Product Description
Written by a perfect scoring author, this book takes a radically original approach to ACT test preparation. While almost all of the ACT test preparation books try to make simulated ACT test questions which lack the scientific validation of the real ACT tests, this book uses the official ACT practice test which is available free from the makers of the ACT. In the book you will see insightful explanations of how the high scoring authors actually approach every question of a full scientifically validated real ACT test. In addition to this analysis of the real test, the authors have examined several released real ACT tests and identified the essential core knowledge that is needed for the test.The book has original insights and strategies not found in any other books.The authors have avoided the encyclopedic large book approach taken by most of the other books on the market, and have presented a streamlined version of the skills and knowledge pertinent to the ACT. The student should be able to complete the entire book in a short amount of efficiently used time.The authors have taken great pains to keep out any fluff and irrelevant material that will distract the reader.EXCERPTS FROM AMAZON REVIEWS OF FIRST EDITION:"...this wonderful little guide focuses on the core concepts necessary to master the test. It is also the only guide I've seen that emphasizes the immense value of using only the practice tests designed by the test makers, and the solutions provided to one of the real practice tests provide wonderful examples of the proper mental approach to answering ACT questions..." R.G."...These authors have truly dissected the ACT practice test and given the background information necessary to not only understand the ACT practice test questions, but to thoroughly understand the subject so that the reader is prepared for variations of these questions on the ACT..." J.A.E MAIL FROM A READER:"...I just want to say that your book is awesome!! I took the ACT for the 1st time in June, and with the Dissecting tips I was able to make a 30..." K.B.ABOUT THE AUTHORS:RAJIV RAJU is a student at Barrington High School (IL). He wrote the Mathematics, Science and Reading sections of this book. He wrote this book to create an inexpensive resource to prepare for the ACT. Using strategies summarized in this book he scored a perfect 36 composite on the ACT.SILPA RAJU is also a student at Barrington High School (IL). She wrote the English and Writing sections of this book. She took the ACT in the 9th grade to qualify for summer programs and scored a 35 on the English component of the ACT. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Money better spent on other prep materials
The kids that wrote this book are smart. Smart enough to publish a poor quality product and get you to buy it thinking it will help your kid. The formatting is terrible and difficult to read. The grammar used in the book is often incorrect. And the functionality is the worst part. You have to go to you high school and get the ACT test booklet then constantly flip from it to their book. This authors explanations were nothing special. My son used the Kaplan ACT book (our favorite) and the REAL ACT book (also useful)to prepare for the exam. We'd recommend both of those books over this one any day of the week. My son scored a 31 the first time he took the ACT (using the Kaplan Book to prepare) and a 32 the second time he took the test (using the REAL ACT book as a supplement). The Dissecting the ACT 2.0 book he found so much less helpful he didn't use it. How this book has high scoring positive reviews is an absolute puzzle to me.

BAD. BAD. EVEN MORE BAD.
Okay, I bought this book a few weeks ago. The content is horrible. You are better of buying the Real ACT Guide and Princeton Review's "Cracking the ACT"

ACT Self Help Book
Extremely concise and to the point. My two sons found this a great way to prepare for the ACT - in short snippets between classes, on trips, at home, and when waiting anywhere. A very helpful book, especially when utilizing it with the real ACT sample test available online. A GREAT preparation and review!

Okay, but not great!
This book does not give many hints and tips on the tests.The few tips it does have almost seem like they were written by a robot--in some cases they directly tell you exactly what the ACT says in the Real ACT book.So, it is not exactly novel information.For example for the writing section the book tells you the rubric used by the ACT for grading the section, and this serves as the little foundation for what the authors say to do in the writing section.I could have already read that info. on the ACT Website or in the Real ACT book--how is that new information?

Furthermore, the authors go over an entire test and why they chose certain answers.That is probably the only helpful info. in this book.But when the ACT changes their online test, readers of this book will have nothing to refer to.See the authors did not put their own sample tests in the book, but rather rely on the current ACT's online exam.That test changes frequently and will make your book obsolete when it changes next!

This book actually has more useful information than the big fat books
This is a very no nonsense book that only covers the most important stuff you need for the test. No time is wasted on unnecessary stuff. Those expecting a fat 800 page book my be surprised by the small size of the book, but this book actually has more useful information than the big fat books written by people who may never have taken the real ACT in a decade. Even if you feel the need to get one of the fat ACT prep books, you should still get this book because it tells what you what is most important. ... Read more

Product Description
10 Simple Steps to a Higher Score—in Less Than 1 Week!
Crash Course for the ACT is designed for the student who has put off studying until the last minute. It details the most critical tools and rules students need to get a good score with only limited prep time, and includes:

• Strategies to ace the exam
• Dozens of practice questions
• Detailed answer explanations to help students avoid making the same mistakes twice ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

pretty good
I didn't have to much time to review for this test so I bought this little book to help me . I started to read it only 3 days before the actual test, although it's my second test already, this little guy still helped a lot. I got 29 last time and I think I will get better score this time.

Wonderful, wonderful book but don't rely only on this book!
This is a great study book if you are freaking out for the ACT. I really liked the math area because it gives you most of the formulas you will need to get those math problems. The only thing i wish they added in there are harder problems in math. With this book, it would get you about 30-40/60 correct. Some of the math in the actual test has log and equation of a circle and such, which the book does not mention. But it gives plenty of great tips to get through the problems without too much thinking. My worst part is the Reading section. It gives plenty of strategies for approaching the passages that i've never thought of. My practice score on the reading section went from 21 to 24! And still working on it to get it up to 28!. Overall, this book increased my score from 25 to 28. Great little book, but i advise you this as a supplement.

Great book
I bought at least 4 other test prep books for my daughter. The others are gathering dust, but she is actually using this one. The book is easy to use and not intimidating like some of the other big books. The tips are practical and logical. I don't know how she'll score on the test, but if she raises her score even one point, the book will have been worth it.

Great Aid!
This book is basically amazing! It is written by a man who's gotten a perfect score on the ACT over six times and he takes the test every time it is administered so that he can learn more about it each time.If you are a student who waits until literally the week before to start studying for the ACT, I HIGHLY recommend this book.It provides helpful tips (e.g. the fact that the answer "its'" should never be chosen because it is grammatically impossible) that help you master the ACT! Also, it is spot-on about what you should do to get through the test without running out of time. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawn from the work of StoryCorps, the largest and most ambitious oral history project in American history, comes this tapestry of the stories Americans have been sharing from their lives to leave behind to their loved ones.

In its two permanent public recording booths in New York City, at Grand Central and at Ground Zero, and its two mobile booths touring the country, StoryCorps, the most ambitious oral history project in American history, has collected the memories of people from all fifty states and every imaginable walk of life, background, identity group, age, and state of mind-more than ten-thousand in all. It is a wondrous nationwide celebration of our shared humanity, capturing for posterity the stories that define us and bond us together. In small towns and big cities, from Indian reservations in the Pacific Northwest to army bases in North Carolina, StoryCorps has brought people together to share the treasures of their lives in story.

In Listening Is an Act of Love, Dave Isay selects the most remarkable stories from the entire astonishing pool of memories. He arranges them thematically to form a mosaic ofAmerican life and binds them together with the history and principles of the StoryCorps project. The voices here connect us to a broad range of real people whose lives are filled with ordinary, extraordinary things-joy, sadness, courage, meaning, despair, good work and bad work, good times and hard times.

