Friday, October 29, 2010

Review Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose Best Review


Great book!!!
Simple, conversation style writing reels you right in.
The author, co-founder of zappos, humble despite all of his achievements, paints such a detailed picture of his life you can almost see the places and events.

In these days of tightening margins, in an effort to reduce costs, we are all seeing companies across the board cutting costs on all the wrong areas (try getting a hold of Sprint, Citizen's Bank, US Airways...) and if you do get a hold of anyone, the experience is so horrible you want to take a shower afterwards.

He realized that consistently great experience, from start to finish (and then some), will keep customers for life, and goes into great depth to describe how they are getting there and constantly evolving.

Not crazy about the chapter where the employees write paragraphs, for no other reason other that different writing styles change the dynamics of the flow.


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Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose Overview


In his first book, Tony Hsieh - the hip, iconoclastic, and widely-admired CEO of Zappos, the online shoe retailer - - explains how he created a corporate culture with a commitment to service that aims to improve the lives of its employees, customers, vendors, and backers. Using anecdotes and stories from his own life experiences, and from other companies, Hsieh provides concrete ways that companies can achieve unprecedented success. He details many of the unique practices at Zappos, such as their philosophy of allocating marketing money into the customer experience, the importance of Zappos's Core Values ("Deliver WOW through Service"), and the reason why Zappos's number one priority is company culture and his belief that once you get the culture right, everything else - great customer service, long-term branding - will happen on its own. Finally, Delivering Happiness explains how Zappos employees actually apply the Core Values to improving their lives outside of work, proving that creating happiness and record results go hand-in-hand.




Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose Specifications


The visionary CEO of Zappos explains how an emphasis on corporate culture can lead to unprecedented success.

Pay new employees 00 to quit. Make customer service the entire company, not just a department. Focus on company culture as the #1 priority. Apply research from the science of happiness to running a business. Help employees grow both personally and professionally. Seek to change the world. Oh, and make money too.

Sound crazy? It's all standard operating procedure at Zappos.com, the online retailer that's doing over billion in gross merchandise sales every year.

In 1999, Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay) sold LinkExchange, the company he co-founded, to Microsoft for 5 million. He then joined Zappos as an adviser and investor, and eventually became CEO.

In 2009, Zappos was listed as one of Fortune magazine's top 25 companies to work for, and was acquired by Amazon later that year in a deal valued at over .2 billion on the day of closing.

In his first book, Tony shares the different business lessons he learned in life, from a lemonade stand and pizza business through LinkExchange, Zappos, and more. Ultimately, he shows how using happiness as a framework can produce profits, passion, and purpose both in business and in life. (edited by author)

Amazon Exclusive Author Q&A with Tony Hsieh, Author of Delivering Happiness

1. In the book you say, "I've been an entrepreneur for most of my life." Do you think people are born entrepreneurs or do they become them?

I think usually by the time you're 12 years old, you either have the entrepreneurial spirit or you don't. I would describe the entrepeneurial spirit as a combination of creativity and optimisim.

2. Could you name one particular experience that inspired you to create a company devoted to customer happiness?

For me, it's really been driven by daily examples of bad customer service in my everyday personal life.

3. Was the worm farm really the invaluable catalyst for forming your business and life philosophy?

My parents tell me that as a kid I was always trying to come up with different business ideas. The idea of starting a worm farm is my earliest memory of a business idea.

4. You say that you have always been an avid book reader. What are your favorite books? Which non-business book helped you grow professionally?

Business books: Good to Great, Peak, Tribal LeadershipMade to Stick

Non-business books: The Happiness HypothesisComedy Writing SecretsThe Game

5. What is the ratio between rebelling against conventional wisdom and sticking to the good old truths in building a successful business?

1:10

6. You describe your way to happiness starting with profits, then going through passion and finally getting to purpose. Is that the only path to business happiness?

No, that was just the path that I happened to take. Part of the purpose of the book is to help other entrepreneurs and business owners shortcut the process and encourage them to go straight to combining profits, passion, and purpose.

