Resources Books

I found this book a tremendous followup to reading Carnegie's How to win friends and influence people. As stated in the other reviews, this great little guide offers the universal principles of communicating with people.

Carnegie's bible differs in that it answers the fundamental question: Why should I improve my skills with people? Why bother? He does this with umpteen stories threaded throughout the book. The reader is left in no doubt as to the value of its contents.

After reading Carnegie, Skill With People is an incredible, compact aide that can be left lying around the house, in the car, in the bathroom, etc. that makes it easy to brush up and revise the pointers that are so valuable.

Straight to the point !! Really give a huge benefit for your life ...

Useful book. Easy to read. Requirement for anyone working with people who cares about working with people well.

A mentor of mine share his copy with me years ago and now I give it out to people. It is priceless. I actually spoke on the phone to Giblin a few years ago! He explained these concepts go beyond the test of time and last forever. He also said they are universal to everyone. I agree with him. (Note: Written in mid 1960's...as a reader, move beyond some of the references that were relevant at the time to get the most out of this little gem.)

...like most truths in life, they transcend time. Time may march on, and things may change... but Les's words WILL provide every reader the basic skills needed to deal with what will never change... Read it, use it! buy a copy for a friend.

Jack Stack has become well-known in some circles as the poster boy of open book management. He and his colleagues at SRC (Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation) have built a company and set of business practices (Great Game of Business) around the concept of sharing numbers with your employees. Yes, it's more than just sharing numbers, it's empowering the employees to be true team members, enabling them to take personal and collective actions to influence the numbers and to share in the profits.

Open book management is a great concept that has made a significant difference for a lot of companies, and even the U. S. Coast Guard. Stack presented the concept in his 1992 book, "The Great Game of Business" (Currency Doubleday). That book was a valuable how-to package.

"A Stake in the Outcome" is more of the story of the transformation of a remanufacturing plant owned by a large corporation into a thriving independent business. In the midst of the text, the reader will find some advice, some brief case studies of other companies, and some experience descriptions that may be instructive. But, when it all shakes out, this is the story of the growth of a business. It's an historical review with plenty of detail. It's Jack Stack's story.

If you're looking for an instruction book of how to build an employee-centered open book management company, this isn't it. If you're looking for an instructive report of what one company went through, from the leader's perspective, this book fits that description. It's Jack Stack's book, even though Bo Burlingham, an editor-at-large of Inc. Magazine, is shown as co-author. Burlingham's photo doesn't appear on the dust jacket, just Stack's.

Reading the book is like listening to Stack telling his story, with the emotion, the ego, the pride, and the rough-and-tumble. It would be interesting to hear this story shared by others. You can gain that experience by visiting SRC in Springfield, Missouri, but you can't get it from this book.

I found the Great Game of Business to be uninformative.
However, A Stake in the Outcome made up for it! If you've ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, READ THIS BOOK!

While this book does go into details about the author's amazing success with his company, SRC, the advice is tailored to senior executives who are in the position of founding or leading young companies. The author candidly admits that personal experience in leading a company is the only real way to learn, because each company has its own unique challenges, and because situations look quite different in the heat of a tense moment, rather than in the comfort of a book. Nonetheless, this book does give the reader plenty of areas to think more about, and tells a great story in the process.

What could Jack Stack and Bo Burlingham come up with to match the excitement of The Great Game of Business? Perhaps nothing, but they've come pretty close with A Stake in the Outcome, a continuation of the remarkable story of SRC and its traiblazing initiatives in Open Book Management, employee ownership and organization-wide involvement. The first portion of the book is a recounting of the earliest days of SRC, a story that will be very familiar to readers of the earlier Stack book. But the reading quickly becomes compelling as he continues the story and builds the irrefutable case for equity ownership throughout an organization. Jack Stack is a consummate teacher: experienced, entertaining, inspiring and entirely logical. In this work, he demonstrates once again that "he knows his numbers." For fans and pratitioners of Open Book Management, or those intrigued by the potential behind employee ownership, this is an important new book.

A lot of "business management" books are all fluff; not here.

There is not one wasted word in this wonderful book, which should be mandatory reading in every business in America.

