N Books

Reading and/or listening to this management story is a fun way to gain insight about people with whom we work and interact. I enjoyed the positive presentation about different perspectives and strenghts that people have and where the best place to deploy people with these attributes might be. The book encourages objective interactions that are win-win and non-judgemental.

Here we go again, another personality classification system and the author's premise that if you can stereo type people you can manage them more effectively. I don't see what this system has over other personality classification systems, such as MBTI (which has been around longer and more people seem to be familiar with).

The book tries to be humorous, but it just didn't work. The story telling wasn't bad, but I'd almost rather listen to nails on a chalk board then listen to the voices of the people reading this book.

Bottom line. I learned a little, but not much and I'd like my money back.

This loosely medieval management parable about "a king at his wits' end" has several winning characteristics. First, it's relevant without taking itself too seriously. The light, self-effacing - even occasionally tongue-in-cheek - tone makes it easily readable. Authors Sheldon Bowles, Richard Silvano and Susan Silvano actively engage readers with a brief interactive online test that reveals your personality "guild type." Then they draw on their narrative's strength to move forward. Many books about emotional intelligence give readers little practical help. This one is fun, helpful and entertaining even though its guild classification system may need additional tweaking. Apparently designed primarily for workplace applications, it lacks the specificity of the more familiar Myers-Briggs test, which in comparison practically predicts how you'll want your eggs cooked a month from next Tuesday. Notwithstanding these minor limitations, we recommend this book to managers, coaches, consultants, EQ practitioners and those HR folks burdened with softening the Type A corporate hearts who run most organizations.

I found Kingdomality (the test) almost 10 years ago. I took the test and was impressed by its accuracy. Since then, I have taken the online test 3 or 4 times more, with the same results.

So, when browsing on a local bookstore, I saw that the test creators had a book about Kingdomality, I did not hesitate and bought it.

What is Kingdomality (the test and the book) about? Well, it basically sustains that people can be grouped in 12 categories of personality types. These types are a function of how people see the world, what are their motivations, how do they interact with it. It's called Kingdomality because the personalities can be linked to "standard" professions in the Middle Ages (the time of Kingdoms...).

Those who have already taken the test and have enjoyed its simplicity and accuracy will enjoy this book. It will allow them to have a more comprehensive view of all the 12 types and how could they be used productively in a work environment.

For those who have not taken the test, but enjoy learning about new and different personality type tests, this is also a great book. The test concept is simple, and the types are clearly different among them. Still, I think I would advise all to take the test first and then read the book (doing otherwise might "contaminate" your test with your expectations for its results).

Well, as I said, I always got the same result in the test. So, in case you wonder, I seem to be a Merchant.

I had the chance to attend a book signing by Sheldon Bowles of his book Kingdomality. When he started to speak to a large crowd there was a table loaded with books and I wondered how many he'd sell. When he finished talking, we all rushed to the front to get a book and an autograph. By the time I got to him the books were all gone! Now I have a copy. This book contains so much insider information about how different people are motivated and why people behave as they do, that it seems like you become a mind reader. It's easy. It's accurate. It has given me the tools that make me a better manager, a better father, husband son and friend. In the paper here last weekend KINGDOMALITY was #1 on the bestseller list. Go to www.kingdomality.com and find out what it's all about. You won't be dissappointed! I predict KINGDOMALITY will be the killer book of 2005.

This book will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. A huge inspiration and motivation for working moms wanting to breastfeed. Thank you to the authors for publishing this!

I've bought a lot of stuff from Amazon, but this is the first item I'm reviewing, because I really liked this item. Being a working mom is tough in so many ways and this book shows us that there are alot of women who are experiencing the same feelings as I am experiencing or have experienced before. Pumping can be such a tedious task, but most of us are doing it just for the sake of our little ones. Pumping at work is no fun at all, but seeing the comradery these women shared inspired me to seek the same sort of support circle in my own company. Also, this book shows us that there are different ways of doing things (timing of weaning, etc.) and there are different viewpoints on being a working mom...and that there are lots of options for working moms -- and that you just have to go after it once you've analyzed your options. This book is a good resource and it's funny, too. I highly reccommend it!

