"Breakthrough Parenting" should be required reading for every parent and every person who is considering becoming a parent. For centuries people have thought the 'authoritarian' model of parenting was the best way of raising children. In recent years 'permissive' parenting techniques have become popular. Neither of these methods of parenting are truly effective and both can lead to developmental problems in children.

Instead, Jayne Major has provided us with a blueprint for raising children in a way that we form a partnership with them. "Breakthrough Parenting" provides practical parenting techniques for raising children so they have the tools to achieve their potential and become self-actualized adults. This book exposes corporal punishment as an obsolete and ineffective parenting tool of the past. Instead, Jayne demonstrates useful ways of disciplining children with love. This book also talks about discussing difficult subjects with children and as well as provides different tools for effective communication.

This is the best book on parenting that I have ever read.

I first met Dr. Jayne Major while my chldren were abducted. I learned simple and loving methods to prepare for my children's eventual return, [84 days later], so that I had the tools to nuture and parent these young chldren after such a heartbreaking experience. That was over 4 years ago. Both children, now 7 and 9, are centered, communicative, responsible and loving. Dr. Jayne's breakthrough yet simple techniques are well promulgated in her most recent book. THIS IS THE GUIDE FOR BEING A LOVING PARENT AND BULDING A DEEP AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN [these techniques work equally well other humans too!] This book should be a manditory guide for all caring parents!

Breakthrough Parenting is a must have for all parents, especially those raising children after divorce. The Breakthrough Parenting technique is a revolutionary approach to teaching your child self-confidence, strong values, personal resposibility and excellence.

The skills I have learned from reading Jayne's book have helped me get through the "terrible-twos" with my son gracefully and communicate more effectively with a difficult ex-spouse.

Best read in a long time!

Growing up in Shelby County, Indiana, the setting for the classic book and home of the annual Bears of Blue River Festival, this book has always held a special place in my heart. It was one of the first books I was ever read in school and as I got older, I found myself in many of the exact places that were used in the book, such as the Blowout Hole which is where the Fire Bear supposedly fell off the cliff and exploded.

The actual story is even more interesting. In that part of Indiana, there are many natural gas pockets deep in the ground. A settler had been burning brush and caused one of these pockets to explode, creating a deep hole (Blowout Hole) where the Flat Rock River and Conns Creek flow together. Both streams flowed backwards for a week, and the windows on houses were shattered for miles around. In fact, a childhood friend of mine lived in one of the nearby houses and it still exhibited a crack from foundation to roof from the mighty explosion. The tiny farming community even made the front page of the New York Times.

Anyways, just wanted to give you some background. If you're ever in the area, go visit the fields and streams south of Waldron, Indiana and your sure to see some of the settings in Majors' book. You'll probably come across a lot of Native American arrowheads and other artifacts as well--if you look close enough.

And if you haven't read the book, do so at once!!!

Back in 1973, my teacher would read this book to my first-grade class during "reading time." I liked the story soooooo much I asked my mom to order the book. She finally got it from Lazarus of all places and it was sent to our home in Danville, IN in hardback. The story and imagery are great (and sometimes scarrrrrryyyyyy!) I have lost that copy, but am now ordering a copy for my sons (ages 10 and 6) so that I can read to them the wonderful story of Balser and the ferocious bears of Blue River. What a treat for them! john marysville, oh

In 2001 my father age 82 mentioned this book as the only one he remembered his father reading to him as a young boy. I'm his son at age 59 and decided to get a library copy for us to read again. Dad doesn't read much anymore but he devoured the book which brought good memories back. I liked it as well because it gave me a family "connection" over 3 generations, and the book is also easy to read and good reading to boot. Our ancestors settled in Indiana in the 1830's and they lived next to the Flatrock River(in the book)Had to buy a copy for family keepsake

From a written review, posted here by the author's spouse: This is a very creative and original alphabet book! The B bounces, the H is huge, and the V vanishes in ways that will delight young children. I look forward to more books from Major for Minors! Betsy Baier, Librarian, Youth Department, Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan

From a written review, posted here by the author's spouse: Around theAlphabet will delight readers of all ages. Each letter has its own unique way of grabbing the reader's attention. You will find that it leaves you smiling and going back for more! Sarah Houle, Coordinator, Parents as Teachers Program, Chelsea, Michigan

