5 comments about Measure of the Heart: A Father's Alzheimer's, A Daughter's Return.

1. As lifespans lengthen, it's an unfortunate reality that more and more of us are likely to encounter the tragedy of Alzheimer's Disease. In "Measure of the Heart," ambitious, successful California and New York radio news anchor and reporter Mary Ellen Geist tells of leaving her career to help her mother care for her father as he declines in the clutches of this terrible affliction.
   
   Both an exlanation of Alzheimers and a personal caregiver's memoir, this book explores the tragic effects of the disease on the vctim and his family. As the disease progresses, the author learns to let herself be guided by her heart rather than by the pressures of her demanding career.
   
   This very personal story helps to explain the devotion of Woody Geist's wife, daughters, and other family members to this nice, kind, cheerful former CEO who loves to play tennis and to sing, activities he is able to continue long after the disease strikes. The family's selfless devotion and refusal to put Woody into a care facility seem puzzling as the disease progresses, and yet their extraordinary love is admirable.
   
   In addition to telling the victim's and caregivers' stories, this book explores and lists various resources: helpful organizations, publications, and web sites devoted to Alzheimer's and those dealing with it. The book makes fascination reading for anyone who has ever wondered about the disease or marveled at the dedication of those dealing with its victims. For anyone faced with an Alzheimer's diagnosis in the famiy, it should be required reading.



2. Mary Ellen Geist left a stellar career as a radio broadcaster to move home and help her mother take care of her father, Woody, a sufferer of Alzheimer's. She did not know, could not know what she was in for.
   
   Like so many daughters who move home to cope with this devastating disease, Geist experienced moments of sweetness, hours of frustration, days of pain as she watched her father slip further and further away. Her dreams of rescuing her mother from the pain of a spouse with Alzheimer's faded away to a more realistic view of the disease and the problems that inevitably accompany it. Their world, once expansive, contracted as friends slipped away. This is how it is living with Alzheimer's.
   
   Geist has created a fine volume. Her writing shines and is even lyrical at times. Her pain is clear; the gifts this disease brought her also clear. Hers is a book to make the tears flow, and mine did as I recalled my own father's descent into darkness.
   
   If there ever were a reason to make every possible effort to avoid Alzheimer's or any other the other dementias associated with aging, Geist provides it. Read it. Weep and laugh with her.
   
   Godspeed Woody. Godspeed Mary Ellen. Well done.



3. Hope. Grief. Frustration. Exhaustion. Delight. Denial. Mary Ellen Geist touches on all these emotions and many more in her account of dealing with her father's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She put her career and life on hold and returned to her childhood home in Michigan to help her parents. In the Foreword Dr. Oliver Sacks points out that Geist "has written eloquently of a whole family living with dementia." This is indeed the whole family's story. Geist gently guides readers into the labyrinth of daily life in the household.
   
   The book is emotional but also full of information. Stories of other caregivers are woven into the narrative. Facts and figures about the disease and caregivers (71% are women) are provided. Particular attention is devoted to caregivers. All too often caregivers take on too much and compromise their own health.
   
   One chapter that surprised me was about the hospital experience. Geist's father (Woody) was admitted for orthopedic surgery, a double knee replacement. He was in the hospital for two weeks. The hospital personnel were not prepared to deal with a Alzheimer's patient; I was shocked. This chapter, "Hospital Hell and Healing," should be read by any caregiver who will have an Alzheimer's patient in the hospital. Geist offers a list of suggestions that will be helpful.
   
   Despite a cascading loss of mental acuity, Woody never lost his musical abilities. He remembered the words and melodies to songs learned long ago. Music remained in tact in Woody's brain. As Sacks notes, "he seemed to be completely present, to come together and bypass his dementia (though as soon as the singing ended, the dementia was evident again)."
   
   Anyone caring for a person with dementia will find information and validation in this book. There are resources listed and a bibliography. Most importantly Geist brings her journalist's instincts to bear on this incredibly difficult and stressful situation. She honestly discusses personal difficulties and offers concrete suggestions for coping.



4. What a wonderful book about Mary Ellen Geist who gives up her high paying job as a reporter, her lifestyle and all she knows to move back with her mom to take care of her dad who has Alzheimers. This book has it all--humor, sadness, touching moments. You get into it quickly and at points it is hard to put down. I enjoyed this this book! I'd give it 10 stars if I could!



