What a wonderful souvenir for my child to have. One of the best ideas was videotaping the progress of my pregnancy and the immediate moments of my child's arrival. Catching the parents' and grandparents' reaction of their new addition to the family was priceless. Thank you for supplying us future mothers with your great ideas.

I gave this book to my daughter for Christmas, she's in her first trimester of pregnancy. She was delighted! Apparently she had searched all over for exactly this type of "diary" to make documenting her pregnancy a fun thing to do. The tips are great, especially for a first-time mom, the writing space for the mom-to-be is just right, and there are places for pictures. It's a real keeper! There isn't another book quite like it out there.

I bought a copy of "Baby...I Can Hardly Wait!" as a gift for a very good friend and she loved it. As a matter of fact I wish I had a copy when I was pregnant. The nice thing about the book is that it combines all the most important elements of a diary. There's plenty of space to write, there place for pictures, the tips are excellent and the keepsake activities are super. The nice thing is that there is also space for the father to write his thoughts. My friend carries the book with her where ever she goes.

found this book at an estate sale for 25 cents....truly a beautiful find.

After a doctor's appointment in Houston I dropped by a small privately owned bookstore I thought looked interesting. As the owner and I spoke she said she could tell I would love this book because of my love of gardening,birds and nature--but that obtaining it would be very difficult. I asked them to put me on a search list and a few months later it arrived. The author's drawings and observations as she watches nature are captivating. Edith started this journal in 1906 and it was never shown to anyone until it was discovered on a shelf in an old country home and then published. There is a sweetness and innocence in the writing that's hard to describe. The pages are like a rather like a thick piece of manilla paper and if I had an extra copy of this book I would frame page after page. I purchased it sight unseen and consider it one of my great treasures.

This book was a bestseller when it was originally published in the 1970's, and there was a good reason for it. Edith Holden, the artist of this work was a very accomplished watercolorist. This book is filled with her views of the fruits, beauty and wonder of nature. It shows the flowers, birds and insects of the natural world as they appear over a year accompanied by appropriate poems and quotations.

The watercolours are simply breathtaking. The closest thing to this book that I have seen is illuminated manuscripts, but the effect here is quite different.

The publishers have been very wise with publication. You get a page-by-page facimilie in full colour, reproducing the original manuscript. They have not cluttered the book up by reproducing pages and putting their own text next to it.

If you run across a copy of this pick it up and let it take you away to another world.

Edith Hamilton was one of the greatest writers on ancient cultures of all time. This is yet another triumph for her.

Edith Hamilton did it again with the Echo of Greece. This book looks at and explains, in a colloquial manner, the rise, apex, and decline of Greece during their golden age (from the beginning of the 5th century B.C. to the end of the 4th century B.C.). After finishing this book, the reader comes away not only with a better understanding of the Greek ethos, but also with an explanation of why things happened the way that they did. It is the latter accomplishment, I think, that readers will most appreciate.

Hamilton's book is divided into 10 chapters: I. Freedom, II. Athens' Failure, III. The School of Athens, IV. The School Teachers, V. Demosthenes, VI. Alexander the Great, VII. Menander, VIII. The Stoics, IX. Plutarch, and X. The Greek Way and the Roman Way.

The organization is brilliant, and leads the reader by their hand through the intellectual and artistic accomplishments of Greece not only during her height, but as you can see from chapters VI.-X., examines her influece on the world she helped create.

There are, however, a couple of frustrating parts about Hamilton's book as well. She provides excellent quotes throughout, but never explains where the reader can find them. A typical example appears on page 157, where she states that Aristotle said "The true nature of anything is what it becomes at its highest." But in which of Aristotle's myriad books should the reader begin to look to find this quote? Sometimes, even worse, Hamilton will just say "And a Stoic said that ..." Which Stoic?

A second complaint I have is that Hamilton spends a good deal of time talking about Greece's political, philosophical, and artistic achievements, but never really delves into Greece's artistic accomplishments. If she would have done so, it would have greatly improved an already great book.

But in comparison to the strengths of this book, these complaints are minor. Overall, I highly recommend this book both to the novice and expert alike. I couldn't put it down.

I had pursued and read Ms. Hamilton's earlier volume "The Greek Way" based on an article about Bobby Kennedy, related to the 30th anniversary of his assassination. I found it thought provoking.

