Others Books

Thank you Dorothy Parker for your gracious statement,like it or not men have a dna about them as Steve Harvey states,they love the hunt and chase of women,every woman needs to get this fact deep in their being for self respecting survival and this book opens your eyes to that no matter what era and events that have taken place in any century,this book will be passed to my daughters,it belongs on Oprah's book reading list.

Why do people post who have NOT read the book they are writing a review for?! Like the poster below. Don't bother seeking Dorothy Parker's review of Technique of the Love Affair, like I did, thinking Parker maybe wrote more, because it's IN THE BOOK! And is, like, a paragraph long, at best; more than half is quoted on the very page you're reading!

That rant aside, I love this book. While one should take its advice as lightly as its tone, it has invaluable tips for relating to men, especially the majority who, as Moore describes, are conformists congratulating themselves for being exceptional individuals, ie, supremely attached to the particular status symbols and labels of their class. Which, as an influence in paramour/mate selection, is NOT to be underestimated, personal experience has shown me. Moore's advice has been especially enlightening during some perplexing encounters with the male species; I am increasingly indebted to her as I get older. Doris Langley Moore deserves more appreciation!

Wonderful book, not very politically correct though. What I really loved about this book is that it provided a framework on how to be, rather than a detailed list of rules. It seemed to recommend easing into ones natural state with time rather than a indefinite charade. I regularly re-read it to help with my dating practices.

The top book on male-female relationships ever! Originally published in the 1920's it's the great great great grandmother of them all.
Yes. This clever, intelligent, honest, ray of light should be required reading for all girls and women!

I may start buying stacks of copies and handing them out to strangers, it's that good.

This book is so elegantly and beautifully written that the words just jump off the pages. The good sense that is written is self-evident - i.e you don't read it thinking "oh thats not how I feel" but simple truths, well-written just resonate with the reader. Like other books of simple truths this book is timeless and can be applied easily to the "modern male" - I'm sure men would not be overjoyed to realise how predictable they are, but my friends, you are, but then women are too. This shows a woman how to play the dating game. However, I do think it is interesting to note that it was written when Miss Langley-Moore was 22 and she later divorced her husband of twenty years and ended up remaining single for the rest of her life. She seemed to find her greatest interest and joy in the fashion world and in writing. So, perhaps, on a human level "playing the game" isn't spiritually satisfying in the long run - even the author admits it is "hard to do but worth the candle". She seems to have decided in her forties it wasn't worth the candle after all. However, in terms of staggering effectiveness this works. I can attest to that and it also gives a woman some good boundaries to work within so one doesn't end up a victim of their emotions. Its also really good guide for getting those men you may previously have thought were out of your league. I can assure you they are not - in fact the more successful and intelligent the more they seem to respond to these techniques!

If you plan to train you dog to be a Therapy Dog, this book is great. It covers just about anything that you will need to know! It is a bit lengthy, but is complete. It will give some ideas whether you want to proceed with your dog's training for this work. Therapy dogs are wonderful animals for others to love.

I'm just entering into the business of having a therapy pooch, and the text was helpful in understanding my role and lots of intricacies I hadn't thought of.

Book arrived quickly and in perfect condition.

Kathy Davis' book is wonderful!
I am using it, along with one or two others, to train my own Therapy Dog for my office and local hospitals and nursing homes. (Feel free to visit at www.drferraioli.com)
I think that Ms. Davis was right to structure her book in such a complete manner, including such topics as how to choose a dog that might be good at this kind of work, what constitutes a good therapy dog visit, safety tips, training and handling techniques, the benefits of therapy dogs, and the list goes on!
Well written and sober, for those who are wanting to do the real thing out there!
Be well,
Dr. Ferraioli
www.drferraioli.com
Author, "Cobwebs And Ugly Wallpaper"

I am very pleased with this book, it has given me many ideas of what to do as a therapy dog team and how I can help others. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in doing therpay dog work.

Mike Shanahan shows how people can learn from mistakes, be flexible, and organize a team (business or sports).
Much can be learned from this book and help one form good habits for success.

