This is a perfect read for both teenagers and adults. Dan Murray tells it like it is, and gives true examples to back up his story. Its fun and easy to read, with comics included. He has been there, and done that, so his story relates to many issues that all teenagers face. After meeting him, and reading his book, I was motivated by many of his ideas and so were my students. This book is a great inspiration for all teenagers to get them motivated for success!

As a counselor, I work with high school students. On a recent visit by Daniel Murray to our school, I observed our students respond in a positive, dynamic manner to Mr. Murray's presentation, and swarm the stage afterwards for an autographed copy of his book.
My Method to the Madness delivers a powerful message with a new twist, flavored with the right punch for our teenagers. Here is a man who has "been there, done that", survived, and surpassed. From the choice of fonts and layouts to the humorous anecdotes and cartoon figures, this book is an enjoyable, educational, and truly enlightening read for people of all ages and life situations who are looking for the path to personal success.

"My Method to the Madness" is a well-written, insightful "how to" book of sorts that is undoubtedly helping teenagers everywhere understand that they, like Dan Murray, can accomplish anything they set their minds to. This book is written in a language kids can understand. Dan does not lecture. He does not preach. He does not judge. He does not use scare tactics. Instead, he shares incredibly personal stories about his own life - about the mistakes he made in youth and as a young adult, about his feelings of being a loser, about his sister's love and faith in him and about how, through a simple birthday card, she inspired him to turn his life around and become the successful (and, more importantly, happy) person he is today. In short, Dan offers a unique perspective that kids and young adults can relate to, and illustrates, through hard-hitting examples, why his "method to the madness" worked for him, and why it can work for you. Although Dan's book is geared to an audience much younger than I am, I believe it will appeal to people of all ages. I graduated from high school over 20 years ago and have been relatively successful in my professional life - first in marketing and then as an attorney - and yet, as I read Dan's book, I kept saying to myself, "Hey, I can do that!" I felt so inspired to get off my butt and actually follow through on some of the things I've been dreaming of doing for far too long! I highly recommend this book.

I've been cooking for almost 20 years (in university, I lived with two guys who couldn't boil water without detailed instructions, so I did all the cooking), and I've successfully pulled off small-scale dinner parties (up to 8 people). So I know which end of a melon-baller to use.

I still found this book helpful - it demystified some things, and gave me a few new ideas - and a few more rave reviews at Easter dinner!

The only thing this book lacks (and it's probably too big a topic to cover) would be a brief examination of some of the more popular spices, what flavours they impart, and what foods they go best in/with.

VERY strongly recommended!!!

I picked this book out of the bargain books bin and it has been the BEST cookbook I've every used. It explains things well, but the recipes show you that you CAN have simple food that tastes outstanding. I will buy every book this woman writes!

I loved this book. I had been cooking for years, but this book offered a lot of practical advice and great recipes. For beginners, you delve right into preparing delicious meals right from the start. I intend to buy this book for my daughter.

This is an incredible book. I gives som many interesting ideas and examples.

So many times, before I know it, I'm launching into telling my son what to do, how, where, why... Without giving him a chance! And I've already read most of the book! It is so important how we talk to our kids. If we say the wrong words too often, we build up a wall in them. They need to express themselves and work out their own problems and feel SAFE expressing EVERYTHING with you and TRUSTING YOU while not compromising your morals and beliefs. It's amazing how much happiness there is between parent and child. It's the best thing in the world! Yet I fear, it is so easy to watch it all disappear without knowing why. This book gives you a chance NOW, to hear yourself and gives you the instructions to hold on to that joy and pride. I KNOW when I have said the RIGHT thing. This book taught me things you just don't get with trial and error! Instead of grasping at the vapor fumes of youth's departure, I know, I'm doing the best I can to be there always, with love being true. Do NOT forget this: #1 ALL PARENTS MUST ALWAYS READ ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN. (Trust the wealth of literature! Really! Don't fool around with trial and error. A child is NOT your first model airplane where you didn't read the instructions beforehand!) #2 THIS BOOK SHOULD BE ON THAT REQUIRED LIST!

