Economic-Life Books

I recieved this book at an engagement gift and can honestly say it has been a time and money saver. Skip buying all those magazines for advice and ideas...almost every tip I torn out of a magazine I found in one place-this book. My fiance actually read throught the book before I did (tactfully noting the things I should read, mostly about gender differences.) There is GREAT advice about things you should do BEFORE the wedding so that you actually get your happily ever after, ei. what to look for in a pre-marital counselor and life-issues to discuss with your spouse to be. I will definately be giving this book to others as gifts.

I am a long time fan of this author and can confidently recommend any of her books. This one is fun and easy to read, hard to forget, and definately entertaining.

Know someone newly engaged? Ellie Kay's book The New Bride Guide is an excellent gift choice. Her personal experiences and practical advice are needed to, "walk the bride down the aisle" so to speak, with beforehand knowledge of what's to come. You just have to read this book to believe all the topics explored. Tips, tips and more tips. There's even a few sounds great recipes to try.

As a woman engaged to marry an Air Force fighter pilot, this book was extremely helpful. I'm actually beginning to believe that I'll survive the first year of marriage :-)

I haven't been to a wedding in over 15 years. So this book was
extremely helpful - who pays for what, the differences between two people, what to call the in-laws, how to save money.
Very insightful, very funny and practical. I bought one copy when my daughter got engaged and now am buying another one for
my son's fiancee. Well worth the price.

I received this book after I got engaged from my mother who ordered it from a Christian book catalog on a lark. I am forever grateful she did! Out of the dozen or so wedding planning books I bought/ received this first chapter of this book was more enlightening and applicable to planning my wedding! Secondly, it is not a book about wedding planning--she starts there and quickly moves on to what matters: the marriage your entering into as a new bride. She touches on dealing with family, merging households, ideas, finances, plans, etc. There is a Christian edge, but not to the point where I think it would dissuade anyone of any other faith or no faith from reading it and gaining insight. It's well-written and practical and definitely the very best bride book you could bestow upon any bride.

Contains actionable, practical, valuable advice for women AND MEN. The recognition that "having it all" means different things to different people and still involves sacrifices and tradeoffs is refreshingly honest and realistic.

I loved the book. Susan Abram's advice is insightful and important, and her messages are very positive...absolutely inspirational! The power pointers and chapter summaries are terrific tools for busy women to carry supportive reminders with them through busy days.

New Success Rules for Women was a great read (even if you aren't climbing to the top of anything). Great anecdotes and examples from the lives of very interesting, successful people (who happen to all be women!). Full of tips and lessons for women in any field--buy it for a friend.

Women who want strategy ideas for achieving career goals will find this an important guide which gathers the ideas of presidents, vice presidents, CEOs and directors - all women in high positions in their companies. Their anecdotes serve as the foundation for practical tips by women who started at the bottom and worked their way up.

As President of The Association of Chicago Bank Women, I strongly recommend this book for both mid-career women and recent college graduates employed across all business sectors. The interviews provide thought-provoking insight into career strategies of seasoned veterans and the advice given is refreshingly down-to-earth. For example, Abrams shares the Pittsburgh Airport tip and dedicates a chapter "To thine own self be true"---common sense reminders in today's global business world. This book will be on every successful woman's desk who wants to go places in the New Millenium and is hereby endorsed by The Association of Chicago Bank Women.

No More Blue Mondays helped me in the transition to move on...I was really having terrible mondays, i didn't want to go to work anymore...This book was great, help me a lot with my decision (I made a change in carrer), this was 1 year ago, and i can truly say it help me to take the best decision and make the transition smooth. Also it is a very easy to read and apply book. The price is nothing in comparison with the benefits...i did not need any professional help...this book was enough.

