Anxiety Books

My sons and I learned about this book while visiting a friend in the midwest. I ordered it as soon as we returned home. It is a heartwarming story. I especially love it and have used the story for saying good bye at preschool and when I have to travel for business. I think it would also be a cute gift for anyone nervous about embarking on a new adventure, young or old. Get it! This book will become one of your favorites.

Like many teachers, I used this book on my first day for my kindergarten class. I would also recommend giving this book as a present to all of the parents that have a child going to kindergarten for the first time.

My daughter's kindergarten teacher read this to the kids and the parents the first day of school for orientation. I can tell you not a dry eye with the bunch of us parents! It was so touching that evening as well when my daughter asked me to kiss her hand so she could take it to school with her the first day. This will be an heirloom book for my other child as well as my grandchildren

I bought this book because my daughter bought one at her school for "us" when she was very young(separated because of divorce), it was lost in a move and it had sentimental value for both of us...it's not "the one" she bought, but it's just as good and in great condition.

It's not a bad book, it's just not that interesting to me. And while the kissing hand concept is definitely useful for any child worrying about leaving their parents for the day, I thought it was presented in an excessively sentimental way. I always find too much sentimentality just encourages children to dwell on how upset they are, rather than comforting them.

But if it works for your kid, great.

I have read so many books on public speaking but none has ever addressed the subject the way Janet does it. I feel at last somebody has known what my problem is. I have not finished reading the book yet, but it is so useful for somebody who has tried everything else without success. Most books under estimate this fear but Janet has experienced it and she knows its magnitude.I am very positive this book will help me cure my fear

I am a college student studying Business and I've had a long history of anxiety and panic with being "In the Spotlight." I finally got sick of living in fear-- that a teacher would call on me or that I would have to give a presentation. If a presentation was listed on the syllabus for a class I would have a panic attack right there just in anticipation! I was finally fed up and joined Toastmasters about a year ago. I then set a goal to start the only Speech club on my college campus. At this point, I was still VERY nervous about public speech and decided to read this book in preparation of the first Speech club meeting.

This book helped me in many, many ways. It helped to go forward with that first meeting for the Speech club-- something I had been dreading for months and months! There are many positive and useful techniques: positive thinking, reassurance training, breathing techniques, getting to the source of the anxiety... The list goes on!

I still get nervous giving speeches and continue to have small panic attacks when put on the spot in a class. I know that if I continue to face this fear and use constructive techniques such as the ones in this book, I will slowly grow out of it. Good luck!

I would listen to this CD to sleep, not for my anxiety. The best thing for anxiety is Celexa and EMDR. I bought this CD with the book and it's terrible. It states the obvious and is not helpful at all.

Sorry, but it sucks.

The author had first-hand stage fright experience and she shared the techniques that she learned to overcome the stage fright and to go beyond the fright to enjoy being in the spot light. The skills are very valuable for a stage fright person like me, and are also valuable for teachers of music who would want to learn how to help students with stage fright.

The skills mentioned in the book are transferable skills that can be used to reduce stress and to cultivate positive self-esteem. Teachers can use these excellent skills to help their students.

It was by far the best book that offers alternative and possible solutions to shift the stage fright paradigm. The book has been helpful to me as a personal growth tool and in other areas of my life, in addition to the performance anxiety challenges. One day I was feeling down, and reading chapter 10 of the book re-channeled me to something more funny and pleasant and I was uplifted. That was a powerful experience.

The book is easy, fun and enjoyable to read. Once you start reading, it is hard to stop reading.

Reading Janet's book was a revelation for me. It was amazing to find that someone understood exactly how I felt when I found out that I had to speak in public and the torture I imposed on myself leading up to, during and after speaking. But better yet, she not only empathizes with the reader, but provides a clear path to overcoming the torture. So enjoy the empathy, but enjoy even more the tools for success!

Due to the amazing reviews (49 positive ones mainly at 5 starts) I thought this might be an interesting and useful work. What I didn't spot from the reviews is that this book is really aimed at the New Age market and not at healers. Despite the small size of the book, not all of the pages have text on both sides and a number of pages only have one or two paragraphs on each. Yet it still makes space for charms, divination and wands.

