As a professional speaker I find Mr. Antion's book, priceless. I read excerpts of the book several times before I do a major presentation. I especially love the technique of putting one's audience in a joyful and happy mode before going on stage. Tom calls this, "In-fun." This technique contributes immeasurably to the huge success I have had in my programs. I read this section of "In-fun" before going to bed the night of my event, visualizing my audience having the best time of their lives, as Tom teaches. The result never ceases to amaze me. I cannot thank Mr. Tom Antion enough for a job very well done. This book, "Wake 'em Up" indeed is priceless. It is a must for all engaged in giving presentations.

This book will not help you tell jokes. It describes how to make your presentations more entertaining. Tom Antion's secrets on room setup and how to open a speech are worth more than the price of the book. Whether you are speaking to a large group or to a small sales meeting, the tips in this book will help you get your point across.

For coverage, click on Table of Contents in the left-hand column of this page.

Tom Antion is a marketing genius who teaches speakers how to speak and how to sell themselves. A gifted professional speaker, he shares his years of experience in these pages.

As a professional speaker and the author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has to get their point across to groups. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

Tom's book is a' must have' resource for both novice and experienced speakers. He shares dozens of practical tips that are guaranteed to keep even the stodgiest audience interested and involved. Or, as Tom puts it,keep them from passing through sleep ( zzzzz's), to rapid eye movement sleep ( new and improved zzzzz's) to a comatose state (extra heavy duty industrial strength zzzzz's). Tom also does a great job of helping you identify your audience's needs, and then shows you, step-by-step, how to make your presentation more powerful and more interesting.

As a professional speaker who's used Tom's techniques in my own presentations, I can tell you, these ideas really work - they can help you add just the right touch of humor and lots of excitement to your next speech or seminar. And, what's most important, help your audiences remember your message.

Wake 'em Up is fun, fast-paced, packed with great ideas - and required reading for anyone who has to speak in front of a group.

For anything you want to know about Reba's life, this IS the book to read. I was not fond of country music of any kind, until I read this book. Now, I am a HUGE Reba McEntire fan..one of the biggest, because I gained enormous respect for her for bringing the truth out to all her fans. This book is funny, sad, sometimes surprising...but always well written, straight from the heart. You will enjoy this book, and the audio is great too because she reads it herself! I highly reccommend it.

I have read this book 4 or 5 times now because I am a huge Reba fan. But the book is really great and I'm not saying that just because I love her. If you want to know what Reba's life was really like and the struggles she had and the fame she has now I reccomend it! It seems like a lot to read being about 400 pages long but believe it or not I once read it in 4 days! It was a book a could not put down and I do not read usually for the pure joy of it either. Go ahead and read it and see for yourself. It's a book for teens and up.

This book is a MUST read, even though I am a HUGE Reba fan, and somewhat partial!! It is the story of her life, and the lessons she learned while growing up in Oklahoma, as well as, her rise to fame as one of country music's leading ladies. It is the ONLY book that she has had anything to do with writing, with the exception of the upcoming, "Comfort From A Country Quilt" (I CAN'T WAIT!! :-), and therefore, is the only completely true account of her life. I loved this book...It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and I HIGHLY recommend it!!!!! It is a fantastic book!!!! "Forever Love" You Reba!!

Embarassingly, I am not a person who reads books often. This book reminds me of the enjoyment and fun there is in reading. I first read (An Island To Myself) in the early 70's, again in 1981, and recently again at 51 years old. I couldn't put it down and felt I was living another life for 2 1/2 days. Tom Neale went to the uninhabited island of SUVAROV at 51, believe me, he's made me fanticise.... anyone else interested? His experiences and how a (normal) human being can exist 200 miles from civilization is extrodiarily depited. Read this book, it may become a favorite! To answer a few questions in previous reviews herein: Tom Neale died in 1977, he must have married and wrote two more books, one about cruising with his wife and two children which I ordered today.

My Avon paperback edition of this book is entitled An Island to Myself (rather than "oneself"). It is one of the most readable and fascinating books I have been fortunate enough to have run across in quite a long time. You read this and realize that there may still be some places of isolation like this left on earth and you wonder whether you should follow Tom Neale's example before it is forever too late. I highly recommend this book as a sure-fire pleasure that can be read again and again just for the fun of it. Good? You're darned well right it is!

"An Island To Oneself" is a real captivating book! Tom Neale describes his way of living - surviving - on Suwarow, a remote island in the South-Pacific. The reader really feels as if he were on the spot while reading this book! The adventures Tom Neale experiences and the way he copes with problems, the rare people he meets,how he gets used to the rythm of the isle.. i found it a superb book! One of Tom Neales friends is the writer Robert Dean Frisbie. I recommend to read the work of his daughter Johnny Frisbie (at the age of 13!), "Miss Ulysses From Puka-Puka", who lived on Suwarow with her father,two sisters and brother during several months in the forties.

