Book Description
Each year more than five-million couples separate in the United States and almost 1.2 million more couples divorce. While there are numerous books designed for the spouse who wants to separate or divorce, there are few resources for those who want to reconcile the relationship.
This book is written specifically for the man whose wife has walked out on him and wants to win her back. It includes step-by-step, easy-to-understand instructions and advice. Real-life examples offer insight into how other men won their wives back and a workbook section helps men develop a personalized game plan for their individual situations.
Winning Your Wife Back Before It's Too Late offers simple steps that God can use to restore hope and make a positive difference in a marriage relationship.
Customer Reviews:
AWESOME help for a man who needs EMERGENCY help............2005-09-07
I had client whose wife was in the process of leaving him.... this book (since he followed EVERY step to the letter) helped him immeasurably -- he was able to WIN BACK the heart of his wife..... !!!!! I have no idea what the other reviews were reading but this book WORKS -- it is of course better to provide regular heart, romantic, loving 'maintenance' for your wife but if you have neglected her over some period of time, this book will help you restore relationship....
Good Book.......2005-05-11
It seems to be split between those couples who've physically separated, and those who are going to if things don't change. Still plenty of good info, just as all Smalley's are.
Terribly Sad for Men.......2004-12-24
After having read "Winning Your Husband back" with it's sexist, misogynistic views, I was dying to read "Winning your Wife Back" and equally horrid book. I realize there are some terrible men out there, but this books generalizes that all men whose wives have bailed out are abusive. This book is degrading to men. That's what happens when you try to fit all men into the same mold (or all women). Most men aren't villians, most women aren't victims. I'm tired of these so called Psychologists/Professionals making it out so. People have to remember: The only people who go to shrinks are people in desperate situations. This tends to skew their viewpoint quite a bit. Also keep in mind that this book was written by an elderly man with very narrow views of a world that has gone the way of the DoDo.
Be very careful and alert.......2003-04-11
My now ex wife purchased this book for me while we were separated under the pretense that I needed to learn of sacrificial love which is covered under one of the chapters. The entire time she was sleeping around with one of her employees. I certainly learned quite a bit about sacrificial love. All I can say is please be careful, alert and don't let your spouse run all over you. There are always two parties in a marraige and in a divorce. I wish you all the best.
Be very careful and alert.......2003-04-11
My now ex wife purchased this book for me while we were separated under the pretense that I needed to learn of sacrificial love which is covered under one of the chapters. The entire time she was sleeping around with one of her employees. I certainly learned quite a bit about sacrificial love. All I can say is please be careful, alert and don't let your spouse run all over you. There are always two parties in a marraige and in a divorce. I wish you all the best.
Book Description
He's walked out and she still wants him back. Thousands of discouraged and hurting women ask, "Is there anything I can do to win my husband back?" Though there are plenty of books on divorce, few talk about what it takes to initiate a reconciliation. Gary Smalley and Dr. Greg Smalley offer women a biblically based strategy for winning back their mate.
Included is an appendix of additional resources on organizations, counseling centers, video series, and books that have proven particularly helpful in this situation. Full of practical advice and realistic encouragement,
Winning Your Husband Back can help heal a marriage. And whether the marriage is healed or not, the ideas will also help readers become responsible for their own choices and draw nearer to God.
Customer Reviews:
Very helpful.......2007-05-29
I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging to me. I am currently separated from my husband and I am desperately trying to put the pieces back together again. This book is specific on areas a wife can do to change her behavior towards her husband. Although it takes two to make a marriage/seperation, I have found that what I say and how I say it really helps in bringing us closer. Gary Smalley has always been so great at the marital relationship and this was no exception.
Should do more reading before making a judgment.......2006-10-12
The next three reviewers paint quite an unfair picture of this book as well as the author. One reviewer ends her comments by asking if the author has written a book to men challenging them to treat their wives right. She said, "didn't think so." Well that is plain wrong. He did write a book to men which was much more challenging to men than his advice to women. It's called "If Only He Knew: What No Woman Can Resist" and you can find it here on amazon. In that book (which the reviewer has obviously not read) he tells the husbands that they are the ones ultimately responsible for trouble in their marriages. He says "if after 5 years of marriage there are still unresolved issues that he hasn't address, then it falls squarely on the HUSBAND's shoulders." How is that for responsibility? There was no blame on the wife... If you read both (all) of the author's books you will see he teaches a very consistent view of marriage and the husband/wife roles. However, if you only read one book with your own agenda, you will not present a fair evaluation of this book or any book for that matter. Ladies, this book will help you in your marriage. While you are at it, pick up the other book for your husband. :)
God must have told hubbies to leave-wives-thank Him for it.......2006-03-27
If women have to look to God to figure out why their husbands walk out, does that mean husbands bail out on God's advice? Do they need to talk to God too? Has this writer written a book for men who have selfishly left wives and children behind with similar instructions on what to do to be better men in order to be received back into the graces of their families? I didn't think so...
