5 comments about Changing Bodies, Changing Lives: Expanded Third Edition: A Book for Teens on Sex and Relationships.

1. I was very disapointed with the book. Expanded third edition was deceiving because I thought it was new - my oversight. The book is out of date - I oversee a Center that teaches sex education and this was not helpful.



2. This is a primer for younger teenagers. It is well written, although it needs to be updated in 2006. It is a textbook more than a think piece. It is a good starter book for parents and younger teenagers.



3. A great resource for teens, but the pictures are a bit dated. An updated edition is in need. However, the information is still relevant and necessary for all teens.



4. I have given this book to a dozen teens over the years. I wish I had access to this information while going through such a confusing time. Besides, would you rather them gather answers to all those questions through TV and friends??



5. I purchased several books for my teen, and this one was one that didn't interest her as much - but I have learned a lot from it! It has a lot of insight into the teen mind, and as much as we think we remember what it was like to be a teen, it's easy to forget about all the fears and insecurities they have. I highly recommend this book as a refresher course for parents of teens. My teen preferred the perspectives offered in the books Cycle Savvy and S.E.X. for information that pertained to her.

5 comments about Tempted.

1. It is a tale about Anne and James Kinney. They are happily married. Anne and James have a great sex life that many would envy but it seems that there might be something missing. Alex Kenndy is James's best friend. He has been living in Singapore and is now coming back to the States for a visit. Alex will be staying with James and Anne. Anne has never really gotten to know Alex and is not sure what she thinks about him watching her with a look of lust. Besides what would James think if he knew his best friend was eyeing his wife. As it seems James doesn't mind. When Anne is given the chance to spice things up with two men will she give into temptation or pass it up?
   
   Let me first off start by saying that Tempted is a very tasteful erotic novel by Megan Hart. Tempted shows that even the most perfect couples can fall victim to desires. I thought Anne was a great character as she showed emotions, conflict, and love. Also for me Anne seemed to be the strongest one in the book but at the same time James and Alex were able to compliment her, so that the story line was believable. Tempted was my first novel by Megan Hart. It was a good, quick read. I would check out other books by Megan Hart. So with this being said if you enjoy erotic novels or are willing to give them a try than check out Tempted.



2. I have been reading the Blaze romance series frequently for the last year, I think I ended up in a whole new league. I bought this book when it was on sale because the cover interested me, two guesses why! Does the book have sex? Yes! But it is not just about sex through the whole book, but relationships. It deals with the consequences of bringing in a third person into the bed. I could not put this book down and it created a sleepless night for me. I read the whole thing last night. Now, I am ready for another!



3. This book had me hooked I couldn't put it down. I was wanting to know what happened next to Anne and her family issues.



4. Anne Kinney loves her husband, James, and for all intents and purposes everything appears perfect. Yet after seven years of marriage she still can't believe that life with him is real. Yes, she answers to his last name, wears his ring, cleans his house, and makes his dinner, and while during these inane tasks her marriage feels as real as ever, she still has her doubts.
   
   Growing up, Anne's mother was never openly loving while her father submerged himself nightly in an alcoholic haze. Sometimes he threatened suicide by locking himself alone with a gun, crying in his quest to end things
   
   Anne's three younger sisters have issues of their own. Patricia's marriage is on the rocks with her husband committing financial infidelity. Mary is a closet lesbian while Claire, if she were being paid for her services, could be called a whore.
   
   Enter Alex Kennedy, James' long lost best friend. After spending the last several years in Singapore, Alex is invited by James to spend the summer months with him and Anne. A wealthy, self-made man, Alex is an enigma to Anne upon his arrival. Gorgeous and dripping with charm, Anne doesn't quite know how to feel about his presence in her home. Firstly, James acts differently. Already described as a flitting butterfly, bouncing from one focus to another, Alex has his complete and nearly undivided attention. Secondly, there is alcohol. Given Anne's past, she understandably has an aversion to alcohol and its effects. She doesn't say no to its consumption nor its presence in her home but she's irritated and quiet when James has been consuming. With Alex there, James seems to be drinking more. And thirdly, Alex is slowly seducing Anne with her husband's approval.
   
