Shoes Books

RAGGED DICK is a wonderful example of the late 19th century optimism in between the major depressions that plagued America during those years. I agree that this is an inspirational story for children and early adolescents. The values it imparts--loyalty, work, cooperation, persistence--are certainly ones that we would want our youth exposed to. But it holds something for adults too: and that is a first-hand glimpse of post-Civil War New York City. The struggle of the orphans, the advantages of the privileged class, the thieves, the confidence men, the unforgiving hardness of poverty in the pre-Jacob Riis days are all there. And that's what makes this book a double winner: it has something for the young and something for the older.

Ragged Dick, by Horatio Alger is a book telling about the story of a young man who ultimately reaches the American Dream of living a respectable . Alger's main purpose in the text was to illustrate that a person of little class can make achieve a life of happiness with honesty. The text was very appealing because it seemed that Alger was very passionate about helping orphans , he story was so realistic that it made you think he went through all of Dick`s experiences. Alger`s character`s were very realistic, which makes a almost fairy tale like book better. Alger's words although simple were full of emotion.
Alger effectively demonstrated through the actions of the characters that it is possible to climb the social ladder and end up with a wonderful life. This was done by showing the steps the main character Dick took to reach greatness. It is apparent that Alger wants you to feel what Dick is feeling. Alger using a lot of foreshadowing and symbolizes which makes the book much more thought provoking.
I found the book to be a valuable tool in helping me see things through the eyes of someone who has to work for what he wants. It gave me insight into the obstacles of life in the 1800`s. The book aided in my preparation for learning about the all history , not just a specific time period; the story is timeless . It gave me a reference to think about when I am presented with a story of a politician or other person who rose in position.
The text was very simple , almost too simple at places. It was a short read that went extremely quickly. Alger accomplished hid purpose. After reading one has to see how someone can rise up in society.

I can honestly say that at first I thought this book would be boring and I would have to force myself to read it. I was wrong!! This book was so interesting, funny and heart felt, it made me laugh and teary-eyed all at the same time. I have recommended this book to people that don't even have to read it as a class assignment. At night before I went to bed I would read it and on my lunch break I would go into my car and read it, I couldn't put it down until I read the whole story. If I had to sum it up in one word it would be EXCELLENT!!!!

"Ragged Dick," a story about a young, poor, boot-black boy from New York City, is a Classic American novel. Written by Horatio Alger, in the late 1800's, hit upon the most important topic in America at the time; the "American Dream." The "American Dream," being the idea that everyone, from all walks of life, can come to America and be successful, in any way in which they want to, so long as they have hard work and determination to do so. Ragged Dick for filled this "Dream" by making his way up in society, and eventually making a wealthy man of himself.
I enjoyed reading "Ragged Dick." The story, though it was short, covered some very important topics of life back in the 1800's. The first was that fact that noone should give up. Through all of the hardships Dick was put through, including the loss of his parents, the mis-fortune of receiving no education, and the fact that he lived on his own for most of his life. Another important topic that was covered, was that hard work pays off. In Dick's case, he worked hard at a boot-black, treated people with respect, and finally caught a break for his hard work, by receiving a high paying job.
The kind of people that would enjoy this story would be people of all ages. No matter what age, or what level of education one may be, this story teaches lessons that anyone can benefit from. It doesn't matter if a twelve year old boy, or a fifty year old woman picked up "Ragged Dick," because they will both benefit from what the story speaks about.

"I aint been knookin around these city streets for all my life for nothin," exclaims Ragged Dick, the hero of the novel Ragged Dick, by Horatio Alger Jr. This timeless classic brings the reader into the life of a young boy growing up on the harsh city streets of New York City in the late 1800's. Ragged Dick became an orphan at the age of four and was forced to take care of himself soon after at the age of seven. Dick becomes a boot black so he can earn enough money to take care of himself and this is where the reader begins the story. Ragged Dick turns into a fast paced adventurous novel which will constantly leave the reader asking "what next?" Join the many who have become enthralled by this book and follow the adventures of Ragged Dick and his friends you meet along the way. Learn how Dick, the lovable boot black, turns out. Does he live up to his goal of "livin a s'pectable life" like he always hoped to? Find out, by reading this timeless classic.

