Resources Books

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in cultural resouces! As a social worker, I have found this book to be exteremely helpful for families and children. I highly recommend it!

This book is amazing! It has so much information. I have not been able to find so much information in one spot until I picked up this book. I particularly like the sites with Afrocentric children's games, online activities and books. But there is so much more than that. Parents: buy this book now! It is a worthwhile investment.

After reading this book, I was thrilled! There is so much useful information in it. No matter if you use the Internet sporadically or if you peruse the Net everyday, all day like I do, then there is something for you.
This book is simply a condensed and Black parenting specific search engine compiled into book form. No longer do parents have to be bothered with tooling around search engines, when most likely the results will be scant. Stacey Montgomery has done all of the work for you and keeps an updated list of Black parenting web resources on her website. A must buy for Black parents looking for Black parenting websites!

Stacey Montgomery has done a phenomenal job compiling about 375 web sites -- designed for the Black family -- into one resource. Her book is truly a "one-stop" shopping of information that is divided into 20 categories. There's something for everyone in this book.

For the regular Internet user such as myself -- who stays on the lookout for unique educational products for my family -- Montgomery's book is hard to put down. However, for those persons who surf the Internet very little or not at all, "Black Families Online" is still a powerful resource to have nearby because of its good-to-know information.

Thanks to this book, I have already begun compiling a list of my own of places to shop on the web for Christmas items and such. In "Black Families Online" I've come across web sites that I never knew existed that offer products that I never knew existed........a Multiplication Hip Hop CD and puzzles and interesting games that teach Black history, just to name a few.

In addition to providing an annotated list of web sites, Montgomery has added some nice additional touches, too. Quotes throughout the book from web site owners and parents answering the question, "Why go online?" or stating "Why my business is online" are also fun to read.

This book is a masterpiece. Montgomery should be proud of what obviously took a lot of time and effort.

Many thanks to her for a resource that has truly enriched my life. When not in my hands, this book is sure to stay close to my computer. I know I'll be using it often!!!

Once again, the authors have produced an invaluable text. No boat should be without it.

What a little gem of a book! A must have for every boat on the water! Tom has thought of everything and this little boat book has it all! Thank you Tom, this book will save a life, whether you are in a crisis or your wallet has been lost at sea -- Tom has all the information you need for every situation imagined. Both, my semi-pro fisherman husband, Mike and I love it!

Since I'm a casual boater, and often forget such things as who has the right-of-way and what a particular buoy symbol means, I found this book answers all of my questions and is laid out so that I can find out what I want quickly. It is amazing how much information is packed in this pocket sized book. When the fish aren't biting, this book is a great read for learning more about such things as knot tying, navigation, weather, etc. The book caters to all levels of boating expertise, and for the price, there is no reason not to have it onboard. I also found the book's excellent web site full of additional information and free downloads: google "anchorcovepublishing" to find the site.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/06)

This is a great pocket reference guide to boating. It is amazing how much information can fit into one small book. It is 3"x5"x1" and has 800 pages. So you really can fit it into your pocket. The reference guide is organized so that you can easily find information. The topics include: Boat design and construction; rules and regulations; navigation rules; boat operating and seamanship; piloting and navigation; ropes, lines and knots; weather; mechanical; electrical; communication; boat trailering; general reference tables; conversion tables; boating organizations and bibliography; and a glossary. Really what more could you need?

There is an easy to find color coded quick reference guide to navigation. I think that this will be the most valuable section for a boater. There is a section in this part on national and international boating flags. This would be really helpful to have around if you are going into a different area and not familiar with all of the signs. As a novice boater, I like the idea of having this book handy so that I can refer to it as questions arise. I don't have to keep asking someone. I think that an expert boater would appreciate as well, because they might just find the one piece of information in here that they need, but don't know.

This book would make a great gift for the boating fan that has everything.

