5 comments about What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People.

1. This book was so basic and did not have enough pictures... it's a body language book for crying out loud! If you want to invest in learning more about non-verbal communication buy "The Definitive Guide to Body Language" by Alan Pease - that book is the best book on the topic that I have seen to date! Don't waiste your money on arrogant Navarro's book! TERRIBLE!



2. This book reinforces non-verbal communications for all humans. I enjoyed this book throughly.
   Dutch



3. I recently bought this book hoping to learn how to read and better understand the behavior of the business people and situations I come across daily in my work in finance. My hopes for this knowledge were SURPASSED as the guidance Mr. Navarro provides in this book is so practical and constructive you can start applying it immediately. I like his style of writing too - easy to follow, engaging with many real examples. I also found the pictures used throughout the book are very helpful in making a behavior memorable so I can look out for it as I go about my day, in and outside of work. I can see how this information could be applied to so many different jobs and situations, not just business and finance, and as such recommend it to anyone looking for more understanding about the behaviors of the people around them.
   
   I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could, because it's already helping me as I apply what I've learnt.



4. Tremendously valuable information for public speakers (know when the audience is bored), interviewers, sales people, organizational change agents, and those of you who just plain want to know when you may be being lied to, or causing distress in the other person. Well written, to the point. Also, just a little bit fun.



5. This book is everything that I thought it would be. Reading body language is an artform and this brings you a little closer to understanding what it's all about.

5 comments about The 48 Laws of Power.

1. Many people have found books like these, essentially "how to manipulate people," to be useful in achieving certain goals. However, in my experiences, people that succeed through these techniques almost always seem to grow a void within themselves. One might be able to convince others to the point of submission, but are they really happy? Books like these do not offer advice on life balance and personal relationships. Do people really like you? What do others really think of you and your ideas?
   
   Another point to think about, to take from Stephen Covey: How many on their deathbeds wished they'd spent more time at the office? Even Maslow at the end of his life put the happiness and fulfillment and contributions of his posterity (self-transcendence) at the top of his famous "hierarchy." What kind of overall life balance will manipulation techniques bring you?
   
   Take into consideration another alternative: Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book gives ideas on how to look at the world and yourself, and gives basis for a lifelong challenge in personal change. Practicing these habits can give you the "manipulation" you want through building genuine relationships all while being able to sleep at night knowing that you have real friends, self worth, and above all, a positive life balance.



2. Decent book but all the laws aint the greatest. Follow this book and you can get killed.



3. this book is absolutely ridiculous, it was written for the idiot's notion of what they believe power is, and just affirms what the dim witted already suspect; "Use a person until they are no longer valuable to you......" AH HA! says the ignoramus who has just been convinced of the vercity of this childrens book.



4. Why do you need this power in the first place? Here is a quote from 7 Habits, "Standing near the graves of famous people, we understand all the silly wars in which they fought."
   
   I will not be surprised if this book is used as a required reading in terrorist camps to show the "real Americans". Clearly, it is against democracy, Christianity, and all other values.
   
   Read 7 Habits by Covey instead.



5. Very smart book. Has some very unique and useful tools. I don't agree with everything but I like the book and I will use some parts. I try to treat people as I would have them treat me....The Golden Rule. But with trouble makers or bad people this book can be very helpful.

5 comments about Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Revised and Updated.

1. This book is truly awakening, it made me realize how distorted I view the world. I believe that the learnings I have gained from this book will make me a better wife, mother and friend. Good luck to all in the frustrating battle with depression, I hope you find the book as helpful as I did!



2. Good book! Arrived on time and in good condition. This book would help anyone to analyse their thoughts and make corrections in actions and thought toward a better life. I highly recommend it!



3. I've read several "self help" books on depression and I got the most out of this one, by far. I think maybe because it was so easy to identify with much of what he said. Like when he is talking about the different types of distorted thinking, "Hey, I do that!" His suggestions are simple and easy to follow. He admits to thoughts you may have as you read and responds to them. Just overall, I really felt like this book spoke to me more than any of the others that I have read.



