Open Books

WOW...finally I know there is a name for my way of looking at relationships. It will be a gift for any womyn that I am dating. Even friends. Even if this lifestyle is not for you its a must read. This book is eaisly read. There were parts where there was tears cause it touched me so deeply. This book moved me, made me see Im not alone. Its way above five stars!

I've gone from knowing nothing of polyamoury to finally understanding what the nagging feeling that "something isn't right" is. I haven't been able to put this book down! My partner and I have finally opened discussions around the topic, where we would have felt threatened. This book shares many, many different experiences, and advice... along with very candidly sharing the emotions and complexities surrounding polyamoury. If you'd like a series of intellectual essays, written by many women with many experiences, I'd highly reccomend this book.

In this tough economy, Dustin's book is a great resource for planning your future beyond the world of Information Technology.

This was a very interesting read. As someone who has built a career in IT, it is refreshing to see first hand examples of folks who have not only survived but who have flourished in new and different roles. While the book is geared toward IT types it's good for all people contemplating a change. Ms Dustin's writing style is engaging and appealing. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

This book is an excellent introduction to and instructional manual for the Liturgy of the Hours. Before I received "Lord Open My Lips", I tried to work my way through the four volume set of the Breviary using the companion St. Joseph Guide, but I found it confusing, and I was not always sure I was praying "correctly" or as intended. It is a shame for those finding it too difficult, discouraging, etc. to bring the Liturgy of Hours into their lives because they had trouble tangling with the mechanics of performing same. This book is a perfect and, I would dare say, much needed resource, particularly for laiety interested in enriching their spiritual prayer life with this rich form of daily prayer.

This book was written for a single purpose: To help you learn to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. It begins by introducing a little about what prayer is, in and of itself. It discusses, briefly, the history of the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office, Breviary, and other terms), and then takes you step-by-step through each of the primary prayers.

These primary prayers are Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer and the Office of Readings. There is a separate chapter for each of these "hours," helping you become familiar with the general outline for the prayers, the postures, and even refers to the exact page numbers in the available prayer books (most of which are also available via amazon.com).

Additional sections introduce basic chanting, and even covers some of the more "complicated" matters like special feast days. It offers practical advice on how much to pray, how to make time to do so, and even how to start a small prayer group in your neighborhood or work.

I have to chant the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil each year at my church. About six weeks before, I start listening to it on the CD that comes with this book. I listen every time I'm in my car, and I'm in it a lot. By the time I have to chant the Exsultet, I have it committed to memory. What a treasure this resource is to anyone that has to sing the Liturgy!

This is an excellent and very usable selection of cantors for use by clergy during the Eucharistic part of the service. It covers all four selections in the Book of Common Prayer, with traditional and contemporary versions sung. It consists of three CDs with a book showing the music and words. It is an easy-to-follow product and one that was highly recommended to me. I, in turn, would definitely recommend this item to any Celebrant who desires to cantor the Eucharist in whatever mode.

The premise behind LOVE TUNE-UPS by Matthew McKay,
Carole Honeychurch and Angela Watrous is simple; i.e., there
are simple things we can all do to improve any
relationship . . . however, that is often easier said than done.

Yet the authors make it seem doable and present (using the
subtitle): "52 Fun Ways to Open Your Heart & Make Sparks
Fly."

I view the book as a cookbook of sorts . . . that is, you can
pick and choose what you wanted to try from such sections as
Show Me Love, Get a Little Closer, Work Out the Kinks, Add
Some Sizzle, and The Best of Times.

There's nothing overly profound here--or perhaps even
original . . . yet that does not stop me from strongly
recommending it . . . we all need some reminders, from time
to time, and you'll get them here--presented in a loving
and playful fashion.

Among the many memorable passages:
[to get more detail when asking, "How was your day, dear?"]
The next night while they were cooking dinner, Marc

asked Allen how his day went, and Allen replied, "Oh, it was
pretty good, I guess." "What were the best and worst
moments of your day today?" Marc asked, not looking up
from the spinach he was washing. "Oh, I get it. Is this a
new tradition we're starting?" Allen teased, but when Marc
just nodded and smiled, Allen said, "Well, let me think.
The low point was probably when I got stuck in traffic
for an extra forty-five minutes on my way to work,
and I almost missed this really important meeting
and I was all stressed out. . . . And the high point was when
I went to lunch with Sue. She's so funny!"

[steps for accepting behaviors that drive you crazy]
* What things does your partner commonly do that really bug you? What do you try to change about your partner? Choose one.

* Now try to acknowledge that your partner is different from you, and, as a result, will naturally do things differently. Consider that there is no "right" way to do things, just preferences formed by many different factors.

* Finally, make a conscious decision to accept the behavior
that had been bugging you. Acknowledge the difference and
accept it. And, the next time your partner does this behavior,
make an effort to think back to your decision and accept with love.

[making a creativity date]
Many people feel that they do not have enough time for their
relationships or for exploring their creative spirits. Why not combine these two deficits and have time for both by enjoying a creativity date with your partner? You can either do one activity together, or each spend time engaging in a different favorite creative activity side by side. Creating with your partner can make you feel alive, because you're nurturing a part of yourself and your relationship that may often be neglected--the creative side. And as you share the creative part of your relationship, you'll be nurturing your relationship too.

I just loved this book. I've been with my boyfriend for five years, and our relationship's strong -- but sometimes we get into ruts or start to take each other for granted. This book gave us practical, immediately usable activities to help bring us closer and enjoy time together in new ways. I've been learning stuff about him that I didn't even know! I'm so grateful to the authors for coming up with this idea. Thanks!

