I'll admit it -- I'm biased toward Carl Perkins. I lived several years in his hometown of Jackson, TN and met him many times. Having those experiences, I was curious how this book would portray Mr. Perkins. After reading this book, I have more respect for Mr. Perkins. True, he wasn't perfect (who is?), but he had reason to be bitter about his career and his life, instead he never gave up. He pulled himself up after each setback and kept on striving. When you think about it, what would be the alternative? He was not only a great musician, but an active humanitarian. His work with children and their causes is nearly as impressive as his musical career, yet most people don't know of this. I went to Carl Perkins' funeral, and in the little city of Jackson, TN you would have thought time stood still. This book will give you the feeling of getting to know a true American success story . . .

What a story!! This should be a must read for all of us who get to feeling sorry for ourslves. Carl Perkins came from abject poverty,a racially discriminating South,was known as "white trash",wrote one of rock n rolls seminal tunes,was on the brink of superstardom,lost it all,became a sideman to another Sun records stablemate,delved into the pit of addiction,rose again,had alot of his early work recorded by a group known as the Beatles,played with the likes of Eric Clapton,loved performing with his own family,lived his life humbly,nursed somewhat of a grudge against Sam Phillips,Jerry Lee Lewis,and Elvis,made peace with himself,and left behind the legacy of a man who had seen the beast within and had conquered it.
This is a must read for anyone who has any interest in music,or for that matter,the sociology of the South during the late 1940's and 1950's. It is also ,quite simply,one of the most inspiring books that I've ever read,Thank You, Carl Perkins!

Much has been made of the tragic events in Carl Perkins' life, but in the end his values and personal strength stood him in much better stead than most of his Sun contemporaries (see Escott and Hawkin's book on Sun Records). Pretty good for a kid who, with his brothers, were skinny from undernourishment as children. This book follows Carl from childhood until near the end (he passed away shortly after publication). The section on the Tennessee tonk scene in the 40's and 50's and "tush hogs" is especially colorful.

I've been teaching for 30 years and teaching a critical thinking course for high school students for the last five. I've got a shelf full of books on teaching thinking: this book is one I'm going to be going back to. It's one of the most clearly written and most useful books I've ever seen for teachers interested in helping their students become better thinkers. Ritchhart, who is associated with Project Zero at Harvard, provides both a very clear conceptual framework and lots of well-drawn classroom examples in a variety of disciplines, and from a variety of levels from elementary to senior high. Ritchhart draws upon and synthesizes ideas from a number of other critical thinking gurus such as Richard Paul, Howard Gardner, and Shari Tishman. His overall goal is to help teachers establish what he refers to as a "culture of thinking" in the classroom. There are chapters which explore how to get started, how to go about establishing classroom routines that promote critical thinking, how to build throughlines which encourage students to experience and sustain "intellectual character." Each chapter has a kind of executive summary that wraps up key ideas in chart form. The book is very well written: it is intelligent without being condescending, well-grounded in research without being pedantic, and it is remarkably free of educationese. Reading it is like having a conversation with a valued colleague. Even when what he has to say is familiar, it is so well expressed that it gives pleasure. This book is an excellent resource both for younger teachers who sense that education ought to be more than a forced march through mountains of content, and for more experienced teachers who are looking to get better at what they already do well.

"Curiosity propels us to explore our world..."
Dreams do come true. Seeking to strengthen my capacity to help students understand the tools and journeys of their brains, I turned to Intellectual Character. In Dr. Ritchhart's words, I found an edifying, brilliant compass. Building on his ground breaking thinking disposition research, Dr. Ritchhart profiles how teachers can nurture curiosity, open mindedness, metacognition, seeking truth and understanding, strategic thinking, and skepticism within learners. He does this with integrity by sharing his own teaching and learning experiences and by giving readers a vivid and clarifying window into the intellectual interactions between five teachers and their students. These classroom portraits reveal the language educators should employ/model to "prompt, prime, and pattern the thinking of students."

Additionally, Dr. Ritchhart's case studies encourage readers to examine the "red threads" of our teaching...to think about the driving force is our classrooms...to ponder what connects and motivates our teaching. One of my favorite passages furthers this idea: "The development of students' intellectual character ultimately depends on teachers' convictions, dedication, and belief in the importance of thinking to students' current understanding, future employment, and long-term success both in the subject area and in life. It is ony when teachers possess thinking-rich red threads to tie together practice and breathe life into them through their own disposition toward thinking that the development of students' intellectual character becomes a natural, energizing, and meaningful endeavor for students and teachers alike."

As I forge new vistas of my thinking about literacy learning, I turn to Intellectual Character to chisel my plans for what I call brain show and tell. Modeling the work of thinking is humbling. Reading, for example, is not an easy demonstrator sport. Our work as readers is not visible to others. But, by telling our students why and how we read and write, we might just be able to show them our brain waves. The fireworks and miracle of thought are gloriously blueprinted by Dr. Ritchhart. His work provides me with insights, ancedotes, and a kindred spirit to chart my course. Bravo - and heartfelt thanks!

