Audiobook Books

For me, I found this book helpful. Her 4 step process has stuck with me, and I hear her voice asking those questions in my head.
I feel the book has helped to bring me peace. Hope it may do the same for you.

I have been working to become more present in my life for the last six years, ever since reading "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. His books, "The Power of Now" and "The New Earth", have led me to powerful insights into how I create pain in my life, but it wasn't until being introduced to Byron Katie's book, "Loving What Is", that the pieces really began to fall into place.

I began doing "the work" three weeks ago, shortly before my daughter went off to college, leaving my husband and me with an empty nest. From the first day on, I was able to challenge my thoughts of grieving and loss and see where I could go from this point on. I have been greatly energized by the process.

I also found it helpful to listen to the audio book in conjunction with the written format. I learned more from hearing Katie do the work than by reading it. [...]

This book helped to change my life in such a positive direction, I've bought it on CD (something I don't normally do because I can't stand audio books) and now, in paperback form. I've checked it out from the library many, many times. It really is *that* good.

I can't say I've actually done The Work on paper. I do it in my head (not something she recommends, I don't think), but it's just as effective for me. You don't have to read this book from cover-to-cover to reap benefits. You don't have to devote hours to doing the introspection. If you want to leave your past in the Past, but practice thinking in ways that improve the Present and Future, this book is just as useful.

I am truly grateful for this book's existence. It's one of the three books I'd take with me if I had to escape my burning house, simply because I sometimes need gentle reminders and it is very good at being just that. I have recommended this book to several friends (and burned copies for them) and they've all felt it helped them.

I hope it benefits you, as well.

My shrink suggested I read this book so I bought it and tried to read it. I've only been able to get through a quarter of the book so far because the main message seems to be: "It's not what happened to you, it's how you look at what happened, so forgive the person who hurt you and let it go."

I guess that's a nice idea but I don't think that works under all circumstanaces. I mean if somebody hurt you very badly, it may be nice to forgive them but I'm not sure that helps to keep it from happening again.

I would like to make sure I take better care of myself by keeping it from happening again and just looking at something differently doesn't really seem to do that. I've forgiven myself for letting it happen but I want to make sure it doesn't happen again. How does looking at something differently do that?

I first read this book some years ago and was quite struck with it, and for a while I was enthusiastic about using the four questions. The problem was that after a while I knew that I was really getting anywhere because there would always be more thoughts to be questioned and I simply didn't have the time or space to spend my life scribbling away day after day. Also the turnarounds felt a bit forced and nothing much changed in my life. The problem with this 'system' is that it isn't practical and that it seems to offer some vague hope of enlightenment; that one day you will find 'the ultimate' turnaround and then you will be just like BK, on cloud nine, never getting angry, at one with everything. This is totally unrealistic and not actually desirable. Maybe I approached it the wrong way because I wanted to 'get something out of it'. The point though, is that the four questions miss the point - whether a thought is true or not isn't the point, and nobody can live not believing in anything and turning everything back to themselves, and that's why I think the work is a bit silly and possibly a bit dangerous. If you want to read something more balanced and sensible, and in my experience a lot more effective, please try Come to Your Senses by Stanley Block. His theory is a step up from whether something is true or not,because we are so much more than just a set of beliefs or non-beliefs.

I thought this book was very good - a little bit for everyone with love and suspense! Didn't want to put it down!

I guarantee he never even read it. This is a book about what goes on in sailing written by a guy who's never been on a boat.
Paragraph after paragraph - once they're on the boat, the actions either can't happen, wouldn't happen or contradict what has already been said.
If you've ever sailed, this is maddening. If you've never sailed, you will have to assume that sailors are schizophrenic superheroes who, most of the time, transform into completely useless idiots. That's what the author would have us believe.
Horrible unreadable book. Sailors beware.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. The chapters are short like most Patterson books. This book lacked detail and the detail it had was humorous.

There is a wealthy lawyer from Manhattan and it is stated that you can tell he is rich because he has his own aircraft. The aircraft listed is a Cessna Skyhawk. This aircraft is a training aircraft and one used by most novice aviators of middle class, not overpaid lawyers from NY.

This book reads just slightly better than a Encyclopedia Brown book. Hopefully Patterson will stop mass producing books and create something well researched.

The mother of a wealthy, dysfunctional family decides to spend a summer sailing with her teenage children in hopes of improving relationships between siblings and their mother. They invite the uncle of the children to join them as captain of the yacht. The children's stepfather, a wealthy lawyer, stays home in New York so the mother and her children can bond better without competing with the husband/wife relationship.

