Last week I wrote my introductory post about talking with your teens about dieting and the reasons why you should. In Talk with your Teens about dieting - Part 1, I then discussed The Perfect 10 Diet by Michael Aziz. I now want to talk about The Mayo Clinic Diet, a brand new book by the internationally renowned group medical practice. The Mayo Clinic Diet is another healthy diet that parents and teens can both use.

Unlike the other diets I am reviewing, The Mayo Clinic Diet doesn't include any new revelations or ways of thinking. However it is a very sensible, healthy lifestyle diet. The book itself has wonderful color photos and illustrations. The book is very organized, almost like an easy textbook, and is very easy to follow. You can also buy The Mayo Clinic Diet Journal to keep records of food and exercise.

The book starts off with the new habits that you need to add to your life and the habits that you need to break. This is called the Lose It! part of the diet, and this alone should help you begin to lose weight quickly. The rest of the book is the Live It! phase where you learn how to incorporate the diet into your life. Also included in The Mayo Clinic Diet book area sections on understanding nutrition and weight control, the Mayo Clinic food pyramid, recipes, eating out and burning calories.

Although this book and The Perfect 10 Diet book appear very different, the only real difference in the two diets is that the Mayo Clinic Diet, like most diets, recommends the use of low-fat products. The author of The Perfect 10 Diet says that these low-fat items disturb your hormones and should not be eaten. Other than that, most of the philosophies of the two diets are very similar.

See also:
Talk with your Teens about Dieting - Part 1 
Talk with your Teens about Diet - Part 3 
Talk with your Teens about Diet - Part 4

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After attending a PR event last week for Cottonelle's Over or Under campaign, I realized that families can have lively discussions about almost anything. Cottonelle is asking people to vote on how they hang their toilet paper, over or under? And it turns out that this can become a heated discussion.

Cottonelle has teamed up with Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott, who were at the event. They had fun arguing over which way to roll their toilet paper, she likes over and he prefers under. The also took pictures with the adorable Cottonelle puppies.

As silly as this topic seems, people that do have a preference do not like their toilet paper hung the other way. Cottonelle had Dr. Gilda Carle, psychotherapist and relationship expert on hand to discuss different character traits based on how you roll. According to her research, if you roll over, you like taking charge and crave organization. If you roll under, you're laid-back and dependable.

I am definitely an over person, however I have never discussed this with my family, since I am usually the only one that ever changes the rolls. I am now curious if my husband and sons have any preference, and if so, are they the same or different than mine. Maybe this will even turn into a family bonding conversation? If you would like to vote on your preference please visit the Cottonelle Roll Poll and vote.

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After each episode of Lost during season 5, I wrote a review post in which I broke down the highlights, observations, quotes, best moments and questions created from the episode. I thought it would make it easier to review the entire season 5 if I put the links all in one place.

Lost: 20 observations on Because you Left and The Lie

Lost recap 5:3 "Jughead"

Lost: The Little Prince, season 5, episode 4 highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 5 "This Place is Death" Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 6 "316"

Lost Season 5 Episode 7 "The Life and Times of Jeremy Bentham" Observations

Lost season 5 episode 8 "LaFleur" Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 9 "Namaste" Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 10 "He's Our You" Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 11 "Whatever Happened, Happened" Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 12 "Dead is Dead" Highlights

Lost season 5 episode 13 Some Like It Hoth Highlights

Lost Season 5 Episode 14 The Variable Highlights

Lost season 5 episode 15 Follow the Leader Highlights

Lost Season 5 Finale "The Incident" Top 37 Moments, Questions , Quotes and More

I can't wait to share my thoughts on Lost season 6 episodes. 

Added:  

Lost 'Across the Sea' Quotes, Questions and Answers!

Lost 'The Last Recruit' Quotes and Notes

Lost 'Everybody Loves Hugo' Quotes and Notes

Lost 'Happily Ever After' Desmond Quotes and Notes

Lost 'The Package' Episode 6.10 Quotes, Questions and Highlights

Lost Season 6 premiere LA X Highlights and Questions

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Last night I participated in a conference call, set up by H&R Block, with Dr. Brad Klontz, co-founder of  Your Mental Wealth Consulting and author of many books including his newest, Mind Over Money. Dr. Klontz is also working with H&R Block to help parents to teach teens financial fitness and prepare them for life after high school.

