United States Books

Michael Weisskopf's true story about his coverage of Iraq during which he comes under fire and loses his hand draws the reader into his life and keeps him there till the last page. The grisly facts and the heroic military men he meets throughout his journey not only shed light on the sad truths of war, but place the reader directly into Michael's shoes. A great read for anyone wanting to know what really happens to soldiers in a contemporary war.

As an occupational therapy student I was required to read this book, to hopefully give us some perspective and insight into what some of our future clients may be dealing with.

I loved the content of the book. I felt that it laid out what these men went through after serving over seas. The only big issue that I had for the book was all the jumping around. It is incredibly hard to keep track of all the men Weisskopf talks about when he jumps from one person to another in the same chapter. But since that is an editorial thing and not a content issue, I am giving it 4 stars simply because of the difficulty of the reading.

Have some kleenex handy. A very well written book. My husband loved it, too.

As an amputee for the past 4 years or so, I know a few things about the story told by this book. But I was unprepared to be as moved as I was. Michael not only tells the story of how, but he digs deeper into the demons that made him and Pete so much more real.

I don't have war experience, I just had a simple accident. The demons these men fight to get to a place where they can accept the things that happened make this a very powerful story. I highly recommend it to anyone. And I've recommended it to several close friends in hopes they might better understand what it's like to loose part of yourself.

Mr. Weisskopf writes a truely remarkable account of what it is like to go from the battle field through the medical, recovery process. As a surgical technician & Vietnam vet I found his story to be inspiring and very moving. The medical aspects were right on the money!!
Thank you, Mr. Weisskopf, for a wonderfully touching story. I hope you have been able to put to rest the "Why & What If" questions. As far as I'm concerned the motivation doesn't matter. You're a HERO!!!

What a great story. I heard a portion of the audio at www.sportsbythenumbers.com with this book: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports By the Numbers) Bootlegger's Boy is a great story told by Barry Switzer and well worth the money. If you love OU, this book is for you.

I never really had a Grandfather. One died the day I was born, and the other one died when I was about 7. I don't remember them, and I don't remember talking to my one Grandfather.

Listening to Barry Switzer has always felt like listening to what I imagine listening to a Grandfather is like. Does that make sense?

He has a very calm, matter of fact way of telling a story. Seeing him talk on TV or live in person is a delight. He seems to have such control of himself, and he has always appeared composed and respectful. One thing I have always liked about the King is his way of telling it like it is, he won't pull punches if there is something controversial to talk about. He attacks conspiracy and controversy with a straight face, and a cool head.

Bootlegger's Boy is a great autobiography in that it tells a very complete story. Barry does a good job of describing the important events in his life that shaped the man he became, and the man he continues to be. He knows that he is no saint, and I appreciate how he is a man about things. Barry's philosophy is one of taking responsibility for your words and actions, and also holding others to that standard as well.

Sooners will never get tired of the King, for he was a great coach, and he continues to be a great man. A very inspiring book in my opinion. If you want a book that will get the hairs all over your body to stand on end and light a fire under your tail, look no further.

As a rabid Oklahoma fan, I had this book for some time before I actually read it. Whether the reader loves Barry or hates him, after reading this book, admiration and respect will develop for this popular coach.

I chuckled as I read some of the stories, and cried when I read others. Barry holds nothing back and his personality comes through. This man is Hall of Fame anyday, in my book.

This book is something to be revered by Sooner fans. Barry's recounts of the great games and great people around OU's glorious runs in the 70s and 80s bears reading. I just re-read the book after keeping it down for a few years, and it just gets better with time. If any of you out there need ammo for those Barry bashers, you need this book. Barry Switzer is a great man, and every Sooner fan should remember that.

Barry covers his childhood, personal struggles, and his years at Arkansas. He then talks about those great 70s teams that we know get to see on ESPN Classic.

Probably the most interesting part is his line item by line item response to every NCAA violation that OU was found guilty of. Barry pulls no punches and is not afraid to admit guilt where he saw it. His candidness is something special.

You might find this book hard to find, but try your hardest and hit the auction sites, etc, you should be able to turn it up, and you won't be sorry.

Love him or hate him, Barry Switzer is a college football icon. Published a year after his banishment from the University of Oklahoma (following a series of turbulent off-the-field incidents), Switzer tells all in his rousing autobigraphy, BOOTLEGGER'S BOY.