To read this book is to be reminded how wildly varied and interesting Americans really are, how resistant to easy categorization and caricatures. Above all, this book is a way to honor the gift of meaning that each participant in StoryCorps has made, out of the raw stuff of his or her life, to the people who come after. In a very real sense, we are our history, individually and collectively, as Listening Is an Act of Love so powerfully reminds us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

So satisfying
Having always loved the interview style of Studs Terkel, I devoured this book of interviews with real people from every strata. There's something about the intimacy of these one-on-one's with very regular people that gave me a happy & sad-at-the-same-time feeling.Everybody has meaningful stories to tell, not just people in the media.

I love this book!
The Storycorps project is an amazing idea. This is the USA! God Bless us All! This is what we are about---the real people.

Listening Is an Act of Love
It was interesting to hear the stories that others shared. I was expecting longer stories about many topics.

wonderful!
I bought this for my father's 79th birthday.He loved it!He's rationing himself to one story per day to make it last longer.The narratives here are delightful.

Stories You Could Learn From
There is a story for everyone in this book. This book is composed of stories from regular people like you and me, and even if you didn't like all of the book, there has to be at LEAST one story that touched you, or made you laugh, or think or feel SOME emotion. Of course there were some stories that I liked more than others.

What I would have liked to read though was an interview of a person who looked middle-eastern and how they were treated after the 9/11 attacks. ... Read more

Product Description
In the future, as Manhattan descends into chaos and poverty threatens her family, twelve-year-old Lola Hart is forced to trade her past life of privilege for life in Harlem, where she begins a terrible metamorphosis. 20,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

A PEEK INTO OUR POSSIBLE FUTURE
Random Acts of Senseless Violence is the story of the deterioration of society from the diary of a young girl
As the story begins, she is a normal 12 year old girl living at a time when things are deteriorating around her, but her parents are trying to keep things normal... business as usual.
But things begin to get worse and the family must move to a 'not so nice' section of town... they live in NYC
There the girl meets new girls her age ... ones that have had a much harsher life. They introduce the 12 year old to a whole different way of life. They talk a 'street lingo' that I found a little hard to follow at times. The 12 year old writing the diary begins to change. It is a subtle change at first, but becomes much more pronounced... as the world around also begins to deteriorate even more
The book shows how easy it is to delude ourselves into thinking things will get better, as things are falling apart around us. And how people can change in ways that they never believed possible

Dare to face the present or suffer the future
Womack presents the story of a society's collapse in a very personal way through the diary of Lola, a 12-year-old girl living in New York some time in the very near future.Like any girl her age, Lola is primarily interested in her family, her friends, and her burgeoning sexuality.The economic collapse, political instability, breakdown of law and order, etc... are presented through her eyes in how they affect her personally - in her parents' financial problems, the city's deterioration, the riots and chaos all around her.While Lola takes much of this in stride, the reader gets just enough background information to understand what's really going on.

Womack is not shy about placing the blame for society's ills squarely on the shoulders of Lola's parents, who despite their dire financial straits insist on spending money like there was no tomorrow - even continuing to send their daughters to expensive private schools.They represent the immediate gratification generation, and lack the strength of will required to make even the smallest sacrifices.Tellingly, Lola and her little sister playfully call each other "Boob" and "Booz" - names that evoke a generation's obsession with sex and drugs.

After her family is forced to move to a seedier part of town, Lola makes friends with a group of girls who call themselves the "Death Angels" - Iz, Jude and Weez.Iz still lives with her parents and follows their rules, but she is streetwise in ways that Lola can't fathom.Jude has recently left a desperate home situation and lives alone in an abandoned building, while Weez has grown up wild, dangerously violent, and completely unpredictable.As the story progresses, we see Lola's transformation from naïve child to reckless young woman, and Womack makes a point of showing this regression in her writing style as well.While this technique works thematically, and Lola's New Speak is very entertaining and probably the best part of the book, it's ultimately not very convincing: this reviewer found it hard to believe that her mode of written expression would change so dramatically over so short a time.

Sci-fi fans will notice that the story isn't very science fiction-y - there's some implication that it takes place in the future, but I can't recall anything in this story that couldn't happen today.Womack isn't interested in science or technology, but in how our personal choices affect society at large, and vice versa.Adults should find this cautionary tale easy and fascinating reading, but some pretty strong lesbian overtones make it unsuitable for children.

You can't judge a book by its title...
Or, in other words, after reading *Random Acts of Senseless Violence* I still wish there was a book out there that goes with this terrific title. The novel presently under consideration, alas, doesn't. To be honest, if I hadn't read Jack Womack's absolutely terrific *Let's Put the Future Behind Us* ((see my droolingly positive review of this title for more details)) I probably would have put this one down after the first 40 pages or so. I was hoping that at some point *Random Acts* would turn a corner and travel into the darkly hilarious neighborhoods of the human psyche Womack visited in *Let's Put the Future Behind Us,* but this is a very different sort of book, almost by necessity.

The novel is written in diary-format by a twelve-year-old girl named Lola Hart. Think of her as a kind of urban American Anne Frank recording her coming-of-age during the apocalyptic collapse of a nation torn apart by racism, poverty, and violence. The problem--as I see it--is precisely that it's a twelve-year-old girl doing the narrating: so we don't get any idea of how America has come to this state of affairs, no `big picture,' no analytic perspective. After all, how sophisticated and savvy can even an intelligent twelve-year-old girl be? And, although Womack tries, how much violence--random, senseless, or otherwise--can a good little Jewish girl from a well-meaning if slightly daft family possibly witness, nevertheless perpetrate? Answer--not enough for my ultra-violent tastes. How cynical and world-weary can an adolescent be even under the worst of circumstances compared to someone who's been walking this miserable planet for three or four decades? To a sub-nihilist such as myself, I found Lola Hart to be quaint at her darkest, no more than a baby devil, a vicious little cherub.

Unlike some reviewers, I didn't find that Womack crossed any lines or challenged any dictates of good taste in *Random Acts,* and more's the pity. That he has Lola recounting the details of her awakening homosexuality and her innocent exploratory dalliances with an equally young, if slightly more seasoned, girlfriend is hardly revolutionary, distasteful, or even particularly lurid inasmuch as Womack treats the issue with a mildness and non-explicit tact that only the extremely prudish--or the most homophobic could possibly object to. Writing about the sexual awakening of 12-year-olds doesn't automatically qualify you as a cutting edge avant-gardist, but at the same time, it doesn't automatically make you a child pornographer either. We've all been twelve-years-old people. Describing the experience--sexually or otherwise--is part of a writer's job if he decides to explore this territory through a character like Lola Hart. One might argue that Jack Womack has no idea what being a twelve-year-old girl is like and I can't vouch for the experience either, but if we made first-hand experience a requirement for writing about a subject or a character we'd condemn everyone to autobiography. My sense is that Womack does a credible enough job rendering Lola. She seems real enough to me. Just limited, as any twelve-year-old girl is likely to be. She's simply a disappointing character to star in a novel called *Random Acts of Senseless Violence." On the whole, I'd say this book read more like a particularly dark YA novel better suited to sophisticated thirteen-year-olds than adults.

I stuck it out, though, and it's an easy enough read, partly because Womack replicates the relatively straightforward and uncomplicated voice of Lola as she writes in her diary. There's also enough ominous goings-on in Lola's immediate world--a Manhattan rapidly degenerating into wholesale civil strife, economic collapse, and military occupation by an increasingly paranoid and oppressive government--to hold your interest, as well as a continuing series of heartbreaking tragedies that tears apart her once close-knit family. The result is that Lola ends up running the streets with a girl-gang called the Death Angels. Much is made of the urban street rap these girls share and the metamorphosis ((or degeneration, perhaps)) of Lola's own language as evidenced in her diary as she becomes part of the streetwise world of the Death Angels. How language, social disenfranchisement, and violence fuse to produce a new native tongue of revolt among the oppressed is one of the main points of *Random Acts* but I found the patois of Ebonics-inspired inner-city slang that Womack casts a good deal of the last third of the novel to be, while at time creative and entertaining, tiring and even annoying after awhile. This isn't *Clockwork Orange,* after all, and what Lola has to say doesn't become any more interesting because she's forgotten--or no longer cares to use--the rules of common English grammar. What she says only becomes more difficult to understand. Lola just isn't an interesting enough character to pull this off for long. What you end up with is the dated, somewhat silly, and embarrassing feeling one gets when hearing someone use last year's slang. Like hearing some middle-aged white guy trying to sound cool at the office by saying "Hey dog, what up?" You hope he's kidding. If not, you cringe as if at the thought of being covered in spiders. You write in slang, it gets old fast.

