No Kidding Books

I have to say this is truly my favorite cookbook for baking! I purchased it in 1996 and am still using it to this day in 1999. The recipes and techniques allow you to make fat-free cakes/baked goods that taste as if they have tons of fat in them, simply with the use of fruit purees (mostly prune puree and prune baby food as well as pear baby food) I know it sounds unusual, but it works! I truly hope that the author (Donna Rodnitzky) will write further books on fat-free baking. I'll be the first in line to buy them.

This cookbook offers an unusual approach towards lowering fat content in baked goods, by using pureed fruits instead of fattening butter or shortening. I was originally skeptical, but after trying a few recipes, found little difference in flavor or quality from standard butter/shortening based recipes. Overall excellent, surprise your guests!

First things first, this book was great fun to read. The author writes with passion on her subject and clearly has a great love of this topic. It really does shine through. The description of different herbs is workman like and covers off on all the kitchen herbs in everyday use.

The book is punctuated by some interesting recipes. Those that I have tried I like.

Now getting down in the dirt: lasagna gardening is a combination of using composted materials coupled with a layer of news papers between the soil and the compost to eliminate weeds. Preparing rich compost from kitchen waste is something I do already, the use of newspaper as a weed suppressant is something I would never of thought of (very logical though). I love the thought of minimal work.

In general herbs can do very well in dry sandy soil and will tolerate poor conditions. My main problems are countering winter cold.

The technique outlined should be great for raised bed and limited space gardening. I plan to try out the technique on a small area, for growing annual herbs. I plan to document my progress on my blog page (check out if interested):

http://mysite.verizon.net/herbgardeners/id1.html

Great book, well worth a read if you want to try something different. Very out of the box thinking.

It's amazingly easy. That's what is so great about this concept. If you're looking for a gardening method that won't break your back...or your pocketbook, this is the one!

This opened my eyes of gardening.Be green and you will benefit from all the waste that is thrown away. MY NEW GREEN THUMB

I, for one, am going to do the Lasagna Gardening way this year. I can't wait. It makes so much sense to garden this way. I am so glad that this book came my way because I am rather new to gardening and lazy, I must add because I really don't care to bend over to weed the garden.

This should be my new way from now on.

I was amazed to discover that the techniques in this book actually work! As someone with some mobility issues, gardening has always been an ambivalent activity. I love to garden, but the activity itself is painful. This book provides a relatively pain free solution (for me, anyway)!
In addition to the gardening method, the book also gives you specific tips for successfully growing a large number of fruits, veggies, flowers, herbs, bramble fruits, and more.
This is the easiest way to garden - and do it organically - that I've ever heard of. Hooray for Patricia Lanza! I'll be Lasagna Gardening for as long as I continue to garden. Buy the book!!! You won't regret it.

I feel compelled to address the peat moss concern in the most critical review of this book. It is a shame that the ancient peat bogs in Britain were devastated :( but this is not the case in North America. Most peat in the U.S. comes from Canada which harvests a fraction, .006, of their peat supplies. Moreover, those supplies renew themselves at 70 times the rate of harvest. This, and more reassuring information is provided by the The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association: http://www.peatmoss.com/concern.php

With that bit of cheery news aside...I too share a few benefits I received from this marvelous book, trying not to duplicate comments of other reviewers.

E-Z Paths!: Tired of the dusty, dirty, noisy job of weed beating my garden's paths, I decided to use wetted newspaper covered with a few inches of wood bark mulch. The bark mulch was free from county road crews and a local tree business who were happy to dump it in my yard when they were in the area. When I ran out of newspaper I found a small business pleased to give me piles of discarded cardboard boxes. After one year the paths are still weed-free and the transformation puts a smile on my face each time I walk in the garden.

Modified bag idea: I loved the idea of bagging leaves and setting the bags over grass to kill it, but alas, we have few deciduous trees and I did not want to bag mulch. Inspired by Lansa's ingenuity, I purchased 10 EarthBoxes, set them over a grassy area, then planted winter crops in the boxes. This method has helped me reclaim my large garden bit-by-bit. EarthBox RB-EB-GRN-PBB Garden Kit Dark Green I have also used just four EarthBoxes to anchor four corners of heavy plastic with success.

Well written: Ms. Lansa's writing voice is much like having a conversation with a neighborly garden mentor.

Eco-friendly: The no-till methods help soil retain carbon as well as saving on fuel.

Conclusion: The book is as priceless as good heirloom seed and just as share worthy.

Add another book to the list of "must reads" for aspiring copywriters. THE WEALTHY WRITER by Michael Meanwell. I thought this one might be a little different from books by American authors, but found largely, what sells in America sells in Australia.

I found Meanwell's book to be less engaging at times than Bowerman, Bly or Slaunwhite's books, but also found that he went into much greater (and more appreciated) depth in certain areas. For instance, others simply glazed over speechwriting. Meanwell devotes a very indepth chapter to it.

I didn't make nearly as many notes in this book as I did in some of the other similar books, but I can see referring back to this volume on a regular basis. There is a ton of good information here.