In review of the autobiography I read, Think Like a Champion: Building Success One Victory at a Time by Mike Shanahan, I learned a great deal about succeeding on the football field. But more importantly, I learned about succeeding in life.

The book begins with Shanahan in college at Eastern Illinois University. Shanahan played quarterback on the Eastern Illinois football team and was routinely tackled during games. However, after being fiercely tackled during one particular game, Shanahan was rushed to the emergency room. Within hours Shanahan had undergone surgery to remove a badly ruptured kidney, and was soon told he could never play football again.

Wanting to remain close to the game he loved, Shanahan decided to try his hand at coaching. His first coaching stop was in Oklahoma as a part-time assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners. That year the Sooners won the National College Football Championship, and Shanahan was soon offered coaching jobs at other universities. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University, and at the University of Florida before moving to the professional ranks. As a professional football coach, Shanahan coached teams like the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos. Under Shanahan's direction, both of these teams won Super Bowl Championships.

Throughout the book, Shanahan states that he has learned something from every step he has taken in his coaching career. He notes that coaching football was not what he had wanted to do with his life; he wanted to play the game. But he acknowledges that he would probably never have made the pros as a player and would never have had the opportunities he had experienced as a coach.

In the book, Shanahan identifies a few key things he says are critical for success on and off the football field; preparing, sacrificing, competing, and persevering. Without any one of these items, success would not be possible. Shanahan also says that life may take you a direction you weren't planning to go, but that it is important to do your best, no matter what life has to offer.

After reading this book, I have a new perspective on coaching, and a new outlook on life. Hearing that perspective shared by a future Hall of Fame candidate, like Mike Shanahan, makes it even more powerful. Think Like a Champion: Building Success One Victory at a Time was more than a book about coaching the game of football. It was about being in, and succeeding at the game of life.

Straight-forward, crisply articulated and with practically no unnecessary fluff, Mike Shanahan's book, "Think Like a Champion," compellingly argues that the game of life is basically won or lost before the "players" take the field. Shanahan asserts his point of view over sixteen easy-to-digest chapters (each about ten pages or less) on the diffent tenets of becoming the best at what you do.

What I liked about this book is that while the author culls specific examples from his football career, the "moral of the story" is clearly applicable to ANYONE seeking to become the best in any endeavor. Offering an excellent, enjoyable read to both sports enthusiasts and non enthusiasts alike, the author's writing style is to neither excessively arm-wave nor make unsupported generalizations.

In fact, part of the Shanahan's credibility here is in his willingness to name names when providing examples of people living up to a credo espoused in a given chapter or more dramatically, falling short.

Written with humility, Shanahan's book leaves the reader feeling that there is nothing magical to becoming a huge success -- other than having a plan and putting in the blood, sweat and tears required to make that plan a success. Or as the author concludes, citing legendary coach Vince Lombardi, "Your quality of life is in direct proportion to your commitment to excellence." So true.

A die-hard Broncos fan from the days dying watching those ridiculous striped socks and watching Fran Tripuka get killed, what a job Shanahan did turning it around into two Super Bowls in a row.

Learning of his background and his principles makes me now not only a more avid Bronco fan, but also a Shanahan fan as well. His perseverance from the days of his kidney injury to how he became part of Sooner coaching staff till today is truly one of principles of success through hard work, not gifts or who you know or any of the other myths most people who never get anywhere fall for and are unmotivated. Most of them just don't ever want to work hard at anything, but have it handed to them. Shanahan disproves all that bunk and shows how it came to be. Unbelievable that when given the Raiders head-job, didn't even have the downpayment for a house.

This guy is very endearing to so many of us who never had the backgrounds for those connections, but wanting something bad enough, and always believing it, achieve it one goal at a time.

Great advice, especially appreciate his concern for balance.

Excellent read. Thanks, Mike, from a new fan and admirer.

