Roberts Books

If you want to understand programming the Flash Communication Server and it's capabilities this is a good place to start.

Although I'm using Flash Media Server 2, this book is still highly relevant as not much has changed. The core objects and language is the same so I would not hesitate to recommend it for anyone looking to use FMS.

This book is all about the design of applications using Macromedia's Flash Communication Server MX. FCS MX enables the building of media-rich web applications by taking care of the basic tasks required in the networking of the applications. Thus, you can focus on the application itself rather than worrying about low-level communication details.

Since this book is concerned with situations where multiple Flash applications will be executing on the same server simultaneously, there is going to be considerable effort involved in coordinating events, which is addressed by this book. You should already have FCS installed and running on your server and you should also have Flash MX available on the client. The following is description of the book by chapter:

Chapter 1, Introducing the Flash Communication Server - Acts as an introduction to FCS and an overview of the whole book.

Chapter 2, Communication Components - How the FlashCom communication components encapsulate commonly needed features such as chat, video recording and playback, bandwidth control,and user configuration. These components implement many basic building blocks for your application.

Chapter 3, Managing Connections - This chapter covers connections in more depth past the SimpleConnect component, including how to write custom code to handle various changes in the connection status as well as different errors.

Chapter 4, Applications, Instances, and Server-Side ActionScript - This chapter describes how to write Server-Side ActionScript and work with the objects that control application instances and the Flash movies that connect to them.

Chapter 5, Managing Streams - Offers a somewhat oversimplified but complete example that shows the basic steps in publishing one live stream and subscribing to a second.

Chapter 6, Camera and Microphone - This chapter explains how to use both the Microphone and Camera classes to record live streams. These classes are at the heart of most communication applications involving multimedia.

Chapter 7, Media Preparation and Delivery - This chapter covers many details for compressing and streaming audio and video.

Chapter 8, Shared Objects - This chapter starts an entirely new subject - shared objects, which provide a mechanism for the transmission of data between client and server.

Chapter 9, Remote Methods - This chapter also shows how to broadcast method calls to every movie and application instance connected to a shared object or stream, or send them to and from individual movies using RMI.

Chapter 10, Server Management API - Discusses the Server Management API and its applications, including monitoring a FlashCom Server, gathering statistics on application instances, and managing the log streams.

Chapter 11, Flash Remoting - Demonstrates how Flash Remoting can be used to add data connectivity to FlashCom applications. Flash Remoting can access web services, server-side scripts, CGI applications, XML files, or the local filesystem with the help of an application server such as ColdFusion.

Chapter 12, ColdFusion MX and FlashCom - Teaches some specifics involved in using Flash Remoting with ColdFusion MX and FlashCom. There are some practical working examples shown that demonstrate how you can leverage the benefits of Flash Remoting in conjunction with FlashCom.

Chapter 13, Building Communication Components - This is the first step in building complete applications, and is demonstrated through an extensive example.

Chapter 14, Understanding the Macromedia Component Framework - How to modify an existing component and how to create a new one. Also discusses server-side framework code and its core features and data structures.

Chapter 15, Application Design Patterns and Best Practices - Describes some of the best practices available to application developers. This chapter provides some useful design options, patterns, and best practices that will help you build better applications.

Chapter 16, Building Scalable Applications - Deals with building multi-instance and multiserver applications that don't bog down as the number of client connections increases.

Chapter 17, Network Performance, Latency, Concurrency - Traditional network design issues affect FCS also.

Chapter 18, Securing Applications - Specifically this chapter examines the three A's of security - Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting.

Excellent book, stuffed of examples very well explained, easy to read and to understand, essential for who desires initiate or even though to profound itself studies on FlashCom.
Obligator reference in projects involving FlashCom, either for fast consultations and advanced tasks.
Excellent approach of subjects as Design patterns and security, yonder a perfect demonstration about audio, video and much more.

If you're a developer looking into real-time server communication using Adobe Flash, this book is a must-have. It guides you thru various levels of application development in an easy to understand format, and provides well documented pieces of code to assist you in the learning process of putting together your project:

Topics covered include:

- learning about components and how to use them
- establishing and managing client connections
- publishing live and recorded streams
- local communication with clients
- remote communication with outside applications

The book also shows how to build and integrate your own custom components, and how to scale your application using the components that you've created. Other highlights include information on how to use shared objects and server management API, as well as ways to improve both design and performance.

