Sweet Life: Adventures On The Way To Paradise

Customer Reviews:

Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off, and Keep Moving Forward!.......2007-01-04

Was a tad surprised about the pot smoking incidents, but it took some hutsvah (spelling?) to put it down in the book. With that said, this is great reading from 1987. Obviously, Barry did NOT kill off any brain cells with the pot, or, if he did, he certainly had many extra ones to play with. I bought this book because I wanted to know more about my absolutely FAVORITE singer. It was hard to put it down at night but I HAD to sleep. Lemme start by saying that I do not generally care to read bios, but this was written by the big Mr. Barry himself, so it's not somebody making up stuff just to sell a book. The ONLY bios I have read have been that of Barry and of Chuck Norris. (I was impressed by Chuck and the values he attempted to portray on Walker, Texas Ranger.)

As is consistent with Barry, he begins the book thanking everyone who helped him for their brutal honesty (obviously in helping him remember details) and helping him in any way with this book-writing venture, which took him over 3 years. He states, "...I want to tell you the story of an average guy on the way to the rest of his life...". (and that about says it.)

The book is very well written, and is done in such a way that it makes you feel that you are sitting across the kitchen table chatting with him over a couple of pots of coffee. It's interesting, witty, simple, and if it's not brutally honest, then he's got me fooled. I found it far more interesting than I had anticipated. Like I said, hard to put down.

It begins with his simple childhood in Brooklyn and discusses his background, family, his failed marriage, beginnings of his career, girlfriends, struggles of the career, challenges, his work at the NYC Bathhouse, alone and with Bette Midler, and so on. He never planned to be a singer, but it sure must have been in the stars. Some of the past must have been painful to write about, but writing about it was probably a type of therapy in itself.

This is a story of determination and perseverence, of getting knocked down and getting back up and going on. It's about putting fears and insecurities aside and having the guts to go forward and keep going. It's about doing a little bullcrapping, too. It's also about having an "I CAN" attitude, which I greatly admire in anyone, along with perseverance. Barry enjoyed the music world and he threw himself into it and got more than he ever expected. This bio is an average man's climb from a poor kid to a superstar, but then, is Barry REALLY average? I think not. "Average" people give up. Average/normal is overrated.

I'm ready for the sequel anytime, Barry! This was FANTASTIC and well worth reading. I LOVED it!!!

Great Entertainer, Superb Musician.......2006-01-25

Wow, I cannot believe it's been 8 years since I read this great book and reviewed it online @ Amazon. I have since read and re-read this book so many times, I've practically memorised the words - but they remain as touching and inspiring as ever. I laugh and cry each time I read it. My respect for him as an entertainer and a person grows each time I read the book.

Barry's words have helped me in my affirmation of my own self worth during the low times and in celebration of the highs - just as all his songs have done all these years. Here's one true blue fan who is looking forward to the next autobiographical update from the man himself.

It's a wonder my book is still in mint condition!!! but I am determined to treasure this book for always. :-)

What a pleasure!.......2004-06-16

Mr. Manilow is a great inspiration.
I loved this book.
It's sincere, funny, interesting and sad all at the same time.
Not only does this man write beautiful music, he sure knows how to write a book too!
If your a fan I would say it's a MUST read.

Barry speaks his mind and i agree with him.......2004-04-28

in this book, which i finally NOW have, i was expecting to read a dark and gloomy rise to fame but there wasn't any. Manilow's fame came by accident and the pressures of the business and the reluctance to accept the fame, in the beginning, is a refreshing story. Barry talks about his early musical career in the '60s before being pushed into the spotlight by Clive Davis. all facets of Barry's career is talked about in here. there's a chapter called "Read 'Em and Weep", which was the title of his huge AC #1 hit in 1984. The story part of the book ends during the "Paradise Café" album in 1984 but the discography in the back includes his 1985 and 1986 material. the pictures contained in this book are rare...you see Barry with black hair, combed to the side, during his days with CBS prior to hooking up with Bette Middler. there's also a picture of Barry on a beach with no shirt on...there's another one where he has a small beard! if anything, this book helps paint the picture of Barry Manilow. It allows people who really never followed his career in-depth to know how the off-stage "barry" was always at odds with the on-stage "BARRY" throughout much of his biggest years. There's also chapters that talk about the commercial aspect of music and the heart-felt aspect of music and why Manilow's songs were poignant yet had a commercial "sound" to them. This is a complex story of a man living the life of a super-star. Being a writer, Barry was also stunned whenever a song he never co-wrote would become a hit for him. "I Write the Songs" wasn't written by Barry...but neither was a few other big songs like "Mandy", "Looks Like We Made It", or "Read 'Em and Weep"...Barry said that it took years before he could accept their success. Barry has changed a lot of his personal opinions since the mid '80s. Nowadays whenever he does a CD he's performing "outside songs", as he calls them, even more than his own material, which wouldn't have happened in his past. above all else, this book shows that "Barry Manilow" is a human and has feelings, too. no artist should ever have to go through what he went through; and all he ever wanted was to spread joy and happiness through his music and even today he's still causing happiness with his style of pop music.

Sweet Life.......2003-06-16

I enjoyed reading every page of Barry's Sweet Life book and all the pictures inside the book, are very good.
Until I started reading Barry's book for the very first time, I never knew about his pot smoking days(Bad Barry!). :-O
Otherwise, it's a very interesting book to read!

Sidetracked Home Executives(TM): From Pigpen to Paradise

Average customer rating:

Read this book first!
From Pigpen 2 Paradise to Phil Donahue
an ok book
Erma Bombeck Meets Julie Morgenstern
Entertaining, outdated, but somewhat helpful

Sidetracked Home Executives(TM): From Pigpen to Paradise
Pam Young , and Peggy Jones
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Time Management | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Time Management | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Get Your Act Together: 7-Day Get-Organized Program For The Overworked, Overbooked, and Overwhelmed, A
Sink Reflections: Overwhelmed? Disorganized? Living in Chaos? The FlyLady's Simple FLYing Lessons Will Show You How to Get Your Home and Your Life in Order--and It All Starts with Shining Your Sink!
Body Clutter: Love Your Body, Love Yourself
Saving Dinner: The Menus, Recipes, and Shopping Lists to Bring Your Family Back to the Table
Saving Dinner the Low-Carb Way: Healthy Menus, Recipes, and the Shopping Lists That Will Keep the Whole Family at the Dinner Table

ASIN: 0446677671

Book Description

Peggy and Pam were two desperately disorganized sisters. After analyzing their lives, they set up a rotating card system that scheduled their chores on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. with a combination of the sympathy of a fellow former slob, and the firm resolution of a for-your-own-good mother, they show readers how they too can get organized.

