Stone Books

An inspiring read that melts your heart. This book encourages you to evaluate your worth as a person and parent. It makes me want to give a legacy to my children that they will pass to their children. It will break down the bars to intamacy that fear creates. It allows us to love others and see their beauty.

This is the first "Parenting"book I have read, that I understood. The author writes about real issues and real feelings. Listening to the success stories of "Father's in Prison"was inspirational to me. It made me reflect on my own parenting skills. It also made me reflect on my own inward type prison. I felt like I was being set free of feelings of trust, barriers, awareness, hurt, respect, understanding, and spirituality. The author says very strongly that if we LISTEN, TALK, and SHARE with our children they will be OKAY.

This book is about relationships between fathers and their children, but the reason I love it so much is because that is not where it ends. I am a college student, without any ties to prison, yet I have learned a lot about my relationships with my parents and boyfriend through this book. Also, this book has opened my eyes to the harsh realities criminals and their families face everyday. This book contains heartwrenching tales and soulfull words of prisoners, painfull and beautiful poems, and wisdom anyone can benefit from. It is DEFINITELY worth the read!!

I loved Larry's book. It invigorated and improved my parenting skills. The passion and joy of helping others is reflected on every page. Hats off to Mr. Wolfgang! My only criticism is the title, which to me seem to narrow the reader's intrest base. This book can enrich everyones life. Repectfully Yours James P Waldron Wilmette,IL. jameswaldron@worldnet.att.net

Larry Wolfgang draws from his personal experiences to give us a glimpse into a world few can fully understand - the life of the imprisoned father. With pain and compassion woven throughout, the author points the way to establishing and maintaining our most important relationships. Whether behind bars of steel or those of fear and failure, fathers on both sides of the wall can benefit from Mr. Wolfgang's observations. Highly recommended!

I recommend The Greek Treasure because it illustrates all of Schliemann's flaws, while allowing us to sympathize with him as a human being. It is the only book I've read which tells his side of the story. People tend to forget that he expended enormous amounts of time and money to begin his excavations, only to face governments and armchair academics who schemed to steal the credit, as well as the means for him to recover his expenses. Yes, by today's standards, he was not the ideal archaeologist; but neither were the other archaeologists of his age. And you can bet their envy at the time still haunts us today. His modern critics simply perpetuate their cynicism. But I believe the truth is less harsh. The tools of his age were crude. Hundreds of locals were brought in for manual labor, and often stole what they found. No one had worked at the scale he did before. No one had proved it could be worthwhile. So in the final analysis, I think we must be grateful to him, for his vision, and his audacity. This book shows us both.

I read this book many, many years ago. It was actually the first Irving Stone book I ever read. I still remember how much I enjoyed reading it, and I can still remember the story. Brilliantly written. You seem to be living among the characters. Irving Stone has the gift to write, all based in real-life facts. Again, a must read for any history-novel lover.

Approximately 15 years ago I bought this book aout Heinrich Schlieman, and his discovery of the ancient lost city of Troy. He studied Homer, and believed the city did exist. In his late 40's he met a very young Greek girl in Athens. He asked her father for her hand in marriage, and her father agreed.The museum in Athens holds not only the treasures he unearthed at Troy, but he found the mask of Agamemnon, and other treasures (the Lion's Gate) showering Sophia with these treasures. I loaned this book, and never received it back. I have looked for it for years. I cannot believe this wonderful book has not been reprinted and available. It is Irving Stone at his best.

"and replied: 'Hector, you must be mad to talk to me about a pact. Lions do not come to terms with men, nor does the wolf see eye to eye with the lamb-they are ENEMIES TO THE END. It is the same with you and me. Friendship between us is impossible, and there will be no truce of any kind till one of us has fallen and glutted the stubborn god of battles with his blood. So summon any courage you may have.

THIS is the time to show your spearmanship and daring."-From Homer's Iliad

Henry Schliemann, like Alexander the Great, knew the Iliad by heart, the ancient story of the Trojan War immortalized by Homer. He was convinced he knew he could find the city thus proving its historicity. The Greek academics didn't believe him, he didn't believe them. To find Troy was his dream of a lifetime. He manages to marry a young Greek girl, 20 years or so younger than himself, and soon thereafter, their lifetime of digging begins.

