As a child I read this book. I have to say that it's story has stayed with me over the last 25 years or so. As I read it I felt as if I were in India. I learned about the caste system, the poverty of Calcutta and the horrors of life for the people in the slums there. The character of Vasthi is very real and her struggles are ones that any person could relate with.

Most of all it demonstrated to me as a young girl the incredible power of Jesus to make a dramatic difference in the life of one who believes. It is a book that made a lasting impression on me and gave me a heart for the country of India.

Gladys really did follow her dream and encouraged literally hundreds of young people to do the same. There was never a dull moment in her book. I feel it would make a wonderful movie.

A friend of my mother-in-law gave me this book when our son was first born. She wrote in the inside cover, "this is tough love, but I've seen it work"! This was the truth. If you are desperate to get your baby sleeping through the night (some mom's actually like getting up two or three times in the middle of the night) you must "do the schedule". Our son slept through the night when he was six weeks old and has continued to be a sound sleeper - he is now four years old. BUT, you must be willing to let the baby "cry it out"....and I remember sitting outside his room while he was wailing, crying myself - because I felt like a wicked mommy! My husband did not let me give in and we made it through the miserable transition. (Remember the episode of "Mad About You" when Jaime and Paul try the Ferber Method?? - it is exactly like that!) I have to say that, although "the schedule" works - much of the advice Mrs. Hendrick provides is completely outdated. So, I suggest following the daily schedule she outlines but ignore the rest. Mrs. Hendrick's style of child-rearing is completely authoritarian - children must be "managed", they should leave the room when you have visitors, play in their rooms for hours alone, never enter the kitchen while you are cooking (because it is the mother's domain)....completely crazy and contrary to real life these days. Shouldn't having kids be FUN - at least sometimes - where is the JOY? Mrs. Hendricks is a bit too "old school" for me.

"A happy, orderly way of life for infants and their families" -- a synopsis of this beautiful little handbook given to my husband and me 28 years ago at the birth of our beloved daughter. It offered a lifeline to calm waters from the tumultous seas of the 1960's and '70's child-rearing philosophies and free-love, drug oriented, me-first parenting notions. Discipline and self-control were deemed stifling to creativity and self-esteem. Children were essentially bringing up themselves -- or being brought up by adults continuing to act like children themselves! How grateful we were to receive this book that had been used by other members of our extended family to rear bright, self-disciplined, happy, secure children. Now I will pass on my battered copy to my pregnant daughter, having learned this treasure is no longer being printed. Certainly there are aspects of it one could deem "old-fashioned" -- after all, disposable diapers were very new to the marketplace 28 years ago. However, even today I would forego disposables for the satisfaction of a big stack of freshly washed and folded cloth diapers that, when no longer needed on infants, become wonderful dustcloths and don't fill the landfills!

New parents are faced with a mountain of information and opinion on every facet of child raising. Ms. Hendrick's book takes a logical, sensible look at how to deal with the change an infant makes on a family.

Complete with detailed schedules and sage advice, My First 300 Babies takes the mystery, but not the thrill, out of parenting.

Utilizing Ms. Hendrick's time managment schedules, our children (now 29 months and 10 months) slept through the night at 4 and 5 weeks old respectively.

My only wish is for an updated version, as some of the language and references were current in the 60's, when the book was written. Nevertheless, this should be The Bible for all new parents!

I love the Mandie Books, and this is the best one so far. It was this book that got me hooked. I have read it at least three times, even though it is a mystery. In this book, you meet Mandie Shaw, almost a teenager and certain that God no longer loves her. Her father dies, and she feels as if he was the only one who really loved her. Her mother remarries, and sends her to live with the brysons, to take care of their baby. But they treat her horridly. She runs away with Uncle Ned, her old Indian friend. She goes to her Uncles house, and learns terible news. She searchs for a will, finds a secret tunnel, and discovers that God does love her. Something everyone needs to realize. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It is wonderful, whether you're 8 or 18, a boy or a girl.

I love the Mandie Books, and think this is one of the best. It was this book that got me hooked. I have read it at least three times, despite it being a mystery. In this installment you meet Mandie Shaw, almost a teenager and certain that God no longer loves her. Her father dies and Mandie feels as if he was the only one who really loved her. Her mother remarries and sends her to live with the Brysons, to help take care of their baby. They treat her horridly. She runs away with Uncle Ned, her old Indian friend who promised her father he would watch over her. She goes to her Uncle's house in Richmond, and learns terrible news. She searches for a will, finds a secret tunnel, and discovers that God does love her - a truth everyone needs to realize. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. It is wonderful, whether you're 8 or 18, a boy or a girl.

this book is the best book i have ever read. i read this book a long time ago and i can honestly say that it is the only book i have finished because i don't enjoy reading. this book had me wondering what is going to happen next. Mandie is a very strong teenager who knows her place in life and she is very adventuresome. She is willing to take a risk. This book is great and i hope to let my kids read the whole collection some day!

