A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place

A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place
Average customer rating:

Disorder at its best.

TOTAL UNADULTERATED GARBAGE

So you don't have to be a neatnik after all!

Don't buy this book if you count your paperclips

a explanation for the disarray

A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place
Eric Abrahamson , and David H. Freedman
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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YEARNINGS: EMBRACING THE SACRED MESSINESS OF LIFE

ASIN: 0316114758

Book Description

Like Freakonomics, here is a book that combines counterintuitive thinking with stories from everyday life to provide a striking new view of how our world works. Ever since Einstein's study of Brownian Motion, scientists have understood that a little disorder actually makes systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder--or suffer guilt over the mess they can't avoid. No longer! With a spectacular array of anecdotes and case studies of the useful role mess can play, here is an antidote to the accepted wisdom that tight schedules, neatness, and consistency are the keys to success. Drawing on examples from business, parenting, cooking, the war on terrorism, retail, and even the meteoric career of Arnold Schwarzenegger, coauthors Abrahamson and Freedman demonstrate that moderately messy systems use resources more efficiently, yield better solutions, and are harder to break than neat ones. A Perfect Mess will help readers assess what the right amount of disorder is for a given system, and how to apply these ideas onto a large scale--government, society-- and on a small scale--in your attic, kitchen, or office. A Perfect Mess will forever change the way we think about those unruly heaps of paper on our desks.

Customer Reviews:

Disorder at its best........2007-10-09

I love this book it has shown me that it is ok to be disorganized, to a point. I bought it with a passing interest and the more I read the more I was able to line up the themes in the chapters with aspects of my life, which was rewarding and sometime eye-opening. The concepts in this book could prove to be useful to all types of people, but I mostly found myself examining the many examples as they related to my own business.

Great book!

TOTAL UNADULTERATED GARBAGE.......2007-09-14

I've reviewed a lot of books on Amazon; this may be the single worst. As a former "clutterholic", I know how clutter can literally destroy your life. Believe me, there is NOTHING good about clutter, and being a contrarian for its own sake, or to hawk books, is doing a disservice to the readers who are sincerly looking for help. You don't tell a person with a serious eating disorder that he/she is alright the way he/she is, and you don't tell a person with a serious clutter problem that he/she is alright the way he/she is!

So you don't have to be a neatnik after all!.......2007-06-09

The inside flap of the book says, "Ever Since Einstein's study of Brownian motion" scientistshave understooed that a little disorder can actually make systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder-- or suffer guilt over the mess they an't avoid! No longer do you have to be a neatnik to be PERFECT...a little mess goes a long way to creativity. The biggest surprise is that the authors show that strategic planning for corporation is not as effective as being nimble and responding to change. There are 13 chapters -- note not 12 -- just a bit messy, right? And they range from "The Cost of Neatness" to "The Aesthetics of Mess" . Written by Eric Abrahamson, professor of management at Columbia Business School and David Freedman, contributing editor and the tech columnist for INC magazine this is a highly readable and informative book. BUT don't think it's going to let you off the hook for being a clutter bug. Cluttering is just one aspect of "mess" and 'neatness'. Alas no rules for managers abougt how much mess and what kind of mess to include. Seems every manager that uses some degree of mess seems to do it differently. So I can't summarize it all for you hear. Plus I don't know why you're reading this. Me -- because I tend to collect clutter in my office. And then I put it in boxes and have to sort it out. EEKS...but I almost NEVER lose anything....same when I had a real office in a corporate environment. Even though I'm in high tech, I tend to use low-tech systems that don't take up much time in my busy and ever-changing world of consulting. Plus, I don't have to pay extra for people who work for me to just keep things NEAT....although now and then I do bring in people to help sort out supply closets etc and then I'm able to keep them in order for 6 months or so. You'll find your own rhyme and reason in this book. Plus it finally gives you a retort when people say you're office is 'messy' -- so was Einstein's and Edison's and more.

Don't buy this book if you count your paperclips.......2007-06-02

Despite the title, this book doesn't advocate disorder, at least not in the dictionary sense of the word.

For example, a neat-freak's desk, and one used by someone like me were compared.

The neat-freak has an "orderly" desk, with all paper filed out of sight. To get at any paper, the neatnik must take time to access the filing system: generally a matter of walking to a filing cabinet, opening a drawer, and riffling through folders.

The other desk is covered with piles of papers and folders. More often than not, the 'disorganized' worker has the paper he or she needs at or near the top of a pile within arm's length.

The point is that having the sort of rigid, non-priority-oriented, organization that many workplaces use isn't as efficient as a sort of ad hoc organization based on use and needs.

Even if you don't embrace the book's approach to organization, reading it will be an anodyne to the alphabetized drumbeat of advice from the compulsive pencil-arrangers of this world.

a explanation for the disarray.......2007-05-27

The authors put ryme and reason to the sense of disarray. At first, I was skeptical of this book but as i read it and they presented examaples and their arguments, I found myself sold on what they were discussing. There is order to the world of self contained chaos.

