The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Really wanted to love this book but didn't even like it...
  • A good concept, but fails in the delivery
  • A Waste...
  • contrite
  • Great book - couldn't put it down!
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Kim Edwards
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Psychological & SuspensePsychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Water for Elephants: A Novel Water for Elephants: A Novel
  2. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
  3. The Glass Castle: A Memoir The Glass Castle: A Memoir
  4. I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
  5. A Thousand Splendid Suns A Thousand Splendid Suns

ASIN: 0143037145

Book Description

Kim Edwards's stunning family drama evokes the spirit of Sue Miller and Alice Sebold, articulating every mother's silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an astonishing tale of redemptive love. BACKCOVER: “Edwards is a born novelist. . . . Rich with psychological detail and the nuances of human connection.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Unfolds from an absolutely gripping premise, drawing you deeply and irrevocably into the entangled lives of two families and the devastating secret that shaped them both. I loved this riveting story.”
—Sue Monk Kidd

“Anyone would be struck by the extraordinary power and sympathy of The Memory Keeper's Daughter.”
—The Washington Post

“Kim Edwards has written a novel so mesmerizing that I devoured it. . . . The Memory Keeper's Daughter has it all.”
—Sena Jeter Naslund

“Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption, of honest emotion, of characters haunted by their past. This is simply a beautiful book.”
—Jodi Picoult

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Really wanted to love this book but didn't even like it..........2007-10-09

I really wanted to love this book....after all, its a National Bestseller, on multiple critic's "must-read" list, on my Amazon recommendations list every time I check, and I have had more than a few people recommend it to me. Also, after reading the first thirty pages or so, I was riveted - such a unique and interesting plot....I though the rest of the book would be sensational. However, not only was I wrong and beyond disappointed, but I just can't understand the hype surrounding this book!

Once the plot is set-up within the first thirty pages or so, the book utterly failed to deliver and just tanked. The writing is boring, trite and the entire middle of the book is way too repetitive. Each paragraph I read felt like I had read it before...saying the same thing ten different times/ways does not make a book interesting. In fact, I had a hard time forcing myself to keep reading, but kept thinking about the fact that so many people liked this book so figured maybe the ending would somehow redeem it. It didn't. The book went downhill fast and never recovered, not even at the end. I DO NOT recommend this book at all!

2 out of 5 stars A good concept, but fails in the delivery.......2007-10-09

I failed to connect with anything in this novel: not the plot, not the characters, not the writing style. It just didn't live up to the hype that seems to surround it. I think my biggest problem was with the author. Kim Edwards has "Lifetime Original Movie" scripts in her future, in my opinion. I found the story quite contrived and often cheesy. The reader KNOWS that the secret will be revealed at some point. Knowing what is coming just kills a book. I have a few ideas of how Edwards could have made this better, and they all involve some pretty major plot adjustments. I wish I felt SOMETHING (love, hate, whatever!) for the characters because I think that could have saved the story for me. I know I was supposed to care, to feel anger, resentment, frustration... I just didn't feel any of these things. So, unfortunately, I can't recommend this book, though I must say there is an audience for it. Several people in my bookclub found something personal that they could connect with in the book, and it clearly impacted their impression of it. Not sure why I didn't, but...it is what it is...

1 out of 5 stars A Waste... .......2007-10-08

This novel was predictable, I had zero interest in the characters, and the writing was juvenile; I struggled to finish it. I would definitely not recommend this novel - what a waste of 400 pages.

1 out of 5 stars contrite.......2007-10-05

i found the characters to be completely unrealistic. A mother who thinks that she lost one of her children at birth spends the rest of her life feeling empty. Her husband, albeit a good man, hides the secret (that their child is alive) from her his entire life. come on, you must be joking. i kept reading the book thinking that the characters would become more "real" but it didn't happen. and, it's a long book!

The husband was a good father to their son yet the sons spends his entire adolescent and adulthood hating the father. ridiculous! if, as in real life, the author would have simply let the boy go through what most adolescents do (disliking their parents) but then turning around in young adulthood, it would be so much more believable.

very disappointing.

4 out of 5 stars Great book - couldn't put it down!.......2007-10-05

I really enjoyed this book, and found that I couldn't put it down. Edwards allows you to get really involved with the characters, and sympathise with all viewpoints. I would have one caveat: the subject matter was quite sad and depressing, and so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants a happy and jolly read!
Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A difficult read,but worth the time
  • Absolutely Must Reading
  • Read it at your own perill
  • convoluted writing
  • Unsurpassed both for content and style
Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories from History and the Arts
Clive James
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ClassicsClassics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | African | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
James, CliveJames, Clive | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Consciousness & ThoughtConsciousness & Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
HumanismHumanism | Movements | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
CultureCulture | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
  2. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
  3. Clive James' Reliable Essays: The Best Of Clive James Clive James' Reliable Essays: The Best Of Clive James
  4. The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts
  5. Twenty-eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays Twenty-eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays

ASIN: 0393061167

Book Description

Forty years in the making, a new cultural canon that celebrates truth over hypocrisy, literature over totalitarianism.

