V Books

What a brave woman this author is. She bears her soul for all to read. Her heart wrenching journey leaves you feeling hopeful in the face of any adversity and truly empowered as if all things really are possible.
I count Connie May fowler as one of my living heros!

Haven't we all wished at one time or another that we had talked the significant others in our beloved's past?!?!


After knowing and teaching with Connie May for a number of years, I waited far too long to read Katie; Connie May had left the building. And I now long to share my thoughts with her.

Her compelling memoir strikes a chord with anyone who has walked away from the carnage of a love/hate relationships, and of the fear that forces one to stay too long.

I will say that Connie Mae's courageous relevations bring to the surface the consequences of failing to "out" the abusive for fear of sounding like a victim, even though, typically, an abuser--be their tactics verbal, psychological, physical--or any combination thereof, trumps the will of their partner with the ploy of taunting and by suggesting that "you enjoy playing the victim role."

These masters of their own game create a nearly unbreakable cycle by constant character atacks that serve to undermine ego structures,and emtional equillibrium. The resulting co-dependency morphs into a version of the Stockholm Syndrome, wherein ties to the captor are reinforced.

As anyone who has experienced this "crazy-making" life knows,it is a long, hard recovery, but failure to expose exploitaton is like an endorsement that permits him/her to move on to yet another target, whom he/or she will expertly convince that the former spouse,lover or colleague was "crazy" and presenting themselves, instead, as the abused.


Connie May's courage makes us all want to stand up and shout!

There's no question Connie May Fowler is a gifted story teller and extremely talented writer. Some passages are so searing and full of truth I've gasped when reading them. Unfortunately, the story she tells here is not fiction. I won't go into the plot because other reviewers have.
But I will say that this book will open up the eyes of readers who wonder why rape and domestic violence can damage people so deeply. In telling her story, Fowler goes further - also showing how 'teasing' and discrimination against someone because of the appearance of their face can cause deep and life-lasting scars. So far, the latter is a problem barely touched on by authors and psychologists.
Read this book with an open mind, and you'll find her story underscores how cruelty, shaming and bullying can almost blow out the flame of a promising human being before she even gets a chance to realize her own talent.
Conversely, this book demonstrates how kindness and compassion can help a suffering soul survive and even bloom.
Fowler is never pitiful and pathetic, and even when the most degrading acts are done to her, she remains a person with dignity.
Free from cruelty and shame at last and embraced by love, the real Connie Fowler emerges in the end.

Connie May Fowler's, "When Katie Wakes" is masterful glimpse into the soul of a battered women. I could not put this book down once I started and I finished it in an afternoon. A heartfelt account of one women's journey from both inner and outer torments to wakefulness and a sort of freedom, I would recommend this book to anyone. Fowler's easy writing style opens the door for us to descend easily into the hell that is home to the battered woman. Often wondering exactly what is was that kept a woman from mentally walking away from her abuser when she could physically do so, Fowler's insight has put the answer into perspective and I will never have to ask that question again.

When you get right down to it, authors like Connie May Fowler are not much different than the rest of us. Fowler bears the scars of a horrific childhood and early adulthood, one strewn with the wreckage of a shattered self-image fueled by the alcoholic abuse of her mother and the degradation of a hideous relationship with an older man. She, as have many of her readers, has suffered through despair thick enough to reduce her to attempted suicide and has faced the depths of self-abdication so profound that she began to absorb the very evil identity her tormented partner imposed on her.

What makes Fowler different from us, however, is language. In her hands, words make anguish palpable, sadness tangible, struggle imperative. As an author, Fowler is able to make sense of her life, and, in so doing, help us make sense of ours. "When Katie Wakes" may well be the most brutally coarse and ugly memoir you will ever read, but, at the same time, one of the most beautiful and impassioned pleas for individual integrity and indomitability ever composed. It is nothing less than a masterpiece.

Though Ms. Fowler credits her adoption of a loyal and loving dog, Katie, as the symbolic act of reclamation and reaffirmation of life, she sells herself far short. The grandchild and child of abused women, the child Fowler becomes the target of her drunken mother's rage. The Fowler children become adept actors, hiding the shame of family disgrace and brutality under the veneer of achievement. Keeping verbal assaults invisble, preventing others from recognizing the constant physical beatings absorbed by Mama, Connie's family life resembled "smoke and mirrors, deception and shame." A "wall of silence" shrouded suffering. As a child, Connie received sustenance from words and books, and her resultant triumph as an adult vindicates her choice. Her older sister, however, absorbs and internalizes the viciousness of her home, and, consequently, develops anorexia as an adult.

