5 comments about He's Not Autistic But...: How We Pulled Our Son From the Mouth of the Abyss.

1. He's Not Autistic, But. . . by Teena Merchant
   
   Teena Merchant has written a very timely, amazing book that allows us to share the struggles she has gone through with her son, Clay.
   
   This family's struggle to find the reasons for her tiny son's illness is heroic. After going to countless medical professionals and finding no solution for her son's illness, she persevered and finally found that alternative medicine was able to diagnose and treat her son thereby keeping him from regressive Autism.
   
   Every parent of a young child should read this book. It gives hope to others who may be going through undiagnosed problems with their own children.
   
   Congratulations Ms. Merchant.



2. Reviewed by Dr. Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (2/08)
   
   Ms. Merchant, if nothing else, is an exceptional mother and advocate for her child who the medical profession felt "at a high risk for autism." The long journey she and her family made for two years to figure out what was going on with her son, as well as herself, was long, hard and often heartbreaking. I can think of no family that I have worked with during my tenure as a Psychologist with families with special needs that did a complete 360-degree turn as Ms. Merchent did.
   
   At times during the reading of this book, I almost felt as if Ms. Merchent was almost aggressive to the point of being annoying. However, after reading all the failed treatments, diagnosis and pushing of vaccines by medical personnel she had a right to be this way.
   
   My knowledge by reading this book has only added reinforcement to my own professional views that doctors aren't always right. I also found the information she provided on toxic aluminum and systemic yeast very informative and something I think every child should be tested for while looking at diagnosis of autism. Since alternative medical treatments have not been overly publicized, it is one area that I think all parents should explore. I know I found her experiences with alternative medicine exciting and least harmful to the body.
   
   This reader not only as a parent, but as a professional, would recommend "He's Not Autistic, But..." be reading for every parent, parent-to-be, special education personnel and school resource staff as well as up and coming medical professionals.



3. I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS BOOK. THE AUTHOR SEEMED TO JUMP AROUND QUITE A BIT AND THE TIMELINE WAS HARD TO FOLLOW. BOTH HER AND HER SON HAD MANY ALLERGIES WHICH SEEMED TO MAKE QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR SYMPTOMS. THE STORY LEFT ME A BIT CONFUSED.



4. It was like this Christian author opened my life and wrote a book about it. The amazing part was that I was not reading the book for information on autism, it was recommended so I could learn about alternative healing for cancer and other illnesses. What was so amazing is my child had very similar problems without the autism.....multi allergies..he beat his head from headaches, etc. and I too was sick and exhausted all the time. The medical field was ruining my sons little 18 month old body. I am rescued by honest people like Tenna Merchent who share the key to what God intended us to have. Healthy body and mind Naturally. Take note....We ALL can learn.



5. Tenna Merchent's honest account of her efforts to recover her little boy "on the brink" of autism addresses the many elements necessary for recovery when a family is confronted with the trainwreck of metabolic causes and issues that underlie this disorder which the medical community still overlooks in diagnosing autism as a whole-body disorder (as opposed to simply a "behavioral problem"). For any parent starting out on this rocky road, I would recommend this book. Merchent's relentless and brutally honest inquiry led her to some unconventional cures. Her faith, courage, and trust in herself as the trailblaxer of her child's return to health demonstrates clearly what it takes to get the job done. For other parents starting down this path, this book is a warm companion. You will no longer feel that you are alone.

5 comments about The Thank You Book: Hundreds of Clever, Meaningful, and Purposeful Ways to Say Thank You.

1. Very helpful in writing all different kinds of thank you notes, or just how to say thanks in general.



2. I have a hard time thinking of things to say. This didnt really make it better. It is a nice idea and has some nice examples but it didnt really help me think of ways to say thank you to certain things like a group.



3. Bought this book recently and was slightly disappointed mainly b/c many of her ideas seem a bit cheesy. A few sugestions even made me wonder if I'd look like a total dork for doing what she recommended. If you lean towards sappy this is your book but for those who aren't, don't waste your money.



