21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals.
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • FIne book, Easy read--
  • Brass Tactics
  • Must have for new agents
  • Great for a new agent!
  • 21 THINGS I WISH MY BROKER TOLD ME
21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me: Practical Advice for New Real Estate Professionals.
Frank Cook
Manufacturer: Dearborn Real Estate Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GuidesGuides | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
InvestmentsInvestments | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
IntroductionIntroduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
How-to & Home ImprovementsHow-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books | Buildings & Construction | Carpentry | Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating | Decks & Patios | Decorating | Design & Construction | Do-It-Yourself | Electrical | Estimating | Furniture | Green Housecleaning | Hand Tools | Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning | Home Repair | Household Hints | Masonry | Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Plumbing & Household Automation | Power Tools | Reference | Remodeling & Renovation | Roofing | Security | Small Appliance Repair | Swimming Pools | Woodworking
GeneralGeneral | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business BooksLook Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Home & Garden BooksLook Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Reference BooksLook Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be! The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money...It's About Being the Best You Can Be!
  2. Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional Your First Year in Real Estate: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional
  3. How To Become a Power Agent in Real Estate : A Top Industry Trainer Explains How to Double Your Income in 12 Months How To Become a Power Agent in Real Estate : A Top Industry Trainer Explains How to Double Your Income in 12 Months
  4. Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)) Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))
  5. Real Estate Agent's Business Planning Guide Real Estate Agent's Business Planning Guide

ASIN: 0793154375
Release Date: 2002-06-05

Book Description

Written with humor and insight, 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me provides hands on advice that will help agents start, or maintain, a sucessful career in real estate. This has real life stories from dozens of sucessful, top producing, real estate professionals will help new agents know what to expect and how to succeed.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars FIne book, Easy read--.......2007-09-21

This book is ok. It's nothing really new that most people with some common sense don't already know....If you can get it in a library or borrow it, go that route. Not worth it.

5 out of 5 stars Brass Tactics.......2007-07-30

Excellent book! I have been taking classes online and this book has kept me interested in real estate. It gives you plenty of tips on how to gain the edge in real estate.

4 out of 5 stars Must have for new agents.......2007-06-14

If you are new to real estate, this is a must read... I still have mine 3 years later and although I haven't gone back to read it again - I won't get rid of it!

5 out of 5 stars Great for a new agent!.......2007-06-12

Not knowing what to expect as a brand new agent, I found this book to be a really excellent training resource. It was a great way to get a glimpse of what to do and not to do. I highly recommend it! Also, it's a very easy read.

5 out of 5 stars 21 THINGS I WISH MY BROKER TOLD ME.......2007-05-16

Great book! if you go with a smaller, less pressure brokerage house that has bare bones training, this is perfect. it reminds you of all your responsibilities to yourself and your clients. it gives you direction in finding clients. i highly recommend this book.

Classic Christianity: Life's Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Truth about the Truth
  • Classic Christianity
  • Classic Christianity by Bob George
  • Great Book, especially for the Seeker
  • This book changed my life!
Classic Christianity: Life's Too Short to Miss the Real Thing
Bob George
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
InspirationalInspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Religion & Spirituality BooksLook Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Growing in Grace : With Study Guide Growing in Grace : With Study Guide
  2. Faith That Pleases God: You Don't Need to Strive for What You Already Have Faith That Pleases God: You Don't Need to Strive for What You Already Have
  3. Victory over Depression Victory over Depression
  4. The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out
  5. Grace Walk: What You've Always Wanted in the Christian Life Grace Walk: What You've Always Wanted in the Christian Life

ASIN: 0736904190

Book Description

Classic Christianity (more than 360,000 copies sold) proclaims Bob George’s bold message of grace that has radically changed thousands of lives. Drawing on his own struggles and years of teaching and counseling experience, Bob cuts right to the heart of why many Christians start out as enthusiastic believers but end up merely “going through the motions” of the Christian life. With understanding and wisdom, he shows us the way back to the life Christ had in mind when He set us free. Readers will discover what it means to have Christ living in them; how to experience the joy of the Lord daily; and why Christians still struggle with sin. Life’s too short to miss the real thing!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Truth about the Truth.......2007-10-03

Hi - I'm from Denmark, my name is Martin Lauesen ...

I just bought and read this incredible book. It is so nice, that not everybody has gone mad. In Denmark a lot of people listen to false teaching, and are bound by error - this book could help them - it really help me see the truth, in new light - thanks !

My english is not very good, so i'll stop here - just wanted to say thanks !

5 out of 5 stars Classic Christianity.......2007-04-05

This is a great book and easy to read. Don't stop after the first chapter. You must read the whole book to understand exactly what is being said. This book is great for new Christians and for Christians who have been struggling to live a Christian life and may feel defeated by failure. God sees us complete in Christ. We may be maturing in Christ slowly but we can rest in knowing God sees us complete in Christ now!

1 out of 5 stars Classic Christianity by Bob George.......2007-04-01

(This should have appeared with a 5-star rating) A must for everyone who believes they are "born again," and for anyone who is not a "believer" and is seeking to understand true Christianity. Guaranteed to awaken the reader to basic truths that are more often than not overlooked (if not avoided or totally misunderstood to begin with) by much, if not most of the contemporary Christian world. This book has literally changed my life. I wish I could have been exposed to this liberating teaching decades ago--but then, better late than never...

5 out of 5 stars Great Book, especially for the Seeker.......2007-02-13

I have enjoyed this book immensely. It is the second time I've read it and this time it is the basis for a book study that I am involved with. Mr. George does a great job of taking life's tough questions and difficult situations and providing God's directions for dealing with those in a very open, easy-to-understand format. I highly recommend this book for anyone, no matter where you are at in your faith. Whether you are in a ministry leadership position or if you are seeking to know God, this is a great book. I encourage everyone to read it. It will help you grow.

5 out of 5 stars This book changed my life!.......2007-01-30

This book changed my life! It gave me a new and real perspective of who God is and how he sees me. Because of this book I no longer see God as someone sitting up in heaven with a wooden spoon waiting for me to mess up so that he can bop me on the head. Instead, I see him as God full of grace and mercy and who loves me so much that he can't wait to spend time with me! I highly recommend this book!
No Such Thing as Over-Exposure: Inside the Life and Celebrity of Donald Trump
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • No such thing as journalism
  • A Good Read!
  • Showman, Showoff Or Sage?
  • Trumping the Business World with "Truthful Hyperbole"
  • Boring, uncritical, uninsightful
No Such Thing as Over-Exposure: Inside the Life and Celebrity of Donald Trump
Robert Slater
Manufacturer: Financial Times Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
BusinessBusiness | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Trump, DonaldTrump, Donald | ( T ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
InvestmentsInvestments | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Systems & PlanningSystems & Planning | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Biographies & MemoirsBiographies & Memoirs | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Business & InvestingBusiness & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Donald Trump: Master Apprentice Donald Trump: Master Apprentice
  2. Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life
  3. TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald
  4. Trump: The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received Trump: The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received
  5. Trump: How to Get Rich Trump: How to Get Rich

ASIN: 0131497340

Amazon.com

To read the latest Trump tale is to be reminded of writer Fran Lebowitz' comment that there are only two social classes in America--the celebrities and the audience. Business biographer Robert Slater, who spent 100 hours with Donald Trump, provides an intriguing link between the two in No Such Thing as Over-Exposure: Inside the Life and Celebrity of Donald Trump. About the man who made bragging an art form, Slater wonders: Does Trump have any definable business strategies and leadership strategies? Why did he become a business celebrity? Why did The Apprentice become a surprise hit?