The title is not an exaggeration; Switzer's father was a womanizing, hard-drinking Arkansas bootlegger, while his quiet mother battled mental problems and an addiction of her own. Able to overcome such dysfunction (and some of his family tales are fascinating), Switzer was able to utilize his athletic ability to play football at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach Frank Broyles. When his college career was over, Switzer realized his calling was coaching; Broyles gave him the opportunity by letting the young lineman join his coaching staff. In the mid-60s firebrand coach Jim MacKenzie was hired to restore the football "monster" at OU, a monster that the great Wilkinson had created. MacKenzie offered Switzer a position on his coaching staff; Switzer became a Sooner, and the seeds of destiny were sewn.

Chuck Fairbanks, succeeding MacKenzie (who died tragically after just a year on the job), promoted Switzer to offensive coordinator. Switzer writes he was looking for an offense to revolutionize college football; an unorthodox, high-risk option offense, known as the "wishbone," captured his attention. Switzer installed the offense and the Sooners took off, figuratively and literally, as NCAA rushing records were shattered. When Fairbanks bolted in 1973 to go to the NFL, Switzer was handed the keys to the OU program, and the rest, as they say in the Sooner Nation, is history.

For sixteen seasons, Switzer commanded a college football powerhouse; during his tenure the Sooners captured twelve Big Eight championships and three national championships. Switzer attributes his success to his Arkansas upbringing; growing up, most of his friends and neighbors were African-Americans. As a result, Switzer was more than comfortable approaching black athletes--at a time when other major programs were tentatively recruiting minorities--while reassuring parents that he would take good care of their sons. His recruiting redefined collegiate athletics, opening the doors for black athletes nationwide to participate in Division One football.

Switzer's affection for his players is genuine. Page after page, account after account, the King (as he's known by Sooner diehards) fondly recalls his relationships with a plethora of All-Americans: the Selmon brothers; Joe Washington; Billy Sims; Tony Casillas; J.C. Watts; Keith Jackson; Brian Bosworth. Switzer was no stern disciplinarian, he readily admits it, and this "lack" of discipline created a perception of an outlaw program--a perception that came home to roost in 1989, when he was forced to resign by the OU administration during a series of troubling incidents that ultimately put the Sooners under NCAA probation.

Switzer defiantly addresses the NCAA allegations, refuting some and pleading "guilty" to others. To enhance his arguments, he points to antiquated NCAA regulations (and keep in mind, this book was written years ago), regulations that, Switzer maintains, permeate a double standard. As an example, Switzer argues, why is it permissible for a chemistry professor to dig into his pocket and buy an airplane ticket for a homesick student during Christmas break, but not an athletic coach? Switzer's defense, along with his account of the events leading up to his ouster, make for fascinating page turning.

Praise him or revile him, Barry Switzer's mark on college football is eternal, and BOOTLEGGER'S BOY is the King at his good ol' boy best. I only wish he would come back with a second edition describing his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Three national championship rings and a Super Bowl ring. Not bad for a bootlegger's boy.
--D. Mikels

I received an email with some of the pictures and fell in love with it. Requested a copy for my birthday! Then ordered another copy for a Christmas gift. My family and I are in love with it.

Seeing these images from the late 1930s to early 1940s is so surprising and still very familiar. These people, places and things are fresh in their freckles, chipped nail polish, rutted tire tracks and dusty streets. Gorgeous photos and fine details on the New Deal programs that caused these photos to exist in the first place.

My two favorite photos were an exuberant, pin-curled girl with her county fair prize ribbons proudly pinned to her new checked dress and the county fair "girlie" show girls backstage, weary and too young in their bedraggled costumes.

I wished that the book had more of these scenes from small town (or even big town life). The last portion of the book focuses on scenes from the factories preparing for war, and the essay explains why these photos were the focus. Nevertheless, the most moving photos to me are the ones showing the small town experience that puts color to the Grapes of Wrath black and white stills in my mind. We are very lucky that these photos have been preserved and so well reproduced for viewers today.

There are some outstanding shots in this book. As a photographer who prefers color, I was fascinated to see transition from the B&W in early part of the century to color. A very good book to have if you are interested in yet another contribution (B&W to color) of these first documentary photographers.

This book is a miracle--a gorgeous collection of crystal-clear, full-color photographs that somehow depict a world that many people, myself included, have long unconsciously assumed existed solely in black and white.

