5 comments about Letters to Sam: A Grandfather's Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life.

1. Upon the birth of his first grandson, Sam, Daniel Gottlieb, a psychologist, decides to write Sam letters sharing words of wisdom. Given that Gottlieb has had quadriplegia for many years, he is uncertain as to whether he will live to see Sam grow up, and so his letters are a way of forging a special bond with his grandson. When Sam is less that two years of age, however, Gottlieb's letters take on a new meaning: Sam is diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (an Autism spectrum disorder), and suddenly, Gottlieb is left wondering whether Sam will ever be able to read his letters at all. He continues writing the letters, however, as he and Sam now share a unique bond, that of being different.
   
   Gottlieb organizes his book around different categories, as he speaks to Sam about himself, his parents, his world, and his future. The letters are relatively short (2-3 pages each) and not necessarily profound; rather, they are simple and touching, with words spoken from the heart of "Pop" to his grandson. This is a book that is both personal and genuine, and I would definitely recommend it.



2. These inspiring letters about love, loss and the gifts of life are as jewels in the mud. They shine brightly with a humble, honest and profound wisdom that nurtures light within and beyond darkness. A compelling read you will want to share with friends and family.



3. The product is what I expected. It arrived on time and in the condition advertised.



4. Perhaps this is more a sharing than a review. My husband had Polio when he was 25 and for the next 51 years he was a quadraplegic who finished college and worked for 35 yrs. He read this book and commented, the book gave many insights as to what life is really like from a wheelchair and that we are all different. When he died suddenly two days after Christmas I purchased this book for every member of our family to read.
   Arlyce, his wife.



5. "When it gets dark enough, men see stars," according to Emerson. In irreducibly simple yet profound words, Dan Gottlieb shares the wisdom he has derived from living in a wheelchair, battling his own inner demons, and practicing psychology for the past 25 years. His loves, losses, and lessons are informed and inspired by the unique bond he shares with his grandson, Sam, who is also different--growing up with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. I wish I had this book when my son was diagnosed with autism over 20 years ago. I am overjoyed that we have it now for "Letters to Sam" is a guide for the soul, much more than just another autism book, and a wonderful gift to families.
   --Robert A. Naseef, Ph.D., author of Special Children, Challenged Parents and co-editor Voices from the Spectrum.
   
   Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People With Autism, And Professionals Share Their Wisdom

5 comments about Ronnie: The Autobiography.

1. THE WOODMANS LONG JOURNEY WEAVES US THROUGH THE
   LABARYNTHS OF ROCKS HALCION DAYS - ETCHED WITH
   CANDID IF NOT GRAPHIC FLASH BACKS TO THE MUSICS
   EARLIEST INFLUENCES TO WHAT HAS NOW BECOME TO ALL,
   QUINTISENSUAL CLASSIC ROCK.
   
   RONNIE IS FOR THOSE WHO LIVED THROUGH THE LATE 60'S
   ONWARDS - AN ENGROSSING READ!.
   
   THE CONSUMATE JAMSTERS ABILITY TO ADAPT HIS CHOPS
   TO SO MANY STYLES OF ROCK LUMINARIES THAT FINALLY
   CULMINATES TO HIS ASCENT INTO WITHOUT A DOUBT THE
   WORLDS GREATEST WORKING BAND IS REMARKABLE.
   
   WARTS - D C'S AND ALL THE 356 PAGES FOCUSES ON FAMILY,
   WIVES,CHILDREN,FRIENDS,PLAYERS AND LEGENDS - NOT
   ENOUGH ALAS WAS SPENT ON THE LONDON YEARS - NO
   MENTION AT ALL OF "THE SPEAKEASY" THE CLUB THAT
   HOSTED MORE HISTORIC ONE NIGHT IMPROMPTU JAM
   SESSIONS THAN CAN EVER BE IMAGINED,WOODY BEING
   IN NEARLY EVERY ONE..
   
