Resources Books

For me, this is certainly one of the best recent books on pastoring. In a world of pastoral theory that is dominated by cut-rate corporate modeling, formulating, and marketing savvy, this work stands as a clarion call for a return to a thoroughly biblical and spiritual description of the pastor's call. A fear of mine is that most evangelical pastors would describe their jobs in terms more appropriate for therapy or corporate leadership than the biblical vision of shepherd. This book is an antidote to that ubiquitous cancer.

Written as a long reflection on the book of Jonah, Peterson writes on what it means to be called as a pastor (and a writer) and not have a congregation or a published work. He takes the reader through his own journey of discovery, what it meant to follow his calling in a biblically and spiritually faithful way, and introduces us to his mentors along the way (unlikely but powerful influences like Dostoyevsky).

This book was a vocation saver for me. I am a pastor and am almost constantly subject to the pressure to conform to a corporate model. Under the Unpredictable Plant helped me see through the flotsam and jetsam of current church-growth jargon to the clear biblical call to be a pastor.

I have served as a pastor in the Lutheran Church for 21 years. Having served a matriarchal, pastoral, and programmatic size church I have seen in myself the subtle slide from spiritual director to program director. Peterson is not only a very gifted writer, but one who pinpoints exactly what we pastors in the United States need to hear. May he who has ears to hear, hear well!

Eugene has a wonderful way of captivating the reader with conviciton and truth. This particular selection is my favorite because it targets vocational pride while providing the God-planned escape route. I will never read the Book of Jonah the same after reading this book. Prostituted vocations are evident all over the church world. This book opened my eyes and is a must read for all clergy.

"Parish glamorization is ecclesiastical pornography -- taking photographs (skillfully airbrushed) or drawing pictures of congregations that are without spot or wrinkle, the shapes that a few parishes have for a few short years. These provocatively posed pictures are devoid of personal relationships. The pictures excite a lust for domination, for gratification, for uninvolved and impersonal spirituality."

Want to read more? Buy the book! This book is practical, has theological depth, and is just plain fun to read. What more can you ask for? Few books are as exciting as this.

This is the third Peterson book I've read, and one of the five books he has penned for pastors. As the title suggests, this book is developed around the story-line of Jonah whose disobedience and running from God parallel similar sins in pastors. Peterson confronts pastors who do not stay rooted in one place, succumb to the lusts of "ecclesiastical pornography" (see the quote in a review below), and serve up religion to parishioners by making golden calves. His playful prose explores multiple dimensions of the pastoral vocation including prayer, spiritual direction, and cultivating (as a farmer cultivates a field, as opposed to a developer excavating land to build a shopping mall) the top-soil of the congregation. A chapter which meanders through the works of Dostoevsky, gleaning numerous insights into the soul-work of pastors, was especially helpful. I found myself rebuked, refocused, revived, and refreshed in my reading of this book over vacation this year. Just what I needed. The exegesis in Jonah may be strained at a few points, but the pastoral theology is sound and I'm grateful for what I gleaned from this book. I plan to return to it again in the future.

There are a growing list of coaching book authors that share their coaching "formula" or model with you - supposedly so that you can learn to be a great coach from reading their book. Unleashed is not that kind of book. Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro have written a book that shares what goes on "under the skin" of great coaching and reveals not only the guts of coaching, but the guts you have to have to be a great coach that can unleash potential in others. I enjoyed their focus on the qualities of great coaches - things like holding the highest expectation for others, the courage to share the truth, and the willingness to engage in Dangerous Conversations, and more. They share their experiences and their wisdom and I appreciate the courage they had to write a coaching book unlike the others. If you want to know what makes for GREAT coaching, this is your book.

True to their authentic selves, Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro created a brilliant model, the Great Expectations Coaching Model, which calls us to be who we are as a leader coach. In their book Unleashed they challenge us to use our talents to be in the service of others, to commit ourselves to their success, and to sacrifice ourselves in the name of enabling the very best abilities in those we lead. The call is resounding...soul shaking. You cannot read this book without feeling an up tick in adrenaline and a gnawing curiosity for what is possible. Don't go looking for a "five easy steps how-to" chapter. You won't find it here. What you will find is a challenge to look within yourself, unleash yourself and use the best of you to help others realize their greatness. Daunting? Yes. This book makes the journey doable, purposeful and rich.

