Beauty Books

A skilled writer, Franklin, who has had years of experience with youth, addresses the topic of female's perception of her own beauty. This book is aimed at single or married ladies, in hopes that they will learn to define beauty the Lord's way and pass it on to the younger ladies around them. I was watching out for "self-esteem" (as opposed to Christ-esteem!) talk, since I imagine that would commonly be discussed in this arena. But for the most part I was quite pleased with Franklin's treatment of the topic. She teaches women to find their beauty in Christ and to listen to the truth of God's Word rather than the lies of the world or even just people who speak carelessly. The following are a few quotes from the text:

"Scripture is the mirror of beauty through which we view ourselves."

"In worship, false pretenses and artificial longings--our own or those of others-- fall away before a holy, awesome God. When I stand and consider the majesty of His name and the works of His hands, my weight, my height, my cup size, and my hairstyle cease to matter."

"The world is all too ready to plant its philosophies regarding women and beauty in the hearts of young girls.. .the message is...a girl's sexuality is her beauty. However, it is a message of death. Satan desires to destroy the hearts of young girls through the destruction of their bodies."

I do not know a woman who hasn't, at some point, fiercely desired to be beautiful but felt she didn't measure up. Our culture shouts this message from the rooftops: "You are ugly and worthless. You are inadequate. You are nothing compared to the girl on the cover of that magazine."

But Regina Franklin says that this must end now. We, the women of today, must put an end to this inaccurate and caustic view of beauty. We must find our identities in Christ and allow Him to give us the beauty that makes us shine, inside and out.

Regina Franklin approaches this topic with infinitely more depth and insight that is apparent in the other "beauty books" I've read. Every assertion is backed by Scripture. Literary allusions pepper the book, illustrating the application of these truths. Mrs. Franklin's style is engaging, and her personal experiences are shared often, making the book more relatable to the reader.

Who Calls Me Beautiful: Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God exceeded my expectations astoundingly. Please, ladies, if you struggle with a desire to be beautiful, do not pass this book up.

I recommend this book to any girl or women. It helped me identify the underlying issues in my life and actually do something about them. It was inspiring and ultimately showed me how to free myself from estreme self conciousness.

A refreshing look at how to discern a woman's beauty in today's world looking through the lens of God's word and His eternal truths rather than through the lens of outward appearance.

This book was a source of encouragement to me to stop looking at what the world (and all types of media) claims that beautiful is and start to see God's defintion of beauty. I only wish I was able to read this as a teen or while in my 20's. It not only encouraged me but the study questions at the end of each chapter helped to propel me to do something about it. I now have a better self-image than before I read the book and I can now look at media as more fairy-tale than reality.

Very funny fashion overview of the 70s fashion fiascos.

The 70s were a decade of flamboyant styles and fashion statements influenced by the hippie era, and 70S FASHION FIASCOS captures them all, with full-page color photos capturing styles accompanied by notes on designers, objectives, and culture. Any collection interested in contemporary fashion trends will love the attention to flashy detail of the 70s, offering plenty of whimsical, fun moments.

This is a fantastic, high quality book in full color (wouldn't get the effect if it was in black & white, that's for sure!). It brings back memories of when I was a kid in the 70's. It's like looking through the old photo albums and making fun of what mom and dad were wearing. The color pictures, the ads, the history, the little tidbits of info.. what fun! Sure to bring back memories for anyone who was around in the 70's, and some of the fashions will.. well.. make you cringe. :) The book even gives some shopping resources on where to find some of these vintage 70's fashions if you'd want to dress like that. Overall, a very fun book! I love it! I hope Maureen Valdes Marsh comes up with an 80's fashion book.

When first 70s Fashion Fiascos: Studio 54 to Saturday Night Fever by Maureen Valdes Marsh crossed my desk, I admit, I screamed in horror. The caftan on the book cover alone was enough to put me in a swoon. But a pleading letter came with it, begging me to give this book my imprimatur.

Look it up.

Little did I know that I would be swept up by its contents: a blend of American social history, wit, and truly hideous clothes! Ms. Marsh is a marvelous writer, with a knack for the mot juste. Of leisure suits, she writes, "Color became the key to individuality, and no shade was too effeminate for the 1970s man to wear."

Since the youth of today has taken a great interest in the clothing of the decade, Ms. Marsh has even provided an up-to-date Shopping Resource Guide in the back.