I have heard this advice before: If you want to be successful
at something, find the most successful person you can in that area, listen to what they say, and try to follow it. Well, its hard to imagine a football coach more sucessful than Mike Shanahan. Here's a guy who started with a dream: to be a head football coach, started as an unpaid volunteer for a college team, and worked his way to be one of the best, most respected, coaches in the NFL (winning 2 consecutive Superbowls) at a young age.

The great thing is, he has written a book that is designed to help people win beyond football, in any area of life. Shanahan breaks it down for you: the way he prepares, some struggles he's had, some ways he motivates people (including the little things that we learn are so critical), very good wisdom concerning life, and a lot more. Also very critical is the fact that this book is very easy to read and understand.

You even get a bonus section in each chapter written by some of the greatest people and minds in football: Paul Tagliabue, Jerry Rice, Bill Walsh, John Elway, Deion Sanders, Steve Young, George Seifert, Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, Al Michaels, and more. They give their own take on the subject being discussed in the chapter, which is not only informative, but like the book itself, filled with wisdom.

The chapters consist of 16 basic areas to focus on to become successful, things like: Preparing (all of life is preparation, and not preparing is preparing to fail), Sacrificing (don't expect to get anything good done without sacrifice, if it was easy, everyone would do it), Learning (without learning, you will be hopelessly stuck where you are), Detailing (the devil is definitely in the details and that's where things often break down). This is just a taste of the wisdom in this book. Highly recommended for people looking to improve themselves.

The book arrived well on time and in excellent condition. The price was the best I'd seen from any of the online retailers I viewed.

It is an amazing and helpful book. It really is a guide to using contemporary Russian. The best book I purchased in 2007. I use it often. It is one of the five important books for learning Russian. What do I list as the five book? Wade's A Comprehensive Russian Grammar, Wade's Using Russian Synonyms, Beyer's Pronounce it Perfectly in Russian, a dictionary and this book.

If you want to master Russian as a secound language, this book is a major help.

There's not a whole lot I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. I noticed, however, that most of the reviews were written before the second edition of this book was published. Rest assured that Mr. Offord has made a great book on Russian even greater.

Perhaps the most useful part of the new edition is the section on computer and Internet terminology in Russian, a lexicon that is conspicuously absent from most of my other Russian books. Thanks to the revision, this volume is now every bit the contemporary usage guide its subtitle indicates. And if you want an idea of just how authoritative the book is, the Schaum's Outline of Russian Grammar (which has earned five stars practically across the board) lists "Using Russian" as its source for the entire chapter on Russian prepositions. And the prepositions section of "Using Russian" is only a tiny fraction of its rich repository.

The only drawback to this book is that it is a bit expensive, especially for a paperback, but it will reward you with a constant return on your investment. No serious Russian student's reference library should be without it.

I've always had my command of the Russian language complimented by native speakers. Not only do they praise the refineness of my speech, but also the varying degree of registers and different applications of style of my spoken Russian. My written Russian has gotten no less compliments; it has always been compared to that of an educated Russian - well-refined, very correct and very upscale, with a nice touch of colloquialism to spice up the writing. When chatting with Russians of my age (21), I will often resort to colloquial speech. As a result, what people compliment the most about my Russian is not only my command of the language (which does get its fair share of compliments), but also its 'flexibility.'

However, this is not a review on my fluency in Russian, but what has become of my Russian after reading and studying this book.

Not only does it take your command from advanced to proficient, it also covers different aspects, styles and registers of the Russian language; something which is often ignored in other conventional Russian textbooks. I have books of the same series focusing on different languages (i.e. Using German), and none of them was as in-depth as the Using Russian textbook. It even covers aspects of the Russkiy Mat - or Russian swear words, that other, more "politically correct" textbooks are often inclined to ignore. Russian swear words are an essential part of Russian colloquial speech, whether we like to admit it or not. This book, unlike other Russian textbooks, acknowledges this issue and dedicates a small, but detailed, section about the Russian swear words. That's only a small part of it.

While it does explain the grammar at some points, this book is primarily focused, as the book title suggests, on the APPLICATION of the language, and different circumstances that require different registers. It also gives the varying dialects and different words used across different styles (from colloquial to elevated) in order for the learner to add more flexibility to his command of the language.

