Reviews (29)

Helpful

Best study guide, but still needs supplement
I took the GRE last week after studying for months. I'm really happy to report I got 700's on both the verbal and quantitative sections! I initially bought just the Princeton Review book, but found it was lacking in practice questions. This book had plenty of questions, and had very thorough vocabulary and math sections.
Preparing for the GRE
Having to take the GRE is nerve wrecking enough. This book at least gives some comfort in that it provides you with structure.
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Subjects:  1. Educational Tests And Measurements (Higher Education)    2. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)    3. Graduate Departments And Schools    4. Graduate Record Examination    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep    8. Higher & further education    9. Study Aids / GRE (Graduate Record Examination)   

Reviews (48)

Solid foundation for the MCAT
Ek bio - this is the STUFF!! I pwned the BS MCAT by reading this book 3 times and difficult topics 2-3 more times. Was able to teach myself microbiology and human physiology with this book. you don't need advance classes like genetics, cell bio, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry etc.
Manageable study program
After being away from college for 10 years, I have found the MCAT review very comprehensive and manageable.The subjects are divided into separate books, which makes them very portable.The diagrams are fantastic, and the authors' sidenotes clarify what you need to know outright versus what's background info.If you need further help, there are Examcrackers resources for that too, such as flashcards and extra questions for each subject, so you don't have to pay for what you don't need.It is somewhat tailored for those with strong science skills, and weak verbal--the Verbal Reasoning book really walks you through the basics.Since that is my strong suit, I don't need my hand held for that, while I do for Physics, so I guess my only complaint would be that they assume you're a science wizard and verbal dummy, so those of us with the opposite skills don't get the same benefit of that stereotype.I know, probably most medical students fit that mold, but that doesn't mean those of us who have to work a tad harder don't belong in the profession--once you know it, you know it.There's room for all types, as well as a need!Good program overall, I'm very pleased, and would recommend to anyone.

Exceptional Book and a lot of material
This book is worth the price! It gives you a lot of material to work with. I studied these the second time I took the MCAT for a period of 4-5 weeks. After which I took my old Princeton exams, I aced them without even touching my old Princeton notes. While admissionsmystery .combook is great/insightful for AMCAS application strategy, I think these set of books are great for the MCAT. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education & Training    2. Graduate Preparation - MCAT    3. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)    4. Medical / Nursing    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep   

Reviews (60)

The Official SAT study Guide
Any student preparing to take the SAT should not go with out this book. The Book provides accurate practice test created by the Test makers (ETS). But don't count on this book to give you excellent review. Review for the SAT is very brief. also this book is no good without the solutions manual which you could buy on amazon. so without the soulutions manual you won't be doing anything but just taking the practice test and not knowing where you went wrong. anyways good luck!

A must-have for your SAT prep; but no accurate diagnostic tools
Official materials are always the most important for the SAT, and this is currently the only source available for authentic SAT questions. The questions and essay topics contained in this book give a nice overview of what an SAT-taker will see on test day, so it would be wise to complete and review as many questions as you can in this book.
WOW
The practice tests featured in this book
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. SAT & PSAT    3. Scholastic Assessment Test    4. Study Aids    5. Study Guides    6. Test Prep    7. Study Aids / SAT & PSAT (Scholastic Assessment Test & Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test)   

Reviews (47)

Worst writing I've read in a long time
You decide for yourself what you think about Mortenson.I think the subtitle of the book should be "How One Man Became a Dhimmi."
Put so simply...
No doubt this story seemed like an inspiring one. The question for me was, could the writer do a good job conveying it? The answer is- yes!! There are no words to describe how this story made me feel. I was moved to tears more than once. It's about time that we had something to read or listen to that speaks to the humanity of the majority of Muslims. Until now it seemed like we were given no option but to lump them all into the "fanatic" category. There was no one to speak up for the rest of the population. The story of the poor village women of Pakistan giving eggs to Greg to honor 9/11 widows was heart-wrenching. The speech by a supreme Shia ruler to a local village after 9/11 was equally gut-wrenching. Thank you to Greg Mortenson for shining a light on the region. His work building schools by working WITH tribal people of Afghanistan and Pakistan is incredibly brave. The effort taken to learn the local languages and customs is phenomenal. Thank you David Oliver Relin for bringing the story to us and for providing so much background information to help round out the story! This book helped fill so many holes in my understanding of the region. What the heck are the Taliban? Why can't Islamabad just take control of its northern region? What drives many people to choose death via "jihad" over life? I am inspired to read and understand even more about the fascinating people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Is America more secure than on 9/11?
Besides being an exciting and courageous mission story, Three Cups of Tea is an effective alternative to Bush's so-called "compassionate conservatism" and "war on terror".
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Subjects:  1. Afghanistan    2. Education    3. Education Of Specific Cultural Groups    4. General    5. Girls' schools    6. History - General History    7. Humanitarian assistance, American    8. Middle East - General    9. Pakistan    10. Philanthropy & Charity    11. Students & Student Life    12. U.S. - Middle East Relations    13. History / Middle East   