I recently wrote about the importance of teaching civics in school. Dr. Klontz reminded me how important it is for teens to learn about money and finance, something that our public schools also neglect. This is another reason why it is so important for parents to step in and teach their teens how to handle money. Many parents feel uncomfortable talking about this because money is a difficult issue and has always been a taboo topic. Money stress is just as damaging to our health and can predict an early demise as much as major illnesses. Money is the biggest stresser in most people's lives and the biggest conflict in marriages.

50% of high school seniors got a grade of F on general financial knowledge. We are not preparing our kids for the real world. 80% of kids entering college have credit cards, yet only 15% have had any formal instruction in personal finance management. Their credit score can hurt them for years.

Tips for talking to your teens about money:

• Think before buying.
• Don't buy on impulse.
• Model healthy financial behavior.
• Let kids watch you save. be good role models.
• If your teen has a job or an allowance, teach them not to spend it all. Talk to them about how there are 3 things they can do with their money, spend, save and donate.
• Additional tips can be found on the H&R Block Dollars & Sense website.

Tips involving teen cell phone use - 80% of teens have cell phones, yet only 10% know what its like to pay their own cell phone bill. Parents are exasperated that their teens are racking up tremendous cell phone bills. Use cell phones as a budgeting tool. Give your teens a prepaid calling card with a certain number of minutes a month. When they run out early, tell them you'll help them budget their minutes for the next month, but don't bail them out. This is a good way for them to learn not only budgeting but impulse control.

H&R Block has made a commitment to increase the financial fitness of high school students. Schools don't have the budgets to add these classes to the curriculum. H&R block's dollar and sense program is doing 3 things;

1. Donating over $1 million for personal finance curriculum in schools.
2. Giving more than $50,000 in scholarships to high school kids in a national dollars and sense challenge.
3. Helping educate parents about the importance of talking to kids about money.

Would you like your kid's school to teach money and personal finance? Talk to them about the curriculum grants. Applications are being taken until February 15th. Wouldn't it be great if schools taught teens practical real life things like balancing a check book and credit card debt. Teens need to know this before stepping out into the world.

See also:    
Helping Teens Understand The Value of Money
Is Your Teen Ready For a Credit Card?
Teens and Money - Cash, Credit or Debit Cards?

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If you are or know any teenagers ages 13-18 that would like a chance to be flown to Hollywood to work on a movie over spring break for free, then check out Fresh Films Extraordinary Cinema adventure. No prior filmmaking experience experience is needed.

Fresh Films is the nation's leading filmmaking program for teens. Teens actually replace the pros and make short films in seven intense days. These filmmaking weeks take place during the summer and now for the first time, spring break. Teens are responsible for every aspect of film production and the finished films are showcased on Video-OnDemand and Direct TV.

Fresh Films has teamed with Reese's Puffs to create Extraordinary Cinema, a chance for teens 13-18 to use their talents to make a film over spring break. Teens will get the chance to direct real celebrities and make a movie. To enter this contest all you need do is fill out the Extraordinary Cinema application form. No experience is necessary, but you will be selected based on two short essays about yourself and why you want this opportunity. All applications must be in by February 15, 2010.

Winners will be flown to Los Angeles, California with a chaperone for the week of March 12, 2010 to March 20, 2010. Hotel and ground transportation are included. You can learn much more about the program on the Extraordinary Cinema FAQ page.

This sounds like a fantastic opportunity for any teen, regardless of where they see their career path going. I'm sorry that my sons can't take advantage of it but they are both over 18 now. Actually, I wish I could apply myself. If you don't make the cut now, applications for the Fresh Films summer program will begin in April.

See update on the winning film in: 
Dominic Monaghan Film Made by Teens Wins REESE's Extraordinary Cinema Contest

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Video games are a big part of most teens and tweens lives. According to a Pew Internet Study, 99% of boys and  94% of girls play video games. One of the main reasons that parents are often worried about their kids playing video games is because their lack of understanding of gaming, gaming products and especially gaming in the online world. Get Game Smart is a great resource to help parents learn everything they can about video games and the tools parents can use to manage their kids play.

