Last week I finished "Jump Start Your Business Brain" and gave a report to the marketing group. Upon review of our marketing efforts, we found that we were selling the features of lean manufacturing and not showing potential clients the benefits and competitive business advantage to be gained. We also decided to market with more clarity to the client "reasons to believe." We landed two new contracts this week. Could be a coincedence, but more likely a result from putting to use Doug Hall's techniques outlined in "Jump Start Your Business Brain." Look for Doug's techniques to be used on the TSD web site. I feel so strongly about Doug's book that I am going to recommend that TSD try and provide a link to Doug's web sites!

What separates this book from others I have read is that the information is based on extensive research not subjective opinions. This allows the author to be very specific and direct with the "how-to's" of positioning, branding, and new product ideation. The examples provided illustrate and were very confincing that the marketing principles being communicated work. I have never seen this type of evidence in other marketing books. I was very impressed with the significant increase in results these businesses experienced by utilizing the methods from the book. I learned a lot despite having 20+ years of marketing experience at top marketing companies.

If you're tired of 1) the same old trite ideas on business success and/or 2) books lacking any quantifiable basis or proof, then you'll really enjoy Jump Start Your Business Brain! Doug Hall has a long and proven track record of successul innovation consulting with some of America's biggest and best companies. What makes him even more unique is his ability to distill what works, why and how to do it into understandable concepts. This book is full of both anecdotes and analysis. You won't have to take Doug's word for it; the data provides exceptional credibility. As someone who read approximately 100 business books a year, this is definitely one of my favorites.

Just bought this book last week - saw it on display at a bookstore, and it sounded interesting...looked through it, put it down to look for a less-leafed-through copy...it was the only copy around, so I grabbed it, bought it, and headed home to try it out. Having begun with Dan Leader's BREAD ALONE and more recently, Maggie Glezer's ARTISAN BAKING ACROSS AMERICA, and many great bread books in between, THE BREAD BAKER'S APPRENTICE has to be recipe for recipe the most practical, and we're talking about a bunch of great titles here. I was curious about the mystique of the Pain a L'Ancienne and had a hard time believing this one bread made of flour, salt, yeast and water...nothin' else, no sugar or anything... could cause the emotions experienced by the author and his friends as described in the book, but I tried the delayed-fermentation technique, baked a batch, and was astounded at this simple complex amazingly creamy bread. So was my family, and we're having a special baking night to make more. Add to this the cinnamon buns that literally made our knees weak, the Portuguese Sweet Bread (I grew up with this stuff in New England) and the rye bread, these are the best consitently successful bread recipes I have ever used in one bread book during the course of one week, and I highly recommend Peter Reinhart's THE BREAD BAKER'S APPRENTICE to anyone who loves to bake bread, as well as read excellent culinary literature.

This is actually three books in one.

1. A collection of Peter Reinhart's stories and travels. This adds considerable color to the narrative.

2. A group of recipes for bread. For the most part, these recipes employ longer fermentation times and wetter doughs than most people are familiar with, which makes them hard to work with at first. The good part is that they work and work well. After you've made several of the breads, you'll wonder how you made bread any other way.

3. The first 110-odd pages. This is simply the finest how-to book I've ever read on bread baking. It covers the subject from start to finish, from opening the bag of bread flour and wondering what's inside, to letting the finished loaf cool on the rack. Reinhart should publish this separately, it's that good.

If you bake bread, buy it. If you don't bake bread, buy the book and try baking some bread.

For the past week, my kitchen, my whole house even, has been filled with the lovely smell of bread. My bread has always been dense and cakey; after years of trying I had given up on the idea of bread making. But now, using Peter Reinhart's wonderful wisdom, my bread is light, airy, chewy, crusty and just amazingly delicious. Much longer fermentation, real bread flour, far less yeast, and minimal kneading! It's magic. It's more in the method than the ingredients. You must try it and see for yourself.

... [I'm making] rich, decadent cinnamon buns (using the RICH man's formula) are undergoing final proofing before being popped in the oven. They have risen phenomenally, sitting as they are atop a 1/4 inch layer of homemade caramel. I cannot remember having made a dough so light, bubbly and elastic. ...

What I love about the book is that, while giving you "formulae," as he calls the recipes, he NEVER FAILS to encourage to experiment. He may have a formula with little fat, but he'll tell you what'll happen if you put a bit more or a bit less, if the fat is lard or butter. You make the final call in your kitchen.