Reviews (4)

Hidden Gem!
I happened to find this book while browsing the teaching section.It has truly been a great resource that every (new) teacher should have.Unlike most of our teacher ed. programs, this book gives practical information about how to run a classroom.You won't regret buying this book, it is a wonderful resource!

A great resource for any teacher!
My school district gave every new teacher a copy of this book.The new teacher that I am mentoring shared it with me.After reading through it I was excited to find a book that focuses on instruction instead of some silver-bullet discipline plan.The instructional strategies are written clearly and consisely.Both of us bring our copies of Why Didn't I Learn This in College? and use them as we plan our units and lessons every Monday for the following week.I highly recommend this book to any teacher.

An ESSENTIAL for All Educators!
Practical, positive, and pure Paula! WHY DIDN'T I LEARN THIS IS COLLEGE? is an ESSENTIAL professional resource for educators at all levels of experience! Paula Rutherford applies her 30 years of teaching and educational leadership to create this book of research-based teaching tips and user-friendly tools that will help increase student achievement in our classrooms. She offers a logical framework for creating learning-centered environments, planning "with the 'end' in mind", and organizing learners and professional tasks for positive results for students, parents, and teachers. Read more

Subjects:  1. Classroom management    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General    5. Educational Policy & Reform    6. First year teachers    7. Higher    8. Professional Development    9. Teaching    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   

Reviews (13)

Review of Golden's _Price of Admissions_
This is a book full of handwringing and incessant whining.Golden, a Harvard alumnus, lacks any subtlety or literary range, not to mention consistency.He'll rail against "development cases" pushing out "well qualified" candidates from "top-tier" NYU and Georgetown then pages later treat both schools as inferior backups or consolation prizes.Which are they?Golden shoots so broadly that his complaint gets lost.Again and again he laments that a seat given a "development case" or alumni "legacy" could have gone to someone more deserving.Who would that be?He writes as if a champion of the oppressed but anyone sensible knows that these seats would most probably go to some other child prepped at Hotchkiss or Choate; or graduated from Greenwich or Beverly Hills public.In short, a seat given to SAT and GPA is no less a seat programmed for the perpetuation of wealth and social position -- just blander.Does Golden understand, like Groucho, that no one would care to attend HYP if there weren't wealthy and celebrated connections to be made?Golden doesn't see that a truer psychological intrigue is to be found in the alliance of court and commons when thrown into a mix with the carnivorous middle.In such circumstances it might be better to end the masquerade and simply have foreigners, legacies, celebrities, minorities and the poor appear daily on stage in Memorial Hall -- curio objects for collection and enlightened entertainment.It's all very silly, really!But, still he rails.How can Golden possibly conceive of affirmative action for intellectuals?Repeat:This is the United States of America.I am sure they read Hofstadter when Golden attended Harvard.I'm also certain they understood PT Barnum.Does Golden think today's economy offers better rewards for aesthetic beauty or intellect?He should reconsider as U-Tube scores billions but pure science waits on tables.If America really cared about intellect and talent it would eagerly fund gifted education in the public schools.If it really cared about equality it would step up and pay for better schools all around.If Golden really held dame egalite's torch he would befriend Jonathan Kozol.Even George Steinbrenner recognizes that teams composed from imbalanced talent, and ego, make far more satisfying stories.Holmes needed his Watson, many great scientific discoveries were accidental, and "gated communities" are extremely dull places to live.Real diversity is social, economic, racial, intellectual and talent broad.If Harvard falls short, it can afford to try harder -- and it will.The last thing an egalitarian should desire is to attack "legacy" or "development" or "celebrity" admits only to replace their peculiarities with admissions by the numbers. Listen up defenders of affirmative action: Do not call in the wolves to help you fight the dogs.

