5 comments about How to Be a Gentleman: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy.

1. This splendid little Rutledge Hill Press publication is best read as the first in the Press' 'Gentlemanners Books' series.
   
   Based on the conviction that being a gentleman is not a matter of following a strict code of behavior but rather of making life easier and more pleasant for others, the book presents nuggets of advice to real and would-be gentlemen under ten headings. Each begins with 'A Gentleman ...' . The remainder of the chapter titles follows:
   
   Experiences Real Life
   
   Gets Dressed
   
   Goes to Dinner
   
   Says the Right Thing
   
   Gives a Party
   
   Goes to a Party
   
   and His Friends
   
   Goes to the Office
   
   Gets Equipped
   
   The tenth chapter is entitled 'Extreme Etiquette: a Gentleman Faces the Really Big Challenges.
   
   
   I only recently stumbled upon this series and have already moved on to John Bridges' collaborative work with Bryan Curtis called A GENTLEMAN GETS DRESSED UP. WHAT TO WEAR, WHEN TO WEAR IT, HOW TO WEAR IT.
   
   Matters of etiquette are frequently debatable and always subject to societal change. Moreover, there will always be an old-school aroma clinging to any work that uses the words 'etiquette' and 'gentleman' without disparagement. For this reason, critics of the book who hotly dismiss this or that declaration by Bridges have misunderstood the genre. Bridges accomplishment is not to have given the last word on gentlemanly behavior, but rather to have given one solid line of approach within which any single pronouncement is open to adjustment or even rebuttal.
   
   I am exploring ways to place copies of this little volume into the hands of my male colleagues in a way - as a gentleman would strive to do - that does not suggest that they are unwashed cannibals in their present condition.
   
   HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN is that good. I look forward to reading through this book's sequels.
   
   However a gentleman doesn't gush, so I'll stop here.



2. Excellent for every high school graduate to read and adopt.



3. I bought this book about eight years ago, and I reread it just about every year. The advice is straightforward and often witty, and the book remains one of my favorites on etiquette.
   
   I have since purchased or received the other books in the Gentlemanners series and enjoyed those as well.
   
   Although you can read this book in lass than a couple of hours (and I recommend reading the book), you will be out of luck if you are looking for information quickly. There is no index, so you are limited to the general guidance of the table of contents.



4. I think this is a good book for people that does know how to be a gentlemen but I found I knew most of the stuff already.



5. At first I was afraid this book would be full of platitudes and one-liners on how to be a gentleman but as I read it I began to understand how the book all comes together. I very much enjoyed the reasoning behind some of the "do's and don'ts" listed in the book and while much of the book just seems to be common courtesy, how common ARE some of the courtesies any more?
   
   An excellent book and one I would recommend to just about any gentleman or potential gentleman.

5 comments about Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames.

1. This book is well written, and it is sometimes necessarily repetitive (Yes I wrote necessarily) in order to stress the point that to be able to deal with the habit energy released by anger, the energy of mindfulness has to be generated by the practitioner which will lovingly take care of anger.
   I can see why some people have written mixed reviews on this book. However, Zen is not meant to be idealized or understood intellectually, it is direct experience which provides the true understanding of Zen. When a Zen master is asked what it is that Zen practitioners do differently from others he is likely to say "well..when we are hungry we eat, when we are tired we sleep, when we are thirsty we drink water." Mindfulness is doing whatever ordinary task we have at hand with all of our hearts. That's the practice taugth in this book.
   
   This is a book for those who already practice the art of mindful living and wish to strenghthen their mindfulness in a way that will bring home the Pure Land for him/herself and therefore his/her loved ones.



2. By publishing a poem showing his anger at the USA. Thich Nhat Hanh
   is one of the worst liar. He is the most hated personality among the
   Vietnamese community who knew him very well as a communist in disguise.



