Full-price Books

While reading "Revolution" I had a conversation with a freind, Linda, and she just purchased "The Coaching Revolution" on-line. I told Linda, I read through half of Logan and King (finishing up the excellent Core Values section), and said "You gotta look at getting this book..." Reading Logan and King is different experientially-- being that I'm reading some of what I have heard in conversations with John King. The book is an easy and quick read.

I'm reading Logan and King... and don't read books. I read text books and periodicals. I like Shakespeare and Eliot-- very prolific and also VERY dead.

Love the book. And it was particularly inspiring. Today I put my name in for a Function Manager position-- one that I am likely to be considered for, and also for a lead position in another project entirely. Thank you.

So much can be learned from this book. Obviously, a child can learn about the importance and mechanisms of canals. Additionally, there is an excellent foray into the relationship between father and son when the working world often began before the teenage years, but most importantly this book teaches us, and our children, to search our own local surroundings to learn about the history, and the people, that created it.

Simply rhyming, simply charming! describes verse and pictures!
Cute story and not so long as to lose a small child's attention span; older children will love reading it themselves.

"Santa's Sleigh Is Full" by William Boniface. Price Stern Sloan, New York, 2002.

It was brought to my attention that I had written a review for each book on my Listmania! List except this one.
So!
We purchased this book some three Christmases ago (2003) and used it to keep the grand children occupied as presents were wrapped and cookies frosted. There are four little compartments with interesting cardboard cut-outs that fit just so in the story pages. Each of my grand children used both fine motor skills and "gross" motor skills to place the cardboard toys in the correct location on the proper page. When we were done, we had truly loaded the toys one by one, as the author, William Boniface writes,

"The toys are loaded one by one
As the reindeer tug and pull.
We know our job is finally done,
When Santa's sleigh is full!"

When Christmas was done, we packed away the 30 some pieces into the four different compartments. You can take the pieces for each page and put them in a separate compartment (everything in order) or you can just put them away until the next joyous Christmas.

Wray makes the the concepts of the chartalist theory of money, functional finance, and employer of last resort understandable and interesting to even someone with no prior knowledge of the issues.

Each monster illustrated in this book has a distinctive face that really captures its personality. The layout is unique and the story is fun to read. The onomatopoeia on the last few pages make the end really special. Catch this at the bargain price while you can.

This book is great! I wasn't expecting much as it was an assigned book for a class I'm taking and the teacher's picks have been less than grand. To my great surprise this book was funny.
Georgia is a fourteen year old girl with a nack for embaressment. She somehow manages everything in her life with humor and sarcasm.
I found myself laughing because the situations are so familiar and universal. I too was the comic relief for my friends and have a life full of misfits. It feels great to see these qualities in Georgia.
Check out the movie trailer. The movie looks funny but isn't exact to the book. But what movie is?
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys laughing at themselves and finds humor in the mundane.

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This is the first book in the Georgia Nicholson series and the first time I've actually read the book. Yes, I realize I'm quite a few years late on this, but I just never really gave the books much thought until recently. The day I picked up this book at the library, I was with a friend of mine and she saw it and went "Oh, I've read that! It's really funny." And she was right...it was really funny. I wasn't laughing out loud at every page or anything like that, but it was definitely an enjoyable read for those that aren't too fond of reading or just want a fast, humorous story.
I'm definitely ready to read the next book (must get to the library) and continue reading this awesome series that is already up to book nine!
Georgia, the main character, is relatable on a lot of levels and the diary format of the book allows you to see directly into her thoughts and truly experience many of the emotions with her. I only wish I could transport myself in the story sometimes and enjoy the many escapades Georgia and the gang get themselves into too.

Another thing that I loved is that since I am American and had that version, the book was the same as the original British version, but included a Glossary in the back for the many slang words and such...I'm just happy when I come across words that I already know or recognize!

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging is the first of nine (so far) in Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series. It's basically Georgia's diary we are reading. This book starts right before Georgia is to return to school. She's 13/14 years old. She has a crazy cat named Angus and a little sister named Libby who may have peed somewhere in her room. At first I thought it would be a sweet read made for maybe junior high readers. But it was hilarious, just hilarious! I'm ready to read all the rest of the books now! Georgia and her friend Jas get into some hilarious situations along with their other friends and frenemies! I just adore this book!