Love shoes and this reminds me everyday what shoes are being designed and produced.

I can't wear shoes like these to work so it gives me a a new shoe to look forward to everyday!

Great office conversation piece.

Love the calaender...it shows well and each pair of shoes are so different...can't wait to see the next pair!

If you love shoes, you'll love this calendar. Each morning enjoy a new shoe. The exquisite photography showcases the very finest details of the shoes - for example, you can almost feel the suede on a flapper shoe from the 1920s. See shows from all different times and places. Formal shoes, play shoes and functional shoes. My favorites are from the 18th century but there's something for everyshoe lover out there.

I recieved one of these for a gift in 2006 and bought this one on my own because I liked it so much...great conversation piece on my desk when clients come in! I love shoes so I love this calendar...gives you shoes in all eras, countries, etc.

A beautiful item, so nice I would like to frame everyday. I am a shoe fanatic and each and every pair would be so fantastic.

It starts my day with something I love.

Thanks,

Dana the shoe lover forever

BOOTISM is a silly glossy little something, with quotes, exercises & interviews in eye-catching 4-color graphics. It is a perfect fit to bring chuckles. A good gift for those who dream about shoes while managing to control their addiction ... maybe.

Simple & delightful.

This book is all about silly little quotes on shoes with only a few lines on each page. You can finish the whole book in less than 15 minutes. It's not worth the price.

What a fun book! I read it cover to cover and smiled the entire time.

What a fun little book! My husband gave it to me for Christmas (he actually put the book in a Jimmy Choo shoe box). I've been showing it to all my friends. Fun, fun. Cool, cool.

THIS BOOK WAS A REAL LIGHT READ, FUN FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES SHOES.
GREAT FOR COFFEE TABLE OR READING ROOM.
NICE STOCKING STUFFER.
GOOD READING TO YOU ALL.

This is a first rate production both as a "how to" book and as a modern very well illustrated example of the print medium. It's much more than I expected, there is so little info on this subject that finding this master work was a delight and a relief that someone had taken the time and effort to produce this fine work. The only subject lacking coverage is high top boots but you can extrapolate from the subject of low top boots which is covered. We owe this gentleman our graditude. Thank you Mr. Vass.

i love this book for all the photographs inside. it's extremely helpful in understanding the art of shoemaking as opposed to shoe manufacturing. the vass brand name and family name churn out exceptionally high quality shoes and boots, and it's great to see a book detailing just that.

I think this is the only book of its kind, or at least the only one in print. The photographs are great, as is the content.

The only disappointment I had was that I had purchased the book in part to try to understand better my own shoes. However, after reading this book, I doubt very much that the various shoes I've owned are constructed in the same manner, so I haven't gained any useful insights. I'm still stuck with price-tag as a mediator of quality, which I hate.

I want to make my own shoes, and this book explains a LOT of terms that I couldnt find definitions for. VERY detailed, with a lot of interesting history related to shoes. Nice hardcover, with color glossy paper.

The book is basically one-of-a-kind and that alone should give it some due respect. You will come away knowing more about shoes and their manufacture than you ever thought possible. However, if you ever visit Vass in Budapest for a fitting, don't expect them to follow the lengthy steps outlined in the book for having custom shoes made. They won't. How quickly (and simply) you are measured will come as a great surprise. That said, you will still be stunned at the beautiful (and perfect fitting) shoes that you will receive. And through the book you'll be clear on how they came about.

HIghly recommended for the clothes horse.

This is an OK book, but I could not get excited about it. Hope to be discussing it with a book group.

I have to admit to feeling not a little ashamed of myself while reading these life-affirming vignettes. I have been taught not to judge my insides by someone else's outsides; people can "look" pretty damn good, but be all messed up inside. Well, the reverse is true in this gem quality book by poet Kenny Fries. Gay, Jewish and physically handicapped (but by no means disabled), the author simply looks upon himself as normal, no different from anyone else. He views his physical handicap as an obstacle to overcome, not unlike anti-Semitism and homophobia, and certainly not a limitation. he climbs mountains, rafts down the Colorado, publishes acclaimed poetry and travels the world on exotic nature expeditions. So, why am I ashamed? Because, I'm able bodied and "choose" to sit on my pity-pot and bellyache about all the things I don't have and can't do, while Kenny Fries is out there persuing life's grand adventure.

