Great Hair: Elegant Styles for Every Occasion

Quick quibble with book description: the book only has 62 styles, not 100 as advertised in the book review, and some styles are teenager-ish rather than elegant, but there are more than enough gorgeous styles for every length. Each and every style has clear step-by-step instuctions plus a colour photograph illustrating each step. A bit tricky if you're not used to styling your own hair, but the book makes it as easy as it will ever get. I am VERY happy with this product.

Although some of the hairstyles are a tad trashy, most of them are really lovely.

They're explain step by step, and each step and a coloured photograph and instructions.

I would recommend this book to people who have a basic knowledge of hairstyling. They dont teach you how to blow dry your hair perfect or exactly how to tease hair so you'll need to know just a bit to start out.

The hairstyles range from very simple to extrememly complex(even for me I'm a hairstylist), the complex ones look abit messy sometimes.

But all in all its a FANTABULOUS book, and if you actually can get your hands on this, practice, practice, practice, and soon all your family members will be begging you to do their hair up

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This was just what I was looking for. I do hair for special occasions (weddings mostly) and this book gave me some new ideas. There's probably something in there for everyone-elegent, funky, prom. Some of them are a little more work... so not so much a do it yourself.

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I am not a hair professional. That being said, I have healthy, well maintained waist length hair that I know how to style several ways, including french braids, a french twist, twisted rope, inside out french braids, and anything using hair elastics that you can dream up. On other people's hair, I can style it into herringbones, french rope braid, cornrows, etc. so I have a decent amount of experience for a non-professional. That being said, I was really, really disappointed with this book, and really, really glad I got it from the library.

The pros:

Lots of very pretty styles for your longer hair, with clear instructions on how to create each style.

The cons:

There weren't many styles that someone could do themselves. Most required someone to help or do them for you.

Nearly half the styles (or more) in this book use bobby pins. If you have really fine, super shiny hair, bobby pins don't stay in 90% of the time, making several of the styles shown completely useless.

Speaking of bobby pins: If I'm putting my hair up elegantly, I consider it "bad form" to have bobby pins showing. In many of these styles, you can see the pins. Easily.

A few of the really pretty styles in this book use hair extensions. I have waist length hair, and enough of it to probably do some of the styles without an extension, but there aren't directions to do it without extensions. I figured out most of them, but you have to improvise.

Many of the final photos of the completed style are using dark haired models photographed on a really dark background that makes the hairstyle blend in, and difficult to see.

Lots of the styles in this book involve pin curls (basically forming a section of your hair into a curl that is held in place with bobby pins.) While most of the styles were very pretty, I sort of thought that once your hands know how to make a pin curl, it's kind of a waste of paper showing so many styles that are nothing more than a variation on how many pin curls and where they're placed on your head.

This is nit-picking, but one of the styles shows a chain wrapped through someone's hair. I've tried a variation of this style with a soldered shut chain (so the links won't as easily catch in my super straight, super fine hair.) It's a recipe for a hair disaster. The chain got snarled and tangled in my hair so badly I ended up cutting the chain out. I imagine if you have thick & heavy straight hair, this style would work fine. But any curl, frizz, or fine hair, I would avoid, avoid, avoid this style.

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Love this book! Davis Biton has a unique talent for creating updos that are not fussy looking and would be equally stunning on both younger and older women. The creativity of Biton's styles is incredible! I have several hairstyling reference books and most of Biton's styles and techniques I have not seen before. Yes, some of the styles have teased ends or resemble mohawks but I truly could see myself or others wearing these funky styles for a night out or a fun weekend. There is a also a selection of more traditional Victorian-like low-buns, French Twist-like styles and some beautiful curly hair styles if you prefer to wear your hair down (complete with instructions on how to curl your hair if you aren't blessed with natural curls). The styles are demonstrated on women of all races which is a nice touch as well. I am so inspired by this book. Definitely put this on your wish list.

