Product Description
Having Trouble Finding That Perfect Gift? No Need to Worry. The Giftionary is Here!

Almost everyone at some point in their lives has been stumped at the prospect of buying a gift. Whether for a birthday, holiday, special event, or just to express our feelings, many of us continually struggle to find the unique gift no one has, one that won’t be returned, and one that will be remembered forever. Now with The Giftionary, your friends, families, and loved ones will be in awe of you and your gifts. From birthday presents to edible treats, party favors to housewarming presents people will actually use, this creative, indispensable guide can help you find the perfect gift for any occasion.

Is someone you know turning 50? You could:
- Find vintage candies from their youth and pack them in a nostalgic tin.
- Give them a trip to Hawaii--the US's 50th state.

Have a wedding anniversary coming up? You could:
- Visit a stamp store and find a beautiful stamp issued in the couple’s wedding year.
- Recreate the flowers in your wife’s bridal bouquet and send them to her on your anniversary.

Want to make a sick or injured friend feel better? You could:
- Fill a teapot, bag, or basket with assorted teas and honey. Add a note that says: “Here’s a little tea-l-c!”
- Send a card a day during a hospital stay.

Dying to dazzle that special woman or man in your life? You could:
- Give her a shoebox filled with treasures for her tootsies—and a gift certificate for a pedicure.
- Take ballroom dance lessons together.

Want to give a gift that will truly make them say, “Wow!”? You could:
- Rent the car of his dreams for a day and hand the keys to that lucky person.
- Hire a personal chef to come in and cook a gourmet dinner for a night or two.

A complete and timeless guide, full of fabulous ideas, The Giftionary is a must-have for anyone who’s agonized over gift-giving or just wants to leave an impression that will last a lifetime.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Some Very Thoughtful Ideas, Too Many Punns
This book is nicely organized, it's easy to browse and find just what you want. There are certainly some very thoughtful, original gestures throughout; considerate ideas you likely wouldn't think of if you were not in the recipient's situation. But like a previous reviewer said, there are also plenty gift ideas that rely on a pun for a crutch, like pinning a heart charm to your shirt to "wear your heart on your sleeve."

I blog about gift ideas every day at [...], and so I am constantly looking for inspiration. A couple gift idea books I've found helpful are Sarah Weidman's Gifted and Dawn Bryan's The Art and Etiquette of Gift Giving. Though all have their benefits and drawbacks.

Good Ideas
I like this book.I think she has some clever ideas.I can't wait to use them in the New Year.I love to give unique gifts.My friends and family have come to expect it and now I have some new ideas to use!Thanks Robyn.

A few good ideas buried among a lot of schlock
I have to disagree with the reviewer who said the gift ideas were "tacky.""Corny" is the word I would've used.Virtually every idea in this book involves including a note with a bad pun with your gift.That would be OK, if the note were optional.The problem is, most of the gifts don't make sense without the note.If you leave out the silly note that says, "Sorry I've been driving you nuts," just imagine the confused look on the face of the person to whom you just gave a bag of mixed nuts.

There are a few genuinely good ideas here, but not enough to make the book worth the price, or to justify having it take up valuable bookshelf space.I'd advise checking it out of the library, sneaking a peek at the local bookstore, or as a last resort, buying it used.

The Giftionary Goes Above and Beyond -- A True Treasure
This book was everything I'd hoped for - and more.When I first heard about it I was interested to see just how creative gift giving can be.My husband is so difficult to shop for and I felt like I've exhausted all of my options over the years. And following the holiday rush, I felt burnt out on buying gifts and fresh out of ideas for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and other assorted gift-bearing occasions. The Giftionary really came to my rescue and opened my eyes to a whole new way of expressing myself through gift giving.Gone are the days of trudging through the mall for hours on end only to escape with another unoriginal, dreadful sweater or impersonal gift certificate.Robyn Spizman gives thousands of unique tips on how to really personalize your presents and show the giftee that you put a lot of thought and heart into the gift.What I love most about her unique tips is that they focus on the cute, memorable little details, like heartfelt poems and touching words that accompany each gift so you make a statement not by impressing people with the cost of an item, but by being thoughtful enough to make each gift meaningful with a message.I highly recommend this book for anyone in search of fun new ways to shower people with great gifts for every occasion imaginable. Overall, it's a very clever, super helpful guide that I'm sure I'll refer to over and again for years to come.

AWESOME ADVICE
The Giftionary was a great book. I had several different birthday events to go to and for each one I used this book for my gifts.Everyone loved their gifts.It is so easy to use and can help you on ANY occassion.I have recommended this book to several of my friends and they absolutely love it!!! It is definitely a book that should be in everyone's home. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn How to Make Any Occasion Shine!

