I Books

Make your days easier with this comprehehnsive and user-friendly collection of what is central to family and daily activity: MEALS. We all know life is about the basic good pleasures, simplifying, and excellence.

This book has been the driving force in getting me to begin cooking.
My family loves what I am making them and meal time has become an event.
What a change this book has had on my life!
Thank you...you made cooking fun and easy for me.

I bought this wonderful cookbook about a month ago.

As the child of a single working mother family meals were rare. Later when I became a wife and mother of three sons I always longed to create memorable everyday meals, bake homemade breads and generally become a good cook. I spent a small fortune on cookbooks and cooking magazines trying to find a way to make my dream come true. I wanted to cook delicious meals my family liked to eat and find a system that would allow me to cook fresh food daily.

I visited Ms. Groveman's website after I read a quote from her in a magazine. I soon found myself swept up in her message. Finally here was someone who was saying all the things I wanted to hear; families need to eat together, it is vital! Creating a nurturing atmosphere through cooking for your family and friends benefits you and them in immeasurable ways! I had to know more so I purchased her book.

She is saying yes get in that kitchen! You can do it! This book and her website provide a perfect blueprint for anyone wanting to start cooking or for those who want a stellar recipe collection to add to their repertoire . I am a beginner yet I have found her cookbook to have it all; salads, special dishes, family style dishes and the best fancy and casual nibbles you will ever try!

I started with the pantry staples. These are mixes, spice blends and sauces that go along with many different recipes and they make cooking so delicious and incredibly easy! First I made the Scone/Biscuit mix, Pancake/Cake mix, Cornbread mix and the Muffin mix, then I made the spice blends.

Now making Baking Powder Biscuits or Skillet Cornbread on a weeknight is as easy if not easier than using a prepackaged mix, but the taste of these homemade mixes is unrivaled. I am already scraping the bottom of my biscuit mix ( I have three growing boys and a husband!). Oh, and the Banana Bread made with the muffin mix is sublime!

I first made the Buttermilk Pancakes and they looked exactly like the photo. I was hooked! I then made Perfect Roast Chicken (believe me it's perfect!;the recipe uses a spice blend) , Fajitas (also uses a spice blend), Pigs in A Quilt (with three boys I have already made this twice!). With each recipe I followed I was turning out incredible results. Not only did it taste great it also looked great! I couldn't believe it!

Then came the day I decided to make the Challah! Lauren suggests that this should be the first yeast bread you attempt. Well, when you see the photo of this beauty in the book you can see why I might be a bit intimidated-especially considering the fact that I had dozens of failed yeast bread attempts in the past. I read Lauren's bread notes (available on the website and in her first book) and set out to make the Challah. Well, on my first attempt I pulled the most beautiful loaf of bread out of the oven. I could not believe I made this! Armed with this success I then tried the Country White Bread- again success! Delicious! My kids helped me knead the dough for the country white. They did such a good job, we had a great time!
There is no fancy equipment needed to make bread with Lauren, no not even a yeast thermometer!

My children and husband are just lapping all of this attention and love up and I am feeling so great and it is not all about the food. It is about me providing the kind of home life I have always wanted to have. I want my children to know the stability that I never knew as a child and feeding them delicious meals at regular meal times has started to show my kids that life can be predictable and that they are worth every bit of effort it takes to produce great meals and pleasant meal times.

It has not been hard or terribly expensive to start this process. In fact I have taken more pleasure and joy in the past few weeks- with trips to the market and the store buying containers and a few bits and pieces for the kitchen-than I can ever remember. Now I have a mission! This cookbook and Ms. Groveman's website have been my guide. I feel I am starting to succeed in making my dreams come true and all of the guilt I used to have about meal times or lack thereof has dissipated. All of my new found success has not been limited to the kitchen. I now see my new found confidence and my family's contentedness spilling over into other areas of our lives!

As I write this review my kitchen is filled with vegetables and ingredients to make the Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken and Peas for lunch and the Loaded with Vegetables Lasagne for tomorrow night's dinner (with the Crusty Italian Bread from Lauren's first book, I had to get both!) I can only count the days until Spring when I can introduce my children to our farm stands and markets. I am already planning on finding the U-pick places and my husband is going to help me to grow fresh herbs! Life is so sweet!

