Living through the Racket: How I Survived Leukemiaand Rediscovered My Self Review

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(More customer reviews)I was lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of this book, and have since sung its praises to everyone I know. I am not a big tennis (or even sports) fan, but I am a sucker for a good story. Corina is a dynamic woman who has overcome much in her life and enjoyed great success. Yet I found her incredibly relatable; no matter what she was going through, be it leukemia treatments or a Wimbledon victory, I felt like I was right there with her. While women will relate to her journey to independence and sports fans will thrill at her depictions of being a pro tennis player, this book will inspire anyone who reads it. I highly recommend it.

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She was 23 and at the height of her professional tennis career—a top-30 singles player, the #1 ranked doubles player in the world in 2000, and the winner of Grand Slam titles at both Wimbledon in 1999 with Lindsay Davenport, and the Australian Open Mixed doubles in 2001.
Then, in May 2001, Corina Morariu was diagnosed with an advanced form of acute myelogenous leukemia and found herself in the match of a lifetime. After a grueling regimen of chemotherapy, Corina returned to competitive tennis 16 months after her diagnosis. She was named the WTA Tour Comeback Player of the Year in 2002, but the effects of the leukemia lingered. On the court, she struggled to come to terms with the cancer and two subsequent shoulder surgeries that diminished her physical capabilities as a tennis player. Off the court, she struggled to redefine herself in the wake of her trauma.
In this honest, unsparing memoir, Corina opens up about what it's like to be an athlete diagnosed with cancer, and how her battle with leukemia changed her in every way. She reassessed everything: her devotion to tennis, her lifelong mission to be the perfect daughter, even her marriage. She took charge of her own life, often with devastating consequences to her and those she loved most.
In the end, leukemia gave this world-class athlete much more than it took away—the challenge to look deeper within herself, and the strength to change her life—and she reveals the extraordinary lessons she learned along the way. It is Corina's journey of self-discovery that will make her story incredibly poignant and uplifting to everyone who reads it—tennis player or not.
Leukemia brought Corina to the brink of death . . . but ultimately it saved her life.

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True Believers: The Tragic Inner Life of Sports Fans Review

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(More customer reviews)Joe Queenan has written the ultimate sports fan book. True Believers is dedicated to the real sports fan. Not fans of the Los Angeles Lakers or the New York Yankees, but the fans of downtrodden teams like the Phillies, the Blackhawks, and the Eagles. Fans who know what it's like to suffer through years of torment, wondering if your team was ever going to be good enough to win it all. Queenan grew up in Philadelphia, and he has a life-long commitment to all of his hometown teams. He says that fan support must be based either on where you grew up, or who your father rooted for. No other form of fandom is acceptable to him. Thus, he has had to live through the Phillies blowing a 6.5 game lead with 12 games to go in 1964, the Flyers blowing a 3-1 lead in the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils (with two of the last three games at home), and other heartbreaks. Loving Philadelphia teams is the epitome of heartbreak, the ultimate love-hate relationship.
Why should this matter to the rest of us? I will tell you right now that, if you have never followed any sports and think that to do so is the ultimate waste of time, then this book is not for you. First, you will not understand it. Secondly, what little you do understand will only reinforce your already formed beliefs. Unless you have experienced the common bond of watching your team blow the big game, or the big series, or just stink up the league in general, you will not get a lot out of this book. (Ok, maybe if you're a Yankee fan, you'll be able to laugh at these idiots he's talking about).
What does this book consist of? Queenan discusses the psychology behind rooting for a team of also-rans. He explores what makes the true sports fan tick. He does this among chapters discussing fair weather fans (those fans who only follow a team when they are good), sports movies (and how most of them are horrible and don't even come close to reflecting reality), sports announcers (both the good and the bad), and misbehaving fans (those idiots in the stands who do the stupidest things and generally annoy the people around them). Some of these chapters are universal, even to Yankees fans, and thus may be enjoyed by everybody. Some (like an entire chapter on the sorry-looking New York Jets) will only mean something to the fan who has been through something similar. All of these chapters, however, share Queenan's sarcastic wit and his extreme commentary. I love the language that Queenan uses and the way he writes, even if sometimes it seems he's using words just to see whether people understand them or not. At times he sounds pompous, but even then he's entertaining.
The fair-weather fan chapter is probably the best, as he itemizes all the different types of front-runners there are, from celebrities who must be seen at courtside of Lakers games, to the mainstream folk who just can't bear to suffer along with the true fan, and thus change their favourite team on the drop of a quarter. As he says, suffering is what makes success taste so sweet. If you haven't been through the dark times, then when they finally do win a championship, you can't truly appreciate it. He loathes front-runners with a passion, and he's not afraid to say it. He certainly takes no prisoners in this chapter, heaping scorn on every type of front-runner there is.
If there is any fault in the book, it is the fact that some of the references are very obscure (though as Queenan would say, if you don't know it, you're probably not a true fan). I love sports and follow a lot of them, but some of the references are so old that even I didn't get them. You could figure them out from the context, but I think some of the humour value is lost there. Sometimes he explains them, or at least gives a year that it happened, but other times he goes on like we should be able to keep up with him. I had no trouble skipping the reference, assuming that it was supposed to illustrate some point, and moving on. However, it is a strike against the book. One other thing I would like to know is what he thinks of fans like me. I grew up in Iowa, where there are no professional sports teams, and my father was not a huge fan of anything either. I have my allegiances that have never died since childhood, but they certainly don't seem to fit his criteria. What does that make me? Unfortunately, Queenan doesn't address that, so it feels like something's missing.
Even so, this book is definitely a winner. At times it's hilarious, at times it's touching (like when he talks about when his father's last days and how they affected Queenan's spectatorship). You may see yourself reflected in it. You may just find other fans to ridicule. Maybe you're not a sports fan but you're trying to understand a husband (or wife???) who is. If so, get this book. You will either laugh at or along with Queenan as he continues his odyssey. And you might even learn something along the way. Yes, even you Yankees fans.
David Roy