Things start to go wrong aboard the boat from day one. Someone has tampered with the ship, so it almost sinks, but before that happens, the daughter tries to commit suicide by jumping overboard! The plot slides downhill from there.

The writers of this book seem to assume that their readers will know nothing about boats or boating and will accept any impossible fabrication, e.g., a family on a sinkiing ship that doesn't try to contact the Coast Guard for help, and giant snakes living in deserted Bahama islands that attack people and eat them, The entire story is based on the premise that the shipwrecked family put a note in a coke bottle, which was immediately eaten by a giant tuna, which was caught the next day or so and the bottle recovered, which ultimately led to the family's rescue. If that sounds like a good read to you, you will enjoy this book!

As a James patterson fan, I was deeply dissaointed with this book. Its obvious he is just letting his name be attached to books just to make money. This was more predictable, fake, and unrealistic than a silly movie.


I was flipping the pages literally stunned that each event was ACTUALLY happening because it was so stupid and surreal.

Dont waste your time. This book stinks.

Here is a review that wasnt written by one of the authors in the self help author circle.
The way I found this book to be written was clear, concise and to the point and did an excellent job decribing the how and why scientifically all this is supposed to work on a quantum mind level. I suppose I buy that. I have seen things like that in my life. But I also have doubts, as I am a poker player.
After the world series of poker was won in 2005 we all knew who the winner was. Fossilman was the guys name. It takes incredible skill AND amazing luck to win the world series of poker. With over 20,000 entrants the chances of being the last one standing is pretty small indeed, skill non withstanding. Many of the top pros just dont have the cards go thier way as dictated by chance. You can be standing there in an all in situation against a pro (those that play or watch poker on cable know what Im talking about) and you are subject to random chance as the cards are drawn off the deck. If you flop the set you stay, if not, youre out and you go home. This sends many pros home and many ameteurs who do not possess the pros skill end up eventually winning the WSOP. In 03 a guy won that played for several years and entered in a contest online to get a seat at the WSOP(World Series of Poker) and won the whole thing. Astronomical odds. But someones gotta win, and there is going to be someone left standing at the end of the World Series of Poker, just as there is a 1 in 80,000,000 million multi state lottery winner. Anyway, watching the rerun tape of the WSOP (that I knew Fossilman won) I watched him win improbable hand after stunning just made the card he needed at the last second hand. Knowing he would be the eventual winner let me marvel at the raw luck this guy was enountering as he knocked off person after pro after guy, weaving his way through the tables knocking off his opponents to end up being the winner.
And thats my point. These two guys (authors) that wrote this book. Could it be that they were just two lottery winners of life that just so happened to be 2 out of 200,000,000 people that were at the right place at the right time every time like the guy that kept winning hands at the WSOP? Given a big enough population size, statistics dictate that there will be through random chance several SEVERE winners out of 200,000,000 non winners. There are 300,000,000 million people in the United States, 90% of which live check to check. Then there are these two guys that just so happened to win at everything they did and they became rich.

Perhaps the error of these two authors was to turn around and personalize statistical odds and think they could develop a system that could include the other 200,000,000 people that didnt win in their winning circle. But the problem with that is that capitalism is by nature a pyramid. The wealthy few exist at the top help up by the base of the majority of the others through services and the manufacture of goods.

Lets say everyone in America got a check from the government for 10,000,000 million dollars. Inflation non withstanding, what would happen? WOOOOO! Im a multi millionare! Youd want to be tended to, to buy stuff, be pampered, go on vacation. But why would the guy at the hotel serve you? He got a check for 10,000,000 too. So did the janitor. So did the pilot of the plane. No one is working, they all expect to be waited on as they are now rich. No one is building, manufacturing, producing food, everyone quits thier jobs. Suddenly if everyone has money, no one wants to work as THEY expect to be waited on. Suddenly the money is worthless, and we are back to trading beans. Not everyone can win and be rich.
Good book, good science behind it, I just decided to throw on a pair of horns and make the case for the other side. I guess Im going to find out if this really works within the next two months as I am going to do this every day.
Good luck people. And yes, I gave this max stars cause at least it got my hope up. We will see if it delivers: me sitting in my own house with a mercedes and Range Rover in the garage.