There is something odd, though. There is a formula that calls for 5 1/2 tablespoons of butter and 6 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, for example. Couldn't this have been rounded to 1/4 or 1/3 cups? I suppose it gets important when scaling up, and although the calculations maybe easy had the metric system been used, the ornery imperial system is very unfriendly for this purpose.

The photos are fantastic; sometimes they are indeed worth a thousand words. I look at the photo, and as I feel my bread I know what to "shoot for" so to speak.

Ah well, gotta go! Those sweet cinnamon rolls must be just about ready now. Buy the book!

I read this book in two days...

This utterly amazing statement may not impress many, so let me tell why it should. First understand that I do not read books. I am the unfortunate victim of technology's evil grasp. I play video games instead of reading. I am nineteen years old and have only read no more than fifteen books of my own free will. Books bore the life out of me. I visited Mr. Telep at his book signing in a sci-fi store in Orlando. He recommended Descent to me, and having played the game I picked it up and bought it. After remaining untouched in my room for two weeks, I eventually cracked it open and read the first few pages. I read with high expectations and a pathetically low attention span. This book completely hooked me in the first chapter. Peter Telep somehow captured the essence of this game into words, bringing my gaming experience to life. It was an extremely exciting and invigorating experience. I couldn't put the book down; I read it in four sittings - fifteen hours total. He deeply drew me into the action, and so totally entrenched me in the plot that I didn't even boot up my computer or go hang out with my friends until the book was finished.

Congratulations Peter, I'd recommend this book to anyone. I don't even read for fun and here I am on Amazon.com (for the first time) to give Descent a five star review. Keep up the quality work, and when I next go to a bookstore (when I get my schoolbooks), I'll surely seize the sequel.

-SteveVD

To be honest, I must say that I expected DESCENT to be worse than the game, as it was released after. I was horribly wrong. Every time I read this book (which is several dozen times a year), I feel like i'm really in the cockpit of an illegally modified Pyro-GX, blasting mechs apart with a vengeance. This is the best book I have read in a long time, save for the other two books, DESCENT : Stealing Thunder and DESCENT : Equinox. I only hope there is a fourth.

I said it before in December 1995 when the shareware version of Descent was released and I'll say it again about this new novel from Peter. "Once you've gotten hooked on Descent it is like a drug, each time you find yourself wanting the rush to be even better"

The Descent Novel has added a new dimension to a game that I love. Peter Telep has managed to bring Descent to life for me! I have flown in the same mines described in the book that Ben St John fights for his life in. I even anticipate a bot before it's mentioned in the book! I can recall many points of interest in the game that Peter has mentioned. The first night I read the book I found myself in a dream just like I did (and still do) when the game was released in Dec'95.

I am an avid reader of Robert Jordon, Terry Brooks, Star Trek and Star Wars books and I consider Peter Telep's work on Descent among my favorite and best of any I have read.

I can't wait for the next novel in this series or a Movie! How about it Interplay MAKE US A DESCENT MOVIE!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. I bought it a year before I applied to graduate school and followed its advice on how to improve your chances of getting into a good school. I refered to it while taking classes, putting together my application--everything. And I got into my first choice masters program, which only accepts 5% of its applicants! After such success, I know I'll look at it constantly as I work towards my degree. I only wish I'd found it sooner, I think it would have helped a lot even at the undergraduate level.

I must admit that Robert L. Peters' book was my first read about "Getting What You Came For..." and that is the Ph.D in my case. I found the 366 page text informative, interesting and useful. The book is full of reference material with citations in the bibliography sections. I highlighted other useful books for future reads. The reader is taken step by step through a process from consideration of whether a graduate degree is for you, choosing a school, application and admission, financial aid, choosing between a master or Ph.d degree, the returning older student (such as myself), etc. Attention to details is apparent throughout the book and it seemed to have a very thorough treatment of each topic. I think there is something for anyone considering an advanced degree. The book though appears to be directed towards those who are pursuing graduate degrees at top 10 universities. It is not to say that all of us should not aspire to such lofty highs, however some of us just want to get the darn degree as quick and as close as possible. If the state university close by will accept us and it is within a reasonable commute distance between work and home then top 10 school or not, that is our shcool if, they accept us. In noting this aspect of the book it is not intended to deter you from reading it. You will find, I believe helpful information in your decision making process as well as a useful guide through your graduate program. I would say that this book is a must read for anyone considering a graduate degree.

