Performance Books

Emmons and Thomas convert the "Tennis Technique" to a singer's manual for mental stamina. My favorite aspect of this book is the charts. There are charts to help you schedule, program, and maintain mental, physical, and emotional stamina throughout your practicing, preparation, and performance. The book contains many appendices that contain helpful reminders, charts, and tips for singers who teach and those who just perform. Using minimum to no scientific language, Emmons and Thomas communicate the importance of having a power performance by aiding the singer/teacher in "starting from scratch" to build up to the utmost potential of performance. Using techniques and advice from Olympians and teachers of singing, the witty language and motivating advice can help lead anyone to success.

This is a very good book. The area of the mental side of singing and performing is really paid too little attention to. There are so many books about singing technique etc. At last a good book on this subject! After having read only a few pages, it helped me already. The book is giving me very helpfull practical tips about selfconfidence on stage etc. The only thing is, that the English which is being used, is not so easy to read as in most American literature (I'm from Holland). But the positive thing about that is that I am increasing my English vocabulary...

This is a book with very down-to-earth advice. What amazed me most was that the most things I had always felt about performance, but didn't know how to put in words, are voiced accurately, objectively, concisely and fulfillingly in this book. Also, many things I had never stopped to think about are also dealt with nicely. You will learn how to make the most of performance problems, their sources and consequences in order to help you perform well. There is great joy awaiting you in this book. You will never regret buying it. Buy it. Buy it. Once more: buy it!

I am a professional trumpet player. This book is the centerpiece of a long list of reading material I've culled ideas from over the years. NOT FOR SINGERS ONLY! All musicians can benefit from this book! The book challenges the reader to think and to act. It is not a book you can read passively. If you work carefully through the charts and teaching points you will be rewarded with performances you enjoy giving and ones that audiences will enjoy hearing! Simply put, you'll get out of it what you put into it.

This is the book that all others will be judged against. It leaves "Inner Game" in the dust!

The techniques in this book are applicable and a "must have" for any kind of performer, though directed specifically toward classical singers. Whether you are an opera singer, a rock & roller, an actor, an instrumentalist, a public speaker, etc., you can benefit from practicing "power performance". It doesn't come easily. There is a lot of ground-work that you must do to fully benefit, but you will find practical tools to use along your journey, even before completing the book. In my opinion, it's a much more thorough discovery process than found in "The Inner Game of Music", though along the same lines. Definitely worth the investment.

Finding aides for managers which help make the complex subject of employee supervision, motivation and commitment understandable are rare discoveries. Brayton Bowen's book, "Recognizing and Rewarding Employees" is one of those infrequent finds. This book includes practical, every day examples throughout. I found it could be read quickly, a few sections at a time. It is filled with real world examples throughout which include useful tips as well as insights you will conclude could only have been written by someone who's really "been there". Reading this book would be an excellent investment for all managers responsible for achieving results through others.

Author R. Brayton Bowen takes a thoughtful approach to understanding the new generation of employees who seem to need rewards and recognition to spur their motivation. He attributes their incentive-based work ethic to workplace changes, such as downsizing and a decline in loyalty, which has tainted the work environment. Bowen proposes a variety of recognition systems, including intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and he outlines strategies for using recognition to empower the whole person. His in-depth ideas about building motivation through recognition and rewards will appeal to anyone who manages other people, from supervisors to top executives, though he cautions that true motivation can't be bought, but must come from genuine achievement and internal drive. Since Bowen provides a thoughtful context for the workings of motivational strategies, as well offering some hands-on tactics, we [...] recommend this book to managers and human resource professionals at all levels.

Just as recognizing and rewarding customers lead to loyalty, the same is true for employees. Creating a caring culture is a tall order for employers, but it's exactly what employees want--and value. This book is brimming with ways to create that caring culture. Any business person can realate to the stories and examples. Best of all are the gray boxes sprinkled liberally throughout the book (almost on every page) that provide tips, tactics, and examples. I can randomly open the book and read one of these nuggests -- and within 30 seconds, I have a new insight, idea, or understanding. This book is a must-read for every manager who cares about employees.

