Rising levels of consumer debt are a major concern of average people all over America. This book gives some easy ways to ease, or even eliminate, that burden.

Get a copy of your credit report and read it carefully. An annual free credit report is available from each of the major credit bureaus. If there are errors in your report, and there probably are, it is up to you to fix them. Pick up the telephone, start dialing, and document everything. If there is a collection on your account, call the collection agency, and ask if they will delete it from your credit report (not just mark it Paid) if you pay it. If you are near your credit card limit, pay it down to less than 30% of your credit card limit, or spread it over several cards. A high credit card balance does not look good on a credit report. Also, pay your bills on time, never miss a payment, and don’t have too many credit cards.

If a collection agency suddenly starts calling, ask for documentation of the bill. Don’t admit to anything over the phone. There is a fair chance that the debt isn’t even legitimately yours; they are just looking for someone they can frighten into giving them money. Do not fall for their scare tactics. Think about negotiating with your creditors; they ought to accept partial payment over no payment.

Did you know that there is a Statute of Limitations on open accounts? If a certain bill is, for instance, more than 3 years old in New Hampshire, or more than 6 years old in Connecticut, collection agencies cannot legally collect on that bill. If you start getting collection calls on a bill where the SoL has almost run out, ask them to mail documentation to you. Delay as much as you can. Do not send in even a small payment, because that will start the Statute of Limitations countdown all over again.

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The book explores a number of things that the author must consider before signing a contract. Are the publishing fees fairly priced? Does it have a good reputation in the writing community? Does it offer decent royalties without fuzzy math? Can the author easily terminate the contract? Does the contract include the ability to obtain an ISBN or a UPC Bar Code? Never accept a contract whose terms extend for the length of the copyright (the life of the author plus 70 years). What happens to your book if the publisher declares bankruptcy?

Much of the book is taken up with an analysis of the contracts from 48 different self-publishers. The Outstanding publishers include Booklocker, Bookpros, Cold Tree Press, Infinity Publishing and Outskirts Press. The Pretty Good companies include Booksurge Publishing, Echelon Press and Third Millennium Publishing. The Okay publishers include Indy Publish, Llumina Press, Plane Tree Publishing and Publish to Go. The Bad publishers (to be avoided at all costs) include AuthorHouse, Holy Fire Publishing, PageFree Publishing and PublishAmerica. Any author thinking of signing with a "Bad" publisher needs to seriously reconsider if being a writer is really a good idea.

There is a more recent third edition available (this is the first edition). Regardless of the edition, this book needs to be on every budding author’s bookshelf. It is full of information on what to consider, and what to avoid, before signing a book contract.

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Before you can spend money on clothes or an MP3 player, you need some money coming in, so a job is a requirement. Apply at a favorite store at the mall, or the local supermarket, or advertise in your neighborhood as a dog walker. This is the time to put on your thinking cap and get creative. If you are underage, get the approval of your parents first.

Now that you have a steady income, what do you do with it? The authors suggest creating four "pots." Put 30 percent toward everyday expenses, another 30 percent toward short-term savings (like a new pair of boots) and the other 30 percent toward long-term savings (it’s never too early to start saving for college or a car). Consider giving the last 10 percent to charity.

How do you get the most out of each dollar spent? Don’t be afraid to shop at second-hand or thrift stores. Many times generic cosmetics have the exact same ingredients as the brand-name cosmetics; you are paying for the marketing and fancy packaging. Do your own nails. Read the details of your cellphone plan and know exactly what you are paying for. Bottle your own water instead of paying for it, and think about hosting a DVD night with your friends instead of going to the movies.

Savings accounts are an easy, and safe, way of making your money grow. For those who are more daring, perhaps investing in the stock market is the way to go. The potential payoff is greater, but so is the risk of losing your money.

There are alternatives to "retail therapy," the pick-me-up that comes from spending money. Hold a clothing swap, exercise, discover the things that your library has for free or become a volunteer at an organization that does work that you care about.