PUTRID.......2004-12-24
This book is terrible. I wish people (women in general) would ditch the atiquated, sexist and misogynistic teachings of the bible (and most religions) as they do more harm than good. A friend was given this book after her marriage failed (he ran off with an uneducated 18 yr old) and she called me crying because she thought that maybe if she was a stupid, submissive sex toy with no will of her own, her marriage would still be intact. Surely not! I read the book and was appalled. Then I thought, why am I surprised? This is written by an old fart with archaeic values that no longer hold true. Relax, ladies. Most of these types of people will be dead in 20 or 30 years and the world will be a better place. Live your life well, make smart decisions, stay away from anything that causes harm and be good to others. Everthing will be allright, I promise you.
Side note: My friend remarried a wonderful man who isn't threatend by a smart, independent free thinking woman. He doesn't want her to be anything but who she is. Yes, those men do exist (and they're not ninnies).
Bible-beating hogwash!!.......2004-07-30
There isn't anything in this world that would entice me to be anything but equal to my husband. This book not only encourages women to become submissive to their husbands, but it essentially tells them that they would have to in order to save their marriages. It tells women that they, and only they, are responsible for the condition, and ultimately the repair, of their marriages, and that their husbands are essentially blameless. It also tells women that they shouldn't expect be very high on their husband's list of priorities because God doesn't want it that way. According to this book, the only way to save your marriage is to change absolutely everything about yourself in order to become what the Bible (a book written by men!) says you should be. Hogwash! I resented just about every piece of advice in this book, and I don't know how to follow this advice without losing all my self-respect and dignity in the process. I love my husband very much, but he could never respect the person this book wants me to be, and neither could I.
Book Description
With the same compassion and wisdom that powered his phenomenal bestseller When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Harold Kushner addresses a need that is universal and timeless -- the wish for a meaningful life.
Why is it that, after attaining many of our goals, we are left with a sense that something vital is missing? In his deeply inspiring bestseller, Rabbi Kushner shows us how to live as human beings are meant to. He guides us to a heightened sense of joy, purpose, and meaning, and helps us to redirect our energies toward goals that will bring us lasting happiness and true fulfillment.
Customer Reviews:
Kushner's pièce de résistance.......2007-08-29
Rabbi Harold Kushner is best known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, but this work is in my judgment his greatest contribution to the philosophy of the spiritual life, Kushner's pièce de résistance. Using my favorite Hebrew Bible text, Ecclesiastes, as a springboard, Rabbi Kushner writes about the "ultimate thirst of our souls": the need for "meaning," for "the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter." Rabbi Kushner offers readers his wisdom -- born out of years of study, struggle and life experience -- about how to live a life that matters.
READ this REVIEW.......2007-08-04
READ this BOOK! Rabbi Kushner hits on so many relevant and pertinent topics that you will be amazed how you see yourself in the anedotes and examples used to illustrate Kushner's point. Rabbi Kushner uses the Old Testament story of Ecclesiastes to illustrate how man's search for happiness is eternal and not unique. I could not believe how similar Ecclesiaste's view on life and search for happiness are so similar to my own. I found myself stopping on many occasions and telling my wife "READ THIS!"
I have been on a self-help book crusade for the past several months. Reading a bunch of these books have helped in finding some understanding to the search for happiness I have been after. After each book, I can say one or two of the points explained in the book have made sense and have some good practical applications to dealing with everyday situations that arise in my life. Kushner's book is by the far the best. He gives you straightforward and understandable examples of the negative behavior that conflict in man's search for happiness.
From the opening pages Kushner had me! He hits the nail on the head when he says the lines "If you ask anybody what is more imporant - work or family? - without a doubt they answer family. But then ask them how much time they spend away from family by putting work ahead of family and making work more important than family obligations." (paraphrased) He has many of these observations that help the reader get some insight into how destructive these behaviors are towards our supposed goal of happiness. I highly, highly recommend this book - READ this BOOK!
Life on life's terms..........2007-02-26
A great book and one the everyone should read at some time in their lives!
Thanks again for getting me the book so fast and in such good condition!
Gary
One of the best meaning-of-life books ever written!.......2006-12-12
A thoughtful, spiritual examination of why fame and fortune do not produce happiness, and why "average" and "successful" people often feel emptiness in their lives. Many brief anecdotes are used to illustrate the author's observations, which are linked to the book of Ecclesiastes.
Read by the author. You will read (or listen to) this more than once!