Thanks for reading! Take the stand. Be there for your kids.

You can find a lot of books about parenting, but many of them are just pop psychology, the solitary opinion of the author.
Gottman is definitely not one of them. He is known as one of the leading psychologists in the area of family and marriage psychology. This book presents the essence of his research findings about raising emotionally intelligent children.
His advise is surprisingly easy and is based on a 5 step model:
1. Be aware of your child's emotion
2. See your child's emotions as an opportunity to be close together
3. Actively listen to your child and validate the feelings
4. Help your child to verbalize his feelings
5. Help your child solve problems, while setting clear limits

Gottman clearly explains how you can implement this 5-step-model in daily life and what to do when problems arise. His real life examples make reading really fun.
All in all, an excellent parenting book! As a supplement, I can also recommend the book by M. Seligman: "The optimistic child"

Despite my objections to his less-than-fair appraisals of womans' place in the world, Blacks, Africa and Islam (he has explanations for all of these), Daniel Andreev's message is Absolute GOOD. He is consistently fearless in sharing his visions of the hyperdimensional world (which we see only a minute fraction of), no matter how maniacal they may appear... Kudos to him for his strength. His interpetation of the worlds, monads and angels shared with him is filled with heavens, sub-heavens, purgatories and hells (-his Christian/ Orthodox faith possibly coloring his visions? Hardly relevant)... The gist is no less than a call for a World Church that embraces all faiths, so that mankind can finally end it's petty differences. Deep inside, Humanity (every one of us) has always known this. Let his miracles roll over our limited perceptions, and KNOW his appreciation for nature, basic understanding and love for the fellow man; for it was never only his, it's been all of ours... Words to begin a new world by.

What would spirituality look like beyond defensiveness, self-righteousness, fear, and hate? Could it still be a profoundly poetic work, beautifully written, almost taking the breath away with its metaphors and, yet, deal with the history of theological and philosophical arguments throughout religious history in a deeply cogent manner?

The answer is yes. Just when you thought there was no hope for spirituality to ever grow up, to really care about the world, to understand social, economic, and political systems, there comes from Gulag the work of Daniel Andreev.

The Rose of the World is a metaphor for what happens when a deeply compassionate writer examines the world religions and takes from them that which contributes to the recognition of the infinite, compassionate intelligence which is the source of meaning and beauty in our lives.

He uses this wisdom to sketch another possibility for organizing humanity and also to recognize the divine organization already present in our cosmos.

Read this book. It can change the way you think about spirituality. If there is a part of your heart which has been waiting for a grown up spirituality, wait no longer. This is the first review I've bothered to write for Amazon. This book is that good.

The Bible aside, if your home had space for one other book only, The Rose Of The World should be it. For decades it was available only to a negligible few in the Soviet Union who have saved the manuscript living in constant danger of being arrested and committed - for somebody else's words. Now it is published by the Amazon.com, the world's biggest book selling entreprise. The freedom of speech for Daniil Andreev? Or rather the freedom of spirit for those of us who are finally ready to see an eyewitness' notes on the structure of the Universe?

The previous reviewers have left excellent reports; one thing to add though: I've never come across another book that would be a sophisticated philosophical work and a breath-taking page-turner at the same time. It keeps just the right balance between being intelligent and intelligible - probably because knowledge itself is the best entertainment available! What is it about? - Just about everything. Is it interesting? - It bloody well is. Is it worth reading? - It is indeed, but are WE worthy of reading it?

Considering The Rose Of The World is now available by mail order world wide, we probably are.

Wow! Les Daniels and Chip Kidd did an amazing job with this book. Chronicling Batman's lengthy career, this book explores the many changes Batman has gone through over the past 65 years, and does so with meticulous detail. This is truly the closest thing to a definitive guide to Batman, who in my opinion is the greatest comic book character ever created, period. Illustrations accompany the text nicely, and the writing gives you a deep appreciation for the evolution the Dark Knight has gone through. This book even has three excellent Batman stories. A MUST-SEE FOR ANY BATMAN FAN!

