Audiobook Books

i am really surprised by some of the reviews i am reading on amazon and on the internet in general for "odd hours" because in my opinion this was the worst odd thomas book the first scene in the book took about 65 agonizing pages to get through (this is coming from a huge odd thomas/dean koontz fan i loved the first book, the second wasn't bad but not the best and the third was phenomenal) i was really surprised by that because in the first book the first scene was great and i couldn't wait the read the rest of the book because it was fast paced and full of action, it felt like this book wasn't really written by dean koontz but some sort of ghost writer impersonating him. the ending left a lot to be desired and left alot of unanswered questions, i understand that he wanted to leave it open for another book but seriously he needed to answer the important questions about the new female character that he added - does she have some sort of psychic power and if so what? as a reader i was left with the impression she had some sort of psychic talent but dean koontz never offically said she did, i don't like that i have to make am assumption on a vital part of who she is, i didn't like that the cover of the book made it seem like stormy was an integral part of the book **whether that was his fault or the fault of some publisher i don't know** but it was deceiving and it was a major let down when she was mentioned only a few times at the end and it was never explained why she was mentioned and how the new female knew about her and what she had to do with anything it was like she was mentioned to mention her and not real purpose...these are a few of the many things wrong with this book
i didn't like it and have talked with others who agree with me i feel like i wasted my money and should have just checked it out from a library **although after that i would have felt like i wasted my time** i hope this helps someone and that maybe there are a few people who agree with my rant =)

Not one of the better Odd novels (Brother odd was my favorite so far). Worth buying in paperback or checking it out from the library. I will say the banter between Odd and the retired movie star cracked me up!

O.K., I absolutely LOVED the first three books in the Odd Thomas Series & I was so excited to discover there was a fourth...however, before I decided to actually purchase this book, I noticed the review section and noticed A LOT of poor reviews. I KNOW I'll STILL read this book, but I'm going to wait to read and buy it until I have the FIFTH one in my hands also. THAT way, it won't be such a dissapointment if all the unanswered questions will get answered in the next one, right?

I have been such a huge Dean Koontz fan throughout the years and this has to be hands down the worse Odd Thomas book so far, the reading was tedious and not enjoyable the story lagged on and when usually he catches my attention and I'm reading the entire night through I had to force myself to finish this book. I thought surely the ending would make up for the lack of storyline but I was wrong

I've read all the Odd Thomas books and loved them; just finished Odd Hours last night. The first few chapters after the first 2 were tedious ~~ too much hide and seek wore me out ~~ but get through those chapters and the rest of the book is great Odd Thomas stuff all the way!

I paid $26 to listen to Jerry Hicks speedread another Abraham book. I like to savor the material, reflect on it's meaning but he's in such a hurry that he really isn't into the material at all.I had to turn it off after 2 chapters. When Esther speaks it's the opposite. Jerry needs to get out of the way!

I have listened to the The Law of Attraction & Ask and It Is Given twice. It is very uplifting and spiritual. I believe it to be true. I am trying to change my thoughts to reflect what Abraham and Ester and speaking about.

It is starting to work.

I have read and listened to all kinds of books on topics regarding spirituality, religion, the mind, power of believe, self improvement, etc. and this is by far the most complete and effective explanation of its kind. It really is where its at, right to the point. It also gives you stages on how to go about doing what it takes to bring what we really want into our lives.

So far I have listened to Law of Attraction, and I am on my second go round. The information here is fantastic, if you were to apply only 50% of it, you would make some astonishing changes to all areas of your life!

I love the messages on the Law of Attraction and Ask and it is Given CDs. I was raised with the image of God with this big bat He would use every time we screw up. This did not line up to how I felt inside. The message in these CDs paint a different picture of God, Universe, Source, Higher Being.

Abraham/Ester Hicks declares that we are part of this Great Creator and not separate. Joy is what God wants for us. And His focus is not punishment but Love. Feeling good lets us know we are on the right path. And God, Universe, Source, Higher Being wants us to have want we want. And specific instructions are included to help us manifest what we are wanting.