College-level collections strong in philosophy will appreciate this blend of philosophy and sociology, which considers systems, society, and Niklas Luhmann's sociological theories in particular, which departs from many competing concepts in explaining how economics and mass media evolve. From biology to philosophy and other genres, LUHMANN EXPLAINED analyzes the fundamentals of world society and its logical systems. College-level students will find it a challenging, exciting read.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book surprised me since I received it from Amazon and immediately started reading it! I am always a little bit suspicious about this kind of "summaries" and "reports" on someone's else work. Mostly when this someone else is Niklas Luhmann, whose work I have been studying for my academic texts. In the case of Moeller's "Luhmann Explained", I have to recognise the excellence of the result in the "dangerous" task taken up by his author. First of all because he tried to introduce Luhmann's complex and difficult theory by using quotations and citations from Luhmann himself. The fact is that he succeeded in being as much as possible "faithful" to Luhmann's own texts. In few occasions, when strictly necessary, Moeller puts forward his own opinions on Luhmann's ideas. I recommend this book for everyone who wants to be "safely" introduced to Luhmann's complexity. It is a serious "entrance gate" to the contingency which characterizes Luhmann's ideas as, for instance, the formulation of a theory of a nonhuman society based on the differentiation of the autopoietic "social systems".
If you are interested in learning about one of the most intriguing and "puzzling" thinker of 20th century: be welcome on board!

Ulisses Schwarz Viana
Brasilia (Brazil)

This book is a fantastic compelation of photos and articles onthe US Open. Scott Brown has done a great job weaving the stories ofTiger Woods' domination into the many other stories from Pebble Beach.The photos from the Payne Stewart Memorial and 21 Drive Salute arechilling.

This book is a great illustration of the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach. Brown describes all of the many story lines that made this tournament so compelling. Stories of Tiger Woods' domination, Jack Nicklaus' final US Open; memorials to Payne Stewart and many other story lines are captured by Brown's words and telling photos.

As an person raised under closed adoption, I never knew openness of the kind Micky Duxbury writes about in Making Room in Our Hearts could exist. I love the case studies and accompanying photographs of families in open adoption because we humans are storytelling creatures who learn best through engaging tales. I learned that openness can exist in adoption, with birth and adoptive families discovering together how to best support the growth of the adopted young person - wow, what a concept! "Open Adoption," it turns out, is not a one-size-fits-all, utopian arrangement but a supported process of learning how to be flexible, compassionate, and respectful to the people who love the people we love. The family ties that Duxbury describes are the most important "possessions" we can give our children. In addition to her own story as an adoptive parent, Duxbury includes a dozen case studies and a generous list of adoption resources in the back. I love this book and learned so much from reading it. Highly recommended to all interested in the practice of adoption, especially prospective and current adoptive parents.
Nicole J. Burton, Swimming Up the Sun: A Memoir of Adoption

This book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in open adoption. Duxbury integrates first-person stories with information on the basic philosophy and history of openness. The stories are authentic and honest, and do not shy away from acknowledging challenges and mistakes. Especially valuable are those from decades-old adoptions, offering a glimpse into how open adoption relationships evolve over time. I appreciated the story groupings which provided multiple perspectives on a single adoption--from birth/first parents, adoptees, adoptive parents, siblings and extended family members. Prompts encourage readers to mine these shared experiences for practical application in their own situations. Optimistic without falling into Pollyanna-ness, the book touches on public and private adoption, opening closed adoptions, openness in international adoptions, how to make openness work, and needed changes in the current adoption system. A comprehensive list of open adoption resources (publications, agencies, organizations, etc.) is also included.

Although a good resource for families at any stage, I think this book will be especially valuable for pre-adoptive parents and expectant parents considering placement. It not only provides a realistic look at openness, but also makes a strong case for the importance of adequate preparation and ongoing post-adoption support for participants in open adoptions. The discussion of best practices in open adoption will help potential clients discern which agencies/professionals are committed to child-centered open adoption as a standard and which pay it mere lip service.

This book has beautiful photographs of Hmong children in traditional dress on each page. Opposite photo page there is a proverb written in English and in Hmong.

Strongly recommended for school and community library "Other Lands, Other Peoples" collections for young readers, Many Ideas Open The Way: A Collection Of Hmong Proverbs is a bilingual English/Hmong picture book that presents the enduring wisdom of the Hmong people. Photographic illustrations by Randy Snook of Hmong in traditional cultural costumes illustrate the timeless advice, such as "Think before you speak, translate before you explain" and "Those who live far away love one another; those that live close together dislike one another."

My grandfather's (Lynn Rae Ingersoll) mother (Rose Collins Ingersoll) was the daughter of Mary Collins of whom the author writes. My Auntie Iona Ingersoll (of Scoby Montana and spouse of Lynn Rae Ingersoll II) and I thought this book was fastinating. A couple corrections we agreed on; George Ingersoll and Rose Collins Ingersoll had 3 adult children: George Ingersoll Jr. Lynn Rae Ingersoll and a daughter Dixie Ingersoll. I have seen a military portait of George Ingersoll Jr and Iona's husband worked for George Jr. for awhile. Also, Lynn Rae Ingersoll and Bernice Kempton Ingersoll had five sons, not four. Dick Ingersoll, Lynn Rae Ingersoll II, Tom Ingersoll, Bruce Ingersoll (our Dad) and Gerry Ingersoll. Thank you for writing this book!

What a well written book. It provides great texture and a sense of what life was like during such an amazing period of our history. Whether you are related to Mrs. Collins or not, you will be captivated by the story and the sense of place.

Well done!