   I WOULD OF ALSO LIKED MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE
   OF THE STYLE AND FEEL OF LONDON DURING THOSE DAYS.
   MORE ON GRANNYS - SWEENYS - COSTAS - RUSKINS AND
   OF COURSE THE CHELSEA COBBLER ..
   
   STRANGELY MISSING - HARDLY A WORD ON GLIMMER TWIN
   NUMBER TWO ? BUT THERE AGAIN"LOOSE LIPS MIGHT SINK SHIPS"
   
   WE WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIS MAJESTY TO PUT
   PEN TO PAPER,BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
   
   'YOU DON'T WANT ME TROUSERS TO FALL DOWN NOW DO YA"
   
   RONNIE ON THE P C ROCK BIO GRADE TWANGS IN AT A SOLID 7.
   
   WEAVE IT OR LEAVE IT - RONNIE IS DEFINITELY A WEAVER WORTH
   WEADING



2. First get me right here: as much as I do NOT like the Stones that much, this is a very nice and funny little autobiography by one of its members. He has had a much more interesting career as a member of the Faces and the Jeff Beck group among other things. However the very sympathetic way in which he recounts his past experiences make even the Stoens years interesting (OK, I guess they ARE an important group after all). The book is written with a great deal of wit and he comes over really well in this biography which is not the usual "my groupie and drug hell" kind of bio that everybody seems kind of keen on producing as of late.



3. Why this man is not classified as one of the true Rolling Stones is beyond me.



4. What a disappointment. I'm a longtome Stones fan, so I already know the story and the details. But other than about two pages of interesting anecdotes about hanging with Keith in the 70's, there's nothing here-- just a quick summary of his life. An incredible disappoinment and waste of money.



5. This book is quite simply a GREAT read. Entertaining from start to finish. Ronnie is a great storyteller and he has a lot of great stories to tell. I bought this book on a whim and I couldn't be happier that I did. I wanted it to go on forever.

5 comments about Obama - The Postmodern Coup: Making of a Manchurian Candidate.

1. Tired of the fake, controlled, contrived taking points both for and against Obama in the corporate media? Check this book out. Even if you disagree with everything the author says in the book, you'll still have a whole new perspective on this thanks to Tarpley.



2. First, let me begin by saying that I am no supporter of Barack Obama and believe that his election as president would be a colossal disaster. However, if I am to be fair minded I have to judge Tarpley's OBAMA-THE POSTMODERN COUP with the same objectivity that I would if he had for example published his book using MCCAIN instead of OBAMA in the title. I have no objection to any book written as a polemic. Indeed I have written numerous favorable reviews of polemics, but in those cases, each polemic that I praised was grounded in fact and backed by credible documentary evidence. Make no mistake. Tarpley's book is not much more than flimsy charges tinged with guilt by association. It is true that Barack Obama is a political lightweight but it ought to be up to the American voters to decide their ballots based on the facts, and in this case the facts that call into question Barack Obama's competency have been thoroughly documented elsewhere to such an extent that there is no need to indulge in the sort of conspiracies in Tarpley to derail Obama's quest for the White House. I shall not rehash here the Trilateral Commision brouhaha nor the Zbigniew Brezhinski controversy since neither is referenced by reliable footnotes. What emerges then from Tarpley is that the "coup" of the title exists only on the fringes of a discourse that is neither rational nor convincing. The left has no monopoly of character assassins.



3. Veteran author, columnist and GCN live radio host Webster Tarpley lays bare the tentacled arm of the insane Zbigniew Brzezinski and his main mouthpiece and puppet Obama.
   Tarpley outlines the crafting of this Manchurian candidate and the seriously apocalyptic vision that Obama will be used to fulfill culminating in WW3 with Russia.
   Look out for his new 'unauthorized biography on Obama' coming soon!



4. This book shows the hidden side of Saint Obama, and the crazed neocon/fascist agenda of those who puppeteer him. If anyone thinks either candidate for office is going to be any different than what we have, they haven't read enough.
   Webster hits the ball out of the park with this one.
   America DIED 11/22/63 and the same agenda is still going on....today it looks like war with Russia is back on target which should make Brezinski very happy.