I have just finished Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro's book "Unleashed!" Now this is not my usual read as while I am in the business of coaching people it is at a different level i.e. I am not a professional coach in the normally accepted way those words would give meaning.
However, I would like to comment about the book rather than me. I really enjoyed the principle of "Great Expectations" as described in the book. So much of our lives is about scrutiny and tests. This methodology sets the "Talent" up to be as successful as she or he can be, before any limiting judgements are made.
The book is easy to read while retaining lots of "meaty content". Peppered with interesting and appropriate quotes, the book holds the readers' interest all the way through.
A thoroughly reccommended read............almost textbook quality.
As a New Zealand resident, this is/was a refreshing and instructive read appropriate to our social rules and environment.
Thankyou Gregg and Susanne.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (6/07)

As everybody in the Human Resources field knows all too well, it is time-consuming to find new talent and quite expensive to keep hiring new people all the time. That is why the idea presented by Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro in "Unleashed!" should prove invaluable to people who are in a managerial/coaching position, regardless of the size of their company. They will show you how to expect greatness, which should open a wealth of opportunities for you and people who work with you.

If the reader is expecting another step-by-step, how-to guide, I would highly recommend he or she picks up another book. This book does not follow such an approach, but rather teaches one the process of becoming the kind of a person that other people would want to receive coaching from.

Thompson and Biro lead the reader through three principles essential to coaching: Earning the Right to Coach, A Perfect Partnership and Dangerous Conversations. Although this book is not a step-by-step guide, as I've already mentioned, it still provides many practical tools and thought-provoking sections. If you want to make sure this is the right book for you, just check out chapter 12. If you can agree with it, buy a copy and I am certain that it will drastically change your approach to life in general as well as your approach to leadership and coaching.

I found this book an enlightening read, written in a fluid, easy-to-follow and easy-to-understand style. My favorite parts were the "Try This" sections, which I found applicable not only to the work situations, but quite often to the general life. The 60 Big Coaching Questions found in Chapter 12 were truly eye-opening and I would have bought this book just for those pages. There are also some great photographs, notably the one on page 98 (and no, I am not going to tell you what is in it!), that complement the writing very well.

Overall I found "Unleashed!" to be a provocative read that delivers. I surely hope a similar description (provocative, but delivers...) would be used for anybody who reads it and applies it to his or hers approach to coaching.

Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro hit pay dirt with a great read for those that want to unlock the secret of coaching - Unleash the Talent in those you lead. It's in them. Know it and believe in them and great things will happen.
After coaching executives for over 24 years and having read everything I could find on the profession of coaching I would place this book in the top 3 books about coaching on my shelf!

When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church is Biblically solid and has the potential to revolutionize the way we do church...if we will apply them. Russell is easy and entertaining to read and will connect with anyone who is in the trenches trying to allow God to lead them in ministry and church leadership.

Our church purchased 40 copies of this book for an adult study group. We wanted to take a close look at the principles for growth as outlined by Mr. Russell and compare them to our local growth potential. We have been pleased with the discussions and results of that study. We have been encouraged by some of the things we have been doing and challanged to do better in some areas. We recommend using this book as a base to take a look at your local church and see how God might use you to reach others more effectively for His kingdom.

This book reminds us that a church can grow with out compromising spiritual values. This book is not a management book. It provides 10 principles that have worked for South East Christian Church, and can be adapted and used by any one. In fact we are encouraged not to try to use a cookie cutter approach. If I were to recommend two books for church growth, they would be The Purpose Driven Church, and When God Builds a Church.

This book, "When God Builds a Church," contains biblical principles and real-life examples for building a strong, evangelistic church. Although I am opposed to the mega-church model and much of the church growth movement for doctrinal reasons, I recommend this book because the general principles it advocates are sound and can be adapted for use in congregations anywhere, without necessarily embracing the big church idea. As a missionary in Brazil, South America I found this work to be encouraging, and hope to implement many of its ideas in a new church work here.

