This was a lighthearted and entertaining look at one person's eschewing traditional self-help books and trying to find her own path to happiness. I would say that she followed paths that many of us would (or have) considered trying ourselves, and I do believe that she successfully identified some keys to happiness. Her writing style alternates between hilarity and eye-rolling, but she is consistently engaging. A must read for anyone overwhelmed by the demands and expectations of life, and it is encouraging to see that I, too, could totally find my happiness as well.

This book was a slow start...largely due to cosmetic/grammatical/editorial issues. It took me nearly two years to get through teh book--but was able to pick up pace the further I got into the book.

Ms. McCague has an exceptional imagination and brilliant story to tell--but it could really benefit from some polishing. A lot of polishing. I had trouble keeping track of many of the characters and understanding their purpose.

With that being said, the underlying idea for the story is incredible (along the lines of 'Arrival'), and this could be a first rate book with a rewrite.

Despite my awe for her imagination, I really can't recommend this book in its current form.

A large collection of generally dark stories by Braunbeck, but not the sort of book that easy to read through all at once. Unless you're a diehard fan (and can ignore or overlook the occasional typographical error) It's best to read a story or two at a time. Excellent collection for when you need a little "down" time.

A poignant book, elucidating the life, sorrow, pain, and regret of a shameful bygone era. Coupled with photographs, drawing, and paintings, the book is at its introspective best when slowly savored one page. I read it again a few days after revisiting the Holocaust Museum, and I connected deeply with the humanity contained within this book.

Recommended to anyone interested in looking beyond the faceless numbers of the Holocaust at the voiceless individuals who lived, suffered, and died there.

A leisurely and engaging narrative of the author's immense enjoyment of a trip to Africa that he wouldn't have otherwise taken. He's sort of a reluctant adventurer, somewhat hesitant to take the first steps, but eagerly immersing himself in the experience once he's on the open road. An intensely personal book, the author shows us glimpses of his own humanity—shortcomings and regrets—that contrasts with the awesome richness of the wider world. This aspect makes the book that much more vivid, and allows us to share the intimacy of travel with a fellow wanderer.

Set deep in the heart of Africa, this story/diary follows two brothers as they explore the world and work to save the environment. Well researched and engaging to a middle school audience, it will resonate most among adventure lovers and kids who love to travel themselves.

A comprehensive look at the longstanding tension between the Jews and the Arabs. Shipler exams the many facets of the conflict and cultural tensions that have plagued the region for such a long time. He takes a fair-minded stance and gives us a compassionate and humane look at the people themselves and the burdens that the conflict places upon them. The pace of the book is steady and keeps the reader engaged. The author cites a tremendous range of primary sources.

A great behind-the-scenes look at the complicated issues that prevent real movement toward reconciliation and peace.

This is a blow-by-blow book of the dramatic struggle to forge the ADA and navigate the many obstacles that lay between the initial idea and it's ultimate becoming law. This landmark legislation has dramatically improved the rights of many Americans, and has set the standard for other countries around the world who seek to make their societies more inclusive and accessible.

While oftentimes alternating between gripping and engaging, the book occasionally gets out into the weeds, which can cause the flow to drag somewhat.

Overall, those pursuing careers in Human Resources or Urban Planning will get the most benefit out of this interesting book.

This is an extremely well-written and compassionate book on Alzheimer's, and is accessible for practitioners, friends, caretakers, and families alike to understand the creeping and devastating impact--both personal and collateral--that this disease has on so many lives. Essential reading for those who are either going through or knows someone who is going through the scouring effects of Alzheimers.

A sobering, yet engaging look into how the definition and response to terrorism has evolved over the past 15 years, and how terrorists continue to change their tactics and message in an era of unprecedented access to unregulated social media.

He concludes by stating that the 'lone wolf' terrorists are almost always off the law enforcement radar until the act, but that their travel down that path generally does not go unnoticed by family and friends--and therein lies the most realistic way to minimize or avoid future homegrown terrorists.

Gannon and Wyatt are brothers who explore the world. The book is geared for upper elementary students and is an engaging story of their adventures in Greenland. It's very engaging and brings the history, cultural, and experience into the wide-eyed wonderful perspective that kids have as they engage the unfamiliar and interesting. The element of drama and suspense and the clear depictions of the weather in Greenland will make you shiver! It's a very pleasant read, and my kids enjoyed it as well. It's helped them think about their own experiences in a new way as they explore the world.

"Nobody Owns the Moon" is a thoughtful book outlining the need for ethical discussions on human economic activities in space, and suggests a pathway of decisions that policy makers should consider before diving headlong into it all.

It's largely philosophical in nature, focusing on other intersteller bodies, and at times it feels as if our own planet has been overlooked as being too far gone. Obviously this is not the case, as our own local issues were not included in the premise of the book, but it may be something the author may wish to include in an expanded second edition.

Although the book could use a good proofreading (and some minor editing) in places, it is still relevant, and should be taken seriously by those forward looking enough to realize that this is not too far into the distant future.