Where this book falls slightly behind the previously mentioned authors is mostly in the formatting. In places, Meanwell's work seems crammed and some of the samples he uses have been reduced to a size too small for old geezers to read. These things notwithstanding, I still have to put this book in the "must read" category for the target audience.

There are plenty of things one would expect from a book intended to make writers money. First, someone wants you to send them money. Second, they have a book to sell you. Third, it is easy to do. Michael Meanwell doesn't tell you to send him money, buy his book, or explains how easy it is. Instead, he offers writers of all crafts--and specifically business writers--a true way to make it as writers. You may dream of screenplays and novels, but "The Wealthy Writer" explains the ins-and-outs of setting up a career as a copywriter, technical writer, and internet writer.
"We need to profit from our craft," Meanwell writes in the opening paragraph of "The Wealthy Writer." He also states writers should diversify, invest in themselves, and invest in themselves.
"I have found it is best to follow the KISS principle--keep it simple, stupid." Meanwell writes, then adds, "There will always be plenty of work for good writers."
Making it as a writer means making it with companies. For example, often getting that one sale will lead to future sales from the same company.
"It is not enough to be a good writer," Meanwell states. "You need experience in sales, business management, and interpersonal relations."
Next, Meanwell tells the aspiring writers to get serious about their business plan. Will you focus on one trade, or multiple? He also offers the thought you should study advertising magazines like "Advertising Age."
You study the magazines, decide to market yourself, but you still need a basic business plan. Meanwell writes that the next step is to write out some examples of copy, decide how much to charge per hour, and find resources to find out how much to charge.
Another prime example found in the text is the big clients all writers dream of getting. He lets readers know the bigger the client, the harder they will be to sell to, especially for a beginning writer. But, these big clients are worth the effort, and once experience is gained they might be easier sells.
Meanwell continues the book with explanations on technical writing and provides the eight examples to achieve technical writing riches. Then he approaches online writing, epublishing, and provides strategies to achieve even more success. For example, he says the best selling e-books are often how-to.
All in all, Meanwell covers much more than just these examples. Every writer may not have to buy the book, may not have to send Meanwell big checks, but they should not only learn but profit from his advice. This can open the eyes of those writers waiting for the big-fat paychecks. Public relations and advertising will always be huge markets, and crafting multitudes of documents for these and other fields are not easy. The same can be said of publishing an e-book. However, the practical advice given here by Michael Meanwell proves all talented writers can get those fat paychecks if they apply good business sense.

This is the best book I have read on what it's like to turn your writing into a profitable business. It's an easy read, yet packed with real life examples from Michael's many years in the trenches. His honesty about what it takes to succeed is refreshing, and I especially enjoyed the chapter on e-books. A great motivational resource and highly recommended.

I bought this book based on the great reviews posted but was disappointed with just about the entire book. Meanwell does have a point or two that one can use but overall this was a waste of money. There was not a lot of "how to" in the book and most of what he did provide was useless. For example, he gave these tips for smarter layouts:

1. add white space between headings, photos, and body copy.
2. use subheads, pull quotes, and raised caps as attention grabbers.
3. place select stories in colored boxes.
4. design in consideration of two matching pages.
5. make template layouts for future issues.

It seems this should be common sense for those about to launch their own business in copywriting. I would suggest reading SECRETS OF A FREELANCE WRITER by Robert Bly (excellent), START AND RUN A COPYWRITING BUSINESS by Steve Slaunwhite (also very good), and THE WELL FED WRITER by Peter Bowerman (also good). If you have to chose one, I would go with Robert Bly's book.

I came across this book quite by accident and what attracted me besides the GREAT title was.....the GREAT title...! I mean, who doesn't want to learn ways on how to make more money---even Donald Trump is always on the hunt. I picked up the book and could not stop reading it. It had me at 'hello' and I learned exactly what I needed to do to become very successful as a writer.

And mind you, not just living paycheck by paycheck but it teaches you and gives you PERMISSION on HOW to live WELL. And don't you desserve to be happy and not have an ulcer worrying about money? I hear ulcers are quite painful. It has been a long time since I read a book that gave me the step-by-step guide on how to make a REAL living in writing and not feel GUILT about being PAID for sharing information in print with others that make their lives BETTER. There is nothing sexy about being BROKE as I am sure every broke-back (umm, is that even a word?!..lol!) person will attest to. And both my hands are waaaay up in the air as having seen those days. Good-byyye empty wallet and "daddy may I have 2 dollars!" Okay...where was I?...Ahh, yes... Chapters 11 and 17 alone is worth getting this book. It discusses how to give a powerful presentation, how to make money writing speeches for others, and markets that are WIDE open just waiting to be filled; markets that are quite lucrative and will put more buckets of broccoli and grade A beef wellington dinners on your table than you can eat--even for those of you out there who are gluttonous by nature. YAAAAAA! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. :) I wholeheatedly recommend this book for how GENEROUS the author is in the sharing of information, in the clear steps he gives on how to succeed in the business of writing, and the way he OVER-DELIVERS.

