Book Description
In her latest book, best-selling author of The Not So Big House Sarah Susanka teams up with architectural design writer Marc Vassallo to expand upon the message that has resonated with over a million homeowners and builders across the country: opting for personalized, well-crafted, thoughtfully designed spaces over superfluous square footage results in a home that comforts and nourishes those who live there.
In Inside The Not So Big House, Susanka and Vassallo focus their lens on the tangible and sometimes intangible details that bring an otherwise ordinary home to life. Incorporating such details as dropped ceilings, built-in shelves, pocket doors, window seats, and well-placed alcoves infuses a home with the character of its owners and conveys a uniqueness that's mising in many homes built or remodeled today. From Rhode Island to San Diego, the 23 homes featured here illustrate exceptional attention to detail. Each offers inspiration for those building or remodeling to transform their home into an expression of all that is important to them. "Detail is everything in design. Sarah Susanka proves it again with this, her latest book."
--John Wheatman, author, Meditations on Design and A Good House Is Never Done
Customer Reviews:
For those who want to dig a little deeper.......2007-09-02
Susanka's attention to detail is awe-inspiring, and probably more information than the average person wants, but the book has great photos and some wonderful ideas that anyone can use. If you've been able to acquire the perfect furniture, best use of space and light, but you're still missing the ingredient to really pull it all together -- balance, aesthetics, personality, etc -- this book may help you.
Full of inspiring ideas!.......2007-03-08
I have been devouring the pages of ideas in this book. I think I have looked all through it a dozen times, because many of the concepts and ideas seem to improve and become more usable as I think them over. We live in a ca. 1970's "split-ranch" house and this book has me thinking creatively about using the space in our house in ways I haven't done before.
Great Ideas.......2006-11-03
Read the book cover to cover and enjoyed a fresh look at residential design. As an architect myself, it made me rethink some of my own design processes. Bigger isn't always necessarily better!
Less is most definitely more.......2006-03-22
In this astonishing book, which is filled with wonderful ideas, as well as being a beautiful coffee table book, we are granted an inside look at a truly new concept in home design in our age of teardowns and mega-mansions, a concept that smaller can be more satisfying than larger, if properly done. Here we are presented with something seldom viewed these days, how to make a house a home. There is something for every taste herein, and it is even multi-cultural, with oriental viewpoints as well on both furniture and flow of the home. Spend some time with this excellent book to see how every size home can be made more personal and beautiful, no matter what the budget.
Great as always!.......2006-03-20
Sarah books are a staple in my books of design collection. I refer to them frequently. She has a wonderful sense of design as it relates to organization, usefullness,and asthetically pleasing. I wish more designers and architects would use her sensibility and we would not be over run with all the hideous, vapid,mac mansions everywhere. I would reccommend all of her books without hesitation.
Average customer rating:
- Delicious and easy to make recipes
- The Dr. is in
- Good cooking
- A titan of pork
- Big Time Barbecue Cookbook Review
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Dr. BBQ's Big-Time Barbecue Cookbook: A Real Barbecue Champion Brings the Tasty Recipes and Juicy Stories of the Barbecue Circuit to Your Backyard
Ray Lampe
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312339798
Release Date: 2005-04-14 |
Book Description
A champion from the barbecue circuit shares his secrets for perfect barbecue in a book that will win a blue ribbon from backyard chefs Authentic slow-cooked barbecue is the great star-spangled specialty and home barbecuing is the new craze taking America's backyard cookouts by storm. In Dr. BBQ's Big-Time Barbecue Cookbook, Ray Lampe, a former Chicago truck driver turned barbecue chef champion, and teacher, serves over 200 of the best recipes he's developed for barbecued and grilled classics including smoky rubs and marinades, championship ribs, smoked chicken and turkey, pulled pork, brisket, barbecued lamb, home-smoked salmon, and much more, including all you need to know to slow smoke an entire pig for a feast that family and friends will never forget. There's also a long list of specialty recipes like jalapeno bris-ket, and green chile enchiladas with smoked chicken, and answers to questions any backyard chef might have: -What is the difference between grilling and barbecuing? -What's the best barbecue smoker to buy and how do I use it ? -What are the best cuts of meat and fish to cook on a smoker? -What are the secrets to becoming a barbecue champion?
