Audiobook Books

Well, Oprah is a powerful salesperson and I saw this when she had Dr. Oz on her show. The CD's arrived and I was excited to give them a try. I really wanted to like them!

Yes, there are two CD's: a beginning, & an advanced CD. But I was anticipating more coaching, more chatting to me about health tips/issues while I walked, and instead had more 'elevator'-type music than I wanted. I like 'elevator' music if it's from popular songs, but this was a general type of music :( BORING! The ONE thing I LOVED was that the voice encouraged me to hang in there, and at the 1/2 way mark/time, it actually said "You're HALF-WAY through the walk! Good for you!" I like knowing when I'm half-way :) But since I take the same walk route, I began to mentally mark the spot where I was half way, so no need to hear it again except to gage if I was faster/slower than the previous day.

I actually walked faster and stepped up my mood as well listening to: The Beatles/1962-1966! The songs are fast and slow mixed so you're naturally adjusting your walk rate. I just put the CD player (I know, totally 'old school'!) on 'repeat' as the side finishes before 30 minutes are up :)

Great music and motivational! I'm just starting to work out again after 3 years off, it gives me that push and incentive to achieve.

YOU on a Walk CD was not at all motivational. I felt like I was riding on an elevator the entire time -- not energizing for me.

There is nothing in the CD. Too basic and cheap music. The tips provided are few and very basic. After reading You the Owners Manual, this is just plain junk.

I think the authors are trying their best to publish as much as possible. . . too bad they will loose out. I am not buying anything from these guys now.

How can get a refund !!

This audio CD is a complete waste of money in my opinion.

The CD is broken up into 4 parts. A brief introduction, a 30 minutes walk with an occassional tip thrown in, stretches, and finally an instrumental version without the tips.

The music is horrible. Think grocery store or elevator music. I don't see how anyone could increase their heart rate listing to this music. Not that I was expecting Metallica or 50 cent but the music was a HUGE dissappointment. The tips on this CD can be obtained from many of these guys other books as well as the stretches.

If you have an Ipod or some other MP3 player you can make a much better workout CD than wasting your money on this one.

I must admit I was surprised by this CD since the other books by these authors are top notch.

80 dollars is all to ridiculous for a CD that I want to use for 5 minutes merely to place on my iPod and never look at again. The only pieces that strike me as maybe not being public domain are the Copland selections. Ask your instructor or classmate for the discography and find it yourself. It takes some legwork but it's worth saving this ridiculous fee.

Rather than spend your money on this extremely overpriced set, choose from the following options:

1. Buy the book with the CD set, which is included as a "package deal"
2. "Get a used copy" of a friend's CD's (because you're probably buying this for a class).
3. Download the songs...they're all public domain and available online.

I am a huge fan of Brown's mysteries. So I was excited as usual when this latest installment came out. Unfortunately, the book didn't meet her usual standards of quality. The plot is fairly thin, with lots of presumptions for the reader to just accept. While the main characters are trying to prove they were framed for crimes they didn't commit, the story unfolds. To get to the bottom of it all, many plots and subplots are introduced. Characters are portrayed in a two-dimensional manner. When all is revealed in the end, the reasons for the initial situation and subsequent actions are not believable. There is some romance but it is subdued and clearly not a main point of the plot (which is fine). I think it is fairly easy to guess the who-dun-it but I won't spoil it for anyone. Overall, an easy read and I did want to see how it all played out.

Sandra Brown never ceases to amaze me, how such a prolific writer can write one exciting page turner after another and they never seem to lack for anything. Smoke Screen didn't disappoint me and kept me enthralled from the first page to the last with twists and turns along the way and just when you've figured out "who done it" well guess what, you're wrong. The characters are very likable and realistic and very complex. The storytelling is amazing and as the plot thickens you wipe the sweat from your brow and keep turning pages.

I have read all of the Sandra Brown Books starting with FRENCH SILK years ago. She is among my favorite writers along with James Patterson. Always interesting characters and plots. I am 3/4 through this book and have thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are not already a Sandra Brown Fan try starting to be one. You will enjoy !!!!

Mary Redwing

I have read so many disappointing books lately, that my reviews here just seemed to be one pan after another. For this one though, I've just got one thing to say: "Thank You, Sandra Brown!!"