7. You seem to have taken risks with business ideas a lot while growing up. How do you recognize a risk that you shouldn't take?

I think it just comes down to really breaking down what the worst case scenario actually is. For most of us, we're lucky to live in a time and in a society where we aren't actually ever in danger of dying from starvation or lack of shelter. Most of us have friends whose couches we can crash on in the worst case scenario, so any "risk" we take in starting a company isn't actually that big a risk.








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Customer Reviews


Good Book - Jojo Hess - Utah, USA
I was told about this book by a friend and bought it thinking it was more of a "How To" book, and even though it isn't, It was great to listen to and they do bring up great business ideas and things to keep in mind when trying to build a business.



Simply brilliant - Paul Bond - Monaghan,Ireland
I didn't read this book...I devoured it. I read it over two evenings and I found it very uplifting. I have already recommended it to my colleagues and friends.
Truly inspirational.






good read right on - george short -
I read the book in 1 night! very interesting, he has some very good insight into customer happiness!




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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Review Dancing In The Moonlight (Silhouette Special Edition)

Dancing In The Moonlight (Silhouette Special Edition) Best Review


This book is a wonderful story of strength, independence, re-adjusting to life after a tragic event, self-identity, family, community, patriotism, and the discovery of true love. A wonderful quick read and I highly recommend it.


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Dancing In The Moonlight (Silhouette Special Edition) Overview


Lieutenant Magdalena Cruz had come home…And though all she wanted was to be alone, infuriatingly handsome Dr. Jake Dalton—of the enemy Daltons—wouldn't cooperate. And she needed him to, because the walls around her heart were dangerously close to crumbling every time he came near.…

Jake had spent most of his life trying to get closer to Maggie, with little to show for it. But she was the woman he'd always wanted, and no injury in the world could change that. Now if only he could convince her that the woman who stood before him was beautiful, desirable, whole…and meant to be his.…










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Customer Reviews


GREAT BOOK - Hey Jude -
This was a wonderful story and I loved it. Gives you a up close look at how amputees deal with daily life. I found myself smiling at the end!



Cute Story - Bridgette K. Strait - Auburn Hills, MI
It was a cute story and I enjoyed it for light reading. It was easy to read and romantic.



Not so great - Krystal - Okinawa,Japan
I downloaded this book because it was free and it didn't sound too bad. I was mistaken, it's really not worth the time reading it. It's just really boring and slow.



pretty - -
this is a good book. its not perfect, in fact there are quitea few errors but its worth it. who doesnt like a good love hate relationship?




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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Have Fun With Graphic Design For Kids!

New Milford Photo has some great ideas to help parents and teachers bring the world of graphic design to children in a fun and practical way.

Parents and teachers are forever searching for new and interesting ways to give their children the skills they will need in the future. This can be a tough challenge sometimes but teaching graphic design on computers can be made into a fun and relevant game for children of any age.

Using New Milford Photo's transfer paper available online from their website, newmilfordphoto dot com, children can begin to create their own T-shirts and clothing, or even decorative mugs.

All manner of pictures can be printed onto the highly versatile transfer paper, using a color inkjet printer. Children can have fun, whether cropping photographs or creating their own artwork on the computer. The printed pictures are then easily transferred onto fabric or ceramic (depending on the type of transfer paper used) in a short time by applying heat to the transfer. In the case of fabric transfers, this can be done using a standard household iron.

By encouraging children to be creative in this way, they will not only benefit by spending quality time with their parent or teacher, but they will gain a level of computer literacy, combined with learning how the creative process can be productive. The personalized T-shirts they make are designed to last; with normal washing, the transfers can withstand around 40 to 50 washes.

John LaPerch, director of New Milford Photo comments, "Our iron-all transfer paper is ideal for kids' clothing as it can be used on such a wide variety of fabrics and can be ironed over once the transfer has been applied to the clothing. We also have some fantastic vinyl transfers in neon colors and hologrammatic effects which children will be able to have some real fun with!"