I knew it wasn't going to be what I had hoped for, when I opened it at random and discovered that there was an entry for baldness for which the recommended herb was Don (sic) Quai. The author then noted you could get this mix of herbs (ingredients unspecified) at an internet site. Whether this is just a commercial mixture that has taken it's name as a play on the name of the herb Dong/Dang quai, I have no idea. One listed herbal strategy, to stop anxiety or fear, was to "carry" a mixture of nettle and yarrow! She talks of gumplant and I have no idea which plant she might mean - I suspect you won't be surprised at this point that there are no latin binomials used. There weren't even any usage notes on any of the plants (except relating to pregnancy) - such as hops being contraindicated for people with depressive tendencies or that St. John's Wort (author: please note it is not "worth" but "wort" which is an Anglo-Saxon word for plant I believe) is likely to interact with many of the pharmaceutical medications which people may take. Hypericum is a fantastic herb but you need to know when it's OK to take it.

The most disturbing page for me was one on 'flying ointment'. The author notes it should only be used by the experienced herbalists/witches and was for external use but people may consider themselves experienced witches and have no idea about the ingredients. The two ingredients in this receipe that concerned me were the foxglove and aconite. Aconite (or Monkshood/Wolfsbane) is a restricted herb in the UK and can only be used externally. Even then I was taught that this herb, Aconitum napellus, should only be used in a 1:10 strength tincture and only comprise a maximum 1.3% of any final ointment. It is well absorbed and should not be used on unbroken skin. But that page lists no quantities, proportions, strengths or caveats (apart from the one about experience) for this mixture. Aconite was even listed first! One of the active alkaloids in this plant is known to first stimulate then paralyse the central nervous system. Medicinally it was used for neuralgia. Other physiological effects include tachycardia and hypertension. I was taught that just 3mg of the active alkaloid, found within this plant, was enough to kill a horse. Even if digitalis does act as an antidote to aconite poisoning, I have no idea what the absorption rate through the skin is as foxglove is banned in the UK (not even a Schedule III herb) so there's not a lot of modern information available for herbalist's use. That receipe left me absolutely speechless.

I would suggest for interested witches that they ensure they get a better primary reference to work from if they love herbs. I would personally suggest, as user-friendly, accessible and reliable works though not restricted to just these, are works like the Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman, anything by Jekka McVicar (good for growing tips), Rosemary Gladstar, Michael or Lesley Tierra or Susun Weed. The last author may well have a sympathetic world view with the pagan community too. Mrs Grieve is good but is almost a hundred years old and is missing modern research (her style suggests she would have included such information if it had been available to her at the time).

I can't comment on the wiccan or essential oil aspects but, purely from the material on herbs, I think this is awful. Don't get caught like I did!

This is a "meaning of" and "how to" book for those who have questions concerning essential oils & herbs and their folklore, secrets, meanings, and effects . There are precise directions and warnings concerning specific oils and herbs. This wouldn't necessarily be the best starter book for someone who is new to oils and herbs, but it certainly is a good addition to any herbalist library. It is easy to read and makes a great reference book.

Rochelle Moore's work is so different and so exact. I found this book great to work with and use it regularly. It is the type of book that you can refer back to over and over again. Wonderful author and so original

This is a fantastic introduction to the ancient art of Aromatherapy & Herbalism:

Essential oils are so powerful and the author shows (with great ease) how to treat everyday illness from dandruff, flu - to anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks.

The alphabetical listing is excellent and user-friendly.

Herbs: Not many people are comfortable using herbs as they are not sure on how to use them to ulitize their power. Once again, Rochelle Moore shows how to use herbs to treat physical and mental illness with great ease.

I am a herbalist and have practiced since birth as both my parents lived an alternative lifestyle. I do not often buy books and must say, this book is so easy for even the discerning.

In this introduction to the ancient ways Rochelle can and DOES teach her readers how to tap into our ancient knowledge and achieve success.

Not only A HANDY GUIDE (Aromatherapy & Herbalism) is a breakthrough for those who want to start to help themselves during everyday illnesses.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, even as a herb user on a regular basis, I learned so much about essential oils and their strength.