From a written review, posted here by the author's spouse: I loved this Alphabet Book! It's as intriguing as a video alphabet game. Somehow, the author/illustrator managed to get allof the sensens involved-- no mean feat in the medium of the printed page. You can feel the texture of the lace, hear the crackle of the ice, see the wiggle in the worm. Little ones will want to experience it over and over again. Diane Geherin, Principal, Erickson Elementary School, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Marc has done such a wonderful job of presenting his painstaking research that the world clamors for an updated version. A must for anyone interested in the history of baseball, particularly those who like to look at the old black & white photos of the early days and want to know what the uniforms looked like in color. If I could add to the suggestions of those who have reviewed the book before me, I would like to see detail on the backs of the uniforms as well. Not just styles of the numbering and lettering for names on the modern uniforms, but for the detailed artwork on the backs of some jerseys in the days before numbers. I would also like to see greater detail focused on the caps. Mainly, I would like to see a new version of the book that updates us on all the changes since 1993.

I purchased the original hardcover edition of this fantastic book in 1991 and the subsequent updated softcover edition in 1993 and found that not only had Mr. Okkonen added the uniform additions from the previous two years but also updated and corrected the earlier edition. Such attention to detail obviously makes this book a must-have for any true baseball fan. The explanations of color usage, choices and changes from 1900 to 1993 are insightful and amazing. Each team's uniforms and historical evolutions are also a great feature. I would love to see an updated 2000 edition. The fact that the first two editions are so hard to come by emphasizes the popularity of the books. So how about it, Marc? An update shouldn't be so difficult; just seven more years. Batting practice jerseys and caps need not be included, just home, away and alternate uniforms to keep all of us who love the grand old game in the know.

Marc Okkonen has done something no one else has done-he has researched and drawn examples of every Major League Baseball uniform worn in the 20th Century. Are you interested in the uniforms of the 1909 Cleveland Naps (now called the Indians)? Or how 'bout the 1969 Seattle Pilots (they became the Milwaukee Brewers the very next year!)? Well, Marc has created a book that will quench your thirst for knowledge! The book has two sections-the first shows each team's changes through the years; the second shows all the uniforms year-by-year. The book also contains interesting facts, such as what old American League team was called the "White Elephants" and why!

If you really love baseball (and you should!!!:-)), then you gotta' read Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century.

This book is basically a re-issue of 'The Playboy Interviews With John Lennon & Yoko Ono - The Final Testament" (Berkley Books, New York, 1982, ISBN 0-425-05989-8) with a new preface. It contains the last interviews with John & Yoko conducted in September 1980 (first published in the December 1980 issue of Playboy) and is absolutely essential reading for any Beatles fan.
The interviews stand out for their honesty and frankness and provide (among other things) a very good insight into John's views of The Beatles. The part where John discusses almost every released Beatles' song is a joy to read and read again.
Of course John's relation with Yoko also gets ample exposure.
If this book is still missing from your collection, get it now!

John Lennon gave two interviews in particular that were extraordinary for their length, depth, and honesty. One was his famous "Lennon Remembers" interviews with Rolling Stone in 1970, and the other was this one, shortly before his death in 1980. Lennon was a complex man, and it is interesting to compare his attitudes among the two milestone interviews. Yet this one (conducted over several days) stands alone for its insights into Lennon's personal life, his relationship with Yoko, his philosophising, and his song-by-song discussion of his work, both with the Beatles and afterwards. It offers an unprecedented glimpse into his mindset and outlook at the time of his death, filled with the usual engaging Lennon wit and wisdom. Lennon comes across not just as a vital source of information about his own life and career but as an interesting conversationalist, period. We are also treated to Sheff's brief glimpses of Lennon and Ono at work on their "Double Fantasy" album. This book is an important document for anyone interested in the man or his music.

Right before his death in 1980, John Lennon gave his most open and candid interviews. In 1980, Lennon was out of the public limelight for 5 years, was happily married, had a son, and his comeback album Double Fantasy was selling well. Previous interviews were usually marred by his overhwelming sense of anger, cynicusm anbd political activism that almost got him deported in the early 70s. With that behind him, Lennon was ready to move forward with life, and candidly talked about his troubled youth, his inspiration from rock and roll, his time with the Beatles, his solo career, Yoko, and his plans for the future. You read htis and think "oh how nice, he has finally found himself, and he's finally happy," but then unfortunately you feel sad at the same time, considering the events that happened right after these interviews. It's very sad and a letdown because he was so optimistic with quotes like "and I'll continue to do what I'm doing until I'm dead which hopefully won't be for a very long time."

