K Books

I became aware of this book while looking for something good to watch on TV and came upon the movie "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge" starring Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. I watched a bit of the film, then checked the TV guide and found that it was based on the books "Mr. Bridge" and "Mrs. Bridge." The movie looked good, so I immediately turned it off while vowing to get the books then watch the film. "Mrs. Bridge" was written ten years earlier than the "Mr.," so I decided to read it first. Actually, I don't believe it makes any difference which you read first - except, because of the last five anecdotes of the "Mrs. Bridge" book go beyond the ending of the "Mr." book, I might suggest you read him first. The style of both books is the same: a series of mostly short anecdotes strung together to tell the life of these individuals, each from their own perspective. They both love each other and their three children, who love them back, but their lives are so unconnected that they can't express any feelings. Their life stories encompass the same years between the two World Wars, existence in the same upper class home in Kansas City, contain the same experiences, yet which each focuses on in their own book is totally different. "Mrs. Bridge" has 117 anecdotes, the Mr. has 141. Yet, they hardly ever overlap. And even when they do, for example when describing their trip to Europe, they talk about different aspects of this highlight of their life, as if they went on separate trips. Mr. Bridge, when he can break away from his office, is a wonderful parent and husband. He provides all the monetary needs of the family and offers sound, sage, practical advice to each of them. Mrs. Bridge is a super mom. The kids, each different but ones you would be proud to have, find individual success, yet are hampered by their parents' inability to express their emotions. Mr. Bridge is aware of this shortcoming, but is unable to overcome it. Interestingly, though most of his life is spent in his rewarding lawyer practice, he hardly ever mentions any specifics of his long days at the office. He does express sorrow twice in the book, but only to himself. After seeing the cancan performed in Paris, he lies in bed next to his wife and bemoans that "something which rightfully belongs to every man had been denied to him." And later back home and suffering from a sleepless night he concludes, "all that he believed in and had attempted to prove seem meager, all of his life was wasted." Strong stuff. I wanted to shake him, smack him, and tell him no, his life was not wasted. But, judge for yourself. As for me, I'm going to watch the movie.

I read this right on the heals of Mrs. Bridge. What a pair. I couldn't put this book down, either.

Evan S. Connell's "Mr. Bridge" stands, together with its companion novel, "Mrs. Bridge", as one of the outstanding works of Twentieth century American fiction. The two works, taken together, form the brilliantly wrought portrait of an upper middle class marriage in the years preceding and encompassing World War II. Linear in its narrative and meticulously realistic in its style, "Mr. Bridge" tells the story of Walter Bridge, a financially successful, but emotionally stunted, lawyer who lives out his proper married life in the wealthy Mission Hills suburb of Kansas City.

Mr. Bridge recognizes that his life did not begin until he knew his wife, India Bridge. His marriage is, in this sense, important to him. But he cannot articulate his deep feelings for his wife and, ultimately, gives up trying to express any emotion at all. "So the years passed, they had three children and accustomed themselves to a life together, and eventually Mr. Bridge decided that his wife should expect nothing more of him. After all, he was an attorney rather than a poet; he could never pretend to be what he was not."

Cold and emotionally repressed, Mr. Bridge spends all of his time at the office, becoming involved with his family only when necessary to ensure that proper middle class respectability is maintained. He spends his time visiting the bank, scrutinizing his stock certificates and counting his profits. Indeed, he is so focussed on wealth that he surprises his wife and children with stock certificates of Kansas City Power & Light on Christmas morning, only to take the gifts back into his possession so that he can properly manage them.

Manipulative and controlling, Mr. Bridge persuades his reluctant daughter, after she has won a contest, to accept a pony as a prize, even though she would much rather have a bicycle. When the day comes to accept the prize, "Mr. Bridge could not attend the presentation ceremony because he was again spending Saturday at the office." Like his self-centered Christmas present of utility company stock, this prize, too, becomes cheerless for his daughter because of his need to impose his will.

Deeply bigoted, Mr. Bridge cannot tolerate Jews or Blacks very well. When he has an opportunity to take investment advice from an obviously successful Jewish stockbroker, Mr. Bridge, instead, becomes offended by the man's ethnicity and ostensible pretension to be a successful upper middle class man like himself. Reluctantly shaking the man's hand, Mr. Bridge "could hardly restrain a shudder." Resonating with antisemitic feeling, "he withdrew his hand, which came away stickily. He wanted to wash it. His hand felt moist and unhealthy, as if during those few seconds it had become infected." Similarly, when his wife shows him horrifying pictures of a brutal lynching in the South, his only reaction is to ask, "what was this fellow doing that he shouldn't have been doing?"

