Social Work with Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: A Strengths Perspective should be required reading for everyone who works with people. It is definitely a text which should be under consideration for anyone wishing to enter the social work field. Katherine Van Wormer presents us with a solid foundation for the study of gay and lesbian lives. Her experiences with her daughter, and her experience with the sometimes accepting Lutheran Church, provided her with a necessary experience to tackle this subject with sensitivity and understanding.

Apart from providing a glossary for heterosexuals at the end of the book and a comprehensive list of usable resources, the most notable feature of this introduction to gay and lesbian studies is the use of asides which are strategically placed throughout the book. In each chapter, boxes can be found that highlight interesting facts, exercises, speeches, and testimony by gay and lesbian people as well as their supporters.

Unfortunately, the text is only an introduction. The students, teachers, and professionals who study this volume will get a good grasp of the complexity of this population. They will also come away from the volume realizing that there is indeed much more to study. More than that, they will come to know that they will also be learning more about themselves as they continue to investigate what they first conceived to be a group of people completely foreign to them.

This is definitely one of the better books to come along in recent years.

This thoughtful, abundantly documented book intended for social workers and other helping professionals presents a massive amount of material about the gay, lesbian, and bisexual experience that will be useful to all who wish to learn more, such as family members newly aware of a loved one's sexual orientation. The authors put responsibility for the pain of being gay or lesbian in our society squarely on the shoulders of the dominant culture, while at the same time they acknowledge the subtleties of various subgroups' response to sexual minorities. Among the many riches of this volume are a consistent emphasis on the strengths of gay and lesbian culture--"the joy and bonding and hilarity, the insider jokes, and the pride"--references to much illuminating research, a discussion of homophobia and violence against gays and lesbians on a global level, and a multilayered analysis of portrayals of gays and lesbians on television. The book is studded with the authentic voices of individuals: a straight social work student, a clergyman who stands up to bigotry, one author's experience coming to terms with her lesbian daughter's sexual choices. In its wealth of information, the broad spectrum of opinions offered, and the solid evidence of homework well done, the book succeeds in its aim of inviting an alliance between the social work profession and the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

This book, although written as a text for students in social work, is an up-to-date text for anyone interested in this subject. It is concise, informative, and easy to read, written in easily understood layman's vocabulary. Technical terms are defined, and an excellent glossary occurs at the end. Resources and references are included. The book begins with a historical background of sexuality, controversies in the origin of sexuality and civilization's attitudes of sexuality. It deals with the aspects of adaptation of LGB (Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals) to our heterosexual environment, its strengths and weaknesses. Further chapters deal with differences and similarities in LGB sexuality, aspects of LGB in the workplace (employment issues), social and psychological adjustments and issues of marriages, children, and aging. The final chapters deal with counseling and social work related issues of the LGB communities. The authors, all professors at the University of Northern Iowa, are knowledgeable and experienced. They have brought their expertise and collaboration to bear and have produced a lucid, concise, and easily readable volume that covers a multitude of heretofore obscure, often prejudicial material. I highly recommend this excellent work to all who seek information and insight into the subject.

I tried recipes from this book and they are awefull. Funky combinations that do not work. Some of the recipes are very basic and may appeal to people who do not like exotic or fancy food. For better recipes and recipes that offer more variety, flavor and flair, I like the American Diabetes Association Diabets Cookbook and Joslin's Diabetic Gourmet Cookbook.

I bought the first edition of this book in the early eighties to use the recipe exchanges along with "Eat and Stay Slim" by Better Homes and Gardens. I still use it to this day and whenever I serve meatloaf or chicken a la king from it I get compliments and folks want the recipes! Many of the recipes are easy to make and the kids love them.

This book provides such a wealth of information to anyone who is new to the world of a diabetic. It answered so many questions that I had and didn't know where to go for the answers.

With all the new products on the market, this updated version takes the pain out of grocery shopping in the supermarket skills section.

I bought three copies....One for my mom, one for a friend and one for myself and we all agree...Bon Appetit!

The cd that accompanies the book is worth the purchase price - but also makes the printed version archaic. Too bad to waste paper on publishing the huge book when the cd is much easier to use and once it's on your system it can be referred to in a couple of clicks of the mouse!

I found this book to be a valuable source for references and explanations on every Word subject. In the past, the books with built-in lessons and examples were the best way for me to discover all that Word has to offer. But this time, I was preparing for the Microsoft User Specialist exams and needed to be at Expert level on Word 2002. There are alot of new user features in Word 2002, and most people would find this book to be complete and useful. And it has a happy ending...I passed the Word 2002 Expert exam.

This book has just about everything you need to prepare for the MOUS certification. I love that the book explains just about every detail there is to word. It taught me some very useful tricks with Word. I do have one gripe I wish the section on VBA was a little longer. But overall I think that this is a great book.

