book reviews

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Office: 2008 Day-to-Day Calendar


calendar review : The Office: 2008 Day-to-Day Calendar


Reviews

Funny but plain...
I was very excited to get this calendar and ordered on for myself and a couple of friends who are big Office fans. The quotes are very funny, but most seem to be from the older episodes. Also the day calendar itself is very plain with one quote per page in black ink on a plain white page.





In my opinion...

I will have fun getting a quote for each day. "I think Lex Luther said it best when he said, "Dad, you have no idea of what I am capable of"." :)

So great!
Great calender- so funny. Great for any person who loves the show. I got one for my sister and my brother for only 10 dollars- great inexpensive gift idea.


How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better



book reviews : How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better

Description
Forget getting older gracefully--This is the beauty and style bible every woman has been waiting for!HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD is the first--ever cheat sheet of to-dos and fast fixes that pay-off big time--all from Charla and her friends, the best hair pros, makeup artists, designers, dermatologists, cosmetic dentists and personal shoppers in the biz. Packed with eye-opening details on hair color, brows, lipstick, wrinkle-erasers, jeans, shapewear, jewelry, heels, and more, the book speaks to every woman: from low maintenance types who don't want to spend a fortune or tons of time on her looks to high maintenance women who believe in looking fabulous at any price. There's also too-old vs. just-right before and after photos, celebrity examples of good and bad style, shopping lists of Charla's brilliant buys in fashion and beauty products, coveted addresses of "Where the top beauty pros go," fun sidebars--and more. Known to national audiences from her ten years on NBC's Today show, style expert Charla Krupp dishes out her secrets in this "ultimate" to-do list for looking hip and fabulous -- no matter what your age.






Review

This is a great book for those of us that are 40 plus...lots of practical advice to help stay young and hip ( or get there if you need some help!)Lots of make up tips, what to wear( and how to wear it),and how to "tweak" and update what you have.I highly recommend this book! It's really the only one you'll need.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum Novels)



book reviews: Plum Lucky (Stephanie Plum Novels)

For fans of the Stephanie Plum novels, this is a slim, but hilarious, "Between-the-Numbers" volume. Grandma Mazur goes missing with a million dollars in a duffel bag, pursued by a leprechaun who gets naked; there's a horse in Stephanie's apartment; Lula exposes herself in an Atlantic City casino, a Mob boss is out to whack Grandma, Stephanie and the horse; and naturally, there are fires and explosions--hey, just another day in the 'Burg! A fun read! Read more...


Description
Looking to get lucky?Stephanie Plum is back between-the-numbers and she’s looking to get lucky in an Atlantic City hotel room, in a Winnebago, and with a brown-eyed stud who has stolen her heart.Stephanie Plum has a way of attracting danger, lunatics, oddballs, bad luck . . . and mystery men. And no one is more mysterious than the unmentionable Diesel. He’s back and hot on the trail of a little man in green pants who’s lost a giant bag of money. Problem is, the money isn’t exactly lost. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur has found it, and like any good Jersey senior citizen, she’s hightailed it in a Winnebago to Atlantic City and hit the slots. With Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie attempts to bring Grandma home, but the luck of the Irish is rubbing off on everyone: Lula’s found a job modeling plus-size lingerie. Connie’s found a guy. Diesel’s found Stephanie. And Stephanie has found herself in over her head with a caper involving thrice-stolen money, a racehorse, a car chase, and a bad case of hives. Read more...

The Appeal



book reviews: The Appeal
Description
After forty-two hours of deliberations that followed seventy-one days of trial that included 530 hours of testimony from four dozen witnesses, and after a lifetime of sitting silently as the lawyers haggled and the judge lectured and the spectators watched like hawks for telltale signs, the jury was ready. Locked away in the jury room, secluded and secure, ten of them proudly signed their names to the verdict while the other two pouted in their corners, detached and miserable in their dissension. There were hugs and smiles and no small measure of self-congratulation because they had survived this little war and could now march proudly back into the arena with a decision they had rescued through sheer determination and the dogged pursuit of compromise. Their ordeal was over; their civic duty complete. They had served above and beyond. They were ready. The foreman knocked on the door and rustled Uncle Joe from his slumbers. Uncle Joe, the ancient bailiff, had guarded them while he also arranged their meals, heard their complaints, and quietly slipped their messages to the judge. In his younger years, back when his hearing was better, Uncle Joe was rumored to also eavesdrop on his juries through a ?imsy pine door he and he alone had selected and installed. But his listening days were over, and, as he had con?ded to no one but his wife, after the ordeal of this particular trial he might just hang up his old pistol once and for all. The strain of controlling justice was wearing him down.--From Chapter One of The Appeal read more...