Yes, in the past you have disappointed me. Not with this one. I loved it from the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through. I couldn't put it down. Finished it in 24 hours. I was completely emotionally engaged, and that's the ultimate goal for any fiction writer, I would think.

Well Done!!

This is Sandra Brown finest. It's more suspense than romance which is a nice change. Smokecreen is a great title because everything seems normal but beneath the surface nobody is what they seems to be. Britt is on to a potential newsstory thanks to her friend Jay until she wakes up to find him dead besides her and not able to remember what happened. Her only ally is Raley a man she basically ruined. There's loads of suspense and intrigue. The basic question is Ask Who do you trusted?

I am truly enjoying the story and the characters. There are certain parts of the book I felt the author could have left out and really added no benefit to the story. The sexual content of them was too much for me. But all in all worth the read.

I saw this book in the bookstore and it sounded very interesting so I got it out of the library. I wasn't disappointed. It was very easy to read and flowed nicely. Very interesting and quirky characters which I liked. Rosie the elephant was a great character. I agree with one of the other reviewers who compared the book to Sophies Choice. I thought the same thing when we meet the ringmaster. I really enjoyed the book but I was disappointed that there were a couple of parts that were unnecessarily crude (as opposed to necessarily crude?). It's like the female writer of the book had to prove that she could be as crude as any man. Other than that, it was one of my favourite books this year.

An amazing journey filled with brutality, compassion, and love against the crazy backdrop of the circus life. Beautifully written. You will not be able to resist falling in love with Rosie.

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. Gruen's research of circus' and the Great Depression were amazing. I highly recommend this book to any animal lover out there.

This is a wonderful book. Pure entertainment. This will leave you with a soft spot for the circus, for trains and for vaudville. We vacationed with a group of friends recently and passed this one around; five of us managed to read it in the eight day vacation....it's that good!

Best experience I've had in years. I put me back in rhythm with life and brings great peace.

I really enjoyed this collection of audio sessions. It has enhanced my understanding of The New Earth which I am currently reading now. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the teachings of Eckhart Tolle.

This product is wonderful!!! It arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. I love Tolle's work and will purchase more of his cd's.

I thought the Power of Now would say something about it being The Power of Now series. I got a Trilogy. It's OK. He sounds like he has had some elightenment experiences, but he seems to make fun of people and he has made up an image The Pain Body as a teaching tool, which he has begun to treat as fact. I know what he is talking about (I'm a bodyworker psychotherapist who works in trauma), and his map is not exactly accurate. He says that the pain body wants to fight. I don't think that is true. We imprint the way we are treated, and when we can't give it back to our offender, we are prone to scapegoat. So, he's a little off in my opinion for someone so highly regarded.

Unfortunatly, I had to return the collection due to the quality of the product. While the information is life transforming, the sound is very unclear. During Tolle's talks and meditations you hear coughing and even a wierd laugh from someone attending, every so often. I would highly recommend the CD of his book, The Power of Now. That is done professionally and worth every penny. The Audio Collection is the opposite. It's just thrown together and should be taken off the market and recorded again.

I listen to this CD at least once a week, especially when old issues come up. It's always astounding to me how the media and even friends and family can perpetuate the Fear Factor, but like Louise would probably say, When an issue arises, it's there to be released. Thought is power and we can create a safe place in the world by changing our thoughts (which then change our actions). We can create our world. We are safe, secure and protected by love at all times. Blessed be!

Thank you for sending the CD so promptly. I really appreciate the price.
Sincerely,

Lynn

I found this to be somewhat of a duplicate of some of her other works.

What ever you do don't listen to this while you drive! It will put you right to sleep. It did not speak to me at all. This was not useful. I prefered the what the bleep do we know.

she is an angel on earth her books fill my shelves this cd will make you see life from a different light, it will show you the light within she makes you feel calm just listening to her voice, the affimations, truely work helps you feel better about your life,
a book the calling of your true self also made me look at life in a new way both uplifting and inspiring helps you understand what we can change with our thoughts by sending them out

I bought this book after seeing a video of Jill Bolte Taylor talking about her experiences on Youtube. My only complaint is that I wanted more! I consider it to be one of the most amazing and important books ever written. It should be compulsory reading for all stroke victims, their loved ones and medical personnel. Oh, and probably for everyone with a brain as well. You read it and you are likely to want to go and hug Jill for a couple of hours for being.

