Personal Books

John Maxwell wrote a timely book on how to plan your life. No detail was left unturned in this book. John helps you define your purpose, where do you want to go, how far can you go, how do you get there from here! Then he helps you see your full potential by asking simple questions: What should you pack for your journey, how to handle detours, are you there yet. He than introduces the concept of helping others get to their dreams in route to your dreams. Is it a family trip, who else should be on the journey, and what should you do along the way! John than beautifully ties a bow on the book by asking what you like best about the trip.

This is a great book for planning the rest of your life. Again, I buy it by the case and give to everyone involved in any type of business! My way of helping others grow as I grow myself. A must read!

A popular leadership speaker and prolific author, John C. Maxwell has a great deal of experience in the process of personal growth, and he communicates it well. This book, published as The Success Journey in 1977, is a useful step-by-step guide to plotting your journey to success, right down to the thoughtful exercises at the end of each chapter. Maxwell does a nice job of mixing the personal and professional sides of success and encouraging you to redefine it. His definition is that success is following your true purpose and living up to your dreams and potential, rather than just accumulating wealth and possessions. The book is quite a fast read - probably because a good portion of it is devoted to quoting others - and its evangelical tone may not appeal to all readers. Maxwell also makes frequent use of catchphrases, which help fill a page but say little. We recommend this book to ambitious individuals looking for guidance on creating and following a workable, actionable life plan.

I am definitely a John Maxwell fan. This man is truly gifted and knows how to communicate so all can understand and benefit.This book was great but even better if read as a sequel. Don't get me wrong this is a stand alone book by itself but I am glad that I first read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. The 21 Laws is much more dry and technical while this book is personal in its application. You will better understand the process by first knowing the driving principles.There are several excellent lists that are explained in detail but my favorite is entitled, "How to Take Others for a (Life Changing) Ride. #2 states to , "Limit Who You Take Along". This one explanation alone is worth the book. It should prevent burn out and minimize disappointments.Page 177 has a chart on communication styles and the results. He applies this not only to the business world but to the family unit as well.I particulary like the chapter, What Should I Pack in My Suitcase. This will help me redeem my "downtime" as I travel. This guy is a genius.

The Roadmap to Success is by far the best motivational book I have ever read. It was the first book that I have read by Maxwell, and since then I have read four others. He teaches us a new way to think about success. Clearly stated success is: knowing your purpose, growing to reach your potential, and sowing seeds to help others. It is amazing how much better you perform and how much more you enjoy life when you view success through this framework. If you have been successful so far in your life, this book will help reinforce any doubts you have about your choices and reaffirm the actions you have taken. If you are committed to growth and development then this book is a great start to helping you put aside your fears to get the most out of your life. If you are closed minded, resistant to change and generally a pessimistic person this book is not for you. While those people that continue to make excuses for their failures or the way their life turned out will never succeed, those who have the right mindset and follow Maxwell's advise will surely go far in life and reap the beiefits and joys of success.

The following is what I liked best:

The section on Goals
They MUST be activities that are: written, personal, specific, achievable, measurable, and time sensitive.

The Quotes:
"You can not make any progress when you are facing the wrong way." & the another one by Charles 'Tremendous' Jones who said "The only difference between the person you are today and who you will be in 5 years come from the books you read and the people you associate with."

The Benchmarking idea:
To attain success you should ONLY pick 3 to 5 areas to work on & grow in at one time.

The section on Choices:
In order to make progress it will involve 3 choices: to gain something, to lose something, or to trade something
and when you choose: pick the former rather than latter:
Achievement over affirmation
Excellence over acceptability
Personal growth over pleasure
Future potential over personal gain
Narrow focus over scattered interests
Significance over security

And finally the Laws on Developing others:
Take someone with you: "There is no success without a successor"

Rating: Strong Buy

I bought this book at the American Book Center in The Hague, Netherlands, a few years ago. As I knew many of the places mentioned in the book, it took on an even deeper meaning for me. I love this book, and I list Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma as heroes. Definitely 5+ stars!

Excellent book. The book is fast paced, exciting and touching.

The risks and sacrifices that the author and her fiance went through for their beliefs and for unkwown people amazed and inspired me. Highly recommended.

The account of the author and her experiences fighting the German occupation of Holland during WWII is harrowing. It is hard to imagine that any human being can display so mush courage at such a young age.