The notion of leading from the inside out was refreshing and relevant
in today's world where managers often believe that changing their
behavior is sufficient. I am using the notion of Recognition As A
Whole Person Experience in my graduate management class. It is well
stated and is representative of the book as a whole. The eye-catching
icons, checklists, and sidebars make the book easy to read and apply
to practical situations. The book is very useful to practicing
managers and this is the primary group in our MBA program. I will
recommend the book to them without reservation. John T. Byrd, PhD
Professor of Management Bellarmine University

I have long believed that for the most part your company pay plan is competitive within your industry. Then by definition, you are getting paid what you are worth in your environment. As a manager/supervisor that also means that you can not reward with money. To become successful leader, your had better look in other directions.

My suggestion is using Mr. Brayton's Recognizing and Rewarding Employees as your starting point. He presents you with the tools. We all need to consider our method of using the tools.

Picture the chapter headings as your core principals. Within each principal, the author lays out methods, details, actions or thoughts to support the principals. Take the chapter content to develop your leadership and managerial style. We are all individuals and as such will use different styles. However, the core principals being presented within each chapter remain constant.

I found it helpful and easy to grasp the principals through the side boxes and the manager's check boxes.

Understand the key principals, develop the tools to fit your style and you will improve your managerial results!

Incredibly personal poetry of strength, love, self discovery and womanhood, that worked it's way straight into my mind and pulled some of my most intimate memories. Bringing me closer to understanding that I'm not alone in my experiences. Helping me take a closer look at who I am, and how wonderful the journey has been, however good or bad.

This a Great Debut for Ms. Coleman!! A wonderful book -- one that is profoundly interesting and thought-provoking.Good Work!!-Rick Worthy

Shonnese's book is excellent! The poems are thought-provoking, convicting and beautiful...wow...what a gift...brilliant job, brilliant work...however painful waking up can be, I appreciate any wake-up call and the poems in this book have that effect on me...thank you.

This book of poetry was such an inspiration to me. I'm not a fan of poetry normally but I went through this like it was a novel. I really got a feeling for the writer through the short comments she makes about her life in the book. It gives a three dimensional understanding of it. I enjoyed getting to know the writer a little bit. It gave me an understanding of where certain pieces came from, why they were written and out of what circumstances. I highly recommend this book not only to people of color, but all people. Ms. Coleman deals with life, love, the search and discovery of God and oppression. Oppression as a woman, as an African-American woman, and as a person. I believe everyone can identify with her work.

Wonderfully written. Incredibly personal poetry of strength, love, self discovery and womanhood, that worked it's way straight into my mind and pulled some of my most intimate memories. Bringing me closer to understanding that I'm not alone in my experiences. Helping me take a closer look at who I am, and how wonderful the journey has been, however good or bad.

Great book, full of useful practical examples. I would recommend to all in the business.

Mark Weiner's book is a "must read" for PR, marketing and any communications professional working today. It's chock full of great examples as well as great advice. Mark's research background gives him a unique vantage point -- one we can all learn from. And, his experiences represent real life, not an academic approach. I highly recommend it and keep it on my desk as a resource.

Although hardly the "contrarian" of his book's title, Mark Weiner correctly identifies two problems common to public relations practitioners: They fail to set objectives, and then they fail to measure what they have accomplished. Weiner explains an uncomplicated way to correct these tendencies. He tells PR managers and their clients why taking a scientific approach can improve the professionalism of PR campaigns and gain respect for them in the marketing world. He uses examples from his own experience to buttress his arguments about the benefits of PR. Occasionally, the book is repetitive, but it is eminently practical. We recommend it to corporate communicators, PR consultants and their clients.

One of the best books on evaluating the impact of public relations, Unleashing the Power of PR, has been invaluable to me. As a graduate student, I've used it as a resource for a project, and I'll be using it as the foundational resource for my thesis.

Unlike most books about research, which are dry and verbose, Weiner presents his argument and examples for good research in clear, concise prose. There's no bones about it, this is a must read for serious students of PR and professionals alike.

Penned by the founder and president of Delahaye, you may expect Unleashing The Power Of PR to be a thinly veiled sales pitch for his company's research services (like many of the books in the business section today). You'll be pleasantly surprised, however, to find that this is not the case. Instead, you'll discover that Weiner's first book is actually a well researched, compellingly argued case for strengthening the role of public relations in your company's business strategy. In fact, to some extent, Mr. Weiner gives away the core secrets of the media measurement program it took years for his company to perfect.