Average customer rating:

The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson
Jewel's Reading Excellence Review: Helps children understand nature's life cycle
A Message of Hope for Children Who Are Grieving
Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve

The Dragonfly Door
John Adams
Manufacturer: Feather Rock Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1934066117

Product Description

Parents will help children identify the beauty and hope in all cycles of life as they follow two insect friends, Lea and Nym, and the struggles one of them endures when her friend disappears. This is a tender story about loss and change, written to help parents express their views about life and death. The book may serve many purposes, such as comforting a grieving child who has lost someone close or providing facts about dragonflies to inquisitive minds. Lea's transformation into a dragonfly may even be used as a metaphor for life-after-death. The Dragonfly Door is beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson. The book is cherished by parents, grandparents and teachers. It was recently brought to life as a mini-play in Alabama to help children cope with the loss of their classmates. The following is an excerpt from the book: While Nym slept, she heard Lea's voice saying, "Follow me, Nym. I'm going to show you where I am." "Will I see you again?" Nym asked. "Only when it's time for you to die too," Lea replied. "You won't see me in the marsh ever again. But let me show you what I will look like the next time you see me. Here, close your eyes." Nym closed her eyes. "Now look at me," Lea said. Nym opened her eyes and saw ...

Customer Reviews:

The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson.......2007-09-07

The debut children's picturebook of author John Adams, The Dragonfly Door dares to confront serious topics - of loss, death, grieving, and transition. Nym and Lea are two close insect friends, but one day after Nym yells at Lea, Lea disappears. Nym searches everywhere for her missing friend, and can't find her. At last Nym falls asleep, grief-stricken, and finally hears Lea's voice one more time. "'I died and went to this special place,' Lea said, her voice full of love. 'But I didn't want you to leave,' Nym pleaded. 'I'm sorry I yelled.' 'I know you're sorry,' Lea assured her. 'I left because my water nymph body died while I was picking flowers in the reeds, not because you yelled.'" The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson illustrate this highly recommended picturebook for sharing the bittersweet realities of life with young people.

Jewel's Reading Excellence Review: Helps children understand nature's life cycle.......2007-05-10

John Adams brilliantly invites the reader into the world of Nymphs and Dragonflies to explore the changes that take place when Nym's friend goes to a special place.

When I had lost a family member I had read a wonderful story called, "The Water Bug Story." John Adams adds a fresh approach to this story by focusing on friendship loss and giving a voice to his characters. With the help of Gibson's eye-catching nature illustrations, "The Dragon Fly Door" answers general questions surrounding loss, such as feelings about loss, what happens to the nymph's body when he dies, and how a nymph is transformed into a dragonfly.

Adams creatively normalizes typical friendship rivalry and takes the reader on a nature journey to discover that one chooses to resolve conflict, loss, and changes in different ways. Adams concludes the book with uncomplicated educational facts for the inquisitive science mind.

This is a great educational tool for parents, grandparents or professionals to use to help explain the uncontrollable life cycle changes and loss.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample, MS
Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses(2006), also translated: Besos y Abrazos Al Aire(2006, Spanish edition) and Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book(2007)

A Message of Hope for Children Who Are Grieving.......2007-02-26

As President of a nonprofit organization that reaches out to those who are grieving, I was very pleased to read a book such as The Dragonfly Door. This book provides a much needed way to offer children (and adults) a message of hope following the death of a loved one.

Children can relate to the playful nature of Nym and Lea who are the two young nymph friends, the sorrow of Nym when Lea dies, and the comforting feeling when when Nym realizes that he will one day see Lea again as a dragonfly, when he too has made his transformation into a dragonfly.

Our nonprofit organization recommends this book so highly that we have decided to make it available for purchase at all of our events.
-Valerie Marquardt

Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve.......2007-02-18

I received this wonderfully beautiful book on the 8th anniversary of my son's graduation to Heaven ... that evening, I was able to read it with his daughter, who is now 9... I believe she gained another understanding of her Very Own Daddy in a beautiful place that we have not seen just yet ... and though she already knew he is waiting for her, this was another good reminder of that ... I was unaware of the dragonfly's life cycle and was so blessed to see how it seemingly parallels this life and the next. Thank you, John, for a wonderful way to help us all in our continuing journey with grief and the Hope we can have.

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything

Average customer rating:

Fun Read--not graphic in any inappropriate way
A book for teens--NOT!
WARNING FOR PARENTS - This book is PORNOGRAPHIC !
Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything
great, very original

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything
E. Lockhart
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Just Listen

ASIN: 0385732813
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Book Description

At the Manhattan School for Art and Music, where everyone is “different” and everyone is “special,” Gretchen Yee feels ordinary. She’s the kind of girl who sits alone at lunch, drawing pictures of Spider-Man, so she won’t have to talk to anyone; who has a crush on Titus but won’t do anything about it; who has no one to hang out with when her best (and only real) friend Katya is busy.
One day, Gretchen wishes that she could be a fly on the wall in the boys’ locker room–just to learn more about guys. What are they really like? What do they really talk about? Are they really cretins most of the time?
Fly on the Wall is the story of how that wish comes true.

Customer Reviews:

Fun Read--not graphic in any inappropriate way.......2007-08-29

Fly on the Wall is a YA book that came out last year. It is Lockhart's second or third YA book. Basically, the story takes Franz Kafka's plot from The Metamorphosis and brings it into the modern world and into a book that would appeal to teenage girls. And, for that reason, I almost didn't read it. I hated reading The Metamorphosis in high school and, to be honest, I still strongly dislike the book and avoid Kafka at all costs because of it. BUT, I am happy to say that the similarity to Kafka's novel begins and ends with this fact: Gretchen Yee one day wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boy's locker room at her high school. The next day she wakes up as just that.

