Services Books

Dinah is an American girl who wishes to attend a pricey small college along with her wealthier best friend. With an aim toward obtaining a horsemanship course certificate so she can work her way through college, both Dinah and her girlfriend "Bee-Bye" sign up the Owen-Allerford Riding School's Horsemaster course in England. You join Dinah as she works hard to care for her horse, learns to ride and jump properly and then teach others how to do so, and even acquires veterinary knowledge with fifteen other boys and girls. While this description may sound dull, the narrative never falters and you gallop (pun intended) into interesting lessons on horsemanship and horse care and end up learning something as you read the story without even trying hard. This book is the perfect gift for a horse-crazy child who thinks owning a horse is some fantasyland vision of galloping endlessly over sunny pastures without a thought to grooming and feeding. Dinah's classmates--like lazy Adrienne and flirtatious Enzo--and instructors, especially the precise Captain Pinski and the insufferable "head girl," Mercy Hale, are memorable as well. A blue ribbon to Don Sanford for his engaging and excellent narrative!

I first read this book about 20 years ago. I have an old beat-up copy and I read it a couple of months ago. It's a wonderful story. If you love horses and horse stories, try to find a copy and get this book.

I got my paperback copy in elementary school and still have it -- minus the cover, unfortunately. The paper is deteriorating with age, but this is an all-time favorite. I wish the Disney movie had been more true to the book's plot instead of going off on a different tangent, but that's Hollywood.
I also wish this book was back in print so I could get a new copy!

Porlock Vale Riding center was a real place.This book guided my adolescent years in Louisiana,where I found a tattered paperback copy in my junior high school library,ultimately leading me to England.Inspirational writing and accurate detail.It gives a true impression on the life,work and joy of the working pupils.I had the once in a life time experience of actually being a working pupil and doing the things discribed in the book.While It is no longer functioning in the same capacity,The vale is magical.And this book takes you there.

I have searched everywhere for this book from my childhood. I spent many happy horse-crazy hours reading The Horsemasters. I checked it out so many times from the school library that I don't think anyone else ever had the chance to read it! The movie version didn't quite do it justice,focusing more on showcasing Annette's talents than on the book's subject. For me, the book is as much of a well written classic as Black Beauty,My Friend Flicka,or the Walter Farley series. A wonderful read for young(or used to be young) horse lovers.

I devoured this in a half hour. As a theatre major, a friend of mine told me to look into the mother's role. I hate being typecast as a mom, so I went into it semi-hesitantly. I was seriously surprised and taken aback at the family dynamics so different from anything in our social norms. The play is daring, quick-paced, and brutally honest in its look at the dangerous topic of incest.

This play is so incredibly awesome that I strongly suggest any aspiring playwrights, actors, directors, and anyone who loves a good dark comedy MUST READ THIS PLAY! The movie features Parker Posey as Jackie-O and if you want to see this superbly written character come to life, then you should go out and rent the dvd as well. Wendy does an amazing job creating characters in a complex world of incest, murder, family disfunction, and insanity. You want all the characters to win even though you know they cannot. Beautifully comedic with crisp witty language and banter. Read it and I promise you will agree!

I read this book and was completely thrown from my seat. If you like the utterly messed up than this is your book. Jackie O. is the best character I have ever encounterd in any of my reading escapades. You almost want her to get what she wants and that is why it is completely twisted. My review does not even give the book its proper justice. Order it.

I read this book and was completely thrown from my seat. If you like the utterly messed up than this is your book. Jackie O. is the best character I have ever encounterd in any of my reading escapades. You almost want her to get what she wants and that is why it is completely twisted.

Upon finishing The House of Yes, I decided that it was without a doubt one of the best plays I have ever read. Set in the dysfunctional Pascal home during a hurricane on Thanksgiving, the audience gets a glimpse at the incestuous relationship of twins Jackie-O and Marty, their fascination with the Kennedy assasination, and what happens when an outsider (Marty's doughtnut shop worker fiancee Lesly) is thrown into the mix. Wendy MacLeod has written a brilliant play and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, black comedy.

This book is full of excellent advice that is transferable across any industry. There are not complex formulas and 12 steps programs, just a few simple rules to ensure you provide superior service to your customers, your friends and your family. It's really the difference between delivering good work and delivering work that is forever remembered by your clients.

Frankly, I doubt if there are any head-snapping revelations left concerning customer service but I continue to be impressed by recently published books in which their authors offer thought-provoking perspectives, insights, and suggestions worthy of careful consideration. Just as there is a buyer for every house, in publishing there is a buyer for every book. My task as a reviewer is to help those who read my comments to decide whether or not the given book seems to be directly appropriate to her or his own circumstances, needs, and interests. How You Do...What You Do offers a case in point.