In this interesting and highly readable book, the author identifies and discusses "ten principles for growing a dynamic church." They are:

1. Truth: Proclaim God's Word as Truth and Apply it to People's Lives
2. Worship: Worship God Every Week in Spirit and in Truth
3. Leadership: Develop Christ-Centered Leaders Who Lead by Example
4. Excellence: Do Your Best in Every Area of Service
5. Faith: Be Willing to Step Out with a Bold Faith and Take Risks
6. Harmony: Maintain a Spirit of Harmony
7. Participation: Expect the Congregation to Participate in Every Area of Ministry
8. Fellowship: Continually Practice Agape Love for One Another
9. Stewardship: Give Generously of God's Resources as a Church and as Individuals
10. Evangelism: Commit Enthusiastically to Evangelism as Your Primary Mission

The author devotes a separate chapter to each of these principles in which he describes its scriptural basis and discusses its implementation in real life settings. This discussion includes a wealth of very practical information and advice on how to apply the principles effectively, and how to avoid or overcome stumbling blocks and problems.

Although one may disagree with the precise way in which the principles have been applied in the author's own "mega-church," the principles themselves appear fundamentally sound and can profitably be adapted in other congregational settings.

In beginning to read the orientation, it turned me off completely when it began with the fear of females. It's so overdone. But hasn't been tackled is the fear of men who have a completely different style when they meet fear, and often become aggressive because of it. Is there any more insulting rejection to a women than hearing, "there are plenty of more fish in the sea?" This proves not only the lack of integrity of the presumed lover but also the lack of mature perspective in appreciating the fact of one so committed and enamored. Just as men prefer to be the "one and only," so also women expect to be the "one and only." The fear of being alone doesn't necessarily produce the anxiety of feeling excluded if the flaws are seen in those who exhibit them, and operate more as malice than rejection. There is a huge difference. Faced with love that is generated within, and not because of trophyism and a misperception of external comfort may be frightening to men because it makes them dependent on the emotional consistency of that secure feeling, and delight in its glory. Fear of loss inevitably follows. But mature love accepts loss graciously in knowing that if love is not reciprocal within the range of adequacy deemed honorable and pure, generated from inside not outside, the result of well considered contemplation of strengths as well as weaknesses, flaws as well as perfections, the result hopefully of a really long and committed second, third or fourth look. Most of the rest is merely the passing of time for lifestyle comfort, and always subject to a tenuous existence, focusing upon quantity not quality of the relationship. It is the reason women wait, and it is the reason men refrain from being steered to other momentary pleasures. Isn't all real love like that?

I have not even read half of this book yet, and I can already say that it has helped me change my self and my life. It has such insight and wisdom in it - I can't say enough about how wonderful it is. I have been working on the issues in this book for around twenty years, and I only wish I had bought it twenty years ago. If you are dealing with any of the problems this book is about (and if you are human, you probably are to some degree), do yourself a favor and get this book!

Having first read Richo's "How to be an Adult," calling When Love Meets Fear: How to Become Defense-Less and Resource-Full his "best book" is quite a statement. The former is a wonderful and life changing tome that teaches the keys to meaningful relationships with others.

When Love Meets Fear builds on that message with a book expressly on the subject of fear. The root of anger, frustration and stonewalling in relationships, understanding and accepting our fear is our greatest journey in life.

One caution: This book takes many sittings to read properly. I was able to read only a few pages then I needed to put the book down and spend a day or two thinking about what I had just read. Almost like magic, I found myself time and again reading just the few pages I most needed to hear as I worked my way through.

This book simply explains the key to happiness. It is to let go of our fears, which is at the root of unhappiness, hate, aggression, apathy, and everything negative in the world. Once we are able to do that, we can open our hearts and embrace each other with love, respect, empathy, hope and forgiveness. It is a simple idea but something very difficult to do because our fears run very very deep within us all. Once we are able to do this to some extent, we try to help others do the same. It is simply the mission of all of our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. When you think about it, nothing else really matters as much. This is what this book tries to help us understand. It is a wonderful message! In another excellent book called "The Ever-Transcending Spirit" by Toru Sato, the author explains how this works in relation to human development and evolution. It shows us how we consciously begin living this life when we are naturally ready for it. These books are absolutely exquisite!