The narration by Ester Hicks/Abraham (The Law of Attraction) is vastly superior to the Jerry Hicks (Ask and It Is Given) narration. There is so much more energy in Ester's delivery. I listen to Jerry because I believe in the message, but his voice is a monotone that is hard to digest. (No offense Mr. Hicks but it's the truth as I hear it) I have to make myself pay attention to the words. I love the work they are doing but Jerry's narration spoils the pleasue of listening for me. I personally would prefer all of this precious work in the voice of Ester Hicks/Abraham.

In spite of Jerry's narration these CDs are too important to pass up. They helped me to see myself as more a part of the Universe and provided helpful tools to help me become more of the person I want to be.

It's worth the money. Buy it.

GHW

Welcome to the world of Perception Management an art that takes spin to a whole 'nother level. Spinning is spinning the truth. Perception Management is spinning lies and turning them into the truth or rather, what people believe is the truth. It took a guy like Hitler awhile to spread the Big Lie, in the online world, if done right, the lie moves like wildfire.

Nicholas Creel wants a war, or at least, the threat of one, because he wants to sell arms. He'd love for Russia and China to be at each other's throats, for America to be afraid of the Red Menace once again, love for them all to be lining up and lining his pockets. World War III, is that a problem? Well, maybe not for Creel.

There's a clip going around on the internet of a Russian telling of how he had been tortured, about how his family had been killed. He says it's time the world knew, "The Whole Truth." Soon the mainstream media picks up the story, the whole world believes it, only problem is, it's not the whole truth and the super secret government agency Shaw (a super spy of the first order who only has the one name) works for wants him to investigate and Shaw, tough as he is, does what he's told, because his super secret government agency bosses have him on a short leash as Shaw has a bomb embedded in his arm.

Anna Fischer, the girl Shaw wants to chuck it all for and go off and live happily ever after with, works for a London think tank and when she's killed, because she doesn't believe the lie, Shaw wants to get even. Now throw in a disgraced female reporter named Katie James, who'd love to make her bones all over again and team her up with super tough guy Shaw and give them larger than life enemies and you have a David Baldacci story that would make Robert Ludlum proud.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

Not quite up to par with his first book, but David Baldacci has mastered the art form known as political intrigue. Nicholas Creel is the protagonist of Baldacci's latest suspense novel and with the war in Iraq coming to an end, this Defensive system mogul seeks to create a new cold war. Ah, reminisce in the good old days of Ronnie Reagan. So Nicholas out sources the job to management guru Mr. Pender who begins to flood the Internet, newspapers, and television with bogus stories and misinformation to create a media frenzy. But when the Phoenix Group is slaughtered by Russians, Pender tries to connect it to China. Just think of the money to be made by a defense specialist if China and Russia went to war. Ah, Nicholas can dream. Like I said earlier, this isn't Baldacci's best work, but I guess when Baldacci set the standard so high with his earlier works, what is?

Editor of the highly recommended novel: Fates by Georgiou, Tino Fates (2nd Edition)

The Whole Truth is my second Baldacci book, the first being The Collectors. Although the two are stylistically similar, if I did not know beforehand, I would have never suspected they were written by the same author -- The Whole Truth is much, MUCH better.

The Collectors was good "fluff." Well this is EXCELLENT fluff! Where The Collectors was corny, tongue-in-cheek, and unbelievable, this book was much more realistic (though still enjoyably cinematic). The protagonist, Shaw, is so hard-boiled, he reminds me of Micky Rourke's character in the Sin City movie, but he's an entirely likable figure, and you can't help but root for him.

This book is also quite timely. Although the device used to stir up anti-Russian sentiment in the book was not at all believable, in real life, the neocons have put into action a much better plan. My only beef with the novel's version of of events is that the U.S. government was blissfully ignorant, and it was all defense-contractor doing. Like The Collectors, and, I presume, Baldacci's other books, The Whole Truth is very skeptical of Big Government and the military-industrial complex. Baldacci is not a hardcore libertarian, but he's a thriller author that hardcore libertarians can more than stomach -- they can enjoy.

This is not great literature, of course, but it was a thoroughly entertaining read. I literally could not put the book down, and for that, it more than merits five stars. Hooray for Baldacci! I hope he keeps this up and lets the corny Camel Club recede into oblivion.

