Resources Books

Very well done, great insights, author has a minimal amount of church experience but brings a wealth of wisdom and practical, applicable steps for creating clarity. Worth the price.

"Vision, mission, values, strategy"--terms that most church leaders are familiar with. Many churches have written statements to cover these important elements of ministry, but most of us struggle with putting them together for effective and God-honoring ministry.

Will Mancini has done the Church a great service in "Church Unique" to not only demonstrate the importance of each of these elements, but also how you can frame these pieces together to discover how God has created each church to serve in our local and global contexts. While I've read most of the popular books on church leadership and have understood the importance of these various pieces in leading a ministry, Will has helped me to bring them together into a vision framework that makes sense for us. While recognizing the value that WCA, Saddleback and others bring to the discussion, Will ably makes the case that God has a unique vision for your ministry--that may or may not look like the last big (or small) church seminar you attended.

As soon as I read this book, I bought one for each of our elders. The descriptions, process and exercises have been extremely helpful as we have been together, re-discovering God's vision for our next steps in ministry. It's given a framework that makes sense--giving us the confidence that God has a vision for us. While we have much to learn from Warren, Hybels, Stanley and others, Church Unique shows how we can create a vision frame that allows us to know what does and doesn't best fit us and God's vision for our church.

The final section of the book on advancing the vision is a practical tool, which I know we will be referring to regularly. Will gives practical insights in not only how we articulate and deliver the vision, but also what is often the missing piece--how we integrate the vision into our everyday ministry and mission.

If you are trying to get your staff and your church leaders onto the same page or are yourself wrestling with what God's unique movement is for your church and ministry, I would highly recommend "Church Unique" as tool in your journey.

If you are trying to lead your church to effectiveness and impact, Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement (J-B Leadership Network Series) by Will Mancini is a "must-have" resource! Like very few books of its kind, this one is not only packed with ideas, it is presented in a clear and purposeful manner with implementation in mind.

Based on Mancini's work with Auxano, Church Unique provides a carefully executed, step-by-step walk through the concepts and practices that build a "vision frame." Discovering and articulating a compelling vision is at the heart, but developing the missional mandate (mission), motives (values), map (strategy) and marks (measures) are what provide the frame. Each step in the process is presented in a way that begs to be implemented.

If you long for clarity and a laser focus, this is a book you will devour, mark up, and wear out. I'm frequently asked what's the best thing I'm reading. Church Unique is a book I'll be talking about for a long time.

I have been fortunate enough as a Pastor to go through the Vision To Grow process outlined in
Church Unique in the past two churches I have served. In both, the process and results have been arguably the most significant thing I've done as a Pastor. The process outlined in Church Unique helps to articulate the UNIQUE context of your local church, not just slapping on the model heard at a conference or adopted by a mega-church.

Church Leader/Pastor Friend, this is the resource you've been searching for. You can not put a price on the clarity, focus and ensuing movement you will help facilitate through this process explained in Church Unique.

This book reads like a cross between text book visioneering, story telling narrative (i.e. Patrick Lencioni's work) and inspiring coaching.

No brainer. Get this book.

It's rare to visit a church, read its mission statement and then conclude, "What a great match!" For that to happen, the church's vision must be clear, appealing, and most important, truly reflective of the unique culture demonstrated by the church.

Back in 1992, when churches were just beginning to think about vision statements, George Barna wrote a highly popular book called Power of Vision. In it he defined vision as "a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God."

I predict Will Mancini's Church Unique (2008, 271 pages) will succeed Barna's classic as the go-to book for church leadership discussions because it does even more than help you articulate a vision for your church. It goes further. It helps you "cast vision, capture culture, and create movement," as the subtitle forecasts. The book affirms that your church is "stunningly unique," and then helps you turn your church's one-of-a-kind potential into a model of ministry that leads to a redemptive movement. It understand that each church models a culture reflective of its particular values, thoughts, attitudes and actions. Using numerous specific-church examples, it walks you through the process of vision focus and alignment within the context of your church's unique culture.

