Leadership Books

You will not want to put this book down, and though a short read, you'll want to read it over and over. It makes the kind of gift that friends wil cherish, as it porpels them along the path of thier greatest joys and successes. The engaging stories of mountaineering life provide a great backdrop to exploring success and performance strategies that have been true forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book.

Gary Scott successfully confronts the personal challenges each of us face in the course of daily living. Using the real life circumstances of a professional mountaineer, Gary uses gripping accounts of attempts on some of the worlds most challenges climbs to demonstrate what one must do to overcome obstacles to personal success. Anyone striving for excellence and the desire to be an overcomer will enjoy Summit Strategies

Gary Scott shows the reader precisely what it takes to attain any goal in life through determination and focus. Whether it's a short term or long term goal, from the simplest task to climbing Everest--anything is possible.

Author Gary Scott shares some of his incredible stories and lessons learned from years of rock and mountain climbing and masterfully translate those lessons into simple steps anyone can use to achieve their goals and/or overcome obstacles in their everyday life. This was definitely a book I did not want to put down. I was excited to graduate to the next lesson, and at the same time sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see how Gary's story on Everest concludes. Read this book and see what I mean. You don't have to be a climber or adventure seeker to enjoy and benefit from this wonderful read.

A powerful and thought provoking book, this book would benefit anyone interested in self growth. The author illustrates difficult concepts such as instinct and confidence with engaging accounts of his mountain climbs and then follows with the lesson applied in daily life. The life threatening consequences of climbing serves as a perfect laboratory in which to observe human behavior as climbing strips away the non essentials when ones focus is survival. And yet the book is entertaining and inspiring so that I didn't want to put it down. Having read over 30 self growth books and close to 100 mountaineering books, I highly recommend this book. This book enables the reader to learn from these experiences and apply the lessons to their own challenges either on the mountain or in every day life.

I have been an information assurance professional for over 40-years. This is the only book that ties it all together and provides so many additonal bonuses that you cannot go wrong for the price.

What I found best about the book:
1. Great price for all the pertinent and up-to-date information, including references and URL's,
2. Complete, concise, focused; no wandering down memory lane,
3. A great study reference guide in preparation for the CISSP examination (I used it, I took the exam, I am now certified as an Information System Security Professional),
4. The book will be a solid reference for years to come,
5. The author knows her subject and presents it in such a logical manner that it is impossible not to grasp the concepts presented.
6. Can use the author's web site for this book so that you maintain your currency (who else offers this?),
7. If your on the security profession career path this book is mandatory, and
8. Where in the hell (heck) was this book 10-15 years ago.

I am the network manager at a mid-size Chicago company and have been tasked with the job of developing a formal security infrastructure for our organization. I have read many of Mandy's InfoWorld articles and eagerly awaited the release of this book. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Surviving Security is a great resource for understanding the components of a security infrastructure, how they fit together, and how to analyze and select the best approach for your environment. She covers all the basics (security policies, firewalls, IDS, remote access, OS hardening, network architecture, etc.)

In addition, there's a great chapter on authentication techniques. She also discusses the issues most people forget or do not really think about until it is too late: keeping up-to-date with patches, monitoring systems and logs, creating incident response teams, developing secure applications, etc. Most sections have "For More Information" boxes that give resources (books, websites, etc.) where you can go for more detailed information. I thought these were a great feature. She provides insightful information and commentary based on her experiences and then refers you to places where you can find more information. This book does not try to be all things for all people.

The companion website is a great way to keep the content up-to-date. As long as the author keeps the information and links current, this will be a good resource for security information. The product reviews give an independent, third-party opinion that is sometimes hard to find.

For those looking to develop a complete security infrastructure, this is the book to read. Surviving Security gives you an excellent "big picture" look at security that I have found lacking in other security books I have looked at.