This cookbook is fabulous! I am going to purchase a copy for my sister!

Very Highly Recommended!

This cookbook goes beyond great recipes -- really great, I should add: the scones are to die for, and the butternut squash soup the best I have tasted, and she even shows an easy way to make your own flour tortillas! -- with helpful tips and charming stories. Groveman's love of cooking is infectious. This is a book that you will use for everyday dinners as well as special occasions.

What a beautiful book! It is filled with an inspiring passion for cooking and sharing that passion with the people we love. A concept this world is sorely in need of these days. I have given this book as gifts to all of my friends and they love it. It is filled with great recipes and practical ideas as well as words of wisdom and inspiration. I have tried several of the recipes and gotten rave reviews. I have been cooking since I was ten years old and although I'm not professionally trained, anyone who knows me would say that cooking and loving is what I do best. It is a pleasure to have Lauren's book validate those qualities and encourage others to bring celebrations of warmth to those we love.

Please take note Bruce the Retiree who Cooks for Two--you seemed to have missed the point of the book. Cooking is an art--creative, warm, loving and meant to be shared. It is sad that you missed the point. It would have been ideal, for someone who is retired and has the time, to pass the beauty of cooking on to our younger generation. Lauren Groveman has been involved in getting a kitchen built in young women's prisons and has taken the time to teach and inspire the young women to cook and thus to care for their families. Her book reflects her kindness and sincere desire to share her talents with everyone. The book is a treasure--I highly recommend it and wish I could give it a double five stars.

I Love You Because You're You. It's the perfect message of unconditional love that we can share with our little ones. What a wonderful way to express exactly what we want to reinforce with our own little ones. I absolutely adore this book.

I Love You Because You're You shows cute illustrations of a darling little fox and his mother (which becomes grandmother when I read the book). In each picture, the little fox is expressing parts of his personality and different emotions. Sometimes he's loving, curious, and full of energy. Other times, he is sad, scared, or angry. However, no matter what the mood, Mama reiterates that she loves her little one nonetheless.

We received this book as a gift when our baby girl was born. I love this book. The verse is very sweet and simple and describes emotions that will be familiar to a young child. The illustrations depict the emotions with enough detail that a child can start to recognize them. Very few children's books these days have illustration this nice. Highly recommended.

LOVE is an unconditional. This book illustrates the differences between like and LOVE. This is a great book to read to children of all ages. The illustrations are marvelous. Even though the choice of roles may be a little gender biased, the story still depicts and models (for parents or caregivers) the art of teaching love.

Great book, easy to read and really lets your child know they are very loved and very special.

My favorite line in this elegant volume is when
the regally dressed Mama fox says to her little one,
"I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do."

How many of us wonder, "Will they still love me, even
though I......." fill in your blank?

How many times we PRAY the important people in
our lives will love us unconventionally and how many
times do we deny ourselves the comfort of a
"Yes, ofcourse I will love you any way... no
matter what you do"?

Read this child to the preschooler in your life
AND be sure your teen-aged children (nieces,
nephews, neighbors, passers-by) are listening
as well. Read it often.

Read it to yourself when you are feeling low -
and allow yourself to be embraced by Mama Fox.

It is a less-than-five-minute investment
in contentment, peace and growth in
unconventional love... and hopefully the message
will carry over into the hearts and souls
of the listeners.

Okay, I'm not a mental case. BUT this story will sound like I am. I started "I'll watch the Moon" and could not put it down. I read the entire book in 7 hours, I was completely engrossed with the family. Here's where I may seem crazy. When I went to bed that night, I included the characters on my prayer list. I had never done that before, but they became so real to me. Ann Tatlock is amazing.

This is a wonderfully told story of life, death, despair and hope, in uncertain times of the post WWII era. The relationships between young Nova and her family and friends is realistic and endearing. I was struck by the closeness between her and her older, teenage brother. She idolizes him and he truly loves her. The most touching moments for me, however, are between Nova and Josef, each providing a source of comfort and encouragement to the other. The story of hatred, loss and forgiveness are entwined in a heartwarming lesson of God's love.