A fiercely conservative man, with political views as deeply repressive as his stunted emotions, he cannot tolerate President Roosevelt. He even suggests that while Hitler was insane, "some of his ideas were sensible."

Indeed, the repressed feelings of Mr. Bridge find their darkest allusions in his feelings about his daughters, feelings that suggest powerful undercurrents of the sexuality that is absent from his marriage. Seeing his grown daughter, Carolyn, one night posing naked in front of a mirror, he cannot get her out of his mind. "He reminded himself that she was his daughter, but the luminous image returned like the memory of a dream."

"Mr. Bridge", like its companion novel, "Mrs. Bridge", is a stunning work of realism, a crystalline pure narrative of a marriage without feeling, a life without love, a man without the ability to move outside the bounds of middle class probity and respectability.

Evan S. Connell's "Mr. Bridge" stands, together with its companion novel, "Mrs. Bridge", as one of the outstanding works of Twentieth century American fiction. The two works, taken together, form the brilliantly wrought portrait of an upper middle class marriage in the years preceding and encompassing World War II. Linear in its narrative and meticulously realistic in its style, "Mr. Bridge" tells the story of Walter Bridge, a financially successful, but emotionally stunted, lawyer who lives out his proper married life in the wealthy Mission Hills suburb of Kansas City.

Mr. Bridge recognizes that his life did not begin until he knew his wife, India Bridge. His marriage is, in this sense, important to him. But he cannot articulate his deep feelings for his wife and, ultimately, gives up trying to express any emotion at all. "So the years passed, they had three children and accustomed themselves to a life together, and eventually Mr. Bridge decided that his wife should expect nothing more of him. After all, he was an attorney rather than a poet; he could never pretend to be what he was not."

Cold and emotionally repressed, Mr. Bridge spends all of his time at the office, becoming involved with his family only when necessary to ensure that proper middle class respectability is maintained. He spends his time visiting the bank, scrutinizing his stock certificates and counting his profits. Indeed, he is so focussed on wealth that he surprises his wife and children with stock certificates of Kansas City Power & Light on Christmas morning, only to take the gifts back into his possession so that he can properly manage them.

Manipulative and controlling, Mr. Bridge persuades his reluctant daughter, after she has won a contest, to accept a pony as a prize, even though she would much rather have a bicycle. When the day comes to accept the prize, "Mr. Bridge could not attend the presentation ceremony because he was again spending Saturday at the office." Like his self-centered Christmas present of utility company stock, this prize, too, becomes cheerless for his daughter because of his need to impose his will.

Deeply bigoted, Mr. Bridge cannot tolerate Jews or Blacks very well. When he has an opportunity to take investment advice from an obviously successful Jewish stockbroker, Mr. Bridge, instead, becomes offended by the man's ethnicity and ostensible pretension to be a successful upper middle class man like himself. Reluctantly shaking the man's hand, Mr. Bridge "could hardly restrain a shudder." Resonating with antisemitic feeling, "he withdrew his hand, which came away stickily. He wanted to wash it. His hand felt moist and unhealthy, as if during those few seconds it had become infected." Similarly, when his wife shows him horrifying pictures of a brutal lynching in the South, his only reaction is to ask, "what was this fellow doing that he shouldn't have been doing?"

A fiercely conservative man, with political views as deeply repressive as his stunted emotions, he cannot tolerate President Roosevelt. He even suggests that while Hitler was insane, "some of his ideas were sensible."

Indeed, the repressed feelings of Mr. Bridge find their darkest allusions in his feelings about his daughters, feelings that suggest powerful undercurrents of the sexuality that is absent from his marriage. Seeing his grown daughter, Carolyn, one night posing naked in front of a mirror, he cannot get her out of his mind. "He reminded himself that she was his daughter, but the luminous image returned like the memory of a dream."

"Mr. Bridge", like its companion novel, "Mrs. Bridge", is a stunning work of realism, a crystalline pure narrative of a marriage without feeling, a life without love, a man without the ability to move outside the bounds of middle class probity and respectability.

simply one of the best books I've ever read. India will exasperate you and enlighten you. Through her and the other characters in Connell's masterpiece, you will have a feeling that your own life is unfolding before your eyes, complete with a beginning, a middle, and an end. It is simultaneously a disturbing and reassuring experience. Don't miss it.

McBain's second novel in the 87th Precinct series delivers an alternate to the straight mystery that started the series, setting the tone that his novels would switch back and forth betwee, and gives the main mystery a bizarre and darkly humorous twist.

