5 comments about No More Misbehavin': 38 Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them.

1. The title was rather seductive ... but I was disappointed, if validated. I am by no means mom of the year, but I think I already follow most of what the book suggests. This book is likely good for parents who are gobsmacked by newly emerged bad behaviors and recalcitrance, but those of us who have spent any time with the "Spririted," "Explosive" and "Active/Alert" child books will have seen/implemented most of the recommendations already.



2. If you are having problems finding the words or techniques to lovingly and effectively correct your children this IS the book for you.
   
   I became the instant (step)parent of two boys 7 and 9 who are for the most part great children, but at times need to be disciplined. I was at a loss at to how to approach the problem, but this book has given me clear and direct tools to become an effective parent.



3. This book was not very good. It doesn't give enough solutions to behavior problems.



4. This is a simplistic parenting overview -- not a series of solutions for a child's most difficult behaviors. The traits included are very significant and deserve serious treatment, not matter-of-fact tips that can be found in any parenting magazine which is what the book contains.
   For example, the chapter on bossiness - a complex and serious negative behavior trait - gives three overly simplistic tips and then asks the parent to consider a series of questions about why the trait is bothersome. It does a very poor job of explaining the root of bossiness and gives overly simplistic advice, like "raise the child's self-esteem." If I knew how to do that, I wouldn't have had to buy the book!
   Try another resource. This one won't help.



5. Very informative book. I enjoyed reading it and learning new ways to hand my child's behavior.

5 comments about The Table Saw Book: Completely Revised and Updated.

1. This book is simply excellent. I can't say enough about it. The one slight negative thing I could say is that the last chapter does not read as well as the rest of the book. Reading the last chapter you almost get the impression that it is written by a different person or that they felt they were rushed and didn't do as good as the rest of the book.
   
   Overall though I just cannot believe how this book reads so well, easy, straight forward, no nonsense. I wish more books were like this.



2. The Table Saw Book was a great book to read as I began to get into doing some basic woodworking. It was extremely clear and an easy read. However, I found the information very good and on a level that I could understand. I would recommend to anyone who is just getting started in woodworking to read this book first. You will find that you refer back to it time and again.



3. After reading all of the positive reviews, I was a bit disappointed after securing my copy of Mehler's Table Saw Book. Maybe my expectations were a little high, but I was left wanting more. I was hoping for something similar to Hylton's Woodworking with the Router.
   
   The first two chapters (Introduction to and Buying a Table Saw) can be completely skipped by anybody who already owns or is familiar with a table saw. I felt Mehler spent WAY too much time touting European saws. These pages would've been much more useful on topics more relevant to most of us. I also wasn't particularly impressed with the Crosscutting chapter.
   
   On the bright side, the book does contain some valuable information. The chapter on Safety is excellent. Mehler also consists of some good tips on maintaining your table saw. I liked the chapter on cutting various joints. Lastly, the book includes very good color photos and black-and-white diagrams.
   
   Pros: Cheap, good newbie information, alignment and maintenance tips
   Cons: Too much pre-buying info, infatuation with Euro saws
   
   Recommendation: If new to table saws, this book is great. However, for experienced woodworkers, I'd look elsewhere.



4. While the box covers the basics of a table saw, I was expecting a broader section on the design of jigs for use with a table saw. The jigs provided, however, are the basic ones commonly used.



5. I found this book very disappointing. As others have pointed out he's very dismissive of anything other than top of the line equipment and he's nearly obsessed with "European" saws. I feel certain that many people buying this book are like me and have already purchased a mid-level "American" saw. It really doesn't help me to tell me over and over that I've wasted my money on a piece of garbage and then sing the praises of expensive equipment I can't afford. I really get the idea that he feels that if you can't afford a $3000 saw using $200 blades and a thousand dollars worth of dust removal equipment you're just throwing your money away. This teaches me nothing about how to make the best use of what I have.
   
   I was also put off by his dismissal of working with plywood and would have liked some more examples helpful to those of us who aren't master carpenters working with unlimited funds.
   
   I guess I should have saved my money (and taken out a second mortgage) for a better saw instead of getting this book.

5 comments about 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know: Getting Back to Basics and Raising Happy Kids.

1. A most powerful and user friendly book that makes moms think, "Stop the motherhood frenzy and get a real life!" Understand how to connect with your children in a more simplified way that will balance your life and bring more joy, sanity, and success into both being a mom and creating a stronger family. Dr. Borba's back to basics approach, using extraordinary examples of moms whose journeys through motherhood took them to places they never knew existed within
   themselves, helps mothers identify who they really are and what is truly important. A must read for those who want the recipe for being a great mother by raising happy kids!