Physicist Simon Smith rents a small castle in Scotland where he can complete the building of his robot in peace. Some brownies mistake the small metal man for a knight in armor and enlist it aid in fighting an ancient evil. --- The space allowed here is too little for me to properly describe or praise this book. --- I first read Sir MacHinery as a young teen and found it a marvelous blend of the things that attracted me to both the Hobbit and Star Trek. I read it again to my wife during our honeymoon in Scotland (doing all of the voices) and she enjoyed it as much as I did. --- It is one of very few books that I enjoy as an adult as much as I did as a youngster and I can't recommend it highly enough.

After having read the first 3 Harry Potter books (which I hope to share with my 11-month old daughter someday), I began thinking about other great science fiction/fantasy books I had read as a child. One of the first books that came to mind was Sir Machinery. My father and I read this book more than once when I was in grade school. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this book is no longer in print. For those parents and children who enjoyed the highly creative stories and use of science and legend by Rowling - check out Sir Machinery. The book is very well written and a lot of fun. Hopefully, as more people look to capture the thrill of the Harry Potter experience - the publisher will consider re-releasing Sir Machinery. I would rank right up there with the Chronicles of Narnia, Tolkien's books and, of course, Harry Potter.

My 6th grade teacher read this to us in class and it has stuck with me ever since. 10 years later when I came across a copy at a library sale, I picked it up.

I recently read it to my son (aged five at the time) and he sat rapt the whole the time. He wants me to read it to him again.

This book has a lot of action, fighting, clever escapes, magic, hand grendes and all kinds of fun stuff.

This book is out of print, unfortunately, and I suspect it's going to stay that way (unless someone edits it). It is violent, even graphically so at points. (Demons and a dragon die horrible deaths.) It's not politically correct, and probably won't be for some time to come. And, actually, it was rather unusual 20+ years ago when it was written.

I'd still recommend it, though.

Gillis points out the hazards, signposts, and often unheralded milestones one will encounter as the business goes through the idea stage, survival stage, and into the growth stage. The second section is literally an alphabetically organized encyclopedia of business topics, ranging from "Accountants - Selecting Yours" to "Zero-base Budgeting," and everything you could imagine in between. On page after page, Gillis offers clear and concise answers to most of the problems an entrepreneur faces as a dream is turned into reality. Some of the entries were a bit dry for my taste. Reading Tom's book is like sitting across a coffee table from a very astute friend, listening as he gives you advice borne of hard-won wisdom.

It's an exploration of what's needed to be a success in the marketplace. Gillis looks at most things the entrepreneur will experience, from banks and bankers to zero-based budgeting. It's an easy book to read, full of useful insights. The author is a business consultant and executive professor at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Houston, where the book has been adopted as a text book

As a founder of a two-year old business, I also found many valuable insights in this book. The reader gets the sense that Tom Gillis has gone through so many experiences that have relevance to all growing companies. Since the book is organized by topics, it's very easy to pick out the pieces of information that are most timely.

The Columbian Drug Cartel has met their match - Mike Redden! Just as the Viet Cong ran to escape his swift jungle justice, the South American drug smugglers should fear the eye-for-an-eye mentality of the refreshing, ex-con, street-wise hero! Losing his famous, actress sister the day he is paroled from prison, Mike Redden is thrown into a quagmire that he has not seen the likes of since Viet Nam. Adding injury to insult, his estranged father dies of a heart attack and his murdered sister's pristine reputation is tarnished by the local tabloid. To make matters worse, Mike is hated by the LAPD and his parole officer would like to see Mike return to the slam with the no hope of seeing day-light again. Its a no-holds-barred show down between Mike Redden, the cops and the Columbians! I can only hope that this is the begining for a long and wonderful character in his quest to clean up our neighborhoods! I rate this book a 9, only because I know that Tom Donald and Mike Redden will continue to only get better and better!

What if you had to do what you know is right, what you believe in your heart is best, what you have been trained and primed to do...but society said it was wrong. Your family said it was wrong. The law said you were wrong..but, they were all wrong? Then you would be THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED. Tom Donald weaves this intricate story around such a complicated background. He introduces us to a dangerous man, then gradually exposes the greed, the lies and the deceit that have molded his percetion of humanity. Mike Redden is a hero, a villan, a dreamer and a nightmare. He has a very strong opinion of good and evil. He is driven to set things right by the love he has for his dead sister. Mike Redden is a force that must be dealt with. Fast paced, gripping, and highly entertaining are mere adjectives that describe this first novel in a new crime series. You will look forward to the next Mike Redden adventure because this one will simply fly by!

