Business Books

Dr. Pensak has created a really delightful text in an innovative (no pun intended)way, but what else would I expect from someone who sat on Professor Einstein's knee and was the developer of the first internet firewall along with many others! The book is large enough to cover the topic well yet small enough to assure you non-essential and boring subjects are avoided. I like this because it enables you to complete the book in a reasonable amount of time and use the rest of your time thinking about what you just read and how you can use it in your pursuits!

The book, in my opinion, is divided into three broad areas. The ideas and experiences that shaped his earliest ideas on the mechanics of innovation. Each set of principles have practical and funny examples plus a keen view into Dave Pensak's own thought process. The second group of chapters deal with the pragmatic essentials an innovator need be aware of to stay out of trouble. The third group deal with taking these principles and applying them productively by tickling new ideas in you. An 'efficient' read, you will thoroughly enjoy !

I read this book while trying to get an innovative product to market and found it a perfect energizer . . . a must read for the innovator and entrepreneur. In a sea of `how to' books, Pensak's book creates, using wit and witticism, a guide to everyday living . . . as an innovator.

A practical guide to finding the "innoventor" within. I found the writing style to be friendly and unassuming -- a fun and fascinating read; I highly recommend!

What a delightful read this is for the thinking person. The author's viewpoint is fascinating and the examples of innovations used are interesting and fresh. This is a book to stroll through reflectively and think about innovation as you go. It provides ample opportunities to explore how to approach problem solving in a creative way. A great read for educators, scientists, and business professionals in all walks of life.

Dr Pensak has written an insightful, informative and transformative book about one of the important ingredients of our knowledge based economy:innovation. Innovation must be nurtured in today's world. It is America's "special sauce". It is what sent man to the moon, it is what created the internet, and it is what will help us to solve the problems we confront in today's complex global economy. It is imperative that we continue to encourage young minds to expand their ability to think in creative ways. This book helps us to recognize the elements that lead to innovation and does so in an interesing and fun way. Dr Pensak helps us to recognize creative energy and shows us how to stretch our minds to create. This is a MUST read.

Koulopoulos has written a book that I thought was exceptionally easy to read, kept my attention throughout, was sprinkled with humor and memorable anecdotes and most of all provides dozens of take-aways.

The book is formatted and structured in a way that makes it easy to navigate, with lists of key points, well illustrated charts and models, and many pull quotes to make it very easy to scan and reinforce the highlights.

I've been following the innovation topic for some time and have read a number of books on the subject. I was honestly skeptical that this book would add much. I was pleasantly surprised. The book captures not only the concepts but many practical examples of innovation, summarized into the Author's Seven Lesson and Five Laws of innovation. I felt that this provided a clear and concise way to communicate the essential elements of innovation. Ample examples back up each of the laws and lessons.

The book also provides diagnostics to assess your own innovation capability. This would actually make for a good follow-up book, which I hope is in the works!

My favorite part of the book was the author's style of writing. It's direct, humorous and it drew me in. I've heard Koulopoulos speak and wondered if his writing would come close to his captivating in-person voice - it definitely does!

A must read for anyone serious about the topic of inovation.

Tom K has done it again. He has taken what will be one of the most important strategic topics for us all today and created a road map so an organization can do it.

All too often innovation is considered something ethereal or hard to get your hands around, but Tom has shown that a deliberate and well laid out strategy can turn laggards into leaders.

The well-researched examples show Tom's approach to innovation. He has listened, absorbed and dissected the successful strategies of many and created a super blueprint for any company suffering from complacency.

The more I read this book, the more jazzed I was about Tom's call to action. He is obviously passionate about the topic and the Innovation Workshops he now delivers to "walk the walk" are just dynamite.

The ability to reinvent, survive tough times and scale a business all have innovation at the core. However, a good idea on its own will not become successful you have to act on it. The Innovation Zone is the cure for businesses with the blues.

