WORDS THAT WORK: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE HEAR
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Book
  • Luntz's "1984"
  • Clear. Concise. Comprehensive.
  • Brevity as an Effective Communication Skill (would that it were!)
  • WORDS THAT WORK
WORDS THAT WORK: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE HEAR
Frank Luntz
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401302599
Release Date: 2006-12-20

Book Description

The nation's premier communications expert shares his wisdom on how the words we choose can change the course of business, of politics, and of life in this countryIn Words That Work, Luntz offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the tactical use of words and phrases affects what we buy, who we vote for, and even what we believe in. With chapters like "The Ten Rules of Successful Communication" and "The 21 Words and Phrases for the 21st Century," he examines how choosing the right words is essential.Nobody is in a better position to explain than Frank Luntz: He has used his knowledge of words to help more than two dozen Fortune 500 companies grow. He'll tell us why Rupert Murdoch's six-billion-dollar decision to buy DirectTV was smart because satellite was more cutting edge than "digital cable," and why pharmaceutical companies transitioned their message from "treatment" to "prevention" and "wellness."If you ever wanted to learn how to talk your way out of a traffic ticket or talk your way into a raise, this book's for you.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2007-10-07

Frank Luntz does a great job of driving across that it's not what you say, it's what people hear. Although the book had a lot of political references, the lessons to effective language can be applied to any walk of life.

4 out of 5 stars Luntz's "1984".......2007-09-30

If you want to know how you are being manipulated, Frank Luntz will tell you how he does it in his candid book.

5 out of 5 stars Clear. Concise. Comprehensive........2007-09-28

Dr. Luntz illustrates his 10 Rules of Effective Language in the subtitle of his book Words that Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear. His 10-rule, 10-word system proves the power of language.

Disturbingly accurate examples show the impact and importance of language. What gets wired in us and why? What moves us emotionally? What makes us spend? What connects us? Words are ripples.

Lutz reveals how we get so caught up in words that we fail to communicate. Consider leaders who speak in alphabet soup and spoil our language and understanding.

Like fine embroidery, words follow design; and design is seen differently by everyone with eyes.

Using case studies as examples, Luntz makes points about how passage of time affects words, how disordered words can cause dissension and how new words shade new meanings.

Most of all, he states, what we say is who we are. He's right. Think about it.

Rebecca Jacoby, copywriter
www.afewchosenwords.com
www.beckyjacoby.com

2 out of 5 stars Brevity as an Effective Communication Skill (would that it were!).......2007-09-10

Mr. Luntz sites brevity as an effective communication skill, yet he goes on and on and on with his examples and repeats himself throughout the book.

He uses the book as a vehicle to promote his Republican platforms, which is boring and annoying.

He is a little impressed with himself and is not afraid to share that with the reader. An especially distasteful example of this is his self-serving introduction about performing for Democrats and celebrities at Ariana Huffington's home.

He tries to imitate Steven Levitt's style of writing but he's just not that interesting or cool.


4 out of 5 stars WORDS THAT WORK.......2007-09-08

"Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear" by Frank Luntz is a modern day "how to win friends and influence people" for the 21st century. "Words That Work" is a good book but the best part is the '10 Rules of Effective Language' in the first few chapters, which is basically the whole point of the book.

You may not want to read the other chapters because the book does surprisingly focus also on how businesses can use words. You can pretty much ignore the Publisher's Weekly criticism that this book is partisan. Luntz sights good and bad examples of communication from both Democrats and Republicans. His first anecdote deals with giving a seminar at Arriana Huffington's home for the Hollywood Elite!

People who don't care about politics or business will probably get bored with this book. But if you only get half-way through the book you will be convinced that "It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear".

"MoveOn.Org" Democrats who try to smear the lessons Frank Luntz gives in this book may do so at your own peril.
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • An insistent man of peace
  • Guilt and Courage
  • A honest appraisal after years of intimidation
  • Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
  • Disappointed
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
Jimmy Carter
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743285026
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

The crowning achievement of Jimmy Carter's presidency was the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, and he has continued his public and private diplomacy ever since, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of work for peace, human rights, and international development. He has been a tireless author since then as well, writing bestselling books on his childhood, his faith, and American history and politics, but in Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, he has returned to the Middle East and to the question of Israel's peace with its neighbors--in particular, how Israeli sovereignty and security can coexist permanently and peacefully with Palestinian nationhood.

It's a rare honor to ask questions of a former president, and we are grateful that President Carter was able to take the time in between his work with his wife, Rosalynn, for the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity and his many writing projects to speak with us about his hopes for the region and his thoughts on the book.

A big thank you to President Carter for granting our request for an interview.


An Interview with President Jimmy Carter

Q: What has been the importance of your own faith in your continued interest in peace in the Middle East?
A: As a Christian, I worship the Prince of Peace. One of my preeminent commitments has been to bring peace to the people who live in the Holy Land. I made my best efforts as president and still have this as a high priority.

Q: A common theme in your years of Middle East diplomacy has been that leaders on both sides have often been more open to discussion and change in private than in public. Do you think that's still the case?
A: Yes. This is why private and intense negotiations can be successful. More accurately, however, my premise has been that the general public (Jewish, Christian, and Muslim) are more eager for peace than their political leaders. For instance, a recent poll done by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem showed that 58% of Israelis and 81% of the Palestinians favor a comprehensive settlement similar to the Roadmap for Peace or the Saudi proposal adopted by all 23 Arab nations and recently promoted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Tragically, there have been no substantive peace talks during the past six years.

Q: How have the war in Iraq and the increased strength of Iran (and the declarations of their leaders against Israel) changed the conditions of the Israel-Palestine question?
A: Other existing or threatened conflicts in the region greatly increase the importance of Israel's having peace agreements with its neighbors, to minimize overall Arab animosity toward both Israel and the United States and reduce the threat of a broader conflict.

Q: Your use of the term "apartheid" has been a lightning rod in the response to your book. Could you explain your choice? Were you surprised by the reaction?
A: The book is about Palestine, the occupied territories, and not about Israel. Forced segregation in the West Bank and terrible oppression of the Palestinians create a situation accurately described by the word. I made it plain in the text that this abuse is not based on racism, but on the desire of a minority of Israelis to confiscate and colonize Palestinian land. This violates the basic humanitarian premises on which the nation of Israel was founded. My surprise is that most critics of the book have ignored the facts about Palestinian persecution and its proposals for future peace and resorted to personal attacks on the author. No one could visit the occupied territories and deny that the book is accurate.

