Training Books

There are very few pertinent, to the point publications regarding the cons and games inmates will try to pull off on corrections officers. The veteran officer learns by trial and error, and over the course of years comes to know when a 'con' is being played on him/her. The rookie CO knows it will happen but not the lengths that an inmate will go to to work the con. As a new CO this book provided me with invaluable insight into the games that inmates will play and the cons they will try to use on a CO. I've only been in corrections a few months but have already been able to catch the prisoners trying to work me and get personal information. If I had not read this book, I may have given out too much personal info, thinking the inmates were just making conversation, or being friendly. My eyes have been opened and I'm much more careful with the info I divulge. I feel this book should be a must read for all CO's, new, veteran and those considering going into this field! It's very easy to read, does not weigh down with too much psychobabble, but is intersting and to the point. I highly recommend this book!

This book really helped me realize how NOT to be a victim of manipulation. I'm usually very trusting and want to believe in the best of people. This book helped me to remember that I am in the criminal's environment when I am there. They are not in mine.

God bless the people who have been taken in by inmates trying to con you. I work in a prison and it is a daily part of life there. I wish I had read this book before starting. I think it does a good job of scaring you just enough to be more careful. I found myself marveling at the ingenuity behind some of the cons. If only they would put that much time, effort and thought into other things...But what is really scary is the number of people who have been taken in by them. The advice is practical and indispensible for anyone working in the corrections field. It is easy to think it won't happen to you, but it happens to many people each year. This well written and easy to read book helps you recognize the con and thus protect yourself against it. Real life examples and responses help make the teachings more concrete. It also offers a brief analysis of why inmates try to manipulate.

I really enjoyed the book it is very informative into what kinds of games inmates will use on correction officers and staff to try to manipulate their way and make their time while incarcerated more pleasant. Very good book for anyone seriously considering working in corrections.

Ever given a presentation to a room full of people and realised that you were failing dismally? Ever had one student in your class who you just couldn't reach? Ever thought of giving up teaching/presenting because it's no fun anymore and your audience is getting tougher to handle everyday? Ever wanted to be better at what you do and don't know who to turn to for the answers? - well read on.

A new book entitled Artistry in Training by Stephanie Burns takes us to a higher level of understanding about the role and impact of the educator/trainer, in a concisely written, logically sequenced and easy to read format. Before we start, perhaps some definitions are necessary. Throughout the book Burns uses the term trainer to describe "anyone seeking to change or modify human behaviour - affecting the skills or actions, the thoughts and emotions of other people" (she covers this well in a section within her introduction entitled "What's in a Name"). So, for the purpose of this review I will use the term trainer to identify anyone involved in the teaching world - coach, teacher, counsellor, leader, sales manager. Further, Burns refers to members of the audience as students. So again, I will use this term throughout this review. Finally, whilst Burns has spent much of her life focussing on adult education, her focus is on education and learning. The methodology detailed in Artistry in Training has equal application to a group of five year olds or fifty year olds, so I will not distinguish adult or child education in this review, I will simply use the term education.

Now, if you want another "how to training book", stop right here, Artistry in Training is not for you. If however you are seeking to understand the experience of the learner, what is happening in your classroom and what you need to do to achieve 100% participation and results from your students, then Artistry in Training is an essential read.

Firstly, let's start with the author. American Stephanie Burns is a leading force in the field of education. She has spent her lengthy career exploring the "why's" of learning (both as student and educator), specialising in the area of adult education. Burn's client list (attained from another source) reads like a 'who's who' of world business. Try NASA, Coca Cola, ABC-TV and General Electric to name a few, and you have got to sit up and take note of what Burns is saying. Now resident in Australia, Burns has placed much of her recent focus on sharing her knowledge with other trainers in the live seminar environment. One suspects from her acknowledgments at the start of this book, that Burns was cajoled into writing Artistry in Training by her publishers, Woodslane, and to them we owe a debt of gratitude. For Artistry in Training is truly ground breaking and streets ahead of other training materials on the market.