This is a very good book for learning English and Spanish. The book is very well made and a great size for little hands. The pictures are large, bright and colorful. However, the Spanish does not include the article. This is very helpful in learning the gender of the word and should be taught with the vocabulary. There is also a couple of strange choices. For example, Q stands for "quetzal" rather than something more familiar like "queso".

My daughter was having trouble getting the alphabet down in her Spanish class. I remembered that I had this book, and we pulled it out and began going over it consistently. In no tme did she finally master it and got an A in her class on the test. Because of the way that the book was written, we were both able to learn the alphabet and other words that were in it, and now both of my children want me to continue getting books like these by this author so that they can learn more. They have a lot of Spanish friends, and have enjoyed practicing what they have learned from these books. These books are simple enough for a small child, and informative enough for an adult like me to pick-up the language.

Our 30 month old loves this set. It's in-depth enough (shapes, for example) that it will keep him engaged for months. Great illustrations. Sturdy, well-made construction.

unlike Aretha's book, Gladys I really enjoyed yours. Don't feel bad that you two don't get along- After reading her book, we all see that she's a bit troubled in the mind! Your book was both insightful and informative. However, I did catch a lie or two in there. You painted this vivid picture of how you "created" the classic " Midnight Train to Georgia". You know this is a lie! Cissy Houston sang that song first and you know it. You had the hit so let her enjoy at least the credit of recording it first! Otherwise, I enjoyed the book, God bless you!

Oh, just picked up the paperback to seeing her on an old 'Jeffersons' rerun (remember that). Loved this book! Gladys has always been a favorite of mine- that rich, flawless delivery underlined with down to earth truth and conviction- she is among the leading voices that brought soul music to the mainstream America in the 1960's.
I was mist intrigued by her honesty throughout the book, especially in speaking of her parenting of her children. I commended her for that. Her gambling addiction was another testament of how she overcame adversity and came out a winner, which was another source of inspiration for myself. I also really appreciated her honesty in relation to her tenure with Motown and the treatment they received while on the legendary label.
And then there was the dirt! What is the deal between she and Aretha? I always perceived that they would be good friends, especially since both encompass such mesmarizing, soulful voices.... I love Dionne, and I could not see her acting the way Patti portrayed her.
This is a inspirational, well written piece of work. I would recommend this purchase and much love and success to Ms. Knight for decades to come.

Gladys Knight did an exceptional job of revealing her life of pain and glory. She had me bumping into walls as I left work each day because I couldn't wait to get home to continue reading. I know that she is a gifted performer, but I now know that she is a gifted writer as well. This is a must read.

Hey, I think this was a great book. I love Leppard and her Mandie series. I started them when I was eight, and now, five years later, I still love them. But I think Mrs. Leppard has overdone the Tsani mystery thing ( If you are a mandie reader, you know what I mean). Still, it is a great book, and I recommend it to anyone, any age. You should read the previous Mandie books to enjoy them better. All Mandie books are great, and this one is no exception. I hope they keep coming for a long time!

I liked this book, except there was one major flaw. In 'Mandie and the Quilt Mystery'Polly(Mandie's neighbor)was supposed to be accompining Mandie and her friends to New York. But when I read this book, it did not mention Polly at all!
Also, I think that Mandie was very rude to snoop in the Guyer's house.
Other than that, it was fine. Horray for Lois Gladys Leppard!

Elisabeth

This is one of the best Mandie Books. I've read this series since I was little and this is just another add to the collection of master works. In this story the end will be most suprising and leave you pondering what's next. Unexpected suprise! Tells all about the history of Mandie's Grandmother and Johnathan's father...

"The Pilgrim's Progress" is widely known and widely imitated. Perhaps a bit too widely. While the book itself is stunning, having seen, heard, or read so many attempts to imitate it, I found that the original effect of the story was lessened for me.

By all means, this book should be read -- it is in itself a great work of literature, and it is a prime example of Puritan thought. Be aware, however, that much of it will seem trite and worn -- not because of anything inherently wrong with Bunyan's writing -- primarily because we have all heard so many poor imitations that it will be difficult to put them aside.

However, this book still warrants a reading for the simple fact that it is a great story! I shall be re-reading this in the not-too-distant future, hopefully better prepared to dismiss the memories of the imitations and to appreciate the genius of Bunyan's allegory.

Read it!

