Mockingjay - The Hunger Games Book 3

In the third and final volume of The Hunger Games, Katniss has once more escaped the warrior's arena with her co-tribute Peeta, for whom she has feelings but cannot quite put them into words, and yet she is now called on to lead the revolution as the Mockingjay.

In Book 1, Katniss and her co-tribute Peeta, are sent to The Hunger Games Arena as representatives of District 12 and they make it to the winner's platform and are thanked for their survival. Katniss and Peeta were to have settled down and lived a quiet life of safety and contentment.

However, as we later found out in Book 2, President Snow and Panem see Katniss and Peeta's victory differently. There are rumors of rebellion in the air and they seem to swirl around the pair of Hunger Games winners so rather than their quiet, safe life together, Katniss and Peeta are pulled into a world of more intrigue as President Snow and company try to determine if Katniss is, indeed, the leader of the revolution or just an innocent dupe. Indeed, the President makes a special trip to District 12 to see Katniss, whose home District also happens to be the poorest area that sends its tribute to Panem and The Hunger Games.
After planning the 75th Anniversary "Games," Katniss and Peeta have to savage their opponents again to attain victory again.

Book 3, opens with Peeta suffering from an apparent case of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) after two rounds of nearly constant battle and fear. All he wants is a little quiet and some understanding, however, Katniss becomes the Mockingjay - the real leader of the revolutionary movement.

It does make sense as Panem is very upset with the Katniss/Peeta team for surviving the trips to the arena and President Snow and his circle are equally as upset. The only welcome Katniss receives is from the revolution and being a natural leader she takes over as the Mockingjay. By worrying about Katniss and her partner, Panem and Snow have driven Katniss, now the ultimate warrior, into the arms of the revolution. It is a classic self-fulfilling prophecy.

In Book 3, we also find best-selling and award-winning author Suzanne Cole changing direction. Not only is she starting to wind things up to their conclusion, but she is broadening the characterization of all of the parties involved giving Katniss a larger-than-life persona and role and leaving her real love, Peeta, to suffer through bouts of PTSD alone. Another love interest appears but when one is finished, one realizes that Peeta is her soul-mate.

Peeta's soul-mate, on the other hand, is now almost a universal soldier, committed to the savagery and war. She has become the ultimate warrior and Panem feels her anger.

Author Collins used her considerable writing skill to make Katniss believable, as well as the situations in which she finds herself. Overall, Book 3 is a fitting lid for The Hunger Games. Collins is able to bring things to a successful conclusion that, as the old ads used to say, will "leave you at the edge of your seat." She does that and more in her crowning achievement in the Hunger Games.

Roberto Sedycias works as an IT consultant for ecommUS-Books

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Catching Fire - The Hunger Games Book 2

After rising out of the poorest District, 12, to win The Hunger Games, Katness Everdeen and her co-tribute Peeta, should have been able to expect lives of safety and contentment, but that is just not the case for the winner of The games. President Snow, leader of Panem and organizer of The games, makes an unscheduled visit to Katniss and Peeta. He is troubled by vague rumors of insurrection brewing in the background and he is also troubled by the apparent linkage of winners with the revolutionary rumors.

This is the world that Katniss and Peeta find themselves as they make a grand tour of all of the losing Districts, including the wealthy Capital. The intrigues continue as Katniss is drawn into planning the 75th Anniversary Hunger Games.

As the planning and story move on Katniss' life reveals itself as she becomes a more rounded individual. Her characterization is becoming broader and she is proving to be more than just a winning tribute. Behind the mask of the competitor, there beats the growing heart and mind of a developing character. That Katniss is growing is due to the carefully planned and well-executed writing of author Suzanne Collins. Katniss is coming to life as a person - a person that the Capital District may have good reason to fear.

Beneath the apparently calm surface of Panem - a country that corresponds roughly to the Old USA and to which the outer Districts owe tribute in the form of warriors for the yearly games - there's an undercurrent of revolution. Are Katniss and Peeta part of this movement or are they just being used by the revolutionaries who hope to overthrow Panem and bring themselves to power?

It's an intriguing question that President Snow is trying to answer with his visit. It is during this visit that Panem also becomes a fuller and richer place with traditions that one could have only guessed at during the Hunger Games (Book 1). In Book 1, Katniss and Peeta are fighting for their lives, while Book 2 brings more calm but also shows that there may be a fire in the background that President Snow and Panem have to deal with.

As all of this is happening, Katniss discovers herself and finds a relationship with an equal, one which helps to define her as an individual and round her character.
The Hunger Games trilogy's author Suzanne Collins deftly handles these background changes as Katniss matures and Panem wonders. It is well done and shows that Katniss is more than just a warrior. It also shows that - as the saying goes - "uneasy lies the power" as Panem tries to halt the revolution.

With Katniss help and planning the 75th Anniversary Hunger Games will truly be something and are something special. Katniss gains humanity as she battles to stay alive in Book 2. The author handles this deftly and builds a nuanced storyline that Hunger Games fans love.

Roberto Sedycias works as an IT consultant for ecommUS-Books

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The Hunger Games Book Review

In what was to be a war to the finish, 12 unnamed entities attack and try to destroy the United States, only to find themselves the losers in a world where Panem -- the former Washington, DC -- emerges the victor. It's a world where the victor has keep its territories subdued. To do so, it invents the "Hunger Games," by Susan Collins, where two of its finest are sent off to a fight-to-the-death contest. It's the ultimate "Fantasy Island" meets the Roman gladiatorial games where the fight is to the death with no quarter.