4. This is one of the best books written for individuals suffering from anxiety and depression who are looking for tools that the can use daily to help themselves feel better. The author, who is a psychiatrist, is a pioneer in the field of cognitive behavioral therapy. His premise is simple..." the way you think determines the way you feel"
   
   And he is right.
   
   For the individual who is willing to put the time in and work through this book the rewards will be great.
   
   I have recommended this book to a number of my patients
   
   Dr Alagia



5. I feel that David Burns has been able to put a good edge of stability on my day to day living. Stuff that I think I might have worked out myself but Burns deals with in a simple direct way and how to cope with them whatever youve decided your problems are; that one has a procrastination issues, surviving negative people and situations, you know...just dealing with life in general. He shows how to cope with situations either by writing activities or by your own mind revision.
   IE. pge 138, dealing with critisism.
   1.Always speak the truth.
   it might be biazarre and weird truth but the attacker will run out of steam and it will lose their grip on you.
   The book is focused on depressed people. I dont think I am actually 'depressed' but certainly had my issues and one of these is dealing with antidepressants in the past and this book has a great section on the treatment of antidepressants.

5 comments about Stillness Speaks.

1. If you have ever read other books by Mr. Tolle or are just starting out - this is a wonderful little book. You can pick it up and open it any where and have a quick read - or start from beginning and work your way through. I leave it up to you to decide if the words in the book ring true for you - they certainly do for me.



2. Good addition to Tolle's works. Even though I have read The Power of Now and A New Earth I absolutely enjoyed this book. If you need to refresh your self with his teachings or need a little Zen this book will do it. You can open it to any page and bring Peace and Stillness back into your life!



3. 'Stillness Speaks' by Eckhart Tolle reminds you that in order to remain in touch with who you really are you must consciously remain in touch with
   your inner stillness. In order to do this you are reminded to 'Get out of your head and into the moment.'
   
   Wonderful spiritual insights and practical ways to embrace the teachings by bringing the practice of inner stillness into your everyday life.
   
   This book reinforces and deepens the understanding found in his previous book 'The Power of Now.'
   
   Great for effectively overcoming fear and ending suffering in order to experience peace & joy.
   
   Most recommended and totally awesome!
   
   Better together with
   
   The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
   
   A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)



4. At first glance "Stillness Speaks" may seem like less of a "real book" than "The Power of Now" or "A New Earth". It is smaller in size, shorter and does not have the same kind of continuity in the sense of going on an inward journey. Yet that is exactly what appeals to me about it. This is the kind of book I can place on my nightstand, open to any page, read a few ideas to ponder and put away for the night (or day).
   
   For someone who is struggling to integrate the concepts in Tolle's other books, this one may not have much appeal. For for those who have done the inner work, who have been on the journey for a while, this book offers succulent reminders of ways to continually bring ourselves back to appreciating every moment and manifestation of life. For example, after writing the last sentence I randomly opened the book to page 72 and read, "Sometimes surrender means giving up trying to understand and becoming comfortable with not knowing." This is such a simple idea, profound and yet a tremendous challenge for most seekers.
   
   This is not a book to read from cover to cover. It is a book to ponder a bit at a time. The ideas presented are so rich with meaning that trying to absorb it by simply reading would render the mind dull and bloated. It is a meditation tool, a garden of ideas, any one of which has the potential to expand consciousness.
   
   Moonstone Star White is the author of High Way from Hell: Using Emotion to Fan the Fire of Enlightment.



5. I have just read 'The Power of Now', and had actually read 'Stillness Speaks' before that. I would recommend buying 'The Power of Now' first if mindfulness is fairly new to you. The Power of Now provides more of a foundation for the mind, before going beyond mind and into presence. 'Stillness Speaks', on the other hand, is condensed snippets that are like immediate portals into stillness and sanity for those who have some familiarity with mindfulness/meditation already, as I did. That said, I found 'Stillness Speaks' an immediate and refreshing facilitator of stillness/presence/being for me....and it continues to be this each time I pick it up. A homecoming to 'sanity'. It cuts through mental noisiness, reminds me of my depths and that life is here and now.
   