Bob Livingston achieves his objective of presenting a comprehensive, cohesive, and cost-effective program that (with appropriate modifications, of course) could be put in place by almost any company, whatever its size and nature may be. I think that his book can also be of substantial value to individuals in sales, especially those who are relatively inexperienced although much of what he shares could serve as "reminders" to sales managers.

Obviously, the best an organization can do to support its sales initiatives (as opposed to its marketing initiatives) is to "free up" its salespersons - as much as possible - from responsibilities that are unrelated to the cultivation, solicitation, and post-sale process. Less time consumed by paperwork means more time available to nourish customer relationships. A company can maintain zero-defect quality control of each product it sells. It can also ensure that there are no foul-ups with order processing, delivery, invoicing, and technical service. An appropriate analogy would be to carrier jet pilots who also depend on an efficient system to provide the information they need, then get them and their planes safely on their way to each target destination. As Livingston explains very well, companies should be customer-centric, indeed customer-driven and develop a culture that recognizes what Peter Drucker observed decades ago: "If you don't have a customer, you don't have a business."

Of course, selling today must take into full account that customers have more choices than ever before, that many (if not most) products are commodities or at least widely viewed that way, and that in general, customers are much better informed than in years past, largely because of immediate access to more and better information, much of it provided by Web sites. (There are several Web sites that direct people to other Web sites. They function as an electronic concierge" and can be quite helpful.) Purchase decisions - including the decision to purchase nothing now or soon - usually involve several people (what Michael Boylan characterizes as a "circle of influence") rather than a single decision-maker, so cultivation strategies must be diversified and "customized" and yet (somehow) coordinated effectively. If you don't think that's tricky, try doing it.

As Livingston fully understands, no sales program or system such as his (or anyone else's) can ever replace a knowledgeable, likeable, principled, and energetic salesperson, nor was it intended to be. On the contrary, it should be viewed as an enabling device that saves a salesperson precious time and energy, improves identification and pre-qualification of prospective customers, and in other ways (to repeat) "frees up" her or him to focus on cultivation and solicitation initiatives.

His book will help those in sales to gain a better understand of what to do...and how to do it. (Those who read between lines will also get some tips on what not to do...and how not to do it.) Livingston's book can also help CEOs and other C-level executives to gain a better understanding of why a customer-centric, indeed customer-driven culture must be established and then sustained.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Joseph Michelli's The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company and two of Leonard Berry's books, On Great Service: A Framework for Action and Discovering the Soul of Service: The Nine Drivers of Sustainable Business Success as well as Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force co-authored by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba.

One could easily say that Bob's most enduring talent is to naturally motivate and encourage those around him. For those of us who have seen him speak, we have had the luxury of seeing the stories in this book come to life in the most inspiring and thought provocking manner.

You will want to photocopy sections of this book for your staff, bosses and clients alike. You will find yourself coming back to it over and over again. HYDWYD will be your valued asset in engaging those around you in service minded behavior. After all it is about the "how" you do "what" you do...

Bob is clearly the real life depiction of "how you do, what you do!" I can easily endorse Bob and his book without reservation.

I have had the pleasure of reading the book, hearing him present "How you do..What you do, and working with him directly and I can tell you that Bob Livingston is the real deal! The premise of the book extends beyond work and has meaning for your personal life as well. The book lays out in clear terms a pathway for improving "how you do" things, in many ways a lost art (or even value) today. It also provides meaningful examples to emphasize the points. It is fast paced and a must read!

Bob Livingston has a wonderful way of conveying service stories and solutions. He shares his many years of experience and situations from the Corporate World and presents simple solutions that we can all learn from. Every time I have a poor service experience, I wish that there were handouts in Bob's book so that I could share with people how they could learn to improve their level of service. How You Do....What You Do raises an awareness level of service second to none. This is a quick read, that will remain with you always. I highly recommend it.

Caregiving is a hot topic in books and magazines these days, but usually only a couple of aspects of caregiving are addressed. This book covers everything: what to do day-to-day; how to care for yourself, too; how to deal with simple health issues; and how to find support outside your home. The presentation is so accessible--charts, lists, illustrations--so you can go right to the information you need on any given day. It's full of other people's stories, which made me feel like we all go through a lot of the same things. It helps you do what you need to do and at the same time recognize when you're taking on too much, and what to do then. The book also discusses more medical topics (incontinence, falling, foot care, medicines) in a way that's easy to read and makes problems less intimidating. It Takes More than Love will help both the caregiver and the care recipient live better lives.

I checked this book out from my local library and found it to be such a wonderful resource that I'd like to purchase a copy to keep and read over. It contained very practical information, was easy reading (didn't talk in technical language) and will help me with coping in the stressful job of being a caregiver for my aging parent.

