Title: AARP Guide to Pills
Author: Maryanne Hochadel, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This book is my new best friend! Each of the 1,200+ entries have full color photographs and clear, readable descriptions. Looking for the perfect gift for that Baby-Boomer in your family? Look no further. As Baby-Boomers turn 60 years old this year, they may find themselves needing such a wonderful guide to take them into those Golden Years!

Title: A Child Called "It"
Author: David J. Pelzer
Publisher: Health Communications
Copyright: 1995
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A sad but true account of one boy's struggle through one of the worst accounts of child abuse. A definite tear jerker. Pelzer has written several other recovery books.

Title: Clean & Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping
Author: Annie Berthold-Bond
Publisher: Ceres Press
Copyright: 1990
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: If you care about the environment, your health, and/or your wallet, this book is for you. It details a multitude of safe, natural cleaning solutions and applications, so you'll never again have to use the harmful, expensive cleaners found in stores.

Title: The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships
Author: Harriet G. Lerner, Ph.D.
Publisher: Harper & Row Publishers
Copyright: 1986
Reviewer: Gayle
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Ok, so I am not someone who has a lot of respect for self-help books. I think, most of the time, self-help books perpetuate “emotional/medical disease-of-the week” discussions rather than anything helpful. That said, I have recommended this book from the author who dances with lots of emotions (The Dance of Anger, The Dance of Intimacy, The Dance of Connection, The Dance of Deception & The Mother Dance) to friends who are finding it difficult to deal with the dichotomy of an angry woman.

Title: Debt-Proof Living
Author: Mary Hunt
Publisher: Broadman & Holman
Copyright: 1999
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: In these tougher economic times, getting back to the basics on your finances is not a bad idea. Even though this book is a little older, it still holds some great information to help people work towards saving money. Her ideas on saving can even help those people who live paycheck-to-paycheck.

Title: Debt-Proof Your Marriage: How to Achieve Financial Harmony
Author: Mary Hunt
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Copyright: September 2003
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This was a great practical way to not only get out of debt, but also to stay out of debt and increase savings. This book offers priceless strategies to help you understand where your money goes each month and how you can end up saving for the long term. This was a gift to my and my husband for our wedding, and I wish I had read it and started putting it to use earlier. Now that we've both read it, we're looking forward to having a better financial plan for our lives.

Title: Eat This Not That Supermarket Survival Guide
Author: David Zinczenko
Publisher: Rodale Inc
Copyright: 2009
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: If you are looking for a one stop book to help you navigate the mystery of prepared foods at the grocery store, this is it. It covers everything from the produce aisle down to the frozen food section. Zinczenko uncovers the mystery of the true meaning of the words that show up on packaging such as 'organic', 'all natural', and 'no growth stimulants'. You'd be surprised on what food companies can get away with!

Title: Eliminate Chaos
Author: Laura Leist
Publisher: Sasquatch Books
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The book's subtitle is: "The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life." Perfectly decent but unexceptional book on organizing. The author walks you through organizing different areas of your home, using some photos of rooms in people's homes she worked on as a professional organizer. This book is adequate and will work fine if you're just looking for the basics, but if you devour "domestic goddess" books by the handful, don't expect to learn much of anything new. Plus this book does not delve much into the psychology of clutter. I found it really very plain vanilla. Fine, but far from fantastic.

Title: Furry Logic
Author: Jane Seabrook
Publisher: Top Speed Press
Copyright: 2000
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Reminiscent of books like "The Blue Day Book", this humorous one has wonderful animal drawings and short sayings to brighten anyone's day.

Title: Give It Up! My Year of Learning to Live Better With Less
Author: Mary Carlomagno
Publisher: William Morrow
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Sounds good, right? Don't waste your time. This wealthy socialite toys with the novelty of giving up such vital necessities as alcohol, cell phone usage, and taxi cabs. She plays at each deprivation for a month, then is relieved to pretty much return to her previous lifestyle. It seems to me that when she tries to come up with "something deep and meaningful to say," it's only an attempt to make the book have enough of a point to get published, not because she actually gained real insight. Wow. I didn't know people could really have that shallow of an existence. She's kidding, right? Am I on Candid Camera?

Title: Grief Therapy
Author: Karen Katafiasz
Publisher: Abbey Press
Copyright: 1993
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This tiny paperback, which leads the reader through grief and beyond, would be an excellent and thoughtful gift for anyone experiencing grief.

Title: Guide to Nontraditional Careers in Science
Author: Karen Young Kreeger
Publisher: Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Copyright: December 1998
Reviewer: Leigh
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This is a very practical guide to various careers in science. This book is geared toward graduate students perhaps wondering what other career paths are available to them. There are interviews with people currently holding positions in such jobs as scientific writing, business, law, medical illustration, and education.

Title: How Come I'm Always Luigi? A FoxTrot Collection
Author: Bill Amend
Publisher: Andrews McMeel
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Humor/comic strip. If you love FoxTrot, you'll love this book as much as all the previous ones. I'm mainly including mention of it here so you will know there is a new book out, because it either suits your sense of humor or it doesn't. I love it and it makes me laugh. One of the top comic strips in my opinion.