Q: You write in the book that "the peace process does not have a life of its own; it is not self-sustaining." What would you recommend that the next American president do to revive it?
A: I would not want to wait two more years. It is encouraging that President George W. Bush has announced that peace in the Holy Land will be a high priority for his administration during the next two years. On her January trip to the region, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for early U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. She has recommended the 2002 offer of the Arab nations as a foundation for peace: full recognition of Israel based on a return to its internationally recognized borders. This offer is compatible with official U.S. Government policy, previous agreements approved by Israeli governments in 1978 and 1993, and with the International Quartet's "roadmap for peace." My book proposes that, through negotiated land swaps, this "green line" border be modified to permit a substantial number of Israelis settlers to remain in Palestine. With strong U.S. pressure, backed by the U.N., Russia, and the European Community, Israelis and Palestinians would have to come to the negotiating table.

1/18/2007

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From Publishers Weekly
The term "good-faith" is almost inappropriate when applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a bloody struggle interrupted every so often by negotiations that turn out to be anything but honest. Nonetheless, thirty years after his first trip to the Mideast, former President Jimmy Carter still has hope for a peaceful, comprehensive solution to the region's troubles, delivering this informed and readable chronicle as an offering to the cause. An engineer of the 1978 Camp David Accords and 2002 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Carter would seem to be a perfect emissary in the Middle East, an impartial and uniting diplomatic force in a fractured land. Not entirely so. Throughout his work, Carter assigns ultimate blame to Israel, arguing that the country's leadership has routinely undermined the peace process through its obstinate, aggressive and illegal occupation of territories seized in 1967. He's decidedly less critical of Arab leaders, accepting their concern for the Palestinian cause at face value, and including their anti-Israel rhetoric as a matter of course, without much in the way of counter-argument. Carter's book provides a fine overview for those unfamiliar with the history of the conflict and lays out an internationally accepted blueprint for peace.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description

Following his #1 New York Times bestseller, Our Endangered Values, the former president, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, offers an assessment of what must be done to bring permanent peace to Israel with dignity and justice to Palestine.

President Carter, who was able to negotiate peace between Israel and Egypt, has remained deeply involved in Middle East affairs since leaving the White House. He has stayed in touch with the major players from all sides in the conflict and has made numerous trips to the Holy Land, most recently as an observer in the Palestinian elections of 2005 and 2006.

In this book President Carter shares his intimate knowledge of the history of the Middle East and his personal experiences with the principal actors, and he addresses sensitive political issues many American officials avoid. Pulling no punches, Carter prescribes steps that must be taken for the two states to share the Holy Land without a system of apartheid or the constant fear of terrorism.

The general parameters of a long-term, two-state agreement are well known, the president writes. There will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is violating key U.N. resolutions, official American policy, and the international "road map" for peace by occupying Arab lands and oppressing the Palestinians. Except for mutually agreeable negotiated modifications, Israel's official pre-1967 borders must be honored. As were all previous administrations since the founding of Israel, U.S. government leaders must be in the forefront of achieving this long-delayed goal of a just agreement that both sides can honor.

Palestine Peace Not Apartheid is a challenging, provocative, and courageous book.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars An insistent man of peace.......2007-10-22

Dialog is important, but how dialog is carried on is also. President Carter was right to turn down lawyer Alan Dershowitz's challenge to battle over this book. His is the simple, clear, unblinking style of a spiritual leader, not a crusader. All classes and viewpoints can learn from "Palestine Peace not Apartheid," but we must be willing to listen from the heart.

Jimmy, President Carter, has proven by his life that he is dedicated not to "winning" but to building bridges. He is not primarily trying to place blame in this book. It is both the story of his own journey to build bridges and a quick easy-to-read review of the history and of where we are now. I couldn't believe how short UN resolutions 242 and 338 are! Carter makes knowing the basics of a complicated history easy. He cuts to the chase.

Carter has dedicated his life to being a man of peace. He is fair and balanced. I believe the reason he may appear otherwise is because some people place too high a value on fear. Fear of what might happen in the future easily justifies all evil behavior in the present. And also, Carter is a threat to power. He is brave enough to speak truth to power: not piles of truth to humiliate and destroy, but just enough truth to push insistently toward the goal.

Though he may not understand every nuance that "pleases" either side (I found it ironic that he didn't know how to say "I'm sorry" in Arabic after all those years), the bottomline? Carter's an honest broker. Those who harden themselves against him are suicidal.

Still presenting himself as a humble peanut farmer and simple Christian, nevertheless Jimmy demands that the highest powers listen. Will they? Or will they only defend, attack, and dismiss?

The vast majority of Americans and people around the world feel and experience what is going on in occupied Palestine as unjust, at the least inflexible, and lacking in the will for peace. The onus--without Carter having to say it--just by telling the story, does fall more heavily on Israel. It is their occupation. They are in control of the destiny of the people they have conquered.

Ultimately, regardless of all the justifying arguments against President Carter even broaching an "impolite" topic, his story, without drama, leaves us with the facts on the ground in Palestine. My thoughts: Probably no one anywhere in the world would want to trade places with a Palestinian living in Palestine. Who would tolerate such a humiliating hellish existence for so many decades? Why would Israel want to continue such a soul-destroying occupation?

Why don't the Palestinians just disappear? Deep down inside we all are ultimately glad they will not be chased out, will not be walled over, will not be bulldozed away. If they gave up when they were wronged this would say something about the human spirit. It would say some people don't count, not really. People without money, and lawyers, and armies, and degrees, and books documenting their every experience...they just are not as important. The survival of the fittest is not an adequate answer for the human spirit.

What is the worst thing that could happen if the status quo passivity about power were challenged? What if we imagined, believed, and worked to make sure Israel and Palestine live side by side as equals? Imagining the worst case scenarios as we did with Iraq seems to make the worst things come true. So let's try the opposite instead?

The occupation of Palestine is like South Africa was under apartheid. "Apartheid" is a word of hope! The world protested and boycotted, and said "We will not tolerate this anymore!" and the unimaginable happened. And now everyone in South Africa is glad we did, of course with a little help from them. The place is no longer a powder keg. Yes, this can happen. Perhaps in a different way, but it probably won't happen if we just leave things alone.

4 out of 5 stars Guilt and Courage.......2007-10-21

It is a courageous act to call it like is, but Mr. Carter should've also admitted guilt by stating that he was instrumental in brutal treatment of Palestinians.

