Product Description
This book teaches you best practices of task and e-mail management, using Microsoft Outlook. If you feel your e-mail is out of control, or you have way too much work on your plate, this book is for you. With it you will learn: - How to regain up to 25% of your workweek by increasing the efficiency with which you accomplish tasks. - Eight proven best practices of task and e-mail management that will propel your career ahead. - Techniques that allow greater work-life balance. - Secrets of using Microsoft Outlook effectively for Time, Task, and E-mail Management. - Methods for getting all important work done each day, so you can leave work on time, guilt free. - How to get your e-mail under control so that you do not drop actions and so you can respond to e-mail in appropriate time frames. - How you can consistently empty your Inbox. - Outlook task management based techniques to eliminate the "everything is a fire" approach to work.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Book! One week in and already far less stress!.......2007-10-04
I've practiced David Allen's system for about a year now, but still couldn't get the "techy" end of it working smoothly. After only a week on Michael's system, my stress level is low, I'm leaving the office at the end of the day with my Daily Task list empty, and my inbox flutters around 5-6 items (previously getting my inbox under 100 was an accomplishment). Michael walks you step-by-step through the implementation of the system. My only words of advice: If you're going to do it, commit 100% -- do not ease up or the inherent trust you have in the system will collapse.
Total Workday Control.......2007-10-03
This book is a great way to learn how to manage your Outlook e-mail in an easy to follow, step-by-step methodology. I had taken David Allen's seminar, Getting Things Done, and this book really helped to close the loop on implimentation. Well worth the time and money spent.
Outstanding Book!.......2007-10-02
I am a professor at a major research university in the US. I have struggled with dealing with multiple tasks and emails for years...until I have embraced the fantastic system described in this great book. If you use Outlook as your major portal for email and tasks, you MUST read this book. The approach here is logical and work for you. It is that good.
David Drake
This really works.......2007-09-30
I have been using Michael Linenberger's system for about 3 months now and my productivity has increased tenfold. With this system, I have a way to track important tasks and I feel that I am on top of my job.
Finally! A 'Real World' Implementation of Outlook that really works!.......2007-09-22
I TOTALLY agree with all of the 5 star reviews...after struggling with David Allen's Getting Things Done (GTD) system for 6-9 months I finally found what really works.
In this book you'll get an actual implementation that works--meaning a regularly empty inbox (and I deal with hundreds of emails a week), a fantastic way to organize and systematically get dozens of tasks (including those you delegate to others with a perfect way to close open loops) w/ a corresponding sense of accomplishment and feeling of being on top of it that is incredible.
I have done it all: Day Timer, Covey's system, used Palm Pilots/Treo's, etc and nothing has ever even come close to Michael Linenberger's system.
I have already implemented this with two of my direct reports and they are ecstatic with the fact that they too have a empty inbox, no more sticky notes, etc.
My only request is for the author to get out a version of this book that is 100% targeted/customized for Outlook 2007 ASAP.
Book Description
Much of our business thinking is shaped by delusions -- errors of logic and flawed judgments that distort our understanding of the real reasons for a company's performance. In a brilliant and unconventional book, Phil Rosenzweig unmasks the delusions that are commonly found in the corporate world. These delusions affect the business press and academic research, as well as many bestselling books that promise to reveal the secrets of success or the path to greatness. Such books claim to be based on rigorous thinking, but operate mainly at the level of storytelling. They provide comfort and inspiration, but deceive managers about the true nature of business success.
The most pervasive delusion is the Halo Effect. When a company's sales and profits are up, people often conclude that it has a brilliant strategy, a visionary leader, capable employees, and a superb corporate culture. When performance falters, they conclude that the strategy was wrong, the leader became arrogant, the people were complacent, and the culture was stagnant. In fact, little may have changed -- company performance creates a Halo that shapes the way we perceive strategy, leadership, people, culture, and more.
Drawing on examples from leading companies including Cisco Systems, IBM, Nokia, and ABB, Rosenzweig shows how the Halo Effect is widespread, undermining the usefulness of business bestsellers from In Search of Excellence to Built to Last and Good to Great.
Rosenzweig identifies nine popular business delusions. Among them:
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The Delusion of Absolute Performance: Company performance is relative to competition, not absolute, which is why following a formula can never guarantee results. Success comes from doing things better than rivals, which means that managers have to take risks.
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The Delusion of Rigorous Research: Many bestselling authors praise themselves for the vast amount of data they have gathered, but forget that if the data aren't valid, it doesn't matter how much was gathered or how sophisticated the research methods appear to be. They trick the reader by substituting sizzle for substance.
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The Delusion of Single Explanations: Many studies show that a particular factor, such as corporate culture or social responsibility or customer focus, leads to improved performance. But since many of these factors are highly correlated, the effect of each one is usually less than suggested.
In what promises to be a landmark book, The Halo Effect replaces mistaken thinking with a sharper understanding of what drives business success and failure. The Halo Effect is a guide for the thinking manager, a way to detect errors in business research and to reach a clearer understanding of what drives business success and failure.
Skeptical, brilliant, iconoclastic, and mercifully free of business jargon, Rosenzweig's book is nevertheless dead serious, making his arguments about important issues in an unsparing and direct way that will appeal to a broad business audience. For managers who want to separate fact from fiction in the world of business, The Halo Effect is essential reading -- witty, often funny, and sharply argued, it's an antidote to so much of the conventional thinking that clutters business bookshelves.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reminder.......2007-09-25
This book was an excellent reminder to me of why the business guru type books have never set well with me. Practicle advice and how to think for yourself and take what you read with a grain of salt.
Remarkable.......2007-09-21
Achieves the remarkable feat of commenting in a deep way on business research methodology while avoiding equations and graphs, and while being compellingly readable. In addition to the many interesting methodological critiques in the book, the author points out the (non-obvious) fact there is no formula for business success, because business is competitive. Of course we know that business is competitive, but business authors (and authors of the "you too can be successful" genre generally) intentionally forget that not everyone can be successful because of the competitive nature of economic life. The book is so readable that I was sorry when it was over--an emotion I have in the past experienced only with good novels and histories. Congratulations to the author for a fine, stimulating work.
