Stanley Reviews

It has been a while since I have read a very practical book on building your vision and fulfilling the actions to make that vision come alive. Too often, books on visions and mission statements are more theory books with little practical value. Written with excellent references from the Bible of great leaders that needed a lot of help in getting their own life's direction onto God's fast track, you will find this book to easily relate to today's business needs.

I found Andy Stanley's writing to be fun, concise and practical, with each chapter well appointed with bolded key points, thought provoking questions or excercises for personal application.

I have already recommended this book to both business collegues and christian friends, both church leaders and laymen. Whether you are wanting more out of your business career, your church committee position, to better define your bible study group's future direction, or to supercharge your life back on to God's well designed plan for your life, this is a great place to inject some smart advice.

This book will easily be a book that I will reference again and again in the future.

God gave me a business vision (Kingdom Business Centers) that seems almost as big as Him. During a recent business meeting, one of the attendees lent me her copy of VISIONEERING which I read in one day. This book was SO LOADED with confirmation that I now have no doubt whatsoever that my business vision will come to pass. Now I'm ordering my own copy to mark up, plus the tapes to share with others who have business visions.

IF YOU ARE ATTEMPTING ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITY AND RESOURCES, THIS IS A MUST READ...OVER AND OVER!

Got a great idea? Think it's a "must do?" Andy Stanley describes how to differentiate between a good idea and a God-given vision, and what to do next. Not a believer? Doesn't matter. Visioneering offers sound principles for anyone with a vision of something that could be better. It's the best "how to" guide on turning your God-given visions into reality.

Overall, it was very good especially if you can get your spouse to read it with you and actually try the suggestions given. Now if only one of you are reading the book it also works in a viewpoint that you'll understand where you stand and how he/she may be reacting to the discussion, disagreement or whatever. For example, you'll notice that when one of you walks away or stays quiet while the other is trying to solve the problem then instead of thinking he/she isn't paying attention you may say to yourself he/she is now withdrawing so let me put this off until we are both open to listening and discussing the situation. Many points in the book were very helpful in making sense of how men and women view things in a different light of importance. The book is not only good for couples but for singles as well, Marriage is a TEAM that works best when you can communicate and learn that you go from I, ME to US and WE. I recommend it - great insights even better if you can convice the other to join you in reading it together.

After the gown is packed away comes the reality that marriage is hard. How come no one told us? This book contains real strategies for making your marriage stronger. After years of trying to explain to my husband how I felt he sometimes dismissed my feelings, I did a cartwheel after discovering a whole chapter on what the authors call "invalidating" your partner's feelings - one of the most toxic things you can do in a marriage. Well my husband used to do it - a lot. This book opened his eyes - and saved my sanity.

My husband and I married in our mid thirties thinking we had a lock on good communication skills and knowing we were mature enough to really make this marriage work. Nonetheless, it wasn't long before we were "mired in muck". When a small conflict arose, we found ourselves so caught up in being right and fighting our point to the death that small events escalated into huge issues. We could feel the good things in our relationship slipping away and felt helpless to fix the problem. (This was AFTER reading probably 20 different books on marriage, doing the Barbara D'Angelis program, the Gary Smally Program, attending several couples workshops, etc.). Contemplating calling it quits on our marriage, I happened accross this book, loved it, then went to a PREP workshop. Our marriage is AWESOME. We actually know how to hear and be heard and have the skills to RESOLVE the conflicts. (By the way, note the "I". My spouse hasn't read the book and refused to go to the workshop.) I learned the skills and used them in our marriage and our relationship changed. It even works with kids, in-laws, co-workers.... Yippee!

This book is interesting and easy to read. It is an information-packed resource for anyone with a wide variety of chronic pain and health problems. Based on this book, I have already recommended MSM to many of my animal patients--and to their owners! MSM gave me immediate and thorough relief for my own chronic arthritis pain.

My husband has been ill since 1982 with debilitating pain that has recently been diagnosed as fibermialsia. He has used glucocsimine sulfate with some success, but was still in pain most of the time. After reading this book, I started on a search to find MSM in the best form. Not only did I find a company who supplies MSM in a wonderfully useable solution, but I found that Dr. Lawrence also uses this company's product. My husband is doing remarkably well. I'm telling everyone I know about MSM, it truely is a miricle. I'm purchasing this copy of the book to loan to others who will benefit from it as much as my family has. After 17 years, it's wonderful to have my husband back 100%.

