A Small Place in Italy

Book Description

In 1967 Eric and Wanda Newby fulfilled a long-cherished dream when they bought a run-down farmhouse in northern Tuscany, in the foothills of the Italian Alps. They were the first foreigners to live in the region. A Small Place in Italy describes how the house was restored with the help of their neighbors, a colorful cast of characters who quickly befriended the Newbys.

With his characteristic wry humor and sharp eye for the quirks of human nature, Eric Newby paints an unforgettable picture of rural Italy and its people. The rhythms and rituals of country life - harvesting grapes, making wine, hunting for wild mushrooms - are lovingly evoked, along with the storybook landscapes and changing seasons. At the center of his memoir is the farmhouse itself, which from unpromising beginnings - tileless roof, long-abandoned septic tank and mice the size of small cats was gradually restored.

Customer Reviews:

Meets a market need perfectly........2004-05-25

The urge to escape the comforts, routine and refinements of our living conditions to somewhere more challenging, primitive and raw is something that many of us feel - especially those who read books. The books we read can sometimes stimulate the urge, sometimes satisfy it. All I ask of such books is that the author can write well and that he is not boastful.

Eric Newby, especially in "A Small Place in Italy", meets these requirements admirably. Indeed, he ranks for me as a travel writer of near genius. He was almost 50 years old when he and his Italian born wife Wanda took up permanent residence in a ruined farmhouse in northern Italy. His account of the trials and tribulations that followed, the neighbors and the locality, is told in this wonderfully witty, readable and valuable book. Part of the value rests in the sociological and historical dimensions it gives. Even while he lived there, the customs, the occupations and the life styles were fast disappearing.

If you enjoy this genre, you'll want to give "A Small Place in Italy" a prominent place on your bookshelf.

I think I've read the entire genre of these types of books.........2003-01-22

I've read: "Under the Tuscan Sun", "Extra Virgin ...", "An Italian Affair", "In Maremma: Life and a House in Southern Tuscany", "Italian Neighbors" and I'm on my way to the library to pickup and start reading "Pasquales' Note: Idle Days in an Italian Town". I started reading these types of books when I got lonely for Italy after visiting in November of 2001. I just finished "A Small Place in Italy". Each of these books have something special in it that I enjoyed reading about. I really enjoyed reading about the person Attilio. Attilio came with the house when they purchased this house in Italy -- he had his own secret room. I enjoyed reading about how they hired their local tradesmen to renovate and repair this house. I hope I never run out of these types of books to read, I do plan to return to visit Italy, it would be a joy to visit some of these small towns.

I learned, laughed, cried, couldn't put it down.......2002-07-25

In 1967, British travel editor Eric Newby and his wife, Wanda, bought a primitive farmhouse in the hills between Liguria and Tuscany, the region where they met during World War II, Newby a soldier on the run between POW internments, Wanda a relief worker. They are the first foreigners to come live in their neighborhood, which remained unchanged from the time of the War; in fact, the country people, contadini, probably lived pretty much as they had for a couple of centuries or more. In the 25 years that the Newbys stayed, using the farmhouse as a second home but tending the land seriously, they were accepted and came to know the people and area well. A SMALL PLACE IN ITALY is a profile of their neighbors, their work, customs and the surrounding area. He offers up historical notes and chronicles the arrival of the late 20th century and loss of old ways.

This book has everything going for it. Newby is honest, a truthful writer. He never sells out his subject for entertainment or sentimentality. He does not go the route of portraying the noble savage, he does not paint the peasantry as buffoons or children, he does not go over the top to prove that he is one of them. It is obvious that he and Wanda were quickly accepted into the community because they were hard workers who respected the land and were happy to share. There is a fine wit and spirit at hand. Newby has to be the most resilient person on earth (see A SHORT WALK IN THE HINDU KUSH for more evidence).

Other virtues of this book: the pages whip by because Newby is brilliant at ordering his information. He also translates the Italian phrases and words that pop up routinely, so that those of us unschooled in Italian, particularly northern Italian expressions, are not at a loss.

Getting away from Tuscan groupy mush.......2001-07-19

Having a love for Tuscany and Umbria but not the income to live there, my partner and I read with some initial pleasure two books by people who renovated villas at vast cost and labour to the local tradesmen and wrote down lots of recipes - 'hell I'm such a cute and cultured Californian poetess patronising the locals once a year'.

