What a fun book! Anyone who has played with a dog or been fortunate enough to have a dog or two as pets will truly appreciate this charming counting book. Simple rhymes begin with one dog all the way up to ten and then, back again! The illustrations are wonderfully warm ~ you just want to hug each pup! A marvelous addition to a child's library!

Author, Leslea Newman and illustrator, Erika Oller are back with an engaging canine sequel to last year's Cats, Cats, Cats. Meet these lovable pooches, and count them, with each page turn, as the pack grows from one to ten, and heads to the park for a rip roarin' dog day of fun. "Dogs chasing tennis balls, dogs chasing sticks/Dogs chasing butterflies, dogs doing tricks..." They drink from puddles and swim in the lake, dig holes in the grass, take naps, lie on their bellies, and roll on their backs. And after a busy afternoon, the pack heads for home where they dropped off each friend, one by one..... Ms Newman's joyous, rhyming text is filled with energy and rhythm, and complemented by Ms Oller's expressive watercolor illustrations. Little ones will enjoy lingering over each two page spread, infused with lots of canine personality and humor. Perfect for preschoolers, Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! is both a fun-filled counting book and dog lover's book, that shouldn't be missed.

CEOs and Board members, don't be fooled. This book is NOT just for donors - it's for YOU!

Here's the way I figure it: If a book advises donors on what to look for when "investing" in a NonProfit, doesn't it make sense that NonProfits use that same book to help make their organization worth investing in?

NonProfit leaders should think of this book as one of those magazine cover stories that says "What Men Should Look for in a Woman" (or vice versa!). As a woman, I'd sure want to know what men are being advised to look for! And as NonProfits seeking donors, we should all want to know what those donors are being advised to look for in a worthy NonProfit. That's why this book is such a valuable tool.

In my NonProfit consulting work, I've used the fundraising and marketing insights from Ms. Rafferty's chapters on donor motivation when creating marketing plans, because it forces a NonProfit to think like a donor. And the chapters on performing due diligence ("Ten Warning Signs: Where to Look for the Bodies") are a GREAT checklist for ensuring your organization's ducks are in a row.

Being a NonProfit author myself, my favorite compliment is when a reader says their copy of the book is all marked up - that the pages are dog-eared and the spine cracked from use. Well, my copy of Ms. Rafferty's book is not only yellow from highlighting, but the book automatically opens to the sections I love.

So do your NonProfit a favor - don't be fooled into thinking this book is only for donors. Buy it, incorporate its messages into your marketing and fund development efforts, and watch your organization flourish.

Most of us in this audience have spent years (and some, decades) on the inside of one nonprofit organization or another, wondering, "How can our organization attract more (or even more) charitable donations?"

We've established annual fund drives, grant-seeking programs, fielded special events, and maybe even launched planned giving programs. Some of us are in one stage or other of a capital campaign on the way toward meeting our six-, seven-, eight-, or even nine-figure goals.

Collectively, we've done a fantastic job. In 1997 alone, Americans gave us $143 billion, most of that in the form of direct gifts or bequests. We expend nearly $500 billion per year, control more than $800 billion in assets, employ nearly 11 percent of the American workforce, represent nearly eight percent of the American gross domestic product, and constitute 20 percent of the American service economy.

The money flows. Donors more or less leave us alone to spend it as we see fit and as long as we don't break some law or line our own pockets, things hum along nicely. As those of us who have been on the inside know, there is typically little or no investigation by most donors prior to the gift, much less once the gift has been made.

From our vantage point - on the inside looking out - all is well with the world. Few donors would think to ask hard questions before making a donation, much less to follow up on a donation to see that we've been wise stewards of it. That is why Renata J. Rafferty's new book, Don't Just Give It Away, How to Make the Most of Your Charitable Giving, is so startling. Written not by an outsider with an axe to grind, but by one of us, Rafferty turns things on their head by asking the public, "does it seem that $143 billion of 'social progress' was achieved through the activities of the charitable sector? How much of that $143 billion did you and your family contribute, and do you believe it was used as wisely as it could have been?"