Mancini, a former pastor and now church consultant, also explores pitfalls that often trap churches, such as adopting the latest conference technique or following a Band-aid approach to addressing deep-set issues.

CHURCH UNIQUE will benefit any type of church leader, whether megachurch or church plant, mainline or non-denominational.

The book is release #25 in Leadership Network's series with Jossey-Bass. It references in several places another excellent Leadership Network book -- Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out (J-B Leadership Network Series)by Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro with Warren Bird (Jossey-Bass, 2005).

Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 19 books on various aspects of church health and innovation.

I was a police officer in Maryland in the fall of 2001. I was privileged to command a group of officers from my agency for three days in New York during the relief effort.

Being there was a life-altering event. Reading this book brought all those feelings back. It is a cliché but in this instance an apt one, this book is a MUST read.

The book captures the "being-there" feelings that relate to the 9/11 event and directs these feelings and experiences into paths that can bring the reader closer to God.
The author makes the story personal without being too personal. It's a "just right" way to tell a story that would make any writer wonder where to begin. Amy Bartlett's recollection of her own 9/11 day was a good way to set the scene and to introduce herself and her pertinent thoughts. She provides a selection of personal stories gained from interviewing others, a fair sampling of the many many stories that this day caused. We will all remember "where we were when..." This is a good gift book - especially for a New Yorker to give to a non-New Yorker.

As one who was THERE, laboring for two weeks at ground zero as a firefighter and chaplain from Colorado, I can say without hesitation that Amy Bartlett captured the moment within the pages of her wonderful book.

I was moved to tears over and over as I read her descriptions of New Yorkers' reactions to this disaster. Amy allowed us to get inside her skin and relive this event as one who actually lived in Manhattan. I came as a volunteer, and only briefly touched the lives of ordinary people who lived through this. While my time was with the rescue workers, her focus was on the thousands of ordinary people who lost loved ones, and had to find the strength to go on living long after the last body part was recovered, and the last wreckage was removed.

Anyone who desires to drink deeply from the cup of sorrow endured by so many, and yet also drink freely from the waters of hope and renewal, should read this important book. History will record the facts of this tragedy, but Amy's book will forever capture the heart of the people, and their struggle to regain that which was lost. Her words give us strength to rise out of the ashes of the rubble and take the hand of God, who will never let go.

The best book I've yet read on the September 11 attacks.
Amy Bartlett makes me feel I'm there. Great writing, a moving style, and genuine insight into the tragic events of that day. By all means pick up a copy and read it!

This book is a must read. Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down. The author has captured the essence of what really happened at ground zero. The stories are very intense. She has interviewed survivors, police, rescue workers, fireman and Lisa Beamer.

This book provides an excelent resource of movement and song to assist with meditation and reflection. It is firmly based in the Creation spirituality tradition and affirms alternative spiritualities and way of approaching God.

As a Pagan and musician, I love this book! But you certainly don't have to be Pagan to use and enjoy this extensive collection of spiritual songs -- Many faiths are included here. The book is decidedly geared toward honoring the earth, the elements, the Spirit, and the Spirit within, and is essential for anyone following an Earth religion or who wishes to recognize their spiritual connection to both the Earth and Spirit in their worship. If you organize and/or write rituals for your religious group, you should not be without Circle of Song. The book is well organized, includes notations and sheet music for every song, and even suggests dances that can go along with some songs. Whether you honor Yemaya or Yahweh, God or the Goddess, you will be delighted with this valuable collection of songs and chants.

Circle of Song is a wonderful resource for Earth-based ritual and workshops. It features words and music for 300 Pagan, Native American, African, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Jewish songs. It includes instructions for 30 dances which can be used with the songs. There are meditations, background notes, a complete discography and bibliography for sources. No one who uses this kind of material should be without this book

This book provides an excelent resource of movement and song to assist with meditation and reflection. It is firmly based in the Creation spirituality tradition and affirms alternative spiritualities and way of approaching God.

the songs here are gathered from many sources, but they all reflect a real joy. well organized for pagan use. you might also enjoy pagansong. i hope thet all this material will lead more people to use song in ritual and circle!

