D-A Books

I really like the chicken soup for the soul series and this is a great gift for any woman out there. If you are a fan of the series, then you will like this.

Thank you all colaborative writers!! These books inspire me to be a better person everyday in despite of the adversities life may put on your way! As a teacher sharing these stories has been a great tool in my classes!!

This book was an awsome book.I might be a guy but all these stories just fills your heart with good things. This book has fantastic real life stories that mean alot of things. It was so good that i read this book in 4 days. This book is great for any chicken soup lovers or people who likes touching stories.

I have grown up with Chicken Soup For The Soul Collections. I can remember buying my first book at a book sale while I was in elementary school. I than moved on to Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul. I recently took a box of books to a book exchange shop and that's where I saw Chicken Soup For The Woman's Soul. I than remembered how much I had loved these heart warming short stories and since I had just turned 20 years old, it was about time I exchange my teenage collection in for the woman's collection. I am 20 years old, married and in college so sometimes I find myself stressed out and emotional so I like to sit down and enjoy a few of these stories. These are great books to own and there is a large variety so that anyone can find one that fits them. My husband and I like to read Chicken Soup For The Couples Soul together and I am looking forward to the day when I can read Chicken Soup For The Mothers Soul.

There are so many Inspiring and touching tales that fills our hearts with emotion. One wonders 'why' things happen as they shouldn't or 'How' do miracles change the course of our lives. There are moments in everybody's life where at a point you encounter obstacles, where your self esteem gets low, attitude differences opine or whatever be, awe-inspiring stories of this book glues you to stir your heart to be more wiser. It rekindles the spirits undoubtedly when we read the emotional narrations of others and wonder - We too come across lot of experiences in life. Should we not pen it down? Easy it may seem, needs inspirations like these stories to share alike tales. This book sure is a great 'light up spirits' book for woman, self inspirations you can say. Topics on Love, Attitude & self esteem, Special moments, Dreams, Truth & wisdom n more are widely covered which makes it a special read. I cherish this book and read n re-read at times. Good pick

Culture Clash is one of the most helpful books I've ever read, but it is also an easy book to read. It is helpful if you manage any kind of team, even if you're not working in another country. But if you work outside of your native country, you should definitely read this book.

The 21st century has witnessed the shrinking of the world into one global village. Today, businesses and financial markets are irrevocably interlinked. The internet has spawned a remarkable revolution which enables people from around the world to communicate for free with one another through email and online messengers.

As national boundaries become less important, people from all over the world have to interact with each other. Cultural clashes can be inevitable unless people learn to understand how other cultures think and behave.

Thomas Zweifel's book is a must read for today's global managers, diplomats, students, world travellers - infact just about anyone who wants to be a part of the globalized free world.

I have just finished reading Thomas Zweifel's book on culture clash and high performance. Each and everyday curtural clashes take place in public schools,and this very good leadership book should be used by public school administrators to assist them in dealing with their diverse student bodies. I especially like the lab sections because they were built on thinking and questions and not a simple listing of the commonplace activities. Walk down any public school hallway and you will see a great deal of diversity and it was refreshing to see a book that contained ideas school administrators could use to help these students in their daily ives.

You cannot truly talk about multinational business issues much less work in a international professional space without understanding the cultures in question and the many pitfalls associated with "diving right in" with possible good intentions but little cultural knowledge. This small yet information heavy book is essential in understanding and navigating Culture Clash.

This book is a must read. For anyone in business looking to climb the corporate ladder this book offers very valuable insight. The author shares his broad and fascinating experiences working with different cultures. I couldn't put this book down. It was a real eye opener.

Alexis de Tocqueville came to America for nine months in 1831-32 to conduct a study of the American penal system. What resulted instead was "Democracy in America", one of the best-ever treatises on a nation's politics, culture, and institutions.

This Bantam edition begins with a great introduction by Joseph Epstein.

