Sales Books

"Up Your Service" is really a wonderful book from a true "guru" of customer service. The book is beautifully set up to be easy to use, and a pleasure to work with. Ron Kaufmans excitement and passion for excellence comes through so clearly in the thought behind the production of this book. (This guy is thinking about the reader (customer) very clearly in the book design. All books should be this easy and fun to deal with. Anyone dealing with customer service, (and we all are!) should have this one in their library.

"Up Your Service" is really a wonderful book from a true "guru" of customer service. The book is beautifully set up to be easy to use, and a pleasure to work with. Ron Kaufmans excitement and passion for excellence comes through so clearly in the thought behind the production of this book. (This guy is thinking about the reader (customer) very clearly in the book design. All books should be this easy and fun to deal with. Anyone dealing with customer service, (and we all are!) should have this one in their library.

Ron Kaufman has produced a book according to his highest standards of service: producing not just customer satisfaction but delight. This book is fast-paced with humor and solid business sense. If you want to know how you can produce delighted customers and all the benefits from those relatioships, read this.

This book will change the way you approach clients, help you get your point across and make people like you. It will help you sell your idea, your product or yourself. Ron Kaufman describes how to be generous, add value and demonstrate concern-how to be in "service". He reminds us that delighted customers are more loyal, come more often, spend more money and tell their friends about you.

Ron Kaufman is a legendary marketer, a celebrated keynote speaker and an enthusiastic service pioneer. He has attacked book writing with the same passion as his business consulting.

As the author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has something to sell. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

Up your service will provide a rock solid foundation for virtually any customer service initiative. If you want to know how it should be done within your organisation, read it.

Almost the exact same thing can be said of this 721 page tome as can be said for Durant's "The Age of Faith". I enjoyed every page, never bored, but how much will I retain? I suspect not a lot. I find I agree quite well with Spinoza, at least as explained by Durant, as I have not actually read Spinoza. And I had not realized how badly Louis XIV almost devastated France due to all his wars. Moliere was here, Racine, Thomas Hobbes, Newton, a powerhouse of thought in all fields of knowledge. Superstition and ignorance begin to be broken, from 1648 to 1715. Also liked what Pascal had to say about the universe and man. And Cromwell - what a figure! Milton too, Peter the Great. Fabulous age. Fabulous book.

Over the past year I have read extensively about the 17th century. "The Age of Louis XIV" is the best book which I have found on the period. Volume VII of Will and Ariel Durant's multi-volume "Story of Civilization", this book documents more detail of the era than any others which I have read.

The book begins with sections on France and England. The next section is "The Periphery" dealing with Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, and Iberia. After the geographically oriented sections, the reader is treated to sections organized along intellectual topics, such as science, philosophy, and faith and reason, which contain chapters dealing with specific philosophers or scientists. The conclusion wraps it all up with the denouement of Louis XIV.

This book makes the 17th century understandable. The premier character of the era was Louis XIV, the Sun King of France. During his reign, the policies of he and his ministers established France's day in the sun. Absolute ruler of the most populous and powerful kingdom in Western Europe, Louis made France the center of Western Civilization. On these pages we learn about the Fronde, the revolt by the nobility at the rising of his Sun, from which Louis acquired his life long aversion to Paris, Louis' aggressive support of Catholicism, while at the same time maintaining illicit personal relationships, and his generous support for the arts. This era, rich in French literature and theatre, as represented in Moliere, is revealed.

The forces threatening to rend the Catholic Church further asunder, as well as the relationship between King and Pope, are dealt with in detail. I was surprised to learn that Louis exercised a power over the Church in France similar to that which Henry VIII had previously established over the Church in England.

England, meanwhile, endured Cromwell, The Stuart Restoration, and the Glorious Revolution, while spawning Milton, Dryden, Swift and other literary giants.

Interesting contrasts are illustrated. Whereas in France the monarchy was strengthened into absolutism, England was making hesitating steps toward democracy. Whereas Louis excluded much of the nobility from government and military service, essentially forcing them into the role of idle rich, the English nobility gradually gained power and responsibility for the governance of their country. We can see how these trends may have encouraged the resentment of the aristocrats on the part of the French peasantry, which may have contributed to the intensity of feeling during The Terror of the French Revolution. By contrast, the empowerment of the English nobility may have helped solidify the tradition of peaceful political maturation.

