I work in an Elementary school library and i often read to Kindergarten and First grade students. This book is a warm fuzzy story about a little girl and her aunt. The pictures are outstanding and it even has a surprise ending. My students loved it. This is the perfect cuddle up and read together book. It left me wishing I had an Aunt May of my own.

For any lawyer, this book is a must. But it has so much valuable information in it about how people communicate that anyone could benefit from reading it. I have seen many books that merely tell me what I already know about observing and communicating with people. As a lawyer, a writer, and an actress, I find that this book gives me real, practical approaches that can be used in a variety of ways -- to reach others deeply, or to win an argument against them. I'm glad it is now available in a more affordable edition.

This book will open your eyes to problems that the world is dealing with in the mental health field. Issues such as depression, schizophrenia, sexual abuse, and substance abuse are seen differently when Western nations read about third world countries. While Americans are concerned about which medicine or therapy to take for their mental health, the third world countries are trying to get any help they can. A recommended book for any library.

I just bought this book today for my children. They loved it and so do I. I purchased it a book signing and Judy filled us in on the background for the story. My children's eyes got "as big as jelly donuts" and have learned sometimes you can get what you want. It is a very inspiring story. The illustrations are fantastic. Kids will enjoy picking out details from the pictures on each page. Thanks Judy for a wonderful story, pictures and inspiration.

"As a publisher of aviation art I have to extensivelyresearch my subjects which means reading almost every book on WW2 thatis available. Some good and some not so good. Many written in co-operation with a professional writer and although having an interesting story to tell, aimed mainly at the experienced and knowledgeable reader.

Very, very occasionally one finds a literary jewel and a treat lies in store. "THE WRONG STUFF" by Truman J.Smith is one such. You don^Rt have to know what a B17 is or be interested in the Air War in Europe to read this book. This is an incredibly moving human story, told with great eloquence and humor, of a young man, twenty years old, thrown in at the deep end of a murderous war who, fifty years later, has the incredible gift of being able to pass on to the rest of us the feeling of "being there."

And so we can all experience as never before the hardships on the ground and pre-mission nerves, the terrors unfolding all around at 25,000 feet watching new found friends hurtling to their deaths and knowing that the next shell could have your name on it. Relaxing on leave in London, laughing and searching for any diversions to pass the time until the next mission. They had to cram a lifetime's experiences into a few months because for tens of thousands of them there was no future.

I have tried but find it difficult to compare it with anything. This book made me laugh and brought a lump to my throat. It is just the best book dealing with the air war that I have ever read and should be required reading in schools so that the younger generation can appreciate the debt they owe to Truman J. Smith and his like.

"The Wrong Stuff" by Truman Smith is a memoir by a former copilot on a B-17 in the US 8th Air Force. Mr. Smith blazes his own trails in this book. He doesn't pull any punches about some of the screw-ups made during the war that cost lives, or about his own thoughts about the fact that every man involved in the war is killing other human beings. The only way to beat a bad enemy is to be worse. Smith's tale is at times hilarious, at times tragic, but always entertaining. He tells it in a breezy, easy-to-read style with plenty of wry comments thrown in. Not only are the air battle scenes well-written, but accounts of his experiences at the air base in England, of his trips to London where his youth and inexperience hamper his attempts at finding girls, and of his visit to the 'Flak Farm' where he is sent to recuperate from the stress of wondering whether or not he'll survive the next mission. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. As a historian and author who is researching two books on the 8th AF in WWII, I found this book really went a long ways toward explaining not only the horrors of war in the air but how the war affected the young men who fought that air war. I recommend it highly.

One of the few things more exciting than reading Truman's book is meeting Truman himself. Yes there is a Ponca City and yes he does live there. As a veteran of our "conflict" in Viet Nam I had experienced many of the same emotions found in the book. I especially appreciated his discussions on the guilt of surving and of not doing enough. If you get a chance read the book, you won't be sorry. If you have been to war or thought about war you owe it to yourself to read this book. Thanks Mike, for introducing me to Truman, and thanks Truman, for writing the book.

Terrific! The Best Rehab Book ever published!

Who can ask for more?

THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN IN SIMPLE AND CONCISE LANGUAGE IS A FAVORITE OF ALL MY FELLOW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PUT DOWN AND HAS BECOME A WELL WORN REFERENCE IN MY LIBRARY. --ANNE

This was my first book by James Huggins (I bought it after reading Newt Gingrich's review) and I was not disappointed. I have studied church history in the past and am familiar with the Waldensians, whose story this is based on, but had never heard of Rora, or the hero, Joshua Gianavel.