This is not another one of those innovation theory books that try to convince you of some new innovation process or scheme. This contains a real-world discussion, starting from a very high level view of innovation trends today, through case studies and examples from real organizations that unabashedly address the good, the bad, and the ugly of putting innovation in place. I particularly liked the author's real-world takeaways such as, The Five Laws of Innovation, The Five Elements of a Culture of Innovation, and The Seven Lessons of Innovation (to name just a few). These accurately address the issues that you're likely to encounter if you are looking to achieve continuous innovation--the ultimate goal of any successful innovation management program.

Finally a book that puts innovation within reach for just about anyone.

Written in a way that inspires the reader with memorable anecdotes and practical advice, The Innovation Zone should be standard reading for everyone who has ever thought to themselves, "How can I and my company become better at innovation."

The book focuses mostly on the simple premise that we have become too wrapped up in the notion of inventing things just because we can. Koulopoulos points out that this is both an economic and an ecological disaster. What we need to do, instead, is focus on innovation that adds value to our companies, markets and lives. He goes on to show how many companies (but not enough) are putting in place a process (what he calls an Innovation Zone) to refocus themselves on innovation.

The book delves into the behind the scenes methods and attitudes of innovation, which Koulopoulos calls the Seven Lessons and the Five Laws of Innovation, each with ample detail from a company which illustrates the lesson and behavior.

By the time you're done reading the book you are both motivated and equipped with the tools to make a difference. All-in-all a great and timely read!

Innovation Zone provides a definitive process for innovation development - distinguishing between innovation and invention. This book also describes the necessity of defining a zone or place - a dedicated avenue and culture - that nurtures the process. Tom helps readers understand the importance of a champion that fosters new ideas and consistently encourages entrepreneurs. The Innovation Zone process is easily understood and can be accomplished using the tools and methods outlined in the book. Creating the culture is the more difficult aspect. Without a champion and protected space, it becomes extremely difficult to commercialize ideas. The Innovation Zone charts the importance for both process and culture. It is a well-defined, usable book with practical application, case studies, and realistic information. Highly recommend for business professionals.

I made a mistake in picking this up. From the cover and title, I thought it would be about the Lionel trains I and so many other kids grew up.

Not remotely.

This is a book for Lionel hobbyists and aficionados, people who dote on every detail of Lionel's history. It is a biography of the company, a detailed exposition of the Lionel manufacturing process, its buildings and people. It is predicated on an early ad for the company featuring founder Joshua Lionel Cowen inviting boys (back then, the target market for toy electric trains) to join him on a "trip thru my factory" so they could learn "why Lionel trains are better".

Author Robert Osterhoff is a retired Xerox executive. He is a mediocre writer, with s ponderous style - but a superb researcher. The amount of detail contained in this book is nothing short of astounding. Reproductions for old city platbooks show where the factories were located; copies of incorporation forms; reproductions of stock certificates reflect the growth and decline of the company. Catalog covers are reproduced, but alas, not the products within their covers. There are dozens of photographs of factory buildings occupied by Lionel during its histories, including many of the facilities as they exist today, abandoned or being used by others.

Above all, this is a history of the origins of Lionel, its rise to dominance in toy trains and its rather sad decline, something many of the boys who played with Lionel trains paid no attention to. Reading about it decades after I last played with a Lionel train is sad. Lionel became a victim of the "conglomerate" craze of the 1950s - 60s when entrepreneurs used buckets of borrowed money to create hodgepodges of unrelated companies that were supposed to create profits through "synergy". A lot of money was lost and many fine old companies went down the tubes.

Through his rather dense prose and abundant illustrations, Osterhoff does tell the story of Lionel trains. While this volume is clearly aimed at the Lionel enthusiast, the casual reader may find it interesting as well - but the hobbyist will gain the greatest benefit from this book.

Jerry

This book gives one a lot of interesting facts about the history of the greatest toy train maker in the world. They have survived all kinds of problems, and are still producing trains for collectors/operators of all ages.

very interesting and quite informational. illustrations were very good, husband likes it very much.

I gave this book to my brother-in-law for Christmas. He already had a copy which he bought at a train show when it first was published. He was thrilled to get another copy because he is a collector and he loved the book. I would recommend this book to any adult who collects trains because, according to my brother-in-law, it is a must have book.

