Cheapest price on Kaboom Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War is the best

Author : Matt Gallagher
Total Page : 336
Publisher : Da Capo Press
Publication Date : 2010 03 23

Kaboom Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War
>> I didnt want the book to end
The author has and further gains an understanding throughout the book of the COIN strategey as well as the burdens and joys of being a platoon leader He presents this to the reader through a vivid account of his deployment in Iraq Gallagher s words provide more than an inside look at moder war they bridge the very large gap between the American populace and the American solider
>> finishes the story
Kaboom the blog had my attention from the first post to so sadly the last entry I am not family I just read dozens of blogs daily and I know what I want to read Honesty is the first thing I look for and I don t want my war sanitized Capt Gallagher writes the way he thinks and the way he sees things That is on the ground level My eyes on what is going on in this complicated and convoluted war The soldiers the larger army the third world nationals the power brokers of Iraq those of Iraq who are assisting as translators and the poor and displaced are taken in by his eyes and translated to me so I can understand We are a country at the mall while our soldiers are at war I work in the medical field and there are shortages of many medical supplies Every one of the people effected by this ask the question Why When they are informed that There are two wars on men and women are coming home in pieces and doctors and nurses are using supplies They look surprised Oh yeah they say blinking like they hadn t thought of it That is the America that these men and women are putting their lives on the line for One of Capt Gallagher s men was severely injured and brought back to the U S for very involved treatment Those not injured by bullets and road side bombs can be injured by accidents that are all to easy in an environment not controlled with good roads and rules of civility This book is the way it is on the ground through the thought and mind of one soldier and one fine writer I highly recommend it House to House An Epic Memoir of War s The Sandbox Dispatches from Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
>> a war memoir for everyone
Though Gallagher s book is at times hilarious at times brutally honest and at other times completely random it always had my full attention

I m not a war buff war historian and generally am not a fan of movies or books about wars but this is a book I would recommend to anyone who claims to have read/seen it all about the Iraq war It s a constant reminder that every veteran s experience is different and no one person can tell the story of the whole war only his/her story It was also informative While the author isn t and doesn t claim to be an expert in Iraqi history or the on the ground strategies enacted there he takes care in explaining the ins and outs and the whos and whys of his and his platoon s everyday lives and duties in Iraq You hear terms like the surge COIN and Sons of Iraq on a regular basis in the media but this book gives these words a meaning by attaching names faces and personalized anecdotes to the people whose lives in Iraq move beyond terminologies and buzz words

The author is divorced from the raging politics of the war back home but clearly not immune to an intensely bureaucratic and political military structure and he expresses as much several times It is an insightful engaging read and doesn t attempt much of the high minded philosophy and introspection I have come to dread from memoirs Instead Gallagher s voice is like any other twenty something He sounds like someone you know someone you talk to on a regular basis An actual real person This is the most attractive part of the book It is very well written and highly recommended

Where to buy The Revolution A Manifesto

Author : Ron Paul
Total Page : 208
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date : 2009 09 24

The Revolution A Manifesto
>> I really wish Ron Paul was the Tea Party spokesperson
What do Ron Paul followers and Tea Party members have in common Both attract people from all political parties who want America to get back to its roots I have always considered myself a fiscal and social conservative with a strong belief in capitalism assuming that I fit in the republican party After reading this insightful and well researched book I now know that my beliefs are true Libertarian This book is a must read for all those who want an objective look at what is wrong with our political system and why Ron Paul needs to have a bigger voice in American politics
>> It s the Mein Kampf version of unfettered plutocracy
If the American people s choice is confined to G W Bush or Mr Ron Paul then I really feel sorry for them I don t even know where to begin and I certainly don t intend to waste too much time reviewing this vapid drivel that congressman Ron Paul calls The Revolution but I do want to make these few points

1 Ron Paul is clearly against abortion and to drive his point home he gives us a poignant story of a six month old infant that was brutally murdered on the operating table and then dumped in a bucket deposed of like a piece of meat Then he admits that he voted for the death penalty which since 1976 took away 800 lives many of them innocent I am not sure how congressman Paul can reconcile these facts

2 Ron Paul is a vehement advocate of unbridled free market both at home and abroad He also insists that no important decision should be made at the federal level propagating instead that the individual states and countries for that matter should make their own decisions no matter how wrong or immoral they might be even with regards to issues like slavery death penalty health care or education This in itself is an extremely dangerous idea but my point goes further In the chapter titled Economic Freedom he complains that the WTO and the European Union are infringing on the U S right to free market economy by demanding higher taxes for corporations doing business in Europe My question is how can you possibly advocate freedom of a state or of a country to make its decision whatever it might be and then whine and cry because certain European countries do business differently from the way the U S does it Certainly nobody is forcing these corporations to do business abroad

3 Lack of universal health care in the U S deprives millions of citizens of adequate medical care and kills at least 18000 of them annually partly because of silly clauses like pre existing conditions or health care companies trying to save money by denying treatment and partly because many simply cannot afford it Ron Paul naively insists that patients should be left at the mercy of doctors and hope for their magnanimity in the form of a little discount on the services rendered In this day and age how can you possibly delegate responsibility of caring for the welfare of your people to the whim of the businessmen you call doctors You complain that now they charge too much because they can get away with it Can you imagine what they will charge once there is nobody and no law controlling them Are you that naive that you think that every doctor will do the right thing and no one will be turned away If so than I think you are simply delusional Just take a look at the wealthiest and the most prosperous countries in the world look at Western Europe or for crying out loud look at Canada They all enjoy the most comprehensive universal health coverage than includes ALL citizens regardless of their financial situation and coincidentally they also have the best social security programs How can you possibly still insist that things like education and health care should be left to an individual and their capacity or incapacity to pay for it
You re simply sentencing millions to senseless suffering and their untimely deaths For a man quoting St Paul and telling us how much he despises abortions that is simply a hypocrisy

And finally calling foreign aid violent seizure of property from Americans is so asinine that I will not deign to comment except perhaps that I would ask you to open your bible and look at the parable of a Good Samaritan

Finally going back to health care instead of venerating Milton Freedman and his cohort of the Chicago School of Economic you should read up on a man the silly people up north consider their greatest citizen Tommy Douglas and find out what true Christian ethics are all about

>> Great Handbill
This is an excellent book to give to someone else who is unfamiliar with the ron paul and the various policies and movements of which he is a figurehead his writing is frank and matter of fact it will be important when the dollar collapses to have a body of reputable literature to explain it to those who ask why

Most Popular Running with Scissors

Author : Augusten Burroughs
Total Page : 320
Publisher : Atlantic Books
Publication Date : 2003 02 04

Running with Scissors
>> Pedophilia is not funny
There is nothing funny about this book at all I ve carefully considered other s comments that the author found humor showed courage in his ability to cope with an abysmal horrific childhood

I strongly disagree This book merely sensationalizes cruelty to humans and animals pedophilia and deranged scatalogical acts The author is skillful funny but why write a book about such horrors To purge himself As a psychiatric tool to heal the scars of abandonment rape These are some of the sickest most twisted characters in literature although the author claims they are real people I wonder how much poetic license was taken

A very polarizing book as evidenced by ratings

Should be banned from public/school libraries where children could get their hands on it

I m with the group that gives it a solid zero stars and wish I d never read it I was on an airplane otherwise would have thrown it out the window into outer space
>> A Moving Tale of a Childhood Survived
Augusten risked the wrath of family to write this book But after living through his harrowing childhood years this must ve been a piece of cake WHile sometimes hard to read anything less than the truth tells the complete story A thoughtul funny read
>> Didn t do it for me
They say Don t judge a book by its cover I ve also learned not to judge a book by its title It s probably my fault that I didn t do a bit more research into what this book was about before I purchased it but the title caught my eye and I tend to be an impulsive buyer when it comes to books Unfortunately I also feel compelled to finish what I start and so struggled through this book to its completion I m normally a thriller mystery horror kind of guy but enjoy a good comedy when I can find one I would not classify this book as a comedy Some others have obviously enjoyed this story but I found it disturbing and nothing more

