Sheltered by the walls of academia, I had forgotten that the writing process itself is a mantra of social change, that our awakenings lead to a more united world. Reading the poignant and inspirational stories submitted to Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul reminded me of the many people who give selflessly of themselves, who teach us that heroes are everywhere we cast our eyes.

Janet I. Buck, Ph.D.

Have you ever read a book that actually inspired you to contribute to the world..........to make a change? This book will do that. The authors have put together a tool for transformation..........helping others brings more love to everyone.

Think of your image of "volunteer." Now disregard it and check out "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul." Volunteer authors describe their experiences volunteering, and the variety and creativity of their work is truly amazing and inspiring. I loved the variety of volunteer stories in this book. It made me realize that if I don't have a lot of time or there's no big disaster around at the moment, there are zillions of ways that I can contribute to my community and the world, so I'm dumping my guilt and getting creative. . . . A big thank you to this great crew of authors and editors!!

Some years ago one of my friends from 3rd Battalion, 12th Special Forces Group, and I were talking about the men we knew who served in SF during the war in Southeast Asia. My friend, an old sergeant with a lot of time "downrange," commented that it was a time when giants roamed the earth. The giants he was referring to were the old-timers in 3/12, some of whom were SOG veterans, a few of which are mentioned in John Plaster's second inspiring book.

These giants don't talk much (even in a "safe bar") about their excursions across the battlefield, but Plaster has told their story again, even better than before. The photographs add a depth and detail that is nothing short of stunning. What he has given us is a big family album of the hardest of the hardcore SF community. This book gives you an idea of what kind of stress the experience of long-term direct combat with a skillful enemy is actually like, something no American units have encountered for nearly two decades.

US Army Special Forces is a different kind of place today, and still a home for giants. But there was something about the pressure-cooker of Southeast Asia that filtered and distilled the very best qualities of the American soldier and turned him loose with lethal effect on the NVA and VC. They were ultimately betrayed by their chain of command, but before they were pulled out, they became the stuff of legend. John Plaster has preserved that legend twice, and this photo history is a wonderful contribution to the history of these amazing men and their accomplishments.

This book tells the story of secret ("black") military operations run by the United States during the Vietnam War. Under the name Studies and Observations Group (SOG), the secret was kept so well that few veterans ever heard of it until long after the war.

It was composed purely of volunteers from the best of the American military, including Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs. Their missions involved going behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam, areas officially off limits to US ground troops. That's why all of their missions were classified.

The North Vietnamese went to great lengths to keep the Ho Chi Minh Trail open at all times. Special military units, stationed from one end to the other, had the task of maintaining and defending a 20-30 mile stretch. If the US bombed a particular area one day, it would be fixed and open the very next day as if nothing happened.

The task of a SOG team could be practically anything, from prisoner snatching, to confirming something seen in aerial reconaissance to placing sensors on a road to give Intelligence an idea as to the traffic level. Every mission was meticulously planned and rehearsed. From the moment they were on the ground behind enemy lines, the team members could assume that the enemy was seconds, or minutes, away. A number of teams made it out safely (the only escape route was by air), but they had to shoot their way out. Some teams were never heard from again.

Since their missions were secret, nothing the soldiers wore or carried could be traced to America. There were no dogtags, no obviously American uniforms, and, in many cases, their weapons were foreign modified weapons.

This book also profiles the people who risked their lives day after day. To most people, they wer just American soldiers who served in Vietnam, but, to those who were there, the following names are practically legend: Larry Thorne, Billy Waugh, Walter Shumate, Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver and Dick Meadows.

When SOG was disbanded in 1972, all the photo files were ordered destroyed. The interesting thing about this book is that the several hundred photos here are not the "official" photos. The photos were taken by the men who were there and kept in trunks and shoeboxes for many years. The author also knows something about SOG, having been a three-tour veteran.

For military historians and those interested in special operations, this book is a requirement. For the rest of us, this is a fascinating look at an unknown part of the Vietnam War. It is highly recommended.

I've waited a long time for book like this. Over the years I've bought quite a few books on special operations during the VN war, but none have provided all the information I sought in one comprehensive volume abounding with pictures. The chapters are logically divided by subject matter, such as history, missions, weapons and equipment, air support, etc.... Get this book!! It will change the way you see the Vietnam War. These SOG guys were the ultimate soldiers.