I have to admit that I am not a collector of Lionel trains nor do I own a train set (no room at home). Having said that, let me now say that this book is indeed a very detailed history of the Lionel company, focusing mostly on the time period 1900-1960. The narrative is accompanied by a variety of photos, documents, and other items that help tell the story of this legendary company. This book is a good model for other writers to consider, if they are looking to write similar books on other companies.

Personally, I could have passed on the incredible detail given to the first ten years of the Lionel company, but then I am not a collector, just a curious passer-by.

This book is best suited for Lionel collectors. Also for people who are interested in an aspect of the toy manufacturing industry.

Jane, thanks for writing the best book on the market and helping me gain the best-paying position I've ever had! Thanks for teaching me not only what a pharmaceutical sales rep does but for teaching me how to think and respond like a rep! That made the difference for me during my interviews.

I was surprised that the pharmaceutical company who hired me would ask so many questions that relate directly to what a pharmaceutical sales representative does, but they did just that. When I read all the questions and answers in the "Insider's Guide..." I thought that surely no one could be expected to know this much information about the pharmaceutical sales industry, but they do expect you to know the information. Fortunately for me, I was prepared!

The Insider's Guide was by far the most comprehensive guide that I purchased and contained the most relevant information for passing the interviews. To all of the aspiring pharmaceutical sales reps, my advice is to purchase this guide and then follow Jane's instructions to the letter. Even if you have a degree in English like me, you too could beat out the competition and win the pharmaceutical sales position!

This is one of the best books that I have read on this subject. It gives a list of typical interview questions with answers, teaches networking skills to get an interview, and overviews a number of companies. It is well organized and easy to read.

Didn't want to wait for nine other people to buy any of these that came available so, on a hunch, I typed in www.PrinciplePublications.com and VOILA! You can buy this book direct from the publisher. Costs are comparable. Just trying to help others who don't want to or can't afford to wait!

The Insider's Guide was right on target! Jane Williams has written such an excellent guide on networking and passing the challenging interviews for gaining a pharmaceutical sales position.

I purchased the Insider's Guide after months of frustration and failure to even get a pharmaceutical sales interview. I simply did not know what I was doing! After reading the Insider Guide to Pharmaceutical Sales and following the instructions on networking and passing interviews, I gained a position with a pharmaceutical company within 6 weeks! It took three weeks to get through my interviews. Jane certainly knows the industry! Most of the questions from the guide were covered during my interviews. The in-depth pharmaceutical sales questions and answers from the guide were extremely helpful! All of the questions and answers are specific for the pharmaceutical sales industry. Without the detailed answers and examples that this guide provided, I doubt that I could have successfully "sold" the product during the interview.

Thanks so much Jane for delivering exactly what you promised!

Wow! What a great book! I have landed a fantastic pharmaceutical sales job with one of the top five companies thanks to the "Insider's Guide" and the coaching I received from Jane and staff at Principle Publications.

I couldn't have made it through the tough interviews without the guide. All of the questions and answers about how to handle the physicians who turn you down during a sales call, to why they should hire you over someone with sales experience, to how to "sell the product", etc. were all covered in detail in the book with examples! This "saved" me during my interviews, especially during the last and most difficult interview. I feel like I was asked most of the 78 questions and answers covered by the book during my five interviews.

Without my career comparison document and sales binder that I prepared by using the Insider's Guide I am certain that I could not have passed the interviews. Jane deserves a medal for writing this book! I choose this book because it is the #1 selling book in its class on Amazon.com. There's a reason why it's #1...it's the best book on the market!

Actually, this is the second of a four-volume set of books written by Forrest Breyfogle III, with the first volume (The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System: An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement) providing an overview on the other three. What is identified as Volume I is the only one in which Breyfogle explains the basics of the Integrated Enterprise Excellence system (IEE) in the form of a 144-page novella. Briefly, the IEE system is set of management techniques that when effectively implemented improve an organization's measurement and improvement system so that there is an increase in predictable and sustainable bottom-line benefits. The IEE system embeds a set of best practices derived from the strengths of past systems--applying structured metrics and a no nonsense roadmap to initiate process improvement and achieve substantial benefits. IEE takes Lean Six Sigma and the Balanced Scorecard to the next level in the pursuit of enterprise excellence.

