Books

Growing Pains : Transitioning from an Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm

Average customer rating:

Growing Pains : Transitioning from an Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm
Textbookish but useful
A High-level Roadmap for Building a "Professional" Business
A Must Read...
Thin on ideas, long on text

Growing Pains : Transitioning from an Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm
Eric G. Flamholtz , and Yvonne Randle
Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Leading at the Speed of Growth: Journey from Entrepreneur to CEO (Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership)
Building the Awesome Organization: Six Essential Components that Drive Business Growth
Beyond Entrepreneurship: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company
Changing the Game: Organizational Transformations of the First, Second, and Third Kinds
Lessons from the Edge: Survival Skills for Starting and Growing a Company

ASIN: 078794694X

Book Description

From start-up enterprise to mature corporation, this latest edition of the best-selling original explores the seven predictable stages of organizational growth. It also identifies what must be accomplished in each stage to ensure continued development and provides practical guidance for implementing management systems. Thoroughly updated to reflect recent business developments, it contains all-new chapters on strategic planning and structure, along with many new company success stories including those of Starbucks, Jamba Juice, PacifiCare, and American Century Investors.

Click hereM to read the introduction to this important book.

Customer Reviews:

Growing Pains : Transitioning from an Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm.......2007-03-09

This is a great book for anyone in business. It offers tools such as the Growing Pains Questionnaire that you can use in your organization to gather valuable information to work from.

Textbookish but useful.......2006-08-30

This is a book about an important topic - the transitions compnies must go through, from the struggle for surival to becoming a large, mature company. It contains a very useful and credible model in the form of a pyramid depicting the 'normal' growth stages of a company, beginning with defining product/market and ending with establishing a corporate culture. Two noticeable shortcomings: the authors seem to largely ignore strategy and business models in their description of the growth path, and second, it is written in a very lieless and textbookish style. The management jargon rolls on and on, dulling the reader's mind, and making him wonder if he is reading the same page again and again. The entire approach is extremely conventional, with very little appreciation for more modern theories of management. Overall, a good book, not great.

A High-level Roadmap for Building a "Professional" Business.......2005-11-30

Flamholtz (the author) does and excellent job of describing the various stages of organizational growth. In each stage he describes what an organization must be doing in order to grow into the next level. The book provides plenty of real-world examples that Flamholtz has himself been a part of. Flamholtz also does a great job of interjecting his business street smarts. The guy understands how to grow a business and he does an even better job of laying it out for the reader in this book through frameworks and human resource concepts.

A Must Read..........2002-01-30

This book is a must read for anyone in business. For the entrepreneur, it can be used as a guide. For the more experienced business person, it can be used as a dose of reality. Having just completed my MBA and writing my thesis on this very topic, I only wish I had read this book 6 months earlier.

The authors provide an excellent framework for growing a business along with relevant case studies. And while it may look like a typical text book, it is less theory than most. This is one to be kept for years to come!

Thin on ideas, long on text.......2001-05-07

After having spent three years working at a pretty disorganized dot.com, I wanted to learn more about the right and wrong ways that young firms grow up. This book presents a fair framework that charts a company's growth, though it assumes that the troubles start when too many orders pour in and sales do not result in profits. (Not the case at a dot.com)

Firms are classified into four stages of development, and the text describes the good and bad of each. Some methodologies are presented for "scoring" the company for an offhand appraisal of its strengths and situation. (Kind of like the CMM scale, I guess)

But the worst part about the book was how tedious it was to read. The author spends hundreds of pages explaining just a few core concepts. The text describes, on and on, what the author is going to say next, then says it, and then reminds you about it for page after page. Just get to the point!

