BY

I picked up this series about four years ago and have loved them ever since. Throughout the years the three books have gone through some rough times (the third one fell into my bathtub and a marker fell on it staining the entire thing). I couldn't find them when I went to bookstores and I was so happy when I found them online.

These books are about Ivy and Tristian, who dies in the first book. Her love for him causes her to almost loose everything, meanwhile her mother just married the richest man in wherever they live, and Ivy's new stepbrother is known to be a horrible person.

If you are a fan of the story of undying (literally) love, then read this.

I loved Kissed By Angel trilogy sooo much. I've read a bunch of books and nothing is as good as this book. The love between Ivy and Tristan is incredible. It was romantic, and suspenseful at which is one thing you need in a great book. Every time I read it, I cry. You've gotta buy this book or you'll miss out!

. I hate reading long book ,but this book is the best book i ever read . Now want all book by Elizabeth Chandler. i read this book 3 or four times a year.

AFTER BUYING MULTIPLE MONEY BOOKS AND NEVER FINDING THE ADVICE PARTICULARLY USEFUL, "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS" BY NANCY LLOYD IS A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE. FOLLOWING HER ADVICE IS QUICK AND PAINLESS. BUT BETTER STILL, THIS BOOK DOES NOT CONTAIN THOSE FLAKY QUICK FIXES TOUTED ON TELEVISION BY NO-NOTHING "EXPERTS" WHO GIVE QUESTIONABLE ADVICE AND HAVE EVEN MORE QUESTIONABLE "CREDENTIALS."

NANCY LLOYD, BY CONTRRAST, IS A FORMER FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD ECONOMIST SO SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT SHE EXPLAINS IT IN UNIQUE, HUMOROUS AND VERY DO-ABLE WAYS.

AND THE ADVICE WORKS. SHE SHOWED ME THE FASTEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE WAYS TO PAY OFF MY CREDIT CARD DEBT AND SLASH BANK COSTS. WITH THE MONEY I SAVED BY FOLLOWING THIS ADVICE I HAD AN EXTRA $200 A MONTH TO INVEST. NANCY DID NOT LET ME DOWN THERE EITHER. SHE SHOWED HOW TO FIND WELL-DIVERSIFIED INVESTMENTS AND MUTUAL FUNDS WITHOUT MAKING COMMON AND COSTLY BUT STUPID MISTAKES THAT MY FRIENDS DID.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU CAN TRY TO MAKE ADVICE ON YOUR OWN OR YOU CAN TURN TO THIS SPECTACULAR BOOK AND TAKE THE WORRY AND DOUBT OUT OF MAKING MONEY.

As I hit my late 30's I began to notice changes in my life, my mood and even my spending habits. By themselves I didn't think it was a big deal but then I saw Nancy Lloyd and Dr. Northrup on television talking about money and menopause, respectively. What each said really hit home.

Like a lot of women my age I was coasting through what I considered a normal life. It's not that I was unhappy but I knew that I could have felt more satisfied. This book by Nancy Lloyd and "THE WISDOM OF MENOPAUSE" by Dr. Northrup have shown me how to take charge of my life, resolve unfinished family business and start to realize some life-long dreams.

I have started taking some estrogen replacement per Dr. Northrup and have finally begun to deal with my finances per Nancy Lloyd.

I've not only paid down my credit card debt but I'm finally managing my 401(k) retirement savings plan and created a Living Trust to help my family down the road.

The difference in my life and relationships is astounding. I feel like a different person. With the fear of menopause and unresolved financial matters no longer hanging over my head I'm told I even look younger.

"THE WISDOM OF MENOPAUSE" and "SIMPLE MONEY SOLUTIONS" are life changing books. I can't recommend them too highly!

If you have been trying to make money in the markets or even just getting started by paying off debts then you -- like most of us -- have probably bought many books that purported to help you manage your finances and create wealth.

Like most of us those other books probably did not work for you --even if they were recommended by TV celebrities who know nothing about finances but can't resist recommending books for other motives.

If those other inferior books did work as they were purported to then why would you still be looking for a book with usable answers?

This book, Simple Money Solutions, is a stunning exception.
The advice is accurate. It includes an array of advice because money advice is not one size fits all. And the advice never becomes obsolete. It does stand the test of time!