I thought The Hunter and The Hunted was an excellent book, well written and full of action. The characters are all very interesting and the plot was well thought out. This was a "can not put it down" type of book that made you want to turn the page and read more...looking forward to a sequel and wishing for a movie (Bruce Willis as "Mike Redden")

Way back in 1994, we reviewed this excellent little book in our dissident physics journal Galilean Electrodynamics (vol. 5, no. 4, p. 100). Hard copy of the full review is available from the Editor, Dr. Cynthia K. Whitney, 141 Rhinecliff Street, Arlington, MA 02476-7331, USA; e-mail dwhitney@mit.edu. The main point is: "This is an educator's book. It is aimed at students who are bright and curious and not overly indoctrinated. Even quite mature physics dissidents can appreciate this book. Unlike the typical text, it dwells very little on the technical details of established physics, and puts the emphasis instead on that which we do not really know. It gives a wealth of pending research topics and candidate ideas that need to be worked out. "The unknowns are the "why's" behind the most fundamental facts of nature, such as force laws, conservation laws, and relativistic or quantum behaviors. The candidate ideas comprise the author's theory of "space resonances". ..." Enjoy."

In this book, Dr. Wolff introduced audience from basic laws of physics to advanced topics of particle and wave structures. Different from text book, Dr. Wolff talk the physics with his insightful ideas and his enthusiasm to the unknown world, challenging the thoughts and provoking the interests of the readers. This book definitely can be read with profit and fun.

In this book Dr. Wolff explains, clearly and concisely, some very difficult and revolutionary concepts regarding the wave structure of matter. The ideas he presents are thought-provoking, yet written clearly enough to be understood by someone with absolutely no background in physics, such as myself. That he accomplishes this with a minimum of mathematical formulas is to his credit. Time will tell, of course,but I believe that his ideas are the sort that future generations will look back upon as being ahead of their time. Exploring the Physics of the Unknown Universe is well-written, well-illustrated, and well worth your time.

The book would be a welcome addition to any cookbook library, but we don't think you will be content looking at this book on a shelf. Our guess is the purchaser will find the book being used over and over. There is a wonderful variety of recipes from which to choose, whether preparing a meal for family or friends from the neighboring ranches or, shoot, if you happen to live in a city then this type of cooking is sure to please. Over the years we have been fortunate to enjoy many pounds of prime rib cooked the Perini way with the flavor of the beef drawn out with his Texas Herb Rub found on page 85, cooked over mesquite coals and served with some of the delicous recipes that can be found in the side dishes section, followed by Tom's bread pudding with whiskey sauce found on page 173, leaves me hoping others will be so fortunate. In additon to recipes, the book is filled with ranch photographs taken by a well-known rancher/photographer and the food photography is stunning. Also the information about historic ranches, ranch cooking and the old photographs will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in real Texas food told by a man who is now sharing great food ideas with you.

Since we frequent Perini's Steakhouse, we know Tom's award-winning cuisine first-hand! His cookbook is a "no-holds barred" approach... giving ALL of his famous recipes from his unbeatable steak rub to green chile hominy to his signature bread pudding with whiskey sauce!

In addition to fabulous recipes, the book also showcases wonderful photography depecting life in West Texas. Sidelines feature insights into several famous Texas ranches.

Your cookbook collection shouldn't be without this book! It is one you will be sure to use often!

Texas Cowboy Cooking by Tom Perini arrived yesterday. It is a cookbook that makes you want to jump up and make the recipes as you are turning the pages of the book. We have already tried the Cowboy Bloody Mary, Lisa's Favorite Caesar Salad, the seasoned olive oil for the Sourdough Bread Chips to use as croutons for the salad and are in the process of making the Sourdough Starter for the Sourdough Bread. It's the best Caesar Dressing that we've tried and the croutons are very good.

The historical information is good and has added color to this cookbook. It is not Texas boastful--simply well done. We plan on giving it as Christmas gifts to family members who have visited us here in Abilene, Texas.

Montague Mad-Rat lives in the sewers of New York City with his family. Every year the rats pay a man not to poison them, but when his nephew takes over, they decide to raise $100,000, instead of the usual $50,000. Montague and his uncle play a huge roll in donating the money, just by selling some tiny shells that Montague had painted. Montague also likes a she-rat, Isabel, who's father is at a high place in the rat-goverment.