No Easy Answers Here.......2007-09-06
If you want guided solutions to performance excellence, or are looking for the keys to business success, do not "Search Inside" - or, for that matter, look in any other popular business book or management works, according to Dr. Rosenzweig! In this well argued challenge to popular business press answers on performance excellence, the author promises to help managers think for themselves, rather than accept the numerous and often conflicting claims made by both academics and management gurus alike. Following the theme of the book's title, Professor Rosenzweig argues that the halo effect and/or eight other fatal flaws that find their way into the research reduce most business books to `stories books' that provide coherent explanations of complex events and appeal to our need for fairytale like outcomes.
Interestingly, the author is not necessarily arguing that the offerings are wrong; in fact he believes many of them are good basic principles. Rather, he argues they often are not substantiated by sound research, and when offered as the solution, they lead not to useful insights, but they divert our attention, cause us to lose focus on the details of running our businesses better than the competition, or they let us confuse actions and outcomes. In short, if they do not help us think, they are dangerous. There are no five (or eight or whatever number) keys to sustaining excellent performance. Even the two critical success factors offered by the author - strategic choice, and execution - are fraught with risk and uncertainty. To quote from the book, "The answer to the question, What really work? is simple: Nothing really works, at least not all the time." This book is highly recommended for managers in all business or social sectors. Dennis DeWilde, author of The Performance Connection
Long overdue - and well worth the wait!.......2007-08-27
Do not worry about what the Nine Delusions are that the author uses to develop his thesis - they largely overlap and interlock and as you read the book will be seen as a powerful continuum. Why you should read this book is because bottom dollar like me you will have read one of the prior highly successful tomes that is one of the key targets for his thesis.
Whether it is "In search of excellence", "Built to Last" or "Good to great", by the end of this book you will I reckon have a more questioning attitude to such works (if not 100% cycnical) because this book challenges many preconceptions and makes you think and look afresh at how one will ever achieve success in business management.
The theme is not just "cutting tall poppies" down to size, but more basically that nothing is as simple or easy as many have claimed in writing such books. His chapter on why "strategy" and "execution" are actually so hard to do well, is alone worth the price of the book for me.
The core argument of the "delusions" being based on too much retropsective story telling is bought full circle by the three examples at the end of companies and business leaders who have in the authors opinion sought to face reality and do not underestimate the uncertainty that faces everyone.
A highly recommended book since it makes its points thoroughly and cogently and as such comes over as thoughtful and provoking of fresh views - as such it is a welcome change from too many of the best selling tirade type books that have come to represent both business but also political and history bestsellers recently. Definitely a book that is long overdue and one hopes will be successful plus lead to more realism in such future writing.
What REALLY Works..umm..well, sort of..! .......2007-08-25
Is there a secret sauce for corporate success?
The Halo Effect is a cognitive bias whereby the perception of a particular trait (for example, of an individual) is influenced by a general impression (of that individual). This effect was first postulated by Edward L. Thorndike, an American psychologist who conducted research into how World War I soldiers were appraised by their superiors. He found high cross-correlation between all positive and all negative traits - in plainspeak, that means that soldiers who were found to be good on one or two traits were rated as good on all other traits as well, while those who were seen to be bad on one or two traits were rated poorly on all other traits as well.
Lest we think that this is an affliction confined to senior World War I army officers, it isn't. Pretty much all human beings suffer from this bias - apparently it is a mechanism used by the human brain to manage the complexity of the world. This, for example, is why celebrity endorsement of products works, even when it is fairly apparent that the celebrity has no credentials - or credibility - to endorse those products.
Most of us also seem to intuitively realize the existence of this effect - for example, this is why people go to extraordinary lengths to put on their best behavior in the presence of somebody in authority.
Now, a book called The Halo Effect ... and the Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive Managers, published in February 2007 by Free Press, sets out show how this effect may color our perceptions of company performance. At first glance, this is the book the business world was waiting for, and didn't know it. It's a good, down-to-earth look at the various studies, scholarly and otherwise, that have claimed over the years to uncover the secret sauce that drives great companies. This is a book full of solid horse sense - the most refreshing book in years in a genre notorious for pompous claims and buzzphrases.
It dedicates itself to debunking simplistic "theories" that purport to answer the core question of what really determines corporate performance. The core argument of the Halo Effect is that when a company performs well, we shower high ratings on every one of it's management traits such as leadership, culture, strategy, execution, et al. When the company performs poorly, we promptly buckle over to the other extreme, demonizing the very same leadership, culture, etc.*!
Along the way, it unveils eight other "delusions" that frequently afflict attempts to answer this question. In buttressing its arguments, the book quotes from authorities as varied as George Bernard Shaw and the legendary Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman. Personally, perhaps the best takeaway from this book was the exhortation that one should not select a sample for study based on the dependent variable - for example, if you want to study if a new technque for teaching mathematics to children works, you should study how kids who were taught using that technique fared, but you should also look at children who weren't taught that technique! **
The book comes with cast-iron credentials - the author is Prof. Phil Rozenzweig, who is a PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and has taught at Harvard Business School and IMD, Switzerland. His candor is incredibly refreshing, and the fact that most of the "authorities" on this subject that he takes on are people of his own - business school professors - shows admirable boldness.
