5 comments about Hippos Go Berserk.

1. This book, like so many of Boynton's books, is cute and clever. A lonely hippo invites over other hippos (arriving in groups of 2 through 9), and eventually has enough for a party. Then, leaving in groups of 9 through 2, they depart. The book lodges itself in your mind well enough such that, when we go see the hippos at the zoo, I find myself saying, "One hippo, all alone, calls two hippos on the phone." And, I'm not surprised when another parent nearby answers, "Three hippos at the door, bring along another four!" A great find for kids 18 months and up.



2. I purchased this charming Sandra Boyton hardbook for an adult psychologist with a penchant for all things hip...po, rather than for a child. She found it laugh-out-loud delightful and insightful and will undoubtedly share the joy of reading it aloud to a growing roster of great-nieces and great-nephews. However, I doubt if she'll part with Hippos Go Berserk!



3. And so do our kids. All of her books are our favorite first books for our kids.



4. This is one of my family's favorite childrens books ever. It not only completely speaks to our crazy and chaotic, yet incredibly loving extended family, but the last line -- "One hippo alone once more, misses the the other forty-four" -- sums up that poignancy of having to say good-bye. All that, plus it helps teach kids to count. (Both my five- and eight-year-olds still want to make sure that there are 44 actual hippos at the height of it all.) I never tire of reading it and have given it as a gift at nearly every baby shower I've ever been to. If you haven't read Sandra Boynton's childrens books, do so now.



5. This book is fun reading that will entertain you as well as the kid. It's quick, easy reading, but has lots of pages so that the story doesn't end right away. I baby-sat an 18-month old toddler who loves books, and I didn't mind at all reading and re-reading this one. The words flow well, and I didn't feel awkward reading aloud the way I do with some other books. I will definitely buy this one for my niece!

5 comments about Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 7 Powerful Tools for Life and Work.

1. Marilee G. Adams found that she could generate positive changes in her behavior and productivity by changing the defensive questions that she previously asked in the face of adversity. Analyzing those protective questions showed her that she took setbacks and criticism too personally. Asking different questions enabled her to reframe each moment and create growth opportunities. Adams illustrates the problem-solving power of honest curiosity. Her "QuestionThinking" method generates practical ways to change your mind, literally. These are great ideas; however, their repetition within a fictional storyline may annoy some readers, while others may like this allegorical approach to telling the tale. The self-questioning techniques are easy to employ, and will help you examine situations from different points of view, which can come in quite handy. We recommend adding this set of tools to your interpersonal communication toolkit.



2. If given a difficult problem and 20 hours to solve it, I would spend 19 hours framing the question. This is a paraphrase from Albert Einstein. The way a person approaches life truly defines the outputs that they get out of it. Can 3-5 hours with a book change your life?



3. This book was required reading for a work related exercise. Great stuff. Highly recommend it for anybody no matter what you do. It applies to our attitudes, which the more I learn controls how you feel about things.



4. Self-Empowerment 101: Re-enchantment with our own capacity for empowering ourselves and others
   
   As a life coach, empowering clients to question their reality is part of the challenge. Adams has done a superb job of providing great information through story. She has made a challenging process simple and easy for anyone to grasp the value of questions. Great job1



5. Many of us unwittingly live lives like Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day," thinking and acting the same way while expecting different results. Marilee Adams offers a straightforward yet profound narrative for avoiding this "trap." She makes our blindspots visible by exposing how the unconscious conversations we have with ourselves trip us up and lead to dead ends and provides us with a new set of eye-glasses which guide us toward learning, open us to relationships, and create growth. What questions are you asking yourself and what results are they getting you? If you truly desire to take responsibility for your life, move towards your best self and help others do the same, then read this book!

5 comments about Fifty Things to Do When You Turn Fifty (Fifty Experts on the Subject of Turning Fifty) (Fifty Experts on the Subject of Turning Fifty) (Fifty Experts on the Subject of Turning Fifty).

1. This is a compilation from various authors writing on the subject of turning 50. The first contributor really lays it on the line by saying "Stop complaining" and get your act together so that you'll get through many years after 50. I appreciated that these 50 writers "provided essays on a pro-bono basis" and profits from the book will go toward non-profit organizations focused on cancer research. This is a great book to give as a gift to friends reaching this sometimes challenging milestone.



2. Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.



3. Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.