The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World

Average customer rating:

Insightful Reading
Highly Recommended Read
Finally an explanation that makes sense!
EVERY ONE should read this-Parents, Straight types, fiends of a gay person and gay
A can not put down this type of book

The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World
Alan Downs
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Confession

ASIN: 0738210617

Book Description

A groundbreaking examination of the psychology of homosexuality, why it leads to shame over one's identity and how to overcome it

The gay male world today is characterized by seductive beauty, artful creativity, flamboyant sexuality, and, encouragingly, unprecedented acceptability in society. Yet despite the progress of the recent past, gay men still find themselves asking, "Are we really better off?"

The inevitable byproduct of growing up gay in a straight world continues to be the internalization of shame, a shame gay men may strive to obscure with a faade of beauty, creativity, or material success. Drawing on contemporary psychological research, the author's own journey to be free of anger and of shame, as well as the stories of many of his friends and clients, The Velvet Rage outlines the three distinct stages to emotional well-being for gay men. Offering profoundly beneficial strategies to stop the insidious cycle of avoidance and self-defeating behavior, The Velvet Rage is an empowering book that will influence the public discourse on gay culture, and positively change the lives of gay men who read it.

Customer Reviews:

Insightful Reading.......2007-06-27

I really enjoyed reading this book, once I was done I had both my parents read it as well. They said it helped them a great deal to understand me a lot better, not only now, but why they couldn't always "reach me" when I was younger.

Highly Recommended Read.......2007-05-07

I grew up in a small town in Indiana, came out of the closet when I was 29, just turned 40 last month and felt my 'successful' life that I had built come crashing down around me.

This book was exactly what I needed to help me recognize what had led me to this confusing point in my life. I also gives you some good tools on what to do about it now. It greatly reinforced that I wasn't alone in my journey and that many, many gay men around my age go through the same thing in their lives. It renewed my courage and self-confidence to stand up without shame and reclaim my right to a healthy, passionate, joyous, life of integrity.

If you're tired of going round-n-round and getting nowhere in relationships and life. Read this book.

Finally an explanation that makes sense!.......2007-03-19

This book is incredibly insightful and well written, and most of what Alan says really resonated with me and rang true. I could relate most of my experience to date as a gay man to the stories and explanations he gave, so I look forward with anticipation to following his advice and 3 step plan to becoming an authentic gay man.
This is not a cheesey self help guide but a well researched and often personal account of what drives most gay men to indulge in the kind of destructive behaviours we all know well and see often, with some insightful ideas on how we might move beyond this and realise a better way to be.
I also found the writing style very accessible and think it will be a great read for many of my friends and family who are struggling to understand me, certainly explains things much better than I could myself so will be buying a few more copies to send to people!

EVERY ONE should read this-Parents, Straight types, fiends of a gay person and gay.......2007-03-13

The author nails it in this most amazing well told story. This book will bring lite and understanding to all who read it and will no doubt change the way you think and help you to truly understanding the struggle and personality's of those living the gay life. I wish I read it when it first came out. Pleas do yourself the favor of reading this book you will be a better understanding person of yourself and others.

A can not put down this type of book.......2007-01-10

I bought this book and have to say my only complaint is I lost sleep because it was so hard to put the book down. I would tell myself, "I will read just a couple more pages then go to sleep." I found this book to be one of the best books that I have ever read on this type of subject.
If you are searching for a good book to read and learn at the same time, purchase this book.

It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments

Average customer rating:

A must have for any parent with a child that has jra
You won't regret this purchase
The Bible
The Definitive Book on Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases
Wonderful - must have for JRA

It's Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone and Joint Pain, Rheumatic Diseases, and the Latest Treatments
Thomas J. A. Lehman
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Raising A Child With Arthritis: A Parent's Guide
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Conquering Your Child's Chronic Pain : A Pediatrician's Guide for Reclaiming a Normal Childhood