Color photographs, hundreds of startling and beyond-Technicolor images of the tail end of the Great Depression and the first years of World War II, fill this beautiful and artfully designed book, and the experience of leafing through them is a revelatory one, an immersive, affecting, transformative one. Just look at these people, these places, these signs: these are not ghosts; these are not the silvery images of museum walls and newspaper archives; these are people; this is the real world; this is the past looking a terrifying hell-of-a-lot like the present, like you, like me. This is poverty and happiness and history and a world gone by, and this is all of that made immediate, and brought to you and to me as if we had just stepped out of a time machine to wade through it all ourselves.

This book is unbelievable. I don't think I could recommend a book more highly, and the only reservations I hold regarding it are the ones that come from being so altered, so changed, so turned upside down by something like this, by something that can make a person view the past and everything so differently. From Pie Town, New Mexico to Lincoln Nebraska, from UFO-like blimps over South Carolina to fishing holes in Louisiana, this is the past of America made alive, made new, made real.

The book's introduction, by writer Paul Hendrickson, is terrific is well, expertly putting the photographs into context, and invoking both explicitly and implicitly the spirit of James Agee, Walker Evans, and LET US NOW PRAISE FAMOUS MEN. It draws attention to small details of many of the images, details that may have gone unnoticed otherwise, and emphasizes these images' importance to history.

I absolutely love this book, though at times I can barely handle it. I recommend it as highly as I can recommend anything, though I can't guarantee it will leave you unscathed, unchanged, even okay. But get it, read it, see it, and then watch yourself start to see the world, see America, see the past, see it all it in a different way.

The Library of Congress archives held a hidden treasure for over thirty years. The vast collection of photographs commissioned by the Farm Security Administration and the Office of War Information between 1935 and 1943 were filed away, loosely cataloged, and it was not until 1978 that a historian discovered 700 color transparencies among the 160,000 black-and-white photos. Those 700, along with the 965 images from 1942 and '43 when the OWI ran the project, are a startling legacy. Startling--because there are so few color images of the Depression years that we often overlook the vibrancy and lightheartedness of the time. As author Paul Hendrickson writes in the Foreword, these luminous photographs "...can only add to, not detract from, the black-and-white Movietone reel that's long been running in your head."

Kodachrome film was first marketed in 35mm rolls in 1936; by the time of the earliest known FSA color shots in 1939, the earlier problems with stability of the yellow dyes had been resolved. The 175 pictures in Bound for Glory: America in Color 1939-43 are amazingly color-true and crisp. The majority were developed onto 2 x 2 Kodachrome slides in cardboard mountings.

The images pull you in. How to describe them? School children studying a world globe in Texas; an aproned craftswoman displaying her quilt of the States; a homesteader couple against a turbulent sky (reproduced on the dust cover); mines, ranches, cotton pickers, Main Streets; a farm in the green mountains of Vermont; a stark geometric scrap and salvage yard; parades, coal docks in Pennsylvania, steel furnaces in Detroit, a steel mill in Utah with snowy mountains seemingly an arm's reach away in the background; a guitar-playing girl in Oklahoma with a flowered hat and solemn expression; a series of real-life Rosie-the-Riveters from Texas to California. There are many photographs from fairs: barefooted families eating barbeque from paper plates; girls from the girly show on a break; children gaping at the wonders of the fair; and the placard quoted in my subject line but not, unfortunately, the bear itself.

Of course I looked for my own state, and found a starch factory deep in the potato country of Northern Maine. And an unexpected pleasure: two street corners in Brockton, Massachusetts that I recognized from my years living in that city four decades later.

A particular pleasure is the series from Pie Town, New Mexico. Photographer Russell Lee went there to take pictures--well, who wouldn't go there, having learned that a place called Pie Town exists?

This collection of color photographs is a legacy too little known by those of us who own it. Browse the FSA-OWI archives on line and by all means get your hands on this gorgeously presented treasure trove. BOUND FOR GLORY--highly recommended.