I've been trying alot of things against my severe allergies since 1982.Tested in 1972 up-down my back.Nurse left for a min.I Turned Super-Red outside Burning up inside.Doc gave me a big shot of adrenaline.

In the 1990's those symtoms started to come back.On 5-11-2003 i went to Rainbow Grocery store.They sell alot of Herb type items there.I told the lady there i needed something really good for my allergies.She took me over to MSM quickly!

She also showed me the little handbook by Dr.Ley "MSM On our way back to Health With Sulfur".I started with 3 grams on 5-11-03 i now average 20 grams of MSM per day.It really helps w/allergies.
I'm 50 years old.When tested allergic to ALL Molds and Pollens.

Mold is hardest to Beat.MSM is helping against it too.

I've ordered 5 of The Miracle of MSM By Dr Jacob and Dr Lawrence.

Thank You amazon.com for the good prices on those Books!!!!!

The In-Touch Ministries version of the NASB is a welcome addition to the NASB Update family of Bibles. I have the Top Grain leather edition, and I have not found a Bible on the market that can match the leather quality of this Bible. The top grain leather is extremely soft and thick. Even the inside of the covers are made of the leather resulting in a Bible that literally "fits your hands like a glove." The paper is of high quality- easy to turn and it does not allow bleed through of ball point pens and some markers. There are extra pages in the front and back for extended note taking. The concordance and maps are standard NASB/Foundation additions. The print is a good size for reading and clear on the page. The Bible should receive a five star rating except for two things: 1) the lack of cross-references is limiting to Bible study; and 2) there have been some quality problems in the printing process that results in page-fold errors throughout the Bible. Lockman and Foundation Press are aware of these problems and they are working to correct these shortfalls. In summary, if you're shopping for a Wide Margin NASB Update, and cross-references are not important to your method of Bible study, this is the Bible for you. The investment in the Top-Grain Leather is worth it just to hold it in your hands as you "taste" the word of God.

The In-Touch Ministries edition of the NASBU is a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Bible, with buttery-soft calfskin leather in your choice of navy blue, burgundy, or black. It even excels the Cambridge editions. It is smyth-sewn, and has quality paper.
Unfortunately, all the Bible has is text and concordance with coloured maps in the back, and wide margins. No helps whatsoever.
I would even hesitate before I marked up the Bible, that's how beautiful it is. However, if all you want is a pretty cover, buy it. Otherwise, forget it. Other NASBU reference or study Bibles in genuine or top-grain leather are available at lesser cost. So, save yourself a few bucks and get yourself something that has more information.

As one who believes that the NASV is the most accurate translation of the Bible,this became my "primary" Bible immediately after I removed it from the box. I love the wide margins for recording notes and dates and it's extremely comfortable to use in any surrounding. For study and teaching I use other versions, computer aids, etc, but as a Christian that God is guiding through great personal adversities, I'm blessed by simply reading His message with only a hi-liter in one hand and the Holy Spirit as a teacher. Shucks! If I mark it up so I can't read it, I'll get another one! A clean page in a Bible can be an indication of a messed up life!! I highly recommend it!!

When Qi Gong developed in China for more than 20 years, Chinese people finally find Falun Gong is the most effective. So there are more than 100 million Chinese people practice Falun Gong before the government's persecution.

But western society seems still enjoy the low level Qi Gongs.

Why not directly start from high level Falun Gong? It is not difficult. When you try, you will know.

There is an old Chinese saying: "Learn from the best".

Qi gong can seem overwhelming, which is why this book is a little gem. It gives you the essence of qi gong as well as a valuable start with 8 exercises, all very clearly demonstrated with a series of step-by-step photographs. Whether you just settle for this or decide to take it further, you would not be wasting money on this book.

This book has really helped me. For the last 20 years, I have had back and neck problems resulting from a car wreck. I also had a constant pain in my shoulder from lifting weights. I started doing the Qi Gong exercises described in this book and within two weeks the pain in my shoulder had decreased and now I don't even remember which shoulder was hurting! My neck problems are less severe, also. I try to do the exercises twice a day, but if I don't get to them during the day, I perform them just before bedtime. I recommend this book highly.