   There is a turning point the book that really struck me. Just before Anne agrees to have sex with James and Alex, she says to herself that a simple no would have saved them all a lot of heartache but the temptation of having the two beautiful men is just too hard to resist. Thus Anne dives head first into what turns out to be a very complicated relationship.
   
   Anne loves James, and she often monologues to herself as though trying to remind and ingrain that fact into her heart, yet the unthinkable but inevitable happens. Anne falls in love with Alex. He gets her, not only her heart but her body as well, and as no man has ever gotten her before, even James. And although she has her husband's permission to have sex with his best friend, she does not have permission to fall in love and the guilt weighs heavily on her.
   
   There is no sex scene like the Megan Hart sex scene. It feels so realistic and true to life. Sex is messy, even more so with a third addition. It's not perfectly choreographed like the movies but its still beautiful and pleasurable. Anne's thoughts and feelings are truly human. And while other reviews pointed out the tragedy and grimness of the novel, I found that what Hart was portraying was life, not fantasy. She exams the effects of a married couple inviting a third to their bed and how even with the best intentions, hearts get broken.
   
   Anne, so outwardly perfect in the beginning, sheds her image of perfection and shows the world who she really is at her core. Secrets are uncovered. Hearts are broken. And I was on pins and needles, wondering what Anne's last move would be. Would she leave James and her perfect life to be with Alex? Alex, who makes her feel so different, so unencumbered with the trials and tribulations of family and history. Or would she stay with James and work on their marriage that while good was never truly strong? Could Anne stop trying to please everyone and finally stand up for herself and what she wants?
   
   'Tempted' is life and what life would be like if there was suddenly three instead of one. I only had one problem with the story and unfortunately if I told, it would be a major spoiler but suffice it to say I didn't like the ending. I respected Anne's decision and it concurred with my moral values but I didn't like the way she handled it. In that regards, I though there was a major conversation that happened between Anne and James that was not written into the story and I think that I as a reader would have better understood how Anne came to the decision and did what she did with Alex. For that I have to rate the book 4 stars.



5. When I first started reading, the plot and the male characters were all very good and appealing. The story was quite well written and I though it was more realistic than other erotica novels I've read it was a welcome change(sometimes it's refreshing not to read novels with governmental agents male characters, as I've seem to have bumped into quite a handful of those).
   
   The ending, however, just didn't do it for me. After 400+ pages, you'd expect a more satisfying ending and this is partly the reason why I'm giving it such a low rating. The other reason is the female character. I just didn't understand her (I won't elaborate so as not to spoil anything). Also, the extra plot surrounding the anniversary party for her parents as well as all the scenes involving James's mother were a bit uninteresting, at least to my taste. It did add a little more complexity to the story itself but at the same time I felt took a little from the time we could've spent with the main characters.
   
   All in all, it was a good story and I enjoyed the erotic scenes which were nicely done. The realistic aspect was a refreshing addition but it was not appreciated so much as it took away from my complete enjoyment of the novel, especially towards the end. It outweighed the rest of the good parts and for me this one is definitely NOT a keeper.

1 comments about Love Letters of Great Men.

1. Whether or not you remember the scene in the film Sex and the City in which Carrie read from a book of love letters to Mr. Big doesn't really matter. What is of import is that when Ursula Doyle, formerly deputy editor of Picador, noted the flurry of women looking for the book that did not really exit, she decided to make it happen.
   
   Make it happen she did by researching the private papers of a number of famous men and collecting their intimate thoughts on love. It is no surprise that the feelings aroused by love have not changed very much over the centuries. What is surprising and endearing is the expression given to those feelings by some of the most articulate fellows who have ever lived, including such disparate individuals as Mark Twain, Henry VIII, and Roman Pliny the Younger.
   
   Reading these letters is one thing, hearing them is quite another matter. If love letters are going to be heard let them always be given voice by noted Shakespearean actor Anton Lesser. His resonant, theatre trained voice easily moves from plaintive entreaty to harsh scolding when a loved one feels he has been neglected. Lesser's readings of letters describing the depth of one's love for another are indeed sigh producing.
   
   As is said, all the world loves a lover and all will love this collection.
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about Your Two-Year-Old: Terrible or Tender.

