Reed Books

If you have serious mold allergies, and are motivated to create a relatively mold-free haven in your home, this is a great book. By using this book to track down some minor mold issues, I have been able to noticeably improve my health. Engaging and readable, but detailed enough to address specific situations.

I am a Certified Microbial Consultant (mold inspector) and a board member of the American Indoor Air Quality Council. I have this book in my library as a reference. It's quite comprehensive.

Jeffrey has done a god job. It's written for the lay person but also contains a lot of technical information (and technically correct information). The publisher is John Hopkins University. So it's a good read for the academics.

A good, comprehensive book for those who need to know about mold.

Despite the name "survival guide" I found this a calm and informative guide to environmental mold issues. It explained in an understandable way the scientific issues around mold such as what mold is, how it can be a health hazard, and more importantly how mold is not some sort of invisible killer, but something that requires certain conditions to become a problem.

Mold growth is a wide-ranging problem only recently receiving recognition in the process: turn to the The Mold Survival Guide For Your Home And For Your Health for significantly more depth and advice than any ordinary newspaper article could offer. Indoor air quality professional teams join a writing specialist to describe different types of molds and how to eradicate them while maintaining health. Tips on prevention are particularly well done.

This book written by long time professional home inspector Jeff May and his writer spouse Connie is a good introduction to mold problems in buildings, particularly homes. It combines an excellent narrative writing style, and unusual for a book that should appeal to many lay readers, a strong scientific understanding of mold, its growth requirements, its effects on human health, its detection in indoor spaces and ultimately its control. Jeff who I have known for over 20 years brings to this book many years (and of course many investigated buildings) of real-world experience with the scientific understanding to match. That is a rare combination. The book is a good read for the lay individual concerned about mold, the parent with a child with asthma, chronic sinusitis, or chronic non-seasonal allergy. It is also a good read for mold professionals of limited experience and those planning to enter the profession.
Thad Godish, Ph.D., C.I.H., Professor of Natural Resources/Environmental Management, Ball State University, Muncie, In. 47304 http://www.bsu.edu/IEN

Book is excellent. Covers the theory very well, such that you can make the computer code yourself. They also provide puedocode. You will be able to learn it better than other books that just give you the code. I find that once you understand the theory, writing the code is easy.

Everybody who tries to use NNets for real goes through these steps.
First, there is the Delta rule.
Then, there is overfitting, local minima, generalization problems and frustration.

The complexity of NN is not in it's math; the difficulty is in the construction of a NN. This book is excellent in providing rules-of-thumb for NN construction, while at the same time providing the theoretical backing.

Hey I am not making money reviewing this book, it's just really good.

Many textbooks can help me to understand the different concepts of neural network, but not the practical tips needed to optimize neural network anlysis and implementation.

The topics covered are reminicent to those discussed in part 2 and 3 of the Neural Network FAQ. In chapter 6, the relationships between learning rate, momontum, trainig time and learning modes are presented graphically. With this, it helps me to rule out and avoid learning parameters that are unlikely to improve the NN performance. This is especially important if the dataset is large and the NN program is implemented in Java.

If the aim is to develop a NN solution that will give you the best results, I find both chapter 7 (heuristics for weights initialization) and 16 (heuristics for improving generation) are esential and saves me a lot of time from reading many journals.

In summary, this book has helped me to develop the art of NN optimization. It shows me how to visualize decision surface and the various graphical relationships between learning paramters and various components of NN topology. I think you will find this book very useful after your NN program is up and running and you are looking for ideas and explaination on how to improve the NN performance further.

After owning this book for many years and reaching for it many times, I decided that I at least owed the book a five star review.

Early in my graduate career I began working with neural networks and discovered this book in a electronic bookshelf available at my university. After printing chapter after chapter to read on subway rides home I ended up buying it for convenience. It gave me the background I needed to code up a basic artificial neural network in C++ and to then extend it to fit my needs.

The style of the writing is the perfect balance of enough detail to understand a concept or method without unnecessary wordiness. Each chapter covers an important aspect of neural network development and application - for exmaple, internode weight initilaization techniques - and acts a sort of mini-review of the most popular methods with a clear explanation of the pros and cons of each.

This is an excellent bookshelf addition for anyone who works with neural networks.