In two earlier works that I read and then reviewed, Implementing Six Sigma, Second Edition: Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods (2003) and Managing Six Sigma: A Practical Guide to Understanding, Assessing, and Implementing the Strategy That Yields Bottom-Line Success (2000) co-authored with James Cupello and Becki Meadows, Breyfogle indicates that he is a pragmatic optimist in that he is determined to know what does and does not work (also why and why not) but he also believes that all human initiatives can be improved. He seems driven to share everything he has learned with as many people as possible. In my opinion, that is why his explanations are so specific and so thorough as well as anchored in real-world situations. This book offers an excellent case in point. Breyfogle organizes his material with meticulous care within twelve chapters that function on two separate but related levels of development: four college classmates who now occupy important executive positions play a round of golf and share their thoughts about the parallels between improving one's game and improving one's business. He also includes a Glossary and References.

This is probably (and deliberately) the most accessible and most entertaining of the four volumes in the IEE series, in large measure because of its format as a business narrative. It has a cast of characters, a plot, emerging conflicts, unexpected developments, apparent resolution of at least some conflicts, and then Breyfogle's version of what in a play would be described as "falling action," when some degree of closure is achieved in the last chapter, "The 19th Hole." There can never be finality to simplification and improvement initiatves because they comprise a continuous process. Therefore, the nature and extent of relevance of Breyfogle's insights and counsel will have sustainable value as new applications of them are revealed.

Well-done!

This a practical introduction that explains the value of an integrated approach to Continous Improvement. Forrest explains the basics of CI in story book fashion through the eyes of golf buddies who discuss their Organizational problems and how IEE can help them. This is a wonderful book that is an easy read and is a great place to start if you are considering a CI journey.

Regards

Trevor Coughlan www.lean-sigmaconsulting.com

"The Basics" is a novel about a group of golf buddies who are going through problems within the companies that they are managing and how they shared experiences on how using Six Sigma Lean has helped them get out of trouble. While not going into too much statistical details, the book also gives clear definitions of the tools used at each phase of a Six Sigma lean project. The allegorical explanation of DOE for instance makes it very simple for anyone to not understand its meaning but also to be able to think about situations where it can be employed.
The approach used by Breyfogle in that book reminds me of Goldratt's way of teaching a complex subjects through a story. It is very practical and easy to understand.

Due to the fact that I don't know how to play golf (nor its rules) it was difficult to follow that book. Fortunately much of it, is Golf free. I give 3/5 on this part.

If you read The IEE An Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement (the black book) you could avoid this one since it repeats the same concepts in a different way.

There are however few application examples which give you an overview of what IEE & six sigma is all about. I give 5/5 on this part.

Forrest provides a good introduction to Integrated Enterprise Excellence in a format similar to Goldratt's classic "The Goal". Easy read that provides a good overview of the power of the concepts. You may even end up improving your golf game!

You can get rich - regardless of age, income, or marital status - by simply following the advises of this book. Once undertaken, these advises can change your life and how you think about accumulating wealth. The most important thing for you to do is to take action. Don't be afraid to start now. If you really want something, chances are you will get it. This book consists of 9 basic secrets. They are: (1) Use the secret of compounding. You not only earn money on your new investment, but you also earn money on your entire previous balance; (2). Lenders take a big risk on what money will buy in the future. Don't be a lender; (3). You will never get rich paying off credit cards. Anytime you make a remote transaction, you are at risk of credit card fraud; (4). If you've lost your way in today's fast-moving electronic investment services, chances are you have lost money. Be IT literate; (5). Invest in the favourites. The best blue chips consistently make money no matter what happens in the overall stock market; (6). If you make a mistake with your 401(k) or IRA, you have no reverse gear. Be Careful; (7). Buy insurance for catastrophic losses, not for temporary inconvenience; (8). Before you trust someone to handle your money, find out all you can about his or her personal and professional reputation for integrity and competence and (9). The stock market has a mind of its own. Those who invest and do nothing are often the big winners. Digest this book and you can quit worrying about your future retirement nest egg. Dr Jusuf Hariman.

