I am related to Douglas Bader (actually to Thelma, his first wife). As a young boy I heard much of this amazing man. My parents had a copy of 'Reach for the Sky' and I read it several times over. Paul Brickhill achieved an amazing feat in this book - he captured the spirit of Douglas Bader and one cannot read this book without being inspired by Douglas's life. An excellent read.

I was in my early twenties when I first read this classic tale by Paul Brickhill about Britain's WWII R.A.F. "legless," ace-fighter pilot. In re-reading the book many times since, I can sense and feel the heroic determination of Bader and the pilots of the squadrons that he led. If any reader wishes to know why Winston Churchill was moved to perpetuate the heroism of these men in his famous, "Their Finest Hour," speech, this is indeed the book to read.

Originally written in 1954, I just read this book for the first time. It's a great biography of a flier who loses both his legs in a crash before WWII, then learns to walk with artificial legs without crutches or a cane. He becomes a top fighter pilot and tactician during the Battle of Britain, then is shot down and taken prisoner. A couple escape attempts land him in the famous Colditz prison for the duration, but he goes on to be a jet setting executive after the war. I thought Brickhill did an exceptional job of writing the story in an entertaining way. While it covered Bader's whole life from birth to the time of writing, it never dragged.

I read this book and watched the TV series around 1990. I credit Growing a Business, as much as anything I ever read or heard, for the success of my company today.

In 1992 a group of first-time entrepreneurs started a company together. Some of the group had a blueprint of how a company is supposed to start. Get capital. Build something. Launch it. Succeed. They had not read the book, or they had but did not believe it spoke to us.

Some of the group had a more organic idea, inspired in part by this book. Each company has its pace, its flow, its learning curve. The CEO is the clock, the pacer, the navigator. There is a constant calculator going on each decision, each day, extrapolating payoffs, comparing the costs and benefits. And there is a recognition of what we are going into business for and structuring the business to support those objectives.

For example, we wanted a great place for employees. Each employee would share the experience and benefits. The "Startup 101" types of books treat this topic as an add-on after you do all the important things. Hawken makes it primary. It is primary if you want a place for the best people to do their best work. Structure your company around the employee experience and all else falls into place - if that is the kind of company you want.

An important lesson from this book is serious initial capital for inexperienced entrepeneurs can be a mistake. Hawken describes this. So important. So easy to overlook.

Large amounts of startup capital allows you to outsource parts of a company you may not totally understand yet. It makes some mistakes very expensive. It dulls the creativity at times, the innovation to do more with less. It might encourage one to do things just because you see other companies doing them. It tempts you to make large steps, when it is critical in modern markets to learn to make many smaller steps.

And so on. This book may not fit every entrepreneur. It certainly does not provide all the information you need for growing a company. But for some of us it describes a pattern for growing a good company.

If you are thinking about starting a company, or are in the early stages of a startup, I recommend this book. It might change how you do things, and you might get more satisfaction from the adventure as a result.

A "humane" treatment of business. Hawken demostrates that business as practised by "corporate" America, where the interest of the shareholder is supreme, and where the employee is an"afterthought", is the reverse of what it should be. A farmer can't force his crop to grow too fast, or slow it's development: his crop has a speed that is just right. So with business: too much forced growth (with excess capital, for example) can be just as dangerous as too slow growth. This book should be read by anyone desiring serious longterm success

This book was written by someone who really built a business from the ground up. Mr. Hawken gives some great advice and makes it seem like anyone can succeed in business if they treat people right. This book was one of the first business books I read eight years ago while planning my business and I still consider it one of the best.

Mr. Hawken - if you read this, Thank You for a great book!

Paul Thomas Anderson shows us, yet again, how he can bring together many different characters, involved us in their different circling stories, and not let us lose touch with any one of them.

The shooting script is brilliantly written -- Anderson has developed a wonderful way of describing things and writing dialogue, which can, at times, sound shockingly realistic.

It's a delight for fans of the film, like myself, to read scenes that were deleted from the film, most notably, Stanley Spector meeting the mysterious character "Worm". After reading this part, you understand how it fits into this film.

This is a really well-crafted work of a story, which complements Paul Thomas Anderson's creative talent, and showcases everyday problems like regret, love, fear, and loneliness and shows how touching they can really be.

The pictures at the end of the book are very colorful and gorgeous to look at it, because the capture the feeling of the movie so well.

