This guide provides excellent pre-retirement planning suggestions. Has traps, obstacles and helpers outlined for quick review and advice. Has a number of "tools" in the form of worksheets to assist in planning for both before and after retirement events. Presents a number of post-retirement ideas with several suggestions of how to manage and/or increase your income in retirement. Authors are somewhat short on information for the mid 50's retiree concerning how to access 401k and IRA funds without penalty between 55 and 59 1/2. No info on what forms are needed and where they are available, or what needs to be filed and where. Has one slight reference in the appendix on how to accomplish withdrawals without penalty. Having read a number of retirement planning books available on the bookshelf, I found this volume excels in providing useful information not found in similar guide books.

Although this book deals with many aspects of retirement and retirement planning, what distinguishes it from the dozens of similar books I have read is a truly outstanding calculator for determining how much money will be available then and how much needs to be saved or invested to eliminate any shortfall. It includes pensions, social security, and savings and investments. It factors in life expectancy, income sources that will automatically increase with inflation and those that won't, savings and investment growth rates, withdrawl rates that must increase with inflation(which--unbelievably--some calculators don't consider). It allows for early retirement (that is, it doesn't factor in social security until it's available). Similarly, it allows for staggered commencement of retirement income sources (for example, a pension that starts at age 65 while you may start social security at age 62). I've not found another calculator that does ALL of these things! I couldn't recommend it more highly.

This guide really lays out, step by step, how to think and act to plan your retirement. I found this a surprisingly quick read, comprehensive, easy to understand and specific -- from spending, lifestyle, insurance, investing issues. The book makes a great gift for friends or parents because too many of us are not paying attention to the easy "Action Items" that each chapter ends with. Highly recommended!

Robert E. Lee has been a hero of mine since I was a small boy. With Confederate ancestors on both sides of my family, my father made sure that respect for Lee's character was instilled in my impressionable mind when I was just a lad. Growing up and playing on my father's ancestral home and land that was the site of an engagement between Federal and Confederate troops, love and respect for the gallantry of Lee came natural for me.

I began collecting quotes and anecdotes from the life of Lee many years ago and started dreaming about a book in 1999. This book is the result of that dream. The book is specifically directed to "young gentlemen," or those who aspire to be, but I believe the book can be enjoyed by everyone. It is full of some of the better quotes culled from reliabile biographies and Lee's personal letters. Some were Lee's "personal maxims" that were found after his death in a worn military satchel by CSA chaplian, William Jones. The book also contains some little known anecdotes from the life of Lee that illustrate his sterling Christian character and humility. Many that have reviewed the book have been complimentary:

"The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen is inspiring and full of anecdotes and quotes, some long forgotten, that will guide men of all ages towards the lost art of being a 'gentleman.' " ~ Joe Farah, Editor in Chief and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com.

"I can think of no better guide for young men embarking on the adventure of life than the maxims of Robert E. Lee." ~ From the Foreword by Harry W. Crocker, III, author of Lee on Leadership and Executive Editor at Regnery Publishing.

"The example of Robert E. Lee illustrates in stark colors what it means to be a man - a model essential for all of us who are products of this distinctly unmanly age. Rick Williams has placed us all in his debt with this wonderful anthology of Lee's wisdom and grace. Must reading for all fathers and sons." ~ Pastor J. Steven Wilkins, author of Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee.

"This riveting collection of Lee's own stirring words and personal thoughts give amplified insight into the life of a rare and much-needed role model. Imagine for a moment the impact just one hundred young men could have on our land should they develop Lee's passion for personal purity and selfless pursuit of Christian honor. My prayer is that many will read these words not as antiquated or romantic philosophy, but rather as a challenge to humbly follow - and then boldly lead." ~ James McDonald, Publisher, Homeschooling Today® Magazine

Samuel Johnson once quipped, "Any man honored by both his enemies and his compatriots is a man worthy of our closet attentions-for in him you may be sure to find authenticity. After all, authenticity is the rarest of all human traits." Of all the men who fought during the un-Civil War Between the States only R.E. Lee stands out as universally praised by both sides.