This book gave me a new perspective on continuing to breastfeed after my 2nd child was born. I was back to work at 6 weeks, and this provided a laugh and tremendous insight to how people pull mommyhood, pumping and executive roles off! Also an easy read and only took a few subway rides to finish!

The Milk Memos manages to be entertaining and engaging, while giving lots of practical advice. I read it with baby in my lap nursing, and it really helped me mentally prepare for going back to work and pumping. I learned a lot of tips for making pumping work, but the best part of the book is the warm, lovely way it acknowledges all the emotions that come with being a working mom.

This book made me both laugh and cry. It was a great reminder that other mothers have gone before me in leaving their little one as they returned to work and have managed to nurse/pump despite all of the challenges that can come with it.

I felt like I was sitting in Ronda Rich's living room and she was talking only to me as I read this book. It's so personal, warm, inviting and irresistible. There are no startling revelations in this book, except perhaps Dale Earnhardt's reaction to a race track incident with Bill Elliott, and I, for one, am thankful for that. I'm happy to see people who are heroes portrayed that way and not torn apart. This book is written in a way that I got the impression that if the author had crossed paths with bad people, she just didn't write that. Instead, she wrote of the good in people. Bless her for that. My 13-year-old son is a race fan and I have given him this book to read. I think he needs to know of the good that still lies in many people.

My wife bought this book, read it and kept bragging on it. I was reluctant to read because I'm not a big reader and I just didn't think I'd enjoy it that much. One day, I picked up the book and read the chapter about the late champion Alan Kulwicki. That did it. I then had to read the entire book. I enjoyed it very much. It shows the human side of a sport that is becoming so slick and so polished that it's easy to forget that the drivers are often regular guys with problems and struggles just like the rest of us. This book reflects on many of the heroes and legends who made the sport like Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and others. There are places, like where she talks about her friendship with and the death of Tim Richmond, that really put a lump in my throat. As in the case of Kulwicki, who is displayed here to be a serious loner who saw too much death in his young life, his mother included, that shaped his life and personality, you are shown an inside to the sport that is seldom seen. The men in this book are true heroes and the author is to be commended for writing it in a way that we feel we are being treated to VIP look at these guys.

I was pleasantly surprised by the spell binding content of this book. I read everything I can on NASCAR and just added this book to my collection as a matter of course. I ordered four books at the same time but read this one last. I should have read it first. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The author has a way of pulling you into the story in such an interesting way. I stayed up until 4 a.m. in the morning until I had finished every word. This is the first book about NASCAR that I ever read that shows such an emotional intimate inside look. Be ready -- you'll laugh, cry, laugh, cry. It's an emotional rollcoaster but very, very fulfilling. Without a doubt, it's the best NASCAR book in the world and I think I'm qualified to say that since I have read them all.

I couldn't really get into this book. While I chuckled at some of the stories (like the muffler bearings story), other times I thought the book delved into the sugary-sweet. As an example the two and a half pages taken up to spin the tale of her date with a present day driver. Another time she writes how dressing femininely works for you in business dealings. Huh? This book seems to be an extension of What Southern Women Know with Nascar thrown in. I don't think we're getting a good picture of life in the pits. There is Ms. Rich's side of pit life, and there is the grease under your fingernails and a motor roaring in your ears side. I would've liked a view from both sides. Perhaps it is because I've read Dale Jr's and Tony Stewart's books that Ms. Rich's book is a bit of a disappointment.

I got this book for Christmas and could not stop reading it. Just as someone else has already said, when you are done reading it, you will wish there was more. I am an aspiring motorsports public relations lady, and Ronda's book is hands-down the most insightful book about the "inside" of this sport that I have read. Her point of view is different from most writers, in a very refreshing way! If you are new to the sport, or a fan for life, this book will turn you on to the sport, or let you in on a special side of the lifestyle you already know and love. I want to thank Ronda for being so helpful to me, and sending some much needed advice my way. I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever wanted to experience "life in the pits."