This powerful book resonates with all Christians who feel that the church in America has become stale, compromising, and irrelevant for our times. How can we reach today's generations with authentic faith? How can we call on God's power to make a difference in our communities? This book provides an exciting answer -- to all who genuinely seek an active presence for God's church in these trying times. Renewal, revival, and community transformation ARE possible. May we join together in making it happen!

Jack Dennison has the best grasp of city-reaching than anyone I know so it was not a surprise to me that this book is so insightful and valuable in fleshing out the city-reaching vision. Jack masterfully describes the historical setting and the basic biblical principles involved in this stategy which has so completely captured the imagination of missiologists all over the world. This book is definitely a must-read for anyone really serious about getting involved in city-reaching. As a practitioner down in the trenches trying to make city-wide mobilization of the church a functional reality and not just a theroretical construct, this book is a real answer to prayer. If someone reads and digests this book, they will be miles ahead in the greatest innovation for end time harvest that can be imagined. Jack didn't write this book because he likes to write--he doesn't. He wrote it out of a passion to see the world reached for Christ. I believe God is going to use this book mightily to fire the imagination of men and women all over the world.

The concepts shared in this book have revolutionized my own life. My concern has moved from simply a local church focus to a vision for the whole church engaging the culture. Jack Dennison has opened a major window for the church in our generation. Not only does he demonstrate a fresh awareness of cities as a pivotal place of mission at this time in history but also a re-thinking of how the church operates as one unified church in an urban setting. I hope every serious Christian reads this book for it will undoubtedly spark a fire leading to transforming action just as it has in my life.

Dennison has produced an excellently articulated, well organized, and revolution-catalyzing challenge, and process guide. He has hit the nail on the head regarding the state of the Church in America. His experience has obviously prepared him for being an apostle to the Church and cities of America. His strategies for mobilizing the whole Church to reach the whole city are clearly set forth, Biblically-based, and logical. This book promises to be a transitional document in setting the Church on a new, transforming, and crucially needed course.

As the General Supervisor of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the United States, I constantly look for leading edge thinking to resource our 5,000 licensed ministers. Jack Dennison's book, CITY REACHING, is a seminal work which provides a strong biblical basis, historical precedent, and international testing for his city reaching model.

I ordered and distributed cases of this book to leaders including the 225 Divisional Superintendents in the U.S. I believe CITY REACHING will provide the platform for experimentation and a growing body of literature that will inform a return to reaching our cities. I will continue to use this book as our primary resource for city reaching information.

Clowning in Rome is a must have for anyone who is serious about seeking the face of God! I am an avid reader and there are honestly only 4 books total that I can recommend as highly as this one. The vocabulary is unique (ie. solitude, celibacy) but if you can look past it to the virtue Henri is alluminating I promise you, you will be forever changed.

While this is perhaps the oldest of Nowen's mainstream published works, it is still worth reading today. Written in the late 60s (some of the psychology is dated) Nouwen explores some of those basic human issues that rest at the center of relationship. The focus is clearly geared toward seminarians and religious, but the text offers much for layperson as well.

Like most of Nouwen's work, this is a very approachable. His writing style is engaging and this little book will take no time to finish. It's style, an adaptation of presentations, allows for the reader to take in a little at a time and rest with it, intellectually digest it. A good book to reflect on.

This book may never hit the top of the charts or appeal to the general christian populace, but if you want to develop your spirit-man so as not to offend the gentle dove of the Holy Spirit, this book will stir you to contemplation and quieting the noise of your flesh so that your spirit may hear deeply. Though it is small, this is not a book to be read quickly. Allow it to seep into your spirit and gradually change your heart.

Excellent book that brought a lot of closure to certain episodes in my life. Nouwen had a great gift for being able to write in very easy to understand ways about topics such as celibacy, solitude and contemplation. He gave wonderful insights into why these virtues are so wonderful and necessary for those wanting to grow in holiness. His section on celibacy was very enlightening, especially in this world where it is so misunderstood. I'm thrilled the book is now available again to buy!

