Guides Books

One of those books every home needs on the shelf. By the way, read it.

I have made it a habit this year to get through many of the classics on audio book during my daily commute. I picked Pilgrim's Progress since it was one of the most influential English books ever published, and I wanted to see what it was all about.

The audio book was published by Blackstone Audio and the reader was Robert Whitfield. The reader did an excellent job and was very easy to listen to. He did some characterization with his voice that made it easy to know which character was speaking. I was a little worried about the older style English, but it gave me no problem. It probably helps that I am familiar with the King James Version of the Bible. Overall, listening to this book worked out very well.

This is the first book length allegory that I have been through and I thought it was an excellent way to teach. There is no doubt which principal each character is supposed to represent by their name, and their actions represented that well also. I can understand why so many families had this book in their libraries. As far as Christian doctrine goes, there are a few things that some would disagree with, but most of the principals taught are still generally accepted today. The path to God's presence is filled with opposition, but there is help available and the reward is worth it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand an important part of our heritage, and to see what an effective tool allegory is.

I love this book. It was written from a jail cell in the 1600s. This version is the original so the text is difficult to read at first but I would not want a watered down modernized version (which can be purchased). I find if I read in chunks it starts to flow nicely. The characters have names like, "Evangelist", "Piety", "Talkative", "Faith", etc. So you know just where someone is coming from. I have marked up this book with pencil just like I do my scriptures! It is like reading one long parable in story form! Cool book. I'm glad to have found it.

We've read this book to our son and he has really enjoyed it. He doesn't yet fully understand everything and we had to stop and explain a lot to him, but it is something that we plan on reading over and over again as our kids continue to grow.
I read a review that stated that a main flaw in this book was the lack of one on one relationship with Christ. I can understand what they are saying, but I think what you have to keep in mind is that while we are here on earth and in our day and age we do not physically see Christ. He was once here walking and living on this earth, but He is now in heaven. He uses other means now to maintain a personal relationship with us. For example, we can know Christ through His word and through prayer. Just as in the book, He often also sends other Christians along in our life to help us and encourage us. This book is a good example of a walk of faith. We can't see and physically touch Christ right now, but when we are in heaven we WILL see Him just as Bunyan talks about in the book. Christian persevered in his walk without physically seeing Christ and he was rewarded in the end for his faith. For now, how much greater our reward is for those who have not seen Him and yet believed!

Every christian household should have this volume to read and share with the famiy. It never fails to bring me to tears when pilgrim falls before the cross and looses the burden of sin. It is a must have for every christian library and the additional insights from Bunyan are a added blessing!! I cannot say enough good things .....

This book gives a very good, comprehensive overview of the major disciplines in psychology. The text is long, but is well mixed with pictures, diagrams, and activities. The text is also very readable. This book is used as a college text for an Introduction to Psychology class. The material is presented in from a secular, non-biased perspective, highlighting major terms and discoveries and the most current research. If you want a good foundation of psychology, read this book. It might take you a while, and it might be a little dry at times, but overall it's an excellent text.

I used this text for my AP psych class in high school. I absolutely loved it. It is an excellent introductory survey of psychology and is written in such a way that it is easy to read, understand, and apply. I really liked that I was able to fully grasp the concepts with no prior knowledge in psychology and when I had to study for tests, I felt like I was studying life skills because this text does such an excellent job making the material relevant to the reader. This is my all time favorite textbook in any subject. Three years later, and I still remember a majority of the vocabulary and the importance of certain experiments. I highly recommend this book.

It was a very good purchase and does an excellent job of covering a wide-range of topics in an understandable way.

It arrived quickly, I got it for a great price, and it gets the job done. Perfect :)

its a great book to start your studies with psychological concepts and helps to think from diffrent ways.

No issue with the content, just with the book's limitations.

As a beginning soap maker I needed lots and lots of pictures so I could know what to expect visually through every step of the process. There are less than 8 nicely drawn illustrations of tools in the book but not a single photograph of soap or steps in the soap making process.

There are about 10 recipes, very nice selection. They are all perfect for beginners. There is hardly anything about soap additives, scents, or colors. I think a beginner's books should have at least a page or 2 about each.

The how to instructions of making soap is excellent as everyone has said, but I found it hard to read because of the page layout. Recipe pages have all the white space in the world, but the how to instructions aren't separated by white space at all - just paragraph after paragraph.
The fact that steps are numbered (but not in bold or double space)doesn't help, because the steps blend in with the other text.

Nice up to date resource section in the back.

