R Books

I became interested in this book when searching for books on werewolves. After the first couple pages I was hooked. I read the entire book in one sitting unable to put it down. The world is laid out very nicely in this book and it's out there. A definite page turner. Once finishing you must read the next book. I've read alot of books and not very many do I truly love and remember always, this is one of those. If you are looking for a dark story with twists, this is for you.

We killed the retarded boy. He took his own life, but we killed him just the same.

Thus begins The Takers, the first book in R.W. Ridley's YA Horror series The Oz Chronicles. This debut novel (published in 2005) is well paced, with a great quest/adventure and and several likable characters, including the main protagonist, Osmond (Oz) Griffin. The second in the series, Delon City, is now published and is definitely on my reading list.

Thirteen-year old Oz awakens from a fever induced slumber to find his world dramatically changed, his parents and most of the other people on his block "taken" and seemingly eaten by nightmarish monsters who appear and attack when their name is spoken. His quest begins when he is given responsibility for a baby named Nate, whose mother is taken, so he piles up his wagon, takes a sword from Nate's father's study, and proceeds to the big city. Here, the mystery of the Takers (who are they, where did they come from) begins to unfold, as Oz and his growing army of misfit survivors (including a sign-language speaking gorilla named Ajax who understands more about what is happening with the Takers than he can say) do battle with several of the monsters. A comic book written by the afore mentioned "retarded boy" holds the key to the mysteries and the quest involving Oz, baby Nate and the Takers.

I read The Takers straight through as the action and the quest continue unabated through the book. The ending comes quickly, but sets up the second in the series nicely, leaving some questions to be answered but solving many of the puzzles.

Horror and YA (with the notable exceptions of Potter and Eragon) are usually not my genres of choice, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to fans of both genres.

I picked up The Takers upon the recommendation of a friend, and enjoyed it thoroughly. It is definitely targeted at a young-adult audience, and the term 'young' hasn't applied to me for a few decades, so I sometimes felt the story was rushed. On more than one occasion I felt myself wanting more. That said, I couldn't put the book down. It is a horror story, but is not overly scary or gory (again, good for YA) but it satisfies the horror fan with an extra helping of creepy.

The Takers is a gigantic toothy maw of literary fun that is sure to swallow the reader whole. It is full of action, likable characters, intrigue, and (of course) monsters. The plot jumps into high gear from the first page, and doesn't slow until the very end. As the first book of a series, it tells a good story that can stand on its own while at the same time luring the reader into book two (which I now have on order).

My complete review:

Characters: 5 stars. In a fast-paced adventure like this, it is easy to lose character development. Ridley manages to create a cast of interesting characters despite this challenge, including a Silverback Gorilla that speaks with sign language (a mechanism that I was skeptical of when first introduced, but it works).

Plot: 5 stars. The plot evolves well, with sufficient twists to keep the reader's interest peaked. The plot is more complex than many YA horror stories. For example, I found the plot of EPOCH to be relatively flat in comparison.

Pacing: 4 stars. I'm holding back one star here because I would have liked to see more of just about everything along the way: more detail in descriptions, more character interaction, etc. However, as mentioned above I am older than the intended audience by a fair bit. Also, the trade-off results in an exciting roller-coaster ride of a story, and that's not a bad thing.

Genre: 5 stars. While not overly gory or scary, The Takers is creepy, with many classic elements of horror: post-apocalyptic survival; mysterious disappearances; taboos; and lots of monsters. The monsters are described perfectly: just enough detail to inspire the reader's imagination to invent more. There is also a god diversity of monster-types to keep things interesting (and, again, creepy).

First Impression: The opening line "We killed the retarded boy" is brilliant.
Last Impression: This would make a great video game.

Overall Score: 5 stars.


Finally, The Takers is an independently published book, and as a self-published author myself (Cluck: Murder Most Fowl), I'm glad to see another independent author who takes writing seriously: the book is well structured, well written, and free of the typos and grammatical errors that sometimes appear in independent works.