One criticism that may be leveled at the book is that is sometimes too quick to assume that the data used by various studies were "contaminated" by halos; it seems to me that this is too facile, and perhaps unfair, a conclusion. We should probably credit the authors of those studies, the references they consulted, and the subjects they interviewed with a greater degree of discretion and diligence than that. Another thing I found myself wishing the author would refrain from is the extent to which he bases evidence for the delusions on news reports in the business press, such as BusinessWeek, Fortune and The Wall Street Journal. These are written by reporters under stifling deadlines, often under pressure to sensationalize the mundane - a fact that does not escape most discerning readers. There can be a smattering of these, but the author would probably have done better to focus his considerable energies on well-funded studies done over a long period of time, with purport of scholarly rigor, and papers and books*** based on such studies. The readers of such reports, papers and books are typically asked to suspend common sense and prior experience, and submit to scholarly authority derived from apparent academic rigor, and it is these for which the greatest disapprobation should be reserved.
So, what does work, according to the author? Well, he concludes, somewhat disappointingly, that it's the right strategic choice, and good execution!
But this is not to take away from the otherwise excellent content of the book. It's job is not to give us formulas. It's purport is to caution us that business performance is far more complex, and far less amenable to simplistic analysis than we tend to think, and it achieves that goal with admirable panache!
________________________________________________________________
* I have referred to this "binary" thinking as the Extreme Tendency elsewhere, albeit in a somewhat different context - that of foreseeing the prospects of emerging technologies!
** Later in the book Rozenzweig shows that even observing this precept doesn't help much in uncovering what drives corporate success, but it's a very important principle to keep in mind nonetheless.
*** That, without openly claiming anything of the kind, actually intend to expand the fame of their authors as management Gurus, not to say anything of their pockets!
Average customer rating:
- Stephanie Plum series
- Got as gift - my brother loved it
- Finally the Ranger we've been waiting for!
- Hard Eight - on audio
- Like a Tastykake, but Without the Fat and Calories
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Hard Eight (Stephanie Plum Series #8)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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High Five (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
ASIN: 0312983867
Release Date: 2003-06-03 |
Amazon.com
In Hard Eight, Stephanie Plum picks up a case a little nastier than anything the wisecracking bounty hunter's seen before. Evelyn Soder and her young daughter have gone on the run, leaving an angry ex-husband who's planning to collect on a child custody bond that will leave Evelyn's grandmother homeless. Stephanie's first clue that there's more to it than that comes in the form of Eddie Abruzzi, a shady local businessman who warns her to butt out of the case. Stephanie doesn't scare easily, but when Abruzzi's henchmen leave a bag of snakes on her doorknob and tarantulas in her car, she has no choice but to call Ranger, the hunky man of mystery whom she already owes too many favors. Steph knows that Ranger will soon be calling in his marker, but with her ex- fiancé Joe Morelli out of the picture, that should be OK--shouldn't it? In the meantime, she's got other fugitives to catch, aided by the usual band of misfits, plus a bumbling correspondence-school lawyer who's developed the hots for Stephanie's sister, Valerie. And Steph's in for a surprise from her mother, who proves she's not above wielding a dangerous weapon to save her daughter's life.
Author Janet Evanovich has made a bold move in using a soupçon of child jeopardy to pull this series out of the comfortable but formulaic pattern it was threatening to fall into. It's still funny, and yes, some cars are destroyed, but now there's a real edge of darkness under the humor. Fans needn't fear, though: Jersey girl Stephanie is still full of sass and Tastykakes. --Barrie Trinkle
Book Description
Hard UpFugitive Apprehension Agent Stephanie Plum has a big problem on her hands: Seven-year-old Annie Soder and her mother, Evelyn, have disappeared. Evelyn's estranged husband, Steven, a shady owner of a seedy bar, is not at all happy. Finding a kidnapped child is not an assignment for a bounty hunter. But Evelyn's grandmother lives next door to Stephanie's parents, so Stephanie follows the trail left by Annie and Evelyn-and finds a lot more than she bargained for.Hard RiskSteven Soder is somehow linked with a very scary Eddie Abruzzi. Trenton cop and on-again, off-again fianceacute; Joe Morelli and Stephanie's mentor and tormentor, Ranger, warn Stephanie about Abruzzi, but it's Abruzzi's eyes and mannerisms that frighten Stephanie most. Stephanie needs Ranger's savvy and expertise, and she's willing to accept his help to find Annie even though it might mean getting too involved with Ranger. Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who's not going to miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/Laundromat manager set out to find Annie. The search turns out to be a race among Stephanie's posse, the True Blue Bonds' agent-a Rangerette known as Jeanne Ellen Burrows-and the Abruzzi crew. Plus, there's a killer rabbit on the loose!Hard EightStrap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of your life! Hard Eight. The world of Stephanie Plum has never been wilder.
Customer Reviews:
Stephanie Plum series.......2007-09-02
I love the Stephanie Plum series of novels. I really hate reading so I purchase them both in audio for me and paperback for houseguests and friends. I'm drawn in with the excitment and adventure of the story that Janet seems to capture in every novel. It has twists, turns, Lula, mystery, wonder, and of course two very "HOT" men! Who wouldn't want a mix of both men. :} I would recommend the "Plum" series, her "Full" series, as well as her earlier novels of mixed titles. They're all great fun and keep you as a reader at the edge of your seat waiting to see if a cars going to get blown up, who's died this week, who attends the pot roast dinner, who she sleeps with next, what will burn down next, and will she get her man (love or bounty). I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I look forward to #14 in the "Plum" series, the next "Full" novel, and the new novel Janet recently wrote with a new author being released this October. Thank you!
Got as gift - my brother loved it.......2007-06-08
He's been hooked on the series - wonder how high the numbers will go?
Finally the Ranger we've been waiting for!.......2007-05-01
In Hard Eight, Stephanie has the usual problems - people trying to do her in, Lula wanting to shoot everyone in sight and a new woman - Jeanne Ellen who has some secret background with Ranger. But Ranger, oh Ranger - who finally gets Stephanie in bed and totally ruins her for any other man or so she thinks. She's still in love with Joe - handsome cop, good guy, protector, but Ranger.....hot, dark, sensitive, listens to classical music for heaven's sake is hot for Stephanie but has told her he's not the marrying kind. I say use Ranger for all he's worth and go back to Joe when you're ready to settle down. We could all use a Ranger in our lives!
