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Resources Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Resources
Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey
Published in Paperback by Inner Traditions (1990-09-01)
Author: Alex Grey
List price: $29.95
New price: $17.99
Used price: $14.00
Collectible price: $29.95

Average review score:

Wow
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-24
This book is easy to get lost in. The art has alot of stuff in it to absorb.

Excellent Artwork!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-06
This book is filled with incredible art by Alex Grey. The only problem with the book is the fact that it is listed on Amazon as a HARDBACK and it is not. This is no fault of the artist but Amazon should be sure to correctly list their products.

HE LOVED IT & So did I
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-19
I bought this for my fiance because he LOVES Alex Grey and He LOVES TOOL. He absolutely loved the book and actually I DID TOO!!! If you are a fan of either or (Alex Grey or Tool) it's a MUST BUY!!!

I got it to be a better yoga teacher!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-08
the images of sacred body - energy currents are incredible! Nowhere else will you find this kind of anatomical imagery. This is an incredible book. Alex Grey is a genius!

Spectacular art and a tool for transformation.....
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-25
Alex Grey's art is unique, provocative, visionary and striking. The anatomical detail, overall composition and beauty is uplifting. While this type of art may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is undeniably creative and powerful.

This book is based on a series of paintings that are approximately 6'0" tall. They were meant to be used as a mirror for an individual to experience different aspects of themselves. In other words, to serve as a lens for a different perspective on what it is to be human. In general, the book proceeds from an outline of the body made up of elements, through the skelton system, blood vessels, nerves, etc. What is unique is that it goes beyond this to subtle and causal realms based on the experience of Alex Gray and the testimony of various mystics. It is meant to evoke awareness of these more subtle dimensions and even in book form could be used for meditations.

This book also contains images of Jesus, the Boddhisattva of infinite compassion and other enlightened beings. Again, these are meant for contemplative experiences where you look for these energies in yourself as part of a contemplative practice. There are also some beautiful images of a couple kissing, making love, a small family, etc. These latter category of images are similar to the cover in that they represent the various spheres of Being from the gross body through the spirit.

This book is on the large side, is printed on very high quality paper and contains a lot of color plates as well as contextual information. It is a bargain at the price it is being sold and some of the text is written by Ken Wilber.

If you are not familiar with Ken Wilber's work, either Kosmic Consciousness or A Brief History of Everything would be a great place to get started. Either of these resources will help you to appreciate Grey's art in more depth and understand what he is trying to achieve.

Resources
The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester: A Fresh Perspective on Organizational Leadership, Culture and Behavior
Published in Hardcover by Jardin Publishing (2006-08-01)
Author: David T. Riveness
List price: $22.95
New price: $15.87
Used price: $14.28

Average review score:

Put it on your corporate bookshelf!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-18
This book was given to me by a colleague and has changed the way I think about organiational dynamics. The twin concepts of Jestership and illumination of blind spots are powerful learnings for those who aspire to lead great organizations. Everyone who works to positively contribute to their company should give this a read.

Practical suggestions offered in an engaging manner
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-05
The Secret Life of the Corportate Jester provides specific, practical, and highly relevant insights into how to more effectively lead and manage organizations. The book's approach - on on-going interaction told in story form - engages the reader and keeps interest high to want to know, "What comes next?" Anyone who wants to better understand how to make a difference in organizations will gain value from this book."

Excellent User-Friendly Book on Leading Change
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-23
Dave Riveness did a great job with 'The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester'. I read it cover-to-cover on a flight and couldn't put it down. The combination of Greek mythology and lessons for organizational change was a very interesting idea, and Dave's writing was crisp, clear and accessible. All in all, this is a great read on how to transform an organizational culture from the inside-out.

No Blind Spots in Corporate Jester
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
I highly recommend The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester - both entertaining and insightful! This book empowers readers to influence positive change in their organization -- regardless of organization or position. Corporate Jester will help you (and your organization) discover blind spots and influence others.

Simple Guide to Leading at Any Level
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-27
Thank you Mr. Riveness for simplifying what has become an over complicated topic! This entertaining story gets to the heart of True Leadership... that True Leaders are not defined by their positions or titles, but their courage to seek and speak the truth at all times.

The Apprentice Guide stories provide insight and guidance to uncover personal and organizational blind spots. A great read to increase individual and organizational effectiveness.

