Guides Books

This is an easy to use, easy to understand book and has really helped me plan my landscaping to help plan my future planting.... If you suffer from allergies, but want to have a beautiful yard this is the book for you. I have used it a lot and recommend it to everyone I know!

The concept is great, and I'm glad I have the book. But it was quite difficult to use because of the need to keep flipping back and forth. This should ideally be presented as a searchable CD, or even better, as an online database with a membership fee. That would also allow for more pictures, which would help greatly in identifying plants.

As someone who has a history of allergies to almost everything, this book truly has become the Bible of allergies for me. In my opinion, this really is the best book ever written in regards to allergies. Tom Ogren outlines the allergy potential for every plant you've ever heard of, and a few you probably haven't heard of. When we moved into our new Southern California home a couple of years ago, we used this as a bible for landscaping -- if the book gave it a good pollen rating, we planted it. If it was a high pollen rating, we didn't plant it. The result? My allergies are better now than they have been at any time in my life, and this book has played a huge part in that! Even if you're not allergic to plants, get this book if you do any landscaping -- if everyone would follow his suggestions, there's no question we'd reduce the amount of allergic reactions by a huge amount. I can't say enough good about this book!!

I have owned this book for several years now and couldn't do without it. I do a good deal of gardening and before I buy any new plants at the nursery, I consult Allergy Free Grdening. My allergist suggested I buy this book, and I am very glad that I did. AFG helps me pick out trees, shrubs, vines, & flowers that will not cause allergies. It is very easy to use, interesting, useful, and surprisingly, kind of fun to read. There is also a good deal of solid advice on how to grow different kinds of plants.
Several of my friends also own this book and we all find it terribly useful. If you have allergies or asthma, or if you have a husband, daughter, son, or good friend who does, this is the book to own. It would also make a wonderful present for your favorite doctor, especially so if he/she is an allergist. I highly recommend Allergy-Free Gardening.

Allergy-Free Gardening really did change the way I look at plants. I have a background in both horticulture and botany and yet there was so much new material that I learned from this book that I was frankly, amazed. I knew a bit about plant sex, but in retrospect, very little.
In Thomas Ogren's eyes all plants are not created equally--or at least they certainly are not equally of value to us. In the past I planted and never gave much thought to whether or not something would be causing me rashes, allergies or other plant-triggered illnesses. I look at trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, lawns different now though. I use this book to find the best plants, the ones that will be attractive and useful in my garden and that will be healthy choices for me and my family.
I like the way Allergy-Free Gardening is set up. Everything is easy to find, easy to understand, easy to use. This author has a real talent for taking the very complicated and putting it all into easily understood layperson terms. His writing is fluent, personal, interesting. You have the feeling he cares deeply about what he does. I haven't read his newest book yet, Safe Sex in the Garden, but I have two friends who have and they thought it was excellent. I've ordered a copy of it also. But, if you garden or you are concerned about your health, I expect you will enjoy this book. I also find that I use it over and over as a general gardening reference book, since it is full of good, solid, down to earth horticultural advice. This is one of the best gardening books I own, and certainly the best thing written on allergies, asthma, and avoiding pollen.

I found this book very helpful for examining and deepening my own values. I would classify it as "pop" religion, but of the highest level. A very easy read; persons from any faith can benefit from this book. The early Christians were Jews. So as a Catholic I treasure the knowledge and wisdom that Jews have preserved and passed on. This book has a certain practicality that I find very refreshing. For non-Jews, the book provides easy access to perspectives that can be very helpful in developing a deeper understanding of their own faith. Rabbi Telushkin definitely put a lot of love into this book. I thank him.

There is always sage advice, mixed with stories which I have come to look forward to more and more, and humor. It's a great way to start your day. I have been reading this for the past four or five years and most of the time I see something I didn't see earlier. It's an intrinsic part of my life. And I have bought quite of the books that he cites and uses as sources.

I have bought many copies of this book as Bar//Bat mitzvah presents, friends and relatives. I have Rabbi Telushkins other books and they are also high on my gift lists. Everyone will benifit fron reading this book even if one was to disagree, because that also could lead to interesting discussions with others.

This is a wonderful book. Over a two year period, I have read it twice on a day by day basis. Each time an essay is read, something new is learned.

Telushkin does it again with another wonderful book! An extremely easy to read guide to the core of what Judaism is all about.
This is a great guide for non-Jews who would like to learn more about Judaism, for non-observant Jews to re-discover Judaism, and a great reminder to some "observant" Jews who sometimes forget that kindness is also a big part of being a Jew.