Echoing Edward Said's belief that "Western humanism is not enough, we need a universal humanism," the renowned critic Clive James presents here his life's work. Containing over one hundred original essays, organized by quotations from A to Z, Cultural Amnesia illuminates, rescues, or occasionally destroys the careers of many of the greatest thinkers, humanists, musicians, artists, and philosophers of the twentieth century. In discussing, among others, Louis Armstrong, Walter Benjamin, Sigmund Freud, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, James writes, "If the humanism that makes civilization civilized is to be preserved into the new century, it will need advocates. These advocates will need a memory, and part of that memory will need to be of an age in which they were not yet alive." Soaring to Montaigne-like heights, Cultural Amnesia is precisely the book to burnish these memories of a Western civilization that James fears is nearly lost. 110 photographs.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A difficult read,but worth the time.......2007-10-01

Although this book has an intersting premise,it is a difficult book to read.It is written in essay form,and the author's style is not flowing or easy to read.However the content is interesting and does make you think about how we got where we are to-day:by losing sight of,and forgetting the past and important peope in it.
You can read this book a chapter at a time, and leave it for a while since each chapter is an essay on one person.it is not a novel,but a collection of essay/biographies, and includes some very intersting people

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Must Reading.......2007-09-15

In fairness, I had never heard of Clive James until he appeared on Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. I was just blown away and ordered this book the next day. If you want to understand Western culture ... I mean truly understand the culture in which you live, you should read this book. What you learn here is that a whole lot of people you never heard of and a few you have made monumental contributions that you didn't know about. This is the kind of book every person should have in their library as a reference. You can read it at leisure and you should. You should savor it.

5 out of 5 stars Read it at your own perill.......2007-09-11

If you never studied French, German, Italian or Spanish, you will be sorry you didn't. You will be made aware of all you are missing because you can not read the all those untranslated or untranslatable important writers that are fundamental to our civilization. If you know them you will see that for English speakers is very difficult not to be confused by Spanish and Italian. I have found misspelled Spanish words because the Italian spelling was used in the wrong place. Clive James is almost pushing me to start again with German, French and Italian.

3 out of 5 stars convoluted writing.......2007-09-04

just found what I've read so far very digressive and convoluted. He is a much better speaker than writer. haven't given it a full read, but am daunted by the many digressions from the points I'm interested in. don't care about 10 other people whom I may or may not know who really don't have relevance to the person I'm reading about.

5 out of 5 stars Unsurpassed both for content and style.......2007-09-01

This is an amazing book. Clive James was only a dim sound in my limited background before the book was presented to me as a present. When I finished this book, I made the unusual promise to myself to read it again, an unusual decision since I am not thoroughly committed to modern writing and have found nothing that quite measures up to it, either traditional or modern. The essays, it is made clear, were not written at the same time, but were the accumulation of some years of reading and study. The casual reader will be introduced to a number of people hitherto unknown or barely known, mixed in with giants like Tacitus, Keats, Proust, Kafka, the three Manns,and Camus. I cannot ignore James's prose style, which astonishes minute by minute. A must-read for anybody interested in history and the arts.
Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Lifeline for the Hopelessly Forgetful
  • I found the answer to my health problems
  • Friends Lined Up
  • At least I'm not alone
  • Highly recommended
Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife
Cathryn Jakobson Ramin
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Aging | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Memory ImprovementMemory Improvement | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
MemoryMemory | By Topic | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Memory Doctor: Fun, simple Techniques to Improve Memory & Boost Your Brain Power The Memory Doctor: Fun, simple Techniques to Improve Memory & Boost Your Brain Power
  2. Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides) Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory (Harvard Medical School Guides)
  3. The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy for Keeping Your Brain Young
  4. Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents
  5. Leap!: What Will We Do with the Rest of Our Lives? Leap!: What Will We Do with the Rest of Our Lives?

ASIN: 0060598697
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Book Description

Why can't you remember where you put your keys? Or the title of the movie you saw last week? Or the name of your favorite restaurant?

Acclaimed journalist Cathryn Jakobson Ramin takes readers on a lively journey to explain what happens to memory and attention in middle age. Along the way, she turns up fresh scientific findings, explores the dark regions of the human brain, and hears the intimate confessions of high-functioning midlife adults who—like you—want to understand exactly what's going on upstairs.

