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I have been fascinated by the Shroud ever since I read a decidedly church biased book back in the early '60's. This impeccably researched book is both pure reportage and emotional at the same time. It illustrates the Crucifixion in undeniable truths,because of the author's clarity and descriptive power. The chapters regarding the scientific analyses of the shroud, and the plentiful, fully documented results present a very strong case for the Shroud's genuineness. The many chapters about the Shroud's history are extremely well documented, and are tied together into a cohesive whole. The only flaw in this great book, (and it is a small one,) is that the illustrations are somewhat murky and hard to see. As a skeptic and an agnostic, this book was a true revelation. To a person of deep faith, I would say,"Read this!", for it will not only reconfirm and strengthen your faith, but will enhance your understanding of what the passion was like for Jesus the man. This is a superior book.

Five Stars? Oh! You'd better believe it!
The previous reviewers have done a very admirable job in extolling this "WONDER-FULL" book. I merely wish to add my voice to the chorus singing its praises.

THE SHROUD OF TURIN is an ancient burial cloth containing the mysterious image of a Man who had evidently been crucified - believed by many to be Jesus Christ. The internationally renowned, Peruvian poet, Yoey O'Dogherty, once wrote, "Nothing astounds like Truth." And the truth that has made The Shroud the most studied and least understood artifact on planet Earth is astounding indeed!

About 4 years ago, I happened to catch the author, MARK ANTONACCI, being interviewed on a radio program and found his statements so interesting that I went right out and acquired a copy of his book, 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD.' From a young age, I had been intrigued by the implications of the Shroud although my knowledge was limited. Like countless millions of other people, when the 1988 Carbon-14 dating test results were announced, "proving" the Shroud to be a hoax conceived between 1260 and 1390 A.D., I thought, "Well, so it goes." Of course, I've learned A LOT about human nature and some so-called "scientists" since then. I'm not so gullible anymore, and after reading 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD', I'm more intrigued than ever by this extraordinary treasure!

In the preface, the former agnostic, Mark Antonacci, relates how he was somewhat mysteriously goaded into investigating the Shroud, and how in pacing his apartment, reluctantly pondering some of its unfathomable anomalies, it suddenly hit him in midstep, "If all of the possible implications from the scientific examination were true, it would not be bad news - it would be good news."

Give Antonacci credit for having been an intellectually honest skeptic, unlike the flapjack who wrote the Kirkus review that our host has unwittingly presented in its Editorial section. That writer says that 'THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD' "is unlikely to win any converts among empirical-minded skeptics." BALDERDASH! That is EXACTLY the sort of person who will be knocked for a loop by this great book! Actually, it is the intellectually dishonest (scared out of his wits) individual who will not permit himself to be converted, who will dismiss it. I know there are willfully ignorant people out there, but you'd hope that they could at least be a bit more imaginative and less blatant in their efforts to mislead others with their bias.

True, the book explores some fairly heavy scientific principles, but necessarily so. Unless the reader understands the science behind it, they will fail to appreciate the incomprehensible attributes of the Shroud. But if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you with perfect honesty that I'm one of the least mathematically and scientifically-minded people on God's green earth! I must be operating from the "left field" side of the brain, or something. If I could follow the science, so will you. I found the information unspeakably fascinating because of its portent.

Once you've grasped the complexity of it, you'll understand why John Walsh has written, "The Shroud of Turin is either the most awesome and instructive relic of Jesus Christ in existence...or it is one of the most ingenious, most unbelievably clever products of the human mind and hand on record. It is one or the other; there is no middle ground." And how the respected scientist, John Heller, could claim that, "If you were to give me a budget of ten million dollars and told me to make a replica of [the Shroud]...I would not know how to do it."

You'll learn why the faction that wants us to believe that the Shroud (which displays many anomalies that contemporary science can't even explain) is the handiwork of a medieval artist, doesn't have a leg to stand on. And why the Carbon-14 dating procedure, which supposedly put the final nail in the Shroud's coffin, was unreliable to say the least!

Antonacci's book examines the Shroud from every conceivable angle, including the very possible and enlightening connection between It and the Mandylion - gee whillikers! (Oops. Is one still allowed to say, "gee whillikers" in 2005?) It left this reader thoroughly mesmerized. Buy it and be amazed. Be VERY AMAZED!