- excerpt from my review in my blog, "Diary of a Mad Fashionista" at blogspot dot com.
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This book is much smaller than I expected it to be looking at it on the computer screen when I ordered it. However, it does have lots of great photos and resources and I'd say its worth getting for your collection or it would make a great gift. I wish it would have gone by year, rather than style. Also I hoped that by the name "fashion fiascos" we would see more extreme styles of platform boots and shoes and other stereotypically 70's styles. Don't get me wrong, there are some, but not nearly as many as I'd thought and most of the book focuses on the "Marsha Brady" era of clothes, more so than the later 70's when you had a totally different style that was more 80's than 60's. The style of hair worn by somebody like Pam Dawber on Mork and Mindy in 1979 was radically different than the hard, sculpted styles of the earlier 70's. Clothes changed as radically as music did in the 70's. Even the sound of disco between the early stuff like "That's the Way I like it" was radically different from the later Disco sounds, such as Donna Summer and that change took place within only 5 years. Perhaps the author would do a Fashion Fiascos Vol 2 to include the onset of Disco to the end of the 1970s. This book doesn't even feature a John Travolta white suit. Still, aside from everything, it is a nice book for my collection and reference for those who sew period clothing.

This item was exactly what i ordered in the exact condition that i ordered it in. Would definitly do business with seller again! Thank you

Agents of change is an interesting insight into the world of DC shoes and its athletes! it really shows how ahead of the game the brand has been over the last ten years or so, from ad's to product to team riders DC has been at the forefront and this book details it all. Buy it!!! you wont regret it!

This is (even for a cynical Brit!)a great book/review - if you are into any kind of action sports, then read this. Great stuff!

I was able to pick up Agents of Change and I was blown away by what I saw. Not only are the pictures up-to-date and unbelievable, but the spectrum of sports presented, from skateboarding, to snowboarding, surfing, and motocross, presents a compelling argument as to why this book is relevent at all.

The story of DC shoes, from it's start in a garage with kids with a dream, is as much a part of the world of extreme sports as the athletes who drop from helicopters onto halfpipes or launch themselves off of snow-covered cliffs.

Told in a compelling narrative with interviews, bios, and a history of the company's inception. This book reads like the story of the American dream. Three guys, no money just an idea, and how they turn that idea into a hundred million dollar-a-year company.

This book is not just for people who love extreme sports. It's also for those of us who have dreams of one day changing the world--and making a killing at it.

Finally someone takes the initiative to tell the story of a company that's corporate, but not really corporate. Not Microsoft or Enron or Nike or any of the Big Money companies but instead a down to earth story about a tiny little 100 million dollar company that has a story that's actually interesting. And if the story itself got boring (it never did) I could still just look at all the great photos. This is an important book for a number of reasons. It documents an era when sports in America are changing. It documents a company that stayed true to those sports. It is inspiring in a way that will show kids to follow their heart, and success will follow. Finally, it isn't a big marketing scam hidden under false pretenses. What you see with AGENTS OF CHANGE is what you get, and what you get is a great book for a book shelf or coffee table; skate park or corporate meeting room of any company who targets the youth demographic.

This is the perfect book if your local fabric store doesn't carry any (or enough) silk to learn on your own. Words just can't replace running the fabric through your fingers to see if it will work for your project, and this book lets you do that and more. The information collected here is worth twice the asking price. Now you can order what you need off the internet sites and have a better idea what to expect.

I got this book through the Crafter's Choice bookclub, but I had to come here to recommend it. It is ideal literally for anyone. Someone who wants to know more about the fabrics they wear, or as a book for someone like myself who knows a good deal about fabrics to refer to, which I often do. I'm a student at Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, so I've taken textile classes before and know my fair share. I even have a swatchbook with many fabrics but this books is just exceptional. I will definitely buy the wool and cotton versions of this book eventually. Silk is my favorite fabric to sew in so it was a priority. The book has a really great layout also, making it not too much reading and easy to find the information you are looking for. You can find in the book what to expect from each fabric when you're sewing it, how to take care of it, all its variations, suggestions on fitting, really anything important that you'd need to know about a fabric.... and then more, making you knowledgable on the subject.

This book was love-at-first-sight. It doesn't blab unnecessarily about the fabric, just lets you touch and see it for yourself. While being very visual and tactile, it also devotes a page with all the relevant information about each particular kind of silk (and who would have thought there would be so many?!): how to care for it, how difficult it is to sew, the ideal projects for each fabric, its characteristics, its approximate price per yard, hints/tips for working with the fabric, etc. I wish there was a reference book like this for everything! It has really inspired me and given me the confidence and knowledge that I need to both shop for silk and start some projects.

