I greatly enjoyed reading this resource, and finished it in a little over a week, despite its length! It is written in an easy style, but it still has lots of information about kids of all ages.

There are two types of parent who are probably *not* going to like this book. One is the "natural parenting" type, who is interested in home/birth center birth, attachment parenting, etc. The book is very biased in favor of hospital birth(a big drawback), and has little information about attachment parenting methods. Those of us with any interest at all in using some or all of these methods should be consulting other books as well. The second sort of parent who could dislike the book is one who has very strong views about spanking, which the book favors. Actually, this book takes much more space telling the parent when they should *not* spank their child, but for those who see any physical discipline at all as "brutality" or "violence", this won't be enough.

However, for the Christian parent who wants a single, mainstream reference work for the entire child rearing experience, the book has not only plenty of sound advice and counsel, but also extensive medical and safety information of the most practical sort. A great investment!

When we asked our baby's doctor to recommend a child care reference book, she recommended this one. The information it presents is based on medical research and experience rather than on one person's opinion. I like that it presents the advantages and disadvantages of various parenting dilemmas (breast vs. bottle, letting babies sleep in your bed, etc.) without going out of the way to take sides. I also liked that it is sensitive to the fact that many parents are single and/or may have had a baby unexpectedly, so it gives advice aimed at single parents as well as married couples.

It is fantastic and refreshing to be able to look into one resource and find everything you would possibly need to know concerning child rearing. From shots at 24 months, to skin rashes with photographic examples of each, to the different temperaments found in us all, to behavioral patterns at 13 months or 13 years, it's all here in this one book. My wife and I refer to it constantly in the raising of our two daughters. They didn't teach it in high school or college, but the most important investment you will ever make, is in the raising of your children. This book will give you the confidence and guidance to do a great job, believe me you will not be disappointed with it. The most important feature, however, is the fact that the contents of the book concerning parental leadership, mentoring and guidance are all based on the sound information found in the instruction manual for the human race, The Bible. Enjoy this book, as you enjoy raising your children.

One Step from the White House is a very satisfying, well-written biography of a pivotal figure in both post-World War II U.S. political history as well as 20th century San Francisco Bay Area history. The book chronicles William Fife Knowland's life in a straight-forward narrative from his 1908 birth to his suicide in 1974. Knowland's life makes a compelling story -- from his early days as the favorite son of a politically ambitious father, to his Senate years as a strong voice for the Republican Party's conservative wing, to his self-destructive golden years. Montgomery and Johnson allow the story to unfold slowly and tell itself without too much analysis or summary. While this style gives the book good narrative momentum as the reader becomes more and more familiar with Knowland, this sometimes analysis-free style resulted in this reader wondering how certain events came about, such as Knowland's meteoric rise in the Republican Senate leadership. The book is also too "soft" on its subject for a post-Watergate era political biography. While the author's introductory remarks thanking the Knowland family for their confidence and trust seem polite and appropriate, they ultimately reveal an excessive concern for the subject's descendants at the expense of the story at hand. When Montgomery and Johnson do impose some analysis on the story, it is sometimes unconvincing. The most prominent example of this is naming the book "One Step from the White House," clearly an appropriate title for a biography of Thomas Dewey or Hubert Humphrey, but the author's do not successfully sell its applicability to Knowland. In spite of such lapses, Montgomery and Johnson deliver a effective chronicle of a fascinating man and flawed man.

Gayle B. Montgomery and James W. Johnson have presented an excellent book on the complex life of Senator William F. Knowland. This book is great history of California and the (SF) East Bay Area;the Republican Party of the 1950's and the Oakland Tribune. Daniel Wyatt, the author of the life of Bill Knowland's father, Joseph Russell Knowland.

I knew Senator Knowland well, having worked for twenty years for the Oakland Tribune, and having had the unenviable assignment of writing his obituary for the newspaper following his death. Gayle Montgomery and Jim Johnson have done a magnificent job of capturing the driving demons of a man whose brusque and hearty demeanor disguised a complex and, in the end, tortured personality. This is a compelling book for every reader, not just those interested in the social an political history of the time.

I couldn't stop reading once I started this gem, and of the many Beatles books, I'd rate this as one of the best. For pure literary artistry, it ranks high: the descriptions are vivid and bring you completely into that fateful day (one moment stands out in which the Quarrymen go on their second, evening, show and a minute into the set, a rare Liverpool lightning storm sweeps through the town, knocking out the power, leaving John and his bandmates in darkness for a moment...
the proverbial, but in this instance real, "lightning flash" of greater things to come?!)
Definitely recommended to any Beatles fan.