4. Knowledgeably edited by Ronnie Sellers, Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is an informed and thought-provoking collection of fifty writers contributing ideas, advice, observations, and instructions upon turning fifty years old. As an ideal how-to and what-to-do book informing its readers of the many fears and beliefs that might concern most fifty-year-olds, and explores why they might feel as they do and what to do to avoid or confront such barriers. Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty is very strongly recommended to all readers who have or are contemplating turning fifty-something as the ultimate guideline of staying young as an explorative and practical fifty-year-old.



5. My husband had received this book for his 50th birthday so he knew it was good. Our neighbor is enjoying it too.

5 comments about How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life (Signet).

1. How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life (Signet)
   
   This is very simple and yet practical. The purpose of this was to use in coaching an employee but it is serving me well also. It's good reminders, and clarification between goals and activities and the need for continuous prioritization is not brand new but logical and practical enough to work for anyone.



2. Everything you do and achieve is dependent on how you manage your time.
   Is what you are doing now the best use of your time?
   Are you focusing on what is most important to you?
   If not, then why aren't you focusing on doing what needs to get done.?
   If you were to create a top 10 list of life's essential books or maybe a list of say the best dozen guide to life books, two of them should be about how to manage your time. Because all that you ever do and achieve in your life will depend on how you manage and use your time.
   Put this one and Dan Kennedy's no BS time management book, No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs (No B.S. Series) on your required reading list.
   Learn to stop procrastinating and get rid of people that prevent you from focusing on what is important.
   Become much more proficient at getting things accomplished.
   This little book will show you how to prioritize things and focus on the things that matter most.
   You only have a limited amount of time. Make the most of it and use it on stuff that matters to you.



3. Buy this book for any recent college graduate you know and make sure they read it.
   
   This is a fantastic study in time management that will be valuable to you no matter what age you are. His tips strategies and activities will force you to take a mental inventory, and commit them to paper, so that you can literally "Get Control of Your Time and Life." As a recent college graduate, it has opened my eyes early in my professional work experience so that I can avoid getting into a rut and being overloaded with work, family, and friends.
   
   His advice is extremely practical and something that can be done easily by everyone nowadays. It is in some cases redundant, because you feel like you do some of these things anyway, but the manner in which he presents them allows you to fully understand the concept. This is a quick and fantastic read that you will recommend to family and friends throughout your days. It is interactive, well written and genuinely eye-opening.



4. The one thing that we all have but use differently is the 24 hour day. No one gets more than 24 hours in a day. The people in control are the people that know how to effectively manage the 24 hours in a day. No one can save time. We can only use time. The ones that use time wisely get more done and are more successful.



5. What do you want it to say on your tombstone? A,B,C priorities. Get more accomplished by compartmentalizing your tasks. Write a letter to someone far away like a diary entry over several days! That is what I learned to do after reading this book. Leant out first copy, never got it back! Thanks Carmenza! Anyone wanting to increase their potential needs this book as a primer. Remember if I bought it here it was because it was a standout in my life!

5 comments about The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life.

1. As a mother of a young boy(5) who is experiencing several of the symptoms described in the book (disliking school, lack of participation, academic difficulties, occasional disruptive behavior, etc), this book has helped me, if nothing else, to be more empathetic, understanding and patient towards him. This in itself is worth a solid recommendation for the book. Our sons need love, support and understanding, despite the aggravation that their behaviour sometimes causes. In a world where teachers and doctors are quick to diagnose ADHD and prescribe drugs, this book also equipped me to have better discussions with doctors and teachers. It does not provide a quick fix, but strong support along the journey.



2. A lot of boys are being drugged because their teachers don't know how to handle "boy energy" and find it easier (for them, the teachers) to teach boys who are stoned.
   
   Gurian is a champion for boys' learning styles. Read this and buy a copy for any teacher who wants you to drug your son.



3. This book is an especially good read for any one who interacts or teaches childresn. This book helped me to understand why my personality and my classroom management style of "sit-still" and "be quiet" is contrary to the nature of boys.
   
   I did learn a lot.



4. I recommend this book to anyone who is raising a boy or teaching boys. It is a fairly easy read with lots of great information about how boys think, learn, etc.



5. Good book by a well known, great writer. Check out his other titles, too!

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

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



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



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



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



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

5 comments about Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day.

1. I was very excited at the prospect of learning more about setting boundaries. However,this book was so low level and inane that I ended up just throwing the book into the trash. If anything, this book should have been titled "Intro to Boundaries if you have never heard of boundary setting."