Along with his famous words concerning the tyranny of the majority, the rise (and future clash) of America and Russia, and the differences between democratic and aristocratic societies, Tocqueville makes scores of other trenchant observations.

He shows that America was already a powerful, respected nation by the 1830s, and he expected it to become more powerful (and rule the seas) in the future.

He was a staunch advocate of freedom of the press. He examines political parties, and thought that, in the 1830s, the political system was already to the point that the chief desire of American presidents was to be reelected.

Tocqueville examines religion and was "convinced that Christianity must be maintained at any cost in the bosom of modern democracies". He was against slavery and foresaw its demise. He thought that there were mostly equal levels of education in America, and thought that as conditions in the country became more equal, great revolutions would become more rare.

Tocqueville is a hero for many conservatives, as he mostly agreed with Jefferson in thinking that that government is best which governs least.

Not even Alexis de Tocqueville has a perfect track record--he really got it wrong when he asserted that "the people in democratic states do not mistrust the members of the legal profession" and when he predicted that the nations of South America would one day be prosperous (a prediction that might yet come true, but has not done so 175 years later after the book's publication).

When reading "Democracy in America", what I was repeatedly thunderstruck by was the fact that someone 26 years old was insightful enough to make these observations. Reading this book cannot help but give the reader a much more keen understanding of America. "Democracy in America" will be read and studied for centuries by those who wish to understand our great nation.

Before approaching the text of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, I had little realization as to the proper content of his prophetic work. To my former understanding, the text was merely a collection of adulation and reflections upon the American way of life by a French observer in the nineteenth century. Upon reading this abridged version of Democracy in America, I found a much more prophetic text which reflected more upon the cultural impact of democratic institutions than upon the praise which should be attributed thereto. While one may fault de Tocqueville for approaching the democratic world with the cutting eye of a small aristocracy, it is quite evident that he accepted the fact that the human spirit was led to greater democratic tendencies and that such was to be taken almost a priori as the state of the world in his era.

The truly important reflection of the work as a whole comes in the considerations which he places upon the consequences of equality which follows from democratic revolutions. The phenomena of hardy individualism and its potential devolvement into individualism were not lost in his reflections. From this hardy individualism, de Tocqueville feared that humanity in democratic times may tend more toward equality and stability than toward liberty. In this, he not only foresaw the simple tendencies of utilitarian artwork and literature but also the potential destruction of civil associations and the devaluation of individual accomplishment and differentiation. It is this latter point, which seems somewhat paradoxical at first glance, which is perhaps the most prophetic of his reflections. In the process of cultural homogenization and individuation, de Tocqueville foresees that centralization of power will become much more likely as the populace views itself to be nothing more than an accumulation of nearly-identical citizens. Beyond this, his fears of the tyranny which could result by the abandonment of liberties by the people are well founded, for a society which wholly forgets the fact that some human beings can stand out is one which can easily allow itself to be subjected to the capricious desires of a powerful state as liberty is wholly forgotten.

These prophetic words should be read by all reflective Americans as we continue to move toward a larger centralized state and clamor with greater intensity for security in all forms (be it physical or social), for such equalizing security can only come at the cost of the liberties which allow the individual to actually have the worth which we intellectually affirm that he or she has.

Praising this book is a bit like saying Huckleberry Finn was one of the great American novels - it's a profound statement of the obvious. Even so, it must be said: Alexis de Tocqueville's magnum opus is a brilliant sociological analysis of America, with his genius made all the more evident by how applicable his observations about 1830s America are to its twenty-first century counterpart. Everything from the solidity of America's political infrastructure to the disquieting trend toward anti-intellectualism are explored in this massive work, and his gift of analysis is matched only by his gift for prophecy (can you believe that he predicted a conflict between America and Russia before the rise of Communism?). An amazing book, and necessary reading for anyone who wishes to understand America, rather than merely talk about it.