3. In a society where anger is "normal" this should be required reading. The author is one of the great spiritual teachers of our time and is very naturally a profound and compassionate psychologist. This is not about "getting it out". You learn to let those hot feelings cool so that you become less and less habituated to angry responses and discover more and more about self-control and, with that, essential self-respect. Strongly recommended even for people without obvious "anger problems". We all live in an angry world. We all need to understand these absolutely debilitating issues.



4. I picked this up after my anger started careening out of control, especially at work. This book was responsible for putting me back on the dharma path. Thich Naht Hanh's writings on Buddhism are incredibly lucid, and easy to apply to your daily life. Since discovering this book, I've read four others by Thich Naht Hanh, and am currently working on a fifth. My life has been transformed since reading this book, but keep in mind that I've also been meditating daily and meeting regularly with a sangha. Whether you're looking to "walk the path" or simply gain some control over your emotions, this book is an effective resource.



5. I picked this book off my parents' bookshelf because the title intrigued me. Little did I know that the way I looked at anger would change forever. I now understand that I do not have to be a victim of my emotions and that through the practice of mindfulness I can transform. I have recommended this book to friends and they have had the same experience. Thich Nhat Han has changed the way I look at everything!

5 comments about Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict.

1. I saw a magazine cover yesterday in a supermarket: "We can win the war against global warming!" it declared. "Really?" I wondered. "Has war ever brought us anything but more suffering?" I was much more sensitive to this fundamental question since I have just finished reading Lama Tsultrim's book on an alternative to war - whether we are talking about inner war against our bodies, our diseases, our fat(!), or our thoughts and feelings or outer war against our mothers and fathers, our children, neighbors, other groups of people, or even the natural world around us whether near or far who "threaten" us. In the animal kingdom - we are told - the only two choices when one feels threatened are "fight or flight", and that is the way we have been mostly operating for quite awhile now. Thank God there is another way, and Lama Tsultrim describes it in practical terms with lots of examples from real life. Now if we can just get our politicians to read this and try it....



2. Lama Tsultrim Allione has masterfully adapted the ancient Tibetan practice of chod and it's powerful gift of transformation so simply and directly that it will serve those who might be drawn to the book's evocative title, while also providing support and a fresh approach to long time spiritual practitioners. Simple, concise and carefully honed through Tsultrim's own many years of practice, this book and the practice which it transmits is a liberating gift for all those whose lives are devoted to freedom. Blessings and Gratitude...



3. 
   Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 5/08
   In her book, Feeding Your Demons,with much authority and personal experience, Tsultrim Allione, shares ancient wisdom from the Buddhists. Allione defines demons not as a Gargoyle type spirit but as an obstacle or hindrance that holds us back from living a full life. Depression, anxiety, illnesses are a few of the obstacles she calls demons. She adapts Buddhist methods into a simple 5-step process.
   1. Find the demon.
   2. Personify the demon and ask what it needs.
   3. Imagine yourself as the demon.
   4. Feed the demon and meet the ally.
   5. Rest in awareness.
   I understand the principles behind the 5-step concept even if I do not agree with it. My liberation comes from above. However, Allione takes a mysterious subject and simplifies it. All in all, Feeding Your Demons is an unique concept. Its basis is ancient, but practiced by many New Agers.



4. I'm 51 and found it very useful. I also bought it for a 24 yr old friend of mine and she thought it was wonderful too! I highly recommend it.



5. Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
   on 07/08/2008
   
   Tsultrim Allione was one of the first Western women to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. In this book, she presents an eleventh-century woman's wisdom to non-Buddhists in simple, easy to understand language that anyone can follow.
   
   According to Tsultrim, we can all overcome whatever demons are causing chaos in our lives, whether they be weight, illness, anger, or whatever. By following her five steps, we can supposedly overcome these problems.
   
   In the first part of the book, we are given an overview of Tultrim's life - her journeys into spiritualism, her marriages and divorces, her children, her tragedies and her triumphs. It is an interesting biography, if somewhat brief. But this book isn't supposed to be a biography - and it's not completely. The next section delineates the five-step program to overcoming whatever ails you. It is clearly written and easily understood.
   
