2 comments about Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter.

1. This book is the perfect tool for parenting young girls. It is a common sense approach to helping our girls navigate through the rough waters of growing up and teaching them not to grow up too soon. Our children are constantly bombarded with lies from our culture and this Christian based book helps parents take control of teaching our girls to grow up in a Godly way. Much research was done for this book and the statistics she quotes will make you realize how culture has fooled our girls into believing and doing unthinkable things at such young ages. As in all of Vicki Courtney's books, you will find direction, support and comfort in parenting the right way, not the worldly way. Read this book and read it soon... no parent who takes a sincere interest in raising Godly women will want to parent one minute without it.



2. Reading this book has not only opened my eyes to the huge lies that society is forcing down our throats; but it has helped me to realize that I have been involved in teaching them to my own daughter! Mostly because I, too, have believed many of these lies; however, now that I see the truth, I am thankful that my own daughters are young enough that I can train them up in the ways of the Lord and teach them to save themselves--physically and emotionally--for a man who deserves them!
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone with daughters and even to any female at all; undoubtedly, all females are helping to shape the lives of young girls around them. Whether they be neighbors, church members, neices or friend's daughters, this book is a clear, concise explanation of what has happened to society over the years, and further--how we can improve it!

5 comments about Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves: Transforming Parent-child Relationships from Reaction And Struggle to Freedom, Power And Joy.

1. I have read and reread this amazing book "Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves" so many times and have found it to be such a wonderful resource as I strive to be the best parent I can be. To be able to figure out myself as a parent first and why I act/respond the way I do, and then to apply that to the way I raise my child is truly a gift. And that is what this book is to me - an incredible gift that is changing myself, my marriage and my child's life as I can choose to parent him differently than I was raised. I was so impressed with Naomi's insights in this book, that I also bought her CD's for my husband so he can share in this rich knowledge for himself in the car on his way to and from work. He now wants to buy these for his dad friends as every day he walks in the door, he has some new information to share with me or to demonstrate with our son that makes our home such a happy place to be a child AND a parent.
   
   Naomi has it right - parenting is no longer a struggle if you understand yourself first, and the way you were parented, and then you will be able to have your blinders removed to parent your children with joy and peace instead of the struggle we are falsely led to believe parenting is simply about. I wish every parent chould have access to such amazing insight in helping to change the world one parent and child at a time!



2. Aldort's book is far enough outside the accepted norm for parenting that I wish she had spent more time in the text making the TRANSLATION between what people CURRENTLY practice and what she is INVITING them to practice. There is too much wisdom here for her to be dismissed because her perspective is so different from traditional approaches.
   
   Apart from this criticism, however, the book is quite readable and what she recommends operationalizes for parents in modern times (among other things)the "turn the other cheek" sensibility of ancient wisdom.



3. I am a twenty year old college student and I was amazed at how much I learned about myself from this book. Not only did it help me understand my parents, it helped me analyze myself and the effects my parents have had on me, and how they contiune to effect me even in my early years of adulthood. It also prepared me for the time when I will have children, and have helped me deal with children at the day care center I work. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to look into themselves and figure out who they are.



4. For years I thought I was being kind and gentle when I guided my children with gentle discipline and consequences. I always wished they would just do as they are told, and behave well without my gentle coercion but didn't know it was actually possible. Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves has given me the permission and the tools to really connect with my children and understand why they do what they do. With that understanding, I always find solutions that do not require control or coercion. The result is so amazing. They actually changed. They actually stopped hitting and defiance and are now cooperating because they see that I am on their side. They don't have the need to go against me any more. It is a miracle.
   
   If you want peace and happiness with your children, read this book. I am buying it for my sister and for all my friends.