No More Blue Mondays helped me get out of the rut of unproductive, self-examination and moved me to begin researching what I really wanted to do with my work life. This book very practically and very specifically guided me from frustration, feeling 'too old' or 'not qualified' to real empowerment in choosing my new direction. Sheerer very pointedly tells you to 'get over it' when feelings of self-pity become obstacles to your appreciation of your own talents and possibilites. Action plans get you moving and involved in discovering the next career step way before the process of applying for specific positions even begins. This book really helped me to know my own heart which moved me to a career path that I have always wanted. No More Blue Mondays and no more switching jobs every three years out of dissatisfaction.

Thank you, Robin, for the wisdom, practical guidance, and down-to-earth nature of your book. It had an immediate and profound impact on me personally.

Two weeks ago, I ordered your book for what I thought would be a resource for my career coaching clients. Yet I quickly realized that I was really reading it for my own benefit. I had insight after insight for myself, saw clearly how off track my business had become, and what I wanted to do to redesign it.

Your four keys to finding fulfillment at work enabled me to quickly get to the core of what was going on for me and brought to the forefront the actions I needed to take to get back on course. I highly recommend your book to anyone who wants to find more satisfaction and fulfillment in their work. In my eyes, "No More Blue Mondays" is the best career book on the market!

I always knew this was a truly great book. Now, it appears, everyone agrees with me! No More Blue Mondays was just given a Ben Franklin Award. This means that this is the top book for the year in the Career area as rated by publishing industry professionals. Read it and find out why!

I've been a career consultant since 1979, and this book is fresh! Most of the career books I've seen are filled with theory and instructions, but show little proof that it works. Here, finally, is a book that is not only right on the money, but it's believable. What I mean is that Robin's book is full of real-life examples; person after person, example after example, story after story. You get it: her "four keys" are not dreamt up in some ivory tower -- they are practical, applicable, powerful, field-tested tools to accomplish a successful career transition. They really work.

When I read other career books, my mind often says, "Well, that's nice in theory, but how do you do that in the real world?" Well, it's clear that Robin's "four keys" have played out, time and again, in real-life people. By aptly illustrating the theory, these stories activate a different part of my brain -- they get me motivated, thinking, "Hey, if so-and-so can do this, so can I!" It's not pie in the sky, happily ever after, career fairy tales. Robin's people are real. You feel their pain. You hear their discouragements, wrong turns, applaud their persistence. You follow their paths of doubt and courage, you see how human and fallable they are (just like you), and you also see how the "four keys" have guided their way out of the toughest career predicaments. And you believe those keys work for you, too!

If you're looking for a book that will have you cheering for others, and, then, soon, cheering for yourself, this is it.

Sarah Anderson and Jane Kelsey provide an insightful and engrossing overview of the world of careers with plants. The breadth and depth of the various career portraits are impressive, and speak to readers of all ages. The authors' non-patronizing and earnest tone makes the book an enjoyable read. This book is a must-have for young scientists and plant enthusiasts!

I concur with the vivid enthusiam being shared in these reviews for Ms. Kelsey's book and the loss to the world of plant-literature of Ms. Kelsey's retirement from the written word. If there could ever be written prose that comes close to the perfection of Ms. Kelsey in Plants, however, it is undoubtedly the review of Plants written by a brillant New York Critic, Ms. Amy Listerman (see review below). Ms. Listerman, in her poignant and moving critique of Plants, touches to the very soul of Kelsey's style and influene. Ms. Listerman is not swayed by the pulls of the masses, like the blossoming seedling Herb from Alaska or our mystery readers from NYC and Oxford. Ms. Listerman, by referring to her own wasted-by-non-plant-pursuits youth, is a critic not to be overlooked in the rush to, quite deservingly, praise Ms. Kelsey. Ms. Kelsey is, after all, a peach (or so we hear from various sources).

A lot of career information was packed into just 96 pages. Written in an easy-to-read style, "Plants" gives young people a chance to review many career choices for those who enjoy working with plants. The reader is offered a variety of choices of careers requiring PHD, MS, BS, or little education. The authors interviewed culturally diverse people with a variety of life stories to tell. They included information on salary, getting started, and education required. This book is a must for high school career centers and junior high libraries.

