Perry Books

Though I be straight, I adored this book. It's truly laugh-out-loud funny - and thought-provoking as well. Highly recommended!

I cannot believe how hysterically funny this book is. Other books have made me smile, but this one actually made me laugh out loud while reading it at home alone. Congratulations Mr. Perry, you managed a first. Come back to DC for a visit. I'd love to meet you.

The book does tend to lose it at the end a bit. It's still funny, but only brought a smile rather than hearty guffaws. That flaw isn't serious enough to cost it a star.

Mr. Perry manages some absolutely fabulous zingers (there, I said fabulous) and I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't find them funny. He even dares to say what we're all thinking about those guys standing around in the local leather bar. Going to the Eagle will have a whole new meaning for me now. And this book will pop up in my mind the next time I'm walking up Fifth Ave toward Saks.

Mr. Perry is the bear equivalent of Michael Thomas Ford, but funnier. You go, gurl!

An engaging and enormously funny series of essays that kept me laughing out loud. Rarely does a book keep its steam as it moves from story to story, but Perry's book is like a table full of Christmas cookies--each one special and unique yet equally exciting and scrumptious. I'm not an easy laugher, but this book brightened my days and made me smile hours later. A must have!

I just finished this book yesturday and though that it was the most flabulous read i have had in ages. Don't think that the book just caters to the "Gay" perspective, its a fun hetero read as well. The comical Joel Perry humored me greatly throughout the book, with his funny anecdotes, petpeeves, and biographical stories. It's not only a great buy but a great read too. DOn't miss this book the next time you are browsing through the Gay and lesbian section. And if your hetero, try taking a look you might find something that aspires to you. Enjoy!

I cannot believe how hysterically funny this book is. Other books have made me smile, but this one actually made me laugh out loud while reading it at home alone. Congratulations Mr. Perry, you managed a first. Come back to DC for a visit. I'd love to meet you.

The book does tend to lose it at the end a bit. It's still funny, but only brought a smile rather than hearty guffaws. That flaw isn't serious enough to cost it a star.

Mr. Perry manages some absolutely fabulous zingers (there, I said fabulous) and I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't find them funny. He even dares to say what we're all thinking about those guys standing around in the local leather bar. Going to the Eagle will have a whole new meaning for me now. And this book will pop up in my mind the next time I'm walking up Fifth Ave toward Saks.

Mr. Perry is the bear equivalent of Michael Thomas Ford, but funnier. You go, gurl!

Just Past Oysterville: Shoalwater Book One

Review by Dennis Beaudry

Bitterness, hatred, revenge, guilt: powerful emotions, but what would it take for us to face these destructive feelings and escape their damaging results? Read the soon to be published Christian novel, Just Past Oysterville by author Perry Perkins.

Perry's way with the art of true storytelling is captivating to say the least, yet Just Past Oysterville goes way beyond story for the sake of entertainment. His dynamic weaving of plot and characters shows us how love and forgiveness can truly work miracles and how the opposite only fuels the fire and leads to ruin. Love and forgiveness, the two things needed most in this world as a whole and in our personal lives; are portrayed as a balm for emotional healing.

Hang on to your stomach and your nerves as Perry takes you on an emotional roller coaster with far more twists, turns, and drops than the subtle title and cover portray. Here's a story that blends Christian beliefs with deep hurts and spiritual challenges that could face any of us just up the road of life.

Just Past Oysterville is, without a doubt, captivating. It pulls you in and seldom gives you an opportunity to set it down. Be prepared for the unexpected and be ready to see how human events can never frustrate the plans of God. Written by the extraordinarily talented Perry Perkins; Just Past Oysterville will undoubtedly garner many accolades and awards and soon make him a well-known and respected Christian fiction writer.