I've been taking care of my mom for about 2 years now. A friend recommended that I read It Takes More Than Love. It is filled with very practical, hands-on advice. I've already put lots of their suggestions to use. What I especially like is that it is written in a very easy to read style that is not full of jargon. Reading many parts made me think they must know exactly what I am experiencing. I'd recommend it to anyone who is caring for a family member.

Collaboratively written by gerontology expert Anita G. Beckerman (College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University) and Ruth M. Tappen (Christine E. Lynn Eminent Scholar Chair and Professor in the College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University) It Takes More Than Love: A Practical Guide To Taking Care Of An Aging Adult is a straightforward, "user friendly", caretaker's guide for anyone charged with the responsibility of looking after an elderly loved one. From learning how to balance one's time and needs, to assessing physical and mental well-being in one's charge, to communicating effectively with doctors and health professionals, It Takes More Than Love offers a wealth of solid, practical, accessible information and is a "must-read" instructional and advisory for anyone new to the task of looking after older family members or associates.

This book is written in a way that is never condescending; it talks to the reader as if one were sitting in their kitchen or living room. The content of the book is very thorough, concise, and informative. It truly is a Dr. Spock book for the older adult. I loved the sharing of personal experiences; they make one feel that they are not the only one living through this time of life as a caregiver. I also became aware through reading this book, of the importance of caring for self, even if the time needed for this is sparce. The ideas to achieve the time were very helpful. I highly recommend this book to all caregivers and also to all young adults to have to think about what they may need to know as they get older, and perhaps become caregivers.

a girl marries. she soon frinds herself a widow with a baby on the way. the heir to a fortune. some one is trying to put her in a nut house but her lover saves her. my favorite quote from the book " he lend over me and looked at the baby and said there's only one thing wrong he's not mine, that was his praposil for marrage" the 8th victoria holt book i read.

It's very hard to find good works in this genre, though in the 1960's they were quite the rage. Victoria Holt is arguably the master of this category. I think Kirkland Revels is her best, especially if you like the traditional moonlight, madness, murder, and dark old manor house novels. If you like atmospheric work with prim, but heroic, governesses beleaguered by jealous relatives and shady characters, this one won't disappoint.

This is the first nowel of Victoria Holt I read, since then she is one of my favorite writers. If you want to read some books by her, Kirkland Revels is a good choice for begining.

When Catherine came home from school in France, she found her home as gloomy and repressive as ever. She longed for a chance to escape from it, and when she met Gabriel, she did just that. They were married and she went to live with him in Kirkland Revels. Almost as soon as the arrived, Gabriel died. People said it was suicide, but Catherine thought otherwise. After she found out she was with child, strange things started happening, and she realized that someone was trying to kill her - and her child!

I love gothic novels, and this one is one of the best! If you have never read one before, or if you have read a hundred, this is the book for you!

I first read this novel when I was in junior high school. It was the second novel I read by Victoria Holt, but it was the first one that made me want to read more of her books with enthusiasm. It was very hard to put down this book after the first chapter. The suspense kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. Victoria Holt is a great romantic-suspense author and it's really sad that she's no longer around to write more books. And I'm even more disappointed that "Kirkland Revels" is no longer in print. My copy of the book was borrowed and I never got it back. I don't even remember who borrowed it. It was back in the 1970s. So now all I have are fond memories of the book and the story. I wish the publisher would print this book again (hardbound). I need this book to add to my collection of Victoria Holt novels.

Paul Durbin breaks down potenitally "intimidating" material into bits that were easily swallowed. His use of story and metaphor enable and empower the reader to truly apprehend his position. His visions are fresh and "real!" Thank you, Dr. Durbin.

This book was recommended to me, and now, I recommend it to YOU. If anyone wants an objective approach and exhaustive resource to/for hypnotherapy - Here it is! Dr. Durbin is a wordsmith as he deliberates on this pertinent subject matter. Cast your preconceptions away and allow yourself insight into a subject too often layered with misconceptions. Dutifully and honestly, Dr. Durbin strips away the misinformation and escorts the reader into a face-to-face understanding of hypnotherapy, his obvious labor of love . . . and mine too. Thank you, Dr. Durbin.

Kissing Frogs easily is one of the best books on the subject of hypnotherapy available on the market today! Chaplain Durbin's writing style is informative and easy to understand. This book covers the major issues which hypnotherapists frequently work with in a straight forward and practical way that includes real examples to aid in understanding. Before I was even half way finished with the book I found myself recommending it to several colleagues for their library. A must read for all practicing hypnotherapists and those learning hypnotherapy!

Chaplain Durbin's book concisely bridges the gap between ignorance and proof of God's miracles. Read on page 88 where it is states when the catholic church issued statements approving of the use of hypnosis. Additionally, on page 199 one can read about how a doctor was assisted by Chaplain Durbin to halt bleeding that could not be stopped. As an experienced hypnotist I found this book to provide excellent information. This book can be used by anyone who desires change in their life.

