Amazon.com
Using the story/parable format so popular these days, Leadership and Self-Deception takes a novel psychological approach to leadership. It's not what you do that matters, say the authors (presumably plural--the book is credited to the esteemed Arbinger Institute), but why you do it. Latching onto the latest leadership trend won't make people follow you if your motives are selfish--people can smell a rat, even one that says it's trying to empower them. The tricky thing is, we don't know that our motivation is flawed. We deceive ourselves in subtle ways into thinking that we're doing the right thing for the right reason. We really do know what the right thing to do is, but this constant self-justification becomes such an ingrained habit that it's hard to break free of it--it's as though we're trapped in a box, the authors say.
Learning how the process of self-deception works--and how to avoid it and stay in touch with our innate sense of what's right--is at the heart of the book. We follow Tom, an old-school, by-the-book kind of guy who is a newly hired executive at Zagrum Corporation, as two senior executives show him the many ways he's "in the box," how that limits him as a leader in ways he's not aware of, and of course how to get out. This is as much a book about personal transformation as it is about leadership per se. The authors use examples from the characters' private as well as professional lives to show how self-deception skews our view of ourselves and the world and ruins our interactions with people, despite what we sincerely believe are our best intentions.
While the writing won't make John Updike lose any sleep, the story entertainingly does the job of pulling the reader in and making a potentially abstruse argument quite enjoyable. The authors have a much better ear for dialogue than is typical of the genre (the book is largely dialogue), although a certain didactic tone creeps in now and then. But ultimately it's a hopeful, even inspiring read that flows along nicely and conveys a message that more than a few managers need to hear. --Pat McGill
Book Description
The "disease" of self-deception (acting in ways contrary to what one knows is right) underlies all leadership problems in today's organizations, according to the premise of this work. However well intentioned they may be, leaders who deceive themselves always end up undermining their own performance.
This straightforward book explains how leaders can discover their own self-deceptions and learn how to escape destructive patterns. The authors demonstrate that breaking out of these patterns leads to improved teamwork, commitment, trust, communication, motivation, and leadership.
Customer Reviews:
A life Changing Book.......2007-09-27
This book was referred to me by a friend and is a life changing book. I have shared it around the office as well. Well written and an easy read.
Painful slog.......2007-09-21
I received this book as part of a leadership training process. The leader bought a copy for everyone involved. I'm afraid she should have spent the money elsewhere.
Reading the book is a slow painful slog. The story does not draw me in and the prose has the fluidity of cardboard (which is the material used to create the characters).
The thesis, we deceive ourselves by denying our part in creating the problems we face, is valid. It is not, however, new. It's been around since Aristotle, at least.
What I didn't know was hurting me.......2007-09-15
Great book! The things I learned about how I was decieving myself were amazing. Now I have to really think things through so I know why I feel what I feel. I always have a choice to be in or out. If you don't know why I said that, then you need to read the book.
Getting Out of the Box: A New Perspective.......2007-09-10
This is an easy to read book, however, that is no indication of its importance. Tremendously enlightening perspectives presented in a unique frame. A MUST for anyone who interacts with human beings in any arena.
Improve your communication skills with everyone!.......2007-08-31
LEADERSHIP AND SELF DECEPTION IS A BOOK FROM WHICH ALL READERS MAY BENEFIT. I PERSONALLY RECOMMENDED IT TO A CEO OF A SMALL COMPANY, HE SHARED IT WITH ALL OF HIS TEAM LEADERS. I HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED ACQUANTIANCES TO READ THIS BOOK TO IMPROVE THEIR MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL AS THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. I GAVE EACH OF MY OWN CHILDREN A COPY; I FEEL THAT IT WILL HELP THEM IN ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNICATING IN THIER OWN LIVES.
"GETTING OUT OF THE BOX" IS A PRINCIPLE THAT IF PRACTICED WOULD RESULT IN A BETTER WAY OF LIFE. HAPPINESS AND PEACE WOULD ABOUND,PRODUCTION WOULD INCREASE, MENTAL BLURR WOULD DIMINISH, AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO WORK TOWARD COMMON GOALS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
Amazon.com
When liars are being accused of something, they'll stay calm because they're working on their rebuttal; this is why detectives were suspicious of O.J. Simpson when he didn't express outrage when accused of murdering his ex-wife and Ronald Goldman. Never Be Lied to Again is bursting with tested tips like this for quickly determining when you're being boondoggled. Body language, facial expressions, sentence structure, and word choice can all reveal when someone is lying, says psychologist David J. Lieberman, and he includes 46 of these "clues to deception" to help you, including tricks for framing questions without putting others on the defense. Once you use your newly honed "human lie detector" skills to figure out if you're being lied to, you can then dig for the truth using the specific, influential words and body postures that Lieberman suggests. Written with flair and humor, Never Be Lied to Again is designed to help you get the upper hand in any situation, whether you're trying to figure out if your spouse is cheating on you or if you suspect your coworkers are cooking the books.
