Guides Books

I have read many many books in my lifetime, but this one at first seemed like just another good read. In the middle of the book I read about having desire and how you should measure desire and it has literally changed my life. I wake up in the morning understanding that if I want or desire the changes or results in my life bad enough things will change. Most say they want to be successful, but what are you willing to sacrifice, willing to change, in most cases the words are just idle thoughts that come out sounding sincere. I know now that if I improve incrementally everyday in every way I will be OK. In closing for anyone that wants to be inspired, read this book it can and has changed many lives.

This is one of the best books I've read in my life! Brilliant! a perfect tool for life; I recommend this book to everyone that can read and those who can't read have someone read it to you. Your life will be transformed!

This is a great book! A step by step guide that is easy to read and follow. I gave this book to all my '20 something' cousins for Christmas. However this book is for all ages. A reference for the rest of your successful life!

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Get this book... I can't stop reading it.

In 2006 I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Herbert Harris for my syndicated radio show, "Ashe'!" Mr. Harris sent me a copy of his popular book to acquaint me with his work. Not only did Mr. Harris prove to be a dynamic interview subject, his book also was a succinct guide for getting and staying on the road to success. "Twelve Universal Laws of Success" serves both the neophyte seeker and the adept. I personally discovered the restorative power of "The Twelve Universal Laws of Success." As an artist, lecturer, producer, and ordained minister who has built a 30 year career motivating others via mass media, I faced my own critical challenge that threatened to halt my life's work. Lifelong epilepsy and severe asthma became progressively disabling conditions for me in 2006.

I had the nerve to be surprised to learn how many people were anxious to see my downfall. Even close family members encouraged me to give up my Internet-based radio station, my syndicated radio show, my TV show, my online magazine, my performing, lecturing, ministering, and motivational column. In essence, to give up my life's work. I was laughed at, told to go on welfare or become a receptionist. I carried "Twelve Universal Laws" in my bag, reading it and re-reading it as I traveled on buses, trains, and especially on my way to and from doctor appointments and sitting in hospital emergency rooms. It kept me focused. I tuned out every naysayer.
I was also blessed to learn that Mr. Harris lives what he teaches. His uplifting phone chats gave me a snapshot into the workings of his own everyday life, inspiring me to truly master my own success. While healing I finished writing my own book.

Now in 2007 I am fully recovered, my radio station has expanded, my TV show is coming to the net and other markets, I am hosting/producing an additional syndicated radio show, and I am lecturing and teaching in the U.S. and abroad. And I am proud to say I received "Success Master" workshop presenter certification through Herbert Harris' LIFESKILL INSTITUTE, which reinforces the twelve principles in the book through daily application and teaching.

And yes, I still often carry the book around with me as a motivational read.

"The Twelve Universal Laws of Success" is the gift that keeps on giving.

Queen Mother Imakhu Mwt Shekemet
Owner/Operator of AKERU NuAfrakan Network
Author of "The Cowrie Blessings Book: Nu Afrakan Words of Wisdom"

Read the book over a two week period and passed element 1,3,and 8. Enough said

This book rather than teaching the principles, teaches the question pool. It goes through question by question, just giving the answer and an extremely brief explanation, if any explanation at all. All of the material is covered, however, the book seems best suited for someone with previous radio and/or electronics experience.

This is simply the best GROL study guide on the market. It covers every question in the pool with a brief explanation of each answer. It is perfect for a person with electronics knowledge wanting to get a GROL

I did read one review complaining that only taught the questions. This book is NOT designed to teach you electronics. The FCC GROL exam is a very difficult test that covers a wide range of subjects in the electronics field. Many experienced and educated professionals take, AND FAIL the GROL exam.

This book allows the experienced technician to learn where to focus the knowledge in order to pass the exam. The brief answers provide just enough understanding to jog your memory and bring out what you already learned.

I used it to pass the GROL and the Radar endorsement, since the excellent Milton Kauffman book is out of circulation and the last (11th?) edition is not up to date. Get it and pass!