Customer Reviews:
Delicious and easy to make recipes.......2007-08-27
This is an excellent cook book on American barbequeing and the recipes I have made have been easy to make and delicious.I have been a bit dubious about some of the recipes after I have read the ingredients list but every time the recipes have turned out better than expected but exactly how the author Ray Lampe described.For instance I made the creamy coleslaw and it didn't sound like it would be that good but it was easy to make and the best coleslaw I have tasted.By contrast I have made a coleslaw from 'The Best Recipe cook book American Classics'and this has had a long description and went into great detail about every stage of making the coleslaw but the end result has been very disappointing.The book also contains little anecdotes about each recipe and the world of competition barbequeing and this all adds to the book.Overall this is an excellent book and I will be buying the rest of Ray Lampe's cook books.
The Dr. is in.......2007-06-27
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. BBQ at the Arkansas Literary Festival a couple of years ago. I bought his book then, and recently purchased another for my son.
Unlike most cookbooks, this one isn't just recipes and clinical information about the ingredients and preparation methods. Dr. BBQ includes stories about the people behind the recipes, as well as his own philosophy about weighty questions such as: Gas, charcoal, wood or pellets? Charcoal? Well then, chunk or briquette?
And to the people who insist that using gas isn't the way to prepare REAL bbq or charcoal isn't and so on, the Dr. suggests that unless they are going out naked and killing an animal with a stick before cooking it then THEY aren't really preparing bbq the traditional way either.
Good fun, good food, good guy. The recipes are easy to follow and produce great Q, but I must admit, I use this book for inspiration much more than for the recipes.
Good cooking.......2007-04-10
Ray knows his stuff and can clearly express it. This ought to be your first reference when you're setting the menu.
A titan of pork.......2007-02-10
I've cooked with and written about the man, and I love this book. Count me as a fan. An excellent source of BBQ tips and a great read.
Big Time Barbecue Cookbook Review.......2007-01-21
Recommend this to anyone wanting to improve the quality of their barbeque. Outstanding compliment to any cookbook collection.
Book Description
The international bestseller--more than 500,000 copies sold!
With their 1994 international bestseller, Dealing with People You Can't Stand, Drs. Rick Brinkman and Rick Kirschner armed a civility-starved world with no-nonsense strategies for dealing with difficult people with tact and skill. Since then, cell phones, the Internet, voice mail, and other technological wonders designed to bring people closer together have only made it that much harder to avoid "people you can't stand;" even worse, they've also created exciting new ways for annoying people to realize their talent for being pains in the butt.
Updated and revised for the digital age, this new edition of Brinkman and Kirschner's bestselling guide shows readers how to successfully combat the whiners, grenades, tanks, snipers, close-talkers, pedants, and other rude, crude, and inconsiderate people who can ruin your day at work, in stores, on the street, in restaurants, at the movies, in waiting rooms, by fax, phone, and E-mail, and in cyberspace.
Customer Reviews:
Very short & general.......2007-10-02
This is like a small handbook/manual to refer to after you've read a more in depth book on the subject. I wouldn't even call it a book, it's not very long at all.
It's not a bad read but if you have never read anything about "difficult people" before you'll find a LOT lacking. I think maybe it'll be good to refer to if you need reminders of the things you've learned.
A more comprehensive book on the subject which i have read and like a lot is called Coping with difficult people by Robert M. Bramson.
Should be called Dealing with Difficult Behaviours.......2007-09-12
I really enjoyed this book. The crux of it is that you are dealing with bad or difficult behaviour, not necessarily bad people. If you understand what drives the behaviour you can be more successful in dealing with it. It is also a good guide on what NOT to do. AND the book is not a weighty tome that drones on and on to prove a simple point ... it is nice and to the point. I was a IT consultant for 10 years working with many different global coporate companiess, and now run my own business employing 15 people. I can recognise each and every behaviour type. I have tries lots of these strategies for dealing with these behaviours (successful and unsuccessful) and a lot of this advice rings so very true.
the difficlties of self-knowledge.......2007-05-15
I found this book is quite helpful in identifying differing communication styles and in giving suggestions for how to deal with them. One of the major, salutary, insights is that each of us probably has a communication styles that irritate somebody, somewhere. Ouch! But recognizing that aspect of "the problem with OTHER people" gives us a better chance to improve matters. I liked the humor, too.
