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The Pampered Chef: The Story of One of America's Most Beloved Companies
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Doris Christopher
List price: $24.95
New price: $13.10

Average review score:

Too expensive for such poor quality
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-22
I purchased the sandwich spreader and metal spatula. I paid twice what I would have paid anywhere else. They turned out to be junk. Both plastic handles separated from the metal parts within 9 months of the purchase.

I want to sell Pampered Chef
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-08
I absolutely loved this book. Doris Christopher's ideas and humble beginnings are absolutely inspiring! She has built an amazing company and shares it for everyone to realize their own potential. Her basic no nonsense attitude towards life and her company are shared in this incredible story. I do not sell Pamperd Chef, but if I was not trying to build another direct sales business I know I would after reading this book!

Absolutely Inspiring
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-04
I have been purchasing Pampered Chef products for over 16 years and my husband and I have always been huge fans. After many years of buying from someone else, I decided to give it a try and then so did my husband. . . yes, we are both consultants because we believe so much in the products.

I signed up as a consultant a few days after the book was released and read it in one night! After reading the book I was more of a fan than ever. The story is very inspiring to anyone who wants to take the leap of faith in themselves and try to start their own business.

Doris' vision of having a business to earn extra money and still have time to raise her family is very much alive today as it was 25 years ago. The book takes you through the 25 years of her dream from where she started the business in her basement with $3,000 to being the founder a of multi-million dollar company with thousands of women and men who work with The Pampered Chef as hobbyist, part- and full-time consultants.

A must read for anyone who wants to be inspired to start their own business.

A story of personal success comes alive in audio
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-10
An interview with the author and her daughter, who grew up in the culinary business, supplements The Pampered Chef, a story of Doris Christopher, a former teacher and home economist who returns to the work world with a vision of making cooking more convenient for families. Selling high-quality kitchen tools through demo groups and growing her business, The Pampered Chef, from a basement enterprise to a successful franchise. A story of personal success comes alive in audio.

Insights on how the company expanded and handled its challenges
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-07
In 1980 author Doris Christopher, former home economist and teacher, wanted to return to the workforce after raising her children: she began selling high-quality kitchen tools through cooking demonstrations and began her company, The Pampered Chef, from her basement. Twenty-five years later it's a corporation specializing in kitchen shows - and The Pampered Chef: The Story Of One Of America's Most Beloved Companies tells of how she became a culinary industry success. Insights on how the company expanded and handled its challenges provide entrepreneurs and cooks alike with much inspiration.

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Paradise Undone
Published in Digital by Amazon (2007-12-20)
Author: Annie Dawid
List price: $0.00
New price: $0.00

Average review score:

Immediately engaging
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-01
How does one approach the topic of Jonestown? Its very name conjures up too much drama, too much tragedy. Its an almost intolerable subject. Yet, Annie Dawid has found an approach that places it under a microscope one can bear to peer through. The reporter's voice supplies a kind of distance, a kind of protective lens for the reader. We all saw the pictures, heard the news reports, now we get to hear the intimate experiences, but through a scrim of journalistic control and time. We're not voyeurs. We're seekers. I was immediately engaged by this piece. For one thing, Ms. Dawid knows her craft. The writing is extremely fine -- the characters presenced, the voices authentic, and the material under control. And for another, I applaud the way she has conceived the book. I read the Publisher's Weekly review which found the story wanting because of the omission of the Jim Jones character. But I don't agree with Publisher's Weekly. Biography would be be the smarter venue for presenting Jim Jones. In fiction, where the story must be told 'slant', attempting to present such an enigma could simply be folly. It's not Jim Jones we're necessarily after. It's the mystery of those who were attracted by him. Why did they allow their lives to be so altered and ultimately consumed? The voices of many individuals talking about a shared experience is often the only way to come to some sort of actual understanding of that experience. I think Annie Dawid understands that, and I highly commend her for her writing and her presentation.

Paradise Undone is Captivating
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-26
I was captivated by the beginning of Annie Dawid's novel. Her character, Watts Freeman, is so real that I found myself believing her first chapter was the actual transcript of an interview with a Jonestown survivor. I know little about Jim Jones and even less about the individuals who followed him to Guyana. I suspect that many of those individuals are not so different from me. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of this book.