I could go on all day about this book, but I'm going to pack it in here. I gotta go find that deceptive Kirkus Reviewer now and take him out to the woodshed. (Oh, come on, I'm only kidding! I know that God wouldn't approve of that. ...Would He?)

In the last few years a great deal of discussions have taken place regarding the existence of Jesus of Nazareth and some have even come to deny his actual existence in the form of a human being. ASARIM has gone back in time and located the true garden where his physical body was laid to rest after he was tortured by the Romans and crucified. Jesus was laid on this shroud without a doubt, and we think Mark Antonacci proves this fact. Asarim only adds in passing that the Sudarium found in the Cathedral of Oviedo contains blood of the same man. The Sudarium came directly from Jerusalem to Spain and was never contaminated. As for the question did Jesus die on the cross? Asarim holds that the blood found was "live" blood and not of a "dead" human being. Jesus was given "Vinum Moratum" before his passion and therefore was able to survive being crucified. Pontious Pilate had already agreed with Jesus that all this would be carried out to fullfill the scriptures and that Jesus would be able to go to Rome and meet the others upon healing. To prove this theory, Asarim has used the Shroud, Sudarium, other artifacts and historic accounts found in the Vatican about the birth and extension of Christianity. Asarim highly recommends this book for all those that need new scientific, medical and archeological evidence that Jesus was and is alive, and continues to live amongst us in our soul and hearts.

This book's "radiation" theory of image creation isn't as far fetched or a radical leap of reasoning as skeptics would have you believe. Why? Because the peer reviewed, scientific findings of a image composed of dehydrated, surface linen fibrils defies any "natural" explanation.

The image isn't a paint, powder, stain or transfer image. It's not imitated by decomposition stains, sweat stains, oils or herb stains. A heat scorch can't contain the subtlety or sophistication of this relic's image. If "vapors" created the image, there would be no possibility that the image would have any focus or definition. Nor is body contact the catalyst for image creation, since a body impression would have a fattened, "fun house mirror" effect.

Add to the exclusion of these past explainations the possible x-ray qualities of the Shroud image, the 3- dimensional "distance sensitive" intensity of the image, the exterior objects near the body "imaged" on the cloth... AND...

The MOST RECENT feature discovered, one Mr. Antonacci wasn't yet informed about as he wrote this book... a faint face image on the backside of the Shroud!

Why the imprinting of only the highest image features on the backside of the cloth? If it was paint or sweat responsible, it would diffuse outward and not be limited to (mostly) the face. Skin oils and sweat would had also darkened the Shroud man's "posterior" image dramatically... the back and buttocks which had the most weight pressure on the linen... yet the Shroud's back image is as subtle as the front image!!

Mark promoted the theory that the cloth collapsed through an image creating field of energy. The faint imprinting on the exterior side of the Shroud seems to validate this!

This theory now has support... discovered AFTER this book was released!!

As for whether the man in the Shroud is Jesus, consider... the Romans didn't always nail crucifixion victims; that a crown of thorns mocking of this victim should be unique to Jesus; the man was severely scourged; that this man had the athletic build of a manuel laborer (Carpenter, Stone Mason); was a young Jewish man beaten severely. The man was DEAD, as shown by the stiff, "rigor mortis" quality of the body image and the hemorrhage of the spear wound. And most significantly...

This crucified, Jewish "criminal" had a wealthy friend or relative who gave him a high quality linen Shroud! (Aka, Joseph of Arimetha?) Only high quality linens found at "Masada" featured the fine "invisible seaming" that this Shroud does.

This cruified Jewish "criminal" was allowed the privelege of burial!! Most crucifixion victims were considered defiled or cursed ("by the wood of the tree"), and were thrown on a disgusting pile of public decomposition by the brutal Romans. Dogs and crows routinely consumed the remains of crucified victims.

The man in the Shroud didn't decompose.

And the final point... ancient Jews overcame their aversion to "unclean" burial clothes and KEPT ... and PRESERVED... this shroud !! The blood stains ALONE would had prevented any normal Jewish individual from handling the cloth. Obviously, the man kept in this Shroud was considered "Holy," with "Holy blood."

How could this man NOT be Jesus?