5. I couldn't put it down. I learned alot. I had questions about a lot of things and independently did my own fact checking. and it all checked out. His conclusions seemed a bit out there, but the more you read and think about it and check it out, the more it seems to be spot on. Definitely worth the time and money.

5 comments about Not Without My Sister: The True Story of Three Girls Violated and Betrayed.

1. What I liked about this book was that it gave three different perspectives from within the same family and time frame, and also that it didn't sensationalize the abuse, but did give it appropriate coverage. Ran a little long, but was an interesting and easy read.



2. I bought this book simply to support the effort to raise awareness of the inner workings of The Family. I didn't think I'd ever get around to reading it, as I have hundreds of books that I have not yet read.
   Upon seeing the size of it I felt confidant that I would never read it, however, after skimming through it and seeing all the familiar terminology and names, I decided to start from the beginning. I finished it in 5 days. That's fast for me.
   I could relate to almost every situation, and to all the feelings of frustration, boredom and anger that arose from being in those kind of situations. I will never go back.
   
   After spending the first 20 years of my life in "the family" I can say from first hand experience that the information presented in this book, is an accurate representation of life in "the family".
   
   Anyone who has a problem with my review can write me at outofwords@hotmail.com



3. Not Without My Sister: The True Story of Three Girls Violated and Betrayed Paperback book The book was damaged when I received it. It is a very good bookespecially if you like true stories.



4. picked up this book and could not put it down,it is soooooo facinating and mind blowing how this has been alowed to happend,i feel for all the people invloved and feel this book need's an award it is so well written and the bravery to have written it,best book i read for a long while



5. I picked this book up because I was drawn to the cover. Hey, I liked it. I'd heard of cults before, of children being abused by anyone and everyone, including relatives, but picked this up to read more on it, and it was cheap. Can't really complain.
   
   I found the book really easy to get into it, although I did find it difficult to differentiate between the three sisters' intertwining stories. As each told their story, you would get drawn into that sister's world, but then struggle when it came to the next chapter, and you had to get into the mindset of the next sister. I found this confusing, and couldn't get into the story as well as I could have done.
   
   I totally lost the thread of the story towards the end, and ended up skipping a lot of pages to find out what happened to the three sisters in the end. In my opinion, it could have been about fifty pages shorter, and it would been good, but I probably just completely lost it. I wasn't that 'into' the book anyway, which is probably the reason for losing the thread.
   
   Other reviewers have gone into detail about the story more in their reviews, I can't really add anything to it, so read their reviews. But it is a harrowing book to read, and it takes a lot to get it out of your head.
   
   My only minor quibble was, did it actually happen? Was it true? The sisters stories do start from when they were very young, how much of it was elaboration?
   
   Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. But otherwise, a reasonably good story if you're into that kinda thing.

5 comments about Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit: A Young Catholic's Search for Meaning.

1. I was a Confirmation sponser for my nephew in 2007. One of the requirements was that we meet together once a month for a number of months. While his CCD class provided some outlines for the meetings, there really wasn't enough material for an hour of talk, especially between guys who don't want to particularly "share". I ordered this book from Amazon, and we used a chapter or two each month as the primarly basis for the meetings. There is plenty of material that speaks to way youth and adults live their life, many scriptural references, and mention of other similar books that you can check into later.
   
   I don't think that there is enough theology in this book to make it a primarly source for a year of CCD study, but it could be used as I described for Confirmation meetings or in a class as part of a series of books to be studied, if it is backed up with the Cathechism of the Catholic Church or the Bible. It is an exhortation for Catholics young and old to live the Christian life.
   
   One last comment. If the emphasis of Confirmation - and perhaps even earlier years of religion classes - would be on living the Christian life ( as described in this book ) and on knowledge of the faith, and not on so much on the touchy-feely stuff that seems to be very present, maybe there would be more young adults knowing and living their faith. Perhaps there would be fewer young Catholics coasting through the years of religion classes - ending in Confirmation - without really learning anything substantial (as the author described of himself).