Great Start
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-25
This narrative was very engaging. It was an unexpected start to a novel. I had to keep reminding myself that it was historical fiction.

Fascinating Story and Voices to Tell It
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-28
Paradise Undone by A. Dawid addresses the Jonestown massacre as it reaches its 30th anniversary.

While this entire story gets its input from four points of view, this excerpt focuses on that of a fictional character, Watts Freeman. The delivery of Watts' tale through the premise of a radio interview allows for plenty of extra detail that might otherwise have felt too cumbersome in traditional story writing narrative. Watts himself is a very credible character, though at times comments on how not-smart he is, but then surprises me with some of the things he knows.

While I was reading the excerpt I alternated with refreshing my memory of Jonestown on-line. This left me with pause to wonder if this portion of the tale might be too thinly guised as someone's actual personal account. I understand it's supposed to be a composite of actual survivors but maybe the transition of information into Watts' character wasn't entirely complete. I'm sorry that I can't put my finger on it exactly.

Nonetheless, this is a naturally compelling story and this semi-fictionalized account seems like it will make for a terribly fascinating read. Just watch for the 'feel' of authenticity with the fictionalized components. If they are too close to the 'real' thing, then it might leave one wondering, why not simply use the real thing?

And for a while, Jonestown was Paradise....
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-27
The excerpt opens with an interview of Jonestown survivor, Watts Freeman. Freeman was one of the lucky ones to have escaped. His wife and child were not so lucky. Earlene and his baby were among the first to die--Earlene surrendered their child to Jones to keep it "from the enemy."

What's so compelling is Freeman's assertion is that until Jones ordered his followers to die, they were better off than they were in the US. In many ways, he was right:

"So living in Jonestown not so bad compared to the States; for some, it was better. Way better. No crime. No worrying about not having enough cash for groceries or what to cook for the next meal. No dog food for dinner. No being afraid of not going to the doctor or the dentist 'cause you didn't have money. Everything taken care of."

What went wrong? Forensic scientists don't agree. Ms. Dawid's historical posit promises to be fascinating if her attention to detail and thorough research is as good in the whole manuscript as what this excerpt presents.

So far, the characterization is interesting. Presenting a survivor's description first is chancy, but the interview style is so engaging and well-depicted, you can almost hear Watt's voice.

To my knowledge, no one's undertaken a significant work of fiction covering the Jonestown Massacre. Thirty years have passed and I still remember hearing the initial report and the growing horror as more of the story unfolded. Ms. Dawid is a courageous author to conceive and research such an ambitious topic.

I understand Ms. Dawid already has a book of short stories published. I'm planning on searching out her work. If this excerpt is any indication, it will be stellar. Thank you, Ms. Dawid, for sharing this excellent excerpt with us and much success to you.

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Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home (Unabridged Selections)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Richard J. Foster
List price: $18.95
New price: $9.95

Average review score:

Best Book on Prayer
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-16
Foster would probably quibble with my description, "best book on prayer," but that's ok. The book is a phenomenal introduction to the rich variety of Christian prayer. The chapters are short enough to be read in a single sitting but call us to a profound transformation in the secret place of prayer. This book may well be better than Foster's "Celebration of Discipline."

The Better of the Two!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-18
C of D was very good. Prayer out does C of D by a long shot. Layers of good stuff are on every page. Buy and Read.

Fantastic!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-12
One of the best books on prayer I've ever read. He's very rooted in Scripture and yet very thorough in His observations on how we, as humans, interact with God. It continues to challenge me as I read through each new chapter. Highly recommended!

Piercing my Heart...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-11
God used this wonderful book to pierce my heart with His truth. He has opened my eyes to what prayer really is and deepend my desire to be in converation with Him. This book has taught me new ways to approach The Throne and a new understanding about what it means to intercede for those I love.

How to methods of prayer
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-11
I am in a study/prayer group which is using this book as a guide. I find it helpful to discover new depth in prayer.