   In 'Power of Now' Tolle suggests we listen with more than the mind, almost like listening with the body when we read. I instantly recognised in this description my primary mode of reading spiritual texts, and you may too; and I find Tolle's writing very nourishing when read in this subtle way. If my mind is too dominant and I'm in resistance to the moment, however, his writing appears to lack depth or interest, and the way appears barred to me! This suggests to me that his writing does indeed come from a place of being, and not from an egoic, mental level. While I'll read others for more mind-food, I'll continue to dip into Tolle for soul-food and instant peace.

5 comments about The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book.

1. This book was really thought provoking. Keeps you reading and wanting more. Some of these types of books can be very dry reading and hard to get through, not this one!!!



2. This book is a wonderful book so full of insightful knowledge, yet so simple that anyone can read it quickly. I highly recommend this book to anyone for personal and professional development.



3. This book is very well written and easy to understand. It is a quick read, and I will reread it often to keep the material fresh. The message is simple, yet very profound. It truly opened my eyes and my heart to an awareness that had made a huge difference in the way I treat myself. Most of us don't realize how we are silently killing our own souls by the way we think; this book helped me to realize and change a thought process that released negativity I didn't know was harboring in my soul. As a result, it freed me and opened the path to a higher level of enjoyment and satisfaction in my life. I will purchase many more copies as gifts for friends ... what great joy it will bring me to know that I gave someone I love the ability to be kinder to themselves, along with the tools to truly enjoy life!



4. The Four Agreements by Ruiz is certainly one of my most referred to volumes in my library! This man says things that so many folks mouth over and over and he says them with such authority and gentleness that they resonate deeply with your heart.



5. This has been one of the most helpful and enlightning book for me and my family in recent history.

5 comments about Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials).

1. One of the great myths about modern society is that we can divide it into two non-overlapping parts---the private and the public. The private sphere is the purported locus of all affective, emotional commitments, while the public sphere is a realm of impersonal, purely instrumental, social interaction. In the private sphere, the story goes, we live, love, grieve, and sacrifice, while in the public sphere of markets and politics, we act to gather the material prerequisites to a fulfilled private life.
   
   This myth was buoyed up in the mid-twentieth century by the vision of vast tracts of middle-class housing where neighbors were strangers ("and they were all made out of ticky-tacky and they all looked the same"), by the cult of public conformity ("the organization man"), and by such urban myths as women being raped and beaten in public while spectators did nothing.
   
   We now know that this bizarre viewpoint is miles from the truth, and that public life is imbued with a rich nexus of emotion-laden, poignantly human, social relations. Even strangers meeting for the first time engage in characteristically human emotional interactions, and the quality of social life depends critically on the tacit culture of conformity to particular norms of social interaction among people in public capacities.
   
   Chaldini's book is a classic contribution towards analyzing these tacit social relations among strangers. His take on the issue is that we are all vulnerable to being manipulated by our mental weaknesses, and we should learn to be on guard against this manipulation. This is a very good point, but it hides the deeper point that manipulation is just the pathological side of basically healthy approaches to interaction with others in society. Humans are intensely reciprocal, and will sacrifice to repay good with good, and bad with bad, at personal cost, even when dealing with strangers they will never see again (we call this "strong reciprocity"). We have a strong tendency to social conformity, thus respecting others by our willingness to follow their lead. We want to be liked, and we are more willing to sacrifice on behalf of people we like, even if they are strangers. These and other behaviors are what make us human. Cialdini's point is that these predisposition can be used against us, and we must be careful to protect ourselves from this.
   
   The various elements of the psychology of persuasion are so well-known today, partly due to Cialdini's influence (the first edition was 1984), that I'm not sure I learned anything new from reading this book. But, he is a fine writer and tells a good story, making the reading worth its while.



2. I first heard of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion from a graduate school professor. He declared that reading it changed his life and that it would change mine as well. I didn't believe him. It took me seven years before I finally picked up the book. And now I'm sorry I waited so long.
   