Some books just have the right feel about them and this is one of them. The author clearly knows neural networks and also knows how to communicate to others in a no-nonsense fashion. With so many books being published, you rarely find a technical book that is as good as this. The emphasis here is on conveying the insights that the experts in this area would know. Importantly, concepts are explained equally in words, graphics and mathematics, maximising the uptake of knowledge from the book. Tufte would be impressed by the quality of the line graphics in this book, and the information that they convey, not to mention the overall presentation. I suspect that this book would make an ideal textbook for a course in neural networks. Overall, I've enjoyed reading it very much.

This book is a great intro to Mr. Qabbani's poetry. Everything about it is well done. Cover art, binding, paper stock. All excellent. This volume will have the reader searching for more of his work.

I had thought your love would end my estrangement
but you passed like water between my fingers

~Nizar Qabbani

In my eternal search for poetry infused with images of water and passion, "On Entering the Sea" appeared on the Amazon horizon. How I love this site and the ability to locate life-enhancing selections of great beauty.

The poetry of Nizar Qabbani requires atmosphere and an imagination willing to travel beyond the daily drudgery of existence into longings for home, passionate encounters and the mysteries of sensation. At times his poems have echoes of ancient works that intertwine themselves with modern complexity. His work celebrates the love of country, women and sensuous images of coffeehouses and Andalusian experiences.

I write
to save the woman I love
from the cities of no poetry,
of no love
the cities of frustration and gloom
I write to make her a misty cloud

Only woman and writing
Save us from death.

As an introduction to Nizar Qabbani, On Entering the Sea presents his work in a pleasing arrangement by translator. While the introduction by Salma Khadra Jayyusi presents an overview of the book, how I wished for a section at the end to explain the details behind many of the poems. Would this enhance my enjoyment or do the poems speak of moments so profound, no other explanation is needed? It could be said that many of his poems have a universal appeal and need no further explanation.

While his words glow with a love for the female essence in life and in women, he also explores thoughts of protecting his home, lands he loves and a different perspective on war and loss. "Posters" may be shocking to some and yet it is a representation of how Nizar Qabbani sees the world and wishes for peace all while declaring war on pride. It is highly political and yet he delves into the heart of freedom for all people. Although, I think there are poems I have yet to read which apparently display a more revolutionary approach, although this is not foreign to poets the world over. I enjoyed reading Jerusalem:

Jerusalem, beloved city of mine,
tomorrow your lemon trees will bloom,
your green stalks and branches rise up joyful,
and your eyes will laugh...

He experienced so much pain and loss and was very controversial, especially in his hometown in Damascus where he challenged cultural taboos. Too often I think we as a society have condemned the erotic, all while longing for erotic pleasures of our own. Nizar Qabbani not only sets desire free in poems, he sets women free from oppression. In "Diary of an Indifferent Woman," he writes as a woman:

I want to escape from my own skin
from my own voice, from my own language
and stray like the fragrance of gardens
I want to flee from my own shadow
and from all addresses

By the end of the poem he talks about crystal bottles with dead butterflies and the images become revelations of eternal struggles for independence and for the freedom to love. During his teenage years, his sister committed suicide, because she could not marry the man she loved.

Time after time Nizar Qabbani displays an exceptional understanding of what it means to be female all while revealing what it means to be a man. Insatiable physical love and ecstasy from the sheer vision of a woman become spiritual expressions of love for God himself. "The Book of Love" is worshipful and timeless.

The name of my love.
I wrote it on the water.
I did not know
That the wind rushes by without listening,
That names dissolve in the water.

He also asks: "What is Love?" Then he humorously explains how he cannot change the woman he loves for she is "a storm trapped in a bottle."

Most of the poems are pleasing and passionate, but there are poems displaying private pain and horror as love is ripped from his hands by the ravages of terror. He perfectly describes his grief in an unusual moment where he is standing in the rubble of an attack and remembers his wife and the cadence of her name.

As he finds her handbag in the rubble, we are convinced no man has ever loved his wife this deeply, and yet the universal message makes us realize how many have loved and lost and longed for a woman like Balquis Al-Rawi. The vision he paints of honey, jasmine moons, rubies and roses will remain in my memory for as long as I love poetry. As in many passionate poems, the feelings of the poet flowed through me and appeared in tears. His poem about his mother's death is equally poignant and we are left with the scent of coffee, cardamom seeds and orange blossom water.

