Powell Books

A pretty good little self-help book that leads us to reflect on what might be hindering us in becoming truly happy. I like the author's recognition, especially in the last chapter, of the importance of the spiritual life, especially prayer. He also has a very interesting discussion of Alcoholics Anonymous and how faith in God is important in overcoming our own psychological limitations and addictions.

Appropriate for anyone high school age or over. Full of revelations about self-image, getting free from "what other people think", learning to love and appreciate yourself, learning to trust yourself, and so much more great stuff we all need to know. You read it and say, "That's so true! How could I have been missing that all these years?!?" Get yourself in good working order and then you might be able to tackle the rest of the world...or live in it anyway, without getting beat up yourself! Easy read, in a day or over several weeks. Lots of food for thought. A life-changing book! Would be great on audio, like to listen to while in the car!

This book is an excellent one for anyone who wants to take control of their life and be truly happy. The author makes the reader think about what is really important in life and directs one to complete many activities which help you to achieve true happiness. A definite must read!!

This book gives you a great insight in what it is important in life and inspires you to take charge of your own life and happiness. It helped me during one of the most difficult periods of my life. I recommend it highly.

I am 19, and this book has opened my eyes so that I know what I want and need to make my life happy. I need to be a whole person on my own. This book is astounding. It is dissected into 10 easily understood categories and each one leaves a lasting impression. After reading this book there is no way you can forget the messages that have become so deeply ingrained in your soul.

I find this book to be a great source and guide which covers many topics in a concise and helpful way. My husband and myself just started teaching recently and use this book along with other resources when we are preparing lessons. We have Bible software with resources such as commentaries, dictionaries, etc. and quite a few other written source books, but find this book helpful as a quick guide to clarify a question we might have. D.Curran

This book is an excellent and simple resource for knowing what you believe and why you believe it.

This is the best and most interesting book on Christian Apologetics I have ever seen. It is clear and concise, methodical, but not dry and boring. It is well organized and right up to date with illustrations.
I would reccommend this book as a "must read" for everyone! It's also a book you want to keep on hand as a reference and one you want to give away to those seeking truth!

This book covers philosophical arguments for the existence of God, and then gives evidence for the God of the Bible. The quality that sets this book apart from other apologetic books is the full color pictures used liberally throughout the book. This is a good book for you if you feel threatened by the secular attacks against the truth of the Bible, or if you want a good book to lend to a "seeking" non-Christian. The book covers philosophical arguments for the existence of God and physical evidences (such as archaeology) for the truth of the Bible, and discusses how we know the Bible today is essentially the same Bible as what was originally written. The one weakness I saw in this book was that the author claims "The big bang remains the best explanation for the current state fo the universe (p. 44)." He goes on to show this model still requires a creator, but it is unfortunate that he refutes atheistic causes for the creation of the universe, and then apparently tries to merge the atheistic philosophy he just refuted with the Biblical description of creation. The rest of the book is great, especially effective with the use of many pictures.

I have a sizeable collection of books on apologetics, but Doug Powell's wonderful book is the best compilation I've seen of all the major work in this field. The book is written in a style that is easily readable and usable for lay people and has beautiful graphics that add greatly to the content. The progression of his argumentation is excellent: he begins with traditional arguments for what we can observe about the Creator from the creation and then describes the "glass slipper"(made up of these observations) that must fit any religion that would claim to offer a true interpretation of our existence and the universe. He then proceeds to make very sound arguments for why the Christian position is the only worldview that can account for the reality of the universe and of man.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone interested in Christian apologetics.

Some of the information in this book may now be out of fashion and sometimes wrong, it is a great pleasure to read "Scouting for Boys". The ideals defended by B.P.: courage, generosity and compassion are as much a necessity today as they were a hundred years ago, when that book was first published.

The idea of an active, "hands on" education still find its echo in today's most recent education innovations.

Of course, the key message lies in the the initials of the author: Be Prepared!