But, I'm a little dissappointed with the interview with Anderson, which comes after the screenplay. It's interesting to hear him talk about the inspiration for the story and characters. But, it doesn't feel very satisfying, because it feels severely edited, leaving you wanting to know more.

But, that's okay. The screenplay explains it all, giving you a wonderful, heartfelt story about real people struggling with the problems and unusual circumstances in their lives.

If you enjoyed the movie, this book will only make you love it more.

Admitted, I've not seen the movie. I loved Boogie Nights, which I thought was worlds beyond just "a flick about porno". It was deep, and intriguing, and dark. And this book is no different. These characters are not perfect, nor do they pretend to be. They are real, their emotions are real, and its so unabashadly beautiful how they can do what they feel when they feel it. Some of the writing (especially Frank TJ Mackey's monologues) are downright hilarious.

At first I thought that so many characters would make the story incoherant, harder to conceptualize exactly what was going on. The beauty of scripts, in my opinion, is the fact that you can visualize the film in your head, see the characters doing these things, ESPECIALLY if you haven't seen the movie, which I'm dying to do. Paul Thomas Anderson can't make a bad movie, or a bad script. The three stories intertwine and revolve around one long day in the San Fernando Valley; from the old, disheartened Quiz Kid, the young and new Quiz Kid, from the dying man and his frazzled bride, to the lonely cop with low ambitions. They all circle around one another beautifully, from scene to scene telling you the ultimate story about love, life, and what it means to actually BE there for someone. It doesn't have to be perfect, or beautiful, or meaningful, you can only do the best you can. At moments the script even pokes fun at itself, saying in one situation "this is the part in the movie where you help me out" which I thought was cool and funny and cute at the same time (and the FROGS! The FROGS!...) Don't doubt PT Anderson, his next will probably blow this one away.

But he'll have a hell of a time trying.

MAGNOLIA is the brilliant 3-hour intimate epic of Paul Thomas Anderson, writer-director-genius-walking God-auteur-idol.

It's the story of redemption, loss, lonliness and apocalyptic cataclysm over the course of one day but you can't begin to describe in words anything about what it's truly about even after seeing it.

MAGNOLIA was a brilliant film. At 3 hours and 8 minutes, MAGNOLIA is a vast film of such brilliant and breathtaking vision, it makes you wish they gave an OSCAR for BEST SCOPE.

I've read the screenplay by ANDERSON and bought the book and it too is brilliant, just like the film. But I suspect because of the publicized editing in the film, ANDERSON'S SHOOTING SCRIPT that is the book is actually more in depth in the nature of certain characters and scenes. The film neglects to explain fully some of the plot threads and the script scoops them up and cradles them in light.

It's a self-affirming jolt of a movie that is sure to be unpredictable by everyone. I do recommend both to everyone who can understand the pain of the characters.

The weirdest thing about this book is that the beginning is so true-to-life. The book was written several years ago, but the story is very much in sync with what is going on in the world today. This is my fifth Marcinko book and it's one of his best. It's his second fiction work, a follow up to Rouge Warrior: Red Cell, which is the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The action scenes in Green Team are much more exciting than Red Cell, but the plot just doesn't stand up to the latter. It develops at a break neck speed, but its quality fluctuates right up to the end. First time Marcinko readers will probably get hooked, just like I did with Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue, only to be more pleased with the discovery of his first and second books. Marcinko's crossing of the thin line between reality and fiction might annoy some readers who are not used to his style, but I think it's a very original welcomed breather from the "2+2=4" formulas of other action books. Marcinko is not the writer Tom Clancy is, but then again, Tom Clancy is not the warrior Marcinko is.

I'll admit to this guilty pleasure: I love the Rogue Warrior books. Not because they're great literature, but because they're just plain fun. I'm a Marine combat vet, so I can usually detect the (very) fuzzy line between military fact and fiction, but with Marcinko's books I throw up my hands in the amphibious salute and just go with it. Demo Dick's literary swagger is intoxicating, and his larger than life character is THE male archetype. All of us guys want to pump iron at Rogue Manor, throw down the double Bombays, and go shooting and looting with the SEALs' best.

It's not "the best book I've ever read," nor is it the SPECWAR primer that Rogue Warrior is. But for some unadulterated macho fun, Green Team (like the others in the series) can't be beat.