Inadvertantly, Stack addressed the issue of a "culture of ownership" just in time to face a generational shift in the work force.

"Theory X" worked for the veterans of WWII; "Theory Y" worked, to a degree, for the Baby Boomers.

"Generation X," and "Generation Y," see the cultural climate of business in an entirely different light; yet, they must find a voice in working with American business, for the good of all.

Incredibly distrustful of authority, and poorly served by the education system they have left, something new is needed to bring order out of the chaos of their perceptions.

If you are looking for silver bullets, look no further than Stack's books (and Ricardo Semler's "Maverick").

In "The Great Game of Business," Stack discussed the restructuring of Sprinfield Remanfacturing, starting with a debt/equity ratio of 89 to 1.

Success brought a new, painful awareness of two basic issues: one, growth leads to conflict arising, and must be resolved; and two, businesses do not scale very well.

A larger business requires a qualitatively different framework to resolve conflicts in; the price of the necessary knowledge is very high, indeed.

Good news!

Stack and the people at SRC Holdings Corporation - the name should give you a hint of the magnitude of change required - have done the heavy lifting for you!

The best accompaniment you can have as you try to apply his principles is a good primer on economic value added (EVA) accounting.

Incidentally, Chapter 10, "Crossing the Great Divide," includes a great story about "The Secret of the Chinese Firecracker Factory," where the issue of scaling the business model is addressed following an insight gained from the manufacturing process of Chinese firecrackers.

The same insight was expressed in Chapter 15 of "Maverick," by Ricardo Semler. Called "Divide and Prosper," Semler addresses the issue of the appropriate scale and structure of the business in the same light as Stack. Semler also addressed a good many of the issues Stack faced from an invaluable perspective, particularly management structure (see Chapter 21 of "Maverick.")

Stack has given one and all an invaluable guide to The Next Step after Open Books; keep it close to hand, give it to all of your people, and let people who wonder about "who moved their cheese," keep wondering!

if you have ever been frustated because your life seem devoid of purpose, then this is the book for you! Bishop Long clearly outlines the role that the Church should be playing as Ambassadors for the KIngdom of God, and declare in no uncertain terms that God indeed has a purpose for all of our lives that is connected to his agenda for these times. this book will serve as a motivating tool to move you from the position of being "overtaken", to the position of "taking over". A must read for people of all faiths".

Thanks be unto God for anointing Bishop Long to go where no preacher of God's word has dared to go to lift and expose the veil of christian mediocrity. He writes in the spirit of Martin Luther King,Jr. by challenging the Church to change. This book brings conviction and challenge to ensure that our children and grand-children can live the optimum Christian life. The "Great Commission" comes alive in the book. Bishop Long's book transcends all faiths.

Most churches are not operating based on biblical principals but on mans principles. That is not what God intended. Read this book and discover how to get your church and your personal christian walk in order before the next millennium. God isnt playing games with us anymore. It's time for us saints to come from behind the four walls of the church and do what God has called us to do. True ministry. Satan has had his way with our children, the generations to come, for too long. I cannot urge you enough, this is a MUST READ.

Bishop Eddie Long really came to the forefront when he wrote this book. God's anointing was all in this book. I thank God that there are still real men of God on the Battlefield. We need the unadultreated truth. God's word has been sugar-coated too long! Thank you Bishop for letting God lead you in the way he did regarding his church or lack of it.

"Taking Over" challenges the body of Christ to move forward with God into the next millennium, or get left behind in erroneous traditions.

Praise God for Bishop Long's boldness, transparency, and obedience to pen what thus said the Lord.

I highly recommend Teaching with the Internet to the novice and experienced net user. It is a great sounce of "current" web sites spanning the educational needs for K-12 students. I have used lessons taken directly from the book with great success. I consider the text to be an invaluable resource in my personal journey in understanding the "net" as well as to open new areas of exploration for my young students. This book is also a wonderful tool for parents trying to assist their children with study projects, book reports, etc. The information in this book is updated regularly through its web site as changes take place on the www. This educational tool is a wise investment for anyone who uses the "net".

The is a very good resource. It gives great ideas on how to use the internet in the classroom. What I like particulary is the wealth of ideas it gives on how to incorporate the internet in the classroom.