On the Periphery, Charles XII brought Sweden to the zenith of its international power, while Peter the great modernized Russia. Germany survived the onslaught of the Turks, while Italy and Iberia, the "Old Europe" of the day, slid through an era of decline.

Intellectually the era was one of giants. Many of the names with which we are familiar come alive as we read of Isaac Newton, Thomas Hobbes, John Lock, Spinoza, Leibniz and others.

The conclusion of the era was the sunset of the Sun King. Having exhausted his country with dynastic war, bled it with unequal taxation and incurred the enmity of the world, Louis negotiated a peace which left his kingdom a shattered hulk of its former greatness.

For anyone desiring an introduction to the history of the 17th century, this is a great place to start. It has me ready for other books in the Durants' "Story of Civilization".

Will Durant continues his wonderful series with this volume covering and important era which is quite often overlooked by our educational system. Much of what we are today has it's origins during this era. The Durants bring history to like with their wonderful text and use of language. These volumes, this one included, read more like a novel than a dry and dusty book of forgetable facts. I hate to use the word "lyrical" is describing Durant's style, but it is certainly close. The expierence of reading this volume, along with the others has been a wonderful expierence, one I would have not wanted to miss. Recommend this one, quite highly as I do the others.

In this, the eighth volume in the landmark acclaimed series, "The Story of Civilization, Dr. Will & Ariel Durant have recounted the history of Europe's great age of kings.

The reader will be treated to a masterly exposition of: France's King Louis XIV. The dawn of modern drama, letters, and philosophy from Moliere, Spinoza, Locke, Hobbes, Berkeley and others. King Charles II of England. Isaac Netwon. Russia's Peter The Great. The War of Spanish Succession. And much, much more including plates and maps.

Written to stand alone or within the series, the Durants have written a prose of smooth flowing narrative that is easy to read and understand. In short, this unparalleled work is for everyone, both professional and layperson. I rate this work at five stars. Well done!

Though the central figure of this book is Louix XIV, this book is not about French history, but about European history as a whole.

The focus of this book is not on political and military history but on the history of religion, art, literature, science and philosophy. Or I can say politics is deeply involved in religion, art, literature and philosophy. I have never studied European philosophy before, and I thought it would be exttremely difficult to understand philosophy. But while I was reading this book, I found that phlosophy could be much easier when it was explained in a political context of the times.

And in this book English history was emphasized as much as French history. It is quite natural because Louis himself was deeply involved in and greatly responsible for the 17th century English history, and Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were Englishmen.

I believe that this book is the best book I've ever read. I'd like to read all 12 volumes of Will & Ariel Durant's "The History of Civilization" series.

By the way, I found 2 trivial mistakes in this book.
According to p 505, Halley identified another comet, seen in 1680, with one observed in the year of Christ's death; he traced its recurrence every 575 years, and from the periodicity he computed its orbit and speed around the sun. According to my own calculation, however, 575 x 2 + 33 = 1183, while 575 x 3 + 33 = 1758.
According to p 513, Mariotte amused his friends by showing that "cold" could burn: with a concave slab of ice he focused sunlight upon gunpowder, causing it to explode. To focus sunlight, however, we need a convex lens, not a concave lens.

Wow!

That is all I can say. This book is the one that proved that good visuals do matter in history books. Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight has it all: types of armor, weapons, historic data of where and when the weapon was used... but most important of all , VISUALS! Hundreds upon hundreds of page-size, full color photos of actual suits of armor, not crude drawings and diagrams that other books on the subject offer.

Also, I have to say that the texts is incredibly well-written an precise, the data is vast and accurate, and all the sources are quoted perfectly. This is the definitive book on the subject.

This is THE book that I wish every SCA armorer and fighter had on his/her shelf and more importantly in the shop. It is a solid reference for every period activly covered by the Society. This book, with its excellent images and information, is always a good source of inspiration and documentation for any armor project that I take on. This book has raised my level of expectation of my own work and any other armorers work I come across. Its a must have for anyone who puts hammer to steel and wants to call it armor.

