Education Books

There is no wasted verbiage in this book. Counting the index, it is but 205 pages in length. In those 205 pages are jewels of wisdom that most management teams are lacking.

The most prevelant gems are pithy observations set aside by top and bottom border lines. One example:
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"The atmosphere in most American companies is so riddled with fear of expendability that workers are afraid totell a boss what they think of his methods of managing."
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The book is organized in such a way as to point out the shallowness of bottom line neurosis and the strengths of inclusive decision making. Over and over, Dr. Jones identifies "Spirit Killers," i.e., those actions in an organization which diminish productivity and, subsequently, profitability, educational insight, and family harmony.

This book intertwines management schemes in business, education and the family. such integration serves to:
-Expose the fallacies of autocracy.
-Explore the possibilities of democracy in an organization.
-Break up management notions that have been set in stone.
-Propose better methods for bringing about civilized organizations.

The book seems to be intended as a tool in business, a text in academia, or a how to book for families. Personally, I'm inclined to recommend it to business schools and/or corporate trainers, though not to the exclusion of the other two entities.

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Hello; I sent in a review nearly 2 months ago and have not seen it posted. Is there a problem with it? Jim Harmon jimharmon@charter.net

Every manager wants the silver bullet that will transform his or her organization from an also-ran into the leader of the pack. Dr. Jones shows us how, without preaching. In today's environment the emphasis is always on some measurable result - profit, productivity etc. Dr. Jones reminds us the result is not possible without the journey and the journey begins and ends with how employees are treated. Great job, Dr. Jones!

Rod Walsh, Co-author - Semper Fi: Business Leadership the Marine Corps Way

Once read, this book can be set aside for the moment, but a compelling urge requires that you return to it for insight and guidance. Dr. Norman Jones has assembled a work that reflects his knowledge of how we relate to each other within our family unit, in our business, acedemic, and social lives. We can improve our relationships within these units, by using the techniques that he outlines. It is not just our own genetic make-up that determines out actions, but it is how we are treated by the people in our lives that have the most influence on us.

Maybe, just maybe, Dr. Jones' approach to the humanistic values in our relationships, expecially between students, their teachers and parents, could have helped prevented the violence that is currently happening in our schools.

Keep it on your bookshelf for inspiration and guidance, go back to it when you need help in any personal relationship, on the job, in your school, or within your family.

Thanks to Dr. Norman Jones for his insight and for this exceptional publication.

Norman Jones is a leadership specialist and a keen observer of what management has done to discourage productivity. He encourages management to lift up the human spirit and to create a more harmonious work environment, therefore creating a people-oriented and inspirational place for ideas to thrive and businesses to succeed.

He compares the Autocratic and Democratic management styles. In the Autocratic world, the boss has a sharp voice, speaks in a commanding way, asserts his/her power, demands cooperation, imposes ideas, criticizes, punishes and has sole responsibility of the group. The Democratic way to run a business puts the "boss" in a different light altogether. He now becomes the "leader," with a friendly voice, he uses his/her influence in positive ways, wins cooperation, tells what he/she would like to have done, sells ideas, guides, encourages, acknowledges achievement, helps employees solve problems, discusses ideas, and shares responsibility with his team players/employees. One of the main problems in business is an impersonal approach to dealing with people.

Norman Jones calls this ..."Spirit Killing." It is one of the reasons so many people are dissatisfied with their work environments and turn to drugs or alcohol to stop the "mental pain." Spirit Killers include: distrust, ridicule, resentment, retaliation, alienation, harassment, deceit, humiliation, stress, tension, fear, sarcasm, belittlement and embarrassment.

These "Spirit Killers" produce demotivation, apathy and insecurity. Not exactly the ideal environment for a healthy productive company. Instead Norman Jones encourages institutions to create self-motivation through: trust, promoting self-esteem, giving employees a sense of belongingness, helping employees obtain job satisfaction, providing a means of recognizing accomplishments, and actually treating employees in a caring manner by listening and showing a genuine concern. When managers learn to listen to their employees the company can grow. Too often, their is a "top-down" philosophy in which all employees are dependent on their ideas from the top. This stifles creativity. Most companies which have our respect not only listen to their employees, they listen to their customers. Amazon.com is one of those companies. They answer every single e-mail from their customers in a very prompt and courteous manner.