Dennis A. Beaudry
Columbus, Ohio
Author of A Meeting in the Air

Rating: Highly Recommended! This one is destined to stand out in the literary world! I had the pleasure of reading Just Past Oysterville, a remarkable book penned by a new author named Perry Perkins. When the book arrived I was impressed with the cover first - that's simply something that I do to set the tone for my reading material. The cover bears the image of a set of bright headlights piercing through the darkness traveling a long road superimposed over a faint road map. I opened the cover and read the dedications and acknowledgements and I could determine at that point in time that this would be a good read. Cassie Belanger lost both of her parents and considered herself an orphan. She barely knew her father, being that he "abandoned" her and her mother decades ago. Her mother, with the help of her community and her church, raised her to adulthood instilling values and morals that Cassie embraced. In the blink of an eye, Cassie's mom was gone - killed by a drunk driver as she returned from work one evening. Cassie's world crashed down around her and she determined that the only way to find closure was to seek out her birth father who deserted her so many years before. Cassie's desire was to somehow make him feel the pain, anguish and rejection that enveloped her broken spirit. Cassie wanted revenge. She utilizes clues from her mother's possessions to ascertain her father's location and she begins a journey that would change her life. She meets Jack, a loner in search of peace, weighed down by burdens that drive him to the bottle in search of an escape. The two embark on a journey to a town "just past Oysterville" and form a bond with one another along the way. The two are so alike, but why? Just Past Oysterville was an excellent read. Mr. Perkins utilizes simple yet colorful dialogue that will entrance you. He pays attention to detail, quotes appropriate bible verses at appropriate moments and he will take you on an amazing journey. A journey through pain, loss, happiness and closure. This is called Shoalwater Book one, and it would be an honor to review the continuation of this series. Just when you think that you have this story figured out, Mr. Perkins will gently push you one step further and open your eyes to the possibilities that make up your destiny. Simply stated, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Reviewed by Tyrone Banks

I am a leader of teen girls & a mom of three teens. I would recomend this book to all the teens I work with and my own! I cried I laughed & was on the edge of my seat! This is a must that will not disapoint you. Enjoy and give it away as a Christmas, birthday or just because gift. You will be as thrilled as I was.

Becky

I loved the book. I would recommend it to all. Please read it.

Even before I read JUST PAST OYSTERVILLE, I knew Perry Perkins was an amazing writer from reading one of his short stories, but this book placed him permanently within the group of authors whose books I will buy immediately upon release.

This book is so much more than the usual hyper-censored, unrealistic story to be found in Christian fiction. The characters are real people with strengths and weaknesses, and they live real lives filled with anguish, love, mistakes, and triumphs. And the underlying message of God's love is relayed so effortlessly and so poignantly that it comes through loud and clear and leaves the reader with such a wonderful feeling of hope--just the way I believe Jesus would have done it.

I encourage everyone who loves a good story to read this book, and I can't wait to read the next installment in the series!

I thought this book was excellent for those who have some idea of what programming is all about, but for the complete lay-person who wants to jump into programming, this book could be a challenge, but is entirely possible for anyone semi-experienced with computers. Probably the best VB5 book so far. Would be equally as useful in learning VB6 (except the new features of course).

I learned VB for the past two years and had acquired for more than 10 books for introductory of VB. It is the best book that I have ever read for novice VB programmer. I highly recommended it to all person who are interested in Visual Basic.

Unfortunately, I'd already spent close to $200 on other books before I came across this one. I needed a step-by-step, well-written, easy to follow workbook type of text which would approximate a training course, and this book is it! All other books I tried were too dry and technical, boring me to death while simultaneously confusing me. Only wish I could find more titles in this series. Warning - "homework" assignments assume you have VB installed. If you've got VB and a little programming knowledge, BUY THIS BOOK AND GET BUSY WITH VB 5! =D

I am fairly new to Visual Basic Programming, and was looking for a good introductory book. I found it! This book covers just about everything you'd want to know about the foundations of VB5, every event & object. GREAT BOOK!

This book is not really a tutorial. I thought it was meant more as a source of reference, but I sure learned a heck of alot.

I took a VB class this year and this was the book that my teacher had recommended. During the class, we had to use a crappy book called "VB made easy". I read the whole book and still didnt know didly about VB. Then I bought this book!!! If you want a book that teaches you hard concepts of PROGRAMMING, and doesnt hold your hand through step by step projects that dont teach you how to think on your own...buy this book!!! I actually thought it deserved a 4.5 since a couple chapters could have been improved. But what book can teach you everything perfectly? So I curved it up comparing it to all the others i seen. Cause it sure came close. Now I do mostly programming at work with what i learned from this book. My next one will be "Profession VB 5.0 business objects" Check out the reviews on that one!!!

Excellent book. Well writen yet simple and easy to comprehend. Now all I have to do is get into a reg scedule.

The information in this book is helpful and worth reading, but could be condensed from 100 pages to about 30 because of the repeated messages throughout the book. For example, the advice of doing a standing back bend after sitting for a period of time must have been written 10 different times.
I believe that one of the biggest benefits of reading ANY book for back pain is that it makes you start to think more about your back and how to care for it throughout the day. So this book serves as a source for some good stretches as well as being a conscious reminder to focus on back health.