A three-star novel with a five-star title, *Random Acts of Senseless Violence* is an earnest attempt to write an "important" novel with a profound message--in other words, an almost surefire prescription for a weak dose of second-rate medicine. It mighta done me some good when I was ten. I need big people's medicine now.

Random Acts of Perversity
Womack's book is truly inspiring! After reading this book and then realizing that this trite tale of the downward spiral of American civilization as told through the eyes of a 12 year old Manhattanite's diary entries was actually published, I am inspired to write.Hell, if this could get published so can I!Even the editors of this book could not finish this book as evidenced by a lack of punctuation, quotation marks and intelligible narrative in the latter half of the book.Maybe for my book I will take a page, or rather several pages from Jack Womack and relate the adventures of young 11-13 year old girls' sexuality by having them undress and wrestle while I describe their sweaty bodies and then thinly veil my titillation as character development in a declining world.Or perhaps I will have 3 out of 5 of the 11-13 year old girls raped as a rite of passage--two by their fathers.Random Acts of Senseless Violence is nothing short of an erotic teenage boy video game complete with bombings, cops, military men, guns, violence and of course hot little girl on little girl action.

Best of Series?
I'd heard the name 'Jack Womack' beaten around as one of those Sci-Fi writers who goes beyond the genre to tell a genuinely good story. So I decided to check him out, but Random Acts of Senseless Violence was the only Womack book [that the local store hadd]. So I read it, despite the fact that it was mid-series.

And I loved it. Sure, there's plenty of dystopia writing out there already, and it's all been said before, and blah blah blah. But it's a good story, so forget the fact that it's probably been said before. It's very engaging, and it feels real enough that it's actually pretty horrifying.

I liked it enough that I'm now working my way through the rest of the Ambient series, chronologically (not that it really seems to matter which order you read them in). They're good, but they're just basic sci-fi (not that I'm knocking that)--techy gadgets, a new dialect (this is one of the funnest dialects I've read), a dirty and crumbly setting, and lots of mean people.

But the basic sci-fi of the rest of the series (so far, anyway--I still haven't finished the whole series) isn't what I would've expected after having started out with Random Acts. Which is disappointing in a way, but oh well. They're still good reads. ... Read more

Product Description
Would you like to be less stressed and more fulfilled at work? Then join the many thousands of therapists and life coaches worldwide who are learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT is not just a proven effective treatment for depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and myriad other psychological issues. It's also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition, packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change.

A practical and entertaining primer, ideal for ACT newcomers and experienced ACT professionals alike, ACT Made Simple offers clear explanations of the six ACT processes and a set of real-world tips and solutions for rapidly and effectively implementing them in your practice. This book gives you everything you need to start using ACT with your clients for impressive results.

Inside this book, you'll find:
• Scripts, exercises, metaphors, and worksheets to use with your clients
• A session-by-session guide to implementing ACT
• Transcripts from therapy sessions
• Guidance for creating your own therapeutic techniques and exercises
• Practical tips to overcome 'therapy roadblocks'

ACT Made Simple is simply the most accessible book written to date for therapists interested in learning ACT.
-Jason B. Luoma, Ph.D., coauthor of Learning ACT

For newcomers to ACT, there is no better place to start than with this book."
-Robert Zettle, Ph.D., author of ACT for Depression ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

ACT definetely made simple
I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Boston, MA. Most of my practice is DBT skills groups. I am big fan of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (other "third wave" behavior therapies) but have had a bit less exposure to ACT.

I am always on the alert for good, practical content. This book is lovely. It's easy to integrate and have people do as assignments. It isn't cheesy by any means, in the way that a lot of "practical" CBT books for clients are. I have approached Steve Hayes' work a number of different times, including his workshops, but this book really clarifies essence of ACT interventions in a way that is ogranizing, clear, grounded, and practical. And provides lots of easy and complimentary stuff for DBT skills groups.

Simple, helpful & well worth it
As a novice ACT therapist, this book has been amazing to use!it makes what can be quite challenging concepts a whole lot easier, and when I combined it with the DVD from another instructional on ACT, it's made the whole thing come alive.The readability of this book makes it an excellent, 'no-nonsense' approach to learning ACT.If you're at all curious about ACT, I'd go for this one first - you can use more complex texts once you've got through to the heart of the approach, and this book has the 'heart' in bucketloads.

A powerful pick
ACT Made Simple belongs in any psychology library where self-help techniques are strong, offering a new way to view acceptance and commitment therapy techniques. ACT is a proven effective treatment for everything from anxiety and depression to personality disorders and eating disorders, and offers a different way to view the human condition. This book packs in scripts, exercises and worksheets psychologists can use with clients, includes transcripts from therapy sessions, and is an important key to overcoming common therapy roadblocks. A powerful pick.

The simplest entry into ACT!
If you are a therapist intrigued by the new Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and want to get a clear straightforward feel for what it's all about, look no further than this book.
Russ Harris explains in layman's language how and why mindfulness, Acceptance and Values underlie the ACT approach and illustrates how you can start applying it in your clinical practice today.
This is ACT made simple and engaging - but not simplistic.
ACT was invented by scientists and eggheads, with an unflinching devotion to getting the conceptual and scientific underpinnings right. This they largely did, but at times at the cost of intelligibility for the lay clinician. Don't get me wrong, I love the rigorous science and elegant theory behind ACT. But it may not be everyone's cup of tea on first contact with the work.
The genius of Russ Harris is to have written a Therapist Manual which, while remaining faithful to the underlying model and seamlessly grounded in theory, makes the approach luminous and common sense, a makes it relevant to your clincal practice. Not a mean feat when one considers the revolutionary approach that acceptance promotes : stop trying to get rid of unwanted feelings and thoughts, concentrate on moving in the direction of your values.
ACT made simple covers all the bases, promotes clinical flexibility and also carefully explores pitfalls and possible snags in applying ACT in your practice.
This is both therapist manual and workbook.
The best introduction to ACT as a clinical tool yet written. ... Read more

Product Description
A source of hope, expert advice, and guidance for people with borderline personality disorder and those who love them

Do you experience frightening, often violent mood swings that make you fear for your sanity? Are you often depressed? Do you engage in self-destructive behaviors such as drug or alcohol abuse, anorexia, compulsive eating, self-cutting, and hair pulling? Do you feel empty inside, or as if you don't know who you are? Do you dread being alone and fear abandonment? Do you have trouble finishing projects, keeping a job, or forming lasting relationships?

If you or someone you love answered yes to the majority of these questions, there's a good chance that you or that person suffers from borderline personality disorder, a commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed psychological problem afflicting tens of millions of people. Princess Diana was one of the most well-known BPD sufferers.