Marcinko lives large and plays hard. This book, along with the rest of the Rogue Warrior Series, is hard hitting and action packed. This dude does it all, says it all, and doesn't take crap from no one. Execellent reading for someone whose tired of the slow moving far fetched action of most fiction books out there. I read Red Cell just three months ago, and I've read almost all his books to date. It's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) read the book and get hooked!!! Anyone for a Bombay?

When British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton was busy saving his crew after a shipwreck in the Antarctic in 1914, you would guess that he wasn't thinking much about teaching leadership lessons. But author Dennis N.T. Perkins uses Shackleton's expedition to show how the leadership principles the explorer exercised can be applied to your work. He even adds modern case studies as illustration. This excellent book is at its best when it describes Shackleton's courageous rescue. He led his men to safety through a frozen wilderness by focusing on the ultimate goal of survival, setting a personal example, overcoming conflict, minimizing status differences, stressing teamwork and applying other essential leadership qualities. Though the principles may sound familiar, the book provides a dramatic new view of them, and it is written in a clear, crisp style. We at getAbstract.com recommend it to all corporate explorers.

Dennis was interviewed about this book on FoxNews, and he was captivating with his story of Shackleton and what he learned of leadership.

Perkins has applicable background, in Vietnam and management consulting and teaching which make this book doubly fascinating.

I found his style and wit so easy to read and yet remember the points being made. There are many one can take away from this and use, however two that stand out in my mind are: great leaders don't enter knowing everything, e.g. Shackleton had never even slept in a sleeping bag before, much is learned; second, in At Edge experiences, overcome uncertainly with structure and distractions.

So much more could be said about this excellent contribution to leadership. It is well structured with Shackleton's lessons first, then biz cases which are each unique and contribute to illustrations of these leadership lessons. After each section there is reflection, while at the book's end, more intense follow-up excercies and resources to be pursued.

One great leadership adventure!

This outstanding book is a collection and analysis of leadership lessons from Ernest Shackleton's heroic 1914-1916 Antarctic expedition at the edge of survival. Shackleton's amazing adventure saga alone is a great read, but it is the leadership insights that make this book a "must-read."

Perkins carefully organized the book into four inter-related parts. After briefly summarizing the Shackleton expedition, in Part One Perkins presents his 10 strategies for leading at the edge:

1-Vision and Quick Victories: Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short-term objectives.

2-Symbolism and Personal Example: Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behaviors.

3-Optimism and Reality: Instill optimism and self-confidence, but stay grounded in reality.

4-Stamina: Take care of yourself: Maintain your stamina and let go of guilt.

5-The Team Message: Reinforce the team message constantly: "We are one - we live or die together."

6-Core Team Values: Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.

7-Conflict: Master conflict - deal with anger in small doses, engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggles.

8-Lighten Up!: Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about.

9-Risk: Be willing to take the Big Risk.

10-Tenacious Creativity: Never give up - there's always another move.

Interwoven with these strategies are detailed accounts from Shackleton's expedition and real world business examples to fully illustrate the strategies' applicability to today's leadership environments.

Part Two is case studies of four organizations that successfully applied the strategies and achieved remarkable success. In Part Three, Perkins "outlines a number of qualities and actions that...contribute to living, learning, and thriving at "The Edge."" Part Four provides the reader with some tools to further develop individual leadership skills.

Written by a former combat Lieutenant of Marines in Vietnam and current "President of The Syncretics Group, a consultancy that focuses on effective leadership in demanding environments," this book was a very enjoyable and informative study of leadership. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about, and seeing if they have what it takes for, leading at the edge.

Philip Gulley's books give me a sense of peace, calm, and quiet seasoned with a generous helping of humor that always lets me end my day on a happier note. I've read most of his works and especially enjoy the characters who make me think, "I KNOW that person!" "Front Porch Tales" has joined my other favorite book, Clyde Egerton's "Walking Across Egypt" as my gift of choice to dear friends and loved ones.

I'm 13 and I'll admit I only bought this book because I had a gift certificate to a local Christian bookstore and I couldn't find anything to buy in the young adult section. But after being bored one day I picked it and it's dusty cover off of my bookshelf and started reading it. I'm glad I did. Philip Gulley writes in an easy manner that anyone can understand, even a teenager like me. His stories make you laugh, even though I don't think he tries to be funny. It just comes out natural in his writing. I've read the book twice and got my mom to read it and she liked too. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mini-stories, because that's what the book is. You can put the book down and not have to worry about remembering characters' names or other details. It's full of stories that will make you laugh and also warm your heart. So why are sitting here reading my review? Buy the book on Amazon today! If I'm 13 and I liked it, I think you'll like it too. Thanks for reading my review. Bye!