Paul Durbin is an experienced hypnotherapist and pastor. His book captures the key elements of hypnosis and presents a simple method for the reader to use hypnosis for his/her own personal growth. His love for people comes through and the techniques he teaches you will last you a lifetime. I heartily recommend this book! Kevin Hogan, Author of The Psychology of Persuasion and Tinnitus: Turning the Volume Down

This book is an excellent piece of history and well written. The author extensively researches private correspondence involving homosexuals and homosexual activists, newspaper reports, congressional reports and so on. The author makes use of the records of the most extensive congressional investigation into homosexuality among government employees, the Senate committee chaired by Senator Clyde Hoey, records which were closed to researchers until 2000. He also makes use of personal interviews and other biographic records that gives a picture of what homosexual life was like in Washington D.C from the 1940's to 1960's.

An important point the author makes is how previous historians have usually downplayed or, more often than not, completely ignored, the prominence of the homosexual issue during the McCarthy era. Part of the reason for this, the author suggests, is that historians have used Senator McCarthy's public pronouncements to provide them with a measure of the public focus on gay people. In his initial speeches in early 1950, McCarthy linked homosexual behavior with adherence to communist doctrines, but then, for no clear reason, ignored the homosexual issue for the rest of his career. Dr. Johnson shows what he says other historians have ignored, that other politicians picked up the issue and were successful in using in it. The Lavender Scare picked up steam in early 1950 when under-secretary of state John Peurifoy stated before a Senate committee that 91 employees from the State Department had been fired for homosexual activity. Pretty soon, newspaper reports indicated that while a quarter of the letters to McCarthy's office were about communists, the other three quarters expressed fear and anger about homosexuals employed by the federal government. President Truman's advisors told him that the public worried more about homosexuals in government than communists. In particular, the state department was seen in the public mind as a haven for homosexuals. In his syndicated column, the reactionary Westbrook Pegler continually stressed a connection between homosexuality and the State Department. The right wing continually tried to link liberal Democrats to homosexuality, portraying the Roosevelt and Truman administrations as being populated by effete, unmanly intellectuals and bureaucrats who raised the taxes of hardworking Americans and sold out to the Soviet Union at Yalta. There was much speculation that homosexuals had been placed in the State Department by Sumner Welles, who had been the number two official in Roosevelt's State Department. Welles had been forced to quietly resign after he drunkenly propositioned several male porters while travelling by rail with Roosevelt's entourage in 1943. Homosexuality would be used against Charles Bohlen, who had been one of the US architects of the Yalta accords, in guilt by association way in 1953, during his confirmation hearings to be ambassador to the Soviet Union. Bohlen was not gay but had a friendship with a gay State Department official named Charles Bohlen. Bohlen got the ambassadorship but his friend lost his job.

The official justification for firing homosexuals was 1) a foreign power, mainly the Soviets, could lure homosexuals in sensitive government posts into compromising positions and blackmail them into being spies 2) homosexuals demoralized fellow government employees with their "abnormal" behavior. The spying/blackmail issue was that which was most prominently played up. The Soviets were trying to lure female government employees into lesbianism so they could blackmail them into being spies, Senator Kenneth Wherry claimed. Dr. Johnson shows that during the Hoey Committee hearings, Senators looked for statements from medical experts that would substantiate their belief that homosexuals had weaker moral fibers, a greater vulnerability to becoming spies than heterosexual folks. The medical officials responded that no evidence existed for these claims but the committee ignored them. The Committee seized on the claim of the director of the CIA that, in the early 20th century, the chief of Austrian intelligence had been caught in a homosexual act by Czarist Russian agents and, in return for not making evidence of the homosexuality public, forced him to become a Russian spy. Johnson argues that, in reality, while this intelligence chief may have been gay, there was no evidence that he became a spy because the Russians threatened to use his gayness against him. Homosexuality was again cited as a cause for the defection to the Soviet Union of two NSA analysts in 1960. The lead NSA analyst seemed to have been gay but no evidence exists that the Russians used his homosexuality to blackmail him.

Homosexuality ranked as a very prominent "security risk" in the eyes of government officials. In 1953, State Department official Carlisle Hummelsine told congress that of the 654 dismissals or forced resignations of employees on "loyalty" or security grounds in the Department since 1947, 402 were because of homosexual behavior. Especially after Eisenhower became president in 1953, security specialists swarmed over all government agencies, using gossip from informers or background checks, to bully alleged homosexual government employees into resigning. The standard of the federal government was that even one homosexual experience in an adult's life, no matter how far in the distant past, automatically disqualified one for government employment. The number of people fired or whose application for employment in the federal government was rejected on the grounds of homosexuality, ran into the thousands. Many were subsequently blacklisted from gainful employment. A handful of people have been documented to subsequently have committed suicide, though this number is probably much higher.