This is an incredible story of love and forgiveness. I will recommend this book to everyone I know! I can't remember the last time I read such a moving, touching story.

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. From the first page, I couldn't put it down. It's excellently written and the characters are people I'll forever remember.

I enjoyed this book so much! A warm story of family relationships and caring friends. I will recommend this book andthis author to all my reading friends.

Great book. Most of Hallinan's books are. How Do I Love You is his best.

This book is good. More for 5 year olds and up, I would think. I do have to explain a lot to my 4 and 2 1/2 year old what the words mean. But still, this is a nice book. Loving and fun! Pictures are bright and cheery!

This book is a perfect way to teach children how to be thankful for all the wonderful things God has given us. It shows that we should be thankful for non-material things. It is a precious book for parent and child to read together. It reminded me of a few things I needed to be thankful for!

This book is wonderful. My daughter and I read it every night at bedtime, and I never get tired of it. Now, I am on a mission to collect ALL of PK Hallinan's books. I think they all have a great message, they are well written, have beautiful pictures and are just all around the best kids' books I have encountered. Definitely a must have for all toddler moms-- and moms with young kids!

This is one of my favorite books to read to my son (almost 3 yrs. old). I love how the author reminds us to be thankful for the things that are easy to overlook, like the power of the mind or the look of an autumn day. It's helped everyone in our house to stop and be thankful for even the little things in our lives.

The illustrations are breath-taking--make you want to run your fingers across the page. Thousands of little girls can identify with the heroine, who is clearly the author herself( read the author's note first).

My book arrived quickly and just as I had ordered it. It was packaged safely and securely. You will be happy with this seller.

This is a wonderful story perfect for your imaginative little ones. It took me back to my childhood and all the imagining and pretending I did as a little girl. My children were enraptured. I did not give it a five b/c they have not asked me to read it over and over. I think you have to be in a special mood for this story. Great at bedtime! Great for the little girl or boy who dreams of horses or loves animals.

This is a very special book about a girl who wants her own pony. My daughter loved this book, because she could relate to the story so well. She too wishes for a pony, but we don't have one. Very special book. Love it!

My girls LOVE horses. This is a really cute book, with great pictures about a little girl and how she loves ponies. It's totally worth it!

If you have to read reviews about I-Ching books this is the first book you need to buy. The study of the I Ching begins with practice by consulting the oracle not with immediate attempts at understanding-especially for the Western mind. This version of the I Ching is the easisest way to make that first step. You read a few paragraphs on instructions to throw three pennies and begin an adventure that can last from a few minutes to a lifetime. Despite its ease of use, this book is a complete work unto itself shold you choose to go deeper. It has ample references to history and more subtle interpretations. A glimpse of Western understanding may be obtained by reading Carl Jung's foreword in the Baynes/Wilhelm interpretation.

I own both this one and the I Ching Workbook and they are practically the same book, though this one doesn't have the spiral binding (which you'll need because you'll open it so much) but has the most beautiful, meditative paintings on each hexagram. The pictures give you a profound inner sense of the truth of each throw of the coins, transforming the experience into a deeply effective tool for inner growth. Not to be confused with the Art of War or the Tao Te Ching, the I Ching focuses mainly on political relationships and the development of character as one navigates one's way through professional and personal relationships. The main thing you'll get from using the I Ching is, to learn which situations you can definitely change and which ones you should just let pass. It also shows you where you are in the development of goals and what to prepare yourself for, as you go on. Start with one question, and when you read the answer, if you have deeper questions, ask them too. You'll get amazing answers.

Some of the longer reviews will tell you how this I Ching integrates relevant art work with practical advice. I just wanted to second all the positive reviews here in saying that from looking at many I Ching books, this is the only one that really clicked with me. The art work is beautiful and the text is very illuminating. 5 +++ stars!

I have bought several books on I Ching and this one is one of the most interesting books I have purchased.The book is larger than most books,about an A3 size but short on text than most books,less than a page for each hexagram.(a bit too light on for text).Written in simple English makes this book an advantage.The illustations throughout add to the character of the book.This book will please a lot of people.Didnt have this book for long because I needed more indepth books.