2. Mark Hart is just one clever guy. The book reads like a memoir of a typical cradle Catholic going through the motions. Many will relate to his anecdotes about his family's weekly trek to Mass and his misunderstanding of various Catholic nuances.
   What's really special though is that Hart shares pearls of wisdom throughout the whole book, right underneath your eye. As you reflect on your own personal upbringing as a Catholic-by-title, you learn just what all these strange traditions, rites, practices, and dogmas really mean. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Confession, which is truly the forgotten Sacrament.
   Hart could really be a stand up comic. As he bluntly shares childhood stories about his poor understanding of his religion, you can't help but picture him on stage. And yet he is a genuinely devout Catholic man. Perhaps more commonly known as the Bible Geek, Hart is a tremendous scholar and a vital part of Catholic Youth Ministry today.
   Read this book, and unpack the hidden treasure of your faith!



3. Blessed are the Bored in Spirit
   Mark Hart
   
   Wonderfully written, excellent page turner, I couldn't put it down. I would suggest this book for every Christian who is looking for a clear cut way to strengthen their relationship and experience with God. It is geared toward the Catholic youth of today, but adults and any denomination can benefit from its words as well. Mark Hart is a writer, who can portray the importance of the matter at hand and use humor without losing any of the value.
   
   There are three specific focuses of the book and they are:
   1. Our prospective
   2. Our approach
   3. Our self-offering
   
   
   Mr. Hart starts his book with a story of how he was changed in the way that he views and experiences God. He had to have a near death experience to come to this realization. He was on an airplane that had to do an emergency landing right after reaching cruising altitude, and during the whole frightening affair he started to notice his relationship with his maker and all the sins that he had committed.
   
   "The truth was that the crash landing didn't wake me up; it was the final step in an arduous journey that had begun years before. That morning was the jolt I needed in the ongoing process that carried me beyond conversion." Conversion is the starting point to transformation, which is where you totally surrender to God. Paul is used as a biblical example of a transformation, not just a conversion. Another aspect in this chapter is how do you see God, as a judge or father? There is an exercise to write out how you see God and then write out how God sees you. If they are too similar then it usually means that your vision of either is not completely realistic. Mr. Hart ends the first chapter with the words... "If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something that you have never done."
   
   Next the question of what are you most afraid of is asked. Trust in God is the key point of this chapter. It also describes fear of the Lord as being in awe, not literal shaking fear. The order as how you as a person views God is addressed, the Nicene Creed is used as an example here "the Father, the Almighty", and how you can invite God in your daily life with awe if you see him as father first then as a judge. "God gives us over four thousand promises in scripture." That puts the awe in awesome, and shows you exactly how much He loves you, and wants a relationship as a father to you.



4. I LOVE this book. I've read it a couple of times, I've written in it, I've taken notes, I've highlighted, I've passed it on. It's one of my favorite books ever. It's so inspiring and encouraging that I just love to read it over and over. Even though it's written for young Catholics it's been helpful to me, a 50 something mother and high school religious ed teacher. I'm thinking about purchasing copies for all of the graduating seniors this year. I'd recommend it to anyone.



5. As a high school Youth Minister, I am always on the look-out for books that my teens will enjoy and learn from. This book was brought to my attention by another youth minister in my area.
   
   I purchased a copy. Read it all the way through in less than two days. And, then promptly purchased enough copies for my graduating class. We are using it as a book study for our Senior Series this year.
   
   The teens LOVE Mark Hart. He is inventive, creative, and in-tune. He relies on the Holy Spirit. He practices what he preaches. Which says a lot in today's society.

5 comments about The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint.

1. This book is really a nice quick read which really has no focus. Well i take that back the focus seems to be on leading a more positive life. Not necessarily making better decisions, but being more content with your decisions.
   
   When i first picked up the book i expected a pro cannabis book criticizing the United States and it's drug policies with a little comedy thrown in. And while several times he makes this argument (sometimes rambling a little too much) there is much more to this book.
   