Into this world arrives Katness Everdeen, 16, from the Appalachian territory, who is making the ultimate sacrifice to save her sister and is partnered with Peeta. Let's look back a little before we move forward.
The key to the world in Susan Collins' "Hunger Games," used to be called "man's inhumanity to man." In this case, though, it's more like man's insanity to man. It is the ultimate reality show except that in this one there is no escape for 23 of the 24 participant.

It's a world where, unlike "Spartacus," who finds his humanity and humanity in the courage of his "brothers of the games," the competitors in the "Hunger Games" slowly lose their humanity and their inhibitions and devolve into mere participants in a TV show where no one is "voted off the island -- you're killed."
How Katness and Peeta, who retains her humanity and convinces Katness to do the same, while, also keeping from becoming victims is the hidden story around which the "Hunger Games" revolves.
The "Hunger Games" is a novel that works because it resonates with its audience very well. Notice that it is meant for readers 12 and older. This puts it about the time the Playstation really became the hot property of the Internet gaming world.

Players were ready to annihilate - no one ever liked being annihilated himself so they developed workarounds (spoilers) where players could gain unlimited supplies of ammunition or oxygen. Spoilers were also developed that gave players more weapons and more powerful weapons and that could also bring them back to life if they had the misfortune to caught in an ambush.
In a larger sense, the "Hunger Games" is a direct outgrowth of this thinking. It reflects an understanding of how to "settle" wars and scores by using weapons. In the "Hunger Games," the players become finely tuned hunting and killing machines who can track and find their enemies and who can split them with one arrow shot.

Unfortunately, since this is a novel when you've used up your quota of arrows, knives, blades and anything else with which you can hack and maim, you are usually the next to fall.
Katness becomes that type of killing machine but her partner Peeta helps her hold onto her humanity. That's what is lacking from the other players in this game. The territories and Panem reflect their times. They are short of food and other basic necessities so they need a gladiator-like distraction and the "Hunger Games" gives them that distraction. That they have forgotten why they are fighting them in the first place is place far down the list.

Like Collins' other work, this one has been well received. It will likely have several more aimed at us before the series peters out. We suspect Katness will have something to do with the final stand and the final "Hunger Game" because she is, after all, the ultimate warrior.
And, while we don't pretend to know what is on the publisher's mind or the author's mind, we can only think that somehow the "Hunger Games" will pass into history, just as Rome's gladiatorial contests did two millennia ago.

Roberto Sedycias works as an IT consultant for ecommUS-Books

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The Hunger Games Trilogy Book Review

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of those books that was originally written for a Young Adult audience but crossed over into the waiting hands of adults. There is something so powerful about a well told story that transcends the intended age group and draws in readers of all ages. It has often been said that some of the best books for adults are found between the covers of young adult fiction.

And so it proved with The Hunger Games. Released in 2008, the first book in an eventual trilogy was so beautifully written that it garnered praise from all corners of the literary globe. Critics, fellow authors and readers were taken by the journey of Katniss Evergreen and her role as a sacrificial warrior, manipulated by the state to perform in brutal gladiatorial style games between children that could have only one victor.

Collins managed to infuse this brutal dystopian future with moments of pure beauty that rival any in modern fiction. Written in first person, readers journeyed with Katniss as she is chosen, prepares for battle before the eyes of a viewing nation, sees the larger hands at work and finally realises her place in the world as she begins to fight for her life against other children bent on their own survival in the arena.

Despite a rather inconclusive ending that placed The Hunger Games as only a small part of a larger story arc, the book was embraced. The second book, Catching Fire, continued the story but invariably added little to Katniss' story as the setting again became the arena and survival the goal.

Mockingjay, the final book of the trilogy was released in August 2010 and for many was an unsatisfying conclusion to what could have been a truly memorable series. Collins places Katniss again in the hands of others and much of the story is told as she is manipulated into different situations and reacts accordingly.

The Hunger Games remains a book full of beauty and horror and a story that is worth telling. For the other two books in the series they are great lessons on writing and how to give your character focus amongst the events of plot.

Inger loves stories and loves to write. As a librarian in a previous life she also has an insatiable thirst for general knowledge. You can visit her latest websites which take a look at the best wooden castle toys and puppets for kids [http://www.puppetsforkids.org/].

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Bestselling Books For Business And Entrepreneurship

David Brooks writes the novel called The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement. In this novel, you will discover ways in which emotions and character are shaped and affected by all of the various factors in life. Brooks merges the scientific facts of the brain and biology with the intersection of social effects in order to perform a kind of map quest into your mind. Reading this book will help you discover the ways in which these things affect how you love others, live, eat, and make the choices that you make, as well as how you interact with others around you. Also, the book will help you figure out ways to form your moral decisions as well as your wisdom and overall character. With this kind of rich understanding, you will be able to have the tools that are essential to starting your own business.

Another book that is great if you are thinking of starting a new business is by Jim Collins who writes a novel called Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't. This is a novel that explores the behaviors of a variety of other companies who made daring moves by embracing a spirit of change. This book is a good one if you are thinking to start a company or if you have already started a business and are at the helm and want to start some changes that will help you make that move that will take your business to a whole other level. You can not only see examples of what to do, but Collins includes tips through examples of businesses that failed, too, so you will have a comprehensive picture of what tactics will work best.