Then a friend lent us the Newby version. Forget the rest. Get the best. He and Wanda work hard. They know and respect their neighbours. Crisp words give life to vine-growing, mountains, meals and breakneck roads.

This is the one: all else are imitations.

What about Wanda.......2001-02-21

I read Love and War in the Apennines, and just completed A Small Place in Italy. No doubt the villages and the people have have changed. And there's something endearing about knowing your neighbors, and being a part of their lives. I did enjoy this book, and the other. But I can't help but feel that there is still a void to this whole series. I really want to know about Wanda. She must really me a fantastic woman.

Average customer rating:

** TAKE A CROSS-CULTURAL TRIP WITH HANNAH **
Seeing life through new eyes
Wonderful.....

The Journey
Sarah Stewart
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0374400105
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Amazon.com

From the creators of the Caldecott Honor book The Gardener comes a handsome story about a young Amish girl's first visit to a big city. Each night Hannah writes to a "silent friend" (her journal) about the thrilling sights in Chicago: "If I stacked our home, the barn, and my one-room schoolhouse on top of each other, they wouldn't even reach the fourth floor of one of those huge skyscrapers! The city has more of everything. More buildings. More cars and buses. More people--all kinds of people--with almost all the colors of a quilt in their different clothes and faces." Her exuberance is tempered only by her homesickness, which is beautifully portrayed in illustrator David Small's pictures of Hannah's rural home, alternating with the exciting, strangely parallel depictions of city life. In the illustration for the above journal entry, for example, readers see the gridwork of city streets, with blocky skyscrapers in the background. On the next two-page wordless spread, Small reveals a view through Hannah's mind's eye of the women of her community working together on a similarly gridlike patchwork quilt. Hannah is an appealing guide to the city; readers will be mesmerized by her unique perspectives. (Ages 6 to 10) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

A new heroine to win readers' hearts, joining the ranks of Lydia Grace Finch and Elizabeth Brown

Sunday

Dear Diary

The luckiest girl on this good earth is writing to you tonight -- my birthday -- made perfect a few minutes ago by the present of a lace handkerchief. Mother had even hidden a tiny cake in her suitcase! I've never been higher than Aunt Clara's porch, or farther than Yooder's General Store, but this week my dream is coming true. I'm finally in a big city! And more, I've escaped the farm and chores! After spending the morning quietly in our room, Mother, her friend Maggie, and I went to the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world. How can I ever thank Aunt Clara for giving me her place on this trip? Well, I'm sure to find a gift for her by the end of the week. But for now, perhaps I'll dream of Aunt Clara and home.

Until tomorrow,
my silent friend,
good night.
Hannah

Beginning in the dark hours of morning, an Amish girl, along with two adult companions, sets off for the big city for the first time. The reader receives nightly reports through young Hannah's diary, in which, with tireless awe, she relates the significant events of the day. Each experience is decidedly new to Hannah -- a trip to the top of a skyscraper, a visit to the aquarium -- yet in each she finds some universal element that reminds her of home. Though she loves the city, a trip to the art museum on the final day of her visit clinches Hannah's longing for family and familiarity; fortunately, the bus is ready to take her back to the place she loves most.

Sarah Stewart's text has the authentic ring of a smart girl's private thoughts, and David Small's pictures are magnificent.

Customer Reviews:

** TAKE A CROSS-CULTURAL TRIP WITH HANNAH **.......2004-10-12

Taking *The Journey* is like stepping out of a Time Machine as a northern Indiana Amish child is transported into the 21st century in Chicago. The team of Sarah Stewart and David Small produced this winner in 2001 and it's my opinion that only *The Friend* (see mcHAIKU's review dated October 3, 2004) has it 'bested'.

As Hannah becomes a time-traveler between two very different cultures, her level of excitement rises to test her well-schooled mannerliness. She is awe-struck and makes her discoveries seem new to us as we read over her shoulder the words written in her diary: "going down the street is like making a journey across the whole world. I feel like happiness has rushed up and grabbed me ..... "

There are only two small disappointments for me: I wish there were a situation in which Hannah was juxtaposed with a young city girl - - perhaps in that not-to-be-missed Chicago River boat ride - - somehow sharing an adventure which might suggest kinship despite their obvious differences. And, having recently written a review of *Berghoff's* ("The Berghoff Restaurant" of Chicago) I wish Hannah & her mother & friend had walked to that 100+ year old establishment to have a German meal - - where another comparison could be drawn. For me, the small black & white sketches of Hannah have a special appeal. Her facial expressions declare that she is a story-teller herself, and David Small makes obvious why he was selected by Caldecott judges.