As a long time Batman fan (the 1970's) I found this book very enjoyable. Though it could have added a few more details in some areas, it did deliver as promised. The amount of reserch Mr.Daniels put in is respectable. The artwork of the varrios eras is a treat.A favorite section is the insperation for the Darkknight Detective, which led to the Batman I am so found of today. As another fan once said "Batman is the hero we could have become." And it seems his creators knew this. I hope Mr.Daniels does as good a job with his other work with DC Heros.

Les Daniels has written and Chip Kidd has created visually a wonderful book about that wonderful character Batman. It is a complete history and each decade is shown in its origianl bright colours or dark hues or some gorgeous combination of both. Batman is served very well as the author lovingly (yet often critically) looks at the many changes this character has gone through and survived. A particular joy is the first chapter and its look at pulps, the real roots of Batman. The book is also useful in its examination of other media, such as TV, movies and the weird and witty range of merchandise produced to cash in on various Batman crazes. This book is pure pleasure and will result in a joyous nostalgic sugar rush for the lucky reader. A great read.

Amor provides a very good book about upcoming technologies. It also provides a good outlook on the relevant services that can be expected from these technologies. One minor issue is that he also explains technologies like GSM and SMS and not only the hype stuff like wireless lan and G3. The second part of the book is even more interesting, because it provides four scenarios that give good insight on how the world will look like in a few years time.

Daniel Amor provides a short introduction to the future that is about to happen. He provides some insight into new technologies, but more important into new business cases. He even provides simple ROI calculations, which is great. I am a professor at university and can use these cases with my students. A pity that there are only four in the book, but I found two more on his web site for free. Good work, keep it up!

After his first book, The E-Business (R)Evolution, Daniel Amor created a new book in the same style as the first one. Instead of talking too much about technology and businesses, he created scenarios, which incorporate technology and business cases and put both of them into context. The book is of interest for people that want to develop new ideas on the Internet. I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

Hennessy Cooper is an FBI agent sent undercover to bring in Tristan James "T.J." Jackson, a jewel thief who is planning to break into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
With her first look at T.J., Hennessy knows that she is in trouble because the man is too fine!
Once she is accepted into the "gang" of T.J., Mateo, Hawk and Reynolds she starts to care about these men and see the good in them, Of course she has already fallen in love with T.J. and is now determined to "save" him rather than bust him. Needless to say her only contact in the FBI, Sebastian, who has his own reasons for getting T.J., is not happy with the way things are going.
After Hennessy is attacked she and T.J. grow even closer and she is even more determined to change his mind about the robbery at the MET.
What they don't realize is that they both have a serpent in their corner. Hennessy is in danger of her cover being blown and choosing between love and career to save the man that she loves.
You will not want to miss this one. This was an Excellent story full of suspense and unbelievable passion between two people that least expected it.

This book was one of my favorite of 2003 it had everything that makes for a book u can not put down. Im eager to read the next installment from this rising star author.

This book is one of a kind... one that gives you the elements of suspense, romance, sympathy, and compassion. The way the characters come to life shows the work of a true author. From scene to scene, chapter to chapter this book kept my mind going and my eyes glued to each and every page. When I started reading the book I really didn't know what to expect, not being able to predict the outcome are the true signs of a best seller. I would recommend that anyone looking to read a GOOD BOOK pick up Serpent in My Corner!!!

If you have a rabbit or are going to get one than I reccomend this darling story. This book is about a girl and her brother who live in a huge house that is called the animal ark. The kid's parents run a veterinarian service there. The girl sees 2 little rabbits in a pet shop window. She gets the little rabbits but can they ever behave?

This is a great book for all animal lovers or for rabbit lovers like me.Mandy Hope and her best friend James Hunter meet a local boy called John Hardy on there holidays.He soons become a rabbit lover when doing the school project with the help of Mandy and James.So when he sees twin bunnies in the pet store windows he imidiatly gos and buys them.But it takes his dad a couple days to say it was ok.But when they go back to pick the bunnies up the are informed that they have been giving to someone else!Can Mandy and James find the rabbits? Will John ever see the rabbits again? Read to find out and you wont be disappointed.