This book is really great--full of pictures and medieval art concerning armour. The chapters each cover a century in the development of armour. It takes a very archeological, historica approach to arms and armour. That's good because it makes an informative text, but I think the language a bit confusing at times, and not enough detail at other times. But it is a great book, for its pictures if nothing else.

I think most everyone will agree that if there is one book on Medieval arms and amour that you buy, this is the one to get. I covers the complete history of the knight with hundreds of beautiful pictures of armour. My #1 reference. It also includes rare inside shots of some armour, and construction section.

Lavishly illustrated guide takes you through the development of armor and knighthood from beginning to end. We use it daily as a source for inspiration at albionarmorers.com.

Can I give this book more than five stars?!!! This book is FULL of the most incredibly creative ideas for working with your dreams. Ways that many of us would never think of on our own!
Example: Make a dream mandala. Now I can't draw very well, but recently I had a dream in which gestures I made were very important. So I gave it a try and the way the mandala turned out gave me another perspective on the dream!

Some more way-cool ideas from the book: If you have a dream that feels incomplete, complete by adding to it! Make a sculpture of your dream! Get a stone and paint something on it that symbolizes your dream!

These are just a few of the ideas.

And the icing on the cake,(at least for me)I've discovered the secret to remembering your dreams. Pay attention to them! It's as simple as that. The more attention you pay to your dreams the more you will remember them!

I now spend the last half hour before I go to bed preparing for dreams by working with Ms. Mellick's excellent book and I'm remembering my dreams on a consistent basis.

This book is not very long, but it's packed full with valuable information. Obviously, I reccomend this book to everyone. Aren't dreams fascinating?

This wonderful book of tools combines dream work with the expressive arts. Jill Mellick lightly introduces the reader to Jungian theory and invites us to explore further if desired. An understanding of Jung is unnecessary, however, to use the exercises in the book - only a wish to further explore one's dreams, and a willingness to branch out from the traditional linear narrative form of conveying dream experiences. Our clients need not be artists to use the expressive arts suggested here - just willing. The expressive arts suggested in this book range from writing, drawing, collage, mask making and movement, to ritual and dramatization. This book is well organized and easy to read. For example, icons are given next to each exercise indicating which of the expressive modalities are involved for quick reference.
Mellick shows us that there are numerous ways to approach working with dreams. We can learn to be flexible and listen to what is needed to work with a particular dream. She invites us to see our dream lives as another world to be explored, and to use innovative approaches which draw from the traditional. Traditional approaches, seen as doing, include analyzing, hypothesizing, understanding, and applying to life, whereas innovative approaches, seen as being, include nourishing, imagining, inquiring, and connecting.
Practical guidance is given for creating a space for this work. The "four phases of expressive dream work" help the reader to go into the dream world, and to return safely to everyday life. These phases are "an intentional departure from ordinary awareness", "an inner journey into the imagination", "a return to ordinary awareness", and "a reflection on the journey" (p. 25). I would guess that many of these exercises can be adapted to clients who need extra assistance from their therapists to be able to to enter and return from the realm of dreams and imagination.
The author urges us to keep a dream journal, to carefully record our observances, and to set aside a protected space where we can view our expressive dream work over time. When we are able to sit with a piece, a deeper relationship can evolve. Also, at times the work will lead us to dream the dream further. For example, what might happened next in the dream? What associations can we make to the dream material?
The bulk of the exercises are included in two broad sections, categorized by how much time one has to do the dream work. Very practical for busy lives, the first set of exercises can be done in five minutes, the second set in ten to fifteen minutes. Included are special considerations and exercises for both nightmares and dreams in a series.
This book can be used by individual clients as well as by groups. Some clients might prefer to work on their own and share later with their therapists. Others might prefer to do the exercises in their therapist's office. The author provides guidelines for creating an expressive dream group. I appreciate how she gives detailed suggestions for creating healthy boundaries and an atmosphere of exploration and witness rather than interpretation and judgment. I highly recommend this book for any therapist who is interested in working with clients using dreams, the expressive arts, or Jungian theory.

