Editorial Review :

"Two years before I started drawing, my wife was run over by a subway train. Sounds really terrible, I know. But, well, this book is about how art and New York City saved my life." When Danny Gregory's wife was severely injured, his life was changed in an instant. Searching about for meaning for what had happened to his little family, he began to create a richly illustrated journal of his life. Gregory as driven to record and comment on every aspect of his life, from dirty dishes to cathedrals, from hospital wards to life-drawing classes, from brunch with Hell's Angels to book shopping at the Strand. This unique book chronicles his discovery of drawing, his wife's rehabilitation, his son's infancy, and the life of the city he loves. Funny, bittersweet, romantic, and perverse, Everyday Matters is an inspiration, an invitation to look for the beauty and significance in the details of our daily lives.

Customer Review :

A Great Read

This book is a feast for the eyes. It is fun to read all of the text, and enjoy all of the pictures. Mr. Gregory and family have had some hard times and it's interesting how he turned to drawing to pull himself out of his anger and depression for Patti's accident. Definitely a good book to read, savor and then go back to.

My one caveat is that I was looking for a how-to book. I have no natural talent for drawing and want to learn how to draw so badly. Thought this was more of a how to. It is a memoir, and while it is a great book, it was kind of misleading.

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Brilliant

This book is filled with brilliant inspiration, especially during this economic crisis. We all have faced challenges and this is the story of the Danny Gregory and how his families challenges have inspired a creative life! We can all benefit from slowing down viewing the world with creativity and appreciation. The Creative License - Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are, is also a five star read!

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How did he get from there to here?

I'm glad I got this little book from the library and didn't paid for it.
I often woundered how people without God make it though trauma and tradigy. Well, Danny Gregory is one. I acknowledge in this journie he trained his artistic eye to see and grew in drawing skill. Unfortunately, the book dosen't show the first attempts, how he learned perspective, shadow and finally the use of color, you don't really SEE the process and progress.

The information I wanted was what art matterials he tried, what did he like, or didn't work for him. The only indication of material was on the front cover.

Definitely, not a how to book on drawing. There were no new insights or revelations for me.


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More than I expected

This book was required for a typography class I entered this Spring. While I thought it seemed like an interesting read, I wasn't sure what to expect. This is a very spirited book that encourages the artist in all of us. It also is wonderful to see art as therapy in a tragic event, and see it helping someone to come out of the mire, discovering the beauty in the new. A colorful meld of philosophy and art, coupled with the everyday "Joe" we can all relate to with a good sense of humor, and humanistic tendencies of emotion, this book gets a big thumbs up from me.

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An emotional rollercoaster

This book is sad, funny, makes you angry, upset, happy, everthing in it is definitely aimed straight to the heart! I enjoyed it. It's endearing and heartfelt. Makes you think about life being short and not so sweet sometimes. Thanks for making me count my blessings in this book.

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Editorial Review :

Please note that as of March 24, 2009, Courageous Souls is out of print. It has been reissued under the new title, Your Soul's Plan: Discovering the Real Meaning of the Life You Planned Before You Were Born (ISBN 9781583942727). Courageous Souls explores the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, before we re born for purposes of spiritual growth. The book contains ten true stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents. Because very different life challenges are often planned for similar reasons, readers who have not faced these specific challenges will nevertheless see themselves - and their motivations as a soul - in these stories. As readers come to realize that they themselves planned their lives, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are healed and replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace.

Customer Review :

Life Changing

The goal of this book is to allow people to experience sould consciousness and view the challenges in their lives as planned life lessons for spiritual growth. The author has achieved his goals.

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A Life Changing Book

Nearly the entire past year has been a time of growth and change for me, both for the better and for the worse. Out of every book I've read, none have helped me heal from my friend's death as much as this one. I would recommend this book to any open-minded person going through a rough time in their life.

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For me, the most healing book I have read.