5 out of 5 stars A honest appraisal after years of intimidation.......2007-10-21

Having lived and worked in the Middle East, and having witnessed first hand the misinformation about events, I was plesantly surprised to read a book that was factual and openly placed the blame for the intransigence for peace squarely where it belongs.
Mr. Carter has become an authority on the subject and has no reason to fabricate anything since he has achieved all the fame and accolades he could ever want. He is thus in a unique position to tell it like it. Intimidation on this subject is still strong and therefore Mr. Carter is to be lauded for this informative book.
In my opinion it is a must read for anyone who wants to know why we have been in a stagmire for decades and what it will take to get out of it.


4 out of 5 stars Palestine Peace Not Apartheid.......2007-10-19

This book provided me with new information that I did not know before. It certainly opened my eyes and provided what I consider a more objective look at the situation in Israel.

2 out of 5 stars Disappointed.......2007-10-17

Jimmy Carter is a great humanitarian, Christian and scholar, but I was so disappointed in several of his statements in this book. I am a liberal Christian like Carter, but one who knows that what is going on between Palestine and Israel is not in the least like Apartheid in South Africa. I can only continue to pray that at some point Palestine's leaders will begin to truly negotiate for peace. Palestinian extremists are doing their own people a grave disservice.
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Should be required reading!
  • interesting perspective
  • A Necessary Read
  • An Important Read
  • Good read
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Barbara Ehrenreich
Manufacturer: Holt Paperbacks
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805063897

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Essayist and cultural critic Barbara Ehrenreich has always specialized in turning received wisdom on its head with intelligence, clarity, and verve. With some 12 million women being pushed into the labor market by welfare reform, she decided to do some good old-fashioned journalism and find out just how they were going to survive on the wages of the unskilled--at $6 to $7 an hour, only half of what is considered a living wage. So she did what millions of Americans do, she looked for a job and a place to live, worked that job, and tried to make ends meet.

As a waitress in Florida, where her name is suddenly transposed to "girl," trailer trash becomes a demographic category to aspire to with rent at $675 per month. In Maine, where she ends up working as both a cleaning woman and a nursing home assistant, she must first fill out endless pre-employment tests with trick questions such as "Some people work better when they're a little bit high." In Minnesota, she works at Wal-Mart under the repressive surveillance of men and women whose job it is to monitor her behavior for signs of sloth, theft, drug abuse, or worse. She even gets to experience the humiliation of the urine test.

So, do the poor have survival strategies unknown to the middle class? And did Ehrenreich feel the "bracing psychological effects of getting out of the house, as promised by the wonks who brought us welfare reform?" Nah. Even in her best-case scenario, with all the advantages of education, health, a car, and money for first month's rent, she has to work two jobs, seven days a week, and still almost winds up in a shelter. As Ehrenreich points out with her potent combination of humor and outrage, the laws of supply and demand have been reversed. Rental prices skyrocket, but wages never rise. Rather, jobs are so cheap as measured by the pay that workers are encouraged to take as many as they can. Behind those trademark Wal-Mart vests, it turns out, are the borderline homeless. With her characteristic wry wit and her unabashedly liberal bent, Ehrenreich brings the invisible poor out of hiding and, in the process, the world they inhabit--where civil liberties are often ignored and hard work fails to live up to its reputation as the ticket out of poverty. --Lesley Reed

Book Description

Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 to $7 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the lowliest occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generositya land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Should be required reading!.......2007-10-19

Excellent book! It gives a voice to many Americans who currently are not being heard - the working poor. Should be required reading for everyone.

4 out of 5 stars interesting perspective.......2007-10-17

I read this years ago but came across it again while packing. I have an awful memory but for some reason this book has stayed with me. I work and go to school so reading about her experiences with being a server and cleaning brought back memories (not good ones). I enjoyed reading about her struggles on getting by and having to deal with her family while she was away. She is a journalist so that had made me feel like jumping into that career even more so at the time. I do however feel like she cheated during her "investigation," because she had ran out of money or needed something from her "previous" life. I must also add that she made good points about working for certain big companies and how corporate places treat their employees. I don't know if her book would pertain to how things are today but I'm sure some things never change.

4 out of 5 stars A Necessary Read.......2007-10-14

Some Amazon Online customers disagree with my fondness for Nickel and Dimed. Various readers consider the author to be elitist and sheltered. These people consider comments such as, "I am, of course, very different from the people who normally fill America's least attractive jobs," to be arrogant. However, these comments can also be interpreted as Ehrenreich's admittance of her obvious differences from most low-wage workers, as well as her ability to give credit to her newfound co-workers. This reader goes on to criticize the author's choice of locations; Florida and Maine especially, because as he claimed, they will always be more expensive than most places. This is not necessarily factual. It will always be difficult- virtually impossible- to squeak by when earning $2.73 per hour plus tips at a low-traffic restaurant. This is inevitable whether the restaurant is in Key West, Florida (a supposedly "rich" city) or a rural area, where the cost of living will require other fees. Yet another complaint from this reader is that Ehrenreich is racist in her statement, "My worry that the Latinos might be hogging all the crap jobs and substandard housing for themselves." On the surface, this comment absolutely sounds racist. Throughout the entire book, though, Ehrenreich systemically drops these types of comments with the intention of a) being sarcastic and b) exemplifying how easy it is to develop stereotypes of people (i.e. oppressing others) when you, yourself, are oppressed. As seen, the author cannot be blamed for these particular wrongdoings.

4 out of 5 stars An Important Read.......2007-10-09

For anyone who did not have to struggle through a minimum wage job as an adult, this book is for you. Way too many Americans think people can survive on minimum wage. This will humble that opinion and identify your misconceptions.

3 out of 5 stars Good read.......2007-10-05

I had to read this book for class and i must say it was a good read. extremely easy to read and equally funny.
God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • summary of scientific proof
  • Science escapes from supression
  • Excellence
  • An excellent analysis!
  • Another Good Book On The Subject
God: The Failed Hypothesis. How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist
Victor J. Stenger
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591024811

Book Description

Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology. In the meantime, science has sat on the sidelines and quietly watched this game of words march up and down the field. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. Physicist Victor J. Stenger contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars summary of scientific proof.......2007-10-19

This book contains a summary of scientific proofs that there is no god. The explainations are clear and precise, and should be memorized by all scientists and rational thinkers so they can be quoted from memory.

5 out of 5 stars Science escapes from supression.......2007-10-19

This brilliant book contains an explained list of some of the scientific proofs that there is no god. This list is PRICELESS!