Don't be put off by the extreme sounding title.......2007-04-13
This is one of the best books about effective communication I have come across.
As a manager of a large teaching staff, and working for local government, I have found this book to be one of the best resources I own.
The book clearly breaks down difficult personality characteristics, identifies the motivation behind the behaviours, and gives clear strategies to deal with the situation. From the bulldozing boss, to the meek mouse, this book helps to bring out the best from the people you work with.
It's also effective with difficult friends and family. It is also very readable.
Dealing With People You Can't Stand........2007-03-15
Excellent Book. It gives practical tips in how to deal with difficult people. I am requiring my staff to read the book.
Book Description
Learning these tips from women is the best thing to happen for anyone, female or male, who loves women. Stevens and Wunder have put together a book that not only contains great information about pleasing a woman, but also addresses the subject with sensitivity and depth. This book really shows that making love doesn't only take place physically, it takes place emotionally as well. Great book for anyone who really wants to love their woman!
Customer Reviews:
Note the word "tips" in the title..........2007-07-13
The title says "tips" and I believe tips to be suggestions. This book is all about trying to enhance pleasure for women no matter who is providing it to them. If I need my car worked on I take it to a mechanic. If I want to know how to please a WOMAN I'll certainly ask WOMEN. Remember that women view pleasure differently than men do on most occasions. If you're a man or a woman and you need some "tips" you can't go wrong with this book.
Not the guide I was hoping for........2006-11-19
Being a married man a looking to keep our relationship exciting, I was hoping for some insight into the complex ways of the female body. But instead of a guide to potential pleasure I received a pocket book guide of life-facts. Don't get me wrong, the information was very informative and I did learn, it is just not what I had expected to be reading. This is definitely a guide for women, not men.
Excellent Book for All Who Love Women.......2006-10-14
Lesbian Sex Tips is exactly the kind of in-depth, no-holds barred, entertaining sex manual that everyone who loves women should have by their bedside. And that includes ALL women-loving-women, bi, genderqueer, transgendered, intersexed - you name it, this book is inclusive for all. Heck, even the men that pick it up can always use more education - and this manual doesn't discriminate. To which, I say hell yeah! Too many sex guides don't take into account the wide spectrum of human sexuality. Not true for this book. Hands-on, and that should be taken quite literally, this is one of the best sex guides out there for those who desire to put the heat back in the bedroom, or for those just getting started in the wondrous world of loving women.
gentle, caring and informative.......2006-08-23
This book is full of valuable information for anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. A helpful guide for individuals who are interested in learning more about themselves and others.
LOTS of info for one book, and that's a good thing.......2006-07-31
I thought before I read this book that I would know most of what was in it already...but I had no idea of the scope of what was inside. I'm impressed. The authors went from a to z, not leaving any stone unturned. The chapters on anatomy, safe sex and making love are well written. And I personally am glad they included the chapters on communication, abuse, counselling, etc. The rights & discrimination section, especially Heterosexual Privileges, I found intriguing. It is obviously based on life in the USA, and as the authors are Americans, that would make sense. Things are a little different here in Canada, but there are still some similarities. Including the list of resources at the end of the book was a great idea...I'm sure many people will find this helpful. I'm positive that many people will find the WHOLE book helpful.
Book Description
Blowing Up Russia contains the allegations of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko against his former spymasters in Moscow which led to his being murdered in London in November 2006. In the book he and historian Yuri Felshtinsky detail how since 1999 the Russian secret service has been hatching a plot to return to the terror that was the hallmark of the KGB. Vividly written and based on Litvinenko's 20 years of insider knowledge of Russian spy campaigns, Blowing Up Russia describes how the successor of the KGB fabricated terrorist attacks and launched a war. Writing about Litvinenko, the surviving co-author recounts how the banning of the book in Russia led to three earlier deaths.
Customer Reviews:
Hear the Axes Grind Between the Lines.......2007-09-16
Interesting that a man who denounces the Russian FSB as a nest of intriguers and liars asks us - as a career KGB/FSB officer - to accept his words in this book at face value. After all, if FSB officers are such masters of deceit, why should anyone believe him now?