Linda Bulger, 2009

We've all heard the saying, "Life is a choir and every voice is important." But we all also know that very rarely is this humane principle put into practice. Linda Stout, in her book "Bridging the Class Divide", shows us over and over again where these voices reside and how they represent important views, important values, and important cultures. Through life experiences, Stout identifies and calls out important characteristics that, when raised up and valued, create a truly well-rounded, truly inclusive society. She shows us how fragile and faint these voices are at birth, and how easily and mindlessly dominant beliefs can annihilate them. Her account of how she herself became more aware of the values and perspectives that shaped her, and began to believe in them and communicate them, is moving and illuminating. Knowing how to nurture and strengthen such contributions, according to Stout, is key to bringing them to the tables we all sit at every day, whether they be work tables, community tables, religious, race, gender, or age tables. Such affirmations of inclusion have a powerful effect on the political and economic webs that impact all of us. However difficult, giving voice and action to all our perspectives, not just the ones that reflect "the way we have always done things," is necessary. Only when each of us insists on communicating our unique perspectives will every voice truly be important to the song the choir is singing.

I have been working for social change thirty years now. I can wholeheartedly say that Linda Stout is one of the best organizers and resources there is on issues of overcoming class and racial divisions; so that we can be more effective in our work for justice, peace and a wide range of other progressive issues. I worked with Linda back in the 80's and she is still one of my most important mentors. Her book reflects her unique qualities which all come from life experience and wisdom born from life in the struggle and life in the spirit. It is both informative and inspiring -- a book that you don't want to put down and one that can make you a better person in your personal life and in your work for a better world. Herb Walters

Activists will find this book invaluable. Rev. William Sloan Coffin said it all: "Class may well prove a nut even tougher to crack than racism. With a wealth of wisdom, Linda Stout shows how to organize progressive movements that are genuinely inclusive. Grassroots organizers especially will be in her debt, which is where I have happily been for years."

I used this book as a text for an undergrad class on community organizing. it was easy to read and understand, and gave us so much to reflect on and talk about. it has so many practical tips on organizing, it should be a must read for anyone doing community work. i would love to read further reflections on PPP today, and what the leaders have learned about organizing and surviving as an organization since the book was written

If you care about helping to create a better world, this book will help. Class divisions are one of the most insidious, though least discussed, problems impacting our ability to effectively build movements for change. In an accessible style, with great stories, Linda Stout shares her years of organizing wisdom and makes it clear just what it takes to build effective cross-class alliances.

As the Executive Director of Class Action, www.classism.org, I have recommended Bridging the Class Divide many times. It is a useful resource for activists and non-activists alike.

Felice Yeksel

Broken Justice This should be required reading for all young women just so they can see how important it is to protect Roe v Wade. Today's young women don't know what it was like for women before quality birth control and safe, legal abortion. This book is well written and fairly reports both sides of the issue. The issue is discussed by a doctor trying to provide good, appropriate, legal medical care to women

This book, like its subject matter a doctor's right to perform abortions, is intricate and heartwrenching. Dr. Edelin's story is a powerful one; from a poor background, he sets his sights on helping the populations he saw suffer as a boy namely women who were unable to get all medical options that might be available. through most of the book, I wonder how Dr. Edelin recalls the conversation he had verbatim. But I can imagine this experience, traumatic and forming, was seared into his brain. I hope the story has us all thinking about our own versions of fairness and justice independent of a politically motivated, misinformed court system.

Dr. Edelin's book is an excellent read. As a lawyer, I found the legal maneuvering and the courtroom scenes riveting. As a romance author and reader, I found his writing lyrical. The descriptions of his childhood experiences that made him into the man he became were touching. This book reads like a novel. It is a page-turner, and I'm so glad that he shared his story--lest we forget.

I had the honor of meeting Dr. Edelin a few years ago when my daughter was his student. He was so gracious and caring about his students and his profession that is it hard to believe that he had endured such a galling experience.

Though I am a little older than Dr. Edelin and only met him about 16 months ago when he gave the keynote address at the annual national convention of a group called Medical Students for Choice, I have followed his amazing and impressive career since I frist read of his indictment by an incredably biased and racist prosecutor in what was then the narrow minded and mostly Irish Catholic and racist controlled city that was Boston during the late 60s and early 70s.

Dr. Edelin's and my own story have many parallels, though I was born "poor white" into a racist culture in rural Arkansas and except for 4 years in the US Navy, have lived in this culture all of my life.

Dr. Edelin tells an gripping story of his childhood and young manhood in a racist society, one where he had to be smarter, kinder, better trained and better prepared than any of his white colleagues to even be allowed to attempt to realize his dreams of being a doctor and treating his patients with skill, compassion and amazing courage.