One reviewer said that the characters are unbelievable, and I can see how someone would say this. So, I looked around for more on Joshua Gianavel and found accounts of his life and the story of Rora in Foxe's Book of Martyrs and Wylie's History of Protestantism. Suffice it to say, the true Gianavel was quite a guy.

This story is inspirational on several levels. It shows what one person can do against seemingly insurmountable odds and it gives a good demonstration of someone with the courage of their convictions.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good story, as I had a very hard time putting it down. It will also give some insight into the Waldensian movement and the Inquisition. But I believe it especially needs to be read by those in leadership, as Gianavel is one who truly was a great leader.

Inquisitors, John Milton, Incomel, Sir Oliver Cromwell, and the long-rumored Assassini...This book is a collage of historical pivot points that remains, nevertheless, true to the heart of its story.

"Rora" follows Joshua Gianavel, leader of the Waldenses, as he bands his people to fight the horrors of the Inquisition. In the fortress-like heights of Rora, the Waldenses manage to stage miraculous victories over the far superior numbers of Marquis Pianessa's armies. Over and over, Gianavel holds off the marauders with strategic wisdom, heroic feats, and--never to be forgotten--Godly faith. In the light of the religion's gross errors, Gianavel's faith alone provides hope in the midst of brutal battle scenes and violent depictions. This book is not for the queasy. This is history brought to horrible and astonishing life. This is hate and bigotry displayed in all its ugliness. This is Godly light seen as a flared match in the darkness of the blackest times.

I've read most of James Byron Huggins other works and found them thrilling but often overwrought with pretensions of grandeur. Here, Huggins matches all that he's ever strived for. This style of historical fiction finds Huggins at the top of his abilities. "Rora" not only brings to life the actual characters that were given animal form in his earlier book "A Wolf's Story," it also shows the gamut of human emotions in the midst of a siege...honor, betrayal, love, hate, and genuine faith in God. I was moved by the human face of heroism and brutality. I was challenged by the steadfastness of a man who stood at his moment in time and refused to back down against overwhelming odds. "Rora" is a book to cherish--for its historical veracity and for its spiritual truths.

WOW!! If you have read any other James Byron Huggins novels, as I have, and are a little apprehensive of a novel based on actual historical events (which, sometimes, are not as attention grabbing as true fiction), as I was, don't be. Although it is a little difficult to keep track of all the different characters in all the different locations at first, Huggins does an excellent job pulling you into the story. Huggins writing style brings the story to life. I felt as if I was right there experiencing what the characters were experiencing. If you haven't read any Huggins novels, yet, I would highly recommend any of them. His ability to pull you into a story and the action is comparible to Frank Peretti. With the underlying Christian themes in his novels, you get the pulse pounding action adventure without the "junk" that some secular writers add. The bottom line is that I would highly recommend this book as well as others written by James Byron Huggins. Hang on to your seat. You're in for an exciting ride.

For its first two-thirds, "The Stars My Destination" is a clear-eyed, exciting and chilling tale of one man's drive for revenge. An anti-hero of the first order, Gully Foyle is one of the best-drawn, most nuanced science fiction characters ever. The heat of his passion can't fail to affect the reader and the sinister plot against which he struggles is revealed at a satisfying pace. The depiction of a future of "jaunting" teleporters and an insular, literally clannish society of the mega-rich is refreshing and well-thought-out.

Then I don't know what the hell happens. The Maguffin which has provided such a gripping read turns out to be a heavy-handed explosive plot device. An couple of entirely implausible amorous pairings-off are abruptly thrown into the mix. Foyle's motives become corrupted and nonsensical. Plot threads dangle, the elegant subtlety of the first part of the book is replaced with clumsy and incoherent preaching, and towards the very end the prose is supplanted with pointless concrete poetry and even illustrations. Ultimately, we get a massively disappointing conclusion to a work that verges on greatness for so much of its length.

