T Books

Extremely well written and easy to read. Reading this book was definitely a big turning point in my life. Highly recommended.

A wise and reader-friendly distillation of all the technical information about the psyche that you always wanted to know but were afraid, or just too busy, to read. Nina Danielson's vast experience and understanding of what makes us tick, written in a colloquial style with humor, personal examples and wonderful analogies serve as a guide to achieving better self esteem and healthier relationships. It's right for the uninitiated and for those who have been in therapy alike. And her chapter summaries provide great reinforcement of the lessons learned. I can think of several people on my Xmas gift list that I plan to buy it for.

This book is very logical, down-to-earth, and almost too easy to just read through. Its real value is exactly what it claims: its chapters, with summary, warning signs, and coping strategies, are perfect for jarring our memories toward clear responses during the frequent times of confusion we all feel.

Great book for anyone who wishes to learn more about themselves.
The author is witty, bright, intelligent and very honest in her writings. This book gave me an deep understanding of myself under today's life pressures. The author has an uncanny nack of identifying our universal issues and everyday common sense solutions. Great read and shows the author's wonderful sense of humor. When is the next book coming out???. I could see this book used as a basis for a tv series.

What a relief to find a self help book that actually provides a usable method of self help! I devoured this book as I would a witty Sedaris, finding myself in the stories and feeling comforted by the author's earthy analogies for formerly shaming and clinically inaccessible material. It is refreshing to have the example of courageous self revelation, demystifing and humanizing the therapeutic process both in and out of the therapy hour. I found myself being led from the commonly held idea of a prison of dysfunction to a glimmer of pride and hope at the strength of spirit a child posesses to survive their own version of "The Streets of Laredo". In one easy read, it is possible to graduate from the self judging title of "walking wounded" to the simple truth of the title, "worried well". Carry this book with you and refer to it often. A must read.

I remember Dr. Poliakin giving me this book when I first saw him while pregnant with my first child. I already had a stack of pregnancy books but this is the one I ultimately referred to throughout the pregnancy. Dr. Poliakin gave straightforward advice that went past current trends and was based on his extensive knowledge and experience. Unlike the What to expect books - his book actually allowed you to enjoy pregnancy while knowing that you were doing everything in your power to keep your baby safe. Plus, he's a great cheerleader when it comes to trying to get pregnant and going through pregnancy!

I highly recommend this book to all expectant mothers and fathers. This book gives you straightforward and down-to-earth answers to all your questions, without causing undue concern as some other books tend to do. The Q&A format makes it easy to read and refer back to. Buy this book!!

More of an easy to read reference book than one of those long-winded pregnancy "manuals," this book is fantastic! Every possible concern and question I had was answered clearly and quickly. Dr. Poliakin also addresses hundreds of things I hadn't thought of and I'm sure I will go back to this book over and over again for the answer to different questions. I highly recommend this book to any woman who is expecting. As a side note: I left the book laying around the house and my husband picked it up and has since read it cover to cover - so he liked it too.

I got this book from a friend as a gift and I absolutely love it. It has answered so many of my questions and I constantly refer back to it. This book by far has been my favorite pregnancy book and I would recommend it to everyone.

This well written book is an all in one source of information that every pregnant woman should have. What You Didn't Think to Ask Your Obstetrician addresses the typical and non typical questions any woman might have during pregnancy and postpartum. I am going to recommend this book, written by Dr. Raymond Poliakin to my clients and friends.

Miller provides an extremely thought-provoking and incisive look at the issues of abilities, vocation and personal satisfaction. As the title indicates, he debunks the myth that you can do anything if you just "put your mind to it." He does so convincingly through his own copious research and psychological observations. Miller is incredibly readable, sprinkling humor and poignant anecdotes throughout the book. I would especially recommend this book to college students; there are some valuable lessons here that are better learned BEFORE entering the working world.

I have spent a considerable number of years as a career consultant. Mr. Miller brings significant study and observations to the field. Miller'ss conclusions about "hard wiring" make perfect sense to me, in light of my experience. When we discover and are able to articulate our "heart cry" we are on the road to greater success and enjoyment of life. This book is worthy of your time!

At last, a book on vocation and job placement that celebrates the giftedness of the individual rather than attempting to pigeonhole people into personality types.

Debunks the myth of 'becoming'... the idea (so popular in modern culture) that people are basically 'self-made' rather than gifted by God.

A worthwhile read for anyone looking to surface their unique gifts and gain insight into how to put them at the service of the human family.

This book has been re-issued in paperback under the title The Power of Uniqueness (ISBN 0310242886). As of today, it's still in print and is very affordable.

