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Sexy is as sexy does, according to Sari Locker (called "our favorite tantalizing sex writer" by Playboy magazine). But how to feel sexy if you're a virgin, or if you've experienced sexual problems, or have serious body image hang-ups? The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex succeeds in not only teaching technique (as well as a book can), but also offers serious advice for boosting your self-esteem. As with other Complete Idiot guides, you'll probably want to turn this one backwards in your bookcase, or at least get a book cover for it. But get past the silly title and you'll find a plethora of facts, tips, and tricks on topics including sexual response, masturbation, foreplay, afterplay, oral sex, fantasy, sex toys, sexual preference, cross-dressing, and "The Big Om": tantric sex.
The margin notes liberally decorating the book are worth a hearty chuckle. The "Sextistics" are particularly fun and eye-opening. Some examples: only 9 percent of people surveyed believe sex appeal is innate; the rest feel it can be acquired!; about 7 percent of women have never climaxed; the majority of male crossdressers are married with children; and, according to the Hite Report, nearly 60 percent of men ages 61 to 75 said their desire for sex remained steady or increased with age, Viagra or no.
Locker, a sex educator and WCBS-TV relationship correspondent, has been a sex educator for more than a decade. That said, she should have placed the facts on contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases earlier in the book, before the hot and heavy photographs of sexual positions. That gripe aside, Amazing Sex is worth investigating by both sexual neophytes and experienced couples looking to maintain a state of hot monogamy.
Book Description
Most people know that thereÂ's more to sex than the missionary position. But to make sex really hot, some people need a little guidance. ThatÂ's where acclaimed sex educator—and WCBS-TV relationship correspondent—Sari Locker steps in. The Complete IdiotÂ's Guide to Amazing Sex, Third Edition, has fresh advice on how readers can make smart sexual choices, cast aside inhibitions, and keep their sex life exciting well into their golden years. Readers get new and updated chapters on:
• Current sexual trends and attitudes
• Sex within marriage and long-term relationships
• Body image, obesity, and plastic surgery and their effect on sexuality
• Exciting techniques for reaching multiple orgasms for men and women
• Tips on specific sexual activities, including playful ideas on locations and toys
• Plus an 8-page full-color photographic insert of SariÂ's eight original sexual positions
Download Description
An acclaimed sex educator explains how to enjoy your sex life like never before. Topics include the pleasure of touch, sexual positions, sexual fantasy, sex online, sex toys, Tantric sex, S
Customer Reviews:
Oooooooo, Y-Y-Y-Yeahhhh! I W-W-W-Won't Ever S-S-S-Stop R-R-R-Reviewing This B-B-B-Book! A-A-Awwwwwwww Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!.......2007-10-11
The Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex is a double-edged sword because it may show you kinky techniques you may not have been privy to before, but it confirms your disrepute as being sexually inexperienced, still too "innocent" for these over-sexualized times we live in, which isn't necessarily disadvantageous. Upon reading this book, the conscientious reader has to intellectually honestly ask himself/herself some questions.
1) Since copulation is natural, why do I need instructions/advice on how to "do it?" Am I just afraid of sex or am I retarded?
2) Why do I require perverse and abnormal "techniques" to "spice up" sex and keep me interested? Am I a sexual deviant? Do I obligatorily need higher levels of unconventional sex to satisfy my bent character?
3) Why don't I realize my lustful craving for more deviant forms of sex is ultimately the impediment to forming real, lasting relationships with the opposite sex?
If you've the guts to ask one of these queries, congratulations!!!! You've already gone a ways to confessing you've psychological, moral and spiritual problems for chasing after the "knowledge" within Amazing Sex.
Locker's libertine/lecher ideology is endorsed in Chapter 1 where she unaccountably raises the risks of teen pregnancy by writing ANYONE is ready for sex if they merely think (that's right, subjectively T-H-I-N-K) they can handle its consequences. According to Locker, these include knowing what to do if one contracts an STD or becomes pregnant. So, in the untrustworthy minds of impressionable teenagers, if they think they're "adult" enough to hypothesize what they'd do in case of the aforementioned, this makes them "ready" to surrender their God-given gift of virginity/purity--instead of saving themselves for marriage!!!!