1. This is not one of those "do X to solve your child's Y problem." It basically just lets you know what is going on with your 2 and 2.5 year old. The researchers observed 1000's of two year olds over several years and this book is the culmination of their research - in an easy to read format, as well. They do offer general advice - take it with a grain of salt because some of it is REALLY outdated. But the insights on what is going on, what to expect, what's "normal", and the list of toys and books appropriate for two year olds is invaluable. AND, at under 150 pages it is a quick read (since most parents of three year olds don't have much time to do so).



2. The editors really need to revise this book to reflect modern times. It assumes every mom is a stay at home mom and every family has 2 heterosexual parents. The kicker was when it suggested that some moms get together with their kids and develop playgroups, and how they were starting to see it as a trend. Oh, I almost forgot about the suggestion about how moms should try putting their children in part time child care for the day to give themselves breaks. Again, this assumes every mom is a stay at home and "Father" is the primary breadwinner.
   
   The book was a waste of money. I strongly suggest you stay away from this - at least until it gets edited for the 21st century.



3. I love this entire series, but they are SOOO dated (first published in the 70s!) Great advice is sprinkled in with references to mom staying at home while dad works, the MOTHER's responsibility to get the baby on schedule, etc. If they would only update this series with an eye towards two-career families or families in which the father takes a more active role, I think more readers would be able to digest this very good information without gritting their teeth at the outdated (and now sexist) references to parental roles.



4. There is something gratifying about having your parenting instincts justified by official child experts. Most of parenting is a gut-based exercise but this sort of books gives parents a few tools and tactics to help deal with the age of two. The more we know about the mindset and developmental nuances of our children, the better we can be to them. This little book is full of interesting points about the psychology of a blossoming 2 year old. Concise and insightful. I totally recommend it!



5. I recommend these books (Your ONE Year Old, Your TWO Year Old, Your THREE Year Old, Your FOUR Year Old, Your FIVE Year Old, Your SIX Year Old, Your SEVEN Year Old, Your EIGHT Year Old, Your NINE Year Old, Your TEN-to-FOURTEEN Year Old. These books were writtten by Louise Bates Ames, PhD, Fances L. Ilg, MD and Sidney M. Baker MD of the Gesell Institute of Human Development. They are NOT a "how to" book for parents -- but rather provide a perspective of life from the child's various ages. I found the books to be of such value that I purchase the entire series for new parents. Somehow I forgot to purchase these books for my niece when she started her family. She expressed some concerns about her seven year old son's behavior (that I knew from experience to be that typical of seven year olds). I purchased the books from the series that will help my niece from here on. She LOVES them! I have a feeling she will use them and pass them along to other parents. My original set are part of my permanent library. I highly recommend these books for your permanent library as well!

5 comments about To Our Children's Children Journal of Family Memories.

1. I bought this for family members for Christmas! Great gift for parents and grandparents who are hard to buy for.



2. The questions are well thought out and interesting. This book has challenged me to revist my past and my family's past. Most important it has guided me to what it is that I want my children to know and remember about it all.



3. I think it is a wonderful book. I gave it to my parents, now let's hope they fill it out.
   
   Jan



4. This book has a lot of interesting leading questions that will leave future generations with a great picture of who the person who has completed the journal is. My mother-in-law loves it and we plan on giving one to each sets of parents.



5. I purchased this book for my 83 year old Mother because my niece kept asking her to write down memories from when she was growing up. My Mom did not even where to begin so I thought this would help by asking questions. It did and she's working on it but, from what she tells me, it's quite draining because not all memories are pleasant. She can only do 2 or 3 questions a day. She enjoyed remembering the cat and the canary she had when she was little but was saddened thinking about how her family had struggled during the Depression, lost their house and had to move often or how her brother was killed during WWII. It is interesting to hear stories I've never heard before, but be forewarned that some very sad memories might be stirred up to.

5 comments about The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection (Basic Principles Into Practice Series).

1. This book is very good for people who want to learn more about EFT. it is easy to read and has lots of case examples.



2. Susan Johnson's work through Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a great asset to the world of relationship therapies. Her work is in the new direction in therapy - calculated integration versus muddle-headed eclecticism.
   