Excellent book detailing the original , if somewhat dated thoughts , of the founder of the Scout Movement- Sir Robert Baden Powell. A must have read for all interetesed in the movement and it's principles

At the very beginning of the twentieth century, retired General Robert Baden-Powell, the hero of the siege of Mafeking, coalesced his ideas for an organization to train young British boys in scouting for the British Empire. Not a very organized thinker, Baden-Powell borrowed heavily from all sorts of unrelated resources - newspaper articles, military dispatches, fiction, and much more - and produced this, his first book on scouting. Originally published as six separate books, this book brings all of them together, complete with original illustrations.

Now, as might be expected from its roots, this book reflects a lot of the biases and ways of thinking from Edwardian England. But, leaving that aside, this is a fun and interesting book that shows clearly the forms that have stayed with the Boy Scouts movement to this very day. The introduction was written by Elleke Boehmer, a professor of Colonial and Postcolonial literature, and is a fairly predictable deconstruction/analysis of B-P and his movement.

Now, as a newcomer to Scouting (my son is a Tenderfoot) did I find anything useful in this book? I sure did. Robert Baden-Powell was very knowledgeable about the subject, and this book sure shows it. (I never thought of tying my shoes like that!) Of course some of the information is out of date, especially the first-aid information, so it isn't really usable by the boys "as is." But, this is a nice resource, one that shows you where Scouting started.

Oh, and I must say that I actually enjoyed the somewhat jumbled organization of this book. It isn't as scholarly and antiseptic as modern Boy Scout books, and the stories and tales laced throughout make the reading much more fun. Plus, I did find the focus on some subjects, such as logic and deductive reasoning, to be quite interesting. I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you!

I was an Eagle Scout as a boy, and now I'm the founding Scoutmaster of my sons' troop. As such, I was anxious to get a copy of this hard cover version. Baden-Powell's work is a classic and well worth the read. The problem with this edition is the Introduction by Elleke Boehmer. Without it, the book is a 5-star. Ms. Boehmer appears a non-believer. Reading her is like taking a pessimistic art critic along side while viewing an art gallery. Far more benefit (for all concerned) would occur without her input. For each positive she states about BP, she mentions a negative. She also spends just over two pages discussing homosexual tendencies (pp xxxii-xxxiii) within BP's works, something which is out of place in this work. I started to list several quotes, but I think one sums it up best of all from the back cover: "She has never been a scout, but she did once shake hands with Lady Baden-Powell at a jubilee celebration in South Africa." I guess that must make her an expert.

This original text of BP's "Scouting for Boys" is an excellent read. You can skip the introduction, however. The intro is a steaming pile of horse excrement written by someone seething with contempt for BP and the Boy Scout movement. Why it was included with the book is beyond me unless it's to provide bum fodder whilst camping. Remember, a scout is thrifty!

This is a great book, I never get sick of looking at it. Highly recommend for lover of Asian stle living

This is an excellent look at the best examples of tropical Asian luxury living.

It is not a detailed exploration of regional design elements (look to Bali Style, Thai Style, Tropical Garden Design, et al, for the next degree of depth). It is, however, a rich overview of the best of SEAsian luxury architecture and furnishings.

Every page is simply gorgeous, with photos "bleeding" out past the paper, one trait of a good coffee table or style book. There is little or no image repetition in the coverage of the homes or boutique hotels featured, and each photo is perfectly focused, every composition seen in its best light.

In all the shuffle of Thai grandeur, Balinese earthiness, and Malaysian simplicity, the book might at first glance seem to be presenting a kind of fusion. I think it's fair to say that there is plenty of contemporary blurring of the distinctions between regions, but the reader can also look for regional elements and quickly learn them. Each property is given its own mini-chapter, which helps a lot. And the regional details and sensibilities really come alive when you read the accompanying texts, which are the work of expert style writers.

In fact, the contributors list reads like a who's who of style gurus. There is the clever and quippy Made Wijaya, descriptive Diana Darling, the meticulous William Warren, and details-minded Robert Powell. It's a great read!

I am a collector of Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's work because ALL of them is a visual feast for the eyes. This talented man has a knack for details and never fails to capture the vivid and glowing nuances that represents the best of Southest Asia's style. Take it from me, living in the same environment, I sometimes take it for granted. This book is more than just a coffee-table piece, to complement the gorgeous photography , the text , written by various specialists, will enlighten you with well researched information on local crafts and traditions. It also shows the transformation that SEA architecture and interior designs have undergone; overall a fascinating mix 'n' match of vernacular designs and contemporary style.