The result is a surprisingly fascinating profile of a man who shattered the CEO public relations paradigm by branding himself rather than his product. The Slater timeline begins with Trumps' spit ball throwing, football playing, military school youth. He describes dear old Dad's philosophy of development ("Get in get it done, get it done right and get out.") This is followed by an engaging recap of how Trump changed the New York skyline by leveraging Atlantic City properties and then became a poster boy for the recession of the 1990s. His much reported rise and comeback is deconstructed in terms of his capacity for self-branding (force of personality, willingness to broadcast private life, delivering the goods, and "truthful hyperbole.")

Slater spends too much time on getting Trump to say yes to the book and trying to create a management roadmap from Trump's unique career. But he gets the details right. Trump tends to stay close the office, doesn't use computers, thinks e-mail is for wimps, avoids germs by withholding handshakes, broke up with his second wife in a gossip column, and calls himself the biggest star on television.

Slater interviewed 150 people, yet the most revealing moments are when Trump speaks for himself. For example, when he insists that he is "worth the salary of six actors on Friends." When ex-wife Marla Maples comments about his virility, he says, "That's what sells condos in New York." Such comments derail Slater's desire to extract leadership lessons from Trump. Whether you find him brilliant or a carnival barker, Donald Trump is one of a kind. His success represents a moment when a celebrity and his audience are merged: Neither can stop looking at him. --Barbara Mackoff

Download Description

"With The Apprentice, Donald Trump has gone beyond celebrity to become a true legend. He's the one billionaire everyone recognizes, the only one whose name is its own global brand. But, for all the ink that's been spilled about him, nobody's ever fully captured the man¿until now.

Donald Trump agreed to give Robert Slater unprecedented access to his world: over 100 hours of private conversations and meetings. Wherever Trump went, Slater was there: as a ""fly on the wall"" at deal-making sessions, on Trump's Gulfstream...everywhere. Slater interviewed 150 of Trump's former and present employees and colleagues, even his toughest competitors.

Now, he reveals the man in full: the businessman and dealmaker, strategist and survivor, celebrity and personality. You'll learn how Trump transformed himself from an unknown local real-estate developer to a global magnate. You'll see how he really does business, discovering lessons that go far beyond anything he's revealed before. You'll witness his brilliant media management...and watch him leverage his celebrity to save his casino business, not once but twice. Most remarkable of all, you'll discover how Trump really feels about his celebrity, his empire, his outsized American life.

The real Donald Trump: the most revealing Trump profile ever written!

Based on an unprecedented 100 hours of private, personal access to Trump...plus over 150 interviews with associates and rivals!

The first book to capture all of Trump: executive, dealmaker, strategist, survivor, celebrity, student of the media...and the man behind the legend

Beyond the art of the deal: Trump-powered business lessons you won't find in his own books

Who is Donald Trump?

You think you know. You don't. Even if you've watched The Apprentice.

Even if you've read his best-selling books.

Want to know what really makes him tick? How he really operates?

When Donald Trump heard about the book, he threatened to sue. Then, he changed his mind...and gave Robert Slater more access than any other journalist or author¿ever. Slater sat beside Trump at buy-out sessions and building inspections, on his helicopter and jet plane, at QVC and at Apprentice rehearsals. Slater watched Trump in public¿and in his most unguarded moments. And Slater talked to everyone...from legendary rival Steve Wynn to publicity-shy Trump family members.

The result: the most intimate and powerful Trump profile ever written.

This, finally, is the real Trump: totally uncensored, and utterly riveting. "

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars No such thing as journalism.......2007-04-26

Robert Slater wants you to know that Donald Trump threatened to sue him, to prevent him from writing this book. "Odd and chilling," is how the author describes the letter he received from one of Trump's lawyers, during the height of the success of The Apprentice.
The lawsuit didn't happen, and after wasting several hours of my life reading "No Such Thing as Over-Exposure," the reason is evident. Trump -who must indeed be a very charming person--brought Slater to his side, and used him as a stenographer for his endless hype and self-promotion. Slater doesn't question anything, not even the most ridiculous of Trump's assertions, such as saying that he could go into the Middle East, and bring peace to the area, faster than you can say, "You're Fired."
Slater -who must have picked up something from his subject in terms of hyperbole--wants the reader to believe that he did a tremendous amount of research (More than 150 interviews! Flights in Donald's plane and helicopters!) but the book comes across as nothing more than a quickie job and one more pamphlet proclaiming the wonders of The Donald.

4 out of 5 stars A Good Read!.......2005-08-29

This admiring biography of real estate billionaire Donald Trump begins with a reference to Trump's "swept-back blonde mane" - although his thinning forward comb-over is probably the most famous weird hairdo in America. Perhaps author Robert Slater picked up a bit of his subject's tendency toward what Trump calls "truthful hyperbole." Slater's writing is interesting and accessible, in a breathless sort of way. However, despite being based on 150 interviews, this biography doesn't contain a lot of information that Trump has not already disseminated through his books, TV show and softball press interviews. Slater seems to regard Trump's exaggerations as charming foibles and, given tremendous access, apparently accepts Trump's self-assessment that he is a skilled negotiator, shrewd investor and efficient administrator - even when the author's own anecdotes show Trump in another guise: as a bullying micro-manager. Of course, the insight that negative publicity isn't always a bad thing is a primary theme. We recommend this close-up meeting with Trump to general readers who find that his outsized ego, lifestyle and accomplishments hold a certain fascination and to businesspeople who just want to know how he always lands on his feet. (Hint: he delivers the goods.)

5 out of 5 stars Showman, Showoff Or Sage? .......2005-06-19

If you are interested in the business world or not, there has been no other business leader consistently in the news more then Donald Trump over the last 20 years. If you think he is an attention starved ego driven showman or just a smart business leader in the right place at the right time, the fact is you have an opinion of him. Few other business leaders share his celebrity. It is this celebrity that prompted me to pick up this book for no other reason then to see what all the fuss was about. As a bit of a perspective to this review I have not watched one episode of his TV show and I have always felt that his biggest skill was an uncanny knack for finding television cameras. If you mentioned Trump to me the only thing I would think was oversized ego.