Would I recommend this book to a new soap maker? Yes, as long as they also purchased (as the author recommends) The Soapmaker's Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch and Essentially Soap by Dr. Robert McDaniel.

Review
Smart Soapmaking
by Anne Watson


If there is only one book you'll get about making soap, it should be Anne Watson's "Smart Soapmaking."
A few years ago I started to make real soap. I've read a lot, did a lot of research, and finally did it. There were so many questions. More, once I really got into making soap. Then I found Anne Watson's book.
She answered all questions, and even the ones I didn't know I had.

A treasure of a book, whether you're thinking about making soap, and even if you're already making soap. No myths, just facts, Anne uses scientific approach, but explains it all, easy to understand. She gives recipes, charts, web links, illustrations to clarify the whole process. It
doesn't end there. Now you're making soap.... want to change your formulation? This book remains a valuable reference.
What's INS? How can you calculate it for different oils? How can you achieve different shapes and looks for your soap? Wrapping ideas needed? Looking for a supplier? It's all there.

Unlike many authors, Anne makes herself available through her website, offering even more information. She is truly one of a kind. That's easy to see also, if you read another book of hers
"Skeeter" - if you love cats, or just love to laugh - or need a laugh, be sure you read this gem.

I'm very much looking forward to her new book about Milk Soaps, which should be available
soon.

Thanks Anne

I started making soap back in 2000 and Susan Miller Cavitch's "The Soapmaker's Companion" was my bible. So I was hesitant when people started ranting and raving about this book. After purchasing it I have to say it is all that is promised and more. While I still adore Cavtich's book, there are a couple of reasons I would recommend Watson's book for beginners:

1) It is completely up to date. Not only does she mention using modern stirring methods (stick blender), all of her resources are up to date and impressive. I am a fan of most of the suppliers she lists and was familiar with them.

2) Her recipes are SO accessible! Cavitch's recipes tend to require more "exotic" oils and have a bit of Julia-Child-laundry-list of ingredients. Anne Watson's recipes are bare bones and truly what they claim to be. Her Grocery Store soap ingredients can be bought at any national chain store. Love it! (my only minor complaint is that her recipes make such SMALL batches. I end up having to double most of them.)

3) She provides an excellent guide to making your own recipes. Most soap books (Cavitch's is a little guilty of this) just assume you'll figure it out on your own, or that you'll only make their recipes forever. Watson walks you through creating your own recipes step by step in crystal clear detail.

4) She expresses the correct amount of caution with lye. Some books bog you down with details on how dangerous it is and make you feel as though you should be wearing a hazmat suit while measuring it, while others have a lackadaisical attitude towards it and don't stress safety. Watson communicates that it needs to be treated carefully, but that you don't need to freak out over it.

5) Last, but not least, Watson is contactable. She has her own website and you can contact her with any questions on the book. That, in and of itself, is pretty darn nifty.

Overall I think this is the best soapmaking book for beginners and recommend it to people who are starting out.

I liked the author's approach to soapmaking. She keeps it simple, but without discounting the safety measures necessary. I was able to read the book in one sitting and could understand it easily. Great for someone just starting out in soapmaking!

Smart Soapmaking is far and away the best book on making soap at home. I have several other books on the subject which, for me, are far too complicated and scientific. They make the process seem far too daunting, to the point where you give up before you start. Anne Watson has thoroughly explained everything in simple yet practical terms and has taken away completely the fear factor. Her book makes you anxious to get started where the other books might discourage you. I cannot recommend more highly this book. I will never look at my other books on this subject again, no need to. This book is simply the best, better than all the rest!

"Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide" is a must-have book for all the wall-crawler's fan! It has information about lots of characters and a fantastic spidey's time-line! The illustrations are as good as well, and you can even find information on alternative Spider-Man series, like Spider-Girl, and Spidey 2099. Although the book is very nicely done i still missed more detailed profiles, anyway you will sure not regret for buying this one!

I never read a Spider-man comic book, but I wanted to know all about Spidey, his allies, and his enemies. This ended my search!

I have been a rabid Spider-Man fan, reader, and collector for the past 13 years. In that time, I've seen some of the best (1980's to 1993) and worst (Clone Saga) this hero has to offer. IN addition, I have collected every issue ever published. So, I'm very knowledgable about SPider-Man and his world. Still, this book is a delight to read. I didn't learn anything new, but it is well written, spectacularly illustrated with original comic art from some of Spidey's most legendary artists (Ditko, Romita Sr., Romita Jr., Frenz, Andru, Sal Buscema, Gil Kane, McFarlane, Bagley, Larsen). New fans will learn a lot from this book, but no matter how long you've been a fan of Spidey, this book is a treasure trove for you!!