   Influence explains the underpinnings of how the American marketing machine works. Cialdini explains that modern humanity has developed shortcuts to decision-making in order to deal with information overload. As a result, we have a reflex of sorts that kicks in for certain situations, such as the need to reciprocate favors, the desire for rare goods, following likable leaders, determining whom we should listen to, following the rest of the crowd, and maintaining consistency in our public persona.
   
   As a teenager, these pressures to conform are front and center, but as adults we forget the compromises we made in the transition. "Are you a follower or a leader?" Cialdini explains that there are good reasons to be a follower and that, in most situations, it's perfectly acceptable to do what the rest of the crowd is doing. But there are situations in which our natural inclinations can be exploited, and there are scenarios where following the herd can lead to catastrophic consequences. Recognizing these behaviors in ourselves is an important part of survival, so that when modern life throws something at us unexpected, like an accident or a door-to-door salesman, we know how to react.
   
   I mentioned that reading this book filled me with rage. I'm not angry at the author, but at all the people who now, with the gift of hindsight and Cialdini's guidance, I realized manipulated me.
   
   I'm mad at the magazine salesman. He got me to buy two years worth of a magazine I didn't want by relying on my desire for consistency after I provisionally agreed to buy a subscription for what I thought was one year.
   
   I'm mad at the Saturn dealer. Despite the "no haggle rule," he used the trick of authority where he "checked with his boss" for a better deal and then pressured me into buying it.
   
   I'm mad at the real estate agent. He used the trick of scarcity to show me terrible, run-down houses to make me feel better about the house I ultimately picked.
   
   And that's what's so interesting about this book. Cialdini wrote this book for US. Not for managers, salesmen, or non-profit volunteers. He wrote it as a defense! And yet everything from reviews on the book's cover to reviews right here on Amazon tout this book as a must for marketers. That's completely against the spirit of what Cialdini wrote - each chapter ends with "how to say no" and while the advice isn't always sound (he essentially tells you to, ya know, not fall for the tricks) it's certainly welcome.
   
   It's a bitter irony that marketers have turned a book about resisting marketing into yet another marketing tool. Now that I've read this book, there won't be another magazine subscription, car, or house I buy without a fight. Buy it today so you can start fighting back too.



3. This was a great read. It opens a new way of explaining the world, it forced myself to scrutinize some of my decisions and methods of thinking...
   
   Great book.



4. When I read this book a few years back, I found it eye opening about the involuntary aspects of how people are persuaded. Cialdini does a brilliant job of story telling to illustrate the use of his 'six psychological secrets' in the way products and services are marketed.
   
   The book is readable, and, at least for me, filled with AHAs. Much of it was already familiar, so this piece of his work has already made its way through society. But in a time when campaign advisors and counselors to politicians are using these ideas to foist bad policy on an unsuspecting public, the time has come for we the people to catch on to just how easily we've been decieved, and how to protect ourselves from further deception.
   
   When i was working on my own book on this topic,Insider's Guide To The Art Of Persuasion I found reference to this seminal work everywhere. What Cialdini called secrets, I call signals, because they are no longer secret but are in wide employ.
   
   Cialdini's greatest contribution to the literature is his guidance in how to protect ourselves from being manipulated to act against our own interests. He talks of the 'click-whirrr' response and the role it plays in this. Over and over, he emphasizes our diminished mental activity when presented with persuasion signals. I can't imagine how a person would ever see or hear these signals in the same way after learning about this.
   
   The only thing that would make this book better is a refresh of it that included more current examples. Many of the examples he used harken back to the time of my childhood (50s and 60s) when the rough use of these types of approaches was just catching on. These days, the persuasion signals have been honed to a fine point and, in light of the increasingly fundamental role of marketing and promotion in the success of any business or idea, I'd be very interested in learning how his thinking has advanced on his subject.