Shop for What Difference Do It Make Stories of Hope and Healing

Author : Ron Hall
Total Page : 224
Publisher : Thomas Nelson
Publication Date : 2009 09 29

What Difference Do It Make Stories of Hope and Healing
>> Some moving parts but essentially a sequel or even making of
Normally my book reviews only appear in Smart Ministry or The Equipping Ministry Blog But for those of you who don t yet receive that free ministry insights newsletter I thought I d include one here

I don t like chick flicks I tell you that up front so you won t think I m just one of those really sensitive guys that enjoys a good cry over touching stories But parts of this book will or should move you deeply

What Difference Do It Make 2009 Thomas Nelson is written by the authors of Same Kind of Different as Me That book told of the loving courageous tireless work by Deborah Hall wife of one of the co authors to get through the storms in her own marriage and life and help the homeless It proclaimed a simple message One person can make a difference In the authors words That kind of love is attainable for anyone willing to put in the time on their knees then overcome their fear and go out and get their hands a little dirty That book touched countless lives in as many ways and the stories the authors heard of how it inspired others and affected their own lives form the best content of What Difference Do It Make

Those desiring to move to a more missional mindset should pay particular attention to the sections written by Denver a formerly homeless man whose life was touched by Deborah His firsthand account of the life of a homeless person will forever change how you think of and minister to them For example

Listen at this Jesus sent the disciples out John and Mark and Nathaniel and them went into the villages When I was homeless one thing I just couldn t understand is why all these folks kept tryin to invitin me in someplace that I didn t wanna be They d come out and hand me some kinda piece a paper talkin bout Jesus loves you Come fellowship with us Now their hearts was in the right place and they just tryin to show me the love a God But seemed like they didn t understand that it just ain t that easy

For one thing them folks that invited me was all smilin and clean and I was all ragged and dirty Sides that most a em was white and I was black as a coffee bean Wadn t no way I was gon show up at their church lookin like I looked

For another thing where was I gon leave my bags with all my worldly goods my blanket and my soap and my half pint and what have you It wadn t much but wadn t no way I was gon leave it in the hood with all them fellas ready to split it up amongst themselves And I was pretty sure they didn t have no luggage check at the church

Then they d say God bless you and leave me with that piece a paper so I wouldn t forget where I was s posed to show up Course they didn t know I couldn t read

See we don t need to be trying to drag the homeless or any kinda needy people to programs to services What people needs is people

That s a longer excerpt than I would ordinarily include but I m sure the good folks at Thomas Nelson will appreciate that it s for the right reason

The book feels a little disjointed as you bounce between viewpoints both the authors and those whose lives were touched by the first book Some of it is just more detail on Ron Hall s struggles with his dad and dealing with his wife s death Some of those parts will help the reader develop deeper empathy while others just feel like emotional exhibitionism that have nothing to do with the purpose or flow of the book

Parts of the book are truly excellent other parts feel like an unfortunate sequel written by a person who only had one story to tell I was reminded of the bonus features on a DVD like the book is designed to complement and sometimes be an infomercial for The Same Kind of Different rather than a new work of it s own

I confess that I haven t read the first book I wish I had especially if it contains more content from Denver whose down to earth wisdom is profound and personally challenging Those who did will probably be eager to read What Difference Do It Make to learn more from this uneducated yet insightful man

I really appreciate the insights the book gives into the thinking of those we think about / resist / should be serving And I appreciate its message that our efforts can have multiplied and unintended effects even if it did have to sound like a commercial for the other book in the process
>> Read this book again and again
A great read Important to read it over and over It is so refreshing to read a book about real people doing real stuff while having good hearts Get one copy for yourself and several to pass on to others
>> Continuation of a story
This is basically a continuation of their first story Same Kind of Different as Me While it was interesting to learn what happened to and was happening while the authors were touring their first book how it became such a success I wasn t as moved as with their first book There seems to be a lot of rehashing of the story I was particularly puzzled about Ron s disgust for his father and all the anger he harbored How could he be so thoughtful and caring with total strangers and not love the one who had given him life I will say that there is closure by the end of the book and it brought tears to my eyes If you were a big fan of their first book then you will probably like this one too

Fast Shipping No Angel My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels order it now

Author : Jay Dobyns
Total Page : 352
Publisher : Three Rivers Press
Publication Date : 2010 02 02

No Angel My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels
>> Feels like Half a Story
If one came to No Angel with no prior knowledge of the situation in question one would finish the book and believe it to be unfinished Mr Dobsyn writes of his under cover activities with the Hell s Angels but then simply glosses over the end result in his epilogue the ensuing trials lawsuits and consequences to himself and his family Truthfully this seems to be the real story or at least as important as the incidents that came before Provoking a reader to research the insinuations presented in the afterword just isn t good storytelling no matter the skills of the co writer
>> Interesting but not Great
I had no idea what to expect when I opened the cover of No Angel Not my typical book but I like branching out now and then reading something different and the topic of undercover work sounded intriguing Jay Dobyns is an undercover ATF Special Agent and he transitions from an all American College Football player to a tattooed Harley riding Hells Angel as he attempts to infiltrate the notorious gang turned crime syndicate You have to wonder it Byrd Jay s nickname didn t have the luck of becoming a policeman if he would have ended up as a Harley riding gangster on his own
He almost seems to good to be true in the book as he is constantly put in front of drugs and woman and he always seems to know exactly where to draw the line It makes you wonder if there were not a few facts left out here and there ensuring that he kept his reputation intact and his marriage sound Still I have to admire a man who places himself into this kind of situational danger in order to keep the rest of us in our cocoons of perceived safety The make up of a man who can portray himself as one thing while constantly keeping his head around who he really is in order to catch the bad guys
Ironically other than the massive amounts of guns that seem to exchange hands there doesn t seem to be a lot of violent activity in the book There is one episode in Las Vegas where a big tussle happened between the Mogules a rival bike gang and the Hell s Angels that ended badly but other than that there are probably guys living in your neighborhood who are doing things worse than watching these elderly men drink themselves silly acting like they own the world only to fall into bed in their respective trailer parks
My guess is that is why in the end it was so difficult to follow through on a legitimate prosecution and so few arrests stuck from the massive investigation that took place Even with the lack of results one can never question the heroics it takes to do this type of work I get nervous speaking in front of a small crowd There is no way that I could ever place myself into some of the mortal situations that Byrd got into
In the end the story is told in the form of a book and for me unfortunately it was choppily written and failed to capture my interest It wasn t boring but it lacked any type of magnetic draw I have a tattoo but didn t understand Byrd s obsession with them as he continually mentions getting sleeved and the process he underwent The only touching part was the balance he attempted in keeping his head together with his family as he continually went back and forth from being a dad to being an intimidating Harley riding Angel wannabe
If you are interested in the make up of the Hell s Angels in AZ and the inner workings of undercover work then I would suggest reading through this book Go in with average expectations and you will not be disappointed If you do not have a keen interest in this specific topic then I would suggest passing You will get a little bored trudging through the word choice and lack of fluidity
>> HA in Flip Flops
This is a very funny book which was not really what I was expecting I was expecting more fights head banging Sturgis type rallies all the stuff you think of when you think of a bikers The book is actually more about an upper middle class college guy getting thrown into the white trash American subculture and liking it If you have an advanced degree with some letters after your name but still like to hang out at the local honky tonk you will definitely appreciate this rare book

Cheapest price for Such a Pretty Fat One Narcissist s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big or Why Pie Is Not the Answer is the best

Author : Jen Lancaster
Total Page : 400
Publisher : NAL Trade
Publication Date : 2008 05 06

Such a Pretty Fat One Narcissist s Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big or Why Pie Is Not the Answer
>> I laughed so hard I cried
This is my first Jen Lancaster book so bear with me as this may be applicable to all Jen s books which I am presently putting in my Amazon wish list

