and secular life that is at the forefront of Turkey's political situation today. Much like present day Indonesia, religious parties have gained prominence and seek to re-assert religion as part of government.

I began reading this book on the plane trip home from my first holiday in Turkey to visit my partner's family. It took me six months to finish the book and has given me a much deeper connection with this beautiful country and the people I met.

If you are a student of history, or if you have ever visited Turkey and wanted to know "how".. I highly recommend this book.

Review from my blog [...]

Unfortunately we know very little about the history of Modern Turkey and the Turkish people in general. I would even say all we know is unsubtantiated ...in general against Turks. This wonderful book of outstanding historian Lord Kinross is telling the real story behind the modern Turkey and the avant-guard philosophical foundations that created this modern republic out of ashes of a country which was torn off completely by wars followed one another. This book is clearly proving us that Ataturk is not only the most important political leader of our century but also may be some centuries back and some centuries forward yet to come. Any person from the developed Western societies who are serious about learning something about a nobel nation such as Turks and their genius humanitarian leader Ataturk, this is the book to read.

At 9:05 AM on each November 10th, all the inhabitants of Turkey stop their worldly activities and observe a few minutes of silence. They are observing the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, in 1938. Ataturk was a man larger than life. After the destruction of the Ottoman Empire during WWI he defeated western European powers bent on carving up the spoils for themselves, and formed the new Turkish Republic in 1923. Ataturk was directly responsible for the disaster inflicted on British and Australian forces at Gallipoli, dramatized in the 1981 Australian motion picture. He also fought unsuccessfully against T. E. Lawrence and his Arabs. After forming the new Turkey, he completely reformed its society, replacing the arabic alphabet with latin, abolishing both polygamy and the fez, and installing a secular government. Lord Kinross' masterful book captures the broad scope and the thrilling details of the life of this amazing man and demonstrates his influence on the 20th century. Ataturk is one of the best biographies ever written, about one of the most interesting men in history.

having searched for a book on this leader but finding it out of my price range i happened to find a copy for £10 in Turkey of this book. It is a brilliant read. A man forgotten in the west but so properly idolised in turkey. Now I understand what all the fuss is about. This character is no Mussolini, Stalin or other jumped up tin pots but a man of the most amazing integrity and insight. It is amusing the way Lloyd George spend his whole career trying to undermine him but in the end with the defeat of the grekks fell from power due to his integrity. A tear passed my eye reading about the death of this hero and I certainly felt that i understood a bit more the respect and emotions theTurks have towards him.

I am Turkish. So I have read lots of things about Ataturk throughout my education. But it was all about the events like wars, revolutions, treaties but not the feelings about this great man. Now I understand some of his moves better.

I think everybody can learn something from this book but especially people of Turkey should read it to learn what kind of events our nation lived on our way to freedom and what kind of differences a leader can make.

This is a great resource for individuals looking for some leadership pointers.

Since I became a civilian a few years ago, I've struggled somewhat with explaining to my team how to adapt what I "know" about Army leadership into terms they can understand.

This book does a great job of putting the fundamentals of Army leadership into terms civilians can understand, and better yet, implement or integrate into their leadership experience.

The fundamentals apply to every organization, and I highly recommend it to any student of leadership!

I recently re-read this book, curious to know to what extent its content remains relevant. My conclusion? It is even more relevant today than it was when first published in 2004. In Richard E. Cavanagh's Foreword, he recalls a discussion during dinner with Peter Drucker and Jack Welch who shared the same opinion that the United States military services do the best job developing leaders. What we have in this volume is an adaptation by Frances Hesselbein and General Eric K. Shinseki (USA Ret.) of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, with assistance from Alan Shrader. Hesselbein and Shinseki also wrote the Introduction. The material is carefully organized within seven chapters, followed by a Conclusion that reviews the most important points, correctly noting the unique and compelling role that the U.S. Army has played since June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.

With regard to the book's title, "Army leadership begins with what the leader must Be, the values and attributes that shape a leader's character...People want leaders who are honest, competent, forward-looking, and inspiring...People willingly follow only those who know what they are doing. One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose trust and commitment of followers is to demonstrate incompetence...Character and competence, the Be and the Know, underlie everything a leader does. But character and knowledge - while absolutely necessary - are not enough. Leaders act; they Do...They solve problems, overcome obstacles, strengthen teamwork, and achieve objectives. They use leadership to produce results."

I realize that these concepts seem simple. In one sense they are. However, in this context, I am reminded of what Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: "I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." The challenge to any organization when developing leaders is to guide those involved to the other side of complexity." The composite of excerpts from Be-Know-Do identifies core concepts, to be sure, but it also describes the character, competence, knowledge, and results-driven initiative that the U.S. Army seeks to develop within every one of its soldiers, regardless of rank. "No one is only a leader; each person in an organization is also a follower and part of a team. In fact, the old distinction between leaders and followers has blurred; complex twenty-first-century organizations require individuals to move seamlessly from one role to another in an organization, from leadership to `followership,' and back again."

Hesselbein and Shinseki are to be commended for their skillful adaptation of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, but also for the inclusion within the narrative of relevant material from sources outside the U.S. Army organization. For example, they quote prominent business thinkers throughout the narrative: James Kouzes and Barry Posner on leadership by example (page 24), John Gardner on the importance of a shared vision (page 30), Patrick Lencioni on teamwork (page 86), and John Kotter on a leader's "quest for learning" (page 132). Readers will also appreciate the provision of various "Exhibits" such as 5.1 that provides a brilliant illustration of Team-Building Stages.

Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Frances Hesselbein's other works that include The Leader of the Future 2: Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the New Era co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith, On Leading Change: A Leader to Leader Guide co-authored with Rob Johnston, and Leading for Innovation: and Organizing for Results co-edited with Goldsmith and Iain Somerville. Also, I highly recommend the wealth of resources available at the Leader to Leader Institute (http://www.leadertoleader.org/), a non-profit and tax exempt organization that includes a subscription to its magazine among several membership benefits.

Although this book is required reading, not only for ARMY OCS, but also for other applications, it is quite possibly the most BORING read ever.

While the information is quite valid *and* genius, basically the ARMY's system on leadership, it is just plain boring... Sorry, it's the truth.

For the price, the information is golden. In fact, even if the price were higher it would still be worth what you pay. But even still, this was a painful 171 pages to read!!

BUY IT. READ IT. GET IT OVER WITH...! :)

The world's benchmark with respect to leadership is the market driven capitalist company, however it seems they have lost their way when compared to the US Army. After you read this book you will be shocked to find out how far ahead of private business the US Army is in the area of Leadership.

Ultimately the US Army has determined that in some fashion everyone that reports to you is also a leader and needs to be trained and respected as such. The US Army's leaders are actively developed at all levels so that they can lead and develop others - no lip service here.