When identifying fabric, texture is more important than appearance. Even though I don't sew, I do purchase vintage items for my prop company and I have to label the outfit in the description. If you want to learn about fabric, this is the way to go.

I cannot say enough good things about this book (or for that matter the entire series!).
The author has an entertaining, easy to read writing style. She presents a great deal of information, and rather than feeling overwhelmed, the reader is able to learn a great deal.
The very best thing about this book is the fabric samples. If you have ever wondered about what a specific type of silk feels like, then you will have your answer. You just cannot get this information from a written description. This book is indespensible for fashionistas, designers, sewers and anyone else interested in clothing or fabric.

This book is a beauitful learning tool and is so well done with illustrations. A definite buy.

This book has great information and lots of it. The author provides a lot of easy ways to attract life into a garden. Also, many plants are listed that thrive in midwest states (where the soil is like clay) were listed that I have never heard of before. It is explained why hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to certain plants, which helps you to think for yourself when you are out plant shopping. There are some tips and techniques that cost practically nothing which are fun projects for couples or parents and their children. I really enjoy this book and it is one that I can look at over and again and still learn something new to use in the garden. It will be a great tool this summer to me.

This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to garden in nature's best interest.

I found the book extremely informative. There are numerous recommendations of different plant species to attract and nourish North American butterflies and their caterpillars. The book would make a wonderful project for young people and their parents to do together to explore the natural world, beautify their yard, support dwindling numbers of species and just have fun together. Information about hummingbirds is just as delightful.

This book was just what I needed to learn about attracting humming birds and
butterflies. This has been very useful for figuring out how to start my garden.
I am very visual, so the beautiful pictures in the book and the general text design layout
makes it easy to read.

I was shocked, as the rest of the world about the horrible terror attack on September 11. To read this biography about this family who lost a husband and a father and by the strenght of God they moved on, that is so amazing. It was easily written, and I think I could have read it from page 1 until the in in one go, I did not want to stop reading it. I recommened it with all my heart!

Elizabeth Anderson

My faith in God has increased by reading this book. This book is well-written, honest, and one that many readers can relate their own lives to. The religious parts of this book are not "pushed" onto the reader. I recommend this book for people of all Christian faiths. This book reminds us all that many valuable things can come from horrible tragedies... even 9/11.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends BEAUTY BEYOND THE ASHES as a profoundly moving personal journey of this woman's American Dream which curdled on 9/11 into a nightmare when her beloved husband, Former Lt. Commander Tom McGuinness, Co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11, never came home.

Always a searching Christian, gladdened when Tom was called to Christ, Cheryl's spiritual life is transformed when she dedicates herself, now alone, to God's ministry knowing that that is exactly what Tom would have wanted. In that dedication, fraught with despair & succour, she experiences the trauma of sacrifice & the healing of forgiveness.

In addition to revealing her touching personal story, Cheryl McGuinness also shares twelve powerful Biblical principles that guide her through her loss & her life's journey. & as every life will contain sadness & loss, her suffering, devotion & surrender to God's love & purpose through Jesus Christ, is both inspirational & healing.

Beauty Beyond the Ashes is a great book with a powerful message..."with God there is always a way through even the most difficult circumstances." There are so many wonderful principles in this book that will challenge you to depend more on God and less on yourself. I admire Cheryl for the way she has allowed God to use this tragedy to help others who have also been victims of violence.

This is a wonderful book to read. I was both inspired and encouraged, knowing that God's love is evident even in the most difficult of circumstances.

I was truly honored when asked to give my humble review on this work. My heart ached as I picked up the book and gazed upon the cover picture of a family that continues on after being touched by hell itself.

Cheryl McGuinness is the widow of Lt Commander Tom McGuinness, Co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11. The pain of the memory of that day seared through my mind as I prepared myself for what words I may find written from this woman's heart. I have to tell you from the onset that after reading her book, I have a deep love and respect for her.

Mrs. McGuinness shares with the reader the events that happened on September 11th and all that followed, but she doesn't stop there. Instead of dwelling on the deep grief and pain that she and her family suffered; she shares the sweet story of her life with her husband before the tragedy hit and the victory she is determined to have now.