4. I really liked the concept of helping the reader express heartfelt thanks to the people in his/her life. Personally, the authors' suggestions are a little too cheesy for my tastes and I don't see myself actually doing them. The book did make me think of ways that would be a little more reflective of my personal style, though.



5. I liked that the book started out recommending you thank four people a day. That's a good goal, to form a habit of thanking people. She gives lists of special words to jazz up your thank you notes. The book also has sentences ready to insert in your notes. There are lots of sample notes for various occasions.
   Most of it seems rather routine, but it may be a life-saver to a new bride faced with umpteen thank you notes to write for all the gifts.
   Beyond the standard, social thank yous, it shows sample thank you notes for members of your family. I like the idea of writing a note telling them why they are special in our life.
   She made one suggestion that irked me, to start a thank you chain letter. There's a ton of those on the internet and most people find them pretty annoying. Otherwise, the book had good ideas, although none really exceptional. It's just handy to have it all together.

5 comments about What Would Jackie Do?: An Inspired Guide to Distinctive Living.

1. One thing Ms. Bouvier always represented was the epitome of good taste, elegance, eloquent and proper speech, good breeding. She was sought after by the most powerful men in the world for her finesse and broad knowledge of how to entertain, how to dress, how to decorate, how to present herself out to the world.
   
   Women who aspire to the essence of character could always profit from any study of this women, even though some of the gossipy rags fail to capture what she was truly all about - good manners, decorum, family, politeness, steadfastness and caring.



2. For a generation raised on Britney Spears and Hannah Montana, this book could be a godsend. For the rest of us, it's a reminder that we are more than how we look, with some helpful advice on how to look as good as possible without sacrificing health or bank account. How to arrange your life so that you aren't a burden on anyone and a gift to those you choose. How not to be taken for granted. Exercise and fashion. Saving money. Raising children. Furnishing your mind. What nobless oblige is, and how to practice it: something today's young women get little exposure to in the guides that tell them how to be seductive. In short, there's a lot of good advice in one place. I confess I enjoyed every page.



3. I like this book. But I like Jackie and I like books that read like this. Cute, put in a guest suite for people to flip through. Reads less like an instruction book and more like a string of tiny antidotes around a specific topic. Some great stories about how Jackie dealt with her philandering men. Also, some interesting dating tactics.



4. I absolutely LOVE this book! What a breath of fresh air and it truly is a handbook for anyone interested in "distinctive living." Reading it is informational, educational, and exciting all at the same time. It really does make you want to become a better person. It covers all aspects of life from decorating, to clothing, to relationships. I highly recommend this book and will definitely read it again, and again -as it is an excellent reference to style. It is a great gift idea, as well. Buy this book, you will definitely enjoy it!



5. This was a lite read for fun and proved itself to be quite informative. Surprising
   at times, too! I've admired Jackie's style and smart presence, but now see much more behind the icon. Kind of a gossipy biography, but still interesting and useful for style perks!

3 comments about Everyday Commitments: Choosing a Life of Love, Realism, and Acceptance.

1. Clearly written, a good guide to examining life and improving the way you live. I am using one affirmation a week for 52 weeks...and will start over again next year.
   
   David Richo is a sound psychologist, a loving and wise human being, and totally non-dogmatic. He encourages you to make up your own mind...not take anyone else's word for how to live your life.



2. A well written guide to making good choices and living better. My favorite quote:
   There will never be only love or only peace, but there can be more love than we got here and more peace because we stayed here.



3. This is a book, that will lift your day, and give you a real sense that your life starts with the right perspective.

5 comments about Welcome to Your Crisis: How to Use the Power of Crisis to Create the Life You Want.

1. Thsi book is a fabulous book for those in need of solace and direction. Perfect to help in any type of crisis management situation. A must read.



2. When a disaster directly affects us--an earthquake, a hurricane, a car accident on the freeway--we respond in different ways. Writing as a widely consulted expert on adapting to change and crisis, author Laura Day explains four different reactions to crisis: denial, anxiety, rage and depression. Most of us experience one or more of these typical reactions as we respond to the sudden setbacks and unexpected difficulties of our lives.
   
