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    <name><![CDATA[Susan]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Oak Park, IL]]></location>        
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  <id type="integer">746705</id>
  <isbn>0399153918</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780399153914</isbn13>
  <ratings_count type="integer">102</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">40</text_reviews_count>
  <title>Practically Perfect in Every Way</title>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/746705.Practically_Perfect_in_Every_Way</link>
<author>
  <id type="integer">395398</id>
  <name>Jennifer Niesslein</name>
  <ratings_count type="integer">108</ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">40</text_reviews_count>
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    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Nov 05 15:14:49 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 09 13:57:50 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Granted, there are certain areas that could have been whittled down a bit, but this book about a journalist's two year immersion in the treacherous waters of self-help had some extremely funny moments. It almost goes without saying that there's quite a bit to be learned here by people who read self-help. Although Niesslein commits to sticking her program out (informed by a variety of well-known &quot;experts&quot; such as Dr. Phil, Dr. Sears, the FlyLady, Babywise, and others) as a journalist, and perhaps a natural skeptic at heart, she evaluates herself, her family, and her advisors carefully. There is also a lesson for those out there that are dismissive of the genre. In some cases the author finds the act of browsing and purchasing some of her guidance materials feels akin to acquiring pornography because of the reactions of observers--something that many librarians, especially in readers' advisory, should learn a lesson from (judge not, lest ye ultimately lose a patron).  Although Niesslein has mixed results in the areas that she seeks to improve (home, finances, marriage, parenting, friendships, health, and soul), she does seem to learn a lot about herself, and often finds at least a grain of truth in some of the most unexpected places.]]></body>
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