N Books

You gotta have this book if you're a Bruce fan. Great history and old photos. Great back stories and nostalgia. I was a bit dissapointed with the reproductions - both in terms of relevance and also the quantity of them, but all in all it is well worth the money. I mean, people actually paid $50 for the Madonna book a few years back. Puh-lease.... there is only one BOSS!

I recently took my 10 year old to a Springsteen concert and he is hooked. At his urging we went to the local library to see if they had a book on the Boss..we found this one and he loved it so much I ordered it..the great thing about it was that I loved it too !! Nothing better than something you can enjoy with your kids. I give this a thumbs up !!

My daughter got this book for me for X-Mas,
and it's the neatest thing !
Great chronological history of Bruce and his
various bands, along with the cool artifacts
placed throughout the book, including 2 great
posters !
Great bargain and must-have for any fan of the Boss !!

It's one of the greatest gifts you can give a Springsteen-fan. It holds the hole story from start til today and includes som replicas of tickets and posters

I bought this book not knowing what to expect. Talk about a labor of love. I highly recommend Greetings From E Street to any serious Bruce Springsteen fan. It's chock full of nifty things and some good information, as well. I was very pleased with this book. It has replicas of tickets, backstage passes, concert posters, and other memorabilia. The writing, which is fine, is secondary to the entire package. Just a real treat. If you have a die hard Springsteen fan in your house, he or she would love this book.

This is a beautiful and lovingly produced book of George Harrison's life in pictures with comprehensive articles and tributes written about George and heaps of great photographs and more. George's wife, Olivia Harrison wrote a moving personal Foreword that brings tears to the eye and touches chords in hearts. No George Harrison fans should miss this much sought-after item. However, whether or not you are a George Harrison or Beatles fan, this is a great book to read and a wonderful gift to give.

Geroge is consider one of the quiet one in the band "i think" but not on the music, his talent surpass any
other musician and is really sad not to have him anymore . In this book you'll find a great deal of pics since
the Beginning and from his solo career , a must have book to put in your collection

I must challege Candace Scott's remark in her review :

"But it's a stretch, to put it mildly, to place Harrison in the same league as Lennon & McCartney as a songwriter. Ouch! I love George as much as anyone, but still expect truthful history to be written"

I agree, George should not be placed in the same league as Lennon & McCartney because he was totally in his own league ! What is Candace making the comparison to here ? It was George, partially inspred by Pattie, his first wife, who led the other Beatles into the rich Vedic culture of spiritual India that inspired so many of their finest musical and lyrical masterpieces.

So in that context, the "truthful history to be written", is that George was even partially responsible for some of the finest compopsitions of Lennon and McCartney.George gave great emphasis to the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord, as in the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, as found in "My Sweet Lord", and "It Is He ( Sri Krishna )", which is the ultimate function of music, according to the ancient wise sages, gurus and spiritual masters . This Krishna mantra has helped millions of people to give up harmful drugs, animal killing, etc...How many song-writers are doing that with their music today ? George was the innovator, to turn scripture into pop songs. He was divinely empowered and had the integrity to do this, not caring if he was "fab" to the eyes of the masses, unlike anyone before him.

To minimize George's ability as a song writer in anyway only helps to disclose one's own superficiality, and lack of spiritual consciousness.

George's songs overflow with essential messages of the futility and temporality of things material, such as "All Things Must Pass", the dangers of becoming too materially attached "Beware of Darkness" , the concern for living in harmony with this planet "Save The World", etc...

In "Isn't It A Pity", George gives the essence of spirituality, by prompting us to develop equal vision and gratitude toward all beings, including animals :

"Some things take so long

But how do I explain

When not too many people

Can see we're all the same

And because of all their tears

Their eyes can't hope to see

The beauty that surrounds them

Isn't it a pity

I was very disappointed by Candace Scott's inabiity to see that "beauty that surrounds her" and lack of gratitude towards the very substantial and deep contribution George made through his music in transforming the lives of millions of people. I went on to become a Hare Krishna monk over thirty years ago because of his music, and devoted the best years of my life to feeding free vegetarian meals to tens of thousands of people, helping others off drugs, and so many other volunteer activities.

