Excellent, Approachable, and Informative!
359458
I enjoyed many of the essays in this collection.  I will be teaching a consultant-training class for the first time next semester, and will certainly be sharing many of these essays with them.  I like that it contains more updated information and ideas; even though the fallback essays from Stephen North and Muriel Harris are certainly necessary in a consultant-training course, essays like the ones in this collection also hold their place in Writing Center theory and practice.
3351135
Excellent and informative; have passed it to others
3624047
Excellent presentation -- informative and easy to grasp
4081165
I could not disagree with the previous review more.  Dr. Yin has written a clear, accessible and useful "manual" for dog owners that is grounded in proven science and backed by experience.  It is wonderfully well-organized, informative and entertaining without being cloyingly cute.  How to Behave has become my preferred gift to new puppy-owner friends, and I think it is among the best introductions into dog training and behavior that I have read.  If you have a new puppy or dog, and are uncertain what to do next, this book will give you just about all the information you will ever need to have a happy, well-adapted pet/companion who is a joy to have around.  I think the sections on how dogs learn are worth the price of the book alone, and her suggestions for dealing with problem behaviors could save your sanity.  (Not to mention Dr. Yin has a wonderful website with training "movies" that clearly demonstrate much of what she has written in How to Behave - a great resource for those of us who need to "see" how things are done to understand.)  I highly recommend How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves.  It won't gather dust on your shelf.
907224
This book was an excellent book on tea.  Make no mistake, it is much more of a read than a browse type of book, and it is full of anecdotal stories and experiences, not a scholarly or analytical book, but quite enjoyable, extremely knowledgable, and highly approachable.  It is 400+ pages, so be prepared for the size!  There are fabulous pictures, better than I have found in any other tea books, even than the Tea Enthusiast's Handbook, another book by the Heisses.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and found myself easily getting sucked into portions of it, but they were none of them long and demanding, so it didn't take up my whole afternoon getting engrossed in a single section, nor did it waste my time.  This is the approachable and welcoming story of Tea, the history of Tea and the way tea is handled, both in the past and in the modern world.  This book has well rounded content, with solid coverage of all countries and regions with tea producing pasts and presents, without giving too much focus to any single area, and not being too weak in any area either.  This solid and fair reporting of information was something I haven't really found in other books on tea; they usually focus on China, maybe a bit of India, a dash of Japan, and then some European teas.  I really wanted more information on Japan, Africa, India, and on tea customs around the world, and this book definitely delivered!

I read about several places that I want to go visit now (ok, almost all of them), and I now want to take a tea-tasting world tour.  This book (and the Heiss' stories) have inspired me to explore the world of tea to new heights and depths, a journey I am thoroughly looking forward to.
2214636
This is a very approachable, friendly book that makes it possible for anyone, regardless of where they are starting from, to add more health and wellness to their life in easy to manage bite size pieces. By the end of a year, you'll have made additions and changes to your life painlessly, and you'll be well on the way to having a healthier happier body and mind. I would recommend this book to friends and clients who are feeling lost and overwhelmed by all the choices out there, and maybe have tried other methods and/or diets, and are ready to take matters into their own hands with the help of these kind people who will become your friends and most avid supporters. They really care and it shows. Easy to read, follow and most importantly implement, you can't go wrong with this one!
324280
This is an excellent book that brings into focus the history of the environmental movement, where we are today, and what we can do individually to advance the goal of health for our planet. The resources listed and citations are excellent. This book is well written with technical information explained in understandable terms for the layperson. I highly recommend this book!
2425216
I read this book cover to cover and found it to be a very approachable and informative treatment of an important question: what to do with the aging, shrinking, small industrial cities of the northeast and Midwest?  The focus on the small city is crucial, since the solutions of the mega-city of this region do not necessarily apply.

The author combines straightforward presentation of an academic argument with anecdotes and narratives about people she encounters as she gathers information to write the book.  The result is highly readable - as I read, I found myself looking forward to encountering the next "character" involved in the transformation of small cities.

Overall, the book provides a wealth of information that can benefit planners, engineers, elected officials, and other readers interested in finding ways to rejuvenate small industrial cities in a post-carbon world.  As a starting point, the detailed critique of the policies that led to the demise of many small manufacturing cities is invaluable for understanding their current condition.  Equally remarkable is the description of how much some of these cities have been left vacant awaiting some new purpose.  The potential advantages of small cities are also compelling, including the relatively open space for creating a repurposed built environment, or the proximity to land that would be appropriate for food or energy crops, or else wind or solar installations.