My dream is to be surrounded by teak and orchids, eating curry and sipping lime juice, and not owning any sort of time piece. Since that isn't going to happen for several more years I bought this book. I am neither a designer nor a photographer so my only input is how this book makes me feel. I have come to love Southeast Asia after several all too brief trips to the region and Tropical Asian Style, specifically Tettoni's photos, has brought some life to my dull suburban living room. And, while I realize that this book comprises several distinct cultures, it is the overall effect, not any particular region, that is so overwhelmingly beautiful. If you feel trapped in your American workaholic routine, this book is a wonderful diversion.

After reading it, I wanted to knock down every wall in my house. Or at least remove the window glass. My next house will definitely be designed based on the rooms in this book.

I didn't read much of the text because the pictures were so captivating. They show every aspect of the tropical Asian house, except perhaps kitchens, which seem to be nothing more than a stove-type device near the dining area. The predominant theme is living among nature and even inviting it to share the living space with you (or is it the other way around?). Instead of windows and doors, you see slatted screens and netting. Very romantic. And a far cry from most of America's obsession with locks and glass. I need to move......

I am so glad I found this book. I was told but never really understood the roller coaster ride I experienced the first six weeks of my daughter's life. This book reminded me to "hold on and enjoy the ride." Every evening before bed (when I would tease myself to believe I was going to get some sleep...really my daughter called me out of bed soon enough) I spent some time with this book. It reminded me what kind of woman and what kind of mother I wanted to be during this time. It grounded me and reminded me what is really important. It helped me realize I am not the only woman ever to live through this ride and that I am not alone by any means in this journey. I even wrote in the margins what was happening that day with my daughter. I know I will pull it out for the next baby and I am looking forward to reviewing my notes. When my daughter was six weeks old, I was sad to come to the end of this book. Now, we just need the author to write one for the first 18 YEARS!!

This book was fantastic. I received it when I gave birth to my third child, and found applications that were useful for all of my children. The chapters are short and easy to pick up and put down whenever you have a spare minute.

This book is very uplifting and encouraging for such a significant life change.

As a brand new mother, I received such encouragement from this book. I realized just how precious a privilege it is to be entrusted by God to raise one of His special gifts. I felt overwhelmed and underqualified as I realized how much my daughter will look to me. Even in the "hard" times of sleepless nights and fussy days, this book helped me see the joy and amazement in every moment. My only complaint of the book is that it ended too soon!

This is the best devotional I could have asked for as a new mother. I love her stories (from her experiences), ideas, and most of all, Godly advice and encouragement for new mothers. I can not say enough good stuff about this book. I am keeping it to give to my son's wife when they have a baby (he's 4 mos. old!)...it's that good! And I ordered some for all my pregnant friends.

I bought this book as a gift for a friend who is a "sports nut". He loved it. He said it took him back to his youth when he first became aware of how common cliches were. He sat down with his wife and had fun explaining what many of the cliches meant and his recollections about where they came from. I will remember this book and purchase it again for other sports fans I know.

Let's face it, this book is not great literature, it's a list. Of sports cliches. And, if you're amused by all things sports, as I am, you'll like this book. It arranges them by sport and other topics (business, money, parts of the body) and I got a chuckle out of it. I admit I'd never heard some of them before, but most of them feel "like home." My young son enjoyed it as he wasn't familiar with a lot of the cliches and we spent an afternoon going thru the book together.

Just as the sports cliche "they came in well prepared" goes, I'm gonna be ready for any lull in the game. My friends and me can use the book to see how many basketball cliches have been used already in the game.

"Heading into next week's showdown" I just bought copies for prizes for my superbowl party - I know it will be a "slam dunk."

My husband and I really enjoyed reading through this book. As hockey fans, we especially enjoyed that section. We've been missing the NHL season and it was great to get back in the game again. I would highly recommend this book for any other NHL fans out there experiencing withdrawl symtoms!