   Johnson's work carefully integrate structural family therapy (Minuchin) with attachment theory (Bowlby) and the experiential therapies. While mainly citing Rogers, this a misnomer. EFT is more Satir and Whitaker than Rogers as the therapist is active and directive as well as short-term to brief in her or his interventions. Rogers is a long-term personality-altering insight therapy, which offers little for today's reality of shorter time constraints whether through managed-care or government stipulations.
   
   Better yet, EFT is an EBT (evidence-based treatment)! I believe it has a 70-73% efficacy rate for couple improvement and therefore is more ameniable to third-party reimbursement. EFT is also a great approach for PTSD (see Johnson, 2002) as in 33-38 sessions a full-blown PTSD sufferer can have significant improvement. This is because the partner, not the therapist, becomes the soother for the traumatized person and is much more available in the long-term for the PTSD sufferer. I believe the Department of Veteran's Affairs needs to "perk-up" and "pony-up" for EFT as the treatment of choice for our soon-to-be onslaught of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans come home.
   
   We are so not prepared for this avalanche of need!



3. This is my first book by Johnson and I found it to be easy to read and understand. Johnson's approach is based on attachment theory which I have found to be a good anchor in working with couples that want to resolve conflict and/or strengthen their bond.



4. Ms. Johnson offer a clear and concise overview of this approach for couples. Well worth the reading.



5. Bringing insecure attachment dialogues to life is the most useful aspect of this book. The step by step approach to couples therapy is helplful especially for those therapists unfamiliar with how attachment issues play out in the therapeutic context.
   
   More information on screeening out couples who may not benefit from this approach would have been invaluable - rather than just referring to couples who are breaking up. Many couples have not learned the language of emotion. Some express it somatically or by numbing it with substances or food. These couples would need far more than 12 sessions and a great deal of training and practice to be able to learn about their attachment dances and break the cycles that lead to distancing.
   
   Insight is not the primary aim of EFCT, yet couples are encouraged to notice and become increasingly aware of their automatic processes that lead to misattuned connections. I think that is precisely what gaining insight is about,which in turn allows for new actions to be attempted in the future.
   
   Johnson suggests that most couples therapists use problem solving approaches over emotionally focused strategies. Those of us who bring in Object Relations and Intersubjective ideas into our work facilitate couples in attending to and sharing their emotional experiences with their partners. This is the norm rather than the exception. Johnson's book makes the process more systematic and contained. It doesn't help with couples where one or both partners get secondary gains from making the other 'bad.'
   
   Overall a useful adjunct for psychotherapists already doing emotionally focused work with couples.
   
   [...]

5 comments about How to Succeed with Women.

1. I picked up this book a few years ago, because well, as the book's title might suggest I had no clue on how to succeed in getting the women I wanted. However, this book wasn't helpful most of the information such as those "romantic questions" and other suggestions the author made just got me exactly what I was getting before reading this book, "let's just be friends" and the such. Until I came across The Game and Mystery's books, those have truly shown me how to succeed with women, skip this one, read those instead.



2. This woman Romy Miller-the author has been watching to much of the show"sex in the city"I think shes a superfical money grubing woman-she had only a few things that I thought were good.She must think all men are super rich and find her to be a money hunter when looking for a man.Save your money fellows.



3. In light of some of the reviews I've read here,I felt the need to add my two cents if you will,Seeing as how in my opinion this book doesn't get a fair shot...
   
   I first bought this book in 2001,shortly after September 11,at point in my life when I felt I needed to make a drastic change.I was 28 at the time,painfully shy,and just out of a rather tumultous relationship with a much older woman with several kids (none of them mine...) I felt unattractive,overweight...Besides my freinds and family,I wasn't a terribly social person,and felt as if there was no chance for me to meet a woman who I truly would want to be with.
   
   I did,however,have lots and lots of female "friends" who felt totally comfortable telling me about their dating problems,and of course I listened to them faithfully,hoping one day one of them would miraculously see me as their knight in shining armor...That happened once,but eventually with disastrous results.
   
   Once I read this book,I came to a realization that my family and fellow "Nice Guy" friends never clued me in on...That most people,male and female,DATE before they settle upon someone.That may mean there's sexual interaction along the way,or it may mean that one person falls deeper in love than the other...But it doesn't mean that your first is your one and only,and if you should happen to lose someone along the way,if you're a person with a happening life and confidence,you'll eventually find someone new,when you're ready to.
   