If you are a lover of world poetry, the poems of Nizar Qabbani are essential reading. Through his poems you feel the ancient longings of all people in all lands and in his uncensored thoughts, we can truly experience life through his eyes. I can only hope more of his work is translated in the near future. The exciting element of his poetry is often how he absorbs experience and then defeats his own inner tyranny by writing exactly what he thinks to display the beauty of truth. You will hear echoes in his writing and realize how many contemporary spiritual teachers and poets have been students of his poetry.

To peace...

~The Rebecca Review

These are the most passioante poems ever written. Some wail after unrequited love. Some bemoan the one that got away or an opportunity missed or ruined by thier own action. Many express devotion to the love that is present.

And then there are the political poems of longing for a lost land, agony for the end of a way of life and indignation at injustice. He was a great advocate for women's rights, but that work is not included in this collection.

I do not undestand why Qabbani is not better known in the US. In my opinion, he is far superior to Neruda (who was my favorite before I knew Qabbani). Less cliches, but more direct at the same time. And you hear what he has to say and reflect "that is exactly my feeling in this situation, why did I not think of that expresion...could it be said in any other way?"

I discovered him overseas, a few days before he died. I was so distressed to hear of his death, even though I only was familiar with his work a few days. In the Arab world, musicians of all stripes and capabilities attempt to use his poems as lyrics for their music. He has poems for every mood and every problem, each of them speak straight to the soul with emotion. Even people who can not normally appreciate poetry will become obsessed with Qabbani, when reading this collection.

So powerful, so sensual, so incredible. His poetry is earth shaking and primal.

Don't let the fact that his words have been translated from their original Arabic dissuade you from believing that somehow the work isn't as honest as it should be. Qabbani's work is so powerful it hardly matter shwat language it is in. In short, easily read dollops of wit measured out with a voice of quiet urging, he has given us work that transcends time and politics, while being above-it-all.

"If you know a man
who loves you more than I
guide me to him
so I may first congratulate
hom on his constancy
and later, kill him."

If poetry ever had a Luther Vandross, it was Pablo Neruda. If it ever had a Barry White, it was Qabbani.

I thought that book is really nice. The pictures are very detailed and i thought that getting it used that it would be in bad shape. Really it was in perfect condition. I have been looking at this book alot to learn about tornado's. I really recommed this book.

Jim Reed's new book STORM CHASER: A PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNEY is nothing short of amazing. WIth breath taking photos and insightful anecdotes, the book takes the reader into the forces of nature that shape our lives and create historic, defining moments in time. I met Jim on the ground in Greensburg, KS and he was exceedingly kind and allowed me to spend a very enjoyable afternoon with him chronicling the aftermath of the tornado that struck there. Jim's soul shines thru in every photo and his passion for weather, photography and in the end people is wonderfully displayed in this work. I have his two previous works and all are works of art! Heed Jim's advice to get a weather radio- he knows what he is talking about! I don't look at the sky the same way after meeting him and seeing his work!

My wife bought this for her father, who is impossible to buy gifts for. She read it first and loved it. Anyone who is interested in nature or science will like it very much.

The title "Storm Chaser" might lead one to believe this is a book about tornado chasing. It is but it's a whole lot more! Photographer Jim Reed takes his readers on a journey of land, sea, and sky covering the four seasons. Along the way we learn how Reed, once an eight year old boy, quickly became hooked on weather and began keeping a diary of events. As an adult he's traveled across North America photographing devastating tornadoes, hurricanes, raging flood waters, spectacular lightning displays, and blinding blizzards. Yet he also focuses on more benign (yet still beautiful) events such as rainbows, aurora, fall foliage, and migrating butterflies. Perhaps the book should have been titled "Open your eyes and take a look at all the interesting weather out there" because Reed shows us that there's natural beauty and wonder everywhere --if one just takes time to stop and smell the roses. Storm Chaser makes a great coffee table book but it's also a good study guide for those looking to improve their skills in photographing nature.