In Thinking for a Change, John Maxwell targets readers desiring to reach a higher level of success in their professional and personal lives. He proposes that in order to make this leap readers take prescribed steps to improve and enhance their thinking skills.

Maxwell bases the principles discussed in Thinking for a Change on his assertion that the one thing that separates those who go to the top from those who never seem to get there is good thinking. In the book, he strives to teach people how to think well in order to achieve their dreams and reach their potential. He emphasizes that this book does not try to teach the reader what to think but how to think.

Maxwell discusses the value and impact of improved thinking and then concentrates on eleven thinking skills that he believes lead to success. The eleven skills include creative thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, and unselfish thinking.

Maxwell culls ideas, stories, lessons and quotes from various sources including his own previously published books, books by other authors, magazine and journal articles, and a plethora of great and not-so-great thinkers.

What Thinking for a Change lacks in originality, it compensates for with excellent organization, flow and many practical suggestions to stimulate growth in thinking. I think Maxwell uses this book as an example to the reader of how effectively we can learn from others and apply their knowledge to our lives. In the book, Maxwell offers several snapshots of his professional and personal experiences, so the reader can see how he and his organizations have prospered by using these strategies.

Thinking for a Change is written for the general business market. It lacks spiritual analysis in regards to thinking and does not discuss many of the biblical issues related to the mind. Readers will have to look elsewhere for these insights. Maxwell does offer useful thinking methods to incorporate into your days, weeks, months and years to improve your effectiveness.

I think Maxwell makes a poor decision in focusing extensively on Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, in the opening chapter of the book. Maxwell cites a story about Welch and encourages the reader to follow his advice to achieve a higher level in one's career and personal life. Those of you familiar with Welch know he reached the pinnacle of success in his career, but his success has not carried over to his personal life.

As a Christian professional, father and husband, I am looking for well-balanced models of success. Maxwell's highlighting of Welch as a role model disappointed me and may have gotten me off on the wrong foot in reading this book.
Regardless of that criticism, I benefited from reading Thinking for a Change and believe that anyone who reads it will also benefit from each of the eleven lessons on thinking. It is a book that inspires review and study of its main concepts and lessons.

Thinking For A Change is any easy, but thought provoking read. Thinking For A Change is broken down into two major sections.

The first section explores the premise that if you change your thinking you change your life. The second section of the book offers up eleven thinking skills and concrete ways to start applying these thinking skills. So the second section of the book contains the tools to change your thinking so you can change your life.

The eleven thinking skills Thinking For A Change offers are as follows:

1.Acquire the wisdom of big-picture thinking - does my thinking extend beyond me and my world
2.Unleash the potential of focused thinking - concentrate to find clarity on the real issues
3.Discover the joy of creative thinking - get out of the box and find break through thinking
4.Recognize the importance of realistic thinking - does my thinking have a solid mental foundation
5.Release the power of strategic thinking - is my thinking leading to plans for today that help me reach my potential tomorrow
6.Feel the energy of possibility thinking - possibility thinking can help you find solutions to even the difficult problems
7.Embrace the lessons of reflective thinking - am I revisiting the past to gain understanding and learn from what happened
8.Question the acceptance of popular thinking - am I rejecting the limitations of common thinking
9.Encourage the participation of shared thinking - am I engaging others to expand and sharpen my thinking
10.Experience the satisfaction of unselfish thinking - am I considering others and their needs
11.Enjoy the return of bottom-line thinking - am I staying focused on results

John Maxwell does a great deal more the talk about the thinking styles. He offers concrete examples of the styles in action and more importantly he shares many thoughts about the process and discipline of thinking. His insights transform a book on thoughts about thinking into a practical manual for the application of world class thinking. At the end of each chapter there are exercises designed to help you find the thinker in you and help you build momentum and experience in being a great thinker.

This is another great book from John Maxwell and has his signature style of examples, stories and great quotes to drive points home. I highly recommend Thinking For A Change.