I didn't read this book, but my 14 year old son loved it! That's saying sooo much, since he has never read ( and finished ) a book on his own before. He does not enjoying reading, as I do. He started this book one evening, after I made him, and he couldnt put it down. For the first time ever, I had to tell him to put a book down and go to bed! We have already ordered book 2, and he cant want for it to get here. Hopefully, this will start a joy of reading with him!

What its about:
13 year old Oz awakes from a fever in his parent's closet only to find that everyone is gone. He also is startled to discover that the reason people are missing is due to these strange creatures call the Takers. He knows that he has something to do with the Takers taking people b/c of a comic book a kid down the street wrote. He starts traveling to find an uncle and along the way he gathers some friends to help him battle the Takers. He learns that he has a mission to protect a baby who is a "storyteller." Oz and his gang struggle to save the baby and battle the Takers.

What is good about it:
This is a great story. It is pretty original and has some scary, funny and actions parts. Oz is a great hero. He isn't perfect but he is smart and brave. He has this charisma that attracts others and they follow him. B/c he is a child he is more willing to accept that there are these weird creatures out there, that a kid wrote about this in a comic book and that he should take advice from a gorilla (believe me it makes more sense in the book). It isn't a long book and is very easy to read in one sitting. In fact you might not be able to put it down.

What is bad about it:
Oz is a 13 year old and sometimes some of the things he does or says aren't very realistic of what a 13 year old might say. The ending also sort of surprises you but then you feel better about it knowing there is another book coming along.

Conclusion:
This is a very original book that I think adults and young adults will enjoy. I am looking forward to reading the next one. Enjoy!

Dean, I want to thank you for your book, `Transforming Performance Measurement'. It is one of the best business books I have read this year and one of the best on performance management!

Although you refer to performance `measurement', I believe the book covers the topic of performance management, including measurement, evaluation, reporting, dialogue, improvement, learning, etc. You demonstrated very good insight in the topic and were able to integrate/synthesize the various elements very well.

I would like to use your book as a key reference in the manual I am writing on Performance Management for the public sector here in Namibia.

There is such a great need in Namibia today (especially the public sector where I am involved), for proper performance management / proper implementation of strategic plans (based on the Balanced Scorecard) - presented in a simple way. Your book really stresses the important foundation of measurement, but that dialogue lies in the heart of performance management. This is so true!

Transforming Performance Measurement by Dean Spitzer is recommended reading for anyone who attempts to change the culture of an organization. In a field (over)loaded with data as in education, Dean focused our attention only on the measures that will likely improve performance. Guided by measurements as opposed to intuition, the readers will often find themselves wondering how to measure their contributions toward the team's success.

The book reaffirms the notion that data without context is just isolated facts. Positive transformation occurs when more people within the organization converts data into information, knowledge and finally wisdom. For those who try to capture performance data through integrated technology, you will recognize the common pitfalls of measurement technology cited in the book (pg 160). Unfortunately, some pitfalls may be difficult to avoid even after reading this book.

Finally, the importance of measurement leadership cannot be overstated. Success of scorecards and dashboards depends largely on the "systemic" nature of the implementation. Organization that promotes open discussion about measurement deficiencies will foster the social context necessary to transform its performance.

I highly recommend this book not just for one-time reading. It has moved from my bookshelf to the desktop and remains a great daily reference as our organization moves through the process of transformation.

The code for a new level of performance measurements measuring organizational success has been broken and its secrets are revealed in this book! Dean Spitzer brilliantly helps readers transform performance measurements by combining technical aspects with the often overlooked social aspects of performance. This book is a must read for all who truly want to create and maintain a transformational performance measurements "cultural shift" within their organization.

This book is a 304-page introduction and description of its subject. It tells how and why most measurement schemes yield disappointing results. The author never gets around to telling us how to improve measurement.