Gretchen wakes up stuck to the locker wall and she stays there for most of the novel. A fact that, surprisingly, does not make for a boring story. Gretchen gets to observe the boys as they come and go for each gym class. Lower classmen, acquaintances, friends, and even her crush, are all available to scrutinize. Instead of just learning, as she had expected, about what the boys really think and say behind closed doors--Gretchen also gets a chance to find out how she fits into the school. The book is broken into three parts: Life as an artificial red-head, Life as a vermin, and Life as a superhero.

I like Gretchen a lot as a character. She goes to an art school (like La Guardia for any New York natives reading this) in NYC where everyone tries to be special. In a school with girls wearing unitards or saris and cliques like the Art Rats, Gretchen feels too ordinary to belong. Gretchen is also a comic book fan which almost always makes a character fun to read about. Excuse the pun, but after being a fly, Gretchen's metamorphosis from insecure to empowered girl really starts.

At times Lockhart's language seemed a little . . . unique. You can tell me what you think after reading her segment on "gherkins" *ahem*. I don't know if it's that she's using slang that I find weird and this is therefore only my problem, but it just made me hyper-aware that I was reading a book at certain points in the story. Also, to address some concerns of other reviews: Yes, Lockhart describes what the guys look like while they're changing in the locker room and yes, there are curses. But saying it's pornography is going a little far. Personally, I'd be much happier to see a teen or tween reading this book rather than Push or The Bluest Eye (both of which deal with sexual abuse yet perennially appear on reading lists in high school English classes).

As for the plot, it's a classic problem-resolution kind of story. Which I like. If you need to pick up something light and fun after a sad book (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian perhaps) I'd recommend this. The writing is straight forward and Gretchen is such a unique character that even if you thought Metamorphosis spin-offs are over done (I'm thinking of all those Fly movies right now), you'll find a lot to call new and novel here (that pun was intended too). Finally, even though you think the book is about a girl turning into a fly which is a fair assumption, it's really about more than that too. Specifically, it's about a girl learning to go after what she wants. Now you may ask, does Gretchen get what she wants? You'll have to pick up a copy yourself to find out.

A book for teens--NOT!.......2007-04-07

We wonder why the morality of our kids is going down the toilet. When books are being marketed to teens that are laced with pornography, explitives, and the "F" bomb on every other page. This book only qualifies as porn...and since it is about minors, that would make it child porn, which, iirc, is illegal in most areas of the country. [...]
The precept is good, and the story premise is different. It could have been done though without blatantly exposing children to pornography.

WARNING FOR PARENTS - This book is PORNOGRAPHIC !.......2007-03-30

This book is filled with 4-letter words. The "f" word is used throughout. The premise of the story is a teen girl turns into a fly, and goes into the boys locker room. She describes in detail, boys' anatomy, and a large part of the book is spent describing boys' genitals, and how she feels upon seeing them. She also discusses how seeing the naked boys makes her want to pounce on them and stick her tongue down their throats.

My 12 year old daughter picked this book up out of the children's room in our local library. It has a cheerful, little-girlish pink cover. My daughter thought that it was going to be a fun adventure story of a girl who turns into a fly. It is an adventure story, but an x-rated one. Fortunately, my daughter stopped reading, and brought the book to me when she encountered the first 4-letter words on the first pages.

I highly object to this book being marketed to CHILDREN, when between the girly-pink cover it is undisguised, blatant pornography. While I do not care what other adults read in the privacy of their own homes, to have this book being marketed for children is unethical, immoral by any standards, and should be illegal.

You have to be 18 to purchase pornography. You should have to be 18 to purchase this book.

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything.......2006-12-16

I wish I was a fly on the wall of the boy's locker room! Boom, there she is. A fly, stuck in the boy's locker room.

Short, funny, and interesting. I cannot say it was the best book I've ever read, but I have read worse. So, it can't be that bad. I personally liked it.

great, very original.......2006-09-12

At Manhattan School for the Arts, where Gretchen Yee is a sophomore, "normal" is out. Even her stop-sign-red hair isn't nonconformist enough. (But if everyone is a nonconformist, aren't they really all conformists?) Her drawing style is all wrong too -- it looks too much like a comic book (duh! Spider-man IS a comic book). If that's not enough, she has to eat lunch by herself, because her best friend, Katya, is too busy smoking with the Art Rats; her parents just announced; and she's in love with Titus, but is too chicken to do anything about it. Gretchen wishes she could be a fly in the boys' locker room, just to learn more about them. Inexplicably, she wakes up the next morning to find that her wish has been granted. Over the next week, she learns a lot -- and not just what an A+ booty looks like. She learns that boys are all different: that they have feelings, too; that they can feel insecure and bullied. She learns that everone's perception of other people is different -- and some perceptions of her are quite surprising. And she learns something about her friendship with Katya that shocks her. Though the circumstances are implausible, Gretchen's thoughts and the things she learns are quite typical, and keep the story realistic. Gretchen is quite a likeable character, and the reader will be eager for her to put her new knowledge to good use.

Will It Fly? How to Know if Your New Business Idea Has Wings...Before You Take the Leap

Average customer rating:

Entrepreneurs, you need this book!
Crain's Communications names this book a top 10 must read
Excellent Tool
Unreadable
Too Complicated ....

