David Morrell has presented us with a book about writing that tells the truth about the craft and business of writing. Like many books on writing, he tackles the basics of plot, character, point of view, and description, but his explanations are superior to most books of this type. Because his examples come from his experience writing novels (and screenplays), he shares his personal difficulties along the way. His discussion of point of view, particularly when to use first person or not, is among the best I've seen. I loved his discussion of the financial aspects of writing where he states the real dollars you can expect-not the fantasies so many writers have of getting rich. Some laughter here, too, about his experiences with Hollywood.

If you're in the middle of writing a novel, stuck on a block, or considering starting a novel, you'll find LESSONS FROM A LIFETIME OF WRITING readable, inspirational, and practical.

~review by Joan Mazza, author of Dream Back Your Life; Dreaming Your Real Self; and 3 books in The Guided Journal Series with Writer's Digest/Walking Stick Press.

This is not a traditional "how to," with step by step instruction. Don't look for that here. Rather, this is like getting to sit down for an evening with a real pro, and have him share the most important things he's learned over the years.

It is encouraging, even for published writers. I am comforted by the fact that Morrell still gets the "shivers" at the start of any project. And knows that there is a way out. You'll find all sorts of nuggets you can put to use.

Morrell has proven his stuff, by writing books that try to do a little more than the traditional thriller conventions. Thanks, David, for your voice, and for this book.

After recently meeting David at a conference, I bought and read his book, FIREFLIES. Written with a mix of fiction and fact, it touched my heart so deeply that I found myself searching out his other work. Since 1988, I've had short stories published, signed with a literary agent and also a screenplay agent, but eventually gave up writing fiction altogether in 1997. Then because my new line of work led me to write an autobiography, I chose his book, LESSONS FROM A LIFETIME OF WRITING. After reading each of his chapters, I found myself critiquing my own work from his examples. Though his book is based on helping the fiction writer, I found much helpful information concerning the craft of writing that applied to both fiction and nonfiction. It was such an inspiration that I have decided to return to fiction writing, my true passion! My favorite part in the entire book is when he asks the question; Why do you want to be a writer? And his answer says it all. For those of you who had to put your fiction writing on hold for one reason or another, David Morrell's book will re-ignite your passion for writing and have your mind dancing with new ideas long before you read the last page.

I read an early draft of this book, then recently finished the completed product. In both cases, the book was always easy to read, enlightening, and meticulously researched. Courtwright is a well known social historian who has specialized in drug abuse and violence in modern society.

Forces of Habit more of a general history than his early works, which primarily dealt with narrow topics. In the book, Courtwright traces the spread of drug use (and abuse) from isolated, local customs to the largescale manufacture and distribution seen today. He explores the history of all psychoactive substances, both legal and illegal. Tobbaco, alcohol, and caffenine are explored in one chapter, where cocaine, marijuana, and opiates are dealt with in the next. Other, rare drugs are also discussed.

Courtwright presents a balanced view of the use of these substances, exploring the economic, political, and cultural impact of drug use. This book is always a pleasure to read, as Courtwright has the ability to convey information easily, without "dumbing it down" for the reader. This book is highly recommended.

I'm an obscure history buff and when I saw this one it piqued my interest. This is part history, part science and part sociology and the author makes this a more interesting subject than I thought it could be. He starts off with what he calls the Big Three: Alcohol, Tobacco and Caffiene. From there he breaks it further down citing the most popular and not so popular illegal drugs. Mentioning natural stimulants that are unfamiliar to most, such as Qat, Kava and Betel and the very descriptive reasons on why they did not take to popular consumption.

Courtwright also doesn't fail to mention that, even though with best intentions, scientists around the 1800's and the turn of the century were also responsible for some of the most addictive substances. Your jaw will drop when you read who devolped heroin and what is was originally used for.

Fun, informative, and mind blowing reading.