David Baldacci truly understands the dark side of human nature and the Eastern establishment press. In Chapter 19 he cynically refers to Dick Pender as a master of perception management. In one sentence Baldacci states with resounding clarity what the motto of the New York Times should really be.

That is "Why waste time trying to discover the truth, when you can so easily create it?" The Gray Lady should discard its current motto "All the News that is fit to print" and replace it with the Baldacci aphorism that so accurately depicts the New York Times.

This is a very thought=provoking book, given the current events in Asia and the latest Russian agression. Also makes one think about the awesome power of the Internet. I love Baldacci's books. A great read. Highly recommended!

I loved James Arthur Ray's book The Secret of Success. but Harmonic Wealth is not as specific and I was dissapointed after reading. I would recommend his first book The Secret of Success, which I think is a classic in new thought information.
Martha Watson

There are just a few books that my husband and I have both read and enjoyed cover to cover. This is one. As a voracious reader I can tell you this title left me smarter, more inspired, more intentional and conscious than I was on page one.

If we are judged by the caliber of books we house in our library, well, then, I am feeling like a star right now. This title has been named one of 2008's Top Books for Awakening by Soul Salon International and for good reason. Check out Soul Salon International to see the books that share the honors with this title. Well done James, keep spreading your light!

The author makes it sound so easy to achieve what you want through keeping your thoughts, feelings and actions in alignment...the law of attraction otherwise known as The Secret. I recommend you read this book and Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbook and exercises from Living The Secret will make it easy. Must read both.

When I got an email saying that this book was released, I immediately logged on and bought it. It did take me a few more weeks to get around to reading it, and I should not have waited. I saw James speak live and could tell that he knew what he was talking about and it could help anyone who listened and took action.

Harmonic Wealth explains how to achieve wealth in all pillars of your life. James shares his own experiences along with the stories of others in a nice to read way.

Horrible book.

A book discussing all aspects of the human experience intrigued me. James' "Five Pillars," however, are scattered with mathematical conundrums, personal bolstering, and bad editing.

On top of this, James doesn't say anything that hasn't been said. He simply writes down age-old truths, interspersed with his self promotion and boring stories. Now, I can tolerate repackaged wisdom, but in this book you have to read 750 pages of garbage to arrive at a few pages worth reading.

Lastly, Ray is a greasy salesman. You can literally feel how insincere he is while reading this promotional tool. He has supposedly tried to combine God and wealth his entire life, and I think he finally said "screw it" and made a deal with the devil to sell this terrible book. FOR SHAME, RAY, FOR SHAME!

Doris Kearns Goodwin comes up with an unusual perspective in viewing the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln really won the Office of the President with his oration at Cooper Union.
His main opponents were William Seward, Salmon Chase, Edwin Stanton and Edward Bates.. Lincoln won the election and all of the above served in major cabinet positions during the Civil War. The old saying of keeping your enemies close rings true in this study.
I found the political intrigues to be insightful. However, Doris fails to capture the true essence of Lincoln's political thought. I am grateful that I've learned of Lincoln's political adroitness. However, Doris overplays her hand. Lincoln was more concerned with the state of the union. These team of rivals only served limited purposes in his grand scheme. In all the Rivals were not the Big Bad Wolf that was promoted by Doris!!
The read was insightful but only rates 3 Stars!!!

I have just completed Ms. Goodwin's book. I realize that a huge number of people will not like this review. While no one would denies that Abraham Lincoln was one of the top three presidents in this country's history-perhaps Washington and FDR being the other two-it seems that Goodwin wants to create some type of God out of Lincoln, which he probably was not. Moreover, she makes the south out to be this huge bunch of minsters which they probably was not. Was what the south was doing in sustaining slavery wrong? Yes it was and no one would argue that point. It just takes more of an effort to understand why they were sustaining slavery. There are so many things we encounter today that are just as wrong, but people like to cover them up as Goodwin has done in her biography of Lincoln. I must add, and this should have been pointed out and was not, Lincoln did things as president that would never have been tolerated today, but still he is expected to be worship; and, that is just dangerous.

Very interesting read using source material, in their own words, account. The characters are alive and believeable with the background of the election and civil war. The narrative is engrossing and I got lost in the book. It is a biography of the four people who ran for president in 1860. All four biographies enchance understanding of the times and complement Lincoln's story. The history is fascinating and is paced well and comprehensive.