I like all Gordo material. I used his manuals to pass my amateur radio exams from Tech to Advanced operator. I look forward to passing the GROL exams.

We wasted years and tons of money in non-productive therapies, attachment work, medication, and family therapy till we bought and utilized this book. Dr. Federici hits the nail on the head when he describes how to "de-institutionalize" children. It was hard work but safe, structured and successful. We read so many other books about using "attachment therapy"; logic; medication and even knowing when to "give up". This book gave us, who truely felt "Hopeless" a chance to gain control over our two very disturbed Romanian children that all the other "specialists"(including some of the big people in the child development field)had given up on.

Dr. Federici is the only author and professional we have found who truely understands what parents having very disturbed children go through. His book is easy to read, right to the point, and provides hope and a great deal of ideas (hard solutions) to problems. He mixes no words, but gives hope and understanding in a compassionate way. We have contacted him, heard him lecture, and know that he is "on target" , where all these other "experts" miss the entire boat, especially these so-called "attachment therapists. His Second Edition is now out that we will get soon.

This was the most common sense and practical book a person could buy who has felt totally overwhelmed by two very troubled children adopted form eastern Europe. No "sugar-coating" here, as Dr. Federici get right down to the cold, hard facts that helped put our family back together. All the other books played around with "RAD", "ADHD", and other catchy terms but never got to the right way to treat damaged children. We hope there are more books coming from this author.

This book is an indispensable source for those who have adopted children from orphanages. I wish I'd had it when I got home from Russia 7 years ago. My child can't be found in the Dr. Spock books, but he's all over the pages of this one. Thank you for confirming some things we've already discovered and given us a guide for where to go next.

Finally, someone wrote a book about very troubled children without being afraid to actually tell you what to do. We have struggled for years with our two emotionally disturbed Russian-adopted children and have covered every type of therapy with no positive outcome. We even tried all that "holding-attachment therapy" which was a waste of time and money. Medication after medication, play therapy, talk and family therapy all failed, as our kids were smarter than the therapists. Dr. Federici has taken a very direct approach that puts parents back in charge and keeps the family moving forward. No frills or hand holding-just hard work. We contacted him frequently for advise and he was very helpful. We know his "volume two" is due soon and will surely continue this family centered approach.

In this book, Dr Lust provides a quick reference on every possible herb you could need. The book is very useful as an encyclopedia of herbs and their medicinal uses.

I have used this book so much over the years that I am about in need of a new one. This has so many herbs packed into a small, fat book. Excellent!

I don't regret buying this book , but I will be looking for something more modern.
The book itself is pleasing to the eye, I like the simple drawings. (old fashioned)

This great resourceful paperback on herbs,is still the best one around.It's packed with useful herbal information and history.Anyone interested in herbs should read this book.Anyone also studying and practicing Wicca can learn a lot from this little book.For the cost of this book,its well worth it.When first published ,in 1974,it was well ahead of its time.Nowadays,everybody knows the health benefits of 'Green Tea',Ginko Biloba and Hoodia.Green Tea burns body fat,aids digestion,surpresses appetite,flushes out free-radicals,and kills bacteria around your teeth.I was glad to have read it years ago and it got me thinking about better,healthier living.It also got me interested in the environment and gardening.When you hurt the environment,you hurt others and it will come back to haunt you too.

This is my second copy of this book, I bought my first one when I began to learn about herbs and wore it out from reading it so much. After 15 years of studying and 10 writing about herbs, this is one of my favorite books and I still learn from it. There is an incredible amount of information crammed into this 600+ page book, and its portable.

I read this book years ago when I was a freelancer. One of the most helpful things to me then was Appelbaum saying that acquisitions editors WANT to find work to publish. I had always thought of editors as fussy people who want to find any excuse to turn you down. Appelbaum gave me hope.

Now that I actually am an editor, I know that what she says is true. Editors and publishers really do want to find good materials for their company to publish. They are not the enemy.

Really, this is a very helpful and encouraging book for writers.