Teaching With the Internet: Lessons From the Classroom is a practical, hands on guide well suited for layman use. It encompasses both Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers as well as the IBM and Macintosh systems. Each chapter is devoted to either a specific Internet strategy such as navigating and communicating or to specific subject areas and concerns within the public school curriculum K-12. This text should be included as an essential component in every school's technology reference library and utilized as an indispensable resource in effective Internet teaching. It is packed with countless creative teaching suggestions and noteworthy web sites as well as step by step instructions on how to implement it all.

This book proved to be very informative, giving step-by-step models to use to incorporate internet resources into classroom activities, computer workshops, research projects and student inquiries.It is organized by chapters that give curriculum based internet ideas, with excellent related educational web-sites. It is geared for all levels of teacher ability, so everyone can get their classroom started. Although some ideas and sites seemed repetitious, it allows you to refer to a specific chapter by subject area to find related sites and sample activities. This book is comprehensive enough to highlight features of various navigation tools, cover both MAC and PC platforms for grades K-12.

Don and Deborah Leu have created a great Interent reference/teaching guide for teachers of all computer skill levels, from beginners to old pros!

The book not only inlcudes explicit explanations of Internet terms and procedures, but includes plenty of figures and examples of what the screen would actually look like as you are working. The Email to You sections contain real teachers describing real projects that they have sucessfully done with their students. Leu and Leu also provide many, many links to resources and project ideas in the major academic disciplines for teachers to use as they begin to incorporate the Internet in to the classroom.

I would highly recommend this book to teachers and teacher educators alike. I consider my self to be an advanced user of the Internet and I learned several new things from reading this book!

Theology of the Body (T.O.B) gives a dynamic vision of the human person. Pope John Paul discusses human sexuality, vocation (marriage, religious life,etc) through the lense of biblical revelation.

PJ II quotes Vatican II in saying that we are the only creatures on earth "that were willed for their own sake" (Lumen Gentium 26). All the other creatures were created for mankind. Humans were commanded to rule the other creatures.

I found T.O.B to be the best exegesis of Genesis. Truly brilliant and amazing. I was so inspired that I am devoting part of my next book on this very topic.

PJ II tells us that Adam and Eve didn't merely want to be equal with God but they sought to usurp their Creator. They were sharing in the love of God and so they weren't inferior to God. However they believed in the word of a creature over that of the Creator and thought they could take God's throne and take His power!

Yes it is a correlation between human sexuality and God. But it is even more than that. It is about the dignity of the Human Person and Psychosomatic Unity of the Human Person. In giving of ourselves so totally we discover who we are. This is what happened with Adam. He was alone and could not identify with the animals until Eve came from His rib (or as the late Pope puts it, his heart - wow!)

Pope John Paull II does not use the word "SEX" as contemporary society does. He uses it to refer to male or female. Personally I think the word "sex" depersonalises a sacred act. Let me explain. The Catholic Church uses the word Conjugal Union. This refers to a union of body and soul and open to the gift or trasmission of life. Ok, so it may be a mouthful, "Conjugal Union" and take a bit to get used to. Let me challenge you to learn it and use it in discussions. Another word used is "Conjugal Love" Doesn't this sound better than making love.
Through Conjugal love the husband gives himself totally body and soul to his wife and his wife gives herself totally body and soul to her husband.

Did you know that through the Eucharist we can receive Conjugal Love. Christ gives himself totally to us, "Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!" Now this is a really big WOW! This is awesome, inspirational and mind-boggling. Christ unites with us in the Eucharist.

So yes, Conjugal Union is spiritual and so is receiving our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!

I have a MP3 talk I've given on Theology of the Body which I can send you. It was a brief talk - only 10 minutes + questions given for a "Faith, Revelation and Theology" paper I have just finished studying at our Catholic Theological College. Email me through my website [...] and I will send the MP3 to you. My next book (my fourth) will feature explaining Theology of the Body for lay people.

I am really happy that more and more people are hearing about Theology of the Body and beginning re discover the richness and power behind the writings of Pope John Paul II. Let's continue to read His works and spread the messages he bestows.