I don't doubt that much of the book may well be true, especially the blowing up of Russian apartment blocks in 1999 to kick off the second Chechen War. It's not just Russian intelligence agencies capable of such black operations, as the "P2 conspiracy" in Italy back in the 70s attests. The problem lies with the clandestine nature of Litvinenko's sources, which come across like mere shop gossip. Reader/listener beware.
There are inconsistencies galore. Yeltsin is painted a great democrat, even though he sent tanks to blow holes in the Russian Parliament building. The adoration of General Pinochet is attributed to Putin, though anyone who knew Russia in the 90s well remembers the love for Pinochet's Chile evinced by Yeltsin's staff. It was also Yeltsin who created the authoritarian Russian presidency after his destruction of Parliament in October, 1993 - not Putin.
The fact is, that Yeltsin created the FSB, as he did the oligarchs. Putin did not get where he is by being part of the anti-Yeltsin opposition. After Yeltsin it seems there was a power struggle for Russia between the FSB and the oligarchs, and the former won. But they could not have done so without Yeltsin's patronage. Yeltsin needed immunity from prosecution by the Russian Duma when he stepped down; a strong FSB guaranteeed this protection. Perhaps also he was afraid of the oligarchs whom he created in 1996, and wanted a counterforce to keep them in check.
At any rate, this book comes off like some internet conspiracy theory. While the core of its argument of FSB black operations may well be true, keep in mind that it was commissioned by Boris Berezovsky - no angel himself, and possibly responsible for assassinations in his own right.
Hard to Read.......2007-04-15
It's easy to see why Litvinenko was poisoned with Polonium when you read this book. It's laden with so many evil plots it leaves the reader with doubts about the authenticity of some of the material. Although most of it is believable, there is the problem of a lack of sufficient references. This, unfortunately, is due to the need to keep many of them secret in order to protect their lives.
The book is not well organized, and constantly jumps from one time period to another. There is an acronym page that I had to constantly refer to while I was reading. Felshtinsky admits the book is a hard read, and he is right. There are hundreds of Russian names which are hard to keep up with.
It could have been better. The subject matter is fascinating when you can figure it out..
Tragic Tale.......2007-03-15
This book is not about the murder of Alexander Litvinenko. But it is the book that got him murdered. If you imagine Russia as a nation on the mend from its communist sickness, think again. The former KGB and FSB operative (Litvienko) and his academic friend (Felshtinsky) published their book in Russia and it enraged Don Vito Putin. Putin, you'll recall, was the man about whom George W. Bush said: "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy . . . I was able to get a sense of his soul." As Litvenko lay dying he wrote the following to Putin:
"You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed.
"You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilized value."
So much for President Bush's soul sense.
A fabulous book that is all too often read out of context.......2006-12-11
This is a book that should absolutely be read, but only with proper contextual background. Though there are true findings in this book, an overwhelming majority of the facts are completely unsupported (a fact which Litvinenko acknowledged--the book contains not a single footnote of reference). One should also be aware of the context in which it was written: Russian billionaire buisnessman Boris Berezovsky paid Alexander Litvinenko to write this book in order to discredit the Kremlin after the FSB ordered Litvinenko to kill Berezovsky (a mission which Litvinenko ultimately decided not to carry out). It's worth reading without a doubt, but factual assertions and accusations should be taken with a grain (or cup) of salt.
Author Murdered.......2006-11-25
To bad Litvinenko died for the truths he told. But so goes the dark underworld of espionage.
Book Description
Zen meditation master and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Thich Nhat Hanh offers his practical teachings about how to bring love and mindful awareness into our daily experience. These rare moments were recorded during a family meditation retreat. Kind - purposeful - illuminating - here is an abundant treasure of traditional gathas (teachings) that unify meditation practice with the challenges we face in today's world. Enhanced features include traditional Vietnamese music performed by the monks and nuns of Plum Village, a meditation practice from Thich Nhat Hanh's Mindful Movements video, and an interview with the author.