For those, like me, who learn best by example, Weiner does not disappoint. Pulling from several Delahaye case studies and other sources, Weiner clearly illustrates his main points with relevant, contemporary examples. And, on several occasions, I actually found myself tapping into the dark depths of my fantasy reserves (the energy stores I usually save for Coastal Living feature properties or Mercedes-Benz catalogues), to conjure a vision - one where I transform my small company's marketing efforts into a well-oiled PR machine of my very own, increasing sales by 150%, and positioning POPLOGIX as the preeminent, affordable marketing consulting firm in the US by 2008.

Fantasies aside, this is a recommended read for the contemporary marketing professional but, more importantly, it is a must read for those in the C-Suite and those responsible for their companies PR investment. The return on your PR investment is not only tangible, but also measurable, and can directly impact your business objectives.

There's a lot to like about this work. First, it is particularly well organized. I really like the use of summary questions at the end of each chapter -- one more example of Weiner's easy reading style. And, if you pay attention, you'll find that Weiner is overly generous with thoughtful advice. Just as the title promises, this is a practical guide for creating a world class PR program for your company. Whether you are a start-up or a Fortune 50, Unleashing The Power Of PR may become your "how-to manual" for using PR to help achieve your objectives.

Be aware that the book shown when you take a "Look Inside" is NOT the book you get. What they show is a bound copy of the musical score with the libretto added. What you get is the libretto described in the written review, no musical score. That having been said, the book you get is useful and of interest, and the CD is a great recording.

This is a wonderful study score to Rossini's wonderful masterpiece. The story of a Barber named Figaro, who is the person that everyone comes to seeking advice.
It's easy to read and the size is standard (9in x 12in). It lies easily on a music stand or desk. It's low price is great for the starving music student. I highly reccommend this for professionals and opera-goers alike.

One of Rossini's best operas, the Barber of Seville, is immortalized here in another one of Dover's fine scores. From the fast-paced overture to the "Figaro" aria (both made famous in old Bugs Bunny cartoons), this opera is nonstop greatness.

As usual, Dover has provided us with a book of the highest quality: they sew their books instead of gluing them so as for them to stay bound and be flexible, and they print legibly. Unfortunately, legible print is becoming disappointingly rare in modern scores, but Dover is the exception.

For a great score of a great opera at a great price, you can't go wrong with Rossini's Barber of Seville.

This book and CD set are the perfect combination for those who are new to the world of opera and not fluent in foreign language. Better than just a synopsis, the libretto in English lets you read every word so you won't miss the humor or pathos. As a homeschooling mom, I really appreciated this set as a teaching tool. I hope to increase my collection of The Black Dog Opera Library series.

I have several "Black Dog Opera" recordings, and they are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to opera WIHTOUT spending a lot of money. This label primarily offers recordings of extremely well-known operas. I had some initial concerns regarding sound quality given the price, but I have yet to be disappointed by them -- Barber of Seville is no exception. Each opera comes in a neatly packaged book that contains the full libretto in its original language and in translation; the history of the opera and its performance; and short biographies of the composer and cast. The books are just the right size to tuck them in your purse (or bag!) so that you can follow the libretto along at a live performance -- I took Barber with me to last year's Chicago Opera Theater production and plan to take Tosca along to Lyric later this year! What a great idea!

Jeff Greenwald delivers a work filled with some stunning insights from himself and other top players that can help you focus, relax, and bring out your best. As he points out, everyone is struggling with something on the court, and it turns out that most of us are struggling with the same things. I have found myself going back to this book again and again because it examines so many of the key mental obstacles that the game presents, and provides a practical, process-based approach to overcoming them.

It is a nice read to have in the tennis bag and read while waiting for a match. It did have some useful angles that I have used on the court.
Worth the money.

This book has really improved my game - and my enjoyment playing. I learned how my attitudes have been hurting my performance in the big matches. I have no doubt that my last tournament win is directly attributable to mental strategies from 'The Best Tennis of Your Life.' Thank you, Jeff Greenwald.

Jeff Greenwald's well-written, nicely-packaged little book on how to improve one's tennis is far more than a "how to" book. It offers keen insight into the most effective psychological way to approach this game and, indeed, life in general. Greenwald's expertise comes from real life experience as a former #1 world-ranked tennis player and nationally recognized sports psychology consultant. In my opinion, not even players like Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Aggasi, or for that matter, Pancho Gonzales, Jack Kramer or Rod Laver could have gained the insight that Greenwald passes along to the reader. I give this volume five shining stars and recommend it to any sportsman or sportswoman who wants to not only improve their tennis game, but gain a valuable new perspective into how to get more out of life.
Woody Klein
Westport, CT

I only wish this book had been written years ago...there is absolutely no doubt I would be a much better player today and had a lot more fun! It provides such great practical insights that you can actually implement, from someone who really knows what they are talking about.

