5 comments about The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College.

1. My mother bought this book for my daughter as a high school graduation gift. Although my daughter received other books about college survival, this is the one the kids passed around and studied at the graduation party. All the books contain similar advice, but I think the title and the picture of the naked, hairy legs caught the attention of the 18 year old girls. The most helpful book is the one with practical advice that students actually read! This one seems to meet those criteria!



2. This book was a gift for a great-nephew. He says he liked it. I believe him.



3. When I bought this book I didn't pay attention to who the author was. I guess the title was what caught my eye first! I have been a fan of Harlan Cohen's newspaper column and find his advice to be spot on.
   
   The book is so full of good advice, and while much of it is focused on college life, there is a lot of useful information for any young adult moving out on their own. For example, dealing with parents after the move, the best friend/roommate situation, and sexual assault/alcohol are all topics that are relative to most independent living situations.
   
   Cohen's format is great. Each subject includes a brief introduction to the tip/topic, followed by a slightly more lengthy story related by a college student. Then Cohen adds his own words of wisdom. The topic concludes with a brief "bottom line" summary. And scattered throughout are sidebars of statistics, facts, and quotes. The book is a wealth of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects of crucial importance for a successful college experience. And Harlan Cohen does it in his usual youth-friendly style with generous dashes of humor thrown into the mix. This book is a must have book for the high school graduate (or even sooner) and a great gift to grown kids preparing to move out and begin the next phase of their lives. 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother



4. Never got the book and they wouldn't answer e-mail. Worst experience I've ever had with Amazon. I'm really ticked.



5. Saw this first at the local library. After readig about 4 chapters, decided that my oldest grandson, who waws off toe OSU in the fall, ought to be reading this, so I ordered it and sent it to him. His mother called and sid he hadn't put it down since he got it!! He told her, "Gramma did a good job on this one and all my friends need to read this!!"
   Thanks!

5 comments about Gratitude: A Daily Journal.

1. Thank you because you put out a lovely journal.But that is it...a journal. I then discovered Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook a great book to start or maintain a life-changing journey. I only wish that you all read and do this workbook. You wil be amazed how different you feel as you practice the recipes in the book. It will change the way you see your world one day at a time. And there is a journal as part of the workbook.



2. Beautiful journal on where to write your thoughts and am using it daily. However, there seems to be so many out there and there are also some included in the books such as Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbookwhich I began with. If you are looking for such a tool this is a wonderful one.



3. I spend about 5 minutes each night writing in this journal- and it completely shifts my energy! Great way to end each day instead of the evening news. This gratitude journal is realistic and do-able, it has just enough room to jot down the 5 things I'm most grateful for that day. I actually find myself held "accountable" by the fact that I don't like seeing a blank date if I happen to miss a day. It's set up so 1 week = 2 pages...but you can start it any time of any year and it's good for a year from then. This journal makes sense and works!
   Thanks Jack and D.D.-I AM GRATEFUL!
   Check out their companion book- best guide to LOA yet.Jack Canfield's Key to Living the Law of Attraction: A Simple Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams



4. I have found it very useful but I could probably do the same in an exercise book for less dollars



5. This book is wonderful it's more detailed it describes in more detail what you need to focus on so you can get what you want

5 comments about The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life.

1. Very sweet good advice you can omly hope people don't have to read it to get it...but a nice read a friendly reminder....he's a SWEET guy and a good writer.



2. After reading other reader reviews, I had high expectations for this book, and had my highlighter ready to highlight! I didn't get much out of this book at all, found very little worth highlighting, and found the stories in the book hollow and forgetful.



3. There is a Japanese word "yasashii" (kind) and I have been looking for its equivalent in English for the longest time because it represents so much of the whole Japanese culture we see and feel. Finally, the search is over. The author spells out what kindness is in 18 different components. I have read the book twice already, and still feel like going back to read it again and again.
   
   I am a student in counseling field and always interested in positive psychology. I think this book is a great combination of traditional psychology, positive psychology and spirituality, which all makes sense in itself. As you can see from the reference list he has at the end of the book, all chapters are drawn from recently clinical research as well as the abundance of his life experience.
   
   It's very easy to read as he puts stories in each chapter. It's rich in teaching, experience and inspiration.



4. i bought this book on a whim. i've read scores of books on emotional control and living up to our potential. this book, as it turns out, is quite practical for those of us who are more, ummm, error prone. it describes, generally, research findings without bogging the reader down in scholarly details. it offers a smattering of stories from various religious traditions that offer examples for us to emulate. written in the tradition of the late, great leo buscaglia, of LOVE fame, this turns out to be one of those half-dozen books that i now keep by my bedside, re-reading a few pages at night or in the morning, to help me to focus on those things that really are the most important things in life. he writes in a fashion that editors like, that pull in the reader, and he not just disseminates lots of facts, but, he inspires us toward acting in a way that propels us to achieve many of our goals. this turns out to be one of the better books that i have read on the topic of emotions and transpersonal psychology. it is highly recommended reading, not just for individuals, but, i wonder, couples, families, or small groups, such as church study groups.