Have you ever attended a party so clever it had you talking for days? Or received an invitation that made you feel like royalty? Were you ever given a gift so "you" that you never forgot it? Make It Memorable is an A to Z thematically organized resource for making the most of every special occasion and highlighting the little things in life. From anniversaries and birthdays through weddings and zero-cost ideas, it includes:

- It was a very good year! For a special anniversary, select bottles of wine with vintages from special years for the couple---the year they met, the year they married, etc.

- A blast from the past! For a memorable birthday for an old friend, rent a limo and take a tour down memory lane---past the birthday girl's high school, first house, etc., reminiscing as you go.

- Love is in bloom! For a garden party shower theme, have each guest bring a plant. Distribute the plants around the room to create your own greenhouse atmosphere for the bride.

- A to-do bag just for you! For a get-well present, create a to-do bag filled with things your friend can do while recuperating. You can include everything from favorite missed shows on videotape to assorted magazines and goodies.

- Plus fabulous favors, inviting invitations, party ideas, dazzling centerpieces, memorable gifts, unforgettable weddings, and much more!

Gift-giving expert Robyn Spizman has packed Make It Memorable with the most creative ideas under the sun for enlivening every party, event, and occasion with a touch of pizzazz. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

I bought this for my library...
I bought this for my library, and was not disappointed! If you are planning a party, any party than this book is for you!

Not creative enough
I bought this book for my sister who had earlier in the year had said she wanted it.When she received it on Christmas she said she had already bought it and that it had few new or interesting creative party planning ideas.She said she could write a better book than this with better ideas.I think maybe if you have little to no experience planning a party then this book is for you.Otherwise,save your money.

Too simplistic
I have been planning parties for years and do a lot with my family and wanted some new and fresh ideas.I was disappointed with this book.The ideas were unimagative and bland and I did not get one good idea from this book.If you are already creative person this book is not for you.Maybe it would be good for someone less creative.It made me think that I should write a book myself.

Not What I Expected
While the author covers just about every tip imaginable; the book seemed like more of an appetizer than anything. The author gives brief descriptions but does not really go into much depth. I was looking for more detail and just did not quite feel like I got it from this book. It was more of a teaser.I may have pulled one or two ideas from the book overall, but there was really no sizzle for me.

This Book Will Make a Difference in Your Life!
Grab a copy of this book and keep it handy - this book will surely make a difference in your life! Let me share just one example of how it changed my life.Thanks to Robyn Spizman and her most recent book (she's written several)I have re-discovered the joy in taking the what-I have-come-to-dread annual holiday picture.I have three boys and every year it has been a hassle to get them dressed, combed and smiling for that annual picture.What a hassle - and all just so we could have a picture to send out with our holiday cards - ba humbug!But on page 17, Robyn writes about the growing family who each year poses in an ordinary spot, but makes the photo MEMORABLE because each family member holds something unique and special representing that particular time in his or her life.I absolutely love this idea - one of hundreds in Robyn's book.Never again will I dread the photo session.In fact quite the opposite - I'll be so anxious to see what each of my boys and husband brings with them and from now on I'll focus on the greater purpose of this "memorable" exercise!There's so much more useful and practical information in this book - you'll want to get it right away! ... Read more

Product Description
Picture Dictionary that focuses on words beginning with the letter "S". ... Read more

Product Description
Branli is a lovable toddler-sized bunny rabbit that has a favorite nighttime buddy named Binky. Binky is his pacifier, which his parents would like to wean him off so he can have a good night s rest like a big boy. Read along and share the wonderful illustrations as your child learns whether Branli can say bye-bye to Binky.-Branli Series ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Too expensive.No Good Ideas.
This book is way over priced.It is a thin book that just tells about the character crying for the binky while giving it up.There were no "ideas" or anything to make a child want to give up his/her binky.Don't waste your $$.

Nice idea, but seriously flawed
If it is time for Binkies to go bye-bye, which it was for us, it would be nice to have a book to help kids imagine going through with it. We had a plan for our 2 yo daughter to give her binkies to the babies at daycare for xmas. That way, not only was it her idea to get rid of them, but she wouldn't think any of them were hiding in the house anywhere. We planted the idea a few days before hand, and I ordered this book to help ease the transition.

I had just a few seconds to skim through the book the night before the great give-away. In it, Branli goes to bed but realizes something is missing. He has his bear and pillow, but some thing is gone. When he realizes that it is his binky, he cries out that very familiar call, "binky, binky." His mom comes and says it is time to say bye bye to binky. He cries, and his parents comfort him. Eventually, he goes to sleep.