During a visit to my parent's house about 6 weeks into my son's life, my father presented me with his 30 year old copy of this book. Clearly it had made such an impression on him while he was raising me, that he had not only kept it, but remembered it when it was my turn to raise my first child. After reading the What to Expect series, Dr. Sears, Dr. Spock, and other various finds studiously like textbooks while I was pregnant (highlighting, note-taking, comparing ideologies), I found this book refreshing, simple, honest and captivating. The "rules" are so commonsensical they may seem at first like a waste of time. But the author discusses the reasons why babies and young children do the things they do and need their basic needs in a way that makes you feel like you can really see the world through your child's eyes. It is a delightful read and many times brought tears to my eyes as the lightbulb went off above my head and I could see how simple raising a child can be. My son is 7 months now and this book has never left the side of my bed. I re-read it frequently as he develops just to re-center myself when the stresses of parenthood ever seem too weighty.

Unique as Pete: How Autism Does Not Mean Different

This is an excellent guide to raising a new baby. I love it becuase it's all based on sound research and the advice in this book has been right on with our daughter. This is a MUST have if you are raising a new baby.

When I was pregnant with my daughter - there was a lot of worry since this was my first child. Obviously, children do not come with a manual! I bought and read this book and used it constantly as a referral. Our daughter is happy, polite, shares, intelligent, kind, etc. She is constantly invited to parties and restaraunts that other childdren are not invited to. After meals at restaraunts, the managers/owners come and comment on what a well-behaved child she is. She does have many friends and can get along with varied personalities. We purchase this book for all new parents - and they read it stating they would like a child that is as polite and respectful (of others and their properties) as our daughter is. You really cannot go wrong in purchasing this book!!

From describing each developmental phase to suggesting toys, this book provides invaluable information that can help parents navigate the early years. Great shower gift for first time parents!

This is a great book for anyone interested in developmentally appropriate activities, toys, etc. for their growing baby/child. It gives excellent descriptions of what is going on in baby's development to help understand how to handle challenges and opportunities in rearing a self-confident, intelligent, happy child. Much of the activities are simple things you can do with little or no money, which is great. The national foundation based on this book is fantastic and I tell everyone about it: [...]

a must-have!

Once I started this book, I could not put it down! I am a pre-veterinary student, so my opinion is of course biased, but I think that most animal lovers will love this book. The doctor's stories ranged from funny to sad, but were all enjoyable. Like another reviewer mentioned, I am hoping for a sequel! Worth every penny.

Dr. Sharp's poignant and humorous stories of a vet's life in a rural area remind me of the great Dr. James Harriott books that I have enjoyed. I highly recommend No Dogs in Heaven.

Don in Chilli

I happened to pick up this book on my way to the airport. The title caught my eye. I have a 16 year old son that shares my love for dogs and I thought
maybe he would also read it and we would have something to talk about
during our trip. We were on the way to Hawaii and I finished the book
before we landed. I couldn't put it down. It was so much fun to read.
The lady sitting next to me said "You are truly enjoying that book. I have
seen you laugh, sigh, giggle and even cry while reading it. I am going to
buy it as soon as I get home.".
My son now wants to become a vet his grades are good, especially science and math, and we live near
"The Ohio State University", so he may even attend the same Vet school as
Dr. Sharp!I have sent a copy to my parents and two neighbors.

I think this book is adorable and well-written. I'm enjoying it!

On the surface this book describes the days of a small-town vet. But it goes well beyond that to illustrate the ambiance of this country when people and times were more personal, more gracious, and much more in tune with those things that still really matter no matter how "global" we are claimed to have become by the talking heads of the media and government.
It will convince the reader that those "better times and people" really haven't disappeared, and that is tremendously Good News.

I am just now rediscovering poetry. I've always enjoyed it as a teenager, so I bought three books by word-of-mouth this year. I can't say this one was my favorite, but it is a classic! I am sure the effect of Cummings at the time was great, but I strongly suggest that readers take in the writers of our day. This book is a great starting point, but it only gives you a history of what's going on with more contemporary poets.

Cummings is one of the best American minor poets. He invents a language, a style a way of saying things all his own. And he does this in memorable lines and with his own kind of beauty. "What of a much of a which of a wind " " There's a hell of a universe ,next door. Let's Go" " I sing of Olaf, glad and big " " Nothing not even the rain has such small hands" The style is magnetic and there is a most individualistic celebration of life and love.
Appealing. But without the largeness of Whitman or the mind of Dickinson or the music of Stevens,it is not at the very highest level.
And also sharing with Pound and Eliot, and to a lesser degree Hemingway and Fitzgerald the Anti- Semitism of his time which makes it therefore almost impossible for me to read the stuff with uncritical joy as I would like to.

