Book Description
This is Morton Meyers' fascinating, entertaining, and highlyaccessible look at the surprising role serendipity played in some of themost important medical discoveries in the 20th century. Though within thescientific community a certain stigma is attached to chance discoverybecause it is wrongly seen as pure luck, happy accidents happen every dayand Meyers shows how it takes intelligence, insight, and creativity torecognize a "Eureka! I found what I wasn't look for!" moment and know whatto do next. Penicillin, chemotherapy drugs, X-rays, Valium, the Pap smear,and Viagra were all discovered accidentally, stumbled upon in search ofsomething else. In discussing these medical breakthroughs and others, Dr.Meyers makes a cogent, highly engaging argument for a more creative, ratherthan purely linear, approach to science.
Customer Reviews:
It's this perspective which makes HAPPY ACCIDENTS a highly recommended pick .......2007-08-07
HAPPY ACCIDENTS: SERENDIPITY IN MODERN MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS tells of happy accidental discoveries in the world of science, documenting events and also providing insights into how these accidents came to be realized as beneficial. It's this perspective which makes HAPPY ACCIDENTS a highly recommended pick not just for general interest lending libraries, but for college-level collections strong in health science. Learning to recognize and assess unexpected and accidental results for their possible lessons and benefits is key to any researcher's success: the author draws on both personal experience and research and interviews with winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and other awards to document this process of discovery.
Uneven.......2007-08-06
About: How scientists discovered groundbreaking medical treatments when they were looking for something else
Pros: Interesting, bibliography included
Cons: Some stories are more interesting than others
Grade: B
A light-hearted book with some serious suggestions.......2007-07-28
When I first started this book, I considered it nothing more than a bunch of fun anecdotes about medical discoveries. About two-thirds of the way through I realized that Meyers is making a serious point about how science really progresses. Huge projects are much less likely to make breathrough discoveries than scientists piddling around with whatever interests them. Some relatively minor changes in the way science is funded and organized could make a big difference in the return on research dollars. My own experience as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry and as a patent attorney tends to support Meyers.
I am not so sure that Meyers has hit the nail on the head when it comes to science education. I agree that science is presently taught very poorly. However, I think part of the problem is the numerous educational reforms that have been put in place over the years, with little or no evidence that they work. The result is that many bright kids today leave school not only uninspired, but without a solid understanding of the subject. I would like to see more research on the actual education received by noted scientists--also better quality of educational research in general.
Primarily A Book for Researchers.......2007-07-03
Viagra, Lipitor, antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs, penicillin and other antibiotics - all were discovered by accident, according to Meyers. Similarly, the Pap smear and cathertization of the heart arteries. "Happy Accidents" goes on to provide a number of examples of how this occurred, including new uses for aspirin, advances in ulcer treatment, thalidomine, etc.
Bottom Line: "Happy Accidents" provides researchers with a structure to help encourage beneficial serendipitous thinking.
Remarkable Book, Wonderful Reading Experience.......2007-06-18
Let me preface my remarks by mentioning that I am a practicing radiologist and I also serve as Editor in Chief for the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), a scholarly, scientific journal that has been in existence for more than 100 years.
In 1995, an article titled "Science, Creativity, and Serendipity" by Morton A. Meyers was published in the AJR [1]. This was the Glen W. Hartman Lecture of the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists of that year. The AJR's Editor at that time, Robert Berk, believed it to be one of the most outstanding papers published during his tenure and commented that "Residents will be fortunate to have this information at the beginning of their careers" (M. A. Meyers, personal communication). Fortunately for us, Dr. Meyers has maintained a continuing interest in the role of serendipity as it applies to major medical breakthroughs, and he published a book on this very topic in March 2007, titled "Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs--When Scientists Find What They're NOT Looking For" [2].
It was my good fortune recently to pick up Dr. Meyers' book and casually begin to leaf through it. To my astonishment, almost everything important in medicine that has developed over the past two centuries came about, to a large extent, through pure serendipity. The book is divided into four parts. Let me list them here in order so you can appreciate Dr. Meyers' approach to this topic:
Part I: The Dawn of a New Era: Infectious Diseases and Antibiotics, the Miracle Drugs
Part II: The Smell of Garlic Launches the War on Cancer
Part III: A Quivering Quartz String Penetrates the Mystery of the Heart
Part IV: The Flaw Lies in the Chemistry, Not the Character: Mood-Stabilizing Drugs, Antidepressants, and Other Psychotropics
Dr. Meyers draws some conclusions at the end of the book that are extremely thought provoking and left me wondering about the current system that exists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for supporting research and funding specific programs. What is most enjoyable about this compelling book is that Dr. Meyers writes this story with exceptional literary skill and without bogging down into highly technical jargon. While this book will be absolutely fascinating to everyone in the medical field, it can be equally appreciated and enjoyed by the interested layperson as well.