"Today's top-down management wants highly energetic, conscientious people, but fails to see how it deprives these people of fulfillment of psychological needs that could stoke the energy." page 34

Since we all have a natural inclination to strive for achievement and need to feel job satisfaction, Norman believes America is hungry for business leaders who not only inspire us to be better human beings, but also encourage us to be internally motivated to meet company goals and be more successful in our jobs.

"When people believe they are helping a company or organization, their self-esteem blossoms." page 19

Unfortunately, modern day businesses use the threat of expendability to attempt to gain optimum productivity and in the process destroy the human spirit. Like a row of dominoes tumbling over, Norman Jones knocks over old ideas of management and shows the way with new principles and creative solutions. He focuses on how business has neglected the research available to them. He sees this as the cause of many problems.

In order to see America's work centers enter a new era of high energy, thriving and productivity in the years to come, the leaders, parents, teachers and even government will need to evaluate their approach to the current dehumanized workplace. Norman believes our country's success will depend on creating a productive arena where the thoughts, feelings and ideas of employees can be expressed. To do this managers must know how to nurture "good attitudes."

An example of a poor motivational statement which is all to common:

"Your report was a good one, but we need them faster and more often."

An example of a good internal motivational statement:

"You can sure be proud of that report; it took a lot of work."

It was also enlightening to compare two letters written by a manager to a difficult employee. In the first letter the use of "I" permeated the letter and caused it to seem demanding and arrogant. In the "improved letter," the use of "we" helped the employee to see they were an integral part of the company. In the first letter, they were expendable.

While the main focus of this book is business, a few chapters are devoted to family and the school system. I believe your religious beliefs determine how you raise your children in most cases. Norman Jones did not write this book from a religious standpoint and his book focuses on research.

This book may just be the perfect gift to give to your boss this Christmas. You may just be giving yourself a great work environment in the coming year. After all those "memos" you have to read, the least your boss can do is read an inspiring book! If you are interested in Psychology you will enjoy that aspect. If you are in management you will love the insights on how you can drive your business forward for optimal success. Your employees might even vote you as their favorite boss of all time. After all, who do we love the most in life? People who treat us fairly and give us the respect we deserve.

~The Rebecca Review

I've been teaching for fifteen years, have read hundreds of books on every aspect of theory and application, and can say unequivocally that this is the single most useful and important book I've yet to read. Ok, ok, I'll equivocate just this once and add it's partner book, Positive Classroom Instruction. If you are going to teach, these books are scripture. Everything else is commentary. Whatever your teaching style, whatever approaches you take to motivate learners, these two books will enhance your effectiveness and make your classroom a better place for children to learn. You will get more teaching done in less time and reach more students with individual attention.

I have been using this program for 6 years with my emotionally handicapped class. Teaching is easy and fun due to Jones' simplistic and cost effective ways to self-eliminate behavior. I went from an average of 15 office referrals a week down to less than 5 all year! Best of all the kids are happy and test scores are on the rise! This is the first easy program that applies in any classroom and on the parental home front too!

I had been teaching 7th and 8th grade science for two years at an inner city school and was doing fine. I had my classes under control, but I was getting worn out keeping them under control. I read the intro to this book and couldn't wait to finish it and implement his methods. I read it over again during the two weeks before school for the next 4 summers to refresh myself. He clearly explains methods to maintain perfect control and cooperation with less work and keep your own stress level way down. I go home much more relaxed now. The kids love it too. He originaly developed these methods at schools for the severely emotionally disabled, so I'm sure they will work anywhere.

I read this book a long time ago.
In a nutshell, I remember two ideas:
Number one: Promise the class a reward for good behavior, and reward the class according to how well they behave.
Number two: If a student misbehaves, approach the student and silently give that student an evil eye.