Rafferty contends that while, in her more than 20 years in the charitable arena, she has "witnessed the integrity and industry of the men and women . . . who commit their lives - professionally and or as volunteers - to make this world a better place for all of us," she has also seen "waste and poor financial management that substantially eroded the value" of contributions. . . ."

"Like a leaking faucet that accumulates in wasted gallons," writes Rafferty, "minor misuses of each of our charitable investments add up. In fact, they amount to huge amounts of donated money annually that could have - and should have - been applied to programs and services for the community . . . but weren't. And that's why we don't see $143 billion worth of progress from our contributions."

Notice the shift by Rafferty from the industry insiders' perspective to that of the donors'? This is an insider breaking ranks, throwing open the door to the closet, and shining a bright light on, well, if not "skeletons," the family's closely-guarded secrets.

Every once in a while a book comes along which, though written with down-to-earth clarity and simplicity, carries within its covers a clarion call to reverse the flow of power and unsettle the status quo in an entire facet of society. This is that book.

Don't Just Give It Away teaches donors to conduct their giving "as thoughtfully and insightfully - and personally - as (they) approach . . . financial investing." She walks the reader through the process of defining philanthropic goals, finding a charity that fits those goals, performing due diligence on that charity, and tracking what the charity does with the gift after it's been given.

My favorite chapter - and one that poorly-run nonprofit organizations would do well to keep out of the hands of donors - is Chapter 9's "Ten Warning Signs: Where to Look for 'The Bodies.'" A sampling:

--You are discouraged or barred from a site visit or board meeting;

--Financial records are unavailable, unintelligible, or generally in disarray;

--There is no written strategic or business plan for the organization;

--Fewer than 70% of the board members have made a financial contribution to the organization within the last twelve months;

--And more.

It's occurred to me that one sign of a healthy organization is its enthusiasm in providing Rafferty's book to prospective and existing donors. An organization that is well managed and healthy will have nothing to fear, and perhaps much to gain, in educating its donors about such things. Indeed, arming donors with this kind of information - as simple as providing them a copy of this book - is one way to strengthen our nonprofit sector.

One thing the book is not is a "technique" book. Rafferty makes it clear she is not instructing donors on "how" to structure a gift - that's what attorneys and other advisors are for, she says - but on how to ensure that giving is done with maximum impact. I can imagine one pitfall is locating advisors who will understand, and add value to, the process described by Rafferty. The book is concise enough, though, that a donor might wish to provide a copy to any advisor assisting in the gift-making process.

Not surprisingly, Don't Just Give It Away has already attracted quite a few fans, including Paul Newman who, in the book's Foreword, writes: "I wish Don't Just Give It Away had been written years earlier - I could have used it. I'm delighted that it's here now and that I can share this book with friends, family, and colleagues who are searching for their own ways - more personal ways - to make this world a better place through wiser charitable giving." Newman should know. To date, his company, Newman's Own, has contributed over $100 million to charities worldwide from after-tax profits.

This is a wonderful multi-purpose book. Used for counting, Thanskgiving, or Native studies. It closes with lots of great receipes and more specific information on fall gatherings.

The Fall Gathering is an informative tool for young children. The text coupled with wonderfully illustrated pages, make this a colorful,fun book for anyone with or without children. The illustrator captured the essence of the text, and I for one felt compelled to open it due to the cover artwork alone

This work, the second of a set of three, continues General Newman's lessons in leadership, specifically designed for military leaders but with universal application.
There is some repetition due to their origin as periodical essays in ARMY Magazine, but this does not detract from their value to anyone in a leadership situation. In fact, it might well be said that with diligent application of General Newman's principles, one could hardly fail.
(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings).