Life at college isn't easy. Between classes, labs, and papers, there is hardly any time to cook a decent meal if you don't like the dining hall options. Three students at Williams College realized this, and co-authored a new cookbook designed for college students. Recipes in the book range from "Ants on a Log" to "Steak a l'Orange", providing options for both those who are willing to try some easy adventures in cooking and for those who wish never to use an appliance. The cookbook offers a slew of recipes, from soups and snacks to dinner dishes of chicken and fish. Vegetarians will find a variety of options; one-third of the recipes are vegetarian, with an entire chapter devoted to vegetarian cuisine in addition to other recipes that fit the vegetarian bill scattered throughout the book. With many recipes that take less than half an hour to prepare and require few ingredients, this cookbook is perfect for today's college students. .

This cookbook is good for anybody who has never cooked in their lives. From the beginning, I was making excellent dishes, with very little preparation time. This book has done wonders for me: I dont eat fast food anymore, I save a lot of money, and I enjoy good meals that are a lot healthier than what I used to eat. Recommended to anyone who is just learning how to cook.

I'd recommend this book not only for novice college cooks, but for anyone who likes a "real meal" at the end of the day and doesn't have time for elaborate preparations. This cookbook made the transition from Pacific Northwest college to New York City apartment with me and it is just as useful at the end of a 9-hour work day as it was experimenting in college.

Strawberry Road is about a normal family man, Rome living the life of a successful advertising executive. He is worried that at 49 he is too old for the business. He is flung into a situation which makes him redefine his values, his family and his career. By helping his fellow man, he puts his family at risk. He must decide which to put first before it is too late. Rome is forced to evacuate his office because of a bomb scare. He meets Malcolm, an agent investigating Rome's employer. He recruits Rome as his inside source. Rome is unwittingly thrown into an investigation of 401K retirement plans and anthrax. When Rome begins to uncover the truth, he must decide to protect his family which includes an autistic son and let the conspiracy continue or continue to work with Malcolm who he doesn't totally trust. In the middle of all this intrigue, Rome continues in his work in advertising, putting together a campaign to sell cat food. The plot takes some interesting twists which makes the reader think of his own life and values. As the plot unfolds, there are many twists until the surprise ending. It is an enjoyable and interesting story which makes one consider personal choices, loyality to an employer and the strength of the family. It makes one think how fragile things can be when choices are made.

Stanley R. Moore is an ex-Secret Service Naval officer, actor,race-car driver, advertising writer, in general, a jack of all trades.His first novel was Nightshade, and he also wrote a screenplay for "El Monosabio" which became a feature film.

Moore introduces the reader to Jerome Joseph Jordan, Rome for short. At age 49, Rome is terrified of losing his advertising position. He is receiving fewer accounts, and the business just hasn't been the same since the disappearance of his friend Murray. Unusual things begin to happen to Rome: a bomb is found on the floor of his building; a man named Harrow blackmails him into snooping into employee records and passing information; someone sends him a dismembered thumb in the mail; and he and his autistic son find a woman's dead body at a soccer game his daughter is playing in. Murray's wife keeps asking "why can't we live a normal life like everyone else?"

Indeed, Rome's life keeps taking on new and devious paths. He continually thinks of Murray, and how his friend would have handled the situation. And he worries that the increasing number at deaths at his company and the information he is uncovering in his search of employee's files might be connected. He is continually followed by people trying to kill him, the police seem to be constantly on his tail, and he doesn't know which side of the fence Harrow is really on. And then there is Pamela, the new young suit clawing her way to the top of the company:

"Pamela tossed her head back and laughed a long and bawdy laugh. She pushed her plate away and tucked her knees up on the chair. Her expression grew more serious. 'I like you, Rome, I really like you.' Uh-oh. Here it comes. The moment of truth. 'Thank you,' I said. 'I like you too.' I tried to say it as I meant it. With sincerity, not sexuality."

Strawberry Road is the ultimate industrial espionage story, in which moral decisions must be made by a man who is in the grips of his own personal crisis. His work and family are falling apart, a situation brought on by the greed of corporate America. He must make the choice between his helpless son and the killing of millions of people. Moore's experience and maturity produce a novel with heart, conscience, and supreme entertainment value.