I love this book! It helped ease my back pain. The exercises were easy to follow. I reccomend it to everyone with back pain.

Not only did I learn why I have back pain but also how to treat it. My range of motion has increased dramatically and my back pain is gone!! It's an easy read with uncomplicated exercises. A must for those with chronic back pain.

Being a Physical Therapist I have found this to be a great book to give to my patients. It is easy to understand and very informative. The author uses characters to represent different aspects of the spine. This makes it a fun book to read for all. This book educates the person on posture and how to protect their spine as well as help reduce existing back pain. I highly recommend this book.

This is a fascinating story and the author presents substantive research. There is some good prose in parts, such as the character development of Commodore Perry and descriptions of Okinawa, but on the whole it is not a smooth read. The 4 stars I'm giving it are for its importance as a contribution to our understanding of this period, the author's discussion on the impact of the attitude with which Perry's mission was accomplished, and the research that has been brought together.

Had there not been such good material and insight, the text was so choppy that I would have not finished the book. The dangling ideas, that is, concepts introduced but not previously explained or later followed up on, were frustrating. Then there are a lot of tortured sentences and then some grammar that had to be ignored to get the meaning.

One example of a dangling idea was the paragraph that ended by saying that Abe Mashihiro had won an important victory in the appointment of his recommended defense advisor followed by a paragraph saying that the appointee was "his (Abe's) the most vocal critic." What did I miss? By this time in the book, I no longer flipped back. The concept of a victory for Abe getting a critic an influential position isn't ever clear. It could be that the author meant it in the wider context that through this appointment there was no war, but that isn't clear either.

An example of the tortured prose, on p. 190 regarding Perry's son in law and grandson:

"New York's high society made him "King of Fifth Avenue". (New York Belmont Race Track and the Belmont Stakes are named after him, while in Newport, Rhode Island one of the sumptuous "cottages" was built by Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, the son of "King" and Perry's daughter, together with Alva Vanderbilt previously married to William K. Vanderbilt)".

A grammar example (while you know it's Abe, there are two antecedents for him, not one) is on p. 243 "More than ever, Abe and the roju made the important decisions; with the senior counselors increasinly deferring to him about those concerning Perry..."

While the text was a real drawback (for me), there is a lot of food for thought in the analysis of what it Perry's actions meant for US-Japanese relations for the next 100 years, the unequal treaties, the symbolism of the USS Missouri receiving the Japanese surrender in Uraga Bay and the comparison of China's attitude and policies toward western trade and intervention.

For general readers interested in the seclusion period I recommend Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan and Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald Macdonald and the Opening of Japan.

This marvelous book is a model study of the unintended consequences of American self-righteousness and imperial arrogance -- with eerie echoes today in the Bush/Cheney invasion of Iraq. It is a work of superb scholarship, and in spots it requires keen concentration, but the total effect is most rewarding, and the concluding sections -- with their lessons for the present and,one hopes,for the future -- are brilliant.

Amidst the present disasters of our militarized foreign policy, Mr Feifer's observation (in Chapter 17) that American "fervor and ignorance, especially of other cultures, sometimes caused grave damage" rings with bitter irony today in Iraq. "The Japan that [Commodore Perry] left was boiling in despairing confusion ... bloody plots and counterplots ... full of episodes that seem not to belong to waking life, but have ... the unearthly logic of events in a dream."

And yet, even in his harsh conclusions, Mr Feifer is scholarly, moderate, nuanced, and scrupulous, never overstating his case as the ironies for today abound. This is an incisive and most admirable book.

This challenging and deeply researched book on Perry's "opening up" of Japan
has the most painful relevance possible to our current government's colossal
misadventure in allegedly trying to bring "Freedom and Democracy" to a land
of darker-skinned people about whose history we are -- not willfully mis-
informed, which would be bad enough, but wildly, tragically ignorant. And
what kind of reverberations can we expect, decades and even a century down
the road of history? What Pearl Harbors, what Okinawas, what Hiroshimas are
there to come?

If you think you knew and understood American history this brilliant book will make you think again.The author sets out to show that America arrogantly decided to force Japan to open its doors to foreigners and trade, a decision that turned out to be the first step along the path that was to lead to Pearl Harbor. He succeeds admirably. This is readable, controversial history with a lesson for what is going on in Iraq today. A must book for serious thinkers.