If you are looking for books on I Ching that go in depth and in great detail you might want to consider other books like those written by author Stephen Karcher,Kim-Anh Lim,Sam Reifler,etc.

this is the best version of the I Ching out: each hexagram is accompanied by a relevant piece of traditional Chinese painting that helps the intuitive understanding of the message the hexagram intends to convey. Lively text translation that interprets the hexagrams on the four planes of existence: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aids in the interpretation of the hexagrams' messages as related to the areas the question might address. The tone is psycho-spiritual-social but written in everyday terms.

[...]

To understand the Bible better, Pastor Courson takes you line for line and gives his own commentary on what it means. The only criticism I would have is that he uses the King James version instead of the New King James version. Some of the thee's and thou's are sometimes hard to get through, especially for those who are new Christians and want easy reading. I have all three volumes that takes you through the Old and New Testaments. Jon Courson is one of the best Pastor's we have in our country today; those of us who live on the West Coast know his sermons well. On his website, you can listen to any of his sermons, past and present for free, or you can buy them through his bookstore at Applegate Christian Fellowship in Oregon.

Jon Courson takes you to depths you can't imagine. We have several of his books, and have never been disappointed.

I have not finished this book yet; however, I cannot seem to put it down. I love it and plan on getting the others when I finish Volume 1. Jon Courson brings up so many details as you read through the Bible that are unique and insightful, yet solidly backed with Scripture. I am learning so much. I love John Macarthur and R.C. Sproul for exegetical studies of the Bible. This, theologically, seems to be in line with them. The difference, however, is that it is soo easy to read, and you can pick it up almost like you would a favorite book and feel you've just listened to an excellent sermon. The book goes verse by verse through the Bible, printing the passages in bold (usually 1/2 to 2 verses). Below each passage, Jon comments and gives insight into the Hebrew meaning, explains the scripture and consistently shows how the Old Testament verses all point to Christ. He always backs up what he "says" with Scripture references. He writes as if he is simply talking to you, so again, it is quite easy to read even though it is full of deep truth.

Jon Courson's commentary on the entire Bible (old and new testament)is
uplifting and inspiring. He takes each verse and brings it to "life"
with historic references and application to our everyday life. It's a
great read and a great reference.

Jon really knows how to reveal the hidden thing of the Word. Much better than McGee ever could. Just phenomenal insight in this book.

This book is informative, amusing and easy to read. I enjoyed it very much.

As a student of the economy and financial markets, I've long been an avid reader of Caroline Baum's columns. This book is a wonderful compilation of her best writing on the macroeconomy, bond market, interest rates, government policies, and related topics, about which only she would write.

Many of her columns are both timeless and timely. For instance, those wondering about the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina should read her column from Sep 16, 1999 on Pg. 40 titled, "Hurricane Sweeps Coast; Nonsense Sure to Follow." For those seeking a greater understanding of oil's economic impact, including why higher oil prices are really not like a tax, read her column on Pg. 80 and her chapter beginning on Pg. 201 titled, "Oil Things to Oil People."

Couple her plain speaking, common sense and didactic writing approach with her access to and relationships with many of the finest minds in economics and finance and the result is a very educational read for the economics student to the finance professional. She is the rare writer who is capable of explaining the complicated in a simple, interesting and often entertaining way.

By Caroline Baum, the Emily Dickenson of markets.

Every now and then you read a book like this that makes you want to stand up and cheer, and tell all your friends that this is the real McCoy, that Emerson or Emily Dickinson or Samuel Johnson is alive. That's the feeling I have while reading "Just What I Said" again. To see what I mean, consider this. The middle-of-the-road, mediocre, eponymous tennis player and economist Robert Samuelson says in a sap-filled sendup to his kids: "You've got to care more about the election, because it goes to the heart of who we are as a nation. The greatness of the United States is not McDonald's or Microsoft. It's our basic beliefs how how we should govern ourselves."