This book arrived in my mailbox one day before my first substitute teaching job, and I started reading it right away. I was 100% better off having read it. In fact, I don't think I would have survived that first day without the techniques I quickly picked up. I've since read most of the book and re-read parts of it many times. Not only does it work in the classroom, it works at home, too. The techniques **work**, they build a respectful, productive relationship with the students, and they require little physical energy to carry out. Simple and sensible.

My brother and I read this book every morning. It has shown us how to have a more honorable life for God. There is a reason we are here on earth. The Prayer of Jabez for Teens is like our strategy for life. This book offers great opportunities to receive the life God has for you. We sincerely enjoyed it and think you will too.

I didn't enjoy this book because it talked about how to please yourself. The book was suppose to be about bettering yourself but you seek God everything will be added to you.matt.6:33

I Really Like This Book It Is Good For Teens And Adults.
And Very Inspriational.

This book is much like the original but written for younger folks and has different examples. It is the story of a very old prayer that has the same roots as the Lord's Prayer but it is nice to get a new prayer now and then!

THE AMAZING PRAYER

Since hearing about Jabez, I walk around with a different composure, in a different mood. God wants to accomplish great things through us; he's just waiting for us to ask. Jabez's cry was that God would bless him so that he could bless others, change his generation, and change the world. God is trying to make you live like you never have before. God wants to inspire your life, so you can inspire someone else's life so they could live holy and peacefully.

I was just blown away by the simple truth in Jabez's prayer. It's challenging, and it really has touched me. I'm not much of a reader, but I became absorbed with this book and have immediately experienced the power of prayer. His experience has taught me to live expectantly, to be aware that God is at work around me and in me. It's okay to ask god for blessings because through it we're going to be able to reach more people/young people around the world are leading the way in prayer. They're seeing God do miracles.
(Yes this is a good book if you like stories about finding ways to get closer to God)

Excellent for starting up a business. This book is an invaluable asset to anyone who needs a guidepost to determine elements to consider when trying to bring a product to market. Definitely worth every cent...

This is a great book for anyone who is lost and confused like I was on a subject that was very foreign to me. It truely walks you through step by step!

Product Idea to Product Success gives a step by step approach to what you need to know to bring an idea from just an idea to reality. If you are willing to follow the steps you can become successful in every indeaver that you undertake.

I am glad I purchased the book "Product Idea to Product Success."
It is a must read for anyone considering marketing a product.
I am thankful Matt Yubas decided to share his expertise with the world.
I never imagined how much research is necessary prior to marketing an idea
or product. This book is definitely the roadmap for getting started. I will refer to this book often as I sift through the details of my project.

This is a good book for a would-be inventor, but it doesn't go into the detail or depth that I think is needed.

Maggie Quinn has no plans on going to the prom, a girl with her grandmother's sixth sense, but after a demon starts attacking other students she has no choice. The story is addicting and hilarious. It reminds me a lot of (my personal favorite show)BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER.
I hated putting the book down and fell in love with Maggie and the rest of the cast.

Despite the title this book isn't very explicit. Perfect for teens of all ages who enjoy a good demon slaying or just a funny new read!

It is a VERY promising new series Hell Week (Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil)

Have you ever heard the cliche that High School can be hell? Well, imagine for a moment that it really is. Not in the figurative sense but literally hell. That's what happens in the book, PROM DATES FROM HELL. Maggie Quinn is on the newspaper staff and is the Yearbook photographer and doesn't want to go to her prom. One day while photographing the Spanish club for the Yearbook, Stanley, the school nerd, asks her out. She's horrified but what happens next is even worse. The resident Jocks and Jennifers come along at that moment and torment Stanley. After Maggie takes a photo and threatens to put it in the newspaper, something happens. Stanley threatens all of them. No one takes him seriously, that is until Maggie starts sensing things and smelling brimstone at the school.



Later things start happening to the in crowd--the same ones who'd tormented Stanley. Now it's up to Maggie to find out what's going on. Putting on her Nancy Drew hat she searches to see what's going on and finds out that the prom is mandatory if she hopes to save the school from demons.

