My MS Log

Review by E. Richardson:

I received the book early, and am reading a short section before starting each day. Such a tiny bit of time invested, only 3 or 4 minutes, and I am uplifted and have something thought provoking to contemplate. Surprisingly deep without seeming so, instructional without sounding preachy, and profoundly inspiring, Madisyn Taylor truly provides an easy little boost to the development of each of us and ultimately to humanity. What a joy to be able to enjoy the Daily Om before turning on the computer first.

Review by V. Koutitonsky:

I read the e-mailed Daily OM’s with great expectations, as the author seems to have the same outlook about life on this beautiful earth as I do, i.e. we are souls incarnated on this earth as part of a learning experience to eventually fully unite with the Universal Being. The book contains a collection of inspirational thoughts and advices, each on one page, exactly as in the e-mails. I love the photos the author adds on the e-mailed OM’s. They also are inspirational. It would have been nice to have these same images printed in the book as well, although I believe it would make the book a little more expensive. But, what are a few dollars more relative to happiness and harmony on this beautiful earth …

Kind regards,

Vladimir Koutitonsky,

Canadian oceanographer.

Review by R. Stephen Gracey:

I am one of the biggest fans of Betty Edwards’ work, having learned to draw in five days by the “Right Brain” method. I have found the “Artist Within” book less helpful than the others, however. In it, Edwards uses many of the same drawing approaches (exercises that I love and which have made all the difference to me) as “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain,” but now she applies them to creative problem solving.I agree completely with her premises and support the approach. On the other hand, as a book, this one is less helpful than the original precisely because it reuses so much of the same material. I would have liked more theory and exploration of just how learning to draw makes a difference in other parts of one’s life.So, I’m not sure I’d recommend this book wholeheartedly, unless you just can’t get enough of the “Right Brain” drawing approach. Get “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain,” first. Then decide if you want more elaboration with a different spin.

Review by Mar Calpena:

This book is the sequel to Betty Edwards brilliant “Drawing on the right side of the brain”, but it does contain most of the material in the other title (except for the section on colour) and adds to it a lot of material on creativity and problem solving through drawing. Mrs Edwards method is incredible (I am the one who reviewed the other book as “Took me from stick men to portraits in three days”). If this book included the color section as well it would be perfect.

Review by Adam Khan:

This is the only book I’ve ever read that made me jealous. I’m the author of the book Self-Help Stuff That Works, published in 1999, and I’ve never come across its equal (at least in my own biased opinion) until now. Many times while reading this book I felt jealous. Tom Butler-Bowdon has done things I wish I had done. And he writes with a powerful clarity I admire.

Sometimes an author can say what another author has said, but say it clearer and better than the original author. Tom has done that in these pages. He often gets across the message of the original book with far more clarity and punch than the original ever had.

Each classic has its own chapter and each chapter is wonderfully short. There is never a dull moment. The book has a lot of nice features too: pithy quotes from the original book, a summary of the main point of each classic, and recommended books in a similar vein. At the end of each chapter is a short biography of the author. While reading this book I could feel that the author was really making sure I got my money’s worth (and he succeeded).

I have already read most of the fifty books, and it was wonderful to have the meat of those books extracted and laid bare. With Tom’s book in my possession, I can now review one of these classics quickly and easily. Repetition is vital to learning, and yet I often don’t re-read books because it is so time-consuming, even though I know I could be helped by a review of the material. Now I can review them without investing a lot of time.

Tom clearly didn’t choose these fifty books based on popularity. This is an excellent selection. The fifty classics are well-chosen and represent a balanced coverage of the field. Tom includes many of my favorite books of all time: Flow, Feeling Good, How to Win Friends, The Art of Happiness, Self-Reliance, Learned Optimism, Man’s Search For Meaning, and on and on. This book also introduced me to some material I would never have picked up off the shelf, but I’m glad I have been introduced to it. I loved the chapter on Beothius.

You could think of this book as Cliffs Notes for self-help books. Reading it would be a great way to shop for just the right book to read next.

It was great to find the Bhagavad Gita in this context (that is, as a self-help book, which is truly one of the things it is). Reading Tom’s explanation of the overall thrust of the Bhagavad Gita helped me understand it better than I ever have.