I have three complaints about this edition of Tocqueville:
1) Nowhere in the book is the translator credited. This violates basic principles of publication and scholarship.
2) This is in fact an abridged version of the original English-language translation by Henry Reeve, dating from sometime before 1862. Unless you want to re-create the experience of a modern Frenchman confronted with de Tocqueville's somewhat archaic French by reading the text in somewhat archaic English, I would seek out any of the more recent translations: there are at least three.
3) The ellipses, that is, the abridgements, have sometimes been made to conceal some of the author's less flattering views America. In fact I suspect this is a "patriotic" abridgement. For example, in the second chapter of part one, Heffner has omitted references to some of the excesses of Puritan law in New England which the notoriously even-handed Tocqueville had cited.

As a former reviewer has stated this edition takes quite a bit of liberty in excising the less flattering aspects of Tocqueville's views of America. In fact the entire section on race-relations has been excised --perhaps it was deemed too controversial? This kind of editing is even more unacceptable in our age of open communications and hopefully open minds. Find another edition.

An excellent introductory book,especially for business students and those who are studying in community colleges and need a quick review.
Nowadays,every one knows how to use an electronic calculator or even a graphing calculator.The later chapters can be revised in a condensed manner,leaving out the simple arithmetic steps,making the book smaller and faster to read.
Some more numerical examples can be added and also a chapter on partial derivatives used in business math.

Its different from the text I used just a few years ago to learn calculus. It explains things step by step instead of just assuming you follow their thinking like most calc texts do. I realize the reason for the other texts doing this but in the end it gets distracting and confusing for the student and this text seems to realize this. The author of this book takes the time to explain EVERYTHING they're doing in a problem including the basic math/algebraic stuff so you don't have to waste time on it and you can get down to getting used to calculus. When I first learned calculus it was scary and confusing, this text makes it so much simpler. It does show you a lot applications for it in business which might be of help to you business majors out there. Unfortunately for my case, I can't say I found them to be too useful as my reasons for needing calculus are much more scientific. I wish there was a part two to this text because there are a few harder integrals and partial derivative problems that I use but are hardly touched upon. I need a version of this book for advanced calculus. (like the kind you use in physics and chemistry) Perhaps we can call it "Forgotten Advanced Calculus".

If you are going to business school, and have been out in the work force for a while, or just barely scrapped by in business calc the first time around, this book is for you. The explanations are great and there are enough problems to warm up your mind.

If you are returning for a grad degree in math, science or engineering, this book is only a warm up. If you need to brush up on the hard core calc that was covered in engineering calc, then further study will be required.

I did plenty of calculus in undergrad, but I haven't used it since about 12 years. Now that I am in graduate business school, I needed a refresher on calculus. This book is perfect. Even if you are new to calculus, this book will work for you. I suggest that you do the exercises at the back of each chapter to solidify your understanding. "Practice makes perfect" is at least true in mathematics!

This is a great book for a general treatment of beginning calculus. It was definitely meant for people who have either already taken calculus or people who know nothing of it and want a easy intro. If your a non-mathematical student looking to prepare for your first calculus course this isn't a bad start, but you may want to consider augmenting it with a more complete text. As noted in another review (Smolley) this book doesn't cover the full content of a Calculus I course. Good luck!

The author describes in just the right amount of detail, what his residency in orthopedics was like at the prestigious Mayo Clinic. The struggle between the incredibly demanding hours of training and his responsibilities as a husband and dad are intense. Throw in some moonlighting on weekends in the ER and "you're good to go insane." A perfect summer read.

I really enjoyed this book. The author was very down to earth and had a great sense of humor. He included a number of wonderful stories about his experiences during his residency as a surgeon. I found it very hard to put this book down.