ASIN: 0195157281

Book Description

Arthritis is usually considered a disease of older adults, but nearly 300,000 children in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, such as juvenile arthritis (JRA), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or Kawasaki disease. Yet until now very little information has been available to guide parents and doctors in properly diagnosing such children. Here is a readable, reliable guide to the common causes of bone, joint, muscle, and arthritis pain in children, designed to help parents and physicians understand these disorders, arrive at the proper diagnosis, and choose the most effective treatment. In this comprehensive resource, Dr. Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the most prestigious pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers easy-to-understand information on the causes, symptoms, tests, and treatments for a wide variety of rheumatic diseases and childhood pain. Dr. Lehman writes with great clarity, providing numerous case examples that illustrate the topic at hand and offering practical, down-to-earth advice. Equally important, he answers the questions that parents are most likely to ask: What should they observe in their children? What questions should they ask their doctor? Which tests are necessary? What risk factors should they be aware of? And how can they help their children cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illness. The book summarizes diagnostic tests, discusses the most effective medications, and discusses physical therapy, alternative therapy, and surgical options that are available. Clearly written, thorough, authoritative, and up-to-date, It's Not Just Growing Pains is the definitive resource available on the subject for parents and health care professionals, helping them to understand the children's pain and find the best available care.

Customer Reviews:

A must have for any parent with a child that has jra.......2007-03-03

I agree with all of the reviews! My daughter (just turned 3) was diagnosed with JRA when she was 18 months old. I spoke with Dr's and my brother had it as well, so I thought I knew it all! This book gave me MORE understanding and knowledge than ANY dr my daughter or brother saw! I too have a LAUNDRY list of questions to ask at her next visit!!! It was well written and easy for a non-medical person to understand! Hats off to the DR!

You won't regret this purchase.......2006-11-17

My 2-year old was diagnosed recently with JRA, and after scouring the local library and the internet for every search term imaginable, and reading everything I could get my hands on, I recieved this in the mail yesterday and feel as though I've at least doubled my understanding of rheumatic diseases, and probably tripled it. The book is well written and understadable, without sounding patronizing. I have had multiple appointments with our pediatric rheumatologist, but after reading this I have a whole list of things I want to ask at our next appointment. I especially like how it's organized. The first half deals entirely with rheumatic diseases, their symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis. The second half discusses the medications, procedures, and methods used to deal with the disease. Parts of it were really scary for me to read because my daughter is so young, but I truly believe knowledge is power, and if you're looking for good info on JRA, Lupus, or other childhood rheumatic diseases, I'd recommend this read.

The Bible.......2005-10-25

My wife refers to this book as "The Bible" because it appears to be the authoritative source for information on JRA. This disease struck our child in the Systemic Onset version, and after months of fumbling around by the local care providers we got a diagnosis that led us to this book and to an appointment with Dr.Lehman personally in NYC. We found the book to be very useful and after meeting Dr. Lehman we regard it as indispensible. We would highly recommend the book to anyone with a child suffering from this family of afflictions.

The Definitive Book on Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases.......2005-03-26

Thomas J. A. Lehman MD is Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City and also Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is considered the leading specialist in the world. As President of a charity that helps children in Russia, I have asked Dr. Lehman to volunteer his services and speak at seminars in Moscow to hundreds of rheumatoid pediatric doctors. He has done this several times over the past 5 years. He has also visited other countries as well besides allowing specialists from many other countries learn at his side. As a result of his unselfishness he has improved the lives of thousands of children throughout the world. He has written a book that every parent who has an afflicted child should read. My reason for writing this review is to assure the reader the he/she can rely on what it says, as there is no one who is more knowledgeable than the author. As can be gleaned from other reviews, the book has been written to be easily understood by the general reader.

Wonderful - must have for JRA.......2005-01-26

This is a wonderful book. Published for the first time in 2004, it is up to date with all the new medicines out there. If you have a child with Arthritis, you need this book. It addresses all issues surrounding the disease, the family, behavior, medicine, theories, how to relate to your doctor, etc.