Psychologist and author Jill Mellick offers much more than a dream interpretation book in The Art of Dreaming: Tools for Creative Dreamwork. Conventional interpretation relies on words to describe dream imagery, and often the words are terribly inadequate. Dr. Mellick says "we can express dreams in the art form the best suits them, in the art form whose structure is most akin to their innate structure."

She then fully describes more than 50 ways to explore dreams, including painting, dance, sculpture, drawing, poetry, music, or any combination of these. She explains several techniques for letting go of expectations and allowing the dream to guide the dreamer to the best form of expression.

Dr. Mellick also recognizes that many people don't have lots of time for working on their dreams. For those with little time for reflection, she provides a chapter titled "Expressive Dream Work in Five Minutes." A companion chapter offers techniques for those who have as much as ten minutes a day for dream work.

Not all dreams are pleasant. She offers help also to those haunted by nightmares, including how to make a healing mandala. She also discusses dreams in which a particular action or image is repeated.

Although most of us prefer to work alone with our dreams, some people find it beneficial to form a dream work group. Dr. Mellick provides guidelines for establishing a group and ensuring that it's beneficial to all participants.

One fascinating exercise asks people to imagine life events as a dream. The events can be ordinary activities. She says that doing this offers a new perspective that can be helpful in understanding our lives.

"The Art of Dreaming is an excellent resource and practical manual that inspires and amplifies self-discovery and understanding of the rich spiritual treasure and guidance that dreams provide."

As an artist and writer, I am impressed and excited by this book. Mellick presents a multitude of creative means to go within your dreams in the physical world using imagination and reflection. Even if you do not consider yourself "artsy-craftsy" or creative, at least one of these methods will work for you. Mellick also includes a chapters on "Expressive Dream Work" in five, ten or fifteen minutes, making this type of dream work even more enticing and practical. Mellick's ideas can help you apply dream insight to your life by becoming actively involved with your dreams.

This attractive, compact book has all of the wonderful ingredients from "The Natural Artistry of Dreams," but in an even better format! I love it. If it had included only Chapter 4 on "Expressive Dream Work in 10 to 15 Minutes" it would be well worth the cost of the entire book. But there's much more.

What a treasure to have or to share with a friend. As a matter of fact, I think this will be on my gift-giving list this year!

I bought this book after hearing Yossi Ghinsberg tell his tale at a conference I attended. He is even more incredible in person, and adds humor and reflection on the events that took place in the jungle. Many people left wondering if his story were true. It's an incredible story, and I was thrilled to find that while I read the book, I could hear Yossi's voice in my head, telling his story again.

This is a truly amazing story about 4 guys whose adventure in the Amazon slowly turns into a fight for survival. Under intense pressure their faith in each other is shaken and teamwork breaks down. 2 will pay with their lives. If you liked "Into thin Air" you will love this book. My copy of this book was read by 5 freinds and they all loved it. I have never owned a book which so many people wanted to borrow.

I read this book in 2 days and didn't want to put it down until I was done because it was so interesting and exciting. I read Back From Tuichi by Yossi Ghinsberg which I believe was later released as Heart of the Amazon. Great! Great! Great! Just goes to show that life is often more exciting and interesting than fiction. The author did a great job and you really feel what he is going through.

What the players on the popular survival shows go through is nothing compared to what the author of this book went through to survive in the Amazon jungle! Yossi Ghinsberg set out with three other men to experience a real jungle, and for sure, encountered incredible plant and animal life. But it didn't stop there. When the foursome split into two groups, Yossi and his companion then became separated when Yossi was swept away down the powerful Tuichi River. At that point, Yossi was on his own, and narrates his awesome struggle for survival...to find food and shelter, and to combat such things as the fungus that was eating his feet, jaguars, fireants, termites that carpeted his body and bored into it, and steep, slippery cliffs. Whew! I am reading the book a second time, this time to my teenage children, to give them an appreciation for what true suffering is, and to help them realize that humans can, with motivation and determination, endure and overcome great obstacles. When we start complaining about our daily irritations, this is the kind of book we need to read to help us consider our blessings.