   Yet instead of these largely negative reactions, Day believes we can train ourselves to respond to a crisis with positive energy, transforming what might have seemed disastrous into a life-changing experience that fills us with hope, vision, and fresh energy. The difference is not the depth or difficulty of the experience, but rather our attitude as we encounter it.
   
   Counselor to the star and guest on major TV shows, Day believes instead of fearing change, she believes, we should learn to expect change and be empowered by it. The worst of circumstances can be transformed if we are willing to adjust our perspective.
   
   As Day writes on page 77, "To be effective in your life...you need to grow from your experiences, rather than being derailed by them." This is the primary thrust of Welcome to Your Crisis, as the author teaches us that even a major disaster can become a stepping-stone to personal growth.
   
   Many of her ideas are not new, yet she explains them with a fresh voice. Readable and easy to understand, her prose keeps you moving forward, turning the pages and continuing to learn.
   
   Decide who you want to be, Day insists, rather than letting the difficult moments of life define you and limit your future. Transform the negative thoughts, attitudes and feelings
   that you encounter into warmer, more confident beliefs and values.
   
   "Good lives are not easy," Day writes on page 219, "they require daily acts of adaptation, courage, and love." Clearly, the author supports the idea that all of us can learn to face our challenges in these ways--and by doing so we can improve our own lives and the lives of those we encounter.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Thought-provoking information.



3. I felt guided to this book by a higher power -- and boy, am I glad I listened to that voice. (Or rather, to those Voices!) For so long, I was burning my candle at both ends, to steal a line from Edna St. Vincent Millay. And nothing seemed good enough, until my own personal crisis arrived. Well, needless to say, this book was -- as you can tell from the cute little life preserver on the cover art -- a lifesaver! Many blessings to you, Laura.



4. Laura Day narrates her own journey out of a crisis ... first through the tragic loss of her mother at 14 ... and then the devastating divorce that left her life in tatters ... to its gifts of healing and intuitive ability and career as a writer and speaker. Laura Day has been there herself ... a crisis ... and the stakes have been high ... but she pulled herself out of it ... and now shares the tools that became her lifeline. Day addresses the unique response styles and how you can make them work for you in a crisis. Best of all she has set up a website for this specific book with resources and group support so you need not go through this alone. I first met Laura Day at a Circle workshop on the East Coast in 2002 and returned to her work when she published the Crisis. More than any other self-help book on the market, this is stunning in its brilliant simplicity. No New Age blame game, no woo-woo, no magical thinking. A great tool to have in a self-help tool kit that keeps you empowered with YOURSELF.
   
   Day emphasizes the gift of a crisis because you cannot go back to the past. This is the best advice in the book. It is like an old episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Captain Jean-Luc Picard is given a chance to return to his youth and change destiny. Instead of having the trauma of a fight in a bar that lead to his receiving an artificial heart, Jean-Luc averts the disaster. Good? Not really because when he returns to the present he discovers that his life has been mediocre rather than stellar. In fact, he is a low-level ship mate who is not seen to have any leadership ability! The gift of his crisis was the development of impeccable judgment and calculated risk taking. Jean-Luc opts to go back and claim his sacred wound and returns again the Star Fleet legend and Captain of the Enterprise. This old storyline depicts Laura Day's wisdom on why the rock bottom of a crisis can actually be starting point of a brand new life that outshines the old.



5. Life Changing.
   
   Crisis or not, this book will help you find a new path if you let it. Your true path. The simple tools and ideas in the book provide immediate direction. Hope. Energy. I'm a big fan of this author, I absolutely adore "The Circle" and "Crisis" takes her work to great new heights.
   
   It is personal and practical and immeasurably powerful.
   
   Thank you, Laura Day.

4 comments about Self-Healing.

1. This audio CD is very relaxing. Hay has a nice, gentle voice and is easy to listen to. I also find her message quite credible and helpful.



2. Lost my original one and so I had to re-order it. It helps me calm down and sleep, and also the ideas are very healthy.