5. To put it briefly this is an invaluable book to understanding many of our behaviors relating to influence but it is written in a way that keeps you completely engrossed in it, nothing dry here. I agree with so many of the reviews here on this book. It is just excellent and if I were to have kids this would be something they would have to read. Having your wife read it is a good way to get her to stop buying thousand dollar canvas bags from Louis Vuitton also... CANVAS ..sheesh they should be laughing :-)

3 comments about Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1KY4RUSMO5PFN *****
   This little book is lovely as a gift for someone, especially yourself. It contains excerpts from Jon Kabat-Zinn's masterpiece "Coming to Our Senses", a tome about mindfulness and meditation. In this video I open the book, show you the layout and read two different quotes. I've kept the video to about two minutes in length. This is a book that anyone interested in living more serenely and more alive can enjoy, whether or not you've had the pleasure of reading the main book that it was excerpted from. Highly recommended!
   *****



2. A thought provoking, meaning filled book. The type of book you can carry with you and read a passage when you can or placed somewhere in your home so it reminds you to pick it up and read a passage every day. Makes a wonderful gift.



3. I have only just received the book. I can tell it is going to be a keeper!

5 comments about Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life.

1. Excellent ! Boundaries were totally lacking in my life. This is a Christian book that clarifies how to be a Christian and have strong boundaries instead of confusion and chaos. Too many Christian ministers preach against boundaries knowingly or unknowingly and boundaries are NOT unbiblical--this book saved my life from depression and ruin. I now understand how my destructive patterns in relationships got me in my messes and now I know how to prevent the messes. I am happy, emotionally healthy, and those around me are no longer guessing. They know who I am and can trust me. When I say something, I mean what I say. No more games. BOUNDARIES set me free. I was raised in my family of origin without any healthy boundaries, but it is NEVER too late in life to develop healthy boundaries. I was yearning and so hungry for this information. THANKS BE TO GOD THAT THESE AUTHORS PROVIDED BOUNDARIES.



2. I have enjoyed this book tremendously. I really don't have to feel guilty by saying no. We all have limits, and especially in the Christian community, we have to be careful. Some would call us selfish and other names, if we have to say no to money, time, etc. requests. I really needed this book at a critical time in my life! I'm fed up with others thinking that my husband and I are at their beck and call. We cannot save the world from all the problems of others!!! This book goes into reaping and sowing. To learn and grow, we MUST reap and sow. We all MUST be responsible for our own knapsacks-daily cares. Read the book and you will know the difference between something catastrophic and other's daily woes and cares. We can't handle everything that is sometimes thrown at us. THANK YOU for this book!



3. This book/CD is very informative. It gives reasons for actions taken by people and ways to resolve actions. Good information to pass on to others as well to use in one's own life. I recommend this book/CD to anyone wanting to improve their life, to find peace, to be a better person in today's society.



4. good information. too much bible talk. wish they would stick to the boundaries message and not refer to the passage and verse of the bible..perhaps give bible reference at the end of each cd.



5. Cloud and Townsend are very popular speakers and writers when it comes to Christian audiences and those in the recovery field. I've heard them and read them. But I believe the thrust of this "take control" work does not give enough attention to what God can do.By the Power of God: A Guide To Early A.A. Groups and Forming Similar Groups Today (Why It Worked; A.A. History). Christians, I believe, start with belief in God (Hebrews 11:6). Then they go to the necessity for a new birth which enables them to become children of the living Creator (John 3:1-6). This in turn leads them to Jesus Christ as the Way and the Truth and the Life. And see Romans 10:9.A New Way In: Reaching the Heart of a Child of God in Recovery with His Own, Powerful, Historical Roots.
   This was the early A.A. approach when A.A. was a Christian Fellowship and was achieving a documented 75% to 93% success rate.Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today. The formula from the Bible, particularly the Book of James in early A.A.. meant: (1) Controlling your own mind (Romans 12:1-2); (2) Controlling your own tongue (James 3:8-13); and (3) Being a doer of the word, not a hearer only (James 1:21-27). This simply meant that we were to be about our Heavenly Father's business, not just our own.The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials.
   The point here is not just to quote Scripture. It is to point to the one, true, living Creator who is able to provide the wisdom, strength, guidance, and deliverance that must accompany the human effort to "take control."Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book As a Youngster in Vermont.My judgment is that "taking control" means uncertainty if it is not accompanied by looking to God for the road map, the instructions, and the driver education--not to mention the power of God.A New Way Out: New Path - Familiar Road Signs - Our Creator's Guidance.

5 comments about Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness.