I got this book in a used bookstore that was owned by a "former hippie"...is there such a thing, I always felt once a hippie, always a hippie...I didn't even ask for him to recommend it to me, he just looked in my eyes and said, "Hey, man, do you want to read something great?"

I read the whole book from cover to cover in the bookstore and I knew I had to have it as part of my collection. When the old hippie put the book in a bag he just smiled at me as if to say, "I told you so..."

So now I'm telling you, you who is looking for something crazybeautiful in which to pour your lovelyeyeslikemine over. Carry this book with you. Go to the local coffeehouse with pen in hand and make notes in the margins. Talk to Mr. Cummings as though he was right in front of you, because in a way, he never died. He is still very much alive and he especially loves new seekers of his words.

There are certain things that one must read before they exit the planet and this is one of them. You may not go crazy over it as much as I did, and if you weren't the least bit impressed I suggest that you make an appointment with the doctor and see if you have a pulse.

This little book is de-light-full and will work its magic in you if you let it.

This sweet little volume is a great introduction to Cummings' work...perfect as a gift to someone who's expressed an interest in him. The small, thin size makes it MUCH more portable than a 20-pound "complete works" volume!

I was determined to hate e.e.cummings. The quirks of his spelling and punctuation alone seemed to me to be contrived and overly pretentious and I felt instinctively (without reading it) that his poetry must be some sort of grand put-on. I am even today still not completely convinced he did not suffer some form of mild to severe brain damage (perhaps progressive) that increasingly affected his later writings. However, once I was introduced to the man through this excellent collection, I could no longer deny the stunning originality of his poetry or the gorgeous music of his lyrics, particularly when read aloud (most effectively and rewardingly to an adoring female audience of one). I have been converted into an admirer through this collection.

100 SELECTED POEMS is a fine and concise introduction to the works of this nonconformist poet. There is a sampling of his very best poems and enough variety to sway all doubters. This collection wisely (I feel) avoids the more terrifyingly eccentric typography of some of his more notorious efforts, though some of the later poems in this collection push the envelope far enough to be discomforting (but in a good way). No collection of American poetry would be complete without e.e.cummings, and this book rattles like a fragment of angry candy.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

It is an honor to be a part of the company Art Williams started. There has never been a dull day or wasted moment listening to Art, reading his books, and working his message. It is all I can do.

I loved this book, and I constantly refer to it when I go about my day.

What I love about it is that it's written by somebody who's done it, and it doesn't sugar coat what it takes to be a success. Because Art's ~560th richest person, he doesn't have ulterior motives for writing this book, as some other motivational gurus do (ie buy their audio CD's & DVDs and go to their seminars for $3000 a pop).

Art doesn't lie.

It takes a ton of will and determination & positive attitude to do what he's done. It takes a lot of hard work to succeed. It's sad to see people today constantly chasing after the next quick fix, the next scheme that promises them a million bucks in 30 days. Because it won't happen. As Art says, nothing worthwhile comes easy. If you want success in your life, you've got to work hard at it, you've got to be positive no matter what hits the fan, you've got to believe in yourself & what you're doing.

Art doesn't just pay lip service to this information - he's lived by it & is a billionaire because of it. Go figure.

So get this book and you'll get no-nonsense advice on getting successful. This isn't fluff he's got from pulling advice from self help books - this is advice he's giving from his 20 odd years of being in the trenches, fighting an industry that spent millions trying to put him out of business.

As they say, you'll never truly know what it's like being in war until you've been out in the battlefield. This guy's been there, done that, and now he's going to share with you his advice.

This book flew below the radar for some reason, and is abit of a sleeper when it comes to universal popularity.
It is a personal favorite of mine.
This guy walks the walk as well as talking. He is not an ATNA. (All Talk and No Action). He's got the stats to back up his crusade. Guys like him, and say, Guiness Bk #1 Salesman Joe Girard, are the real deal.

A. L. Williams was a football coach... a man who loved his guys and pushed them to excel in life. And he lived what he preached! You want to be inspired to just DO IT? Get this book.

