I am a stepfamily therapist and researcher, and an invited member of the Stepfamily Association of America's Advisory Council. I have read over 40 lay and clinical books on stepfamilies and stepparenting since 1979. "Bocoming a Stepfamily" is one of the two best ones I have read, on a complex and controversial subject. The other is Margaret Newman's "Stepfamily Realities."
A major plus for this book is the many stepfamily vignettes and quotes Papernow uses to illustrate her points. Another is her way of framing the developmental stages of four kinds of typical stepfamilies. A third plus is Papernow's insightful sketching of the respective viewpoints and needs of the biological parent and the stepparent in different phases of stepfamily development. A rare feature of her book vs. others in the genre is her acknowledging that many stepfamily co-parents (bioparents and stepparents) have significant psychological wounds from their childhood that impact their stepfamily relationships. Most stepfamily authors ignore this vital reality.
A last unique advantage to this book is Papernow's (accurate) description that stepparents (and their kids, if any) initially feel like "outsiders" in the new stepfamily system, and that a major task all members face is to acknowledge that, and work to balance the outsiders and insiders through expanding mutual empathy.
A major drawback to this book is Papernow's decision to say little about ex mates. She implies that a nuclear stepfamily excludes or minimizes them (and any new mate and stepkids they have). The benefit of this is to keep her book conceptually simple. The great deficit is that it ignores a major source of re/marital and co-poarenting stress (or potential strength) for adults and kids alike. Unless a remarried bioparent is a widow/er, a nuclear stepfamily system *always* spans at least three co-parents and two or more co-parenting homes - even if a non-custodial bioparent is inactive.
The only other major improvement I can see to this clear, well organized, reader-friendly overview book is to clarify Papernow's metaphoric concept of "stepfamily mapping." She rightly says a common task for new stepfamily members is to "build a map" of each other's part of their new family. The metaphor seems vague and somewhat confusing. I believe what she means is "work to clarify each other's needs, new roles, and new stepfamily rules as you merge your biofamily cultures."

I highly recommend this useful book to courting and remarried coparents, clergy, and other human-service professionals.

In 1994, my then fiance and I read together Papernow's book on stepfamilies in order to prepare us for the challenge of blending my five children and his eight children (four of which were already married). This was so invaluable in giving me the perspective of all parties involved. Over and over through the years (it is now 2001) this book made me realize that my side of the various issues that come and go is not the only valid view of things. Time does make a big difference in settling issues and feelings. I think this book should be required reading before anyone undertakes the task of step parenting. It arms you with so many valuable insights before you have to learn by experience and wreck your marriage. Our marriage is going strong; this book did help.

While this book is written for professionals, it reads smoothly enough that anyone with a basic understanding of family dynamics should find it helpful. Of particular interest to families facing the challenges of remarriage are the many interviews and case histories of families who have been there, done that. I would also recommend this book to any professional who works with stepfamilies, as it contains clear models of stepfamily development and the stages of forming long-lasting successful blended unions. A ray of hope in the sometimes murky arena of steparenting!

This is the best, most comprehensive yet accessible soup cookbook I have ever seen. The photographs are beautiful, the recipes are well-organized, and the directions are detailed, clear and concise. The recipes range from the exotic to the everyday, and every soup you can think of is included. Anyone who loves soup (and who doesn't?) will love this book. A fantastic gift for anyone who enjoys cooking.

I've wanted to learn how to cook great soups for several years, but most recipes have inadequate explanations or are too "basic." Not so this one. Since I got it four weeks ago, I've tried eight of the recipes; each was incredible. Moreover, the explanations at the beginings of each chapter helped me to understand why things are done in certain ways, enabling me to deviate from the recipes with confidence (and success). I've loved the hearty soups so far, and can't wait for summer to try some of the cold soups. Enjoy!! (One caveat, these recipes tend to take at least two hours the first time they are tried, so are not for a meal on the run.)