In a remarkable self-portrait, Fowler describes a wretched adult woman, unloved, unlovable, disgusting and repulsive. Her self-hatred is "untainted and unhinged." She believes herself "so ugly" that only an abusive, impotent, failed radio celebrity would be willing to love her. Yet, there is not a single note of self-pity in this wrenching memoir. Fowler reminds us that her mother's life, obliterated from a childhood rape, transcends her own in loss. Mama was "an angry woman who believed life had let her down. And it had." From disappointment to the target of her own husband's physical abuse, Fowler's mother recirculates and intensfies the pain, deliberately deflecting it on her children.

As a young woman, Fowler has not escaped her mother's imprint. Indeed, her chosen partner encapsulates her mother's jagged opinion. Tense is irrelevant when Fowler hears herself described as "stupid," or "an ungrateful whore," or a "lousy excuse" of a lover or daughter. When she hears her mother decry her existence, "I wish...I had died the day you were born," Fowler must come to grips with an essential life choice: descent into emotional self-immolation or ascent into a struggle for life and affirmation.

"When Katie Wakes" bravely portrays Fowler's battle for identity and wholeness. Her steadfast determination to "take responsibility for my own happiness, for my own sense of self-worth" is the best medicine for any person struggling to make sense of inner turmoil and despair. When she proclaims her need to discover "what my placer in the world should be," she speaks for any person on the cusp of a life-altering decision searching for the courage to embrace life's potential. This emotion-laden memoir is eloquent testimony to the ability of one person to wrestle life from death, hope from despair, the future from the past.

Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale was a truly enchanting story for all ages. If you or your child like The Wizard of Oz then you most likely love this book. A pure bewitching tale with lots of magic.

Joe Binks is just your ordinary boy living with dad as mum has remarried. Being quite ordinary it is fun when on his way to mum's for Christmas holiday he is singled out by a witch and given a special item of which he has no idea of having such a thing.

Twiggy is a little girl witch who is in training and the witches in her coven totally under estimate poor little Twiggy's powers. Doing menial jobs is supposed to be a learning experience for her but she doesn't really seem how. Twiggy has the curiosity of a cat and seems to have their nine lives also with the little fixes the cutie gets herself into.

The whole mysterious caper starts out on the train that is taking Joe from London to Canterbury and continues right up until the end of the book with lots of magic and who-done-its. Lots of spells and potions, strange ingredients and places along with fairies and animals help make this witchy tale absolutely delightful.

I accidentally came across this book and am ever so glad I did. The author has done a wonderful job at giving us a pure clean tale without scaring us. This book is simple enough for an eight year old but enchanting enough for adult. Not only will it keep your interest but you will not want to put this book down until the very last word.

I really believe this is a book that elementary teachers across the globe should encourage their students to read.

if you can get your hands on a copy, get it!!!!! The whole book is based on the fact that sometimes things happen for a reason and are worth the wait. this has been one of the best stories i've ever read!!!! wish i could find more like this.

I purchased this book for a children's book club (ages 8-10). We read the book over a 4 week period (we meet every two weeks). The kids all really enjoyed this book (we don't find many titles that every member likes, so this is a big deal). The story was fresh and new, and it had lots of twists and turns the kids could follow and appreciate. The chapters went fast (always a plus with kids!). There were a lot of small details that I thought the kids may have trouble noticing and/or remembering, but they did as well (if not better) than the parents! The main characters were very likeable, and their adventure was very extraordinary. If I had to categorize the book, I'd say it is like a shorter, less complicated Harry Potter... but DEFINITELY not a copycat title. Our group really enjoyed this book. (Note: the children in the group are a little advanced for their ages, may not be for all 8 year olds level-wise).

This is a good book. I read it. It was a little hard to get into.

Dale's Whispering to Witches is fantastic. The Interesting Cover caught my attention in the library, and then I was winded into Joe's adventure. Perfect with rats, cats, a missing page, and of course, witches, I loved it from the start!

According to the author, there are 3 dimensions necessary for a successful relationship. They are:

1 -- the Practical dimension
This is about how well you live and work together.
Are you a morning person or a night person?
Do you want the air conditioner on or off?
Do you want to decorate in a minimalist modern style or a cluttered country style?
These may sound like petty, insignificant issues, but on a daily basis, if you and your partner are way off on this dimension, you could easily grate on each other's nerves.

2 - the Sexual dimension
This goes beyond sexual attraction to include sexual style.
Do you like quiet, missionary style sex or loud, try-every-position-imaginable sex?
Do you like sex once a day or once a month?
If you and your partner are way off on this dimension, then both of you will feel frustrated. The partner who wants less sex will feel like a spoilsport and the partner who wants more sex will feel like they are on a sex diet.