Over the years, I have heard a few of the stories to which Dr. Meyers alludes, but never in their entirety and never appreciating how purely serendipitous was the outcome of a particular diverted research project. The author reflects on his own personal experiences during his distinguished career as an abdominal radiologist. Let me quote directly from Dr. Meyers' Preface, page xii: "Most people have had at least one experience in which an unintentional action or inadvertent observation, or perhaps even simple neglect, led to a happy outcome--to something they could not, or would not, have been able to accomplish even if they had tried."
Quoting further from the Preface, page xiii: "This is the essence of serendipity. Although the term has become popularized to serve as the synonym for almost any pleasant surprise, it actually refers to searching for something but stumbling upon an unexpected finding of even greater value--or, less commonly, finding what one is looking for in an unexpected way...But serendipity is not a chance event alone. It is a process in which a chance event is seized upon by a creative person who chooses to pay attention to the event, unravel its mystery, and find a proper application for it."
In the Introduction of the book, page 6, Meyers reflects on "accidents and sagacity." "Sagacity--defined as penetrating intelligence, keen perception, and sound judgment--is essential to serendipity. The men and women who seized on lucky accidents that happened to them are anything but mindless. In fact, their minds typically had special qualities that enabled them to break out of established paradigms, imagine new possibilities, and see that they had found a solution, often to some problem other than the one they were working on. Accidental discoveries would be nothing without keen, creative minds knowing what to do with them." As stated by Louis Pasteur and quoted by the author, "In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."
In reading this book, I learned of the very common and recurring theme that the discoverers of major breakthroughs were often reluctant to reveal the chance events that led to their ultimate breakthrough. The true story of what actually occurred often did not surface until late in the investigator's career, sometimes during a Nobel Laureate's acceptance speech. By revealing to us the critical role that chance plays in four major fields of medical advances, infectious disease, cancer, heart disease, and mental illness, Dr. Meyers raises important fundamental questions about how the nation's research dollars are currently spent. In his concluding remarks, he emphasizes the need to foster rather than stifle creativity and for the funders of research not to be so rigid and proscriptive in the way research studies are conducted and research dollars allocated.
For those of you who are involved with medical students and physicians during the formative years of their training, I urge you to obtain this book, read it, and absorb the message, and incorporate it into your views of how creative research should be stimulated and supported. This remarkable book by a fellow abdominal imager will change the way you think as well as provide you with a wonderful reading experience.
[...]
Average customer rating:
- Awesome Bible
- Great for bible study group
- Great Bible for personal study
- GREAT BIBLE to Use for Bible Studies
- Become familiar with God's word in your personal life
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NAB Catholic Serendipity Bible
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 New American | Translations | Bibles | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 031093737X |
Book Description
Contains revised "open/dig/reflect" small group questions as well as 200 other overall group studies aimed at particular groups or needs. All-new design makes this revision an excellent update of the current product.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome Bible.......2006-01-16
This Bible is awesome! If you can get your hands on a copy; get it! This Bible is great for those who are heading up a Bible study and need help with topics, questions, and scripture. The best is the topics are everyday topics and the questions tie in the topic with scripture.
Great for bible study group.......2005-07-06
For either self-study or group study, this is an excellent choice.
Great Bible for personal study.......2001-08-04
I have a number of Bibles at home, and I like this one. I am Catholic and my priest pointed out the Old Testament books that are included in this one that are excluded from some other Translations: Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch.
Also the introductions of each book set the context of the writing. And then there are all sorts of group and personal study questions about the various readings that give you things to think about. Ideas to contemplate.
Joyful studying.
GREAT BIBLE to Use for Bible Studies.......2001-06-17
I highly recommend this Bible for individual Bible studies or group Bible studies. Loaded with insights and extremely easy to read. GET IT!
Become familiar with God's word in your personal life.......2000-07-05
This Bible is a great way to discern how God may be speaking to you through His word in your life. The Bible is often referred to as God's living word to us, and this Bible helps you discover just why. The column questions and reflections help you probe what meaning the words have in your life. There are also 60 specially designed studies to meet the special needs or times you may be experiencing. This Bible is especially meaningful, whether you're experienced and very comfortable with the Bible or just a novice. Definitely a powerful Book to aid you in your faith journey with God and Jesus.