I have always connected with my sons through television, movies, music and books, however, I found it difficult to connect through gaming because I didn't grow up with video games and was intimidated by them. Not only did I not spend time playing games with them, but I didn't fully understand what they were even doing. As I made the effort to become more knowledgeable about this form of entertainment that they loved, I found another way to connect with them.

Get Game Smart is a website created by Microsoft to provide parents with tools and resources to understand and manage their kid's gaming and entertainment experiences. Not only does Get Game Smart offer many tips for both parents and teens, it offers some unique family tools for them to agree on rules and guidelines for gaming.

     1. Make a PACT - You are provided with a template of a pact on gaming rules that you can customize for your family. By signing it, you and your kids make a commitment to each other to stick to the rules you've set on parental involvement, online access, content and time.

     2. Get Game Smart Family Challenge - A simple and fun interactive competition that will help your family develop healthier habits for playing video games, watching television and browsing the Internet. A series of steps will help your family set rules about media use in your home, improve communication with your teens and tweens and set guidelines for online safety.

Get Game Smart also has pages on setting parental controls on  Xbox 360, (one of the most popular gaming consoles), lessons on using Xbox LIVE (the online service offered by Xbox 360), expert advice and links to its many partners that deal with gaming and Internet safety. I will be writing in much more detail about these areas in my next post on families and video games in February.

Whether you have younger teens and you are worried about gaming and online safety, or you have older teens and mostly just want to understand what they are doing to connect with them, it is incumbent on parents of gamers to educate themselves as much as possible about video games and everything connected with them. Ever since I learned how to play video games I've opened up a whole new world of bonding with my sons. I am the singer when we play Rock Band because I'm too slow on the controls. But I am part of the fun. I can also intelligently discuss the different games and gaming platforms that they love.

If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments and I will try to answer you in my next post of this series of 4 articles about video games, families and safety.

See also:
Video Games Teens and Parents Can Play Together
Moms Talk Video Games at PopCap Luncheon 

This post is sponsored by Get Game Smart a great resource that helps families make smart, safe choices about kids’ media use - especially video games. 

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The premiere of Lost season 6 is now so close that Lost fans can practically taste it. We are all looking for anything we can watch or read to get us ready for Lost's final season. The wait seems endless. Here are 5 great videos that any Lost fan will not want to miss.

1. Compilation of all official ABC promos for season 6


2. Lost Flight 815 crash in real time (24 style)


3. Lost Untangled : Season 5 in 5 minutes



4. Five seasons of Lost in 8 minutes and 15 seconds


5. The Onion takes on annoying Lost fans

Final Season Of 'Lost' Promises To Make Fans More Annoying Than Ever

Are you excited for the final season of Lost? Do you have any other great Lost videos to share?

Added 7/2011: Lost "Deleted" Scene Comic-Con Video Must See

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Kids don't grow up automatically knowing which foods are good for them. With the growth of obesity in our country, and at the other end of the spectrum, anorexia and bulemia, it is important to talk with your teens about food, health and diets. And it is also important to set a good example. I will be writing a series of four posts about some very healthy diets that I have come across that parents and teens can do together.

The Perfect 10 Diet by Michael Aziz, M.D.

I am very excited about The Perfect 10 Diet because it is unlike any other I have seen. The basis of this diet is that there are 10 key hormones that hold the secret to losing weight and feeling great. Diet and nutrition profoundly affect longevity by modulating hormone production. By eating the proper foods to help these hormones function efficiently, you will look healthy on the outside and feel healthy on the inside.

Some of the highlights of The Perfect 10 Diet:

1. Distinguishes between the types of proteins and carbs that should be consumed on a daily basis.
2. Focuses on eating fats from healthy sources. Low-fat diets wreak havoc on insulin levels and increase hunger. Saturated fats are essential for your sex hormones, and delaying the aging process. Whole eggs, butter and regular milk are good for you.
   
3. Natural food is always best - if you can't pronounce an ingredient, don't eat it. Stay away from man-made chemicals.
4. Go organic - pesticides and chemicals impair your hormones.
5. Wonderful health results beyond weight loss.

