I first read this book over the summer of 1957. I got it through the Weekly Reader book club. I was interested in the classics at the time and David and the Phoenix fit right in. The author made the characters so true to life that I wished for a long time that I could stumble upon a bird like the Phoenix and make it my friend.

This was just a great story and I read it at exactly the right time of my life. When my son was smaller I looked in every used book store and library I could find for a copy. I wanted him to read it so much. Unfortunately time has marched on and he is now 16 and probably will not be interested in reading it. But, I am going to get a copy any way.

I heartily recommend this wonderful book for the preteen set.

I was never much of a reader. However, the summer of 1975, just before seventh grade, I picked my mothers old worn copy of the book that she had had since her childhood from her shelf and began to read it. I was enthralled immediately and was unable to put it down. I have never forgotten the excitement I felt while reading of David's adventures. Not only did this book launch me into a wonderful, unforgettable journey with David and the Phoenix, it put reading and fantasy into a new light. I have loved reading ever since and will never forget the book that showed me you can see without pictures. This book is exciting to all who read it and is definately a classic.

Unfortunately my mother no longer has her copy of the book, but I am determined to get another. I have children of my own now and it would be a terrible loss not to be able to share this story with them.

"David and the Phoenix" is an unforgettable learning adventure for all ages!!

This is THE book! This is the book that made this boy fall in love with reading over 40 years ago. This book was my first love. This book has never left my memory. It is as though I read it yesterday. This is the book which filled this 10 year-old with wonder and thrills. This book was the first piece of art that made me cry. Read this book to your children or grandchildren... or better yet let them read it themselves... but don't be surprised if they can't put it down and read in bed under the covers with a flashlight when they are supposed to be sleeping. Through the years I have met so many of my contemporaries who fell in love with this book and have never forgotten it. One doctor who had read it suggested that it helps children of that age deal with their questions about life and death. After reading the first two Harry Potter books I am convinced that Rowling must have read this book. Be sure to read the reviews of this book in the "Out of Print" section of amazon.com. You'll see the impact that this book has. The people who read and were moved by this book brought it back into print through the internet reviews, auctions and rare book sites. If you have a 9-12 year old child buy them this book. Thank you Purple House Press for listening and bringing this book back into print after 40+ years. Thank you so much, Edward Ormondroyd!

I spent the first part of the book as this tragedy unfolded crying my heart out. I defy anyone to read this book and not be so affected.

The second part I was angry and outraged....at the people who destroyed the blameless school janitor, who blamed the Sisters for not getting the children out when there was nothing anyone could have done differently, for the death threats against the priests and nuns at the school. I was angry that a new school was planned within days of the fire when the babies and the nuns killed hadn't even been buried. I was outraged that the courts were more concerned about embarassing the archdiocese than bringing the arsonist to justice. I was outraged that they would build a new school on the same site with the same name and not make any mention whatsoever of the fire and its victims, living and dead.

I was angry that they refused to allow the victims to talk about it, preferring to sweep it all under the rug, that there was no counseling, either for them or the firefighters who were equally traumatized.

I've never had a book affect me so deeply.

I found TO SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS one of the most fascinating books I have read in decades. Now a college professor, I was a teenager in New York when the fire took place. I was struck by the senseless horror of it: it stayed in my mind for years and when I read TO SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS I finally could learn all that I had now known about the work. I actually went to Chicago, met some of those survivors of the fire, went to the old neighborhood, visited cemeteries and relived my own past and could learn about that horrendous fire. I have never done anything like this as a result of reading a book and I have, believe me, literally read thousands of books in my long teaching career. Hats off to the authors: they have that unique talent that all professionals strive for-- to make History come alive both for those who were involved in it (in whatever way) and for those who never experienced the event. This is the BEST book on the subject of current History that I have ever read. I cannot speak too highly of this work and I recommend it to anyone who wants to become involved in one of the most heartbreaking events of our age. I have reread the book six times and plan to do it again. My students are fascinated by the work and many have begun independent research work on the fire, due only to the skill of the writers of TO SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS.