God bless

Brendan Roberts

Those with a philosophical background may regard JPII's leaning toward phenomenology as either a peripheral "quirk" or a departure from traditional (i.e., Aristotelian-Thomist) realism. "Theology of the Body" should dissuade of either conclusion. JPII's approach to phenomenology is foundational to his celebration of human personhood, and totally realist and thus thoroughly compatible with traditional Christian philosophy. The theological significance of JPII's philosophical approach is clearly demonstrated in his phenomenological exegesis of the existential signficance of man's transition from "original solitude" (before Eve's creation) to "original nakedness" (Adam's encounter with Eve). JPII's meditation on how man's personal self-awareness - and thus his personhood - is fulfilled through the bodily disclosure of another person literally "fleshes out" the teaching of the universal Catechism: God is an eternal exchange of Love, in which man is destined to participate (CCC 221). I only regret that the Pope did not develop the analogy implicit in his meditation between the purely relational Personhood of the Blessed Trinity and the nuptial meaning of the human body.

The Theology of the Body is comparable in depth of thought to the works of Augustine and Aquinas.

The writings speak to a reader at numerous levels: the personal, the organizational, global, sacramental, familial, paternal, maternal, fraternal, vocational, scriptural, anthropological and many others. The beauty is the integration of teachings at and across each level!

The teachings encapsulated within this work synthesize many truths about humanity and Catholic Christianity.

The book's writings shed light on the fullness of Truth revealed in and over the fullness of time. What was implied in the truth of the Gospel is revealed in a more explicit way in the Pope's analysis.

Topics of interest include: the dignity of the human person, the human body in art versus pornography, the intended relationship between man and woman from the beginning - in the present - and future, what the physical human body reveals about the nature of the person and God, the call to Chastity and Modesty, the universal call to holiness, the mystery of Body of Christ, the mystery of the priesthood, celibacy, and the mystery of the Eucharist and much, much more.

The book is a difficult read if you are not familiar with the Pope's method... but well worth it!!

Pope John Paul II has given us one of the best (if not the best) books of modern theology today. This book is a compilation of many weekly addresses the Pope gave in the early 80's. Now compiled into this one work, we can view the absolute genius of the mind of Pope JPII. His insights into humanity, creation, the human person and the body are without equal. In fact, he may be known for this work more than any other when history judges him in the future. He has given the Church new insights into the dignity of the human person, marriage,... and made it challenging to all of us.

If you haven't read any of the Pope's writings, I suggest you start with his encyclicals, and study them hard, before jumping into this work. The Theology of the Body has already started several grass-roots evangelism projects and my guess is that we are only starting to see the fruit this book will bear.

Buy this book. Awesome, awesome explanation of
how we are trully to love .

Thanks !

This is a "Must Read" book for all trainers - both beginners and experts. You get drawn into the book through the insights about learning partnerships and by discovering your readiness for training from the heart. Then in each Chapter, the authors share personal experiences that help you learn along with them.

After reading the book, you will discover that it is like a "spacious meadow" that you can turn to for inspiration when you need it. I keep returning to the Chapter on "Creating a Service Motto". Maybe you will want to return to the Chapter "Become Intimate with the Client".

I found the book to be very helpful in managing my attitude toward training in a non-supportive environment. I have taken the time to create a motto that has taken me places and opened the doors for new discovery. I was pleased to find that meeting Cyndi and Barry in person at a CCASTD meeting was just as enlightening as the reading. Thanks to you both for opening my eyes a little wider and taking the chance to grow.

You would expect by the title that this would be described as both warm and thoughtful, but the bonus for this 160 page book is that it is also highly pragmatic and useful. Barry and Cyndi's approach is rooted in research and experience but much of the wealth comes from their myriad of anecdotes that supplement each and every topic. As trainers, we know that participants learn from our stories and tales, this is evidentally true for the written word as well. The authors share their years of experience with us but without the usual "ivory tower" approach that many authors take. A few weeks ago I read Barry and Cyndi's words about generative learning and used the concept in a recent train-the-trainer. The true worth of a book comes from its application in the real world: this book's worth far exceeds whatever its cost.