From long experience reading her columns I shudder when she quotes someone like this, especially the fake Dr. and poseur at the head of the Fed. She never lets them off easy and writes, " The greatness of the US, Mr. Samuelson is precisely
McDonald's and Microsoft. They are the product of how we govern ourselves They are symbols of liberty and democracy. If you tell that to your kids, they actually might come around. These companies identify a consumer need, conceive a product or service to satisfy it, and compete with other producers to deliver the best qualtiy at the lowest price."

My goodness, she sounds like ... one of my favorite personages.

The book is replete with poetic and poignant ways of looking at such important things as the yield curve, the Fed influence, the doomsdayist take on the stock market, first principles of economics, bureaucratic snafus in business and government and homely analogies of the kind that you'd expect a sagacious
all-knowing columnist to make. Some of my favorites in this regard are the lessons she learns from birds at her bird feeder about crowding and mobbing, the chapter that could have been entitled "I, Mop" about the nitty-gritty of what a mop
should do, the unhelpful help desks of the technology firms (never sell her a bad product if you dont want to be pantsed in front of the most knowing audience in the world).

One of my favorite examples of her insights is her use of the word McMuffin to hold up to ridicule "Dr." Greenspan's attempt to make Congress think he's much smarter than they are by trotting out one new indicator after another that one of his boys has developed and or researched for him recently.

The list of the great things she illuminates and the insights that you can get from this book is endless. Its a masterpiece that belongs in everyone's library. I have bought dozens of copies for my friends, and plan to buy more.

As an investment professional I have been reading Caroline Baum's articles for more than 15 years. Frequently, when one comes out I will receive a call or email from a friend telling me to read it! The reason is her insight, written in a pithy way makes you think. That is what we get paid for and how we make money for clients.
The way the book is laid out...by topic, chronologically...makes it a good reference to keep at hand when some topic comes up or just to read...if only one article.
It is particularly impressive to reread these articles years later and find they still make sense, a major accomplishment.
Think of it as economics without all those troublesome graphs.

"Just What I Said" will appeal to anyone who wants to learn how the real economy works, in easy to understand lessons cleverly disguised as light hearted articles. The book (broken out into 19 distinct recurring themes) is a collection of the best columns that she has written for Bloomberg over the past seven years, some 1300+ columns in total. The amazing thing is her columns are as pertinent today as when she originally wrote them. I give two thumbs up to the book.

I stumbled across this book at my local bookstore, and I feel like this book found me--I read it one afternoon, cover to cover. Amanda's insights are touching and real about the struggles and joys of living a single life. I think the best thing about this book is that Amanda's writing reaffirms the idea of having hope in oneself. A gem of a book!

Inspiring, reassuring, encouraging, insightful, compassionate, fun, and wonderful!

As a single woman, I'm often tormented with thoughts of unworthiness based on my marital status. Many factors contribute to these insecurities including cultural expectations and familial pressures. Somehow, we've convinced one another that life doesn't begin until you have married and have settled down.

There's nothing wrong with searching for "the one," but Amanda Ford reminds us that life can still be enjoyed while we are searching.

This book gave me much needed perspective in a time when I thought I should just throw in the towel and officially label myself a spinster and a failure. I had come to the incorrect conclusion that because I wasn't with anyone, I couldn't have an enjoyable, happy life. Amanda reminds us that the grass is just as green on our side (the single side) as it is on their side (the married side), sometimes greener.

What I have in my current state as a single gal is freedom--freedom to find out what I love, what I'm passionate about, and what I'm not willing to settle for.

We must be able to adapt and find happiness and contentment on our own, because even if we find our soulmates, he or she will not fulfill us all of the time.

I agree with the similar sentiments here that every woman needs to read this. And then re-read it everytime you doubt your worth. It will inspire you to keep going and never give up.

By far the best book I have ever read as a single woman- I have been struggling with my past breakup and this book has changed my perspective in life totally- and has honestly changed my life and the way I now think. I started on a mission of "finding myself" and went to the book store for some help and stumbled upon this book and it was perfect and exactly what I needed.

Amanda Ford understands the pains of being single, but says it's just a natural state of life. And isn't that the truth? If so, then why do we try to avoid those things in life which we find distasteful? Is it peer pressure? Media? Or maybe it's a little of both.