Hard Eight - on audio.......2007-04-12
I have listened to the majority of the Stephanie Plum series on audio, narrated by talented voice actress C.J. Critt. Ms. Critt does a fantastic job with the voice characterizations, but even she could not make this a truly good story. I found this book a little "darker" and less humorous than the previous seven in the series. Stephanie began to get on my nerves in places. I enjoyed getting to know Ranger better and he has an even bigger share of this book than Joe Morelli. This is not a bad book and I will keep reading the series; however, this story is not as clever as some of the other Evanovich books.
Like a Tastykake, but Without the Fat and Calories.......2007-04-07
Janet E's Stephanie Plum series is one of my guilty reading pleasures. I brought Hard Eight with me on a six hour flight and it entertained me the entire way (wish I could same the same of the airline...). This particular offering doesn't really break any new ground - Stephanie is still the bad luck bounty hunter with an attraction for blown up cars and dangerous men. The regular cast of characters is out in full force - Lula, Grandma Mazur, Joe Morelli, Ranger, and Cousin Vinnie - as Stephanie tries to find a missing woman and child on the run from a mobster and capture a few bond hearing deadbeats (always amusing). The dialog is sarcastic and snappy, but in a few scenes it felt a bit overdone and contrived - no matter though, it's still an entertaining and fun read. I always wondered why they haven't turned any of these stories into a film or TV series - it could really be a great combination of comedy and action/adventure.
Customer Reviews:
great resource.......2007-09-19
Appreciate getting this product so fast and contiue to use it as a resource in my classroom for teaching reading.
Fabulous resource!.......2003-09-25
This book is an outstanding resource for all teachers of reading. It addresses a wide range of aspects of reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension, to name just a few. For each area, the book includes several key sections: WHAT is ...?; WHY is ... important?; and HOW do you teach ...?
The layout is simple to follow, and it is packed with excellent activities. It is truly amazing how much information is included in this one book. Most importantly, the content of the book is soundly based in current research that is presented in a very accessible way. The activities are well-designed and realistic, and all the necessary information is included to be able to implement the activity in your classroom. Every teacher should have a copy of this book!
CORE Teaching Reading Resourcebook.......2000-10-02
CORE Teaching Reading Resourcebook is a superior book to use as a reference in the classroom. It supports all areas of reading in grades K-8. Also it has wonderful advice about ELL students. Not only does this book have information about teaching reading, but it has hands on teaching methods that are proven practices. Some of the larger areas of the book are word structure, sound/print connection, decoding, spelling, vocabulary development, comprehension, reading and responding, and differentiated instruction. CORE Teaching Reading Resourcebook greatly compliments Words Their Way, another must have book. One downfall about this book is the page numbering system, but as you work from the book it becomes less difficult.
My first book was given to me from the California Reading and Literature Project and I'm buying another copy for my son, who is also a teacher. I would recommend this book to any teacher interested in improving their knowledge of teaching reading. I often review my teaching strategies with this book before finalizing my lesson plans.
Product Description
Critics of the church growth movement have often emphasized the need for quality congregations. We should not focus on numerical growth, but rather, we should concentrate on qualitative growth.
Christian Schwarz has done extensive research world-wide and found that healthy, growing churches seem to share eight quality characteristics. These characteristics are:
Empowering leadership
Gift-oriented ministry
Passionate spirituality
Functional structures
Inspiring worship service
Holistic small groups
Need-oriented evangelism
Loving relationships
Schwarz uses the illustration of a barrel with eight staves to symbolize the eight quality characteristics. The barrel can only hold water to the height of the lowest stave. So too, Schwarz argues, a church can only grow as far as their 'Minimum factor,' which is the lowest of the eight quality characteristics in their church. He challenges churches to resist the temptation to work on improving areas in which they already excel, for by doing this they do not increase their minimum factor or their church quality.
This revised version of Natural Church Development now includes Schwarz's "3 Colors" teaching.
Customer Reviews:
Squeezing Spiritual Growth into a Business Box.......2006-04-15
This guide to church growth has gained popularity during the recent trend of mega-church models and numerical prowess in evaluating the current health and future viability of individual churches. Many of the theories and models are based on business studies and business growth theories.
While the guide may be helpful in identifying strengths and weaknesses in your local congregation, its theories for projecting future growth or your church's demise are analyzed using European and Urban models, and have limited insight into the unique dynamics of the Christian church in the varied regions of North America as a whole.
Most limiting in this perspective is the distinctly spiritual aspect of church growth which results in a gigantic disparity in trying to compare churches and businesses. This is a manual for analyzing and strategizing, for plotting and planning to stock more "seats in the pews," and makes no significant mention of the actual spiritual journey or genuine troubles and struggles of the very real person searching for belief. The philosophies of this book graphically illustrates why some other Christian writers such as Eugene Peterson, contend that too many pastors view the members of their churches as assets to be managed rather than human souls with questions, concerns, needs and priorities of their own. Issues that cannot be forgotten in the numbers game of current church growth modalities.
Does not really describe the eight quality characteristics.......2006-03-09
I DID appreciate the book and was so hyped up about it that I presented the concepts to my church and they got excited about it too.
However, this book does NOT actually go into details about the eight quality characteristics that the title claims to be a "guide" for.
The book is more about methodology rather than the factors involved. The book merely gives the benefits of the research, why a church should participate, and how a church applies the findings.
There may be other booklets out there that describe the eight qualities in more detail.
I do have one critique of the whole process. My problem is that the whole process leaves out some important underlying factors, such as faith, dependence on God, and evangelism. Issues that paralyze a church and impede change are overlooked.
Problems such as codependency or spiritual abuse that put a church on a downward death spiral are not considered from this paradigm. The spiritual/emotional health of a church leader is also overlooked, which is a very critical influence on the health of a church.