So I needed a lot of convincing to be done to move my view of Trump into more of a positive light. This author did make me rethink my position, but unlike the subject of the book and his in your face M1A1 tank approach to image, the author laid out facts and present his story with limited bias. The author does cover some history, but the area I found most interesting was the focus on the current Trump activities. The one thing I came away with is that you have it hand it to him, he is driving to have his business empire catch up to his ego. Overall I enjoyed the book. This is the first book on Trump I have read in a long time so there was an element of freshness to the subject. I also found that either the author had an engaging method of writing or the subject mater was just so interesting that I kept moving from page to page excitedly.

5 out of 5 stars Trumping the Business World with "Truthful Hyperbole".......2005-05-26

I have read and reviewed many of Slater's previous books and consider him to be among the most perceptive and eloquent commentators on the contemporary business world. It came as no surprise, therefore, that Trump agreed to cooperate with Slater on the writing of this book but only after checking him out with those who had already had a close working relationship with him, notably Jack Welch. There is probably no other executive who has a tighter schedule than does Trump. However, on numerous occasions, beginning in June of 2004, he agreed to meet with Slater or talk with him on the telephone. Trump also arranged for Slater to attend various private meetings related to Trump's building projects; to travel with him to a building site in Manhattan and observe his inspection of it; to journey with Trump for a book promotion appearance at QVC, the shopping channel; and to fly with him on his jet to a "demolition party" in Chicago where Trump planned to build a 90-story $800-million luxury tower on what had been the site of the Chicago Sun-Times. Slater was also allowed to observe a casting call for the third season of The Apprentice television program at during the filming of one of the episodes for its third season. Finally, Trump helped to facilitate many of the interviews of those best qualified to discuss both his business career and the celebrity synonymous with it.

Trump is as protective of the privacy of his three children as he is eager to discuss almost anything and anyone else. Nonetheless, he allowed Slater to meet with one son (Donald Trump, Jr.) and apparently set no restrictions on what they could discuss. Presumably Trump allowed such direct and extensive access, both to himself and to countless others, because he trusted Slater, was favorably impressed by his professional credentials, sensed his inherent integrity, and believed that he would receive fair and circumspect treatment in what later became this book.

With regard to its title, it is Slater's opinion that, at least for now, "there seems to be no downside" to all the attention Trump has so actively sought and has so substantially achieved. "His look of giddy pleasure at the amount of attention he is [currently] getting says it all. He savors having so many choices to make [i.e. he is inundated with participation proposals of various kinds] that put him in the public spotlight. If he could, one imagines, he would not make a choice at all. He would do everything. After all, in Donald Trump's world, there is no such thing as over-exposure." At least for now.

Proportionality is a key element in Slater's earlier discussions of other prominent executives such as John Chambers, George Soros, and Jack Welch and it is also true of what he has to say about Trump. Obviously, there is much that Slater admires but much else which Slater finds irritating (at best) and sometimes infuriating (at worst). Of greatest interest to me is Slater's explanation of how and why Trump "openly names his products after himself and markets his name as synonymous with his products: his luxury residences, his casino hotels, and so on. [Trump] insists, as well -- correctly, at it turns out -- that using his name on his company products enhances their value." (Please see Chapter 8, "Branding a Name.") I was also interested in learning about certain differences between the public Trump and the private Trump. For example, that he seldom fires anyone in the Trump organization and, generally, is far more patient, forgiving, generous, and deferential than his public persona suggests.

More a quibble than a complaint, I wish Slater had included (perhaps as an appendix) an annotated Timeline of the key dates and defining moments in Trump's career thus far. For example, when and why he decided to become a commercial real estate developer in Manhattan, Atlantic City, Chicago, and Las Vegas; also, when and why he agreed to produce and star in The Apprentice television program. Slater addresses these and other issues within his narrative. However, given the complexity of Trump's various business activities, it would be helpful to have a chronological frame-of-reference to consult periodically, one which clarifies when, what, with whom, where, etc.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Slater's earlier work, notably Jack Welch and the GE Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of the Legendary CEO; Microsoft Rebooted: How Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer Reinvented Their Company; SOROS: The Unauthorized Biography, the Life, Times and Trading Secrets of the World's Greatest Investor; The Wal-Mart Decade: How a New Generation of Leaders Turned Sam Walton's Legacy into the World's #1 Company; Saving Big Blue: Leadership Lessons & Turnaround Tactics of IBM's Lou Gerstner; and Get Better or Get Beaten!: 31 Leadership Secrets from GE's Jack Welch.

2 out of 5 stars Boring, uncritical, uninsightful.......2005-04-03

March 13 reviewer Corinne Smith nails it. This is a basically a series or collection of interviews, primarily with fans of "the Donald", who have no problems with his oxymoronic concept of "truthful hyperbole". Trump is a genius at shameless and shameful self-promotion, with an almost endless ego, but the story told here is flat, uninspiring, unrevealing, and tedious.

And the book is simply boring. Did I say boring? It is boring.
Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out into the Real World
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Insightful
  • Mrs. Ahnold is a smart cookie!
  • A Good Start
  • Worth the Read, but Not the Money
  • A quick pick-me-up.
Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out into the Real World
Maria Shriver
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
MotivationalMotivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Health BooksLook Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. And One More Thing Before You Go... And One More Thing Before You Go...
  2. The Right Words At the Right Time The Right Words At the Right Time
  3. Boys Will Put You on a Pedestal (So They Can Look Up Your Skirt): A Dad's Advice for Daughters Boys Will Put You on a Pedestal (So They Can Look Up Your Skirt): A Dad's Advice for Daughters
  4. The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn! The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn!
  5. What's Heaven? What's Heaven?