Having worked with(and admired) both Cyndi and Barry, I was delighted to see how well this wonderful book brought me back to the learnings I had gleaned from watching and listening to these master trainers. The real value of this book is that the tools for self-development and skill improvement are here along with a generous dose of the passion that comes from making a commitment to learners and following through. Master level training not just about knowing your subject, it is understanding how to help your audience grasp their own learning from the experiences, content sharing and practice opportunities they begin in your classroom. Read and enjoy, then use it.

This is one of the few books that I have read on the subject in the last several years that I not only kept in my library, but continue to read and recommend to others. The information covered is broad enough to be relevant to just about anyone in the training field, whether you train internal staff or are a trainer/speaker in the outside world. Getting 2 authors' experiences and perspectives is an added bonus. This book is an easy read that you will probably find yourself going back to again and again, which is rare to find in our information overload society!

I ordered this book and integrated two of the exercises into existing training courses the day I received it. It is easy to use these techniques to emphasize points and enhance discussion.

I highly recommend this book for people interested in incorporating improv in their training, whatever the topic. The book is clear, to the point, very creative and also very practical. Ms Koppett has collected some tried-and-true improv exercises that are easy to use and really work. Even if you have never done any theatre or improv, you can use this book. Just imagine, a training session in which your participants are inspired, creative, collaborative, funny, cohesive.....

In theatre there are many skills an actor has that out in the workplace, many managers could find very helpful. These are good performance skills, presentation skills, and the flexibility to sense a group's needs and respond to them in the moment. And when one aims for creativity and communication other skills such as teamwork, coaching, leadership, and idea generation become very important. Improv activities have been used in training on topics as varied as product training, new-hire orientations, technical training, and diversity workshops. To summarize, improve can be used to develop personal skills of trainers, to enhance the creativity and communication skills of managers and individual contributors.

This book is divided into two parts. The first part of the book provides us with six powerful improv principles and their potential applications to management and training. The second part of the book provides tightly structured directions for using 50 specific activities -along with a clear explanation of how the basic principles are incorporated in each activity. Also included in the text are explanations of major improvisational theatre concepts and techniques, links to training and management skills, and a series of exercises suitable for use in professional training environments. This book was meant mainly for managers who could adapt the techniques to their environment thereby infusing the workplace with creativity, teamwork, and effective communication.

I enjoyed this book for two main reasons. First, it offers an engaging treatment of improvisation techniques that's certain to inform (and inspire) even those without background in the area. Second, it's an excellent compendium of training activities written in detailed prose perfect for people like me who do a lot of training, but who don't have the formal schooling in training methodology and techniques. In short, this is a worthwhile read and an excellent addition to one's library of training resources.

Over the last couple of years, I have become interested in adapting techniques from improv theatre to organizational training settings. Koppett's book helped me solidly solidify my thinking on the matter. She divides her book into two sections, Principles and Activities. The Principles section is broken into seven chapters that address trust, listening and awareness, non-verbal communications...all the kinds of things for which organizations seek training. The Activities sections has instructions for 50 activities, including an overview, the relevant principles, instructions and variations, and even questions that facilitate discussions after the activity is complete. For added value, the appendices break each activity down into improv principles (trust, spontaneity, etc.) or training application (team-building, creativity, problem-solving, etc.) I've used this resource dozens of times already. In fact, I've had trouble getting it back from several colleagues, and don't lend it out anymore!

Even the 1992 addition is still one of my favorite books in my library of over a few thousand books.

He is thorough, the graphics & typesetting are excellently done (i.e.. easy to read), he gives price ranges and star ratings, which also help.

The resources are abundant, yet not too much to be overwhelming (for us who have a difficult time deciding where to go).

Phenomenal book!

Doing one holiday from each chapter.....

this book brings excitement into my life each time I look at it. I use it for ideas about what adventures might interest me, as well as, for specific outfitters. I like the reviews and grading system of the outfitters. I also appreciate the inclusion of price expectations. It was published in 1992 so it is getting dated but still very useful. I logged on hoping for the revised edition only to find that it doesn't exist.

Please, please come out with an updated edition! This book is THE place to look before you plan any type of activity. I used it to get information before going skydiving, ballooning and snowmobiling. Unfortunately the book's data is getting old. We need updates!