Will It Fly? How to Know if Your New Business Idea Has Wings...Before You Take the Leap
Thomas K. McKnight
Manufacturer: FT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0130462217

Customer Reviews:

Entrepreneurs, you need this book!.......2006-08-16

My husband and I and many of our friends are on the leading edge of the Baby Boom Generation - huge, powerful, successful, and often feared for the trends and traits that we collectively might perpetrate. Many of us plan to "retire" early, but only from our high stress/high profile professions of today. We're young, we're healthy, and we're energetic. And, yes, we're egotistical While some of us may continue to work in the corporate world at least part time, others will determine that the time is right to launch out on our own.

We need Tom McKnight's book - his experience and wisdom - to guide us into the next stage of our lives, as entrepreneurs.

The author walks you through the thought process of evaluating whether your bright idea could become a viable business, with his application of fine detail, giving examples that clearly illustrate, and with analogies that sometimes surprise you. His Innovator's Scorecard with its 44 critical success factors makes good sense, and the suggestions are actionable. Besides, it's enjoyable reading. The author seems to be having such fun with words, and with Dr. Market, his wise owl.

Being a Librarian who has a passion for reading, I'm often asked - both professionally and socially - to research various topics and recommend books to satisfy the inquiry, curiosity, and/or quest for knowledge. Tom McKnight's book is a great find. I already have an extra copy on hand to give to any friend who hints at wanting to start his/her own business.

Crain's Communications names this book a top 10 must read.......2006-01-12

Crains publishes Chicago Business and in their 2004 Resource Guide for Small Business, they stated the following about Will it Fly?: "Mr. McKnight's 44-item checklist for evaluating business ideas is somehow both easy and rigorous, suitable for startups and established firms thinking of branching out. Why didn't someone do this before 2004?" The mention was among the ten "Essential Reads" for entrepeneurs and you can look it up at http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?portal_id=47&page_id=1506 Awesome kudo!I don't know the other authors but I sure have heard of them! Thanks Crains! Signed: Thomas K. McKnight, blushing author.

Excellent Tool.......2005-11-20

The Times Warner Exec's endorsement on the cover is so true: I would've saved me a loads of money and saved years of my life if only I got to read this book before my last venture.

Unreadable.......2005-11-17

I hate to do this but it only deserves a 2 out of 5. Why, I hear you ask. Because it's unreadable. For example, there is no table of contents to give you any clue as to where the book is headed. There is also something about the writing that just makes you put it down for a very long time after each 5 page chapter.

I'm a voracious reader especially of business books on entrepreneurship. But this is just unreadable. After having it for close to a year, I have only read about a third of the 44 chapters.

Too Complicated ...........2005-09-26

I bought the book because I wanted guidelines to start a small business. I was really excited because I thought I had found the key to all my doubts and questions. The more I read the book the more frustrated I got. I have an MBA and I know how complex a business could be, but this is too much. 44 variables maybe could count on a BIG BIG launch, but what if you want to start a small dojo or a small language academy? The more I read the more frustrated and dissapointed I got. I believe that in my particular case I bought the wrong book.

Fly Fishing the Inshore Waters: How to Catch Stripers, Blues, Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, and More

Average customer rating:

Fly Fishing the Inshore Waters: How to Catch Stripers, Blues, Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, and More
Lefty Kreh
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1585746053

Book Description

The master's tips on how to catch all inshore saltwater gamefish on a fly rod.

Fly Tying For Beginners: How to Tie 50 Failsafe Flies

Average customer rating:

A Great Book for your Fifth Fly!
The Best Fly Tying Starter Edition I've seen....
Not bad, but ...
Excellent book
Fly tying for beginners

Fly Tying For Beginners: How to Tie 50 Failsafe Flies
Peter Gathercole
Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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The Fly-Tying Bible: 100 Deadly Trout and Salmon Flies in Step-by-Step Photographs
Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing

ASIN: 0764158457

Book Description

Any angler who takes up the art of fly tying will discover an added dimension to the wonderful sport of fly fishing. This profusely illustrated instruction book shows beginners how to craft 50 professional-looking flies for trout and salmon fishing. Each fly-tying project consists of step-by-step instructions accompanied by close-up photos of the work in progress and a large photo of the finished fly. Beginners will learn how to make dry flies, wet flies, bugs, nymphs, hairwings, and streamers. They'll also get advice on which flies are best for catching which variety of fish. Author Peter Gathercole is the ideal fly-tying instructor, offering a thorough grounding in the core techniques required for fly tying, while assuming no previous knowledge on the reader's part. As he instructs, he also demonstrates that with good guidance and a little practice, every angler can tie a fly that is good enough to fool a fish. More than 500 color photos.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book for your Fifth Fly!.......2007-02-08

Fly Tying for Beginners by Peter Gathercole is an excellent Fly tying book. I have been fly tying for about six months now and I have searched for the best Fly tying books around. As far as Fly tying books goes for a beginner, it probably doesn't go in detail far enough. But after your first couple of flies(Four or Five), this book would be excellent. To start off with this book covers a lot of flies, 50 in all. In addition it has a spiral binding, so you can open it up as you tie, which I feel is mandatory for a fly tying book. The description of each fly is four pages long, highlighting the most difficult parts. On the first two pages it gives a detailed picture of the fly as well as pictures of the material needed to make the fly; this is particularly helpful to a beginner. It also tells of the type of fish that this fly would presumably be used to catch. As far as the general info on the book it has the usual Pictures in the front of the book to show particular techniques as well as the basic tools and material used. One of my favorite parts of this book is on page 47. It has a fly selector with pictures of all 50 flies in the book which is very helpful, especially when you only have limited abilities and material. Over all this is one of the best books I have seen on fly tying so good in fact that I bought it for my own Reference.