   I think Tommy decided to write this book to tell his life's story and how he has changed after the "Pipe Dreams" raid. While for some people this book might be all over the place i enjoy the "stoner" mind stream of jumping from one insightful story to one thrilling story. This book doesn't drag on much (except his 4-5 rants on the screwed up bush administration) and i think the length is perfect. It only takes a few nights of reading.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind or interests in the man behind the stoner from "Up in Smoke" and his other movies. 4 stars out of 5.



2. I loved this book! Tommy Chong is refreshing and surprisingly insightful! We could all learn something from his experience.



3. I'm not exactly sure what I expected from this book but, whatever it was, the author met those expectations and then exceeded them by a mile.
   
   The I Chong is funny, insightful, and smart. I left it with a great deal of respect for the author, not merely for his humor but also for the keenness of his insight into a surprising wide variety of issues. Wrapped around all of that is some surprisingly candid autobiographical sketches.
   
   I always knew that Tommy Chong was funny. I now realize that his intelligence and insight exceed his wit.



4. Great read. If you want the truth about whats going on then i highly recommend this book.



5. This is an excellent account of what Tommy Chong had to go through after the feds took down his glass pipe buisness and put him in jail. The book flows and you get Tommy's blow by blow of what occured to him. You see his genuine soft heart throughout the book as well as his endless love for his family. He makes great friends in the joint and also has some great stories to share as well. For anyone who thinks the money being paid on the war on drugs is a joke, this is a must read. Strongly liberal in its nature.

5 comments about On Call: A Doctor's Days and Nights in Residency.

1. This book was a fairly easy read, I almost wish it was longer. The write made it easy for those of us without a medical background to follow along. A great insight into what it takes to become a Dr. I have more respect for Dr's after reading this novel.



2. It's a honest encounter of residency years of a Internal Medicine Physician. It's mostly like a diary of her years in residency.



3. 
   AS a doctor I can see myself in her story and experience... Difficult to cope with other people sufferings and wonderful when you can help it...



4. Dr.Transue does a great job of infusing her story with accuracy and gory details, but still keeps a very human approach and doesn't lose sight of her patients as people. This book is so interesting for anyone (and most of us hopefully have)who has been on either side of medical care to see both sides. It is a great book to help patients realize how human their doctors truly are and the enormous amount of stress their caretakers are under,and yet they still manage to have patience and grace under fire.



5. I really enjoyed this in depth book about residency and the continued process to achieve the doctor status! Very well written and bright!
   I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the medical field and those searching for info on the process of becoming a doctor!

5 comments about His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina.

1. This really is the greatest nonfiction story I ever read with such a tragic ending. His life was so troubled, but it is truly inspiring. It makes you look inside yourself and those you love, and realize that there are some things we can not change. Those things that we can change, however, are often overlooked when the cries for help are accidentally ignored. This happened to Nick Traina. I do agree with other users that it seems that his mother, although full of love, does feel a lot of guilt. No one could have told his story better than himself, of course, but it seems unlikely that anyone else knew him better than his mother. Very touching, and I am happy that his legacy continues to inspire and live on. R.I.P. Nick.



2. I give five stars plus to Nick's soul and one star, at best, to the book itself. By Ms Steel's own admission throughout the book, she recognized Nick had problems from a very young age. Perhaps if the author had spent more time doling out love and attention to her young child, and less time pumping out volumes of romantic fiction with a vain desire to increase her wealth, this book would never have been written. Money does not buy happiness; a son's smile does.
   
   The book is sad and heartbreaking, but so was Nick's life. In my opinion, the book came across as a vain attempt by the author to relieve her own guilt, as opposed to a tribute to her troubled son. Much of our adult life and who we become is formed within the first six years following birth. It is too easy for society to simply "blame the drugs" for many of today's wrongs. If a child, from a very young age, is nutured, loved, disciplined in a fair and loving manner, instilled with self-worth and self-esteem, the chances of that child turning to negative solutions to find happiness or whatever is missing in his/her life is greatly diminished.
   