As a source of hope and practical advice for BPD sufferers and those who love them, this new book by Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman and Hal Straus, bestselling authors of I Hate You, Don't Leave Me, offers proven techniques that help you:
* Manage mood swings
* Develop lasting relationships
* Improve your self-esteem
* Keep negative thoughts at bay
* Control destructive impulses
* Understand your treatment options
* Find professional help ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Sometimes I Act Crazy by Jerold Kreisman
I picked up the book and began reading with anticipation of finding something to help me understand my 41 yearl old son's irrational and destructive behavior.I began reading and settled in to learn, only to discover that this doctor? used this opportunity to write ultra disgusting poronography.Some of the explicit details of some of his so-called patient encounters were not at all necessary, however, it was apparent that the doctor? thoroughly enjoyed writing down these filthy details because it gave him pleasure.I don't recomend this book at all, and I feel he did a huge disservice to those of us who might have benefitted from some of his information, but then how am I to know, since I trashed the book after the first such disappointment with his poronographic details.

Caution

Beware: A full HALF of this book is written like a novel... and a cheesy, awful one at that.

Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified (Friedman et al) was far more informative and respectful. And Borderline Personality Disorder for Dummies, despite its unfortunate title, was also excellent; very complete and easy to read.

Great tool for understanding BPD
This book,Sometimes I Act Crazy: Living with Borderline Personality Disorder is very informative and easy to understand, yet thorough. When people 1st read the title they might think it sounds offensive, but to the person suffering with BPD and their loved ones, it hits home and makes perfect sense. They are very well aware that they "act crazy" at times. They want to know WHY they act crazy and how to deal with it. In my counseling practice, I have given this book to BPD clients to read when they are diagnosed and it has been very helpful for them and their families.

Sometimes I act crazy
This is a life saver! I really thought I was going crazy and NO ONE understood. Because of this book and insight I have a different approach and so do the people in my life. Highly recommend this book especially for people living with a borderline. It will teach you how to handle situations and hopefully gain a new respect for the borderline his or herself.

This is not the one
This is not a good self-help guide. It makes people with BPD seem like people are incapable of getting better. Skip this one. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

a progressive traveler...
a well-balanced, thoughtful reflection on traveling in the world as an American.I have taken two of Rick Steves' tours myself, and his tours do reflect the philosophy and values he espouses in this book.Rick Steves gives voice to many of the thoughts and beliefs of those of us who have traveled extensively, or for someone like myself, who has actually lived abroad for a considerable time.I highly recommend this book!

Not a classic
I appreciate Steves' approach to travel in general and have used his advice for Paris, Rome, and a number of other European destinations to some advantage (although I prefer a more comfortable travel experience than that which he has historically advocated). I also appreciate in this book that he is transparent about his agenda, faith, and travel guide experiences, including less than favorable past practices. However, he is also repetitive and becomes tiresome. Unlike his guidebooks, which are succinct and sprinkled with humor, I found this text not particularly well written. (Word count could be reduced by one-third to half to the same impact. Annoyingly informal construction otherwise.)Some photos were disappointingly not compelling and Kindle version for iPad irritating in that photo captions are out of sync. Overall, there was not much by way of new news or deep insight into how to Travel as a Political Act but some useful historical background information for a generally interesting (if sometimes irksome) and easy read.

Thoughtful and Honest
As a long-time fan of Rick Steves' PBS travel show, "Rick Steves' Europe", including his special Iran episode, I was really excited to read this book. I was certainly not disappointed! Steves' writing is honest, open-minded, thoughtful, and humorous. He challenges his readers to travel with a purpose, to go outside their comfort zones and learn what the world around them is really like. America does not have all the answers to the world problems...in fact, there is no country on Earth that does. What makes Rick Steves unusual is that he is willing to consider solutions from other places. Does universal health care in Europe really work? According to the Danish people, yes it works wonderfully. Does legalizing marijuana really reduce crime? Just ask the Dutch. Is America the only country struggling with immigration? No, just look at England, France, and Germany. Can we learn from their solutions? Yes. And they can also learn from us. There is no anti-Americanism here.

Steves also challenges Americans to look at the effect their country has had on the rest of the world. During three trips to El Salvador, over the course of almost twenty years, Rick Steves saw the effects of the brutal civil war fought between the leftist FMLN forces and the America-backed, right-wing ARENA party and their infamous death squads. The leftist rebels were seeking economic equality, something that went against American corporate interests. Today, the defeated poor of El Salvador still revere the memory of Archbishop Oscar Romero, a Catholic priest who advocated freedom and justice, and who was gunned down in front of his congregation. Although this chapter depressed me and made me feel shame for my country's leaders, it still didn't feel unpatriotic, something that many of Steves' critics have accused him of being. Acknowledging that your country has made grave mistakes and that those in power often have different priorities than the average American, is not hating your country. Throughout this book, Rick Steves strives only for understanding and peace.

This is accomplished not only in war-torn El Salvador, but even in Iran, that great "axis of evil", as named by our rather thoughtless former president. Probably the most surprising fact about the people of Iran is that they don't hate America. Yes, our governments do not agree on many things, and most Westerners find the rhetoric of the president of Iran to be, at best, horrific (such as denying the Holocaust, wishing for the elimination of Israel, etc.). But the people of Iran live lives surprisingly similar to ours.

There are many lessons to be learned throughout this book. At the outset, Steves makes clear that he is writing from his own perspective, and he stays true to this through each issue he examines. But even if you disagree with his views, you can still learn how to "travel as a political act", how to travel with an open mind, ready to learn from those whose lives are different, who tolerate different things, and who value different things, and how to bring those lessons home with you.

Brilliant Commentary on Travel and Politics
This book is brilliant. Everyone who travels should read it. Anyone who doesn't travel should read it. It really breaks down what you can learn from travel and how it impacts us, not only as individuals, but as a culture and a society. I'm a fan of Rick Steves and have heard him speak in person about these issues. I'm really glad that he expanded them into a book, where they make an even more forceful and effective argument, and included some wonderful travel adventures of his own to go along with them.

With me, he's preaching to the choir. I'm the kind of traveler that would never, ever go to a destination and then not leave my hotel, or take a cruise and simply go shopping in port, not taking the time to learn anything about the culture and history of the place I'm visiting. I feel that these things are vitally important to my growth as a human being and my understanding of the world around me. So, this kind of discussion is right up my alley.

I've heard many people say that they think the most compelling chapters are the ones on Iran and drugs. However, I was really intrigued by the parts about Central America and Denmark.Everyone who reads this book is going to find a chapter that particularly speaks to them.

I wrote about this book in a travel community online and someone actually replied that she thinks Steves has no business talking about politics. That really made me shake my head in wonder. Don't all American citizens have the right, and in fact the responsibility to talk about politics? Shouldn't we all be encouraging each other to be the best citizens that we can be? I think so. Rick Steves thinks so, too. And he thinks something as simple as taking a vacation can help us be better citizens.I heartily agree.

A fun read, with attitude suggestions for travelers & voters.
Most of all, this book is about politics. But not the dry kind nor the angry, shouting kind. It offers light & easy reading of warm human stories (and some sad & poignant ones) that gently instill a sense of shared humanity and the logical (political) conclusions one may draw therefrom.

The author is not a radical liberal. He's not "in your face," nor does he "bash" America. He does not rant about US foreign policy, aggressive military actions, nor illegal wars. He is a Christian, family, patriotic business man who necessarily arrives at humanistic values through his wide experiences as an engaged citizen of the Earth. He expresses these values with an ease and eloquence that is instructive rather than combative, and so I hope to share this book with some of my more conservative and hawkish friends.

The book is highly readable, entertaining, and never dragging. There are plenty of short tales about ah-hah moments, glimpses into people's lives, funny stories, and poignant moments that both held my interest, renewed my hope despite these contentious times, and made me eager to hit the road again myself.