1. Nothing new here, and not much actual content, just a lot of fluff. A truly terrible book! I'm sorry I wasted the money.



2. This book is a great tool for incorporating many aspects of health in a simple, go-at-your-own-pace sort of way. I appreciate the many ideas that are presented regarding easing into meditation and the nutritional information that is provided.
   
   My one problem with this book, is that although Kathy urges a vegan/gluten free lifestyle, few of the recipes are actually gluten free. I am already a gluten free vegan, and it is always a relief when you can find some great recipes. I was really hoping to do so with this book. However, alot of the recipes contain gluten and other substances I thought she felt were 'toxic'. I'm not sure WHY this happened, but it leaves the reader feeling like she's a little lax, or simply not concerned about finding real recipes that represent her point of view. For me, that was disappointing. If you have celiac disease or need to be wheat/gluten free for any reason, you are going to need to make your own substitutions here. If you are not any of those, but hoping to follow the guidelines from her book, you are being misled by thinking that these recipes ARE in fact incorporating all the ideas she presented in earlier chapters. I'm left confused. I gave it a 3 star rating however, b/c the majority of the book is NOT recipes, and provides some very good advice and makes for a joyful read.



3. I just finished the "Quantum Cleanse", one component of this book, last Friday. I heard about the book from both Oprah and Dooce. I really liked it, but in different ways than either Oprah or Dooce. The cleanse is really one small part of balancing your life and becoming more spiritual and happy. (Although I did lose 6 lbs! WOOHOO!)
   
   And in the more eastern tradition, this is NOT a step by step "how to" process in self-improvement. It's a suggestion about how to find the right path for you to develop into what you should be. There is scant real information on how to do the cleanse and more suggestions on figuring it out for yourself. (for example, some of the vegan meals and recipes cited in the back are NOT cleanse appropriate).
   
   Still, I like the holistic yet slow focus on getting on the right path for you. Seriously, it's an inspirational book on getting healthier, happier and making yourself whole.



4. Multi-dimensional information on body, mind and spirit. I saw this recommended on Oprah and I would also recommend it.



5. I wanted to respond to those reviewrs who have criticized vegan diets and think they are unhealthy. Here is a recent statement made by Dr. McDougall who has supported a plant based diet for years.
   
   Plants--the Original Sources of Protein and Amino Acids
   
   Proteins are made from chains of 20 different amino acids that connect together in varying sequences--similar to how all the words in a dictionary are made from the same 26 letters. Plants (and microorganisms) can synthesize all of the individual amino acids that are used to build proteins, but animals cannot. There are 8 amino acids that people cannot make and thus, these must be obtained from our diets--they are referred to as "essential."
   
   After we eat our foods, stomach acids and intestinal enzymes digest the proteins into individual amino acids. These components are then absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. After entering the body's cells, these amino acids are reassembled into proteins. Proteins function as structural materials which build the scaffoldings that maintain cell shapes, enzymes which catalyze biochemical reactions, and hormones which signal messages between cells--to name only a few of their vital roles.
   
   Since plants are made up of structurally sound cells with enzymes and hormones, they are by nature rich sources of proteins. In fact, so rich are plants that they can meet the protein needs of the earth's largest animals: elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and cows. You would be correct to deduce that the protein needs of relatively small humans can easily be met by plants.
   
   In regards to buying your meat from farms and ranches that treat animals humanely do so if you can, but realize that most meat is coming from large operations. The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report on how "the U.S. livestock industry has been undergoing a drastic change over the past several decade. Huge CAFO's (confined animal feeding operations) have become the predominant method of raising livestock, and the crowded conditions in these facilities have increased water and air pollution and other types of harm to public health and rural communities.
   
   "A groundbreaking 2006 United Nations report found that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. Luckily, we can help fix this problem by changing our diet. According to a 2006 study done by researchers at the University of Chicago, most Americans can reduce more greenhouse gas emissions by becoming a vegan than they can by switching to a hybrid electric car. They found that eating a vegan diet prevents the equivalent of 1.5 tons of CO2 emissions every year, more than the 1 ton of CO2 emissions prevented by switching from a typical large sedan to a Toyota Prius."
   