His is a story of liars, and honest men and women, of dedicted physicians and more than a few doctors and residents willing to lie, misguide and misdirect the jury of their, not Dr. Edlin's, peers. And always, the two major villians show up again and again, to do their best to figuratively lynch this incredably skilled, brave and capable young Black man... just because they thought they could, though he was guilty of nothing more than doing his best to treat his patients as he would like to be treated himself.

And he had a Judge who should have been impeached for incompetance, and a prosecutor who should have been hung. I wonder just how many innocent young men he sent to prison for life and to be killed so he could advance his career. Broken Justice? Sounds like Catholic Justice gone mad.

I was a pediatric resident when Dr. Edelin was there and also knew the resident who accused him, who was a real piece of work. Loved the book!

So, you think you broker is honest, maybe not!

The book explains that yes brokers are concerned about making you money, but they are more concered about making money off of you first.

The book explains how investment firms pressure their
stock brokers (aka financial analysts, money managers)
into creating as many "hidden" charges off your account as possible.

One big think the book points out is to watch for excessive
trading and the "hidden" cost of spreads and mark ups and mark downs.

One really good point was about the use of margin.
Most brokers do not explain to their clients the costs and
risks associated with the use of magin( borrowing money to buy
more stocks.)

One hidden cost of margin involves Flat Fee accounts where the money you borrow (and pay a good rate of intrest on) increases
the amount of assets in you flat fee acount, so you pay that
1 or 2% flat fee on the margin too.

Another key point in the book is ask you broker to tell you
what all you expenses total to as a percent of your assets.
You may be suprised how much they reall charge you.

You may not be so happy with your broker when you realize, yes
they made you a 15% return this year, but the market average(at same risk at you assets) returned 25% for the year.

And your broker only got your broker did not have you invested
in those assets that would have given you higher return becuasse
he got a bigger commission ( or hidden costs) on the assets that made you less money.

Many many games revealed about your "honest" broker.

The book has a little fluff so it could be a bit shorter, but the book is full of the many tricks your broker maybe using on you.

So for starters:
Stop your broker from usng high risk high commision product
(lke futures).
Stop your broker from using margin ( borrowed money).
Stop your borker from trading too much with too little reutrn.

Books gives a current and accurate picture of brokers,
on Jan 13,2004 a story on the front of the NY Times and
the Wall Street Journal stated Morgan Stanley was finded
for getting kick backs from sell certain mutual funds.
And in Sept 2003 Morgan Stanley was fined for holding
contests to see who sold the most of Morgan Stanley Products.

Actually, I picked this book up at my local library because it was just sitting there and it didn't cost anything. But to my surprise it was a very informative book.

Like all books and readers, no shoe fits all but the author did try and was successful as far as I'm concerned.

After this reading, I definitely see my broker in a different light. As an options trader, I've learned things that were right there in front of me and just didn't see it. Great info regarding industry tricks.

There was too much detail in certain areas but you can speed read those and continue to you find the gems that appeal to you. Very good read.

Best wishes

Tracy Pride Stoneman and Douglas Schulz were way out ahead of the Wall Street fraud/conflict of interest cases at the big brokerage firms. This book basically tells you what you should look for in brokers (and in most cases, the brokers don't want you to know). It really goes back to the old credo "buyer beware". As in selecting any service, you must perform due dillegence in researching and selecting a good broker and the products that are right for your investment goals and strategies. This book tells you how to do this in simple straightforward langauge. Great information here! Excellent on-line trading information and what to do and expect if you do have problems. Information is power and this book is definitley a POWER BOOSTER!

In many things it is better to say "Know thyself" but if you have a brokerage account it is best to say "Know others before thyself." This is a wonderfully concise and insightful book. The authors are able to convey their in-depth knowledge in an understandable and direct manner. They describe what to look for, how to detect it, and what action to take if you suspect brokerage misconduct. This book will educate as well as hold your interest.

I was disappointed to find several errors I believe would not be made by people with real expertise in the brokerage industry. On page 34 the authors contend that analysts "work in the investment banking departments of such large firms as Merrill Lynch, Prudential, and Bear Stearns." Actually, the analysts work in the Equity Research Departments of those firms, which are separate (although they interact with Investment Banking Departments at Merrill and Bear). Prudential advertises today that it does not do any investment banking and therefore has no conflict with research.

