Personal Books

Coach Wooden is the Monet of coaching. His philosophy and work ethic, both as a player and a coach, are unparalled. This book will instruct anyone on how to deal with adversity both on the court and in the game of life.

You can't miss with Wooden's thoughts, words and advice. If you're coaching yong people, he hits home lessons that every player and coach should know and understand. Even if you're just a parent or someone's business supervisor, read this book to learn how to better deal with and motivate those who rely on you for leadership. Don't let the coach down and pass these wonerful skills on to the next generation. Wooden's vision will live long past his coaching days. Find out all about it right here.

I purchased this book as part of a Ph.D. level class as a lesson in leadership. Coach Wooden shows his ability to lead and educate through his expertise in the fundamentals and the basics. He demonstrates his ability to change tactics and styles with different individuals, which is essential in good,effective leaders. I would recommend this book on several levels. At face value, it is an exceptional story about an exceptional coach and man. At a deeper level, I think it portrays a good example of how to lead and and how to set an example for those you are trying to lead.

Excellent book examining the life , philosophy and thoughts behind a great coach. Not just about basketball but good for anyone coaching any sport or anyone wanting insight to a great life.

John Wooden is perhaps America's greatest coach. His UCLA basketball team won ten national championships, including seven in a row. Concomitant with winning was his insistence on character and virtue rather than getting caught up with results.

This autobiography is a fascinating glimpse into Wooden's extraordinary life. It chronicles his life as a player (many forget that Wooden was elected to the basketball hall-of-fame as a player and coach), his coaching days (mostly at UCLA), and a little bit about his activities after his retirement. Interspersed in all of this are Wooden's coaching philosophy, pictures, box scores of the national championship games, and Wooden's opinion on how to improve the quality of NCAA basketball.

They Call Me Coach is tremendous for any sports fan, especially basketball. It can also be enjoyed by those who enjoy reading about what it takes to achieve success. Wooden was not a dictator, but imparted his insistence on doing one's best to his players with meticulous detail.

TCMC is not a complete autobiography, and it omits many aspects of Wooden's life. It is certainly not a "tell-all" account, nor is it perhaps the best book on articulating Wooden's coaching philosophy. For that I would recommend another of Wooden's books, appropriately titled Wooden. There are also others out there.

They Call Me Coach is a wonderful account of a man who as achieved true life success, and you will enjoy this read regardless of your previous knowledge on Wooden or college basketball.

I rarely read a book more than once but this one is worth the time to do that. What a life the bride lived.

Since so many have commented on the story, I'll skip repeating all the wonderful things others have already said. Here's what I have to say:

I bought this book in 2001 when my wife and I got married at Alred's in Telluride (we were the FIRST couple to be married there). It wasn't until last month that I "found" this book on my shelf and decided to read it...I couldn't put it down!

This book should be mandatory reading for all high school kids for several reasons: they can learn what life was like back then, and to show that life doesn't own you a thing! You have to earn what you want and take the good with the bad.

Mrs. Backus was an incredible woman that lived through some incredibly difficult times, all the while never giving up or having a bad thing to say.

I would rank this book right up there with "Narrative of the Slave"; it's easy to read, extremely fascinating and leaves you with lump in your throat when it's over.

This book would make an incredible movie (just don't let them "Hollywood-ize" it. Keep it true to the story.

My son gave me this book as a gift and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It is a wonderful story of a young girl who marries and moves to a mining town in Colorado with her mining engineer husband in the early 1900s. As you turn the pages, you live day by day with Harriet and can actually experience the hardships of living in such remote areas.

It is one of the best written books I have ever read and I recommend it to everyone.
Brenda Ritter

Fantastic book. Well written with humor and sorrow. I picked this book up on a whim at a $1 book sale. Best dollar I have ever spent. I couldn't put this book down. Really a great read for anyone interested in mining life esp. what it was like from a womans point of view.

I visited Telluride and purchased this book while there. I read it, loaned it to several friends and they read it and loved it. My daughter loved it so much she didn't return it, so I purchased a second book. The author has a knack for writing and has led an extremely interesting life. At first I thought I enjoyed the book because I had visited a lot of the places that she talked about, but later found that people who had never been to CO enjoyed the book as much as I did.

I really like this book. It is wonderful guidance. The only thing I don't love about the book is the over the top "spirituality" of it.

The guide to living mindfully is wonderful.
The book really shows how fitness and transformation must take place in all aspects of life.

The workouts, yoga, and meditation guidance is top notch.
But, like I said, it does get a bit cheesy from time to time, so just know that going into it.