I was fortunate enough to read this novel at the age of 13--possibly the best age to read it. I was never the same afterward. I don't know what went on in the wild and wonderful mind of Alfred Bester, but there should have been more like him. This book is indescribable--a pyrotechnic, psychedelic comic book of a novel. I sometimes suspect the explosive wham-blam style of such movies as _The Terminator_ and the lesser-known _The Hidden_ were influenced by Bester's writings. Heck, for that matter, since this book was published, what science fiction _hasn't_ been influenced by it? The world in this novel is marvelously well-thought-out and realistic. And there's never been a hero (or is it anti-hero?) quite like Gully Foyle. It is quite obviously based on _The Count of Monte Cristo,_ and I suspect also _Moby Dick._ I sometimes wonder if it wasn't also based on an okay novel by Edgar Rice Burrough's called _The Mucker,_ which was about a brutal Gully Foyle-type character who
becomes educated and turns completely into a different, and better man. But no matter what _Stars_ is based upon, it is a classsic SF novel, and one that any reader of SF should be familiar with.

My first experience with The Stars My Destination was when I was only 13 and at that time I read its Russian translation (I only recently began to learn English language). Since then, I consider it to be the best SF novel there is.
From its explosive begining, TSMD captured me with its amazing scenery, unusual - yet so closely familiar - protagonist and fresh writing style that characterize Bester's works. I won't go into details of TSMD's depth in terms of revolutionary but probable ideas, masterfully balanced pace, brilliant storyline, etc. They are all there, and some. All those elements, however are present in a number of other SF novels, yet I mark TSMD as the best one.
What makes Bester's masterpiece so special is the growth of the novel's protagonist. Starting as a mindless creature and through trial and error (as well as occasional twist of fate), Gully moves through the "evolutionary stages," eventually surpassing even the wildest expectations the reader might delevelop over the course of reading this novel. Depiction of Gully's "human" nature in all its perversion is simply brilliant. I can't believe 1950's public allowed that! But then making him use every conceivable method to fight that nature of his, bring it under control, it's really astonishing.
The buttom line: TSMD will be more than just a novel for many readers (myself included). It's a guide (perhaps somewhat sick and twisted, but still a guide) of how to change your life and pursue your goals, no matter the obstacle.

Although I'm not much of a horror fan, I decided to read Dracula since it was considered a classic and was hopefully pretty good. I'm glad I read it. It was a very interesting story. It wasn't what I was expecting. The whole novel is written as if you're reading someone's diary, telegram or news article. It starts with Jonathan Harker(a lawyer if I remember correctly) who is summoned to Count Dracula's castle to help Dracula obtain a home in London. He soon realizes Dracula is no ordinary man, but some kind of beast. This section takes about 1/4 of the book and then, after some deaths surrounded with unusual and frightening circumstances, Jonathan, along with some other interesting characters commit to not only prevent Dracula's move to London, but to kill him. This book was interesting in the fact that it was almost as if Dracula is not the main character of the novel, and I suppose in some ways, he's not. The book focuses much more on this group of people's attempts to hinder Dracula's actions and to cause his demise. Also, I liked reading the book and discovering the original story behind Dracula, not just all of the spoofs and parodies one sees today. I liked finding out that besides not liking garlic, crosses and sunlight, vampires also can't pass running water and can turn into wolves as well as bats. Although I can't say I was ever particularly scared reading this novel(probably because I don't really believe in vampires), I did find this novel to be very good, especially considering horror isn't one of the genres I'm particularly fond of. I definitely think it's worth picking up this book and reading it.

Everyone knows the name "Dracula," but the majority have only seen the legendary Transylvanian Count on the silver screen or through pop culture; few indeed have actually read the work that started it all.

One cannot claim to be a fan of vampire literature or of Dracula himself without having read Bram Stoker's tremendous work of gothic horror. Think that Dracula and other vampires can't be out in daylight? Wrong--they simply have no powers during the day, which you'd know if you read this extraordinary book.

Written in epistolary form (that is, as a series of letters and diary entries), the story is presented from the viewpoints of the main characters, from Jonathan Harker to his wife Mina to Dr. van Helsing. Rather than detracting from the story, this format breaks up what would otherwise be a rather long manuscript into manageable chunks and adds to the historical character of the novel.

Modern film interpretations have presented Stoker's story through the eyes of each producer, director, and screenwriter, with nearly all making wholesale changes--Mina Harker, for instance, is NOT the reborn lost love of Count Dracula as Francis Ford Coppola would have us believe. Many others who have "read" Dracula have done so through abridged texts that distort the story through omission. Pick up and read the story that started it all in its intended format... Bram Stoker's Dracula. You won't regret it.