I read The Pilgrim's Progress as a child and recently reread it in order to do a comparative essay on allegorical journeys for my english class. The other book I read for the assignment was Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, and I found that Bunyan's novel equaled or exceeded Conrad's in every way. While Conrad used far more symbolism and allusions, I felt that Bunyan still did a better job of making the reader identify with his character's journey. The Pilgrim's Progress is a wonderfully written story that inspires hope and confidence in God to help his people though their own journeys.

This is a Christian classic that is my favorite of all Christian works, bar none (except the bible of course). Possibly the second most published work outside the bible, it has been highly regarded by many, and was once widely taught in the schools.

I wish my school had taught it. I first read this book a year ago, and I feel as if I've been deprived all my life.

Pilgrim's Progress is written by a mature Christian, with insights that you will not get from anyone other than a mature Christian. Few people are capable of writing such a book.

And the book shines with great quotes. Two of my favorites are:

What means this? The Interpreter answered, 'This is Christ, who continually with the oil of grace maintains the work already begun in the heart, by the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. AND IN THAT THOU sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire, this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.

And this: Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out in this passionate speech. 'What a fool', quoth he, 'am I , thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a key in my bosom, called promise, that will (I am persuaded) open any lock in Doubting-Castle.'

A key called promise.. great thoughts.

There are many editions to Pilgrim's Progress, and I haven't found one I am happy with yet. Try to get one with the original wording, and the references to passages in the bible. Many versions delete the references to passages in the bible, which are, of course, the most useful to Christians and of least use to the world.

ISBN 0140430040 appears to be true to the original wording of the classic. On the other hand, it lacks the biblical passage references, chapter divisions, and is a paperback with (quite frankly) an ugly cover.

ISBN 0785242228 is a modern spelling version. However comparing it to the original shows that a lot more than just the spelling has been changed, and it doesn't read nearly as well. This is a nicely bound hardback with quality paper and chapter divisions, and some (but not all) the references to the bible. Character names are annoyingly abbrievated throughout book.

ISBN 1557480990 is a children's version of Pilgrim's Progress. While a children's book, it remains true to the original and is worth getting. The illustrations are great.

There are also many etext versions of Pilgrim's Progress that include the original text and all the references the text makes to passages in the bible.

I recommend you take your time reading the book, and reflect on what is being said. Also, if you have a full version of this book, with the references to passages in the bible, you could use it as part of a bible study.

BTW: the phrase 'vanity fair' comes from this book.

This book was excellent, it not only kept you interested with Edmunds funny anecdotes, it was so informative. This book is a must have for anyone who owns a business and it is also great for people who have a full time job and need to find some insight on staying sane and balancing your life. This book may be geared toward entrepreneaurs and future entrepreneurs; however I think it is great for anyone who needs to maintain balance in a workworld. Great book, it will change your life.

Whether you own a small business, are thinking about starting one or would just like to improve the quality of your life, this is a book you should read -- right now. It's chock full of common sense imparted to the reader by a woman whose phenomenal success speaks for itself. When you read how Gladys Edmunds, at the age of twelve, began using her spunk and imagination to put her on the road to riches in the travel industry, you come away thinking: Doggone it - if she can do it, I can, too! A combination of fascinating anecdotes about Edmunds' own life and instructive case histories of people who have sought and benefited from her counsel, 'There's No Business Like Your Own Business' is not the usual dry-as-dust business primer, but rather an encouraging, easy-to-read look at how it is possible, by managing ourselves, to manage our businesses and our lives, and that they should not be mutually exclusive. We are reminded that we needn't try to do it alone, and that it's a sign of wisdom, not inadequacy, to enlist help from others. 'There's No Business Like Your Own Business' is peppered with nuggets of wisdom from the ancients to the modern. Don't even think about starting a business until you've read what Edmunds has to say.

BOOK REVIEW

Whether you own a small business, are thinkingabout starting one or would just like to improve the quality of yourlife, this is a book you should read - right now. It's chock full of common sense imparted to the reader by a woman whose phenominal success speaks for itself. When you read how Gladys Edmunds, at the age of twelve, began using her spunk and imagination to put herself on the road to riches in the travel industry, you come away thinking: Doggone it - if she can do it, I can!

Combined with fascinating anecdotes about her own life and instructive case histories of people who have sought and benefited from her counsel, "There's No Business Like Your Own Business," is not the usual dry-as-dust business primer, but rather an encouraging, easy-to-read look at how it is possible, by managing ourselves, to manage our businesses and our lives, and that they should not be mutually exclusive. We are reminded that we needn't try to do it alone, and that it's a sign of wisdom, not inadequacy, to enlist help from others. Peppered with nuggets of wisdom from the ancients to the moderns, "There's No Business" is a winner. Don't even think about starting a business until you've read what Edmunds has to say.