This workout program is well thought out, very balanced, and it works. It's genius to recognize the importance of meditation to making gains at the gym. I had never done yoga before reading this book, and have worked hard to teach myself the moves in this book. I "try" to do yoga three times a week in my office, and I have found Il'g positions to be far more challenging then ones taught in classes around here.

This program works.

An excellent mind/body wholistic health educator, that not only gets one into to great shape, but also help's one deal with the whole range of emotional issues that accompanies a fitness program. I have found that the techniques learned in this book extends way past the gym, and into every aspect of my day-to-day life. One doesn't need to purchase useless pills, prepared meals, or powders to full-fill the author's well thought out programs and nutritional advice. In fact, one can do most of the book's mind/body exercises on the local walking trail or in one's bedroom, and all the proper foods can be purchased at one's local grocery store.

PS. I've also lost 30 lbs and I'm in better shape now at the age of 36, than I was at the age of 18.

This a very thorough book. I continue to like it more as time passes. It has detailed instructions for weight training, yoga , and aerobics. Who else will give you a superlative set of istructions for 'downward dog', and soon after do the same for 'overhead squats'?,(usually used as an adjuct to olympic weighlifters' training regimens). Ilg understands that the three systems must each stand alone technically to be done properly, but he also understands the synergy of the three. To paraphrase one of Ilg's thoughts: Yoga gives one the body awareness to improve at weight training, and weight training gives one strength to improve at yoga. This a wonderful insight, and it's this type of thinking that adds up to making this sytem the single best for most fitness seekers. (( It's available from Amazon's 'new & used' sources for quite a low price. )) I only have one complaint: Many of Ilg's promotional photos show him using yoga blocks, but the book uses no blocks .

This book is phenomenal.
I really love Steve's focus on functional strength, as opposed to
strength for strengths sake.
Ilg combines Yoga, Strength, Cardio, Meditation and Nutrition.

The workouts are challenging and extremely effective, they will transform your body (and mind) if you follow through. Steve's encouragements all throughout the book are very helpful/motivating.

This is a refreshingly open-minded source of health and medical information by a person's whose medical training began with the most traditional of medical approaches and expanded because of his receptiveness to his own intuitive sense and compassion. Tremendously valuable source of information and plan to follow.

I received the item in good condition. Well packaged and in a timely manner. D.Caradine

This is the best book on self-cure and healthy living, period.
It's easy to read and easy to follow. A friend of mine recommended this book to me a while ago and now I am recommending this book to anyone who believes in healthy living.
Dr. Frank Lipman provides detailed scenerio, and cures for 20th century health issues that he has helped his patients to overcome. I loved 'total renewal' book so much that I've been buying it for my friends and family members. The best part is that you don't need to 'join' website subscription if you are looking to cure your 'condition' like Kevin Trudeau's book on 'Natural Cure' does. In fact, I was quite shocked to see how Kevin Trudeau of 'Natural Cure' book never tells you about how to cure any illness in his book unless you become a member for his website which ranges from $10 to $500, which is just another way of making quick money.

I must, at the outset, declare an interest in my review. I am a diabetes sufferer currently being treated with a regimen of drugs living in a country where the foods one buys from any supermarket are diametrically opposed to the maintenance of good health.

My concern here is with the book per se as opposed to the beneficial effects that I may have gained from following the guidance contained within. It should not, therefore, be taken as a testimony about the good works of the doctor's method.

Given these qualifications, the authors, Dr. Lipman and Stephanie Gunning have done an excellent job. Essentially the focus of the book is that western medicine has become too narrowly focussed on the treatment of the symptoms of diseases throught the widespread use of manufactured drugs. Dr. Lipman's background has led him to explore alternative methods of dealing with the diseases themselves and found that some of these methods have generated results which are hard to ignore.

The book chronicles a series of steps which people should follow in order to restore a sense of balance in our bodies and in our lives and thus enable us to be fit and well.

I would stress that Dr. Lipman is not advocating a wholescale rejection of western medicine. Instead he embraces a holistic paradigm which incorporates best practices from everywhere, utilising approaches from yoga and acupuncture as well as herbalism and other areas in concert with the traditional enlightenment medical science perspective. He advocates utilising our physicians as partners in our health which we need to take personal responsibility for and advising us to be assertive with our medical practitioners if we feel that our concerns are not being addressed.