This is one of my favorite Nouwen books, along with Compassion (which I'm about to read again) and Return of the Prodigal Son.

I think that what I appreciate and enjoy most about Henri Nouwen is his taste for the paradox, the upside-down-kingdom perspective on things that must be under a lord who declares that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. And that sense of upsidedownness is probaby in its finest form in Clowning in Rome -- hence the title. In his quiet yet confident voice, Nouwen speaks of profound paradoxes -- how solitude is the foundation of community, celibacy the key element of a good marriage (or any intimate relation), and silence the basis of conversing with God.
I am learning how to read Nouwen's books as well, and it is something like the prayer life he talks about. I have been frustrating by the somewhat repetitive content of them in the past, but in some way, it is good and true that he sings the same tune repeatedly, with different variations. Somewhat in the same way of the Gospels -- it is good that there are four, though the story is basically the same. I am learning to quiet myself when I read Nouwen's books, not to read them quickly or intellectually or academically or even necessarily for content. It is amazing to me how often the Spirit speaks to me while reading these books: sometimes directly related to the content, sometimes not related at all. I am thankful for Nouwen's willingness to be a vessel for the Spirit through his writing, and for the environment these books help create within my spirit -- one in which I am especially attentive to the Spirit's whisperings.

I strongly wish that more people would read brother Nouwen's books, and hope that others find the same gold in them that I do. I strongly, firmly believe that it is Christianity of this sort -- this quiet, irrelevant, powerless spirituality -- that has the power to profoundly affect the world: indeed, that it is this kind of Christianity that has changed the world in past centuries.
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This book is definitely an interesting read as it has an unorthodox approach to something that almost all Americans feel the effect of: rising oil prices.

Dr. Leeb is clearly a very intelligent individual and wrote this book about continually rising oil prices when oil was around $65/barrel in early 2006. That prediction alone is impressive and the book follows the believable premise that this trend will continue and oil will cost at least $200/barrel in the next few years.

He gives us reasons why this coming crisis is being ignored, where we should invest in the next few years, and what effects this economic collapse will have on the economy and the world if it is still ignored. The book also covers some basic economic concepts such as inflation and outlines possible US government action to control and deal with this crisis as it unfolds.

The book is easy to read and written on a level that I could easily understand. I recommend it for the ideas it gives and for the several points that really made me think and consider our current economic status and what it might lead to in the near future.

I agree with most of Dr. Leeb's positions in what he addresses in this book, namely that the situation he outlines for the future will come to pass if nothing is done. I also realize that he is writing from a well-informed and experienced position, and that is worthy of respect from everyone. There were only a few things I didn't understand about the book.

First, this book is repetitive. There are maybe 50 pages of content in a 196 page book. He could have written an excellent small booklet or a series in a trade journal but seemingly opted to make the same project into a full book. The information is good; the presentation is much too long.

Secondly, he has a chapter entitled "Planning for Survival: Alternatives to Oil." This chapter outlines several well-known alternative energy solutions (natural gas, nuclear, wind, etc.) and boldly states "One of the most promising alternative energies...is wind" (page 133). This sounds fair enough, but if you add up his numbers on page 143 you would find that (by his estimates) we need 800,000 windmills in the US to provide us with all our electricity needs. Dr. Leeb implies that we should commit to this immediately, so probably he has already invested in wind power. I am not an engineer, but I have seen these windmills and I cannot imagine where you could put them or where the concrete, metal and labor (and energy!) resources required for a construction project like this would come from. I may be wrong, but I would have liked to see more evidence to back up the statement that wind is the best alternative energy available.

Despite these points, I think this is a really excellent book. I am more of an optimist than Dr. Leeb, and I think that when the crisis hits it will not be with such doomsday results that he outlines. Humans, the most adaptive creatures on earth, will figure out a way to deal with it that will minimize damage and we will recover even if it takes a few years with a slower world economy. However, his advice and non-conformist ideas are excellent and only time will tell the true impact as the economic and political status of the world seems to change yearly. In the meantime, I recommend reading this book and considering the financial advice and predictions that Dr. Leeb offers. It should not take long to read and I learned a lot that I would never have thought of before.