How To Be The Luckiest Person Alive! By James Altucher is another novel that can help you with your business as it focuses on helping you create luck, and figure out how to have the health, the success and the happiness and dreams that you succeed. You will be able to learn techniques and tips that will help you get lucky in the places where it counts, but not in a fashion of disarray, but rather one that will behoove you in your business ventures.

Patrick Lencioni writes The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, is a book that provides useful information that is easy to read and follow by following a story that happened in Silicon Valley and the way it chose an unlikely leader to lead the company. It shows how the unit of staff failed to connect and how the unlikely boss decided to pull everyone together and create a workplace with a special dynamic that helped fuel the success of the team. Finally, Alexander Osterwalder writes Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers, a book that strives to help you abandon old models and embrace new visions that will take your business to new heights and wonderful heights. For books that help you reach your potential and take your business to new heights, you will benefit from these books.

Roberto Sedycias works as an IT consultant for PoloMercantil

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Review - The Skinny On Time Management

The Skinny On Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift, Jim Randel, 2010, ISBN 9780984139392

Here is another in a series of books that attempts to boil down a large subject area into an easy-to-read format. Intended for busy people who want just the bullet points, this book looks at how to best manage your time.

Write out a time journal for an entire week to see just how you are spending your time. You may think that you are being efficient and productive, but seeing it on paper may change your mind. Can changes be made in your schedule, with more time given to more productive activities? You need to set goals for yourself, whether long-term or short-term. Then you will know how to get from where you are to where you want to be. If your goal is important enough to you, then some other thing you are doing may have to be dropped totally. Choices were never meant to be easy.

The book then covers many ways to maximize your time. Fight the urge to procrastinate. Touch a piece of paper, or email, only once; either respond to it, get rid of it or put it in your file to be worked on later. Are there gaps in your day, like when you are sitting in a waiting room, when you could be working on your Blackberry? Are you a "morning person" or a "night owl?" Work on your hardest and most unpleasant tasks when you are most alert and awake. Learn to plan your day, but don't go overboard with the planning. Prioritize your tasks; which ones come first, and which ones can wait. Break a huge task into smaller, more manageable pieces. Can you batch several appointments, for instance, and get them done in one day? Doing crossword puzzles is a good way to improve your memory. Learn how to focus when you are on a task, and not let distractions get in your way. De-cluttering your office, and your email inbox, will always help. The act of writing a daily To Do list helps focus your mind on what you need to do that day.

Instead of reading a bunch of books on how to manage your time, read this book. It can be read in an hour or so, and does an excellent job of telling the busy person just what they need to know. It is a gem of a book.

Paul Lappen is a freelance book reviewer whose blog, http://www.deadtreesreview.blogspot.com, emphasizes small press and self-published books.

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The Leadership Book of Numbers (Volume 1) - A Review

How is leadership related to service excellence? Some might consider that a rather easy question, but I'm constantly amazed at how many leaders, and even some very large industries, just don't get the connection.

In The Leadership Book of Numbers (Volume 1) Theo Gilbert-Jamison and Vivian Bright provide a very simple roadmap to help leaders connect the dots. The book contains an extensive series of short lists along with tips and techniques that will help them become more effective leaders while helping their organization in the quest for service excellence.

The authors emphasize a point that is often overlooked, to the detriment of many organizations; there must be a vision and mission as well as a clear statement of values. The leader must clearly and effectively communicate these to the organization; everyone must understand them if the organization is truly striving for excellence.

Although they don't describe their studies in any detail, Gilbert-Jamison and Bright have developed six principles of service excellence from their studies. While high levels of customer service are often not expected of any but large or very high-end companies, that doesn't have to be the case. Any company can provide excellent service to the customer and these six principles provide a solid foundation for success.

The authors understand the importance of employees in the service equation and dedicate several of their lists to methods for leaders to engage employees in excellence. Employees must know the expectations of their leadership and understand how they help meet those expectations. Employee engagement happens when leaders engage with the employees.

The Leadership Book of Numbers (Volume 1) is a short easy read but also provides leaders with a useful quick reference guide to basic leadership principles. It's a quick read but also a lasting compendium that leaders will want to refer to again and again.

Bob Mason is a speaker, trainer, and author of "Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works." After 30 years of leadership experience he founded RLM Planning and Leadership to transform leadership by developing great leaders. Bob works with organizations that want to excel by training managers to lead and creating great strategic plans to keep leaders focused. See what he can do for you at http://www.planleadexcel.com.

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Prince William and Kate Royal Wedding Books Review

Have you up to speed with the great excitement in London? Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married! After their engagement in October, the couple has finally decided to exchange "I do's" on April 29, 2011. This royal wedding is going to be the most celebrated event in London that at this point in time a number of William and Kate books have already been published to narrate their romantic story.

Certainly, it is only fitting for both to finally tie the knot after eight long years in the relationship. They are two people in love who stood the test of time while getting to know each other fully and better. Their relationship was in a hiatus in 2007 but this only proved how strong their bond is and was found back in each other's arms shortly.

The most famous book written about the couple is William & Kate: The Love Story: A Celebration of the Wedding of the Century. Written by the royal journalist Robert Jobson, is an full insider account on the latest scoop and events leading to their most awaited day. The book narrates about Prince William and his soon-to-be bride and future Queen Consort, Kate Middleton. Both 28, William and Kate first met at the University of Scotland. This William and Kate book is filled with plenty of photographs on the couple, interesting tales or anecdotes and analysis about their relationship.