The author does not talk down to the reader, doesn’t write at a fourth grade level, and yet this is clear and easy reading. And even so, the writing is penetrating, insightful, and intelligent. If you want to learn how to change your thoughts, how to find your best direction in life and accomplish it, how to become happier, how to change your perspective, if you want to explore yourself and make a difference in the world, you’ll find more than enough juicy nuggets here to satisfy.

Review by Robert Morris:

In both this volume and in 50 Success Classics, Butler-Bowdon has selected and then provided a rigorous examination of carefully selected works which have had, for decades, a profound impact on those who read them and then applied the principles which their respective authors affirm. In this instance, inspiration and guidance to transform one’s life. There are several reasons why I hold this volume in such high regard. Here are three.

First, Butler-Bowdon has assembled excerpts and focused on key points from a wide variety of works which include (with authors listed in alphabetical order, as in the book), Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Robert Bly’s Iron John, Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers’ The Power of Myth, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler’s The Art of Happiness, Wayne Dyer’s Real Magic, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance, Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, Abraham Maslow’s Motivation and Personality, Thomas Moore’s Care of the Soul, Joseph Murphy’s The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, and Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. Obviously, some of this material would also be appropriate for inclusion in 50 Success Classics.

Second, I appreciate the fact that Butler-Bowdon also enables his readers to focus on specific themes of greatest interest to them by suggesting combinations of selections as follows:

The Power of Thought: Change your thoughts, change your life

Following Your Dream: Achievement and goal setting

Secrets of Happiness: Doing what you love, doing what works

The Bigger Picture: Keeping it in perspective

Soul and Mystery: Appreciating your depth

Making a Difference: Transforming yourself, transforming the world

The diversity of Butler-Bowdon’s primary sources is indeed impressive even when grouped according to a common theme.

Third and finally, he makes clever use of a number of reader-friendly devices throughout his narrative, such as “In a nutshell,” “Final comments,” and a brief bio of the author at the conclusion of each selection. I also appreciate the inclusion of brief quotations wherever they are most relevant.

In the Introduction, Butler-Bowdon observes that a self-help book “can be your best friend and champion, expressing a faith in your essential greatness and beauty that is sometimes hard to get from another person. Because of its emphasis on following your star and believing that your thoughts can remake your world, a better name for self-help writing might be the `literature of possibility.’ Many people are amazed that the self-help sections in bookstores are so huge. For the rest of us, there is no mystery. Whatever recognizes our right to dream, then shows us how to make the dream a reality, is powerful and valuable.”

What he offers is by no means a buffet of motivational “hors d’oeuvres.” On the contrary, the content selected is solid and skillfully presented within an appropriate context. I am convinced that many of those who read this book will be encouraged to read (or re-read) many of the primary sources in their entirety. If Butler-Bowdon’s efforts accomplish nothing else, that will indeed be sufficient to earn the praise I think he has earned…and justly deserves.

Review by Chad Estes:

Tyndale has recently published a great reference book for those inclined to write Christian fiction. If you’ve perused the sections in a Christian bookstore you will find many shelves devoted to this writing. If you venture into a mainstream bookstore you even will find many of the same books in stock. Unfortunately, if you’ve picked them up you may have been disappointed with the story telling. Just because someone has added God content to their pages doesn’t mean that the book is worth reading. Honestly, some of the worst books I’ve ever read fit into this genre. It seems too easy to give an author an easy pass on their writing just because their characters go to church, make good decisions, and don’t have premarital relations or affairs. Maybe Tyndale published this book hoping to get a better quality of writing into the field. If so, good for them!

A Novel Idea is a collection of advice from “Top Selling, Inspirational Authors” including Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, Randy Alcorn, Terri Blackstock, Robin Jones Gunn, Jerry Jenkins, and Angela Hunt. There are other Christian fiction writers that I wish had been included in this book based on their quality of writing, but I digress.

Part one of the book covers the “Fundamentals of Fiction” with chapters on plot, characters, dialogue, point of view, pacing, setting, and descriptions.

Part two covers, “Developing Your Craft” with chapters on preparation, the discipline of writing, finding your voice, writing with expression, and handling rejection.