Doris Kearns Goodwin delivers an extremely well-researched and fascinating book about Lincoln and his leadership style. You don't have to be a history fan to truly enjoy this book as it is beautifully-crafted and highly readable. It is also filled with loads of interesting tales such as how unlikely it was that Lincoln was elected in the first place, and also how he was continually criticized by the press until the very end of his career. It also gives an excellent insight into the causes of the Civil War, personalities of the generals, and how Lincoln interacted with and motivated the troops.
This will be one of the most meaty and detailed books that you'll read, and this can cause it to drag slightly in places as the author invests just as much research into all of the other candidates that ultimately wind up in Lincoln's cabinet. This causes the book to be a bit slow in the beginning as the reader becomes familiar with all of the other characters, but it pays off in the end as it gives crucial background that foreshadows later events. Overall it is a wonderful book that fully showcases Lincoln's genius, and hopefully provides a model that could be followed by anyone in a leadership position.

Saying great things about a great man like Lincoln reminds me of my favorite Christmas song: "And though it's been said many times, many ways...". But this book is a gem. It really shows us what a genius Lincoln was and gives us so much insight on him and his cabinet at the same time. She describes people and personalities until you find yourself in the room with them. Like the great Ken Burns, she is delivering these people to us-- not through a 'this happened and then this happened' manner-- but via "emotional archaeology". The ending-- although I know it well-- still made me choke up with anxiety and sadness; emotions that only a great writer like her can evoke. And while you cover all the great events, I LOVE YOUR DETAILS Mrs Goodwin. For example: Seward oddly noticed that his assassin was a "fine looking man" dressed in "handsome cloth". That sort of minutiae--- to a veteran of textbook history like myself-- is such gold. Doris Kearns Goodwin, I fell in love with you when I first saw you talking about George Washington's ill-fitting teeth, then again as you chronicled your youth as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan... and now, after this work, I find myself falling once again. Like I said, you are a rare treasure.

You learn so much from this book its a must read get it for anyone you know. It has alot of things in here you should know about. Higly recommended!!

I have merely read random chapters /pages off the Manual and I am already totally convinced it is a wonderful buy that I have made. The style of presentation is easy-going even when it is dealing with serious subjects and that is good for a Manual one wants to read in a relaxed mode.

Lots of interestingly written information to help one stay or become healthy and live longer and better.

I found this book to be very informative (and commically written). I have the greatest respect for Dr.'s Rozen and Oz.

"How Well Do You Know Your Body?" begins this enlightening 544-page book. It continues with how blood is pumped throughout your body, how your brain works, how your body moves, how you breathe, how food is digested, how your immune system works, and how sexual and sensory organs work. This updated edition of the book includes the quiz along with a new chapter on the liver and pancreas, which describes the function and purpose of each. The authors also debunk popular myths about the body.

The contents include:
Preface
Chapter 1: Your Body, Your Home: Super Health
Chapter 2: The Beat Goes On: Your Heart and Arteries
Chapter 3: Do You Mind: Your Brain and Nervous System
Chapter 4: Motion Control: Your Bones, Joints, and Muscles
Chapter 5: To a Lung and Healthy Life: Your Lungs
Chapter 6: Gut Feelings: Your Digestive System
Chapter 7: In Your Trunk: Your Liver and Pancreas
Chapter 8: Sex Marks the Spot: Your Sexual Organs
Chapter 9: Common Sense: Your Sensory Organs
Chapter 10: Sick Sense: Your Immune System
Chapter 11: This Gland is Your Gland: Your Hormones
Chapter 12: Hell Cells: Cancer
Chapter 13: The Owner's Manual Diet
Chapter 14: The Owner's Manual Workout
Chapter 15: FAQs
Index

This book is both instructive and entertaining. It includes a large (70-page) chapter on diet, which has over 30 recipes. The diet really emphasizes keeping your body healthy and young. The book also has a 24-page chapter, "Owner's Manual Workout", which provides easy-to-do exercises. This is a great book that makes understanding the human body accessible to those without a degree in physiology. I also recommend THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreamsand The 2007 Second Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective..