Page 41 says "Analysts hold no brokerage licenses. Therefore, no securities rule or regulation applies to them." These statements could not be more wrong. I do not know any analyst that does not hold series 7 and 63 licenses. I do not know of any brokerage firm that allows its analysts to publish research without first having passed the series 7 and 63 exams. There could be small, regional firms that permit this, but the major firms require their analysts to be registered representatives. The authors repeat their mistake on page 74.

The math on page 176 does not work for the "spread" issue. The authors obviously did not proof the offer price, which should have been $10.50, not $10.00.

After spotting these errors, I skimmed through the rest of the book. Although the issues the authors address may aggregate information for the investing public, nothing they say is earth-shattering. The book seems more to ride the tide of dumping on the investment community and offers little in the way of a position on fixing what is wrong. I am the first to agree that the system could be improved, but so could this book.

Although the title of this book is catchy the implication of "trapping" a spouse comes across as a negative. The book really isn't about trapping a spouse and it is indeed a good book. The subtitle is more appropriate "A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love."

This book is written by a Board Certified Trial Lawyer from Newport Beach along "with" a Beverly Hills based psychologist who specializes in couples counseling.

Being myself recently divorced and having lost a love I found this book to be very realistic in terms of describing what losing a love is like and what the recovery process is like.

The chapters are:

1.) Coping with Loss
2.) How Life Goes On
3.) Getting Serious about a Relationship
4.) Into the Future

I found each of the chapters to be intelligent, realistic and honest. I felt that the author really has felt what I am feeling and has a pretty cutting edge approach to his understanding and to his perspective on solutions. He is frank about depression, about not being able to get out of bed etc.

The guts of the book are about forming a dating strategy to find your next spouse. The apporach is very structured, precise and well defined. Although that type of approach may have appeal to a limited number of personality types I found the chapters on Coping and How Life Goes On to be worth the price of the book.

In a nutshell this is the only book I've found that is sort of like having a 40 or 50 year old uncle or father give you very accurate, useful, practical advice on the most intelligent way to find a spouse and not screw up your life and end up in divorce.

Having read "Spouse Trap" out of interest in how men think, I can say this is one excellent book for anyone, male or female, interested in REAL LOVE. No psychobabble here, rather real hands-on tips based on personal experience. The author's sincere and helpful stand that one has to do the work on one's self first is unique from most other books on finding love. Wonderful insights on grieving and getting on, good step by step procedures for personal evaluation on what one really wants in love. Highly recommended by this reader.

I've been divorced for 3 years now and trying to find a way to "get moving". I read the sample pages, (and the reviewers' comments)from this book and I got the impression that it would perfect for me. Like the others I've read, it had a few things that explained feelings I've had that I could not put into better words. The "dealing with the grief" part was good but not the "dating again" chapters. In the book, he makes several referneces to "Chapter 11, (I think thats the right number), that is the most important chapter in the book. I was looking forward to getting to it to see what the big deal was. All it dealt with was giving tips on getting a good counselor and how important it is to get someone with a solid background to help. If you're like me getting over a lost, you probably have or had a counselor to help you cope and get moving on with your life.
At the end, it discusses ideas when relationships get serious and also when they go bad. It also gave warning signs of unstable women and good reasons to get away from them. The last chapter has an example pre-nupital agreement.
Anyway, it had some decent stuff but weak on the dating aspects.

As a man and as a Marriage and Family therapist I feel "Build a Better Spouse Trap" is an important book. To me there are two underlying themes that Mr. Wentworth is conveying to the men he talks to so clearly. First, Think! My office is full of men who didn't think. They reacted. They are now in trouble, and they are sorry.

The second important point the author makes is to encourage the reader to Feel! Or better yet, identify feelings that are already there. Too many men make serious relationship mistakes because they don't know how to feel the feelings they already have. The author makes this point well when he encourages men to "stop living on automatic."

The result of following the advice in the book is to make the relationship process conscious. He says we should actually become conscious in the process of finding our life partner.
Finally, encouraging men to find a good therapist is great advice. I find that with a straightforward approach that is cognitive and logical, men make great progress in therapy and they really enjoy the process.

Beyond that, they learn about themselves, what makes women tick, and in doing so gain enormous confidence.

The book is honest, fun to read, and practical. But the phrase from the subtitle "Street Smart" says it all. The book hands you exactly what you need to have on those dark nights as you are forcing yourself to get out of the car and nervously walk up to her door. One is tempted to take the book along and feverishly flip through the pages for the right advice when she is in the lady's room. It doesn't get any more real than "Build a Better Spouse Trap."