 Dr. Aziz, a respected Manhattan internist has spent over a decade researching and testing all the most popular diets. He realized that the most common dieting practices, such as low-fat and low-carb, can be harmful and disturb hormones. The Perfect 10 Diet is a safe diet plan that does not create health problems, while still leading to weight loss.

The Perfect 10 Diet book gives you advice on:

• How the diet works, how the 10 hormones function and the nutrients your body needs.
  
• The three stages of the diet.
  
• Being a savvy consumer.
• Eating out.
• Exercise
• Recipes
• Food sources and ingredients to avoid

Starting this diet with your teens is a win-win situation. Since The Perfect 10 Diet is all about healthy eating, you and your teens will be getting a lesson on what foods are good or bad for you. I just began this diet, and feel so good about clearing out all the unhealthy foods from my home. In the upcoming articles in this series, I will fill you in on my progress.

See also:
Talk with your Teens about Dieting - Part 2 
Talk with your Teens about Diet - Part 3 
Talk with your Teens about Diet - Part 4

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If you think that buying your teen a guitar comes down to only choosing between electric, bass and acoustic, think again. I've recently seen some interesting alternatives, one perfect for girls and the other great for gamers.

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars

Rock instruments and bands have always been a mostly male dominated industry. Daisy Rock has been empowering girls everywhere to rock on in their music dreams and endeavors. Tish Ciravolo, bass player in many bands throughout the 1980s, is the founder and president of Daisy Rock Girl Guitars, the first and only girl-guitar company. Founded in 2000, they continue to grow with record breaking sales this past December 2009.

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars sells electric, bass, acoustic and short-scale guitars, as well as apparel and accessories. The website offers help on which guitars are best for kids, teens or adults. Not only do the guitars have a feminine look, they are also lighter than the standard guitar and feature a slim and narrow neck design that's perfect for girls with smaller hands.

GAMBRIDGE Z-1 Hybrid Guitar/Game Controller

Many Guitar Hero or Rock Band players also play the guitar, or might decide they want to play the guitar after playing these games. Why have a gaming guitar and a separate real guitar when you can have an all-in-one guitar that does both. The Z-1 is a digital guitar and game controller which is revolutionizing the world of music video games and music education. Using this guitar will make guitar video games more realistic and fun.

The Z-1 Hybrid is supported by all major music video games on all consoles and platforms. However it also has real strings. It has full MIDI functionality for advanced applications and a motion sensor. The guitar/controller also feature line-out for headphones, amplifiers and HIFI systems. Playing video games using the Z-1 hybrid guitar makes the experience much more realistic.


If you think you have a budding guitarist in your home, check out these websites and products. These products could be a great way to get your teenage daughter or gamer interested in playing the guitar.

See also: 3 Ubisoft Video Game Holiday Previews

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Most of you probably know Richard Dreyfuss as the actor who starred in Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Mr. Holland's Opus. Lately, he has all but given up acting to work on a new quest - to revive, elevate and enhance the teaching of civics in the United States. The Dreyfuss Initiative is a nonprofit corporation formed to do just that.

I recently was lucky enough to see Richard Dreyfuss discuss this mission in person. It was obvious that it is extremely important to him. This is just some of what he had to say: 

We are the only country without a common heritage. We are bound together by ideas from the enlightenment era. However, public education no longer teaches the fundamental basics that we need, such as logic, reason, clarity of thought and the principles of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights. Especially, in light of 9/11, kids need this background to fully understand what happened.

Hear his impassioned speech on this topic on the Bill Mahr show:



From the Dreyfuss Initiative webpage:
Unless we teach who we are, and why we are who we are, it will be impossible to rise up devotion to the nation. Without such devotion there will be no nation.

The principal objectives of the Dreyfuss Initiative are:

• To revive, elevate and enhance the teaching of civics and power in American classrooms through curriculum development, teacher training, documentation and oral and visual presentations, lectures and events.

• To create an enhanced American discourse on civics and power through a national lecture and speaking series in conjunction and/or partnership with corporations, foundations and organizations.

• To conduct special seminars and conferences to “teach the teacher” – education for teachers, principals and education executives on civics, and the teaching of civics and power.

• To create and implement unique teaching and presentation opportunities, taking advantage of geography, historical significance and impact, personalities and partners.