The authors do a wonderful job at painlessly taking the reader through the world of money. There are colors and graphics throughout, so it is really easy to read. Boys should not be put off by the title, this book is equally recommended for you, too.

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Mezentia is a city-state that is the local technological superpower. They don’t let their technical knowledge get out to the surrounding kingdoms, which is how they keep their superiority. Mezentia is also a land of guilds, where technical specifications and tolerances were decided long ago. It is written into law that, for instance, a certain gear shall be no larger than a certain size (down to hundredths of an inch) or a certain lever shall be a certain length, and no longer. Ziani Vaatzes, a talented engineer, breaks the rules, unintentionally, in building a mechanical toy for his daughter. He is sentenced to death by the Mezentian Council, accused of Abomination, and manages to escape with his life.

Vaatzes is picked up by the remnants of the army of Eremia, one of the neighboring kingdoms. They are struggling to get back home after attacking Mezentia, and getting slaughtered by superior Mezentian weapons. His offer to train Eremians in how to build the weapons that just decimated their army is politely declined, but Vaatzes is set up in a factory of his own by the Eremian equivalent of a venture capitalist. Vaatzes does not just start at the beginning, he has plenty of building, planning and training to do just to reach "the beginning." In Mezentia, tolerances and specifications are expected to be exact (anything less is not good enough), but in Eremia, the best Vaatzes can do is "pretty good." He and his employees have scoured the city looking for scrap metal to use in the weapons, but they will get the job done.

Meantime, the Mezentian Council has learned that Vaatzes is still alive, and is building weapons for the Eremians. The decision is made to invade Eremia, and wipe the entire race off the map. Nothing is more important than Mezentian technological superiority. Civitas Eremiae, the Eremian capital, is built into the side of a mountain, and is nearly impossible for an invading army to conquer. But, it does have a very secret, and very ancient, "back door."

Parker is an author who Gets It. This is a big novel, but it is an excellent piece of writing that will really keep the reader’s interest. I may just read the other two, equally large, parts of this trilogy just because the storytelling is so good.

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The physical world is full of vibrations. Sound waves are vibrations, it could be said that light waves are a form of vibrations, and brain waves are also vibrations. "Stress" is a major cause of physical and mental illness in our present-day world. Perhaps a cause of stress is our brains being somehow out of alignment with the natural level of vibrations. If our brains could be "re-aligned," the possibilities are interesting.

Have you ever been in a good mood, and have that mood suddenly disappear in the presence of a sullen, angry person? Alternatively, have you ever been in a bad mood, and the presence of a happy and optimistic person makes that bad mood not so bad? Maybe it’s possible to be "sensitive" to the brain waves of others, or to have strong brain waves that can affect other people.

What is this very simple method to change one’s life, a method that can be taught in a couple of minutes, and can fit on one piece of paper? It is rhythmic vibratory shaking of the head, or the whole body (the book goes into detail). This will create brain waves that will promote mental and physical well-being. The brain stem is the healing center of the brain. If it can be accessed the right way, lots of good things can happen. This can also quiet the constant noise of the prefrontal cortex, which is the thinking part of the brain, letting the brain stem do its thing.

The average person may consider this way too simple, and more than a little silly, but what have you go to lose? This technique takes only a couple of minutes at a time and can be done anywhere, including at your desk (any way to reduce workplace stress is automatically a good thing). This book is very easy to read, and it may be just the thing to change your life.

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A basic human need, going back to infancy, is for emotional safety and security. In adults, that is usually provided by the spouse. What happens when that security is threatened? Perhaps your husband takes off his wedding ring because he supposedly does not like to wear jewelry. Perhaps your wife spending one night a week out with her friends convinces you that she prefers to be with other people more than you.

A person with a secure attachment style will give their mate the benefit of the doubt. They can calmly discuss the problem, and believe the explanation. Those with an anxious attachment style are not confident of their partner’s trustworthiness. They are more clingy and aggressive in demanding reassurance and explanations, which will probably not be accepted. An avoidant style of attachment equals a fear of getting close to anyone. People can’t be trusted, so there is no point in closeness with anyone. Everyone has an attachment style. What is yours?

