I bought a boat this summer and was looking for a good general introduction to boating. I was very disappointed with this book. The text was often too techinical or just plain lacking in information.

Since reading this book I've taken the U.S. Power Squadron boating course and have read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boating. Both of these were much more useful than this text.

Bob Armstrong does a great job explaining what to expect as you get started with a power boat. Much if the information could be available in other places, but this is a great reference.

I highly recommend this book to all new boaters who take the United States Power Squadron Boat Safety class I teach because of the first chapter. It poses and explains all the questions one should ask oneself before purchasing a power boat: size, total cost of ownership, type and style, mooring or trailer considerations, etc etc. Understanding and heeding the sound and solid advice in these pages could easily save a boat owner many Boat Units in avoiding wrong choices (A Boat Unit is $1000). It may help you understand what the "Perfect Boat" might be for you, based on your criteria. A definite "Must Have" on your bookshelf.

"Getting Started" is an interesting and easy to read book that will give one the background he or she needs to select the right boat and then teaches him how handle it. The author starts with the basics of boating, like why a boat floats and what makes a quality boat and smoothly builds to more complicated topics like boat handling, docking, proper line usage, and weather emergencies. Surely Bob Armstrong has trained many crews in his lifetime as a professional Captain. His examples, diagram, teaching technique, and language are forward and easy to understand. I have made good use of many of the techniques in this book since I started in powerboating. It has been an invaluable guide and reference. Thanks, Bob!

This is a good tool for a special education teacher or Speech language pathologists' bag of tricks. It works great with small groups of students and can be adapted for classroom discussions. It is especially useful when working with children who have pragmatic difficulties.

I thought it was good book, giving guidence to kids in some common and not so common situations. However, I believe some parts are more appropriate for older kids.

This book gives clear, concise descriptions of how a child or young adolescent might handle the unexpected--embarassing, frightening or even life threatening situations.

Each situation is briefly stated on a single page in large type. The next page gives clear instructions on how to get the situation under control and when to call for help. Some of the situations include: dealing with an electrical blackout, being followed by a stranger, finding an injured animal, and what to do when a friend appears to have sustained a head injury.

I showed this book to children of varying ages. It elicited interest from children as young as six and as old as high school. One bright six-year-old buried himself in the book, sounding out the hard words because the information made him feel empowered. Older children picked and chose which situations they read but liked the straightforward approach.

This book would be good for a general population of children and young adolescents. However, it would be especially helpful to children who have social skills deficits.

My kids crave far more information than this book provided. They would have like more photographs of this famous man, not cartoonish, childish illustrations.

This biography is without a doubt Brown's best picturebook biography to date. He really has written an engaging biography of Armstrong. My second graders went back to this book time and again after I read it aloud! One of my students () used it as a primary source for her biography on Neil Armstrong...and she wrote a great bio too! A great addition to a classroom library or school library biography section!

Don Brown's book "One Giant Step: the Story of Neil Armstrong" is great. It approaches the story of America's most famous astronaut from a truly unique perspective. Even as an adult I found it compelling.The illustrations are colorful, lively watercolors with distinctive style and charm. Few have mastered the art writing children's books. Fewer have mastered the art of illustrating them. Don Brown has done both.

Give this book a second look. At first glance, it's true, there aren't as many colorful pictures as we would all like to see, but after further examination I fell in love with the book. I realized it was sparking lots of ideas, which probably wouldn't have happened if I was looking just for patterns to copy. Ms. Armstrong's recent appearance on TV really caught my eye -- applique, embellishments, small (or large) projects, no hoop or frame, free-form quilting designs (some terrific close-up photos of these at the tops of the pages) -- just what I've been looking for. For me, this is definitely a keeper!

I think this book is a refreshing look at the Art of Quilting, with little if any patchwork. A book that is easy to read, well laid out and a catalist to just get you started. The quilts in this book are very elegant with light touches of color. An inspiration to design your own works of art. I will use my crochet and silk ribbon in my next quilt. This is not limited like her previous book to just flower embrodery. Each project is different to give you a taste of the wide spectrum of this wonderful art. Beautiful Book!

Carol Armstrong's Quilting With Carol Armstrong shows how to combine quilting and embellishments for a polished look. Her technique involves using quilting lines over pieced blocks to define patterns. Sixteen projects include appliques and quilting patterns.

I promise you haven't read THIS one before. There's a hint of "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil" in the rich authenticity of Armstrong's descriptions of the Finger Lakes setting, but blend that with lots of high-tension action and some truly unforgettable characters (especially "Barn") and you have a book that's above the bar for its genre(s).

