Reader Views

425 Seriously Fun Ways to Enhance Learning...and Make it Stick!

I don’t even know where to start about this book except to say: it’s fabulous! It’s one of those keeper books that will get dog-eared very quickly because you will be referring to it often – very often.

As a presenter myself, I often struggle to find innovative ways to make my presentations interesting and captivating, as well as transformational. In "425 Seriously Fun Ways to Enhance Learning….and Make it Stick!" I found an array of suggestions, tips, and practical tools to do just that. Christie Sterns, a trainer, offers us a book full of ideas such as: questions to ask yourself when analyzing the audience; ways to praise your participants; ways to follow-up; ways to deal with hecklers and ramblers; as well as many others. Sterns also offers icebreaker activities as well as review activities.

Sterns’ book, "425 Seriously Fun Ways to Enhance Learning…and Make it Stick!" is concise and well-presented. The chapters lay out exactly what is in the book and make it simple to find the topic you are looking for. The content is useful as well as easy to implement. It really is a keeper, and I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a presenter or anyone aspiring to be one. It’s also a book that should be added to any training curriculum.

425 Seriously Fun Ways to Enhance Learning...and Make it Stick!
Christie Sterns
Helix Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780973473414
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/09)

Designing Your Perfect Home: Lessons from an Architect

Needless to say I was thrilled to receive this book for review. I have helped my husband, who is a home builder, design many homes and am always looking for the newest ideas and trends in the industry. I’m also looking for ways to make the house a home and create the "wow" factor for the prospective buyer. William Hirsch’s book is certainly helping me take my designing to the next level.

I like the first sentence of the Preface. Hirsch says "The book is for people who care enough to create a house that is uniquely their own." The important words are "care" and "uniquely their own" and throughout the book he focuses on ways for the homeowner to do just that – create a home that not only suits their lifestyle but one that is magical, yet comfortable and livable.

Hirsch divides his book into lessons; the first lesson being "Beginning the Journey." Here he explains about the architectural components and how to start. The lessons are in a step-by-step concept, and address things like: Unifying the Design, Choosing a Perfect Site, Putting Pencil to Paper, and The Budget. Although every lesson is very important, I believe lesson eleven is one that needs the most energy and time dedicated to it. It is titled "Thinking Through the Places Where You Live." Referred to as "the heart of the home," the kitchen is a place where most families spend a lot of time in. Combing the kitchen, family room and the breakfast room together creates this heart, making it an important room in the home. Hirsch gives a series of questions to ask oneself while planning the kitchen area. There are also a series of important questions to ask oneself when planning areas such as the bathrooms. Hirsch also covers rules on door swings and placements, lighting, closets, and sleeping areas. He gives the prospective homeowner the tools to create "your" perfect house.

This is such a good book! I’ve seen many while trying to create homes for prospects but not one as detailed and user-friendly as "Designing Your Perfect House." Hirsch certainly is providing a guide on creating a house that becomes a home.

Designing Your Perfect Home
William J. Hirsch, Jr. AIA
Dalsimer Press, Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9780979882036
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (11/08)

How to become Emirates Cabin Crew

Caitlyn Rogers
CE Publishing UK (2007)
ISBN 9780955281853
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (07/07)

I have to admit that I had my share of doubts when “How to become Emirates Cabin Crew” by Caitlyn Rogers landed on my desk. Quite frankly, I just wasn’t so sure how useful a book targeting the future flight attendants for Emirates Airline could be for anybody outside that limited and select group. I mean, how many cabin crew members could they even want to hire? So I plunged in without any particularly great expectations.

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From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard

Janet Lembke
The Lyons Press (2006)
ISBN 1592287468
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/07)

Winter is the time when most gardeners cannot do much actual work in their garden, so that’s the time when we tend to gather a bunch of gardening catalogs to marvel over and plan our new gardening exploits. Reading about new plants and making lists is a fun way to spend those waiting months, but I’ve discovered an even more fun thing to do if you are an avid gardener with a vision. Get yourself a copy of Janet Lembke’s “From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard,” and I can guarantee you will be enchanted.

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The Golden Birthday Book

Joan Bramsch
Home Edited (2006)
ISBN 9780934334174
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (2/07)

Joan Bramsch conceived the idea for “The Golden Book,” to celebrate her own five children, but the concept caught on with family and friends and soon spread like wildfire. “A Golden Birthday is a once in a life time celebration when the person’s chronological age is the same as the day of birth.”

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Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones

Richard W. Wise
Brunswick House Press (2005)
ISBN 0972822380
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (2/07)

This well designed and beautifully illustrated book is a definite plus to the library of any gem collecting or trading person around. With exceptionally intricate and crisp, clear pictures the author shares vast amounts of information with the reader that can be useful to anyone from the well-trained collector to the novice.

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The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith

Lorelei Sims
Quarry Books (2006)
ISBN 1592532519
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (1/07)

With use of modern equipment and traditional blacksmithing techniques you too can create works of art. Heat and hammer work together along with controlled movement to produce works of art. Lorelei Sims finds the “repetitive motions such as tapering, flattening, scrolling and texturing have actually become meditative.” “My goal is to provide knowledge, insight, and inspiration to enthusiasts interested in implementing their own backyard smithy.”

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Key Notes: Creative Steps to Piano Success

Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (11/06)

Author and piano instructor Barbara Wing shares her forty years of teaching experience in her latest book, “Key Notes: Creative Steps to Piano Success.” “Nine out of ten piano students quit lessons by the end of their second year” – with these disturbing statistics, Wing sees it as absolutely imperative for teachers to not only teach their students but to spark interest and enthusiasm. Her fresh approach to instruction is meant to keep students engrossed in the subject of piano studies for a much longer period of time.

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The Art of Regifting: Your ABC's Guide to Regifting, the Do's and Don'ts, Urban Legends and Folklore

Barbara Bitela
Outskirts Press, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 1598003143
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (11/06)

I have to admit that prior to reading this book on regifting, I have never practiced the art. The “Art of Regifting” literally covers the subject from A-Z in 55 very well-written and hilarious pages. After reading it, I now feel up to the task of regifting.

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Fishes, Flowers, and Fandangles: Art Activities to Inspire Creativity and Imagination

Hua Tao Zhang
All About Kids Publishing
ISBN 0970086326
Reviewed by Becca Lawler for Reader Views (8/06)

This was a really cool book. I liked the activities. The book was really simple to read and very informative - telling you exactly what you would need in order to complete all the crafts. I couldn't do some of the crafts because cooking was required. I can’t do that yet.

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