Here's the problem: while he is crying, the illustration shows the binky up on the shelf. Then, his mother "wraps it in a paper towel" and takes it away. This is a seriously cruel way to take away a binky! When I read the book to my daughter, I change the words so that Branli's mother reminds him that he gave his binkies to the babies who needed them. I am trying to figure out how to cut our the picture of the binky on the shelf!

The first night was rough; and if we had binkies in the house, I might have given them to her. Now, three days later, she asks for her binky with a sly smile, and I only have to say, "Who has your binkies?" She smiles and says, "babies."

Cute child story.
What a great job my the author, my family in looking forward to the next one in the series! This is the cutest little book, with the most adorable characters.It is a must have for small children.

IEnjoyed Bye By Binky Book
My kids are all grown now, I wish I would have had a book like this to help my kids get rid of their binky's when they were toddlers.

JUST IN TIME
I got this book just as we were trying to rid our son of the "binky" he's had planted in his mouth for two and a half years.It's among the books we read every night and I am glad to report that, slowly but surely, the binky is on it's way out.... but perhaps even more importantly, it's a fun read with sweet illustrations and it brings a smile to his face each night. ... Read more

Product Description
Paperback book and audio tape. ... Read more

Product Description
Well illustrated and full of color, these are words that start with either W, X, Y, or Z. Pictures and sentences using the words are with every illustration. ... Read more

Product Description
This book of information gives details about Fiji such as its size, its origins, its indigenous mammals and a guide to Fijian language as well as essentials on how to get around, places to visit and activities, and where to stay. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

a good intorduction
i bought this book to help me get aquainted with fijian culture before i travel there this coming fall. I plan on living there for awhile so this book was really helpfull in a quick introdutory course on what fiji is all about.!

Needs to be updated
The facts, figures, and prices in this guide need to be updated.But if you choose to go to sketchy Fiji, then you need to be armed with something.If you take the tourist shuttle from the airport, the tour bus to the Yasawa Flyer, go straight to a resort (I use this term loosely) on the outer islands, then you'll probably love Fiji.Should you go off the beaten path and anywhere near Suva in particular, be very alert.Your wallet & purse are on the radar.One thing LP doesn't relay...Bula (hello/welcome) literally translates to one of the following: 'Come see my shop.'...'Taxi! Taxi!' or 'Let my cousin show you around'.'Traditional Fijian warmth' unfortunately has become directly proportional to how much you spend.

Better than nothing
I've now read this book pretty much cover to cover and am really un-impressed... it mostly just provides a listing of places with some details... facts and figures... there are no real opinions, recommendations, or even suggestions.

It doesn't have much of an overview section that compares the various chains and lists advantagages, disadvatages, differences, overall feel which is what I really need.

I'm try to plan a honeymoon in Fiji and don't really feel much further along except now I know some of the options.

The Frommer's book on New Zealand on the other hand has been wonderful.

Lonely Planet does it right again!
Get this guide if you're goin' 2 Fiji!If you're thinking of the Mamanucas go to Tokoriki!

I loved it!
It was very helpful and easy to follow. Not having travelled to Fiji before. This book prepared me in so many ways, from accomodation to places to visit and also giving me some idea on how much money I should take there. I would have been totally lost without this book. I recommend that you get it if you're planning to visit Fiji. ... Read more

Product Description
Three seconds is all it takes to turn a whole life around

And if anybody knows about bouncing back after disaster, it's Clare Wilson. She's had it with being married to a serial cheater, and no way is he getting another chance. Even her own son thinks she should have kicked his dad to the curb ages ago. Now she's done it for good, and Clare is finally feeling the rush of unadulterated freedom.

But when a freak car crash lands Clare in the hospital, her life takes another detour. She might be banged up and bruised, but suddenly men are coming out of the woodwork. Even her ex is pining for her. It seems being an independent single woman is a powerful aphrodisiac. But amidst all the lust, the last thing Clare expects to find is love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The good stories just keep coming
Robyn Carr has recently become one of my favorite authors. This book does not disappoint. Good story line and not as predictable as you would think.

Enjoyable Story
I really like most of Robyn Carr's books and this one was no exception.It had a good story line.Kept my interest.As with most of her books, family played an important role.Some parts were very humorous.The people actually seemed real with one exception.The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star was because one of the male characters planned to marry and didn't tell his daughter about his plans, in fact he didn't even tell her he was dating.That just didn't seem right, especially since he talked of wanting to protect her and not causing her emotional harm.Seems like walking in the door with a new wife might cause a little confusion,but hey that's just me.Having said that, I still felt good after reading it.And I do recommend it.

