Reference Books

This month our book club discussed Mark Twain's The Diaries of Adam and Eve, and even though Twain's account was amusing and speculative, it did give me a lot to think about. I can't imagine how it must have felt to awaken as a fully formed adult with no one around to socialize her or to impart even the tiniest bit of information or advice...except for Adam, that is.

How did Adam really feel about her and vice versa? Was he disturbed to have this creature with the long hair intrude on his personal space? How did they react to being banished from the Garden of Eden? What did Eve do all day? What did she think about? Did Adam scare her, or did she love him in the way that Twain said she did? All of those questions and more are answered in this delightful little book. It was funny, sad, and sort of bittersweet all at the same time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way the love story developed and love the last passage in Adam's diary: "Wheresoever she was, there was Eden."

I was teaching Huck Finn to my junior class this year, and I tried getting to some of Twain's extra writings so that I'd have a little more background information to offer. This was the gem that I found. I've read plenty of Twain, and I've loved just about all of it, but Eve's Diary, especially, was something that both entertained me and moved me.

It is hilarious. Eve's observations on men are priceless, and her naivete is just so charming. More than that, though, Eve's Diary urges the reader to look at the world with the same innocence and exuberance as Eve does. I know that this little book was Twain's love letter to his deceased wife, but it's also a love letter to human life. This is Twain at his least cynical.

This edition blends the diaries of Adam and Eve together, but they were written separately, and I actually prefer them that way (I much prefer Eve's Diary by itself). I also sort of prefer the original edition's woodcuts, though the engravings in this edition are nice. Those originals are readily available online for free.

However you read it though, don't miss this one. With the exception of Huck Finn, this is the essential Twain read.

I have always wanted to get a copy of this particular work of MT's under one volume. This appears to be it!

It doesnt take comments from people such as myself to speak of the brilliance of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmons). His body of work simply speaks for itself. If you are new to Twain's work I would highly reccommend that you try reading this novel first. It is short, entertaining, witty, and beautifully portreyed. This novel is worth absultely every penny you pay for it!

Short and very sweet. The Diaries present a charming and enlightened view of the relationship between the First Humans. Written late in Twain's life, the Diaries are considered his most personal work. Contain typical Twain wit, iconoclastic thinking and sardonic good will. Adam's later entries are believed to reflect Twain's feelings for his beloved, deceased wife, Livy. Adam and Eve's love for each other and Adam's grief for Eve moved me to tears. Beautifully illustrated.

The book opens up your eyes to the world of a young woman and the trials and tribulations that all young women must face. At a day to day basis young women are faced with sinful decisions. The book was a very down to earth book. I would recommend the book to men also since it will open their eyes to what kind of pressure they can put on a woman. Really enjoyed the book.

This book was so sweet. I loved all the topics and the recommendations the author mentions. I wish I had this book with me a long time ago. Nevertheless, I can still benefit from everything today right where I am.

My daughter loved this book! I bought it for her and she read it pretty quickly and even shared it with her friends. She is very determined to add all the recommendations to her life and it is wonderful to see her looking at things in a different light. I thought she might just say well this is just another book about purity but she really enjoyed it. I was very happy and I know this will benefit my daughter greatly.

I can recommend this book to other mothers, dad, teens and single adults as a source for encouragement for bringing purity into their lives. It did help our family in teaching our young daughter about purity. I honestly wish the churches would do more of this.

Get this book for your kids no matter what age they are. This books has enough nuggets of wisdom to benefit everyone. If you like you can partake in the book and then do the questions at the end of each chapter. You will enjoy it and they will look at purity differently. Also, recommend this book to your church as a tool for the youth and singles ministry.

I know that when a pet is sick or injured, the best thing to do is to consult their veterinarian. But let's face it, sometimes that isn't really practical. And sometimes, FIRST AID is needed to even get the pet to the vet. I have had vets tell me that there are some OTC medications that are safe for pets, but they never tell me which ones or how much. Frustrating.

Finally, we have a resource with good, practical advice on when to call the vet, and what to do in the meantime, or in some cases - what to do instead. This book provides information on what OTC remedies can be safely used for dogs and cats, as well as some good old fashioned non-medication remedies for some ailments. And it is written in an easy-to-read; easy-to-understand format. Topics are arranged alphabetically by what is ailing your 4-legged friend, so it is easy to find what you need to know in a hurry.

My frustration is over. This is a great book for any pet parent.

This book just might save your pet's life.
Like CPR buys time to save a humam life, this book buys time to save your pets life and also helps you from doing the wrong thing.