There were some minor shortcomings on the technical side as well, hence my 4 out of 5 stars rating.  In a few places, the author in discussing energy issues mixes up "cost per kilowatt-hour" and "cost per installed watt", so that based on the numbers given it is difficult to assess whether initial capital cost or ongoing production cost is the focus.  The criticism of high-speed rail (HSR) is overly concerned about the potential for HSR to bypass small cities, when in fact with a comprehensive sustainable transportation strategy small cities could be linked conveniently to the HSR network, which overall would be much better for energy security and climate than our current automobile dependency.  Also, the criticism of large-scale wind energy is unfair, given that there are inherent cost and efficiency advantages to building large turbines on tall towers in central locations, and, in any case, small cities stand to benefit from the resulting increase in manufacturing.

These minor flaws should not, however, detract from the overall positive contribution of the book.  Small cities are not just megacities in miniature: they truly have unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities, and the author has done a great service by pointing in the right direction for these cities to move.
105758
This book was thoroughly enjoyable and right on the mark.
Elisabet's approach is direct and cuts through the BS- an approach that I appreciated IMMENSELY!
She was not afraid to discuss what some people consider controversial subjects on gender and cultural differences.... that really don't have to be controversial at all because they reflect reality.
I specifically like her references to:
* Gender Differences-the term used was Gender Smart...loved that!
* The Mentoring Gap.another topic close to my heart which involves professional women and their efforts at supporting (or not supporting) other professional women.
Kudos to you Elisabet!
1834915
This book is very straight-forward and easy to use, chock full of useful information. The organization is simple, and listings are complete (containing year published and prizes received, as well as author, illustrator and edition info) and informative. Not only do they give information about the content and it's value to a child, but also its source and its context and an opinion about the best edition in which to invest and the availability of different editions (where useful)!
Wide margins are included, for note-taking.
There are multiple indexes at the end which are invaluable in themselves - about 80 pages worth! The titles are indexed by title, author, illustrator, age-appropriate, and special subject.  A bibliography is also included.
This resource is a valuable and delightful resource for any family
2434394
A wealth of information, presented in easy-to-read, succinct, "user-friendly", captivating language.  Dr Abraham shares his years of experience and caring in a well organized format suitable for readers of all ages.  I don't seem to be able to avoid the cliches, but this "volume", with it's charts and easy to follow reference citations comes as close to a "one-size-fits-all" resource for all drug and alcohol related issues; use, prevention, treatment, and follow-up are all addressed for each of the many substances.

 I wish this had come out years ago.  As a college professor, EMT, and 911 dispatcher, I've run into a variety of drugs and users - my understanding of causes and effects has been greatly helped by this guide.

I DO wish that this guide were also available in printed form, as it would be much easier, for me, at least, to use it as a quick reference if it were sitting on a shelf ready to be grabbed.  (Though I'll certainly keep is available on my iPhone.)

A wonderful work to be recommended to all
2174646
Informative, compact, and easy to take along!
24191
Where are all the reviews?!  This book is terrific!  Laid out in a comprehensive manner, the author explains what's what, and then explains what to do and take for your specific condition.  The last of the book tells how to eat (including supplements to take) once you're well again.  There's a lot of information here, unlike some short books

Many of the recommended foods, supplements, and other remedies are tried and true -- I remember my grandmother (born in the 1800s) using many of these things (apple pectin, blueberry tea, etc.) on the family in the 1950s.  And they worked!  The author also explains how and when to use remedies together, and what to use alone  (Important information.).

My granddaughter hasn't been well for a week, but now I know I can help her, thanks to this short and information-packed book.  My thanks to the author..
3353519
Okay, so that's the way it really works!

Every now and then, I come along a book that challenges enough lifelong assumptions I've held about myself and others to be "enlightening", and this is such a book.

The book is easy to read and accessible, and the research backing up the author's conclusions are also laid out to impact.

I spent the first hour reading this book sitting next to my wife, and about every 3-4 minutes, I'd blurt out "Did you know . . ." or "I never knew . . . " and then read her a passage. A day later, the book was gone from the end table next to the sofa, and my wife had absconded with it. If you are a professional or manager, you will see major implications into your own behavior and that of others. If you are just reading out of interest, you will learn a lot about yourself I haven't seen in another place.