5. This nonfiction book is about a daughter who quits her job to move back home to help her mother care for her father who has Alzheimers. Reading this is an enjoyable way to learn about Alzheimers, what to expect and how to deal with it. It gives many resources for support for those who have Alzheimers and their caregivers. I found it very interesting that the dad responded to music and could remember all the words to songs but couldn't remember the right name of objects or people. He couldn't read a book or newspaper, but he could read words written on a music staff such as song lyrics. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a relationship with someone with Alzheimers or who just wants to learn more about this disease.
   
   This daughter's role as caregiver to her father was similar to my experience in caring for my dad, although fortunately mine did not have Alzheimers. The book I wrote,My Funny Dad, Harry, shares my experience of being my aging dad's primary caregiver. He had diabetes and was practically deaf. I could certainly relate to what she was going through.

5 comments about Not Easily Broken: A Novel.

1. This book was great. It was a quick read for me, as I could not put it down. The story was so good you don't want to stop reading. Great book. If you are looking for something to read that is inspirational and entertaining, get this book.



2. This book was very slow and boring. Hard to read. I had to make myself finish it hoping that it would pick up the pace alittle, which it did in the middle but died out. I was looking for much more. Very disappointed because TD Jakes is a great writer. Borrow the book first before you buy it.



3. Dave and Clarice Johnson: married fifteen years and it takes a car accident to bring unexplored problems in their relationship to the surface. Clarice's "I can take care of myself" mentality causes more of a gap between her and Dave than was already there before the accident, and Clarice's mother, who is obviously a bitter woman holding onto past hurts, doesn't help the situation. And then there's Clarice's physical therapist, Julie. She likes Dave for who he is, and when they're together he feels appreciated. Dave, who, unlike his wife, is sure he wants children, becomes a stand-in father for Julie's son, Bryson, whose own dad is never around. A real bond forms there.
   
   Can Clarice hold onto her man when she isn't giving him what he needs; especially when there's another woman who's willing to do just that? Will Dave decide his marriage is worth saving, or will he move on and begin a new relationship with Julie? These are the questions that came to mind as I read this novel. It turns out that God the Father, verses from Ecclesiastes, and a marriage counselor all play a part in getting this marriage back on track.
   
   I have listened to the teachings of Bishop T.D. Jakes for quite some time now. Whether he's speaking or writing, this man of God has a way with words that can get a life-changing message straight to the heart of the listener or reader. I'm glad he has decided to include fiction among his many books. This one is as good as all of the rest!



4. This is a great book! I could hardly put it down as I could identify with most of what was taking place in the lives of the main characters. Although I initially found Clarice to be foolish, I began to recognize that I too have some of the same character flaws in regards to my relationship with my husband. It was really an eye opener for me and helped me to remember that a really good man is hard to find, and that there is also someone else, somewhere looking for one. Was very therapeutic for me as a married career woman, and allowed me to peek into the perception of a single woman, and of course the man caught in the middle.
   
   I only wished it was longer! Guess I just wanted to see how Clarice overcame the flaws through the process of counseling. Cannot wait to see the movie!



5. This was a wonderful book. The main character, David, gave me hope and inspiration, though I thought his wife was a bit annoying. Though I had hoped the book would end differently, the ending was satisfying and left me pleased. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story.

3 comments about Teach Your Baby to Sign: An Illustrated Guide to Simple Sign Language for Babies.

1. I liked the layout of this book far better then most of the top rated books. It has a good blend of baby sign language background and easy to follow, commonly used signs. The book is also good as a quick reference if you forget the exact way to do a sign. Overall, a great guide for first time parents looking for relevent material that your baby can use. The only thing that would make this book even better is if it were spiral bound, so it could be layed flat for easier viewing for parents and their babies.



2. This book is great. I was looking for something with easy to understand signs and easy to find in the book!
   My husband and I already have the basics down and have started introducing them to our child. The signs are easy and large so I can print them and take them to daycare so they know what she wants as well. I searched all over for books and this is by far the best I have found.



3. This is an absolutely wonderful book! Exactly what I was looking for. It has a lot of pictures and instructions on how to do each sign. I have three kids and I don't have the time to just sit down to read. It's so great with this book to be able to just look up the word, view the picture and/or instructions, and I'm done.