Book Description
Life-changing Bible studies for small groups
• Everything you need to lead a group Bible study
• Thousands of penetrating study questions
• 60 course plans for 10 different kinds of groups
Leading a small group just got easier
Hot coffee, donuts, and hearts that are hungry for more than just snacks—all the makings of a great Bible study group. Get the most out of your times together with the NIV Serendipity Bible. You don’t have to be a gifted teacher or leader to make it happen. The Serendipity Bible gives you everything you need in one practical, flexible, easy-to-use package. It provides Bible study leaders with ready-made, life-changing discussion questions on any passage of Scripture. In-text study questions help groups open discussion, dig deeper into the meaning of a passage, and reflect on life application. The 200 studies and 60 course plans address the needs of ten different groups, including men, women, singles, youth, and more. With the ready-made studies in the Serendipity Bible, the only thing a group leader has to prepare in the coffee!
Features include:
• Thousands of penetrating study questions
• 60 felt-need course plans for ten different kinds of groups
• 16 topical study courses offer basic and deeper question tracks for study
• 200 Bible story questionnaires offer another study alternative
• Separate studies for each book of the Bible
• Lectionary-based Bible studies for churches that follow the church year calendar
• 200 general group studies address the needs of ten different groups, including men, women, singles, youth, recovery, and more
• “Open-Dig-Reflect” questions help you discover each other’s hearts and apply God’s Word to your life
• 32 two-color introduction pages help you use this Bible more effectively
• Presentation page
Customer Reviews:
Thought provoking.......2007-05-24
I am enjoying this Bible as it has questions that are thought provoking. I have read others that give you information and where to find more information but this is the only one that I have come across that asks you questions and makes you think of what is written.
Absolutely love this Bible.......2007-02-06
If anyone is looking for a Bible that aids in group Bible studies then this Bible is the one for you. Many Bible study teachers often lack the knowledge to guide members in a thorough study of the Bible. This is due to the fact that there are no proper guides in many of the study Bibles that are out there (though the "NIV Study Bible" and the "Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible" are somewhat exceptions). The problem with many study Bibles is that they just provide brief commentaries on the passage at the bottom. The problem, however, with this is that they do not challenge the reader to critically examine the passage themselves. It provides explanations but does not push readers to think through the passage. This Bible, however, provides a series of questions at the side of the page for the readers to think through carefully. This greatly aids teachers and readers to ask the relevant questions pertaining to a passage to effectively lead a study group.
Fabulous.......2007-01-12
This is perfect for teachers of teens, great for study reference, Bible studies, questions and more. I am exceedingly happy!
Serendipity Bible.......2007-01-12
This version of the Bible contains not only Scripture, but also guide topics for use with study groups, and relevant questions.
An Almost Perfect Bible Study Companion.......2007-01-10
What is most unique about this Bible is that this Bible contains more questions than answers! Almost every page is filled with questions to start a discussion (if you are leading a bible study), questions to help you reflect on what the text is saying, and questions to apply to your daily life. For me, the questions help me think through a passage much better than just reading what a commentator wants to say about that passage in a study bible. I can also take the questions and do further research and reading.
This Bible is also filled with resources for bible study for different groups such as men, women, singles, etc., topical bible studies etc. I didn't give it a 5 star only because 1) I should have bought a hard cover copy instead of soft cover, 2) I wish they would have included maps in it but that is pretty minor.
Ben
Average customer rating:
- ...not my favourite but good all round view of the problem
- Pretty dragged out.
- Serendipity-struggle of women to overcome hardships
- No depth-and too many relationships!
- Very Disappointed
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Serendipity
Fern Michaels
Manufacturer: Ivy Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Michaels, Fern | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Seasons of Her Life
ASIN: 044914982X
Release Date: 1997-04-28 |
Book Description
SERENDIPITY transforms a heartbroken girl into a proud, sophisticated woman . . .
Six years ago, Jory Ryan Landers fled Philadelphia after a brief, tragic marriage to wealthy Ross Landers. Now Jory has come home to make peace with the past. And to face an uncertain future.
SERENDIPITY enables a woman to trust her heart in friendship and in love . . .
With the unexpected jolt of a brief summer storm, Jory falls for Ross's best friend . . . and becomes entangled with the Landers family and the business she ran away from.
SERENDIPITY propels a woman at the crossroads toward a magnificent destiny . . .
Suddenly Jory finds herself at the helm of an empire, confronted with changes and choices she never dreamed possible, and ready to meet a future ripe with the promise of lasting love. . . .
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
...not my favourite but good all round view of the problem.......2007-05-06
Okay, lately all my favourite authors have been slow to release their books so I've been looking around a bit, and discovered this.