In sum, I cannot say anything but agree with what every other review has said about this book. It is simply awesome and truly helpful to those learning Russian.

However, I would disagree with those who say that Using Russian substitues Wade's "A Comprehensive Russian Grammar" because both books are important and both books are invaluable to the Russian language learner. The only difference is that both books have two DIFFERENT FOCUSES, where one is more concerned with the grammar and fundamentals of the language, and the other is more concerned with the actual application of the language. Both books, in essence, compliment each other.

Mr. Offord has done an amazing thing by developing this book. I'm not exaggerating when I say it has clarified the language and helped me speak it more than did living for months in Russia -- or maybe the combination of the two was the trick. I can't wait to see what he's added for the 2nd edition.

The book -- and the others in the series (German, French, etc) -- will appeal especially to those who enjoy learning language using a formal approach, organizing topics into e.g. registers, augmentative suffixes, homographs, modal particles, etc. Don't be afraid! It all adds wonderful clarity. His English equivalents of words and phrases with subtle meanings are very well done.

After having studied it, I still enjoy picking it up and looking through a random section. Don't hesitate to get it if you enjoy Russian and are past the basics.

Like features on a face or shadows on the moon, what we remember most is the unusual, the unsmooth, the wart or the wrinkle. Thus, for most of us, our picture of Henry David Thoreau consists of parts of two years spent in a hut on Walden Pond, interrupted by a one night stay in jail. If a quote comes to mind it is likely to be the aphorism about those who march to the beat of a different drummer. A two year camp-out is not a life, emblematic or no, and though Thoreau's life was short (snuffed by tuberculosis at 44), there was a great deal more to his career than the shack on Walden pond. He supported himself as a surveyor, teacher and lecturer, and his naturalist writings were widely published throughout his life. He was a knowledgeable taxonomist and was conversant with naturalistic texts in Greek and Latin, as well as with his contemporary, Charles Darwin. WILD FRUITS was his last manuscript, still in the works at the time of his death, together with a sketchier companion volume on the Dispersion of Seeds. Painstakingly transcribed from the author's scribbled notes by Thoreau scholar Bradley Dean, this book is a walk through the fruiting season. We meet each fruit as it ripens, from the elm seed and dandelion fluff forward to the succulent berries of summer and on to the wizened fruits of winter, still clinging to branches long after their season has passed. Thoreau was an acute observer. His careful identification and description of each plant could not be improved upon today, and being closer to the European invasion, he had the benefit of Indian wisdom concerning the habit and uses of native plants. Most surprising to this reader, after many seasons spent hiking and canoeing in Thoreau's stompin' grounds, is the diversity of edible berries I have overlooked. I consider myself a "grazer," inclined to sample berries, fruits, nuts and mushrooms* in my travels, but I see that I have much to learn (and nibble). All of the author's observations are interwoven with commentary on the habits of humans and animals, most particularly the damage being done to the natural world by thoughtless developers and badly conceived laws. Once again Thoreau proves deserving of his reputation as the progenitor of modern environmentalism. His voice rings true and clear across the 20th Century.

First things first, as they say. Very appropriately, other reviews have started with a heart felt admiration and thanks to Bradley Dean and all of his associates for this monumental accomplishment of editing and bringing this "Last Manuscript" to fruition. No easy task, either. Included in this book are photo copies of original handwritten pages from the manuscript. Think of the proverbial Doctor's scribbling and you get the picture. The research required to make sense of it all and get it to book form was monumental. Also included is an overview of how this project was handled with significant editor's notes and further research info and a chronology of Thoreau's life. For more info on Thoreau's life and work, there is a note to readers that invites all to check out the Walden Project or the Thoreau Society website (www.walden.org).

This book mostly reads like a botanist's field guide to wild edible plants with very exacting seasonal attributes: uses- edible, medicinal, etc.; locating/identifying/gathering/processing. Fine plant illustrations by Abigail Rorer compliment the plant descriptions.

