Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.
In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead ... Read More:
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It's derivative. There is absolutely nothing that hasn't been said over and over again.
It's simplistic. Life can be simple, but that doesn't mean you should treat your audience as if they are too.
It's repetitive. Get a variety of different figures in your niche to all say the same things using slightly different words.
It's nasty. Follow the philosophy through to it's logical conclusion and you are left with the concept that those who suffer have brought it upon themselves. There may be a grain of truth for some of the many unfortunates out there, but try telling a starving family in a poverty- and drought-stricken wilderness that really they ought to ... Read More:
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I was hoping to find something of use in Twiggy's book - but it's nothing but a random, waffly set of anecdotes with lots of advertisements for products and clothes shops. If you're looking for real advice - about what suits your shape, what colours to wear past a certain age, some thoughts on styles - look somewhere else.
I returned my copy, because I was so disappointed - and thumbs up to Amazon for letting me!
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How to talk to anyone is written in a straight forward way, giving you tips on how to carry good conversations. It highlights things that, when you think about it, is very very true, especially when you think of people you DONT like speaking with, but dont really see why not.
nice short chapters that lets you pick up a few things every time you pick up the book.
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I bought this book about three months ago after a particularly bad week with my boys (aged 2 and 4). A lot of tantrums, whining, shouting, crying (on all parts) plus the anxiety of starting school made me feel I really needed to change something. I had read an earlier book by the same author (Siblings without Rivalry) and liked the style so gave it a go.
The first few weeks were a difficult transition. Trying the new methods, yet in the back of mind doubting them, I kept reverting back to the usual methods (after all naughty steps and reward charts seem so popular these days). Again - a difficult week and I gave it another go.
After four weeks of effort on my part we finally started getting somewhere and slowly but surely their suggested ... Read More:
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"Cesar's Way" is truly a bible for us who love and have dogs. Growing up, my family always had two dogs. We always gave affection first, then discipline, and then exercise. No wonder we always had unbalanced pets who ran the household - it was opposite of what Cesar Milan teaches. Cesar suggests a simple formula in order to have a balanced dog. Exercise, discipline, and affection... in that order! Who knew?!
Cesar writes that dogs live in the moment and that they communicate using energy, constantly. We can learn a lot from our dogs. If we are lost in thought and neurotic in our behavior, our dogs will mirror our energy. When we are in the moment with our animals, our dogs have new possibilities with their behaviors, living a balanced life.
In browsing my book shelf I came upon and then found myself rereading this incredibly simple yet profound book. The principles and ideas Stephen writes about are truly ways to discover how to live your life as the person you want to be. I especially found the section where Stephen writes about how powerful unexamined attitudes and perceptions influence how I react toward situations and others. Once I started looking at my predetermined thoughts...those same situations became less mundane and irritating. My experiences became more authentic, meaningful and enjoyable instantaneously. Stephen writes of this as a "paradigm shift", where our attitudes and behaviors, left unexamined, shape how we feel and act in our life in mechanical patterns.
I read in 'How I made it: 40 entrepreneurs reveal all' by Rachel Bridge that this book had influenced someone greatly, to the extent that they became a millionaire, and thought no more of it. I then also read in 'Forbes 20 greatest business stories of all time' that this book had also influenced a very successful person (whose name I can't recall!)
This interested me enough to purchase Dale Carengies book and I think it is very well written and the advice contained within it is sound. All you need to do is look at the many good ratings and reviews of it on Amazon. If that doesn't tempt you, nothing will.
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I love this book! Eckhart Tolle has a wonderful way of describing the magic of living in the present moment. He speaks about "watching" the mind and stepping out of resistance patterns. It is so great to learn that I am not the voice inside my head! Now I listen to the conversations that go on inside my mind and I don't have to take them seriously or make them mean something. Most of my thought processes - especially the self-doubting ones - simply are not true. What a relief!
I have also learned this from Ariel and Shya Kane, in their books Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life, How to Create a Magical Relationship: The 3 Simple Ideas that Will Instantaneously Transform Your Love Life: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will ... Read More:
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