Training Books

Having been a trainer for over 20 years, I always add to my resource library with the hope of "something really new". I can honestly say that I found it! This book is loaded with value. It has so much information that at first glance, its large size was a bit intimidating, but the writer's comfortable tone makes it easy to read and the content made it well worth it. It is comprehensive and covers everything a new or experienced facilitator could want to know about the mechanics of training and it provides numerous ideas for exercises (something you normally have to buy in a separate book). As an experienced trainer, I was able to find many tips and pearls that will help me be better. Love this book so much I have given it to several people starting out in the field of training, and even to a veteran. Don't let the size intimidate you - simply read the sections you need if you can go through it cover to cover - it's definitely worth adding to your training library.

Lucas does indeed give lots of creative ideas on how to be a more effective trainer by engaging trainees in more imaginative ways. There are tips here you won't see in other manuals.

Despite the prevalance of e-learning, the classroom remains the preferred training platform, both by students and trainers. Most classroom experiences would benefit immeasureably through the well-researched, practical techniques in the Creative Training Idea Book.

Beginning with the right foundation - how the adult brain learns - the book offers hundreds of ideas most trainers learn only through long trial and error (if at all). As the author discussed bread and butter subjects such as the multiple ways the classroom can be set up, how to use flipcharts effectively, how to tell stories, ideas for class evaluations or the best questioning techniques, I found myself agreeing with nearly every suggestion.

This book would have helped me become a seasoned presenter much earlier in my career. And although I'm now a seasoned facilitator with thousands of presentations under my belt, I still picked up some new ideas. Highly recommended for all stand-up trainers and presenters committed to delivering boredom-free, professional sessions.

I just read this book and all I can say is WOW! I got so many ideas for setting up classrooms that will enhance my training, engaging participants, stimulating learning and delivering training in a way that is effective and FUN, that I am not sure which strategy I want to use first. This book has terrific information and ideas for generating learner enthusiasm, rewarding participants, gaining learner involvement and rewarding positive behavior. The author really sets the tone for the entire boiok in the first chapter where he discusses research on brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, adult learning principles and much more. Throughout the book, he's also provided something he calls "bright ideas" and "Interim Reviews" for applying the information provided.
This is going to be a book I reference often and would encourage anyone involved in T&D to own.

This book is like sooo good. I love it!! It rox. I mean who knew that medical stuff was soo interesting. I,mean, i like ER and all and this book really put that into perspective for me. READ IT! I LIKE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

This book was spectacular! I learned so much! I had to read a book on "Critical Care" and chose this one. It was an excellent choice; i got an A+ and now my teacher and her husband are both reading this informative book! Good job DAD!!!:)

As a fourth year medical student, I found this book to be a great reference during my ICU rotations. That being said, this book should not replace "The ICU book" as a standard operating manual. This book contains much more Information than the ICU book, but is better left for reading at night after you have finished your day.
For example, the Chapter on Mechanical Ventilation, is a terrific, very thorough explanation of Vents and vent management, but is very detailed. A little more detailed than a medical student needs. This book will serve me very well during residency.
This along with "The ICU book" are must haves for your Critical Care library.

This text was designed to be a review manual for the critical care boards. It does an overall excellent job and succeeds in its mission superbly. It should be noted that this text does not replace standard texts of critical care medicine but can easily act as an additional supplement to them.
It may be a little too advanced for medical students but I will highly recommend it for my interns and seniors doing their critical care rotations. It can easily be read during the month rotation and brings out the essential key points that they should be learning.

Mr. Gennaro has a proven brilliance for developing exercise regimens, systems and products that have historically delivered to millions of satisfied customers. When I stumbled upon his book recently, I happily but not surprisingly discovered how much his knowledge has evolved. In this book, you will be able to custom-tailor a simple routine that will both compliment and integrate into your busy lifestyle. It is today's definitive exercise guide for busy over-scheduled people. If you really want to maintain your good health and handle the rigors of a stressful life, buy this book. Look at it as an easy-to-follow guide that you can stick with. I can't think of a better holiday gift which is why I have purchased a quantiy for my friends that I really care about.