5 comments about Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child / Your Fussy Baby.

1. As a first time mother, I had no idea what to do about sleep and naps.
   My Pediatrician told me that the childs naps were really for me (but why was the child so tired and cranky?). After reading this book, we followed it to the letter, and everything the Dr. said was right. We now have 2 very well rested daughters. I give this book to every new mom I know. If they follow it, they thank me. If they don't, they call me and want to know why their kid isn't sleeping. My 5 year old and 3.5 year old STILL go to bed at 6:30 pm and sleep until 7. You really owe it to your child to get them the rest they need to develop and grow into smart little peolple.



2. This is a great book to understand why your baby is fussy. This book has some very good recommendations on how to help your baby sleep better and there is more than one way to do it. There are several strategies and you pick and choose which will work for your baby. I follow the 2-hour window rule and it worked like a charm. My son sleeps 12 hours at night and naps 3 times during the day for 1-2 hours. This book has really helped me sleep train my son.



3. I read a lot...too much probably on baby stuff, anyway. I read several books about helping babies sleep. I appreciated Dr. Weissbluth's so much--he just tells you how sleep works. It's non-judgemental and he's not pushing a parenting-style agenda (most other books I read about sleep clearly did)....just helpful tips whatever your style is. My little guy wasn't napping at all, and just some of the suggestions he had have let to my 6-month old (4 months adjusted age--was a preemie) to 11 hours at night and 3 naps during the day of 1 to 2 hours. Now, the night sleeping he's been doing for a while, but getting the naps worked out and helping have a more pleasant baby during the day we can thank Weissbluth for. A great read for first-time parents especially!



4. This book helped me a lot as a first time mother to create a schedule for my son. When I was asking how long he should sleep everybody was so vague, and I could see my son was getting more and more tired by the day. Now at 4 months, he is sleeping much better. This book gave me a lot of confidence and insight. I especially enjoyed the parents' testimonies and also the extensive research the writer made.



5. We were wanted to try and sleep train our daughter so that we could get some sleep, she found this book and decided to try it. Lo and behold, it worked, our daughter is now 19 months and she sleeps on her own and sleeps through the night and this has been going on since she was 5 months, so for us it works, it was a little tough at first and she cried and we would not go her but over the long run it works. Highly recommend, if anything for your sanity.

5 comments about Infant Massage--Revised Edition: A Handbook for Loving Parents.

1. Purchased this book for my sister, who is a first time mom. She had great difficulty in following it. The set up is confusing. The illustrations lack any directional guidance. You need some massage background to follow the written instructions. There is an overwhelming amount of initial instructions that can be a bit intimidating. If you're a massage therapist, this book will be a great addition. If you're a first time parent, with very little time, find another book. Furthermore, the paperback will not stay open while you try the massage moves, so you need someone to hold the book.



2. This is a fundamentally a good teaching tool, especially when there is no one to teach you in person.



3. when I ve first seen this book on amazon I thought it is only about how to massage your baby, I thought it is just strokes and no more, and I wasn't 100% content about it. Now after reading it I found every thing about infant massage; the benefit of massage with scientific proof, the strokes, which strok is first and which is last, what about babies who doesn't like massage(like my own boys when they were infants), the effect of it on colicky baby, how massage reshape hte relation with mother and baby. Last but not least, I also like how this book helps big sister/brother to set a strong relation with his/her new sibling.



4. I ordered this book to accompany personal instruction I received on infant massage, after my son was born and we realized he was colicky. Infant massage immediately did several things:
   - it helped sooth him through his discomfort
   - it gave him a pleasant association with bath time (we massaged after bath)
   - it gave me a wonderful opportunity to bond with my son (as Daddies can't breast feed )
   
   I heartily recommend the book and the technique to any parent.



5. I loved this book -
   
   I am a first time mom and started using this book with my baby girl when she was 4 weeks old. At first she did not like the massage - but I found that if I plugged in my space heater nearby and started slowly she really learned to relax. I especially liked the stomach massage techniques to help relieve gas - I really could hear those gas bubbles moving down and it was great to feel like I could do something to help her besides giving mylecon. No need to be a massage therapist - I just used the illustrations as a guide and created my own daily "routine" massage - it really does help them learn how to relax. Best tip - just use what works for you and your baby - this is just a guide to help you learn how to touch your baby in a soothing way that both of you can enjoy - also - I love the tip at the end of the book that suggests teaching older children massage techniques so that they also can start to participate in the care and soothing of their younger siblings - I will definately use this book for a log time.