I think this book speaks to every Jew no matter their background or ideology.

Nancy Ratey is inspirational and downright practical. It's hard to believe that she has ADHD, but she certainly does. She has a remarkable spirit, as well, to have survived and thrived under her father's rather organized and disciplined eye. Instead of wilting under criticism and a tough standard, she took the advice part of his lectures and tried to always apply it to her actions. Her resilience is remarkable, not unlike the Olmypian swimmer Michael Phelps, who said a little bit of criticism or negative talk on the part of others was something he always managed to turn into the drive to succeed.

Nancy Ratey shares a little of her own life history in this book. I would actually like to learn more. How did she accomplish all, what I call the "heavy mental" work required to graduate from Harvard and also help this institution learn about coaching and the needs of ADHD and LD students?

In her next book, I want her to share her story... Please Nancy? ;-)

Linda Anderson, Master Coach Specializing in ADHD, Past-President of ADDA

As I said, I find an interesting book, written from the gutts and experience, very useful. A pageturner I would say

The Disorganized Mind is a God-send for anyone struggling with ADD or ADHD. It is great to know there is someone out there who understands what a person with ADHD goes through and to help that person get a grip on his/her world. Nancy Ratey's book will help anyone with ADHD or ADD organize daily life. I highly recommend this book.It is truly enlightening. Kudos to Nancy Ratey!! Thank you for writing this book!!

Nancy Ratey's book, The Disorganized Mind, is filled with insight, science, strategies, possibilities and compassion. It, fortunately, works as a "read it cover to cover" or a "pick it up anytime, anywhere" book.

Nancy understands the dichotomies with ADD, for example, the concept that people with ADD both need and also rail against structure.

She also gets that each of person is unique, and provides a variety for for each person to have choices. I take margin notes or use a highlighter whenever I read through her book in order to identify what is meaningful in terms of understanding and to remember a specific approach.

I did wonder if an accompanying workbook might help someone clarify and actualize some of her concepts. Perhaps that is yet to come.

I also wished I could have Nancy on speeddial. Happily, Nancy's kind voice in the book comes through clearly, and I can open the book at any time as a way of "calling her up!"

Bravo, Nancy, thank you, and "talk" with you soon!

There are already so many books available with tips and suggestions of how to cope with ADHD. Many of them are good and some are not. Nancy's book is better than good, with many different ideas to choose from. There is nothing overwhelming about this book to me, because as she explains different methods I discovered several that would and do work for me. You don't have to use them all, that's not possible. It's about finding options that are right for you, but first you have to know the options to choose from, that's why I recommend Nancy's book. Not to mention I also grew up in a military family and know the rigors of such a life with the inclusion of ADHD, even though I was first diagnosed at the age of 37.

If you have ADHD you owe it to yourself to read through Nancy's book, I am certain you will find useful information which will improve your quality of life.

Bryan Hutchinson
Author of:
One Boy's Struggle: A Memoir: Surviving Life Undiagnosed ADD

Fantastic Read, in particular for a novice like myself little or no previous marketing experience. I've my own business for a year now and this book not only showed me where i was going wrong, but it helped me to take stock of where I was and how to effectively market the business.

Don't you hate marketing books that have so much strategy you're not sure where to start? What I love about Duct Tape Marketing is that I came away with a laundry list of tactics that I could employ immediately and see fast results.

I first saw John speak in Cleveland and then had a chance to read his book. It's a quick read. Make sure you have a notepad next to you to take notes for all the things that you'll need to do as a result of reading this book.

This is especially an important book for anyone trying to figure out website and social media strategy. Excellent advice that works. Highly recommend this book.

This is really an amazing little book - such an easy read (John Jantsch style), yet PACKED with incredibly practical and simple marketing information for small business. I love hearing John's definition for Marketing! How Simple!! That makes marketing less about the product you are selling but more about the personal trust factor involved in the transactions. That permits ANY small business (including a start-up like mine) to compete in the marketplace - without having to compete on price! John's ideas are so effective and I have been putting them into practice since I first read the book 9 months ago (I've read it 3 times since). It's a good primer for the full Duct Tape Marketing coaching program, too! (Believe me, the book is just a teaser of what you get when you sign up for the full coaching program + awesome CDs!!) A great resource for any small business owner!!

Novice business owners, like me, will love this book. It lays out the foundation for marketing your business with no expectation of prior marketing experience. Great job, John.

My one gripe, and the reason I gave it 4 of 5, is that the author assumes that you, the business owner, have an established clientele. Start-up owners, like me, who want to kick off the marketing effort to establish a clientele, will have to "act as if" we do and fill in the blank spots with educated guesses.