5. The fact that you have looked up this book and are reading the reviews is an excellent sign that you are ready for this book. My challenge is to share my feeling that this is a "wonderful" and "you must read this" book without sounding like another boring cliche. So how can I say this without saying it?
   For me, this book came into my life at just the right time and the right place. It is not a book that just tells you what you already know i.e. that kindness is a good thing and can be fun. However it does remind you of what you already know, but it is written in a way that you feel you are with the author in person and engaged in a deeply meaningful and heart-warming conversation. The feeling is one of peace and a sense of naturalness that "of course this way is so obvious" - no effort, no pushing anything, but just allowing what is within us all to gently emerge from under the layers of life that strangle us all.
   If I am not explaining myself well, ignore the above and just go and buy the book - it's wonderful and a "must read."

5 comments about The Privilege of Youth: A Teenager's Story.

1. this is a good book! i love it when dave sees that boy from the lost boy, and the boy says what you call my sister? then david says a horror? then the boy punches dave, makes his nose bleed, and says, don't you ever, ever, call my sister a whore again! read it if you like dave pelzer as much as me!



2. Read every Dave Pelzer book he writes. He is an exceptional human being. There should be more people like him without having to go through the abuse he endured.



3. I have read A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy, A Man Named Dave and Help Yourself and I must say that this book was not Dave's best work. The writing did not keep me interested as his other books have. While reading this I felt like the passion just wasn't there.



4. This book covers a time that was already written about in The Lost Boy. Despite my love for Dave's other books I think this was an attempt to milk out more money from his already established fans. This book does not give much more information about his life and only a few forgettable fun stories about his teenage years. Don't waste your time on this one, just read the first three.



5. It took a while for me to get my order but the seller was extreamly helpful and answered all my questions very fast. Product is in great shape!! Better then described!!

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul: Inspirational Stories About Horses and the People Who Love Them (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. I like horses, but I had a hard time getting into this book. Some of the stories were better than others. I think two of my favorite stories were the one about the Horse at Harvard and the one about the horses surrounding and protecting the baby. Most of the stories were good. This is a book about true horse stories.



2. This much needed book offers readers an opportunity to feel better connected to their souls and the primal call within to connect to the beauty, strength, freedom and gentleness of not only horses but the Animal Kingdom in general. If you like or love horses, another book is also inspiring: ON THE TRAIL OF THE PONY EXPRESS by Cherokee author Jerry Ellis. He retraced the 2,000 mile route of the Pony Express Trail by horse, foot, covered wagon and canoe. The non-fiction adventure book is filled with the history and spirit of the Pony Express riders who became part of the great American West.



3. This book does the line of Chicken Soup books great justice. A great read whether you love horses or not. The stories will touch everyone's hesrt.



4. As a first time horse owner (I inhereited three in one day at the age of 24) I am constantly looking for ways to expand my knowledge of horses and all things equine-related. This book was not only inspirational, but got me familiar with terms I hadn't used in my every day language until I got my horses. This book made me laugh, sniffle, and nod my head in relation to some of the stories. This is a good book for first time horse owners and not-so-new horse owners.



5. I love, love, love this book. It makes you laugh, cry, get angry, then laugh again all in one story. There were dozens of stories. The only thing I've wondered is that I noticed over 90% of the stories came from professional writers. Were they then true, or did they just tell us a good story? Either way, a must read for any horse lover.

1 comments about Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating People Who Make a Difference: The Headlines Youll Never Read (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. If you've ever run across someone who was thoroughly obnoxious or rude...or someone who had total disregard for the feelings of others...or perhaps someone who seemed to cruelly go out of their way to hurt another person...then this book will remind you there is humanity in the world. Get this book! You'll love it!

5 comments about The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back.

1. As a believer in the process of self-reflective therapy, Flip has provided substantial direction and real-world situations to see that we all have personal areas that keep us from our best. I especiallly appreciated the opportunity and recommendation to take one step at a time and reclaim our best qualities.
   
   The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back
   
   I highly recommend this book for those who have found they have other roads to travel but have made personal road blocks that only the individual can remove.