In this case, a mugger that courteously bows and thanks the women he abuses and victimizes ("Clifford thanks you, Madam.") is terrorizing the city, and the bulls of the 87th doing their best to stop him. The pressure already on them increases when one of Clifford's apparent victims turns up dead.

With Carella on a honeymoon in the Poconos with his new bride Teddy, Willis and Havilland team up to track down the notorious Clifford. They are assisted in the search with the introduction of bald jokester Meyer Meyer, the most patient man in the 87th. Also introduced is female detective Eileen Burke, who goes undercover as Clifford bait in a desperate attempt to trap the mugger.

At the same time, patrolman Bert Kling finds himself stepping out of bounds as he looks into the murder of an old friend's daughter, who just happens to be Clifford's homicide victim. His private investigation threatens to endanger his job, but also puts him in contact with the dead girls beautiful college friend, whom he falls for instantly.

The Mugger is one of McBain's less spectacular stories, by which I mean it is not the crimes themselves that keep you riveted, but the characters involved and the stories they tell. A good portion of the book is taken up by interrogation transcripts, but they give a deeper feeling to the city and its denizens rather than bog it down.

He uses the darkness of the city night as his cloak. He watches with a deep sense of patience. He silently, quickly steps up to the women, assaulting them violently. It is their money he is after...For he goes by the name of Clifford, and he is the Mugger. His method is always the same. After snatching his victim's purse, he bows from the waist and politely says "Clifford thanks you Madam." With several cases of muggings apperently commited by the same man, the detecives of the 87th Precinct go full tilt in bringing this man to justice. Detecives Hal Willis and Roger Hallivand head the case with what they have. Hal Willis is short in size, but don't let that fool you. He is a master of judo and knows how to use it. Roger Hallivand is a bull of a man, easily clearing the six foot mark. He speaks with his fists instead of words. Together, these two detecives use all they have to try to crack this case. Finally, a very attractive girl is found murdered, in which all evidence of the murder points toward the Mugger. The dead girl happened to be related to a friend of Bert Kling, who is a cop working in the 87th Precinct. Although he isn't a detecive, but instead a patrolman, Kling is weary. However, he is still convinced to seek out the killer by the victim's sister. He reluctantly agrees, and starts his own investigation. However, because he isn't a detecive and cannot offically investigate the crime without stepping on toes, Kling runs into trouble alng the way...Will the crafty Mugger ever be caught? Will Kling solve the murder? Will Kling ever be promoted to detecive? A very short and satisfying read. A true thriller. The second book in the acclaimed 87th Precinct series will keep you on edge. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

And you will thank Clifford back for this exciting, fast-paced early entry in Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series of police thrillers.

A mugger is brutalizing the women of the 87th Precinct, stealing their purse, punching them up, and taking his leave with a dandyesque bow and the immortal words: "Clifford thanks you." The detectives of the 87th have no sense of humor where this sort of thing is concerned, especially when one apparent victim is found lying dead on a riverside embankment.

While the series actually began with "Cop Hater," this second book, published in 1956, is where the series, and its mythical city of Isola, begins to take shape. McBain takes time out to describe the demographics of the 87th, the dance clubs, the stay-at-home wives who rake each other over in their washing-line gossip sessions like so many Mesdames Defarge.

Some nice time-outs, too, like one early on about the essence of urban loneliness. "Loneliness doesn't respect the calendar," he writes. "Saturday, Tuesday, Friday, Thursday - they're all the same, and they're all grey."

Steve Carella, the de facto hero of the 87th series, is away on his honeymoon for this one, and the reins are taken, for maybe the only time in the series, by a patrolman rather than a detective. Bert Kling is still nursing his injury from "Cop Hater" when an old friend pays him a visit, asking him to talk to his sister-in-law. That he does, and when the sister-in-law turns up dead the next day, he finds himself investigating the mysterious circumstances of her life. Why was a beautiful woman so sad, why did she visit a strange dance club and sit zombielike on the sidelines despite the many invitations to dance, why did she turn up a corpse on the other side of the city?

Since Kling is just a beat cop, he is limited in what he can do, but he does manage to meet one woman who may have some answers, particularly for his own lonelyheart condition. Claire Townsend is one of several recurring characters to make her first appearance here, along with Dets. Meyer Meyer and Eileen Burke and two favorites of mine, the clueless Homicide dicks Monoghan and Monroe.