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
It's difficult to have honest communication in a world where people bend the truth to fit their needs. Even more difficult is confronting a suspected liar in an open, forthright manner. In Never Be Lied to Again, human behaviorist Dr. Lieberman coaches listeners to face unfaithful lovers, colleagues, and employees. Lieberman introduces the tape and the remainder is read by male and female voices in varied tones. These different voices pinpoint numerous verbal and physical clues that will help you detect when people are lying; "attack sequences" and "silver bullets" allow you to initiate discussions with the guilty party. Although much of the information is geared to personal rather than professional situations, this tape is still a good resource for starting uncomfortable conversations. (Running time: 1.5 hours, one cassette) --Sharon Griggins
Book Description
How many times have you been manipulated or taken advantage of by someone's lies? Are you tired of being deceived, tricked, and fooled? Finally, renowned behaviorist David J. Lieberman shows you how to stop the lies and uncover the truth-- in any conversation or situation. In a simple, user-friendly format, Dr. Lieberman gives you the tools to determine, with uncanny accuracy, if you are being lied to.Utilizing newly developed techniques in hypnosis and psycholinguistics, this book also shows you how to easily influence anyone to tell the truth-- within minutes. Use it in any situation, from casual conversation to in-depth interviews. Never Be Lied to Again is chock-full of colorful examples and engaging scenarios to help you keep from being taken advantage of and give you that extra edge. Use these groundbreaking techniques to take control of every personal and business situation....and never be lied to again.
Customer Reviews:
A painful read with some useful information.......2007-09-14
This was a tough book to get through and failed to introduce much information that I didn't already know. The writing style was painful due to the authors choice to alternate the pronouns "he" and "she". He did this to avoid sounding sexist but pointing it out made it even more irritating. Most of the examples used were nap inspiring: "You think a student was cheating on her exam." Or unrealistic: "You suspect someone of selling you a puppy with a bad heart." Lieberman knows what he is talking about and the cover of this book looks great but the inside presentation could use a major overhaul. You don't have to read "Never Be Lied To Again" to know I am telling the truth.
Wonderful.......2007-09-05
In the past two weeks it has saved me over $200 at the mecahnics (I used one of the techniques in the book and found out he was lying to me about my brakes AND transmission) amd it has probably saved me a lot of heartache. (It turns out that a guy I had just met was married although he told me otherwise. He confessed to being married after about ten minutes when I used one of the advanced techniques on him) I'm not kidding--this stuff works like magic. This book could not have come at a better time. (Although I don't beleive in coincidences)
All in all,of the books I've read over the years,this is the most significant without adoubt. I can't say enough about it.
Great Book!.......2007-09-04
Another new bestseller which I highly recommend - The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune
Fun and useful.......2007-08-07
I have mixed emotions about this book. On one hand, it does cover a lot of signs that you are being lied to, and if you know about them you will pay attention and will be more likely to figure out the truth. On the other hand, some methods for finding out the truth are really disturbing because the author advocates using lies and manipulations for discovering the truth. However, I would still recommend reading it. You don't have to use every suggestion in it - use what feels right for you. I especially found the first part of the book useful - this is where the author lists all the signs of lying (and there are a LOT of them, I think that he probably covered them all). The second part lists the aforementioned "strategies". All in all, I found the book fun to read and very useful, and it is up to the reader to chose to use the book defensively or offensively.
Excellent book.......2007-06-28
He explain the subject very well and he doesn't need a lot of lines for explain each ideias. I bought others books and he is a expert in the others subject too. (I'from Brazil and I recommed him)
Book Description
Right now, Truth is under attack, and much is at stake. Christians are caught in the crossfire of alternative Christian histories, emerging faulty texts, and a cultural push to eliminate absolute Truth altogether. As a result, many churches and Christians have been deceived. Worse still, they propagate the deception that poses itself as Truth! In
The Truth War John MacArthur reclaims the unwavering certainty of God's Truth and anchors Christians in the eternal, immovable promises that are found in His Word.
Customer Reviews:
A Poorly Researched Hack-Job.......2007-08-29
MacAruthur's strengths have typically been in exposition, though one must always be careful to separate his systematic theological interpretations. As with previous works on criticizing entire segments of Christianity, this book is heavy on polemic and shallow on any actual research into the subject.
Beyond evaluating the writings of Brian MacLaren (who is not at the center of emerging churches), and doing cursory (at best) research on the subject, MacArthur ends up slandering a huge number of Christians and makes himself look more foolish than his targets. However, if you buy 3 or 4 copies of this book, it will make a good, though expensive, doorstop.
For a better picture, I would suggest Mark Driscoll's writing on the Emerging/Emergent church (if you're a Calvinist) or Dan Kimball's writing (if you're not a 5-pointer).
Must read for all Christians.......2007-08-21
This book is full of truth. John tells it in love just like it is. Many of the current trends in Christianity are not Biblical. I thank God for men like Pastor MacArthur and his bold stand on the Bible. This book will educate anyone interested on many of the false teachings in the emergent church. Get this book. The Bible clearly warns how much deception will occur in the latter days. This book will give you information to avoid the emerging pitfalls.
An important book.......2007-08-10
Some reviewers say this book is divisive. I would agree that it is; but at what cost and for what reason? Why does John MacArthur draw lines in the sand regarding some people and some beliefs?
Because the truth needs to remain pristine and uncompromised. When MacArthur calls out a person or a position, he doesn't do it needlessly. Tolerance is poisonous when truth is compromised and that, I think, is the reason for this book. Their is a need for the truth to remain unblemished. God gave us the bible to show us truth. When someone or something contradicts the bible they/it should be exposed.
Read this book to better understand the threats to biblical truth and how to combat them. This book is a necessary read in my opinion for all christians because falsehhod creeps up and in the truth so easily at times. In a nutshell, read this book if your passionate about truth and how to defend it.