Miss Anderson and Miss Kelsey's book on careers in botany is a wonderful snapshot of a variety of avenues people working with plants have taken. Both informative and captivating, interviews with men and women working in the field of botany bring children and adults a first-hand glimpse of the character of their work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in plants or gardening. Two green thumbs up!

This book is a true American classic. Plants demonstrates the tremendous maturation process Ms. Kelsey has experienced since her original work, Science. Written in lucid prose, Plants demonstrates Ms. Kelsey's masterful grasp of English language and ability to express complex concepts with the uptmost clarity. Through her heartwarming tales examining the lives of several complex characters, Ms. Kelsey has guarenteed Plants' position among the most beloved of American novels. Memories of Patrick Elvander's enduring love of Botany, and Justus von Liebig's life-long sacrifice and struggle culminating in the invention of Liebig's Extract will remain with Plants' readers and shape their lives. Ms. Kelsey's work is truly a masterpiece to be shelved alongside Faulkner, Austen, and Dickens, and will be a valuauble tool in classrooms for decades to come. It is a tragic loss to the English language that Ms. Kelsey has discarded her pen for other pursuits, but fortunately she has blessed us with a glimpse her brilliance. Ms. Kelsey's brief career will remain an enigma for years to come as literary historians debate what masterpieces she could have produced had the obvious talent manifested in Plants been cultivated in other works.

My thanks to the authors for sharing- honestly, openly and truthfully- what it really takes in business to maximize objectives that include but go beyond the simple pursuit of profit. This is a must read for anyone who wants to launch or scale a socially responsible business venture.

I have discovered Tea Mind! The tea is mine. It is now. It is hot. Oh evenness. Oh flow. Oh swallow of presence. I am a zentrepreneur!

I found a new appreciation for tea in fact before reading this book but now that I've read it I have further confirmed the splendor of this drink and I love coffee too! You have to read this book if you are curious about Tea Mind but you also have to read this book if you are passionate about ideas and need to bring these ideas into the execution stage. Also includes a real business plan - the one used to form 'The Republic;' a living example!

So much beyond the tea but the tea is enough! Check out their Web site and order their catalog then maybe order some tea and taste it to complete the tangibility of this company's birth.

This book has been an extremely usful resource to my company. Although my company also started small, Team 5 Technologies, it is now a large corperation. This book helped me understand more about giving the customer what they want, and putting myself in the customers shoes. After all, a company is only worth the value of it's products. With this is mind my good friends, read the book, Nick J. Frost - T5T

If you're in a partnership, starting a business, or just looking for some inspiration to keep you focused on the direction you're going, then buy this book.

The illustrations and the background "thinking" that are added to the conversation truly give the reader a sense of understanding.

What I found to be the most interesting is how quickly the entire idea of TROT came together. Within a month of meeting, Mel and Bill had the ideas and the philosophy of TROT down. When it comes down to it, there was very little change from those initial conversations until the final product launched.

Mel & Patricia Zeigler are geniuses at creating raving fan businesses. They were the originators of the greatest store I've ever been in, Banana Republic. They sold it to the Gap and it is NOTHING like it's former self, which was reminescent of an Indiana Jones adventure complete with jungle headquarters and a jeep.

This book documents their next venture and details how they developed the business. It is like an adventure as you follow the letters to each other with new ideas.

If anything, I use this as a model for writing business plans. That's the biggest compliment I can give.

Anyone who has been in or around a vehicle (driver, passenger, or pedestrian) will relate to Sherman's 12 life essentials. A quick yet memorable read...great gift for anyone on the road of life!

We all have the knowledge of how to navigate 'the road of life' but all too often forget key elements along the way. Andrew's book provides an excellent way to plan our route more deliberately and to draw on the key components when we stray off course. Great approach to a much needed topic!