The Lavender Scare is held by Dr. Johnson, I think quite plausibly, to have started the Gay Rights movement. It was not the Stonewall Riots of 1969 as is commonly believed. Frank Kameny, who had been fired as an astronomer with the navy (at the dawn of the space race) in 1957 for being gay, helped build on tentative gay organizational efforts in the 1950's. Kameny's organization The Mattachine Society of Washington gained national attention with a series of pickets before federal government offices, including the White House, in 1965. Kameny helped start legal challenges against the federal government's discrimination against gay people.

A very readable book on modern history of a segment of society that might go unnoticed. We all know about the Stonewall Riots and the importance they played in the history of gays and lesbians in the United States. THE LAVENDER SCARE puts that event in perspective and points out how this was only a part of the fabric started by brave men and women who finally decided to speak out against government oppression long before Stonewall.

David K. Johnson's history is an excellent, well documented, and captiviating account of a largely forgotten aspect of the Cold War and McCarthy period. While the reputation of Senator McCarthy is alive today, few people are aware of how the anticommunist and anti-gay purges affected life for all Americans, creating a bitter climate of fear and recrimination that felt nation-wide. The political spirit of that time will resonate for everyone who reads the news today, as political leaders are motivated not by a sense of justice, but by a fear of getting branded as being on the "wrong side" of a political issue. As Mr. Johnson points out, the only blackmailing government workers were subject to was that from their own employers. The fear, ignorance, prejudice of that time is brought vividly back to life in Mr. Johnson's book, as is the extraordinary intellence and bravery of the few souls who sought to make a just change in thier country. This is truly an important tale of freedom in America.

Rarely does a work of history both capture a particular moment in time and resonate so deeply with issues alive in contemporary public culture. As the country debates the possibility of gay marriage and the possible meanings of these unions, David Johnson's The Lavender Scare reminds us that homosexuality has at least one other time been conjured up as the nation's "bugaboo" during a period of political shifts and broad cultural change. In an account that is as riveting as it is sobering, Johnson shows how "containment of sexuality was as central to 1950s America as containment of communism." The issue of homosexuality sat at the center of discussions about "national security" during the Cold War period, resulting in the persecution and ouster of hundreds of gay (and suspected gay) federal workers.
The book is written with marvelous grace and sensitivity. Johnson's brilliant skill at research and powers of analysis are in evidence on every page. Much to his credit, Johnson has used those skills to give voice to those from whom otherwise we might never have heard. The impressive narrative structure of The Lavender Scare makes it read like a fine novel. And the callous devastation, the lives lost and ruined by the tactics of a government in search of a moral center after WWII, makes one wish it were a work of fiction. But it is far from that.
The Lavender Scare, rather, is a work of consummate historical research and writing. The enduring contribution of the book is that it shows how the "McCarthy Era" had much less to do with "the Communist threat" and much more to do with homosexuality and "moral panic" than we could have possibly imagined. We will never again be able to think of the Cold War period in quite the same way. Johnson has complexified and clarified perhaps the most vital time in Post WWII American history. The book is certain take its place alongside George Chauncey's magisterial Gay New York.

What a great book! I never liked any type of history. I almost failed it in high school. This book has changed that for me. The only reason I read this book in the first place was because the author is a friend of mine, so I felt obligated to read it. Otherwise I never would have considered it. Well, I was glued to it the entire time reading it. Not only did I find it riveting, angering, thought provoking and scary, but I actually learned a lot about history that I never paid attention to in high school! I also found it quite timely, and I feel like we're going through many of the same things in politics now. (John Ashcroft = Joe McCarthy)

This book is a must read!

It is difficult to overstate the brilliance of Ludwig von Mises' works. "Liberalism" is no exception, and is a great primer to tackle before reading more von Mises.

The most significant part of this book is probably chapter one, in which Mises discusses liberty, democracy and socialism. As anyone reading this review likely knows, Mises was a strict adherent of classical liberalism's emphasis on individual liberty and freedoms. He uses the United States' legislation of personal consumption of alcohol as an example of the dangers of centralized control over individual decisions. Mises is quick to admit that alcohol, cocaine and morphine are detrimental to our bodies; but by limiting consumption we embark on a slippery slope. How long until caffeine is restricted? Sex? The press?

By giving up on the principle of non-interference in personal matters, one allows for the possibility of the micro management of anything and everything down to the smallest detail. It is a frightening scenario that is being played out on the national stage by those in America who wish to legislate morality based on what they perceive to be "right." Mises would say that a government should exist only to guarantee basic human rights (liberty, the free flow of goods, property) and that to take them away is anathema to the principles of justice and liberty.

As the man himself puts it: "To give the majority the right to dictate to the minority what it is to think, to read, and to do is to put a stop to progress once and for all."