Tom De Falco's comprehensive SPIDER-MAN guide is one of my favourite spidey books, covering everything from the comic's origins in the 60s to the recent movies. With some great insight into the characters in the world of comics and good layout, this guide tells you all you need to know about Peter Parker, Mary Jane and assotment of villians (Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom et all). DeFalco's extensive research has paid off, making this an essential addition to the already bookshelf-breaking collection of comic book guides. This is a must-have book for any SPIDER-MAN enthusiast.

We bought this book for our five year old who loves Spiderman, but our whole family has enjoyed learning more about the villains and other characters in Spidey's world. It is fun to learn the origin of characters we are familiar with and some we had never heard of before. There are lots and lots of illustrations to keep the kids' attention, and the stories and bios are interesting enough for adults as well. The binding has fallen apart on our book- which may have survived better under normal wear and tear- but that is mostly because my son takes it to bed with him since he loves this book so much. Overall, a great book for kids and adults too.

How can I review the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? I can't, it's been done already, probably thousands of times. They're remarkable and in my opinion, a must have for EVERY American in every walk of life.

This edition however, I can review that. It's small, light, convenient, easy to read and easy carry. Very handy.

At about 2/3 the height of a mass-market paperback book and a trim 58 pages, the only real disadvantage to this collection of America's most important documents is that, if you shelve it on your bookshelf, it may get lost. It is a tiny book, meaning that it's not bogged down by a ponderous introduction or tedious analyses. It contains just the Declaration and the Constitution themselves, as well as a concise and informative introduction. It's really the book to buy if you just want to have the Founding Fathers' documents plain and simple. And read it every few years, just to get a sense of what principles America was built on. These documents should always be the basis of any intelligent discussion about American politics.

The real value in this book is that it has explanations about recent case law, the popular and dissenting opinions, and implications of the Bill of Rights.

Of course the book has much more than that, but as Americans our liberties are the most valuable asset we possess. This book is a good reminder of all the history, and how amazing the freedoms we have been gifted as American citizens are. I like to re-read the Constitution every few years, and this book, with its included annotations, is a good way to do that.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
& THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

This is probably the best-liked of all the pocket Constitutions out there due to its compact size and nice-looking appearance. It's height and width are roughly akin to a man's wallet, making it easy to carry and

The book begins with a preface by Roger Pilon of the CATO Institute. Pilon recommends that Americans should use the Declaration of Independence to provide a context for the more specific language in the Constitution. He points out that the Founders believed that our rights are inalienable and come from the principles of natural law. Our rights do not come from the government, and the government exists to protect our rights and defend the country. The Founders developed the system of enumerated powers so that no segment of government would hold too much power.

Included are the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and a list of amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights (the first 10 Constitutional amendments).

This is the same version of the Constitution that Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) pulled out of his pocket during the MSNBC debates and on the Colbert Report television show. It is also the same one that Republican B.J. Lawson (called "Ron Paul Jr.") held up during the GOP primary race in North Carolina (he later won the nomination). Here's to any elected official who has read and understands the founding documents of this great country!

"Government officials must respect their oaths to
uphold the Constitution; and we the people must
be vigilant in seeing that they do. The Founders
drafted an extraordinarily thoughtful plan of
government, but it is up to us, to each generation,
to preserve and protect it for ourselves and for
future generations. For the Constitution will live
only if it is alive in the hearts of the American people."
~Roger Pilon, pg. 7

This little book which is compact enough to be carried in your back pants pocket has a terrific intro by the Cato Institute. Beyond that, it is just what it says it is - no more no less. For $5, an excellent value. Every American should read this & carry it with them, & the most patriotic among us, do. It may come as quite a surprise to many who do read it (sadly, most who pick up this book probably already have, & those who need to, won't) that there is nothing in it allowing the federal government to provide health care, welfare, social security or education, to wire tap, to arbitrarily take away our civil liberties (before, during, or after a "national emergency") or protect "family values." All are unconstitutional. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself & buy the book.

This book was very enlightening. Straightforward, simple to understand and it answered all my questions as well as giving me lots of new ideas.

THIS BOOK GAVE ME THE IN SITE I NEEDED TO SEE IF I COULD BE CAPABLE OF WRITING A CHILDRENS BOOK

This book lived up to its advertised benefits. It is clearly and concisely written and very encouraging to beginning as well as experienced writers wanting to write in this genre. I highly recommend to anyone desiring guidance to successful children's book writing.

Writing Children's Books for Dummies offers everything you need from start to finish to write your own children's book. Go for it !