Excellent! This book allowed me to get out of the business that I spent a few years unsuccessfully trying to perform a CPR on and to get involved (successfully) with the business that I would never even attempt to join before I read this book! I literally force everybody on my team to study this book and also The Four Hour Work Week. Success in small business is more achievable than most of business owners think and "small" business can generate rather "big" money turned out!
The book addresses probably all of the aspects of small business development and the most important lesson that it teaches - it's not the business that fails, it's the business owner's inability to run it successfully.
I have a university degree in economics and most of the stuff this book has I didn't hear from my professors about. The matter of fact I think this book gave me more helpful information about how to run my business than four years in college!

I really enjoyed this book. As an entrepreneur, it can be challenging to keep a positive mindset and focused on one's goals and reasons for being in business in the first place. This book does a great job of explaining the laws of attraction, gestation, and action. What I took away is primarily the vision, visualization, and affirmation work that I'm incorporating into my morning routine after meditation. I can't speak for it's effectiveness quite yet; however, I do feel my mindset is more focused.

The chapters on elevator speeches, unique selling proposition, ideal customer, and benefits were very helpful. There are 1000's of books on those subjects and I believe the authors here do a superb job of making these concepts more accessible and useful.

I believe the weakness of the book is action. While the book speaks of the necessity of action, the exercises are really about developing one's mindset. Perhaps it's the chapter that gets into marketing where this is more glaring. Even the recommended reading doesn't give one much to go on. Perhaps adding Guerilla Marketing for Consultants would help complete the program. The information on creating a compelling advertisement is very useful and concise.

Overall this book attempts much and succeeds.

This Book is life changing for those that are willing to follow the steps. The business knowledge is incredible and makes you look at the things that so many business owners pass over because they are working in their business instead of on their business.

Greg D'Amico
CEO Efficience

I'm really enjoying the book. Although, I will warn, that it is more for those who already have a business then for those just starting one but it is still very helpful for motivation and creating a plan. I still highly recommend it.

I've read over 200 books on sales and marketing in my career and SPIN Selling is without question one of the best out there. No tactics, techniques or processes (those never work) like other sales books. Excellent for relationship selling. I am seeing the author Neil Rackham in one of his very rare live appearances in December of 08 (www.MoveAhead1.com) and highly recommend that everyone reading this gets tickets to see a true sales giant.

Being involved in complex sales processes for years, I found the SPIN concept elegant and very effective at the same time. It is one of the best books written in the area of major sales. Absolutely a classic!

When I first read "Spin Selling", shortly after its introduction, I found it enlightening. At the time I had been in office automation sales for 10 years and management for 5 years, and the book solidified many of my thoughts and theories on selling. Since then, I have read a lot of other selling books but none really deal with the underlying theory of selling as well as Neil Rackham's book does. Even now as I am self employed, I still re-read the book occationally to brush up. For those who feel that the author hasn't the field expereince to be credible, obviously they have never coached or mentored someone in complex sales. And for those reviewers who blame Kodak's current lack of succsess to SPIN, they might find it shocking that Microsoft uses SPIN too.

If Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets is the comprehensive guide to selling intangible, complex solutions, then SPIN Selling is the comprehensive guide to asking customers questions to find our what mattered to them most.

SPIN Selling is definitely NOT the first book that guides sales people in the art of asking questions, but it's definitely the one that puts it in the most elegant way.

That said, it will be a mistake to assume that SPIN Selling is the cure-all for asking customers. The Science of Influence: How to Get Anyone to Say "Yes" in 8 Minutes or Less! will be a good companion to better understand the human psyche.

...this may help. It is one of a few books to use as a resource.

I must say that I was not a very spiritual person until now. I have gone to several churches over many of my 41 years and not one has delivered the message to me that this book has. This book has saved my relationship and given me a completely different perspective on life. I am so interested in learning more about God and have plans to read the entire Bible within the next year. I have already purchased this book for a close friend and my brother. I also plan on sending this book to my children. I urge you to visit the website asscociated with this book to view the wonderful things there [...]. I am in no way associated the author or publishing company for this book. I found this book approximately one week ago after hitting a very low point in my life and while looking for a book that might change my life I found this book the day after a car accident that left me stranded for two days in Texas until some family assistance arrived. Again, I highly encourage those of you who are not familiar with God to give this book an opportunity to make a change in your life.