I purchased the "Echo of Greece" at a used book sale for $1 basically to have the companion to "The Greek Way"--both are hardcopy editions. The first chatper enthralled me as Ms. Hamilton reviewed the qualities of a dying democracy. We live in a Republic, which uses democratic principles. I could draw many parallels to Ancient Greece and the America of today. A resounding principle: When the term "freedom means freedom from responsibility" to the populus. Many Americans want their freedom, but want to be free from responsibility. We want to be free from being involved in the detailed decisions in governing a society, but not give up our freedom to complain about the "poor job" civil servants attempt to perform. One small example, but excellent thought provoking stuff.

The middle chapters focus on ideas and individuals in the final centuries before Christ. Building a context of where Greek thinking had evolved to during a 500 year period. To have dialogue as the basis of increasing their knowledge and understanding about themselves and their society. Not having a strong Western Civilization background, both of Ms. Hamilton's books were an excellent source to build my foundation upon.

The last chapter is equal in thought provocation to the first, yet in an entirely different perspective. She discusses the differences between the Greek Way and the Roman Way and how the fledging origins of the Christian church had to decide which Way to go. The Greeks were the powerhouse of thinkers and artisans. While the Romans were the powerhouse of efficincy and organization, and, of course, the military. Ms. Hamilton poses the thought as to what the world would have been like without the fear aspects of the Spanish Inquisition aspects of Christianity's history, all based on the Roman Way, had the Christian Church gone the path of the Greek Way. Of course, the concern is would Christianity survived the Roman Church, had she gone the Greek Way.

I already was aware that the new testament was written in Greek. I was not aware that the earliest teachers of Christianity were Greek. But it made sense. Christ's teachings and the Greek Way are directed towards the individual finding truth deep within themselves. The Roman Way added all of the ceremonies and group policies, making people feel inadequate to be God's servant. It is an excellent read for a person who has an open mind to learning about the roots of mankind based on written accounts and not based on myth and folklore.

For Teenagers Living With A Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs by Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer is a very straightforward book written especially for young people, and offering direct answers to basic questions such as "What causes alcoholism?"; "What do I do about the abuse?"; "Where can I get help?"; and "Should I stay at home?". With information about Alateen and other helpful programs, sound and critical insights, and a down-to-earth style of narration that candidly presents much-needed facts and information, For Teenagers Living With a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs deserves the highest recommendation and would be an invaluable addition to any school or community library collection.

This book answers those questions which teenagers in this situation have to know. Where can I get help? How can I stay in touch with a parent who is in prison? Is addiction hereditary? Why do some people get hooked and others don't? Every library, every self-help organization should have this book. And, every teenager who has come across such problems needs to know that the book is out there.

This book is a godsend for teenagers dealing with a parent who abuses alcohol or drugs. Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer provides tangible real-world solutions to specific questions and situations, and she does it with empathy as well as expertise. I highly recommend it.

Drs. Van Ness and Donohue have focused on a subject that can devastate an individual. Their message is one that we all should embrace. In this day and age, we need not fall victim to corporate circumstance. We can prepare, strategize and manage for inevitable change. Any company that has the unfortunate task of laying people off should distribute this book. Beyond that, however, lies an opportunity for the rest of us to enhance our way of thinking, and become self-empowered. To do so, we need a solid game plan, and this book provides a just such a plan.

If you've ever been affected by a layoff, you've felt the fear, shame, anger, self-pity and maybe even relief. You've also experienced a certain helplessness. You craved some direction like a roadmap to recovery.
Life After Layoff will come to your rescue. Drs. Donohue and Van Ness have laid out a path for you to follow...a step by step approach that will guide and comfort you throughout your transition. Read the stories of others before you. Learn what they did, how they succeeded and how you can follow in their foot steps.
Read and re-read. First thing in the morning and last thing at night. In no time, you'll look back on another accomplishment in your life.

Life After Layoff is a 'must read' for anyone who is experienc ing being laid off from his or her job, especially for the first time. It provides an insightful look at the emotional as well as practical aspects of being laid off from work and how to overcome a frequently paralyzing fear of being out of work. Dr.'s Van Ness and Donohue present real people in situations that we can all relate to and practical advice on how to move on with your professional and personal life. I was particularly impressed with their chapter on how to think outside the box with career alternatives. Instead of just looking for a "job", they teach you how to create work opportunities that are more fulfilling and rewarding, including starting your own business doing something that you love.

If you liked The Matrix, I highly recommend this book. Very original premise, with a wonderful cast of characters and situations. Fast read, and will keep you thinking long after you put it down.

Edith Forbes book "Exit to Reality" is marketed as a "utopian vision," but it is not. In actuality, life in the 29th century is a _dystopia_, where every action is highly regulated, and your life path set almost from birth.

Lydian, an information analyst, is bored to tears. Her lover is unexciting; her relationships with co-workers, stale. Her "Mom" (a machine construct) and "Dad" keep her amused, but no more. And she wonders what else there is to life than this.