Editor's note - Please direct all media queries, requests for press information and editorial details, to Rebecca Appleton. Tel: 0208 123 5178 or email: press@topposition.co.uk




To purchase the best iron on transfer paper at competitive prices online, visit http://www.newmilfordphoto.com

About New Milford Photo

New Milford Photo is a photo imaging company with over 15 years experience in the industry. New Milford Photo specializes in T-shirt transfer paper for light, dark or opaque fabrics. All transfer paper is commercial grade which will work with a press or an everyday iron. New Milford Photo will make no shipping charges for all USA orders over $150.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Stop Textbook Inflation

Rising textbook prices have been and will continue to be a large scale problem for college students. In the past thirty years the price of books has nearly tripled. Expensive book prices are taking a toll on student's wallets across the nation. Luckily, there is short term solution and a more stable long term solution to this problem.

Last year the average tuition cost of a public college was $6,585 per semester. With college tuition costing almost seven thousand dollars a semester on average, how can college students afford to pay another $400 on books per semester? The answer is that they can't. Even with loans and scholarships, rising book prices are hard to predict. Some college students that have extremely low funds and can't afford paying for required textbooks, while the others continue to purchase books on an extremely tight budget.

The main problem is that many college students are refusing to buy or can't afford their textbooks. If students stop purchasing required books, not only will the students suffer but so will the professors. How would a professor respond if only half of the students in his or her class had the book because of its expensive price? The class couldn't be taught and the university or college would be notified immediately of the crisis.
So what can be done to save money on college textbooks in the short term? The best way to save money is without purchasing is to rent the book. Renting books can be done in the local college library, town library or even some websites. But unfortunately the library isn't convenient for everyone's schedule. Borrowing or trading books would be the next best option; search for the textbook in the most obviously places. Ask friends and family if they have taken that course and happen to have the same book. If no friends or family have the book, start an online group or a local college group to trade books each semester.

If borrowing or trading books isn't an option try to buy them at the cheapest possible cost. Purchasing books online is the most efficient way to save money when starting a new semester. Even international books are recommended, the content of the book is the same while they are sold at almost 90% off of the U.S. retail price. Many local off-campus bookstores also sell textbooks at lower prices than the college's bookstore.
The most efficient long term plan to reduce the cost of textbooks is for students to take action. Many professors will take into account the price of the book they require if a student notifies the professor ahead of time. Further actions can be taken by looking into local legislation. Call local representative's today and tell them something must be done. For example: Connecticut recently passed a law to disclose prices and history revisions of textbooks to faculty.

Textbook prices are a very serious problem for college students today. College students are struggling to pay the extra amount needed per semester, and there grades are suffering from it. Short and long term solutions can both be used to combat in the inflation or textbook prices.




Bill
jagsrocknfl@comcast.net
The Coffee Parlor Message Boards
http://forums.thecoffeeparlor.com

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Saturday, October 16, 2010

Book Marketing Mistakes Most Commonly Made

There are many ways to make mistakes when it comes to book marketing. You may find yourself in a predicament if you are not careful with how you choose to market your book. Take a look at this to find out ways to keep from making those mistakes. You are more than likely finished writing your book if you are looking into marketing. You have probably spent a long time focusing on your writing before you even considered marketing. If you have already found a publisher, then they have probably told you that they will help you market your book.

What you may not realize is that they are not going to put out a ton of money in order to market your book. Most of the time, they are not going to put that type of risk out there by shelling out money to market your book. This will leave you having to market your book on your own. Once you get your money from your publisher, you will want to use it for book marketing. If you spend your money, like most people do, then you will find yourself in a predicament if you do not save any for marketing.

Another thing that you will want to do is get people to review your book. If you do that, it will make your book that much easier to sell. First of all, you will want to make sure that the reviews give an accurate view of your book. This will help you when it comes to the satisfaction of your readers. If you do not focus on true reviews, then you will ruin your credibility as a writer. This can be a huge mistake. Be sure that your book marketing does not go unnoticed.