Right on
A brief stroll across the Porsche, BMW, Mustang, and SUV packed parking lot of a Stanford undergrad dorm shows that this book must have a kernel of truth, unfortunately.

It's Okay
I found this book to be a fascinating read.One thing I did not like though was Golden's characterization of affirmative action.Although this wasn't the explicit focus of his book, his brief references to it I think lead to false impressions.In fact, there aren't large numbers of black and Latino students walking around these schools.The majority of the "minorities" are Asians, particularly at the graduate level where the largest campus organization at one Ivy League school in particular is the Chinese Students Association.Most of the black and Latino students are immigrants or second-generation immigrants.Because of the "immigrant effect" (e.g. the high performance of Asian students), these kids generally have higher test scores and better grades than any Americans--white or black.I can count on one hand the number of Jamalsor Letitias growing up in the inner city walking around these schools.Therefore, it's kind of ignorant when whites say they are at a disadvantage because "they don't have race."It's too bad that they didn't get into the schools to be able to see that their impressions about how many spots were given to blacks and Latinos because of affirmative action is not really accurate.
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Subjects:  1. Admission    2. College choice    3. Costs    4. Economics Of Education    5. Education    6. Education / Teaching    7. Education, Higher    8. Educational Policy & Reform    9. Finance    10. Higher    11. Social Classes    12. Social Stratification    13. United States    14. Universities and colleges    15. Current Events / American   

Reviews (11)

I only spent time with the math section
I took the GRE for the second time three weeks ago and did better than I expected. When I took the test before (2001), I had used the Princeton Review material (Cracking the GRE), and it definitely gave me excellent pointers on approaching the questions, guessing effectively, and managing my time. As a result, I got a 660 on the math last time -- pretty good. But I felt that the actual math instruction in PR was a little skimpy, and I got Kaplan's GRE/GMAT Math Review and this Barron's book (the 2006 edition).
Good refresher
This book definately serves its purpose.If you need a good review on math and vocab this book can help.Also the tips on answering questions are extremely useful.I wouldn't use this as my only tool before taking the GRE but it is a huge help.

Seems to be the most comprehensive book out there...
The book is better than most other gre books. Its pretty straightforward, has the list of words one should know, a handful of review problems and such. So its alright. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)    2. Graduate Departments And Schools    3. Graduate Record Examination    4. Study Aids    5. Study Guides    6. Test Prep    7. Higher & further education    8. Study & learning skills    9. Study Aids / GRE (Graduate Record Examination)   

Reviews (21)

Very difficult questions
Passages are easier to read than Princeton Review and AAMC tests.The wording of the questions is not as convoluted as the AAMC tests.However, the questions are very difficult to answer.Often times there is not enough information in the passage to correctly answer the questions, and it seems like there could be information to support more than one answer choice.While it's true that questions on AAMC practice MCATs 7,8,9 have many attractive 'trap' answer choices, this book takes that to the extreme.Therefore, I don't know if this is an accurate representation of the verbal section.

Decent Practice, but Far from Perfect
Given the usually high profiled stuff from ExamKrackers, this book was for me a disappointment. Let me just say that if you want to score high on verbal, more practice is a must, therefore it's logical to get this book. However, if you are looking for a very clean practice, this book doesn't deliver. While i recognize that verbal section on the MCAT can easily allude to personal bias and subjective opinions, on the actual MCAT the 'correct' answer should be easily justified from the 'inccorect' answers. Around a little over 2/3 of the questions in this book fit that description, everything else is full of ambiguous and unsupported answers, many passages tho interesting are abstract and difficult to read. This can get extremely frustrating if you are expecting to see concrete improvements. However, by dealing with these flaws, and sometimes overly difficult (downright impossible or simply incorrect) questions, you might still gain something that will give u an extra edge on the actual MCAT, which could be sufficently more clear and precise given that it is the verbal section.