5 out of 5 stars Excellence.......2007-10-18

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It truly deals with the scientific opinion of the beliefs and fears, that religion has weighted our society down with. excellent scientific study

5 out of 5 stars An excellent analysis!.......2007-10-17

Dr. Victor Stenger has made a very solid analysis of religion based on the scientific method. Throughout the book, Dr. Stenger painstakingly goes item by item debunking every conceivable religious argument. The author, as a scientist also leaves the door open to probability. Even when the possibility of a contrarian probability is implausible!

The author has a poignant flair for the classical apologist and pseudo-scientific religious apologists. The book is a required to reading for the serious student of the religious/faith/logic and reason.

Without any reserve, I do recommend the book!

5 out of 5 stars Another Good Book On The Subject .......2007-10-13

I read this book by Stenger in just over an hour. Stenger is correct in his title of the book. The hypothesis of a god does not hold up to any scrutiny. It falls apart and its adherents always fall back on the sacred fictional book known as the bible. Very good book from a well known scientist. Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris are trying to open the eyes of the western world and I applaud them for it. My profession is science and I do hold graduate degrees as does Dawkins and Stenger. This subject and its exposure has long been overdue.


Basically there is no evidence for a supreme being. You may want to consider this.

Some questions you may want to ask yourself as a Christian:

1. Where is heaven? Christians believe in it so it begs the question of "Where is it located specifically or even generally?" In all my studies of astronomy, I can't seem to remember any place labeled heaven. Is it near Saturn or Jupiter?
2. Where is hell? In my studies in geology, I don't remember a place called "Hell" being labeled somewhere on this earth.
3. Where is God? Does he exist somewhere in our solar system or someplace else in the universe? If he exists, he sure makes himself, herself, itself conveniently mysterious and absent.
4. The Islamic god must be more powerful than the Christian god, because the Christian god sure didn't do anything to stop 9/11 from happening. The Christian god didn't lift a finger when more than 6 million people were murdered by the Nazis in concentration camps known as the "Holocaust". Not to mention all the other disasters, diseases and such that have occurred throughout history.
This god seems to impotent and very much absent.

This whole concept of god etc.. is all in your minds, put there by parents, pastors etc... You are basically playing psychological mind games with yourself.

As a PhD myself in the biological sciences, I have given up trying to explain things to Christian fundamentalists and Christians in general regarding their irresponsible disinformation that they put out about science and theories. I have (my own personal experiences) found that many "Christians" will bend, distort and even outright lie about scientific findings in order to twist it so they can either discredit a finding or distort things to the point that they are trying to put a square peg into a round hole. The Christian believe that a "god" created everything and that the bible as factual is an agenda of most Christians. Most Christians I have spoken to do not have the correct definition of "theory" Almost like robots, they recite the rhetoric "Evolution is just a theory" Their meaning that Evolution is just a hunch or a guess, when in fact this is not so.

You throw out the theory of evolution and that throws out the foundations of biology and microbiology. So we throw Darwin's theory, do we start teaching biology from the perspective of the bible and the Christian way of thinking. As scientists, we would scrap it in a heartbeat and replace it with a new theory if it did not work anymore; however, we do not scrap it because the evidence supports Darwin's theory. I have talked to several Christians who say, "The theory of Evolution has been discredited and proven false". Well that's news to me because most of the major universities (i.e.: University of California etc.) teach evolutionary biology. Another disturbing thought process by some Christians is that they also believe that the "Big Bang Theory" has been discredited. News to me again. So you can understand why I do not have time for people who distort the truth.

I find my encounters with Christians as being either having hostility toward those who do not believe in their god or they are very much lacking in basic understanding of biology and science in general, therefore, they express hostility toward science and are very convinced that they are right. If they want to think they are right, that is okay with me, but it is not the atheists and scientists who are knocking on people's doors, congregating in buildings to spread the word. It is the religious who want everyone else to think like them. I do not wish to bend and twist my mind around a bunch of untruths and I am sure many millions of others (Atheists) agree. The thing I find so insidious about the church is the "getting to the children when they are young" Putting this belief into a child's mind when their brains have not fully developed yet. I think this is something that is very bad in our society. So excuse me if I do not have time to convince every die in wool Christian that their thinking is faulty. Unfortunately at this time in history, it is the minority (The Atheists) who has it right. However, hopefully over the next 100 years that will change and the majority will have it right and only a minority will still believe in religion and all it's dogma that surrounds it. People will look back at the late 20th century and early 21st century and not understand why so many held on to a medieval way of thinking. We look back on the people who thought the earth was flat (a majority 300-400 years ago) and wonder how anyone could have such faulty thinking. Hopefully the majority of our citizens will be saying the same thing about us 100 years from now.

I am amazed how aggressive some(not all) Christians get if you challenge their belief in this "God". Why does this all powerful "God" need you to come to his/her/it's or whatever defense.
Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement In High-performing Schools
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Success is not optional - Buy this book
  • Failure is not a option
  • Develops six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools
Failure Is Not an Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement In High-performing Schools
Alan M. Blankstein
Manufacturer: Corwin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1412909341

Book Description

" Failure Is Not an Option is a deeply passionate call to arms, combined with the wherewithal to take systematic, continuous, and effective action. A must read for all those interested in reform because it is simultaneously inspiring and practical."
From the Foreword by Michael Fullan, Dean
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

"This is a practical, well formatted book that is intellectually solid, emotionally inspiring, and practically accessible."
Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education
Lynch School of Education, Boston College

"Both inspirational and eminently practical, Failure Is Not an Option can serve as a handbook for both strategic planning and classroom-by-classroom reworking. Any administrator who truly wishes to change his or her school can use this book as a manual from which to design every aspect of the change process."
Robert W. Cole, Educational writer and consultant
Louisville, KY

"This book speaks to the spark of caring, generosity, and greatness in every child and provides caring adults with ideas and tools to unleash this potential. It leaves no part of the child behind, and leaves no adult on the sidelines."
Maurice J. Elias, Professor of Psychology
Rutgers University, New Jersey

The powerful new guide to creating successful and sustainable professional learning communities!

Building on a foundation that identifies courageous school leadership and the professional learning community as the center of effective school reform, this powerful new book by Alan M. Blankstein offers six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools:

1. Common mission, vision, values, and goals

2. Systems for prevention and intervention

3. Collaborative teaming for teaching and learning

4. Data driven decision making and continuous improvement

5. Active engagement from family and community

6. Building sustainable leadership capacity

Covering theory into practice, applications that include case studies and vignettes, and techniques for addressing difficult issues, the book also provides valuable dual perspectives on the critical issues: how implementation looks when it’s done right as well as when things go wrong. Failure Is Not an Option is sure to be the state-of-the-art resource that school leaders reach for when, in Michael Fullan’s words, they need "practical applications to perplexing problems."