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Lonely Planet Thailand's Islands & Beaches (Regional Travel Guide) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is particularly helpful as it contains many detailed maps. As well, the accomodation section is very useful for the traveler who does not have any set plans as it helps to show several different price ranges from budget to high end & includes phone numbers & websites of them frequently.
there are also tips for every type of traveler here in very detailed sections on every province in thailand. although it says islands & beaches there is a very good section on Bangkok city itself which is good as most people start & end up their Thailand vacation there anyway & spend some time in the city.

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Lonely Planet knows how to kick back on Thailand's best beaches. We've detailed the best places to stay, no matter what your budget, so go ahead and work on your tan. Or go diving off gorgeous Ko Phi-Phi, surrender to serenity - or the Full Moon Party - on Ko Pha-Ngan, island hop in the Similans'it's all at your fingertips.Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.In This Guide:Color chapters on diving, activities, national parks - and beaches!Perfect places to stay: the best independent reviews of accommodation from bamboo huts to opulent villasGreen Index highlights ecofriendly options

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The Major Forces Driving Humanity: Solutions For A Growing Divide Review

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(More customer reviews)What has been driving Humanity over its existence? "The Major Forces Driving Society are Diverging" is a look at what makes humanity do what it does. Science, Economics, Politics, Religion, even sports are all factors that push the progress, and how they react with one another. Offering ideas and plans for society to make them work for a common goal and for the good of man, "The Major Forces Driving Society are Diverging" is a unique and scholarly read, well worth the read for any would-be social scientist.

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In The Major Forces Driving Humanity, Steven Zecola shows how religion, politics, science, economics and even sports have shaped human behavior over time. Zecola distills the lessons learned from this history to highlight those factors that have had the most impact upon people. To better capitalize on the power and direction of the major forces, Zecola argues for a series of adjustments in the objectives and operations of political systems. For example, as technological advances reduce the dependence of citizens on a representative government, he advances that citizens should: 1) adopt concrete benchmarks for elected officials to achieve on several key metrics and 2) demand more visibility, accountability and control into government operations. To address the expected conflicts arising from the growing divide of the major forces, Zecola proposes a series of incentives and penalties to modify organizational behavior. For example, he advocates the use of taxes and tariffs for such purposes as promoting specific characteristics of democracy overseas and discouraging non-profit organizations here at home from discriminating against certain classes of people or evoking intolerance towards other belief systems.