Locker's frivolous advice focusing on the ideology of "If it feels good, do it!!!!!" also arrives at questionable contradictions, like when she advises one's ready for sex if one's emotionally responsible for the consequences, yet then in the next "advice," she writes one's also "ready" if one's able to handle contracting STDs or unwanted pregnancies. It goes without saying that one's egregiously unprepared for sex if one contracts an STD or curses a baby by monstrously creating an unwanted pregnancy.
Locker's trivial advice is further verified through sex-coupons she coquettishly encourages. These coupons obviously are for the idiot couple who aren't attracted enough physically to each other for sex; that's why they need these gimmicks to get off. These sophomoric coupons offer all kinds of lewd abominations like "quickies," phone sex, nature sex and the delusion known as role-playing. All these coupons offer misguidedly aberrant sex that only encourages unnaturalness.
Appallingly shocking is the graphic, hardcore use of pornography in the book, masquerading as advice. In the middle, there are a few, explicit photos showing a couple (who probably AREN'T even married!!!!) in various, "alternative" positions. To the liberal Locker, just having sex in the good, old-fashioned and most normal missionary position--so-called due to the woman's leg-position, for all you newbie libs--is booooring!
So, she delinquently proposes these utterly twisted positions called the "Wheelbarrow" (man enters woman from behind while lifting pelvis in air as legs curl around his back while her hands are on ground); the "Crab" (woman lowers herself onto man's erect member with back to him and feet straddling his legs); and the "Butterfly" (woman spreads legs while arms are flailing as man kneels and penetrates from front). For my money, my personal faves in Locker's photos are the "Gang-Bang" (several guys emotionlessly take turns on woman), the "Cleveland Steamer" (woman defecates on man's face), and the "Menage-a-Trois" (everyone involved leaves feeling unfulfilled).
As distressing is Locker's write-up on the hand-job (for you newbie-libs: stimulating the member with a hand!) because she indecently recommends couples employ that casually on a plane, at the movies, or even behind a desk at work!!!! One certainly CANNOT employ this libertine technique so liberally in public; this would be illicit. Dilapidating from the topic of the hand-job comes mutual masturbation, which is--again, for newbie libs!--both partners using hands on each other. Locker purports this will result in simultaneous orgasm, voyeurism/exhibitionism, and a more intimate understanding of your partner's response. Her "advice" is impractical, so don't listen to her. Getting somebody off through a hand-job is hard enough. Mutual masturbation will only complicate things because you'll have to focus on two things simultaneously: orgasming and pleasing your partner.
Amazing Sex is a cheaply veiled excuse to let one's inner libertine run wild: it's filled with all the taboo tips that'd tantalize and serve as wet dreams for the pubescent boy demographic. In this context, Amazing Sex is both censurable and disappointing--seeing how it's supposedly written by the PHD-holding Locker--because it subserves the lowest common denominator on the sex topic: basest animal desires. Instead of impressing the reader with knowledge becoming a PHD-holding sex "expert" (like, say, healthy sexual behavior), Locker espouses the most uninhibited, liberal ideology of "If it feels good, do it!!!!"
Amazing and helpful at the same time. .......2007-09-20
This is truly a good read about all things sex and I've many on this site, including this one and Sex Machine: A Man's Guide to What Really Pleases a Woman in Bed as well as other. I was amazed at the amount of know-how the author(s) put into this book. It's almost an A-Z kind of book with most subjects talked about throughout. It was really, really helpful. Don't pass this one up!
Outstanding!.......2007-08-18
Another besteller which I highly recommend is - The Master's Guide to Cunnilingus: How to Perform Successful Oral Sex and Provide the Highest Degree of Pleasure Possible
Amazing books which every man must have!
Great Book!.......2007-08-12
Loved this book. It just happened that at the same time I was reading this book I also saw a show in NYC called My First Time. It was a great combination. Added to the attitude of the book. Great read...and show...lol enjoy!