One of my favorite cookbooks -- and I have many! The book is laid out in a logical manner by "type of soup". All the favorites are in here (gazpacho, clam chowder, minestrone, etc.) as well as so very many not-so-common recipes! I received this book as a gift a week ago, for Christmas, and I have already used it three times! So hard to find a whole book on soups! Heartily recommend it to everyone!

If somebody loves you authentically so much so that you become better person than before, you can't help loving him dearly. It happens. And it can happen even through a book! In this incredable book called "insight", you are invited to a wonderland of a higly diffentiated intelligence, only to find that it is no other than your real self. At first you wonder, you ask, you think hard, and you get it! For the first time you come to know what is understanding. You begin to doubt, you reflect, and finally you judge that you are a knower! Now you are changed. Now you know you are consciously operating in your experiencing, understanding, judging, and deciding. Now you know what knowledge is, what it means to you, and how it means to you. You become a living, knowing, acting subject. And you come to love Lonergan, since he introduced you to yourself. To "read" Insight may take a long time, years or decades. However when you finish it, you will begin to take another long trip to yourself, where no one had gone before...

This is the definitive text of Bernard Lonergan's most important work, Insight, with over 130 revisions, based on the meticulous labor of comparing three texts, line by line, word by word! All students of Lonergan's thought owe a great debt to Frs. Frederick E. Crowe and Robert M. Doran for having executed their task with such thoughtfulness, perfection and devotion. Corresponding pages to the second edition of Insight, which has been the standard one, are given in brackets. My previous review was based on the second edition.

Rev. Bernard Lonergan, S.J.(1904-1984), though still not commonly known, was, talent-wise, certainly one of the top thinkers of the 20th century. It takes time for his thoughts to be appreciated, developed and applied. There are already numerous web-sites and hundreds of books, articles and theses written on his ideas. He might be publicly acknowledged as one of the 100 most influential thinkers by the end of this century. For more than forty years, his works continue to nourish and challenge people, initially in seminary circles, and gradually in different universities. Boston College has been a key base for over 20 years in fostering studies of Lonergan's thought and stimulating dialogue with people in diverse fields. Insight remains one of the basic books that one needs to master if we want to reach up to Lonergan's mind, just as he reached up to the mind of Aquinas. One of the perennial issues underlying human differences is our assumptions about knowing and reality. What is it to know? Is it taking a look out there? Or do we presume that we cannot know reality? Lonergan proposed an arduous journey for all of us to become aware of what we are doing when experiencing, understanding, judging and choosing. The focus is on appropriating or gaining self-knowledge of our recurrent cognitional processes and structures in knowing. "¡Kit is essential that the notion of insight, of the accumulation of insights, of higher viewpoints, and of their heuristic significance and implications, not only should be grasped clearly and distinctly but also, in so far as possible, should be identified in one's own personal intellectual experience." (p.xx) "Thoroughly understand what it is to understand, and not only will you understand the broad lines of all there is to be understood but also you will possess a fixed base, an invariant pattern, opening upon all further developments of understanding." (p.xxviii) This is a difficult, painstaking and challenging task, not achieved just by reading from cover to cover (785 pages plus 30). Lonergan's examples from mathematics, physics, classical and statistical investigations might be a hurdle to those who don't have background in such disciplines. Insight is like the Zen master's finger pointing towards the moon. One must be careful not to get lost in the sweeping and erudite visions and constantly come back to appropriating one's own knowing processes. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. One easier introduction is Terry J. Tekippe's "What is Lonergan Up to in Insight? A Primer". Then one can go on to Flanagan's Quest for Self-Knowledge, and The Lonergan Reader, edited by the Morellis, and finally come to grapple with the full original and Lonergan's later works on Method in Theology and Macroeconomic Dynamics.