ASIN: 0446526126

Amazon.com

Maria Shriver's warmth, humor, and wisdom are evident on every page of this little book. Inspired by her commencement speech at the College of the Holy Cross, the book contains stories and insights that will be helpful, entertaining, and encouraging to graduates at every stage of life. The lessons themselves--"be willing to fail," "stand your ethical ground," "marriage is a hell of a lot of hard work"--are nothing new. What makes them interesting are the life stories that accompany them and Shriver's personable, friendly style. Reading this book feels like having a cup of coffee with a wise and funny friend. Tales of her first television experiences are surprising and hilarious, and she takes balancing motherhood and career to new levels--imagine postponing an interview with Fidel Castro to get your daughter to her first day of kindergarten! Each chapter is easy to read and ends with a focused lesson--kind of a bullet point from her original speech--that encourages readers to be ultimately true to themselves and their dreams, while cutting through harmful illusions. The last chapter, on laughter, is one to read again and again. Shriver maintains that without laughter not much else matters, and in life's toughest times it's laughter that gets us through. For anyone starting a new adventure--graduation, marriage, parenthood, career shift, or a milestone birthday--Ten Things I Wish I'd Known brings wisdom, laughter, practical suggestions, and a down-to-earth manner together into one fabulous gift. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

Maria Shriver's warmth, humor, and wisdom are evident on every page of this little book. Inspired by her commencement speech at the College of the Holy Cross, the book contains stories and insights that will be helpful, entertaining, and encouraging to graduates at every stage of life. The lessons themselves--"be willing to fail," "stand your ethical ground," "marriage is a hell of a lot of hard work"--are nothing new. What makes them interesting are the life stories that accompany them and Shriver's personable, friendly style. Reading this book feels like having a cup of coffee with a wise and funny friend. Tales of her first television experiences are surprising and hilarious, and she takes balancing motherhood and career to new levels--imagine postponing an interview with Fidel Castro to get your daughter to her first day of kindergarten! Each chapter is easy to read and ends with a focused lesson--kind of a bullet point from her original speech--that encourages readers to be ultimately true to themselves and their dreams, while cutting through harmful illusions. The last chapter, on laughter, is one to read again and again. Shriver maintains that without laughter not much else matters, and in life's toughest times it's laughter that gets us through. For anyone starting a new adventure--graduation, marriage, parenthood, career shift, or a milestone birthday--Ten Things I Wish I'd Known brings wisdom, laughter, practical suggestions, and a down-to-earth manner together into one fabulous gift. --Jill Lightner

Download Description

· Starting at the bottom--over and over again· Dealing with--and learning from--the Boss from Hell· Giving up the Wedding Delusion, not to mention that one-way ticket to Happily Ever After· Being asked to bend your principles--by your superiors· Wanting to be a high-powered success and super parent· Knowing that children will both exhaust and sustain you· Facing that terrifying question: "What have I been put on this earth to do?" You could call them notes from life's trenches. Maria Shriver's Ten Things I Wish I'd Known--Before I Went out into the Real World gives us her reflections, confessions, advice, memories, and, most of all, hard-earned lessons . . . all the things we wish we knew before we started out, and that few people ever honestly discuss. Here is the truth about: the price we pay for giving in to our fears, as well as the relief we feel when we finally face them; the humiliation of swallowing our ego so that we can learn from an abusive experience; the rewards of taking risks and the pain of failure; the joy of finding someone we can love and the limitations of every relationship; how it's never too late to tap the wisdom of others, even (especially!) our own parents; and the importance of taking what we do seriously without taking ourselves seriously.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Insightful .......2007-07-02

This book would make a wonderful graduation gift. I wish I would've read it back when I was eighteen-years-old. Although I purchased this book over three years ago, I still come back to it from time to time. She offers so much insight and wisdom, but she also humanizes herself as a woman and teaches her readers that even she has experienced self-doubt and has strived to reach 'perfection' (something she teaches you not to do). She writes about how important it is to start at the bottom because it's where you learn the most and gain character. I especially liked reading about her husband and children. She and her family are so much more normal than anyone would ever think.

5 out of 5 stars Mrs. Ahnold is a smart cookie!.......2007-01-22

I am 56 and had I had this book to read in 1968 when I graduated high school I might have had the tools to do things a little better through my 20's and 30's. She gives you a rundown on what realistically to expect out of live, love, career and everything in between. I may have even been able to avoid my ex-husband!!!

This is a must gift for any young person, maybe even younger than a high school graduate. It could actually put a kids expectations into the realm of reality without putting a damper on any of the joys of life. This is not a book that a conservative religious advocate would have to avoid. It contains simple comman sense about life and how it differs from what kids would often see on TV, movies, or any other media they would encounter. It doesn't tell you what belief system is best, just what life is most apt to hand you on any given day.

It is easy reading and not very beefy, so even non-readers would benefit. They could use it as a reference book for a specific situation.

Great Birthday or Graduation or Holiday gift and reasonable priced, too.

5 out of 5 stars A Good Start.......2006-06-12

I bought Maria's book "What's Heaven" for my Granddaughter when her Grandmother (my mother) died 6 years ago. Now my Granddaughter will graduate from high school next year and Maria has followed her to college, with her last 2 books. Next I will buy my Granddaughter the Marlo Thomas books. As a Grandmother I believe it does take a Village. My Granddaughter will take 2 real good role models with her to college and now we have to set her free.

3 out of 5 stars Worth the Read, but Not the Money.......2006-01-05

Maria did have some excellent points. The majority of the book is just an autobiography, though, and I skimmed through those parts. My advice would be to stop by the book store and look at the table of contents and then the very end where she gives a list of some other things she wishes she knew, because they explain themselves. A lot of her things I already knew, and she points out that she's not trying to help us avoid those things, just let us know we're not alone. If the great, talented Maria could get through life, then we can too! That was sarcasm.

4 out of 5 stars A quick pick-me-up........2005-11-07

After seeing and admiring the interaction between Maria Shriver and her mother on the Oprah Winfrey show a few months ago, I decided I wanted to read her newest book, "And One More Thing Before You Go." My library didn't have it but they did have this one and so I decided to take it home.

What I appreciated most about this book were the tidbits of wisdom about humility, and the ways we should appreciate ourselves and not allow others to beat us down. I like how Shriver says that humility is about having a realistic self-image-- not beating ourselves up for not being good enough and not settling for mediocrity. I liked Shriver's advice that we are not superwomen (or supermen) and we can not be excellent in every area so we should decide what areas are most important to us and make realistic goals to strive for. It inspired me to think about what areas of my life I'd like to improve in and what areas can wait until a different phase in life.
301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home Now and for More Money Than You Thought: How to Inexpensively Reorganize, Stage, and Prepare Your Home for Sale
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent advice.
  • From do-it-yourself enhancement projects to inexpensive solutions
  • Solid Guide to Staging Your House for a Successful Sale
  • Simply Fantastic!
  • Best book I've read for staging your home
301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home Now and for More Money Than You Thought: How to Inexpensively Reorganize, Stage, and Prepare Your Home for Sale
Teri B. Clark
Manufacturer: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Buying & Selling HomesBuying & Selling Homes | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Do-It-YourselfDo-It-Yourself | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business BooksLook Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Home & Garden BooksLook Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging your Home to Sell (Complete Idiot's Guide to) The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging your Home to Sell (Complete Idiot's Guide to)
  2. Peggy's Corner: Stage Your Home for Profit Peggy's Corner: Stage Your Home for Profit
  3. Designed to Sell: Make any home the hottest property on the block with expert advice from the popular HGTV series Designed to Sell: Make any home the hottest property on the block with expert advice from the popular HGTV series
  4. Building a Successful Home Staging Business: Proven Strategies from the Creator of Home Staging Building a Successful Home Staging Business: Proven Strategies from the Creator of Home Staging
  5. Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money

