The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People

Book Description

Humans first settled the islands of Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and New Guinea some sixty millennia ago, and as they had elsewhere across the globe, immediately began altering the environment by hunting and trapping animals and gathering fruits and vegetables. In this illustrated iconoclastic ecological history, acclaimed scientist and historian Tim Flannery follows the environment of the islands through the age of dinosaurs to the age of mammals and the arrival of humanity on its shores, to the coming of European colonizers and the advent of the industrial society that would change nature's balance forever. Penetrating, gripping, and provocative, The Future Eaters is a dramatic narrative history that combines natural history, anthropology, and ecology on an epic scale. "Flannery tells his beautiful story in plain language, science-popularizing at its Antipodean best." -- Times Literary Supplement "Like the present-day incarnation of some early-nineteenth-century explorer-scholar, Tim Flannery refuses to be fenced in." -- Time

Customer Reviews:

Informative and interesting.......2005-09-27

This book is fascinating and very readable. Flannery teaches us quite a bit about the ecological history of Australasia for the past few tens of thousands of years. We learn about the flora and fauna, and about the impact of the people who rely on the fertility of the land to survive. We see examples of how human populations fared in places such as Tasmania and Easter Island, where they became isolated and started to run out of resources.

It is not surprising that some populations have increased until they affected the viability of the ecosystems. But we also see that many populations have not simply grown until there was a catastrophic shortage of resources, followed by a nearly complete population collapse. And we see that even moderate populations can collapse catastrophically.

One famous example of the collapse of a moderate population comes not from Australasia, but from England. The population nearly vanished there in the sixth century AD. Flannery cites one of the very few relics from the centuries immediately following this disaster, a poem fragment called "The Ruin." The author quotes from this poem, and quite properly shows that the author could not imagine how the people of only a few centuries earlier could have built what had clearly been an imposing structure. Of course, such structures were in fact built in Roman times. When the Romans left, the population went down considerably in the chaos that followed. And after that, one or more plagues almost totally depopulated England (by the way, although Flannery does not mention it, the author of the Ruin seems to have been aware of this latter fact).

Well, what does Flannery think a good population for Australia ought to be? He cites various sources that feel a maximum population for the country ought to be anywhere from 10 million to about 480 million. The present population of Australia is about 20 million, and the author is concerned about the potential inability of Australia to support such a population indefinitely, especially were the place isolated.

I agree that Flannery's concern is legitimate. In addition, I think we humans now have the ability to increase the population of Australia to far more than the land could hold after some major mishap. After all, plenty of sunlight falls on Australia. We're capable of using that sunlight for power. And we can use that power to desalinate water and pump it all over the place. That could result in fundamental changes to the ecosystem. In my opinion, these technological advances might easily allow a population of 500 million or more in Australia. And that population would remain stable until something went wrong. I think it's a scenario worth considering.

I recommend this book.

the book should be judged--not the writer.......2003-09-12

As a reader who admires good writing, and the effort that goes into writing a decent (popularized) account of a field, I take exception to the New Zealand reviewer's gossip of the author as a basis for judging the merit of this book.

Frankly, what "the Lady" with the goods on Tim Flannery had to say about the author is irrelevant to the book and a nasty way of going about discrediting a man who has solid claims to the field he is writing about. It says more about the woman than it does about Mr Flannery. That envy and backbiting is a seemingly inevitable consequence of competition among researchers (whether in the sciences or the humanities) is bad enough; that it gets passed on by readers who take vicious gossip at face value just shows how ideas are less important than the "dirt" one can spread.

Perhaps the previous reader can take the time to look up "ad hominem" and then consider the motives of the lady who claimed special privileged knowledge. The consider his own standards of judgment.

As for the book itself, the reviews already written give a good indication of what you get.

A Superb "Biography" of Australasia.......2003-07-04

Tim Flannery has written what can only be described as a the most comprehensive history imaginable of the lands making up present-day Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and New Caledonia. His fascinating account starts with the earliest breakaway of those lands from the super continent Gondwana, more than forty million years ago, and goes right up to the present-day, ending with Flannery's recommendations for preserving Australia's unique ecology.