The English historian Paul Johnson had this to say about Lee: "General Lee has accomplished in both life and death what few, indeed, hardly any have ever accomplished in all of the annals of history: ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim."

In this concise and handy little book of Maxims, Richard Williams Jr. has provided us a window into the man who accomplished ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim. In a generation dearth of real heroes it is vital that we put before our children men of valor, duty, and courage. One need look no further than to the example of Robert Edward Lee to see these principles brilliantly exemplified. This is a book that can be read in one sitting, but you will not want to read it just once. If you are like myself you will use this book over and over again. My copy is already marked up and the pages ruffled from where I keep drinking from the wonderful wisdom of the man.

It's my hope that with the publication of books like this one, we may yet again see a generation of leaders who embody the principles of Robert E. Lee.

In an era where the primary role models for our children are self-absorbed entertainers, out of control professional athletes, and corrupt politicians, where does one turn to find credible examples of how to live one's life that you can point to when counciling your children? Granted, there are some fine modern role models, but they aren't usually being highlighted in the news, or being profiled on TV. However, Richard Williams, Jr. has provided us a handy book that gives us a glimpse at a role model that is timeless.

Whether one believes Robert E. Lee fought on the right side of the War Between the States or not, his life is a great example of self-sacrifice, devotion to duty and always acting in a manner so as to do the right and honorable thing. Not by today's modern selfish, materialistic standards, but by standards that were the foundation of all that is good about Western Civilization.

This book contains a treasure trove of maxims by Lee that he used to guide his own life and to influence the lives of his children as well as those who served under him in the military and were under his care while they attended Washington College (later Washington and Lee University). It is not a cumbersom tomb, but a simple, straight forward book that is broken down into sections that lend itself to being a quick reference book as well as a wonderful insight into a man whose life is truly an example to all.

If more people followed R.E. Lee's maxims, this would definitely be a better world. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to buy a special graduation gift for that special person graduating from high school or college. This is something that will last a lifetime.

I am a great fan of Shakespeare, so when I bought this book what I was expecting wasn't what I saw. I saw the most intriguing sonnets probaly ever known to man. It wasn't all about love and fear. It was involving a great many things. It had all the human feelings, sadness, happieness, hate, love, curiosity, fear, pain, grief, stress, and you get the ideal. I don't want to give it away so if you seem interested read this wounderful book.

I read these sonnets two a day over the summer, and I wish there were more than 154 of them so I could keep going into the fall. I think I'll pick up "The Tempest" next.

The poetry in this volume is beautiful, equisite and full of passion. What makes Shakespeare worth reading is the way he lets the world into his lines. His metaphors appeal deliciously to the senses, like a beam of sunlight through a high window in the afternoon, or the smell of a new cut lawn in the spring. Shakespeare's writing is immortal, not because a conspiracy of teachers got together and decided it should be, but because it is full of life, and nothing that is full of life can really ever die.

If you're not used to reading Elizabthean English or are put off by the thought of Shakespeare, this is a good place to start. This edition helpfully "translates" each sonnet into modern English on a facing page along with definitions for the more troubling words. Even with the help, I still don't think Shakespeare is all that easy to read. But anything you do in this world that makes you feel more passionate about life is a pretty good thing. If you give Shakespeare some of your time, he's bound to pay you back with plenty of interest.

This edition of Shakespear's sonnets is all you need to read and understand the great Bard.

A very nice feature is the paraphrasing of the sonnets in contemporary English and a translation into ordinary language of the more difficult words.

The edition is a paperback small enough to be carried around to read during one's leisure.

This book made me feel sad and happy all at the same time. Matt a young man given a short time to live after being diagnosed with cancer, doesn't shun away the world but opens himself to everything. He becomes very spiritual and in touch with God through his illness. I had a very hard time being able to put the
book down. The way his family, friends, and community reacted is incredible, they were very compassionate and supportive. I would suggest this book to anyone.