Thousands of years ago, a geometry teacher informed his royal subject and student that there was no royal road or shortcut to the understanding of geometry. That statement also holds true for computer system security. Like the steps in a geometric proof, any shortcut taken in security has the potential for invalidating the entire structure. Furthermore, developing a sound security policy requires that many of our deeply held social and legal attitudes be set aside.
In the American legal structure, any person is entitled to the presumption of innocence until their guilt is proven. However, to create and maintain an adequate computer security policy, everyone must be assumed untrustworthy until it has been proven otherwise. This creates an enormous potential for hard feelings, leading some to bypass the controls as a form of protest. Sound security policies also erects barriers that often reduce the efficiency of everyone accessing the system, creating an ongoing dent in the company bottom line. With all of this social, technical and economic baggage, it would appear that constructing an effective security system would be impossible. While constructing an impenetrable system is impossible, one can always reach a best possible level, and you see how to do it in this book.
All of the problems in computer security, from the initial meeting to regular audits are covered in this book. As the title implies, the emphasis is on the integration of the many parts that interact to build a secure system. Knowledge of human psychology is important, as the users must be treated with an iron fist wrapped inside a fuzzy velvet glove. The coverage is thorough in the broad sense, but shallow in the depth sense. This is not a criticism, just a statement of fact. Each section has links to resources that provide the depth of explanation that may be needed.
Security puts another level of complexity on top of the very difficult task of writing software that works. In the past, getting software to work took priority over getting it to work in a secure manner. Those days are gone and it is very difficult to conceive of any scenario where that will change. No one knows when it occurred, but several years ago, the cost of paying for security fell below the cost of repairing the damage caused by lax security practices. To get on the right side of this critical curve, read this book and follow the advice.

One of the few technology books that is actually under-priced based on the value you'll get from it. Content is very good and it's an easy read. You don't have to already be a security wiz to understand. There is also some unique treatment to process issues that I haven't seen elsewhere... Highly recommended.

Surviving Security is a really good book for someone needing a thorough introduction to information security.

The book covers all of the most important security technologies and processes. After completing the book, the reader will come out with a good understanding the components of an information systems security infrastructure.

All of the chapters contain loads of valuable information. Two extremely valuable sections are (Page 358) �Sample Audit Checklist� and (Page 399) �Assessing Your Needs�.

The Sample Audit Checklist contains over 30 pages of technology items that require security. Assessing Your Needs details all of the items required for an effective incident response team....

For those people needing an effective and easily readable reference about computer security, Surviving Security is an excellent resource.

This book is educational and inspirational for those who are looking for a little guidance on how to succeed in this society. It was like taking a class with more than one guest speaker in many professional fields.

h. patterson (0:

This is an engaging book and passionate book. The profiles focus on a diverse crowd, from Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express, to Kevin Clash, the Sesame Street puppeteer behind Elmo; all of the stories are truly moving.

A group of high achieving African American high school seniors received this book as part of the "Achievers" program sponsored by the local chapter of the Links. As an African American in mid-career, I decided to get a copy for myself. It was the most important book I have read in at least five years.

The stories are, as a whole, optimistic but also bracingly honest about the obstacles these remarkable professionals have faced. It will inspire the young to believe that their goals are attainable. It will encourage those in mid-career to see that their progress, though uneven, is sustainable. And it will reassure those looking back at the end of their careers that their life's work has been significant if it has made it possible for even one or two others to achieve behind them. I read about one of these stories a day in the gym and frequently caught myself nodding in recognition at the experiences described.

The last profile in the book is of Deborah C. Wright, President and CEO of Carver Federal Savings Bank. The very last line in her profile,and thus the very last line in the book, is "[M]y prayers each morning are, 'God, just make me open to whatever the lesson is so I can get it and get on to the next one.'" AMEN!

Take a Lesson is a fantastic book that shares the personal stories of many successful African-American individuals who have succeeded with great distincition. Not only did I find the content entertaining, but the words ignite feelings of courage, hope, and persevarence that I'm sure will serve me well. I also think it is important to note that while most of those profiled stand at the cutting edge of capitalism, they also remain sensitive to social and human values, a balance which I think all should keep in mind.

Take a Lesson is a great book for people of all ages. It is a collection of advice from all the people I have grown to admire. In this book they are not putting on a professional face. They are telling the truth about how they struggled in their lives and businesses; and how they won out. I read one every day for inspiration.

You are a prisoner until you read this book. It is phenomenal! An excellent guide for corporate excellence. If I had no other resource, this book would be enough for survival in the business world. Definitely worth the investment.

I bought it, read it & really liked it. This guy knows his stuff!

This book covers all the way from the front office to the back office and what can and should be done in the various operational areas of a company. It portrays practical and easy to understand examples that can be utilized for various difficult and most common business scenarios.

Solid advice to how to proactively seek out and fix issues before they become fully grown problems that takes up a lot of energy and resources to tackle. It also covers points about the revenue side as well as the cost cutting side.

This book will instigate various ideas among the business leaders which they can apply for quick results. Great job Marvin, for the wonderful book, very well written, well thought out and great examples.