Jeff Messenger, author of the novel "The Shroud of Torrington."

The Shroud of Turin is the most thoroughly researched artifact in the history of the world. Because of its wealth of astonishing attributes, the Shroud of Turin has draw over a quarter million hours of research by research scientists (mostly at personal expense) between 1977 and 2000--for good reason. All this rigorous attention is due soley to the merits and rewards they have reaped as they continue discovering its wonders.

Of all the books I have read about the Shroud of Turin, this is by far the most excellent, thorough, well researched, and well documented. Yochanan (John) records in his gospel that the miracles recorded of Yeshua (Jesus) were only the tip of the iceberg (John 20:30; 21:25). Back in those days people had different opinions about the miracles: some rejected them, some doubted, some believed (but took it all for granted), and some were appreciative and glorified God. Everyone must draw their own conclusions about the Shroud--don't let others and media spin masters make up your mind for you. When it comes to the Shroud, the powerful amazement of it lies in its details. If you do not know the details, you are missing the boat. This is the book to find those details. The more technology grows, the more they research the Shroud, the more powerful and impressive it is. Quantum leaps in technology uncover, corespondingly, quantum leaps in hitherto hidden mindboggling aspects about the Shroud. It seems evident to me that Yeshua has left this as a special sign, especially for our generation. We are the first generation to have the scientific technology to fathom the wonders of the Shroud. You owe it to yourself to investigate for yourself and draw your own conclusions. This is the book to give you the best coverage and analysis of the details among all the books I have read. My commendations to the author, Mark Antonacci, for his excellent work, resulting from 20 years of writing and research!

This book is one of the few that succeeds in revising the historical profile of king Richard by giving him the place he deserves. For centuries Tudor historians, particularly More and Vergil (using all the heavy artillery of political propaganda on behalf of their masters the Tudor kings) had drawn a caricature of king Richard, making him a monster, the incarnation of evil, not to speak of Shakespeare's play, as brilliant as false. This book proves that king Richard was a wise ruler, an excellent warrior (he decisively contributes to the final Yorkist victory over the Lancastrians in the battles of Barnet and Tewksbury in 1471), loyal to his brother king Edward IV, tender to his wife, loved by the people (specially by Northerners, by the people of York, where he was almost adored, while Henry VII and Henry VIII, the first Tudor kings, were much hated, which explains the constant rebellions of Yorkshire under Tudor rule) The tragedy of king Richard III has nothing to do with Shakespearean plot; it is very unlikely that he ordered the death of Edward IV's sons (the book provides an interesting appendix on the matter) and, of course, he had no body deformity. His tragedy was both personal and political: a man who saw the death of his beloved wife, son and brothers, a king who tried to rule for the people against the barons and paid a terrible price, the price of being betrayed at Bosworth field in 1485; a ruler who tried to take control of the political turmoil, hopelessly, as he found himself trapped in the turmoil, overwhelmed and finally swept away. However, he set the foundations of modern Britain, creating a strong State by undermining the territorial rebellious powers of the old feudal peerage, which were the cancer that had consumed the nation since the Beauforts had made a puppet of Henry VI, the last Lancastrian king, and which degenerated into the open enmity between the dukes of Somerset and York and the subsequent civil strife. Apart from reading a fascinating period of the History of England, this book made me seriously think of how easy it is to falsify History. Richard III is somebody who definitely deserved rehabilitation. Well done, Paul!

This is a very readable biography of Richard III. While more recent research may have overtaken some of Mr Kendall's conclusions it by no means diminishes his scholarship.

Richard III's life has been the subject of many works of historical fiction. Additionally, he appears in the works of Shakespeare, is dissected by Sir Thomas More and others writing during Tudor times. Variously lionized and demonized, he is considered by many to be either the tragic hero slain in battle at Bosworth Field or the murderer of the princes in the Tower of London.

To see Richard solely as either a villain or a victim is to ignore the realities of the period in which he lived and the circumstances whereby he came to the throne.

I recommend this biography to those who want to know more about the life and reign of Richard III or are seeking some historical background to some of the works of historical fiction in which he features.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Paul Murray Kendall writes an objective biography of Richard III from his childhood to his death on Bosworth Field in 1485. He examines contemporary accounts with an emphasis on the reports of Dominic Mancini, who wrote from his own observations. He reviews pro-Richardian or revisionist theories as well as traditionalist viewpoints in an attempt to provide an objective narrative about the king's life.

