5 comments about Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On!: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too.

1. Oh my gosh! If you're a Southern girl, you're gonna love this book! On every single page, I read something that reminds me of my Southern Mama and Grandmother, or that reminds me of something my sister and I did growing up. Quite frequently, I find myself laughing out loud, so don't read it in the middle of strangers unless you're prepared to either explain why you're laughing or just put up with the curious glances you'll get. This is a great book to pick up if you only have a few minutes here and there. There are so many little anecdotes that you could start reading on any page and read for an hour or just a few minutes and still get as much out of it. When you pick it up again, you won't feel lost like you do with some books. This is what you need to read if you want to feel good or be reminded of good family memories. I can't wait to finish it so I can pass it on to my mother, sister and daughter. When I get it back, I plan to read it again! As a bonus, it's filled with good Southern recipes!!



2. My favorite feature of this book, in addition to Tomlinson's superb portrayal of true Southern Girls and their Mamas, is all of her fans' input about the advice their own mamas gave them over the years. The words of wisdom are nuggets of prose. I'm so glad it's all written down in this handy reference guide, not only as a reminder of who we are and where we come from, but also as an informative compilation for the world at large.
   
   This is one to read, and then read again. You'll have to tell your girlfriends to get their own copies.
   
   Lucy Adams, author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny



3. I am a huge fan of Shellie's (and have been since listening to the audio version of Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road) so I knew I would enjoy her latest book. Shellie could be my little sister. It's like we were raised by the same woman! Suck Your Stomach In helped this 48-year-old woman relive my own amazing childhood by triggering old, long-forgotten memories, and I cannot thank Shellie enough! I recently gave a copy to my dear Southern Mama as a birthday gift and she's loving it, too.
   
   Get this book for your Mama, your sisters, and even your men who were raised by a Southern Mama. They'll love it!



4. I've been getting Shellie's newsletter "All things Southern" for years. She has a wonderful sense of humor. This is the type of book you wouldn't be ashamed to buy for your momma or your grandmomma, and these days, that's saying something! I'm going to buy a few more copies for gifts.



5. I laughed out loud because I had heard this advice all my life. Everyone would be better off if we followed the words of wisdom in this jewel of a book. The recipes are great, too!

5 comments about How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls.

1. Seriously, this tells you HOW TO BE POPULAR, in the sense of being "well-liked". Dale Carnegie's daughter reveils the socializing secrets for girls here.
   
   It's one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. This is an easy read, and it changed my life in terms of my social interactions. I really wish I had it back in middle school in high school so I could have had a lot more friends!
   
   Adults, buy this book for the teen girls in your life...they'll love you for it. Girls, get this book as soon as you can. You'd be depriving yourself if you pass this by. Believe the hype, this is truly an excellent book.



2. Childhood ends at the age of 13 and it's when problems start coming in. Friendship quarrels, parent-daughter fights, even boy problem.
   
   This books deals with any problems a girl gets in her teenhood. Being a teen is not easy, especially when you're a girl.
   
   I'm 15 and am studying in a girls school. You won't believe the amount of backfighting girls get in a year. You don't even know who's your friend anymore. Discrimination takes place on nerds and geeks. Mother-daughter trouble (it's funny why only the mother gets all the problems while she was the one who gave birth),laziness (it's always when you're a teen that you lose all your interest in studying, this applies to most teens).
   
   This book teaches you how to prevent from discriminating, how to make people like you by avoiding arguments, giving an ear to a conversation, smiling and being humble.
   
   It's a question why most girls now have to cope with so much stress at such young ages. This book also teaches you how to lessen stress.
   
   All in all, Girls must read this book! It can save your life and your reputation.
   
   Kirstie Mabitad



3. Of course, I did not read this particular book but I did read the original "How to Win Friends and Influence People" title, and neither purport to solve the *social* issues that the School Library Journal reviewer would have liked.
   
   It's a shame we cannot give our teens a guide and send them off to the library - we've got 'better' things to do like watch CSI or American Idol, right? God forbit we get off our butts and parent our children on social drinking, date rape, etc. Let's leave that to the shrink authors, Right?
   
   This book is NOT about those issues, and it does no good to slam it because it is not. It may be like complaining that my mathematics book has no biology in it. I do not see the point. Of course, that is just my opinion and I could be missing the boat here.
   
   It is about how to behave socially and interact with people and make them feel good about meeting you, how to avoid unecessary confrontation; how to handle confrontation when it is unavoidable; how to avoid resentment from the people you meet. Etcetera, etcetera. All good active, social-building skills that us old-timers from the 50's-60's seem to have not forgotten about, yet the so-called "Neo's" frown upon because it seems like a sort of concession to their peers.
   