Rick's strength is his open mind & heart that allow him to mingle and to understand foreign perspectives-- to suspend judgement and appreciate "cultural relativity." He doesn't make foreigners "right" nor us "wrong," but rather suggests the lessons we can all learn to promote global peace and prosperity.

The European chapters explore EU attitudes toward such issues as nudity, sex, drugs, & prostitution from which we might learn alternative perspectives. For instance, he favors drug regulation over prohibition and rehabilitation over incarceration, citing the results achieved in Europe. He respects European's relaxed nudity at the beach and yet yanked the TV out of the kids' hotel room when it was too sexually explicit. He sees value in EU governmental regulations while also laughing at the absurdity of specifying the "proper" curvature of a cucumber in 23 languages.

The chapter on Yugoslavia examines the senseless horrors of their war; the chapter on Turkey & Morocco provides balanced insights into Islamic culture; the chapter on El Salvador provides a lens to examine globalization & corporate profits; and the chapter on Iran portrays the people as fundamentally no different from Americans. When the Iranian taxi driver shouts "Death to traffic!", Steves learns that such a proclamation is equivalent to saying, "Damn that teenager" without really meaning to sentence a child to eternal hell. So, their "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" proclamations are better understood in that cultural context as expressions of frustration, not as literal death threats.

If you're looking for travel advice, you will indeed find excellent advice here but only in a very broad sense: having an open-minded attitude, connecting with locals, and getting off the beaten path. If you are preparing for a trip, this book will help with inspiration and attitude, which is much more important than details anyway.

Being an experienced independent traveler, I read this not for travel advice but for political insights, and it did indeed reinforce and give voice to my own liberal, populist attitudes that have arisen in part from years of travel in third world nations. Rick reminds us that people are not their government and that the vast majority are just like us, in that they want to live in peace and to lovingly provide for their families. He helps to pierce the veil of false stereotypes about "evil" foreigners (that government and media often invoke to support their agendas.)

I will end with some quotes:

"I'm unapologetically proud to be an American...But other nations have some pretty good ideas, too." pg viii

"My favorite Muhammad quote: "Don't tell me how educated you are; tell me how much you've traveled."" pg 141

"...travel takes the fear out of foreign ways." pg 142

"What I learn about Islam from media in the US can fill me with fear and anger. What I learn about Islam by traveling in Muslim countries fills me with hope." pg 147

"Most Iranians, like most Americans, simply want a good life and a safe homeland for their loved ones." pg 192

"Our political leaders sometimes make us forget that all of us on this small planet are equally precious children of God." pg 193

"[travel] also shows us how much we have to be grateful for, to take responsibility for, and to protect." pg 196

"Mark Twain wrote, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."" pg 197

"...the ultimate souvenir is a broader outlook." pg 196
... Read more

Product Description
Popular myths about love set us up for a struggle with real life. The inconvenient truth is there's no such thing as a perfect partner, all couples fight, and feelings of love come and go like the weather. But that doesn't mean you can't have a joyful and romantic relationship. Through a simple program based on the revolutionary new mindfulness-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), you can learn to handle painful thoughts and feelings more effectively and engage fully in the process of living and loving together.

With your partner or alone, ACT with Love will teach you how to:

• Let go of conflict, open up, and live fully in the present
• Use mindfulness to increase intimacy, connection, and understanding
• Resolve painful conflicts and reconcile long-standing differences
• Act on your values to build a rich and meaningful relationship

Customer Reviews (5)

Another excellent book by Russ Harris!
Russ Harris, author of "The Happiness Trap", has written yet another engaging and easy-to-read book. As a clinical psychologist who uses ACT quite frequently with my clients, I have found this book to be an invaluable resource, both at a professional and personal level. This book will help you undertand the problems in your relationship, teach you strategies to stop struggling with painful thoughts and feelings, learn to accept and re-connect with your partner, identify your values, and enhance your relationship by helping you be the partner that YOU ultimately want to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a relationship. Whether you are wanting to enhance an already healthy relaionship, or whether you are wanting to repair a relationship that has become strained and disconnected, this book will give you the strategies to do so.

Best Yet on Couples Advise
This ACT book is probably the best i've read to date on relationship building. It lays out the subject in an easy to read format and challenges the reader to pause after each chapter and practice the techniques. As a CBT therapist I find the approach that ACT (Acceptance and Committment Therapy) proposes to such matters an advance on simply trying to control thoughts. As the book points out such attempts at changing thoughts are difficult and fraught with set backs. Rather than take this approach ACT advises you to accept that negative thoughts are normal in any relationship and learning how to pay attention to what we value is a more solid approach to ensuring that we act appropriately.

I strongly recomend this book to any couple wanting to build a more solid and satisfying relationship no matter how long that they have been together. I have been married 32 years now and after reading this book have found new ways to enhance our relationship and move even closer to acting on those three little words "I love you."

Useful Treatment Adjunct
I have recommended this book to several of my clients. I and they have found it to be quite helpful. The author provides additional worksheets online that are worthwhile "homework" or in-session assignments. Dr. Harris does an excellent job of applying the ACT model to couples therapy in a way that is understandable and with experiential exercises that help treatment to generalize to real-life settings.

highly recommended!
Once again Russ Harris has written a book that is well worth reading. It is accessible and sensible and a pretty interesting read. I work as a psychologist so read a fair few books and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one - and found a lot of useful tips that I would use. I'll be recommending this book to anyone who seeks a better relationship!!

The universal struggle to get along
I think this is a great book. Russ Harris writes in a clear style that gets right to the point. He shows how all couples are bound to struggle at some time and become disconnected from their relationship values. I think this is an important point, because we often go into relationships with the fairy tale idea that relationships should be easy (happily ever after). I think "ACT with Love" does a good job of showing how easy it is for all of us to lose contact with our partners and no longer see them as they really are. It describes how a once loving, caring relationship can become a war.

The book proposes an anecdote based on Acceptance and Commitment therapy. Basically, it shows how couples can become more mindful, accepting of things they can't change, and values driven. I believe these three skills are essential for love and intimacy.

I like the format of the book.I found it easy to skim and find topics I was most interested in. I found the exercises to be helpful. I liked that the book was both serious and humorous (e.g., in one section Dr. Harris discusses destructive relationship tactics such as "exhuming the corpse " and "springing the ambush"

I strongly recommend this book, both torelationship counsellors and to people in relationships. I don't think you need to wait till you are having problems in a relationship to get it.It probably would make for some good preventative medicine




... Read more

Product Description

How to be cool when you're afraid you've forgotten how . . .

Customer Reviews (31)

You can be young even when you're chronologically not.
This book is absolutely freakin' hilarious and very true.I'm only 28 and I learned more than I care to admit, but happily, much of it rings true for me.The things that ring true are things that I do inherently.I think the author's main point, the important thing for readers to know is that you don't have to change who or how you are to be able to relate to people younger (or older) than you are.This book can help give you insight into how some people behave/act/think, but you choose how you act and think as a result.

It's making the rounds
This book is making the rounds of all my 40+ friends.Could be titled "How to be just a little more hip,a little more cool." Funny, clever, some great direction and insight on how you may be perceived by another generation! 'Chapters' are super-short, witty, and to the point. (Such as "Stop saying your new doctor "looks like he's twelve." It's not funny to anyone but you.) See, you learned something already.

How Not to Act Old
This is hilarious.I see myself doing some of the things the author points out as acting old!I don't find too many books that make me laugh out loud, but this one did.If you are at least a boomer, you'll love it.

Filled with witty and practical info
Glamour magazine columnist Satran aims to drag baby boomers into the 21st century with both humor and infinitely practical guidance. Did you realize that counting out exact change and telling otherwise competent adults to wear a sweater or hurry up makes you look just plain old? Filled with witty and practical info about how not to become the subject of ridicule by younger generations, the advice from this fast read may just change your life and boost your mood with its laugh-out-loud observations.