Thanks Robert for writing this book that dramatically changes my life -
Before read this book, graduate life is very vague to me and I do not really know what I want from graduate school. My college life was not very happy. I do not like professors either because I thought they were weird or just too busy to care about students. However, this book gives a very clear picture of what is going on in the mysterious graduate school. It teaches you to get ready of various troubles and challenges, such as dealing with your advisors, developing thesis, and most important at all, having a positive and happy life in graduate school and getting a good job after the degree. I read this book repeatedly right before I went to graduate school. Everything is just like what the book described and I planned everything according to the book. I get on the right track early and am progressing faster than my peers are, and graduate life becomes so enjoyable. I bought six copies of these books and gave to my best friends and sisters. No matter you want to go to graduate school or not, read this book first and keep it on your desk! I heartily recommend this book!

Having long been a fan of Elizabeth Peters, I was ecstatic when "Night Train to Memphis", the fifth book in her Vicky Bliss series came out.

A continuation of the adventures of Doctor Vicky Bliss, a museum worker in Munich, this book follows her on a cruise down the Nile, takes her all over the Egyptian countryside, and finally ends where it started --- in Vicky's German apartment. Along the way, several recurring characters show up, including old friends and villains, the irrepressible Schmidt, and of course, Sir John Smythe; the quintessential gentleman thief and Vicky's sometimes lover. This time however, there is a small complication affecting their relationship, which leads to the miscommunication, misinterpreted signals, and missed chances that characterize Peter's books ---- and make them some of the most enjoyable mysteries on the market. The insults are quick, the Egyptology casual and comprehensive, and country music references abound.

This is a wonderful book, featuring yet another strong, smart, feminist heroine, who never crosses the line from aggressive to unlikable. While "Night Train to Memphis" can definitely stand alone, I would also reccomend the first couple of books about Vicky, "Borrower of the Night", "The Street of Five Moons", "Sillhouette in Scarlet", and "Trogan Gold".

I'm so delighted that I discovered these Vicky Bliss mysteries. The characters are good and Elizabeth Peters always provides fascinating settings for her stories.

In NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS, Vicky Bliss is asked by a police agency to be a part of a tour group as they cruise down the Nile River seeing the beautiful monuments and ancient pyramids of Egypt. The police suspect that some professional thieves will be on board and hope that Vicky can assist in identifying them. The characters are diverse and of course, Sir John Smythe also shows up for the tour. Vicky's dismayed to find him using a different name and traveling with a sweet young woman. Just a few months before the tour, John and Vicky had resumed their love affair and now she's thoroughly confused by the way that he's acting. There are a lot of surprises in this story.

I found it amazing to see that out of 32 reviews on this book, 30 reviewers gave this story a Five Star Rating. That has got to be some kind of a record. It shows what an excellent writer that Elizabeth Peters is and how she always delivers great fiction.

Of all of the books in the Vicky Bliss series, I would have to say that "Night Train to Memphis" is my favorite. Not only do we learn more about Vicky and John's true feelings about one another (finally!!!), but most of the story is set in Egypt! Elizabeth Peters is a master at winding historical fact into her novels, and "Night Train" is certainly no exception. Her knowledge of Egyptology is displayed throughout the novel--but reading it feels nothing like a history lesson! It's more like a vacation! In fact, I could not put it down until I was sure Vicky, John, and Schmidt made it through their adventure unharmed (or do they...)! Oh, and for serious fans of Ms. Peters...have you noticed yet that John Smythe and his mother appeared in another book far before they showed up in the Vicky Bliss series? Check out "The Camelot Caper"... :)

First published in Forbes magazine, California Management Review and Harvard Business Review, the six chapters in this book contain nothing that is an excerpt from Peter Drucker's earlier management books. Indeed, this book supplements Drucker's many earlier management books by looking ahead to the future of management thinking and practice.

At 90, Peter Drucker is, by all accounts, the most enduring management thinker of our time. Born in Vienna, educated in Austria and England, he has worked since 1937 in the United States, first as an economist for a group of British banks and insurance companies, and later as a management consultant to several leading companies. Drucker has since had a distinguished career as a teacher, including more than twenty years as Professor of Management at the Graduate Business School of New York University. With a long-term business perspective second to none, Drucker's books span sixty years of modern history beginning with The End of Economic Man (1939) and Managing in a Time of Great Change; Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; The Effective Executive; Managing for Results and The Practice of Management.