Gannon and Wyatt are brothers who explore the world with their parents. The book is geared for upper elementary students and is an engaging story of their adventures in Ireland. It's very engaging and brings the history, cultural, and experience into the wide-eyed wonderful perspective that kids have as they engage the unfamiliar and interesting. It's a very pleasant read, and my kids enjoyed it as well. It's helped them think about their own experiences in a new way as they travel.

Kevin Murphy expertly dissects the real, the imagined, and the propaganda surrounding the Bataan Death March and looks at how, in many ways, the tragedy on Bataan was a very real three-way clash of cultures, showing both the best and the worst that each country had to offer. He delves into the historical utility of first-person "I was there" narratives, and scrutinizes the developmental roadmap followed by both the U.S. and Japanese armies in the decades preceding WW2: their training, their outlook, societal perspectives and impact, and their overall approach to it all. He has reviewed a tremendous amount of first and second-hand accounts, along with historical documents and primary resources. Some reviewers complain about the density or difficulty of the book, but I found it to be an honest, no nonsense approach to an emotional turning point of the war in the Pacific. It's a must-read for any student of WW2, military, or Philippine history.

The author is tremendously knowledgeable about historical disasters, and about identifying the key issues (human errors and oversights) that ultimately led to (or contributed to) the disaster. It's not a difficult read, nor is it inaccessible to the average reader. I found it interesting and compelling, although the writing style (referencing himself at times) and the occasional grammatical or spelling issue can be distracting. The ebook, unfortunately (or t least the version I got) didn't allow me to submit errors for correcting, oddly enough.

But overall, the book was a good read (I had not read the first one), warts and all.

This new book by Stephanie Bearce is a fun-filled adventure into the espionage and intrigue that went on behind the scenes during the second world war, and that led into the full on spy games that dominated the Cold War era. It looks at some of the techniques, missions, and personalities that helped to bring the war to its' successful conclusion. Anecdotes about unusual weapons that never made it beyond the testing phase (e.g. the "Vortex Gun") are also fascinating little footnotes of history that don't typically make their way into the conventional history books.

All in all, it's a exciting read that whisks the reader back in time and makes WW II come alive, introducing it to a new generation of schoolchildren who will find it just as interesting and engrossing as we did.

Two thumbs up!

Predator brings us along on a ride that was as unsteady and uncertain as the development and lack of support that the UAV received within the military community. It's a fascinating glimpse into the vision of the brilliant pioneers and the technological hurdles they had to surmount to make the UAV not only become a viable flying machine, but one that could stay aloft for increasingly long periods of time. That in and of itself is an interesting story, but the book goes beyond to show us the political wranglings that sought to abort the programs and the behind the scenes machinations that kept it alive until its' usefulness could be proven and its' coming indispensability noncounterable. We see its' early use in Bosnia, and witness its' transformation during the War on Terror, and how legal and ethical questions are still being hammered out as the technology becomes more entrenched in our society, for both military and civilian use.

Highly recommended for technology and history buffs alike!

I've read a number of weight training books in my time, and this book was a pleasant surprise. The breadth of information is useful to beginners as well as hardcore lifters wanting to focus on specific muscle groups. The text is accompanied by a large number of photos and step-by-step guides, as well as highlighting common pitfalls to avoid.

It also provides guidance if you are training for either power sports, endurance sports, or even agility and balance sports. Sample workouts and regimines are also included.

My 11 year old has recently begun to show an interest in strength training, and when he spotted this book, he picked it up and began to read and read. I also had difficulty putting it down, as I've historically used machine weights and was pleased to learn what I've been missing.

5 stars. A must have reference/guide book for any physical training library.

A riveting WWII spy story set in the Mediterranean, "The Ariadne Objective" carries the reader along on a whirlwind adventure with a band of misfit saboteurs. The author has done a tremendous amount of research, but his use of language makes the book flow more like a novel than a documentary. Half star short of five only because the darkness of the printing and the brightness of the paper made reading feel a bit stark at times.

This book arrived on two CDs, and provided a great deal of entertainment in the car during a lengthy drive last week. The target audience is upper elementary, but our teenager enjoyed it immensely as well.

It is funny, well written, and very vivid. The narrator "voiced" the different characters, which added depth and helped us to readily identify who was speaking.

Highly recommended for any families with 3-5 graders in the house!

PTSD is a difficult subject to discuss frankly with the lay person, as a clear understanding of it really only comes from training, education, or from experiencing it first hand and receiving therapy.

This book is written specifically for laypersons, specifically for those with friends or loved ones who are or have served in the military and currently (or may yet) suffer from PTSD. Although terse at times, the book outlines the historical development and understanding of PTSD, its symptoms and treatments. It also goes beyond to explore how it effects husbands and wives, as well as coloring mood, emotion, and memories.

The goal of the book is to foster a better understanding of PTSD, which it does as well as it can given the complexity and emotionality attached to the subject. It's not a casual read by any means, but those of us driven to understand what is going on inside the head of your loved one have found it to be a helpful shoulder to lean on.

