Fun to read and shows an actual problem
343388
I like Grisham's writing because he tells you enough about the characters and the environment to interest you and doesn't take this too far by talking about the color of sunsets or how the wind felt on someone's skin.

If people are willing to decide how to vote based on what they see in advertisements and flyers rather than spending a few hours doing more substantial reading then they are going to be surprised at the decisions judges make and disappointed. If someone isn't willing to spend a few hours being a diligent voter, then they are susceptible to misrepresentations of facts, like being told that a judge ruled to let a convicted criminal go free, without saying that there was now DNA evidence they were innocent and had been wrongfully convicted. If you are told that a judge ruled to let criminals go free and don't look into this then you can be misled. And if you decide to limit liability because of some ridiculous and excessive settlements, then you prevent many reasonable settlements that punish socially harmful behavior.

We would be better off if there were some limits on free speech to restrict spending on campaigns for public office. Tons of advertisement is a form of mind control. People shouldn't be allowed to donate to a candidate in Mississippi unless they are a resident of Mississippi, and PAC's shouldn't be legal.

This book made me even more tired of the silly American habit of telling people that you are praying for guidance or help. If you wish to pray then pray in private and don't spend time talking about how much you pray. And instead of saying that you've prayed really hard on something, why not take responsibility and say that you've thought really hard about it?
4153084
As a young adult I have seen a lot of the issues in this book show up in my own life. I enjoyed reading this book because it deals with real issues and the author doesn't sugar code any of the content.
951205
Very fun but realistic account of author's attempt to scrutinize and overcome excesses in her life.
2887047
Reasons I liked this book:
1. It's really funny.
2. It explains depression in an understandable way.
3. There are pictures.
4. It shows how much people try to filter their thoughts before sharing them.
5. There are dogs.
6. There's an attack goose with photographic proof.
7. It's really funny.
4271294
It is so refreshing to read a real down to earth view of kid's.  We all have flaws and this hits on them in a humorous way, while helping you cope.  Vicki Iovine did it again, thanks.
3176528
Matt is so funny! Love his style of making just a little bit of fun of human nature or rather how we have strayed from it. This book illuminates the misconception of hypoglycemia and leads us down the road to discovering first  a new name for those uncomfortable symptoms, if you've had them. Then he explores the many causes of which many can be self-correcting and offers other possible solutions to try. Easy to read and digest.
1723305
I really enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud at some of the ridiculousness of "thanking" your possessions and how they all have feelings, but I could see past her quirkiness and found a way to apply it to my own life. I was already generally an organized person before reading this, but I had unknowingly held onto a lot from my past as well as kept items that made me feel guilty to get rid of. My way of organizing many things was also not the most effective. My only complaint would be the language she uses when referring to getting rid of things. She says "discard," "dispose," "trash," "garbage bags," etc. I find it horrifying to think of the amount of valuable things people will literally throw in a dumpster after reading this book rather than donating or recycling. She mentions donation just a little at the very end, but I think she could have included some information about seeing your belongings all the way to the next phase of their life, rather than just throwing everything away. If she really believes things have feelings, then she should care more about where these things end up, which is hopefully not into a landfill but into the life of someone less fortunate or remade into something useful again through recycling.
2830026
The word problems in the book are challenging, yet they can be applied to real life instances. I really enjoyed the fact that the problems given were REAL problems with ACTUAL statistics. This makes the subject a lot more valid and allows for a stronger connection between real-life situations and statistics.

I pass with an A+!
574828
I like how they explain and provide tips to solve the problems.
3314941
I just started reading it and it is very imformative, Unfortunately due to computer problems, I can't do any of the exercizes in the book,gotta wait until new computer comes. The authors use a lot of illustrations to teach concepts that may be difficult for beginners to grasp. (myself included). Definitly not textbookish, I find this book to be amusing while teaching important material.
2842263
This book doesn't just boil down all "lateniks" into one or two types.  I like that the author addressed lateness issues that stem from totally different personalities -- some of the sections ("the absentminded professor" type lateness) didn't apply to me at all, while the ones that did apply fit perfectly.  It's a funny and horrifying read, too, due to the real-life lateness stories -- showing up for an important meeting with two different shoes, accidentally showing a party full of little kids a videotaped birth -- I used to think that kind of stuff only happened to me.

Also, the book doesn't just stop at explaining the cause of the lateness and then leave you to "work through your issues."  It also provides little exercises based on lateness types.  For example, one of the exercises that I found helpful was learning to put down a book before I was ready to: if you're thinking that's totally unrelated to punctuality issues, think again!  Actually, it might not be related to _your_ punctuality issues, but even if it isn't, if you're chronically tardy I bet there's something in this book for you.
3650912
Although I have not completely finished this text, I've been pleasantly surprised at two elements:
1) That it's funny.  It uses humor to illustrate situations, which makes it a joy to read.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like a book from a comedian, but as a text it's far from the dry material you might expect.
2) It's understandable.  As a layperson - one who understands what IT is, but didn't understand about audits, I found this understandable and illuminating.  The book is grounded in real situations which almost anyone can relate to, which makes it a lot more pleasant to read than one that is filled with jargon.  I think I might actually be understanding what IT auditing & assessment is now!
3423372
This author has an interesting approach to a common problem that will reach some children who are having difficulty accepting differences among their peers.  Well done.
4191030
I bought this for my mom for a Christmas gift. Im not sure if she will even hang it on her wall as she doesn't care for Bush but it is funny. I read the back of it and while I try not to get into the right or wrongs of our current situation in America I did have a good laugh over this. It goes for everyone, to think before we speak as what we say we can be held accountable for. There are also small tidbits of information through out the calendar that has to do with events or sayings that have happened while Bush has been our President.
4972070
I just got the book, The Panic Years, and I couldn't put it down.  This is a really funny look at what we go through to try and land that relationship which will end in marriage. But there's also an important message here-- don't change yourself to land a fiance.  And it's great to know that you're not the only one panicking!
268349
Really great way to present today's religious problems, to call them like that, to anyone who is unaware there even is a problem. And a delightful read in itself. One could almost say it's like After Virtue in a nutshell, well obviously dealing only with a fundamental point that there is no "neutral" standpoint to judge various traditions, but that we always and necessarily stand in a particular tradition and speak from within it, secular atheistic being just one more tradition, extremely hostile to the Tradition.
3114780
Really fun idea, and very funny to read. Personally I wish it had been treated a bit more seriously, but that's probably a matter of taste.