This book is a classic example of Bad Business Writing: massive introduction of the subject, followed by interminable discussion of how we get it wrong, followed by enormous build-up for the wisdom we are about to receive. Are we there yet? Not on your life. Next we get a lexicon of the elements of transformational performance measurement: context, focus, integration and interactivity. You may want to write those down, as I won't return to them. Then more buildup:

"When all four keys are working together synergistically, amazing things can, and will, happen to enable the awesome power of measurement to make a real difference--a transformational difference--in your organization!"

I am so ready now.

In a last, desperate attempt to get a plan for actually measuring something, I skipped forward to the chapter with "Action Plans" in the title. Does he begin with action plans? No, more description, more build up, then finally, an actual suggestion, the first needle in this 304-page haystack:

"[A] restaurant staff assign a "mood rating" (from 1 to 10) to each customer party when they enter the establishment and throughout the meal. The goal is to raise the mood rating, with the standard that no one should leave the restaurant with a mood rating below a 9."

I will take this brilliant pearl of wisdom back to my major financial institution and transform our business. Thank you, Mr. Spitzer.

This has to be the absolute best book I have read in this field of performance measurement.

Spitzer goes straight to the heart of what performance measurement is all about - transforming organisational performance - and he makes it crystal clear why it is more about the social system (the people) than the technical systems (dashboards, analysis, data).

His writing style is engaging, filled with great examples and wonderful inspirational quotes and advice from leaders in the management and performance fields.

It isn't a step-by-step how-to book, but it is essential for anyone leading performance measurement and improvement - and anyone leading an organisation - to read, to study and read again.

I give this book to every one of my new clients and require them to read it. Bert's financial smarts were acquired over 35 years of practice, trial and error. He really knows his stuff.

To be clear, I am not a friend or relative of the author, nor am I associated with his publishing house or anything. I am giving this a five-star review because it deserves it.

The author is great at disseminating the identities that people take on regarding finance- such as the Scrooge, the Traveler, etc. He makes it abundantly clear why we think and feel the way we do about money. He encourages us to go into our earliest memories regarding money(if they're anything like mine, that's not so pleasent). I was really impressed with this book. I just finished reading "Conscious Finance", and this was far better. It ezplores the belief systems behind our actions, and then tells us how to actually change those beliefs.

Finally, a financial advisor with the courage to tell us that financial magazines are nuts for telling us to switch around our portfolios every time there's a full moon! I always intuitively knew this, but I was grateful to have back-up from an expert.

This is not a get-rich-quick book. Hardly. I'd say it was refreshingly conservative and reaffirming- the author doesn't demand that you never take on student debt, assume that everybody reading his book must already make $100,000+ a year, or tell you that paying your kid's college tuition payment is your no. 1 priority in life. No. He speaks to those that don't make a fortune, don't have a degree in finance, and don't always have their s*** together. Finally! I can read a book on finance and not feel guilty!

That said, he makes great points about saving and consumer debt- nothing really new, but without a bunch of complicated, left-brained, holier-than-thou nonsense. I felt encouraged after reading his book. That is a new one for me. For anyone who reads Money magazine or the like and feels like a failure because they don't have $10,000 to invest in some new stock or mutual fund every month, may I respectfully suggest reading this book. It will be an eye-opener.

Is it me or are all these "reviews" obviously endorsements from the author's large network of friends and contacts? I can't find a single "review" in the 25+ here that gives even a single sentence of detail about the book -- not one! These are all generic "terrific finance book for everyone - 5 stars!" Plus, nearly all these reviews were posted within the first 6 days of the release and each gave 5 stars. Not plausible.

I don't blame the author for asking friends to put reviews up, but then have them actually read the book and put together a real REVIEW, not a vacuous endorsement. This is especially important since there is no "See Inside" capability with this book. I depend on Amazon reviews when making decisions on products I'm buying here. I don't appreciate an obvious attempt to subvert the process.