   If you can stomach to really see how the meat on your table is handled while it is still living visit this site: http://www.chooseveg.com/animal-cruelty.asp
   
   How about this fact: Cows have a natural lifespan of about 25 years and can produce milk for eight or nine years, but the stress caused by factory farm conditions leads to disease, lameness, and reproductive problems that render cows worthless to the dairy industry by the time they are four or five years old, at which time they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Cows would naturally make only enough milk to meet the needs of their calves (around 16 pounds a day), genetic manipulation, antibiotics, and hormones are used to force each cow to produce more than 18,000 pounds of milk a year (an average of 50 pounds a day). "
   
   Few consumers realize that veal is a direct by-product of the dairy industry. In order for dairy cows to produce milk, they must be impregnated. While female calves are slaughtered or added to the dairy herd, many male calves are taken from their mothers when they are as young as one day old and chained in tiny stalls to be raised for veal. The confinement is so extreme that they cannot even turn around or lie down comfortably. As author John Robbins notes, "The veal calf would actually have more space if, instead of chaining him in such a stall, you stuffed him into the trunk of a subcompact car and kept him there for his entire life."
   
   Choosing to go vegetarian wasn't that difficult for me. Choosing to go vegan was a lot harder. It isn't convenient but I do believe I eat a better and healthier diet than before. These two quotes along with the video I linked to above really helped push me over the edge in making a change in my diet.
   
   ?Choosing to go vegetarian is simply a matter of living according to the values so many of us hold dear, such as being fair and kind to others. Most people would never dream of cramming up to 11 egg-laying hens into a file drawer-sized cage, ripping the testicles out of a screaming baby piglet, or cutting the throat of a cow as she stares back at you with her big brown eyes. How then, as compassionate individuals, can we justify paying others to carry out these atrocities on our behalf?"
   
   "The average vegetarian saves the lives of approximately 95 animals each year. That adds up to thousands during a lifetime. Every time we eat, we are making a powerful choice that has profound consequences on the lives of animals. At each meal, we make a decision between supporting cruelty or living compassionately."
   
   Lastly my husband and I have a wonderful collection of vegan cookbooks. There are a lot of resources that make such a diet very practical.

5 comments about Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD).

1. This book is partly an academic-style introduction to brain research and partly a jauntily written practical "how-to" about getting the most from your brain. John Medina has a warm, upbeat persona, and skillfully incorporates stories from his experiences to illustrate points he makes in the book. From time to time he forgets to connect the dots for readers who are new to the material, and so doesn't always articulate the full point or parallel he is making. However, he gives a broad overview of brain research and makes a conscious effort to practice the rules he preaches. He repeats information, as research says he should, and uses lively, varied examples to engage the reader. To reinforce the book's lessons with visual and aural sensory input, the publisher provides a supplemental DVD. Medina summarizes his key points, and touches briefly on the real-world implications and applications of the findings he covers. getAbstract recommends this book to parents, educators, human-resources professionals, executives and all those who want to help themselves, their children or their employees reach their full intellectual potential.



2. This book has some excellent research and thought provoking information for anyone involved with learning. As a working professional in the field of Human Resource Development I will be incorporating some of Dr. Medina's research and vision into our corporate learning strategy.



3. This is a great book and DVD combo especially for educators, parents, and students. The research is written in light layman's terms with a fun, light style. All of the information is useful and can be put into practice immediately to help the reader learn, teach, and possibly prevent depression, dementia and other brain disorders.



4. I have read Dr. Braverman's books( Younger You and Younger You), and his material conflicts with this author's material. I do agree with using something like the system given in Don't Like to Read, Then Don't, Listen!: How to Turn Any Type of Text Into Audio Files That Can Be Read to You! to go over information lots of times. Just take data and see what works best for you! This book will give you some ideas to try



5. This book has some very good and interesting info about how the brain works and how we think and react to different things. The only complaint I have is that the included DVD that came with the book did not have any audio, whether I played it on my PC or through my home DVD player. There wasn't a way for me to check with any type of tech support either. None the less the book is a joy to read.