There were a lot of characters, and each character had its own mini story and own problems. The characters were all really well sketched out, but I felt like every single one of them whined and whined about how they'd been hard done by in their relationships with each other. I mean I'm sure everyone feels like that occasionally but seriously, they did not appreciate each other or look at the positives. If it had just been one character to do this, would have been okay, but they all did it, continuously. When they weren't it was about how sad they were due to sacrifices, mistakes blahdiblahblahblahblah.
Strangely I don't think there was any major conflict to fixate on, it was more the interweaving of characters and their interactions with one another. I never really identified with any of the characters because (a) it was continuously switching narrators and (b) they all seemed to whine all the time. Then it would jump ahead in time and pick up a few weeks/months/years later, I had no idea where this story was going, what the problem was and generally what was going on. It was weird, I felt like the author made up the characters all with a sort of joined past and then went off on a tangent...
but thats just me.
Another thing that annoyed me was the setting 1952, was this necessary? I like historical settings, but since I was born a few decades afterwards I'd like to see some historical detail to enlighten me... the poor 80's babe. She didn't really show the setting and I feel I might have missed things just due to lack of social context.
Yet in all fairness I loved how it showed and demonstrated really clearly that there are always about 6 sides to a story, that "right" and "wrong" are blurred lines, defined by our own mind. There was a nice insight Justine gave at the very end (... also mention her character transformation was unrealistic...) about Justine and her choices with men which I thought pretty much saved the book.
Read it if you want to see how people react to their pasts, deal with problems etc. Looking for a great story, its not here.
Pretty dragged out........2003-03-25
I actually really enjoyed this book in the beginning, maybe first 200 pgs. But then it began to drag. It had a nice story that I thought was going somewhere, but instead it keeps going in circles. I was at the part where Jory and Woo finally got together and had a wonderful evening, then they were in an argument before you know it. At that point is where I became turned off. I ended up giving it up with less than 100 pages left. I could really care less to see what happens to these people. I did like Ross' character though.
Serendipity-struggle of women to overcome hardships.......2001-03-05
I thought this book ranked up there with some of the best I've read. I thought the two main women in this book were terrific. They each had their unique set of hardships and it was great the way they helped each other out to triumph over their hardships and make a new life for themselves. I cried at the end for Justine(Ethel). Be sure and read this if you have a chance--you will really enjoy it.
No depth-and too many relationships!.......1999-06-29
The first of the book was good. However, it switched too many times to different relationships and I had a hard time buying into any of them. I was disappointed with the end of the book as well. It was not realistic at all!
Very Disappointed.......1999-04-19
Michaels spent 2/3rds of the book endearing you to 4 different characters and then she drops them like hot potatoes and expects you to understand why you are supposed to dislike them at the end. I found myself disliking the main character. It was like trying to follow a ten year old's discription of a movie. I have not been so disappointed by a book in a long time.
Average customer rating:
- Revisiting a childhood favorite!
- Best children's book I ever owned
- Please help me I cant find a book
- Help Wanted
- It all begins here
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Serendipity
Stephen Cosgrove
Manufacturer: Price Stern Sloan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 084313819X |
Customer Reviews:
Revisiting a childhood favorite!.......2007-10-10
This book made a huge impact on me as a child and I've never forgotten it. There was something about the combination of illustration and story that made this very memorable. As my daughter reached the age where books with a moral lesson became more relevant I was thrilled to find that these books by Stephen Cosgrove were still in print! If you read my other reviews you'll see that illustrations are very important to me -- a book has to be visually interesting to appeal to small children. The illustrations in this book are so crisp and just plain cute! Also the story is a fun and easy night time read and has several great messages. The story of a unique pink creature named Serendipity promotes individuality, self esteem, and a sense of social responsibility.
Best children's book I ever owned.......2006-11-05
I absolutely adored this series as a child. They share timeless messages and morals that I think we have lost as a society. My mother gave me the book that contains 7 of the stories and that made me really want to track down and find them all again. I was so excited to find them on Amazon.com after not finding them at any other book stores. I plan to begin a career of working with nursery school children and these books will provide the perfect stories just before nap time. Anyone who has never read these stories is truely missing out on a gem of children's stories. I highly suggest collecting the entire series, I know I'm going too!