This series takes place in the UK so there may be some words Americans are not familiar with. Georgia has provided us with a hilarious glossary in the back of the book. I think the difference in language allows for new laughs that we haven't seen overused in American books.

The title of her second book caught my eye one day. "On the bright side, I'm now the girlfriend of a sex god." The owner of the bookstore told me it was the second in a series though, and that I really should read the first one. I took a chance, and haven't looked back. I bought the book for a late night ferry ride, and I couldn't put the book down. Laughed my a$$ off.

I'm not a big reader, but I've read every one in the series!

There's an adult version, which could be equally as good, but I'm already 6 books in on the original version, so I'm sticking with it, and think it's more than worth the age gap between me and the main character. She's a british teenager, and she's hilarious!

There are six things very wrong with fourteen-year-old Georgia Nicolson's life at the beginning of her first diary volume (Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging):

(1) I have one of those under-the-skin spots that will never come to a head but lurk in a red way for the next two years.

(2) It is on my nose.

(3) I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.

(4) In fourteen days the summer hols will be over and then it will be back to Stalag 14 and Oberfuhrer Frau Simpson and her bunch of sadistic "teachers."

(5) I am very ugly and need to go into an ugly home.

(6) I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.

My friend "Barbie" is insanely fond of Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson series, starting with Rennison's debut novel Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging which was selected as a Michael L. Printz Honor Book in 2001. Having some free time after graduation, I decided to give the series a try. I read the first two books in as many days. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging is quite funny and I did like it, but the more I read the more I felt like I shouldn't like it.

Georgia is not always the nicest person. She can be self-centered and rude. But she is so funny that it's hard to be angry about it. As Georgia tries to figure out exactly what growing up means (aside from landing the Sex God), she often finds herself in some awkward situations (see the mention of a stuffed olive above). Although a lot of the book is outlandish in its humor, Rennison's anecdotes are generally spot on in terms of authenticity. I have the old pictures with uneven eyebrows to prove it.

Part of my problem with this novel is that I couldn't gauge if the voice was accurate. To me, Georgia's diary reads more like that of a sixteen-year-old but after consulting with "Julie" it seems that Georgia's misadventures could be accurate. Not having been the same kind of fourteen-year-old as Georgia, I needed some outside confirmation.

It also bothered me (though not enough to stop reading the series) that Georgia largely seemed exactly the same at the end of the novel as she did at the beginning. It doesn't make the book better or worse, but it was something I noticed. If you want to see a similar book with more character evolution, check out Alice, I Think by Susan Juby another laugh-out-loud funny diary book with a teen narrator albeit a Canadian one this time.

All that aside, this book is hilarious. I'm usually hesitant of diary-style books but it works well here. Rennison uses the technique to amusing effect by including the time of certain entries to illustrate Georgia's often rash temperament. Part of me wants to take Georgia under my wing and save her from herself, but the rest of me knows that if I did that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the rest of Georgia's books. Oh the moral dilemma . . .

For some added fun, be sure to check out Georgia's glossary of English terms at the end of the book.

Time is potential freedom. Energy gives you real liberty. The true currency of our life is not the hours, but what we put in those hours. We can systematically increase our capability and productivity by increasing our energy. This book shows you how.

A great myth of our society is that humans are supposed to function as machines--working constantly, simultaneously, and consistently.

In reality, humans work by having energy expenditure periods and energy recovery periods. It is like working out. You have to stress the muscle sufficiently to make it grow. Then, you have to allow time for it to actually recover.

If you stress the muscle too little, it won't ever grow. If you stress the muscle too much, it will get injured. You have to find the right amount. Happiness is always a stretch outside your comfort zone.

It is doing our recovery periods that we actually grow. Most people work for 8 hours at 50% capability. It is better to work in 90 minute cycles of 100% productivity with 30 minute rest periods in between. Three cycles of short sprints will give you 4.5 hours of 100% results compared to 4 hours with the 8 hours at 50%.

Life is a marathon, and interval training (full sprints and full rest) is the best way to run it.

The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life

The Power of Full Engagement definitely makes the The 1% Club's Top Ten List!

Ambition without peak energy is useless. This book by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz uses an athletic metaphor to illustrate how easy it is to mismanage our energy reserves, but also, how this can be corrected. This has been required reading form my clients since its release in 2003.