Resources
Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action
Published in Paperback by Zondervan Publishing Company (2007-04-30)
Author: J. Matthew, M.D. Sleeth
List price: $14.99
New price: $7.04
Used price: $7.12

Average review score:

Inspiring! Thank God it made it to Australia
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-13
I visited my local Christian bookstore (the biggest chain in Australia) and asked for something on "Stewardship" - blank stare and a few stutters... I then asked for something on "Christians and the environment" - oh yes, they could help me, and took me to the back of the store, to the top of the shelf, and there it was, one of three books on Christians and the environment. What I actually wanted was something on Christians and Sustainable Development, and this book more than met my needs.
It is fantastically written, easily digestible, a comfortable read, but it does not skirt any of the issues. It clearly ties together the notions of environmental degradation and human suffering, including the suffering of the poor in other countries who live miserable lives working to feed the consumption machine of the West.
We Christians have a biblical mandate to care for the poor and the oppressed and to care for the creation, and Dr Sleeth provides insightful and practical ways that we can do just that in our every day lives.

A Christian Call to Action describes this book perfectly
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-10
My fifteen year old daughter attends an online Christian highschool and she regularly is the "odd student out" on their online forum, disagreeing with the majority of her fellow high schoolers on everything from politics to capital punishment. We are proud that she is so passionate about her beliefs and we regularly have deep conversations with her about the world and our place in it as Christians.

One topic that comes up regularly is environmentalism. We are pretty passionate about being "green" and have always taught her that caring for the environment was a Biblical mandate and should be an integral part of every Christian's life. So, she started a forum topic about stopping global warming and got pounced upon by other Christian high schoolers stating things like, "global warming is a myth", "God wants us to take dominion of the earth", "Jesus is coming back again soon, so what is the difference - the earth will be destroyed." She was in shock that they held these beliefs and after talking through it and the reasons they said these things, as misguided and wrong as they were, I decided to go looking for some books for her that spoke about environmentalism from a Christian perspective. I ended up buying a few from Amazon and "Serve God Save the Planet" was the first one we read.

It is not what I was expecting. I was expected an indepth review of "saving the planet" and why it is critical for Christians. Instead, it gives an introductury, high level view of a number of subjects. The author's passion comes through and it is a window into his journey of faith and this includes saving the planet. The book is subtitled, "A Christian Call to Action" and that is exactly what the book is and what it did for me. While he does include a great chapter making a case for Christian's to care for the earth, most of the book is his sharing his own story and calling us to action.

It is easy to read and very impactful. Each chapter resonated with me and I felt myself nodding and getting pumped up, as it is exactly what I have always felt, but in many areas have lost touch. Besides caring for the earth, he writes about taking action and doing things, he writes about having too much stuff, taking a true day of rest each week, getting rid of television and replacing it with books, serving the poor and making a difference in the lives of others around the word and raising our kids to be help the poor and care for the world.

Since reading this, I've purchased a copy for my sister and my parents and my wife is now reading it and my daughter is almost finished. I'd recommend it to everyone. It is light reading and he doesn't go into depth on each subject, instead, he shares his story and get's you pumped up to take action.

I highly recommend it!

Phenomenal Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-29
I met Dr. Sleeth a few months ago when he came to South Florida. I just finished this book and I cannot fully communicate the appreciation I have for the truths he communicates. Everyone (especially Christians who aren't sure about the whole green/environmental thing) should read this. In the back of the book I have marked the things that I will be implementing into my life and have even made my own list of other ideas. I am encouraged and inspired; not in an in-the-moment emotional kind of way, but in Biblical, theologically sound way that is rooted in the heart of God and His heart for the earth. A great read for small groups, families, singles. Phenomenal book!!!

Life-changing!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-25
Dr. Sleeth's ideas changed my life. I now line-dry my clothes from April to November (jeans just don't air-dry during Pennsylvania winters), hand-wash dishes, and use compact fluorescent bulbs. I also switched to cloth diapers.

I always thought my grandma was crazy for hanging her clothes to dry and hand-washing her dishes. But doing these things relax my mind. I sing to myself, let my kids help out, and rest in the idea that we're all doing something to respect God's creation. Plus, we save money on our electric bill, and save forty dollars a month on diapers.