2. This book is about getting back to the basic principles of mothering. Borba uses real-life scenarios to help you understand how to employ the 12 "secrets." Also included in each and every chapter are sidebars with ideas and tips from mothers, a comprehensive list of books for more information on that topic, and a small area for you to jot down your thoughts. Borba says she wants this to be the last parenting book you read for a little while, and this is certainly the case for me. Barring any special problems you may have with your child that require further research and reading, it's a good bet you'll read 12 Simple Secrets and then take a break from other parenting books (especially the supermom, guilt-ridden books and magazines that seem to permeate the Parenting section in bookstores these days). This book is a breath of fresh air. I recommend you have a notebook handy as you read so you can jot down all the great ideas you'll get.



3. Finally, a real book for real moms offering real practical guidance for raising real children! I should know. I'm a mom of nine (yes, 9) children, aged 5 to 17. I've bought, read, skimmed, and peeked in almost every mothering/parenting book there is out there, and never found one that really offered sound direction or reassurance until now. It's put everything I've learned about being a mom (so far) into a wonderful, clear, and uplifting format (easy to pick up where you left off and read when you can catch a moment), and teaches me so much more. It should be a mandatory "manual" for all mothers!
   
   The other thing I love about this book is that it promotes the fact that as moms we need to take care of ourselves, pursue our own interests, and not loose our identity in our families. Something I've worked hard to do myself and one of my biggest secrets for being "successful" in my calling as a mother. This book not only encourages you to eliminate the "supermom" image from your life, but tells you how to do it. Then helps you develop your own individual identity as a mother and set up your own mission statement or mothering plan from what Borba calls "A Mother's Promise," based on the true needs of our children.
   
   There is no cookie cutter technique for parenting. Each family is unique and each child has their own individual needs, responses, attitudes, temperments, etc. This book helps you to use your mother instincts, as well as your own experiences, to create a plan that can work for your own family and each of your children as the individuals that they are.
   
   I found this book at my church bookstore, but there is nothing necessarily religious or spiritual about it (other than respecting mothers' instincts). And yet, it doesn't offend in any way, and remarkably supports every parenting "style" from traditional to liberal, religious or cultural/ethnic based.
   
   Dr. Michele Borba definately did a wonderful job with this book and my hat is off to her for being able to consolidate so much information she's acquired over the years from interviews, work, and research. People have been telling me for a long time that I should write a book about mothering (which I could only do about mothering my own children), but now I can and will simply recommend this incredible book.



4. REALLY loved this book. Sometimes as a mom you lose sight of the important things, running around with sports, trying to be "mom of the year." Really nice way of making me grounded again, without condescending tones.



5. I would suggest this as a great resource with real life stories that apply to each section. Very helpful.

5 comments about The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year.

1. Very easy reading. Clear, and surprsingly thorough. i got it as a gift from a friend, and wos, it was a great gift! extremely funny, and entertaining, so it made it easy and fun to get all the info needed to be a NEW parent. highly recommended!



2. I bought this book for my husband and I had to get rid of it. I ended up getting him "Be Prepared" which was much more practical and forgiving. The New Father author has very strong opinions and if this is your first baby and your husband is like mine and believes what he reads from an "expert" then this is not the book for you. For example, the author does not think you should use baby wipes for the first few weeks. Some babies have reactions to them, most don't, but the author doesn't say test them...he says don't use them period. My husband was turning into a backseat driver based completely on one person's word. My advice is to find a book that is written in a more suggestive than factual manner.



3. This book was a gift to a perspective father - he was happy to receive the book and said it looks like it will surely help him in his new role. I showed the book to a friend and she wanted one for her son-in-law who will become a first time father in March. Our daughter wants it for her baby's father.



4. This book is written for the new dad from a male perspective. Very well-written and to the point. Practical month-by-month chapters that cover what you are going through during the various stages. I highly recommend you read this once before your child arrives, then as they progress month by month.



5. This is an good book with a unique persepctive from the male side of raising a child. It is a little "out there" at times, but does provide a great perspective. If there is one thing I have noticed in all the info out there is how skewed to the mother's perspective it is so it is refreshing to have a straight forward/modern view from the guy's perspective. If you want to be involved with your child and understand what the child and mother are going through, this is a good read.

5 comments about Your Self-Confident Baby: How to Encourage Your Child's Natural Abilities from the Very Start.

1. While the book has some great ideas and questions our assumptions about how we interact with babies, some ideas of this approach seem odd. Such as seeing the act of burping your baby as hitting? Or that rocking your baby is inappropriate? I very much agree with another reviewer who said this book is written in a "know-it-all" tone, too. I only tolerate that tone when there is research to back it up.