Customer Reviews:
Great item - beware download.......2007-03-21
As a Thich Nhat Hanh fan, (tough to say!), this item is a nice addition to my collection of print and audio. For those of you who are tempted to download the audio, be aware that it comes from an Amazon partner, [...] I discovered too late (my bad) that their proprietary DRM software doesn't support my particular mp3 device, a Sansa e250. So I'm going to wind up buying it twice.
Audio tour of this idea: present moment, wonderful moment. .......2007-01-11
I have been listening to this tape for years, not as a guided meditation, but more as a reminder of strong, important, simple ideas that are easy to forget.
Thich Nhat Hanh has published many books and tapes. This audio CD stands out because in its several hours it covers all the major bases of Zen thinking and practice. When you have listened to it you will have all you need to begin a meditation practice, to understand some basics of Zen or EuroAmerican Buddhism, or advance your existing meditation practice.
The CD includes comments on the importance of being fully present in the moment. ("Present moment, wonderful moment") It goes on to teach a basic but very useful guided meditation, with explanations of each step, so that it is easy to learn and understand. For example, one part has you saying to yourself silently on your in-breath, "breathing in I am aware of a tree," and on the out-breath, "breathing out, I smile to the tree." The words alone don't sound like much, but after hearing the comments, it becomes powerful. The author explains that the tree can be a symbol for all the resouces that are outside my body, that are readily available for me. If there is a tree, he says, there have to be sun, rain, and earth, for example, or else there would be no tree. This thought can be calming as we encounter daily anxieties and sometimes feel that we are not getting enough of what we need: we can look on a tree and remember that the earth has all we need that is important. Enough food, enough air, etc. Breathing in I am aware of a tree, breathing out I smile to the tree.
He also uses this idea to advance the ideas of interbeing and impermanence, but I'll let you find out about those when hearing the CD!
Please don't hesitate to e-mail me with any questions.
Old Wisdom in a New Format.......2007-01-09
Very practical advise & also very creative. I've listened & read quite a few self help books but this is very unique - I loved it! Not heavy handed or preachy - Thich Nhat Hanh's compassion comes through along with his giggle.
mindful.......2006-10-29
Thich Nhat Hanh has taught me and my family to be totally present and mindful in everything we do. This title and many others from Thich Nhat Hanh, have changed our family into a unit of knit together by love and mindfulness.
Wisdom with Humor.......2006-08-03
I received this as a gift and have listened to it 3 times, and each time I find more gems of wisdom and compassion. Hanh is a very gentls soul who gives many tips and insights for the ups and downs of life's journey. Highly recommended.
Book Description
"This book is full of provocative and positive questions that will develop and enhance your team's performance, yielding faster and better results."
--Julie Meiresonne
Director, Customer Relations
Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Division, Broomfield, CO "Take time to savor every page of this book. Let yourself be drawn in by the questions. They will transform how you and others work on a day-to-day basis. This book is a meaningful contribution to the field. Grab it." --Jane Galloway Seiling Senior Editor, The Taos Institute Consultant and Author, The Membership Organization
Customer Reviews:
Appreciative Team Building : Positive Questions to Bring Out the Best of Your Team (Paperback).......2005-09-13
The book was fabulous! I found it really helpful - it is conceptually right on and it is a great and useful tool - Bottom line it fires up both sides of my brain!
Susan Copple
HR Director
Hewlett Packard Company
Book Description
"One thing is for certain: Variable annuities have become a part of the investment landscape and show no signs of going away."--The Wall Street Journal. The investing public's love of variable annuities has soared so high that The Wall Street Journal started a weekly column on annuities, "Annuity Watch." The reason for the popularity is simple. Variable annuities give investors the opportunity to receive money every year of their life, no matter how long they live. Guaranteed Income for Life explains the benefits of variable annuities. this informative book: Shows specific ways that variable annuities can help investors achieve lifelong financial security; Proves how variable annuities are in many ways superior to more commonly understood mutual funds; Explains the different types of annuities, with tips on how investors can pick the best product for their unique situations.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent guide to investing and how the annuity fits in........1998-11-30
With all the controversies of variable annuities today, Michael does an excellent job of showing the appropriateness of the annuity. The book was written at the basic level for the investor, capturing an informative overview of the many different investment options such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds and how the annuity fits into the investor's overall investment strategy. I would highly recommend this book to all investors!
Excellent book..........1998-11-25
I've read many different points of view about the value of VAs -- this book explains them clearly. Lane's book shows how tax deferral wroks. He takes you step-by-step so you can see how all the parts relate and why. Read chapters 5 "Suitable Uses of VAs" and ch 18 "Analyzing the Payout" and you will know more than most advisors. Great book congrads.
A great guide for financial planners and end consumers........1998-11-25
Having been in this business for 5 years it's nice to find a refreshing look at the real uses of variable annuities and when they make the most sense. Michael is very enlightening in his approach to when a variable annuity makes sense and for whom. He also is very concise in his description of all the factors which contribute to determining the above. In an industry which is muddled with both the pros and cons of variable annuities this book is a straight shot to doing what is in the best interest of the client.
Great book for Annuity Buyers.......1998-11-25
I am a novice investor and had no idea what an annuity was. Lane's book gave me the basics of what stocks and bonds were all the way through how to buy and annuity and use it to create a income to last my lifetime. I highly recommend this book.
A must for those considering purchasing an annuity........1998-10-28
An excellent primer on annuities. Any investor should read this book before considering purchasing an annuity. As a financial advisor I found his explanations simple yet definitive. Written in manner that any investor will be able to benefit from Michael's sound advice. While I believe that in general annuities are the most oversold product in financial circles (not becuse they are great product but because sellers earn huge commissions), Michael clearly demonstrates that annuities are appropriate in certain situations and tells you how to avoid the annuities that were designed to be sold not bought. He shows you what to type of product to look for when annuities are appropriate. Highly recommended.
Amazon.com
Change. It's fast, furious, relentless--and we're all in the midst of it. Indeed, it's the topic of choice for most business books on the market today. The problem, however, is that so many of these books merely warn managers how to plan for and anticipate change, rather than giving useful guidance on how to react to it successfully.
That's where the authors of The Minding Organization have made a difference. Rubinstein and Firstenberg believe that the real issue for businesses dealing with change lies in developing a truly adaptable organization. Being able to adapt, they argue, is the key not only to coping with a continuously changing environment but to addressing the problems that arise within that environment with innovative, successful solutions. An adaptable organization is a living, breathing organism, a "minding organization" that coordinates its goals and efforts as a single being. Each part of the organization knows what the other parts are doing, and is committed to creating a cohesive unit that maintains a unified focus for the future, shares information, articulates and learns from the individual errors of its members, continually seeks to strengthen its powers of perception, and is able to express itself creatively in a variety of ways. By developing this unity, an organization can bring the future closer to the present; it will be able to respond to events in real time, thereby transforming change from a threat to continued existence to a catalyst for improved performance. This type of organization won't shy away from the chaos of change but will embrace its opportunities, ready and well equipped to respond quickly and effectively.
The Minding Organization is a meaty book, packed with inspiring examples, solid analyses, and practical suggestions. Rubinstein, a professor at the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Firstenberg, an adjunct professor in UCLA's Psychology Department, make a good team (they also wrote Patterns of Problem Solving). They apply theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the realities of the business world in a timely and useful manner. Forget being the CEO; this book will teach you how to be an OEC, an operator on the edge of chaos, capable of inspiring and leading a flexible, evolving, and thriving organization. --S. Ketchum
Book Description
A few years ago, Cementos Mexicanos (Cemex), the world's third-largest cement company, was struggling. More than two-thirds of their deliveries were late, customer complaints were numerous, and new orders were dwindling sharply. Then Cemex executives realized they needed to get a glimpse of the future. They saw themselves responding to customer needs as each need emerged. They visualized successful deliveries with orders placed only an hour in advance. Their entire organization became involved in the process of adapting to unplanned occurrences. By embracing the uncertainty and chaos of their business and a company-wide commitment to excellence, Cemex was completely transformed in a matter of months.
This is a remarkable example of minding: identifying a purpose, developing a team, and acting to accomplish that purpose. Achieving this kind of high-level connection is what The Minding Organization is all about. This book will show you how to transform your organization into one that behaves like a living organism-alive with ideas and instantly able to adapt for survival in an increasingly complex, unpredictable global business world.
