When it comes to cats, I'm a sap. There is only one cat in my house, and there will be for quite awhile because my cat will not tolerate any others in her presence. In fact, if you were to attempt such a foolish task as trying to introduce another feline in our house you would be faced with my cat bullying the other to the bottom of our couch in the living room, and observing pieces of hair everywhere that my cat has pulled out of the other.

In our futile attempt to find a way to alleviate this behavior, my wife and I went through several books, dozens of phone calls to veterinarians in Lincoln and Omaha (Nebraska) and were never to find a way to keep our tort shell from beating up on the calico kitten we brought home. Finally, however, we had to give the calico to my stepdaughter.

In our desperate attempt to find a way to stop Pokeman (yes, at last I reveal the cat's name) from being a bully we discovered this wonderful book by Barbara Holland. It starts with a tale of hope for our family with a short essay called "The Conversion of Boston Blackie". Boston Blackie was a stray that would terrify all the other cats in the author's household. It became so bad that Ms. Holland actually hired someone to assassinate Blackie. As it turns out, there was no need to do so, as for some reason the cat converted. Truly a story that kept us going for awhile in our fruitless attempt to convert our cat.

There's great stuff in this book, including the one I mentioned, some of it very sad (a story of a woman who would only let her cat live alone in a basement), some of it useful (how to wash a cat to prevent allergens from reacting).

Lyrical, recommended, and picked up at our house and browsed through frequently.

I've already pressed "Secrets of the Cat" into the hands of my husband and my two of my best friends and said, "You must read this."

So what were the odds that all of them would actually read the book and enjoy it? Slim to none, I'd have guessed from previous treatments of my recommendations.

In this case though, both husband and friends were hooked from the first page. The author begins with the tale of Boston Blackie, a cat who went berserk in the presence of other felines. He ripped off their ears, he gouged out their eyes, he sent them streaking for the bushes even at feeding time. And then, one day...but I don't want to spoil Blackie's story for you. Just a hint - his name was changed to Basil and no anatomical alterations were involved.

Barbara Holland has written an extremely personal book about the history, lore, and personality of 'Felis libyca.' In the chapter, "A Choice of Cats" she does riffs on many of the different feline breeds, but it is easy to see that the Siamese is her favorite:

"Properly treated, Siamese develop a deep, single-hearted devotion to their people and overreact to competition, absences, and infidelity like an adolescent in love. They need attention, and think nothing of pulling the books out of the bookcase and the pictures off the walls to get it. They demand notice in a raucous, echoing voice that many people and some other cats find alarming; the sound has been compared to that of a giant sea gull in distress. Taking on a Siamese is rather like getting married."

Our own preference is for Maine Coons (we share the house with five), and Barbara Holland tells a great story about them, too. Not that I agreed with everything she wrote. For instance, she stated that gray cats as a class are much friendlier than tabbies, which is exactly the opposite of our experience---and we've lived with two grays and about a million tabbies over the years.

Holland is also very upset by some of the artificially propagated breeds, such as the Cornish Rex and the Scottish Fold. Her chapter on "Show Business" is sad, hilarious, and razor-sharp---sometimes all three in the same sentence. Even if you think she is way off-base on her assessment of say, Himalayans or feline intelligence or declawing procedures, you'll want to keep reading until the end of the book. She is opinionated even to the point of irritation, but she is also extremely readable.

And Holland never confuses 'cat' with 'cute.'

There is one chapter in "Secrets of the Cat" (originally titled "The Name of the Cat") that you might want to skip: not because it is badly written, but because it is totally horrifying. That chapter is called, "Cats and the Church" and it relates the history of cats in (primarily) medieval Europe.

I've already pressed "Secrets of the Cat" into the hands of my husband and my best friend and said, "You must read this."

So what were the odds that both of them would actually read the book and enjoy it? Slim to none, I'd have guessed from previous treatments of my recommendations.