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor has put together an awesome book! My Stoke of Insight: A Brain Scientists Personal Journey is extremely well written. What are the odds that someone with such extraordinary knowledge of the brain and at the height of her career would have a stroke at the age of 37 and live to share such an amazing journey with us? That, coupled with her talent as a writer is unique and extremely interesting.

This book is written on a level that average people can comprehend. Step-by-step the author describes how she felt, how others treated her, and what happened to her brain and abilities during her left brain deterioration beginning on December 10, 1996 and the 8 year healing process she endured.

The author explains her nirvana like existence when her right brain was dominant while her left brain was healing. Her ability to live in the moment and observe her thoughts in a detached manner to reach a peaceful state as a result of her connection to her right brain is described by many other authors as "Mindfulness Meditation." [See my other reviews if you are interested in reading other books on this technique.]

Enthralled with the story, I could not put this book down. I doubt that there is another book written by a person with firsthand expert knowledge of what it is like to have and recover from a stroke. I am glad I read this book and recommend it to people who are interested in study of the brain or those who like biographical stories of people who not only survive, but grow out of the depths of catastrophe.

This was a very interesting book, having dealt personally with the stroke issue, I could remember many of the things that Jill Bolte-Taylor spoke about when she remembered her own stroke. Today, I myself am a caregiver for a young woman with a TBI and this book has been a wonderful asset to her family, helping them to understand the new process in which their daughter is now working, as she recovers. The pictures and explanations have helped the other caregivers to understand why she acts the way she does and has become a jewel in our treasure trove of books and information that we have accumulated since her injury. Although the book itself is more about stroke than TBI, please be aware that the recovery is the same, the brain must relearn to do simple everyday processes. Jill Bolte-Taylor presents this difficult process so that anyone can understand and learn how to help others overcome their own life changing stroke of insight. To better understand the brain recovery process look for books about re-training the brain, brain plasticity and for web sites such as [...]
Thanks Jill for your courage to write this, and your strength to recover despite the overwhelming odds against you! Marlene

I selected this book wanting to read about the author's right brain experiences. For me this part of the book alone would have made it remarkable. But the information on how she healed and the implications for caregivers likewise were eyeopening. I wish I had read this book before the brief period my father was in a coma before he died. It has given me a new respect for the plasticity of the brain and the implications beyond strokes and I immediately began another book on that topic. Finally, at a personal level, the book has made me aware of the ability to shut off those annoying left brain dialogs as needed and move into a more joyful, compassionate place. This is a hopeful, wonderful book.

This book is informative, personal and scientific--a rare combination. I teach Anatomy and Physiology to Nursing Students and have ordered a second copy so the students may borrow it for extra-credit reading. The left brain-right brain differences are often neglected when studying the brain and this book informs us without being boring. It is good reading for the layperson as well as the scientist.

Very detailed and very simple to read at the same time. I enjoy every page and I am reading it again..This book is not only for a successful business it's all about a successful life.

Before I got halfway through this book, I was so excited I wanted to go ahead and write a glowing 5-star review of it. But I decided to wait until I finished reading the entire book, and I'm glad I did, because the second half is nothing like the first. It is obvious that this book was written by two very different authors. I would describe the first half as "What The Bleep" meets "The Secret" . . . only it is an improvement on both. It takes the information in the DVD "What The Bleep" and makes it completely understandable. And it takes the promises of "The Secret" and makes them believable, adding in the practical aspects of taking action. I was so inspired by the first half of this book that I reclaimed a vision I had started to lose sight of, and miracles to support that vision began to appear in my life immediately. And then I went on the second half of the book, which I would describe as Business/Marketing 101. It was like taking a college class on how to establish and grow a successful business . . . complete with all the homework. There were so many lists to make and surveys to conduct that I felt completely overwhelmed, and very bored. It almost gave me the impression that you could ignore the first half of the book and succeed in business by sheer marketing savvy alone. I know this information is helpful . . . and probably necessary . . . but it was so complicated and detailed that it took the wind right out of my sails. You will note that I still gave this book a 4-star review, because that is how good the first half is. And hey, if you are a very business-minded individual, you might think the second half is the best part, and that's fine. I'm just sharing my personal experience with you.

Steven Lane Taylor, author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide For Living Life In The Divine Flow

The Answer is an excellent "how to" manual for creating the life you want! I first read the book and then listened to the book on disc in my car. I highly recommend The Answer.