Verbal Reasoning is not easy, GET THIS!!
As hard as you'll work on preparation for this exam- your preparation for the Verbal Reasoning section will be the most important. Most people complain about this section. I was included, until I took studying for it head on. I needed all the practice I could get and this book gave me 2 passages a day for 50 days. I timed myself (18 min total, 9 minutes a passage for the two) and corrected it that day. It increased my speed and ability. The guys that write these Exam Krackers books only want you to do well. I can tell after working on this stuff for five months straight that is the case. -Matthew Wolak ... Read more

Subjects:  1. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)    2. Study Guides    3. Test Prep    4. Test Preparation & Review   

Reviews (5)

A Great Perspective
I first bought this book 1.5 years ago when I was researching colleges for my oldest son.It changed the way I looked at selecting colleges from my prior misconceptions that "bigger is better" (like large state schools) and "it has to have a well-known name to be any good."Pope succeeded in convincing me that not only are there invaluable advantages to smaller-size schools but that there is definitely something to be said for "liberal arts & science" institutions that offer a well-rounded curriculum.I was able to relax then because my son had no idea what he wanted to pursue.As a result of reading the book, my son is now attending Cornell College in Iowa where he is getting a wonderful education in small classes with caring instructors and an administration that "took me by the hand," upon his initial arrival as a freshman, & addressed all my fears and concerns about leaving my son with a bunch of strangers 4 hours away.Because the book includes little quantitative information (%'s of in- vs out-of-staters, tuition costs, % of students who graduate/return sophomore year/go to graduate school, etc.) you will need to supplement this book with another, such as the Fiske guide, to give you a basis of comparison across schools.Even if you don't select any of the schools mentioned, it is worth a read if for nothing else other than a refreshing perspective.

No schools listed in the west
Wish I had known that the book focused on schools on the east coast, in the midwest, and in the southeast.No California schools are listed.

Lots of information to consider and is thought provoking
I have a daughter ready to apply to colleges this fall and have found this book very helpful in planning and sorting through the myriad of information out there.
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Subjects:  1. College And University Guidance And Counseling    2. College Guides    3. College choice    4. Directories    5. Education    6. Higher    7. Institutions Of Higher Education    8. Reference    9. School environment    10. United States    11. Universities and colleges    12. Education / Reference   

Reviews (3)

One of the best College Guides
The Fiske guide doesn't cover all the colleges in the US, only about 300 of the 2200+. However, these 300 are probably the ones most people find interesting. Certainly all the big name schools are here. All of the most selective colleges are included. Fairly recently they have started including schools from England and Canada which offer excellent educations with a foreign hint at a very low price. In fact, the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) (founded in 1495 - talk about tradition) is considered the best value of the colleges.
A great read, a pointless investment
The Fiske Guide to Colleges is notorious for not changing its text much from year to year, but it should be known for other things as well.
Great Value, Great Information, Great Book
A really good book, I decided to hold off and instead of buying the 2006 version, I purchased the 2007 version. I don't know if there is a large difference in the information in each one, but I am glad I purchased this one. This book helped me select colleges I wouldn't have even considered or heard of. The information given is thorough and supposedly accurate, but the book gives you a thorough overview of each colleges breakdown from the ratio of males to females to the median SAT and ACT score. Each college has 2-5 pageswritten about it, of specific information about the nearby towns to the academic challenge and the social aspect of the college. Overall, a great buy for any college bound student. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. College And University Guidance And Counseling    2. College Guides    3. College, Choice of    4. Directories    5. Reference    6. Study Aids    7. Test Prep    8. United States    9. Universities and colleges    10. Study Aids / College Guides   

Reviews (2)

4.5 Stars... One of the best guides to colleges
The Princetown Review publishes a number of college search-related books, including the "Complete Book of Colleges" and this one. This book is essentially a distilled version of the "Complete Book", and frankly a lot more useful.
Our family's favorite college guide
This is the best college guide for students with SAT scores above 1100. I don't reccomend it for students will lower scores because it concentrates on schools that expect a higher SAT.
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Subjects:  1. College Guides    2. College choice    3. Directories    4. Education / Teaching    5. Guidance & Orientation    6. Higher    7. Institutions Of Higher Education    8. Reference    9. Study Aids    10. Test Prep    11. United States    12. Universities and colleges    13. Education / Guidance & Orientation   

Reviews (2)

One of two great books for stressed out parents
As parents who have seen many of our friends completely lose perspective as their kids apply to college, my wife and decided that we would not go down that road when our time came. Forget all the books that imply they will get your child into a "brand name" school. It's about discovering together a place where they can grow, and strenghtening your relationshipas you launch them toward their future. In the name of sanity, I recommend this book (and also a great one our own pediatrician recommended, "Getting In Without Freaking Out.") Stop hovering -- start helping your kids by not imposing your agenda.