Despite this mind-blowing multimillion-year scope of a territory covering an enormous area, the book never falters in its readability or interest. Much of it is highly speculative (as even the author occasionally admits), but Flannery presents enough evidence to make his hypotheses almost always seem plausible. I most enjoyed the comparison of the ecologies of New Caledonia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and Australia -- despite their proximity, they are entirely different places, and those differences are reflected in their histories. Flannery's account of the destruction of megafauna in Australia and New Zealand is also well-told.

There should be more of these kinds of books: "biographies" of not just a land, but an entire continent (and its neighbors). Flannery has also written a similar book on North America, called "The Eternal Frontier", that rivals this book in its scope and excellence, but with that single exception, I can't think of any other ecological history that does such a fine job over so wide a range.

The insatiable predator.......2003-04-08

With a sweeping gesture, Flannery dispels one of modern mythology's most cherished ideals. The image of the "Noble Savage," living intimately and in harmony with his surroundings is demolished by the evidence. Instead, Flannery shows how the intrusions of humans into previously unoccupied lands led to mass slaughters and the extinctions of countless species. His study covers the vast territories of the South Pacific - continents, large islands and archipeligoes - examining geology, weather and climate, flora and fauna. After completing this book, you will have a new view of our ancestors and how humanity has viewed nature.

In describing how humans have revised the face of the globe, Flannery begins in deep time. Tracing the breakup of Gondwanaland into what he deems Meganesia and Tasmantis - Australasia and the Pacific islands. For millions of years, life there evolved in unique ways. Isolated from the rest of the planet, Australia produced large marsupial mammals and giant bird species. Why did they disappear without apparent cause? After an examination of the likely candidates, climate being the most frequently cited, Flannery finds a different cause - humans. Fossils in Australia show that the large animals disappeared before the onset of the last glaciation. The extinctions, however, parallel the invasion of the continent by humans, people now known as the Aborigines. In one sense, the loss of the large animals forced the invaders to adapt a less predatory lifestyle. Mobility increased along with more selective hunting practices to maintain sustainable levels of supply. In studying these techniques, Flannery is able to move on to the subject of land management in today's world.

Although Australia's evolutionary path was unique, the lessons derived from studying events there may be applied globally, according to Flannery. Adaptation is an ongoing process, whether for "wildlife" or "civilized" humanity. Change forces that process. He aknowledges that in recent times change is more rapid and intrusive. We need to understand what impact those changes have and what, if any, adaptations are taking place. This book thus becomes and educational tool to help protect our own future. It is his recommendations for action that makes this book far more valuable than as simply a study of extinctions.

Flannery's many years of field studies granted him the essential background for this book. However, it isn't simply a dreary recounting of how we've ravaged the globe. His sense of beauty and love of life is vividly imparted in a deep personal sense. You join him in his travels in New Zealand, New Guinea and other Australasian lands. His fine descriptive powers and detailed knowledge combine to make this an excellent read. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Great Southern Lands.......2001-11-19

Tim Flannery's book on the ecological history of the `Australasian lands' (Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia, with bits and pieces on islands such as Christmas Island, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, etc), is both timely and refreshing. It is a good and current overview of argument and debate concerning the complex interplay of ecological and cultural forces shaping these parts of the world, from before human influence, to the times these lands were invaded at various times by homo sapien from at least 40,000-60,000 years ago (New Guinea earlier), to the present. It is very frank about the current state of these lands, in terms of environmental degradation, and what things could be done about it. It is quite controversial, and as someone who works in issues concerning biodiversity, ecology and resource sustainability, I can tell you much of the material is cutting-edge, complex, and controversial at times. In many instances Flannery is speculative and original, but often entertaining. He does back his theories and views up with substantial argument and evidence, and it is this which makes the book a cut above the ordinary.