This is the best book I've ever read on getting published. It's instructive, no-nonsense, and remarkably wide-ranging. Plus it doesn't waste time making digressions and idiotic "jokes." It sticks to the point, is witty and straight-talking. Ms. Appelbaum is knowledgeable and sympathetic to the business of writing. This is a book worth studying, not merely reading once. Thank you.

Then you MUST buy this book.

Judith really knows her stuff. This is an excellent place to start brainstorming, even if you think that you have "seen it all". Kudos to Judith for sharing her knowledge. As a published author of several books I KNOW the challenge of marketing to the public - and publishers - that each book brings. Keep a copy of this close by and reread it often. You won't be disappointed.

Dusty White
Author of How to Get ANY MAN to do ANYTHING You Want!

I am still reading the how to self publish section. I am a complete novice writer attempting to write a first non-fiction book. The book has opened my eyes to the pitfalls and made me aware of many details I would otherwise miss. Marketing being one of the details I needed to be more aware of.
I recommend the book highly.

I earn extra money as a contract reviewer for a number of publishers, periodicals, etc. It's always a pleasure to review a piece written by someone that has educated themselves on the process of publication. This book has it all!

Of particular note, Judith writes in her introduction (Initiation, p.7) "There's only one kind of help you shouldn't hire: A vanity press" -- and further explains this on page 88 under the title "Danger: Dead Ends".

This book is also a great resource for reviewers like myself. You will find many prospective clients.

This is a great book for boosting morale on any campus at any level. The ideas are fresh and enlightening for building relationships and team building. This book would be a great way to boost staff development, and active participation from all staff members.

This is a wonderful resource for Staff Development. If you are tired of having teachers yawn through your important presentations, this is a book full of ideas to help add fun to your work. The activities keep the audience involved, listening and learning throughout your presentation.

This book gives the administrator and anyone who supports the teachers in a school some great things to think about and ways to help the teachers on a day to day basis.

thanks for a wonderful job, the book and the service is excellent. well done

I had the honor to see Ms. Connors speak at a teacher conference this past week. I was feeling a bit jaded over the profession of teaching after completing my second year of teaching and after completing a research study proposal on the sad state of teacher retention due to low administrative support. I was at an oh-too-typical low point...

Ms. Connors' words (both in spoken and written form--I flew through her book after listening to her speech) really hit home. This is a book that every teacher and every administrator should read. It gives simple solutions that could and would make a big impact upon the current state of education today. I encourage every person involved in teaching students to read this book and think about the roles they currently play and the role they could play. THANK-YOU MS. CONNORS for humorously yet seriously pointing out both the problem and the necessary solutions.

Nancy Cobb has writen a tender and genrous book about death, a perfect condolence in the saddest times.I keep several on hand. Tori Warner Shepard, Santa Fe

I came upon this book in a used bookstore in Madison, WI and really liked it! I did a book review at my monthly meeting for work--I work in a 12 bed hospice facility in Fond du Lac, WI Upon finishing it I loaned it to one coworker who loaned it to another coworker and on and on..until almost 5 months later I got my book back. I had bought it in very good condition and it was returned to me in the same very good condition. I have recommended it to patients as well as families. About two years ago I found the hardcover edition and I bought that for my own library--I have found the same used bookstore has another hardback copy and when I go to Madison the end of September I plan to pick it up--if it's still there. I think the paperback has an awesome cover. :) I would give this more than 5 stars if I could. Thank you Nancy for an excellent book. I only wish she would come out with a book to develop more of the essays she wrote about.

Knowing Dad would soon pass from Melanoma Cancer, I purchased this book. It truly couldn't have come at a better time as one week after the funeral service of my father our family was having another funeral service after the sudden death of my dear, close cousin. This book offers such good advice about grief. It offered great suggestions and got me thinking that we do need to be more comfortable with death, just as we are with birth. Afterall, my belief has always been that death is a journey and new adventure where we join loved ones who passed before us and will soon be with other loved ones again. It was a great book to read during this hard time and reminded me of what's really important once again.