An essential book for parents of high school students
As a pediatrician and the mother of a senior, I see the unhealthy stress that my patients and some classmates of my son go through during high school, particularly during their senior year. This essential book for every high school parent will give them new models for guiding their child to healthy success.Rather than defining success for your high school student as getting into a college ranked high by a magazine, parents will learn how to help their child define and reach their own goals. For those who choose college, they need a parent's help to find the right match --- a school that allows them to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
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Subjects:  1. Child Development And Rearing    2. College Entrance    3. College Guides    4. Education    5. Family & Relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. Parenting - General    8. Parents And Education    9. Reference    10. Adolescent children    11. Advice on education    12. Study Aids / College Guides   

Editorial Review

Newly revised to conform with the Read more

Reviews (37)

You need this book
This book is a must-have for anyone writing a college level or above paper.I've found that it's better used as a reference, not as the kind type of book you sit down and read.One warning, it is a manual, so it's pretty dry - dry, but necessary.

Excellent Resource
As valuable today in professional business writing as it was 20 years ago in college.

This book is the Bible for Historians!
I was instructed by several of my past professors that this book would be the guiding light in regards to submitting & creating scholarly materials in my academic writing matriculation.They were right, this book regardless of its many editions has been in my possession for the last 6-7 years.Academians of all concentrations when it comes down to the publishing of Termpapers, Thesis, or Dissertations, you really cannot go wrong with this Chicago-style format.This book made assessing materials, writing papers, citations, proper documentation, and even grading essay papers as a college instructor an enjoyable experience.However, as a undergraduate and graduate student I was introduced to this bible.Now I am entertaining the idea of future editing. I recomment this book to all of my students and colleagues alike!
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Subjects:  1. Academic writing    2. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    3. Dissertations    4. Dissertations, Academic    5. Education    6. General    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Higher    9. Reference    10. Report writing    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Arts & Humanities    12. English    13. Reference / General    14. Writing & editing guides    15. Writing skills   

Reviews (90)

It Has Worked So Far....
While I am only a high school Sophmore, and I don't have a *real* job, this book has been very helpful in deciding what to shoot for doing. I've heard people call this book too vague, but they can't tell you exactly what to do; it doesn't work that way. Once you get through the personality quiz portion, the author gives a somewhat detailed description of your specific personality type (I for example am and ENFP) and throws in suggestions in the description and also give a modest list of other possibilities. I'll admit it was a bit vauger than I had hoped but it gives you plenty of room to move around and a great place to start.
Excellent Book
This book has helped me choose a drastic career change I was almost afraid to reach for ten years ago.Since then, I've bought the book numerous times as gifts for friends who then share it with others.It's simple to use and relevant each time I go back to it.Whether you are looking for a career change or to better understand how to position yourself where you are, this book is extremely helpful in helping you realize your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes more clearly and based on that, how to find a fit in almost every situation.The author's other books are insightful too for relationships and advising your children.

Perhaps I had overly high expectations...
While I am aware that no career book is going to be a holy grail, this one in particular seemed rather useless. "You are an INFP. You feel fulfilled by helping people, so go find a job where you can do that" was pretty much the extent of the advice it offered. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Career/Job    3. Careers - General    4. Careers / Job Opportunities    5. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator    6. Occupations    7. Personal Growth - Success    8. Personality    9. Personality and occupation    10. Vocational guidance    11. Advice on careers & achieving success    12. Business & Economics / Careers    13. Popular psychology   

Features

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Reviews (34)

Jordan and Jon's voice will be echoing in your head
The Examkrackers series is absolutely wonderful, and I think the Audio Osmosis really helps to reinforce concepts.It should be utilised as a supplement to TPR, Kaplan or EK books.

extra help for mcat prep
This seems like a good way to review. I have taken the mcat once (w/o audio osmosis) and am studying to take it again. So far, I've listened to the discs once through, and I think that being able to hear concepts while at work or on the train to/from work will help cement them in addition to reading, reviewing, and taking practice tests. DO NOT think you'll ace the mcat w/o practice tests, but it's an amusing set of discs with some good sound effects, asides, and mnemonics to help commit concepts to memory. I'm pretty confident it should help.