The book starts with the earliest known information (at about age 10) and continues through Edward IV's reign and into Richard's, ending with his death in 1485. Separate appendices deal with the disappearance of the princes Edward and Richard and Richard's character.

In a nutshell, the author characterizes Richard III as a loyal, honorable, talented (military skills) leader as well as a devoted and religious family man. These strengths, however, were offset by inflexibility - a mind that saw black and white, but nothing in between - and political naivete.

Kendall's analysis of the available information concerning the disappearance of the princes is objective and sensible. His conclusion: Richard probably knew what happened to them. If he sanctioned their deaths, he did so because that's what rulers did to deposed kings in medieval times. The times were cruel and Richard was a man of his times.

Equally objective is Kendall's assessment of Richard's character.

The book is an excellent introduction to the life of a fascinating man as well as the times in which he lived. Highly recommended. FYI, this edition is a reprint of the original work published in 1955.

I bought this book to help with my a-level history personal study. Out of all the books i have used, this has been the upmost useful. The quotes, references to sources etc help the reader to bind in all the information from the book into a easily readable story. Full of facts whilst interesting. Having use to the appendix was very useful because i needed information about the 'princes in the tower'.

It seems that you can find two camps comcerning Richard III - people who think that he was truly the deforemed monster portrayed by Shakespeare or those who think that he ought to be canonized. Paul Murray Kendall did an excellent job of rendering a portrait of King Richard III that does not revolve around the typical Tudor propoganda and at the same time doesn't clamour for sainthood to be bestowed upon him. Anyone who is looking for a relatively unbiased view of this misunderstood monarch should definitely look into this excellent source!

This book provides the details all parents need to have to protect thier children. It gives great tools for parents to use. I will purchase this book for all my friends as baby shower gifts!

Excellent on teaching children that their body belongs to them - and no one else. Discusses appropriate & inappropriate touches. Provides an example of a trusted neighbor who tricked and tried to inappropriately touch a child - all in child-friendly language and drawings. It also discusses when it is okay to be touched - bathing or when at the doctor's for a check-up. It is not scary, but matter-of-fact. We read this to our 4.5 & 3 year old daughters and have them practice saying STOP with an outstretched hand at appropriate parts of the book. Highly recommended.

This book helped to reinforce what I had already taught my 4-year-old son. He asked questions that he hadn't previously asked and opened up new discussion about the topic. It's well-written, common sense approach makes it easy for pre-schoolers to understand. The author is a therapist, which made me feel confident about the quality of the content.

This book is tastefully written, not scary, but led to good discussion about boundaries- with anyone he knows or doesn't know, and serious thought by my 3 1/2 year old son. He asks for the book about once a month, and refers to "touching problems" occasionally in general conversation, saying something like "you don't keep touching secrets and you say 'Stop it! I don't like that!' if someone tries to put their hand in your pants, and go tell Mom!"

It's a little shocking when your baby gets a grasp of something like that, but I'd really rather that be the case than the first time he knows of it is with a previously trusted person that betrays that trust. It's not graphic or detailed and doesn't attempt to explain why a pervert would do such a thing. It appears serious to him and has caused him to talk with me and plan his response (just like what to do if he became lost in a store), but it's no more scary to him just from reading about it and talking about it than a toothy shark or scary shadow in another book. I highly recommend this for parents brave enough to tackle this subject before your child starts attending birthday parties alone or going to neighbors' houses to play.

I bought this book because I wanted help teaching my daughter why she needs to keep her privates covered and the reviews said this book was great for children as young as three years old. I personally felt this book was a little much for my five year old daughter so I decided against reading it to her. I wasn't comfortable reading about `a man trying to put his hand down a child's panties while sitting on his lap.' I'm pretty surprised I am the only one who feels this way. I also bought `Your Body Belongs To You' by Cornelia Spelman and felt that book was much more appropriate for her so that is the book I read with her. I think The Right Touch is better for children a little older or any child you might suspect has possibly been abused.

The book came very quick & in great shape. But I found the book at Walmart for less.