A solid book definitely worth reading.......2007-08-10
A great book which comes in a time when many churches are interested in entertaining the world, growth at all cost and water down the gospel not to offend the lost. This is very informative book exposing many errors that the early church dealt with which is also alive today such as sabellianism which denies the trinity which bred the church oneness Pentecost ,using scriptures to back up his claims about the dangers of modernism,pragatism amongst other errors the church is facing today
Postmodernism - only shades of Grey.......2007-07-15
Dr. John MacArthur takes a bold and straight forward approach to addressing the current trends that have been invading the Church. He gives clear, well defined definitions of the Emerging church movement and other trends moving through the evangelical church and beyond, and outlines in each chapter his scriptural reasons for his deep concern. MacArthur warns that: 'Trends signal a significant departure from biblical & historic Christianity' and shows examples of points in early Church history where the fight for Truth is what kept the purity of our faith intact. A key concern for the Church is Apostasy to which 2 Thess 2:10 warns will happen to those who do not receive the love of the truth.
On a closer examination of these movements, from what the leaders themselves say, it becomes rapidly apparent that historical Christian Truth is being undermined. We are being told that 'Truth found in Scripture' can't be certain or knowable. As the author writes: 'Truth is under assault in the Church today', and 'People are experimenting with subjective, relativistic ideas of Truth and labeling them 'Christian'. But contrary to popular thought, stands the truth of scripture that endures. (2 Tim 3:16,17, Psalms 119:160, Proverbs 30:5, 1Peter 1:25.)
The author addresses the Christian's apathy towards discernment, the Church allowing false teachings to flourish, and a lack of duty to contend earnestly for the Faith - Jude 3. He encourages church leaders that they are especially responsible for setting the example - Jerm 3:15, Acts 20:28-31.
This book will cause you to really think about your faith, what you believe and why. You will learn important lessons on discernment and how to determine truth by applying the Scriptures, and you will grow in the knowledge of Christ. For those who already hold to sound doctrine, you will be refreshed. recommended reading.
Book Description
Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, by author Dan Brown, have deceived millions of people across the world with a plethora of lies about the one true God, Christianity, the Holy Bible, and the Christian Church. Dan Brown has achieved this by presenting the elements in his novels under the guise of fiction, while at the same time, claiming that they are factual. But even Brown's "facts," which he maintains are historically informed, are full of inaccuracies and historical discrepancies. What Dan Brown is describing in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code can most certainly not be categorized as fiction, because in reality, the core and foundation of his writing is Theological and Christological. However, the Theology and Christology which Dan Brown has incorporated into his novels is a false Theology and Christology?-?it is grossly distorted and stridently far from the truth. This apologetic work sets out to provide the true Theological and Christological teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church in response to the deceptions in the selected writings of Dan Brown.
Book Description
New York Times columnist Frank Rich examines the trail of fictions manufactured by the Bush administration from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina, exposing the most brilliant spin campaign ever waged.
When America was attacked on 9/11, its citizens almost unanimously rallied behind its new, untested president as he went to war. What they didn't know at the time was that the Bush administration's highest priority was not to vanquish Al Qaeda but to consolidate its own power at any cost. It was a mission that could be accomplished only by a propaganda presidency in which reality was steadily replaced by a scenario of the White House's own invention-and such was that scenario's devious brilliance that it fashioned a second war against an enemy that did not attack America on 9/11, intimidated the Democrats into incoherence and impotence, and turned a presidential election into an irrelevant referendum on macho imagery and same-sex marriage.
As only he can, acclaimed New York Times columnist Frank Rich delivers a step-by-step chronicle of how skillfully the White House built its house of cards and how the institutions that should have exposed these fictions, the mainstream news media, were too often left powerless by the administration's relentless attack machine, their own post-9/11 timidity, and an unending parade of self-inflicted scandals (typified by those at The New York Times). Demonstrating the candor and conviction that have made him one of our most trusted and incisive public voices, Rich brilliantly and meticulously illuminates the White House's disturbing love affair with "truthiness," and the ways in which a bungled war, a seemingly obscure Washington leak, and a devastating hurricane at long last revealed the man-behind-the-curtain and the story that had so effectively been sold to the nation, as god-given patriotic fact.
Customer Reviews:
Too much sarcasm.......2007-09-10
Too much sarcasm from start to finish. It's a far-left view of the Bush administration where author Frank Rich seems to be visibly upset at any Republican administration. He uses references to Jon Stewart's, The Daily Show along with Saturday Night Live numerous times to back his opinions on current political events. In my view, an author of his age background and experience should not have written this farcical, liberal montage of jabs at the office of the President of the United States. Better luck next time Frank.
BRAVO!! Succinct yet complete, and thoroughly absorbing........2007-08-23
By his piece-by-piece dismantling of the façade that is the Bush administration, Rich offers the most plausible and perhaps definitive explanation of Bush-Cheney-Rove & Co.'s rush to war, leaving an unparalleled trail of destruction - Manhattan, New Orleans, Iraq, our constitution and civil liberties, our treasury, our international prestige, and perhaps our way of life - so massive in scope we may never recover from the hubris, deception, cynicism, incompetence, and lawlessness wrought by this gang of crooks.
Approximately since LBJ, television has had the effect of focusing then magnifying the character flaws of our presidents, until, appropriately, professional actor Reagan came along and made the camera work for him. With personal guru Rove behind the curtain directing Bush's every move, word, and decision, W. shamelessly honed this skill to big-brother perfection, until the façade could no longer outpace the complete lack of substance - character, wisdom, intellect, ability - beneath. The consequences of Bush being so exceptionally unqualified for the ultimate responsibility he so unlikely attained became too much for even the Wizard to keep up the ruse. And it all came crashing down.