One particular feature of the book worth emphasising is just how different these lands really are in terms of ecology, compared to most of the rest of the world. Not only is the flora and fauna, both extinct and living, somewhat unusual, but in, for example Australia, the climate, the influence of fire, the poor fertility or soils, and the part these factors have played in shaping the ecological past is rather surprising at times. Maladaptation of modern culture to these sorts of things is also particularly striking (for example seasonal agriculture in non-seasonal climate-early Australian colonisers, tropical agriculture in cold temperate climate-early polynesians in New Zealand). Of course early colonisers wanted, in the case of Australia, to create a `little Britain', so to speak, except that it is obvious after 200-odd years of settlement (and some of this has been rather odd), it isn't western Europe. Later idealists wanted another North America-Australia is similar in size to the USA, but it isn't in natural ecology.

The book is very detailed and quite complex to describe in short review. It includes chapters on early megafaunal and other extinctions from the arrival of early man in all locales, through to the present. It speculates about early human migrations to Australia, backed up for example by sediment cores from three interesting locales in Australia (Lake George particularly interesting). Discussions of diprotodon, megalania (an extinct 7m long lizard), giant moa, an extinct New Caledonian land crocodile, and 3m high kangaroos are some highlights. It is a complex story, but readers will be delighted in the unusual flora and fauna, the misguided `invasions', the arrogance, the trials, the failures and the astounding successes alike. Some particularly interesting parts for me was the demise of the New Zealand Moa-the worlds largest extinct bird, the story of virgin Lord How Island- first seen by humans of any kind in 1788, the discovery that many of Australia's marsupials descended from South America (ancient Gondwana in origin), the extraordinary array of New Zealands birds in the absence of evolving mammals, the degree of evolved co-operation amongst Australia's biota (for example self-sacrifice, and strange examples of symbiosis), and the story of Easter Island and its human contact.

There is a lot of controversial and complex stuff here, but it is well argued. Flannery speculates for example that Wallace's line played an important part in the `great leap forward', which I admit I didn't quite follow, with early agriculture in the New Guinea area, which spread outwards. I didn't agree with his assessment of firestick farming and agriculture in prehistoric Australia, and in this he differs from Diamond (The Third Chimpanzee/Guns Germs and Steel) in the reasons agriculture never developed in prehistoric Australia. He asserts that the reason agriculture didn't kick start in early Australia is due to poor soils, unpredictable climate (ENSO), and the prevalence of natural fire, not the lack of available biota. I don't think he is quite correct here, it is more likely competitive selection pressures, both *cultural* and ecological, in addition to isolation, did not facilitate development of the varities found in Australia, as compared to Eurasia. I also don't think his description of Australia's mineral wealth as a `one-off', is quite correct. `Mineral wealth' changes with technology, market and cultural factors. He also seems to miss evidence of some megafauna existing well after the arrival of aborigines in Australia, (it is a large and scattered ecological landmass) which I have come across elsewhere (eg Coonabarabran). I am also not sure of his view that high urbanisation in Australia is a modern maladaptation to the ENSO climate. He emphasises the influence of fire in Australian ecology, but perhaps over-emphasises in parts (his house was burnt down in a bushfire whilst writing the book, which may explain this!)

Nevertheless it is well argued and quite astutely written. The `Future Eaters' refers to homo sapien tending to eat his future resources and overpopulating-as occurred in New Zealand, Easter Island, and parts of colonial Australia-for example-and the human disasters which resulted form this tendency. He has a wide knowledge of the material, and certainly there are many original ideas worth thinking about. Some of the arguments will surprise readers, particularly from northern hemisphere countries, primarily because southern land masses have been, and also will be, rather different ecologically from their northern counterparts.