On one level this remarkable book will provide invaluable background for anyone interested in understanding why Japan's love-hate relationship with the United States continues to this day. It should also serve to underline the dangers of imposing one nation's views on another.
But the book will also appeal to readers simply interested in a rich historical tour of Japan at the dawn of its modern era. The skillful weaving of the descriptions of the personalities, prejudices and political backgrounds of Commodore Perry and his Japanese counterpart Lord Abe brings to life and keeps in focus a story that might otherwise have drifted into an academic dissertation.
Breaking Open Japan will now be added to my list of must-reads for friends and acquaintances interested in peeling away the layers of a society that remains the most complex and conflicted of the modern era.

Since I work closely with my business sponsors on long term projects, I found this book's approach appealing and suitable for me.

I also found this book to be deeply insightful and useful at work where I have to deal with salespeople who use old style sales techniques. I wish more salespeople would read this book and not waste their time or mine.

I wished I had read this book before I started my own business, but nonetheless, it was helpful at reinstating fundamental concepts that I had forgotten to practice daily. This book was a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Highly readable,easily understandable from an expert.
A must have for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Pages 96-97 alone are worth the price.

Think-Be Knowledgable means just that. Don't either overthink or underthink

Be Likable--Why would anyone wish to associate with a person they don't like?

Speak-Be Credible--There is already too much BS out there

I have owned this book for a while and find its advice pertinent to my day to day interaction with business people and their advocates. This is not some collection of random thoughts, but rather a distillation of some of the best thinkers who have addressed the issues of business and just interpersonal communication. This is a must read for anyone who wants to get anything done in the world of business and it is a pretty good guide to getting to yes in your personal life.

There is a wonderful feeling that grows inside as you progress through these pages. You know your getting smarter and being given tools that will help you in all areas of your life. This book is for everyone who wishes to communicate more succcessfully. Rogoff's book empowers you to benefit from more collaborative and proactive conversations in and out of the workplace. The writing is clear, concise and smart. Rogoff demonstartes how to engage your clients, co-workers and even friends in dialogue that benefits all the participants.

This was my first Michelle Perry novel & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I 'm not going to summarize the plot, that's already been done. Nadia & Dante are kindred spirits & soul mates, both strong characters, but very human. The chemistry between them is immediate & never lets up. There were some funny scenes, not the least of which was their first meeting, when Nadia came on to Dante in the diner & bit his ear. Nadia is a great combination of grit & girlishness; Dante is my kind of man--big & brawny & tough but w/ a tender heart. This is a very satisfying love story on several levels. Loved the action & suspense as well. The only thing that bothered me is that Dante has a habit of swatting Nadia on the behind, something I can't stand & won't put up with.

This was on the edge action all the time. I almost think Nadia the heroine could have taken care of herself without to much help from Dante. Her family was aware of there being a threat to her or her mother and kept her pretty much protected but she had a will of her own and wanted her own life which is where she put herself in danger. Over all I thought the book was excellent and an easy read. It held my attention and sometimes if a writer repeats how handsome or beautful blah blah blah the hero or heroine is it just takes away from the story. I like it when a discription is written once and not harped on over and over. If someone is beautiful I don't need it pounded into my head. Got cha once.

I had passed this book up time and again but finally read the reviews and decided to give it a try and I am glad I did. The cover is what misled me to pass on it several times- just seemed a little over the top, but the book is very well done. I encourage you to try it too if you like strong heroes and heroines!

I had never read this author before and was I pleasantly surprised. What a wonderful plot and the romance was very intense and real. I loved this book. The main character reminded me so much of Vin Diesel it was unbelievable. Very good book. I highly recommend this book for those of you who are tired of too much sex and not enough action along the way along with a good plot.

Loved this book for same reasons listed below so won't repeat. Just wanted to add that I especially loved the humorous moments. I laughed out loud at the description of Nadia as she was trying the get rid of the hiccups during her kidnapping. And the whole scene between her and Dante and the MREs. Hysterical!

My Father's Compass an insightful account which highlights the traits that made America strong: the immigrant ethics of love, honor, leadership, and perseverance. Captain Martini shares his family's devotion to family and country above everything else. No obstacles were ever too great for them, including "the crossing", adjustment to the New World, serving in wars, and the Great Depression. What is even more admirable, is that these lessons of determination were instilled in the Martini children. Captain Perry Martini's outstanding credentials as a leader in education, business, and service in the armed forces attests to ethics well taught and well learned. We too are the beneficiaries of these lessons thanks to the author's willingness to share many personal examples with his readers. Parents, educators, and spiritual leaders would do well to share these valuable lessons with future generations.