Another book dedicated for the couple is the William & Kate: A Royal Love Story. It is a factual publication on hardcover that tells the story of their fairy tale love affair. It is written by The Sun's Royal correspondent, James Clench with 150 never-seen photos and narrations about Will and Kate. The book called William's Princess: The Love Story that will Change the Royal Family Forever is another heart-warming and inspiring revelation of the young couple's early beginnings. It dates back to the time when Prince William was pursuing his career at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Suddenly, rumors broke that William will get married after the Queen's 80th birthday when he ended his army training. He was to become future King of England and he must have a Queen! This hardcover is written by the award-winning journalist, Robert Jobson who exposed the marriage between Prince Charles and Camilla to the public in 2005. You can collect all these books today at a very affordable price. These Will and Kate books are timeless collections that are worth keeping. Also available is the book focused on Kate's life is Kate: Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting and also another one called William & Kate: A Royal Souvenir.

Collect all Will and Kate books as a momento of the royal wedding of the decade. Visit the William and Kate Royal Weddinglens where you can also get the latest news and check out the latest royal souvenirs. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karina_Stewart

Barefoot Books Review - The Animal Boogie

The Animal Boogie is now famous, maybe even infamous as a bestseller at independent publishers Barefoot Books.

So what makes The Animal Boogie so popular?

It is so addictive!

Even as I write this I can hear myself humming the tune and jiggling my foot. It is an instant addictive hit!

It Is Such Family Fun

Barefoot recommend this book for children aged 3 to 7. This is not true. My daughter had this when she was 2 and still loves it at 6 ½. On top of that 3 generations have been up and doing the 'boogie, oogie, woogie', including a 70+ great grandmother!

Be warned though that once played it will stick with you for a very long time. Be prepared to play it in the car on long journeys to pass the time. It certainly beats arguments and the eventual boredom of I spy. The miles just fly by.

Great for Parties and Groups

Whether you are planning a party or are involved in a group or nursery, the Animal Boogie is perfect material. It has a musical score for the brave at the back and everyone can get involved doing their own actions for each animals. Stamp like an elephant and slither like a snake using whatever part of the body you want.

If you have a group that has instruments you can get those out as well, or make your own. Again an extra plus to this interactive sing along

Colourful, vibrant and all inclusive

The book is filled with full colour illustrations that are bright and beautiful. Each animal is accompanied by a different child. Each child is from a different ethnic background or culture. The publishers have really thought about this as well as there is also a girl in a wheelchair. You really can boogie and have fun whatever your race, creed or physical situation. There is something for everyone.

The Animal Boogie is really one of the most fun books I have come across. No one is left out and everyone can join in with their own brand of boogie.

Find out more about The Animal Boogie and Barefoot Books and read an extended review at http://www.my-barefootbooks.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Faulkner

Book Review: A History of the World in 6 Glasses

World History is a long and complex topic. Though many accomplished authors such as Bill Bryson and H. G. Wells have attempted to condense history into a single book, very few have succeeded. There is just too much of it. Attempts to boil down the last 10,000 years have resulted in either superficial books with very little depth, or great textbook like tombs too inaccessible for the casual reader.

Happily, A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage succeeds where others have failed. Standage's book does this by sacrificing the breadth of every possible topic for an impressive depth and focus. Instead of trying to sum up the complete history of man, this book spotlights a single topic, in this case beverages, and then takes the reader on a journey through time to see how his topic interweaves the past. Standage is a delightful writer, mixing his light hearted style with exceptional historical savvy not just on the topic of drinks, but throughout.

Despite my now positive opinion of this book, I have to confess that when I first picked up A History of the World in 6 Glasses, I did not expect to enjoy it. Not only am I skeptical of any book claiming to sum up the antiquity of man in 300 pages or less, but I myself do not drink any of the 6 beverages this book discusses. As such, learning the history of these drinks did not sound immediately appealing. However, what I quickly learned is that this book is not a history of 6 drinks, but rather just as the title states, a history of the world, told through the story of 6 drinks. As the book points out in the introduction, second only to air, liquid is the most vital substance to man's survival. The availability of water and other drinking sources have "constrained and guided humankind's progress" and "have continued to shape human history". Throughout time, beverages have done more than quenched our thirst; they have been used as currencies, medicines, and in religious rites. They have served as symbols of wealth and power, as well as tools to appease the poor and downtrodden.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses is broken down into six sections, one for each drink, the first of which is beer. Man's first civilizations where founded on surplus cereal production, much of which was brewed. Ancient day beers were high in vitamin B, a vitamin previously only obtained through meat. This allowed the population to focus their nutrition efforts more and more on cereals, effectively ushering in the transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers. Additionally, because early beers were boiled (to convert more starch into sugars), the beer was significantly safer to drink than water. This significant improvement in lifestyle "freed a small fraction of the population from the need to work in the fields, and made possible the emergence of specialist priest, administrators, scribes, and craftsmen." Not only did beer nourish man's first civilizations, but in many ways, made them entirely possible.