Carla Kaplan is a writer and researcher on book marketing. Save time and money by getting FREE in-depth information about the subject on this blog: www.TribalAuthor.Com

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Review The Man Who Would Be King

The Man Who Would Be King Best Review


I love a great story and this is one of my favorites. It conveys the circumstances of an underappreciated newspaper man in the British Colonial era at a minor outpost in what is probably a reasonably accurate way (politically correct by current standards or not).

The characters the writer encounters were likely somewhat common after finishing military duty in a far-off land and being at somewhat loose ends once mustered out. Going a bit "native" was probably not uncommon for those stationed throughout the reaches of the British Empire at its height (and decline). Ideas by those staying behind which appear hare-brained were possibly fairly familiar given the tenuous situation some of the ex-pats may have found themselves in. Heck, it might have even worked if they'd stuck to the original plan! It gives you a lot to think about as far as power vs. ego is concerned.

Read the story first if you haven't already seen the movie. You'll appreciate the writing's compactness and choice of style and flow that way. However, my feeling is that although this is an excellent read and definitely a classic, many readers may find watching the movie (which is absolutely in my top ten favorites of all time) helpful in understanding some of the more subtle aspects of the story. For example, the fairly obscure references to the Masons' rituals (perhaps by necessity at the time of writing) - which are in effect the central underlying theme in regard to the various characters' undertakings - are made much clearer in the film.

Enjoy!


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The Man Who Would Be King Overview


This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.








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Customer Reviews





The Short Story that would be better left unread... - CarsPlants - Maine
Classic short story with a politics/greed/imperialism theme. I just read it based on another review that said to read it if you had seen the movie. I happen to like light, entertaining reads and thoroughly dislike politics. So this short story of two greedy, stupid Englishmen who think that they can just show up somewhere with some guns and become their own self-proclaimed kings was a frustrating waste of time for me. And remembering the ending ahead of time didn't help. (Don't give up on Kipling based on this book - I just LOVE his Captains Courageous, an upbuilding coming-of-age story about a rich kid who was washed overboard and picked up by a fishing schooner and made to work.) This free Kindle edition (check to make sure the "bought here at Amazon" button is lit) was very readable, no glaring editing errors and only the usual margin issues.



A Kipling Surprise - Motley Wisdom - Southern California USA
This was my first prose by Kipling, and it was a pleasant surprise. His descriptions of the people and the country were excellent. The developing story and surprising conclusion made for a page turner. The Kindle version is satisfactory.



Recommended - Jason Paul Mestas -
A bit tough going for few couple of pages. Then I realized this is meant to be read in a "flowing" manner. I was amazed and how much was "packed" into a short story contaning human desires and how they often get the best of us when we give way to our egos. This is shown on a much smaller scale in small villages, but could easily be related to existing governments and their leaders and how and why they got there - and perhaps maybe they fail? All this, but still kept very intimate and personal to the characters in a humerous and entertaining way. And, hey, IT'S FREE!!!




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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Used Car Pricing: The Insanity of Used Car Prices

Used car prices are elusive, despite numerous attempts to harness them. We've all heard of Retail, Private Party and Trade-in values. But do these "help" in determining a vehicle's real value?

When we turn to the web for prices, it gets even more elusive. One web site places a retail value on a car at $18,000. Another puts it at $21,000. What should we believe?

If sellers are looking to get the highest price for the car they're selling, and the buyer wants to get the best deal possible, is there such thing as a fair used car price for both parties?

The answer is yes, but both parties have to be on the same page.

We'll call this "page" Fair Market Value.

That being said, how do we interpret the market to determine fair market value? Since most sellers and buyers are going to try to interpret the market to his or her advantage, let's even the playing field.

One of the most profound remarks I've heard to establish a better playing field for used car pricing comes from industry expert and owner of Medway Imports, Barry Roth. He states:

"To find market value, you need to take all the pricing data you find for a particular vehicle and throw out the high and low prices. What's left in the middle is where you'll find a fair market value."

While this doesn't address the used car pricing problem entirely, it does remove the unrealistic numbers that many clutch to like the drowning to a life preserver. It moves folks to more reasonable prices according to the market.