   The third part of the book deals with specific types of demons. Each demon - illness, fear, addiction, abuse, etc. - comes with case studies allowing you to read about people who faced these problems and overcame them. Each one is different, and interesting to read. The last section of the book gives you information on how to deepen your work.
   
   In the grand publishing segment that encompasses self-help books, this is one of the more interesting ones I've read. It is brief, to the point, easy to understand, easy to follow and deals with problems that plague almost all of us. Does it work? I'll have to get back to you on that. But I can't see where there's any harm in trying. If nothing else, you've spent some time meditating and that's always a good thing. If you're into spiritualism, Buddhism, or any of the mediating practices, definitely pick this one up. If you're just into reading about obscure spiritual readers, this would be a good buy.
   
   4.5 Books

5 comments about The New Feminine Brain: Developing Your Intuitive Genius.

1. This book is quite insightful and thought provoking. Mona Lisa Schulz has done a great job of taking mass amounts of complicated research and putting it into a form that the layman can understand. There is definitely a lack of good research on women's bodies/health and I think this book is a milestone in the field. I would highly recommend this book to any woman in any walk of life. The one drawback (if there was one) is that this book tends to be a bit pathological in general so one should caution against becoming a hypochondriac while reading. But as a whole I consider this to be an excellent book that can bring about awareness of the connections between work, family, stress, and physical and mental health.



2. No matter what your brain style, no matter what type of anxiety or
   emotion you may feel, it is all part of your intuitive type and its OK.
   Instead of criticizing yourself, read this book and find out how it is
   you really work and process information and see how it is part of your
   GENIOUS!! This book is a must for western health care professionals,
   counsellors, etc. but it is also a book for the total woman of the 21st
   century because this is how health care is going to be talking. And if
   you read this, you have to read Doc Schulz's book on Intuition. I've read
   both and I feel empowered and I feel validated of all that is me.



3. I love this book b/c it explains so much about me, each day or month that I feel different. It explains why I get it, and on another day I don't. Why my husband thinks the way he does, and it helped me to understand that I must let some things go. It gives me tools I need to eleviate my Arthritis, and my Menopausal aches and pains. Thank you, Tammy



4. Wondering why you are constantly sick, tired or just unhappy in general? If so, I command you to RUN, not walk, over to your local library or bookstore and pick up this brilliant piece of work by Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz. Two of the biggest issues I see with women and self-esteem are a) that they aren't taking good care of themselves (not exercising, eating well, taking vitamins, etc.) and b) that they stuff their emotions by not acknowledging the fact they feel powerless, lonely or just plain angry. I realize the book looks like a tome but it's very easy to skim around for just what you need. Don't be surprised, however, if you end up reading the whole thing.



5. Apart from relatively well known facts about difference between women's and men's brain (nothing you can't find on internet) the "New feminine brain" is dedicated to pms(just couple pages), depression, phobias, anxiety, obsessions etc. If you do not suffer from above listed alignments and prefer natural treatment to drugs and daily supplements there is little in this book for you. Please rent a book form a friend or the library prior to purchase to make sure its what you want.

5 comments about Coping With Your Difficult Older Parent : A Guide for Stressed-Out Children.

1. Although there are some good points in this point, the overwhelming view seems to be that the younger folks have to continually sacrifice their self esteem, personal values, and integrity to coddle an elder. There are some folks who are mean and nasty all of their lives and seem to get worse as they age. The tactics do not work on these people and they are quick to tell you about "your tactics" or demean you for trying. Don't fool yourself that this will work 100% of the time.
   Too many self help books with quick fixes and trite responses



2. This book is very easy to use as an aide in dealing with difficult aging parents. It starts with a questionnaire which helps categorize what type of difficult person you are dealing with and then has chapters dealing with each category. It includes lots of real examples and gives tips as to how grown children can best deal and cope with the different situations that arise. It also includes an extensive Bibliography for further reading. I recommend this to those who are having a hard time with their aging parents. (It does not address dealing with alzheimers though).
   