I don't live far from Farmington,PA and infact I have been to the Bruderhof and these ppl are so kind and wonderful..After reading this book I felt such a pain for the family and friends that had to watch there dear son, brother,husband and friend live all those months of hell..But, What a strong man Matt was and for him to live each day in pain but still carry a smile..The book was not hard to read at all and was well understood..Really made you feel like you were there throughout the days and hours with him..I picked the book up in a local resteraunt here and read within a day..My thoughts are with the family..

A 22-year-old's battle against cancer might seem an unlikely topic for an uplifting book -- but Six Months to Live is certainly that. It's the story of Matt, a young man who, faced with death, refused to quit living. Matt wasn't a hero, and the writer of his story doesn't make him out to be one. Six Months to Live steers clear of the cliches and catch-phrases we often use to help us "make sense" of terminal illness. Instead, the book is realistic: it shows us Matt's darkest hours as well as his triumphs; his doubts as well as his faith. That's why, at the end, the reader is not left feeling Matt's life was "wasted"; rather, that it was used for a cause bigger than any one of us. We're all dead men, the movie Gladiator reminds us. Like as not, we don't get to choose how or when we die. But we all can choose how we meet death. Six Months to Live can help us choose well. Thanks to Matt.

Sure,the title doesn't make it sound like a scary book,but it is.Jessica dates another boy while her boyfriends away.When her boyfriend(AJ)returns,she tells Christopher it's over,not yet realizing he is a psychopath.Find out if he manages to drive the two of them into a brick wall.

In Two-Boy Weekend, Jessica Wakefield's boyfriend A.J. Morgan is going away to visit relatives, and Jessica thinks that she will be completely miserable without him for a week. Her friends Lila Fowler, Cara Walker, and Amy Sutton convince her to go with them to the beach, and Jessica ends up meeting a guy named Christopher. Convinced that there's nothing wrong with going out with Christopher while A.J. is gone, Jessica goes on a few dates with Christopher. The morning that A.J. comes back, Jessica ends the relationship with Christopher...so she thinks. But Christopher won't leave her alone, and Jessica becomes concerned that A.J. and her friends will find out about Christopher. Jessica is determined to go to the Charity Ball, where A.J. will be the King, and she'll be the Queen. But it doesn't work out that way. Christopher continues bothering Jessica, and even pretends to be interested in buying A.J.'s car so that he can see and torment her. Jessica finally tells someone about what has been happening between herself and Christopher, and is told to tell A.J. before it's too late and so that Christopher can lose his control over her. But Jessica decides not to, and Christopher follows her to the dance, where disaster awaits. I found this book to be very suspenseful at the end, a worthwhile read.

Candace Leutzinger

Ever since Jessica has been dating sweet A.J Morgan she haspromised herself that she is now a one guy girl. Yet, the arrival ofthe sexy mysterious Christopher lures Jessica back into her old flirty habits. Jessica allows herself a 'two-boy weekend' in which she dates both A.J and Christopher. Having had her fun, Jessica tells Christopher that their 'fling' is over, only for Christopher to turn around and tell Jessica that he is now the one in control. Soon, Jessica is receiving threatening phone calls from Christopher but, she is unable to tell A.J because it will reveal her infidelity. Who can Jessica turn to?

This is a really fun little graphic novel, loaded with great artwork and a decent storyline. I wouldn't recommend it as a first-time read for anyone unfamiliar with the X-Men - taken out of context from the overall series - it might be a somewhat confusing introduction. But for those who know the characters and have a general idea of what is going on, believe me, this one delivers the goods.

In the past, I have generally hated the X-Men's adventures in the Savage Land, or whenever they would go to outer space or get into really super sci-fi type situations. I always felt the X-Men stories worked much better when they were grounded in very normal, down-to-earth settings, because it made the X-Men themselves stand out and seem that much weirder. But this book is an exception to the rule. It's a big, crazy, larger-than-life adventure, part of which takes place in the prehistoric Savage Land, and part of which gets hyper technological, and it works out OK.