I have to agree with Lapis' assertion that most of the reviews appear to be fraudulent. Click on "see my other reviews" and most of them have only one review...for this book. I'm sure most amazon.com users don't post only one review. It's difficult enough to not carried away reviewing books and other consumer goods. It is extremely suspicious and I agree with Lapis that I often make purchasing decisions based on user reviews.

This is one book that I'll keep on my shelf and re-read, and refer to as reference. The author's 35 years of experience really shows in his analysis on financial personality types and risk tolerance. He had me pegged! Based on a short self-test, he predicted the kind of spender and investor I am with accuracy. The book does go into pretty good detail for the beginning investor; it can make your brain hurt. But, that's what's great about it- the amount of information packed into this short book makes it well worth buying and keeping on hand.
The reason I only gave 4 stars: I disagree with him about not paying your mortgage off as quickly as possible. He uses calculations to show that by getting tax breaks for mortgage interest, you'll come out ahead if you invest the extra money instead. There's one thing he, and other authors who advocate this, have never addressed- the Standard Deduction. If you have unusually high deductions such as medical bills that puts your itemized deductions above the standard, then his system make sense. But, if all of your deductions, including the mortgage interest, comes beneath the standard deduction the government gives to everyone, then you would take the standard. So, you wouldn't be getting any additional deduction for the interest than you would without it. This makes it highly impractical to pay three times the value of your mortagage, if you have the extra money to pay it off more quickly.
No, I'm not a financial expert; I'm actually a complete novice when it comes to investing. But I have worked as a tax preparer, and in my own returns, I've always taken the standard deduction, since I didn't have enough itemized to top it. So, for me his recommendation makes no sense at all. You would have to evaluate your own deductions, and if you itemize, your tax savings, to make an informed choice as to whether you'd be better off investing the money, instead of making additional payments on your house. But, I think it's irresponsible for him to make a blanket statement that no one should try to pay off their house early.
That's the only thing I found wrong with the book. Other than that it taught me alot, and is well worth the read.

This book literally launched my CG animation career. I later took a class in CG animation and modeling and the tutorials in this book were in that class. Its was an excellent class, since it helped you learn the book's content is covered in 3 weeks instead of 2-3 months of night time after work animation. But this book is $30 not $2k.
What a great book. It does assume you know the basics, so learn the basics first and then dive in head first.

not even worth giving it up to my dog to chew on.

I have read several books about 3D Max but I consider this book one of the best books ! and I have learnt a lot from it ...If you want to make professional media animations logos you have to own one !

I have read several books about 3D Max but I consider this book one of the best books ! and I have learnt a lot from it ...If you want to make professional media animations logos you have to own one !

Finally a book that merges great tutorial writing and impressive content. Going through this book, I was intrigued with every sentence. Not only did I want to read what Chismar had to say but I would learn things at random times. New techniques and tricks sprawl throughout this book, were at times I even felt a little guilty getting all this info for just a few bucks. Don't keep us waiting too long for the next one, John.

The Golden Milestone uncovers the most amazing facts about Italian and Italian-American accomplishments. It is a very unique book that covers just about every subject. Great stuff and fun to read. We also used the book's "Italy Travel Guide" that is included as a supplement for our trip to Italy this year. Read this book and pass it on. It is refreshing to read the positive things instead of stereo-types that the media usually servers up about Italian-Americans. Thank you Mr. Esposito for writing this book.

This thoroughly researched, masterfully written, and fascinating book is truly an encyclopedia of accomplishments from Roman times right up to the 21st century. The book lists countless fascinating facts from Roman, Renaissance, modern Italy, and Italian Americans. It also lists 19 Nobel Prize winners. A great review of somewhat forgotten information about Italian heritage, that is assembled and at your finger tips for reference. A refreshing change from the negative stereotypes offered by shows like "The Sopranos."
Read this book and give it as a gift.