In this challenging time its nice to have a refreshing read that simply puts things in perspective. Hats off to a well written, spot on book!

When it first go rolling I thought "Road Rules" was going to run out of gas. Who can make the driving analogy last an entire book and keep the readers interest the entire time? Andy Sherman did it with this one.

He tapped in to the richness of the shared experience of driving and paralleled it to the path of our lives. How we drive, what we drive, where we are going and what gauges we should be watching to assess progress all come into play. I though it was a thoughtful and broad view of life and our meaning on this plant - all tied to our time on the road.

This is a perfect book for a new grad or someone in the middle of their life that is wondering, "Is this is? Is there more?" Buy 1 for yourself and 2 for friends.

I'll be the first to admit it was the title that drew me into reading this book... Road Rules: Be the Truck. Not the Squirrel. Learn the 12 Essential Rules for Navigating the Road of Life by Andrew J. Sherman. Just something comical (to me at least), comparing life skills to trucks and squirrels (and by extension, road kill). I wasn't sure he could keep the analogy of life being like driving throughout the whole book. But to my surprise, he actually pulled it off, and the result is a solid and unique way to look at personal life skills.

Contents:
Introduction
Road Rule #1: Be the Truck. Not the Squirrel.
Road Rule #2: Share the Road
Road Rule #3: Happiness is a Clear Windshield
Road Rule #4: Embrace Your Dashboard
Road Rule #5: Pay Careful Attention to the Road Signs of Life
Road Rule #6: Be Guided by Your Navigational System
Road Rule #7: Don't Fear the Back Roads
Road Rule #8: Be an All-Weather Driver
Road Rule #9: Accidents Can Happen Even to the Best Drivers
Road Rule #10: Objects in the Rearview Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
Road Rule #11: Life Is A Four-Way Intersection
Road Rule #12: Don't Judge A Driver by His Vehicle
Random Thoughts and Bumper Stickers

Looking at the 12 rules, you can probably figure out relatively quickly where he's going with each analogy. For instance, a truck is a strong, durable vehicle that gathers momentum and is driven with a purpose. Squirrels, on the other hand, are running from place to place, eating acorns and minding their own business until they happen to wander into the path of a truck. Road kill! Sherman starts from this point to guide you through actions and mindsets that place you in the position of becoming a truck on the road of life rather than the smushed squirrel at the side of the road. I was personally impacted by rule #7. Not fearing the back roads shows how you often need to change paths and take alternative routes to get where you're going. It may be that the established path is taking too long, or perhaps there's an accident that has brought your progress to a halt. Unless you are willing to look for a different road to your destination, you're going to be stuck (or severely delayed) and prevented from reaching your destination. Something I have to keep reminding myself of...

Sherman does an excellent job in drawing applications from various and diverse sources. He may go from classic spiritual passages to modern pop music lyrics all in the space of a paragraph. But instead of looking like random thoughts, he does successfully tie them into a cohesive message. If you've read other personal improvement books, Road Rules will not offer up any deep mystical truths that you've never encountered before. But what it *will* do is remind you of important truths that will change your mindset next time you turn the key and pull out of your driveway.

After reading Earl G. Graves's bitter autobiography, I fully expected John H. Johnson's manuscript for success to be riddled with distain. I was pleasantly surprised however to find that Johnson; through such works as, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, and How to Win Friends..., by Dale Carnegie, made a fortune turning social negatives into profitable and professional positives. Having met eight U. S. Presidents along the way, Johnson's autobiography is a refreshing treatise on determination. It should be noted that much of Johnson's success came about before integration, when the African American community lived by the, "it takes a village," mentality. The nurturing he was provided during the early years provided for a favorable turn of events ultimately guiding him; not without the requisite obstacles, toward a life of success. John H. Johnson's, `Succeeding Against the Odds,' is a testament to the spoils of desire, determination, delayed gratification and a strong belief in ones self. Bravo Mr. Johnson, well done! I issue this glowing review however with a caveat; there are a few grammatical errors; thus, my conservative rating, nevertheless, this was a fun read.

