5 comments about The Memory Workbook: Breakthrough Techniques to Exercise Your Brain and Improve Your Memory.

1. 
   Worried because you forgot some of the items you were supposed to pick up at the grocery? Afraid that your memory lapses may signal impending Alzheimer's disease?
   
   Ease your mind. This book will help you do just that by explaining memory and providing some very helpful techniques for memory improvement.
   
   Along with the surprisingly enjoyable exercises, Mason and Kohn address the kinds of memory loss that are reversible and discuss why certain types of memory degrade with age. They discuss specific drugs that elderly folk often take and explain what their memory consequences might be. They also discuss the role of diet in memory and offer tips for diet and supplements backed up by the latest research.
   
   Instead of giving up and giving in, help an elder improve their memory. Help yourself to a memory like a steel trap instead of a spaghetti strainer. Get this book, do the exercises, and develop a great memory - no matter what your age!
   
   Five stars!
   
   Phyllis Staff, Ph.D.
   author, "How to Find Great Senior Housing"
   and
   "128 Ways to Prevent Alzheimer's and Other Dementias"



2. My wife and I decided to investigate our aging memory and started with many other books and programs before finding "The Memory Workbook". This was the last book that we purchased. The book is long and at times difficult and challenging but what a difference we both notice in our memory! This is hands down the best hands on self paced memory program out there. There is a nice section on specific memory disorders and resources.



3. I now have the skills to better understand how my memory works and how to utelize it



4. Although this book was written especially with seniors in mind, a person actually needs to want to get a better memory. A need to want to get better is motivated by prior experience.
   
   My mother had neither the best education nor the most motivating parents, so I can see how see how a senior with better upbringing could make good use of this book.
   
   As for those like my mother who prefers TV and videos for intellectual stimulation I believe that the Memory Workbook could easily be formatted to a learning type DVD.
   
   In fact, I believe a video would be even more effective in the style of NLP mind control experts like Derren Brown and Keith Barry. Mind Control (along with proper exercise and essential nutrients) is at the core of a good memory and can be affected within a few minutes with the proper programming.



5. If you are a boomer growing concerned about remembering where you left your keys, don't waste money on this book. Perhaps this was written for the very elderly who have never learned to improve their self-esteem, but that's old news for boomers. This book is very poorly written (the grammar is atrocious) -- it shows that anybody can write a book in these days of desktop publishing and cheap printing. It is filled with clap-trap, and never delivers what it promises to sell. Two thumbs down!

5 comments about If You Want It Done Right, You Don't Have to Do It Yourself!: The Power of Effective Delegation.

1. This is a very clever and entertaining story that teaches simple, important steps for more effective time, work, and life management. Delegation is difficult for many of us successful people, but Dr. Genett inspires us to stretch for the purposes of stress reduction and optimal performance.
   Highly recommend.



2. I expected more concrete advice regarding follow up and accountability. Also, I find "Minute Mangager"-style business parables annoying. The book has some good points, though they could have been presented in a couple pages of punchy prose.



3. Some parables are great stories, but not "real world stories". This book made sense to me!
   
   Similar to the One Minute Manager books, but the two main characters are not "super hero types".
   
   Excellent summaries on key points, and an executive summary list at the end of the book.
   
   A fun, easy read that could help you become a more effective delegator.



4. You can read this one in about an hour, but you will probably want to read it twice. Excellent refresher or beginner for managers. I was surprised how a little self-reflection prompted by this book helped me hone my delegation skills. I have a colleague who keeps the 'quick reference' that comes with the book on hand at all times, and uses the steps to review his project list every week. The story is a bit simplistic, but it gets the point across.



5. The ability to effectively delegate is one of the most important attributes of a strong leader. This book dissects the act of delegation and sections it into definable and repeatable steps, creating a process. This book should be taught in MBA courses. My entire staff has read this book and strives to practice its lessons.

5 comments about The Best Little Girl in the World.

1. While this book is entertaining and even "informative", it is dangerous. Over the years I know that much blame has been put on this book and even on the author, however, I think that it is the "informative" nature that makes it so dangerous. I remember reading it for the first time (at age 11) and while I don't remember a clear "wow, anorexia is cool" thought going through my mind - it definitely opened a door. Being a (naturally thin) gymnast and model, I think the book gave me ideas I wouldn't have had yet. Do I blame the book? Not entirely. Would I let my daughter read it? Definitely not. Choosing to starve myself to be thin has had repercussions that will last the rest of my life - I will always regret reading that book and making that choice.



