For years I have told the tale of the king, the mice and his cheese. I was so happy to find my favorite book from childhood available here on Amazon.com. I have been in search of it for years. This is a terrific book and you must get it today!!

We love this book! The artwork is excellent and inspires many funny voices and animal imitations! I read this book to my children's classrooms every year and it is a sure fire hit for every age (up to age 6 now) that I have presented it to.

I remember this from my childhood and kids today still love it. The artwork is particularly hilarious. A good segue into lessons about Middle-Eastern studies.

I was lucky enough to find this book at a bookstore some years ago, and it has been my management bible ever since. It teaches how to handle the most important (and costly) resource in any organization... employees. Whether you know it or not, you have a relationship with everyone in your organization. Once you recognize and accept that, you can begin the process of developing those relationships into cooperative efforts that acheive organizational goals while making the workplace a much nicer place be.

Why isn't this book up there with the top selling management books of all time? Maybe the management world, which is full of matrix-based management theories and decision trees, is not yet ready to face the fact that our relationship with employees is the key to all of our business success.

There are far too many points made in this book about the importance of valuing people to adequately do it justice. Wayne Alderson, in his book "Stronger than Steel" talked about his role in the amazing turn around in the early 70's of Pittron Steel Company, and highlighted the risks he took to put people first in the heat of an "unwinnable" battle with the union. In this book, "Theory R Management", he takes the principles learned in that turn around and develops them further.

"Theory R" management says: "People come before economic and organizational concerns. They are the most important asset and the most important product of any organization". In the first chapter titled "Taking a risk to find a better way" he states that the "key is building relationships". With confrontation, everybody loses. This simple fact outlines the necessity of this book. As a Human Resources Director, I see firsthand how a failure to put people before processes can undermine a business's success. Far too often, a manager relies on confrontation instead of seeking a win/win when dealing with labor relations and employee discipline. The long-term cost is a lack of trust, not only with the one employee but others as well. This book addresses some rock solid principles to ensure both valuing the person and holding them accountable for business results are met together.

In the section titled "Treating other's with respect" Wayne outlines some principles behind "Theory R": Respect an employees needs. Respect an employee's desires. Respect an employee's potential. Respect an employee's family. These first three are pretty common in most business manuals, but "Respect an employee's family"? The theory is that if we respect an employee's family with time and appreciation, a cyclic effect begins. Family members place a greater value on the workplace and the working parent or spouse. Employees feel more pride in their work and more appreciation at home. (Page 100).

The principles here in this book are at times self-evident, at times truly revolutionary for Corporations and at times perhaps too simplistic. What is clearly evident though is how they resonate with people who hear them. Wayne is on to something here, and the risk is well worth the reward. This book should be required reading for anyone in business, especially those whose employees are supported by labor unions.

Just who is Wayne Alderson and what right does he have to tell me and you how to manage people? He has been in the trenches and succeeded. He took over PITTRON STEEL when it was undergoing an 84-day strike, had lost $6 million, was down to 300 employees, had 600 grievances per year and an absenteeism rate of 20%. Within two years, by applying his "Value of the Person" philosophies of treating workers with dignity and respect, PITTRON saw the strike end, a 400% increase in sales, a 64% increase in productivity, grievances dropped to two and absenteeism to just 1% and, best of all, the company made $6 million!

This experience led Wayne to develop a phenomenal 2-day seminar around his unique managment style that is truly the best I have ever attended. And I'm speaking as a business professor who has taught and developed seminars for 13 colleges and universities. I hosted him in the School of Business at my university some twenty years ago. He was recently here in Birmingham again teaching the young managers of an 80-year old steel company how to manage their people with dignity and respect---and still make the company profitable.

The book THEORY R MANAGEMENT is like no other managment book you will ever read. It is not about how to kick your people in the rear, or firing the bottom 10% on an annual basis. It is not about winning with intimidation or climbing to the top on a pile of worn out subordinates. No, it is about treating your people right and having them respond in in the right way. This sounds revolutionary and it is. In the past 36 years I have personally seen companies experience constant labor stife, walkouts, strikes and phenomenal turnover. But the text books I have to use never seem to address the cause of all this turmoil. They are too wrapped up in the KITA principle, Herzberg, Maslow, Theory X and Theory Y, and management versus labor to see that there is a better way.