I bought this Book way back in 1992.I always Admired Mr.John H.Johnson for all that He overcame&also for providing Ebony&Jet into my early childhood all the to the present. what He overcame&what He Accomplsihed is truly incredible. He created magazines that spoke&gave Black America a Fair shake at the Newsstand&also showed our world in a up-lifting light. John H.Johnson is a true Pioneer who trail-blazed so much for the better.RIP&this is a Must have Book.

I could definitely related to Mr.Johnson's story. It is inspiring, insightful, and truly a guide to those of us on the often obstacle laden road to success.

Never allow your personal feelings or emotions to close the doors of oppourtunities. Where the is a will there truly is a way. His story is remarkable and his book enables you to understand that yours is too.

Think and Grow Rich...

This book uplifted the self esteem of me and many other African Americans. It was the story of a black man raised in rural Arkansas who had a dream. He figured out at an early age that African Americans wanted to know about what was happening in their community. There where only so many if any stories about us in Life Magazine. And if they did publish something about us it was negative. Why couldn't African Americans have a magazine of their own? One that told stories, positive stories about our lives, our heroes, and our history. This book gave me hope to know that even a lower middle class, African American boy from the Bronx like myself could grow up and strive for greatness amongst our people and the rest of society. John H. Johnson's publications are over 50 years old now and are still giving us stories that uplift our minds, bodies and spirits. Reading this book is not only a joy and a honor but it should be required reading for all African Americans and focal point of reading for all others.

In his book, Johnson states "There is an advantage in every disadvantage, and a gift in every problem" and "I believe that the greater the handicap the greater the triumph." By this he means to say that disadvantage creates opportunities and forces one to do more with less. He believed that disadvantages were "...challenges to be overcome and not facts to be accepted." A disadvantage provides a challenge that, with the proper motivation and mindset, forces one to try a little harder and work a little smarter.

Two distinct disadvantages that Johnson cites are early in his life: 1) Arkansas City (his birthplace) did not provide a high school education for African Americans, and 2) The economic depression stemming from the Great Depression. These two disadvantages, when taken together, provided a sort of "critical mass" that propelled Johnson on the trajectory that is his story -- his move to Chicago and subsequent business endeavors.

The fact that the disadvantages cited above were realized so early in life is worth note. There is a scientific discipline known as "Chaos Theory" that, among other precepts, states that the time evolution of a series of interrelated complex events is extremely sensitive to the system's initial condition. The analogy that may be drawn to Johnson's life is this: had he not moved to Chicago due to his ambition and his Mother's tremendous sacrifices for her son's education, it would have become increasingly difficult for Johnson to have succeeded to the extent he did, as chronicled in his autobiography.

This statement is supported by the many references he makes in the book about the seemingly random events that led to his success as a businessman; Johnson states, "I'm scared someone with pinch me and wake me up." Thus, it seems that the many disadvantages the author faced throughout life, most notably (in his words) early in life, created an advantage, which led him to great wealth and notoriety.

For all women who have any doubts on how to succeed in the workplace and find satisfaction and feelings of accomplishment in their career and jobs. Full of wonderful practical strategies and exercises in easy to follow and read formats.
Also for any woman who needs to rethink and/or recommit to a chosen career pathway.

The Successful Woman's Guide to Working Smart demonstrates over and over the types of challenges and opportunities a working woman or, for that matter man, meets in ordinary business life. Caitlin Williams uses examples from real people that acknowledge time pressures and conflicting priorities. Her questions for reflection are simple, yet profound, and can bring to light personal obstacles that are holding us back.

This book is deceptively easy to read and can be read in small bites. Yet, each page has some nugget of wisdom that can be put to use. Ms. Williams takes into consideration that many women were not raised to advocate for themselves. She teaches us how to overcome shyness about promoting ourselves and gives practical suggestions for taking actions that aren't aggressive, but help us feel more participative in our workplaces.