The artwork is tough and gritty. Jim Lee draws a mean, shadowy, ugly Wolverine who kills lots of villains and looks like he needs to take a shower very badly.

And Lee's women - whoa. This book contains more gratuitous cheescake shots than any X-Men graphic novel I've seen, but it's all very pleasing to the eye. Especially the scenes with Rogue, whose bare skin can kill anyone she touches and thus, understandably, was always the one major female character who kept herself completely covered at all times. This was the first storyline in the series where they finally drew her as a scantily-clad, sexy heroine. A real treat for male Rogue-fans who'd been reading the series patiently for years.

This storyline also chronicles the transformation of innocent young Psylocke into a mature woman trained in the art of Ninjitsu, and she becomes an ultra-violent, sexy bad girl. And then there are cameo appearances by other Marvel superheroes, namely Captain America (from the Avengers series) and The Black Widow (from the Daredevil series). All in all, it's a satisfying, action-packed, well-drawn, crowd-pleasing comic book in trade-paperback format.

X-Men Visionaries Jim Lee trade paperback Is a great X-Men graphic Novel by Jim Lee! the book reprints Uncanny X-Men issues #248,#256-258,#268-269,#273-277 are reprinted together in this wonderful Marvel book collection! This book contains the early Uncanny X-Men issues that made Jim Lee famous! All the issues are written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Jim Lee. These issues lead to the popular Claremont/Lee colaboration on X-Men#1 in 1991. Most of the artwork was done by Jim Lee. Uncanny X-Men #273 was done by various artists. Buy this book if your fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation!

This is a great X-Men: Visionaries Jim Lee graphic Novel! This is Jim Lee's early work on the Uncanny X-Men series! This Marvel Tradepaperback reprints Jim Lee's early years when he was the comic book artist on Uncanny X-Men. In this book reprints Uncanny X-Men#248,#256-258,#268-269, #273-277. His early work on the Uncanny X-Men in the early 1990s, lead to to the critically aclaimed Clarmont/Lee work on X-Men #1 in 1991. All the Uncanny X-Men issues are written by Chris Claremont. Most of the artwork is drawn by Jim Lee. Unncany X-Men#273 is drawn by various artist. Buy this book if your a big fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation.

This was the first book I read in the SVH books, and the first SV book I've read in years. So, I was a little confused in the beginning of this book. Consider reading book 95 first.

My thoughts about this book were first about Jessica's selfishness, which is no surprise, and the unfairness of Elizabeth's situation. However, it was a good page turner. Elizabeth has been arrested for involuntary murder of Sam, Jessica's boyfriend, and unknown to everyone is that Jessica spiked Elizabeth's punch. I found Elizabeth's moodiness a little depressing, and I often wondered why Jessica didn't feel more guilty, but as the book progresses it improves.

Most exciting, and chilling, in this book is Margo. Margo is a foster child who feels she deserves, after growing up in abusive situations, a happy life, a perfect family, people who love and care about her, you get the idea. She makes her way towards SV, leaving a path of destruction behind her- and her evilness is absolutely chilling.

I liked this book, despite the fact that the book seemed a touch unrealistic. But, hey, it makes good reading if you enjoy suspense, action, adventure, or anything like that.

Too bad Elizabeth Wakefield got arrested. Too bad Jessica Wakefield won't talk to her sister. Too bad Mrs. Wakefield won't comfort Elizabeth. Too bad Nicholas Morrow can't find a sutiable date on Hunks. Too bad Margo is coming closer to Sweet Valley. All I can say about this book is TOO BAD. (Sorry about my wierd description) READ THIS BOOK.