This is a very cute little story of an elephant becoming comfortable with who he is meant to be. The characters in this story help Sooki the elephant realize he is just fine the way he is. It's an easy read with a sweet ending. Nice illustrations as well.

After 60 years (this book was first published in 1947) this story still has a nice little message about being yourself, and expressing your talents.

This was (first published in 1947) and it is still delighting young readers and the young at heart to this day. Lots of words, so definitely a read to rather than read yourself for the very beginners

This is a fun and charming story of a happy little elephant that meets a tactless parrot. This parrot comments on the saggy skin of the elephant. He tries to improve himself, but without success. Sad and self-conscious, the little elephant decides to hide in a cave where no one can see how unattractive he is. Very soon something wonderful happens, however, and our sweet friend is happy once again. This children's classic will touch your heart and have you smiling.

This book provides excellent examples and guidelines to putting the respected values back into corporations. I especially enjoyed the chapters on valuing the worker, transparency and integrity and customer care. I have seen how these, when in place, really explode the popularity and the growth of corporations, and when management deviates from the values for the short term buck, then corporations are then exposed in the media and start to fail (and people even cheer for their downfall). This is a great follow up to "The Naked Corporation" book, and both state that some sort of plan of transparency should be in place.

David Batstone's excellent book on corporate integrity is a must-read for executives and managers who want ideas on how to create profitable but soulful businesses that show heart as well as logic. This is not a text that preaches from the pulpit or revels in moral condemnation of Enron's misdeeds. For those of us who are sick to the teeth of reading Enron/Anderson post-mortems, Batstone's book will come as a refreshing change.

Reputation building has always been a profitable way to grow a business. `Reputation is not the same thing as a brand' Batstone says. Instead he says, `Reputation is the perceived character a company holds to public eye', which is probably the best definition this reviewer has read. Using the eight principles outlined in the book, managers are guided through examples that have helped or hindered individual companies. IKEA vs Home Depot for example is cited in the Community section of the book - the underlying principle being `A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market'. Which one would you rather have open a store in your community, and why? For the record, the residents of Mountain View, CA (a pretty town near to Silicon Valley) said they'd prefer an IKEA, and not because they like modular Swedish furniture.

The eight principles outlined in the book are:

Principle One: The directors and executives of a company will align their personal interests with the fate of stakeholders and act in a responsible way to ensure the vitality of the enterprise.

Principle Two: A company's business operations will be transparent to shareholder, employees and the public and its executives will stand by the integrity of their decisions.

Principle Three: A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market.

Principle Four: A company will represent its products honestly to customers and honor their dignity up to and beyond a transaction.

Principle Five: The worker will be treated as a valuable team member, not just a hired hand.

Principle Six: The environment will be treated as a silent stakeholder, a party to which the company is wholly accountable.

Principle Seven: A company will strive for balance, diversity and equality in its relationships with workers, customers and suppliers.

Principle Eight: A company will pursue international trade and production based on respect for the rights of workers and citizens of trade partner nations.

If you are looking for one book to share with others in your organization to start a discussion on integrity and reputation, Saving the Corporate Soul should be it.

This book is written very well and is pretty straightforward. So straight forward you can get most of the concepts of the book by reading the table of contents. There can't be much to argue with in the book because virtually every corporate hack who raked in the money during the obscene years is now preaching the same messages of corporate redemption. Expense stock options, treat employees fairly, create an environmental scorecard.... wake me up when it is over. In short, there is nothing new in these pages but the way it is recapped is very sweet primer on the subject. But my question is why did Batstone stop where he did? Where are the chapters relating to the ethics of afdvertising and PR? The ethics of obscene campaign contributions and political lobbying efforts? Where are the chapters about companies holding communities hostage by leveraging the threat of relocation for sweet tax deals? The chapters about what truly sustainable business practices mean about the globalization of companies?
Batstone does a nice job on the content he handles but fails miserably in addressing the core problems at the heart and soul of corporations today.

Batstone shows by numerous examples, compelling stories, and shrewd analysis, that running a business with integrity and values intact is indeed "good business". This refreshing book provides welcome reading in a time dominated by corporate scandals and public cynicism. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!

I say this book is worth reading, after watching The Corporation (the documentary).

You can read many books on "corporate responsability", ethics, and caring for the environment. But, when pressed for profits, in real life, when your job is on the line, would anyone "do the right thing"?.

