Simmons Books

Yakisha: You know I am a BIG BOOK BUYER and when I saw your book, I had to buy 10 for our bible study at work. I am so very proud of you and your family and plan on buying 20 more to spread the word and your faith and inspiration. You Go Girl!!!

Now in an updated and expanded fourth edition, The Big Book Of Adventure Travel by author and world traveler, James C. Simmons is an impressive compendium of more than four hundred organized adventure trips at home and abroad. From trekking in Nepal, to cycling the french wine country, to exploring the wreck of the Titanic, to white-water rafting on Africa's Zambezi River, to sea-kayaking among the orcas off British Columbia, to windjamming along the Maine coast, these are trip destinations and thrill-of-a-lifetime activities accessible to anyone. There are vacation ideas suitable for the entire family, honeymoon ideas far superior to a mundane trip to Niagra Falls, and a wealth of notions for the solo adventurer. Packed from cover to cover with the trip descriptions, details, reviews, resources, and operator profiles, The Big Book Of Adventure Travel is ideal for the novice and offers a wealth of indispensable information for even the experienced traveler.

I generally can't stand a nearly 400 page story. I am too impatient but this was really well worth it.

Cody Garret is in the process of rebuilding his plantation and about to lose his money in a bank robbery.
Wouldn't you know that Shanna Allen and her brother, Toby got in the way of his foiling the robbers. Didn't he recognized some of the robbers?

Shanna has spirited her brother away from her father, in New York City, and landed in Liberty, Missouri looking for the man she has decided to marry.
She also has a fiery temper and a sharp tongue. Which tends to get her into trouble.

Ah, Cody offers to make her nights interesting. Shanna is appalled at the directions of his thoughts. She becomes very lucky when she meets up with Mrs. Bessie Garret who takes her under her wing. Much to Cody's dismay.

Thereafter the story gets better and better. We meet up with the neighbors Zerelda and Pappy Samuel and their brood of children. Two of which is Frank and Jesse James. They surely make the story more realistic.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - a definite Keeper.

Set in the Napa Valley wine country this is a thrilling and well written mystery about murder, fine wine, and interesting characters. The protagonist investigates the crash of a 40 million dollar corporate jet on takeoff from the Napa Airport killing all aboard, three of who happened to be close friends. An old world winery, people of the vine, wine locals and intrigue make this a must read for anyone interested in the genre.

I read this book while I was staying in Oklahoma. This is a very funny book. Bo will run off and come back with dogs, and they will be returned to their owner after being taken to the vet to be scanned. I loved this book and thought it was funny. At the back of the book, it has some of the cookie recipies that Mrs. Barnett made for P.J. It's a great book and everyone should enjoy this book if they love dogs.

A look at the life of hustling and wanderlust featuring a rootless cast of urban nomads. Very emotional, graphic and unflinching and it walks a fine line between glorification and condemnation of said lifestyles.

This book has led my family and I to a better understanding of the traumatic head injury of my father. This book enabled use to become more helpful toward my father and to understand his injury with a deeper knowledge. I recommend this bok to anyone with a loved one or family memeber with a head injury.

"A handbook for the transformation of schools and districts, chock full of authoritative recommendations; it promises to become an essential resource for both experts and novices."
- Howard Gardner, Professor of Education and Cognition, Harvard Graduate School of Education; and author, Multiple Intelligences

"This book hits all the right notes: it calls for an honest, hard look at the incoherence and dysfunction of "a system designed to fail." With courage and clarity, Simmons and his colleagues are calling for an unprecedented, long-overdue emphasis on what we've wandered so far from: a top-to-bottom focus on instructional improvement-and the most powerful, proven (but still overlooked) means of achieving it."
- Mike Schmoker,Author, Results: The Key to Continuous School Improvement

"The nuggets of wisdom imparted throughout this book have been field tested under combat conditions. Reformers not having the time for this book will have plenty of time to wish they had-too late."
- Michael A. Strembitsky, Former Superintendent, Edmonton Public Schools (Alberta, Canada)