Customer Reviews:

Read this book first!.......2007-09-30

I have been a fan of Pam and Peggy for over 25 years. Their system really works. I decided to get back on board the organization train as a new empty nester and decided to buy the second book, even thought it has been out for over 10 years. I wish I had read this book first. The card system is streamlined and easier to set up and follow. Have fun reading this funny practical guide to getting back on track.

From Pigpen 2 Paradise to Phil Donahue.......2007-08-14

These ladies have such a wonderful way to look at life. I've been following them since they were on the Phil Donahue Show in their early years. They changed my life over the years to take control of a very closet "pigpen" person. I've watched them when they've added family members, their grand babies, to when they have lost family members, their Mother & Father, God rest their souls. These ladies always feel like they are real people.....not just a book person trying to earn some extra money. I've enjoyed watching them over the years and think of them as part of my "own" family.
Their few point has been so helpful in getting the junk out of my world. From getting a handle of my messy house to getting a handle of a messy relationship.

If you are someone that is trying to get from out of the bottom of the pile.. this book is for you.

Peggy & Pam have been a lifesaver through out my life.

Saving lifes with Three by fives.

I hope they don't mind that I post this for them.

"Using humor, we are dedicated to helping people improve the quality of their homes. We know that the strength of the family has a profound effect upon the schools, the community, the workplace, the country and the world."

God Bless you Peggy & Pam.

L

an ok book.......2007-07-05

Some good ideas, shows those who are overwhelmed how to tackle things one step at a time. I am not using the method-I found it too constraining and made my own system. It did give some advice that I was able to chage to suit my own system but over all I don't think there is much here. If you can get a used copy for a couple bucks go for it! Personally I think if someone has so much junk in their house they can not move they need to see a professional to find out why they are holding onto junk-there is something deeper going on and they need help.

Erma Bombeck Meets Julie Morgenstern.......2007-06-23

Why I read this book: I got this book largely because of the title, because I work out of my home (and I fancy myself to be an executive!). However, in this book "home executive" refers to housewife... running a household. As a bachelor I could certainly use the help with that, so I read it anyway.

The strength of this book is it's home-spun style. Pam and Peggy are sisters, each of them tell their tales of woe... what it was like being disorganized slobs, and then tell how wonderful their lives are now that they have "the system." The way they unfold their story is very personal and funny. Kind of like Erma Bombeck. If you've had to run a household, particularly with kids involved, you will relate to them. They add to the personal nature of the book by including several pages of photos of them, them as kids, their kids, spouses, etc.

The Book's Weakness: The book is 165 pages, and only one chapter of 25 pages is devoted to the actual "system." Although it may work great for them, for most of us disorganized types we read it and say, "What?" I need a lot more hand-holding, step-by-step instructions. It seemed that this was a book of their experience and then they did a drive-by when it came to helping us put into practice what they did.

The guts of the book: Their system revolves around the use of 3x5 cards. I do like that part, because I have grown so weary of "lists," and have recently changed to index cards exclusively. Lists always need changed or rewritten. Cards can be "recycled" for future reminders, or thrown away if the task is done. And I'm just a more tangible, visible, feel-it type of person. Also, with lists, all I need to do is look at it once and I'm already feeling overwhelmed. I need to "see" one task at a time. In any case, the last thing I wanted to do after reading this book was to try and figure out and implement their particualar 3x5 system. Way too complicated with way too little instruction in how to really get it up and running, even though I've read several books on organizing, and have experimented with many "systems." I did pick up a few tips here and there that were helpful in my continuing quest for creating my own personal efficient and effective task, time, and information management system.

The flavor of the book: As well as home-spun stories with glaringly real anecdotes of their daily life, the book is interspersed with poems, cartoons, and their philosophy on life and happiness.

Evangelical Alert: The book is interspersed with occasional god-talk and spirituality, but loosely defined. On one page they quote Oral Roberts and Paramahansa Yogananda right after each other. In one chapter they discuss the effect that "getting their act together" had on their marriage. Peggy's went through some changes, but came out better. Pam ended up divorcing her "critical" husband.

Quote from book: A disorganized person's Christmas prayer (p. 96) "O Lord, bless my desperate search for the twenty-five gifts I need to find in two hours. Let ther be cash somewhere I havent' looked, and let my bank card work one more time without an authorization call. Let there be just one more Polly Puberty Doll somewhere and let there be batteries included. Guide me to just the right store, and lead me to the correct sizes and colors. Let each selection be exactly what my loved ones had hoped and dreamed for. Keep me calm as I grope through crowds, scrounge through sale items, and dash up and down escalators. O Lord, forgive me for leaving this to the last minute again. If you'll get me through this one more time, I promise I'll get organized."

Entertaining, outdated, but somewhat helpful.......2007-06-14

I just read this book and enjoyed it. It was entertaining, but somewhat outdated. The basis of their program is good. In fact, the detailed listing of household duties is helpful in putting together a personal program - using your computer. They did, later, insert some information about using your computer, but it is still outdated. I followed the recommendation someone else gave and purchased the book "Sink Reflections".

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World

Average customer rating:

A tour around the best gardens in the world
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Great Private Gardens of the World
The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Big book, big gardens, big budgets

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World
Dominique Browning , and The Editors of House & Garden
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Gardens in the Spirit of Place
The Most Beautiful Gardens in the World
English Gardens of the Twentieth Century: From the Archives of Country Life
Great Gardens of the World: In Search of Paradise
On Garden Style

ASIN: 0393059391

Book Description

A celebration in words and breathtaking images of thirty-five landscapes created for private clients by today's preeminent designers.

This is a time of renewed originality in garden design. The last twenty years have seen a lucky confluence of money and talent lavished on gardening, and the results are surprising, enchanting, sometimes even controversial. The range of possibilities suggested by these thirty-five gardens is extraordinary: from Jacques Wirtz's undulating beech hedges that recede mysteriously into the mist to Penelope Hobhouse's latest interpretation of the traditional English garden, to Martha Schwartz's Texas creation of red, yellow, and pink painted garden rooms.

These hidden masterworks of modern gardening are unlocked for us by the authority, experience, and resources of House & Garden magazine. Every page is an invitation to explore landscapes that have never before been seen by the public—and may never be seen again. International in scope and lavish in its production, this book is the last word on the state of design in the garden world. 340 color photographs.