3 - the Wavelength dimension
This is about the meeting of the minds.
Are you for or against abortion?
Is your humor quietly witty or loud and raunchy?
Are you interested in politics and keeping up with current events or does that stuff bore you?
In an ideal world, we would all be able to kindly accept each other's differences in values and opinions. In reality, though, when someone disagrees with a value we hold dearly, we tend to think that person is naive, crazy, or stupid...and respect goes out the window.

According to the author, dissatisfied couples are couples who only have one or two of these dimensions present.
If the practical dimension is missing, then living and working together with this person on a daily basis will lead to constant bickering. If the sexual dimension is missing, then you will feel frustrated and bored with your sex life. If the wavelength dimension is missing, then you won't be able to relate to your partner on an intimate level.
If a couple has all three of these dimensions, then they have struck gold and will likely have a fulfilling marriage. That's not to say you and your partner have to be twins (some difference is healthy because it allows you to grow and makes the other person interesting) but just close enough so that the ratio of good times outweighs the bad times. I agree with the author's outlook and consider this book to be a smart look at relationships. Highly recommended.

This book helped me understand why I couldn't say yes to someone who seemed like the perfect spouse for me "on paper" and to most of my family and friends. It clearly lays out the most important aspects of compatibility and helped me realized that my little issues with my ex-boyfriend were actually significant problems that would have led to a less than harmonious problems. It also helped give me the confidence to walk away from the relationship even though most above mentioned family and friends couldn't understand why I would do so. A couple of years later I met someone who I am very compatible with and now we have two kids and a very happy marriage. I often recommend this book to single friends and all have benefited from reading the book. Definitely the best $15 I have ever spent!

since I am just beginning to apply it to my current situation. But after reading it, I certainly see where some past relationships have gone wrong.

And the basic theory does make intuitive sense: Hamburg focuses on physical issues, practical compatibility (day-to-day teamwork) and what he calls "wavelength compatibility" (that is, broader ways of looking at the world, and similarity of opinions on big issues such as religion). As he points out, if your prospective mate flunks on all three criteria, further communication and hard work will only make it clearer that he or she is not a good match.

My only real quarrel with Hamburg so far is his suggestions about which issues couples must resolve before being married. For example, he thinks that a couple should decide before marriage whether to have a "traditional marriage" (i.e. one where the male earns most of the money) or a more egalitarian mrriage. I am not sure that one can know in advance how "traditional" one's marriage can be; presumably most reasonable couples would move towards a less traditional marriage if the spouses' earning power is roughly equal, but towards a more traditional marriage if one spouse's economic contribution turns out to be minimal.

I've read a lot of books on relationships, compatability and love. This book was the most practical, straightforward, realistic and helpful. What impressed me most about this title was the author's ability to simplify a very complex topic. He also considered dimensions of compatability that are often difficult to define, but that are crucial to forming a good long term relationship. The author also included deceptively simple exercises for couples that allowed them to access not only their thinking about a particular area of compatability, but more importantly their felt sense of it. In short, this book helps cut through confusion in the area of love. It is well worth the cost and it is quite different that most books of the same genre, which I have often found to be very similar to each other. It is clear that this author has many years of experience counseling real couples with difficult compatability issues. I also appreciated that the book did not include too many case studies or examples. I have found many case-study approach type books to read more like a novel than a helpful tool to work with a problem, perhaps this is a personal bias. In short, this book is a very useful tool for understanding an existing relationship or as a benchmark guide for dating compatability. It also achieves its goal without a lot of unnecessary text or redundant stories about other couples.

The author presents a fairly straightforward theory of how he's seen compatibility relate to long term marital happiness and stability. He breaks it down to three areas: practical, sexual and wavelength. I've thought a lot in the past about the way I relate or don't relate in relationhships, but reading this book I had a number of "aha" moments where I felt like this makes real sense. I've discussed his ideas with a number of friends and the consensus is he's right on. The great thing is that after you read this I'll bet you'll feel compelled to talk about these ideas with friends and more importantly your lover. It's an easy, accessible read that I would see as invaluable to people looking for love or married for years.

I had now idea how far my journey was going to go! This book takes me further than I ever imagined!

I've not finished reading this book yet, but it has a lot of good information on yoga. So far I enjoyed it.

I've read and really enjoyed Donna's other books, but never bothered to read this one because of my almost 10 years of practicing asana and having read tons of asana books I thought that all of the books said the same thing. I recently took one of her week long trainings and practically filled my notebook with all of this new and great information. Later I bought this book and lo and behold most of it is in this book and her Breathing Book with pictures to boot. This was really a turning point for my practice as before I was more focused on getting the "ideal" yoga pose and not going with my bone structure. Also instead of forcing something to happen I learned to go with gravity, the breath and my natural structure so I can have 'effortless movement'. This concept opened me up to lots of other books that explore this in more detail.