Average customer rating:

Very wonderful, easy to read.
Honest and True
READ SOME RAW TRUTH!
Full House of Growing Pains
Good book for parents and explains the gospel

A Full House of Growing Pains
Barbara Cameron , and Lissa Halls Johnson
Manufacturer: Bridge-Logos Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Way of the Master Basic Training Course: Study Guide
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ASIN: 0882701894

Product Description

Barbara Cameron is a typical Christian mom who wants only the best for her children. As they were growing up, she did all the typical "mom" stuff, but her children were anything but typical. They were both television stars on hit sitcoms. Guiding them through the dark and seductive culture of Hollywood, Barbara was successful in keeping them grounded and making sure that God was first in their lives. They grew up to be spectacular adults, free from all the influences that assailed them except one-God's. She gives hope to every parent, along with sage advice on how to protect your children from "the world." The book is largely anecdotal and generously illustrated with never-before-seen family photos. A bold behind-the-scenes look into the private lives of her famous children and their faith.

Customer Reviews:

Very wonderful, easy to read........2007-05-14

This book is so well written. It has such an even flow. I love reading the story of their lives. It is so interesting and I am so proud of the way Barbara has managed her life in Hollywood and as a Christian. I haven't finished the book yet, i really dreading to finish it. I want the story to go on and on, it's very enjoyable! Please purchase this book it is so interesting and easy to read. You won't want to put it down! God Bless~

Honest and True.......2007-03-29

This wonderful book by Barbara Cameron explains the comings and goings, trials, tribulations, success's and heartbreaks of a Hollywood family. It's refreshingly honest with no spin at all. Mrs. Cameron had her shares of ups and downs in her personal life, all the while being a supportive mother who kept her "star" children in line and the "non-star" children were really the stars at home.
My heart went out to poor Bridgett who is the real star of the family!! But their amazing transformation into Born Again, on fire for Jesus Chrsit and their passion that none should miss out on Heaven is so honest, and pure, and indeed rare in a Hollywood where it's hip to be anti-Christian, anti-morals, and whatever goes is OK. Praise God for this family and I know that He is indeed Blessing us with this most excellent book. Thank you Ray Comfort for inspiring Mrs. Cameron. Thank You Mrs. Cameron for sharing your life with us, and thank you Jesus for loving and dying for all of us so that we may be saved!

READ SOME RAW TRUTH! .......2006-11-10

I must say that you going to be very surprised by this book! It isn't only what you probably think it is about, but oh so much more. Barbara is more real and honest with her readers than most people are even with themselves. She shines a flashlight in the dark corners of her life for all to see without apology because as the saying goes..."the truth shall set you free". Let's just say that she has faced her demons and won! Not only do I hope that all the people who read this book let it touch them, but I pray that all people start revealing their secrets in order to be set free, as well. I have and though it was hard, it was worth it because when you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear! Way to Go Barbara---Your truth has made a difference!

Full House of Growing Pains.......2006-09-26

This book is a very candid and honest description of the ups and downs of a mother living the hollywood dream. Ms. Cameron is very detailed in describing her life and how the effects of her childrens' sucesses altered their lives. Bravo and a Job Well done! Everyone should read this book.

Good book for parents and explains the gospel.......2006-08-22

Imagine a young woman graduating high school, almost immediately marrying a man seven years her senior, raising four children while her marriage is falling apart, then fighting to restore her family while guiding two of her children to successful, famous careers and eventually starting her own business. Sound like something from Hollywood? Well, it is. And it's Barbara Cameron's life story. Two of Barbara's children became stars on long-running television shows - Candace played DJ Tanner on Full House and Kirk was Michael Seaver on Growing Pains. In Full House of Growing Pains, Barbara recounts the behind-the-scenes pressures of getting her children to auditions and rehearsals, dealing with the stage mothers and casting personnel, and a variety of other challenges. Meanwhile, her husband, Robert, was dealing with the other two children at home. Throw into the mix Barbara's feelings of faded love for Robert that eventually leads to her leaving him and getting her own apartment.