The writing is worthy of the exciting revelations -- fresh and vigorous, making the book as enjoyable for me as it was informative.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
870287
If you are a Westerner new to Feng Shui or have been using it for years, Stephen Skinner's KISS Guide to Feng Shui is an easily approachable book.  The DK Publishing books are great.  Their whole layout is very engaging, with lots of TIPS sections, illustrations, and little jokes which make a complex system approachable to Westerners who are intrigued by it.

Stephen Skinner is the Western man on Feng Shui you want to turn to as the one who opened the door in the 1970s and is the founder and publisher of "Feng Shui for Modern Living" magazine which is internally best selling.

While the book is quite large and jam packed with Feng Shui information, have no fears.  You do not have to read and deeply comprehend every nuance of Feng Shui to get started with it.  The illustrations make the learning easy and clear to comprehend.  The SIMPLE SUMMARY box at the end of each chapter does EXACTLY that, it summarizes a long richly illustrated chapter and gives you easy comprehension.  Then you can actually go use this in your life at home and at the office like Madonna and Donald Trump do (Trump Tower in Manhattan is an excellent illustration of excellent business building Feng Shui applied in a modern manner."

Making it very approachable for Westerners, DK Publishing used a cute (not too cutesy) Dragon cartoon to point out Tips and Topics especially to note and learn.

Because there is no TABLE of CONTENTS here at Amazon, I'll provide those for you to help you choose to add this to your reading list:

The Forward is by Master Wu Hsien Sheng
The Book is in SIX Parts:

*PART ONE:  Understanding Feng Shui*
What is Feng Shui?  (addresses one of the misunderstandings that it itself is a spiritual practice which some Christians might then find problematic, no worries)
Who Does Feng Shui and Why?
A Look at Feng Shui's History
Gods, Graves, and Feng Shui Masters

*PART TWO:  How Feng Shui Works*
Ch'i and Alignments (which is a very approachable topic)
The Building Blocks of Feng Shui
Chinese Cosmology (giving us more insights into an increasingly influential global culture)
The Trigrams and Lo Shu (still a bit challenging for me, but it's a start)

*PART THREE:  The Feng Shui of Interiors*
Feng Shui Inside Your Home (essential reading for creating harmoniously pleasing spaces in your home and place of family, love and rest)
Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, Bedrooms
Bathrooms, Kitchens, Corridors
Business Feng Shui and Color (yes it is different than what you want at home)

*PART FOUR: THe Feng Shui of Exterior*
The Four Celestial Animals
Feng Shui Outside Your Home (this was so helpful about creating an eye pleasing entry way and front garden area as well as guarding your back walls, made so much sense)
Water Dragon Feng Shui (not something a lot of Westerns grasped.  A number of Brits take to this immediately with the popularity of TV show, Ground Force's frequent use of a "Water Feature." That is Feng Shui in a Western context.)
The Feng Shui Garden (another chapter I found so approachable and easy to grasp and use.  Inspired a weekend run to Home Depot to do a little application.  I would love to see another KISS book just on Feng Shui gardens)

*PART FIVE: Remedies and Formulas*
The Eight Mansion Formula
Feng Shui Remedies (some super easy, some a bit more complex)
Symbolic Feng Shui
The East Life/West Life Formula

*PART SIX: Compass School Feng Shui*
Time and the Calendar
Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
Compass School Feng Shui Tools (I found this section a little bit harder to get on how I was to apply Feng Shui, however, I'm just beginning.  This application I would still then likely bring in a professional Feng Shui consultant to apply for at my office and my home.  This helps me to have a foundation in it.)

When you are just starting out in Feng Shui and are craving a whole approach for your home and office, not just a few articles here and there "KISS Guide to Feng Shui" is an excellent addition to your home library which you will use again and again.
373443
Finally a resource that is both readable and thorough!  This book answers all the questions that stymie health practitioners, pain sufferers, and their families/friends alike. Doug Nelson tackles very technical, cutting edge research, and breaks it down into very manageable and understandable pieces. Not only does he deftly explain the neuroscience of pain, but he also sensitively and compassionately unveils the psychological and emotional suffering that accompanies chronic pain. I currently have my copy out on loan to one of my patients!  This book definitely fills a void amongst the myriad of less-than-helpful texts out there.
1259816
This book is a fantastic voyage through the world of networking.  For newbies, it presents complex ideas in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way, keeping you away from an alphabet soup of acronyms.  But, it also appeals to experts as well, with its insider's view of the design of various network protocols.  Even with many years of networking under my belt, I found myself reading this book constantly saying, "So, that's why they did it that way!"  The wealth of information in this book should not be overlooked.  The writing style is also crisp, clear, and highly engaging.