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The Rough Guide to Croatia (Rough Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the most comprehensive guide in terms of giving you an overall picture of Croatia, including history, culture, and useful language translations. The information is not misleading as other guidebooks have proven to be. For example, some guidebooks tout Croatia's Istrian coast as an undiscovered paradise, but I can't imagine where that information is coming from, unless it is really old. The western coast has been slathered in concrete and is the epitome of mass tourism. One of the author's most telling statements is that your experience in Croatia depends so much upon when you go. If you go in July or August, you'll probably hate any city, no matter how beautiful because the Istrian coast is a mecca of the bussed-in mass tourists.
Thankfully, this guide prepares you for that and helps you to steer clear of the bad/overtouristed places...mostly. I believe the author to be a bit biased by his interest in art and museums...and some places that he describes as so quaint and lovely, I was left scratching my head about. Porec for example. But for other places, he is dead on....the little piece on Umag might not jump out at you as overly negative but read between the lines...his warnings are subtle. Umag was a horror, a run-down, mass-tourism nightmare and has absolutely nothing to offer other than one desparate street of lungy, grabby restaurant owners and a pathetic rock beach that is under construction. Of course, he can't come right out and say that, but if you really listen to what he writes, you'll see it. I left Umag after one day (and I'm so glad that I did!)
He's also right on about places like Rovinj, which was the loveliest place I have seen in a long, long time, in Croatia or anywhere. He is extremely accurate in recommending restaurants and attractions ... the reviews and recommendations were excellent. Many times you can't trust what guidebooks say ... they are either misleading or just leave out the bad stuff. This is not one of those books. You can depend upon the information. The maps of the towns are accurate, easy to follow.
The author is also a good writer, so the book is interesting to read as well, and I even found myself laughing. He's fair and honest and knowledgeable.
I depended on this book quite a bit in Croatia and was glad to have it. I think you will be too.

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"The Rough Guide to Croatia" is your ultimate travel guide to one of Eastern Europe's most beautiful countries with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best Croatian attractions. From the hustle and bustle of Zagreb to the undulating hills and charming villages of the rural Zagorje, discover Croatia's highlights inspired by dozens of colour photos. Find detailed historical coverage of the must-see sights and practical advice on getting around the country whilst relying on up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels, bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets. "The Rough Guide to Croatia" includes two full-colour sections on Croatian cuisine and Croatia's beautiful Islands and a crucial language section with basic, words, phrases and handy tips for pronunciation. You'll find up-to-date information on excursions around the country, including sea kayaking in Dubrovnik and trips to the ancient Pula Amphitheatre in Istria. Explore every corner of Croatia with expert background knowledge on everything from stone masonry to local pungent fungi! Make the most of your holiday with "The Rough Guide to Croatia".

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'Tis Pity She's a Whore and Other Plays: The Lover's Melancholy; The Broken Heart; 'Tis Pity She's a Whore; Perkin Warbeck (Oxford World's Classics) Review

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(More customer reviews)All of these in the Oxford English Drama series are well worth the money. Thank heavens (and Oxford) that they are in print at this price. I am collecting them all. I've got a shelf of them now. Jane Smiley, writing on something else, said one doesn't need Shakespeare's contemporaries to recognize his greatness. I feel that misses a giant point: so much of our understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare can be enriched by reading the Bard's contemporaries. In fact, if we want to get very deep into any "Jacobethan" drama we need exposure to a bunch of it. Besides, and here is the great part -- much of it is very good. I saw a wonderful production of The Duchess Of Malfi this summer and took my Oxford paperback along for consulting -- not that it was required to enjoy the show. Oh, and the further perk is that we can read Perkin Warbeck and wonder just what the heck Eliot meant by calling it a perfect play! Now, that is what I call fun.

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Ford wrote darkly about sexual and political passion, thwarted ambition, and incest. This selection of four plays also shows his ability to portray the poignancy of love as well as write entertaining comedy and create convincing roles for women. Setting Ford's earliest surviving independently written play, The Lover's Melancholy, alongside his three best-known works, The Broken Heart, 'Tis a Pity She's a Whore, and Perkin Warbeck, this edition includes an introduction with sections on each play, addressing gender issues, modern relevance, and staging possibilities.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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The Pressured Child: Freeing Our Kids from Performance Overdrive and Helping Them Find Success in School and Life Review

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(More customer reviews)No matter how involved you are with your child, it can be impossible to truly understand what is going on inside his/her school. This book gives parents a valuable look at what our children are dealing with every day. Mr. Thompson tells individual stories from the kids' viewpoints--extremely helpful. I saw my own child in his example of a boy who is "allergic" to school....and reading about this boy was like looking into the future. If I have any complaint, it is that the author didn't discuss the option of homeschooling as a positive alternative for some children like this. For those of us without many school options (no money, living rurally), his suggestion for finding a "better fit" in other school situations, did not apply. Our "allergic" son is doing great with homeschooling now and after reading "The Pressured Child" I'm even more committed to trying to keep him at home where he can learn to love learning....not dread school. Even if you have a child who has a "school brain" (as Thompson calls it) you should read this book to see how your successful child is actually getting through his/her day. I should note this isn't an "anti-public school" book-- but more of a look inside the schools so you can understand...and decide if your school is a good fit for your particular child. Fascinating reminder for all of us who have been out of school for a long time!!