This book is a delight to share, and can be a conversation-starter among children raised so differently from those of the Amish faith - - they may question how Hannah could be so eager to return home to the chores she has escaped for a week, and to a culture with gender-segregated religious services, and outhouses, and riding in an oh-so-slow buggy. When picture-book-age children aren't close by I reach out to adults or eleven-year olds & share the sweetness and strength of these words quietly enhanced by the dark blues of early morning and the jubilant sunrise. I will look for my favorite Monet-like haystacks the next time we travel north, too!

REVIEWER mcHAIKU is content that "the simple life" makes room for a love of books and hopes that Sarah Stewart & David Small continue their story-telling for many years.

Seeing life through new eyes.......2001-05-08

Hannah has traveled with her mother and her mother's friend Maggie to the city. For an Amish girl from a small community, the city is big and full of strange and wonderful things. They go to the top of hig buildings, to marvelous stores, to big parks, the aquarium, the atr museum,on a boat ride and into a grand church. While Hannah is enchanted and enthralled by all the new sites, each new site reminds her of things at home she loves. Written as diary entries by Hannah during her adventures, this book manages to capture the wonder of a young girl in a new enviroment, and her thankfulness for the simple ways at home. Once again Sarah Stewart has crafted a wonderful storyline and David Small has turned what is in the mind's eye into enchanting illustrations. A wonderful book to read aloud, and to be enjoyed by all ages.

Wonderful............2001-04-02

"Dear Diary, The luckiest girl on this good earth is writing to you tonight..." So begins The Journey, Sarah Stewart's lovely story of Hannah, an Amish girl on her first trip to Chicago. Each night, before she falls asleep, Hannah writes about her day and marvels at all the wonders of the big city, the fancy department store with it's frilly dresses, the aquarium and public library, the enormous cathedral with its loud choir, the cars and hundreds of people rushing here and there... And each makes her remember and appreciate something from her simple life at home, trying on a homespun dress, fishing in the pond, praying silently in the small wooden church, quilting with the ladies from other farms... David Small's expressive and detailed artwork take readers from the busy, brightly colored streets of Chicago, to the quiet, softer and subdued life of Hannah's Amish farm. Together, this award winning duo of Stewart and Small have authored a gentle, understated picture book, perfect for youngsters 6-10, that is sure to become a treasured classic in the years ahead.

Small Town Bound: Your Guide to Small-Town Living, from Determining If Life in the Slower Lane Is for You, to Choosing the Perfect Place to Set Roots, to Making Your

Average customer rating:

Somewhat helpful
A Cultural Guide to Small Towns
An easy read that will help you decide on small-town life.

Small Town Bound: Your Guide to Small-Town Living, from Determining If Life in the Slower Lane Is for You, to Choosing the Perfect Place to Set Roots, to Making Your
John Clayton
Manufacturer: Career Pr Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564142515

Book Description

If you're an urbanite seeking to improve your quality of life, Small Town Bound helps evaluate your motives for moving and helps you understand small town culture. Sprinkled throughout the guide are interviews with people who have successfully made the move out of the city. This book will help you determine what type of community will make you happy, how to find a job, and how to adjust to your new surroundings. Not a directory of places to move, Small Town Bound actually helps you determine the environment best suited to your personal needs. The book also serves as a social guide and focuses on the different relationships small town residents will have with their communities. Topics covered include: - Attributes of small town life
- Cost of living
- The value of a career
- Traffic factors in growing communities
- Percentage of newcomers vs. natives
- Educational level of residents
- The value of relatives and friends
- Relationship to government
- Meeting new people
- Getting involved

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat helpful.......2003-09-14

I suppose this book contains helpful info for anyone thinking about making the move from the city to a small town, but I really felt all it did was confirm everything you already knew (or thought you knew) about small towns -- the community is closer, everyone knows everyone else, the rumor mill glows hot, the pay is smaller, etc. Clayton lists all the things you think you know about small towns and then dissects them one by one; he says that some things are true and some are not -- but it seemed to me that they were ALL true. I also felt a lot of this was obvious. Does a person really need to be told to get out and talk to people if they want to introduce themselves to a new community? Some of the advice here reminded me of what you'd tell a young kid transferring to a new school.