How did such a normal day lead to such a phenomenen? Was it destiny? Did John Lennon and Paul McCartney have any idea as teenagers as to what lay ahead of them? These are questions that can never be answered, but eight years of painstaking research and a little artistic license has produced a book which plants many a romantic thought in the mind about how the Beatles started. "The Day John Met Paul" is a book about the 6th of July 1957, focusing primarily on events in Woolton, a leafy suburb of Liverpool, where a local village fete leads to the first meeting of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, later to become the driving forces behind the band that became the Beatles. Author JimO'Donnell describes these events as a present-tense review of the day, and it is this approach as well as the remarkable factual detail which makes his book unique and compelling. His introduction to the book is mesmerising in itself, as he explains how his research sought to capture the atmosphere of that place at that time. He also describes world events which were happening simultaneously, taking into account time differences, meaning that these events were literally happening at the precise moments. This gives emphasis on the physical normality of what happened that day but as it is written now, it is an experience to read the book while obviously knowing what happened subsequently. This is where O'Donnell engrosses the reader, forcing us to imagine the scenes taking place, and the book, although really an acquired taste, actually works on a historical level as well. For those who never saw 1957, images are conjured of life at that time on a Saturday in the middle of summer. What O'Donnell also acheives is as mentioned the romanticism of the Beatles story and myth and the idea that the real reason for their success and incredible longevity as a part of people's lives was the personal relationships between them and the higher spiritual plane that they seemed to stumble on together. As Paul watches John play at the fete, and later vice versa, there is a "meeting of minds" and a sharp vision. Whether the true story was anything like this is always open to speculation, but the telling phrases used by O'Donnell in his book lead us to believe that was a union so important that it must have been written in the stars. O'Donnell starts off from the early hours of the morning as the teenagers and most of Liverpool sleeps, and he describes the surrounding scene before the main protagonists have had a chance to contribute to events of the day. We see the build-up to the event which, while not big in itself, began something special, and as the event unfolds, his vivid imagination is given full rein as he describes what might have been going through their minds, and how they were spurred on not just by the sound of the music but what it really meant to them on a personal level, creating the collective vision that would eventually be shared with the world. This is of course primarily a book for Beatlemaniacs and positively demands multiple readings and musings.

Jim O'Donnell is a very gifted writer. His descriptions of the past are like painted murals in our imagination. The images he creates with his words take us back in time when John Lennon and Paul McCartney were teenagers, in Liverpool, England, and the world was just learning how to rock around the clock. I couldn't put this book down. Besides his great writing ability, it is very obvious that Mr. O'Donnell has done his research well. This book will NOT insult the intelligence of any Beatles' fan. It will make the reader understand a little more of the genius behind the remarkable songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney. Their strong differences of personalities brought John and Paul together... and yet, drew them closer. The author, I feel, has done the job well.

For an updated verion of this great book by the same authors, look at SQL: The complete Reference - from Osborne. Most of the content is the same as the old book with about 300 pages of new material.

I originally read this book when it was published in 1994. I have not found a better book on SQL. For someone wanting to learn SQL and the concepts of relational databases, you will not find a better book. This is IT.

This book is five years old and there are many SQL books in the market. Yet this book is unbeatable. Its scope and clarity set it clearly apart. Do not miss this book. A computer book which remains a leading one years after years in such a hot area as SQL and RDMS must be a great book. And this one is.

I am a big James Bond fan and when I found out there was an actual book on how to live his lifestyle, I bought it. I would have to say that this book is an excellent book. All the principles in it are sound and very practical. This book will supercharge your lifestyle to the 007 degree and beyond. I highly recommend Paul's complete program.

I have both the book AND a tape. That is how good this information is!
Paul Kyriazi has taken the idea of living every man's dream and shown how to do it. Starting today!
Just by flipping through the book and taking one idea, you will dramatically improve your current lifestyle.
And you will find yourself taking it all inside as you now become even more interested in living the James Bond lifestyle.
Also check out the Clearing the Subconscious tape. This is a perfect item to accompany the seminar and will even help you start right away to live the lifestyle that you now reach for.

Having long been a fan of the James Bond movies, I was intrigued by the title of this book. After reading it I was impressed by the sage advice and insight the author provides. Kyriazi isn't saying you should pretend to be a super spy. Instead, he aptly points out the ways in which you can adopt the characteristics that make up a super confident well put together Man. In an unfortunate age of young men being raised by well meaning single moms, we need as a society, role models for men to follow. Kyriazi points us in the right direction, demonstrating that a man needs to be poised, confident, suave, courageous and on the right side of the law. I learned a lot from this book. Bravo!