Pierette Domenica Simpson
Author of Alive on the Andrea Doria! The Greatest Sea Rescue in History
www.pierettesimpson.com

This book is fun educational and quick re-read value HIGH!I'm on the third read through...recomended!!! enjoy

An easy read which provides some excellent lessons and reminders of the importance of leading by serving. The book also provided a real life image of the experience of early 20th century Italian immagrants and how they became part of America.

A very common 19th and 20th century immigrant story, but told from the perspective of values - the value of family, determination, courage, and commitment. Perry has done a very good job of capturing the essence of growing up as a first generation American from an Italian immigrant family and how that early heritage molded his approach to life.

I grew up in the same period as Perry's father with the same ethnic background.His story describes many Italain fathers of that period.Well done.

I am fortunate to study Ethics and do my Clinical Practicum under the direction of Dr. Perry. I have found his instruction and advice to be timeless and invaluable. I am thrilled that this work has garnered such positive reviews. He has a tremendous amount of wisdom stemming from his Air Force career, his position in the ministry, and his secular counseling experience to offer a perspective that is vast and broad ranging. I hope that many others can enjoy this work and those to come.

I hate reading textbooks because they are written so dryly. Dr. Perry's book is written in an interesting, understandable, and applicable way. I have found this book extremely easy to read, often reaching the end of a chapter far sooner than I anticipated. His examples and practical manner of writing make concepts become clear. He offers "how to" approaches in different styles for the different types of problems that counselors might encounter. Definately a tool to keep close at hand for any new counselor.

I owned this book when it was simply a self-published, Acrobat Reader, file. We used the text as a basic textbook in an introductory course in Family Therapy. Dr. Perry writes in a straightforward, non-technical, yet thorough manner. The reader will find the "Living into the Lesson" exercises at the end of each chapter particularly helpful.

Dr. Perry had this text published at the repeated insistence of his students at the Southern Christian University. I am proud to have been one of them.

I loved this book, very helpful...especially for the begginer therapist. He tells you exactly what you need to say and do. I have about 100 books in my bookshelf at work... this is the only one that was stolen....intern I suspect.

Quick, handy suggestions, basic concepts syntesized in a (fortunately!) very brief book. You keep the treatises in your bookcase, and this one on your desk.

This book is very helpful. I would not just suggest this for parents, but children who know that down the road, they will receive an inheritance or come into wealth. It gives examples of the pitfalls that can come if you are not prepared for this life changing event. It is fun to read, and well thought out. Great planing book.

Have you read everything there is to read on parenting? Have you become bored with the same old books on how to raise your children? Then it's time you read "Beating the Midas Curse". This insightful collection of stories, ideas and introduction to "The Heritage Process" will enlighten and delight those parents interested in their family's future generations. Learn how to pass your generational values with those hard-earned valuables; learn effective ways to communicate to your off-spring and learn how to leave a lasting legacy. This book will not disappoint and surely will become your guide to effectively communicating with your children.

Being lovingly known and understood by those critically important to you during your life AND after. Leaving your indelible influence with those with whom you have shared soul-touching experiences. Immersing yourself in the thrill of genuine mutual respect with your immediate and extended families. Being forever remembered by your lineage for who you were and for what you stood. If these statements are a big part of who you are or who you want to be, then reading BEATING THE MIDAS CURSE is a must.

This book's six-step experience, called The Heritage Process, is your path to significance. However, your experience must be guided by someone trained by the authors' forward-thinking organization, The Heritage Institute. Why? Because this is a what-it-is book, not a how-to. Many months, even years, of on-going training by your leader are required for you to successfully arrive at your life-changing destination. If you identify with the person described above, your life, too, can arrive at the SIGNIFICANCE you want . . . and need.

As an avid reader of hundreds of books on wealth transfer planning, I rate this book as one of the very best. As an estate planning attorney and wealth counselor, I understand that a family must pass on its values before it passes on the value of what it owns. Beating the Midas Curse shows how to crystallize family values into a compelling vision supported with engaging family stores that heirs can share and reflect upon as they make decisions to leave the most meaningful legacy.

If you ever wanted your children, grand children, great grandchildren and beyond to understand who you are and what was important to you, than this book is for you. It is amazing to find out that with good estate planning (passing estates with a tax efficient plan), that you have a 90% failure rate by the third generation. This book gives you a step by step approach to a process that will be priceless for every family that cares about their family and their community.