I loved this book. In reading this historical novel of Irving Stone, you'll learn a little about modern (1900) and ancient Greek culture. I remember getting a little bored reading the last half of it, but digs are usually that way most times until you unearth something spectacular. The most interesting point to me was in a note of Stone's at the end, explaining that the treasure of Priam, kept in the Berlin Museum, disappeared somehow when the Russians marched toward Berlin late in WWII. Hmm.

Schliemann's story is fascinating and deserves to be read! Stone weaves this historical novel with great respect and honesty, recounting the brilliance and flaws of this heroic man. This is an excellent book with an in-depth look at Greek culture coinciding with the life of a self-made millionaire and self-educated archeologist & linguist. Schliemann literally changed the way we look at Greek history in the face of almost impossible opposition!

Reviewed by David Lundberg, author of Olympic Wandering: Time Travel Through Greece

This is an outstanding biography about arguably, one of the best boxers to ever walk the planet. Author Christian Giudice did his homework and presents an amazing story of the mythical character, the legendary persona and ultimately, the man, Roberto Duran who held championship titles in four different weight classes. The book includes many black and white photographs taken from different periods in his career as well as rare family photos. Included are the classic match ups featuring him and his foes in action and some just mugging for the camera. Let me say, right away, that I was a big Roberto Duran fan. This book appeals on many fronts though even if I was just a casual boxing fan. Having seen him box in person(Leonard vs.Duran III)and followed his career it was a walk down memory lane but with new insights into the ins and outs of the fights. I was pleased to find out that the infamous "no mas" is probably nothing more than a sound bite taken out of cotext. The full sentence reveals that he didn't want to fight with the clown Leonard anymore, (hence the "no mas"). At the time I thought that he was just frustrated and didn't want to chase him around anymore;in other words, he felt like fight or go to dancing with the stars. There was also more to this story, cocerning his health, his diet and his preparation that shined more light on what was a confusing situation. It seems Duran was never one to shy away from controversy. He lived extravagantly between fights, balloned in weight and fought some of the best world class fighters and some real bums. Waht cannot be denied was his ability and his charisma, especially amongst the Latino community. The book begins with his early years, his trials and tribulations. The poverty rags to riches story is detailed, the colorful characters that influenced him,as well as his protagonists and allies in his rise to fame and fortune. He was flamboyant to the max, he wrestled with a pet lion, knocked out a horse with a punch in his youth(supposedly) and was a womanizer. In spite of all his shortcomings he rose to top of the boxing world and won titles in numerous weight classes. There will probably never be another Roberto Duran. In this book it is all told, the good and the bad. If you were a boxing fan during the eighties you gotta have this book. If you're new to boxing check him out on classic fights. He was an amazing boxer who was vicious yet loveable. If it sounds like I have or had a man crush on Duran, you're probably right. I loved the man, he was the ultimate macho boxer. Highly recommended for all boxing aficionados.

My sons and I have had the honor of meeting Mr. Duran in person, in Prescott AZ and he is truly a legend inside and outside the ring. His kindness to my sons, who are amature boxers themselves, is without words. I remember as a young boy seeing him fight and any man who stood toe to toe with him was in for a short night. The book gives the reader the insight of a man who transended boxing, who cared for all the men he faced in the ring and never forgot where he came from. He was fearless in the ring yet wrongly protraded as a villian, his story is a must read and I feel privilaged to say that I have met the hands of stone!!

IF you wnat to know learn about a great Boxer this is for you!

Teachers of fiction often make the point that contradiction makes for colorful, rich characters. Christian Giudice's biography of Panamanian boxing champion Roberto Duran in Hands of Stone certainly validates this claim in the realm of reality too. Duran won world titles in four different weight divisions and fought in five decades with a record of 104 wins in 120 fights and 69 knockouts. He is regarded by almost all boxing writers and insiders as one of boxing's all-time great champions. But Duran is still best remembered for his "no mas" welterweight title rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard in the New Orleans Superdome in November, 1980, when he quit at the end of the eighth round. The boxing world has since tried to make sense of Duran's smoldering macho persona, juxtaposed with the unthinkable act of quitting in the middle of a championship fight.