Mr. Morris is very informative, easy to follow and ,the best part,he's very funny. I keep this book close to my computor at all times. D.Solomo

I had read this book and found very informative. I recommend it to the one who would like to know more about internet

Mr. Morris is very informative, easy to follow and ,the best part,he's very funny. I keep this book close to my computor at all times. D.Solomo

I love this book. If you want to use the internet to enhanceyour off-line reading experience, this book is a wonderful choice. Aguide to authors' sites, incredible on-line literary magazines, on-line libraries, and collections of great reading--real treasures, like Arts & Letters Daily. You'll bookmark a ton of URLs from this book! Plus how to publish your own work on-line. Highly recommended.

If you love to get your Revelation views from the front page of today's newspaper, then you will destest this book. If your favorite preachers are those who love to get their Reveltion views from the front page of today's newspaper, then you'll really desest this book. And if you think that Hal Lidsey and Tim LaHaye are significant scholars on Revelation, then you will absolutely hate this book.
BUT if you are a true student of the Bible and love expository teaching, then get ready to have your socks blessed off.
Jim takes a "preterist" view of Revelation and powerfully supports that view. He insists that the reader be consistent with the 12+ scriptures in Revelation that limit the time period for fulfillment of the book to a time that was "soon to take place". NOT "SOON" from 2005, but "SOON" from 79 AD. He also makes the "symbolic" nature of Revelation crystal clear.
And what makes his book the "top of the heap" of preterist commentaries on Revelation is his exposition of chapter 21. Jim is the "ONE & ONLY" perterist commentator who doesn't "bailout" or "jump ship" when it comes to chapter 21.
So to say that there isn't another commentary on Revelation like Jim's isn't an exaggeration. God bless. Mike

Great stuff. Although some things he doesn't cover enough I say. I don't have a list of pro's n con's really, I read this book over a year ago. It is on my list of good commentaries of the book of Revelation. However, I think that commentaries on this book are best when eat the meat of each one and spit out the bones, seeing which views and exegetics work best with harmony of Scripture and history. Jim's book is great, but don't stop with this one, also read "Revelation: Jesus Christ's Last Message of Hope" by Wayne Jackson as well as "An Eschatology of Victory" By J. Marcellus Kik. These are my top 3 recommendations for studying the apocalpyse. There are views by all that I don't believe are biblically irrefutable but we're saved by grace, afterall, not irrefutability in apocalypses. Enjoy your book!

This is the best work on Revelation that I have read. Jim gives a very scholarly approach and looks at the symbolism contained in the Old Testament to unlock the meaning that the original readers of Revelation no doubt were very familiar with. This approach makes so much more sense with the rest of the scriptures than the premillinial view point does. Jim's style of writing is so easy to read,yet he gets to the very heart of the message that was intended by John when he wrote the book. Thank you, Jim.

I have consulted almost 100 commentaries in my study on this grand book of the scriptures, but none possess the provocative and dynamic aspects as Jim's Revelation. As with all commentaries by Jim McGuiggan, he presents the material in a conversational manner, which exhibits his keen insights into the scriptures and tremendously helps the lay student. For years Revelation has been a perplexity and an enigma, which has prompted too many students to put it on the shelf and leave it to the "scholars." However, I suggest that with the help of this book, Revelation comes to life and enables the student to understand it in its historical and literary setting. On the other hand, many authors abuse this grand book in today's religious environment. McGuiggan will aptly quail the heresies that are being taught in many of these modern commentaries such as the doctrines of the "rapture," the "tribulation," and the "millennial reign." He will have the reader focus his thoughts of Revelation in their true Biblical sense--as literary figures to be understood symbolically. I am unable to do this book any sort of justice in the minor space I am allowed, but I do suggest that any student's library is incomplete if they do not own this book!

This is a great book that sums up a variety of different sources and provides the research to support the use of Young Adult Literature in the classroom. It is a quick and easy read that provides excellent sources such as websites, organizations, and texts, and it also includes guides for young adult literature to use for a variety of purposes. I like that this book brings out the best and most recent information of numerouse other texts I have read. Definately a great source for ELA and reading teachers.