This book is a great review of significant Italian and Italian-American accomplishments since the beginning of time! It is full of information that you may already know in the back of your mind, but the book clarifies it and recognizes the individuals instrumental in the contribution. The author inserts a little of his own humorous antidotes along the way. All in all it is a very interesting book. It would be good for students of any age to learn an overall view of the subject matter. Any reader should be both amazed and entertained!

There is no way to describe the amount of in-depth research on so many interesting subjects in this book. Well written, researched and organized. I got it as a birthday gift and couldn't put it down. It's mind-boggling how anyone could have done so much in-depth research. Amazing stuff that wont disappoint any reader interested in the origins of inventions, artifacts, conventions, foods and traditions, as well as biographies of many famous entertainers and sports personalities. For me, the book's chapters on architecture and American government alone make the book worth the price. Read it and share it. Something for everyone in your family to explore and discover.

Book Description (from Amazon's Editorial Reviews section)
This highly acclaimed and uniquely comprehensive book offers readers over 2500 years of Italian and Italian-American accomplishments. The book's 22 chapters cover every subject: art, architecture, music, fashion, science, law, culinary arts, economics, medicine, automobiles, the entertainment industry, sports, and much more. The author's ability to blend facts, with some humor and personal anecdotes makes this book a joy to read. The book covers the wonders of ancient Rome, Renaissance Italy, as well as modern contributions and Nobel Prize winners. The book is illustrated and contains an astonishing collection of inventions and accomplishments. For example, Italians invented the piano, violin, opera, ballet, battery, telescope, radio, and telephone in NYC years before Alexander Bell. Discover how Enrico Fermi ushered in the atomic age, and how Italian sculptors carved the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C. Explore the chapter on Literature to uncover the origins of many famous fairy tales (Cinderella, Snow White, Pinocchio, etc.). In the chapter on American Government, the author quotes John F. Kennedy who wrote in his book, "A Nation of Immigrants" that the great American principle, "all men are created equal," originated with an Italian physician, Philip Maezzi, who was a personal friend and neighbor of Thomas Jefferson. Also, learn about many other distinguished personalities: NYC Mayors, the former Chairman & CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, the President of the European Union, and the Director of the European Space Agency. The Golden Milestone has thousands of notable entries and fascinating facts. Critics agree. It is a must for anyone's library.

This book also includes a unique `Italy Travel Guide' supplement that combines history and attractions for over twenty cities and locations in Italy. A great virtual tour!

Superbly researched, detailed, and precise. In 22 chapters the author proves his points. He sometimes got overly preachy, but with all the negative stereotyping of Italian-Americans by many in Hollywood and the media I can sympathize. It is one of the most organized books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. From the Roman Republic to the present, Italian contributions to Civilization are described. It also contains a unique travel supplement and some funny personal stories. Anyone who is a history buff should read it, every possible field is covered.

Wow! IM is the first novel I've read by Rick R Reed - but it certainly won't be the last. Reed takes a modern-day twist of the gay serial killer that is at once unique and intriging; the killer meets all his victims online. Unlike typical serial killer novels, where bodies stack up will police search clues to find the person responsible, IM displays a strong backstory of the killer's life that is served up to the reader in doses throughout the novel. Just when I thought I'd figured out the reason driving Timothy's terror on the city, Reed tosses in a different twist. I thoroughly enjoyed the POV changes throughout the novel, a fine balance that allows the reader a chance to experience what each of the characters are feeling. Odd to say that IM is a love-story, too, however, the emerging bond between the ex-cop, Ed and his boyfriend, Peter, is real...I was sorry to see the novel end for this reason and hope that perhaps, Reed will return later with their continuing story! If you've never read a Rick R Reed Novel, I'd strongly suggest you begin with IM!

