AS

David Wagner is an idealist that believes we can change the world by making one day at a time. He shares personal Daymaking stories about his sister who passed away when she was 13, his wife, daughters, and his path to becoming a hairstylist and eventual CEO. He also shares the stories of others, inspirational quotes, and practical tips on how you can be a Daymaker.

Wagner shows how a little kindness goes a long way, and what can happen when you focus on your wild ideas and follow your dreams. He then explains that to make another's day, you must first make your own day--and outlines ways to simplify your life, de-stress, and nurture yourself. The subsequent chapters detail how to make the day of your mate, your child, your whole family, a friend, a stranger, and an entire company!

For example, when making a stranger's day, it's important to remember that you don't know the whole story. Wagner writes: "We don't know what challenges face the people we meet each day. Is the bald woman in the movie theater a skinhead, or is she battling cancer? Is the beautiful woman with the storybook marriage dealing with her husband's adultery, while battling bulimia, as Princess Diana turned out to be? Is the woman on the airplane with the crying infant going home to her own mother's funeral? Is the man in the speeding red car weaving in and out of traffic on his way to the hospital with his toddler who swallowed cleaning fluid? These are just a few reminders that situations are not always as they appear."

There are many simple, yet practical ways to be a Daymaker. Write a poem about your child when he or she is born. Leave love notes for your spouse, or make them a creation from your heart. Be a Daymaker to a teenager by complimenting them on anything positive that you can. Take a co-worker out to lunch on their birthday, learn their children's names, and bring them a small treat of coffee or tea. Foster an environment of service and Daymaking in your office and corporation; it's infectious, and will spill over to your employees and your clients.

This is my favorite story in the book: "In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less than they do now, a 10-year-old boy entered a coffee shop and sat down at a table. When the waitress put a glass of water in front of him he asked, 'How much is an ice cream sundae?'

'Fifty cents', replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. 'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired. By now, other people were waiting for tables and the waitress was growing impatient. 'Thirty-five cents', she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. 'I'll have the plain ice cream', he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice dream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back to wipe down the table, she began to cry. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickles and five pennies. You see, he couldn't afford the sundae, because he needed to have enough left over to give her a tip."

I highly recommend this book to those seeking to make an impact on their immediate environment and the world--as well as those looking for a great inspirational gift that would make the day of another.

Review originally featured at http://SelfDevelopment.BellaOnline.com

Imagine how good you would feel knowing that you did something to make someone's day. This book is filled with simple ideas for doing just that. It is easy to read and is definitely heartwarming. The chapters are short and easy/quick to read anywhere. Bottom line: This is a very enjoyable book. I highly recommend it. In fact, I'm going to purchase two more copies right now to share with special people in my life.

This potent little book provides much wisdom for these scary times. Becoming a Daymaker is as simple as tying your shoes. David Wagner shares with us the multitude of ways we can make the world we live in happier and more fulfilling by choosing to make each others day. The simplest acts of kindness, done with love, is all that is needed to be a Daymaker. Start now, be creative and then imagine what the world would look like if we all decided to become Daymakers! Buy this book today for yourself, your children, your friends and then send one to Washington, D.C. so that America can lead the world into a new era of kindess.

I am a student from Nagoya, Japan. I was shopping for a good TOEFL book and my friend recommended this book to me. Like he said, I also found this book very helpful. This book had everything - grammar, listening, reading, etc. It has study sections as well as practice test sections. I liked the book's CD-ROM. It was very easy to use and very realistic. When I went to take the actual TOEFL test, I wasn't worried about using the computer so much because I had already practiced with this CD-ROM. This is a very nice book. It is very much worth your money. I recommend this book to all students who are studying English. Thank you.

This book is actually "The Super Guide". It has everything you need to prepare for the TOEFL test. The grammar tips are clear and easy to understand. Reading and Listening sections are both very realistic. I think this book is more like the actual test than any other TOEFL prep books. I especially enjoyed the helpful tips on how to score high on the test. My English actually improved after studying this book. I strongly recommened it to everybody who's studying for the TOEFL.

This is a very well organized book.

The book contains very useful information on not only how to prepare but also on how to score high on the actual test.

The structure section gives clear and detailed explanations on confusing grammar points. The listening section of the book is fantastic, too, with realistic pages and helpful hints and tips for the actual test. The reading section also contains useful tips and prepares you well for a high score on the TOEFL CBT.