I was attracted to this book originally because I had read one of Courtwright's other books, "Violent Land," and was very much impressed. Courtwright seems to be building a career on the study of the historical dimensions of deviance--which is important for all of us when we try to look at today's problems in perspective. A major theme of "Forces of Habit" is that some drugs, such as coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, and chocolate have become "world drugs" due to the efforts of the international pushers known as "the West." Other drugs, such as qat, kava, and betel have never caught on in the West and, as a result, have not been made into international commodities complete with huge multi-continent plantations and a complex distribution system. The West, however, has now decided that some drugs are bad because they don't work well in complex, industrialized society--cocaine, heroin, etc. Even though the British were once the major distributors of Opium, literally forcing it on the Chinese, they now oppose it. "Forces of Habit" is a fascinating but quick tour of many aspects of the history of drugs from a macro perpective. If you are looking for more details on specific drugs or a detailed analysis of a particular era, Courtwright does offer an annotated bibliography to guide you. If all you want is an overview, this is a great place to start.

I am a clinical psychologist and am loathe to recommend self-help books as most of them are just ways for the author to make money by tapping into the reader's anxieties about themselves. Most offer superficial and simplistic solutions that offer little more than false hope but will keep the reader "coming back for more" from the self-help industry. NOT SO THIS LITTLE GEM! It is one of the two most solidly written and thought through books on personal growth I know of (the other is The Road Less Travelled, by Scot Peck). It's the kind of book you will need to read slowly and meditatively, perhaps even only a page at a sitting. It's also the kind of book you can expect to benefit from reading through again after a year or two on your shelf.

I resonated with this book more that any other. It is exactly what the title says, a no nonsense concise description of what makes up a mature healthy adult psyche. I found it easy to dismiss other less precise, more preachy/cheesy self help books. But when I read this book it just resonated as "truth" and those less functional parts of my psyche had to admit that they had been found out. It's similar to the feeling one gets when reading the Feynman Lecture Series about physics -- they are both masterful distillations.

A superb, to the point book. Its advice is cogent, wise, and the distillation of many years of practice by an excellent therapist. This book outlines so many of the areas of life we need to take responsibility for in our own personal growth as adults in order to be happy. Of particular value is the emphasis on our need to "self-parent." This book is so densely filled with useful advice that you cannot read more than a page without putting it down to reflect on how applicable it is. It's that good.

Language Of Souls is heady and a delightful read. The artwork lends itself beautifully to the written work. The poetry of Mr. Taub, Ms. Frankovich and Mrs. Solomon holds your rapt attention. Definitely a must-buy book.

This book is quite a treasure.The artwork of Freydoon Rassouli is evocative and dreamlike adding a marvellous dimension to the language imagery of authors k.t., David and Ruth - an extraordinary trio of poets whose differing styles keep the reading fresh as they wander through topic and theme. I will remember and re-read 'The Precious Bag Lady', 'Winter Walk' (and other seasons) and 'Luminary Appropriations' and many others. I can recommend Language of Souls as a rich and rewarding reading.

This book, consisting of the poems of k.t. Frankovich, Ruth Solomon and David Taub, is beautifully presented with illustrations by Freydoon Rassouli.

The poems are positive and hopeful. And they are written in a form that can be easily understood. I enjoyed them immensely.

This is a compilation of some of the best Profiles to appear in the New Yorker over the last 80 years. Sometimes you will be familiar with the person being profiled, sometimes not, but in all cases you will find the stories entertaining and the writing, superb.

My favorite Profile happens to be of one of the non-famous persons, George H. Hunter ("Mr. Hunter's Grave," by Joseph Mitchell). It is a story not so much about a person but of a long-forgotten community, and a way of life. Despite being the longest entry in the audio collection, I rewound the tape three or four times to listen to it again and again - it was that good.

Some of the celebrity stories are just as compelling, although, being celebrities, many aspects of their lives are already well known. But this sometimes opened a window into foreshadowing that could not have been appreciated by the reader (or even the writer) at the time the piece was done. One example of this concerns Ernest Hemingway ("How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen?", by Lillian Ross). Hidden somewhere in the middle of the Profile, Ross mentions the fact that Hemingway's father had committed suicide. This had no major relation to the story in general, and was probably forgotten by most readers at the time, but we have the perspective of history. And it becomes more than just a tidbit when we realize that Hemingway, too, committed suicide 10 years later, in 1961.

Another eyebrow-raising instance came when hearing about Marlon Brando ("The Duke In His Domain," by Truman Capote). Capote was on location with Brando in Japan as Brando was taking part in the filming of "Sayonara." Brando at one point confesses to Capote that he had to lose weight for the part, and that he wasn't there yet. He still had 10-15 pounds to go. Despite this, the dinners delivered to Brando's hotel room are not those of one looking to cut down; to the contrary, Brando could only gain weight eating the food being sent up to him! Hearing Brando fuss about what he should and should not eat and Capote take note of the rich foods on the tray, it almost seems fake, as if Capote knew how Brando was going to end up. But, of course, he didn't. The story was written in 1957!