The author does a great job creating "quick" characters/victims, enough so that you are invested in them when they meet their untimely deaths. The reality of the plot does drive the story but I was just left disappointed as the book developed. The "surprise" ending wasnt really a surprise and what really got me was two strong, able bodied men, one of which is a trained officer, were not able to disarm a smaller man yeilding a hunting knife. In fact, when the killer tied or taped the male victim(s) at the end, I found it completely unbelievable that each character didn't just overtake him during the process. How was the killer holding a knife and tying the victim at the same time? In one case, earlier in the story, a character could have simply ran away, changing the entire ending...I mean, it's not a gun he's holding. So, good read but disappointing...such a good start though.

Excellent gay murder mystery that kept the reader guessing for a long time! Measured backstory on the psyche of the killer gave the reader another dimension of the killer. What horrific events lead this man/boy to commit the murder of gays. Where his rage came from and his helpless life that caused him so much misery.
Well-developed characters and great descriptive narratives of places, murder victims, etc.
Thoroughly enjoyed the novel!

From the book's very first murder, Mr. Reed takes the reader on a wild ride where nothing is as it seems. Ed is a cop whose job crumbles from under him as he chases after a madman who may already be dead. Timothy Bright seems heartless and cruel, but as the story progresses, the reader learns what has made him who he is. Throughout the book, the pacing is tight and fast, catapulting you through the twists and turns, leaving you breathless, until you're reading as fast as you can in an effort to find out how it ends.

Beware ~ the violence is graphic and sexual, disturbing images that speak to the dangers of anonymous sex. But Comparetto is the perfect counterpart to the evil Timothy Bright, who haunts the cop's every move throughout the story. I found myself rooting for Ed from the start, and as time seems to run out for him, I was on the edge of my seat, reading furiously, flipping pages to find out what happened next.

In short, this book is riveting. I couldn't put it down. This is a must read for any fans of gay fiction who are looking for a good murder mystery/horror story. Think Stephen King meets Patricia Cornwell, with lots of gay sexual references to satisfy readers. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Mr. Reed's work.

Rick R.Reed has confected a mystery/horror/suspense tale as only an artist could do. Not only is the story a major page-turner, but the reader comes to know the characters as three dimensional human beings -- and one tends to care about them.

I read at least one book of mystery fiction per month. I tend to enjoy the most those works which shed light on a certain culture or role: being Amish, being a guidance counselor, being a maid, being an Irish inn-keeper, being a journalist, etc. In recent years writers such as john Morgan Wilson, Mark Richard Zubro, and RD Zimmerman have invited readers into the gay community with all of its wonderful and intersting attributes, as well as it demonic dimensions. I believe Reed has done the finest work, however, in the cause and effect within human relationships. Also, the reader cares about the characters, and flinches at some of the events which have formed their experiences. Definitely, this is not a "cozy."

A reader does not have to be gay, however, to share in this story, any more than one needs to be Catholic to understand THE DI VINCI CODE. The author develops the meaning of psychosis, displays the technology which is such a great influence in our current culture, and empathetically focuses on the effect of life minus loving relationships. As well he develops a budding relationship which adds an element of hope to the story, as well as an invitation to further stories flowing from this love.

As a Chicagoan I was excited about the use of so many places in the story which are only blocks from my home. He so well describes these settings, however, that one could live in Newcomerstown, Ohio or Rim-of-the-World, California and still share in the adventure with the same high interest. Again, this is an artist who has developed this tome.

I have already recommended this story to my friends. I want to encourage any mystery buff to explore this novel.

Thomas P. Hull, Chicago

Book has a lot of information. Sometimes the technical stuff gets to be too much but all in all it is a great book.

I found this book very encouraging! I really like books that tell you about solutions to problems.

I ordered this book because of the reviews. I thought it was going to tell me which homeopathic medicines to take for different illnesses/infections, but it did not. So, this book was not for me. This book is about the history of Homeopathy, Autism, and stories on the successes of other people using Homeopathy medicine. I could care less about the history...I just want to know what I need to take! This book refers you to a homeopathic doctor, but that is what I'm trying to avoid (since they are so costly).

