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I Wanna Iguana brings out warm feelings in anyone who reads the book, be that person child or adult. Ostensibly it's about loving and caring for an unusual pet. But I believe it carries a deeper message--that we personally grow from accepting anything or any human different from ourselves. Read this great picture book, and I know you'll agree.

Children will find this book entertaining as well as educational. The illustrations are wonderful.

As the sequel to "The Big Sea", Mr.Hughes again speaks the language of a poet so well that he makes the reading of his life seem like a first-person experience. After his travels on several ships and the taste of his first successes(and failures), he simply explores and writes: of Paris, Russia, and Cuba, and shares his experiences with the reader. His writing is so rich and vivid that he makes every location in the world seem like poetry in motion. This book and "The Big Sea" should definitely be on reading lists everywhere-or, if you have a friend or relative who feels like they're a "wandering spirit", these books would make great gifts. Mr.Hughes touches on everything human: from the strained relationship with his father to the blatant racism he encounters everyday; to the women he becomes fond of and his neverending thirst for experience and knowledge; to the countless sights of wonder in the world that one never sees when they are ignorant. Beautiful writing by a true poet.

IN THIS BOOK , MR. HUGHES REALLY OPENS UP AND LETS THE READER INTO HIS WORLD. IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE BEING IN THE PLACES THAT HE DESCRIBES. THE EVENTS AND CHARACTERS POP OUT AT YOU. THIS BOOK IS AN ENJOYABLE READ

What a delightful read! The author has a wry, puckish take on life...and spins his stories quietly...a true storyteller. I kept trying to choose a favorite story after finishing the book, but there were too many. A gentleman from Canada told me about this book and said he hated to finish it. I understood as I finished it. Some of the stories have a Runyonesque quality, others are touching, and some give you quiet chuckles, or helpless laughter. Dare we hope for more? In this age of fast-paced living, it is a joy to pick up a book that takes me to a different place and gives such enjoyment. A quality read which I will re-read again!

This book is full of great stuff! From flying to falling in love this book is a light enjoyable read reminding you that real life is always more entertaining than fiction.

For nearly 16 years HJ argued for lower property taxes before proposition 13 became law in 1978; it was not a quick and easy task. Those who would work for any similar change may learn something from his story. From 1942 to 1991 about 25% of the Federal Defense budget was spent in California. This created a growing economy, even if it drained funds from the northeast states.

Since 1945 land prices and property taxes were booming in California. After his 1962 retirement, HJ began his involvement with the United Organization of Taxpayers. [A movement needs a cadre of dedicated workers.] It then affiliated with other organizations, and thousands of volunteers from all over the state. [The movement must be represented in all counties.] It is very important to have unity and loyalty to the group. [Fragmentation, petty quarrels, and demoralization should be avoided.] They experienced many defeats. [Expect to lose many battles before final victory.] Proposition 13 cut property taxes in half (p.9)! This set an example for the other states (p.10). It could never have been achieved without the Initiative & Referendum law in Calif. But an organization can pass around a petition and get tens of thousands of signatures. Even if it has no legal effect it will impress and scare elected officials. Calif. passed an initiative and referendum law in 1911, an extension to the right of petition. This allows the people to write a law and bypass corrupt state politicians. Without the right to petition, Proposition 13 would not have been passed.

Chapters One thru Seven tell of the work by this movement. 64,000 tax-exempt corporations and 18,000 charitable trusts paid no property taxes. Most of them were set up to get a tax break! Towns would raise assessments one year, then the tax rate the next (p.28). The enormous increases in property taxes priced young couples out of the market. And older people had lowered incomes.

Chapter 8 is his autobiography. He was born and raised in Utah. His father was a carpenter who studied law and became a judge. HJ studied law at the University of Utah by day and worked at a mill by night. He taught boxing in college, and fought as a professional. HJ also played semipro baseball for a copper mill (p.209). He had a varied and interesting life as a newspaper publisher, and then as a manufacturer. Pages 256-7 tell of his legal experiences with the patent on radio push-button tuning; they lost out to big corporations due to high level political decisions. He was part of the group that ran an ad for a Congressional candidate - they decided on "the guy in the sailor suit" (p.263).