Adorably romantic, frightening, spooky and suspenseful. It's a fun read that keeps you turning the pages. I fell in love with the characters.

J.F. Armstrongs book The Asexuals answers this question in a slam bang mystery/fantasy that takes you through the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York State.

From the first page where we meet Jimi Raid ,the ower of the Jimi Miami detective agency, to the climatic finish we're taken on a whirlwind tour of murder, sex, and drugs.

The Asexuals is a Must Read for anyone who loves a great page turner. I couldn't put it down!

Jennifer takes her folk-art-meets-kindergarden-class explosion to your closet in this follow-up to Retro Revamp, her home decorating/ crafts book.

The strongest thing about this book is the "no-rules" approach as to choosing materials when approaching a project. PomPom balls from tacky old curtains, ribbons of all kinds, fabric scraps from the church basement rummage sale- any scrap, trim, doodad or doohickey is considered fair game whether sewing, re-vamping, or simply jazzing up some of your clothes. You will NEVER read anything about do's and don'ts, i.e., not mixing polka dots and plaid or mixing neon yellow with green zebra stripes. If anything this is ENCOURAGED by the author, and the result is a very freeing and creative alternative to your schoolmarm sewing books. A woman is encouraged to go as loud or as subdued as she pleases.

Also a plus is the simple techniques illustrated and basic materials used. You can find anything you need at a crafts store, or probably even the crafts section of your local discount superstore chain. Don't know how to sew- no problem- the projects will work for crafters of all skill levels.

My only complaint was that a number of the clothes were too costumey for everyday wear- for example, an over-the-top "gypsy skirt" and a puffy, cropped blouson top. And some of the clothes were also a little too revealing for my tastes- lots of cropped shirts and itty-bitty tank tops here. But, some of the projects are real gems- I like the purse and accessory projects best.

Overall, this is a great book to get if you're looking for inspiration to get funky with your clothes. If you're into unusual, loud get-ups, all the better: you can wear this stuff every day. But for those of us with more reserved tastes, this book makes for some nice projects to wear on a fun evening out.

This book is a look at the lighter side of updating, embellishing and creating new wardrobe pieces. There's a good mix of projects (everything from jazzing up an old pair of pumps to crafting a simple dress from scratch)and the instructions are simple and straight forward.
While the majority of ideas in this book aren't suited for "grown-ups" the creative inspiration and basic techniques make this book an entertainging and worthy resource.
I borrowed this book from the library twice and made several dresses before finally shelling out the bucks to buy and it's earned a promenant place on my craft table.

I just finished looking through this book, and I really loved it. Some of the things, like the shirts, were a little odd looking, but inspiring in a way. I liked the bags alot, also the scarves were very pretty. I can't wait to go make some stuff.

Dianne's writing style is wonderfully engaging and she tellssome great tales about her adventures returning pets to their homes.The only thing wrong about this wonderful collection of stories is that it's TOO SHORT! Dianne does so much terrific work with rescues as well as returning pets to their homes, I can't wait to read her next book!

She's the one to watch!

This book is satisfying in many different ways.

Most of the stories involve work done by animal shelter workers. To those of us in the animal care profession they are an affirmation that what we do really does make a difference; we need these positive stories to help us counteract all the negative situations that involve us on a daily basis. Those outside the profession can gain important insights into just how dedicated and committed shelter workers (both paid and volunteer) can be to reuniting pets with their owners. The job is much more than scooping poop and doing paper work. Anyone who cares about animals or has ever had a special, loving relationship with a pet will enjoy and identify with the people in the stories. It sounds trite to say so, but animal lovers will indeed find the stories heartwarming, and anyone with a sense of humor will appreciate the author's wit and way with words.

It's hard to pick a favorite out of the 16 stories. Each is touching and interesting in a different way, and every one of them tells about a pet that the reader would like to know. Perhaps the best thing about all of them is that they have happy endings. This isn't a book that glosses over the difficult times encountered by each pet owner (as well as the animals themselves), but each animal does find its way home! The author is to be commended for telling stories filled with sentiment that still manage not to be sentimental.