You just don't find this so readily these days as so many blockbuster authors do not seem to care about truly helping the average joe, such as myself, but are far more interested in how THEY themselves can profit off the little guy----me. This author is quite the opposite. He cares about his readers; this is quite evident between the pages and he genuinely wants his readers' lives to be enriched in every way imagineable in the direction of their dreams, that is. Get this book TODAY if you are tired of working a job you hate and barely making ends meet and have always wondered if you can make a money-spilleth-over career out of writing----yes, YOU CAN. I'm on my way...!

This is a very realistic portrayal of how frustrating it can be for a thirtysomething woman to deal with everyone--family, friends, coworkers--pressuring her to get married and have kids. My major complaint was feeling like although Audrey resented all the pressure to get married and have kids, her decision not to have kids didn't really start to solidify until she found out Aldo broke up with Karen, his otherwise perfect ex-girlfriend, because he didn't want kids and Karen did, like Audrey was choosing not to have kids to make herself more desirable than Karen. I would have liked to see her make that decision BEFORE she knew Aldo felt the same way, then it would have seemed more genuine. How Audrey dealt--or rather didn't deal--with Aldo's betrayal also bothered me. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic hoping for a character who won't settle for just being a wife and mother and who believes that you not only deserve great chemistry and sex but you deserve them with SOMEONE WHO ADORES YOU AND DOESN'T CHEAT ON YOU!

Thirty-five year old Audrey Mills and her live-in boyfriend, Doug, were thought to be taking a long time to get married. All her friends and co-workers were married and having babies. It seemed Audrey had to go to a baby shower weekly! Her mother was constantly pressing her about getting married and giving her some grandchildren. Even Doug was thinking babies! He wanted to marry soon, move to the suburbs with a perfect house full of kids. No one understood that Audrey just did not WANT to have any children! She felt like screaming!

Enter Aldo Puccetti, a new co-worker. Work brought them together and lunch conversations showed that they had much in common. Audrey's whole life changed when she left Doug for Aldo. They began living together and seemed perfect for each other. But Aldo's ex-fiancé was not so easy to get rid of!

*** I liked how the ending was done, very true to life. Many readers will see themselves in this novel. A realistic and modern day tale of romance in today's high tech world. Good reading here! ***

I thoroughly enjoyed this hilarious look at one woman's fight with her biological clock. Even though I thought this book was funny, there were also some insightful points that got me to thinking!

Audrey Mills is 35, has been living with Doug for seven years now and her former child actress mother is pushing her to get married and have children. Audrey doesn't know what she wants to do with her life but she knows it's not that! Her older sister Pier has escaped by going to Kenya.

Then Audrey meets Aldo, a man who is not only handsome but he's also smart and fun to be with. They start going to lunch together and one thing leads to another but should she throw it all away for a chance at happiness?

I loved the zany characters in this fun book and hope to see more of Wendy Tokunaga's work.

Tokunaga creates a character in Audrey who is realistic, at times frustratingly so, fraught as she is with impulsiveness and uncertainty; all the insecurities which torment human interaction. The author's conversational tone imparts to readers the sense of listening while a troubled friend unfolds layers of a story composed of decades of interwoven influences.

We are invited to lean in and listen as Audrey confesses: Lylah's camera-ready childhood has warped her sense of individualism. Her sister Pier's grand overseas adventure has unsettled her own career choices. Doug's demeaning--if well-meaning--behavior has driven her into the arms of another man, and Aldo gives her emotional and sexual attention that changes her life and empowers her choices.

Thirty-five year old Audrey Mills and her live-in boyfriend, Doug, were thought to be taking a long time to get married. All her friends and co-workers were married and having babies. It seemed Audrey had to go to a baby shower weekly! Her mother was constantly pressing her about getting married and giving her some grandchildren. Even Doug was thinking babies! He wanted to marry soon, move to the suburbs with a perfect house full of kids. No one understood that Audrey just did not WANT to have any children! She felt like screaming!

Enter Aldo Puccetti, a new co-worker. Work brought them together and lunch conversations showed that they had much in common. Audrey's whole life changed when she left Doug for Aldo. They began living together and seemed perfect for each other. But Aldo's ex-fiancé was not so easy to get rid of!

*** I liked how the ending was done, very true to life. Many readers will see themselves in this novel. A realistic and modern day tale of romance in today's high tech world. Good reading here! ***

If you need a way to cook stuffed mushrooms, potato salad, red-bean chili, cornbread, salad dressings, even pie or bread with no cholesterol, then this cookbook is for you. The authors discuss the different types of cholesterol, and list the amount found in many common foods (631 mg. in a 31/2 oz. serving of chicken liver was at the top of the list.) Enough for 2 days max! If that is not your favorite, then how about some yummy shrimp (166 mg. in 3 oz.) It doesn't take long to reach the 300 daily maximum amount. Being new to the joys of tofu,tempeh and miso, I needed some ideas of how to cook with it. The Vegetable breakfast scramble on pg.176 is as close to scrambled eggs as you can find. It is also possible to make tofu resemble veal cutlets when marinated in the right ingredients. It has been a gold mine of good nutritional information!

The method is to produce a three page digital document with a catchy title, incurring no printing or production expense worth mentioning, then hope a very large number of people to pay six bucks to download it.