The mystery moves along at McBain's signature pace, with the detectives setting up dragnets and working around the clock. There is plenty of action, and nice detours like with a sunglasses manufacturer who explains the intricacies of his trade, and the difference between "fronts" and "temples." As with so many of his books, McBain makes you feel less like a bookreader and more of an eavesdropper on a world every bit as vibrant and lived-in, if not more so, than your own.

It's a quick read, but if it's your first 87th book, five will get you ten it won't be your last.

This entry in the 87th series spotlights Bert Kling before his promotion to detective. A mugger wearing cheap sunglasses has been targeting women in the precinct. When the sister of a friend is found murdered with all clues pointing to the mugger, Kling investigates and gets embroiled in the hunt for the purse snatcher. Noticeably absent in this novel is Steve Carella, who is usually McBain's focal point.

This is only the second McBain book I have read. It is very , very good. I am going to try to find them to read in order. Have a long way to go I know. The Mugger is about Bert Kling, who is a partolman. He is searching for a mugger named Clifford. He is doing this in his off duty time. Then a young girl Kling has met is killed, was it by the mugger or not????? The ending is great is all I will say about that. The book is fairly short, easy to read and will hold you attention. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Freelance writer Liz Sullivan takes on a temp job as media escort for food/lifestyle celebrity Hannah Couch, who, it turns out, is quite the opposite of her friendly, grandmotherly image. And her waspish, vindictive personal assistant, Naomi Matthews, is even worse. After someone downs a fatal Pellegrino with lime, and a couple of abductions at gunpoint ensue, Liz, who is a prime suspect, must find out who doctored the drink. Though two of the major characters are exceedingly unpleasant, there are plenty of more appealing ones, not the least of which is Liz herself, a likable, sympathetic amateur detective. On the whole, this whodunit is funny, sometimes outlandish, and very entertaining. This is the first of Lora Roberts' mysteries I've read, and I now plan on reading the first four books of the series.

This is one of the better books of a good series, funny and exciting with an "edge of your seat" narrative. Lora Roberts does an excellent job portraying the edgier side of life in her Liz Sullivan series, where money isn't always available and sometimes the Thrift Shop is a necessity. Yet, she also manages to lighten this with some wonderful and sly humor and engaging friends. Liz's friends (including her dog) bring her much needed support and enrich the stories though they take a backseat in this book (except for a couple of memorable and surprisingly funny scenes at gunpoint). This particular book in the series was mesmerizing. I couldn't put it down till I found out what happened to Liz and her latest "temp job from h-ll." If you haven't read any of the previous books I would recommend you do so to see how Lora has allowed Liz to grow into herself. Yet, this books stands alone as a wonderful and exciting adventure.

Character Liz Sullivan finds herself in a temp job straight from hell in the newest installment of this wonderful series. She has to serve every whim of the great domestic celebrity, Hannah Couch. Liz finds herself in danger from everything including being slapped, not being able to find fresh produce, being kidnapped, and being a suspect in a homicide. After a little time with Hannah, she also finds herself in danger of wanting to commit what readers would probably call a justifiable homicide. Lora Roberts has some of the funniest lines available in mysteries, reminding me often of Janet Evanovich's books. Liz's romance with the Paul Drake is exciting and endearing, and makes readers wish for more! Her friend Bridget worries more about picking up her kids on time than finding herself held at gunpoint. This cast is fun and could be anyone's neighbors and friends. I hope Lora Roberts will write many more of these clever books!

This book was really incredibly written. Even though I have never read any books in the series except this one, I'm sure that this book was a good one to start with. Murder Follows Money is funny in it's own way, and also provides an amazing mystery which was also fun to solve. I read this book in one entire day, all during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just couldn't put it down. It made me sad when I had finally finished the book. It was one of those page-turning mysteries that I absolutely love. I feel that Lora Roberts has created a never-ending series with a very interesting character. Liz Sullivan is the kind of character that you wish that you could get to know in person. Believe me, this is a great book and I recommend it to anybody who loves mystery!

Murder Follows Money is the best yet in a great series. Liz has taken a temporary job with a media escort business. She's hired to do clerical work, but is pressed into service when none of the regulars are willing to escort the famous but difficult lifestyle maven Hannah Couch. Hannah arrives in San Francisco with her entourage - an interesting cast of characters who have their own troubles with Hannah. When one of them turns up dead, Liz is again pressed into service. At gunpoint. She is also the chief suspect. The mystery is entertaining and kept me turning the pages. The solution to the double bind Liz finds herself in is both clever and great fun. I found myself chuckling al the way through. Many characters from the earlier books are here, but it isn't necessary to have read earlier books to enjoy this one. A great summer read. Highly recommended.