A lot of time is spent on popular web sites (for better or worse) to "help" determine used car pricing. But one should also follow and watch the market to see what cars are being advertised and sold for--if they're being sold at all.

Visit www.medwayimports.com for a host of great information on used car pricing.

Used car prices are also determined via auction pricing, and industry used car guides such as Black Book and the NADA Official Used Car Guide.

Importantly, even these books don't settle the used car pricing debate. Here's a publisher's note on the inside cover of the latest NADA guide.

It states:

The vehicle values in the N.A.D.A OFFICIAL USED CAR GUIDE,® are developed by N.A.D.A's editors based on many sources of information. These include reports of actual transactions throughout each area for which the guide is published.

The values in this guide assume a vehicle is clean. Appropriate deductions should be made for reconditioning costs incurred to put the vehicle in a salable condition. An exceptionally clean vehicle or one that bears a guarantee, warranty, or manufacturer certification should bring a premium price.

Please read your guide carefully when determining the value of optional equipment. N.A.D.A.'s editors believe that most optional equipment has little or no value on older cars. This is especially true of options that cost relatively little when new and which deteriorate with age or use. Only the more popular vehicle options are listed in the guide. Unless otherwise stated, all vehicles are assumed to be equipped with automatic transmission, air conditioning, compact disc player (and/or AM/FM stereo cassette,) power steering, rear window defroster, and tilt steering wheel. For other standard options, please review each vehicle's listing.

As you can see, even the most respected used car pricing guide "assumes" quite a bit, leaning heavily on the "opinions" of its editors to determine "appropriate deductions" and thus the ultimate value of a particular car.

So where does this leave buyers and sellers? After both parties throw out the high and low prices, it leaves them in the middle of the market. This is where they'll each get a fair shake (assuming vehicles are "clean"). Finding a good or "clean" used vehicle is another story.




-Theodore P. Olson (Ted)
RepairTrust...Making sense of Auto Repair Prices

Ted Olson holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, General Motors, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive industry.

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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Review Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary in a Box

Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary in a Box Best Review


Bought these cards to study for the GRE general test. I haven't taken the test yet, so I can't comment on how many of these words showed up on the test. But as for the cards themselves, they seem to be pretty good. I knew 30-35% of the words before-hand, but that still left hundreds of words to learn. There is a good variety of words in the cards, but the definitions were definitely lacking. They seemed to all be 3-4 word definitions made up by the author, rather than dictionary definitions. Sometimes I agreed with them, sometimes they seemed really wacky. And the synonyms were pretty vague as well, sometimes barely relating.

The card stock was somewhat light. These aren't thick index card stock, but they aren't super thin either. Good enough, but sometimes the cards get stuck together and you don't even notice.

Overall they are good, with a good variety of words. Hopefully they help me out on the test


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Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary in a Box Feature


  • ISBN13: 9781607140528
  • Condition: New
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Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary in a Box Overview


  • 500 flashcards covering the most-tested GRE vocabulary words
  • Sample sentences provide the words in context
  • Synonyms and a pronunciation key









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Customer Reviews


Ben - Ben -
Helps you learn the vocab of the GRE and a great accompaniment to the Kaplan GRE study guide.



Great way to reinfoce all those annoying words!!!! - Joseph B. Blaszczak - Kirkland, WA
Welcome to the part of the English language that you will never use!

The flash cards helped in preparation for the GRE. I do not agree with the GRE being as vocabulary-intensive as it is -- I would prefer that it would focus on cogent communication skills as opposed to bombastic vocabulary that only GRE test writers use in everyday communication. Anyway, I digress.

These helped in conjunction with other study skills. I also acquired the Kaplan test prep book and the "Cracking the GRE" test prep book.


They also have a high resale value! I was able to post them at auction after the test and almost recovered the full value!