Anyone older than forty knows that forgetfulness can be unnerving, frustrating, and sometimes terrifying. With compassion and humor, Jakobson Ramin sets out to discover what midlife forgetfulness is all about—from the perspectives of physiology, psychology, and sociology. Relentless in her search for answers to questions about her own unreliable memory, she explores the factors that determine how well—or poorly—one's brain will age. She consults experts in the fields of sleep, stress, traumatic brain injury, hormones, genetics, and dementia, as well as specialists in nutrition, cognitive psychology, and the burgeoning field of drug-based cognitive enhancement. The landscape of the midlife brain is not what you might think, and to understand its strengths and weaknesses turns out to be the best way to cope.

Jakobson Ramin's reporting of the stories of a wide array of midlife men and women will resonate with readers. Her audience will glean spectacular insight into how to elicit the very best performance from a middle-aged brain. A groundbreaking work that represents the best of narrative nonfiction, this is a timely, highly readable, and much-needed book for anyone whose memory is not what it used to be.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Lifeline for the Hopelessly Forgetful.......2007-10-10

Author has substantially done her research. This book is extremely informative in an easy to read format. She approaches this subject with ease and humor and tackles it head on. Anyone who has reached a point in their life where they question their forgetfulness and memory will find comfort in the knowledge and insight shared by her. It is a subject not commonly addressed but is a concern to many, especially as the "boomer" generation has approached midlife, perhaps fearing dementia or Alzheimer's.

5 out of 5 stars I found the answer to my health problems.......2007-09-19

I read "Carved in Sand" book looking for answers to my frequent "young-senior" moments. This book is easy to read and full of information about the different issues related to memory loss. It is so interesting that you want keep reading it until reach the end. Cathryn Jakobson Ramin did extensive research with many scientists, physicians and mental health professionals bringing to light the reasons why some people lose memory when they reach mid-life.

Thanks to this book I found the answer to my other health problems that I have suffered with since I was 39 years old and the solution to helping me feel better. It was a light bulb moment for me. I recommend this book to everybody.

5 out of 5 stars Friends Lined Up.......2007-09-18

This book speaks to a fear many boomers silently suffer with--memory loss. We sort of expect the elderly to have memory problems, but its not supposed to bother the late middle-aged!!. As I told my friends about Ramin's exploration and her journey into the many experiences with and causes of faltering memory in middle age, my friends lined up for me to finish the book and loan it to them. This is a topic that is largely hidden and dealt with in silence. A welcome contribution to this field.

5 out of 5 stars At least I'm not alone.......2007-09-14

Entertaining and informative. packed with medical details, yet written in an entertaining and understandable way. It answered a lot of questions and cleared up a lot of misconceptions I had about Alzheimers. I also requested for a prescrition change.

5 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.......2007-09-07

The big question for all of us in the middle age bracket is this: When we draw a blank when searching for a word or a person's name--is this normal forgetfulness or are we suffering from something much scarier? In this well-researched book, Cathryn Jakobson Ramin does an excellent job of presenting possible reasons for memory lapses and ways to deal with them.

In addition to having her brain and body tested for what might be the cause of her own memory lapses, the author interviewed many people and performed extensive research on the topic. She found that how you treat your brain in middle age will make a difference later. Midlife is the time to act: to make good decisions on diet, stress management, sleeping habits, and exercise.

She writes that today's world is an especially difficult time to reach middle age as we are "smack in the middle of a technological revolution." We can be overwhelmed by the amount of information available and the endless stream of interruptions, multitasking, and over stimulation.

In very readable prose, she explains how our minds are affected by the foods we consume, our hormones, the drugs we take, the chemicals in the environment, our sleep patterns, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and the amount of exercise that we get. Since we need to build up our cognitive reserve to keep mentally active, she gives tips on how to perform these "intellectual push-ups."

In spite of the seriousness of the subject, this book is a pleasure to read and even funny at times.
The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain?  Memory Lapses?  Mood Swings?  Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Lotz of good info
  • Book for Pre Diabetics/Diabetics
  • The Sugar Solution
  • Ganele a la glucosa
  • Great Book
The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
Editors of Prevention Magazine , and Ann Fittante
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Low SugarLow Sugar | Special Conditions | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Diabetes | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Prevention Magazine BooksPrevention Magazine Books | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Healthy LivingHealthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Sugar Solution Cookbook: More Than 200 Delicious Recipes to Balance Your Blood Sugar Naturally (Preventions) The Sugar Solution Cookbook: More Than 200 Delicious Recipes to Balance Your Blood Sugar Naturally (Preventions)
  2. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss
  3. Fit Not Fat at 40-Plus: The Shape-Up Plan That Balances Your Hormones, Boosts Your Metabolism, and Fights Female Fat in Your Forties-And Beyond Fit Not Fat at 40-Plus: The Shape-Up Plan That Balances Your Hormones, Boosts Your Metabolism, and Fights Female Fat in Your Forties-And Beyond
  4. The Everything Glycemic Index Cookbook: 300 Appetizing Recipes to Keep Your Weight Down And Your Energy Up! (Everything: Cooking) The Everything Glycemic Index Cookbook: 300 Appetizing Recipes to Keep Your Weight Down And Your Energy Up! (Everything: Cooking)
  5. The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss

ASIN: 1579549136
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Book Description

An easy-to-follow, drug-free program that can bring blood sugar into balance in just one month. As many as 16 million Americans are living with high-normal blood sugar. They arent diabetic, but they are experiencing symptomsincluding weight gain, fatigue, depression, and poor concentrationthat are undermining their quality of life. Left unchecked, these symptoms could lead to more serious medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Drawing on the very latest medical science, The Sugar Solution helps readers determine whether theyre at risk for blood sugar problems and shows them how to rein in their blood sugar levels without drugs or injections. The exclusive 30-day lifestyle makeover guides them every step of the way, with complete daily menus, exercise strategies, and stress-reduction techniques. Pounds will melt away, energy will soar, and mental sharpness will return as blood sugar stabilizes.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lotz of good info.......2007-07-27

There is alot of good information in this book. I haven't started applying any of it, so I cannot tell you about that. But, if good, well organized, useful information is what you are after...buy this book.

5 out of 5 stars Book for Pre Diabetics/Diabetics.......2007-07-27

I am pre diabetic and appreciated the information I got from this book. My family has enjoyed the recipes tried so far. They also gave me ideas about how to change my existing favorites.

5 out of 5 stars The Sugar Solution.......2007-07-18

It seems to be a never-ending battle. We start the day with the best of intentions. Today we are going to eat right, exercise, and control our stress. Then reality sets in. We wake up late (that stupid alarm didn't ring) to a chaotic mess of getting kids off to school on time (making sure that homework actually accompanies them). Our only aim at this point is to get to work before the boss notices. There's no time for a real breakfast, exercise, or a nice relaxing meditation session. Coffee and a donut will have to do as we drive through hectic traffic.

By midmorning, adrenaline and four cups of coffee have worn off and we are starting to feel drained. To make up time lost, we skip lunch or gobble down some fast food as we try to get caught up. With some food in our stomach's we finally feel back to normal. Unfortunately, this feeling is short lived and the day drags on.

We all know that we should do better. We all know that we should take the time to eat right, to exercise, and to reduce our stress. However, just getting through each day seems to take up all the energy we have.

The Sugar Solution reminds us that by taking care of ourselves each day we not only reduce the risk of countless life threatening diseases but we also increase our energy levels and abilities to cope with day to day stress. More importantly though, this book unravels the mysteries of carbohydrates and provides nutritional, exercise, and stress relief programs that fit into the average person's busy life.

3 out of 5 stars Ganele a la glucosa.......2007-06-27

I bought this book for my older daughter, who is overweight. Much of the symptoms of her condition were detailed in the book. But the book is too long. Anybody trying to reduce and control weight wants fast results.
A book so big is not practical. Author should review and condense it, probably to less than half.

4 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2007-06-04

This book taught me a lot of things about my body. I was never aware of my blood sugar levels, but now I recognize feelings I've always had - shaky, irritable - as low blood sugar. I've totally changed my diet b/c of this book, and I'm losing weight without being hungry. I'm sending my copy to a friend, and I've been telling a lot of people about it.

I really only read the first half or so. It gets a little repetitive, which is fine. That's the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. You'll hit a section that appeals to your way of thinking. The message is the same throughout. It's not breathtaking, but it's full of staistics and information that will change the way you think. e.g. most Americans only get half the recommended amount of fiber in their diets.

I feel like reducing high glycemic index foods has ton a lot for me. I had a chronic cold/sinus infection for over 6 months that is gone. I feel more clear-headed. I'm able to resist my cravings for sweets, which is a big deal to me.

Get this book! It will turn your attitude around, and change your body and your life.
The Black Belt Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Six Sigma Success
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Black Belt Memory Yogger
  • Handy and Useful, but pricey
The Black Belt Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Six Sigma Success
Paul Sheehy , Daniel Navarro , Robert Silvers , Victoria Keyes , and Deb Dixon
Manufacturer: Goal/QPC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Quality ControlQuality Control | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Total Quality ManagementTotal Quality Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Production, Operation & ManagementProduction, Operation & Management | Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide
  2. The Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger: Create Value and Eliminate Waste Throughout Your Company The Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger: Create Value and Eliminate Waste Throughout Your Company
  3. The Design for Six Sigma Memory Jogger: Tools and Methods for Robust Processes and Products The Design for Six Sigma Memory Jogger: Tools and Methods for Robust Processes and Products
  4. The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to 100 Tools for Improving Quality and Speed The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to 100 Tools for Improving Quality and Speed
  5. The Memory Jogger II The Memory Jogger II

ASIN: 1576810437

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Black Belt Memory Yogger .......2007-03-09

The Black Belt Memory Yogger is a handy pocket guide for people involved with six sigma processes. I like the why use it and what does it do questions. Good quick review of basic statistics and tools.

