5 comments about Birth Order Book, The: Why You Are the Way You Are.

1. I originally found this book while researching how two siblings could be so possibly different when coming from the same mother and father. That is my situation. My sister and I are like night and day. Well, this book broke down birth order in a very interesting, way. In fact, I believe in birth order theory more now than when I started. Being the first born, it is very characteristic of me (apparently) to be doing this research to find out more about me and my perfectionist self (which I found out that being a perfectionist isn't a good thing)...something of which I'm still fighting to believe. I revel in my obsessive detail orientation. Anyway, my sister being the middle child, always whined about how she had "Middle child syndrome" and how she's constantly ignored, not given enough attention..etc. So, I found it quite entertaining in the book that Leman doesn't even go into the Middle Child too much, therefore-catering (in a sense) to the Middle Child (at least my sister) feeling ignored and not as important. Leman says that the lack of information on the Middle Child is due the the fact that there just isn't enough known about the Middle Child and that that are deemed a "Mystery". Anyway, it's incredibly interesting, and I love how understandable it is. Dr. Leman makes is known early on in the book that he is Christian, but doesn't bring too much of his religious beliefs into the book. Although, I feel none of it needs to be there (as birth order and religion are two different topics), I suppose when relating to HIS life and his stories of being the youngest, it can't be avoided. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out why they are the way they are. It has helped me figure myself out more!



2. I took this book to work with me and shared it with a group of managers. We found that the book was surprisingly accurate in the the way that we each demonstrated our management styles. The first born's were very organized and process driven, while the middle-born manager avoided confrontation and tended to be suspicious. We did have one manager who didn't fit the birth order characteristics. He was a middle-born who was very outgoing and was always the center of attention. Proof that the profiles are just guidelines that can give you some insight into personalities, but not absolutes.



3. People are fascinated with any system that explains personality and behavioral differences. Birth order is an enduring system for understanding those differences, especially so when the explanation is as clear and as well illustrated with compelling examples as this. Dr. Kevin Leman does an admirable job of covering the bases, including a chapter devoted to parenting, and one devoted to compatibility in marriage. The insights he shares from his personal life history as a last born bring a special poignancy to the work. Extremely helpful, especially if you remember that birth order provides a prediliction, not a fate carved in stone! I provided additional information on this topic in Letters to My Granddaughters.



4. Absolutely amazing that someone took the time to figure this out .I never realized that we fiut into these little pockets. I was the last born out of five and it placed us in the position that we fit like a glove . after we read it we just looked at each other and laughed.



5. This book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it reading it. The book is helpful in understanding some of the differences between siblings and more importantly, helping parents accept the differences. Whenever I read a book about children and parenting I always wonder why it isn't a required course in High School. One word of caution, after reading this book I have been constantly guessing the birth order of everyone I meet!
   
   While I liked the book, I thought the author spent too much time defending his theories and trying to sell his other books.

5 comments about What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting (What to Expect).

1. I bought several books and this one was the most comprehensive.
   Bought and recommended it for several friends.



2. I loved this book, it helped my break done the dos and donts for being a first timer. I am hungry all the time and it really helped me break down the good and bad calories. I have always struggled with eating healthy, and this did wonders for me.



3. Sometimes in these times it's hard to make the time to eat properly for our growing baby. This book made it helpful to make sure I am eating the proper things....



4. If you have no clue about basic nutrition, this book is for you. If you are a healthy eater and a pretty well informed person, you don't really have to get this book unless you want confirmation that you're doing all the right things.



5. I love this book, but alot of the recipes call for things that aren't everyday household items.

5 comments about Where Did I Come From?.

1. This book is a classic for explaining the birds and the bees to small kids. It's illustrated in a cartoony, friendly style and explains sex in a way that's comprehensible from a child's point of view. I don't think it crosses the line of what an average parent would consider "too much information".
   
   The couple depicted are slightly chubby and middle-aged, quite the stereotype of a mummy and daddy. On one page they are standing together nude and smiling at the reader. On the page that explains sexual intercourse, they're under the blankets, so don't worry about kids seeing too much. Sex is explained as being like "skipping rope" - it feels good but you get too tired to do it forever! Sounds funny from an adult's perspective but I guess it's a good way to explain to a small child why grown-ups like it.
   