Perfect book for LOL's
This funny book is full of advice for the over 50 who needs some clue as to why younger women do not wear wataches any more or what is a bikini wax anyway.I loved it - makes a perfect birthday gift for one of those "over the hill: parties becasue it is not a cruel joke about getting older. ... Read more

Product Description
Experience the Blessings of an Imperfect Marriage. We all–at one time or another–have the opportunity to act right when our spouse acts wrong. There are no perfect marriages or perfect spouses. We know that having a good marriage requires effort and hard work. Yet we often don’t know how to continue to love when we are angry, hurt, scared, or just plain irritated. Nor are we sure what that kind of love is supposed to look like. Should we be patient? Forgive and forget? Do something else entirely?

Acting right when your spouse acts wrong will not necessarily guarantee a more satisfying marital relationship, nor will it automatically make your spouse change his or her ways–although both could occur. It will, however, help you see how God is stretching you in the midst of your marital difficulties, teach you to respond wisely when wronged, and lead you into a deeper relationship with Christ as you yield your will to his plan for your life and learn to be more like him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong
After years of searching for information on the disfunction of our marriage, the author has offered spiritual insignt, that is logical and informative.Finally, there's someone out that can put into words what I've been experiencing, along with spiritual guidance on how to act and react to the situation.

BEST Relationship Book
I've read a lot of "How to" make relationships work books and she has hit the nail on the head with this one. My only suggestion, get it for the partner that does wrong! Especially if they are the type that turns things around and blames you, this book is for them. It will help you too in dealing with them. So, maybe a copy for each of you.

Would help for other relationships too, not just marriage.

The Truth sets you free
This book corrects teachings and ideas that have held people captive for years.I highly recommend it for presenting the words to say to stop abuse.Leslie Vernick speaks as one who has experienced abuse and found her way out.Her concern is for both the abused and the abuser.Excellent book.

Before you read this book, I would recommend that you buy another of Ms. Vernick's books entitled "The Emotionally Destructive Relationship".This book helps you "see it, stop it, survive it".This pair of books is a "eye-opener".

help that makes a difference
Although this book is filled with relational common sense that everyone needs to be reminded of, it goes further by challenging your perspective according to God's Word.I don't think you can read this book and not come away honestly changed at some level.It has practical coping skills for difficult marriage relationships steeped in Scripture, which is why this book is so powerful.

Awesome
This book is amazingly helpful and insightful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with the spiritual aspect of relationships. ... Read more

Product Description
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT, read as one word rather than letters), is one of the most exciting developments in psychotherapy to occur in the last fifty years. ACT departs from conventional psychotherapeutic models, which strive to "fix," "control," or "get rid of" unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Instead, ACT demonstrates how to accept uncomfortable or painful situations without engaging with them, allowing them to pass away or diminish as they will.

ACT is profound, revolutionary-and it works. Research evidence is piling up that suggests ACT is as or more effective than conventional psychotherapeutic approaches.

Customer Reviews (6)

Review
I received the item in a timely manner and it was in the condition that I expected...

Excellent tool for practice
In recent years several good books have been published on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), written from different angles and with different clinical populations in focus. This one, by three experts on the topic, is more than just another one. This is a tool for practice. The basic principles of ACT are presented and how to apply them in therapy is illustrated. I especially like the transcripts of therapy sessions and how they are used for practical excercises for the reader. "How would you respond, given this communication from a client?" Different suggestions are discussed from an ACT perspective.
This is a book primarely for the reader who have some knowledge of ACT and some experience of trying to implement it in her/his own work, and who wants to improve what the authors call the core competencies of ACT. There is much in this volume to take to heart, even for the experienced therapist.

we all talk "about" it - now you can see it for yourself
This book is a great addition to the original ACT text (Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson) - it helps bridge theory to practice in the comfort of your own home. The breakdown of the chapters and the accompanying CD allow you to consider theory and then to actually see what it looks like live. I also loved the clips that showed a mixture of interventions & help discriminate between ACT consistent and inconsistent or mixed interventions.

There is simply no substitute for "actually seeing" what it is like when various points of the model are applied. It brings a small piece of experiential training into your home and available at your beck & call. An invaluable resource for clinicians and students alike.

Learning ACT: Much needed, thank God it's here!
Folks, I just have to rave about the newly released 'Learning ACT' by Jay Luoma, Steve Hayes, & Robyn Walser. It is brilliant! It makes ACT much more accessible and easier to understand, and that's an understatement. This book is an incredibly comprehensive and clear guide to using ACT - goes through each process bit by bit - breaks it up, explains it, gives examples, then gives you exercises to do to see how well you understand it and can apply it, and then gives you the answers so you can see how well you did. Wow! Wish this had been around a few years ago - would have saved me a lot of brain-ache. Essentila reading for anyone interested in practising ACT.

Cheers, Russ

Almost too good
As a long time behavior analyst, I have been gratified to see the field move along a path toward an interesting convergence with (the tags suggested for this review).The way behavior analysis moved from "mindless" to "mindful" is due to the rigorous language training that has always been part of the training.(Remember when you were "a very new to the field undergraduate", invited to the faculty party with the graduate students & professors; how careful you were not to say something that would suggest you were still blinded by cognitivism.The upperclass undergraduates were the most brutally observant of a "slip" of the tongue that could undercut your credibilty.)As obviously dysfunctional as this small part of the method was; the training in behavior analysis, honed a precision in language that created the precision of understanding that is the common background of "a behavior analyst".All this jabber to get to my point, will we create ACT therapists without the understanding to advance the field.(typed on the fly using my iPhone - so I hope this makes sense.) ... Read more

Product Description
At an apparently respectable dinner party, a vicar is the first to die...Thirteen guests arrived at dinner at the actor's house. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died.But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison -- just as Poirot had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Hercule Poirot
This mystery featuring Hercule Poirot in a minor role was an easy read.As always the smallest detail can have major significance.

Thank you!
Not only did this book arrive earlier than projected, but it was in excellent condition. We're very satisfied. We'll be back.

a novel conceit but not among the better Poirot outings
A retired (but still youngish and handsome) actor holds a dinner party and - surprise! - a guest is murdered! (One thing I enjoyed about Christie's book of short stories, Poirot Investigates, was that occasionally Poirot investigated something besides a murder. So much murder, quite exhausting.) The actor, his young and attractive admirer, and another friend play the detective. Although the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is present at the first murder, he does not get involved in the case until more than halfway through the book. I found it a pity, as his special charm (and pleasant arrogance) always warms the page.

The ending of this case felt less resolved than many. We learn who the murderer is, and something of the reason, but it feels less tidily wrapped up; and Poirot seems to rely on that old method: Accuse the murder a few times until he confesses, even in the absence of very solid evidence. (We often see this in courtroom dramas: Bad guys always explode and say unwise things if righteous prosecutors badger them enough.)

Yet I still stayed up late finishing it. It's not The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd, but then again, it's also not The Big Four (horrible).[The other month I was in Brazil and saw a copy of The Big Four translated into Portuguese, and I thought, Of all the Poirot novels to translate, not THAT one!]

Number Nine Is Devine
Ms. Christie's ninth Hercule Poirot mystery is a wonderful whodunit. The author has a clean, crisp writing style which moves the story along very well. This one is presented in the third-person narrative. The famous, colorful Poirot doesn't play a significant part until two-thirds of the way into the book. I liked the fact that, in the last few paragraphs, Ms. Christie explains the reason for a few of the detective's personality quirks. M. Poirot has a calculated excuse for his idiosyncratic qualities. I was able to figure out the culprit, but that only makes two out of the first nine Hercule Poirot stories. A fast, fun read by one of the world's greatest mystery writers.