The true story of true Christians, and Dutch patriots, Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma, and their courageous risk of everything to resist Nazi tyranny and hide thousands of Dutch Jews.
True Christians always love the Jewish people and Israel, and true nationalists are opposed to both Communism and Nazism, both the antithesis of national self-determination.
Diet recounts her own life, and experiences and what she saw and heard, as well as her deep faith in G-D, that guided her in all she did and thought.
Diet recounts her experiences in Scheveningen prison, where she describes how Jewish families, who were caught in hiding, were hauled into the prison, mothers, fathers and children: 'On the nights the guards brought Jews in, we always heard the children crying all through that place. It was bad enough for us to have to suffer through a place, like Scheveningen, but it was terrible to hear those poor innocent children crying.'
It is up to true Christians and righteous gentiles to stand by the State of Israel today, in the struggle for her survival and that of her children, against the monstrous Islamic-extreme leftist hate machine.

I have read more than 75 books of this genre depicting this period of history. "What would I have done under the same circumstances?" That is the question I am always asking of myself whilst reading these stories. This is the story of a group of people with the courage of their convictions...Diet's story is inspiring and touching. It illustrates perfectly that the power of prayer is undeniable and when 'all one can do is pray' one has done everything.

Although I wasn't bored with this book, I felt that it missed a lot of potential and ended anticlimactically. What could have become a story of international intrigue was ultimately just another Christian romance novel. It's too bad the Christian book world rarely dares to be more.

Lara is a young woman who just lost her husband to cancer. She desperately wants to have HIS baby. So, after a few months have passed, she approaches her doctors to use frozen sperm and fertilize her egg so she can have this dream child. Unknown to her, a billionaire who wants to live forever, has bought his way into the lives of those around her, and she ends up deceived, used and humiliated.

On the run, Lara never forgets the neighbor man who delivered her baby and she returns to him for help. A high profile trial is probably the peak of this book.

Angela Hunt certainly knows how to write a mystery book!!!

Angela Hunt is one of my favorite Christian authors! THis book keeps you going to the end.

"The Truth Teller" is a great novel. The characters are very believable and the dialogue is well done. The story involves a young widow who wishes to have a baby. Her late husband has left a sperm sample, but he died of cancer. Should she risk the pregnancy? Complicating it all is an evil and rich man. This smooth operator with a hidden agenda plans to use and exploit Lara, by having her become pregnant with DNA from an "iceman" who froze to death thousands of years ago.
The story is GREAT! Many plots twists and turns. I loved it.

This is a fun read for everyone. The fight of the "regular man" against the rich-and-above-the-law is similar to the style of John Grishm. The science fiction resembles a mix of Jurassic Park and Charmed. Theologians are given many deep levels and thoughtful questions to ponder. Christians will appreciate the positive representation of the Bible-believing faith.

Well written history is a rare treat, and rarer still is a history by one who lived through it. Grant writes engagingly and humorously and with great humility for a man who achieved so much. That he wrote this in the throes of cancer, finishing it on death's door and yet has no sence of savig himself or self pity is remarkable. It's a pity there is no one like this in the elections.

References to political memoirs often suggest that Grant's memoirs are some of the best ever published. Have worked my way slowly through almost 800 pages of his memoirs, the accolades are deserved. Autobiographies by their nature are bound to be someway self-serving (he makes no reference to his well documented drink problems) and I am sure many historians could pick flaws with some of Grant's recollections, but the book is exceptionally well written and interesting. To my surprise, the author comes across as being compassionate and showing a high degree of empathy for many he fought against during the civil war.

He is very honest in his commentaries and is not afraid to be critical of US policy. The Mexican-American war (1846-1848) was unnecessarily provoked and in his opinion "the war which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger nation against a weaker nation. ... We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that the Mexicans should commence it."

Grant is not shy in admitting that especially in his early military career, he was often frightened and would rather have been somewhere else when the bullets were flying. He is also self-effacing and sometimes humorous about his impact in early combat situations. "My exploit was equal to that of the soldier who boasted that he had cut of the leg of one of the enemy. When asked why he had not cut off his head, he replied: `Someone had done that before.' "

Grant is a very good storyteller and has an excellent eye for detail and description. His contrasting profiles of Generals Taylor and Scott whom he fought under during the Mexican war are models of clarity and painting pictures with words.

His account of the civil war contains numerous interesting anecdotes including one instance when inspecting a picket line which was close to a Confederate picket line. After his picket line called "Turn out the guard for the commanding General," he heard a similar command from the Confederate picket and a reference to General Grant. The Confederate line saluted "which I returned." - Amazing!