There are some drawbacks however, to implementing some of the steps he advocates. Firstly, in my experience, it is not easy being a vegetarian in the United States even though he is not advocating a vegetarian approach. Similarly, for working parents in corporate America, there is often not the time nor the capability to prepare food in the right way. To those who say that one must make time, I would only say that those people have the means to sculpt their schedules the way that they want or they do not have to be like the other rats in this particular trap because their partners are bringing home enough money to allow them that luxury. The main issues are essentially twofold. The lesser of the two is the lack of provision of retail outlets where health foods and specialist vitamins can be purchased over the counter. For instance, although I only live thirty minutes away from the New York metropolis, the nearest health food store is a twenty-two mile, thirty minute car journey away. The more serious negative factor is the sheer volume of sugar and calories contained in foods of all descriptions which are available from supermarkets and food outlets all over the country. At a back to school night last week the principal was boasting of the replacement of colas in the drinks machines with healthy drinks, and healthy snacks instead of chips and candy, while across the street from the school the catchment are parents continue to chop for food at the local supermarket, totally oblivious to the damage these foods do to their health.

That aside, some of the practical problems of instituting such a program, the central point is one with which I do not dissent whatsoever. The key to a long and healthy life is clearly a sense of balance, a yin-yang from which many in the world have strayed. A recent study in England, reported in the Financial Times indicated that Britain is now the fat man of Europe indicated by the huge volume of people who are now considered morbidly obese. This problem has severe implications for life and health but also for healthcare costs directly and indirectly.

Total renewal is one guide to avaoiding such problems and I have no compunction about heartily recommending this book to all readers.

This is an excellent rendition for total self-improvement. The volume covers holistic exercises; such as, triangular stretches,
the wall pose, half dog pose and many more. The volume lists
strategies to reduce stress, maintain bone density, neutralize
blood sugar, decrease body fat percentage(BMR) and improve
aerobic calistenics. Regenerate the body with Glutamine, Gamma
Orizanol- (rice bran oil compound to heal intestines ), Omega 3
fatty acids,flaxseed oil, Gamma-Linolenic Acid, Licorice Root
and Aloe Vera. Products which help leaky gut are Glutagenics,
and Perm A vite. Colostrum may be utilized to assist the immune
system in operating optimally. The author provides good protocols
for treating insulin resistance and metabolic syndromes.
He treats insulin resistance with a low-glycemic diet, limiting
intake of grains/cereals, exercise, non-starchy veggies and
Omega 3 , Omega 6 fatty acids and Glucobetics. A sluggish
thyroid may be treated with Thyrosol from Metagenics. Adrenal
exhaustion may be treated with Magnesium 300-500 mg.,
Zinc, Licorice Root, Siberian Ginseng and Ashwaganda (Indian
ginseng ). The authors deal with parasitic infections via
Grapefruit extract 300 millgm, Candibactin BR or Paraguard.
There is a resource section at the end of the book which shows
where to purchase the supernutrients. The book is an excellent
value for the price charged.

Glenn Harold's voice is hypnotic and relaxing to listen to.

The echoes, music and other special effects used in this cd really helps, by the next day I catch myself restating the affirmations in my mind.

(I'll be purchasing more of Glenn Ford's hypnosis!)

His voice an proper grammar have taken a while for me to get used to without smiling. By the second track I am often out. Whether my life is changing I will have to keep you all posted.
;-)

I own several of Glenn Harrold's CDs. I've tried many other relaxation/hypnosis products over the years and Glenn Harrold's are by far-and-away the best I've heard. As many of the other reviews have pointed out, the production values on these CDs are extraordinary, but that's not what makes them special. What makes these CDs special is how good they leave you FEELING.

Many of the other hypnosis recordings I've tried would either put me to sleep half of the time or just feel like a chore to listen to. Glenn Harrold's CDs actually make for a very enjoyable and pleasant listening experience. And regardless of how I felt before hand, I'm always left feeling refreshed, serene and on an "even keel".

If you're looking to purchase just one hypnosis title, make it one of Glenn Harrold's. You will not be disappointed.

I've only recently discovered the work of Glenn Harold. This is one of his most popular CDs and there is a good reason why. I like this CD mainly because there is no b.s. like on so many others. Everything is straight to the point, first you relax, then some positive affirmations are suggested to your unconscious mind which has to absorb them and start executing. One drawback is that I find he speaks a little too fast and leaves no time for the material to sink in. Perhaps if the pace was a bit slower, I would've given this CD five stars. Overall, good starting point for hypnosis exploration.

I made this purchase a bit skeptical because I wondered if this would actually work for me. I made this purchase because I felt stressed with work and was willing to try anything.

I had tried meditation, but being the hyper, multi-tasker that I am I couldn't do it. I tried Unleash Your True Potential, and wow!! I listen through the beginning, do the breathing exercises.... Then I hear Glenn saying Wake up!!! I don't get to hear the full CD.