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I have tried a lot of self-help techniques but the ones contained in this book are unlike any I've encountered.

The biggest lesson I got out of this book is that so many of our problems nowadays occur because we had painful experiences earlier in life but instead of facing them and accepting the ramifications - we chose to lie to ourselves instead. Richo explains the most common lies: life is just, suffering is avoidable, things don't change, etc.

I understand from this book that it is much better to just experience those original painful feelings instead of spending your life overanalyzing every minute of every day trying to make the world something it is not.

Recently finished reading Joe Watson's book -- what a gem! It is smartly designed and quickly gets you on top of the diversity learning curve, whether you're looking to unlock your organization's full potential or are considering whether a prospective employer is "real." I bought a second copy and gave it to the Corporate Director of Diversity at my workplace, who in turn, is going to recommend it to our Corporate Diversity and Leadership Councils -- it's that good! Frankly, I'm surprised at the extent to which Joe Watson shares his own "trade secrets" in this book. It speaks volumes about his passion for diversity, not to mention candor.

Mr. Watson has developed a recipe for success when it comes to a hiring process that makes your company better. It should be required reading for all HR departments and senior level management. It should not be a secret that the employers who follow the process laid out in the book are performing better than their industry peers.

If you're responsible for hiring talented employees in a competitive business, Mr. Watson's book is a must read. I plan to keep it on my desk next to my HR manual and my Webster Dictionary! Thanks for shedding light on a crucial issue, Mr. Watson.

Mr. Watson has provided a smart yet practical guide for building diversity in the workplace. He has an open style and talks comfortably about race and its implications in the workplace. This step-by-step guide is applicable to large and small organizations - for- and not-for-profits. Mr. Watson will help you recognize that there is just "no excuse" for not diversifying the workplace - a viewpoint that is long overdue. Should be mandatory reading for every MBA program in the country.

America has waited too long for Without Excuses. Joe Watson is the master of "keepin' it real," and his cutting-edge strategies are welcome additions to the "corporate American mindset." As a young, minority entrepreneur, I have no doubt that if a company follows the guidelines in this book, they will see some VERY positive results. Yes, it encourages people to take a long, hard look at recruiting/hiring/retention strategies, but from my perspective it also encourages diverse job candidates to go the extra mile to try to attract the attention of companies that will value me for who I am. I am a young black female, and I don't expect people to ignore that fact. But I am also a triple-degree bearing, magna cum laude, contentious, hard-working person. I want my work to speak for itself, but I also want to be employed where I feel valued and respected for being myself. There are many diverse job-seeking candidates out there who are just like me. Without Excuses should be in the personal libraries of every person who understands good business sense.

This is one of the best business books ever! Five stars is to low for such an outstanding work as 100 ways to motivate others. Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson have a writing style that really hit home for me. Order this book now and your return on investment could be huge. I loved every word. I have already ordered all of Steve Chandler's books as a result of my satisfaction with this effort. . 10 Stars - 2 hour 40 minute very easy read. This book offers steps leaders can take to increase composure and results.

John Halloran
CEO [...]
CEO [...]

Great tips and ideas for motivating others, especially in the business world. Some of them include, "Know Where Motivation Comes From, Teach Self-Discipline, Stop Criticizing Upper Management, Keep Giving Feedback, Get Input from your People, Accelerate Change, Don't Confuse Stressing Out With Caring, Manage Your Own Superiors, and Manage Agreements, Not People." If you want to become a great leader, I highly recommend this book.

I've listened to these CD's more than once while driving. There are lots of great tips - and a couple opened my eyes to some areas where I had been stuck. Not every point was new to me. I have recommended it to others and shared some of the individual points with friends.

Steve Chandler drives home the keys to becoming a great leader in a way that is easy to understand and implement. This should be required reading for anyone in a leadership role. David Otis Author of "Walk Fast, Talk Loud and Smile."