Yet another book on the Law of Attraction and how to apply it. I like this authors approach, different and fascinating. I have read many books on the Law of Attraction and my favorite, Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook explains this universal law, gives you an interactive workbook and just does it all.

One day I was bouncing around the internet and researching as usual and I can't even remember what I was looking for now because once I stumbled onto "The Answer" I ordered it from Amazon. The day it arrived I read it halfway through before putting it down for the first time to break for sleep. After reading it through one time and going back through it again with a highlighter all my pages were yellow. There is so much knowledge and wisdom in between those 2 covers I was absolutely amazed. I have never looked back and I am creating my future everyday now. My life has never been the same since and I am very grateful for this awakening.

Here's to an extraordinary future of success and happiness everyone ...

I purchased this book and started reading it and I just couldn't put it down!!! I read it in 6 days. Now my husband is reading it.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for marriages! If all we had was the Bible and this book there would be no more divorces.

It's so easy to understand and apply to your spouse. And it renews your relationship with the Lord too.

Do not hesitate to get this book. I plan on having my son read it before he gets married someday. He's only 13 now. I have been married for 25 almost 26 years and I wished that I could have read it in the beginning of our marriage. It would have saved a lot of heartache!

Please get this book for yourself and your spouse. Or even if your just dating that's great too!

Enjoy!
Tandy =)

I don't usually write reviews on books because many other people can be so much more detailed. However, this book is so amazing I HAVE to rate it or I'll feel guilty!

I have read a lot of books on marriage, and this is BY FAR the most practical, far-reaching one I have ever read. It has changed my relationship with my husband by changing the way I view almost every interaction between us.

The best thing about this book (in my opinion) is that it only takes ONE spouse to start making a difference! In marriage, communication and conflict really are cycles where we react to each other, and even if only one of you reads this book, you WILL SEE DRAMATIC CHANGES by just trying out some of the ideas here. If both of you read the book, even better!!

The book is set up so that there is a general section at the beginning, a few chapters "for him" specifically, and then a few chapters "for her" specifically. I found it helpful to read both sections (because sometimes we don't always fit the "pink and blue" stereotypes exactly; in our relationship I sometimes react the way the book says husbands more commonly do and vice versa) but they are definitely written for the audience. The men's chapters use examples men understand: circuitry, sports, etc. The women's chapters are written the way a woman understands.

I love my husband deeply, and know that he loves me as well, so I could never understand why we would get into these terrible screaming matches over practically nothing. Things would get so bad I have wondered on more than one occasion if our marriage would last even with both of us intent that it would. It is simply amazing that on almost every page, there was a principle or an example or just a "rephrasing" of ideas that I have heard before, that were so profound to me that I felt like this book was written FOR ME.

I would also like to add this: if you are not a very religious person, don't be intimidated. The principles and the referenced verses are Biblical, but the problems and the solutions are (again) practical and the author makes it very clear that this is backed up by secular research. The tone is helpful, sympathetic, and in NO WAY preachy.

I cannot imagine this book NOT helping somebody, whether your marriage is already good and you want to make it better, or you are on the brink of divorce (like we were). I feel a deeper understanding of how to show love to my husband, and I am receiving more love from him in response than I have since we were dating! Don't bother with the library - you will not regret buying this book! :o)

I really enjoyed this book. It brought about a view that I never considered with my husband. I didn't think that I was not seeing his view until reading this book and looking back over some of the issues we have had. I am happy that I brought this book. I would suggest it as a good read to anyone. The only complaint that I do have with the book was that he does repeat the concept several times and takes quite a bit to move on. But the eye opener effect that this book had with me was more important than reading some of the same points over again. Heck... I probably needed to reread them over and over again to get accustomed to the new concept. All in all I would buy this book again.

Amazing and eye-opening book! Everyone getting married should be required to read this book, and anyone who is considering marriage or wants to get married should read also!

The advice of this book has a way of encouraging you to look for ways to convey respect to those men who mean so much to you be them friends, husbands, brothers, fathers, co workers. I also recommend a book about this topic for couples I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't

Its hard to believe that this is a first novel. I have heard so many rave reviews as well as those which appear here - Its that good. If this doesn't end up on the short list for one of the book awards, I will be surprised.

