5 comments about Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment.

1. My sister-in-law gave me this book. It's the best gift I've ever been given. I've bought several copies to give to women in my family and friends. The book addresses what peace we can have when we hand our concerns to God and learn to always be content. I wish I'd read this when I was young. It's a book to read several times as a great reminder to hand it all over to God.



2. I couldn't imagine Linda writing a book more helpful than Creative Counter part, but this is the proof (for me at least). This book is applicable to the Christian woman no matter what stage of life she is in. I have found it to be encouraging and helpful in my growing relationship with Jesus. Thanks again Linda.



3. This book helped me get through a very difficult time a while back. In the time since, I have occasionally felt the anxiety levels creep back up, and I have come back to this book. It isn't one to be read one time, but is worth reading again and again.
   
   It is easy to have this book recommended to you, or even to have someone give it to you and leave it sitting on your shelf. I did that when I first received it. Don't do that! Read it and see if you can grow and glean from it as so many of us have done. It can really help you move beyond worry to trust, and it builts more than just anxiety-free living. It helps accomplish the opposite -- contentment and acceptance of your lot. If you struggle with worry or discontentment, this is the first book I would recommend. I can't say that enough!



4. I have done a lot of studies, but this is one of the best studies I've done in awhile, and several friends say the same. I recommend it to all women, as anxiety is a stranglehold for so many of us. This book helps you to give it over to God and holds your hand along the way with it. Great book!



5. My small womans group wanted to do a bible study on this book and at first I was against it because I felt like I wasn't anxious. After reading the first chapter I did a complete turn around! This book is VERY good! It really makes you look at your life in a different way and see what is really important and what really matters. I would recommend it to anyone!

5 comments about Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes (Billie Jean King Library).

1. I'VE BEEN A BJK FAN FOR OVER 45 YEARS...I WATCHED HER GROW FROM A GIDDY TEENAGER INTO THE WONDERFUL WOMEN SHE IS NOW..
   I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HER 4 YEARS AGO...SHE IS WHAT SHE BELIEVES..
   SHE GIVES HER FANS HER FULL ATTENTION AND SINCERELY ENJOYED MEETING US AND EVEN GAVE US FOREHAND LESSONS..RIGHT THEN AND THERE..
   THIS BOOK IS JUST LIKE HAVING A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH HER..
   IT'S ALSO A LOVING TRIBUTE TO HER PARENTS WHO INSTILLED IN HER SUCH WONDERFUL LIFE VALUES...
   IT'S A GREAT READ FOR ANYONE...IT TRULY PUTS LIFE INTO PERSPECTIVE.



2. Where is Billie Jean?
   
   I was delighted to get an ARC for Billie Jean King's book, since I think of her as an extraordinary woman, one who has not only been a #1-ranked tennis player, but a woman of integrity, who championed the Title IX for equal disbursement of Federal funding for male and female sports in schools, World Team Tennis, the Virginia Slims Tournament, equal pay for women's tournaments, women's liberation and for non-discrimination in life style choices. I have always admired her for her willingness to take a position, albeit unpopular ones, because it was the right thing to do.
   
   That being said, I am sorely disappointed in her book. It's not that the book isn't well written, as prose goes, it's just fine. And, actually, her subtitle does indicate that her book is about lessons she has learned and The Battle of the Sexes. I was hoping that the book was about more than the subtitle. My mistake.
   
   She does list and discuss these lessons and her set of life principles with great enthusiasm, and I agree with them all.
   The problem is that these lessons and principles are not new ones; certainly lots of champions and even everyday people live by these same principles. They are good principles to live by, and it isn't a bad thing to be reminded of how powerful they can be in your life. But she could have talked about all of these things in one chapter, as a prelude to telling us about herself. Instead this book is about stating and then restating (in large boxes at the end of each chapter) her principles and life lessons.
   
   Secondarily, most of the rest of the book is about the tennis match for the ages - The Battle of the Sexes - with Bobby Riggs. Billie Jean would chat about other events in her life in a vague sort of way, but they always let back to some more conversation about the Bobby Riggs match. The book has 187 pages of text. She begins on Page 20 (following a preface and an intro) mentioning Bobby Riggs and the match. The story continues with him, ad nauseum, up to page 97, when Billie Jean states that she wants to make a "final observation" about Bobby Riggs. I thought - whew! - Enough already, we're going to get to the story of Billie Jean. Except, that promise of release from Bobby inanities was broken and Bobby continued to be discussed throughout the book and was last cited on page 186.
   