   Don't believe it.
   
   You'll get way further if you follow the advice in this book.
   
   
   



4. How come none of the reviewers noted that most of the advice in this book is completely obvious and basic? Most people should already know this stuff: be a good listener, don't complain, don't act fake, etc. This guide is only for the teen that is clueless on how to act. I'm a fifteen year old, and this guide has not helped me any. Save your money.



5. This book gives good advice for REAL situations that are often encountered. The advice is good in that it encourages girls to "let it go" rather than holding a grudge, explains how to keep the peace with their parents, and is chock full of good examples. The advice is geared more towards teen situations (or tweens) but is good advice to anyone!

5 comments about I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book: A Commonsense Guide to Successful Internet Dating.

1. I thought this book contained information on dating relations via the internet that no other book on the market has displayed. I really enjoyed reading it and found loads of information--for a man or a woman. The authors really seemed to know their stuff and gave out vital information. This book came highly recommended and I was glad I bought it. [...]



2. There is a right way and wrong way to go about online dating. I had been doing it the wrong way. Some of the tips he gives I had never even thought about before and realize he is exactly right. This is one of the rare books I intend to read again just to make sure everything sinks in. Anyway I have been heeding his advice and there is no greater proof that it works than by the results I have been having...CUTE women contacting me and responding to me. I have a date this week that I am actually looking forward to going on.



3. This one is easy to read and does have some tips if you know NOTHING about internet dating. However, much of the information is outdated and not very helpful.



4. If you buy this book, you may very well end up hitting yourself over the head with something near at hand (probably the book itself) and exclaiming "I can't believe I bought this book!" Luckily, the worthless book in question is also mercifully brief and bound in paper, so hopefully you will do no more than emotional damage to your psyche. That's about the only positive thing you will be able to say about the experience of either reading or hitting yourself over the head with this book. The written contents are a mix of the amazingly obvious and the horribly shallow and sexist. A good book on organic gardening is more likely to help you attract a romantic partner.



5. I disagree with the negative comments some others wrote about this book. Judging from what I see on the dating sites, a lot of people are going about this wrong. So, it is not outdated nor is it simple common sense that every one already knows. Instead it has relevant and useful tips on making your profile stand out. Your communications will be more effective and your online dating experience will be better overall. Lastly, he writes about all this with a great sense of humor.

5 comments about Maximum Influence: The 12 Universal Laws of Power Persuasion.

1. Here, in one place, is a consolidated list, with examples, of the major ways people are persuaded to change behavior.



2. This is the best and most comprehensive work on human nature and mind dynamics I have read. A must read for any salesperson or any one interested in bringing out the best in people. A very easy read with numerous every day examples of the Laws in action. Simple tools for major improvements in our communicatian skills.



3. This book is fantastic, it not only explains the importance of each law but it also verbalises it in a way where it's very easy to understand



4. A very practical book that seems to have pretty well everything you would want to know about persuasion in one easy to read volume. He has 12 laws that make sense as well as a checklist to ensure you have the best chance to persuade your audience. Definitely a library keeper, especially if you are a salesperson, in marcomm, or a speaker/presenter. Lesson reinforced, information helps persuade, emotion sells the deal. The twelve power laws are:
   
   Dissonance
   
   Obligation
   
   Connectivity
   
   Social Validation
   
   Scarcity
   
   Verbal Packaging
   
   Contrast
   
   Expectations
   
   Involvement
   
   Esteem
   
   Association
   
   Balance



5. Maximum Influence is superior to any books written about influence! Kurt did a great job teaching influence in his book and Maximum Influence is not only a fun read, but is written in a way that makes it easy to apply the principles taught.

5 comments about The View From The Studio Door: How Artists Find Their Way In An Uncertain World.

1. This is a must read for any artist or aspiring artist. It will help you to understand yourself, your art, and your audience. The View From The Studio Door is part philosophy, part psychology, part history, and entirely authentic, entertaining and enlightening. The author is very articulate in a down-to-earth and entertaining way. Original insights are spread throughout the book and it's margins. On one page you will be in awe of the philosophical insights that are revealed and on the next page you will enjoy the author's delightful sense of humor. On the next page you may learn something about yourself and your art. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite passages. " In 1927 a young Ansel Adams made one of his most famous photographs: Monolith-The Face of Half Dome. Or more accurately, he made a photograph that several of his friends thought was very nice....It appeared as a gritty halftone in a newsletter of the local chapter of the Sierra Club....Finally, a half-century after it's first appearance, Monolith appeared in a Time magazine cover story about Adams accompanied by the headline "Ansel Adams: GOD'S FIRST ART DIRECTOR.""
   