This is a very simple book, as the other reviews have indicated. I liked it so much that I bought it for my collection of business and finance books. It is a keeper book that I highly recommend. Don't depend on Social Security... build your nest egg, at any age. NOW is a good time!!!

I read Jim Jorgensen's book and found it very enlightning! It is written so everyone can understand it and can make money by following his nine points to building wealth. The best part about this book is it takes a conservative and sensible view of investing! Anyone can make money by following Jorgensen's advise, no matter how much money you have to invest!!!

Sara and I have struggled with financial planning particularly as a result of the recent market turmoil. The Jorgensens' book has served as a much needed guide to managing our money. It emphasizes the basics and is understandable. Unlike other investment books which fail to encompass the whole picture, this book is complete and thorough. We would recommend it to anyone interested in taking a proactive role in managing their money.

Jim Jorgensen wrote a book that everyone can understand and best of all, can profit from his sound advise. His advise is conservative and makes so much sense. His steps to getting rich are concise and easy to follow. I am working on enriching my wealth with his advise!

I found A Journey of Work - Life Renewal to be a real-life story of adventure, courage and discovery. For me it was also a beautiful love story.
We get to travel around the world with two people and be with them as they experience different cultures, make new friends, and discover more and more about themselves and each other.
It is written with an eye to the practical issues of day-to-day life even on such a magical journey. It is a story told with great humor and much love.

A Journey Of Work-Life Renewal is the story of Bonnie Michaels, an internationally recognized work/life expert who, with her husband Michael Seef, took time off to escape "burn-out" and recharge, by traveling around the world on a simple budget. Exciting adventure, reaching out to a fresh look on life, and the absorbing personal stories and memorable figures make A Journey Of Work-Life Renewal a rewarding reading experience and recommended for personal self-help/self-improvement, travelogue, and career/lifestyle reading lists.

Excellent book for motivating people to change the pattern of their lives. No matter your age, it can be done. We're only on this planet a very short time and this book tells you to maximize the experience. They are not suggesting you do exactly what they did, but to accept the concept of taking a different slant and tack away from the everyday hum-drum and angle off for an adventure. It can be done for little or no money. All it takes is a bit of time and a willingness. It does not have to be on the scale that Bonnie and Michael did. The book is reader friendly and is written in a conversational tone. No preaching. The authors are passionate in their message for all of us to take a turn from the normal course of our lives and experience the new and different. It is a matter-of-fact message that gets one thinking...Why not?! It's a quick read and it is sure to please. Who knows, it could change your attitude towards life. Anything is possible and Michael and Bonnie proved it. Enjoy.

Ever wish you could just take some time off? I mean, real time off. Like a year. Just travel with your spouse, another loved one, a friend...or even by yourself? A year-long sabbatical could be a fascinating, rewarding, and renewing experience. If we were honest with each other, we'd probably all admit that we'd love to live this way. It's possible-and practical for the right kinds of people.

To learn if this is right for you, it's wise to do some exploring-into what others have done. Bonnie and Michael, husband and wife, took the Big Leap. Most of the year they spent together, but they did separate for a while to pursue their own needs, their own dreams. Their time was spent volunteering, sightseeing, learning, and renewing. This book tells their story-the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's a captivating read that draws you in and makes you want to read more...while you dream about what you might do.
Your imagination will be stimulated, your curiosity piqued.

A lot of your questions will be answered as you read the story of Bonnie and Michael's adventures. The rest of your questions, about resources and all the specifics, will be answered in the comprehensive resource listing in the back of the book. Everything you ever wanted to know...detailed information about what was referred to in the book, and even more.

There are all sorts of things to consider if you want to take off for a year, a few months, a month, a couple of weeks, or even two years. The authors will take you through the process, even providing a planning guide for your convenience. Anticipate challenges...the unexpected. You'll learn about the kind of things that could happen in the frank discussion in the text. Upon completion of this reading, you'll be much more ready than you were before...especially for international travel.

Added bonus: throughout the book there are quotes from other writings in the field of life-work balance and sabbaticals. These references are enlightening, thought-provoking, and stimulating-to read the other books, too.