   The book comes across as if the author is suffering from a "poor me" symdrome. Of course, she has a right to grieve, she lost a son, but what were the contributing factors? What was missing from Nick's life? The only one who truly knows the answers is Nick and, unfortately, he is not here to tell us or write his side of the story. Ms Steele will have the opportunity to continue on with her life, turn out best-selling novels faster than bees produce honey and make millions of dollars in the process. Unfortunately, Nick will not have that same opportunity.



3. I have read this book in curiosity as to what Bipolar might look like in infants and young children. It is very interesting to read about Nick's personality and high unusual intelligence. If I remember correctly, he was using full sentences at age 15 months old and was arguing with his mom about what he was going to wear at 15 months old, so this is like reading about one child who was eventually diagnosed as Bipolar, but in looking back, there were many signs, so if you are concerned about a young child who might show signs this book is a good read, not a diagnosis, but has many interesting scenes of the young Bipolar child.



4. This was my first Danielle Steel book. I am not a lover of fiction, so that is one reason that this was my first experience with Danielle Steel. I enjoyed this book. It was slow in spots, and a bit difficult to follow, but overall a good story. I wish that every person that suffered from mental illness had the ability to have the funding to live a more independent life. As an individual that has had a career working with children and adults with mental illness, I hope that this story will help try to find more resources for individuals with bipolar disorder.



5. A heart warming story of a stuggle of the heart. This mother and son had a bond so deep it was like they were one. Excellent reading and praise to the author for sharing her life!

5 comments about Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls.

1. Wide range of examples of designs presenting different approaches to green roof and living walls planting. Examples rarely accessible in other books. Described methods, plants selections and names of producers give real help in daytime work. Book for interesting reading! not only for looking on photographs.



2. I am a big advocate on using plants to create green walls and roofs. They can reduce the urban "heat island" effect and create usable green open spaces. I found this book's discussions on Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof, Ecoroof, Brown Roof, etc interesting. This book is a serious attempt on a difficult subject. The color photos inside the book are helpful also.
   
   There are still technical difficulties in using green walls and roofs: water proofing, how to handle the structural weight of large trees, how to integrate large plants with building structure, etc. All these technical discussions are needed, and they could be the subject of another book.



3. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls is an excellent book for any landscape architect who has not yet designed and detailed either. For myself, the most helpful bit of information was the data collected and presented from various green roofs.
   
   The living wall section on the other hand was thin. There was no mention of the living wall system Patrick Blanc developed which is much more interesting than putting up a wire trellis and planting vines next to it. The other comment i would have is that almost all of the examples are from Europe. We have fabulous examples in the US with more relevant plant materials and weather conditions.
   
   Finally I would say that the authors didn't seem interested in exploring native plant materials and instead focused on a few cookie cutter plants commonly planted all over the northern hemisphere. Not unlike McDonalds.



4. This book is great for those who may have trouble visualizing the possibilities of what you can do with a green roof. There are many examples of what you can grow, and what types of vegetation are suitable. The book is however not very technical about the architectural detailing considerations involved. Some sections and detail drawings would make this book much more valuable as a design resource.



5. Greenroof professionals and enthusiasts alike will be delighted with the easy reading and scope of content offered in "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury. Very well organized, the book's forte and major value is as an essential resource - especially in terms of plant description, characteristics and specification. It's also a great bargain in that the book is filled with color photos, drawings, charts and reference material. This indispensable hard cover reference guide contains a truly massive collection of appropriate plant information, and perhaps most importantly, extensive plant directories are provided for both greenroofs and façade greening.
   
   Organic Architecture with Plants
   Greenroofs, living walls, and various other bio-engineering techniques are introduced and the authors cite the associated benefits and reasons why we should be integrating these measures of organic architecture into our built environments. The authors refer to current international research and technology; background and history are touched on; and benefits and applications of these "ecotechnologies" are discussed at length. Yet, a "How-To Build" book this is not; basic principles are set out and tools for further research are provided.
   
   Benefits at a Range of Scales
   The section "Why Build Green Roofs?" explores hard evidence and the various benefits operating at a range of scales from amenity and aesthetic values to economic and environmental aspects. Increased roof life, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations, biodiversity and wildlife value, water management, air pollution, and fire prevention and risks are discussed with supporting evidence.
   