Our Grandchildren enjoy the exploits of two rather non-typical children, as long as I read it to them... even got them away from their electronic games! Good to excellent readers over age 10 might be able to keep the pace, but others would get lost in the words and asides. Now that we have had Harry Potter, the British idioms are not as foreign as when our now 26-yr-old tried to read it.

This book is one of my favorite books I have ever read. It is one of those gems you find that no one else seems to know about. The illustrations are fun, the story is comical, not in a silly, stupid way that some "funny" stories can be, but in a way that will actually make you laugh out loud. And the story is actually a very nice story, ending without giving you the sense that other books can of, "Well, it had some nice parts, but what was the point?" I enjoyed it as a child, and I still enjoy it as an adult (well, semi-adult). I only hope that my copy will survive for my own children.

I chose this book because it is by my fourth favorite comedien, Terry Jones. It is about a boy named Nicobobinus and his friend Rosie, who go to find the land of the Dragons, because Nicobobinus can do anything. My favorite character is the Golden man, because it is funny that a gold statue walks, talks, and has servents.

This book is a great one for any young, or old person who is looking for a wonderful, and adventurous story. I read this book a long time ago and couldn't help but look it up to see if there were more readers who felt the same way about it.It is about a young boy and girl who go on a long journey to find dragons blood.They have a very close call many times, but they finaly find it and continue on their journey safely.I can't wait to read it again.

Nicobobinus is the story of a young boy and his best friend who start out on a journey to the Land of the Dragons. When things don't go exactly as planned the pair find themselves in for more then what they bargined for. Join Nicobobinus and his best friend Rosie as they battle evil monks, sail on a mysterious black ship. You'll find yourself feeling like a child again. This book has the power to touch your soul and heart like no other book can. You won't be able to put it down. Nicobobinus isn't just a tale for children but, also adults. Terry Jones adds his wonderful sense of humor and blends it with fantasy and wonder. If you read Nicobobinus, by Terry Jones I promise you'll love it!

As a child, No Baths for Tabitha was my favorite book to read at daycare. As I got older, I remembered the book but not the title. I finally asked one of my friends from daycare about the book and she quickly told me the name. I remembered it so vividly!! Well, the search for the book began and they were very scarce and when I could find one, it was very expensive. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never own the book. I got pregnant with a little girl back in 2006. Well of course my best friend from daycare was at the shower and I opened her gift and it was her treasured No Baths for Tabitha book!! It made me break down in tears!! I can't wait to read it to my now 9 month old daughter when she gets older. We both will treasure it forever!!

No Bath for Tabitha is a book that every kid can relate to. As a child I loved to read this book because I could relate to Tabitha. I feel that any child would feel the same way.

I bought this book from a school book sale when I was a kid. (I'm 25 now) I was so happy because it was the first book I bought and I loved it! I was disappointed when my mother told me she had thrown it away a few years back. I would love to be able to find this book again to read to my students AND children. Stresses the importance of taking a bath AND listenting to your mother.

I remember buying this book at a book fair when I was a little girl. I saved my money to go to this book fair at my school. So not only was this soon to be my favorite book... but the "first thing I bought with MY money".. It was my favorite book. I still remember the pictures and everything. Well, my mother threw it out one weekend while cleaning out our "JUNK" and I was so upset because I really loved that book. Well now I am 28 and I have been searching high and low for 5 years for this book. I have checked here a few times and never saw it, BUT TODAY.. I found it and I am so excited I can barely stand it. I can't wait to read it to my little girl.

My daughter remembers this book as the first book she read by herself. I remember it as a funny, enjoyable story, one with a not-so-hidden message for kids who hate to take baths.

On Value and Values has been called "A book for our times" and all that. The question is, why? Doug Smith has taken us out of the "once upon a time" world of place being the most important factor in how we relate to the world, and he has brought us to a different reality. It is no longer a world that revolves around our neighborhoods. Our worlds revolve around our jobs, our scools, our politics, our churches, and so on. It is not about where we live; it is about who we are and how we interact ethically with those around us for a better community and life.
This is not a simplistic book nor an easy read. It requires thought and as the subtitle ssuggests, "Thinking differently about We in the age of Me." It is well worth the effort. I have come back to On Value and Values over and over again and each time I go away with another nugget.
This is not a book of Utopian dreams. It is handbook of usable, workable plans on how to relate to each other and build value, material wealth, and physical assests while still maintaining our values as moral individuals. We do not have to screw each other and the planet to be comfortable and happy. We can leave the world a better place. Smith does an excellent job in helping us transition into this new millenium.