This book is not for the faint of heart Jen Lancaster is sometimes crude often offensive and ALWAYS hilarious But beware to anyone who is easily offended Jen is blunt to the point and actually motivating me to go to the gym and eat healthy with the occasional excuse provided directly from one of Jen s e mails to her friends I think of this as smart humor I love the footnotes The self deprication is so familiar I feel as if I am having a conversation with one of my best girlfriends

Highly reccommended for smart self depricating professionals Not recommended for those who cannot readily laugh at themselves
>> Fabulous
I ve read some of the other reviews and I can t believe that some people don t appreciate the humor that Jen writes with This book was wonderful I loved it from start to finish and I think the footnotes are awsome
>> Just ok to me
I really enjoyed Bitter is the New Black BNB I thought it was beyond funny but this one left me bored I tried to make myself like it and LOL but I just couldn t It wasn t as funny as I d hoped I feel that my expectations were a little high and therefore I set myself up for disaster Anyway I wouldn t say you should not read it but I wouldn t pass it around like I did BNB My hopes are that I will make you want to read it and like it since my review is so so

Save price on The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty order it now

Author : G J Meyer
Total Page : 640
Publisher : Delacorte Press
Publication Date : 2010 02 23

The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty
>> The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty
This is the book for anyone that wants to know the facts about the life and times of each of The Tudors and the rise and many times fall of those close to them

Very good Book
>> The Tudors is a one volume popular history on all five of the Tudor monarchs in bloody olde England
This reviewer s shelf groans with countless volumes on the Tudor dynasty of Great Britain However this new book The Tudors by G J Meyers is the only book in my collection which deals with all five of the Tudor monarchs The book is a fascinating look at the 118 years England was ruled by the Welsh upstarts who reigned supreme over a land torn asunder by religious warfare and dissent
Meyer s book is also interesting for its background chapters These pages give the reader a good background into Tudor times Such chapters deal with the origin of the Tudors the way people lived their diet and how the Royal court was organized Other chapters focus on the popes John Calvin The Council of Trent the history of the Tower the background of Mary torture and the career of Roman Catholic Jesuit marytr Edward Campion These chapters are good fodder for the minds of those who have little background in sixteenth century history Scholars may scoff at such elementary material but Meyer is a good popularizer who educates the neophyte reader of Elizabethan history and culture
The Tudor rulers of England were
1 Henry VII He defeated Richard III in the battle of Bosworth Field Henry ruled England for almost 24 years He was cold aloof and a strong defender of the monarchy Henry VII was able to corral the power of the nobles He left a strong crown to his son Henry VIII
2 Henry VIII The most famous king in British history reigned from 1509 47 He wed six times Two of his wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard died on the chopping block He divorced Catherine of Aragon the mother of Mary and Jane Seymour died giving birth to Edward VI He contemplated executing his last wife Katherine Parr for her evangelical beliefs but she survived him Henry was the 16th century version of a Stalin and Hitler combined He sent to the block such great and trusted advisors as Thomas Cromwell and Thomas More His wise advisor Cardinal Wolsey would have faced an executioner but died on the way to his trial Henry would brook no opposition as he established the Church of England Roman Catholics and evangelicals faced the fire block and noose for opposing the Henrican Church of England following his break with Rome Henry was self centered vain and cruel He bankrupted the country in foolish wars on the Continent Henry came to believe he was infallible in his judgments on all subjects He was grossly overweight and treated his family with contempt Meyer is good at stripping the mask and revealing the ugly face of a tyrant
3 Edward VI reigned from 1547 53 He probably died of TB He was an evangelical reformer who was very intelligent He wanted to drive the Roman Catholics out of his realm He was greatly influenced by the Dudley faction at court He wanted Lady Jane Grey to reign following his death However his half sister Mary seized the throne and exected Jane Grey and her faction Edward VI never married and died at age 19
4 Mary 1553 58 Known as bloody Mary because over 300 Protestants went to the burning pyre during her short reign She married Phillip of Spain was childless and was a devout Roman Catholic She was the daughter of Catherin of Aragon Mary was a pious person who was called to rule in a horrible time of religious conflict
5 Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 until her death at 70 in 1603 She was the daughter of Anne Boleyn Elizabeth was a Protestant who sent many Roman Catholics to the chopping block Meyer says she brought England stability though there was widespread poverty hunger and dire misery for most of the population During her reign the Spanish Armada of 1588 was defeated plague was rampant and the royal coffers left bear Meyer shows us a vain old woman who toyed with such lads as Robert Dudley and his stepson Lord Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh Essex was executed for his rebellion against her War against Ireland and Spain were a constant in her long reign
Meyer s book is for the general reader interested in the terrible times of Tudor England Sixteenth century Europe was a time when one s religious beliefs could mean death at the hands of a tyrant This is an excellent book for the newcomer to Tudor studies Well recommended
>> Approachable history for theTudor curious
The Tudors The Complete Story of England s Most Notorious Dynasty

This huge book is no doubt targeted to the large audience newly introduced or re introduced to the drama and intrigue surrounding England s most notorious ruling family no small thanks to the Showtime drama The Tudors Those expecting a book about the show will be disappointed However anyone who is actually intrigued by the actual events motivations and history of the period will be rewarded with over 600 pages of easy to read and approachable information This is no dry tome pressed upon unwilling flesh it is engaging enlightening and even a bit entertaining I have been fascinated with the Tudor family for over 30 years and have read a number of historical accounts and biographies about the various family members This book is one of the first that I have read that focuses on all of them as a group and I learned a great many new things as a result of the author s successful expression and interpretation of the wider focus

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about English history Serious academics may find it lacking but the vast majority of intelligent readers are sure to find something between these pages to satisfy their curiosity

Fast Shipping Traveling Mercies Some Thoughts on Faith

Author : Anne Lamott
Total Page : 275
Publisher : Anchor
Publication Date : 2000 02 15

Traveling Mercies Some Thoughts on Faith
>> Steps to Faith
Well I feel like I ve just read a very funny Sienfeld episode Not that there s anything wrong with that

So is this woman a mess Is she completely self absorbed Yes

But she s also a very gifted writer So much so that I m leaning towards reading another one of her books

I laughed out loud at times cringed at other times and found her annoying more than once or twice her contempt for the mom in bicycle shorts who drives her son to school just bothered me sorry

But she writes powerfully and is very poetic at times plus the book is a quick read

If you re looking for some kind of epiphany or revelation of some sort in terms of faith I might pass I see though that many others differ so who knows She certainly takes steps unglamorous sometimes very sad steps in the right direction steps in kindness patience joy but her steps toward faith didn t move me the way it seems to have moved others I was sort of waiting for that big moment

All that said the book is worth reading and we re all different so if you ve lost all hope maybe this book would help you It seems to have helped others

I d recommend the book in that she is just such a good writer
>> More than good writing this is a ministry
In this beautifully written book Lamott describes how all of our lives are lead by spirit and marked by little miracles whether we able to recognize it or not We are reminded that nobody is exempt from the first noble truth that the price of being human brings with it tears sorrow pain and death But it is also up to us to recognize the joys and gifts with which we are graced I am convinced that anyone giving this a low rating is likely a conservative Christian threatened by her radical slant on truth But in her book she is even able to find grace in her encounters with those archetypes For those who are liberal Christians interfaith or with Buddhist leanings this book is a welcomed read and goes down like honey when your throat is too parched to swallow I myself lost my husband to head/neck cancer a few months ago and now find myself not only a widow but alone and wheelchair bound with an advanced form of multiple sclerosis at the age of 42 In so many words I have wanted my relatively young life to end a hundred times This book has given me a greater sense of affirmation comfort strength and hope than have the clergy and shrinks with whom I have consulted since my husband s death combined This is not only incredible writing it is a form of pastoral ministry Thank you Anne for being such an AUTHENTIC guiding light May God in all its miraculous and merciful forms keep you travelling always
>> Disappointed Reader
I love Ann Lamott s writing style and her wonderful imagery but her narcissism got in the way of my really enjoying the book as much as I was hoping to In the beginning her egocentricity and narcissism were acceptable because of the humor with which they were depicted but after a while I found myself becoming somewhat disenchanted and hoping that by the end of the book she would grow up a little and communicate on a deeper level with her reader Unfortunately that didn t happen Disappointed Reader