   The book also explains fertilization down at the cellular level (the endpapers feature a cartoon egg being presented with a rose by a sperm) and pregnancy and childbirth in brief.
   
   I read the book around age 5 or 6. My parents didn't want to have to explain this stuff face-to-face and I was an early reader =)



2. this book is an excellent tool for helping kids understand the "facts of life". reading with the kids and explaining as you go really helps them to understand the concepts and participate in the conversation.



3. My parents gave me this book when I was little and it was very informative, but not too detailed. Just right for a grade school child.
   I know have my own children and I'm so relieved to find this book again. My son has started to ask some questions and this book was great.



4. There is NO WAY my kids need to know how sex feels in a play by play description. All I wanted was a book that would talk about what sex was in a factual manner. This was like reading soft porn with cartoon graphics aimed at kids! At ages 4 and 7, this is beyond their years for a need to know. I am glad I read it at the book store before buying it. I couldn't believe all the great reviews it had. Maybe for a 10 year old (or older) but not for young kids IMO.



5. This book did a perfect job for me when I was a boy. And I'm buying it to hand to my sons. Those who say it was too graphic are simply WAY too uptight. It is tasteful and honest. It did the job for me that my parents couldn't do.

5 comments about Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons.

1. The book is 297 pages & is divided into 21 chapters. The most crucial ones for me were "Honor, Being There, Forgiveness, Missing Dads, The Protector, Discipline, & 75 Reasons."
   
   What was so refreshing about this book was the theme of basic normalcy & decency that most people seem to have. This book should appeal to most people, but it is not only or truly a book about a "father-son relationship." It came across more as a memoir of intimate vignettes, some of which are negative. One of a son whose father missed out being a a dad because of his drug addiction which eventually killed him.
   
   Two of the more positive stories were when a father comforted his son after he told his dad that he was gay, & Kerry a girl who grew up with a stutter, whose dad held her hand & told her "it's ok". There are many life lessons in these stories that are very applicable to people regardless of their own individual backgrounds, beliefs, & experiences. All in all a very inspirational & intimate read.



2. this is another book by late tim russert- he is truely gifted- sad for america that some one so passionate is gone.



3. Tim Russert was a very humble, everyday man who serves as a role model for young men in his professional and personal life. Great book.



4. This was another wonderful, tearful book from Tim Russert. How much we will miss him... I just wish he had written a book about his mother.



5. I bought this book for myself after Tim died. I was glued to the TV for that week, mourning with the thousands that mourned. I felt that if I purchased the book, I would have a connection with Tim. I didn't bargain for the sadness it made me feel over the loss of my own father some 33 years ago when I was only 22 (like Luke). After reading the book, I then purchased 5 more --- one for each of my children and one for each of my siblings. I am working on a 'letter to my children' about their grandfather, whom they never knew. I had erroneously thought that since I was adopted, my children wouldn't have any real interest in who my father was b/c there was no blood relation. Having read Wisdom of Our Fathers I now know that blood relation is really such a small part of the overall person I became because of my father. This will be a special Christmas when I give my children the book and the 4 page, single spaced 'letter' that I wrote to my father. Thank you Tim ---

5 comments about Not "Just Friends": Rebuilding Trust and Recovering Your Sanity After Infidelity.

1. I think this book is very helpful,just a lot of info to take in at once. She bounces from one couple to another so it's hard to keep up with. I am trying to just take pieces of it that fit my situation. Not a book to be read quickly.



2. Simply fantastic. Gives full credence to the pain the betrayed partner goes through without ripping up the betraying partner. Quotes statistics, is no nonsense, gives excellent PRACTICAL advice for how to move on. Even explains the point of view of the other woman or man-what they might have invested.
   
   I have a master's degree, betraying partner has a PhD, between us we found most books too difficult to slog through. Not this book. Plain, simple, elegant, and willing to hope. I cannot say enough good about it. May buy a second copy just so my spouse can have own!



