Book Description
Seminary professor, radio broadcaster, and former pastor Steve Brown is tired. He confesses, "I'm tired of glib answers to hard questions, irrelevant 'God words' and stark, cold foundations on which no house has ever been built." So he set out to revitalize his faith by reexamining his thoughts and his faith. And he shares his invigorating discoveries with readers. A potent tonic for those whose faith feels flat, What Was I Thinking? fully engages the heart, mind, and soul.
Customer Reviews:
Of all things, you're thanking your captor.......2007-06-06
If you've ever heard the "Key Life" radio program, then you've probably heard the rich, authoritative, made-for-radio voice of Steve Brown, who is also a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, where his rich, authoritative, made-for-seminary voice has dispensed wisdom and knowledge to students for a number of years now --- and to his own congregation and countless audiences at seminars and conferences
Or has it? Well, yes and no. Yes, a great deal of what his voice has dispensed could be described as "wisdom and knowledge." But a lot of what he dispensed was, as he puts it, "irrelevant God words." An older and wiser Brown admits: "I was wrong. I got the words right, but I missed the tune...if we get the words right but can't sing the tune, we miss the grandeur of the song." He's singing a new song these days, one based on a faith that is "far more radical and far less cerebral" than he once thought it was.
That's good news for the reading public, because Brown felt compelled to set the record straight about his skewed way of thinking in print. Ever the entertaining author, Brown is at his best when he's vulnerable and self-deprecating, and with a title like WHAT WAS I THINKING? you can be assured that he is, indeed, at his best here.
Each chapter title betrays Brown's former faulty way of thinking. In "The Holy Spirit Is Working in a Lot More Places Than I Thought He Was," for example, he encourages Christians to quit limiting their lives to involvement in "religious" activities and entertainment and to instead engage the wider culture around them. The activity of the Holy Spirit, he writes, is not limited to Christians and the church. "It isn't where we go, what we see, and what we hear that determines what is appropriate and right for the believer. It's what we bring to where we go, to what we see, and to what we hear that determines what is appropriate and right for us as believers," Brown believes.
Individual chapters address Brown's once-misguided views of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, supernatural warfare, people ("a lot worse than I thought they were"), people again ("a lot better than I thought they were"), self-righteousness, obedience, love and the world; the chapter on self-righteousness alone is worth the price of the book, and then you get all those other wonderful chapters as a bonus. He concludes with this chapter: "Things Will Work Out a Lot Better Than I Thought They Would."
Throughout, Brown reveals his special brand of humor. This is a guy with a doctorate who teaches seminarians things like "how to develop a Christian mean streak" and "how not to be a weenie"; who obsesses over his hybrid Honda Accord and whether it's symbolic of his judgmentalism; who comes right out and says he likes to sin; and who admits that Monday morning is depressing because that's when he has to pray. You just have to keep reading when a well-known, well-respected Christian leader writes stuff like that.
"Keep reading" is what you'll likely do once you start, because Brown has this charming way of captivating his readers and holding them hostage. Before you realize what just happened to you, you've finished reading --- and of all things, you're thanking your captor.
--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford.
Great Read.......2007-02-06
I have read several of Steve Brown's books and have always enjoyed them. This one though really exceeded my expectations. He asks himself many of the same questions I have found myself asking after I passed the AARP age. His forthrightness and honesty was like a fresh drink of water. I have since purchased and given away several more copies to my friends and family.
Superb.......2007-01-05
This is a wonderful book. Steve Brown is a very gifted communicator and he does a wonderful job of providing an encouraging vision of the grace of God in this book.
The Truth About Being a Christian.......2006-11-14
Steve's book is the most honest appraisal of the Christian life that I have seen - short of the Bible itself. He writes in an entertaining manner, and the book is easily read and understood, even aloud. In one word, 'awesome' comes to mind as a description.
What Was I Thinking? Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All.......2006-11-10
Very enlightening book.