In fact those other books that claim to have THE One and Only answer is almost guaranteed to be nothing but a book built on unproven gimmicks or trendy tricks that do NOT work and that certainly won't work over the long haul.

This book and its author, Nancy Lloyd, have taken a different and sound approach to money matters. She presents the issues we're all struggling with out in a clear and concise way and then lays out the options, including financial products, services and strategies to implement various plans.

My neighbor and I both read this book but based on our individual situations we chose different financial strategies that fit our unique lives.

I have now thrown my other financial advice books out (I wouldn't even give them away for fear that some unsuspecting reader would follow those other books' feeble and inaccurate advice).

But I have been punked by other books for the last time.

Simple Money Solutions is a KEEPER!!

Lifted Up By Angels by Lurlene McDaniel was one of the best books that I have ever read. The story of Leah Lewis-Hall was one of the most heart-throbbing stories that Lurlene McDaniel has written. Leah was diagnosed with cancer in the previous book and while she was was in the hospital she met a girl that was also diagnosed with cancer. Rebekah Longacre is an amish girl that stayed with Leah in the hospital. Rebekah has an older brother named Ethan and an older sister named Charity. Rebekah looks up to Leah as her best friend because they share the same problem, cancer. A problem that only victims understand the pain of. Because of Rebekah, Leah meets Ethan. Leah and Ethan form strong feelings for each other, but the only problem is Ethan is Amish and Leah is English. Also, Ethan's father does not like the idea that Leah is "English". Charity is Ethan's sister, and Charity and Leah become very close friends. Charity helps Leah understand the complications of her Amish family, and also helps Leah understand Ethan. This story takes place in the 90's in a little town called Nappannee. Leah has come up to this town for the summer to work and also to see Ethan, whom she hasn't seen since the stay in the hosipital the previous year. As Leah entered the barn, with Charity by her side her heart began to beat. She realized while gazing up at Ethan in the hay loft, the real reason she came to Nappannee was to see him. She had longed to see him since the last time they were together. As Ethan saw Leah he descended the ladder, and a very nervous Leah glanced back toward Charity for moral support. But Charity had slipped away to leave the two alone. While Leah was gazing at him, Ehtan expressed his feelings by quoting "My eyes have have been hungry for the sight of you." Leah began to tremble at her knees because of the excitement that overcame her as she heard these sweet words roll from his lips. This scene in the book is one of my favorites because it shows the amount of feelings the two characters have for each other. By knowing this, the pace of the book was set for me and also an idea on what the book was going to be dealing with. I would reccommend this book to romantics and people who enjoy a heart-throbbing read. This book is filled with emotions, suspense and a great story line. The reading isn't difficult but the emotion put into this book makes this a great compelling story.

I think that this novel is one of Lurlene's best. I just love the Ethan and Leah sega. I've also read and bought many of her other books and have enjoyed them just as much. This is a touching forbidden love story with many other interesting "complications". It made me become extremely interested in the differences of lifestiles of the Amish and the English. The changes of lifestyles is quite different, with one group longing to know what life would be like in the other group's world. I really enjoy the characters, especially Ethan and Rebeckah. Ethan reminds me of a really sweet guy that I've had the pleasure to know for a couple years, and Rebeckah reminds me of a cute little girl I babysit for named Holly. Hi Holly! Hi Tim! Don't get embarassed on me now, alright. Anyways, I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good cry.

this book is a great book to read and it helps you to understand the hardships that some families have in their everyday life. i think it is really inspiriational and it can teach you things you may not have known.

It is awesome to hear the real old-timers talk about baseball's early days. They are old enough to be candid, to be sure. The interviewer does an admirable job of staying in the background, asking prompting questions only when needed and these are show his excellent preparation without making him seem like he's their (baseball) equal.
My only complaint, having heard this on CD (and I did that because I very much wanted to hear their actual voices) was that the audio was not done too well, mostly too faint except on extreme volume settings. Anyway, it was definitely worth the effort.

I'll be blunt. This is the single greatest baseball book I've ever read. I wouldn't be surprised if it were the best baseball book ever written. This book conveys the tone of baseball's early days. The players tell their stories in their own voice, oft-times a considerably different manner of speaking than we use currently.