If found this book a wonderful, inspiring, and useful read. The author's style was engaging and personable. The many anecdotes and stories really grabbed and held my attention. In terms of style, the book reminded me of The Good High School by Sara Lawarence Lightfoot in that the author brought me right into the classroom and opened my eyes so that I could see more and understand teaching at a deeper level. Ritchhart writes in the same kind of warm and gracious style as Lightfoot, not your typical research writing at all.

In content, I found the book has some similarities to Emotional Intelligence (EI). While Intellectual Character isn't the same thing as EI, both books really expand our view of what it means to be smart. At the same time, both books send the message that we are often missing the mark in educating our children. If you liked Emotional Intelligence, this book will be a good follow-up read. If you wanted more of a classroom and education angle to EI, you'll find it here.

One last feature of the book that deserves mention. I found the end-of-chapter "Key ideas" synthesis very useful in consolidating my understanding of the big ideas of the chapter. I also found them helpful to refer back to as I was reading if I wanted to review something. It's a really great tool. These syntheses, which appear at the end of every chapter, are also a way for me to share these ideas easily with others.

That's an important mark of a good book to me, how much I want to share it, and this book certainly fits the bill.

Given that you understand differential calculus (not just Calculus 1), this is an excellent book for the professional and the serious amateur aircraft maker. This is a far better book than Perkin's second book on Stability and Control. That tome is both pompous and difficult to understand. Unlike his second book this book is written in a straightforward and very easy to understand manner. Therein lies the reason that this book has been a standard reference for 50 years.

This classic text was used in my undergraduate aeronautical engineering classes 30 years after its publication (It's a classic ;). It covers in considerable detail airplane performance (climb, dive, turning, etc., and reciprocating engine (non-jet) and propeller performance), and aircraft stability and control (how does an airplane control its attitude and how to analyze the attitude dynamics).

i will buy i

The rabbi who gave this to me is Rabbi Richard K. Rocklin of Temple Beth Tikvah in Greenacres, Florida. He said he gives it to all people who express an interest is converting to Judaism.

I am glad the Rabbi sent me this book because it is very succinct and straightforward. The things I found most helpful about this book are the discussion of the different Jewish holidays and the description of the different movements within Judaism. I found it very interesting to read that there is a difference between "movements" and "denominations." In other words, "Reform" Judaism is not to "Orthadox" Judaism as "Catholic" is to "Baptist." It was interesting for me to learn that while the different movements practice differently, they still accept one another as being Jewish (though they may not always agree on things). It was an interesting eye opener.

I also found it interesting to read that many Jewish people do not literally believe the stories in Torah, the Biblical stories. Perhaps the most eye-opening thing in this book is the fact that Judaism rejects the concept of "Original Sin." Prior to reading this book, I had assumed that Judaism taught Original Sin just as Catholicism does (because, after all, you hear so much about the "Judeo-Christian Tradition"). This book will always be important to me for teaching me that Judaism rejects this concept. I sometimes wonder how different my worldview would have been, and my life thus far, had I not been taught the concept of Original Sin at such a young age. I'm happy to say I am un-learning that concept. I don't believe human beings are inherently sinful, and I'm glad this book showed me that there are others who feel the same way.

This book answered so many of my questions about Jewish life and values. The chapter on what Judaism teaches really opened up a lot of windows for me and the book is filled with good practical information about the basics of Jewish living (such as keeping Shabbat and following the dietary laws). I was glad the author doesn't promote one "type" of Judaism, or one movement over another: he presents the ideological differences & outlines the hallmarks of Jewish life, leaving the reader to make her own choice. About a third of the book discusses Jewish history & I found it helpful to read a breezy but careful synopsis of major trends in Jewish history, without having to plow through something long & complicated.

When the first edition to this book appeared some years ago, I was disappointed. But with the masterful reworking by Rabbi Perkins, this book rises to first place in one-volume introductions available. As a congregational rabbi, I helped over 200 people convert to Judaism. Now, as Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Judaism, I supervise the Miller Introduction to Judaism program. We're always on the prowl for books that are informative, thoughtful, accurate and passionate. Embracing Judaism fits the bill, and we will work hard to get it into the hands of today's seekers, Jewish and non-Jewish. This book makes complex ideas clear, without preaching, distorting, or infantilizing. A wonderful book!

Simple and easy to understand exercises, progressing from very easy to moderately easy. Good for the frail elderly to the moderately fit or at-risk senior. Simple drawings demonstrate the activities. Large print is easy on elder eyes. As an occupational therapist, I recommend this as a gift to share with a dear elder.

As an clinical administrator for residential services for an older population, I have seen first hand the devastating effects of the fear of falling on older people. Betty Perkins-Carpenter has provided a direct, easy-to-use approach to improving balance for seniors. How To Prevent Falls offers a life of continued independence and dignity for people for whom both are easily lost. It can provide the basis for activities of daily living program for seniors centers, and residential facilities. As people remain more independent the staff can focus their services on enhancing the quality of life. It is MUST reading for every person who has influence on or cares for a senior citizen.