Shelly Glodowski, Reviewer

If you want to escape the doldrums of an everyday life, just step inside the pages of Strawberry Road, where Rome Jordan, Mr. John Q. Public, everyday American, gets enmeshed in a life-threatening adventure. Your heart will stop as you anticipate the conflict Rome faces of continuing an investigation or reporting events to the authorities. Or are the authorities themselves somehow involved? Every time you think you have figured it all out, a new twist develops. If life gets a little too mundane, just sit back in your easy chair with a cup of tea and Strawberry Road and be transported into the world of intrigue. I for one thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it without hesitation to my fellow mystery lovers!

Quo Vadis has impacted my life greatly. I have never seen a book that explores the Christian view on romance and early Christianity so clearly. It was nourishing and exciting. This is a character-driven story, and I don't see how anyone could put it down. The verisimilitude of Rome was astonishing! Hey, high school students, this is a great way to get a grip on how things worked in early A.D. Rome. Nero, Lydia, Marcus, and Petronius were unforgetable characters. This is love at its greatest! Romance the way it should be, unselfish and pure. The transformation we see of Marcus motives of love is the most piercing literature I've ever read. It has been a year since I've read it and I'm still raving about it! Hey, guys, this is a cool book for men to learn about love. I'm telling you, it is worth it!

Given that Mr Sienkiewicz won the Nobel literary prize for mainly this work, that alone is a pretty good bet for reading it. Written in the 1890's, this book is seen as one of the world's first "bestseller" novels, and is definitely an epic of, well, epic proportions.

Unfortunately, the book does suffer slightly as a result of the translation, as noted by an earlier reviewer, so if you can read Polish, do get the original version. Nevertheless, although the book starts off a tad slow, think of the beginning as a push off from a cliff, because after that it's as fast paced a thriller as money can buy.

A basic exposure to Roman and Christian history will make the book really come alive. Although certain "facts" are not correct, or have been omitted, remember that the book is meant to be fiction. The historical events are merely a platform for a passionate love story between a pagan Roman and a Christian girl. However, it is the seeming impossibility of this love, together with descriptions of the nearly moronic Roman "royal court", keeps you reading well into the night. The emotional roller-coaster makes you, the reader, feel exhausted.

Definitely recommended, and one of the most enjoyable books I've read.

If you liked this, do check out his other novels - especially the brilliant "Teutonic Knights" which is another epic of a young Polish knight (and of course a lovely maiden or two thrown in for good measure) and the history of middle ages Poland up to the battle of Grunwald where the Teutonic Knights were defeated.

The Christian v. lion's story has been around so long that it has pretty much become a kind of myth. It is a phrase one brings up in order to illustrate some point or other, but is hardly ever thought about in historical terms. In fact, Christianity itself sometimes seems as if it is becoming a kind of myth. The left doesn't take it seriously, and bashes Christians for being intolerant and condescending. But Christians, in their haste to retaliate, often act intolerant and can be arrogantly condescending. The sense of what it means to be Christian seems to get lost in all of this.

Quo Vadis takes us back to the days when Christianity was fresh and new and shows us just what kind of world it was then that caused such a movement to flourish. This alone would make it an excellent novel, but it works wonderfully on all levels. The characters are superbly drawn, the setting is realistic, the plot crackles along, and, perhaps most importantly in a novel with this subject matter, it never becomes preachy or didactic, instead maintaining an objective perspective throughout.

Rome was the greatest of the ancient empires, yet despite all of its glorious achievements, it was truly a barbaric place. The concept of human rights was non-existent. Slaves--of all races--were property, and could be used in any way one saw fit, including the most vicious or depraved. The rule of law, while discussed in philosophical terms, was only sporadically and occasionally applied. The law instead came and went at the whim of the powerful, and if the powerful happened to be someone like Nero--the ruler of Rome during the course of this novel--then the law was sadistic, cruel, wicked and unpredictable.

We see the effect that living this kind of society has on the two main characters of the novel, both of whom are members of the upper crust: Petronius, a courtier; and Vinicius, a military officer. Petronius, as Nero's confidant, can never let his guard down. He must flatter, cajole, deceive and manipulate Nero every minute of the day, for his very life depends on it. It is a life, "drained and listless and detached," as we are told in the first sentence of the novel. Vinicius falls in love with a captive Christian female, and through his love we see how Christianity changes his life. But it is an unbelievably difficult and dangerous undertaking--with the demented presence of Nero and his sycophants looming over everything--to form an attachment with a person and then a cause such as this.