Added to this and sprinkled throughout the book are Thoreau's thoughts and keen insight to the workings of nature and the need of the public to be educated on the virtues of native flora/fauna. Thoreau posits on the need for large tracks of land (like nature islands) to be set aside in their pristine/untouched/native condition for the protection and health of plant and animal life.

This book is not a sequel to Thoreau`s "Walden", rather, it stands on it's own as a great illustration of his profound knowledge of flora/fauna and for his admiration and love of Nature for all that it provides- "To watch for, describe, all the divine features which I detect in Nature. My profession is to be always on the alert to find God in nature-to know his lurking places". Thoreau certainly lived up to that aspiration and more! I highly recommend this book.

This book is a collection of notes concerning the timing of various fruits that grow in and around Concord, Massachusetts. The word "fruit" is used very generally, and not all the "fruits" in the book are wild, since Thoreau includes comments about corn, potatoes, and other crops in the book, as well as about weeds and trees that produce seeds, such as maples. The book is comprised of articles that run from 1 or 2 sentences to 20 pages, depending on how much Thoreau has to say about the topic. The articles are arranged chronologically, according to when the "fruit" first ripens, beginning with elm seeds in May and ending with juniper berries in March. While some of the articles are accompanied by black-and-white sketches, they do not generally have enough information for readers to use the book as a guide for identifying plants. Rather, the book provides notes about the growth habits and ecology of plants. In addition to Thoreau's Wild Fruit material, there is also an introduction by the editor, Bradley Dean, and end material, including a selection of related passages (alternate beginning to Wild Fruits, the history of the apple tree, notes on the dispersion of seeds), a Thoreau chronology, a short glossary of botanical terms, a few black and white plates of Thoreau's manuscripts, editor's notes on the manuscript, a list of works cited, and an index.

This work represents the most detailed and systematic collection of Thoreau's naturalist observations. Even though the work is primarily about fruits, Thoreau still manages to slip a little philosophy in here and there. In his own introduction, he writes "The value of any experience is measured, of course, not by the amount of money, but the amount of development we get out of it." In his essay "Wild Apples," he writes "There is thus about all natural products a certain volatile and ethereal quality which represents their highest value, and which cannot be vulgarized, or bought and sold." Later, in an essay concerning cranberries, he notes "Both a conscious and an unconscious life are good; neither is good exclusively, for both have the same source. The wisely conscious life springs out of an unconscious suggestion....Indeed, it is by obeying the suggestions of a higher light within you that you escape from yourself and, in the transit, as it were see with the unworn sides of your eye, travel totally new paths." It's a fascinating book for readers of Thoreau, and would make a great reference for those interested in learning more details about the ecology of wild New England plants than can be found in common field guides.

What could be more pedestrian than the fruits (talking broadly) of plants - such fruits that include grains of wheat, hips of wild roses, apples, blueberries, etc. We may enjoy some of them as taste treats, but most of us ignore the everyday development of fruit from flower. The flowers are more noticed, except for some ornamental types like hollies. Yet the fruit and/or seeds of plants are amazing structures, many evolved to be carried by the wind, floated on water, eaten by animals or inadvertently carried by same through the devices of spines or hooks. In addition the seeds, surrounded by fleshy fruits or not, are little wonders- holding within them the promise of new growth. It always amazes me a little when I plant a seed and in a few weeks or months I have in its place a tall corn plant or tomato! Oaks are in acorns and tall pines in the seeds shed from their cones.

The long lost manuscript of Henry David Thoreau has now been published as "Wild Fruits", edited by Bradley P. Dean and elegantly illustrated by Abigail Rorer. It is a gem! Thoreau recorded his observations and thoughts about every sort of fruit and seed he encountered in New England, including the domesticated or semi-domesticated types. Occasionally he goes on about some favored fruit, such as the apple, explaining some of the folklore and history. In essence, especially in this troubled world, it is a great pleasure to read about these amazing, but everyday, objects of nature.