It's ok........2007-08-03
I guess I was looking for something else but the book is good for general audience, who already know about sex and everything that comes with it. It describes woman's and man's sexuality, sexual relationships, self-pleasure, sexual positions, aging in sex, etc. Personally for me it was surprising to read that having sex in public is ok (as long as no one sees), like in the taxi, park or even kid's playground. Excuse me? I would much rather prefer this book to recommend against this. Another thing I disagreed with is that Sadomasochism is "healthy". No it is not, receiving and giving pleasure through pain is a psychological abnormality. Or role playing of pretending "mother and child", I am surprised such a suggestion was given. Except for these and few other points, the book is okay for general public. I personally sought something more on a psychological basis.
Book Description
Courageous Souls explores the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, prior to birth for purposes of spiritual growth. The book contains ten true stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents. Because very different life challenges are often planned for similar reasons, readers who have not faced these specific challenges will nevertheless see themselves - and their motivations as a soul - in these stories. As readers come to realize that they themselves planned their lives, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, peace, and gratitude.
Customer Reviews:
courageous souls-Do we plan our life challanges before birth?.......2007-10-15
This book is FANTASTIC!
Everyone has a story and has things going on in their life.This book makes everything that happens to you make sense. It allows you to understand why you have ended up where you are in life.Why you have chosen certain paths.And allows you to understand and be at peace with other peoples choices and the way they live their life.
I just loved it.Everyone should have a copy.It is well written, easy to understand and informative.But above all..it just makes sense.And things seem alot more clear to me than they did before I read the book.I loved it.For anyone who needs alittle hope or clarity in their lives..read this book.
Slow read.......2007-10-12
This book has some interesting ideas but it is a slow read. Not too sure if I would recommend.
Karma is more than payback.......2007-10-11
This book really changed my perspective on my current life situation. I was quite negative about the situation I'm dealing with, feeling it was just the result of past lives in which I had incurred very bad karma and I would just have to live through it. But, after reading this book, I believe I am living this life because of contracts I made in the pre-birth planning. That changes everything for me - if I agreed to the challenges I'm working with because I wanted to help one I love, there can be no resentment, just gratitude for being able to help, and love for the one I'm struggling with. Thank you, Robert Schwartz, what a gift!
So that's why . . ........2007-10-08
If you ever want to get into the backside of your pre-birth planning of your life challenges, read Courageous Souls by Robert Schwartz. Want to know why you attract illness, accidents, birth defects? Want to know why you chose a life of alcoholism or drug addiction, or are around someone who has? Read this book. The stories, while may start out slow at first, are powerful and insightful. Just stick with them. Robert uses mediums who are able to access multiple guides at one time, and your primary guide and listen in on conversations between you and your soul group.
not credible.......2007-09-30
I got to p. 300 and started reading another book. I found this book painstakingly slow to read, the information provided by the mediums: farfetched, and the conclusions drawn by the author, hard to swallow. Often, when mediums are tired, their accuracy rate diminishes. I never heard of any of the mediums used in this book. Robert Schwartz makes everything so complicated when the subject matter is really quite easy to understand. The book just doesn't flow easily and it's not a page turner in my opinion. I'm a believer, but this book really is a waste of time and money. Read Journey of the Soul by Michael Newton, PhD. Instead of using mediums, he enters the superconsciousness of his clients and elicits information from them directly about their experiences on The Other Side.
Book Description
Hugh deBeer, inventor of the popular Foreplay board game, offers couples a sexy variety of fun and games, including:
--A week of orgasms
--Orgasm express
--The long, slow climb to climax
--50 ways to feed your lover
--20 red hot things to do with ice
--So many kisses, so little time
--Every inch of you
--The ultimate sexual massage
--Here, there and everywhere
--And many more!
Customer Reviews:
Creative and Possibly Illegal.......2007-08-21
This book has some fun, interactive ideas for couples to get to know each other more intimately (i.e. quizzes and discussion starters). However, some of the highly exhibitionist ideas in the book are likely to land a participating reader in jail, if caught (i.e. "When you find yourself at a restaurant table with a long tablecloth, use your feet to bring your lover to orgasm. Don't stop when the waiter's there"). Maybe I'm too conservative...I just know that I won't be recommending this book to anyone.
Disappointed.......2007-03-14
not what i was expecting at all - i should have returned it - not the seller's fault of course - just not what i thought it was !