Fast Shipping The Big Burn Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America is the best

Author : Timothy Egan
Total Page : 336
Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date : 2009 10 19

The Big Burn Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America
>> Hmm what to believe
This book was quite readable but I wonder exactly how accurate and complete it is I won t gripe about minor technical inaccuracies like some of the reviewers have see 1 and 2 star reviews but the simple fact that every personality in the book is black and white good or bad makes me believe much has been oversimplified Yes the book describes Pinchot s personal quirks and shortcomings but Tim Egan is clearly a huge fan of everything G P and Roosevelt did They could do no wrong The overall effect is significant bias in the storytelling We never learn the pros and cons of the Forest Service s or the timber barons actions It is certainly not a simple matter of good vs evil The writing comes across as shallow Most of the minor characters in this book also suffer from the same problem They seem like stereotypes doing all good or all evil not real people
My other complaint is you never get a good feel of scope How large was the Forest Service at the time of the fire Were this fire and the western timber barons the only forest related issues of the era What about the effects of the fire in other areas it burned The writing is very qualitative and not very quantitative

The overall agenda that the book clearly has troubled me even though I am a political progressive and a former Forest Service employee progressives and the Forest Service are the heroes in this book by the way It really pushes a single point of view and that made me uncomfortable because I never felt like I was learning both sides of the issues There are other non fiction writers who do a brilliant job of presenting the full story in an entertaining way This feels like we are only getting half of a story

But that said the book inspired me to learn a lot more about the early 1900s and to research Egan s claims to find out for myself if he was telling the whole story So big picture I give it 4 stars It made me want to learn
>> Did not meet expectations

I have a great interest in the history of forest management and conservation but this book did not translate into an interesting read for me

Like others I felt that author was committed to unidimensional portraits of the characters in the story at the expense of interesting information about these individuals and especially at the expense of information about forests

I did enjoy the description of Pinchot and Roosevelt boxing upon first meeting However I had to wonder who s view of the situation I was reading and how this got passed down to us Perhaps inclusion of this would have interfered with the author s efforts to set up his characters but it is the kind of droll background information that I missed
>> A great story and a good reminder of our need to remain vigilant
Timothy Egan writes another wonderful history about the terrible fire that destroyed millions of acres of forest in Montana and Idaho is the summer of 1910 Surrounding the fire he also tells the story of how the forest service was created and fought against It is also an important reminder that the battle continues to be fought today

The creation of the Forest Service was the brainchild of Gifford Pinchot and President Theodore Roosevelt A couple of progressive Republicans who would find no acceptance in their party today Between the two of them they essentially created our national parks as you see them today

Egan does an excellent job of beginning his story with the introduction of these two extraordinary Americans It is important to tell not only as a historic background to the fire itself but as a way of reminding the reader how the country was feeling in 1910 It was an aggressive time of growth with Robber Barons like JP Morgan consuming the countries natural resources as fast and rudely as humanly possible

Pinchot and Roosevelt showed the American people a different path and suggested that these resources belonged to them and shouldn t be squandered completely on the altar of greed This was radical and ground breaking thinking in the early twentieth century and Roosevelt could not point to similar examples anywhere else in the world The robber barons fought him at every step but the hugely popular President would not be denied

In typical fashion his political opponents fought a rear guard battle against the newly created Forest Service Whittle away at the laws call them useless and a taxpayer waste and deny them funding Sounds like every social program ever passed social security and medicare come to mind

The result of all this negative behavior in the summer of 1910 was a Forest Service badly stretched with personnel covering territories of thousands of square miles A public that often gave them no respect and even open hostility except when they wanted something from them And finally a complete lack of resources for equipment and recruiting firefighters

Egan sets the stage for the fire and then brings the events of those days vividly back with first hand accounts Characters such as Pinkie Adair and the great Ed Pulaski feature strongly in his narrative Those of us from Washington State will appreciate the story of Ranger Joe Halm and his young heroics during the firestorm

He also reminds us ever so politely that the battle is not over He recounts a celebration in 2005 euglogizing Ed Pulaski and featuring George W Bush appointee Mark Rey head of the Forest Service Rey was an odd choice to preside over this ceremony in the woods He had been a powerful advocate for the logging industry a lobbyist and partisan arguing fiercely against protection for dying species and wild lands in the public forests There was no mention of conservation during the ceremony

Perhaps a not so subtle reminder that the battle continues and there are few who are fighting on the side of forests anymore The few newspapers who remain in business are corporately owned and therefore interested only in profit and not conservation Remember as long as there are forests to cut somebody will want to cut them

Buy Online The Complete Persepolis

Author : Marjane Satrapi
Total Page : 352
Publisher : Pantheon
Publication Date : 2007 10 30

The Complete Persepolis
>> Excellent read
This was my first current day book on Iran and I loved it Marjane s telling of her life story is wonderful especially in graphic form I ve never read a graphic novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and passing it on to others Everyone in America should read this book and learn what life is like in Iran
>> A Poignant Biography in Graphic Novel Form
In the first of the two we get the life of young Marjane from the time of the shah to the attack by Iraq Marjane s family try to explain to this little girl about her family s royal history her family friends experiences in prison and her new role as a young woman in an Islamic state By the end of book one Marjane is on her way to Austria both to escape the conflict in Iran and also to go to school

In book two Marjane grows from a young teen into a near adult She begins living in a convent but is soon cast from home to home From her life in Austria she meets people who have different political views who have different codes of morality and who have had little experience with death and war as she has Over time Marjane becomes disillusioned with the person she has been turned into while living in Europe and returns to Iran where she later marries and struggles against the strong Islamic rule being forced on its citizens

Altogether I thought Marjane s coming of age during the conflict in Iran and through the new Islamic control of the region to be brilliantly and poignantly discussed in her two graphic novels These two novels covered issues of history in the region discussed moral laws imposed on the nation discussed the view of the West as imposed on the East and many other tough issues of nation and culture Overall I think these graphic novels are very well done and give the reader a great view of Iran and its culture
>> Graphic autobiography
This book was a gift to my husband from my sister in law He loved it enough to recommend it to me

It is told in graphics with captions and labels and narration The author is a woman from Iran showing and telling about her experiences growing up during the Iranian Revolution It was amazing I learned a lot and ventured out to learn more as I read I even GASP asked my history teacher husband to give me some lessons on the time period That NEVER happens

The descriptions of family and friends is an education in itself so many perspectives The book is everyone s coming of age yet it is supremely unique I loved everything about it Looking forward to finding the film version

Best price for My Life With the Saints

Author : James Martin
Total Page : 414
Publisher : Loyola Press
Publication Date : 2007 10

My Life With the Saints
>> SAINTS ABOVE AND BELOW
I was inspired to order this book after seeing so many favorable comments on Amazon and I am so happy I did
James Martin is one terrific author engaging articulate and humorous I really like his style of writing and learned so much more about saints than I thought possible They are truly our friends on earth and remain so in heaven We can learn love and follow in their paths if we want to live lives that make a difference in our world I highly recommend this book Kudos to Fr Jim for letting us share in his marvelous stories behind their lives and I wish there were more books like this out there
>> My Life With the Saints
The minute I read the introduction I fell in love with this book not to mention the authors style of writing This has been such a wonderful way to get to know the saints and how their lives came into play in Fr Martin s life His writing is so down to earth not to mention humorous in parts All in all this is such an enjoyable read I am so happy to have had it recommended by Fr Tom I don t want it to come to the end Hoping to find something else written by him very soon
>> My Life With The Saints is readable and accessible
Despite some that think this is a book of lives of the saints it s actually a memoir of one man s evolving spiritual life as reflected in his relationships and devotions to various saints The book is very readable open and accessible no theological heavy lifting although depths are alluded to Refreshingly the book is almost 100 free of religious politics A very enjoyable read and a good introduction to the saints Catholic devotion and the spiritual formation of a Catholic and a priest I highly recommend the book