Where I think the book helps, though, is for people who have just gotten the idea to make the move. The one plus of the book is that it really makes you consider your decision. There's a couple of good exercises to elaborate on your choice.

Clayton's writing is clean and easy to read, though I did at times think he trawled in clichés. City life is presented as something it is not (or at least not always). Clayton at times writes about it as though all cities are criminal wastelands.

The information and advice is pretty simple and obvious, but if you're considering a move you might want to take a look.

A Cultural Guide to Small Towns.......1998-06-04

Small Town Bound holds itself out to be a cultural guide to small towns and succeeds fairly well. Author John Clayton starts out by helping the future emigrant analyze his or her stirrings about leaving a metropolis, and describes life in small towns attribute by attribute. The next two chapters discuss factors to consider in evaluating a locale and how to earn a living in a small-town economy. Clayton then asserts that "the hardest part of moving to a small town comes after you get there." He is referring to the crucial element of social adaptation--meeting new people and gaining acceptance--because without this, a move is likely to fail. Here the author shares his knowledge of small-town culture and mentality, and makes insightful suggestions as to how to fit in and, thus, succeed. John Clayton's background as a technical writer shows through in the organization of his book according to a traditional outline format, although he is repetitious at times. There are sidebars containing illustrative interviews, anecdotes, reports from the media, and groups of "20 Questions" for the reader's self-test. There are also numerous cautionary tales illustrating pitfalls of small-town life, which help convey a sense of reality and balance. Although there is some overlapping, this book and William Seavey's Moving to Small-Town America are complementary. Clayton emphasizes social adaptation in a new community as the most important criterion of prosperity. Seavey, while not neglecting this aspect, focuses more on the practical details of the migration--how to disengage from the old place, the actual moving, and the settling in in the new place. Both books have appendices listing many useful resources.

An easy read that will help you decide on small-town life........1998-01-02

I am acquainted with the author, so I expected a good book. What I found was a superb book. This is a very thoughtful work about the essence of small-town living. It has helped me greatly in thinking about my own proposed move to a small town in the West. Although the book offers a great many practical suggestions, there is much more than "how to make friends" or "how to find a job." This book has helped me think about whether my character, personality, and values are suited for small-town life. With frank comments about all aspects of small-town life, it has helped me understand, for example, that gossip is the other side of neighborliness. It has helped make my expectations more realistic--and that in turn will lead to greater satisfaction with the move. The writing is friendly and conversational, and the organization is very helpful. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in small-town life. Susan Bury, Washington, DC

Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town

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wonderful
Four Little Old Men
An adorable book with rich cultural heritage
Colorful and Fun
Delightful Book

Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town
Burton P. Brodt
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402720068

Book Description

Hey dere--looky here! An award-winning illustrator and a master storyteller team up to create a colorful picture book filled with that unique Cajun spirit and language. Children of all ages will sure be "passin' a good time" with this one-of-a-kind tale.

Come visit Louisiana, land of crawfish and zydeco, where four old men--Bubby, Dumbo, Hebert, and Rigger Moritz--search through the dreamy lowlands to find the perfect place to play their game of cards. The open air seems grand in the spring--when it "shore does look nice outside," but as the weather gets colder, the men start to shiver, so they begin building...and building...and building. Soon, they've constructed an elaborate house!
But when the cool air subsides and the sweet jasmine-scented breezes blow again, the men discover that what they really want is the simple life once more.

Peppered with colorful Cajun lingo, and brightly seasoned with Luc Melanson's whimsical art, this terrific tale treats kids to all the beauty and humor of Louisiana-style storytelling.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2006-08-14

I read this book to all my grandchildren and they just loved it. I also have several older friends that read the book and they also enjoyed it. It is nice to have a clean fun book to read for a change.

Four Little Old Men.......2006-08-02

I have read this book to 5 of my 6 grandchildren, from age 6 to 13 and they all loved it. They laughed through out the story. They have taken turns reading it to each other. The illustrations are also very funny. I have rated it 5 stars because the children it was written for have given it a thumbs up and I thought it was funny too.

An adorable book with rich cultural heritage .......2006-07-31

I read this book to both of my grandsons and they loved it! The boys enjoyed the funny slang "dere and dat" and unique,colorful culture of the characters with the silly names.