   Although previously well known, the biodiversity and wildlife value of greenroofs is expanded upon here, including the new British models of "brown" or "rubble" greenroofs - those which recreate the thin, infertile landscapes of disturbed brownfield sites. Spontaneous colonization is presented as an important natural occurrence.
   
   A Vast Array of Planting Opportunities
   The authors rightly note that "The majority of guides to green roofs and roof greening concentrate on the technical and construction aspects but have relatively little to say about planting opportunities - mainly because most authors are not plant specialists." Well, Noël - a well known writer of plants and gardens, and Nigel - a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, most certainly are plant experts, and an entire 47-page chapter is devoted to the wide range of planting opportunities for extensive greenroofs, beyond the ubiquitous albeit hugely successful use of Sedum species.
   
   Prevailing site conditions will always dictate the plant selection, so designers need to know what plant species will not only survive but thrive in extreme local conditions. Desirable physical attributes of plants and how they may be established and managed are presented. Considerations of monocultures, single plant combinations and mixtures, and plant communities are useful as planting design tools. The form and physiology of suitable greenroof plants are nicely covered from a botanical as well as functional and aesthetic perspective. Issues of viewing considerations are pondered and design solutions are offered relating to the roof function and visual criteria. "Methods of vegetation establishment" is particularly detailed and thus extremely valuable. The authors point out, however, that current research is insufficient to show how long each species will live and how each species will interact over the years atop roofs.
   
   The very important aspect of different growing medium properties and functions is addressed in-depth, and comments are provided about particular types of materials, substrate depths, and accompanying vegetative possibilities. Maintenance issues and requirements are briefly noted, touching on feeding, plant protection, drainage, and weeding.
   
   Considerations of Natives and Introduced Species
   The unexploited opportunities of testing and using native vegetation are explored, in terms of increasing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits. Regionally native plants should be tested for many reasons, including ecological restoration. Non-native plant species with invasive tendencies can be a problem, therefore careful selection is critical to maintain healthy ecosystems. Yet many introduced species are appropriate, and there are many circumstances where non-natives offer considerable local wildlife value.
   
   Certain natural plant communities and their soil types are explained and presented as an argument for further study as suitable models for successful roof plantings. Trialing of appropriate local plant communities is therefore recommended and encouraged so as ultimately to be able to introduce more natives into the greenroof matrix of plant species.
   
   "The natural habitats of potential roof-greening plants" explores the potential to discover and trial the world's flora found in similar harsh habitats. Mountain, high latitude, coastal, limestone, sclerophyllous woody vegetation, semi-desert environments, and species whose plants are exposed to climatic extremes are regions with potential for testing of new roof greening plants.
   
   The Task Has Just Begun
   Philosophy and advice to greenroof plant enthusiasts can be summed up with these reflections by the authors: "With roof greening becoming an important part of the new built environment, it is increasingly important that more attention is paid to sourcing new plant material from habitats in the wild where conditions approximate those on rooftops and other problem urban situations...The task of selecting suitable plant species for roof greening has arguably just begun, and it offers potentially enormous rewards."
   
   They are quick to point out that the globalization of our knowledge base and the ready availability of certain aggressive species can threaten entire ecosystems, and care must be provided to the selection of greenroof environments (just as at ground level) so as to avoid invasive and potentially destructive non-natives or introduced species.
   
   Façade Greening and Living Wall Structures and Surfaces are the final two chapters of the book, offering both visual and ecological climbers, clingers, ramblers and scramblers. New support structures, materials, technologies and details provide practical and interesting information for this older yet equally fascinating design element of green architecture. The authors examine how the design of façade greening can equally disguise unattractive features while at the same time enhance existing surfaces. In either case, education and care are necessary to promote vigorous growth that is supported by a variety of vertical and/or horizontal structures.
   
   At the end of the book, 49 pages are devoted to the Roof-Greening and Façade-Greening Plant Directories, listed by botanical names, common names, cultivars and related species. The horticultural and cultural aspects are presented with definitions and listings of many specific plant characteristics.
   