The third section specifically covers the areas of discerning your calling and the distinctives of Christian fiction.

The last section covers networking and marketing with chapters on breaking into publishing and specific areas of marketing like blogging and promotion through social networks.

This book was extremely valuable to read through and instead of going to my “have read” book shelves, this resource will stay within arms reach for its insight into these areas of writing. If you are interested in writing, or you are a mediocre Christian-fiction author, please read this book.

Review by C.J. Darlington:

I’ve read scores of books on the craft of writing, and I’ve learned from them all. But even though Christian fiction is one of the fastest growing segments in the market today, there have been few exhaustive manuals on writing in this genre. A Novel Idea, written by dozens of best-selling authors, is a timely and much-needed handbook.

The techniques of writing dialogue, creating suspense, and plotting stories are the same across genres, but some don’t realize Christian fiction is not just fiction minus swear words and sex scenes. In her essay “Writing to Change Lives” Karen Kingsbury says, “For me, Christ is the story. He is not a patch to add into my plot, or a marketing ploy. The world can write about the physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of people. So can we. Ah, but we also can tell about the spiritual–and the story is nothing without that piece. We are the most blessed of all writers because we are called to tell the whole story.”

Subjects like how writing can be a ministry and a profession as well as what makes Christian fiction Christian aren’t found in A Novel Idea’s secular counterparts. And sometimes when reading general market writing books, it can feel like searching for a diamond in a dung hill as you wade through dirty examples and four letter words. It’s refreshing to read articles that unashamedly share Scripture alongside the poignant advice, as well as tried and true techniques.

From the fundamentals of description, characters, setting, and point of view to more in depth subjects like writing proposals and synopses, A Novel Idea guides us through the winding streets of the writing journey. Noteworthy stops include Angela Hunt’s “Plot Skeleton” which shares in detail her technique for building a book from the bones up. In “Doing a Fast First Draft” Linda Ford casts aside the myth that writing a novel has to take months or even years. James Scott Bell effectively teaches on “Dialogue in Action” with examples from films like On the Waterfront and Casablanca.

But some of the best nuggets can be found in the impressive sidebars. These pearls of wisdom from the likes of Randy Alcorn, Jerry B. Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury (her poem “To Write” is worthy of framing), Terri Blackstock, and many others grab your attention and are easily digested. Worthy of its own mention is the interview with Francine Rivers printed in several parts throughout. She answers questions about calling, the gritty subjects she’s covered in her books (a number of publishers actually turned down her book A Voice in the Wind because they didn’t believe she was a Christian), and how reading affects what she writes. In talking about “voice” she says, “That’s been a struggle for me, to remember that I have my own voice and not to try to be another voice. Each of us has a unique way of expressing ourselves. I think it damages us when we do too much comparing, too much admiring of others’ work.”

A Novel Idea is an inspiring book to be picked up over and over again at each stage of your writing development. Whether you’re just setting pen to paper or writing your tenth novel, you’ll find encouragement and a deeper knowledge in these 300 pages.

–Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk

Review by :

I have read this book many times already. It is such an encouragement to read. The bible verses and Max’s insight combine wonderfully together. It small enough to be carried around whenever you need a pick me up through out the day

Review by J. Harris:

This book is one of my all time favorites, which is very surprising if you have every seen the size. I was in a book store with family rushing to leave and something stopped me. I picked up this book and then I put it down because I needed to leave with my family. I don’t exactly know why I picked it back up to buy it, but it was the best book I ever purchased. It is all you ever wanted in a short-story, inspirational breath of fresh air. Any situation you are going through this book will help you connect with God to see you through. Take a chance. Take my advice. Buy it! You won’t regret it!

Review by Paris1929:

My wife and I are getting started on designing the interior of our new home. To this end, I visited three bookstores browsing through about 40 books for ideas on interior decoration. This book stood out as having the most inspiring and tasteful designs, as well as providing a large number and variety of photos, all at a very good price. Highly recommended. As one other reviewer pointed out, written text is limited, but this is made up for by the superior quantity and quality of photos. The book more than serves its purpose. For written guides on interior design, I plan to purchase: “The Home Design Planner” by Katherine Sorrell.