Burns had me by page 9 of Artistry in Training when, after sharing an amusing story about her first training attempt, she writes " that those with perseverance and a willingness to make all their experiences useful, will without doubt succeed". Anyone who has sought to train or educate another person in anything, must surely be inspired by this line. So what makes Burns approach to the world of education different? Simply, it is these three core concepts.

1.Know and understand the learner's experience - realise that students are not all the same. 2.Understand the range and flexibility of behaviours that you as a trainer possess. 3.Develop coherent presentations/materials that make sense.

Now don't be fooled here. These concepts whilst making inordinate sense as one liners, are the result of years of research and study and are backed by a mass of theoretical data which Burns has painstakingly gathered from around the globe. What I particularly like about Burns work is that she obviously understands why her work works (or fails as in her first training experience) and this is well communicated throughout the book. This is probably what makes Burns unique and allows her message to be labelled ground breaking. There is no guess work here and as we read the book we can see that Burns has tested every concept and idea in real learning environments. Artistry in Training is a true blend of academic foundation and experience, which has been simply translated for the most experienced or novice trainer.

An easy 250 page read, Artistry in Training is extraordinary in its detail. Burns use of anecdotes keeps the reader grounded in the real world and builds a bridge of shared experiences which most readers will immediately relate to. The construction of the book (7 chapters) is solid, with each chapter containing an introduction, body and summary. Whilst I would not recommend it, this format allows the reader to read the book based on chapter interest, instead of from front to back. An FAQ chapter concludes the book, which is particularly useful for those hungry for immediate practical application. Entitled " Going Real-Time" this section has quickly become my favourite.

Artistry in Training is an enthralling first time read and for anyone engaged in the education field, a constant companion that will age well with time. So if you are charged with the task of teaching anything to anyone, Artistry in Training must be your first port of call. It is practical, intelligently written and provides hope to anyone seeking to communicate a message.

Artistry in Training is good self help book for any Trainer. Stephanie has provided friendly guidance for being a confident Trainer. Her style of presenting facts, analysing them and offering of expert advise with empathy is the hallmark of this book.I find in this book a strong reasoning for every guidance offered.

The book reflects great clarity and confidence in her field.Chapter 3 and chapter 7 is superb.I will call this book as Mentoring the Trainer.

Thanks very much..

Artistry in Training is a book I have been 'friends' with for 3 years now, long before meeting Stephanie. The experiences that Stephanie shares are real, tell it like it is and have enabled me to get a better understanding of this wonderful career path of being a trainer of adults and the wonderful interactions and dynamics they bring to a training environ. No special skills required to understand and gain from this 'friend'. When you feel alone on the path you are trying to forge for yourself, turn to Artistry in Training for a friendly help and reminder of why you are doing what you are doing.

This book masterfully weaves the many threads of how to achieve the magical moments of being a trainer.

A personalised, practical and thoroughly researched book on strategies that are engaging, obvious and challenging.

Having personally used the strategies in this book and encouraged over 500 to do the same I confidently stand in a place saying "it works"!

The author writes as if in conversation with you which makes it an easy read, yet the questions posed, leave you uncertain long enough to seek the answers woven through the stories.

The layout enables a quick reference guide for current issues or timely refresher. It is an ideal read for aspiring new trainers or experienced trainers looking for the next learning.

This handbook is a collection of ideas from companies for designing employee training and learning systems. It covers such areas such as creating the "learning organization", outsourcing, electronic performance systems, interactive multimedia training systems, diversity training and development, training for global operations and benchmarking for best practices.

This comprehensive handbook helps trainers design classrooms, self-study and computer and web based training programs. While delivering the latest information on how adults learn best, it shows trainers how to prepare lesson plans, create visual aids, and deliver dynamic and powerful presentations.

This is a great resource for HR professionals from tiny to mega corporations. Contributing authors are the most respected experts in their fields. Primary focus is on training and development: accountability, justifying programs, format, leadership, pros, cons, pitfalls, challenges . . . all aspects are covered.

As I research and write my Adult Education thesis, this book is the most useful tool I've found.