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Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete

I thought your readers might be interested in a few words from someone profiled in this book. I'm the 70-year-old bodybuilder.

Lee Bergquist first contacted me late in 2004, and has been in regular contact since then--by telephone, email and in person. He actually came here and talked, ate, and trained with me.

I knew he was working on the book long and hard. Still, I didn't fully appreciate the size and scope of his undertaking. He criss-crossed the country talking to and observing an amazing array of elite older athletes. They're all passionate about what they do.

Lee tells the stories of 18 masters athletes in an informed, curious, and honest way. Unlike most books of this type, Second Wind looks behind every tree and under every rock. No rose-colored glasses treatment here. Think magnifying glass.

Bergquist tells about these athletes, warts and all. He digs beneath the surface to see what makes each one tick, what drives them. Sometimes it's not so pretty, but it is always interesting and instructive.

Lee explores weaknesses as well as strengths, including personal, financial, and psychological quandaries. Among other things, he probes the use of performance enhancing drugs, feelings of inadequacy, memory problems, childhood troubles, and eccentric behavior traits. As you might expect, he uncovers orthopedic problems experienced by just about everyone. He ferrets out the full and complete stories of these high performance athletes. Most of them have problems of one sort or another, and all of them have inspiring stories to tell.

Lee has poured his heart and soul into this book. While his decades as a journalist covered "just about everything but sports," researching, investigating, and writing this book has earned him the equivalent of a master's degree in masters athletes.

Here's his concluding paragraph and the bottom line of his master's thesis: The experiences of these men and women aren't so different from our own. The human body is a wonderful engine. And it wants to be pushed.

Amen.

Clarence Bass, author of Great Expectations: Health, Fitness, Leanness, Without Suffering (Ripped Enterprises, 2007)

A compilation of 18 stories about older men and women who are true athletes in the finest sense of the word. It is a great read for those who are interested in improving their athletic ability, their mental outlook, their overall physical conditioning, and their desire to learn more about other forms of athletic endeavor. I found it a highly satisfying and pleasurable read.

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This book in unique in that within the first 10 minutes of reading it I felt like getting up and working out. The author tells interesting stories about outstanding older athletes in a way that motivates even us average athletes. He has stories about bodybuilders, marathoners, bicyclists, skiers, and many others and tells their personal stories and also shares their training tips. While some of these athletes' drive is extraordinary, the message is clear even when you get older (50+) you can still workout, get into shape and feel good about yourself.

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What a great book! Reading about the incredible performances of these athletes would inspire anyone at any age to pursue a goal, a dream. Especially recommend for athletes or would-be athletes approaching age 50 or beyond. The book is a series of stories about individuals who bike, run, swim, ski, pump iron in their 50s through 70s and are able to perform at or near levels they achieved in their youth. The message...as we age, we do not have to stop exercising. We do not have to give up competing. My personal story at age 60, I was swimming faster and farther and bicycling faster and farther than ever before in my life. This book has inspired me to keep going.

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I felt inspired to continue my running career after reading a few of the 18 athlete profiles that Bergquist, a journalist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, offered in this book. This book is well written and engaging; a great gift idea for an older athlete just starting to get in shape and train for running, swimming or another sport.

The book is divided into chapters. Each athlete gets their own chapter, so it is a good book for by the bedside table. Readers can read one athlete profile per night, or read the book cover to cover.

I have often told people that running is a good sport to encourage young people to take up in high school because it is a form of exercise that will stay with them their whole lives. Nearly every weekend during the summer there is a 5K race in my community. Most adults used to being motivated by deadlines and the positive feeling of accomplishing a project will welcome the 'training for a race' nature of long distance running. This book helped me to discover that swimming, tennis and cycling can also encourage lifelong activity.

Buy this book for anyone who thinks they are over the hill the best athletic years are still in front of them!