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Within the Shadows (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Brandon Massey
List price: $44.95
New price: $23.60

Average review score:

Shadows Among The Obsessed (token)
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-01
There's pulse-pounding, suspense, horror, and spook, wrapped up in this read and something is lurking in the shadows that can't be touched. Something is trying to possess and curse Andrew Wilson, a successful mystery writer and he never would of thought it was his special lady with those mysterious eyes. In a frightful night things happen which leads Andrew into a frightful house that will change his life forever. Months after that night Andrew returns and that special lady is there and this time there's no escape. Get ready for some shrills & thrills that's going to build into a heart pounding climax and hidden secrets that are revealed and the results can be deadly!! Caution this is one suspense novel that will keep u looking around and wanting to read more!!!

Do yourself a favor
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-30
Pick up any book Brandon has a part of. This guy is remarkable at what he does. I started reading him because i wanted to read a "supernatural" book. When reading the "unreal" it is just that....unreal. But his way of writing will have you wanting more.

This is another great book he has put together. Left me on the edge of my seat expecting more and actually receiving it. Good read. Pick it up

OK
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-21
I thought this book was a little over the top. This was the first book I read of Mr. Massey and it didn't really sell me. I will probably try another book of his before I make a final judgement. I love to write and Mr. Massey is inspirational. He is very passionate about his writing and I admire him for making his dream come true. I think the best is still to come with Mr. Massey.

Didn't like author's style
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-23
Although the plot was mildly interesting, it was a little too 'far out there' to be truly captivating. I wasn't especially impressed by the author's writing style; I found his repeated inferences to the black culture interupted the material's flow. I most likely won't seek out other works by this author.

Mika takes stalking to a whole other level!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-28
Drew (short for Andrew) is a successful novelist who appears to have everything. He has a hit thriller series, a nice large home in Atlanta, several wonderful friends, and is eagerly awaiting his new book deal (which promises to make him hundreds of thousands). The only thing missing is the love of a good woman, or to finally admit that he is in love with his best friend, Carmen. A slave to habit, his life, which is clearly outlined and followed, is disrupted when he meets the "woman of his dreams" (Mika) in Starbucks. She seems, initially, to be everything he wanted....beautiful, smart, rich, sexy and seemingly independent. However, after a night of passion, Mika turns into something he doesn't want and can't handle. As the novel unfolds, Massey introduces an element of the supernatural that promises to hold the attention of the reader until the very end. With a stormy parental relationship with his father, and his mother's psychic dreams, Drew realizes that he is in trouble, but is unsure of how to escape the one he thought that he desired. Filled with psycho cats, a sweet ghost named Sammie, and a scary groundskeeper (Walter), this novel has it all.....a little romance, some mystery, some deaths and a great story. I won't tell you what or who Mika is, reading this novel will tell you that, but I will say that Massey is among the few today who can create a story to be rivaled by Tanarive Due or Octavia Butler. Read this novel and you will not regret it.

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Faade
Published in Digital by Amazon (2007-12-18)
Author: Christine Beth Reish
List price: $0.00
New price: $0.00

Average review score:

Intriguing...ready to read more!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-19
As I read the first page of this excerpt, I felt that I had plunged into 1930's Berlin. The author does an excellent job setting the stage with her descriptive prose. Each character captured my interest as the story begins to unfold and I read of the characters' current predicament and am given just a hint of the broader issues that brought them to this time and a glimpse of their future struggles. Through the personal strife of the characters, the story explores the effect of the Nazi occupation on the artistic expression of the people of Germany. The author has done an excellent job of allowing the reader to connect with the characters and leaves us wanting to read more as we root for these unexplored victims.

WOW!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-18
"It's not the external that's important; life is what matters". I'm blown away by the intelligence, creativity, sensitivity and pure talent of this writer! Ms. Reish is truly blessed and so are those fortunate enough to read her work. If you are interested in the history of Nazi-era Germany (1930's) plus enjoy a romantic sub-plot combined with intrigue don't pass this up. This novel has obviously been meticulously researched down to the last detail. It draws you in from the very start into the worlds and minds of very bright, sensitive characters (Johannes, Britte, Mies) wrapped up in the modern art world of Nazi Germany. My only disappointment is that there isn't more to read! I can't wait to read the whole novel! Fabulous job Ms. Reish! :)

A great read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-17
This excerpt promises a great read. Set in the era of the rise of Hitler in Germany, the novel features a young architecture student, Johannes Schroeding, who is arrested on the close of the Bauhaus modern art school. Each character is richly portrayed with great sensitivity. Every scene reveals how the Nazis cultural oppression affects the lives of these ordinary people and how they cope, some by hiding their true feelings behind a facade of acceptance. Ms. Reish has written a compelling, artistic, and powerful first novel.

