Or-better

This book is by far the best book next to creature features. If you like Ataru's anitics in all of the other books, you will love For Better Or Curse. Ataru is cursed yet again by a beautiful girl. But now he is being followed by the Rain Demon!

Enter within and witness the saga of Michael and Deanna's wedding. For all of you who have lived through weddings as a bride, groom or immediate family, you will easily identify with all the wedding preparations, conflicts and joys. The only thing I regreted while reading it was how grown-up Michael has become. However, I just pulled out an older book by Lynn and revisited. But think....only a great author can make you care about characters so much that you hate to see them "grow up." Cheers to Lynn and please keep them coming!

Lynn Johnston is in a class by herself. She is by far and away the best illustrator and story teller ever to hit the funny pages. She's great! Her courage in portraying homosexuality, death, and adult themed issues, e.g. divorce and business is to be applauded. Her characters are all convincing and believable, and with the exception of obnoxious, spoiled April, truly delightful.

This book is in a class by itself. Nobody in cartoon history has created such delightful (save for April with her fresh mouth) and believable characters. Nobody else has been brave enough to confont issues like breast exams, death of family members and loss of pets as well as homosexuality. It is a brave new look at a superior caliber of comics that is more than just a comic.

HATS OFF TO LYNN JOHNSTON!

Dealing with death is never easy, but Lynn Johnston manages it with humor and tact. Grandma Marian died, and although sad, it was never morbid. I would recommend this book to someone dealing with loss, as it shows that letting go isn't easy, but it can be done.

Some of the advice in this book is great, especially on suggestions for enjoying meals socially without feeling like a freak. However, based on the title and the author's condition, it's easy to assume that the only foods recommended in the book are gluten-free, and that's not true. Several of the recipes and purchased-food recommendations are wheat-free, but not gluten-free, and are NOT clearly identified as such. I found the tone to be rather snobbishly superior, as well- perhaps a nice book for those in the caviar-eating set, but not written for the unprivileged who can not expect to be waited on hand and foot or to be able to afford all the specialty foods the author considers necessities.

I've had this book since late August '03, and already I have probably read through the entire thing about 4 or 5 times..and it's still great! Not only does it have tons of information, tips, & recipes, ...it is HILARIOUS! Reading it makes me feel like maybe i'm not the biggest weirdo for having to dissect my food in front of everyone at a dinner party. I swear, any celiac/wheat intolerant person who reads this will finally be able to laugh out loud at all the funny/eccentric things (i.e. eating caviar w/ a spoon, bringing your own rice pasta to Italian restaurants) that one tends to go through with gluten/wheat intolerance. Especially after you've just been diagnosed (as I had), it's great to know that there's someone else out there who has the same annoying issues as i do (i.e. difficulty eating out at restaurants, dining with friends), and can offer some good advice on how to cope.

So, the next time you're down in the dumps because you had to sit through your neighbor's pizza party by munching on peanuts and carrot sticks (and gathering weird/pitiful looks from others at the same time), don't sit and mope..go and read "Against the Grain" and you'll be a happier camper!

... is the first line of the book. And after reading this book, you'll no longer occassionally wish you were. Bread - wheat - is such a huge part of the American diet that it seems like there's NOTHING to eat without it. This book is wonderfully funny, easy to read, and extremely informative. If you have celiac, or if you're close to someone who does, BUY THIS BOOK!

The only thing it's missing is info for those of us with both celiac and diabetes. (A common combo). Otherwise, I can't praise it enough.

"For Better or For Worse" is not a typical comic strip; the characters get older, some die, some get new friends; it is an ongoing saga about life. Lynn's work can be outrageously funny, sad and, as some other reviewers have pointed out, schmaltzy.

I have tried to read the strip every day since I first discovered it (twenty years ago). I can't guarantee a belly laugh every day, but you will think about the characters and worry about them. This is the difference between FBOFW and other strips - who cares about Dilbert or BC?

Even with my long history with the strip, this introduction to the characters was perfect to reflect on what has happened and who all the characters (some of whom don't show up for months on end). In the book Lynn says she has more story lines than panels to hold them - let's hope this is true for a very long time.