John C. Maxwell's "Thinking For A Change" was very helpful in teaching me a few of the basics about leadership. He gives eleven main strategies for success in work and life. I think the book can be useful to everyone. You don't necessarily have to be a corporate leader to find it useful. I think it's one of those books you can read ten times, and always find something useful inside. I'm sure I will re-read it when I am further along in my career. I have not graduated from college yet, but it has already started me on a good thinking path. It is useful for business, but it is also useful in everyday life. Since I am not a "business person" yet, I can apply the theories to my life right now, and try to use and perfect them, so when I do enter the business world, I will hopefully have a good grasp on what it is to be a leader. Maxwell talks about big-picture thinking. Big-picture thinkers are never satisfied with their current knowledge, and they always want to learn more. Focused thinking develops and discovers new ideas. Creative thinking celebrate the off-beat and explore options. Realistic thinking is the difference between what is real in life and what we wish to be real. Strategic thinking is planning to make difficult things more simple. Possibility thinking is believing in all possiblities. Reflective thinking is looking back to analyze and learn from what has already happened. Popular thinking, in a way, is not thinking at all. Shared thinking is receiving feedback from others' thoughts as well as your own. Unselfish thinking is getting outside yourself and contributing to others. Bottom-line thinking is measuring the outcomes. These are all very basic explanations of each kind of thinking, but Maxwell goes into a lot of detail. He describes what each kind of thinking is, why it is helpful, and how to go about doing it. Then at the end of each chapter, he has a workbook section that you fill out. These questions and scenarios help you start thinking like the "thinker" described in that chapter. Maxwell uses these eleven strategies to help us understand how to be a good leader, and the workbook parts help us figure out how to put these types of thinking into action. Overall, I thought this book was very affective in teaching some basics about leadership, and I know it is one that i will be pulling off the shelf in the future time and time again.

As a long time admirer of the Kennedy's I really liked this book. The up til now unpublished photographs are wonderful... however I was left wondering why the "first" wives of all the Kennedy men were given no more than a nod.. most notable was Joan Bennett's wedding to Ted. A few pictures and little text were all that were afforded them. Perhaps there was not very much cooperation on the part of the ex Mrs. Kennedy's but for what ever reason is it jarring. Also Robin Lawford is shown and mentioned at her sister's weddings.. however in the family chart at the front of the book she is left out. Perhaps I am being picky about a book that shows us the good times in this family. The radiant brides and the handsome grooms on the happiest days of their lives are touching and memorable.

Jay Mulvaney was on the TODAY show talking about this wonderful book all full of photographs from all the different Kennedy weddings...and it was so nice to finally see a happy book about the Kennedy family. The book is wonderful...it's got so many pictures, but also tells the whole story of the family and the many wonderful things they've done throughout the years. My favorite family was the Shrivers...they are so gorgeous, Maria of course, but also her brothers Anthony, Mark and Timothy. There are lots of stories and anecdotes from each of the weddings, and you get to see some honeymoon photos and pictures of wedding gifts and so many private photographs of the Kennedys. a MUST HAVE for anyone who likes the Kennedys and who likes weddings.

Although rather voyeuristic in its concept, this book is a lovely scrapbook of the nuptials of America's most famous political family.

The photographs are poignant and artful, and the text, while syncophantic, is illuminating with all sorts of wedding minutiae.

The only error I've found in the book is the omission of Robin Lawford in the family tree at the front of the book; all other Kennedy cousins are present in the tree, but Robin must have flown the coop.

You'll enjoy this book, if such books are your sort of thing.

My 2 year old is not diagnosed with epilepsy, however has had many febrile seizures. Some may not have been febrile.

This book has been a major comfort and complete source of information. I wasn't even sure what questions to ask and this covers everything in great detail and in an easy to use fashion. I like the Q&A style so I can skip right to the issues that pertain to our situation. This book covers every type of childhood seizure, not just epilepsy. It discusses the different tests and treatments and drugs in great detail and candor. It explains risks and benefits. I simply would be lost and alone if it weren't for this comforting guide. I am thankful this book is around for my family.

I can't begin to describe the grief and fear and utter isolation I felt when my daughter had her second seizure. I remembered that knowledge is power, and I needed to feel powerful. This book gave that to me and so much more! Suddenly terms made sense and I wasn't alone anymore. The section on family coping is amazing: it's as though the authors have reached inside your mind and put down every emotion you've gone through and some that are yet to come. There are case examples throughout that are uplifting, and yes, sometimes a little frightening, but very helpful to read and very enlightening. Most importantly, the book is positive throughout without minimizing what you're dealing with. My only complaint(and this goes for all books, websites, etc) is the use of percentages to illustrate how uncommon different seizure types are, or how many kids outgrow, etc. We already know our kids beat the odds, we don't need to be reminded, and frankly those numbers that in the beginning were a comfort, now are depressing. Again, if a child in your family has seizures, YOU MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!!!