Customer Reviews:

A tour around the best gardens in the world.......2007-05-08

This book is huge and a most for garden reference. It's organized in seven chapters that will impress all kind of taste:

The New Classicism: Magical gardens from places such as NY, Spain, Germany...+
The New Traditionalism: Enchanting pictures from NY, IL, France, Japan...+
The New Naturalism: Beautiful gardens from NY, Idaho, France, Arizona, England.
The Plantsmen: Magnificent proposals from New England, California, The Netherlands...+
Personal Visions: NY, California, and Texas
The Cottage Garden Reinvented: Lovely gardens from England, France and Ireland.
The New Modernism: The best and trendiest gardens of California.

You'll be able to see some of the best gardens from places such as Arizona to Japan. Some of my favorites gardens where from England, The Netherlands and France.

The text is pleasant to read and full of details no only about the flowers portrayed but also to the architect and artist that created such beauty. The balance of text and picture is excellent. The quality of the pictures is excellent, full pages pictures trout the book. House and Gardens did a tremendous job and it's absolutely clear that the took at least ten times the number of pictures in the book since you'll only see the best angle and light possible for each picture.

The only con is the lacks of tropical gardens since most part of the book are focus on the northern hemisphere.

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-05-07

Wow! This book is incredible, a treat for the eyes and imagination!

Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-29

This is a beautiful book anyone would be pleased to have. The quality of the photos is splendid. Most enjoyable.

The New Garden Paradise: Great Private Gardens of the World.......2007-01-03

Book is really interesting and has a lot of beautiful full-page photographs. Makes a great gift for everybody, not only for gardening fans!

Big book, big gardens, big budgets.......2006-02-28

This coffee table book features private gardens and estates of the wealthy who have the funds to hire the most talented garden designers in the world to realize their visions. Most of the gardens featured are in the U.S. although a few are in England and Japan. Chapters are divided by varying styles, such as classicism, traditionalism, naturalism, cottage garden, modernism, etc. It is an eclectic collection, from minimalist elegance to lush romantic woodlands. Sculptures, art work, water features and stone work are a feature in many.

Chapter names tout the garden designer which includes such talents as Patrick Chasse, Dan Pearson, Jacques Wirtz, Dan Kiley, Piet Oudolf, Martha Swartz, Sarah Raven, Christian Louboutin, Isabelle Greene, Penelope Hobhouse, Topher Delaney and Steve Martino. The owners of the gardens are rarely mentioned (with the exception of actors Brad Pitt and Tim Curry and a few others). Although the text is often stuffy and oft-putting, the photographs alone are reason enough to purchase the book. This beautiful book is wonderful for garden dreamers who will find gardens such as these unattainable.

Gringos in Paradise: An American Couple Builds Their Retirement Dream House in a Seaside Village in Mexico

Average customer rating:

I couldn't have said it better myself!
One of the best of its genre
An Epic Mexican Feast That's Wonderfully Nourishing ...
Mexican House Building How-To in story format...sort of
Enjoyable read

Gringos in Paradise: An American Couple Builds Their Retirement Dream House in a Seaside Village in Mexico
Barry Golson
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travel | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Retirement Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

A Year in Provence meets Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House in this lively and entertaining account of a couple's year building their dream house in Mexico.

In 2004, Barry Golson wrote an award-winning article for AARP magazine about Mexican hot spots for retirees longing for a lifestyle they couldn't afford in the United States. A year later, he and his wife Thia were taking part in the growing trend of retiring abroad. They sold their Manhattan apartment, packed up their SUV, and moved to one of those idyllic hot spots, the surfing and fishing village of Sayulita on Mexico's Pacific coast.

With humor and charm, Golson details the year he and his wife spent settling into their new life and planning and building their dream home. Sayulita -- population 1,500, not including stray dogs or pelicans -- is a never-dull mixture of traditional Mexican customs and new, gringo-influenced change. Before long, the Golsons had been absorbed into the rhythms and routines of village life: they adopted a pair of iguanas named Iggy Pop and Iggy Mom, got sick and got cured by a doctor who charged them sixteen dollars a visit, made lasting friends with Mexicans and fellow expatriates, and discovered the skill and artistry of local craftsmen.

But their daily lives were mostly dedicated to the difficult yet satisfying process of building their house. It took them almost six months to begin building -- nothing is simple (or speedy) in Mexico -- and incredibly, they completed construction in another six. They engaged a Mexican architect, builder, and landscape designer who not only built their home but also changed their lives; encountered uproariously odd bureaucracy; and ultimately experienced a lifetime's worth of education about the challenges and advantages of living in Mexico.

The Golsons lived (and are still living) the dream of many -- not only of going off to a tropical paradise but also of building something beautiful, becoming a part of a new world, making lasting friends, and transforming their lives. As much about family and friendship as about house-building, Gringos in Paradise is an immensely readable and illuminating book about finding a personal paradise and making it a home.

Customer Reviews:

I couldn't have said it better myself!.......2007-08-16

Having just completed out first year living in a different small seaside town in Mexico, I can attest to the authenticity of Barry and Thia's experiences and appreciate their outlook on living in Mexico. I found myself following my husband around, reading passages out loud to him, i.e., "You've got to hear this!" Golson does an especially good job of describing the naivete with which they (and we) began the experience and the incremental ways they learned to love a side of Mexico you can only experience as a resident.

The hopes and the frustrations involved in building a home here are accurately and humorously described. But for me, the real value of this book is the unpretentious way he describes the development of their deep affection for Mexico and Mexicans. My husband and I have reached the same conclusions, through a series of experiences that are very similar to theirs.

If you are considering a move to Mexico, this is an instructive read - not so much for the information about homebuilding (although it IS helpful and accurate) but more for the story of acclimation to a culture that is SO much more different than you could ever imagine.

Many authors have taken advantage of the growing trend to move south and we have read most of them. Along with Don Adam's book (Head for Mexico), this is the one I would recommend.

One of the best of its genre.......2007-08-14

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Golson writes in a witty, down-to-earth style that engages the reader and leaves you wanting more. So many of the "American moves to paradise" authors come off as either arrogant or complaining know-it-alls. Barry Golson is neither, and his zest for participating in the very life of his adopted second home is refreshing. A great read.