See Facilitator's Guide to Failure Is Not an Option(TM)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Success is not optional - Buy this book.......2007-09-17

Speaks to you as if the author were sitting down for a chat. Excellent text for a Leadership Class. Quick Read!!!

4 out of 5 stars Failure is not a option.......2007-02-16

same ideals I have read time and time again,. nothing new and it cost to much.

5 out of 5 stars Develops six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools.......2004-10-10

Failure Is Not An Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement In High-performing Schools is an impressive introduction to enhancing student performance which directly addresses transforming theory into practice and illustrating diverse applications with case studies and vignettes. Failure Is Not An Option develops six guiding principles for creating and sustaining high-performing schools. Also available in a hardcover edition, Failure Is Not An Option is especially commended to the attention of administrators and faculty responsible for providing primary leadership in developing curriculum and policies for meeting enhanced federal and state standards for individual school and school district criteria under the "no child left behind" education standards for student academic performance levels.
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be!
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • How to be the best in Real Estate
  • A Primer on doing business
  • A must read! Changed my career!
  • You've Got To Be Open To A Unique Perspective
  • Useless
The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be!
Gary Keller , Gary Keller , Dave Jenks , and Jay Papasan
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor The Millionaire Real Estate Investor
  2. 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals. 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals.
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  5. FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit

ASIN: 0071444041

Book Description

Take your real estate career to the highest level!

"Whether you are just getting started or a veteran in the business, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent is the step-by-step handbook for seeking excellence in your profession and in your life."
--Mark Victor Hansen, cocreator, #1 New York Times bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul

"This book presents a new paradigm for real estate and should be required reading for real estate professionals everywhere."
--Robert T. Kiyosaki, New York Times bestselling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent explains:

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars How to be the best in Real Estate.......2007-07-26

Gary Keller tells it like it should be. If you have a true servant's heart and want to help people with the skill and knowledge you have as a Realtor, this is the book to read. He gives a number of techniques but ultimately, he makes it clear that you need to want to do what is best for your client - not your pocket. Excellent book, I recommend this to every new agent I work with. Need a plan to get started right, Gary is the man with the plan!

4 out of 5 stars A Primer on doing business.......2007-07-14

There are many books available that address sales and marketing for the real estate agent but very few provide solid advice on how to run a real estate business. This easy to follow book provides information that, if applied will set any agent apart from his peers.

5 out of 5 stars A must read! Changed my career!.......2007-06-27

After the first 6 months in business (I've just finished my 3rd year), I decided to buy a number of Real Estate instructional books on how to sell Real Estate. I had a feeling this would be the best. I saved it for last. I read 4 other books over the holidays (about a 4 week period). The other books were good, but redundant and nothing that changed me. I started to read this book and immedietely knew that this book was different. It gave specific direction on what has worked for successful people. Not just successful people here and there, but the book took a scientific approach to identify common practices among groups of successful Realtors.

The result? I can't say that I do everything that the book says to do. I should! But, I have taken parts of the books and implemented those practices. The year after reading this book I made the top 20% in the market. The following year I made the top 15%. And this year is off the charts. I'm not sure where I will end up, but top 10 or better.

There is no substitute for hard work, but I would rather work hard the right way. Best of luck!

4 out of 5 stars You've Got To Be Open To A Unique Perspective.......2007-06-23

This is the best book on the market on how to organize and run a real estate agent business. Its principles are applicable whether you are a brand new agent, or have years of experience. That said, if you are looking for a book to explain listings per se, or working with buyers per se, then this might not be the right book for you -- this book looks at being an agent from a much broader (and more important in my opinion) perspective than that. If you are smart (if you "get it") then you will realize that the things taught in this book are far more important to your ultimate success than any book you might read on how to take a listing. Buy this book, read it ten times, and when you think you understand it read it ten more times! Its message is that important! Few understand this.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I am an attorney, real estate broker, investor, trainer, and am affiliated with a Keller Williams office in Chicago. That said, rest assured that my affiliation with Keller Williams does not affect my integrity with respect to my review of this book -- honestly, it is a good book that you should read. For what it's worth, I am the author of another real estate related book that can also be found here on Amazon -- The WealthLoop Series Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth Buying Houses: The Foolproof Roadmap to Real Estate Riches Without the Risks and Hassles of Landlording. It's part of the "WealthLoop Series" and unlike many real estate books, it is an actual "how to" book as opposed to a "rah-rah" book and comes complete with forms, checklists, leases -- everything the beginning investor needs to get started. Agents from across the country have been telling me that my book finally taught them the right way to work with residential investors.

I would suggest that you buy both mine and Gary Keller's books.

1 out of 5 stars Useless.......2007-06-19

I am a rookie agent and found the material worthless, a complete waste of money and time. There is no real technique here. The book so repetitive its agonizing. The worst part is it really has nothing to do with real estate, I learned NOTHING about the real estate business reading this book. You could re title the book an infinite number of times and have the same content "The Millionaire Day Care Worker" for example. There is as much information about running a day care as there is real estate. Steer clear.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Very helpful information !
  • Disappointing
  • An Interesting Perspective
  • Inspirational stories - but repetitive information
  • Okay, but not the answer.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
Robert T. Kiyosaki , and Sharon L. Lechter
Manufacturer: Business Plus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0446677450

Amazon.com

Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective through exposure to a pair of disparate influences: his own highly educated but fiscally unstable father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his closest friend. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly paychecks, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter, lays out his the philosophy behind his relationship with money. Although Kiyosaki can take a frustratingly long time to make his points, his book nonetheless compellingly advocates for the type of "financial literacy" that's never taught in schools. Based on the principle that income-generating assets always provide healthier bottom-line results than even the best of traditional jobs, it explains how those assets might be acquired so that the jobs can eventually be shed. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective through exposure to a pair of disparate influences: his own highly educated but fiscally unstable father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his closest friend. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly paychecks, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Rich Dad, Poor Dad, written with consultant and CPA Sharon L. Lechter, lays out his the philosophy behind his relationship with money. Although Kiyosaki can take a frustratingly long time to make his points, his book nonetheless compellingly advocates for the type of "financial literacy" that's never taught in schools. Based on the principle that income-generating assets always provide healthier bottom-line results than even the best of traditional jobs, it explains how those assets might be acquired so that the jobs can eventually be shed. --Howard Rothman

Download Description

A #1 New York Times bestseller, 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' is a true story on the lessons about money that Robert Kiyosaki learned from his two "dads." One dad, a Ph.D. and superintendent of education, never had enough money at the end of the month and died broke. His other dad dropped out of school at age 13 and went on to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii. 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' will . . .· Explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich · Challenge the belief that your house is an asset · Show parents why they can't rely on the school system to teach their kids about money
· Define once and for all an asset and a liability · Teach you what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success. In 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad', Robert Kiyosaki explains how to make your money work hard for you instead of you working hard for money.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Very helpful information !.......2007-10-21

This is a book I didn't like at first, and later on found it to be very valuable and useful. It truthfully tells you where you need to spend your time if you really want to become rich. To use these methods presented in the book, you will have to work really hard, take risks, study, plan, and take the subject matter presented seriously.