A pretty good read
I'm definitely a fan of Robyn Carr and will read anything she has written but, having said that, this is not one of her best efforts in my opinion.As always, Ms. Carr is worth reading but don't expect this to equal her Virgin River or Grace River series.

Action packed!
"WOW! A lot is happening in this book, but none of it is boring, however you can guess what will happen at the end a bit anyway. I knew at least but that didn't mean the story wasn't enjoyable in the least!

There are 3 sisters that we go ba...more WOW! A lot is happening in this book, but none of it is boring, however you can guess what will happen at the end a bit anyway. I knew at least but that didn't mean the story wasn't enjoyable in the least!

There are 3 sisters that we go back and forth with, one is Clare who is separated from her husband Roger of 16 years. He has cheated on her one too many times. She goes to their old house that he is still staying in, to leave a birthday card and get some more items. However, Roger wasn't supposed to be there, but he is, and he has another woman there. Clare is hurt, she knows they are separated but it still hurts.

So leaving there she is speeding and gets pulled over. Pulling away from getting pulled over, she gets hit and so the story goes from there.

One of the other sisters is the younger one, Sarah, and she comes into her own after dealing with the mother's death a few years ago and her depression.

The other sister is older, married and has problems of her own. If you enjoy drama and romance, this book is for you! Robyn Carr never disappoints!!

Complete waste of time...
I was pining for a satisfying romance read, so I selected this book.I was sorely disappointed in my selection.I really don't understand the solely high praises for this book, as it was obviously a simplistic, trite, wholly unsatisying read.The dialogue was eye-rollingly silly and the characters somewhat one-dimensional and unlikable (the Sam character, for instance, is truly a stalker-type personality).The plotline was so predictable - I knew what would happen as each character was introduced.There was absolutely no complex character development, and certainly nothing to compel the reader to read on.Have romance novels really been reduced to this?It was a struggle for me to finish this book, and I only did it because I paid full price for the kindle edition!I rarely feel compelled to offer a review of books I read, but I was so frustrated by the fact that the other reviews for this book (which I use to determine whether or not I will make a purchase) do not adequately reflect what garbage it is.If I can be of any assistance to other potential buyers at all, let me offer the first one-star review so that you will have a realistic alternative to the obvious exaggeration of other readers' opinions.I'm going to go back and reread "Pride & Prejudice" to wash the foul taste of this book away (sigh). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

LOVED IT!
A GREAT STORY. FIRST IN A TRILOGY. YOUNG IS EXCELLENT AND HER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS IMPRESSIVE.

William and Harrry
Sensitive, aspiring, vital, adventurous and avid for mysticism, I saw William Campbell is a historically grounded Harry Potter. Instead of Hogwarts, the London Temple was the institution through which he had to pass. In place of the masters and mistresses of academic magic, the knights and commanders both outlined the boundaries of his freedom and taught him to move beyond it. Everade was an exacting mentor and Gavin and Elwen were the companions who aided and abetted young William. The magic of history is worked as eloquently by Robyn Young in "Brethren" as the dark arts are evoked by J.K. Rowling.

This was revealing and spell binding because Young found, in the era of the Crusades, the complexities we now spin fantasy to encounter. "Brethren" looks at familiar themes of family break up, bullying, alienation and betrayal in a very believable yet fascinatingly strange context but, in addition, she is able to examine the theme of growing up, not just as a social but also as a spirtual phenomenon.I applaud the selecton of character and setting that enabled her to package this investigation in the recreated reality of the Medieval Knights Templar.

Robyn Young's narrative skills create a rich and diverse canvas that spans Europe and the Middle East and finds humanity in ancient history and heroic
figures of the past on both sides of the idealogical struggles that gave rise to the Crusades. She hints at the relevance of this conflict to
contemporary issues, a theme to be developed further in "Crusade".

Young people who learned to love readingin the Harry Potter break through period will relate to this book and find it a great path to a new genre at an adult level. Established readers who have been thrilled by Dan Brown will be drawn to Robyn Young as a well informed source of further musing about the origins of faith and the conflicts associated with religion. Seasoned epic readers will become quickly fascinated by the scope of the Brethren trilogy.This book brings together timeless human concerns and clearly redrawn historical situations.