2. This book is very well-written in easy-to-understand language. After reading this, I have a very clear idea of healthy boundaries and am now able to discern when boundaries are being violated. Definitely worth reading.



3. I never received the book and don`t know how to deal with it. So, I never got to read it. Will not order from you again as I wasted my money.



4. This helped me to understand what the idea of personal boundaries means and why it is important. It turned a cliche into a useful tool. I enjoyed the direct and unadorned language. Highly recommended for all, especially those who want to know how to help themselves along the journey of recovery.



5. This book offers easy to understand theoretically based information on setting appropriate boundaries is most areas of everyday life. Anne Katherine has provided an excellent resource for clinicians and clients. Her clarity and relevance has been a hit with clients in my private mental health practice as well as with counselors I supervise. Kudos.

5 comments about Love Is Letting Go of Fear.

1. I think this is a great book. I'm a little better person every time I read it.



2. Simplistic but an ok entree to the subject. To anyone who is beyond a bare bones beginner, keep looking.



3. Gerald Jampolsky has taken the concepts from A Course in Miracles and translated them into easy-to-understand lessons. In Love is Letting Go of Fear, he encourages us to focus on love, not fear.
   
   He provides 12 lessons for personal transformation, such as:
   #3 - I am never upset for the reason I think
   #6 - I am not the victim of the world I see
   #7 - Today I will judge nothing that occurs
   #12 - I am responsible for what I see
   
   This book is an international bestseller that is easy to read and which contains principles that are easy to follow.
   
   Anyone looking for reminders from the more scholarly Course in Miracles, will find this book a joy to read.



4. Anyone who has "trust" issues, and you may not even know it, until you begin reading this book, has to have it
   It is a complete, step by step, soft, yet direct introduction to cleaning out the garbage of life that weighs you down
   It opens the door to a comfortable future without pain
   Great read



5. This book is more than what was expected. All the reviews are right-on; this book will give you life-changing concepts. It's easy to read and it makes sense. Love it!

5 comments about Write Great Fiction - Dialogue (Write Great Fiction).

1. I think I understand why some ratings here are low and I also have feeling some folks were expecting someone to magically plop all the rules of dialogue in their laps. Sad news, darlings, you must WORK at learning dialogue and practice as the author delineates in this book. Before, I was very stiff in my dialogue and overworked it to death, and after this book? I'm no longer afraid of it. I have a better grasp on how character personalities work in combination with how they speak. I'm know now that every dialogue needs three crucial components to have balance. The author uses concise examples and literary excerpts from top notch authors to get her points across, and she does a great job.
   
   Don't worry about the lazy naysayers, they wanted a quick list of how to's and don't understand how patience and practice DO pay off in the end.
   
   (And to Thriller lover in particular, you don't have a clue do you? A character's personality has everything to do with dialogue, it's what makes their voice unique. Why do you think she included an entire chapter on it? Gah! *shakes head* )



2. At first I was not very hopeful about this book, because at some points the writing was pretty sketchy and made me wary of being able to learn anything. However, once I got far enough into it, it evened out and had some valuable tips and suggestions for fixing dialogue. If you have had a lot of writer's workshops or classes I wouldn't necessarily reccomend this to you because most of the avice is quite basic, but at least once or twice in most of the chapters you stumble on something you can really use. It is worth at least a skim if you are serious about writing. My only complaint is that it claimed it applied itself to more types of dialogue than it actually does, so a lot of the examples did not apply to me and didn't teach me much. As I stated above, it was still worth it.



3. Everything you wanted to know about writing dialog and more. This book has it all. From writing for different genres, pacing, intensity, and being able to effectively "weave" dialog throughout your narrative structure. I highly recommend this book for anyone thinking of writing fiction. It provides many insights into writing dialog that I had never even considered before. Well worth the money and time.



4. I read the few reviews that were available on this book before I purchased it. That said, I wasn't expecting the dead-on, delightfully comedic, phychology behind every chapter written!! I found myself thinking '...who is this author and how does she know my every thought, my every fear and my every excuse to put off until tomorrow what I should have done last year.' I have taken one of her on-line writing classes and found it to be a non-productive experience (for myself). But she deserves 5 STARS--connecting very well with each of her students--via her own written word. I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND HER BOOK.