I don't know yet what positive changes I am going to experience, the one thing that has happened is that others at work have begun noticing my worth, I more assertive and and vocal. I have been wishing that I have abundance of time, and somehow its been happening. Upper management at the company I work for has begun noticing me, and have become very flexible with me, when normally I would work 60 to 70 hours a week, now I feel like I do 40, and I am being told "take a break you do too much." I still work longer hours than 40, but I have managed to break up my day differently, without affecting my work, but being able to squeeze in personal matters.

Another thing that has occurred, is that now I can meditate a little. I never could before. Now I can get myself to a very tranquil (internal) place anytime, anywhere. This has really helped me focus.

I have only been listening to the CD for two weeks. I would love to know about someone else's examples of success with this CD. Please email me.

What Is Your Life's Work? by Bill Jensen is more than just advice: it gathers life stories and case histories of those who succeeded in identifying what really matters, using the letters and work diaries of others to mirror reader struggles. While the overall message lies in identifying life purpose, all the advice in What Is Your Life's Work can be directed to business solutions and issues as well as more general life concerns over risk, worth, and achievement. An excellent, cathartic inspiration for change.

What's important about work? What's important about life? What would you tell your kids if you wrote them a letter about what's important, what work and life mean to you?

Bill Jensen is a self-described simpleton dedicated to fighting corporate stupidity. Living a simple life in this complicated world is challenge enough, but this brave soul has committed to an even deeper mission. Cutting through the stupidity, bureaucracy, and politics, you'll discover that corporations are comprised of people. People. Ordinary, heart's-in-the-right-place people. These people have feelings, experiences, perspectives, and stories to tell. They have vital messages to pass on to others.

Jensen has collected those messages. Thousands of them, in the form of letters. Written documentaries from the depths of consciousness of the writers. Some are short, some long. Some deep and profound, others relatively shallow. Each has a message. This book is a collection of samples of the letters Jensen has collected. They are assembled on these pages, not to be read necessarily from cover to cover, but to be selected and absorbed at will. Picking and choosing letters, as the author suggests, is not easy-you'll probably read most of them anyway.

The letters are organized into chapters representing what Jensen calls his Five Discoveries: Finding Yourself, Finding the Lessons to be Learned and the Questions to be Asked, Finding the Choices that Really Matter, Finding the Courage to Choose, and Finding Joy, Serenity, and Fulfillment.

The book concludes with a valuable chapter on getting started with your own understandings and choices. This publication is a learning, a sharing, an inspiration to look more carefully at your own life to see what really matters. Curl up with this book next week-end.

This is not one of those how to feel better about one's self or situation. Nor its instructions on to be better in life. The subject matter is like a brilliant snap shot of all sorts of people from various backgrounds and professions and levels of society. They share some of the most amazing fears, tears, and most of all lesson learned within their experience. there is no good and bad...its just a collection of REAL stories written by real people like u and me!!

get this for sure if u want to feel collected and want to reconcile yourself. I know i pick this up every time i feel lost and hopeless; it doesn't care if u made it or not as far as material is concerned. I had recommended this book to 3 people whom are very well off and yet they too have felt lost in their "supposedly" full lives. I gave this as a gift to another who just started their first job out of college. ItS fantastic stories that move u :)

How often do we define ourselves by our work? How often do we equate who we are in life with our job title: assistant director, associate vice deputy, CEO, chairman, stay-at-home mom, etc.? So many people focus so tightly upon their job description as their identity that they ultimately lose sight of their true self.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S WORK examines what truly matters from a distinctly human perspective. It does so not by dry, formal statements of principles (e.g., the 7-steps, the 10-tenets, the 9-objectives, the 431 value-added theorems . . . you get the picture). Rather, the author offers the wisdom of numerous individuals, precious metals refined in the furnace of everyday existence. The letters and journal entries, selected by Bill Jensen from countless thousands, answer the questions of what really matters in life and how one awakens (or reawakens) the passion in one's soul. The lessons are personal, poignant, and powerful; they are also as unique as are the individual personalities.

In lives of depth and meaning, certain themes emerge: self-respect, integrity, balance, the importance of family, faith, passion, selflessness, and compassion (to name just a few). Mr. Jensen's selections, for the most part, emphasize the transcendence of the individual toward a greater purpose than the accumulation of possessions, or the aggregate of mere activities and accomplishments.

There are two individuals, whose legacies to their children are sadly that of egotistical arrogance and strident selfishness. The reader will quickly recognize these shallow individuals - their stories too are most valuable.

Although a scant 200+ pages, WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S WORK packs a tremendous wallop, a wonderful wake-up call to those who have languished in a low-level comfort zone, or to those who aspire to a higher place. It is a wonderful series of discoveries to those seeking a life of fulfillment and meaning in those areas that truly matter.

