Finally . . . a practical and fun way to deal with change. Change can cause stress - and stress kills. We can't escape it . . . but, as Mignon McLaughlin said, "What you cannot get out of, get into wholeheartedly." That really captures it for me. This book is a tremendous resource "how to do it" - handle change better. If the whole "cheese" phenomenon raised your awareness of what a mess you are when it comes to handling change, this is your book.

A small but mighty little book, "It" will leave you changed after just one read. Julie Smith has interwoven a delightful story with easy-to-remember characters, cleverly conveying the essential concepts of cognitive behavior theory. As a seasoned clinical psychologist, I am all too aware that just talking about change isn't enough. "It" combines story, allegorical characters, cognitive rehearsal, a fun manipulable puzzle, and visual cues. Wow--she used just about every modality to infuse this book with high interest and a lasting memory/imagination imprint. How many books do that? This is obviously a powerful tool for use in organizations of all kinds, as well as in therapeutic work, to facilitate attitude and behavior change in an engaging manner, minimizing defensiveness. The "Change Puzzle" will remain on my desk. Thanks, Julie!

Finally! A practicle guide for navigating change. The impact of other "change" books doesn't last long after the hour it takes to read them. But Dr. Smith's book has provided a tangible way for me to see change as part of the adventure of life. Not only did I learn something new from the book, I learned how to deal with change in a way that will change and grow as I do. And if you're an impatient person like myself and like to see the nuts and bolts of the message first, the book's main points are presented in the last third of the book. This section has also been great as a reference while I've learned to apply her ideas for change. Wonderful book. I hope she writes more.

This is an excellent resource in federal Indian law. It is updated annually via cumulative pocket-parts and is a thorough review of the subject. It is a great place to begin research in Indian law because it lays out the blackletter and has copious citations to the major (and sometimes less major) cases on the subject. For me, if I could have only one book on the subject, this would be it.

Federal Indian law is a quagmire that demands useful navigational tools. In the past, Felix Cohen's "Handbook of Federal Indian Law" (particularly the 1942 ed.) was used by everyone - including Supreme Court Justices - to better understand this jurisprudence. This field of law, however, has evolved in many ways in the intervening twenty years and the "American Indian Law Deskbook" permits readers to learn about these changes in the responsibilities and exposures of the states, tribes, and federal government. Indeed, this is the second edition, and the foreword indicates that even the five-year period between editions had been eventful. The overall intent of this publication is to present relevant legal history to sustain an understanding of Indian law today.

The editors have included Tables of Cases (32 pp.), and of Statutes and Codes (9 pp.), as well as a bibliography (10 pp.). One important note must be added. Yearly supplements are a crucial part of the business of legal research, and the editors of the "American Indian Law Deskbook" realized this when they published the first edition in 1993. This practice has continued, and stand-alone yearly supplements are available for both 1999 and 2000 that update the current edition.

"American Indian Law Deskbook" augments Cohen's "Handbook." It should be considered as a core holding for those with a desire and/or a need to learn more about current federal Indian law.

This is my favorite childrens book. It helps children see the wonders of the world God made. It is very well written and one of my 3 year-old's favorite books. This illustrations are wonderful also. My daughter loves to find to all of the things that God made on each page. It is too bad this book is out of print, find it if you can.

Wonderful book for young children. Shows a family of children who see and appreciate the wonders of God's world everywhere they go. Cute pictures, too. My kids love it!

A true sense of the raw Oklahoma landscape, colorful Indian folk tales that help authenticate a bygone era, a bittersweet western epic.

I'm not a huge Skip Langdon fan, but I love Rebecca Schwartz and her friends! Rebecca is a feisty, Jewish feminist lawyer who narrowly escapes trouble while playing piano in a bordello one night. Murder and mayhem follow, of course. What I really like about this book (and the other Rebecca Schwartz books) are the characters. Rebecca is so real -- she's proud of her strengths, and frustrated by her weaknesses. The book is written in first person, so you get to know her quite well. I like her law partner, her journalist boyfriend, her younger sister, and the sister's out-of-work-actor boyfriend, who is also Rebecca's receptionist. The story takes place in San Fransisco, with lots of wonderful descriptions of San Fransisco scenery, happenings, and food. The Sourdough Wars ties with Death Turns a Trick as my favorite Julie Smith mystery.

Skip and New Orleans just don't do it for me, much as I've tried...I just wish that Julie Smith would write some more Rebecca Schwartz mysteries so I wouldn't have to keep re-reading the few I have!