I have witnessed this lack of civics knowledge firsthand. In my previous job teaching legal research to law students, my colleagues and I felt that even the law students weren't as knowledgeable about basic civics as they should be. I completely agree that too many Americans don't know enough about our government and its history. Please go to the Dreyfuss Initiative webpage and read more about this important mission. What do you think of The Dreyfuss Initiative? Do you agree that students should be learning civics?


See also: Lessons From a Tech Savvy Education Conference 140edu Day 1

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Added 1/21/11: 42 Movies for Teens 2011
Added 1/20/12: 30 Movies for Teens 2012


The year 2010 is here, and many movies are coming out this year that should interest teenagers. This is partly due to the trend of making movies based on video games and comics. There also seems to be a growth in the number of animated, 3-D and IMAX movies being produced. Keep in mind that some of the dates may be changed, especially those scheduled for late in 2010.
 
January
1. When in Rome - Romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Heroes) and Josh Duhamel (Transformers), both teen favorites.

February
2. Dear John - Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, this romantic drama stars Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) and Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia!). Could this become another "The Notebook".

3. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - Fantasy/adventure adaptation of the first novel of the Rick Riordan series. Directed by Chris Columbus, Percy Jackson is a teenager who discovers he is the demigod son of Poseidon and must prevent a war between the gods.

4. Valentine's Day - An ensemble romantic comedy for all ages. Teens will mostly be interested because Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift are part of that ensemble.

5. Cop Out - A buddy cop movie. Because it is directed by Kevin Smith it will probably not be appropriate for younger teens. Starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan.

March
6. Alice in Wonderland - The eagerly awaited adaptation by Tim Burton, made using a combination of live action and motion capture.

7. Remember Me - A romantic drama starring Robert Pattinson  (Twilight series) and Emilie de Ravin (Lost). Female teens will flock to this movie based on the leading man, regardless of the plot.

8. Hot Tub Time Machine - A time-travel comedy about a group of friends who go back in time to change their futures. Starring John Cusack, Rob Corddry (Daily Show) and Lyndsy Fonseca (Desperate Housewives) and Chevy Chase.

April
9. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Based on the best selling book for tweens that chronicles the adventures of middle school students, this film is a combination of live action and animation.

10. The Last Song - Another story by Nicholas Sparks, this time starring Miley Cyrus, playing a troubled teenager with Greg Kinnear as her estranged father. Will Miley's fan base want to see her in a non-musical drama?

11. Date Night - Comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey in which a date becomes a wild and crazy night. Cast also includes Mark Wahlberg, Ray Liotta, Mark Ruffalo, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig and Leighton Meester.

12. Kick-Ass - Based on the comic book about a teenage boy who decides to become a superhero after being inspired by the heroes in his comic books. Starring Nicolas Cage and Aaron Johnson.

May
13. Iron Man 2 - Sequel directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson.

14. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Action, adventure, fantasy film based on the video game. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (which means a big special effects movie) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

June
15. The Karate Kid - A remake of the original, produced by Will Smith and starring his son Jaden Smith. Jackie Chan plays the teacher.

16. Toy Story 3 - Second sequel to the hit Pixar animated film has Andy now departing for college and the toys wind up at a day care center.

17. Grown Ups - Ensemble comedy with many of the funny men that teens love - Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Kevin James. Many other SNL alums and other stars round out the ensemble.

18. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Adaptation of the third book of the Twilight series.

July
19. The Last Airbender - Live action adaptation of the animated TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender. The word Avatar was removed from the title of the film to prevent confusion with the Avatar currently in theaters. This is the first in a trilogy about a 12 year old boy/avatar, whose duty it is to protect the world.

20. Despicable Me - Computer animated 3D comedy starring Steve Carell, who plays the world's second best super villian who tries to outdo the top super villian voiced by Jason Segel.

21. Inception - For older teens, Inception is a sci-fi thriller that takes place within the architecture of the mind. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) and Ellen Page (Juno).

22. The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Another Jerry Bruckheimer produced film, this Disney family adventure is a re-imagining of the Sorcerer's Apprentice part of Fantasia with live people. It stars Nicolas Cage and Jay Baruchel (Undeclared, Tropic Thunder).