1 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2007-10-20

I bought this book out of curiosity, to see for myself what the hype is all about.
I have to admit that the first part really drew my attention. Co-writer Sharon Lechter did a good job placing the story in the setting of two kids growing up. It makes the simple content digestible.
But then out of the blue Mr. Kiyosaki takes the word and it feels like the editor didn't have the time to finish her job. It is embarrassing to see K. showing off and telling us how he made his fortune being a real estate speculant.

Regards,
Norbert

5 out of 5 stars An Interesting Perspective.......2007-10-20

While it is difficult to imagine what new commentary one could add to the thousands of reviews of this fine book, I thought it would be beneficial to point out a significant characteristic that seems rarely touched by others. Namely, the testimony-like nature of the message.

While there are many business and investment books on the market worth the time to read, few are as adept as Robert Kiyosaki (and his actual writer, Sharon Lechter) at contextualizing his instruction. By giving the reader a "this is what happened to me, and this is what I learned from the experience" message, the author is essentially giving his own personal narrative of his life's journey into his present understanding of business and investments. By so doing, he offers the reader insight into the WAY a person of his economic stature thinks...and more importantly, WHY.

The autobiographical nature of the text adds tremendous flavor to the message this best-selling book conveys. In my opinion, Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a remarkable book that anyone interested in business and/or investments should consider a "must read" in their studies.

Moreover, to truly garner the key nuggets of the author's revelation, one should also immediately read the sequel, Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom. Nearly twice as thick, this second text is truly the finishing touch on the original work.

In conclusion, the few negative reviews I have read of Rich Dad, Poor Dad seemed to be written by those who expected something different than what was intended by the author. By logical extension, it appears obvious that they failed to read the sequel so that they could truly conceptualize the appeal of the author's message...an appeal that has made this not only a best-seller, but a true legend in the business non-fiction genre.

3 out of 5 stars Inspirational stories - but repetitive information.......2007-10-19

Robert Kiyosaki has shared a lot of his personal experiences of making money. I enjoyed reading the first few chapters. The rest, pretty much carried the same information. This book motivates you to become rich. The author recommends to develop and use your ingenuity to create wealth.

I couldn't still understand why "buying a house" couldn't be considered as a way of asset creation. Most of the author's examples are about real estates & investing in stocks.

If you want to get inspired about making money, this is the book to read.

2 out of 5 stars Okay, but not the answer........2007-10-15

This was not a very good self-help type of program. Usable advice, enthusiasm, and some worthy points make it average, but it hardly reflects the title. Sorry guys, I'd pass on this one. Read Cyber-Psychonetics instead.
This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent strategies
  • This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
  • It's Not About Being Average
  • Did I read the same book as the rest of you?
  • If You're a Woman, You Need This Book!
This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down
Deborah Collins Stephens , Michealene Cristini Risley , Jackie Speier , and Jan Yanehiro
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1573243051

Book Description

This Is Not the Life I Ordered is for anyone who has ever felt overworked, overwhelmed, or just plain unlucky (and, who hasn't?!). Through this collection of stories, wisdom, and practical advice, readers will meet four ordinary women who have faced extraordinary life challenges. Together, they have a history of six marriages, ten children, four stepchildren, six dogs, two miscarriages, two cats, a failed adoption, and foster parenthood. Two have lived through the death of their spouses and one was shot and left for dead on a tarmac in Guyana -- which is documented in "Jonestown" airing on PBS' American Experience

This book started simply with four friends getting together for "kitchen-table coaching sessions" to talk about their lives. Week by week and story by story, they realized their great advice to each other could help other women struggling with life's myriad issues of work, family, and love, as well as the big questions of life and death. For over a decade, the power and strength of their collective friendship enabled these women not only to survive but to thrive. They invite readers to join them to learn how they, too, can turn "misfortunate" events into joy-filled opportunities. Readers will want to share this book with every woman in their lives!

* Authors are best-selling business-book author, Deborah Collins Stephens; Emmy winner Jan Yanehiro; State Senator Jackie Speier; and entrepreneur Michealene Cristini Risley whose Flashcards was screened at last year's Cannes Film Festival.

* Authors' support circle includes Debbi Fields, Kristi Yamaguchi, Danielle Steele, Gerry Laybourne, and other power women.

* Features practical "Wit (Women in Transition) Kit" tips at the end of each chapter to help readers to be their own life coaches.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent strategies.......2007-09-12

I found this book to be very helpful as I tried to navigate through a very difficult time in my life. It gave real examples of situations that were much worse than my own, and provided practical ideas for moving forward.

5 out of 5 stars This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down.......2007-08-14

This book is so inspirational! One of the best books I have read! I highly recommend it to all women and men. I plan on getting copies for my family and women friends. Thanks ladies for sharing your life stories and the stories of so many different and unique women. You are all an inspiration! God Bless

5 out of 5 stars It's Not About Being Average.......2007-08-10

Let's face it - we all come to a point where we think, "This is not what I wanted out of life." This book is for anyone who is at that point or has experienced a personal tragedy that has continued to haunt them. Anyone could read this and instantly identify the vast gap between the average American woman and the authors whose personal stories are shared within its pages, but the point of the book is not to point out who has it worse when dealing with bad situations (a new widow in suburbia or a cmpany executive losing a 6-figure income). The point is actually to give you an idea of just how bad things can be and how you can rise above anything. The basic information provided in the "action steps" apply to just about any situation. There are fantastic motivational quotes throughout and excellent ideas for how to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get going again, no matter what your circumstances. Even if you are feeling negative and pessimistic, this book can help you find positivity and optimism from those people and places that already surround you. I have recommended this book to several friends who have already read and enjoyed it just as much as I did. I returned mine to the library and promptly bought my own copy (as well as a few extras for gifts)!