Not as informative as I thought.......2007-02-17
I thought this book would have cute new creative games, and it's the same boring stuff that you can get from magazines like Cosmo and Maxim.
The Book.......2006-08-02
I lov this book. It has everything in it that u need toplay Sex Games. I recomind this book to adults that want to have sex while they play games.
A Great Book from a great Author........2005-11-03
This is one of Debeer's best. Certainly a must for all couples wanting to add some excitment in the bedroom. I know it helped in my bedroom.
Beautifully written, fantastic pictures and very helpful.
It certainly tickled my funny bone.
Thankyou Debeer. My wife has never been happier.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting
- Don't waste your money
- 55 word salute, er, review...
- Great teaching tool - used selectively
- Some Hit, Some Miss!
|
The World's Shortest Stories: Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense, All This and Much More in the Most Amazing Short Stories Ever Written, Each One Just 55 Words Long
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The World's Shortest Stories of Love and Death: Passion, Betrayal, Suspicion, Revenge, All This and More in a New Collection of Amazing Short Stories-Each One Just 55 Words Long
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Flash Fiction: Very Short Stories
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Micro Fiction: An Anthology of Really Short Stories
-
Sudden Fiction
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Sudden Fiction International: Sixty Short-Short Stories
ASIN: 0762403004 |
Book Description
Murder. Love. Horror. Suspense. All this and much more in the most amazing short stories ever written--each one just 55 words long! Imagine O. Henry's tales if he'd only had the back of a business card to write upon...
Customer Reviews:
Interesting.......2007-09-05
My teacher used "The World's Shortest Stories" for a lesson one day. I've never paid so much attention during one class period! I thought it was incredible the way these tiny, 55-word stories could be so little, yet have so much meaning behind them. Each story was thought provoking. Dispite their size, they all have some kind of "twist" to it. I was inspired and immediately wanted to write my own 55-word story.
If you're looking for inspiration for writing, this is for you. If you're a great writer and want to try this style of writing, you have to check it out. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Even if you don't want to write a 55-word story yourself, this book will get you thinking differently. It's almost like solving puzzles, reading these stories. Murder, Love, Horror, Suspense... that's not all the book is about. There's many more topics inside. No one story is like the other. I found this book one of the best books I've come across.
Don't waste your money.......2007-06-23
Absolutely terrible. The "authors" in this collection are amateurs who consistently fall victim to the predictable traps. These stories are filled with cliches, gimmicks and unsurprising surprise endings. Even worse, it feels as if they were all written by the same unimaginative author with a corny sense of humor. Get one of the Flash Fiction or Sudden Fiction collections instead if you're looking for something that actually has some literary value.
55 word salute, er, review..........2006-11-07
This book is one that I reread frequently, as the stories are indeed the perfect length. Broken into categories, the stories cover the range of plot possibilities and human emotions, and are perfect for the shorter-attention span of modern readers. Fifty-five fiction even accepts submissions from regular authors. Try writing one yourself today!
Great teaching tool - used selectively.......2006-08-26
I teach 7th and 8th grade, many second language and non-standard english students. The 55 word stories provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the reading/thinking skills of inferencing, drawing conclusions and also a springboard for introducing and explaining the background of euphemisms and common sayings and figures of speech that are not familiar to second language readers.
Some Hit, Some Miss!.......2004-11-02
This collection of the world's shortest stories (as with most collections and anthologies of shortest stories) is a "hit or miss" collection. Basically, this means that while some of the stories are clever, others are flat-out duds. Most of the story's cleverness relies on unsuspected plot twists and ironies in the ending, thus making for an amusing read but bringing little to the table in the world of quality literature. Some of the stories are simply too minimilistic to have any emmotional impact on the reader, and others are very cliche and border on poetry. Instead of buying this book or any collection of "shortest" fiction, I would suggest seeking out specific authors who are masters of the shorter story, such as Raymond Carver. While none of Carver's stories are as short as 55 words, just one of his good shorter stories ("Popular Mechanics," for example) will pack a more poignant punch than any of the stories in this collection -- combined.
