Performance Books

My problem with this book is that it contains so much. Joseph Campbell would occasionally begin a talk with"The greatest truths cannot be spoken, the lesser are always misunderstood." Before you read on, listen to the Casals recordings of Bach Suites, and if possible place yourself in the hands of a teacher of Alexander's work. In her quest for the art of "Playing Naturally" Vivien was guided by one remarkable teacher and the spirit of another. Alexander had died by the time her three years with Casals were over. Casals metaphors were drawn from Nature, Alexander found the natural "use of the self" in his search for the skill to give expression to the genius of Shakespeare.
Vivien's lesson by lesson account of her relationship with Casals is unique in biographical writings on Casals. Accounts of lessons with Alexander are available from a variety of distinguished sources. This is the first time two such important influences have been united in the sympathetic environment of a conversation between friends. It is a valuable contribution to available writing on the Alexander Work and Music.

For most of us, Pablo Casals exists only through recordings. It's wonderful to encounter him alive through the living voice of Vivien Mackie--to imagine her in a high window-ledge in Prades as he made his magnificent recording of the Schumann Cello Concerto, to hear him regretfully but kindly telling this brilliant new student, "You do not know what you are doing," to learn how she learns his great lesson: "Do only what is necessary." Often, she found, "doing what was necessary meant doing a great deal more than I had ever done before," but sometimes it meant doing a great deal less. Her conversations with Joe Armstrong show us that "doing more" must include a patient but insistently revealing discipline that can allow the musician to "see all the colours and shades" of the music, "and all the texture, where it tightens, where it loosens and where the turning moments are,...to take time to examine it and bring it all into being." "Doing less" means "getting rid of clutter"--not just "questionable intonation,...and inadequate articulation, and any sort of doubt" in the playing, but also, and chiefly, any habitual clutter of mind and body that might prevent a release of "life and energy." The lesson applies beyond music.

I've been with the Alexander Technique with over a year now and during this period I have read many books and articles on the subject along with specific approaches on how to apply it to music playing. This book goes beyond the Technique and has very little *direct* mention of it (which I personally loved). It is based more on Vivien Mackie's experience with reconnecting herself to her instrument and a deepened, if not different, approach in HOW she learned, play and interpret music.

Some of the principles she learned from Casals *resonate* with some principles of the Alexander Technique. But as Nelly Ben-Or, pianist and AT teacher, says "in music making so many different elements have to come together and an improved, consciously directed use is but one of them". I have a DVD with a Vivien Mackie masterclass and she goes on by saying that "Through intelligent training of something other than the head and neck you can actually achieve the use, I believe". This is clearly exposed in this book. How Casals brought life back to her fingers without the head-neck-back experience of the Alexander Technique. The Technique is about removing unwanted habits that can help music playing but these bad habits usually show up because of poor music technique itself. So removing the "clutter", as Mackie puts it, does not solve technical limitations as AT teachers are not trained to give music technique. One of the things I learned from this book is the importance of how the player relates to the instrument and how much understanding of this relationship is necessary to overcome plateaus in the learning curve.

Also, one of the things I loved about the book is that it doesn't have a patronising "I am the panacea" attitude like some other AT books I have read. The ideas presented in the book were real experiences and therefore very practical and not just another theoretical "apply the AT principles contained in this book and the right thing will do itself". Some elements here have reinforced certain ideas that I read from Nelly Ben-Or in that music making goes beyond simple mechanical execution and beyond the Alexander Technique. In fact, I don't consider this book an AT book at all because it is written with very little direct mentioning of the Technique and in a language anyone can understand. This is truly a life experience in print.

I've been kayaking whitewater for about 5 years, seriously the past 2 seasons. I stumbled on this while on a visit back to the States last summer. It is clear and concise and builds on a series of simple paddling and 'awareness' excercises - as if a gifted 'professor' collected his/her lecture notes. No kayaker should be without this book, even if you're a pro, there's bound to be some thought-provoking new material here for you or a new spin on how to pass on techniques to newbies. Nealy's book ('Kayak') opens your eyes about 'reading' water and routefinding, this book opens your eyes about boat control. It's a gift, worth 3X the price...

As soon as I found the laminated exercise card in the back of the book, I knew that this was much more than a book to be read. It was written in such a way that the info inside could go with me in the boat! The B & W photos are more than adequate for the purpose and Kent Ford never writes DOWN to the reader, World Champ though he is...A great resource and confidence builder

On the cover of this book there's a picture of what appears to be a gnome with an atomic grin sitting in a kayak. The picture is the clue to both the book's underlying philosophy and its explicit message: kayaking on white water is fun. And the best way to have the most fun is to get the basics right. The book is unique in that it consists of nothing more than a series of well illustrated drills which are aimed at developing good boat control, and good paddle technique, so the next time you get on a white water river you can do whatever you want to do better. It's not aimed at wanna be rodeo stars. Text is kept to a minimum and the book is remarkably uncluttered and direct. Unless you're a champion slalom paddler there's lots here that is useful to help you refine and improve your technique and you don't have to wait til your next white water trip to get on with it. If you want to improve your paddling, buy this book. The authors offer a money back guarantee that it will improve your skills. If you've got a frend who's just started paddling, buy them this book. (And read it yerself!) If you're an instructor, especially a new one, buy this book. It's a ready made repetoire of drills and activities you can use to help your students improve facets of their paddling. For instructors it's also good on the little differences between the way racers and recreational boaters do things. Which given the authors' backgrounds is hardly suprising. (You might want to deduct half a star from the rating if you don't like yo-dude-speak)

The authors remind us that personal development can fall short if there is no follow through. With their practical suggestions and easy-to-follow techniques, readers improve their retention of what they need to learn. Know Can Do! is worth the investment.