Wine, the next beverage in the book, played a major role in the flourishing Greek and Roman cultures. As wine did not originate from the Mediterranean, the Greek's desire for this drink opened up vast seaborne trade, which spread their philosophy, politics, science and literature far and wide, and still underpins modern Western thought. A History of the World in 6 Glasses points out how these advancements originated and grew at formal Greek drinking parties, called symposia. The Romans, who absorbed much of Greek culture, continued the strong use of wine. As the book notes, if you trace the wine drinking areas of the world on a map, you will find you have traced the Roman empire at its height.

After a thousand years of hibernation, Western civilization was awakened by the rediscovery of ancient knowledge, long safeguarded in the Arab world. However, in an attempt to circumvent this Arab monopoly, European monarchs launched massive fleets into the sea. This age of exploration was greatly enhanced by the Arab knowledge of distillation, which made a whole new range of drinks possible. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes how these condensed forms of alcohol (namely Brandy, Whiskey and Rum) were so popular, especially in the new American colonies, that "they played a key role in the establishment of the United States."

The fourth beverage presented in this book is coffee. Because of its sharpening effect on the mind, coffee quickly became the drink of intellect and industry. Replacing taverns as the sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse "led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought, particularly in France." A History of the World in 6 Glasses goes on to recount the intricate effect coffeehouses had on Victorian culture, going so far as to dedicate an entire chapter to what the book calls "The Coffeehouse Internet".

Even though the inception of tea date back many thousands of years, it didn't take hold upon western culture until the mid-seventeenth century. Once established as England's national drink, the importing of tea from first China and then India led to trade and industrialization on an unprecedented scale. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes the immense power of the British East India Company, which "generated more revenue than the British government and ruled over far more people", wielding more power than any other corporation in history. This imbalance of power had an enormous, far-reaching effect on British foreign policy, and ultimately contributed to the independence of the United States.

Like most of the drinks discussed in A History of the World in 6 Glasses, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America's "vibrant consumer capitalism". Rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining ground through the depression, and then traveling alongside our soldiers into WWII, becoming a global phenomenon. According to the book, Coca-Cola still accounts for "around 30 percent of all liquid consumption" today.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses makes it clear that the history of mankind is a history of our consumption. Whether we are drinking "liquid bread" in Mesopotamia, pondering revolution in a Coffeehouse in Paris, or throwing tea leafs into the ocean in Boston, these drinks have had a profound impact on who we are. As Standage says in the introduction to his book "They survive in our homes today as living reminders of bygone eras, fluid testaments to the forces that shaped the modern world. Uncover their origins, and you may never look at your favorite drink in quite the same way again." I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for knowledge about the world around them... or even if they're just thirsty for a good drink.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About Jeff Beck:
Jeff Beck is an entrepreneur and founder of several notable companies, including the Book Price Comparison website CompareBook.com. Visit CompareBook.com to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for A History of the World in 6 Glasses and other great books.

Book Review: Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized, & Dismissed

Almost everyone has been fired from a job, and just about everyone has a story to go along with it. Annabelle Gurwitch, the actor and screen writer, decided to capitalize on this fact by compiling and editing a collection of humorous "down-sizing" stories in her book Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. After being fired by the media icon (and consequently her idol) Woody Allen, Annabelle decided to take her story to the publishers- along with several other tales from well known actors and media personal, including Bill Maher, Tim Allen, Tate Donovan (actor and director in The O.C.), Harry Shearer (actor in This is Spinal Tap), Dana Gould (writer for The Simpsons), Bob Saget and more.

The book is divided into five chapters: The Job So Terrible You Can Only Hope to Be Fired, The Firing You Didn't See Coming, The Time You Deserved to be Fired, The Time Getting Fired Leads You to Something Better, and The Time You Had to Fire Yourself. Each chapter is as witty as the last, and will keep you reading and laughing through till the next. And with over a dozen "tales of the canned" in each chapter, you will have plenty of laughing to enjoy.

Many of the true stories found in this book are so funny, they will have you laughing out loud. The story of Paul Feig (director of Arrested Development and The Office) losing his Ronald McDonald gig because of a magical comparison between a rubber chicken and Chicken McNuggets he made to a group of school kids while wearing the clown suit will probably remain with me for the rest of my life. In another favorite story, Jeff Garlin (actor in Curb Your Enthusiasm) explains how he was fired for throwing a bowl of Fruity-Pebbles at a hotel wall... and all just because they stuck. Larry Charles (writer for Senifeld) reminds us that Taxi companies should never offer employment to a teen-age kid who has just acquired his license that very day; wrecking his cab before he even got it out of the parking lot. Stories like these are worth the price of this book alone.

To round each story off, the book also includes "Fired Facts": brief and amusing factoids about being fired, and the workplace in general. For example: "Increased risk of heart attack faced by employer firing an employee in the week after wielding the ax: 100%". What a great way to end your career - with your former boss in the hospital!

While Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed is entertaining (being fired with the line "Take that hanger off your head, you idiot!" may be the best thing that has ever happened to me), it completely fails to connect with the reader. Each story falls into one of two major camps: meaningless high school jobs that no one regrets losing, and glamorous Hollywood jobs that, while interesting, are entirely foreign to the average reader.

In the introduction to this book, Annabelle Gurwitch concludes "So you were fired. Welcome to the club. We've been waiting for you." However, this book fails to present any "club" you or I are ever likely to be a member of. While almost anyone can related with being fired from a job, the stories in this book are quite different from any workplace axing I have experienced. And unless you have felt the horror of losing a job because your character was shot in the last episode, you will probably be unable to relate as well.