1 out of 5 stars Did I read the same book as the rest of you?.......2007-07-30

I stumbled across this book while doing research for a book I am writing. I actually wanted to use the same title for a collection of humorous essays, and then felt compelled to read this one. I am only halfway through it and am exhausted from slogging through the overabundance of headings and subheadings in each chapter, the overuse of quotations, and the endless posturing and patronizing from unrelatable situations that so few women will ever face - shot in South America while disbanding a cult, crying over the loss of a $200,000 job, escaping the Khmer Rouge. How is an average American woman supposed to connect with these stories? I am sure every woman mentioned in this book is courageous, intelligent and generous. But the disjointed writing and sloppy editing make it a chore to find their true essence and a message to carry with me. I had such high hopes for this book. I am glad now that I merely borrowed it from the library rather than purchased it. I do enjoy the cartoons, though.

5 out of 5 stars If You're a Woman, You Need This Book!.......2007-07-18

I just finished reading "This is Not the Life I Ordered," by Deborah Collins Stephens, Jackie Speier, Michealene Cristini Risley and Jan Yanehiro and all I can say is get this book!

This book touches every human aspect possible and carves out a whole new way of looking at life. It shows the power of connecting with women on all levels. These four authors weave in their life stories as well as countless other women's life stories into a book that will become your inspiration to get through the hard times, define your life, enrich the lives of others and live your life to the fullest.

It's the kind of book that you will buy for your friends so you can connect with them on a newer, deeper level.

It's the kind of book that you will read over and over again to receive a renewed strength, sense of self and desire to do more, be more and have more.
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing variety, pay attention to details
  • Look before you buy
  • A Few great Recipes
  • Great Recipes - Great Cookbook!
  • Is ketchup a recipe ingredient to you?
Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook
Beth Hensperger , and Julie Kaufmann
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1558322450

Product Description

Using fresh, wholesome ingredients, this book offers a variety of slow cooker recipes that range from appetizers to desserts. A wealth of practical information on slow cookers and accessories.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Amazing variety, pay attention to details.......2007-10-15

I use this cookbook quite a bit. Lately, my schedule has been such that I'm almost never home in the typical "dinner prep" time frame, but still have a family to feed. I've been using my Crock, and this book, nearly 4 times a week.

I love the huge variety of detail. There are extremely long cooking recipes, and quick cooking recipes. Some days, I forget to throw something in in the morning, and I can still find plenty of recipes that I can throw together in the early afternoon and will still be ready by dinnertime. I've found that it's not only important to pay attention to the cooking times, but also, to pay attention to the recommended slow cooker size for each recipe. Things recommended for small cookers, cooked in larger cookers, may scorch. Things recommended for large cookers, squished into a smaller cooker, may not finish cooking or come up to temperature. Those details are important.

I've had a few recipes that I followed to the letter turn out strangely: the Hamburger Soup was way too thick, the Potato Soup way too thin. However, there's plenty of information in these pages about how to modify things, so I find I can usually adjust the consistency to my taste without adding a lot of extra cooking time, and if worst comes to worst, I know how to fix it next time.

I love this cookbook. I can cook when I feel like cooking, and we can still eat when we usually would. Brilliant.

3 out of 5 stars Look before you buy.......2007-08-13

Since this is a cookbook, I should have looked through a copy before I purchased. Many of the recipes do not feature a full day of cooking in the crockpot. Therefore, they can't be used on a workday.

4 out of 5 stars A Few great Recipes.......2007-08-08

I made a few recipes from this cook book that turned out great, and another few that weren't great at all. There was a lot of variety and different/new ideas, but it was not ideal for someone that is using the slow cooker to save time. A lot of the recipes involved a lot of ingredients, a lot of pre-cooking things before they went in the cooker, and also additional steps involved during the cooking (ex: after 2 hours turn the slow cooker on low,etc.)... and all of these things make it difficult for the cook who is away all day at work to even attempt. Also, many of the recipes called for short cooking times, like 3-4 hours, and that isn't ideal for a person who is working outside of the home for 9 hours prior to dinner.

5 out of 5 stars Great Recipes - Great Cookbook!.......2007-08-05

I love this book! I recently purchased several cookbooks on slow cooking for use in a class I was teaching and this was my favorite on the subject for several reasons.

I like cookbooks that are organized so that I can find what I'm looking for fast. This book has good organized chapters and a terrific index which makes it possible for me to find whatever I'm looking for in just a few seconds.

I like the variety of recipes contained in this book, over 350 of them, for both the traditional dishes we have always cooked in our slow cookers like soups, stews, chilies, and pot roasts, and also for dishes that I hadn't thought of cooking in a slow cooker like desserts, jams, sauces, and casseroles. Actually, the thing that caught my eye and was one of the main reasons for buying this book was a chapter with instructions on cooking polenta, risotto, grits, rice, and other grains. Once I had prepared polenta in my slow cooker according to the directions in this book, I was hooked! I will never again have to stand over a hot stove stirring polenta for 40 minutes or more; nor will I ever have to stir my risotto or grits either!

I have many cookbooks in my library that are disappointing just because they read like a laundry list of recipes; there are no comments such as what to serve the dish with, or helpful hints, or little blurbs on how the recipe came about. The comments preceding a recipe help me as the reader get a glimpse of the author's reasons for putting the particular recipe in the book, or a description on the recipe such as "this is a hearty thick soup, perfect for a cool evening," or what to serve the dish with. Those comments make the book readable for those of us who enjoy reading cookbooks like novels, and help those who hate to cook decide if a recipe is suitable for their particular purpose. This book has comments preceding every recipe which are very helpful.

I think this book is an excellent choice for cooks of all skill levels. It contains all of the preliminary information a cook needs to begin slow cooking, even for someone who hasn't done it before. It discusses what slow cooking actually is, cooking times, temperatures, cooking at high altitudes, safety, adapting regular recipes to a slow cooker, and numerous other helpful subjects. This book also has conversion charts and it even has a page that lists the manufacturers of slow cookers and their web sites.