Even though his bliss was tragically cut short, these interviews with John Lennon serve as a good epitaph of his life, and even serve him better than most of his uneven solo career.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once remarked of English that it is 'the sea which receives tributaries from every region under heaven.'

The English language is certainly a sea of words and constructs which has been fed into by almost every major language and ethnic tradition in the world. English began as a hodge-podge of languages, never pretending to the 'purity' of more continental or extra-European languages (which, by the by, were never quite as pure as they like to assume).

The book 'The Story of English', as a companion piece to accompany the PBS-produced series of the same name, hosted by Robert MacNeil, late of the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, is an articulate, engaging, wide-ranging and fair exposition of an ordinarily difficult and dry subject.

The study of English is difficult on several levels. 'Until the invention of the gramophone and the tape-recorder there was no reliable way of examining everyday speech.' What did English sound like 200 years ago, or 400 years ago? 'English is--and has always been--in a state of ungovernable change, and the limits of scholarship are demonstrated by phrases like the famous 'Great Vowel Shift', hardly more informative than the 'unknown land' of early cartography.'

Of course, written language has until modern times been the limited and limiting commodity of a very small minority of people. The balance between the written and spoken language has a variable history, which can still be seen today (compare the writing of the New York Times against the speech patterns and vocabulary choices of any dozen persons you will find on the street in New York City, and this divergence will be readily apparent).

English has many varieties, and this book explores many of them, explaining that the writings and speech-patterns we see and hear as being foreign are actually English variants with a pedigree as strong as any Oxford University Press book would carry. From the Scots language which migrated to the Appalachian mountains to the Aussie languages adapted to Pacific Islands, to the ever-changing barrow speech of inner London, English speakers have a wide variety of possibilities that no one is truly master of all the language.

'If our approach seems more journalistic than scholastic, we felt this was appropriate for a subject that, unlike many academic studies, is both popular and newsworthy. Hardly a week goes by without a news story, often on the front page, devoted to some aspect of English: the 'decline' of standards; the perils and hilarities of Franglais or Japlish; the adoption of English as a 'national' language by another Third World county.'

English is, for international trade and commerce, for travel, for science and most areas of major scholarship, and many other groupings, the language not only of preference, but of required discourse.

In trying to find the length and breadth of English infusion into the world, past and present, MacNeil and primary authors Robert McCrum and William Cran have produced an engaging history, literary survey, sociology, and etymological joyride. By no means, however, are the major streams of English overlooked in favour of the minor tributaries--Shakespeare warrants most of his own chapter, as is perhaps fitting for the most linguistically-influential of all English speakers in history.

Of course, about this same time, the Authorised Version of the Holy Bible (better known as the King James Version) was also produced, with its own particular genius of language. 'It's an interesting reflection on the state of the language that the poetry of the Authorised Version came not from a single writer but a committee.'

There is a substantial difference in aspect of these two works -- whereas Shakespeare had a huge vocabulary, with no fear of coining new words and terms to suit his need, the King James Bible uses a mere 8000 words, making it generally acceptable to the everyman of the day. 'From that day to this, the Shakespearian cornucopia and the biblical iron rations represent, as it were, the North and South Poles of the language, reference points for writers and speakers throughout the world, from the Shakespearian splendour of a Joyce or Dickens to the biblical rigour of a Bunyan, or a Hemingway.'

From Scots to Anglesey, from the Bayou to the Barrier Reef, English is destined to be a, if not the, dominant linguistic force in the world for some time to come, particularly as the internet, the vast global communication network, is top-heavy with English, albeit an ever changing variety.

Revel in the glories of the English language, and seek out this fun book. Everyone will find something new.

After watching the series it is fun to see the information in print.

Just about everything you ever wanted to know about the English Language is in this book. There are newer and older references but none so complete and at the same time readable. This book covers history, usage, almost usage and possible futures of the language.

One of my favorite antidotes was the one about how the Advisory Committee on Spoken English (ACSE) discussed the word "canine":

"Shaw brought up the word 'canine', and he wanted the recommendation to be 'cay-nine'... And somebody said 'Mr. Shaw, Mr. Chairman, I don't know why you bring this up, of course it's 'ca-nine'. Shaw said, 'I always pronounce things the way they are pronounced by people who use the word professionally every day.' And he said, 'My dentist always says (cay-nine)'. And somebody said, 'Well, in that case, Mr. Chairman, you must have an American dentist.' And he said, 'Of course, why do you think at 76 I have all my teeth!'"