   Nice guys in particular truly need to read this book.I was one of them,and the section on the Fear of Hurting Women resonated with me.Because of all the accounts of bad dates and such my female friends told me,I swore in my mind that I'd never be that way,thinking that it was a good thing.NOT AT ALL.In turing nice and harmless,I essentially neutered myself in the eyes of any potential dates.
   
   Quite a few men have an inner war with their sexuality,not in terms of orientation,but in terms of whether or not their desiring a woman is HURTING a woman.This book will teach you how to see through the fog of those anxieties.
   
   When I started acting confidently,making dating women less of a priority,and myself the top priority,then things started to change.
   
   To the critics:
   
   In regards to the motives of any man who reads this book,it's been said by the authors themselves in other media that the only way a man is going to be happy with his final choice in a mate is only AFTER he's satisfied with knowing what's out there.How else will he truly feel confident in his choice of a woman as a long term partner.The book says it in Plain English,IN THE LAST CHAPTER...And they DO NOT endorse cheating on a long-term partner.They also make it clear that finding someone for a lasting relationship is a matter of compromise,to some degree.She's not going to be Miss Perfect.They also stress the importance of safe sex,and not getting into hasty sex situations,complete with a breakdown of what you could contract if you don't play it safe.
   
   And as far as some of their actal examples of tactics go...Well,okay,I have to admit,I did scowl at the use of hand puppets as a serious way of drawing women.I'm a big black man from New Jersey,and there's no way in You-Know-Where that I'm taking a hand puppet of a bunny rabbit and going to talk to ladies on Broad and Market Streets in Newark!But you can take their basic ideas and augment them...The fundamentals are the same.Maybe a hand puppet is a no go,but pushing your little baby niece in a stroller,or walking a puppy...You get the idea.
   
   I won't rehash some of the other strong points that other reviewers have already pointed out.Just read (and watch in some cases) and judge for yourself.
   
   When this book first came out,as far as I was aware it was the only one of its kind-serious in nature,not the "Pick up chicks" kind of book that you would find ads for in the back of smut magazines.
   In recent years,there have been others-Neil Strauss,David DeAngelo,and most Notably Mystery (Erik Von Markovik) who have expanded on this format.These days,they're known as the "Seduction Community" all of their material is valid.But in my opinion,if you're a "nice guy" who's had a ton of female friends who have regaled you with tales of lustful,touchy feely men who you'd sware you'd never be like,then those other media won't help you a bit if you don't address the underlying issues.Louis and Copeland will help you do that.
   
   In closing I'd like to say that in my younger years,I weighed perhaps around 220 lbs,and was ashamed of myself...Right now I'm TWICE that weight,and I date MUCH more now than I did when I was younger...Attractive,proactive women,with careers,goals,and exciting lives.In fact,I wish I read this book when I was 15,instead of 28.I would have avoided MANY of the dating pitfalls I wound up making,and pursued the NORMAL women who were worth the pursuit!
   
   The book WILL help you,if you're a nice guy!!!!
   
   JJ.
   myspace.com/martinjr73



4. You know all those puzzling things women do. They are explained here. More importantly this book tells you how to respond to the situations we find ourselves in with our women. This book is aimed at those trying to start a relationship or hook-up, but is still essential for someone that is already in a relationship and wants to make it better.



5. I bought this book based on a reference in Secrets of the A Game by Logan Edwards. This is great book that covers a lot of ground and it if you actually read and apply the writing to your life, you will have more success with women.
   
   It's a lot to take it, so I recommend reading a chapter every week and trying to incorporate a few new techniques or strategies until you feel you're ready to move to the next chapter. I don't recommend trying to read it in a weekend or even a week because it will leave you with way too much to take about at one time.
   
   I highly recommend both this book and "A" Game.

5 comments about Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, Second Edition.

1. This book did what 34 years of therapy with expensive and highly degreed therapists could not do. I lost my mother emotionally at the age of 12. While this book starts out addressing the physical death of a mother, it very well includes all kinds of losses that damage the mother-daughter relationship. My mother went from a warm, loving, nurturing parent who baked all the time and kept a clean house to a paranoid, delusional,slovenly woman who was never home, and who was physically abusive when she was; a woman who could not criticize me deeply and thoroughly enough. There were probably lots of reasons for that, none of them having anything to do with me. But at 12, how was I to know? I just thought she didn't love me anymore. I could not please her. At 16, I stopped trying, ran away from home and learned how to live on the streets.
   