I just completed "To Sleep With the Angels," and felt compelled to to share my thoughts and emotions with other readers. As a student during the 1960's and 1970's, I received the benefit of the fire safety regulations mandated as a result of the fire. I grew up in a parish near Our Lady of Angels, and remained in the neighborhood well into adulthood. Two of my cousins attended OLA at the time of the fire. Accordingly, I understood the serious nature of fire and air raid drills, and knew that one day, the drill might be real. Although our Catholic school building was constructed before 1949, we had the benefit of fire doors (which were always closed), sprinklers, fire alarms within easy reach of the students and a fire box in front of the school - things which, as a group, could have saved numerous lives in the OLA fire. The phoenix of the fire was increased safety of future generations. Reading this book reminded me that I should not take such safety for granted. Moreover, I am pleased that the authors portrayed the BVM sisters as the courageous women they are. I highly recommend this book because it erases myths surrounding the fire, commemorates the victims and finally tells the stories of the brave men and women who risked their own lives to save those of the OLA students.

Some of the previous readers may have felt that the author's examples were "fake" and "made up" but I can tell you that if you have spent years doing something less productive than that which you knew you really ought to have done, you might actually "burst into tears" in the author's office. Admitting money mistakes can be very difficult, particularly when you "intellectually" knew better.

Nonetheless, this book is energizing and encouraging. I have provided some of the charts to staff that work for me in the hopes that it will encourage them to save for their retirement early and constantly.

I read many books, and I've read many on financial investing--this one provides lots of motivation and encouragement in addition to its clear explanations and wonderfully practical advice.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. There are other excellent books on investment and financial planning, and each individual should start with one that speaks to him or her. A book like this one explains the basics without confusing the consumer!

Best wishes on your financial fortune!

I am a Certified Public Accountant with a background in financial planning. In February, I purchased the book for myself. The information wasn't new, but it spoke to me in volumes. For Valentine's day, I purchased the book for my assistant and secretary.

I have finished the book once, and have now been going through it a second time implementing each of the seven items.

During tax season, many of my clients ask for advice? What should we be looking to invest our money in? What does the Roth mean? How much insurance do we need? How do we plan for retirement? Should we be making gifts to our children's college fund? Many times I am not able to spend as much time, during the tax season as my client will need to absorb the information provided then begin working on the plan. This book allows my clients the time to understand the basics of financial planning. Know the time requirements on both them and myself to become effective. This is a wonderful starting point.

I often recommend books that I have read on financial planning, but this was the first time that I not only have recommended the book I went out and purchased over a dozen additional copies. I have given them out not just to Smart Women, but young couples, and those looking toward retirement. The information is sound. It's easy to understand. If the steps are followed they will make any client Finish Rich.

I also picked this book up by accident at a local book store. I saw the title and thought that maybe this book would help me get my financial life in order. I am 20 years old and thought that the best time to start was now. I was hesitant to invest and save for retirement, but after reading this book, I'm glad that I have started putting money away. Mr. Bach explains terms in a way that are easy to understand. I was intimidated by words and phrases like '401(k)' and 'money market accounts'. After reading this book, I feel like I have a much better understanding of these concepts and can put my new found knowledge to good use in securing my financial future. This is a must read for anyone who is looking to better understand the investment world and start saving smartly. It is a great book for women, but it can also be shared with your male relatives and acquaintances. It is just an all around great book!

This is a touching book that made me never want to stop reading. Darcy is a sixth grader who loves her older brother David so much. He means the world to her. Then he gets this girlfirend, who he seems to love more than Darcy. But Darcy can't accept that- she hates the girlfriend. Then on her birthday David got them both the same gift, which Darcy later found out was the girlfriends idea. She starts to run away- David chases after her and gets killed. This is where the book starts to get intense. David's heart is soon transfered to another hospital and is donated to someone else. Darcy belives that if she finds the heart reciever,(who lives in Florida)she can still feel davids heart. Then she takes her best friend on a runaway journey to find the 12 year boy from Miami who recieved David's heart. They face many challenges, but work together to accomplish their goal-to find David's heart. It was an interesting book. I loved it, and so will you!!!