I received this book as a gift. The photos in the book are very good. Excellent in most cases. My only complaint, and it a very minor one, is that as an amateur photographer, I would love to have seen the EXIF data (i.e, shutter speed, ISO, F-Stop, etc.) from the camera published at the bottom of each photo. However I understand this is a book of photos, not a photography book. Given the photos, the author must have a lot of waterproof equipment.

This remarkable book is a MUST HAVE for every senior high English teacher, and every literate parent who wants to help their senior complete a moving, effective college essay.

In this book, every teacher is going to find what he or she appreciates most: the voice of a respected, professional high school teacher and invaluable materials that will help students produce successful narratives. Mary Jane Reed has done her homework; she knows what English teachers need to know and what colleges look for in personal narratives.
If you teach the college narrative or if you value narrative writing, this book is great reference material. Let Ms. Reed's experience, research, handouts, student examples, and ideas for lessons make your life easier and your lessons more powerful!

Mary Jane Reed, a former English Department Chair and current writing consultant, establishes herself as a respected voice in educational writing in her first book, Teaching Powerful Personal Narratives: Strategies for College Applications and High School Classrooms. Hands down, this is the best book I've seen for teachers in a long time. It's one I believe every teacher of English should have on her desk.

Having taught sophomore, junior and senior-level English, I view this book as a resource for all three levels. In this slender, but informative book, Reed writes in an approachable, friendly, but intelligent way--as if she's the teacher at the next desk, sharing some great ideas. "I can't encourage teachers strongly enough to include more narrative-writing in their curriculums. Students should be exposed to the personal narrative no matter what grade they are in" (xii). "A good first draft is an oxymoron" (31). Reed, herself, clearly did her homework when preparing this book. She interviewed admissions counselors at schools such as Cornell, Emory, Ohio State and the University of Michigan and gathered up-to-date college application questions. Reed provides the information needed to get a jump start on the application process, but also provides a plethora of helpful suggestions for narrative writing in general including advice on finding a topic, conferencing with students, and guidelines for revision. Additionally, there is a CD in the back of the book with handouts (from brainstorming to revision - fantastic!) and overheads to print and use in the classroom. As a teacher, this is an invaluable time-saver for me. I spend less time creating handouts from scratch (or using corny, mass market handouts) and more time with my students to guide and encourage them in the writing process itself.

I was impressed by Reed's breadth of knowledge with this subject-matter. Her experience speaks for itself; however, just flipping through the table of contents gives you a preview of what you're in for: "Cht. 1: From Assignments to Admissions," "Cht: 2: Types of Personal Narrative Questions," "Cht. 4: Banging out the First Draft," "Cht. 6: The Antidone for Telling: Description, Details, and Imagery" and "Cht. 7: Revision: Draft after Draft after Draft." Reed also includes a chapter solely for teachers on "Writing the College Recommendation." Other teacher bonuses include advice on small group versus individual conferencing, techniques to help students tune in to voice, and student samples from first to final draft. Reed makes the $20 you spend for this book go far.

This book is an easy to understand, modern, invaluable resource for a very important unit. A unit students will appreciate. Accessible and actually interesting to read (!), this book far exceeded my expectations. I cannot rave enough about it. The teacher who wants her students to succeed in high school, college and beyond-and who wants to make teaching narrative writing easier on herself-will buy this book.

Reviewed by Mary Jo Wyse

Teaching Powerful Personal Narratives: Strategies For College Applications And High School Classrooms is a guide especially for teachers, who need to instruct their students in the art of captivating the reader's attention with essays, especially in a college application, but the advice herein will prove equally useful to high school seniors themselves. Individual chapters cogently address the different types of personal narrative questions one is likely to encounter, brainstorming ideas, how to tune in to one's "voice", guidelines for revising drafts, sample selections of college essays, caveats against too much coaching, and more. A sensible compendium of practical advice, written by an experienced writing consultant and enhanced with a CD-ROM of useful handouts and transparencies.