Obviously, the bulk of his memoirs relate to the civil war. He suggests that he was of the same mind set as Secretary of State Seward, "that the war would be over in ninety days." Grant is very respectful of many of his former colleagues who fought against him during this war. He has little respect for the "Demagogues who were to old to enter the army ... others who entertained so high an opinion of their own ability that they did not believe they could be spared from the direction of the state of affairs," but who constantly poured oil on the secessionist fire.

He lauds many of his comrades including Generals Sherman and Sheridan. While respecting Secretary of War Stanton, he does not appear to have been a great fan of his style of management. He also writes approvingly of Confederate Generals Longstreet, Lee, Bragg, Joseph Johnston and others, and takes great delight in ridiculing the military genius of Confederate President Jefferson Davis who he obviously despised. Grant writes sensitively of General Lee and the surrender at Appomattox.

The author believes the death of Lincoln was a disaster not just for the North, but for the vanquished South. "He would have proven the best friend the South could have had." Interestingly, Grant makes no reference to the Gettysburg Address and to the best of my recollection only references the Battle of Gettysburg but once. He was otherwise involved in the Battle of Vicksburg at the same time.

I glossed over some of the detailed military and battle descriptions in this book, but overall it is a great read. It is also interesting to note that the book saved Grant's penurious family from a life of poverty. Published by his friend Samuel Clemens, these memoirs became a bestseller after Grant died from throat cancer.

U.S. Grant is often said to have been a failure at everything in his life except his marriage, war, and his memoirs. The latter, written as he was dying of throat cancer in 1884-1885, provide a straightforward account of his years in uniform during the Civil War.

Grant passes quickly over his Ohio boyhood and time at the United States Military Academy. His service in the Mexican War and his financial misfortunes out of uniform between the wars get only slightly more coverage. His story really begins with his return to uniform in 1861 as a commander of Illinois volunteers. The narrative follows Grant's campaigns in Missouri, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, his elevation to supreme command of the Union Armies, and the final grinding agony of the war in Virgina. The account ends with the cessation of hostilies in 1865.

Grant's memoirs are remarkable reading for a number of reasons. First, they provide insight into the first-rate military mind of a consistantly successful general. Grant's ability to determine the essentials of a situation and remain focused on them are evident. Second, the memoirs are a classic example of clear, simple, English narrative. Third, they display the considerable modesty of a naturally reserved man, a departure from the egotism often found in the personal memoirs of famous men. Grant himself continues to be something of a mystery to historians; these memoirs do not really lift the veil of his sense of privacy.

The Union Army of the Civil War had more than its fair share of politicians in uniform and politically-minded generals. Grant was not immune to spinning history his way; careful-eyed scholars have found more than a few instances where Grant remembered only part of the story or settled a few scores with old opponents. Nevertheless, Grant's memoirs are a valuable resource for understanding the conduct of the Civil War, not least because Grant became such a key figure in the winning of it.

Grant's memoirs are highly recommended to students of the Civil War, and to scholars seeking to understand the art of war in the midst of rebellion.

General Grant's use of the English language is very interesting and informative. Absolutely a pleasure to read.

This book is a must-read for any Civil War or American history buff. Grant's writing is consistently clear, elegant, beautiful. He gives an engaging account of his wartime experiences that are accurate to the best of his ability, and he writes with introspection and humility. The personal letters at the end of the volume reveal much about this fascinating man, and are a welcome addition. Please read this one! Another wonderful book in this series is the volume containing Frederick Douglass's autobiographical works.

When the Grass Was Blue is a great book to read on a yourney of discovery the truth about the time period of the Civil Rights Movement. Not the truth in terms of facts - dates, names, places.... But the thruth as a direct, emotional, and personal affect the movement had on commmon african-american families and individuals - especially a child. For me, as an 'english-as-a-second-language' speaker, the book was easy to read, clear and understandable at its basis. Author's use of a main character as a young african-american boy directly experiencing the Civil Rights Movement in the family of an active mother, ever-drunken father, and a desperate-slacker-brother, gave a greatly drawn objective prespective on the issue and a point of view of an innocent child...

Phillip is an unforgettable person. He enters a classroom and lights up the dreariest of mornings. He excites the most reserved student to open up their mind, look inside their experiences and discover language they never knew they had. With Phillip, creativity comes first. The exploration and the journey are the means by which he arrives at the poetry. When he teaches, he offers a very safe (but not too strict) framework in which students of just about any learning style can let their imaginations run free.

With this book, Phillip shares his innate gift with the rest of the world. His words are honest, emotional and memorable.