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Ted Turner Speaks: Insights from the World's Greatest Maverick (Speak Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Janet Lowe has fashioned a fine overview of Ted Turner's life and thoughts. Lowe's style offers effortless reading as the material flows eloquently throughout the book. Ted Turner Speaks is not your typical biography with details of every aspect on its subject; Lowe instead chooses to maintain brevity by focusing on the most fascinating aspects of Turner's life and the elements of his character that she believes to have been the most influential. If you are seeking to discover various captivating elements behind the life of this media titan, you will find this book worthwhile.


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As the brainchild behind the Cable News Network, Ted Turner revolutionized the television industry by introducing a 24-hour news station. Dubbed "Terrible Ted" for his apparent disregard for the rules, he turned sharp business savvy into a global communications empire that has made him one of the wealthiest-and most powerful figures in the business. This unique biography, the latest in the bestselling Speaks series, presents the different shades of this colorful personality by bringing together original Turner quotes from newscasts, interviews, and articles.Janet Lowe (Del Mar, CA) is the author of the bestselling /Ispeaks/N series, including /IWarrenBuffett Speaks, Jack Welch Speaks, Bill Gates Speaks,/N and /IOprah Winfrey Speaks./N Shehas written for /Inewsweek/N, the /ILos Angeles Times/N, and the /IChristian Science Monitor./N

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Branded Male: Marketing to Men Review

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(More customer reviews)I have to admit, I'm one of those tough sells Mark Tungate writes about in BRANDED MALE: MARKETING TO MEN. I hate shopping and see it only as an evil necessity. I don't buy trendy, and I hate the whole corporate look because I'll never look like the models that parade around in that attire.
Women have a rougher go of it than men do because our society pushes them into constant upgrades. Men tend to roll along stuck at whatever pinnacle they reached shortly after graduating high school. Generally men buy clothes when they gain weight (of course, the clothes are SHRINKING in the dryer), ruin a favorite shirt, or run out of necessities like tee shirts, socks, and underwear due to attrition. Most men have shirts that have birthdays and anniversaries.
Tungate addresses all these issues in a much more elegant manner than I have here, but I think I've summed up his approach. While shopping for clothing or toiletries is a social experience for most women, giving them the chance to catch up on life stories as well as get a supporting vote for a new and daring purchase, men don't gather like that. I've seen men gather to buy shotguns, and generally they go for a two for one to buy a his and his, bass boats, or golf equipment. Even that doesn't require accompaniment, though. Guys just get together after the initial purchase and ogle each others' goods.
I approached Tungate's BRANDED MALE: MARKETING TO MEN with more curiosity than interest. I like to speculate on what markets are going to open up and how advertisers are going to address them. Being a self-employed novelist, I pay a lot of attention to emerging technology, consumer paradigm shifts, and marketing.
Tungate's tour de force covers clothing, cosmestics, grooming, cars, periodicals and books (which offered me some insights I hadn't considered before and found very interesting), and sex. I thought most of it seemed Euro-centric to a degree, or maybe East Coast here in the United States, but it was intensely readable.
I love history, and Tungate brings a lot of history into the book that I didn't expect. I found the marketing aspect interesting, but I was more taken with the history that he delivers. These manifested as brief snippets laced throughout the text that anchored the points he made and allowed me to better understand what he was saying. I'll bet most readers that pick this book up will experience the same thing.
I actually planned to allow myself time to read a chapter a day, basically covering each of the topics Tungate proposes. Instead, I was sucked in by the writing and compelled to keep turning pages. I hadn't expected to be as captivated by the subject as I was (after all, I am male and we have short attention spans and tend not to over think dress and style).
As a novelist by trade, I found a lot of information in the book that I plan on using in my writing. I know I've read a good book when it finds a place on my shelf (and I've got limited space at this point). BRANDED MALE: MARKETING TO MEN is a great, fun read with plenty of information and marketing tips. The text is broken up into a modified block format (each paragraph has a double-space between it that allows plenty of white space) and that layout actually made the book even easier to read.
If you're interested in marketing, or understanding your husband's reluctance to go shopping even when he needs to, Tungate explains some of what's going on. Anyone that's read Alissa Quart's book BRANDED: THE BUYING AND SELLING OF TEENAGERS will enjoy this one as a follow-up. And if you haven't read Quart's book, you're in for two books that are definite eye-openers.