From the moment I started reading it, it was like the initial incision with the scalpel on my brain and I could not stop until I got to the end (close the incision--take the patient to the recovery)!! Dr Collins has done a great job in this fast paced easy to read manual of the 4 years of residency at the prestigious Mayo clinic revealing to us the incredibly long hours of residency while raising up a family, living from pay check to pay check(earned mostly by moonlighting), driving cheap cars(esp the Battleship, ha!),dealing with life and death decisions on a daily basis and eventually making it through it all. The doctor has a great sense of humor (I guess 'tis one of the survival tactics in the battle of life.) His scalpel sharp pen can touch the soul of the reader! You will laugh and weep through it all(as must have Patti(his wife) and the kids). It has given me a greater appreciation for doctors--they have a high endurance coefficient! A must read for all the doclings and doctors-to-be.

After making the decision to return to school after 7 years to become a cardio surgeon- I seriously doubted my own abilities. I read everything I could get my hands on concerning others and there first year experiences. Hot Lights, Cold Steel was amazing. I was able to relate with Dr. Collins and soon realize that I too may be ill prepared for like as a resident but along with anything, time, experience and studying will prove that I too can be just as amazing as he is. (Only difference- he has 12 children, whereas I only have 5). This book is a 5-star hands down.

I can tell when I am reading a book that I really enjoy, it keeps pestering me until I finish it. Read it in 2-3 days!!! Very enjoyable. I even like the binding on this hardcover, large inside margins, etc. Hey Doc, how about writing another book??????

This book gives a very good, comprehensive overview of the major disciplines in psychology. The text is long, but is well mixed with pictures, diagrams, and activities. The text is also very readable. This book is used as a college text for an Introduction to Psychology class. The material is presented in from a secular, non-biased perspective, highlighting major terms and discoveries and the most current research. If you want a good foundation of psychology, read this book. It might take you a while, and it might be a little dry at times, but overall it's an excellent text.

I used this text for my AP psych class in high school. I absolutely loved it. It is an excellent introductory survey of psychology and is written in such a way that it is easy to read, understand, and apply. I really liked that I was able to fully grasp the concepts with no prior knowledge in psychology and when I had to study for tests, I felt like I was studying life skills because this text does such an excellent job making the material relevant to the reader. This is my all time favorite textbook in any subject. Three years later, and I still remember a majority of the vocabulary and the importance of certain experiments. I highly recommend this book.

It was a very good purchase and does an excellent job of covering a wide-range of topics in an understandable way.

It arrived quickly, I got it for a great price, and it gets the job done. Perfect :)

its a great book to start your studies with psychological concepts and helps to think from diffrent ways.

This book was given to my father as a birthday present from my mother when I was a small boy and I'm pretty sure it received scant attention from my father (an ex-WW2 navy man) and sat on the shelf until I was in my very early teens in the sixties. Well it certainly was in constant use from then on. I think I read it every year until I was almost in my twenties and I've read it a couple of times since then and will probably again.

For anybody interested in aircraft stories, as I am, or just interested in a fine read, this is the book for you. No fiction writer would dare write this story as it is so unlikely and yet it's all true.

Thrilling, inspiring, funny, tragic, it's a story a man's unbending determination and being in the right place at the right time.

I would recomend this book to anyone interested in a good read.

A wonderful story. Another great book is "Fly for Your LIfe", about Robert Stanford Tuck. "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum, "Tales of a Guinea Pig", and "Samurai", are all great books. I think Samurai is a little embellished but it is still a good book.

I first read this book 50 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. My father had served in WWII so I was interested in stories from this time. I enjoyed rereading the book at 65! I admired Douglas Bader then and still do to this day. I went online and learned about his life after the war.

Excellent book about a truly amazing man. If you enjoyed this one, try Fly for Your Life, by Larry Forrester, which chronicles the life of RAF pilot Robert Stanford Tuck. Tuck is mentioned several times in Reach for the Sky and his book is another 5 star, Battle of Britain story.

