Resources Books

Do your employees have the knowledge, information, and skills to make decisions and take action? According to the author, the answer to such a question lies in one word: learning. The author argues that a workforce of employees in a learning mode is the key to a company's success both now and in the future.

This book addresses four key issues that workplace learning must address: learning stages, context, learning styles, and desired outcomes. These issues are addressed with a learning system, for which the author presents a five-phase plan to creating such a learning system: exploration, envisioning, planning, development, and implementation/improvement.

The author also includes a sample of specific tools for developing an interest in learning, strategies, and programs for individual learning, learning in groups, one-on-one learning, and learning integrated into work.

'Linda Honold has produced the best book in its field. She shows clearly how learning and development can be a real force for positive change in organizations. The book is especially useful in focusing on practical, usable methods that can be applied in real life situations. It's also valuable because the approaches the book suggests are tried and tested. She comes from a background in organizational life so it's not some arm-chair theorising by an academic. Indeed I'd wish that the theoretical 'learning organization' folks would take note of this book. We need more practical, concrete approaches to improving learning not meandering theories.

This is a book that all trainers and developers should own.'

Linda Honold describes a system for helping everyone in your company learn to become more creative, responsive, efficient and team-oriented. She describes various techniques, including methods for developing an interest in learning and in self-knowledge, individual learning tools, mentoring, coaching and peer learning as well as strategies for helping people learn in groups. She pays particular attention to learning styles, drawing on the Myers-Briggs personality type system. This book speaks primarily to human resource professionals and to executives who might be setting up learning systems for their own companies. Others may find the book dry and overly concerned with the details of systematizing the serendipity of informal learning. But we [...] recommend this book to HR practitioners, and also to professionals delving into knowledge management, who will certainly benefit from this theoretical look at how people in companies actually learn.

Developing Employees Who Love To Learn: Tools, Strategies, And Programs For Promoting Learning At Work shows how any business scan create and implement a successful learning system that will improve employee performance and enhance company profits. Linda Honold (president and founder of Empowerment System, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide step-by-step, "user friendly" instructions on laying the groundwork for, and implement, the activities and programs that will generate meaningful, applicable employee learning. The informative text is augmented with numerous illustrative examples and features "The Learning Toolbox", a compendium of ninety practical tools and resources for creating a dynamic environment for both individual and group learning. Developing Employees Who Love To Learn is very highly recommended reading for corporate managers and human resource directors.

This book came to me just as I was grappling with the problem of providing a fresh learning experience for some 40 managers in a major retail company located near Los Angeles. The book was just what I needed to develop a learning plan that goes well beyond classroom-type training. The book provides a sophisticated learning model that is easy to understand and very practical.

The book is well organized. Ms. Honold provides a useful and up-to-date review of adult learning theory, but quickly moves on to present an impressive array of tools aimed at meeting the needs of people with widely varying learning styles. When it comes to learning one size does not fit all. (We seem to accept this idea for adults -- why not for younger students?)

This is a user-friendly book of great value to anyone who is looking for a fresh perspective on how to share information in an organization. There is a major emphasis on motivating the learner, a key point that often gets short shrift in books like this. Finally, and most importantly, Ms. Honold is obviously an experienced practitioner in creating enthusiasm for learning in a work setting. That experience is reflected throughout this excellent book.

This book (and the entire series) is a must-have for anyone interested in hard-rock mining in the Pacific Northwest. It is filled with not only technical information, but stories about the people who toiled in the mines as well. It is cliché to say, but it was hard to put down!

This book has launched many an adventure for me and my friends venturing into the woods to find that elusive adit, and has also fostered a new and very fun hobby as well - "Mine Hunting". I highly recommend it!

I love exploring old mines and tailing piles. This book showed me how to get to some of the best old gold mines and tailing piles I have ever prospected with a metal detector.