Classic.......2006-01-24
Kushner is a sage and this book is a classic. As always Kushner's knits together wonderful stories, quotes, and historical observations that are always on the mark and move his thoughts forward. The disease that plagues our age is overconsumption and Kushner invites the reader to step away from the table of materialism and instead search out the things that really matter.
Book Description
Faced with the unspeakable possibility of losing a loved one, the parents and siblings of Terri Schiavo were thrust into the international spotlight during their desperate attempt to preserve a life they valued as deeply as they did their own. Now the Schindlers share their love and their sorrow, their joy and their pain, and stunning revelations as they celebrate Terri's life, mourn her death, and tell the whole story of the woman and the battle that captivated millions.
Customer Reviews:
Thumbs Down for "Terri's Family".......2006-11-27
Anyone gushing over the "concerned and loving" parent's of Terri Shiavo really needs to read Michael Shiavo's book on the life and death of his wife. Unlike "Terri's Family," he uses real documents, court and hospital records to support his case. He also exposes the Shindler's (in particular, Bob), as being much less concerned with their their daughter's treatment and more more concerned with affording a bigger condo.
Terri is finally resting in peace.
A Very difficult case.......2006-08-09
I hate trying to assign stars to a book like this. It's a very controversial topic, and one that I have strong opinions on. Still, I don't assume that everyone who disagrees with me is wrong, wrong, wrong. I have too much sympathy for all the combatants. I wish there had been a way to work it out peaceably.
There have been four books written by or with the cooperation of the principals in this case, and I have listed them in the productwiki. This came out at approximately the same time as Michael Schiavo's Terri: The Truth. It is interesting to see how the two books use the same witness, Cindi Shook, pp. 105-113 of this book and pp. 179-189 of Schiavo's. One might think that there were two different women.
The backbone of this narrative is by Mary Schindler, with other members of the family narrating specific events. This was a trifle confusing at first, but I rapidly got used to it. It reads pretty smoothly and has explanatory notes at the bottom of the page. It includes a section of color family photographs and four affadavits by doctors. Frustratingly enough, there is no index in any of the four books, so it is difficult to compare their handling of specific issues.
The Schindlers have three basic arguments: 1. Terri was not in a persistent vegetative state (PVS); 2. Even if she was in PVS, she left no instructions; 3. Even if she was was in PVS and left clear instructions "There is not now and never has been a 'right' to die" (p.221). That last statement not only makes the other two moot, and but I cannot help but wonder if to the Schindlers and their supporters, it justified saying just about anything in the first two arguments. With all the oversight that the case received, they simply don't convince me of the first two arguments. Michael Schiavo would have to have organized and sustained a large cabal of amoral doctors and judges, beginning before the case became famous and he became a poster-child for right-to-die issues, and continuing through a glare of publicity. Even assuming that they had no morals or professional ethics, Schiavo wasn't a politically powerful man, and the malpractice settlement simply wasn't that large, considering the expenses
The family strikes me as befuddled by grief. Despite their conviction that it really isn't relevant, the Schindlers still insist in the face of the autopsy that the doctors' diagnosis of PVS was wrong, the wild coincidence that it was confirmed is explained by the process of dying. Mary Schindler's description of her daughter as "healthy" is mind-boggling, even if she was at least minimally conscious. It strikes me as both delusional and heart-breaking. Bobby Schindler states: (p. 231): "Remember, most hospitals and many doctors WANT YOU TO DIE. It's convenient that way and much less expensive" [emphasis in the original]. I find that absolutely incredible! I can't imagine how so many people I know, including myself, have walked into those death traps and escaped!
I hope the Schindlers find consolation in their campaigns, but their agenda scares me. I believe that there should be a right-to-die, there is legally a right, I've left written instructions, and I certainly don't want the Schindlers and their ilk harassing my family. I wish the Schindlers all the luck in the world in creating their free hospital for those who want it, but I don't. I wonder which will take precendence: the political campaign or the hospital? I think it should be the latter: if the Schindlers can provide good care, then they might lovingly and gentle change people's minds in individual cases.
Certainly worth reading, but it doesn't convince me.
Don't bother with this one........it's a real bore.......2006-06-28
If people want to read a book that is more objective about this case please read, "Unplugged, Reclaiming Our Right to Die in America" by William Colby. Mr. Colby is the lawyer for Nancy Cruzan, a case very similar to Terri Schiavo's, so he is very knowledgable about this topic. He does not denigrate either family and approaches the subject of dying very even-handedly. Reading either the book by Michael Schiavo or the book by the Schindlers is an exercise in futility to me. Both sides have their own opinion of what happened and are obviously very biased to their own point of view. This is a very dysfunctional family that will never agree with anything the other says simply because they do not like each other, and readers should understand this when they read their books. In between all this name-calling and accusations lies the real truth, as it usually does, and no one, especially the public, knows that real truth.
