By: Abby,
on 6/17/2015
Comedian Aziz Ansari is always a lot of fun. Here he brings his lively sense of humor to a topic with which he's well-acquainted: dating. But this isn't just some funny guy making jokes about his dating life. It's an in-depth look at the history of dating and a thoughtful examination of the pitfalls, and [...]
By: Abby,
on 1/13/2015
Should you take vitamins? Is caffeine good or bad for you? How often should you exercise? If you're tired of trying to make sense of contradictory studies and new health fads, this quick, refreshingly direct read will give you sound guidance for a longer, healthier life. Books mentioned in this post A Short Guide to [...]
By: Abby,
on 1/5/2015
Entertaining and deeply personal yet packed with information about the human brain, 10% Happier is a book about meditation for the unconvinced. If you're prone to anxiety or compulsive thoughts (who isn't?), do yourself a favor and pick this up. Books mentioned in this post 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice... Dan Harris New [...]
By: Koa,
on 10/17/2014
Equal parts inspirational tool, diary, and space occupier for your tote bag (seriously, you'll want to carry this rad little book everywhere). Some pages may require you to reflect, some may ask you to get to know yourself a little better, and others may just ask you to draw slices of pizza. This book is [...]
By: Mary Jo,
on 9/5/2014
Always wanted to make croissants? Dreamed of learning to surf or opening a cat sanctuary? Whoever said it's not about the destination but the journey was only half right. Bliss lies in pursuing the seemingly impossible with steely tenacity, and Guillebeau offers solid advice and tales of his own journeys to inspire you to pursue [...]
By: Aubrey,
on 4/10/2014
Another gem from the authors of Difficult Conversations, this great read is for professionals and anyone looking to improve their relationships through better communication. If you've ever wondered in frustration, Why did they say that?, then this is the book for you. Books mentioned in this post Thanks for the Feedback: The Science... Douglas Stone [...]
By: Powell's Staff,
on 9/27/2013
At Powell's, our book buyers select all the new books in our vast inventory. If we need a book recommendation, we turn to our team of resident experts. Need a gift idea for a fan of vampire novels? Looking for a guide that will best demonstrate how to knit argyle socks? Need a book for [...]
By: Cindy P.,
on 9/9/2013
It would be reductive to say this is a weight-loss memoir (excuse the pun). Sure, Wendy McClure joins Weight Watchers and starts a diet blog called Poundy, but the memoir is about her life in a broader sense and is extraordinarily entertaining. Bonus: she reproduces lurid photos from 1970s Weight Watchers cookbooks. Books mentioned in [...]
By: Ashleigh,
on 9/9/2013
In Marbles, Ellen Forney explores the relationship between mental illness and creativity. A working cartoonist in Seattle, she is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and must decide whether to accept treatment (and risk sacrificing her art) or continue self-medicating and hope for the best. Marbles is a satisfying read, both as a personal memoir and as [...]
By: Betsy B.,
on 9/9/2013
Drinking: A Love Story is about Caroline Knapp's struggle with alcoholism and getting sober after 20 years of hard drinking. This book spoke to me personally and parallels my life closely. Knapp's writing is so stark and honest that anyone in recovery will see themselves in this book. Books mentioned in this post Drinking: A [...]
By: Jill Owens,
on 2/26/2013
Growing up in an Italian-American family in Danvers, Massachusetts, Domenica Ruta had a life filled with violence and poverty but also imagination and love. Ruta's mother, Kathi, who "believed it was more important to be an interesting person than it was to be a good one," cycled between welfare and great wealth, helped get her [...]
By: Chris Guillebeau,
on 5/25/2012
Have you ever met a barista with a college degree? What about one with a master's degree? Spend time in Portland, or likely any other major city in North America, and this experience is not uncommon. Between those who are completely unemployed, those who are underemployed, and those who have just gone off the grid, [...]