2. Very good to get a newer version on the child care examples for which our Center is based upon.



3. Recommended to me by my college Professor a Dr. of Child Development. It was a great way to pull all of the methods we learned in class about positive and developmentally facilitating group care for Infants and Toddlers into my home so I could care for my own child while still encouraging his learning and creating a well adjusted child. Although this book does not talk about the research done on her methods, my class certainly did, and the finding were quite telling. I recommend watching video footage of the infants who have been raised and taught with these methods, IT IS AMAZING to see what a child so small is capable of doing on their own. I am excited to see my own children excel with her methods.....



4. A great book for all parents! This book gives an in depth explanation of the RIE philosophies. It is well written and organized. I think it is better written than Magda Gerber's first book Dear Parent: Caring for Infants With Respect (2nd Edition). RIE offers parents a nice structure that helps promote a loving connected relationship between parent and child. Like any parenting philosophy, it is important that parents pick and choose what feels right for your particular family. I recommend this book to any parent that wants to raise a confident baby.
   Dr. Jenn Berman
   [...]
   Author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids



5. What a remarkable book! If you don't have time to read, you should still read this book, whether you're a first time parent or a veteran. We need this book to be an epidemic, so that RIE based child-care facilities open up all over the nation. There's only one educarer in the NJ/NY region! The only principle that I disagree with is holding your child - I have a 2 month old baby and I carry her all the time, practicing "baby-wearing". When I don't hold her, however, I enjoy the advice of the book - in essence, watch and wait. Seeing baby lie flat on her back (which is all a 2 month old can do) and look around, finding her hands, a stream of sunlight, shadows on the wall - this book has made observation a pleasure. Please read it! It states out loud the things your subconscious knows; tell the baby what you're about to do, don't tickle, don't spank, don't interrupt, stop rushing her training.... Please, please buy this book!

2 comments about Materials and Components of Interior Architecture (7th Edition).

1. This book is a good reference for anyone who is currently designing or building a luxury home, but for a general education on construction interiors, this is not the book. There are many references to the latest products, which include both color and feature description that will be quickly outdated. Most of the discussion centers around materials that would be used in an affluent home rather than your typical family residence, and product descriptions focus on the unique product, not the typical. Dimensions for comfortable clearance and layout hints are useful for residential layout, but the commercial references are very limited.



2. This book is very poorly written. It also does not adequately discuss estimating materials.

5 comments about Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools (Complete Illustrated Guide).

1. Overall this book is very well illustrated, it contains information on some tools and put an emphasis on hand tools.
   
   The book is basically a catalog of the different tools and the basic techniques to use them.
   
   I was expecting to at least have some discussions on how to set them up, and care for them. I was also hoping to find more detail discussion on how to chose a power tool (other than you can find some great bargain on used items).
   There is a small section on sharpening but I guess you need to buy the book dedicated to the subject to go anywhere.



2. Publications by Lonnie Bird are always excellent and informative to woodworkers, and this one achieves the same high level. I am enjoying reading Illustrated Guide to Using Woodworking Tools and looking forward to more time in the workshop with this publication.



3. This is a good book. However, Lonnie Bird writes not as clear as Gary Rogowski, Andy Ray or especially Kelly Mehler. This is also applied to his "Band saw" book.
   There is no clear analysis of cons and pros of different tools. Use of the tools does not contain alternative approaches too. He really thinks that only high end equipment is useful.



4. I began woodworking about one year ago and started by taking some classes at the local woodworking store. I had the idea in my head to build a wooden chest and finding a good starting place was not easy. Most of the wood workers I encounter are all over the spectrum of skill. No one really had a comprehensive method for teaching woodworking or where to start with the tools of woodworking. I think that this book gives a great start when it comes to selection of necessary tools as well as some general knowledge of how to use them. Keep in mind that a book can not accurately describe the pressure and overall feel of how to use a Plane or any other tool for that matter. These kinds of skills must come from doing.
   
   I have all the other Taunton press books in the "Complete Illustrated" set and I think that together I have a great reference set to begin designing and working with wood. They also all match each other and this makes my bookshelf look good as well. I would recommend the hardcover over the soft cover because it can be more easily used in the shop this way.



5. los libros de Taunton son muy buenos en general y de una calidad gráfica fuera de serie.En temas de woodworking aquí en España en libros estamos muy por debajo y una guía como esta es una ayuda extraordinaria. lo recomiendo y deseo que se publique una version en español para los que nos cuesta lidiar con el inglés.
   Muy bueno el envío aunque no tenemos las ventajas de los USA.
   Enhorabuena al distribuidor por el servicio.