The title of the book I am reading called Searching for David's Heart.The aurthor is Cheire Bennett.The reason I read this book was because it looked very worth while.The main characters in this book are Darcy,Sam,David,and Jayne.Searching for David's Heart is about a girl named Darcy wishing that her brother was dead because David kissed Jayne(Jayne is David's new girlfriend).Darcy's wish came true and David was killed.Now Darcy has a lot of guilt.Darcy and Sam decide to go look for David's heart.Darcy thinks she will have found David's heart when she finds the kid with his heart.I recommend this book to people between the ages of 11 and 50.I encourge a lot of people to read this this wonderful book,Searching for David's Heart.

Searching For David's Heart was one of the best books I have ever read. It is the story of a twelve-year-old girl named Darcy and her search for her brother David's heart. It all starts when David gets a girlfriend and he doesn't spend as much time with Darcy and she starts to feel neglected. At her birthday party David brings his girlfriend and she thinks that is the worst! Then when she finds out that he got Darcy the same necklace that he got his girlfriend she gets very angry and takes off running away from David. While David is chasing her to try to get her to calm down and say sorry, he runs out and gets killed in an accident. After David dies, his organs are donated. Darcy cant stop thinking that it is her fault that her brother died. She cant sleep or eat very well because she keeps telling herself that she killed her brother and she doesn't deserve to get rewarded with things like food and sleep. Her and her best friend decide to find who has David's heart. When they search to find David's heart their final result says the boy who has it lives all the way in Florida... They live in Wisconsin. Their parents would never let them go find David's heart for various reasons so they decide not even to tell them. They go off without supervision and get into many instances where they have to work together to continue on their journey. This book was very touching and it made you appreciate your loved ones even more. If you like sad/touching stories I believe that you would really enjoy reading this book. I know I did!

Courageous, Brave, Lonely, and Survivor are only some of the traits David Pelzer possesses in A Child Called "It".
This book was about a kid, David Pelzer, who experienced one of California's worst child abuse cases ever during the 1970's.The day he started getting abused, he vowed he'd defeat his mom.And not let her get satisfied with her beatings. He would take the beatings hoping his mom would get bored and stop.
His alcoholic mother was "sick" because during the day while David was at school, she'd be at home thinking of different torturous games for David, when he arrive home. She made him eat feces from his brothers diaper, made him drink ammonia,and she starved him. She also did other frightening thing to him. All of this was done in front of his cowardly dad who did nothing! How does David, escape his mothers torturous games?
I thought this book was an inspirational story about a child's struggle, courage, and will to survive. When I started reading this book I just couln't put it down. I kept wongering what would happen next. Would he survive? Would he get seriously hurt or would he die?
Overall I thought that this book was great. The way Dave Pelzer wrote the book, you can picture his pain and also feel it. If I was to rate this book from a 1 to a 10, I'd give it a 9 because I thought the book was so well written.

WOW that's what i say. What a brillient book. I never put it down and highly recommended it to friends. I cried all the way through it, not to sound patronising but i felt Dave Pelzer's pain and heartache. What kind of mother does that to her child??? The things he was made to do where beyond belief, yet he still did them-he didn't run away. This is the sort of book that really inspires people and makes them apprieate what they have in life. Dave Pelzer suffered the worst case of child abuse seen in America, but not in vain-if anything it has taught people to be more vigilant and forth-coming. It made me smile with happiness at this innocent child's bravery but also cry in profound sadness at the way he was treated. My heart goes out to you. You've really turned things around for yourself, writing about your experiances, selling millions of books and being a best selling aurtour-THAT'S AMAZING. If anything we can learn form this and stop it happening to other innocent children. An astounding and heart-renching read. Good luck in the future all the love and happiness Mr Pelzer-a throughly inspirational man.

The book a child called it would have to be one of the best books that I have read in a long time. The way that this whole book is put togather is remarkable.This child went through so much and thank the lord above he is still alive today for his own safety and to write about his experience as a child to let others know of the child abuse that is happining in this world today. This book really touched me, it made me have so much anger and hate towards his mother and father. How could his father sit there and let all this mental and physial abuse just happen to his own child, his own flesh and blood. It's so ridiculous. Just reading this book made me think about all the children out there who are just like David, getting abused, it made me want to get up and try to do something about it. It made me so full of anger and sadness for David. All togather I belive this book is extrodanary and I would recomend it to anyone.

The River Why has become a family favorite ever since the winter I read it aloud to our precocious kids.... who are still fond, 3 years later, of saying things like "got him!" or "witlesses" or "twinkies catch big ones!" They will even occasionally quote Isaak Walton as they hawker into the fire...