An Epic Mexican Feast That's Wonderfully Nourishing ..........2007-07-23

...and has something for everyone. I can't say enough good things about this book: the writing style is unfailingly crisp, droll, and punchy; it is a love paean to Mexico, its people, culture, and history; it is a wonderful story of a 'boomer' couple's marriage and resolution of the quandary aging couples face over what to do when the nest is empty, but the nest egg is modest and forced retirement looms. It is filled with lots of wisdom about home building and expat living. It builds up hilarious suspense over whether or not the author's 90-year-old father and a bevy of other relatives, all invited to celebrate Thanksgiving at the not-quite-finished house, will be forced to improvise out back for lack of operable plumbing. Even if you're not interested in Mexico, retirement, or homebuilding, you will be utterly charmed by this stranger-in-a-strange-land saga that every human faces sooner or later.

Mexican House Building How-To in story format...sort of.......2007-07-04

This is a great story of how an American couple built their Mexican dream house in Sayulita, Mexico near Puerto Vallarta. While it's not a Mexican house building how-to, it does give you an idea of what you'll have to go through to build an authentic Mexican house on your own. Hopefully, you'll have a good experience as this couple did and not like the one described in God and Mr. Gomez.

Enjoyable read.......2007-05-21

Great story on early retirement in Mexico, especially the pros and cons of buying a home south of the border.

Jerry Baker's Great Green Book of Garden Secrets: Handy Hints, Timely Tonics, and Super Solutions to Turn Your Yard into a Green Garden Paradise! (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)

Average customer rating:

Jerry BAker's books are great
Great book for gardeners!
Buy only a used book
Great Green book of Garden Secrets
Grow your own

Jerry Baker's Great Green Book of Garden Secrets: Handy Hints, Timely Tonics, and Super Solutions to Turn Your Yard into a Green Garden Paradise! (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)
Jerry Baker
Manufacturer: American Master Products, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Jerry Baker | Expert Advice | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Jerry Baker's Giant Book of Garden Solutions: 1,954 Natural Remedies to Handle Your Toughest Garden Problems (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)
Jerry Baker's Perfect Perennials!: Hundreds of Fantastic Flower Secrets for Your Garden (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)
Jerry Baker's Old-Time Gardening Wisdom: Lessons Learned from Grandma Putt's Kitchen Cupboard, Medicine Cabinet, and Garden Shed! (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)
Jerry Baker's Terrific Tomatoes, Sensational Spuds, and Mouth-Watering Melons: 1,274 Super Secrets for Growing Prize-Winning Vegetables (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)
Jerry Baker's Bug Off!: 2,193 Super Secrets for Battling Bad Bugs, Outfoxing Crafty Critters, Evicting Voracious Varmints and Much More! (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series)

ASIN: 0922433364

Book Description

Gardeners can turn a bare plot into a beautiful paradise with the 1,050 miracle-working solutions, tonics, and tricks collected in this power-packed garden resource. Designed to increase flora growth and reduce animal damage, this guide describes how to create more than 125 garden-fixing elixirs using common household products and illustrates easy and inexpensive solutions to even the most perplexing problems. Readers can discover how to stop moles with chewing gum, revitalize roses with bananas, supercharge plants with chicken bones, and whip weeds with vinegar without undue expense or effort.

Customer Reviews:

Jerry BAker's books are great.......2007-06-27

I liked it a lot. Lots of good, down to earth information and easy to find solutions.

Great book for gardeners!.......2006-11-07

This answers everything from selecting a plant to pests and problems.

Buy only a used book.......2005-11-05

I bought this book through the mail and I wont tell you how much I spent on it. It really does have some interesting facts. A lot of repetitive ideas that can be confusing some times. Some of the tonics and things that I tried made my garden worse. In fact, it burnt some of my plants to the ground! Some of his recipes are confusing. Such as: he recommeds everything in this 20 gallon hose end sprayer. I went to many garden centers and everyone laughed at me. Nobody carries anything that large. that is for a garden the size of Texas! Who are these people that the tonics worked for? Come to my house and help me, then.

Great Green book of Garden Secrets.......2005-09-26

This is a wonderful and practical book. I tried two of the receipes in the book and had instant improvement in the appearance of my indoor and outdoor plants. I will be getting several copies for my gardening friends and family.

Grow your own.......2004-01-16

If you want to have the best "buds" on the block , I "highly" recommend this gem of a book.

Jerry baker is a master of garden secrets. And these are secrets that you will not find anywhere else.

Book Description

In More Than Paradise two very different women battle danger, risk all, and find in one another an unexpected ally and an unforgettable love.

Botanist Charlotte Lascelles can't believe her luck when she is selected for a three month research expedition in the Foja Mountains of New Guinea, exploring a lost world that is home to countless new species. The last thing she expects is to find her team being led deep into the mist-shrouded jungle by a woman who has spent the past fifteen years working as a mercenary soldier and interpreter for shady characters in Indonesia and East Timor. To make matters worse, Ash Evans proceeds to hit on her five minutes after they meet. Although friends accuse Charlotte of being uptight, she simply has standards, and they don't include hooking up with brazen flirts like Ash. She can't wait until the helicopter returns to take the distracting and far too sexy guide out of her sight.

But things aren't going her way. Torrential rains wash half the camp into a ravine, and when one of the scientists goes missing, the team is forced away from the helicopter rendezvous location on a journey deep into the unknown. Compelled to share a tent with her nemesis, Charlotte soon finds her determined reserve no match for the feelings Ash ignites.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-08-12

This was an ok book. It started off really good. But the end felt like it was rushed or the author could not figure out how to end it. I kind of just wimpered out at the end.

Ponderous.......2007-07-23

I don't know what book the other reviewers read. This book is what would happen if Al Gore wrote a lesbian romance. Ponderous writing, unbelieveable characters, unbelieveable plot, tame sex scenes, no motivation provided for the characters' actions, etc.

Fascinating and wonderful story.......2007-07-20

This was my first Fulton book and I must say I was extremely engaged throughout the entire book. I especially love when an author educates along with the story and she definitely took us to school on this one. The characters were fabulous...would like to know Ash in real life. One small drawback was I felt the author left several loose ends at the conclusion of the story. I don't expect to be lead like a child to the answer, but leave indications that the readers can at least ASSUME what the outcome could have been. I don't want to give away anything to other readers so I will leave that for the readers to determine. Other than that, this book is a keeper and I will probably read it again. Maybe the second time I will find some answers to the loose ends...or maybe JF will write a sequel (what do you say, Jen?)and clear up the mysteries. Great job on the book and the research.