In this case though, both husband and friend were hooked from the first page. The author begins with the tale of Boston Blackie, a cat who went berserk in the presence of other felines. He ripped off their ears, he gouged out their eyes, he sent them streaking for the bushes even at feeding time. And then, one day...but I don't want to spoil Blackie's story for you. Just a hint - his name was changed to Basil and no anatomical alterations were involved.

Barbara Holland has written an extremely personal book about the history, lore, and personality of 'Felis libyca.' In the chapter, "A Choice of Cats" she does riffs on many of the different feline breeds, but it is easy to see that the Siamese is her favorite:

"Properly treated, Siamese develop a deep, single-hearted devotion to their people and overreact to competition, absences, and infidelity like an adolescent in love. They need attention, and think nothing of pulling the books out of the bookcase and the pictures off the walls to get it. They demand notice in a raucous, echoing voice that many people and some other cats find alarming; the sound has been compared to that of a giant sea gull in distress. Taking on a Siamese is rather like getting married."

Our own preference is for Maine Coons (we share the house with five), and Barbara Holland tells a great story about them, too. Not that I agreed with everything she wrote. For instance, she stated that gray cats as a class are much friendlier than tabbies, which is exactly the opposite of our experience---and we've lived with two grays and about a million tabbies over the years.

Holland is also very upset by some of the artificially propagated breeds, such as the Cornish Rex and the Scottish Fold. Her chapter on "Show Business" is sad, hilarious, and razor-sharp---sometimes all three in the same sentence. Even if you think she is way off-base on her assessment of say, Himalayans or feline intelligence or declawing procedures, you'll want to keep reading until the end of the book. She is opinionated even to the point of irritation, but she is also extremely readable.

And Holland never confuses 'cat' with 'cute.'

There is one chapter in "Secrets of the Cat" (originally titled "The Name of the Cat") that you might want to skip: not because it is badly written, but because it is totally horrifying. That chapter is called, "Cats and the Church" and it relates the history of cats in (primarily) medieval Europe.

Some Personal Papers, which recently garnered author, JoAllen Bradham, the Georgia Fiction Writer of the Year Award, is a must read. This exquisitely told story is about Eugenia Putman, "Miss Genie," a dedicated social worker who is forced to make choices regarding the children in her personal care that few of us could ever make. This is a case of when "doing what's best" is, without a doubt, a case of "doing what's worst," but for all of the right reasons. Although it has often been said that actions speak louder than words, Miss Genie's actions cannot even be considered without first reading her story in her own words, words that scream at you about the often painful experience that is life for many people, and particularly for children. This is a story you will not soon forget.

This novel is just as JoAllen herself said; "It's a quick read, and a long think."

The press may specialize in books about the South, but the book itself deserves the attention of readers everywhere. Those who read for significant, thought-rpvoking subject matter will find it. Those who read for artistic method will rejoice.

Recently a doctor friend who is contemplating a career change as a researcher for a drug company was discussing his dilemma with me. The reason for the change is that he's bored with the repetitive nature of his work and wants to be on the leading edge in socially active work. How could he do this in a corporation? he was asking me. "Boy have I got the book for you!" I said, and told him about Barbara Waugh.
This book is one of the top ten on my list of tools for building a new and better civilization. Corporations run the world today, but in the light of the Enron fiasco, many of us are asking, "Are they leading us all towards Doomsday like a bunch of lemmings?"
No one has a more reassuring answer for that question than Barbara Waugh. Yes, corporations would be able to save the world, not destroy it, if they were in the hands of people like her. Adapting the ideology of capitalism to the demands of a world struggling for survival may seem like a daunting task, but the tools are all there. Combine this book with Jack Stack's The Great Game of Business, David McClelland's Achievement Motivation and The Achieving Society, D. O. Hebb's The Organization of Behavior, Buckminster Fuller's Critical Path, a few wise words of advice from the Grameen Bank (and perhaps one or two other choice items) and you've got a sure fire formula not just for saving the world, but for building a world wide Utopia in the next twenty years. And I don't think I could assert all this so positively if Barbara Waugh's book hadn't been published, because it takes its place alongside Bernard Shaw's The Revolutionist's Handbook in a list of highly readable books for revolutionaries. The difference is that Shaw's ideas have had their day, whereas Barbara Waugh can take you where we all need to be going right now. Thanks to her, the train is leaving on track 5 for.....
Chock full of good ideas, spine-tingling anecdotes and the creative adventure of Jack the Giant Killer, Barbara Waugh's odyssey (that may well be the first major new idea about world conquest since Caesar's Gallic Wars) will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what false god the next dropped ball will smash into on its rebound.
I loved the book, and, unless you're deep-down happy and satisfied with things in the corporate world being just the way they are right this minute, you will too.