I really enjoyed and actively partook in these ancient remedies and had a great time using them. it is a book that will use over and over and I cant quite place it (its unique) in the sense that it is a great step for beginners AND for those who have only tried one or the other (essential oils or herbs) - recommended

I am learning so much about how essential oils and herbs can help to alleviate everyday aches and pains and also how to use them for headaches, stress, anxiety and so much more.
Very easy to use book and I am enjoying trying out the different recipies

My small womans group wanted to do a bible study on this book and at first I was against it because I felt like I wasn't anxious. After reading the first chapter I did a complete turn around! This book is VERY good! It really makes you look at your life in a different way and see what is really important and what really matters. I would recommend it to anyone!

I have done a lot of studies, but this is one of the best studies I've done in awhile, and several friends say the same. I recommend it to all women, as anxiety is a stranglehold for so many of us. This book helps you to give it over to God and holds your hand along the way with it. Great book!

I couldn't imagine Linda writing a book more helpful than Creative Counter part, but this is the proof (for me at least). This book is applicable to the Christian woman no matter what stage of life she is in. I have found it to be encouraging and helpful in my growing relationship with Jesus. Thanks again Linda.

My sister-in-law gave me this book. It's the best gift I've ever been given. I've bought several copies to give to women in my family and friends. The book addresses what peace we can have when we hand our concerns to God and learn to always be content. I wish I'd read this when I was young. It's a book to read several times as a great reminder to hand it all over to God.

This book helped me get through a very difficult time a while back. In the time since, I have occasionally felt the anxiety levels creep back up, and I have come back to this book. It isn't one to be read one time, but is worth reading again and again.

It is easy to have this book recommended to you, or even to have someone give it to you and leave it sitting on your shelf. I did that when I first received it. Don't do that! Read it and see if you can grow and glean from it as so many of us have done. It can really help you move beyond worry to trust, and it builts more than just anxiety-free living. It helps accomplish the opposite -- contentment and acceptance of your lot. If you struggle with worry or discontentment, this is the first book I would recommend. I can't say that enough!

I bought this for my 9 year old daughter (now 10.) She has an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a trained psychologist as well as being placed in Special Education at school due to her anxiety being severe enough to interfere with school.

She enjoyed the book, it kept her interested, and she easily understood the ideas presented. I truly believe the book has helped her greatly and that it has given her a sense of control of her life that she did not have before by allowing her to control her "worries."

I too was apprehensive that the book was babyish for her as she is rather mature for her age. I believe this is probably common with anxious children as they are mature enough to absorb ideas (stresses and concerns) but still lack the ability to cope with those worrisome revelations. This book gives children those needed coping skills at a level that spans a large age group.

If you have a child who suffers anxiety, this book is money beyond well spent. It is also a small price to pay to at least "try."

This workbook is a unique tool in explaining anxiety to children and a means for coping with it. The book creatively teaches the process of externalizing worries so they are not all consuming. Although written for children, it is good in concept for adults as well.

This book literally changed my 10 year old daughter's life. She had a tendency to worry about things that "might" happen. This book is an interactive tool that allows your child (or even an adult!) to work through anxiety, stress and worry. She completed the book six months ago and has not needed again - but I will keep it just in case! A wonderful book and useful tool to help your little one rationalize, prioritize and categorize real worries from irrational fears.

My five year old son has been very anxious since starting Kindergarten last month. He had separation anxiety and would cry several times a day at school. I knew he was adjusting to his new routine, but then he started getting anxious about going to school and would ask, "Mommy, what if I cry? I don't want to cry at school." So I found this book on Amazon and was 'sold' when I saw all of the wonderful reviews. I started reading it to my son the day I received it. My son couldn't believe that this book was describing exactly how he'd been feeling. As I read it, I noticed he was hanging on my every word. There are wonderful ideas and he's so excited to start using them. This morning before school he even said, "Mommy, I don't think I'm going to cry today." So, I highly recommend this book. I know how heart-wrenching it is to watch your little one suffer with anxiety. Best of luck!

I sat down on my porch and read this through yesterday upon receiving it. It is a wonderful, LARGE book (8.5 X 11) with large type, easy to read and easy on the eyes. Our son who just turned 7 has had struggles with anxiety off and on for years. This book is 'right up his alley'! He is an imaginative boy, and draws to express what is in his mind. This book is full of pages where the anxious child can draw the topic or idea discussed. One idea I had (don't think it's a copyright issue if I own the book) is to xerox the drawing pages and let my son use the copies. So when he gets in an anxious period again, and we redo this process with another worry, he'll have fresh pages to use.