I would submit the following advice to all C-Level executives:

(1) Read Marvin Davis's book, Take No Prisoners!

(2) Make such required reading for all of your division and department heads.

(3) Implement the book's blueprint for excellence across your enterprise.

In this age where businesses are feeling the pinch of uncertain economic times and cut-throat global competition, companies of all sizes must continually re-examine and improve all facets of their operations to (a) survive, (b) garner optimal sales and profit growth, and then (c) ensure long term sustainability.

To not embrace this wholesale re-examination process is to accept mediocrity and ultimately, defeat in the global economy.

Davis makes this case very well and he does it with very matter of fact language and scores of business examples--companies that he's helped turnaround in his impressive career. His very practical and action oriented counsel steers business leaders through all of the vital aspects of company operations from marketing strategy and customer profitability analysis, pricing strategy, human reource/staff motivation programs, all facets of finance and cash controls including best practices for managing your outside banking relationship, to name just a few. There is a even great chapter covering how to best take advantage of the global labor supply system--critical knowledge for any business operator in the "flat world".

I only wish that I absorbed the wisdom of Take No Prisoners sooner! But I'm grateful that I have this book as a resource now as I'm leveraging the author's advice in my firm on a daily basis. Thanks and great job to Marvin Davis.

Take No Prisoners by Marvin Davis is a step-by-step guide for turning around a business. This book is unique among business books in that every chapter is filled with actionable advice.

As the editor of a publication geared exclusively for CEO's, I see 5 or 6 new business books land on my desk each week. 95% of these books are either pep-talk books, theoretical discussions, biographies of business leaders, or the "this is how I made a fortune" book that promises but never delivers similar results for the reader. Davis's book rises above the average business title simply because it presents concrete solutions for what a business owner can do right now to turn their company around.

The basic premise of the book is that companies shouldn't wait until they are in dire straits to make changes; they can avoid many problems if they act now and contingency plan or meet certain issues head-on. Davis details what problems businesses might face, and how business owners can take steps to avoid those problems. If the business is already suffering from the financial problems, Davis lays out plans for what they can do now to contain and resolve the problem.

Davis writes clearly and economically. In terms of content and delivery, I give this book my highest recommendation.

Here is a sample passage from the book (most of the book contains this kind of "how-to" and actionable advice). This passage comes from the chapter 17: Banking.

THE BANKING RELATIONSHIP AND HOW TO MANAGE IT
There are several keys to taking control of your banking relationship and optimizing the conditions under which you borrow money. They are:

* Get to know your banker and let him or her know the key personnel in the company (e.g., the chief financial officer).
* Regularly review the operations of your company and your business plan with your banker.
* Never lie to your banker.
* Keep your banker informed of both favorable and unfavorable events in the business--no surprises.
* Always have an alternative banking source available.

The last of these items is especially important. I stated at the beginning of this chapter that you should realize that your banker is a vendor like others. It would be foolish to have only one source for a key component of your product. Likewise it would be foolish to have a single potential lender. This means that the development of a relationship with a second bank does several things:

* It keeps your current lender honest and competitive with regard to rates and conditions of your loan.
* It gives you a place to go quickly if your current lending arrangement is compromised in any way.
* It gives you negotiating power.

The second bank relationship may involve occasional meetings with officers of the second institution or the presence of a minor account at the second bank.

From a consulting perspective, Gerald M. Weinberg's "The Secrets of Consulting" is a classic on how to effectively dispense advice to clients. And as great a work as it is (see my review), its inclusion of "Getting Advice" in its subtitle is a bit misleading since it concentrates on how to provide rather than receive advice from colleagues and other professionals. I think "Taking Advice" helps complete the picture of this two-way relationship. Ciampa's focus on "How Leaders Get Good Counsel and Use it Wisely" is well-maintained throughout the text, and it is a very quick read, focusing mainly on the practice of seeking advice rather than the theory, although chapter 3 on "A New Framework for Advice Taking" might be a bit theoretical for some readers. The flow of thought from chapter to chapter is excellent. Even the preface is worth reading, as it describes, albeit briefly, insights from the author's experience on the supply side of consulting (including some interesting thoughts on early consultancies), as well as the demand side. Starting with this preface, the discussion develops into identifying why even experienced leaders continue to need advice (as well as why this is a natural and expected aspect of business), and why there are inadequacies on both the supply side and demand side of the "help paradox". Ciampa includes a liberal amount of case studies as the book progresses, which help bridge the gap between the points he is trying to make and successful application of his advice. Chapters 4 and 5 elegantly marry the theoretical and the practical, achieved through interesting case studies which explain types of advice (strategic, operational, political, and personal) and kinds of advisers (expert, experienced, sounding-board, and partner). The reader is encouraged to seek a balanced advice network that combines a mix of advisers for the type of advice being sought. The last two chapters focus on the attitudes and behavior of the advice taker that also include a discussion on why listening is still a key success factor. Ciampa effectively provides material for anyone in the business world seeking more insight into the demand side of advice.