The Best Fly Tying Starter Edition I've seen...........2006-09-01

I Manage a Fly Fishing retail outlet and would see most of the flytying books available.
Fly Tying For Beginners: How to Tie 50 Failsafe Flies would have to be the best I have seen by a mile. It starts with clear and simple explanations of all the gear names and recipes required to start tying. A great tool for the raw beginner and seasoned tyer both.
Great fly recipes top off a very valuable addition to the flytying creel. Its a must have, there is no doubt in my mind there is nothing like it on the market. The Fly Tying Bible[by the same author] also follows on from where Fly Tying For Beginners: How to Tie 50 Failsafe Flies this book brings the tyer's skills to a high level with clear and simple recipes and picture instructions.
The binder cover is the best idea since slice bread, its sits on the tying bench and can be easily referenced without closeing up or looseing your page.
To the Auther... Thanks for a chance to sell and use this great publication.
Trevor Martin
Pro-Angler Geelong
Victoria
Australia

Not bad, but ..........2006-06-24

There are some truly great things to say about Mr. Gathercole's book, "Fly Tying for Beginners." First, it is laid out in a very sensible manner. Starting with tools and techniques up front, followed by a list of flies, all in awesome crystal-clear color photos. The book's size and wire wound binding makes it so easy to use on at the tying bench.

That said, as a novice to fly tying, I found myself going to other resources to research techniques such as tying hair wings. In addition, it would have been MORE helpful (for me) if some of the techniques I needed to use were found in the same pages as the fly I was tying at that time. One other point is that I found myself having to guess several times on tail lengths, hackle sizes,and occasionally material placement.

Overall, I'm very glad to have this book as a reference, but I'm also glad I have OTHER references to assist me with the gaps of information I found missing in this one.

Excellent book.......2006-03-04

This is an excellent book. It is for beginners and that is exactly what I am. The photographs are in bright full color and take you step by step through the tying of the fly. There are a lot of fly tying books out there and I have looked through dozens and dozens of them. Not one of them came close to being as good as this book.
The wire o' binding that lets the book lie flat is just an added bonus.

Fly tying for beginners.......2006-03-01

The book is as user friendly as is possible. It's ringed binding allows it to lie flat on the table and the size of the book is just right, not too small nor too big. The diagrams are easy to follow and unique in their design. I like novel designs and compliment the author on his creativity. If I were to design a book, this would be it.

Making ADHD a Gift: Teaching Superman How to Fly

Average customer rating:

The best book for parents of ADHD kids!
Teaching Superman How To Fly
Excellent!!
The title says it all Making ADHD A Gift!
AT LAST A HELPFUL BOOK ON ADD!

Making ADHD a Gift: Teaching Superman How to Fly
Robert Evert Cimera
Manufacturer: ScarecrowEducation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder
Learning To Slow Down & Pay Attention: A Book for Kids About Adhd

ASIN: 0810843188

Book Description

Explains, in everyday language, what Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, how it is diagnosed, and how this condition affects people throughout their lifetime. It outlines methods of developing and assessing teaching strategies that can help individuals with ADHD both at home and at school. Unlike other texts, this book takes a positive look at the disorder. Rather than trying to repress the characteristics of ADHD, the author advocates that ADHD individuals use their disorder to maximize attention span, improve social skills, harness impulsivity, and turn hyperactivity into periods of extreme productivity.

Customer Reviews:

The best book for parents of ADHD kids!.......2004-02-11

Somebody at a CHADD meeting suggested that I read this book. I am happy that I did! It is so well written that I couldn't put it down. I read it in one evening. It gives many practical strategies. But the best feature is that it views ADHD as a gift that should "be utilized, not repressed!" I can't recommend this book more highly. Get it. You'll be happy that you did!

Teaching Superman How To Fly.......2003-05-06

Cimera, Robert E. (2002) Making ADHD a Gift: Teaching Superman How to Fly. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Education.

How you teach children about ADHD could set the tone for the rest of their lives. You'll have to paint an honest picture of the condition but also be very positive .... Talk to them about their favorite superhero.... Bring up the fact that each superhero has different abilities.... Then explain that people in real life are a lot like superheroes-everybody has different abilities.... The super abilities of kids with ADHD include having a lot of energy and being able to run around a lot without getting tired. They can also be very creative and intelligent. The purpose of school and IEPs is to get children with ADHD to control and utilize their super abilities for "The Good"... You are teaching Superman how to fly (p. 97).

This is the gift of this book. Robert E. Cimera is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh who was diagnosed with ADHD-C as an adult. He views ADHD as a positive ability. Each chapter begins with a chapter outline; a case study, illustrating elements that will be addressed in the chapter; questions for consideration, for understanding the case study; and a discussion of underlying elements, concerns and strategies. The information is conveyed in a conversational style suitable for the layperson or student educator.