I enjoyed this tale. Think Buffy meets Nancy Drew. The catchy dialog pulled me right into the story. Throw in a cute college student, who happens to be researching paranormal happenings and is in her father's college class, a cute Jock, and a foggy demon, who likes to leave messages on her window. Oh, and also some witchy cheerleaders.

What I really enjoyed about this tale was the interaction of Maggie to her father. So often stories have the parents either obvious to their teen or the bad one. Maggie's father is very supportive of his daughter even when he can't see the demon. And her Debbie Reynolds like Grandmother is a gem.

This is a fun ride that makes you wonder if maybe that smell in high school might be something more sinister!

I loved this book. Suspenseful, clever and funny, Clement-Moore is obviously a skilled storyteller at weaving a complex plot that adults and teens enjoy. I left my teenage years a while ago, but I really liked these characters, especially Justin. Maggie Quinn is a character I want to read in future sequels.

This was seriously one of my favorite books of all time!
Rosemary Clement-Moore really outdid herself in this thrilling novel.

I got this book over a vacation. I knew nothing about it, or the author, but I bought it because it looked funny. I finished it in 2 days. (One of which was a 14-hour car ride.) As soon as I finished the book in the car, it was scooped up by both my older brother and mother, because i wouldn't stop raving about it. They have been fighting over it constantly, and both enjoy it. Just goes to show how the book appeals to a wide audience! Definitely worth reading!!!

Leah wants to bring her relationship with Miguel out into the open. At the haunted house that Eight Prime is doing for Halloween, though, she breaks it off with him when he refuses to meet her parents. Eventually the two get back together and tell Eight Prime of their relationship, which makes Nicole excited.

Melanie and Peter are getting kind of closer to each other, which makes Jenna jealous. Jenna and Peter argue about it and Peter drives Melanie home from cleaning up the place where the haunted house was. Before he can even start the car, though, Melanie has a little romantic surprise for him.

This is the first book in the series that I have read. I was looking for a good book to read at the library and decided to get this one. It was a good choice! Great book. I think Miguel and Leah are PERFECT for each other! I am now hooked on these books. Ms. Roberts you did an excellent job! read it!

I really like this series! It's great! I can't believe it's ending at book 20! Book 19 just came out. Anyways. This is a great series. A thing I like most about it is how everyone in this book likes someone. Nicole likes Jesse. Jesse likes Melanie. Melanie likes Peter. Peter likes Jenna. Jenna likes Miguel. Miguel likes Leah. Leah likes Miguel. And, well, Ben, he's just out there, but that's ok. Ok, now about this book:

It's really good! Leah and Miguel want to tell Eight Prime about them but Miguel wimps out and refuses and they get into a big fight about it. Melanie and Peter start hanging out a lot, and Jenna gets majorly jealous. Ben's trying to fit in, and Nicoles just jealous of everything: Melanie, Leah...etc. Overall a very good book. Recommend you reading the whole series.

I really like this series! It's great! I can't believe it's ending at book 20! Book 19 just came out. Anyways. This is a great series. A thing I like most about it is how everyone in this book likes someone. Nicole likes Jesse. Jesse likes Melanie. Melanie likes Peter. Peter likes Jenna. Jenna likes Miguel. Miguel likes Leah. Leah likes Miguel. And, well, Ben, he's just out there, but that's ok. Ok, now about this book:

It's really good! Leah and Miguel want to tell Eight Prime about them but Miguel wimps out and refuses and they get into a big fight about it. Melanie and Peter start hanging out a lot, and Jenna gets majorly jealous. Ben's trying to fit in, and Nicoles just jealous of everything: Melanie, Leah...etc. Overall a very good book. Recommend you reading the whole series.

This book isn't the best book of the series I've read, but I enjoyed all the same. The cliffhanger at the end of this novel was really good - wheter Peter and Melanie will ever get it together or will Melanie & Jesse or Peter & Jenna. Nicole is just way to jealous of everything - Jesse liking Melanie more, Leah and the fact that she still hasn't got a life. Leah and Miguel's relationship is just like a fairytal - poor man falls in love with rich girl. But I liked it when he [Migual] questioned his religion. Jenna is a spoiled brat with good intentions, but she can't get everything her own way and she is just so jealous of everyone. Ben is just Ben - he's goofy and really annoying at the same time. And Jesse, well Jesse is just using people to make himself feel better - Nicole [who is quite thick] and the demoned alchol.