On Value and Values is a refreshing breath of fresh air, and a sad but true commentary on the age of me. People all too often think about themselves, and not about others.

Most books give us something, but land on the shelf never to be read again. Doug Smith's On Value and Values is one that I expect to be returning to regularly. Beautifully written, this provocative and thoughtful book cracks the code of what makes things different in the world in which we live. Finally I understand the profound difference between living in a world of place and one of purpose. It answers the question of whatever happened to WE and provides some direction for how the ME can function in this environment. It's a must read, and a keeper.

I have only one concern about "On Value and Values" - that the author is not a famous celebrity. Because if he were, the book would be a #1 bestseller and its ideas and prescriptions would already be guiding us toward a saner future together.

This book is the wisest, most real and pragmatic description of values - including what's at stake and what you can do about it - that exists in print or any other medium. No wonder others who have read it compare the book to DeTocqueville's "Democracy in America," Aristotle's "Politics," Persig's "Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance" - and, in the case of several readers, the Bible.

Why? Well, perhaps foremost because Smith looks at the subject of values differently. Instead of repeating the all-too-typical `finger pointing' discussion of "you have bad values/I have good values", Smith takes a big step back and demands perspective. This book treats readers like adults not children. Smith asks you to look at what makes beliefs and behaviors - values of all kinds - predictable instead of random on the premise that if you hold a certain set of values as `good', you'd prefer them to be predictably acted upon by others in addition to yourself.

And, he asks that question in the context of the real world you actually live in - a world of markets, networks, organizations, friends and family - instead of an illusory world of neighborhoods and towns that exists more in the movies than everyday life as we live it. He asks you to reflect on your values as consumer, employee and investor - the real roles you play out in your life along with friend and family - instead of neighbor and citizen (still powerful ideas, but hardly ever actual day-to-day roles).

We can not expect predictable and shared values, Smith notes, unless we first understand when we are a `we' in this new world of markets, networks, organizations, friends and family. Hence the subtitle: Thinking Differently About We In An Age Of Me.

From the first sentence, Smith points straight to the hallmark problem of our new age of humankind: the war between our legitimate concern for value (profits, wealth, winning) and our legitimate concern for values (social, political, environmental, spiritual, family, medical, legal and so forth). He asks readers to listen to a cultural drumbeat that has excommunicated the singular - value - from the plural values.

If we are to hand over a sustainable, just and prosperous world to our children and grandchildren, we must restore our pursuit of value to the house of all values - and we must do this our real world of markets, networks, organizations, friends and family instead of the illusory world of feel good movies, TV and political campaigns.

Democracy. Community. Liberty. Civil Society. Self-government. The Common Good. The Greater Good. Capital. Caring. These and other values hang in the balance as hundreds of millions of us transition from place-based human connectedness to purpose-based linkages in markets, networks and organizations. Neither you nor anyone you know can make choices about adhering to and promoting values you hold dear unless you first understand the real world in which you live and how to work as employees, consumers and investors - both individually and in real `we's' -- to make the world one you'll be proud to hand down to future generations.

Like many, I've often asked and heard others ask, "What can I do to make a difference?" On "Value and Values" provides a powerful and profound primer filled with answers to this all-important question.

On Value and Values took me by surprise-it's so much more than I expected. I was introduced to the book at the outset of an extensive strategic planning project, and I was prepared for another temporarily interesting management book. Instead, I found a persistently thought provoking work of social and moral philosophy that compelled me to introduce it to others in one of the organizations in which I participate.

The arresting image of "the twin towers of market democracies-political liberty and self-interested economics" introduces Doug Smith's thesis that we today suffer from an extremism that has apotheosized economic value and self-gratification, and which imperils our ability to bring to fruition the "best in our natures." The importance of On Value and Values is that it diagnoses our situation, grounds it in a reality that is true for millions of us, and proposes solutions that in part draw on Smith's exceptional organizational and management expertise. This is important because central to Smith's viewpoint is the idea that organizations have supplanted the "world of places" as the venues where people actually are bound together by shared values and fates. And it is thus through organizations that individuals acting together can bring about the change that will reunite value and values.

Having a close family member recently diagnosed with Panic Anxiety Disorder, I found the book extremely useful in both understanding the illness and knowing how to support this person. The author provides easy-to-understand details about the illness and solid ways of supporting loved-ones. Now, I feel like I can talk to my family member and no longer have to side-step the discussion. A must-read for anyone who has loved ones with this condition.