If you are looking for a light, entertaining read to get you through the work week, I would recommend Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. Though the book will probably not help you reminisce about jobs long past, that may be for the best. What better way to forget about your own "down-sizing" experiences that to hear the stories of a celebrity with their head on the chopping block.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About Jeff Beck:
Jeff Beck is an entrepreneur and founder of several notable companies, including the Book Price Comparison website CompareBook.com. Visit CompareBook.com to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for Fired! Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized, & Dismissed and other great books.

French Women Don't Get Fat - Book Review

French women seem to enjoy breads, desserts, and wine, but then don't gain the weight. American women, on the other hand, just think about snacking and magically put on ten pounds. In her bestselling book, French Women Don't Get Fat : The Secret of Eating For Pleasure, Mirelle Guiliano reveals the secrets that French women have at staying healthy and trim.

French Women Don't Get Fat begins with the account of the author, Mirelle Guiliano, growing up in France. By a stroke of luck she was sent to America in her teenage years as an exchange student. In America, she was introduced to brownies and cookies – which quickly became favorites. In no time at all, Mirelle put on twenty pounds. When it was time to return home she was a little nervous about what her family and friends would think of the "new" Mirelle. The story of seeing her family for the first time after being away is funny and heart wrenching at the same time. I can't do justice to this story, so I would recommend buying the book and reading it on your own. Later, her mother set up a secret meeting with their family physician, "Dr. Miracle", who helped her to shed the extra pounds, and more importantly, taught her how to live like a French Woman.

This book is not a miracle diet. In fact, French Women Don't Get Fat isn't a "diet" book at all. What it does is suggest ways to help you live a balanced, healthier lifestyle. The first thing the book suggests is to take an inventory of what you eat for a couple of weeks. By looking at your food journal, you should be able to see what your "offenders" are – meaning what foods you are overeating. For example, Mirelle's offenders were sweets. Once you recognize what foods you are eating out of balance, your next step is to identify why you overeat in this category. For example, if your "offender" is bread, you might notice that you are eating a lot of bread when you go to restaurants. You could then decide to only have one slice before your meal comes. The book also discusses changing the way you think. You aren't skimping on the bread because you are depriving yourself something you love, you are merely saving room for other things. The pleasure of most foods is in the first few bites, as French Women Don't Get Fat points out. After that we are just eating on autopilot. If you can avoid eating without thinking, you can avoid eating excess food. French women eat with their heads and do not leave the table feeling stuffed or guilty.

Another secret of the French this book points to is drinking more water. We all know that water is good for us, but how many of us really drink as much as we should? The secret is to add water to your daily routine. Drink a glass of water before you eat your breakfast. Once you have established this as part of your routine, then add another glass before going to bed. French Women Don't Get Fat reminds us that sleeping is a very dehydrating process. When both of these are routine, make it a habit to drink water each time you pass a water fountain. French women drink water all throughout the day.

Once you are drinking more water, you will probably feel healthier than ever. Since water has no calories, no preservatives, and nothing extra added, you might find that you are interested in the ingredients of the other foods you are consuming. Have you ever read the list of ingredients in a frozen dinner? What is all of that stuff? Why are we consuming things we can't even pronounce? Another key to eating like the French is what the author of this book calls "Ritual Preparation." While she lived at home, Mireille's mother prepared almost all of the food that she consumed. None of it was filled with preservatives, and most everything was fresh. French Women Don't Get Fat recommends going to the market several times a week, and selecting the freshest ingredients. By market the book is referring to a farmers market, and not the supermarket. Quality ingredients equal quality food. When you are eating quality, you won’t need the quantity to make up for the lack of taste. Also, set the table like you would find at a restaurant – real napkins even. The extra attention to details will help you remember to savor your food. Also, sit down as a family, and turn off the television. Make meal time a ritual.

According to this book, you also need to move like a French woman. We aren't talking about hours of grueling exercise at the gym. What we are talking about is adding more movement to your daily routine. Walk to work, or if you work too far, then get off the train one stop early and walk the rest of the way to work. Or, add in a daily walk before eating breakfast. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when possible. French Women Don't Get Fat advised to not avoid precious steps: think of ways to add in more movement to your daily routine.

This book also includes recipes for foods such as Grilled Spring Lamb Shops, Asparagus Flan, Cauliflower Gratin, Grilled Chicken with Rosemary, Egg Omelet with Mixed Herbs and Ricotta Cheese, among many others. Since the French enjoy bread so much, recipes for Baguettes and Croissants are included too. The book has menu ideas as well.

If you need a good book to inspire you to lose a little weight so that you feel good about yourself, then French Women Don't Get Fat is where you should turn. Because the focus of this book is not about depriving yourself of good things, but about making focused choices to help you accomplish something even better, you will be motivated to change a few of your bad habits into good habits – and therefore live a more fulfilled and slimmer life.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About Jeff Beck:
Nicole Beck is a homemaker and loving mother of three. With her free time (which with three is hard to come by), she enjoys reading steamy novels. She buys all her books from the book price comparison website www.CompareBook.com

Visit www.CompareBook.com to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure at www.comparebook.com/review/French-Women-Dont-Get-Fat_1400042127.html

From The Inside Out

Remarkable Young Talent, Jeffrey Michael Miller, Makes His Mark in the Literary World with His First Collection of Poems

Poetry book by Jeffrey Michael Miller doing well and selling nicely all over the world. Remarkable young talent makes his mark in the literary world with his first collection of poems.