I am a History nut from Massachusetts and am very familiar with the ins and outs of Salem and the witches. The time is the present, and the author is funny about the industry which has grown up around these legends. However, the main story is about women who derive a power from being with each other, both as family and as friends. This story also shows the kind of secrets which are maintained within a family. I'm sure my own large extended family has a few which are being kept.

The brand new author tells her story softly, carrying on the narrative while giving the reader snippets and hints which brings one to the end of the book partly surprised and partly knowing what is going to happen.

When I picked up this book, I had just finished grumbling about having to set aside four books in a row which were not worth my time. This one is definitely a keeper, and I would recommend it highly. Be prepared to be educated and surprised.

Salem, Massachusetts is an unusual town. And the Whitneys are the most unusual family in Salem. Their family roots in Salem go back hundreds of years. They fit right in with the eccentric witches, most of the Whitney women have the ability to sense bits of people's thoughts and see glimpses of the future when they look through a piece of lace.

Towner Whitney is in her early thirties and she has just returned to Salem from her self imposed exile in California because her beloved Great Aunt Eva has disappeared. Towner fled to the west coast fifteen years before, running from the violence and grief that was part of her life as a teenager when she lost her twin sister, Lyndley. She is a damaged soul and Salem is the last place she wants to be. Her memories of her life in Salem are sketchy and she struggles to put the pieces of her childhood together while dealing with people from the past that she is not prepared to see.

Eva was in her eighties but still swam in the ocean every day. When her body is found out in the water it's hard to believe that she drowned on her own. The police suspect her estranged son-in-law, Cal. While married to Emma, Eva's daughter, Cal beat her so badly that Emma was left blind and mentally impaired. Somehow he managed to escape any legal penalty and now he is an Evangelist with a very warped following. Towner's return and Eva's death rip open the past and send everyone concerned reeling.

This is a book about the damage that people do to each other and the incredible lengths that the human soul will go to in order to survive. At times haunting, heartbreaking, mystical and magical, it has an ending that will surprise you and show you the healing power of love.

Complex book. I finished reading "The Lace Reader" about a month ago, and I still haven't figured out how to summarize my thoughts on it in a short concise way. But I post this to add my five star rating to the list.

The author set the stage perfectly in this amazing book, "My name is Towner Whitney. No, that's not exactly true. My real name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time." Towner Whitney had a rough life, at seventeen her twin sister died leaving Towner hospitalized to undergo shock therapy. Soon afterward, Towner leaves Salem and moves cross-country to California. When she receives news of the death of her Great Aunt Eva, Towner makes the dreaded trip back home after a fifteen-year absence. Her return sparks lots of emotions and gossip and the story begins to unfold. The telling of a family history of the women in the Whitney family, who live life quite differently from everyone else and have a unique magical ability to read lace. Interwoven into the story is the background of Towner and her twin sister. Adding to the story is the random disappearance of a young woman tied to the family by strings unknown. The author manages to captivate the audience with her potent descriptions of Salem and its history. Layering and adding multiple stories, giving select information and perceptions to the reader, and throwing twists and turns around every corner, the final chapters explode into perfection. The Lace Reader is quirky and unique in its own way, but the style the author uses makes it a must read for anyone looking for something just off center. High praises for The Lace Reader and Brunonia Barry. Valerie Jones mrsvaljones@netzero.net

Towner Whitney comes from an eccentric family of women who are thought to be witches because of their ability to make and read lace. Just relax your mind and stare slightly off center and you can see the future. Sounds simple except for the fact she lives in Salem, Massachusetts and apparently there is still witch hunting.

Towner returns home after the drowning death of her great aunt Eva. This is a trip that Towner has been avoiding because of her traumatic upbringing that continues to envelope her whole life. Towner wonders what was the true cause of Eva's death; but since she herself is known as the town wacko with hallucinations of dogs mauling her abusive brother in law and run ins with a hellfire preacher, no one wants to help her or investigate.

Just when she is ready to return back home to her life in California the past that she had carefully created for herself comes crashing into her reality and what she had thought was "her" truth was only a thin veil that blocked out the full pain of "the" truth.

There were many times that I wanted to put this book down, the middle bogs down with such boring repetitiveness I was beginning to wonder what the author was thinking. Then the last 100 or so pages hits you with such force you can't get through the book fast enough. Great story with a stunning conclusion that has you spinning and thinking back to the clues that you missed.