One thing that really stuck with me (and what I think will help you understand where she's coming from) was in her introduction:
"Increasingly doing "good" yoga has come to mean having a beautiful body, remaining forever youthful, and being able to show one's adeptness through the seemingly solid evidence of advanced postures. But as we stretch our muscles deeply or strengthen our abdominals, are we coming closer to feeling a deep peacefulness within ourselves and an inner equanimity that can meet the challenges of life in a compassionate and skillful way? Like the botanist who finally breeds the perfect rose only to discover that in the process he has lost the fragrance of the bloom, when we strip yoga to its mechanics, we also loose something essential.
I have been as guilty as any of both practicing and teaching yoga in a way that made the postures and practices more important than the spirit of the person practicing them. My early obsession with perfecting the forms of yoga brought with it a greater and greater sense of unease and dissatisfaction. The realization that I had bought into dictum of a culture obsessed with achievement and the unhappiness wrought by such striving led me to a long period of deep experimentation in my own practice....I have slowly uncovered a more natural way of discovering the essence of the practice through form. The forms then become vehicles for experiencing one's essential nature rather than goals in and of themselves. Then whether you attain any particular posture becomes irrelevant. The shift from dominating, controlling, or ignoring nature to listening and working with nature's wisdom marks the beginning of this change of mind....
I am convinced that there is nothing new about this approach and that it can best be described as a neoclassical revival of the original way of working first explored by yogis centuries ago..."

In regards to the inquiry parts of the book, they are a much better way for you to learn and understand your body instead of being told what this is doing and what you should be feeling. It also helps you build your kinesthetic awareness. In the workshop Donna came up to me and asked where I was feeling pain in my spine while practicing cobra pose. At first I was baffled b/c I hadn't requested help and didn't notice anything off the top. But she sat their patiently so I took a moment to inquire within and found "hmmm I do have this little tiny twinge". That was my aha moment. She didn't rush me, accuse me, or tell me anything. I felt as if she had given my power back. My power to listen and to know the truth within my body. It was truly amazing and I will always recommend her if you are looking for a more awakened style of practicing asana.

Her section on forward bends is really great. The rest of the book is a nice supplement to Iyengars "Light on Yoga".

Since I first began practicing yoga several years ago, I've read a ton of different books on the subject, and so far, this is one of my favorites. Author and yogi Donna Farhi takes some of the best elements from other works and combines them into an extremely readable, practical format. For example, she begins by reviewing the eight-limbed path of yoga and then focusing on a discussion of the "ten living principles" - basically, these are moral and spiritual guidelines from yogic philosophy. She then moves on to the asana limb, or the practice of yoga postures, and introduces seven "moving principles" (breathe, yield, radiate, center, support, align, engage) to assist the reader in gaining a greater body awareness within the poses. Farhi also reviews anatomical information in a way that is much more simple and more accessible than in The Anatomy of Yoga (although this is also a wonderful book).

The second half of the book centers around the yoga asanas themselves. Farhi groups the poses into chapters on standing postures, sitting postures, back bends, arm balances and upside-down poses, and restorative postures and breathing practices. Each chapter begins with incredibly useful information on properly aligning the body, including many wisdoms which I had never seen before. The descriptions of the individual asanas are also enormously helpful; many include variations for those unable to attain the full posture. I particularly liked the suggestions included under the "Having Trouble?" section, as these anticipated common complaints in many of the poses; those who are pregnant will also appreciate the prenatal guidelines given for every pose. For the more difficult postures such as upward bow and reclined hero's pose, Farhi offers prepartory positions, often using various yoga props. Finally, the simple black and white photos provide multiple illustrations for each asana, and I found the companion photos showing "correct" versus "incorrect" versions of the poses to be especially beneficial.

The book ends with a chapter on "Putting It All Together"--ie, sequencing the postures into specific yoga practices. This was the one section of the book that I found to be a bit less helpful, partly because the shortest suggested sequence is an hour long and partly because only the names of the asanas are included here, requiring the reader to flip back to earlier sections of the book for the full pose descriptions. Overall, however, I felt that I learned many new things from this book, and I would highly recommend it to yogis of all levels.

I continue to be intensely interested in everything I can possible read about 9/11 and have found nothing that has matched the author's description of what the victim's families have experienced.

If you are curious about how the site in PA was examined and the nature and extent of what the government revealed to the families, this is a great book to read.

Kudos to the author for revealing her personal experiences because it is evident that she is a private person by nature.

This is a must read for all judo players. It gives an inside account of how judoka Jeremy Glick faced with certain death made decisions to lay down his life to save many others. The story focuses on Jeremy's personal growth as a boy starting judo at age 6 and eventually winning the collegiate nationals. Jeremy was a real mench with a passion for living. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and successful sales executive with a terrific sense of humor. The ultimate goal of judo is to continually seek the perfection of one's character which Jeremy strived for.