Fair first effort...
I'd actually rate this at 3.5 stars, but that wasn't an option. This was Robyn Young's first novel, and though I generally shy away from reading books written by women (I know, I know - MCP!), the subject of the story is a fascinating one for me. It concerns the Kings Templars and the end of the Western presence in the Near East.
As a history buff, I found her research to be first rate. I have read other novels where Baybars, the Mamluk leader of Egypt was the main character and her interpretation of him and his motives was just as believable. I'd read the novel just for the historical insights and flavor.
I did think the plot took too long to develop and some aspects of it may have stretched probability. On the other hand, her characters were well developed and internally consistent.
I will probably buy the next in the series since I've put this much time into getting to know the characters and invested still more time understanding the plot.
When she did write the action scenes they were OK, but the story could have used more of them, seeing how violent that era was.
Would I buy this book again, knowing then what I know about it? Maybe, depends on what else was out there at the time. I value my time, and am quite willing to stop reading a book that I find I don't like enough. I finished this one, and will probably buy the next one. She has a way to go to become one of my favorite authors.

I hate spunky girls
Note: I have only read through someowhere around 4/7ths of the book or so.

The writing flows well and does a good job at describing areas of importance with great detail, and leaving areas where most people want to have imaginary freedom basic. The book is cut up in to a number of storylines which converge, while at the start I had a hard time wanting to switch because they weren't relevant to each other yet as they become more and more interconnected the switchovers are more and more welcome.

I am not a medieval history major but from what I know of the crusades this is all pretty correct (except for the whole conspiracy thing but there wouldn't be a book without it). I can't say for people who are more educated in the area but if all you have taken is western civilization and read a couple of books on the crusades I think it will be enjoyable.

My biggest problem is with the main female character. I hate when they put in the "spunky" girl who acts like a tomboy and somehow gets away with it in a period where she probably wouldn't have been able to. She annoys me greatly, and so I stopped reading the book. Well actually I put it down for a few days and then decided not to pick it back up, because her story was just getting more and more annoying.

An enjoyable read
I found this book to be an enjoyable read.
I look forward to the rest of the series; it is interesting the author gives credit where credit is due (research), and is willing to accept blame if there is any inaccuracy.
This shows me that she is formidable and up front in her writing!
Thank you ... Read more

Product Description
Diving and Subaquatic Medicine is a concise and clinically authoritative guide to all aspects of diving medicine. It encompasses the full range of diving disorders exhibited by both amateur and professional deep sea divers, presenting each medical disorder from an historical, etiological, clinical, pathological, preventative and therapeutic perspective. Explanations are interspersed with relevant case histories, illustrations, boxed summaries and highlighted key points for rapid reference, whilst introductory chapters on physics, physiology, and equipment make the book invaluable reading for those new to the field. The new edition has been completely revised throughout to include the latest research and diving data, as well as important coverage of newly described diseases of diving, modern types of diving and diving equipment, and free and indigenous diving. Comprehensive appendices contain vital diving data. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Must have for serious divers
A very informative book written in an easyish way. A must have for any high risk technical, commercial or navy diver.

Best of type.....
This book appeals to me for a few reasons.....

It is a concise no nonsense approach to diving medicine for everyone from diving novices to hyperbaric physicians (I have seen both groups use this book). I think it is a must for all doctors who treat or do medicals for divers. The main problem with this book is that it comes in paper back and my personal copy is now deteriorating from overuse. Its that kind of book that you just keep going back to.

For the price and breadth of knowledge (including venomous fish/shark attacks the facts as well as decompression illness and medical conditions that preclude diving) there is no book than can come close.

Great starting point!
This book offers a wealth of information on a whole range of diving related medical subjects and provided the information at a level that even non medically trained readers could follow clearly and concisely. This reference offered me a great starting point to begin to understand many of the medical considerations facing divers and their doctors. ... Read more

Product Description
From the former trendmaster of Target—how the power of contradictory trends can help reframe your business strategy

Contradictions are everywhere!These days we wear Old Navy with new Gucci, Hanes T-shirts with Armani suits, couture Chanel with vintage denim.Suburban mansions are filled with flea market finds, and we show off our Michael Graves teakettle from Target on Viking stoves in our gourmet kitchens that might even include cabinets purchased from IKEA.

When Robyn Waters began her career in the late 1970s, a trend was defined as something that everyone wanted at the same time.Fashion and business magazines proclaimed what was "in" and what was "out."Back then, it was fairly easy for companies to determine the next big trend, and ride it all the way to the bank.

In today’s marketplace the "next big thing" has been replaced by a thousand next big things. And in order to discover what consumers are hungry for companies need to discover what’s important…to them.Today a cookie cutter approach no longer works.Waters explains that for every trend there’s an equally valid countertrend.