Barbara's father was strict, and he made sure his children went to church to learn about God. Throughout the book, Barbara's path of spiritual awakening comes through in the way she handles each situation she faces. After Kirk commits his life to Christ, Barbara becomes even more focused on strengthening her own relationship with God.

Full House of Growing Pains shows how a mother was able to raise her children to be strong Christians in spite of Hollywood's environment and her own personal struggles. The stories are interesting and the book, sprinkled with family photos, flows at a comfortable pace with a solid presentation of the Gospel at the end as Barbara wraps up her story. Barbara also shares her current passion of working with Children's Hunger Fund, bringing hope to needy children in Africa.

Besides being a good book for parents and those interested in biographies, it could also be an effective evangelism tool, especially for the large amount of people who are familiar with the careers of Kirk and Candace. - Jeff Friend, Christian Book Previews.com

The Adrian Mole Diaries : The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 : The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

Average customer rating:

mislabeled
Funny!
In the Days Before Blogging...
One of my favorite books when I was a teenager
I now understand why this series was so popular...

The Adrian Mole Diaries : The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 : The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole
Sue Townsend
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Queen and I

ASIN: 0380730448

Book Description

Adrian Mole faces the same agonies which life sets before most adolescents: troubles with girls, school, parents, and an uncaring world. The difference, though, between young Master Mole and his peers is that this British lad keeps a diary -- an earnest chronicle of longing and disaster that has convulsed more than five million readers since its two-volume initial publication. From teenaged Adrian's obsession with intellectuality after understanding "nearly every word" of a Malcolm Muggeridge broadcast to his anguished adoration of a lovely, mercurial schoolmate, from his view of his parents' constantly creaking relationship to his heartfelt but hilarious attempts at cathartic verse, here is an outrageous triumph of deadpan, and deadly accurate, satire. ABBA, Princess Di's wedding, street punks. Monty Python, the Falklands campaign -- all the cultural pageantry of a keenly observed era marches past the unique perspective of Sue Townsend's brilliant comic creation: A. Mole, the unforgettable lad whose self-absorption only gets funnier as his life becomes more desperate.

Adrian Mole faces the same agonies which life sets before most adolescents: troubles with girls, school, parents, and an uncaring world. The difference, though, between young Master Mole and his peers is that this British lad keeps a diary--an earnest chronicle of longing and disaster that has convulsed more than five million readers since its two-volume initial publication. From teenaged Adrian's obsession with intellectuality after understanding "nearly every word" of a Malcolm Muggeridge broadcast to his anguished adoration of a lovely, mercurial schoolmate, from his view of his parents' constantly creaking relationship to his heartfelt but hilarious attempts at cathartic verse, here is an outrageous triumph of deadpan, and deadly accurate, satire. ABBA, Princess Di's wedding, street punks, Monty Python, the Falklands campaign--all the cultural pageantry of a keenly observed era marches past the unique perspective of Sue Townsend's brilliant comic creation: A. Mole, the unforgettable lad whose self-absorption only gets funnier as his life becomes more desperate.

Customer Reviews:

mislabeled.......2007-03-20

Item was used not new. It has an inscription for the previous owner.

Funny!.......2007-01-19

This book is exceptionally good at describing the humiliating experiences that many teenagers go through. It is very funny and quirky, Sue Townsend is a spectacular writer and it is worth the price as well as looking into more Adrian Mole books.

In the Days Before Blogging..........2006-11-20

It's 1982 : Margaret Thatcher is Prime-Minister and Britain is at war with Argentina over a couple of sheep-infested islands in the South Atlantic. Meanwhile, the second instalment of the Mole Diaries is being written by a spotty, fifteen year old intellectual from Leicester.