Mine is 44yrs old and 25lbs overweight. I have been trying to get him into a gym since his last "alarming" physical. I read the Cuts Fitness Book first, so I was prepared for all of the excuses I was about to hear. I also read some of the book to him, the 30minute circuit training concept seemed to strike his interest. I left it on the table and walked away. Well, he read the entire book and said "even I can do this" he then agreed to contact the Cuts gym in our area to use the free 15day trial membership coupon in the back of the book, he loves it.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Got it on Sat May 5, 2007. Was done by bedtime of the 6th. Has surprising information about how the human body (especially us 40+ guys) can be re-conditioned in a short span of time and for only 30 minutes each day. I really appreciated how the writer came down to our level. Let's face it guys, we can be like cave-men when it comes to taking care of ourselves. I think it's a book we all need. If you have a CUTS gym nearby, I recommend working out there. It's 30 minutes and out! If you don't have one nearby, do the home workout. And take to heart the nutritional info. Good Stuff! Thanks Mr. Genarro!

I enjoyed the book. It was an easy quick read. It has plenty of pictures, testimonials and good common sense tips and information. In the book you will learn about foods you should eat and foods you should "Cut Out" as well as exercises for the road and home. Best of all, you can follow the "Body Cuts Program" on a shoe string budget. You will get your body into shape, build your muscles and strengthen your heart and lungs. I plan on following the program. I have already started and you should too.

I was attracted by "David Leadbetter". This book illustrates many simple but useful exercises for golfers/beginners. It comes with sufficient 4-color photos to illustrate, more easier to understand. Highly recommend to golfers who want to improve their games consistently and accurately.

I bought my clubs on June 6, 1998, and the book a week later. I had never played golf prior to buying the clubs. I have practiced the methods David showed in the book and average a score in the high 90's. The book is very easy to understand, and the pictures show you the exact form and motions required. If you are trying to learn golf, this is an excellent purchase.

(July 29, 1998)

I really love this book. A lot of pictures and motion sequences. I hvae read "Faults and Fixes" which is written by the same author. If you want to read this, buy together.

Most golfers want to improve, but don't know how and/or don't want to put in the effort with positive practice.

This is where this book comes in. It goes over basics of swing and then shows how one can track and practice those aspects of the game that are losing you shots.

Diagnostics are similar to John Jacobs' "Golf Doctor" who influenced Leadbetter much.

Here though in the book are really good drills and practice tips that will help the beginner through intermediate. The more advanced player is usually a good practicer already or doesn't need it.

An excellent resource for everyday, difficult situations. Jeff provides realistic and effective advice for turning challenges into opportunities. His enthusiasm and love of the new home sales industry is contagious! This book should be required reading for anyone in new home sales!

This book is a MUST for those in new home sales! Practical advice, great suggestions, and it is very easy reading for a busy professional!

This book is a fabulous tool for both new home sales professionals and sales managers. It is concise, relevant and useful. How refreshing to have real help laid out in an entertaining and applicable way without clutter or ego... this is great for leading sales meetings, or for self help. BUY TWO - one for you, one to share.

I have been in new home sales for nearly two decades, this is the book for today's market. No tricks, no preaching, just concise advise that will help you reach the top.

This engaging and practical book can serve as a guide not only for trainers, but also for consultants and vendors who may lack the organizational savvy needed to navigate complex organizations. The author's emphasis on easing the entry process, building a partnership, soliciting ongoing feedback, and developing a clear evaluation plan provides a very useful framework for ongoing collaboration. The section on how to conduct interviews with potential consultants and vendors fills an important need in the field, and will undoubtedly help both trainers and contractors assess the potential for their work together and develop more meaningful and effective contracts over time.

This comprehensive handbook on outsourcing offers important prinicples and practical advice and includes a full toolkit of worksheets, checklists and charts. There is plenty of contextual background material and insightful vignettes to illustrate key ideas. The book is well organized and easy to read and follow. It is a valuable professional development resource to anyone in the training field -- novice and experienced alike.

Because of the title, Demystifying Outsourcing, I incorrectly assumed that this was a book narrowly targeted to Corporate Training Directors who are replacing in-house staff with contractors. In actuality, this book is about high level collaboration in the increasingly virtual world of business. It is equally about the art of exercising influence both internally and externally, without over-reliance on power associated with purchasing clout.