   This loss colored my life for the rest of my life, and it took every ounce of strength, energy and intellect to untangle the mess. This book shed some very crucial light on the deepest wound my soul carries. I know a closeness with my mother because of that painful bond that is a combination of pleasure and pain that is part and parcel of who I am. Today, thanks to Hope Edelman, I understand that bond (and the bond I have with my daughter)so much better.



2. I lost my mother to cancer a month after I graduated from high school, 2 months before leaving for college. I thought no one else out there could imagine what I was going through. My Dad remarried a few years later, he got a new wife but I was still left without a mom. He bought me this book as a gift one year, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. There were women out there who knew exactly how I felt, what I was feeling. I couldn't believe it. I have bought this book for five other women since then, all who lost their moms at different stages of their life for different reasons. Everyone of them loved the book. I have recently bought the workbook and have been going through it. It is a great companion to this book.



3. My mother died when I was 11 and now I'm 22 and getting married. I was really feeling bad about her not being at my wedding and I was dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety. This book helped me so much in realizing why I was the way I was growing up and what I can expect along the way. I would highly recommend this book for any daughter that has ever lost a mother, even if she wasn't lost through death.



4. I lost my Mom when I was an adult of 32. Even though this book goes through different age stages, I was able to find something in each section that related to me. We all grieve differently if you are a young child or an adult. My Mom was my friend and confidant and there were still things that she missed when she passed on including my marriage and my child. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and I'm going to order one for a friend who just lost their Mom.



5. I wish this book had been available sooner. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was 13 years old. I am now 55. This book has helped me put the last 42 years of my life into prespective. I was the oldest child in the family and was given the task of becoming a caretaker and housekeeper for my father and two younger children. This book helped me to understand the many areas of my life and my thinking that were touched by the aftermath of my mother's illness and death. Anyone looking to understand the legacy of a mother's death should read this book. Have a box of kleenex near by, it will touch your heart. Thank you Hope Edelman for baring your soul to bring understanding and healing into other motherless daughter's lives.

5 comments about The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family.

1. This book is a must-read for anyone considering adopting a child. Adopted children have very specialized needs. This easy to read book has so many practical ideas for parents. I actually think every preschool and elementary teacher should read it as well. As an educator, I am wishing I had had some of these strategies to use in the past with students who were foster or adoptive children. A great resource indeed!



2. What a great tool this book has been. It helped us make a break through with our second daughter who we had been struggling with for over a year. We had been working hard with all of her indivual issues in isolation. We worked with her language delays, her behavorial problems, her sleep issues, sibling struggles and more. This his book helped with the big picture and helped make all that all that other work come together in a way that really helped our whole family.



3. Excellent book - very helpful for a new adoptive mom of a 4 year old from China.



4. I think this is a good resource for families who are adopting, especially those adopting children who are older and/or have had rocky starts in life.



5. We're the parents of a couple of adopted kids, and have continually searched for specific information about adopted children with broad-spectrum diagnoses (ADHD, ODD, RAD, Bipolar Disorder). At one time or another, our kids have had all of these diagnoses attached to their issues/behaviors.
   
   It's become clear to us -- and other parent of adopted kids with whom we speak -- that these broad-spectrum diagnoses are "convenient" terms in which to bucket our kids. These kids frequently show the same issues and inappropriate behaviors. Unfortunately, the standard process for addressing these issues (positive reinforcement, drug therapies, structured responses, diet modifications) never seem to work. This appears especially true of those kids, such as our daughter, who are adopted from Eastern European insitutions/orphanages.
   
   We're read all of the general literature regarding these broad-spectrum diagnoses and tried every guideline in these books on how remediate these issues and bad behaviors -- all with little or no success.
   
   "The Connected Child" speaks directly to the behavioral issues and unique emotional requirements that these adopted children require. Their approach -- based on the TCU Institute of Child Development methodology --is more a process for modifying parent behavior than addressing the child's issues and behaviors. Specifically, the book suggests that all of these kids exhibit behaviors based on perceived threats and fears established/learned during their earliest years in institutions. It recommends that parents develop -- and consistently reinforce -- a loving, affectionate, trusting and safe environment for these kids so that they can grow away from viewing people and life situations in a fearful or threatening way.
   
