In Loving Choices: An Experience in Growing Relationships, Dr. Bruce Fisher and Nina Hart start with the premise that your relationship with yourself is the foundation of all your other relationships. Accordingly, the first section of their latest book is devoted to "the process of bringing your heart and your head into balance to make loving choices."

This involves recognizing and accepting your feelings. They provide extensive guidance and examples for doing their "self-encounter" exercise. Self encounters provide a way to communicate honestly and skillfully with yourself. Fisher and Hart emphasize the importance of this, saying that "you cannot effectively communicate with another until you are clear about what's going on inside yourself and what it is you are trying to communicate."

Once people learn to communicate with themselves, they are ready for the "Healing Encounter," where they practice communicating with others. Many conflicts with others are rooted in power struggles. Fisher and Hart describe how people can recognize and defuse the internal conflicts leading to power struggles. They also explain the importance of internal and external boundaries in relationships and offer guidance on forming appropriate boundaries.

The authors say that "we tend to create relationships like the ones we observed in childhood, yet most of us don't want that kind of relationship." They explain how to determine the extent to which you're influenced by your early observations and experience, and how you can use that information to build the kind of relationship that your truly want now.

Relationships are meant to be teachers and to assist in our personal growth. That growth is built on three skills: communication, awareness, and commitment. Loving Choices teaches readers how to develop those skills and build happy and healthy relationships that contribute to the well-being of all those involved.

Out of all of the books which talk about different relationship issues, this is the only one that I have found which helps people to realize their contributions to all relationships in their lives, whether they be marital relationships or friendships or even business relationships. There are tools for communicating very well with yourself and others, so that one truly has a feeling for where one stands within a variety of situations. I have used their "self encounter" technique many times, and have found out some amazing things as a result. I now communicate much more effectively with my partner, and can say happily that we have very few misunderstandings from applying the ideas which I have learned from this book. I have wholeheartedly recommended this book to many friends, and feel that anyone who applies the ideas outlined here will be much happier in their interpersonal dealings.

This is an awsome book that every serious smallmouth angler needs to have. This contains a no-nonsence approach to improving your enjoymet of catching the smallmouth. It will teach you where to find the bass, how to catch them, what flies to use- from top to bottom, how to tie effective patterns. This is written on a level that a beginning angler or vetran fly fisherman can understand.

If you are an experienced or intermediate programmer this is the only book you will need. Almost every bit of the JDBC is explaind. The API in the second part of the book is also very good, it is filled with explanations that the javadoc lacks.

In December of 1999, I was planning my wedding. In February 2000, my then-fiance broke our engagement (and went on to marry someone else). I was quite devastated by the breakup and went through many levels of anguish. There were also lots of things for me to work on -- like, what I might have done to contribute to the breakup. Fisher's "Rebuilding" theory was extremely useful. Fisher uses the principle of building blocks to help work through each issue, or "stumbling block." One example that stuck with me was the "stumbling block" of "I didn't do enough, or didn't try hard enough." The "rebuilding" block was "I did the best I could" While this may seem simplistic, the "rebuilding blocks" served as excellent reminders of the good things in life. If you have suffered a relationship loss, please check out this book. You will find many useful ideas, and will assuredly feel better as a result.