I don't usually use all caps but this was the best book ever on introducing the reader to homeopathy! It's easy to read, and helps those that may not be aware of homeopathy's healing powers that it really does work despite some of the misconceptions out there. If you are new to homeopathy than you MUST READ this book.

I don't usually write reviews because it takes alot to impress me. This books fits that criteria. It is a wonderful book dealing with a mom at her wits end with a child diagnosed with autism. It was recommended to me by a lady studying homeopathy and I am so glad that I took her advise. If there is one book that I would recommend the lay person to understand the when, where, how,what, and why of homeopathy it would be this book. Because I am a mom and I don't have a lot of time to read books with a lot of high minded words written by a person who thinks way to much of themself than they should, I loved this book. She is compassionate and caring and uses words and thoughts that are easy to understand for a person who feels that there has got to be something better out there. When you read this book you can tell that she wrote it out of love and a desire to help others who may have found themselves in a similar situation to hers. I like the book "Homeopathy made simple" for how to treat different ailments and the specific remedies to use, but "The Impossible Cure" is outstanding when compared to other books that I have read dealing with Homeopathy.

As a former Outward Bound instructor who loves adventure, I found this book riveting. As a business coach I know that learning occurs when we are on the edge, in a little less familiar place. This story supplements the narratives about Shackleton because Perkins takes the story and applies it to leadership. Hence, it becomes contemporary. I liked some of his points so much that I referenced him in my book. I strongly encourage you to read this book. Doug Gray, PCC, author of [ASIN:0975884158 Passionate Action: 5 Steps to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work]]sionate Action.

Perkins uses Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of the early 1900's to identify ten leadership strategies. These stategies have proven useful for me in both military and civilian business settings. Perkins uses real-life examples form the Shackleton expedition in Part One to identify the strategies. In Part Two he uses recent (from when the book was written) business example to demonstrate how these strategies can be applied. This is an easy read and the stories of the Shackleton expedition helped keep my focus on the people that we lead while keeping the ultimate goal in sight. The title of this book applies whether you are leading at the edge of the world, the edge of survival, or at the edge of competition.
"Fortitudine Vincimus"!

This book is a "must read" for everyone aspiring to become a leader. The different life and death situations that Shackleton and his men faced, and how they overcame the obstacles in their way, is an example for all to follow.

The book is written masterfully, allowing the reader to reflect on how different leadership techniques were applied and how to apply the techniques to the situations particular to the reader.

Outstanding Work!

A fantastic text based on an epic journey. The history of Shackleton's ill-fated expedition is a sharp contrast to the modern view which epitomizes personal liberty as the highest virtue.

This book features vignettes from an expedition faced with nearly insurmountable odds that highlight the difficult choices faced by Shackleton and his men. In the face of adversity, they managed to endure, though not without cost. Perhaps the most moving part of the narrative is knowing that, after he and a few of his men made it (barely) to the safety of a remote whaling outpost, he insisted on mounting numerous rescue attempts for his other stranded crew-mates until they were successfully extracted.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether or not you are involved in business management. As a father, I found many of the examples and stories inspirational, and I have shared them with my children to teach them the virtues of perseverence and the responsibilities of leadership.

The author, Dennis N. T. Perkins, shows extraordinary insight in leadership with 10 clearly stated principles. Based in strong part on Shackelton's expedition, these 10 principles are not only clearly stated, but truly make a difference. It is obvious that Perkins understands leadership. The book is easy to read, but takes plenty of mental energy. This book should be read by any manager, and should be considered a classic.

This has to be one of the most hilarious and enchanting children's books ever written. It was written ages ago, and yet it still has such a power over everyone that it might as well be considered a classic (I hope it is) as it artfully combines a fairy tale, humor, and a soft and simple story of caring.