When a person feels their mate’s separation or distance, there are two ways to react. A criticizer/pursuer gets angry. Their attempt to regain closeness may sound like complaining and criticizing their partner. They also demand an accounting. The withdrawer/defender goes in the basement, or simply ignores the partner. They also get defensive. What sort of person are you?

What to do? First of all, understand that you are part of the problem. It is not all your spouse’s fault. Couples have to listen and communicate emotionally to each other. Your interpretation of your partner’s actions may be wrong, so ask for clarification. If you don’t understand what you are doing during an argument, how can you change it? Look at things from your partner’s perspective. Everyone has hot buttons. Recognize yours, and if they are activated, take a step back and tell your partner what you are feeling, instead of going right into "argument" mode.

This is a really interesting book full of practical information to help the two of you get back to being "best friends." It is very much worth reading.

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September University is not an actual school, but more of a frame of mind or philosophy. It radically changes the idea of retirement from doing very little while waiting for the Grim reaper, to helping to create a better world for future generations. Within the next 20 years, the baby boomer generation will reach retirement age. They have plenty of demographic power to change American society for the better. Why not start using it?

Among the major obstacles to getting more out of life are a fear of death, and a lack of curiosity. The book shows how to turn those around. In this extremely media-centric world, it is more important than ever to be able to filter through the media noise and get to the important stuff. In attempting to get past the "us versus them" way of thinking, the author looks at the human belief in the "group," those who look or think like us, and the automatic bias against those who are not part of the group. Imagine the possibilities when new technologies are used to quench a thirst for knowledge. How does one reconcile a new-found desire for a just society with the system presently in place? The author gives alternatives.

What can the average person do to help create such a society? Pick a subject or issue that you really care about, and find organizations working to build such a future. Seek out chances to engage in civil dialogue. Join or visit groups whose values are different from yours. Read the books that you have never had a chance to read. Create an e-mail list of legislators to contact, and don’t be afraid to use it. Learn about the Internet world of teenagers. Visit a senior center or an orphanage. Connect with younger generations. Write frequent letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Write your own epitaph.

Just because you are getting on in years, don’t think for a second that you can’t still contribute to society. This is a wonderful book full of inspiration for those who have the desire to better society, but don’t know what to do with that energy. This gets two strong thumbs-up.

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Looking in through a basement window, he sees two local married couples, the Renfield’s and the Abernathy’s, dressed in long black cloaks, and with a pentagram drawn on the floor. They got hold of a book of spells, and are playing at devil worship. Things work better than they expected, because an actual gate to Hell is opened. All four are taken over by demons from Hell. Mrs. Abernathy becomes the extremely sexual "leader" of the invasion of Earth, while the others have become decaying, humanoid things that catch flies with their tongues.

What can Samuel do? His mother doesn’t believe him, and his father walked out on the family months before, and is now living elsewhere, with another woman. Knowing that Samuel is "the enemy," Mrs. Abernathy sends some demons to take care of him, once and for all, but they are failures. Meantime, the invasion of Earth has begun, with "minor league" demons coming through the gate, but the townspeople start to fight back. Samuel recruits a couple of friends, Maria and Thomas, who is pretty good at whacking demons with a cricket bat. The only way to stop the invasion is to reverse the portal, which has now consumed the house. They get some unexpected help from Nurd, another demon who was planning to rule Earth, but had a change of heart.

Here is a wonderful piece of storytelling. It is made to be read aloud to older children (it may be a little too much for younger children). Adults will love it, because it is full of that dry, understated, British-type humor. Either way, this is very much recommended.

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The Salwen’s live in suburban Atlanta, in a $1.5 million house, but they are veteran volunteers through the local Habitat for Humanity. One day, fourteen-year-old Hannah has a Eureka! moment. In the car with her father, she sees a shiny Mercedes car next to a homeless man. She realizes that if the Mercedes driver was driving a lesser car, the homeless man could have a meal. This leads to a decision by the family, not an easy decision, to downsize into a smaller house, and give half the proceeds to the poor.