This book was so great. The way the author lets you have fun and learn at the same time is awsome. The story is so wonderful and you learn so much about rabbits at the same time! If you like the other books in this series you will LOVE this one!!!

Mom always said to eat your vegetables. But if she failed to convince you, "The Color Code" takes up where Mom left off. This book is a compelling and well-researched argument for the many ways in which vegetables-and fruits-contribute vitally to health.

We should all eat a rainbow of 9-10 brightly-colored fruits and veggies daily, explain co-authors Joseph, Nadeau and Underwood-not just strive for "5 a day" while repeating the same limited repertoire of pale foods. Color matters because many of the most amazing nutrients are in the pigments that color fruits and vegetables.

You may have heard of some of these pigments, without realizing they were actually pigments. Beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps the body manufacture Vitamin A, is the orange pigment in carrots and sweet potatoes. Lycopene, touted in the media with headlines like "tomato sauce prevents prostate cancer," is the red pigment in watermelon and pink grapefruit as well as in tomatoes. Lutein, which studies recently tagged as key to eyesight, is found in greens like spinach, kale and even parsley. Once the authors explain that each pigment color has different health-giving properties, it's easy to understand why "eating the rainbow" is important.

Most of these pigments are antioxidants. If you've heard this term before but have had trouble understanding what antioxidants are and why so many diseases are linked to oxidative stress in our bodies, read "The Color Code." It caps a very understandable section on antioxidants with the following paragraph:

"If you want to see antioxidants at work, one place to look is your own kitchen. If you've ever sliced an apple and watched it turn brown, you've seen the effects of oxidation. But what if you dip the apple slices in lemon juice first, as many recipes recommend? Then you can boldly let the apple slices sit out and dare them to turn brown. The vitamin C in the lemon juice is a potent antioxidant, and it will intercept the oxygen before it can strike the fruit. [p. 12]"

As this example hints, "The Color Code" is well-structured and engagingly written. The three authors-Jim Joseph, a nutrition researcher at Tufts; Dr. Dan Nadeau, a diabetes specialist; and Anne Underwood, a Newsweek health reporter-introduce themselves early on, giving the text an approachable personality. Tight writing and solid scientific references balance the folksy tone, ensuring that "The Color Code" doesn't read like a fad diet-guru book.

After the introductions and overview are chapters on each of the four pigment-color groups: red, orange-yellow, green, and blue-purple. Within each of these chapters are separate entries for 8-14 different fruits or vegetables. Each entry lists the food's pigments, its other phytonutrients, and its vitamins, then proceeds with a sales pitch including everything from scientific research to cooking tips-whatever the authors think will convince you to Eat This Now. Who knew that blueberries could reverse the effects of aging in rats, or that lemon-zest may prevent skin cancer?

While the book recommends a "semi-vegetarian" diet, its authors readily admit that you should eat more than just fruits and vegetables. A general chapter on nutrition advises that whole grains should cover half your plate at mealtime, with vegetables making up another 30-40% and the remaining 10-20% given to healthy proteins (legumes, fish or poultry). Sensible advice on essential fats, portion control and exercise rounds out this chapter, which ends with a sample 7-day meal plan.

Since it's easy for good intentions to slip away from us, "The Color Code" includes a scoring system to help reinforce new "rainbow eating" habits. The goal is to score 100 Color Points every day. You get 10 points for every serving (serving sizes are roughly 1/2 cup). But, since variety is important and some foods are healthier than others, you get 5 bonus points for a) eating something from the authors' Top Ten list b) covering all four color-groups in one day c) drinking two cups of tea or d) eating a fruit or veggie you haven't had in the previous year. It's a catchy system that may appeal to some folks, but others may prefer the simplicity of just remembering to eat lots of different brightly-colored fruits and vegetables.