Having personal experience with an anxiety disorder, I found Linda's book to have practical, reassuring information that I have been searching for for a long time. No one can really understand an anxiety disorder unless they have first-hand knowledge of it. The author speaks from her heart. Many of the mental-health professionals I have spoken to do not have this level of insight.

I'd heard about Linda's upcoming tips book on Panic and Anxiety Disorder, but wasn't really interested in reading it, mainly because it was a "tips" book; I've seen those booklets in the check-out line, and always considered them vague and rather gimmicky. So, when I first picked up "Panic and Anxiety Disorder, 121 Tips, Real-life Advice, Resources & More", not only was I surprised by its book-like appearance, I was also drawn to its calm, down-to-earth approach to self-help. Yes, there are numbered tips, but as I read, I realized this wasn't implicitly for someone coping with anxiety disorders; Linda has written to everybody. Her tips, while pinpointing individual aspects of anxiety, actually address the very simple, basic, moment-by-moment steps to follow in order to successfully survive just about any stressful inner conflict. From digging in the earth to truly relearning the art of breathing, Linda's guidance is straightforward and simultaneously profound. Not leaving any stone unturned, Linda has dedicated an entire chapter to folks who've found themselves in the challenging role of support, and included numerous sources of additional literature and information.

Linda Manassee Buell has written this book with the compassion and personal landscape of someone who's lived in the cave of fear, and who's triumphantly emerged into the sunshine.

'This is a little book.......filled with
amazing tips....in order to overcome anxiety
and panic attacks....I am majoring in Clinical
Psychology at the University.....and I am too
suffered from panic attacks since 17 years old..
so the advices she give us in her book....are so
simple and practical..coming from a wonderful
woman who also knows how to experiment a full
panic attack...I recommend this book to all
people who is feeling alone.......who feels that
nobody understands.......you will connect with
the compassive Linda...who shares with us....all
the tips available to handle this uneasy condition...
Buy this book....you will not regret.......the message
there is.....THAT YOU CAN LIVE A FULL LIFE EVEN
WITH THIS CONDITION...like everyone else!!!

This book is a valuable addition to the others on the subject. Written in a direct and compassionate voice, it provides great insight and assistance to anyone connected to this disorder. I myself do not suffer from it; however, I'm close to a number of people who do. This book is a tremendous help to those of us who must learn to cope with a loved one who has a panic/anxiety disorder. And it provides an excellent tool to begin safely discussing the topic with that loved one. Lastly, I've had the privilege to meet the author on a couple occasions and talk about the issue -- she is truly knowledgeable, sensitive, and passionate about it.

Highly recommended. The simple language and short chapters made it easy to squeeze into my schedule, but I still found it packed with vital info.

This book is amazing. I saw it featured on CBS Sunday Morning and realized that this book probably had the answers to questions that I didnt know where to look for..and lo and behold..It did!
It forced me to take a look at issues I have been procastinating since becoming a parent 4 years ago. The book is VERY user friendly. It takes complex issues such as College saving, choosing guardians and summarily describes various options and scenarios that puts the legal mumbo jumbo into everyday "mommy brain" language.
I think this book is pratical and a must have for the parent library.

Parent Savvy has been an extremely helpful book for me as I am expecting my second child in just a few weeks. With minimal time on my hands these days I found the information in this book to be clear and concise...it was extremely easy to read and a great book to have on hand as a resource for questions that come up on a daily basis. The book was particularly helpful answering the financial questions that both my husband and I have regarding our childrens' future. I am happy to have found this parenting book to add to my collection I know that I will continue to use it as a reference in years to come.

This book gives sound, realistic advice to parents of young children who are trying to navigate life with a "new" family. Finances were hard before kids, but this book helps guide parents to the right choices after having kids.
The chapter on the laws dealing with nursing in public and in the work environment is very important as more moms are choosing to nurse for longer periods of time.
There are many baby books out there, but none that cover these real world issues with ease and authority.

This book answers all of the questions you were afraid to ask - or didn't know who to ask - with easy, practical advice. Just when I thought I couldn't read another book about spit-up, sleep deprivation, and the wonders of parenthood - this book came along with its sincerity, honesty, practicality - and what you REALLY need to know when you are expecting... even if it isn't your first baby!