George Harrison is my first guru, and awareness of his contribution to the upliftment of the world will only increase as time goes by. Please read this book for it's deeper purpose.
gaura_acbsp@yahoo.com

For the recent Birthday of Georgie Boy, I can review this item as the best way of remembering one of the best humans that have ever walked this earth.

Having been a "LLOG" (Lifetime Lover of George)I have read plenty about him. In general, his music is the best way to get to know George: it is unique, multi-textured, honest, witty, loving and spiritual. However, for reasons I certainly can't fathom, generally his post-Beatles work (with about two exceptions) got no respect!
Of course I loved the photos, but in my opinion the written tributes from his wife, Olivia, and his friends/fellow musicians are what sets this book apart. Paul Simon's is particularly descriptive: I felt as though I was visiting Friar Park (the Harrison's home in England) right along with him; walking through George's beloved gardens, sitting in front of the fire, listening to an impromptu ukelele concert, receiving a thoughtful surprise upon returning home to the U.S. "He wasn't particularly quiet, he just didn't DEMAND to be heard." Beautifully put. (Note to Paul Simon: you just might have a second career there; I would buy your first novel!)
This is also a great book for aspiring guitarists, as it gives mini-descriptions of particularly noteworthy ("Essential") Harrison performances, illustrating the subtleties and unusual but brilliant choices George made (at times even innovative or ground breaking) musically. People who previously believed that Lennon and McCartney were the ONLY geniuses in the Beatles will re-think that belief after reading this section particularly: they might even listen for certain passages in certain songs and think, "YEAH, WOW! That IS amazing!" They might give George's solo work (besides "All Things Must Pass") a listen and be pleasantly surprised. But we "LLOGs" have heard and appreciated the subtle brilliance of George Harrison all along.
This book is a must-have for any George Harrison or Beatles fan, or any guitar or rock history aficionado.

This book offers some great tips and ideas that are easy to incorporate into your normal photo taking. Some tips are common sense, and others offer a different perspective on things. You can read the book in under an hour, and immediately start improving your photography. The book is especially good for amateurs who never seem to be able to get the right shot, and also offers good ideas for more seasoned photographers. I highly recommend it!

As a working pro, people often ask me how to take better pictures. I simply give them the guidelines Nick gives in this book, and then point them to a copy of it. He talks in accessible language, with no jargon, and no special tools needed. You can apply his thoughts to pictures you take with a disposable camera.

More importantly, Nick shows you what he would do... and he took the photos in the book with his wife's point and shoot. By showing you what the average person would do and what he would do, it helps you learn how to compose pictures. But what makes Nick special is that he also shows you not a thought process, but a heart process, one that takes photography out of the realm of souvenir shooting and into the place where people make emotional connections to the moments that make up our lives and our families. This is the genius of the book: You learn how to feel with a camera as an extension of your heart.

I have yet to see a friend look inside this book, even just to skim it, and not come away as a better photographer.

I love Nick Kelsh's how to books. I've always considered myself a good amateur photographer but some of his tips have transformed my photography. A must for every person who wants to capture special moments forever.

This is amazing book. In simple language, it explains how to make good photos with any camera. There is no deep technical analysis (Like Ansel Adams in "The Camera", "The Negative" or John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide). There are no guidelines how to improve your creativity (like "Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography or Photography and the Art of Seeing" by Freeman Patterson or "A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography" by Bryan Peterson). This books are great but doesn't answer simple way for simple questions (like questions many my friends asked me). Book covers most common shooting situations and explains how to avoid common mistakes and make your photo looks much better and more interesting. I red a lot of books on this topic (good books), but they mostly dedicated to people who want to become professional photographer or photo artist. Even I already know all ideas presented in this book, it was helpful for me to read this.

Nick Kelsh's books have seriously inspired me to kick my photography skills up a notch without overwhelming me. I saw the titles to his books in Lasting Memories magazine and knew I wanted to read them. They are a quick read which was encouraging since I have a newborn and started with his book on how to photograph babies. I'm already putting into practice what I've learned from all of his books and I think my photos are greatly improved.