Philip Gulley does an excellent job of bringing us the stories of his life. He has a wonderful sense of humor and brings his relationship with God into perspective each time. He has a very interesting writing style that makes you want to know the man and read on. His other book is great too "Hometown Tales". I hope he puts pen to paper more often...

My first reading of this story was as a teenager, I found it in a musty box of paperbacks in the attic; in the throes of teen angst, I immediately identified with the cats who are so seemingly independent and so terribly frightened always. Over and over through my teen years I read the tale, always gleaning some new insight, some new power with which to show the world I could take care of myself independently (When in Doubt, Wash!). I lent it to a friend when I was 17, a virtual cat-hater... not long afterward, he had a cat, and my "mother's book" had disappeared. ... and so began my tale of a long list of missing copies... I would really like to get one of them back...

I've been reunited with an old friend. I first read this book about forty years ago. At that age I had no use for cats; too independent, you know. My grandmother gave me the book for a birthday present. I read it and Jennie became a very special "person" in my life. I prayed nightly that I would be transformed into cat as was the little boy in the story. Of course, I would know what I was doing and I could help all the abandoned cats in the world. I lost my copy in a family move along with many other childhood favorites, and never replaced it. As a sensible, rational adult, I now adore cats. But, I only help one at a time, (my husband never read the book). I don't remember who said it, "You don't have to like cats, but you do have to admire their attitude." I am so pleased to be able to read it again. It will go on my list of special books to give to readers; young and old, cat lovers and those who don't know they love cats yet.

Paul Gallico is one of the best writers of cat stories ever. He understands them better than anyone I have ever read or known. My mother bought "The Abandoned" for me when I was a child, hospitalized in a Swiss hospital during a Christmas vacation. She read it to me. Then I read it. As the years went by we have given it as gifts over and over again to other cat appreciators. The chapter "When in Doubt Wash" is priceless and almost eerie in its human perception of how a cat's mind works. This story of Jennie the cat is written for people of all ages from children to adult. It is an adventure and a love story. Once you read this you will want to read more by the author and you won't be disappointed. Start with "The Silent Miaow."

It pains me to see this book described as representative of Chinese nutritional therapy. Pitchford borrows haphazardly from macrobiotics, Western nutrition, Chinese energetics, Ayurveda, and probably other systems. This eclectic approach demonstrates a shallow grasp of the theories that drive authentic Chinese nutritional therapy, and frequently leads Pitchford to conclusions that are at odds with traditional practices. It is definitely "Oriental," in the sense Edward Said uses the term in his analysis of the Western romanticism of Eastern cultures. The material may well prove beneficial to someone, but it should come with a warning label: this book is not about Chinese medicine.

6/14/02 Update: I understand that many people have experienced improvements in their health based on Pitchford's advice. Please allow me to clarify why my original review was unfavorable. I routinely have long and arduous discussions with student interns over something they read in Pitchford and whether it is appropriate advice for their patients, *from the point of view of Chinese medicine,* which this book supposedly represents, and which is what they are supposed to be practicing in clinic. Experience has shown that in many cases, Pitchford's view is not congruent with traditional Chinese nutritional therapy, and in fact, much confusion arises from its application in the classroom of a Chinese medicine college. A book's content should ordinarily agree with what the book itself advertises itself to contain.

I have two copies of this incredible book. If you are truly committed to your health and wellness, read and live this book's philosophy.

In America, we are always looking for that magic pill that will fix our bodies. It doesn't exist. Paul Pitchford combines body, mind and spirit in a unique way. Learn to care and nuture your body and spirit. This book will change your life and how you live it if you truly follow it's approach.

I found this book three years ago in a health food store. Soon after that, I attended a "nutrition and awareness" retreat and a "healing with whole foods" course given by the author. Since then I have gradually incorporated more and more of the knowledge and principles presented in this book into my life. I have recovered from severe anemia and deficiency that I inflicted upon myself as a result of my ignorance and arrogant attitude about health and nutrition. I have learned how to prepare and cook foods in a healthy way. I have become acutely aware of the numerous toxins and pathogens that we are all exposed to on a daily basis. I have cleaned up my body and my environment and continue to make more improvements as time goes on. Paul Pitchford and his book set me on this road toward greater self-awareness and personal responsibility. The author's presentation is very balanced, offering basic knowledge of eastern and western perspectives on diet and health that support the needs of vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. The book achieves its purpose of serving as a complete and thorough reference on the health-producing attributes of whole foods. It contains no fads, no hype, only essential information for living as well as we can in our very toxic world.