If you've ever wished you had a parent or mentor who would have shared with you what it is that matters most in life, because you've noticed that people who get such mentoring seem to have some kind of natural edge in the world... you're in luck. Bill Jensen's book WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S WORK contains some of the most powerfully moving written exchanges between people that you are likely ever to find, and these gems of real life stories will set you on fire with their honesty and love. Every counselor, life coach, parent and child can benefit from reading WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S WORK, as some of the most important life lessons are touched upon in deeply personal ways.

In an age when it's been said that the art of letter writing is dead, this book dares to raise the subject of we can best find a balance between work and the rest of our life. The intense passion conveyed in most of the letters helps bring this subject to life in a way that is sure to help anyone rekindle their own inner fire, and regain a sense of what it is we're all working for that really matters.

Nothing mattered anymore, my grades went down, i didn't care about life, i wanted to die. so i attempted suicide, my wrist is scarred and mutated, everyone said i was insane. then i heard from the family circle magazine about this book, and i swear this has helped me, and i'm so glad that not everyone thinks depressed teens are insane or stupid. and i'm glad there are people like lisa hurka covington that are talking to teens how valuable life is, and helping them sort out their problems.

This book combines compassion and empowerment with accurate information.

The author, a cousin of singer Curt Cobain, wrote this book to help make sense of her cousin's suicide. It is readable, knowledgeable and thorough. It helps adolescents understand what they might be feeling when they are depressed. It discusses how to interrupt the downward spiral and find a way out. The book covers both social and biological aspects of depression.

I felt that the author had a good intuitive grasp for how an adolescent might feel when he was in the depths of a depression. She reflects back the sense of isolation and hopelessness so that a depressed person feels understood. She provides information on how to get help when you don't feel that anyone out there is trustworthy.

She empowers teens by providing good information about the causes of depression and well as the treatments. For those who want more detailed information, she provides a resource list. I especially liked her section on how to stay healthy once you have recovered from the initial depression.

I have recommended this book to several teens. They felt that it made sense and was helpful

This tome is organized extremely well; one can start at the beginning or jump directly into any chapter. The background information is helpful and lucid for parents and the stories from the teens themselves tells it like it is but at the same time gives hope and tells of "the light at the end of the tunnel" for depressed teens, that things do get better. Highly recommended!

In When Nothing Matters Anymore, Bev Cobain offers a teen-friendly reference guide to adolescent depression, complete with self-help suggestions, counseling resources, and case studies of teens who sought help for their illness and now lead "normal" adolescent lives. Cobain is a credentialed author: a certified registered nurse, a mental health professional, and a recipient of the National Mental Health Association's Green Ribbon Award for efforts on behalf of teen depression awareness; however, the book reads like Cliff's Notes of a more comprehensive text - as if Cobain simply compiled the bullet-point lists, sidebars, and quick-reference statistics from an American Psychiatric Association web listing for teen depression. When Nothing Matters Anymore relies little on Cobain's personal observations and extensive experience, and too much on peppy, inspirational messages from its case study teens.

The book is structured in two parts: What's Wrong? and Getting Help and Staying Well. What's Wrong? is primarily diagnostic, providing a checklist for the reader to determine whether he or she is depressed, explaining the varieties and causes of depression, and outlining the correlations between depression and chronic illness, sexual abuse, sexual identity, drug use and addiction, eating disorders, and "perceived differences" from peers. Getting Help and Staying Well highlights treatment options, suggests ways to seek help from family or trusted adults, and lists self-help activities for readers undergoing treatment. Both sections include "Survival Tips" that a health professional might suggest to any teen: Get Exercise, Have Fun, Eat Good Food, etc. There are some practical suggestions, like journaling and creating mood charts, and there is a chapter dedicated to the important topic of teen suicide, but the book as a whole rarely digs below the surface of the illness and underestimates its audience's desire (and perhaps ability?) to understand depression more fully.

One aspect of the book that seems borderline inappropriate is Cobain's ad nauseam referencing of her cousin Kurt, the popular lead singer of grunge band Nirvana, whose suicide shocked the MTV youth culture in 1994. Perhaps this approach is an effective way of securing "street cred" amongst teen readers, but this hook feels opportunistic at times, particularly in "A Letter to Kurt Cobain," a three-page, sappy, metaphor-heavy eulogy in which Cobain rues that Kurt's handlers wouldn't give her the access that could have prevented his suicide. I understand the intent is to show the readers that she cared for someone they cared about and saw the beauty of his music and the tragedy of his death as they did, but to a non-teen reader, it rings hollow. Had Cobain been close with Kurt, a reader might not bawk at this inclusion, but she mentions that she did not know Kurt "personally," a fact that makes the multiple, casual mentions feel like name-dropping.