I can't begin to say enough good things about this book by Chris van Dusen. His story about a boy on his quest to build the perfect car is genius. What an imagination! The illustrations alone would be reason enough to buy the book, but the catchy rhyming verse keeps you turning page after page to see what he will dream up next. I also loved the 1950's feel to the book that takes you back to a time when cars were cool, and the designs were slick. We have bought this book for other children that love books about cars, and it has always been a big hit.

The illustrations are my favorite part of this book. Amazing. The colors and shapes remind me of spending time with my grandparents. That alone is enough to make me love this book.

The poem is fun also. I plan to use this with my students for word choice and poetry. I think it will make a great read aloud. It did win the E.B. White Read Aloud Award a few years ago.

My daughters, ages 2 and 4, just love Chris VanDusen's books. The illustrations are colorful and fun and the text is a ball to read aloud. This particular book is about a boy imagining the car he would build to replace the family wagon. My kids loved finding mixed among the illustrations characters from VanDusen's Magee and Dee books.

My father bought this book for my boys over a year ago. It has become one of our favorite books EVER! I am in complete awe of the incredibly colorful pictures that fill this book. The rhyming flows off the tongue, and I find it so clever and fun to read. It is one of those books that I can actually read over and over again and not get sick of it! Outstanding and witty.

We now own all three of Chris VanDusen's books, and enjoy each one tremendously. Not only is Chris a brilliant illustrator, he's a great author. If I Built a Car is just an outstanding children's book, and I enjoy reading it to my two year old son on a very regular basis. My son loves the pictures, and the story brings me right back to my childhood when I would dream up the same sort of cars. I don't know if Chris is writing another book anytime soon, but I certainly hope so.

This book should be required reading for all women and all MD's who treat women, esp. OB/GYNs. It systematically and easily explains the role of hormones ("ovaries") in virtually all areas of women's mental and physical health. In light of the virtual "banning" of HRT for post-menopausal women (including young women who have a hysterectomy) it is a true "must read" for all!!! I learned so much, and have begun receiving various hormones in pellet form which has improved my life SO MUCH! No more hot flashes!!! A much more even temperment!! And I could go on and on. This book really opened my eyes in a way that even my MD (female, family practice) found surprising!!!

This book is an excellent, well organized combination of case studies and medical science. Dr. Vliet is Board Certified in Pain Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology, and has performed research investigating behavioral effects of hormones.

Information in this book has helped Florida Detox treat migraines, insomnia, anxiety, depression, interstitial cystitis, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia more effectively. Our opiate detox patients frequently arrive with estradiol, progesterone and testosterone deficiencies and almost all of our fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients are hypothyroid. Oral Bioidentical Progesterone has produced dramatic anxiety reductions in some of our patients, while bioidentical estradiol has produced dramatic decreases in insomnia and depression in others.

We have also been able to identify previously undiagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and agree with Dr. Vliet that PCOS is underdiagnosed. This book provides an excellent discussion of PCOS, enhanced with case histories.

It's My Ovaries, Stupid contains a profound discussion of the adverse impact of environmental contaminants, including insecticide, herbicide, poly chlorinated biphenyls, birth control pill residues and food additives. Vliet explains excess glutamate, used as a food additive, can damage the hypothalamus, which is unprotected by the blood-brain barrier. Glutamate can also decrease thyroid hormone and elevate cortisol levels, increasing obesity.

Vliet discusses published research revealing Finnish women with the highest Lindane pesticide levels in their breasts were ten times more likely to have breast cancer. A 1992 Connecticut study revealed women with breast cancer had 50 to 60 percent higher levels of PCB, DDT and DDE, in their breasts.

There has been extensive misleading media coverage of estrogen replacement therapy, since most coverage failed to distinguish between bioidentical estrogens and Premarin or other conjugated estrogens.
Premarin is not identical to human estrogen. Premarin contains approximately 40 percent estrone, while human estrogens are about 3 percent estrone. Estrone is many times more carcinogenic, than estradiol. Premarin also contains equilin, which is many times more carcinogenic, than estradiol, which is the most active human estrogen. Horse estrogens, also called conjugated estrogens or Premarin, were used in the highly publicized Womens Health Initiative study of 27,000 postmenopausal women.