I have just recently moved to a new school district that is somewhat archaic in its approach to teaching literature. Having used YA literature for years before coming here, I was in search of research that helped defend this practice. In a time where tests are valued more than a student's love of books, teachers are being forced into molds that prevent them fostering a love of books in their students. However, the research shows we need not resort to antiquated methods to get high scores. Young Adult literature is the best scaffold for Adult literature. This books provides important arguments teachers need to defend their best practices.

If you have ever wanted to develop a love of reading in a child, this book is absolutely essential. This book is written by a professor of mine who is the reason that many new teachers today have found a way to get their students to be passionate about reading. In his class, everytime a teacher found it difficult to reach a student, Doctor Blasingame was able to suggest a book that the student became thrilled with. In his book, he takes all of his knowledge about how to capture the imagination of students and creates a guide for parents and teachers everywhere. This book will always have a special place on my book shelf.

Books That Don't Bore 'Em brings to the Young Adult Literature Field a welcome and refreshing analysis of what is "good" literature for young adults. Blasingame's presentation includes a brief overview of the genre of YA literature followed by and extremely important analysis for why this literature should be available to students. Chapter 3 is quite important as it helps the teacher/librarian to understand the quality of of this literature. Blasingame discusses such topics as "How Do I know the Book is Good Quality?", "Has the Literature Been Reviewed?" "Is the Publisher Well-Known?" and "Has the Book or the Author Won Any Awards?" Blasingame then goes on and includes many Young Adult Literature Awards. The author also includes many lists: Required Reading for a Whole Class," "Great Books for Read-Aloud," "Great Books for Literature Circles," and many others. Approximately half of the book is given to "In the Authors' Words, a section made up of interviews, short biographies, and recommended works from top authors of young adult literature. Over 30 authors have been selected. This section becomes the "up front and personal" for teachers/librarians to learn about selected YA authors.
The book is a must read for teachers/librarians who work with young adults and the literature designed for them.

Mr. VanGundy has written a book which is very helpful if you are looking for a book which is brief, precise and before you start to use any of the systems it is very accessable to look for the right kind of system in any given situation. I simply love the "professor" approach, as the creativeness is at the end all up to you!

Teams who have to create on-demand inevitably find themselves in need of new techniques for getting their mental juices flowing. As the pressure builds, efforts to be "creative" often result in long, unprofitable sessions of mutual angst and long lists of second-rate, derivative ideas. Brain Boosters for Business Advantage: Ticklers, Grab Bags, Blue Skies, and Other Bionic Ideas is creativity guru Arthur VanGundy's playful collection of genuinely fun exercises for massaging the mind. Each of the 101 activities is clearly described and illustrated, with a facilitator's insight into group creative process, and a scholar's devotion to accrediting original sources. Exercises are for both individual and group mindbending, but most are extremely suitable for team brainstorming. VanGundy isn't afraid to let us know which activities are his favorites. Among his favorites, one of mine is called "Balloon, Balloon, Balloon." It has just the right amount of zaniness and physical activity to loosen up mind and body. First, people are asked to write "silly, nonsensical phrases" on slips of paper. Some examples: "worm lips on parade, "rhubarb ink javelins," "rotating cat lemons," and "vibrating elephants in your ear." Next, the slips of paper are rolled up and put into balloons of different colors. Participants tap the balloons around the room for a few minutes, collect one balloon of each color, pop the balloons and use the combined nonsense to create new ideas. For example: "Pen holders built into a chair's arms (from "arms" and "rhubarb ink javelins.") and "A built-in stereo radio in the top of the seat back (from "back" and "vibrating elephants in your ear")." VanGundy is careful to guide the reader through the collection, recommending his favorites, indicating which of his Boosters would be best for which purpose: strategic problems, product and process problems, advertising/marketing problems, and people/human resource problems. He introduces the collection with some hard-earned wisdom about the nature of creativity and group under pressure. His chapter on Creativity Principles is comprehensive, succinct, and worth committing to memory. His one basic rule: "defer all judgment when generating ideas."

Arthur VanGundy is incredibly talented - both in that he can generate fantastic ideas, and, more importantly that he teaches it well. I highly recommend reading every book he has ever written. You will never regret it!