Average customer rating:
The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian lands and People
Tim Flannery
Manufacturer: Reed Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHE2LW

Average customer rating:
The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People
Tim Flannery
Manufacturer: Reed New Holland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHGR8I

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The Future Eaters: an Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People
Tim Flannery
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7CD6Y

$Philippine orchids: A detailed treatment of some one hundred native species \$
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Philippine orchids: A detailed treatment of some one hundred native species \
Reg S Davis
Manufacturer: M&L Licudine Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007K27ZY

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Philippine orchids;: A detailed treatment of some one hundred native species,
Reg S Davis
Manufacturer: William-Frederick Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Plants | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007E4AAA

Book Description

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go—they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Paris features gorgeous full-color photos of the sights and experiences that await you. It covers all the traditional tourist favorites but also lets you in on local finds, neighborhood hangouts, and little-known gems.

In case you're worried about the city's high prices, we've included tips on finding the best airfare, plus a host of affordable hotels and restaurants. And if money is no object, we'll show you the best places to spend it, from the Ritz to the hippest new boutique hotels, from grand dining rooms serving classic haute cuisine to the latest cutting-edge restaurants.

You'll rely on Frommer's for a complete guide to the city's sights, from the Louvre to Notre-Dame. We've included suggested itineraries plus a chapter of detailed walking tours that will help you get acquainted with the most intriguing neighborhoods. We'll help you find the city's best pastries, enjoy the best after-dark diversions, and shop til you drop; then we'll take you on side trips to Versailles, Chartres, Fontainebleau, Giverny and Disneyland Paris. It's all here in one easy-to-use guide, complete with a color fold-out map and color map of the Metro.

Download Description

The new edition of the top-selling guide to the City of Light

Americans made 2.2 million visits to France in 2002
Package tours and promotional airfares on upstart low-cost airlines are making European travel even more affordable
Paris is a four-season destination, and more and more travelers are taking advantage of super-low off-season airfares
Includes a full-color photo insert and giant foldout map

Customer Reviews:

Poor descriptions - would not buy again.......2004-04-09

My husband and I just got back from a week in Paris yesterday. This was our only guide book. We travel frequently and usually purchase either the Fordor's or Frommer's guide. I chose this book because it has the "best of" in the front. Most beautiful restaurant etc... We did go to Defours (I am not sure of the spelling) which was listed as the most beautiful restaurant and indeed it was beautiful. Most of the meals we ate were guide recommendations and they were indeed good. However my main gripe with this book is that the descriptions were somewhat inaccurate and were incomplete. For example if I had 3 or 4 sentences to describe a store, restaurant etc... I think I most anyone could have done a better job. The purpose of the descriptions is so the reader can make an informed choice as to where to spend time and money. To guide the reader as to what atmosphere, food, etc he would most enjoy. I understand the descriptions must be brief however in the description I think the author focused on the wrong elements. For example there was a store inside the Pompodour that had cool gift items inspired or designe dby Phillipe Starke. My husband and I thought it was an average size store or even a Department Store in fact it was a very tiny Musuem gift shop. I think its called Prin Temps Design or something. The author stated it was only loosely associated with the Grand Department store. In the description the author should have stated the store was a very, very tiny gift shop - in fact the smallest Musuem gift shop I have ever been by far and I have been in many, many Musuem gift shops the world over. Some of the restaurants he described as "beautiful" were only charming. He recommended the Bar Crillion which we went to and it was a very, small hotel bar and empty. It was a Sunday night. Had the description described how small and intimate it was we would have made another choice.

To find the restaurant "Caberet" we spent 45 minutes trying to find it but the map was inaccurate or just not clear. My husband and I are both highly educated professionals who use maps regurlarly with no problem and we could not find the restaurant from using the map in the guide. A few days later we saw that it was on a square. The description would have been clearer if it stated that the restaurant was on an open square. We probably would have been succesful in finding the resaurant and not wasted so much time. I could go on and on...

As my husband and I spend quite a lot on air fare, meals, hotel and precious vacation time it is frustrating to waste time on inaccuracies or to "guess" at where your going to. We would have purchased a different guide book but it was difficult to find English guide books and when we found one we only had a few days left. In the future we have decided to purchase 2 guide books for week long expensive trips. That way if one is incomplete or inaccurate we can always use the other.