I don't read books... so you ask yourself why I am writing this review? It normally takes me months or even years to complete a book. Heart of the Amazon had me hooked from start to finish - and can you believe that it took me just 1 week!!!

This made my facinastion for the Amazon even stronger. The courage and strength of these 4 young men leaves me speechless. If you have any sense this is one book that must be read and take it from an expert, it won't take you years to read!!!

This was the best book I've read in a loooooooong time! I read alot and am quite particular that the books I read have some substance and make you think a bit. This was all that and more! The last page literally popped my jaw on the floor! What a great read.....I'm anxious to read some other books by the same author.

another marvelous creation from that all time master of mystery, suspense, psychology, and the human heart, barbara vine, aka ruth rendell. this book will take you in and guide you to the strong unexpected ending and not let you leave until you get there. great characters, true to life situations, interesting subplots and all weaved around the search we all make for love and the pitfalls along the way. all sides of an adulterous relationship are explored and some people in the book find themselves in two positions, being betrayed and betraying others at the same time. great novel, very atmospheric of the country side and the seasons and the inner lives of men and woman. it may be available in the library if you cannot get it on-line or in a bookstore and i would suggest trying that, you will enjoy this book, its one of her best efforts.

Genevieve Warner, a young woman trapped in a hopeless affair and a loveless marriage, works at Middleton Hall, a home for the elderly. Most of the residents are pleasant enough, contentedly reminiscing about their lives to their carers, but Stella is different. Stella and Genevieve immediately form a bond, taking to one another, seeing little bits of their own personality and situation within the other. Unlike other residents, though, Stella is sharp, smart, and in control, and she does not share the memories of her past, so retains a definite air of mystery. But Stella is dying of lung-cancer, and now she feels a desperate need to tell someone the story of her eventful life, so that her secrets do not die with her, following her into the grave, unknown forever. Thus, she decides to tell her story to Genevieve, slowly unfolding a tale that is moving, powerful, and, ultimately, subtly horrific.

This, "The Brimstone Wedding", is yet another masterpiece of atmospheric fiction from Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell). Yet again she synthesises her twin storylines - one in the past, one in the present - brilliantly, and they eerily mirror each other down the generations. She builds the atmosphere brilliantly in both the time periods, and the suspense is continually ratcheted up, helped along by subtle and tantalising hints as to what exactly Stella's shocking secret could possibly be.

This time around, the characters are also more likeable than is the norm for a Vine novel, so it has a warmer, deceptively (and dangerously) cosy feel, which is juxtaposed with the usual chilly atmosphere and down-to-the-bones and wonderfully detached writing style. They're characters you are motivated to care deeply about, which serves to make this not only a powerful in places but also very moving. Certainly, there was one point when I even shed a few tears.

The story is told brilliantly, giving readers enough information to satisfy, but yet as little as possible, to ensure that they need continually to turn the page to find out more. It all culminates excellently with a shocking revelation about the true nature of Stella's secret. This revelation is not overblown and exaggerated, as some authors might make it, instead Vine underplays it, clearing it entirely of melodrama and simply telling things exactly as they were, which forces the reader to actually think about it, thus bringing huge power to the climax.

This, a masterpiece that is the sum of many excellent parts, is a complete triumph for Vine, matching up very equally with my previous favourite of hers, the erotic and chilling genius that is "No Night Is Too Long". Neither of these books should be passed over by any reader worth their salt.

Driven by atmosphere and character, this novel by Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine, centers around two stories of infidelity and deception.

Genevieve, 32, a working-class caretaker at a private nursing home, confides her affair to her favorite patient, Stella, who is middle-class, educated, affluent and dying. Stella responds with the keys to a house none of her family knows she owns, a house no one has visited in 30 years. She asks Genevieve to report its condition.

Shocked that something so valuable could be simply abandoned -for whatever reason - Genevieve appropriates it as a trysting place, her curiosity only slightly piqued by the abandoned, burned car in the garage, the photographs hidden away, the food and champagne left in the refrigerator.