Get this book, read it, and apply it. It will change your life for the better. And the best part? It's fun. Trust me. :)

I told my hubby, you've got to read this when I'm done
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-05
What I loved best about Serve God, Save the Planet, is that the author, Matthew Sleeth is obviously down-to-earth, and his writing is approachable, practical, and not holier-than-thou. It is a hopeful call to action for Christians who want to honor God in the way that they interact with this world and with our environment. I have recommended it to everyone I know. It will definitely be the gift of the year.

Resources
Vitamin C for a Healthy Workplace
Published in Paperback by Creative Bound (2001-09-01)
Authors: Luke De Desadeleer and Joseph Sherren
List price: $17.95
New price: $17.94
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Talk about "refreshing"! I love it!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-30
The authors take the mystery out of how to create a tuned-in, turned-on profitable workplace. Well written. Well researched. I'm juiced! Two thumbs up!

He's Been There
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-25
Great book with down to earth practical info - You can taste Joe's depth of knowledge, background and experience on almost every page. - JA

A very good read!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-25
A very good read. I found many useful strategies for maximizing workplace productivity. Concepts were clearly defined and well thought out. Everyone (employers and employees both) would benefit by reading this book!

Highly Recommended
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-25
I have a free lance consulting business.....and this will be one of
my top books I will recommend to those who want to turn around
the harmony and productivity in their workplace.

Uncomplicated Advice is a Must for Every Manager
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-26
Having read many management books previously, I was expecting more of the same, old boring stuff. This book offers new insights in an easy-to-read way. All managers, both new and experienced should read this book! I have been a manager for many years, and was able to take away information and new methods which I could implement immediately in my workplace. I found the section on personality styles unique and very helpful in dealing with both my employees, and with higher management. This book is fun, educational, and a must read for every manager.

Resources
The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating
Published in Paperback by Penguin (Non-Classics) (1999-07-01)
Author: Rebecca Wood
List price: $20.00
New price: $4.00
Used price: $3.52
Collectible price: $25.00

Average review score:

Great resource
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-17
I'm vegetarian and have been for over 10 years. My husband on the other hand, doesn't like "healthy" food. So every time I present an argument for trying one of my dishes, he always wants to know what that particular food 'provides' him. This is my savior, when it comes to quick and easy reference to what food have what nutrients. Also contains helpful suggestions on how to shop and buy the foods as well as cook them.

My most loved book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-27
I got this book 2 years ago when I was interested in finding out more about whole foods, even though what we ate was already almost entirely whole foods. I wanted to know about the benefits of each food, and find some new ones as well. This book quickly became, and still is, my most used book. I always take it with me when I travel. It's fascinating to pick it up and read about 1 or 2 specific foods at a time. The amount I've learned about the foods we're eating is tremendous, and for curious food-loving people the book is tops.

Fascinating and educational
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-23
Every time I open this book, I find some new fascinating information in it. There are also great recipes and interesting anecdotes sprinkled throughout.
I'm very glad to have this one in my library.

You Are What You Eat
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-07
A must have reference for those that need to know more about what they eat and how they can maximize their nutrtional needs through the understanding of "whole plant based" foods,...flavor need not be sacrificed!

Fabulous Resource
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-05
I absolutely love this book! Although I have only had it a few weeks, it is already a constant resource in my kitchen. I look something up in it almost everyday, and I've never been disappointed with the entries in the book. I am pregnant, and my doctors are concerned about me getting enough of certain nutrients. This book has helped me alter my diet to get as much of those nutrients naturally as I possibly can. It's informative, user-friendly and well written. I am definitely glad I bought it, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to eat a more balanced, healthy diet.

Resources
Abolishing Performance Appraisals: Why They Backfire and What to Do Instead
Published in Paperback by Berrett-Koehler Publishers (2002-09-09)
Authors: Tom Coens and Mary Jenkins
List price: $21.95
New price: $7.25
Used price: $5.83

Average review score:

A Critical Step for a Performance-Driven Organization
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-25
This book becomes more relevant every year! For organizations that want responsible employees, it challenges leadership to consider the assumptions that drive traditional HR performance appraisal processes - most importantly those arising from the common `parental' or `patriarchy' model of leadership and organizational development.