I am honored to say that I have a signed copy of Forgiving Sam and even more honored to say that I have met the author. As I read this book I was astonished at how well written and descriptive the story was. This book pulls you in with an over powering sense of life, honesty, tragedy, and most importantly, a sense of inner self. I only wish I knew Oprah myself!!!! A book this well written and an author so talented should be both a "BEST SELLER" and a "HOUSEHOLD NAME"!!! Please do not hesitate to but this book; in fact, by a copy for everyone you know. I hope this review puts any doubts aside, it is more than worth the money!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam MacCauley is just nine years old when he is stolen away from his life of baseball, summer, and parental rules that seem too silly. For four agonizing days, a sadistic stranger tortures him in ways Sam never imagined possible. He is ready to give in to death when he is rescued by the most unlikely of allies.

Back in the arms of his loving family, Sam represses the memories as best he can and struggles to adulthood. By age thirty-five, he has a successful career, a talented wife, and two lovely children who adore him. But Sam remains tormented by nightmares and ghost memories of the kidnapping. He erects high, forbidding walls--some emotional, some physical--around himself and his family. Slowly the relationships he holds so dear begin to crumble under the pressures of the past.

If Sam is to save his family and himself, he must face what happened to him during those four lost days. Harder yet, he must find a way to forgive the violated nine year old who still lurks deep in his heart.

Author Powell Clark never falters in this fascinating, horrifying, and ultimately uplifting novel. Her characters are unique, sympathetic, and nearly impossible to second-guess. Her settings feel as real as the ground under your feet. The plot moves quickly as Sam and his family face one challenge after another. Most important, Forgiving Sam offers an emotional toughness and honesty sadly lacking in many works of fiction today.

I highly recommend Forgiving Sam to anyone looking for a novel of substance and intelligence.

This is the first book that I have actually wanted to write a review on because it was such a good book I just had to tell how much I loved it.
I have to say I bought this book because the cover and title intrigued me, little did I know that it was set in Alabama not far from where I live. I also couldn't believe how much talent the author had, and I had never heard of her before. I got the pleasure of meeting her not too long ago and because of her talent it was like meeting a celebrity to me!
This book has a touchy subject matter, but one that every parent or guardian should read.It is about a boy who is kidnapped and molested over the course of a few days. He finally escapes from his kidnapper, but realizes that he will not soon escape the harsh reality of what happened to him. The author takes us through Sam's life as he struggles day by day with what took place in his childhood and finally comes to terms with the fact that it wasn't his fault.
Don't let the subject matter scare you off, this by no means was a "dark" book. It is so beautifully written that one minute I was crying and the next I was laughing. When it ended I closed the book with a smile and the feeling that I was lucky to have read this story.

I have to agree with the other readers of this book! The author did an amazing job with the subject and characters in this book! It is definitely emotionally taxing, but worth the effort. The book is beautifully written about a horrendous subject. I highly recommend it, but make sure you have tissue near by!

This is a book that is hard to recommend because of the subject matter - not alot of people want to face such hard truths and facts during pleasure reading. This an absolutley amazing story - powerful, unforgettable and not to be forgotten. I loved the length of the book and the depth of the story. The reader really gets to know the characters. I wonder how Sam is doing now - when I finished FORGIVING SAM I realized I would miss him!

Outstanding service. Book was in better than expected condition.

This is not a story, it's an informational book about Nancy Drew. Everythin in it is factual and it even shares a few mysteries of the life of Nancy Drew. I recomend this book to any mystery fan, ND fan, or the curious reader.

...and other fascinating background trivia for the queen-of-teen-sleuth buffs! I'm not a true Nancy Drew fan, I'm a bookseller with a mercenary interest in the vintage teenage sleuth, but this book almost made me a believer! The author approaches her subject matter with the infectious enthusiasm of the true fan, and delves into carefully guarded mysteries of secret ghostwriter identities, Riverview's true location, and other gems of trivia too numerous to cite, with a determination and verve Nancy herself would be proud of! Fun to read, captivating, and informative to the collector and bookseller alike! (and by the way, the writing is adult-level, not 4-8 yrs., as the description implies!)

What a fun read! I loved seeing all the old pictures, and was amazed by the "behind the scenes" intrigue of the Nancy Drew publishing syndicate. Plunkett-Powell really tracked down the many Carolyn Keenes, in true "sleuth style." Anyone who ever stayed up late reading their Nancy Drews with a flashlight under the covers will absolutely love this book.