The CD-rom included in the book was very useful. It was just like taking the actual TOEFL test at the center. If you are not so comfortable with or worried about using the computer at the center, you MUST practice using this CD-rom.

This book is definately for people who wants a high score. The book has so much information. It will definately improve your score!

This book is amazing, I am 15 and I read it, my mother at 39 read it, my grandma read it and my younger sister at 13 read it. Everyone takes away some different, but something wonderful from this book. It is absolutely indescribable, you have to read it; right now, order it, read it, it will change your outlook on life.

This is a beautiful book on so many levels. The author's voice, the author's spirit, the author's technique of storytelling are awe inspiring. If you have been led to this page, take it as a sign and order this book, reading it is an experience and I can't wait to read it again. If you are looking for a gift to give someone else then this is it, but read it first yourself so that you can trully share it.

My husband gave this book to me and I am truly enjoying it! Katharine sees things from a rare perspective. Her life transformed her into someone that could see deep into even the most mundane subjects. I feel a new appreciation for even the sounds of crickets! She was certainly a person who's cup was always half full! This book is like welcome raindrops, enveloping you and staying with you long after the drops have evaporated!

Like so many, I find Madonna interesting. And I agree with the positive reviews of this book -- I really like it. The unique contribution here is the way the author discusses Madonna in ways that make "postmodern" an interesting, understandable, ans useful concept. And believe me, I am no fan of academic writing of or about the posrmodern. But this book can be highly and widely recommended.

Madonna:alot can be said about Her but Boring isn't one of them.thsi Book Explores the Many things that relate too the Artist&personna that is Madonna.this Book is Challenging&also puts Madonna into a Complete Perspective from start too finish.just like the Woman Herself it will keep you wondering more&what lays around the Corner.

In this book GC Guilbert shows how absolutely everything Madonna has ever done is packed with clever references. He doesn't mean that she's a plagiarist, far from it: she just uses her vast knowledge of (popular) culture, in a "postmodern" way. A fascinating read.

I like this book a whole lot. My favortie part was the Mothers Day tea party because it was so sweet the way she couldn't decide to bring Mimi or her father. What I don't like is how they don't tell you how her mother died.
(that's something very small)
It was a great book. For those who liked this book, I recomend:
Mystery5 MaryAnne and the Secret in the Attic
Kristy's Portrait Collection
Abby's Portrait Collection
They're all great books! Thank you Ann Martin!

This was an interesting story. It helps you get to know her father more and see that he really cares about her. I thought that Mary Anne's grandmother was rude to keep putting him down to her and to criticize Mary Anne and make her upset. Mary Anne tells her off and runs out the door and hides in the cornfields. Then she comes back and says sorry. SORRY FOR WHAT? That part irritated me. It was her Grandma who needed to say sorry. It was her doing.

Very tender sweet, moving story on growing up, and mother loss. Mary Anne's search for a female figure in her life is touching, especially her attachment to Mimi. Her dad tries to fill in, but there's no one in a girl's life like a mother. I was also glad to meet Mary Anne's grandmother along with Mary Anne. I was so happy for Mary Anne and Verna, especially when Mary Anne found out about her mother, Alma. I like Verna and would like to see more of her in future BSC books. I could see Verna had been through a lot and was also working through her grief of losing a husband AND a daughter. It was really too bad that Richard and Verna hadn't grown up yet back when Mary Anne was a toddler and fought over her. It's great that now Richard and Verna are putting their feelings aside for Mary Anne's sake.

This magnificent book carries great messages and clarity in understanding the steps to spiritual mastery. Mpingo Griffin shares wholeheartedly her story of accepting and embracing the messages received from Beloved Beings of the Christ Light.

In Mpingo's honesty and genorisity of sharing her personal story we are able to release our own tendency to doubt when one feels guided and assisted.

These Beloved Beings of Christ Light, in sharing the beautiful and spectacular story of the preparations undertaken by the Celestial Realm to bring Christ to this plane, deeply touches the heart and gives a resounding and unforgettable glimpse into how deeply we are loved.

The book not only provides a deep resonation of Truth, but unveils an understanding of the steps and preparations we may choose to undertake to birth and mature our own Divine nature of unconditional Love.

This book is for everyone, no matter the religion, non religious, or how one may define oneself. A definite must read.