Ready to take some time off, to renew? Prepare well; start with this book.

In this well-written memoir, the authors take us on their year-long journey of travel to foreign lands. But it is much more than a travelogue. Their story illustrates the power of personal transformation that can accompany the experience of foreign cultures. They share the highs and lows of having to learn new ways of communicating and living. They test themselves on levels and in ways they could not do at home. Their inner journeys are as deep and fruitful as the outer journeys. They return home renewed and forever changed by the experience.

In addition to sharing their stories, they offer the reader practical advice on how to turn the dream of extended travel into reality. This is a great book for anyone who ever dreamed of an extended trip abroad.

How often do we live our lives as if we are victims...discouraged, distressed, separate from ourselves and the ones we love? Living a full life, a life of joy and fulfillment is a matter of choice. Selter and Tumey guide us on a marvelous journey where we discover that changing our mind can change our life. In an engaging conversation between two fellow travelers, their stories guide us in our own journey to reconnect with the things that truly matter in life. Ultimately, as we give of our selves, selflessly, we return to our higher calling as human beings. The message is simple, potent, empowering, engaging, and profound.

The Journey has an urgent message for us to hear. Absolutely, it gives us simple, straight-forward insight and advice on how to return to what matters in life. For me, this book lays a powerful foundation for our collective transformation to a responsible global community. Indeed, our lives depend on it.

The Journey was engaging and personal from page one. It is humane and helped to surface the humanity that can get buried during the daily struggle. It is a gentle anecdote that I can revisit anytime I start to loose touch with myself.

Self-help books are notoriously bland because they treat the reader as if he's Mr. Potato Head. All you're supposed to do is sit there on the end of the table and soak up whatever supposedly new and insightful perspective the author reveals. This is supposed to help your business and personal relationships, but does it? No, it doesn't, because you have difficulty applying the self-help book to your everyday life.

How many self-help books are available today? Thousands? How many self-help books truly inspire and challenge the reader to propel themselves into a different realm of thinking and reasoning? One. It's this book, The Journey.

The Journey took me on my own journey, into a world of self-discovery that made sense. I can actually take the functionalities within this book and apply them to my life, thereby changing my world and the world of those around me for the better. After I finished the book I felt as though I had been enlightened with an inner peace and a higher sense of wisdom.

Read this book. Experience your own journey.

I read The Journey and wrote Jed, the author, that very night. It went as follows:-------------------- With having just finished your book I'm enjoying a wonderful sense of peace, enthusiasm and beauty. It turned out to be icing on the cake and fuel for some personal growth I've been experiencing lately. For over a decade I traveled the world and spent a healthy % of my time talking with strangers..philosophizing..sharing...moving and being moved. Your story put a smile on my face as it sparked nostalgia and fertilized hungry seeds from travels past. Thank you. ----------------- The Journey is food for the soul, wisdom to light your way, and fertilizer for good vibe growth. Some of nature's most beautiful contributions are simple and sweet. Thanks again Jed and Gil.

T-

In the beginning I was without direction, usually without a guide or guidance. My path had been very directional with successes but not the achievements of passion that I truly wanted. Now, midlife and midlife crisis finds me looking to my inner self for answers. I was introduced to this book "The Journey", last year by Jed Selter. This succinct and poignant tale of two strangers on an airplane speaks in both poetry and prose of the path of life. It puts in perspective where you are and where you are going down that road. It is a storybook as well as a textbook that can be applied to everyone's life story and reaffirmation of the self. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Commonsense, practical advice about what employers can do to enhance the longevity of their workforce and halt the drain and the expense of 'revolving door' recruiting and hiring.

Find out the top 5 real reasons why people leave their jobs (and it isn't for more money!).

This book is invaluable and a 'must have' for everyone responsible for recruiting, hiring, and hanging on to, good people!