The first decision to be made was who they should help. There are many worthy charities and causes out there; the decision was made to focus on poverty in Africa. The next decision to be made was how they should help. Simply throwing money at the African continent will not help; in fact, it may just make things worse. The family was very methodical, researching a number of smaller charities, and meeting with representatives of their top 4 choices to hear their "sales pitch." The Salwen’s eventually decided to assist a couple of villages in the country of Ghana, traveling there to see the results of their generosity, up close and personal. The only problem in their whole plan was that their house went up for sale right in the middle of the housing crisis, so it was on the market for a very long time.

Along the way, the Salwen’s learned, the hard way, that not everyone will "get it." Even friends and relatives interpreted their generosity as a comment on their lack of generosity (we’re better than you are). Perhaps a bit of discretion is not a bad idea.

Obviously, not everyone can downsize into a smaller house, and donate half the proceeds to the poor. Find something you can do. It can be as simple as halving your TV or computer game time each week, and spending that extra time volunteering at a food bank or soup kitchen. This is an inspiring story of how one family gave back to others, and it will inspire others to do likewise.

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Set in Chicago of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Brian seems to have a genetic need to walk everywhere, which he writes about in his zine. He works in the copy room of a downtown law firm, which is a godsend for any zine publisher. He is friends with Tracy Minister, a gorgeous woman who is temping at the firm while she pursues her dream of becoming an actress.

One day, while crossing a downtown street, Brian is already in the crosswalk, when a BMW tries to drive between him and another man also in the crosswalk. In an instinctive reaction, Brian kicks the BMW and dents it. Both men are arrested, then released, and the BMW driver sues Brian for damages. As the case waits for its turn in court, Brian becomes an ardent defender of pedestrian’s rights, and a national celebrity.

He goes on a national lecture tour, causing the law firm to terminate his employment. Speaking at college campuses, he gets a positive reception, and sells lots of copies of his zine. Later, Brian travels to a national zine conference in San Francisco, where he also gets a generally positive reception. The exception is when another zine publisher publicly accuses Brian of selling out zinedom’s guerrilla, do-it-yourself philosophy. Because of Brian’s fame, he can no longer keep up with the demand for Walking Man. It is now printed by a printing company, the cover is 4-color glossy paper, and there is a (gasp) bar code on the back (the mark of the Antichrist in the zine world).

Meantime, Tracy has gotten an acting job. It’s in a local production, and it requires her to be naked on stage. That lasts for a few months, then she gets a job as a Production Assistant on a local TV talk show. Brian freaks out, accusing Tracy of being a sellout; they don’t see each other for a while. Does Brian stand up for pedestrian’s rights by winning his court case (which finally sees the light of day)? Do he and Tracy get back together, and ride off into the proverbial sunset?

Here is a really interesting look inside zine culture; anyone who has ever published a zine will enjoy it. It’s also a good story of an average person suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

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A person can argue about the conduct of the war in Iraq, how well or how badly it was executed, and whether or not waterboarding is torture, etc. The central premise, that we are guided by noble desires, to help Iraqis enjoy the fruits of democracy, can not be questioned. Supposedly, Arabs are not ready for Western-style democracy. Opinion poll after opinion poll, including those done by US officials in Iraq, show that large majorities of Iraqis want US troops to leave, fully and immediately.

If a US ally was invaded and occupied by another country under false premises, and the invaders were unwanted by the local population, don’t they have the right to resist that occupation? Unquestionably, the answer is Yes; such a person would be hailed as a freedom fighter. But, when America or an ally does the occupying, there is no legitimate resistance. Freedom Fighter automatically equals Terrorist.

The author entered Iraq through Syria in 2007, intentionally without the knowledge or consent of American authorities. He wanted to avoid the Green Zone in Baghdad, Potemkin (fake) villages set up by the American military and talking to "approved" Iraqis. He was able to meet with, and stay with, many Iraqis who told him exactly why they joined the resistance.