In reading her words you find deep commitment to a loving God, deep commitment to a grieving family, deep commitment to a supportive nation and unfaltering faith in her God for a bright future, not only for her and her family, but for the country she loves. That is a lot to come out of such a traumatic event.

She unashamedly shares her faith in God and tells how she clung to Him in each and every circumstance that she has had to deal with. The author shares insights for the reader that may be hurting, to help them overcome their crisis and bring encouragement.
I could never put into words in a short review what is inside this book. I believe what impressed me more than anything was the fact that the author does not just dwell on her loss, although you are well aware of the pain she has suffered, but understands everyday that someone, somewhere is experiencing pain and heartache; and because of that, she opens her heart to them, reaching out to help heal their sorrows.
It is said, you cannot truly understand pain unless you have felt it. Mrs. McGuinness understands the pain and through her words sooths the soul.

This book is more than a story of September 11th, it is a hand reaching out to those who hurt and saying, there is hope for tomorrow and we must never lose sight of that.
A must read! Thank you Mrs. McGuinness for your faith in God and in the future.
Shirley Johnson/Senior Reviewer
Denise's Pieces
MidWest Book Review

this book goes through the stuff every girl needs to know to take care of their bodies.

The beauty book teach's girls about god stuff and it gives you great beauty tips about nials breast and other stufflike hair, faces, zits, and how to get rid of them.

This is the best book...Ever. Period. End of Discussion. This book includes the REAL secrets to beauty. It's an awesome book because it gives you cool information on beauty but at the same time it encourages you to share your inner beauty through your outer features.

Concider this Idea- If you've read "Here's Lily!" maybe you remember she was a model? Well, you can start your own modeling class with your friends! Try it!

While the Body Book talks about some of the physical changes girls will go through during adolescence, this one discusses beauty, inside and out. Ms. Rue and the girls from the Lily series ask questions and talk about what real beauty is (having God!) and how to bring out your beauty on the outside, too. But it's not makeup stuff: more along the lines of hair care, face care, manicures and pedicures, etc. It also includes spaces to write prayers to God. I recommend it for girls ages 8-14.

This book is awesome. I love the Lily books and the companion books. I think it would be cool to use this information and start my own "junior models" club with my friends. I especially like the "gum in hair, peanut butter trick". This book is the best book in the Lily Library advice section other than The Body Book, The Best Bash Book, The It's MY Life Book and The Year 'Round Holidays book! I really like this book a lot. Buy it today and make your bible study time a lot of fun.

But wanted to keep it! My boyfriend is the surfer so I thought this would be a nice gift. But when it arived I looked through it... WOW. Now I want a copy! Beautiful

Be prepared to sink into a comfortable chair and sail-away into the magnificent photographs that Drew Kampion and Art Brewer have assembled. I never get tired of reading the text or looking at the glorious pictures.

But wanted to keep it! My boyfriend is the surfer so I thought this would be a nice gift. But when it arived I looked through it... WOW. Now I want a copy! Beautiful

The magnificent photographs in this book calm me after even the most aggravating of days in New York City. The pages of scientific explanation are clear and interesting. My only criticism is that the introductory "meditation" has a very religious/creationist slant. Otherwise, this is a beautiful book.

If you love photography and the sea, then this book is a must

I am a reader on the tail end of the boomer generation, yet I found the information provided in the book very helpful in assisting me when trying to place my grandmother in a nursing home. It guided me through the process as well as helping me to understand what she might be experiencing both mentally and physically. I completed the Crisis Information Checklist provided in the book in order to get my affairs in order. I also checked out the author's website and found it to be most useful! I applaud the authors for creating such a valuable reference guide both in text and online!

Highly readable with copious references to useful websites. The authors have cut through the chaff by prefacing topics with condensed but substantive overviews. Overall, I found the book to be a good practical resource. A good read.

I have relied on WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PREGNANCY, WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE FIRST YEAR, and now there is a book to tell us what to expect for every year after that! Great resource. A must for your home library.

I have spent countless hours worrying about my aging parents and what the future holds for all of us. This publication has given me answers to many questions and explained where to go for additional information. It also hit upon areas that I had never considered before. I want to thank the authors for providing such a valuable resource. The Boomer Basic crisis information checklist is great.

Great book. Very useful tool. The book really talks to the issues I face today. A must for the library. The website and the website references really make for a complete one stop for issues facing my generation.