In its third printing, this book is a self-help manual for those trying to recover from a divorce, or going through the process of divorce. The first thing I noticed about Rebuilding is the feelings that surface during this trying and stressful period of your life are identified. When we are really suffering, it is hard sometimes, to analyze what we are feeling. Is it pain? Depression? Self-hate? All of the above? It is comforting to read that you learn we are not alone in our pain and confusion and that given the circumstances, the turmoil you are experiencing is quite normal. As each emotion is explored, the reasons for them are also examined. An example from another who has suffered the same misery is given, then the best part--what we can do with and about those upsetting, hurtful and sometimes hateful feelings that want to pull us under and drown us. For example, Chapter 7 looks at the two, " . . . very strong feelings which accompany the trauma of divorce--guilt and rejection. Advice given is to do a self-examination. Do we need to learn new ways of relating to people? Do we realize that feeling rejected is a part of ending any relationship? It's normal. It's natural. There is nothing wrong with us. Whew! If you are the one leaving the relationship, you are probably feeling guilt. You don't want to hurt someone you do or did love. However, say Fisher and Alberti, "To end a love relationship may be appropriate because it has been destructive for both people." Leaving can be a good thing for both people in the relationship. The chapter continues to describe the emotional cycles the "dumpers" (the one ending the relationship) and the "Dumpee" (the one being rejected) go through. Fisher and Alberti acknowledge not everyone is going to react the same, but no one escapes the pain. No matter how we are affected, though, we must remember guilt and rejection are tied to feelings of self- worth and self-love. Build up these two areas and we will be less devastated by life's inevitable rejections. And how do we go about building our self-worth. Chapter 11 tells us how to go about that. The end of each chapter has a "How Are You Doing?" section. A list of questions will help us think our way through our dilemmas and offer ideas with which we can rebuild our lives. I like this book because it forces us to do something besides sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. There are ways to work through relationships that end, and we have the power and the tools to do it. We don't have to feel helpless. I like this book because it acknowledges we are not alone with our feelings. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We can go on to live a normal, happy life. It gives us hope. Bruce Fisher, Ed.D., (1931-1998) was the founder and director of the Family Relations Learning Center in Boulder, Colorado. He was a divorce therapist, author, teacher and a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Robert E. Alberti, Ph.D., is a psychologist marriage & family therapist, Fellow of the American Psychological Association, clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and author/coauthor of several books. A 287-page volume that demands us to do some work, but it is well worth the effort.

This book is a self-help manual for those trying to recover from a divorce, or going through the process of divorce. "Rebuilding" is the feelings that surface during this trying and stressful period of your life are identified. It is comforting to read that we are not alone in our pain and confusion and that given the circumstances, the turmoil you are experiencing is quite normal. As each emotion is explored, the reasons for them are also examined. An example from another who has suffered the same misery is given, then the best part--what we can do with and about those upsetting, hurtful and sometimes hateful feelings that want to pull us under and drown us. The chapter continues to describe the emotional cycles the "dumpers" (the one ending the relationship) and the "Dumpee" (the one being rejected) go through. Fisher and Alberti acknowledge not everyone is going to react the same, but no one escapes the pain. No matter how we are affected, though, we must remember guilt and rejection are tied to feelings of self-worth and self-love. Build up these two areas, and we will be less devastated by life's inevitable rejections. The end of each chapter has a "How Are You Doing?" section. A list of questions will help us think our way through our dilemmas and offer ideas with which we can rebuild our lives. I like this book because it forces us to do something besides sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. There are ways to work through relationships that end, and we have the power and the tools to do it. We don't have to feel helpless. I like this book because it acknowledges we are not alone with our feelings. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We can go on to live a normal, happy life. It gives us hope.

The book "Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends" was one of the things that really helped me get thru my own divorce process and create a whole new wonderful life. It truly showed me that my feelings and reactions were normal and that they could be worked thru. After all Bruce Fisher and Robert Alberti worked with people who were rebuilding their lives after divorce for over 25 years and they ought to know. The book has a style that is very very readable. You can begin at the beginning and read it straight thru or open it to just the chapter that is appropriate for you at that moment, like "Loneliness", "Anger". "Self-Worth", or "Sex". The book is built around the metaphor of climbing a mountain, and you are shown just how achievable it is to successfully rebuild your life one doable step at a time. Once you reach the top of the mountain you experience a wonderful sight of a new you and a new life. As Alberti says, "So prepare yourself for a journey. Pack up your optimism, your hopes for the future. Discard your excess baggage. ---- And the Rebuilding mountain lies ahead for you." If you are only going to buy one book to get yourself thru the divorce process this is the one. I can't recommend this book more highly. Other books I would recommend are "How to Survive the Loss of a Love" by Colgrove, Bloomfield, and McWilliams, "Spiritual Divorce" by Debbie Ford, "Life after Divorce" by Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, and "Finding Love (Again!)" by Connie Merritt.

This was one of the best books I read. It was so good that from the moment I started the book. I couldn't stop reading it. It is one of those books that you feel like you are actually there. I felt as though I was there witnessing all the miracles that Jesus Christ did. I look forward for the next novel to come out.