Book Description
For many women, having a baby delivers all the profound joy they anticipated and brings happiness beyond description. For women who experience depression after the birth of a baby, this joy can seem elusive. Instead, women with postpartum depression (PPD) are often gripped with feelings of deep sadness, confusion, anxiety, and despair, and they are deprived of their anticipated joy in their first precious months with their baby. At some point, the question of having another baby arises. If you ask a woman in the throes of a depression this question, she may say, no. No more children. If you ask a woman who has recovered from postpartum depression if she wants more children, she may say, yes, but I'm scared to go through that again. This book was written to accompany these women on their journey toward a subsequent pregnancy after postpartum depression. What Am I Thinking contains essential information for a woman and her family who plan on having another baby after a previous experience with postpartum depression. As these women know, planning another pregnancy can be a process filled with profound anxiety, indecision, fears, and self-doubt. What if I get depressed again? What if it's worse this next time? What if something terrible happens? What if I'm making a mistake? Filled with self-help strategies, current treatment recommendations, and practical advice, this book offers women the hope, confidence, and support they need to make this journey in spite of their anxiety. With this resource and available knowledge in hand, they are likely to feel more empowered, enabling them to proceed with confidence.
Customer Reviews:
What Am I Thinking? Having a baby Atfer Pospartum Depression.......2006-07-13
After suffering a long battle with postpartum depression my husband and I were very nervous about having more children. I read the book then shared it with him. We were able to use the tools it gives to have conversations that enabled us to make an informed decision. This year we welcomed our wonderderful new son. Easy to read and very usable book. As the director of a PPD suport group I reccomend it often!!!!!!
Invaluable for women, families and clinicians.......2005-08-03
This book is a must read for any woman who has struggled with postpartum depression and is considering having another child. It is invaluable for moms, their families and especially clinicians in maternal health. It encouages a much needed process - of planning, dialogue between partners as well as families and providers. It stresses the need for forethought, planning and coordination which has been sorely missed in the field of perinatal depression. This book is intensely practical, compelling and compassionate and is invaluable in the treament of postpartum mood disorders.
The author knew what I was thinking.......2005-04-26
I remember saying aloud "What am I thinking?" when I became pregnant with my second child after a previous struggle with postpartum depression. I couldn't imagine having to go through it again. I had read Karen Kleiman's first book "This Isn't What I Expected" and it helped me immensely. I saw that she had another book and my own words caught my attention. "What am I thinking? " My questions and my fears and the issues that frightened me so were addressed in this book. Karen's book has helped to alleviate some of my fears and has taught me what I need to know as I welcome my second child into my family. I will read it again before my new baby is born. This is a must read for anyone who has struggled with PPD and wonders how she might handle having another baby. Thank you, Karen.
Book Description
"A practical and savvy guide."
-- Gavin de Becker, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Gift of Fear
"Understanding nonverbal language is the essential skill in any profession that involves communication. This book is the best primer on the topic of nonverbal communication I have ever read."
-- Geoffrey N. Fieger, noted trial attorney
"As a regular contributor to and commentator on Court TV, Dr. Lillian Glass has repeatedly demonstrated her exceptional professional skills of reading people in our on-air coverage of several trials. In this book, she shares with readers these skills, which could prove to be invaluable in every aspect of your life."
-- Nancy Grace, Court TV
"A must-read for everyone, whether they are in business or not. Applause to Dr. Glass for giving the public such an important work."
-- Arnold Kopelson, motion picture producer
Knowing how to read people-- picking up on and interpreting their hidden cues-- is a tremendous asset for virtually anything you do. In I Know What You're Thinking, psychologist, bestselling author, and communications expert Dr. Lillian Glass helps you develop a tremendous new set of skills that will make you more perceptive, more powerful, and more successful. As she has done for her numerous clients, Dr. Glass shows you-- step by step-- how to gain the power to know the truth about people. Through simple quizzes and easy-to-follow exercises, you'll learn to improve your judgment of others and make better decisions while projecting confidence, sincerity, and strength. With this fun, down-to-earth guide, you'll be able to look anyone in the eye with a quiet self-assurance that says I Know What You're Thinking.
Customer Reviews:
The other reviewers are right on.......2007-09-09
Unfortunately, I bought the book while browsing, rather than doing my usual checkups on Amazon.
I like that the author approaches the four different aspects of reading people to give an overall sense of the person, rather than just focusing on body language or personality by itself. If I can find another book on the same subject but written better, then I'd love to read it. But I had to skim past the inane quizzes, the arrogant examples, and the oversimplified explanations. In doing so, I think I may have missed a few of the good points she probably makes. I know I'll try to re-read it, because there are some good things in the book, they're just more difficult to find.