I'm a culinary student and found this book very helpful for converting units into metric units. It helped me with my baking class because it showed how to convert measurements properly and with great accuracy. I also used the following to study for the National Servsafe Test which is also on amazon.com:
Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations (ISBN: 0971999678). It showed me the type of questions asked on the exam. In addition, was quite helpful for my sanitation class. Get both books if you're in culinary school.

This book clears up the math questions for all levels of preparing foods. From the diference in dry measure to liquid measure to getting the quantities right for the number of guests you are feeding. Bravo!!

This is what I've been waiting for. For those of us who aren't too good with numbers and measurements (foodservice math), this is a god-send. It's got great information and it makes the whole subject of "culinary math" reasonable and understandable.

No home in America is complete with out a copy of these documents. Do your children a favor; turn off the TV and the Cable News editorial talking heads, put away the Bible and read the Constitiution. While it is the most misrepresented document in history; it is the true foundation of our society.

This is the American vision of what government should be. Many people think that America is a democracy but it is actually a constitutional democracy. The Constitution of the United States sets limits to the powers of government in Article 1, Section 8 (pgs 23-5). Outside of these enumerated powers the government has no authority to do anything else.

It really is a beautiful system of government. All law-making powers are vested in the Senate and House of Representatives. However, a president can check their power by vetoing any laws they pass, which they can then override by a 2/3 majority in both houses. The president's function is to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" and to the the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. The Supreme Court and other courts oversee the laws passed by the legislature and, I suppose, the actions of the president to make sure that they fall within the bounds set by the Constitution. Congress has the ability to add to the Constitution by passing amendments. And the Bill of Rights lays out a few rights of the people and states that are absolutely not to be infringed upon, though the enumerated powers already limits the power granted to the federal government.

Roger Pilon's brief Preface is about as much bang for the word as one could ask for. Check it out!

These founding documents are like the Bible . . .often quoted, seldom read. In fact it is worse, since they are seldom read, when people quote-unquote "quote" them, they are actually spouting nonsense, as opposed to the political wisdom of the ages.

It is... imperative, therefore, that we should become familiar with these two philosophical pillars of political freedom. This book puts these heavenly banners and glorious standards into your hand-the truth is at your fingertips--to check up on the politicians. If they do anything crooked, keep in mind that it is our fault for not being aware and active in stopping them.

Don't be intimidated by the language. There is an old saying that Plato is easier to understand the Platonists. The original documents are easier to understand than the snake twisting that many lawyers and fanatics put to the documents. You asre smart enough to decide for yourself.

When your meetings have become grey with dullness, consider a little humor.

When the seriousness of business seems to have sunk everyone into boredom, try a little comedy.

When your co-workers are sitting like bumps on a log, get the energy going again with a morsel of mania.

Sheila Feigelson comes from a long line of appreciators of humor, & her book offers you ways in which to liven up those dreaded hours of dry statistics & logistics.

She also lets you know when NOT to crack a joke!

Well written, lightly treating a serious subject. Try ENERGIZE YOUR MEETINGS WITH LAUGHTER, you will like it, & you will like the change in your meetings!

Sheila Feigelson is incredible, and this book is a knockout. It's chocked full of so many great ideas that the meetings of my corporate board have become the most productive they've ever been. People don't dread coming to the meetings anymore; instead, they start thinking--weeks ahead of time--for ways to be funny and find opportunities for laughing together.

Feigelson's methods could and should revolutionize your meetings. Buy a copy today!

Sheila Feigelson is an all-star humor-in-meetings innovator. Her book is overflowing with great ideas. I recently tried one of her tips for nametags and increased donations from my non-profit board by 25 percent. Our meetings have become more productive, and nobody throws things anymore. Thank you, Sheila! Everyone should buy this book. I'm buying ten more copies right now!

700+ pages, covering three centuries of fashion in close-up detail. The photography provides close-ups of detailing such as seams, embroidery, buttons/closures, and the like, which is very important to costumers and designers.

A must for your fashion library.