In The Hummer and the Mini, Waters explores the new trend landscape and urges companies to stop looking for the one right answer in their industry.There are many good ways to design products, develop a line of goods, merchandise a store, or craft a marketing message.You can thrive by selling huge cars (the Hummer) or tiny ones (the Mini).You can turn something old into something new and desirable (the Vespa) or turn a commodity into a luxury (In-and-Out Burgers at the Oscars).You can even customize a product designed for the masses (personalized postage stamps) or sell less as more (Minute Clinics).

Through lively tales of influential trends and countertrends, The Hummer and the Mini will show you how to live with the contradictions, make the most of the inconsistencies, and embrace the paradoxes of business as a source of fresh ideas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Surface Treatment
Robyn Waters has written a book that seems much deeper than it really is.

Once you peel back the anectdotal packaging you'll find preciously little substance. Many of the concepts are repetitive - though the writing style of the presentation holds the reader's interest.

The Trend Master's Guide is a better book.

An Interesting Way to Identify New Insights
Robyn Waters provides an eye-opening look at some of the biggest trends influencing consumers and businesses today.I like her concept of "trend and countertrend," which is a fresh way to glean insights for the development of new products, services, and communications messages.There are examples from a variety of industries such as auto, health and beauty, airlines, packaged goods, home services, toys/books/entertainment, clothing, fast food, hotels, liquor, footwear, housing, retail, etc.There are also great ideas from around the world, as well as from big and small businesses in the U.S.This book will make you re-think how you go about identifying the purpose and passion for your brand, your category, and your consumer.By Robyn Hall, Director of Strategy & Content, the TrendSight Group

Terrible Book ~ !
After reading Robyn Waters' books, reasonably intelligent readers around the world will be chanting in unison:I want my money back!Full of fluff. Lacks any intellectual depth past a 3rd grader.Save your money.

The Hummer and the Mini
The title pretty well summarizes everything else in this book's 210 pages. Yes, the American public is full of contradictions and paradoxes. Boil all the salient points down to about 10 pages. Everything else is just filler.

I Drive a Mini - My Wife Drives a...

Actually it's a Land Rover. But at 5979 pounds and 14 miles per gallon (on a good day) it's almost the same deal.

Living as I do in this marital paradox, I couldn't help but react when, on the first page, the author quotes ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu, "When opposites supplement each other, everything is harmonious".

Okay.

But the wisdom doesn't stop there. We learn that Dr. Marty Grothe, author of Oxymoronica, has pointed out that "paradox is a particularly powerful device to ensnare truth because it concisely illuminates the contradictions that are at the very heart of our lives".

Just as I was getting on a roll with this heavy stuff I turned the page again and stopped short as I read Waters' earnest sounding pledge, "You will find no big pronouncements here".

Whoa! A bit of a roller coaster ride. Or perhaps another paradox. And then, just when I thought that things were calming down, this quote from Margaret Mead totally ambushed me, "We should remember that we are absolutely unique, just like everyone else". And Waters adds, "If you can embrace that thought, you'll have no problem embracing the paradoxes contained within".

So that's what this is - a book about paradoxes.

Waters' essential thesis is that in today's paradoxical world, for every trend, clever marketing mavens can uncover a perhaps counterintuitive but nearly always powerful countertrend. The companies that are good at doing this are the ones that get ahead.

Beyond this, the author spins a rich series of interesting brand stories as she illustrates happening countertrend paradoxes chapter by chapter as follows:

* Everything old is new again.

* Mass customization.

* Luxurious commodities.

* Less is more.

* Healthy indulgences.

* Extreme relaxation.

* Social capitalism.

I particularly liked her description of the "Trend to Tiny" ad campaign of Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, a 137 year old manufacturer of generally gigantic and often ostentatious crystal chandeliers. As she writes, "Here I was looking at glittering monuments to wealth and power, mansions staffed by servants, decorated by some of the biggest designers names in the business, and somebody was promoting `Tiny instead of titanic. Playful rather than palatial. More darling than dazzling'". She goes on to write, "By thinking big about small, Schonbek created an entirely new product category that they now own. They were smart enough to recognize a countertrend when they saw one".

After a number of such anecdotes, by the end of the book, I felt that I had been on a dizzying and exhilarating odyssey.

And then, a straightforward landing: "Life may be more complicated than we'd wish, but it's also simpler than we realize".

Okay - so where's the keys to the Rover? ... Read more

Product Description
The everlasting tales of a favorite storyteller are celebrated in this colorful compendium. Eight stories such as "Silly Hans", "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina", and "The Princess and the Pea" are each illustrated by a different artist in full color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

can't complain about Andersen's
I read Andersen's Fairy Tales as a little kid and learned a good lesson that I still remember thesedays. I was hoping to find that story here but did not. It contains only a few but still a good book with good illustrations. I will need to buy some more books and I think I will wait for my three year old to grow up a bit older before I read him the book again.