The book is logically structured so that it is both an easy read as well as a ready resource book. The author has included short, compelling case studies to illustrate her points, and the book is loaded with sample forms, checklists, and exercises such that it is a packed toolkit. As an author, Friedman shows her true colors as training professional. She ends each chapter with a review of key concepts and then encourages reflection and application through a series of prompting questions.

This book should be required reading for any professional in the HR Development industry, whether on the client or consulting side. My OD consulting career has spanned 15 years with numerous Fortune 500 companies. As I reflect on those select few client relationships where my contributions were most highly utilized, and I was most invested in my client's success, it was because of the collaborative partnership that I was able to cultivate with the client. Friedman clearly defines all aspects of such client-consulting relationships in a way that is clear and actionable. If I ever end up teaching a graduate program in HR Development, I will build around two books: Friedman's Outsourcing and Block's Flawless Consulting.

Whether you're a new Training Director - or a salty, experienced pro doesn't really matter. This is a "must have" in every Training Director's library. It clearly documents step-by-step processes associated with identifying, interviewing, contracting, and building outsource relationships. Great worksheets, thoughtful and detailed checklists - everything you need. Eliminates overlooking important details. The CD-ROM enables you to create your own tables and spreadsheets - great time saver!

I discovered Designing Powerful Training in 1999 in a graduate program on instructional design. I was a good designer before I began using this book...and it totally transformed my design ability for the better. In fact, it gave me the confidence to become a full-time instructional designer, which I have been doing ever since, and an instructional design coach.

The book focuses, in great detail, on HOW to think about design. It gives a step-by-step process for doing this. Instructional design requires discipline and this book hands it to you on a silver platter. It does NOT address in any detail how to conduct a needs assessment, how to evaluate training, how to work with graphic design, or how to create learning materials. What it focuses on, though, is superb and it has been one of the primary influences on my career today.

This book is exactly what I was looking for to design a more impactful training. I reccomend it if you are looking for a step-by-step approach to get you started.

I have been designing and presenting workshops for many years but "Designing Powerful Training: The Sequential-Iterative Model" by Michael Milano and Diane Ullius is the most crisp, clear, and concise "how to" and "why" book that I've read on the subject. Theory and practice are consistently presented hand-in-hand. I particularly like the way Milano and Ullius honor all varieties of learning styles. They do this in the design process as well as in their explanations. The result is that I felt included as a colleague and as a co-learner. The book has actually motivated me to redouble my own commitment to design training events with the same sensitivity. But what I like most is the presentation of a process that is both sequential and iterative. To me that means a process that is both disciplined and flexible, invariant yet creative. The five point model helped me recommit to the importance of paying attention up-front to writing ! out complete goals and objectives. The authors do a great job of demonstrating why this is so essential. For me, the book functions like a disciplined and experienced teacher. The method demands discipline but within that discipline there is space for spontaneity and fun.

I have been in the training profession for about 15 years and have looked for a resource like this for a long time. As a training professional I have been asked to develop training materials for numerous learning styles and levels and have struggled to interpret what my customers are needing. This book details very simply what it takes to develop training materials and how to be an effective consultant in a timely manner. I found the concepts to be extremely effective and realistic and usable. I manage a training department of 8 trainers who have tremendous training responsibilities. Because this book is such an excellent resource I purchased it for each of my training consultants and they have used it many times over. I really appreciate the creative methods detailed by the authors in creating that "powerful" training program that our customers expect.

Dr. Clark's book is an easy-to-read guide on how to design training according to the five types of content: procedures, factual information, concepts, processes and principles. She clearly defines each type and then explains to the reader how to design learning based on the "remember level" (memorization by learner) and the "apply level" (application by learner). Dr. Clark gives examples on how to assess each type of content and guides the reader through each chapter with a "visual" - a chart which she fills in as the reader progresses through the book.

One of the instructional designers at our college is leaving to head the implementation of an online program at another college. I bought her this book as a going-away gift because it is an essential tool for every one who designs learning. This resource should be in every college's, instructional designer's and instructor's library. It is well worth the price.