Leah wants to bring her relationship with Miguel out into the open. At the haunted house that Eight Prime is doing for Halloween, though, she breaks it off with him when he refuses to meet her parents. Eventually the two get back together and tell Eight Prime of their relationship, which makes Nicole excited.

Melanie and Peter are getting kind of closer to each other, which makes Jenna jealous. Jenna and Peter argue about it and Peter drives Melanie home from cleaning up the place where the haunted house was. Before he can even start the car, though, Melanie has a little romantic surprise for him.

This is the first book in the series that I have read. I was looking for a good book to read at the library and decided to get this one. It was a good choice! Great book. I think Miguel and Leah are PERFECT for each other! I am now hooked on these books. Ms. Roberts you did an excellent job! read it!

I really like this series! It's great! I can't believe it's ending at book 20! Book 19 just came out. Anyways. This is a great series. A thing I like most about it is how everyone in this book likes someone. Nicole likes Jesse. Jesse likes Melanie. Melanie likes Peter. Peter likes Jenna. Jenna likes Miguel. Miguel likes Leah. Leah likes Miguel. And, well, Ben, he's just out there, but that's ok. Ok, now about this book:

It's really good! Leah and Miguel want to tell Eight Prime about them but Miguel wimps out and refuses and they get into a big fight about it. Melanie and Peter start hanging out a lot, and Jenna gets majorly jealous. Ben's trying to fit in, and Nicoles just jealous of everything: Melanie, Leah...etc. Overall a very good book. Recommend you reading the whole series.

I really like this series! It's great! I can't believe it's ending at book 20! Book 19 just came out. Anyways. This is a great series. A thing I like most about it is how everyone in this book likes someone. Nicole likes Jesse. Jesse likes Melanie. Melanie likes Peter. Peter likes Jenna. Jenna likes Miguel. Miguel likes Leah. Leah likes Miguel. And, well, Ben, he's just out there, but that's ok. Ok, now about this book:

It's really good! Leah and Miguel want to tell Eight Prime about them but Miguel wimps out and refuses and they get into a big fight about it. Melanie and Peter start hanging out a lot, and Jenna gets majorly jealous. Ben's trying to fit in, and Nicoles just jealous of everything: Melanie, Leah...etc. Overall a very good book. Recommend you reading the whole series.

This book isn't the best book of the series I've read, but I enjoyed all the same. The cliffhanger at the end of this novel was really good - wheter Peter and Melanie will ever get it together or will Melanie & Jesse or Peter & Jenna. Nicole is just way to jealous of everything - Jesse liking Melanie more, Leah and the fact that she still hasn't got a life. Leah and Miguel's relationship is just like a fairytal - poor man falls in love with rich girl. But I liked it when he [Migual] questioned his religion. Jenna is a spoiled brat with good intentions, but she can't get everything her own way and she is just so jealous of everyone. Ben is just Ben - he's goofy and really annoying at the same time. And Jesse, well Jesse is just using people to make himself feel better - Nicole [who is quite thick] and the demoned alchol.

I can not get enough of Burton Silverman and this book was just what I needed.
I just flip open a page and study how he pulls it off, great painting that is.
I have not read the whole book, just little bits here and there.
But I sure have looked at all the pretty pictures and so should any one who likes B. Silvermans work.
Barry

You will have to admire the works of Burt Silverman presented in this well designed compilation of his work. I have followed his work for years and he's just one of those magical craftsmen that makes me just shake my head in wonder when I see what he can do with a paint brush. He is certainly one of the best artist of our age. If you love art in the realist format, you will be well pleased with this book and with Mr. Silverman's work. This one is a "keeper".

This is the story of a man's quest for truth in art in spite of a country's infatuation with its new found Modern Art. I found the book to be BEAUTIFUL, COMPELLING, ILLUMINATING, and INSPIRING...filled with IMAGES OF the LOVE that Mr Silverman has for his subjects, his kind & curious Humanist "take" on the World, and his incredible volume of awe inspiring work. He has crossed the barriers of "illustration" showing us that Art is Art when "spoken" by the true voice.