I greatly enjoyed the slang words the old ballplayers used. They taunted rookies by calling them 'bushers'. One player warned another (speaking of Nap Lajoie) 'Watch out for the Frenchman.' Priceless!

Outside of the words, the stories themselves paint a glorious picture of baseball at the beginning of the century. The lesser ballplayers, the Hans Loberts and Chief Meyers', give their impression of the all-time greats; Wagner, Lajoie, Mathewson, Cobb, Jophnson, Bender, Waddell, and Shoeless Joe. Much of what we now know about these legends came directly from the recollections in this book. This is a baseball treasure and belongs in every serious fan's library.

Words alone cannot describe what I have read. Smoky Joe Wood, Rube Marquard, Wahoo Sam Crawford, and many others. We are talking legends of a game gone by. True hero's when a baseball world needed hero's. Many thanks to Lawrence Ritter for capturing moments in time with these baseball legends. I'm sure that they all had a million stories to tell, but I'll settle for just the few that are represented in this book. In today's baseball world of outright sheer greed and selfishness, it was so refreshing to hear stories about baseball's yesterday when times were simpler and the game was just a game. How I miss those days. How I miss those players. Thank you to them for allowing a little boy to dream the dream. Thank you for a memorable look at a simpler time, Lawrence.

vibe did an excellent job of letting its readers know who the real tupac was. this book is a compilation of the articles that vibe has published over the years dealing with tupac and the people close to him. The articles are interviews from tupac, death row associates and others, along with some letters sent to the editor, and quotes from people who knew tupac. it goes in-depth about suge knight and his multi-million dollar recording company, death row, and all the people who were involved with it. the book also goes behind the scenes of tupac's shooting in new york, his court cases, his enemies and his struggles with the law, prison and trying to make it in the world. many of the articles have to do with the conflicts that surrounded tupac and his music, his lifestyle and personality. tons of awesome, colorful photos are included, although there are no captions for them so the reader is left wondering when, where and who the photo is about. overall this book is very well put together in chronological order and should be on the shelf of any true 2pac fan. we miss ya pac and will never forget you!! your spirit lives on forever!

Through a collection of Vibe Magazine articles through out and after 2pac's life, one is able to piece 2pac's life by chronicles of events and interviews. While this may not be the most complete biography (159 pages, nearly half of which contain photos), it'll leave fans more than just satisfied. The book remains compelling from start finish, from articles written back when 'Pac was alive adding to its authenticity, exclusive interviews and brillant photos. There are so many large glossy photos, to the point that the book could double as a coffee table book for the curious to thumb through. Another enjoyable facet of this book, is even though it is a collection of articles and such rather than one continuous biography, it allows the reader to save analysis for themselves. Rather than offering answers, this compilation will only arise more questions on the two sidedness of Tupac and his often contridictory personality. Only complaint is this book can be easily read in a matter of a night, but worth reading and browsing by fans and the curious in hopes to understand Tupac.

2pac is a legacy of our generation..he is and will always be the best, not only was he an awesome rapper, but he was also a good actor and poet. This book is very well done and covers so much. When he was shot the first time 5 times..and leading up to his unjustly death..i recommend this book to anyone if they want to learn about 2pac, he wasnt a bad man or a gangsta like most assume, he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time..or he just got involved with the wrong ppl...and like he said live by the gun..die by the gun..and that is exactly what happened to this man...may he rest in peace

Being an Atheist, it may seem strange to some people that this book holds any meaning for me, but I think that, despite the religious references, people from all walks of life will relate to the poetic prose of The Prophet.

Kahlil Gibran has been greatly celebrated in several countries for the book's simple yet biting phrases. Any two sentences in this legacy of living can be made into a thought-altering quote.

Gibran uses a prose style throughout. Short lines of words written as freestyle poetry create a rich medium to deliver his words.

Each section has something poweful to say, but some of my favorites were those on Work, Giving, Children, Crime and Punishment, Freinds, Time, and of course Love.