   The author, Ted Orland, is co-author of the book Art and Fear that is also a wonderful read for artists in all disciplines.
   Art and Fear is one of the top 4,209 best selling books on Amazon.com. Although we do not usually consider ranking #4,209 an badge of sucess, this is a remarkable accomplishment for a book that has artists as it's primary audience. The View From The Studio Door is a very worthy next read for any artist.



2. This book is a pretty good read in that it outlines some of the issues surrounding being an artist in today's society. It is more cursory than comprehensive. Basically it points out the issues but doesn't really delve into them very deeply. If you are already an artist it won't give you that much more insight than you probably already have, however it will serve to point you in thinking in the right direction.
   
   For the price I guess it's worth reading. I cannot recommend it as a 'must buy' but I also cannot say stay away from it.



3. I'm just another artist with a day job, and while I may know, at some level, many of the ideas in this book, it is completely worth the time it took to read and the money it cost to buy. I read it twice right away, actually, and it will join Art & Fear in my flight carry-on because they're good books for times when you can't make your own art.
   
   I particularly relish the way Ted speaks to artists in all media; there's far too much "truth for every artist" that turns out to be for painters only.
   
   I come away strengthened, encouraged, set back on my path. I am doing the right thing and I don't have to know where this path leads. It did used to be different for artists but it's not that way now and make your art anyway.
   
   Heck, a therapist or a creativity coach will charge a lot more and take a lot longer to get you to the same place!
   
   If I were writing the book, I would devote much less space to art students, but perhaps my distaste for that chapter has its roots in major-envy, in that I want to believe life would be different if only I'd recognized a path earlier. And yet probably my life would have been much the same if I had, only with no insurance.
   
   Own the book. It's doesn't cost much, and it's worth it. Someone over in the Art & Fear reviews noted that all the used copies are completely covered in highlighting and margin notes. My copy of View is well on its way to the same end.



4. I liked this book, though I didn't think it was as meaningful (at least to me) as Art and Fear. I related quite well to some of the chapters, and thought others were just written for the sake of filling up the pages.



5. After years of struggling with the question, "Am I really an artist?" I finally got my answer. For some reason, I had convinced myself that unless I lived an angst-ridden, eat-or-make-art existence, I wasn't really a true artist.
   
   Once I read this book, though, I learned that art isn't about lifestyle...it's about what you DO with your life, how you choose to live it.
   
   For addressing such weighty issues as "the making of Art," The View is an easy read, and chock full of motivation and inspiration and all the other good "-tions" that are too numerous to list here. I've read it once (unless you count the passages I read several times in a row, just because I liked them so much), and know that it will be a perennial favorite. Possibly more than once a year, if I find I need a little positive reinforcement (a literary kick in the rear, so to speak).
   
   If you're an artist, think you might be an artist, want to be an artist, were once an artist, could possibly some day in the future be an artist, or even just know an artist, it's worth reading. Heck, if you just like art, it's worth reading. It'll give you some insight into what exactly goes into making art. It's way more than just the materials and a learned skill set!

5 comments about Don't Give It Away! : A Workbook of Self-Awareness and Self-Affirmations for Young Women.

1. I found this book to be very helpful to me as to how to better understand myself as well as my teenage daughter. This is a great reccomendation for all teenage girls who are becoming women.



2. This book changed the way I viewed myself in this world. It really helped me change from a depressed teen to someone who sees themself as a smart, beautiful and loving person. I did a presentation of this book and the presentation actually changed lives. A must for teen girls!!!



3. Iyanla is a very influential and inspirational author. She would be a top five person to talk to in my lifetime. I reccommend everything she has to write or say.



4. This book will very good for your young girl or teen-ager. The workbook has space for journaling and is a great self esteem builder.



5. I brought this book for two young girls. They both have told me that they love the book and it has help them to love themselves more. It has made them think about there self value in a way they never thought about. They both loved the book

5 comments about The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness.

1. Spend just a single day being completely aware of where your thoughts lead you. How often does your mind wander? How much time do you find yourself recalling or analyzing things that happened in your past? How much time do you spend worrying about what might happen in the future? What stories do you make up about yourself in your wanderings? Are you self-sacrificing, underappreciated, and undervalued? Are you hardworking and eagerly climbing the ladder of success? Are you bitter that everyone else seems to catch a break but you get nothing?
   