I'm 55 and too old to learn anything, but understanding the basic principle of which Miller and Hendricks write has been really helpful and I've thought about it many times in the past year or so since I read the book. I've been able to much better understand myself and those around me and to give better advice. I even bought copies for both of my sons. Unfortunately, the explanation of the principle was much more interesting than the authors' application, which for me became rather pedantic. Regardless, it's a valuable read -- just do the first half (5 stars), then rip off the last half (2 stars) and toss it! Seriously, READ THE BOOK!

This book is an extremely informative analysis of genesis, and its role in our current culture on many levels. I enjoy and appreciate this authors educational experience and cultural veiws. Anyone who has read this authors analysis may also enjoy "After the Apple", which is another one of Rosenblatt's writings.

Naomi is a psychotherapist, lecturer, and adult bible class teacher.

A unique study of the old testament teachings to help with our personal spiritual journey. How we should live our lives according to God. How we can shape the way we live and teach or children through the Patriarchs. The book starts with the creation; the order. Then moves to the flood and the descendants; from Abraham to Joseph. Beautifully written. Will never be dated.

Wish you well
Scott

this is my second reading of wresting w/angels. i recommend it to those people who are curious about the biblical text and have never actually read it themselves. or to those who are familiar and well-versed w/the biblical text but are searching for new and fresh insights to be learned and discovered.

Wrestling With Angels: What the First Family of Genesis Teaches Us About Our Spiritual Identity, Sexuality, and Personal Relationships (Naomi Rosenblatt and Joshua Horwitz, Delacorte, 1995) is a book with a specific agenda: understanding Genesis as a series of lessons about the nature of human character. Her voice (it's largely hers; Horwitz is not much in direct evidence) is that of the therapist. The themes are as old as guilt and sibling rivalry and sexual temptation, and as "modern" as midlife crisis, blended families and surrogate parentage. We are comfortable with these psychological concepts, and Rosenblatt is generally successful at using these as tools to understand these stories --- and ourselves.
The subtitle's "Family" is a misnomer; it should be "Families". It covers people from Adam to Noah to Joseph, and they aren't considered one family in the normal sense. The chapter on the Tower of Babel doesn't involve any particular people.
There are 35 self-contained chapters. The titles set the theme: "Rachel and Leah: Competing for Love, Passion and Status", "The Brothers Reappear: Wrestling with Unresolved pain", "Abraham goes forth: Following a Personal Vision". She starts with a broad introduction to the theme, then sets the stage for the particular story. The story is presented via selected excerpts from Genesis. Interspersed are her comments and "imagined narrative details". Of these she says, "Our Embellishments to the original text of these stories are historically correct" whatever that means. It's unclear whether she's relying on traditional midrash or her own. Then she provides her summary, analysis and conclusions, sometimes including anecdotes from her own life.
The book displays both substantial weaknesses and strengths. On the minus side, the allegories and symbols are laid on rather thickly. For example, on page 267, there is entitled "The Well as the Portal of the Soul." But on 268, we are instead told that it is the stone (which covered the well) that is "the portal of her [Rachel's] ... soul." Further, we are told that "The well represents Rachel's virgin sexuality" and in the next sentence "the well is symbolic of Jacob's unconscious". In her discussion of the Covenant Between the Pieces, admittedly a very murky event, I found her symbolic explanation of the items unconvincing, and note that she omits any explanation of the smoking oven. Some things really are a stretch. One chapter is "Lot Departs the Clan: Letting Go of Children", but she presents no reasoning that Abram ever considered his nephew as a son. Putting the modern motherhood/career dilemma into Rachel/Leah story was unconvincing. None of the treatments are in any great depth, and the nuances of the Bible's language in telling these stories is entirely lost.
On the other hand, her handling of conflicts within the (extended) family is especially deft, and she turns to this, effectively, again and again. She had a particularly good feel for the character of Jacob, and her chapter on his wrestling with the "Personal Angels and Demons" was especially well done. She has an intriguing comparison between Noah and Oscar Schindler; I wish it had been more developed.
Her writing is clear and the almost conversational style easily draws the reader in, without wasting words. While many can learn from this, the book is especially good for beginners. It does not presuppose any knowledge of either the Bible or how it is approached, and makes no demands of a particular kind of faith. And it provides fresh evidence of why these stories are so enduring.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic with biblical teachings emphasizing the New Testament and very little of the Old Testament. Wrestling w/Angels re-introduced me to the wise ancient stories of Genesis, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Not only is this book a great read, it is full of insights illuminating conflicts and challenges we continue to face in contemporary life. Whether or not you believe in the historical accuracy of the Bible, the people who are chronicled in its stories are important archetypes whose influence on our collective thought patterns is vast. Wrestling w/Angels is a key guide to understanding the meaning of those archetypes because they show us how we, as individuals and as a world, have developed our "identity, sexuality and personal relationships."