This book will truly enlighten all shadows of thought as to what Christmas is all about.A wonderful gift for yourself.A must read for any day of the year!Again,thank you God and all
involved in getting this to print!

If you are seeking mastery within your own self or life, the way you are being and how you are choosing to do anything---you can begin by examining how you are with yourself and others. If at our core, all of our perceptions of ourselves and others stem from fear, including our perception of and relationship with God, The Creator, All There Is, then this becomes our reality. For change to occur, we must be willing to examine our perceptions and actually attempt another way of being and doing with ourselves and others. If you want different results, yet are unwilling to examine or change the way you see and do things, the desired change cannot occur. The Beings of Christ Light in their words and works through their instrument Mpingo M. Griffin, help us to begin the process of seeing ourselves and others from an abundantly love centered place. The Meaning of Christmas opens us up to a more loving CoCreative relationship with our Divine Spiritual Source, in which our way of relating to all of life is genuinely impacted. As long as we choose to continue "fearing" God, and allowing this fear to justify and give life to all of our other fears, this becomes our reality. In this countlry in particular, we as a people have embodied fear so greatly, that it has become commercially profitable at the expense of our human rights and God given privileges, and therefore enslaving us at the same time. How much more fear are we willing to internalize before we are willing to give love a chance? You cannot read this work without feeling its loving power. Allowing for more love in all of our relationships beginning with ourselves, is the true Christmas gift as expressed in this work.

Fascinating and illuminating book about the way movie classics were made in the 30's and 40's. This man knew his job and we are lucky that in the making he wrote those long memos. The people they were sent to found them annoying. We movie fans find them fascinating.

I was a bit leery of a book of just memoes but ... This is truly an extraordinary book, full of insights into every aspect of film making. The most interesting parts are about scripts and script construction. That was what Selznick had a genius for, and that comes through clearly. Some of his faults come through too. There are a number of memoes about his life and emotions so you get a picture a man not just an executive.

For anyone who likes old movies a must.

It's a genuine pleasure to see this 1972 volume back in print again. Practically the entire history of classic Hollywood can be seen within the pages of this fascinating series of memos, a veritable stream of behind the scenes trivia and the most impressive book of name-dropping ever seen in print. The cinematic genius of Selznick and Company is told as only it should be told...in the Master's own words.

Whatever side of the vivisection debate you are on, this book is worth reading and paying attention to. "The Monkey Wars" calls attention to the need for discussion and understanding between researchers and animal-rights activists - something that is rarely happening. Intolerance, she shows, is leading to much suffering - both human and animal - and it is rife among both communities.

The idea that scientists who experiment on animals are all foaming-at-the-mouth maniacs, cackling and eager to cause suffering with their array of sharp instruments may occasionally be nearly true (see the sections on Harry Harlow). But Blum's book says that the majority of vivisectionists are dedicated to working for the good of people - at the cost of other animals (in this case, non-human primates). They believe this is fully acceptable - humans take priority and we must do what we can to help our own. Here lies the real debate - what gives us the right to inflict this suffering on these animals for the 'good' of mankind? What makes it acceptable? And how much good does it really do us, anyway?

Animal rights activists generally think it's NOT accaptable, and many doubt that much of it has any merit after all (see the chapter on baboon-human organ transplants). They (we) have a horrible reputation amongst researchers, so much so that at the first mention of 'animal rights' causes many of these people to close their ears and eyes and hum a silly tune until it's all over. While there HAVE been cases of pointless destruction and horrible threats to researchers in 'defense' of lab animals, the majority of animal activists are peaceful, reasonable people who want to ease suffering - including that of humans - not cause more.

Through a series of articles about and interviews with a whole spectrum of people involved, Blum shows us both sides of this sometimes hopeless 'debate' - and she does show us some hope as well. There are people on either side of the fence willing to listen and work with those who may not see things in exactly the same light. What's important, "The Monkey Wars" shows, is that we all be willing to listen to and consider others' arguments before making assumptions about the intentions of 'the other side'. This may not solve the entire debate and wipe out all suffering on earth - but it's a step in the right direction.

Overall, an excellent book. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. My only complaint is that the author might a bit too uncritically accept vivisectors' claims about the human payoffs of their research. Near the end she does briefly discuss some of the failures of animal research and the cost that has been paid in terms of human suffering and death, but much of her earlier discussion is not informated by the latter.