My kids loved this book!
This book contains many tales by Hans Christean Anderson that entertain children of all ages. My children did a play about Hans Christean Anderson and after reading the book they love his stories even more. It is awonderful book that brang enjoyment to my whole family! I recommend it foryour kids as well! ... Read more

Product Description
A compelling look at the major changes in store as America faces increasing competition from two emerging Asian giants.

In the streets of India, camels pull carts loaded with construction materials, and monkeys race across roads, dodging cars. In China, men in Mao jackets pedal bicycles along newly built highways, past skyscrapers sprouting like bamboo. Yet exotic India is as near as the voice answering an 800 number for one dollar an hour. Communist China is as close as the nearest Wal-Mart, its shelves full of goods made in Chinese factories.

Not since the United States rose to prominence a century ago have we seen such tectonic shifts in global power; but India and China are vastly different nations, with opposing economic and political strategies—strategies we must understand in order to survive in the new global economy. The Elephant and the Dragon tells how these two Asian nations, each with more than a billion people, have spurred a new "gold rush," and what this will mean for the rest of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

Clever and Interesting but misses the big picture
Spiced with a veneer of clever cross-cultural metaphors and language (such as Curry or Sty-Fry?, the elephant and the dragon, etc.) and full of interesting but light-hearted anecdotes, I believe that by glamorizing the right of greedy industrialists to roam the earth in search of the cheapest labor markets no matter the costs to the nations they represent, (especially when they are those with "higher paid unprotected workers"), this book becomes little more than a slick apologia for the industrial plutocratic class and not the careful or thoughtful analysis of the underlying economic problems facing Western nations it was intended to be. As a result, I believe this book (like Friedman's "The Earth is Flat") also misses the forest for the trees. It takes as a given that the fait accompli of "in your face globalization" cannot be reversed.

The larger systemic (or macro economic) problem "stalking the subtext" of this foregone conclusion and the colorful language as well as these light-hearted anecdotes, is not the happy-go-lucky "global trickle down" model depicted here at all, but a much more simple and more brutal model: If capitalism can be reduced to only a conscienceless random search across the globe for the least common denominator of the global labor pool -- no matter how much it pollutes the globe, how inefficiently it uses up the earth's remaining scarce resources, or damages the economies of the more established nations -- then the Marxists have been right all along: that Capitalism is only about mindless greed at the expense of the international worker.

There is no way to "pretty up this picture" or "square this economic circle" with light-hearted examples, or by pointing out how, relatively speaking, it dramatically raises the poverty level in India and China, and reduces consumer costs in the U.S. (Please let this canard go!) Globalization under capitalism, and as portrayed in the author's clever but unserious scenario, is a flawed system: little more than an economic "wrecking crew" in search of the bottom of the global labor pool: It is a mindless conscienceless search for further reductions in the costs of the bottom line: Nothing more, nothing less.Any language, no matter how clever, that fails to deal with this reality, up front, simply becomes "a dodge" for answering the deeper and more important question that this book begs of how is the environment, the efficient use of scarce resources and most importantly, how are "unprotected higher paid workers" in the West, to compete?

The correct answer (minus all the fancy footwork and obfuscation given here about reeducation, etc.) is that they cannot, because the logical endpoint of this process is an "international slave work force." (Does anyone remember how well the West was doing during the heyday of the slave trade? I do.) QED.

Already in the U.S. we are seeing the result of this random search to the bottom of the deck of the global labor force: American workers are reduced to the least common denominator of survival by being stripped of all worker's benefits, of legal protections, hours increased dramatically, and dramatic general increases in insecurity, pollution standards further relaxed, etc. -- all under the guise of increased globalization (and the canard of lower U.S. consumer prices: Please give me a break? With their reduced wages, who is going to be left to buy consumer goods at any price?)

To use Robert Rubin, Bill Clinton's conscienceless Guru, financial "fixer" and architect of America's failed globalization (as well as the recent subprime mess) as the final word on this issue is a joke-- if not down rightpornographic. Even as the last anecdote of the book demonstrates, where a Chinese-American industrialist (Mr. Chen) an industrialist with a conscience discovered that in order to compete, he too could not hire American workers either, but also had to import his labor from guess where? You guessed it, from China too. This book is just one fancy apology too many for me. Two stars

TONS of Great STATISTICAL Info!!!
I had read this book as a small business owner and entrepreneur and loved it. Just recently a friend of mine who is an economics major at a local university told me he had a project to do about China for an economics class. He needed a lot of data that he was having a hard time finding. I recommended the book (which he used heavily in his project) and he later told me the info helped him get the highest grade in his class.
Thanks Robyn Meredith for all your great research!!