Mr. Fries is a Darwin scholar; the entire premise of this uniquely rendered work is that each of us as individuals are presented with challenges in life (not "just" physical), and that the key to our success or happiness lies within our willingness and ability to adapt. Thus even the theory of "survival of the fittest" must be adapted in its application to the human race, as it is our ability to reason that elevates us and not our brute strength or physical prowess; the obvious and fatal flaw in Hitler's final solution theory. Might never makes right, and our ability to wage war doesn't solve our problems of global warming, poverty and prejudice. We must adapt to our ever changing environment because the alternative is too grim to accept. Kenny Fries has personalized this theory to stunning affect; his resiliency and steadfast courage to face life as a challenge and an opportunity are an inspiration to us all.

The compelling images in Kenny Fries' History of My Shoes remained with me long after I closed its covers. This is the story of a five-foot-tall man born without fibulae in both legs who rafts through the Grand Canyon, visits Buddhist temples in Thailand, climbs Beehive Mountain in Maine, and uses his cane to flick off a cactus flower to feed a hungry iguana on the Galapagos Islands. As compelling as the story is, even more compelling are the questions Fries raises about difference, disability, adaptation, and community. Never preachy, consistently generous, written in prose that is both simple and poetic, History of My Shoes is an exercise in mind-expansion and an experience of beauty. I also enjoyed the ink drwaings at the head of each chapter, which gave the book the feel of a naturalists' record such as Darwin or Wallace might have sketched. Get this book and read it.

It's hard to imagine how such a through examination of evolution and it's effects on culture, mingled with a series of small refelctions of a life with special shoes (many pairs of special shoes) can be compressed into 200 or so pages of crystal clear, smooth and easy prose. This is a beautiful and profound book.

When I write that Kenny Fries' The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin's Theory is "moving," I do not mean to imply sentimentality. What I mean is that this is a book that is intrinsically linked to the idea of motion, in both its content and and structure. It is a book that propels the reader into new ways of reading, thinking, and seeing.

By juxtaposing the stories of Darwin and Wallace and their development of a theory of evolution with his own story and the history of his orthopedic shoes, Fries gives us two different narrative threads and makes us move back and forth between them. I have to admit that at first I found this technique a little bit awkward, but as I read, I realized that the tensions in this book are what fuel it, what give it its strength and magic. I felt my thought processes adapting as I gained a greater understaing about why these two stories are really the same story. And a month after first reading the book, I think that Fries' words are still moving around in my head, working on me slowly.

Not only does Kenny Fries manage to frame a crucial discussion in a new light, he accomplishes the most difficult and greatest thing a writer can do: he creates a structure that allows his reader to move from simply reading his words to actually experiencing what they mean. We find that Fries, in pushing us to find new ways of connecting and experiencing narrative, has begun to implant in us his own philosophy of connecting with and experiencing the world.

Ann Marie O'Phelan, MFA's HOW TO GO TO COLLEGE ON A SHOE STRING is a key acquisition for any collection catering to college-bound students. It provides all the details on how to get scholarships, grants and fellowships to reduce out-of-pocket expenses, covers new alternative ways of financing college, and provides all kinds of tips on how to save money on everything from books to entertainment while in school. Will appeal to general-interest novices.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is a useful, informative guide and an invaluable resource for both parents and students. It is very detailed and covers everything you need know and provides a lot of information that I haven't seen in other books.

The sections about the ins and outs of financial aid and forms were very useful. The author even talks about how divorced or separated parents should fill out financial aid forms. Other sections discuss grants, scholarships, loans and the pros and cons of working while attending school. I like how he outlines student loan and credit card debt pitfalls and warns about the numerous scams that parents and students encounter. The chapter on living cheap is not only incredibly thorough and realistic, but it's also got some excellent resources for saving on textbooks as well as studying, living and traveling frugally.