Chapter Nine lists his political ideas. He advocates elimination all property taxes, and using income taxes (ability to pay), sales taxes (with some exemptions), and "other forms of taxes". HJ would encourage more public participation in the public business of government. He recommends limiting the size of government to limit the power of politicians. Public schools should be overhauled to create a better product. HJ wants more personal savings to replace the Social Security system. He also wants the US to have the most powerful military in the world, but doesn't want foreign entanglements.

In this book, Howard Jarvis tells his story. Mainly, the book deals with the victorious anti-tax movement in California in the beginning of 70's, but Mr. Jarvis also shares much more of his rich life experience with us. Among other, we'll learn how Mr. Jarvis successfully fought the trade unions' sabotage during WWII. The different subjects are in approppriate proportions and presented in a very interesting style. Even though I'm rather ignorant and uninterested of US inner politics, I found the book really fascinating.

I have just one advice to the readers of this book. The idea of forcing the hated clique of parasite politicians and civil servants on their knees might seem very attractive to you. However, I read lately that both Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann got killed under mysterious circumstances shortly after their triumph with the tax proposal. I don't know if it's true or not, but my advice would still be to avoid confronting governments openly. (Read "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" by Harry Browne to learn more about this subject.)

Frances Weaver writes about the options and opportunities available to people of any age, how to make the most of our senior years, and offers good advice -- with such a delightful sense of humor that you truly enjoy reading about coping with the present, enjoying the future, and sharing precious moments with family and friends! Great!

couldn't put it down. exteremely inspiring since i'm where ms. weaver is in life. cleverly written. makes you think how lucky we "older" folks are to be able to do all the things we never had time for when we had families to raise. i agree with her admonition - NEVER WHINE! i reccomend this book to any older person who has lost their zeal or just needs encouragement to reach out and up! i plan to read grandmother faces now.

As I read through "The Iguana Handbook", I was sorely disappointed, but not because the book was bad. In fact, the book was so detailed and accurate that it made me reconsider getting a baby iggy until I could house it in its adult form. Too many people get an iguana without thinking about what the future holds, and what needs to be done for one. I am happy to announce that this book will help to impart some of the knowledge necessary to make an iguana a happy and thriving member of your family.

Richard D. and Patricia Pope Bartlett are the consummate author team when it comes to herpetology and they show it well as they painstakingly illustrate the life and needs of a properly-cared-for Green Iguana (and some of its confamiliars). With their assistance, it is no longer necessary for captive iggies to suffer from Metabolic Bone Disease and other such ailments inflicted upon them by poor diet. They also tell how to build a lovely cage, take care of an iggy out-of-doors, house one with other lacertilians, breed them and many other useful tidbits.

Finally, a good book with all true information. If you want an iguana book this is one of the few to get. Easy to read and is written by experienced iguana owners. I highly recommend it.

I completely agree with the first reviewer, this is the best book on iguanas that i have read. In addition, it is written very well and easy to understand. Highly recommended for all current or furture iguana owners.

This is the best book I have ever seen on the proper care of green inguana's. This book gives you the information based on the latest scientific research. It shows you the right way to choose an animal and how to give it proper housing, heating, lighting and a healthful diet. You'll also get detailed instruction on disease prevention and safe handling. Also you will find excellent information on the how-to's of breeding,including photo's of male aggressiveness, mating, and egg-laying. Most important for breeders is information on how to incubate the eggs. I did read a lot of books, but this one is the best!

I read this book when it first came out in the 1960s. It became my favourite then, and it still is. I reread this book almost every year. When I call it a "living" classic, I mean precisely that: it is the fuel for living because it provides the mental scope, architecture and thinking processes to live a full and healthy life. The book has been an anchor for me for over 30 years precisely because it positions the role of imagination in such a clear fashion as the instrument of living. Imagination is not only healer of the hopeless, it is the healer of the process of living. I cannot thank the author enough for his contribution.