This book is worth reading. The authors looked into it and found out that oil prices will keep going up and offer some ways to protect your money during high oil prices.

A very compromising review of what is to be expected as oil becomes less available. It's presented in a very logical approach, easy to follow and understand.

This is Important Stuff - We all wish that the world would stay under control, but reality will not be denied. Leeb is to be admired for saying it like it is. It's too bad that most Americans will not read this book - a cold logical look at what the future will look like.

I just happened to pick up the audio-book version of this book before thumbing through the hardcover.

This is first book of its kind that I've found that recommends stock options and an investment strategy for surviving the coming economic collapse. Dr. Leeb presents a strong argument for getting your finances in order. The basis for his book is the 1970's, a period very familiar to me, the time of "Stag-flation." I believe that with a few adjustments for problems he missed ¯ academic studies such as these tend to be rich in details and highly accurate but myopic. Dr. Leeb is primarily worried about inflation. The basis of his book is that the government will flood the market with dollars to counter the political fallout from collapsing demand. Maybe so, if it can.

Unfortunately, when this book was written, the mortgage crisis had just begun to show up in the media. Where will the money come from when the government is broke? I'm just guessing but I think you'd want to hedge a little more towards deflation than inflation and Dr. Leeb takes this into account.

Another minor flaw with the book is a lack of appreciation for the economic impact of the environment. He sees this as a problem that is 50 years away. As a practical environmentalist and a chemical engineer, I see it as a problem we must address within 10 years or so or we, as a species, will be dead. The American Chemistry Society (ACS) has provided ample warning for years about the rising unhealthiness of the food we eat -- like the warnings to everyone, not just pregnant women, not to eat fish (those on the top of their food chains).

The EPA now warns pregnant women not to eat shark, mackerel, tilefish, albacore (white) tuna or swordfish because of mercury; in truth, their credibility is not gold leaf anymore. Better advice would be to not eat walleye, salmon, pike, or trout and this goes for wild fish and farm-raised. The reason why government agencies such as these are not reliable is because of protection of government interests, such as Canadian and American commercial fishing. But, that, to use an old author's ploy is another story.

Dr. Leeb misses this converging phenomena. One reason may be the cost of damage to the environment. This cost is largely un-measureable and is usually ignored in economic analysis. I should know, I'm a engineer. We have trouble accounting for inflation in our calculations let alone the economic impact of improvements in quality, safety or the environment. I am sure that DuPont would have taken more care not to destroy the Chesapeake Bay if they could have weighed the economic cost. Certainly, the government accountants would have reminded them with stiff penalties.

Or, maybe, Dr. Leeb assumes that if the effect of the environment is severe enough, the health system will collapse altogether. Imagine a world without health care. He alludes to this towards the end of the book.

All in all, this is an excellent book. Like the others in this genre, he warns about inflation. I think Dr. Leeb has chosen the correct path by avoiding the temptation to tell you how bad it could get and focusing on how you can improve your lot during the collapse. At least, Dr. Leeb has some investment ideas for your survival.

If this review was helpful, please add your vote so that others can benefit.

The authors write with credibility that comes from experience. Their church planting and coaching experience gives more weight to their advice than if this were a theoretical treatise. I really liked the style as well. Rather than attempting to write a text book, they give many short suggestions and considerations. Each one was developed just enough and not overdone. As a result I could easily digest the idea and go off to think about it for hours or days before going back for more. I don't think that everything they have done needs to be done the way they did it in every church planting situation, but as I said, due to their experience, all of it is very worthy of consideration.

Any pastor or elder could profit from the ideas in the book, not just church planters.

Mr. Sjogren has again fired off an insightful, provocative, and fun epistle. This latest volume is perfect for those that are tilling the field for a new church plant or trying to prune and renew their fallow fields. This easy to use guide will help leaders make their churches more accessible to both the un-churched as well as the over-churched. Change agents like Sjogren have taken a great deal of flack lately from the small-minded and let me just say it is embarrassing to read what some supposedly godly folks have been writing. I am not sure I even want to understand where their bitterness has come from. It is amazing to me that Sjogren and others are criticized for being successful and expanding the kingdom! Even more ludicrous is this silly notion that being sensitive to seekers in our church community is some new trend and that is not biblically sound. They see this outward focus as a marketing gimmick rather than truly extending the heart of God to the lost. Nothing can be further from the truth.