Colorful and Fun.......2006-07-31

My six year old grandson and I read the book together and we both loved it. We were entertained not only by the story, but also by the wonderful illustrations. We loved the humor and laughed out loud together. I would recommend this book for all ages!

Delightful Book.......2006-07-29

I have given this book to 4 of my grandchildren and they all have a different response and each response is extremely positive. One said it's the best book he ever read. I am glad there are books such as this available for children (and adults)
instead of some of the violence that's available today.
Jan T.

CARDIFF, FROM THE COMING OF THE ROMANS TO THE DOMINANCE OF CRONWELL, WITH A SUPLEMENTARY CHAPTER ON THE TRANSITION WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE 19TH CENTURY WHEN CARDIFF CEASED TO BE A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN

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CARDIFF, FROM THE COMING OF THE ROMANS TO THE DOMINANCE OF CRONWELL, WITH A SUPLEMENTARY CHAPTER ON THE TRANSITION WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE 19TH CENTURY WHEN CARDIFF CEASED TO BE A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN
M, THOMPSON H
Manufacturer: LEWIS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SFBV9G

Escape to a Small Town!: Create a New Life & Fulfill Your Dreams in a Place Where You Can Breathe

Average customer rating:

A "must have" guide to plan your escape!
No-nonsense realism lovingly explained
The Honest Truth About Small Towns
The perfect book for those seeking simplicity.
Gave me the tools to plan my escape!!

Escape to a Small Town!: Create a New Life & Fulfill Your Dreams in a Place Where You Can Breathe
Lisa Rogak
Manufacturer: Williams Hill Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Moving To A Small Town: A Guidebook To Moving From Urban To Rural America

ASIN: 0965250229

Book Description

More than 75% of Americans who live in a city or suburb say they dream of moving to a small town, but most of them think they can't, or else they don't know how.

If you count yourself among this group Escape to a Small Town! is for you. Author Lisa Rogak moved from New York City to a small town in northern New England in 1988 and never looked back. In Escape to a Small Town! Rogak shows you how to:

* Choose the town that is best for you
* Become accepted in a small town
* Find a job or start a business
* Help your children adjust to a new lifestyle
* And much more!

Customer Reviews:

A "must have" guide to plan your escape!.......2000-02-07

Now a staple by my bedside, this book offers a no-nonsense overview of moving to a small town. Ms. Rogak outlines the various types of towns, interviews successful transplants, unsuccessful transplants and others. Among the most valuable parts of the book are the checklists for moving. Her advice is practical and obviously well researched by her own experience. The ancedotes, checklists and other snippets of small town life make this book easy to pick up, open to any section and begin planning! Planning a move? Dreaming like me? either way this book is a "must have" guide!

No-nonsense realism lovingly explained.......2000-01-08

Many Americans dream of fleeing urban blight to a small town, but what is life in small town really like? Will someone who's used to the city enjoy a small town? And how does one find just the right small town?

Lisa Rogak answers these questions and more in ESCAPE TO A SMALL TOWN! She starts the reader with setting goals, choosing what *kind* of small town is best for you, how to find that town, and how to adjust to living there, including issues of employment, your kids, fitting in, and staying happy. Rogak also includes sections on what it's like to live in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Upstate New York--her end of the country, where many former urbanites head.

Rogak is careful, however, to not see small town life through rose-colored glasses--she points out (and includes examples of) different types of folks who think they might like small town living but turn out not to. After all, there are many advantages to living in a big city that just can't be found in small towns, like a wealth of shopping, plenty of jobs, and gourmet restaurants galore.

It's obvious that Rogak is writing from her head as well as her heart and truly wants to inform her readers and have them be happy with whatever decision they make. The book is written in a witty, folksy style that is easy to read and includes first-person accounts from others who have taken the plunge. Highly recommended for anyone who wonders what it's like to not lock your doors at night, to smile and chat with people in your local market, and to hear birds, crickets, and frogs rather than sirens, horns, and engines.

Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews

The Honest Truth About Small Towns.......1999-11-24

The pressures of urban living at the turn of the millennium have generated a lot of romantic longing for a return to small-town America. Lisa Rogak's Escape to a Small Town! cuts through the day-dreaming and deals with small-town living in an honest way that creates an invaluable resource for anyone considering such a change of location and life-style. Rojak isn't wearing any rose-colored glasses.