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Taking the Lead: Strategies and Solutions from Female Coaches Review

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(More customer reviews)TAKING THE LEAD; STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS FROM FEMALE COACHES provides an exploration of female coaches and how women bring different values and approaches to the field. From how career aspirations are juggled to encounters with harassment and how their approaches differ from males, TAKING THE LEAD provides a strong selection of policies and social issues recommended for both college-level sports and women's issues collections alike.


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In an extensive and frank exploration, leaders in women's coaching discuss the values women bring to the coaching profession, their quest for equal access, ways career aspirations and motherhood are juggled, how to negotiate contracts, and encounters with homophobia, harassment, and bullying. They also identify the challenges to progress and highlight the essential changes that need to be made. This volume will be of interest to sports organizations, leaders, and educators; athletes and parents; researchers in sports and gender studies; and politicians and policy makers. Women in leadership roles in business, public service, education, and their communities will find the wisdom contained in Taking the Lead readily transferable to their respective arenas.

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How to Write a Mystery Review

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(More customer reviews)Simply put, Beinhart's book is one of the best "How to Write..." books I have ever read. Unlike many books in which the author mostly inspires the reader and/or shares what has worked for him or her, Beinhart gives multiple examples from contemporary and classic works, as well as from his own experiences. I knew that this book had fire in it when I found myself outlining my plot, characters, etc. as I read along. I was also pleased with the Beinhart's honesty about the business and politics of the publishing industry. This book deserves a space on the shelf of every mystery writer--published and unpublished.

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WHODUNIT? YOUDUNIT!So you want to write a mystery. There's more to it than just a detective, a dead body, and Colonel Mustard in the drawing room with the candlestick. Fortunately, Larry Beinhart--Edgar Award-winning author of You Get What You Pay For, Foreign Exchange, and American Hero--has taken a break from writing smart, suspenseful thrillers to act as your guide through all the twists and turns of creating the twists and turns of a good mystery. Drawing on advice and examples from a host of the best names in mystery writing--from Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane to Scott Turow and Thomas Harris--plus some of his own prime plots, Larry Beinhart introduces you to your most indispensable partners in crime: *Character, plot, and procedure * The secrets to creating heroes, heroines, and villains ("All writers draw upon themselves and their experience. While the whole of yourself might not be capable of being either a serial killer or an FBI agent, there are parts in each of us that are capable of almost anything.") * The fine art of scripting the sex scene *The low-down on violence ("A crime novel without violence is like smoking pot without inhaling, sex without orgasm, or a hug without a squeeze." ) *And much more!From the opening hook to the final denouement, Larry Beinhart takes the mystery out of being a mystery writer.

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Building an Effective Women's Ministry: *Develop a Plan *Gather a Team * Watch God Work Review

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(More customer reviews)A well-orchestrated women's ministry is like a beautiful dance, bringing grace and creativity to the Body of Christ. In Building an Effective Women's Ministry, gifted author Sharon Jaynes not only teaches the basic dance steps, but all the intricate footwork that prepares women to have Scripturally "beautiful feet" in order to share Christ's Gospel of peace. In chapters like "Defining Your Purpose," "Servant Leadership," "Utilizing God-Given Abilities," "Encouraging the Team," "Lifestyle Evangelism," and "Dividing and Multiplying," Jaynes encourages women to glide across the dance floor of life, following their partner Jesus' lead. And with her trademark practical, powerful, and persuasive writing, Sharon Jaynes continues to lead the way in helping women to draw strength from Christ and, in turn, strengthen others in Him. I highly recommend this thoroughly comprehensive guide to women's ministries. Your women, your church, and your community need the potent principles outlined in this wonderful book. It will masterfully lead them in Christ's dance of joy!
--Lynn D. Morrissey, author of Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer and AWSA/CLASS speaker

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Building an EffectiveWomen's Ministry is a one-of-a-kind how-to manual that offers a wide-rangeof help to women, from those just starting out to those who have a thrivingministry but could use a fresh idea or two.