Dr. Clark's instructional methods in this book describe five different areas: facts, concepts, processes, procedures and principles of technical training. It summarizes and applies current research that illustrates instructional strategies allowing instructional designers to better grasp these training processes. I liked the way she applied these instructional methods in a clear-cut, uncomplicated way throughout the book.

I've been using Dr. Clark's method of instructional design since 1992 to develop training materials targeted at highly-skilled software engineers. Again and again, students have commented on the way these course materials are not only helpful during class, but also later as reference materials when they're trying to apply what they've learned.

Be warned: Developing these kinds of "information mapped" training materials requires more effort than simply throwing together some PowerPoint slides with a few bullet items. But trust me, your students will thank you.

This book provides all the instructional design details for the five content types. It describes the what and why of instructional design and describes how to display it on paper and a computer screen. There is a full chapter dedicated to CBT design. I am recommending this book as required reading for all our trainers.

Tian Dayton offers a compendium of useful ways to use improvisation and theater games in a variety of group settings. The ideas are based on psychodrama, the action method developed by Dr. Jacob Moreno in 1921, but the practitioner need not know all about psychodrama to make use of these ideas. On the other hand, it just might start you on a wonderful journey to learn more about how action methods and drama can support growth and change in fascinating -- and even fun -- ways.

I appreciate this collection of warm-ups and great ideas to develop deeper work (with my clients). Thanks Tian for sharing you knowlege.

I've taught theatre arts for almost forty years -- primarily acting and scriptwriting. I also work as a drama coach and often find myself dealing with client's personal (rather than professional) problems. I studied psychodrama in college, but didn't pursue it full time.

I've retired from campus work and now work as a drama and life coach. It feels natural for me to use drama therapy. I've read all the books listed here at Amazon, along with textbooks on the subject. In all honesty, Tian Dayton's simple techniques are the most realistically useful.

Thankfully, the first section of the book contains exercises to be used alone. Many life coaching clients don't have the actor's mentality and don't want to "act out" in front of a group or even a life coach, so these exercises make great homework. The second section of the book is full of great group exercises. Section Three contains guided imagery, which I don't personally find as useful as the first two sections but am certain others love.

None of the games in this book are threatening or go so deep you (or your class or clients) will run screaming into the night. In short, these exercises are safe -- safe for adults and children.

All in all, "Drama Therapy" is a terrific book. Whether you're buying it for your own private use (it's a great self-help book) or for work, you won't be disappointed.

I am an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital. I recently started a psychodrama/dramatic expression therapy group with individuals who have eating disorders. I was searching for a book that would provide some sample psychodrama group experiences. Quite honestly, when I ordered this book, I had no idea what it contained, but I thought it sounded useful. As it turned out, this book is just what I was searching for! The author provides a variety of ideas for both individual and group exercises, many of which utilize the creative modalities of both art and drama. The exercises speak to individuals who come from co-dependent families/dysfunctional homes, and I have found that the exercises can be easily adapted for individuals ranging from children to adults who have experienced the effects of various addictions or diagnoses and are struggling with the resulting emotions. The exercises encourage self-awareness and playful, creative self-expression. Each exercise includes goals, steps, and variations. There is even a section on Guided Imagery. I would highly recommend this book to experiential/expressive arts therapists who are looking for creative therapeutic techniques for fostering self-development!

I purchased this book to help my daughter and I get started with potty training. I found it to be geared more to an older toddler, rather than my daughter who is just under 2. I've purchased some other books that seem to be more of what I'm looking for. Since there is some useful information and the activities look like something she'd enjoy when she's a little bit older, I'm planning to hang onto it in the event we're still training when she's closer to 3.

This was the only resource I found that truly helped me potty train my 3year-old son... He would fight it and have accidents everyday until we began using the ideas supplied in this book... It was fun and entertaining for us both and made training alot less stressful for us both!!! Buy it!

There are hilarious songs, great ideas for rewards, and a variety of activities to help you get your child engaged in toilet training. A great gift for parents!

My daughter is going on 3. She had become uninterested in using the potty. She was back in diapers when I got the book, and I just gave it to her. She was surprised and proud and it worked! We took it with us on bathroom visits and she didn't want diapers anymore.