In this research-based analysis of the multiple purposes of performance appraisal, a labor attorney and an experienced HR professional team-up to explain why appraisals backfire - and they clearly accomplish that key goal of the book. In particular they explain why, in a world in which 98% of people see themselves as being in the top half of performers, the requirement to force-rank employees is a demoralizing and demotivating policy - if you then connect pay raises to this policy, it is a policy to pay money to demotivate the majority of staff! What responsible leader wants their name on such a policy?

So, is there a solution? Yes, but not a ready-made one. Because the authors recognize that the performance appraisal process is only a part of a highly integrated organization framework (the authors refer to this as `The System' - others ask you to think 7-S model) that drives organizational effectiveness, the book does not recommend a one-size-fits-all solution to replacing performance appraisals. Instead, it recommends that the reader make a paradigm shift away from the patriarchy model to a more adult to adult concept, think about what the organization really wants to accomplish (what problem is to be addressed), and provide choices for different individual situations. The book is not an easy read, nor does it provide a feel good solution - it is recommended for thoughtful practitioners who want to know what questions to ask for their situation, rather than what answers others have found for their own, perhaps very different, situation.

Smashing those unchallenged assumptions about appraisal.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-02
If you grapple with performance appraisal, then it might be worth thinking through the assumptions that you have built your performance appraisal system upon. And that's how Tom and Mary's book can help. They describe a series of assumptions that most performance appraisal systems are based on, and they offer up some more useful (and more reality-based) assumptions that provide the foundations for a more effective alternative (not an improvement - a completely different concept altogether).

Even if you aren't convinced to let go of traditional performance appraisal methods, you will still glean some valuable pearls from this book, that can help with problems you're currently having with appraisal.

The side effects can kill the method
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-24
Get past the title, and the authors' "we are totally right" style, and you'll find good material in here. "This book is about ... choos[ing] ... the most effective ways of working with people, [and] refocusing on outstanding organizational performance."

It tells you why most formal appraisal systems have a lot of good goals, but the negative side-effects of trying to reach them through a regular, compulsory, recorded system prevent most people from reaching them. Suggests abolishing the single system, reviewing the goals, and setting up multiple voluntary systems to do the job better.

Read this book to remind yourself what real personal and group improvement communication is about, so that you can include it in your daily work.

Great Starting Point
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-06
I seached out this book when I was tasked to be part of creation of a review process for my smallish company. "Abolishing Performance Appraisals" operated as a great resource during the process.

Especially helpful were the case studies, which pointed out how real companies were creating alternatives to clunky performance appraisals.

Good and bad
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-15
Extensive research, good case studies, knowledgeble discussion of legal issues are strengths of this book. However, there are numerous weaknesses:
1 Linking enlightened management directly to ineffective appraisal systems. They are not nedessarily related.
2 Not acknowledging managers insight on employees performance.
3 Assuming apprasials are generally a high corporate priority compared with other management activities.
4 Not recommending one or two focused appraisal functions as an alternative to no appraisals.
5 Not providing an explaination of how to administer most pay raise systems (Hay for example).
6 Not clearly identifying how the rating drives pay, promotion and bonus. An alternative is required.
7 Not disussing how requirements may vary by industry job specifics or the impact of enviromental factors, such as, confidentiality and raises based on senioity. jrj

Resources
Exploring the Titanic
Published in Library Binding by Sagebrush Education Resources (1999-10)
Author: Robert Ballard
List price: $14.95

Average review score:

A Sad, Yet True Look at the TITANIC
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-12
Exploring the TITANIC is a very profound read. Robert Ballard (author of this book) is an avid diver, with the dream of finding and exploring the TITANIC. He joined a bunch of French explorers, and traveled far into the deep of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland where the TITANIC sank in 1912. Ballard used Argo (an advanced water-safe camera) to take pictures of the TITANIC until he found that he could not use Argo anymore because the rough waves were pounding against it. Minute after minute, hour after hour, the Knorr (the submarine Ballard was traveling on) floated in a sea of darkness because the only light they had was the light from Argo. About ten hours went by before Ballard decided to use Angus. Angus was an older camera that Ballard had used in previous explorations. In an hour or two, Ballard had found the TITANIC. Somehow he was not satisfied. He wanted to take clear pictures but did not know how to get them with the technology that he had with him. He pondered this for days. He knew that he was about 13 feet above the TITANIC. Then it came to him that he just needed to go down 13 feet more to get his pictures. Ballard convinced the Captain to go down the 13 feet. When they reached their target, they were able to get their pictures.
Ballard's dream was still not fulfilled because he had not yet explored the TITANIC. About a year later, Ballard and two other divers went underwater to explore the TITANIC. They had traveled down four or five times to complete their mission of exploring the TITANIC. Ballard's dream was fulfilled.
I would recommend this book to any reader that is NOT sensitive. This book told about people on the TITANIC who died. I think the author told us too much about people's lives and made us care about them too much. It was sad when you found out the person died. If they weren't killed, then one of the person's loved ones was killed. For example, Jack Thayer was talked about very much in the beginning. I became fond of him because the author gave so much detail about his life. When Ballard told us that Thayer had survived the crash, he did not stop there. He went on to tell us that Jack's father and his friend did not make it. This made me very emotional. If you would like to learn about Robert Ballard and his exploration of the TITANIC, then by all means, read this book. If the sad parts about the people who died bother you, just skip those pages and you'll still learn a lot about exploring the TITANIC.