I'm the author of "Thinkertoys (A Handbook of Business Creativity)," ThinkPak (A Brainstorming Card Deck," and "Cracking Creativity (The Secrets of Creative Genius)," and, as such, I, generally read most everything that hits the market. Without hestitation, Andy Van Gundy's book ranks as one of the best. It's an excellent collection of techniques. Perhaps, one of the best on the market.

This is destined to become one of the classic management texts. I found the authors treatement of the subject matter to be insightful and well thought out. This is a must for any person of color who is wondering why it's taking them so long to move into the executive level. As a trainer I will be using this as one of my texts, and I plan on sending a number of copies to my friends.

Few books have the ability to relate the importance of the information contained within to both professional and layman alike. That is, however, exactly what this book accomplishes. It shows you the how the achievements of minorities trying to attain status at the corporate level are linked to career decisions and mentoring relationships. This is accomplished by examining the characteristics of several minority executives at different companies who have managed to break through the glass ceiling. It also teaches several approaches for acheiving racial diversity throughout a company. It examines three large corporations who have accomplished this feat, by tracing their diversity efforts throughout the past few decades. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the processes by which businesses accomplish diversification throughout all levels of the company.

I just finished reading Breaking Through and learned quite a bit. Recommend it to you. I wish the subject of leadership, and how to properly use it to get results on the job, was addressed more. I recommend you also get a copy of another book that addresses this issue and is very applicable to the subject of minorities as leaders: "The Leader's Guide: 15 Essential Skills." It's at Amazon too.

Breaking Through is a multifaceted book that speaks to a spectrum of audiences: the business leader committed to creating a diverse workplace; the human resource professional charged with designing and implementing diversity initiatives; the minority professional aspiring to break through.

This book sheds light on the complex career dynamics presented to minority professionals in corporate America. As an aspiring minority professional, I took away valuable strategies, as well as pitfalls, for achieving my career goals.

The book is a balance of compelling empirical evidence and real-life examples. The depth of analysis makes for an engaging and enlightening reading experience.

Breaking Through will serve as a personal professional reference guide and I am sure that it will become an invaluable resource throughout my career.

".....This book is organized according to the logical, sequential phases of a pay project.
Each phase is subdivided into specific considerations or tasks, followed by a series of questions (called "Project Analyzer") to help you analyze your situation.

Exercises and examples bring many of the considerations into tangible form.

"HOW TO" IS WHAT THIS BOOK IS ALL ABOUT.
The field or pay administration already has plenty of theoretical texts, and you should read them, too, for their useful examination of the issues....."
[from the book of the preface

I run my own company where more often than not, I have to be chief cook and bottle washer. I knew some aspects of setting up a compensation program, but this book was a revelation. The first 80 pages or so are about getting a comp plan through corporate obstacles and so didn't apply to my small business, but the rest of the book was perfect. It logically guides you through establishing the purpose of your company in written form, and then building every single job description as an extension of that purpose and rewarding the job accordingly. It makes so much practical sense, and yet it wasn't obvious from the outset. This book will be invaluable to anyone trying to cook up their own compensation structure.

This is an excellent how-to manual that covers job analysis and evaluation, developing pay grades and ranges, surveying the market, and writing policies and procedures. The book presents guidelines and a detailed plan of action for building a pay program. The process involves nine phases beginning with knowing the organization (its aims and issues) through maintaining the program.

This a detailed, do-it-yourself manual, which includes numerous key question guides, examples, formats, and illustrations. Overall, this book offers a specific approach that does NOT leave readers on their own to figure things out. Recommended. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, the CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.

'Building a Fair Pay Program' is an important contribution to compensation/pay management literature. Roger J. Plachy and Sandra J. Plachy summarize their main themes that distinguish this book from other books on pay management as following:

1. Pay management is built on an integrated and coherent job results management strategy.

2. An organization's mission is fulfilled by employees through contributions of job results.

3. The critical architecture for managing job contributions is a profile of job results, job duties, and four possible outcomes.