Rich also pays attention to the cultural context - our infinite indulgence for infotainment, the Enron values - that allowed these charlatans to lead us not just into temptation (endless wars, tax cuts and debt that will break us) but infernal damnation.
There's a case for impeachment and conviction on nearly every page. We can sit it out and pray that W. doesn't wreak more devastation before it's all over, or we can impeach him and Cheney now. That's assuming we can evict them both without them taking us down with them. More than Nixon and all the crooks before or since, these guys belong in prison.
Kudos to Rich for a thorough chronicle of our national nightmare since September 2001. Read it and weep for our country and all we've lost.
Hubris Without Limits.......2007-07-22
There can be little doubt that George W Bush is a lightweight. I can say this from a distance as I am not an American but simply an observer of events. It is a great shame that so many people judge America by his actions. This is most unfair. America is so much more than this simpleton.
I read "The Greatest Story Ever Sold" with keen expectations of gaining some insight to the machinations of American political life. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case. This book is very superficial. Even with the benefit of hindsight where we can see events with greater clarity than when they are actually unfolding, Frank Rich sheds little light on matters. This is unfortunate. He was working with such potentially great material.
We all know what a monumental error it was for Bush to land on an aircraft carrier with a "Mission Accomplished" sign in the background. This was hubris of immense proportions. A wiser head would never have been involved in such stupidity. I'm certain earlier presidents would have at least thought twice before going ahead. But not this man. His naivety is without bounds.
Where to now? Iraq seems like a giant vortex. Civil war has been unleashed and outsiders seem to hold no sway. Perhaps it is best to just stand back and let time determine an outcome.
Overall, Frank Rich's book has value only in so far as we are reminded of Bush's mendacity. But do we really need reminding? How could we forget?
Best Yet on Iraq and Bush.......2007-07-14
I've read one book after another in my effort to understand how America has gone so wrong so fast. This is the best, right up there with Fiasco and One Percent Doctrine. I look forward to Rich's next foray of book length and hope he will attack the most important and as yet unanswered question of this era --- in the face of a cheerleading national press corps, how did the American people nevertheless reject this war and its leaders even before Katrina,etc. had disclosed their utter incompetence, stupidity, and disdain for us all.....in the answer to this question lies the future of all that is decent in our nation.....
A Soldier is Surprised When He Wakes Up One Morning.......2007-06-20
Imagine if you were one of several soldiers wounded in the Iraqi war who woke up one morning to find that there was a letter to the editor in your newspaper that supported the war and had your signature on it, but you didn't write that letter, and knew nothing about it.. The letter was written by the PR team in your federal government. Or picture this: President Bush is standing at night in the now brilliantly lit Jackson square in New Orleans talking optimistically about the city. Well at least the square seems lit up nicely so we guess the electricity is back on. The speech ends, the flood lights go off, and the square is plunged into total darkness.
This is a book detailing how the government lied and created propaganda to further their cause in both the war, and in the aftermath of Katrina. It's a fascinating book because it follows a time line that shows clearly how the public comments made by public officials changed over time. In fact there is a 78 page time line appendix in the book that details these morphing statements date by date. The book tells about the fake reporters at press conferences, the fake news columnists, and the fake "news" articles that the government distributed to gullible media. As one government person stated, "we create our own reality." When Specialist Wilson asked Rumsfeld why he and his men didn't have adequate armor Rumsfeld said it was a matter of production and capability. That was a lie that was outed quickly when it was revealed that one supplier, ArmorWorks said it could quickly increase production by 100%. During the battle in Falluja we were told that there were 3000 Iraqi soldiers fighting the battle. Reporters on the scene said that the Iraqi soldiers showed up after the fighting was over, posed in their neat, clean uniforms and departed. Certainly you remember the frequent comments about the thousands of Iraqis that have been trained or are almost completely trained. Somehow they never seem to materialize.
You've probably heard a lot of this stuff, but Mr. Rich brings out the deceit of all the Washington shapeshifters in wonderful - or perhaps the word should be horrible - detail. You see the action flow, and learn about a lot of governmental skullduggery that will make you cringe. It's spellbinding reading.
Amazon.co.uk
The Art of Deception is about gaining someone's trust by lying to them and then abusing that trust for fun and profit. Hackers use the euphemism "social engineering" and hacker-guru Kevin Mitnick examines many example scenarios.
After Mitnick's first dozen examples anyone responsible for organizational security is going to lose the will to live. It's been said before, but people and security are antithetical. Organizations exist to provide a good or service and want helpful, friendly employees to promote the good or service. People are social animals who want to be liked. Controlling the human aspects of security means denying someone something. This circle can't be squared.
Considering Mitnick's reputation as a hacker guru, it's ironic that the last point of attack for hackers using social engineering are computers. Most of the scenarios in The Art of Deception work just as well against computer-free organizations and were probably known to the Phoenicians; technology simply makes it all easier. Phones are faster than letters, after all, and having large organizations means dealing with lots of strangers.
Much of Mitnick's security advice sounds practical until you think about implementation, when you realize that more effective security means reducing organizational efficiency--an impossible trade in competitive business. And anyway, who wants to work in an organization where the rule is "Trust no one"? Mitnick shows how easily security is breached by trust, but without trust people can't live and work together. In the real world, effective organizations have to acknowledge that total security is a chimera--and carry more insurance. --Steve Patient, amazon.co.uk
Book Description
The world's most infamous hacker offers an insider's view of the low-tech threats to high-tech security
Kevin Mitnick's exploits as a cyber-desperado and fugitive form one of the most exhaustive FBI manhunts in history and have spawned dozens of articles, books, films, and documentaries. Since his release from federal prison, in 1998, Mitnick has turned his life around and established himself as one of the most sought-after computer security experts worldwide. Now, in The Art of Deception, the world's most notorious hacker gives new meaning to the old adage, "It takes a thief to catch a thief."