Leaders must be accountable for their decisions, but the best leaders do not make the most important decisions alone. The right advice is a key condition for success, however, even the best advice will not be useful if the leader is not adept at using it. In this to-the-point book, author Dan Ciampa provides a unique service: a clear, practical framework for making the most of help from both inside and outside your organization, including selecting the right advisers and shaping a balanced advice network. We highly recommend this groundbreaking book for its usefulness and insights to every leader or aspiring leader...and that's advice you can take.

This book is written for leaders who can often find themselves insulated and isolated. The bunker mentality is not generally conducive to good decision making, by the way.

Ciampa says that every leader should be an advice taker. And, different situations call for different kinds of advice. But all good advice takers share these characteristics:

* Skilled advice takers are deliberate in choosing the best type of help and in constructing a network of advisers.

* They manage that network actively, putting it high on their list of priorities.

* They work at building good relationships. To derive the most help from their advisers, they understand that they must take feedback without becoming defensive and, above all, listen with understanding.

* They seek advice and counsel quickly when faced with situations that can affect their plans. They also involve their advisers early in anticipating hindrances.

Every good advice taker has to be a good listener. It's important to be brave enough to select folks as advisers who are not "yes-men" -- and then listen, actually listen, to what is being said. Especially if it's not what you want to hear. That's leadership, regardless of your job title. That's also being open to growth and learning.

As management consultants in organization and compensation, as well as management book reviewers, we are all-too keenly aware that the achilles heal of leaders is very often, their inability to seek, get and properly use good advice.This book addresses this need, by presenting critical, to-the-point insights into this quintessential leadership subject. To do so, it offers a framework for advice taking and an understanding of the attributes of great advice taking.

The core propositions of the author are:
1) actionable, timely and sustainable advice is essential to achieve organizational change;
2) it is the leader's responsibility to identify needs for advice and choose and use advisors wisely, and;
3) leaders must achieve the appropriate mindset to be good advice takers and master the skills to take maximum advantage of advice given them.

Among the nuggets in this book are rules and fundamental principles of advice taking, the four types of advice, and the attributes and abilities of a skilled advice taker. The book offers important insights into a subject that may seem a blatantly obvious dimension of leadership, but is often neglected, poorly understood, and taken for granted.

This book is a very important contribution to the essential literature on leadership. We highly recommended it all who are, or strive to become, leaders.

No one has all the answers when it comes to running a business, so it pays to have "experts" surrounding you to give you insight. There are plenty of books that cover the hows of giving advice, but there are far fewer (any?) titles that deal with how best to *take* that advice. Dan Ciampa covers an oft-neglected area in his book Taking Advice: How Leaders Get Good Counsel And Use It Wisely.

Contents: The Help Paradox; How Good Leaders Fail as Advice Takers; A New Framework for Advice Taking; Types of Advice - Strategic, Operational, Political, and Personal; Kinds of Advisors - Expert, Experienced, Sounding-Board, and Partner; The Art of Balance; Attitudes and Behavior of Great Advice Takers; Listening - the Master Skill - and Other Key Success Factors; Afterword - For Further Thought; Notes; Further Reading; Index; About the Author

It's not unusual to see leaders taking advice from a close friend or circle of insiders. What is more unusual is to see a leader pick a group of advisors that have specific roles and purposes in the advice-giving position. Ciampa breaks out the types of advice and the types of advisors that a leader will need, and then uses examples to show how these roles come into play. For instance, someone may be looking at moving into a new position at a company, and it's one they've wanted for a long time. The spouse might be uneasy about the change, and the person's current boss wonders if the new position is a wise choice. It's all too easy to tune out advice you don't want to hear, or to assign the wrong level of importance to the advice you *are* hearing. Recognizing the current boss has a vested interest to keep you is important, but they also see a side of you that includes things you overlook. Dismissing the spouse's concerns as "emotional" means overlooking insights from someone that sees you as a person rather than a position in a company. Using Ciampa's material in Taking Advice puts you on the right path towards building a solid advice team with specific roles, and will definitely help you learn how to effectively use that advice to be successful (even if it may not be what you want to hear)...