Sharon Jaynes, vice president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, honestlyaddresses some of the questions women encounter as they put their dreams inaction, and she offers clear direction for concerns that include

I want to start a women's ministry, but I don't know where to begin.
My women's ministry is stale and needs new life.
I've been asked to lead a women's ministry, and I'm scared to death.

God has wonderful things in store for those who will build a ministry with Him.

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Meditation in Motion: Exercise Your Body and Soul--At the Same Time Review

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(More customer reviews)As a busy wife and mother, I struggle daily to incorporate both spiritual devotions and physical activity into my routines. I know in my mind and heart that both will benefit me tremendously, but frequently manage to find excuses to keep me from my daily prayer or workout times.
Barbara Bartocci has written a book which has helped me tremendously. By sharing the stories of 48 "regular" people (not extreme athletes) and their exploration of the connection between physical activity and spiritual awareness, Barbara sparks the reader to inspiration. Meditation in Motion has helped me see the "opportunities" in my own life to experience that sacred through the blessing God has given me to be able to get out and move! Barbara Bartocci will motivate you to experiment with new sports and activities you may never have thought of or tried. The book includes a "Know Yourself" quiz, 21 Ways to link physical and spiritual fitness, and Barbara's "Coach's Reflection" at the end of each story which incorporate spiritual and physical principals. I hope you'll pick up this book and make it and the ideas it shares a part of your own life!

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Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too Review

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(More customer reviews)In her newest book, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On!: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson has done it again! Her very funny instruction manual bares all!
FINALLY someone has revealed all the well-kept secrets of the Southern Mama Society (SMS). We men in the South have grown up fully convinced that there were some things going on around us that molded our existences without our knowledge. We also got the feeling that we were cooperators unawares. It seemed our behavior was somehow being manipulated by unknown forces beyond our control.
IT'S ALL TRUE! . . . and its far more developed, widespread, and networked than we could EVER have imagined. Who would have known . . . but only among the Southern boys and men, of course! Our women have known these things for generations!
Here is where Shellie really lets the cat out of the bag, "...I wasn't very old before I realized that Mama and her girlfriends were good at getting their husbands to do what they wanted, all the while letting the men think it was their own idea. Some people would call this manipulation. Southern women call it charm."
"Charm" does make manipulation SOUND better. All this time I thought charm was good when it was really SMS code for "get your way."
As Shellie says, "...our mamas believe in putting a shoulder to your dreams and feet to your prayers. If you want it, go after it. Things may not always work out the way you hope, but let it never be because you didn't try. Forgive me if that doesn't fit with your stereotypical idea of the fragile southern belle who spends her days resting on the couch and fanning herself between fainting spells, but I don't know that mythical breed. The southern female of my experience is more likely to gear up for battle than retreat to the sofa."
That's been my experience, as I'm sure most Southern men will agree.
Are we Southern men ever fortunate to have all these well-hidden secrets of the SMS revealed! It will revolutionize the way we view ourselves and those women around us. Now we know the shorthand and signals of the SMS. Knowledge is power!
MEN, be VERY CAREFUL how you use this knowledge. If you get a little heavy handed, you might have to go for burgers . . . or possibly worse. The members of the SMS can get even in ways most of us have not even imagined until Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On! I suspect there are at least as many that Shellie Tomlinson has not yet revealed. I'll hide in the weeds (a Southern man saying) waiting for Book 2 on the subject.
DO NOT overlook the absolutely delicious recipes Shellie includes. Check this out: Pork Roast Barbecue Recipe--This is killin' goood! It'll make you want slap yore mama . . . as we say in the South. But as Shellie points out, it's only a fool who would think of tryin'!
And the recipes for all those dips and sauces! I can't wait to try them. They suggest many of the absolutely scrumptious flavors I've learned to love in Southern cooking.
MEN, get your copy quick! This stuff is too good to miss! Don't just read it: MEMORIZE IT!