Focusing on the human factors involved with information security, Mitnick explains why all the firewalls and encryption protocols in the world will never be enough to stop a savvy grifter intent on rifling a corporate database or an irate employee determined to crash a system. With the help of many fascinating true stories of successful attacks on business and government, he illustrates just how susceptible even the most locked-down information systems are to a slick con artist impersonating an IRS agent. Narrating from the points of view of both the attacker and the victims, he explains why each attack was so successful and how it could have been prevented in an engaging and highly readable style reminiscent of a true-crime novel. And, perhaps most importantly, Mitnick offers advice for preventing these types of social engineering hacks through security protocols, training programs, and manuals that address the human element of security.
Customer Reviews:
The Art of Humanity.......2007-09-13
Probably one of the very best books I've ever read in my life. This book follows through some of the life of hacker Kevin Mitnick. A lot of good laughs and some surprising and eye opening admissions that are full of lessons for anyone who uses a computer.
Without being condescending or preachy, Kevin shows people the ways around the easiest element of security to break, the user themselves. For anyone who's been involved with computers from the beginning of the first pre-PC's it's like a page of reminiscences from your own brain 20 years ago.
To newer users it's bordering on the insanity that is hacking lol.
This book is worthy of any home user or even IT professionals attention. Mitnick reveals many of the flaws in the human personality that allow people to abuse them, be it verbally, socially or even physically. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who's had a problem with a hacker or spyware. It will show you, your and everyone else's major character flaw that can be managed effectively to eliminate the naivety that is the Internet.
Essential Reading.......2007-07-06
This is a book everyone should read. It is not only fascinating, but is an essential lesson in self-protection against those who would prey on the trust and vulnerability of honest and kind people.
Hits the nail on the head, but management won't be able to comprehend the implications!.......2007-06-28
Although many of the examples detailed in this book are dated , the concepts are still as easy to leverage as ever.
Mr. Mitnick offers some possible solutions in this book, however he wasted his effort. As any security expert knows, getting upper management buy in to security is difficult at best. Management pays lip service to security, but they are typically more concerned about privacy issues than taking meaningful steps to address known security risks.
When my organization tasked my team to perform a social engineering assessment of their network, that's what they meant. Over and over, we tried to suggest processes that would be easy to manipulate for even the most amateur attacker, only to be immediately cut off and told no. If there is no technical attack to guard against, management can't begin to process the implications.
Good book to share with staff.......2007-01-31
This book served as a great reminder of why we need to be thoughtful about sharing information. I am buying extra copies to share with our staff. The offered advice was especially useful for large organizations with distributed sensitive information.
Fun read.......2007-01-28
If you are intreased in this, good book. Not a lot of detail, but good read.
Average customer rating:
- Boring!
- Full of Action and a great plot
- No one combines science and imagination like Brown
- Dan Brown Takes on NASA
- Below average
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Deception Point
Dan Brown
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1416524800 |
Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, December 2001: In the world of page-turning thrillers, Dan Brown holds a special place in the hearts of many of us. After his first book, Digital Fortress, almost passed me by, he wrote Angels and Demons, which was probably one of the half-dozen most exciting thrillers of last year. It is a pleasure to report that his new book lives up to his reputation as a writer whose research and talent make his stories exciting, believable, and just plain unputdownable.
The time is now and President Zachary Herney is facing a very tough reelection. His opponent, Senator Sedgwick Sexton, is a powerful man with powerful friends and a mission: to reduce NASA's spending and move space exploration into the private sector. He has numerous supporters, including many beyond the businesses who will profit from this because of the embarrassment of 1996, when the Clinton administration was informed by NASA that proof existed of life on other planets. That information turned out to be premature, if not incorrect. (This story is true; I repeat, Dan Brown's research is very, very good.) The embattled president is assured that a rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice will prove to have far-reaching implications on America's space program. The find, however, needs to be verified.
Enter Rachel Sexton, a gister for the National Reconnaissance Office. Gisters reduce complex reports into single-page briefs, and in this case the president needs that confirmation before he broadcasts to the nation, probably ensuring his reelection. It's tricky because Rachel is the daughter of his opponent. Rachel is thrilled to be on the team traveling to the Arctic circle. She is a realist about her father's politics and has little respect for his stand on NASA, but Senator Sexton cannot help but have a problem with her involvement.
Adventure, romance, murder, skullduggery, and nail-biting tension ensue. By the end of Deception Point, the reader will be much better informed about how our space program works and how our politicians react to new information. Bring on the next Dan Brown thriller! --Otto Penzler
Book Description
A shocking scientific discovery. A conspiracy of staggering brilliance. A thriller unlike any you've ever read....
When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory -- a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery -- a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the president, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all.
Download Description
A shocking scientific discovery. A conspiracy of staggering brilliance. A thriller unlike any you've ever read... When a NASA satellite discovers an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory - a victory with profound implications for NASA policy and the impending presidential election. To verify the authenticity of the find, the White House calls upon the skills of intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic scholar Michael Tolland, Rachel travels to the Arctic and uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery - a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before she can warn the President, Rachel and Michael are ambushed by a deadly team of assassins. Fleeing for their lives across a desolate and lethal landscape, their only hope for survival is to discover who is behind this masterful plot. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all.