"To date, the majority of medical studies also do not show a significant increase in risk of breast cancer in women who use birth control pills or women who take postmenopausal estrogen therapy alone, unless women are also drinking alcohol on a regular daily basis and are using Premarin" E
Elizabeth Vliet, MD, in Screaming to be Heard-Hormone Connections Women Suspect and Doctors still Ignore, p 378

Vliet's discussion of postpartum depression needs to be more widely read and comprehended, since treatment with bioidentical estradiol could eliminate most postpartum depression. If the media would interview Dr. Vliet, instead of puzzled "experts," typically interviewed, after tragic postpartum depression murder/suicides, the public could be informed that post partum depression is treatable.

Vliet also discusses numerous causes of premature ovarian hormone decline, including Lymes Disease, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hypothyroidism, hyper and hypo adrenalism.

Steven Sponaugle
Research Director, Florida Detox

The auther gives a very in-depth explanation of female hormones and their functions and how they can become unbalanced. She gives very specific and helpful advice about what hormones to check for certain symptoms, when to check them, what types of tests, what results mean, etc. It's clear she is on a mission to help women because there really is just a lack of study of female hormones in the medical community and it's obvious that many women can be helped with balanced hormone levels. I'm very glad I decided to get this book as I feel like I won't need to buy any others.

My mother just turned 50 and has been noticing some changes that she has atributed to hormones. My uncle, a doctor, recommended this book to help her understand what is going on.

Overall my mom really seems to like this book and i would recommend it to other pre-menopausal women.

I have yet to read the book, but I was reading over the reviews and I found it funny that a male was so ticked off that Dr. Vliet only spoke of female issues.
For one, you just appear ignorant for being upset about a disease that will never inflict a male (i.e. PCOS). Secondly men do not visit the doctors as regularily as females do and to try and discredit Dr. Vliet is nonsense!

Most males if they have an ailment will tough it out and figure it will correct itself. I've witnessed many men later on in life get so depressed about their health conditions b/c they were negligent of their own health.

So in conclusion to my rant you truly cannot have any say so over a matter that does not inflict your sex. Better inform yourself on your own health problems and do not think you know all. Men like you in the medical field is why women have to suffer as much as they do b/c they are so selfish, uneducated and narrow minded.

The truth be told everyone needs to keep a better check on their nutrional/mineral value on a daily basis so things do not become out of whack.

This is a sweet story but I found the narration by Jimmy B. and his daughter a little lacking. I'm a Jimmy Buffet fan no doubt. I just don't think voice overs are his thing. It is cool to hear him doing something with his daughter though. Like I said, it's sweet but I don't think we will pull this one off the shelf very often.

When I read the initial literary review, I had to laugh. The story is not weakened by the Jolly Mon's lack of efforts! Hah! The story is about the Jolly Mon's total surrender to his own destiny. He sings, the fish jump out of the sea, a musical instrument comes his way, he tries to play and makes a discovery. He trusts nature. He takes the opportunites that come his way with faith and grace. He uses the gifts he was given to the best and highest purpose. He does as he is asked to do. The book is a metaphor of faith and surrender. Besides that, it is beautifully illustrated, the music is lovely and my 2 1/2 year old son asks for it again and again. And, yes we are all parrotheads...

Anyone who is familiar with Jimmy Buffett understands ~ fantasy and fun are important parts of life.

This book & CD get the dream underway...

When I ordered this book I didn't realize it was a children's book. But when it arrived I read it then mailed it to my grand daughters. So it didn't go to waste and it was at least read/heard by three people in my family. I have loved the other Jimmy Buffett books and songs.

The quality of the printing, the beautiful 'semi-true story', the bright and well done colorful pictures and the bonus CD of Jimmy Buffett's song, aka The Jolly Mon, make this an excellent purchase for anyone with young children in their lives. It can lead to laughter, clapping, dancing and giggles!

I must say that the author did an excellent job if he intended this book to be a record of the day to day action on all theaters of engagement between the French and the Viet Minh.

Because of the excessive level of detail, the book is very diffcult to read and appreciate. It is a mind numbing experience.

Read this only if you wish to know in detail the horrible sufferings that that combatants on either side faced in a senseless war. Otherwise you will be better off with just a summary.