After reading about how English came about, the next book to read would be "Divided by a Common Language" by Christopher Davies, Jason Murphy

I read this book back in my 'English Conversation Teacher' days in Japan. Having been embrassed one to many times by students having to lecture me, their teacher, on the history of English, I figured I should do some 'catch-up reading.' I asked around for suggestions and was recommended 'The Story of English'.

It is free of the linguistic jargon most general readers would find pedantic, and although it is aimed at the general reader it is never condescending. The first half of the book explains the historical development of English while the second half focues on modern English.

Most refreshing though, is that it is free of the triumphalism found in many books of this kind. Reflecting the demographic reality of English today, it gives even-handed attention to the many contemporary varieties of English spoken around the world in places such as North America, Singapore, India, the Anglophone West Indies, and so on.

'The Story of English' is best suited to those who are curious about the origins as well as the future of English, and who want an easy-to-understand introduction to the subject.

After reading Free The Children I feel as though my eyes have been opened to another world. Craig Kielburger managed to keep me interested while successfully telling his story.

At times I laughed while I read the book. However at times I was horrified by what I was reading.

Free The Children has shown me that one person or a small group of people can make a difference, it has also given me the inspiration that I needed to get on with my life. My problems are nothing compared to what others in the world go through.

All over, Free The Children is well worth the read and I would strongly recomment this book to adults as well as children.

It has been my pleasure to recently read "Free the Children," an autobiography/travelogue from Craig Kielburger, the founder of the youth-run Free the Children organization based in Canada. It tells of the morning Craig first heard of and was made incredulous by the realities of child labor around the world. The book follows his strong desire to get together with fellow kids and try to learn more about the state of children and hopefully be able to change it somehow. Through his amazing commitment and dedication, along with his burgeoning public speaking skills, Craig was able to motivate two dozen of his schoolmates immediately to the cause and soon earn several speaking engagements in local schools to spread the word about child labor.

With the help of a family friend Craig was able to travel to South Asia to see first hand what working children's lives were like and to speak with the children themselves to hear how they lived, what their working conditions were, if they ever went to school, and if they had any ideas for their own futures.

It is a truly inspiring book for adults and children who can always be reminded that one person can absolutely make a serious and badly-needed difference against child exploitation.

I loved "Free the Children", it's one of the best books i have read in a long, long time. Craig has a way of bringing what he saw and did to life, he makes you feel like you are there with him on his journey across Asia. I have got to see Craig in real life at a NCYC conference in St.Louis, Missouri. From the moment i heard him i had to get his book. This is an inspirational book, i think everybody should read this book to see how big of a problem child labor really is, and how FTC is helping children around the world. I definatly give this book 5 stars.

Okay, so call me paranoid, but I'm convinced Warren Dunford has been spying on me. The characters are so real, and so much like myself and people I know, that I swear I've met them all before. Our Ingrid is a boy, however, and our Ramir is a girl, but otherwise, same angst. The scene with Mitch's parents is eerie.
Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture is the most entertaining, compulsively page-turning, addictive book I've read in years. I haven't laughed out loud on the subway this hard since Douglas Adams. I started reading Making A Killing immediately after finishing this one, and already it's proved to be just as witty, just as engrossing and just as real as the first one.
I enjoyed the screenplay format portions immensely. I hope the hint is taken in Hollywood North and this book is made into a film, because I MUST see it!

Early on in the book, the author describes a character as "nondescript" and I thought "oh, no. This will be bad." but no! This book is tremendously well-written. I think I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to gay humor fiction, so it's great to find something to recommend whole-heartedly. Similar to Misadventures in the 213, Soon to Be.. has a little triumvirate of lovable characters (though Mitchell's friend Ramir can be less than lovable) that are drawn very well. Even minor characters such as the unnerving and condescending Kitina is spot on and Dunford's Carmen Denver strikes me as a Hollywood tyrant completely encapsulated.

The reader will probably figure out what's really going on before Mitchell does, but that's okay because there are still a few surprises. Mitchell's other friend Ingrid is very lovable and shy. The reader really roots for her triumph in the Toronto artworld and her subsequent stresses caused by her fame are very touching and affecting.

People who liked this book would also enjoy the aforementioned Misadventures in the 213 and Christian McLaughlin's book. I can't wait to read the next Warren Dunford.