Barbara Waugh is a remarkable woman and I am delighted that she took the time to write her story as a visionary, change management expert, and woman with heart, so we can all learn from her journey. Her tale is unforgettable and reminds us all to dare to dream and commit to making that idea a reality. As an activist, Barbara has leveraged her creativity in her career at HP in innovative ways and learned the art of gathering partcipation and the support from her colleagues and the entire organization. This book should be required reading in every business and social work graduate program. Bravo!

Barbara is an amazing person--a "connector" in the sense of the Tipping Point--and someone who has made remarkable things happen in the world of very large corporations. This book is well written, direct, inspiring, and challenging. And the stories are believable.
Joel Birnbaum is a scientist's scientist, head of IBM research, head of HP research, something of a rennaissance man--and a very nice, approachable, supportive person. This book is a testiment to the humanity with which some technologists approach their work. HP Labs did not set out to be only the best corporate lab in the world--but to be "the best lab FOR the world." That is a higher standard than most aim for.

When I read this book, I immediately felt like I was a part of the Dilley family. I sincerely wish that Keith and Becki would write another book about the sextuplets now.

I think I am a busy mother - trying to balance careers with young children - but I had no idea how busy it is possible for a parent to be! We have all read the magazine articles, seen the items on television and pondered what life might be like for families with triplets or more, but this enjoyable and easy to read book reveals angles on their experience that would never have occurred to me. I liked the way that both parents' points of view are included and the chatty style which makes this book read more like a conversation with a friend over coffee. I seldom get time to read, and yet I read this in two nights as I couldn't put it down! Parents everywhere would enjoy this book and will applaud the common sense way in which these two special parents have dealt with their almost unique situation. While understanding how much they will want to guard their privacy, I do hope there will be another book letting us in on the new and different challenges they will face at later stages in their children's lives.

I'd love to read more books like this one. A really lovely telling of how the family coped with a lot of little ones at once.

The book is written in such a way,even if you didn't own a Rottie you can easily follow all the chapters and succed.
Whoever owns a Rottie or is planning on getting one should buy and read this book.It is very easy to understand.

This book handles with clarity the challenging job of training a rottweiler. These are dogs of great intelligence and strength - a wonderful combination when properly directed. Ms. McNinch puts what could seem like a daunting task into completely understandable training plans for your dog. I own 12 rottweilers and know that well trained they are a wonderful gift, untrained they can be powerful gremlins with the power to think. This book makes the training a do-able task - which should result in less throw-a-way rotties, lost because of lack of knowledge.

I bought this book in preparation for purchasing my new Rottweiler pup. And I must say, it has prepared me. The book is well illustrated and easy to understand. My rating is Brilliant! A big thanks to the author. Training your Rottweiler covers so much: What to look for when buying a pup, character and personality traits of Rottweilers, Children and Rottweilers, Socialising your pup, Training methods and tools, etc. The list goes on. In my personal opinion - If you are a prospective Rottweiler owner and want information... this is the book for you. Thanks Barbara for a great book!

A compact little book with 365 ways to relax. It seems logical enough - start at the beginning of the book, read one idea each day, and put it into practice. I challenge you to do just that. I bet you can't!