Williams emphasizes that you have to work hard and be PERSISTENT. Just NEVER, EVER quit. And that's the key. Know what you want, DESIRE it and go for it. Don't let anybody steal your dream. Just do it and hang in there.

He talks about how he got MAD at the rip-off insurance companies, and that anger fueled his drive to excel. He and his friends became tough and tenacious and made things work. Again, that's the key. What a book! Get a copy and mark it up. Read it repeatedly and it'll fire up your soul!

Read this book years ago when it came out and read it regularly for motivation and inspiration. AL Williams went out and did what so many of us want to do and talk about doing. This book takes you through the steps of making a difference from his high school coaching days to his motivation to help others and driving incredible change in the insurance world. Great great book and a must read if you want to know how one man achieved success beyond his wildest dreams and than anyone else thought he could do.

BOUND FOR CANAAN should be required reading for every American! Every American! This is one of the most important books about our history and who we are and where we came from.

Bound for Canaan is a fascinating, engaging, book on the "Underground RR" written from primary sources. It describes in vivid, first hand detail the flight of slaves from the south and the changing attitudes of the northern and southern states on the slave issue from the 1820's to the eve of the civil war. Wonderful book.

I listened to the abridged audio version on CD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Read by the author, it is in interesting study that contains a number of riveting stories.

I have two minor complaints about this audio version. One is that the author's voice sometimes drops into a range that can be inaudible if you are listening in a vehicle with traffic noise around you. The other is that maps are not included in the CD set. Fortunately my public library had a copy of the book so that I was able to examine the maps and various illustrations. The maps were of interest to me since a couple of my great-great-grandfathers supposedly sheltered escaped slaves, one near the Ohio River and another in Philadelphia.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and inspiring book that raises questions about civil disobedience that we must ponder in order to understand the complexity of our history. I wholeheartedly recommend the audio version to those who like audiobooks. It is as exciting as an adventure novel, and you can supplement it with a hardcopy if you want.

Harriet Tubman was a great lady, and she did not simply help the slaves to freedom -- she helped move America to a better place. Growing up, whenever I heard or read of the Underground Railroad, Ms. Tubman's name came up again and again. This book expands the vision of the Undergound Railroad and shows it as a part of something much bigger in our history.

First, the book does discuss the railroad and how it works. The reader gets an idea of the perils involved and the logistics behind helping a slave to freedom. This was no easy task, and this books shows the reader not just how brave the conductors were, but how brave the "passengers" were.

Second, the book discusses the fortitude and determination of the different people who tried to make America better by fighting the injustices of slavery. We learn of the battles of the press as well as the battle of the gun. This was a dark time in our history, and the author does a good job in illuminating us to the various people that tried to illuminate their time.

Lastly, the book explains what else happened. In school, we learned that the Underground Railroad helped slaves to freedom. That was about it. There is more to the story, and the author explains this to us. We also see that just getting to the North didn't make things better. There were still things that needed to happen to help the slaves create their new life.

In all, I would highly recommend reading this book. It brings a much more enlightened perspective to this part of American history.

I really enjoyed this book, which fleshes out for the first time, based on significant new research, the numerous heroes and participants who risked their lives for freedom from slavery. A few insights in the book were new to me:

1. I had no idea how crippling and discriminatory the laws were against blacks who lived in "free states." Most of the time they could not vote, own property, needed affidavits in order to move or get a job, were subject to kidnapping by freelance slave catchers -- it was pretty horrible.

2. I did not realize the critical role that radical, truth-to-power religion, in particular but not exclusively the Quakers, played in ending the evil practice of slavery. These folks risked financial ruin, stonings, beatings, and criminal charges to put in practice their moral view -- based on their faith -- that slavery in all forms must end. They deserve our thanks and praise, and we should remember them as we are faced with current moral conflicts that call out for action based on our beliefs.

3. I found especially interesting the debates in Congress in the 1850s in support of the federal Fugitive Slave Act, and the justifications used by supporters of slavery to denigrate the abolitionists. Indeed, Mr. Bordewich makes the point that even in "free" states, a measure of your worth as a politician was how "tough" you were on abolitionists, in the same sense that today politicians are expected to be "tough" on communism.