Customer Reviews:
Good Overview but lacks depth.......2006-10-26
I like Allison's theories and even subscribe to her e-mail newsletter. However...
This CD seems like more of a teaser trailer for the workshop. Although it does give the stages of development, at the end of the CD it states that this is just one of almost 2 dozen topics covered in her workshop and eludes to what the questions are that are answered if you pay the couple of hundred dollars for the workshop.
Book Description
The One-Hour Orgasm is one of the best, most tasteful, explicit, and effective sex education books ever published. This repackaged edition demonstrates, with pictures and words, how you can master the famous Venus Butterfly technique, which promises an immediate improvement in your sex life. The book which was recently featured in the movie Meet the Fockers and Mad magazine is filled with fresh, easy-to-learn new approaches and photos to aid the reader in learning the most effective lovemaking techniques ever discovered. Women will learn how to: Increase the strength and duration of his erections Initiate sex without effort on his part Avoid common mistakes in the bedroom Put the fun back into any relationship. Men will learn how to: Thoroughly satisfy her every time Increase the frequency of sex by making it more pleasurable for her Avoid common mistakes in the bedroom Be more self-confident as a lover.
Customer Reviews:
Don't Waste Your Time or Money on This Book.......2007-01-03
Instead, follow the book's repetitious instructions & spend the time &/or money on your partner. The first few chapters are spent selling the reader the book, over and over again, while constantly mentioning this 'amazing Venus butterfly technique'. It's like reading a late-night infomercial.
I found the language the book was written in to be rather... Victorian, and more than a little chauvinistic. It referred to women as being 'in heat' and to the various parts of the anatomy with quaint euphemisms. I also have my doubts about people claiming to be doctors when they recommend a petroleum product for love play.
A Tastefully Done Sex Instruct Book Actually Exists!.......2004-06-24
Good book. It was actually tastefully done, or at least as tasteful as a sexual instruction booklet could be. It wasn't really embarrassing to read and it was explained very well. I liked it.
You are Never Too Old to Increase Intimacy.......2004-01-10
I am a 55 year old minister and psychotherapist who has been married for 31 1/2 years. I was killing some time in the bookstore and the title of this book caught my eye. I am always on the lookout for anything to increase the intimacy in my marriage. I began reading it and came across some new material and some old material presented in an interesting dydactic way. I thought, "This is really good and could improve our lovelife." When my wife came in, after a laugh, I gave it to her to scan. We bought it and have thoroughly benefited from it. The concepts presented in the book and on the videos described in the book have significantly benefited us in our lovemaking and increased our intimacy. The information is graphic (its' strength) but not pornographic. I have already used some of the concepts in my therapy. I highly recommend it to get your lovelife off center. I am deeply commited to my wife and am thrilled by anything that can make our relationship better. I am encouraged by the Schwartz's commitment to monogamous relationships as is stated in another book. Some of what is in this book you have seen before, but what you haven't could transform your sex life and dramatically deepen your intimacy!
I wanted An Amazing Technique..........2003-02-03
...But what I got was just a whole lot of stuff I already knew about foreplay and a lame lesson on anatomy. I don't understand how this book could have gotten to be such a best-seller when it promises so much yet delivers so very little. Must be that it came out a long time ago and was advanced for its time. An alternative choice for those interested in a thoroughly entertaining and educational book about advanced lovemaking techniques and their use in achieving deeper intimacy and spiritual enlightenment is Clint Arthur's "9 Free Secrets of New Sensual Power" which will soon, I hope, be replacing the Venus Butterfly trap as the book of Choice for those seeking to better themselves in the art of sexual pleasure. Clint's own personal experiences in Real Life are the basis of his lessons on lovemaking, and this very erotic teaching method is fun and effective, whereas the book by Bob Schwartz is rather tedious to read and its contents are tired. You are hereby forwarned!
best sex book ever.......2003-01-02
This is a wonerful book! After just spending over 2 hrs in bed with my husband and having more and better orgazims then I have in the 8 years weve been together I think this book is awsome. My husband and I are always reading on the suject of sex and this is the most helpfull and sucessful book we have ever found. I will read this book again and agian until I have masterd the tecniques in it. It takes alot of consentiation and in depth reading to catch it all so dont just skim it it wont help you. ...