Greensburg, PA, November 21, 2005 --(PR.COM)-- Young and rising talent Jeffrey Michael Miller who has a book of Poetry entitled From The Inside Out is becoming very sought after in the literary world. His new book From The Inside Out is being requested by many newspapers and magazines for review. Pittsburgh Magazine which is a well respected regional publication has made such a request for the book and reviewers from Florida and Britain have also shown an interest in reading Miller's work.

Miller is slowly but surely becoming a force in the poetry world and helping the movement that seems to be bringing poetry back into the mainstream of todays society. Poetry forums all over the interent are recognizing Miller and posting links to his website and his work in order to spread the word about this poetic talent and his new book.

From The Inside Out has enjoyed very good ratings on Amazon and on other major online bookseller websites accross the board. Millers website has enjoyed increasing traffic and many guests from around the globe have took the time to offer words of praise by signing and commenting on both his guestbook and guestmap.

Miller's lyrical style flows incredibly well and is presented beautifully from cover to cover in his first collection of poetry. This unique and artistic work is a pleasure to read and captivates the hearts and minds of it's readers. the fifty eight page book will hold your attention throughout discussing important topics such as education and abortion as well as religion and politics.

From The Inside Out is available for purchase by visiting any major online bookseller and simply typing the ISBN# 1413791158 into the search box that will result in the displaying of the information of the book and the options in which one can purchase it. Offline the book can be ordered by using the same ISBN# at your local bookstore at no additional cost to the buyer.

So many have already enjoyed the vision and poetic genius of Jeffrey Michael Miller and you can too. This Christmas get a gift for someone special that they will sincerely treasure by giving them a copy of From The Inside Out or get one for yourself. People who have purchased From The Inside Out from Barnes and Noble have purchased other timeless classics along with it putting Miller's book in a category with the worlds greats.

Jeffrey Michael Miller wishes you all a wonderful holiday season and thanks you for your unending support that makes his writing worthwhile and possible. Get yourself a copy of From The Inside Out or purchase copies for friends and have a classic gift that lasts a lifetime and that is sure to increase in value as time goes by.

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About millsy75:
jeffreymichaelmiller.bravehost.com

Book Review: The Bottomless Well: Why We Will Never Run Out of Energy

For anyone who has any interest in energy, its cost, future and the political debate over this precious resource- The Bottomless Well is a must read. This book is an intriguing insight to the other side of what most of us have been led to believe on the environmentalist monopoly of the subject. The Bottomless Well makes the case that most of the things we think we know are mostly myths- because we really don't understand what the essence of energy is in the first place. The book demonstrates how a better understanding of energy will radically change our views and policies on a number of very controversial issues. The Bottomless Well also explains why demand for energy will only continue to increase, why most of what we believe is "energy waste" actually proves out to be a benefit for all; why more efficient vehicles, engines, and light bulbs will never lower demand, and why the earth's energy supply is actually infinite.

The Bottomless Well goes on to point out that that the cost of energy has increasingly less and less to do with the actual cost of fuel. With roughly five percent of the world's population, America consumes over 25 percent of the world's natural gas, 43 percent of its motor gasoline, 25 percent of its crude petroleum, 23 percent of its coal, and 26 percent of its total electricity production. But the book points out that most our energy consumption isn't for locomotion, lighting, or cooling. What we use energy for, mainly, is to extract, refine, process, and purify energy into ever higher states of efficiency. The more efficient our technology, the more energy we actually consume; not save, because the cost to reward ratio is so positive for the consumers of this highly refined energy. The book also point out that the competitive advantage in manufacturing will soon be shifting decisively back toward the U.S.: the human demand for energy will only continue to grow and is indeed insatiable; raw fuels sources are not running out; and America's relentless pursuit of high-grade energy does not add chaos to the global environment but rather restores it to order. Indeed, expanding energy supplies mean higher productivity, more jobs, and a growing GDP. Across the board- energy isn't the problem, energy is the solution.

While the conventional wisdom holds that energy consumption is the problem and certainly some would disagree from an environmental impact concerning (at lest fossil fuel) energy consumption, The Bottomless Well argues that from an environmental perspective it also makes sense to use energy in an ever more efficient state. For example America, unlike most of the poor developing countries, is a net carbon sink. That is, despite all the pollution produced in America, there is more CO2 PPM upwind of America on the Pacific side then there is downstream of it over the Atlantic. This fact is undisputed, but although the book does offer some anecdotal reasons why this might be the case there is no definitive evidence to explain this unexpected phenomenon.

I would strongly recommend The Bottomless Well to anyone, no matter where they might stand on the issues of energy, the environment or politics. The book breaks the mold on many of our conventional views of energy, how we use it and why. At very least The Bottomless Well opens the door to another school of thought, not to mention a healthy debate about energy policy and our future.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About John Woolf:
John Woolf is the founder of several successful Internet technology companies including the Book Price Comparison website www.CompareBook.com Visit CompareBook.com to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for The Bottomless Well and other great books.