A minding organization coordinates its efforts as a single being; the right hand literally knows what the left hand is doing. The minding process will help you save precious work time, avoid costly mistakes, build incentives for speed, and find creative solutions when unpredictable problems arise.
Creating a minding organization will teach you how to:
* Operate on the edge of chaos, embracing uncertainty as a strategy
* Bring insights up front that would normally be learned much later
* Distribute decision-making in such a way that everyone has the responsibility to be right and the authority to be wrong
* Create an environment in which the human spirit can soar
The Minding Organization will show you how less planning and more adapting makes for a competitive advantage, as you learn to cope with new, ever-changing conditions and innovate faster than your competitors.
Praise for The Minding Organization
Professor Rubinstein is one of the foremost experts on creativity within organizations. The Minding Organization is a well-written guide . . . [that] is must reading for anyone responsible for minding the organization.-Norman R. Augustine, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Lockheed Martin
The authors make intuitive good sense and give strategic thinkers the tools they need to turn perceived liabilities-chaos, disorder, unpredictable change-into assets. I've made it must reading for everyone in my organization. The only people I haven't recommended it to are my competitors.-Timothy W. Hannemann, Executive Vice President and General Manager, TRW
This book gives an accessible view of the organization as a living, connected organism. Drs. Rubinstein and Firstenberg have shared an insightful and elegant concept of what successful twenty-first-century organizations MUST be like if they want to survive and grow. We are putting the ideas in this book to use now!-Michael E. Allgeier, Division Vice President, Sensors and Electronics Segment, Raytheon
Rubinstein is as ebullient in print as he is in person. The Minding Organization transcends time and theory, enabling the practice of innovation as an everyday occurrence.-Stephan Argent, Creative Director, iCandy Inc.
In this book you'll find out how to open up a world of opportunity by 'bringing the future to the present'-visualizing the ideal end state and working backwards. You'll see how many obstacles can be eliminated, making the unachievable achievable.-Tom Williams, Vice President, Long Range Strike Business Area, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Customer Reviews:
The Care and Feeding of Intellect.......2000-05-03
According to the authors, "To keep up with the complexity and uncertainty of an unconventional and largely unpredictable global business world, organizations must embrace a new metaphor that will transform an organization into a minding organization. The minding organization behaves like a living organism, in which adapting is central to vitality and control." Agreeing with Drucker that organizations must manage the implications and consequences of a future that has already occurred, the authors suggest a number of strategies which will "bring the future to the present and turn creative ideas into business solutions." Their book is organized as follows:
Chapter One: The Minding Organization
Chapter Two: Transforming the Organization into an Organism
Chapter Three: Adapting and Planning
Chapter Four: Structure, Creativity, and Error: The Foundations of the Minding Organization
Chapter Five: Chaos to Order to Chaos: Embracing Uncertainty
Chapter Six: Expanding the Imagination: Frames as Filters
Chapter Seven: Kniht [Think] Backward: Visit the Future in the Present
Chapter Eight: The New Leadership: Operating on the Edge of Chaos
Chapter Nine: The Minding Organization in Action
The authors provide a rigorous analysis of each component of a process by which to "bring the future to the present and turn creative ideas into business solutions." At the conclusion of Chapter Six, they suggest that the minding organization "creates chaos deliberately up front by starting with divergent concurrent perceptions and encourages errors to surface early when the costs of detection and correction are minimal." Immediately in the next chapter, they explain that the "frames" we create "filter the world for us, allowing us to manage the tremendous amount of information available." They then examine various "filters" which could prevent us from formulating the aforementioned "divergent concurrent perceptions." The sequence of the authors' ideas thus flows logically from one chapter to the next.
In the final chapter, the authors identify thirteen "precepts" of the minding organization. By now they have explained the interrelationships between (indeed the interdependence of) these precepts; they have also provided a cohesive, comprehensive, and cost-effective plan by which to apply those precepts to the needs of any organization, regardless of its size or nature.
Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to read two books written by Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline and The Dance of Change. Rubinstein, Firstenberg, and Senge no doubt agree with Derek Bok's observation, when criticized by parents of Harvard students after a tuition increase: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." In the minding organization, education is alive and well...and given its relative cost, a bargain.