Most people who would buy this book are already familiar with Burton Silverman's paintings. The book is no disappointment; the reproductions are large and sensitive to color nuances, on heavy paper, and there are a lot of them. There are short essays by Silverman about each painting which show an honest, contemplative mind at work. It's not a how-to book; there's no pedantic bloviating, just a humble, intelligent man describing the circumstances behind each picture. At first I pegged Silverman as one of those East Coast types who paint their Greenwich Village friends sitting still with expressionless faces and vacant stares. It all seemed too academic, lacking action and vigor, like most modern art. But his understanding of color and composition is undeniable, and the personalities he depicts grow on you. They are of the type of person who can be found in artist's lofts, in front of Folger's coffee cans full of paintbrushes, wearing sweaters and spectacles, New York academics and intellectuals who go to poetry readings, listen to Public Radio, and fret about the fate of the Rosenbergs. He's a world traveller, so he has other types of people, too, but he seems to know all of them personally, and doesn't just paint anonymous models. Though his work is a little tame compared to the kind of entertainment industry stuff I'm interested in, commercial illustrators could learn a lot from Silverman's penetrating eye and calm, balanced judgement.

Just a few lines (as I chose to write below) to be an 'unhelpful' review.

My fingers wiggle when seeing the drawings. My nerve cells tingle trying to process/digest/analyze color combinations in the paintings, and half of me trying to get off the chair and get to the easel to "mix 'em colors".

Some body, catch me! I am falling... in love.

This book is a wonderful mixture of fictional literature combined with the political backdrop of the reunification of Germany and an insider's view of the classical music world as seen through the eyes of a student conductor, Cooper Barrow, a conservatory dropout returning to his first love, although the challenges he faces are significant. The story follows Mr. Barrow's studies with a master conductor suffering from his own demons, in Germany where the culture, language and methods are not familiar, where he falls in love with a fellow musician, which of course has its own complications. The book is extremely well written, and is a pleasure to experience, sweeping the reader into the world in which Mr. Barrow is trying to make his mark. He is tormented by his teacher, trying to learn all he can under extremely difficult conditions pitted against other student conductors in an overly competitive environment, always with the fear of failure hanging over his head. The lessons he learns take him to new heights in his musical endeavors, forever changing his perceptions of music, and through his affair, his perceptions of life.

There is a bootcamp sort of relationship between our protagonist and his tough German professor who has been through the worst of Hitler's attrocities. Both wounded geniuses need a little bit of love and a chance to realize their true talents and role as real players in the world of concertmasters. A female oboeist from Eastern Germany plays a role in both of their lives while she deals with her own deamons escaping from the East. There is real passion in the romance that occurs, but the over-riding theme seems to be the affects of the pain and suffering that some of the Germans have lived through during the reign of communism and Hitler.

Sometimes, the story seemed a bit harsh and strained, although in the end, I think it was very realistic and the outcome certainly not a stretch. And for a non-musician, there is huge and interesting insight into the world of musicians and the huge effort and talent it takes to get to the top.

Identity and power characterize both the themes of The Student Conductor and the writing itself. Ford knows the world of classical music profoundly. Everything is depicted correctly. Astonishingly, he simultaneously captures the tremulous mindset of an American in 1989 Germany. This is a novel in the mold, curiously, of Faulkner. It is about a time and a place, but it is mostly about memory and love. Like Faulkner, Ford explores both individual and collective experiences of history as well as of life and music. While perhaps not quite on Faulkner's plane, Ford is a superb writer, though given to the occasional stiff turn of phrase. This is an extraordinary novel, and ranks with Frank Conroy's Body and Soul as one of the best fictional depictions of the world of classical music.

BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT. This for me was one of those rare books that one cannot put down. I love this book. The story keeps you involved and surprised at many of the twists and turns. Mr. Ford has managed to convey such emotion through his magnificent descriptions of the times, the music, the little know world of the conductor, wonderful descriptions of the German scene and on top of all that gives us beautiful love scenes and the tragedy and politics of Nazi Germany. Bravo Mr. Ford. Your book was a true gift.

After finishing 'The Student Conductor' and replacing the dust jacket, I noticed that the front flap contained a blurb comparing its author, Robert Ford, to John Fowles. I hadn't thought of that but instantly agreed on seeing it. In fact, make it a blend of Fowles and Erich Ambler. Mr. Ford's writing exudes erudition and clever insights without even a hint of showing off or straining for effect. He effortlessly creates an authentically European ambiance and engages the reader with his characters' (and his own?) finely-tuned sentiments contrasting today's healthy Germany with its profoundly divided and dysfunctional predecessor during the cold war. In this setting Ford weaves an Ambler-like tale of intrigue involving a promising American apprentice conductor, a brilliant but unstable teacher who seems bent on surreptitiously destroying his best pupils, and a beautiful oboist with an enigmatic past.