5. I'll start by saying I'm halfway through the book, and intend to finish it. I'll also qualify that I am not yet a parent, but am reading up for impending parenthood. :o)
   
   This book seemed to me to be both extremely great in some places, and utterly ridiculous in others. (In fact, in all my years of bulk orders from Amazon, it is the first book to motivate me to write a review, I think in part because its so puzzlingly good and bad at the same time!!!) I LOVE the major premises of the book: letting go of the assumptions about power, coercion and control in parenting, avoiding punitive techniques, and creating a "working with" approach to parenting. I agree generally with the moral/ethical imperative of honoring our children, viewing them as separate and complete beings and respecting/validating them at every opportunity possible. I recently finished three of Alfie Kohn's books (Punished by Rewards -- which I recommend reading 1st, Unconditional Parenting, and Beyond Discipline) and I was desperate for more resources in his line of parenting.
   
   I really appreciate Naomi Aldort's efforts, and I agree with her starting points, but I felt there were several things a miss.
   1. The book, despite clean layout and subtitles, feels a bit unfocused. Often her points repeat, overlap, and get a bit fuzzy. I even felt like there were times where she seemed to be vaguely contradicting herself (IE, parents need to honor their own needs, but in the end, parents needs aren't ever legitimate, they're "mind chatter" that aren't part of the authentic self). I question whether or not children -- in Aldort's view -- ever have "inauthentic" needs as well. At times her examples imply they do, but that these inauthentic needs will somehow be easy to spot and sort through. I'm just not convinced its thats simple.
   
   2. There were several underlying theoretical views that this book never really addresses. I'm in academia and tend to prefer an open disclosure of where the author is coming from in the get go. Though she made it clear that she comes from a non-punitive, child-as-equal stance, she never really explains what she means by "authentic", "needs", "mind chatter", "true self", "god and/or nature" etc. She uses these words, and contextually they make some sense, but they carry a specific way of viewing the world, and rest on a number of assumptions that she never really clarifies. (IE, that there is indeed an "authentic" vs. an "inauthentic" version of the self. To me, this seemed like a way of disowning parts of ourselves we don't like by claiming they "aren't really who you are". I'd much rather a book imply that these parts of ourselves that formed for various reasons from our own lives / childhoods, and need changing). These unclear positions on greater issues like human nature, the self, god/nature, etc. kept distracting me from her points, and ultimately felt a bit like psuedo-science/ feel-good self-help.
   
   3. I was really excited when I ordered the book because she has a PhD, and I expected her position to be well-outlined with research. Kohn's books (listed above) are an EXEMPLARY mix of research, logic, personal anecdotes, and vision. To me, Naomi Aldort's book felt mostly like a vision with frequent sweeping statements that should have been qualified by some research. IE - "Co-sleeping can cure and prevent many emotional maladies for humans of all ages...". (I agree with the AP parenting style and plan to co-sleep, but these statements don't have a place without at least a Sears source or something!). Aldort did include ample anecdotal scenarios throughout her book, but like others, I found a lot of these to sound suspiciously Brady Bunch. And anecdotes should usually be viewed critically, since obviously the author isn't going to include ones that don't strengthen her stance.
   
   4. I took a bit of issue with how often the child's needs seem to not only command respect, acknowledgment from the parent and accommodation in most instances (check, check, I agree...), but Aldort also seems to imply that nothing is negotiable. There seemed to be some unexamined premise in her work that, "Yea, its fine if you have to do everything for your child, because EVENTUALLY, they'll learn that servantude is love and respectfully help you. But don't expect it." I think children do learn by modeling, but practically speaking, parents still need to be able to negotiate and cooperate in some instances. I can't agree to serve my child's every wish for fear I'm depriving them of a need. Is it possible that modeling hand and foot service around the home does something other than model love? Such as how to give over yourself entirely and forget your own needs, for instance? I want my (future) children to understand what it means to actively WORK WITH people, not just be served and (if all goes well to Aldort's plan) serve unabashedly back. Love can be demonstrated in respectful validation, cooperation, accommodation, and gentle compromise. Service is not the only way we can demonstrate unconditional love.
   
   So that's where I've fallen on the book so far. Other readers have said to push through to the end, and I intend to do just that. I've also seen others suggest her tapes over the book, and I may look into that as well. I strongly recommend Kohn's work, and will be chasing up his sources. (Note, he has a whopping 40 pages of references in the Punished by Rewards book, which could be taken much more seriously than Aldort's -- even though they share many touchstones).