I've gone through a rough patch in my life just a few months ago and at one point I was considered suicidal. It was a struggle to just get through the days. I've read "The Road Less Traveled" which helped greatly. But then I read "The Purpose Driven Life" and it changed my life completely. I have a whole new outlook on life now. This is a book that I will read over and over. It helps you to accept things in your life and helps you to understand life in general and focus on God. I HIGHLY recommend this book for ANYONE going through a rough time. As Scott Peck starts his book, "Life is Difficult". That statement is 100% accurate. So read The Road Less Traveled and THEN read the Purpose Driven Life and you will be headed in the right direction.

Thsi book is really wonderful to read, it really makes you focus on what should be most important in your life. We were created for a reason and we should be living our life for the purpose we were put on earth for, not just for ourselves. In general be a fun-loving, caring, down to earth, spiritual person, and always smile.

This book was suggested to me by a dear friend and I am so glad I bought it. It is an awesome book. I've enjoyed every page I've read so far. It not only explains what God wants you to do, it helps you believe. I couldn't have asked for a better book to read. It has been a very spiritual journey.

Superb service, fast delivery, and a high quality product. I would strongly recommend this product and this seller to anyone intersted in making a quality online purchase.

This novel brings identity theft to a whole new level. A new age killer is on the loose in Manhattan and Lincoln and the gang are drawn into the plot when Rhyme's cousin is deliberately set up for a murder he did not commit. After some sleuthing the detectives learn that several other murders with the same MO have occurred recently. Apparantly, the killer knows everything about both victim and set-up allowing him/her to orchestrate the perfect crime thus distracting authorities from the actual culprit. This interesting plot involves a huge private institution that collects the most privaledged information on basically all citizens of this country. The secure informations is to be used by government agencies and the not so secure data is sold to marketers. However, maybe someone else has access to the information and is gathering it for more sinister reasons.

The book was great. A little frightening to think how much personal information is available. Book was delivered quickly and in good condition.

I won't give away anything. But I will say if you are at all concerned about living on the grid read this book. Will totally open your eyes. And of course, I was kept guessing until the end. Which is a great thing.

The author tackles a very important contemporary issue in this book, and it was a real page-turner until about halfway through when nothing really new was happening. For one thing, Rhyme is a rather boring character. He's got one emotion: cranky. I can see nothing to attract a beautiful woman like his current partner. He doesn't have an ounce of charm, and we all know a strong woman won't be with a man who is devoid of it. So there's no "chemistry" there whatsoever. The story was fun when it was a true "who-dunnit" but when the author started using clever little ploys to fool us into thinking we had the guy, then it turned out to be someone else, I felt a little cheated and it felt very blah-blah-blah, gimme a break. And then, when the person it really was turned out to be sort of a deus ex machina - from out of nowhere and a dull nowhere at that...I guess I just lost interest and wished the book would end. Also, two side stories could have been really juicy, but they fell short: the one about Pam and her married teacher boyfriend. That came to a dead halt. Then the story about Rhyme's cousin Arthur: I wanted to actually experience the cousins making it up in the end. But then, since Rhyme is such a one-note johnny, I can't imagine how a reunion would have been very rich anyway. Let's put it this way: Deaver could take note of Dave Robicheaux, Matthew Scudder and Easy Rawlins, protagonists with depth, and inner lives heartfelt by the reader.

I look forward to Lincoln Rhyme novels, so I was happy when my number finally came up at the library for Jeffrey Deaver's The Broken Window. As a technology geek, I *really* got into this story line. I'll grant that there was some level of "literary licence" taken in the plot, but it's still an unsettling look at what's going on with data mining and personal privacy.

Rhyme, the quadriplegic genius who takes forensic crime science to a new level, gets involved in a new case that's personal. His cousin Arthur is accused of a murder that he swears he didn't commit. The evidence begs to differ, however. Everything at the crime scene and in Arthur's personal life points in exacting detail to his involvement. There's some bad blood between Rhyme and his cousin, and he's not all too keen on getting involved in what appears to be an open-and-shut case. But he softens a bit and decides to ask a couple of questions. What he finds is that the evidence is *too* perfect... almost as if everything was staged to the nth degree. He's also able to find a few other murder cases that share the same "perfectness", despite the protests of the accused. The investigation leads to a data mining company, Strategic Systems Datacorp, who has a seemingly infinite amount of information on nearly everyone in the US. But their operation is shrouded in secrecy, and too many people seem to be deathly afraid of crossing swords with them. If someone at the company had detailed information about what the victims and accused bought, where they went, and what they did, they *could* create perfect crimes. Rhyme and his partner Amelia Sachs have to determine who at the company had means and motive. But if the hunted has all of Rhyme's information, just who is the hunted and who is the hunter?