   I agree that, in retrospect, that tennis match was more than just the entertainment, more than the spectacle. At the time a statement about women in sports, women as champions and equal rights was being promoted. But enough already! It was also just a tennis match. In equal retrospect, any number of other important events could be cited in that same vein - we just don't need 187 pages of it, couched in between lots of not-new lessons of life.
   
   In reading this book, I relearned one of my own life lessons. Never let your expectations exceed a reasonable payoff -- you're bound to be disappointed. I went looking for Billie Jean and got Bobby Riggs and platitudes instead.
   
   I think that Billie Jean is worth much more, that her life story would be profoundly more interesting that this rather trite and ultimately uninteresting account. Too bad she didn't write that book.



3. GREAT READ! GREAT GIFT! I am going back to buy 10 more copies as gifts for my mother, father and other family and friends!
   
   As a former college athlete - one of the millions of women who benefited from the hard work of and changes created by Billie Jean King, I was thrilled to read personal thoughts, memories, and advice - straight from Billie Jean King herself!! This is a quick, entertaining, and informative read that gave me countless tools to better deal with personal and professional life challenges. I HIGHLY recommend it! I'm giving it as a Christmas gift to everyone I know!!!



4. Billie Jean King is one of my heroes. She is from my generation, and as an amateur tennis player, she is "the greatest" to me.
   
   This is an advice book, full of ideas useful on and off the court. There is no greater advocate of women's sports and tennis in general than this lady.
   
   The book relates the impact of her famous match against Bobby Riggs, her preparation for the match and realization of what it meant to all women. How proud we all were when she "beat the socks off of him."
   
   While she has achieved equal pay for women at the major tournaments, she herself played the best of five sets against Riggs, something women still do not do in pro tennis. Some critics say that women should play the longer matches to earn equal pay.
   
   Regardless of one's opinions about tennis tournaments, this is an excellent compendium of advice for facing all sorts of challenges in life. Those who excel at something certainly earn the higher level pressures they face, hence pressure is indeed a privilege.
   
   It is a small, short book, well worth the time to read and expenditure of the low Amazon price.



5. One upping a man in tennis thirty five years ago has given Tennis star Billie Jean King much to think about. "Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes" is her autobiography of her life as a figure for feminists and a model for gender relations. With a good dose of common sense and wisdom, "Pressure is a Privilege" is a memoir worth reading for a look into a mind of an everyday woman who did wonderful things.

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul: 101 Stories to Celebrate, Honor and Inspire the Nursing Profession (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. I work as a Director of Nursing and I enjoyed this stories.



2. I was feeling really down until I read this book and now, after 27 years in the profession, I can remember why I love this job!!!



3. Incredibly touching with quotes to remember. A book I will pass along so others can enjoy the soul warming experience as I did.



4. As always, very pleased with yet another Chicken Soup book.



5. I am a nurse, so of course, I loved this. It has wonderful, uplifting stories. It would be a wonderful gift for any nurse, or for yourself, if you are a nurse or for anyone thinking about becoming one.

5 comments about Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and Their Families.

1. As a disability service provider, I found this book particularly helpful. It is practical and to the point. Veterans can find tips on everything from how to sleep better to how to relax and cope with stressors. The triggers of anxiety are explained well, as are the ways veterans typically handle their pain. At the end of each chapter are helpful tips for family members. After I read it, I ordered ten copies of this book to give away to student veterans and their families.



2. I was skeptical when purchasing this book, but the topics are discussed in such a way that you do not feel like you're reading "self-help". The focus is not on PTSD (although that is one of the topics covered), but more on a healthy transition from a chaotic environment. I would recommend this to any serviceman, spouse, parent, or close friend.



3. It wasn't the war, it was when I returned home and could not function. I applaud this book for it's intent and gratitude that it gives to our young warriors. It is one of the few written for "our" generation. Thank you
   
   -Timothy Kendrick author-PTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door



4. My son suggested I read this before he comes home from his tour of duty in Iraq. It has been very helpful to understand what he has to deal with in terms of adjusting from daily combat and normal day to day life at home. Most people don't have a clue what these brave men and women have to deal with. They cannot just turn off their emotions just because they are back home.
   Eveyone who has a loved one serving in a war zone should read this book.



5. I purchased this for my boyfriend upon him returning home from Fallujah. He didn't open it once. It's just not a book that a war veteran wants to read, or even be reminded of. He went through enough and all he really needed was professional help. Not a book that reiterates the pain and struggles that families endure.

5 comments about Rhinoceros Success.