In the first chapter he gives an overview of definitions and diagnoses of the four types of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder): ADHD-I (Inattentive), ADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive), ADHD-C (Combined), ADHD-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). This information serves as a basis for understanding the case studies and discussions that follow. Each chapter gently carries the reader through a critical thinking process of application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

In the chapters that follow, the author covers the topics of: inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, social skills, educational programs, and strategies for ADHD children, adolescents and adults. Cimera also has the reader consider the possibility of other conditions or situations that could mistakenly be diagnosed as ADHD. The last chapter contains resources for individuals with ADHD and resources for their teachers and parents. It includes booklists, periodicals, videotapes, contact information for organizations and support groups and an annotated list of Internet sites. Most of the materials had imprints from the early nineties and late eighties. Only one of the websites mentioned was not currently accessible. The website annotations were quite pertinent to their content with the exception of the U.S. Department of Education site, which has been drastically revised since the publication of this book. Although there is a very detailed table of contents, there is no index. The addition of an index would have been useful.

Overall, Cimera provides a positive, supportive and informative voice on the subject of ADHD. I found the examples of students and their goals (pp.130-131) especially illuminating in exploding my own preconceived attitudes toward ADHD. Special education students, classroom teachers, parents and adult individuals with ADHD could find valuable information and insights in this book. It provides an accessible introduction to the condition and provides the reader with the educational, environmental and behavioral accommodations and strategies that can help ADHD students, their parents, teachers and classmates create supportive scaffolding for success...

Excellent!!.......2002-12-20

Positive and informative. I big help for teachers or parents of children with ADD. Loads of strategies and resources.

The title says it all Making ADHD A Gift!.......2002-11-21

This is the only book that I have come across that presents ADHD in a positive light. Additionally, it provides many helpful strategies for both teachers and parents. The only knock that I can say about this book is that it doesn't talk much about medications. All else is great.

AT LAST A HELPFUL BOOK ON ADD!.......2002-11-21

This is an incredible book! At last a book that talks about hos children with ADD aren't monsters. It is written by a Ph.D. who teaches, researches, and HAS ADHD. He actually knows what it is like. The book has six or seven chapters on nothing but strategies and ways of helping kids use their God given abilities. The last chapter has a list of more resources like books and websites. This is the only book that has talked about medication in a neutral way. The author points out that drugs have some good points and some bad points and leaves it up to the readers to decide what is best for their kids. But the focus of the book is to help kids with ADHD utilize their energy in productive ways-- NOT how to make kids slow down and be NORMAL! WONDERFUL WONDERFUL book! Buy it! You wont be sorry!

Good Flies: Favorite Trout Patterns and How They Got That Way

Average customer rating:

10 star must own for the serious authentic fly fisherman
Fun reading
Duh...
This man thinks about flies
Lightweight flies

Good Flies: Favorite Trout Patterns and How They Got That Way
John Gierach
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1585746118

Amazon.com

It's easy to forget that in between his collections of essays, John Gierach has published a number of slender volumes, each devoted to a single aspect of fly-fishing and usually of a more technical nature. Flyfishing the High Country and Fishing Bamboo come to mind. Some readers may grouse that these tracts are more about one angler's proclivities and lack the lode of quotable lines of the essay collections--and they'd be right--but like a comfortable old pair of waders, they get the job done in a familiar sort of way, which is to say they mark the developments of an ever-changing pursuit at a particular time, with a nod to the author's own role therein. If it sometimes seems like Gierach can write them in his sleep, so be it; that's what happens when the honing of style meets extensive first-hand experience. Good Flies finds Gierach behind the fly-tying vise, sorting through his neck feathers and homemade bodkins in an effort to make sense of his own fly-tying tendencies within the larger, centuries-old tradition. "Tying our own flies is where many of us go off the deep end in fly fishing," he admits in the introduction as a caveat emptor. Non-tiers might lose interest in the subsequent chapters of seeming arcana covering everything from the pros of spade hackle (essential for dry-fly tails) to the cons of beadheads (they're ugly). But amid this abundance of information and opinion, Gierach's puckish, Twain-like sensibilities poke through just enough so that any fly-fisher with a taste for the sport's hallowed literature, regardless of whether he ties his own, can settle back with a copy of Good Flies and enjoy the drift. Gierach has been around. He remembers when Dave's hopper first jumped into the scene as well as the nutty "graduate students" in the '70s who fished with "dinky little, otherwise useless rods, pocket-watch-sized reels, and leaders as fine as spider web" in order to catch the midge hatch before anyone really knew what a midge was. Tiers may take issue with some points, but they're more than likely to come away with some new ideas, too. It's all part of the ongoing riverside chat that John Gierach has been having with fly-fishers for the past two decades. --Langdon Cook

Book Description

A great writer, some great flies--and more practical and amusing observations on flies and fly tying.

Customer Reviews:

10 star must own for the serious authentic fly fisherman.......2004-07-11

Aside from the utterly awesome and accurate illustrations of dozens of flies, its the honesty of the author I appreciate. In reading how he came to tie his own flies I felt a kindred spirit because he mentioned, the artistic as well as the frugal, self reliant, and even scientific in a 'quaint, naturalistic sense' of tying ones own flies.

And that he looked at successful fly fisherman and their fly boxes and like himself and myself he saw a motley crew of flies, from 'either to long and gangly or short and stubby, neat or sloppy, trim or fat, bright or dull. They all caught fish in the right hands, and some of the best of them really did look like drowned rats'.

I had to laugh when I read on page 5 where he writes 'I also ran into the idea of flies as art, which further complicated things. I don't mean really well tied fishing flies, I mean display flies tied by people who had no intention of ever showing them to a fish,' since I have know people like that. Sadly they aren't good fisherman and in a couple instances tied flies that probably would have scared fish away.