You will find case studies that are easy to relate to and simple, straightforward action steps to address the real energy crisis. This book is loaded with great content and has excellent chapter summaries and a complete recap at the end of the book.

Here is one key point that you should study further: "Most of us are under trained physically and spiritually (not enough stress) and over trained mentally and emotionally (not enough recovery)." Grab the highlighter!

I've shared this book with about 7 other people. Great book to give to friends who have lost their work/life balance - and a good reminder for myself.

Since we hear so much about the challenges of time management, I really enjoyed the "paradigm" of energy management. The authors' use of illustrations with professional athletes helped drive home the point about how business professionals can apply the same principles. While reading, I took the free energy management inventory and recommend that others do, too. I found taking the exercises at the end to be quite beneficial to my own discernment and definition of purpose. Make the time to read this book!

The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz is great book that offers good information and practical recommendations which are easy to implement. The authors share real examples throughout the book that almost anyone can relate to their own daily life. I love the balance of energy - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. If you aren't happy with your life - feeling stressed, overworked, down on power, missing something, ... - read this book! With an open mind and a desire to change, you will find useful information that you can immediately begin to use to change your life.

I LOVE the entire concept of Volumetrics... Eat as much as you want and lose weight! Seriously, we can all benefit from Volumetrics' advice -eat more fruit and vegetables, drink more water, and consume fewer fats and simple carbs. Above all else, I appreciated the gentle reminder to forive yourself when you eat things that are bad for you. We are far from perfect, and this diet (and its authors) recognizes this fact and helps us overcome our guilt and anxiety about our shortcomings.

Much useful information about choosing food while on a diet.Did you know that 1/4 cup of raisins and 1 and 2/3 cups of grapes each have about 100 calories? Obviously the grapes are much more filling and satisfying.The book also includes diet samples.

Wish I would have found this 7-8 years ago when it was first published.

I lost 65 pounds but became stuck for a year or more. This book helped me break the plateau...and I'm on the way down again!

THIS BOOK IS FABULOUS AND WELL PRICED TOO. IT GIVES WONDERFUL INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTROL YOUR DIET WITH VOLUMES OF FOOD. I FIND IT VERY USEFUL AND THE RECIPES INSIDE ARE JUST AWESOME!!!

How can air in food make you more satisfied - make you eat less? How can it curb a tendency to be fat, or reverse a trend?

Can it? Turns out - yes.

Feed a hungry college student a half glass full of smoothie and they will eat 20% more at lunch ½ later than the college student who drinks the SAME smoothie only whipped until it swells to a full glass with air. Not only that, but the ones that eat the airy smoothie don't make it up at their next meal.

My brother, John, and my food guru, Dick, have both recommended Mindless Eating and Volumetrics to you and me. I finally read them. Actually, John recommends listening to Mindless Eating as a book on tape, so that's what I did. I recommend it.

Listen to get the fun of it and the flavor of it. Then get the book to read the summaries of what to do.

Both titles don't really work to tell you their messages. The subtitle of Volumetrics is great - Feel Full On Fewer Calories. I'd rewrite that to read - Feel Satisfied on Fewer Calories.

It's not my job to re-title these excellent books. Mindless Eating deals with how our brains are tricked to eat more than we want by other visual cues and often by genuine optical illusions.

You could summarize Volumetrics - We don't eat calories, we eat size, volume. We are stratified by greater volume and not necessarily by greater calories. Satisfied means you eat less, means you lose fat and still feel, well, satisfied.

These are not deprivation diet books. DEPRIVATION DIETS DON'T WORK. And need I say, not fun.

The two cheapest ingredients in food are water and air. Adding air or water is the simplest way to feel more satisfied with no additional calories. You read about air in the smoothie above. Soup is food with water added. Raisins are grapes with water removed.

Let's see what that does for you...


Raisins

Which is more satisfying. ¼ cup of raisins or nearly 2 cups of grapes (50 ml or 500 ml). The metric numbers makes the size difference even more startling. Exact same number of calories. Exact same food. One has water; one doesn't.

Which would you choose if you wanted to feel most satisfied?

Yep, me too.


Soup is the Free Lunch of Satisfaction

I live on good soup, not words. - Molière

Even though soup is mostly water, you and your body perceive it as food. This is very counter intuitive to me.