I am a great fan of Mr. Ken Blanchchard. I have read his most of the books. And this book "Know Can Do!" is also a one of the great books, which explained that how, Repetition, positive attitude and followup can fill the gap of learning into actions. Must read.

- Thanks Rajiv

I must confess I am a Blanchard fan. The Situational Leadership, One Minute Manager, and other series are concise, helpful, and easy to put into action. Know Can Do gives one the tools to put knowledge into action. Many people are constantly looking for the next best thing instead of really putting an effort into what they already know. The author, using a story, of course, shows how to learn, review, and apply learning. By learning and reviewing a few things instead of shallowly learning a lot of things, you will accomplish more real change. all real accomplishment comes from focus, and this book will help internalize that concept.

Blanchard books are great on CD as well and will yield more return than the morning radio show. Plus, now Amazon is giving better prices on audiobooks than ever before!! A win/win.

Excellent book, it shows in a very clear way how every one, can improve his/her talents an can be a better team player and leader.

I relly like the way Lee Ellis explanis people talents and how every talent has its positive side.

I work with executives and entreprenuers to experience maximum performance, career success and abundant life through continuous assessment, alignment and action steps that help them explore, educate and employ their gifts, passions and calling based on purpose-centered, whole-life planning. Leading Talents, Leading Teams not only provides insight into how people work best, but also develop effective leadership teams. Brian Ray, Founder, Primus Consulting

This book is fantastic!!! It has shone a new light on my struggles... with pinpoint accuracy. Detailed work is the most
challenging for me. As a result of this insightful book - I repeat the "engaging" persons mantra often - "Focus, focus, focus" "No, No, No" & "Prioritise, Prioritise, Prioritise".

It has also provided me the best framework / paradigm I have yet to come across on leadership (accomplish the mission and look
after the people).

A fresh approach to a subject that can be dry and uninteresting. This book presents interesting ideas for business leaders who have to present Diversity training to their workforce. In a way to make it easier and workable for all involved.

Leraging Diversity is an excellent book that gives an honest assessment of why it is important to diversify the work place. It openly discusses how although a lot of companies say they do diversify some possible ways they may be failing. It is written from both the clinical perspective as well as the business perspective. It is also written from the minority perspective and the majority perspective. I strongly recommend this book for all complanies. Deborah D. Street, LICSW

Although, the book is geared towards businesses everyone can benefit from reading this book. Kim & Sylvester give a very comprehensible explanation of why understanding other cultures and embracing diversity in all aspects of our life, not only in the workplace, is so important. A very enlightening book that will make you think.

A first-rate book on the subject of organizational design.

Chapters focus on:
- tensions of organization design;
- aligning span of attention;
- unit structure;
- diagnostic control systems;
- interactive networks;
- shared responsibilities;
- examples of adjusting the levers; and
- designing organizations for performance.

Central to this book are four key factors that guide effective design decisions: customer definition, critical performance variables, creative tension, and commitment to others.

The book offers great insights and guidance to design an organization that influences how people perform, focus their attention, and how their efforts can be aligned with strategy. Rich in content and value! Very highly recommended.

Finally, an OD book with a solid combination of theory and practice. The theory in this book is the most comprehensive model for OD I've ever seen. Simons' model incorporates all functional areas of business. He does an excellent job of looking at the whole organizational picture. This is where many authors have fallen short with theories that only cover one or two functional areas of business leaving you to guess at how to incorporate the rest. This cross-functional approach to OD is not just refreshing; it's quite necessary in today's business environment.
Simons' theory is based on levers and sliders. Easy to understand and easy to visualize. Part of the value of the book is that the theory is backed up with practical implementation examples. Like any good learning resource (a.k.a. text book) each chapter provides us with a summary and action steps. I give this book an A+ and consider it a "must read" for anyone in the OD field. It is also recommended for management teams looking to assess their organization design. Using this book will provide the understanding you need to get started.

Unlike subtitles of so many other recently published business books, the one for Levers of Organization Design correctly identifies its author's primary objective: to explain "how managers use accountability systems" to achieve "greater performance and commitment." Simons thoroughly and brilliantly responds to questions such as these:

What are the nature and extent of tensions of organization design or redesign?
How to get "span of attention" in proper alignment?
What is an appropriate "unit structure"? Why?
Which diagnostic control systems can be most effective? How?
Why are interactive networks essential?
How to establish and then strengthen them?
How should shared responsibilities be determined and then managed?
Then, how to sustain productive collaboration?
Which "levers" of organizational design are most effective? Why?
Which examples best illustrate how to make appropriate adjustment of them?
What are the most effective strategies and tactics when designing organizations for performance?