Shortly after my son died, a friend gave me In Lieu of Flowers. "It might be too soon," she said. "It's spiritual." But the introduction caught my interest, and far from being too soon, the book taught me about grieving. Lesson number one: do not tell the mourner it will get better. Forget closure. As Cobb says, "When a person dies, a relationship does not end--it changes and continues, just as the living do." But how will I continue that relationship, I wondered? She goes on. "If we take the time to stop and talk about it, to bring the dead to life, even momentarily... the shared memories will remain. Like the dead, we will carry them with us for the rest of our lives."

Nancy Cobb dwells on the universals of death, the last conversations, the unfinished lives, the final moments. She explains how she, too, has suffered from grief, not from the death of a child, but from both parents and dear friends. As an only child, she felt each parent's death intensely, independently, with no siblings to share decisions or stories. She was afraid of being orphaned, of being the final repository of her family history. She relates the moment of discovering that her mother, dying of Alzheimer's, wants to let go: her mother refuses to eat. She is unable to read, converse, or comprehend. She is reduced to "a fleeting chiaroscuro glimpse of the woman I had known." She is moved to the Connecticut Hospice for the last nine days of her life. Her final words reveal the relief of being allowed to die: "I am...so...happy." Nancy's acknowledgement, capping a five-year journey toward acceptance: "I love you, Mom. Dad's waiting. Give him my love...Tell him we're fine. Tell him...to take you dancing." They breathe together, cheek to cheek. They connect until the end.

Cobb's major point is to "open the conversation," before and after death. Lesson number two: before death, don't neglect the stage of acceptance. Most of us are in denial and would prefer to stay there, but if the final conversations on love, meaning, and letting go are avoided, there is no second chance. Regrets and guilt will haunt the mourners even more than usual. The term unfinished will take on heightened meaning. It will expand the complexity of grief and dwarf other sorrows. Do not wait or be afraid to enter a realm which cannot be avoided.

She's not saying it's easy, but you'll be sorry if you don't. Her father committed suicide while she was having lunch with a friend two thousand miles away. She knows what she's talking about. She made me realize that was one of the hard parts of my son's death. It was sudden, it was farther away, I did not say good-bye, and I will never recover from all the things I should have said. I didn't get to have the final conversation. My son left this earth without knowing how much I loved him or would miss him. Maybe because of this futile need to tell him and not being able to, I leapt with support for lesson number three: keep the conversation going. People die, but their place in our lives does not. Start a new "tribe," a spiritual club of those who are in pain and need to share it. For only by sharing do we find meaning, do we honor the dead, and do we keep them in our lives. I read somewhere in my library of grief books that joy is shared and grief isolates. Let's share grief, too, Cobb is saying. Let's learn from the Hospice professionals, especially the one who took care of her mother and "can't imagine doing anything else." People need to be comfortable before they die. Let's treat them as we would want to be treated ourselves. It's hard to be dignified about death, but in the end dignity is all we have. And when we're gone, let's be discussed, let's be shared, and let's be revived In Lieu of Flowers.

Nancy Cobb's book is a most beautifully written manuscript that I have given, again and again, to family and friends who are experiencing a loss in their lives. I keep several on my bookshelf always, which is what prompts this review today -- I need to reorder. It should also be noted that the cover of In Lieu of Flowers is absolutely exquisite. I often put a care package together for someone, placing this book on top in a basket, because of the emotion/sentiment it provides from me to the person in mourning.

When we found out our 2 year old had celiac disease, his doctor recommended this book. It has been a great resource for us. It is easy to read and easy to understand. It is very well organized, making it easy to find the information you need at that particular moment.

I love this book! My 10 month old son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and all I could find was books for adults. This book is easy to read and it helped me feel better about dealing with disease. I highly reccomend this book the anyone who has a child diagnosed with celiac disease!

The title says it all. If you have a child with Celiac this will be a great addition to your household.