This book delivers- well written + clear + suitable for those not in the mental health/medical fields yet does not oversimplify/dumb down. If you are wondering whether medicine may be needed for your child or client, or if you are concerned with the state of psychiatry + medicine today, this book is a must read.

As a child psychiatrist who works with children, adults and families in much the same way as Dr. Kalikow, and as one who is all too familiar with the "thorny" kinds of issues which can block parents and or their cihldren from benefitting from the therapeutic process and to then go on and experience real healing, I am very grateful to him for this book.

"Your Child in the Balance" is a highly readable and easily digested source of information for parents who are faced with the daunting task of obtaining the best help for their children who struggle with emotional and behavioral problems. In an age where so many practioners in child psychiatry seem to have become almost single mindedly focused on the use of pharmacologic agents to treat, if not "cure", our children, using medicines which often do offer both the potential for relief for so many problems as well as risks, and with a media which often fails to provide an appropriate perspective on the complex issues involved in such forms of treatment, it has become increasingly difficult for parents to know who to turn to and who to trust when a child is troubled and in need of "professional help". Knowing when medicine is appropriate and when not, as well as what other therapeutic modalities a parent can expect from child psychiatrists and other "mental health" providers, are examples of the information one can expect to find in this book. He handles these and a host of other related issues in a clear, thoughtful and sensitive, yet straightfoward, manner.

Dr. Kalikow does an admirable job of presenting timely and relevant issues, filling some of what I consider to be a psychoeducational void with much needed light.

Richard A. Flamberg, M.D.
South Salem, New York

Your Child in the Balance by Kevin Kalikow, a pediatric psychiatrist addresses the dilemma that parents face when deciding whether ir not to use medicine to treat their child's psychiatric disorder. Dr. Kalikow opens by searching for the answers to two questions. Where do we draw the line between function and dysfunction in defining pediatric mental illness? When and how do we decide to treat these illnesses with medications?

The book defines the most common disorders and describes the medications used to treat them. The text is well peppered with detailed case histories. Dr. Kalikow's voice, in this book as in his clinical practice, is clear, coherant and engaging. Most parents will find one or more vignettes which resonate with similarities to their child's behavior and struggles. We see children whose disorders are mild and others whose symptoms are extremely distressing to them and impact significantly and negatively on their families and classmates. In these latter cases, we are shown the impact of pharmacologic treatment.

Many of my pediatric patients have benefitted from Dr. Kalikow's psychiatric care which is remarkable for depth of understanding and respectful perserverance with even the most challenging patients. This book will serve as a guide to other families searching for the right paths for the treatment of their children.

Harriet J. Blumencranz, MD, Goldens Bridge, NY

Dealing with a child's illness in any form is always difficult and emotionally draining, but when it comes to less tangible psychological disorders, the acknowledgment of the condition and the subsequent choice of treatment for our children are among the most difficult of all medical issues a parent must deal with.

The shift from Freudian therapy to pharmacological treatment of children is new to many of us, and I was admittedly a skeptic and needed a lot of information and understanding. Dr. Kalikow's book was by far the best treatment of any such parenting issue I've ever read.

His style of writing - while suffused with an extraordinary amount of well-organized information - is engaging and gentle, and in my case, managed to address almost all of the questions I had on the subject.

By presenting scores of individual case vignettes, along with the arguments both for and against various types of treatments, their effects, potential side-effects, time scales, and long-term considerations, Dr. Kalikow's book provided me with a substantial tool with which to deal with problems "in my own back yard."

There's a lot of hand-holding in his narratives, and in some cases Dr. Kalikow's easy-going manner may seem like he's addressing an audience of adolescents. But when it comes to handling our children, perhaps we can all benefit from being treated in this way, with a touch on the shoulder and the reassurance that the understanding of these disorders in chldren is still new to everyone, and their treatments are even newer.

Bravo and thanks to Dr. Kalikow for providing a very useful and engaging body of information.

A thoughtful and helpful book for a complex subject. Dr. Kalikow addresses the decision making process of the parents, the child and the health care professional when choosing how to address the needs of their child. It is written clearly, with humor, compassion and tenderness. I believe parents will be able to make a more educated decision after reading this book.

Good book for the beginner to seek out. Contains some history and some nice plates. Publisher, time for a reprint to renew interest in this artist. Those interested in Tanguy should also look up Kay Sage.