Phillip Shabazz's When the Grass was Blue paints a poignant picture of the life of Kathoor, as the title suggests, a young boy growing up in the Civil Rights Era South. Each line, each verse and each story provide the reader with a clear and colorful portrait of this young man-child's world. Shabazz brings this real and turbulent tale to light through the eyes of a child and the words of a poet. A brilliant read at the end of the day for any child, adult or both.

i really enjoyed this book. most of my family read it and they loved it. we all learned so much form reading the book. it put me and my cousins on a new path. By: Rachel

Mr. Shabazz came to your class for poetry week. We were so lucky to have him. He was amazing. He taught us that the best poetry comes either things we experoenced or the things we imagine. This book he worte took our whole class back to their childhood. We began to open up more than ever in our poetry. The way he writes paints a picutre for every reader to see. I recommened this book to all who truly love poetry that comes from the heart. By: Asia

I really liked this book, why because i could relate to some of the things that he was talkin bout in this book. this book made me want to write more and put my voice out there. When Shabazz came to iour classit felt like i connected with him for some reason this man knew what he was takin bout. I felt that i learned alot of things from this book. Who ever read this book i hope you enjoy it.... Gary

I really enjoyed this book. I could really relate to some of the poems written in the book. Maddison

This book was unlike any poetry book I've read. It illustrated a story that opened my eyes to my history and introduced me to a creative way of writing. Shaakira

As a parent and an educator, I have always been moved by the ability of children to speak truth. When the Grass was Blue is a poignant remembrance of family life and of the civil rights era as seen through the eyes of a sensitive, truth-telling boy. The juxtaposition of personal experience, family struggles, and the dreams of childhood to our national experience, political struggles, and dreams of social justice weave both histories, the personal one and the national one, into a single, colorful fabric. By getting the details right, Philip Shabazz, has created a seamless story that does everything good stories should do--it captivates, entertains, reveals, and, when the last poem is read, leaves the reader wanting to know how life turned out for this wonderful boy. Readers, like me, who are old enough to remember the 60's, will relive their own experience through these poems. Younger readers and children will enjoy an uplifting story and learn how it felt to grow up during these tumultuous times.

Ianthe is the daughter of Richard Brautigan, although this book is more her personal story of overcoming her father's suicide than a biography of him. I would have preferred the latter. Still, you get a good, if incomplete portrait of Richard Brautigan through the eyes of the person closest to him. You get to know his multi-faceted personality, including his tragic drinking habit, but never understand his life or what drove him to suicide (nobody, including his daughter, knows). Some great stories about the last of the beats. I think my favorite was when he sat with a friend in his Montana cabin and shot out the hours on the clock, each hour on the hour, with his handgun.

Your favorite artistic hero from college days no longer rings a bell for many if not most. Richard Brautigan was one of the most innovative, creative, and "counter-culture" (as we used to say) poets of his day. His poetry was utterly refreshing and blew (literally) all the stuffy poetry elevated to a plane beyond God out of the room. As to this truly grand memoir by his daughter, Ianthe Brautigan, as much as a fan as I was - I did not know that her father's poetry revolutionized the genre and sold millions world-wide. Most profound of all, is Ms. Brautigan's literary gifts so evident in this book. For the price of a cup of good coffee, it is surely worth your time.

This memoir was written with sensitivity and emotion but never seemed maudlin. I was sorry when the book ended. I wanted more.

A lot of this memoir, written by Richard Brautigan's daughter, though charming in tone, is pretty much skimmable. What's interesting, however, are the descriptions of her father's writing room, particularly in San Francisco in the 1960s-70s on Geary Street and the surrounding vicinity. There are wonderful descriptions of the writing room with its typewriter and art hanging on the walls, such as the pencil drawing of a bus with real Lincoln penny heads as passengers and a picture of an ancient Colt pistol. And who can forget the small Buddhist shrine, the oak table with the stained rings of coffee cups, and the the back porch with those stacked piles of the San Francisco Chronicle. Like any good writer, Brautigan couldn't throw away a day's newspaper without going through it completely. This memoir also has some nice depictions of cabin life in Montana, and there as some interesting old black-white photos of Brautigan. Check out page 71 with it's picture of the ranch house kitchen and the bullet holes on the wall in the shape of a clock.--Alex Sydorenko, Chicago, 2001.

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Ianthe Brautigan stays on target throughout her memoir -- as the daughter of Richard Brautigan, and the daughter of a father who killed himself. Brautigan turns out to be an articulate author, and she expresses her feelings very openly. I feel callous saying that this is an enlightening read for R. Brautigan fans, because much of I. Brautigan's drive derives from her troubled feelings about him. But the book is also a biography of her father, the ways he lived (as well as the way he died, which is vividly described). While reading, I felt it was a reliable biography, from the POV of someone very close to him, who understood him, and had her own experiences with respect to growing up his daughter; it was a reliable/subjective biography, which turned out to have merits of its own that an outsider can't match -- for better or worse. What it loses in objectivity, it more than overcomes.