I ordered this book for myself after having read a borrowed original first edition hard cover from a friend.
The story is wonderful and inspiring, and I wanted to own this book. This soft cover reissue version is O.K.,
but the photo reproductions in it are shamefully bad. I'll continue to search for an original copy ...

This is a story that is unusual but not unique. Many children have been taken by Indians however Zesch concentrates on nine, one an uncle. He begins this incredible tale with German immigrants in Texas who have taken the risk to settle down in Comanche territory, followed by the unforeseen kidnapping of their children. We follow these children as they try to survive with their captors all the way through to their eventual deaths. In no way does the author romanticize, but he does fill the holes with wonderful prose. The details are taken from the abductees, Indians, military, traders, and families. There are end notes and a sizeable bibliography.

When introduced as a child assimilation takes a remarkably short time. This appalling disregard for human life (people treated as if they were cattle) by the Comanche and other tribes was an accepted part of their society. Although many captives were treated miserably some were treated very affectionately. One exemplary attribute of the Indian family was more parental devotion and instruction......Of course they had more time for this. For the captured boys the only career choice was warrior which included going out on raids and practicing what was earlier done to themselves. Years later after their recovery and return to their white families readjustment was a slow progression. There was a struggle whether it would be better for them to be back with their adoptive parents even though it would mean a return to their criminal ways. Ironically as they grew in age after reintroduction into Texas they felt more imprisoned there than when they were truly captive. They would later be exploited in film, magazines, newspapers, fairs and more.

Wish you well
Scott

Hey! I've got an autographed copy of this book. I drove a hundred miles because I had heard the author would be there--and I'll tell you the truth, I've never done that before! (And he was a nice guy, too.)
Very good read. Very sympathetic to the children who were captured. I'm proud to have it on my shelf.

Wow , this author did a lot of research for this book . He started out researching info on his own family member (adolph Korn) and found lots of other info on the children that was captured by the indians and raised with the tribes (White Indians) , The children were captured in indian raids and some were taken as they were out working in the fields , taken at a very young age they learned easily the lives of the salvages . Eventually all the children would be returned to their "paleface families" but then they never fit in and some even choose to go back to the commanches and live with them . These white indians never had a good life and were misserable even after their return to family . Adolph Korn disliked the white mans ways so much that he choose to go live in the diamond caves in TX , most of these white indians never had material possessions even in adult life . During the raids by the indians people were killed and some scalped , and they even took the white male indians on raids with them where they would still horses , cattle and even kill people .
This is really a great read if you are into genealogy and have found some indian hertiage in your family line or if you just want to know more about the various Indian tribes and their way of life .
These kids were captured very harshly and went for days sometimes without food or water until they reached the indian camps , but once there they seem to be treated Ok other than the males going on the warrior raids . They also learned how to live off the land by killing buffalo & etc with a bow and arrow that they learned to make from dogwood trees . After the capture some indians raised these white indians like their own children .

Very well put together book of white captives abducted by the Indians.
Scott Zesch did a great job at researching information to put to this book together.
This book tells the life of the captured and also helps the reader to understand how the captives became Inianized with in a short time frame.
The transformation of being taken from the captives white family to become Indians, then being recovered back to their birth parents gives the reader a better understanding of what they had to go threw.
Thank you Scott Zesch.

This is a must have book.

A few years back, Scott Zesch was doing family history when he ran across a grave of a long-lost ancestor named Adolf Korn. Scott eventually learned that Adolf had been a captive of the Comanche Indians for several years as a boy. After being "rescued," he was always strange, and ended up living his life as a hermit in a cave.

Zesch expanded his research, and the result was "The Captured," a fascinating book about children captured by the Comanches, their experiences, and what became of them in later years. Zesch discovered that children younger than puberty tended to assimilate almost immediately; they forgot their native language (English or German) and even lost their attachment to their mothers. Zesch examines this heartbreaking psychology through his research into the lives of the individuals, which he relates in vivid detail.

