This lovely little volume is a gift that keeps on giving. Its essays are simple, elegant, soulful, inspiring. And thought-provoking. You may well find yourself searching your own Christmas memories, and finding gems you had long forgotten. Which is what this book is all about -- seeing, hearing, remembering those things we take for granted, and cherishing them anew. This is a book to feed the heart, and the soul. And it's just the right size for stocking stuffing!

The kind of collection that is a great gift during the holidays for anyone - it reminds us of the spirit of the season and connects us to our past, our hopes, and the more important meaning of our lives! Great gift for family members, co-workers, neighbors and for anyone on your list!!

Everyday in a marriage brings its own challenges and trials. This book helped me look beyond the petty, ordinary irritating things to the wonderful partner God has provided me. It includes stories about marriage from celebrities and former presidents as well as everyday people. I especially liked the personal stories from the editors. I plan to buy this book for a friend of mine who is engaged and I would recommend it as a gift to any married couple. Marriage isn't just a legal institution or a social status quo - it a a vibrant pairing of two people, spiritually as well as physically, who will encourage each other and support each other through all things and all times.

Beautiful book. A must for anyone who has been married, even if for only a short time. Long time married readers will relate to stories/feelings of the contributers and short term married readers will feel inspired. This book takes you to a place reserved only for the love of your life. I found it hard to go through a chapter without reaching over and kissing or touching my husband. This would also make a great anniversary gift.

Michael Leach's book "The Great Apes" draws much of its strength and vigor from the anecdotal evidence he uses to explain ape behavior (or make it more baffling!) -- evidence he gleaned from spending time with apes himself. He's no Jane Goodall but he truly cares, and writes thoughtfully about gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans, and humans, endeavoring all the while to highlight the similarities which bind them. Conservationist at heart, this book is less an academic endeavor and more an apology for man's boorish behavior on a planet we share with other hominids like ourselves. Excellent color photographs show apes in their more pensive and photogenic moments.

The collection that the Masons have built out of a love of art, craftmanship and wood turns into a real gift to those who do not have the luxury to study these pieces first-hand. The photos of their home shows that their attraction with creation is not limited to wood but to light, paintings and melding life with art.

The photos display the pieces so well that some just seem to glow and brighten on the page. It makes it difficult to look at a tree or salad bowl without imagining the possiblities.

The title of this book should be "I Like Being a NOMINAL Catholic." The subtitle is inaccurate too - there's very little on "tradition" or "ritual" here - and when they're mentioned, they're usually trivialized or dismissed. The "stories" are mostly about Catholicism at it lowest common denominator - "feel good" stories about people who call themselves Catholic but who are really neo-pagans in disguise (some, like Mario Cuomo, are openly pro-choice, for example). There are some exceptions of course (Mother Theresa comes to mind), but mainly what you get here is a modernist perspective on Catholicism that is far from orthodox.

Stay away from this book if you are interested in reading about what authentic Roman Catholicism is (not what the disobedient would like it to be). I suggest reading Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, and A Shepherd Speaks by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz.

whenever I have doubts about my Roman Catholic upbringing and my ongoing commitment to the Faith. These testimonials, lists, vignettes and stories evoke everything that's vital, life-affirming and just plain fun about being Roman Catholic. Yes, folks, Catholicism can be fun! This book reminds me of the ongoing presence of God's love in the vital and warm community, commitment to service and justice, and constant presence of the Divine in daily life that makes up the true Catholic experience. Don't believe the "anti-modernism" hype from some radical traditional reviewers of books like these..."I Like Being Catholic" reaffirms why the Catholic church, despite ongoing trials and tribulations common to all faiths, is still a vital and important presence in today's world. God's love and yes, his sense of humour, shine through in this work. Keep it close to you for those days when your faith might be challenged, when you need a smile, or just when you want to reaffirm, that yes, You like being Catholic! I would also recommend this to anyone who has a spouse, relative or friend who is considering becoming a Catholic or wants to know about the faith. It's also potentially a great book for anyone who has been hurt or alienated by the church and needs some help in coming back to the fold.