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The Miracle of Apple Cider Vinegar: Practical Tips for Health, Home, & Beauty

What I liked about this book was that the author didn't claim that ACV cures every disease there is and does everything but the dishes. That was quite refreshing. The health claims made by the author were quite measured, as is appropriate.

The book starts off by explaining the compounds which make up apples and ACV and how each of them is beneficial to health.

The books then discusses and explains that the mouth should always be rinsed with water after taking ACV, so the acid doesn't affect your teeth, how ACV can improve protein digestion and can be used to make detox baths and to rinse the hair with to make it shiny...and lots of other uses for ACV.

I wish that the comment about 'CFS' (or even worse, 'CFS/ME') in this book (and almost every book on diet and health, it must be said!) could have been omitted, as every diagnosis of 'CFS' is a misdiagnosis and talking about 'CFS' as if it has a distinct cause and reaction to treatment is unhelpful and potentially harmful to patients who need instead to be given correct diagnoses and treatments appropriate to whichever of any number of hundreds of different diseases they actually have. 'CFS' and M.E. are NOT the same! M.E. is a distinct and testable neurological disease similar to M.S., while 'CFS' is a wastebasket diagnosis based on the presence of fatigue. We all need our correct diagnoses. See Dr Hyde's book Missed Diagnoses Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Second Edition for more information on this issue.

Some of the recipes in the book were good and I appreciated that they used real food ingredients. This book gives a reasonable overview of some of the benefits of adding ACV to your diet. If you want to learn more about ACV you may want to see if your library has a copy of this book.

ACV is good stuff! It aids my digestion of fat and protein significantly. Make sure you buy a brand that has 'the mother' in it and isn't overly processed.

Jodi Basssett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E.

If you've heard that apple cider vinegar is good for cleaning, and we all know the "apple a day keeps the dr. away" phrase, and that's all you know? Then you don't know diddly about ACV! This book is full of information all about this humble little fruit and ACV. If you're going for a more natural and healthy lifestyle, this book is for you! (BTW: I've lost about 10 lbs, over a few months, just from following one tip in this book!)

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I had no idea you could use vinegar for so many things. I am amazed and really recommend this book to everyone.

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There are some good tips and ideas in this book, but it isn't quite what I expected when I ordered it. I will keep it for the things that are relative, but I wish I would have had more information before buying it.

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Your Non-Toxic Pregnancy

I bought this book while traveling in the North of Ireland, so I expected it to be a European based book. Indeed it is, however, the author was kind enough to do some American research, as well, so it is definitely usable (and recommended) for Americans.

My first "chemical-free" pregnancy book was The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deidre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu, and while I did enjoy it, I found it lacking in many areas (such as recommendations and resources for finding less toxic products). Because of this, I was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a copy of Your Non-Toxic Pregnancy. Not only does it back up its claims with sound research (from many different worldwide-respected organizations), but it gives many different suggestions for how to live more organically.

The book is organized well and filled with attractive photos of glowing pregnant mamas-to-be. The information is consise. The suggestions are do-able.

The author devotes a whole section to toxins in beauty products, and includes recipes for homemade alternatives that I found especially interesting and helpful. Another section describes the dangers in modern household cleaning products, and gives a list of eco-friendly options. And these subjects are just the beginning.

I really cannot give enough praise to how well this book is put together. There are many books out there screaming the dangers of many of our modern-day luxuries, but do absolutely nothing to help us find better, safer, and more eco-friendly ways of living. This book has an alternative for every not-so-safe product out there. Many of the alternatives are UK products, but almost all can be ordered online.

As a quick side note, I've noticed many reviews for this book (on other sites) and reviews for The Complete Organic Pregnancy state that the authors are trying to scare you into doing impossible things. I say for a fact that none of these changes are impossible to make. Yes, the information is scary, but this does not mean it is fear culture-based. Someone needs to put this information out there, and I find it unwise and even immature to criticize those few who are brave enough to do it. /rant

This book was a helpful source of realistic ways to protect myself and my unborn baby. Great ideas, great resources (whether in the UK, US, or elsewhere), and well organized. Not only did I read it cover to cover, but I've also referred to it throughout my pregnancy and plan to keep it on hand after baby is born. It has been by far the most helpful of all the "greening-your-pregnancy" books I've read.