Intriguing.......2007-05-19

Once again, this author has told the story of a captivating romance set against a background unfamiliar to most of us. Mercenary soldier Ashley Evans and botanist Charlotte Lascelles are sensitive, intelligent women who are immersed in the intriguing world of the remote rain forests of New Guinea. Maybe it's because I share Fulton's political philosophy that I devoured the inside information about little-known ongoing environmental disasters associated with the area. I wish more mainstream authors could write the way Fulton does. Then more readers would become aware of the significant social issues she weaves seamlessly into her stories. (Another example of this is "Grave Silence," where as Rose Beecham she deals very effectively with another serious issue.)

The character of Charlotte Lascelles is interesting because she begins as a dedicated career woman resigned to a life without romantic love, and the reader watches as she gradually develops deeply emotional feelings that change her entire outlook on life. Ash Evans is even more engaging. She has also rejected the possibility of a loving relationship, but for different reasons than Charlotte, as we learn during the course of the story. Although Ash is more aware of her suppressed emotions, she has settled into a more-or-less permanent stoic existence until she meets Charlotte and everything changes. The book expertly chronicles Ash's evolving emotions and how she deals with them.

Having read all of the author's books (as Fulton, Beecham, and Lennox) over the years, I think she has improved with each one. In addition to telling a wonderful love story, this book has a lot to say about important issues. It's definitely at the top of my list of "must read" books.

Hold On!.......2007-05-10

Fasten your seatbelt for a wild ride full of adventure, steamy sex scenes, and intrigue. The scene where the two main characters meet for the first time is incredible.

Average customer rating:

Timeless Classic
The Greatest Writing in the English Language
A timeless classic of English literature
A God Worthy of Respect, if not Praise
Good Book

Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)
John Milton , and John Leonard
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

The Canterbury Tales (Penguin Classics)
The Divine Comedy
The Inferno (Signet Classics)
Paradise Lost (Cliffs Notes)
The Aeneid

ASIN: 0140424393
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Book Description

Edited with an introduction and notes by John Leonard.

Customer Reviews:

Timeless Classic.......2007-08-09

John Milton's "Paradise Lost" is a timeless classic. It's imagery, based itself upon 1500 years of previous Christian-cultural imagery, has shaped how the Western world views Christianity, sin, the fall, life, death, heaven, and hell.

The open-minded non-Christian reader would do well to read "Paradise Lost" to become a literate student of Christian imagery. The Christian, willing to work through the descriptive poetry, will gain new insight into Creation, Fall, and Redemption. In many ways, Milton bridges eras (the Middle Ages and the Reformation), cultures (Southern Europe and Northern), and religious groups (Catholic and Protestant).

It's interesting how much "folk theology" owes itself to Milton's "Paradise Lost." Modern views of the Devil, in particular, are often unknowingly based upon the poetic images from Milton. Fortunately, Milton is at his best in describing Satan, first as the unfallen Lucifer with all his glorious, God-created brilliance, and then as the fallen False Seducer in all his distorted and tormenting deceit.

For example, Milton speaks of how revenge, dark requital, propelled Satan's monstrous motives:

To waste his whole Creation, or possess all as our own, and drive as we were driven, the puny habitants, or if not drive, seduce them to our Party, that their God may prove their foe, and with repenting hand abolish his own works. This would surpass common revenge, and interrupt his joy in our confusion and our joy upraise in his disturbance; when his darling Sons hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse their frail Original, and faded bliss, faded so soon (Milton, Paradise Lost, p. 40).

Surpassing common revenge, Satan lives to spite the Author of life.

By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence, but from the Author of all ill could spring so deep a malice, to confound the race of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell to mingle and involve, done all to spite the great Creator? (Milton, Paradise Lost, p. 41).

Milton's depiction of the temptation in the Garden displays psychological brilliance and biblical insight into the nature of the human personality as designed by God and depraved by sin. Perhaps only C. S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters" matches Milton's understanding of Satanic seduction.

For instance, so whose fault their fall? Milton, imagining God's words to Christ, declares:

For man will hearken to his glozing lies, and easily transgress the sole Command, sole pledge of his obedience. So will fall he and his faithless Progeny. Whose fault? Whose but his own? Ingrate, he had of me all he could have; I made him just and right, sufficient to have stood, though free to fall (Milton, Paradise Lost, p. 63).

Well put. Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. Made just and right and able to choose. Adam and Eve had all they could have from the generous hand of God, yet they transgressed the sole command, the sole pledge of loving, trustful obedience. Loving allegiance they chose to grant to non-god rather than to Father God.

Whatever could possess them to trade their birthright for one bite of the one forbidden fruit? When we last spied earth's Villain, he was tumbling toward hell. Having lost the battle for heaven, his hostility and hate triggers a new plan. Why a second siege on heaven's gates, when earth's shores suggest easier prey? As Milton envisioned it:

Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need with dangerous expedition to invade Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, or ambush from the Deep. What if we find some easier enterprise? There is a place (if ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven err not), another World, the happy seat of some new Race called Man, about this time to be created like to us, though less in power and excellence, but favored more of him who rules above. So was his will pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath, that shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirmed (Milton, Paradise Lost, pp. 39-40).

Readers also could benefit from his less known work, "Paradise Regained." Many have mentioned how difficult it is to write a riveting book about Heaven since the drama of evil is defeated and thus the tension is deflated. Yet Milton captures one possible vision of a future Paradise/Heaven as well as most. (Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven" is, in my opinion, the best modern book on the topic).

The Greatest Writing in the English Language.......2007-02-03

There's enough already said about why and how Milton wrote this book, so I don't have anything to say about that. It's a story most people will be familiar with, and any surprises will involve the beauty of the language or a random, surprising insight into a character's motivation. In the end, Milton deserves to be called the greatest writer in English because of the pure strength and beauty of each individual sentence.

This is undoubtedly a difficult book to read. I teach a small bit in a sophomore high school English class, and I tell them, "This will be the most complex text you will encounter this year." We have to practice unpacking sentences one at a time and stating them in our own words in order to get their meaning. It's a slow process, and one that most adults will also need to go through.

But it's all worth it! Reading Milton might or might not change your view of God and man, but absorbing him will change your love of language. The words are vivid and powerful and beg to be read aloud. If you like your poetry Great in the sense of sounding larger than life and tackling humanity's major questions, Milton is it. (And, in my opinion, he even takes out other wonderful poets that I also love, including Dante, Virgil, Homer, and Shakespeare).

A timeless classic of English literature.......2006-10-13

Justly placed at the head of the canon of Western literature behind Shakespeare and Dante by Harold Bloom, Milton stands as a towering creative genius in English literature and epic poetry.