But what makes this collection great, though, is the quality of the writing itself. It matters not the subject: actor, comedian, dancer, writer, boxer, even a dog! The common thread running through all the Profiles is the way in which each story is told. Always lucid, always interesting, the stories are less stories and more like works of art.

If you enjoy exceptional writing, this collection is for you. Highly recommended. Five stars.

You have heard of the obnoxious person who, upon meeting a biographer who has given up the last 25 years of his life to write the definitive biography of say Queen Elizabeth II, asks, "Now tell me, what's she REALLY like??" Friends, I am that person, which is one reason I always find New Yorker Profiles an unalloyed delight. Rightly or wrongly, I always believe I am getting the real insider stuff.

David Remnick makes thoughtful selections in this anthology. He has covered a time period from the '30s to the present, some very famous people and some you have never heard of, and the same is true for the authors of the Profiles. I fully intended to make a leisurely tour through the book, picking and choosing a Profile here and there for a short read. Once I read the very first one, Joe Mitchell's "Mr. Hunter's Grave," I was hooked and read the whole book from start to finish. So much for leisurely reading!

It is hopeless to attempt to select a favorite; all have their own merits. I was particularly fascinated by Truman Capote's insightful piece on Marlon Brando. Capote's flamboyant personality frequently overshadows his tremendous skills as an interpretive writer. Jean Acocella's study of Mikhail Baryshnikov is an excellent in-depth study of both the man and the artist. John Lahr's Profile on Roseanne is almost scary (or at least Roseanne is!) Joe Mitchell's, "Mr. Hunter's Grave" is so beautifully rendered you can understand why The New Yorker never took him off salary even after Joe suffered the granddaddy of all writer's blocks; he didn't submit an article for fourteen years! The New Yorker always said Joe had a "work in progress."

"Life Stories" is worth it at twice the price. Some of these profiles are unobtainable (unless you have a roomful of old New Yorkers). This is a book you will go back to again and again.

Anyone who has ever read Joseph Mitchell's fascinating profile "Joe Gould's Secret" (now a book and a movie) knows what the New Yorker does with "Profiles". If you haven't read Mitchell, here's your chance, plus an unbelievable collection of life rendered beyond simple biography by a stable of superb writers. It's a must for any serious reader !

I LOVED this book. Practical, useful, funny, refreshing. I was delighted with the specific suggestions and useful information provided. I could pick it up anywhere, read from anywhere. It's a delight to have a leadership book so accessible.

In particular, the chapters on the change cycle and the benefits we get in NOT changing were especially useful and thought-provoking.

My only problem was everyone who picked up my copy wanted to take it with them.

...A practical reflection of David's travels through corporations... and life. Lots of very useful and inspiring ideas of what to do and what NOT to do to solve problems in organizations. The book is organized into short, easy to read chapters, each making a key point.

NOT the usual business rhetoric; instead it's based on actual experiences, so it's both funny and packed with learning. Highly recommended!

A terrific read. Useful, specific, funny and very, very helpful. I particularly valued the chapters on the change cycle and the benefits people get in not changing.

Maybe the best book on the subject I've ever read. Much more accessible than theoretical texts currently available which I find cumbersome and difficult to plow through. This was a joy.

I only wish my friends would buy their own copy.

I picked up this book after reading Long's collection of stories "Blue Spruce" and feel sure I am going to be reading his other works as well. Long's story gives us an insight into smalltown America, totally different from what we see in Hollywood movies and such. It's simple and honest and explores the basic and fundamental intricacies in human relationships. I personally find the protrayal of the Stavros sisters interesting as one can see the mirror and similarities in the characteristics of the four of them. Although the main focus of the novel was on Mark and his marriage to Olivia, I think more enduring was the flashbacks of Nick's marriage to his long-dead wife, Grace. That is a bond that overcomes differences, difficulties, temptations and time -- gathering all the strands of the novel together and thereby providing a centre for the story. I would have liked to have the WHOLE TRUTH about Celia and Linny, Olivia and Linny, and all the other little mysteries peppered throughout in the novel, but that would just have detracted from the novel's purpose and might just have reduced it as a whole. I enjoyed this book which spoke to my heart and by the way, isn't Davey just adorable?