Mary Jane Reed's vast teaching and consulting experience and her personal commitment not only to assist students get into college but also become better writers is evident throughout her book. This is an ideal tool for high school teachers and guidance counselors and a highly effective guide for parents, students and anyone who wants to improve his writing style and ability to communicate through a personal narrative. By identifying questions that a student may encounter on a college application and discussing who will read the student's essays, the book begins with clear guidance on how to become comfortable with the writing process. Next, Reed introduces a unique and extremely effective writing process including instruction on choosing a topic that will engage the reader and hints on "grabbing" and "plopping" the reader into the action at the start of the narrative. She then demonstrates how to write and polish a personal narrative by using techniques like carefully crafting transitions, accomplishing an effective voice to convey rhythm, and relaxing grammar to create a contemporary tone. Reed also introduces techniques designed to "show" readers rather than tell them about a subject, "activate" a draft, and revise a narrative until it becomes a polished, finished product. This book will exceed the reader's expectations through handouts and transparencies (in the text and on an attached CD), checklists, exercises and numerous examples at each stage of the writing process. Also, Reed frequently turns to teachers and guidance counselors to show them how to coach a student without actually making revisions for him, use one-on-one conferences through a three-stage process and write strong, convincing letters of recommendation. The reader can adopt the entire process from developing a topic to polishing a near-finished narrative or use parts of the process like adding details to "show" the reader or shortening a narrative to meet word or page requirements. Overall, high school teachers and guidance counselors, parents and students and anyone who wants to improve his narrative writing style will benefit from this clearly written, well organized, easy to understand guide.

Since my book BUTTERFLY WINGS came out at the same time as Dessa's and since we both live in the same area, frequenting the same literary circles, people often confuse us and I am honored to be mistaken for this beautiful lady whose words represent a triumph of the human spirit. I adore Dessa, her poetry and her mission to bring recovery through poems.

It was a beautifully written book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. Dessa is such an inspiration.

What a beautifully written book. Once I started it I wasn't able to put it down until I had read it from cover to cover.

Reed's powerful spiritual message with a light touch is inspiring, uplifting, and easy to read and is also a great gift! Whether or not you are into poetry, this book is a soulful must that you and many of your friends will enjoy.

You don't have to be a poet or want to be one to enjoy this charming journey of recovery. There is something for everyone in this beautifully written book about recovery, healing and survival. You will laugh and cry and, ultimately, feel the butterfly touch.

My son found this book at our local library and checked it out every two weeks for a year. He loves to read it using different voices for the characters. This year he decided that his cousin, also named Avery, needed his own copy for Christmas. It is an easy bedtime story for a three year old who loves all things cowboy.

This hilariously-illustrated picture book is perfect for your young cowpoke at home. The text is fun and short--great for a quick read. And Avery proves to kids everywhere that just about anyone is cowboy material.

This little humdinger of a book is one you won't mind reading over and over again! Yeehaw!

I love children's books that tell stories, and this storyline is entertaining, as well as, motivating for children with a low self esteem. My children and I enjoyed the author's writing style, including a western accent... that I would try to imitate while reading. I would highly recommend this book for every children's library.

Avery is a kid who just can't seem to get things right at Cowboy Camp. Or can he? In Cowboy Camp, it's Avery to the rescue when he and the other kids discover that it's not only okay to be yourself -- it's what being a true cowboy is all about. I read this one to a class of kindergarteners last week and they loved it. It's going up on my shelf right next to my Tacky books. Cute, clever and lots of fun!

Avery wants to be a cowboy, but when he arrives at Cowboy Camp, he takes one look at the other campers and knows he doesn't have what it takes. Who ever heard of a cowboy named Avery who doesn't like grits and beans, is allergic to horses and gets rope burn?

When an unexpected visitor arrives at camp, Avery uses the most important cowboy skill of all and proves he's an honest-to-goodness cowboy.

Tammi Sauer pens a clever cowboy story that will leave kids laughing out loud and begging to attend Cowboy Camp this summer. Mike Reed's illustrations are incredible--a perfect fit for this rootin' tootin' cowboy adventure.

Look for this one to win some awards. VERY highly recommended!

Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (6/08)

"Daily Intentions" consists of 365 inspirational passages, one for every day of the year. In fact, when the author, Ann Blakely Rice, penned the book she only wrote one entry per day and this is also how she intends for the book to be read. I found her writing process to be unique and interesting. She followed a ritual every morning where she asked "for Divine Guidance and Inspiration" and then set flame to a white candle before beginning writing that day's entry. In fact, every time I read an entry I can't help but to think of Rice following this process.