A worthy addition to the bookshelf of management at all levels...

What a marvelous collection of quotations, stories, analogies, and parables! Many made me chuckle, and as many made me tear up and thank God for my many blessings!

Unfortunately, it appears this book is out of print, but you can easily find a decent used copy here or by searching the web.

Some would quibble with the variety, finding fault with some of the sources Chuck uses. But, the truths brought out in every instance outweigh any doubtful source! Religious and Christian authors and celebrities do not have a lock on the truth. God reveals truth to everyone and all truth points to God.

This is a great gift idea for any person who is mature and settled enough to appreciate the truly finer things in life - wisdom and contentment. Highly recommended for giving to your pastor, elder, friend or kin.

I purchased this book on a whim, and WOW! I haven't been able to put the book down. When I get off work and relax in the evening, I find myself seeking time with this book, because it has so many different topics. It has given me many ideas on topics to do word studies and additional bibically based research on.

This book contains information that touches on many situations of life. I had a hard time putting it down. It is a compilation of poetry, wisdom and history that will not want too miss a single line.

I have found it to be loaded with ice breakers during my Sunday School Class. Whether it be with comedy or emotional, it contains many topics.

Enjoy, Love In Christ

This book was given to me for a Christmas present and it is the best I've read! It is very difficult to put it down. Chuck combines each story or quotation with the truth of the Scriptures to create life-changing applications of power and conviction. Hundreds of illustrations are group in alphabetical order that makes it easy to find. I will be sharing it with my studentss, plus using the illustrations in sermons and Bible studies.

I love the heartwarming stories in this book. It is a must for every preacher who from time to time struggles with finding good sermon illustrations. Moreover, it is good for any writer or public speaker. It has a place on my bookshelf!

Although many executives would agree that coaching plays an important role in employee development and corporate success, the debate continues as to what really constitutes effective coaching and why more formalized coaching and training is not more readily embraced and encouraged. Gilles Rochefort, in his book Tales from the Playing Field, addresses these issues and introduces a coaching model for business managers to follow to implement a coaching process within their own organizations.

Tales from the Playing Field is described as "creative non-fiction" - the story line is fiction but based on Rochefort's own experience and research in the field of coaching. In the story, we are introduced to James Treblid, the new training manager for a large heavy equipment distributor of off-road equipment such as those used in mining, forestry and road construction. James' job is to provide the firm's mechanics with training to ensure they receive and retain the skills necessary to service the broad base of equipment sold by the company. He is also responsible for keeping the sales team up-to-date on new products and product changes.

When we meet James, he is facing difficulties and starting to question his decision to join the firm. The task ahead of him seems immense and almost unachievable. He knows that the traditional methods of instruction and management will not allow the training department to keep up to the needs of the company. He also knows that much of the training is not being effectively used. James believes that he would increase effectiveness and efficiency if he could only implement his coaching model ...

Through the art of telling the story, Rochefort reveals to us a new coaching model and provides considerable insight into why coaching may not be as universally effective as one might intuitively think it should be. He maintains that most coaching programs focus on describing what a good coach does and uses that as the backdrop in which to teach the skills of coaching. Those skills include people skills such as listening, communication and interpersonal skills as well as task skills like organization, preparation and follow-up.

According to Gilles, at issue is the fact that having good coaching skills alone will not assure the person will be a good coach. He suggests that, in addition to Skills, there are three other characteristics that are not considered in traditional coaching models and that are critical predictors of how effective the individual will be at coaching. The three additional characteristics are Credibility, Desire and Capacity.

Credibility describes the extent the individual is looked upon as credible by his or her subordinates. It answers the questions like: Can the person do the job? Are they acting on behalf of the business or for their own personal gains? Does the individual have the technical competence to perform?

Desire measures the individual's personal interest in coaching. Do they have the discipline needed? Do they believe that coaching will be effective? Are they willing to invest the time and effort to provide coaching?

The third additional factor, Capacity, is a measure of the amount of time and resources the individual has to provide coaching.

Rochefort maintains that if an individual is deficient in any one of these coaching characteristics - Skills, Credibility, Desire or Capacity - then they will struggle with being an effective coach. Any coaching program aimed at increasing coaching effectiveness that does not evaluate and address all four characteristics, will also struggle to be effective.