It gradually dawns on us how the Christian movement began in the first place, and why attempts were made so mercilessly to stamp it out. Instead of dishonesty and cruelty, it called for honesty and kindness. Instead of privilege for the elite, its promises were made to all. Instead of arrogance, it preached submissiveness. Perhaps most importantly, it simplified one's life, and allowed one to live without fear.

Rome is burned, possibly at Nero's orders, incredibly, so that he can experience suffering as he believes a true artist must. To divert the anger of the Romans, he blames Christians. Thousands of men, women, and children are rounded up, put in dungeons for months, then on successive festival days were crucified, burned alive, mauled by gladiators, and, as we know, attacked by wild animals. Their fate is so hideous that in time even the jaded Romans became sickened by it.

These historical events, and the actions of the characters during them, are what make up the bulk of the novel. To say the least, it makes for very compelling reading; indeed, some parts are difficult to bear. And as mentioned, it is presented in a very objective way. Not all of the Christians are presented sympathetically--one, in fact, is a fiery, all-will-be-damned type--and not all the Romans are presented harshly. The noblest character in the novel may very well be Petronius, who uses his influence as much as he can to alleviate the suffering he sees around him. And although he recognizes to some degree the power and decency of the movement, he himself does not wish to become a Christian. He can not abide the idea of being required to love his fellow man, most of whom--the unwashed, ignorant mob--he detests. He is a magnificent creation.

The book is a real eye-opener, a good reminder of what the world was like before the birth of Christ, and a sobering reflection on what being a Christian truly means. At the same time it is also a superbly researched and entertaining piece of historical fiction, and the kind of thing for which historical fiction buffs are constantly on the alert. Great stuff.

(I should mention that this review is of the Kunizak translation.)

Chernow excellently portrays our country's most famous banking dynasty from its formation during the early 1800's to the late twentieth century. Throughout the book, readers are entreated with not only the history of the Morgan family but also the transformation of American banking and finance of the past two centuries.

The Morgan history began with Junius Morgan. He was concerned with establishing America's financial credit with European countries, which were very reluctant to lend money to a country that had been recently formed. Their doubts were reinforced when several American states repudiated payment on loans. In his efforts to preserve America's credit worthiness with Great Britain, Junius Morgan created a financial link between the Anglo-Saxon countries that would influence Morgan politics for the next century.

The most famous member of the family was J.P. Morgan, who presided over the bank during the Age of the Robber Barons. During his tenure, the Morgan bank would play the role of lender of last resort for America. Because laissez-faire capitalism was the prevalent practice during this era, only the Morgan bank under the energetic J.P. Morgan possessed the financial and political clout to organize efforts to stop widespread bank failures and catastophic stock declines. Despite being portrayed in the media by Populists as crooked and elitist, the Morgan bank continued to play this important role for the American economy and remained influential nationally even after the creation of the Federal Reserve System.

Although the Morgans were economically powerful, they possessed many human frailties. Many of the Morgan men were reluctant to participate in the family business. Even J.P. Morgan, despite his fame and power, was for most of his life fearful of his father and felt constantly nervous about the imperfections of his nose. Chernow is lauded for depicting the personal lives of the Morgan family.

Despite desperate attempts by the Morgan bank to remain influential and anonymous, the combination of the American public's demand for accountability, its fear of elitist organizations, and the rise of international finance and trade, divided the Morgan bank and forced its successors into such mundane practices as the public listing of its financial records and the offering of common stocks. The abandonment of such traditional practices as the Gentleman Banker's Code culminated in the merger mania of the 1980s, as Morgan Guaranty, Morgan Grenfell, and Morgan Stanley each sometimes assisted one client in acquiring another of its client.

From cooperation to cutthroat competition between bankers, the House of Morgan is filled with triumphs and tragedies of Morgan and American history. It is recommended for every American adult. I am looking forward to reading Titan.

Ron Chernow's "The House of Morgan" is both an engaging history of the Morgan banks and a brilliant account of the growth of global finance from Victorian times through the late 1980's. It's every bit as enjoyable as Chernow's "The Warburgs," but provides a better analysis than the Warburg book of key business and political developments of the 20th century.