The book is simply too compelling. You will read today's suggestion, then peak ahead to see tomorrow's. Then day three's is right there, and you will read it, too. You'll be hooked and keep reading. But, that's okay; perhaps it's even part of the book's usefulness, because just reading the ideas, interspersed with inspirational quotes, will help relax you.

Oddly enough, I also found the book energized me. Not in a stressful, hurry-up way, but in a creative and motivated way. It gave me a sense of control - a whole mitt full of suggestions for things I could do to relax physically and mentally. How powerful to have all those workable techniques in hand!

Stress and its cranky cronies, anxiety and tension, wear away at us daily as we push ourselves beyond our limits in an increasingly pressured world. How can we combat these complications naturally and positively every day? Those of us without a live-in masseuse will find the answers in 365 WAYS TO RELAX MIND, BODY & SOUL.

Science has proven that stress can make you sick and more than 20 million Americans suffer from stress related illnesses. Many more of us are just exhausted from the frenzied pace of modern lifestyles and Barbara Heller offers cheerful daily tips for relaxing the body, regrouping thoughts, renewing the spirit, and thriving, not just surviving.

Some of the tips are for quick and simple fixes; you're sure to find one that you can do right now - laugh, relive a pleasant thought, or enjoy a cup of tranquil tea (the recipe's included). Others require some planning, such as attending a monthly meditation meeting. And with others, part of the benefit is in the preparation and the on-going ritual, as with designing your personal relaxation training period.

365 WAYS TO RELAX MIND, BODY & SOUL is written by Barbara Heller, M.S.W., a psychotherapist with more than 25 years of experience in women's health care and complimentary medicine. She is also an herbalist and educator. Her advice will inspire you to release your worries. It will help wean you from stressful situations and encourage minor lifestyle adjustments for greater personal peace and well-being.

You need a copy of this book - and you deserve to savor its techniques.

I admit that I am a sucker for self-help books but this one is truly worth the money. Everything is covered from different types of meditation to fun ideas, like playing Monopoly.

Most of the ideas and tips I would never have considered but they made sense. Like turning off the tv or enjoying a trashy novel. The bit on recycling stuff you don't use made a lot of sense and encouraged me to clean out some clutter. Afterwards, I felt less stress and my house looked better!

Can't wait to try "Do the Opposite" tomorrow!

The thing I like about this book is the condensation of a lot of wisdom into a small space. Stressed out at the office or school or just plain stressed out. This book is small enough to keep with you at all times. What a lifesaver!

This is an amazing book which addresses issues you are either facing or may be facing in the future. The book offers insight from women who know from experience what to expect when you are faced with the unexpected- the loss of a husband through death or divorce. They bring honesty, humor and reality to a painful but very real life circumstance. I have given this book to family and friends with the assurance that I have done them a great kindness by sharing Barbara and Donnette's wisdom. I highly recommed this book to all women in all circumstances based on the knowledge that nothing in our lives stays the same.

I wish this book had been available when my husband died in 1982! It would have made things so much easier then, but the information is helpful to me as a widow even now. I bought two books ... one for me and one for my home town library. Alice Peterson, Keystone Heights, FL

It's comforting to know where to turn for answers to so many questions. I'm impressed with the authors' thoroughness and depth of research. Thank you, Barb and Donnette!

The stories in this book (there are about 65 of them) are for the most part very short. Some of my favorite are his earliest ones, they have been translated from the Russian by Nabokov's son, Dmitri, and they are semi-autobiographical, sweet and so beautiful. Included in this book are a few chapters from Nabokov's autobiography, "Speak, Memory" which were published independently as stories. I would also recommend "Speak, Memory" without reservations. It would be a good book to read after or before this one. They are both so wonderful.

I can't imagine anyone not liking at least some of these stories, especially if you like the genre of short stories and if you are familiar with Nabokov's lucid, detailed prose. Some of them are briefer and sketchier, and some are more like small novels, some are auto-biographical, and some are like fairy-tales. All of the different kinds are good, even my least favorite stories in this vast collection have stuck in my mind. They are lovely. Everyone should own this book.