Adrian proves to be a slightly different character in this book - I suppose he's actually grown up a little. He still has a pretentious streak, he continues to be a touch insensitive at times, he doesn't always see the blindingly obvious and he still (mistakenly) sees himself as an intellectual. However, sometimes, he gets the point all too well and delivers a well-penned (not to mention a well-deserved) kick in the arse. "The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole" covers a traumatic period for Adrian : his O-Levels and CSEs are looming while the significant fallout from his parents affairs have to be dealt with. He's still in love with Pandora, though the path of true love has a few tumbles in store for our spotty Lothario. (He's very keen to see a bit more loving, though he'd happily settle for a glimpse of nipple. Pandora, on the other hand, isn't in quite such a rush). The young couple still help Bert Baxter (a war veteran in his eighties) and Queenie (Bert's recently acquired second wife). Despite Bert's hobbies - drinking, smoking and communism - Bert appears to be one of the closest friends Adrian has. Adrian still has the problem of Barry Kent, the school bully : however, some very surprising progress is made over the course of the year.

Starting in April 1982 and finishing in May 1983, some of the big news stories at the time are touched on - the arrival of breakfast television in the UK, the kidnapping of Shergar and the Falklands War, Overall, it does prove to be a very funny book - though there are a couple of sad moments and a few serious points made. Depressingly, some of the points Adrian makes are just as relevant today as they were over twenty years ago. Listening to Radio Four at one point, Adrian notes that the government has decided to spend a billion pounds on war equipment. He then mentions that one of his school's science laboratories is being closed down because it can't afford to employ a new teacher. (Blair is throwing money at the Iraq War having conveniently forgotten al about "education, education, education"). Then Adrian's Irish neighbour, Mr O'Leary, returns to Ireland to vote in the Irish General Election. On his way back to Leicester, however, Mr O'Leary is detained at the East Midlands Airport on being suspicion of being a terrorist. (Admittedly, today the focus has shifted a different group). Later, when a General Election is called in the UK, one of the candidates mentioned is Duncan McIntosh. A member of the "Send `Em Back Where They Came From Party", Mr McIntosh advocates compulsory repatriation of people with black, brown and yellow skin, the Irish, the Welsh, the Scottish and all those with Norman blood. (With all the recent hysteria about immigrants, Mr McIntosh's party would probably have a good shout at government). Well worth reading, and highly recommended.

One of my favorite books when I was a teenager.......2006-11-19

This book was loved by my classmates and I in Malaysia. I have read it about 5 times over the years, and still laugh out loud each time! You have to read it for yourself to see why it is so well-loved. Adrian Mole is a type of teenager in each of us. Not only is this book hilarious, but the number of plots weaving simultaneously through the whole book is ingenious. Every character introduced has a purpose.

I now understand why this series was so popular..........2006-10-24

Well, having stumbled on the last book in the series (AD and the Weapons of Mass Destruction) and thoroughly enjoying it, I just had to go back and start at the beginning of the Adrian Mole series. The Adrian Mole Diaries : The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 : The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend is a combination volume of the two titles, and I now understand a bit more why this was apparently all the rage in England in the '80s.

It's impossible to read this without relating to at least *some* aspect of Mole's life and thought patterns. Whether it's his literary aspirations (not shared by much of anyone else), his preoccupation with Pandora (the love of his life), or all the "spots" on his face, you realize you've had the same feelings, complete with melodramatic accompaniment. Watching his parents go through separate affairs while Adrian is oblivious to what's really happening is painfully funny, and it made me wonder how much *I* was unaware of around adults growing up. This is really "reality TV" before there was such a thing...

In some ways, I wish I had read this before the last one, as I think I would have understood a lot more about his personality and background. But better late than never, and now I have some more catching up to do...

Average customer rating:

A must for any Billie Piper fan
Life's Lessons

Growing Pains
Billie Piper
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0340938498

Customer Reviews:

A must for any Billie Piper fan.......2007-05-11

This autobiography by Billie Piper is honest and straight from the heart. My interest started when I saw her on Doctor Who. I can see how Billie Piper makes a good Rose Tyler. Billie Piper shows how real she is and that she is more than just a celebrity. I highly recommend this book for any honest Billie Piper fan.