Some of the strengths Ms. Williams writes about are already developed in many women. In this book, we can learn how to build on those strengths even more and feel and act more confident in the future. Probably the quality I like best about this book is it's premise that women are good professional people that don't need to be 'fixed.' I especially recommend this book for women beginning their worklife, whether young or after another life stage. It can give you a good jump start.

This book about working smart is an inspiring book from start to finish. Wherever you are in your career, you will find this book empowering. This book causes you exam where you are in life and where you are headed. The suggestions and strategies are not only thought provoking, but life changing. The exercises will cause you to look inside yourself and draw from one's inner strength. The use of personal accounts makes the book more genuine. This book is a necessity for all women.

Caitlin Williams provides inspiration and practical tips for succeeding in an evolving work world. Equipped with real-life stories, the "Successful Woman's Guide to Working Smart," sheds light upon the challenges that women face on a daily basis in the workplace. The personal assessments create a workshop feel, while helping you to recognize your strengths and identify areas that need work. This book is essential in today's world where women are constantly striving to achieve a sense of balance without making sacrifices within their careers.

In Successful Woman's Guide To Working Smart: 10 Strengths That Matter Most, Caitlin Williams draws upon contemporary research, keen insights into current workplace realities, as well as the professional and personal spheres of the modern woman's life to establish that while women already have what is necessary to succeed in today's business climate, their are challenges and opportunities that demand new skills and a new mindset. Williams presents four principle themes: Inner Resilience (core strengths enabling a woman to perceive herself as confident, self-reliant, and capable of shaping her life in the way she deserves); Career Enhancement (career-building strengths enabling a woman to increase skills and a sense of competence, explore a full range of emerging opportunities, and flourish in professional life); Quality Of Life (nurturing strengths enabling a woman to take better care of herself and thrive in all aspects of her life); and The Big Picture (capstone strengths enabling a woman to contribute significantly to a corporate bottom line and position herself for leadership opportunities and future success). Successful Woman's Guide To Working Smart is invaluable reading for any woman contemplating entering the work force, as well as those women already on the job and seeking to maximize both their opportunities, achievements, and satisfactions in the workplace.

There Is No Place Like Work...is an excellent tool for an organizational tune-up! My company's vision and mission are current and consistent, we are not looking to start over. But we have many entry level positions and a limited career ladder so we are constantly bringing new people into the organization. Using the tools that are provided in the book helped us to sharpen our presentations (tell our story)better, internally and to outside audiences. Additionally, we use the principals in our strategic leadership team as part of our planning process. This book is a winner!

Do you want to change careers? Do you want to start a business venture? Do you want to be crystal clear as to the direction you want to go with your business? Then might I suggest you read this book. While it is a metaphor to the wizard of oz, it is written beautifully so as to make you decide where you want to go with your business.
The information was just enough to get the wheels turning as to what is important and more importantly why?
I spent the day pondering the message in the book and created a business model that I am looking forward to implement tomorrow.

Good Luck to you.

As a "headhunter" of 15 years, I have been a consultant to companies who are trying to attract top talent to their organizations. I have also worked with top-notch candidates who are searching to associate themselves with companies who are the best in their fields. What I have found is, that, which most excites quality, talented, qualified individuals to a new employer, is the company's leadership, their purpose, their culture and their core values. After reading "There Is No Place Like Work", I concluded that this easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, easy-to-follow and easy-to-implement guide is a "must read" for every business owner, CEO, executive, manager and human resources professional. Kudos to Drs. Margolis and Wilensky for writing a handbook that can help businesses be the best that they can be.

Whether you're starting a brand new business or have been at the helm for 20 years, Ava and Sheila's 5 P's put workplace culture simply and concisely into perspective. From the first page to the last, you will find yourself fascinated by how easily their insights can be plugged right into your situation. This book will absolutely increase your bottom line!