I loved this book every moment I was reading it, and it lifts my heart to open it at random and reread passages I highlighted. Lynch says he bases the book on two assumptions. First, he believes whatever is ill with the mentally ill is human. Second, he says that the well can put off the impossible burden of trying to be as well as they think they must be, and can enjoy the privilege of getting tired and being a little mad! He focuses on three major aspects of hope: imagination, mutuality and wishing. He says hopelessness usually involves some constriction of the imagination. Without imagination to picture ways out of difficulties, we lose energy and become too apathetic to wish for anything. On the other hand, Lynch believes our society places all the burden for having and using imagination on the individual. "Half of hope," he says, "is help." On some of the most exciting pages of this book, Lynch describes the theological significance of our being able to wish. If what we want is not sinful or outside the realm of reality, Lynch believes God wants to communicate autonomy to us. Not understanding this can paralyze us. In the world of the mental patient, Lynch has seen a person agonize over making the "right" decision between a cup of coffee or a cup of tea. He shares the metaphor of a child who makes a toy that can operate on its own and shouts, "Look at it go!" He believes that God similarly exults in giving us the ability to make wishes and that "every wish, no matter how small, is a truly creative act." This book encourages the full use of our God-given powers of creative imagination to help both ourselves and each other.

You know before reading this book, I thought I had pretty much captured most of what the Dalai Lama had to offer by way of the written word. But this book gave me a different glimpse into the man, where we find a dialogue of intimacy and open honesty unlike we have ever seen in his other works (still wonderful other works, at that!).

My favorite section in here was called "The Seduction of the Military." The Dalai Lama comments, "Frankly, as a child, I was attracted to the military. Their uniforms looked so smart and beautiful. But that is exactly how the seduction begins." And how true, yes? Children will be children, even I played with toy guns and bought G.I. Joe's to pass the time with. There are a wide variety of such exciting games, but I now see that perhaps they really are not as harmless as we might perceive them to be. Surely there are fun games for kids to play that aren't based on the killing of other human beings. The Dalai Lama purports that if it wasn't for the fact that so many adults in this world are fascinated and mesmerized themselves by military and war, that we could all see more clearly that allowing our children to play such games is extremely unfortunate. Imagine your child running around the back yard like he is a serial killer! It's somewhat scary when I look at it from this perspective. The Dalai Lama tells of how some former soldiers have through the years told him that at first when they killed someone, it made them feel awkward. But as time on the battlefield progressed, they grew desensitized and more and more accustomed to the act of taking life. That's the condition many of us seem to be in. We see so much of this on either the news or in the form of movies, that we are completely desensitized as to the harm it is actually doing everyone.

This is a magnificent book. If you are looking for a presentation on the Dalai Lama the man, this book delivers the good for us here. He covers compassion in a section titled, "The Medicine of Altruism." He refers to the plague Tibet underwent at the hands of Mao, and how this medicine was the requisite every Tibetan needed and sometimes still needs to fully heal from those terrible atrocities. Man I could go on and on. But why don't you let the Dalai tell you for himself? Enjoy the book.

How could I say that anything His Holiness is involved with is bad...? ha ha This book is exactally what it says it is. It's a question and answer session with His Holiness. This is not a straight through Q&A - It's rather a series of meetings with HHDL and this unknown business man. There are quite a few very interesting answers from His Holiness in the book. Basically is this worth buying? Yes, I think it is. Is it enjoyable to read? Once again, Yes I think so. Nothing very complex, just simple, straight forward answers from (in my mind atleast) The most compassionate man on earth. Short and easy to read, check it out.

Collaboratively researched and written by Janet Carey Eldred (Associate Professor of English, University of Kentucky) and Peter Mortensen (Associate Professor of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Imagining Rhetoric: Composing Women Of The Early United States is a scholarly and revealing study of how women's writing developed in the era between the American Revolution and the Civil War. A truly fascinating look at how educated women used the power of the pen to promote civic goals, as well as how a new female readership emerged and changed the as yet fledgling book industry, Imagining Rhetoric is a highly recommended contribution to Women's Studies and Literary History reference collections and academic reading lists.

Collaboratively researched and written by Janet Carey Eldred (Associate Professor of English, University of Kentucky) and Peter Mortensen (Associate Professor of English, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Imagining Rhetoric: Composing Women Of The Early United States is a scholarly and revealing study of how women's writing developed in the era between the American Revolution and the Civil War. A truly fascinating look at how educated women used the power of the pen to promote civic goals, as well as how a new female readership emerged and changed the as yet fledgling book industry, Imagining Rhetoric is a highly recommended contribution to Women's Studies and Literary History reference collections and academic reading lists.