This is the best book that I have read in a really long time. I was moved by Lyz's honesty and heartfelt emotions about losing her husband on 9/11. Even though one could possibly not imagine what she felt on that day, it gives you a little insight to her story, her husband and her daughter. Her daughter will be so thankful that she made this memorial of her father. Lyz's daughter Emmy is so lucky to have such a strong role model in her life in both her father and mother. This book is a real example of true love, life and loss. Not only is her husband a hero but she is as well.

This is a Wonderful Book.It has background of Lyz Glick and Her Late Husband Jeremy Meeting,falling in Love,Colledge,Marriage,the baby Emmy and the Hijacking leading to Jeremy's death.I highly recommend this book.

I was very anxious to read this book since I read an article on a Reader's Digest magazine about a year ago and so I requested my local library to buy it. I read it in a week, I am pretty sure I could've read it in two days if it wasn't because I have a lot of homework. All I can say is that I loved "Your Father's Voice". It is very well-written and moving.

Lyz Glick carefully tells the story of her life with Jeremy and her life once Jeremy was gone. She walks us through every memory she kept. She shares with us the weakest moments of her life after her husband's death, but she also states the importance of her and Jeremy's daughter in her life.

I have to applaud Liz Glick for managing to tackle such an enourmously emotional and personal subject with such grace. This book put thoughts in my head of what it would be like if I had to face the same reality she encountered, and I have to confess it brought me to tears often. What happened to her and to anyone whose loved ones were killed that horrible day is something you don't wish to anyone. Like I said I can't imagine enduring the things she went through.

I was totally blown away by this book. I undoubtedly recommend it. It's the kind of book you should have on your coffee table. You will see it is very hard to put it down.

vgxoxo@hotmail.com

MY kids liked this book pretty good. It is a bit hefty in pricve but it is good.

Book arrived when expected and how expected - can't expect much more than than!

My four year old daughter and I love this book. If you're looking to buy a preschooler a story for Halloween--this is the one. It has witches, magic, and some not too scary mischief. It's quite satisfying and teaches that what goes around comes around. The book is even endorsed by former President Jimmy Carter!

Alice and Greta arrived serendipitously the same day that my son got in trouble at school and therefore lost privileges at home. Until we read this book together, he was having a problem understanding why talking too much at school meant he lost TV at home. Once he learned "The Brewmerang Principle" from the book, however, he got it. Now, he begins each day stating, "I'm going to be like Alice and do good things for people so that good things happen to me. I'm NOT going to be like that bad Greta." In addition to the great moral, the illustrations are very attractive, and kids who are interested in magic will love the story just for that aspect. Highly recommended for young readers.

Magic and wizardry are just some of the thing's you'll find in the book called Alice and Greta by Steven J.Simmons. This story is about Alice who is a wich and does nice thing's for people and girl named Greta who is also a wich and does mean thing's to people.
So if you like magic, you'll like this book. I like this book because everything that Greta did to people comes back to her in the end. So the lesson you learn is it doesn't matter what you do to people it will always comes back to you.

Pero si nos hundimos emocionalmente, NUESTRO MUNDO PERSONAL VA A RESENTIR LAS CONSECUENCIAS !
ESTE LIBRO, HERMOSO DESDE SU DISEÑO HORIZONTAL Y MUY BIEN ESCRITO Y PENSADO, TE ELEVA SOBRE LA SUPERFICIE CONTAMINADA Y TE CONDUCE A DIMENSIONES HERMOSAS DE ESTIMA PARA TI MISMO:Si:PORQUE ERES UN LUCHADOR

TODO LO BUENO EN LA VIDA... ¡Es la falta de autoestima y amor a nosotros mismos!
Eso es lo que nos pesa en el corazon como si fueran cadenas..
LIBERATE... ESTE LIBRO TIENE LA LLAVE !
Te enseña cuanto vales !
FABULOSO !

Eso es lo que hace este inolvidable libro !
Te da estimacion para ti mismo y hace que te sientas feliz con el mundo que te rodea

y te estimas, con todos tus dones, NO PUEDES AMAR A NADIE...
Y NADIE PUEDE AMARTE!
Eso es lo que hace este libro: Te enseña A AMARTE Y A ESTIMARTE EN TODO LO QUE VALES!
Y TE DEMUESTRA QUE VALES MUCHISIMO !

QUE REALMENTE TE HACE VALORARTE A TI MISMO !