I always buy a guide book when I travel and rely heavily on them to save me time and money and guide me to those experiences I would most enjoy. I have never been dissapointed in a guide book as a whole ...until now.

Better than most, comprehensive information.......2004-02-16

This book has comprehensive information. It offers more than some other books.

I do wish this book weren't so dry and encyclopedic. I prefer the Fodor's Paris book because it gives more than a dry description. Fodor's gives a first-hand account of actually being in the restaurant/hotel/attraction. Fodor's also gives more information about where to find the best values, the most interesting experiences, and how to get the best service.

This book is better than Rick Steve's guide, but not as good as Fodor's.

Excellent book, but not all complete.......2003-05-19

I bought this book, and also Rick Steves guide to Paris. This is the book we consulted to get around on the Metro (what stops for what destination), and for places to eat in the various parts of town. The bad thing about this book is that it does not give detailed "touristy" information about the various spots. This books is more concerned about getting you there, making sure you a place to stay and places to eat! So you need a rudimentary guide to explain what you're seeing, when it was made, who made it, etc. Rick Steves has some of this. Basically, this book is excellent for logistics, but not for much else.

Great Book!.......2002-11-01

I used this book for a recent trip to Paris and thought it was great. The hotels were spot on, the attractions info. was comprehensive, and I loved the fact that it gives me a "best of" in the beginning of the book. That's totally cool. Overall, I thought it was a great book.

Please note the previous review is not for this book!.......2002-10-22

If you check the date the review is posted, it is in January, 2002. Since Frommer's Paris 2003 was published in September, 2002, the review was written 9 months before the book came out!

As the editor of Frommer's Paris 2003, I'd like to point out that the book is revised and updated every year, and that the authors, Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince make a note of what's new, what's changed, what's closed down (either permanently or temporarily) and any tweaks and changes involved in traveling to and staying in Paris.

Book Description

Frommer's Portable Guides offer all the detailed information and insider advice of a Frommer's Complete Guide—but in a concise, pocket-sized format.

Perfect for the short-term traveler who insists on value and doesn't want to wade through or carry a full-size guidebook, this series selects the very best choices in all price categories and takes you straight to the top sights. Get the latest on hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, shopping, and nightlife in a nutshell in these lightweight, inexpensive guides.

Thoroughly updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Portable Paris is completely up to date with the latest developments in Europe's most romantic city. It's all at your fingertips: a carefully chosen selection of the very best places to stay and dine in all price categories; the top museums, cathedrals, and historic sights; world-class shopping; and the best of the city's legendary nightlife. With detailed neighborhood maps and valuable logistical tips, Frommer's gives you the best of Paris at a glance!

Download Description

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. Frommer's Portable Guides help you make the right travel choices. They're easy to carry and carry an unbeatable price. Frommer's. Your guide to a world of travel experience. Put the Best of Paris in Your Pocket A compact guide on getting to and enjoying the City of Light. Outspoken opinions on top attractions what's worth your time and what's not. Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget. The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.

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Frommer's 2004 Paris
Darwin; Prince, Danforth Porter
Manufacturer: Frommer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M7TANE

Customer Reviews:

Read before you Date!!!.......2005-03-12

For Better, For Worse, Forever: Discovering the Path to Lasting Love by Beatty Cohan and Elliot Cohan gives readers the 10 key ingredients to assessing whether a person is right for them or not before pursuing a relationship. Finally the secrets to a long lasting relationship are out! Everyone should pick this one up before their next date.

Average customer rating:

a book to cry over
A Romantic Story of Loving Again
ruins "till death do us part"
For Better For Worse Forever
A Great Read!