THEORY R MANAGEMENT is all about a better way to treat people. Get the book. You won't ever regret it. And when you do, you'll probably want to call Wayne in Pittsburgh for his seminar schedule. Also get a copy of STRONGER THAN STEEL. This earlier book tells the amazing story of the turnaround of PITTRON.

If Wayne Alderson's story were ever to be made into a movie it would get two thumbs up! Get the book and see why.

A great help for those new to diabetes.
Maes everyhing easy to understand.

I am an R.N. in an acute care hospital and this is the best book I have found for newly diagnosed diabetics. It's simple, but not childish. It gives all the pertinent information for a diabetic to get off to a good start without overloading them with a lot of medical jargon and technical information. It's officially recommended for pre-teens, but I find it beneficial for even adults. When they are ready to learn more, then they can move up to a more advanced book.

If you have a sunny, shady, wet, sloped or dry location this book has plans for them all. It is useful in designing your own garden or simply use one of the many plans provided. The color photographs are extensive and include complete gardens so you can see how different plants look together. This book takes the guess work out by providing the size, color(s), bloom time and growing zones for each plant reviewed. There is also some information on annuals, bulbs and shrubs that work well in a prennial garden. There are even tips on attracting butterflies to your garden. Overall, this book is full of great ideas for any type of garden you may be planning.

The book is a finally written, well reserched study of Washington's agricultural endeavors. As a careful examiner of Washington's life, I can tell you that the Fusonies' rpovided a much needed study of an aspect of Washington's life that was important not only to himself, but to the planter society he lived in. This book's careful study of Washington provides a better synopsis of the role of agriculture in molding the Virginia society that produces many of the leaders of the Revolution than more well-known books such as, Tobacco Culture by T.H. Breen

I really like this book. Intriguing pictures paired with nice short text show what kids can do at different ages. It goes step by step from a newborn to a seven year old. I am particularly pleased that the photographer choose kids from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

My son is 2 1/2, we first bought this book because of the realistic pictures of infants. I'm pregnant with number 2 and anxious to help him make a good transition. So far, this book has really helped us with discussions about what the baby will be like. It's also been helpful in discussing all the different things my son can do. Unfortunately, I gave it to him right at the end of a massive teething period. Needless to say, I'm ordering another to save until he's way past the book eating phase.

Once again, I highly recommend this book. I think kids of all ages would enjoy it.

I used this book with a 2nd grade unit on Texas. I got the idea from a friend who teaches 7th grade Texas History. Readers follow Timmy on an adventure through the state. He visits several great places along the way. It was fun to use the illustrations and the clues to try and figure out what area we were in. My students and I enjoyed our field trip across Texas. Tumbelweed Tom on the Texas Trail is another great tool for teachers.

There is a lot of good information in this book, but most of it can be found toward the beginning. The tips on predicting the weather alone could be worth the price of the book. However, the maps of the various waterways were absolutely terrible. I would recommend this book for a general overview and lots of tips and tricks for paddlers, and the two "Canoeing and Kayaking the Streams of Florida" guides for detailed information on specific waterways.

Book Review- Paddler's Guide to the Sunshine State by Sandy Huff

Coming from a whitewater paddling background, my first thought on looking at the river descriptions in Huff's book was, "Hm, not very detailed." On further reflection, though, this makes sense. Details of how to run rapids aren't needed in Florida, and the lack of details makes visiting the waterways described much more of a voyage of discovery- as paddling should be.
Huff has logically divided her book into three major sections. The first part contains tips for paddling in Florida, and includes chapters on gear and clothing and how to pack it, staying healthy, staying safe, and camping in Florida with sections on cooking and camp activities, all delightfully written by someone who clearly has had an abundance of paddling experience.
The second section describes in detail all the wildlife you might encounter on any trip on Sunshine State waterways, and your best strategies for safely dealing with those critters (Do NOT feed the wildlife!). Aunt Sally from Ohio will survive her first alligator encounter if you follow Huff's advice. There is even a short chapter on fishing.
Finally, the last section contains descriptions of over 200 trips on 91 waterways across the state. Every description contains all the information you'll need to make that trip: a map, where to put in, where to take out, the length of time and/or mileage involved, skill level needed, and local emergency phone numbers (great idea!). The descriptions are also keyed to the corresponding DeLorme atlas page numbers, and include a brief outline of what you can expect to encounter, all written in a tastefully understated manner.
It's difficult to find any flaws in this book, or figure out how to improve upon it. For every Sunshine State paddler or anyone who wants to become one, Huff's book is a must read.