If you are a reader on leadership, Steve Chandler is not stranger to you. In "100 ways to motivate others:", he condenses several years worth of work into a handbook for the new generation of leader.
Do not be confused by the fact that the book is not large. Steve has crammed years worth of fundamental truths about motivation and management into a compact tome.
The hardest part of using these techniques is making the initial leap of faith that these steps actually work. And they do work. If you buy a book on motivation or leadership this year, it must be this book.

Well please, I got just what they said. The book is well written, easy to apply-thanks.

The book, "Twelve Essential Skills for Great Preaching" is an excellent book for student ministers, lay persons and even seasoned ministers. We can all learn some valuable tips and "essential skills" on how to improve our preaching and by so doing remove boredom from our congregations and encourage and motivate all audiences in strengthening their faith in the Gospel of jesus Christ. This book will assist us to enliven our messages and communicate far better with our community of believers.

With a desire to provide a "skills development approach" for training in the art and science of preaching, Dr. Wayne McDill pens a volume that aims to "identify and strengthen the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). McDill serves as professor of preaching at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has over forty years of experience as a pastor, denominational leader,
and a teacher of homiletics and is the author of numerous books, including Evangelism in a Tangled World, Becoming Who You Are, Making Friends for Christ, and The Message.

McDill contends that there are twelve essential skills to help preachers provide more and better content in their sermons. While he observes that God calls and His preachers, we have the responsibility to develop these specific skills through "discipline, hard work, and a commitment to clear thinking and Bible-based sermons" (15). He notes that:

This book is designed with a self-improvement format, a do-it-yourself approach which will let you concentrate on your own skills, at your own pace, and in the areas you see need to be strengthened (7).

Summary

McDill presents the first skill for great preaching in that the preacher must "get the text in view" by way of observation (17). With this skill, he desires to "recogniz[e] and not[e] details in the wording of the text and their significance for its meaning" through the means of structural diagramming via inductive Bible study (43). The second skill is "seeing what is there [through] recognizing and noting details in the wording of the text and their significance in the meaning (42).

The next skill is in "asking the right questions ... for the best research to interpret the writer's meaning" -- also known as hermeneutics (59, 61). The challenge here lies in trying to know what someone's intentions are when they are so far removed by historical, literary, and theological distance (63-64). One these questions are answered, the preacher moves to the next step which is "naming the textual idea" (80). Here, the preacher discovers "the writer's idea in the text and designat[es] it with precise terminology" (83). Once accomplished, the next step is to touch human needs by "tracing from theological concepts in the text to corresponding needs in contemporary hearers" (102).

After this step is executed in the interpretation stages, the time comes to bridge from text to sermon (121) followed by the writing of the sermon divisions which "clearly state the teachings of the text on its subject" (139). Next is the step of planning the sermon design which determines "the arrangement of sermon materials for the most effective communication" (159) followed by the development of sermon ideas which will aid in the "understanding, acceptance, and response of the hearer" (182). The next step in this area of understanding and acceptance is in "exploring natural analogies ... for illustrating sermon ideas" for, as McDill notes, "a concept does not impact our thinking unless we can see it" (203). Along this line of thinking, the next skill deals with "drawing pictures, telling stories" in an imaginative and creative way to bring biblical and contemporary stories to life in the mind of the listener (223).

Finally, the culminates all the steps thus far into this final step which aims to "[conform] every aspect of sermon design to the aim of a faith response in the hearer" (244) for it is the "only appropriate response to God and His Word" (258).

Critical Evaluation

As stated earlier, McDill's purpose in writing this book consists of "identify[ing] and strengthen[ing] the specific skills needed for more effective sermon preparation" (ix). By focusing on the content of the sermon, he succeeds for the most part in making a user-friendly volume that deserves a place on every pastor's bookshelf.

What immediately strikes the reader's cursory glance of this work is the layout. McDill deserves praise for achieving his goal of presenting a "self-improvement format [and] a do-it-yourself approach" (7). Each chapter contains a sentence that clearly and succinctly tells the "skill [McDill hopes] to develop with this exercise" (83). Each chapter also contains easily identifiable headings and subheadings, a box or boxes containing key definitions, guidelines for each exercise, a chapter summary, study questions, and examples of how to implement each exercise. He helps the preacher in his studies who is pressed for time. McDill's layout allows the preacher a quick reference guide as needed.