3. I just finished this book and what a Godsend. I found out my husband was having an emotional affair on March 31st of this year. An old high school girlfriend Googled him and they'd been talking for six months. He saw her in Feb. when he went to visit his brother for an ice fishing trip and they were planning on meeting in April for "more". About a month after he started talking to her I noticed he was distant, but thought it was because we'd just celebrated our 20th anniversary and things were getting old. Little did I know "she" entered the picture. On Jan. 1st I suspected he had a gf, but he called me crazy and paranoid. After reading this book so many things made sense and I was able to make sense of the mess my marriage had become.
   
   He claimed he never intended for things to get out of hand and they were "just friends"at first. He told her we were having problems and he put up a wall between us and opened the window for her (this is in the book). My H has always had such strong morals and good character. He badmouthed everyone we have ever known to cheat, but here he turned around and did the very same thing. Of all people I TRULY never thought he would do this.
   
   The only problem I had with the book is that the affair partner is talked about as being a single woman. In my case the other woman is married and has kids the same age as mine. She didn't plan on leaving her husband until her youngest was in college (in 5 years). She was ok with my husband meeting her 3 or 4 times per year until then. This woman is also a churchgoer, provides daycare in her home, prepares peoples taxes, lives in small town MN, was a soccer-mom, etc. I'm guessing she was bored and needed some excitement. Too bad she didn't realize that my husband made things sound so wonderful on the phone and online. Maybe if they lived with each other they would have realized that life is much more than what we can make the other believe.
   
   My husband and I are trying to get our marriage back on track, but it's so hard because he doesn't want to talk about it anymore. From reading the book I understand this is natural for the betraying partner, but I need to talk and figure this stuff out. I asked my husband this week to read two of the last few chapters hoping he will understand my point. How am I to have compassion for him, as discussed in the book, if he doesn't have much for me?



4. I never thought this would be me needing a book like this. My husband is not "the type" to have an affair, but he did. It blew my world apart. This book helped explain why it happened, how it was not because we had a bad marriage, how to recover, and it validated all the feelings and thoughts I was having. This book is truly amazing. Glass really left a gift for so many people in writing this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and SO HELPFUL.



5. I bought this book because my life partner stated repeatedly that the OP and he were "just friends." I wanted to believe him so I kept ignoring all the signs that Dr. Glass discusses. Dr. Glass was relevant and insightful. The book is 425 pages but is a read quick. Before I discovered that my life partner was having an affair and that my best girl friend's husband was having an affair, I had no idea how rampant infidelity is. "Good people in good marriages are having affairs." Its amazing how our society condones the easy thing ---an affair. I wished that I would have known about "safe friendships" before all this happened. Dr. Glass does not have time to talk about recovering and healing adequately on your own. However, Dr. Glass does have other books that would probably be helpful. Her chapter regarding questions to ask after affair will be helpful once I am able to communicate with unfaithful one.

5 comments about Intended for Pleasure: Sex Technique and Sexual Fulfillment in Christian Marriage, Third Edition.

1. The many reviews I read before purchasing this book are correct: This is a very clinical and sometimes dry book. It's also a fantastic resource. But honestly, if you are interested in learning the basics, you shouldn't have a hard time getting through it.
   
   I really enjoyed this book and the emphasis on the clinical explanations of how things work. Ed Wheat is a doctor and that comes out in his technical explanations, which are especially helpful if you are having some problems in your sex life.
   
   I would have given it 5-stars (it really is a great book) except I purchased another book as well, Getting your Sex Life Off to a Great start, and I found the other book a bit better in its explanation of the first sexual experience as well as its advice for the honeymoon.
   
   If you are preparing for your first experience I recommend buying both books. Each book offers something that the other lacks. If you can only purchase one, I recommend the other, but both are really great resources. We are also reading through Love Life for Every Married Couple and it is important to work on all aspects of your relationship - not just the sexual aspect.



2. I didn't like this book. It's well written, but really makes some statements that can't be backed up with the Bible. Everything is cut/dry. This is this way because we think it should be this way. I would go to some other book.



3. This book is wonderful! I bought it just prior to my wedding. It is a bit like going back to middle school sex-ed, but it proved invaluable for the honeymoon. The authors deal expertly, honestly, and sensitively about the subject.