I recommend this book. It's well organized and is written in a casual, easy-to-follow style. I especially like his use of case studies that give real-world examples and the Appendix section, which includes six pages of handy, useful links that cover all of the topics discussed in the book. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

According to experts a college degree can nearly double your annual salary, but the road to acquiring one can be expensive. How To Go To College On A Shoe String offers several ways to pay for college while attending, and offers suggestions on how to decrease the amount of student loans that will need to be paid back after graduation. This educational book does a great job of exploring the advantages and disadvantages of student loans, local community colleges, cooperative education, work study programs, and working while attending college. It emphasizes the importance of taking your SAT's, when to send out applications for financial aid and scholarships, how to organize application paperwork, and how to keep everyday expenses such as textbooks, meals, and transportation to a minimum. In this book you will find countless informative websites, some of which include worksheets to calculate the amount needed for financial aid, and others for lis ts of organizations and the sc holarships they offer. This invaluable reference manual is detailed, organized and reader friendly. After reading How To Go To College On A Shoe String, you will have a better understanding of the college application process and can concentrate on your education and enjoying your college years. I give this book a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Many parents, including myself, are starting to question if they will be able to send their child to college. In my area, a year of college at the state university tops $25,000, a little less if room and board is eliminated. With four years of college costing what many of us paid for our first houses, not to mention rising fuel costs and soaring heating and electricity bills, college savings have been sidelined in lieu of paying for necessary bills. There are still transportation costs, books and school supplies to consider. How are we going to send our children to college when there is no money in our already tight budgets?

Ann Marie O'Phelan's book can help any family figure out how to make college affordable. In many fields, a college degree is not an option it's a requirement. A recent scan of job postings in my area of Vermont found that even a city bus dispatcher is required to have a minimum of an associate's degree. Without a degree, salaries are much lower and jobs can be hard to find.

How to Go to College on a Shoestring offers sage advice to both student and parent. Besides the handy "Case Studies" that offer tips from those who have been there, the book is divided into ten chapters:

· How Am I Going to Pay for College?
· Applications
· The Numbers Game
· Grants
· Learn Now, Pay Later
· Work It Out!
· The Scholarship Jungle
· Bringing It Home
· Avoiding Trouble
· Living Cheap

What I like most about this handy guide is that it goes beyond finding college loans or grants. You'll find tips on getting into the college of your choice, the pros and cons of getting a job in high school to pay for college and tops on saving money while in college. Students learn how to shop wisely for things like groceries and textbooks.

The author's put a lot of work into her book. She includes a thorough listing of college funding programs for every state and pages of information on financial aid programs available in the U.S., as well as common scams that are circulating.

HOW TO GO TO COLLEGE ON A SHOESTRING is a must-read for every parent and high school aged child. It's packed with important information and handy tips to help keep college costs down and to ensure your child/children are able to attend college.

As a side note, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Humane Society of the United States.

I have 2 in college, one one the way so I was very interested in the book, but didn't expect to read much that was not common sense or I already knew. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only is is packed with great information, in a very light read - it has quite a bit of great information and advice which i had not thought of, did not know about or had not considered.

I am not convinced I can get 3 kids through college on a shoestring, but I can certainly do it quite a bit cheaper thanks to this informative and enlightening book. If you have kids on the way to college (or adults), this book is money well spent.

I was really disappointed with this book. We are purchasing a sailboat to live aboard and I have been reading books to help convince me this is a good thing. :-) I have read many excellent books about cruising and living aboard but this book in not one of them. The author seems to be a miserable person who hates sailing. I really didn't need to know about her troubled marriage. It was a downer...I started feeling very sorry for her husband. It would be interesting to know if she is still sailing. If you are looking for a book that has a good narrative along with useful information for coping on a sailboat, this is not it.

I find it is an honor to be related to this author, believe it or not i am a nephew. For those of you who i am sure did not make it to her book signing here in Priest River Id. the other day, missed out on a good presentation, it was 2 hours, but even interested me. I am not interested in sailing, and i think its a book that is worth the time to read.

