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A lot has happened since Heather Lende introduced us to the small town of Haines, Alaska, in her best-selling 2005 memoir If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name. First, Lende was (literally) hit by a truck, suffering a broken pelvis just as she was about to begin her book tour. The following year, her mother died of leukemia. Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs celebrates the resilience of ordinary people, gathered together to help one another with the business of living and dying.

As a columnist for the Anchorage Daily News, Lende’s beat is small-town Alaska, and she shows us how her community functions as a source of strength for its residents. In one story, a local Tlingit Indian carves a new totem pole called “Yei eek kwa neix,” or “You Are Going to Get Well.” When over 140 people, including a recovering Lende, help raise the pole, we see how a community coming together, even in sorrow, can offer healing.

Reading this memoir is like listening to an old friend; Lende’s voice is conversational, frequently addressing the reader directly. Her stories are digressive, even circular, as an anecdote about yoga prompts a story about a hospice patient smoking cigarettes while dying of cancer. The effect is pleasantly intimate, as if we were sitting next to her on the Juneau ferry.

Lende has been compared to both Anne Lamott and Annie Dillard; she is a writer who attends to both everyday grace and the natural world, and her Christian faith is explicit but never overbearing. Her Alaska is a harsh landscape infused with sublimity: The winter mountains, summer dusks, smoked salmon and bald eagles all create a palpable sense of Alaskan life. While Lende’s Alaska is not a paradise by any means, it is a good place for ordinary people to live with one another.

 

A lot has happened since Heather Lende introduced us to the small town of Haines, Alaska, in her best-selling 2005 memoir If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name. First, Lende was (literally) hit by a truck, suffering a broken pelvis just as she was…

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Lyndall Gordon’s new biography of Emily Dickinson’s family, Lives Like Loaded Guns, is a tour de force. Meticulously researched and keenly argued, it transforms the conventional image of Dickinson—and reveals how that image came to be.

More than 100 years of biography, fiction and theater have depicted the famous poet as a reclusive woman in white who fled the world, perhaps after a tragic love affair, to spend the rest of her life gardening and writing brilliant poems nobody saw. Gordon upends this legend, revealing Dickinson as a passionate and powerful woman who was fervent in her friendships (too fervent, in fact, for many of her friends), had a midlife love affair with an elderly judge and carefully controlled the circulation of her poems. In one of the book’s biggest bombshells, Gordon uses family history, pharmacy records, 19th-century medical treatises and Dickinson’s poems to argue that epilepsy, rather than thwarted love, was the reason she rarely left her home.

While the first half of the book tells the story of Dickinson’s life, the second half morphs into a literary thriller. The lengthy affair between Dickinson’s brother Austin and Mabel Loomis Todd has been well-known since the publication of their letters in 1984, but Gordon meticulously traces its aftermath, as Dickinson’s and Todd’s heirs battled for control over the poet’s manuscripts, publication and reputation. Todd, whom Gordon calls the “Lady Macbeth of Amherst,” is the villain of this part of the story, creating the “shy . . . eccentric, asexual” Dickinson of myth, and erasing from the historical record Dickinson’s strong bond with Susan Gilbert Dickinson, Austin’s wife and Todd’s rival. But Gordon remains scrupulously even-handed, acknowledging Todd’s insights into Dickinson’s genius and her heroic editorial work on the first editions of Dickinson’s poems and letters.

Few books are perfect: Gordon’s use of Dickinson’s poetry as biographical evidence is sometimes dubious, and her own prose, though often delightfully personable, can be overwrought. Still, those are minor flaws in a brilliant and breathtaking book.

 

Lyndall Gordon’s new biography of Emily Dickinson’s family, Lives Like Loaded Guns, is a tour de force. Meticulously researched and keenly argued, it transforms the conventional image of Dickinson—and reveals how that image came to be.

More than 100 years of biography,…

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Infomercial, shminfomercial: everything you need to know to get rich quick, or die laughing, is contained in Dave Barry’s Money Secrets. Barry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning humor writer and former Miami Herald columnist, knows that most of us are completely overwhelmed by the glut of personal finance books and yakking economist-pundits. He dumbs it all down in the complete goofus guide to corporations ( the critical role of office furniture ), the U.S. economy ( Adam Sandler is involved ) and personal finance topics such as teaching children about money ( let the little bastards starve ); health care ( you’ll need some leeches ); starting your own business ( harness the awesome power of human stupidity ); and saving money on travel ( good luck ). Detailed charts and graphs and photo collages provide more hilarity, and a tiny picture of overbearing personal-finance guru Suze Orman pops up as a punch line throughout the book. Barry’s explanations for his theories are the highlight of the ride, including why the back of the dollar has a pyramid and a giant eyeball (this replaced an owl standing on an elephant, which was too difficult to engrave); and why Presbyterians like himself can’t negotiate with shark-like car salesmen without the help of people like Gene Weingarten, a friend who would rather undergo a vasectomy with a WeedEater than purchase undercoating.”

Infomercial, shminfomercial: everything you need to know to get rich quick, or die laughing, is contained in Dave Barry's Money Secrets. Barry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning humor writer and former Miami Herald columnist, knows that most of us are completely overwhelmed by the glut of personal…
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The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life’s financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You signed the marriage certificate, but are you on the same page financially? On the Road: Getting Married helps partners create a financial plan together to address everything from how to spend and save money, determining the kind and amount of insurance to buy, planning for the kids’ college education and budgeting for retirement. Your home will probably be your most expensive investment, so you want to make the best buying decision possible. On the Road: Buying a Home helps demystify what can be a daunting process. It includes such topics as deciding what type of home is right for you and how to find it, finance it and close on it. On the Road: Surviving Divorce helps the newly separated get through this difficult time with clear, step-by-step information on weathering the financial part of the process. This book addresses issues such as what to look for when hiring an attorney, arbitrator or mediator; how to divide up assets, pension and retirement plans; making decisions about alimony and child support; and creating a new budget.

The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life's financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You…
Review by

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing’s too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If you need expert tips on spoiling your shih-tzu or advice on coddling your cocker spaniel, a pack of animal authorities is ready to dish out the kibbles and bits of pet care. You’ll find all the basics of choosing and caring for your pet in two attractive new guides from DK Publishing. Written by veterinarian Bruce Fogle (surely one of the most prolific authors in the burgeoning field of pet publishing), the books feature DK’s usual mix of brilliant color photos, detailed illustrations and brief but thorough text. Dog Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493217) starts out with the fundamentals of “Dog Design,” taking readers through a mini-anatomy lesson that might prove helpful during their pet’s next trip to the vet. (My finicky Jack Russell terrier might argue, however, with Fogle’s claim that dogs “have far fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans, and are willing to consume almost anything that might offer nourishment.”) The author provides specifics on several popular dog breeds useful information for selecting just the right pet and goes on to cover training, behavior problems and health concerns.

If you’re a cat person, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the companion volume, Cat Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493209). Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitty or adapting to life with a regal older cat, Fogle gives sage advice for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Some of the information is inadvertently hilarious, particularly to a dog lover. Take the photos of a cat on leash, for example, or the section titled, “Do Cats Love Us?” No dog owner would ask a question like that.

Another new book targets those who have made the socially responsible choice to acquire their pet from a pound or animal shelter. Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You (Norton, $24.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0393050793) by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is billed as the first book geared to the special needs of adopted dogs. The authors don’t gloss over the problems these dogs and their owners can face, but they do offer a detailed plan for overcoming obstacles and turning your adopted dog into a beloved family pet. The book covers such issues as bonding, separation anxiety, housebreaking an adult dog and surmounting the scars of prior abuse. This excellent guide offers hope and advice that can help save some of the two million dogs euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

If you’ve always wondered what your pet thinks of you, 202 Pets’ Peeves (Citadel, $12.95, 215 pages, ISBN 0806524421) might give you the answer. Writer Cal Orey speaks for the cats and dogs of the world, listing 101 human behaviors that drive each species crazy. For cats, the pet peeves include having their tails stepped on, being roused from a nice nap or being asked to do tricks. Dogs, as Orey sees it, are aggravated by humans who won’t share their food and owners who bring home feline roommates.

And finally, if you’re willing to go to extremes, 97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile lists actions guaranteed to make your dog break into an ear-to-ear grin. Some of the suggestions are simple (“Pet your pup against the grain”), some are funny (“Use a slingshot or a spoon to catapult nuggets of kibble across the yard for your dog to pursue!”) and some are downright weird (“Rub the eyebrows gently in small circles, being careful not to poke the dog’s eye”). Every tip in this palm-sized book is accompanied by a glossy color photo of an adorable dog guaranteed to melt the heart of any dog lover. Do we have any volunteers for activity number 33 Puppy Pilates?

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing's too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If…
Review by

The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life’s financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You signed the marriage certificate, but are you on the same page financially? On the Road: Getting Married helps partners create a financial plan together to address everything from how to spend and save money, determining the kind and amount of insurance to buy, planning for the kids’ college education and budgeting for retirement. Your home will probably be your most expensive investment, so you want to make the best buying decision possible. On the Road: Buying a Home helps demystify what can be a daunting process. It includes such topics as deciding what type of home is right for you and how to find it, finance it and close on it. On the Road: Surviving Divorce helps the newly separated get through this difficult time with clear, step-by-step information on weathering the financial part of the process. This book addresses issues such as what to look for when hiring an attorney, arbitrator or mediator; how to divide up assets, pension and retirement plans; making decisions about alimony and child support; and creating a new budget.

The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life's financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You…
Review by

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing’s too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If you need expert tips on spoiling your shih-tzu or advice on coddling your cocker spaniel, a pack of animal authorities is ready to dish out the kibbles and bits of pet care. You’ll find all the basics of choosing and caring for your pet in two attractive new guides from DK Publishing. Written by veterinarian Bruce Fogle (surely one of the most prolific authors in the burgeoning field of pet publishing), the books feature DK’s usual mix of brilliant color photos, detailed illustrations and brief but thorough text. Dog Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493217) starts out with the fundamentals of “Dog Design,” taking readers through a mini-anatomy lesson that might prove helpful during their pet’s next trip to the vet. (My finicky Jack Russell terrier might argue, however, with Fogle’s claim that dogs “have far fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans, and are willing to consume almost anything that might offer nourishment.”) The author provides specifics on several popular dog breeds useful information for selecting just the right pet and goes on to cover training, behavior problems and health concerns.

If you’re a cat person, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the companion volume, Cat Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493209). Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitty or adapting to life with a regal older cat, Fogle gives sage advice for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Some of the information is inadvertently hilarious, particularly to a dog lover. Take the photos of a cat on leash, for example, or the section titled, “Do Cats Love Us?” No dog owner would ask a question like that.

Another new book targets those who have made the socially responsible choice to acquire their pet from a pound or animal shelter. Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You (Norton, $24.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0393050793) by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is billed as the first book geared to the special needs of adopted dogs. The authors don’t gloss over the problems these dogs and their owners can face, but they do offer a detailed plan for overcoming obstacles and turning your adopted dog into a beloved family pet. The book covers such issues as bonding, separation anxiety, housebreaking an adult dog and surmounting the scars of prior abuse. This excellent guide offers hope and advice that can help save some of the two million dogs euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

If you’ve always wondered what your pet thinks of you, 202 Pets’ Peeves might give you the answer. Writer Cal Orey speaks for the cats and dogs of the world, listing 101 human behaviors that drive each species crazy. For cats, the pet peeves include having their tails stepped on, being roused from a nice nap or being asked to do tricks. Dogs, as Orey sees it, are aggravated by humans who won’t share their food and owners who bring home feline roommates.

And finally, if you’re willing to go to extremes, 97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile (Workman $7.95, 109 pages, ISBN 0761129030) lists actions guaranteed to make your dog break into an ear-to-ear grin. Some of the suggestions are simple (“Pet your pup against the grain”), some are funny (“Use a slingshot or a spoon to catapult nuggets of kibble across the yard for your dog to pursue!”) and some are downright weird (“Rub the eyebrows gently in small circles, being careful not to poke the dog’s eye”). Every tip in this palm-sized book is accompanied by a glossy color photo of an adorable dog guaranteed to melt the heart of any dog lover. Do we have any volunteers for activity number 33 Puppy Pilates?

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing's too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If…
Review by

The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life’s financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You signed the marriage certificate, but are you on the same page financially? On the Road: Getting Married helps partners create a financial plan together to address everything from how to spend and save money, determining the kind and amount of insurance to buy, planning for the kids’ college education and budgeting for retirement. Your home will probably be your most expensive investment, so you want to make the best buying decision possible. On the Road: Buying a Home helps demystify what can be a daunting process. It includes such topics as deciding what type of home is right for you and how to find it, finance it and close on it. On the Road: Surviving Divorce helps the newly separated get through this difficult time with clear, step-by-step information on weathering the financial part of the process. This book addresses issues such as what to look for when hiring an attorney, arbitrator or mediator; how to divide up assets, pension and retirement plans; making decisions about alimony and child support; and creating a new budget.

The On the Road personal finance series from Dearborn includes three new titles to help navigate life's financial milestones. At $15.95 each, these straightforward guides, edited by Sheryl Garrett, CFP, are confidence-building resources in situations that could otherwise be a tangled money maze. You…
Review by

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing’s too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If you need expert tips on spoiling your shih-tzu or advice on coddling your cocker spaniel, a pack of animal authorities is ready to dish out the kibbles and bits of pet care. You’ll find all the basics of choosing and caring for your pet in two attractive new guides from DK Publishing. Written by veterinarian Bruce Fogle (surely one of the most prolific authors in the burgeoning field of pet publishing), the books feature DK’s usual mix of brilliant color photos, detailed illustrations and brief but thorough text. Dog Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493217) starts out with the fundamentals of “Dog Design,” taking readers through a mini-anatomy lesson that might prove helpful during their pet’s next trip to the vet. (My finicky Jack Russell terrier might argue, however, with Fogle’s claim that dogs “have far fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans, and are willing to consume almost anything that might offer nourishment.”) The author provides specifics on several popular dog breeds useful information for selecting just the right pet and goes on to cover training, behavior problems and health concerns.

If you’re a cat person, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the companion volume, Cat Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493209). Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitty or adapting to life with a regal older cat, Fogle gives sage advice for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Some of the information is inadvertently hilarious, particularly to a dog lover. Take the photos of a cat on leash, for example, or the section titled, “Do Cats Love Us?” No dog owner would ask a question like that.

Another new book targets those who have made the socially responsible choice to acquire their pet from a pound or animal shelter. Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is billed as the first book geared to the special needs of adopted dogs. The authors don’t gloss over the problems these dogs and their owners can face, but they do offer a detailed plan for overcoming obstacles and turning your adopted dog into a beloved family pet. The book covers such issues as bonding, separation anxiety, housebreaking an adult dog and surmounting the scars of prior abuse. This excellent guide offers hope and advice that can help save some of the two million dogs euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

If you’ve always wondered what your pet thinks of you, 202 Pets’ Peeves (Citadel, $12.95, 215 pages, ISBN 0806524421) might give you the answer. Writer Cal Orey speaks for the cats and dogs of the world, listing 101 human behaviors that drive each species crazy. For cats, the pet peeves include having their tails stepped on, being roused from a nice nap or being asked to do tricks. Dogs, as Orey sees it, are aggravated by humans who won’t share their food and owners who bring home feline roommates.

And finally, if you’re willing to go to extremes, 97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile (Workman $7.95, 109 pages, ISBN 0761129030) lists actions guaranteed to make your dog break into an ear-to-ear grin. Some of the suggestions are simple (“Pet your pup against the grain”), some are funny (“Use a slingshot or a spoon to catapult nuggets of kibble across the yard for your dog to pursue!”) and some are downright weird (“Rub the eyebrows gently in small circles, being careful not to poke the dog’s eye”). Every tip in this palm-sized book is accompanied by a glossy color photo of an adorable dog guaranteed to melt the heart of any dog lover. Do we have any volunteers for activity number 33 Puppy Pilates?

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing's too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If…
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<b>Don’t will it away</b>

No one wants his or her will to cause trouble in the family. And by using the advice in <b>Creating the Good Will: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Both the Financial and Emotional Sides of Passing on Your Legacy</b>, it won’t. With years of experience as an estate-planning attorney and now president of a consulting firm that helps families with wills and estate plans, author Elizabeth Arnold has written a comprehensive guide including nuts and bolts information such as what wills and trusts are and how they work. Moreover, she has written a very human book encouraging a process of self-examination including one’s hopes in life, values and beliefs and what is wished for loved ones in order to help clarify what readers want to do in their will and why. <b>Creating the Good Will</b> is organized around the seven laws of distribution the people and personality issues that the will should take into consideration. Among the laws: Consider Your Values; Face Family Dynamics: It’s Not Just About the Money; Recognize Fair Is Not Always Equal; It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It . . . and If You Bother to Say it at All.

<b>Don't will it away</b>

No one wants his or her will to cause trouble in the family. And by using the advice in <b>Creating the Good Will: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Both the Financial and Emotional Sides of Passing on Your Legacy</b>, it…

Review by

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing’s too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If you need expert tips on spoiling your shih-tzu or advice on coddling your cocker spaniel, a pack of animal authorities is ready to dish out the kibbles and bits of pet care. You’ll find all the basics of choosing and caring for your pet in two attractive new guides from DK Publishing. Written by veterinarian Bruce Fogle (surely one of the most prolific authors in the burgeoning field of pet publishing), the books feature DK’s usual mix of brilliant color photos, detailed illustrations and brief but thorough text. Dog Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493217) starts out with the fundamentals of “Dog Design,” taking readers through a mini-anatomy lesson that might prove helpful during their pet’s next trip to the vet. (My finicky Jack Russell terrier might argue, however, with Fogle’s claim that dogs “have far fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans, and are willing to consume almost anything that might offer nourishment.”) The author provides specifics on several popular dog breeds useful information for selecting just the right pet and goes on to cover training, behavior problems and health concerns.

If you’re a cat person, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the companion volume, Cat Owner’s Manual. Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitty or adapting to life with a regal older cat, Fogle gives sage advice for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Some of the information is inadvertently hilarious, particularly to a dog lover. Take the photos of a cat on leash, for example, or the section titled, “Do Cats Love Us?” No dog owner would ask a question like that.

Another new book targets those who have made the socially responsible choice to acquire their pet from a pound or animal shelter. Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You (Norton, $24.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0393050793) by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is billed as the first book geared to the special needs of adopted dogs. The authors don’t gloss over the problems these dogs and their owners can face, but they do offer a detailed plan for overcoming obstacles and turning your adopted dog into a beloved family pet. The book covers such issues as bonding, separation anxiety, housebreaking an adult dog and surmounting the scars of prior abuse. This excellent guide offers hope and advice that can help save some of the two million dogs euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

If you’ve always wondered what your pet thinks of you, 202 Pets’ Peeves (Citadel, $12.95, 215 pages, ISBN 0806524421) might give you the answer. Writer Cal Orey speaks for the cats and dogs of the world, listing 101 human behaviors that drive each species crazy. For cats, the pet peeves include having their tails stepped on, being roused from a nice nap or being asked to do tricks. Dogs, as Orey sees it, are aggravated by humans who won’t share their food and owners who bring home feline roommates.

And finally, if you’re willing to go to extremes, 97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile (Workman $7.95, 109 pages, ISBN 0761129030) lists actions guaranteed to make your dog break into an ear-to-ear grin. Some of the suggestions are simple (“Pet your pup against the grain”), some are funny (“Use a slingshot or a spoon to catapult nuggets of kibble across the yard for your dog to pursue!”) and some are downright weird (“Rub the eyebrows gently in small circles, being careful not to poke the dog’s eye”). Every tip in this palm-sized book is accompanied by a glossy color photo of an adorable dog guaranteed to melt the heart of any dog lover. Do we have any volunteers for activity number 33 Puppy Pilates?

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing's too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If…
Review by

If you start off right by buying good insurance and setting up an automatic system for saving, investing and clearing debts, your finances can run themselves. From then on, it’s hands off. Sound simple? It is, according to Jane Bryant Quinn in her new book, Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People. Quinn, a leading commentator on personal finance, award-winning Newsweek and Good Housekeeping columnist and author of several best-selling books on money, offers the most straightforward and sensible products and strategies she knows and uses to manage money and accumulate wealth without having to think about it.

First of all, Quinn recommends that you start saving. Even if you have a paycheck-to-paycheck life with no money to spare, she has a tried, true and simple technique to prove you wrong. And if you’re already saving, she has ideas for how you can save more without feeling a pinch. She helps you assess your current situation and then provides effective strategies to get you to your financial goals in a smart way.

If you start off right by buying good insurance and setting up an automatic system for saving, investing and clearing debts, your finances can run themselves. From then on, it's hands off. Sound simple? It is, according to Jane Bryant Quinn in her new book,…
Review by

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing’s too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If you need expert tips on spoiling your shih-tzu or advice on coddling your cocker spaniel, a pack of animal authorities is ready to dish out the kibbles and bits of pet care. You’ll find all the basics of choosing and caring for your pet in two attractive new guides from DK Publishing. Written by veterinarian Bruce Fogle (surely one of the most prolific authors in the burgeoning field of pet publishing), the books feature DK’s usual mix of brilliant color photos, detailed illustrations and brief but thorough text. Dog Owner’s Manual starts out with the fundamentals of “Dog Design,” taking readers through a mini-anatomy lesson that might prove helpful during their pet’s next trip to the vet. (My finicky Jack Russell terrier might argue, however, with Fogle’s claim that dogs “have far fewer taste buds on their tongues than humans, and are willing to consume almost anything that might offer nourishment.”) The author provides specifics on several popular dog breeds useful information for selecting just the right pet and goes on to cover training, behavior problems and health concerns.

If you’re a cat person, you’ll want to sink your teeth into the companion volume, Cat Owner’s Manual ($25, 288 pages, ISBN 0789493209). Whether you’re just starting out with a new kitty or adapting to life with a regal older cat, Fogle gives sage advice for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Some of the information is inadvertently hilarious, particularly to a dog lover. Take the photos of a cat on leash, for example, or the section titled, “Do Cats Love Us?” No dog owner would ask a question like that.

Another new book targets those who have made the socially responsible choice to acquire their pet from a pound or animal shelter. Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You (Norton, $24.95, 288 pages, ISBN 0393050793) by John Ross and Barbara McKinney is billed as the first book geared to the special needs of adopted dogs. The authors don’t gloss over the problems these dogs and their owners can face, but they do offer a detailed plan for overcoming obstacles and turning your adopted dog into a beloved family pet. The book covers such issues as bonding, separation anxiety, housebreaking an adult dog and surmounting the scars of prior abuse. This excellent guide offers hope and advice that can help save some of the two million dogs euthanized in U.S. shelters every year.

If you’ve always wondered what your pet thinks of you, 202 Pets’ Peeves (Citadel, $12.95, 215 pages, ISBN 0806524421) might give you the answer. Writer Cal Orey speaks for the cats and dogs of the world, listing 101 human behaviors that drive each species crazy. For cats, the pet peeves include having their tails stepped on, being roused from a nice nap or being asked to do tricks. Dogs, as Orey sees it, are aggravated by humans who won’t share their food and owners who bring home feline roommates.

And finally, if you’re willing to go to extremes, 97 Ways To Make A Dog Smile (Workman $7.95, 109 pages, ISBN 0761129030) lists actions guaranteed to make your dog break into an ear-to-ear grin. Some of the suggestions are simple (“Pet your pup against the grain”), some are funny (“Use a slingshot or a spoon to catapult nuggets of kibble across the yard for your dog to pursue!”) and some are downright weird (“Rub the eyebrows gently in small circles, being careful not to poke the dog’s eye”). Every tip in this palm-sized book is accompanied by a glossy color photo of an adorable dog guaranteed to melt the heart of any dog lover. Do we have any volunteers for activity number 33 Puppy Pilates?

Pampering our pets is a growing priority in America, where owners are spending more time, money and energy to ensure that their furry companions are content. Nothing's too good for our pooches, whether it be doggy day care, gourmet treats or rhinestone-studded collars. If…

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