As a result, it becomes another externals-based "legalistic" approach to church health. It is ironic that Christians talk a lot about spiritual growth as a result of faith, but when it comes to church growth, we allow ourselves to be purely legalistic.
NCD and its "works" ARE helpful and important, but they come more as a gift from God when we are truly dependent on God in faith. We need to look under the hood, so to speak, and get at the real, deeper issues that keep churches from growing.
I am actually working on a study that would supplement NCD by focusing more on the underlying spiritual & emotional factors involved. (unchainedchurch.com)
Here are some valuable books that I recommend in addition to NCD:
Mains, David, D.Div. Healing the Dysfunctional Church Family: When Destructive Family Patterns Infiltrate the Body of Christ.
Quick, Kenneth, D.Min. Healing the Heart of Your Church: How Leaders Can Break the Pattern of Historic Corporate Dysfunction. ChurchSmart Resources.
Rainer, Thom S. (2001) Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them.
Richardson, Ronald, Ph.D. Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life.
Scazzero, Peter. The Emotionally Healthy Church.
Steinke, Peter L. Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach.
Steinke, Peter L. How Your Church Family Works: Understanding Congregations as Emotional Systems.
There is Not Just One Secret!.......2005-10-19
Having read a number of books on Church Leadership and "How to Have An Effective Church" a lot of times I feel people put forth a "Model" approach rather than a "Principle" approach. "If you just do this more, than your church will grow" as if there is just one secret to growth.
Christian Schwartz does a great job in sharing principles for a "Heathly Church" whatever model of church you may decide to have. Christian gives us eight character qualities that every church should be concerned about, as well as a way to test your own church to see if it is healthy. With the help of Christopher Schalk, a statistician, the study is based upon one of the most comprehensive research projects done in church history. The research basically shows us that a "Healthy Church is a Growing Church." I found this book extremely helpful as a pastor of a church myself. I highly recommend it for people who want to effectively further the kingdom of God. I appreciate his emphasis on the fact that we are called to "plant and water", but it is God who "causes the growth". This book has had a profound effect in how I approach ministry as a practitioner.
Not only that, but since this book has been out, over 40,000 different churches around the world have participated in NCD studies and many have put into practice the principles they learned. Now they can say from a statistical sample, on average, those who started utilizing these princples found a measurable increase in quality, a growth of 51% in attendance, more conversions, all while those in leadership were able to lead a more balanced life. This sample was from churches who started focusing on the quality of the church instead of the quantity and after a period of 31 months. If you are a pastor, it is a book worth reading.
Pastors should not just read this book, but study it........2005-09-05
This book will help you more than most pastoral aids. I've used it since 1997 and have coached others to use it since 1999. This book will transform your perspectives. There are many nuggets in each section of the book worth going over several times.
I have used the principles in this book and the related materials to coach many pastors and their leadership teams on simple strategies to help their churches grow. When the teams have listened to and followed the advice given, I have seen an increase in church health and a corresponding increase of conversion growth. For example, one church I worked with in 2002 had a growth rate of 8% before using this book, and the related tools. Afterwards their growth rate jumped to almost 20%. This higher growth rate was a direct result of the increased church health.
One of the factors that this book has contribute to the field of Church growth is a shift towards health vs growth. It also helped to demonstrate the fact that Loving Relationships are a separate, measureable category of church health. This invaluable contribution to church growth and health has become accepted in many grad schools around the world since it was first published in the middle 1990's.
Schwarz has a little section on biotic principles towards the end of the book. This shows the key to releasing growth principles in a church. Further research since the book was published has essentially strengthened the argument laid out. With overwhelming research data to support his argument, no one can afford to ignore this landmark volume in our day.
I would also recommend NCD Implementation Guide which is filled with practical tips as well.
The Jury is Still Out on This One.......2004-03-12
Published over 5 years ago this book became a beacon of hope for denominational leaders who were mourning the decline of their ministries. Bishops, superintendents, seminaries, colleges, seminars, etc. held this book before clergy and warned them to take heed of the lessons learned lest their churches become statistics of decline.
And with good reason. NCD (Natural Church Development) was based on research that included 1000 churches in 32 countries on all 5 continents. A total of 4.2 million responses were analyzed. The study identified a collection of 8 common sense characteristics that were common in EVERY growing church studied. This paragraph alone should encourage any serious pastor to examine this study.
BUT, did it work? That is a harder question. Did the churches grow because they had these characteristics or did they have these characteristics because they were growing? Can these characteristics be imported to your church? It is easier to see the problems with a congregation and to read formulas for correction than to impliment those formulas. Have the principles in this book been tried and found wanting or have they simply not been tried? I do not know. I've known several churches that gave NCD a good effort, but still did not grow.
This work is important enough for the pastor to understand. But it is not a cure all for the problems of a congregation.
Book Description
From one of our most admired cultural critics (“A marvelous, canny writer”––Terry Castle, London Review of Books), thirty-one essays on some of the most influential artists of our time––writers, dancers, choreographers, sculptors––and two saints of all time, Joan of Arc and Mary Magdalene. Among the people discussed: Italo Svevo, Stefan Zweig, Simone de Beauvoir, Marguerite Yourcenar, Joseph Roth, Vaslav Nijinsky, Lincoln Kirstein, Jerome Robbins, Martha Graham, Bob Fosse, H. L. Mencken, Dorothy Parker, Susan Sontag, and Philip Roth.
What unites the book is Acocella’s interest in the making of art and in the courage, perseverance, and, sometimes, dumb luck that it requires.