This book contains the answers to most, if not all, of your questions regarding how seizures and epilepsy will affect your child and family. It will also help you know which questions to ask your child's physicians. It is a most complete work. In five sections it describes why seizures occur, diagnosing, treating, coping, and living with epilepsy. Please do yourself a great favor and purchase this book. It is written in language a parent will understand without previous medical knowledge and also it is written with compassion and optimism. I have recommended this book to my family and friends who wish to understand more of how epilepsy is affecting my son's life. You won't be disappointed, buy it today!

This quantum physics encyclopedia is beautifully crafted to be as entertaining as it is informative. John Gribbin is a master at providing an element of human interest to each of the entries in Q IS FOR QUANTUM, along with photographs and illustrations in every place you'd wish for them, in order to further enhance the reading experience. I love browsing through this book any time I have the slightest excuse, and I suspect you will, too!

For all you Douglas Adams fans out there ( The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy) we have now got definitive, non-fictional guides to the Cosmos and the micro-world of Quantum Phenomena.

John Gribbin's latest book "Q is for Quantum" is the perfect companion to his 1996 masterpiece "Companion to the Cosmos".

Gribbin's presents his work in a well illustrated, encyclopaedic (A to Z) style with nearly all topics having hyperlinks to cross-references elsewhere in the book. He puts great emphasis on the human dimension of science as well as on the purely physical phenomena and theories he describes so well. The mini-biographies of the scientists are fascinating in their own right, particularly when looking at the historical context and the geographic, social and academic connections/parallels that have led to these great advances in human thought.

Gribbin guides us along those amazing scientific paths of the past half millennia , from Galileo and Newton to Einstein and Hawking. He has this reader convinced that we are very close to realizing the ultimate dream of a Grand Unifying Theory (GUT) which ties together all the links between the forces of nature. His work is right up to date and includes the latest ideas on M-branes and superstrings.

The best way to read the book is to open it at random , find a topic of interest and see how far the hyperlinks can take you. Bliss for a net-head! The real strength of Gribbin's writing is to help us cover that great spectrum (in time and space) between the sub-atomic microworld of Quantum phenomena through to the edges of the Cosmos. Somewhere in the middle is the human dimension, dare I say, the "real world".

It was our friend Douglas Adams who posed that trickiest of tri-lemmas ... What is the answer to that ultimate question, that is, the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything ? He told us ... it is 42 !

John Gribbin's agrees - look up his section on Planck. What is the smallest unit of time? Answer: zero, decimal point, FOURTY TWO zeros, one second.

Before Planck time nothing much happened ... but then again ...

Just diving into this book, I find that I am delighted with my purchase. It was just exactly what I had hoped to find; easy to understand definitions of amazing, sometimes complicated things. As you read the definitions, you may find yourself flipping through the entire book, looking up terms that are unfamiliar and used within individual definitions. Everything is well defined so you can get a true understanding of what's being presented. What I've read so far has been clear, concise and totally acessable. Not at all stuffy or "over-your-head". Important discoveries and discoverers are given attention as well, making the information even more complete and the read even more worthwhile. This is one of those books that makes you feel smarter just by owning it!

I think that John Lennon is a genius. I wish I had the money to buy all of his books. I love how he plays with the language. He is truely going to live on forever. I recommend this book to anyone who loves things to think about and even if you don't just for the fun of it.

I just think that any person, Beatles fan or not, would enjoy reading this book. It shows the fact that John Lennon was a man with many talents, not just musical talents. He was and will always be a wonderful man.

John Lennon was undoubtedly a very complex man, and he had a marvellous sense of humour. The spoonerisms in some tales are magnificent - some stories are real laugh out loud material. But there is still a streak of the dark and brooding Lennon, which occasionally cuts into the comic genius, and makes you look at him in a different way. This is a valuable book for anyone who seeks to understand one of the great musical influences of our time, and also one if you're looking for a good giggle!