My thesis is that any book about a solitary young man's learning to see the entire world as a metaphor for fishing, only to be hooked himself by the power of love, while being funny, profound, serious, uproarious, symbolic, cathartic, and a love story about the world and the Fisher of Souls must be packing a wallop... and this one is.

The River Why was published by the Sierra Club, either in one-dimensional reflex, or in a sudden access of Light to an editor.... and it is a book about living in harmony with nature. But more than that, it's about aligning one's soul with what has been said, thought, felt, and done over the past few hundred years.

This is a book that has made me guffaw, cry, and, always, think. I re-read it every couple of years with joy... and wish that to every reader who ventures on the trout-laden waters of the River Why.

A few years back, I talked to a friend I hadn't heard from in a few years and she asked how I was doing. I replied, "Pretty good, but I have this incredible urge to go stand in a river for a couple of weeks fly-fishing." (I've never fly-fished in my life.) She said, "You just read The River Why, didn't you?" Duncan is masterful at playing the reader as well as Gus plays a fish. He sinks the hook into you so subtly, you're not even aware it's there and guides you to realizations about yourself. The River Why may be the most spiritual book I've ever read, and yet is never santimonious. When I travel, I take a copy of this book along to read on the plane. More often than not, I wind up giving it away to a perfect stranger in the seat next to me.

I read this book at the insistence of my boyfriend, an avid flyfisher and owner/operator of a fly fishing shop. Not being a fisherman, I approached the book with some hesitation as to whether I'd enjoy it. I found the story of the piscatorial and philosophical pursuits of a guy named Gus to be endearing, enlightening and entertaining. A knowledge or love of fishing is not required to enjoy the adventures of Gus nor the clever prose and talented use of language by David James Duncan. I believe just about anyone would like this book, whether they are a worm-dunker, dry fly purist or non-fisher. I plan on purchasing a copy for my father, a dreaded worm -dunker according to my boyfriend

Not only is this book a must read for Earnhardt fans and nascar fans, but for anybody who doesn't know that much about Winston Cup Racing or the race drivers. This book gives an indepth insight into the daily life of a nascar driver. Dale,Jr. is an amazing person and race driver. I highly commend him for trying to show everybody(fellow race drivers, fans, friends and family), that he is his own person. In my opinion, Dale Jr. is emerging out from behind the shadow of his Daddy. Dale Jr. wants people to see him for who he is and what he has accomplished on his own. Dale Sr. was a great man, there will be nobody to take his place. I was a hugh fan of Dale Sr. But, people look at Dale Jr. and expect him to act and do like his Daddy would. In this book, Dale Jr. gives you an insight into, not only his racing career, but he also gives you an insight into part of his personal life. I loved reading this book so very much, and I recommend it to everybody. I am a hugh nascar fan, and Dale Sr. was my favorite driver . I am now a super hugh fan of Dale Jr. I never miss a race on T.V. After reading Dale Jr.'s book I'm an even bigger fan than before, if that's possible.

"Hi everyone, this is Dale Jr." begins the Introduction and from that point forward, you sense Junior is talking to you directly.

DRIVER #8 is a first-rate account of Dale Jr.'s inagural 2000 Winston Cup season, from the Daytona 500 thru the NAPA 500 in Atlanta, Georgia, as told by Junior himself in a fashion even a non-NASCAR fan can appreciate. From February thru November, 2000 you go behind the scenes with a Winston Cup driver, meet with sponsors, mingle with fans, and realize first hand the inordinate demands and weekly pressure put upon a racing rookie in this most competitive circuit, not to mention a "legacy" and budding superstar like Dale Jr. This book is so well scripted, I read all 300+ pages in one evening, and frankly, I haven't done that it quite some time. BRAVO to #8 on another victory. You continue to make your Dad proud!

So if you're a NASCAR or Little "E" fan, or just want to know what all the excitement's about, do yourself a favor, plunk down the $17 and proceed to checkout!