I have this book and I am also a patient of Dr. Rivas. I know every diet program tells you that it's the "latest and greatest" and it's hard to know which one to try. THIS IS THE ONE!

Ofcourse I was a little skeptical at first (who isn't?) But here's what makes it different:

A) You don't have to starve yourself or feel deprived
B) You don't have to exercise
C) You don't have to watch what you eat or count calories
D) You will KEEP the weight off
E) It makes your body do the work for you...no willpower required!

I have tried everything...[another program] worked for me at one time but I quickly strayed from the diet and gained all of my weight back. Plus who has time to count every calorie and keep track of everything you eat? Not me.

Dr. Rivas is amazing...this is the most inspirational weight loss book I have ever read. He gives hope to those of us who have lost all hope. This is the way to do it...not those "lose 40 lbs in 3 days" plans. Dr. Rivas is a DOCTOR not just some "weight loss guru". Believe me, he KNOWS what he's talking about. The best part about Dr. Rivas' plan is that he isn't in it for the money....he gives you natural alternatives as an option so you can do it all on your own. I urge you to read his book...it will make SUCH a difference in your life...it sure has with mine.

I've lost 21 pounds and counting....with NO effort! I wish I would've found him years ago!

I would rate this in the top five of the most important works I've ever read. I took the short survey at the front of the book and discovered that I fit into the most common class of over-eaters, the norepinephrine profile. Dr. Rivas explained in clear terms why I was always hungry and why diet and exercise never worked for me. The remedy was a few inexpensive over-the-counter supplements that turned off the hunger switch and turned my life around completely. At 200 pounds I was tired and hungry anyway, so it was no great sacrifice to give the diet an extra push by cutting my normal calories by 60 or 75 percent. Consequently, I've lost 49 pounds in just under five months. Yesterday, someone even commented that my eyes were noticeably sparkling. Well, yours would too, if you felt this good about yourself! One very unexpected benefit is the fact that I am no longer tired all day long. The modest amount of caffeine in the diet (less than you would get in a cup of coffee) still lets me sleep well at night, and I look forward to every meal.

I am and EMT and have to grab a meal whenever and whereever I can. It's not easy to get good nutrition that way. When I read this easy-to-read book and began to try to figure out my own profile, I started trying different supplements and amino acids that Dr. Rivas recommended in the book. In 4 months I lost 34 pounds and have maintained the loss for the last 5 months. The first 16 pounds were lost Without using Phentermine. I've lost from a size 18 down to a 12. Before that I had not been able to lose any weight in the past 25 years. This is the easiest thing I've tried. The hardest thing is just swallowing the vitamin and supplement pills every day and that is only discipline!

"The Whiz Kids" met my expectations. It is great material for Phillies fans. Having grown up hearing the names of Ennis, Ashburn, Konstanty, Roberts and the rest, I wanted to read a good account of the first Phils pennant since 1915.

The ever humble Roberts (with the help of a professional writer) recounts his rise to the major leagues as well as the futile history of Phillies baseball. It's a nice, easy to read story that follows a tried formula: the team has a long history of losing, young players come aboard and develop into a close team, they exceed expectations and go to the World Series. There are plenty of scenes that flesh out the personalities and struggles of the team mates. Plenty of train trips and hotel stays. Tough game situations yeilding exciting victories or close defeats. Those looking for deep insights into the era should look elsewhere. In fact, I see this book aimed primarily at us Phils fans. Our banners are few, so we need to raise them high. These aren't Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and the other "Boys of Summer." The Phillies of this era had one great year surrounded by several decent years. Only a couple of the names stand out these years later.

I give the book four stars because it served its purpose for me. If you are looking for light reading material about a cinderalla team, this could be for you as well.

This is a very well written account about a team that captured the hearts of an entire city. This is a great account of the surprising achievment of the 1950 Phillies. The excellent interviews of the players involved and the rehashing of the author is great. A very nostalgic and fact filled retelling of an exciting and fun filled year in baseball. A must read for all Phillie and historical baseball buffs.

Authors Paul Rogers and former Whiz Kid pitcher Robin Roberts have done a great job in bringing a memorable team back to life. Baseball books on teams usually involve New York teams and it is refreshing to read a book about a team that will always be remembered, not just by Phillies' fans, but by baseball fans across the country. Many of the names I came across in this book were merely pictures on baseball cards I started buying in the early '50's and this book provided me with some insight into their accomplishments on the ball diamond. There is a story behind each of those players' names I have in my mind, and the authors brought them to life in this book. If there was one drawback, if I may call it that, I found an excessive amount of play-by-play among the pages. However, I can live with that. The names of Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, and Richie Ashburn are household baseball names, but I was also happy to read about lesser lights like Bubba Church, Mike Goliat, and Stan Lopata who were only pictures on baseball cards to me. Phillies' fan or not, if you like baseball history, you will enjoy this book.