Customer Reviews:
Boring!.......2007-09-17
This Dan Brown book was not very good. I just finished reading Angels and Demons (excellent) and was expecting another page-turner. This book was boring and I only finished it because I thought it would get better with the turn of a page. Alas, didn't happen!
Full of Action and a great plot.......2007-09-11
I have read "The DaVinci Code" and that was my first book by Dan Brown. Next, I read "Angels and Demons" then "Deception Point". In my opinion, Deception Point was the best of these great books. The story is full of action which is set during a presidential election, and then the author throws in some unsavory political characters that make the plot of this book very suspenseful. This is certainly an easy read and the writing style makes it an excellent bedside book. Check it out and have a good read.
No one combines science and imagination like Brown.......2007-09-11
Dan Brown knows how to keep readers on the edges of their seats. Deception Point is a fast-paced, super-smart suspenseful thriller that combines real-world technology with Dan Brown's imaginative flair.
Intelligence agent Rachel Sexton, the daughter of an aspiring presidential candidate, is enlisted to take part in a project that will shine much glory on NASA, as the agency will finally be able to prove that alien life exists.
Rachel pairs with pretty-boy television star oceanographer Michael Tolland to discover whether NASA's really on to the discovery of the millenium, or if it's all a huge fraud.
Brown chose the starkest of settings for this book and his villains are vicious, which makes the heroic efforts of Rachel and Michael that much more pleasing.
Deception Point is another thoroughly entertaining excellent example of Brown's skill as a storyteller.
Dan Brown Takes on NASA.......2007-09-06
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has weathered many controversies over the years, most recently when one of its astronauts (Lisa Nowack) went on a mad lover's chase from the Johnson Space Center in Texas to Orlando in order to stop another astronaut's love interest. Although Dan Brown's "Deception Point" uses the NASA setting as the focal point for his thriller, the chase here is of a different sort; in this case, the story focuses instead on the discovery of an ancient fossil found on a meteorite and its impact on a presidential election.
Like many readers, I discovered Dan Brown through the "Da Vinci Code," a book I just could not put down. I'm not sure I would have read "Deception Point" if I hadn't loved the "Da Vinci Code," but I would have missed out. For those readers who have yet to read "Da Vinci Code" (are there any left?) or have simply avoided the book because of all the publicity surrounding it, Dan Brown has much more to offer. This earlier work is probably more representative of his true style, which typically combines a heart-racing plot with high tech gadgetry in a story that somehow involves the government, usually the intelligence community, but in this case, NASA as well.
"Deception Point" combines activities in the White House, intelligence agencies, and NASA all under the guise of a Tom Clancy-like thriller about the possible discovery of a new fossil found on a meteorite sunk beneath the Arctic ice. The controversy surrounding the meteorite centers on its authenticity: Is it real or not? The finding may also determine the results of the upcoming presidential election. Much like Brown's other work, this book combines just enough fact that seems like fiction (mostly about NASA and intelligence agency tools so advanced that most readers will be surprised and fascinated with their capabilities) with a fictional series of events to create a story you just can't put down. The tangled weave of character's lives and events in Washington are also very enjoyable.
With Brown's superb storytelling skills, this is perfect summertime reading. With the inclusion of so much scientific and intelligence detail, you're bound to learn something while reading Brown's book, but will instead feel merely like you've indulged in a guilty pleasure.
Below average.......2007-08-19
I have read three Dan Brown books: Da Vinci code, Angels and Demons and this..although the other two books where average at best, this is just pathetic..the plot is incredibly thin and you can spot the twists from chapters away..something which is rather annoying since you're screaming at the characters who are really for some reason quite dim and require 100 pages to figure out simple facts.. also this book reads like a second or even third rate Hollywood action movie..full of false american notions regarding God, patriotism and many overemphasized dramatic moments..it seems once you make a name for yourself any piece of trash you publish is a classic..recycle this..
Book Description
Astonishing creations by masters of the art, such as Escher, Dali, and Archimbolo; amazing visual trickery; and an illuminating foreword by the Pulitzer Prize--winning author Douglas R. Hofstadter make this 320-page, breathtaking collection the definitive book of optical illusions.
Rings of seahorses that seem to rotate on the page. Butterflies that transform right before your eyes into two warriors with their horses. A mosaic portrait of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau made from seashells. These dazzling and often playful artistic creations manipulate perspective so cleverly that they simply outwit our brains: we can’t just take a quick glance and turn away. They compel us to look once, twice, and over and over again, as we try to figure out exactly how the delightful trickery manages to fool our perceptions so completely. Of course, first and foremost, every piece is beautiful on the surface, but each one offers us so much more. Some, including Sandro del Prete’s charming “Window Gazing,” construct illusionary worlds where normal conceptions of up, down, forward, and back simply have no meaning anymore. Others, such as Jos De Mey’s sly “Ceci n’est pas un Magritte,” create visual puns on earlier work. From Escher’s famous and elaborate “Waterfall” to Shigeo Fukuda’s “Mary Poppins,” where a heap of bottles, glasses, shakers, and openers somehow turn into the image of a Belle Epoque woman when the spotlight hits them, these works of genius will provide endless enjoyment and food for thought.
Customer Reviews:
Something everyone would find interesting.......2007-08-06
I teach high school freshmen, and I keep this book on my shelf for students to look through on their own time. It is easily one of the most popular books, and after only three years the wear is beginning to prove this. I don't know how many times I have dropped it off at a student's table because they were bored, and dared them to not find something interesting in the book. Without fail, a students will be engrossed in the book within minutes.