"Patience of a Saint" is a typical Greeley story. It contains some excellent images and metaphors of the Catholic Church, some good mystery, some sex, and some violence. It fits Greeley's perfect equation of what to include in a sell-able story. But even with all the expected story parts, it remains one of his better stories, delving into a person's growth as an adult. It is reminiscent of the Biblical story of Saint Paul's conversion, set in modern-day Chicago, with some contemporary images thrown together to show us what Paul may have gone through if he had lived in our time. An interesting idea, a good read, and if you take the time, a thought-provoking way to approach the Bible story as well as middle age.

Greeley is best when he is describing parish life in Chicago. Of his parish novels this story of a newspaper columnist's midlife crisis/spiritual rebirth is the best for my money.

I originally picked up this book because it was a mystery but was captured by this interesting story about a man who makes major positive changes in his life, much to the chagrin and disbelief of his own family. It was upon reading this book that I became an ardent fan of Greeley, his alter ego, Father Blackie and of course all of his wonderful characters (especially if they have a touch of the "fey" or belong to his extended Chicago Irish Catholic family). I have read almost all of Greeley's novels and always look forward to the next one. What a treasure he is and how deeply he has touched my life.

This is a wonderful book. The author suggests wonderful possibilities of grace and love for our lives. It is a book that restores faith and replenishes the soul. Oh, and it's a great love story. Not your typical boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back; this is a wonderful tale about a man who discovers the true depth and meaning of his love for his wife--with no small assistance from God. In a "cynical" age this book is a rare, complex, affirmation of true love and grace. This is my favorite Greeley story.

This is the story of Red Kane, a man caught in a dilemma of Love. After twenty years of marriage plagued by misunderstanding and bitter resignation, Red finds himself falling in love with his wife all over again - and at the same time, pursued by an implacable, attractive God.

Redmond P. Kane, a popular Chicago newspaper columnist and Pulitzer prize winner, smokes and drinks too much, neglects his kids, enjoys a mistress, is feared and hated by his colleagues, and has shared nothing but a bed with his wife for much too long. At 53, Red is an unhappy, disgruntled cynic. But soon, all that changes. On a Chicago street corner a speeding car, almost runs him down, and a moment of divine grace - one in which God and Red's green eyed wife are somehow identified with each other - almost knocks him unconscious. An then Red';s real troubles begin. They start with evil- plan old fashioned wickedness in the person of aging politico Harv Gunther. Red has come up with evidence that links Gunther to the disappearance of a newsman 20 years earlier and the recent murder of a teenage girl, but proving it can cost Kane his career. He's almost ready to close his files, go out for a drink and forget it all. Yet since his brush with death Red finds himself inexorably drawn down the path of saintliness and driven to always do the right thing. Being a good husband to his wife Eileen is at the top of Red's list. Without realizing it, he's whistling "You're Irish and You're beautiful and dreaming of going home, taking her in his arms, and making up for all the sins of omission accumulated over 20 years of their on-again, off-again marriage. But what happens when he does? Beautiful Irish Eileen think's he's having a breakdown, just as his newsroom co-workers are sure he's finally gone over the edge. Soon, a psychiatrist is trying to have him committed. God has turned Red's whole existence upside down. Must he choose between his wife and his god? Or have they joined in a plot to try the patience of a saint. As Red probes the depths of his new emotions and renewed commitments with the help of Msgr Blackie Ryan, he also digs into the dirty business of Harve Gunther and in the process gravely endangers the lives of everyone he loves.

My wife needed this book for an Astronomy class. She wanted a book with a two cds and not all marked up. I got it for a good price and it looks like a new book with no extra marks. I am very impressed with the quick delivery time, the ease of ordering and the condition of the book. I was also kept posted on the sent date and anticipated delivery date and it was accurate. This was very much appreciated, especially during the holiday season. Good Job!

I received this book through Amazon way before my class started. I saved quite a few bucks and it came in mint condition.

This book is very thorough and not too grotesquely boring. Accounting textbooks can seem to drag on and on but the information in this book seems to all be relevant and pertinent. There are plenty of review questions and problems at the end of each chapter and the chapters do build on each other well, so the further into the book, the more questions from previous chapters. Some other nice things about this book are the continuation problems that utilize the posting of payroll accounts and ledger pages to further help the student grasp the content.
The CDs included are wonderfully useful, too. There doesn't seem to be a relevance issue with this text as I have experienced with textbooks in the past.

Good book, but the problems in the chapter reviews could be more discriptive as to what answer the want.

I have found this book to be very helpful in gaining a practical understanding in the workings of a Payroll function. This book has helped the entire department which has recently started performing the US payrolls for our organisation. I hope that a listing of courses that currently use this book as a recomemded text is included in its next edition.