To Giudice's credit, he doesn't over-psychologize, and lets those closest to Duran and the fight itself do the explaining. In fact, Giudice lays out his motivation to write the book in a thoughtful introduction - the book evolved as a matter of his own personal pursuit to answer the question of how and why "no mas" happened. What follows is the biography of a man who is not so much complex as he is certainly contradictory.

Duran's early days are fascinating. From relatives with colorful classical Greek family names like Socrates (an uncle who had uncommon punching power) and Alcibiades (Duran's younger brother whose tragic death he claims his mother never got over), to stories about his early Dickensian street-mentor Chaflan, and the three different versions of his reputed knockout of a horse at the age of sixteen, Duran's early days in the slums of Chorrillo in Panama City make for great reading. Indeed, Giudice's biography is foremost a book for rabid fight fans who revel in boxing's rich trove of gritty stories about survival in and out of the ring.

Giudice describes how enigmatic international businessman Carlos Eleta, from whose property Duran used to steal coconuts, saw Duran fight and became his financial backer. Duran ultimately ascended to the lightweight championship by defeating Scotsman Kenny Buchanan in 1972, despite a controversial foul by Duran. By the beginning of 1980, only Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard had more boxing star-power in terms of persona and charisma - Duran's snarling coal-eyed machismo was unparalleled. With a record of 72-1, he had mopped up the lightweight division and was a tremendous crowd pleaser, staging fierce and unprecedented training sessions with rope-skipping artistry and powerful hitting and had unsurpassed killer instinct in the ring.

Giudice then tells of Duran's greatest triumph, a masterful fifteen round unanimous decision over former Olympic superstar and undefeated welterweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard in their bout in June, 1980, in Montreal. Following this are the details of the infamous "no mas" rematch with Leonard in November of the same year in the New Orleans Superdome, and, finally, his path to redemption in the latter half of his career where he fought brutal battles with some of boxing toughest warriors, including Wilfredo Benitez, Carlos Palomino, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Pipino Cuevas and Iran Barkley.

"No mas?" Guidice lets boxing writers, other fighters, boxing trainers reactions to and/or explanations of Duran's "no mas" debacle. The list includes, among others, boxing trainers Manny Steward, Angie Dundee, Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown; writers Budd Schulberg and Bert Sugar; boxers Jose Torres and Carlos Palomino and Sugar Ray himself and many others. Duran, while never hurt during the fight, was clearly being humiliated by Leonard, who had changed his "stand-and fight" tactics from the first fight, having admitted that Duran's insults to him and his family got to him mentally. Duran's drinking, eating and conqueror's victory parties went on for weeks after the first fight and he had ballooned to at least forty pounds, maybe more, over the welterweight limit. Leonard, after serious soul-searching about losing the first fight, stayed focused and trained hard, believing, unlike almost everyone in his own training camp, that he could defeat Duran in a rematch. Duran, nowhere near the shape he was in for their Montreal brawl, had to lose twenty pounds in the last two weeks before the fight to meet weight. Unable to cut off the ring on the skillfully adept and supremely conditioned Leonard who would stick and move, Duran became more and more frustrated. Worse still, Leonard began to taunt Duran, stuck his head out, wound his right hand around like a pinwheel, and then snapped a jab in Duran's face. An impulsive act of abject frustration and most likely self-acknowledgment that he couldn't win and with the possibility of being knocked out by his hated rival, Duran said to referee Octavio Meyran in Spanish, "I'm not going to fight this clown anymore." The ref, not comprehending that Duran was actually quitting, allowed the fight to continue. When the ref signaled the two fighters to continue after Duran had turned his back, Duran, according to the referee, then uttered "no mas." Leonard, at first confused, then realizing Duran had quit, celebrated. When American broadcaster Howard Cosell, who was announcing the fight, heard only "no mas," these two words were forever engraved into the lexicon of Duran's legacy.