Agree with others - fluff and arrogance.......2007-08-30
I agree with the other reviewers in labeling this book as "fluff" and an opportunity for the author to talk about how great she is. She uses extreme categories liberally throughout this book - trying to pigeon-hole people into descriptive categories that are narrow and negative. For someone with a terminal degree, she provided not one reference or citation to studies that she referred to while attempting to validate her points. This book is not scientifically based and there is NO way that Oprah would have this woman or her book on her show!
reading this book.......2007-07-07
Buying this book is a waste of money. Reading this book is a waste of time. The author is evidently narcissitic. The author is not shy about dropping names of the famous people she has treated. All the examples are of famous and affluent people she knows. The thoughts are only partially developed. She begins a subject and leaves you hanging. The chapters are very generic and things you already know. The book is an advertisement for herself and at the back she has a full page devoted to contacting her to do business with her. Your money and time would be well spent looking elsewhere for help on this subject.
the wrong focus.......2007-05-07
Trust yourself. There's no technique or set of behaviors to memorize. If you get a feeling from someone that doesn't connect to the words they're saying, don't suppress it. If you don't open yourself up to all of your sensory input, learning details will mean nothing.
Not very good.......2006-10-16
There's some useful information but it's extremely difficult to find through all the pointless little quizzes and stories about how awesome the author is at reading people.
Book Description
The latest concise and extraordinarily helpful analysis of body language for use in everyday life.
Written by a former New York State felony trial Judge, former attorney, Special Prosecutor, and currently a jury selection consultant nationwide in highly important cases.
A must read for 2003!
Customer Reviews:
STOP!!!! Dont buy this book!.......2005-08-01
STOP!!! Don't buy this book! It is clear that the author is only out to make money and it will catch up to him. Aka "you reap what you sow" This book has some of the biggest print I've ever seen, and the information that it provides is mainly common sense. If you are looking to learn something this book is not the place to look. I can not see how Mr. Mogil could even look at himself in the mirror let alone judge another person.
Give me a break..........2005-05-06
First of all, for anyone with even rudimentary observational skills, it's laughably obvious that the author has reviewed his own book I don't care to know how many times(affording it 5 stars every time, naturally). His first review, where he refers to himself as Mr. Mogil repeatedly, would like to fool us into beleiving that the reviewer is actually someone who read and enjoyed the book. However, the review is cunningly disguised under his own name. I find it hard to believe this man has never held a position in covert operations. So he then writes a second review, still under his own name, making mention of his first review. As if mentioning it will blind people to the fact that he was trying to increase his rating. Clever. If I were 7. But wait, there's more!
A plethora of 5 star reviews follow, penned by the mysterious "reader"(s), who, coincidentally, just happen to use the exact same words and phrases as the author. Now, I'll admit that my powers of deduction and observation are just above sub-par, but even I find it suspect that all these "readers" not only all gave the book a 5 star rating, but also all used the same uninspired review. Notice the repetition of the following: crisp, compelling, easy-to-read, zones of privacy, studies of him with presidents and (yadayada), innovative/insightful/etc., and endless repetition of his credentials.
Mr. Mogil, this thinly veiled attempt to up your ratings will not endear you to anyone, let alone do anything to help your credibility. It's just sad, and it's a shame that I had to read reviews that were fabricated by a desperate author, instead of reading actual reviews based on what people really think. Not only have you done yourself more harm than good, but you've also lost at least one reader (never bought anything of yours, and now I never will). As a writer myself, I suggest that next time you receive poor reviews you concentrate your efforts on writing an even better book, instead of wasting your time on childish antics.
How many times can an author rate his own book?.......2004-10-16
Looks like he has two ratings under his own name and then several others from "a reader" which have many suspicious consistencies. Interesting, and I almost bought this book.
Should Be an Article.......2004-01-28
I agree with "A Reader from Oslo." I have never seen a book with such large type (the capital letters in sentences are around 5/16" tall!!!) and empty space (around 1/4" between lines!!!). I can stand four feet away and still easily read the pages.
I actually looked to see if somehow I received a special edition for persons who are visually impaired. Nope.
Helpful and Useful.......2003-10-19
This book helped me on an interview and I read the person's body language just like I was taught to. I knew right then I would get the job...and I did!