23. Dinner For Schmucks - Comedy remake of a French film, The Dinner Game about a stupid man that can ruin lives. Starring Steve Carell (he seems to be in every movie this year), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Paul Rudd, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston (Office Space) and Andrea Savage.

24. Beastly - Fantasy romance based on the novel. Starring some teen favorites, Alex Pettyfer (Stormbreaker), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Mark Kate Olsen and Neil Patrick Harris.

August
25. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - Based on the popular comic book series by Bryan Lee O'Malley, the film stars Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim.

September
26. Resident Evil: Afterlife - Science Fiction horror film based on the very popular video game series. This 4th movie in the series, starring Milla Jovovich, will be released in 3-D.

October
27. Alpha and Omega - Computer animated 3-D film for kids and families about two wolves, Justin Long and Hayden Panettiere.

28. Your Highness - Fantasy comedy about a prince on a quest to save his father's kingdom. Starring James Franco, Danny McBride, Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel.

29. The Social Network - This is the movie about Facebook starring Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland, Zombieland) and Justin Timberlake. Even if teens don't care about the history of the social network that they spend half their day on, they might still go for the cast.

November
30. MegaMind - Animated comedy about a super villain and his archrival, starring the voices of Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill.

31. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - First part of the adaptation of the 7th and final Harry Potter book.

32. Red Dawn - Remake of the 1984 wall film Red Dawn about a group of teenagers that try to save their town from Chinese forces using guerilla warfare.

December
33. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - The third installment in the series based on the fantasy series by C.S. Lewis.

34. Tron Legacy - Sequel to the 1982 Tron film, this science fiction movie stars Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner and Garrett-Hedlund (Four Brothers).

35. The Green Hornet - An adaptation of the radio and TV character, this superhero action film stars Seth Rogen as Britt Reid/The Green Hornet. (Edited to add: Postponed to 2011)

36. Gulliver's Travels - Adaptation of the classic novel starring Jack Black and Jason Segel.

Have I missed anything? Which of these 2010 movies are you most excited to see? Even more important, which of these movies do you think your teens and/or tweens will want to see in 2010?

See also: 
30 Movies for Teens 2012
15 Halloween Movies for Teens
18 Best Movies for Teens Fall 2011
42 Movies for Teens 2011
75 Classic Movies Teens Should See! 
The 50 Most Discussed Television Series 
Top 12 Cult Movies for Teens
35 Best Movies about Teens
10 Movies to Recommend to your Teens from before they were born

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After each episode of Lost, there are hundreds of newspaper and blog articles recapping and desconstructing each episode. What if you wanted to read a detailed analysis of each episode of Lost from season one through season 5? You can do that with Nikki Stafford's Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide books.

Nikki Stafford writes a blog, Nik at Nite, about television. She has written four unofficial guides to Lost. The first one, Finding Lost contains both seasons one and two. Seasons 3, 4 and 5 each have their own book. According to Stafford, these guides are not a substitute for watching Lost. They will provide you with a deeper understanding of Lost and each episode, but you must have watched the episodes to fully understand her analysis.

This is what you can expect to find in each chapter of the Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide books:

• A brief summary of the episode.
• An analysis of the episode.
• Discussion of any books seen in the episode, since books seen on Lost are clues to the Island's mysteries.
• Highlights of the episode.
• Did You Notice - small moments you might have missed that might be clues.
• Interesting Facts.
• Nitpicks - Things that bug the author because they seem like inconsistencies, although she admits that they could be deliberate.
• Oops - Mistakes that most likely don't have an explanation.
• 4 8 15 16 23 42 - Mention of the appearance of "the numbers".
• Its Just a Flesh Wound - Mention of all wounds incurred by the characters.
• Lost In Translation - Translation of anything spoken or written in a different language that has not be translated during the episode.
• Any Questions - List of questions arising out of the episode that viewers should be asking themselves.
• Ashes to Ashes - Obituary for any character that died during the episode.
• Music/Bands - List of songs played during an episode.

The Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide series is a must read for any Lost fan. For new fans, just catching up so that they will be ready for the final season, Finding Lost will give you all the information that other Lost fans would read on blogs after each episode. For longstanding Lost fans, Finding Lost might give them new information and analysis and remind them of everything they watched and read in the past about the first five seasons of Lost.

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