5 comments about Bridal Couture: Fine Sewing Techniques for Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear.

1. Though some of the featured gowns are very "eighties" (big sleeves, big skirts), this book is wonderful for showing how to engineer and fit the understructure or foundation necessary to achieve a remarkable fit on evening wear. The detailed instructions on preparing a muslin are easy to follow and thorough, and this book describes the small steps that, if followed, provide a "knock-em-out" gown that will stay put, even when dancing. Underlining, corsets, boning, and "how to keep things from drooping" are all demystified here. This will be terrific for evening wear and costumes, too, once the wedding gown is finished.



2. I have been sewing for over 25 years and have a degree in design. However, I am always looking to evolve my technique, and I looked into this book because I wanted something that detailed couture techniques for formalwear. In reading other comments on this site before I purchased this book, I noticed some reviewers did not like it because of the outdated dresses. However, I wanted to add that while the specific dresses shown in this book are dated, the techniques described and illustrated are fantastic. This book is for someone that already knows how to sew well, but wants to take their sewing up another level. Don't buy this book expecting to copy one of the dresses used in the examples. Buy this book if you are looking for instruction on choosing and adding stability, using boning, etc, etc. This is about applying couture techniques to your own design. I was looking for something very specific, and found this book to be very helpful. I am glad I purchased it.



3. Highly recommend this book if you are making a wedding gown for the first time. Very clear instructions complete with pictures. There is also great chapter on how to attach lace.



4. The Susan Khalje book is an excellent source of its sort - not speaking of the nice design and pictures, it tells you everything you would want to know when trying to make an evening or wedding dress. Susan Khalje gives many interesting tips and tricks that would otherwise be very time-consuming to figure them out, like how and where exactly attach boning, what layers to use under skirts to make them look as you want to, how to work with lace and how to place it on the curved bodice by hiding the cut places, she gives suggestions as what fabrics to use for what garments - she is very fond of silk organza - for petticoats, underlining, bone channels.
   
   This is one of the rare books that show you professional-done garments and reveal all their making secrets. Even if you're an advanced sewer, I still think you'll find many good tips here. Maybe a pure beginner would not be able to appreciate the value of the information given.



5. I have done a lot of sewing. I did make bridesmaid dresses and altered brides dresses. It was very interested to read about the different technics in the making of a good bridal dress. I hope I will get to make one in the near future and than I can use this book for the fine touches
   This book is not for beginners.
   Lucie Zandstra

5 comments about Welding Basics.

1. I bought this book for Christmas for my boyfriend. However the book didnt arrive in time but when he got it my boyfriend read it in one day and wants to try and weld together some of the stuff it shown. This is a very good book.



2. I thought this book was worth reading. Yes, I've read the other reviews that said it was too simplified and for idiots but for someone who has never welded, or like me has not welded since high school, it covers the basics. It gives a good comparison of different technologies (Oxy, SMAW, MIG, TIG and plasma) the pros/cons of each. No, this book will not teach you how to weld like a pro but it is a good starting point if you want to learn about the various technologies or trying to decide what type of welder you want or need to get started. The Welder's Handbook (Finch) is also a good beginner's guide.



3. The book provides a basic footing in welding. I simply used the book to develop a working vocabulary before I began learning how to weld.



4. I found this book to have strong basic/beginner information as advertised. Some foggy areas are clearer to me now. The section on welding projects could have been left out and additional instructional materials provided.



5. The book is good for starters. It is a bit vague on the basics but informative. A good starter book.

5 comments about The Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement: With 300 Projects and 2,000 Photos (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide).

1. We bought this because we recently purchased our first home. We love how comprehensive the book is and the pictures are so helpful.



2. Nice book, lots of pictures to demonstrate the instructions. I purchased the book as a gift and enjoyed reading it before passing it on. It explained many things that I previously questioned. I think it will be very helpful to the person who wants to learn more in this area.



3. This is one of the best all around "do it yourself" books I've seen. If you work on your home, get this book! Great pictures and a wide variety of material!
   
   Bill



4. Out of the selection that were available, this looked like the best to go with, but was disappointed to find nothing about replacing gutters, supposedly simple process.
   The pictures are good though, but have not had a chance to make much use out of it.



5. Between this and the B&D Home Repair book, pretty much everything you need to know for basic homeowner do-it-yourself projects and repairs is covered. I've used it several times in a few months, and it is wonderful to have on hand as a reference. The book is sturdy and easy to understand too. It would get 5 stars if there weren't so much overlap with the Home Repair guide--the two should be better coordinated to avoid redundancies.