I was surprised by this book as a Christmas present, and I haven't put it down since. The Kyoto Costume Institute has a marvelous collection of clothing from several centuries, and the numerous pieces shown in this book are of unimaginable beauty. Both the presentation and the photography in this book are the highest quality imaginable. I left my copy on the kitchen table one day, only to return to find my two roomates pouring over it. One of them, in awe, said "I didn't know clothes like this actually existed." I would give this book the recommendation of quite possibly the most enchantingly beautiful book on dress in existence.

Being familiar with two earlier Kyoto Costume Institute (KCI) publications--The Evolution of Fashion (19th & 20th Century) and The Revolution of Fashion (18th Century)--I was excited to discover that Taschen had produced a new book covering fashions from the 18th to the 20th Century found in the KCI collection. Although I was concerned that this new book might just be a revision and compilation of photos from the two earlier exhibits (with, perhaps, some additional costumes to cover the second-half of the 20th Century), at 700+ pages, I figured there must be at least a few new entries.

The book arrived today and I have been unable to put it down. As soon as I opened the book, I knew that my fears had been unfounded. The new book not only includes costumes found in the earlier books, but includes detailed close-ups of those costumes and many new costumes. The depth of color and detail in the photos is extraordinary. (Taschen is well known for the quality of its publications.) Although the text accompanying the photos is generally quite minimal--limited in many cases to date, description and the inventory number of each piece--it will often include some historical information in an introduction to a period or style. Moreover, many of the 20th Century entries are preceded by a short biographical sketch of the designer whose fashions follow.

The KCI is well-known for its extensive collection of Western costume. One of the Institute's rather unique features lies in its presentation of those costumes. Rather than laying the clothes out flat, they are displayed on manikins in the manner in which they would have been worn--including shoes, hats, gloves, purses, fans, etc. Through this book, Taschen has succeeded in making the KCI collection accessible to the rest of the world.

(As testament to the quality and beauty of this book, two co-workers I showed the book to today--people who are not costumers or designers--have placed their orders for a copy.)

Without a doubt, this book will be a well-treasured addition to my library.

This is excellent reading at home and on the go. You'll want to buy two of these just so you have one at home, and one you can really rough handle on the road. :) If you're into medicinal herbs or you just love knowing what's what out in the wild, this guide is number one! A MUST! You need it now.

This book was so fabulous, in fact, I give it more than five stars, I give it twenty! It is because of this book that I now want to be an ethnobotanical chemisist. This book has such pep and drive, just the Introduction and Preface make you want to go outside start a weed garden, picket the FDA, and go to college for seven years to get your degree in botanical chemistry. You don't believe me, but I'm serious. READ THIS BOOK! If not the whole book, at least the Introduction and Preface. It'll give you SO much energy.

This is one of the better field guides available for identifying and determining the usefulness of many medicinal plants found commonly in the Eastern and Central US. This guide is recommended for beginners and experienced medicinal plant enthusiasts alike. A must have book for the novice in this field.

Fools Errand is an extraordinary account of failed attempts at "nation building" during the Clinton Administration. Gary Dempsey's expertise is evident as guides the reader through a maze of disturbingly flawed policy, astonishing bureaucracy, arrogance and stupidity that doomed nation building attempts to failure. Dempsey's analysis is brilliant, and he relates complex events with remarkable clarity.

Dempsey's Fool's Errands is brilliant. He methodically recounts the pitfalls of an indiscriminate nation building policy. Anyone who is serious about shaping or understanding America's foreign policy should read this.

A long time fan of Mr. Dempsey's work for his clarity of vision and ability to recount history that reverberates with political savvy. First hand insight with time on the ground in the region well prepares Dempsey for the chore of 'piecing' together Balkan politics. Great job -- I look forward to more!

A professionally written book with a timely topic.

This book provides the information our staff were looking for.

Just what our organization needed to address gambling addictions in older adults. The kit is also very useful.