ASIN: 0910627061
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Product Description

Numerous studies show that a house that is well polished on the surface and staged properly will appeal to more buyers, sell faster, and most importantly for more money. You may not be able to improve the market value of your house, but you can improve its marketability. Remember: first impressions count the most. Home Staging is the art of decorating a home to sell fast and for the highest amount. Home stage experts and consultants get thousands of dollars to do what you can easily do inexpensively, with little or no money. Keep in mind this important fact: the way you live in your home and the way you market it for sale are two very different things. In this groundbreaking new book you will learn how small color changes will increase your home s value, minor repairs and de-cluttering tricks, how to rearrange your furniture and art work, decorating tips and ideas, how to look at your house from the buyer's viewpoint, how to add minor accessories, which items stay and what must go, which minor changes will bring you the greatest return, how to bring out a home's best features, table settings, candles, what photos must go and which ones stay, how to minimize problem areas, how to position your house for the marketplace, what music to play, what scents to spray, how to use design psychology techniques, lighting techniques, landscaping secrets, what to do with garages, basements and attics, what color you should never use, how to ensure a positive traffic flow through rooms, how to use mirrors and natural light, and much more. This brand new exhaustively researched book is the ultimate resource for novices and pros alike; it will guide you through every step of the process with hundreds of innovative ideas that you can put to use right away. This book gives you the proven strategies and innovative ideas used by the expert s everyday that you can easily do your self. The book also includes a full-color insert packed with photos of before and after shots!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent advice........2007-06-10

This book is full of helpful advice when undertaking the tremendous task of selling and moving out of your house. Some of the advice is common sense, but they offer great ideas.

5 out of 5 stars From do-it-yourself enhancement projects to inexpensive solutions.......2007-06-10

Dozens of color photos of 'before' and 'after' examples illustrate staging step-by-step, offering homeowners and their agents key tips to understanding how a property presents itself and what enhances its salability. From do-it-yourself enhancement projects to inexpensive solutions for potentially expensive problems, 301 SIMPLE THINGS is the guide homeowners should consult first before even listing a property - and any public library lending collection will find it an excellent reference.

5 out of 5 stars Solid Guide to Staging Your House for a Successful Sale.......2007-04-11

Selling a home can be a time-consuming and stressful time, especially if the home doesn't sell right away, or doesn't even get serious bites from potential buyers. There are a lot of reasons buyers might not be interested in a house - the location, for example - that are out of the seller's control. However, there are also a lot of things sellers can do to actually sell their house to the buyer, primarily by making the house a more attractive and compelling purchase. Teri B. Clark's book on house staging, the not-so-succinctly titled 301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home NOW and For More Money Than You Thought, lays out how to effectively stage your house to maximize both the number of interested buyers, and the selling price.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, staging is essentially arranging and decorating your house in a way that makes it appealing to virtually anyone who enters it. Think of a window display in a store, or a floor model of a bedroom set, and you will get the idea: the objective is to make the house an eye-catching product that buyers are excited about purchasing. 301 Simple Things...covers the entire process of staging in great detail, from simple do-it-yourself tasks like cutting down on clutter, patching drywall, and thoroughly - and I mean thoroughly - cleaning your kitchen, bathroom, and windows, to more complex tasks that could require professional help, like putting in a new toilet. The overall point that the book drives home is that staging is not the same as remodeling, and should not require installation of expensive appliances or amenities, or major changes to the house itself. Staging is about doing a variety of small, things: painting cabinets, rearranging furniture, cleaning, opening curtains, etc. to make the house more presentable to buyers.

Though the book at times serves as an advertisement for some of the professional house stagers it features in its case studies, the content is actually based around a do-it-yourself type of attitude. It walks you through all the tasks and principles behind staging your house, and gives specific, step-by-step instructions on all the tasks it recommends. If you have never put up wallpaper or painted a concrete basement floor, for example, Clark walks you through all of the details of those processes. A simple carpentry book might be a good companion piece if you decide to stage your house yourself, but the information in 301 Simple Things... is detailed enough that you will probably only have to consult the carpentry book if you run into a problem. Speaking of problems: aside from guiding you through what to do, 301 Simple Things... also covers what not to do, describing problems and pitfalls that turn off potential buyers.

The great thing about 301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home NOW and For More Money Than You Thought is that the vast majority of the book is useable content, without a lot of fluff. Case studies, which are essentially anecdotes from real estate professionals, serve to reinforce the importance of whatever topic the book is covering, and its illustrations (photographs) do a great job of showing, visually, how staging can change the look and feel of a house. If you are considering selling your home, 301 Simple Things...is a great read. It provides plenty of useable ideas for making your house a product that potential buyers will get excited about purchasing, and living in. Whether you decide to use the services of a professional, or make improvements yourself using its step-by-step guides, 301 Simple Things...can be a huge asset in your quest to sell your home.

5 out of 5 stars Simply Fantastic!.......2007-04-05

I love this book! Teri Clark has created a gem that is full of fantastic ideas to help you easily transform your house from a home into a product that others will want to buy. If you are selling your house, you need this book. No matter what your budget, you will find suggestions that will bring you thousands of dollars in profits and help your home sell faster.

As a home buyer, I have always felt much more inclined to try to get a bargain when making an offer for a house that wasn't loved than when walking through a house that was presentation ready. Don't sell your cherished home to bargain hunters when you can sell to home buyers who want to move up in the world to something better than they had before! "301 Simple Things" helps you create a living space that exceeds their expectations and ensures that you close the sale at a price that's right for you.

"301 Simple Things" is also great for people who simply want to live well. With a few simple tasks, you can create a beautiful environment that is a both a haven and a place to entertain and enjoy. Don't settle for good, read the book and see how easily you can make your house a great place to live.