I love this book. It is accurate and an easy read. I finished it in about a day. In addition to the the play, there are other related readings enclosed which give more insight to historical events and other perspectives. Out of all the copies I own, this is one of the better ones. A great deal, ships quickly and reasonably priced.

I have to admit that I was a big fan of L.A. Theatre Works long before I purchased The Crucible. L.A. Theatre Works has a weekly presentation of its performances on Sonic Theater, a XM Radio station.

This particular production is pretty much an all-star cast with the likes of Michael York and Richard Dreyfus. I purchased it as a tool for teaching The Crucible in my American literature class.

I used this as a review of the play for my students and was very pleased with the performances. A little disappointed with some of the cuts they made, but do realize the necessity for cuts.

I find that books on CD help my 17 year old get an edge on his English projects. He has a reading disability that makes conventional book reading difficult so books on tape or CD are an answer to his problems.

The L.A. Theatre Works' rendition of Miller's _The Crucible_ is an excellent demonstration of the actor's craft, as the tenor, pitch and emotive power of the play bring the characters to life. On the recommendation of Amazon reviewers, I used this for my English class (in addition to the Daniel Day-Lewis / Winona Rider DVD and a class read-around) to get a feel for the play and the various theatrical interpretations of the work.

As a previous reviewer noted, there are some differences between the audio version and Miller's script, but they are minor, and if one is not using the entire CD, a moot point. The performances are fantastic, and, as others have mentioned, it certainly gives life to the written word. Outside of a classroom, I couldn't recommend it, but as a teaching tool, it is first-rate.

Life in the 1800's in the woods sure is different than it is here. I bet if that family ever came here they would be amazed. Heck, if I ever had to shoot guns or collect sap from trees I would fall asleep during it. Pa is my favorite character. He goes into town to get supplies and hunts at night what about those stories? My favorite part is when Pa is alone in the woods at night and he thinks he sees a bear but it is really a tree. This is the first Little House book I read and I would like to read Little House on the Prairie next. I hope all you readers read it!

The audio for this book Little House in the Big Woods is wonderful for my students in the classroom. This allows my students due to the diversity of my students the ability to hear it read aloud(not just by me as the teacher). I can reach many modalities with this. Thank you.

Reading this book was was very easy for me to imagine life back when cards didn't exist and people's nearest neighbor was 1-2 miles away. Wholesome fun for a family that truely survived on what nature had to offer them. Great reading for the family.

This book is wonderful in every way, from the detailed, fresh descriptions of life over a hundred years ago, to the beautiful drawings by Garth Williams.

My six year old daughter loves the story of Laura Ingalls and her
family. It gives good information on how they live long time
ago. teaches her to be thankful, obedient, diligent and to be
thankful on what she have.

As a teacher of learning disabled students...I can say that all of my pupils loved this book. Some of the ideas might need a bit of explaining, but it is a story that kids can really get into.

It's a bit difficult to put into words how I felt about Lowry's The Giver. The first thing that came to mind and just wouldn't go away is "horrific". And though one can't really be caught surprised with the unfolding of events since Lowry, as a measure of her skill as a storyteller, quite expertly built up the climax, there's still a part of me that kept thinking, "Surely it wouldn't be so bad..."

Of course, it was inevitable that this seemingly eerily perfect world she created would topple. And it was all brought about by the power of memories and one's yearning for love. It made me realize that I've never felt so perplexed and awed by a story in a long while.

Certainly dialectic and begging for a multitude of interpretations, The Giver is another one of those worthy reads that dared to explore, among other things, the boundaries of threshold a person can reach, along with one's capacity to break free of bonds just to truly realize what it is to be human.

I have read The Giver 4 times--twice to myself and two other times to other people. This is one of those books that should be read more than once, just because of all the information in it. The Giver starts off slow, and migh deter some younger readers, but once it gets a few chapters in it becomes very intriuging and thought provoking. This is a wonderful book for young kids to first realize and understand the freedoms and other important things we have in our world today. This also teaches that sometimes living through the bad in life is worth it to get the good. I really cannot say enough about this book. It is simply excellent.