I just finished reading this book. I wasn't aware of the interesting history behind the old mines and mining camps I have come accross in the mountains of Washington State until I read this book. Now I am an athority on the subject and can't put the book down. This book should be a text book for every high school student of Washington State history.

This is a great book I have used it a lot to find the mines we take trips to the mines, so if you want help to the mines we a lot of gear and HIGH lift trucks to get there. please e-mail me at 2975@2die4.com or ICQ at #59209002

I have read many books on mining in the northwest, this is the most accurate. With this book I was able to follow the paths of the miners before me, it's amazing. The book provides so much information on a particular mine, I have to read it several times just to absorb the information. I have traveled to many of the mine locations in the book and never been disappointed. After reading about the history and exploring for myself, I can't wait for the second edition to be released. Most mining books talk about history yet never lead you to the magical place. With a GPS and a good compass, I have experienced a overwhelming respect for these writers. For once, I'm a kid again exploring the mountains for buried treasures. I have visited many of the historic sites this year, thanks to these writers I have truly experienced God's Country.

I'm tired of the hoopla about diversity. So when my colleague at work loaned me this book and encouraged me to read it, I did so reluctantly. In hindsight, I have to say I like the way the author got me involved from the beginning. She asks the reader to assume the role of a CEO whose company is in trouble. She wants to take me on a "journey" to help me understand how diversity can help turn my company around. I found that just a little hokey. But by business imperative #10, I was surprised at how the "journey" concept really had worked. I liked the idea that I actually did turn my company around and that it was selected as one of Fortune's most admired companies. That was clever on the part of the author. The reader is provided with lots of statistics on population trends and emerging market trends. It was almost too much, but the author certainly makes her point that the world's complexion is changing. That did get my attention. Although the statistics may have gotten a little exhaustive, her summary highlights at the end of each chapter are a great idea. Crib notes for executives, or anyone else, who don't want to take the time to read the entire book. She makes the important facts easy to retrieve. I thought the best chapters had to do with creativity and the war for talent. There was really some good stuff in there.The author's style is very direct and matter-of-fact, a plus for this subject which often gets emotionalized or overly philosophical for my taste. So, overall, I would say that this was a good read about a subject that was not of real interest to me, at least until now. I would recommend it highly to managers and human resource professionals.

This is one of the better books I've read on diversity. As the author states, there has been a lot written about why diversity is the right thing to do - why it's the politically correct thing to do. But when diversity is positioned that way, it still feels like affirmative action. It's still a focus on numbers. It's still lip service by companies that are concerned about legal liabilities. What Henry does is take a much more pragmatic approach. She focuses on the positive, bottom line, results businesses can realize when they leverage diversity. This book really underscores how diversity can be a competitive advantage. The author delves into the changing demographics. Her statistics are great, showing us that the workforce of tomorrow is increasingly diverse. So is the customer base. I didn't realize that the purchasing power of minorities here in the U.S. has grown so substantially. Henry reminds us that they are increasingly selective as well in terms of which companies they'll choose to buy goods and services from. I really liked her examples of marketing gaffes made by companies who fail to take the diversity of their customers into account. As the author points out, these blunders are examples of opportunities lost and costs to the company that come right off the bottom line. I'm impressed by the research, facts and statistics that the author compiles. Her bibliography and recommended resources are quite impressive. This is a really compelling call to action for businesses trying to compete in the global economy. I now understand what the author means by diversity is a "global necessity" whose time has come. The author argues with good back-up data that diversity needs to be embraced by organizations and no longer merely tolerated.