As a Dale Jr. fan I'd read anything he does but this is simply a well written piece of work. He may be a youngster in the sport but Dale Jr. can write with a maturity while still maintaining his youthfull sense of style and humor. Although those that don't follow races every week may not understand some things he talks about or find the summary of races a bit boring....NASCAR fans will enjoy getting a behind the scenes feel for what drivers and their crew go through week after week, be it the thrill of victory or the low points after a heartbreaking bad day. I especially loved Dale's honesty about the things he does off the track, like the appearances he makes, how he feels about them and the fun he has with friends at Club E. After reading this book I'd give anything to see Dale at Halloween as "Dirk Diggler".....what a hoot!!

DON'T get this book if you are looking for a "life story" about his childhood or a biography about Dale's life after losing his dad. Although he touches on it in the Epilogue, this is a book about Dale JR, not SR and as Jr says in the beginning, that book may be coming years down the road.

I'm proud to be a fan of one of NASCAR's rising stars and this book will make the upcoming 2002 season all the more enjoyable.

This is the first review I've ever written on Amazon. This book made such a difference in my life, I had to comment on it. Six months ago I decided I needed to do something to get in better shape. I was in decent shape, I played raquet ball a few times a week, but I couldn't run more than a mile and really didn't have any interest in doing so. I came across the book title on Amazon and decided to check it out. I read the book while on vacation and decided I was going to run a marathon. I did the pre-training for a week and then began the program. Then the most important part, I started telling friends and family I was going to run a marathon.

I finished my first marathon yesterday( 10/28/01) in Mystic, Connecticut, in four hours and 51 minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I learned that the marathon was the reward and the training was the goal. During my training I read a number of marathon books, they all had helpful advice, but none were as important as this book. It was a guide, a reference and logbook. Its no longer just a book, its a memoir of the journey to my first marathon!

Yesterday 10/15/00, I ran and finished my first marathon! I purchased this book back in May/June, read through it that month, chose my marathon, and started the program. I did exactly what the authors said and as an extra helper--I even signed up for a marathon class (but I did not use the class' 6-day weekly training schedule). It turned out, I really didn't need the marathon class, the book alone was enough! I used the 4-day weekly schedule and the mental imagery exercises and it worked! I even missed a few days of training, which I thought might have hindered my efforts during the marathon but my longest run was 18 miles and as they write in the book, "if you can run 18 miles, you can run 26!" Being a first-timer, I set no time goals, my only goal was to finish--(one tip I did take from the class was to do the marathon 5 miles at a time), and I finished my marathon in 5:18. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! I recommend this book to anyone who has an inkling of a thought that they might want to run a marathon--get this book and get started! YOU CAN DO IT! "LESS THAN 1% OF THE POPULATION EVER ATTEMPTS A MARATHON." JOIN OUR 1% MARATHON FAMILY!

I ran a few miles several times a week before I bought this book but really didn't think my knees or lungs could go much farther than about six miles. I had been talking about running a half-marathon for years. Finally I was talking to a runner who said if I was serious about it I should buy a book and start training. So I upped my goal to a full marathon, bought this book, read it, followed it, and 16 weeks later I finished a marathon. Other than a commitment to do it, it was almost that simple. The book's approach to staying healthy, staying positive, and finishing the marathon was right on the money. As I trained alone, the stories by other runners really helped. Most amazing was the timing of advice. Often I would get off track or start to set unrealistic goals and about that time, the book would get me back focused on my goal - stay healthy, stay positive, finish. The four day per week approach is also a big plus. With my travel schedule I don't think I could have stuck to a more aggressive schedule. If you follow the plan, four days a week is all you need. Amaze your friends. Commit to this and do it.

This book should probably be read every two or three years. It's a wonderful, effective motivational tool. It stresses finding success, happiness and peace of mind at the level you believe that you can achieve. Although THE MAGIC OF THINKING BIG has been deemed a management tool, it could also be a personal development and life skills textbook because it works on the mind, not just the business.

According to the author, the differences between the successful people and others include confidence and positive thinking and reinforcement.

You actually feel empowered and worthy after you've read this. These are powerful concepts. I highly recommend this book

David Schwartz's classic success book "The Magic of Thinking Big" is one of the top ten all time best proactive success books. After you have read it you will begin to refer to the earlier part of your life as "before I read the book." Even before you finish reading it the first time, you will be a changed person - it's that incredible. I say first time because you will want to read it again and again. My copy is well read, well read, and well marked. It has been a treasured part of my library and I've recommended it to others countless times.