As she's cruising the computer bulletin boards one day, she meets an unusual person, Merle. Merle asks her to meet him in Paris; she barely has enough credits for this, but goes anyway because she's just that bored. Merle astounds her with his ability to shapeshift, yet no one else seems to notice.

As they go to other parts of the world together (he knows how to travel without money), they realize many strange things. Food doesn't taste quite right. People act too much the same, considering. And they definitely *look* too much the same.

Simply put: in trying to make things easier, by erasing differences, instead, society made them worse because conformity is now even more rigidly enforced than before. Finding out that reality is actually on the inside of a computer matrix wasn't as surprising as it may have been before the movie "The Matrix," but it still wasn't totally expected.

Forbes writes well; she's witty and inventive, and her asides about food, tea, and life in general are well worth the price of admission even if the plot hadn't been as good as it was. In addition, I believed in the romance between the bored Lydian and the uber-shapeshifter Merle; they seemed a good match, as both had wondered for a long time the eternal question, "Is this all there is? Is there nothing more?" rather than sidestepping it, as most people generally seem to do.

This is an excellent book about dystopias and how they never work, and about the continuing and surprising powers of the mind and human achievement. Highly recommended.

Don't listen to Kirkus--EXIT TO REALITY is one of the best books I've ever read. Edith Forbes portrays a feminist love in the future, in which bodies no longer tie people to the inexorable identites "woman" or "man." I've had everyone I know read it, including the whole staff of The Feminist Press! You'll like it even if you're not normally a sci-fi fan.

Edith and John Rylander have chronicled their 38 year marriage, life and family adventure from surburban California to the north woods of Minn. in a most interesting, readable fashion. They have done what so many of us just talked about in the 60's, and made it work for them. They describe in a very entertaining manner the mucky, or yucky aspects of farm life, as well as those special uplifting moments. I especially enjoyed the animal raising, and home building chapters. Take a vicarious journey with them. It's worth the trip.

A combination of memoir, Least-Heat-Moonesque deep history, and manifesto, Journeying Earthward celebrates what is possible in nonfiction as it explores the life choices of its author-protagonists, John and Edith Rylander. The lucky reader gets to enjoy their journey with them; the luckiest readers might be inspired to begin more self-aware life journeys themselves.

Edith and John Rylander's Journeying Earthward is a sharply observed and deeply felt meditation on the small slice of Minnesota earth on Big Swan Lake which they and their children have "borrowed" for the past four decades. Particularly compelling are the chapters on animals in their various incarnations: as pets; as stock; as "critters, varmints, vermin, pests"; and as beasts. As with so much else in this book, the insights are the products of many slow seasons of observation and rumination. Having just revisited Willa Cather's Midwestern classic "My Antonia," I was in the mood to take in this untrendy, far from the coasts, adventure down through all its personal byways and excursions into things historical and geologic. If you are tired of Double Latte from paper cups, take a deep drink of the real thing from this handhewn bowl. Recommended to all lovers of the earth and its many and various bioregions.

Author Cynthia Cavnar condenses the life of Edith Stein into the most readable book yet. Information is contained herein which was not mentioned in longer biographies. However, in the few pages in which Cavnar discusses Pope Pius XI and XII and their roles in the fight against Nazism, Cavnar misses the mark, downplaying Mit Brenneder Sorge (On the Church and the German Reich) by Pius XI and ignoring altogether Pius XII's Summi Pontificatus (On the Unity of Human Society) published in 1939. I would have to recommend "Edith Stein: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross" by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda over Ms. Cavnar's title although the former book is a little less readable.

This is the best indroduction to Edith Stein. It is vividly written and moves quickly. The book underscores the strength of this contemporary woman who, facing great challenges, had to think through and stand firm in her beliefs. In Cavnar's book, the central drama of Edith Stein's life is her conversion to Catholicism. This book does what a well-written saint's biography should do--namely, challenge the reader to respond to God's call with greater intensity.

Cavnar outlines the context of the life of St. Edith Stein so that the reader may appreciate the martyr's life as she lived it. Yet the author does not cling to the technicalities so as to give a boring recitation of St. Edith's accomplishments and failures. Rather, Cavnar brings the deepest passions of St. Edith to life: her love of philosophy, her love of teaching, her love of helping others, and most importantly, her love of God. The narrative moves swiftly so that the reader is caught up in the excitements and disappointments in St. Edith's life from World War I, her academic work and her relationships with her family members. This book is an excellent inspirational biography that presents a very real woman who was very dedicated to God.