5. Dialogue by Gloria Kempton has some sound advice for writing dialogue. While not perfect, those giving it such bad reviews seem more interested in explaining their opinions rather than objectively explain why it's a bad book. Certainly a review must have personal opinion, but an objective criticism that cites clear specific examples and compares that to better books is far more convincing. The people who gave such low scores on this book provide no such information, so even if I was convinced that this book was awful, I wouldn't immediately know where else to look for a better book on dialogue.
   
   Someone who is curious about how to write dialogue would do well to get this book. The chapters focus on clear, distinctive aspects of dialogue and, like the other books in the "Write Great Fiction" series, show how the other elements (such as plot, description, characters, etc.) tie into dialogue. The book does tend to use a tad bit more literary examples than I would like, (I'd prefer a balance of literary and commercial examples) but this is hardly a harsh criticism. Buy a notebook, get this book and take notes on it. The information inside will help you write better dialogue, and that's all the author intended to do.

5 comments about Power Sleep : The Revolutionary Program That Prepares Your Mind for Peak Performance.

1. I am a student in Professor Maas's Psych 101 course at Cornell University. Power Sleep is required for the course (Professor Maas does not make a profit on sales to Cornell students). I found this book extremely helpful. Though I've always thought that I was knowledgeable about the subtleties of sleep, I found that I was not upon reading this book. I've been plagued with illness and found myself sluggish for years. I was always forced out of bed after 8 hours by my mother, concerned that I get enough out of each day. Little did I know that I was trying to thrive at a huge sleep deficit. Since following Professor Maas's Power Sleep advice, my grades have improved in addition to my ability to think clearly throughout the day. I would recommend this book to anyone who has any type of sleeping problems, or even those who think that they are performing at their peaks!



2. I think that this book will change people lives. Its a good book. A bit alarmist at time but i feel that just to keep the americans Interested. Over all I find that the content is very good but a little complicated for the ordinary reader. However I feel its is a very important book and people would benifit it from it greatly.



3. This book belongs in every home library. It is simply the best book on sleep I've ever read. Easy to read, and backed with plenty of research. Has a terrific and useful sleep log. I used to believe all those corporate CEOs and "top performers" who said they could get by just fine on 4-6 hours' sleep at night. With employer expectations of workdays lasting 10-14+ hours, I felt I had no choice but to try to emulate them if I wanted to keep my job, let alone get ahead. I used to think that because I fell asleep within 60 seconds every night (a sure sign of sleep deprivation, as I now know) my body was functioning very efficiently. I yawned all day long, my eyes closed sometimes at my desk or behind the wheel, I was chronically depressed and even suicidal, I seemed to be losing my memory, I had chronic headaches, trying to get up each morning was like trying to rouse myself from a coma, and my general health was deteriorating, which I attributed to the natural aging process. I lived like this for decades. During a period of unemployment, I read Dr. Maas' book about why the body needs adequate sleep and what happens to it when it doesn't get enough, followed his advice, and found to my astonishment that 8 hours' sleep every night cured all of my problems! I NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE! I will NEVER go back to living a life of chronic sleep deprivation. My depression has been replaced with joy, I fall asleep in 10 minutes, not 60 seconds, my memory has recovered, my heart palpitations are gone, my headaches are gone, my energy is enough to last all day -- without coffee, I no longer yawn, my eyes don't close on me, and I get out of bed with energy and cheer. Do yourself a favor and get this book. Then tell your boss you're not staying past 7PM anymore because you have to go home and get your sleep!



4. I don't know why, but even though I've read different ways to 'get more sleep', etc., I still have trouble with it. My problem is that I try to cram in 'just one more thing' or get sucked into a hobby or the computer, movie, project, etc. and stay up too late. This book was interesting as it talked about sleep research as well as the real dangers of being sleep deprived (beyond just feeling wasted).
   
   I understand the importance of keeping a similar sleep-wake cycle every day, and I struggle there because I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. on work days. Who wants to get up at 5:30 on your day off?? I have been filling out the sleep logs (I re-typed the chart in the book into a MS-Word document) and it's hard seeing bedtimes and sleep durations all over the place. Maybe my circadian rhythms are wired to a little later wake times.
   
   Overall, though, through prayer and persistence I'm working to change my bad sleep habits a bit at a time. The recommendations and the 'Golden Rules of Sleep' are good to review often to help cement new GOOD habits. My favorite quote (and a good reminder) in the book is: "when you start treating sleep as a NECESSITY, not a luxury, your whole life will change." I am looking forward to the change.



5. Great book - really opens your eyes to the power of a good night's sleep!