For the last year or so I had a few questions for myself. Why am I here? Whats my pourpose in life? Cant I just be dead? Dang do I wish I could give my life for some one else. This is really good book for any teen...

Not only is the author a good writer, it has a lot of good examples of other peoples life situations so you can auctly say "wow someone can really relate to my struggle".
Anyways, again its a good book and if you have any questions about it my hotmail address is [...]

This personal narrative set in the midst of global history is a tremendous story. A touching and humorous account of an unforgettable era, told with skill. Couldn't put it down until it was finished. One reads it thinking, "This would make a wonderful movie."

This book is a compelling story about a young man who grows up on the outskirts of Birmingham, Alabama on his family farm and goes on to serve his country in World War II. Sacco made the unique decision of telling the story in his father's voice, which adds to the authenticity of the account.

This tactic also makes the writing come across as glib in places. While the elder Sacco tells anecdotes about bad food, and seemingly endless hours of drills in all types of weather, he glosses over some of these hardships as the story moves on. The book would have been strengthened a bit if the author had filled in some of those gaps for the reader. The liberation of Dachau gets surprisingly few pages, as one would expect this event to be the pinnacle of the young soldier's life.

However, there are a number of places where Sacco's first hand account proves very effective: The story is full of wiseacre remarks about the shape of a woman, and while these types of comments aren't acceptable in our time, in most circles, they add to the realistic feel of a group of young GIs serving half a world away usually without female companionship.

Sacco's account of the group dynamics in his unit is fascinating. There are a number of anecdotes about race relations in the Army. The elder Sacco seems to pride himself on having been more enlightened than some in his time, in part because he himself experienced prejudice. Finally, his account of falling in love with a young woman named Monique during a stint in a small French village on the border with Germany is truly riveting.

In sum, the book seems to serve as a realistic account of military service and of the horror of war. And while I was disappointed by the casual telling of the story in some places, one has the sense that the elder Sacco's sense of humor, combined with his ability to minimize certain aspects of his tough experience, helped to keep him going during some of the most harrowing experiences of his life. Indeed, the author's style provided plenty of comic relief. This book is more for those who like biographies rather than those who want a straightforward account of the facts and dates associated with these historic events.

I concur with the excellent reviews preceeding mine. This is a beautifully written account of the guys from the 192nd Signal Battalion from basic training to the end of World War II. I'd like to identify three significant elements undergirding this excellent account of the incredible fortitude of teenagers turned warriers in a brutal environment. First, Joe Sacco and his buddies had the immense good fortune of being under the capable direction of First Sargeant Ernest Thomas. His presence in the background is a constant element in keeping these young men the best that they could be. Next, Joe Sacco and his buddies were among those who forever identify themselves as members of "Patton's Army". Through Joe's eyes we can appreciate the inspirational leadership he offered in the worst of times. Last, these guys were such good guys--in their treatment of little children, a child German soldier, and others, it makes one so proud of all those very young American soldiers who could see the worst, and yet keep their faith in the importance of each human being.

Superbly written! At once epic in scope and intimate in detail, WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING effortlessly transports even a casual reader on an emotional and unforgettable journey. Author Jack Sacco masterfully recounts the true story of his father, Joe Sacco, an American GI in World War II. Instead of using the tired genre of third-person documentary-style writing to tell the tale, the author speaks in the first person, through the eyes of his father. The result is one of the most powerful and honestly moving accounts of the human drama in World War II in recent memory.

The story begins in 1943 on a farm in Alabama, when the young Joe Sacco receives a letter informing him that he has been drafted into the service. From there, it seamlessly moves through his training with the 92nd Signal Battalion, shipping out to England (where the soldiers witnessed the stirring and famous speech by General Patton), landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy, surviving the Battle of the Bulge and fighting their way across Nazi Germany to eventually arrive at the notorious concentration camp at Dachau by war's end.

The book, already powerful and moving up until that point, then takes the reader to a new level of realism as horrifying details of the camp are revealed. Considering all he had seen and experienced since landing at Normandy, the emotional response of the young Joe Sacco to the carnage inside Dachau may leave the reader near tears. Rarely, if ever, has there been a written account of the reality of the concentration camps so graphic, gripping or compelling. As if that wasn't enough, Jack Sacco has included actual historic photographs his father took during the dramatic liberation.