Milton conceived of his vast epic as a way to justify the 'ways of God to man.' Strangely, the character of Satan is absolutely central to this epic more so even than Adam and the rest of humanity, and often one can't help comparing Satan and his journeys and battles against misfortune as akin to those of other great literary heroes, such as Prometheus, Odysseus or Aeneas. I feel in a way the message of Milton is more than just good Protestant Christian apologetics; if you read his passionate and brilliant defense of freedom of the press and of thought in works like Aeropagitica, I am sure Milton in a way showed the power of free choice and what heights it allows any being to soar to, even those who are damned. I always get a sense from reading Milton a great trust in the human spirit and an expectation to rise against tyranny.

While ultimately I feel Milton does not really justify the 'ways of God to man' in an intellectually satisfying way, and his vision lacks the brilliant unity of that of Dante, Milton is certainly a poet and genius of first order and probably the greatest writer in English after Shakespeare. His poetry contains great depth and beauty, not just the Paradise Epics but many other poems as well, and his learning and erudition are immense.

In Milton there is a great confidence in human reason and in the individual to prevail in the face of disaster and hardship. One can't help but admire Satan's stubborness and determination in the face of so much which goes against him, and his incredible efforts to achieve his goals. If you ever wanted an example of 'self-help' look no further than the devil in Milton; despite the most hopeless situations he never gives up. Perhaps conciously or unconciously Milton embodies in Satan and also in Samson our own present confidence in our creative abilities and our determination and intelligence to overcome any obstacles in our way, and perhaps in a world as turbulent as ours, that isn't such a bad hope to have after all.

A God Worthy of Respect, if not Praise.......2006-08-29

Sufficiency is fluid. There is nothing that in Paradise Lost that can be described as simple. But sufficiency in the eyes of God, Adam and the various obedient angels consists of doing God's will and using the gift of free will given to all his sentient creatures to extol his greatness. Before the falls, both of the rebel angels and of Adam and Eve, the relation between God and his creations is almost always one to one and direct. God makes his creatures sufficient to withstand any and all evil, but by investing all with free will gives them the choice of whether or not to embrace the evil. Suffiency lies within all sentient creatures to do God's will, but one can only be proved sufficient by doing God's will. In short, to be sufficient in God's eyes is to do his will--no matter what!

That suffiency is fluid is vaguely clear through out the poem. There is never one definition of perfectly righteous or good behavior. Satan and the rebel angels needed only to accept Messiah as God and King; Adam and Eve needed only not eat of the tree of knowledge; Michael, Gabriel, and company had to take part in that farce of fight for heaven; Enoch, Noah, Moses and Jesus showed their suffiency by standing up for God against humanly impossible odds. The lists of lesser examples in the poem are too numerous to recite and keep this essay readable, but it is more than reasonable to conclude that depending on the situation anything from indifferent obedience to militant martyrdom will be sufficient. But, constant obedience is always the rule.

The same rule of suffiency should be applied to Paradise in a slightly modified form. God is the greatest of planners because he knows all. Knowing all, he makes plans for every consequence of every action. Had Adam and Eve resisted Satan in the garden, then it would have proved sufficient for two beings who did not know good or evil. That would have proved enough of a mockery to the aims of Satan, but after the fall God ordains it necessary to show that everything Satan ever does to mankind is utterly futile and leads only to more punishment and increase of pain. The fact that he will make the supreme greatness of mankind come from evil means shows his power to be without end, and Satan's unwillingness to accept this is what will ultimately destroy him and his host of rebels at history's conclusion.

The entire question of suffiency of all virtues is the meditation of Milton from the poem's beginning to the close. What is constantly necessary to remember in this poem is the distinction between virtue, or power, and true virtue, power used to celebrate and defend good. Milton uses this distinction to turn epic virtues on their head by investing Satan with so many of them. Satan is fearless, uncompromisingly defiant, willing to fight by whatever means are provided to him and he is inspiring. We can see shades of Aeneas, Odysseus, Scaevola, the Earl of Kent from King Lear, and numerous other literary and historical figures that seethed with defiance and did everything in their power to defy and defy and defy. What all characters put forth have in common though is that they used their powers in defense of people, home, freedom, and friendship. Satan uses the power still invested in him, his "courage never to submit or yield" to try to destroy, not create. Comically, he even seems to realize that he can, at best, be a mild irritant to God this way:

...If then his Providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
Our labour must be to pervert that end,
And out of good still find means of evil,
Which oft-times may succeed, so as perhaps
Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
His inmost counsels from their destined aim. (I, 162-68)

This is power so completely abused that it barely requires further explication. Suffice it to say though, this is the same valor that we find in Adam when we are introduced to him for the first time in book IV, and that he disdains using in book IX when he chooses to follow Eve's lead by eating the forbidden fruit. Where the true virtue of the obedient angels and the classical epic heroes lies in their motivation for undertaking feats of violence, Satan's hatefulness, which grows as he further resists God, lies in the fact that he uses all his powers and intellect in the service of conquest, destruction, and wickedness. As becomes clear by the poem's end, when Michael shows Adam the tyranny of Nimrod, valor when in the service of wickedness is not a true virtue. True virtue and greatness can only come through God's favor.

Here it seems appropriate to move from suffiency in beings and their actions to the suffiency of Paradise. As Raphael points out in book VII, creation of the world and mankind took place in order show Satan and the rebel angels their superflousness by filling what they could have defined as a void when they were banished from Heaven. God loves all his creatures for the obedience and love they show him. But part of the nature of being omnipotent is that nothing is inexpendible and no thing is outside of his purview. Existence itself is by God's sufferance and for any permanence of good to come of a beings existence this must be accepted as indisputable. Milton's Satan would not be Milton's Satan if he accepted this necessity. He even had a chance to accept it in book II had he advised the Stygian council to accept the advice of Mammon--one who hates God as much as Satan:

...Let us not then pursue
By force impossible, by leave obtained
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek
Our own good from ourselves, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear
Then most conspicuous, when great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse,
We can create, and in what place soe'er
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
Through labour and endurance. (II, 249-262)

God's wrath is infinite when provoked, and expulsion from Heaven is the punishment for attempting to conquer Heaven. There is no reason to believe that his ire would have been raised had the rebel angels simply accepted their punishment, because the punishment and the concomitant agony that the disobedient angels suffer would have been sufficient. The further disobedience of Satan is what makes more punishment necessary, hence the periodic metamorphosis into serpents the rebels undergo after Satan's return from Earth. Again, suffiency of actions by God becomes defined solely by decisions made by his creations. By seducing Adam and Eve, Satan showed God that banishment was not sufficient to quell his pride. Also, Adam and Eve showed themselves insufficiently obedient to deserve Paradise. It became necessary for God to alter all of their conditions in order to punish Satan accordingly, further dash his pride. For Adam and Eve the punishment was death and the misery of history. They proved insufficient of Paradise, nothing in Paradise itself was imperfect, insufficient, let alone deficient, accept for them after the fall.