If the Shoe Fits is an authentic story about a husband and wife who sell all their stuff and take up residency on a sailboat in the Pacific Northwest. Their intention is to actually sail this boat. Trouble is, neither one has ever sailed the blue ocean before; they've barely seen the ocean. And, don't let a little thing like fear hold you back either. The story is told through the eyes of author, Rae Ellen Lee, who will tickle your funny bone with common sense humor; paralize your gizzard with her churning fears and stir your heart with matter-of-fact honesty. Author Lee's husband,Tom,is in hot water from the get-go but survives on hard work and a relentless will and desire to put a bone in the Shoe's mouth. If the Shoe Fits is a quick read, which will captivate your interest from the opener and hold you to the end with its irresistible outspokenness.

A great read. Two people choose to forsake the mountains of Montana and sail around the Caribbean. Great humor and insight into the two different mindsets of sailing. Tom the authors husband has the wild fearless viking outlook while Rae Ellen takes a more sober (when are we going to die?) outlook on the adventure. Her humor is great -the characters they meet along the way are colorful - even the plastic lizard mascot the author adopts adds humor. Though they never make it any further than the San Juan Islands area, the adventures and training for the paradise trip will amaze you. From hair raising docking experiences to holiday meals onboard - the book will entertain you from first to last page.

The book was progressing wonderfully for me, until the author admitted dumping two old pets because it wasn't "convenient" for her to have them anymore because she was going to "sail away." One cat went to an almost certain demise at an animal shelter, another disappeared after being relocated to the woods at a relatives house.

Sailing away can be a very fulfilling way to experience life. But we are already such a throw away society, I cannot condone her actions. If great care can be taken to sell off possessions at garage sales, could not the same care have been taken with finding GOOD homes for two old companions?

Shame on Rae Ellen Lee. I will not be finishing the book.

Margaret

Great work Ronnen! You are an extremely generous writer who is passionate about dance!

This book is replete with insights that allow the reader to avoid the mistakes typically made by the social dancer. Although there is a website I would definitely spend the money and buy the book. The book has more information and is a lot handier to use. There are many guides on dancing, but this book is special in the way it comprehensively covers all the things that make dancing so enjoyable.

This is a great book for beginning ballroom dancers, but only if you have not visited his website before buying the book. The book has a couple of sections not offered on the website, but most of these are in the music compilation sections, which are not as useful for beginners anyway. If you have ever visited his website, do not buy the book, it's not worth the $15. If you haven't seen the website, then I highly recommend it if you're a beginner dancer, it has many helpful hints (especially for those in the San Francisco area).

I am an Intermediate Bronze ballroom dancer. I wanted a book that concentrated more on the etiquette of dancing and not the footsteps. This book provides it all in moderation very nicely. For example, what to wear, how to buy shoes, hygiene, how to stand, how to hold your partner...lots of personal details like that is what I wanted to know. I am lucky in that I have an excellent dance instructor. I don't want to look at dance diagrams. They are impossible to read anyway - it's like trying to take out your own appendix. The author showed some steps, but just a smattering to help you get more versions out of a dance. I was also curious about the type of music he would suggest, and was vastly relieved to see it wasn't all from The Lawrence Welk Show - but an excellent range of modern musicians, movie themes or songs from movies. This was a very user-friendly book for beginners. The writer's warm personality came through nicely and he obviously really loves to dance. I'm glad I bought it. My dance instructor asked to take it home to read after glancing through it for several minutes just before a lesson! I recommend it.

I have come across many guides on dance steps, but never found a book quite like this that comprehensively covers all the other things that can make dancing so much more enjoyable. This book provides lots of useful tips and insights that allow the reader to avoid a number of the little mistakes that can add a degree of frustration to the process of becoming a social dancer. Skip the website and buy the book; the book has more information and doesn't require you to get online whenever you want to reference the content.

I read this book for my U.S History II class and enjoyed it thoroughly. Although the characters "struggle", both stories were very entertaining and humorous. The story is very sincere and leaves the reader feeling inspired.