Worth every penny and every minute of your time - -katie -
These cards are perfect. About 80% of the words I saw on the GRE were in this pack. I memorized every word in this box, and as a result scored in the 95th percentile. I see that other reviewers have commented that the definitions are insufficient, but I disagree. The definition and synonyms that these cards give you are what you need to select the correct answer on the GRE. You don't need a thorough understanding of the word- in fact, I think that might make it more difficult. I'm a very satisfied customer. I highly recommend this product.







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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Used Mac Laptops For Sale - Very Good News For Mac Book Lovers

We have to accept that fact that, many of us have the real craze for Mac books but because of its cost we hesitate to go for it. But for sure, if we get an opportunity for getting a Mac book at much cheaper prices then none of us will miss that opportunity. For all these fans of Mac Laptops is that, there are many websites which are official partners with Apple to sell their laptops have started selling used Mac Laptops at much affordable prices.

Many of us would be amazed to hear this news but it is very much true that you could buy any of the used Mac book laptops at much cheaper prices from these official showrooms. One good thing about this is that you are getting this product from an official partner and hence there are no chances for low quality laptops that you could take home from here. Also many of these websites provide similar benefits to these second hand buyers as well as they provide for the new laptops but with certain terms and conditions.

These are some of the good things which could encourage us to go for a used Mac laptop. Every other computer savvy would not resist using this wonderful laptop. If they can get these wonderful products at a much cheaper price what thing will stop them from buying it? So, if you are a real Mac book lover then there are many options open for you buy the product you love most at mere affordable prices.

So go through these websites and do get to know what are the things they have in store for you and if you are very much satisfied with it, then do not hesitate to go for a used Mac Laptop. With this option you can very well be a proud owner of this wonderful product from Apple.




To get to know where used mac laptops are available for sale and to buy the best possible used mac laptops on sale do make use of this website.

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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Shadow's Pride - Authors - Roland Stanzione & Gabriella Gafni - Book Reviews

Shadow's Pride is the story of a horse, Areion, and his interaction with humans, namely his owner, the co-author, Roland Stanzione. The unique aspect of this book is that it is half written by Areion. Yes, if Mr. Ed could talk to Wilbur, whenever he had something to say that is, then it makes sense Areion could write beautifully. The book interlaces his narratives throughout by alternating chapters, in a first person, one by Roland and one by Areion, as seen through the eyes of a horse. This aspect of the book took me by surprise, however allowing for the utmost of creative license I indulged in accepting this premise. After awhile, I was learning the message of the book, one of revealing the dark side of the equestrian business, and the strength, courage and love between a horse and owner.

The acumen of knowledge amassed by Roland Stanzione is extraordinary, and his writing, along with Gabriella Gafni, is laced with footnotes to help explain the history of man's relationship with horses throughout the ages. I found the foundation of the symbiotic relationship between man and horse to be most artfully articulated and clearly being spoken from a lover of animals of all types. It is the power and grace of such a large beast that makes horses different. One that allows the will of the rider to overshadow the will of the animal, as it gives trust, love and respect often to people that don't return the emotions. Unless a horse is fast or breed for service, the amount of neglect and malice present in some aspects of the equestrian industry would be clearly illegal, if the animal was human rather than a horse.

In the short time in which Areion's life overlapped, a bond developed that is quite rare. It may not be the only bond of such between a human and a horse, but Shadow's Pride talks about the feelings through the eyes of the Areion and Roland in a romantic way. Shadow's Pride, based on the true story of Areion, as written by Roland Stanzione and Gabriella Gafini, is a metaphor of love, respect and a commemorative work bringing meaning and hope to all those touched by the equine spirit.

This magnificent memoir is a touching story about Roland Stanzione's love of Areion. He transcends his affection as being a long time activist for animal rights. He learns the lesson of unconditional and devoted love from an abused horse that he rescued. He provides amazing insight into people and horses alike. Shadow's Pride reminds me of a "Marley & Me" story but about a horse. Some parts will make you laugh, others will make you cry and feel bad for what they had to go through during their lives. This is a must read for anyone who knows the riches of the love of animals, and understands complete and unconditional love.




Barbara C. Miller is a book reviewer for Pacific Book Review. Please visit http://www.pacificbookreview.com for more information.

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