"CIVIL ENGINEERING" PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS LONDON, NOVEMBER 1998

Bridging - discovering the beauty of bridges

This is a little book (235 x 187 x 13mm) in metric measurement, but it is a very big book when one considers the quality of its construction and the quality of its contents. Its stitched signatures contain 283 glossy full colour bridge photographs from 16 North American and European countries. The photographs selected for publication were of bridges constructed throughout the last 20 centuries, including 20 stone structures of Roman construction. The book consists primarily of photographs, with a brief introductory text for various book divisions, and brief and generally interesting photo captions. The book appears to be a labour of love for Mr Robert S. Cortright, a retired banker, and his patient and supportive wife Kathy who initially were

`enthusiastic tourists, thrilled with all of the sights encountered in travel. Gradually [their] focus of attention and the focus of the camera began to be concentrated upon bridges. Ultimately, that concentration escalated to the level of an obsession.'

This obsession, supported and guided by a perceptive eye and an intuitive appreciation for the conceptual genius and exceptional craftsmanship displayed by early bridge builders, and by the time, patience, and persistence to locate suitable perspectives, resulted in a portfolio of over 4,000 bridge photographs from 20 countries. Of these, nearly 300, considered by Robert Cortright to be his best, now grace the pages of this fine publication.

Unfortunately, the editors, in an apparent effort to achieve page format variety, an effort that has generally succeeded, spoiled a few of the larger photographs by superimposing caption text directly on the photographs. However, this one fault diminishes the overall quality of the book only slightly.

Bridging will make a suitable companion to Fritz Leonhardt's Bridges: aesthetics and design and to the Highway Agency's The appearance of bridges. It should be in the personal library of all bridge engineers, architects and other fine bridge enthusiasts. For those interested in this book, copies should be obtained as soon as possible, since the modest cover price of $29.95 suggests that its first edition may not be available for long. M. P. Burke

I'm a giver of books: novels, poetry, cookbooks, and more than any other single book, this one: "Bridging." It has art and love, form and metaphor. The beautiful images and the metaphor of "bridging" -- and the personality of the recipient and the occasion for the gift -- make inscribing the book for a friend a pleasure.

I grew up with the Mississippi bridges of St. Louis and have lived for decades with the bridges of New York City -- so I feel that the photographer is a kindred spirit and made this book for me. Cortright awakens the eye and mind to the beauty of bridges -- from all angles and in all weathers. These are not promotional postcards, but lovingly composed and arranged photographs that give us not only the settings but the personalities of these bridges.

See the Civil Engineering review below for a fine appreciation of bridge builders' and Cortright's achievements -- technically and aesthetically. Better yet, take a look at the book.

Like most people, I'd never really noticed bridges before reading this book. After looking through this book at my father in-law's house, though, I can't stop noticing every one I encounter.

Bridges are little pieces of land suspended over a precipice. Engineers have spent the last 3000 years trying to solve the problems of seemingly uncrossable rivers and chasms, and Cortright's photographic selection of bridges, spanning more than two millenia and 16 countries, traces the increasingly more sophisticated ways that builders have triumphed. Interestingly, many seemingly high-tech solutions go right back to the very first arches and cantilevers. Others seem totally out of this world.

You'll learn alot about the different kinds of bridges and their basic principles, but more than that, this book is downright entertaining. Cortright appears to be one part expert photographer and one part eccentric, and his gorgeous photographs are grouped by in ways that tickle one's fancy rather than in a dry, dusty textbook manner. Categories include Stone Bridges, Wooden Bridges, Bridges of Iron and Steel, Bridges that Move, bridges that people live on, Aqueducts and much more. It even has a photo of a bridge with a giant troll living under it (I kid you not). The final chapter entitled "The Little Woman" is sure to catch you by surprise, and best sums up the quirky charm that enlivens this book.

Long on great photos with just the right amount of text to help you appreciate them, this book is great for an eight year-old or for a highway engineer.

Highly highly recommended.

This unique symphony of pictures can create a newly loved appreciation of bridges or emphasise a love with its array of vivid images from all over the world. One may have had the pleasure to view, experience and feel many buildings, however this book will change the way you see and feel about "just" a bridge.

I bought this book sight-unseen on the basis of reviews and, honestly, was a little disappointed. This book is basically a collection of the author's own pictures he has taken in his years of travelling the world and visiting bridges. I think the personality of the book will win you over because he really does have a wonderful appreciation of bridges. But if it was cloudy the day he visited that bridge, you get a picture on a cloudy day. I also thought the printing was not great quality.