The explanations and reading level seem just perfect for any 6 to 10 year old, maybe even some five year olds. If your child is in elementary school, this book is for them.

I agree with the other reviewer that did not appreciate labeling sufferers as "weak people". It was in reference to a 'worry bully' picking on the child. A couple other places the text refers to the worry bully SEEING the child as weak, but this one place where the child is LABELED a "weak person" did concern me. I just took out my Sharpie, marked over the word 'weak' and left it that bullies like to pick on people, period. This one tiny sentence did not ruin an otherwise terrific book, for me!!

Overall a wonderful resource for a school age child. The illustrations are terrific, also!

I found this book to be extremely helpful both for my own fearful dog, and for my clients. It is very comprehensive, covering many types of fear and fearful situations that someone may encounter with their dog. Many of the topics she covers I have not seen covered in other books out there.

Even if your dog only has slight fear issues or none at all, this book will be very helpful. The techniques Nicole goes over in her book are also useful in helping prevent your dog from becoming fearful.

I appreciate Nicole's sensitivity and compassion for the fearful dog and attention to safety for the people and the dog involved. Her approach is modern, very dog friendly and safe for everyone in the family to do. In all her exercises, she stresses to go slow and at the dog's pace. She emphasizes that the goal is not to force the dog to do something, but to teach him to accept, or even enjoy, through a systematic positive association,some of the weird and scary things (from the dog's point of view) that we humans do to our dogs.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in helping fearful dogs, or helping dogs to not become fearful in the first place. I think all pet owners, dog trainers, pet sitters, dog walkers, groomers, veterinarians, vet techs and anyone who interacts with dogs should read this book.

The other reviews gave me such high hopes about this book and maybe my expectations were too high to be honest but I'm not overly impressed so far. There's nothing really wrong with the book but it covers so many subjects that I felt details were skipped that should have been included and still I'm going to struggle to help my dog. The chapters that refer to particular fears are too short and are less about helping to correct the problem than they are about the background to the problem itself. Also the book says it can be read cover to cover or simply used as a reference book by users skipping to relevant chapters. That is not so. Really you need to properly read the first few sections before you skip to the section about your particular problem. Really it's no trouble to read around the subject but why does the book claim to be able to be used in this way??

On the other hand I think her advice is solid and there is certainly useful information in there, particularly if this is the first time you've even thought about trying to help your dog in this way!! I'm absolutely going to give it a go but I wish I had a little more guidance from the book that i purposely bought to offer myself guidance. In this review I want to point out the bad things about the book rather than list all the good things and there are already so many excellent reviews!!

On a side note, I was unimpressed with the author's habit of subtly (you probably won't notice it unless you've read the books by the authors that's she's doubting) belittling other noted dog experts within the book. This was unnecessary and a little petty. Surely most of the people she indirectly belittled are doing good work too and so if Wilde and the other authors are all striving for the same goals, only doing so in different ways, then surely mocking their theories only serves to taint the industry a little bit more.

I wish I had this book years ago, when I adopted my own fearful dog! While it's a bit more easy to guide someone else through the process of rehabilitating a fear-bound hound, taking one on in your own life is a completely different story. As I read this book for the first time, I frequently stopped to wonder how easy my little journey from 6 years early would have been so much easier had there been a book like this to walk me through.

I don't hesitate to recommend "Help For Your Fearful Dog" to my clients who need it and use it as a guideline for helping them work through their program. Just like Nicole to see exactly what's needed, and make it available.

As the "mom" to two fearful rescues - both very different in their fear triggers and how they manifest it, I searched out and found quite a few articles, pamphlets, websites, suggestions, online groups, and a even few other books on the subject, but nothing nearly as comprehensive as the information presented in Ms. Wilde's book. It tackles the issue from nose to tail, giving helpful insights to a myriad of specific fears and how to desensitize a fearful dog to them. For instance, one of my dogs is very wary of anyone else touching her besides me. I have purchased and read every book on shy dogs that I could find to learn how to work through this. Help for Your Fearful Dogs not only covered this topic more thoroughly than any other text I've seen, but offered not one but several step-by-step protocols that were easily understood and simple to do. As a result, my dog is beginning to trust others to touch and even pet her. Further, the book is very easy to read and understand. It is broken up into short chapters that can be read when you don't have a lot of time (or if you simply want to take things slowly and digest the information in smaller bites). If you own a fearful dog, foster or volunteer for a rescue or shelter, or even know someone with a shy pooch, this is the best book you'll ever come across to get the tools (and reassurance!) that you seek!