I was looking for a book that gave me information on how foods react to each other and why. This book does that and more. I particularly enjoy the first section. It calls itself a glossary but should be renamed encyclopedia. Everything from what percentage of chocolate liquor makes bittersweet chocolate bittersweet to what situtations baking soda is prefered over powder and why. The preface sections of each chapter are also filled with a ton of information that I have never seen in any of my other books. The section on high altitude cooking is also probably the most in depth published. To top off the interesting information are recipes that so far have not failed. I have made several of the cakes and they have been delicious and beautiful. There are only two things that would make this book better: pictures and weight. Even if there was a very tiny picture of each of the recipes it would be nice to be able to see it. Early on in the book they talk about how measuring by weight is so much better but most of the recipes are not by weight. How hard would it have been to put both cups and weight in each recipe. This book combined with "The Professional Pastry Chef" by Bo Friberg gives a pretty thorough decription of what you need to know to bake.

Short and sweet, I've been a home baker for a lot of years, and I'm so grateful to this book for helping me to solve problems I've encountered during those years and up until this book never found a satisfactory answer to!

Since buying this book my angel food cakes are heavenly and my flans are beautifully caramelized to name just a few areas where their tips and techniques were exactly what I was seeking!

Simple enough for a first time baker and thorough enough to help a seasoned baker! Get it!

If you want to become a better all-round baker, get this book. It is packed with education, instruction, advice, and expertise of 13 top bakers. Yet, it unpretentious and very practical. Let me be honest, I simply could not make an edible pie crust until I got this book...shingles and tile I could make but not a crust. No longer is this the case. It is compiled well and clearly communicates its baking principles.

I am happy with my purchase, but I noticed some mistakes. For instance, when making the Buttercream frosting, the book states that you should put a heatproof bowl in and inch of water in a skillet. The proper way to heat the egg mix is to put it in a heatproof bowl, then put the bowl in a large sauce pan or stock pot of simmering water. Do not over fill the pot, you only need to have maybe the bottom 1/3 of the bowl in the water,
and then follow the instructions listed in the book. I did this technique in culinary school, so I knew what to do. Someone not familiar with the technique may run into problems. The other thing that I noticed that when you look at the recipe list for the Choc Buttercream, the recipe asks for 2/3 cup of water, but in the execution only 1/3 cup of water is used.
However, having said all of that, I used the classic buttercream, the choc buttercream, the rich chocolate cake, and the fav buttercake. I was happy with the taste of all 4. Especially the choc cake. It was moist, and SMELLED so much of chocolate. I gave the cake away to my freind for her office Christmas party, but I had fun eating the leftover batter.....LOL.
There is a huge amount of information on technique in here as well. I have not read it all yet, the way it is set up you can pick and choose what you will read when you need it. There is also useful sidebar information with each recipe. Each recipe has the authors name next to it, so if you are a fan of one particular person, you can flip to their recipe.

`The Baker's Dozen Cookbook' lists at least 14 authors on the cover, the proverbial baker's dozen of 13 plus editor, Rick Rodgers, a very notable cookbook author in his own right (see, especially, his `Kaffeehaus' on Austrian coffee and pastry shops).

On the surface, this looks like just another collection of recipes by famous bakers. Three years ago, before I started reviewing cookbooks, I would not have even given it credit for that. Now, however, I recognize at least eight of the thirteen principal authors (Flo Braker, Marion Cunningham, Carol Field, Fran Gage, David Lebovitz, Alice Medrich, Peter Reinhart, and Lindsey Shere) as world class experts in one or more fields of baking. This puts the book in the same class as one of my very favorite baking books, `Baking With Julia', a Dori Greenspan written and edited collaboration of the great Julia Child and over 20 baking experts. But in many ways, this book may be even better than the Julia Child volume.

Not only is this a collection of recipes, it is a true collective effort based on an informal gathering of West Coast bakers seeking to explore issues in baking. In this mode, the enterprise takes on the aspects of the `Cooks Illustrated' magazine, where lots of different ways of doing the same thing are evaluated. One of the first and most interesting revelations was the fact that all these leading baking experts went home and made an angel food cake and when they all compared their results, no two came out the same, in spite of the fact that they were all using the very same recipe. The first lesson I take from this observation is that simply carefully following a good recipe does not guarantee success in baking. All sorts of epherema such as the ambient temperature and humidity are important to so many baking techniques.

Now, if you happen to own books from each of these authors, this volume becomes a bit less valuable, as I am sure there will be a lot of overlap. Even so, I found some unique things in here, for example, a recipe for making use of my just purchased Madelaine molds other than making Madelaines.

Like the Julia Child collaboration, this is sort of a `tasting menu' kind of book, which exposes you to all the different types of baking at a very high level of proficiency, and you can see behind the scenes at how these bakers think about their recipes and ingredients.

If you are new to baking, I highly recommend this volume and the `Baking With Julia' volume. I am especially happy with the latter title, as I have always produced superior results when using its recipes.

Received it as a gift and it sits on my coffee table (always viewed by guests). I bought it for my stepdad who said "It's a great toilet book--I read an entry every day."