When I found this book, I at first thought that it might be an autobiography of sorts of the Johnston family. I wasn't thrilled, but I love For Better or For Worse so much, that anything about the comic strip will interest me. What I found was a treasure, not an autobiography, but a volume on the autobiographical Pattersons, including a discussion about the evolution of the strip, an examination of the major characters and their friends, and a synopsis of events that occurred to the Pattersons prior to the first strip published 21 years ago. Ms. Johnston does an admirable job of showing how she has developed characters that often seem so real that I now think of them as members of my family. I learned things that I have missed through the years, including Connie's South American adventure which resulted in the birth of Lawrence. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Pattersons, Lynn Johnston, and For Better or For Worse.

If you are a fan of For Better or For Worse, you will love this book because it tells you how Johnston's real life entertwines with the comic strip. I got it for Christmas and before the end of the day I was finished it. It has great stories and insights into how Lynn Johnston writes her comics.

I previously read "Jack Welch and the GE Way", also by Slater and published in 1999, but I never read the original version of "Get Better or Get Beaten". This newer version of "Get Better..." contained a substantial amount of material that was already covered in more detail in "the GE Way" book. Except for some of the material covering events since 1999, I think "the GE Way" was a better choice of the two, especially if you're looking for more detail and analysis. In many ways I felt like I was just re-reading the other book. On the other hand, if you're looking for sort of the 'Cliff Notes' version and want some good insight into Six Sigma, this newer, smaller work by Slater is certainly satisfactory. There's only marginal benefit to reading both of these.

The best thing about this book is that it quotes extensively and piquantly from the writings and speeches of Jack Welch. The intriguing list of "29 leadership secrets" (which could have been reduced to ten) is more selective than secret, given that Welch has been preaching them loudly from a very prominent platform for more than 20 years. However, the book will be valuable to Welch neophytes and to fans who want more Jack, or the essence of Jack. Author Robert Slater assumes a certain familiarity with GE's history and initiatives, and sometimes refers to them without explanation. Welch long ago transcended management to become sort of a leadership prophet, and his utterances are sometimes paradoxical, if not contradictory. He says nurture people, but downsize; he says cut bureaucracy, but implement a paperwork intensive Six Sigma program. We promise that somewhere in here, you'll find a managerial principle to fit almost any occasion. What more can you ask of a handbook?

This is the first GE's Jack Welch book I ever read. I bought it because the title is so far the best amongst its keens, "Get Better or Get Beaten", which is a norm in today's competitive world. Remarkably, the content is of the same quality as its title. It is so well written that I finished it in 1.5 day.

In fact, the core concepts or the secrets are nothing new. Quality and Re-engineering gurus like Peter Drucker, Philip Crosby, Tom Peters etc had stressed the importance of quality, customer orientation, corporate culture, employee involvement blah blah blah for decades. It's just that Jack Welch has been so successful a real life practitioner and advocate that nobody can neglect. Think about the 6 sigma phenomenon and you know what I mean.

In case you just want to know the secrets without the elaboration, or that you cannot afford one, go to the table of content (Thanks to Amazon) and have a look. All the secrets are already there. (Sorry, Mr. Slater). However, I still think it is a good collectible for your personal library.

p.s. I had worked in an acquired subsidiary of a Fortune 20 company. I am sorry that what happened there was far from what Mr. Welch preached. The result is: The leader five years ago (when it was acquired) is now the fifth in the market.

This is a delightful comic series with believable characters. It is a good sign if any characters cause strong reactions and responses from their readers. I, too, dislike April. April is devious and sassy and often provokes others. I don't think she's a good kid. She is a spoiled little brat who needs a bun warming session. She's a good literary example of what overindulgence can do -- create a sense of entitlement and no respect for others. AztecPrincess said it best -- April is a spoiled brat who has no respect for anything.

The rabbit and dog chases are funny. Mr. Bunny Rabbit is a scream, the way he hops after that dog. It's a good thing the two species get along so well. Mr. B. is the best fictitious rabbit to ever grace the funny pages! Drawings of the rabbit really show the sense of speed and motion -- another nod to a great cartoonist.