By: Inspired Kathy,
on 12/3/2011
Filled with humor and I can relate life experiences, Faithful, Fit and Fabulous is the ideal 8-week life boost that will refresh any woman's life. Gospel principles from scriptures, priceless gems from general conference addresses, and more, are shared along with ways to readily apply them in your busy daily life. Establish holy habits, feel fit and fabulous, and get organized. Just one goal a week for eight weeks simple and fun.
Somewhere between two and three week, life will throw you a curve ball, often many. No one knows why; it's one of those Bermuda Triangle things. Personally, I believe it's good old-fashioned opposition to prevent you from making a life-improving change.
In death I wrote journals that spoke of goals I wanted to accomplish. I spoke of the promise if given a chance to live. I find this quite humorous. When we humans are faced with travesty we remember our faith. We are saved and sanctified. God’s promise is first and foremost and our prayers become daily rituals that were once gone in the winds. I thought that when faced with death I would cringe with fear. However, when it came time to fight there was a point and time when I embraced it.
These same feelings of inadequacy and anxiety come when I am on the brink of success. I become so fearful of achievement, I let go. I am afraid to fail, I am afraid of the added responsibility, I am afraid to follow through. Hence, the pep talk comes into play. “The Rebirth I like to call it,” I get fired up. I remember the cause, I remember my fight. Thus I am Reborn and ready to fight…
By: Inspired Kathy,
on 8/9/2011
With the same candor and creativity that made Men Are Life Waffles-Women Are Like Spaghetti (more than 270,000 copies sold) a bestseller, author Pam Farrel gives wives 52 ways to wow their husbands and add spark to their marriages. Pam delivers humor in her fun woman-to-woman style through inspirational stories, godly advice, and easy-to-read offerings that include:
wow assignments: simple ways to support, love, and encourage husbands
wow wisdom: Bible verses and wisdom to help women cover their spouse with prayer
wow dates: creative ideas for everything from shared meals to weekend getaways
Newlyweds, married with kids, or empty nesters will appreciate these ideas crafted for the busy life. A woman can try one idea a week for a year or take on a few at a time to deepen her spiritual, emotional, and physical bond with her loved one.
By: Mayra Calvani,
on 1/20/2011
Welcome to Day 4 of this 6-day virtual tour to promote the wonderful books I am fortunate enough to publish. I'm Victor Volkman, CEO of Loving Healing Press, the fastest-growing publishing company devoted to self-growth, recovery, psychology, and social work books.
Today I'd like to tell more about our abuse recovery books for children. We have a variety of authors contributing several different points of view. There are usually a few key goals of the literature. First of all, to make sure the child reading the book (or having it read to him) knows that the abuse was never his fault, he is not to blame for what happened to him. Secondly, to let him know that he is not the only person in the world that this has happened to; he is not somehow uniquely bad or different. Thirdly, to focus on prevention of further incidents, for example by educating about boundaries and what to do if they are not respected. Last, there is an emphasis on discovering feelings, recognizing them, and building on self-image thro
ugh affirmations and recognizing the positive.
Some of our books build on specific incidents or scenarios. Annabelle’s Secret deals with abuse from an older neighborhood boy. Reena’s Bollywood Dream features an uncle who grooms a girl to make inappropriate movies of her. REPAIR for Kids aged 6 to 12 and the brand new REPAIR for Toddlers are a pair of books by Marjorie McKinnon, a leader whose abuse recovery network has more than 50 chapters worldwide. Her books are largely educational in terms of prevention, what to do in an emergency, games and activities to restore self-esteem and optimism all within a prescribed seven stage program.
I could write or talk about our wonderful books all day. But several of our new books are showcased all this month at the National Writing for Children Center. Please visit the center at www.writingforchildrencenter.com to learn more about them. And, to find out more about ALL of our books, please visit our website at www.LovingHealing.com.
Follow Day 5 of my tour tomorrow at babiestotschildren.com Leave a comment every day of my tour and your name will automatically be entered to win a Gift Box Bundle - filled with books and other goodies - at the end of the month, provided by the National Writing for Children Center.