A good book to read and savor, I recommend it as an antidote to the hurried and harried lives we often live.

Do we have a preference for our Thoreau? ABSOLUTELY! But even the adulterated varietal will do in a pinch. The long lost diary of HD's romps in the woods serve well to remind us why some fruits are forbidden. Thoreau's posthumously edited musings over cattails, gladiolas, and other seductive succulents put the reader in the mood, apparently, for wanton strolls in a wooded glen savoring everything from unbridalled grapes (of wrath?) to the odd jack-in-the-pulpit. 'Tis better to give than to receive and this new work by an old friend makes a great gift when you want it known that you are in the mood for fruit more private than Publix.

I teach an ESL class to immigrants and use this book constantly. My students like this book becuz of the pictures, conversation ideas at the bottom and translations in several languages. I've had to order books (in Spanish, Chinese, Korean) for my students who want their own copies. We love this book!

I'm very lucky to find this book, because it will helps me to learn English. But I think it's good also for everybody because the book teach us the correct name of the things that we need day by day.
It's my second by at Amazon and I'm very happy
Cordially,
Luzia

This is the kind of dictionary I needed. When you want to know how to say a concrete concept you will understand better if you use this picture dictionary.

Please review the book I ordered its call word by word picture dictionary, second edition

The book is very good,I still remenber the moment that i got the book.It help my daughter enjoy English.

A rich assortment of =visual interpretations of the idea of mapping.. I have used this book as an inspiration and resource for my art classes-- and was so happy to discover it.


Barbara Rothenberg

I used a graphic design class I teach as an excuse to purchase this book (I've been wanting it for a while). My students are loving it as much as I do.

This is a great collection of eccentric, unique and brilliant conceptual maps. It is one of those books that will take you places you never imagined.

I've been buying books for 45 years and this is the most wonderful book I own--amazing, thought-provoking, beautiful. My only regret is that I waited so long to purchase it. As improbable as it sounds, "You Are Here" comes across as what might be the lush, lovely, and totally unlikely synthesis of Bachelard's "The Poetics of Space," the imaginative joy of A.A. Milne ("Winnie the Pooh" and "The House at Pooh Corner," etc.) or P.L. Travers ("Mary Poppins," "Mary Poppins Opens the Door," etc.), and the deep wisdom of place and spirit found in the works of Annie Dillard and Kathleen Norris or even Terry Tempest Williams. When I open "You Are Here," my heart, spirit and imagination invariably soar.

This book was not what I was expecting but it is interesting nonetheless. It is a collection of (mostly) unconventional maps with a few paragraphs written about each. In addition there are some articles on topics loosely related to cartography and the mind. It is more of a picture book than a reference volume and provides food for thought on mapping and identity.

I'm a total herp nut, so this book was right up my alley. It was easy, interesting reading and read like the author was there talking to me, telling stories about his life and experiences. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to go into zookeeping, regardless of if they see themselves working with herps or not. Incompitent bosses, visitors you'd like to chuck head first into the [carnivorous animal] exhibit, never enough money, escaped animals...it doesn't matter what species you work with, you *will* encounter all of that and more. All keepers need to have their minds on what they're doing and check the locks and follow directions, and Pete's herp house stories clearly illustrate why and what can happen when you're sloppy.

This is a great book. I find myself laughing at times, grimacing at others.

The author has a great understanding of snakes and other reptiles. His respect for crocodiles comes across very clearly in this book. He also has a great understanding of human nature and some of the stories he tells are touching and sensitive. Others are hilarious and I laughed out loud while reading this book

The book is well written and enjoyable. It is easy to read and grabs you right from the opening pages. Even when he is lecturing to the reader or providing information, it is done in context and is very interesting.

Well worth every penny.
Enjoy.

I am loving this book. I decided to come online in the midst of it and urge others to read it...and this is not a paid urging!!!I hate to see what I look like reading this book..I go from grimaces to smiles to shock to belly laughs...I at times find myself leaning back in my chair as a particular tale is taking hold of me! The information is astounding and the authors sympathy with snakes is heartwarming...truly!!! More...more...more!!!