And so begins a story in tandem as Genevieve's stolen meetings alternate with Stella's story of her own doomed love. Character precipitates the events of the plot, and as we increasingly sympathize with Stella's shy dignity and Genevieve's fretful ardor, foreboding envelops the narrative like a London fog. Not to be missed.

What Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell) does best is make us uneasy. You can never settle right in and accept the persons and scenes quite the way they are presented. "What a lovely girl --- and yet?" is a typical reaction. In "The Brimstone Wedding" Ms. Vine is at her best, right up there with "Dark Adapted Eye." The novel is beautifully crafted, the prose spare and the atmosphere of the Fen Country in East Anglia is perfect. Because The Fens are a series of islands based in the boggy soil, the foundations are forever shifting. Nothing changes, but nothing stays exactly the same which is an excellent setting for this haunting tale.

Jenny/Genevieve Warner is a care assistant at a luxurious home for the elderly where she has built a friendship with terminally ill, exquisitely turned out Mrs. Stella Newland. Two women could not be more different on the surface. Jenny is a modern, practical, hard working country girl who has never traveled and is a product of village life and education. Stella comes from the gentry, married very well and seems so sheltered as to have come from a different age all together. Yet the sparkling Jenny's humdrum marriage is teetering because she has discovered passion in the form of a married lover. Stella has some dark secrets she has lived with for over twenty years and wants to share them with Jenny. Stella believes in nothing, but would like redemption. Jenny believes in everything: omens, charms, and every passing happenstance has psychic meaning for her. Jenny is willing to work her way to better things; Stella is passive. But why does Stella own a house that no one knows about? And why is she afraid to even ride in automobiles when she once was considered a dashing driver? Why does she refuse to sit outside in the sunshine?

The author keeps us asking these questions and sends us down some strange paths to get the answers. We know we are heading for a nameless horrific climactic event in Stella's past that will somehow impact on Jenny's present, but what can it be? Ms. Vine never falls into a Gothic romance-type of trap. Her people and events are sharp edged. Stella smokes irritably in spite of the fact she is dying of lung cancer. When Jenny finally works up her courage to leave her husband, he will not take her seriously; so what should be a grand melodramatic episode degenerates into farce. "I'm leaving you Mike"----"Well take the washer and leave the car, there's a good lass."

The author builds the tension until we are wrought up for at least a tornado strike, and she doesn't disappoint. Then when we think we have taken quite enough for one day, she adds another zinger. A great well-done page-turner.

Forests have been felled to carry articles and books analysing the Internet Boom and its Bust from every conceivable angle. This book offers far more than simple analysis, breaking down cases and examples into straightforward lessons for business owners and executives.

George Colombo has an engaging, direct style that is short on jargon and long on lessons that can be applied to nearly any business that wants to use the web to increase customer contacts and sales. Colombo argues that the basics of business still matter, whether the business is based in a downtown storefront or a Java-heavy catalog application. It's the sort of advice that a lot of us could have used in 1998.

I'm a survivor of the Internet Era, and have read many of the books that have tried to make sense of what happened, but this is the one that will be covered with pointers and sticky notes when we're building the next business web site. Capturing Customers.com is a keeper.

It is a useful book which can give readers much information about runing a Dot com company. It was known to me that, running a company with web page only cannot work effectively since physical supports are needed to provide to customers. So, the author recommended the points that I think it is quite insightful, that is "the integration of online/offline strategies. As online business can support the offline business, i.e. physical store, salesperson. The reason is that customized services and stores are needed to provide to customers, so that the company can suvive in the competitive market.

Also, another useful point of the book is about the offline strategies. Since the effective use of offline strategies can greatly help the operation of the company and the promotion of products and services, there are some strategies that suggested by author.

For example, personalized customers through internet, e.g. asking them for their personal information, so that the company can send those things customers are interested and customized the email messages, for reminding and promoting about the products or services the company could provide to them.

This book was very helpful to me as a beginner in internet marketing. It opened my eyes to many new ideas and ways of thinking. The author's style of writing was comfortable and easy to comprehend. I have already recommended this book to several of my co-workers.