5 comments about Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old: A Step-by-Step Plan for Baby Sleep Success.

1. We heard about this book when our triplets were 11 weeks old (born 6 weeks early). We followed this book word-for-word, and it had all three of our children sleeping 12 hours a night within 2 weeks. We think this is a great book for people who like structure and schedules and who are willing to let their children cry for 3-5 minutes before going in to check on them. This book helped us get our children on a great sleep schedule early on, and helped us get some sleep too so we were rested enough to enjoy our children even more!



2. My husband and I were grad students when we had our first baby and needed to have time to work and study every night. This book and sleep method worked perfectly, without making us feel like bad parents. The baby slept next to us for the first 3 months of life and we never had a cry-it-out episode that lasted more than 5 minutes once we started the training. We were able to travel and stay with family and friends with ease by sticking close to the sleep cycle the baby was used to. We ended up having an excellent first year with our well-rested and cheerful baby and now that she's a toddler she has excellent self-soothing and sleep habits and going to bed is a pleasurable time for the whole family-- not a battle.
   
   We just had our second baby and we'll help her learn to sleep and be part of our family the same way.



3. As a first-time Mom, I bought this book because I went browsing through the self-help section in my local book store, and the front cover "A Proven Program to Teach Your Baby to Sleep Twelve Hours a Night" caught my eye. I skimmed through and read the outlined topics and HAD to buy it.
   
   My daughter is now 2 years old. She has been sleeping straight through the night since 3 months old, only 3 weeks after buying and utilizing the easy to follow tools and instructions in this book. I would recommend this book to any parent who is sleep deprived, in fact, I have bought 3 more copies and given them as gifts to all my new parent friends! I do, however, recommend this book more for formula-fed babies than breast-fed, only because its a little bit more difficult to determine the ounces your baby has eaten when breastfed.
   
   To those of you who suggest this is a non-nutritionally sound practice, teaching your baby to go for 12 hours without food, you are completely wrong. Did you READ the book?? If you read the book front to back, it explains that you should NOT start this book until certain guidelines have been met. One of the criteria being that your baby should be eating 24oz. of breast milk or formula in a 24 hour period, which is the minimum requirement for a growing baby. Also, when starting the training, you START by increasing the feedings through the daytime hours to 24oz, THEN proceed to eliminate the nightime feedings, all the while your baby is STILL receiving the 24oz. recommendation through a 24 hour period. You are not starving your child, just teaching them to develop a daytime-eat, nighttime-sleep pattern. My daughter has NEVER been below 75th percentile for her weight since inplementing this program, and still to this day is a perfectly healthy, thriving toddler!
   
   As far as this book being the same as any other book - that is also not true. I found this book alot easier to understand on a more basic sleep-deprived level. Its very straight forward with many examples to help you understand the task at hand. There are photo-copyable log sheets to complete on a daily basis for your own proof that the program is actually working and to not give up. She utilizes 'toolboxes', ideas and suggestions, to help you get through the next hour before the next scheduled feeding. The BEST part about this book is because you're able to read this book completely in a few hours, its geared toward the parents who do not have the TIME to sit and read through those other 300+ page sleep books! "...You will be able to read the key sections of this manual in two hours." - (exerpt taken from the book)
   
   In all, Suzy Giordano has YEARS of experience training families of multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) to implement her program in their own lifestyle. She references her 'business' only to show her years of experience, not to promote the company. Ask yourself this: If she was REALLY trying to promote her business, why would she give away her secrets in a paperback book for only $10, causing herself to actually lose prospective clients?? The book serves as guidelines and suggestions, and isn't required to follow PERFECTLY, you can conform the schedule to fit your lifestyle.
   