   While "The Connected Child" makes a strong case for the unique issues associated with these institutionalized children and lays a relatively solid foundation for how to cope with and reach these children, in my opinion, their relatively "easy read" book with short "punchy" chapters and sections doesn't lay out the kind of structured or disciplined approach required. The authors are suggesting a life-changing and home environment-changing methodology for both the affected children, their parents and siblings, and other significant influencers in the kid's lives (teachers, counselors). More detailed direction on how to successfully implement their methodology would have been appreciated.
   
   Additionally, I find their frequent use of "semi-miracle" anecdotes a bit too much: child couldn't be reached using standard therapies; parents -- at wit's end -- try the "Connected Child" methodology; child cured. I'm sure that there's much more trial-and-error or initial failures (by both the kids and the parents) with their methodology than are depicted in this book.
   
   Still, I would recommend that this book be read by those parents with those adopted children who have been institutionalized and who have not responded to the traditional therapies for these broad-spectrum diagnoses. The "Connected Child" approach for building a safe and secure environment for these unique kids -- however difficult for the parents to accomplish -- deserves attention.

5 comments about Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.

1. This book is a great resource for parents who want some ideas on how to make their children's environment more healthy. The author presents many ideas for ways to go green in your home from building to existing structures, helps parents make healthy food choices and explains why it is important to be aware of the products you are using on your child. I also must note that the author mentions homebirth as a positive choice that may be right for some families which is very open-minded for an MD. I have 3 children and am constantly trying to find more eco-friendly options and was happy that this book provided me with some new ideas as well as many excellent links!



2. I see myself as relatively environmentally conscious. But this book really made me think more closely about this, and also provided various options for improvement. I really appreciated the suggestions for certain brands or website so I could then go and do my own further research. I am pleased to say that I believe I'm now better informed, and my buying decisions are certainly more environmentally friendly and more gentle for our baby than previously.



3. My wife has this book and absolutely loves it. She re-reads it often, and has it bookmarked and highlighted. Great references and goes over many different areas that affect the baby's life from fetal development to the environment around it as it plays. It contains a lot of internet links to products.



4. Overall this is a good book, it's well written, it's easy to read, and it gets the point across. The dietary guidelines make up 10-15% of the text, and some are not good. Poor guidelines include: to feed your baby soy (they say, just use organic) and give them breakfast cereals (which are sugar laden and nutrient devoid, even organic ones).
   
   Beyond the dietary guidelines Dr. Greene hits on some key points, how our babies are exposed to toxins. Whether it is their "new" bedding, "new" bottles, "new" clothes, or chemicals, detergents, cleaners, shampoo's, or paint for the babies room and so forth, it is highly important that our children not be exposed to harmful chemicals. The book get's 4 stars precisely because Dr. Greene does point out in detail important concerns about exposing our little ones to chemicals. Like other people said, there may be other ways to be green and create less exposure to chemicals for your children that are more cost effective and not mentioned in the book. The book is printed on nice eco-friendly paper.
   
   Dr. Greene unfortunately missed out on discussing the highest and most dangerous exposure to toxins for our new babies, Vaccines. A good companion text, in which you can learn how to have a truly healthy baby with empowering information about what really makes children sick (like toxins in the environment) and how to avoid these conditions see, Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6)



5. I had the honor of meeting Dr. Greene at a conference recently and he is every bit as much as you imagine him when you read his book: a down-to-earth guy, married with a lovely lady (Mrs. Greene), with a crystal clear vision of the important things in this world.
   
   In this book, he is capturing his philosophy about how to prepare for the coming of a baby and raise him/her green, i.e. in the most sustainable way possible. A book like this one is perfectly aligned with the present times, when a growing number of people seem to have finally realized that being environmentally conscious is not just for "tree huggers" nor is it some hippie, utopian notion. It is everyone's job and Dr. Greene reminds us in this title the important role that parents have in this too.
   
   While reading the book, not only does it become clear the impact you can have on the environment by raising your baby green. You also realize how your food and product choices affect your very own health down the road... so Raise Baby Green with Dr. Green!