Please help me I cant find a book.......2005-01-16
The book contains a morale about beauty can bloom anywhere, I think it might be Lady Rose but not sure. Its a Serendipity book for certain. There is a rose that blooms on ice or iceberg I think. Does this sound familiar to anyone if so then please E-mail me at Arcimedes8@yahoo.com . I really want to find this book. Please help =)
Help Wanted.......2004-04-18
I very much would like to complete my own full set of these books. They were very important to my childhod. Anyone who can help me please reply, or email me at tuesdaystarlight@yahoo.com
It all begins here.......2004-04-15
I believe this is the pilot book in the series, and is certainly one of the most classic. Serendipity is in all likelihood a magical elasmosaurus who, after meeting a very special dolphin and walrus, is assigned the most noble task of all...guarding the great seas.
This wonderful book has gorgeous illustrations and I remember back as a child wishing I had it. Now, I finally have it thanks to Amazon (...) I read it and I don't regret that I did. Next to my all time favorites, those starring Squeakers the squirrel, this has become a fave, too. Actually, I think I love them all!
Book Description
Marilyn Monroe's favorite was Miss Milton's Lovely Fudge Pie, and she'd eat it wearing nothing but Chanel No. 5 and a raincoat. Andy Warhol always savored the Lemon Icebox Pie, stealing bites while he watched and sketched other diners through cutout holes in a newspaper he held upsidedown in front of his face. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis came for the frozen hot chocolate and brought JohnJohn and Caroline, who now brings her children.
Where did all these luminaries and many more devour these sinful treats? At Serendipity 3, New York's legendary dessert restaurant and boutique. The restaurant's history is as rich as its desserts, and this book, commemorating its fiftieth anniversary, lets you indulge in both.
Founded in 1953, before the concept of theme restaurants even existed, Serendipity was one of the first restaurants in the country to turn dining into a theatrical experience, to create an ambiance as fun as the food that was served. Located near Bloomingdale's in one of New York's toniest East Side neighborhoods, Serendipity fills two floors of a historic townhouse. Decked out with original Tiffany lamps, black-and-white floors, fabulous Victorian oversized posters, and idiosyncratic adornments such as a huge clock and metal horse, the restaurant takes you down the rabbit hole into a fairytale world.
The desserts, represented by seventy-five recipes in this book, make everyone feel like a kid again. Many evoke the comfort of grandmother's kitchen, but many also have a creative, irreverent kick to them. Since many are based on heirloom recipes from one of the founders' families, all the recipes are easily achieved at home and can make fun projects for the whole family.
Among the recipes included:
Cheesecake Vesuvius
Strawberry Fields Sundae
Chocolate Chip Pizza
Chocolate Blackout Cake
Lemon Rain Drops
Frozen Tutti Frutti
Customer Reviews:
WOW!.......2007-09-21
This is an awesome cookbook! Having recently traveled to NY and getting to experience Serendipity first hand (where my hubby said the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate was worth the trip alone) I returned home and decided to get the cookbook. I was not disappointed in the slightest! I made the carrot cake and cheesecake recipes for my friend's birthday, and all the guests raved. Everyone said it was the best they had ever had, and my "non sweet eating" friends went back for seconds! I can't wait to try the rest of the recipes!
Desserts galore!.......2007-07-03
Hi, my name is Amber, and I'm addicted to desserts.
I'd never heart of the Serendipity 3, but I was bored and was browsing and saw this book. I bought it out of sheer curiosity. Oh man. I made one of these every week, and they are to die for. Recommended for anyone who loves desserts!
One for your collection... One for the collector..........2006-11-08
I'm an avid cook book collector. I tend to look for the ones that stand out from the rest... the ones that have a bit more in them then just recipies. This is definitley one of those books. If I could, I'd give it 10 stars.
The book is filled with wonderful little recipes that everyone should have. They aren't spectacular. They aren't professional grade. They aren't the kind of recipe that it will take 2 weeks to locate the ingredients and another 6 hours to create the dessert. But that is exactly what seredipity is all about. If you know anything about the actual store/shop/restaurant...they never were into the harder-then-heck kind of recipes. They took simple things, and gave them a style all their own. And all of New York...and eventually the rest of the world...loved it!
The recipes are definitley "yummy." Every single one. The pictures are to die for. Every single one. :) I brought this book to work and had a 1/2 a dozen people ask me when i was making "this" or when I was making "that"...then they'd point to a picture and drool. :)
....but as I began with, this book has more than just recipies in it. It has seredipity's history....written by one of the owners himself. A very interesting read. And it's not just a 1/2 of a page long. It's lengthy. The book is worth it's price just for this read. On almost every page there is a 'snippit' or 'story' from Serendipities history. Feel good stories. Hollywood-siting stories. Stories that will make you want to go to the actual location if you have never been there.
Did you know that Robin Williams brough a little girl who was dying of a life-threatening disease to Serendipity...treated her to lunch....and kept her laughing for hours on end? This book tells you things like that. Did you know that the owners wouldn't even give the recipe of Frozzzen Hot Chocolate to the First Lady? The book tells you that story too.