A fabulous read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-21
I first read this book almost 15 years ago, at age 5 : I loved it, and read it uncountable times. Today it is still just as fascinating. Beautifully illustrated and clearly written, it was the first of many Ballard books that I read. I would also recommend the Discovery of the Bismark and The Wreck of the Isis, just as interesting but less well known. A great way to start reading about the great ships of the past.

Read about the Hole thing from the Beginning
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-22
Goes behind the Titanic. Why did the Titanic sank, why it was built, how they came up with the name Titanic etc. It has everything you need to know about the Titanic. Even has real actual pictures taken of the Titanic in the water and above.

Titanic
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-23
Do you like old ships? Well, I know the right one for you. It is the Titanic. It is about a ship that hit an ice berg and went down. So go under water with Dr.Robert Ballard and explore the Titanic. Good Luck! This book is recommended for 8 and up.

If you like reading about the Titanic you will love this book!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-10
It's a true story about the Titanic and what things Robert Ballard and his team find in the Titanic.

Resources
The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
Published in Library Binding by Sagebrush Education Resources (1999-10)
Author: Dr. Seuss
List price: $24.55
New price: $84.81

Average review score:

A Classic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-13
I'd been searching for this book to read to my 2 year-old son. I remember just loving it and was sure he would. He does. It's just delightful to hear his astonishment every time another hat appears on Bartholomew's head. It's a must read for children of all ages.

A Lesser Known Classic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-07
This book left a strong impression on me as a child. One of only a few books that I remembered vividly and was anxious to get for my own young boys (who of course, loved it).

The story is great because it keeps building and building. There is a little violence (threatening to cut off Bartholomew's head), but that only made it more exciting for me as a young boy to read it.

The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-12
This is a great book for kids ages 4-5 all the way through 8-10. It has a catchy story line about a boy of that age, his problem, how he plans to solve it, and finally the real solution. An upbeat read for kids these days. And, it's by Dr. Seuss.

I cannot stand this book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-02
I LOVE Dr. Suess. Really. We have lots of his books and I enjoy reading all of them to my kids with the exception of this one. It annoys me to no end. That's just it...it seems like there is no end. It's not rhymie or sing-songy like his others. It's just repetitive and boring and ..... oh just YUCK!

Seuss is classic
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-05
I bought this book because it brought back such good memories of my child's childhood and my own as well. I look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren someday. This is a great book to read!

Resources
How to Become an Employer of Choice
Published in Hardcover by Oak Hill Publishing Company (2000-04)
Authors: Roger E. Herman and Joyce L. Gioia
List price: $30.00
New price: $10.20
Used price: $4.49
Collectible price: $30.00

Average review score:

Complete and Practical
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-28
Herman and Gioia have done an excellent job of outlining successful strategies based on their own experience as well as the experience of successful organizations. Their simple, but complete, list of critical components for becoming (or remaining) an employer of choice provide a valuable guide. I particularly like the inclusion of examples and quotes from organizations that use these approaches and techniques. This is a complete "how to" guide. A must read...and, a must use book.

El-Speedo Trip to Employee Attraction & Retention
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-06-24
Herman & Gioia's EOC is a virtual quick-trip to understanding how the EOCs have achieved their elite status. Easy reading, practical advice supported by diverse cases from leading companies. The summaries of best practices alone are worth reading. Readers wanting more detail can refer to the chapter notes citing specific bibliographic sources.

The chapters on Culture and Enlightened Leadership contain insights into what leaders personally and specifically can do to create the kind of organizational environment that is attractive to employees. Those chapters would be useful to those leaders who sincerely want to "walk the talk." The chapters on Growth and Opportunity and Compensation & Benefits provide poignant "how-to" tips for addressing some of the key advancement, development and pay-related reasons that younger employees are defecting to other competitors. The chapters on Care of People and Meaningful Work would be useful to HR officers wanting to improve employee relations and job design to help reduce the skyrocketing cost of undesirable turnover.

In sum, Herman & Gioia's book is a cornucopia of pithy, actionable suggestions based on relevant EOC case examples. Any leader "worth his/her salt" should reap a significant ROI by effectively implementing even a few of those ideas to help attract and retain talented people.

Useful whether times are tough or not!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-23
How to Become an Employer of Choice was published in a year when the biggest problem most companies had was hiring and retaining talented people. Reading the book today it strikes me as a shame that companies are not as eager to pursue the excellent advice given in this book on building strong devotion to your company in the workforce. The problem may seem very far from your mind right now, but being an employer of choice has a tremendous value even when the labor market is easy.

The book starts with a good explanation of why you would want your company to be an employer of choice. One of the nice things in this book is that each chapter is peppered with sidebar anecdotes about real world examples of the concepts being discussed. Most of these anecdotes come from Herman and Gioia's personal research and consulting work, and they are quite helpful.

In the next chapter, there is a survey of the attributes of a company that is an employer of choice. This is probably the least prescriptive of the chapters, but it does offer useful ideas. The succeeding three chapters, on culture, enlightened leadership and care of people give very specific advice about things you can do to work on your company from the inside. There is a wealth of practical material here, and I find much of it as useful for smaller companies as for large ones.

The chapter on growth and opportunity gives excellent advice on nurturing your best people through education. I like the fact that the chapter gives an appropriate balance of suggestions about using both internal and outside educational resources.

The chapter on meaningful work emphasizes the usefulness of measurement and the use of culture to help employees get a sense of satisfaction from their jobs - no matter how small.

In the chapter "Compensation and Benefits" Herman and Gioia offer a wealth of ideas that go beyond the obvious "pay for performance". In particular, the ideas about making the benefits package fit well into your employees' lives are well founded. The whole chapter is a really good survey of ideas for rounding out your benefits package that I have found useful both for my own company and for my strategy clients.

The chapter on "Making a Difference" focuses on community involvement. This creates a strong sense of pride in the companies that do it, and the chapter has a number of excellent ideas for companies of any size or budget.

The last chapter, "Getting Started", unfortunately offers the least practical advice. This is a shame because I think for most of us, the challenge of applying the great ideas in this book will be daunting. Fortunately, there is a great appendix with some techniques for measuring your performance as an employer of choice, so we are left with what I would consider the most important tool for getting started.

Overall, this is a super book with good concepts, supporting anecdotes, and a treasure trove of useable, practical advice on becoming an employer of choice. Even if you are having an easy time with hiring right now, you will be much better off for applying the great stuff in this book!

(Robert Bradford is CEO of the Center for Simplified Strategic Planning and co-author of Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for Busy People Who Want Results Fast)

A Must-Have
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-14
Despite the "employers' market" created after thousands of layoffs since the tragedy of September 11, companies must work harder than ever to become an "employer of choice." Herman and Gioia have developed what is sure to become a standard for how to get and keep your most valuable employees.

With case studies from a variety of organizations that include actual accounts of what works--and what doesn't, Herman and Gioia have managed to walk the fine line between research and reality. In simple, everyday language, this practical, hands-on how-to guide explains the process of developing an "employee-centered culture" that allows employees and their businesses to thrive.

"How To Become an Employer of Choice" is a must-have for any business seeking an edge in today's ever-competitive marketplace.

Dianna Booher
Author of communicate with Confidence, E-Writing, and Get a Life

Solid, timely, easy to follow suggestions for success
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-07
How to become an employer of choice is a well organized compendium of timely suggestions for things organizations can do to attract, retain and motivate high quality employees in this volatile labor market. The authors use clear, straightforward langage to identify the business rationale for creating and maintaining a work environment that invites and rewards the best and the brightest, and encourages them to stay, even in the face of other offers. The suggestions the authors make don't require a major overhaul or reorganization of your company. Instead they present common sense alternatives to the traditional business model that are relatively easy to implement. Good ideas here for all kinds of companies and other organizations.