"The First Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats" is a book I will keep handy as long as I have pets. It is as good as advertised and I am glad to have it handy. I love my cats and feel that I am now doing all I can to keep them well! DJBritt

This book is a "must" for any cat and/or dog owner. This purchase is to replace the other copy I had and gave to my brother with an ill dog. I am a volunteer helping in the training of future service and/or therapy dogs and it has come in handy more than once!
The information has saved $$$ in helping to know what symptons are ones requiring immediate medical tx and those that I can treat at home.

I foster cats for a local shelter and have cats of my own. This book is very easy to understand and gives you very detailed information on whatever is ailing your pet. It has more serious ailments such as a heat stroke and more casual ones such as vomiting up a hairball. It also has a handy chart that tells you what human medicines will work for your pets. I highly recommend it.

Bishop Tutu, a living saint in my book, begins each chapter with the words, "Dear Child of God", speaking directly to the reader. He very gently, in a few well chosen words, speaks of the humanity in all of us. With his vast experience having seen the best and the worst of humanity he still has hope and faith and love for all. he is a testament to what faith and hope and love can mean for our hurting world. This book will make you laugh and cry and will touch your soul.

Archbishop Tutu is a great man and worthy of highest admiration for his life of unselfish service. Sadly, though, this book (co-authored with Douglas Abrams) does not serve his life's work well.

The book is not intended to be intellectually rigorous; it's gentle, as a number of the five-star reviewers have pointed out. It's good at conveying some of the stress of Archbishop Tutu's experiences in South Africa, and the courageous actions there that brought down apartheid. But who is it really written for?

The 130-page book has eight chapters, an introduction, and a postscript. The chapters are entitled "God believes in us," "God's dream," "God loves you as you are," "God loves your enemies," "God only has us," "Seeing with the eyes of the heart," "Stillness: hearing God's voice," and "In the fullness of time."

Immediately in the introduction the authors [I use the plural, since Archbishop Tutu himself refers to "coauthor Doug Abrams," p. 134] make it clear that this book is not for Christians only: "While I write as a Christian, this transformation [of the world, to redemption] can be recognized and experienced by anyone, regardless of your faith and religion, and even if you practice no religion at all." For an eminent Christian leader (Anglican -- Archbishop Tutu identifies himself as "Foursquare in the Catholic faith that is enshrined in our prayer books, in our formularies, in the creeds," p. 107) to write a spiritual book intended for any variety of faiths, or none at all, is a formidable challenge. The authors were unable to rise to meet it successfully.

In attempting to write to a universal audience, they downplay fatally their own faith. The central core of that faith, as rooted in word and sacrament, is Christ's perfectly obedient life, atoning sacrifice on the cross, and triumphant resurrection, which provide a means for all to be saved from their sins, and reconciled with God. We see this in scripture, in the baptismal covenant, and in the eucharist. But this core of the faith barely receives a mention here.

God's incredible love is the subject of chapter 3, "God loves you as you are." Yes, God does love us as we are -- but how is that love most clearly shown? What a great opportunity to share with readers that incredible love of God: God so loved the world that he gave his only son, to the end that all who believe in him would not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Sadly, this core element of their faith the authors omit to mention.

So the book appears not to be for Christians. Did the authors mean for other faiths to read it and find hope and encouragement in their walks? This too is unclear. There's hardly any reference to the core beliefs of other faiths, and certainly no detailed attempt to draw together, reconcile, or unify disparate beliefs. I can't help thinking those who are not Christians would take away only the message that humanity might eventually arrive at peace somehow. But the details of how God will do this are unclear (God's has dreams for his people that will somehow be realized), and they're certainly not via the tenets of other faiths, so readers are left with the sense "let's hope so...", with no real basis for that hope outside the authors' Christian experience. I doubt whether this will be received well by those who are not prepared to accept the authors' Christian point of departure.

So it does not serve Christians well, by writing for a universal audience and removing the core of the faith; and it does not serve non-Christians well, by passing over those faiths (or atheism) so lightly that one might conclude that whatever one believes will be OK with God ("In God's family, there are no outsiders. All are insiders. Black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, Jew and Arab, Palestinian and Israeli, Roman Catholic and Protestant, Serb and Albanian, Hutu and Tutsi, Muslim and Christian, Buddhist and Hindu, Pakistani and Indian--all belong." -- p. 20).

Its successes lie in the stories and narratives of Archbishop Tutu's struggles in South Africa, and for that, it's interesting and useful. But readers will seek deeper meaning vainly.

A must read!. . .This book, by Bishop Tutu, capture's God's dream is for us! He shares profound thoughts using clear, yet elegantly simple language which can be understood by all. Tom Weaver
God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time

It's rare to come upon literature with a pulse and a heartbeat on every page. This is one of those precious gems that I will read once a year for the rest of my days.