   Anyone who has ever tried this exercise knows that the majority of our time is spent anywhere but at the present moment. We fixate on the past, we fantasize about the future, we create self serving stories in our minds, and we judge others. Very little of our time is actually fully focused on what we are doing and feeling in this exact moment. So in essense, we rarely focus on the here and now, on the moment.
   
   The Mandala of Being guides the reader to a better understanding of this very human process explaining that these seemingly harmless distractions actually color the way we see ourselves. Basically, all of these stories do two things. They either feed our ego so that we feel that we are somebody special (hiding the underlying feeling that we are not enough as we are) or we opening berate ourselves. The end result in both cases is the same, it reinforces the notion that somehow we have to be, act, or have something specific in order to be valuable human beings.
   
   The simple solution is to have our thoughts stay in the here and now, to see events for what they really are, and to get in touch with our true selves. This may be easy to say but it is extremely hard to do. The Mandala of Being teaches us how to make a start in this attempt and how to counteract some of the major obstacles on this path.



2. If you are interested in living more completely in the now then this book is for you. Richard Moss, MD shows us why and how we habitually obstruct our innate potential for what Richard calls radical aliveness as said by Deepak Chopra.
   
   If you want to take a close look at yourself then this book is for you. How simple and direct Dr. Moss is.
   
   Happy Reading
   
   Chekawa



3. Dr. Moss brings awareness to all of us. In these chaotic times, I respect him greatly for speaking to the "fear factor" that has been created in our culture. He gives structure to consciously choose to become more "awake" in our own life. If we want a better world, we can not live in fear. I challenge readers to become informed.



4. This book not only talks about living in Awareness, but also gives an actual tool that we can use in our most ordinary days. A tool that makes sense. Dr. Moss writes in plain English about practice, action and becoming more enlightened.
   This book speaks to the Universal Consciousness that lives in each of us.
   It allows us to see ourselves as who we think we are, and to shed those stories to become more present in who we truly are.
   A very wonderful, personal, and extraordinary book. I wish everyone on the planet would read it! I went back and bought over 10 more copies to give as gifts. I feel it is that important of a book.



5. I demarcate (thank goodness that's not a story (-:)) reading Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment as a significant event in my awareness of consciousness. Reading Moss's "Mandala of Being "The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness I sense as similarly significant. I find myself struggling not to get into a fruitless intellectual (read ego) exercise of trying to contrast and compare Tolle and Moss and instead see it as one more refrain of "one teaching; many teachers," and smile and enter the Now. Tolle speaks of an infinite number of portals to the Now available in each moment if we will but allow them. Moss's "The Mandala of Being" is such a portal for me and I invite you to taste and see for yourself.

3 comments about El Poder de Mantenerse Enfocado: Como dar en el blanco financiero, personal y de negocios con absoluta certeza.

1. Realmente es un libro excelente. Para las personas que tienen dificultad en enfocarse en las cosas que realmente son importantes este LIBRO da pautas y t?cticas ?tiles para lograr un nivel de enfoque que maximice la productividad.



2. Este es uno de los pocos audiolibros que he he escuchado y que realmente van al grano con consejos practicos que de realizarlos tu vida en question de enfoque, es mejorada significativamente, ya que de no serlo, pues de que vale tener tanto potencial o preparacion si no existe el enfoque necesario para llevar las cosas a cabo? Que es realmente lo que todos nos preguntamos a veces. He aqui una buena alternativa: Adquiere este CD y practica por lo menos el 20% y te sorprenderas!



3. Les recomiendo la versión AUDIO MP3 de Piense y Hágase Rico Piense y hagase rico

5 comments about Terry: My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism.

1. 'Terry' is the heart-wrenching tale of the life and death of Terry, daughter of George McGovern. I was reduced to tears in the book's first 40 pages as he recounts her tragic death. The book was very personal to me because I have lost a daughter (in an auto accident) and alcohol abuse and dependence have disrupted my life. Of course, the setting is familiar to me as a resident of the Madison area (indeed the Teresa McGovern Treatment Center is located adjacent to my favorite local place to walk). And McGovern's quixotic 1972 presidential campaign was the first of many political campaigns upon which I have worked.
   
   Teresa McGovern simply could not stop drinking and in the end effectively drank herself to death. The book tells the excruciatingly sad tale how this bright, sensitive girl grew into an alcohol dependent. Despite untold attempts by herself and her family to get her to stop drinking, in the end the booze won.
   