I have 2 fearful dogs and this book is very helpful. This is an excellent book.

At first the authors' sef-help suggestions seem almost too simple to be effective; akin to Nancy Reagan's, "just say no...". But as I continued reading I began to see their point with greater clarity, and finally had to agree with them: I am a person of value who is loved and can love others. Neither they nor I need to try to measure up to any unrealistic expectations in order to be acceptable and to enjoy life.
The book is based on the core teaching of the Bible: even though we are hopelessly messed up from day one, God loves us, forgives us, and gives us the ability to become what we are meant to be. Because of this, no matter how full of resentment, emptinesss and hate we are, we can change and enjoy inner peace, free of guilt and self-condemnation.
I was surprised at how, in some of the case studies, the authors seemed to minimize people's anguish, telling them what they were experiencing was, "...not so terrible...". But eventually it began to make sense. It's a matter of getting a better perspective; correcting the negative 'can't see the forest for the trees' view so many of us don't even realize we have.
I recommend this book to anyone who really does want to get past the "gotta play the bad hand life has dealt me" mentality. Too many people have overcome horrible circumstances; the rest of us need to know that we can as well. This book helps us see how.

This is an essential book for anyone who struggles with depression and they don't know why! I have learned so much from this book, and I recommend it to everyone.

The book is excellent. Im' reading it for the second time which I rarely ever do with books. The dissatifation I have is the 1st week I had it the book started to come apart. Books are not made as good as they use to.

This is a wonderful book written by Christian couselors. It teaches a person to re-train their thinking to overcome depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, etc. A lot of people, especially when very young, are given wrong messages about being a bad person or a failure, etc, and it carries through adulthood causing shyness, low self-esteem, etc. This book tells you that those wrong messages are lies and are not the truth. In lots of cases, we have more capacity than we think we do, and we deserve more credit than we give ourselves.

This is a really awesome book, using Christian backing.

After reading this book, I've since given away my copy and bought it twice. It's based on a simple concept: eliminate negative self talk by recognizing it, arguing with it, and replacing it with the truth. Anyone who has ever been discouraged, experienced doubt, or been angry at themselves will learn from this book.

This book took away the helpless feeling I was having dealing wih my daughter's anxiety. It gave me practical strategies to use to help her conquer her worries and anxieties. This book gave us our daughter back.

This book break down the root of anxiety and provides real life examples on how to help your children work through their aniexty. The book is organized in a way that the information is easy to read.

This book has many tangible solutions and specific excercises to try with your child. Very helpful and easy to understand.

This is a great book for parents trying to help an anxious child. It is written in a straightforward way, without a lot of the fluff and extra verbiage that other, similar books include. The author includes realistic-seeming examples and vignettes, but not so many that they overwhelm the content. A very useful resource.

this book is very informational and organized well. i like that you can just go to the sections you are interested in. they also have very good techniques for the kids (and adults) to try. highly recommended!

This is my second copy of this cd as the first one got scratched. I've loved Claire Weekes for years and this cd is the perfect companion for her books. I listen to it in the car when my agoraphobia starts creeping back. Her voice is soothing, and the information is helpful. If you like Claire Weekes approach to anxiety, panic and agoraphobia, I think this cd will quite helpful.

I am so happy that I bought this CD !... It has helped me in so many ways.. I never thought it was possible but my panic attacks are almost non-existing after listening to this CD and applying what I've learned.
Thank you Claire Weeks!

This set of CD'S is just so wonderful and easy to listen to, the information explained by Dr Weekes is done so in a basic, no nonsense approach, as if she is talking to you, the listener, in the same room, anticipating your questions and giving the answers as she proceeds. For sufferers of 'nervous illness', -anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and even depression, this is a 'must have'! There is a simple and easily understandable method that Dr Weekes explains in detail how to practice. It is very possible that this method could be the 'cure' that so many people, including myself, have been searching for for many many years to help relieve their unfortunate anxiety symptoms. Highly reccommended.