God is the creator of infinite possibility in all his sentient creatures. He should not be viewed as the writer of a book with a singular vision who preordains events to make a specific conclusion. That would be fate or destiny and God did not impose these upon human existence. God has total foreknowledge of all events, but he explains to Messiah that this is irrelevant because free will gives all his creations choice. They would be worthless otherwise because,

Not free, what proof could they have giv'n sincere
Of true allegiance, constant faith or love,
Where only what they needs must do, appeared,
Not what they would? What praise could they receive?
What pleasures I from such obedience paid,
When will and reason (reason also is choice)
Useless and vain, of freedom both despoiled,
Made passive both, had served necessity,
Not me. (III, 103-111)

There needs to be the constant possibility of evil arising for good to mean anything. Good is totally impotent without the contrast of evil, in fact it arguably can not exist without it. Automaton praise would not be real praise of God.

When discussion of the suffiency of Paradise comes up in any definition of suffiency we enter into very dangerous territory. Adam and Eve voice no complaints about Paradise; they do not imagine the possibility of being happier than they are prior to their fall. Disobedience to God remains a constant possibility because of the absolute existence of free will. The universe that Milton has created is one where the actions of individuals is never foreordained and one in which absolute obedience to God is the only path through which any good can ever u come to the individual. There is also never an instance where what God asks is even in modest proportion compared to what he gives. At the same time though, Milton makes absolutely clear that obedience to God does not protect either his dutiful from horrors. One need only remember the nightmare of Eve at the beginning of Book V, or the awful description by Raphael of the hollowing that he hears coming from Hell when he is dispatched there during creation. But God never exposes his creations to truly painful tests of their loyalty, not by any standard that fallen humankind. Paradise is perfectly sufficient for Adam and Eve in the state they are in just prior to their fall. Neither one truly aspires towards bettering themselves in a way that would increase their happiness and still maintain their total obedience to God. They proved insufficient to remain in Paradise, but Paradise may have proved insufficient for the beings they were to become had they not fallen.

Raphael conjectures when he meets Adam and Eve in Book V, that mankind may one day transubstantiate into a more spiritual being that will be able to cross the boundary between Paradise and Heaven.(493-503) He is not given any information by God save the fact that Satan is hanging around Paradise, so it is purely conjecture to assume that this is possibility. The same is also true of the conjectures that Michael makes about the once possible future of unfallen mankind in Book XI; the progeny of mankind would spread out of Paradise and into the world at large. Eden would have proved not large enough to hold all of mankind. I do not believe though that this is a reflection upon quality of Eden, but one upon its physical size. There is also no reason to believe that the progeny of Adam and Eve would have been just like them. They may very well have been designed to exist in a state closer to our own. Milton's God is the definition of infinite variety and it is impossible to quantify what he would have done if...

Ultimately in Paradise Lost questions of suffiency are nearly moot. Milton's initial purpose in the poem "to justify the ways of God to man," shows this better than anything else. God asks so little, but the stakes are so high for the fate of mankind that it becomes horrible to see just what happens. Since God is infinitely complicated just as he is infinitely powerful. It seems to me that Milton came to the conclusion that God could not be justified, let alone by human standards. God gives all and asks nearly nothing. When he is disobeyed, no one of his creations has the right to question the actions he takes. Through his ability to show just how simple the arrangement with God initially was, he shows how futile it is to try to justify anything he does prior to the fall.

Good Book.......2006-07-13

I ordered it. It said it would come in 1-2 weeks, but came in 2 days. Amazing.

Average customer rating:

Too Many Ex-Loves.
Cold Paradise review
Enjoyable listen!
got me hooked quickly
Awesome

Cold Paradise (Stone Barrington Novels)
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451205626
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Suave, sophisticated Stone Barrington is a hero destined for the big screen. (Since Cary Grant is dead, Stone will have to be played by Bruce Willis, if he can keep his smirk under control.) He's certainly got the trappings: the Armani tuxedo too well-tailored to reveal the gun beneath the drape, the sexy sports cars, the beautiful women who never fail to throw themselves at him, the confident familiarity with a complicated wine list or French menu. And he's got friends in high places, which helps when you're looking for a beautiful woman who made a big impression on the slightly nerdy but nice software billionaire who hires Barrington to find her.

Between bedding the billionaire's chef in Palm Beach, hiding from the homicidal Mafia princess he almost married in Italy, and playing games with a Hollywood beauty whose young son may or may not be his very own child, Stone hardly has time to do the job he's been hired for. But when he does, he discovers that the object of his search is still another ex-lover, a woman he thought had been executed on a Caribbean island three years ago. All these women, and all these adventures, plus Stone's old pal Dino, a New York cop, will be familiar to readers of Woods's other Stone Barrington thrillers. This one has Woods's trademark narrative punch, solid pacing, and glossy, brand-name panache. If Judith Krantz wrote thrillers, this is what she'd turn out. But don't let that stop you. Cold Paradise is the perfect book for a hot day in the hammock or a long plane ride to a ritzy resort destination. The only real surprise is why Stone Barrington hasn't made it to the big (or small) screen yet. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Palm Beach is the most glamorous scene-of-the-crime yet for cop-turned-investigator Stone Barrington, who becomes reacquainted with a case he thought was buried years ago-and must settle romantic entanglements that haunt him still...

"A delightful tale of sex and violence...'Sopranos'-style...slick, sophisticated fun." (Washington Post)

"Roller-coaster plotting." (Denver Post)

"Woods delivers his most riveting and glamorous Barrington novel yet." (Press Journal, Vero Beach, FL)

Customer Reviews:

Too Many Ex-Loves........2007-06-10

Stuart Woods serves up so many "ex-dishes" for Stone Barrington to handle it is difficult to remember "who was who" or why they were important. Somehow, the story, which has a good premise gets lost in all of the previous encounters and Stone becomes a celluloid copy of his former self without the time to build the suspense necessary for a satisfying thriller.
The image of Stone running around Palm Beach in Vance Calder's castoff clothes doesn't fit the suave Stone, whose taste and means gives him access to the finest of New York's haberdasheries. One kept hoping he'd find a charity outlet for their disposal.
If like me, you enjoy the Barrington character, you'll keep reading to the end. A parody is good for relaxation, but we all await the next installment of Stone's adventures.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."