This is a case that should have never been so highly publicized, it just brought out the kooks and all those people who like to hear and see themselves proselytize on TV (including politicians) These difficult decisions are quietly made every day in this country (since the Quinlan and Cruzan cases) without any fanfare and this case should have been no different. And anyone who thinks "starving" Terri could cause the massive brain damage seen on autopsy is just plain stupid.
Anyway, don't bother with this book or any of the other family-versions unless you want reinforced what you already believe is the truth......read something that is unbiased, objective, and neutral.
A Captivating Testimony of Love and Compassion.......2006-06-14
In today's world, the culture of death is continuously growing stronger in its influence on the media and the way we think. They try to convince everyone that the disabled should be killed--that they are "better off dead," "vegetables," and "not worthy of life." When we think of such arguments, the most recent case that comes to mind is the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo, a disabled woman that, due to an activist judge and her adulterous husband, was cruelly dehydrated to death for two weeks, and was denied the right that should have been undeniable to her: the right to life. The culture of death ever since has labelled Terri's death as "a blessing" and "heroism." Even when Terri's autopsy showed that her collapse was not caused by a heart attack or bulimia, the culture of death has automatically concluded that "Saint Michael Schiavo is always right," and that Terri had been "PVS and dead for fifteen years" and a "burden on society." (Despite the fact that a persistent vegetative state cannot be diagnosed by an autopsy, and the immense brain damage seen during the autopsy could have easily been caused by Terri's extended dehydration period.) The Schindlers, Terri's family, were labelled as "freaks" and "evil bigots."
However, that did not stop them from coming out and putting down their difficult story in words, so that people in conditions similar to and even worse than Terri's will be spared the fate that their beloved daughter and sister was sentenced to, and instead be loved, cared for, and treated by their family until their natural death.
"A Life That Matters" is the heart-wrenching and emotional side of a story about Terri Schindler-Schiavo's fight and eventual loss for life, written by her family that was criminalized by the culture of death simply because they wished to love and care for her. It includes the testimonies of Terri's family and friends--the people who knew her best--who come out and praise the life she led as a beautiful young woman, a beloved daughter, sister, and friend. The testimonies shared in the book also bring strong evidence against Michael Schiavo's claims that it was "Terri's wish" to die and the fabricated fairy-tale marriage that he claims to have had with her.
I would recommend this book to anyone that believes the disabled deserve life and loving care, not death, and also to those who are on the fence about the case of Terri Schindler-Schiavo and other disabled persons--this book may change the very way you think!
Anti-murder manifesto.......2006-05-25
Terri Schiavo's life and tragic, horrific death by dehydration changed the world as millions of people watched the efforts of her estranged husband to legally murder her.
My husband and I certainly watched it. I never would've guessed that a little over a year later, I would be facing a situation that was the worst I'd ever been through - and in many ways, strikingly similar.
Suffice it to say that my husband is ALIVE and recovering in a prolife hospital, and only because of the most desperate tactics I could muster to save him from a doctor and hospital who committed gross mistakes, then tried to cover them up by disconnecting his life support and saying he told them he "wanted to die."
The fact that my husband and I had discussed in excruciating detail what we both wanted done if we were in a similar situation didn't deter the butcher shop masquerading as a hospital from trying to force DEATH on him. Why? Well, because they made a mistake, and if he died, they could say the "cancer" of which he is cured killed him - not their gross negligence.
Yes, this really happens in America. I bet you never knew a doctor or medical ethics committee can invalidate your living will, IF your living will says that you want to LIVE.
We're in a brave new world where imperfect people are disposable. Where you can murder helpless human beings by starving and dehydrating them to death, although any human being deprived of food and water WILL die (gee, even Michael Schiavo, although God knows he's got enough fat to live off for years.)
The idea that a human being who isn't 100 percent doesn't have a "quality of life" is the biggest load of horse manure to be forced on society from the Death Cultists. How utterly arrogant! How hopelessly stupid!
How about if the Death Cultists just follow their own advice and commit suicide? They're so grimly determined to shove everyone else six feet under that they should just cut to the chase and show us how it's done by practicing it themselves.
I'd be happy to help. :)
Average customer rating:
- Is the music all that matters?
- More interesting than a bee's nest
- easily the best book on prog available
- The least essential Prog book I've read
- Critical or Hostile?