Title: The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols
Author: Miranda Bruce-Mitford
Publisher: Barnes and Noble Books
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: Beth
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A brilliantly descriptive guide to signs and symbols including religious, nature, and people. This book is fascinating!

Title: Misery Moms: Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy
Author: Joni McCoy
Publisher: Bethany House
Copyright: 1994, revised 2001
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Even those of us who aren't parents can appreciate the thrifty advice in this book. For more recipes, see her cookbook, "Misery Meals: Healthy, Tasty Recipes Under 75 Cents per Serving", published 2002.

Title: The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment That Transformed Their Lives
Author: Cheryl Jarvis
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2008
Reviewer: Carol
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: "The Necklace" is the true story of 13 California women who each contribute money to buy a $37,000.00 16 carat diamond necklace. The woman, from vastly different backgrounds, came together regularly and took turns wearing their necklace. What started as a social experiment on ownership grew into more as they shared issues of personality, relationships, health, child rearing, etc. An interesting concept but Jarvis never gets across the appeal of the necklace in the first place and doesn't delve deep enough into the social issues.

Title: The Secret
Author: Rhonda Byrne
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2006
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This book is all about the power of positive thinking and visualization!  The contributing writers have a lot of insight about how you can attract positive influences in your life. Topics covered include finances, love, health, and success. These contributing writers all have something to say and it is worth reading despite recent criticism regarding this book. You never know what you can achieve in your life with a little positive thinking. Several people I’ve talked to about this book all had stories of things that happened after reading this book. I am no exception. I also have experienced a few wonderful surprises. I highly recommend this book. The way it is written makes it a fast and easy read. It is one that you could read repeatedly and pick up some new detail you missed before. There is no guarantee of success but it opens the door to possibilities.

Title: The Secret Language of Destiny
Author: Gary Goldschneider & Joost Elffers
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: 1999
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This interesting book is based on the principles of Personology. Never heard of that before but I was intrigued. You basically look up your birth year and then the month. It then directs you to the pages of information about your Karmic path. After looking my information up, it appears that my Karmic Path is the 'Way of Electricity'. It tells me that my gifts are brilliance, innovation, and charisma. Hmmm.. okay tell me more. Based on this information, I also have the joy of planting seeds of positive change towards people. I do admit that I read some pretty cool things in there but I do not necessarily believe all of it

Title: Sink Reflections
Author: Marla Cilley
Publisher: FlyLady Press Inc.
Copyright: March 2002
Reviewer: Mariah
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: This book is very encouraging for everyone who struggles with CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). The FlyLady website is also very helpful (FLY means Finally Loving Yourself). This inspirational guide to uncluttering and cleaning house offers practical and motivational help for those of us apparently born without "the clean gene." We are not alone, and we are not hopeless. Change is possible! I've read about every book there is on housecleaning and uncluttering, and this is one of the best.

Title: Super Salads
Author: Readers Digest
Publisher: Readers Digest
Copyright: 2008
Reviewer: Patty
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: Ready to eat healthier this year?  Readers Digest has come up with a compilation of 250 super easy salad recipes to help anyone maintain a healthier lifestyle.  Don’t believe me?  Just flip through this gorgeous cookbook to see for yourself.  Every salad is featured with its own lovely photograph that simply beckons you to try it!

Title: The Ultimate Weight Solution
Author: Dr. Phil McGraw
Publisher: Pocket Books
Reviewer: Patty
Copyright: 2003
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: It's that time of year again when people are thinking about their New Year's resolution. Weight loss seems to be one of the most popular resolutions with the people I know. As a professional dieter, I do read weight loss books. I finally came across one worth mentioning. Dr. Phil's book focuses on the Seven Keys to what he calls 'Weight Loss Freedom'. The keys are practical and insightful. My only complaint about this book is the condescending tone he writes it in. It is a tad too direct but if you can get past that, the information contained in the book is quite valuable.

Title: Wedding Favors & Decorations
Author: Paffrath, Grasdal, & Mcree
Publisher: Quarry Books
Copyright: 2004
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: The book had some decent craft ideas. Some of the suggested wedding favors aren't practical. If someone was having a small wedding some of the decorations might be affordable and practical. I could see Martha Stewart cringing.

Title: Women's Comfort Book: A Shelf Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life
Author: Jennifer Louden
Publisher: Harper
Copyright: 1978
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: A women's self-help bible. The Comfort Book is full of ideas to unwind, relax, heal and to add comfort to your life.

Title: An Unquiet Mind
Author: Kay Redfield James
Publisher: Vintage
Copyright: 1997
Reviewer: J
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments: James is one of the leading writers, doctors and spokeswomen for the Bi-Polar Disorder. An Unquiet Mind is a true account of her life with this disease. It offers hope and information for anyone struggling with Manic-Depression. The author adds a personal touch with an occasional poetic thought.