What can I say in description of a book that has had more healing impact in my life than any I have read in a lifetime of 62 years? As a lifetime professional counselor, I have read and studied many books focused on the prospect of healing, but Robert Schwartz's Your Soul's Plan brought the events of my life more into focus than any I have read. I say this, not only as a healer, but also as a Vietnam Veteran, ex-helicopter ambulance pilot with a lifetime of challenge to overcome my own legacy of suffering.

Arranged in a series of case histories, tied together by the theme that there is an overarching life plan, planned pre-birth at a soul-level, we are made aware of how our own lives can fit the pattern he describes. With almost a hundred reviews here, I'll not go into repetition of the details so well described already. There are some things I would like to add.

For those of a skeptical scientific or conventional religious bent, the gentle narrative approach of Schwartz's writing will help you explore ideas that may seem unfamiliar or threatening to you. The consistencies in his discoveries that support his theme are particularly interesting. In my line of work, we might say that - while this may not be "good science" at this point, his discoveries have clinical validity when explored at the level he follows. My own life experiences and observations allow me to be open to the validity of psychic investigation, when it is genuine. Schwartz seems to have put together a good team of psychics to pursue his study. Obviously, it is difficult to establish validation, except on a personal level - but each of us ultimately can only establish truth on a personal level. Consensus and belief about truth can only take us so far.

What I find fascinating is how Schwartz is able to attain consistencies in details about each case he studies, when going from one psychic to another, without communication between the psychics. When one psychic reading of a person corroborates another of the same person, often elaborating or picking up where the other left off, even a skeptic would be hard-put to deny the significance! Such consistency in detail cannot just be made up! Beyond the attribution of clinical validity, where the person recognizes the healing/illuminating effect in his/her life, we now begin to approach the groundwork for scientific study.

Most of all, though, is the warmth and gentle compassion that Schwartz brings through in his work - done in a way that opens the reader to one of the most powerful insights we could have: that a Higher Power endlessly works through us, in total love and compassion, with an endless agenda to help us grow through the endless adventure we call life. Beyond being helpless victims of fate, we need only take responsibility for finding meaning in our experiences and for our endless God-given potential.

Granville Angell, author of The God-Shaped Hole - A Story of Comfort for The Child in All of Us

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Your Soul's Plan

This is a very worthwhile book, if you are into the "Michael" type material at all, or if you have any background concerning our place and purpose as individuals in this universe. Much to learn for everyone. Unfortunately, Amazon didn't bother to tell buyers that this is a newly-titled version of "Courageous Souls", so if you have that earlier book, as we have, there is no reason to buy this one. I returned ours.

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Each in our own way, with the help of everyone else

With this life-changing book by author Robert Schwartz, it is possible to glimpse the courageous soul within each of us, providing a whole new way of looking at our life's tragedies and trials, a way without judgment, blame, or guilt. Made obvious is the beauty of the coordination in the universe, as each of our life plans intertwine seamlessly with the plans of others, each who is also on his or her own path.

Mr. Schwartz evokes questions such as, "What life lesson is this person here to teach me? Why did I place her in my life? Why am I in hers?" Have you ever asked, "Why did this have to happen in my life?" Mr. Schwartz may provide some answers.

We look at the touching stories of ten individuals who have faced difficult challenges in their lives, challenges that many of us face at some time, directly or indirectly, such as illness, injury, handicap, and substance abuse. These ten subjects have chosen to come to Earth as a learning experience, to bring about soul growth, and they have contracted to face major life challanges while here, as we all have. Through mediums who demonstrate consistency from case to case and between each other, we are able to observe the subjects' pre-birth planning sessions with their guides and all the individuals who will incarnate with them for support and learning. Many of those that will incarnate with each other may provide difficult situations from which to gain experience for the soul. Have you ever met someone you felt you already knew? He or she is probably part of your soul group, who has chosen to come to Earth with you, and you with him.

This wonderfully fascinating book changed my perspective on many of my life experiences, and made me look at the people I encounter in a whole new way. Mr. Schwartz makes us realize that all things in life can be used toward a higher good, if we can just try to see the lesson hidden within. The knowledge imparted here has changed the way I look at my life as a whole, and hopefully, it will do the same for you.