But that's not all. Ford delivers much more than just an engaging yarn to anyone who might be curious about the trade secrets of conducting, the ambitions and anxieties of classical musicians, and the nuts and bolts of orchestra management. He has mastered the technique of using professional jargon and recondite references in such a way that the reader is gradually drawn into the psyche of the protagonist (Cooper Barrow, the student conductor) and begins to acquire an enhanced musical understanding that feels real. And in fiction, the feeling is what counts. I confess to a little thrill of edification on learning that the famous tuning note A-440 actually vibrates 443 times per second.

A trio of tiny glitches stands out only because the book is, overall, so perfectly crafted. On page 15 "lay" is used where "lie" belongs. On page 216 "lay" again appears where "laid" should be, and on page 231 "affect" incorrectly takes the place of "effect."

Mr. Ford's first novel is a treat on several levels and I am glad to recommend it with enthusiasm.

This book has been a wonderful aid for me. I started working with the Tarot a few weeks ago, and have run into nothing but confusion until I stumbled upon this book.

Mr. Place does a great job at providing a historical perspective of the Tarot (which is perfect for someone like me) and describes several of the philosophical and spiritual movements that have been and currently are associated with it. The second half of the book details the major and minor arcana, and finishes with a chapter giving one of the most useful divination techniques I have ever read.

Rather that focusing on the idea of fortune telling, the author encourages the diviner to seek his or her inner knowledge, thus making the work one puts into the cards one of spiritual significance.

I did my first reading this afternoon, and was deeply moved. I know that I need more experience under my belt to really understand what is happening, but I will state that the images revealed to me where very helpful in seeing another side to a series of events unfolding around me right now.

I don't know if I can say any more about this book that other reviewers haven't already covered. It is a fascinating look at not just the Tarot, but the mystical traditions that are associated with it. If you want confirmation that the Tarot is a secret book of wisdom passed down from the Egyptians, then you are going to be very disappointed. You get the raw facts here. But the truth actually makes the Tarot more interesting and makes its use for divinatory or personal guidance purposes all the better. Knowing excatly where all the images and ideas actually come from is much more useful than some made up fantastical fairy tale. Read and enjoy.

this is a very good book on tarot. I've always been interested in tarot, I find the art and obscure symbology interesting. However I am not a believer so I was not interested in reading a book that took an overly mystic perspective. This one is a very thorough and stays pretty neutral. Though the author does not only read cards but but also design decks, the goal of this book is to provide a thorough history of the deck, it's purpose, art and symbolism. It is well researched and points out old and inaccurate histories that seem to hang around mainly for their sensationalism (like that the tarot was based on the book of thoth). It includes infromation on each card's history and traditional inteurpretation and some basic advice on card reading for people just starting out.

recommended for people (skeptic and mystic alike) interested in the history and sybolism of tarot. This is not a book for people looking to get into card reading quickly, or people looking to further their card reading repetoire. This is almost entirely academic and includes only a few basic card spreads.

A very good book fitted to all levels of readers, from beginners to initiates. Very easy to read and you will go deeper and deeper in the understanding and knowledge of tarots without even noticing it. ChC

This is an excellent book for those interested in a seriously researched, non-bogus treatment of the Tarot's history and symbolism. The subject matter is on occult and mystical matters, but the tone and presentation is historically matter-of-fact, NOT another rehash of the same mishmash mystical hokum found in SO many other books. Reading it is like browsing through a well-designed museum exhibit : a very well organized and ordered arrangement of historical facts that puts the Tarot in realistic historical context. Do we know for absolute certain when and where the Tarot started? No. The same way we don't/can't known when precisly when or where anything else started, for that matter. But after reading this book, you'll have a multi-century vista of contextual peoples, places and events that ground the Tarot's symbolism and history to earthly, tactile phenomenon, without necessarily diluting any of its mystical, divinatory impact.