This book was a life-saver for me. I read it cover to cover five dreadful days into my daughter's diagnosis, and found myself laughing and crying at Danna's wit, wisdom, and caring. Never mind that she goes into great detail on the 'what to do' and 'what not to do', I actually found the chapter on dealing with this emotional rollercoaster I've been on to be the most helpful. It helps to have an author point out that yes your child's life will never be the same, and that it's probably harder on you than it is on them. It helps that she's been there, and isn't just some doctor spouting out their take on it. It helps that she went through all these things and is able to say 'You know what, just deal with it and get on with your life - I did it, and so can you'.
She writes with a lot of humor, making it a fast, easy read.
Besides all this, the information at the back of the book is a treasure -
lists of websites, phone numbers, and organizations that are invaluable to any novice celiac parent.

After our one year old was diagnosed with Celiac Disease this was the first book we were told to buy. It is the most helpful book we own and it will continue to be the most helpful book we own as our little one grows up.
This book is great at helping with the psychological impact of this disease for our daughters young age, and it continues through her teen years.
We are forever grateful for this book. The author captures the feeling of every parent when they are first informed that their child has Celiac.

After reading this book and fully appreciating its message, I have recommended it to several of my women clients --- all have appreciated the recommendation --- and I've seen results in their lives. I want to congratulate Jennifer Louden on creating a very useful resource for women of all ages who are looking for a way to create more meaning and purpose in their "cluttered" lives. I especially appreciated the personal stories and illustrations from other women lives. I'm going to buy two or three more right now and pass them on to friends as well. Pamela D. Blair, author The Next Fifty Years: A Guide for Women at Mid-Life and Beyond

I'm a firm believer that when you're facing a big life transition like a wedding, it takes away a TON of stress when you have all the other facets of your life running fairly smoothly. So as a bride looks into the future, she'll know that she's in great shape when she has actual, useful, organized and entertaining steps to take to bring some order into her world. I just got married in April, and Jennifer Louden's books have always brought me a deeper sense of peace -- this book is the PERFECT book for brides-to-be. You're giving them a better chance at a happy life. That's way better than a blender!

Whether you are organized or unorganized, this book provides a way to get in touch with your deepest values and goals. This is a great starting place for anyone wishing they had more balance in their life and the author's emphasis on treating yourself with kindness and respect is refreshing and encouraging.

I cannot tell you how rough this year has been. I felt like I was drowning in "have to do" and "I wish I coulds." This book helped me connect my true wishes, secret desires and priorites. I was free to let go of the rest. I was even able to deal with conflicting emotions surrounding a romance. I have had this book for awhile and have used it at different points, but 2008 marked the first time in a long time I was in overload mode. I happened to notice the book "waiting" for me on a side table in my living room. I picked it up and I have felt better since that day.

I ask myself, why does a woman need a life organizer? What has happened to create a need for us to seek answers through various devices and advice gurus? We've become so goal-oriented we can't even listen to our own intuition. Simply lying on the earth should give us any answers we need, but we're too busy, too stressed, to do even that. So we turn to today's guidance, often in the form of books, to find out how to come home to ourselves.

One of our helpers is Jennifer Louden, also known as "The Comfort Queen." Louden is the author of several books including the bestselling The Women's Comfort Book and is devoted to nurturing women to express their "true creative power." I love books and look to them for inspiration and, frequently, affirmations of what I already know. This one is a heart-based, spirit-directed approach to listening to ourselves.

The Life Organizer is glossy, full of color and original artwork, and is written in Louden's warm, over-the-back-fence, casual style. She doesn't offer advice, but rather, "a collection of possibilities to inspire you in creating your way of participating with life and with your gifts."

Those possibilities are ways to stop and "tune in to what you really want and what you really know." She notes five main steps that make up the life-organizing process: connect, feel, inquire, allow and apply. Louden cautions readers not to focus on the five steps, but rather on your own life experiences, posing questions to assist you in getting in touch with your life experiences.

Besides the main steps to help you "create your optimum life day by day, moment by moment," Louden offers six "life-planning concepts." All of these suggestions grew out of Louden's busy life experiences and the intuitive planner she created for herself, which she shared with her coaching clients and those who attended her workshops and retreats. The results, and the stories of several of those women, are included.