Fisher's of Men is a wonderful inside look on Jerusalem at the time when Jesus was beginning His ministry. David ben Joseph is a prominant merchant in Capernaum who is eagerly waiting for signs of the Messiah. Although David can see that Jesus is the Messiah almost instantly, his family-including the leader of the Zealots, is a little more in doubt. This book not only is a wonderful historical novel, but really helps you to understand and learn more about the time when Christ was here.

I must admit, I didn't care for The Work and the Glory Series also by this author, so I was hesitant to buy this book. Am I glad I did! I was drawn into the story right from the start. I especially liked the way Lund worked the teachings and events from Jesus' life into the narration in a natural way, as if we were there watching the actual events transpire. I finished this book in less than two weeks--despite the fact that it was Christmas! I can hardly wait for the next installment.

I enjoyed this book because of the great photos and details. As a toy lover and collector, I can appreciate the authors' memories of collecting and the interesting facts about Fisher-Price. It's a great portable reference to take with you to garage sales or flea markets! The colorful pages and concise information make the world of Fisher-Price toys come alive. It's been a wonderful edition to my library.

I collect toys. A friend gave me this book as a gift. It is an excellent resource for anyone starting to collect toys or someone that has been doing it for a long time. I applaud the authors for making this available. The history of the company was also quite good.

If you are at all interested in collecting Fisher-Price toys or simply want some interesting background about the toys you grew up with -- then you'll like this book.

It is by far the most thorough book I've found related to Fisher-Price. It has a complete company history, product catalog and price guide for all the toys made by Fisher-Price (and even some never released).

I am a novice toy collector and bought this book because I've always loved my FP toys. I found every toy I've ever had (or at least can remember) in the book along with some amazing facts about them. Unfortunately, I learned that my Jalopy prized #724 Jolly Jalopy is probably not worth more than...

The authors were obsessive in their attention to detail, pointing out all the nuances that make certain products more valuable than others and providing a detailed history of the company and how some of their favorite toys were born.

My only disappointment was that the book is not available in hard cover.

Have fun!

"Delivering a difficult message is like throwing a hand grenade." For that matter, receiving a difficult message is like catching one.

This book deals with the essential dilemma of communicating about unpleasant issues. The Harvard Negotiation Project's Doug Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen create an analytical framework by pointing out that each difficult conversation has three components: the factual narrative (least important), or the "What Happened?" Conversation, the Feelings Conversation, and the Identity Conversation. How each person perceives the Three Conversations will affect the course of the conversation. Insight after insight about how to turn a difficult conversation into a Learning Conversation unfold in this very solid book.

I liked this book so much I bought a personal copy (now battered) after reading our public library's copy. Anyone who deals with clients, customers, friends or family can benefit from the structures in this book.

Life is all about relationships, and this book is about life. Whether at work or at home, all of us come across difficult conversations - they're inevitable. When we get stuck, it's refreshing to know that there's a way out. That's what makes Difficult Conversations so special.

Heen, Stone, and Patton share insights on how to get past arguments of right versus wrong, blame versus defend, and other obstacles to effectively dealing with our differences. The framework is simple and elegant, while at the same time explored with remarkable depth and breadth.

There's a wonderful story about a student and his Aikido master. Watching his teacher demonstrate a technique, the student said, "Master - what amazes me is that you never lose your balance". The master replied, "You are wrong. I always lose my balance. The secret is that I regain my balance faster." Difficult Conversations has done exactly that for me. I've discovered ways to regain my balance when it comes to difficult conversations, faster.

My copy is tattered and highlighted more than any of the recent books I've read. I found that it got even better with each chapter. The last half of the book was especially good. When it all came together at the end (the last chapter is excellent), I closed the book, thought about what I had just read, and began reading it all over again.

Why not have more of a good thing? Like going for seconds.

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't very optimistic about its content. I've got a rather solid background in conflict resolution and communication, have even taught courses in listening and small group communication. I assumed the book would be more of the same -- here's where you should nod, here's how you reflect, etc.

I was pleased to find that I had misjudged the authors. Reading this book and truly incorporating its advice and philosophies can be a life-changing experience. The content here goes beyond technique and finds firm ground (surprisingly) in speaking about inner issues that arise during difficult conversations -- and it manages to do so without coming off as didactic or flakey. In fact, I would have to say that this is the first "self-help" book that didn't make me a little squirmy and rebellious -- I soaked up the information and found myself relying on the content in real life on a daily basis, and right away.