Vital update on the radical recent changes in China and India
Robyn Meredith is a journalist for the business journal, Forbes, who is based in Hong Kong.In this book, she has given us a brisk, well-written update on the radical recent changes which have occurred in China and India, and what it means for the rest of the world.The material is very important, and her handling of it is first rate.

The story she tells is dramatic, complex, fascinating and very important.The drama of the story is stunning.In the last few decades, one of the largest economic transformations in human history has taken place; the formerly dirt-poor nations of China and India have transformed much of their economies to produce vast amounts of wealth and to lift hundreds of millions of people out of desperate poverty.In this transition, China is way ahead of India, which is in many ways surprising. India is a democracy.India has the heritage of British rule, which one would have thought would have lead to better economic policies.China, on the other hand, was ruled by the demented meglomaniac Mao Tse Tung, into the 1970s.One would expect China to be a big version of North Korea, and India to be the most Western of the Asian nations.

It has not worked out that way, for a number of reasons, which Meredith explores.Mao really was a full tilt lunatic, who drove China into desperate poverty by crazed policies, such as the Cultural Revolution, which sought to suppress higher education in China.Weirdly, though, the badness of Mao's rule had the positive effect of leveling the ground for the work which has followed.Mao did a very good job of breaking the link with China's past, and converting China into a large blank slate, upon the next dictator could write what he wished.The next dictator, thank goodness, was an old man named Deng, who somehow survived several purges and endeless party in-fighting to rise to the top after Mao died.As Meredith explained, Deng was no democrat.He was, instead, a pragmatist.He saw that Mao's China was poor and therefore weak.He was very impressed with Singapore as a model of development.Singapore, of course, is a rigidly authoritairan nation, whose government policy is devoted to developing business.Under the influence of this model. Deng's China has poured vast resources into building roads, highways, electrical generating plants and other infrastructure needed for a modern economy.The general model has been to rigidly suppress political opinions, to build infrastrcuture and to encourage the growth of export-oriented industry, which grows by a combination of low-wage Chinese labor and foreign investment and technology.So far, the model was worked amazingly well, although the overall picture is complex and has many side issues.

India, on the other hand, gained its independence upon Ghandi and Nehru, well-educated, humane and deeply decent people, who strove to create an idealistic form of democratic socialism in India.They succeeded in creating a large and vibrant democracy.They also succeeded in creating a socialist economy, which, of course, lead to economic stagnation and poverty for decades. India has been very slow to abandon socialism.In did not start to move toward the free market until the 1990s, and its reforms have been incomplete and often interrupted.In a giant, multi-party, multi-ethnic democracy, with vast numbers of poor, it is very difficult to pursue a consistently free-market friendly policy.The policies have worked, however, and as they work, they build support for themselves.

There are many, many details and fascinating side issues, which Meredit discusses, which do not fit in a short review.This book is very much worth reading.

Not worth your time
Disclaim: I am from China.I am going to college in the US.

I don't know much about India but I can tell you the book is often inaccurate about China...

1. The book makes it seem as if things are cheap in China.Yes, education, healthcare, and rental housing are cheap; but many consumer products are not.A shirt that sells for $10 in the USA may sell for $30-50 in China.Cars are 50-100% more expensive.

The book mentioned a woman in Shanghai who saved $160 a year and was able to buy a condo.That is ridiculous.Nowadays you can find NO property in Shanghai for less than $100,000.A half-decent, 800-sq ft condo costs at least $400,000.

2. Freedom and human rights.If you live in China you'd feel it is the freest country, :)No one seems to follow any kind of rule or law.No topic is off limited except direct criticisms against the Communist Party.

3. The admiration for the West isn't really that strong, especially after the financial crisis.Today most Chinese are aware that most Americans and the US government have to borrow money to make ends meet.

Very insightful and worth the investment of your time
After completing Robyn Meredith's book I feel like I understand the opportunity/stuggle of globalization much more. She does a wonderful job of describing China's situation in the book and I found the last two chapters especially insightful. She is a very through and fair writer that doesn't seem to have too slanted of an opinion either. The most valuable advice she offers is from the CEO of Infosys, "The education investment is a must;it is nonnegotiable" and that goes for the readers of this book.. just don't stand around and wait for the change to happen, be prepared and educate yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
The Journal Wins is a success story about an abusive relationship. As the author continues to daily record her life, reality begins to unfold. ... Read more