Aretta, thank you for your soothing message and inviting us all to take this journey with you to a place where we can find our inner peace, love and  place of security.

I have been experiencing a lot of stress with my work and my wife encouraged me to try Aretta's meditation. I was a bit skeptical about using meditation to relieve stress, but have found the results to be convincing. "The Chakra Meditation" has helped me to sleep better at night, and when I use it in the morning, I feel calmer and better equipped to face the day ahead. My wife and I both listen to it while lying in bed and it has worked wonders for us both.

My wife encouraged me to try the Chakra Meditation because I have been experiencing a lot of stress from my career. I was a bit skeptical that this would help, but am convinced by the results. I have been using it for a few weeks and I am sleeping much better and facing the day ahead with less anxiety. I find myself to be calmer and clearer in my thinking, and even my body feels more energized. I never meditated before until I used this cd, but my wife has for many years, and we both love it! Thanks Aretta Swanson!

I really enjoy this cd. I have just started to learn about Chakra's and the colors associated with them. I enjoy listening to this meditation because it helps me to focus on healing each chakra. I find that I feel very refreshed after using the morning meditation and the evening meditation has helped me to sleep much better.

This meditation is very relaxing for me. I have been meditating for a few years and Aretta's Chakra cd really helps me get centered when I'm feeling restless or out of balance. When I listen to the evening meditation I find myself slipping into a deep state of meditation before we even get to the third chakra. Aretta has a very beautiful and healing voice... I can feel her energy and love in the meditation.

I have studied and used dozens of books on the topic of competencies, and many are useful, but this is the one I return to most often. My copy of this book is ragged, dog-eared, coffee-stained, and marked by many colored tabs for quick reference. Competence at Work changed my approach to human resources, and I actually earned some national honors and recognition for innovations in assessment and workforce planning by using it as a guide. It yields an effective understanding of competencies and how to apply them in processes such as recruiting, selection, development, performance management, succession, and workforce planning.

Some insights and tools in the book are particularly valuable:

Criterion sampling:
Compare high performers to average performers in order to understand how each performance group achieves their different levels of success.

Operant measures:
Measure how people operate in the real world as opposed to how they respond to a list of multiple-choice items. It describes Behavioral Event Interviewing (BEI) as the preferred approach, but you might have to access other sources for a complete understanding of the BEI.

Competency definitions and scales:
These alone are worth the price of the book. Based on behaviors that are empirically related to performance in a wide variety of jobs, they provide a quick-start to comparing performance groups and developing competency models, and they provide a framework for both assessing and developing competencies in people.

The principles and methods outlined in this book allow one to construct and apply competency models and human resource practices that get results. If I could have only one book on human resources, it would be this one! If I could have only three, the other two would also be by Spencer: Reengineering Human Resources and Calculating Human Resource Costs and Benefits.

Lyle Spencer has written a book that is lucid, well-organized, and a concise reference on human competence. If this was history, you would know that he had been there and had not merely interviewed those who were. This is so because his work is informed by original research. Spencer begins the presentation within a framework of competence that is criterion-referenced. The competence dictionary is organized around competency clusters that are well-defined and behaviorally anchored. But theory is not left to wrestle with the reader's experience. Spencer provides the practioner with a guide that takes the user through all steps in the conduct of a competency study. Spencer closes with a set of generic competency models that the practioner can tailor to his or her client before drawing the reader's attention to the variety of applications that study data may serve. Though a bit pricey, you can purchase it with the knowledge that it will stand up well as your single source of reference.

The phrase "essential reading" is a cliché, however, this is truly essential reading for anyone seeking to understand competencies.

Not bed-time time reading; this is a technical book for HR professionals. Detailed and lucid (although the neophyte may prefer to start with something a little lighter, eg some emotional intelligence work by Goleman).

A good index and bibliography.

This book gives a comprehensive competency dictionary using behaviorally anchored rating scales for each competency. It also gives step by step guidelines on how to use the dictionary in all types of HR decision making. It is clearly written and is based on years of extensive research. Using this book eliminates the need to use expensive and dependency creating consulting services. Every HR professional should have it on their shelf. Moreover, as a training professional, if I had to choose 2 books to have on my bookshelf, I would choose this book and Performance Consulting by Dana Gaines Robinson.