   I am no longer a sleep-deprived MOM since I have been getting 12 hours of sleep myself since my daughter was 3 month's old. I love to brag about my success with this book to other new moms and even to my pediatritian, who is amazed at the fact that this is even possible! Do not be skeptical - this book really works if you have the mindset and dedication to follow through. Remember the 7-day rule: "Bad habits take three days to make, and seven days to break." Look forward to the goal, use the log sheets to show yourself its working, and you'll both be sleeping before you know it!
   
   Sorry this review is so long - I hope it helps all of you decide to give it a try!



4. This book was amazing in that Giordano simply walks you through the steps to get your baby to sleep. My son is now 10 weeks old and is sleeping anywhere from 6 to 10 hours straight through the night. The first week was hell but it has all been worth it. My baby now no longer has any feedings in the night and only eats 4 times per day. I am currently working on getting him to take naps consistently in line with the book and get him through the full night every night. It is all about baby steps (no pun intended) and you have to be committed to make it work. I only wish that Giordano had put more info in the book about certain situations such as, "what do you do when your baby won't sleep during the day?" or "how do you get your baby through the fussy times in the evening before bedtime?"



5. This book is FANTASTIC!!!! I've been reading some of the reviews who don't recommend it and all I can say is.... if it didn't work for you, you didn't do it right and stick to it! It takes determination and consistancy. You have to write notes daily and document your childs progress. Stick to it and you'll be a happy camper! It's simple reading and simple instructions. I recommend this to all parents who have trouble with their child sleeping.

5 comments about The Little Big Book For Grandmothers.

1. After buying the Little Big Book for Moms for my daughter in law, I discovered the Grandmothers version. I treated myself and I just love it. I've tried several of the recipes- home made bread and honey glazed chicken wings to name two. They were delicious! There are also bunches of crafts, nursery stories, some with Grandmother theme, songs and games. I have a seven month old as well as 18 year old granddaughters. There are good things to share with both.



2. This book along with a companion book were purchased as a gift for my wife. She was very pleased with them, so naturally was I. These were not to be found locally. Thank you for your operations and we hope to use your services again soon.
   N. Sharp



3. I gave this book to a friend who is a first time grandmother. It is a unique and different gift that she and her grandson will enjoy for years to come. She was excited about the songs and stories included in the book that she remembered as a child and can now share with her new family member.



4. Beautiful illustrations! This book will be used a lot with the upcoming birth of my grandson. Wonderful stories...full of great ideas.



5. This is a book I will take with me whenever I visit our grandson. It has everything! I can read to him, do activities with him, cook with him, and as a result of this book, I'm sure he will look forward to our visits. Thanks you, Lena Tabori and Alice Wong, for putting this book together.

5 comments about Conscious Loving: The Journey to Co-Committment.

1. I first read this book over ten years ago. Recently it has come up in my life again (I just sent this URL to a new "friend" :) ), and I just had to write a review to counter whatever the hell that "one star" is about.
   
   This book changed ME. I've been applying it's principles all these years - not just to romantic relationships, but to family, work, and everybody else. It not only freakin' works, but it will bring more personal joy to you IN GENERAL.
   
   The only regrets in the last ten-plus years has been the times I've forgotten these principles.
   
   They (Gay and Kathleen Hendricks) laid out the core of this book on their website, which I discovered today (when I sent the URL to the...guy..), and it pretty much is the book in a nutshell. Look under "about". www.hendricksinsitute.com. Thank you Gay and Kathleen!
   
   If you're far from the place they're asking you to be, you're not going to get it just from the web page. If you're searching and close, however, you'll get it right away - it's like epiphany after epiphany. In re-reading them, I was surprised at how many of the 7 Principles I have been applying (somewhat imperfectly) to this day.
   
   There are a bunch of exercises in the second half of the book, but that's never been my thing. If you're more of a kinesthetic (experience) learner, though, get the book because the exercises looked pretty good (I guess).
   
   Heavens, I don't know what else to say - except that this book and The Road Less Traveled are the only self-help/psychology books that I didn't think WEREN'T just a smattering of dressed-up common sense, padding, and bull.
   
   Nina
   
   PS:I know this is my first review. I swear I'm not a shill. In retrospect, I like a couple of other books, too like Bradshaw On: The Family: A New Way of Creating Solid Self-Esteem (I forgot that John Bradshaw wrote the intro to this book - I've known about THAT book for almost TWENTY years). But those are the top two.