The story begins as the little Princess Lenore falls sick and claims that the only thing that will make her better is if she has the moon. Thus her father the King begins a quest to find someone that can bring her the moon. He consults the wisest in the kingdom, people who cannot even agree on what is what.

Thus comes a surprisingly thoughtful and intelligent story about observation and personal view that is educational as well as enchanting.

A beautiful little book for the elementary school set (illustrations by Louis Slobodkin are wavy and whimsical). The story concerns the princess Lenore, who is ill from "a surfeit of raspberry tarts." To make her well, the King offers to get her whatever she desires. What Princess Lenore desires, however, is the moon. The King and his advisors scramble to fulfill her wish, and then to preserve the illusion once they have given her the moon. It is Princess Lenore herself who comes up with the solutions to both problem, out thinking the worldly, wise advisers.Thuber's storytelling style is quite wonderful here -- the language is fairly simple, and there's a nice cadence of repetitive elements that kids will enjoy. A beautiful, funny and satisfying story.

I read this book many time to my daughter, since her age of three-four, she still enjoy it much. It is a beautiful, funny, and well written story. It is my definitely one of my favorite. It teaches you that what the world is after all it is what we think it is. What a lesson for the half-empty fellows! It is written in a crescendo on this theme until the end: the eye blinking moon. Beautiful.

The princess wanted the moon. Her father, the king, demanded it be gotten for her. As you can imagine, this causes problems for the king's servants. The Royal Wizard, Mathematician and the Lord High Chamberlain have done many near-impossible feats for the king--but getting the moon? It's out of the question! But the Royal Court Jester thinks not. (Is this another one of his jokes?) A funny story.

A Non-Workbook, Non-Textbook Approach to Teaching Language Arts: Grades 4 Through 8 and Up

Illustrations are sketched and mostly pastel colors are utiilized. After reading each detailed page, the pictures don't seem to do much for the imagination. Good ideas are behind the words, but this book is extremely wordy at times and could've been shortened while still making the same point known. I enjoyed how the King, who was in search for the moon for his sick daughter, continued to ask his smartest men to figure out a way to get his daughter the moon only to find out that the court jester was the wittiest of them all. The daughter helps solve her own problem without realizing it and comes to a wonderful conclusion about how she can have the moon in her hand and also see it in the sky.

This will probably be the shortest review I have ever written. Let me put this book in context for those of you looking for an excellent book on how to run a successful salon. I ordered every book I could find on the net about running a succcessful salon. I read them all......this one was 5 fold better than any of the others I read. If you want to drive business in your salon, buy this book!

I read this book when I first got into the hair industry as a beginning stylist and it definitely helped me gain a very large clientele and being booked out 2 to 3 months ahead in a relatively short amount of time. 5 years later I am managing that salon and we are having our best years ever even in the tough times we've had with our economy. Many salons in our area have gone out of business. Why do we exceed when other salons are failing? Because we have implemented many of the ideas of Secret Service. I am so hyper-aware of customer service now that I have a hard time going to the dentist or chiropractor or any place of business without wanting to tell them these easy little things they could do to make their business so much better. So I highly recommend this book, but beware you'll never go out to eat or shop the same again.

LOVE this book! It's completely marked up with yellow highlighter and dog-ears. Must Get for Spa Owners!

This is a book that I reccomend to all of my franchise stores that I support. This is a glossary or handbook of great service and marketing. There is no reinventing the wheel in this little book but a refernce of the tried and true. Each example is supported with results and successes. The multiple companies referred to are known companies who lead their markets in service.

I encourage my stores to take a highlighter to this book of concepts and write notes in the margins. They will refer to this book often. This is 165 pages of good information.

I read this book in one day while I was on vacation. I was so inspired, I couldn't wait to get back to work to begin a new customer service policy in our salon. We already do some of the rituals for our guests, but this book gave me so many more ideas. John Dijullius is so right about creating systems and sticking with them, day in and day out. Can't wait for the second book!!!!