The Last Valley: Dien Bien Phu And the French Defeat in Vietnam

Apparently the best account ever written on Dien Bien Phu. Just two brief remarks:
1. History is shaped by strong personalities, and there was an abundance of them in Dien Bien Phu. Despite the book's large volume, there would be welcome a chapter sketching portraits of key protagonists (Bigeard, Langlais, de Castries etc), at the expense of details on arms specifications.
2.The author is favorably predisposed to French military leaders, and I tend to sustain his argument about injustices inflicted to the French army by politicians. Nevertheless, he is inclined to offer unnecessary excuses to the former, as well as to soothe down quarrels. Why not state bluntly that Cogny and Langlais could not tolerate Navarre and de Castries respectively? Even though the outcome might not be different, leadership exercised by de Castries was apparently inadequate. During this epic battle, besides heroism, mistakes had been made also on the French part, which the author appears quite eager to justify, out of respect to this unique effort.

T. E. Lawrence wrote that amateurs do something because they love to, and professionals because they must. We can thank the muses that Martin Windrow is a self-described amateur, because this work bears all the hallmarks of serious and loving craftsmanship. He places both the war, and the battle in context, he casts a glaring light upon some of its myths, and he gives serious attention to the technical aspects of the battle that the great majority of military professionals would otherwise miss, such as the state of Viet Minh artillery tactics and doctrine. Were Fall still alive and writing, Windrow would still have outclassed him. Anything and everything you want or need to know about the battle for Dien Bien Phu is here. The very best military history I've read in English in a very long time. Bravo!

the book just kind of grabbed me, twice.
first when i saw it on the library shelf, i read "hell in a very small place" many years ago and have a continuing interest in vietnam and america's involvement there.
the second time is when i started reading it, it reads like an excellent detective story, i sat and sat and finished it at one sitting, not a small feat considering it is over 700 pages long. This style is the first very notable characteristic.

not only is the writing excellent, but the author is one of those people who you can imagine talking to. he appears to a military historian from his amazon authors page. writing since the 1970's with an accent on french and the foreign legion. But this book looks like a long term research project and literally a work of love. the detail and interest he displays puts it in a class almost by itself. the only other military history that i've been this impressed by is the boer war by pakenham. The research and simply put love that went into this book is evident thoughout and is a second notable item.

there is something else that makes it outstanding, several places he shows some very unique and well thought out ideas. they are just snatches of his worldview: some pages about the wounds caused by military bullets, a couple of places where he talks about the relationships between politicians and military leaders, and his discussion about how men fight for their buddies next to them, not geopolitical big things. There are just a few of these rather tantilizing glimpses, enough to make me look for more of his books. This disclosure of the man behind the work and his ideas developed from a lifetime of study in history is remarkable and the 3rd item i wish to point out.

I'd not a fan of military histories, nor an i particularly interested in the genre. But i do like his writing. I find the careful analysis of what happened, what lead up to it, how people responded fascinating and as yesterday proved, somewhat addictive. There is an overwhelming number of names, who went where and fought whom, etc, those datum that make up military history, but it is not so bad that it bores or obscures the ideas. He is a very careful documenter of the facts, desirous of completeness and setting the historical record straight. All elements which appear strongly in the book.

There is another thing remarkable about the book and it's author, a desire to look at the facts and the events and truly learn from them. To see this part of our world, a somewhat dark one, filled with the dead and lost, and remember them not just for their sacrifices but what these things have to teach us about ourselves and the societies we find ourselves in. and the first place to find the meaning of events is to get them right, to be factual and see what happened and propose why. something that this book does in a uniquely interesting and useful way.

i sure wish the militaries of the world had more thoughtful people like this author, either in their general staffs or in their officer universities. perhaps a significant dose of reality and history is what more of our military leaders need before embarking on disastrous campaigns.

This is a superb and well constructed book and is by far one of the best accounts of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu that has been written. The author gives the reader a great insight to the formation of the Viet Minh and their rise to become a formidable fighting force whose journey to power led to the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu.

The book is well balanced and very readable. It gives a well presented account of the battle and how it unfolded and also shows how, although the French were defeated, at some stages of the fighting, victory could have gone either way with the staggering battle casualties suffered by the Viet Minh.

