This is the third copy of I'm Glad You Asked I have purchased. I keep "lending" copies of this book to others as a valuable reference, particularly when witnessing to non-Christians or Christians seeking to learn more about some very good questions: "What makes Christianity different?" "Doesn't Anyone who is good get to Heaven?" "What about those who have never heard the Gospel?"

I have several other books, including books by Hugh Ross (Creation and Time), Barry Wood (Questions non-Christians Ask Today) and Geisler and Brooks (When Skeptics Ask). All of these are good books, but I found this book answers the questions that are relevant today in a very readable yet thoughtful manner. It's well worth the investment.

The key strength of this book is in the fact that it challenges the reader to ask the question, " Is my faith reasonable?" If the answer is " No ", then the reader is then confronted with the decision of whether to hang on to an irrational faith or to discard it.

Christianity is viewed by many as a leap of faith and not a rational world view. This book walks the reader through the rational arguments for belief in the claims of Christ and of the historical Christian Faith.

I have used the book for personal study and as a course in evalgelism for young people and adults. I have watched as the syudents grew in confidence and became eager to take a reasonable Faith out into the market place of ideas.

...and a good reminder for those of us who've already reached the conclusion that reincarnation is objective fact through our own studies.

This is probably the best comprehensive overview of how reincarnation works. It addresses nearly every inconsistency and criticism that is often levied at this theory. Granted, this is a lot to swallow - I know it took me many years and many strange experiences to believe it myself - so given that, it's not going to convince the _Skeptic Magazine_ reader you know of any of this.

But for open minded people, this is a great place to start - especially considering that they don't have to read anything! Some of the fundamentals of reincarnation cover include:

* Why reincarnation makes sense, and why no one is given just one shot to "get it all right."
* How and why karma works, and the limitations of karmic understanding.
* How karma and free will operate together, yet are independent of one another (this addresses the classic criticism of why karma couldn't be true - the simplistic notion that karma is merely "you get what you put out").
* The "afterworld" (or "between-world") is touched upon; why you are given the body you have been given, and how to view this life you have as a chance to overcome your karma that you have accrued from previous incarnations, no matter what your state in life.
* Dispels many common misconceptions about reincarnation, such as the notion that people reincarnate as insects, animals, or other non-sentient objects. Shows how the possession of self-recognition and free will are prerequisites for advancement along the karmic pathway.
* Presents reincarnation in a positive light, but does not sugar coat its larger implications: along with immortality, we can continue to make all of the same painful mistakes over and over again - a virtual Flying Dutchman of stupidity in many of our cases.
* How many of the implications of karma/reincarnation were suppressed by early Christian church leaders, and why Christianity is not incompatible with reincarnation. (This was the first tape, and I thought a bit more time was spent on this if necessary. It's interesting to hear the background of esoteric Christianity again, but as a non-Christian I was starting to feel as though this was just an excessive attempt to sell Christians on the idea. Due to the extreme gravity of these concepts, it's unlikely anyone unprepared or not looking for them is going to ever swallow them.)

I know Prophet has a reputation as being somewhat of a cultish figure. I can't confirm this at the present time, but perhaps a cautionary stance should be taken with some of her work. Nevertheless, I found this to be just plain interesting. This was how I'd imagined it all worked, but Prophet puts it together in an excellent manner.

The pocketbook looks at the historical belief in reincarnation and then gets straight into 'how does that relate to me today'. I could understand the simple but profound messages it conveyed.

It has the power to change your life, the way you view situations, the way you respond and the sense of purpose you have. I always enjoy the real life stories and anecdotes in the Summit University Press pocketbooks.

Convincing as it is, it isn't pushy. I really enjoyed the section on personal, relationship and group karma - it offered me so many answers as to what were the underlying conditions in my life, whether in my relationships with those close to me or people I meet in the street. There is a reason for everything.

An innovative book that is positive, empowering and thought-provoking.

Although the subtitle correctly suggests that this book offers "a guide to state-of-the art of manufacturing", I was surprised and pleased to discover that almost all of the material is also directly relevant to processes that do not involve manufacturing but do involve production. Of new and better ideas, for example. Also, how to refine and then integrate the best of those ideas within and throughout an organization. Although it may not have been the primary purpose of the authors, this book has wide and deep application to almost any process in need of improved cycle time, first pass yield, and on-time delivery.

Moody has carefully selected and brilliantly organized a series of essays by a diversity of experts. Her objective is quite specific: to provide many approaches to the basic question of how to compete more successfully. Each section is preceded by an overview. The book is carefully organized so that each chapter stands alone. It remains for each reader to draw correlations -- between and among individual essays -- which are most relevant to the reader's specific needs and interests. When read in its entirety, the book's presentation of manufacturing strategy proceeds from theory and analysis of company and industry through formulation of appropriate competitive strategy to the tactics required to execute that strategy." The essays are organized within five parts: Historical Perspective, The Strategic Manufacturing Planning Process, New Strategies, Management Focus, and Dynamics of Change.