"You Belong in a Zoo" is Peter Brazaitis' tale of his storied career caring for and studying reptiles. Brazaitis' served as Superintendant of reptiles at the Bronx Zoo and as Curator of the Central Park Zoo, and has also acted as an advocate for endangered reptiles through his work to prevent the illegal importation and killing of these animals. Brazaitis of course has a wealth of stories to tell - some humorous, some frightening, and some a combination of the two. After describing 15 foot long King Cobras capable of rising to look a full grown man in the eye, Brazaitis relates the story of his attempt to capture one of these fascinating but deadly creatures by precariously balancing above a pool of crocodiles to reach the ceiling panel where the snake is hiding. Brazaitis' take on reptiles, and animals in general, is interesting. He obviously has a deep respect and admiration for animals, especially the reptiles he has spent a lifetime studying, but his view of animals seems different from that of some of the more radical animal rights activists. One could also argue that Brazaitis' work - especially his work with customs officials to stop the smugggling of endangered reptiles - has done more good than some of the antics of the more extreme members of PETA, for example. Brazaitis writes in an earnest style with some dry wit thrown in, and this style is quite effective in relating the story of his career. "You Belong In a Zoo" is an entertaining tale of reptiles and other animals, and an enjoyable autobiography of a man who has obviously "found his niche" in caring for these creatures.

As a child, Peter Brazaitis' stepmom told him "You belong in a zoo!" He decided she had a point.

This book is part biography, part recollection of interesting episodes in his career. Brazaitis went on to work at the Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo in New York, and his specialty is reptiles.

Many people find scaly animals to be scary or repulsive, but Brazaitis helps to bring some uunderstanding and fondness for them to the reader. He has a talent for storytelling. He raises the tension in a scary story about an escaped cobra. He transports you to a very different kind of society as he describes a trip to capturte goliath frogs in Africa. He brings insight into how zoos are run and how they've evolved. And more than once he gets a lot of chuckles from landmark human stupidity. (Such as the lawyer with a unique idea about the digestive + reproductive systems, or the true pinheads who seem to think venomous snakes make for interesting pets.)

If you're interested in animals, you'll find "You Belong in a Zoo!" to be an excellent read.

No fooling! 13 years ago today I quit smoking forever and I did it by using this book! J. Rogers devised a systematic approach to ease the addicted one off cigarettes - it really works if you follow the system.
In 1996 I purchased this book, part of the process was to pick a date to quit smoking - about 4 weeks into the future, I selected April 1st, because only a fool would continue to smoke after that day!
I followed the steps as outlined in the book, steps like keeping track of when and how much you smoke, changing cigarette brands to lower nicotine brands, waiting 15 minutes after you eat to smoke, and so forth. Eventually, all the trigger points are dealt with, and the amount of nicotine entering your system is dramatically less than when you began - making your quit day a breeze. This method will work - buy it for anyone who smokes and knows how to read!

I love this book, I used it 10 years ago to stop smoking. It guided me through the process of understanding why I smoke, and helped me to understand the role that smoking played in my life, and how smoking served some need (for me, squelching emotion and creating distance from people). It also helped me anticipate what it would feel like to be an adult non-smoker, which was scary because I had never been one! You have to do the internal work before you can quit successfully, to understand where you are, how you got there, and why you want to change. It has to be your own choice for your own reasons. Then, it's easy. Believe me.

This book was a GREAT help to my Mom in her struggle. It detail's a very different kind of approach to quitting smoking. It doesn't throw crap down the reader's throat but rather allow a little leeway, understanding the difficult struggle ahead.

Good strategies for anyone willing to listen to them.

It is not a "STOP SMOKING NOW!" book, neither is it a self-help book, rather an informative, helpful little guide in breaking down each individual smoker's habit, helping them slowly, but surely, gain the willpower necessary to finally quit smoke.

Since she finally quit, It's been several Month's. Her mood has changed a lot, she seem's happier, less nervous and easier to accept difficult challenges.