Rochefort's model includes a series of questions designed to be administered to the individual, his/her subordinates and boss in order to help the person understand how they score on each of the four characteristics. He includes these questions in the book along with some prescriptive suggestions to help the reader address identified areas of weakness.

Tales from the Playing Field is an interesting read. Rochefort has a comfortable style and it is very easy to relate to the situations that James finds himself in. The coaching model itself goes a long way towards explaining the underlying characteristics of effective coaching. Rochefort's analysis tools and prescriptive recommendations, although not extensive, are informative and useful. This book is recommended reading for anyone in management who would like to gain an increased understanding of the value of coaching in the business environment. It is also recommended for those interested in evaluating and improving their own coaching skills or those of their subordinates.

Mr. Rochefort uses a light, story-format to convey a very believable approach to coaching. The book has characters who are both advocates and detractors to the coach's approach to getting buy in to his coaching style.

It's the kind of book you can read in a few hours, or read a bit at a time, and apply the lessons as you go.

The end of the book has detailed research to support his coaching strategy, if one wants to understand the science behind the style.

Definitely a recommended buy for anyone who coaches people!

The following is was my book review. I added to what I previously sent you. As a management consultant, I found your book excellent because it encompasses the human elements that which include logic, structure and equally important using language to talk to people with human dignity. The content kept me interested because it was not a lecture but a story and a well thought out process that any manager can apply. Furthermore, I could easily recognize some of the characters, 'cause I too have encountered some the personalities described. One of my biggest beefs with the management consulting firms is that they are either weak in the human approach or they are weak with effective structures. Your program covers it all. To further substantiate some of the findings throughout your book: In 1998 I purchased a study on Change Management that was conducted by an American firm. It includes over 100 organizations from 22 countries and one of the most interesting point of this study is the greatest change management obstacles. Three change obstacles were most often cited: Employees resistant to change 39% Management behaviour not supportive of change 33% Inadequate resources or budget 14 % Other 14% I would espouse to surmise that perhaps employees resistance to change might be due to the management's negative support. Ultimately the employees relinquish with a tacit understanding for the hopelessness of change, at the end of the day employees resist anything that might not happen. Of course I would add that the latter is only one possible important factor there are several more as your book alludes to. Thanks much for articulating it so well.

As a management consultant, I found your book excellent because it encompasses the human elements that which include logic, structure and equally important using language to talk to people with human dignity. The content kept me interestd because it was not a lecture but a story and a well thought out process that any manager can apply. Furthermore, I could easily recognize some of the characters, 'cause I too have encountered some the personalities described.

One of my biggest beefs with the management consulting firms is that they are either weak in the human approach or they are weak with effective structures. Your program covers it all.

To further substantiate some of the findings throughout your book: In 1998 I purchased a study on Change Management that was conducted by an American firm. It includes over 100 organizations from 22 countries and one of the most interesting point of this study is the greatest change management obstacles. Three change obstacles were most often cited:

Employees resistant to change 39%

Management behaviour not supportive of change 33%

Inadequate resources or budget 14 %

Other 14%

I would espouse to surmise that perhaps employees resistance to change might be due to the management's negative support. Ultimately the employees relinquish with a tacit understanding for the hopelessness of change, at the end of the day employees resist anything that might not happen. Of course I would add that that the latter is only one possible important factor there are several more as your book alludes to.

Thanks much for articulating it so well.

This is an easy to read, well organized and very informative book. I highly recommend this book to the many managers who feel compelled or forced by circumstance to put people into managerial/supervisory positions without adequate training. Even with adequate training, you could still benefit significantly by giving this book a thorough workout.

Too many managers learn their trade through "On the job training" or "Trial by fire" as most managers see it. Having been the recipient of this kind of learning, I can say that Mr. Rochefort's book would have been of immense help to me as I struggled to understand the newances of team building, goal development, open communication and building employee loyalty.

Mr. Rochefort has an uncanny ability to weave fact and fiction while bringing clarity and excitement to learning about what makes a good manager and hence a good team. One can readily see how Mr.Treblid moves from confusion, anger and severe frustration, to a position of clarity of purpose and single focused direction for the team and company as he utilizes training and development skills that he gained while being involved in the sports industry and through his educational pursuits.

The lessons garnered from this book apply to seasoned vets as well as the rookies, if you are serious about learning and use the skills development exercises at the end of each chapter, you can not help but add to your management tool kit. You will also ensure that your managers will reinforce or acquire superior managerial skills and will be well prepared to lead your team to corporate and personal victory.