Paul Feig was the poster boy for nerd and geek in high school, junior high and elementary school. If these stories are really true, then it's amazing that he got out of adolesence still alive! You're laughing while you're hurting for Paul - it's a quick, easy read - entertaining in a sort of sick kind of way - sort of like watching a car accident - you don't want to watch but you can't take your eyes away!

If you liked the show "Freaks and Geeks" then by all means, read this book. It's funny.

Paul Feig has acquired a real legion of fans as a result of his television show "Freaks and Geeks." And justifiably so. "Freaks and Geeks" was one of the best shows in the last twenty years. Feig's book "Kick Me" is just as enjoyable. As others here have commented the book contains equal doses of cringing and laughter. For most of us adolescence was painful and Paul's was off the scale. But his sense of humour and writing talents make his tales of teenaged angst a pleasure to read.

From gym class skirmishes, to awkward first kisses, Paul Feig takes the reader through his disjointed adolescence in his memoir, "Kick Me, Adventures in Adolescence." His humerous tone is set during the first pages of the book, as he brings up the terribly agonizing names one could be planted with in life. Each chapter illustrates an in-depth, obviously a tad embellished, memorable time in the life of a boy, titled with the nickname Fig Newton. Falling in love with his female alter ego at one point, and giving away a valued family heirloom to an unattainable eighth grade crush during another, "Kick Me" explores the true thoughts of a developing boy. Through his experienes, the reader is able to sympathize, empathize, and practically dash under the covers as Feig reencounters his humilitating, unimaginable traumas. If you are a fan of old Monty Python movies, Leave it to Beaver episodes, or any old TV shows and movies, you'll travel back in time reading this twisted, even nostaligic narrative of a naive, paranoid, and absolutley hilarious adolescent.
I give this book five stars, ten points on the scale, two thumbs up, and a dozen cookies for Feig's humerous tone and courageous ability to remain unhaunted by humilation as he reecounters with unbelievale times. For his sensitivity, although indirect at points, but noticed through his sentiments and exaggerated feelings that were coated by comedic, often sarcastic jokes. And for his broad use of diction, who knows, you may even pick up on a few SAT words while laughing yourself silly...
Paul feig takes us through his encounters with drinking, changing for the first time in the gym locker room, CPR lessons, the anxities of crushes, and ends his journey with his senior prom; periods of adolescence in which we all can relate to. I felt connected with Feig throughout his growth from beginning to end, and even felt like helping him out during certain times. Paul Feig is a guy in which you grow to love, through his comedic and outragous expeditions. Even when your mind tells you that things can get no worse, they do for poor Paul. Read it, on days when you want assurance, wisdom, or simply a mere dose of laughter. These stories are prone to put a smile on your face, possibly along with a cringe...and maybe even touch a tender spot in your heart!

i am reading this book with my dad and having a fun time.mutt,comes to this family for only a penny but brings a millon laughs.he did not think he was a dog so he did not ACT like a dog.when he didn't want to do something he pretented not to hear it.he would put on an expression that said,''i'm sorry,were you speaking to MOI? my two favorite parts are when the dad turns mutt blue and when the dad shot his gun and fell into the dich.you will have to read the book to find out the rest.

This book had me laughing out loud time after time. I've been buying and lending this book to people for years. The tales of this remarkable dog and the Mowat family are entertaining, hilarious, and eventually touching.

I read this for the first time when I was in about 6th or 7th grade and loved it. It was my introduction to Farley Mowat and since then I have read many of his other works.

This book is one of the most entertaining books I have ever read. I loved it 30 years ago when I was a kid (maybe 11 or 12) and I enjoyed it again last year.

The story is about the life and times of Mutt, the dog that entered the Mowat family and grew up with Farley. Mutt is all dog and a little more. Frustrated with the local cat population and their dominance of the fencetop and rooftop world, he learns to walk fence tops. He develops hunting and retrieving techniques that are the talk of the country -- literally! Each chapter is a new story, a new adveneture into the life of Mutt.