5 comments about Grandma, Tell Me Your Memories.

1. I do not like the size or design of these books. They are extremely small and are not made of a material that will stand up to years of wear and tear.



2. I started by buying these books for my parents to fill out for me. I loved reading their responses. I learned many things about my parents that I didn't know before. It also sparked conversations with them about additional stories.
   
   Now that I have children, I'm buying these books for me and (the grandparent ones) for my parents to fill out for them. And buying them as gifts for new parents.
   
   Regarding the comments that there isn't a lot of room to write...The pages are small, but there are only a few pages that you would get that lengthy on your stories. You can always attach in an additional sheet of paper to continue your story.



3. This is one of the best little books that I've seen in a long time. I thought it was larger judging from the picture, but after examining it closer, it's the perfect size. I'm having such fun recalling long past memories to share with my grandchildren. I bought 2 books, one for my husband too, he'll have to give his own review, he does think they're great little books. I hope the grandchildren will treasure them, I wish there had been something like this for me from my grandparents, I never had the pleasure of knowing them, I feel it's such a loss.



4. This is a wonderful gift to give a new or current grandmother, or even as a gift to a grandchild (after adding to it of course). Basically, this book contains many questions and pages for Grandma to answer and pass down to her grandkids. It's something the grandkids can read whenever and get a great understanding of the person their grandmother is. It might seem a little morbid at first, but having something written down is a great suppliment to all the great times the child will have with his grandmother. Please note, however, that in order to get hundreds of memories into one small spiral bound paperback book, it is not as substantial and sturdy as some of the other memory books. Though I think it is a good trade-off.



5. (review written by Nick's wife) I came across these memory books in a parenting magazine and loved the idea of having my children's grandparents fill them out. I even bought some for my grandparents to fill out for me.
   
   After searching through everything Amazon has to offer, I ended up purchasing a variety of books. I bought Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Tell Me Your Memories. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I really didn't think they would all be the same with a different cover page as they are. I was really disappointed in the size of the books. They are 4" x 5.5" with a 1" spiral binding. Each is about 1" thick. It is laid out for a full calendar year - each day having a different question or memory for the person do write about. The pages have a question at the top and are blank (no lines) below.
   
   The other books I decided to purchase are: A Grandparent's Legacy and Memories for My Grandchild. A Grandparent's Legacy is laid out month-by-month with topics to discuss. The book measures 8" x 5" with a nice covered spiral binding and is about .75" thick. Each page has topics to discuss and lines for writing. Memories for My Grandchild has the most flexible layout - meaning there is no guide for filling things out at a certain time. It is also the largest book, measuring about 8" x 10" and just less than 1" thick. It has a covered spiral binding. This is the only book with a pocket in the back to drop in any special items and a pull-out page to fill in the family tree. The pages in this book are lined as well.
   
   The books all cover similar questions and memories. I haven't gone page-by-page to compare, but have been pleased with what I've seen so far. Since the books are so similar, I'm basing my overall opinion on the appearance. My favorite would have to be A Grandparent's Legacy.

5 comments about Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children.

1. I loved this book, it was really beautifully written, Sarah has a lovely style of writing. Her own personal stories were my favourite parts of the book but this book is much more about how to enrich our everyday lives with buddhism. The principles are outlined simply and applied to the painfully banal trials of parenting with compassion and humour. Forget any religious leanings, I recommend this book to all mothers.



2. I am not a Buddhist, although there is much about the religion that I think can help us in everyday life. I picked up this book more for the tips on parenting than to learn more about Buddhism. For this reason I only skimmed through the initial and final chapters which are more about Buddhism, and concentrated on the segments in the middle.
   
   What I particularly like about this book is that is very upfront about how difficult and lonely parenting can sometimes feel. Sarah Napthali (and the other women whom she quotes) are very frank about the times when they've been angry with their children or partners, when they've felt depressed or anxious or when they just fail to enjoy parenting as much as they'd like to. It's clear that being a Buddhist doesn't mean that you never feel these difficult emotions, just that you work on not giving in to them. Because this book is written in such an unjudgemental and empathetic way, I found it very inspiring. I think this should be required reading for every mother!
   