   The book is a cautionary tale for 'recovered alcoholics' - Terry did stop drinking for some 8 years and had several other substantial bouts of sobriety. In the end, sobriety was more painful than drinking despite the incredibly painful consequences of her drinking. If you think you have the booze beaten, remember that it lurks in wait for you.
   
   The book does highlight the lack of any predictably succesful treatment for alcoholism. She tried many times to get cured, although she did not, apparently, try any non-AA programs. In one section McGovern simply records police, hospital, and detox center reports as she was taken repeatedly to detox. At the end of her life she was basically drinking to the point of incoherence and incontinence every day. One does wonder why the authorities did not attempt to have her committed involuntarily - but whether that would that have worked is highly doubtful.
   
   One thing McGovern does not mention is the woefully inadequate insurance coverage for AODA treatment. Even if you have insurance, it is likely that your policy severely limits the amount that will be paid to cover treatment.
   
   A powerful, honest, deeply felt book. The reader wants to reach out to McGovern and remind him that, in fact, he did try to help his daughter, it didn't work and her death from alcohol abuse really was not his fault. To drink or not to drink - only the drinker decides.



2. This is a brave story for Senator McGovern and his family to tell. By writing this book they have taken some of the shame out of alcoholism and told a real account of the devistation alcoholism takes on the alcoholic and everyone that comes in touch with them. I really appreciated their taking the time to write this helpful book.



3. This is an incredibly sad book. I remember George McGovern's run for president as well as the excitement of that time. Reading his take on it around his daughter's alcoholism changes the memory to one much more personal. It's also a really good portrayal of the decent of the alcoholic. From being a good, daddy's girl, to passing out in the snow. The story is all there and true blue. There is some advice from George to other parents of alcoholics. What he would do if he could do it all over again. I recommend this book to anyone with an alcoholic in their lives, but it's not for the faint of heart. He doesn't pull many punches.



4. This time when I saw this paperback book in one of my favorite bookstores I decided I would buy it. I have a friend that said she had a hard time putting it down. I would say that I would rather put it down--and not pick it up again. I had a hard time plodding through this memoir. I did find the last part of the book where notations are made of the last few weeks of her life are the most interesting part of the book..the most moving and memorable parts. Otherwise this book was a big waste of my time. :(



5. This book is a must-read for families struggling with the devastating consequences of alcoholism and addiction. Nothing says it better than personal experience. It should be read by alcoholics, addicts and those of us who made it into recovery, as a stark reminder of how life for us could have turned out. I read it several years ago and carry the message with me every day. I am going to give a copy to my daughter who struggles with alcohol.

5 comments about Guerrilla Networking: A Proven Battle Plan to Attract the Very People You Want to Meet.

1. Not only has reading this book by Monroe Mann and Jay Conrad Levinson literally blown me away but it has also touched my heart very deeply. Once I started reading the first few pages, I was unable to put the book away and read it all in one evening! I now feel greatly inspired and confident I will be able to attract a number of key people I have been wanting to meet for years. Guerrilla Networking is mandatory reading for anyone who is serious enough about becoming the very person people want to meet and do business with! Monroe and Jay have truly redefined the art of networking to a level that will inpire millions for years to come. Regardless of your networking abilities, I highly recommend you read this book at the earliest.



2. I just finished reading this book and have nothing but great things to say about it. It presents a revolutionary (and effective) way of looking at networking- "becoming the type of person others want to meet". Don't we all want this?
   
   It's well written, full of great tips and ideas, and is truly inspiring. Truly inspiring! Highly recommended for entrepreneurs, actors/artists, and everyone else who wants to take control of their careers and lives.
   
   I'm looking forward to reading Monroe's next book!
   
   -Nelly Odessa
   Actress/ Entrepreneur
   [...]



3. I finished this book in two days; it's easy to read and keeps you going. The principle is really simple, but gets you to think (and compare the discussed strategy with the traditional networking method).
   
   In addition, it includes very motivating and inspiring stories.
   
   Finally, in the end of the book, it helps you get closer to your goals by providing a step-by-step sorta thing that will get you closer to your goals in life. It's not expensive and it was defenitely worth the money.



4. If you use the advice in this book you will be unstoppable. People will be drawn to you. You won't have to go to them. It is like Jay Conrad Levinson and Monroe Mann wrote this book just for me. This is exactly the advice I need to launch my new business. Before I read this book I didn't know how I was going to go about launching my new business, now I can't wait to put the advice in this book into action. It is going to be so much easier for me now to become the type of person people want to meet. Maryann Caravaglia



5. This book has just one main idea, which is hard to ever work
   
   it is not easy and not achievable by 99% of the people
   
   this book is unreal and without many links to reality...