The ASTD Training and Development Handbook, Fourth Edition, by Robert L. Craig, is an essential reference book for faculty, teachers, educators, and learning system administartors at all levels including University, Corporate, K-12, and Community Colleges. It is easy to use, very comprehensive, and has great quick summaries. With the fusion of the teaching, training, and tutoring into a learner centered model this book is more useful than ever. A MUST BUY. The price is worth every penny.

The Handbook is arranged to cover almost all aspects of Training & Development. The topics are carefully selected and their authors picked from among the top names in their respective fields and therefore, the chapters are focused, targeted and provide the right mix of information and practical guidelines.

Each chapter addresses a single topic (like corporate universities, customer service training, leadership development, etc.) and is written in a straight-forward manner at the right depth making them easy to read and the perfect introduction to the topic without losing it's functionality as a reference.

No T&D professional should go without this book whether as a reference and a quick source of information when memory will just not oblige or an informative and valuable resource for information and ideas.

The Handbook is divided into 5 Sections:
1) The Training & development Function - Covering such topics as the learning organization, history of training and cost accounting for training.
2) Program Design & Development - The chapters on ISD; HPT; Adult Learning; & Evaluation are brilliantly written. I keep on going back to them again and again.
3) Media & methods - Includes some good case studies as well as Thiagi's excellent chapter on instructional games.
4) Training Applications - This is a brilliant discussion of almost all training topics that you might come across.
5) Resources - While these might be a little dated, they are still quite useful.

Check the table of Contents and some of the samples in the pages so obligingly provided by Amazon.com and don't be deterred by the length or the price of the book. This book is worth every cent and will last you long after you have forgotten the cost.

Great pictures and illustrations not only of techniques but of anatomy as well. Overall a really good book.

With photographs of actual tapings, this book is very easy follow the step needed to tape almost any body part. Also included in the book where recommendations on strengthing tips for injured joints/muscles.

I am an Athletic Training Student and this book is amazing. It was not required for the class that I bought it for, but It helped me so much. The pictures are very good and the step by step instructions make taping a breeze!

With so many books on How TO it's really great to find one that shows you just how without making you feel like you'll never understand the basics. If you are seriously thinking about doing a lot of sports related taping and handling of those injuries this is the book you want to add to your library.After doing sports med for 2 years now with college teams and marines i feel a lot safer knowing this book is out there for others to go by.

Cashman does a wonderful job integrating the challenge of business managemement with the host of challenges many of us face outside of work. Wow, this one really "hit home." The built in interactivity allows the reader to personally engage as the story unfolds. There were numberous times where I had to stop and really think how effective I have been leading my life vs. just leading the business. This book is both enjoyable to read and very profound.

It was phenomenal!  I read it in one sitting.  It was engrossing, thought-provoking and a very compelling look at business values.  I would love to see a series of such books on a variety of specific topics.  The fictional character interwoven with relevant teachings is a format that needs to continue.

This story of transformation is a juwel of profound and timeless wisdom being practically applied to business, leadership and coaching. It shows a way out of the present days miseries in both corporate and private life. Here is a bright and realistic vision for individuals, business leaders, organizations, nations and our planet as a whole, presented in the form of a most catching and touching story. This is a precious piece of exquisite literature for our new century. It should be made an obligatory textbook in all business schools.

Kevin Cashman's book is a classic. It combines his soulful insights about authentic leadership with a gripping and realistic tale of the realities confronted by a contemporary executive torn between the bottom line and what's really important in leadership and life.It addresses the greed seeking, short term focus and trends so prevalent in executive suites today. If you are a father and a results driven executive you'll weep when you read this book. I did. IT'S A SINGULAR CLARION CALL JUST WHEN WE NEED IT THE MOST.

I have bought many different kinds of horse training/riding books and this has been one of the better ones. I find that most books have a lot of pictures but little explaination or little explanation that I can understand. This book was very straight forward. The explanations the author gives are very easy to understand, but not so basic that you feel like he's talking down to you. I also found the illustrations to be very useful. I sometimes find that the pictures in books can be confusing or misleading. The sketches in this book make it very easy to see what the rider is trying to point out.
I have really found this book to be a big help. The ideas are a little different then what I have been used to seeing but they have worked very well. If you are looking for a book that has a lot to offer at a decent price - I really recomend Basic Horse Training!