5 out of 5 stars Best book I've read for staging your home.......2007-03-24

This book is extremely useful when you're selling your house. I thought I already knew how to make my house look good, but I hadn't realized half of the things mentioned in this book. It details everything you will need to know, including how to complete minor repairs in your home from replacing a faucet to painting your walls. It also talks about furniture arrangement and getting rid of the clutter. I never realized that something as simple as turning your dining room table at a different angle could make that big of a difference. After seeing the pictures, I believe! This book is filled with before and after pictures (in color) that show what a difference staging the room can have. Clark's book also provides check-lists and tips throughout so that you won't forget anything. The tips she provides are practical and easily implemented. She also includes a section on how to get the most for your money, especially when you are on an extremely tight budget. If you are trying to sell your house, this is THE book to buy. It contains all of the information you will need to get more money for your house.
Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 : Arcadia, The Real Thing, Night & Day, Indian Ink, Hapgood
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A real gem
  • A Master Playwright
  • A Fantastic Collection
  • A magnificent collection
Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 : Arcadia, The Real Thing, Night & Day, Indian Ink, Hapgood
Tom Stoppard
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

PlaywritingPlaywriting | Theater | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Stoppard, TomStoppard, Tom | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | British & Irish | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Tom Stoppard: Plays 4: Dalliance, Undiscovered Country, Rough Crossing, On the Razzle, The Seagull (Faber Contemporary Classics) Tom Stoppard: Plays 4: Dalliance, Undiscovered Country, Rough Crossing, On the Razzle, The Seagull (Faber Contemporary Classics)
  2. Tom Stoppard: Plays 3: A Separate Peace, Teeth, Another Moon Called Earth, Neutral Ground, Professional Foul, Squaring the Circle (Faber Contemporary Classics) Tom Stoppard: Plays 3: A Separate Peace, Teeth, Another Moon Called Earth, Neutral Ground, Professional Foul, Squaring the Circle (Faber Contemporary Classics)
  3. Travesties Travesties
  4. Tom Stoppard Plays Two: The Dissolution of Dominic Boot; 'M' Is for Moon Among Other Things; If You're Glad I'll Be Frank; Albert's Bridge; Where Are They Now? Tom Stoppard Plays Two: The Dissolution of Dominic Boot; 'M' Is for Moon Among Other Things; If You're Glad I'll Be Frank; Albert's Bridge; Where Are They Now?
  5. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

ASIN: 0571197515

Book Description

Plays Five:
Arcadia
The Real Thing
Night & Day;
Indian Ink;
Hapgood

This fifth collection of Tom Stoppard's plays brings together five classic plays by one of the most celebrated dramatists writing in the English language.

Arcadia received the Evening Standard, the Oliver, and the Critics Awards and
The Real Thing won a Tony Award.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A real gem.......2004-09-02

Tom Stoppard is arguably one of the greatest playwrights of all time (and I do say arguably), and this collection only proves it. I am currently away at college while I write this review, and have pitifully forgotten my battered, dog-eared copy of this book at home, and so I'm pining away because it really is such a staple in my life - I cannot count the amount of times I've pulled out the book and read "The Real Thing", but I'm nearly sure it runs toward the hundred mark. All the plays are exceptional, although the aforementioned "The Real Thing" stands out, along with "Aracadia" and the wonderfully underrated "Indian Ink."

4 out of 5 stars A Master Playwright.......2002-08-30

Every time I pick up this collection, I find myself sitting and reading for hours. Something about Stoppard's command of the language, his own personal calling card, is undeniably riveting.

And though there are times (especially in Day & Night) where it seems that characters are too clever for their own good, his sense of timing and his love for delivering a smart, believable group of people amazes me.

This collection is wonderful in its scope, including everything from the frequently produced "Hapgood" to the more recent treasure "Indian Ink." It's a must-have.

5 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Collection.......2001-09-28

This is a great collection of Tom Stoppard plays, and includes some of his best works.

Arcadia is one of Stoppard's greatest plays - a bizarre combination of physics, mathematics, poetry, a good old-fashioned academic stoush and romance (or lust) to boot. A fantastic play to see, but very good to read also.

The Real Thing, Hapgood and Indian Ink are also among Stoppard's more mature and better plays, and nicely round out this collection. These are some of Stoppard's better known plays (and you can read reviews of them on their own pages) but I'll just summarise by saying that I think they are fantastic.

Night and Day is an earlier Stoppard play and maybe not quite as good - it is concerned with journalism in war-torn Africa and does take a deep look at issues faced by a journalist in that situation. However, in comparison to the other plays in this volume, it just doesn't seem quite as good - however it is still a fine play in its own right and does make for interesting reading nonetheless.

Overall, I definitely reccomend this volume, particularly since it's cheaper than buying each of the plays individually.

5 out of 5 stars A magnificent collection.......2000-12-21

After seeing Stoppard's "The Real Thing" in London, I was blown away. I purchased this collection to have "The Real Thing," and was blown away but all 5 of Stoppard's masterpieces. He writes convincingly of love, redemption and what it means to exist and to live. I cannot recommend this collection (or anything by Stoppard) enough.
Subjective Probability: The Real Thing
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Subjective Probability: The Real Thing
    Richard Jeffrey
    Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    Logic & LanguageLogic & Language | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
    Probability & StatisticsProbability & Statistics | Applied | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
    StatisticsStatistics | Applied | Mathematics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
    All DealsAll Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
    NonfictionNonfiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
    ScienceScience | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    ProfessionalProfessional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    ScienceScience | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Logic of Decision The Logic of Decision
    2. Scientific Reasoning: The Bayesian Approach Scientific Reasoning: The Bayesian Approach
    3. Algebra of Probable Inference Algebra of Probable Inference
    4. Bayesian Epistemology Bayesian Epistemology
    5. Probability Theory: The Logic of Science Probability Theory: The Logic of Science

    ASIN: 0521536685

    Book Description

    This book offers a concise survey of basic probability theory from a thoroughly subjective point of view whereby probability theory is a mode of judgement. Written by one of the greatest figures in the field of probability theory, the book is both a summation and a synthesis of a lifetime of wrestling with such problems and issues.
    The Real Thing
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • So when will the "Hagan Strikes Again!" books be reissued??
    • fine reprint of two romantic suspense thrillers
    • Two Older Stories Worth Reading!!!
    The Real Thing
    Kay Hooper
    Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    United StatesUnited States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    AnthologiesAnthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books
    Romantic SuspenseRomantic Suspense | Romance | Subjects | Books
    Hooper, KayHooper, Kay | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Romance BooksLook Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. On Wings Of Magic On Wings Of Magic
    2. Enchanted Enchanted
    3. Enemy Mine Enemy Mine
    4. Lady Thief Lady Thief
    5. Elusive Elusive

    ASIN: 0425198332
    Release Date: 2004-11-02

    Book Description

    This is a rare treat for fans. Originally published over ten years ago, Enemy Mine and The Haviland Touch are related books combining tender romance with action and suspense-precursors to the New York Times bestselling romantic thrillers that Kay Hooper writes today. The Real Thing contains both stories in one volume-for the first time ever.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars So when will the "Hagan Strikes Again!" books be reissued??.......2005-05-10

    I've always loved Kay Hooper's way with her characters, and these early books were a wonderful reminder of just how good Kay can be WITHOUT a crime to be solved! Now if Bantam will just reissue omnibus editions of all her 'Hagan' Loveswept titles, I'll be a happy, happy Hooper fan!