For Better, For Worse, Forever
Lurlene Mcdaniel
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0553570889
Release Date: 1997-08-11

Book Description

In this companion to Till Death Do Us Part, grief-stricken April Lancaster is devastated by the loss of Mark Gianni, and she and her parents have gone to the island of St. Croix for an extended vacation. One day on the beach, April meets bitter, lonely 18-year-old Brandon Benedict. Brandon blames his father for his mother's recent suicide. April is still trying to come to terms with her own grief. The two get very close...but April doesn't tell Brandon about her medical problems. Then April's headaches return, and she and her parents quickly fly back to New York, leaving an angry, bewildered Brandon behind. April is dying. Can she bring herself to tell Brandon that he'll soon lose another person he loves?

Customer Reviews:

a book to cry over.......2007-04-01

well, we began the book with a depressed eight-teen year old who goes off to St.Croix with her parents. Before this her fiance died in a fatal car crash that was caused by CF. later on she meets this guy who is agressive and disturbed. and you guessed it they hit it off from the first moment they meet. although she is keeping one secret to her self and that is she has a tumor. the sparks fly until she leaves all of sudden back to her home town. where she hears there is no hope for her so she decides to die back at St.Croix. man this guy is still crying over her and hating her at the same time. she was a wimp and left without saying a word to guy. when she comes back he sees the beautiful girl he first met. he stays by her side day and night until she passes on and once again is with her first love. guy (brandon) finds out that you can have many loves in your life. and that when you get a chance at love a second or third tome you should seize the moment...

A Romantic Story of Loving Again.......2006-02-10

While recovering from the loss of her fiancée to cystic fibrosis, April Lancaster goes to the tropical islands of St. Croix. There she is befriended by a local boy named Brandon who is determined to make her feel welcome. The two friends find they have much in common, and their friendship begins to become more than they had ever imagined. Suddenly, April's past health problems return causing her to leave beautiful St. Croix, but she doesn't tell Brandon. Not knowing what to say to him, he is left with disbelief. Will April be able to confront Brandon? And will Brandon be able to speak to her after what she did? Read and find out!
Rating this story with three stars, I would have to say this wasn't my favorite Lurlene McDaniel book. The beginning of the book was a bit blasé at times, but once I got to the conflict, it was hard to put it down. Lurlene McDaniel wrote a beautiful story from then on. I loved all of the foreshadowing and simple figurative language that added just the right amount of drama. Lurlene McDaniel has a way of resolving everything in the story which keeps you reading until the very end.
This story was full of emotion, romance, and learning to love again. If you like stories full of suspense and life-or-death situations, you would enjoy this book. Lurlene McDaniel truly has a gift of capturing her readers, so be prepared to be caught up in For Better, for Worse, Forever.

ruins "till death do us part".......2005-11-28

I absolutely love "Till Death Do Us Part"! I bawled at the ending, yet it was reailstic, and told the true hardships of CF. Of course I had to read the sequel afterwards. Now I'm sorry I did.

April's tumor is still lying doormat, and her mother and father have taken her to St. Croix to relax and recover from the horrible events of the past. April is still having trouble over Mark's death. She just can't get over watching her fiance die of CF. Her parents are hoping St. Croix will help her. The thing is, doesn't she have a right to be sad and angry? Her fiance has just died. I mean come on, give her some slack.

She meets Brandon on St. Croix. He's had a hard and sad life, just like April. They don't exactly date, but they become really good friends. I just couldn't belive it! I mean, wasn't it only like 2 months ago that Mark died????????????!!!!!!!!! And you're already hanging out with new guys?

Then April's tumor comes back. She leaves St. Croix without a word, and is given terrible news. Nothing can be done about the tumor, and it is certain that April will die. Nothing could be done.

Reading this book just made me so angry. I mean, what was wrong with ending the story of April and Mark?????!!!!!!! Why'd she have to write another book? And did she have to have April die? Was that really necessary? Now the story's just ruined for me.

For Better For Worse Forever.......2005-01-12

I really like this book but I certainly thought it was one of her weaker books. This book is realistic fiction. It is about a girl name April Lancaster and her boyfriend died with cystic fibrosis. Then she went to St.Croix to get away from her troubles. Which there she met a dude name Brandon Benidict they have a good time together. Then April found out her brain tumor is back and she sneeks back to New York so Brandon wouldn't find out. To find if April survives you have to read this book.