   My only critique really is that the book is too topline. Although Napthali does give a handy list of techniques to help you parent in a more calm way, I found that some of them were more headlines than how to-s. The book also includes a chapters on topics like concerns about ageing and relationships with your partner and while these were interesting I would have preferred her to spend more time on parenting issues.
   
   Nevertheless, it's a fabulous book to keep on your bedside table. I liked to read a few pages and reflect back at the end of the day.



3. Buddism for Mothers is fantastic for keeping you grounded. Its honesty is refreshing as it feels like I am talking to a girlfriend. We can all relate to the bad days and not handling situations as well as we should have. Buddism for Mothers has lifted my spirit, given me courage to keep going when I thought I couldn't and confirmed that I am a good person doing the best I can in a difficult job. I have recommended this book to older women, friends with kids and to a friend that doesn't have children yet. The advice is practical, helpful,insightful and empowering.



4. Wow! At last! Someone finally has the guts to tell all. Being a foreigner in the USA, I often find that women are very socially conditioned, they too often do not speak their mind, but instead stick to revealing only that which is socially acceptable. Very frustrating! The minute I opened this book, I felt one with Sarah. In such a gentle yet wise way she is so open about her shortcomings, feelings and experiences - it was as if I myself were writing this book. Amazing! And for anyone looking to explore Buddhism, this is such an informative non-lecturing gentle approach. I would recommend this book to any mother, regardless of religion or faith. It is the most compelling motherhood and mothering book I have ever bought and am already ordering copies for others that I know!



5. This book is so wonderful and can be applied to all relationships in your life. I couldn't wait to put the principals into practice!! It really is a wonderful book for all religions. I am Christian and never learned any of this stuff. EVERYONE should have knowledge of this info. Absolutely by far the best self-help book I have read!

5 comments about Father's First Steps: 25 Things Every New Dad Should Know.

1. My husband was very nervous anticipating the arrival of our first child. A few friends had bought him some other books however he did not read one. I believe this was because each had to be at least 300 plus pages and this was intimidating. This book is an easy read but consise. I would recommend this book to anyone with a husband needing a little assurance that they will be a good dad - just need to be themselves.



2. I bought this for my husband. We are new parents. I'm reading it now. It's wonderful. I learned so many great & useful tips from this little book. It is succinct & very well written; it's even humorous at times. I would recommend this book to new moms & dads.



3. I bought this book for my husband in anticipation of our first baby, and I think I'm getting as much out of it as he is! Lots of great, practical advice in short, readable chapters. It provides dads-to-be with coping strategies for everything from fussy babies to overexcited mothers and mothers-in-law, and encourages them to play an equal role in the process from day one. I found it to be very helpful in getting a glimpse of the father's possible mindset- how he might feel, react, and how to best share the joys of parenting. 5 stars!



4. My husband was a little leery of sitting through reading the "typical" baby books together. But, he really liked the approach these authors took - they pride themselves on trying to be funny, but the information is very valuable. We like the "hands-on" approach they recommend with newborns, and my husband has even marked pages for future reference, especially regarding the hospital stay and the importance of personal contact. He's already recommended this to friends, so I guess it goes without saying that "Yes, we'd recommend this to others." We're posting this review as we put their next book in our shopping cart.



5. I bought this for my husband because it was a small, fairly quick reading book with good information. Not that he's a bad reader, or a poor reader. I just assumed most dads aren't so much into reading about parenting. He actually read and enjoyed it! And I was glad he did :) We also have the one for mothers...another great book!

2 comments about The Position Sex Bible: More Positions Than You Could Possibly Imagine Trying.

1. Great pics and details, fun to use. The checklist at the end helps with motivation....



2. This position book has a ton of great ideas for you and your mate to try. And they're easily understood as the author of this book took time to explain things. I'd say it's the best on the subject I've seen. I also liked Sex Machine: A Man's Guide to What Really Pleases a Woman in Bed for more instruction.

4 comments about Testosterone for Life: Recharge Your Vitality, Sex Drive, Muscle Mass, and Overall Health.