This book looks afresh at the future of management thinking and practice and defines new ways of delivering success. It deals exclusively with tomorrow's hot management issues-the crucial, central, life-and-death issues that are certain to be the major challenges of tomorrow. The biggest challenge will be knowledge worker productivity-what is it; how can it work; how do we manage knowledge workers and ourselves? Two fundamental issues addressed are changes in the world economy and the subsequent changes in management practice which will bring about new realities requiring new corporate policies as well as presenting new opportunities for the individual knowledge worker.

Many of the individual knowledge workers affected by these challenges will be employees of business or working with business. Yet this is a management book rather than a business management book. The challenges it presents affect all organisations of today's society, particularly the more rigid and less flexible, i.e. the ones more rooted in the concepts, assumptions and policies of the 19th century. The challenges and issues discussed in this book are not new and are already with us in every one of the developed countries and in most of the emerging ones. They can already be identified, discussed, analyzed and prescribed for. Some people, someplace, are already working on them. But so far very few executives and even less organisations are. Those who do work on these challenges today, and thus prepare themselves and their organisations for the new challenges, will be the leaders and will dominate tomorrow.

Peter F. Drucker writes in the Introduction, "...this is not a book of 'predictions,' not a book about the 'future.' The challenges and issues discussed in it are already with us in every one of the developed countries and in most of the emerging ones (e.g., Korea or Turkey). They can already be identified, discussed, analyzed and prescribed for. Some people, someplace, are already working on them. But so far very few organizations do, and very few executives. Those who do work on these challenges today, and thus prepare themselves and their institutions for the new challenges, will be the leaders and dominate tomorrow. Those who wait until these challenges have indeed become 'hot' issues are likely to fall behind, perhaps never to recover. This book is thus a Call for Action."

In this context, in Chapter 5 of this invaluable book, Drucker focuses on knowledge worker. He says that "the most important, and indeed the truly unique, contribution of management in the 20th century was the fifty-fold increase in the productivity of the 'manual worker' in manufacturing. The most important contribution management needs to make in the 21st century is similarly to increase the productivity of 'knowledge work' and the 'knowledge worker.' The most valuable assets of a 20th-century company were its production equipment. The most valuable asset of a 21st-century institution, whether business or nonbusiness, will be its knowledge workers and their productivity."

Thus, he defines six major factors determine knowledge worker productivity as follows:

1. Knowledge worker productivity demands that we ask the question: "What is the task?"

2. It demands that we impose the responsibility for their productivity on the individual knowledge workers themselves. Knowledge workers have to manage themselves. They have to have authonomy.

3. Continuing innovation has to be part of the work, the task and the responsibility of knowledge workers.

4. Knowledge work requires continuous learning on the part of the knowledge worker, but equally continuous teaching on the part of the knowledge worker.

5. Productivity of the knowledge worker is not-at least not primarily-a matter of the quantity of output. Quality is at least as important.

6. Finally, knowledge worker productivity requires that the knowledge worker is both seen and treated as an "asset" rather than a "cost." It requires that knowledge workers want to work for the organization in preference to all other opportunities.

He argues that each of these requirements-except perhaps the last one-is almost the exact opposite of what is needed to increase the productivity of the manual worker.

Highly recommended.

Dr. F. R. Bosch an apologist, researcher, and lecturer who integrates [Biblical] faith and knowledge, is a full-time university professor in Southern California, U.S.A.

"Management Challenges for the 21st Century" is a brief and stimulating book. It addresses some insightful topics that Prof. Drucker thinks will influence and shape the future. He encourages the reader to consider "management" in a larger than "business" context - the universe of our personal, family, career, volunteerism, and corporate lives - which all need to be managed for success to occur.

He begins by discussing how our "basic assumptions" make up our reality paradigms that affect our perception of the world and the decisions we make. In spite of the important role that assumptions play in our lives, Drucker says that the assumptions are rarely analyzed, studied, challenged, and rarely even made explicit (p. 3). The implication is that we need to invest some quality time and thought about the assumptions that profoundly affect our lives. He goes on to say that "what matters most...are therefore the basic assumptions. And a change in the basic assumptions matters even more" (p. 4).

The basic or fundamental assumptions that make up our reality paradigms are very important. The examples Drucker cites throughout the book clearly convey his belief of the profound role that fundamental assumptions play in managing our lives. There is a definite cause and effect relationship between what we embrace to be true and the product of their application.