This book present the components of the job competence assessment approach,including the competency dictionary, which lists, defines, and provides scoring criteria that can help you predict superior performance for most jobs,It's provided to step by step guidelines on how to use the dictionary in all types of
job.
You will understand what is competence from this book!I strongly recommendation!

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This is an excellent book, especially for HR/C&B practitioners. Like most HR topics, reward strategy is common sense and this book structures it neatly. A fantastic reward strategy framework - shows the inter-related nature of all stratgies and the operationalised details of a compensation strategy.

The book is comprehensive, yet accessible.

Nice to have all the PowerPooint slides on CD in the back cover, too.

This book is an excellent resource for HR professionals, compensation specialists, and line managers alike.
Well written, with great models and thought processes, yet pragmatic in its approach, this book provides a great fresh look at how to motivate employees to achieve business results.

This book is an absolute must-purchase!...
Compensation and HR professionals in general can derive great insight and value from this work. I recommend it strongly as a cornerstone of every business person's professional library.

An absolutely wonderful source of information for compensation professionals, HR professionals, and managers of all functions.
This book is a very hands-on, pragmatic handbook for building the rewards systems and structures, which will allow an organization to win the war for talent. I recommend it highly!...

If you enjoy working with university textbooks, you'll appreciate this book. It feels like a college text. It looks like a college text. It's filled with graphs and charts like a college text. It's seasoned with case studies in call out boxes. There are endnotes, as well as a bibliography. The index is so full of references, a smaller type was used-perhaps to save space.

The authors' message is that the secret to developing a creative and effective rewards strategy is based on a combination of Money, Mix, and Message. The Money aspect addresses the value of the reward(s) to the employee. The design of the plan, constructed to meet employer and employee needs, is the Mix. The Message deals with what the employer wants to communicate to its employees about appropriate values and the company's expectations. The authors describe their approach as "M3," emphasizing the need for a good balance between the three factors.

Readers will explore more than a hundred practical tools for building what they call the M3 Reward System. Financial rewards are integrated with non-financial rewards. Application of the step-by-step strategy promoted by the authors is a CD-ROM that is loaded with tools, exercises, and techniques to equip readers to tailor their own strategies to be consistent with company needs.

The authors are consultants with considerable experience in serving dozens of Fortune 500 companies. The orientation of the book, understandably, is toward larger companies. Smaller firms will still get a lot out of this text, but may have to invest some serious study time to get the full benefit of the package. The stories relating the authors' experiences are illuminating and add value for the reader who wants to gain the deeper understanding of how customized corporate reward programs are put together and managed.

Hefty price, but fully loaded.

This book is amazing! . As a DBA , I keep on referring this book again & again . It has very useful information & can be used by anyone who wants a really good understanding of DB2

Cheers to the author for writing such a wonderful book!

This book excels in clarity , depth and the number of topics covered . The questions at the end of the chapters are helpful too .
Also , anyone preparing for the DB2 Certification ( for OS/390 ) would benefit from this .

DB2 for Z/OS and Os/390 Development for Performance (Volume 1&2
by Gabrielle Wiorkowski

This book is extremely helpful for all levels of DBAs, system programmers and DB2 developers. It is most comprehensive and includes all features of v.6 and v.7.
At our shop, we have always used Gabriell's book for all releases
of DB2. This particular edition is very helpful, in the sense it is a text book for all levels and all parts of DB2 world.
Anytime in question, we look it up in this book for answer.

I will recommend this book as a must for DB2 tech team.

I've believed for some time that Gabrielle Wiorkowski knows as much as, or more than, anyone outside of IBM's DB2 development team about DB2's use of indexes, optimization, and other aspects of performance. This book is based on what she has learned, her direct experiences, and the experiences of other DB2 professionals with whom she comes in contact. ... It is you, the administrator, database designer, or application developer who applies its capabilities wisely or unwisely. This book provides practical information of use to you today in your job environment. Marilyn Bohl, Vice President, Work Process Systems, San Jose, CA.

Working with DB2 from 1985 forces one to read many books.
Gabrielle's book is the best ever I've read (and use) for DB2 on OS/390 (Z/OS) platform.
Very good explanations, clarity of write and easy to find structure.
I have many other books, but this is my leading (by far) favorite.
If you ever wish to know DB2 - this is the book you must have.