All along the way, the author crafts memorable and beautifully written scenes, from the terrors of battle to the tranquility of a snowfall in the forests of Alsace-Lorraine, from the sorrows of the death of a buddy to the simple joy of decorating a makeshift Christmas tree with gum wrappers. In describing the emotions of the men before leaving Dachau, Sacco writes, "Now, after a year of combat, each of us finally and forever understood why destiny had called us to travel so far away from the land of our birth and fight for people we did not know. And so it was here, in this place abandoned by God and accursed by men, that we came to discover the meaning of our mission."

This is not another book about World War II. It's an intimate journey into the heart of an American soldier, and as such, it is as triumphant as the men it depicts. Readers will not only delight in WHERE THE BIRDS NEVER SING, they will gain a new appreciation for the accomplishments of their own fathers, uncles and grandfathers who may have served in World War II as part of the Greatest Generation.

Where The Birds Never Sing is the story of Joe Sacco's years in the army during WWII as written by his son Jack. From the time he was drafted until the time that he returns home we live with Joe as he experiences everything from basic training to the liberation of Dachau, which left Joe and the men of his company, soldiers who had witnessed everything that war has to offer, speachless and sickened. It also, as Joe so eloquently tells us, brought home, all too clearly, to these soldiers just why they had left their homes to "fight for a people we did not know."

A remarkable story about a remarkable man. This book must be read by all who are interested in "The Greatest Generation."

This book is not unlike others of its kind. It is very informative about cooking whole foods i.e. nuts, seeds, beans, grains, legumes, and vegetables. Excellent charts for time and amounts which are helpful. The recipes are varied and interesting and I think the variety is carefully planned.

For people who are trying to eliminate allergenic foods from their diet and detoxify, or for those that need to be on a gluten-free diet, or for those of us who enjoy feeling like we ate something good for us that was truly delightful for our taste buds - this recipe book provides really delicious options for a whole lifetime of healthy living. Thanks Alissa and Tom!

I received this cookbook as a gift. My friends are already asking when I'm hosting another dinner party! I love this creative, wholesome cookbook and will definitely give it to friends and clients on my Christmas shopping list this year.

This is so much more than a cookbook. It is a dictionary and encyclopedia. This is a gold mind of good nutrition. There are so many tips and great ideas. This is the only book you'll ever need in the kitchen if you want to be the healthiest you can be.
And you don't need to spend a ton of money to have the ingredients on hand. The recipes use the same basic ingredients.

I purchased this book about a month ago and have been cooking most of our family's meals from it since. I am back to buy another one for my sister who is pregnant right now with her first child. (I thought the introduction to solid foods list for babies in the back of the book would be useful to her).

About 2 years ago both of my sons were diagnosed with ADHD. I have put both of my sons on a GF / CF diet (i.e. gluten-free, casein-free) to help with their disorder and it has helped tremendously.

I have found it difficult to find a cookbook that addresses moving towards a healthier whole foods type diet AND one that is gluten-free and dairy-free. This book is just that. (Though there are a few recipes with gluten, nearly all are gluten-free or give options for being gluten-free).

The book starts out with information on food sensitivities to gluten, dairy, and eggs. Which is very informative and simple to understand. Then it moves on to what it means to eat whole foods. They even have a beautiful full color chart about dietary components - reminiscent of a food pyramid but much healthier. The authors eloquently and simply state the 7 Good Reasons to Eat Whole Foods, which we refer to regularly to remind us to stay on track.

Then there is a chapter on eating organic food and a list of the top 12 foods to buy organic. The authors have a great chapter on Making the Change, which gives simple tips to help move towards a healthier diet. After that, a sample 7 day menu is given, which we have used several times to plan a meal - especially helpful when we have company!

My favorite chapter is the Stocking Your Whole Foods Pantry. I have modified it and typed one up of my own which I take shopping with me.

For the novice cook, there is a short chapter on Definition of Cooking Techniques. I have actually read through it twice and learned things I never knew.

Then the recipes.....mmmmm! I am not sure where to begin. I have yet to find one that we don't like. Luckily my boys are great at trying new things. Most of the recipes they like, though a few they have not, but that it typical for a 4 and 6 yr old!

Bean cooking charts and information on cooking whole grains are in the recipes section. Then there are little "chef's tips" and "going gluten-free tips" throughout the book.

Here are some of my favorite recipes: Buckwheat Pancakes, Banana Walnut Muffins, Peachy Millet Flour Muffins, Red Lentil Dal, Vegetarian Chipotle Chili, Winter Quinoa Salad, Tofu with Garlic Ginger Kudzu Sauce, Spiced Citrus Salmon, Indian Chicken Curry, Lemon Basil Pesto, Cabbage Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette(my boys actually love this), Beet Kale and Walnut Salad, Raw Almond and Vegetable Pate, Lemon Blueberry Pudding, Gingerbread Cake, Chocolate Truffles, and the Avocado Fig Fudgesicles.