Cheapest price on Churchill order it now

Author : Paul Johnson
Total Page : 192
Publisher : Penguin Non Classics
Publication Date : 2010 10 26

Churchill
>> Sir Winston Churchill Jacobson
I looked forward to reading this book immensely and I was not disappointed I also highly recommend to read the following CENSORED books
1 THE HOAX OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY by Arthur R Butz
2 NOT GUILTY AT NUREMBERG by Carlos W Porter
3 FLASH POINT Kristallnacht 1938 Instigators victims and beneficiaries by Ingrid Weckert
4 TREBLINKA Extermination Camp or Transit Camp by Carlo Mattogno J rgen Graf
5 AUSCHWITZ The First Gassing by Carlo Mattogno

>> A Slim Biography Worth Reading
Winston Churchill has been on my mind lately for no apparent reason I thought it was time I read something about him

This slim book was a nice introduction to this great man even though most of it read more like an encyclopedia than a passionate account of one of the greatest personalities of the 20th century When the timeline reaches World War II the narrative begins to sparkle and offers more dimensions to this mythical larger than life statesman

Here are a few interesting facts that I ve learned from this book
Churchill hated the movie Citizen Kane Strangely enough I couldn t stop making comparisons between these two men
Churchill s son in law was a stand up comedian
He became a prolific painter later in life amassing over 500 pieces
He has little tolerance for whistling and those who did it Coincidentally Hitler was a notorious whistler
His famous pseudo angry blurb regarding the prepositions at the end of sentences Up with this I will not put
Churchill is often cited as the source of the V sign for victory and the terms iron curtain and cold war

Winston Churchill is a politician to be admired especially during wartime He provided his countrymen leadership determination pride and hope in the face of Hitler s terrorism throughout Europe In the current milieu of pandering and appeasement with our current American president a biography of Churchill is a refreshing read

The world needs fewer Chamberlains and more Churchills
>> CHECK IT OUT
THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO AMAZON IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WHEN YOU GET YOUR BULK SHIPMENTS OF DVD S THAT THEY ARE NOT DEFECTIVE
OTHER THAN THAT YOU ARE TERRIFIC

Save price on The Year of Living Biblically One Man s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible order it now

Author : A J Jacobs
Total Page : 416
Publisher : Simon Schuster
Publication Date : 2008 09 09

The Year of Living Biblically One Man s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
>> Insert Witty Title Here
I should probably start this review by saying I am not a Christian I am a self proclaimed Neo pluralist and I don t know what it means either I have a healthy curiosity about Christianity but every time I try to satisfy this curiosity I am bombarded on all sides with so much contradictory information that I can t even think straight So I picked up The Year of Living Biblically with high hopes Thankfully I was not let down The author is for all intents and purposes a non practicing jew at the start of the book and brings a Complete Idiots Guide style introduction to both Judaism and Christianity in a humorous way that is somehow funny and entertaining without being too disrespectful which continues throughout the book as he attempts to follow every rule in the bible as literally as possible He speaks to a number of specialists from various religions including a man who makes it his job to analyze closets for mixed fiber clothing since the bible forbids wearing such things but he gets most of his information from the bible itself I think this is a fantastic read for anyone even moderately interested in Christianity or what the bible really has to say on a lot of different subjects It s a fun experiment of boiling the most popular book of all time back down to it s original context with as little bias as possible something that s damn near impossible to find anywhere And Mr Jacobs if this review comes up in a google search of yourself you can t deny them we all know now I just want to say Good job
>> Witty Honest and Totally Unexpected
So sue me I expected this book to suck I have no great love for religion but even I don t like to see it callously mocked by clowns seeking their fifteen minutes of fame to borrow Andy Warhol s language The premise of the book seemed like prime exploitation material what would it be like to follow ALL of the Bible s laws for a year without picking and choosing and with that terrible dustcover depicting someone presumably Mr Jacobs dressed like a biblical prophet but also holding a coffee and looking rather indignant before the Lord it seemed locked and ready to milk its obligatory number of cheap laughs at the Bible s expense

And it does do that Sometimes But it is much more than that And it usually ties the archaic wackiness into some relevant self reflection

I think what really caught me off guard about this book initially was the honesty of it Mr Jacobs is not a hack but he is not a saint either He can t help but laugh at several of the seemingly ridiculous laws in the Bible He is witty but also frequently barbed in his wit which frequently causes him to lose control of a situation He checks Amazon com reviews of his books and gets upset at the negative ones So he is definitely a flawed personality But aren t we all The interesting thing is that the more humble you are the less humble you try to present yourself as Humble people know fully all of their blemishes and his full blooded portrayal of his secular big city life is simultaneously one of the most humble and one of the most honest accounts written by a person about their own lives that I have ever read Any man who is so honest with himself cannot have written an entirely bad book And so after a single chapter in I was no longer expecting to actively hate the rest of the book

I cannot say that it is a perfect book and yet it is still a very good book Primarily this is due to the transformation which overtakes the author as he tries living a more and more godly life His primary goal with the book was admittedly to show that one cannot fully and perfectly follow all of the different rules in the Bible without picking and choosing Well he does do that beautifully The Bible is simply not the perfect and pristine work that many fundamentalists think it is And yet the book takes on a second aspect that gives real weight to the ensuing wackiness and that being that the author s fundamentally secular and detached viewpoint is shaken and transformed during his year of living biblically He acknowledges this up front he begins and then ends the year as very different people He does not stay a biblical zealot of course but you might say he finds his mind opened to a spiritual awareness which lends more significance to his life He is no longer as vapid and materialistic as when he began the project This gradual change ultimately makes the events of the book feel much more significant than they otherwise might have been Even if everything he did during that year was ridiculous and I don t think everything was he ended the year a better person

If the book has any major weakness I would argue that it is the sheer episodic nature of much of the book What you read is fun witty and often meaningful but there never seems to be any kind of progression or flow This is perhaps unavoidable given that the book is structured as a kind of journal with an entry being logged at least every other day Perhaps this is better than the alternative life is not a novel and rarely do the days have any kind of narrative flow Life is lived one day at a time and that is exactly the perspective from which we view the author s journey one day at a time Undoubtedly he changed some things around so as not to make the book too uneven I believe he even says as much in the book but otherwise the account comes across as extremely believable

This is a funny book It is one of those laugh out loud books and the laughs are plentiful I would often read an amusing passage around my family and as stated these aren t hard to come by only to be greeted with bursts of hysterical laughter and nodding heads His reflections on his son Jasper in particular were often exceedingly adorable and remind me of my own relationship with my sweet toddler nephew

There are a number of remarkable episodes in this book with some of my favorites revolving around his experience with creationists His account is hilarious and about as fair and balanced as it gets He doesn t believe a word of what these people say but they are not the drooling raving fanatics he had perhaps expected to encounter and indeed they are portrayed as flawed but fully real and human people He admirably manages to leave ideology almost entirely out of his account Same goes for an amusing detour to a small atheist group which comes off more as a harmless group therapy session than a meeting of Bloodthirsty Godless Heathens I don t like his insinuations that unbelievers don t confront the big questions in their lives not all unbelievers are shallow urbanites after all but I m not sure much weight should be attached to the arrogant thoughts he occasionally reports during his book

There were some moments particularly after a more profound episode that I would get frustrated with his going back to follow superficially some other ridiculous biblical rule and wish that he would have introduced more historical context into many of his discussions although what is present is fascinating but none of this was bad enough to prevent my enjoyment of the book

A fair note of warning despite the tendency to automatically associate the Bible with Christianity most of this book comes from the point of view of Orthodox Judaism which makes sense considering the vast majority of the rules are in the old testament Given my familiarity with Christianity though this was good for me as it provided a window into what was and still is really the alien culture of Judaism

Overall not perfect but great Great enough to be a five star book in my estimation This was a memorable reading experience and I have the feeling that I ll be pulling it off the bookshelf often
>> Loved this book
This book was fantastic It was thought provoking and laugh out loud funny I couldn t put it down A J Jacobs is a wonderful writer and what a great idea to spend a year living this way That is it is a great idea unless you are his wife I would have been pushed over the edge His wife must be an incredibly patient and tolerant woman