I purchased this as a gift for a friends 15 year old daughter (who has become a huge Beatles fan). When she opened it up, her eyes said it all...she absolutely loved the photo's and the captions for each picture. I thought it was literally one page/ picture for each day of the calendar year...so I went to look for June 15...and it wasn't there, but there were about 4 pages on June 8. So it does add up to 365 days and crosses the years from 1964-1970, but if you are like me and wanted to see what the Beatles were doing on your birthday, you might not get to find out. But it's a great book and a great gift.

Absolutely stunning! Beautiful and personal photos that covers all four with stunning acuracy.

This book is an absolute treasure and worth every penny of the steep price I payed for it.The pictures are large and extremely high quality and most of them are in vivid color.Another wonderful thing is the fact that they are in chronological order,almost day by day from the end of 1962 to 1970.This is perfect for students of the Beatles because it gives an accurate visual history of the band to suppliment all of the written histories.This leads me to another important point.Anyone with eyes knows that not only is the music great but The Fab Four were indeed VERY nice to look at!And I don't think you have to be a woman,as I most certainly am,to notice that!This book is alot of fun.Because of the date order you see that Paul is wearing the same shirt almost two days in a row on their 1966 American tour!Wonder what happened?! Didn't Neil get to the local cleaners?No clean shirts left?I bet Paul was less than thrilled.To see their clothing styles change every 6 months or so is also interesting.The pictures of the concerts are fantastic especially the color ones.Some of them are large closeups.It also includes some of Bob Whiticker's beautiful photos.He took some of the best pictures of the Fabs and I don't mean the silly Butcher shots.This book should be in every Beatlemaniac's collection.

Excellent book with hundreds of rare photos.
High quality paper.
Recomended.

I loved, loved, loved this book. It was exactly the right book for me. I almost didn't buy it, though. I'm on a must-resist-book-buying sort of budget, but my husband pointed this book out to me at the bookstore. After reading the "Ten Indispensable Things You Need to Change the World" on the back flap, I knew I had to buy this book. (#1 is "A cupboard. To put your TV in." Something I know I should do but don't.)

The book is structured around the author trying to get a better grasp on the serenity prayer, which she has carried with her for years:
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference."

That first bit is where I get stuck. I feel this immense responsibility to devote my life to "changing the world" but I just end up feeling overwhelmed (duh, can you imagine?) and frustrated when I see that there's no silver bullet solution to anything. This book spoke to me in a way that no one ever has. No matter how many times someone has said to me "There is no silver bullet" or "You can't change the world in a day" or whatever, I nodded in agreement but didn't really agree. Deep down, I truly believed that there is a silver bullet and I just had to find it.

But this book taught me that though there may be a silver bullet out there, devoting your life to finding out what it is isn't nearly important as *doing* something that brings you joy and makes you feel as if you're contributing something to the solution. I don't want to ruin the ending, but I will if I say much more than that.

I just really, really loved this book. It's exactly what I needed to read. Thank you, Isabel Losada, wherever you are.

This book talked much about what we already knew about the plight of Tibet, Tibetans, and Dalai Lama. Still, I'm continuously pilfering through books written about Tibet lest I forget human's propensity to do atrocities against their fellow human beings. Whilst we think that sacrifices made during World War 2 would remind people not to resort to violence to resolve issues, it happens yet again in our lifetime. Examples are everywhere namely Iraq occupation or revolution depending which sides you are on. The irony of the whole thing is that the main power that ended World War 2 would be the aggressor in this instance in the name of profits. From this book, it's obvious that Isabel has a pure heart and she asked quite rightly why we are actually penalising Dalai Lama when he's the one who preached non-violence to overcome obstacles. She also said it quite rightly about fighting might with right. Cynical readers might be worried that this book is one-sided, China slamming. It's actually not like that at all. Isabel pointed out also that the ways activists were dealing with issues might be at the wrong footing or rubbing China the wrong way. Ultimately, Isabel just shared with us her experience of trying to help Tibets, Tibetans, and the Dalai Lama. It's funny, heart-warming, and straight to the points at times. For those readers that want to know about those three main issues and yet, don't want to read a dry book, I guess this is a book that you can try to get your hands on. It's quite an enjoyable read, really.

In A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World Losada decides to devote a year of her life to a worthy cause in an attempt to see whether an individual can make real changes. Her chosen cause is the Tibetan situation. This makes the book sound incredibly serious, but what I like about Losada's style is her way of communicating as if she & you are sitting in the room together & she's chatting to you personally. She is a very witty writer & what could be a dry and depressing topic is actually very funny at times, whilst not losing sight of the serious objectives.