5 out of 5 stars Handy and Useful, but pricey.......2003-02-21

This book is a concise reference for use by practitioners and those on the shop floor. I use it daily in our one square mile manufacturing complex.
Our people understand the tools with help of the illustrations. The how to use the tools is clear. Sure some may be overwhelmed by the statistical detail; however, the graphs are useful in showing folks what we as a team are working towards.
At only 265 pages, this spiral book is pricey, but that's expected from the millionaires of the Six Sigma Academy. ASQ's entries into this segment pale in comparison. Overall, I use it in any public course offering I teach. Keep it simple!
The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Nicely done, accessible account of the human brain
  • Entertaining?
  • A Very Refreshing Book On Brain Science
  • A Perspective-Changing Read about the Brain
  • For your thinking and reading friends....
The Accidental Mind: How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God
David J. Linden
Manufacturer: Belknap Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Medicine | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Evolution | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature
  2. Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
  3. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts
  4. The Art Spirit The Art Spirit
  5. Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research Forty Studies that Changed Psychology: Explorations into the History of Psychological Research

ASIN: 0674024788

Book Description

You've probably seen it before: a human brain dramatically lit from the side, the camera circling it like a helicopter shot of Stonehenge, and a modulated baritone voice exalting the brain's elegant design in reverent tones.

To which this book says: Pure nonsense. In a work at once deeply learned and wonderfully accessible, the neuroscientist David Linden counters the widespread assumption that the brain is a paragon of design--and in its place gives us a compelling explanation of how the brain's serendipitous evolution has resulted in nothing short of our humanity. A guide to the strange and often illogical world of neural function, The Accidental Mind shows how the brain is not an optimized, general-purpose problem-solving machine, but rather a weird agglomeration of ad-hoc solutions that have been piled on through millions of years of evolutionary history. Moreover, Linden tells us how the constraints of evolved brain design have ultimately led to almost every transcendent human foible: our long childhoods, our extensive memory capacity, our search for love and long-term relationships, our need to create compelling narrative, and, ultimately, the universal cultural impulse to create both religious and scientific explanations. With forays into evolutionary biology, this analysis of mental function answers some of our most common questions about how we've come to be who we are.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Nicely done, accessible account of the human brain.......2007-08-08

David Linden's "The Accidental Mind" is a neat little book. He has two main purposes: (a) to write a readable introduction on brain science, accessible to nonspecialists; (b) to make the case that (page 6) `. . .the brain is an inelegant and inefficient agglomeration of stuff, which nonetheless works surprisingly well." As to the first point, this volume is a far cry from the magnificent work, Michael Gazzaniga's The Cognitive Neurosciences III: Third Edition. However, if one is not well steeped in knowledge and understanding of the neurosciences, Gazzaniga's edited work is close to impenetrable. This book is well and crisply written, explaining simply how neurons work the structure of the brain, how the brain develops, and so on.

As to the second point? He asserts that, quoting Francois Jacob (Page 6), "'Evolution is a tinkerer, not an engineer." That is, evolution operates on organisms as they are and then the process of change takes advantage of the material already existent to adapt to new conditions and challenges. Thus, the human brain is mounted on older, more primitive structures, in an ill fitting complex. As he says (page 21): "The brain is built like an ice cream cone (and you are the top scoop): Through evolutionary time, as higher functions were added, a new scoop was placed on top, but the lower scoops were left largely unchanged."

Thereafter, he speaks of the structure of the brain, how the fully mature human brain develops (with both nature and nurture having roles to play), how the brain is associated with all manner of emotions, learning, religion, and so on.

The Ninth chapter has a title that speaks directly to Linden's first theme--"The Unintelligent Design of the Brain." Here, he slyly critiques advocates of the "Intelligent Design" perspective by noting that the brain is hardly an exemplar of some great design. As noted already, he sees the brain as inefficient and "jury-rigged."

This is a book that provides plenty of insight into how neuroscientists study the structure and function of the brain--and presents some of the exciting possibilities for future research.

In sum, this is a work that ought to be attended to by those interested in the brain sciences, but who cannot readily read the technical literature.

4 out of 5 stars Entertaining?.......2007-07-30

This is a great book for readers who are interested in an overview of the anatomical and physiological functions of the brain. If you have had any previous A+P, this book may give you flashbacks (and does a good job of explaining how those feelings were "created.") You may even recognise many of the examples and case studies right from classic lectures.
If you are approaching "The Accidental Mind" as pure entertainment, enjoy. If you are looking for juicier or more in depth case studies, keep browsing.