He also deals with the communist purges in the north after the French had been defeated and the division of the country into North and South Vietnam.

This fine book would not be out of place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the military campaigns of Vietnam.

The book was awesome I have seen it before that is why i purchased, the condition it was in was not as described there were torn pages and I will not by used again

This is an amazing book that gives visual insight into the mysteries of life. Not only is it informative but absolutely spellbinding and beautiful!

this was nice to add to my collection. the photographs are wonderful. and it is very educational as well

The pictures in this book are an amazing insight into our own bodies. The quality of the photographs is incredible and provided me a greater appreciation of the miracle that human bodies are.

As an artist and photographer I was inspired by the beauty captured in the images of Nilsson's book "Life", but as a doctor with some knowledge of the subject, I was intrigued by how amazing the body really is. He has caught certain actions and moments (like conception) that were never seen so clearly before. The electronmicroscopy is astounding! Although this book is almost entirely photographs, without text, everyone who reads or views the book will find a new respect and awe for "Life" and how incredible our bodies are constructed and how we reproduce. This photographic journey is truly inspiring!

Not only does this book explain the "what" and "where," more importantly, it answers the "how" and "why" of so many bird species around the world starting with their first discovery. The amount of information presented is astounding and well worth your time!

I have recently reviewed The Life of Mammals, also by David Attenborough, and I liked that book so much I had to go out and find this book, in which the author tells us about birds.

I have always thought that David Attenborough was most fascinated by birds, judging from this item and his television series. As usual, his enthusiasm comes across as honest, concise, and illuminating (no slogging through dry texts here; this is fun).

Beautiful color photographs are not only a nice bonus here, but are detailed and large (certainly there has gone as much care into them as the rest of the book). The Life of Birds is structured in 10 chapters that each in turn handles a separate item (example: The Demands of the Egg is about, well, eggs). But the whole spectrum of bird-life is treated here: feeding, all kinds of behavior, etc., etc..

Good reading.

This is the companion book to the David Attenborough series of the same name. David shows in this book, that he is not only a great television presenter, but a great author. It's very hard to put down once you've gotten into it.

Like the series, this is highly entertaining, fascinating, and educational. The chapters coincide with the program, there are ten programs in the series and ten chapters in this book all bearing the same names. Also, like the footage of the series, the photography in this book is incredible. Many pictures are very puzzling, as to how they were taken. A lot of work was expended into capturing these images and it shows.

And yes, of course, there is shared information between this book and the programs but you really don't mind reading it again. Also, there is a lot of behavior, facts, and birds that are not featured in the series.

This book perfectly complements the program and also stands well alone. So, if you are interested in "The Life of Birds" series, this also is a must-have!

LOVE IT! This book is not merely a supplement to the phenomenally interesting and educational TV series (available on DVD or VHS and worth every penny and then some), it stands on its own. EVERYTHING a bird lover, casual or professional, might ever have wondered about when observing these graceful creatures is in this book: how birds evolved; how they adapted and often specialized depending on their habitat of choice; evolution of color and "male fashion"; mating rituals; and breeding details. The reader learns not only HOW birds do certain things, but also WHY they do them. The How is fascinating: how birds sing, how an egg is formed, etc.; but the WHY is just as interesting and often mind-boggling, i.e., why birds sing at dawn... You can't get such detailed information anywhere else that I know of. (Bird identification guides do not cover these topics because that's not their purpose.) Sir David Attenborough has a style all his own, and his voice jumps off every single page. I didn't merely READ this book, I ABSORBED it! Although scientific in nature, this book is so entertainingly written that the reader hardly notices how much knowledge is conveyed upon him. I am a devoted fan of Sir David Attenborough and am presently reading some of his earlier books which are just as beautifully written and presented. I also just received his latest books (Blue Planet and Life Of Mammals) and am eagerly looking forward to reading them as well!

LIFE OF BIRDS is a gorgeous journey into the evolution, behavior, and unique characteristics of hundreds of species of birds, varying from Antarctic-dwelling Emperor Penguins to amazing little hummingbirds (and everything in between). The photos are striking, and almost all the birds in the photos are discussed individually in the reader-friendly text. The author knows how to make bird facts fascinating. Every once in a while, I had to put down the book just so I could share with others whatever amazing bit of information I had learned about birds.