Dianne Armstrong has devoted all her energies not dedicated to working full time as a nurse in an obstetrical ward to making sure every animal has a shot at a decent life. "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig" is a collection of heartwarming tales about reunions of pets with their people as well as a couple of ones about pets that did just plain exasperatingly silly things that landed them in situations beyond their wildest notions far way from those who loved them. While it seems like a book of stories about animals and their escapades, it is really a window into our own human natures. We see our dark side when we learn how some of these animals got treated or how others found them so easy to discard. Then again, we get to bask in the joy of seeing a dog or a cat be reunited with the people who love them and missed them so greatly and who are prepared to go to the ends of the earth to make sure a separation never happens again.

My only frustration with this book is that it is so short. I could read stories like this for weeks. Dianne, give us some more?

This is one of three Iris Murdoch books I have read, as a good friend of mine is a big fan. I have yet to see why. I found Nuns and Soldiers silly and overwrought, an extended but inexplicable love story filled with improbable and self conscious conversations. Do people experiencing a coup de foudre really sit around and dissect their feelings? I don't find the philosophical or moral underpinnings of the story to be compelling, either. Social requirements versus individual desire, I guess.

An interesting take on the old theme of nuns/soldiers and vicars/tarts, this one. Most of you will know the story, but I shan't spoil it for those who have not yet read it. I am surprised that that girl from Titanic could write something as clever as this.

Whenever I read an Iris Murdoch novel, I am reminded how much I enjoy and appreciate Murdoch's work. Her books are always a pleasure to read, and a pleasure that I would be sincerely sorry to miss.

At the moment of the death of her husband, Gertrude is reunited with her best friend from University-- Anne. Anne and Gertrude had been separated when Anne had joined the nunnery, and it is this occasion of great loss for both of them (Anne has lost the solace of the nunnery) that brings them together. _Nuns and Soldiers_ questions both the notion of great love and the morality of the expression of love.

My book club was not overly fond of _Nins and Soldiers_ because they found the character of Gertrude so utterly unsympathetic. And she is truly atypical for Murdoch-- her feminine passivity and self-centeredness are not normal characteristics for Murdoch heroines, but it fit so well with the story that I wasn't bothered by it.

There are very few Murdoch books that I'd hesitate to recommend.

I purchased a book and recieved photo copies of the entire book. I paid for a hardcover book, not photo copies! Would not recommend to anyone!

This has to be the first book you read about marketing. A prolific chartered marketer and lecturer, Philip Kotler is one is the best known figures in the art and science of marketing. If you can't afford to attend one of his insightful seminars, this book is the second best thing. Together with Gary Armstrong, he has written this bible that every marketing student and teacher should read. Even if you are a seasoned practioner, reading this book can only let you gain more insight. In this latest (millennium) edition, colour photographs, numerous case studies, as well as an interactive CD-ROM with quizzes make this textbook an interesting and easy read. Furthermore, exercises and summaries at the end of each chapter actually make learning marketing concepts fun and enjoyable. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran of marketing, this is a great book not to be ignored.

This book is a good read even if you don't have to. It contains interesting, up-to-date examples with popular "real" companies. Book makes it pretty easy to learn subject matter.

As an ex-follower of Armstrong's religious cult, I believe I'm qualified to comment on this book, the man and his legacy. There are thousands upon thousands of people who were negatively and permanently affected by Armstrong's own mandated confused beliefs, and we would have been better off if he had kept working as an advertising man in the 1920's and never used those skills to push his uneducated religious agenda. This book, like all of his, was required reading for "church" members. When you want to believe in a man or his supposed-revelatory belief system, you try to ignore the doubtful statements, but eventually with Armstrong a point comes where you can't help but realize how ridiculous his statement are. The whole brainwashing cult-enforced "learning" experience collapses and reveals what's really there: deception, confusion, arrogance, ego and posturing, tremendous financial rewards for the figurehead at the extreme expense of the members. Any time one of the Worldwide Church of God members from Armstrong's era (still) refers to other believers as "so-called Christians", that should sum up the type of philosophy you're dealing with. Armstrong's claim that his voice "cries out amid religious confusion" is disgusting.

The teaching of Jesus Christ was never intended for everyone!
Only those God has called now can appreciate this book by Mr Herbert W Armstrong. This book is as 'spiritual' as most of the Bible. New revelation can be presented during any age, Mr Armstrong was the conduit through which God gave keys of understanding to this end-time generation! The books and aticles which have been banned by the new 'protestant' version of Worldwide Church of God, will continue to fall into the hands of those destined to be begotten of God!

This book was an eye opener. It was not written by a man but it was inspired by God. If you read this book with the Bible next to it you will understand the Bible more and have a better understanding of life and God's way of life.