I have used Dr. Claire Weekes' books on nervous suffering and agoraphobia for over 20 years, I highly, highly recommend them to fellow sufferers. I didn't have her audio, Pass Through Panic, so I purchased it. Delightful hearing her Australian accent as she 'walks' sufferers through their difficulties. Simple, easy to understand, in laymen's terms.

Dr. Weekes seemed to know that her job was not to motivate or inspire people, but instead, to help those who were suffering get well. In her books and tapes, she offers real hope to people, many of whom (as she acknowledges) might not have the energy to hope - yet. In these days of pop psychology

and trendy motivational products, Dr. Weekes goes right to the heart of the matter: that people suffering from panic attacks don't do so because of defects in their personalities, but because they've been sensitized to certain situations. Dr. Weekes helps us learn techniques to get past that sensitivity.

Her genius was in understanding exactly what her audience was going through emotionally. I've never heard any other doctor speak with such empathy. And by her example, she teaches us to be patient with ourselves while we're getting better.

I usually HATE self-help materials, but I love Dr. Weekes' work. She's one of my heroines.

A year ago I had a 'panic attack'. I could not seem to get past it. My life seemed to have changed over night. Things got really scary. I've been extremely successful in my career and never before had I felt 'stressed' or even thought about anxiety. I feared that my panic attack was a sign of weakness and my life would crumble.
After reading through several books, I was blessed to have come across this one. Most of the other books I read lost me about half way through when they became corny and unrealistic.
This book is easy to follow and takes you step-by-step through explaining to you what's going on and what you can do about it. I can't tell you how much better I feel already. READ IT!!!

I am very familiar with the pain of anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia for I suffered from these maladies for several decades. During those years of suffering I believed that my problems were purely mental and underwent treatment by psychiatrists, psychologists, and hypnotherapists. I took various prescribed medications and read many books such as this, but experienced little relief. And then something wonderful happened: I began taking a daily supplement of chelated magnesium (for a different ailment) and shortly thereafter experienced a significant diminishment of anxiety in addition to cure of the ailment for which I had originally taken the supplemental magnesium. There seemed to be no explanation for why taking supplemental magnesium caused this wonderful loss of anxiety until the publication in 2003 of the important book The Miracle of Magnesium by Dr. Carolyn Dean. Early in her book Dr. Dean reveals that a major cause of anxiety and panic attacks is deficiency of magnesium and that magnesium deficiency is quite common in the U.S. Therefore, I beg all sufferers of anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia -- whatever else you may do -- please purchase and read The Miracle of Magnesium by Dr. Carolyn Dean and please try the magnesium supplementation which she recommends. It may change your life as has changed mine.

I began experiencing discomfort and then panic attacks after some stressful periods in my life several years ago. The panic attacks got so bad that I had trouble going to and being at work, going out for entertainment, and at various other times including when I was at home.

For a while I couldn't figure out what was happening to me. After finally figuring out that I was having panic attacks I bought this book. Following the chapters in the book, it took about four weeks to have complete control over my anxiety. The methods for eliminating the episodes were fantastic and have really saved me in many areas of my life.

I would highly recommend this book. It addresses anxiety as well as OCD and various phobias. It's been several years since I got this book and went through it and I have not had a single panic attack since. While I still do experience everyday stress, and sometimes a lot of it - this book has made me better at recognizing and handling very stressful situations far better than I ever could prior to reading it. I wish I had read this book prior to ever having the panic attacks. It will help you change your perspective and turn stressful events into exciting and enjoyable ones.

I can't say enough good about this book - If you have panic attacks or experience anxiety or even just want to improve your ability to handle pressure, you should _definitely_ buy and read this book!!!

I have had problems with anxiety for a few years, and this is definately the most helpful book I have read. It is easy to read and it gets to the point, which I appreciate.

I found this book to be very helpful. The first few chapters help you to learn the cause and effect of your anxiety/phobia/panic and coping skills to deal with these issues. The further you read the more you learn how to overcome your issues and REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
I was desperate when I started this program. I thought that I would never live a normal life again, but after reading this book I am. This program really does work. Great read!