Here is Acocella on Primo Levi, a chemist who, after the Nazis failed to kill him, wrote Survival in Auschwitz, the noblest of the camp memoirs, and followed it with twelve more books . . . Hilary Mantel, the aspiring young lawyer stuck on a couch with a chronic and debilitating illness, who asked herself, “What can one do on a couch?” (well, one could write) and went on to become one of England’s premier novelists . . . M. F. K. Fisher, who, numb with grief over her husband’s suicide, dictated to her sister the witty and classic How to Cook a Wolf . . . Marguerite Yourcenar, the victim of a ten-year writer’s block, who found in an old trunk a draft of a forgotten novel and finished the book: Memoirs of Hadrian . . . George Balanchine, who, after losing his family at age nine, survived the Russian Revolution, escaped from the Soviet Union at twenty, was for five years house choreographer for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, came to the United States with the promise that he could set up a ballet company, and had to wait another fifteen years before being able to establish his extraordinary New York City Ballet . . . And Acocella on Mary Magdalene and Joan of Arc reminds us that saints in the service of their visions–like artists in the creation of their art–draw power from the very blows of fortune that might be expected to defeat them.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful discovery.......2007-08-09
I have greatly enjoyed this selection of essays. Ms. Acocella brings forth what it takes to be an artist in this modern world. Not only that, but she rescues some obscure artists and makes the reader know more about them by providing a glimpse into their lives and work. Ms. Acocella's writing is fluent and makes for easy and entertaining reading as well.
Artistic Essays That Count.......2007-04-10
The essays on modern dance in America are particularly outstanding. Ms. Acocella writes with passion and knowledge. Many of her observations are succint yet sympathetic. They inform the book with a compassion for the individual artist's struggle to define his or her art; something not readily available in much of what passes for criticism these days. Her essay on Marguerite Yourcenar, the French writer who lived in Maine for much of her life, literally jumped off the page for me. No one who reads this book will be disappoited.
An inpiration to all creative people.......2007-03-22
Twenty-eight Artists and Two Saints: Essays.
This book is an inspiration to all creative people who have struggled with themselves and consequently their work. Better than any creative-self-help book, this brilliantly accomplished collection of essays, gives wonderful insights with amusing anecdotes into the live of artists. It is a study in problems that all artists face, whether they are writers, dancers, artists or saints.
About writing this book, the author says:" My concern is the pain that comes with the art-making, interfering with it, and how the artist deals with this......What allows the genius to flower is not neurosis, but its opposite, "ego strength", meaning amongst other things, ordinary Sunday- school virtues, such as tenacity, and above all the ability to survive disappointment."
Amongst the artists she discusses are; Stefan Zweig, Primo Levi, Vaslav Nijinsky, Bob Fosse, Susan Sontag, Louise Bourgeois, Philip Roth, and Joan of Arc -an eclectic selection of gifted and talented people, who through their work, and our contact with them, have contributed in some way, to inspiring our lives.
The creative life sympathetically examined .......2007-02-18
I have read a number of the essays in this collection and found them to be informative, insightful and at times, eye- opening. Acocella often chooses subjects who are not that well known , and who she feels have been neglected. Two of the novelists she writes about here, Joseph Roth and Hilary Mantel were little known to an American audience. But the essays I have read and very much enjoyed are those she has written on Stefan Zweig, and Saul Bellow. I also read with great interest her critical review of a biography on James Joyce's daughter, Lucia, one which Acocella feels makes exaggerated claims for Lucia's influence on her father's work. Another outstanding essay here is the one on Primo Levi who Acocella clearly believes is one of the great moral heroes of the century. Acocella has a real feeling for the struggles involved in the literary and artistic, the creative life. She often reveals a special kind of sympathy with her subject. And this is one of the things which makes her writing, to me anyway, so likeable. One feels the writer herself is a very understanding and considerate person, one whose own creative effort is diligent, caring, and intuitively wise.
I have not read all this collection but from what I have and know of the work of this writer I would recommend it strongly.
Book Description
Together in one volume for the first time, these are the classic texts that helped launch the modern Tarot renaissance. Often described as the Bible of Tarot readers, they bring awareness of myth and modern psychology to the Tarot's ancient symbolism.
Customer Reviews:
It's a powerful tarot reference no serious new age library should miss........2007-10-06
Tarot users will find SEVENTY-EIGHT DEGREES OF WISDOM: A BOOK OF TAROT a fine compilation of two previous volumes under one cover, joining THE MAJOR ARCANA and THE MINOR ARCANA in one revised, updated volume with a new introduction by the author. As such it's a powerful tarot reference no serious new age library should miss.
Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom.......2007-09-21
These days most anybody can do a tarot reading. There are literally hundreds of different decks all complete with canned readings for each card. In a way, it's rather like reading your daily horoscope as the results are rather generalized to match virtually anyone.
Definitely, not every tarot reader is equal in quality. The best readers go beyond simplistic generalizations. They not only tailor their layouts and reading results to match the individual but also look to the deeper meanings of the cards. These unique abilities are both invaluable skills and amazing talents.
Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom is a must have resource for anyone wanting to do real tarot readings. The author has an inherent ability to see depth within the cards that many need to be taught to notice. Within this book, she shares her valuable insights and urges the reader to follow suit. Originally this book was two books separating out the major and minor arcane. This new format brings these important references into one easier to access resource.
Rachel Pollack Fan.......2007-07-31
I have this in Part I - Major Arcana & Part II Minor Arcana
I absolutely love Rachel Pollack's work & this is no exception
in fact it is my all time favorite book of hers.... I find
it's down to earth, to the point at the same time I know exactly
what she means about a card.......
Worth the money if you want help interpreting cards & like me
favor her work.
A Must for all Tarot Book Collections.......2007-07-30
I was once asked: "If you could only own one tarot book, which one would it be?" The clear answer is Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack. I have also found that this classic book works very well for my beginning tarot classes at the local University. Despite the author's indepth treatment of the cards (see other excellent reviews), tarot beginners enjoy the comprehensive, classic and clear insights into the tarot and how to work with it.
I would also like to say that my beginning and intermediate students enjoy Rachel Pollack's spreads also because of their depth of meaning.
So I sincerely recommend this for all tarot book collections and for students of tarot.