This book, to me, was just brilliant. I love the idea of another time and society, which were expressed so originally in this story. Rules, safety, everything made for what could have been a perfect society. But it is what lies beneath these things, what they choose to cover up, that makes the story really interested.

Jonas, at twelve, grows up way too fast. It is traditional for twelve year olds of his society to be an adult at 12, but Jonas is the only one who truly experiences any real growth.

Given the choice to protect the world they live in or unleash everything unknown, he has a powerful choice to make, and does so accordingly.

This book gripped me right up until the end, which was the only slight let-down. While the end was good, it wasn't great, as the rest of the book was. But overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone. An instant classic.

The reviews of The Giver are absolutely hilarious. People, this is a book marketed to young adults; don't let it kick you around. The author, Lois Lowry, expects the reader to make inferences at certain points throughout the novel. You are going to have to turn your brain on and do a little teeny tiny bit of thinking. But that's okay! Just take a deep breath and try to remain calm. You will make it out alive, trust me.

Seriously, the reader response to this book is almost as fascinating as the book itself. When the adults responding here are not complaining about The Giver being hard to understand, they are objecting to its violent content. Isn't that a little like saying our government's anti-drug commercials are too shocking for TV? When authors write about totalitarian societies, they usually try to frighten the reader into guarding against the emergence of such horrors in real life. It's ironic how the reviewers here, in their responses, betray the habit of being spoon fed their truth in much the same way as the characters in this novel. The members of Jonas' community cannot think for themselves, and the reviewers of this book can't even puzzle out the climax. Not only that, but their aversion to The Giver's violent content is exactly the kind of attitude that would lead to a safety-obsessed world like the one Lowry envisioned.

I'm awarding The Giver three stars. It's an overall decent dystopian novel, but it's flawed in that it doesn't stand out as particularly memorable. A story like Animal Farm, by contrast, sticks with you for the rest of your life. Authors who write about totalitarianism probably want to make a deep impact on their audience and drive home a message. If the message doesn't stick, the book is a failure (at least to a degree). Nevertheless, all in all The Giver is a worthwhile read for all age groups.

I heard the author of the Book being interviewed on the Bubba The Love Sponge Show on Sirius Satellite Radio talking about the book and how it is better if we wait and prosecute George W. Bush for Murder instead of impeaching him. By prosecuting him he will go to jail for life and be miserable and scared for his life. If we impeach him he will leave the presidency in shame and go home to Crawford TX and live the rest of his Life Rich and happy. This Book tells you how any District Attorney or Prosecutor in the United States can take George W. Bush to court after leaves the presidency. I Highly recommend this book.

Bugliosi makes a convincing case that the President took us to war for reasons other than what he told the American people. We were told that war was justified because Iraq not only possessed WMD but could attack America on any given day. The Bush administration ignored all evidence to the contrary and presented evidence from sources that CIA, French,and German experts had declared obviously suspect. We went to war because George Bush wanted to, and over 4000 Americans, and over 100,000 Iraqis have died.

We're all a bit tired of this by now. I'm tired of writing, and in spots the book gets a little tiring.

But, this is important stuff. Just read it.

Vincent Bugliosi is an amazing writer. I have read all his books and this is the best! He puts in words what so many of us have not been able to express about the past 7 years of hell with George W Bush...please read this book and give it to your friends...

I just finished reading The Prosecution of George W. Bush For Murder. I encourage every American to read this book. It was an eye-opening experience. I have long wondered how our "President" continues to wrap himself in the American flag and claims to be doing God's will while blatantly lying to the American public. I'm embarrassed that this man is still in the White House and representing our country.

I have not read the book yet. This review is of the above "Editorial Review," which states that. "As a prosecutor who is dedicated to seeking justice, Bugliosi, in his inimitable style, delivers a non-partisan argument, free from party lines and instead based upon hard facts and pure objectivity."

Whether this book is good or bad is mitigated by the ludicrousness of this comment. Even if there were such a thing as "Pure objectivity," the activity of writing this book with that title shows there is hardly any objectivity in it at all. I'm sure we all think we are "Objective" thinkers, free from prejudices, environment, cultural conditioning and even genetic proclivity, but we would have those thoughts in the illusion of objectivity. I do plan on reading the book, and hope it's better than the editorial!