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The host of All Things Southern shares the sass and strength of Southern mamas in this spunky guide to life. In this humorous handbook, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, host of All Things Southern, reveals the all-important lessons Southern Mamas teach their daughters. Readers will discover why blue eye shadow is trashy and learn to interpret regional dialect like the Southern Mama APB, a bulletin translated on Southern streets as: "Give your heart to Jesus, girl, because your butt is all mine!" Shellie carefully breaks down the teachings behind those famous manners and social graces through her firsthand observations and dry wit. Here's everything you need to know from how to cope with the unexpected, compete in the Mr. Right Game Show, and raise children—to how to keep that marriage knot tied tight over time. Woven with quotes from real Southern Mamas and sprinkled with recipes and other Southern secrets, this book's a bona-fide celebration of all things south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

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Wilt, 1962: The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era Review

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(More customer reviews)I loved this book! Initially I thought -- no way would I read a book on Wilt and basketball history. Then, I stumbled across a two page preview in Parade Magazine and thought-this guy can write! Pomerantz' interesting storytelling immediately captivated me. The most compelling for me, a non basketball afficianiado, is how he took me right into the heart of the historical, cultural and race sensibilities through sports in the fifties and 60's and through this truly unparalleled player, Wilt. Add to this, now I have some sports legend history at my fingertips for conversations.

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The Cultural Nature of Human Development Review

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(More customer reviews)Rogoff's acclaimed concepts about how human development and culture naturally intertwine unfold in a highly intricate matter within this text.
Like Jerome Bruner, her prose can overpopulate itself with too many techy terms for the average educator; however, if you can push through the woods of her thick style, you will uncover many truths about culture.
As she puts forth, culture springs from the natural progression of social history and interaction. Each culture possesses its own scripts and nuances on what exists as "typical" development.
I invite anyone to delve into her mind.

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Three-year-old Kwara'ae children in Oceania act as caregivers of their younger siblings, but in the UK, it is an offense to leave a child under age 14 ears without adult supervision. In the Efe community in Zaire, infants routinely use machetes with safety and some skill, although U.S. middle-class adults often do not trust young children with knives. What explains these marked differences in the capabilities of these children?Until recently, traditional understandings of human development held that a child's development is universal and that children have characteristics and skills that develop independently of cultural processes. Barbara Rogoff argues, however, that human development must be understood as a cultural process, not simply a biological or psychological one. Individuals develop as members of a community, and their development can only be fully understood by examining the practices and circumstances of their communities.

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Kitesurfing in the Waves: The Complete Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)Those lucky enough to live where kitesurfing conditions are regularly good usually build a network of kiting buddies who will point out where they are making mistakes and advise them how to improve their skills. For others, like me, going kiting involves a 1500km expedition and as a relative foreigner (to Cape Town) it's a lot more difficult to build this network. Kitesurfers are generally very supportive of each other, but if you don't live there you don't get regular practice or the constant input. The occasional lesson helps but it's not the same.
This is where Kitesurfing in the Waves really fills a gap. As a relative newcomer to the sport (20 months) with limited ability to get on the water regularly, the visualisation methods of "seeing" and "feeling" taught in the book are great for offline training, mental preparation and rekindling enthusiasm.
Each manoeuvre is shown with the kitesurfer in a sequence of positions within a single picture, much like multiple exposures on a single frame whilst the manoeuvre is executed. This form of "movie in a picture" is easy to retain and re-visualise, quickly building confidence and the urge to get back on the water to try it for real.
For example, it far easier to visualise switching feet in a gybe turn rather than trying follow a step-by-step process of when to move which foot to where whilst the kite has a mind of its own. Too many things are happening at the same time - you've wiped out before you're half way if you try on this basis! This book shows you how to "feel it" right.
I've bought other books, watched training DVDs and read lots of web articles and can only say that this book is in an entirely different league. I recommend it highly for any intermediate kitesurfer who wants to venture into the waves - especially those 5 to 7m monsters that feature regularly off Bloubergstrand of Cape Town!


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Let eight-time world champion kitesurfer Kristin Boese and Christian Spreckels take you to the next level and into the thrill of the waves.

Hundreds of dramatic step-by-step action photographs take you into the surf and introduce basic tricks like the cut back and olly, before you move on to more advanced tricks like riding a barrel. Each trick is not only shown with breathtaking photography, but with the added bonus of expert advice on learning each manoeuvre.

Kitesurfing in the Waves includes:

Wind and waves
Choice of location
Safety
Tips on training
Starting and riding
Turning manoeuvres
Basics for kiting in the waves
Surfing basics
Wave manoeuvres/tricks for advanced kiters



Kristin and Christian explain the equipment, how to stay safe on the water, weather patterns and wave creation before introducing you to extreme tricks.

Take your kitesurfing into the surf and experience bigger waves, longer rides and more impressive tricks.

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