A Classic! .......2007-04-14
This is one book that I can't recommend strongly enough, and one that I feel belongs on the shelf of every Tarot enthusiast. Using the popular Rider-Waite deck for illustration, this book contains essays on each card, covering all aspects of the symbology, as well as origins, history, mythology, and sociological, psychological, esoteric and religious implications. It's rare to say that a book on Tarot is a can't put down page-turner, but this one is it! I learned so very much from it, and use it as a reference to this day. Be warned, however, that this isn't a book that you would want to use to look up cards during a reading. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom is very well written and easy to understand, no matter what your level of expertise. Ms. Pollack has obviously done massive amounts of research and manages to convey a true love for the art of Tarot on each and every page, speaking to the reader as a patient, knowledgeable and wise teacher with years of experience. She also includes tutorials in the back of the book, covering such subjects as layouts, the Tree of Life, making a Mandala, and Meditations. On the whole, this is a wonderful, wonderful book and in my opinion, a classic.
Book Description
Despite their promise of a complete and balanced meal, most commercial pet foods are chock-full of dangerous by-products, indigestible fillers, and chemical preservatives. It's no wonder that owners spends thousands of dollars every year treating their pets' digestive disorders, tumors, joint and back problems, skin irritations, allergies, and heart, liver, and kidney disease. In THE WHOLE PET DIET, Andi Brown combines simple home cooking with natural supplements, dedicated playtime, exercise, and good old-fashioned pampering to help regulate pets' weight and tap into their natural healing powers.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent & Helpful.......2007-08-23
Found this book very helpful in switching my dogs to healthy foods. Recipes are easy and most products are easy to find. For those who want to switch their pets to a better diet but are lost on what they should be eating, I recommend the book for it's easy to follow, step by step program. My dogs are really happy with the book as well!
what an awaking.......2007-08-20
The nicest part of this book is that it really helps. It does not spend time trashing others, it just helps heal. My 10 year old bichone has been on the chicken stew diet for about two weeks. She woke up! She runs and chases the others. She looks thinner, and her eyes look clear and alert. I have learned a lot by reading and following this book. I am thankful.
For anyone who wants a healthier pet, read this book!.......2007-07-14
I have 3 dogs; Buddy,Chelsea & Sweetie..they are our kids. I bought this book after 3 years of trying to help Sweetie (My Lhasa Apso 11.5 yrs old)loose weight. The vets gave me another "dry" dog food to try, which made her fatter, and more arthritic. She would cry at the bottom of the stairs to be picked up. After 1 week of giving her the "Spots Stew" in this book, Sweetie is running up & down the stairs on her own, she is loosing weight & happier & more playful, I also bought her the "Hip Hip Horay" for her joints in this book. I recommend this book to all animal lovers. Epecially during these times of "recalled" products. Deb Sweetman
Nice Alternative to Dr. Pitcairn's Natural Health Book (3rd ed).......2007-07-07
If you haven't gotten your hands on Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, this is a nice alternative to that book. Andi does a great job of going over what is in commerical kibbles and what the components mean.
Andi includes several meal recipes as well as treat recipes to keep your cat(s) and/or dog(s) happy. Andi also goes into details about the various supplements that she suggests that you use along with the meals. Included is information on various grains that are beneficial to use in the diets.
Andi encourages you to use a journal to first evaluate your animal's current state of health and then track the weekly progress you make. Many people find this part the hardest to do. My suggestion - start a diet blog for your pet.
The only big difference between the books is the size. Dr. Pitcairn's includes a section on how to deal with emergencies or diagnosing illnesses. If you're looking for strictly a diet book, this is the book you want to get.
An amazing life changing read!.......2007-06-19
I have written reviews for trip advisor, but never before felt compelled to write a review for book. I was somewhat skeptical at first, but Ms Brown has made a believer out of me. The book itself was a pleasant and charming read - I enjoyed the personal tone, subtle humor and was moved by the individual stories.
What wowed me more than anything else is how my nine year old golden retriever's health has improved since I read the book and started practicing what Andi Brown is preaching.
My dog has the greatest temperament in the world (he's a golden!), but suffers from debilitating allergies (he's a golden!) and the side effects are/were "itchy dog syndrome," dry and scabby coat, loss of hair, chronic ear and eye infection .... And if that is not enough, it appears that his immune system had been so compromised that he has had a tough time fighting off ticks. After two weeks of us following the eight week plan, the results were good.... we are now on week seven and I am stunned and amazed at how remarkably well my dog is doing - he looks and acts four years younger. My veterinarian will probably not recognize her patient... hopefully, she will prescribe this book to her other patients. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so grateful that this book was written and that I was fortunate enough to read it. I look forward to writing back in another month to report on Charlie's progress. I am also anxious to read about the miracles that other pets and owners have experienced.
Book Description
Inspired by the acts of sacrifice and discipline exemplified by the D-Day generation as well as the current generation of young American soldiers, many Christians today are looking for an obedient, disciplined approach to faith. This user-friendly study guides readers toward a greater understanding of eight spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith-prayer, humility, self-control, sacrifice, submission, solitude, silence, and hope. Each chapter defines and discusses the concept, then provides interactive assignments and suggestions for further study, as well as content summaries and outlines that aid in retention. Activities can be revisited again and again for a new outlook or just for a periodic refresher. Perfect for individual or group or family study,
So, You Want to be Like Christ? is just right for anyone desiring to delve deeper into the fundamental elements of Christian life, and essential for all who hunger for authentic faith experiences. It is destined to be a classic text on the practice of Christianity.
Customer Reviews:
Be victorious in your daily walk........2007-05-20
This book is a must if you want to walk with Christ on a daily basis and be what He intends for us to be. It's encouraging, insightful, and easy to understand. In our busy world, we need to unclutter our minds and focus on Him, that is what true success is all about and to be a light where Christ has placed us. I highly recommend this book, it will guide you on the right path.