There were claims by Duran and others of stomach cramps as the reason for Duran's quitting. Panamanian journalist Juan Carlos Tapia commented: "He was simply not prepared for the fight. Leonard was beating him bad and Duran said that nobody will knock me out." According to Giudice, Duran seemed in denial of the gravity of his quitting, celebrating with friends and Panamanian military groupies that night. He didn't return to Panama for several weeks but on returning, he found his national hero's status suddenly turned to national scorn with his fans throwing rocks at his home and defacing his mural on Avenida Balboa in Panama City. Duran, who thrived on his connection to the people of Panama, went into a huge depression before he soldiered on for twenty more years in the fight game, not retiring until 2002.

Giudice describes Duran outside the ring as a man who genuinely loved his family and friends, salsa music, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, and a good time, just as he loved a good fight. A man of great courage and self-discipline, he could also let himself go to excess eating, drinking, partying with friends and women late into the night. His wife, Felicidad, and his soulful identification with the people of Panama were the constants in his life. Though he made and lost millions, Duran, according to Giudice, never forgot his roots in the slums of Chorrillo. And, in a strange twist of irony, the U.S. military was responsible for destroying his old neighborhood as result of a fire caused in the 1989 military operation to depose Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.

Giudice's writing reveals his own affection for the people of Panama, the tough characters in the boxing world and Duran himself. I was frustrated for lack of an index, and imagine other readers would be too, particularly since this biography will appeal foremost to ardent boxing fans who love insider's trivia. For those aficionados, however, Giudice has presented the first comprehensive biography in English of one of boxing's and the sports world's most dynamic figures as well as pulled together the most comprehensive commentaries by authorities regarding Duran's "no mas" fight. There are other great tidbits including Panama's colorful boxing history, intrigue surrounding Carlos Eleta's role in the United States, Panamanian politics surrounding the 1989 invasion, and much more. For all of Giudice's exhaustive research, interviews, anecdotes and information, I found his first chapter and the latter part of the last chapter the most compelling. Like many who are enamored of and write about the world of boxing, the collision of realism with the Cervanteseque romantic in the author is ever present throughout the biography. He writes in the latter part of the last chapter about Roberto Duran today:

Roberto Duran's hands are soft, fleshy maps of a life of fighting in streets and rings. His knuckles are ghastly bumps, narratives of the men who confronted him. The man- father fiend and son - has lived in extremes. He has stood with presidents dined with world figures, danced with goddesses, defeated poverty, partied with celebrities, sipped the worlds best champagne, driven expensive cars. Draped himself in rare jewelry, and brawled and bested the world's toughest men. He thrived among crowds. When his people turned away, he turned inward; when the world called out, he soaked in its luxuries, still hear its additive call. All fighters do. As his skills reflexes and skills slowly left him he tilted at ghosts that no longer existed.

We impose narrative on events to make sense, often elevating single moments as "defining," as the words "no mas" have become indelibly identified with Duran. Giudice's biography challenges the reader to say "no mas" to "no mas" and "mas" to allowing icons to become once again the contradictory flesh-and-blood human beings we all are.

This book is riveting, especially if you are big fan of Roberto Duran like I was growing up. The author does a great job in filling in all the details of Duran's childhood and entire boxing career. From fight to fight, you feel that you are actually inside the trainning camp with Duran while he prepares for his next big fight! - you really get a sense of the true Duran, the boxing world and the business of the sport. If you love boxing like I do and Roberto Duran - you will not be able to put this book down.

What a great book. I was looking for a book for my 9 yr old son. Not only did he love it, but his sisters did too. My son is short in stature like David Eckstein and athletic too. This is a great book for demonstrating size doesn't matter. That what you can do is all up to you. It also emphasized family values and the importants of family. You can't go wrong with this book.

What a wonderful story of a very loving family and the importance of becoming an organ donor!! This is truly one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I highly recommend it.

David Eckstein became my favorite player on the team before I ever new anything about him. I've never seen so much heart radiate from a person. You can look at him and tell there's a life story that needs to be told, this book does just that. It is inspiration for all ages, but excellant for the young who are trying to find themselves and need that extra boost of confidence. This is an excellant book! One that will be talked about for years.....