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The Music's All That Matters: A History of Progressive Rock (Music)
Paul Stump
Manufacturer: Quartet Books (UK)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
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History & Criticism
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Rock
| Musical Genres
| Music
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Soul
| Musical Genres
| Music
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ASIN: 0704380366 |
Customer Reviews:
Is the music all that matters?.......2004-03-15
To have a better understanding of this book one must take into account its author's ideology. As pointed out by Edward Macan (whose musicological and sociological analysis is much more superior to Stump's), the ranks of music critics were dominated by neo-Marxists. That explains Stump's preferences and prejudices. Henry Cow and Soft Machine get his praise because of their ideological beliefs rather than their artistic merits (in the long list of acknowledgments, he thanks Chris Cutler for "intellectual inspiration"). Accordingly, Stump's sarcasm towards Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, etc., is focused mainly on their decadence, not their music. But Stump's objectivity in his venom distribution is skewed too - for example, his bourgeois ways notwithstanding, Bill Bruford (as well as all Stump's interviewees) gets a much better treatment than other members of Yes. Kind of a payback.
Writing a history of progressive rock is quite an ambitious undertaking, and it's hard to expect one person to know everything about the multitude of bands and musicians. Claiming encyclopedic knowledge, Stump can't leave out less-popular-yet-major players. Here Stump's pretense is apparent, as his familiarity with those bands is rather minimal in many instances. Take Gentle Giant. Stump's upcoming book implies that he must be a great scholar of their work, but his overview of the group looks more like a compilation of opinions. At the very first mention, he defines them as a part of "by far the more commercially successful form of Progressive rock" (page 97). This statement should not even be contested because of its obvious fallacy. The fact alone that one of their best records, In a Glass House, had never been released in the U.S. as too "uncommercial" leaves no uncertainty about their moneymaking success. Their statement about "blatant commercialism", ridiculed by Stump, really reflects their approach towards music. Stump repeats every silly epithet used by critics (except for "pretentious") and then refers to Jan-Paul van Spaendonck whose opinion he evidently respects and whose high praise is in total contradiction with Stump's pearls. This dualism reveals his total lack of knowledge of the subject. He is tempted to side with the majority, but few respected voices confuse him. So it came out pretty confusing and quite pathetic too.
Stump's interpretation and philosophizing of the social side of the movement is rooted in his ideology. It's full of customary Marxist truisms, and is pretty shallow and weak.
On a minor note, Stump's universally praised vocabulary is an intellectual show-off, a sign of self-infatuation, typical for unrecognized self-achievers. A standout evidence of that is his comparison between prog "big guns" and "ascetic and virtuous Stakhanovites" (page 12). For the record, the Stakhanovites were super-productive workers during the industrial build-up in the Soviet Union in the `30s. These people were neither ascetic nor virtuous. Their only virtue was their productivity. Otherwise, they were quite arrogant because they were well-paid (i.e. rich) and famous. Stump's desire to impress results in his attempts for neologisms and improper use of words ("atavism" and "lumpen" come to mind) as he tries to impose his "intellectual superiority".
All in all, ignore Stump's ideological assault and don't succumb to his pseudo-intellectual pressure, and you have a good historical overview of progressive rock although his pretentious style really spoils it.
More interesting than a bee's nest.......2004-02-16
The book is for very sophisticated readers that have a vast vocabulary, it is definately not for most readers. It gives lots of information on most (if not all) prog rock bands from Europe. Like any other book about music it is biased towards some bands but in general the author seems honest. I personally was looking for a book which incorporated prog bands from all around the world not just Europe. Also it leaves gaping holes in its chronolgy it appears that nothing happened with prog in the late 80s and 90s. The author mentions that the music wasn't that popular at the time but sill i had hoped for more.
easily the best book on prog available.......2003-08-11
I find this book to be superior to the other two leading works on prog by Macan and Martin, respectively. Macan is a musicologist who admittedly has fallen out of interest with popular music since the time of progressive rock; thus, his book is useful only insofar as he can present a musicologist's opinion about certain pieces. When it comes to putting progressive rock in the context of other music happening simultaneosly, or evaluating progressive rock in terms of rock music history as a whole, Macan is mostly useless.
Martin approaches the subject from a sociologist's perspective, and this is valuable. Also, Martin probably goes into depth with the most individual albums than the other writers. However, Martin's knowledge of the genre is too incomplete, too biased towards Yes and too full of needless Marxist claptrap to be on Stump's level.
Why is Stump's book the best? Well, it's easily the best written of the three -- it's an invigorating, entertaining read. Martin even admits in his own book that he wished he had Stump's facility with language. Secondly, Stump isn't just presenting the history of prog from the rose-colored glasses of a fan. He is a fan, but his goal was to describe what actually happened, and what is worth reconsidering and what is not. The fact is, some prog rock *was* garbage, and Stump is perfectly willing to expose what he thinks fits this bill.