The audio version of this book makes an easy read even more accesible. Liberalism is hardly the most difficult book that Mises wrote. Yet it is well worthwhile, and the ability to listen to it fits with a busy schedule.

Mises wrote Liberalism in dark times. Depression and social unrest plagued Europe after the Great War. Fascists and Nazis were on the march in Italy, Germany, and Spain. Lenin and Stalin held Russia in an iron grip. It seemed that everyone was giving up on limited government and laissez faire. Mises understood that the future of civilization was at stake. Someone needed to revive the ideas of the enlightenment. Mises had already written lengthy books against inflation and socialism, but how many people outside of academia would read such long and sophisticated books? How could human reason prevail over the demagoguery of socialists and interventionists without a succinct statement of classical liberal arguments?

Liberalism is one of the most readable book that Mises wrote. It is concise and compelling. Mises makes a strong case for limited government in a mere 193 pages. The central message of this book is that capitalism is the only economic system that can deliver the prosperity and freedom that many of us take for granted in the West. Socialism leads inevitably to a rigid inefficient bureaucracy. Interventionism is a senseless, self defeating, absurd policy". Capitalism is the progressive system. Socialism is, in contrast, a reactionary system that would fail to feed the current population, were we to attempt to live under this system.

Given the length of this book, Mises does not explain his arguments as thoroughly, compared to Human Action or Socialism, an Economic and Sociological Analysis. Yet he does explain his main points, and these other books are long enough to deter many readers. For most people the detail of his other books is unnecessary, so reading Liberalism is a good way to economize on your time.

Times have changed. The fascists and Bolsheviks are long gone. Yet the ideas in this book remain relevant and important. There are still many people who reject the true liberalism of free markets in favor of welfare state liberalism. Also, socialism is not completely dead. Liberalism provides a means for people to understand the importance of liberty with relatively little effort. While the ideas in this book failed to turn interwar Europeans from socialism, it will surely contribute to the defense of liberty in the twenty-first century.

Mises wrote Liberalism in dark times. Depression and social unrest plagued Europe after the Great War. Fascists and Nazis were on the march in Italy, Germany, and Spain. Lenin and Stalin held Russia in an iron grip. It seemed that everyone was giving up on limited government and laissez faire. Mises understood that the future of civilization was at stake. Someone needed to revive the ideas of the enlightenment. Mises had already written lengthy books against inflation and socialism, but how many people outside of academia would read such long and sophisticated books? How could human reason prevail over the demagoguery of socialists and interventionists without a succinct statement of classical liberal arguments?

Liberalism is one of the most readable book that Mises wrote. It is concise and compelling. Mises makes a strong case for limited government in a mere 193 pages. The central message of this book is that capitalism is the only economic system that can deliver the prosperity and freedom that many of us take for granted in the West. Socialism leads inevitably to a rigid inefficient bureaucracy. Interventionism is a senseless, self defeating, absurd policy". Capitalism is the progressive system. Socialism is, in contrast, a reactionary system that would fail to feed the current population, were we to attempt to live under this system.

Given the length of this book, Mises does not explain his arguments as thoroughly, compared to Human Action or Socialism, an Economic and Sociological Analysis. Yet he does explain his main points, and these other books are long enough to deter many readers. For most people the detail of his other books is unnecessary, so reading Liberalism is a good way to economize on your time.

Times have changed. The fascists and Bolsheviks are long gone. Yet the ideas in this book remain relevant and important. There are still many people who reject the true liberalism of free markets in favor of welfare state liberalism. Also, socialism is not completely dead. Liberalism provides a means for people to understand the importance of liberty with relatively little effort. While the ideas in this book failed to turn interwar Europeans from socialism, it will surely contribute to the defense of liberty in the twenty-first century.

It's a shame that the liberalism von Mises espouses must be pre-classed as "classical," since the word "liberal" has come to mean precisely the opposite of what von Mises and his predecessors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries meant by the word. In today's lexicon, his liberalism is closer to libertarianism, although I caution readers not to dismiss this book if they dismiss the political movement.

What von Mises intends to show in easy to read eloquent prose is that capitalism and democracy are natural complements to a free society. Betwixt the two, prosperity and freedom of choice have been maximized beyond all other systems, and the general well-being benefits all, even those on the lowest economic rung. This is not a comprehensive exegesis of economics that one will find in von Mises' "Human Action." Rather, it is a general survey of the dominant themes that are given their fuller voice in his more detailed analysis. Thus, this book is an excellent introduction to democratic economics in general and to capitalism in particular.

What makes the book particularly engaging is its polemical tone. It is not a polemic, but it never loses sight of its opponents, and frequently takes socialism and critics of capitalism to task for their anxiety over the merits of being free.