Escaping to a small town in New England worked for Rogak--but she lets readers know why it might not work for them. For example, if you're a mechanical and home fix-up klutz, you better consider how you'll accomplish repairs and maintenance with a foot of snow on your dirt road and without a two-inch-thick urban yellow pages at your elbow.

She also emphasizes that all small towns aren't alike. A small college town three hours out of New York offers a living climate different from a dusty cowtown six hours from a small city. Her checklists of points to investigate and consider dramatically increase the chances that you'll select a small town that suits your needs and personality.

Although the book emphasizes New England in its examples and descriptions, the points it makes are just as useful for someone considering a move to southern Oregon or the lakes region of Minnesota.

Beyond the choice of a town, Rogak suggests how best to introduce yourself to your new neighbors and adapt to the new lifestyle. Things to avoid get attention, too. For example, you may have a masters in public administration and years of local government experience as a citizen activist. But do yourself a favor and don't try to start running your new small town right away unless you want to be branded as some snob from the city who thinks he's smarter than the locals.

All in all, the simple economic return on this book -- money saved and problems avoided in relation to its modest price -- makes it a must-buy if even the slightest notion of a small-town move lurks in your heart or mind.

The perfect book for those seeking simplicity........1999-11-10

I like the way the author chose to frame the title in a positive Escape "to" instead of "from" (the big bad city). That and the fact that everything in the book forces the reader to understand not only the financial benefits of small town life, but the physical and emotional bonuses that come with slowing down and simplifying.

The list on pages 64-68 titled "Moving to a Small Town 101" is worth the price of the book alone (although I would retitle it "How to be a Human Being rather than a Human Doing")

A must read for anyone considering dropping out of the fast lane to smell the roses instead of the exhaust fumes.

Gave me the tools to plan my escape!!.......1999-11-02

Escape to a Small Town, by Lisa Rogak

This is the ultimate "how to" book to assist you in creating a totally new life out of the congestion of the city or the daily urban/suburban stress grind.

It's been my wish to escape the constant traffic nightmares, the crime, the noise, and air pollution of the large metropolitan area I currently live. While I've toyed with various scenarios in planning my escape, until reading this book I was unable to combine my perceived needs with the realities of moving to a small town.

Of particular help is the classification system whereby small towns are categorized into three groups: a "drop out town," a "suburban small town," and a "small 'city.'" While the New England examples weren't particularly helpful, (since I have no idea what those towns are like) the descriptions helped me to categorize the possibilities on my list and better understand the implications of each choice.

With my better understanding and assessment of my needs, I now have much improved analytical tools to use as I research the various communities in the area that most appeals to me. While some of the methods were obvious (to me), the book suggests additional research techniques that will improve matching a community to my "ideal."

Further "frosting on the cake" are the several stories told of other "escapees" to small towns. A very enlightening description is the "Silicon Valley" couple's list of requirements they had for the "perfect" small town. (Having been employed in Silicon Valley myself, I can relate to their situation.) Unfortunately, the list of requirements are highly unrealistic. Simply seeing this list clarified my own unrealistic aspirations.

This book has given me the information and tools to work on my escape plan and give my plan a realistic chance at achieving the results that I want. It's probably saved me from either making a serious mistake in moving to a location that would prove personally disastrous (forcing yet another move) or continuing my life of 'quiet desperation' endured by living in one of the major metropolitan areas of the U.S.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who has had any "daydream" of escaping from the "big city." It just may help you turn your dream into a pleasant reality.

Average customer rating:
Higher Productivity and a Better Place to Work: Practical Ideas for Owners and Managers of Small and Medium-Sized Industrial Enterprises : Action Ma
J. E. Thurman , A. E. Louzine , and K. Kogi
Manufacturer: International Labour Org
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9221064093

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Landscape Gardening. Notes and suggestions on lawns and lawn planting-laying out and arrangement of country places, large and small parks, cemetery plots, and railway-station lawns, etc., Illustrated
Samuel, jr Parsons
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IUJM5G

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Landscape gardening: Notes and suggestions on lawns and lawn planting, laying out and arrangement of country places, large and small parks, cemetery plots ... hardy border, bedding plants, rockwork, etc
Samuel Parsons
Manufacturer: Putnam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0008741VO

Average customer rating:
Landscape gardening: Notes and suggestions on lawns and lawn planting, laying out and arrangement of country places, large and small parks, cemetery plots, ... hardy border-bedding plants, rockwork, etc
Samuel Parsons
Manufacturer: G.P. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B00085JEIG

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