The book is divided into three main sections. In the first part Isabel Losada recounts her decision to travel to Tibet & see the situation at first hand. This reads as an exciting travelogue & paints at times an amusing and then touching picture of Tibet & its People. In the second section back at home in London, Losada contemplates the possible ways she could support the Tibetan cause, culminating in planning a daring publicity stunt promoting the Dalai Lama's peaceful stance against violence at a time when the world had embarked on the `War on Terror'. In the third section of the book Losada is invited to Dharamsala to meet His Holiness himself.

You can expect to experience the full range of human emotion as you read Losada's account. At times she is laugh out loud funny, at others you'll be outraged by the callous treatment of the Tibetan people by the Chinese occupiers. You'll find yourself sharing Losada's frustration in her search for a way to make a difference and her excitement and nerves in mounting the stunt. Then there's the anticipation of meeting His Holiness- I had a tear in my eye & felt I was in the room with them.

(...)

A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World is an amazing book.

Ostensibly a book about a woman (author Isabel Losada) who decides to do something to help the people of Tibet (the Chinese should be ashamed of themselves for what they've done to that peaceful country!), A Beginner's Guide is a book for anyone who longs to LIVE life to its fullest. It's a book for people who yearn for adventures, yet never take the first step toward making them happen.

It isn't just for people interested in Buddhism, either. It's a fun-to-read, inspiring book that anyone, of any religious faith, could embrace and enjoy.

Written in a breezy conversational style, A Beginner's Guide is a tale told wonderfully and joyfully. It recounts Ms. Losada's adventures in Tibet, revealing a side to that country's people the Chinese don't usually let people see. If you'd like to see Tibet, but don't have the time or money (or government permission) to go there, A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World is the next best thing.

I wholeheartedly embrace Ms. Losada's desire to help the people of Tibet. I think what happened (and is happening) in that country is just as terrible as anything that happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany. A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World is one woman's attempt to come to grips with the enormity of the situation and to do something about it. (And you'll never believe what kind of things she dreams up to do about it!)

But, again, this book is not heavy-handed or dire. This is one of the most joyful and positive books I've come across in a long time.

I strongly recommend Isabel Losada's book A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World.

Isabel Losada wears many hats: single mom, writer, traveler, and now newly christened activist. Journey with Losada as she tells of the seemingly endless trials and tribulations as a wannabe activist fighting for the religious freedom of Tibet. Interesting choice. Yet when the author explains her reasoning behind backing this particular cause, readers will fall into her line of thinking with a natural acceptance simply because Losada is so charming and sincere. Her expression of sadness over the rising regularity of terrorism worldwide is so commonly felt, so consistently lamented, that when Losada poses the premise of fighting the war on terror with nonviolence, it makes sense. Who then is the leading proponent of nonviolence? The Dalai Lama, of course. Losada determines that he's the man for her --- and on this basis Losada begins her story, her journey toward social activism.

Making use of the famed serenity prayer, Losada divides her text into three main sections. Part One: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..." Recognizing that she has never done much besides navel-gazing, Losada decides to invest some time in protesting outside the Chinese Embassy, a not particularly auspicious beginning. Next, the author starts investigating, interviewing, and finally traveling to Tibet. Waking up in Kathmandu, Losada details in comical fashion the advice passed along to her from a girl in the know from Tibet: Never squat down in the bushes on the Nepalese side of the Himalayas. Leeches have a way of attaching themselves. Before you know it, you're pouring with blood.

Sounds enchanting. Not to be daunted, Losada repeatedly hears the warning of altitude sickness, which can kill you. More seriously, though, were the injunctions to take extreme care in how one speaks to the Tibetan people regarding their loyalty to the Dalai Lama. And never, ever, hand out photos of the Dalai Lama as they're illegal. Losada does indeed travel and immerse herself in Tibetan culture where she sees both beauty and evil side by side, incongruously thriving together. Hard to accept.

"The courage to change the things I can..." comprises the second part of Losada's tale as she begins making advances in practical activism without much initial success. From approaching the Free Tibet Campaign organization to requesting and receiving an interview with a member of Parliament, from setting up a company, a website, to delving into the nitty-gritty of fundraising via parachuting for donations, Losada makes even the most dreary activities both humorous and sobering.

Finally, in Part Three, "And the wisdom to the know the difference..." Losada's journey becomes at once more introspective and profound as she receives an invitation to meet with the Dalai Lama. It is this portion of the text alone that will likely bring the most fascination to readers. Losada takes her time to carefully unfold the details of this once in a lifetime encounter and the results are most satisfying.

While Losada communicates with regular dashes of humor and wit, she likewise is serious about making a difference in the world. Even the most socially complacent readers will glean tips on how vital doing "one's bit" is to a better, safer, more peaceful world. As the Dalai Lama so succinctly states, "If the individual acts, society is changed."

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe