Product Description
The focus of this study is primarily on comparative dialect phonology and lexicon. It also provides a framework for classifying Wu and Mandarin dialects, especially those that are not entirely typical representatives of their group. ... Read more

Product Description
Do you dream of scoring a birdie at Augusta National? Can you swing a club with accuracy and style? The young golfer offers a tantalizing insight into the glamorous, exciting world of golf. With a foreword by Nick Faldo, this detailed book introduces basic techniques as well as guidance on strategy and tackling difficult courses. Stunning photography and unique sequences combine with helpful tips that tell you how to master your grip and stance, perfect your swing, and pitch for accuracy. Practical advice on basic equipment, competitions, and course safety complete a book that is a must for every young golfer! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an inspirational story that shows how the author overcame poverty, the lack of education, low self-esteem and alcoholism. These stories come from the life experiences of a man fighting the demons within as he rode the racetracks of America in search of his soul. The book follows his life as he gives up his career as a jockey and joins the U.S. Air Force, eventually taking up a third career in management at the USPS. Hope and inspirations come from many unexpected places as the miracle of recovery and rediscovery of love - for himself and life - change him in ways he never thought possible. He knows that he was fortunate to survive ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Story of a Man's Personal Journey
Author Richard R. Simmons has exposed his life through his easy to read but emotional autobiography, "A Long Hard Ride."This book examines the transformation of a horse jockey turned Air Force career man, turned postal manager and drunk, into a man in search of himself and the meaning of life.It is all about redemption and spiritual rebirth.

The story takes you from Richard's early childhood when his father's death changes the direction of his life and sets him off on a collision course with self-destructive behaviors including his life long battle with alcoholism.

His time spent at the race track and not in school makes for very unique experiences to read about.He raced against some of the best jockey and horses of his day but never found the kind of satisfaction or success that he needed.His quest for understanding and love follow him throughout the pages of his book from one life adventure to the next seeking to find that inner peace that eludes him for so long.

This is an exceptionally well told story and makes for some interesting, yet at times emotional, reading.This book will force you to look and reflect on your own life experiences.In the end, this book will be an enjoyable adventure but keep a box of Kleenex handy.

2005 Distinguished Honor Award!

informative and entertaining
I found this book to be a very revealing story about someone who had suffered not only childhood hardships but how they followed him into adulthood, and grew increasingly worse as his drinking overtook his life. there are many sad and heart wrenching events very cleverly laced with humor and honest feelings. The fact that anyone could endure such torture and self degradation and survive to the level he has is truly a miracle.A great read.

A great ride!
The story of a recovering alcoholic now enjoying 30 years of sobriety and a well-deserved retirement.Richard takes the reader through his journey from his impoveraged youth, joining the race track to ride with legends, military service, government service and finally, his ability to forgive and accept himself.His personal battle with alcoholism and self-doubt will be familiar with anyone who has struggled with addiction and the shame that feeds it.Richard's story shows that facing addiction and the pain that we try to numb is possible and worth the long hard ride. ... Read more

Product Description
This revision includes more information on the management of clinical problems and the surgery of AIDS. Multi-contributed, this edition is a patient-oriented, practical approach to the full spectrum of surgical infectious disease. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Journal of the American Oriental Society, published by American Oriental Society on April 1, 2001. The length of the article is 2802 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Problems in Comparative Dialectology: The Classification of Miin and Hakka (book review)
Author: Richard Vanness Simmons
Publication: The Journal of the American Oriental Society (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2001
Publisher: American Oriental Society
Volume: 121Issue: 2Page: 322

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This book is written not only to give hope and inspiration to the alcoholic, but also for the people who suffer from the alcoholics actions.For every alcoholic there are many more who suffer from that person's malady. The suffering may come in the form of abuse, neglect, mental anguish, abandonment or dereliction; this suffering affects a variety of people; from ones marriage partner, to children, loved ones, relatives, friends, superiors and subordinates.. Through these pages perhaps those who are suffering, and those who fall victim to the alcoholic's actions may some how gain some insight and understanding to some of that persons problems; some reasoning for their behavior and for both to realize that there is hope for even what may seem to be the most hopeless case. This is not to excuse or rationalize the drinker's actions, but to help loved ones and others to understand and perhaps offer solutions and even forgiveness instead of making judgments on them.