The one drawback that I can see for this book is that there are no pictures. Many of us are visual cooks and would like to see what a dish is supposed to look like. That isn't possible with this book, and is the only thing that would prevent me from purchasing several copies for wedding and shower gifts; I feel like gift books are better if they have pictures. I do plan however, to purchase three more copies to give to my daughters; the recipes in this book are so easy and good it may help them avoid stopping for fast food so often and improve the nutrition and health of my grandchildren

2 out of 5 stars Is ketchup a recipe ingredient to you?.......2007-07-19

Your answer to the question will determine whether you like this book. I almost purchased this book, and then found it at the library to look at first. I found 4 recipes that I would consider making. One recipe (but not one of the 4) listed ketchup as a recipe ingredient, and others listed similar prepared processed sauces likely to have lots of sugar. Its probably fine for someone using the crock pot to save time and bother - but I like to know the ingredients, and ketchup doesn't cut it for me.
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • A good book if you're already rich
  • Uri Gofman reviews Rich Dad's Guide to Investing
  • ANOTHER HOMERUN BY RICH DAD!!!
  • Make Kiyosaki Rich and Yourself a Little Poorer
  • Interesting read
Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!
Robert T. Kiyosaki , and Sharon L. Lechter
Manufacturer: Business Plus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
IntroductionIntroduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Financial PlanningFinancial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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GeneralGeneral | Finance | Accounting & Finance | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0446677469

Amazon.com

The rich are different from the rest of us, if for no other reason than U.S. tax and securities laws allow them to invest in ways that keep us from catching up to them. That's why 90 percent of all corporate shares of stock are owned by 10 percent of the people. Kiyosaki believes it's possible for anyone to move up into that 10 percent, but it takes a different view of investing than most people have: it takes a plan to be a successful investor. And a plan is more than simply buying and selling, or collecting "assets" that bring in no cash and are thus more akin to liabilities. The way most people invest, "they might as well be pushing a wheelbarrow in a circle," he writes. A plan is "mechanical, automatic, and boring," a formula for success that has worked historically for most of those who've used it. Kiyosaki's "rich dad" (actually, the father of his best friend) tells him the simplest analogy is the game Monopoly: buy four green houses, trade them for one red hotel, and repeat until you become rich.

The overall message of Rich Dad's Guide to Investing is that this is an abundant world, full of opportunity for the sophisticated investor. However, it sometimes takes a while to find this point. Much of the book is told in dialogues between young Kiyosaki and his rich dad, and these conversations can ramble. There are rewards for the careful reader--for example, in the middle of a section on the basic rules of investing, Kiyosaki's rich dad compares investor education to toilet training: difficult at first but eventually automatic. But getting to these inspired metaphors means wading through a lot of repetitive dialogue. It's a bit ironic that someone who advocates investor discipline should show so little as a writer. But by the end of the book, even the rambling starts to make sense. By the hundredth time you read that the rich don't work for money, and that you don't need money to make money, both concepts start to make sense. It still looks difficult to apply these ideas, but Rich Dad's Guide to Investing certainly makes the case that they'll work for anyone bold and smart enough to practice them. --Lou Schuler

Book Description

The rich are different from the rest of us, if for no other reason than U.S. tax and securities laws allow them to invest in ways that keep us from catching up to them. That's why 90 percent of all corporate shares of stock are owned by 10 percent of the people. Kiyosaki believes it's possible for anyone to move up into that 10 percent, but it takes a different view of investing than most people have: it takes a plan to be a successful investor. And a plan is more than simply buying and selling, or collecting "assets" that bring in no cash and are thus more akin to liabilities. The way most people invest, "they might as well be pushing a wheelbarrow in a circle," he writes. A plan is "mechanical, automatic, and boring," a formula for success that has worked historically for most of those who've used it. Kiyosaki's "rich dad" (actually, the father of his best friend) tells him the simplest analogy is the game Monopoly: buy four green houses, trade them for one red hotel, and repeat until you become rich. The overall message of Rich Dad's Guide to Investing is that this is an abundant world, full of opportunity for the sophisticated investor. However, it sometimes takes a while to find this point. Much of the book is told in dialogues between young Kiyosaki and his rich dad, and these conversations can ramble. There are rewards for the careful reader--for example, in the middle of a section on the basic rules of investing, Kiyosaki's rich dad compares investor education to toilet training: difficult at first but eventually automatic. But getting to these inspired metaphors means wading through a lot of repetitive dialogue. It's a bit ironic that someone who advocates investor discipline should show so little as a writer. But by the end of the book, even the rambling starts to make sense. By the hundredth time you read that the rich don't work for money, and that you don't need money to make money, both concepts start to make sense. It still looks difficult to apply these ideas, but Rich Dad's Guide to Investing certainly makes the case that they'll work for anyone bold and smart enough to practice them. --Lou Schuler

Download Description

'Rich Dad's Guide to Investing' follows the New York Times bestsellers 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' and 'Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant'. Most of us know that the best investments never make it to market. This book discusses what the rich invest in that the poor and middle class do not. What follows is an insider's look into the world of investing, how the rich find the best investments, and how you can too. Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter show . . .· Rich Dad's basic rules of investing · How to reduce your investment risk · Rich Dad's 10 Investor Controls · How to convert your earned income into passive and portfolio income · How you can be the ultimate investor!

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars A good book if you're already rich.......2007-10-15

There is very little useful info in this book for everyday investors. Instead, I would recommend: THE LITTLE BOOK OF COMMON SENSE INVESTING by John Bogle and THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR by Thomas Stanley.

4 out of 5 stars Uri Gofman reviews Rich Dad's Guide to Investing.......2007-08-08

i happen to be a big fan of Kiyosaki. while light on specific acts to do or procedures to follow, this book helps one "think" in a manner that is compatible with creating wealth and success. it is unquestionably inspirational and inspiring. the next step is up to you!

5 out of 5 stars ANOTHER HOMERUN BY RICH DAD!!!.......2007-07-23

Robert Kiyosaki has done it once again!!! Being an avid reader of business/ personal development and finance books for years, I always love reading the Rich Dad books. Robert's style is straight forward, friendly, and highly coversational. Anyone interested in understanding the mindset that one needs to create before beginning their personal conquest down the roads to wealth and freedom should read every Rich Dad book they can get their hands on!

1 out of 5 stars Make Kiyosaki Rich and Yourself a Little Poorer.......2007-06-30

Make Kiyosaki Rich and Yourself a Little Poorer by buying this book. It amazes me how people buy the dream of becoming rich, yet make themselves poor. Kiyosaki certainly takes advantage of this by catering to greed and desire.

Case point: you are reading this book because you are poor. People rich in money and knowledge do not buy his junk.

3 out of 5 stars Interesting read.......2007-05-22

Pros:
- easy to read
- keeps you interested
- you find some good info here and there

Cons:
- too vague about the subject
- repetitive
- too situational to US market

Fine read for a holliday.

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