"Shadow Comforts and Time Monsters" is one of Louden's life-planning concepts and refers to those comforts that masquerade as self-care techniques, but in fact drain your energy. For example, chatting on a message board may be energizing, or it may be a tactic to avoid talking to your partner. Among the women Louden has coached are those "whose lives consisted almost entirely of time monsters, because they were too afraid to do what they really wanted to do." Watching TV, spending a month cooking for the holidays, and spending a week decorating your child's classroom may be among your "time monsters." Some discerning questions are helpful to consider. We so often say we don't have time, but if we look at what we're really doing with our time, a light may go on.

I particularly like the chapter on "Creating Your Life Planner." I'm a fan of journals so that's why I probably enjoyed the various approaches women have taken to crafting their own Life Planners. You may write in Louden's book, but if you need more room, a spiral notebook will work just fine. Then you need to place your life planner where you have easy access to it, by your bed, or alongside your date book. One woman constructed her own card deck using the questions throughout the book. She uses the cards as her own divination system, drawing a question card or two on which to reflect. She has decorated them with her own images so she can stare at those images and see what they spark in her.

Thirteen elegantly designed planning sections that include four weeks worth of theme-based questions also include "Stories Along the Way," true stories of women who have used Life Organizing to improve their lives.

Each week, on a two-page spread, there is space for writing your intention. Three circles provide space for completing these phrases: "let go of", "have to" and "could do." Questions, and some possible answers, give impetus to a creative and intentional week.

Although this book is full of possibilities, at the core is its intent is to bring you back to yourself, eliminating what no longer serves the life that you, in your heart of hearts, desire. It looks very organized, but in fact you can approach it in your own non-organized, non-linear way. Using it as a divinatory tool seems a good idea to me. Just open the book and see what tips and stories appear for you today.

Jennifer Louden is a bestselling author, personal coach, radio show contributor, columnist for "Body & Soul Magazine" and creator of learning events and retreats. Louden is married to cinematographer Christopher Mosio, living in a small house on an island in the Pacific Northwest, along with their daughter, Lillian.

You can share a cup of virtual tea with Jen at www.jenniferlouden.com and www.lifeorganizerbook.com.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
www.storycirclebookreviewsorg
reviewing books by, for, and about women

I have been in business for many years as a literary publicist, but I am constantly
on the lookout for good reference books for publicity for myself and my staff.
This book is one of them. I highly recommend it.
Sherri Rosen
sherri Rosen Publicity LLC
NYC

As if the process of completing a literary work were not enough, Mr. Marich clearly illuminates the most treacherous path of promoting that work once it is complete. Having tried unsuccessfully to navigate this path on my own in the past, this book became a true beacon in my career. His insightful, witty comments make this book both a great read as well as an invaluable tool for anyone who ever had the courage to take the bull by the horns and promote themselves with the same energy as a PR firm. I know that on all subsequent endeavors I will gladly return to the core lessons found within to ensure my ongoing success.

I own a small PR agency in Chicago and am always looking for tools to help our junior staff be more effective and efficient. This book is great! Everyone of my employees now has their own copy of Literary Publicity: The Final Chapter. It's got everything a professional needs to know -- and, even better, what a non-pro needs to know to help make their book successful. I also like how Marich uses humor to make his points. I recommend this for any writer or any beginning publicist.

Mr. Marich has cured my writer's block. I realized after reading this incredible "BIBLE" that the root of my writer's anxiety was my fear that I would never be able to get my work to the public, press or broadcast media. I know now that there are tried and true ways to get my work noticed. After finishing Mr. Marich's book, I went right back to my P.C. with new inspiration. How very unselfish of Mr. Marich to share his experience and know-how with other writers. Anyone who is even thinking about writing for public consumption should read this book. No agent in the world could do in one year what Mr. Marich has done in one incredible book.

As an author, I am quite familiar with the search for publicity. This book was an enormous help, very clearly organized, and, most surprisingly, fun to read. The author obviously has a lot of experience in the field, and shares his trade secrets. It should be very helpful for beginning authors as well as more established ones looking to further their literary careers. Highyl recommended.