4. Pay is based on job contributions.

5. Results-oriented (nonbehavioral), objective (nonsubjective) thinking is applied in detailed to each element of pay management.

For any compensation and HR practitioners who want to gain a competitive advantage through the strategic use of their compensation system, R.J.Plachy and S.J.Plachy provide an exceptional guide.

Highly recommended.

A well-orchestrated women's ministry is like a beautiful dance, bringing grace and creativity to the Body of Christ. In Building an Effective Women's Ministry, gifted author Sharon Jaynes not only teaches the basic dance steps, but all the intricate footwork that prepares women to have Scripturally "beautiful feet" in order to share Christ's Gospel of peace. In chapters like "Defining Your Purpose," "Servant Leadership," "Utilizing God-Given Abilities," "Encouraging the Team," "Lifestyle Evangelism," and "Dividing and Multiplying," Jaynes encourages women to glide across the dance floor of life, following their partner Jesus' lead. And with her trademark practical, powerful, and persuasive writing, Sharon Jaynes continues to lead the way in helping women to draw strength from Christ and, in turn, strengthen others in Him. I highly recommend this thoroughly comprehensive guide to women's ministries. Your women, your church, and your community need the potent principles outlined in this wonderful book. It will masterfully lead them in Christ's dance of joy!
--Lynn D. Morrissey, author of Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer and AWSA/CLASS speaker

Although Building an Effective Women's Ministry is 363 pages long, I devoured it, cover-to-cover, in one sitting. The writing style was as comfortable as the content was practical. As I read, my highlighter pen flew along, tracing the many "a-ha" moments inspired along the way. The acronyms, ministry models, suggested timelines and sections on ministry personalities were especially insightful. The quotes, stories and analogies made this weighty subject both intriguing and fun. A terrific resource!

I purchased this book a couple months after becoming part of a team of women who are developing a women's ministry at our church. The first few chapters alone would have saved us a ton of work, had I read this book earlier. Not to despair, however, this book is packed full of practical advice and encouragement, touching on every conceivable aspect of developing a women's ministry from the ground up. The author's style is friendly and easy to read, yet the book is organized in such a manner that it can be easily accessed as an reference. We purchased books for every member of our women's ministry team and all have found it to be excellent. Highly recommend.

My team and I went through this book after four years of doing women's ministry in the efforts to rebuild and refocus on what God had called us to do. This book has excellent material with regards to purpose, planning, staffing and leadership plus specific ideas for events and ministry directions. I consider it a must-read for any women's ministry leader, either new or well established.

This book describes the many facets of supervisory bullying behavior in the workplace. Mueller cautions often disbelieving employee victims that bullying bosses consciously calculate, select, and plan attacks on them. When attacks occur, targeted employees are shocked, confused, humiliated, and naturally seek to respond emotionally (e.g., fight or flight). Mueller asks that potential victions stop, step back and self-consciously maintain their emotions sufficiently to pursue more rational ends by using indirect tactics and activities that can generate coworker allies, support, resources, witnesses, and documentation advantageous to them. Employees are urged to stay focused on politically acceptable and legal objectives when interacting with and around workplace bullies.

The author offers an ideal model of employee survival and a guide for becoming a proactive, competent, resilient, life-changing Workplace Warrior. Mueller uses case examples to support the assertion that regular use of the guide can strengthen employees psychologically, strengthen their anti-bullying behavior, and limit the net demoralizing effects of scape-goating behavior and victimization in the workplace. The author will suggest key roles for coworkers, managers, therapists, counselors, and, of course, lawyers in the process of helping employee recovery, self-transformation, behavioral decision-making, and, ultimately, life changes.

I highly recommend this book to any one suffering from bullying behavior and to any responsible person who seeks to help empower workers in the attainment of safer, healthier, and more creative workplace settings.