Is the book perfectly comprehensive? No. Stump (like the others) focuses almost entirely on British prog. Also, it is arguable that more information on certain major bands would have been preferable. But that would likely have come at the expense of the wealth of information included on lesser-known artists.
Still, there isn't a more intelligent or accurate volume on progressive rock available, so make this your first purchase on the subject.
The least essential Prog book I've read.......2002-12-29
Stump's The Music Is All That Matters, attempts to describe exactly how Progressive rock in England evolved from its psychadelic beginnings in the late 1960's to its current cult-like status. While highly opinionated, it mostly succeeds in this effort. However, I find it to be the least essential of the books on Progressive Rock that I have read. This is because Stump's writing style is somewhat taxing and I don't find myself gaining a deeper understanding of the music, or discovering new bands to listen too.
I wanted to briefly address some of the comments made by some of the other insightful reviewers.
1-I do believe that Stump thoroughly enjoys progressive rock. He just likes Robert Wyatt, (he sounds like the only person I have ever heard that has actually listened to EVERY Soft Machine album), Henry Cow and The Enid more than Yes, Pink Floyd and ELP. He does present with the bias that somehow if you became popular the music was no longer valid. Now this did happen to the most popular progressive bands as the 70's wore on, but he is also highly critical of the most successful progressive bands better work as well. However, I take his criticism to be that of an insider, one of us. It is like family making fun of each other, its ok when it is with each other. With that said, I question does he really think ELP covered Pictures at an Exhibition because they thought it would make them international pop stars? It was about the music baby (at least in the beginning and I think among the current prog groups). I found myself wanting to apologize to Bradley Smith (Billboard's Guide to Progressive Music) for saying in an Amazon Review that his writing was preachy, cause by comparison, Stump is MUCH more highly opinionated, and much more direct in his presentation that HE knows what is the really good and essential music. (Hey, Ant Phillips seems like a great guy, and Trespass is my favorite Genesis album, but a whole section devoted to him? Some of those Private Parts albums are about as exciting as listening to someone tune their guitar!! That said, go buy Phillip's The Geese and the Ghost- it is a fantastic, sensitive progressive work).
2. Stump's writing is, as other's have pointed out, often difficult. (Who were you trying to impress Stumpy?). I mean, progsters are often educated folk, but only a few of us are actually Professors of literature. It is interesting that Stump has also written a book on Roxy Music because a friend of mine used to say that Brian Ferry sounded like he was singing to hear himself sing/amuse himself. Sometimes I felt like this book was written solely to amuse the author. I found myself comparing the writing to music and coming up with the two following analogies.
1-At times the writing is like those dissonant bits in Henry Cow, you know the ones where you know it has some significance, but you really just keep listening to see if you are strong enough to take it.
2-The best album I could think of to compare the writing to was ELP's Works. Self-indulgent (nothing wrong with some self-indulgence on occassion), bombastic and "clodhopping" in its attempt to be more than it is. Also, so obvious in its attempt to be clever that it at times becomes self-parody. None the less, it is still something I drag out on occassion and thoroughly enjoy bits of.
And that is what I thought of this book. It was often too much work. While there are some amusing thoughts on prog and some prog albums, (some of his criticism of the most popular progressive rock albums is actually fairly humoruous) overall, it isn't an essential read on the subject. But, most progster like to collect things, so you are probably going to buy this anyways. I did.
Critical or Hostile?.......2002-01-20
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Stump has written a well crafted history of the Progressive Rock movement (a daunting task) but has managed to insult most of the movers and shakers. He qualifies his name-droppings with some very nasty adjectives which tended to make me quite angry at times. Very few performers escaped this fate (Fripp and Bruford are the two that come to mind). I grew to question whether he liked the genre at all. His eye is very critical, very very critical.
Nevertheless, the book is an excellent chronological history of the Prog. movement and the fact that he succeeds is commendable.
For me, I am glad that I read it but I prefer Macan's book, in all truth.
Book Description
Following God Doesn’t Have to Be So Complicated.
Jesus said to love God with all we have and are, and to love others as we love ourselves. It is a simple plan but a profound one. At times, it even sounds too easy.
It is tempting to cling to lists of rules and regulations. We imagine that if we do what we think is required of us, we can expect God to respond in particular ways. But God refuses to live in a box, and he doesn’t want us to live in a box, either. Instead he has given us a simple plan, a different way to live, a liberating path that leads to him and to home.
Discover a Simpler Way to Live and Love.
Do you long to be set free from the complex maze we have created for following Jesus? Then it’s time to return to Jesus’ simple plan to love God and others. Join Sheila Walsh on a life-changing journey into God’s Word to discover All That Really Matters.