    4 out of 5 stars fine reprint of two romantic suspense thrillers .......2004-11-01

    "Enemy Mine". Over the three years since they first met, rival antiquities experts Tyler St. James and Kane Pendleton have contested one another twelve times with each winning the prize for their respective client on six occasions. Now in Colombia, a third party wants both dead. To survive they must do the impossible by teaming up, but neither expected that joining would lead to falling in love with the enemy.

    "The Haviland Touch". A decade has passed since Spencer Wyatt broke Drew Haviland's heart, but though angry he pushed her out of his mind. Now he learns she has sold a family heirloom that she cherished, the Wyatt Emeralds, which he buys. Drew confronts Spencer accusing her of wasting her father's fortune and now selling off his treasures. He accuses her of planning to use her father's work to find and sell the valuable Hapsburg Cross. Spencer does not correct him although her motive is to prove her beloved daddy was right before he dies. Drew unable to refuse pushes himself into Spencer's expedition not realizing how much he still loves her and that he was so wrong about the nurturing woman that the teen he knew has become.

    This reprint of two romantic suspense thrillers from about fifteen years ago will thrill readers especially fans of capable females holding their own and more with strong men. The story lines of both tale are action-packed and filled with intimate moments as combatants fall in love. Fans of Kay Hooper will agree these two novels are THE REAL THING.

    Harriet Klausner

    4 out of 5 stars Two Older Stories Worth Reading!!!.......2004-09-04

    This book contains two of the older stories Ms. Hooper penned before she became the hugely succesful suspense author she is today. These are more romance then her newer titles and as a result I found them to be entertaining. The two titles are "Enemy Mine" and "The Haviland Touch". Both of these stories put me in mind of action adventure movies such as the "Inidana Jones" series.

    "Enemy Mine" is set in the Columbian forest and Tyler St. James and Kane Pendleton are rivals the search the world over for interesting and rare artifacts. They find themselves both being shot at over the search for the same chalice. Now instead of just looking for the artifact they are now forced into a partnership that pits them against a common enemy and a race to stay alive. Of course this close partnership forces them both to admit that they feel more then contempt for each other, and that maybe they aren't the enemies that they thought they were. But will they be able to investigate that possiblity, or will they be killed first?

    In "The Haviland Touch" antique collector Drew Haviland is placed back into the sphere of Spencer Wyatt, the one woman that jilted him years earlier. Spencer Wyatt is looking for the rare and sought after "Hapsburg Cross". Her motivation for finding this item is driven by her dying father. Now she has to accept the help of Drew the man she had left behind, and Drew is less then thrilled to having to be paired up with the spoiled Spencer. But Drew ends up learning that Spencer is not exactly what she seems, and that perhaps she is worth fighting for.

    These were both very entertaining stories but I admit that second was my favorite between the two. Ms. Hooper shows in these earlier efforts the talent that she had not yet had a chance to share with us. It was fun reading her earlier work and seeing how far she has come.

    Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com
    Until the Real Thing Comes Along:
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • unrealistic, silly, not good
    • Disappointing and a waste of time
    • A FAIRY TALE FOR ADOLESCENTS
    • Disappointing
    • Ignore the bad reviews!
    Until the Real Thing Comes Along:
    Elizabeth Berg
    Manufacturer: Random House
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    Single WomenSingle Women | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Fiction BooksLook Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Never Change Never Change
    2. Talk Before Sleep: A Novel Talk Before Sleep: A Novel
    3. The Pull of the Moon The Pull of the Moon
    4. Say When Say When
    5. Joy School (Ballantine Reader's Circle) Joy School (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

    ASIN: 0679457224
    Release Date: 1999-06-22

    Amazon.com

    For the protagonist of Elizabeth Berg's Until the Real Thing Comes Along, the biological clock is ticking all too loudly. Alas, there are no likely partners on the horizon for Patty Ann Murphy. Even an attractive, appropriately sensitive guy ends up giving her the heebie-jeebies: "Now he is turning my face toward him and kissing me and I feel that as soon as he stops I'll start screaming. I don't, of course. I say, 'Would you like some pretzels?'" The only man who doesn't inspire this kind of junk-food diversionary tactic is Patty's high-school sweetheart Ethan Gaines--but he happens to be gay. What's a woman of the '90s to do?

    The answer: she persuades Ethan to impregnate her, and they agree to a marriage of true minds (if not bodies.) They won't, of course, actually marry, or even live together. But Patty signs on for a lifetime of child rearing with her sexually indifferent soul mate--and finds herself wading into a wealth of emotional complications. Will Ethan ever make love to her again? Will her parents accept her (essentially) single-mommy status? Berg manages to cast these thorny issues in a comedic light, without ever consigning Patty and her wisecracking cohorts to a complete farce. And there is that payoff at the end, when Ethan hands her the love child in the delivery room:

    With a tenderness I would not have thought possible in earth-bound humans, he gives her to me. Her wet head is cupped; her quivering chest is calmed. What have my hands been doing all my life before this? I see now that they too have just been born. I unwrap the blanket, stop breathing.
    Yes, Patty does eventually start breathing again. And readers will share her delight at the undeniable fact that the real thing has finally come along. --Anita Urquhart

    Book Description

    What do you do when your life isn't living up to your dreams? When the man you love is unavailable, and yet you long for a family, a home? What is the cost of compromising until the real thing comes along?
         Reading Elizabeth Berg is like having a friend sit down and talk with you about the deepest truths and most perplexing issues in life, and in this exquisite new novel the bestselling author of Talk Before Sleep and The Pull of the Moon once again gives us superb fiction about a passionate woman who solves life's problems in a way that is far from traditional, but close to the wise dictums of the heart.
            Patty Ann Murphy says she's "Ms. Runner-Up" in life. Rarely the bridesmaid, never mind the bride, Patty sells houses for a living (well, she's sold one house so far), longs to be married and have a family, but is irresistibly drawn to the wrong man. Ethan seems perfect for Patty--handsome, generous, and sensitive--but he's hopelessly unavailable. Patty's frustration leads her to feelings she doesn't admire--jealousy of her beautiful best friend, Elaine, for instance, about whom she says, "Find me one woman who doesn't withhold just a bit from another woman who looks like that." She's also worried about her mother, with whom she's very close but who is beginning to act strangely. Patty longs more and more for the consolation of loving and being loved, but for the moment feels she must content herself with waiting--until she can wait no more.
       Andre Dubus said about Elizabeth Berg's Durable Goods, "Elizabeth Berg writes with humor and a big heart about resilience, loneliness, love and hope. And the transcendence that redeems." And the same will be said about Until the Real Thing Comes Along.

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars unrealistic, silly, not good.......2007-05-18

    I agree with the other reviewer that said the dialogue was not realistic. I too found myself thinking the same thing, who talks like this? I listened to this on audiobook and the reader made it even worse. She makes Patty sound really stupid (she is, but the reader made it worse) I really couldn't wait for it to be over and I hope I forget it soon.