But what was interesting to me was that slave supporters like Daniel Webster justified the practice based on the Bible (cherry picking quotes that supposedly support the practice); science (blacks were intellectually inferior and like animals who require our feeding and care); inalienable property rights (the slaves were chattel and were necessary in order for owners to make productive use of their land); and also anti-Europe prejudice (the abolitionists are getting all of their crazy ideas from Europe). These concepts are still being used today to justify social policies that may in the distant future seem equally morally bankrupt.

I did think, however, the book could have used a little editing. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with so many historical figures, and perhaps some of their activities could have been trimmed in the interests of narrative flow.

But in all, a highly readable book and a substantial step forward in terms of historical scholarship.

The Dead Don't Dance is simply marvelous. Charles Martin has written a profound novel of life in the South without creating ridiculous characters. The protagonist is a man trying to find meaning in his life after the death of his firstborn and the half-life of his wife after she lapsed into a coma following complications from the birth. A must read for anyone searching for meaning in their lives.

I hesitated reading this book because I was worried it would be too sad for me. But I decided to give it a try because I had read another book by Charles Martin, When Crickets Cry, and loved it. It was a book that stuck with me and I made a mental note to read something else by him. I also loved 'The Dead Don't Dance'. Even though I cried; it did not weigh me down. I grew to love the characters and I am already half way through its sequel 'Maggie'. Charles Martin is an author to follow. I plan to read all his books. If you like Francine Rivers and Lynn Austin you will also like Charles Martin: they all tell a good story. They are different in style; which makes him a good author to throw into the rotation. Thanks CM, keep up the good work!

Love and faith are Dylan's bread and water in this novel. You can feel his pain as he watches his wife fight for her life in a deep coma, not to mention the loss of their first child. The lessons he learns and the people he meets on this journey will bring you to tears and then put a smile on your face. Read with a box of tissues and then buy a copy for everyone you know.

THis was actually the third book I have read by Charles Martin and so far my favorite. Unlike many other Southern Writers, He is not a tourtured soul beyond redemption! The characters are believable and likable and well developed. Thank you for a good Read!

This was such a wonderful book that I couldn't put it down. Because of this book I have now ordered all of Charles Martin's books and everyone of them has been delightful and so well written. My husband who is a retired editor says Mr. Martin is one of the best writers that he has read in a long time. After The Dead don't Dance, I read Maggie. I did not enjoy this book. I think the way the first book ended there didn't need to be a sequel on Maggie and this book was so very depressing but since then I have read When Crickets Cry, Chasing Fireflies and Wrapped in Rain. All of these books were delightful and very moving. I have already pre-ordered his next book coming out in July. I can't imagine anyone reading Charles Martin's books and not enjoying them.

I couldn't have said it better. Read Em and Em's review. I agree whole heartedly!!

First thing I do whenever my health isn't what I want it to be is look up what vitamins Dr. Atkins recommends and it what dosages.

It's never failed me. May not work as quickly as prescribed medication, but in the end has the same effect and a lot healthier.

Cannot recommend this book more strongly.

This book covers uses for various supplements that are not always covered by other vitamin books.
The information is very helpful, but a few things are a little out of date, mostly because of what was or wasn't available when the book was written.
Overall, a good addition to your nutrition library if you're interested in using supplements or knowing more about what certain nutrients do.

Because of my allergies and asthma, I was on Zyrtec, Advair, and had to carry an albuterol inhaler everywhere I went. I did the diet some years ago and it worked well. After seeing this book somewhere I decided to give it a try.

After reading this book I thought he Dr. Atikin's lost it this time. There are a lot of vitamins he wants you to take. Plus he started selling his own line of vitamins so I thought "ahhh, that's why." I talked to my doctor about it and he said it wouldn't work, you would just be wasting money because your body will piss it all away (literally). I was spending $150 on medications, the vitamins were about $20, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Well, I tried it, and it worked. I felt a lot better, and I didn't need to take the medications anymore.

I am a professional who has been reading and studying the field of supplements. This book is the best that I have come across. Not only is it the most complete, but the supplements in it were used in Dr. Atkin's clinical practice. This is were the rubber hits the road, and the concrete real life information that gives this book credibility. If I were to buy only one book on this subject, it would be this one, even over the encycolpedia type books.