Real pro's don't jump into game sitautions without the benefits of warm up exercises and reinforcing skill sets, being a manager is no different we all need to practice and develop.

Ira Bailey Vice President Sales & Marketing Toronto Roadrunners of the International Hockey League

Run and buy... This book has a lot of good exercises and ideas for developing teams. I specially found it helpful dealing with group processes, e.g. how to work with roles, conflict, tasks, cooperation and other topics. I have read about 30 books about teams and games/ activities: These book is one of the top three. My best recommendations!

Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan designs activities and games for training programs and to improve human performance. Glenn Parker is a team-building expert. When the two of them paired up to create Teamwork and Teamplay, they were able to offer 38 team-building and training exercises that work.

The value of this book begins with its introduction. Thiagi and Parker start by identifying 7 different types of teams and guidelines for using the activities. Those guidelines include steps to take so you are prepared to facilitate the activity, steps to take during the activity, and what to do after the activity is concluded.

Activities include skill-building in consensus-making (don't miss "Escape from Gilligan's Island" here!), ethics, motivation, team effectiveness, stages of team development. . .and more.

Thiagi and Parker include three indices at the end of the book: a topical index, a primary use (team-building or -training activity) index, and a time/number index.

Trainers, coaches, facilitators, and team leaders will find themselves returning to this book again and again. I have worked several of these games into my training sessions, with great results, and am eager to try even more. The activities are fun and groups find them engaging and energizing, and the learning points are solid.

I met Thiagi few years ago when I was still in Bloomington, Indiana (when I was still a PhD student). I love his game and simulation seminar a lot. This book include a lot of his "tricks" and pratical guidelines for those trainers who would like to motivate the team sprit and so on. A highly recommend book

Being one of those relatively concrete-sequential, oldest child, ISTJ (for the Myers-Briggs aficionados) people, I started my consulting career a little wary of all these "touchy-feely" group activities that trainers use when working with groups. Well, times change and (maybe) people do, too. I have done a fair amount of group facilitation and training, and have found all kinds of activities to be very beneficial in getting people to identify, focus on, and move toward shared goals. Many trainers discount or are ignorant of the requirements of adult learners -- most adults won't sit still (literally) for traditional, classroom-style instruction for more than 45 minutes at a time.

This book is an excellent, concise, easy-to-follow resource for anyone working in either team building or team training environments. As explained in the book's introduction, team building "...increases the ability of an intact team to work together...," while team training "...increases the knowledge and skills of the participants in various aspects of teamwork and being a team player...." The book presents many exercises for each type of team experience.

Each of the 38 activities is organized in an easy-to-follow format that includes:

* purpose * team size (minimum/maximum recommended group) * required resources * time (to complete) * room setup * steps * debriefing * variations * templates, charts, overheads, as applicable

The book also includes appendices that sort the activities by primary use (team building or team training), time and participants, and by topic area (desired outcome or issue being addressed). These appendices make it easy to determine at a glance which of the 38 activities are most appropriate for a particular group or setting when designing training.

The value of the introduction bears emphasis. Many books have forgettable introductions; this book's introduction is an excellent short essay on the value, uses, and benefits of building and training teams. Read it slowly -- the authors make their points quickly. If you skim, you'll miss something important.

Whether you're a consultant or in-house trainer, regardless of organization size or mission, this book is a handy tool to improve the quality, participation, and outcomes from your groups training.

More is just what this phenomenal book of new and exciting trainings offers any aspiring and inspiring trainer. The trainings can be easily grouped and shared to produce high impact.

In returning from a weekend seminar of team building and communication courses, several trainings from this manuel helped to provide for a high-impact seminar with team-work problem solving, team interaction and production, opportunities for great transitional shorties between programs (adaptability is immense!) and communication inside the team.

Metcalfe, Our Team, ET, Escape from Gilligan's Island were among the courses used and combined with others throughout the seminar. Worthwhile trainings and with some ingenuity and creativity, easily adaptable to fit any size of audience!

I highly recommend this book for trainers looking to provide something new or something different in seminars on team work and communication.

I know I can't wait to implement more trainings from the book into helping others become better team players!

I was really intreged by this book because it was understandable, interesting, and filled with facts about this amazing man that I've never read or heard about before.

Thomas Jefferson is to me: one of the most admirable people in history.This book has an amazing fictional aproach but yet it is still factual and educational and you can still be one of the biggest Jefferson buffs out there and not have to do years of studying.This book is to me the most animated biography that mosturizes dry facts to fertile entertainment.