2. 
   I'm a nineth grader in a small town and am being told to read this book for my English class. My teacher spent valuable budget money on a class set of this junk and I'm severely appalled.
   
   First thing first, this book is hardly appropriate for a guy to read and is not school suitable, either. It also contains a good deal of profain language.
   
   It appears to have the capability of reverse physcology and is definately dangerous. If you're shallow enough to just take it with a grain of salt and only read enough to write the report....it's great, but if you read into it......it's just strange. It almost encourages anorexia nervosa. Definately plenty of stereotyping as well.
   
   Good punctuation, though....kudos to the editor.
   
   
   Verdict: Not Suitable for Teenage Girls, Guys of any Age, High School Students, and of-their-rocker English teachers.
   
   Anabelle W., Age 15



3. Both my teenage daughter and I read this book. It gave us both a great insight into how one small comment can change a persons perception of their self. The book was a eye-opener for me because I was not aware of the impact comments about a persons body shape can have on them. A persons mind can have a very strong hold over their body and this book goes into detail of this effect. It also shows that these girls are not the only one's to be in this situation and that there is help available, albeit via hospitalisation and counselling. I am amazed that this book was first published so many years ago, when anoxeria nervosa seems to be a relatively recent 'disease'.



4. Its good. I dont really care for the way it was written in a little girl's point of view. That, I can't relate to. I think it was a nice story though...



5. I don't know if reading this book as a teen (in the early 90's) helped me understand myself and the fact that I had/have an eating disorder, or if it possibly reinforced my ED. I still struggle today, as a 30's-something mother and wife, with food in every aspect. Sometimes I think back to reading this book and wonder if I should love it (for letting me know I wasn't alone) or hate it (for letting me know I wasn't alone).
   
   I give this book a 5-star rating because I feel that the issue of ED and young girls is something important to understand and discuss. With the following considerations:
   
   I would suggest not allowing your child to read it without supervision. However, DO read it with your child and give them the opportunity to talk to you openly about their feelings.
   
   This is a good read for parents who have or might suspect they have a child with an ED - it will help you understand what it really does feel like to be 'that kid'.
   
   One more bit of advice: EDs aren't truly about food/body image, they are about the level of CONTROL one can gain over a certain aspect of one's life... especially if they are feeling powerless or inadequate in other aspects.

5 comments about Journalution: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life and Manifest Your Dreams.

1. I've kept a journal for over 30 years, but books like Journalution fascinate me. On my own, I tend to settle into a mundane description of what I did that day, complete with "lunched at Burger King." etc.
   A journal can be so much more, and this book certainly gets your mind to working and your ink flowing in new directions. The author also has a website with archives of her online newsletter. They include journaling prompts so you can sample her technique and see what it does for you.



2. This book is a great help if you are learning to journal or you are stuck in your process.



3. This is the greatest book I have read on journaling. Sandy Grayson gives an abundance of ideas to jumpstart the reader on the path to journaling. Sandy
   makes journaling fun, easy, and healing! Thanks Sandy!



4. This is a great book to help you get started. The prompts are phenomenal...they'll get you thinking about yourself in ways you haven't before. The prompts will also give you new ways to think of your world and and your spirituality. If you're looking to discover yourself, the way you really think, feel, and who you truley are...not the way the world or media says you should think and feel, but what your true self says...then buy this book! Sandy is a wonderful writer and has an innate ability to help you discover and search the depths of your soul.



5. I like the book very much. It is the type of book you read , put down to digest, and then pick up and read again. I love it!

5 comments about The 12 Steps : A Way Out : A Spiritual Process for Healing.

1. I started recommending this book to clients back in the 80s, when the first edition came out. There is a reason it's still in print and widely available after all these years.



2. The 12 Step: A Way Out is a spectacular book that combines the process of the 12 Step programs with the critical spiritual aspects of recovery that often take years to extract out of secular based 12 programs. The book focuses on the healing power of God in the recovery process and gently guides the reader through a spiritual recovery process. Biblical citation are given for every prinicple in the 12 step program and are useful for Christian who desires to maintain a biblical perspective to their recovery. The book is an essential tool for the recovery process and gives the reader a unique view and relationship with God throughout recovery.



3. This book, worked in a group, any group desiring to make changes in their life, will change anyone to be a better person and in believing in spiritual being. I have been in a group for 12 years using this book. I can speak very enthusiastically about this.....if a person wants to know who they really are.



4. The 12 Steps: A way out:A spiritual process for Healing.
   I am very pleased with my purchase. All books were new from Amazon. I was very impressed with the speed in delivery and I saved on shipping. I order these same books 3 or 4 times a year.



