One of the 10 Best Real Estate Reads of the year By Robert J. Bruss Los Angeles Times

How to settle insurance claims for top dollar TOP DOLLAR PROPERTY CLAIMS, By Les Watrous Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home to pre-damage condition. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowners' hands! This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advise for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12.

Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage and other insured residence claims. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their insurance claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home back to pre-damage condition. Having had an insurance claim last year that was denied by State Farm with a 22-page denial letter, but later paid in full for $3600, I wish this new book had been available then. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowner's hands! The author shows homeowners how to properly make their homeowner's insurance claims; how to carefully document the damage; how to handle first line adjusters who are trained to m ake a quick, cheap settlement; how to find contractors experienced with insurance repairs; how to be sure of complete payment, including required building code upgrades; and what to do at each step to avoid complications. This extremely well-written book is a fun read with great graphics, illustrations, lots of examples, necessary forms for damage documentation, and summaries of what is insured and what isn't. Although the book is full of details, it isn't bogged down with technicalities. This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advice for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies. It even lists Internet Web sites where you can get more help. The author, while noting that many insurance companies handle claims very fairly, warns homeowners to be prepared for the worst; if no problems develop, they can be pleasantly surprised. On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12. Robert J. Bruss, National Syndicated Columnist Used by Permission

I bought Top Dollar Property Claims after my insurance company wanted to settle my claim for $740. By following the techniques and suggestions in this book, my claim settled for more than $31,000! Nella McNamara, La Verne, California.

This is not a self help book, but rather a unique take on morality. It deals with morality as part of our health and well being. It is not at all preachy, but very sensible as well as spiritual.

I've been growing roses for a few years and my mother and grandmother are avid rose gardeners. I thought I knew a fair amount on the subject, but I learned SO MUCH from this book. Great for the beginner and experienced rose grower. And the photos are beautiful (would have liked more). This book can make anyone feel comfortable growing roses and will help ensure their success!

You can tell from the other reviews that this book has the strengths and weaknesses of the other Dummies Books.

So I will tell you how this helped me. Twice this book has helped me. First I bought a Lady Banks (Rosa banksiae) rose, I did not realize that they grew VIGOROUSLY and could spread over 20 feet. This was a small area. After reading this in the "Roses for Dummies" book I ran outside ad saw Lady Banks reaching for my cat. Needles to say she (the rose) was moved to a location where she could go wild. My cat has recovered. The more important thing I learned from this book was that you have to be ruthless when it comes to pruning. Before the book I snipped and trimmed my floribundas, as any sane person would do with their favorite hedge. Well it got gnarled and mildewed. So back to the book I went to find in chapter 19 that the proper way to shear this particular type of rose was under the heading of "The shear pleasure of pruning floribundas and polyanthas" After that I did not even need to read the mildew section.

The only dummy is the one that does not buy this book.

This book is excellent. I just decided to take planting roses as a hobby and this was the book I was looking for. It explains everything from choosing a rose plant, the different types of plants, how to plant them and how often to water them, how to prune them, etc. The very basics, just what a novice needs to learn.

There was a lot more to Charlie Chaplin than what he wrote about in his autobiography. In several instances he would mention that a subject was touchy or self explanitory, and for that reason write very little of it. However, these are the most interesting aspects of his life. The book concentrates almost completely on Chaplin's personal aquantences, and despite how interesting and prestigeous they may have been, it just isn't worth putting into a book. Certainly worth reading though, for there is no better source for information on the begginings of Hollywood.

Written elegantly and with honesty Charlie Chaplin describes fame and fortune as well as poverty and despair. An often despressed and socially lacking person, Chaplin lets you see behind the makeup and the cameras.

This book really shows his genius. Without the benefit of much schooling he still writes like a man with a degree in jounalism. At times, though, Chaplin trails off on subjects, then comes back but you get the feeling that you really know him as he takes you further than any other autobiographer and into his mind.

While this is by no means a perfect book, it is still very enjoyable to read Chaplin's account of his life and times. Other works may portray him more accurately and with less bias, but they cannot offer the same personal touch that this book presents. For the most part, the book is a smooth read-even though Chaplin tends to leave out important points that are uncomfortable (but essential), creating a few strange transitions. Further, it appears that even the realm of non-fiction biography is not safe from fictional enhancements. Chaplin, being the tireless dramatist, invented at least one character in this book for fluency and apparently stretched a story here or there as well. Despite this, a fan of the great comedian must respect (or at least accept) the fact that this is how Charlie Chaplin wanted to be remembered.