It should also be noted that her "references to an all-loving Supreme Power are used merely to simplify, rather than to claim as the only names for one's higher power. The reader is openly invited to insert any reference(s) terms that they call their own highest source of goodness" (p. viii). The use of this general term or concept opens the book up to all people regardless of their belief system or religion.

Each entry starts with a simple thought and then three or so small paragraphs follow expanding on that idea or concept. For instance, the February 29th entry reads: "Concentrate until you become One with what you are doing" (p. 61). Rice then goes on to give us some ideas on how to regain focus on those days where we feel that our minds are being pulled in all different directions.

"Daily Intentions" is a wonderful spiritual guidebook. The daily entry format does not require a huge time commitment on the reader's part which is a definitely a positive attribute in today's busy world. Reading each daily entry is a very simple step to take in helping us to achieve our full potential and to lead more peaceful and fulfilling lives. I have found that Rice's writing definitely has a calming effect on me that is not an easy feat to perform since I have two very active young boys who keep me running. Each entry is very inspirational and uplifting and I believe that this book will have a positive effect on anyone's life.

"Daily Intentions" is a life saver and a spiritual guidebook for those who experience life's challenges and desire a more healed and whole life. The author, Ann Rice, has such a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with us. Every page is a treasure house of the finest jewels of refined wisdom. You will sparkle, even if you just read one passage!

Sundae Merrick, Author of "Divine Reason & Rhyme, Access Higher Guidance and Nature's Wisdom"

I have been reading Ann Rice's book "Daily Intentions" for several weeks, but I keep coming back to the entry for January 9. "The soul is fed by the living waters from the river of a positive mind." This book of spiritual encouragement is designed to be read one page per day, but I am fascinated, if not obsessed, with this one sentence and the concept of "living waters." Somehow, I feel that if I can master the intent behind these words I will attain something great in terms of inner growth. I found this book to be uplifting and inspiring.

This book is incredible. I read the intention for each day and, quite often, just open randomly and read the message. It never fails to inspire me. It is amazing how Ms Rice hits home with each entry. I have tabbed a number of pages, that I refer back to on a regular basis, that meet a particular need or, simply, uplift me. Thank you, Ms Rice, for this wonderful book.

I have been reading this excellent book for almost a month and have never failed to be uplifted by it's daily message. Ms. Rice has a way of distilling a Godly message into it's most salient and important words, and never fails to send me off on my daily journey happier and more spiritually atuned than before I opened the pages.

Brava Ms Rice !!

Don't be to eager to dismiss this book as superficial, for females only or aimed at the fashion/ art set. It is a well researched and knowledge packed directory into the ploitics and social history of fashion and beauty, throughout the entire 20th century.
It would be of immense value to students of 20th century history, women's studies as well as an invaluable and pictorial journey for children exploring the recent past.
The layout is well structured and the photography, art and fashion plates are breath taking.
Even if just a coffee table book, it's far more engaging than the average trendy photo album.

This book covers the changing styles and images from the 1890s thru the 1990s. Each section covers the life & times, faces in vogue, film and media, fashion, hair and hats, cosmetics, body shape and underwear, and work and play for a particular decade. Filled with interesting facts and tons of photographs, this makes the perfect addition to the library of anyone interested in fashion, cosmetics, or history! Fun and unique!

A nice collection of fact & photos on the beauty industry. Contains information on styles of each period--including the impact of film! I thought the 1920's invention of "twist-up" lipstick & the use by flappers was a hoot! Pick this book up & grab another as a gift!

Decades of Beauty is both an excellent pictoral as well as literary history of beauty through the decades. Great pictures that have not been often seen showcase the fashion fads of each era along with the fashion icons who are responsible for that decade's fashion hype. I loved that this book also gave equal space to the history of cosmetic beauty through the years. Its fascinating to see what type of makeup each generation "had to have" along with the "hippest" hairstyles of the day. The contents are easy to read and allows one to pick and choose a decade of interest without having to read the book start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a cosmetic junkie, fashion obsessed, or just a history buff. This would also make an excellent gift for those in the beauty industry. Enjoy!