Although the Harvard Business Review says that Drucker "discusses how the new paradigms of management have changed and will continue to change our basic assumptions about the practices and principles of management," Prof. Drucker has said in other of his writings, as well as in this book, that the "Fundamentals do not change. But the specifics to manage them do change greatly with changes in internal and external conditions," and that "there is a need for continuity in respect to the fundamentals...because change is a constant...the foundations have to be extra strong" (Managing in Turbulent Times, p. 9; Management Challenges for the 21st Century, p. 92).

Clearly, we need to differentiate between foundation and structure, and realize that the changes being discussed mainly relate to the structure (application), and not necessarily to the fundamental presuppositions. Actually, when the fundamental assumptions change the world changes. Thus, changes of fundamental assumptions are major life-changing events - revolutions (shifts) in paradigm language. However, Drucker seems to convey the notion that the application of management principles is what is changing and not the principles themselves.

"Management Challenges for the 21st Century" is an eye opener and energizing primer to view and practice management.

It's hard to write this review. I hate to throw cold water on anything written by RRM, and I'm actually not. I'm just not giving it the 5 stars as everyone else has. Let me say, I have already read Boy's Life and Swan Song-Swan Song probably being one of the best books I have ever read. I picked up a tattered copy of They Thirst-the reviews were terrific. But I've got to say that this book does not compare to Boy's Life or Swan Song. Had I read it first, or when it was originally written, I probably could have written a better review. But Boy's Life and particularly Swan Song, are such excellent reads that I cannot review They Thirst without comparing them to these other two. Maybe I missed something. I could be wrong, but "They Thirst" seemed a little predictable to me and it bogged down in parts. And it didn't have the..I don't even know how to explain it. The other two were 3 dimensional, in full color, and as brilliant as laser light. This one was more 2 dimensional with faded colors. Perhaps someone who has read all 3 can explain it better than I. Anyway, I gave it 4 stars, but really it's probably closer to 3 and a half. Sorry..

Robert McCammon really outdid himself this time ! I rate this one up there with "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King. In fact, I think it may be a tie. This is one book I would love to see made into a movie. Could be really scary !

"They Thirst" is my favorite fiction book. I first read it back in 1981 or so. I think I fell in love with it because it was the first vampire story I encountered where the setting was a modern-day version. And, of course, the LA scene was very appealing. There is much more to why I like this book so much, but suffice to say that McCammon is a very good writer and handles the vampire topic well. I read Boys Life. That was pretty good. So now I'm reading Swan Song. I like this guy.

My GCSE (16+ exams) English coursework title - "What makes 'Equus' a powerful play?" After rattling on for 6 sides, I realised that I was never going to have enough time, energy left in my hand or ink left in my pen to complete the assignment. Everything about this play, the religion, sexual connotations and deep misunderstandings about the human mind contribute to a most disturbing atmosphere created by Schaffer, which works effectively to produce 'Equus'.

And just a note to anybody who had read the book, and something to encourage you future readers - look deeply into the names of the characters, Alan, Dora and Frank Strang. If you get out a name dictionary, you may discover something very interesting...

I've just finished reading this version of Equus for the third time now, and I never get tired of it. I've also just finished a 23 page paper on Peter Shaffer for my play analysis class, and I have to tell you, Equus is a drama that I thouroughly enjoy. It's probably my favorite play because it deals with not only the subject of the human need for worship, but Equus is also about a search for faith, for Dysart and Alan. It deals with the concepts of religion as well; and being a Christian, I could apply my own teachings to the text. The basic synopsis is an adolescent boy named Alan Strang has committed a horrible crime of blinding six horses in a stable in southern England. After being taking to the local magistrates, he's dubbed as mentally ill (which he is), and is taken to Dr. Martin Dysart, a well-known and respected psychiatrist for evaluation. What unfolds from there, is such an engrossing story into Alan's primal mind and as to why he did this act, you won't believe. Equus speaks to everyone. The conflict for Dysart, who is "utterly worshipless" vs. Alan Strang who activlely and genuinely worships his god Equus is this: I can cure Alan of his illness and make him "Normal"; but how can I do it without stripping him of his genuine worship, which is the core of his life? The story will touch you and make you think, fundamentally. If you've never seen the show, find it somewhere near you and go see it; it's meant to be seen. I had the luxury of seeing it performed at the famously known Stratford Theatre Festival last year in Canada, and it blew me away. The play is quite simply, amazing.