2. As I've been reading Gay Hendricks book, Conscious Loving, I've been moved and amazed at how deeply I'm reviewing my life, my patterns and what i really want for myself in relationships. At first I've been uncomfortable actually seeing so much about myself. However as I continue reading I'm grateful for the insight and compassion that is opening to me. I've recommended this book to many of my friends, particularly those who would like to bring depth and more closeness into their relationships.



3. This is the best book on relationships I have ever found. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks show ways in which people trip themselves up while relating to others and how to overcome these personal issues by working on yourself.
   
   Even if you decide not to do the assignments in part II I suggest you at least read them. They can provide additional insight.
   
   If you want to get a deeper idea of how your family system may have influenced your current relationships then make it a double feature and read "Broken Toys Broken Dreams" by Terry Kellogg, which you can also find on his website http://www.liferesources.com/tinfo.html
   
   Another good book is "Bradshaw On: The Family" by John Bradshaw.
   
   These books dovetail nicely with "Conscious Loving".



4. This is a wonderful book. Helpful, clear. My experience with Amazon could not have been more perfect. Sue



5. This book has really helped our marriage. It can be hard to read, but only so far as personally I spent a lot of time thinking "Oh dear, I do that too!". A great eye opener, extremely easy to read and full of really excellent tips than can make a huge difference. I've read a large number of self help books over the years, and this ranks as one of my favourites.

5 comments about The One-in-a-Million Baby Name Book: The BabyNames.com Guide to Choosing the Best Name for Your New Arrival.

1. This book is unique and a great resource for parents-to-be and name aficionados alike. It presents great insight from real-life namers, a step-by-step guide to naming your child and polls from thousands of the parent site's visitors. A must-have!



2. This book is a wonderful, unique addition to any name lover's collection. It is equally as great for those struggling to find the perfect name for their baby. You can't go wrong with this book!



3. Sometimes selecting an appropriate name for your progeny takes some research. I wanted Poindexter and my wife wanted Mike. So there was some disconnect. This book may be the most important one you buy - ever. So many names with cool derivatives and origins. We were going to settle on a nice Jewish inspired name to fit our cultural background. However, upon birth, we decided on Jermaine.
   
   Now I'm looking for a book on divorce.



4. This book is just what i needed to help me choose names for my future children, but also to satisfy my inner name loving nerd ;) . This book is so much more than a dictionary of names! it is like no other name book you have ever read! a must have for those looking for help naming their child as well as for those like me who just love names!



5. This book is a great resource when looking for names for your children. It gives you some insight you wouldn't regularly look into!!

5 comments about Food for Talk (Recipes for Living Series).

1. I'm learning things about my kids and husband that I would have never guessed. I would highly recommend these conversation cards as a way to learn more about each other in a fun and interesting way. My kids love it!



2. We played this at the dinner table on Thanksgiving. We enjoyed it so much that we were still at table when it was time to break up around 11:30 pm.



3. What an excellent way to bring up important subjects.
   This product encourages families to share their values with one another and interact at a deeper level during dinner. We love it! Our daughter, who's almost 5, asks to pick the card every time. Even though, some of the questions are too old for her now she still loves it.



4. I bought this for my family who enjoys hours of good conversation but it is hard to keep the topics new. This product comes neatly in a nice box and the cards are beautifully done with illustrations. Kids and adults can answer these questions. One that was in there that I use almost daily now is "What was the high and low point of your day?" I gave it four stars because I feel some of the questions are a little generic. But having the box on the kitchen table is a conversation starter all by itself when people come over. Overall it made a nice gift for my family.



5. This box of cards caught my attention while shopping at Barnes and Noble. I bought it and have been enjoying it with my kids for the last 4 months. It has not only helped us to communicate more, but my kids look forward to sitting down at meals as a family to see what question we'll all talk about. This has also encouraged us to talk about our highs and lows of each day which my 6yr old especially loves. I have been divorced for a year now and vowed to make changes with my kids and come up with a way for us to communicate more as a family. "Food For Thought" was an answer to my prayers. I was so happy with this product that I ordered 4 through Amazon and gave them as gifts at Christmas. In our fast paced world that seems to be getting faster, this is a wonderful way to slow down in order to "smell the roses" or better yet, hear your small child talk about his/her feelings for the first time. Enjoy!