Life's Lessons.......2007-03-03

What prompted me into ordering this book through Amazon was the Season 2 finale of the current Dr. Who series. Billie Piper's performance was astounding to me. Of all the previous seasons of the show and all the previous companions, her farewell with David Tennant was by far the most emotional scene in the show's history where the viewer actually felt empathy with the characters. Her acting and character development throughout the second season drew me into this science fiction series much more than it had in the first season. Note: Am still a Tom Baker and John Pertwee Dr Who fan at heart.

So the question is, how did she become such a good actress? Being an American male not interested in teen music, I completely missed her performance and songs as a British teen music star in the 1990's, though I vaguely remember the top 40 radio stations having her songs competing against an up and coming Britney. This book starts with her very brief childhood and describes the very difficult times trying to balance the family life and expectations of being a pop star touring and performing for months on end.

The personal toll of relationships, loss of privacy and her decline in health is told. After reading her book, what becomes very apparent is how she lost her childhood. She missed the opportunity of being an "average teen", to live life without any worries. The demands of constantly being on tour resulted in the lack of many basic social skills that we take for granted. Simple things such as cooking one's food, driving a car, or being able to relax read a good book (and a fine one this is) did not happen until she was married and was able to distance herself from the demands of being a pop star.

She does frequently mention her insecurity and doubts as a pop singer. She also stated many performances in the UK can be mimed to music, but in the US, it is all live. Unfortunately am not able to discern on youtube if her live UK performances are live or mimed, if I can notice if she is missing the notes as she stated. One thing is noticeable in the youtube videos is she appears to be tense in the performances, not happy and enjoying the moment, just as she described in the book.

She has definitely aged quickly in her life, from helping to take care of her younger siblings and then jumping into the media spotlight with older dancers. She does recognize the stress her star status created on her family and how it separated her from them as she dealt with her personal challenges.

She does mention falling in love and trying to be happy. Her marriage with a popular British DJ allowed her to settle down as a normal person, to further develop her acting skills, and actually be functional in being able to cook, clean, and spend quiet moments at home and not at the pub partying.

But there is a price for her star status, the distance away from the ones she loves and cherish as they live and work their separate careers. This has resulted in the break-up of her personal relationships. But with every break-up, she was able to focus more on her acting, her true passion.

She is not an average person by any means, she was given a special gift and had the fortune to be recognized in an early age. Her family's work ethic made her a determined person to achieve her personal best. Her family and loved ones were able to pick her up after she fell, to give her the strength to continue on despite the uncertainty and insecurity she may have. After reading her book, I understand that it is her life experience that makes her a spectacular performer.

Just looking at her personal photos in the book, one can see how as a child she was happy with the family dog, but later, as a pop star, the spark wasn't there. Later in her wedding photo, the beaming smile of happiness returned. This is the Rose Tyler character in Dr. Who that brought in so many fans. Her acting gave us empathy which we shared in her journey.

I enjoyed reading her autobiography, it showed how she developed and grew as a person, not as a spoiled rich diva living a life of decadence. She was first concerned about being a top performer and star, to make her fans happy. Later she wanted to be happy herself and enjoy the music and performances too, but it never happened, she was empty inside. Finally, she has grown to become the person she is today.

I think that Billie Piper performs today because she is happy and able to share the love with her family and friends. Perhaps this is what matters most to her. All the money in the world didn't buy her happiness or joy. It was the personal time in sharing life with friends and family, away from the spotlight, that makes her happy as a person, just like the rest of us feel in our much simpler (and mundane) lives.