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Editorial Review :

Roughly one in ten adult Americans find their walking slowed by progressive chronic conditions like arthritis, back problems, heart and lung diseases, and diabetes. In this passionate and deeply informed book, Lisa I. Iezzoni describes the personal experiences of and societal responses to adults whose mobility makes it difficult for them to live as they wish--partly because of physical and emotional conditions and partly because of persisting societal and environmental barriers.

Basing her conclusions on personal experience, a wealth of survey data, and extensive interviews with dozens of people from a wide social spectrum, Iezzoni explains who has mobility problems and why; how mobility difficulties affect people's physical comfort, attitudes, daily activities, and relationships with family and friends throughout their communities; strategies for improving mobility; and how the health care system addresses mobility difficulties, providing and financing services and assistive technologies.

Iezzoni claims that, although strategies exist to improve mobility, many people do not know where to turn for advice. She addresses the need to inform policymakers about areas where changes will better accommodate people with difficulty walking. This straightforward and engaging narrative clearly demonstrates that improving people's ability to move freely and independently will enhance overall health and quality of life, not only for these persons, but also for society as a whole.

Customer Review :

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1. ISBN13: 9781890627355
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

(2003 Skipping Stones Honor Award) In school, Moses, and the rest of his class are given the assignment of choosing a friend to write about. As he wonders which person to choose, he thinks of his circle of friends and what they share together. Some friends are kids like Jimmy, who says funny things, and Manuel, who races with Moses on the playground. Other friends are grown-ups like Mom and Dad, and teachers. Neighbors too, can be friends, like Kate, his teen-aged babysitter. Kate owns two really cute iguanas. One of the iguanas, Zaki, is missing toes. That's it! Moses will write about Zaki. After all, they really have something in common. Moses and Zaki both have special needs. Zaki, with her missing toes, must figure out new ways to move around and get to where she wants to go, which is exactly what Moses must do in his wheelchair! More than just a story about friendship, ALL KINDS OF FRIENDS, EVEN GREEN! looks at difference---such as being in a wheelchair or missing toes---in a unique way. With this beautifully photographed and engaging story, children discover that living with disability and facing its challenges can be seen as interesting, even positive. With an Afterword about disabilities, Moses, and iguanas, the story provides material for discussing inclusion at school and home.

Customer Review :

Great Book!

I really liked this book, and so did my 6 year old son. I have a boy with special needs who is 5, and this author captured the curiousity and excitement of a small child so well, and then revealed the disability of the boy in the book in a very positive manner. My son had fun reading it, and I know that the ideas that were in the background are what I want my son to "get". I would definetely recommend this book.

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A memorable friendship

"All Kinds of Friends, Even Green!" is written and photographed by Ellen B. Senisi. The text and photos tell a story about Moses, a disabled boy who gets around in his wheelchair. At school, his class is given an assignment to write about friends. Moses is inspired to write about a very special friend: Zaki, an iguana. Zaki is also disabled, having lost her back toes after a mite infection; Moses has a special affection with her.

This is a wonderful portrait of a multiethnic school environment that includes disabled youngsters. The acknowledgement section of the book thanks the participants at Zoller School in Schenectady, New York. After the main text there are three interesting supplemental articles: about disabilities, about young Moses, and about iguanas. The colorful, lively photos are enjoyable to look at. This book effectively reminds us that disability is an issue that affects both human and non-human beings. Moses and Zaki are likeable and admirable "characters," and the book movingly celebrates the special love a child has for a cherished pet.

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Unique, distinctive, and highly recommended

Written and photographed by Ellen B. Senisi, All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! is an adventurous picture book for beginning readers about a real-life pet iguana. Expertly taken color photographs of a boy and his beloved reptile companion, along with whimsical text, make All Kinds Of Friends, Even Green! unique, distinctive, and highly recommended.

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