My family has been a fan of David Eckstein since when he played for the Anaheim Angels. We used to go to the games in Anaheim and after the games, go where the players come out to get in their cars. We would wait on the other side of the fence for autographs. Wouldn't you know, that David Eckstein would sign every time. My kids have several signed items from him. The other players would get in their cars and leave, while the kids would yell, " please, Mr. so and so, can you sign my..." David was always dedicated, willing and a gentleman. Again, there were other players that were also generous, but David did it all the time. I haven't read the book, but I just ordered it for my two sons, who love baseball and play on local teams. It is about time that our kids read about positive role models in sports. I am also looking forward to reading the book. Thanks for all the positive insight!!

In todays sports world, a role model is sometimes hard to find. Steroids, wife beating, DUI, bar room fights, its all fair game. This kid plays hard fair basesball. Thats it. His personal story is touching, and I especially like the way it is written, he's talking to my 14 yr old son.

This is a totaly awesome book it has so many cool insights of so many different teens. This is a good book to read if you need advise or just to realize that your not alone in the world when it becomes different and unknown. I hope that all teenagers read this book, because everyone will get something out of it!

I read this one and liked it! I can say that Dr. Seaward can put into words the best help for teenagers I've read. He comprehends the conflicts of a teenager's life very well; better than most adults. The book is written in large part by teenagers that he interviewed throughout the nation, so it isn't as if it's just an adult telling teenagers how to solve their problems - this is teenagers giving peers their insight to problems that they've experienced and understand - it's shocking; you wouldn't believe some of the things that these kids go through that we don't know about. I particularly enjoyed the section in which the interviewed teenagers gave their advice to the reading parents of teenagers. I give it five stars and would most certainly recommend it for anyone who is a teenager or has a teenager.

Everyone should read this book as a way to understand our youth culture. Young people want to be heard (even when they shut us out); often, they are crying out for help. This book presents a starting point for talking to teens about how they see the world and, more important, how they feel about their place in the world.

This book is fabulous. I'm not in the habit of writing reviews but felt I couldn't resist in this circumstance. Teenagers are such a mystery! This book really helped me develop a better appreciation and understanding of what it is like to be a teenager in today's world. I also felt it provided an honest conversation from teens in their own words rather than lecturing to us absently about the topic. I feel I have a much better handle on what's going on with my teenagers.

The author writes in a very candid, down-to-earth style and I found myself unable to put the book down. I recommend this book to teens and parents alike!

This book gives insight to the real teenager and thoughts they may not normally share in a verbal manner. It is honest and expressive in a way that kids can relate to. What a wonderful reading for both adults and kids.

The authors present their extensive research with an entertaining style. Henry Schuster has spent much of his life reporting on terrorism and closely followed the Rudolph criminal proceedings. Charles Stone was involved with the manhunt and provides details from the point of view of one of the hundreds of law enforcement agents determined to bring Rudolph in. I would also like to suggest "Life's Been A Blast," written by one of the bombing survivors. "Life's Been A Blast" (available on Amazon) provides the view of someone who was standing in direct aim of one of Rudolph's bombs and lived to tell about it.

This is one of the best true crime books I've read in a long time. Really well done. Highly recommended!

This is a gripping story, very well-told. From that bomb explosion at the Atlanta Olympics, through the Richard Jewell madness, and then subsequent attacks on abortion clinics, this tale is told with the detailed knowledge of a true insider -- an agent on the case -- with a skilled journalist's perspective and context. The psychological profile of Rudolph, the criminal mastermind,gives it special depth. Schuster and Stone really deliver. I enjoyed it immensely.

Hunting Eric Rudolph is an awesome read. The authors deliver the story of Rudolph's entire life, often with an insightful and somtimes humorous backdrop. It goes in depth to explain the reasons for Rudolph's perplexing psyche and the culture in which it was cultivated.

The real value of the book however is the context in which it is delivered. Schuster explains why this story was not only significant in our past, but what we can extract from it to prevent similar types of domestic terrorism in our future. Thoroughly researched and masterfully presented, this was definitely a book that I could not put down.