No doubt I. Brautigan has had many other life experiences too, but very impressively she keeps to her misssion to tell the story of her father, his life, his death, her relationship to and evolving feelings about it. I did not expect it to be as well-done as it is. Kudos, as well as my sympathy to the author who indeed had an unfortunate and difficult time due to his suicide. Regarding R. Brautigan, fans will appreciate her anectodes and stories, despite their coming from the place they do -- of having to learn that she can not "catch death."

Anyone who is facing the prospect of making decisions for a family member who is ill or frail should read this book. Some of the information shared is vital - not only on an emotional level, but a financial one as well. Many people make mistakes when choosing nursing home care. Bosworth shares things that readers can use to assist them in finding the best care available for their loved one. She also stresses the importance of making your personal wishes known to your family before they are thrown into a whirlwind of confusion should you suffer an unexpected medical emergency.

Bosworth never succumbs to self-pity, yet she shares her heart and her pain in a way that makes the reader part of the journey. I was struck with her compassion and her honesty. After reading YOUR MOTHER HAS SUFFERED A SLIGHT STROKE, you will feel as if you have gained more than the sharing of a painful experience - you will feel as if you've made a new friend. This book is a treasure.

Highly recommended.

The person who wrote this book is not a writer. It's not beautifully done and has some typos, but it's very informative about what can happen when a close family member has a massive stroke. Her skill is honesty, and the story itself is fascinating. She touches upon many important issues such as physical therapy, nursing homes, money issues, dementia, quality of care, feelings, and the strained relationships between doctors and the family of the patient. I read the entire thing the same day I picked it up from the library: recommended.

Talented author, Kathy Bosworth, has written a timely and informative book for all who have aging parents or know of other with aging family members or friends. In a step by step discussion of the effects of a stroke on the loved one and on others who are "standing by," we are taken along on a daily, weekly, and monthly review of a family's coping and a "first-hand" account as understanding and adjustment becomes a primary focus in caring for the individual, in this case, Kathy's mother.
It is a sensitive, touching, and informative account that can serve as a guide-book for many of us who do not understand the full impact of a stroke and its implications.
It is written in a language we can all understand and the reader is drawn into the daily experiences until the conclusion of the book. I recommend this book for every home library as a source of referral and information. Your Mother has Suffered a Slight Stroke is a necessary and helpful read for everyone and the reader is sure to relate to Kathy and her family and their touching and poignant, true-life experiences.
Evelyn Horan - Author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Books One-Four

A friend gave me this book when my mother suffered a stroke. This book helped me understand and know what to ask, when to ask and how to ask questions. I have read several books recently and this one outlined more about what I needed to know. I would recommend it highly. It certainly helped me.

I'm a bereavement counselor and I coucil with people who are experiencing many different types of losses. A mentor of mine told me about this book months ago. She called me the other day to ask if I had put this book to work by using the information in it to help others. It reminded me of all the great information and love in this well written book about getting a family through medical trauma. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with any kind of a disease. A stroke can come into any of our lives any minute on any given day. This book is about so much more than strokes.

This book is must reading for all women who cycle. I am buying copies for my daughters and all my friends. This is wonderful information that will turn on the light especially for all who suffer from PMS.
Gabrielle takes daily fluctuating hormonal symptoms to the extreme but it is with love and humor. She backs her information with lots of scientific research.

I saw Gabrielle Lichterman on a morning TV show talking about her book 28 Days. When she said I could predict my day based on my hormone cycle, I logged onto Amazon and bought a copy right then. It was just so intriguing. And I'm so glad I got this book. I love it so much, I'm now writing my first Amazon review!

If you don't already know, 28 Days bills itself as a daily horoscope that uses your body's own hormones to tell you what your day will be like. This is amazing! I used to be surprised when I'd wake up one day and be in a good mood or I'd wake up and be down or mad. Now there are no surprises. I know exactly what days I'll be up, down and somewhere in between. It's so cool!

But that's not all. Acording to 28 Days my hormones influence how I spend money, what guys I like and what my work day will be like (as if it's ever good anyway, but that's another story), what my relationship will be like and so on.