Another appealing aspect of this work is its practical nature. This is not a theoretical book on homiletical philosophy but a basic `how-to' manual for preachers to work their own pace (11). He notes that "just because you think you understand something doesn't mean you can do it. Practice is the only way to master a skill, even in sermon preparation" (4). McDill takes the preacher step-by-step through each of the skills he presents. As mentioned just previously, each chapter contains a segment guiding the reader through an exercise for each skill (32, 52, 73, 90, 114, 131, 146, 171, 193, 215, 235, 257). In these segments, the author certainly practices what he preaches in that not only does he tell the reader what each skill entails, he also helps the reader apply it step-by-step from the ground up . This portion is so helpful for the young preacher finding himself overwhelmed with the thought of sermon preparation. McDill figuratively takes the young preacher by the hand and guides him carefully through each process.

A highly commended chapter ib this work is Chapter Ten, "Exploring Natural Analogies" (201). A `natural analogy' takes a "relationship, circumstance, event, or other factor" in the natural realm and parallels it with a theological concept (207). McDill notes that an "incarnational (in human form) principle must guide us today as se seek, through preaching, to be channels of God's ongoing revelation" (203-204). He rightly notes that we must "look for analogies that will help your hearer understand the idea" (211) and are grounded in our respective "arenas of life" (216). This skill is vital in connecting with our contemporary audiences and is the same style of preaching that Jesus often used with the common people with His use of parables, which took a common situation, event, or person's position and used it to instill a heavenly truth.

Two weaknesses are found in this work. The most noticeable is the title. This reviewer finds the title a bit presumptuous, as if acquiring and applying these twelve skills will automatically make one's preaching `great.' For McDill, great content equals great preaching and clearly his focus is on fleshing out the content of the Scriptures in "the skills necessary to sermon preparation" (10). The title implies this would be a more comprehensive approach to sermon preparation and delivery in the whole realm of preaching. Instead, he minimizes the effect of delivery in favor of content alone.

The delivery style is not the critical factor in what we recognize as great preaching. Great delivery without effective content is often only "sound and fury, signifying nothing." On the other hand, striking content is of real interest to the hearer, even if the delivery is weak. (10).

Yet again, the title of the book implies preaching and delivery is part of the preaching process. Plus, the Scriptural accounts of the preachers and prophets indicate that the content and the way they communicated that content was part of the message. The Apostle Paul notes that:

My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, ESV).

The point here that Paul makes is that content alone does not a message make, but it is how the message crafts the speaker's heart and thus persuades passionately through the Spirit. McDill seems to miss this point completely. A better title would be "The 12 Essential Skills for Great Sermon Preparation."

Conclusion

After reading this work in its entirety, I would highly recommend this work to someone looking for a manual on sermon preparation. Even though the title is misleading, once the preacher enters into the contents of the book and sees the helpful way McDill fleshes out these various skills, he will be thankful for having such a wonderful volume in his hands.

I would recommend using this volume as a tune-up to specific areas of your preaching preparation that need work rather than trying to work from the beginning to the end of this book, for that would take a large amount of time. Absorbing this book little-by-little, however, will certainly transform your sermon preparation and your congregation will thank you all the more for this transformation.

I must admit as a recent Bible college graduate I was intimidated by the task of expository preaching. However, as I finished each chapter I thought to myself, "I can do that." Soon I was through the entire book confident I could preach an effective expository sermon on any passage of Scripture.
McDill takes you through from text to sermon and everything in between showing exactly how to do everything. I readily admit that my preaching has changed since reading this book. It has added depth and meaning and my sermons are not just an exegetical speech but messages that connects with the hearts and spirits of the congregation.
This book is a must-read for the expository preacher!

McDill has captured the essence of expository Preaching. No other preaching method I have studied is as God honoring and powerful. It teaches you how to preach God's Word and not your own or anyone elses. At the same time it helps you to use your own life experiences to illustrate the points you pull directly out of God's Word. It takes the best of Inductive study methods and couples them with the art of expository preaching.