The authors compiled a list of church signs they have seen while on the road. 134 pages of one, two or three clever eye-catching signs per page. It started with the title, on an empty church in North Carolina. Then they kept a notebook with them as they traveled and recorded these "snetence sermons" as they call them, adfter their epiphany in North Carolina. One of the catchiest, "When you meet tempation, turn to the light."

This is an easy read and a very enjoyable one.

I picked up this book at a thrift shop - my usual venue for book purchases - solely due to the title. I knew nothing of Mary Kingsley prior to reading this absorbing account of her life. Her childhood and early adult life would give no clue to the extraordinary adventures she would have in Africa, culminating in her death while serving as a nurse with the British Army in South Africa. Rudyard Kipling said of her that she was "the bravest person I know" - I hope I have the quote correct. I cannot check as I gave my copy of the book to a friend who bears a striking resemblance to Miss Kingsley.

I admit, I might be getting too critical when it comes to mystery novels lately. But I have read so many that I start to know what a really good mystery novel is and which ones are not. "Zero At The Bone" was the first novel that I have read by Mrs. Walker. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't bad at all, but the plot moved quite slowly and there was not much suspense. Most of the novel described in great detail the tasks and obligations that a zookeeper must go through. How to clean the cage, sweep the floor, feed the animals, take the snake out of his cage, and on and on. If you work at a zoo, you'll love this book I guarantee it! Although, the characters were well developed and likeable, I wouldn't put this book on my "must read list" at all. Not bad Mrs. Walker!

Brad Stonecipher

I really enjoyed Zero at the Bone. You never knew where the plot turns were going to take you. It is rare to find a mystery novel that leaves you guessing until the end. I found it a great read along with Mary Willis Walker's other books. I just wish she would write another one soon.

Walker does an excellent job with this book.

As you eneter Katherine's world it's crumbling away and then she gets notice that her father who she hasn't seen or heard from in year dies. She goes off to see him off and go through his extate. When she comes across something that doesn't seem right and this embarks her on a journey that will change her life.

Walker paints a powerful picture with her words. In one scene they come across a lion traped in a cage. You can actually see the lion and feel the cage and his imperfections with your hands. It will send chills up your spine.

This is her best book and the only one that stands on it's own. Her other books deal with continuing characters and are great, too.

Read. Enjoy. Then take a trip to a large zoo and enjoy the animals.

If you liked Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal with all there power you'll enjoy Mary Willis Walkers' work.

Allow your children to read these stories with parental discretion. Current day authors like the ones mentioned in the review are liberals with an agenda that is both immoral and anti-traditional family. I can't vouch for all the stories listed because I have not read them. However, I have read works by quite of few of the authors listed and they do not support conservative ideology. "Scout's Honor" by Avi is in my child's 6th grade "literature" textbook. The so-called comedy is about three arrogant Boy Scouts that earn a badge by lying, cheating and stealing. This story not only depicts the Boy Scouts in a bad light - has anyone heard about their pro-traditional family stand which they took recently - but it promotes the path of the ends justifying the means.

The original tales presented in this book are actual memories of childhood penned by notable children's book authors. Although most of the stories have 8-10 year-olds as their protagnonists, they deal with emotions and predicaments more easily understood, I think, by slightly older children.

Pre-teenage can be such an awkward time; these tales can be healing/instructive to those in this time of life. The authors all have written beautiful stories which really should not be missed. And, as an extra special "gift" to the reader, each story is followed by a one-page explanation/note written by the tale's author. It's a relief to realize that each author not only survived growing up, but also flourished. And I loved being allowed to share private memories of these marvelous authors.

As a great fan of Katherine Paterson, I was especially touched by her story, which involved her older, prettier sister. Perhaps even more revealing, however, is the note she wrote to accompany this story. I am sure that the feelings here expressed were the souce of her poignantly beautiful novel "Jacob Have I Loved." (Great for girls age 12 and up.)

This book also provided an introduction (at least for me) to several authors with whom I was not familiar; I look forward to reading more by them.

I am a 40-something, well-educated mom. I bought this book for my own family, but I will be purchasing more copies to give as gifts. And I look forward to the sequel to this book, already in print!

Holy hosannas! Praise the word of the Lord ... and have a few hearty chuckles at the same time. Mary and David Compton's teeny tome is a sequel to their first compendium of roadsign church signs cross America. In this pocket-sized pal, they have gathered more sources of unexpected wisdom; witty, thought-provoking marquee messages that inspire and amuse. Consider it a most "soulful" slice of Americana. There are close to 400 messages. Our top 3 faves: "THOSE WHO THROW DIRT, LOSE GROUND;" "BODY PIERCING SAVED MY LIFE" and "LIFE IS MORE FUN IF YOU DON'T KEEP SCORE." Our biggest problem is that the Comptons don't attribute the messages ... which makes us pray that these phrases were actually found in their travels --- and are not acts of sales-inspired sin.