Customer Reviews:
All That Really Matters.......2003-08-01
"All That Really Matters" encouraged me to really focus on what matters most to God. As a Christian, I struggle daily with the balancing act of God, family, church, service, etc. but in this book, Sheila directs us towards what is most important to God. She uses good illustrations and excellent biblical references throughout the book. I really loved this book!! It was the first book of hers that I have read, and I am now almost finished with another one. You can see her spiritual growth in this book if you have read the others (or if you go backwards like me). If I could give it more stars, I WOULD!! Thank you Jesus for inspiring Sheila Walsh to write this book!
Book Description
"A new book from Choy is an event. His writing has a quiet integrity and an exquisite grace."—Maclean's
Winner of the 2005 Trillium Book Award, finalist for the 2004 Giller Prize, and long-listed for the 2006 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, All That Matters is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Wayson Choy's award-winning first novel, The Jade Peony.Kiam-Kim is three years old when he arrives by ship at Gold Mountain with his father and his grandmother, Poh-Poh. From his earliest years, Kiam-Kim is deeply conscious of his responsibility to maintain the family's honor and to set an example for his younger siblings. However, his life is increasingly complicated by his burgeoning awareness of the world outside Vancouver's Chinatown. Choy once again accomplishes the extraordinary: blending a haunting evocation of tenacious, ancient traditions with a precise, funny, and very modern coming-of-age story.
Customer Reviews:
What does matter?.......2007-08-07
Another great novel that explores the Chinese American (well in this case North American) culture as well as growing up during the great depression in an industrialized town. I was disappointed in the ending, feeling like it just drifted off. It was a little confusing. But the rest of the book I found pleasant& intriguing. "In all the ways they lived their lives, survivors like Poh-Poh and Stepmother, Third Uncle and Father, and those elders who hacked their breath away, they were all saying 'Sail, paddle, swim, but push forward to shore. Do not drown in the past.'"
A really enjoyable read.......2007-07-02
This book tells a story. There's romance, mystery and some funny parts. The writer takes the time to divulge every minute detail, so you can relate to what's going on. That can make it tedious at times and even kind of slow, but it's part of the journey that this book relates. So if you're looking for a fast read, that you don't have to focus much on, this isn't that kind of book.
This was the first book I've read by the author and I plan to read others by him. It was just a pleasure to read this!
A Very Touching Story.......2006-09-07
I've just re-read this book after having read it last year, and it retained it's touching and poignant story. Having grown up Chinese in Canada, albeit in the 1970's, I related to a lot of Mr Choy's characters.
A beautiful story.
btw: to the first reviewer... the story is of a Chinese-"Canadian", not chinese-american. the story takes place in Canada, and all of the characters pronounce to be Canadian. i just needed to clarify for my sake.
Touching tale of family, love, & friendship.......2005-09-12
I picked this book on a whim at the airport, and had no idea what to expect from the author. By the end of the book I was mesmerized by the heartbreaking story about a young Chinese American growing up in Vancouver's Chinatown during the 1930's. Choy weaves real American history with a lovely touching tale of life for Chinese immigrants, cultural interactions, family traditions, and new friendships. The prose is hauntingly beautiful, catching the reader by his words and tugging at the heart.
A brilliant, compelling sequel to The Jade Peony.......2005-07-30
I finished All That Matters by Wayson Choy in the wee hours of the early morning. It was so beautiful and compelling that I could hardly bear to put it down to finish the next day.
All That Matters is the long and eagerly awaited sequel to Choy's first book, the award-winning and national best-selling The Jade Peony. Expectedly, it is a continuation of Jade Peony, this time written in First Son Kiam Kim's eyes, instead of the rotating narrators (which included all of the siblings of the Chen family) found in The Jade Peony.
All That Matters is very reminiscent of The Jade Peony - it is almost like an echo of Choy's first book. The book focuses centrally on Kiam Kim, from when he first boards the Hong Kong ship to Gold Mountain (Vancouver, B.C.) to his adulthood in Vancouver's Chinatown. Kiam Kim's Poh Poh is another important part of the story, with her Old China and superstitious ways. She tells stories about ancient myths and ghosts, of which make Kiam Kim feel torn - in some instances, he believes in the things Poh Poh tells him, but his father is constantly reminding him that they are in Gold Mountain, not Old China, and to adapt essentially to "modern, scientific, Canadian ways."
Kiam Kim's responsibility as "First Son" and "Dai-Goh (Oldest Brother)" sometimes burdens him, but he soon learns that this is the Chinese way - as the First Son and the oldest sibling, he needs to be a good role-model for the rest of the family and, ultimately, refrain from "shaming" the family in any way. He is best friends with Jack O'Connor, an Irish white boy who is his next-door neighbour. A somewhat clandestine but intimate relationship between Kiam Kim and Jenny Chong (the daughter of one of Poh Poh's mah-jong mates) forms. All That Matters also deals with the second World War, of which readers will see makes a significant impact on Kiam Kim and the rest of the characters in the book.