I enjoyed this play very much and have read it several times. Each time I read the play I grasp a better understanding of what Shaffer may be conveying to the audience. This play made me ask so many questions about society today and what some of the truths are in life.
I do not believe this play to be about materialism or convenience and the killing of our capacity for worship, passion, or pain. Alan had a capacity for worship and passion, just not within the normal boundaries of societies acceptable views. Alan had the capacity for pain, but reached his climax when in the stable and blinded the six horses. If man is materialistic it is because the opportunity presents itself and we are already that way. There is no spiritual or mental decay of modern man. Religion flourishes as it always has, and causes peace and war as it always will. We know more now than we ever did in the past about medicine, science, the arts, humanity, the origin of man, and life itself.
In the case of Alan, he suffers from mental illness, but can be healed with love and passion from those around him; Dysart being the one to take the first step and not giving up on him. Worship is not a human need, but the freedom of worship is a human right. I believe this play to hold these truths; the human need for understanding, compassion, and healing.

i had to read "the real frank zappa book" for school, but it certainly wasnt an inconvience. i grew up on frank zappa, having a father as a zappa nut. so i had an inkling of an idea as to what he was all about. a great look into zappa's life, although my dad tells me there is some controversy as to what is true, even in an autobiography. i suppose it's hard to find a credible source on such a wild guy, eh? but anyhow...an extremely good book. quite a jolly laugh, too...

Working at a library has almost no perks. I shelve the travel section so there isn't much stimulation in the way of brain waves(then again, my job is pretty tedious to begin with). However, one day while wondering through a friend's section I found a gem. I found The Real Frank Zappa Book. When their were breaks in my work, I would grab this book and read it feverously. Even with my increasing respect and love for Zappa's work, I still found this a great book. It packs a sharp wit, biting comentary, and overal, is just a good quick read.

The book covers Zappa's origin, his early musical influences, the tough times of M.O.I.(Mothers of Invention), insight as to his musical creation process, and even a indepth look into his battle with the well-known PMRC. The great thing is even with all this retrospect, the man never loses his sense of humor. Sometimes slapstick, sometimes satire, always truthful.

Anyone interested in the man that was Zappa, I highly recommend this book. Those who are interested in becoming a musician, I also recomend this book(his musical insight is very inspiring). In fact, I recomend this book to all. Its just a shame he died before his time. Zappa was a true inovator of music. There will never be another Frank Zappa.

The Real Frank Zappa Book is great. It captures the humor found in his music, explains some of the concepts that keep popping up, provides a neat look at rock history, and has some scathing commentary about the reality behind the PMRC and rock censorship. Even if you don't listen to his music, read Zappa's book!

Norton has touched the hearts and souls of many a feline lover. I loved both of Gethers' books and truly feel that Peter was a feline in a past life. How else could anyone have such a marvelous insight into the feelings and thoughts of Norton. Incidentally, in the September, 1999 issue of Cat Fancy magazine, it was noted that Norton died May 8, 1999 of kidney failure at age 16, and that his journey hasn't ended. Gethers was at that time writing the third and I would assume final book about Norton to be entitled "The Cat Who Will Live Forever" to be published in 2000. Mr. Gethers - Norton lovers and fans are anxiously waiting.

I read only the first book of the three in the series, but I cried a lot whilst I was reading it as I've already realised that Norton's gone before I came to know him. So I can imagine I'll cry even more when I read the two other books I ordered (Further Advertures and Final Advertures). Norton is surely every cat-lover's dream cat. But, what I want to say here is that after reading the book, I love my own cat even more. A cat's life is relatively short and vulnerable compares with human being, and so we should cherish the days when we still have our cat with us. Finally I sincerely hope that Mr. Gethers can extend his love for Norton to other cats as well, as, I do believe, that's what little angel Norton tried to teach him.

This is the best book about what love can do to you.When I am sad or depressed Peter Gethers and his Norton can always cheer me up a little bit.It is interesting and funny to read how Peter Gethers(how used to hate cats)was taught by Norton(a little cat)to love cats.I gave this book as a present to almost every of my friends ,and they loved it all!!
I know Mr Gethers lives sometimes in New York does anybody know if he and Jannis are okay? I am a bit worried after this terrible,unbeliefable terror act.If anybody knows something please tell me.