Growing Pains: Learning to Love My Father's Faith

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Growing Pains: Learning to Love My Father's Faith
Randall Balmer
Manufacturer: Brazos Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1587430185

Book Description

Christianity Today 2002 Book Award Winner. Balmer's superb writing and mature theological ruminations deserve a wide audience. -Publishers Weekly

Dr. quinn medicine woman: growing pains (Forever Knight)

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Romantic and Fantastically detailed.
Cool Romatic Tv Show
Just like watching the show
She's getting worse at this...
An Entertaining Dr. Quinn story

Dr. quinn medicine woman: growing pains (Forever Knight)
Teresa Warfield
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Romantic and Fantastically detailed........2001-08-31

This book is completely like the TV show with twist and turns on every page, it's is just so lifelike I could picture what was going on in my head being a fan of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman the TV show. With the detail in this book I could see the people walking and talking as it gives you detail to such a degree. I would recommemend this book any fan of Teresa Warfield's writing or to any Dr. Quinn fan to read. If you are lucky anough to get a hold of this book I hope you injoy it as much as I did because I thought it was fantastic. I gave this book a five star rating because of it's detail and story line.

Cool Romatic Tv Show.......2001-03-12

I think this was a good book I read it. I think this was a cool romantic Tv Show. I heard from a person named Tiff there will be a Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman movie coming this Monday to CBS.

Just like watching the show.......2001-03-02

The book read like one of the low key shows. The trials and tribulations of everyday life stood out in this book. Not all the shows were riveting, just like everyday life and that is what the book was like. I enjoyed it for what it was.

She's getting worse at this..........1999-11-18

I liked Teresa Warfield's first book very much. Somehow, it tied in with what I never knew but expected of her childhood based on the television series. The second one "Bounty Hunter" was not too bad but it seems as if Teresa Warfield has lost her steam in "Growing Pains". It's a boring book (coming from a Dr. Quinn fan) but seeing it did stimulate my desire to grab on to more Dr. Quinn literature. This, I satisfied by reading the scripts I found at the Official DQMW Site and some episode synopses. Would be nice if Teresa or some other author decides to "translate" the entire TV series into a few books. That, I'll definitely buy! Still, reading DQMW can't beat watching it. Gee... I really miss that!

An Entertaining Dr. Quinn story.......1999-07-09

Once I got into this book, I really quite enjoyed it. Some parts were very amusing, and I even laughed out loud several times. It felt like I was watching one of the weekly episodes. However, I would hope that the next book will have more adventure in it, like when Dr. Mike and Sully would have to go on treks through the mountains, escaping from Indian dog soldiers and catching outlaws. I sincerely hope this author continues to write more Dr. Quinn books.

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Journey To A True Self

Journey to a True Self
Curtis, D. Wall
Manufacturer: Beckham Publications Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Alcoholism | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0931761719

Product Description

"In this inspiring story of his own personal survival, Curtis D. Wall offers a clear map for readers searching for ways to overcome life's inevitable moments of pain."

Customer Reviews:

Journey To A True Self.......2006-12-12

Just like the man, this book is open, frank, honest, genuine, and a true inspiration to any and all who search for peace and a path to finding their true self. In a sincere attempt to help others by giving of himself and sharing of his story, Curtis D. Wall reveals his innermost secrets, sins, overwhelming struggles, and invaluable advice as to how he continues to battle and overcome them even today. A real page turner, I highly recommend this book to all who long to overcome addiction, abuse, anxiety, fear, pain, depression, and the many other demons that plague millions. Thank-you Curtis! I choose to call you my friend. --Mary

FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED GROWING UP: Growing Up Painfully: Consciousness and the Problem of Pain

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Growing up Painfully

FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED GROWING UP: Growing Up Painfully: Consciousness and the Problem of Pain
M. Scott Peck
Manufacturer: Audioworks
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Binding: Audio Cassette

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Customer Reviews:

Growing up Painfully.......2000-07-28

Scott Peck has given us much to think about in terms of self responsibility. This audio tape is a wonderful example of Peck's ability to help us see our humanity and responsibility for our lives. It leans towards a Christian world view, but it still can reach a diverse audience. If you are looking for a glimpse of myths vs fairytales, and how to glean wisdom from traditional spiritual texts, then this is the tape for you. My experience of sharing this audio with several groups has been very successful.

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