If you want help in understanding and helping your teen, read this book. I've read so many books in the past year on teens, parenting, depression, etc. and I gained some knowledge from them. But this book ALONE had the MOST helpful information on the best way for me to interact with my daughter, to listen to her, to understand more about her and to help her make better choices. I love the prayers and suggestions of how to pray for our children. It's an excellent book and I'd recommend it to anyone with a young child, pre-teen, teen or grandchild. It's been so helpful.

Some believe it's almost impossible to bridge the gap between adults and teens. But In Real Issues Real Teens, Suzanne offers parents practical, and Christian-based principles for bringing the two generations together. Through her own transparency as a parent, her personal work with teens, and through true, "live" interviews, Suzanne lets the reader hear the hurts, joys, and frustrations from a teen perspective. From sexuality to spirituality, she offers frank advice and communication that allow any parent to climb inside their teen's thoughts. A fearful ride? Maybe. But not an impossible one. And somehow, this author makes the trip easier. I love Suzanne's compassionate, yet authoritative manner. Where was this book when my kids were teens? This is a book for parents, youth workers, grandparents, and anyone who works with or knows teens. Suzanne's love and passion for teenagers show on every page.

EVERY parent needs a copy of this book! It is a powerful tool that will enhance your communication and relationship with your teen. I really urge every parent to read it.

a great book for teens...it seems the author has put much time anf thought into the book and seems to be great with teens...she must be a great mom!

I so wish I'd had this book when my kids were teens. It is so insightful and eye-opening. Every parent needs (I mean: needs!) to read this book.

It's about time that we have a very simple and accessible way to talk with kids about how to deal with the subtleties of humiliation and bullying. It is never easy to advise our kids about how to address the realities of peer pressure but the story in "Say Something" gives me an "in" for talking with my kids about some simple ways to intervene. Thank you!

As a retired classroom teacher, I have read many books to classes over the years. This book stands out as one of the best, both for it's message, it's illustrations, and writing style. I now use the book in the anti-viollence program that I teach in schools.

The story sends a powerful message to children (and adults) about taking action to change injustices that we see. There are times when we notice things that are unfair or mean, but we believe that we are doing enough to feel sorry for those who are the brunt of such unkindnesses. The story clearly demonstrates the importance of moving beyond feeling sympathy to feeling empathy. We must speak up for others and do something that makes a difference.

The ending provides the students with provocative food for thought to initiate a reflective discussion. This book is suitable for 2nd through 6th graders, and even beyond!

Bullying has become so pervasive because too often other kids look the other way because it is not cool to defend a victim or they are simply afraid. It is about time that the responsibility to do something to stop it is put on the head of the bystander. A great story that brings home this important message. We all must work to eradicate bullying. I also would suggest that every parent read Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying, probably the best book on the market that deals with this important subject.

Say Something is an essential book for children in elementary school. The book is short and simple but is made powerful by the way it reflects the experiences of the readers/listeners.

The children I read to are ages 5, 3, and 1. I asked them to look at the illustrations and identify the people the book is referencing. They can easily tell which child is sad, alone, or angry. We could easily identify the emotions being illustrated and therefore we were able to better empathize with the characters in the book. Empathizing with the characters helps teach a lesson in doing the same with others in our day to day life.

This book not only teaches empathy, but also demonstrates a beautiful solution that works with many problems.

Say Something portrays an enormous message with a minimum number of words. As I read it to my class of 3rd graders, their response was immediate and powerful. They identified with the characters on many levels, and for the first few pages, thought that being a silent, "innocent" bystander WAS the right thing to do. As the story went on, their faces and comments demonstrated that they had reached the realization that they had the power to help. Months later, they still talk about the concepts introduced to them in the story. When we discuss problems at Class Meeting, it's not unusual to hear, "We have to look out for each other. Nobody wants to be a bystander!"