An inside look
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
CBR has managed to slide in between the terrifying images of the Nazis in control and the formal schooling of archtecture, to peer into the minds of the people who actually had to find a way to try to live semi-normal lives during this time period. One tends to forget that careers,marraiges and lives continued. Did all of these people follow along blindly? What were they thinking of the way their freedom of choice was being so strictly controlled? It will be interesting to follow these fascinating characters to see what becomes of them and their ideals.

They're closing the Bauhaus down...
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-22
What an opening. Black uniformed Nazis are coming to close the legendary Bauhaus Art School in Berlin down. They're demanding identification and when Johannes can find none, he's forced onto a truck. Britte must watch and it is here they realize they love each other. He's freed by the Nazis only to look for Britte and discover she's disappeared--again.

Meanwhile, Mies, the director of the Bauhaus struggles to reopen the school. The Nazis found no evidence of Communist support of the Bauhaus, but they will not allow the school to re-open, either. They toy with flying the Nazi flag, but cannot.

This excerpt is fascinating and beautifully written. There's a strong sense of both place and people here. The foreshadowing of the war, the camps is everywhere--the students taken away on the truck wonder if they'll be freed, some people just 'disappear.'

Outside of this context, I have read very little fiction about World War II, the hard facts are bad enough. This excerpt is compelling enough to make me wish for the rest of the story. Christine Beth Reish has done a wonderful job re-creating a time and people we can care about. Best of luck to her--and congratulations on her ABNA Top 100 position. This excerpt well deserves its place in the competition.

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A Great Undoing
Published in Digital by Amazon (2007-12-20)
Author: Natalie Michelle Jenner
List price: $0.00
New price: $0.00

Average review score:

Natalie Jenner, clearly a very talented writer. Keep it up!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-19
After reading the first few chapters of Jenner's "A Great Undoing", I'm hooked! What intriguing characters and the story....I can't wait to read more! This is good stuff Jenner.

Great Author
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-18
I don't usually find grown-up fiction that has a lot to say about romance,
relationships, marriage, children and family, AND is hard to put down to boot! A
GREAT UNDOING gives the reader plenty of food for thought, as well as the
intense pleasure of recognizing bits of ourselves in the narrator's stalled
life. Jenner's book leaves us with insightful thoughts, surprising moments, and
so much more -- I wish her tremendous luck with it!

Modern commercial fiction that is well-written seems so hard to come by these days--
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-17
A GREAT UNDOING is a near-miraculous combination of smarts and style and substance! The prose is lean and flawless, the passages clip ahead at just the right pace, and when the characters throw words around at each other, you feel like you're eavesdropping in the best sense of the word.
Great job, Jenner -- I look forward to reading more!

Promising new writer
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
A GREAT UNDOING shows a lot of promise -- it has an interesting setting (1960s Montauk), complex characters, a captivating narrator/heroine, and fun dialogue that always pushes the action ahead.
I really hope this book makes the Amazon Top 100 Finals -- I can't wait to read more!

Intriguing and thought provoking
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
Wow, it has been a while since a piece of writing has kept me distracted. I started to read the excerpt and was called away and begrudgingly had to put it down. When I was able to continue reading I was left with that same feeling as I reached the end of the first chapter. It is nice to read something that was deliberated and didn't come across like an author that was meeting a contractual agreement with their publisher. Jenner - keep up the great mind provoking writing style it is a pleasure to read. I look forward to getting my hands on a copy of the entire book!

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The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill, Volume II: Alone, 1932-1940 (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: William Manchester
List price: $64.95
New price: $34.10

Average review score:

A Lesson to Learn
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-23
A frightening story with a redoubtable yet all too human hero who prevails. There are even evil and bumbling villains along the way during this shameful period. The Last Lion should be required reading for politicans and world history students. William Manchester does a masterful, well researched [and entertaining] job of describing the inspirational leader of the Free World.