Don't get me wrong... I praise the author for writing books like this one. And more like it are needed. But the question should be: aren't corporations, often almost-run by stockholders (with CEOs always on the line and on the brink of getting a kick by angry shareholders) and also the executives heavily influenced by wall street gurus, are all of them capable of "corporate responsability" and a long-term strategy?. I'd say no.

I think that companies that "sell out" to the stock market lose their soul, and become tools for a few speculators to "make a quick buck". A stable, responsible company then starts sailing at the mercy of a few stock market gurus and the volatility of the international stock markets. But of course, that is my personal opinion.

The Canadian documentary titled "The Corporation" (can't wait to see it on DVD - for the moment check out www.thecorporation.tv ), argues that Corporations as we know them today, and specially mutinational ones, are flawed by design.

The movie surprisingly got a great review on financial publication The Economist, which praised it:. It begins with a potted history of the company's legal form in America, noting the key 19th-century legal innovation that led to treating companies as persons under law. By bestowing on them the rights and protections that people enjoy, this legal innovation gave the company the freedom to flourish. So if the corporation is a person, ask the film's three Canadian co-creators, what sort of person is it?"

"The answer, elicited over two-and-a-half hours of interviews with right-wing captains of industry, economists, psychologists and philosophers, and left-wing intellectuals, is that the corporation is a psychopath. Like all psychopaths, the firm is singularly self-interested: its purpose is to create wealth for its shareholders. And, like all psychopaths, the firm is irresponsible, because it puts others at risk to satisfy its profit-maximising goal, harming employees and customers, and damaging the environment".

I repeat: try to read this book, and then watch The Corporation (the documentary), which shows the opinion of real execs, in real life. Both essays will make you think, probably getting in the way of your good night's sleep.

This is the best book I have read on the subject!

If you're not put off by the awful cover choice, this book is full of great information, charts, health tests, etc.

I read this book in a 2 hour sitting, and took it with me to my nutritionist who specializes in PCOS and it really helped to guide my questions and what modifications I'd be making in my life.

Definitely worth reading- especially if your newly diagnosed or struggling for answers.

This book has a lot of knowledge from a doctor who seems to know her stuff. It is helpful for me because I am getting ready to find a doctor and I will better be able to explain my situation. The book is a little bit of a difficult read, but I read it in short spurts and it is fine. Overall, it is a good book for anyone who has PCOS or who thinks that they might have PCOS but doesn't have a diagnosis. It can help someone go to their doctor and know how to tell them about their symptoms and what kind of tests to ask for.

This is a very good book with a lot of information. I did buy it for my teenage daughter who has just been diagnosed with PCOS and it's a little complicated for her to understand, so I am reading it first and giving her the most important information.

This book is an incredibly thorough guide to PCOS, albeit from a very allopathic perspective. Vliet is clearly an expert in the realm of hormonal reproductive disorders. However, I wish it contained more info regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding and on alernative and holistic treatments. It also is the type of book that could stand to have an index.

I loved the book could not put it down. I was pleased that the author decided to take this family forward.

I have read many Janette Oke books over the last 4 years. I find that though they have interesting plots and characters the writing doesn't seem to bring the full potential out of the story. My own personal taste leans towards very real to life stories. I don't always find that in Janet Oke's books. I find that they are too warm and fuzzy for me. If you like those kind of stories or just want a book you don't really have to concentrate on I would recommend Janet Oke. If not I would suggest someone like Torey Hayden or Francine Rivers.

I was so glad to find that in the end of this book. Virgina finds love. I always think of this book when it rains.

I highly recommend this book. It is really wonderful!

This second book in Prairie Legacy is a continuation of the life of Virginia, granddaughter of Clark and Marty and daughter of Belinda and Drew.... of the Love Comes Softly series. Virginia is becoming an adult and her plans for college, marriage and friendship with Jenny are all challenged in this book, another great one by Janette Oke. The end leaves one reaching for book 3 of this series.

Have you read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins? If the answer is "Yes", you don't have to spend a lot of time in reading this book. At least, 50% of the book conveys what is already told in Good to Great. Of course, with different stories as example.

I liked two concepts from this book - "Have everyone think and act like an owner" & "Choose your competitors". It is hard to institutionalize the first concept, though.