This is a really excellent work on all aspects of numbers, but only if you already have a pretty fair familiarity with them, i.e., several college mathematics courses or a significant amount of self-education. I particularly enjoyed the chapter "Doing Arithmetic and Algebra by Geometry" because it provided an interesting perspective on what number is. There are also chapters on the primes, imaginary numbers, infinite numbers etc. etc.

This book is excellent. I am not a mathematician; my Ph.D. is in a social science, but my interest in intellectual history made this book worth it for me. The reason that it seems a bit expensive is because the authors use color illustrations. These are really helpful and make the book more exciting. The book is essentially number theory for a lay person. All you need to have is high school level math in order to start enjoying this book, so don't be afraid. Conway and Guy present a fascinating look at what the human intellect can achieve in the realm of abstract thought. Number theory, and mathematics in general, can be mysterioius, artful, and exciting. Highly recommended.

To these "guys", numbers are toys, where the price of possession is nothing but a little knowledge. It is truly astounding, even for veteran mathematicians such as myself, to see how many different sets of numbers there are. They all have a story behind them, and given the multiple uses for so most of them, there are many more yet to be written.
Presented in a unique and engaging style that one associates with the authors, the numbers come to life with descriptions that hold your interest and leave you wanting more. The level of demonstration is not extremely technical, being well within the range of anyone who has been exposed to the topics of precalculus. Figures are used extensively, giving a visual interpretation of several ways in which the numbers can be used. Many of the numbers covered in the book are named after the person most responsible for making it famous, an aspiration that most mathematicians would no doubt confess to. In some cases, I was previously unaware of the name assigned to the numbers.
When I am in the mood for some light reading in mathematics, my preferred form is some type of listing of the properties of numbers. In this case, I found several hours of enjoyment and recommend it to anyone with similar tastes.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

Susan Sully's book revived many delightful memories of my recent visit to Charleston. Her evocative prose paired with the beautiful photographs made as much of an impression on me as seeing Charleston's gracious architecture in person. It's not often that such a pretty book is also so well written, but Sully' elegant, beautifully crafted sentences do justice to the photos and the grand old homes themselves. After reading her book I wanted to book a flight back for another visit!

Susan Sully's Charleston Style splendidly captures the unique beauty of my city. Sully's writing is gorgeous, lush and evocative as many of the homes she shows us. Her thorough research is obvious; then she takes the facts and, with words, weaves a beautifiul gossamer fabric representing one ofAmerica's most beloved cities. As a Charlestonian, I was introduced to places I never knew existed. The detailed photographs, artistic and architectural, complement the text. I bought numerous copies to give to friends who have visited Charleston in reality or in their dreams.

Just named one of the ten best books of 1999 about South Carolina by "The Nation," this winner rises above the usual book of stunning photography in the quality of Sully's writing. Her thoughtful and incisive reflections upon a complex city are rendered in delightful, sensual, intelligent prose. All this is compellingly presented in a classic coffee-table stand-out!

Good instruction, a great price, and a growing-in-importance subject area all add up to a definite recommendation.

"Why does working @ my computer hurt so much" is the best book I've found on preventing repetitive stress injuries. It filled with practical information for anyone who spends long hours in front of a computer (secretaries, programmers, writers, college students).

The authors, both physical therapists, provide guidelines for arranging your workstation and how to sit there once it's arranged. The best part is an extensive list of exercises for your back,neck,jaw,thumbs,wrists,elbows, and shoulders designed specifically to prevent repetitive stress injuries. In addition, each exercise is illustrated so you never have to wonder if your doing the exercises correctly.

Once again, a great book!

ErgAerobics is a comprehensive guide to help computer users avoid "Computer Induced Repetitive Stress Injuries." In an easily understandable, entertaining, and concise manner ErgAerobics provides basic human anatomy information that anyone can understand as well as facts about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Lower Back Pain, Neck Pain, TMJ Disorder, Tennis Elbow, Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and DeQuervain's Disease. ErgAerobics offers tips on how to prevent and treat computer induced repetitive stress injuries, how to properly arrange a workstation, behavior modification techniques to help the reader interact with a computer in a safer, more cooperative manner. ErgAerobics is enhanced with simple, inconspicuous, effective exercises to help with the prevention and treatment of computer induced repetitive stress injuries including why, when, and how to exercise. If you spend days working at a computer - read ErgAerobics.