Like the author 'For as long as I've fished with a fly rod, I've had a self conscious weakness for dry flies; first because of their puffed-up classiness, later in spite of it. Dry fly fishing may or may not be the most demanding way to catch fish, but everything about it is visual and beautiful and I've always been a sucker for that kind of thing'. (page 31)

The way the author describes the ins and outs of various flies along with accurate illustrations is a college level educational experience. He shares where he has fished with various flies, successfully as well as what each is made of. Which ones he uses most and why. Here is an example:

Page 39 'Blue Winged Olive Palm Merger. I tie it on either a Tiemco 200R or a Mustad 94840 hook in sizes 18 and 20. It has a long, sparse tail of wood-duck flank for a trailing nymph shuck, a body of olive goose biot, a small dubbed thorax (I use A.K.'s Blue Wing Olive blend), and a sparse, dun hen collar hackle. It looks like a traditional soft-hackled wet fly, and you can squeeze it wet so it sinks a fraction of an inch or grease it so it floats low in the surface film, where it works as an emerger or a crippled dun'.

He covers materials, hooks and tools needed as well as small, medium and large flies as well as spinners, midges, caddis damsels and hoppers, nymphs and streamers. Starting on page 134 he does in-depth explanations of what makes the various caddis i.e. 'Elk-Hair Caddis Light, hook mustard 94840, size 12-18;Thread yellow 8/0;Body:Yellow rabbit-fur dubbing, thin. Palmer hackle: medium ginger. Wing: sparse blond or medium bleached elk, tied down-wing style with the butts clipped to form a small head'. Now this is valuable information because it allows the novice or master to know what supplies to have on hand.

My Dad and brother are/were avid hunters and reading this book I was constantly reminded of why my family saved certain hides of elk, deer, rabbits, pheasant, quail, for flies. At the time I never gave it much thought and assumed everyone did. Not until I was an adult and happened upon a fly tie class where people were told where to purchase the stuff did it dawn on me that not everyone is the real McCoy.

Fun reading.......2002-03-26

This book is great fun to read and gives you a better perspective on flies and there history. The chapters are well thought out and very enjoyable to read. The tools and materials chapter is very good also. Like all of Geirach's book it is a good read that you will read again and again.

Duh..........2001-03-30

John Gierach's straight to the point, matter of factness on flies, trout's selectivity (or lack thereof) and his total lack of sacred cows on the stream is a hoot.

When you buy this one (and you WILL buy it, if not now then eventually) have a good seat, expect a fun and informative read: it's not entirely what you're expecting. Most of what you're expecting is there... but, hey, it's John after all.

This man thinks about flies.......2001-02-23

It's hard to sit still long enough to read this book. Every few pages has me up out of my seat--what am I doing reading, when I could be at the vise creating? Gierach offers several ideas in this book that I've tried and like (Now, what will I do with all those Wooly Buggers tied the old way?). Of course, his preferences and biases don't always gel with my own, nor with those of other tier-authors. But even when I disagree (I like the looks of beadheads), the preferences he explains in this book offer plenty to think about. In addition, he offers some unforgetable common sense anecdotes reminscent of the stories in books like _Sex, Death, and Fly-Fishing_.

One quibble: The cover blurb compares Gierach favorably with Mark Twain. As a humorist I think Twain may remain above Gierach. But Gierach's reputation as a humorist after the manner of Twain fails to offer justice to the range of Gierach's work.

Lightweight flies.......2001-01-21

Disappointing: I thought this one was not up to Geirach's own standard of idiosyncracy, his way with a "serious" fishing topic --and I definitely challenge to the reductionist flyfisher/reviewer who said "flies are just means to and end" --so lures and flies are the same? Then why bother.

Puck John's books usually light up something -- something that stays with you above and beyond fishing. When you blow away the clever bits here, there's not much news or insight, as here was in Bamboo. If anybody could unravel the sphinx nature of some fly patterns, it woulda been him.

But not.

PS: I think the legend on the half title page is misattributed, to Wendell Barry 9s9c) = Berry. Anyone else get that?

Feathers That Fly: How to Design, Mark, and Machine Quilt Feather Motifs
Average customer rating:

Great Inspiration

Review this book before purchasing

Feathers That Fly: How to Design, Mark, and Machine Quilt Feather Motifs
Lee Cleland
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1564774554

Book Description

Take the intimidation out of machine quilting classic feather motifs with this easy-to-follow guide! Discover a new technique in each chapter, along with a project or two for practice.

• Choose from 14 projects that show you how to quilt straight-spine feathers, plus wreaths, curves, and cables in blocks, borders, and corners

• Learn to draw motifs and free-motion quilt by machine, or use the designs provided

• See how quilting can change a design; a gorgeous photo gallery features five Old English Tulip quilts, each quilted a different way

• Bonus! Quick and easy feather patterns--no drawing required--are provided for long-arm quilting machines

Customer Reviews:

Great Inspiration.......2007-08-29

I found this book excellent. It inspired my creative quilting side and was easy to follow in a logical, progressive way that had me learning through small projects that were not so challenging as to be offputting. A resource to continue to refer to.