As oppposed to most books containing the word "Prophet" anywhere in the title, Gibran expresses life as something to be enjoyed and soaked in as many ways as possible. The book does not stress the punishment of sins, but to bask in pleasure and not look back. Decadence is not suggested, but the basic purpose of Gibran's legacy is to tell us that life is short and must be lived without regrets.

It is a book that includes such beautiful metaphors and velvetty language that you are always sucked into reading "just one more section." What makes the book work is not just the simple genius of the author's statements, but also the beauty of his words, the flow of his language.

I hate to be like everyone else (in more instances than just this), but it does change you. It states what any prophecy should, and allows the religious aspects of the beliefs to take the backseat to the love of life and aspirations.

Buy, read, and live by The Prophet's words.

My late father gave me a pocket sized hardcover edition of this book when I was a teenager. I've had it ever since and still read it from time to time.

Gibran's words are refreshingly nonsectarian yet feel none the less profound, timeless, universal and relevant to all cultures, peoples and times. Some have attributed an alternative spirituality to this work either as praise or as criticism.

I personally don't view the Prophet as a book that advocates any particular spiritual or religious path whatsoever. Regardless of whatever else this book may be may be, I've found the Prophet to be restful and quite enjoyable from time to time. I don't worry about the potential hermeneutic interpretations (that I seriously doubt exist) that might exist therein.

Thus, if it's a spiritual and/or religious text you seek I wouldn't recommend the Prophet. But I don't mean that as a criticism of the Prophet.

I simply view the Prophet as a text on the nonreligious, nonsectarian and universal ideas, ideals, feelings and qualities of what it is and means to be and feel human as viewed from the perspective of another fellow human being who had the same limited perspectives that we all share by virtue of being human beings. Gibran never claimed any differently.

If you only buy one book of prose then this is the one I'd recommend.

To me, there is simplicity in this person's words that I understand clearly.
There are good things this book construes, but I can see other misinterpreting it, and its value that it has to many people. You will need to read this for yourself to find out if it's significance to your life. Worse case, it can be just a good read.

Mr Caputo (as in TOE) takes the reader on his journey from college to war to military inquiry and part of the power of the work is how well the language illuminates that experience. It begins with clear, concise prose, as the young man is clear in his goals and what his country "stands for" , and rises to poetry of a kind as the narrator descends into a confused hell, where his goal becomes simple survival and he is uncertain about his country and its values. The narrator's journey in his early twenties, is from a sobriety to a delirium and back again but on that return, the open, trusting individual, is transformed into a cold, hardened, and cynical Nam Vet. There is some especially good analysis of "courage" (p.294) and the nature of a patrol by a platoon (p.252). The passage on 240 has a music and power which I could imagine being quoted as a classic piece of war prose/poetry in which the phrase "All secure. Situation remains the same" is echoed five times throughout the piece in a kind of fugue. Great writing which summarises the misery and the exhaustion men suffered on patrol, especially the power of the landscape and climate to overpower.

"A Rumor of War" is a darkly disturbing book. It is set in what was the early, "optimistic" Vietnam in the spring of '65 when we thought we were fighting for "freedom" and before the reality of the place hit home. Vietnam hits Lieutenant Caputo very quickly, as it must have for all Marine Corps platoon leaders. It's all right there-booby traps, mines, trip wires, leeches, foot blisters, jungle rot, constant shelling, dysentery, pigs eating corpses and cold C Rations. As a Vietnam vet, I was surprised the author never mentions RATS!, but we both know they were there too. (THEY were everywhere). Lt. Caputo's transfer to a staff job is worse than the field, so he transfers back to the bush as a platoon leader.It's more of the same-patrolling and repatrolling the same trails, the same hills, the same villes. All watched over by unsupportive and bureaucratic commanders. "RW" offers yet another look at the Vietnam War, one more pessimistic than most because so many of us felt that the years of '65 and '66 were more positive than this. I might suggest reading Joseph Owen's "Colder Than Hell" to compare the Marine experience in Korea with Lt. Caputo's. Reading the late Bernard Fall's "Street Without Joy" will make us aware, again, that perhaps there was never a time to be optimistic about Vietnam. I must admit that I constantly found myself curious as to how I would have handled many situations in "RW". How would I have measured up? What would I have done? How would the men have judged me? While the story of "RW" tends to stray at times, I found no fault since the author is relating a painful part of his past. One small point: "RW" would benefit from better maps-these are so often lacking in military books. The bottom line:"A Rumor of War" belongs on the bookshelf of any serious military book reader or anyone searching for yet another angle to the frustrating Vietnam War that affected so many of us.