John, if there's a sequel, please point out where start-ups differ from established small businesses and if we need to do something different to reach the same goal in that particular phase of marketing.

All in all, though, a great read.

"When I talk to groups of small business owners at workshops," writes John Jantsch, "I will often make the statement that when you properly target your clients, you will discover that you no longer have to work with jerks." It's all about identifying, defining and focusing on your ideal client. Peter Drucker preached the big picture: focus on your primary customer. Now Jantsch helps you zero in with detailed intentionality.

Buy this book and bring it to your next staff meeting and explain why "marketing is an all-encompassing outlook that must inform every activity of your business."

If you agree that 50 percent of advertising and marketing doesn't work (but no one knows which 50 percent), this book will not only help you--it will change the way you've been thinking about your mission and your customers. Jantsch is no huckster--he's all about marketing integrity. "Copycat Marketing is chock full of problems, but primarily it is a problem because it is dishonest," he warns.

Simply put, this book will help you create marketing that sticks. The goal: "Marketing is getting people who have a specific need or problem to know, like and trust you."

On the journey to find and serve your niche, the author suggests "you'll turn your sales calls into more of an audition." Ideas abound: 1) Offer an astonishing guarantee; 2) Perfect your "Talking Logo," a bit like your elevator speech, only better; 3) Create a Client Profile Tracker (simple idea--but you're probably not doing it); and 4) Call 10 clients and ask them six time-tested questions, including, "What could we do that would thrill you." Written for businesses; it also delivers great value to nonprofit organizations and even churches. It's the perfect next step after reading the Customer Bucket, one of 20 chapters in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit.

With a foreword by Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, and afterword by Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start, this is a must-buy for your team's resource library. For me, the tipping point was the enthusiastic recommendation from another CEO. Jantsch sold my CEO friend and he sold me. That's Duct Tape Marketing.

When we were planning our vineyard we needed all the help we could get. From Vines To Wines was one book kept by the bedside for constant reference during the planning and planting stage. (The other book was "Vineyard Simple." The illustrated guide to pruning is exceptionally well done. Now that we've made it through year 1, I find myself going back to the book time and again. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in planting a vineyard. Craig Justice, Webmaster of Winemaker's Journal and Founder, Blue Merle Vineyard & Winery

I gave this to my father and he was so excited because it focused a lot on building a good trellis with good illustrations and also good for prunning.
These are two things that lack in other books that i have bought him (and that I am starting to be interested in, too).
Of course the book covers all aspects of the grape and wine making process, but the trellising and prunning in more detail was very welcome.
Recommended on all aspects.

This is indespensible for home winemakers. Period.

If you are a person engaged in wine studies, this is an essential first look into serious technical winemaking aspects. Before delving into more serious technical manuals such as "Understanding Wine Technology" and "The Science of Wines from Grape to Glass".

Pros: wonderfully written in laymans terms
Cons: drawings sometimes difficult to distinguish

We wanted a resource for the wine process from growth to the glass.
Everything you need is in here.

This book tells you everything about growing grapes and producing fine wine. It even deals with the choice of grape-varieties suited for your climate. It is almost perfect. I think many Europeans will read this book, and it would have been perfect if it included the Meditteranean countries in the tables of climate-zones and selection of suitable varieties. It is very difficult to find this (about Europe) on the internet. But a great and very useful book.

This book is a great reference book for anyone, not just girl's. It gives great information.

I was impressed by the great reviews for this book and I decided to buy it. At 29 I am probably a bit older than the target audience for this book. I would agree that the writing style of the author is entertaining and makes the book pleasant and easy to read, even when dealing with some rather dull topics. I didn't find the book funny, as some of the other reviews indicate, and it's not a book that I sat and read obsessively until I finished it.

The book does encompass a huge range of topics, pretty much everything that a young person may come across in life (money, career, dating, friends, manners, finding an apartment etc etc). As a non-American I did find some of the sections useful, such as tipping etiquette, but in general I found most to the information in this book to be common sense. Most of the topics are also dealt with very briefly, as to be expected in such as book. I'm not sure that I would refer to this book in the future to get advice. I don't feel that I would be missing much if I never read this book.

Lastly, a lot of information in this book is subjective. I found that were some inaccuracies in the first section of the book on health, even some of the quotes from the `experts' were opinions rather than facts.

This is such a good guide to keep around the house. There is tons of useful information on any subject you can think of and it's provided in a way that makes you feel like you're having a conversation with your friend. I will definitely refer back to it throughout the next several years as needed.