Book Description
We live in an era of unprecedented and relentless change. The emergence of China as a super-power; hyper-innovation and business market turmoil; constant career change and rapid scientific advances. Competition is changing overnight, and product lifecycles often last for just a few months. Permanence has been torn asunder. We are in a time that demands a new agility and flexibility: leaders must have the skill and insight to prepare for a future that is rushing at them faster than ever before. Jim Carroll provides concrete guidance on how to turn challenges into opportunity Anticipate future trends that will impact you Move from a culture of indecision to one that is forward-thinking and decisive Instill an innovative culture in your company Develop key leadership skills for the future View change as an opportunity to pursue not as a threat to be feared
Customer Reviews:
So What's New?.......2005-08-24
Not much in here that hasn't already been stated in many other places. Very basic coverage of the issue of change.
Average customer rating:
|
I Know What It Says...What Does It Mean? Critical Skills for Critical Reading
Daniel J. Kurland
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Criticism & Theory
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
| African
| Arabic
| Books on CD
| Books on Cassette
| Chinese
| Danish
| Dictionaries
| French
| General
| German
| Greek
| Hebrew
| Hungarian
| Instruction
| Italian
| Japanese
| Korean
| Polish
| Portuguese
| Russian
| Serbo-Croatian
| Spanish
| Turkish
| Yiddish
General
| Words & Language
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Usage
| Words & Language
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Voice Lessons: Classroom Activities to Teach Diction, Detail, Imagery, Syntax, and Tone
ASIN: 0534244866 |
Book Description
This renegade book is a breath of fresh air for students who need to develop basic skills, but do not require remedial training. It contains a variety of timely readings and examples designed to capture students' interest as they learn to read critically.
Amazon.com
The parent battle cry of this book's title says it all: What Did I Just Say!?! offers solace and suggestions for hair-pulling parents who are not getting cooperation, respect, or acceptable behavior from their young children. Drawing upon years of clinical experience, psychiatrist Denis Donovan and child therapist Deborah McIntyre explore miscommunication as the reason why good kids continue to behave in ways opposite to what parents ask. As the authors explain, "Parents have a tendency to say things very different from what they really mean. And kids have logical antennas, tuning in to what adults say literally and logically." This problem leads to a two-step solution. First, parents must learn to say what they mean, and then they can understand how the inner world of their child's experience and thinking is different from that of adults.
Parents will chuckle and cringe with recognition as Donovan and McIntrye examine ineffective parent perennials such as "How many times do I have to tell you to behave?" They use these statements of frustration as lesson plans for teaching parents how they fail to convey what they really want--and how they can clearly state what they mean. More important, the authors invite parents to listen with a child's ear to gain insight about why the answer, "I give up, how many times do you have to tell me to behave?" is a logical rather than disrespectful answer.
The authors spotlight a variety of behavioral strategies including how to capture a child's attention and understand their "attentional style," avoid tuning out and serial forgetting, set boundaries and cope with sadness and anger. Several chapters detail a communication technique for focused one-to-one conversations called "The Five Minutes". Occasionally, Donovan and McIntrye offer general descriptions rather than hands-on suggestions. But overall, they convince readers that parents who learn to say what they mean and understand children on their own terms, will not have to issue multiple commands to put on pajamas tonight. --Barbara Mackoff
Book Description
An invaluable book that does for parents and their young children what You Just Don't Understand did for men and womenDid you know that when you say "How many times have I told you not to?" your toddler thinks you are actually changing the subject rather than reiterating a question? Based on years of clinical experience and original child development research, What Did I Just Say!?! shows how conventional communication styles actually prevent parents from saying what they mean and cause children to hear something entirely different than what was intended. The authors demonstrate how a simple understanding of the logic of language and of childhood thinking can dramatically improve parent-child communication. Among the subjects covered are understanding the complex experiential world of young children; putting structure, rules, and boundaries into children's lives while still fostering individuality; encouraging healthy emotional responsiveness and interpersonal sensitivity while decreasing anger and aggression; focusing a child's attention; and foiling behaviors such as tuning out and forgetting.By helping parents understand the very different linguistic and experiential world of children, What Did I Just Say!?! offers a foundation for parent-child communication that will last a lifetime.