"The Captured" is a thoughtful book that both sweeps you up in human drama and leaves you with a lot of things to think about.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Clare, co-author of the historical novel "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis and Clark"

The impact of this novel is materially diminished by its reliance on obsolete paradigms of the previous century. Science seeks to reanimate creatures of the past not with incantations, wall inscriptions and the usual mumbo gumbo of witchcraft and sorcery, but with the information storing capacity of DNA macromolecules and cellular implants. In Lovecraft's works, as in certain scriptural references, matter is endowed only with minimal capacities to create the inorganic realm - but living creatures need to have the influence of nonmaterial spiritual influences from BEYOND. Lovecraft hints at methods and materials used in the "experiments" he describes, but relies too heavily on "fancy" language to create atmosphere...a practice losing its impact after frequent repetition. This novel also develops much too slowly......the material would have fit more comfortably in a short story or a novelette. In addition, I think H. P. might have started writing a handbook for tour guides of Providence, R. I. and took a sudden turn on Route 2 in Cranston. The thought is amusing to this writer to consider the REAL Providence and its appeal - consisting until recent times - mainly of sidewalk art of prostrate bodies, being accosted by pan-handling bums, or rats scurrying about freely in daylight along the canal. In spite of these comments I would recommend this book. Read this volume and then go for a walk in the environs described therein ---watch out for "incomplete" rats......

If you want really classic Lovecraft at the top of his form, then this novel is it. It is a good, tight, driven read- except for the extensive prose tour of his beloved old Providence near the beginning. Yet, even this detailed introduction helps to weave an unmatched atmosphere that draws you deeply into Lovecraft's world. This is an ode to Providence, and to those unobtrusive and unlikely heroes that would keep it safe from cosmic evil.

Lovecraft carries us from colonial days to the "modern" 1920's in this tale. We are introduced to the hidden brotherhood of dark magicians and necromancers- those to seek to wield unnatural power from beyond the grave and beyond the stars. So much concentrated occult information, or rather enticing hints of such information, is packed into the narrative. Mystery within mystery unfolds. Yet, it is rather ordinary men that are called upon to confront this inconceivable evil, even though it threatens their very sanity.

Besides being an extremely well written tale of supernatural suspense it also serves as a teaching tale. There is madness out of time and a horror from beyond the spheres that threatens to entrap and destroy the unwary. Do not call up what ye lack the power to put down. Upon this depends more than can be put into words- all civilization, all natural law, perhaps the fate of the solar system and the universe. Perhaps even more than this- all because one fool opened a door and there was no one there with the knowledge to close it...

This is the type of story that you sit back and imerse yourself in the setting. With each new tid bit of information the horror of Joseph Curwen becomes clearer and clearer. The final chapter however sent chills down my spine, as Dr Willet searches through Curwen's undergroud, antedeluvian laboratory. The dank putrid odors, the slime green walls, and the horrific wailing from the darkness... the build up is phenominal, and the pay off will have you sleeping with your lights on!

Great read, you will go back to it again and again.

At 48,000 words, this is the longest tale that H.P. Lovecraft ever wrote. It is also his best.

This novel has both good plotting and an otherworldly atmosphere that pervades the book. The setting is 1920's New England where there was a revival in interest in the occult. However, the key to the tale is the 18th Century New England scene that Lovecraft had a lifetime interest in.

The character of Charles Dexter Ward was based on Lovecraft himself: a lonely intellectual who was an antiquarian who detested the Industrial Revolution. Ward's research into the occult leads to the reincarnation of one of his ancestors who in turn hatches a plot with both Ward and one of Ward's friends for a mass resurrection of the dead who would become mindless zombies dedicated to both the destruction of heavy industry in America as well as the forced expulsion, if not mass murder, of the Roman Catholic immigrants who Lovecraft detested so much from America.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a fantasy/horror novel that tells you a lot about its author. H.P. Lovecraft was a self-styled aristocrat from a decadent Old Money family who bitterly hated the Roman Catholic Church and especially the Irish and Italian immigrants who by 1928, when this novel was first published, had already assumed a position of political power at the expense of the WASP elite that Lovecraft was a member of. Clearly, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward was reflective of Lovecraft's religious bigotry and his hateful tendencies towards certain ethnic and religious groups. It should come as no surprise that during the 1930's, Lovecraft frequently praised Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward is a uniquely powerful and compelling work by a master of horror fantasy.