I was intrigued and amused to see another reviewer say her children were obsessed with "Scranimals" -- because that's the same reaction we got with our kid!

Jack Prelutsky evidently knows the secret of how to captivate children, especially when teamed up with illustrators like Peter Sis. Nearly every Prelutsky book that enters our home gets the same treatment: fascination, amusement, and above all, lots of reading and re-reading.

One might say that this is not Prelutsky's most ingenious work, since it's basically a single concept stretched out into a series of variations, not all of which are equally clever. But there's more to it than that. The illustrations are compelling and fun. And much of the poetry is more highly-crafted than one might expect, given the silly first impression the book makes.

A great example is the description of the "Bananaconda" (that word alone always makes ME laugh!) in which the author slathers syballant syllables in silly sequences. I took the opportunity to point out to our first-grader how a poet describes things differently than other kinds of writers.

I then read it aloud to demonstrate that point, sssimply by exsstending each of the esses on the page. At that point, most kids can make the connection between the sound of the words, and their understanding of "S" as the sound made by a snake -- something many of them learn in preschool, if not earlier.

And of course those words were written ABOUT a snake. For a kid to learn that words can have multiple layers of meaning, and to learn that concept at such an early age... well, that's really something. And Prelutsky is one of the best at delivering that kind of depth, even when combined with utter silliness.

In short, Scranimals is definitely a worthy addition to any child's collection, at nearly any age.

During the story a boy and a girl went on a trip the Scranimal Island. They saw a lot of animals such as the RHINOCEROSE, a group SPINACHICKENS, a caravan of CAMELBERTA PEACHES, a lonely POTATOAD, one CARDINALBACORE, couple of HIPPOPOTAMUSHROOMS, talkative PARROTTERS, a sweet PORCUPINEAPPLE, fierce BROCCOLIONS, a nimble ANTELOPETUNIA, an unsuccessful STORMY PETRELEPHANT, content TOUCANEMONES, then the vicious RADISHARK, a yellow BANANACONDA, the fast OSTRICHEETAH, a shy PANADAFFODIL, and the playful MANGORILLA and his friend the ORANGUTANGERINE. The extinct AVOCADODO wasn't smart, strong, or fast, it is no wonder you are extinct.
This book is my favorite picture book because all the animals were mixed up. The craziest animal was the PORCUPINEAPPLE because it was cute and the poem was funny.

My daughter says: "This book is lovely and funny" ... "it makes me smile because it is fun. I love reading this book with my mum."

This book is anything but traditional. Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky is a book that allows its readers to be silly. A book of poetry that describes different mythical creatures that live on "Scranimal Island". I think this book is especially good for the present day kid because a child is constantly forced to conform in everyday life; conform to rules, chores, school work, etc. This book goes outside the box and challenges there imaginations with animals that are clearly a fantasy, but they enter this world of make believe and can leave the compliance behind.

During the story a boy and a girl went on a trip the Scranimal Island. They saw a lot of animals such as the RHINOCEROSE, a group SPINACHICKENS, a caravan of CAMELBERTA PEACHES, a lonely POTATOAD, one CARDINALBACORE, couple of HIPPOPOTAMUSHROOMS, talkative PARROTTERS, a sweet PORCUPINEAPPLE, fierce BROCCOLIONS, a nimble ANTELOPETUNIA, an unsuccessful STORMY PETRELEPHANT, content TOUCANEMONES, then the vicious RADISHARK, a yellow BANANACONDA, the fast OSTRICHEETAH, a shy PANADAFFODIL, and the playful MANGORILLA and his friend the ORANGUTANGERINE. The extinct AVOCADODO wasn't smart, strong, or fast, it is no wonder you are extinct.
This book is my favorite picture book because all the animals were mixed up. The craziest animal was the PORCUPINEAPPLE because it was cute and the poem was funny.