This account of Eric Rudolph was very interesting. I found the book a little more interesting than the average reader probably will because he was born in my hometown, I lived in B'ham and I was also vacationing in Murphy in the summer of 98 when the fbi had helicopters and officers searching the entire nantahala area.The only complaint I have about the book (and it's minimal) is that I thought that they spent too much time on details about his family in the middle of the book and it kind of slowed down the pace. Having said that, the pace is still as good as any fiction novel/mystery novel i've ever read. If you enjoy a fast paced, puzzle solving-type story, this book is right up your alley.

I read this book in one go. Once I started, I just could not put it down. Besides giving the reader a great inside look behind the scene of the 1972 tour madness of the Rolling Stones, the author also provieds us with an excellent snapshot of the political and social situation in the USA during the early seventies. Of course, you get all the juicy details of groupies, drugs and playboy bunnies - but you also get a feel for how depressing at times the isolation of a major tour can be. You should definitely buy this book, if you love Rock'n'Roll, no matter if you are a Rolling Stones fan or not !

I think I know this book by heart. I can still recite the tour cities and dates. And... ahem, ahem, I really believe the reason they got Keith out of jail in Warwick, RI was not because of "the show must go on" (please!), but because Keith would've started heroin withdrawl. Get it?

This could easily be subtitled "Fear and Loathing on the Concert Trail." A fantastic book that features intelligent writing and an unsentimental look at the cast of characters that accompanied the Rolling Stones on their tour of America in '72. I just finished re-reading it and I still think its the best look at life on the road. Highly recommended even if you're not a stones fan.

I purchased and read this book when it was first published in the 1970s. It is a no-holds barred account of a rock band at its creative and decadent zenith during the legendary 1972 tour of America. Greenfield intersperses his blow-by-blow description of life on the road with vignettes of the interesting and off-beat fans and groupies that swirl around the vortex of the world's greatest rock and roll band. Particularly interesting is the drama surrounding the arrest of Keith Richards at a Boston airport prior to a concert, the scramble to get him out of jail thanks to the intervention of the mayor of Boston, and Keith's triumphant return to the stage. This is a Stones legend and this book tells it like you are there. Well-written and informative, I think I may just re-read this classic for the Nth time. A must for any Stones fan's bookshelf.

Full of casual sex and violence, this is a salacious account of life on the road with the Rolling Stones. Greenfield excels at nailing personalities and describing the fishbowl the band lived in. The Stones begin the tour in a vulnerable state of mind, scared that their glory days are behind them. Their braggadocio picks up considerably as the tour progresses. Near the end we have 16 year old girls doing "favors", beatings are given to anyone who steps out of line, groupies being filmed "in action" (despite Bill Wyman's 10 yr old kid hanging around!) for that infamous tour movie who's title I can't even mention here. Plenty of cruel nihilism. Oh well, I didn't read this expecting a nursery rhyme! This book delivers, warts and all.

My 5 year old granddaughter loved this wonderful book. It is very well done.

Not only did this book touch my heart, but it also touched the hearts of all the 3 year old's that I teach in my class room. I would recommend this book to anyone. My son John loves the author and has become very good friends with her son.

The love that a mother has for her child is very special, and when someone looses a child to go be with the Lord you remember the small things that meant so much to them. This story illistrates one of the small things that was important to the authors son.

I have a family of six and each of us enjoyed this heart touching story. Please support the author and her son by purchasing a copy of this book. Thanks!

The Author of Lady Bug has painted with beautiful childlike warmth and turned it into words, that when strewn across the page carry you back to days spent on swings, afternoons knawing on slow-pokes with your favorite friends, and hours spent in fields doing nothing. She writes with bright eyes and a child's heart, yet uses correct grammar and spelling. Lady Bug is not a simple compilation of words, nor merely a shallow story, but rather an open heart bleeding love onto pages, asking you to sponge it up and let it move you, with its cleansing emotions and colorful notions. This book reminds me of things worth loving and concepts worth knowing. If you have not yet read Lady Bug, do youself a favor.
-satisfied customer
A.K.A. Joseph Bickham

Reading this book filled my heart with joy and made me realize it's the little things in life that are so precious and we take advantage of that too often. Lady Bug is the perfect book to share with your children. It's a lovely written story that sends a wonderful message of the innocence of a child and the beauty of nature and all of God's creatures. An awesome book to read, but even better to own! I would and will continute to recommend this book to everyone!!