By: Inspired Kathy,
on 11/4/2010
Calling upon verses and Psalms from the Bible, these inspirational messages are framed by breathtaking color photography of nature's splendor, including sun-drenched deserts, white-capped mountains, and people of all ages and ethnicities. A charming addition to these messages is a sumptuous array of natural recipes for the enhancement of a woman's beauty and relaxation, using simple ingredients found in one's home. A life open to God and filled with the beauty around you, sharing it with those you love, and finding time to relax so that you can be the best you can be: these are the "Recipes for a Beautiful Life".
Recipes for a Beautiful life is a unique book that would make a great gift for a Christian teacher or friend. This book is filled with beautiful pictures of both nature and people that are accompanied by short passages from the Bible. At the end is a short section with relaxation and simple home spa treatments for pampering yourself.
Content: Clean & uplifting.
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: From Author For Review
By: Inspired Kathy,
on 10/26/2010
This book is a simple, straightforward, logical guide to dating the right way. No gimmicks, no tricks, just practical advice that really works. If you're new to the dating scene, fed up with short-lived relationships, sick of awkward dates with girls, or would just like to fine-tune your dating skills, this book is definitely for you. The advice in this book will restore your perspective, help you find relationships that last, and give you some practical hints and tips to help you-and the girl you asked out-feel great about the first date and beyond. Whether you're new to dating, or you've been doing it for years, you'll walk away from this book with the skills necessary to have success in dating.
I met Jarett Waite at the St. George Book Festival on Saturday. He was kind enough of offer me a copy of his book I Asked Her Out, She Said Yes - Now What?
I am obviously not the target audience for this book but I do have a son who turns 16 next month and thought it might be a book I could pass on to him.
I Asked Her Out, She Said Yes - Now What?: A Crash Course in Dates that Lead to Relationships is a quick, easy read. It's just 75 pages long which is a great length for the target audience. It's not intimidating and short enough to read in a single sitting. The books discusses dating basics including being creative, having fun, being yourself and a step by step walk through on planning a date.
Ironically when I got home on Saturday afternoon I found my son and his friends getting ready to go to a dance. They were surfing the internet looking for ideas on how to ask a girl to dance and how to talk to her. I'm sure this book would be right up their alley. Now to get them to read it. If I hand it to my son I'm sure he'll balk and want nothing to do with it so I'm just going to put it on his nightstand and hopefully he'll pick it up and read it.
If you have a son, grandson (or boyfriend) who is just starting to date this would be a good book to give to them. Even better for those who are a little older and need a few tips.
Content: Clean
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: From Author for Review
By: Inspired Kathy,
on 10/21/2010
Change can happen in your life as quickly as you'll believe it.
Jason Snow has lived his life making choices that he believed would bring him happiness. Ironically, he acted in ways that got him the exact opposite of what he wanted. Now, his relationship with his wife is hanging by a thread, he is miserable at work, and worst of all, he feels disgusted at the thought that his kids are suffering because of choices he-s made. Is there a way out?
Although this book follows Jason Snow on a life-changing quest beginning at the base of Mt. Hood, Snow Rising is not a novel. It-s an invitation to take a personal journey. Author Matthew Baldwin says, -I invite you to join Jason Snow, and leave you with two questions: one, can you be an advocate for the changes you desire to see in yourself and in the world around you; and two, do you have the audacity to find out?-
Snow Rising can put individuals back together, revitalize marriages and families, and help recover fractured organizations. It shares four axioms, absolute truths, that are at the root of all happiness. But as the author says, -Then again, perhaps the answer is not in the answer, but in the journey to the answer.-
Take the journey. Make the change. Know the peace.
Snow Rising by Matt Baldwin is a self-help book in story format. The author uses a fictional story to teach life changing truths. This was not a fast read for me. In fact it took me nearly a month to get through it. I could only digest a couple chapters a night until I reached the last 100 pages. Then I didn't want to put the book down.
Snow Rising is a book worth taking the time to read. I could relate to the problems facing the different characters in this book and enjoyed the way the author used a story format to teach life changing principles.