I was told about this book by a friend who has witnessed the horrors of the bushmeat trade in central Africa,especially the unsustainable slaughter of the great apes and monkeys of the region.Although the situations in Africa are tragic and cruel,they pale in significance with the circumstances that the same creatures find themselves in all around the world and especially in the USA.I am refering to the cruel use of such intelligent creatures as apes and monkeys in experimentation facilities.If you have heard about the cruelty in such facilities and thought you knew enough about it ,this book is a MUST READ.In a non-biased way the author has given the reader an insight into the sadistic and unattached attitude that the handlers at these facilities have towards their prey victims.The realisation that 'human-beings' can knowingly inflict such senseless(in many cases) and unbearable procedures on imprisoned animals is a disgrace to all of the human race and especially the capital of the 'free world',the USA.Thank goodness for the good guys who sacrifice much and sometimes everything in their quest for humane treatment of the apes and monkeys.They lend a sense of sanity and a branch of hope for the future eradication of this disgusting human occupation.The book is really a great catalyst in spurring one on to join the crusade to battle with,overpower,and defeat the individuals and organisations who profit from such ventures and eradicate this evil for once and for all.

Neither I nor my mother are of Irish descent, but I found I could relate to a bit of every story in this precious book. I am going to buy it as gifts for my sister and my mother and will definitely recommend it to everyone I know. Even my husband enjoyed this treasure of stories and said he could relate to it. It is one of the very best collections of life stories I have ever come across. It touched my heart and soul as well as stimulated my mind and brought back forgotten memories, both tender and bittersweet. I sat in my chair for a long time after I read it, reflecting on the emotions it had stirred, and am sure it will affect many readers that way. I can now see how, in so many ways, I am indeed very much like my mother. Not just in imitative words and deeds, but in that abstract, deeply seeded manner of heart and self that I just cannot explain in a mere sentence or two. Anyone who reads Motherland will understand. That makes this book more subtly astounding than any amount of 'stars' I could attach to it. My sincere thanks to Caledonia Kearns!!

Kearns has picked works, both known and those lost on the dusty shelves of libraries,of one of the most underrepresented group of authors: Irish women. The extra dynamic of the subject of mothers is an interesting addition. Her collection gives a very good range of works available; her personal essay is quite touching. Both "Cabbage and Bones" and "Motherland" deserve a place on any shelves!

A must read for all Irish women. Especially endearing was the story called "Trinity" written by Kerry Herlihy. A moving book.

At first I was a little disappointed in this book because I wanted to read more of what Ueland wrote in her book "If You Want to Write." In "Me: A Memoir," Ueland said more than once she hated to write.

What a downer for someone looking for encouragement.

However, I read the book cover-to-cover and without skipping one page. I even read the introduction to the book, something I usually skip (if it's important, it's going to be in the body of the book, right?).

Ueland's writing in "Me" is refreshing. She says what she says and if you don't like it--tough. That's who she is. I like her spirit, her intelligence and her ability to make some sense out of life.

A good read. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

reading berenda made me a better person and probably saved my artistic life (or the life of the artist within me). in this book which is so different than any other memoir or autobiography, she geneously shares with us her inner life. according to her everyone's inner life is interesting. she writes about how she was on her way to germany when wwI broke out and she was stranded in egland as a result. rather than giving us one more of thousands of reports on the climate of that time she notes that everybody already knows about the war and if they want to read about it they can go to the libray. what people don't know about is her. the result is that brenda, the human being, is put on the same facinating plane as world wars and revolutions. and that is the way it should be. we are all that important and should share our selves with eachother the way brenda does. read this book for a wonderful example of how to live live like a prophet passionatly searching for truth and beauty. i am less dead by reading it. and you can be too!! also read if you want to write because it is even better!

Brenda Ueland follows her own profound advice, given in her book, IF YOU WANT TO WRITE, and tells her own story with such complete honesty and fervor, every sentence is a joy. Just as certain pieces of music lift you off your feet in spite of yourself, so, too, her courage and warmth take you over until you feel full of promise and power yourself. Brenda Ueland thrilled to her own talents and to the talents she believed to be in the make-up of every human being in this world. Brenda could not be with people without empowering them. When Ueland asked three children which of them felt inside he or she was really a genius, all three raised their hands -- and so did Brenda Ueland. Anything by this woman puts life on a whole new plane.