This was the best and most well-researched book I've ever read about Nancy Drew. Not only does Ms. Plunkett-Powell "introduce" us to the REAL Carolyn Keene -- Mildred Wirt Benson -- but she gives us a history of how the idea for Nancy Drew was born and some of the politics involved in it for Wirt when Stratmeyer died and his daughter, Harriet, took over everything and tried to control too much of the writing. We learn which NDs weren't written by Wirt, and how much of the writing was changed as well as the covers.

She tells collectors how to know the worth of their stash. She goes through each of the characters and their start with the series. She even talks about the TV show and MOVIES in the 1930s that were made -- more for the fun of it than to truly showcase the books. Info about Russell Tandy, the illustrator of the early books and the first to design covers, also is described.

She hasn't forgotten anything. It's truly a work of genius for the Nancy Drew collector, a "must have" for all of us!

service throughout the day, throughout the month, throughout the year....100 stories of giving...the notes at the end of each story to jump into service in your community are a link to giving. .My favorite story was Christmas in April---I must admit I cheered for Frances as she conquered the steps--I read later that she and the writer are enthusiastic pen pals...what inspiration. Thank you to the 100 stone soup writers. You gave me a taste of who inspires you.

......one of the chapters in this book, these stories reflect movements that we should let sweep the nation!!!! Read and be inspired...told simply, the 90+ writers for this book brought these community heroes home....

such a pleasure to read these stories... such an opportunity for all involved with the project to share their words...you never know, maybe someone was inspired to do something today...by simply reading...as long as Stone Soup for the World is available to America's youth we know we have a bright future ahead... My favorites: The Forgiveness Party, Table for 6 Billion Please, and Peace for Their Grandchildren....and there are 97 more to read and pass on....

Stone Soup for the World is a set of 100 stories about compassion and volunteerism. From the intro by Colin Powell to the story of Ms.Larned's young brother, the whole book was a joy to read. I especially loved the Nelson Mandela and Paul Newman stories. This book has stirred me to be a better person and to help others. I recently walked in honor of my aunt who passed away from cancer and raised money doing it. It felt good just as these stories felt good. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to people from 9 to 99.

On occasion one of those books comes along that I can't put down. This collection of short (3 - 5 pages each) true stories are of people about whom, after I have read the story, I consistently say, "Why didn't I know that before reading this?" This book is truly an insight into past and current history through the prism of what stirs the heart and spirit.

This book was a wedding gift. The recipients are restoring a Bungalow home. This book was on their gift wish list

I enjoy this book and look at pretty regularly. I plan on using some of the details on future construction projects. However, the author is a bit too politically correct for my tastes. She keeps reminding us how "poison" vinyl is. That sort of bothered me. I am sure, given a choice, most people would choose to live a beautiful wooden or stone home rather than a vinyl clad manufactured home or tract home.. however lets be realistic. Those types of home are often what is affordable to the average family. Other than that issue.. I would recommend the book.. it has some great pictures and lots of information about bungalow exterior details.

Together writer Jane Powell and photographer Linda Svendsen create the best bungalow books on the market -- full of information, not just fluff. Whether you are thinking of remodelling your house, changing a few details, or just want to understand the history of your bungalow, this is the book to buy... and really, this book is very cheap compared to the price of a bad remodel.

In my opinion the chapter on avoiding replacement window scams, while energy-retrofitting your house, should be required reading for all homebuyers.

Jane Powell is THE bungalow author to read. As a remodeler who specializes in 1920's bungalows, it pleases me to no end to read an author who really knows what she is talking about. Every Jane Powell book I have read is like a college course on that aspect of bungalow history, preservation, and renovation. This book is no exception. And she is really funny! Beautiful photos (as usual)by Linda Svendsen.

I don't live in a Craftsman bungalow, but I'm adding a number of Craftsman details to my existing NW cabin style house. Over the years I have collected numerous books full of photographs of various bungalows but I have sold all of them now that I have this book. This one book contains information on nearly every exterior detail you are likely to need, and is lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings. It's an excellent reference for buffs and restorers. I have already pre-ordered the next volume which will cover interiors. Shame I have to wait 6 months!