The most amazing part is how right on this book is. I've read it and re-read it (it's really funny, so it's an easy re-read), and I'm really surprised at how accurate this stuff is. (Why didn't I learn this stuff back in health class? I wish I'd known this stuff when I got my first period!)

I highly recommend this book to all women who have a menstrual cycle. It's accurate, it's a riot to read, and you'll be suprised by how much your hormones affect you every day!

I'm a little frustrated that I can't get Amazon.com to put the description of 28 Days on this page. (They're more bureaucratic than the DMV!) So I'm going to take the opportunity to tell you about it in the reviews section:

My book, 28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals about Your Love Life, Moods, and Potential, is a brand-new kind of daily horoscope. Unlike astrology, 28 Days shows women how to predict what practically every aspect of their day will be like based solely on the ups and downs of their monthly hormones.

How does it work? Based on lots of scientific research (I'm a health journalist after all), 28 Days shows women with menstrual cycles how their hormones affects virtually everything they do--their mood, brain skills, how they spend money, how they feel about their relationship, who they're attracted to, what they shop for, what they're best at on the job, and so much more.

Once you know how your hormones affect you, you know what your day is going to be like. And that helps you plan your life more easily than ever!

Even better? 28 Days is a fun, easy read. That's because I hate dry, boring books about hormones. Plus, I wanted to make the book fun to re-read with every monthly cycle. So you don't have to worry that this is going to feel like some biology 101 class. It's more like your girlfriend dishing on the really fun part of being a girl--your hormone cycle!

Want to know more? Head to my website at Hormonology[dot]info!

"Hormonology is based on hundreds of scientific studies conducted by endocrinologists, neurologists, psychologists and other researchers that show how hormones affect men and women every single day." ~ Gabrielle Lichterman

Are hormones driving your destiny? Hormones can affect our memory, verbal abilities, libido, energy levels, diet, relationships, cognitive skills and most definitely our moods. As women living in an age where scientific studies can empower our lives, 28 Days is a book based on this type of research.

Within its sassy style, pink edged pages and playful polka dot layout, you will find empowering information designed to give you insight into how your body changes from day to day throughout a 28-day cycle.

Do you find it confusing that on some days you have the ability to remain within your budget, but on other days you spend like there is no tomorrow?

Why do you feel flirty and outgoing on Day 10 and then have the desire to climb into bed with a box of chocolates on Day 27?

What day of the month do you look the most attractive?

How do hormones affect the intensity of an orgasm? What is the difference between
Day 13 and Day 17?

Would the day of the month influence your decision to go rock climbing or go on a meditation retreat? Here is an interesting list of things you might feel like doing according to the day of your cycle:

Day 1: Bed and Breakfast
Day 4: Amusement Park
Day 11: Safari
Day 14-22: Beach Vacation
Day 23: Spa

Now what happens if you don't have a 28-day cycle? Gabrielle Lichterman gives detailed instructions for how to use this book if you have a longer cycle. So, this book is really for every woman who wants to understand her moods, love life and ever-changing emotions throughout her life.

28-Days can be read each day during the month to find out what will be happening next. When will you be moody, excitable, irrational, creative, money conscious, reckless, productive, intellectual, lacking concentration, irritable, happy, content, adventurous or especially sexy. Each day is divided into sections for Mood, Mind (thinking/memory/verbal/side of the brain highlight), Romance (relationship/single), Money, Career, Energy, Diet and Health.

Day 2: Mood

"The sun burns a little brighter. Birds sing a little sweeter. And tofu burgers taste more like the real thing. Don't worry, no one's slipped a Prozac into your bubble tea. It's just rising estrogen and testosterone slipping a pair of rose-colored Ray-Bans on you that make you see the world as a beautiful place to be." ~ pg. 15

You will learn very helpful things like when to take Advil to prevent inflammation, how to prevent your hormones from taking over your life and how you can use the scent of vanilla to boost serotonin.

It gets even more intriguing when you start to plan out dates with your partner on nights when you know you will be especially interested in pleasurable activities. If you are especially spontaneous, this works just by keeping a day ahead. Inspirational ideas are included so you can make your fantasy your partner's reality.

"Giving yourself permission to indulge in your guiltiest of pleasures raises serotonin and endorphin levels, which help lift your mood and alleviate pain!"

If you want to read a book that not only explains hormones, but has you laughing and in a good mood each day, then 29-Days will empower you, make you feel good and increase your chances of experiencing more pleasure throughout your life.

Gabrielle Lichterman is a health journalist with a long list of articles that have appeared in over 30 publications including: Cosmopolitan, Girls' Life, JUMP, Marie Claire, The New York Daily News, Teen People, Woman's World and Vibe. She is also the former editor of WebMD's electronic health newsletters.