5. A complementary approach to therapy which helps one put into words on paper their thoughts which seems to be a helpful outlet to understanding the Self.

5 comments about What the Bible Says About Healthy Living: Three Biblical Principles That Will Change Your Diet and Improve Your Health.

1. This is the best book I have read with clear, easy to follow advice that will show you Bible references for all of it's tips. It has a page of foods with Bible verses to look up where the food is eaten. There are references for the unhealthy foods, too. If you want a straight forward book without a lot of the authors own "reasons why", you will be very happy. You will come away with the answers you were seeking.



2. I have found this book to be very insightful about my eating habits. Putting biblical boundaries around my eating choices actually gives me the freedom I've been needing to say no to all types of junk food. It has also helped me learn to trust God's guideance in other areas of life. God knows His creation and wants the best for us.



3. The title of the book really says it all. God created us and gave us specific instructions on what to eat. We would be wise to follow them. I've given copies of this book to my whole family.



4. I really enjoyed reading this book, it is very informative, and accurate. we just started to apply these principals to our diets, and we have been eating healthy and feeling great.



5. Dr. Russell writes in a way that, to be consistent, one would have to become a 7th Day Adventist. He takes extinct Old Testament references regarding what Jews were supposed to eat and what they weren't supposed to eat, and acts as if they compose God's universal, timeless law. Poor exegesis. If he stuck to the scientific pros and cons of food I would have received him better (even though much of his data is controversial/speculative). There have to be better written books out there (I know Richard Foster does a much more thorough analysis of health and fasting).

5 comments about Nina Hartley's Guide to Total Sex.

1. Margaret Cho isn't kidding. This really might be the best book about sex, ever. The book discusses techniques, sexual ethics, and attitude: sex as a whole. It's warm, well-written, intelligent, informative. Above all, although it is frank and completely straightforward, it is written with an awareness of the fact that not everybody... well, almost nobody... is completely secure about sex. It neither condescends nor intimidates; it accepts our foibles and anxieties while gently but firmly showing us that there's a better way.
   
   I can't imagine anyone, from a veteran swinger to a virgin, who wouldn't get something of value from it, with just a modicum of openmindedness.



2. This book is definately not for just people who are beginners, it's for the pros too! Lots of very useful information on all sorts of adult topics. The writing is interesting while at the same time very informative. Since Nina is a nurse, she follows hygiene and safety very thoroughly. Not offensive, gawdy or overdone. It's definately not boring! Very to the point with LOTS of handy hints and helpful info. Covers every topic you want to know about but don't usually ask. Would totally recommend this to any adult looking to become more sexually aware. Very good!!! Worth your money and the time it takes to read...great for couples!



3. Nina Hartley's book is the best book I have read about sex hands down. The book combines her years of experience in the adult industry and instruction into one fantastic guide. Nina Hartley gives not only how to tips but also gives advice on how to communicate with your partner and create intimacy. Ninas writing is candid ,easy to follow and intelligent. Anyone, whether just starting out or experienced will come away after reading this book learning something new and having fun with the new knowledge!
   Who hasn't wanted to pick the brain of an adult star who does sex instruction also?



4. Okay, since I got this book in December... I've now read it cover-to-cover 6 times.
   
   This book shoots straight, and doesn't "beat around the bush". Nina doesn't talk down to you... like you should know all this already. She talks to you, and on a level that's easy to follow along with, and to understand.
   
   Now, I'm not saying I agree 100% with what she has to say... and I'd be lying if I said I did. But, Nina definitely opened my eyes, and helped me to look at my partner in a whole new light.
   
   Not just sexually... but sensually as well.
   
   Thank you Nina, for being so open... and teaching this "old dog" some new tricks.



5. I first became a fan of Nina Hartley as a horny teen-ager coming of age in the 1980's and now, at age 39, I love her more than ever. This is because Nina is not just your typical porn actress but a sex positive feminist, swinger and educator committed to bringing to the public her message of sexual liberation, anti-censorship and personal freedom.
   
   This book is divided into 18 chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of sexual expression - cunnilingus, fellatio, toys, swinging, erotic bondage and many others. Each section is well written and with very detailed suggestions on how to improve your sexual technique, I actually felt like I should being taking notes at certain points. Most importantly, my wife and I have noticed that our sex life has gotten even better since reading it.
   
   This book goes beyond just your typical sex guide because of Nina's expertise on human anatomy and sensual touch as well as her obvious intelligence and committment to the free exploration of human sexuality as part of the quest for a more happy and fulfilling way of life. Thanks Nina!