This book is a present day continuation of Christian literature focuses on drawing our attention away from ourselves, away from things, away from all the trappings and distractions that modernity has to offer, and returning our attention to being humble before God. Being humble is a daunting task in a world filled with status updates and intense navel-gazing, but the author is able to articulate herself (or himself) that makes sense. She (or he) speaks with clarity, and shares openly about her (or his) experiences with struggling with pride vs humility, which lends an air of authority to her (or his) perspective. An excellent book that I would recommend to anyone struggling with humility, or even interested in contemplating stepping back a bit from the status quo.

Adobe: Homes and Interiors of Taos, Santa Fe, and the Southwest is more than a simple coffee-table book of splendid pictures, it is more of a compendium of different decorating and design styles of the American Southwest. It satisfies everyone, from someone who is thinking about doing some decorating in a southwest motif to the hardcore connoisseur of the myriad of options available. The secret to the beauty of this art style likes in it's inherit simplicity, and it's strong connection to nature. Even the black and white photos add to the timelessness and nostalgia that this book evokes.

This book is a great introduction to the realities of serving in the USAF, both for prospective cadets and their spouses and/or parents. There are a couple of chapters that get the reader to thinking about why he or she might consider the Air Force, and how it compares to other opportunities that may be available. The greater part of the book is dedicated to the actual enlistment process, to help dispel any misconceptions or misunderstandings.

The book allows the reader to make an informed decision about how they might fit in to the USAF, and as such is a valuable resource for anyone who works with teens (or, like me, has a teen that is interested in the USAF)!

The author's clever perception of the world according to Biff puts him in good company with the old Far Side comics. I must admit that while a good number of the frames were spot on, there were a few that I had trouble understanding. Call it a cultural or generational gap, but I chalk it up to my own obtuseness. My teenager discovered it on my Kindle, and he's also enjoyed reading it--in fact he's asked if he can 'move' it into his own 'collection' on the kindle... :D

Dr. Hoppe has written a down-to-earth no-holds-barred book addressing the rollercoaster of emotions that can flood us after the loss of a spouse. Each chapter is quite short and focused; easily readable in a short period of time, almost making it a sort of inspirational/devotional-style reading--which is ideal for someone dealing with grief. Several section also discuss certain aspects of the grieving process that are typically overlooked, such as 'talking to your spouse', 'signs of messages from your loved one' and ''the laziness of grief'.

I have not yet lost my spouse, but as someone who works in a social service setting, this book has been a tremendous asset when working with those clients who have experienced the painful loss of a spouse or child. I highly recommend reading it.

The title says it all: "Complete Guide". This is one of the most well written and accessible books on fitness and health that I've had the privilege of reading. It is concisely written and geared toward a larger audience, with something for everyone. The pictures, illustrations, and charts are clear and comprehensible, and I felt motivated to 'get on board' just be reading it. No coercing, no shaming, just a simple underlying message: "this is what a healthy lifestyle looks like. It's easy. Why don't you give it a try?"

I've read a lot of books on health, and this one easily surpasses them all. Easily worth the money spent. A worthwhile investment in your health that will bring continued and very real dividends.

This book should within arm's reach of every HR person in the country. It provides a detailed explanation of many issues that arise in conjunction with hiring new employees, retaining current ones, separation and retirement. From Dress Codes to Workplace Violence to Domestic Violence Leave, your HR person will be more confident that they are safely making sounds decisions. The definitions are clear, and give precise examples of situations regarding compliance and noncompliance. It'll pay for itself the first time it helps you clear up or avoid getting into a sticky issue.

This book is very concentrated and is geared specifically for those AP students preparing for the SAT exams. Although it could technically be used as a pseudo-"cliff notes", it's best utilized as a comprehensive review of previously-learned material.

The material is concise, well organized, laid out in chronological order. Although my own history classes are, ahem, some years in the past, this book brought them all back to me, clearly, as well as filled in some of the gaps overlooked by older textbooks (or my less than perfect memory).

The only minor distraction was the occasional parenthetical (explanation) of certain vocabulary words. My gut tells me that AP Students would either possess an expanded vocabulary or be inclined to crack the dictionary if they couldn't guess the contextual meaning of the word in question. But that's just my curmudgeonly self speaking.

A very intense read, but easily done, and I really enjoyed the refresher course.

(Review also posted on Amazon.com)

The plot involves Gary taking a trip to Chess Country, which is admittedly thin at times, but the main focus of the book is introducing the reader to the game and intricacies of chess. I've played chess for years and years (rather badly), and found this book to be extremely informative. The exercises are valuable to training the eye to 'see' various moved and to look for successful strategies. After 152 pages of 'A-ha!' moments, I'm more confident than ever in my game (and have finally been able to dispense with the 'badly'!)

Although the target audience is children with little or no knowledge of the game, this book is very useful to anyone wanting to improve their own play. It will help tremendously, and you will not want to share the source of your newfound knowledge! :D

(this review also posted on Amazon)