The Last Lion:Winston Spencer Churchill: Alone, 1932-1940
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-12
There are two volumn of "The Last Lion" and both are them are an excellent history of not only one of Great Britain's finest statesman of the 20th century, but one of the World greatest statesman, historian, and many have said "the man of the 20th Century" And after reading these two volumns one might have to agreee with the historians.
Congtributed by Hurdrey Angus Jordan

Shocked
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-28
This book was given to me by my father, who is a huge fan of Winston. I was absolutely shocked and amazed by the information that this book brought to light. I was taught, so little about WWII! I was amazed. I savored this book. I would recommend and have recommended this book to anyone, who would listen. Prepare to be amazed by the man and confronted with the real realities of Britain before and during the first declarations of war.

The Hobo Philosopher
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-08
This was the first William Manchester book that I ever read. I found it inspiring. After reading it, I promised myself that I would read everything that Manchester has written. To date I've read several but I still have a few to go. Mr. Manchester is another one of those historians that makes studying and learning History easy. I had no idea what a character Winston Churchill really was. Manchester recreates a real true to life human being, with faults, idiocincracies, humor, courage, and some great phrasing. After reading both volumes of Manchester's on Churchill, I then wanted to read Churchill himself. From a writing perspective Churchill was great - but Manchester was better. Today I am a fan of both men. They were both heroic in their lives and fascinating in their prose.

Churchill's true finest hour; this book will give you a better appreciation of Winston's greatness, courage, and foresight
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-09
For some inexplicable reason, the second (and unfortunately final) volume of William Manchester's biography sat on my shelf unread for some time. I think because the book spans the years 1932 to 1940 -- and does not cover most of World War II -- I skipped the book over, figuring that Winston's best and most important years were his war years. After reading "Alone", I realized immediately how wrong I was: if anything, Manchester's incredible book demonstrates that Churchill's so-called "wilderness years" out of power were his finest hour. Unquestionably, Churchill provided resolute leadership to Great Britain -- as well as the rest of the Allied world -- during the War. But he perhaps demonstrated even greater leadership while out of power, when he was quite literally the only European statesman who was repeatedly warning the world of the dangers of Nazi Germany and calling for rearmament to stand up to Hitler. Thus, "Alone" is not just about Churchill and his greatness, but also a powerful historical record of the dangers of appeasement in the face of tyrants.

This book goes beyond being a simple historical biography. Manchester's writing is delightful and seamless, literally depositing you into Churchill's time and Churchill's life. It maintains and builds a tenseness throughout the book as the world moves closer and closer to war despite Churchill's warnings, which if heeded, could have averted the conflict many times over. The work is meticulously researched and crafted, and flows perfectly. Perhaps most of all, reflective of the title, Manchester captures how completely and totally alone Churchill was during the 1930s. Aside from a very small coterie of loyal friends, Churchill alone rose in opposition to appeasement in the House of Commons and elsewhere hundreds of times as Hitler consolidated his power, practically begging his nation's leadership to stand up to the Fuhrer.

I suppose that one sign of a great work is that it moves you in some way, and evokes great emotion as you read it. The most striking asset of this book is how angry, shocked, and prideful I was as I read it. I shook my head in disgust at least 100 times as I read Manchester's descriptions of the putrid, almost treasonous behavior by Prime Ministers John MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, and of course Neville Chamberlain as they repeatedly ignored Churchill's warnings and countless pieces of evidence showing that Hitler would not be appeased. Manchester's sections on the Munich Crisis and Britain and France's literal sacrifice of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis is particularly noteworthy; the Chamberlain government literally served the nearly defenseless nation on a platter to the German war machine despite a pledge from the British to defend them if invaded. Much of the book in fact summarizes the folly of His Majesty's Government's appeasement policy, and Churchill's many warnings against the policy. Fascinatingly, appeasement was heartily endorsed by nearly the entire British media establishment, which repeatedly refused to air Churchill's views and other dissenting voices. Indeed, as Manchester well demonstrates, the government and media literally crafted its policies and made important appointments, with pleasing Hitler being the sole objective. While hindsight is of course 20-20, reading these sections was completely maddening to me, and made me want to scream many times over.