5 comments about Self-Parenting: The Complete Guide to Your Inner Conversations.

1. I have been using this book with my clients for more than seven years. I am so disappointed that it is out of print. It is a positive life experience when practicing self-parenting--going from negative inner parenting talk (e.g., "you're stupid", "life is a bummer", "you'll never get what you want", etc.) to having the loving/nurturing parent listen to the inner child and allowing him/her to be heard (e.g., "I want you to succeed because you are worth it--what do you want to do to make that happen? The child responds "I want to go to school to make myself the best I can be". The parent agrees, the child goes to school and everyone wins!!). It is a very simple concept and a very powerful tool from changing folks shame based existence into love, kindness and success. I would recommend Self-Parenting to anyone who has grown up in guilt, fear, shame and rage.



2. The information provided in Self-Parenting was written with great clarity, which makes this book easy to understand and use. The ideas conveyed here were also done with love and nurturing. Both my inner child and I LOVED the whimsy of the illustrations and large print. It's a very well-written book and a great tool. I've used this technique in the past and found it very helpful. I expect to get back to it in the near future.



3. This small and easy to read book teaches a wonderful way of reconnecting with the Inner Child. I am a self parenting practitioner since only 3 month and can only recommend this book to everyone who is willing to face their true essence and is willing to learn one of the most valuable things in life, to listen. Listening to everything your Inner Child has to say and was never allowed to or afraid of expressing. It also helped me in my daily relationships and interactions to become more aware of my listening skills.
   "WHEN I ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO ME AND YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM, YOU HAVE FAILED ME, STRANGE AS THAT MAY SEEM."
   This is the task in the beginning of Self Parenting to listen to the voice of your Inner Child and to relearn the parenting style you have been exposed to.
   Self Parenting is like everything else in Life. It is not a quick fix, like a tablet you swallow, it requires endurance, commitment and strength in order to feel the results. Like exercise or meditation. To do it just once or on and off will not create the change you are looking for.
   But the good news is, IT IS FUN!!!



4. I have read many books that discuss the benefits of developing a relationship with your Inner Child. This book offers you an actual method that you can put to use every day for doing just that. I have been using Dr. Pollard's technique of thirty minute sessions every day for nearly two years and have found it to be a very rewarding adventure. I promise you that it has changed my life in many ways. A great book and a very practical methodology for getting to know and understand and "listen to" your inner child.
   
   



5. Most books like this tell you to love your inner child, but don't tell you how to go about it, or the exercises are long and involved. This book is written in a light and humorous way so is easy to read in a short time. The exercises really work and are easy to do. This book changed my life, and if you read it and do the exercises, I can practically guarantee it will change your life for the better.

5 comments about The Mother of All Baby Books: The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby's First Year (U.S. edition).

1. I purchased this book for a young friend of mine who was about to have a baby and had lots of questions about not only the baby, but about what her body was going through. She loves it and refers to it constantly.



2. Bored with all those "stage" in life books for your baby to be? Perhaps you are (as I am) soon to be expecting and realize that you won't have a lot of time to read up about what your baby may/may not be up to and if it is normal after your baby arrives. Well then this book is for you!
   I eagerly started the book on Friday and finished it (yes all 500 pages) on Saturday. What a delight. The author uses plenty of references from real life Moms and Dads which add wonderful insite and humor. Be warned though, if you are looking for the "What to expect book" format this is not for you. This is a realistic, warm, and funny look at life that tackles hard to discuss topics in a safe and humorous way.
   If you are tired of the same old at this age your child will _____ books then definately pick this up. Its like talking to an old friend that you haven't met yet who has been there and knows the struggles and confusion that comes with having a baby.