This book has been worth every cent!

Trever Arnason
Wide Open: A Life in Supercross
Jeremy McGrath
HarperCollins
© 2004
Pages 320


Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a professional motocross rider, or what it feels like? This book is an autobiography about Jeremy McGrath's life. It starts off when he is young and is first racing BMX bikes. He races in the local races in California, but these become too easy. As he gets older he gets better at racing and moves on to riding motocross. As the book goes on it goes through his adult life as a motocross racer.
My favorite part of this book was when he was telling about the parties that he would have at his lake house. The house would be crammed full of people and outside would be more people. He wouldn't even know half the people because they would just show up on their boats and get off at his house. His parties sounded like a lot of fun. The theme of this book was to not give up. McGrath had many struggles, which made it hard for him to go pro. Such as people telling him that he wasn't good enough, and not being able to get sponsors. But he never gave up and he was very successful.
I think that this book was really good. It had a lot of interesting stuff about the industry. Even though it was an autobiography and I thought that it would be boring, I really liked this book.

this book is great. this book will give you some helpfull tips in between the chapters. they've got some of his worst injeries ever. this book is great i think everybodey to read this book

Jeremy McGrath has been my favorite rider for a long time, and I was pretty excited to find out that he had put out an autobiography.

I thought the narration and sequencing of the book were solid. They covered all the major events of Jeremy's life and career. It is a very simple book, seemingly targeted for a young audience.

I had issues with the placement of some of the pictures, as well as a couple of typos. For example, a picture of McGrath with the caption identifying it from 2001, while the chapter the picture is located in talks about the 1999 season. Seems like the could have made room for that picture somewhere in the chapter that talks about 2001.

One picture was identified as Jeremy after winning the 1993 championship, when it was actually a picture from the 1998 championship, which was described on that page.

I really enjoyed the writing style and the pace of the book. I read it cover to cover in about 4 hours. I didn't really find any of it boring. The way the book is written makes it feel very down to earth and easy to relate to.

The book seems to be geared towards a younger audience, which is why I found it curious that there were a few swear words included. Not alot, maybe 4-5 in the entire book, but when I read those parts, the wording seemed very unnecessary.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't find McGrath to be bitter or morally bankrupt. He worked hard for what he has achieved.

Seeing as how the book came out at the beginning of 2004, only shortly after his retirement from competition, it would have been rather difficult to include things that he has done since retiring.

One thing I know he did after retirement was to write a book... and it was a pretty good read. At least for somebody who has followed Jeremy relatively closely for his entire career...

Jermey Mcgrath grew up in southern Califorina. When he was 4 years old he started racing bicycles. He was very good and competitive. he moved up to 80 cc mini bikes when he was 8. He made his way up to the 125 cc. For a while he didn't have a factory ride, which is when you have a dirt bike company supporting you. Then, Kawasake signed him. Win he moved up to the 250 class, he went to Honda. He won 4 titles with Honda. Then, he went to Suzuki for a year and did really bad with them. He went to Yamaha and got 2 titles with them. He created a team called Team McGrath/Mazda/Yamaha when he was 30 years old.

It was a very interesting book. I could never guess what was going to happen next. I would have never guessed that he won as many titles as he did. I didn't know if he was going to get the win or not ot get the lead by the first turn. The races thatthey had in the book were exciting. Thje races were exciting because he won most of them. They were close, and i didn't know who would win untill the end of the race.

It was boring at times, like when he talked about his parents. It was also boring at the end because there was no activity. It would of been better if there would have been more ezcitment like races at the end of the book.

Over all , it was a pretty good book despite of all of the boring partsand the injuries. I learned several things that I didn't know about Jermey McGrath and about supercross and motocross. A lot of them were interesting to me.

Genre: Biograph
Three sentece sumary : The king of super cross tells the story of how he started as a privater with nothing; and endend up as a legend.
What i liked most about this book: the book told the story of a profesinall supercross racer.
What i didnt like and why:The book didnt say much about what happend after his mx carrer ended.
My fariot charecter and why: Well jeremy mcgrath of coarse.
My favriot line or scene: when MC was battiling for fist with RC.
What would i say about this book to some one else: Its a great book to see how mc followed his dream and became a legend.
One question i have after reading this book: What did he do after he retiered.
My strongest resone for rerading this book : Its about the king of super cross and how he started out with nothing and got every thing.