A central principle of Islam is to never kill innocent people. That is the difference between resistance fighters and terrorists. Every family has lost someone during the occupation, some arrested and never to be heard from again. To the assertion that civil war will erupt if American troops leave; like that is so much worse than what is going on when this book was written (2007). If the American troops left, the Iraqi resistance could easily get rid of Al-Qaeda on its own. Early in the occupation, American troops in Fallujah fired on a peaceful demonstration of Iraqis upset that the troops had taken over a local school, killing 15 and injuring 65. American General Geoffrey Miller has been quoted as saying that Iraqi prisoners should never be allowed to think that they are anything "more than a dog." After a bomb blast in Baghdad, an imam asked for blood donations over the mosque’s loudspeaker. The American response was to bomb the mosque, and shoot the imam. The reason given was that that district supported the resistance.

This is an excellent piece of journalism of the type rarely seen in America these days. It easily reaches the level of Wow.

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Born in Guyana (northeast South America) to Indian parents, Virapen found himself, in the 1960s, in Europe, hungry and homeless. He went to Sweden, to live with a woman he met in his travels. It was there that he got a job as a sales representative for Eli Lilly and Co. He visited local physicians, bringing them small gifts and other things and generally encouraging them to prescribe Eli Lilly drugs. He rose quickly through the ranks, eventually running the entire operation in Sweden. Virapen was very involved in getting drugs like Prozac approved, with a corresponding rise in the gifts given to doctors. They now ranged from expensive "scientific conferences" in exotic places to brothel visits, to outright bribery. This book is an attempt to atone for what he has done in the drug industry.

Virapen spends much of the book talking about Prozac. The drug industry has no problems with creating "diseases" like ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), to get otherwise healthy people to think that they are sick, and need a pill (an expensive pill, of course). If a clinical trial is not going well; for instance, if Drug X works just as well as Prozac, a drug company can stop the trial, and switch Drug X with another drug against which Prozac works really well. There is no obligation to tell the Food and Drug Administration, or any of its foreign counterparts, about this. Clinical trials on psychotropic drugs, like Prozac, last a couple of months, at the most. There has been no attempt to study the effects of such drugs over years.

When it came time to get Prozac approved in Sweden, the information supplied by Eli Lilly was to be evaluated by an independent doctor, who would send his recommendation to the national authorities. Virapen’s job was to figure out who that doctor would be and find out what it would take to get that doctor to give a favorable opinion. Unfortunately, that doctor was very willing to be bribed, even helping Eli Lilly to write the report the "right" way. Virapen mentions case after case of normal, well-adjusted people who, after taking Prozac for a very short time, kill other people or themselves.

On the positive side, this is a very interesting book that shows the lengths to which drug companies will go to create new markets for their drugs. On the negative side, if there are to be future printings of this book, it really needs a trip, or another trip, to a copyeditor or proofreader.

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Sacha, a brilliant but uninspired student at the local Catholic school, has two desires in life. The first is to write a book about her mother, and the second is to kill Vadim. He is currently serving a long prison sentence, but she is happy to wait. A puff piece in the local newspaper about Vadim’s alleged rehabilitation sends an upset Sacha to meet Volker, the editor. He briefly knew Sacha’s mother, so he attempts to help out by taking in Sacha for a while. That starts an intense involvement with his teenage son, who has to be rushed to the local hospital with a severe breathing problem. Meantime, Maria, Vadim’s cousin from Russia, has come to take care of the children, because social workers are getting interested.

When that relationship fades, Sacha returns to Broken Glass Park, the tough housing project where they all live. Sacha is more interested in killing Vadim than in moving out of the project. She tells her story in a voice that is both candid, and childlike and mature. Bronsky looks inside the immigrant experience, and being on the edges of society, and what it means to live in the first years of a new century.

First published in Germany, this book made a big splash, and quite rightly, too. Bronsky, a Russian living in Germany, about whom little is known, has a wonderful "voice." She does a fine job at portraying a young woman in a strange country. This one is highly recommended.

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