Roger Herman gives us an excellent reference and guide to an important area of profitability for business. Keeping people is every bit as important as finding them in the first place. The techniques set forth in this book will benefit the employer and the employee as well. It is well organized and to the point, especially in areas of making the employee part of the overall team.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "The Recruiting and Retention Handbook" docwifford@msn.com

Finding, attracting and hiring new employees can be one of the most important investments employers can make. If don't hire good people, you'll have to continue recruitment at a high level -- a costly proposition. This book serves as a great guide and serves as a tremendous tool for employers and human resource staff.

In today's job market, it is challenging to attract the best-qualified and well-suited job applicants. It is even more difficult to retain excellent employees. The cost of employee turnover is high in terms of lost productivity, lost knowledge, and financial expense associated with filling the vacancy.

Roger Herman, futurist and certified management consultant and speaker, provides an exceptional resource for any organization seeking to retain its best employees. Keep Good People is divided into three sections. The first effectively sets the stage by providing valuable insights into the competitive nature of the job market, the value of good employees, and what prompts employees to stay and leave an employer. The first section provides essential background that led to an essential, yet basic understanding of employer/employee relations regarding retention. Section two provides nearly 200 very specific and useful strategies. Each strategy is clearly defined and concisely explained. Herman does not stop with a somewhat overwhelming list of strategies, yet provides suggestions for implementation and an "eye to the future" in section three.

Keep Good People is an excellent resource for human resource professionals and managers seeking to prevent undesirable employee turnover as well for the organizations seeking to reduce turnover. Use this book as a guide to simply review current practices and development of strategic, and it will be well worth the investment of both time and money.

My secretary Neicy, picked up my copy of "Keeping Good People" while I was out of the office. When I returned, she mentioned that she thought a certain strategy would help me and our business. And she was right! Full of "one page strategies," this book provides some terrific team conversation. Pick a strategy, read it and then discuss its implications on your team and how the team works together. Some random examples: Strategy 1.17 Promote a healthy working environment. Strategy 2.27 Be accessible. Strategy 3.35 Fight Boredom. Strategy 4.15 Provide incentives for for growth. Strategy 5.15 Give Away Lottery Tickets. Our team decided to discuss one of these strategies each time we meet (usually at "tea time" held at 3pm each day). While some of the strategies may not apply, it does create a space for great conversation. When given the opportunity, team members or "employees" will reinforce what's working well and tell you what they need to be successful.

I wish I'd had this book when I was getting my A&P (airframe and power plant) license. Its not a substitute for the AC 43.13 (Advisory Circular 43.13 Acceptable methods for repair and modifications), but the second half of the book is a good auxiliary text.

Mr. Wanttaja is taller than the average pilot, and I am even taller than him. I've tried on a couple of Europa's but they were each too small. I've flown in a GlasAir Glastar and it was big enough for two good sized men.

He provides three tables of dimensions - headroom, hip room, and leg room, generated from data he's taken from existing home built aircraft, and they were enough to convince my wife that the GlaStar was big enough for me (and thus her, as she's average build for a woman).

There are many advantages to folding wing aircraft, including less hangar space required, and easy transportation. Storing at the house and hauling to a hangar doesn't seem to be much of an advantage after his explanation of the stresses and strains on a towed airplane.

I could go on and on about what's covered in this book, but instead, I'll do Mr. Wanttaja a favor and recommend you buy this book first, if you are at all interested in homebuilding. Whether of not you actually even start a plane you'll be glad you did; and even gladder if you have it while you are building.

CAVU

I think that this is the definitive kit plane reference for those contemplating building the same.

The book is well written in an easy to understand style and provides a great insight into what's involved. It covers all aspects of construction and also includes a lot of honest, upfront details about the real costs involved.

I also purchased a copy of "Choosing your Homebuilt" and while this provides much of the same information it does so in a much more superficial manner compared to this book. The only advantage of Ken Armstrong's title is the flight reviews, which although useful are somewhat dated with many of the listed manufacturer's no longer in business...

Therefore if your budget allows purchase both, but if I had to choose just one it would have to be a copy of the "Kit Airplane Construction"

This is a great book for anyone considering building their own airplane, it goes into great detail about every facet of building your own plane, and excellent book!

An amazing amount of information for the homebuilder. Very well written, entertaining and up to date.

This is another great addition to my library. Very informative, I really like the case studies.