A Great Read!.......2004-01-22

This book is about a young woman, April, who went on a long vacation with her parents to St. Croix. Her parents brought her there to try to ease the pain, from the recent loss of her fiancé Mark. Mark died in a car crash a few months back, and April thought that she had no reason to live. When April went to St. Croix she fell in love with the cool crisp wind, and the crystal clear water. While she was there she met Brandon, a senior in high school. At first, April didnýt want anything to do with Brandon; she didnýt even want to leave the house. But little by little, Brandon grew on April. She finally decided to go out to the beach with him, and she had the best time. Brandon was in love with April from the moment that he laid eyes on her. However, April just thought of Brandon as a good friend. After a while April knew she had deeper feelings for him. Especially because Brandonýs mother had committed suicide, and April knew how it felt to lose a loved one suddenly. As a little girl, April had a brain tumor, but luckily, surgery fixed it, and the tumor never grew back. But, just when April started to enjoy life again, she started to get very severe headaches. Her parents got very nervous and rushed her back to New York to see her specialist. She left Brandon without an explanation, not even a good-bye, and she regretted it. Did Aprilýs tumor start growing again? And if so, will she survive, and be able to see Brandon again? Youýll just have to read the book to find out. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes drama!

For Better, for Worse, Forever: 10 Steps for Building a Lasting Relationship With the Man You Love

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A superb tool for taking a look behind the cover of my lover
A reliable method for finding a good love match

For Better, for Worse, Forever: 10 Steps for Building a Lasting Relationship With the Man You Love
Beatty Cohan , and Elliot Cohan
Manufacturer: Chandler House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Mate Seeking | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1886284229

Book Description

For Better, For Worse, Forever contains a 10-step formula that teaches women how to evaluate a potential partner. Through stories, quizzes, and questions, readers learn: Who your partner really is and How to get what you really want and need in a relationship and avoid what you don't want.

Customer Reviews:

A superb tool for taking a look behind the cover of my lover.......1999-02-14

As a woman in my mid 20's, I still find it very hard to keep a relationship and find the right man for me. When I heard that this book was coming out, I jumped at the chance to buy it hoping it was the perfect solution to my problems....and it was exactly that. The chatty tone of the book makes it fun and easy to read yet very informative. This book proves to be a great tool in assisting my search behind the cover of my lover and determining if he is Mr. Right or Mr. Wrong. I highly reccomend this book for any woman pondering marraige or starting a new relationship. This book's 5 stars are well deserved!

A reliable method for finding a good love match.......1999-02-05

As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who has worked extensively with relationships, I'm always on the lookout for good self-help books to recommend to my clients. This is one of the better books I've come across. Addressed to women of all ages, it offers a tested, reliable method for sizing up the strengths and weaknesses in their current relationship with their partner, early on. It provides guidelines to keep them out of bad relationships, and helps steer clear of allowing passion-filled, idealized fantasies to take over. Properly used, it may save life and sanity. After absorbing and using the lessons of this book, a woman need never settle for a man who is abusive or habitually inconsiderate. She will have a much better chance of finding someone who "clicks". In a readable and down-to-earth style, free of theories and psychobabble, the authors guide the reader in getting to know who her partner really is "deep down". They show how a woman can become adept at fostering a healthy, fulfilling relationship, and point up the risks of premature commitments. Questionnaires and checklists organize the material. Communication patterns, past relationships, negotiating, problem solving, and sexuality all receive attention. Short case vignettes from the authors' practice highlight the main points. How people may unwittingly fall into a repetition of unhealthy previous relationships becomes perfectly clear. It is also encouraging to see that when or both partners takes responsibility for personal insight and change, the relationship can grow in new directions. After reading the book I was aware of a new respect for the complexities of loving relationships. I highly recommend it.

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