I also have found myself evangelizing the book to a great extent, and have recommended it to friends I know who are having difficulty with family members, bosses, their children their neighbors -- as well as to a number of my clients who have expressed difficulty in managing up and/or down.

There's something of value for just about anyone here -- even if you are already well-versed in communication and negotiation skills.

Fisher's idea of "principled negotiation" is the first real academic attempt to study the best ways to negotiate, and he delivers the material in an easy to follow manner. His main points are (1) seperate the people from the problem (2) Focus on interests and not positions (3) invent options for mutual gain, and (4) insist on objective criteria. However, you must truly think about these points to fully grasp the power of this negotiation style; the substance of those points are not as straight-forward as they seem. The most useful point for novice negotiators is "Focus on Interets, not positions. By reading this book you will learn to spot when someone is being positional and be able to disarm them quickly, but tactifully, as you move the discussion to the various parties' interests. The book is most useful in negotaiting any sort of economic transaction, but is applicable in many areas except maybe if you are negotiating with a govt. regulatory agency. Overall, a must read for any CEO or a person wanting to get the best price on a car. The main thing you should get from this book are the tools that help you to recognize value and not leave value on the table that can be distributed among the parties to maximize gain.

This is the first book I've read on the issue of negotiation. The book is easy to read, and the authors use good, solid examples to illustrate the techniques they are teaching. The end of the book, with it's summary review, really pulls it all together. The writing style is clean, clear, and simple, without being so simplistic as to seem unbelieveable.

The authors try to show readers how to remain objective in negotiations, rather than letting their emotions take control. The speak of being "soft on people and hard on principles", the idea of staying focussed on the problem and not attacking or blaming people. The parts I found most useful are the notions of focussing on interests rather than positions, and finding alternatives that will allow both parties in the negotiation to gain something. The idea of moving away from positions to finding the common ground of shared interests is one that is particularly useful in that it can be applied to any situation, be it a parent/child conflict, a work situation, or any negotiation. This concept shows readers how to focus on their long term goals rather than on being "right" and winning in the short term.

I have used the techniques in this book to great success many times, in a variety of areas in my life. They are easy to use, and they work! I highly reccommend this classic text to everyone.

I read this book in an MBA course for Dispute Mediation. Although it was not a required reading, every text and article mentioned this book. You can easily read it in a weekend. Do not expect theory, paradigm, or lofty descriptions-this is cut to the chase stuff that lets you know many techniques for negotiating and helping the other side make a decision that is right for all involved. Some helpful key concepts include elimintating emotions from the process, or dealing with the emotional techniques that the other side may use against you. It also describes BATNA, or the best alternatives to a negotiated agreement-those agreements which may be the most realistic and beneficial terms for both sides. I think that the other book, getting past no, by the same author, is an additional reference that anyone considerring this book should also read as an excellent complementary text to the principles outlined in this classic.

I am a devotee of Harrison Fisher.

This will certainly be one of the books you will want to add to your reference section on Harrison Fisher, but it's not the best.

Some of the shortcomings for this book are:
1) It does not come in hardcover
2) Too many of the illustrations are in black & white
3) Many of the illustrations are not named and/or the source is not given.
4) Many of the pages are cluttered with too many illustrations which are pictured too small.

Naomi Welch's "The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher" is the superior reference on Harrison Fisher's works. Welch's biography on Harrison Fisher is more extensive; the bio in this one is disappointing.

However, so few reference works exist on Harrison Fisher that there should be room on your bookshelf for this one. It has a nice length, good number of illustrations, and it's more inexpensive than "The Complete Works".
It has satisfactory coverage of Fisher's illustrations.

This profusely illustrated book is a great companion for the collector of Harrison Fisher's work or Edwardian graphics. Devotees of turn of the century costume will also find a wealth of source material in this book. Well written and researched, this is a great primer for the beginning collector.

IF you find that you are buying the popular Victorian Ladies note cards and collecting antique victorian ladies prints, then you will love this book. I found all the ladies that I collected over the years plus a whole lot of others. Plus Amozon's prices is much cheaper than other companies Fisher Victorian Ladies books.