God's blessing in print. Hope again. Hope anew. Hope for you. Buy it. Read it. Live it.

Thank you Archbishop TUTU

Bill Dahl
Author, Creator, Editor
The Porpoise Diving Life

What an eloquent writer! Bishop Tutu writes so beautifully, especially when he describes the Love of God. The concept of transfiguration is explained in a passage about the cross which truly brought me closer to my Lord. Dear Christian brothers and sisters: read this book and be prepared to have your prejudices and fears about other people shattered by the Love of God.

I loved this book. It is a "fast read". Several people who saw me reading this immediately had a response of: yes, they were on their own spiritual path, too. (Somewhat nervously).

It was my pleasure to read of Joseph's experience. I have been on my own spiritual path since I arrived on the planet (much to the chagrin of some). It is not always easy - but those peak experiences he speaks of - they are worth the journey!

I, too, believe we are evolving into a new paradigm where spirit is influential. And how wonderful! I am a hospice volunteer and clearly observe spirit moving in the death and dying process - so why not in life? Joseph's book is a blessing.

Saretta Wool

Joeseph Dispenza reveals in this timely book, that we can seek and find god, our Source, outside the tenets of organized religion. His experiences as a Catholic monk for years as a young man left him with more questions than answers. It became evident to him that the only way to get in touch with god on a personal level was to cast off the shackles of established religious dogma and tradition and seek the Source as a free thinker, and free spirit. Taking the basic ideals of detachment, innocence and responsibility that he had learned from the church and using them as a base of behavior, he set out on the path of his spiritual journey. He compels us to all make the journey within ourselves to find the connection with god, the source of all things, that has always been there waiting for us to re-discover it without the need for religious intermediaries.He stresses it is a path we all must take if we are to heal the wounds of our world, and bridge the rifts between our cultures that religions have caused throughout human history. We must look for god on our own, but know that we are not alone in this search, for there are countless more souls who take up the quest with us for spirituality outside religion. For all those who have been on this quest for some time, and for those who are just contemplating stepping on the path toward self spirituality, this book is a wonderful guide to help us along the journey.

"God On Your Own" is a wonderful, inclusive book that gives readers an invitation to get unstuck from unexamined beliefs and the perceived need to follow the dictums of outer "authorities", and instead, to follow the advice of one of my own spiritual teachers, Jack Schwarz, who said, "Trust your inner authority," or as I would put it, trust your core (inner) wisdom. (Jesus said that the kingdom of God was within us....do you think he may have been on to something?!)

I appreciated how the author kept returning in the book to what really mattered, being able to directly know one's true nature as an expression of the Source of ALL, rather than the delusion of being a separate limited survival oriented entity. His inclusion of such teachings as those of Joel Goldsmith, was useful in giving readers a chance to engage in the possibility that the outer world is a projection of our inner state of Being, and it is one's state of Being more than what they attempt to do from a state of separation that will allow for the shift in the world that people say they want.

Josph Dispenza'a chapters on beliefs, prayer, responsibility, and other aspects are clear and invite the reader to, as Dr. Hazel Parcell's used to say, "Check it out!" for themselves (Dr. Parcells was the subject of an earlier book by Dispenza). I love that that the author has invited the reader to trust themselves to know God as intimately and easily as God know them ---to realize that there is no separation, only particle and wave, content and context--- and without an outer crutch, they can know the world with love and compassion as a "play of consciousness" and be guided by the Source of All.

This book is an excellent guide and roadmap for returning home to your true nature.

Hal Isen
Hal Isen & Associates, Inc.
Author, The Genesis Principle
The Genesis Principle: A Journey into the Source of Creativity and Leadership

Dispenza's unusual persoanl journey -- from deep inside dogmatic religion to a serious spiritual life outside of it -- combined with his rich knowledge of traditional theology and contemporary mystic writers makes this book a most provocative read. It will take you on your own personal journey, for you can't help but think about where you stand on the issues he raises.

He presents several fresh insights. For example, the Lord's Prayer is all about separation and divisiveness!! Amazing! In fact, he demonstrates that much of the Bible is about separation. I have never looked at this -- or seen it -- so clearly. An important theme throughout the book is unity, oneness, mystical union.

Dispenza's personal story woven throughout is fascinating, and I love the way many of his points arise out of his personal experience.

Dispenza brilliantly turns each of his monastic vows into important principles of spirituality. This is a genuinely original argument.

The chapter on peak experience is provocative. And the last chapter about our entering a new age is really wonderful.


Dispenza identifies these as key spiritual concepts: detachment, innocence, responsibility, peak experience, service. These are similar to the key spiritual principles I have independently identified in my own writing: connection, authenticity, love, awareness, surrender, gratitude. (See Chapter 14 in Why Talking Is Not Enough.)Why Talking Is Not Enough: Eight Loving Actions That Will Transform Your Marriage

If you are interested in your own spiritual quest, don't miss this provocative read!