3. On this helpful cassette CD, Louise Hay provides a powerful psychological tool for healing oneself. She explains the power of memory and emotion in the healing process; she talks about her own life, how she was abused as a child and how she overcame this trauma through the application of understanding and forgiveness. It also discusses the principles of personal transformation and contains a beautiful healing meditation that includes sections on how to forgive oneself and others, how to let go of negative thoughts and how to become the optimistic, joyful and created person that we were all meant to be. Hay has a powerful reassuring voice and her words exude confidence, insight and optimism. I highly recommend this CD to all who need psychological support in physical or mental healing. In my experience it has been most effective. Also listen to her tape Meditations For Personal Healing, a series of meditations that covers all the important aspects of life and Self-Esteem: Motivational Affirmations For Building Confidence and Recognizing Self-Worth.



4. Since 1988, I have listened to Louise on cassettes. In 2003, the cassettes wore out and I now am the proud owner of 21 of her CD's and several of Louise's books. Her personal story is inspiring to me. She teaches that your thoughts can be your best friend or your enemy! And how you can change a thought! For almost 20 years, Louise has been of great assistance to me in helping me get through some rough times and move on to a happier life. On this CD, she really explains how to heal yourself and this CD has been a big help to me!

5 comments about Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.

1. 
   This is a book packed with science yet written in a style that is interesting and easy to understand. Reports of experiment after experiment systematically convince the reader.
   
   Seligman's book describes how the mental attitude of helplessness can be learned and unlearned, how helplessness both results from and exacerbates a pessimistic personality style, and how helplessness/pessimism ends in depression. A test is included so you can find if you are an optimist or a pessimist. A second test reveals if you are suffering from depression. But if you are a pessimist/depressed don't despair. Just as helplessness can be unlearned optimism can be learned and this book tells you how.
   
   Next we learn how optimistic people succeed better at work, school, sports, health, politics, religion and culture.
   
   If I have one criticism of this book it is that Seligman strangely does not provide scientific evidence that his cognitive therapy methods for learning optimism work. Instead he simply writes: "The National Institute of Mental Health has spent millions of dollars testing whether the ... [cognitive] ... therapy works on depression. It does." (p.75). A report of at least one study would have been useful at this critical point.
   
   I have suffered from depression and I found this book provided me with an invaluable technique that work for me. This is one of the very few books that I can say has changed my life.



2. It is refreshing to read a book like this showing people can change to being more optimistic, rather than all those books out there trying to convince people they have depression and they can't do anything about it but take pills for the rest of their lives.



3. Learned Optimism is a - sometimes uneasy - mix of the theoretical and the practical. Seligman is clearly captivated by his subject, which he has made his life's work. Not surprisingly then, he sees the value of an optimistic outlook in every aspect of life. It's not just that optimists do better than pessimists at school, work and sports, but they even live longer. Seligman makes the case that "the arrow points both ways": that pessimism is not a consequence but also a contributing cause of depression and that an optimistic "explanatory style" for the misfortunes of life, large and small, can actually prevent a descent into morbid depression. He even says he can predict the outcome of elections by analyzing the explanatory styles of the competing candidates - because in a head-to-head contest the most optimistic candidate will prevail.
   
   In Part 1 of the book he lays out the theoretical case for optimism and the techniques by which it can be measured. In Part 2 he describes how the optimist's advantage is played out in the different "realms of life", such as work, sports, politics, etc. In Part 3, he explains self-help techniques for moving from pessimism to optimism.
   
   I found Part 1 the most interesting - not least because I got to fill out a couple of tests to help me discern my explanatory style and determine if I was currently depressed (and how deeply). It turns out I am moderately optimistic about bad events and moderately pessimistic about good ones. But I am not at all depressed, so I guess I must have learned to live with the contradiction.
   
   Part 3 gets us into the land of the light bulb joke (where to change, the light bulb must truly desire change). I am convinced from my own experience that optimism is like a muscle that can be worked and strengthened. I also recognized in Seligman's techniques ones that I had stumbled onto myself.
   