Review by Midwest Book Review:

For an outstanding sourcebook of interiors which stand out from the many, DREAM HOMES: 100 INSPIRATIONAL INTERIORS is an exceptional purchase recommended for any discriminating art library strong in interior design titles. No single style represents a ‘dream home’: it can be Mediterranean, Californian, Asian or a blend. A hundred examples of perfection in all areas are culled from homes of all styles from around the world, presenting the work of the planet’s most talented interior designers. There are over 800 lovely color photos of these spaces, plus in-depth explanations by design expert Johanna Thornycroft, which explains how each home was created or transformed. A rich, gorgeous presentation of many examples.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch

Review by shoutgrace:

I really love my Max Lucado Inspirational NKJV Study Bible. It’s a wonderful study bible with many sidebars of life lessons of Lucado’s teaching guides. This the only one I use because it helps me to have a better understanding of the Scriptures. Each Book of the Old and New Testaments are laid out in an instruction manual style. All chapters are boldly titled to explain the situation for each one. The Life Lessons examines more closely the situation, makes observations, gives inspiration, makes application and gives further explorations of other scriptures throughout the Bible. It’s chalkful of footnotes of many reliable references. Throughout this study gem are more inspirational ancedotes from Grace, Forgiveness, Suffering and Victory to God’s Love, Hope, Prayer and Faith. And many more worthwhile inspirations that will bless your life. Even more, it has one hundred greatest thoughts, an index to selected readings, a dictionary with topical concordance, acknowledgments from many great references from the most notable names in Christianity. There’s even a place in the back to add your own notes. I’m sure this is the only study bible you’ll ever use. I find it to be the most comprehensive, enriching masterpiece of the Holy Bible yet. I would definitely give this as a nice gift.

Review by :

I love the Inspirational Study Bible, mine is NKJV. It has truly opened the word up to me as never before. I love reading and studying from it. It helps me understand a lot more of what was going on at the times the books were written. Mostly it helps me apply the Word to my own life. It has spoiled me, I have hunted several times for it in leather bound, I sure wish they would make it. I would get 1 for every member of my family.
Mary A.

Review by Terry D. Garrett:

I just received this book and I am blown away by the work in it. A very nice range and a very different take on collage. I like the way the book is organized- there are so many collage books now and this book should be in any collage artist’s collection. I teach mixed media classes and will have this as suggested reading. You can’t go wrong with the price either.

Review by M. E. Johansen:

Second to my love of historical fiction & history books is my love for all books art & craft. I thrive on looking at a variety of different books for inspiration.

“Scraps” by Elsebeth Gynther & Christine Clemmenson is a captivating new title from Lark Books about mixed media & collage. The subtitle of this book is ‘ an inspirational field guide to collage’ and I think that about sums it up. The authors walk you through all of the basics of collage; what materials you need, where to find materials, the qualities of paints & other coloring methods, how to ‘loosen up’ & free yourself to begin your work - and finally they answer the question “when is a collage finished?” - see page 71! I have

found several things in this book that I really want to do. I have a very special journal from Jenni Bick Book Binders that I have been hoarding for a special purpose - and I found it in ‘Scraps’… make an alphabet book ! What a great idea ! Another captivating project from the book is creating envelope art - this is especially relevant to me since I have been making & mailing art cards a lot lately!

The book guides you through issues that always come up when making collage & mixed media art. What do I do if I don’t want to glue or cut a special item? Answer: sew it in! What kind of glues are best to use with special, treasured items? Answer: acid free. There is a lengthy discussion of what sort of glue is best for what & what each glue is best used for. Other sections of the book discuss paper types, composition, “first aid for collages in distress” and on & on. This is one great “go to” book for collage and mixed media enthusiasts. There are several pages in the book with inspired ideas for jump-starting your work; creating patterns, & a wide variety of theme ideas. Fun things that just gets your mind in gear to make art!

I really went over this book and tried hard to think of a reason to NOT give it five stars - but I could not think of anything the books lacks, nor anything that would have made it better or more inspiring. This really is a 5 star, gotta have book for anyone who wants to improve their collage & mixed media art work. I feel in love with this book without really meaning to ! It’s an addition to your library that you won’t regret!