In KISS ME, I'M SINGLE, Amanda Ford has single women step back and evaluate their life, not run from it. She encourages us to rid ourselves of the falsehood that women must be in a relationship to be happy. Her book is packed with mini stories, all of which I could related to. Each story is followed with a bit of advice delivered in a loving and sometimes humorous tone.

Even though I am no longer single, Ford's message is one I can use. That message is that true love begins with me. I must look with myself in order to discover the joy in my life. It's not found in another person. In other words, two incomplete people do not equal out to be a whole. What you end up with is two unhappy people.

If a list of must read books for women existed, then KISS ME, I'M SINGLE would be on it. I highly recommend this book for ALL women, not just the single ones. Ford's sweet, upbeat tone will bring a smile to your face.

Kiss Me,I'm Single is for absolutely everyone who lives and breathes and longs for something more than the fairy-tale, miniscule and limited horizons we are led to believe are our due. Do not be fooled by the title which refers to being single, this book is a treasure awaiting discovery! Amanda Ford is brilliant. She asks all of the right question and she gives you answers without ever once telling you she knows or setting herself up as the authority. in the guise of a young person(could this author really be only 26??) and with fantastic wit she touches your heart. This book could be in the Philosophy secton or sitting next to the ageless wisdom of the seekers/masters.
Everyone, male, female, young and old, alone or in relationship, here, there, everywhere needs to read this book!

I read this book so many years ago, yet the memory of it is still with me. It could easily be dismissed as a somewhat unusual fantasy novel, yet it exceeds the genre. This is a deeply intriguing story of mind and morality, with an undercurrent of Zen that seems to run through several of MacAvoys novels. As a coming-of-age story, it is superb. Nazhuret, small, ugly, outcast, could be compared to Miles Vorkosigan. His gentle nature and strength of heart are an inspiration.

In this series, MacAvoy has created a highly complex fantasy world with very little sorcery but plenty of sword play, science, philosophy, and mysticism. It is the story of Nazhuret, a strange looking orphan of mysterious origins who finds himself the pupil of an equally mysterious man known to him only as Powl.
Once his time with Powl is done, he sets off on his own and quickly finds himself embroiled in the affairs of others; something Powl has cautioned him to avoid if he wants to be truly free. Nazhuret tries his best to heed this advise after his first encounter with the outside word leaves a bad taste in his mouth. But what kind of fantasy hero would he be were he not somehow the catalyst of major events and circumstances? In his wandering he finds romance with an ambiguous stranger of questionabe morals. He also earns the love and respect of the young king and the contempt of the king's highest ranking noblemen. By the end, the secret of Nazhuret's origins is revealed and the enigma of Powl unraveled in a refreshingly unpredictabe manner.

A great read!

This book, the first in a trilogy, turned out to be a well written fantasy that increasingly held my interest and by the end of it, left me eager to get to the next installment.

The story revolves around the main character, Nazhuret (an interesting gnome like figure who is a lot more that he appears), his travels and his interaction with people and things he meets on his journey. There are several other important people in this tale and Macavoy does a stellar job in developing and introducing them into the plot.

My only niggling complaint is a lack of a map of the area that would have let us to track the adventures of our hero.

All in all, a good fantasy adventure and I'm looking forward to more.

Macavoy creates a fantasy story filled with real characters and a wonderfully believable plot. Beautifully written and gorgeously crafted. Nothing like it.

Lens is the first book of a trilogy entirely set in a "non-Earth" pre-industrial world, and arguably R.A.MacAvoy's best work to date. She creates a powerful story with realistic characters and situations and wastes no words in her elegant storytelling.

The story is about the coming of age of Nazhuret, a natural scientist who is dogged by mysterious happenings that he doesn't particularly want to believe in, as he is converted by his (rather bizarre) mentor into the Lens of the World (a concept that's rather hard to explain). He is let loose on society and becomes a nexus, altering what he come in contact with.

It's hard to spell out why this book is so good, but it's a real original in the Fantasy genre and definitely my favourite series (I read an awful lot of F/SF).