I wasn't raised Catholic, thank God, and I am very much Catholic in some ways, thank God. That organized religion is so intense for a world of men, women, hermit crabs, condoms, psychological disorders, etc., that I honestly thank God, whom I believe to be the same the Catholic's thank, (the true ones -- but who is? Not for me to judge, but I can't resist, it's part of my nature, and others' as well.) But this BOOK IS DIFFERENT. Whether we like it or not, practicing or supposedly practicing Catholics are around us. That's life. Life is God -- and Good, if you are fortunate to see it that way. I have been, and hope I will always be. Pray for me? :) God would want anyone of this organized religion or of any other to read this book -- I think. I've never met him/her/it/them ... but have felt them. Open your heart to other opinions and you just might scare yourself into bliss. Bring a cigarette or something just in case :) God Bless the editors of this book. It does not take knowing them to know, they are the people I want to share the planet with. Thanks for taking the time to let us all know you really care. That's rare! Peace! Namaste! And here's to LOVE and LIFE on the Peripheral with anyone who's anyone, despite whether or not their parents drove them to drink (holy water that is :)

My daughter loves the tale about Tom Kitten and his sisters, Moppet and Mittens. Their mother dresses them in fancy clothes for a tea party but the kittens mess-up and lose their clothes. It reminds me of when I was a young girl, and didn't quite enjoy wearing stiff, fancy clothes. The antics of animals dressed in clothes appeals to the younger children.

I play it in the car for my six year old daughter and three year old son. They both love it. I like it because it is teaching the kids new words and keeping them entertained.

If you are Catholic and have ever thought of becoming a foreign missionary as a lay person or religious, I would recommend reading this book.

It gave interesting and challenging personal stories of people (mostly young professionals) who have decided to serve God in some capacity with the Maryknoll missionaries in a foreign country.

I work in an elementary school and many students have used prior address books written by Mike Levine. We have had some success with the books, and while we understand that addresses change and mail can easily be returned, I have one criticism. In some of the prior books, I have had mail returned right away marked "undeliverable" or "address no longer valid" etc.

I think Mr. Levine should send letters to every address in his book before putting it in the next edition. I have been very surprised to buy later editions, only to discover the same address that had not been valid several years before - yet it is still offered as the address for book purchasers to attempt to write to the individual listed. This is poor planning and poor research, in my opinion.

We have had some success with many of the addresses, however, and I am going to buy this book again.

I really like this book, it's got thousands of addresses and email addresses for added convenience. And, it works: I mailed out eighteen letters and received twelve back already...I wrote to Mr. Levine as well commending him on his works (I'm a fan of two of his other books I've read, that's why I got this one) and he sent me back a nice thank you. The updated version is supposed to be coming out soon (it gets updated every two years and I was looking to see if it's out yet) and I'm anxious for it...for one, I'm a writer but dabble in a million other things so it's helped me with where to send any inquiries I have and ideas on where to send my works and who to contact; so this reference book is very useful. I would recommend it for the bookshelf for both professional and fun uses.

A great, handy reference book, "The Address Book: How to Reach Anyone Who Is Anyone" by Michael Levine is a helpful book for anyone looking to write celebrities, politicians, businessmen, and other notable personalities.

Each contact is alphabetized by last name, and contains the address, person's occupation, and in some cases, birthdays (for celebrities only) and webpages (for companies). As an avid letter writer, I found this book helpful in providing me with addresses at demand instead of hunting them down through the Internet by doing searches or going to company webpages.

A great book many will find resourceful, "The Address Book: How to Reach Anyone Who Is Anyone" will help many find the contact information they seek without the need for a major Internet search or many telephone calls. It makes a great gift for students, business professionals, and for anyone who avidly writes letters.

I thought about getting this book once so I browsed through it in the book store. The title alone tells you that it is an attempt to teach the "people's" catholicism over against the Magiserium's catholicism. No real discussion of the Church's condemnation of contraception, which is to be expected. The authors come from liberal and dissenting institutions. The liberal "church speak" is used, such as "we are church" rather than "we are the church." I would not get this. Get the real Catechism of the Catholic Church and perhaps a supplement like John Hardon's Catechism or The Teaching of Christ done by several Catholic Bishops.

This is an intense book! I personally felt a need to read it slowly over a long period of time as there was much to savor here. The subject matter also lends itself to discussion--I think it would make a very good source text for a discussion group or a retreat.

This book, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is divided into 4 sections: faith, sacraments, morals, and prayer. Each of the 4 sections is written by a different author (or team of authors).

The book's 40 chapters also share a common organization--each begins with a quote from scripture, follows with an essay on the relevance of the biblical teaching in the real world, then challenges the reader to put his or her faith into action, and concludes with a section on prayer.

The choices from scripture are relevant. The essays are clear, contemporary, and meaningful. There is a strong thread throughout the text on the importance of the Christian community and the need to apply the faith to every day living.

The calls to action issue blunt challenges. For example, the reader is asked: if someone wished to persecute Christians, would they have enough evidence to convict you?