Secretroute Book Review ; It Rocks
The reviewer named "Book Reviewer" Listed below is fake. I brought a book from secret route 2 months ago I recieved it within a week, it is very good and useful book. 60 essays and 50 answers are very effective and worth the price. "Book reviewer" is not a real person, he has no other reviews on amazon, he is fake! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)    4. Test Preparation & Review   

Reviews (18)

What the Best College Teachers Do by Ken Bain
This book had some good insight.The emphasis on creating a community conducive to learning, while not novel, is important.I think, or at least hope, that the author was well-intended.However, most of the ideas were jumbled, inconsistent and presented in a highly condescending manner.The most annoying approach was creating a straw man, followed by destroying the straw man, and concluding with some statement to the tune of "now thay we've shown ...."Of course all Bain has shown is that some idea that most thoughtful instructors never considered a possibility is actually ... not a possibility. Often he would, later in the text, argue that he's proven something about good or bad instructors.As an example, in Chapter 4, "Recall that we found [in chapter 2] many less successful instructors who think of memory as a storage unit and intelligence as the capacity to use the information in that tank." Realistically, I suspect that most instructors are a lilttle bit more thoughtful about what constitutes intelligence. I found his shallow dualistic view of education demeaning to the intelligence of instructors and students.

Useful, sigh
If I had to summarize this book in two words, they would be "only connect" (E.M. Forster).Bain advises college teachers to orient their teaching to the students in the room.We--and I say we because I am one--need to know what presuppositions students bring to the class; we need to keep students' attention by connecting the new to the familiar; we need to turn students into learners and thinkers, instead of cramming facts into their heads.Etc. etc.
"In an ideal world..."
As a former college professor who does some online teaching from time to time, I was fascinated by Bain's book. Bain identified a number of teachers who made a meaningful impact on student lives. He and his team followed up to ask, "What makes them so great?"
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Subjects:  1. College teaching    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Effective teaching    5. Higher    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    7. United States    8. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / General    9. Higher & further education    10. Teaching skills & techniques    11. USA   

Reviews (1)

The Teaching Portfolio by Peter Seldin
This is an excellent guide for those looking to create a teaching portfolio and for those interested in improving education. Seldin's writing style is very easy to read and comprehend, and he offers excellent advicefor the components of a teaching portfolio, working with a mentor,preparing and using the portfolio, and improving teaching through use ofthe portfolio. Additionally, there are many sample portfolios from avariety of disciplines for the reader's review. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. College teachers    2. College teaching    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. Evaluation    6. Higher    7. Portfolios in education    8. Rating of    9. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    10. United States   

Editorial Review

This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility. Read more

Reviews (1946)

Brought back feelings....
This book was definitely one of those works where you can identify with what they are going through, yet you still have something to learn. I am a cargiver for a lady who has a disease almost identical to that of ALS (Lou Gehrigs) and the symptoms he describes in this book are ones that I am facing everyday I work with her.
Tuesdays At Morrie's, Fridays At The Bank
This book is not inspiring, it is unfortunate.Morrie sounded like a great man who knew how to live his life.However, it is unfortunate that media vultures like Oprah Winfrey, Ted Koppel, and the author (another Oprah-manufactured "celebrity" like Dr. Phil) took everything that was probably special about this man and trivialized his words, commercialized his life, and exploited him and his values purely for financial gain.Albom mentions that the advance money for the book paid for Morrie's medical bills...what about all the money after he died?Hmm...he kind of left that part out.Seems that Mitch didn't really learn that much about greed from his old professor after all, which makes him sort of a hypocrite.What could have been a very special book in the hands of a competent author, instead gets a 200-page shlock treatment, from a sixth-grade caliber sports-writer (who apparently can't write many words longer than two syllables) that is watered down so that the masses can swallow it without too much critical thought.If I'd have known this was one of "Oprah's Picks" I wouldn't have even bothered with it, but I have also heard so much praise for this book that I figured it was at least worth a read.It wasn't.It was not inspiring, it was trite, contrived, shallow, preachy, poorly written...which seems to be a trademark of all of Albom's books.Morrie, you deserved better and I hope you are resting peacefully.I suppose it is good that this book is at least inspiring people, but at the same time you have to wonder about the types of people who would be inspired by this simple-minded shlock.Anyone raised in any decent, civilized background probably knew all this stuff already.I think the only people on this earth who have a true sense of what Morrie was about are his surviving friends, family, cohorts and students.I felt no connection to Morrie with this tacky treatment of a powerful subject, which is very unfortunate.I agree with another review that said that if you want some really great, inspiring words, read the Bible, Koran, Torah, etc. and keep away from this tacky book.Hec