"How to Prevent Falls" by Betty Perkins-Carpenter is a "must read" for anyone who wants to reduce their risk for falling or who works with people at risk. It is a well written book filled with practical, fun activities and safety tips.

As a Physical Therapist, I use these exercises, as appropriate, with my clients to improve their balance, coordination and strength because they work.

I enthusiastically recommend "How to Prevent Falls" to my patients and you.

If you ever read any New Zealand literature, spare yourself the monotony of Pohuitakawa tree descriptions and read Perkins. She reminds me of early Bret Easton Ellis and is surely the best NZ writer EVER.

This book of stories has become a sort of symbol of myself. Emily Perkins is so honest and refreshing in her wording and observation that I have become nearly addicted. Buy it!!!!

Perkins writes with aching honesty. She posses the talent to evoke numerous ranges of emotions from distinct protagonists. Each short story embodies another layer of emotions and quirky observations from jaded characters.

This is definitely a must read for both those who refute the label of "Gen-X" and those who embrace it..

This has been my favorite book for years! The writer is so funny and the story so sweet. I finally found it for a quarter at a used book sale. Keep searching, you'll find it and love it!

The book is an account of a spinster teacher from the east teaching school in 1860's Colorado.Her experiences are humorous and make a great read.I have read it many times and would recommend it to everyone.

I loved the book! I read it when I was young and I had it with me for the longest time. Alas! I can't find it now and I'm really desperate to find it. I would love to read it again and keep it with me forever!

Married, engaged, separated or divorced, read this book !!

This book inspired me, made me cry, but most of all it filled me with HOPE. Hope and assurance that a healthy God-centered marriage is romantic, intimate, intellectually stimulating and fun.

Buy a copy, find a comfortable spot and read, discuss and live it together ... then share it with anyone who will listen.

Dr. Wheat provides both biblical insight and practical application for couples who want the most out of their marriage. Each of the three books has it owns value. I have recommended the book to scores of people who have come to me for counseling and have given many copies to those on the verge of divorce.

This is a book that should be mandatory reading for every Christian who is NOT going to remain single. If you're in a relationship and haven't read this yet, get it immediately, read and practice it together, and buy it for other couples you care about. An incredible study guide for the biblical teachings about Love and Marriage!

I read "Awaken the Leader Within" while I was doing research for my tape series "Jesus and the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership." This is an excellent book and provided me with many wonderful insights. If you are searching for a book that is well written, fun to read, and filled with pointed and practical insights about leadership, you'll love this book. In fact, you'll probably find yourself referring others to it.

I have read many dozens of books on leadership, but this book provides more sound, practical advise to help everyone be a leader wherever they are.

It focuses on character as the most important characteristic of effective leaders. They are trustworthy, transparent, honest, have vision and encourage others to go with them.

Other sections include: "Humble leaders rely on God for his strength and guidance. Accomplished leaders know that commitment eventually leads to success. Prudent leaders know their weaknesses and fortify them. Inspirational leaders infect their team with a compelling vision of the future. Wise leaders consistently make good decisions. Victorious leaders know how to build a team that's greater than the sum of its parts. Creative leaders know how to facilitate innovation. Great leaders know how to give away honor. "

The references are excellent and I am meeting with a group of men weekly to study the book using the study guide that is included.

As the general manager of a high technology company with global operations, I found Bill's insights to be very thought provoking. Bill clearly communicates with helpful and humorous illustrations essential elements of practical leadership for today. For example, Bill acknowledges we are in a world of breakneck change and shows that leaders must be change masters to help their teams thrive. This is a book any leader would find helpful whether you're in a corporate, non-profit, community, sacred or secular leadership position. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and colleagues.

I believe this book really helped me to better understand how to communicate with my husband. It really made me think about how I talked with him and how that affected our relationship. I thought it could be better however in how it was presented. Could be a little dry at times. Beneficial to any relationship.

When I bought this book for my husband and I we had been married for about 1 1/2 years. "Things" were really ruff and we were having a hard time getting along and communicating effectively. We new for sure we loved eachother and we were serious about the commitment we made to eachother and to God; so I went in search of a resource. I bought this book; booked a suite at a romantic hotel in Washington DC; and we spent a whole weekend reading the book, rediscovering eachother and learning how to comminicate and love eachother for a life time. We have and will go through "things"; but now with prayer and the fundamental lessons we took from this book - we get through them and they are far and few between. I recommend this book to every engaged couple I know; and married couples having "issues" :)

This is a great book, I read it over every so often just for a reality check, it has great examples, quotes, stories and wonderful Christian principals. It really makes you think about how to relate better to your mate, and understand why we do the things we do sometimes. It help me see what I should be doing and what to expect. I think so many books like this tell you things I would hope we should know, but fail to practice. I really wish husbands and wifes would read this book together, they maybe surprised to find out this is not like any other book off the shelf and they would have nothing to lose only something to gain in their relationship. Sometimes we just need a kick in the head sometimes. We can seek out friends for advice,counselors, but we should first be seeking God, He will help us better than anyone could possibly, but God does use books and people and I believe He can use this book to help us. I hope you will get this book you won't be dissappointed.