Proof? Give people a 270 calorie chicken-rice casserole and a glass of water as a first course to a luncheon.

Give another group the same casserole with the water added to it to make it a soup. Check both groups to see how much they ate for the rest of lunch.

The soup people ate 100 calories less of the lunch that followed and didn't make up the loss at dinner. Cool, yes! Soup created more satiety, satisfaction. Other experiments showed that chunky soup creates more satisfaction than strained soup. And hot and cold soups both create the same benefits.

You can read the physiology in the books if you're interested. But this seems like magic to me.


Bag the Peanut Butter

I over eat peanut butter; it is one of the highest density foods you can find. If I eat volume, then you have to eat a mountain of calories to get a decent volume.

If I lived alone, I would just not bring it into the house. Obviously you can use this useful tip for all your trigger foods. Since I live with the Mysterious Madame Ling, who likes peanut butter on apples, I simply put the peanut butter in a brown paper bag.

Not only is this -- Out of sight, out of mind -- it puts inconvenience into the circuit making it harder to mindlessly eat.

Note: You may be and I am on a seafood diet, I eat everything I see. Out of sight, out of mind.


OK, One Optical Illusion

People perceive tall as more than short.

Remember the optical illusion from childhood of the upside down T. They ask which is longer - the horizontal part or the vertical section.

People say the vertical is up to 20% taller when they are in fact the same length. (The illusion is so strong for me, that I got out a ruler and tested it.)

Tall thin glasses will have you drinking less wine, juice, or Coke. And again, you will feel satisfied. Remove the short squat glasses from your life, unless you want to increase your consumption of water, then the idea works in your favor. I drink water out of a Bavarian beer mug.


Action

If you have people in your family who need to monitor fat gain, get the books, read them, and then apply the tricks.

Eat well,

William

"Full Moon" is a selection of about one hundred pictures of different lunar american missions. The selection and the digital improvement has been made by Michael Light, and all has been done from an artistic perspective.
If you're looking for a very comprehensive lunar mission day-to-day, interviews with astronauts or a nice reproduction of "that" picture, this is not definitely your book.
But if you want, for a moment, walk on the moon, travel outside the Earth and dance with the stars, then buy it.

This is a beautiful book. It is a series of photos from various Apollo missions, put together in a way to illustrate a voyage from Earth to the moon & back. The photos take up whole pages, or are panorama fold-outs. The photos are crystal clear. I have seen close-ups made from these photos before, but never the originals as are in Full Moon. That's when I realized the resolution of the cameras the Apollo astronauts were using was incredible.
My only disappointment was that my copy arrived with the dustjacket all scraped up and dented, and the edges of many of the pages were mangled, so I had to return it. The book still gets 5 stars because that is no fault of the publisher, or Michael Light. I'll buy it again when I can find a good copy at a "bricks & mortar" bookstore; it's worth the extra $$.

A rare glympse at other-world light and shadow phenomena presented in photographs from an exciting time in our space journey. The presentation is a beautiful reminder that we were once there and need to go back to "check on things."

If you are looking for a book with all the same press shots you've seen a thousand times then this book isn't for you. The panoramic composits are excellent and the choice of photos is very intelligent. See what Apollo was really about in this book. The quality in terms of photo reproduction and book design is impeccable.

I can use "picture book" to describe Full Moon, as images contributed as the major part of this book. Don't think that this book is not worth reading, indeed, it is on the contrary, this is an extraordinary book, because of the photos.

There are a lot of astronomy books contain lots of photos, but when you read them, you would find the images are not so good at all, but not because of the photo itself, because of the low resolution. And if you are familiarize with those photos, you would immediately notice that the original photo is not so small in resolution. It is really a very bad idea for the publisher and editor to ignore the importance of image resolution.

However, when you first look into Full Moon, you will find you're getting into a different world as you are already delighted by the spectacular images of the Moon taken from Apollo Mission. Normally, owing to the technological limitation in 1960s and 1970s, all images are only mostly available as hard copy and not so high resolution. However, Project Full Moon can turn those hard copies into very high resolution images. I can even tell you that, NASA even don't have such high resolution images before.

Since these reasons, I would rank this book as my list of Top 10 Astronomy Book. If you really love astronomy, you must not miss this book, miss the extraordinary journey to the Moon