Ragged Dick I feel is a good book because it talks about life without money, and just the hardships that Dick faced everyday. Like how he was going to earn his money to pay for his meals. If he was lucky maybe a place to sleep. He had a friend Johnny Nolan who was in the same situation as Dick but he would not work as hard or did not have the drive to work to make the money he needed to, to survive. Dick would shine every business mans shoes as much as they wanted him to and run and change bills for them. This all gains trust with Dick and his clients. That he would have trusting customers that would now look for him and not someone that they do not. He would slowly start to have a somewhat stable business.
Dick and his friend Johnny did many things together which made them close friends. But when Dick was going to go make a buck or what ever he could do to make his customers happy with his work, Johnny would go and mess around instead of worrying about his next step in life. He was just floating along doing the least amount of work possible to survive. When mealtime came around Dick being the nice and sharing boy, he would pay for him as well. Not even expecting Johnny to ever pay him back, knowing that Johnny wasn't good for it.
This story grabbed a hold of me from the start and didn't let go of me until the end which was great to have a book that I could read and not worry about falling asleep while reading, an old book.

If you like underdog rags-to-riches stories and want to believe in an America where hard work and integrity still hold the key to success, then this book is for you. This is a fun book and Alger is a gifted writer. His Ragged Dick character is witty and charismatic, rising up from homeless street urchin to respected bookkeeper by dint of hard work, frugality and focused study. In an age of corporate greed and scandals (this year: Enron, Martha Stuart insider trading, etc.) it is refreshing to read stories where ordinary people transcend their circumstances with honesty, hard work, integrity, and compassion.

I had heard so much about Horatio Algier Jr., but never took to the time to read any of his stories. Ragged Dick and Struggling Upward are two novelettes that teach Algier's recurring theme that honesty and hard work will always pay. Yes, the stories are overly simplistic, but they are refreshing and make for a good wholesome read. It was fascinating to read these stories that were written in the mid 19th century. When Algier writes about a stagecoach ride in Struggling Updward, he is not doing so from an historical perspective, but likely from personal experience. Don't miss the introduction by Carl Bode. There are some interesting facets of Algier's life that hardly live up to the standards that he set for his heroes. Nonetheless, the author offers light reading with very positive and hopeful messages that are still relevant today.

During 1850s, common stories about "poor city youths, newsboys and bootblacks" who became rich and famous which were popular. (Introduction, p. X) In "Ragged Dick" we have a young boy who is our "hero" or a main character which book concentrates upon. Alger opened up Dick's identity, inspirations, dreams, plans and hopes. Dick was a sarcastic youngster, generous towards friends, gambler and smoker. At the same time, he never steals, neither cheats nor hurt younger boys and this makes him a "noble" young gentleman. "[Dick's] pants were torn in several places, and had apparently belonged in the first instance to a boy two sizes larger than himself. He wore a vest, all the buttons of which were gone except two, out of which peeped a shirt which looked as if it had been worn a month. To complete his costume he wore a coat too long for him, dating back, if one might judge from its general appearance, to a remote tranquility." (p. 4) Throughout the book Alger draws us to see the transfer of a boy who once was Ragged Dick into a respectable young gentleman Richard Hunter. "When Dick was dressed in his new attire, with his face and hands clean, and his hair brushed, it was difficult to image that he was the same boy" Dick changes from being uneducated, dirty and wearing ragged clothes that are too big for him into a "quite handsome...young gentleman, except that his hands were red and grimy". (p. 24) Alger could have made Dick a good looking, rich and educated young gentleman but he chose completely the opposite. This way of writing only made it more realistic since not everyone becomes rich; we work hard to get there.

Throughout the book, Alger opens the identities of all the characters, draws images of the New York City streets, transportation and structures. We learn about the games, cheats, crooks and tricks happening on the streets. (Introduction, p. xi) Alger draws our attention to the juvenile boys' desires for simple things such as: "a steady job, a decent place to sleep, a suit of clothing, respect from others" as well as planning for future. (Introduction, p. xii) There are a lot of details used to make our minds actually see the real pictures of the situations. Some of the details include about the greatest pleasure that Dick is experiencing with his saving's account that keeps on growing very slowly with every week and the first experience of washing his face because "[washing] the face and hands is usually considered proper in commencing the day, but Dick was above such refinement" (p. 4) Dick was unable to wash his hands and face since he was living on the street.