This book has been very helpful for my teenage daugher. We have read almost every training manual there is. This one has alot of
basic but important information that the others fail to mention.
My daughter and I were actually able to pinpoint some basic training tips that revealed some behaviors of ours that were confusing her horse. I would recommend this book to anyone who is
a newbie and has a horse trained for them. They will be able to
reinforce the training received, so that they can get their money's worth.

I recently adopted a wild mustang. This book gave great instructions that really seemed to work. I have a lot of experience with horses but I really felt like I learned something from this book.

This book was excellent! It was very easy to follow with very helpful illustrations. I've looked at a lot of training books, but this one had the most complete start-to-finish approach. This book was a great find at a low price!

This is a great book. I have given this book as a gift to new parents and say this book is just like having children. You do your best, but they are who they are.

My 3.5-year-old son loved this hilarious story about a bossy boy and his disobedient dog. The way that the dog never listens to the orders that the boy is delivering is very amusing and so true to life. We laughed and laughed as we read this story. The ending where the little boy finally thinks up an order that the dog is able to obey works perfectly. We loved the way that they boy wants to celebrate his dog's "goodness" with a hug and some words of praise. The words and the pictures go together perfectly! All in all, this book is a great read and is sure to be a favorite with all children who have pets and those that want one.

Barbara Bottner's latest picture book proves once again how perfectly she understands children. A young boy is desperately trying to train his uncooperative dog. Ignoring command after command, the dog gloriously (and hilariously) avoids compliance. What's a boy to do? -- A perfectly satisfying ending!

How does a little boy train his big, brown, disobedient dog? When the boy commands SIT, his dog jumps up on him and slobbers. When he orders STAY, his dog chases a squirrel. FETCH seems to mean roll over to his dog; COME causes his furry friend to run away. This old canine just can't seem to get the hang of it. He won't give his paw, stay off the furniture, play catch, or stop howling and barking. Finally in total exasperation the boy commands BE BROWN, words his dog just can't ignore..... Barbara Bottner's minimal text, really just one word per page, is highlighted by Barry Gott's charming, bold, bright, and exuberant illustrations, and little ones are sure to giggle and enjoy all the silly antics of boy and dog. Be Brown! is an engaging and entertaining preschool, crowd pleaser, youngsters will beg to "help" you read again and again.

I found this book on exercise to be exactly what I was looking for. The format was easy to read and understand and I was getting useful information from the very first page. There were numerous photographs and illustrations and this made it easier for me to translate this information into an actual workout at the gym.
I have gone to the gym over the years on a fairly consistent basis but I found the Quick Set system has truly reduced my time in the gym while allowing me to obtain new levels of strength. I believe that this will be a method I can stick with for life.
I also appreciated the additional exercises and lifts that were provided as I find challenging my muscles by using different modalities helps to keep my sessions in the gym fresh and therefore I won't become bored and/or lax in my approach to my workout.
The Chapter entitled "Diet is a Four Letter Word" is perhaps my favorite because of the every day common sense approach to eating that is presented. I, myself, had given up on "fad diets" many years ago but I have never had an approach to eating put into writing that just made so much sense. The ten tips for reducing caloric intake that are given have become my new guideling for assesing how and what I am eating.
I truly would recomment this book to anyone who isn't quite sure of how to start or hasn't quite figured out where to go next with their current fitness program. Be Fit Stay Fit was fun to read and what's even better are the results I'm getting by using the suggestions given.