As a Publisher of a mid-size children's book publishing company I come across many people who believe they know how to write books for children, but sadly do not know where or how to even begin. My recommendation to them is to read WRITING CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR DUMMIES. This is the definitive guide for all aspiring writers as well as for established writers who might need a refresher on the latest formats and trends in the market.

It has been rare that I've been so moved, so quickened by such a simple message. Perhaps I have been overcomplicating my life for 50 years! This simple volume, unabashedly written by two sisters, has literally caused me to rethink how I relate to God! Who would have thought. I have been a psychotherapist for 20 years, and a Christian for 40. I found it in my mailbox (I swear I don't remember having ordered it--and I order a LOT of books through Amazon). I read it in one sitting and immediately put into practice what was suggested...namely, ask, believe, wait, be thankful. The benefits came roaring in! Astounding! I have given several copies to friends and family with their feedback echoing similar results. They have then passed on more copies. How could I have missed this beautiful, inspiring, simple message throughout so much of my life? These brilliant angels--messengers of God-- are simply waiting for us. Join them. It will undoubtedly change your life as well. Utterly and completely recommended.

What a great book I recommend it for anyone. Another great book I would love to recommend is The Secret by Rhonda Burns. Very inspirational nd motivating for everyone.

this book helps you help yourself, the directions are clear and easy to
follow, you just have to make the time to do what is instructed to do.
and beleive in it

Loved the book - very informative with lots of direction to start communicating with the Angelic realm. Loved the step by step instructions as well as the personal stories of students who rec'd messages from the angels. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in this subject.

I could see and speak to angels before this book- my fortay. I loved them and still do. Everything happens for a reason. So, one day my best gf's mom was hosting a seminar on this book and invited me- several times. My parents too. I thought arragantly "naw, i can already speak to them, i don't need this class!" than my gaurdian and my other gf's gaurdian Caleb nugded me to read it. So i stopped being a little pest and read it. Very very wonderful. Understandable and opening. After reading this, its eaiser to sometimes speak with them and truly a help in my life even more than before.

Just one read of Peter Miller's book, "Author! Screenwriter!" will broaden your horizen of writing possibilities. Don't just think screenplay, but consider formating that same story idea into a novel as well. And when you consider the odds, 100,000 to 200,000 books published per year, as compared to only some 1,000 stories produced for all of the Network Television, Motion Picture, Cable and DVD industries, Mr. Miller argues an interesting point. With over 30 years experience managing and producing writers, he gives insights into the industry that few others have even touched upon.

Definitely worth any writer's time and money. But regardless of one's writing goals, this book gives that big push every writer needs to encourage perfection and perseverance.

If you're serious about realizing your potential as a writer, this is the book you buy. Having successfully managed hundreds of books, Peter Miller truly is "The Literary Lion", and Author! Screenwriter! has left a huge impact on me as a professional writer.

Need an inside guide on how to write the perfect proposal or understand the delicacies of contracts? He's got you covered. Or maybe you really would like to take a look at some sample inquiries, be inspired by some success stories, have a better understanding of the do's and don'ts in a profession where millions of writers compete for the interest of professionals in the industry. Trust me, if you read this book it will never be far from your hands. Buy Author! Screenwriter! and you'll go back again and again to Mr. Miller's wellspring of experience and insight.

If you're like me, you want to be armed with the truth as a writer, and Peter Miller delivers. Read it, cloak your talent in its wisdom, and move forward. You'll agree that it's more than a book.

It may well be the key to your future.

The book is a must-have for a writer's bookshelf. But a companion DVD is also available with practical and pointed interviews that is well-worth seeking out.

Peter Miller's Author!Screenwriter! is direct and to the point, so I shall be also. This beautifully organized exposition provided me with more insight into the Book and Film industry than I have found in any other source. I could write much more, applauding the great chapters on the mysteries of film deals and the most helpful examples of project proposals in many genres -- but the bottom line is simple Author!Screenwriter! is definitive, the most helpful book on the subject.

I purchased Peter Miller's book at the recommendation of a colleague who knew I was in the process of writing a book proposal. Peter's book and DVD provide the reader/viewer with such clarity and direction. Peter provides wisdom and insights for the experienced and the novice writer in how to maneuver their way through the challenges, obstacles, politics and subtelties of the publishing industry. By the time you are finished reading his book and viewing his DVD you have a very clear picture of what lies ahead - no rose colored glasses, advice for the dedicated writer; you are clearer than you ever imagined you could be about what lies ahead. Buy this book if you are serious about our writing career.

