Have you ever read a book that actually inspired you to contribute to the world..........to make a change? This book will do that. The authors have put together a tool for transformation..........helping others brings more love to everyone.

Sheltered by the walls of academia, I had forgotten that the writing process itself is a mantra of social change, that our awakenings lead to a more united world. Reading the poignant and inspirational stories submitted to Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul reminded me of the many people who give selflessly of themselves, who teach us that heroes are everywhere we cast our eyes.

Janet I. Buck, Ph.D.

Think of your image of "volunteer." Now disregard it and check out "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul." Volunteer authors describe their experiences volunteering, and the variety and creativity of their work is truly amazing and inspiring. I loved the variety of volunteer stories in this book. It made me realize that if I don't have a lot of time or there's no big disaster around at the moment, there are zillions of ways that I can contribute to my community and the world, so I'm dumping my guilt and getting creative. . . . A big thank you to this great crew of authors and editors!!

Wow. This book was one of my all-time favorites. After reading Laura and Tom McNeal's first book, Crooked, I thought that it would be nearly impossible for them to top it. But I was very wrong. Many different peoples' lives are focused on, creating an opportunity for many surprises towards the end. Almost immediately after the book starts, Mick (the main character) is faced with a problem which draws us, the readers, in and makes us sympathize with him. It is amazing how all of the characters' problems are tied in just by the common thread of where they all work. Another masterpiece by the McNeals...

This book was on of the best books i've have ever read. I am 13 and i don't read that much, but when i started this book i just couldn't put it down. I usually don't read books of this type but my friend said I'd like it so i tried it and loved it. I recommended it to all my friends and almost all of them loved it. If you aren't into reading you will still love this book. At least pick it up and try it out. You should love it.

Mick has adjusted well to his stepmother and is content with his home life - until he opens the wrong email and discovers his stepmother's secret affair. Should he tell his father, or keep his stepmother's secret - and who is her lover? Mick finds his life increasingly confusing as he struggles to understand both his elders and himself.

The recipes are fast, easy, and taste great! My husband's favorite is probably the Curried Chicken Salad with Mango - it's a miracle that I can get him to eat a salad for dinner. Now my mom wants it for Christmas.

Joan makes a comment in the book that she hopes it becomes the readers stickypage book. The one you go back to time after time and the pages become sticky from use. It has for me. I was very apprehensive about purchasing a "celebrity" cookbook..looked at it and thumbed the pages no less than six times. But its worth the purchase price for the recipes alone. You don't have to read about Joan if you don't want to. The recipes are fantastic and everyone I have served to guests has elicited raves and requests for copies of the recipes

This was one of the best novella I've read in a long time. The author weaves a tight story line with several intriguing tangents. Tom Eagan will be named as one of the shining new authors of the new millenium. Bring the hankies with you when you sit down with this one!

Mr. Potato Head across America is a wonderfully visual book dealing with the sights "across America." I loved it.

The basic premises of the book is Mr. Potato Head is going to his family reunion in Burlap, Idaho. He is from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, so he has to travel across the country. While traveling, he decides to catch the sights.

What I really liked about the book was how crisp and clear the photographs were. There are some really great shots of Mount Rushmore, The White House and Old Faithful at the Yellowstone National Park. Having Mr. Potato Head in each one of the pictures adds to the enjoyment of the book.

I enjoyed seeing the pullout of Mr. Potato Head's family reunion in Burlap, Idaho. I didn't realize that he had such a big family.

I didn't expect this book to keep me amused from beginning to end. This book was a great adventure for Mr. Potato Head.

One thing that was definitely educational about this book was the fact that there is a map of the United States at the back of it. They mix up four of the states so that the reader has to find them.

Since I'm always looking for children's books for my nephews, I think that they will really enjoy this book. I didn't think that I would like it as much as I did, but Mr. Potato Head is just cool.