Review this book before purchasing.......2003-01-03

I purchased this book sight unseen based on the author's description. Once I received it, I was disappointed in the lack of new information or insights. Most of what is provided in this book is more thoroughly presented in other machine quilting books. The only "new" technique presented is a description on how Caryl Fallert creates her machine quilted feathers. I also found the exercises and sample quilts uninspiring. I would heartily recommend Guide to Machine Quilting by Diane Gaudynski and Infinite Feathers by Anita Shackleford instead. At a minimum, view the book in person so you can decide whether its worth spending your money on.

She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul

Average customer rating:

Disjointed, difficult read.
Loved it!
Loved this book!
She Doesn't fly
A Blessing of a Book!

She Flies Without Wings: How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul
Mary D. Midkiff
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spiritualism | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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It's Not About the Horse

ASIN: 0385335008
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Amazon.com

Although author and longtime equestrian Mary Midkiff once presented a straightforward book on women and horses (Fitness, Performance and the Female Equestrian), she now explores the more ethereal terrain of this compelling feminine attraction. "Women and horse have always been drawn to one another," Midkiff writes. "They rode together in Greek myth and Celtic poem, Native American legend and Wild West folktales.... Women and horses emerge in life and literature as a huge tribe of spiritual sisters." (In fact, more than one million girls and women are involved in horse-related activities in the U.S. alone.)

Midkiff spent years researching this exquisitely written book that loosely mirrors the arc of a women's life. Using her life story as the backdrop, Midkiff shows how horses nurture feminine development. For example, the freedom to roam the earth on horseback liberates the dreams and ambitions of a young girl. Or how an affinity with horses can help awaken a teenager's emerging sensuality. And when women reach full adulthood, horses help women stay compassionate and spiritually grounded. This is a highly recommended book for older teens (15 and up) and women who value the equestrian relationship as much as the riding. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

From a renowned horsewoman and gifted storyteller comes this groundbreaking new book that explores a powerful relationship like no other: the magical kinship between women and horses.

Drawing from myth and literature, the author’s own experiences, and interviews with countless women, we learn, through women’s deeply personal stories, how horses enrich our lives and connect us to nature–making us readers of rhythm and invisible signs, helping us harness our youthful sexuality, sharing the “horsepower” we need to reach our dreams. And here we see how, for thousands of years, the deep kinship between women and horses has connected us to our most intimate feelings of delight, helped us learn to solve problems, and set our creativity free.

From the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer to the fiction of Jane Austen to folktales from around the world, She Flies Without Wings uses great literature and myth to encompass a wide spectrum of beliefs and perspectives–and creates a true celebration of speed, air, and the spectacular animal that connects us with both.

Filled with the moving lessons–-about sensuality, commitment, power, nurturance, and spirituality–women riders have known for centuries, written with a loving hand by an expert equestrian, She Flies Without Wings is an eloquent paean to a pairing that enlivened history, inspired literature, and continues to enchant us all.

Customer Reviews:

Disjointed, difficult read........2006-12-26

I don't understand all the hype about this book. It is trying to be 3 or 4 books at once. The most interesting strand is the memoir. That is sweet and reveals a life growing up around horses. But it also tries to be a poetry collection about horses and a quotable quote book about horses and a book of lilterary references to horses. I found all of those parts distracting and not very interesting. Not recommended.

Loved it!.......2005-10-27

This was my first book about women and horses and I loved it. I especially enjoyed reading the progress with Mary and Theo. This book has a poetic feel and is one that probably will not touch the heart of woman that doesn't yet know how a horse can effect her spirit and soul. What it does for the horsewoman or any woman who is drawn to a barn, is to confirm the feelings she's already experienced and encouraged her to continue in her journey. I loved it!

Loved this book! .......2005-02-19

I loved this book, and yes, I am a horsewoman! However, thus said, I don't think a person has to be a horsewoman to enjoy this book thoroughly. It is very insightful, it deals with many issues and topics dear to women, it makes one think. It is a very good read. I found myself not wanting it to end; loved reading about Theo's progress, and about her and the author's bonding. As an owner of more than 20 show horses and school horses in my lifetime, not to mention the 100 or so racehorses I have trained - now retired and "totally dedicated" to a Morgan mare with a "former" attitude, I could relate to every aspect of the author's encounters with Theo. I'm married, have children, grandchildren, a full life... but it would be life with a void without horses. This book is indeed about how horses touch a woman's soul. As a horsewoman and author, I give this book two-thumbs up!

She Doesn't fly.......2004-03-03

I am not a "horse person" and only read this book because it was selected by my book club. I found it of little interest and was unable to make any connection with the author and her intimate relationship with horses. The style of inserting excerpts from literature, poetry etc in the middle of the text was distracting and made the text disjointed. Perhaps if one is a horse "nut" it would be of some interest but personally I couldn't relate and found all this emotional and spiritual attachment to horses quite annoying.

A Blessing of a Book!.......2003-08-15

With uncanny insight and wisdom Ms.Midkiff has put eloquently into words the very emotions I have experienced my past 25 years with horses. This book has touched me and made me even more aware of the gifts I receive on a daily basis. As she so simply and profoundly states in this book - "When I ride [my mare] her unity with the outside world is so absolute that I have no choice but to follow her into it. I must stop thinking about deadlines and the grocery list... because they have no place the the world my equine guide is showing me. I can't help but open my eyes to what she sees and my ears to what she hears. I note the flicker of a cottontail disappearing into the brush ahead and hear the call of the meadowlark before spotting it. I swim in her quiet." Bravo, Ms. Midkiff! Though we have never met I am certain we are of the same herd. Thank you for such an inspiring read!

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