I bought six of my favorite childhood books for my great-grandson..."Little Black Sambo", "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", "Henny Penny", "Chicken Little", "The Three Little Kittens", and "Classic Tales of Brer Rabbit". My great-grandie is 2-1/2 and I can't wait to read these wonderful stories to him.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff The Billy Goats Gruff books are perfect for our two grand sons, Chapman and MaCrady, who have just gotten interested in goats. They are thrilled to be able to read the book, have a second book read to them, and a CD to play the story for them. A fourth book about the three billy goats allows them to have cut outs with which they can create their own story about them. It is highly recommended for boys or girls 4 through 8 years of age.

I bought this book on an impulse, simply based on the brightly colored illustrations and a brief refrain that that appears when you look inside the book. I couldn't be more delighted with this purchase. The book is a wonderful addition to my fairy tale library and my kindergarten kids absolutely LOVE listening to and participating in the retelling of the story, especially the rhyming refrain..... "I'm a troll from a deep dark hole - my belly's getting thinner. I need to eat and goat's a treat - so I'll have you for my dinner!".

PS - I agree: How lame that Amazon has mixed together reviews for all these various versions of "Three Billy Goats Gruff." They are all so different and all by different illustrators and authors!

Anyway, this is a comment about Marcia Brown's 1957 version, which I found to be incredibly gory. Rather than merely knock the troll off the bridge, this billy goat gruff graphically dismembers him, poking out his eyes and reducing him to "bits, body and bones." Yuck! There are other, mellower version out there... This one's not a favorite. (ReadThatAgain!)

Cute book with pictures that keep their attention. My boys walk around all the time saying "who is going over my bridge" in their gruff little troll voice! "Don't eat me... I too little," they say. I am so glad I added this book to our collection.

Bob Johnson is one of my heroes. When I first purchased this book, I read it straight through. The next day I read it straight through, again! Since my purchase, I have read this book 5 times, and never tire of reading it. Bob Johnson was the "All-American-Boy," and fighter pilot. I wish that I could've met him. It would have been one of the highlights of my life. I hope someday that I will be able to shake the hands of men like Mr. Johnson, and thank them for their courage and commitment to freedom.

No matter what you say, the best WWII fightyer pilot memoir ever written was The Big Show, by Pierre Clostermann. That said, Johnson comes as a close competition. Written with the aid of Martin Caidin, it is a gripping book.

As someone who has never been tested in the air...I have nothing but admiration for those who have and excelled. What it must have been like to get up at dawn and know that today might be your last? I can not imagine the strength of character those like Robert Johnson must have had?
This book is fantastic ...the Thunderbolt was a massive airplane and took skill and courage to fly over europe in weather that most pilots today would not even go up in period ...even with all kinds of radar and instruments that are the norm today. Read this book and honor a man to who we owe a huge debt.The book is one of finest written about the subject and you will feel as though you are there in the cockpit living it along with Robert!
I am humbled by the courage of those like Robert and this book brings all that in clear focus!Buy it and you will not put it down!

Thunderbolt! was the absolute best book I have read. Why? A good question, it is an extrodinary story of a man and the war that changed the world. This book focuses on world war 2, I am very eager to learn more about the causes and effects of the war, this book helped me learn alot more about fighter planes, and warfare of the U.S and Germany during that time period, (1942-1945) it also had alot of things that you could picture in your mind. "Thunderbolt" is defnitly not for young readers, it has many challinging words, and it was kind of hard to understand. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this book a 10.

Mark

Republic's P-47 Thunderbolt was a WWII monster of a fighter. Fast, well armored, with heavy firepower, it was a nightmare for its lighter opponents. One of America's leading aces of the European theater, Robert Johnson, takes the reader on combat missions where the outcome is always tenuous. Through 1943 and into 1944, the P-47 was our frontline escort fighter until the P-51 arrived, with its longer range capability. But it was the "Jug" that chewed up Hitler's Luftwaffe and led the way to the air superiority that made the Normandy invasion possible.

Major Johnson came out the victor over 28 opponents and his story as told here is one of valor and determination on both sides of this awesome conflict. Highly recommended.

A beautiful book in it's own right but with a use. The alters can go anywhere with you and brighten your life and bring support when meditating.Each alter can relfect your wishes for that day. I love it.

Awsome artwork and creative folding and cutting make beautiful pictures on each and every page of this imaginative creation.

This is "just fine" for taking on the road. A lovely 3D series of altars that can be very easily packed and opened wherever and whenever.