~The Rebecca Review

I was skeptical at first about the book 28 Days because I have a menstrual cycle that varies from month to month. I might be 25 days one month and 32 the next. But the book shows you how to adapt the daily "hormone horoscope" to any length cycle. (It's so easy, I couldn't believe it.)

Anyway, after I applied the book to my cycle, I was so surprised at how right on it was. On Day 4, I was more outgoing. On Day 13, I was so attracted to masculine-looking guys. On Day 22, I was sluggish and had trouble talking. On Day 27 I felt more creative and intuitive. It was so neat to be able to chart my moods and what I'd feel like and be like from day to day.

Besides being completely cool for learning about your own body (hence why I think this is the new Our Bodies Ourselves or at least a good addition to it), 28 Days is just darned practical. I now know when to schedule my vacations, client phone calls, wedding, going out with the girls, and everything else according to how I know I'll feel.

If you don't already know, the author gives a kinda sneak peek of the book in her weekly "hormone horoscopes" that are free on her website at hormonology.info. YOu can get a lot of information about your cycle there, too.

I got a copy from the local library, read it, then ordered a copy for my collection. It's well-written and difficult to put down once you get started. Buy it!

This is a quick and easy read about the Vietnam War. Focus is on stories related to the the soldier's care in Vietnam and the
critical cases sent to Japan. For those interested in the glamour of war, read this book for the cost of such glamour, crippled men. Since this book was written in 1971, it does not
contain much of the later aspects of the war. Generally it is unsypathetic to the American pursuit of the war.

Dr. Glasser has written a great story on the Vietnam War and the Hospital and personnel envolved. Having read it almost right through it brought back lots of memories stored in the deep of my mind. I had lived a time in a Naval Hospital and was put back together in a wonderful way by many good Doctors and Nurses in the Boston area. I will always remember them and hope that many that have never associated the hospitals with the war will now understand how many men went through those portals in those years. Many to never be the same, God bless them all, and God bless our wonderful country.

This book is a series of short stories detailing personal accounts of US infantry combat operations during the Vietnam War. Fast-paced, vivid and well-written. Stories cover the individual spectrum from the most gung-ho Airborne-Ranger to the most reluctant drugged-out draftee. Helicopter, river, armored, long range recon and regular infantry operations are all part of 365 Days. The book shows clearly the human tragedy of war at a personal level. Recommended reading for the hawk and the pacifist.

Dr. Glassner provides a unique perspective on the American experience in Vietnam -- that of a medical officer responsible for treating the shattered, burned, and exhausted men caught up in that conflict. There is plenty of heroism in his short tales, but usually it is the heroism of brute survival, of adapting to impossible conditions, of enduring the unendurable.

I have heard this book referred to as an "anti-war" work, and one that derides America's involvement in Southeast Asia. I disagree. Glassner simply tells it like it was -- he pulls no punches, so oftentimes reading this book is very unpleasant: how many "John Wayne shoot 'em up" memoirs of Vietnam recount the suffering endured on a burn ward?

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Vietnam War, the continued psychological and physical suffering of combat vets from all eras, or to anyone concerned with the consequences for our sons and daughters when politicans send our troops to war. Should be required reading for college students,...

As much of a panacea as the numereous cures for baldness! The cover is flashy and dramatic but the contents and title are deja vu and the publishing sub-par. To be fair the book is fairly comprehensive and does focus on a few key areas: the résumé as a marketing tool, filling the pipeline and your unconscious competence (what the author misleadingly terms "your genius" or "Unique Skills"). However, there are numerous books that equally convincingly discourage the use of a résumé in a tough job market. People desparately looking for work will try anything! And so there are a lot of charlatans in the unregulated career coach business. So I don't understand how everyone else gave the book 5 stars - perhaps the author coached them privately into doing it or they just coincidently found a job or got an interview after reading the book and attributed it to the book. When all is said and done finding a job is mostly a function of supply and demand. In a tight labor market and with rampant high-tech outsourcing if you don't have exactly what an employer wants or are unable to prove it you don't get the job even if your résumé shines like the sun because there are plenty of people out of work and plenty of engineers in China and India for a fraction of the cost. I would read this book if available free in the library or get a cheap PDF copy from the author's website (www.7keys.org). But don't expect to do everything it says and expect to find a job in 90 days - instead take it with a pinch of common salt.