3. You can never have too much information since a newborn doesn't come with an instruction manual.



4. So, I was happily reading this book and kept telling my husband about how much I like this book & that it ranks # 2 as far as baby books go (Baby 411 is the absolute BEST one) & I have read ALOT of baby books. Anyway I get to this sentence that really makes me mad - it is better to smoke & breastfeed than to not breastfeed at all - I tried to breastfeed my son for 3 months and we just could not do it. He was born with low blood sugar thanks to my diabetes & was given a bottle as soon as he was born. On top of that he had severe jaundice that required us to supplement and he preferred the bottle over having to work for milk. I never felt a let down of milk, I pumped every 30 mins. for 2 weeks straight & all I produced all day long was 2 oz! After going to 3 different lactaction consultants (not to mention the several nurses while in the hospital) none of which could help my baby latch on properly I finally gave up when he was 3 months old. I now have a BOTTLEFEED baby who is 7 months old & is already learning to walk, according to his Dr. he is way ahead of his peers developemently. I babysit a exclusivly BREASTFEED baby who just last week has learned to turn over (my son was turning over both ways at 3 1/2 months old) & has gotten sick double the amount of times that my son has. I feel bad enough about bottlefeeding without hearing sentences like that, I smoked for 11 years and quit a year before getting pregnant because I didn't want to expose my child to that let alone breastfeed a baby while smoking. I don't think that statement makes bottlefeeding mothers feel very good about their decision, we already get enough grief from everybody else and don't need books to make us feel more guilty. And besides second hand smoke can contribute to lung cancer, bottlefeeding can't. If you ignore that one sentence in the book then it's a wonderful book.



5. I found this book to be the best of all baby books (including, What to Expect the First Year.) Unlike the others, it was fun and very educational. There aren't as many "absolutes" and you don't feel judged when you don't perfectly fit the rules in other books. A must read...especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. I waited til baby was born and wished I had read prior to her birth.

5 comments about Transitions: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life.

1. There are some books that are so good, you almost want to keep their existence a secret-somewhat like finding a hidden treasure in a field, a needle in a haystack or a pearl of great price at a rummage sale. Julia Cameron's Transitions strikes me as one of those books.
   
   Cameron is better known for her popular and sensitive book called The Artist's Way, which is a combination of creative and devotional insights and incentives for all who have the urge to paint, sculpt, build, compose and design from a faith-center. That book has been a much-thumbed companion for many artist friends of mine.
   
   Transitions is perhaps a more intimate version of that better known work. In it, Cameron offers prayers and what she calls "declarations" for a changing world. These are presented in a form much like a daily devotional. There is a quotation from a source familiar or obscure, followed by reflections by Cameron herself.
   
   Throughout the book, Cameron seeks to remind both herself and the reader that accepting change is the key to thriving through it. She is a tender and thoughtful traveler through the various life events that some would call surprise, others would term crisis, yet all will experience at one time or another.
   
   For those who are convinced that change is always "bad", there are some outstanding sections on these aspects of change: abundance, clarity, compassion, courage, curiosity, expansion, happiness, love, protection, service, satisfaction and strength. What? You say that you had never considered these things as "change"? All the more reason to explore what Cameron has to say about them.
   
   Then, there are sections having to do with relationships. I particularly like what Cameron has to say about genuine friendship. She begins by quoting our first President George Washington on that subject: "True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." Cameron goes on to encourage us to see those relationships we call friendships in the atmosphere of values that help us determine their verity: "Friendships require honesty and honesty requires courage. In all friendships there are moments when we must choose to be courageous. ...Honesty is healing and nutritious to my heart and its friendships." (pages 63-64). Cameron invites you to respond to your yearning for those genuine friendships, which surpass the superficial, the way a solid cherry table surpasses particleboard. You sense the kinds of support Cameron offers the adventurous traveler through life.
   
   The reader may be surprised that Cameron quotes both well-known Christians and those of other faiths; moreover, that she brings gleams of light from cultures other than our own. The timid reader may keep such insights at arm's length. But to do so would miss the wonder and beauty to be had in these pages, as well as our Lord's pithy observation, "The Spirit blows where it will."
   
   If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction



2. I had bought this book early in the year (2005) but had somehow put it aside and forgotten about it. Three weeks after the death of my husband in December, the book "appeared" to me again and it was such a comfort to me. I am now reading it for the third time. It has been one of my best tools for dealing with my grief. Thank you Julia for such beautiful thoughts. Thank you God, for such a talented writer.



3. I found this small book very powerful and helpful. There were quotes and small essays for all types of transitions.
   
   This is an effective way to connect with the higher power and obtain the strength one needs during times of transition.
   
   Bravo to Julia Cameron for a first-aid kit for us in transition.



4. *****
   This book contains short prayers/meditations related to being an artist, writer, or really, creator of any type, done in a style reminiscent of Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way". If you are a fan of Cameron, the guru of creativity for artists and writers, you will certainly enjoy this. Each page has a quotation at the top, and then the author writes a meditative paragraph that is related to the quotation. She always ends with an affirmation, "Today...."---something that you can take with you into your day. The book has a topical index in the back too. Lovely book, highly recommended.
   *****



5. This was my all time Julia Cameron favorite. Something to seek out when in crisis -- like a prayer book for the spiritual personality. Very helpful.