1. I have an infinity or a weakness for self-help books. Most are just tooooo puffed up and vain and really not that helpful. Given the short attention span of the employees of this current dispensation, the book is a great tool for helping employees understand your goals and their goals. As a business owner with a payroll of over a million dollars per year I find that most employees will not read a book to actually help them figure out where they want to go. The guiding principles of this book are loosely based on believing in a higher power (like God, remember him?)and not in the expedient 'get rich quick' mentality that currently pervades our thinking. It also addresses taking personal responsibility for your attitude and your actions...something also missing in this society. I read about 5 to 6 books per month and I read this book 4 or 5 times per year (usually in the bathroom...it's that kind of a library book.) I would recommend this book even for very young adults as this society currently believes we should coddle them until they are 25 or 30. Dust yourself off and buy this book. Charge!



2. "Rhonoceros Success" was given to me by a close friend and I am grateful that this book fell into my hands! This book is jam-packed with life lessons that ultimately guide you toward prosperity and abundance in all areas of life. It clearly charts out the path of success and if you heed the recommendations, wealth will surely follow. I especially enjoyed the part about happiness. Since everyone chooses their own state of mind, choose to be happy and you will be happy! That alone is a simple concept that has very powerful ramifications (positive) if you make the choice. Treat yourself to success and buy this book ASAP!
   
   - Dr. Matthew J. Loop
   
   Author of "Cracking the Cancer Code"



3. This book is meant to be motivational, but the message grows stale rather quickly. The author's main points are that one must be thick-skinned and aggressive (a rhinoceros) to succeed in life, but they are repeated so often that most of the book could be summed up in a few pages. There is an overuse of exclamation points, question marks and UPPERCASE emphasis as if the author is not just content to continuously repeat the message. In his opinion, there must be internal emphasis as well.
   After reading the book, I did not feel motivated, I felt relieved. The easiest thing in the world is to say, "Be powerful and tough" to anyone and everyone. However, life is far too complicated for a simple message, even a good one, repeated over and over to be enough to insure survival. Without some specifics about how a rhinoceros acts, then it is just a slogan. And let us not forget that the rhinoceros has the worst eyesight of any large mammal, so bad that it cannot tell a human from a tree at 15 feet. This means that it quite often doesn't know exactly what it is that it is charging. Charging ahead without knowing what is in front of you or what direction you are going is dangerous. There is little of that "think before you charge" mentality expressed in this book.



4. Any book in this series is a pleasure. Well written, illustrated and contains a wonderful message with regard to holding touch in life.



5. I used to sell cars. My sales were very low even though I read and tried to follow a lot of sales training. My co workers and I read and read to find the secret of the top dogs. Come to find out they were Rhinos. One of the best salesmen at the dealership told me he could help if I followed exactly what he told me to do. He gave me this book. My life is 100% better. My sales increased and I left the dealership to open my own sucessful insurance agency. The book is very simple. That is exactly why it works. I have set aside all the steps and procedures of the other books and all the crazy rituals all the self proclaimed sucess gurus offer. Now I just change. I am a rhino. I live like a rhino and change like a rhino.

5 comments about Coloring Mandalas 2.

1. I found colored pencils worked best for getting into some of the tiny lines and tight corners of these mandalas. I found coloring them to be almost medatative.



2. If coloring calms you and you like art this is the book for you.



3. Though I've just begun using it, I bought the Mandala Coloring Book to aid me in relaxation after hectic days and before bed. It is intriguing, to say the least. While coloring the intricate designs, I'm not able to think of much else, making it easier to wind down and "turn off" my head.



4. Recovering from back surgery, I knew my artistic mind needed a more relaxing, yet retain a stimulating art media to keep my interest. This book does it! Mandalas do have spiritual or rather meditative foci that can help increase healthy thinking as one heals, but the FUN I have had using my professional color pencils, watercolor pencils and a bit of charcoal, chalk, and pastels on the quality paper in this book have really taken my mind off my pain. The mandala images are all on one side of the paper throughout the book, so no bleed through and as I mentioned, the paper quality is not cheap newsprint common of other coloring books. Since getting this book (and a few others!!), I have recommended them to several family members and now they are checking out this great way to relax and use their right "side of the brain" in more ways than one. One additional component of this book are the several pages of blank circles at the book's end where YOU can design your own meaningful mandalas...something many self-help instructors and counselors encourage people to do.
   
   This book is definitely worth every penny and is one of the best of the adult coloring books available. I also wish retirement centers would provide this type of quality art books for residents to provide healthy mind stimulation and possible growth and/or mainttenance.



5. I am really into geometrical and prism designs...they have an unspoken pull on me...the main challange for me when I color them is to balance somehow the color hues and tones with the geometrical segments of the design...so in the end to be able to get something stunning...the main drawback is when I let myself think too much about what goes with what...I like complex designs, they are more challanging...I use this hobby as a form of active yoga meditation(shutting off my mind while I focus on the design)...all in all, this coloring hobby is the simplest and effective way of gradually developing an inner sense of order, harmony and discipline...