If you really believe that having a seeker friendly church is not biblical, I invite you to examine Acts Chapter 15. It is the first example of a smart leader figuring out that having a community of kindness is not only a good idea it is at the crux of God's heart. In a nutshell, a few "traditional" preachers came from Judea to Antioch. They started sharpening some knives and called all the new gentile believers over to them and explained that while they loved having them in their church they needed to make a certain "adjustment" to use a euphemism. Not to be too graphic, but can you imagine how painful circumcision might be to a middle aged man? Would you want to go to the church of sharp instruments on private parts? Paul and Barnabas see the problem right away. They teach mercy, grace and kindness and the church spread in pandemic proportions. Steve Sjogren and Rob Lewin are modern day versions of Paul and Barnabas. Following their blueprint will help you, whether you are building a new church, or remodeling an old stagnant one.

Steve Sjogren and Rob Lewin's Community of Kindness is a tremendously helpful book. One must remember that kind acts are not necessarily a presentation of the Gospel itself, but they are things that can and do open the door for presenting the Gospel. This book is packed full of ideas and encouraging words that will help pastors. The authors' down-to-earth, practical advice about pastoring is humorous and helpful. Our church has begun to implement a number of the ideas contained in this book. People who have previously been inactive in our evangelism efforts are becoming extremely involved in servant evangelism. Some will disagree with particulars in the book, but overall it's a worthwhile book and well worth the investment. You'll be glad you read this book.

Paul Heier, author of Leading Out of Love

You couldn't ask for a more practical and usable book on a very tough subject. There are opinions upon opinions about how to start a church, but this book cuts through all the trivial, philosophical stuff. This book is all about action and how to get things accomplished. The information in this book is so wonderfully insightful and practical, I'm sure that it can be used successfully by a leader in any denomination or affiliation. The authors are able to get right to the heart of what a church planting pastor needs to know. It's honest, it's relevant and it's easy to use. I have added years to my level of experience by assimilating the Community of Kindness points.

Rob Lewin and I put this book together based on both of our exhaustive planting and coaching experience over the past couple of decades plus in the church planting game. In my experience in reading church planting books, even the popular ones, only a few of the authors have actually planted a church themselves. Those who have planted (no names mentioned) have planted in almost all cases small to medium-sized churches. In both of our cases, we have gone through all the phases of church growth - of starting with literally no people, gathering from scratch, in my case in the hostile environment of Europe where the locals literally dislike Americans usually... and have grown churches all the way up to, in my case, a normal weekend attendance of averaging over 7,000 (in Cincinnati). Out of the church in Cincinnati we have spun out over 50 churches so far. I am about to move to Tampa to plant a new church with my wife Janie to plant yet another church (Coastland Church). Our plan is to plant at least 2 churches in the first 18 months, and ultimately as we are up and running on all 8 cylinders, to plant hundreds of churches. I am just beginning at the age of 50!

We see value in churches of all sizes. This book doesn't make the statement that the only good church is a giant church. Nor does it assume that you will build a giant church in your setting. (I am about to release a new book on how virtually ANY pastor can grow his or her church to the 300-500 size - it will be entitled The Pretty Good Church - release date later in 2006. Look for it on Amazon.)

SURPRISING INSIGHT: This book is more than a lot of ideas on Servant Evangelism as you might expect coming from me... there are lots of ideas that come from our reflection on how to best cope with the early years / phases of both planting a church OR starting a new venture - in ministry within your local church or elsewhere. I have heard from a numbrer of people who are starting out in the business world who have taken the ideas captured in this book who have applied our ideas and have learned much! I'm not surprised... I have been coaching business leaders for the past several years using my simple principles of servant leadership and outwardness. This not only works for the establishing of networks for launching churches but for the launching of companies. Go figure!