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Certainly, any decision-maker who is involved at any level of the manufacturing process but also, not to belabor the point, decision-makers in non-manufacturing organizations with the same objective: to compete more successfully by establishing and then sustaining constant and rigorous process] improvement. I wholly agree with Ciampa's caveats: "Don't believe that yesterday's answers will work on today's questions....Don't believe that people who have done things one way for years will change their behavior easily if at all....Don't believe you can do it all yourself....Don't believe that you can anticipate everything or that you don't need any game plan at all....Don't believe the old adage,'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!' which flies in the face of every principle of preventive maintenance." He concludes, "The wise leader is always looking for opportunities to make things better before they break. The cost of repairing a broken organization is enormous compared to the fine-tuning and constructive change required to keep it sharp." Moody and her associates are to be commended for providing, in a single volume, an abundance of valuable information in combination with wisdom of unique practicality.

Leading Manufacturing Excellence will be an important part of the libraries of all manufacturing managers and executives from the most recently appointed to those of us who have enjoyed a long career in manufacturing and are seeking ways to extend that career for a few more years. Harold E. Edmondson, Former Vice President of Manufacturing, Hewlett-Packard Company

I had been wanting to lay my hands on this book for years, since it was out of print I never got it. Now, by chance (thanks to Amazon), I found out that Robert Jones had a new edition published at Heimburger House. Finding out and ordering was just one single step. Here I am now: it is a beautiful book, this new edition being even better thanks to today's publishing possibilities. There is a wealth in illustrations, and nearly all the information you might want. There is a lot to learn about them 'Lilliputs', as Linwood Moody called them. I would have liked to find a few additional pages about the whats and whereabouts of today's 24 inchers. Where are the museums, where can I go to see the last remainders ?

Robert C. Jones has done a great service to fans of Maine's narrow guage railroads by republishing Linwood Moody's classic book on the Pine Tree State's 2-foot guage railroads. No one wrote with the passion for these narrow guage trains than Moody, whose book was originally published in 1958. For devotees of these trains, "The Maine Two-Footers" has been the bible, if you can find a copy. Jones has written extensivly on railroads in Vermont and Maine. His "Two Feet to..." series of books are packed with pictures and information. This new edition of "The Maine Two-Footers" has added photographs and is in a larger format than the original.

This is a really wonderful book. I bought this book strictly because I was fascinated by the work of one of the authors, Dr James Wandersee, even though biology is not my cup of tea. By chance, I "strayed" into his web-site, aptly called The 15 Degree Laboratory, while surfing the internet one day. (If you are curious to find out more, go to his web-site.) When I learnt, also by chance, that he had co-authored a book, I ordered it immediately from Amazon.com. Wow! What a great book!

As a strategic explorer of knowledge and a very active practitioner in visual tools, I am always looking for other and better ways (or learning tools to be more precise) to build understanding, simplify complexity, map ideas and construct knowledge.

Out of the book's table of contents, the following chapters (out of ten) attracted me the most at first glance:

Chapter 1: overview of knowledge mapping; Chapter 5: meaningful and mindful learning; Chapter 7: using concept !circle diagramming as a knowledge mapping tool; Chapter 8: using concept mapping as a knowledge mapping tool; (the rest pertains to biology stuff)

and I must say, I have learnt a lot from the authors.

The above first two chapters give an excellent foundation to the book, and also examine the issue of meaning-making and meaning-building (the starting point of learning and understanding anything) from multiple perspectives. Kudos to the authors!

The authors have very masterfully spin together an excellent exposition on knowledge mapping, with the proposition and application of two powerful visual tools, among many others in the book. I have deliberately picked these two tools because of my own personal and professional interests.

One is concept circle diagramming, which to me is a terrific enhancement of the innocuous Venn Diagram (or its predecessor, the Euler Circle, if you are familiar with mathematics).

The other is concept mapping, origi!nally made famous by Dr Joseph Novak, who wrote two excellent books on it - 'Learning How to Learn' and 'Learning, Creating & Using Knowledge.'

Surprisingly, as academics, the authors write pretty well - crisp, succinct, and most of all, not boring.

Although the authors have expounded them in the context of biology i.e. in the educational setting, I personally feel that the visual tools as propounded are very relevant to the corporate world. This is because, in understanding and simplifying complexity in a knowledge-based economy, the visual tools can serve as a powerful support system for the mind, create an arena in which we can make our knowledge explicit, reflect on its organisation and polish its edges. They are also useful for building and assessing our content and cognitive skills.

I wish I have learnt these tools while I was in school or college. Learning would have been fun! And, life through the years would have been easier.