No comments about Blue Dog Speaks.

5 comments about The Art of Exceptional Living.

1. I have read and listened to a number of programs of a similar variety over the years however this particular CD stands out for its enduring value. I originally picked this up about 9 years ago and the lessons have stayed with me.
   
   Yes, the material is common sense, yes, there is nothing new here however, there is something unique in the delivery that over time somehow triggers behavior and thought in such a way as to enable a person to make decisions by employing some perspective towards their personal philosophy and the congruence of their thought and action, at least in my personal experience. In other words one should be more personally conscientious of ones behavior and exercise discretion with a view to cause and effect. While this is not an epiphany, the discipline itself is difficult to instill.
   
   One of the most significant habits that I picked up from the lesssons, is posing a relapsing question concerning my career, "Don't ask what you're getting here, ask what you are becoming." This simple admonition, has enabled me to break the spell of being stuck in a career rut and advancing towards professional fulfillment. The other habit that I picked up is the use of a journal, which it turns out is a typical accessory to be found with all seriously successful people. And while carrying a notebook or writing in it will not by itself make you succesful, the way in which Rohn demonstrates its use will encourage a similar use, and I can attest to the value from that. Primarily, it will enable one to uncover their personal philosophy through active introspection, and change as necessary/desired.
   
   Much of what is passed off as personal development is really emotional fast food. I attended a conference some months ago (client invitation) with a long list of motivational speakers, and I took many notes. The central theme in the end turned out to be that success was really a function of your self-esteem.
   
   As I looked around at the stadium filled with fired-up sales people, "entrepreneurs" and other motivational spectators/tourists and caught their reactions, it dawned on me that these were the neediest people I had ever seen. Not only did they expect to be entertained, they wanted someone else to motivate them and then, be told by the most obliging motivator that they were great because they came to get motivated! What is my point? If you are looking for motivation outside of yourself, there is an automatic admission that you by yourself don't have it to begin with, and if this is the case, you have already lost. The reviewers here providing low ratings for this product on the basis of the speakers voice and repetition remind me of the audience of the aforementioned event, insufficiently entertained, they fault the speaker without consideration for the content. Grow up.
   
   Back to the CD.
   
   There are common sense lessons here that are not part of an academic curriculum or on-the-job training. The information contained in the CD comprise wisdom that only accomplished people will fully understand by way of thier own experience. Jim Rohn being one such individual (not a motivational speaker by trade) imparts his lessons learned for an audience that is genuinely interested to put forth the hard work while suspending their skepticism. It is only by these two conditions 1) Sincere Diligence and 2) Faith in oneself, that one can transcend the limitations of their ignorance and advance in life. Discipline comes down to practice, and there are many practices contained in these lectures, the rest is up to you.



2. I loved the CD The Art of Exceptional Living, it's a really good teaching tool. If you like Jim Rohn, then you will benefit from listening to this CD.



3. No matter who you want to talk about in the self improvement/motivation game, Jack Canfield, Zig Zigler, Andy Andrews, Brian Tracy, Anthony Robbins, Dale Carnegie, Stephen Covey, you name it, the message is pretty much the same. That is, some derivative of the timeless lessons of Napoleon Hill. The only real difference to speak of is in the delivery. The better the speaker delivers his message, the more they connect with the listener, the more you will glean from the message.
   
   Jim Rohn is one of the best at delivering his message. I would rate him at the very top along with Andy Andrews, but I suppose everyone has certain things they relate well to. THE ART OF EXCEPTIONAL LIVING is one of my favorite CD's. I didn't realize until I starting writing this review that what I have is the 2-CD abridged version. There is also a 6-CD version.
   
   Reading is my thing. I try to read a couple of book per week, but you can't always do that. This is a fantastic CD set to listen to on your way to the office. It seems like every time I listen to this on my way in, I get more done that day.



4. Heard THE ART OF EXECPTIONAL LIVING, written and
   read by Jim Rohn.
   
   He is one of the nation's top motivational speakers . . . and
   though I've heard other books by him, I never get tired of
   his pragmatic approach . . . such as when he says, the
   key to life is not doing exceptional things at all . . . just do
   ordinary things exceptionally well.
   
   Rohn bases much of what he advises on his own
   personal experiences . . . this made it possible to relate
   to what he had to say, in that he has had his share
   of failures--most of which taught him along the way.
   
   Though some of the material may seem basic, I found
   myself nodding in agreement when I heard such valuable tidbits
   of information as the following:
   
   * Learn to work harder on your self than on your job.
   