Tibetan Buddhism is intimidating in its complexity. Despite the Dalai Lama's accessible,user-friendly books about happiness and compassion, it remains exotic with its visualizations, mantras, and imagery.

"Tibetan Buddhist Altars:A Pop-Up Gallery of Traditional Art and Wisdom" is a colorful and surprisingly reverent introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. The "portable altars" are to Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha),Padmapani Avalokiteshvara,Green Tara,Manjushri,and Medicine Buddha. The chants are written in Tibetan with English translations.The symbolism is explained. For western Buddhists who have passing familiarity with Tara, Avalokiteshvara (the Dalai Lama is considered an embodiment of him), and the various forms of the Buddha, this is helpful.

This is a wonderful introduction to Tibetan Buddhism for the beginner. It's high-quality and colorful. It's a SPIRITUAL pop-up book! (and there aren't many of those)

This was a gift for my adult granddaughter who spent a year in India studying Tibetan and Nepali religion, culture and languages. She was delighted with it. The format of having individual altars, with accompanying explanations, was perfect for this subject matter.

I love every book of Jan Karon that I have read. This one was very inspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jan Karon is an excellent writer. I gave this book as gifts with packets of "moonflower" seeds attached and it was received with awe and appreciation. It's a very fun book and you can read not only the story and enjoy the illistrations, but make your own annalagies in your own life.

Such a sweet story and full of encouragement. I hope there are some primary school teachers and parents that read this little story to children. The story is simple and with the little bit of repetition makes it easy to remember, but still ends with a surprise. It surely is good for all ages!

Many times it takes an adult to get the meaning of a child's story. Patience is the thing that is stressed and there are so many who need to learn that when you are patient, good things can happen. I am a Master Gardener and Moonflowers are a favotie plant of many of us. I give this book as a reward to other Master Gardeners who have served our association in some way. I also include a jelly jar and a pack of Moonflower seeds. Jan Karon is also a favorite author and I read everything she writes.

Sybil N. Phillips, Alabama

I purchased this book for a toddler and he just loves it! It talks about how a tiny seed who really doesn't think he's going to amount to much, grows into this beautiful plant. He's been told that he will flower but doesn't for awhile - he's just green. Then, when the moon comes out, he blooms with such a magnificent scent that it wakes the lady that planted him. Such a wonderful book to read to anyone, not just little folks. Highly recommend!

Mike Summey - this book's co-author with Roger Dawson - has a truly inspirational life story to share. He grew up poor in the coalfields of southern West Virginia, a region of bleak poverty. He hit the road at age 15 to make his fortune. As a young man, he carried a message in his pocket and read it every day: "I will become a millionaire by age 30 and retire by age 50." And so he did, though he had no formal education beyond "a Ph. D. from the University of Hard Knocks." Dawson is also impressive: A noted public speaker, he lectures on peak performance and negotiation. His audio program on negotiating produced more than $28 million in revenues, the best-selling program in the history of business cassette publishing. You can learn much about building wealth from these men. They explain how to develop the mindset you need to become a millionaire, persuasively presenting proven (in fact, familiar) methods and strategies for budgeting, saving, investing and managing your money. getAbstract recommends their advice and their attitude.

My friend gave me this book and I kept pushing it off and never read it. Finally, I got sick of my situation enough to give it a shot.

It is very motivating and has been a wake up call to me. I have read about 2 books in the past few years. Since reading this book a month ago, I have read 6. I am as hungry as ever so I have been trying to educate myself on wealth, strategy, and real estate as much as I can and it started with this book.

Very encouraging and uplifting book. Helps you believe in yourself and see that even imperfect people ,making big mistakes, can overcome and succeed greatly! David W.

Although most of the wealth-creating principles are not new, this book is well written and can still serve as a great resource for aspiring millionaires. Mike and Roger's style is very entertaining. I recommend it without hesitation.

"How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Success" is just a small clue of the VERY BIG lessons I found in this book. It won't just make you a better investor but can help you be a better person no matter what you do. There is so much inspiration and information crammed in every page of this book. For every investor, this can be the one source to go to as the foundation for your entire business. I know investors who started out using Mike's methods and following the formulas in this book and have become very successful and continue to grow and I could prove it on paper. The results are amazing. I never get tired of talking about it and recommending it to other people.