What I liked most about this book, is that it cuts through a lot of the (now obvious) hype of the internet to focus on the fact that you cannot simply ignore traditional means of developing customer relationships when you decide to incorporate the internet into your business plans. Effective businesses still need to provide face-to-face and voice contact with customers.

This book also stands on the shoulders of other giants by including several interviews with key industry gurus that honestly have perceptive insights. For example: In a world where pricing cannot provide you with a competitive advantantage, how do you differentiate yourself or your products?

The tenor of the book is summed up in the my favorite quote: "In the grand scheme of things, the technology piece of the puzzle is relatively easy. There is plenty of talent out there that is available to help you get where you want to go. The hard part is knowing where to go."

This book helps you to see where you need to go.

My only criticism is that there are several typos and grammatical errors in the book that would have been caught if somebody had done a little proof-reading before it went to press. The errors, however, are minor and do not detract much from what is a very helpful book written in an engaging style.

Colombo's insight into establishing and maintaining a web based business is crucial to success. Colombo demonstrates what is needed to establish, and maintain a website for long term business success. This book is a must read for folks just starting a business and desire to use the web as a marketing tool. Even for established "brick and mortar" businesses, Colombo gives good advice on how to reach customers to acheive incremental sales growth. Even if you think you know how to use the web to your advantage, I would recommend this book. In today's competitive environment, practical information is what you need. This book delivers.

I'll add my kudos to the list... this is a fantastic read, overflowing with strong arguments for classic Catholic doctrine. I am not Catholic, mind you - I bought this on a recommendation when I first started my investigation into the claims of the Catholic Church.

If the Catholic Church of today even remotely resembled the ideal put forth by St. Francis de Sales in this collection of letters, one would be hard-pressed to deny the validity of its claims. However, in a post-Vatican II, John Paul II "universal salvation" era, it is impossible to reconcile the two.

Too bad.

I recommend this book for Protestants and Catholics alike.

Illustrates what a man with the truth can accomplish. Every Catholic should read this book which proves the teaching of the Catholic church.

Up until the time of St. Francis de Sales, the printing press had been used as a battering ram for reformers of all stripes to destroy christendom.

However, with the start of St. Francis de Sales' mission to the French Calvinists that changed dramatically. When people refused to listen to him because of contempt or fear of reprisal, he printed tracts and slipped them under doors or put them up on public squares to bring the Calvinists back to the Faith.

The result: nearly 72,000 French whose parents abandoneded the Faith a generation ago were brought back to the Catholic Church.

If you read this book (a collection of the tracts St. Francis wrote), you'll see exactly how it happened. The arguments are cogent, simple, easy-to-follow and strike at the heart of whatever matter they address. The arguments against Protestantism in general and Calvinism in particular are relevant and still thorns in the side of the Reformed apologetic several hundred years later. If you're Catholic or Protestant you owe it to yourself to read this collection of tracts!

In addition to what is common in all other positive reviews of this compilation of writings by St. Francis, there yet remains at least one other strength of this book that is to be praised. That strength is his cohesion to the traditional Catholic Faith. There are other books that give overviews of the Catholic Faith, but often times their consistency with Scripture and Tradition should be questioned. That is something that one need not worry about with this work. Not only does St. Francis give sound arguments for the Catholic Faith, but he does so with plenty of Scripture, Church Father quotes, and reference to Church Councils. He also shows an understanding and love for Catholicism that is sopping wet with intellectual genius and passion for Christ! He will make a knowledgeable Reformed churchman (that was his intended audience, after all) take a few steps back and rethink his doctrine of the "visible/invisible church distinction" and how God has commanded the Gospel to be preached and succession of church leaders to continue. Not only does he understand Catholic doctrine, but he also understands his opponents, and often quotes from Calvin, Bucer, and other Reformers. Also, his treatment of the Papacy is probably one of the most concise anywhere. So I challenge you to read it, but I warn you, you may find yourself defending Catholic doctrine afterwards, even if you're Protestant when you first read this book!

The book is easy to read. It provides a detailed insight into most of the contentious issues that separate the Protestant churches from the Catholic Church. It is an excellent reference for anyone who wants a better understanding of the Christian faith. For the Catholic, the book is also an excellent resource for defense of the Faith.