I am the author of the original Ultimate Adventure Sourcebook. A new edition from National Geographic Books is in production and will be released in mid-2000. It will contain most of the features of the first edition, together with up-to-date web site listings and many, many new adventures, from bungee-jumping to family vacations.

Bought my copy from Booksamillion's website. This kit has EVERYTHING. The CD has actual practice tests with several modes as well as a second CD with video tutorials and more, Flash Cards, and a HUGE book with pictures and easy to understand language. Worth every penny.

I found the material to be very complete and the flash cards were an excellent addition to the study materials. Well worth the money.

The resource kit is awesome! You get everything in both books for software and hardware by Jean Andrews for half the price! It's in black and white, but who cares if you are getting a deal like that, instead of buying both books in color?! Plus you get all kinds of ways on CD to test and prepare for the A+ Certification, as well as flash cars to quiz you for the test! This is great! Buy this instead of both of her books for hardware and software! This covers it all! Also Amazon sent it to me super-fast! It was in the mail before I knew it! Thanks Amazon!
Sincerely,
James

As of this review I have not yet taken the 220-602 but will add to this review when I take this portion of the A+ as well.

I took my A+ essentials 220-601 yesterday, 1-8-08, and passed using this study material. So far this has been quite effective as both a learning and test preparation tool. It works because it is written well and has good structure which goes a long long way when people need a guide to an area of study.

The Certblaster CD based training was pivotal in helping me retain the information presented in the manuals. A word of caution, when you install the Certblaster Programs to your computer, make sure you immediately click the update buttons for each test prep install. This will bring the test prep CD to current status. The CD is version 1.0 where with the updates the information is brought up to like version 2.02. So make sure you do this after you install.

The formula I used was to take the practice tests in assess mode which check to see what your strong and weak points are and it maps out what subject matter you need to study the most and from what I saw it was quite accurate. So I followed the course outline it presented me based on my weaknesses and studied those first to the point of total and utter overkill. Once I was able to consistently score 95% minimum on the practice questions in those weak areas, only then did I go back and study in my stronger areas, again to the point of total and utter overkill, for added assurance that I would pass the real thing. I basically trained myself to make sure every shot made a dent when I took the test for real. Also make sure you get a good night sleep before you go take the real test.

Like I stated earlier, I will update this review when I take the 220-602 IT Technician test and give my results but so far it has done exactly what I needed it to do and I give it a thumbs up.

UPDATE: I just took the 220-602 test on 4-8-08 and again by following the formula mapped out by the test assessment software, and studying until I was literally blue in the face for about 5 weeks up to the night before the test, I passed the 220-602. I am happy with the test prep course, and I think it is a great investment for anyone who is willing to study for the A+ certification.

:) I passed both the 220-601 and 220-602 on the first try :)

For 95% It covered all subject matter very well. The only thing I felt was somewhat weak about the test prep kit was the Networking section. I read the entire Networking Curriculum several times, and it did not seem to be as "test specific" as the other sections were. When I was using the networking section of the test prep CD in assessment and study mode, there were many questions asked that were not even covered in the test prep guide. So watch out! Not to say that the Networking section was not good information, because indeed IT IS GOOD INFORMATION. I just feel it was not as "test specific" as it could have been, which for some could possibly make a hole that could be stepped in on test day. Use outside study materials if necessary for that one, which the prep CD will have direct links to online content and resources to click on during study mode if you have an internet connection. Take advantage of all of this.

And above all, Study! Study! Study! Study! Study! Put into practice and really engross what this Resource Kit is teaching you. You will thank yourself on test day.

Overall I give this Product a 95% out of 100, and I think it is absolutely worth it.

This kit did help me pass the A+ exams. Admit it, technical books are a bore. I usually get narcoleptic on the fifth page of most computer books. This book was not like that for me however. I actually read the whole book (over the course of about 4 weeks), watched many of the videos (which I admit were not all that useful for me - but it helped to get to know the author), went through the flash cards once, and (very helpful) took all the CertBlaster CBT tests (a couple times). The best part of the book is the way it's crafted. It's a physically large book (which makes it easy on the eyes - and the pages lay flat) and it's well illustrated. The sentences are carefully constructed to convey knowledge. They explain things the way they are without getting boring. Even though I have 14 years experience in IT, I found myself saying: "I didn't know that, that's good to know". In that respect, the book stands on its own as a good way for anyone not familiar with the way things work in the personal computer world to get familiar with computerdom. I found a few mistakes - for instance: "Windows 2000 does not offer automatic updates" and the test answer (of false) for the question regarding the speeding up of a CD drive as the laser moves to the center is wrong (s/b true). There are also a couple things that were a bit dated in my opinion, such as giving the impression BTX will be the new standard form factor (when was the last time you saw a BTX board?) and the somewhat debatable assumption that Mozilla Firefox is a safer browser than IE (no flaming allowed).