As a professional with over 35 years experience in the fields of corrections and substance abuse, I didn't realize how limited my knowledge of the various aspects of 12-step programs was until I read this book . I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity and the curiosity to read this book and highly recommend that it be read by anyone in the field! I feel that Ms. Anderson had three goals in mind--information, enlightenment, and resourcefulness.

I appreciate the book, 12-Step Programs: A Resource Guide for Helping Professionals. I have worked in the field of addictions for over 5 years and found that this book has a variety of self help programs that fit the needs of anyone seeking freedom from any addiction! It is a great reference guide for any professional who seeks to enhance and further their knowledge on the 12-step programs.

Ms. Anderson has done all of us a tremendous service by compiling and explaining all the existing 12-step programs. This is a guide that should be available to social service agencies, counselors, or anyone who works with people who are addicted and who needs to refer them for help and supportive recovery. And, finally, this is a work of love for Ms. Anderson, who has regained hope in her own recovery and in helping others to recover. She is an inspiration when she speaks, and she continues to inspire us with this comprehensive guide.

12-Step Programs was really helpful to me in evaluating myself as well as friends and families. I know some people that have problems that are in this book and think it would be very helpful. Some people feel embarrassed to talk with someone or have no idea how to get help for there addictions. This book changes all of that!

AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES FIELD, I FOUND THE BOOK AN INVALUABLE GUIDE FOR THE CLIENTS THAT I SERVE. THE BOOK IS ALSO A RESOURCEFUL AND INFORMATIVE TOOL WHICH WILL ENHANCE MY SKILLS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR PEOPLE IN OUT OF THE FIELD BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A HELPING HAND FOR PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR HOPE AND UNDERSTANDING.

This book was helpful, but not as much as I'd hoped. It would be best for someone new to writing reviews.

This product was a quick way to finalize a review. It has great phrases that are very useful. Ever have one of those days where you just can't think of the greatest way of putting a sentence together? These phrases help put everything together in a well written manner.

excelent book, easy to read and to understand.
excelent seller, quick shipping and great shape.

This is a great little book. It covers just about very situation. It gives, on the money, phrases. It also provide phrases to use for recommended improvements. I'm the newest member of management in my corporation. When my boss read first reviews, he was totally impressed. It is definitely worth the money. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent tool for assisting managers with written comments on the performance reviews they are required to do on their employees. It especially helps managers with new phrases for employees they have been reviewing for years.

This book is IDEAL for anyone who is going to train or teach anything. How to cut the fluff and deliver the required facts.

I am not a professional trainer by trade. However, I was recently appointed training coordinator for my department. The Accelerated Learning Handbook has definitely helped me approach my job with a fresh perspective. The information, ideas, and techniques presented have enabled me to more effectively train those in my department as well as those in other functions. Before reading the AL Handbook, I thought all that was needed to effectively teach someone was simply to make sure all of my PowerPoint slides were logically put together. I now have a broader view of how people learn and a sold framework to use when putting together training materials on any topic. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to engage the audience and create meaningful, effective training presentations.

I have worked with adult learners for more than fifteen years and have always tried to incorporate whole-brained, participative learning. This book provided some excellent theoretical background as well as a lot of new instantly usable ideas. I wasn't even all the way through before I applied a couple of the techniques and got an excellent response from my client.

Finally, teachers and administrators have a useful tool to recharge their classrooms/schools. We have become so test oriented that many times we forget that the process of learning comes from the doing. The statement comes to mind that we utter with new approaches," When do I have the time to get it all in?". That is where the problem lies! We are so pressured with these new demands that we loose sight of what is important, the process. This book will give us a clearer picture of how we can recharge our teaching and can provide the key so we can use the ideas to change the way we teach or approach the students' learning who are in our care.

I was getting ready to prepare a training program for 44 persons when I read this book. Immediately! after I used the guidelines to prepare my session. Preparation was fast and easy -and fun! I really couldn't believe that it was that easy to apply and it has been one of my best sessions to date. I refer to it when I need a refresher or a new perspective. I definately reccomend this book for trainers who need to keep their material fresh and interesting (esp. in-house trainers).