1. Insight into malaise for the 50+year old man. Good anecdotal and practical discussion with an optimistic view to the future.



2. I have been reading books on Low T and this is the best by far! It is clear and concise with real life examples you can relate to. Exactly what the doctor ordered.



3. I just purchased this product three days ago and I found it so intriguing that I managed to finish the book already. This is a bigger deal than it seems because I read very slowly. It truely changed the way I view the aging process and no longer fear it. Thanks Dr. Morgentaler!



4. Dr. Morgentaler will ease any fears you have about supplementing with testosterone under a doctor's care. He explodes the myth that testosterone causes prostate cancer and suggests that it might actually be low testosterone that causes prostate cancer. There are a few people who should not supplement with testosterone but then I'd have to recreate the entire book to tell you who they are. Rather than having me recreate the entire book I'd suggest you read it yourself. It's an easy read (not too technical for the layman)and very informative.

5 comments about Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56.

1. TEACH LIKE YOUR HAIR'S ON FIRE was our book club's recent selection. Several members are retired teachers, and were stupified at the amount of time the author devotes to his class... and somewhat skeptical. Those of us who aren't teachers found literally dozens of fascinating, practical tips about interacting with children in a variety of situations... travel, reading, character development, dining, finances... This is a terrific book, not only because it paints a fantastic picture of possibilities and change, but also because it is infused with such enthusiasm.



2. Here is to a tremendous book. I got this book because it looked interesting and I was curious to read about a real life teacher in LA (for a great movie, see "Stand and Deliver"). This guy is amazing. My wife also read this book and was very impressed. It is a quick read (200+ pages) and very entertaining.
   
   The first book describes the behavior this teacher is able to instill in his kids and his goals in doing so. The next part deals with how to teach certain subjects and make it interesting. I was blown away. I loved it. This guy is a genius.
   
   This book is terrific for anyone raising kids and especially for teachers (at any level - church, elementary, middle, high, workplace, etc.). The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I wanted it to be longer. Please, enjoy this book!



3. Although I'm aware of a recent strike on some brazilian postal services, I'm concerned about the delay on the delivery of the 2 books I bought through this site. I'd appreciate if you could give me some inoformation on when or how I could get them.
   Thank you.
   Vanessa



4. This is seriously one of the best books I've ever read. I bought a second one for my best friend as soon as I finished reading it the first time.



5. I admire the accomplishments of the author. As a fellow educator, I enjoy learning about teachers who teach "outside of the box". I recommend this book. I read another review that asked about a book that answered how the "average" teacher can inspire, etc. The book Edu-lution is a must for you.

5 comments about This Charming Man: A Novel.

1. Unlike some of the readers that seem confused and frustrated by the first chapter of the book, I actually really enjoyed it. It is supposed to be the inner monologue of a depressed tired angry and sad woman that just got booted out of a bad relationship. The fact that sentences are fragmented and erratic actually brings you into the character's mindframe that much faster and adds humor and color to what would otherwise be whining and boring. I actually like her last two books better than any of the rest (with the exception of the other side of the story which was great too). The characters finally have more than one dimention and the multiple narrative makes a book about love and relationships stand out amongst a sea of similar books.



2. This book certainly covers some heavy topics, but I was eager to steal opportunities to keep reading this engaging book. I had a hard time putting it down and I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. I recommend this one!



3. This is an extraordinary novel which tackles rough and serious subjects such as domestic violence, alcoholism, rape, and sexual perversions. Marian Keyes is not only a great writer, she is also an artist who paints her characters in a warm hearted light and with very humane and lovingly realistic characteristics, but above all she can paint them with a touch of self deprecation and lightheartedness that let her readers read on without feeling absolutely taken aback or shocked beyond reason which makes her novels palatable and 200% unique.
   I have read absolutely every single one of Marian's books and I wish to God I could someday meet her in person because she must be incredible adorable and fun even in the darkest hours. What an exemplary writer for us all.
   