"Teacher union leaders and other school and community leaders need to work together if we are to close the achievement gap and bring high quality learning to all of our students. This book provides many powerful strategies for doing just that."
- Reg Weaver, President, National Education Association

"What a tremendous resource this book will be in helping transform urban school districts! Strict adherence and dedication to principles is key to changing the structures and systems, but it's the belief in the people that will effectively change culture."
-Stephen R. Covey, Author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

"This thoughtful volume provides some clear thinking on the `how' and `what' of urban school reform. The authors provide a sensible, coherent vision for strengthening systems, improving practice, attracting outstanding educators, and transforming urban schooling."
- Frederick M. Hess, Director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

"Breaking Through's greatest contribution may be the hope it offers for the creation of school districts that truly serve all their students."
- Dennis Sparks, Executive Director, National Staff Development Council

"Finally, a book that skillfully and thoughtfully synthesizes the accumulated knowledge and experience of those who know what it takes to make education excellent for all students. This reference should be only a reach away for every practicing educational leader and required reading at every college or university administrator preparation program."
- Robert Ewy, Director of Planning, Palatine School District (Illinois), 2003 Baldrige Award winner

"A wide array of diverse and key voices--i.e., practitioners, researchers, policymakers, share their knowledge, successes, and struggles in designing smart school districts. A must read."
--Warren Simmons, Executive Director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform

"These research based strategies that, when implemented properly, can transform all school districts-large and small. I recommend it for all educators working in the present age of school accountability to ensure that we leave no school behind."
- Patricia Davenport, Former District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Brazosport School District (Texas); and co-author with Gerald Anderson, Closing the Achievement Gap: No Excuses

"One-stop education reform! The thinking of many of the best public education reform leaders in the country are captured in this easy-to-read book, with an ongoing sub-text of Chicago's school reform as a practical case study. I found the powerful parent strategies particularly hopeful."
- Anne Hallett, Founding Executive Director of the Cross City Campaign for School Reform

"John Simmons brings both enlightened interest in education and systems thinking to this book. It should be read by educators and business leaders alike. He makes it clear that those in education must practice quality systems. In those rare places where this has been the focus, education flowered."
- Robert Galvin, Retired CEO, Motorola Corporation

"Simmons and his colleagues capture the essence of reform and reformers of large urban school systems. A must read for all concerned about the future of urban public education."
- Paul Goren, Vice President, The Spencer Foundation

"Many good ideas and examples in this book should help district and school leaders examine data from their own schools and design more effective programs for student success."
- Joyce Epstein, Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University

"Children's lives and hopes are at stake, and what we do will shift the odds in the child's favor or against her. This book is an important contribution to taking the right steps. "
- From the Foreword by Deborah Meier, Founder, Central Park East schools

"Breaking Through helps us understand how to bring together the essential components of a school district to drive an improvement strategy. Without this, districts will never achieve high performance. This has been missing for years."
- Allen Grossman, Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School

After reading Cornwells series of books about Richard Sharpe and then reading 'A British Rifleman' you can see startling comparisons between the two. Cornwells series have recently been made into a television series in the UK and it is likely that he drew upon George Simmons' book for inspiration. . Having read the 1st edition of A British Rifleman, published in 1899, and being in the Australian Army myself, you cannot begin to draw comparisons between service today and that of 100 years ago. The book is about the courage and commitment of a man at a time of bitter struggle between nations. The book exposes the human face to war in the 1800's as Major George Simmons relates his experiences through the medium of personal letters to his family and through his subsequent recollections at the completion of the Penninsula War. For the military historian or for those who enjoy a good read, this book is a mus

Oh, I just love exciting stories like this one. Broken Seals:No Safe Place, by Larry Simmons, is a real edge of your chair thriller as a nightmare turns reality when a terrorist group calling themselves The Yassinists plots against the United States in retribution for the years of suffering the Palestinians have suffered at the hands of Israel.