I purchased this book a year ago and read it from cover to cover the day it arrived. But I find myself picking it up and flipping through it every now and again. I love the fact that the authors wound in all kinds of fascinating pop culture trivia along with fashion history. I learned all kinds of amazing things -- like the fact that Elizabeth Arden brought out a velvet gas mask during World War II and that someone actually saw fit to bring a bra to market that could be inflated by blowing into a straw. This book is very fun reading indeed. It's also a gorgeous coffee table book. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (11/08)

"To live in the world of creation - to get into it and stay in it - to frequent it and haunt it....to think intently and fruitfully, to woo combinations and inspirations into being by a depth and continuity of attention and meditation - this is the only thing." Henry James (page 23 - "Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can")

These times are filled with lots of bad news. Every time we turn on the television we hear about more companies collapsing, the mortgage crisis and the high unemployment rate. Working in the not-for-profit world, I have never felt more beat up and defeated than in recent times. When I first picked up this book I thought that it would be just another self-help book that would inspire me while I was reading it and then I would move on. Not so! As I read each chapter I felt a spiritual shift beginning deep inside of me. Each chapter not only inspired me, but also filled me with a new found energy to jump back into my life and face the changes that I need to make during this time. It helped me to realize that there are certain things that I will not be able to change but how to recognize the things that I can and to approach them fearlessly.

It was a quick read, so I plan to go back and read it again slowly, fully absorbing what each chapter has to offer. Chandler instills loads of wisdom in an easy-to-read style. He gets his points across through his own life experiences, other people's stories and through beautiful quotes sprinkled throughout the book.

This is the first Chandler book that I have read but I plan to read his other books in the very near future. I highly recommend this anyone who is looking for the tools to get through tough times, or anyone looking for a better way to live their life.

"Somebody should tell us...right at the start of our lives...that we are dying. Then we might live to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows." Michael Landon (page 95 - "Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can" by Steve Chandler)

Don't let Steve's entertaining style fool you--this book goes deep into what fear is about, how it holds us back, and how changing the way we think will help us take action without it. As the author of The High Diving Board: How to Overcome Your Fears and Live Your Dreams, I was moved to applaud Steve's approach. Don't be afraid to buy it and devour it.

Ever been in a tall building that has an express elevator? No need to go through all the stops on all the intervening floors...just, ZAP! and you are at the top. In the penthouse suite. That's what this book does for my mind -- gets me full speed to my best, most creative thinking. Freedom.

As a business and life coach, I have been using Steve Chandler's books for several years now and see them impact clients in major ways -- and quickly. What's great about this book is Chandler writes like he talks: clearly, succinctly, and with great humor. He makes change not only possible but FUN. His books make my professional work a whole lot easier.

This is his best yet. Why? Because it addresses, challenges, and shows us how to eradicate the single greatest problem that underpins all the others--Fear.

It's not about prevailing in the face of fear. Or about learning to live with fear and doing it anyway. It's about living without fear. Nada. Take it off the menu. A fearless life. Imagine that.

If you buy one book this year, make it this one.

I just finished reading Fearless by Steve Chandler. The book is written in a highly accessible style, with chapters that are brief but packed with wisdom. I think it is Steve Chandler's best work to date, a book that helped me in some very personal ways.

If you'll open yourself up to the ideas the book presents, you'll find yourself seriously questioning why you don't do the things that you've always wanted to do, why you walk around judging everything to be "good" or "bad," and why you let fear govern so much of your thinking.

This book gave me a very big boost of intellectual and emotional energy. I read it over the course of a week and each day I found myself more energized, less judgmental of the people I live and work with, and more confident in my ability to move into the next phase of my career.

This is a quick read, but you should read it twice or three times so that you give the ideas a chance to change the way you think about the fears that hold you back in life.

As a coach I am dedicated to helping my clients find resources to move them forward. I am also always reading to fuel my own personal development. Two days ago I came across a book that I just can't put down and want everyone to know about.

"Fearless: Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can," by Steve Chandler, addresses the one thing, truly the one thing, that is holding you or me back from success...FEAR! This book is remarkable, written in short chapters, and one that you will want to read over and over once you realize that it was written for you.

Buy this book, read it, and you will realize that you have the ability to change the way you think about anything in your life. And then, get up and take action!