I was talking to my brother-in-law's father about favorite spiritual books. He's been a dedicated meditator for decades.

I carry a copy of this Upanishads translation in my shoulder bag always. I pulled it out and asked, "Do you read these ?"

He chuckled with bright eyes and said, "Oh, I can't read those. They just make me meditate." He went on to explain that after only a page or two he spontaneously slips into meditation.

My experience is quite similar. It's as if this volume speaks directly to my Spirit, navigating its way through my critical mind to the essence of my inner Divine. It brings me peace, it fills me with faith, it melts my fears. I meditate easily after just a few sentences sometimes.

To me the Spirit is so profoundly expressed in here that I have no trouble with dogma or rhetoric, with symbolism or mythology. To me this translation serves as an invitation from the ancient mystics to join them. I can feel the Spirit welcome me.

This is less a review and more a personal experience. That's what this book is all about, though ~ a guidebook to direct personal experience of Spirit.

It's a frantic world we live in, fast and busy and complex. I find that this wonderful translation can help lead me to a stillness within, to a unity with all that is, to a feeling and understanding and connection with the magic of life.

What brought you here to this page ? Perhaps you seek a deeper spiritual connection with your inner Divine. I can only tell you my own story. I don't read this for scholarly theology. I read this as a guide for my journey within. This book brings me to my home, to my heart. I can't remember when I bought it, but the price on the cover says $2.95. It has held up wonderfully, and is the best three bucks I ever spent, hands down. I'm buying several extras to give and lend to those I love.

Welcome.

The Upanishads holds the core teachings of Advaita Vedanta - Brahman is all there is. It is a good book to be read by any serious seeker - along with Nisargadatta. The book has many footnotes which attempt to explain the meanings behind much of the commentary.

This particular translation of the Upanishads is a highly recommended read.

I used to think that for reason Upanishads were huge texts, but author explained that upanishads are found in the end of vedas. It is beauty piece of work. when they are not sure, they will have a footnote and tell you that what could the other translation could have meant. It only happened 2-3 times. They are very enlightening. Brahman (God) is everywhere, literally. =)

Years ago I picked up a translation of the Upanishads because I wanted to understand Vedanta. I read that translation and struggled through it. It wasn't particularly interesting and was often confusing. The commentaries were long, painful and boring. I felt disappointed. I thought the Upanishads and the Great Vedanta would be more powerful than this. I pursued other teachings.

A few months ago I saw this little book and picked it up out of curiosity for some reason. I don't know why. I already had another copy of the Upanishads and didn't really care for it. But this little book hit me with much greater force. It was so significant. Yes the self, of course, yes..the self is one...The reading was so clear and powerful. I bought it immediately, brought it home, and compared it with the other translation. It's the translation that was the difference. It wasn't that I had suddenly matured and was now ready to hear this teaching because the other translation is still confusing to me. Not all translations are the same. What had been confusing to understand before, now became clear. Even if you don't agree with me that this translation is a good one, seek out various translations of the Upanishads and see which one is the clearest for you. Now, I truly believe the Upanishads are one of the most significant teachings this "World" has ever known. This translation has no commentary. It is so clear you don't need a commentary. It's also cheap and handy. With sacred texts from the past it pays to check out various translations and even formats for ease of reading and understanding.

The Atman is the Soul. It is our real Self, God residing within us. We are to submerge the ego, and discover the Atman (Self). Uncovering the Self leads to nirvana, or enlightenment. This is the essence of this book. We will differentiate between what is Real (unchanging)and what is illusory (changeable). And as Jesus said, the Truth will set you free ...