This was a really great book. Im in my mid 20's and found it useful. This would be fun for a younger girl too.

I love this book- I've never written a review for anything on this site, but I really feel that I need to share with others how great and useful "The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything" is. I've read several other books of this nature, and this one is by far the best. The tone of the book is just right- humerous but not as biting as other books of its kind. It has a useful section on style, and it doesn't overdo it on these subjects as I feel that "Three Black Skirts" does. I love fashion and beauty tips as much as the next girl, but I honestly don't think that anything you read in a book can really help you out that much in this area. That being said, I do think that Kirch has some good pearls of wisdom on the topic that are worthwhile.

I just graduated from college and I am now searching for my first real job and apartment in a new city. The book had some good job search advice, although if you are really looking to learn a lot about this topic I would suggest getting a book based solely on this subject. I feel that the most useful information provided were the chapters on ettiquette, household, and finance. There were honestly so many useful tips in these chapters. I consider myself to be pretty domestically savvy (I was lucky enough to have a mom who's been compared to Martha Stewart) but I still found so much excellant advice in these chapters. I've already got several of the pages dog-eared for easy reference later on.

This book would make a fantastic gift for any girl who has just graduated college and is ready to set out on her own in the real world. If you're planning on buying any book of this kind, this is absolutely the one to spend your money on!

This is the best style manual for advertising copywriters on the market. There may be a new edition that supercedes this one by the time you read this. if so, I would buy it without reservation. I find myself reaching for this time and again when I write. Highly recommended.

bought this copy for my daughter. she wishes she'd had it years earlier. loves it.

I retired a few years ago and wish that I had taken my Gregg Reference Manual with me as a "parting gift." I used to take calls from people regarding grammar questions. Little did they know I would grab this book and easily page to the correct answer. I impressed many people over the years; and then, of course, the answers became second nature to me. I have recommended this book many times and finally am going to purchase my own copy for home. It is a good book just to read. Absolutely EVERYTHING is in there.

I am an independent corporate trainer who teaches people to write better at work. When my students ask me for my advice about good books to guide them as they write at work, this is the reference book I recommend.

I also tell them several other things about the book. First, this is not just some handbook that secretaries can use to look up how to format a letter. It is an authoritative reference for all aspects of writing English. It should be next to the dictionary and thesaurus on the shelf of everyone who needs to write at work, from clerks to executives. Second, if your boss or anyone else argues with you about any rule of writing, you only have to point to the relevant entry in this book. All arguments stop there. Third, the size of the book is deceptive. It uses small font and thin paper. With normal font and paper, it would be the size of two or three large dictionaries. That's how much useful stuff is packed in this book.

It takes a while to get used to how the information in the book is formatted, but it is well worth the effort. All entries in the index include page numbers as well as topic numbers, which they call "rules." The book is logically structured around these rules, and it makes related topics easy to find.

I rated this book 5 stars because I think it is superior in all categories for a reference book: comprehensive content, abundant examples, thorough index, authoritative author, and reasonable price.

As a business education teacher, I highly recommend this reference manual to anyone entering the secretarial field. It provides a complete source for answering questions concerning grammar, punctuation, English usage, etc. The well-done index allows easy access to the needed information. It is an absolute MUST for office employees. Eva Lewis, El Cajon, CA

If your business is import or export this is a MUST HAVE. If you run a small business it also can be helpful.

This book takes a very realistic approach from someone who has lived the ins and outs of importing. The book is easy to read, offers orignal perspectives, and is a must read for anyone who is considering a distribution business!

This book should be essential reading for anyone thinking of starting an import company. That's because it doesn't just discuss the mechanics- the import brokers and customs requirements etc., - but how to make sure that the business can be successful and profitable.

The better books dealing with startup/product introduction outline the various possibilities and options--they leave you with many questions. John Spiers tells you exactly what to do and what not to do. Very rare. Very valuable.

I'm still a half-wit. I mean it provided plenty of big words and concepts that I never heard of before. I was expecting a book that you opened up and was just money. Do they have that book? I would so buy that. Well, I mean unless it cost more to buy the book than was printed inside of it.

Any way, it was kinda interesting.

Reading and/or listening to this management story is a fun way to gain insight about people with whom we work and interact. I enjoyed the positive presentation about different perspectives and strenghts that people have and where the best place to deploy people with these attributes might be. The book encourages objective interactions that are win-win and non-judgemental.

Here we go again, another personality classification system and the author's premise that if you can stereo type people you can manage them more effectively. I don't see what this system has over other personality classification systems, such as MBTI (which has been around longer and more people seem to be familiar with).