Average customer rating:
- More from Corrie Ten Boom
- Amazing Love is just one more book by one of the most influential evangelists of modern times
- The Hiding Place
|
Amazing Love: True Stories of the Power of Forgiveness
Corrie Ten Boom
Manufacturer: CLC Publications
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ASIN: 0875088562 |
Book Description
Corrie ten Booms amazing personal courage and her ability to share the reality of Jesus Christ have made her writings continually popular, and the Corrie ten Boom Library has become a source of inspiration for thousands of readers. Now with two new additions to the library, readers will continue to enjoy this beloved authors words of wisdom.
After her release from a World War II concentration camp, Corrie traveled around the world, proclaiming the gospel. Amazing Love tells how she encountered Gods love in some of the most unlikely places during her extensive travels. The twenty-seven short vignettes tell of Corries post-war experiences in various parts of the world, revealing the maturity of her Christian service. This book was first published by Christian Literature Crusade in 1953 and by Revell in 1964.
Customer Reviews:
More from Corrie Ten Boom.......2007-05-18
This is an interesting followup to "The Hiding Place." You learn more about this amazing woman.
Amazing Love is just one more book by one of the most influential evangelists of modern times.......2005-09-02
This is a daily devotional by Corrie Ten Boom that has been sitting in my library all my life. My copy is tattered. Everytime I need to reach for moral courage, integrity, kindness, endurance and empathy, I turn to this 'little' book.
This particular order was for 10 men that I know through a prison ministry who are living in very difficult situations for long periods of their lives. If you need to learn forgiveness, try reading"The Hiding Place." Only the spirit could work through a person to forgive the people she encountered during her stay in a Nazi concentration camp......and forgive...she did!!!!!
The Hiding Place.......2000-03-20
I love this book! I have learned so much reading about these strong, brave, loving and ever so forgiving people. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Book Description
We all have an imaginary definition of a great family. We imagine what it would be like to belong to such a family. No fights over the holidays. No getting on one another’s nerves. Respect for individual identity. Mutual support, without being intrusive. So many people believe they are disqualified from having a better family experience, primarily because they compare their own family with the mythic ideal, and their reality falls short. Is that a fair standard to judge against?”
In the pages of
Why Do I Love These People?, Po Bronson takes us on an extraordinary journey.
It begins on a river in Texas, where a mother gets trapped underwater and has to bargain for her own life and that of her kids.
Then, a father and his daughter return to their tiny rice-growing village in China, hoping to rekindle their love for each other inside the walls of his childhood home.
Next, a son puts forth a riddle, asking us to understand what his first experience of God has to do with his Mexican American mother.
Every step–and every family–on this journey is real.
Calling upon his gift for powerful nonfiction narrative and philosophical insight, Bronson explores the incredibly complicated feelings that we have for our families. Each chapter introduces us to two people–a father and his son, a daughter and her mother, a wife and her husband–and we come to know them as intimately as characters in a novel, following the story of their relationship as they struggle resiliently through the kinds of hardships all families endure.
Some of the people manage to save their relationship, while others find a better life only after letting the relationship go. From their efforts, the wisdom in this book emerges. We are left feeling emotionally raw but grounded–and better prepared to love, through both hard times and good time.
In these twenty mesmerizing stories, we discover what is essential and elemental to all families and, in doing so, slowly abolish the fantasies and fictions we have about those we fight to stay connected to.
In
Why Do I Love These People?, Bronson shows us that we are united by our yearnings and aspirations: Family is not our dividing line, but our common ground.
Download Description
Po Bronson travels the country recording the stories of real people who have struggled to answer life’s biggest questions. To learn more about his research, visit www.pobronson.com. He is the author of five books–two novels and three works of nonfiction–and he has written for television, magazines, radio, and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR’s Morning Edition. He lives in San Francisco with his family.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Why Do I Love this Book?.......2007-05-15
Why do I love this book? Because it held my interest from page one to the final chapter. Perfect for people who don't have 'time' to get involved in a novel or other boring 'how to' book about families. The book is set up in small installments and each one makes you realize that every family is dysfunctional - not just yours. The best news is that despite the dysfunction, people who care can make lemonade from the worst sort of lemons. I highly recommend this book.