I have already bought several copies of this book and will be buying more to give as gifts

Lost Boy Valentino and the Lost Boys of the Sudan buy online

Author : Dave Eggers
Total Page : 560
Publisher : Penguin
Publication Date : 2008 06 05

Lost Boy Valentino and the Lost Boys of the Sudan
>> upsetting hopefull funny
An incredible book In the prologue it is explained that while this is called a novel it is actually based on a real person s life as a young child in Sudan through arriving in the U S as a refugee In my mind this seems more of a memoir in that some had to be constructed from childhood memories but all the significant events are real

It is hard to understand how much a young boy can live through and keep going The main character actually has several different names as it changes as he moves through geography and life my favorite is Gone Far No one raised in the western world can comprehend what the the Lost boys of Sudan went through to simply survive long enough to walk to refugee camps I also don t think many of us realize the length of stay many refugees have in camps before they are accepted into the the US or other western countries That anyone physically survived the walk through Sudan the author actually watched as boys were plucked from the line of walkers and carried off by lions then survived the nutritional and hygiene deprivations of refugee camps is amazing All this without parents or siblings just other boys

Their arrival in the US is just another beginning of a difficult foreign walk I heard of a local group in my home town their sponsor would visit their apartment and re explain what foods went in the refrigerator and what went in the cupboard In the book Achak marvels that his neighbor would rather call him on the phone then walk 2 doors down to speak with him The efforts it takes to receive an education from the refugee camp to American colleges makes me feel a bit ashamed for the attitude many Americans take towards school It also makes me wonder how many of the refugee students in our district have significant PTSD How do you learn your way around a new world with the legacy of war and refugee camps to say nothing of poor perinatal and childhood nutrition

The book simultaneously covers the time from normal childhood in Sudan to the refugee camp and very difficult times once arriving in the states It is obvious that Achak will arrive in the US but there are so many obstacles in his way that I found myself holding my breath in my pajamas reading the last chapters well into a summer afternoon

The book is very upsetting and yet very hopeful with moments of humor The best news is what happens after the book ends Achak returns to Sudan to build a school in his home town and to encourage education for girls Check out Proceeds for book sales go to his foundation

I am going to recommend this book to everyone and especially my School Nursing friends on the front lines with refugee families
>> A profoundly moving immersion in a life none should have to live
I cannot imagine how someone could read What is the What and not be profoundly affected and moved by the tale it has to tell Despite being labeled as a novel What is the What is nonfiction telling the tale of Valentino Achak Deng a Sudanese man who fled his village as the civil war broke out in his country Eggers and Deng labeled it a novel due to Eggers recreation of conversations that Deng could not specifically remember Eggers takes Deng s tale his youth his life in the village his trek across the country his time in refugee camps his time in America and crafts it into a beautiful work that conveys the horrors of the time not only on a massive scale but a personal one letting us into Deng s world and forcing us to experience the events through the eyes of a young boy There s no denying that What is the What can be a difficult read but Deng and Eggers fill the tale with a joy for life and a sense of hope to say nothing of a quiet sense of humor even in the worst darkness that permeates the novel The end result is a book that truly opens a reader s eyes to the experiences of the Lost Boys and many of the Darfur inhabitants immersing us in a world many of us know little about from Sudan to Kenya and even to the immigrant experience in America and making it an experience we will be unable to leave behind It is one of the most powerful books I have ever read and while it is not an easy book it is an important one one that I would say every person owes it to themselves to read
>> A very moving personal story
I felt as if I was transported to the Sudan witnessing the atrocities and experiencing the hardships I would definitely recommend this moving account from one of Sudan s lost boys

Best price for Things Fall Apart The Story of a Strong Man

Author : Chinua Achebe
Total Page : 215
Publisher : McDowell Obolensky
Publication Date : 1959

Things Fall Apart The Story of a Strong Man
>> Slow but necessary
I had read some reviews that complained that the first part of this novel was very slow paced and that the later part where the actual plot of the story developed too quickly I happen to feel that the pacing of the story was perfect The first half had to spend a lot of time with the characters to acclimate the reader to this society that Okonkwo lives The story is titled Things Fall Apart and like in real life tragedy tends to strike quickly Your idea of day to day life and what is considered normal can drastically change within a short period of time This is exactly what happens to Okonkwo in this novel While the novel takes place in pre colonial Nigeria a world even most modern day Nigerians may not be familiar with the characters were very real to me I can definitely relate to the main character He is essentially a father who has worked hard all his life to gain what he has To gain what his current society deems as important He is someone who simply wants what he feels is best for his son and the rest of his family Unfortunately the world he grew up in has changed What was important is not now what is best for his son is not necessarily what Okonkwo feels is important Okonkwo is sometimes a stubborn and violent man but who hasn t known or met a person like this guy I have to admit the story does start out slow but it s just so you can get to know the people before the story begins In fact without the introduction it would be impossible to understand the tragedy that occurs later on
>> Thanks
Dear
First of all I would like to thank the managers of this site for the enormous effort and help they introduce to their customers The item I have purchased is in a good shape It is almost new However it is a great pleasure to continue dealing with you in my future purchases
All the best
Mohammad
>> A strong novel despite a highly unlikeable main character
Things Fall Apart is a remarkably simple straight forward told story about a hard and rough man living in a remote village in Africa The story begins years before missionaries enter the landscape and begin to change the culture and customs of the land The novel tells us of life before and after the missionaries came

Although the novel is mostly about rituals beliefs and history around this important period in Africa it chooses to follow a very strong and unlikable character as its main focus His name is Okonkwo He came from a lazy father who he hated and is spite of that laziness and hatred of his father Okonkwo becomes a hard working and ambitious leader in the clan of his village

Okonkwo is not a good man He beats his wife and kids regularly He is a beast with a fierce temper but he is also a very respected throughout the village

On a night of grieving Okonkwo accidentally shoots another clan member and is cast out for seven years with his family to his mother s homeland Then the missionaries begin coming into the village during his absence Okonkwo later disowns his son when he becomes friendly with the missionaries who Okonkwo despises

He returns back to his old village to find nothing is the same The white man and his religion have changed everything This isn t a book about flowery description and at times is very skeletal in its description but it moves along briskly with its story There is never any emotional attachment that we develop with any of these characters The characters seem to be mere vessels to carry the ideas and themes of the novel which really is about the vast differences between cultures and the connections that can unite or divide us

I found the novel very good because it made me think about these ideas At times I wondered how anyone could believe such things and there are some odd cultural practices but then I realized that these people might also think my beliefs just as strange as theirs The book is simple and interesting

It is no masterpiece though I believe the main problem with the book lies with the main character Okonkwo himself I felt no pity in his demise even if some understanding remained for his firm beliefs and his fight to hold on to what he felt sacred

Even with great ideas and cultural beliefs I can t think a book is great unless I feel some connection to the characters and with Things Fall Apart I just couldn t I just couldn t stand Okonkwo

Don t get me wrong I still highly recommend the book for the interesting ideas that one can dissect and discuss I felt it would have had a stronger main character it could have been much stronger and might even have lifted it to a level of greatness

Grade B

Fast Shipping Whip Smart A Memoir

Author : Melissa Febos
Total Page : 288
Publisher : Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date : 2010 03 02