Nice novel!
I didn't think the story was extra-ordinary but it was certainly a good story with a pretty good twist in the tale! ... Read more

Product Description
In 2008, more than 1.42 million high school students took the ACT—driven in large part by statewide testing requirements, acceptance of the ACT at all four-year schools, and an increasing number of test takers from states that did not previously offer the ACT. Kaplan ACT 2010 Edition: Strategies, Practice, and Review offers a variety of effective self-study options to help students score higher on this important exam.

A strong ACT score can help students get crucial financial aid and stand out from the competition during the college admissions process. With soaring tuition costs in an uncertain economy and competition to get into a top college greater than ever, scoring higher is crucial. Our guide contains proven tools to help raise ACT scores, including:

• New reader-friendly design to appeal to high school students
• New tips for scoring higher from a Kaplan ACT tutor and student with a perfect ACT score
• New parents guide explaining how to help kids make the most of peer study for exam prep
• Three full-length practice tests
• One diagnostic quiz online
• Detailed answer explanations
• Coverage of all tested materials

Product Description
WE WANT TO HELP YOU SUCCEED ON THE ACT* VERBAL SECTIONS

• 9 full-length practice tests with complete explanations
• Hundreds of sample questions just like those on the real test
• Strategies for answering every question type: grammar and usage, punctuation, paragraph organization, reading comprehension, and more
• 18 sample ACT essays with scoring explanations

  *ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc., which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

  ... Read more

  Customer Reviews (2)

  Best book you can buy!!!
  I purchased several books on this topic for my high schooldaughter who is a C student. This was the only book she used to study for the ACT.This book is the best of the bunch! This book is straight foward, and well written. Answers are easy to understand and clearly explained. Note: this book is written for the typical high school student. If you are "superstar" trying for a perfect 30, try McGraw-Hill'sTOP 50 SKILLS FOR A TOP SCORE.

  GREAT BOOK
  the english section is really good, reading part is seems a bunch of practices.
  
  ACT english score increased. although I just did half of that. ... Read more

Product Description
This updated test prep manual for college-bound students presents detailed review of all ACT test topics--English, math, reading, science reasoning--and guidance in responding to the optional essay. All subject review sections include additional practice questions, study tips, and test-taking strategies. The book also offers a diagnostic test and three full-length ACT practice exams with all questions answered and explained. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

PASS on this book!!!
Yuck! I bought this book and found it totally useless. This book is very poorly written. The questions in this book are nothing like the ones that are found on the ACT. I would recommend the McGraw-Hill series to study for the ACT.

Well,a little bit too.....
Barron's book is good. But it really ...... destroy one's confidence.
Some problems really "only".
Such as in the English Part all 5 paragraphs need to be sorted. Sometimes there are two of three consequent questions asking you if a sentence needs to be omitted, realyy confusing. Some styles of questions are not appeared in this book. Some maths problems are ridiculous, which i don't think is in the High School teaching range (coz I've been a TA for Geometry teacher).
Reading part is still mad me. A material is sometimes more than 100, even 110 lines, while the real prep is only 80~85.
The Science part i dont wanna to have some comment coz i'm not sure but i feel some questions are double-edged.

Barron's ACT Prepare for the ACT American College TEsting
I AM NEVER DISAPPOINTED IN THE PREPARATION MANUALS PUBLISHED BY BARRON. MY STUDENTS TELL ME THE MATERIAL IS THE MOST CHALLENGING AND THEY FEEL WELL PREPARED WHEN THEY TAKE THE TEST. THE EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED WITH THE ANSWERS ARE VERY GOOD. I LIKE THE FACT THAT LETTERS ARE GIVEN FOR THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS SO THAT THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO TRY AGAIN ON THE MISSED ITEM BEFORE GOING TO THE EXPLANATION. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE. ... Read more

Product Description
This brand-new hands-on workbook presents exercises, problems and quizzes with solutions and answers as it progresses through all math and science topics covered on the ACT college entrance test. Separate math chapters cover pre algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and trigonometry. Separate science chapters cover data representation passages, research summary passages, and conflicting scientific viewpoints. The bookÂ's science sections emphasize the scientific method and focus on how to read scientific passages. A glossary of helpful science terms is provided. Strategies for success are included in every chapter. A full-length practice test reflecting the ACT science and math sections come with explained answers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Waste of Money
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! This book is a waste of time and money. I've only gotten through the math portion and what I saw of that, it was not great. The things the author teaches brings up topics and problems that I have never even seen on the ACT before. The explanations are awful. The author assumes that you know things when that might not be the case. Her wording on things is awful and confusing. And as with every book, there are quite a few mistakes in the book. I am sure that the Science section is just as awful as the Math.

Math is harder than most other ACT prep materials
The book covers math topics broken down by major subject (pre algebra, algebra, geometry, plane geometry, and trig I think).Within each subject it covers more specific things and has sample problems.There's a mini-test at the end of each section with about 10-15 questions on what was just covered.I didn't look at the science section at all so I don't know what's there.

There is one math and one science practice test at the end.

I think the questions and material covered were a lot harder than the other prep books I've used, including the Real ACT Guide.More on things like graphing trig functions, etc. that I don't think are really crucial for the ACT, at least not in the depth they go.It was good for picking out some harder problems but I don't think I would use this as my main math review book.

Update: I like this book a bit better now that I've revisited it, after thinking the other review books were too easy.My biggest complaint now is that there is only one practice test.I think it would be much better if they made the book math only, and had 4-5 practice tests at the end (like McGraw Hill's does) instead of only one.I don't know if all of the content covered will actually be on the ACT, but it's a good book for those who want to err on the safe side by learning more.

quick and good
We got the book really quick and in good condition. I am happy with it. ... Read more

Product Description

Designed for families with children ages four through ten,this Bible story book takes a panoramic, chronological look at thecharacter of God.

"Do as David did. Don't do as Saul did. Follow this OldTestament person, but not that New Testament person." That's whatyou may find in many Bible story books. In Mighty Acts ofGod Starr Meade takes a new approach to teaching the Bible toelementary school aged children: she focuses not on characters inScripture, but on God. Each of the ninety Bible stories includedfocus on a particular character trait or truth about God,emphasizing that God is the main character in every Biblestory.

Each story in Mighty Acts of God is retold in lively,modern-day language from a Reformed perspective, and is followed byan application section with several discussion-sparking questionsand prayer points. By moving chronologically through both the Oldand New Testaments, parents and children glimpse the person of Godas one of consistency, vibrancy, passion, and love.

Customer Reviews (15)

Solid stories. Family devo guidance. All in one!
Like The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, this Bible story book focuses on God throughout the stories. In other words, God is the central character in the story of the flood, not Noah. It doesn't present each story like a character study of a biblical figure, like many kids' Bibles do. Just as The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name presents each as a study of THE Biblical Figure - that is, Christ - this one presents each story as a mighty act of God.

I love the stories, but I also love that each story has a section at the end called "As For Me And My House..." which provides discussion points rooted in the Word to use during family devotion times. I also think it's fantastic that each story has a focal verse straight from scripture, which allows this Bible story book to easily point to the Bible instead of just seeming like a story book sans the Bible.

This is recommended for ages 4-8, which I think it an accurate range. If your kids are on the older end of that, I also recommend the devotional books by the same author, God's Mighty Acts in Salvation and God's Mighty Acts in Creation.

(Thanks to Crossway for providing this book for my review. My opinions are my own.)

Love it!
Finally, a story Bible that focuses on God! It clearly shows even small children that the Bible is about God redeeming a people for himself.