So insightful!.......2006-12-23
Human beings are social beings, and relationships between us is at the core... Examples of how other people have managed their difficult relationships is described, most with a happy ending, others not so, but at least shows us what other people go through in life...
I've read two books from Po Bronson (What Should I do with my life and Why do I love this people) and I'm really glad somebody writes about these things... It's like going to a movie where you don't really care about the story, but rather what's behind the scenes and what the people go through in order to try to find their place in the world... It's so rich in content... Would recommend it for anyone trying to figure out what to do with their lives... Even though it's insightful, you might not necessarily find the answers to your questions, but at least if you get the inspiration to do what others have done, then that's good enough...
Why Did I Waste My Time?.......2006-08-22
I felt for some of the families, and wanted to shake others, despite my sympathy for their plight and the author's seeming admiration for them. The real disappointment was the author's poor writing and lack of any thoughtful insights or understanding. Save your time and money.
An Original Look At Family Life.......2006-07-19
I'm going to admit, the first reason I purchased this book was because of its title: WHY DO I LOVE THESE PEOPLE? I was in a bookstore after it was released and saw a customer pick up the book. She showed it to the person who was with her and she said "Why do I love these people? Because I have to, that's why." The two began laughing, no doubt thinking about members of their own families. Of course intriguing titles are not always enough, and when I read the book flap and saw that it was written by Po Bronson who wrote WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE?, I had a pretty good idea that this would be an interesting book.
Bronson does not present typical families in this book, nor does he try and find atypical or controversial families to fill the pages. Bookstore shelves are already lined with such titles. Instead, Bronson began corresponding with people, using the method he utilized in WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE and let their stories fill the pages. We meet a wide group of people who have all sorts of struggles such as a woman who wakes from a near death experience and wonders what her life is all about, a man who loses his son and his loss reshapes his life, a woman from Northern Ireland who makes radical changes in her life for the betterment of her children or a woman who decides she needs to cheat on her husband, with his permission, to save a monotonous marriage. These are just a few of the stories. Bronson never sensationalizes his subjects, which may be why even if readers have little or nothing in common with some of the people, they'll still be moved by the stories. Bronson also adds a few editorial comments based on his observations or personal experiences, but overall he allows the people to tell their stories, and he merely (skillfully is more accurate) puts it in written form.
Readers of WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE may remember that while the book was praised, there were some criticisms that the book contained too many stories from well to do, usually white people, who could change careers without destroying their lives. While the praise and criticism of WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE? is well taken, that's not the case with this book. Readers will be surprised at the diversity in this book. People from a variety of races, religious traditions, and backgrounds are represented and readers come away with a deeper respect for the ties that bind us with those we usually love most, our families, and that even if these bonds can be imperfect and at times seriously flawed, the bonds are real and in many cases, last against a great deal of troubles.
Inspires you to commit to your relationships.......2006-04-02
I think the most striking part of this book is that you feel comforted by the fact that the problems you're facing in your own relationships are commonplace. They're not dysfunctional. Every family has its share of issues and you don't need to feel overly guilty for yours. The book's underlying theme is that families that honesty, consideration, character, belief and perhaps above everything else - resilience, can get you through the worst debacles and that at the end of the day it's probably (though not always) worth the effort.
Stories include:
Resentment about controlling parents who appear to display conditional loving and also about appreciating how much of their lives parents sacrifice to bring the kids up; the search for redemption after abandoning a kid or cheating on a wife, the courage required to break relationships that are dead and the perseverance required to bring one back from the dead (and the effect on kids), dealing with the families of your in-laws and family objection to marriage, how to deal with kids who are falling into bad habits when you feel powerless to influence their decisions because they no longer respect you or listen to you, dealing with the death of a child, how we feel obligated to spend time with our families rather than actually wanting to spend time with them and what we are losing, etc.
Although it may seem that most people cannot relate to these situations... actually I felt an amazing amount of empathy for the families and came away with a renewed conviction that I can get the perfect family life (with all it's frustrations and headaches) and balance it with everything.