This collection proves that Nabokov was as great a short-storyist as he was a novelist. In some ways, his short works might be even greater; the concentration of the story form pushed him to achieve some startling feats of linguistic and narrative dexterity.

Some of the early stories are unambitious sketches or modest experiments that don't quite work, but gradually mature masterpieces start to appear, and it continues that way right to the end. Among my favorites: "The Visit to the Museum," "Cloud, Castle, Lake," "Time and Ebb," "Signs and Symbols," "Lance," and of course "The Vane Sisters," with its famous ending of which the author himself says "this particular trick can be tried only once in a thousand years of fiction." And that list is only partial; there's still a lot of this book that I haven't yet read. (As with a box of really good chocolates, I'm trying to make it last.)

Given his super-highbrow reputation, it's easy to overlook the fact that when he's at the top of his game, Nabokov is fun. Many of his best stories take the kind of imaginative leaps you expect from high-grade fantasy or science fiction; and the complexity of his style is necessary to his conceptions rather than vain showing-off. Coming upon this book after reading the normal run of fiction ("literary" or otherwise) was like feasting on rich, multi-layered Indian or French food after eating every day in the local pub.

As banal as it may sound, these stories are true treasures of language. If I were banished to a desert island with only one book, it would be these stories of Mr. Nabokov. His prose stands in a category I believe only two other authors habitate (Joyce & Proust). Each story is alive, from early Russian translations to later English originals (everyone is hereby required to read "The Vane Sisters"). Truly astounding, condensed bursts of imagination.

This is the best book on Akitas I have ever read.
Wonderful pictures and very informative.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the breed.
Buy a used copy if you can. It's well worth it !

Most breed specific books contain a lot of information on dogs in general and common sense opinions, that if you're like me, you alreay know. If you're looking for a book on Akitas that will tell you about things that you don't already know and give you the insight that only a 30 year love affair with the breed can give, then buy it. I have two Akitas, and had had them for two years before reading Barbara's book. I was in tune with my dogs' body language, their behavior, the predjudices exacted upon them, and their faults. I was in heaven reading this book for the first time. Finally, new information!: Genetics, nutrition, training, breeding, aesthetic details, personality issues; and, all Akita specific! This book is MSRP at around $... at a retailer, that s why I read it out of the library. I'm Buying it at Amazon.com for about $.... Friggin' awesome!

I have bought a lot of books for Akita dogs but this book is the best because is written from a person who is in love and understand Akitas. A must for any serious fun.

Maybe I am wrong, but, unlike all the reviews here that give this book a 5 start rating... I woudl give it 4 or even 3 stars.
I bought this book just because of the reviews I read here, and now Im not going to trust them as much as I did before.

Some people say about step by step articles, hmm, yea, ONE or two, really boring ones. I expected to see something like Thom Taylors book " How to draw cars like a pro " which is excellent. But this book is very boring to read, Im a little bit dissapointed about it. Well, I will have to search for more books to find what i expected to find here.

If I knew this book was 1st published in 1983, I wouldnt have bought it. My mistake. Also, I dont want to sound mean, but most of the reviews here about this book are not exaclty correct.

Service was great and the book was awesome. Answered every question I had and taught me things I never thought of.

This is an excellent book for any airbrush artist from beginning to advanced. The author does a great job of covering the technical aspects of airbrushing in understandable terms.

The book starts out by detailing all the features of the airbrush, helping you choose which one to buy & then describing how to clean it. What kind of mediums to use with each type of paper is then explained in depth.

Next, actual use of the airbrush, including many practice exercises, are given. How to transfer drawings, construct curves for making masks, and use both color and other painting techniques is demonstrated.

There are not really any step-by-step projects per se, but there is a section on airbrushing the human face in both color and in b/w. A beautiful full-color gallery in the back is a nice bonus.