I have habitually read mysteries for the last 11 years. In that time I've become especially fond of women writers on the gendre who write about female protagonists. I also enjoy books which feature California. However, All that aside I was constantly laughing out loud while reading this book. It's more than enjoyable, it's a must read.

This short story collection centers on the impact of separations and divorce on the participants including extended family members. However, the twenty tales share a dark look at IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES as the audience is treated to situations that do not end as peacefully as our current legal system expects.

Lia Matera has put together a remarkable anthology that has several excellent stories, some very good tales, and no poor entry. The cross-genre contributors are a modern day who's who with such noted authors like Oates, Cross, Deaver, Lutz, Buchanan, and Muller, etc. None of the writers are lightweights as they all hold their own with the heavyweights. Anyone who enjoyed the Battle of the Roses will fully relish each tale that paints a very dismal look at broken relationships.

Harriet Klausner

If you sometimes get nostalgic for some of her past characters and more light-hearted story telling, this book is definitely for you. Although the stories in this collection are very short, ranging from 5 to 20 pages in length, they all properly spotlight the writer's incredible talent and fertile imagination, and beg to be read more than once. I only wish that the stories were presented in chronological order by publication date, so as to better exhibit the evolution of her writing style, which has steadily matured and improved over the years. This is an altogether wonderful reading experience.

Hey everyone - you absolutely have to read this book - it is amazing! Unfortunately, i picked it up at a used book store so I haven't read the first in the series yet - that's ok i pretty much figured out what the story is... Lots of suspense in this one... and a surprising twist to the ending!! I absolutely have to get my hands on the 3rd one...

Private Investigator Talba Wallis is working on routine cases when her friend, Babalu Maya, hires Talba to prove that Babalu's fiancé is cheating on her. But Talba gets more than she bargained for when Babalu is found dead of a drug overdose after receiving her report. When Babalu's fiancé unexpectedly hires Talba to look into Babalu's death, she begins to realize that she didn't know her friend as well as she thought.

Her investigation turns up another name for Babalu, taken from her hometown of Clayton, Louisiana. Talba soon discovers that not only is she not welcome in Clayton, someone wants to put an end to her investigation and to her.

The more she finds out about the case, the more danger she puts herself in. From a gruesome, covered-up attack that happened decades ago, to a suspicious political campaign, Talba uncovers enough to make people uneasy.

But will she find the answers she's searching for before the person who wants to silence her finds her? With the help of Eddie, her supervisor, and the cunning tricks of a P.I., Talba fights until the end to solve her friend's death and unravel the mystery that has gone on for decades.

"Louisiana Bigshot" is a lively, twisting novel that provides the reader with a look into the life of a private investigator through Talba Wallis's confident, headstrong personality. Julie Smith also intersperses meaningful poetry and several sub-plots throughout the story, keeping the reader interested.

I loved this second fast-paced tale of the irrepressible, sassy, intelligent poetess-turned-detective, Baroness Pontalba. The plot had more surprising twists and turns than a Louisiana bayou country road...and keeps you guessing until the very end. It always cracks me up when Ms. Smith brings Detective extraordinairre, Skip Langdon into the story....she's the main character in her excellent Skip Langdon series. If you're just discovering Ms. Smith's writing, you're in for a delectable treat and a fabulous story. She's the best!

When New Orleans PI Talba Wallis does a pre-marital background check on her friend Babalu Maya's fiance, things quickly go from bad to worse. The fiance is a cad, but Babalu seems to have other, darker problems on her mind. Yet, when Babalu turns up dead, it is none other than the fiance who believes she was murdered and hires Talba to look into it.

Talba immediately runs into a roadblock when she finds that Babalu Maya doesn't seem to exist. Following a trail which eventually leads to Clayton, Louisiana, Talba keeps digging. People in Clayton aren't talking, however. Refusing to give up, Talba and her boss, Eddie Valentino, both put their lives on the line to learn the murky secrets the town is hiding.

Talba Wallis's new adventures far surpass her last one. I hope Julie Smith hasn't killed off her Skip Langdon series but, if such is the case, Talba is a more than worthy successor. The atmosphere in this fast-paced tale is earthy and real. The dialogue is crisp, the writing is superior, and the plot is strong. If you haven't yet discovered the world of Talba Wallis, a/k/a the Baroness Pontalba, treat yourself to this book. It's definitely a winner.