I think "Build a Better Spouse Trap" in a shot in the arm to those of us who otherwise would be lost and depressed hoping the random forces of the universe will finally make us happy.

Every patient and male friend, to whom I have recommended this book, has found great straightforward advice that tells it like it is. Wentworth doesn't waste a reader's time with fluff and explanations, he gets right to the point of how to get over the loss of love and work a practical plan to bring real connection and relationship back into one's life.

He points out the pitfalls that many men fall into in new relationships. He talks directly about psychological "landmines" of character-disordered women (i.e. beautiful borderlines) and how to fight fair, break up respectfully and when and when not to use the Internet for dating. He uses humor and refers to a great many resources for further research, if readers want to know more about any topic.

The women I have recommended this book to have also truly enjoyed the practical and easy-to-understand suggestions. It seems both men and women are tired of groping blindly in the dark and just hoping that love will find them. Taking a proactive approach is far more appealing.

This is a great gift for any man you care about who is really interested in finding a healthy relationship!

I appreciate the prompt and honest service. Thank you for the book, it will come in handy for when I start teaching.

Bullying is a problem that involves all of us and there is something in this book for each of us. Whether we are a parent, a teacher, a student, or whatever--Coloroso's book gives us much food for thought. The role of the bystander is indeed a crucial role as the bystander can unintentionally (or perhaps sometimes intentionally) facilitate the bullying situation. Highly Recommended!

I had the pleasure of not only meeting Barbara but watching her speak a few weeks ago. I was blown away by her presentation, ideas and solutions to the bullying epidemic. I work with teens-girls mostly-and the info in this book is invaluable to anybody working with kids or teens today. Bullying is a bigger issue than most of us would like to believe, but this book will open your eyes and show you what you can do make a difference whether at home or at school.

Kate Whitfield, author of The Empowered Gal's 9 Life Lessons: Keys, Tips, Strategies, Advice & Everything You Need to Know to be a Confident, Successful, in Control Gal

Coloroso breaks ground by discussing not just the bully and the bullied (who may be one and the same), but also the bystander, who plays a surprisingly important role in youthful bullying. The book is a little repetitive and simplistic, but overall it's an accessible treatise on an important topic.

This book is very useful in dealing with the bully in the school. This is truly a life and death issue. It's application however goes beyond the the schools.It is always applies to the work place,business,the church,the internet, the funeral arrangement conference, national politics,and international relations. Chapter seven "Is there a bullied kid in the house applies" to all these environments.

She points out that the roots of bullying are in the home. Chapter Five is excellent in revealing three types of families and how it relates to bullying.She is particularly bold in describing sexual bullying and it's
relationship to sexual harassment. Her treatment of telling and tattling can be applied not just to the schoolyard, but to any type of whistle blowing. Five stars! Excellent job on a timeless subject.

First let me say that I agree 100% with all that the other reviewers have said about the author and the subject matter. Rather than being redundant about those things let me praise the quality of this publication! This is probably the most expensive book I have ever purchased but let me say that it would be a bargain at twice the price! It is truly an awesome work of art from cover to cover and even comes packaged in an almost indestructible carton. Whether you enjoy the southwest or geological wonders or beautiful photography you will never get more for your money than this book. It is astounding!! The signed and numbered frame-able print included is an unbelievable bonus! There will only be 6000 people lucky enough to own this book. I am glad I am one of them!! I could go on and on but others have said it better than I probably would so I will just say "believe what you read about this one"!! I think you will probably find yourself asking your friends to "wash their hands" before looking at this work of art!

Jon Ortner's oversized, full-page color photos of the Southwest embellishes an album perfect for both photography collections and those documenting the landscapes of the American Southwest. It's a deluxe, numbered, signed and limited edition of an outstanding collection of over 200 images - including 100 panoramas - shot in over 650 locations across a 130,000-square-mile area. The geology and landmarks of this region are outstanding: towers, spires, arches, domes, bridges and more. This edition is limited to 6,000 copies, so any lending library lucky enough to acquire a copy need place it in the 'reserved' area for special, limited handling. That said, it's a tribute collection very highly recommended for any library strong in landscape photography, American geology and parks, or Southwest history and culture. It's simply unparalleled in its scope, presentation, and coverage.