5 out of 5 stars A Very Refreshing Book On Brain Science.......2007-07-18

The addition of this review is to fill in one gap in particular. Dr. Linden is the first scientific author I have read in quite a while that wasn't flip with schools of thought. He has distilled research with varied hypothesis and has enough respect for his field and the reader to frankly state when "We just don't know." My only regret is that Dr. Linden didn't make this book the "larger tomb" he mentions when wrapping up the research that didn't make it into the book. Highly recommended to anyone who is mystified by belief and dreams.

4 out of 5 stars A Perspective-Changing Read about the Brain.......2007-07-04

Why do we sleep? What is love? What is happening when we dream? These questions seem so basic to our human experience, and yet the average person in at a complete loss to explain even the most common of our daily experiences. This is where the Accidental Mind comes in. Linden's book offers a refreshingly different perspective on the brain. After reading this book, you will have a much better understanding of how your brain shapes your experience, it's limitations, and what is going on "behind the curtain." Intelligence, gender identity, sexuality, are all covered with an eye to how these factors play out in the architecture of the brain.

This book also provides a great deal of information on the biological basis for issues that are being debated in our culture, which many people will find enlightening and necessary for making informed comments.

If you are considering picking up this book, read Chapter 7 on sleep, available for free from Linden's website:

[...]

While the book may sometimes goes into great detail on the biology, most readers will find plenty of compelling information in these pages. People who enjoy this book and are interested in some of the practical insights that new research is providing about humans, how we work, and practical advice for improving our lives should check out The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt.

Happy reading!

5 out of 5 stars For your thinking and reading friends...........2007-05-31

I found The Accidental Mind a well written, humorous and thought-provoking introduction to neuroscience and to some profound ideas about evolution and other topics. It's the kind of book that makes you interrupt your partner's reading every five minutes with "Hey, listen to this...." If Dr. Linden lectures as entertainingly and interestingly as he writes, his classes at Johns Hopkins University must be in great demand.
Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide
    Michael Brassard
    Manufacturer: Goal/QPC
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Spiral-bound

    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Quality ControlQuality Control | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Black Belt Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Six Sigma Success The Black Belt Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Six Sigma Success
    2. The Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger: Create Value and Eliminate Waste Throughout Your Company The Lean Enterprise Memory Jogger: Create Value and Eliminate Waste Throughout Your Company
    3. The Design for Six Sigma Memory Jogger: Tools and Methods for Robust Processes and Products The Design for Six Sigma Memory Jogger: Tools and Methods for Robust Processes and Products
    4. The Memory Jogger II The Memory Jogger II
    5. The Problem Solving Memory Jogger: Seven Steps to Improved Processes (Memory Jogger) The Problem Solving Memory Jogger: Seven Steps to Improved Processes (Memory Jogger)

    ASIN: 1576810445

    Book Description

    The Six Sigma Memory Jogger™ II is the indispensable training and performance support resource for Six Sigma Project team members.

    Beginning with an overview and introduction to Six Sigma concepts, primary terminology, and the basics of the DMAIC method, this valuable pocket guide presents forty-eight Six Sigma tools, including the CTQ, (Critical to Quality)Tree, FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Kano Model, MSA Measurement Systems Analysis, process sigma, regression, SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs and Customers), VOC (Voice of the Customer) Data Collection System and the y=f(x) formula.
    Memories are Made of This
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Memories are Made of This
      Rusiko Bourtchouladze
      Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      Computer ScienceComputer Science | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books | Artificial Intelligence | Circuitry | General | Human-Computer Interaction | Information Theory | Modeling & Simulation | Research | Software Engineering | Systems Analysis & Design
      GeneralGeneral | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
      NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
      Physiological AspectsPhysiological Aspects | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      AnatomyAnatomy | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology | Behavioral Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive ScienceCognitive Science | Behavioral Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      NeuroscienceNeuroscience | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      Computers & InternetComputers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      MedicineMedicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers The Seven Sins of Memory: How the Mind Forgets and Remembers
      2. Memory and Brain Memory and Brain
      3. Memory from A to Z: Keywords, Concepts, and Beyond Memory from A to Z: Keywords, Concepts, and Beyond
      4. Searching for Memory: The Brain, the Mind, and the Past Searching for Memory: The Brain, the Mind, and the Past
      5. Memory and Emotion: The Making of Lasting Memories (Maps of the Mind) Memory and Emotion: The Making of Lasting Memories (Maps of the Mind)

      ASIN: 0231120206

      Book Description

      Memory enables us to make experience meaningful and to form coherent identities for ourselves and intelligible perceptions of others. Indeed, our ability to imagine, anticipate, and create the future is directly commensurate with our ability to retrieve and recollect past experiences.