After a brief introduction that is thoroughly engaging, von Mises covers four broad themes: (1) The foundations of liberalism and its policies; (2) liberalism's economic policies; (3) implications of liberalism in foreign policy; and (4) how liberalism is manifested in the political process. It's in the last section that he deals with doctrinaire liberalism and why, short of necessary regulations, the market must be free if man is to be free. Von Mises is unapologetically extreme in his views, and those of us who have come to expect an interventionist economic system will see why a "well-regulated" market economy has shortcomings. Alas, however, von Mises does not address the circumstances surrounding deceit, fraud, and other malfeasance (which is the book's only shortcoming).

The "liberal" of today will also learn a great deal about himself. Von Mises explores the reasons for socialism's popularity and staying power, despite its predeliction towards despotism, totalitarianism, and ineptitude. Socialism has no rational basis for existence, but it does have a very strong psychological dynamic that von Mises admits (and frankly doesn't discuss enough in this book).

After reading this short volume, readers will likely want to investigate these ideas further. Von Mises was a prolific author, and tackles many issues in any number of his works. Certainly, "Socialism" and "Human Action" are two of his major works that may find interest. Furthermore, one of von Mises' pupils was Frederick Hayek, one of the preeminent thinkers of the twentieth century.

If you want a concise, short, and eloquent introduction to classical liberalism, I can think of no better book to serve this function. Eschew some of the latter-day libertarians, and read from the foundational author of our times.

Ludwig von Mises was a great champion of individual freedom and limited government. Much of his work was devoted to showing the impracticality of socialist and interventionist schemes. However, his work wasn't entirely negative. In the 1920s, he published LIBERALISM, which was his positive statement of the case for individual freedom, or what was then called "liberalism" (which is to say, "classical" liberalism rather than "Teddy Kennedy" liberalism).

There is much that could be said about this book, so I'll just hit on a couple points. First, as Hans-Herman Hoppe notes, von Mises argues for the right of succession. If one portion of a country (even down to an entity that can function as a "separate administrative unit") wishes to secede, it should have the right to do so. Although Mises opposed anarchism, this position "logically" leads to anarchism. If "the state" is a voluntary organization that permits small groups to secede, then it isn't much of a state. Murray Rothbard drew upon this insight in making the case for anarcho-capitalism. (See POWER AND MARKET.) Second, von Mises rejects the natural law tradition of other liberal thinkers. His case for equality before the law is based on utilitarianism. Men are unequal, but this limited equality permits the division of labor and promotes social peace.

This book also provides a good introduction to von Mises' thought. A couple other introductory works by him for the beginner are THE ANTI-CAPITALIST MENTALITY and PLANNING FOR FREEDOM.

Live Ten Healthy Years Longer examines the principles behind healthy lifestyle habits proven to work. They bolster energy, help fight disease, and decrease the effects of aging. When applied long-term, they can even help you live longer. I like this book because it contains no pop-pysche diet-hype. It is a reality-based guide to healthy living. I trust what it says because its suggestions are based on well documented studies. I think so highly of it, I am sending a copy to my mother. I WANT to keep her around!

This book gives a fresh, and refreshing, perspective on a very tired subject. How many weight-loss books have we been subjected to recently? Not to mention the many books on how to live longer, healthier, sexier--you name it. In one day recently I saw a new book that said the secret to healthy weight is no carbohydrates after 5 pm, and another new book that said just the opposite. Readers are left to wonder who is right. This book provides a balanced view of how to sort throught all the health claims, and make very simple adjustments to the way you live that can make a significant difference in your health. And, these suggestions are all backed up by scientifically valid studies by reputable sources--not just someone else selling something. The book is very readible, and a must read for anyone who considers the spiritual side of their life as important as what they eat and how much they exercise. Every church should consider teaching a course based on this book as a part of their educational outreach to their members and the community.

I found Live 10 Healthy Years Longer to be a helpful guide to attacking the mountain of improving my health. My personal struggles include diabetes, obesity and aging. This book lists and discusses specific causes and solutions to many diseases, conditions and circumstances that lower our quality of life. From stress management and exercise to how to use food and drink to maximum benefit, this book covers all the bases.

Although I have studied nutrition and use of vitamin and herbal supplements extensively, I have not come across any other book that is both comprehensive and easy to understand and follow. Each chapter highlights key elements and charts for quick reference and also contains practical suggestions for implementing the material.

One of the things I enjoy most about the book is that it is not just a health manual. The authors speak in a warm and personal tone, revealing their own experiences with the principles they teach. They are both vegetarian and I don't plan to be. But they outline specific benefits to the various elements of their lifestyle so the reader can intelligently decide what parts they want to incorporate.

I would like to see a chart at the end of the book to summarize the numerous recommendations. Still, this is a book I will be reading and studying continuously as I stretch toward the goal of not just living longer, but living better.