The book was about a girl named Carolina McKinney. She lives with her mom after her father and sister died in a plane crash.Her character is very emotional and thinks that her father and sister are still alive. She has a boyfriend named Poindexter who lives right next door from her. Her best friend's name is Mara who is a big backstabber...
My favorite part of this book was when Carolina and Poindexter were running and Carolina fell and got hurt then Poindexter helped her get back home. I also like the part when her mother and her were hugging in the middle of the street while it was raining. It was so sweet and I wish that my mother and I can do that too. The only thing I do not like about the book are when Mara flirts with Poindexter a lot! It is not right to do that while your so-called-best-friend is there.
I personally think that people should read the book because it is so wonderful! It touches your heart.

Carol Lynch Williams certainly understands teenagers and knows how to bring them characters they can identify with and learn from. Carolina Autumn is no exception! I read the first chapter aloud to a group of junior high girls taking a Creative Writing class from me, and they laughed in all the right places, then shared the similaries in experience with Carolina as she gets her first bra. I remembered well my own feelings of uncertainty in budding teenage romance and the fears of my best friend "taking him away." A great book to help teenagers deal with death, as well. This book's short length makes it perfect for the reluctant reader.

William Shirer, perhaps most famous for his comprehensive history, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, or his live radio broadcasts from Berlin during the early days of World War II, has also written a thin little book titled, The Rise and Fall of Adlof Hitler. Although the work is geared towards a younger audience, the quality of writing, and information contained are quality fare for an older audience as well.

Shirer, begins his work with a young disgruntled Hitler, arguing with his father over his chosen profession, that of an artist. Shirer then chronicles Hitler's days as a vagabond, moving from one odd job to another across Austria and Germany. In these early years, we see Hitler not as a maniacal demagogue, but as an eccentric wanderer, searching for nothing in particular. However, World War I brought the demagogue forth.

After serving for four years in the Germany military, Hitler, disgruntled with the Treaty of Versailles and the weakness of the German nation decides to enter into political life. It is in a small beer hall that Hitler creates the new found Nazi party and enlists the help of such infamous men as Goering, Himmler, and Hess. Do to Hitler's exceptional charisma, the Nazi party begins to grow.

Following the now infamous "Beer Hall Putsch," Hitler is imprisoned and begins work on his seminal book, Mein Kampf. Following his release, the book sells millions of copies and Hitler is thrust upon the national stage. From here, Shirer illustrates Hitler's rise of Chancellor, and ultimately dictator of Germany. He discusses the serious of invasions and coups conducted under Hitler throughout Europe and subsequent intervention of the Allied Powers.

Finally, Shirer chronicles the decline of Hitler, and his subsequent decent in to madness. His paranoia, greed, and ultimate refusal of accept anything other than total victory led to not only the demise of Adlof Hitler, but also to the German nation.

Shirer did an excellent job chronicling the life of Adlof Hitler in a short and concise book. This would severe as an excellent text for a high school history course, or for any reader who wants to learn more about Hitler, but has very little time

This book tells so much about Adolf Hitler. How he lived his life and what it was like. William L. Shirer writes this in a first person perspective. He actually witnessed these things happening and lives to tell about them.

I read this little book when I was in fourth or fifth grade, was knocked out, and have been hooked on history ever since. Shirer condenses his massive "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" for younger readers. It's a gripping introduction to a subject you could spend your whole reading life exploring. It has the "fascination of abomination"; a first, cautionary introduction for kids to the scary things that happen in the adult world. If you want your children to grow up to be interested in politics, history, law, etc., this is a good book to give them.

i thought this one was better than lila's new flame because it has more of a better plot than the other book in this miniseries.as for steven and lila,double yuck;better yet triple yuck.

Ok, we are getting closer to who REALLY torched Lila's house. (for a clue read SVH #90). Devon is still searching for a family (Uncle Pete wasn't it). Lila's beginning to see that she can't make Steven into a caviar man, and Lila gets arrested. Except for Lila and Steven falling in love, this is a good story.

Despite the other comments on this page, I think what Lila and Stevan have is sweet. I mean what's a better way to spice up the book than with an unusual romance. And this is totally unusual!! Still, poor Lila, she has lost everything, including her best friend (for the moment).This book would be totally perfect except I find Devon kinda boring. Otherwise, this book is totally Lila-fied, a must read