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Bikini Bootcamp: Two Weeks to Your Ultimate Beach Body

The authors have done a good job of integrating mind/body into a holistic approach to health. Recipes are excellent, food is delicious and workouts are hard! Not for the faint of heart. This regimine will require 100% effort to succeed, particularly if you work full time and have a family. Each morning you are required to write in a journal, meditate and do 15 minutes of yoga. In addition each day requires a 30 60 minute walk, a 40 minute strength routine, and on alternate days an additional "core" workout for the abs. Plan on spending about 2 hours a day on just these parts. In addition, there is a lot of prep. time in the kitchen. All food is very close to it's natural state and is loaded with veggies, fresh marinades, and sald dressings. Each of these is made from scratch and requires a lot of time. Still, it is an excellent program and I don't see how they could have done it any easier. I suggest buying the fresh ginger and garlic, chopped in jars (as they suggest) and vegetables already chopped etc. to make it easier. Expect your kitchen to be full of dishes constantly if you follow their eating plan closely.

The name of the book makes it sound like just another tone up for bikini exercise regimine, but actually it is a wholistic approach including: a food plan with recipes, circuit routines, yoga moves, meditations, journaling prompts, and spa treatments for body, face, etc. The spa treatments are made of grocery items. The flavors for the food are mostly Mexican or Asian inspired, using a back-to-basics approach of all natural food. I'm really enjoying the book and seeing results after just a week into it (so far).

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i read the book and loved the vibe, i just felt like everything in it suited the type of person i am. i think that is important when you are trying to incorporate a new habit into your life. i've never seen myself as sporty and i hate to think of myself as a dieter, this book helps me see my efforts to stay in shape and eat well in a different light, one that reflects more of who i feel i am.

so i was excited to try it, and now, i'm nearly ten days in and i LOVE it. i see the results in my body and the way my clothes fit, although not so much on the scale, yet. i think i lost one or two lbs. but the main thing is that it's finally something that i feel i can easily keep doing, because i like it and it makes me feel great!

most of the recipes are fantastic, i haven't felt at all like i'm dieting except that the breakfasts are generally really light, and i get hungry in the morning.

anyway, i just wanted to say i highly recommend it, especially for anyone who is already into yoga, meditation, and natural food.

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I order books from Amazon constantly, both for work references as well as for pleasure. And although I know I should write the reviews, I never do. Until now. This book was amazing! I already work out at the gym and lift weights but was bored and needed something new. The exercises in this book hit body parts I have never worked before; especially beneficial for the female hip/thigh/butt area! As for the recipes, they were absolutely incredible! A few of them did take a little more time than I usually put into cooking, but the reward was well worth it! There were a number of ingredients I have never tried before or wasn't too keen on, but I knew I wasn't getting enough fruits and vegetables in my current diet so I committed myself to being open minded for the two weeks. To my surprise I truly enjoyed everything I made and even had fun making it! I enjoyed the foods so much and was so excited about all of the new flavors that I would take samples into work everyday for my co-workers to try. They are now all big fans of the Bikini Bootcamp recipes as well! I feel so great that I certainly plan to continue this lifestyle and hope to one day actually visit the inspirational authors at their Amansala resort.

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Loved this book!!! I would recommend this to everyone who needs help shedding those last few pounds. I really enjoyed the recipes, and you don't miss the carbs or cheese. I was looking for how to tone the stomach area, and this was the book for me. I promise it's worth the money!I have recommended this to all my friends and have even cooked a few of the meals for friends and family and they loved them! And guess what, even the hubby doesn't mind the food! That's saying alot.

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