Can someone recommend a book that is NOT out of print about Tanguy? I saw some of his works at the Guggenheim this weekend and am interested in learning more about him....

very very interested in Tanguy

Good book for the beginner to seek out. Contains some history and some nice plates. Publisher, time for a reprint to renew interest in this artist. Those interested in Tanguy should also look up Kay Sage.

It is with great dissapontment to realize that having the opportunity of achiving partial access to the work of this XX century master, is somehow a matter of luck, by chance I got hold of a copy, and although is recommendable and good starting point, is modest in bringing justice to the quality and outstanding conceptual and technical dimension of this artist. That is not Mr. Soby's fault, he did a good job, but a far more extensive volume is required. It is important for curators and publishers to bring this artist into the light, to promote it, even with purest commercial interest, this artist will deliver joy to any individual, and shall create demand for whoever publisher that treats his work with respect.

My newly discovered hobby is tucking this book under my arm, stuffed with an array of bookmarks, old business cards and straw wrappers -- to help seek out these cinematic gems when I enter my video store. Author DiLeo has unearthed a wealth of fantastic performances in films that I never would've thought to view or even knew existed! I actually called in sick to work one day after viewing three of his recommended classics back-to-back till the wee hours. What a glorious night! Mr. DiLeo... you're gonna cost me my job! BUY THIS BOOK!

John DiLeo's opinions and quips are quick, tart, and fun. But this book wouldn't be as fascinating if that was all that was going on. The depth of his film knowledge, his obvious love of movies, and the acuteness of his recommendations make this a wonderful book for anyone--from cinemaniac to cultural reader.

My newly discovered hobby is tucking this book under my arm, stuffed with an array of bookmarks, old business cards and straw wrappers -- to help seek out these cinematic gems when I enter my video store. Author DiLeo has unearthed a wealth of fantastic performances in films that I never would've thought to view or even knew existed! I actually called in sick to work one day after viewing three of his recommended classics back-to-back till the wee hours. What a glorious night! Mr. DiLeo... you're gonna cost me my job! BUY THIS BOOK!

Anyone who loves watching classic movies should buy this book! The author gives thorough reviews of all one hundred movies. He doesn't focus on just one genre and there is a good mix of comedic, dramatic, and musical performances. Some of my favorite performances are here including Jeanette MacDonald in Naught Marietta, Vivien Leigh in Waterloo Bridge, and William Powell in Libeled Lady. After reading this book there are many more films I want to see.

Overlooked performances from the movie stars of old or the present crop, take your pick. Whichever you prefer make sure you read John DiLeo's book. He captures the performances in such a way that you feel you are watching the film while reading his eloquent, captivating description. It is an absolute joy for any movie buff.

This book is full of delightful contradictions: satire, straightforward dialogue, dark humor, clever word-play, brazen irreverance and raw emotion. This author does not shrink from exposing the ultimate effects of love, intimacy, pain and what can happen when any of it goes awry. It's a rare and special novel that can elicit laughter and tears in the blink of an eye. I didn't want this one to end...perhaps it hasn't.

Heroine: short and solid

After surviving a harrowing adolescence and maintaining her status as the town's foul-mouthed, hard drinking tart for twenty-plus years, shop teacher Maddie "Max" Maxwell thinks she's one tough cookie. But she soon discovers her "soft center" when her hormones start going haywire with a surprise pregnancy. After all, it's not everyday you go into the doctor's for a scheduled hysterectomy and come out with a due date for a baby--by a guy you are about to dump, no less!

        But Max is about to find out that even the toughest cookie is liable to crumble under the right circumstances. If the pregnancy wasn't enough to bowl her over, surely the multiple murders occurring around town will do it. Especially since all of them are connected in one way or another to Max herself!

What worked for me:

All right, I admit it, Max grew on me. Rough-around-the edges and with odd taste in men she's very different from me, but I think I could enjoy time spent in her company.

I thought the writing was clever, and the plot held my interest with its nicely convoluted mystery. The dash of raunchy sexual tension and heart-wrenching plot developments were also a great touch.

   Size-wise Max is closing in on forty and built, in her words, like a fireplug. And her best (and annoying) friend is rather voluptuous as well.

What didn't work for me:

It was hard not to flinch when thinking about Max's drinking during her early pregnancy.

Overall:

I found this story to be a creative hybrid of women's fiction and mystery. Readers looking to be drawn into an emotionally raw, thought-provoking story would be well-advised to search this one out.

Warning: this book has some coarse language and some brief references to homosexuality.