I could share tons of amazing quotes from the book but I'll just share two:
Human behavior is an avalanche, subject to the same sequence that governs all of nature. We choose what we believe, and we choose our actions. Everything else is a consequence. Life is a sequence that begins in choice and ends in consequence.I'm looking forward to the sequel that will be released in 2011.
Life is about the small things...Do the small things...
It means that when you come to the end of your life and look back, a slow walk with your daughter will mean more than your account balance. It means that flowers and a note for your wife for no particular occasion, only because you adore her, will mean more than diamonds on an anniversary. It means that showing gratitude to a friend for absolutely no specific reason will have more impact than picking up a lifetime of dinner checks.
By: Margot Finke,
on 11/14/2008
Writers today must discover new ways of learning the secrets of
writing for children. Your Internet connection can hook you up to a
host of helpful writing lists. These message boards encourage writers,
from beginners to the highly experienced. Members post questions
and offer their own valuable experiences. Answers flow, and often
lead to informative debates on many aspects of writing for children.
Not mentoring one-on-one, I agree, but a great way to tap into a
valuable resource. Look for online lists that specialize in writing
for children. Surf around until you identify message boards that have
published and advanced writers – people that know the children’s
writing game. After you sign up, and become a valid member, lurk
awhile. Absorb the helpful writing and publishing information flying
back and forth on a daily basis. When you feel comfortable and at
home, ask your writing questions. Below are three helpful message
boards.
The CW List (Childrens Writers)
[email protected]
Send a blank e-mail with “Subscribe” in the subject line.
Write4Kids.com ( The Yella board ) .
http://write4kids.com/cgibin/discus/discus.cgi
The Childrens Book Writer’s Café -
http://groups.msn.com/TheChildrensBookWritersCafe
Go to “Join Now” on the left
Critique Groups Inherit the Mentoring Crown
- Sort of:
critique groups that flourish among their members. Ask these lists if
there are vacancies, and mention the type of books you write. No,
critique groups do not mentor in the traditional way. There is no
one-on-one – more like a rotation of five-or-six “critters” helping one.
A critique group offers a chance to work with, and seek guidance and
information from, writers who are more experienced. Each member
receives helpful feedback on their plot and characters, voice, and much
more. Encouragement and support is the backbone of these groups.
Today, picky editors demand an almost perfect manuscript. Working
with a trusted group of peers encourages you to look deeper, weed out
what is weak, or rework that troublesome chapter one more time.
This is the age of the search engine and self-help! If genuine mentors
are hard to come by, be independent. Think out of the box! Most
published writers, and many who are not yet published, have websites.
Think octopus! The many-tentacled links snaking from these websites
can divert a flow of “how-to” information onto your computer screen.
The wisdom of experienced writers is only a mouse click away. With
help from Google, or other search engines, you can explore sites that
offer current information about publishers, agents, or any aspect of
writing for children. A few clicks will put you in the magical world of
writing for children.
The Purple Crayon - Harold Underdown's website for children’s
writers. Great articles and links. Harold’s book, “The Complete
Idiot’s Guide To Publishing Children’s Books,” plus his vast
experience & writing wisdom, makes this a must visit site.
Greg Fishbone’s Writing Links -
writing resources are listed here – plus much more. Scroll down Greg’s
writing links page to find what you need.
Margot Finke - offers Manuscript Critiques at reasonable fees, Secrets
of Writing for Children, and Books. Her "Musings" column also
appears in The Purple Crayon, Her latest book, “Rattlesnake Jam”
is now available.
Jan Fields - "Nuts & Bolts & Magic Wands." covers children's
writing from A to Z Well published, with talent to burn, Jan's website
and magazine writing advice + great links, is most helpful.
Aaron Shepard's Kid Writing Page -
and information. Check the links page. A must visit.
Verla Kay - This multi published author offers a website full of
excellent resources. Don’t miss this one.
Thanks for the review. Sometimes I need to take a while with a self-improvement style of book. Actually all the time. I figure I really need to give books like that the most attention I can in order to really get a good result. Thanks for sharing your review. :)
I nedto put this on my to read list, and wish list!