Totally synchronistic! I came upon ordering this book somewhat in error and it was the best mistake I have ever made! I found this book to eloquently (and easily )cover most of the points of the multitude of other spiritually focused books I have read. And I can assure you I have read most of them! This book crosses all religious and spiritual practice lines and really supports a deeply personal spiritual path. I have experienced a pretty significant medical crisis this past year, which became a deeply spiritual experience for me. Joseph Dispenza has helped me to understand my path and in such a down to earth, practical way. I am so grateful that I found this book!

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

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.

I'm just beginning to realize how much fun gardening can be. I've never had a "green thumb", in fact, I've even planted silk flowers in my flower beds before. But, this book has everything you need to know--what to plant and where, when to plant and when it will bloom, sun or shade, when and how often to water, expert advice on not only your flower beds but your entire yard--and so much more. I've been reading and researching in it every day since I recieved it a month ago, and it has filled my mind with so many ideas that I see myself working in the yard untill someone plants ME in it!

I love this book. One of my top five. I really used the last one so much I had to buy this new one. I gave it to my Father for Father's Day last year, and he keeps it on his coffee table. My Mother says he peruses it for hours. Great resource for diseases, and simple descriptions of common used southern plants. I know it is difficult to find a book that uses plants for our humidity. Great for beginners and master gardeners alike!

If you live in the South and garden, you need this book! I love it! I find myself refering to it often!

i live in central florida and i don't make a gardening move without this book. i wore the first one out and am doing the same to the second one. i absolutely wouldn't be without it.

I ordered this book for my sister-in-law for Christmas and liked it so well that I had to order another one for myself. If you grow anything any where in The South you NEED this book.

Saw article on sugar gliders - wanted more info - this is a great book!

This is a professionally done work with excellent writing, lots of pictures and illustrations, and a thorough index. However, it is dated, that is to say that this is a re-publishing of a work originally done well over a decade ago, and it does show in places. The amount of information on every aspect of sugar gliders is well worth the price, but it would be nice if the author or publisher updated the volume and included some guidelines and suggestions for websites and the information (some not valid) about sugar gliders (aka sugar bears) available on the web, including cautions about misinformation too.

I read this book in about two hours from cover to cover just the other day. This book left out some details about meal preparation that I've been taught from other sources (owners, websites, etc.) to do. I talked to a friend of mine to confirm the details about that meal stuff. Specifically about how if you don't plan to breed, using the protein supplements instead having crickets or egg all of the time is fine.
That is the only thing preventing this book from receiving a 5 star rating from me.
You can tell the author really cares for her animals and had a lot of fun writing the book. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone interested in getting a glider although this should not be your only source. Talk to someone who has owned them before who has no stake in selling you one so they'll give you the straight talk.

EDIT: Just realized this book looks to have first been published in 1997 so that is why it does not go over the dry glider food, which is apparently a more recent advancement. Still highly reccomended because as I said before you should never have just one source.

My children both wanted Sugar Gliders and based on Amazon book recommendations, I bought the book. Both children are reading it. It is easy to read, full of good information even if some is out of date, and will help us make the decision about whether a sugar glider is the right pet (s) for us.

this is a really great book to know more on suggs they go into detail about what is good for them and what is not. I would recommend this book if your thinking about owning a sugg or even if you already have them, the more information the better,

This book is a wonderful book for any dancer. I purchased this book for my daughter who is a dancer and it is full of the correct info that she need for her baller classes. It's a timeless book full of info for any aspiring dancer. Highly recommended.

I am a professional dancer and ballet teacher. I adore this book for its clear and concise definitions of ballet terminology and technique. It is an essential resource for any teacher, student or ballet enthusiast. Its compact design makes it perfect for quick and easy reference. I definitely recommend it!

This is an excellent and informative book, with clear definitions and pronunciation guides for the French, Italian, and Russian methods of ballet. It even "translates" names of steps from one method to the others!

The one drawback I can see is that this will probably not be as good a resource for someone who is not already familiar with the basic steps of ballet. The illustrations are helpful, but it would be impossible to illustrate all the steps and still have the book be easily portable; as a result, the reader must rely on his/her own ability to envision the steps described.

The book was what I expected and it gave me what I needed, and that was the definition to ballet terms.

The buying part was great. I tried contacting the seller several times and received no response. The item took longer than I expected to arrive. Although they say up to 15 days, if the item is being shipped from the same state where you live, the shipping time should only take 1 day. I received my item in like a week and a half; meaning that it took this person about a week and a couple of days to put a book in the mail.