I hesitated writing a review of this book because I know it is impossible to do full justice to Manchester and this fantastic book. I just wanted to express how much I enjoyed the book; it completely lives up to its reputation as perhaps the finest Churchill biography and easily the most accessible. I, like millions of other readers, am greatly saddened that illness and other tragedies kept Manchester from completing the final volume of his intended trilogy. Treat yourself to this book: it will give you greater appreciation of Winston Churchill's greatness, courage, and foresight, and probably an even greater hatred of appeasement and diplomatic cowardice.

Five big stars.

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Less Is More: How Great Companies Use Productivity as a Competitive Tool in Business (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Jason Jennings
List price: $29.95
New price: $15.73

Average review score:

Must Read not just for Executives
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-25
I picked this book up out of sheer curiosity and read it to its entirety in one sitting. Jenning's presentation style and narration are excellent - the book flows perfectly and many of the points brought up can be taken and applied.

Well Done
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-22
Stories of successful businesses fill this book. The author got "down and dirty" and did in-the-trenches research to find the best performing companies in the world. Then he spoke with the CEO's to find out what makes them and their businesses tick.

Insightful !
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-23
This is not just another book about the secrets of famous companies. It is, instead, a book about the secrets of somewhat obscure but great companies. The principles that author Jason Jennings propounds are familiar enough, but most of his examples will not be familiar to the general reader. That is no drawback. Although some of these companies are less well known, they have all achieved great business success (if not fame) by applying some of the most tried, true and proven axioms of management. Treat people with respect, pay them for performance, focus on one clear and understandable mission - there is nothing new about these principles, except that they keep proving their efficacy even in the unlikeliest places. Do not look for a deep examination of management here. The book provides frustratingly scant background information about the companies themselves. But we assure those seeking a handbook of solid if venerable management advice that you will not go wrong with this interesting little book.

You Can Successfully Be a Corproate Leader
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-15
This book is an excellent example of the types of practices and procedures almost any company can follow to be successful both financially and ethically.
Jennings cites numerous companies who have carved out success while still remaining true to their customers, their employees and their values.
Not surprisingly, few of these companies are ones that so called pundits regularly review.
As the other reviews have noted, these companies are very successful financially, but they get there by asking the really pertinent business questions, and not by hiding behind an air of executive invulnerability. The leaders are real leaders, more focused on growing the company, serving customers, and doing right by employees.
What vividly differentiates these companies from the "name brands," is that in the "name" companies, executives are more concerned with their own compensation, preserving their own existence, and with profits at all costs, than long term success.
The questions you should ask yourself after reading this book are, "Where have all the leaders gone?" and "Why don't all companies follow many of Jennings' researched best practices?
After that, I would run, not walk, to one of these companies and see if you can start at the bottom and learn what it's like to work in a real company.

On the lean culture of cost leadership firms
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-02
This spring, I had a night-flight from Houston to Europe. I never got any sleep due to this book. It reads like a fiction novel while the focus is very much on the softer issues of productivity businesses. The well-written behind-the-wall stories and interviews with successful top executives give us insight to many issues that usual case stories do not explain.

Business magazines often glorify top executives by telling about the grand strategic plan behind the success. This little book shows us a different story. It provides insight to the many seemingly small traits of the lean culture that only works because they taken serious by the organization and used in combination. These are the 11 traits required for the leader of a highly productive enterprise: attention to detail, high moral fiber, embracing simplicity, competitiveness, long-term focus, disdain for waste, coach leadership, humility, rejection of bureaucracy, belief in others, and trust.

I'm sure you're really not impressed of this list. Neither am I. But try challenging some of the advice. Humility? When was the last time you saw a big company using this as a standard. When you hear the story of many head offices visited in this book, you'll understand humility. Often you'll find a very simple and humble office building for a huge company. No art on the walls! No lavish entrance hall! In these companies, you don't find huge corporate staff creating immense bureaucracy and all sorts of information requirements from their operating companies or business units. These organizations do actually "walk-the-talk" on lean - unlike many fad-driven major firms who's paying lip service to a lean culture.