This is written by a recovering alcoholic with thirty five years of sobriety. One who began drinking by the age of eleven and by sixteen years of age was a jockey who was addicted to alcohol; one who lived this life for the next twenty seven years.Then through a higher power I was saved from the depths of alcoholism and from the age of forty three has lived a happy and successful life, including a third career of twenty years in management with the USPS, and now a forth career as an author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not a cure, but hope
Like his first book, A Long Hard Ride, Richard tells of his battle with alcoholism through personal accounts of his own life experiences.
With Collateral Damage, there is more focus on the effect of the disease on family and loved ones of an addict.
Richard does not claim to have found the cure for addiction but shares that there is hope and help available for any addict when they are ready to seek it.

Informational writing
This is a story written by someone who lived the life of an alcoholic and can relate true feelings and experiences from his own life's story, in plain and simple words how the mind of an alcoholic's or addict's mind works, how deceptive they can be and how they can successfully perform their daily duties without being detected by those observing their actions, how they develop such a high tolerance to alcohol that they can appear to be functioning normally. This story not only explains how the addicted persons mind controls their actions but gives advice and information to those who suffer from the actions of an alcoholic or addict and informational sources where one may safely obtain assistance. ... Read more

Product Description
The poetry of Richard Michael Simmons blends dreams and failures in a life integrated with passion and love. The poems are direct and honest with a dash of satire. ... Read more

Product Description
When 325 pound Sandra Dalka-Prysby decided to take the weight off, she not only lost 170 pounds-she gained control of her life. In this intimate, honest, humorous book, she tells the day-by-day story of her inspirational journey to fitness and healthy living-as chronicled in Family Circle(r) Magazine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

FINALLY someone who took it off the RIGHT WAY!
I loved loved this book....I checked it out at our local library and read it cover to cover in two days...Thats a record for me...I love that this woman took a sensible approach to her weight loss and over a course of 4 years, took the weight off.I find it frustrating when all the books tell of 100+ weight loss in a matter of 10-12 months...It made me feel lazy and inadequate to have lost 60 in a year...but not anymore having read this book.So many of the things she went thru I can relate to and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel gives me so much added motivation to keep doing what I am doing and it will pay off...It has already...Definately a book to read over and over again:)

Truly Real
This is a wonderful book showing some ups and more downs of the scale. This woman shows by example in her experience that if we don't follow a food regiment 100% you can still attain your goal of loosing weight. It is really refreshing to read that you can make a goal even when you slip away from it now and then, but you have to not give up. A good read hard to put down.

Slow But Sure
I bought this book on Saturday and finished it on Tuesday. I could hardly put it down. I also weigh what Sandra did and then some. This book was really motivating and I saw so much of myself in it so I could relate to it. It really gives me hope and shows me I am normal. I have been going to T.O.P.S. since April 2001 and have lost over 30 pounds and began backsliding. Now I see that may happen from time to time and I just need to stay motivated. Thank you for this book.I am a 37 yr. old widow with 2 children and really need to stay on track to be here forthem and I think this book will help me.

Slow but Sure: How I lost 170 Pounds
I enjoyed the spirit with which this book was written.By the time I finished I felt as though I knew Sandra and her wonderful supportive family.I was cheering her on throughout the book. Not only did she lose weight for herself but she chose this time to help others and start up aerobic classes for women who feel left out at most health clubs.Her relationship with Richard Simmons made me smile.They had such mutual respect.It is wonderful that she accomplished what she did, helped others and at the same time wrote an enjoyable uplifting book.

In particular I liked the way she did not hold back her feelings or her problems. She tells it "like it is". I recommend this book even if weight loss is not the goal. She puts a positive spin on other things as well.

5 stars isn't enough!!!
Not only is this book the bargain of the year, but it is literally the best diet book ever written. This lady tells her story from the beginning to what is going on today. It is like reading her diary. There are no gaps to the story-which I really appreciated. She tells you every step she took to lose the weight including what exercise she did along the way. She also tells you how your family and friends will react to your weight loss. For anyone who wants a "Step by Step" account of how a friend lost her weight, this is a "must" read. After reading Sandra's book, you feel like you are her friend. Very inspiring with an honest approach to weight loss. I can't say enough about this book!! ... Read more