This is a very good and easy summer read. Each story brings back memories. Recommend it every summer or when you feel down and need a pick me up.

Ms. Bedford is one of those women who make life a joy for all those who come into contact with her or her writing. To have had her as a mother or grandmother must feel like a gift from God.

Through her short and emotionally charged stories, I found myself carried back into my youth when my Mom would work endless magic by making things herself.

The book contains three sections of stories, ones as a child, as a mother and as a grandmother. The last section is the skimpiest because Ms. Bedford hasn't been a mother as long as she has lived the other two roles.

Her stories capture and build on common elements of healthy relationships like family rituals, special places, shared experiences, favorite tokens, and powerful lessons learned together.

Often, you'll have the urge to do something similar for your children or grandchildren. Go for it! To make that easier, Ms. Bedford has included how to do various simple projects like making a pincushion, baking barefoot cookies, filling a dress up box, decorating plates, and turning clothespins into dolls.

There may also be days when you could use a little mothering. Just read this book and feel embraced by Ms. Bedford's all-encompassing love of life, people and nature. Is it any surprise that she's an enthusiastic bee keeper?

Heart warming is an overused description for books. I felt like any review of this book would be incomplete without that reference. I don't remember a more heart-warming non-fiction book.

Takes me back to my own childhood, reminded me of things I had not thought of in far too long. Wonderful!

A friend gave me this wonderful book and, now that I have read it, I have bought it for my two daughters, my mom and my aunt. The stories create such a wonderful peaceful quality that it is now my preferred bedtime reading. I read one or two stories before falling asleep and, thus, easily settle into gentle slumber. The world Faith writes about may have happened twenty or ten years ago but it still exists if we only care enought to make it happen. She has inspired me to create quiet times of appreciation of nature and family and tradition. I cannot recommend this enough.

As a long time reader of Country Living I have enjoyed Faith Andrews Bedford's stories very much. But not until I bought this book did I realize how many wonderful ideas for projects for children she incorporated into her stories. I did not begin to subscribe until 2000 but realize that her column "Kids in the Country" has been a part of that magazine for many years. And, obviously, I'd missed some great stories. Her essays are warm and witty and so very true to life. I was deeply moved many times. She taps into the world of children perfectly.

The Cranium Big Book of Outrageous Fun is great because it has all sorts of different things. Anything from planning birthdays, to making maps, drawing & even creating your own castle. It has a fun mini-conga game, and so many activities that my kids keep going back and reading and playing with this. A great buy that you really get your money's worth out of!

Our famiuly loves the entire line of cranium games. It is a fun time to spend with our children.

This book is great! I bought it for my 6 year old. She loves all the cranium games and books. We have the original cranium, but when I saw this I thought it would be perfect for her. She can do some of the activities on her own and there is also a game to play. It is fun and easy.

Spent a whole day with 5 granddaughters ranging in age from 5 thru 12. The book was appropriate for ALL of them!!!
I highly recommend it

I'm a pretty big fan of Cranium's games, and since this was touted as a write-it, draw-it, sculpt-it, act-it game for ages 7 and up, I was looking forward to using all my talents. The first thing I noticed is that this probably isn't a book/game for anyone over 15, and my guess is even early teens won't get much use out of it. Once I got over my disappointment that it was truly geared for a much younger audience (than me, anyway), that's when I let go of my preconceived notions and started to play around with the game.

I particularly enjoyed the "Data Head" section as they had lots of fun "science" activities for kids, including a mold experiment that calls for the study of mold in various stages. Your kids can then rank the mold on various sub categories, including a "Stink Factor." Parents may be none too thrilled with this activity, but it should make for an interesting couple of days.

The book also contains a game (get it game in a book in a game) the "Conga Mini Guessing Game." The game is also somewhat simplistic so adults probably only want to invest them time if they're joining their younger family members, but in all this is a nice, self-contained package that has a lot of fun activities and room for creative expression. This is a must-have for your child's bookshelf/playspace, and it also does carries well on the dreaded road trips.