The reason why I think Ragged Dick was a success is because this story was easy to read as well as inspiring. I had been left with a feeling that just as Dick kept telling his friends they can become smart and rich, I could too. I also find it interesting how this uneducated, dirty, sarcastic, young boy over the period of approximately one year turn into this young noble gentleman. Just as Dick wasn't successful in everything he did, we tend to somehow compare ourselves to him. His life is quiet realistic and can be compared to some of our own lives. Although I do believe that Dick was a bit too optimistic then some of us, which is why not all of us will have the same ending.

This is a fun and inspirational book - great for any shoe-lovin girlfriend.

"Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life" had me laughing in some places and nodding my head in agreement in many others. It updates the Cinderella fairy tale to an adult level, and answers a lot of questions about why men respond to women the way they do. Now, if the author could only explain why else men act the way they do, and what we can do about it!
Not only did I buy several copies of this book for stocking stuffers and Secret Santa exchange gifts, it's also my book club's assigned reading for next month along with -- ready for this -- "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask." Won't that be an interesting meeting!!!

I was hopeless; I wore comfortable... shoes usually from Payless. Nothing wrong with that until I was bored and waiting for friends at a bookstore and saw the pretty red cover of this book and briefly read bits and parts. Left the store without buying it; but it had some strange hold on me. A month later, back in the store I picked it up again to read bits more, but again, left without buying. The few parts I read had me. I had to go back and buy it. So strange to have to buy it; like an addiction.
Found it... so fluffy yet sooo fun. I learned so much and more. I bought a notebook and actually took notes! AND found the courage and strength to buy my first pair of 'real' shoes. Thank Reynolds for so much fun. Like the best magazine articles organized!!! I've bought several for gifts; it has started to change my life!

Susan Reynolds is a delightful, captivating woman with an engaging sense of humor-part historian and etymologist, part social commentator and psychologist, and above all, a consummate connoisseur of footwear.

I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Reynolds on a talk show recently, and marveled at her ability to elaborate on a topic as pedestrian and superficial to the casual observer as footwear and shoe preference. With equal finesse, Reynolds can discuss the mythological implications of the shoe as a metaphorical archetype, and dissect the aesthetic attributes and architectural nuances of a DKNY slingback. It's a testament to Reynolds' passion about shoes that the interviewer, though indifferent to shoes themselves, confessed a fascination with shoe aficionados!

Having been a wedding and portrait photographer, I'd come to appreciate the vital dimension that props and other objects of personal significance occupy in the overall visual motif. As creatures with enormous curiosity, we're constantly scrutinized by those around us who diagnose and analyze--both overtly and subconsciously--all the varied and subtle details we exhibit to the world. For women more so than men, apparel in general--and the shoe in particular--is a kind of shorthand to assist acquaintances and strangers in constructing a sensible representation of who we are (or would like to be). So why not "strut your stuff," to quote one of Reynolds favorite admonitions!

Reynolds is enormously fun to read, and you'll discover fascinating anthropological revelations about shoes and their evolutionary heritage. For example, she draws amusing parallels between humans and baboons when reflecting on a finding gleaned from primate studies. Baboons in the field, according to Reynolds, walk on the balls of their feet when sexually aroused!

While scientists are left to hypothesize that such curious traits evolved as adaptive mechanisms enabling the species to survive, I'm forced to admire Reynolds' ability to shift from the sublime to the hilarious. The image of an ape in stiletto pumps, after all, is one I'm not likely to forget!

"Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life" is an enjoyable and flirtatious read for women who love shoes, and for men who love the many aspects to a woman's personality that a pair of shoes can so mysteriously and marvelously evoke.

Who knew that humble footwear could have such an influence on our lives?

If you're a lifelong "shoe diva", you probably suspected that the coverings you choose for your little piggies could:

--improve your self esteem
--make men drool
--get you a better job
--make your entire wardrobe look better
--improve your daily comfort

But, if you're like the rest of us (oblivious ones) you may not have realized just how high you can soar on those stilletos or platform heels, or, even, dare I say it?--ballerina flats.

Sue Reynolds does a wonderful job of making footwear seem fascinating (there's plenty of historical information in this book,along with the fashion advice) and, even if you're an athletic shoe kind of gal, you may find yourself wanting to add spunky laces to those Nikes!

A fun read, recommended!