I consider David Schwartz to be one of the earliest "proactive thinkers" in the world. If you haven't read this book before, get ready for profound wisdom. Schwartz makes it easy to understand that our thoughts are things and have God given powers, far beyond what is commonly taught by others. I can tell you from my own astonishing situations and experiences that, "your success really is most definitely determined by what and how you think."

Schwartz covers all of the proactive bases: smart thinking, system thinking, futuristic thinking, and positive thinking. If you are truly seeking the kind of success and abundance that makes your life 100% livable - you must read this book. Many of his ideas are found in SUCCESS BOUND, another book built on learning how to live a proactively life that is God centered and fulfilling.

You will find that this exciting book becomes a part of you. Don't hold back - let it happen. In fact, you should spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning focusing your thoughts on the truths of this book, thereby allowing them to seep deep into your subconscious mind. If you do this I guarantee this wisdom will most assuredly bring you the success and abundance you deserve.

Enjoy the book and your new proactive success life!

It is always shady when you see someone using the usual cliché "This book has changed my life!". While I usually don't
take those comments seriously (too much money wasted in 'life-changing' books, I guess) I have to admit that sometimes
a particular book hits you with more impact than usual and after a couple of years some self-examination might leave you
with the impression that perhaps the author has indeed influenced your choice of paths more than you would have expected.

This was the case with me and Dr. Schwartz's "Magic". I am not an intense fan of self-help and motivational literature,
but do read a title or two now and then. I have read many of the classics like Dale Carnegie's books (almost all), Napoleon Hill's "Think and grow rich", Covey's "The 7 habits of highly successful people" and others like "How to be a start at work",
"The power of positive thinking",Psychocybernetics" and many more that have sold millions, are mentioned everywhere and everybody seems to love.

Maltz, Hill, the list goes on. The fact it that so far no book of this kind has proven to be as effective with me as this one. I
even felt I have wasted too much money. Not the case with this particular book. This is the kind of title where you read things you already know, you are after all mostly just looking for motivation. That extra push to get you going in particular moments when things aren't flowing as easily as you'd wish. And for that use, my preference goes to books that have an honest simplicity. This title isn't verbose, it isn't very technical or full or scholarship, perhaps even some of its examples are fully fictional. The truth is that I don't care about that, because it has proven very effective.

If you are looking for something to motivate you (in any area), I suggest you try this title first. The effect with you might be quite different.
Perhaps Napoleon Hill's style suits you better (I truly disliked his books) or maybe some other author. But to many of us, Schwart'z approach is perfect. I first read this over a year ago, and can now look back and see certain aspects that were definitely made easier because if it. Overall, the only thing I regret is not having found this title much sooner in my life (I'm 27), but it will no doubt still prove useful for many years.

As a side recommendation, I suggest you combine this with the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, or the more accessible "The Art of Virtue" also based on Franklin's words, Dale Carnegie and as much wisdom and self-examination as you can come up with. The results won't be magic, but I'm pretty sure the improvement will be easy to notice.

Being a beginner at Cold Fusion, this book was a life saver as I began to build dynamic intranet applications. After familiarizing myself with the background to database connectivity using ODBC, I was able to jump into the meat of the book -- developing database driven apps quickly and effeciently. I have found the tag and functions index in the book to be a true friend on several occasions.

I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn Cold Fusion Programming. It is a great stand alone resource -- and even better if used in conjunction with the manuals supplied by Allaire with the purchased product.

I'm not a progammer, but a Project Manager with NO programming training, so I needed major help in learning how to write SQL scripts. The first day I got Ben's first book, it paid for itself!

Thanks to his ability to clearly communicate, with solid sampling, I am now proficient in developing dynamically generated web sites.

Ben's books are by far, the best on the market!

This book was fantastic. Sure there are the few editing errors common with computer books. I knew NOTHING about Cold Fusion or database connectivity to the web before I got this and now I've written a dozen or so Cold Fusion applications for the UPS intranet. An EXCELLENT resource for beginners and professionals with a tag index for quick referencing. A chapter on SQL also for those who don't know it. It will teach you everything you need to know to get your application online and running. Great Great Great!