And,yes .....the book does include the infamous 'Frozzzen Hot Chocolate' recipe that they have become famous for. No, it doesn't tell you exactly what kind of chocolate they use (they'd go out of business if they gave it up!)....but it gives you a start. Use your own chocoalte kind-of recipe. It also includes variations of the hot-chocoalte recipe. Very fun.
If you are a cook cook collector this book is a must for your shelf. Put it right next to your entertaining books from Williams-Sonoma. :) If you have a friend that is a collector and you are trying to find a book that will stand out from all of the other ones that they own......Stop looking...THIS IS IT! I promise! :)
Fun book, good collection of recipes, but nothing astonishing.......2006-10-10
When I grew up in New York, Serendipity was a special occasion destination. I only went there a couple of times, but -- like everyone else -- I fell in love with the "frozen hot chocolate," the funky ambiance, and the eclectic gift shop. (They had pet rocks for sale before it became a fad. For all I know, the fad _started_ at the restaurant.) So I was primed to enjoy Serendipity's cookbook.
You don't have to know anything about the place, though, because the book will bring you up to speed. Serendipity, billed as restaurant and general store, opened in 1954 and, while it serves entrees too, it's most famous for its desserts. That's all you find here -- along with charming text about the restaurant's history, plus anecdoates about and testimonials from all sorts of famous patrons (such as James Lipton, Alec Baldwin, Ron Howard, Yoko Ono). In a lot of cookbooks, the name-dropping can be annoying or precious, but here the stories are really fun. (For example, a fan asked the man standing next to her, "Oooh, is that Meg Ryan?" The unrecognized Dennis Quaid said yes, it was.)
Ultimately, though, this is a cookbook with over 100 cakes and desserts, all beautifully photographed. To my mild surprise, these are all very good recipes... but they aren't amazing. Sure, there's the famous frozen hot chocolate (which is depressingly simple; the secret ingredient is instant hot chocolate mix!). But for the most part, this is a set of perfectly adequate recipes for carrot cake, chocolate blackout cake, bourbon-pecan balls, pecan pie. The pecan pie, for example, has predictable ingredients -- just eggs, sugar, corn syrup, pecans, pie crust -- not even molasses or a drop of booze as a variation. I found a few unusual items, such as a rose wedding cake (made with real edible roses), and humble pie (which I don't think I've seen elsewhere).
Somehow, with all that funkiness and history, I expected more... though I'm not sure what, because a pecan pie is a pecan pie. Perhaps I should take this as a lesson in what good presentation can accomplish.
Even if it has little that's magical, though, Sweet Serendipity is a fine collection of dessert recipes. They have clear instructions, they're all in the "things people will love" category, and the pictures are great. This would be a *perfect* gift for a young cook for whom an "every dessert in the world" would be overkill, or for yourself, if you want a dose of holiday-dessert inspiration that you can read in the living room as well as in the kitchen.
AMAZING!.......2006-07-11
I am an avid dessert person--I judge restaurants cookbooks etc. all based on the desserts, and this one definitely 'takes the cake' the recipes are easy--the food outstanding. Highly recommend!
Average customer rating:
- Flutterby
- Story great and beautiful, book quality THIN
- Find yourself
- Sweet variation of The Ugly Duckling
- Charming pony, wise tale
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Flutterby (Serendipity)
Stephen Cosgrove
Manufacturer: Price Stern Sloan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0843138211 |
Customer Reviews:
Flutterby.......2007-08-10
I love this book. My grandmother bought it for me (hard cover version)when I was little & I still have it. It is about a very tiny winged horse named Flutterby who does not know what she is. As she tries to figure out who/what she is she tries to be a bee and later an ant. At the end a butterfly shows her her reflection and tells her that she is unique and that she should just be herself. I think this is a great story for any child to learn.
Story great and beautiful, book quality THIN.......2007-06-19
Do yourself a favor and save up for the hardback if they still make it. This book is very very very thin and flimsy in paperback form.
Find yourself.......2007-03-10
I first read this book as a little girl who loved it for the beautiful pictures of such a cute creature as Flutterby,as i grew older & began to understand the true meaning of the story I loved it even more.My hope would be that everyone can use the moral of this story for themselves-Find out who you are & dont be afraid to be yourself.
Sweet variation of The Ugly Duckling.......2006-05-18
This is a great little book for elementary school girls who like fantasy. It's about accepting yourself and realizing that you don't need to be just like other people you meet to be a valuable person.