For anyone who has ever asked, "What was Vietnam really like," Marine Lieutenant Philip Caputo's book, "A Rumor of War," is a must read. In this autobiographical account of his time as an infantry officer in, "the 'Nam," he describes the experience in authoritative terms enhanced by collegiate English studies and time spent as a combat journalist. The result is the most well written account of life in an infantry platoon in Vietnam that I have ever read.

Phil Caputo could have been virtually anyone in America in the early '60's. A young, idealistic, all-American boy who joined the Marines in search of adventure, and out of a patriotic desire to answer John Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you. . ." He and his platoon marched off to war to find glory and honor. What they found was, "death, death, death."

Caputo takes you into the muddy foxhole with him, making you feel the heat and annoyance of the ever-present insects, and the sniper shots that all united to deprive you of the precious commodity of sleep. He takes you on patrol with them down, "Purple Heart Trail," where the main enemies were the heat, the insects, and endless mines and booby traps. The reader can feel the rage of the infantrymen who fought endless battles with an enemy that was everywhere, yet nowhere. Gradually enthusiasm turned to pessimism; pessimism to despair; and despair to rage; rage that ultimately vented itself in mindless violence against anything Vietnamese. They were then left with the heat, the insects, and guilt borne of actions taken that they would never have dreamed of a few short months before.

Caputo and his enthusiastic, young, Marines could have been anyone who has ever fought: the patriots at Lexington and Concord, who later found themselves half starved and freezing at Valley Forge; or any number of Union or Confederate soldiers from Bull Run to Appomattox. They could have been "Doughboys" who went, "Over There," to "Make the World Safe for Democracy," only to find themselves "fighting" immersion foot and mustard gas in the trenches of France; or perhaps even soldiers serving under, "Ol' Blood and Guts" himself, George S. Patton; "Our blood, his guts," as the GI's said. Their stories all verify Gen. Robert E. Lee's famous quote: "War seldom avails anything to those unfortunate enough to have to fight it."

A Rumor of War ranks up there with Gen. Harold Moore's, "We Were Soldiers Once and Young," and Col. David Hackworth's, "About Face." All three show how debates that raged in Washington, Paris, Saigon, and Hanoi were ultimately scored. Whether you were a "hawk or a dove," a liberal or a conservative, a professor or student, you will benefit from reading this book that answers the question authoritatively: "Hey! What was Vietnam really like?"

One of Lackey's few non-series books, this one nevertheless fits into the Valdemar chronology as a whole. It takes places somewhere after the "Vows and Honor" series and before "Queen's Own", and tells the story of the legendary Captain Kerowyn. Kero is Kethry's granddaughter, although she barely knows her mage grandmother. Her sexist father wants to keep her chained in the kitchen, but Kero wants adventure and excitement. When bandits crash her brother's wedding, killing most of the guests and taking the bride prisoner, Kero rides to the rescue, making her both a hero and a pariah to her brother and father. So she hikes off to Grandmother's, where Tarma takes her on as a student. Later, she joins a mercenary company, then captains said company, and finally ends up being Chosen by a Valdemaran Companion. (If she didn't, we wouldn't really care about her, would we?) Along the way she falls in love, has numerous adventures, setbacks, foreshadowy meetings with important people, etc etc.

Good book, especially for Mercedes Lackey. I liked Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion series better, but you can't ask for everything. Nice, basic sword-and-sorceress tale, ties up a few loose ends re: Kethry and Tarma, and sets up the "modern" Valdemar series at the same time. Although it's technically a stand-alone, don't bother if you don't have at least a basic grasp of Lackey's universe already. If you do, you'll probably like this one.

Misty Lackey is one of my favourite authors, although sometimes she can have books that are really bad, but makes up for that when she writes excellent ones like By the Sword. Kerowyn, the main character is a likeable girl who has a strong personality. THis 492 page book chronicles her life since the death of her parents at 14 to her being involved in romance, war, and strategy when she is older. I think this book is a classic that I would recommend to people who love a good fantasy and a story about a strong minded girl. Although some of it is sad because you might not like some of the decisions Kero makes, this is an excellent book, and I don't think any other Lackey books can top it.