What a visially stunning book. Bruce Timm's artwork is sensationally brought to the reader through Chip Kidds fantastic use of photo design. This book thoroughly examines the behind the scene design concepts of Bruce Timm and Paul Dino and company with insightful reading on how they got to create one of TV's best animated series. A valuable piece of work collecting wonderfully laid out illustrations. Highly recommended for the curious and pure fans of the Batman character.

A very good buy, i was waiting to have this book in my hands for a long time and i finally have it, it's just excellent for those who love the batman animated series and animation. It has a lot of tips and information "behind the scenes" of the series.
very recomendated, the only bad thing is that it was the only book this kind, i'm still waiting for something similar but of justice league and batman beyond.

"Batman: The Animated Series" was one of the most revolutionary and influential cartoons ever created. This book, written by B:TAS writer/producer Paul Dini, is an essential look into the creation and phenomenon of the series. While a little slim on actual reading, what is there gives you that most coveted "behind-the-scenes" info on what it took to make "Batman". (For another perspective on the show's creation, check out the "Modern Masters: Bruce Timm" interview book.)

The real meat of the book lies in its visuals: photos, line art, animation cels, background keys, licensed toys, etc. The layout of these materials seems a bit haphazard (for being done by the "design-god" Chip Kidd), with captions sometimes hard to correlate with their images and numerous fold-out pages (which I really don't care for). However, the sheer number and quality of images is amazing, and some of the full-page renderings of production key art is breath-taking. I question some of the image choices in the character-design section, particularly the villians. But, again, there's a lot of ground to cover here and the quality and quantity of pictures is overwhelming.

The book was published before Batman Beyond and Justice League, so the ending comments might seem a little off. Still as a retrospective on the "B:TAS", you can't ask for much more. This would have been a 5 star review, if only there'd been a little more reading and a bit less visual confusion.

Bottom line: Love "Batman: The Animated Series"? Buy this book.

Who best to write a book about this justifiably award-winning animated series than one of the series writer/producers--Paul Dini (who wrote one of my favorite episodes--"Heart of Ice")? And with graphic designer Chip Kidd involved, you have a book that looks great on the coffee table. The best word I can use to describe this book is "thorough." It contains superlative art in full color, storyboards, character designs, in-house memos, licensed products, an episode guide from the animated series, plus great information on why the series was created, why the censors said no to certain aspects, as well as facts about the movies based on the series (SUBZERO, MASK OF THE PHANTASM). My only complaint is that the book isn't longer. But that's not the authors' fault. They put together such a great book, you'll want as much insight into the creation of this series as you can get (like a good DVD provides). And these guys deliver! This is a great "backstage" look for fans of the series.

I really was blown away by how meticulously put-together this book was. Besides the animation being great, this documentive source included everything from the episode guide title cards, merchandise (including ice cream and bubblegum cards), storyboards, character concepts, and a hell of a lot more! It also includes a great photo of Bruce Timm's drawing desk- complete with all the references he uses such as G.I. Joes & knick knacks. Color photos are adorned throughout, but besides that, there are also great stories of what the animation department went through with the head leaders of Warner Bros. There is even a charicature drawing that includes everything that the animators were restricted to draw (a nude, smoking Catwoman, a boozin' Joker, Batman strangling his foe, etc- it's really a treat!)
Even if you've had the misfortunate of not being familiar with this cartoon series, owning this book will make you realize how much effort is needed to create something this vast, and how much more we need to practice to ever reach this level!

This book provides excellent explanations of the knowledge of the Toltecs. Dr. Rosenthal definitely knows what she is talking about. I've studied Toltec knowledge for about 13 years and her insights are helpful in providing different ways to approach this art. Thank you Dr. Rosenthal.

I bought this book because I absolutely love The Four AgreementsThe Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book and thought it would be a great and simple reference for Don Miguel Ruiz's teachings. This book is confusing, rambling and boring! I didn't get past the first couple of chapters....it just isn't worth buying.

A wonderful, wise book brimming with Toltec wisdom and practical examples. I have read it more than once and given it as a gift to friends (who always borrow my copy).

This was a pivotal book for me. Upon reading this clear, funny, beautifully written text, I went from being a casual "spiritual surfer" to jumping in with both feet! I literally could not put it down, and when I finally finished it, I decided to apprentice with Sheri, who is an amazing teacher. I have never looked back as my life has gotten better and better. I have immense gratitude for this book and highly recommend it to others with a wish that they might have the same experience.

Dr. Rosenthal explains the Toltec path quite eloquently and leaves little room for possible misinterpretation!