Former Mayor of Boston and U S Ambassador to the Vatican, Raymond Flynn draws a very personal and intimate portrait of Pope John Paul II. Through the various events, incidents and celebrations narrated with meticulous detail and color, the personality of the Pope comes alive to the reader. The impact the Pope has had on the average American public is truthfully brought out. This book will be of interest to an American Catholic who would be able to identify the personalities from American politics and Catholic religion, at the same time can feel along with Flynn in his admiration for this man of God. Indeed it's a smooth and delightful reading worthy of the Pope as well as of the Ambassador.

I have read many books about His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and this is by far the BEST book I have read about the Pope. It is very easy to read. Infact, once I started to read I could not stop until I finished the book. When I was done...I could not stop crying. Former Ambassador Flynn did an outstanding job in giving his reader a rare and personal glimpse of the Pope, that other authors who have written biographies about His Holiness simply cannot convey. I especially found the stories of the mother who lost her son, and when the Pope offered Flynn money stating it was not church money, but the Pope's own money to help pay for the medical bills of Flynn's oldest son very moving and touching. For those who have never met the Pope...after reading this book you will feel as if you not only met him, but have known the Pope as an intimate friend for years.

Ray Flynn has taken from his many experiences with Pope John Paul II and put together a highly interesting read. This is not your typical biography, although each stage of the Holy Father's storied life is mentioned. This book gives you the Pope up close and personal, in both his public and private dealings. What an absolutely incredible man this Karol Wojtyla is!!

This book provides detailed descriptions of most V8 models (it leaves out the 355 and 360) and the year by year changes. It is useful for somebody who is trying to select a specific model to purchase or possibly as a reference for concours preparation. As a book to read cover to cover, it isn't terribly compelling because only objective facts are given and there is no hint about what it is like to drive the cars. There also aren't any performance figures. I'm certain the author never actually drove any of the models, just looked up the detailed facts. There also are frequent repetition of facts in the book -- the same point might be explained 3 times for a particular model. It's a good book for contrasting the models, but don't expect to get any insight about how the different models drive.

If you're thinking in buying a Ferrari V8 this book will help you and ask your questions every time. It gives you the opportunity to overview all the original equipment and specifications of your dream car. It also will tell you which spares are the most likely to break down and what's the one needed exactly for your car. Plenty of information (in fact many useless information, true), nice pictures and some restauration technique will help your Ferrari come again to an "as new look and feeling". Only complain is the lack of information on some "rare" models.

This book provides a thorough overview of original equipment and specifications, but it is disappointing in its lack of perspective. It would be more useful if it compared and contrasted models and gave would-be purchasers and restorers an idea of what to look for in a potential purchase.

I thought this book just tread the same path as John Bradshaw (whom he quotes) with a few biblical examples thrown in. I didn't find anything in this book that I hadn't seen before.

Dr. David Stoop speaks in terms that may resonate with engineering-types.

He describes families in a systems approach using language such as "homeostasis", "action-reaction", and "non-linear systems".

As an example, we cannot react to a family problem/dysfunction in an "action-reaction" or "linear" manner. We must realize that each member plays a distinct role, essential for maintaining the homeostasis (i.e., thermostat) of the family system. Thus, each role must be examined prior to formulating a conclusion about the problem. He and James Masteller contribute many examples that support this hypothesis.

This book is essential if you are dealing with any type of emotional malady--depression, anxiety, anger, bitterness, stress, etc. Chances are likely that these maladies have found root through a family dysfunction that may have occurred years ago!

The workbook found in the book's epilogue is practical if one is *serious* about dealing with a dysfunction.

I always thought I was the one in the family who was *not* in denial - the one who called things as they saw them, but this book showed me that I too, had been in denial.

I'd hit parts of this book that were so upsetting or so revealing that I had to set the book aside for a time and think deeply about what I'd read.

And it relieved me of tons of guilt and shame I'd carried for years. Quite frankly, this book was an answer to prayer, but it took some wading through the mire and muck to get to the fresh, pure waters.

After reading one chapter and doing an exercise, I recalled a painful incident when a family friend harmed me and I told my father about it and he didn't even want to hear about it. My father accused me of being a liar.

Subsequently, I made some poor choices in life and I'd always kind of wondered how I'd wandered down that bad path. Stoop's book helped me connect some of the random looking dots and see what happened, why it happened, and why it is okay to forgive myself and forgive the others who let me down.

First and foremost, this is a book about healing. The very last chapter though, is rich. It's a section you'll want to read again and again.