Water for Elephants: A Novel



book reviews: Water for Elephants: A Novel
This is a book that you can't put down. The characters are great, and the plot is interesting. I loved it! Read more...

Description
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.Read more...

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto



book revies: In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

I savored omnivore's delima took my time and read it carefully in order not to miss something. This short easy to read book was the opposite. I sat down and read the whole thing. I agree with everything Michael Pollan has to say about the western diet, even though I have been less than careful about avoiding it. I feel inspired to eat better and be more careful than ever about what I buy. it is probably the best "diet book" I have ever read. Not to mention it is entertaining, funny and does not insult my intelligence. Read more...

Description
What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think about health: a manifesto for our times "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma. Humans used to know how to eat well, Pollan argues. But the balanced dietary lessons that were once passed down through generations have been confused, complicated, and distorted by food industry marketers, nutritional scientists, and journalists-all of whom have much to gain from our dietary confusion. As a result, we face today a complex culinary landscape dense with bad advice and foods that are not "real." These "edible foodlike substances" are often packaged with labels bearing health claims that are typically false or misleading. Indeed, real food is fast disappearing from the marketplace, to be replaced by "nutrients," and plain old eating by an obsession with nutrition that is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to mention our meals. Michael Pollan's sensible and decidedly counterintuitive advice is: "Don't eat anything that your great-great grandmother would not recognize as food." Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we would pay more for better, well-grown food, but buy less of it, we'll benefit ourselves, our communities, and the environment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at what science does and does not know about the links between diet and health, he proposes a new way to think about the question of what to eat that is informed by ecology and tradition rather than by the prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach. In Defense of Food reminds us that, despite the daunting dietary landscape Americans confront in the modern supermarket, the solutions to the current omnivore's dilemma can be found all around us. In looking toward traditional diets the world over, as well as the foods our families-and regions-historically enjoyed, we can recover a more balanced, reasonable, and pleasurable approach to food. Michael Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we might start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives and enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy.Read more...

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time



book review: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

I just cannot express enough gratitude to Greg Mortenson for his humanitarian efforts in Pakistan. His accomplishments are a beacon light for humanity. As a Pakistani, I felt so much guilt that we attribute the ills of our country to the inefficiency of the government and the corrupt bureaucracy. It takes an American to teach us the lesson - that even one person can accomplish a lot, provided the intentions are true and sincere. Mortenson went on a course to change the destiny of a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas -a much neglected part of the earth. How he saved money to fulfill a promise to build a school in the remote village of Korphe, makes this story seem surreal. Mortenson's humility, sheer passion, respect for traditions, sincerity and nobility make him more than human. He is the stuff that saints are made of. Mortenson's relentless efforts in the face of utmost hardships are truly inspirational. He was never deterred by the stereotypes and misconceptions about the region that he had ventured into, even after his brush with the fundamentalist elements of the region in the form of `fatwas' and kidnapping. His initial success propelled him on a mission that has expanded in the region and resulted in more than 50 schools. There are countless moments in the book that touched me so deeply that I felt invigorated to do something for this cause immediately. As long as there are people like Greg Mortenson, there is hope in this world. He has shown the world that the path to succeed is one that surpasses the political, ideological, cultural and religious divides. I also admire the courage and sacrifice of Tina Bishop, who shares the same ideals as her great husband. More detail...

Description
Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.More detail...

Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!



A great asset for making wise instead of harmful choices for diabetics and others needing nutritional guidance. For the time you just need to find alternatives to the high fat and cholesterol selections so lavishly described on the menu, this is it! More detail...