The book concludes with about 75 recipes and a bibliography detailing the many research studies referred to in the color chapters. My few minor criticisms of The Color Code stem from these two sections. The recipes are simple and easy, reproduced from other sources in most cases (appropriate, since the authors aren't dieticians or cooks). But I'm surprised to see white rice-even high-glycemic sushi rice-included several times despite the authors' earlier exhortations to eat whole grains. The recipes are sometimes a bit hard-core satfat phobic, too, calling for egg substitutes and no-fat salad dressings, where I'd be inclined to use a real egg and a dash of olive oil. As for the bibliography, it's useful but actual footnotes or page references might be even more helpful, allowing those intrigued by the text to more readily research the original study.

I highly recommend "The Color Code." While its authors readily admit that some of the research cited is preliminary-scientists are just beginning to learn about plant pigments and phytonutrients-I'll happily eat more fruits and veggies now, rather than waiting for long-term double-blind studies to be completed.

The authors say it best: "...if greengrocers had the marketing muscle of drug companies, we would all be racing to try this miracle regimen. Patients would demand that their doctors prescribe it. Consumers would flock to the produce aisles to snap up these lifesaving foods....Again and again, the same bottom line emerges: whole foods-colorful foods-deliver protection against a broad range of ailments."

This book is so simple to read and once you start you don't want to put it down. The first few pages make you want to run out to the grocery store and hit the produce isle. It honestly makes you change your entire way of thinking when it comes to eating. You'll want that fruit salad rather than the candy bar. It's just such' a GREAT and easy to read and so easy to absorb book! Everyone is getting one for christmas!

Happy eating-

I see Dr. Nadeau for assistance in my weight loss & I use his book as my guide when he is not available for answering my questions. It is an awesome book. I am losing weight with excersizes he has recommended for me & the diet he has worked out for me personally. You will not be disappointed in purchasing this book.

Parker, Daniel. The Wessex Papers. Vol 1 Trust Falls Vol 2 Fallout Vol 3: Outsmart
Harper 2002 ISBN 0-06-440806-X, 807-8, 794-2

The 3 volume series is about a boarding school and it's prestigious clique of children of former students, known as the ABs (Alumni Brats), several of whom are caught up in a school blackmail scandal. Flaky Mackenzie begins dating prep boy turned wigga rapper Hobson, preppy Sunday hooks up with a newbie basketball player Fred, and Nicole Kidman look-a-like Allison is attracted to fat slob and financial mastermind Winnie. Subplots include worrying about getting into college and adding entries to the Wessex Time Capsule, a collection of candid essays by graduating students.
Language and sexual situations are mostly tame and appropriate for age 12 & up. The characters are pretty one-dimensional and there is a heavy reliance on pop culture references, brand names and description of characters based on which celebrities s/he looks like, but the writing has a good pace, the inclusion of essays and letters and emails and memos is fun, and book fits mystery requests. Better than Gossip Girls but not as good as the Jonah Black series, the Wessex Papers are likely to be moderately popular for middle school and up.

This novel is the first of three in an interesting trilogy about athe lies and cheating that is going on in Wessex private school. It includes witty excerpts written by the characters in the characters in the book.

Fred Wright has just transferred to Wessex High School for a post grad. year that will hopefully boost up his low grade. This basketball star notices something strange about the people here; the elite children of the alumnis seem to get away with everything, and are divided from the rest of the students of the school. The "alumni brats", as the kids are called include Winnie, a cheating slime out for money, Noah, a strange kid with a strange sense of humor, Sunday, a pretty girl who seems to want to get away from it all, Hobson, a guy who acts like guy from the 'hood, Alison, a prissy spoiled girl who always plays by the rules and Mackenzie, a weird girl who loves astrology and tarot reeadings. After beginning school, he feels somthing fishy is goinf on, especially after someone plants tobacco in a kids bag to get him expelled. With the help of Sunday, he plans wreak havoc and uncover the scandal thats tearing through the school.

Fred is recruited by Wessex Academy after failing Senior year, and deciding to take it over again. He doesn't have the money that most of the other students have, but the faculty want him for basketball. Fred soon meets Noah, Sunday, Mackenzie, and Allison. Four spoiled rich kids who have never heard the word "no." Soon Fred is thrown into a school and world full of lies, cheating, scam, and more.

This is an excellent book that all fans of the movie "Cruel Intentions would enjoy.