      But for all its vital importance in human cognition, for all that it seems so ordinary and obvious, memory remains in many ways as complex and mysterious today as it seemed to ancient philosophers. We need only to think about the "tip-of-the-tongue" experience to wonder how memories are formed, where they reside in our brains, and why some are retained, while others are forgotten. What is the difference between long- and short-term memory? Can memory be strengthened? Memories Are Made of This is an account of current memory science that offers answers to these and a host of other questions, comprehensively distilling much diverse and

      rigorous science. It delves into the biology of memory functions and researches into the

      mechanics and genetics of memory and the importance of emotions, particularly those resulting from trauma, in the memory process. Of special focus are investigations of cognition in other species. Are we the only animals who remember and forget? If not, are there commonalties in the memories of different species? The book also surveys our understanding of the effects of injury and disease on memory and concludes with an assessment of emerging pharmacological efforts to preserve and protect our memories and, in turn, ourselves.

      The Memory Jogger II
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Vital tool for consulting
      • Quick Reference
      • Memory Jogger II customer review
      • Tools for excellence
      • The guide for all
      The Memory Jogger II
      Michael Brassard , and Diane Ritter
      Manufacturer: Goal/QPC
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Spiral-bound

      GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      Decision-Making & Problem SolvingDecision-Making & Problem Solving | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      Quality ControlQuality Control | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      Total Quality ManagementTotal Quality Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      Project ManagementProject Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. The Problem Solving Memory Jogger: Seven Steps to Improved Processes (Memory Jogger) The Problem Solving Memory Jogger: Seven Steps to Improved Processes (Memory Jogger)
      2. The Project Management Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Project Teams (Growth Opportunity Alliance of Lawrence) The Project Management Memory Jogger: A Pocket Guide for Project Teams (Growth Opportunity Alliance of Lawrence)
      3. The Team Memory Jogger The Team Memory Jogger
      4. The Team Handbook Third Edition The Team Handbook Third Edition
      5. Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide Six Sigma Memory Jogger II: A Pocket Guide

      ASIN: 1879364441

      Book Description

      The Memory Jogger II is an easy-to-use pocket guide that describes tools to help you make continuous improvements in an organization. The tools help people at all levels participate in identifying and solving problems; eliminating rework; streamlining processes; improving cross-functional communication; decreasing costs; and measuring results. The guide supports organization-wide consistency and participation in creating organizational breakthroughs and improvements. It measures 3.5" x 5.5".

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Vital tool for consulting.......2007-07-04

      The day after I bought it my boss asked me to build a priority matrix. I didn't bat an eyelash. I went back to my desk and 15 minutes later I emailed him a priority matrix for our project. He had a meeting in the conference room 15 minutes later with the director and partner. They were so impressed with my work. Thanks Memory Jogger II.

      5 out of 5 stars Quick Reference.......2007-05-14

      The book provided quick tips for facilitation and team building. I like the format which allows for using the book without ruining the pages.

      5 out of 5 stars Memory Jogger II customer review.......2007-03-08

      I had to get this for an MBA class I am currently taking. It provides summaries and examples of common business tools in a small package. It's a great reference guide. I didn't do a lot of searching, but for the little searching I did, Amazon had the lowest price.

      5 out of 5 stars Tools for excellence.......2006-06-30

      This book is set up for anyone to have many tools for them to use at anytime. It has flowcharting, public speaking, many diagrams, and several team based exercises to help become better. In the front of the book it has a tool selector, and it takes some of the guess work out of tool selection.This is just one of many great books this company offers. Our copmany uses several of these in our professional training with our clients. This is a really good book for those looking for continuous improvement. The Memory Jogger Plus is an excellent book also and has many great tools and other goodies.

      5 out of 5 stars The guide for all.......2002-09-09

      I first used this as a high school student then later at university doing engineering. It's so worn it's due for replacement. Handy size, useful tools, practical. Worth every cent.
      In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Experiments on Short and Long term memory
      • Great Product plus excellent delivery time
      • Detailed
      • In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind
      • Both more simple and complex than imagined
      In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind
      Eric R. Kandel
      Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
      History of ScienceHistory of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Neurology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Medical | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology | Behavioral Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Cognitive ScienceCognitive Science | Behavioral Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Biology | Biological Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, And The New Biology Of Mind Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, And The New Biology Of Mind
      2. Stumbling on Happiness Stumbling on Happiness
      3. I Am a Strange Loop I Am a Strange Loop
      4. Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
      5. Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code (Eminent Lives) (rough edge) Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code (Eminent Lives) (rough edge)

      ASIN: 0393329372

      Book Description

      "A stunning book."—Oliver Sacks

      Charting the intellectual history of the emerging biology of mind, Eric R. Kandel illuminates how behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and molecular biology have converged into a powerful new science of mind. This science now provides nuanced insights into normal mental functioning and disease, and simultaneously opens pathways to more effective healing.

      Driven by vibrant curiosity, Kandel's personal quest to understand memory is threaded throughout this absorbing history. Beginning with his childhood in Nazi-occupied Vienna, In Search of Memory chronicles Kandel's outstanding career from his initial fascination with history and psychoanalysis to his groundbreaking work on the biological process of memory, which earned him the Nobel Prize.