Whip Smart A Memoir
>> Constant Page Turner
Whip Smart is a linguistically delicious memoir in which Melissa Febos depicts tantalizing accounts of her inner most thoughts and feelings A captivating tale from beginning to end Whip Smart s salacious stories of an underground life that coexists with a normal persona invites its readers to the possibilities of a life free of conventional norms and portrays them as a young girl s journey as she lives out her fantasies and eventually converts them to socially acceptable behavior An enticing and exciting read that will prevent any reader from putting the book down
>> A Gothic Cinderella Story
This is really two books in one This first is just what you would expect it to be a voyeuristic peek into the unsavory for some world of a professional dominatrix working in a midtown Manhattan dungeon Febos gives us a verbal tour of the place The Red Black and Blue Rooms contain full bathrooms and toiletries Other amenities include a bondage table giant wooden cross leather swing coffin hanging cage Catherine wheel candles stocks porno thrones mirrors strap on dildos and an electrical stimulation device whose electrodes can be attached to nipples scrotums or penises Mounted on the walls are chains coils of rope leather floggers whips riding crops paddles cuffs blindfolds and even a couple of gas masks Then there are the three Medical Rooms that have proctoscopes and stethoscopes rolling wheels with spikes and pincers clamps syringes thermometers tongue depressors gadgets to peek and pry in orifices and human anatomical posters of both the male and female reproductive systems The Cross Dressing Room offers a vanity table and wardrobe bursting with man size stilettos panties French maid costumes and other items of feminization As this list suggests there seems to be an infinite number of ways in which a domme with imagination can torture degrade and shame her male clients Febos gives her readers a romp through most of them leaving nothing to the imagination Unfortunately unless you are into this kind of titillation the litany can become tedious

However the storyline of the author s four years in the dungeon is wrapped around a bigger and much more fascinating plot her own psychological growth The book s title is a reference to the fact that Febos is in fact a highly intelligent and shrewd observer of both her inner and outer worlds Her story begins when she is 21 a college senior with a high GPA and prestigious internship Although she still knew how to be good Febos admits that the allure of dark undersides pulled my life toward a future of increasingly fractured extremes She pursued older lovers both male and female and basked in their attentions Addicted to heroin and cocaine and eventually to sadomasochism she found the last of these the hardest to overcome Febos habitually lied faked it and playacted for a long time she was putting on facades that even fooled her But every heroic story needs a turning point one at which the crescendo of impending disaster twists on itself and transforms into a glimmer of hope that then expands The author s moment came when she joined AA and got a sponsor I won t be a spoiler and give away the details of her happy ending because Febos narrates her own tale so beautifully Hint However a foretaste of her success can be found on the book s cover in her lovely photo and list of accomplishments This is a brave unsparing and deftly told story of personal redemption Highly recommended

>> extremely interesting read
I have the Kindle edition of this book which is not a bad idea if you re bashful about reading something with whips on the cover But hopefully you re not too squeamish because this book holds nothing back While I have always been curious about the life of a professional dominatrix this book was the first time I ever learned about the realities It is a much tougher job than it sounds like I loved reading about Melissa s transformation in Justine and her reflections academic and objective or personal on this lifestyle I was also impressed over time with her kindness to these people her clients She had a sensitivity to them even though their proclivities would be considered very strange by your average person s standards

The most difficult parts to read were about her addiction to drugs I became very worried about the outcome until I realized that not only did I have half the book left to read but the author was clearly still alive I can t imagine what it feels like to be an addict but I felt dragged along on this darker part of the journey It is pretty amazing when anyone can overcome that It must be noted that drugs and domination don t go hand in hand In fact I d imagine it could sometimes be difficult to do one s job safely if too many drugs were involved And no I didn t want to read about addiction as some other reviewers wrote But it was part of her life and experience it could hardly be left out and still tell her story

Melissa is a very interesting person I related to many of her emotions and feelings like the compulsion to be desired or wanting to be open to try anything once great for a writer for example or the way she enjoyed impressing people at parties Okay maybe everyone likes to impress people at parties At any rate I identified with her quite a bit even though the course of her life was extremely different from my own I know some people felt that some of her statements came across as bragging but I really didn t notice those parts I didn t think much about her GPA other than understanding how hard it is to balance many different lives and still do well in school Unlike Melissa I actually have to work my butt off at school though I had classmates that could write the paper the night before without doing any research But like Melissa I am balancing a number of different lives on top of going to school although mine aren t nearly as exciting project manager mother and dancer and I can appreciate it I know what it s like to be studying doing reading for school while multi tasking at another job Overall she may not have been the most likable person but she came across as a real person infinitely relate able in her flaws and charms It was a huge relief to me when she really gets it sorted out in the end It s great when a memoir a true story can have a happy ending

As for the book it really reads well It s difficult to put down and doesn t get boring I found the situations depicted in here absolutely fascinating But again one can t be squeamish I know I am a bit squeamish myself well let s just say I won t forget some of the things I read here and I think I d pick a different career for myself As she points out in the book you have to have a certain level of comfort with the human body much like a doctor or nurse I don t want to be a doctor or a nurse either Nevertheless this book is much more interesting than a book about doctors or nurses It also treats the subject with humor and can be downright funny but also sometimes sad or even sensual I just don t feel I can do it justice in this review I thoroughly enjoyed it

Shop for True Compass A Memoir

Author : Edward M Kennedy
Total Page : 532
Publisher : Twelve
Publication Date : 2009 09 14

True Compass A Memoir
>> Defined by Himself
This is a memoir of strength and perseverance as delineated in its final chapter Never hiding behind his family s fortune Ted Kennedy forged his own identity as a man and as a public servant never losing sight of what was expected of him and what he could accomplish Blessed with a remarkable memory for detail as well as copious notes that he references often he lays out the personal achievements and tragedies with a generosity of spirit that is not totally unexpected In 1962 I saw him on a Boston street a young man with the sun burnishing his hair Jack was in the White House the Cuban Missile Crisis was two months in the past Ted was paving the way for his run for the Senate Now over 50 years later he has filled in the story of how he found himself at the forefront of the country and of his remarkable family The roots of his lifelong quest for healthcare reform lie in his brother s ongoing health problems also in conversations with other parents held while his 12 year old son was suffering from bone cancer His relationships with seated presidents is at times surprising He does not belabor the controversies that surrounded him but addresses them realistically giving them notice but not importance Well worth the time it takes to read this book is never dull plodding anything short of enlightening
>> True
I m presuming its pretty obvious what this biography is about

The initial pages of the book cronicle Mr Kennedy s diagnosis of brain cancer his inspirational attitude to his bleak diagnosis I hate to sound dissmissive but this was actually the best part of the book for me Just witnessing Teddy s strength of character in such a horrible moment was enough for me to be satisfied picking up this book

After that moment we are led through Mr Kennedy s childhood in a somewhat rambling fashion While this section is interesting the book really shines through Teddy s political career and his family tragedies

I hoped to hear more from the George W Bush years however that would have left the book far too massive to read in less than a week What we do get is pretty good Teddy s personal recounting of some heavy stuff all within a backdrop of infallible confidence and passion
>> A Talk From Ted
Unlike his brothers Ted Kennedy had been blessed with both the gift of time for public service and seeing his children themselves grow up

Myself having a chronic medical condition I was genuinely moved how he describes waiting in the hospital while Teddy Jr received then experimental cancer treatment pp 305 312 His traumatic life experience quickly bonds him to other parents also in this identical situation

The Senator s obviously emotional writing style today enables me to have flashbacks imagining what my own father went through because I too had once laid in a children s hospital bed needing expensive treatments This is the part of the book which is really powerful And I wish that the entire book had such depth and emotional detail even if it substantively raised the price


He also provides aware of the inevitable public interest unprecedented public disclosure about Chappaquiddick This is the account which I do believe is true and I do feel his genuine remorse in the words I do feel for him

And he also describes how his life again changed after re meeting up with Victoria Reggie a Washington DC lawyer who later married him

But other parts of the book felt like he was merely skimming over the good stuff

Some of this is probably because I ve already read the unofficial but authorized biography from Adam Clymer which seemed to be more consistent in the depth of what it disclosed throughout the entire manuscript But then we did not get Kennedy humor sprinkled throughout that work

Another component is that after the disclose everything standard pioneered by President Bill Clinton s expansive autobiography and it s comparative frankness I m subconsciously expecting more from elected officials themselves Even Kennedy had problems mounting such a hurdle

Had Kennedy lived longer he either would have had to face questions about this version s content or been encouraged to perform more public disclosure before a release date Thinking about it I am convinced that the book release was timed for after his death from cancer There is a lot of good information contained within the pages But maybe this is the format which he wanted released