   * If you wish to be successful, study success. If you wish to be
   happy, study success. If you wish to be wealthy, study wealth.
   
   * You may not be able to do all you find out, but make sure
   you find out all you can do.
   
   * It's not what happens that determines your future, it's what you
   do about it.
   
   * Everybody has to be good at either of two things: Planting in
   the spring or begging in the fall.
   
   And, lastly, I smiled at many of Rohn's definitions--such as this one:
   
   * Failure: A few errors in judgement, repeated every day.



5. Essentially this is a compilation of highlights from a life Jim Rohn presentation. I REALLY liked it, not because there was anything novel... but because he provides solid examples with entertaining stories to back them up. I don't listen to the radio anymore, but use products like these to pump positive information into my mind, body and soul. It is light yet has an amazing impact on your attitude! Plus, it is not overly lengthy and you don't feel obligated to write anything down. Repeated passive (and ACTIVE!) listening goes a long way to absorbing these priceless lessons!

5 comments about Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts : Using the Power of Pleasure to Have Your Way with the World.

1. I didn't know what to expect when I read this book, but I heard Christine Northrup mention it in her recent talk and decided to check it out. I wish I had this book when I was twenty, it would have saved me a lot of tears over lost loves-and guilt when it comes to dating several men. But its never too late to read this.. Almost 30 years later I'm learning what every mother should be teaching their daughters. Mama Gena gives out exercises-some aren't surprising, but one in particular was well worth buying the book-she refers to it as Bitte et Chat and it really changes the way the world responds to you..Her book gave me the courage to asked a guy to dinner-something I was taught never to do-he was pretty surprised as we had formally talked for months. His first personal question to me was "What do you like to do for fun" after reading her book I now recognize the significance of his question and now know this guy has potential.



2. I love Moma Gena's attitudes about having more fun and pleasure for both the man and the woman. What happens outside the bedroom clearly translates into the bedroom. This book is one of my favorites!



3. I've never given a book a one-star review before. The one star is for the exercises in the book but the writing itself is awful. What a waste of money. I'm not even going to give this one to the library -- it's going straight into the recycling bin.



4. I can't remember how many copies of this book I've given away to my girlfriends. It sounds silly, but I'm not kidding: this book has changed my life. Nowhere else in our culture have I found a woman who made such a strong case for women owning their power and enjoying life.
   
   I'm not saying everyone will get it, but I am saying it was nothing short of transformational for me -- it's all about pleasure. GETTING IT, not giving it. Trust me: Mama Gena is right.



5. It was the pink cover that attracted me. I picked it up, and put it down a few different times.
   
   I ended up reading the book over the course of one week, while relaxing each evening in a perfumed bath. How fitting, since the book is all about pleasure. Specifically, female pleasure - of every kind.
   
   Having my way with the world - radiating joy and pleasure as a means to attract, to draw wonderful things toward me--how revolutionary! And better, so much better than what's currently playing on the "female misery" channel!
   
   I tried out Mama Gena's suggestions - "pleasure exercises" mainly because they seemed like fun. People in my world, even strangers, began to respond immediately, treating me like a delicious dish that they could not get enough of ... Just as Mama Gena predicted.
   
   It's quite the adventure, learning to use fun and enjoyment as the barometer for how to lead one's life.
   
   I noticed a copy of this book in my local bookstore yesterday, the last one left on the shelf. Pink as ever, and just as alluring. I'm saying to you now: why not take it out for a spin?
   
   You'll be amazed at how much fun and pleasure can be squeezed into the most ordinary day.
   
   Turn off the "female misery" channel once and for all - and start really living.

5 comments about Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder.

1. This book gave my husband and I a much needed understanding of this complicated disease. Nothing else was as clear and helpful.



2. I found this book extremely helpful. It is very easy to understand and provides key information to helping teenagers recover from eating disorders using a new approach that includes parents and other family members supporting strategies to recovery,



3. Of the books I've read about eating disorders, this is probably the most informative one regarding explanations of what eating disorders are. This is an excellent resource for anyone with a young child or teenager with an eating disorder. I did find their advice about leaving your job to stay home with your child or going to their school to eat with them to be a bit impractical, but overall think the book is a valuable resource.



4. This book is such a relief!! Unlike other books that go on and on about what eating disorders are and their causes and types and so on, this book actually tells you how to act. It tells you exactly how to deal with your teenager and how to behave around them.



5. This book is an excellent resource for both parents and clinicians. I am a marriage and family therapist and often work with adolescents and their families. This book provides practical advice for parents and can be a helpful adjunct to family therapy with the eating disordered individual.