Books: 'Middle Church'

This is where you can get information about books featured on The Early Show that don't have separate stories.

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006

"Middle Church: Reclaiming the Moral Values of the Faithful Majority from the Religious Right," by Bob Edgar

Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, is also a former Democratic congressman who says religious conservatives have too much political influence.

He reaches out to religious moderates in his new book, "Middle Church: Reclaiming the Moral Values of the Faithful Majority from the Religious Right."

Edgar talked about the book on The Early Show Thursday. To see the segment,

To read excerpts, click here.

"The Look: A Guide to Dressing from the Inside Out," by Randolph Potter

Americans tend to worry a lot about our weight. but designer Randolph Duke says our shape is much more important.

His new book, "The Look: A Guide to Dressing from the Inside Out," shows how dressing for your shape makes everything look better.

The Web site of the book's publisher, Clarkson Potter, says, "It all starts with body type. Once you've identified your shape from five broad categories, you'll learn to choose clothing that maximizes your positive features and downplays less desirable ones. Then, you can shop for flattering outfits that fit your lifestyle, whether you're a fan of bohemian or preppy, urban chic or country living. … Great style is more about a state of mind than it is about a designer wardrobe or a fat bank account. Learning to respect your body and your own taste is a critical part of Duke's philosophy."

Duke discussed the book on The Early Show Monday. To watch the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of "The Look," click here. (The excerpt is copyright 2006, all rights reserved).

"You Can Do It! The Boomer's Guide to a Great Retirement," by Jonathan Pond

Baby boomers as a group have been told over and over again that they're not saving enough money for retirement. But financial expert Jonathan Pond doesn't buy that.

He tells why in the new book, "You Can Do It! The Boomer's Guide to a Great Retirement."

On The Early Show Thursday, Pond said boomers are better prepared than generally thought, and he offered advice to boomers who truly are behind in their savings. He also discussed the importance of thinking about where and when you will retire; why you should work hard to pay off your mortgage before retirement; and the role good health plays in retirement.

To see the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of "You Can Do It," click here.

"Sex, Lies and Handwriting: A Top Expert Reveals the Secrets Hidden in Your Handwriting," by Michelle Dresbold

Your signature, the handwritten note, the hastily scribbled grocery list, may all seem like just part of daily life. But handwriting expert Michelle Dresbold says handwriting is actually very revealing. It might even betray a cheating lover!

In her new book, "Sex, Lies and Handwriting: A Top Expert Reveals the Secrets Hidden in Your Handwriting," Dresbold explains how to unravel the mysteries of penmanship and decipher the handwriting of yourself and others.

Dresbold discussed the book on The Early Show Wednesday, saying you can improve your life by improving your handwriting. She said she did, and explained why and how it works. She also looked at handwriting samples of some famous bad guys to show how their handwriting gives them away.

To see the segment, click here.

For more information visit michelledresbold.com.

"Sex, Lies and Handwriting" is published by Free Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, which is a division of CBS, as is CBS News.com.

"Traveling Hopefully: How to Lose Your Family Baggage and Jumpstart Your Life," by Libby Gill

The holiday season is a joyful time, but it can also be stressful. And while many people love family gatherings and shopping trips, many dread the stress and anxiety that come with them.

Libby Gill, a lecturer, executive coach, and author of "Traveling Hopefully: How To Lose Your Family Baggage and Jumpstart Your Life," offered advice on The Early Show Wednesday on coping with tension-producing holiday family time.

To watch the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of "Traveling Hopefully," click here.

For more information visit libbygill.com.

"Christmasland ReCollections," by Ralph Del Pozzo and David High

If you're looking for a trip to Christmas past, try vintage decorations. Things such as porcelain pixies and light-up snowmen can help rekindle the holiday spirit many of us had when we were kids.

Ralph Del Pozzo and David High take us down memory lane in their new book, "Christmasland ReCollections." It's a visual tour of their personal collection of vintage decorations. Among them: tiny landscapes of elf villages, bottle-brush tree forests, and the glittery land of Santa.

They talked about the book, and collecting such items, on The Early Show. To watch the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of Christmasland ReCollections," click here.

"Modern Love: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Life of Passion," by Sallie Foley

Baby boomers are getting older: It's estimated that 330 of them turn 60 every hour!

But this is no time to worry; it's time to plan the next stage of your life.

Sallie Foley, a columnist for AARP The Magazine, offers help in her book, "Modern Love: A No-Nonsense Guide to a Life of Passion."

She discussed it on The Early Show Thursday. To watch the segment, click here.

Foley says the book is a blueprint for living out our later years with gusto. She gives guidelines to help us grow older with a good attitude: Accept who you are, develop new interests, have a good friend network, keep moving, and remember that sexual health is part of general health.

Among other things, "Modern Love" Modern Love coaches adults in dating etiquette, "The ABCs of pleasure," making love last, and wander lust.

To read an excerpt, click here. The excerpt is © AARP 2006; Illustrations by Jeffrey Fisher; All rights reserved.

"Why Does My Dog Act That Way?" by Stanley Coren

Ever wonder what your dog is thinking?

In his new book, "Why Does My Dog Act That Way?: A Complete Guide to Your Dog's Personality," psychologist and dog behavior expert Stanley Coren takes a look inside the canine mind.

Dr. Coren offers advice in the book on what to look for when selecting a dog, to help match your personality to that of a potential pet.

He discussed it on The Early Show. To watch the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of "Why Does My Dog Act That Way?" click here.

This book is published by Free Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, whose parent company, the CBS Corporation, is the same as that of CBSNews.com.

"The Kindergarten Wars," by Alan Eisenstock

All parents want the best for their children, especially when it comes to education.

But, according to author Alan Eisenstock, a good education now may be more of a privilege than a right. In his new book, "The Kindergarten Wars," we get an inside look at four families competing for acceptance into the best private schools money can buy.

Eisenstock tells about the competitive application process to be accepted into a kindergarten-through-12th grade private school program.

For two years, he followed four families through the application process. Each family is different socially and financially. Eisenstock also got an honest depiction of the process through the eyes of admissions directors and educational consultants.

He estimates it will cost a family $500,000 per child to have youngsters attend private school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Is it worth it? Eisenstock addressed that and many other questions on The Early Show Monday. To watch the segment, click here.

To read an excerpt of "The Kindergarten Wars," click here.