According to research which Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton provide in The Strategy-Focused Organization, only 5% of the workforce understand their company's strategy, only 25% of managers have incentives linked to strategy, 60% of organizations don't link budgets to strategy, and 85% of executive teams spend less than one hour per month discussing strategy. If true, these are chilling statistics which suggest that few decision-makers in any organization (regardless of its size or nature) would be able to answer, clearly and realistically, each of the questions listed previously. Hence the urgency of their reading Simons' book. I also urge them to check out the several works co-authored by Kaplan and Norton.

I enjoyed the logical process of The Mansis System and the way in which Dr. Kent weaved in the powerful elements of managing individual behaviors. Our employees are hidden balance sheet items, and properly guided and coached, significantly impact a successful income statement. The Mansis System is the tool to guide us all. Dennice M. Leahey, Senior Vice President, Royal Bank of Canada

Although the book is not written in an academic style, the concepts are all scientifically sound. I like the fact that the text places the emphasis for better management on managers themselves, and not on employees. All too often I find that managers want some easy answer to "fix" a particular employee. This text puts responsibility right where it belongs - on the shoulders of the manager. Dr. Jerry L. Gray, Dean of the Faculty of Management, University of Manitoba

Although the book is not written in an academic style, the concepts are all scientifically sound. I like the fact that the text places the emphasis for better management on managers themselves, and not on employees. All too often I find that managers want some easy answer to "fix" a particular employee. This text puts responsibility right where it belongs - on the shoulders of the manager. Dr. Jerry L. Gray, Dean of the Faculty of Management, University of Manitoba

Any fan of Diana's will know why we mourned (and still mourn) her passing. This book however is fascinating for it's analysis of those mourners who said things like "I never knew how much Diana meant to me until she died" and "I cried more at her death than at my own father's". Why did Diana's death have such an enormous impact on a global scale, even for people who claimed not to have liked her during her lifetime? It was more than just pity at the way a young life had been taken too soon. This book is an excellent examination of the huge significance of the gobal mourning and grief that was displayed in 1997.

Any fan of Diana's will know why we mourned (and still mourn) her passing. This book however is fascinating for it's analysis of those mourners who said things like "I never knew how much Diana meant to me until she died" and "I cried more at her death than at my own father's". Why did Diana's death have such an enormous impact on a global scale, even for people who claimed not to have liked her during her lifetime? It was more than just pity at the way a young life had been taken too soon. This book is an excellent examination of the huge significance of the gobal mourning and grief that was displayed in 1997.

Any fan of Diana's will know why they mourned her passing. This book however is fascinating for it's analysis of those mourners who said things like "I never knew how much Diana meant to me until she died" and "I cried more at her death than at my own father's". Why did Diana's death have such an enormous impact on a global scale, even for people who claimed not to have liked her during her lifetime? It was more than just pity at the way a young life had been taken too soon. This book is an excellent examination of the huge significance of the gobal mourning and grief that was displayed in 1997.

I have purchased many tractors over the last 25 years and I wish that I would have had this book all the while. The Nebraska tests evolved to provide the farmer with a standard of comparison to gauge his power requirements. Many manufactures prior to these tests boasted claims, but there was no real way to be sure. This book explains the need for this program and gives complete and comprehensive results for 'every' test. I find it a very interesting and informative authority of tractor power and reliability.

Charles H. Wendel's tireless research provides a very compelling volume of information for the farmer, collector, restorer, or enthusiast. Presented chronologically, the volume offers technical data on hundreds of makes and models, ranging from John Deere, International and Minneapolis-Moline, to lesser know and specialty tractors such as David Brown, Bates Steel Mule, and Big Bud.

Each tractor's technical information is accompanied by a photo (in some cases and actual photo of the tractor at the test lab). Data is incorporated directly into the text and the volume is very well edited.

The Nebraska tests were the one thing that standardized tractor ratings. This book is full of information that can be found in bits and pieces elsewhere,but is complete, from the testing lab to you,in this volume. A must have for the serious tractor hobbiest or professional. Lots of good pictures and info on even some of the rarest of tractors.

NYC performance artist and wordsmith Margolin creates intriguing verbal landscapes. The writer understands how in the space of time we are bound by the history of truth. Eager to read this book when published.

I have not read this book yet. I have, however, read three of Deb Margolin's short works at Salon magazine's site and they make me want to read much more. I find her work to be at once erotic poetry and searing social comentary. I look foward to reading more by this author.

Where has Deb Margolin been all my life? These pieces are so beautifully written and so performative... it's like walking through the world with someone who keeps tugging at your sleeve shouting, "Did you see that?" Deb Margolin's work helps us all see more clearly. Anyone who is a performer will rejoice at finding this work. This book is for anyone who loves language, who finds life worth living in its most absurd details, and who wants to know that there is really is amazing theatre being performed... bless Lynda Hart for having the vision to get this work published.