No one should be intimidated by this book's length or the complexity of its subject. Its pages are rich with lively portraits of the sometimes quirky men who ran the Morgan banks, the high and mighty of the world with whom they did business, and the world's many critics of such concentrated economic might. Pierpont and Jack Morgan and their successors at the top get the most detailed treatment, but figures as diverse as Brandeis, Mussolini, Lindbergh (the son-in-law of a top Morgan partner), Bryan, Theodore Roosevelt and Margaret Thatcher all play a part in the story, not to mention interesting but lesser-known figures like Ferdinand Pecora, Judge Harold Medina and central bankers from Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan.

As a backdrop to the Morgan saga, this book includes accounts of the main events of 20th-century financial history, such as the Panic of 1907, the creation of the Federal Reserve system, the Crash of 1929 and the depression and bank failures that followed it, the New Dealers' attack on banks led by Pecora that resulted in the Glass-Steagall Act and the separation of commercial banking from investment banking, and the rise of hostile takeovers, Eurodollars, petrodollars, Latin American lending, junk bonds and the securitization of debt, all refreshingly written for laymen rather than experts.

"The House of Morgan" has perhaps two overriding themes. The first is that as the years have passed, and the Morgan banks have faced increasing competition, the Morgan bankers' need to maintain their global preeminence has led them to take bigger and bigger risks. Some of these risks have resulted in large financial loss, but more often they have resulted in a loss of both public and customers' confidence, which has eroded the very preeminence that the banks seek to maintain. The second theme is that the top Morgan bankers have consistently underestimated the power of government to control what they do, and even make their lives miserable. From Pierpont on down, they have ignored government at their peril. It's almost a certainty that with the next big economic downturn, the Morgan banks will be attacked again, and I hope that Chernow will be on the scene to provide an account of it.

"The House of Morgan" is one of the best business biography books I've ever read. It is an unbelievably comprehensive piece of research work on an important banking history in the United States. The stories of the people behind JP Morgan & Co give readers so much hopes and belief that anything is possible in your life. Mr. Chernow covers the company's historical and current background in great detail. He also presents a more technical view on what happen in the cycles of US economy that spans over many decades. What I like most about the book is the coverage of individuals involved in building and leading the firms (JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley). These groups of talented individuals are amazing leaders whose stories are worth reading.

I thought that the first 40 pages were pretty slow, but the actions did pick up real soon. By the 700th page, I was hoping there would be a second book written on the House of Morgan. I was especially impressed with Mr. Thomas Lamont that I proceeded to read a separate biography on him. I loved the book so much that I went on to buy some other books related to it - (RJR Nabisco story on Leverage Buyout and The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst). It's a thick book but it's really worth the time to read. You'll be pleased with yourself!

This is the cute story of a little boy named Stanley. He wakes up one morning flat. He was flattened by a bulletin board that fell on him. Stanley finds many advantages to being flat- he is able to catch art robbers and be flown as a kite. He also finds many disadvantages to being flat.

This book is a great book for opening discussion with your child-What are the advantages of being you? What do you wish you could change? How can you change? and so on.

This is also a great book for letting your child make his own flat stanley and send it off to friends for an adventure. Many schools are doing this now. A great way to teach geography. There is a website based on this type of activity a search for flat travelers should bring it up.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

Flat Stanley, by Jeff Brown, is in a class all of its own. A bulletin board falls on Stanley during the night and he is left flatter than a piece of paper. Not to worry though, Stanley finds all kinds of uses for being flat. He mails himself to relatives, (Much cheaper than traveling on a plane or bus. Stanley's father even praises the US Postal service for getting his son to his destination on time and safely) helps his mother retrieve a ring from the sewer by lowering himself through the grates on a string, and even helps catch a group of art thieves by inserting himself in a painting. Flat Stanley is a wonderful book for teaching children about how any obstacle can be overcome. The absurd humor and situations will have children in stitches.

...

... This book, Flat Stanley is so good because Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board. An art gallery owner calls Stanley and asks him if he can dress up in a girl's outfit and go in an empty frame and be a picture. He wants Stanley to catch robbers who have been stealing his art work. Because Stanley was flattened he can do more stuff that you and I can do. Stanley is still flattened but does he become normal again? You find out by reading the book. If you read this book I can guarantee you will love it!