Where to buyThe Artist s Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity is the best

Author : Test
Publisher : The Artist s Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creat
Publication Date : 2006 05 05

The Artist s Way A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
>> Not for artists only Why this is a classic
Watch Video Here http //www amazon com/review/RQLNW8CHJJTJ8 Jurgen Wolff author of Creativity Now reviews Julia Cameron s classic work on how to empower yourself to be creative Creativity Now Get inspired create ideas and make them happen now
>> The Artists Way
Excellent book a bit too American in style which I do find irritating but the message is clear and it s the second copy I have bought having lost the first by lending it out A good self help book which does work if you follow the advice Definately aimed at USA readers but thats fairly obvious from description so you know what you re in for before you buy
Lots of case histories which are hard to relate to being European and they are the irritating bits I just skip over them so I don t alienate myself from the book

>> Good experience even for a proessional artist
I was reluctant to try this process feeling a bit snobby as a mid career artist with a BFA and MFA in painting I was leery of sappiness of this program But finding myself frustrated with my work feeling too tightly wound and over analytical it was just the anecdote I needed In some ways this program is the counterbalance to my MFA program which I finished 15 yrs ago and left me firmly planted in my brain thinking thinking thinking over thinking This book helped me to create again through my intuition and to trust my instincts I m certainly not suggesting that thought and analysis are not important integral parts of art making which is at its core problem solving But I do agree with the premise that artistic block stems from living too much in your brain

The book gives you simple weekly and daily exercises that are reflective and thoughtful There is plenty of talk of god or spirit source or universe but it also clarifies that you may simply substitute in creative intuition or muse or some such term if you are not comfortable with the religious undertones For me this was uncomfortable at first given that I was totally in my rational head but this sort of leap of faith is just what I needed Some of the exercises did not apply as well to me but I can almost always find some benefit even if small Many are cathartic The daily process of the morning pages is both a grueling task and a revelation

In conclusion I would highly recommend this process for any creative person no matter what level you have achieved thus far There is always room to grow and learn and this is a provocative and enriching experience

Save price for Look Me in the Eye My Life with Asperger s is the best

Author : John Elder Robison
Total Page : 288
Publisher : Bantam
Publication Date : 2007 01

Look Me in the Eye My Life with Asperger s
>> look me in the eye my life with asperger s
Purchased for my aunt who has great grandchild w/autism She thoroughly enjoyed the book
>> Look Me in the EYe
I bought this book so I could understand my autistic granddaughter better As it turns out I didn t find it too helpful however my friend really loved it She suspected her husband had Asperger s She has not stopped talking about this book since I gave it to her Her husband is reading it now So while it didn t help me too much it was a wonderful resource for them
>> Warning paperback version is different from hardback
Look Me in the Eye is John Elder Robison s memoir of his experiences as a person with Asperger s Syndrome The early chapters are the most difficult to read as Robison describes growing up in a family with alcoholism physical abuse and mental illness Fortunately he omits most of the more disturbing experiences described by younger brother Augusten Borrough in his memoir Running with Scissors but the added challenges Robinson faces because of his condition make the story even more poignant

Once Robison leaves home and slowly begins learning how to interact in a socially acceptable way Look Me in the Eye becomes a fun and interesting read The author s stories of being on tour with KISS and working in R D for a toy company show what a talented person he is Though it starts out bleak Look Me in the Eye is ultimately a happy story as Robison is able to forgive his parents and find a wife who appreciates who he is

Purists be warned this paperback edition was edited to make it more appropriate for the teenage audience it has found Seek out the hardback edition if you want the swearing intact

Where to buyThe Millionaire Next Door is the best

Author : Thomas J Stanley
Total Page : 272
Publisher : Pocket
Publication Date : 1998 10 01

The Millionaire Next Door
>> Somewhat dated but still an interesting read
The stats are from 1996 which makes the book somewhat dated Nevertheless I think the theories derived from them remain valid even today The anecdotal illustrations are interesting and sometimes humerous It would be really interesting if the authors updated it and expanded to allow references to the major economic swings since 1996
>> Very solid pragmatic advice
The one thing most worth remembering from this fascinating book is the distinction between income and net worth Many people may have a high income but because of high expenses and poor savings patterns their net worth is low Conversely some people are able to build prodigious amounts of wealth the authors term by being careful with their purchases investing well and planning ahead While reading this book I was able to identify friends of mine in both categories

The advice that the authors give is solid and pragmatic They tend to be a bit repetitious and the book could have been at least 50 pages shorter without losing any of its impact
>> The Millionaire Next Door
This book is a classic It shows how millionaires think and spend their time especially in dealing with their finances and investments

The Gift of an Ordinary Day A Mother s Memoir reviews

Author : Katrina Kenison
Total Page : 320
Publisher : Springboard Press
Publication Date : 2009 09 07

The Gift of an Ordinary Day A Mother s Memoir
>> Regret buying it
It s my turn to host our book club and a lighter read was requested We re all mothers so I thought this would be good There s a video on youtube of Kenison that will bring you to tears so I was really expecting this book to be something special Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book and only finished it because I had to for the book club Her writing is so laborious so flowery and too poetic There are a lot of run on sentences I don t really like stream of consciousness writing and I wouldn t really classify it as that but it s close I did enjoy the descriptions of her interactions with her boys but there wasn t much of that The first half of the book is about selling her house without a PLAN and buying a dilapidated old house that needs to be razed I found myself wondering I thought this book would be about motherhood And it s in there but it s hidden in between page after page of contemplation Not the book for me
>> Dreamy cadence
I purchased Ms Kenison s first book several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed reading about her relationship with her sons and the affect modern life has on everyday practices As I don t read written word easily I listened to her own voice as she described sitting in a tree with her Mother as a little girl and the many experiences she holds onto with her sons Upon finishing the book I purchased 12 copies to give as gifts at a women s retreat I hosted a few month s later

I am a Mother of 2 sons who struggles with the same heart pulling experiences and thought the story offered a wonderful version of this life we re living

As with the first book I am again compelled to offer up this collection as well to Mothers going through the same mid life events that give me pause

I listened to the book s dreamy cadence spoken by the writer and cried more than once to the parallels in my life Hopefully it will give me the same courage again to view my life with glasses not of rose color but all the colors I can see And bring me closer to my boys
>> One Of A Kind
I read this book till the wee morning hours Couldn t put it down Katrina writes of something I ve been craving SOMEONE to write about the transition to mother of children to mother of teenagers to mother of adults The letting go the struggle the keeping the mouth shut the trusting the stepping back Beautifully written There is about 2 or 3 sentences on every single page that I wish I could frame and hang above my kitchen sink

Best price on New Deal or Raw Deal How FDR s Economic Legacy Has Damaged America is the best

Author : Burton W Folsom Jr
Total Page : 336
Publisher : Threshold Editions
Publication Date : 2009 11 17

New Deal or Raw Deal How FDR s Economic Legacy Has Damaged America
>> Eye Opening Parrallels to Current Policies
I was amazed at how the careers and policies of Obama and FDR align Economics was is not there specialty however they mastered politics The US economy including our livelihoods were and are their playground Hopefully we are wiser than the voters in 1936 and we can end government meddling A must read for anyone who wants to see how government controls and takeovers can affect us all and especially the poorest citizens
The parallels I came away with between Bush and Hoover were also interesting Bush with his expansion of senior citizen entitlements and Hoover with his signing of tariffs put the republicans on the defensive and opened the doors for even bigger government Democrats
This should be required reading in our high schools Pass it on to High School Curriculum Administrators and History teachers Like seeds thrown about on infertile soil maybe a few will sprout
>> Raw Deal for sure
This book was very enlightening I too had been taught that FDR was one of the greatest Presidents ever Strangely similar to what is currently going on in todays politics A whole lot of buying votes by doling out favors The author used many facts and footnotes to back up his knowledge of the subject
>> Eye opening
This book contains all the important and factual information that was not taught in schools A non filtered review of the legacy of FDR Highly recommended