Montague is an isolated sewer rat (sewer rats are very unappreciated) who lives with his parents and many rattling siblings. Montague spends his days collecting berries and feathers for his mother. She then creates beautiful rat hats with the supplies. One day, while Montague is gathering his supplies, he stumbles upon the most breath-taking rat he has ever seen. Her name is Isabelle Moberly-Rat. Somehow, she is left behind by her family and does not know how to get home. But not to worry- since Montague is a sewer rat, he can take her home by going through the sewers. The only problem is that Isabelle lives in the Wharfs. The Wharfs is the place where rich rats live. So Montague feels pressured into saying that he too lives in the Wharfs. Impressing Isabelle is not the only dilemma Montague has to face. He also has to try to save all the wharfs from being poisoned by the owners. To stop this action, Montague has to collect one hundred thousand dollars and pay it to the owners. If he doesn't, the whole population of Wharf rats will be doomed. This book is well written and the characters are admirable. The story is Romeo and Juliet rat - style. The author does an impressive job of telling the epic love story between two rats. This book deserves a five star rating because not one part of it is disappointing and it is a fantastic story.

This was one of the best books I have ever read. I am 11 years old, and the reason I got that book was because I have a rat. This book really makes you think twice about rats, and lets you see the difference from upper-class wharf rats to paw-working sewer rats. I rate this as it should be rated, very highly.

I am blessed to own some woodland in New England, and my forester recommended this book.

The author writes with the same love for the land that I have, but with much more knowledge. He really enjoys the wonderful details that exist in a forest, and he illuminates them with clear explanations of how the landscape has evolved. The general tone of the book is one of guided investigation for the curious, so there is a great deal of warmth in it.

I don't know how well it works for those who do not have a basic knowledge of trees. If you are not already familiar with the different kinds of tree, you may want a tree identification book too.

I can't give this book five stars because the illustrations were not as helpful as I would have liked. I wanted color and a better sense of the textures. Illustrations of indicator plants would have been a big bonus in the appendix, and I wish they had been provided.

For a more technical book, see Working with Your Woodland by Mollie Beattie. It contains more information and is geared to the landowner, but it doesn't have nearly as much soul. For example, Wessels' book describes stumps with a keen loving eye. They barely get a mention in Beattie's book, and their significance is lost.

Reading the Forested Landscape, first of all, plainly deserves readers outside of New England. While the particular forests the book looks at are in the northeast, Tom Wessels' approach and style won't be lost on anyone with an interest in natural history. Give this as a gift to a birding friend, or for someone to keep in their cabin.

The bedrock of the book is patient, graceful storytelling. At the outset of each chapter, Wessels shows us a simple print of a forest. He asks us to wonder what made that forest, and then he leads us, in unaffected voice, through his thinking as he answers that question. Why is this maple here? Are the trees here fire damaged? Wessels describes the outlines from which we can read a larger story. Each chapter is a little mystery, in a sense. Those little puzzles are fun.

It's apparent how carefully Forested Landscape was crafted. This isn't just a collection of portraits; the chapters progress from one to the next intelligently. For example, you learn how to recognize a fire in one chapter; at the beginning of the next, Wessels starts by asking whether a similar fire has taken place in this new spot. That's a simple transition, but it really helps you stay in the flow of the writing. The author's smart enough to reinforce what you've learned at the same time that he's establishing continuity in the larger story. This book reads through wonderfully.

And there's a bigger picture you're reading toward, too. Each chapter also includes a broader natural history subject related to its particular forest. You've seen a few trees, and you've puzzled out the sort of setting you're looking at; now, by touching on a bigger natural historical theme, you place that forest in the natural world as a whole. Forested Landscape does a wonderful job of drawing you into that big picture. How can we look at an eastern forest without thinking of the Chestnuts that dominated there until early this century? Sure, maybe those trees are gone now, but they're part of this story. (The chestnut blight as told here has real pathos to it. You'll feel like doing something to bring them back.)

The patient, graceful, intelligent tone of this book reminded me of Chased By The Light, a collection of Jim Brandenberg photos taken, one shot a day, in the northwoods of Minnesota. I'm from Minnesota, so I took out Brandenberg's photos to look at every once in a while while I read. Buy yourself a collection of local nature photographs, things from your area. Or give the photos and Reading the Forested Landscape together, as a gift. Satisfying.

Reading the Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England, reminded me that many general biology students will wander through woodlands and prairie perhaps aware of molecular happenings and yet oblivious to what the landscape is saying. This book can add delight to an ordinary stroll through an overgrown pasture or a drive through what at first glance appears to be monotonous countryside. Deducing the past history of a landscape invites more detailed observations than casual hiking even if the landscape is far from New England. This thin volume contains original high quality etchings of different landscapes. Each etching is accompanied by a detailed interpretation of the history of the forest. Human additions to the landscapes are included as a natural and important part of the history. The strength of the book lies in the insights into the reasoning behind conclusions. This reasoning has allowed me to make some transitions to the semiarid portions of Texas where I spend most of my time. The history of New England is naturally and liberally integrated into the stories of the landscape. This is not a forced history/science link but a very natural and intriguing story that unfolds with each new etching. A glimpse into the future is provided in the last chapter, rounding out a wonderful view of landscapes.