All in all, All That Matters is a satisfying, triumphant sequel to The Jade Peony - and rightfully so that it was long and eagerly awaited. Choy does not disappoint in this sequel to his first book. In fact, he writes hauntingly and seductively, often incorporating Chinese phrases uttered by Poh Poh and other members of his family to make things more homely and authentic. Readers will be compelled by this wonderful book, entering the world of Kiam Kim - his trials and tribulations, his responsibilities and burdens, his relationships and family, and, ultimately, what matters.
For fans of The Jade Peony, I highly urge you to pick up All That Matters and to read it. I guarantee you will like it as much, if not more, than The Jade Peony. It is no surprise why All That Matters won the Trillium Award again, not to mention was also a finalist for the Giller Prize.
Having met Wayson Choy at an author reading in December made reading All That Matters for me that much more exciting and thrilling. I felt like I shared an affinity with various characters in the book and, at times, with Wayson Choy. I am certainly looking forward to reading more work by Wayson Choy.
I highly recommend All That Matters.
Product Description
Quality drives everything else. If you can't do something right the first time, every time, and do it rapidly, you won't succeed. In meeting commitments, improving productivity, reducing costs, acquiring customers, being profitable - simply surviving against brutal global competition.
Quality is not mysterious.
All That Matters About Quality I Learned In Joe's Garage explains clearly how to efficiently attain high quality in all aspects of providing a product or service. The book introduces a new quality strategy that unites and simplifies essential elements of diverse approaches (Six Sigma, ISO 9000, TQM, others) in a seamless system explained without jargon. It spans the complete life cycle of a product or service, from initial concept through customer acquisition and use to eventual obsolescence and safe disposal.
Books in the Joe's Garage series are used worldwide by thousands of organizations, large and small, to improve profitability, performance, and employee satisfaction. They have been endorsed by countless business leaders, educators, and publications. A typical comment comes from Bill Jasper, C.E.O. of world-renowned Dolby Laboratories:
All That Matters About Quality I Learned In Joe s Garage is informative and easy to read.
All That Matters About Quality I Learned In Joe's Garage clearly illustrates the contribution of high quality to competitiveness in the 21st century. It demonstrates concepts, methods, and implementation tactics to improve quality in the short term and over the long haul. It is a classic teaching fable that can immediately improve the work quality of any organization or individual. A Discussion Guide is included.
Book Description
Rief and Barbieri . . . examine aspects of portfolio assessment, professional development, and parental involvement. In the process, they provide an excellent picture of the many benefits of authentic assessment and the evaluation of students.
- Educational Leadership
All That Matters examines learning and evaluation and the need to bring the two together in more relevant ways. Rief and Barbieri invite us to consider how we might best develop our students' strengths, presenting a collection of truly usefuland often novelapproaches.
The voices recorded in All That Matters are those of risk takers: teachers who seek greater insight into, and respect for, children; enthusiasts who incorporate the unexpected into their teachingart, music, gardening, foreign languages, and more. Above all, they are the voices of lifelong learners who share their passion with students and colleagues, parents and family. These teachers are willing to chance failure because they understand that learning is as essential to our survival as breathing; learning is what keeps us alive. From them, we learn ways to:
- examine the potential of portfolios to reflect different kinds of intelligence
- balance individual needs with those of the entire class
- discover ways to enhance professional development within school walls
- involve parents in meaningful, ongoing evaluation
- recognize and honor students' and teachers' passions in the classroom and beyond.
Woven in among their classroom stories are "Interludes," where teacher-writers reflect on what matters most in their lives. What makes a teacher write a poem honoring a town's courage in the face of bigotry? What makes another teacher reminisce about her mother's garden or a community's loyalty or a father's faith?
Rief and Barbieri believe that teachers like these, who know what they really cherish, can help us all better define what we value for our students. More important, they help us achieve it.
Book Description
One Thing is a call to move past spiritual contentment into a pursuit of spiritual passion. Dwayne Roberts issues a rallying cry to get past disillusionment, apathy and boredom with God to refocus on one thing: Jesus. "A young adult heart will be renewed in passion when they find out what is in the heart of Jesus toward them," Roberts writes. "When we touch His desire that is toward us, it will awaken an uncontrollable desire for Him."
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- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry
- A Circle of Sisters
- A Little Yellow Dog : Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Gray-Eyed Death"
- A Long Way Home: Twelve Years of Words
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare)
- Apples from the Desert: Selected Stories (The Helen Rose Scheuer Jewish Women's Series)
- Are you a Grasshopper? (Backyard Books)
- Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis
Books Index
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