Customer Reviews:
GET IT and get spares for your friends, LOVE IT!.......2003-06-19
This book is amazing. If you have problems with your boys (OK kids) you must get this. I thought I was the most emotionally available and "tuned-in" parent. After reading the first few chapters, I used the skills I leared in this book. My older one had been whining in the mornings about not wanting to go to school. I gently commanded him to tell me WHY (I didn't ASK, I COMMANDED him to tell me- lovingly)in the ways I learned in the book. He told me that he was embarassed because he couldn't open his tupperware at snacktime. I had the same morning scene EVERY MORNING until that day, and that was the end of it! I use this book EVERY DAY now. It is an easy read, and you will get results after just a few chapters. I had no parenting issues that I wanted to fix, but my sister had an appt. with the author without knowing he had a book (a Dr. referral, he's in Tampa, FL). I looked it up on Amazon and it was interesting. I got it and it's LOVE! GET IT, but be ready to take responsibility for your kids' problems and take initiative to change the way you speak to them. If you can, it'll be easy, SO EASY. If you are looking for an external reason for your kids' problems you can easily find that elsewhere.
Number 1 book on Parenting.......2002-08-01
Dr. Spock and all the others have nothing on this team. For the first time after reading and implementing parenting methods I have finally found one that truly works. The changes in our family are remarkable. In a world full of self help books on parenting, it is very confusing as to what is right, wrong or simply ineffective. This book however is not only effective but will teach parents common sense things we just could not see on our own. It is simple and even obvious now. Wonderful parenting guide for any parent whether working through a crisis or just wanting to make sure you and your child start out in the right direction. Its never to late to make a change and its not only effective, the results are quick and rewarding. Our quaility of family life has surpassed my wildest dreams!! Frued has been surpassed. We recommend this book to all of our friends, and to anyone reading this review. You will be amazed and grateful. Thanks Denis and Deborah!
What did I just say?.......2002-02-28
This book has changed my life, it has given the spoken language new clarity from the eyes of the young. I now have control of how words are spoken, interperted and understood, before I always assumed my child understood what I meant. My children have responded very well to this easy to follow and understand guide. We have also been fortunate enough to be in therapy with Dr. Donovan for the past 1 1/2, as we live in St Petersburg, Fl. Read the book, absorb the book, implement the book and change your world and your childs.
Change The Way You Communicate With Your Child.......2000-04-19
"What Did I Just Say! " by Denis Donovan, M.D. and Deborah McIntyre, M.A., R.N. is a book on how to communicate effectively with your children. This is a must in this day of computer wiz kids. It gives you phrases and practical statements to say to your children to help them process what you really want them to do. Children don't always hear what we meant. This book will change the way you communicate and interact with your children. Pick this one up today and be on your way to a better, more insightful relationship with your kids.
Not your typical parenting advice.......1999-09-29
If you want to understand how your child's mind really works, if you want to get past the blindfolds imposed by such labels as Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity, and Learning Disabled, if you want to be able to make rules and structure part of a meaningful relationship with your child and not just another source of arguments, read this book.
Average customer rating:
|
What the Hell Was I Thinking?
Christine Harris
Manufacturer: Expert Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Marriage
| Relationships
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1931945373 |
Book Description
Would you like to know what your neighbors really think about a controversial topic? Are you curious about what people do in their private lives? Well, don't worry about asking them, because Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? asks for you!
Within the pages of Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? you will find the public's answers to many intriguing and thought provoking questions, such as:
What factors attract you to the opposite sex?
If you were going to have a baby and could choose its gender, what would it be?
Have you ever called into work sick when you weren't really sick?
Would you like to be the child of a famous movie star?
Would you ever go bungee jumping off a tall bridge?
How would you rate the government's management of your tax dollars?
Have you ever spent time in jail?
How would you cope without a T.V.?
What do you consider the rudest driving behavior?
Was it the right decision to go to war with Iraq?
Some surprising answers to these questions and hundreds of others await you. Find out what others are thinking!
Average customer rating:
- What Sedaris, Lebowitz and Dave Eggers should aspire to.
- We need more from Margaret Smith..
- Very Funny, Sometimes Dark, Laugh out Loud
- Not funny at all, unfortunately
- so funny I read it twice
|
What Was I Thinking?: How Being a Stand Up Comic Did Nothing to Prepare Me to Become a Single Mother
Margaret Smith
Manufacturer: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Comic
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Satire, General
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Parenting & Families
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Motherhood
| Family Relationships
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
Child Development
| Babies & Toddlers
| Parenting
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Parenting
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
Single Parents
| Parenting
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Parenting Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
As It Should Be
Accessories:
-
philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0824522850 |
Book Description
Margaret Smith, blithely disregarding the conventional wisdom that female comics must labor within proscribed borders, has gone her own way. What the New York Times wrote about Smith's award-winning stand-up routine is also true of Smith's new book. In this hilarious romp, one of America's senior comedic writers describes what she thought it would be like--and what it was really like-- to become a single Mother.