I'll be honest and admit I didn't find LIFE OF BIRDS as engaging a read as LIFE OF MAMMALS, which is also by the same author. But I think that's because I'm a big cat and wolf type of person, not a bird person at all. I've never been particularly interested in birds, and only bought LIFE OF BIRDS because I thought LIFE OF MAMMALS was fantastic. Though I did thoroughly enjoy LIFE OF BIRDS, it took me longer to read it (discussions about aerodynamics are not my thing). The best thing I liked about LIFE OF BIRDS were the photos, many of which were pretty gross, showing birds eating monkeys, snakes eating birds, birds eating poop, etc. Everyone loved gawking at those.

What I as a man like most about this book is that Gary is humble enough to admit that he himself had to overcome the same typical male responses and insensitivity to women that nearly all men do. That makes me relieved that it's not just me, and gives me a lot of encouragement.


Lee Liebner, author/singer of As You Go, an inspirational gift book/song-on-CD/scrapbook-journal for young people leaving home to enter the world.

This book should be required reading for every married person - male and female. It's a quick read - written well - enjoyable and greatly informative. There's a ton of wisdom packed in its pages. My husband and I just read it and we've been together 11 years - it's truly helping us get back to where we used to be - the love of each others lives!! It will bless your life - it will also help you with your children. This book teaches you how to love unconditionally through commitment and kindness. It is a MUST READ!!

My husband and I read this book while we were engaged. It truly helped to prepare us for the love life in marriage that comes after the lovey-dovey stage is over. I have given this book to many engaged couples as well as seasoned couples who are having rocky times because marriage can be hard in the first, second, fifth, seventh years...

This is a classic book. If you are looking for some good information to build a life upon, this is a great book to start with.

If you are facing problems in your marriage, order this book and then look at The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His! and The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His 2 - Livin' It and Lovin' It! (Volume 2)

Blessings to you!

Joel and Kathy

Gary Smalley has written several outstanding books on building and maintaining a strong marriage. He has certainly earned the reputation of being someone at the forefront of marriage advice. Unfortunately, I do not find this book, LOVE IS A DECISION, to be anywhere near his best work. Here, Smalley teams with co-author John Trent. The work is good, and there is certainly some great advice here for both newlyweds and long term spouses alike, but I find this book to be difficult at times. What I mean is, I've read this book 3 times now. It is only just over 200 pages. Usually, a book of that size I would tear through in one or two days, but it always a week or more to read this one.

I must say, I certainly agree with the premise and foundational message of the book. So much so that I teach it as an integral part of my marriage coaching. Love is a decision. Oh, I know, it doesn't start out that way so much, but that is why our divorce rate is so high today. When we first meet someone, our attraction is emotional. We see qualities about a person that attract us causing an emotional bond to develop. However, usually somewhere between 1 and 3 years into living under the same roof as husband and wife, those characteristics that we once found attractive now are often like fingernails on a chalkboard.

We must keep in mind that we humans are static creatures, not dynamic. We are ever changing and when we build our relationships on characteristics, we don't realize the strain we are putting on our relationships, because, in time, our characteristics will change. Our interests will change. Our physical qualities will change. Even our opinions will change. Like the old saying, "a man in his twenties who is not liberal has no heart, but a man in his thirties who is not conservative has no brain". The point is, we all change. When we base our relationship on characteristics, we are basing it on something that will be much different down the road.

You see, at some point during the first few years of marriage, we lose our emotional attraction and we must find a new path to marital bliss. This is found through our decision to love that person, despite the fact that they are no longer the same person we fell in love with. That is the premise of the book here and Smalley and Trent do site some viable guidelines to that end, but for me, the book falls short.

I'm not one who normally puts down one book to tout another, but in this case, many people reading this review might find their marriage in a dire situation. Therefore, if you do find yourself in a marriage that seems to have lost its love, I would recommend first reading "Marriage Fitness" by Mort Fertel. It covers the same principles, and does it a more usable fashion.

Pastor Monty Rainey