4. The Wheat's really know what they are talking about...and it was fun to read with my new husband. I would recommend this book to everyone, not just Christians, who are about to make the jump to wedded bliss. Probably better to read a month before the wedding...otherwise that first night can be like fumbling around in the dark. Highly recommended.



5. I got this book as part of premarriage counseling, and overall it was a good book. Good information for people of various sex knowledge levels. However, the book was comical at points and seemed a bit old fashioned/impractical. For example, a wife should have dinner on the table and look her best when her husband comes home from work. It also said that couples should not own a TV for the first year of their marriage. Already broke that rule.

5 comments about The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents' Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff.

1. Julie Hall has written THE manual on handling the sensitive subject of our parents' estate (now if someone could write one for new parents!). It is easy to read, with real-life examples which help me relate to each situation. I love the resource tools she provides - so I won't spend all my time looking it up but just handling it. Thank you!



2. Thank you, Julie - This is a tremendous resource for both generations. I sent copies to my siblings as well as to my aunt and uncle. It is hard for them to hear advice from us sometimes, but they were more than willing to read your book, and that, in turn, helps us. The book is well organized, so they can get something out of it even if they choose only to read one or two sections that seem pertinent at this moment. As a professional organizer, I am also recommending this book to clients who have a hard time "letting go" and need to understand some of the consequences.



3. Julie has really filled a gap for us all! She has practical ideas and provides insight into the emotional side of making hard decisions with our parents and loved ones. A great guide for any age!



4. Julie's book is indeed a lifesaver! It came to my attention as I was beginning the process of downsizing my mother. Very difficult circumstances and this book was invaluable. Practical advice and comfort in knowing my situation was not unique. Julie has seen it all and the book reflects her expertise. I cannot recommend it highly enough and will buy multiple copies for my friends.



5. This book is a great resource for someone looking to liquidate their parents estate. It deals with everything from sibling jealousy over personal items to estate sales. I highly recommend it as it will save you a lot of time and money when the time comes to dispose of your parents possessions.

5 comments about Sex and the City.

1. I have to admit when I first got the book I expected something similar to the series. Even though this was not the case, I was not dissapointed. A lot of the stories made me laugh out loud to myself. I saw truths in the stories. This book and the series makes one enjoy being a girl!



2. Okay, so I bought the book because I'm a fan of the show, and the movie was fun, if not as sexy and smart as the series. I just found this book really boring - it seemed as though Bushnell couldn't really be bothered writing it... maybe that was to convey the superficiality and heartlessness of the people, but how can you care about people like that?
   Give me the show over this any day - in the end it was the friendships between Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha that gave it its zsa zsa zsou - and the superb acting.
   Some chapters are insightful but overall, it's bland. I'm just glad that it spawned the series though!



3. I'm an absolute Sex and the City nut. Been addicted to the show for years. Happy to finaly have the book it all come from.



4. Beware!! This is not a novel!! If you want an engrossing read and you want the girls from sex and the city, do not let this fool you. This book is more of an essay. Paragraph after paragraph of what appears to be the newspaper column maybe. Not novel format at all. I was real disapointed because I enjoyed Lipstick Jungle and Trading Up and Four Blondes. This book is nothing like them.



5. The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know EverythingAs a positive psychologist and the author of four books for women and girls, the latest is a quick fiction read,designed to build self-esteem, The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything), I am always eager to see how women are portrayed and what lessons we can learn from a story in terms of female development. Yes, I am addicted to the series, Sex and the City. I never saw it when it ran, but now can hardly fall asleep without a rerun. Give me any of the girls and I'm happy. Give me all four together, chatting over lunch or breakfast, and I'm even happier. As a psychologist I see the brillance of the series tied into the intimacy that the women achieve with each other. It is this intimacy that helps them through love disappointments, career mistakes, loss of family, etc. However, although I enjoyed the book very much, I missed this level of female closeness in the book. I was surprised and fascinated at the same time. The characters I could see being birthed in the book, but the community they created with each other I guess had to wait until the book was rewritten into a screen play. I wonder if Candane Bushnell was pleased with the next step into the closeness that women can achieve with each other that the series and the movies has taken on.
   