One of the best features about this book compared to other books of its kind is that it contains dozens of examples of dozens of various types of art. Beyond the typical optical illusions, it features trompe d'loeil murals, artwork created with hair or chocolate syrup, artwork that can only be viewed with a reflective cylinder, and much more. As I mentioned before, nearly everyone will find something fascinating in this book.
SPECTACULAR VISUAL DELIGHT.......2007-06-08
For anyone with eyes, I recommend this book. I purchased for my girlfriend and she loved it. Dali and Echer are particular noteworthy in this collection of illusioins. It will renew your sense of wonder about how your brain works.
my new coffee table book.......2007-01-30
Wow - I chose this based on the chorus of 5 star reviews, submitted by others who seem much more knowledgeable in this field than I, and I am NOT disappointed! This is a great looking book - big, hardcover, suitable for your coffee table. As stated in other reviews, the book has a nice sampling of well known artists, plus an array of fun illusions, and EXPLANATIONS, which is something I had not seen in other books of illusions. This is just a very nice book, meeting the hype, and worthy of your coffee table or anybody else's for that matter .. definitely gift-worthy.
Fascinating imagery.......2007-01-19
Overall this is a fascinating book, interesting to read and fun to look through the pictures. My only complaint is with a few of the images which are too small to appreciate. 2 x 4 inches is not sufficient to enjoy Escher's detailed graphics, and I found myself using a magnifying glass at times. Thankfully this is the exception, and many images are almost full-page size. Even if you know nothing about art, this is an enjoyable book, because you will find yourself amazed by the clever images.
Wonderful family book.......2007-01-16
I purchased this book for my teenage son for Christmas. It was a big hit with everyone in the family, and with our friends who stopped by that day. And even after the holidays, I saw my son (an avid video gamer who refuses to read books) pick it up several times, and even share it with a friend.
The information about the different artists is fascinating, and the artwork is fun, inspiring and amazing.
Book Description
Addictive thought is inherently self-deceptive, yet offers a superficial logic that can be misleading to the addict as well as to the addict's family members. Abnormal thinking in addiction was originally recognized by members of Alcoholics Anonymous, who coined the term "Stinking Thinking" Addictive thinking often appears rational superficially, hence addicts as well as their family members are easily seduced by the attendant--and erroneous--reasoning process it can foster. In "Addictive Thinking", author Abraham Twerski reveals how self-deceptive thought can undermine and threaten the sobriety of a recovering individual. This timely revision of the original classic includes updated information and research on depression and affective disorders, the relationship between addictive thinking and relapse, and the origins of addictive thought. Ultimately, "Addictive Thinking" offers hope to those seeking a healthy and rewarding life in recovery.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful, and right on time..........2007-03-28
I read this book, making notations every night before bed for about a week. Since, and during this read, I'm in the process of being able to recognize my own addict-voice, (key in recovery!) who's purpose is to binge. I am extremely grateful for having picked this up, I struggle with addiction, and this has given me another tool to stay on track, there's TONS of good information within this slim and easy to read book!
Thank you to Abraham J. Twerski!!!
Addicts Think?.......2007-02-21
Perfect for anyone with an addiction problem. Dr. Twerski provides a number of excellent case studies showing the illogical thinking processes of people with addictive disorders. A very popular myth is that addicts are somehow basically smarter than most people. This book shows why only addicts think that.
Most helpful book I've read.......2007-01-28
I read alot of books on addiction after a personal nightmare dealing with an addict- and this one of all of them was the most helpful in explaining an addict's thinking process. Many of us dealing with an addicted loved one feel lost and confused by their behavior. This book was so illuminating I've passed it on and on. Read this if nothing else.
12 step theology wraped in pseudoscience .......2006-07-02
There is no such entity as an addictive personalty . Often the author belittiles , mocks and discounts what a substance Abuser says . Few are truely in denail as they are seeking help , what denial really means is that the person disagrees with the 12 step counslers version of thier life and problems .
What the non medical term Dry drunk means is a person is not using or moderateing with out the help of a 12 step program
The reality is most people quit or moderate on thier own with out the religiious gibberish of a 12 step program that many have begun to veiw as a dangerous cult
Please seek other advice based on emprically reviewed science not ancetdotal nonsense dreged on out dated relgious dogma . 12 step treatment is nothing more than faith healing and the last time "denial " was used as evidnece of something was during the witch craft trails in te 16,00s . It is now 2006 we can do alot better than this.
Awesome Book on Addiction.......2005-07-01
This book describes explicitly how an addicts mind works! It is an excellent book for those trying to understand someone with addictive issues.
Book Description
Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart? Why the parade of public figures unable to own up when they screw up? Why the endless marital quarrels over who is right? Why can we see hypocrisy in others but not in ourselves? Are we all liars? Or do we really believe the stories we tell?
Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. When we make mistakes, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong.
Backed by years of research and delivered in lively, energetic prose, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-deception—how it works, the harm it can cause, and how we can overcome it.
Customer Reviews:
Insights that sting.......2007-10-06
I'm in two book clubs...and to my delight, both of them (operating independently) have chosen MISTAKES WERE MADE as the next book.
It's terrific -- charmingly written and full of perceptive insights. But it is also sobering. It would surely be a hoot to watch as Tavris and Aronson depict the power of self-justification to enable people to make complete fools of themselves....that is, it would be fun if the bell didn't toll very loudly for you and me as well. Happily, the authors give some sound advice about how to escape from the traps that cognitive dissonance sets for us, such as "confirmation bias" -- listening to what you agree with and finding ways to dismiss the rest.