David L. Johnson, Ph.D. Health Psychologist
Senior Author of Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
for LIFE CHANGES

Bullying Bosses: A Survivor's Guide (How To Transcend The Illusion Of The Interpersonal) by Robert Mueller is a remarkable introduction to the complex world of counter-balancing the relationship between oppressed employees and their oppressive bosses. Logically analyzing the psychology of the belligerent and hostile superiors, Bullying Bosses offers readers a means for analyzing and responding to an employer's bullying behavior. Robert Mueller covers such issues as who challenges employees, support in the workplace, building a case against the boss that management can respect, collecting potent data, identifying patterns, crafting a simple strategic plan, grow beyond workplace turmoil into a clarity, strength and grace. Bullying Bosses is very strongly recommended for all readers searching for a "user-friendly" guide in dealing with the difficulties involved in poor employee-to-boss relationships.

It is rare that a book of reference and self-help should read like an edge-of-the-seat John Grisham thriller. But this significant contribution to the study of bullying in the workplace often does. Robert Mueller, in his own words, is a "former attorney who represented a couple thousand employees suffering adverse employer actions, many involving bullying." He sure introduces the drama of the courtroom and the rudiments of the adversarial system into the 300 pages of his survivor's guide.

The author calls on managers to become aware of the dynamics that turn many workplaces into simmering stealth infernos. Employees should protect employers from bullies. Mueller leverages court cases and case histories into a cogent and methodological analysis of bullying tactics and strategies. Parallelly, he weaves a tapestry of legal, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions as he analyses the victim's mentality and reactions. Strewn among the pages of this rich presentation are highlighted tips and quotes.

Mueller's message is simple: targets of bullying have to face down their tormentors. They have to become "workplace warriors" with "shields and swords". Easier said than done - but, still, can be done, argues the author. The target has to discover and groom potential supporters, build a case against the bullying boss, collect potent data and identify patterns of misbehavior, craft a plan, and implement it. It's all about empowerment by regaining control over situations that frequently and falsely look hopeless. The author takes the victim by the hand and convincingly shows him or her how to do it.

I recommend the book to anyone who has ever been involved in on-the-job harassment, stalking, and bullying because it is both deep and practical, accurate but never arcane, eye opening and thought provoking and challenging - but never loses its empathy and compassion for the victims of this widespread and under-reported phenomenon. A gem. Sam Vaknin, author of 'Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited'

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever worked, has a job now or is thinking of entering the workplace. Knowledge is power and this book provides just that. `Bullying Bosses, A Survivor's Guide' is actually two books in one: Part I, provides an overview of Workplace Bullying and its components. Part II is a manual to aid Targets to become Workplace Warriors.

Part I provides an excellent summary of international knowledge on Workplace Bullying and additional information gleaned from Robert's practice working with Targets and organisations. He cleverly uses a descriptor, the `Ring of Fire', to describe how isolated Targets can become. He brings to life the specific false and unfounded criticism directed at a Target and skilfully cultivated by a Workplace Bully. It is easy to see why team members withdraw and leave the Target to eventual isolation. Robert explains the nuances of each act well and introduces specific descriptors about bullying bosses and their colleagues, who through doing nothing, collude with the Workplace Bully. Robert's depiction, of how the diverse facets of organisations work together to attack a high performer and bring him/her down, is very real.

Part II is a life line for Targets. It describes how to beat the Workplace Bully at his or her own game and become a Workplace Warrior. Robert describes the knowledge, skills and abilities a Target needs in order to take on a Workplace Bully. This is particularly pertinent in small cities and towns and highly specialised environments where jobs are not always plentiful and available and people cannot typically walk away and get another job. People do not speak out because they are afraid of being black listed; rather they stay quiet and tolerate the Workplace Bullying. `Bullying Bosses' describes ways of managing these situations from a position of strength. The book gives action plans for reaction and planning and outcomes to strive for.

This book is a necessary read for senior managers and human resources professionals who truly wish to prevent Workplace Bullying. They will learn what constitutes Workplace Bullying and how it works to break individuals emotionally and therefore impacts self esteem and consequently productivity.

The book is an excellent reference book for Targets who want to fight the silent epidemic and expose Workplace Bullies for the chaos and desolation they cause and the lives they ruin.


Andrea W Needham
`Workplace Bullying, The Costly Business Secret'
2003 Penguin NZ
January 2006