From A Pastor's Heart!.......2007-03-21
I was humbled and uplighted by this book. For years Chuck has been a favorite of mine. His candor and preciseness are the qualities that draw me to his writes. As a young pastor I look to him for pastoral advice and I find them in his writings.
This volume is primarily about eight disciplines that must be at the center of everyone's life, esp. if you are a pastor, leading God's people. I especially like his chapter on Surrender. Thank you, Chuck.
So you want to be like Christ?.......2006-07-16
An excellent study guide book on the essentials of Christianity required to live a Christ-like life.
Outstanding Eye-Reopening Book.......2006-06-12
I think this is the first book I have ever read from Brother Swindoll. I just finished it reading a few minutes ago and I have come to the conclusion that this is a book that should be part of every Christian's personal library. Though he mentions "Eight Essentials To Get You There" (there meaning to be like Christ), I think of these essentials as selective ones and not as exhaustive. He is a great writer and this book flows easily from topic to topic. It covers these essentials in a brilliant, straight-forward manner that will make the reader examine his/her own life in contrast with that of Christ.
The only thought I disagree with in this book is found on page 63 where Brother Swindoll states the following: "I do not believe that people today receive audible instructions from God, receiving them directly from somewhere within their spirits. Our only reliable source of communication from God is the sixty-six books of the Bible." If this is so, and if I am understanding correctly what Brother Swindoll is stating, then there are three problems with this assumption or belief; 1) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God to His people, then why did God Himself "gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,"? 2) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God, what would happen when God sends an angel with a message for a particular person as He sent an angel to Cornelius? 3) If the Bible is the only reliable source of communication from God, are we not putting God in a box by refusing to accept that He can choose to speak audibly to whosoever He desires at the time and place of His choosing? By accepting the belief that God cannot audibly speak to His people, are we not stripping Him of His sovereignty? I hope this is not the case. Other than my disagreement mentioned above, I feel this is a great book for helping us to want to be like Christ.
one of the best.......2006-03-27
This is surely one of Swindoll's finest, there seems to be a humbleness and passion in these pages that carries these special thoughts along. Eight disciplines are developed in a devotional style, wrapped around a core development of discipline and intimacy with God. I'm not quite through the first reading yet, and I'm already sure that I'll need at least two more times through, probably slower each time, before I can expect to see real application. I'm being challenged deeply, by a pastor who really cares about Christlikeness, in his own life and mine.
Book Description
Recent advances in medical technology mean that there are currently an extraordinary array of health care choices available to the public. In this import book, Dr. Savard, a doctor turned patient advocate, equips readers with the techniques for navigating the often confusing world of healthcare, enabling them to take control of their own health.
Customer Reviews:
Great reading.......2007-07-24
If you enjoyed this book you should read some of her other books - she is really an excellent down to earth writer with great advice.
How to Save Your Own Life.......2000-08-30
This book is timely and empowering. It provides guidelines that are detailed and easy to follow so that we can be informed participants in our own healthcare. This is a 'must have' if you: ~believe that you should be a part of the decision-making process regarding your healthcare; ~like being an informed consumer (includes information about diagnostic tests, interpreting results etc.); ~belong to an HMO and have minimal time with your primary care physician or see multiple physicians in large group practices (you can always provide them with up-to-date information); ~want more information about a disease or medical condition (the print and internet resources will direct you to accurate information); ~want to be able to take advantage of the most up-to-date medical and drug interventions (the information YOU can provide for your physician will make that decision easier).
How to Save Your Own Life and the Savard Health Record will make a major impact on the quality of our healthcare. Family and friends on my gift list can expect copies!
Thank you, Dr. Savard.......2000-08-28
I don't know how I have lived so long without this book! I truly believe that Dr. Savard's book, "How to Save Your Own Life" should be required reading for anyone who cares about their health. Ever since my mother became sick a year ago, I have realized how important it is for us to be in control of our medical care. This book, along with The Savard Health Record makes what could be a daunting process very simple. Thank you, Dr. Savard, for your thoughtful contribution to my peace of mind.
Safeguarding Your Medical Well Being.......2000-08-26
This is truly one of the more thoughtful and useful medical books written in a long time -- a small gem to be shared alike with family and friends. The message is simple yet vital to your health: managing your personal health care requires forging active and informed partnerships with your health care providers. In clear and engaging prose, Dr. Savard illustrates both why and how you should assume responsibility for your medical well being and guides you through the easy steps one takes to become a knowledgeable partner with your medical providers.
The lessons learned from this book will stay you for a long time and will change not only the way you approach your own medical care, but those of your family as well. This book gives you the tools you need to navigate an often complicated and intimidating health care system. "How to Save Your Own Health" will serve you well in good health and may be critical when facing a medical crisis.
A Life Saver.......2000-08-26
I cannot beleive you could read this book and not want to share it with anyone that you care about.This book impowered me to take health care out of the cold hands of the HMO's and put it back in the right hands. Mine and my Docter's. The advice and education you get from Dr. Savard in this book is so valuable. What a great gift to give to the people you love. As a health care professional I know that following the steps in this book and keeping the Savard Medical Record is not an option . I was so impressed with this book and the Medical Record that I shared it with my company. I am pleased to say that Atria Assisted Living saw the same value I did. We are currently exploring the possibilities of using the Savard Medical Record to help us provide optimum care for our residents across the country. If you do not read any books on health... read this one.
Books:
- Traders, Guns & Money: Knowns and unknowns in the dazzling world of derivatives
- Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope--and How to Find Them
- Twilight Zone Radio Dramas: Collection 3 (Twilight Zone)
- Warriors Super Edition: Firestar's Quest (Warriors)
- Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition (Book with CD-ROM)
- Weight Training Workouts that Work
- Whitethorn Woods
- Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
- A Time for Listening and Caring: Spirituality and the Care of the Chronically Ill and Dying
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