   In the final analysis, whether the reader will find reading Learned Optimism helpful will depend on the reader. Judging by the Amazon reviews, the experience for some will be life-changing; for others not so. Perhaps underlying explanatory style may have something to do with that. Perhaps also a self-help book is not the best therapy for the truly, deeply depressed (as the book suggests, you can improve your outlook but you have to be motivated to start a mental workout routine and stick with it to see the positive results). However there is much to learn here and I would not hesitate to recommend the book to anyone interested in understanding more about the origin and effect of individual explanatory styles - including one's own - and what can be done to change them.



4. I found out that a) I am a pragmatic realist w/ an optimist's bent and b)if i choose to apply what I've read it can make a difference in my outlook and in everyday as well as professional problem solving.



5. This book tells how to be more optimistic and gives solid scientific reasons why depression is associated with feelings of helplessness. In my search to achieve a more positive and productive life I have read many self-help books. Most are theories devoid of any compelling scientific rationale. Once you are exposed to the ideas in Learned Optimism you find them so rational that they become second nature. I knew of cognitive therapy but never the research that preceded it. I find that knowing the research behind the theory makes the mechanics of cognitive therapy totally intuitive.
   
   Don't be put-off by the tests that comprise chapters three and four. These are useful, scientifically proven tests that have little in common with the tests that litter the average self-help book.
   
   If there are any flaws in this book it may be the overuse of dialogs demonstrating how to learn to be an optimist. These are useful for those not familiar with cognitive therapy but I found them a bit repetitive.

5 comments about First You Have to Row a Little Boat: Reflections on Life & Living.

1. My favorite quotation . . . "For the truth is that I already know as much about my fate as I need to know. The day will come when I will die. So the only matter of consequence before me is what I will do with my allotted time. I can remain on shore, paralyzed with fear, or I can raise my sails and dip and soar in the breeze." This is much more than a book about sailing. Bode's words ring of honesty and truth. This book inspired me to "raise my sails" back in 1997 and they are still up today.



2. I'm a rower, so this book may have fallen into my hands by mistake. But I enjoy sailing one-man boats, too. There are some sweet stories in this book. I didn't hate it or anything. But the overall emotional effect seemed contrived or prepackaged. I don't object to the hokeyness--I LIKE hokey!--but very chapter is a pat lesson from sailing that maps perfectly to life. Give me a break. The effect is charming at first, but eventually it's cloying and a little silly.
   
   Contra one of the blurbs on the cover, I suspect one's enjoyment of this little book will be inversely related to one's familiarity with sailing. The less you know the more you may like it. (This is not borne out by a quick scan of the reviews, but only a small percentage of readers write reviews. I suspect a microscopic percentage write negative ones.) There's a rowing book that comes to mind here: MIND OVER WATER. It just didn't seem that deep to me. It didn't seem as if the guy really knew that much about rowing.
   
   Books like this create a nice illusion of emotional depth, in my opinion. There's a market for that, which is fine by me. Bad breath is better than no breath at all.



3. This is a great book. The book really isn't about sailing. It's about life. The writing is outstanding. To all the fools who reviewed this book as a sailing instruction guide really missed the point. Too bad because there are few very poignant lessons in the text. It's not a book for caveman though. It's probably read better by either men who have some sensitivity or romanticism. I highly recommend this book.



4. I've looked for this book for years and finally found it. It was sent promply and in perfect shape. Good job, guys!



5. I love this book. It has a lot of good advice and metaphors for living. When life gets me down, and I feel lost, I often reread this book to help me through. I originally got this book as a hardback as a gift. I lent it to someone who never returned it and had to repurchase it. Unfortunately, I could only find this paperback version. Although not a religious book, this is a good complement to the Bible for advice on life.

5 comments about Chicken Soup for the Girl's Soul: Real Stories by Real Girls About Real Stuff (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

1. Me and my daughter enjoyed this book a lot. It tought me as a mother and my daughter soooo much about love and being loved. Some stories had my daughter in tears and some had here screaming of laughter. Please buy this for any girl that loves reading. A great investment in their education.