   --Karen Arlettaz Zemek, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"



3. Son!
   
   Don't buy this book. I'll be good.
   
   I'm not going to the track anymore! See! I'll stop gambling away your inheritance. I'll even stop having sex with that woman. Point is, you don't have to chain me to the radiator.
   
   Remember that time I took you to the baseball game? Wasn't that fun! Ha Ha.



4. If you are dealing with a difficult situation with your older parent, it will help to read this work. The authors present different personality and communication styles that are common toboth the older adult and the adult child. They then describe why older adults say some of the things they do how to respond in a way that is firm yet respectful of the needs of both adult and child. If you had the time and the inclination to think about what these authors suggest you might of come up with some of the same conclusions. They have done it for you. I refer to mine often.



5. This book provided a great resource for us in dealing with a difficult mother-in-law. We still have problems with her, but the book has help identify how to cope with some of her behaviros and we seem to be able to cope much better.

5 comments about The Purpose-Driven Life Journal.

1. My review somehow got deleted, so...second try.
   
   I really liked this journal as a companion to the book. I spent many afternoons before work reading the book at Starbucks and taking notes in the journal. The journal gives enough space to write most days. Sometimes I did run out of pages, though.
   
   It's peppered with Bible verses from the day's lesson and key points to remember. At the end of each of the semi-blank pages is a prayer focussing on the main points. I found praying these helpful.
   
   All in all, worth the price I paid because it when I read the key points in the journal and took notes it helped to solidify the day's reading in my mind.



2. It is an informative and celebration of life experience. The Bible versus and explanations helped me tremendously to understand the Bible. The author has great insight into life and the Bible.
   Emily Stefanus



3. An amazing book as a companion to the Purpose Driven Life. It's a great tool and room for a lot of writing. I love it.



4. "The 40 Days PDL-Prayer Journal" is an invaluable tool that parallels and intersects with the Purpose Driven Life. One compliments the other. Strength is drawn buy using the tools together! Rick Warren's piece has given me a paradigm shift of the mind. He reminds me of the unshakable center in Christ Jesus. We are custom made by the hand of God. Discover your roots, throw off the unnecessary baggage through insight, meditation & reflection proded by scriptures, Purpose Driven Life quotes and a simple guided prayer. Free fall writing gives access to unlock blocked channels of the mind. Every chapter begins with "Points of Reflection" and "Questions to Consider". We are pressed to consider "The Five Most Important Questions of Your Life".
   -Jennifer Hope Webster, Author...
   Mis Charlas con Dios: diario de oracion...
   Chat with God: Prayer Journal...
   President and Founder ChatwithGod Ministries, Inc.



5. This is a really great journal. I like that it has all the questions and thoughts of the day. I kind of wish it had more writing area, but that's just me!! Goes hand in hand with the book, and I really love that!!

5 comments about Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success.

1. The book illustrates and elaborates insights of Russell Simmons, the man who founded million-dollar companies; Def Jam Records and Phat Farm Clothing. You may have heard the 12 Laws, or versions of them before, but the book details how Russell Simmons uniquely applies them to his successful life. Though you may be distant to the Hip Hop world, it depicts the mindset he needed to get from hustling in Queens/NYC in the 1980's, to becoming a multi-millionaire entrepreneur of today. The messages here are to improve and promote anyone's natural abilities. Some chapters do stretch on his use for yoga, but he does work in its relativity. The book also finds a way to heighten the awareness of how large an influence the Hip Hop culture possesses in the world. I especially like how he quotes many different philanthropists and explains it in his own street-wise way. I'm glad I picked it up.



2. THESE ARE THINGS THAT THEY DO NOT TEACH IN COLLEGE. THAT IS PROBABLY WHY MOST OF THE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES OUT THERE DID NOT FINNISH OR DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE. I AM NOT PUTTING ACADEMIC EDUCATION DOWN BUT JUST REALIZING REALITY!
   THE ADVICE IN THIS BOOK IS HARDCORE. I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT RUSSEL SIMMONS BUT NOW I AM AN ADMIRER. HE AND THE PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH AND PROMOTED ARE AMAZING. IN A SOCIETY THAT CONTINUES TO PUSH THE AFRO AMERICAN ASIDE, EVEN THOUGH WE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN ANYONE, WE HAVE ALWAYS SEEMED TO ACHIEVE AGAINST ALL ODDS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE RUSSELL SIMMONS!!!!!!!