Charles Dexter Ward is a young man in Providence, RI who is fascinated by antiquities --- too fascinated, perhaps. He becomes obsessed with an ancestor, an alleged warlock named Joseph Curwen who escaped persecution in Salem over 200 years before and fled to Providence. A unusually long-lived ancestor, I might add.

If you aren't used to reading Lovecraft, or other writers of the same time period, the language and writing style might be a little tough at first, but it is well worth getting into. Lovecraft leaves a lot to the imagination of the reader --- a device that works quite well in this story.

This is one of my favorite novellas --- actually, one of my favorite stories, even. I first read when I was in high school, and I have re-read it every few years ever since. I re-read it again a couple of days ago and I still love it. This is Lovecraft at his best.

Chicken soup for the cat and dog lovers soul is a wonderful book that warms my heart and gives me a happy feeling reading thru the stories and the love people feel for there pets. When I recently lost my beloved siamese cat it helped me to feel better about my "furry baby" passing over the rainbow bridge because I knew he had a wonderful life and he knew he was cherished. All the books in the chicken soup series are very uplifting and spirtual and make people smile, I highly recommend them.

I have bought many books from this series and found this one to be my favorite. This book is a must for the animal lover. I will read a few stories before bed every night. Some stories bring tears to my eyes and others make me simle from ear to ear. Great book that people of any age will love!!

My 10 year-old son tried reading it,and thought the stories were too sad, but I adore this book. Very sweet, humbling stories about good people and good animals.

I really enjoyed this book. The main reason I liked it is because it is all about cats and dogs, and I am a hardcore animal lover. Another reason I liked it is because the stories are not made up in someone's mind. These stories are real stories that real people lived through. The last reason I liked this book so much is because you don't have to read it like an ordinary book. You can read it like I did and just jump around to stories that sound good to you, instead of reading the book cover to cover.

In this volume, Mr. Canfield and crew have compiled a smorgasboard selection of short stories about pets who fortify us and make life bearable. Especially poignant to me was "the medicine cat" as I, too, had one named Tosca. She gave up the ghost a few months ago at the age of eighteen years, as I had no way to get to her when she needed support of the kind she gave to me several years ago. They recognize the special love and devotion of animals to bless our hearts and homes.

"Cat lovers will tell you that felines are 'poetry in motion,' living sculptures at rest, and that the warm weight of a purring cat...is a surefire cure for all that ails you."

It is the physical acts of love to bring the gift of life as expressed in "The Healing Touch." I cried as I read "The Language of the Heart" about an unusual rabbit and his healing the hurt of a little girl who'd turned inward and no longer could talk. Something had died in that child which this loving rabbit cured. His innocence and trust had rekindled the same qualities in the child. The loving presence of an animal can heal where words have no effect. Alas, Roger Rabbit bit the tip off my little finger one day, which led me to the ER for a Saran-wrap bandage (to stop the bleeding -- a bandaid wouldn't work) and a tetanus shot. Needless to say, I found him another home.

"A small gesture -- the insistent tap of a cat's paw" about Jack, an adopted stray kitten (like Dante in Troy, Alabama), who grew into Ellen's savior. He woke her from a daydream of tragedy; Star woke me up with that same gesture over and over so that I would not strangle from Acid Reflux. Pets do love and care for their owners. This volume is one I will treasure for years to come. It is full of memories about pet owners' animals, not just cats and dogs.