2. Written by head of The Flippin Group and expert motivational coach Flip Flippen, The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back is a no-nonsense self-help guide to identifying how personal constraints and often unconscious restrictions can hold one back from one's full potential. Breaking free of those restraints and learning to "flip" negative thoughts and behaviors into positive ones form the core of The Flip Side. Negative personality-driven trait types are listed and range from "bulldozers" (too dominant, ignoring all dissenting options) to "marshmallows" (too nurturing, avoiding conflict at the expense of their happiness) and "quick draws" (too impulsive, with poor self-control). A readily accessible guide to improving one's strengths through recognizing and turning around one's weaknesses.



3. I was walking through the book store a few weeks ago and saw The Flip Side on display. I was astonished to discover the author was my first boyfriend!
   
   I bought the book because Flip wrote it. I was so delighted to discover that it offered insightful, practical advice on how to overcome my personal constraints to become the person I have always wanted to be.
   
   The stories Flip relates reveal his warm, loving and humorous personality. He is open and honest with us about himself and his own life and encourages us to do the same thing with ours.
   
   Flip's book is not just another self-help one that will gather dust on your bookshelf. He offers a plan based on his 30+ years of counseling experience with the tools to implement change in your life....if you just do it! It worked for him and it is working for me.
   
   Thanks, Flip, for showing up in my life again in such a truly miraculous way!



4. Talking about capitalizing on a name... :) The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back by Flip Flippen. This was a book I picked up on in one of the personal productivity blogs I follow, and it is one of the most practical, easy-to-understand books on personal change that I've read recently. Even better, he goes into how *you* can react and respond more effectively to each personality type. And trust me, you'll find your problem coworker/friend/acquaintance in here with no problem. :)
   
   Part 1 - Understanding Personal Constraints: Something Is Holding You Back; The Foundations of OPC (Overcoming Personal Constraints); The Five Laws of Personal Constraints; Overview - The Top 10 Killer Constraints
   Part 2 - Identifying Personal Constraints: #1 - Bulletproof (Overconfident); #2 - Ostriches (Low Self-Confidence); #3 - Marshmallows (Overly Nurturing); #4 - Critics (Too Demanding, Nitpicky, or Harsh); #5 - Icebergs (Low Nurturing); #6 - Flatliners (Low Passion, Vision, or Drive); #7 - Bulldozers (Overly Dominant); #8 - Turtles (Resistant to Change); #9 - Volcanoes (Aggressive, Angry); #10 - Quick Draw (Low Self-Control, Impulsive)
   Part 3 - Overcoming Personal Constraints: Building Your TrAction Plan; Constraints Are Personal - My Story; Personal-Constraint Combinations; OPC Starts at Home; OPC in the Workplace; Personal Constraints and Culture; Listening to What Others Say - The Power of Honest Feedback
   Conclusion - Raised in Captivity; Next Steps; Acknowledgments; Index
   
   I'm sure glad I don't have any of these... NOT! :)
   
   Each of the constraint chapters uses a couple of examples (some historical, some personal from the author's work) to show how a particular trait can play out and limit one's effectiveness. This is followed by the "Are You ..." checklist, which has 10 questions you can ask yourself to see where you fall in terms of that constraint. If you're on the high end of the scale, you'll be interested in the "So I'm ... Help Me!" section that follows. That's where Flippen lays out specific actions you can take to change this part of your behavior. Even better, that section is followed by a "How Can I Deal With A ... Person?". That's where you get to find out what types of communication and actions you can take to make your interactions with that personality type go better. The goal isn't to change them (although that would be nice), but it's more like survival skills so you don't get caught in the debris and aftermath of their limitations.
   
   And in case you're wondering, I have marshmellow-y tendencies with a little flatliner and turtle thrown in...
   
   I think that any book that helps you categorize or examine your behaviors can have a positive influence. The Flip Side seems to work better than most in that you don't have to struggle to see yourself or others in the scenarios, and the advice and actions are concrete and do-able. If you're looking to kick things up another level in your life (or avoid kicking someone else in frustration), I'd recommend this book...