    2 out of 5 stars Disappointing and a waste of time.......2006-12-10

    Ill conceived and silly. Really a waste of time - I actually felt that the novel was very depressing. I will not be reading any of Ms. Berg's other novels. Too unrealistic to believe that a gay man would become the love of someone's life and that a person could not move on from this relationship.

    2 out of 5 stars A FAIRY TALE FOR ADOLESCENTS.......2006-09-03

    I am a huge Berg fan, but this book did not cut it with me. The main character, Patty, is approaching mid-life and desperately wants a child. Ethan was her first love and continues to be "the love of her life." He also loves Patty dearly, so what is the problem? Ethan is gay and his love for Patty is that of a cherised, long-time friend; they feel comfortable together. Patty asks Ethan to impregnate her so they can raise a child but, of course, marriage is out of the question. We are not talking in-vitro fertilization here or anything that might be plausible, but a pregnancy developed by a good old-fashioned "romp in the hay"...or in the case, the bed! Patty gets her wish, she has a baby girl. In the end, Ethan also gets his wish, he finds "the love of his life" in another man. As for the baby, well, we can only hope everything worked out well for her, too, but we will never know because that is where the story ended.

    The problem with the book has nothing to do with sexual orientation but the fact the plot and events were just too inconceivably far-fetched. For the past 20 years, two of my very best friends (men) have been in a committed gay relationship. They are literary scholars and avid readers. When I ran the scenario of this book by them to see what their reaction would be, they thought either the book was nuts, I was nuts for reading it...or possibly both. On top of that, the book has a juvenile writing style that makes one wonder where Berg's thought process was when she wrote it. Like Picasso, she must have been going through her "blue period!" Ms. Berg, you missed the mark on this one.

    2 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2006-06-13

    I've recently discovered Elizabeth Berg and have been greatly moved by 3 of her books. I was really looking forward to this one... though I am married with a child, I certainly do remember the occasional angst of my single days! HOWEVER, this book is SUCH a disappointment. The whole plot is just a cop-out and the protagonist is not very sympathetic. I suspect the book might be based in fact, which I suppose would somewhat redeem it.....

    5 out of 5 stars Ignore the bad reviews!.......2006-02-03

    No need to re-iterate the plot, I just wanted to say that I appreciated the reviewers who shared in the delight of this book. I love Elizabeth Berg's writing style and found this easy read entertaining as well as heartwarming. This book was second only to her later "Say When" which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you're looking for a good vacation book (though you'll probably read it in one-two sittings) this is the one. You'll find yourself chuckling through a few tears.
    Realistic Model Railroad Operation: How to Run Your Trains Like the Real Thing (Model Railroader Books)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Fills a Needed Niche
    • Readers will be provided with a quick-start guide
    Realistic Model Railroad Operation: How to Run Your Trains Like the Real Thing (Model Railroader Books)
    Tony Koester
    Manufacturer: Kalmbach Publishing Company
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Model TrainsModel Trains | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Realistic Model Railroad Design: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Unique Operating Layout (Model Railroader) Realistic Model Railroad Design: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Unique Operating Layout (Model Railroader)
    2. The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards (Model Railroader Books) The Model Railroader's Guide to Freight Yards (Model Railroader Books)
    3. Track Planning for Realistic Operation: Prototype Railroad Concepts for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader)(3rd Edition) Track Planning for Realistic Operation: Prototype Railroad Concepts for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader)(3rd Edition)
    4. The Model Railroader's Guide to Industries Along the Tracks (Model Railroader Books) The Model Railroader's Guide to Industries Along the Tracks (Model Railroader Books)
    5. Trackwork and Lineside Detail for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader Books) Trackwork and Lineside Detail for Your Model Railroad (Model Railroader Books)

    Product Features:
    • Kalmbach Realistic Model Railroad Operation - 12231
    • KAL

    ASIN: 0890244189

    Product Description

    Make your railroad more true to life and interesting, by adopting realistic operation principles. Covers the history, practice, terminology, and benefits of operating realistically. Guides you through the steps leading to realistic operation, and includes pictorial examples of working model railroads and realistic operating sessions.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Fills a Needed Niche.......2006-08-07

    Many people find themselves fascinated by railroads and get caught up in the hobby of building model railroads but are hampered by one big problem. They don't know how the real thing operates. If the act of building is the fascination, then this poses no problem but if you actually want to do anything with the trains besides watch them go around and around, you need to learn something about the real thing. That's where this book comes in handy.

    It explains various aspects of how railroads operate in the real world and then explains how enthusiasts have modeled those operations. The book is readable and clearly written. Even so, so material may take a few readings to properly understand. It is a worthwhile investment.

    5 out of 5 stars Readers will be provided with a quick-start guide.......2003-04-19

    Realistic Model Railroad Operation: How To Run Your Trains Like The Real Thing by Tony Koester is a complete and "user friendly" guide to realistic model railroad operation. Readers will be provided with a quick-start guide to realistic operating sessions complete in a single evening; diverse schemes for forwarding cars and moving trains across a model railroading layout; explanations of sign systems as they apply to model railroads; and an appendix of precise railroading terminology. Superbly enhanced with previously unpublished color photography of tony Koester's HO scale Allegheny Midland Railroad (along with other great model railroads), Realistic Model Railroad Operation is a seminal and core addition to any dedicated model railroaders reference shelf. Model railorading enthusiasts are encouraged to send for the free Kalmbach Publishing catalog for a complete listing of their titles.

    Books:

    1. A Gentleman's Honor
    2. A Northern Light
    3. All About Me
    4. Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips: The Complete Self-Care Guide for Easing Aches and Pains Without Drugs
    5. Bastard Prince: Henry VIII's Lost Son
    6. Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2007 (Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year)
    7. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
    8. Born to Be BAD (Bureau of American Defense - B.A.D., Books 1, 2 and 3)
    9. Boxcar Children Collection: The Chocolate Sunday Mystery, The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain, The Mystery of the Spiders Clue, The Ghost Ship Mystery (Boxcar Children)
    10. C.A.R.E. Packages for the Workplace: Dozens of Little Things You Can Do To Regenerate Spirit At Work

    Books Index

    Books Home

    Recommended Books

    1. Brazilian Adventure
    2. Ultimate Foods for Ultimate Health: And Don't Forget the Chocolate!
    3. The Collected Writings Of Ambrose Bierce
    4. The God Delusion
    5. The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
    6. Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, 2nd Edition
    7. The Search for Life in the Universe
    8. Changing Public Attitudes on Governments and Taxes 1992/S-21
    9. The Ilparakuyo livestock keepers of Bagamoyo: Persistent fighters but ultimate losers
    10. Doing Business in Newly Privatized Markets: Global Opportunities and Challenges