   In terms of my work with girls and women, it is this closeness that is so important developmentally. We need the time of endless dialogue and anaylsis that Carrie, Charlotte, and all had day after day. Men don't need it, but we do.
   
   Still, Sex and the City is a great read. I recommend it and you will, like myself, be intrigued to see how the four women came into being. You will laugh and be dismayed and it won't change one way or another your eagerness for the next re-run of Sex and the City. At least it didn't change my late night run to the television!

5 comments about Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You.

1. I felt this book provided an eyeopening perspective on how we are manipulated by others and in fact may manipulate others. I think it helped me to gain perspective and move forward as I have emerged from an abusive marrige.



2. This Book is great on its own. The transaction was easy and the book came as described.



3. This an amazing look into the reality of emotional abuse. As a therapist I have been recommending this book to my clients. Watch out for an eye opening read!



4. I myself am currently in the FOG that she describes in this and it has hit home very well and helping me redeem myself. She's VERY good at explaining and assisting. Sometimes I feel she's right there. Very informative about the different types of emotional blackmailers. I'm not done reading, but have gotten 3/4 of the way and I am so happy I bought this book. It caught my eye one day browsing through the bookstore, never bought it out of fear probably. My friend coaxed me into buying it and I'm glad I did. If anything, it will bring confidence and give you some sort of support while trying to figure out what is going on. Put you in the right direction so you can be free and clear! Basically, this book is AWESOME, INFORMATIVE, and a must read for current victims of emotional blackmail.



5. The book IS great, you can read about its value in every other review on this site. I will not repeat them, instead I will tell about the little "but..": most of "healthy" or "non-pathological" relationships we support is not of the bipolar model of the offender and the offended one. Usually we use some forms of lightweight blackmail in one place where receive it in another: it is very hard to draw a distinct rule between asking and manipulating, and the more we need/want/desire something from the partner the blurrier is the border. And unfortunately you will find anything but help in "double blackmail", "crossfire", where BOTH sides of the story can read the book and find that they are the victims. The only hope is that they both get smarter with reading the book and start talking to each other. Which is very likely, as the book IS great indeed ;)

5 comments about I Love Female Orgasm: An Extraordinary Orgasm Guide.

1. I just received my order of "I <3 Female Orgasm" today, and have been engrossed ever since. The amount of information found in the approximately 300 page book is incredible, as well as incredibly well written. I love the way that when the authors sometimes refer to a certain concept, they will also tell you the page number to get more detail about that concept. They also frequently recommend other books for more information. I also enjoy the wonderful anecdotes and little quotes that are constantly interspersed within the book. I frequently laughed aloud while reading some of the stories. ^_^
   
   This book is an all inclusive book about female sex, not just female orgasm, and is helpful on many levels. If you are the least bit interested in females and sex put together, I definitely recommend this book for you to read and enjoy.



2. As a sex coach and instructor, this book helped me answer a lot of questions for my clients about female orgasm. I also have several friends who have trouble in that area. I made it part of my library along with two other books that have proven invaluable and that I have shared with all my clients and friends: (1) Five Minutes to Orgasm Every Time You Make Love: Female Orgasm Made Simple. This 3-step technique takes the mystique out of female orgasm and makes it the natural and simple act it should be. (2) Was that an earthquake? The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex. This flip over book has tons of information about fellatio on one side, then flip it over and you have just as much information about cunnilingus. A must for couples of any age, sex or experience.



3. Anyone who is female - or anyone who sleeps with females - needs to read this book. It's written in a clear, friendly, sometimes funny way. It provides a ton of great information and insights. I learned a lot from this book, as I think would anyone. I loved that it is also inclusive of everyone, straight or not. This would also be a great book to give to a girl before she becomes sexually active with a partner. Please do yourself a favor and read this book right now!



4. Excellent book that is well written with a sense of humor. This should be required reading for all women interested in enjoying their lives. The authors are non judgemental and professional. Wit and humor cover the topics along with perspectives for partners of women included through out. Wonderful book! Buy one for everywomen you love.



5. I honestly feel that if every male practices what is written there then their relationships with their spouses will become more intimate and the
   divorce rate in the world would certainly plummet down. I also recommend
   other book that is about to satisfy female and male I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't