As Dr. B says it right on Page 1: "Healthy parent-child relationships don't just happen, they are created. Like any worthwhile endeavor, raising responsible & responsive children requires dedication, hard work & a willingness to experiment with creative approaches to parenting challenges."

Instead of simply bossing your kids about, throwing as many orders at them as they throw tantrums at you, try a little cooperation - you'll be as surprised as they with the results!

This easy-to-read, enjoyable little book, explains the ins & outs of the impasses parents get into with their children, & then gives you lifelines of ideas & scripts with which you can transform the quality of your relationships with your spouse, as well as your kids.

Worth every penny you spend. I highly recommend you give copies to every parent you know who is underwhelmed by the joy of parenting, overwhelmed by their ratpack, or looking forward, with either dread or exhilaration, to becoming parents.

This highly entertaining book deals thoughtfully with the most precious of relationships - that of parents and children. It provides realistic approaches to improving family communication, cooperation and harmony. Dr. Berkowitz presents valuable insights and advice in a straightforward yet humorous fashion; his techniques are appropriate for dealing with children ages toddlerhood through adolescence. Dr. Berkowitz's tools can be effectively introduced into any family, helping families to modify their own personal style, while retaining their own special uniqueness -- unlike many parenting books which dictate the latest current "parenting fad".

Okay, so I loved the book. But what really counts is this: I have used several of Dr. Berkowitz's approaches with my own children, ages 3 and 5 years. Results: successful cooperation (with some surprised looks on their little faces!). My 3 year old daughter has even begun anticipating my intentions and will repeat something I have previously said to her (that came straight from Dr. B's book), before I get a chance to say it! She smiles knowingly and is proud that she can sometimes be responsible for her own self-discipline.

I highly recommend this book to parents, grandparents and to all of those who give care to children.

Bold and Exotic Plants is a practical, no-nonsense, garden design book focused on foliage that makes a statement. Every page contains beautiful photos that provide inspiration and visually demonstrate the author's design concepts.

Unlike some garden design books that are fixated on color combination and maintaining constant color in the garden, this book focuses more on variation in foliage form and texture, and maintaining interest in the garden all year long. The interplay of foliage colors is just one element of design, and often subtle. The crisp photography is particularly good at capturing the play of light off different shades of green in the various leaves, and showing how different textures respond with shimmering reflection or near absorbtion.

Despite the title, most of the plants featured are not as exotic as you might think and shouldn't be difficult to find. (Suppliers are listed at the end of the book). Characteristics that fit the author's notion of exotic are plants that impress by their sheer size or because their leaves are out of scale with the rest of the plant. This definition lends new respect to some rather common plants. For instance, the author shows how every day ferns can have a bold and exotic effect when sited properly or planted en masse.

Many of the gardens featured are a bit too naturalistic for my taste, but the concepts are readily adaptable to formal or informal gardens. The book illustrates how even a few exotics, carefully incorporated, can provide structure and a focal point that will enhance an otherwise conservative flower bed.

This is a pretty little book with great pictures and some very usable ideas for how to get started with grasses and bamboos in the garden. (Started, here, is the operative word.) All the photos are well labeled and there is an OK plant directory in the back. HOWEVER... If you have much experience or knowledge of grasses and bamboos, this book will be quite disappointing. It's more like an expanded horticultal magazine article. It attempts to cover too much ground, but would serve as a nice introduction for someone who wants to get a feel for what's available. Those looking for more in-depth resource material should try John Greenlee's 'The Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses' (Rodale Press, 1992), and 'Bamboos' by Christine Recht (Timber Press, 1992).

I was not aware that this was a live stage play. It was hard to follow on the audio tape. This was not really a 'story' being told. You really had to visualize who the characters were and what they were doing. This is not good for an audio book content.
I am an avid audio book listener.

Noel Coward delights again with this hilarious partner-swapping comedy. The performers joyfully embrace the material as Coward explores the wonderness and the pitfalls of love and desire.