The book tries to be humorous, but it just didn't work. The story telling wasn't bad, but I'd almost rather listen to nails on a chalk board then listen to the voices of the people reading this book.

Bottom line. I learned a little, but not much and I'd like my money back.

I found Kingdomality (the test) almost 10 years ago. I took the test and was impressed by its accuracy. Since then, I have taken the online test 3 or 4 times more, with the same results.

So, when browsing on a local bookstore, I saw that the test creators had a book about Kingdomality, I did not hesitate and bought it.

What is Kingdomality (the test and the book) about? Well, it basically sustains that people can be grouped in 12 categories of personality types. These types are a function of how people see the world, what are their motivations, how do they interact with it. It's called Kingdomality because the personalities can be linked to "standard" professions in the Middle Ages (the time of Kingdoms...).

Those who have already taken the test and have enjoyed its simplicity and accuracy will enjoy this book. It will allow them to have a more comprehensive view of all the 12 types and how could they be used productively in a work environment.

For those who have not taken the test, but enjoy learning about new and different personality type tests, this is also a great book. The test concept is simple, and the types are clearly different among them. Still, I think I would advise all to take the test first and then read the book (doing otherwise might "contaminate" your test with your expectations for its results).

Well, as I said, I always got the same result in the test. So, in case you wonder, I seem to be a Merchant.

This loosely medieval management parable about "a king at his wits' end" has several winning characteristics. First, it's relevant without taking itself too seriously. The light, self-effacing - even occasionally tongue-in-cheek - tone makes it easily readable. Authors Sheldon Bowles, Richard Silvano and Susan Silvano actively engage readers with a brief interactive online test that reveals your personality "guild type." Then they draw on their narrative's strength to move forward. Many books about emotional intelligence give readers little practical help. This one is fun, helpful and entertaining even though its guild classification system may need additional tweaking. Apparently designed primarily for workplace applications, it lacks the specificity of the more familiar Myers-Briggs test, which in comparison practically predicts how you'll want your eggs cooked a month from next Tuesday. Notwithstanding these minor limitations, we recommend this book to managers, coaches, consultants, EQ practitioners and those HR folks burdened with softening the Type A corporate hearts who run most organizations.

I had the chance to attend a book signing by Sheldon Bowles of his book Kingdomality. When he started to speak to a large crowd there was a table loaded with books and I wondered how many he'd sell. When he finished talking, we all rushed to the front to get a book and an autograph. By the time I got to him the books were all gone! Now I have a copy. This book contains so much insider information about how different people are motivated and why people behave as they do, that it seems like you become a mind reader. It's easy. It's accurate. It has given me the tools that make me a better manager, a better father, husband son and friend. In the paper here last weekend KINGDOMALITY was #1 on the bestseller list. Go to www.kingdomality.com and find out what it's all about. You won't be dissappointed! I predict KINGDOMALITY will be the killer book of 2005.

I took this book as a Bible. I followed every step. The result was great--I'm published.

It's not a short process to create a proposal, but going through it helped me write a better book. The book's title is a bit narrow; there's lots of good information about how to use the proposal to connect with a literary agent.

When I meet authors who are frustrated about their inability to get published, I usually hear that they've skipped one or two steps. Don't. Follow through on all the steps.

As a writer friend said to me when she recommended it to me, "this is the best book out there, it walks you through the steps in the order you mentally need to. THE book for a beginner."

I purchased this book hoping for information for my book proposal. I was not disappointed. This book has valuable information and I am happy with my purchases.

If you have started to look for a literary agent, buy this book first. If your proposal has been rejected by agents, buy this book. I thought I had read good proposal books until I read this one. Follow it step by step, chapter by chapter, and your book proposal will look quite differently than what you wrote before. After reading this book, I re-wrote my entire proposal, because the suggestions in this book gave me a better understanding of what I wanted to write, and how to convey my vision of my book to outside parties. If you are having problems outlining your book, defining your chapters, writing a query letter that will impress an agent in the first two sentences, buy this book. How To Pick The Best Tenant Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses

Whether the glue is poor quality or another problem with the paperback spine, I really wish this much read book had held together better. From one to a few pages, to chuncks of pages, have separated.

That said, the book is completely informative, with numerous examples and step by step directions. Explanations help shape the user's thinking about how to develop their book proposal. I wish the writer covered the proposal in order, but I understand her reasoning for covering sections out of order.

The book doesn't give much help about how new writers can pad their "About Author" and beef up their personal selling points when they have never been published.

Overall, the book is packed with useful info.