Having travelled through the south of Utah myself, I can say that this book shows you the best of places like Bryce Canyon, Canyon lands, Zion, Arches and Grand Canyon. The author has managed to show the reader lots of places that are off the beaten track and each and every photo is of an exceptional quality. Prepare yourself for rescheduling your summer vacation after reading this book.

As an bonus, my copy of the book came with a numbered print of a limited series (6000) of Antelope Canyon

I've been going to the canyon lands of the SW since the 50s and have never seen a book that captures the magic of this area like Jon Ortner's book. He's obviously done some very serious hiking and suffering to find the most scenic and special places. His book will give readers an agenda of gems that will take you years to find and explore. The photographs are incredible. Breath taking. Clearly Jon has been up at the crack of first light to capture the "golden hour." This is a spiritual book that captures the spirituality of the most beautiful place on earth. It's an expensive book but well worth it. I'll keep it on my coffee table to remind me that I can always escape the urban rat race by opening its pages.

Jon Ortner's exquisite work sets the highest standard for photography of this immense slice of the American West. His years of tireless effort have paid off in a way that is of tremendous reward to the viewer where every page seems better than the last. Some of these panoramic images have been printed as double gatefolds which unfurl to a mind-boggling 4 feet in width! This collection represents the epitome of panoramic film photography quickly becoming a dying art indeed. A must for anyone interested in this subject matter or the millions like myself that will never get to all of these breathtaking locations. Thank you for this awesome delight of the senses.

Pellicer's book was an excellent book for anyone in the education field. Through short essays, he gives a clear, sometimes humorous, always honest view of what it takes to be a successful leader. While reading this book, I was able to personalize many of the experiences he speaks of and apply the lessons that he has learned through the years to my own life and career goals. Because of the way it is written, the reader has the ability to "skip around" and read the chapters that seem the most pertinent at the time. As a classroom teacher, I found this book to be a source of inspiration to me--inspiration that I desperately need at this mid-year point! After reading his thought-provoking, encouraging essays, I think I might just be able to make it until the end of the school year after all!

Caring Enough to Lead was an easy to read, interesting, thought-provoking book. By sharing personal experiences and perspectives in his book, Dr. Pellicer helped me begin to understand what it means to be a leader and to focus on some of the attributes and attitudes of an effective leader. The questions at the end of the chapters caused me to stop and reflect on my role as a leader in my school and in my classroom. The short chapters in the book enabled me to read one or more chapters at a time depending on how much time I had available.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dr. Pellicer's book, Caring Enough to Lead. It was easy to read and very entertaining while at the same time very applicable for teachers in any situation. It gently reminds us of why we choose teaching in the first place, to touch lives. Dr. Pellicer also reflects on several ways to lead as well as the responsibilities that come with leadership. It was easy to reflect on myself as a leader as I was reading this book. I was able to relate my own experiences to most of his chapters. His writing style of vignettes and questions was fun and unique to read. The short chapters made it convenient to read a chapter or two at a sitting and come back to it later.

This book, written by an education professor, should be required reading for everyone in the field of education. It is a very readable challenge to educators to reflect on their beliefs, practices, and reasons for becoming an educator. While reading the book, I highlighted many passages in order to come back to them and to share them with colleagues in the future. In reflecting on a career in education, the book helped reaffirm my belief that it is important to care about others and pointed out the fact that it is important to care about yourself also. This is a book that educators and leaders can read without feeling burdened with a lot of theory or extra rhetoric. The entire book can be read at one time or it can be read in small segments. It is a book that causes soul-searching and one that should be in every professional library.

Can a series of essays on leadership be described as pleasurable, thoughtful reading material? It can if it is Caring Enough to Lead by Pellicer. Pellicer presents twenty essays that are thought provoking as well as entertaining. Personal stories lead the reader into more in-depth philosophical questions about leadership. The essays contain countless statements that lead the reader to stop and think.
"Life affords us too few opportunities to show others how much we care, we can't afford to waste these opportunities."
"I wish I could find a way to encourage all the teachers in our school to run around and flap their arms on a more regular basis."
"Leadership is never about ruling others, it is about serving others."
"A good teacher can give a child power over his or her own life."
Pellicer feels that becoming a leader requires some who cares, excepts the responsibility of leading, and nourishes and supports others who care. All this is required in order to successfully educate our children.