A wonderful book. Every time I read it, I can't put it down. Even after numerous reads, I laugh (often out loud) and cry every time. You fall in love with all the characters. Would love another story about Cat, Raven and Morgan and the rest of the crew on the Black Joke. I love to read Johanna Lindsey and Kathleen Woodiwiss but I put The Windflower on the top of my list! My copy has been read so much, it's falling apart. I hate that Sharon and Tom Curtis's books are out of print. It's so hard to find copies of any of their work. The publisher is missing the boat. What has happened to Sharon and Tom Curtis? I eagerly await their next book. Whatever it is, it will be a great read.

This book is listed as one of the 100 best romance novels, and rightly so. When Merry Wilding is accidently abducted by pirates, she faces challenges that make her a engaging heroine worthy of the hero's love.
If you enjoy Woodwiss's " Shanna" , or Susan Wiggs " The Charm School" this is not to be missed.
Although the plot has been done( woman ends up on pirate ship, matures, falls in love) what makes it unique is first of all, its lyricism. The description and dialogue are poetic, poignant, and vivd. Not to mention there are some really funny moments( "You might try giving it a lump of sugar".) It also has an incredible cast of supporting characters, who you may become so attached to, you might like them more than the protagonists. The characterization is nothing short of beautiful, the characters actually develop over the course of the novel, and I thought it was great that the heroine is given time to develop away from the hero.
This is a must read for any romance reader, and the only problems I see with it are it's hard to get a hold of and it ends. I wish the Curtis' work was still in print.

This is one of the few romance novels that totaly haunts me. I have to say that I have Devon's guts. Yup. The guy is a major pain in ..., always accusing the heroine of plotting against him and the other pirates that have kidnapped her (well duh!) etc. Which of course leaves the story open for those who posess trully wonderful personalitites! Like Cat and Raven!! Yay.

Both of them are ready to risk their lives just to save her from disaster, both try to keep her safe, and both remain constantly on her side! *Grins*. Cat has a very sad history which you will discover when you read the book, Raven is a teen pirate who has a crush on Merry (I won't say more), and morgan is completely twisted, devious, calous, and the perfect mysterious (yet evil) pirate.

I have reread this book time and again, finally noticing that the book improves greatly when you skip over the Devon and Merry scenes and focus on just Merry, Cat and Raven. (Morgan is the most momorable evil character that I have ever read about. He's evil, and yet he's not. One minute you're hating his guts, and the second you realize he did something noble.

I will end with just saying that Cat has got to get a story about him, he just has to! He's got the most unique personality.

I won't tell you what to do, but I promise that if you choose to read this book, you will enjoy it. :)

Happy Reading!

Clara is a 14 year old girl living in the 90's confused by just about every thing the world has to offer. Her family lives in a small town in upstate New York. Clara hits high school and everything goes wrong in her life. She is extremely self conscious about her nose and wants a nose job desperately because it is crooked. Her mom leaves the family for a while to get away from issues, but ends up taking a teaching job in Spain. Meanwhile Clara's 'best friend' makes friends with the 'popular' group at school and starts ignoring Clara. Then one of her peers father dies and they bond almost instantaneously. The two are pretty much just close friends until one of the two troublemaking brothers takes a liking to Clara and fixes to end Clara and Amos's communication. Clara and Amos won't allow it and the police eventually get involved, leading to an edge of seat ending.

I would recommend this book to readers of age 14-16. It has a slight mature content, but nothing bad, just mature ideas in a 13 year old's world.

There are four main characters that the book revolves around, Clara Wilson, Amos Mackenzie, and the twins, Charles and Eddie Tripp. Clara is a young and insecure girl who feels that no one could truly love her because of her crooked nose. She finds herself falling for the milkman's son, Amos Mackenzie. She is left alone when her friend finds herself swept up into the world of high school popularity.

Amos Mackenzie is a quiet, young boy who suddenly finds himself famous for attacking a few strangers from causing damage to a neighbor's property. He is suddenly popular due to his heroic efforts but is constantly teased and targeted by the Tripp brothers.

The Tripp brothers find amusement in others' misfortunes. The have become infatuated especially with Clara and Amos. They hold a certain Satanic feel to them.