2. I enjoyed this book and found it comforting to see what other girl's my age were going through, and that I am not alone. I know that thousands of other girls who read that book felt that way too. Many of the topics are everyday topics that every girl goes through, but some of the topics may be too mature for some girls. There are stories of body changes, suicide, death, cutting, and drinking. I didn't find these stories too shocking because I know these things go on in the world. But do be aware, girls under the age of 8 DEFINITELY shouldn't read this book. Girls ages 9 through 11 who don't know about these issues shouldn't read this book because it might frighten them. All in all this book is very good but parents with girls younger than 12 should see if their girl(s) is/are fammiliar with these topics and even then should think about letting their child read this book.



3. This book was great! I honestly think that the reviews from concerned parents were ridiculous. You're not always going to be there holding their hand, and protecting them, so let them go a little and let them learn, they will get a lot out of this book if you don't make a big deal about it. If they know right from wrong, then, they know right from wrong, and this book won't change that. It will teach them lessons that can't be learned in school, just through life experiences, and through hearing others life experiences, (this book!!!) So, there's nothing to worry about, this book is perfect for girls of any age, and I can guarentee that any girl reading this book will get a lot more good out of it than bad.



4. I have heard so many great things about this book and very few that were bad comments. Many girls are really experiencing these things like getting bras for instance. I read a very funny chapter about a girl who needs a bra but is not at all wanting one and she thinks she needs a training bra but really needs an A cup! I would recommend this book for kids 10 and up because it has some parts that wouldn't be appropriate for kids 9, 8, 7 etc. They are REAL stories about REAL girls that REALLY happened! I recommend that you have you parents read about the parts about stuff like suicide and stuff like that. I love the book so far and even though I'm not done with it I am enjoying it very much! I hope this reveiw was helpful!



5. The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know EverythingAs a positive psychologist and the author of a book for kids and their moms, I am always looking for uplifting reading material for the 9-12 year old. And once again, the Chicken Soup series has come through. Here is the perfect book for your daughter or neice. She will love the moving and inspirational stories in this book. And I'm sure it will trigger in her some uplifting feelings and thoughts about her own life. For example, the story Miracle Babies is a winner. The girl who wrote it had a chance to prove to herself that she had really witnessed a miracle-the birth of twins, Booke and Brianne. She no longer had to wait for a miracle, it had happened and she loved being part of it. This story is not only uplifting but will remind kids that miracles have already happened in their lives, too. They just have to notice and enjoy. As a matter of fact, that is true for all of us! So once more we see, that any of the Chicken Soup books can be read by all of us. They are universal bowls of restorative soup for the soul.

5 comments about Sylvia Browne's Lessons for Life.

1. I believe you are referring to Deu 18:10 - 12. I make more typos than most..lol. Anyway, this chapter is addressing the Levites (Tribe of Levi) only. We should not pick and choose phrases and use them out of context.
   
   Also, if you really want to understand the "Old Testament", read some good research books from the Jewish Publication Society or the Jewish Lights Publishers.
   
   Her books are good, not great. Nothing new inside but it is a good way to bring Gnosticism and Spiritism to lay people. Allan Kardec stated most of what is contained in her books in his works.
   
   This particular little book is good mainly for the CDRom.



2. I think when Silvia first started writing she was good but I'm sorry her last few books including this one are sarcastic and weak. The depth is not there and the joke cracking is out of line. I learned nothing here like I did in her earlier books Waste of money.



3. My daughter in law mentioned this book in 2005 to me mentioning how much she would love it, no she is not subtle. So I bought it for myself. It was quite good but not bragging I am beyond alot of what was in the book. But I did give it 4 stars because I bought it this year and sent it to her and my son and hopefully they will learn something out of it. So far don't think so since they are ruder and even more unapreciative than before. Sylvia is excellent and I have many other of her books.



4. I found this book to be just what I needed it to be. Feeling trapped and depressed it bought me back to life and made me realize I am the one in control of my happiness and in how others treat me and in who I allow in my life. Once again I have to hand it to Sylvia, just the fact that positive things are happening to me now, proves to me whatever powers she possesses, she has the power to make me feel good about myself.!!! Isn't that the most important thing in life? Highly recommended reading



5. What can i say i love all her books. Interesting and gives you lots to think about, but a down to earth approch.