In this healthy approach to a healthy life, Kuzma and Murphey present facts as facts, trends as trends, and speculation as speculation, a simply stated smorgasbord of ideas, insights and information, without force feeding their personal beliefs on the reader. First on the menu is the appetizer, "How Long Would You Like to Live?" The book proceeds with well documented and verifiable entrees related to physical and mental health, then concludes with dessert, which includes scripture and Sabbath to feed the soul. This would make a great gift book for any adult and a stimulating study for adult reading groups, both church related and secular.

One of the most difficult dilemmas for a health-care provider is to convince patients that they need to make and sustain major changes in theif lifestyles to make maintain good health and delay or prevent major illnesses. This dilemma has been greatly facilitated by a new book titled LIVE 10 HEALTHY YEARS LONGER.The book reports results of a 40-year Adventist Health Study with over 27,000 participants who made simple adjustments in their lifestyle to help them live 10 or more years longer as compared to a controlled group. The book points to the adage that it is easier to prevent or delay illness than to treat it. The recommendations are simple, easy to apply, inexpensive, and apply generally to persons of any decade. I have recommended this book to my patients and have seen dramatic results in those persons sincerely desiring to take control of their lives in regard to good nutrition, exercise, stress management, etc. I recommend the book highly as a guidebook and reference book for any person or family wishing to take charge of their health. Health-care providers and lay persons in general will find this book an extremely useful resource for achieving and maintaining optimal health and a quality lifestyle.

I sat down with a nice soft blanket and a warm cuddly dog and The Man in the Woods and read this book from cover to cover. It was very intense reading, I couldn't put it down. It was disturbing but at the same time mesmorizing. Very captivating

Like I shared with the author on her website - this book should be in Oprah Book Club. I have known this author since she was a little girl and I can't believe she grew up to be a great writer. Yes, Oprah should add this to her club because her writing is out of this world - its like you are write there. Her other book "Obsession" should be included.

Fantastic work!

Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/08)

As a psychologist for over twenty-five years, I thought I had seen and heard it all. However, Ms Gonsalves' story gave me chills and angered me-- what is society doing to help poor souls like her brothers? Her account and vivid details of the deviant behavior of her brothers will send chills up your spine.

"The Man in the Woods" is about one of Theresa's brothers, Stephen, who was a child molester and deviant in society. He took pleasure in intimidating and threatening others around him even when he was a young child. Everyone feared him even his own mother.
Ms. Gonsalves herself was a tormented victim at the hands of her brother.

Stephan was jealous of anyone who took the attention away from him, even pets. He once took a dog and tied it to the railroad tracks and watched a train run it over. He felt no remorse.

Throughout the years, Stephan's behavior got more deviant-- sexually molested by a teacher; he then turned to young boys. The interesting thing is that parents liked him and the way he would mentor to their children. Little did they know what the outcome was going to become. Young boys loved him and saw him as their father.

Readers will be shocked, sick to their stomach, as they read this true account. They will wonder how this kept going on for years and nothing was done. Was there any mental health treatment? Why would innocent people let a man like Stephan live on their property in a shed with no basic resources? Unfortunately this happens each and every day where deviant people can con, manipulate and torment people.

Reading "The Man in the Woods" by Theresa J. Gonsalves should give you strength to take a stand against this type of person and question authorities on why nothing is being done? I applaud Ms. Gonsalves for writing this book-- it takes great strength to write and re-live this. I hope that it was therapeutic for her as well as show everyone that we must be more diligent in our assertion to get these types of people off the street and get the help they need. If Stephen had gotten help early in life--would this book ever be written?

I couldn't put this book down. Yes, it is shocking and disturbing, but the author's style is readable and compelling. This is a real page turner, a good story and enjoyable, easy reading. Should be a best seller!

Wow and Wow.... First of all to the other reviewer...Please learn how to write English correctly.

This book is hard to talk about and as it says on the back of the book, not for the weak at heart. The things in this book are unbelievable but I am sure these things happen on a daily basis. Again I say Wow. It must have been hard for the author to reveal such personal things that happened in her family.

The question Theresa Gonsalves, author, asks at the beginning of the book is: Are we predisposed to becoming who we are? After reading The Man in the Woods, in this instance, I would say most definately. But she gave me so many other things to ponder. Would I turn my brother in if he committed such horrible acts and I knew about it? Easy for me to say yes while not in that position. I would have to be in that position to honestly answer that. What this guy did to kids, well, I could probably forgive him that as long as I knew he stopped or if I really didnt know the truth, sorry to say, I could actually forgive that ....but if I knew what he had done to my mother, he would have to be a dead man. Anyway, I dont want to give any of it away. I highly recommend this book. I read Ms. Gonsalves' book Obsessions and was highly impressed with it which is what made me want to read her new one. I do kind of wonder if Michael Jackson made such a big impression on her, did he also have an effect on her brother, but in a negative light, regarding the child molestation situation.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. A TRUE PAGE TURNER!