Customer Reviews:
What Sedaris, Lebowitz and Dave Eggers should aspire to........2005-12-21
Margaret Smith is a one-of-a-kind comedian. Her off-kilter worldview and dry-as-dust delivery is fresh and real in a world of grinning comedy clones. My favorite Margaret Smith-ism goes something like "I saw my mother today. (long pause) Its okay, she didn't see me." I'm not always able to catch her on tv like I used to, so I was delighted to hear she'd written a book.
The cover says the book's about becoming a mother, but you won't find overly sweet sentimentality here. Smith makes looking on the dark side into an art form. Her story is dark and horrific, and she pulls no punches when writing about, violence, abuse, racism, tomatoes, and her calling plan. Only Margaret Smith could make comedy of this. But she pulls it off astonishingly well - deftly balancing tragedy and humor. Ultimately, it's not a story about adopting a baby, it's a heartfelt tale of spiritual redemption. I know that doesn't sound very funny, but it really is.
We need more from Margaret Smith.........2005-11-19
I had overheard some people talking about this book and how much they liked it, so I decided to see if Margaret Smith was as good a writer as she is a comedian. She is. The book is poignantly funny and sad at the same time. Margaret Smith is a great comedian and I admire her for the way she takes sadness and turns it inside out to find the humor in it.
Very Funny, Sometimes Dark, Laugh out Loud.......2005-11-05
I heard the Author on an NPR Radio Show talking about this book. The interview was funny and it motivated me to buy the book. It was an easy an enjoyable read. Laughed many times out loud. It felt alot like a David Sedaris style of writing. The humor sometimes dark. I especially liked her childhood stories. If you grew up with Mary Poppins and Ward Cleaver as parents you might not find this humorous, but I didn't, and I did find this book very funny.
Lauren
Lauren
Not funny at all, unfortunately.......2005-11-03
I bought this book thinking it would be filled with zippy one-liners and good-humored stories about raising a happy kid on your own while keeping on top of a successful career. The title made me expect I'd be entertained. I had hoped for something in the style of Erma Bombeck as a Single Mom. This book is not that at all.
Instead, it's the story of the author's tragic childhood in a family that was dysfunctional and brutal. The author spends pages and pages describing her relationship with her mother, beatings by her stepfather/uncle and years of therapy. It's heartbreaking stuff. Margaret Smith also weaves in chapters about her failed artificial insemination and her success at adopting her beloved baby boy. None if it was at all humorous.
Margaret Smith writes well and her story is honest. It's just not one I felt like reading after I put my daughter to bed after working all day. If anyone knows of any books about the funny side of single parenting, please post the titles. In the mean time, I'll just reread Ariel's Gore Hip Mama Guide.
so funny I read it twice.......2005-10-26
I don't know if it's because I feel like a single mom or if just anyone with children or wanting to have children would appreciate it but this book was hilarious. It reminded me of reading Anne Lemott only more dry and painful. At times I was embarrassed that I was laughing and grateful that no one was in the room so I wouldn't have to explain what was so funny, because part of me was sure it was wrong to be laughing. Any way this was a great read!
Books:
- What Were They Thinking?: Really Bad Ideas Throughout History
- When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better And/Or Worse
- Windows PowerShell in Action
- 101 Questions to Ask Before You Get Engaged (Wright, H. Norman & Gary J. Oliver)
- A Prairie Home Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection
- A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)
- Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween
- Advanced DBA Certification Guide and Reference for DB2 UDB v8 for Linux, Unix and Windows
- Advanced Planning in Fresh Food Industries: Integrating Shelf Life into Production Planning (Contributions to Management Science)
- Angela's Ashes: A Memoir
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature
- The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook: Healthy Recipes for Entertaining Family and Frie
- Tenor of Love: A Novel
- The Body and Society
- Taxi!: A Social History of the New York City Cabdriver
- The Improvement Guide: A Practical Approach to Enhancing Organizational Performance
- The Fossil Book: A Record of Prehistoric Life
- A Fortune at Your Feet: Millennium II Edition: How You Can Get Rich, Stay Rich, and Enjoy Being Ric
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: Conversation Cards from TableTalk: Conversation Starters for
- Commonsense Direct Marketing
A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel
When Your Rope Breaks
Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy That Is Our Strength
How to Talk So People Will Listen
When Being Good Isn't Good Enough