Choosing your competition is something that many companies forget to do (or) they don't do it right. Many of them aim to reach the sky and at the end, do not even take off from the land.

If you are wondering how to keep the startup spirits alive in your giant corporation, this is a good book to read.

I loved this book. It's an easy, enjoyable read, and very rich in information on how companies we know and love have made it through difficult times and the habits and beliefs they live on a day-to-day basis. Very interesting and insightful. I plan to re-read it in case I missed anything the first go-round.

This book reminds us to set aside our own egos when managing a business or a department. It is a quick read with a clear message. I would recommend that all senior managers and those who aspire to be a senior manager read this book.

The book covers the study of 10 companies that have had an increase in revenue and profit of 10%, or more, for 10 consecutive years. There are many similarities with "Good to Great", however, this book deals with smaller companies and the leader at the helm is written about in more detail than "Good to Great". Like any great book on leadership and business you will find that the key to greatness is, you guessed it, FUNDAMENTALS. I particularly enjoyed the study of Koch Industries. Mr. Charles Koch guiding principles are outlined well in this book and I believe they are worth studying and implementing. They certainly have produced incredible results for his business conglomerate. Overall this book was well written and I was able to get some great nuggets of practical information from all 10 of the companies studied. I really enjoyed it, and got enough out of it to give it the 5 stars.

This is a great business practice/philosophy book. It doesn't throw numbers at you or tell you how to hit your quarterly target. Instead, the stories of nine culturally healthy and monetarily profitable companies are told. The format is interviews with the company leaders and other key players. Jennings expounds on the interviews and builds similarities among the companies. For instance, these companies don't acquire customers or clientèle, they build communities and fans.

The stories are inspiring because they truly start from the beginning. For example, Dick Cabela purchased fishing flies in Chicago for only pennies apiece. When he returned home to the Midwest, he put an ad in a sportsmen magazine and the orders started to roll in. He and his wife filled orders on the kitchen table and their first warehouse was the shed in the backyard. Today, Cabela's is one of the largest outdoors specialty merchandisers/retailers in the US, grosses more than $1.5B, and their stores are considered tourist attractions.

One more story: Charles O'Reilly and his son Chub worked at an automotive parts store for years. Charles was let go at the age of 72 and Chub was transferred out of state by some higher-ups, as I like to call them. So Charles decided to open a competing store. Chub was a cofounder and they also hired 10 employees from their competitors under one condition, "anyone joining the new company had to make an investment and become and owner."

These companies don't make big 5-10 year plans, instead they focus on today through next year and sometimes two years ahead. They claim making big plans never work because trends, business, technology, etc. change too often and you lose site of the fundamentals and current goals and neglect suppliers (partners) and customers (the community). Additionally, resources are wasted trying to achieve something that might never be. However, they do focus on being extremely adaptable; ready to refocus the entire company or invent new businesses in short notice.

Bottom line, all the stories and lessons are inspiring and invaluable. Considerable focus is placed on the cultures of these companies. Basically, they don't worry about making money and acquiring customers. They concentrate on building a healthy culture, make sure employees are happy, and provide solutions to problems; gaining wealth and customers is only an axiomatic consequence.

The nine companies interviewed are PETCO, Koch Industries, Sonic, Cabela's, Medline Industries, O'Reilly Automotive, Dot Foods, SAS Institute, Strayer Education. The companies presented have grown revenues by at least 10% for 10 consecutive years.

This is probably THE most concise and well written book on self improvement EVER. I've been to the motivational seminars of many of the greats, but this book touches on what they all have to say and in a succinct and understandable way. Recommended for anyone serious about self improvement and reaching their full potential. If you're looking for one book, this is it.

This book helps the reader keep his/her mind up and fight low self-esteem. However, chapter 1 says it all. After that, the books constantly repeats everything over and over again: "You can do anything you wanna do in life". That's all this book says only written in different words. Therefore, there's little knowledge to be gained here. This book is more like a treatment reminding you to always think highly of yourself. That's it.

This book is incredible. Makes total sense and easy to read even though the content is pretty deep. I've read it 3 times and highly recommend it. Recommend reading some of the book every day.