      A deft mixture of memoir and history, modern biology and behavior, In Search of Memory traces how a brilliant scientist's intellectual journey intersected with one of the great scientific endeavors of the twentieth century: the search for the biological basis of memory. 50 illustrations.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Experiments on Short and Long term memory.......2007-08-13

      Eric Kandel's work represents a harmonious mixture of autobiography and a description of research into the workings of the Brain, particularly memory. Having been tormented by childhood memories of Nazi hounding in Vienna in the early years of the second world war, he wanted to find out how these memories are held in the Brain. At the same time, he was also very curious about how Freud's (a fellow Viennese) representation of Id, Ego and Superego mapped to the Brain in terms of neurons and signaling.

      He starts off with a history of discoveries in the structure of the Brain, starting with Santiago Cajal's study of the basic form of neurons. Leading to chemical and electrical signaling between the neurons. He dwells into the details of how the electrical signals are converted into chemicals at the synapses while crossing to a neighboring neuron and how the chemicals change back to the electricity after the crossing has been accomplished. He describes his own experiments with short and long term memories. He brings out the distinction very clearly. Short term memory results from strengthening or synapses, while long term memory results from growing of new synapses. Protein synthesis is involved in such a growth and can come only from a conscious effort on part of an individual to commit something to long term memory. This also explains why cramming for an exam does not really result in a long term learning.

      He explains clearly why metal illnesses are difficult to diagnose and treat, unlike the other structural damages like tumors, strokes etc. Mental illnesses do result from multiple genes and sometimes the environmental factors as well. The book ends with the Nobel Prize ceremony and a critique of Austria's turning of blind eye towards Hitler's invasion and persecution of Jews.

      The beauty of the book is that it is not restricted to just the students and practitioners of Psychiatry. Anyone with some initiation into Basic Sciences at College level can appreciate the work.

      5 out of 5 stars Great Product plus excellent delivery time.......2007-07-18

      I am very satisfied with my order, got here in less then a week which is great as i was anxios to get this book.

      Had no problems with the seller and would definetly buy from them again

      Thanks

      3 out of 5 stars Detailed.......2007-07-12

      This book is certainly written for those that have a keen interest in the biological fundamentals and intricacies of memory. Do not expect much from a psychological or phenomenological perspective. It is a well written book but a lot of neuroscience nuts and bolts.

      4 out of 5 stars In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind.......2007-06-17

      An interesting weaving of personal recollection and history that takes the reader on a voyage through some of the discoveries in neural science. The logic of science and twists and turns of fate combine to make for fascinating reading. The book details how the molecular biology of the nervous system is responsible for short term and long term memory, and has been preserved through evolution from primitive snails through human beings, and lays the pathway for possible future understanding and research. On a personal level, the book details how a Jewish boy flees Austria in 1938 as Hitler rises to power, enters medical student with an interest in psychoanalysis and becomes one of the leading neuroscientists of our time, earning a Nobel Prize in the process. Though the book does contain some details of molecular biology, "In Search of Memory" is well worth the time to read.

      4 out of 5 stars Both more simple and complex than imagined.......2007-06-15

      Is it in his eyes? Is it in his kiss? No, it's in his cells. That's where it is.
      For those who have toiled in the field of psychology this book tells the story of where we've been and where we are now. And it tells it well.
      It's hard to imagine the author starting with elegant psychoanalytic theory and ending up with utter reverence for a single celled organism. But that's the road science has taken us. The mind is both more and less complicated than we imagined.
      In addition to explaining the basics of cell memory, the author recounts his own life experiences, adding humanity to this technical topic.

      Books:

      1. The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to Islam (and the Crusades) (Politically Incorrect Guides)
      2. The Red Dancer: The Life and Times of Mata Hari
      3. The Red Hand of Doom (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Adventure)
      4. The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings
      5. The Rise of the Black Wolf (Grey Griffins, Book 2)
      6. The Ruby Ring: A Novel
      7. The Safe-Keeper's Secret (Firebird)
      8. The Secretary of Dreams
      9. The Shadow of the Sun
      10. The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne

      Books Index

      Books Home

      Recommended Books

      1. Thanks For The Memories ... The Truth Has Set Me Free! The Memoirs of Bob Hope's and Henry Kissinge
      2. History: Fiction or Science
      3. An Artist's Way Of Seeing
      4. Cold Comfort Farm
      5. Fashion: A History from the 18th to 20th Century: the Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute
      6. Handbook of Statistics 18: Bioenvironmental and Public Health Statistics
      7. History: Fiction or Science
      8. Avigdor Arikha
      9. Cape Horn: The Logical Route ; 14,216 Miles Without Port of Call
      10. Between the Lines: Reflections on War and Peacetime