5. Over the past 30 years I have read many, many self help books and it appears that within the structure of general self help books most authors tend to stroll down one of two comfort paths: One path tends to be ego laden within the authors own expertise and intentions with little acknowledgment to other possibilities or solutions. If the author did not experience it, then it must not exist and we are pulled down a path of only the author's view or adaption, hence we are held to the author's own growth pattern with little glimpse of anything else. The second and more common path is written in a way as to keep the own author's behavior away from the direction of the book as if their own character could flaw the outcome of the book's message or purpose. An example would be an author who knows how to schedule their time accurately and conveys it eloquently with active experiences and involvement but distances them self from other areas of the book when their own flaws are in conflict with their message. In other words, we like or adapt to the book based on the working principles and descriptions used in the book without much connection to the actual author. I think our parents said it best with: "Do as I say and not as I do."
   Here is a book that takes a different path; a book written in authenticity as the author uses his own history and working principles to convey who he is and with total acceptance and intention that we probably are not like him. This book is not hypothetical but instead uses real experiences and examples covering each principle or point completely. This might be the only motivational book I have read in over 5 years that does not use any inspirational quotes and I can understand why because most books need additional validity from a third party to make them influential or believable, whereas this book stands on its own with sound principles and examples. To write in this manner takes a special person who can convey them self soulfully and openly and still stay true to their intended path.
   This book is written about constraints that limit our daily lives and how to realistically reduce or eliminate them in a simplified manner. I do not believe someone can appreciate the methods or principles of this book without reading the book completely as each constraint is structured to exemplify the others. Not only are we informed on how to deal with our own constraints but we are also led to understand the limiting constraints in others, making us better leaders, managers, spouses etc. As the author honestly conveys his own constraints, we also gain a better insight of his own style of writing and can utilize these understandings to gain a better knowledge making this book a "Catch 22" with a positive ending. To not grow from this book is to ignore the very principles illustrated and clarified completely to our benefit. I see the possibility of not only improving my own limitations but to be a better communicator and interpreter from each constraint and behavioral example. I must confess that I found the first half of this book average and not until I discovered all of the constraints and their limitations did I come to really appreciate the author and find my own limiting thoughts that withheld valuable information from me. I found that the book was written exactly as it is because this is who the author is and it is up to me to interpret it accordingly. Thank you for this array of valuable insights.

No comments about Motivation: Biological, Psychological, and Environmental (2nd Edition).

5 comments about Teaspoon of Courage: A Little Book of Encouragement for Whenever You Need It.

1. Love the book. The author has a way of getting you to smile.



2. I loved the pictures and the captions fit so perfectly.
   If you love animals,you will love this book.
   A great gift for someone going through somewhat trying times.



3. Courage is dissected and made easy in this text. A poem at the end of the book should be memorized by all.



4. This is a wonderful book to read when you are feeling like life is too much! The pictures will put a smile on your face along with the words underneath.



5. Great book for anyone who is a bit down or has lost a loved one...

5 comments about Fat, Broke & Lonely No More: Your Personal Solution to Overeating, Overspending, and Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.

1. Victoria Moran certainly has a way with her writing style, injecting humor and an understanding of her subject matter into the book. However, there wasn't much 'new' information in her book.
   
   I did like how she presented the information in her book so it was a good read, but as far as picking up any new insights, well, there really weren't any.



2. I originally bought this book for a friend as a joke because she was, as the title describes, fat, broke, and lonely. But since her birthday was 2 weeks away I thought I would "browse" through it. Well, I ended up reading it, and loving it. Then went out and bought myself another one of Victoria's books, Younger By The Day. It is equally inspiring. I highly recommend her work!



3. I saw Victoria speak at Vegetarian Summerfest 2007. I knew I needed to get one of her books. This was a quick read with tons of useful information. You can tell Victoria has professional and personal experience with being fat, broke and lonely. I recommend this to all my clients.



4. Get ready to make a positive change in your life when you read this practical book. I was moved by Victoria's witty observations of life and her findings about what makes us fat, broke and lonely. No, it's not the food we eat, although that is important for good health. It's not willpower, although you can use what little you have of that commodity to make small changes each day. It's not having tons of money, although money can be used to appreciate who you are right now. It's the attitude we have about our life and our body that either makes or breaks us. Comparing ourselves to others and trying to measure up usually serves to make us aware that we are inferior or short of our ideal; and that only makes us feel worse.
   
   There is a way to break the cycle with the trio of fat, broke & lonely and embrace a new outlook on life that brings you joy and fulfillment in every area. Moran tells us exactly how to do it and she is the expert. She's been there, done that, and got the tee shirt (or book in this case) to prove it.
   
   This book is not your run-of-the-mill self-help book. This book is your friend helping you discover that YOU are your OWN best friend. This book can make a difference in the way you look and feel about yourself! In it, you will discover why it's important to treat every moment of your life as if it were art. You will also learn how to see the whole canvas.
   
   Hear an interview I conducted with Victoria Moran about this book on Writers in the Sky podcast at [...]



5. This book is about living your best life NOW. It encourages self love, and if you are the type of person that always does nice things for everyone else and not for yourself, this book explains how you can (and should) treat yourself as well as you treat others. If you can send flowers to a friend for her birthday, there is no reason why you can't send yourself flowers as well to celebrate your special day. Stop waiting for that special time to use the good china and use it NOW. Stop waiting until you lose the weight in order to get pampered at the spa---DO IT NOW!!! Live in the NOW, because if you don't, your whole life will have passed you by while you were sitting there waiting for it to start.