Resources
When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man (Resources for Changing Lives)
Published in Paperback by P & R Publishing (1997-06)
Author: Edward T. Welch
List price: $14.99
New price: $5.95
Used price: $4.60

Average review score:

Great Book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-28
This is an excellent book. Very theologically sound too. An great reminder to look outside of ourselves, and be focused on giving God glory.

Getting the proper perspective on life
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
This book is an eye opener for those of us who gotten the order for life completely flip flopped. Not only does it open your eyes, but lovingly guides you to a right perspective on Who should be big in your life. Hint: it is not people. This book will free you from self imposed or other imposed bondage.

The Fight with Fear - How People Are Our Idols!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-09
"Fear of man is such a part of our human fabric that we should check for a pulse if someone denies it." (pp. 17). Do I have your attention now? At our church's recent seminar on "How to Share Your Faith" the topic of fear came up as a main reason we don't share the Gospel more often. Since the Bible says that our hearts tend to turn all good things into idols, it should come as no surprise that the primary way we do this is with other people. And this idol impacts us in countless ways! From the back cover: "Pride, oversensitivity, defensiveness, avoidance of others, easy embarrassment, people pleasing, needing approval...You'll be surprised to learn how the fear of others controls you--and what you can do about it."

This is more than a self-help book - it is a theology book that reminds us of who God is, who we are, and how that relationship is supposed to look and impact all of our other relationships. Ed Welch is a counselor, but he is also a theologian, and he combines the two to really examine our hearts and our Lord. And his goal is not to dismiss your fears, but to place them in context. "If you have ever walked among giant redwoods, you will never be overwhelmed by the size of a dogwood tree. Or if you have been through a hurricane, a spring rain is nothing to fear. If you have been in the presence of the almighty God, everything that once controlled you suddenly has less power." (pp. 119). Knowing and fearing our God, exposes and cuts away the roots of our fears. Understanding our idols (people), show us how they don't deliver what we ask of them:

"People are our cherished idols. We worship them, hoping they will take care of us, hoping they will give us what we feel we need. What we really need are biblical shapes and identities for other people. Then instead of needing other people to fill our desires, we can love people for the sake of God's glory and fulfill the purpose for which we were created." (pp. 182).

The book is broken down into two parts. Part I is titled "How and Why We Fear Others" and Part II is "Overcoming the Fear of Others". His analysis of our hearts, our fears and the solutions to these issues are Biblical and Christ-centered through and through. It is readable and practical. It is helpful and hopeful! This is one of the most important books I have read in my walk with the Savior, and I urge you to read it as well! What have you got to lose - except the fears that bind you and rob you of your joy?

Must read!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-04
Anyone who is honest will find this topic relevant in their life. Welch exposes our tendency to be trapped into pleasing people instead of pleasing God. I have purchased 6 copies of this book to give away in the last 5 months and I will give away more in the next year.

Psychology Done The Biblical Way
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-16
This book presents the regretful truth of fallen man.

'Therefore we cannot rightly say, 'My God is not a God of judgment and anger; my God is a God of love.' Such thinking makes it almost impossible to grow in the fear of the Lord. It suggests that sin only saddens God rather than offends Him.' pg 103

'There was a time in my own life when I would practice the presence of God; then, when I felt His presence, I would pray. All went well, until the day I didn't feel His presence.' pg 83

'The emphasis on self-esteem also contributes to the fear of man. For example, even tho most self-esteem books indicate that it is something you can develop by yourself, almost all the books also say that one of the best ways to raise your self-esteem is to achieve some successes (which are then compared to what others do) or to surround yourself with people who affirm you (which leaves you dependent on their opinion).' pg 75

This would be my first choice book to work thru in a small Bible study group. Not only does Edward T Welch succeed in challenging our faulty 'Dr Phil' views, but he re-addresses our low view of God, in a practical and pastoral way. The subject matter is interrelated with our steadfastness and faithfulness, all of whom could benefit by reading this wonderful book.

A worthwhile excursion and bible-based exhortation which contradicts many Christian resources - especially the popular sort.


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