If you liked "Ain't Nobody's Bizness" you might also enjoy the "Steph Plum" mystery series, the "Sam Jones" mystery series, the "Casey Jones" mystery series, the "Odelia Grey" mystery series, the "Women's Murder Club" mystery series, "Princess Charming", "Infernal Affairs", "Plum Girl", and "Hey Lady, Your Tin Snips Are Showing".

While trying to solve the mystery of her brother's death, tough gal Max confronts her own conflicted feelings about her past as well as her well-concealed softer side. Funny, sassy, and ultimately very moving.

This book is full of delightful contradictions: satire, straightforward dialogue, dark humor, clever word-play, brazen irreverance and raw emotion. This author does not shrink from exposing the ultimate effects of love, intimacy, pain and what can happen when any of it goes awry. It's a rare and special novel that can elicit laughter and tears in the blink of an eye. I didn't want this one to end...perhaps it hasn't.

Madeleine "Max" Maxwell is about to have a sudden life change. Nearing forty, scheduled for a hysterectomy, and as hard
drinking and hard living as they come, she wasn't exactly ready for the unexpected pregnancy that would ultimately change
her life.
But then again, she wasn't ready for the smoky voiced, ex-con, Jackson O'brien, or the murders occurring in her little town
of Hawk Marsh either. Murders directly related to her.
What's a girl to do? She's pregnant, hormones are raging, life altering events are occuring, and Max is smack dab in the
Middle of a murder mystery threatening to drive her insane.
You've got to read this book. Laura Gardner has written a wonderfully witty, superbly emotional, and amazingly twisted
mystery you won't be able to put down.
Who's killing the men in Max's life, and why? Is it the moody ex-con, the psychotic ex lover, or someone else ensuring
their own agenda?
Packed with humor, and an earthy realism that will amaze you, Ain't Nobody's Bizness guides you through six harrowing
months of Max's life. The changes to the person that was, the growth of a woman and mother that will be, the trials that will
knock her down, and her steely determination to stand up against all odds, and face the future to come.
This is a mystery you definitely don't want to miss.

Review by: Shadoe Simmons

The book I bought was just as it was explained. The book arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. I would not hesitate ordering from this company again. I would feel very comfident of a similar experience. Thank you for your service.

This is very well done. Even a seasoned quilter can pick up tips or revist information they learned years ago and find useful information. I like the books format, the pictures and illustrations are helpful and clear. I'd consider this to be along the lines of a quilter's encyclopedia.

I use the internet a great deal and it's really nice to come across a 'book' that is so well done & have it on hand in my art room. Nicely done. CJ

I had borrowed this book from the local library and could tell straight away that this would tell me everything I needed to know about quilting. I also checked out all the positive reviews on the Amazon website. Just read the contents, and everything is categorized with lots of images. I am sure this will be a well-used reference book for both new and experienced quilters.

I found this book to have more information than I expected. It reminds me of looking in an encyclopedia. There are plenty of great pictures,line drawings and explanations. I found this book to either give me much of the information I needed on a subject, or at times, at least enough to get me started. I would say it covers a whole lot of information in a nice hardcover book that is thin enough to take from workroom to couch for a good read.

This was the first quilting book that I checked out from the library when I started thinking about quilting. I liked it so much, that I ended up buying it. I just couldn't imagine not having it by my side when I had questions (and as a beginning quilter, I have a LOT of questions!!). This is a great book with a lot of information in it. There is only one other book that I think is just as good and that is _The Quilters' Ultimate Visual Guide._ Both books have many color pictures and explain things very clearly. If I could only have two books on basic quilting information, I would pick these two. Enjoy!

This is a very informative quilt history book with fantastic, close-up photos of fabric. This will be a great addition to your Barbara Brackman collection. I had mine laminated and spiral bound!!

An invaluable resource for the quilt historian ,conservator or just an interested quilter. The illustrations helped me to identify fabric by period,style and color. The text gave me invaluable information to help identify a puzzling old quilt which was found stuffed in a chimney undisturbed for 90 years. Barbara Brackman is the author to read when one seeks information about quilts and their history. I enjoyed the chapter identifications allowing me to quickly access the fabric type I was seeking.

This is a good resource for the history of textiles with the purpose of dating quilts or construction of period correct clothing and quilts.

This book gives a very good compressive over view of fabrics in a certain time frame. While I bought it for reference I discovered it is quite enjoyable just to read. I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in fabrics. It would be especially useful to a beginning fabric aficionado.

what a wonderful resource book for anyone who is interested in fabric/fiber arts.
i'm a quilter who likes to create quilts with a flair from yesterday. this book not only helps me to be closed in my interpretation of that time, it does guide me through the decision which colors have been more used than others. the contents/pictures are very clear and the instructions to recreate some of the quilts are outstanding. i would give this book 6 stars!