Excellent Reading! I thoroughly enjoyed it and see how it can be beneficial!!!! I plan to put it to good use!!!

As our western civilization "evolves" our connection with our food supply has diminished to the point where the basic understanding of farming and the processes involved has diminished. One thing we all know despite this is that food comes from seeds. But what if seeds were no longer available or if they were only viable with the purchase of support chemicals? What would happen if the world's food supply were contaminated with a corporate gene that eliminated our ability and right to save seeds? Bob Dylan wrote in one of his apocalyptic songs from the seventies "One day even your home garden will be against the law". This is what is happening in the name of "Feeding the World", the mantra of the corporations bringing us "better living" with genetic engineering. But so far there has not been a genetically engineered crop that has benefited anyone but corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta. Claire has weaved together a compelling call to action and a succinct report of the direction agriculture is heading. I recommend that you arm yourself with this book and prepare to defend.

Uncertain Peril provides a vivid description of the crisis at hand for our food system and the seed source that provides the foundation for all of the ecosystems we depend upon. Claire Cummings describes the crisis in a way that allows for understanding and action, the two ingredients that offer the only solution at hand. The book covers the current socio-political landscape surrounding genetic materials in a fair and factual manner. The book should be on the reading list of all citizens and particularly educators, high school through college, concerned with the interface of science, food, farming and health.

Uncertain Peril provides an excellent depiction of how corporations have gained control of our food supply. It clearly describes ways that the entire global community's inherent right to grow food is under attack by a multinational corporate agenda. Cummings beautifully describes the core connection between Indigenous cultures and food and how everyone's access to seeds is being eroded by premeditated greed that stops at nothing. Claire also provides specific ways out of the peril. An important work for everyone to fully understand how the future of our food supply is at serious risk. [...]

I used to work for Monsanto and thought they were wonderful to work for. i got caught up in their science. as i have got older and switched from conventional to organic farming i have been keenly made aware of just what is going on. Seeing my soil come back to life, diversity in wildlife, beneficial insects and microlife is short of a religous experience. to think i was an addict and they were my dealer!!! what corporations are doing with seeds, chemicals and our freedom to farm is true. Anyone denying this, is either bribed, employed by them, or they own lots of stock and could care less what the agenda is. as our culture transformed from a rural to mostly urban one it's easy to see how most people have tuned out what is going on with their food. what a shame. Claire wrote this book with passion, i read it with passion. God, i wish i could meet her. Claire, thank you for this book, great job.

Young Farmers, urban food activists, locavores and Kingsolverites--those of us who are newly concious about the food we put in our mouths, and the landscape behind that food--> If we've arrived on the scene in recent years, then we never really knew agriculture pre-biotech.

We have learned too late of the gross contamination of our food supply, the 70% of processed foods on our super market shelves that have GMO ingredients, the vast plantations of GMO soybean in Brazil, the open air testing of experimental pharma-drugs and GMOs in Hawaii, the ever more hyperbolus corn fields in our own midwest. These tragedies of monoculture are the result of a deliberate process carried out before our time, and before our involvement in the food system.

While a lot of these biotech developments occurred before my generation got involved in sustainable agriculture, the approval for these technologies and the intellecutal property rights precedents occured at the highest levels. There is a wonderful French film that just came out about Monsanto ( The World According to Monsanto) with a clip of George Bush senior touring the Monsanto research facility and saying "Well if you have any trouble with the FDA let me know, we're in the DEREG business."


With current talk about the 'spike' in food prices funding development for yet another round of "Roundup Ready" crops, with unprecedented hunger pangs, and the recent focus of the Gates Foundation on Biotech for Africa-- what better time to learn what we can from the corrupt history of the Agro-bioscience industry. False promises, superweeds, hegemony and monoculture, lets stop the proliferation of GMO agriculture as soon as we can.