Go read it.
Has some good points but..........2007-10-02
Makes some valid points, but the primary purpose of this book in my opinion is to bash conservatives and their views. Examples of poor liberal decisions are few. I would assume liberals make mistakes too... If you are looking for something that gives good analysis without the severe leftward slant look elsewhere.
Why people rationalize and justify obviously bad actions.......2007-09-23
After hearing a NPR interview with Carol Travis, I sought out this book and was delighted with it. With ample basis in scholarly research, it was solid and had practical applications in my own life.
I have often been fascinated with why seemingly good people commit poor actions, and then go to great lengths to rationalize and justify their actions, at the expense of and to the detriment of others. Politicians and bureaucrats are those from whom I expect this.
But when it enters your own life, your interest in understanding the basis for it becomes necessary and vital in your own well-being.
The concept of cognitive dissonance and how it drives people to distort their perception of reality, so that the difference between their ideals and their behavior goes away, enters our daily lives. Of course, the problem with this is it reinforces the behavior that caused the dissonance in the first place, and it starts you down a road of deceipt and lies built upon more lies. Having lived the nightmare of being subjected to a "cognitive dissonant" of the nth degree, Travis assisted me in opening my eyes.
The political discussions by Travis will, no doubt, displease conservative readers, and was brave on her part to tackle. This book is strong and I highly recommend it.
The authors make a dry subject come alive!.......2007-09-14
Renowned social psychologists Carol Travis and Elliot
Aronson have written a truly fascinating book, MISTAKES
WERE MADE (BUT NOT BY ME). . . its subtitle made me want
to read it even more: WHY WE JUSTIFY FOOLISH BELIEFS,
BAD DECISIONS AND HURTFUL ACTS because I have long observed
this tendency--even in my own life.
The authors make what could be a dry subject come alive
by the use of many examples . . . in addition, I liked how
they incorporated much research--cited in nearly 40 pages
of endnotes--but made it come alive via a lively writing style.
When they explained how our memories tell more about
what we believe now than what really happened then, I had
to laugh . . . and recall the story of how I once took Risa,
my daughter, to my first home . . . from there, I proceeded
to take her to my elementary school, which I could have
sworn was nearly a mile away . . . in reality, it turned out
to be less than two short blocks away!
MISTAKES WERE MADE further shows how couples can
break out of the "he said,she said" spiral of blame and
defensiveness, and perhaps most importantly, how all of
us can learn to own up and let go of the need to be right.
There were many memorable passages in the book; among
those that most caught my attention were the following:
* The same DNA that exonerates an innocent person can be used
to identify the guilty one, but this rarely happens. Of all the convictions
the Innocence Project has succeeded in overturning so far, there
is not a single instance in which the police later tried to find the
actual perpetrator of the crime. The police and prosecutors just
close the books on the case completely, as if to obliterate its
silent accusation of the mistake they made.
* De Klerk, who had been elected president in 1989, knew that a
violent revolution was all but inevitable. The fight against
apartheid was escalating; sanctions imposed by other countries
were having a significant impact on the nation's economy;
supporters of the banned African National Congress were
becoming increasingly violent, killing and torturing people whom
they believed were collaborating with the white regime. De Klerk
could have tightened the noose by instituting even more repressive
policies in the desperate hope of preserving white power. Instead,
he revoked the ban on the ANC and freed Mandela from the prison
in which he had spent twenty-seven years. For this part, Mandela
could have found entirely legitimate. Instead, he relinquished
anger for the sake of the goal to which he had devoted his life.
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with
your enemy," said Mandela. "Then he becomes your partner." In
1993, both men shared the Nobel Peace Prize, and the following
year Mandela was elected president of South Africa.
* Making mistakes is central to the education of budding scientists
and artists of all kinds, who must have the freedom to experiment,
try this idea, flop, try another idea, take a risk, be willing to get the
wrong answer. One classic example, once taught to American
schoolchildren and still on many inspirational Web sites in various
versions, is Thomas Edison's reply to his assistant (or to a reporter),
who was lamenting Edison's ten thousand experimental failures in
his effort to create the first incandescent light bulb. "I have not failed,"
he told the assistant (or reporter). "I successfully discovered 10,000
elements that don't work." Most American children, however, denied
the freedom to noodle around, experiment, and be wrong in ten ways,
let alone ten thousand. The focus on constant testing, which grew
out of reasonable desire to measure and standardize children's
accomplishments, has intensified their fear of failure. It is
certainly important for children to learn to succeed; but it is just
as important for them to learn not to fear failure. When children or
adults fear failure, they fear risk. They can't afford to be wrong.
That said, you won't go wrong by reading MISTAKES WERE
MADE . . . I was so impressed by it that I now plan to get
copies of the book for many of my colleagues at my college,
in that they will be able to relate to much of it . . . so will you.
Understanding and motivation.......2007-09-09
This is an extremely readable, perceptive and important book. It explains clearly and undoubtedly accurately how many people think and act.
I bought book after reading a friend's copy, just so I could reread it and make notes all over it.
Books:
- Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
- Magic in the Wind (Drake Sisters, Book 1)
- Master of the Night (Mageverse sereies , Book 2)
- Mastering the Trade (McGraw-Hill Trader's Edge)
- Midnight in Death (In Death)
- Mulch Ado About Nothing (Jane Jeffry Mystery Series #12)
- Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1)
- Old Man's Cave (Bone, Book 6)
- Other Voices, Other Rooms
- Outlaws of the Marsh (Chinese Classics 4-Volume Boxed Set) [BOX SET]
Books Index
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