I liked this on a couple of different levels. From pure story and plot, I had a hard time putting down the book. The identity of the killer stays nebulous for a large part of the book, so the suspense stays at a pretty high level. The other facet of the story is the whole issue of data mining and personal privacy. If all the information that's collected about you is gathered in a single place, your life literally becomes an open book. Not only do they know everything about you, but they can start to predict what you might and might not do with surprising accuracy. I think you can draw the inference to today's society. While it's true (I hope) that an actual Strategic Systems Datacorp doesn't exist, it's no longer outside the realm of possibility. This is a very good thriller with some interesting concepts to mull over.

This guy is a stinkin' genius. The concepts he lays out in this book make so much sense. I've already lent it out, and can't wait to get it back to listen to it again. He finds a way to lay out some pretty deep thoughts on TOC, but makes them easy to understand. I am constantly using some of his ideas in my meetings specifically around the number of metrics needed and changing the rules of business. The only problem I have is getting the rest of the company to understand it.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of TOC. He really explains the 'why' along with some of the history leading up to The Goal and everything that followed. I plan to listen to it a few more times, because I'm sure I missed 90% of what he really meant the first time through (but still extremely valuable!).

Opening with a tour-de-force of insightful simplicity, Beyond The Goal goes on to explore many aspects of business activity with Dr. Goldratt's custom disciplined thinking. Though I have not come through his excellent speaking with a clear understanding of the Theory Of Constraints, I heard many other ideas and had a pleasant time doing so. He covers a straight-forward process for implementing TOC within an hesitant organisation, as well as providing a brilliant technique for validating any effort to apply new technology in business.

This e-book reminds us Goldratt's literary style: clear, brief and precise.
After reading/listening to this lecture, I fell like I could run any facility in the world far better than the current management does.
This author delivers such a clear vision that by the moment we close the book we could train an audience on this subject.

This is my first, but won't be my last, experience with Coach in a Box. Dr. G. is in his usual form (obviously speaking to a live audience) but this material, in this form, is probably not for those uninitiated to TOC. An outstanding supplement to William Dettmer's Systems book on TOC.

In this day and age it's nigh impossible to get a child away from the TV, what with a bazillion channels, cartoons coming out of a lot of them, always on. Then there are video games galore. Star Wars Battlefront, Halo, who knows what else. Then, of course, there are toys, which are all high tech these days, but even the ones that have been passed down through the years, take up you little one's time. Not to mention little friends who want your precious to come out and play. Add all that up and what chance does a CD of Timeless Folktales from Around the World have of getting some serious listening?

Almost none, one would think, but that's not true. Yes there is no video, no whizz bang, slap dash, shoot 'em up, faster than the speed of light travel on this CD. Only stories here. Wonderful stories that will open your child's imagination, take her to a place she could never go in front if that TV, even if she does have a controller in her hand.

So how do you get your little one to listen. Just before bed, that's when. When your darling is snug under the covers, that's when she can really get into the Spider Anansi, the Trickster and how he gets tricked by the Turtle. Or maybe she would identify with the poor Selkie Bride or The Boatman's Howling Daughter.

There are eight delightful tales on this CD, perfect to play just before dream time. After all there is a lot more to live than TV and Video games, so why not open your child's mind to the world of imagination. Get here her started here, you won't be sorry.

Reviewed by Captain Katie Osborne

This is a charming collection of eight folktales from around the world, which can be enjoyed by anyone above the age of three. Written by Amy Friedman, and produced by Friedman and Lori Ada Jaroslow, the background music was composed by Laura Hall of "Who's Line is it Anyway?" fame.