First "Learning" Organisation, Now "Minding" Organisation.......1999-11-30
This book taps into the trend of seeing organisations in organic terms and focusing on action-based creativity. It is about creating a "minding organization," one that behaves like a human being-instantly able to adapt to new and ever-changing conditions; where the right hand literally knows what the left hand is doing.
In a minding organization, all of the parties involved in a project-whether it's developing a new product, streamlining a process, or changing a strategy-get together from the start to explore the issues. They bring insights up front that would normally be learned only later on, a kind of high-level connection that is the hallmark of the minding organization and the surest way to gain competitive advantage. The goal of a minding organization is to adapt so readily that it innovates before its competitors do.
This book shows managers how to transform their organisation into one that behaves like a living organism-alive with ideas and instantly able to adapt for survival in an increasingly complex, unpredictable global business world.
Moshe F. Rubinstein is a professor at the UCLA School of Engineering and a frequent speaker at universities and organizations all over the world. Iris R. Firstenberg is an adjunct professor in the UCLA Department of Psychology and has also taught at the UCLA School of Engineering and the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA.
Reviewed by Azlan Adnan, Managing Partner of Azlan & Koh Knowledge and Professional Management Group.
Book Description
"Eightyeight percent of children raised in evangelical homes leave church at the age of eighteen never to return."Nothing is more important than where your kids will spend eternity. As a parent you don't want to suffer the heartache of your children rebelling against their Christian upbringing. In this practical book noted authorevangelist Ray Comfort counters the unscriptural belief that a child can be saved merely by "asking Jesus into his heart" and shows parents and children's workers how to guide their children to experience genuine salvation and avoid the pitfall of rebellion. Filled with creative ideas for family devotions tips for safeguarding kids from harmful influences and great suggestions for helping kids learn Gods holy standard the Ten Commandments.
Customer Reviews:
What a Great Read for Christian Parents!.......2007-07-06
I enjoyed this book, because it showed me how to make sure that my precious children are truly saved. There are a lot of good examples on how to teach each of the 10 commandments in it, as well. This book will help you raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I highly recommend it.
Great book!.......2007-03-09
This is a great book for parents who wish to bring up their kids biblically! The problem with children is because of Syndrome Infantile Negativity (S.I.N.) and not because of ADHD. The book is clear and concise, and offers a lot of real examples that Ray has applied in his own family. If you want to train your children in a godly way, buy this book!
FABULOUS! Eye-Opening and Very Convicting!!!.......2006-04-19
Are you concerned about your children's salvation? This is the book for you! Having children myself, I went searching for a book that would address whether their salvation was, in fact, true. Of course, while God only knows their hearts, I still felt that I would not be fulfilling my parental duty if I didn't do my homework.
I found this book very easy-to-understand, profound and convicting! There is a chapter at the end of the book that addresses the outside influences we allow into our childrens' lives. This was painful to read as I realized how subtle the enemy is, and how easy it is to be conformed to the standards of the world.
I believe this will change your whole way of witnessing to your own children. I've already begun using this book as a guideline on talking to my children about their salvation.
awesome book.......2006-03-12
I read this book and handed it out like candy to my friends. He explains that it's not a guarantee to keep your children, but adds that we need to balance the love of Christ and the Fear of God so that they know they will still be accountable to someone even when no body is looking-because God is. He stresses and gives practical examples on the 10 commandments to teach our children about them and how to remember them. Another book to read to children is The Way of the Master for Children. Good beginning for preschool and the rest of the book to give children a firm foundation why they believe in God. Both awesome books!
Great read!.......2005-10-10
If you are interested in learning how to give your child all of the gospel story, this is the book for you. Not to mention, you will learn from it yourself. I would recommend it to anyone who has children.
Books:
- Insurrection: Holding History
- Into The Labyrinth (The Death Gate Cycle, Vol 6)
- Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale
- It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Break-Up Buddy
- JBoss at Work: A Practical Guide
- Jemima J: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans
- King of Foxes (Conclave of Shadows, Book 2)
- Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11)
- Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle Against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour de France
- Lineman and Cableman's Handbook (Lineman's & Cableman's Handbook)
Books Index
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