Description
Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight-and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products. All of that has changed with EAT THIS, NOT THAT!. This book puts the entire food industry under the spotlight, and arms you with the savvy tricks and insider information it takes to eat well no matter where you are. With EAT THIS, NOT THAT! you're the expert in every eating situation, from the frozen food aisle to your favorite fast food joint to your local sports bar. You control your food universe-and lose the pounds you want--because, unlike every other customer, you'll know the smart choices to make-instantly!
EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is jam-packed with secrets the restaurant industry doesn't want you to know. For example: Burger King doesn't want you to know that a BK Big Fish. Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1000 calories-nearly half your daily caloric intake! (Fish is usually healthy, but not this kind. Find out why with this book.) Pizza Hut doesn't want you to know that a standard pizza in Italy contains 500 to 800 calories, but the same meal at Pizza Hut can top 2,100 calories! (You'd need to ride a stationary bike for more than three hours to burn off this mistake. Instead, eat all the pizza you want by making smart choices. EAT THIS, NOT THAT! shows you how.) Macaroni Grill doesn't want you to know that a single serving of their Grilled Teriyaki Salmon has more than three times your daily allowance of sodium! (Cut your risk of high blood pressure by making smart choices at the same restaurant. You'll find them inside.)
If only you knew the industry secrets, you could eat at any of your favorite restaurants-or chow down on everything from the company vending machine to your kids' Halloween buckets-and know that every decision you made was smart, healthy, and the best possible choice for you. For example, did you know: At McDonald's, an Egg McMuffin. is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. (The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount!) At Krispy Kreme, all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you'll save 500 calories! (Do that once a week and you'll drop more than 7 pounds this year-without trying!) At Chipotle, you can cut 570 calories out of your Chicken Burrito just by ordering it as a bowl (without the tortilla) and asking them to hold the rice. (Same great taste, but with 94 fewer carb grams!) Choosing a cinnamon roll at Au Bon Pain over Cinnabon will save you 463 calories and 20 grams of fat! In the freezer section of your local supermarket, a turkey pot pie from Swanson's has 610 fewer calories than a turkey pot pie from Pepperidge Farms. In the produce aisle, you'll get twice the vitamin C-and nine times as much vitamin A-simply by picking red bell peppers over green ones. (Who said eating healthy was difficult?)
And that's why EAT THIS, NOT THAT! is going to change everything. It's time to level the playing field. We're all tired of sneaky calories adding to our waistlines, and having to starve ourselves or spend hours on the treadmill trying to burn off the damage. Now-for the first time-you're in charge. With this simple illustrated guide to thousands of foods--along with the nutrition secrets that lead to fast and permanent weight loss--you'll make the smartest choice every time! More detail...

A Thousand Splendid Suns



"Normally I'm more of an action-adventure type reader when it comes to novels and recreational reading. But I was given the chance to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (author of The Kite Runner), so I decided to try something out of my normal genre. I am *so* glad I did. This is a stunning and moving novel of life and love in Afghanistan over a 30 year period. More detail...

Description
After 103 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and with four million copies of The Kite Runner shipped, Khaled Hosseini returns with a beautiful, riveting, and haunting novel that confirms his place as one of the most important literary writers today. Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love. Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them-in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul-they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival. A stunning accomplishment, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a haunting, heartbreaking, compelling story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love.More detail...


Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out



book reviews: Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out
I found this book very well written. Marci really communicates what it means to be happy and how to do it. It is well researched and is full of really positive ideas and tools. It is inspiring and full of information to make real insight possible. I feel this book will become one of the great books on human potential and peak performance. Buy the book, read it, use it, and be Happy, really Happy! More detail...

Description
What would it take to make you happy? A fulfilling career, a big bank account, or the perfect mate? What if it didn't take anything to make you happy? What if you could experience happiness from the inside out -- no matter what's going on in your life?
In Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, transformational expert Marci Shimoff offers a breakthrough approach to being happy, one that doesn't depend on achievements, goals, money, relationships, or anything else "out there." Most books on happiness tell you to find the things that make you happy and do more of them. Although there's nothing wrong with that, it won't bring you the kind of deep and lasting happiness most people long for -- the kind you'll never lose, no matter what happens in your life. Based on cutting-edge research and knowledge from the world's leading experts in the fields of positive psychology and neurophysiology, plus interviews with 100 truly happy people, this life-changing book provides a powerful, proven 7-step program that will enable you to be happier right now -- no matter where you start.
Studies show that each of us has a "happiness setpoint" -- a fixed range of happiness we tend to return to throughout our life -- that's approximately 50 percent genetic and 50 percent learned. In the same way you'd crank up the thermostat to get comfortable on a chilly day, you can actually raise your happiness set-point! The holistic 7-step program at the heart of Happy for No Reason encompasses Happiness Habits for all areas of life: personal power, mind, heart, body, soul, purpose, and relationships.
In these pages you'll discover moving and remarkable first-person stories of people who have applied these steps to their own lives and have become Happy for No Reason. You'll read phenomenal tales from a former drug dealer turned minister, a hit filmmaker, and a famous actress who escaped a "family curse," as well as stories from doctors, mothers, teachers, and business executives. You'll learn practical strategies that will help you experience happiness from the inside out.
You don't have to have happy genes, win the lottery, or lose twenty pounds. By the time you finish this book, you will know how to experience sustained happiness for the rest of your life.
More detail...

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia



book reviews: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
I enjoyed this book so much that I purchased 10 additional copies and gave them as Christmas gifts. Eat, Pray, Love is truly an inspirational read. I highlighted excerpts throughout the book and refer back to them often. Liz Gilbert hit upon so many emotions that a lot of us feel but are afraid to expose. It was a relief to know that many of us share those same emotions. I loved this book. More detail...


Description
This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls “Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister”) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans.More detail...

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