I was given this by my pastor's wife as a Christmas gift. It's the best gift I have gotten in years, hands down! As a busy homeschooling momma I have short periods of time to read and this book is just awesome in that regard. This chapters are short enough to be manageable, yet are so powerful that each one leads you a bit closer to Christ bringing your spirit into a state of worshipful awe with each word. Sometimes we become so distracted by the everyday things of life, and we lose sight of the magnificence of Jesus Christ. This book will bring you to your knees, ignite the zeal for Christ in your heart afresh and revive your spiritual life. This is the first book by Mr. Piper that I have read, but it will not be the last.

This book has taught what it means to appreciate Christ in all his glory. How easy it is to for us to who Jesus really is. This book brings us back to gaze upon the majesty of the glory of our blessed Lord.

After reading this book I fell in love with Jesus all over again! I was going through a rather discouraging time of my life when I read it, and was letting satan's lies get the best of me, but God used the truths in this book to encourage and strengthen me. The book is not very long, and contains 13 short little chapters, each one focusing on a different aspect of the character of Christ. Jesus is so awesome! He's the Lion and the Lamb, the express radiance of the glory of God, and in fact God himself. Yet despite His position He gave it all up and suffered through shame and reproach and inexpressible anguish on this earth because of our sin. Jesus knows when to be tough and when to be compassionate, and He always has our best interest in mind. He is the source of invincible life and there's nothing that can keep in in the grave! And some day He's going to come back in all of His glory, and faith will be swallowed up by sight. John Piper states all of these truths and many more in such a clear, concise way. This book contains so much scripture, it could almost come straight from the Bible. Each chapter ends with a powerful prayer that really makes you think. This is one book I can wholeheartedly recommend for ANYONE, saved or unsaved, and it ends with a clear gospel presentation. "Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ" is definitely my favorite Piper book because it gets beyond all the theological talk and the reasoning and the mumbo jumbo, and you're only left with Jesus, and He is the only thing that matters anyways. His lifechanging power is displayed on every single page of this book. Order two copies, one for yourself and one to give away. And reread it often as a short devotional, it always reminds me of how much Jesus has done for me and how awesome he is, and I go about my day rejoicing!

What I like about this book, written for Christians and non-Christians, is that it is so full of Christ because I am so fed-up with man-centered gospel, that is all about me, all about men, by which, I refer to Arminianism and its stench that so defiles the gospel and is a disgrace to the glory of God. The only true gospel that can satisfy the deepest longing of men's soul is all about Christ, not men.

"God is the wealthiest person in the universe. He owns everyone else and everything everyone else owns." (p.83)

"Christ does not exist in order to make much of us. We exist in order to enjoy making much of him. Christ is not glorious so that we get wealthy or healthy. Christ is glorious, so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in him." (p.21)

Amen! What I love in particular, among the biblical multi-dimensional views of the Lord Jesus Christ in this book, is the description Dr. Piper derived from one of Jonathan Edwards' texts, "The Excellency of Christ" (1736), which I also highly recommend, of Jesus being the "Lion-like Lamb" and the "Lamb-like Lion" (ch.3). The prayer at the end of each chapter is worth following and repeating in our personal prayers. These are prayers that come from a pastor who genuinely loves God and people I have learned to distingush from those of money-loving, world-loving, gospel-manipulating, man-centered, man-pleasing, self-centered preachers.

The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attractive place at the center (of our soul). (p.15)

There is no one who doubts there is something that needs healing in the human soul.

But the proposed cures are many, even in Christianity.

The fact that American Christians are largely just as dysfunctional as unbelievers is testimony that we largely haven't gotten the cure of the soul right.

To overuse a cliche', maybe we haven't kept the main thing the main thing.

The main thing is Jesus Christ. God created our souls to see and savor the glory of His Son.

That is what John Piper helps us to do in Seeing & Savoring Jesus Christ. In 124 pages Piper gives us portraits of Christ's deity, His power, His wisdom, His sacrifice, His mercy. Unbelievers will be confronted with the truth and the beauty of who Jesus is. Believers will get to lovingly gaze at their Savior.

Seeing & Savoring Jesus Christ is a wonderful book for personal devotions, group study, and outreach.