I was so physically and psychologically addicted that I really believed there was no way I could ever quit smoking. I had tried everything: patches, smoke-cessation groups, cold turkey, etc. Finally, I read this book one summer, made lots of notes, kept the charts that are suggested, made myself a diary of why I HAD to quit and all the other wonderful psychological helps suggested in the book. I got all fired up and ready to go. It then took patches and after that the nicotine gum and about 1 1/2 years of antidepressants and..... I'm free!!! and feeling fantastic! I did this in February of 1996, so next February will be 10 years. I know that I never could have done it without this book. I'm buying it now for a friend. Try it. It will help you to succeed.

This really is a great book. I read it nearly eight years ago and quit smoking after 20 plus years smoking like a fiend. Sadly, after seven years smoke free and losing a parent to lung cancer, a few months ago I began smoking again. I ordered this book and have been working through it, and find it as good as last time I read it. I am having a hard time working through the problems associated with getting up the motivation and willpower to quit - without enough motivation, forget it! - but this is the best book I've found to give great, practical advice and the steps to achieve success. Starting smoking again is the worst thing I could have done. Almost immediately, the cigarettes had their evil, addictive tentacles wrapped around me. A good lesson in never having even ONE!!! I do wish she would update the book again, the last version being over ten years old. I think it's out of print now, but can be found used on amazon. The advice is still great. Good luck!!!

Looking for ways and methods to help mothers and fathers understand their kids and vica versa? Understanding is the first step toward better relationships and a greater capacity to accept differences among loved ones. From a parent's point of view it is hard to have this lovable child that is so precious suddenly become a monster. From the teen's perspective it is impossible to understand how someone who is trying to ruin my life can really love me or care. So what is to be done? Vanessa, actually still a teen herself when she wrote this book, seems to know much of what needs to happen. For one thing, we need to understand each other's thinking and feeling capacities. Without that knowledge we expect the impossible. Parents need to know that kids think differently from us, and with less logical functioning. Kids need to know that they may not be interpreting actually the facial expressions and remarks of their parents. And so Vanessa sets out to help both generations. She has provided great research on cognitive development. She also has provided tons of data on what kids really think. And she has given both generations ways of finding solutions around so many of the growing up issues that seem to send sparks flying in the household. I think this is the best book I have seen for parents, teachers and teens. Everyone can read and benefit from the material and the suggestions. I can only imagine what Vanessa Van Petten will over society over the next 50 years. People talk about concert virtuoso's who are 16, 18 or 24. Well, Vanessa is a social psychologist of the finest caliber whether she has the advanced degree yet or not. At 22 she is someone to admire, listen to and make sure to stay posted about. Can't wait for the next book.

At first, I was really skeptical about this. My mother made me read it and I felt for a bit that it was a punishment. After I got into it though I was very pleasantly surprised.

I thought it provided a lot of good insight, and I'm definitely glad my parents read it too, because now I think they understand where I'm coming from a lot better and we can work through our issues and get what we both want out of things.

Coming from a teenager that doesn't really like reading and was particularly reluctant about approaching this topic, I thought this book was a great, easy, entertaining, and yes, very helpful, read. I highly recommend it.

Jonathan

This book was a fantastic eye-opening experience into the lives of teenagers from the perspective of a teenager. Ms. Van Patten really is able to show us how the world has changed for our youth today and how we better can understand what they are facing. I enjoyed the book tremendously and have been able to employ some of the ideas to strenghten the mother/daughter relationship with my daughter. I have bought copies of the books for many of my mom friends as I know they too will get a lot out this book. Thank you!

Catherine Nofri, Los Angeles, CA

Family members are facing some distinct but not uncommon challenges with their teenage kids. I am gifting this book to them, in hopes that some resolution is on the horizon, due to Van Petten's practical approach and accessible "teen speak."

A Wiseman
Santa Fe NM

I bought this book for myself, but plan to give it to my daughter who is growing up too quickly. This book is great because it tells the story from both sides of the coin, in a way that can be easily understood by all parties involved.