I have written book plugs for a couple of author friends of mine who have penned works on church planting - namely Ed Stetzer and Ralph Moore. Buy their books first, then buy this one to add to your library.

A wonderful guide book for people new to anime. Includes a overview of anime history; year by year breakdown of TV programs released in the States from the 60's to the 90's; a listing of videos released in the states (both in and out of print), and a listing of anime related clubs, retailers, and conventions. Dated now, but still a wonderful resource.

Trish Ledoux is an absolute genius, and it shows in the amount of information held within this relatively short TPB. I have never seen such a vast amount of information in so few pages. The Complete Anime Guide succeeds is giving a very thorough account of the Japanese artform without boring the reader.

With out a doubt the most complete guide I've ever seen. Not only are most of the Anime tities cover with short synopses but history, fan clubs and retailer addresses are included. A superb book

This is the best book on anime released in North America. The section on anime TV series is interesting as well as informative. It just about covers every series that aired on U.S. television. It also covers the vast genres of anime while it gives informative side notes. It also has brief synopses on a few anime titles as well as a listing of all titles released up to December 1995. To sum it up, I believe that this is the definitive source on anime released in North America. The authors really did their homework in writing this book

This is solid an knowledgeable work, and an excellent resource for anyone new to Anime (Japanese Animation). The first half of the book covers the history and culture of Anime, and is thorough and well-researched. The second half gives quick synopses of the Anime titles available on video in the US. This section is slightly weaker: it is dating rapidly (unavoidable in such a work), and the synopses tend to be back-of-the-video stuff and not always too informative. On the whole, though, well worth buying.

The Complete Publishing Resource Manual has a special place right next to my computer because I reach for it at least three times a day. Linda Able has done a wonderful job of compiling key information into one source that can be used by writers, editors, and publishers. For those newer in the field, the extensive glossary of terms used in publishing, printing, and book marketing will give you an answer to the question of what exactly is a verso, a recto, and a quarto, as well as keys to the more esoteric printers terms such as X-height. I'm especially fond of the Resources section which catalogs sites on the Internet where publishers and writers can find answers to their questions. This section alone has enabled me to weed my bookmarks down to a manageable level. Able also provides a thorough bibliography of the last decade's books about writing and publishing. In an industry that has almost recreated itself over the past five years, these references can help guide writers and publishers through the tropical storm that is the current book publishing industry.

If you're writing and/or publishing a book, you need this manual. From the comprehensive list of books on the subjects of publishing, printing and book marketing, to the resource list of vendors, suppliers, associations, contacts, web sites, this manual will make your life a lot easier. It also includes a great glossary of terms commonly used in this industry.

Able's book is a one-of-a-kind desktop resource for today's busy publishers! Her glossary covers it all from verso/recto to bleeds to bluelines. Her resource section lists hundreds of *current* organization, vendor, distributor and media addresses and phone numbers. No more sifting through a dozen books (or search engines) for the right address. My copy is already getting dog-eared!

Using Linda's book allows me to cut down on the time I use searching the Internet and puts me right where I need to be. The entire 3rd chapter-a resource database(most of which have Internet links)-is alone worth the price of the book.

~~Barbara O'Neill, author of Second Chance (Periwinkle Press)

The Complete Resource Manual lists all of the books on publishing, printing and book marketing. It contains an up-to-date glossary of terms used in the trade and it has a voluminous list of vendors to the industry, associations and web sites. This valuable reference belongs within easy reach-next to your dictionary. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

Not at the level for me of Tales of Old-time Texas but still an excellent collection of stories from J. Frank Dobie. This collection is focused, as the title should tell you, on buried treasure, treasure maps and things of that nature. The book is still a joy to read and I don't understand why more of the country doesn't know about Mr. Dobie.

The author, a premier folklorist from Texas, writes about the Southwest and the type of treasure with which nature consoles the seeker -- "shadows for want of substantials." Unlike Coronado, the author seeks the treasure that emanates from the heart and mind. This is a fine book written seven decades ago and improves with each reading.