1. A Sense of Theft
Narrated by Lori Ada Jaroslow, Broadway Performer
Setting: Eastern Europe

There was a young lady named Zena
Who worked every day as a cleana
Baked goods she'd inhale
Without closing the sale
Which was thought to be a misdemeana

2. Anansi and Turtle's Feast
Narrated by Rick Hall, Actor
Setting: Africa

There once was a spider, Anansi
Who'd trick you if it took his fanci
He hated to share
Any food that was there
Be it yams or buffet fanci schmanci

3. The Selkie Bride
Narrated by Lauren Tom, Actress
Setting: Scotland

A fisherman once caught a seal
Who turned out to be quite unreal
As shedding the skin
Showed a woman within
Though she got the raw end of the deal

4. Two Frogs from Japan
Narrated by Jack McGee, Actor
Setting: Japan

There once was a frog from Kyoto
Who sought other places to go to
His friend from Osaka
Was on the same tracka
Both wishing for a telephoto

5. The Clever Girl
Narrated by Charlayne Woodard, Actress
Setting: Former Czechoslovakia

A farmer once had a fine daughter
Who was smarter by far than she oughter
The magistrate tried
To suppress his bride
But he found that his rules held no water

6. Searching for Fear
Narrated by Poppy Champlin, Comedienne
Setting: North America, but has Turkish origins

There once was a fearless raccoon
Who marched to a different toon
He hunted for fear
With never a scare
Until faced with the time opportoon

7. Rabbit on the Moon
Narrated by William Thomas Jnr., Broadway Performer/Actor
Setting: India

Here, Buddha's disguised as a Brahmin
Seeking animals willin' and charmin'
When instead of some rice
A supreme sacrifice
Turns out to be somewhat disarmin'

8. The Boatman's Howling Daughter
Narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite, Actress
Setting: North America

There once was a girl named Sal Fink
Who was tougher by far than you'd think
When HER temper flares
She wrestles with bears
And generally kicks up a stink



Note: Some tracks are not in the order they are listed on the CD.


Very entertaining, and skillfully narrated by a talented group of performers, this would be an age appropriate gift for a budding storyteller on your list.




Amanda Richards, July 31, 2008

The CD is pretty short, and the stories were OK. Their original, never heard most of them, but most of them just didn't appeal to me.

Wonderful and hypnotic is what I would call this. The first story I played for my two girls (6 and 8) in the car on the way to school. It was the first time they ever made it the whole ride in total silence. After just the FIRST story, they begged for me to play it again, but it was time for school. When I picked them up, they asked right away. So So this is what we have done the last three days; listen to a new story on the way to school. I'm only on the third, The Selkie Bride. My oldest daughter rushed into school and immediately began telling the tale to the first friend she ran into.

I can't say enough good about this. The children are captivated and it provides great discussion topics, for example, after the SECOND time we listened to A Sense of Theft, I asked my daughters what they think the judge felt about the case against Zena. I, myself, had to run errands today and listened to the rest of the tales. The depth, the humor, the underlying celebration of the human spirit, all in such clever packages is something I will always enjoy bringing to my children.

This review refers to "Tell Me A Story: Timeless Folktales from Around The World"(CD)

So, one of the really cool things about writing reviews at Amazon is that every once in a while, I will receive a book from an Author or publisher in hopes of a review. I don't review every single one I receive, but every once in a while I get one that I not only can't wait to share with Amazon book shoppers, but as in this case, one that I can share with my entire family. I received this one from producer of this fine CD, Amy Friedman, and I'd like to say thanks so much, for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I took this one with me on my errands outing the other day, and popped it in my CD player. First off all I became so enthralled with these marvelous stories that I was glad I was alone and didn't have anyone with me chit chatting as I listened.Although I am sure any listener would be under it's spell as well. The other thing is that my errands took much longer then anticipated as at each stop, I couldn't get out of my car until I finished the story I was listening to.

The title says much about this book. The readers are professional), will tell you the stories and you cannot help but to fall into a trance by their lulling and often animated voices. These great folktales take place in all different parts of the world and the readers capture the personalities of the people or animals, the accents, the fun and the lessons learned exquisitely. The stories each are not only a joy to listen to, but will leave you with some kind of moral or life lesson learned in a entertaining way. These tales transcend age and time, and offer a glimpse into various countries and cultures that will leave the reader a little more enriched.

There are 8 tales ranging from about 5 to 13 minutes. Well over an hour to get lost in. Although this is classified as a children's book. I have to say that whatever your age, you will enjoy these stories. I even think, the very young will get something out of these tales. Only one,"The Boatman's Howling Daughter", an American folktale may not be suitable for the very very young, as there is some violence(think something akin to Peter Pan and the Pirates). Among some of the other tales, I really enjoyed "A`Sense of Theft". A delightful tale of a poor woman on trial for "stealing" the wonderful smells from the Baker's shop. How will the judge handle this case. Also included is "Rabbit on the Moon", an excellent learning lesson, "The Selkie Bride", what will we do for love?, "Anansi and Turtle's Feast", "Searching For Fear", "The Clever Girl", and "Two Frogs From Japan", a tale that might make one think about where to find happiness.