One of the scariest books in history, DRACULA is nevertheless misunderstood. Our civilization is removed from the Victorian era. We think of it as somehow distant and quaint, and ourselves as modern. But when Bram Stoker published DRACULA in 1897, the Victorian era _was_ modern. Stoker meant to make the book more frightening than most books by bringing an ancient horror into a modern, anti-superstitious world. He uses typewriters and phonograph disks the way a modern writer would refer to the internet and e-mail. DRACULA's first readers might've looked out of their town or country houses and expected to see Dracula's gaunt figure emerging through the fog.

He tells the story through a series of diaries, letters, clippings. Normally this is an unweildy method of storytelling, but in this case it is most effective.

The novel is divided into three broad sections. In the first, young Jonathan Harker and Dracula have the stage almost alone. Though Harker's diary we learn details of his journey through eastern Europe to meet a Count who wants to travel to England, and Harker carries him certain important papers. Count Dracula's character comes across very strong and well-defined, and grows ever menacing as Harker slowly learns he is not going to be allowed back to England, but will become food for Dracula's vampiric harem.

The second part of the book, set in England, deals with Mina Murray, who is going to marry Jonathan; Mina's friend Lucy; three men who are in love with Lucy; and a good-hearted but mysterious Ductch doctor, Abraham van Helsing. The bulk of this part deals with Lucy's mysterious disease, her decline to death, and her transformation into a vampire that her suitors must destroy out of love. Dracula appears only fleetingly through the book, but the reader knows what happens, and suspects the cause of Lucy's decline.

In the last part, Jonathan, Mina, and Lucy's three lovers band with Dr. von Helsing in a pact to destroy Dracula before he can spread his contagion throughout England; and meanwhile, Dracula wreaks his vengeance on them for taking Lucy from him.

Stoker uses many ways of approaching his subject. Occasionally the horror is direct; but once it is established, he makes it subtle, working behind the scenes, in a way that may be even more frightening. Though he also uses different voices, his prose is invariably fine. And as each character has to overcome his aversion to ancient superstition and face Dracula with a mind open to the fact that there's more in the world than science and technology and late-Victorian materialism can contain, the book becomes eerily meaningful for the twenty-first century.

Modern purveyors of vampiric fiction dispense with the blatant Christian symbolism used to fight Dracula's ilk, such as a crucifix or sanctified host, or prayer. They also turn the evil of Dracula topsy-turvey and somehow invent sympathy for soulless monsters who view living humans as food. Stoker doesn't hesitate to show Dracula as an evil, totalitarian horror; as a contagion that must be eradicated; as an enslaver of women, like Lucy, and men, like poor Renfield. And Stoker has reason enough to realized that only Supernatural agencies could fight the supernatural. The saving Blood of Christ on the Cross, blood of which a soulless terror like Dracula cannot drink, is the most effective symbol for fighting and defeating this brand of evil. It was part of the novel's consistency that as the characters have to come to grips with the reality of ancient evil, they must also return to the symbols of good that they also have rejected in a narrow-minded embracing of the modern.

Dracula, the strongest character in Victorian fiction, does not weaken himself by the need to be "understood" or "pitied". He will destroy or be destroyed. And the worst destruction that could happen to him would be mitigation.

DRACULA may be the scariest book ever written; it's certainly the best of the classic horror stories. It's well-crafted and exquisitely constructed enough that it stands as a great novel even without genre pigeonholing.

The tape and book are great for the person starting into business or the seasoned manager and business owner. The name of the book should really be, "Tbe Practical Coach", because the author gives down to earth and valued "practical" and usable advise for success. The major differnce between this book and other "positive" thinking or motivational books is that the author sets you face to face with the reality of your responsibility for your own success and development. Some areas the reader may consider basic knowledge others he or she may consider life changing suggestions.

The Portable Coach packs the essence of the latest coaching technology into a compact and easily understood book. The tools provided are dramatic and life changing and are highlighted with real-life examples. The format is very pleasing with appropriate and memorable quotes, distinctions that clarify the language, top ten lists that provide practical answers, and the assessment tests that help you know where to start in using the tools to improve the quality of your life. Wow! a great package. I am using the book daily in my life and with my clients.

I took Thomas' Attraction course last year and benefited enormously--this book includes much of that course. Provides nuggets and suggestions that can be used by anyone in any organization, home, family, club, or business. Be sure and check out his great web site (thomasleonard.com) for even more insights. The quality of your life will definitely improve.