"By the Sword" is one of Mercedes Lackey's best books. It's an honest, unflinching look at the life of a mercenary woman -- and a parable of how difficult modern women find balancing love, sex, partnership, and job responsibilities, all at once.

"By the Sword" tells the story of Kerowyn. She's Kethry's granddaughter (Kethry, as you might recall from the "Oath" books, was the mage partner of Tarma the Shin'a'in), yet grows up mostly ignorant of her heritage. That's because her mother dies young, her father is an idiot, and Kerowyn's been left to rule the roost at the ripe old age of 15.

As her brother is being married off, also at a young age, bandits come in and disrupt the festivities. They carry her brother Lordan's new wife off, kill her father, and murder many others on the way out. This inflames Kerowyn, who vows revenge.

Going to put on her brother's cast-off armor and grabbing a dagger, she's stopped by a rather mysterious woman on the way to see her grandmother. (Yes, she's so ignorant that she doesn't recognize Tarma, nor her significance in her grandmother's life.) She's warned to go back; this inflames Kerowyn still further.

Kerowyn goes to Kethry and tells her what's happened; Kethry passes along her sword Need -- which basically is a sort of magical guardian spirit. If you're a mage, it gives you ultimate fighting prowess. If you're a fighter, it gives you immunity against magic.

Kerowyn rides, finds the bandits, kills them, and brings Lordan's bride home. However, after she gets there, she realizes she's not cut out for the life of a noblewoman (they are of the minor nobility); she goes back to her grandmother and asks for more help.

At this point, Tarma steps in, and trains Kerowyn to fight.

The rest of the book deals with Kerowyn's training, some of her campaigns, her growing strategic and tactical prowess -- and something more. Along the way, as she watches others pair off and feels hopelessly alone (she's gifted with Mindspeech, making it even worse, as none of her mercenary compatriots have this particular talent/affliction), she finds her soulmate, Eldan. Who just so happens to be a Herald of Valdemar.

A lesser writer would have dragged Kerowyn into Valdemar at that point; wisely, Lackey keeps Kerowyn out, instead giving her more adventures, then finally getting Kerowyn and Eldan together in the midst of a long, bloody war.

As they deal with their love and duty, much happens. (I don't want to give the rest of the plot away.) And Kerowyn finds a way to indeed have it all, after all.

This is definitely one of my all-time favorite Lackey books; Ms. Lackey did an outstanding job with this one, as it is accurate, unflinchingly candid, yet still realistic without sacrificing anything in the characterization department.

Thing is, with someone else, Kerowyn wouldn't be so engaging. She's a tough, smart woman who happens to like her job -- as a professional mercenary soldier and captain. Most writers would draw her as a caricature; instead, Ms. Lackey showed Kerowyn as learning tactics, and coming to believe that people who fought wars should have ethics -- as it's bad enough as it is.

Five stars plus. Highly recommended.

Cheaper by the Dozen is a well written biography on the Gilbreth family and all the craziness they go through every day with such a big family. This large family consists of 12 children and a set of parents. All 12 kids-Fred, Dan, Anne, Bob, Bill, Frank, Martha, Lil, Ernestine, Jack, Jane and Mary-all have red or blonde hair and lots of freckles. My favorite character was Mr. Gilbreth. This story took place in Mont Clair, New Jersey and i think that was a very appropriate setting. My favorite part in the book was when Mr. Gilbreth would not let Anne and Ernestine wear make-up, high heels or short skirts. I also liked when the Gilbreths went to California to visit Mrs. Gilbreth's family. There are many more good parts, but you will need to read the book or listen to it on tape to find out about them. What i liked best about the story is that it was pretty funny. I would reccomend it to any one who likes books written with a sense of humor. There isn't any real plot or climax to this story, but that may be one of the reasons I liked it so much. It flows very well and the only confusing part is all of the characters. Overall, it was a pretty good book.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Format: Paperback,1st ed., 180 pages ISBN: 0553272500 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Younger Readers Pub. Date: February 1981 Other Formats: Hardback Recommended Age:Third grade and up