There are very few handy guides for senior executives that can provide the needed help in their transitions. I am making a major transition in my own career now that needed very specific guidance and battle-tested scripts. I found that resource in Dilip Saraf's The 7 Keys to a Dream Job. The book lays out some foundational material that I found invaluable. It is this material that helped me achieve a breakthrough positioning and attain a transitional momentum that I found rewarding. The book warns of many pitfalls in managing an effective campaign, and if I had not read and taken that part to heart early on, I would have missed out on the multiple offers that came through in a very short order.

The book is rich with advice that is very practical for every stage of the campaign and is often counterintuitive in today's upended job market. Although the work is hard, the rewards make it really worthwhile. This is a life skill. Thanks for a great book!

After many years of growing and managing a successful marketing consulting business, I decided to change gears in late 2004 and return to my corporate roots. The impact of the economic tsunami that hit Silicon Valley - and particularly the high-tech industry a few years back - did not affect me until I started my search for a corporate position. While I knew from my clients that profound changes had occurred in the job market since I last worked on the corporate side, I was unprepared for the cold reception I received initially. After all, I told myself, I am an experienced marketing executive with a shelf full of awards and a portfolio of exceptional work.

Then I came across Dilip Saraf's book, The 7 Keys to a Dream Job. After reading it, I quickly realized that I needed to create a forward looking message that clearly articulates "my genius" (Mr. Saraf's words, not mine) in ways that intrigue hiring managers enough to call for interviews.

The book contains many examples that helped me fashion my message. Despite the fact that I can market high technology successfully without breaking a sweat, I was like the proverbial cobbler's children when it came to marketing me - until I experienced an insightful breakthrough from reading the book.

I refashioned my resume to resonate with hiring managers, and the responses were immediate and substantial. Within six weeks, I had three offers. I now have a full-time job in an industry that I love with company that needs and appreciates "my genius". The bonus from the process is that I discovered my genius and learned how to articulate it to make a difference in how others see me. At this stage of my life, I needed that perspective. So thanks to Mr. Saraf for this gift of self-discovery and for teaching me how to build a compelling value proposition around it.

After many years in one function in large corporations I was looking to make a career change, as well as a change in company. A "double whammy" as people called it! However, I wanted to reinvent myself and break into a new and emerging area that excited me.

The first step was to create a resume. I did this with the help of advisors from placement firms, and had it reviewed by senior managers in the field I wanted to get into. They told me it was a well written resume. I posted my resume on several job boards anticipating immediate responses. Weeks and months went by, but I did not get any calls in response to my postings.

It seemed that the traditional way of creating a resume kept frustrating my efforts to present myself differently. This was due to the fact that my job history did not directly support what I wanted to do in the future, although my unofficial role provided my with the experience in the area I wanted to pursue.

A close friend suggested that I read Dilip Saraf's The 7 Keys to a Dream Job. Once I understood the book's message, I realized what I had been doing wrong for the past two years. Using the ideas, tools, and the examples in the book, I completely redid my resume.

For me the breakthrough was how the book shows ways of doing ones resume, which is forward looking and is based on one's inner voice (one's genius). With a few coaching sessions from the author, and by using the many examples in the book I was able to redo my resume and confidently portray my skills to align with my new goals.

Almost immediately I began to get enthusiastic responses and interviews; something I did not get for over two years! I wish that I had read the book earlier and saved myself all the learning that took too long.

Thank you for a great book. It is inspiring!

I recently was laid off from a major company in the Silicon Valley. I have over 20 years' experience in a variety of industries and have been successful in different roles at senior management levels. I did not realize that this would pose a problem for me when I started going after jobs that seem to fit my background and interests. In most cases I did not even get a call-back, even though I knew that there was a good match and that I could do a great job in the position. After many months of such frustrating experiences, I came across Dilip Saraf's The 7 Keys to a Dream Job: A Career Nirvana Playbook! For me the book's message immediately resonated because it clearly showed how a backward looking resume can limit the power of your message if you want to leverage your past. The book pioneers a great concept of discovering your genius and then using that as a centerpiece of your value proposition. Once I understood that concept I got excited about changing my resume based on my genius and then building my value message with that focus. Although I have a varied background, this concept of showcasing my value around my genius (Unique Skills) allowed me to integrate all my diverse background and showcase my specific value as a highly focused ("laser") value proposition. Voila! That was the break I needed. As soon as I went out with my new resume, I got almost immediate responses that were exciting. I am now interviewing with the companies of my choosing and selectively going after the opportunities that I am interested in. What a difference! I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially for those mid-career professionals who are tempted to bury their past and shortchange themselves during critical career transitions. This book taught me an important life skill and gave my confidence back!