PERSISTENCE is a word missing from the 11 traits, though attention to detail and long-term focus do include some of it. They never lose sight of their BIG idea or focus. It includes their performance measurement. "Everyone who works for SRC gathers once a week in their respective lunchrooms and takes part in a review of the business's financial performance for the previous week. By DOING IT WEEK IN WEEK-OUT FOR MANY YEARS the exercise has also become a system".

Okay, I'm sure that the book's research on productivity could have been better. And some of the firms reported on may experience difficulties, though most are still flourishing. But don't read this book for the hard stuff. Read the soft issues that over time usually turn out to be the hardest to beat.

I agree that it resembles "In Search of Excellence" to some degree, but remember that this book is on the lean culture of Cost Leadership firms (my interpretation, not the author's).

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

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True Devotion: Uncommon Heroes, Book 1 (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Dee Henderson
List price: $59.75
New price: $31.37

Average review score:

Good books
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-04
My sister-in-law recommended this book. At first I was skeptical, because other "Chiristian" fiction I've read was pretty watered down and sappy, but this is a really good story with real life applications. Not preachy, or syrupy.

Good, but get a new editor
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-23
I'm definitely a fan of Dee Henderson books, and this one is a good read, too. My only complaint is twice at least in the first half of the book a comment was made something like "the tension in the air was palatable". It's supposed to be palpable. Palatable means something tastes good. I enjoy the story, but such glaring errors like this make it hard to concentrate on it. I hope she's no longer using the same editors as the ones that checked this book.

An Excellent Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-27
When Kelly says a delirious "I love you" to her deceased husband's best friend and Navy SEAL Commander, Bear, neither of them can ignore the words to avoid the consequences. Kelly wakes up in the hospital after Bear rescues her from drowning only to realize what a horrible mistake she's made in revealing her feelings. Neither character seems anxious to acknowledge Kelly's declaration because they don't want to hurt the friendship they have. Bear's active duty status doesn't help matters, either. But what else can you do when you are both so crazy for each other?

This novel contains the best, most extravagant first date I have ever heard of! There are also flashbacks of military operations that add depth to the story. The suspense plotline is very well prepared. But the true gems that warm your heart are displayed in less flamboyant sequences where everyday life happens: painting the kitchen, SEALs coming home to a fridge with food in it. This is a superb book!

True Devotion (Uncommon Heroes, Book 1)
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-15
A wonderful story and great dedication to our service men and women.

An Intriguing Book Without Garbage
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-30
Dee Henderson has once again written a fascinating book. It is well written, absorbing, and fast-paced, yet contains none of the lurid details less skilled authors use to attract readers. It realistically shows the struggles Christians face when dealing with adversity.

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And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
Author: Laura M. Brotherson
List price: $39.95
New price: $20.98

Average review score:

Great book for couples looking for answers
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-15
This book did a great job of expressing new ideas on how to create/enhance emotional and physical relationships in marriage. The author looks at potential issues from both spouses point of view (male/female) and presents fundamental approaches to work thru any anger and resentment.

It also challenged me on how to educate my children on sexuality in such a way as to not cause stigmas in their future relationships.

For me, this book and the exercises within saved my marriage.

Great!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-28
I've been married for nine years now and I found this book to be a fabulous tool to take the drudgery out of sex. It gave me a healthier, more inspired view of it and it's been great for our marriage. I just need to keep it up!

And They Were Not Ashamed
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-16
This book should be read by every married couple and couples thinking of getting married. It has a very open approach to how important a good sexual relationship is in a marriage and how by not having this how it can cause so many problems in the marriage. It gives you homework every chapter to help you achieve a oneness in a marriage that I never thought would be possible.

I highly recommend this book!

so far, so good
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-14
I haven't finished the book yet, but have liked what I've read so far--it has particularly changed my view of how early and how to present my children with an accurate and positive understanding of sex. O'm looking forward to reading that chapter specifically.

review
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-29
I heard about this book in a marriage prep class at college. The information is highly valuable and pertinent to both men and women. The book teaches that sex is ordained of god. It will remove sex inhibitions and revitalize.


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