Great depth, great teaching tool
The stories picked are not all the typical "Bible stories" and the content seems to go more deep into theological territory. Which for us works out great. Our kids are 8,6, & 4 and listen well to it.

What I don't like is that the authors must have been reading a lot of the apostle Paul (and from the NASB) because the sentence structure is many times awkward and it makes me stumble as I read. At least once in every story I have to look hard in order to keep reading smoothly.

Overall though, this is a very well done book for kids and it actually reminds us parents of the greatness of God too!

Excellent story book!
I love the fact that this book seeks to teach our children about God and not just moralistic stories.It correctly informs our children's minds about God and what He has done and continues to do.Most christian children books are so watered down and cheesy, this book is a breath of fresh air.If you want a great book to help catechize your children about God, then this book is perfect for you.This helps parents to teach their children proper theology, which helps the children not be swayed by every wind and doctrine out there.

Mighty Acts of God
I received Mighty Acts of God from Crossway in order to review.This Family Bible Story Book is written by Starr Meade and illustrated by Tim O'Connor.It is 288 pages long and its purpose is "to make known the wonder of God's great character." Each story is focused on God, not the human characters in the story. It is written in chronological order for elementary aged children. It retails for $24.99 and is hardcover. The book is color coded. There is a strip of color at the bottom of all of the story pages. The burgundy colored strip tell stories from the Old Testament and the green represent the New Testament.

The beginning of each short story shares the Scripture reference. Verses of Scripture are added on the pages of each story to give an overview of the story's theme.Some words that may not be known well, like omnipresent or omnipotent, are printed in bold and defined. At the end of each story is a section for "As for me and my house" which gives you ideas on how to make the particular story relevant to your child - for them to "see" God's character. I am very pleased that this book focuses on God and not man. Bethany and I have enjoyed reading this book together. We recommend it.
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Product Description
"A dazzling collection and already a standard reference for those interested in contemporary drama, Plays in One Act is a unique compilation of plays and monologues that showcases a stunning and diverse array of work from some of the most important voices in theater. Forty-three modern works are collected here: from plays by important contemporary artists such as David Mamet, Wendy Wasserstein, Sam Shepard, and John Guare, to gems by masters like Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and newer talents like Carol S. Lashof and Perry Souchuk. Leading British playwrights--Tom Stoppard, David Hare, and John Osborne--are also featured, along with the international voices of VÁclav Hacel and Kobo Abe, and works by such established wtiters as Eudora welty, Joyce Carol Oates, Richard Ford, and Garrison Keilor, who are writing outside their traditional genres. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Intermittently Useful
This book is handy if you're a playwright looking for good names to imitate.It's handy if you're examining styles popular in short plays (many of them ten minutes or less).It's a neato-jet piece of gear if you're learning the language and jargon of the playwrighting scene.

This book is useless if you're a director looking to stage a one-act.The plays are too irregular, and many are too short unless you're running an evening of ten-minute plays.Some are radio plays, which are useless on stage.Some are cuttings or extended monologues.There is no unifying theme through the book, so it's hit-or-miss if what you find will even match any theme you may be looking for.

If you know this going in, the book can be useful to you.Many people like it.I found it a drag.

Deep & Wide
This really is, as the copy on the back claims, a "stunning and diverse" collection of one-act plays.To get familiar with authors and angles that you may not have encountered elsewhere, you can't beat these short sweet pieces.A lot of the usual suspects, big names snowing off the skills that have made them beloved of theatre-junkies across the nation, and selections by names you've never heard of before (and, for one or two of these, my bet is you will never hear of again).Really a must have collection that will give you plenty of enjoyment & ideas for your upcoming season or that as-yet-unwritten one act of your own.Why only four stars from me?I'm super stingy with the fifth...

Over 40 One-Acts
Includes: Edward Albee, Finding the Sun; Christopher Durang, Naomi in the Living Room; John Guare, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun; David Hare, The Bay at Nice; Beth Henley, Am I Blue; David Mamet, A Life With No Joy In It; Arthur Miller, The Last Yankee; Tennessee Williams, The Chalky White Substance... and many more!

A Lifesaver!
My Book Club has existed since 1928 but we are really a Book and Play Club.Each year we try to include drama in the form of monologues, one-act plays, readings.This collection will help immeasureably.Maybe one ofour "originals" will appear in the next collection by thiseditor!

A Lifesaver!
My Book Club has existed since 1928, but it is called the Book and Play Club. In other words, we are heavily into drama as well as books.This wonderful anthology will serve us well asseveral times during the clubyear we like to do readings, monologues, or even perform short plays...perhaps one of our "originals" will make it into the nextcollection by the editor! ... Read more

Product Description

Acts of Faith is a thoughtful and inspirational book that explores the unique pressures on people of color today with great insight and sensitivity. This book is the minimum daily requirement for people of color in search of inspiration and support. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Reconnections
I had a copy of this book a long time ago and when I moved I lost it.I can safely say I lost a whole lot more than just the book, I lost the road signs in my life.This book helps people of color remember themselves and whats important by providing key guidelines as you go through life.

Can't believe I can relate to almost every section
I bought this book about 4 years ago on a whim. One of the best buys I have ever made. It's a daily motivational read and I've read it probably 3 times already and have bookmarked my favorites. I even read it even when I'm sad and just need a pick me up. I used to email readings to my best friend and I finally had to buy her a copy, which she still reads over a year later. My boyfriend recently picked it up and is now hooked on the positivity and the realism of this book. This is a go-to gift for all loved ones in my life!

Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color
The condition of the book is poor and should not have been sold.It has water damage.

Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color
Excellent source to keep you spiritually grounded. I recommend this book to all God's children regardless of skin tone.This world we live in today is a TOTAL MESS..WE MUST START TRYING TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER FOR THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
I SHARE THIS BOOK WITH OTHERS TO LIFT THEIR SPIRITS...LATELY MY GOOD DAYS ARE OUTWEIGHING MY BAD DAYS..THANKING GOD FOR THAT...

L.WATTS

Satisfied
All the specifications were accurate and the book was sent in no time at all. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Makes you think you can help
This book is inspiring-it makes you beleive that you too, can go and change the world for the better, or at least attempt to do so.The stories, some of which i'd heard of, some not, are very interesting to read, and I think it is important to get stories like this out there for people to see. Should be read by anyone who wants to do good.

Bloodless resistance overcomes tyranny...
A light yet interesting read.A number of short stories illustrate how ordinary people came together to overcome
the most brutal and oppressive regimes or policies.Their means were always non-violent and often rather humorous.
The soft wears away at the hard and wins in the end.

After initially writing this, I took some time to think of some more "real world" examples of non-violent resistance.The reality is that you can't pretend it isn't fraught with danger or will always work, at least in the short term.

The book mentions an incident in Leipzig, East Germany in 1989 just before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Despite published warning of the intent to use deadly force, soldiers chose not to fire on thousands of unarmed protesters out of fear of repercussions.

The Tienanmen Square massacre is one example of non-violent resistance not working.
Four months prior to the Leipzig incident, Chinese authorities had no qualms about bringing in troops and tanks that, according to some sources, resulted in the loss of 3000 lives.

This book also mentions that Iranian taxi drivers will not gives rides to politically powerful mullahs as a subtle form of protest.
While amusing, this has not stopped Iran's nuclear program or lead to "regime change".

Currently, we are possibly witnessing what is (for now) an actual act of state sponsored non-violent resistance.
It is speculated that a couple of USB sticks left lying around Iranian nuclear facilities, perhaps by contractors, have spread the Stuxnet virus to their computers, affecting their industrial control systems and perhaps further setting back Iran's nuclear ambitions. ... Read more