-John Kumiski

If you want to have just one book on paddling in Florida then this is the one to get!! It has easy-to-read maps, web sites, addresses and phone numbers for further information. Paddling a river or creek is more than just knowing where to put in and take out. Sandy gives you all kinds of information on the area, fishing, wildlife, weather, safety and much more. I must have every book there is on paddling in Florida but they're going on the bottom shelf because this is the one I'm going to reach for when planning my next adventure!!

Beautiful photographs, well laid out lists of ingredients, not a book for someone just starting out as cooking instructions are pretty terse.

"Good taste is one of those elusive qualities that most people find hard to define, even though they know it when they see it. In general, however, it denotes quality, simplicity, and ease. When applied to food, taste is also present when good ingredients are cooked in an honest way that highlights the essence of their taste, texture, and appearance." -Chuck Williams

Chuck Williams' philosophy is to celebrate the pleasure of cooking. He opened his first store in Sonoma, CA in 1956 and now more than 200 stores have opened in the United States. He has literally helped to revolutionize cooking in America.

My first introduction to a Williams-Sonoma store was when some friends bought me the cutest Les Garcons Dinnerware as a wedding present. French artist Guy Buffet is renowned for his whimsical impressionistic style and creates the porcelain plates, each with a different waiter. They are made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma and are a favorite collectible.

Later, while walking through Bellevue Square in Bellevue, WA I saw the plates there and then fell in love with cooking stores.

The Best of Taste is a 320 page compilation of the favorite recipes from the first year of Williams-Sonoma TASTE Magazine. Many of the world's greatest chefs have made a contribution to this cookbook. Marimar Torres, Joyce Goldstein, Nancy Silverton, Patricia Wells, Deborah Madison, Jean Georges Vongerichten to name a few.

Throughout this cookbook, you will find 250 beautiful, larger-than-life photographs. Fascinating pictures of a bakery in Paris or a honey farm in Manhattan. There are also photographs of the techniques in the recipes to illustrate the food preparation steps.

Each recipe has the most gorgeous picture and a full page with an easy to read ingredient list and numbered instructions.

The contents include (with recipe selections):

Introduction
Drinks - Guava Colada to Tropical Delights

Starters - Spicy Crab Cakes, Endive with Crab, Bacon wrapped dates, Balkan Meat-Stuffed Potato Pastries, the cutest Caviar Purses, Sizzling Shrimp with Garlic.

Soups & Stews - Gorgeous Avocado-Cucumber Soup, Spanish Garlic Soup, Beef and Onion Stew.

Salads - Marinated Zucchini and Goat's Cheese Salad, Apple, Celeriac and Chestnut Salad, Kidney Bean and Chicken Salad.

Entrees - Matambre, Stuffed Lamb with Eggplant and Feta, Veal Involtini with Grilled Anaheim Chiles, Fish Baked in Salt, braised Short Ribs with Bok Choy.

Sides - Green Garlic and Spinach Soufflé, Butternut Squash with Dates and Pistachios, Hot and Spicy Roasted Pears (from the cover), Stir-Fried Eggplant.

Desserts - Buzzy Bees (cookies), Chocolate Chunk Cherry Biscotti (talk about heavenly), Chocolate Rum Truffles, Nun's Breasts with Pumpkin Cream (a pillow of pumpkin pastry cream atop a crunchy cornmeal oatmeal cookie, showered with powdered sugar), Plum and Grape Cobbler, Cherry -Almond Cake, Orange Custard, Pomegranate Sorbet and a divine Chocolate Soufflé.

I feel a little heady just typing all those delicious dessert names.

A definite collectable you will actually want to cook from! Also perfect for coffee table reflection. Just as fun to read as to cook from. Your heart will beat a little faster while you read (or one could say: "devour with your eyes") this cookbook.

Truly an Exciting Cookbook filled with delicious recipes! If this book doesn't get you into the kitchen, nothing will!

easy-to-do menus, I've made about 40% of the menus in the book ... non-complicated and creative recipes, delightful!

I think that this book is great for anyone who is interested in Nancy Crow's work...it primarily shows her 80's work but is still good for visuals...the back section shows her influences which will be inspiring for those looking to find something else other than quilts for an influence within their work...worth a peak.

This book is a classic study in taking the leap thinking outside the box (or pattern in this case) while creating quilts. Nancy's book shows how to use your environment to find and create design ideas.