Flutterby the tiny pegasus hatches from a cocoon and sets out to figure out what she is. After she makes funny but failed attempts to blend in with a beehive and an ant colony, a wise butterfly shows Flutterby her reflection in a puddle.
If you considered getting "Stellaluna", but the mother-loss angle bothered you, this is a very good substitute.
Charming pony, wise tale.......2005-12-20
What a beautiful creature. I grew up reading and rereading Flutterby. The story, however, didn't hit home until much later: who you are is who you are, and that's all that matters.
Book Description
Networking guru Susan RoAne shows readers how to exploit chance to create a bigger network of contacts, friends, and acquaintances—the key to new life opportunities. In How to Create Your Own Luck, she reveals the eight traits of successful people who make their own luck, rather than wait for it. Filled with engaging and instructive stories of real people who've turned serendipity into success, her book focuses on the eight counterintuitive traits that they all have in common, including talking to strangers, making small talk, dropping names, and even eavesdropping. This handy, real-world guide reveals the practical ways that anyone can create their own luck—opening up new opportunities in every aspect of life.
Download Description
How to turn random chance into runaway success In How to Create Your Own Luck, networking guru Susan RoAne shows us eight traits of successful people who make their own luck, rather than wait for it. She shows readers how to exploit chance to create a bigger network of contacts, friends, and acquaintances-which inevitably leads to more opportunities in life and business. Filled with engaging and instructive stories of real people who've turned serendipity into success, this book reveals the eight counter-intuitive traits that they all have in common, including talking to strangers, making small talk, dropping names, and even eavesdropping. These traits keep people open to new experiences and open the door to good fortune. Perhaps we strike up a conversation in an airport bar that turns into a business relationship, or we mention a friend's name to an associate and find new business opportunities. There are an endless number of ways that luck can lead to new opportunities. But it's really not luck; it's the result of being open to possibilities that pave the way for success. This handy, real-world guide shows readers how to apply RoAne's practical, proven advice to every aspects of their lives. Susan RoAne (San Francisco, CA) is the bestselling author of How to Work a Room, The Secrets of Savvy Networking, and What Do I Say Next?, which have sold over a million copies combined. She is also a noted public speaker whose audiences have included Citicorp, Procter & Gamble, Boeing, and the Wharton School. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and has appeared on CNN, NPR, CBS, and the BBC.
Customer Reviews:
Do You Feel Lucky? Make Your Day by Reading This Book!.......2007-08-07
I have always believed that the simplest ideas are best, even though many of the best simple ideas are overlooked by millions of people. Susan RoAne's eminently readable book reminds us that some of the simple things that create success may be forgotten in our madcap efforts to make it from day to day. "Luck" does not come to us by luck, we have to work at it. In the best tradition of the self-help book, RoAne offers a step-by-step plan for creating your own luck. This is achieved primarily through connecting with other people.
It is important to recognize that RoAne is not a Johnny-come-lately to the topic of networking. She practically invented the subject with her groundbreaking books, How to Work a Room and The Secrets of Savvy Networking. How to Create Your Own Luck succeeds as another book you need to read if you want to be successful with people. As RoAne points out, you can't do it alone. Lighthouse keepers are not lucky. Only those of us who follow RoAne's Reminders will reap the benefits of a lucky existence.
How to Create Your Own Luck.......2005-08-29
Basically you only need to read the first two pages. The remaining 150 say pretty much the same thing over and over. A totally unoriginal book in every way.
Luck is Reading This Book!.......2005-01-29
Just when you think that surely nothing more could ever be written on networking, the guru herself, Susan RoAne, weaves a masterful extension to connecting with people for synchronistic
(or lucky) outcomes. She clearly outlines the right traits of "lucky" people and then proceeds to relate illustrative story after story. Read this book. Take the advise. Get "lucky"
Eileen McDargh, author of THE RESILIENT SPIRIT, WORK FOR A LIVING & STILL BE FREE TO LIVE.
Invaluable. Delightful. Read it now........2004-12-05
I am a self-confessed fan of Susan RoAne and her work. Recognized internationally as "the networking maven," she knows her specialty well and communicates it effectively. And that won't be my last understatement!
Essentially, RoAne's message is that you create your own luck by reaching out to others, by building relationships, and by practicing proven techniques of opening the doors of opportunity before you hear the knock. The book is built around eight traits of success:
Talk to strangers, make small talk, drop names, eavesdrop and listen, ask for and offer help, stray from your chosen path, exit graciously without burning bridges, and say "yes" when you want to say "no."