   "This Charming man" is a book which brings us four voices; four women who have loved the same man at one point or another in their lives and who have been permanently marked and damaged because of loving him utterly and beyond reason. Who is this man you might ask yourself, well you will meet heartthrob Paddy de Courcy, aka the JFK Jr. of Ireland who is hailed to be the political savior of the country and who is and always will be a savagely sexy and persuasive man who always gets what he wants until our four women gather forces against him.
   We meet Lola Daly first and foremost, she is a stylist with purple highlights (Molichino is the color she always claims she has) who's voice is presented to us in the style of a diary or journal and which is written in a type of short hand which makes it extremely funny, and I mean laugh out loud funny, to hear her out. Lola was checking eBid for a handbag when she learns that her relationship with Paddy is over... De Courcy to Wed is the headline and her shock is just heartbreaking. I loved Lola the most for her openness and flat out vulnerability.
   Then we meet Grace Gildee, the strong willed and sensible reporter who is one of the first to know, what with working in a newspaper when word came in from a political correspondent. She kept her cool and acted as the true professional she has always been.
   Next comes Marnie Hunter, Grace's twin sister who is always depressed, feeling down and under, and who harbors suicidal thoughts and tendencies using alcohol to numb her pain and her sorrows.
   Finally interspersed in bits and pieces in this story is Alicia Thornton, Paddy's horse faced new fiancée.
   
   "This Charming Man" is really extraordinary and unlike anything Keyes has written before. She's tackled tough subjects in the past, it's true, but the devastating and heinous nature of the depraved acts of violence and degradation described in this book take her storytelling to a new level.
   The storyline is exciting and fast paced and it has a wonderfully cohesive plot that comes together through the four very real and flawed characters.
   
   A must read for everyone out there. You will simply love it as much as I did; it's impossible to put down... I even feel like reading it all over again this is how much I found it delectable.



4. I love Marion Keyes, but I cannot get past the first chapter! How in the world is anyone expected to like some girl that talks or even thinks in this way?? It's like reading someone that is speaking in baby talk. I cannot like the character, so how can I like the book? I'm going to keep reading, simply because my sister said it is worth it, but it's hard to keep reading with all it's doing is annoying the life out of you. PLEASE never write in this style again. It's painful to read this chopped and screwed verbage. I am so disappointed in this book. I just cannot say how much Lola annoys me. I promise, it's like listening to a 3 year old. I'm truly hoping it gets better, but the book is horrible so far.



5. I love Marian Keyes and always will, so I was pumped to see she had another book out. I was disappointed in her last book (Anybody Out There?) and looked forward to this one.
   
   Per usual, it was funny and sharp with the right mix of serious subject matter and girly fun. But I felt like the first third was a bit off. I got irritated with the lack of pronouns in the Lola sections (it felt gimmicky, and gimmicky is beneath the fabulous Ms. Keyes.)
   
   But when things started to gel, it was a real page-turner. I wish I could understand how all those women from all those different walks of life would fall for this loser with puffy hair, but hey, it's Marian Keyes - - I'll take her word for it.
   
   Not my favorite, but by no means one to overlook.

5 comments about Getting the Love You Want Workbook: The New Couples' Study Guide.

1. I am only writing this to warn others you'll need the other book to be able to use this workbook. I don't have the other book so I have not been able to use any of the workbook.



2. Harville Hendricks has provided a clear and easily followed outline for couples to follow as they work on their marriage. It teaches effective communication which is the foundation of a successful marriage. I heartily endorse this book.



3. I have studied and practiced several models for couples counseling and this one by Hendrix is by far the best. Make sure to read the book as well.



4. The philosophy of relationships that Dr. Haskill has developed is well researched and eye opening. The excersizes in the workbook are useful tools for willing couples to use to find a deeper understanding of themselves and better communication.
   However, the workbook is not necessary if you buy the book "Getting the Love you want;" you can use your own notebook to do the sessions which comprise section 3 of the book, as well as the workbook.
   I do highly recommend this item, for anyone who believes that the answer to trouble in a love relationship is not to abandon the loved one but to first resolve the issues that have surfaced. The author has really hit on something.



5. I would recommend "Getting the Love You Want" and the companion workbook to any couple who wants to strengthen their relationship.
   Also I is a good match with the book I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't