For some reade!rs who think mind-mapping as created by Tony Buzan is great stuff, wait till you read this book and use the tools. If you are already familiar with mind-mapping, I would strongly recommend you to learn these visual tools, as a valuable supplement of your skill repertoire.

It is my fervent hope that the authors of this book would sit down one day to re-write the book for the corporate world. - without the biology stuff, of course. That would be really great!!!

Kathleen Fisher, Jim Wandersee and David Moody have put together a very important contribution to our knowledge about knowledge in biology. Their book summarizes some of the most significant work of the past 25 years in science education and cognitive science; work that promises substantial improvement in science teaching and learning at all levels, K-16.

Mapping Biology Knowledge, as the name suggests, focuses on the use of graphic organizers and metacognitive tools. The book combines theory, research and practical advice for teachers, curriculum designers, and others who have a commitment to reform in science education. In so doing, the authors direct our attention toward the most important theme of the reform effort....the need to encourage meaningful learning and conceptual understanding.

Among the tools and techniques they recommend are: SemNet software, concept maps and concept circles. The authors provide step-by-step directions for implementing these tools in classrooms, multiple examples of ways they can be useful, and insightful suggestions for teachers, students and others.

For those interested in research on cognition and learning in biology, this book provides some of the essential "tools of the trade." Graduate students and faculty who are looking for advice will find some of the wisest, most thoughtful and generative ideas anywhere. I recommend this book heartily!

As a pastor, I have recommended the Ryrie Study Bible since it was first released in the later 1970's. The revised edition is even better than its predecessor, with in-text maps, charts, and Ryrie's most unique feature: prolific interpretative notes at the foot of almost every page.

When folks ask me Bible questions as their pastor, if I do not have the answer in my head, more times than not the notes provide the answer (makes me look good!). And the maps and indexes are unique.

The Ryrie Study Bible is doctrinally based upon a literal view of the Bible. It is Dispensational, Premillennial, Eternally Secure, and Non-charismatic. But Evangelical Christians of various positions will find it very helpful indeed. The best study version of the best Book of all time!

This is a great Bible to study, great footnotes,very user freindly and well constructed. A great Bible for a beginner or a scholar to own in a library for reference.

I found this book to be very informative. Excelent for the beginner gardner to the most seasoned. I recommend this book very highly. Worth many times it's price when considering that time is money and this book saves you time with cut to the chase facts easy understood details.

It was nice, I would reccomend it to any garderner. Did I mention I'm her great grandson?

I am a layperson.

The depth of the commentary and the fastidious cross-referencing in the margin has made this Bible the gateway for my growth as a Christian. The maps in the back and other commentary at the beginning of each book create a depth of understanding in my Christian experience that I find too infrequently from the pulpit.

The commentary has great life application elements and historical references as well.

Well Done Dr. Ryrie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition is truly an excellent study bible. In addition to clear and detailed notes on every page, this bible has some of the best explanatory charts and tables I have found in any study or reference bible.

Each book in this bible includes an extensive introduction with detailed notes on authorship, date, contents, an outline, and a feature I especially enjoy, a graphical timeline for that book. Also included is a sizable concordance, and over a dozen detailed full-color maps depicting the Holy Land from the Old Testament through Christ's ministry and Paul's journeys and up to present day.

If I had to recommend any one study bible, this would be it. I would especially recommend it for anyone in the ministry or actively evangelizing. The wealth of reference material in this bible makes God's Word not only easier to understand, but also easier to explain to others. Also available in King James Version, I give the Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition my highest recommendation.

Very readable and real. She wrote from her heart. At times I found that I was angry at the author for not being more aware of how to handle what was happening to her. This book reminds us that bad things happen, but then they go away leaving us stronger from lessons learned. Being a single parent is not easy, but being left to do the job raising five children seems nearly impossible. She gives a lot of positive tips on single parenting and divorce recovery. The book only takes a few hours to read,and leaves one feeling that they gained a lot.

I could not put the book down, I had to see what happened next! I was laughing, crying and was touched! I promise, your heart will be touched!!!

I grew up in Waldoboro, ME, the home of Moody's Diner. Now, 30 years later, when I go back to Waldoboro, I always stop in for a meal at Moody's. The food is wonderful diner fare, the prices are very reasonable.The atmosphere never changes. It is a step back to another era.

I purchased this book at L.L. Bean in the early 1990s and it is one of my favorites. The 'Gingerbread II' recipe is one of my staples; it makes the house smell great while it's cooking and it is a very hearty dessert -- a real crowd-pleaser! I also love the 'Lemon-Ginger Chicken Salad' recipe which includes green seedless grapes and is served in half a cantaloupe. I've taken the recipe to many pot-luck dinners and it always receives favorable comments. The zucchini-orange bread and banana bread recipes are also part of my list of "old stand-bys"

The pictures of Moody's through the decades are great, too. You won't go wrong with this cookbook!