What a delightful book to help us escape this fast paced, hi-tech world we all live in today, and remember the days of our own youth. The bright-eyed colorful ladybug is the perfect vehicle to teach children about life's lessons and the laws of nature. It also serves as a reminder to adults that nothing on this earth should be taken for granted, and to find true beauty, all one needs to do is simply step outside and behold the world through a child's eyes.

My husband and I recieved the Predictionary 6 years ago and loved it. Now my sister is getting married and we had everyone at her shower fill out the questionnaires. It was a great
alternative to the usual corny shower games. Everyone loved it and my sister had a unique gift to take home with her!

Not really knowing what this was, I bought it off the shelf at a bookstore just before my wedding, almost four years ago. We had a great time filling out the booklets, and our friends and family had fun completing their questionairres. The book is sealed and put away for now... however, one questionaire did not make it in time... and on our third anniversary we caved... and opened it. We had a great time reading what my Mother-In-Law thought of us then, and how well she predicted where we might be headed (all good of course). We've since given both this and the graduate's predictionary for gifts on a few occassions. A great buy!

I received this as an engagement gift and found it to be my
favorite. I plan for me & my soon-to-be husband to fill this
out on our honeymoon. This is also a great way for friends and
family to join in on the fun.

I bought this because I wanted to do my own set of predictions cards as a game at my reception (there was no dancing at my reception), and I wanted to use their ideas. These were absolutely invaluable to greating a good set of predictions cards for my guests. I'm saving the set I bought to give as a gift to another engaged couple, and it's permanently on my list as a good engagement or bridal shower gift. These time capsules things are totally fun to open on an anniversary, and it is much more personal than the signatures in a guest book you might get from each guest. It was fun to harass my guests about their outlandish predictions.

Buy this for anyone who is getting married as a fun trinket. It will definitely be appreciated for years to come.

This book was so much fun. Inside the hard-bound package there are two soft cover books. One for you and one for your partner. Inside these books are lists of questions about what you envision your lives together to be like in the future. The questionnaire asks about everthing from kids to old age. Also included in the package are mini-surveys for you to give to the people in your lives that know and love you. The idea is that in 10, 20 and/or 30 years you both look at your own predictions and share your thoughts. Very well put together package and well worth the money.

Wow, what a great book on owls. A friend recommended I'd get this book because she knows one can never have enough good bird books! The photo's are quite stunning, my favorite's the short-eared owl on page 11, but even my 5 year old likes this bird book, he liked us reading to him about owl's ear tufts and loved the defense posture photo. I never knew there were that many kinds of voles... Thank you!

This is an owl book for everyone from the professional naturalist to the casual owl person. It has the traditional species information supported by very good photos, sidebar essays with interesting and useful information on the less often discussed characteristics of owls that make owls special to so many people, and a perfectly balanced sprinkling of humor that makes this book a delight to read and re-read. Well researched and well written for a broad audience of readers.

I just finished reading the book Owls of the North. It was excellent. I liked the
simple descriptions in easy to understand language. As it said in the
intro, it is good for beginners and experts alike. I also like the
personal experiences in owling. It made it seem more real and not just
simply a guide book. This also is much more than a coffee table book. This
is one a person would want to keep close, to identify owls either on the road
or walking out back for me.

If you are on my Christmas list, avert your eyes; you are getting a copy of this wonderful field guide this year. Warm, witty and thoroughly knowledgeable.

This latest book by David Benson is great. At first glance I was
stunned by the incredible photos--they alone are worth the price
of admission. Mr. Benson has written dozens of short notes
(sidebar essays) which explain much about these fascinating
creatures. Of course he includes details about each
species--range, habitat, behavior, identification, diet--and he
shares owl encounters from his life as a naturalist. This book is
large in content, but small enough to be a companion on adventures
(or in your armchair).