Wonderful...Once you start to read the first page you wont be able to put the book down. This perfect way to spend a rainy day. You will be very amused when you read about the hilarious events of the Gilbreth family. The family of twelve children have many adventures you will enjoy reading. The father is almost crazy and a very successful business man. He is very strict and overprotective. He won't let his daughters wear make up or dress the way they like to. They slowly change his mind and begin to dress their way. He thinks his children can do anything and is also believed he could do anything. He loved jokes and laughing and you will love the practical jokes they play on each other. The rich family loves to go to movies then out for ice cream. They also spend their summers at the beach, where their Dad forces them to learn to swim. He wants them to learn as much as possible about everything so he always finds a way to teach them new things. As an efficiency expert he made sure that everything was done in a time efficient way. It was a sin to waste time in the Gilbreth house and he was constantly coming up with new ways to save time. The Dad in the story liked to parade around and show off his kids. Although this was embarassing to some of the kids as they got older Dad found it hilarious. The mother also was sometimes embarrassed or insulted by the attention they got or the comments other people made. This book will keep you laughing right up to the last chapter when Dad dies. The book is a mixture of humor and then sadness at the ending. This is an excellent book that everybody should read. I recommend this book for anyone that knows how to read no matter how old or young!

Dina Bastianini, Pine-Richland High School

First of all, this book--the true, original story--has nothing to do with the recent Steve Martin movie.

This book is set in the 1920s in Montclair, NJ mainly and the father of the 12 children (11 lived, but the death of one is not mentioned in this book) is a big, jolly, eccentric and a fascinating possible-genius who works as a consultant making businesses more efficient through his motion studies.

The book is a series of reminiscences as told by two of the older Gilbreth children. They recreate many episodes with full dialogue (which of course couldn't possibly be completely accurate historically) making for easy and humorous reading.

I read this book for the first time when I was a young teenager. I loved it then, and it was perfectly appropriate. I re-read it 20 years later and was surprized at how many of the scenes I'd remembered from my first reading. (If only I could recall much of my schooling as well!) As an adult and now a parent (of a scant 3 offspring), I had a new appreciation for the story this time around. The Gilbreth children are tutored constantly in all manner of subjects by their talented parents, using many novel approaches. This is fascinating to me, as a parent: the teaching meathods, the team-spirit instillation, the overall vibe in a household as complex and successful as this one (the family is rich and all the children seem to have gone on to further success).

This book has been translated into something like 50+ languages and its obvious why if you read it. It is everything an enjoyable book should be. The warmth, intelligence, pro-family team attitude, and wonderful humor would cheer anyone's spirit.

Most of the book is straight forward, clear and to the point. Probably one of the best automotive books around, that's geared towards the novice technician. The book will definitely get you and your bug running on 4 cylinders. The only bad point to the book is it was written by a flower child, so he gives you advice like "Have happy people been here ...."

It all began in 1970, with my first VW, a 1967 Squareback, found in a backyard in our nation's capitol. I had to replace all hoses,belts and external gaskets, plus overhaul the dual Solex carbs(not covered bu the Guide!) just to get that babe running. It was worth it! That $200.00 car took me and my sweethart to the Grand Canyon and further, and was sold to a man who had a lot of money and time on his hands. The "Guide" has helped me through 14 or so VW's, including a "66 Ghia, '78 2 liter van and a 412 4-speed wagon(actual German edition). Now I own an '81 Vanagon, an '84 rabbit deluxe, and several parts cars on my property. Thanks be to John Muir

This book is near the top of my all-time best books list. My brother gave me a copy of this book when my first Beetle engine threw a rod. It enabled me (a 17-year-old overhaul virgin) to completely overhaul the engine by myself. 17 years later, it's very dog-eared, but has helped me through several overhauls, and has given me the confidence to tackle a Bug restoration. If you can only afford one VW book, this is it. Doesn't cover body work much, but the mechanical system description and illustrations will appeal to anyone funky enough to own an air-cooled VW. I'm pleased to see that it is still in print. John Muir is gone now, but he lives large in my estimation!