Cold Paradise review.......2006-11-09

Typically enjoyable Stone Barrington saga that draws you in immediately with just the right amount of action and love interest to make you forget whatever irritating problems you may have in your own life - great escapism. I've never read a Stone Barrington book I didn't enjoy.

Enjoyable listen!.......2006-05-29

I enjoy Stuart Wood's Stone Barrington novels and this was another fun ride. I have to wonder about the on again/off again relationship with Arrington Calder, but then Stone seems to be hung up on that wacko woman. Of course he's such a whore, he'll sleep with anyone and he's even slept with a murderess...you'll enjoy this one and finally catch the criminal from previous books.

got me hooked quickly.......2005-01-13

what can I say about Woods that I haven't already said? Once again he builds on what happened before, takes it further and makes it better...this book would be great on its own, but you really have to read the Barrington series in order to to get the full effect of each entry in the series...

I don't want to get into the story because I hate to ruin the experience for anyone who hasn't read it yet..but if it's been awhile since you last checked in on Stone Barrington, you should pay him a visit and read this book.

Awesome.......2004-11-12

Stuart Woods always keeps you guessing and Stone Barrington is always an interesting person, who always finds himself in trouble in work and in love.

Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families

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The go-to treatise for raising children
A great book for parents at any income level!
Children of Paradise

Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families
Dr. Lee Hausner
Manufacturer: Plaza Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0976994801

Product Description

A comprehensive parenting guide for financially advantaged families. This fresh and updated book offers a clear nine-step program for affluent parents to improve their skills and inspire healthy values in their children. You will learn: How to make the time with your children count. How to motivate your children to develop confidence and competence essential elements of self-esteem. How to listen effectively to your children. How to talk openly and honestly with your children. When to say no and when to create boundaries for your children. How to teach your children the value of money and to prepare them for the responsibilities of wealth. How to create an effective disciplinary plan when problems arise. You will benefit from Dr. Hausners four decades of experience, and you will especially appreciate the humor, clarity, and practical suggestions that will make the challenges of your parenting easier and more effective. Subjects covered include; relationships with money, money messages, teaching children the value of money, sudden wealth, affluent parents, family mission statements, family philanthropy and trustee beneficiary relationships. Children of Paradise offers a positive action plan sensitive to the needs of successful parents to assure that their children grow up with positive self-esteem and the necessary internal resources to meet the challenges of a privileged life. With the information and guidance in this book, your parenting can be an exhilarating experience from which both you and your children will reap lifetime benefits. Its never too late to become the parent you want to be.

Customer Reviews:

The go-to treatise for raising children.......2007-08-03

This book has been the go-to treatise for raising children since 1990. Dr. Hausner's contemporary message applies to all families seeking assistance with the issues related to childrearing. A great read and very insightful.

A great book for parents at any income level!.......2005-02-20

IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD'S MOTIVATION AND SELF-ESTEEM, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

My husband and I, parents of three children (ages 7, 6, and 2) attended one of Dr. Hausner's speaking engagements in Coral Gables, Florida, and we were impressed by both her relaxed yet captivating speaking style as well as the content of what she had to say (definately (...) material). We were each given a copy of Children of Paradise, and I set to reading it right away. I am now on amazon to order 5 copies to pass along to my close parenting friends regardless of their income level. I plan to keep my highlighted, marked-up copy by my nightstand for easy reference for a long time. While the book contains some insightful strategies for wealthy families in handling inheritance and trusts - issues that are not present in most families in America - this book also provides some of the best parenting advice I have read regarding effective communication with your children, consistent discipline, and issues of control. In Children of Paradise, Dr. Hausner - without blame - discusses character traits of successful, "type A" personality parents and how these traits which have made them successful in their careers do not translate into successful parenting, but rather, can result in lowering a child's self esteem and motivation. I would argue that the same qualities can be found in parents of any income level coping with the competition and stress of daily life with children and careers during a time when we tend to demand perfection of ourselves and others. Dr. Hausner offers specific examples and techniques to improve how parents speak with and listen to their children - at any age - including teenagers. I have started to change the way I communicate with my children and I see results. In appropriate situations, I have stopped imposing strict punishments to control their behavior in favor of allowing my children to experience the natural consequences of their own failure to do what they need to do. (Not when it involves personal safety - obviously.) I am trying to stop telling them what to do most of the time (or just doing it for them) in the interest of expediency. I already see how my children are becoming more responsible with these changes and more confident. In short, this is a terrific book for any educated parent - career or stay at home, middle or upper class. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Children of Paradise.......2000-04-01

In recent history with so much instant wealth created from techno-stocks, it gives great insights on how to handle wealth in your family. Wealth may solve some problems, but creates others for families and this book gives solutions to avoid the pitfalls. It is helpful in keeping children of wealth grounded. Lee Hausner has worked with many wealthy families in the Beverly Hills School District and has first-hand knowledge in dealing with the issues surrounding children and wealth.

Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening

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The Unity of Creation and Redemption

Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening
Vigen, Guroian
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802845886

Book Description

The garden is a personal place of retreat and delight and labor for many people. Gardening helps us collect ourselves, much as praying does. For rich and poor- it makes no difference- a garden is a place where body and soul are in harmony. In Inheriting Paradise Vigen Guroian offers an abundant vision of the spiritual life found in the cultivation of God's good creation. Capturing the earthiness and sacramental character of the Christian faith, these uplifting meditations bring together the experience of space and time through the cycle of the seasons in the garden and relate this fundamental human experience to the cycle of the church year and the Christian seasons of grace. The tilling of fresh earth; the sowing of seeds; the harvesting of rhubarb and roses, dillweed and daffodils-Guroian finds in the garden our most concrete connection with life and God's gracious giving. His personal reflections on this connection, complemented here by delicate woodcut illustrations, offer a compelling entry into Christian spirituality.

Customer Reviews:

The Unity of Creation and Redemption.......2000-04-01

In this remarkable little book, Guroian has exemplified the way in which Orthodox Christian theology/spirituality enables one to have spectacular insight into the nature of creaturely life in the created world. His reflections appropriate the heart of Orthodox thought to gardening: that redemption is the union of God with the whole cosmos. This is a done in a poetic and contemplative way that is a joy to read.

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