This book is one of the best and clearly defines what it takes an individual to be successful in their own life. Easy to understand, clear concepts to follow through and think straight to be successful! I know it is one of the best out there! I GIVE THEM AWAY TO MY CLIENTS AND FRIENDS!

If you're looking for the ultimate in self-development books this book is a must buy! Dr. Staples is a master at his craft and seeks to help you understand that the way you think about yourself and your life is a direct correlation to the outcomes you're receiving. If you are on a track to truly improve your life by undertanding the way you "think" about it, this book will definitely pave the way to acheiving all that you desire and deserve! I whole-heartedly thank Dr. Staples and hope he writes more!!

The Lee's book re-packages the basic teachings of Eastern Mysticism and conveys them to a modern audience. For instance the authors write about a mass spiritual awakening in which humankind finally comprehends the truth -- that "we are all one." This idea of monism has been around for ...well, a long time. In short, there is very little that is 'new' in the Lee's book.

1. The author refer to an energy called "Ki" which they claim is the natural bridge that connects body, mind, and spirit, and is the perfect tool for allowing people to feel and understand the universe's most profound truth. That 'truth' is the idea that everything is one. This they state is the thing, which allows humanity to go beyond current problems into a higher spiritual plane.

2. And it's here that the ideas stumble. Are you having family problems? Are you having work problems? Are you having health problems? The Lee's claim that you are not. You are rather experiencing an illusion. You aren't seeing things correctly. Everything is one. It's all the same. Good and bad circumstances don't exist - just circumstances.

3. See, the book tries to get people to go beyond the categories of ethics. You can't call rape or murder 'bad', because everything is one. The good is the bad and the bad is the good. If everyone would just understand that, then this world would be a better place.

4. However, this isn't ultimately a very satisfying answer. In fact, it's an answer that asks the person to ignore what they know to be true in their heart; that evil is real, the good is real. The Lee's ask their readers to pretend that all is one and to not 'solve' problems, but to see them as not problems at all. This is escapism - It's running from the problem instead of facing it.

5. The Lees ask why this most simple and important truth gone unheeded. For one, it's a very difficult world to live in. It's hard to believe that justice, mercy, hope, love, and goodness and all illusory.

6. The authors sate that the world is in political, religious, economic, and ecological crises of our own making. We need a mass spiritual awakening, in which billions truly realize that we are One. This would transform our world: children wouldn't starve, women wouldn't be brutalized, and young men wouldn't die in battle. I can't agree with their conclusion. People would still starve, and women would still be brutalized, and people would still die in battle, but nobody would care. Why? Because it's all good, because it's all one.

7. The Lees claim that the purpose of life is really no big deal, although people have generally viewed the question, "Why am I here?" as the ultimate in self-exploration. This is true. If someone truly believes all is one, then my life is no more significant than the lives of the bugs on the bumper of my car. The authors teach that we are here on earth in such and such shape, form, and mind to strive for the completion of our spiritual selves, not only as individuals but as the whole. That 'completion' is a recognition that all is one. We are a drop in the bucket. Far from offering hope, this offers hopelessness, and asks that we accept that and come to terms with it.

This book awakened me to a new concept that is the life of the soul. This book can be a light to human journey in this planet.

This is a follow up book to Grand Master Lee's Best seller book, Healing Society. If you enjoyed the book Healing Society, you're sure to enjoy this book. This book is a must read for those wanting to make a difference, and those who can make a difference. as Dr Lee says, "What we need now is an Earth-encompassing awareness. Loving Earth means that you recognize yourself as a member of the Earth community,". We are all members of Our Earth's community, and it is up to us to protect it.

The time is now for all of us to come forward as one to claim our inheritance of enlightenment. Dr. Lee tells us enlightenment is already ours, we only have to choose it. We need only allow ourself to "deprogram" the old and let in the new information that will heal ourselves, our community, and our society. Dahnhak is one way to activate our choice and learn tools to actualize our inherent enlightenment. This book will bring hope and peace to all.

If you were wondering what you could do to help change the world, then you must read Dr Il chi Lee's new book "The Twelve Enlightenments for Healing Society." Dr Lee's words go straight to the heart and show that with choice, a change in perspective, vision, and action, we can heal society. Give yourself a gift and buy this book, then buy one for someone else. It truly is a gift to the world.