Dobie talks about this land of shadows where we meet Alice Henderson, who faced down fifty cow thieves; Don Milton Favor, who built his own fort while making treaties with hostile Indians; and Cheetwah, a mystic Indian chief who vanished into the mountains to keep vigil over hidden treasures. These and other characters spring from the pages of Dobie's book with a vigor and purpose that makes the heart sing.

The Texas of the Big Bend country is where Dobie's prose satisfies, "Outlandish pictures painted down the sides of caves by aborigines which no white man can now decipher...a jagged and gashed land where legend has placed a lost canyon, its broad floor carpeted with grass that is always green and watered by gushing springs, its palisaded walls imprisoning a herd of buffalo...somewhere in this land credulity has fixed a petrified forest with tree trunks seven hundred feet long."

The author claims, "After I hear a tale I do all I can to improve it," and this is an understatement. Readers who possess a sense of wonder will enjoy this book. History often cloaks personages with dusty trappings, stuffy sayings, and mixed motives so time has faded the awe that Drake, Cortez, Raleigh, and Coronado experienced. Dobie illuminates the wonder of the children of Coronado as they chase their dreams and draws us into their world of enchantment.

Francisco Coronado never found his golden riches or the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola during his time in the Southwest. When he returned in 1542, and told the truth about his barren search, he wasn't believed. One person who did believe said, "Granted he did not find the riches of which he had been told -- he found instead a place in which to search for them."

And the search continues. For centuries Coronado's vision of wealth has lured countless thousnads to the Southwest where tradition and myth have marked mountains, rivers, and ancient ruins with boundless treasures. This book follows long forgotten Spanihs trails, buffalo trails, cow trails, and areas where there are no trails as searchers dig for riches which eludes their grasp. Others, rather than searching, have sat and told stories of lost mines, buried treasure and of ghostly patrones who guard the treasures -- adding layers to the myths that abound in the land of Coronado.

This book lovingly describes Spanish influence and tradition on the Sountwest and combines a terrific cast of characters, interesting situations, and Dobie's unmatched skill at weaving a tale. The author's footnotes are at the end of the text and are filled with tales and legends of lost mines and treasures. There's an interesting section on the elaborate Code of Treasure Symbols used by the Spaniards. An excellent glossary of idioms used in the Southwest follows that section.

There is more to the American West than gunfighters, farmers, bankers, cowboys, and miners. The author has given us the realm of the dreamers.

J. Frank Dobie was a folklorist of Texas and "Coronado's Children" may be his best and most famous book. He was born in 1888 and bridged the old west and modern times. CC was written in 1930 when many of the old timers, who knew how to spin a yarn, were still around. Dobie sought them out and recorded their stories of lost gold and buried treasure. He was also a serious scholar who rummaged through Spanish and American archives to give authenticity to his stories -- and he was not adverse to saddling up a horse and doing a little on-the-ground research.

"Coronado's Children" has inspired thousands of otherwise normal people to pick up a shovel and head off to some god-forsaken wasteland to dig in the ground looking for the "Lost San Saba Mine," the booty of pirate Jean Lafitte, or the $2 million the James boys supposedly buried in the Wichita mountains of Oklahoma. These are the kind of stories that dreams are made of -- and who knows? Some of them might be true.

Dobie has collected nineteen tales in CC and he tells them beautifully in prose that is conversational and colorful. He has enormous respect for the land and the Indians, the Mexicans, and the Anglos who live in the harsh, dry country of the southwest. An oft-used adjective to describe his stories is "magical" and so they are. "Coronado's Children" is an American classic.

Smallchief

Perhaps the best folklore book ever written about lost mines and buried treasure, caves full of gold bars, and Spanish silver. As in most of Dobie's writings, this is not straight history but Dobie's version of other people stories with a large dose of Dobie in all of them. A Texas classic.

I read this book 30 years ago. I am now 75, and I rank it as one of the most fascinating books of my lifetime. It opened up a whole world of places and things that are long gone, but which deserve to be remembered. I believe that I have since read almost everything that Frank Dobie has written, but believe this is still the best.