I have just finished reading, for the first time, one of the best books on writing craft I have read to date: "A Manual of Writer's Tricks" by David L. Carroll. I was already recommending it to others when I had not read more than ten pages. This is the craft of writing reduced to the simplicity of useful principle. Those principles are accompanied by sufficient relevant analysis and precision example to illuminate those very same principles; and thus they are useful "tricks" indeed. The author has rendered a great service to the craft and writers. I highly recommend this book.

In A Manual Of Writer's Tricks: Essential Advice For Fiction And Nonfiction Writers, David Carroll (Emmy Award- winning television writer and author of twenty-five books, including How To Prepare Your Manuscript For A Publisher) successfully collaborates with Sheree Bykofsky (literary agent and co-executive editor of the New York Public Library Desk Reference) to provide essential tips, tricks and techniques for aspiring fiction and nonfiction writers seeking to save time, improve their style, and avoid common pitfalls associated with the act of writing. This compendium of stratagems and literary shortcuts offer invaluable advice for writing with expression, improving structure, correcting and rewriting with greater efficiency, developing "writer's logic", avoiding the hazards of burnout or boredom, dealing with a lack of motivation or writer's block, and reworking scholarly prose for greater clarity and reader engagement. A Manual Of Writer's Tricks is a "must read" for novice authors just starting out, and has a great deal of value and insight for even the more experienced and seasoned writer.

This one's for everyone - fiction and non-fiction. You pick up this slim paperback, rifle the pages and bang! A Manual of Writer's Tricks gives you ammunition to instantly liven your writing. My copy is well-highlighted. The foreword is written by literary agent Sheree Bykofsky who once sent me a delightful rejection letter. Some examples (I just gave you one - irony); Show don't tell - instead of "the ship was heavily weighted," say "Excess cargo made her tilt slightly to port." Use words that evoke images - instead of "my back is sore all over," say "I ache along every nerve ending and vertebra of my spine." You get the picture, now go get the book.

Some of the many topics included in this book:
Where are the best places to adopt a dog or cat?, which pet fits the scheme and layout of your living space?, Making your home safe for a pet and making a pet safe for your home, laying down the rules of the house, children and pets, getting it right: a how-to-list for children taking care of pets, the art and practice of kennel training and travel preparation tips

Items recommended for traveling with a pet in the car, overseeing your pet's health, finding a veterinarian, the warning sighns: when to take your pet to the veterinarian, scheduling regular checkups including vaccinations, the ABC's of emergency care, ways of saying good-bye to a pet that has passed away, methodsd of burial and diposal

A primer of canine behavior, a new puppy in the house, step-by-step paper training and housebreaking, dog grooming 101, feeding and nutrition for dogs, breaking bad habits teaching good ones, maintaining your dog's good health

A primer of cat behavior, a new cat in your home, basic cat and kitten care, feline nutrition, secrets of good feline grooming, basic training for your cat, keeping your cat well and healthy

The book discusses on how to care for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats and mice. Includes a section on health & disease, toys and feeding and nutrition

A chapter is devoted on how to care for birds. Includes how to choose a bird that will fit your lifestyle, the art and science of bird care and communicating with your bird

A chapter is devoted on how to care for fish. Topics includes setting up the aquarium, how to feed fish and symptoms of disease

A chapter is devoted on how to care reptiles and amphibians. Topics includes how to recognize a happy, healthy snake, feeding and handling your snake, buying a lizard, feeding and handling your lizard, caring for your snake's health and caring for your lizard's health. Gives infomation on buying an amphibian(Toads & Frogs and Salamanders), feeding and handling and health concerns

If a copy of this book could fall from the sky onto the desks of people with possible, probable, or definite MS the minute the first twinge of their disorder occurred, life for people with MS and their friends and doctors would be infinitely improved. This is undoubtedly the most practical book I've read for those affected by MS in any way. Many books about MS try to offer definitive answers where there are none, or poo-poo certain theories of cause or treatment while giving others glowing and incomplete reviews, or take overly optimistic or pessimistic views of living with MS. This book, however, gives a refreshingly balanced discussion of the disease and how to cope with it.

The book begins with concise and compassionately written chapters on what MS is and isn't and what to expect during neurological testing. Information provided ranges from choosing a wheelchair to how to stay out of one. Nutrition, mental health, allopathic and "alternative" treatments, day-to-day living and disclosure to friends and co-workers are among the topics discussed.

The only unfortunate thing about this book is that is was written in 1993, and, since then, many advances in the medical treatment of MS have been made. Still, Living Well with MS has something to offer anyone with an interest in MS

I found this book to be a summary of all the collective knowledge I have previously obtained on the subject of high blood pressure. I purchased the book looking forward to following their suggested eating plan, however, the receipes do not contain any information with respect to number of servings, calories, sodium content, fat content, etc. You never quite know if that Spinach Pie you just wolfed down was meant to be shared amongst 2 or 6 people. Because of this, I had to give up as I just don't have the time to calculate appropriate servings size, etc.

This book has a motivating format for controlling high blood pressure and maintaining weight. The DASH diet information is wonderful---the food is delicious and healthful. I can honestly see myself eating this way the rest of my life. The information on stress relief and exercise is also very well-written.