Book Review: The Straw Bale House

If we learned anything from childhood, it was not to build our houses out of straw. After all, that big bad wolf was just waiting to blow it down. But that was before the world knew the numerous advantages of using compressed straw bales, as a key building material as outlined in the book The Straw Bale House. This easy to understand book is comprehensive in its education on how to build with straw- so that no wolf (or tornado for that matter) can ever blow it down. The book covers why and how to build with straw bales, while also illustrating necessary details to create an aesthetically and sound home at an affordable price. To portray this point, The Straw Bale House provides a good number of enlightening black and white diagrams as well as impressive color photographs. I would have to say The Straw Bale House is the Bible of straw bale construction books and therefore an indispensable starting point for anyone looking into the straw bale home concept. After purchasing the book (well worth the price) I had no reservations about going ahead with my own project and building with straw bales. Both new and experienced builders will appreciate the clear, simple instructions and diagrams, as well as practical explanations for dealing with building codes and insurers.

The Straw Bale House also nurtures you on the many practical advantages of building with compressed straw bales. In addition to being inexpensive, straw bale serve as a clean, and lightweight building material that is easy to work with. The book discusses the many important advantages straw offers such as super high-energy efficiency (a need in today’s high heating costs), superior fire resistance, while at the same time seismically correct. In addition, this all-natural material, as a recycled agricultural byproduct of grain production, is a sustainable, renewable resource. While enthusiasts of straw bale construction praise this method of building for the aforementioned reasons, the actual reason so many people are turning to straw bale homes is because they are so often extraordinarily beautiful and inviting, as The Straw Bale House's many color photographs displays. Clearly, inexpensive doesn't have to mean low quality nor unattractive. The natural materials used in creating a straw bale home exude a lot of chi. And so does this book. The Straw Bale House would be a good addition to any coffee table.

Sustainable Living Articles @ http://www.articlegarden.com

About John Woolf:
John Woolf is the founder of several successful Internet technology companies including the Book Price Comparison website www.CompareBook.com As a pragmatist of the world around him, he is both a critic and crusader on international politics and energy policy as it relates to our security and our impact on the global environment. Visit CompareBook.com to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for The Straw Bale House and other great books.

Book Review for Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Coming on strong after the success of his Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond's new book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is a tome of intriguing insight to the other side of the coin. While Guns, Germs and Steel examined how some societies thrived, due to their respective geographic and environmental endowments, this book examines why ancient societies have collapsed so often in the past, in part for the same reasons. To support this thesis, the book delves into a variety of past civilizations, including the Anasazi of the American Southwest, the Maya and the Viking colonies of Greenland to illustrate that collapse of a society is no respecter of geography. Nor is it a respecter of time. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed also looks at modern-day societies such as Rwanda to explain the catastrophe that recently befell this afflicted nation, as well as it depicts present-day Montana and the fascinating factors rendering this once wealthy state into one of the poorest. Could Montana be a microcosm for the U.S. at large? The book asks how once astute societies that built magnificent monuments testifying of their social and economic prowess, could suddenly vanish or be rendered impotent. Not lost on the reader throughout these case studies is the nagging thought that perhaps this fate might also befall our own wealthy country. In fact, it is the seminal point of this provocative book. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed hopes to stir our collective consciousness to an understanding what lies before us so that we may be saved, as evidenced, from the pitfalls of the past. In essence, we cannot separate the economy from the environment if we hope to avoid devastation.

Perhaps this is best depicted in the book's treatise of the Anasazi. Their vast ruins in what is now northern New Mexico echo a well-ordered, sophisticated society in a fragile desert environment that lasted over 600 years. To put this into perspective, they lasted longer than any European society in the Americas to date. However, over time the Anasazi of the Chaco Canyon complex became ever more specialized in the tasks of the society. This in turn allowed them to make gains in economies of efficiency while making them equally interdependent as a culture. More and more the main complex at Chaco Canyon depended on outlying communities and outposts for their support, not unlike London or Rome today. These cities served as governmental and religious centers to facilitate the management their respective societies. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed describes how, like many of our cities of today, "Chaco Canyon became a black hole into which goods were imported but from which nothing tangible was exported." As the population grew so did the demands on the surrounding environment. Fuel and other essential resources became ever more distant; coupled with soil depletion and erosion in the surrounding farmlands. In essence, they became increasingly close to living on the margin of what the environment could reasonably support. The final straw was a prolonged drought. No longer able to support or feed themselves, the society suddenly collapsed into open revolt and total civil warfare, culminating in cannibalism and ultimately total abandonment of the site. The moral lesson is that while they "adopted solutions that were brilliantly successful and understandable in the 'short term' (they) created fatal problems in the long run." The analogy to our present day situation of overextending ourselves is obvious.

While Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed seems to make a strong connection between collapse of a society and it's environment, this book is not all about eco-meltdowns. He also measures four other critical factors involving the demise of societies as well; including hostile neighbors; loss of trading partners; climate change and perhaps most importantly, a society's responses to its challenges. In this vein, this book also looks at several past success stories where societies in Japan and the highlands of New Guinea had the insight to change fundamental, traditional values and restore a positive balance with nature, trading partners etc. and thrive.

In its conclusion, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed presents a cautious optimism for our own future. The book concludes that because we are the creators our own problems, we also have the power to amend the quandaries we have made. This, the book maintains, will not be easy and will require profound courage; but necessary if we are to have hope for the future.

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About John Woolf:
John Woolf is the founder of several successful Internet technology companies including the Book Price Comparison website www.CompareBook.com/ Visit Compare Book to read reviews, find similar titles, and search for the lowest possible price for Collapse : How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed at www.CompareBook.com/review/Collapse_0143036556.html