3. The book Do You was received as promised. Delivery time unfortunately, I cannot state if it was timely or not. I went out of town as soon as I placed my order. My books and a host of mail awaited my arrival back home. Thank you for good service- again! The books nature is to stimulate you to take action, to be a doer and not procrastinate. Step out of the box and take a leap of faith..



4. After reading just a few pages I had already begun to plan how I could change my thinking, thus change my life for the better. What stood out the most in the book was how the title, DO YOU, although simple is a quite powerful truth...
   
   The book made me realize that I have, over time, lost sight of many of the simple truths that make me who I am.
   
   After reading the laws I began making changes that helped me to be more true to myself.
   
   My favorite thing about the book was how he used real life examples of how people who are successful now got their start by being humble servants. That has always been my belief so it was nice to hear real life success stories.
   
   
   Monica Marie Jones
   Author
   www.monicamariejones.com
   www.myspace.com/flossthenovel
   www.lulu.com/monicamjones
   
   The Ups and Downs of Being Round
   FLOSS* (1)
   Taste My Soul



5. Wow! This book is all about feeling good inside. I am 50 years old and already make a very high income from my day job and play jazz at night. I know almost nothing about Hip Hop, am white and grew up in the suburbs. I had never even heard of Russell Simmons. I was not sure if this book would touch me in the right way because I assumed it was "exclusively" for the young, urban,hip hop crowd. I bought the book on CDs based on all the great reviews and am blown away by it. It is written in a way that is so inspiring because of the honesty. He talks to you like your hanging out with him instead of in a lecture hall. He fills you with a calming spiritual feeling with his totally inclusive and spiritual nature. It's contagious. He totally cares. On top of all that, he has done it all himself from bottom to top. I can't imagine a better role model to learn from.

5 comments about Body Esteem: Weight Loss Through Self-Discovery (includes 2 Audio CDs).

1. This book was a Godsend for me. For the first time since I can remember I survived the holidays without gaining anything! And for me that is saying a lot. Holidays are always a stressful time full of parties and just the kind of food I turn for a little support.
   
   After New Year's I always make the same resolution to lose weight. And every year I've lost some and gained it back (plus a few more and another dress size). Yet this year, thanks in large part to "Body Esteem," I know it's going to be different. I can feel it and I also have proof that I can do it (I still fit in my clothes and I've actually lost weight).
   
   I haven't been able to do the book as much as I'd like, but I've been listening to the CDs almost every night all comfy in bed. I sometimes drift to sleep, which is great because I normally have a little difficulty getting to sleep anyway, but the messages are certainly sinking in. I'm not going to say its like magic, but it's really given me a new level of self-love and commitment to myself. And it's like I don't have to work at losing weight so much as I just want to take better care of my body.
   
   There's a lot of good practical information as well as self-exploration exercises in the book, which I found very useful and the CDs are fantastic. I think anyone would benefit from this wonderful book.



2. I am, like so many others, a veteran of the weight loss "wars". What Sherri's book and CD's made me realize is that a good deal of the "war" I was fighting was within myself. With the insight and tools I have learned, I am beginning to change the way I think about myself, the way I respond in situations regarding food and for the first time I am hopeful that I can continue my weight loss and more importantly-sustain it. Thanks to this wonderful work, I am now gainig insight instead of weight. I recommend this valuable tool as a great guide for weight loss-and life.



3. Fianally after years of being on Weight Watchers and working out every day, then loosing and gaining my weight over and over again. I decided to work on my mind. I tried other selfhypnosis CDs and they did start to sink in. But Body Esteem really gets to the source of the eating and helps to deal with the issues that kept me over eating even healthy food. Sherri's voice is so soothing and the imagry is so vivid I look foreward to going with her into the places she takes you. I am changing how I eat and can see my goals as a reality instead of impossable. I am loosing regularly now and don't have a disire to cheat or self sabatouge my eating. i have recomended this book to others at my Weight Watcher meetings to help them stay on prgram.



4. If you cannot find the original, 1985 version of Thin Within by Judy Wardell, get this book. Body Esteem is a workbook with several detailed exercises to help you work through issues you may have that could be preventing you from getting rid of that weight, along with pages of useful tips and advice. The CDs are also pleasant to listen to, which is not always the case with this type of book. Even if you do have Thin Within, this is a good companion to it.
   
   My only quibble with this book is that it is into banning certain foods (albeit mostly junk foods and certain ingredients). I like the Wardell approach much better--if you know you can have whatever you want, whenever you want, you eventually don't want it as much. Yes, of course make better choices where possible, but the occasional indulgence is not going to ruin an overall healthy eating/exercise plan.
   
   4.5 stars.



5. I love this book. After the first couple of weeks I started to lose weight. I feel great, I love the CD's and I, like the other people who reviewed this book, just feel like taking better care of myself. I've been eating a lot healthier and I don't want junk food as much. I don't know if it is the CD's that you listen to daily or the workbook but I've finally found something that works for me! This book is great!

5 comments about More Language of Letting Go: 366 New Daily Meditations (Hazelden Meditation Series).

1. This is another fine example of the inner wisdom of Melody Beattie. Her books have helped me TREMENDOUSLY with my life, though I'm not a 12 stepper. It applies to life for all of us!



2. I don't think we as human beings actually recognize the power of daily reading, meditation, and reflecting. Practicing these powerful principles allows us to remain mindful of the moment and reflect upon the deeper question in our lives. To devote ourself to a daily meditation and to journal on these quiet times is priceless and will certainly aid in the evolution of our soul. For me this practice has allowed an awakening to take place and opens my life up to all the opportunities that are available in this universe. Please give this practice a try! This book will help you in your journey of living and cultivating an active consciousness in your daily life.
   
   Richard A. Singer Jr. Author Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present.



3. This book is for anyone going through any type of recovery: codependency, addiction, divorce. Daily affirmations that tell us that yes we are important and we are not crazy!



4. This is an excellent resource for those of us dealing with enabling behaviors and learning to live a balanced life.



5. This is an added joy to the "Language of Letting Go". They work well together.

5 comments about Broken.

1. I started this book but couldn't finish it. I guess I found it to be a bit
   boring and too detailed. Perhaps a big exaggerated? I do applaud Cope Moyers however for writing the book. I'm sure it will help MANY who have struggled with addiction. As a literary piece, though, I think it needs more work.



2. I had the opportunity to hear William Moyers speak at SECAD. His presentation moved me to purchase his book, BROKEN. This book was so powerful that I was unable to put it down once I read the prologue. As a recovering person and therapist in the mental health/drug and alcohol treatment field I immediately purchased a dozen more copies of BROKEN to give to clients and family members who struggle with addiction. Anyone interested in issues of addiction and recovery will be equally moved if they pick up a copy and read the 3 1/2 page prologue. BROKEN is powerfully candid and written is a straightforward manner that results in the reader being captivated and most importantly....inspired by William Moyers' journey of recovery.



3. I really appreciated this book. I found it to be honest and moving. It shows a very accurate and powerful picture of addictions and what it takes to get into recovery. William Moyers really helps people to see the power of addicitons and the power of recovery. I really appreciated all he had to say. I do believe that we need to share our stories and educate the public as to the truth about addictions.



4. Having walked through the hell of having a child with profound substance abuse issues, I found this book a biography I could identify with. Congratulations to Cope and his family. No one gets sober in a straight line and without help and support.



5. I ordered the book Broken on May 19th and I still have not recieved it yet, can someone help me or give me a number to call. Thank you