As you move smoothly through the pages of this book (it's written to be read easily), you will enjoy focused illustrations that illuminate the vital traits. RoAne shares a wealth of meaningful stories that bring her messages to life, then explains again the process to follow to achieve your desired results. You can tell this book was written by a former teacher; the emphasis on learning shines through. Each teaching is an inspiration; readers will find themselves motivated to put their new knowledge to work. Summaries and action plan starters at the end of each chapter encourage application of the learnings. For some, the experience may be, in at least a small way, life-changing.
In the first paragraph of this review, I used the word "maven." This is a Yiddish word meaning "an expert, a knowledgeable person." That definition is one of many that are included in a glossary at the end of this book. RoAne uses several Yiddish terms in her writing, so the reader gains an understanding of this language. There's even a thorough index to add value to this volume.
"How to Create Your Own Luck" is highly recommended for everyone who wants to smooth their path through life. It will be particularly valuable for people in business (not just sales), entrepreneurs, students entering the world of work, prospective retirees...and the list goes on. Your biggest challenge will come when you finish reading the book: you'll have to decide if you want to covet it, or pass it along to someone else.
RoAne is Right On!.......2004-11-24
I know so many people personally and in business that walk around with their eyes on the ground trying to figure out how to get what they want. RoAne makes it very clear; the answer's right in front of you! Success is a true "can't see the forest through the trees" scenario. How To Create Your Own Luck helps you smack right into one of those trees and clear your blurred vision of hopelessness. It's a great book for young entrepreneurs like me!
Average customer rating:
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Parables: Virtual Reality (301 Depth Bible Study)
Serendipity House
Manufacturer: Serendipity
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Study | New Testament | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Topical | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1574941062 |
Book Description
From the names of cruise lines and bookstores to an Australian ranch and a nudist camp outside of Atlanta, the word serendipity--that happy blend of wisdom and luck by which something is discovered not quite by accident--is today ubiquitous. This book traces the word's eventful history from its 1754 coinage into the twentieth century--chronicling along the way much of what we now call the natural and social sciences.
The book charts where the term went, with whom it resided, and how it fared. We cross oceans and academic specialties and meet those people, both famous and now obscure, who have used and abused serendipity. We encounter a linguistic sage, walk down the illustrious halls of the Harvard Medical School, attend the (serendipitous) birth of penicillin, and meet someone who "manages serendipity" for the U.S. Navy.
The story of serendipity is fascinating; that of The Travels and Adventures of Serendipity, equally so. Written in the 1950s by already-eminent sociologist Robert Merton and Elinor Barber, the book--though occasionally and most tantalizingly cited--was intentionally never published. This is all the more curious because it so remarkably anticipated subsequent battles over research and funding--many of which centered on the role of serendipity in science. Finally, shortly after his ninety-first birthday, following Barber's death and preceding his own by but a little, Merton agreed to expand and publish this major work.
Beautifully written, the book is permeated by the prodigious intellectual curiosity and generosity that characterized Merton's influential On the Shoulders of Giants. Absolutely entertaining as the history of a word, the book is also tremendously important to all who value the miracle of intellectual discovery. It represents Merton's lifelong protest against that rhetoric of science that defines discovery as anything other than a messy blend of inspiration, perspiration, error, and happy chance--anything other than serendipity.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful journey.......2004-01-26
This delightful book explores the journey of the word SERENDIPITY, from its exotic 18th Century origins to much wider use including a recent movie.
The late author, Robert K. Merton was an influential and ground breaking sociologist who developed such concepts as the "Focus Group" and "Self-Fufilling Prophecy".
This book is a must-have for every home, library and dorm room.
Books:
- His Princess: Love Letters from Your King (His Princess)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort
- How I Turned $1,000 into Five Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time
- How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book)
- Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War
- I Gave Dating a Chance: A Biblical Perspective to Balance the Extremes
Books Index
Books Home
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- The Ice People
- Looking for Jimmy: A Search for Irish America
- Suspicion of Rage
- Real World Color Management, Second Edition
- The Secret of the Old Clock/The Hidden Staircase/The Bungalow Mystery/The Mystery at Lilac Inn/The S
- Teaching Social Skills to Youth: A Curriculum for Child-Care Providers
- Originals: American Women Artists
- Raphael, Dürer, and Marcantonio Raimondi: Copying and the Italian Renaissance Print
- Recollections of an Old 52nd Man
How Doctors Think
Natural Causes: Death, Lies and Politics in America's Vitamin and Herbal Supplement Industry
Journey into the Heart: A Tale of Pioneering Doctors and Their Race to Transform Cardiovascular Medicine
The Art of Aging: A Doctor's Prescription for Well-Being
Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance
