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Wonderful, wonderful book. I am inspired to find some land and build my own little haven... I guess that makes this the most expensive book I've ever bought.

I love this book because Michael allowed me to feel I could build a place of my own, and because I experienced the process so thoroughly and vicariously through him, I probably won't. I loved reading of the balancing of reality and desire, of architect, builder, and setting. I am amazed at what Michael is able to do, and I savor and share his rightful pride in being able to do so. I appreciate my own home more and view other structures with more curiosity as a result of reading this book. Michael entertains, and makes the process of home-building accessible to any one of us. I sit and look at the cover, wanting a little home of my own, and, as I say, I feel satisfied with what he has built, and the creation of my own little nest within a home that is already mine. And if I change my mind, he is here as guide.

First, I enjoyed reading this book. I'm a carpenter turned cabinetmaker that aspires to build spec homes per my own designs, from bottom to top. Given my existing interest in the field, I most enjoyed his discussion of the various architectural movements and the philosophies thereof. It provides a broad overview of different theories of design and how they result in pleasing (or not so pleasing) structures.

However, he definitely goes overboard - especially with the obnoxious use of esoteric vocabulary. Synecdoche? I'm pretty well read and I don't think I've ever even seen that word written before. It goes on and on like that, and it's unfortunate because it really distracts you from what's otherwise a pretty interesting read. He also seems to slip into a bit of stream of consciousness about the theory behind some detail of construction or another (like muntins). Be prepared.

It was also tiring to read about the conflict between the architect and the builder. If it was indeed as tense as he claims, then he's probably in large part to blame, getting wrapped up in the drama (which I believe he does).

Overall I gave it a 3, because it definitely provided a lot of good information. But I was dragging by the end, and it really felt like once he hit his quota of pages he just stopped. He takes you all the way through the process of construction, but doesn't tell you how it ends. How's the building feel? What worked and what didn't? Is it great in the spring with the windows open, or is it too buggy? Freezing in the winter? By dropping 30 pages of theory and putting in an equal amount of reality it would have made this book a real winner.

... this book is much too wordy and self-consciously "word-crafted." A Place of My Own: 3 stars.

I have loved his other books: The Botany of Desire in particular. He is an excellent writer and great to listen to in a radio interview. However, this book, it seems to me, was written for his former colleagues in the "word industry" as a proof that he can write more intricately structured sentences, more erudite vocabulary, more commas generally THAN YOU CAN!!

I began reading the book with great hopes, and I hate to rate any of his books less than a 5; but I immediately bogged down. It has overly complicated, assertively complicated, prose. It has an immensity of nested clauses delimited by a blizzard of commas. I started looking for a sentence without a comma. I couldn't find one for at least a page and a half. Immensely long, self-consciously crafted sentences. Nothing is just a thing: It's possibly the strangest, most meaningful thing, except that his wife, when in the kitchen, though not generally not on Tuesdays, used to enunciate, with a wry expression on her lips -- a rather inappropriate expression I thought, that it was the opposite of the physical object, in spite of Plato and Aristotle, because her cabalistic, pernicious, atavism. (You get the style?) I think he was trying impress himself that his life, decision to write full time and his little studio were worthwhile. To me, it's navel-gazing at its worst.

If you like the kind of sentence I parodied above (though trust me, it's not that much of a parody) you will like this book. Otherwise, not. As noted, I like Michael Pollan. I could not read this. Thank goodness for his more recent books.

[edited for spelling and grammar 28FEB08]

this book is elegantly written, erudite and entertaining. I'd recommend it highly both to the carpenter who would like to know more about the ancient roots of construction and to the armchair traveller types. It examines the dynamic between builder, client and architect in a manner reminicient of but definitely different from the classic Tracy Kidder "House".

Study strategies are often overlooked in school, yet they are the tools students need to succeed. The authors have included many strategies to help kids stay organized, take tests, do research reports, take notes, and study. I would highly recommend this for middle and high school students.

As a high school English teacher I have always wanted to have a book I could give my students to learn study skills. Study Strategies Made Easy provides practical information and important study skills such as planning for long term reports, how to study for tests, note-taking, organization, and how to improve you memory. These strategies, and the others in this wonderful book, give students the edge they need to be successful.

Among the ten books I have read for this age group, this book is in the top group. It is oriented around learning styles, which may not be immediately understandable or useful to kids who are struggling (it often takes an adult to explain learning styles to a youngster and help the young person practice the understanding), but the sections on communication, reading comprehension, note-taking, homework, memorization, and test-taking were all very good.

One item which is missing from most books of this sort is the concept of "desire." A youngster has to want to improve in order to make gains.

If I were teaching a study skills class to early high schoolers, I probably would use this book. For middle schoolers, I would use Laurie Rozakis' Super Study Skills. For late high schoolers and early college-age students, I would use William Luckie's Study Power.

This book does a good job of describing study strategies. However, I think that the book, SURVEY OF 300 A+ STUDENTS: A+ STUDENTS DESCRIBE THEIR ACADEMIC STRATEGIES, by Kenneth Green (from Harvard) is a bit better (which I think deserves 5 stars).

I have just finnished reading The Long Road Home and must commend Martha Raddatz on her brilliant book. I have been a friend of the Weibleys(Trysha)for years and decided that it was past due for me to read. It was not political or opinionated in any way, it was factual and desctiptive like nothing I have ever read.Since There is one part of this book where Seth gets out to clean a windshild..knowing him the way I do, I HAD to laugh through the tears. It was just soooo something he would do.
Thank you for writing this amazing book for the world to read. It is integral to all Americans to know what REALLY happend that day. I know that the Weibleys apreciate it as do I and all that I will be passing this on to.

I saw Martha Raddatz speak at the Pritzker Military Library last week (June 2008) and bought the book there on the spot. I have read it straight through in a couple of days and wish that every American would read this book or one with a similar story. It seems that Iraq has become background noise in light of the energy crisis and the country's economic woes.

It's easy to forget that we are at war and that American servicemen are losing their lives. This book brings that reality home. It's not a fun read - it's a distinctly uncomfortable and sometimes depressing one. But reading stories like this might go some ways towards breaking through this desensitization we seem to have as a country when it comes to the war in Iraq.

I think that the portions of the book written from the view of the soldiers are solid and really brought me into the action of that awful battle. I won't ever know what it is like to be a soldier who engages in battle and is wounded or sees friends wounded or, worse, killed in action. But this book at least makes me really think about it and gives a good description of how these soldiers felt.

On the other hand, I did not think that the parts of the book written from the perspective of the families was as strong. I am not sure if this is the result of Ms. Raddatz respecting the wives of the killed soldiers and not interviewing them directly or just because her passion lies with the stories that these men have to tell more than with the stories of their families. Either way, it made the book feel a little unbalanced to me.

All that being said, I think that this book is important. The story that it tells is important not only because the battle it details was a turning point in the war but because it reminds us that our fellow countrymen are going through unspeakable things. This war remains relevant and I applaud the efforts of Ms. Raddatz and others like her for fighting to keep it in the media.

Excellent read about the war in Iraq. I bought this book after I found parts contained action my son was involved in. Found my son's name and picture of truck he was in. He was trying to save Cindy Sheenan's son Casey. He was ambushed also and was hit in his foot. They lost eight good soliders that day. I hope they make a movie someday. My son is a IV and he was shot on 4-4-4 in Sadr City Iraq. He now has PTSD and is divorced from the woman he loves. Where is Cindy Sheenan now?

This book is a must read in this election year. Put all else aside, pick up this book and struggle through the reality of what is going on and few of us bother to realize. This is not a pleasant read, this is not a feel good story. This is the truth of what happens when politicians make decisions based on their own legacy in mind. This is how those decisions affect you, me and our neighbors. These kids are in a horrible situation in Iraq. If the evidence to enter the war was real, OK, this is duty. In retrospect, this is a sin. No one should face 10 minutes of what these husbands, boyfirends, sons and daughters are going through. Martha Raddatz did an incredible job of piecing this story together. If 10 % of this is accurate, no one should be subjected to this kind of horror. I can tell you, having had a brother serve in Vietnam in the late 60s, there is nothing you hope to avoid than a taxi, your parish priest or minister, and a stranger dressed in a military uniform in the middle of the night. Soldiers,, families are all suffering, the problem is, they are in the minority. The majority of us simply bitch about high gas prices. We don't have a clue what is going on. Read this book and become informed. When you vote in November, consider what you are doing, seriously. Is this war in the middle east worth it? Is it winnable? Is there an honorable way out. Don't just assume there is, understand what these soldiers are going through and make sure the way you vote is not going to prolong this disaster.

In Iraq right now and had to read this. Wasn't as good as I thought it would be but it gives a perspective.

I didn't feel this book offered anything new. Rehash of ideas I've heard 100 times.

Nice layouts great pictures of sparking homes with nothing in them - really since I have alot of my stuff in mine and have to clean around it - must be easy for them. Nothing in here you don't already know -

As the child of a wonderful mother yet complete housekeeping slob, I have to admit, I truly didn't have the first idea about "how" to clean a house let alone what type of schedule I should maintain. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It has a detailed breakdown of various rooms in the house, with a guideline and specific "how to" instructions for where to start cleaning in each room, how to clean each aspect (area) of a room, and how often you should clean each component of a room. I also liked the friendly pep talk about doing just a little at a time rather than sitting on your bum watching tv, etc. I would highly recommend this to other "cleaning" challenged individuals.

My only complaint about the book is that the index did not specifically list any websites or retailers for some of the various cleaning supplies.

This is a great book with wonderful ideas and well organized for cleaning your home. It is broken down by rooms for quick ideas, has a cleaning calendar and shows all of the different finishes, floors etc and how to clean each one. It is a great book with wonderful information and I highly recommend it!!

Great guide whether you want to do a quick "touch-up" before guests arrive or a thorough cleaning, this is a great book. It gives great tips for every kind of cleaning task you might have. I would NOT buy a small paperback because it takes the fun out of imagining how beautiful your home will look like when you are done (with the help of gorgeous pictures in the book).
Worth every penny!

I was interested in starting a part time catering business out of my home. Meaning part-time, cooking in my home. This book was very thorough but pointed out what I had found in the mean time that this is not possible. By working out of your home, this book means that you can run the business aspect (i.e. planning, selling, etc) out of your home. Separate (costly) kitchen facilities are required in most staes. So, while this book was informative for someone who is willing to put their career on the line and solely do catering, it did not work for my purposes.

...this book contains a lot of useful information, precautions and advices. The author gives also titles of books that are required for the caterer.

Bought this as a Christmas gift for a new Chef interested in starting their own catering business. So far they love it and find it very helpful.

I read a lot (and I mean a lot, as I have thousands of books in my library), but this is one of the very few business books I've been truly inspired and uplifted by. When I say "the only book you need to succeed in catering" it's not only a cliche, I believe it's really true! In her writing, the author strikes the fine balance between telling you the 'real deal' and hardships of starting your own business, while managing to keep you motivated and telling you about all the positive that can come out of your efforts as well. It is extremely detailed, honest, passionate, and credible. This has truly been a fantastic help to me while I'm planning to launch my own catering business next year. Brava!!!

Although the concept of this book is appealing, it is ILLEGAL by health department standards to cater from any home kitchen UNLESS it is fully licensed and certified as a commercial kitchen. Hopefully, this author is not giving permission to folks to attempt to cook and deliver food from home kitchens, which is completely against health department rules.

Another great book for those who want to grow berries in their own back yard!

Someone highly recommended this book to me but I'm really not that impressed. It's got good basic information but some of the info such as on bramble primocanes is confusing and took further research to understand. Stella recommends 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries. Why? Who knows. Maybe she's including a path between rows. I don't know but 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries adds a whole lot of ground to be taken care of and it's absolutely not necessary (unless you're adding 18"-24" for a path)Organization of the book is not very good either. Even though there is a chapter on raspberries, the spacing for raspberries was not found there. It is in the chapter on brambles.

This is a great book that I refer to whenever I have a berry question such as planting or feeding or pruning. A lot of useful information in here. Stella knows her stuff!

Extremely helpful! Just moved to a new home and wanted to start my plants off right. This book helped me not only in the selection of my plants, but where on my property it is best to plant them, and how to properly plant them. I also learned the correct ways of pruning and fertilizing each plant. I have found this book to be an invaluable tool to a begining backyard gardener.

I recommend it to anyone interested in growing fruit at home. The information about the different varieties of each type of fruit was very useful.

The book was advertised accurately and it was in fine shape when I received it.

Thanks

It's not hard too hard to understand why this series was so successful. It's written in a very easy to read style, the pacing is quick, the subject matter is very interesting, and it's obviously written in a style to appeal to women and men. The romance element of this book is a little strange; why in a book about the end times and the Antichrist is a romance element so prominent? (Does she like me? Does she not like me?) The book is definitely not as heavy as Randy Alcorn's Deadline (Ollie Chandler Series #1), which is more intellectually stimulating but a more challenging read. Having said that, I plan to read at least one more book in the series.

Two minor criticisms: The phone call from Eli at the end of the book was strange. When Buck had such as significant meeting with him earlier, it seems awkward to reduce Eli to a normal sounding phone conversation. The last 10-15 pages were awkward too. Why fast forward 18 months and change so many characters' situations so quickly?

Yes, I read this one too, hoping that somehow it would be better. It was but it is still unbearable. I sincerely do not care about the teaching - it's all in the technique. The same thoughts of the characters are related over and over and over, it hits you over the head with LaHaye's views, it's really just horrible. There is plenty of other good and even great eschatological fiction out there, much even from the same theological perspective. Invesitgate that instead.

I tried reading the third book as well but could only make it half way through before I decided to stop punishing myself, so I did not write a review for it.

The Rapture and biblical prophecy are fascinating subjects that could be the basis for a roller coaster modern story. Unfortunately the authors dilute the potential with long, boring, inconsequential text. I trudged through the first 2 books, then finally threw in the towel on the 3rd after reading a *chapter* describing a traffic jam! The best of this series could be distilled to just a few books but, keeping with the theme, it's already too late...

Leave this false rapture teaching behind. Read Carl Olson's "Will Catholics be left behind?" Totally debunks the "Rapture" and these books.

This book is a treasure trove of information, advice and resource contact data for anyone thinking of going into, or already in, the import-export field. In a conversational style, the author walks the newcomer to international business through the myriad of challenges, regulations, and opportunities inherent in doing business with overseas interests. This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of importing or exporting!

It was the book I needed for class & it helped me get that A