Grandpa Jim is the best of the family characters. It is such a refreshing treat to see a senior citizen with a regular voice in the funnies. One of the best ones appeared in the paper on Veterans' Day, when he says the lucky ones came home. I also like the one on Memorial Day when he remembers dancing in his sergeant's uniform with his late wife, Marian. Hip, hip, hooray for Grandpa Jim!

The rest of the bunch are equally delightful, but for different reasons. Liz and Michael bring home the realities of college, job and impending marriage; they are wonderful characters who have never once lost their senses of humor.

As always, Lynn Johnston captures the essence of a family whose members are maturing. She treats with especial sympathy the subject of young Gordon, an abused boy who has grown into a successful businessman and a wonderful father, even weaving into the storyline that his parents have gone into rehab for their alcohol problem. While there are conflicts, as anyone with siblings or multiple children knows, it is a joy to see some maturation between the older two's relationship. Also, I love seeing the community involvement, such as when Elizabeth helps with the foodbank and Michael works on a project to enlighten others as to the Canadian past. One of the final panels depicts all 3 of the Patterson children working together to cook dinner for Elly - and is a treat - and very true to life.

Fans of Lynn Johnston's 'For Better or For Worse' comic strip about a family's interactions and aging will relish this collection, which provides black and white strips from some recent comics. While truly avid fans may find little new here, The Big 5-0 gathers cartoons from 1998 through 1999 and any who have missed a few will certainly find some 'new' material.

Johnson offers a very helpful book in this volume. He presents a simple guide for decision-making, one that will undoubtedly enhance the process for many persons. He essentially describes a two-step decision procedure, examining one's thinking on a given issue, then examining one's feelings on the same subject.

While not as good as the One-Minute Manager classic and its accompanying volumes, this work likely will help those persons seeking to bolster their decision-making abilities.

Being a person who can never make up their mind, I decided it wouldn't hurt to read a book about better decision making. I enjoyed reading this book because it told a story about a man who used a 'Yes' or 'No' system to make better decisions. This made it easier to understand and apply the system to your own problems. In the story the man talks to many people who have used the system sucessfully. They give him lots of examples on how to arrive at better decisions. The 'Yes' or 'No' system is broken down into two main questions to ask yourself when making decisions. One is a practical question and the other is a private question. This allows you to use the system while making personal decisions or buisness decisions. Every day we are all faced with decisions, big and small. I have realized, from reading this book, that I seem to not think my decisions through as well as I should. I am sure that many other people share similar problems. This book acknowledges what we may not want to admit to ourselves. That many of us are knowingly making poor decisions, but we do not have the time or effort to turn them into better decisions. Reading this book may sound like a life saver to some people, but of course not everyone is going to walk away with better decision making skills. Like everything else in life, it will take time and patience to improve your decision making. But for those of you who would like to, this book could start you off on your way to turning poor decisions into better ones.

I knew there was something missing in the way I was making decisions in my life. Although, I thought, I was making good decisions I really wasn't. After reading this book I have learned how to make "better decision." Dr. Johnson writes in story form the message that's easy to understand and adapt. This is a book that should be read and reread by everyone from adolescence on.

Oat Bran, Niacin, and moderate exercise are the writers claim to a healthy heart.I exercise regularly, take vitamins, and try to be aware of what I am eating. Yet my last doctor visit claimed that my cholesterol was 260 Total-109/HDL-151/LDL and tryglyercides at 374. The doctor wanted to put me on lipitor. I argued a bit. Got a month reprieve from taking the medication. Bought this book and on my next visit my total cholesterol was at 189, bad cholesterol went from 136 to 85, good cholesterol was at 55, with my triglyercides at 102. The only thing that I know that I did differently was follow the advice from this book. My doctor was shocked and is now telling other patients about my success before putting them on lipitor, in many cases, for 120 days. Feel very relieved. THANK YOU!

I saw all these reviews back in November as I desperately looked for some help to lower my cholesterol through diet...and took a chance on this book and it works. I started in mid November and had my cholesterol checked again at the beginning of March and it dropped from 267 to 204! I certainly followed the book, and made a batch of oatbran muffins each week...but also cooked from standard low cholesterol cook books, and had 1 day a week where I could treat myself to my favorite things that weren't part of the diet. I never tried the pills he mentioned...I don't like to take pills. I certainly recommend this book to anyone trying to lower their cholesterol!!!