This is a book I've always recommended to young men and women entering the military as officers. It gives the best explanation, through anecdote, of how to be a good leader, even when you lack experience. As I reflect on my memories as both officer and enlisted, I now see how these topics relate to civilian life just as well. Dealing with people never changes. You must understand them, and they must understand you for real communication to take place. Aubrey Newman delivers a beautifully simple explanation of senior-subordinate relationships, and how both can respect the other

This book is fascinating, even for people like me who aren't especially interested in cars. I picked it up at my grandpa's house and couldn't put it down. More than a "car book," Ford Century brings in a lot of the history that Ford grew up in - from hula hoops to hot rods - and reminds its readers how Ford was there for it all. This is a beautiful book, as well, with great images and nostalgiac pictures. I highly recommend it.

Tying in with Ford's 100th celebration is this fine chronicle of this influential name and continuing legacy in so many areas of the past century.

The mobility and culture which has sprung up around the auto is staggering. Here it is captured from following one of the influential figures in all of that: Henry Ford and the legacy he left.

Well done with photos and enough text to provide running history of this giant in industry and society, this will become a collector's item to be given with pride, displayed on coffetables or in libraries.

To reflect back on all those vehicles--- Model T, Thunderbird, Mustang, Edsel, F-150, assembly line. We've all been touched by it. This is luscious nostalgia at its best.

The latest great book from Renee Newman: this is another wonderful book written to help acquire the right knowledge when making the important decision to purchase a special piece of jewelry! Bravo!

Profusely illustrated in full color, Renee Newman's Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide: A Traveler's Guide To Buying Diamonds, Colored Gems, Pearls, Gold And Platinum Jewelry is the most concise, definitive, informative, authoritative, portable, and "user friendly" guide for travelers seeking to buy gems and jewelry while on their travels. This little pocket-sized compendium offers invaluable tips for the non-specialist general reader on quality evaluation, fake and lab-grown gems, custom-made jewelry, customs regulations, gem treatment, and geographic gem sources. Whether acquiring gems and jewelry for personal use, commercial resale, or as a collectible, first read through Renee Newman's Gem & Jewelry Pocket Guide.

It's difficult to fault a book compiled from other author's articles, except maybe how the book is organized. But Globalization and the Challenges of the New Century : A Reader is not only useful, but topical. The discussion starts with Huntington's now oft-and-overquoted essay, "The Clash of Civilizations?", and moves to Barber and Kaplan. Later, some other luminaries appear, but the strength of the collection is the depth of arguments by not-so famous authors. Also, the volume breaks globalization into it's political, economic, technological, and cultural aspects, something that seemingly perplexes most people, because their arguments pass too quickly and easily between all of them. There is so much here to read, but, perhaps, some more information for more reading would be useful. This book provides a useful start for those looking for an interesting and rigorous look at what can become an empty slogan at dinner-parties and coffee breaks.

The Economist described the book this way and I agree completely, "If you want to catch up on some of the best articles written about globalisation since the topic became fashionable several years ago, this reader is the place to start."

I have to say that I love the book "God Bless Love". It is smso sweet and charming, even though it has some quite rude sayings in it! I would highly reccomend this bookto anyone who is looking for a fun and enjoyable read!

I love "GOD BLESS LOVE" very, very much! I met this book at B&B in England 6 years ago when I traveled with my best friend. I was very happy to read it. It was very pretty, lovely, and peaceful. It made me very happy and comfortable. I looked for it at many bookstores for a long time, but I couldn't find it. I knew that there is possibility to get it at AMAZOM.COM. If I can get it, I am the happiest!

This summer I spent three weeks in France and I was quite surprised upon encountering a squat toilet. I was expecting to see the occasional bidet but a squat toilet? As it turns out they're very common in parts of the country, including new modern ones with infrared sensors for the flush (better be quick or you'll be wet!). I sure could have used a guide like this before then, and I'm delighted to have finally found one. There's also a nice chapter on bath facilities -- including some of the odder units I've had to figure out in various countries.

I highly recommend this book for the world traveller, even if you're just going to Europe. You may be surprised at how useful it is!

Eva Newman managed to answer all of my questions about "going abroad". She provides practical information in an easy-to-read format that includes serious discussion about health issues and graphic illustrations of topics as well as anecdotal information from travelers all over the world. This one will go on my gift list for those just starting to get out into the world.