   A minor grumbling on my part about the book is the absence of identifying greenroof project photo captions for the geographic locations and the building application types. It would be beneficial to know not only where each is located, but also whether the project is commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
   
   A Dovetailing of Living Plants, the Building, and Its Human Users
   Whereas Ted Osmundson's excellent 1999 "Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction" is considered the bible for the intensive greenroof crowd, Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury's "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is simply a must have for extensive and intensive greenroofers worldwide.
   
   "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is a comprehensive argument for integrating nature and architecture, and I highly recommend it. It's obvious that Kingsbury and Dunnett are first and foremost dedicated, ecologically minded plantspeople; here, then, is a very important work for those of us in the greenroof industry. ~ Linda S. Velazquez, Publisher Greenroofs.com

5 comments about The Prodigal Comes Home: My Story of Failure and God's Story of Redemption.

1. Michael's "fall" from Christian music in 1994 was a big thing. I still remember walking into a Christian bookstore the day after and finding his CDs marked at a heavy discount and the store owner saying they'd be pulled by the end of the week (I bought a copy immediately). A lot of things have been said about Michael's failure at that point with the affair, but this book brings to light his and Marabeth's attempt to face up honestly for what they'd done. Truthfully, Marabeth could have kept her mouth shut and let her husband think the child was his and nothing more would have ever been known about it, but they didn't. It hurt, but they were honest.
   
   The story gets tragic from there with Michael relapsing time and again into drug addiction. To be honest, I was a little unhappy to learn his two shows on a Christian television network were done while he was high as a kite (did no one in production notice anything?) and his records released then seem a little false as well, but at least he was trying to get on the right track. Now it appears his life has finally settled back into the plan God has for him with a new wife and another baby. I'm glad to see him back.
   
   I remember reading an article a couple of years after the incident and it showed pictures of him. I thought, "Man, he looks like he's put on a lot of weight!", and this book explains what was going on then. His personal struggles took their toll on his life. Michael is brutally honest in this book and holds nothing back. Every failure and shortcoming are brought to light, with no excuses. He was a man who made mistakes, and he isn't afraid to admit it.
   
   During the weeks after Michael's admitted affair, another famous Christian artist (this one a woman) also admitted to having an affair on her husband, got a divorce, and stepped out of her ministry for years. The press never really touched this one, even though she'd won awards as well. It just shows how Michael was singled out by the press and raked over the coals, which didn't help his situation.
   
   I read this in one day, and it held my attention throughout. It's a great read and an honest look at the struggles the celebrities we dub "super Christians" go through behind the scenes.



2. This book was awesome! Michael tells about the amazing grace of god in his life. I truly believe he is redeemed. I have saw him in concert this year and just saw him on TBN yesterday (Aug. 14, 2008). I saw him pray and even cry while giving his testimony. I'm a huge Michael English fan, but have never seen him so sincere. I'm so proud of him that he is back to singing. He has such a great talent. His book gives you great detail of everything he went through. Very easy book to read in two days.



3. I have all Michael English music. It is refreshing to hear a story with such honesty. I could not put the book down. I am seeing him in concert this Friday just a couple weeks after I read the book. Can't wait.



4. When I first got saved (for the 200th time, but this time it took), Michael was my absolute favorite singer. I tried to get my hands on everything I could that he had done. I saw him in concert with First Call, and he sang with such an anointing! When I heard the news, I was devastated. Not for myself, but for him...it showed me once again how someone that seemingly had it all could lose it so quickly. How little did I know until I read this book how much it cost him. I read this book in one sitting, and was just stunned and amazed as I read it, how the emotion poured from each page. What an amazing story of love and forgiveness. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's an amazing ride, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, and now back on the upswing. Michael had a great singing ministry before, it should be even better now, as I'm sure many people can relate to many of his experiences. God bless him for having the courage to tell his story with such honesty!



5. This book is a very open, honest account of Michael English's life. I admire him more than ever after reading it and love how God's love is so redemptive.