I picked up this book by first-time Canadian novelist Warren Dunford with uncertainty. The jacket sounded really fascinating (a sometimes sure sign that what's inside isn't). I must tell you that this is a warm, funny, surprising, and satisfying read. I usually take my time with books but read this one in one day. The diverse cast of characters Dunford has created will keep you turning the pages. The main character, Mitchell, is very human, very real yet finds himself in some outlandish situations including juggling his job as... writer, budding screenwriter, exasperated friend, and amateur sleuth. I loved the diary-style writing as a peek into this Toronto twenty-something's extraordinary life. It's a fast, easy, FUN read.

This book covers all of the basics very well. Essential reading material for any level of hockey player and coach. I have read it over and over again.

When I wanted to improve my game I asked people around for the best book to get. They recommended this one and after seeing myself improve I recomend it to.

from basic conditioning to advanced play development, this book will help the coach bring his players up a level. the player reading it will see improvement in their game. the drills are explained in a clear manor and will definately improve the ability of the player. the section on play making is outstanding. when teaching some of the plays to my bantam and midget players, it was like a light bulb went on in their heads when they caught on to the play. this is a must have book for any one involved in the game of hockey.

Certainly we all commend Billy Bean on the stand he's taken and the role model he plays for all of us and for closeted professionals around the world. His story is much like the story of coming out late that many of us share. I was hoping to learn in more detail the unique angle in his experience he could share - that of a professional athlete and deeper insights into how gays move forward as professional athletes and as professionals in general. Four fifths of the book recounts his story of growing up, playing baseball, his thoughts when realizing his sexual orientation. The last part of the book is, by far, the most revealing and insightful of individuals from his past and their perspective on homosexuality in baseball and professional sports. More of that would have made the book completely worthwhile.

In the end, though, I still like the book and the effort Billy Bean took to write it and share his thoughts. (I read the book in one sitting, so it's a good read). Billy Bean still has more to tell.

At its inception, "Going the Other Way ..." could easily have been little more than a professional athlete's bio of protecting his homosexuality in what remains one of the sexuality's near-hallowed taboo, and even going that far would be courageous. But ex-baseball player Billy Bean takes his private story further by not only coming out publicly but by submitting the subtle question if sexual orientation really has anything to do with a person's worth as a family member, friend and working in whatever profession. In doing so, Bean's story is a lesson not only in coming to terms privately but also in being accepted by rendering impotent the social tendency to over-use labels like straight, gay and bi. Until Bean made good his dream to play major league baseball, his story was essentially non-descript: a loving family supporting his athletic ambition, a straight A student, girlfriends, marriage to a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Bean's "wholesome" story becomes unique only when he actually makes the big leagues but has to stay in his closet to avoid the potential multi-dimensional issues associated with coming out. Remarkably, Bean's is both a baseball and coming-to-terms book, and he manages further to posit the thought that sexual orientation may actually have little to nothing to do with any person's total worth. Bean also goes into some detail about his gay sexual experiences and concludes he was bassically "lucky" to have dodged the fatal bullet of AIDS. Still, that portion of his narrative poses the thought that public discussion about homosexuality and AIDS, even by the anti-gay faction, may actually be productive in blunting activity that risks the disease. In the end, though, Bean's story is an important contribution in learning to accept oneself and by doing it in such a way to be accepted in general with little to no qualification of sexual orientation being a factor. Beyond that, Bean's story is a one of courage and unshakeable faith in his own worth as a human being, and it and he are the stuff role models are made of.

This book is a simple masterpiece. It is far from being just a book about baseball, however, if you are a baseball fan this is a must read. It is a look inside the game of baseball that I guarantee has never been told. Billy Bean was the All-American boy. Great athlete, straight "A" student, you couldn't even make up a character that more closely fit the description. Living out his childhood dreams of playing major league baseball, even playing with players he grew up idolizing. Marrying the perfect girl from a well to do family, he had it all. Or at least what many would consider all. How Billy Bean managed to keep his secret from everyone including friends and family while dealing with the pressures of competing at the major league level is hard to imagine. Especially when you factor in his fear of what would happen is his secret was found out while he was still playing. What would the teammates and management think? How would the fans react? I can tell you no matter how open minded even the majority of fans might be, it would have been ugly. Every game on the road and even at home they would take any opportunity to scream out insults and be especially unforgiving when he failed to come through with a big hit or defensive play.

This book will challenge you to come to terms with how you feel about someone's sexual orientation. It is obvious from the years he had to keep this a secret that there are still too many people who are not ready to accept it.

This is a great story, and this book will be talked about for years to come. I highly recommend it.