A dozen years or so ago, my cholesterol was skyrocketing, well above an already too-high typical level for me. I read this book, followed it with care except that I took (with doctor's ok) only 500 mg. of niacin daily, NOT the much larger and much riskier doses advocated by Kowalski. In less than two months my total cholesterol dropped by 112 points, to the edge of the normal range, and it kept on dropping after that, even after I relaxed my very strict eating habits. Triglycerides also dropped sharply. But I was doing EVERYTHING right -- strict adherence to low-fat (*VERY* low saturated fat), cholesterol-free eating habits, high in fiber, including oat bran, plus significant daily exercise (escalated to 90 minutes a day on stair-climber/rower -- which is a LOT of aerobic exercise, and way more than I have the patience for now). All of it. When I slacked off the regimen some time later, the cholesterol did rise, but not as high as formerly. Kowalski is very big on oat bran, and that turns out to be the easy part because it is a pleasant hot cereal. A half cup of oat bran, some raisins or chopped dates, one cup of water, stir, heat in microwave oven on high (use a large enough bowl to avoid boiling over) for 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Stir, add some skim milk if you like. Very tasty. At worst it is a nice hot breakfast, and at best may actually contribute significantly to lower cholesterol. (You can also bake oat bran into muffins. A bit dry, but not bad. Kowalski offers a recipe.) You can search the Web for my little paper on "Fitness in One Lesson," which comments further on helpful ideas in this vein. In any event, my doctor at that time told me that "there is no such thing as an eight week cholesterol cure" when I told him I was reading and following the book. After I had dropped my cholesterol level by more than a third in 7 weeks, I found a new doctor. (There were other issues with him anyway.) But his point really was valid: this is not a one-time fix. You have to make permanent improvements in eating and exercise habits. That is why "diets" are a bad idea. Like vacations, "diets" are temporary. Proper eating and exercise should be forever. Kowalski provides a clearly written, inspirational, informative guide to valuable steps to take. Discuss it with your doctor.

My husband bought this book and its companion, If He Only Knew, since we need to work on strengthening our marriange. I was glad that he took the initiative and was eager to read the book, but I found myself a bit disappointed by the content. While the basic concepts seem good, I found the examples and suggestions to be rather outdated. It was originally published in 1979, and, despite some revisions, seems to belong to a different time -- that of 25 years ago. The book seemed to lean too much toward the idea of the wife being submissive to her husband, and encourages her to look nice and greet him with a smile when he comes home from work, which sounds very much like the Home Economics textbooks from the 1950s. I feel that the author's suggestions do not really speak to me in today's world.

When I first read the book, before my husband and I were even married, it helped our relationship a great deal (by helping me change my outlook on several areas of our relationship). We have been married almost three years now and everything is great! I find myself remembering parts of the book from time to time and wishing I could read it again.

I would recommend this book to anyone, whether your marriage is great or having problems.

My fiance and I recently completed pre-marital counseling with our Pastor and were somewhat disappointed with the standard materials given to us as they were more suited for individuals who hadn't known each for a really long time....we discovered these books and I picked up this copy and he picked up "If Only He Knew" the companion book to "For Better or For Best." Now my fiance is not a reader by nature, but the book kept him enthralled as to the insights it offered on how to be a good husband and understand your wife. In reading the chapters in this book, I have found them to be amazingly dead-on and incredibly helpful...the "Salt" technique is hilarious but very useful. Much as we like to think our own experiences and issues are unique, in reading this book I have found comfort in knowing that many of the relational issues between men and women are fairly universal and can be easily resolved by mutual understanding and a focus on Christ's example of serving. If you are in a serious relationship and are contemplating marriage, I strongly recommend these books....they have been not only fun to read but have stimulated my fiance and I to incorporate many of the suggestions in the book to improve communication; I was the type of person who figured that I knew all the issues and what i was supposed to do, that it was just a matter of application...but after reading these books, I can happily say I was wrong and learned much more. I can't say that about many books I have read on the same topic...the books are extremely practical and lifechanging.