The CD quality itself is excellent, with some great music to set the mood of the tales as well. It includes a booklet, with story synopsis and great illustrations and bios of the narrators.

Highly recommended. Take it in your car the next time you are chauffeuring the kids around. For once, the ride will be peaceful as the kids(and you), get swept away to far away lands and olden times. Makes a great gift as well, one that could be passed down from generation to generation, that is if anyone can actually part with it.

Hopefully this will be the start of a long line of the CDs, with more lovely tales to come....Enjoy the read.....Laurie

What did I think about this book? I think this book was great. I learned so much from Pastor Olsteen. I learned that life doesn't have to be so heavy because we have God who walks alongside with us, constantly leading and guiding us. AND, the best part, we are never alone. I learned how to pray with this book (how to talk with God) and how to declare blessings over my family. I often felt my prayers were going out unanswered into some holding tank, but this book showed me where they were actually going and why. It wasn't that God wasn't answering my prayers, He was holding them until the right time. I learned so many things with this book, too many to mention. I found this book to be an easy read, yet so rich in information and examples. The thing that helped me the MOST was the little sample prayers such as: "God, I thank you for your favor, your favor is causing..." Some people are not eloquent when addressing God. Joel tells us to remember God in the good times and the bad. However, another best part is he tells us where WE fit in, and that we are not alone, ever. After reading this book. My brother met him at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo, Joel was walking around with his two children and my brother went up to him and they both prayed together. My brother said, that Joel has a very approachable personality and is a very humble person with a great heart who only wants to help people find God. And to that Joel, I thank you for helping me find God. I do not attend Lakewood Church neither am I Christian but I still found God. Now when I look back, I think the message was for me. I finally understand and my journey continues. Thank you.

A wonderful uplifting read. You can hear Joel's voice as you read. I would compare this book to Norman Vincent Peale's motional books with the addition statement that this comes with a fresher touch and breath of God's Love given through his servant Joel. Definitely inspirational and a must read for all of God's children - that means everyone, those who consider themselves Christians and especially everyone who considers themselves something or nothing else.

Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential

This is a great motivational book for anyone, whether they are Christian or not. Osteen has been criticized for his super positivism and theory of entitlement from God for good in life. Anyone that bothers can easily ignore those sentiments and still derive a whole lot of benefit from the book. I find no problem with anyone who encourages a positive attitude. This is one of the best self-help books I've read and I've read loads of them. It is an excellent gift book also. I've given several of them as gifts. The doughnuts in this book far outweigh any perceived holes.

Over the last few years (this year in particular), my soul has been on a search for something. As a result, I've read so many books I could not even begin to list them all. To make a long story short, this book is by far on #1 on my list and as I've said--that would speak volumes to you if you saw my collection. Joel is down to earth & the real deal. He speaks with such sincerity when he does sermons, and in this book. While on this spiritual quest, a lot of the books I've read were related to manifesting-the most well known book being "The Secret". While I thought this book had some good things to say, I later found myself still feeling a void in the way this information was presented. "Your Best Life Now" filled the void and explained everything in such a way that made complete sense to me. This book really will enable you to live your best life now, and I can say that confidently after reading nearly every similar book out there. To Joel: Add this to your file that you read for inspiration and a quick pick me up--You are a wonderful person and you are the perfect example of the words you preach. You don't just talk the talk, you walk the walk. You and your life are proof of everything you speak of in this book. My favorite book of all time--one I would give to friends, family, my future children, or a stranger on the street. Truly life transforming. Congratulations!

Ignore the fundamentalists (scribes and pharisees all!) who keep creeping into these reviews and bad-mouthing Osteen. Christianity has been hijacked long enough by word-worshipping Bible Bangers. What did Jesus say about the fundamentalists of His day? "Ye search the scriptures daily for in them you think you have truth." Osteen has written a wonderful book. I also reccomend watching & listening to Joel's broadcasts too. So refreshing! The world needs more of this kind of positive and encouraging teaching and much less of people like "Sandra F." who keeps admonishing positive reviewers with her little sermonettes and quoting Bible verses to prove her point(s). You can use the Bible to prove anything and you can use the Bible to represent (and justify) a miserable and joyless Christianity - which many have! You take FEAR and GUILT away from these people and their churches would empty out and go broke in a week.