Clara is the school's brainiac and discovers new feelings for the now "famous Amos". She can't help but notice the underlying complexity in him. She suffers in her own skin as her best friend betrays her for superficial benefits. After dealing with the lonliness, she finds herself the new "enemy" of the Tripp brothers. Even unprovoked, they bother and threaten others.

Amos slowly becomes enveloped in Clara's growing beauty and innocence. He is not only preoccupied with school but worries of the boys who put him into the hospital. He also can't shake the feeling that his father, the town milkman, is keeping a secret from him.

Clara Wilson and Amos MacKenzie battle the subtle ferocity of life in their small town as they explore love for the first time with each other. Clara-desperately insecure about her crooked nose-usually keeps to herself, in turn keeping her family and personal problems bottled up inside as well. Throughout the novel, most of the characters at some time or another want to share all their concerns and intimate problems, yet the adult world in the McNeals' book is unbelievably unaware of the stress these teens are going through.

The emotional landscape of this novel is hauntingly realistic. With the terrible Tripp brothers lurching behind any chances of Clara and Amos' happiness, the protagonists are constantly fighting to keeping their heads above water and keep from drowning in a pool of pathos. Yes, sounds quite dramatic. Well, it is. This is not a book for the timid; however, it must also be noted that this novel does not contain gratuitous violence or explicit sex scenes, it sneaks up on the reader with the powerful force of its psychological plot. Clara and Amos' fight to not become victims in a world where their lives are controlled by nearly everyone other than themselves. This is an excellent novel about survival, love, and making the best out of what you've got.

This book offers nothing new to any sales person who has read a sales book or two. If this is the first book you have considered reading about sales, it might be worth the price. Otherwise, save your money! You work too hard for it.

I look up to Tom Hopkins greatly. He encouraged me to think of sales as a true profession, and to become great at it. Therefore, I buy whatever he releases, and usually find it of immense value. Not this.

I don't want to sound like the pessimistic 'Jack' in the book, but this is a very short book. I sat down and read it in two hours. It reinforced a lot of points raised in his other books, but didn't teach anything new. It sticks to the very basic areas of qualification and closing, and doesn't add anything to what Tom has already put out.

However, it is written in an extremely easy to read way. It's a fun book to read, even if you know the material! I really enjoyed reading this book, even though I learnt nothing new. And I can see how this book will be absolutely amazing for people who aren't familiar with the techniques of true Master salespeople.

So it gets five stars for being easy to read, and wonderful for beginners. But it loses a star for being mostly irrelevant to more experienced readers, although it's good reinforcement for what you've already learnt.

Sorry, Tom, but this is the least useful 'sales training' purchase I've made in a long time, but not the least enjoyable. But it's so [inexpensive] so I'm not too concerned.

"As an owner of a sales company, if any one of my salespeople mastered half of these competencies, their sales would double." Another great book from Laaman...

This book has good words in it. They are hard to swallow from the source that they come from. If you forget about this pysiology doctorate's immoral history and hypocritical behavior it is okay reading. Many people who watched Jimmy Swaggert stopped watching him calling him immoral no matter what he preached. The same works for Laura. How can you take her word for anything if she does not follow her own advice. She may be a good mother but she is not a good example to follow.

Dr. Laura has some interesting ideas on "Abstaining" from sex outside of marriage and keeping children in the dark about it. Her preaching "sounds" good, but her standards of morality are in complete conflict with our biological reality. In Biblical times (and even in our own timespan a hundred years ago), children did not reach puberty until mid to late teens (which generally corresponded with the age they married). Now, with better nutrition and medicine, children generally enter puberty around the age of 12 or 13. We live in a society that encourages education and college, which means that the age of marriage for most people would be early to mid 20's. That means that Dr. Laura is advocating that a person who is sexually mature do absolutely nothing about it for a period of 9 or 10 years! When standards of morality conflict with biological reality, something will eventually "give" and my bet is on the morality.

Tom Allen writes with solid evangelical convictions. He does not endorese Schlessinger on every issue, but is overall, affirming of her prophetic stances. The author has had access to Dr. Laura and his views fairly represent where she is at. This book is a "SHOULD" read.