As a life long Jefferson fan, I enjoyed this book immensely, but am concerned that Bober does not offer a critical analysis of her subject. She says that one of her goals in writing this book is to make Jefferson appear more human. While she goes into great detail about Jefferson's family values and other interests aside from politics, she omits any mention of his mortal flaws which are exactly what make him human. Any reader can tell that Bober reveres Jefferson like a Revolutionary God (and indeed he was one), but she is unable to maintain any degree of impartiality as a biographer.

For instance, Bober enthusiastically discusses the various ways Jefferson tried to bring an end to the peculiar institution of slavery through his writings, but she never questions why if this was so important to him, he failed to take advantage of his executive power as president to ensure that the Louisiana territory he purchased in 1803 remained slave free? Why didn't he fight harder to retain the clause prohibiting slavery in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence? The Jefferson of Bober's imagination is not capable of such double standards or inconsistencies in character.

Bober only briefly mentions that while Jefferson professed to be against slavery, he owned several hundred slaves at Monticello and his other plantations. Why was his rhetoric inconsistent with his actions? Bober conveniently ignores the fact that Monticello was built entirely by slaves. (This I know because I have a degree in history, but a less informed reader would be misled). Jefferson may have thought that ending slavery was a good idea, but he did not pursue this cause with the same passion with which he fought for the freedom of white Americans from the British.

Bober dismisses the notion that Jefferson had an affair with his slave Sally Hemings and instead suggests that the president's nephew was the father of Sally's children, yet Bober's evidence to support her argument is scant. In fact, she spends as little time as possible on this topic, preferring to discuss Jefferson's contributions to his country. While this approach is refreshing when compared to the massive number of volumes out there on "Jefferson's scandals," Bober has neglected an important part of Jeffersonian history. Recent DNA testing has proven that Sally Heming's children were fathered by a Jefferson male which could be Thomas or possibly someone else.

All this said, Bober does an excellent job of bringing Thomas Jefferson to life and articulating his accomplishments in a meaningful way. It's a shame that her work is decidedly unbalanced and therefore irresponsible from an historical point of view.

A magnificent book for an incredible man. Told in story book fashion, as all history should be, Bober's writing style is a mesmerizing tribute to the subject.It is a shame that a man of Jefferson's character and vision would probably be unelectable in today's visionless sea of pluralism and status quo where the details of the day outshine the necessities of tomorrow.

Probably one of the best books I've ever read- it is very informative, but I was able to read it like I would a novel- a rare trait in nonfiction literature. It was written in a way that even one who is not a history buff can enjoy it. It shows that Jefferson was quite ahead of his time, but he was not superhuman as some sources lead us to believe.

I think that the authors have set a new baseline for discussion and insight in the quest for women's workplace equality, and beyond. The scientific foundation for their analysis finally moves the subject past anecdotal and self-reinforcing generalizations. The book provides a better term--labyrinth--for the unfair journey many (ambitious)women face. And the professors pulled off a neat stylistic trick: Scholarship and easy-to-read.--Larry Morrison

Women have needed a replacement for the glass ceiling metaphor for quite some time. Drs. Eagly and Carli have given us a wonderful new metaphor, the labyrinth, that better describes the obstacles and realities women face. For years we all have been bombarded with the impediments for women, but no one has offered practical solutions. This book eloquently defines the problem and offers hope for us all. This year all of my close friends, including some men, will receive this book from me for Christmas.

Very interesting, well-written, and enlightening. A subject that is very timely and very helpful to women everywhere. Would heartily recommend.

A well written comprehensive review of research relating to women and leadership. Organized according to questions about leadership e.g. "Do Women Lead Differently from Men?" each chapter reviews the research, discusses trends, and suggests how women might respond. Unlike many titles on this topic, this is an evenhanded review of the research whose objective is to provide information to women as they navigate the turns and barriers of the labyrinth as they move forward in their careers.

Alice Eagly is a phenomenal writer and researcher. She has been working for decades on gender and leadership. Her newest theory, with Carli, is outstanding! She presents a new paradigm for thinking about women in the workforce and gives a preview of what is to be expected in the workforce in the upcoming years. If you have not already read this book, then what are you waiting for? The only thing that is better is having her present the work, which is sure draws a crowd! Also, for the non-academic it is an easy read with much detail on prevailing theory for the general public to understand.