If you have any relationship, friendship that you have a certain amount of frustration, resignation about then I strongly recommend this book. It is one of those books that if it hits you at the right time - it could change your relationships and your life.
Book Description
Tell your amazing baby how much you care with this giant photo board book. Full of vivid photographs of sweet and lovable babies, this adorable book promises to keep your child entertained for hours. Each page will capture your baby's fancy, with:
- A darling black and white photograph of a beautiful baby
- Sweet, simple text
- Bold colors
- And more
And with a special place for a photo of your own amazing baby inside, it's the perfect way to say I Love You! For ages 0 to 3.
Customer Reviews:
Great for baby's first book.......2006-12-28
My 8 month old daughter has shown very little interest in books -- she usually just chews on them or tears at the pages while I read to her older brother. Even so, I purchased several books for her for Christmas and this one was a huge hit. The book itself is very large and the pictures of the baby faces in it are very easy for little ones to see. She loves to look at the other babies -- she grabs for their faces and squeals with delight every time I get this book out. She also likes the bright accent colors that border the black and white photos. An excellent book for little ones.
Product Description
Amazing Grace for Married Couples will deepen your commitment to marriage like no other book. This is a collection of inspiring stories about renewed relationships that were once on the brink of disaster. While most people would have written these couples off as hopelessly incompatible, through the grace of God, they overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a result, every couple is more in love today than they were on their wedding day. In this book, you will experience how Gods grace healed: A marriage that began lovingly but quickly sputtered out when the young wife became addicted to gambling. A wife whose addiction to romance novels undermined her relationship with her family and led to much heartbreak. A man and wife who discovered they had both been unfaithful to each other. When their lack of trust in each other turned them into virtual strangers, divorce seemed the only option.
Customer Reviews:
A powerful and inspirational book.......2007-06-26
This is one of those books that is hard to put down, easy and fast to read, and that leaves you with a feeling of hope. All of the stories in this book are true. All of the marriages described in this book were not just "on the rocks" but literally at the breaking point. Reading their stories, most normal marital problems seem slight in comparison. This book contains serious gambling and pornography addictions, adultery, lesbianism, consumerism, self-centered career chasing, bad communication...all tearing the spouses apart. The reader wonders, how could these marriages be salvaged? And yet, all of these couples stayed together, transformed their marriages and blossomed.
The beautiful thing is that they all saved their marriages because they returned to practicing their faith and found in Christ the power to heal their wounds. Two or three of the couples attended Retrouvaille, one or two attended Marriage Encounter. Some of them now speak to other Catholic couples about their experiences.
Warning: this book may appeal more to the female reader - my husband did not enjoy these stories as much as I did, because he found them too "emotional". I agree that they are emotional, but that is part of what I liked about these stories.
These stories lead to a faith that no obstacle in marriage is too large to overcome, and they inspire a renewed interest and devotion to God.
Excellent Book!!! A Must read!.......2006-10-18
This is an incredible book! I just couldn't put it down. At one point I was so touched that I dropped to my knees and prayed. I recommend this book to all married couples, but especially for those who might be struggling in their own marriage. This book is such a testament to God and to what can happen when you have faith in God!!! Highly Recommended!!
Loved this book and highly recommend it.......2006-08-04
I'm a busy working wife and mom but I found that I just could not put this book down. The really practicial thing I like about the book is that it has 12 different stories so in about half an hour, you can read an entire story and be totally edified by it without having to read the stories in order from first to last like a book with chapters. I especially got alot out of the story about the wife who became an obsessive gambler. It wasn't a story I would have picked to read right away because of the subject but I "stumbled" into it and was hooked after the first 3 paragraphs. This book has been a great inspiration to me and the main message is that there is always hope even in those situations which may seem hopeless. I bought 3 extra copies to give as gifts to other married couples.
Books:
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: 20th Aniversary Edition
- The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
- The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World
- The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers
- The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
- The Life of Olaudah Equiano (Dover Thrift Editions)
- The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
- The New Concise History of the Crusades
- The Osha: Secrets of the Yoruba-Lucumi-Santeria Religion in the United States and the Americas : Initiation, Rituals, Ceremonies, Orishas, Divination, Plants, s
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