On many different levels, the Falling Boy is a joy to read. The story of Mark Singer and the family he marries into is a fairly simple one, but the reach of the novel is so much greater.

David Long invests the ordinary with so much meaning and life, without making his observations at all contrived. The Falling Boy will make you look at your own familiar surroundings in a new light.

A perfect read for a quiet day.

I have just finished reading this exquisite novel and I know it will be with me for days to come. Mr. Long has written a beautiful story, not just about marital infidelity but about the "messiness" of life in general. His characters are distinctly drawn without ever becoming archtypes, recognizable even if we have never met anyone exactly like them. There is so much here that strikes a chord of recognition not in a showy, lightning striking way but as gentle thoughts curling up in those many recesses our souls develop as we age and experience. The short story writer that Mr. Long is shows in the well-crafted but clean prose that is a hallmark of this novel. Thank you, Mr. Long. I look forward to reading your other work.

This is a good FRIENDS book on series 1, although it needs more stuff about the actors of FRIENDS. It would be a lot better if we were given a behind the scenes look at the sets etc. However it's got loads of quotes, and in depth episode guides for series 1.

I think this book is very enjoyable and fun to have around. I would not recommend sitting down and reading it cover to cover, but it serves its purpose well. Very entertaining for long travel. I recommend it for any "Friends" fan

This book brought all the fun and laughter you remember from the episodes it covers, and more! With absolutely beautiful color pictures of the stars, as well as black and white pictures of some of the scenes from the episodes, and also candids of the stars themselves, a true Friends fan/addict can't go wrong with this one!! Every time I pick it up, it brings a smile to my face and heart! Fantastically written, I enjoy this book from first page to last no matter how many times I have read it. Just like the shows re-runs, I can't seem to get enough!! Thank you David Wild!! and the creator, director, and cast of Friends!

I have to take exception to the last reviewer even though I'm not really a big fan of the 19th century either. This book takes you on a complete journey throughout baseball history unlike most similar type books that would have you believe everything that happened before 1900 doesn't count. Sure it counts, and Nemec's book convinces you--okay, me anyway--that every player and record he cites in it is important from 1871 to the present. I will agree, though, that the answer section leaves something to be desired. My solution was to insert a kind of permanent bookmark so I could turn to it easily. Anyway, I really liked it a lot even if I too didn't exactly bat 1.000 on all the questions.

Here comes the stats lovers dream book. If you are into baseball, really into baseball, by the number you really need this book. Nemec's ability to bring out the true statistical breakdown of the National Pastime was amazing.

Every baseball fan should be asking for and buying this true work of art. The book, in quiz form, does give charts, pictures and short stories on every possible topic from singles hitting to the home run.

The book takes the reader from the early years of the game, right up to the modern day players. You are inundated with numbers, facts and figures that should keep your conversations going for years to come.

I wasn't able to find any category that wasn't covered in this book. The book even covered the not so good players, as well as the Negro leagues. The book is "The Ultimate Test for the Ultimate Fan". A great job and a great book.

If you have a teenage son, as do I, I don't see how you can go wrong here if he likes baseball. My older son got this book for his birthday and that was the last we saw of him for about a week. He still loves it so much and is so possessive of it that I now have to get another copy to give my younger boy for Christmas. P.S. Their father might just wind up getting one too.

If you are searching for what value you hold as a person, especially that of a child of God then this is the book for you. No other book has ever spoken so directly to me and my life's background. Dr. Seamands seemed to be talking directly to me throughout much of the book and has helped me to appreciate and love the REAL me, just as I am. My life will never be the same.

David Seamands shares why and how to move beyond crippling emotions. This book gave me the hope to look outward and not inward for healing. Biblical principles with scriptures are abundant to show the way of God, not the way of man. The choice is mine. Do I want God's way and peace or man's way and confusion. This choice is also yours to make.

God has used this book to wipe away the confusion and frustration that I have endured over many, many years. This book has given me understanding and God has set me free. I can now forgive others and ESPECIALLY myself! I now know the difference between bad theology and true Christian maturity.

If you hate yourself or are muddling through the muck and mire of depression, then let David Seamands show you your TRUE self and the TRUTH about the unconditional love that God has for you.