I found this book on exercise to be exactly what I was looking for. The format was easy to read and understand and I was getting useful information from the very first page. There were numerous photographs and illustrations and this made it easier for me to translate this information into an actual workout at the gym.
I have gone to the gym over the years on a fairly consistent basis but I found the Quick Set system has truly reduced my time in the gym while allowing me to obtain new levels of strength. I believe that this will be a method I can stick with for life.
I also appreciated the additional exercises and lifts that were provided as I find challenging my muscles by using different modalities helps to keep my sessions in the gym fresh and therefore I won't become bored and/or lax in my approach to my workout.
The Chapter entitled "Diet is a Four Letter Word" is perhaps my favorite because of the every day common sense approach to eating that is presented. I, myself, had given up on "fad diets" many years ago but I have never had an approach to eating put into writing that just made so much sense. The ten tips for reducing caloric intake that are given have become my new guideling for assesing how and what I am eating.
I truly would recomment this book to anyone who isn't quite sure of how to start or hasn't quite figured out where to go next with their current fitness program. Be Fit Stay Fit was fun to read and what's even better are the results I'm getting by using the suggestions given.

Be Fit! Stay Fit! provides the reader with a no-nonsense approach to fitness and easy, yet very effective methods to make your workout extremely productive! I have been training and eating healthy for 9 years and I can only imagine how much time could have been saved and better results could've been had if this book was available when I was an amateur. A must read for the average person who is just starting a fitness/nutrition program (95% of us), or even Mr. Olympia, anybody can reap the benefits of this books content. Bottomline: If you incorporate the knowledge and advice within its pages, YOU WILL GET RESULTS!

I have always been interested in fitness, having adopted the Atkins eating philosophy into my life and working out on a regular basis. With all the reading and inquiring I have done in the past 30 years, I have found nothing as informative and as easy to understand as this book. All of the usual questions -and even some I have never considered- are answered in a down-to-earth, common-sense manner that is even entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter the level of their diet or exercise regime! I would certainly call in to his radio show if I lived in Arizona--he sounds like a fun guy!!

This lady knows how to train dogs, and this book is a splendid outline of beginning the process. I have used it, and it works.

This book was recommended to me by a dog trainer. Though I have had dogs for many years, the material presented was insightful and helped me to see my fur-kids in a new light. I'm sure it will enable us all to live more happily together.

Every dog owner should read this book!

I'm an experienced dog owner who just adopted a 4 year old rescue dog. I decided to go "back to school" and look for some new books to help me train my new dog. I bought three books by Patricia McConnell:
1) How to be the Leader of the Pack...And have your dog love you for it
(a WONDERFUL short primer on having happy relationships with dogs)
2) The Other End of the Leash
(a full-length book about communicating with dogs-- GREAT!!!!)
3) Beginning Family Dog Training
(a very readable, clear, wonderful book on training dogs gently-- it works!! My dog is learning so quickly!)

This is the best author I have ever found for people who want to learn how to train their dogs through understanding effective canine-human communication. Read her books and you will never again try to train your dog through "leash pops", etc.. What a breath of fresh air! Finally, training methods you can feel really, really good about. Fun for dogs and humans. I can't say enough good things about Patricia McConnell!

This is not a book for someone working on a difficult behavior problem, nor is it a doctoral thesis. This is, just as the title says, a beginner's book for family dog training. There are no long explanations of some behavioral malady written in psycho-speak. I am quite sure Dr. McConnell could indeed do that if she wished, as there is no way something so elegantly simple could come from anything less a true expert.

66 pages of useful information. In this day and time, that's hard to find, even in a dog book of 300 pages or more. An easy read, simple, to the point- perfectly fits the title. Should be on every dog owner's bookshelf.

Having used the "old" Novak while securing my education, I was pleased to recieve my newly published edition. The text and pictures are timely and helpful. I keep it in my office for reference. The family practice residents have the privilege of using our book to supplement their knowledge as well. Meg Stoyle-Corby, CNM, MSN

i read this text for years and this new edition also a reference

I first read the book when I was four. I am now, at the age of ninteen, a fully qualified obstrician/gynecologist, all because of this book. I have now, of course, read this several times, but it is still like reading it for the first time. As the title implies, my father is David Olive, the editor of this book. I fully recommend this book to anyone who is remotely interested in a profession as a gynecologist.

A comprehensive book, essential to every Ob-Gyn resident or clinician. Takes you from the basics of anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive tract to the management of complicated gynecologic conditions.