This is one of the better books I've read on diversity. As the author states, there has been a lot written about why diversity is the right thing to do - why it's the politically correct thing to do. But when diversity is positioned that way, it still feels like affirmative action. It's still a focus on numbers. It's still lip service by companies that are concerned about legal liabilities. What Henry does is take a much more pragmatic approach. She focuses on the positive, bottom line, results businesses can realize when they leverage diversity. This book really underscores how diversity can be a competitive advantage. The author delves into the changing demographics. Her statistics are great, showing us that the workforce of tomorrow is increasingly diverse. So is the customer base. I didn't realize that the purchasing power of minorities here in the U.S. has grown so substantially. Henry reminds us that they are increasingly selective as well in terms of which companies they'll choose to buy goods and services from. I really liked her examples of marketing gaffes made by companies who fail to take the diversity of their customers into account. As the author points out, these blunders are examples of opportunities lost and costs to the company that come right off the bottom line. I'm impressed by the research, facts and statistics that the author compiles. Her bibliography and recommended resources are quite impressive. This is a really compelling call to action for businesses trying to compete in the global economy. I now understand what the author means by diversity is a "global necessity" whose time has come. The author argues with good back-up data that diversity needs to be embraced by organizations and no longer merely tolerated.

This book is a bargain for anybody who's involved in diversity in the workplace. Pamela Henry has written the BEST argument I've ever read on why organizations need to start treating diversity seriously and incorporating it as a business strategy. She does so by discussing ten business "imperatives," which range from demographics, globalization and the war for talent, to business competencies like recruitment, retention, creativity and productivity. The author has done a lot of research. She also incorporates vignettes about her diversity experiences in Corporate America, sharing stories that really give the reader great insight into the advantages and challenges that diversity in the workplace offers. But that's not the best part of the book. The best is the second part in which Henry includes strategies, tactics, tools and metrics to launch and sustain a diversity initiative. She includes her 9-S model she's developed to give organizations a framework from which to plan and launch a diversity initiative. She includes great metrics and tools to ensure organizational accountability. The diversity scorecard is comprehensive. She even includes a cultural audit that is one of the best I've seen. Her insights into what skills and competencies leaders must acquire in order to create an inclusive culture that values all differences is really on target. So are her strategies and tactics for recruiting a diverse pipeline. This book needs to be read and utilized by companies that are serious about making a commitment to diversity and an inclusive culture. It's the best bargain going at $...

This book has everything a person interested in the field of diversity would want and it's very comprehensive. First, it has probably the best business case for diversity I've ever read. I really liked the fact that the author stuck to the bottom line implications of diversity and didn't stray into the philosophical or moral issues surrounding diversity. She really tells companies how they can leverage diversity to increase their profits. Second, the author's style is very straightforward. She supplements her arguments with facts and current statistics, and not leaps of faith. If you look at the end notes, you will see just how much research has gone into writing this book, which really adds to its credibility. Her chapter on the war for talent was especially compelling. She tells us that the shortage of skilled, technical labor is increasing. Worse, the U.S. is producing far fewer engineers needed to narrow this gap than many Asian and European competitors. The data the author presents is both convincing and scary at the same time. The numerous examples of costly mistakes companies have made by not understanding the cultures of the customers they were trying to sell to is interesting reading. It serves as a call to action for companies doing business in the global economy. The author does a good job of outlining the cost benefits of hiring right the first time. Replacement and retraining costs come right off the bottom line. Since the emerging workforce is increasingly diverse, her insights on how to source and recruit diverse talent are valuable. I also liked the chapter on creativity and how diversity creates greater bandwidth in experiences and perspectives that makes for better problem-solving and innovation. The author likens diversity to the "DNA" of creativity. Having no diversity at the table, she warns, is missing an opportunity to arrive at the "most elegant" solution. The tools that she includes in the second part of the book are awesome. Like I said, this is a great resource book for anyone interested in starting or managing a diversity program.

i want to write Report on ` Enterprise - The Human Aspects `

McGregor's work is classic. This is required reading for executives.

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

When I was in business school (back in the Dark Ages), McGregor was considered the finest thinker about organizational behavior. He grasped that behavioral science offered great promise for making organizations more effective and more desirable places to be.

Everyone was excited about the potential of his assumptions about people in the workplace: Employees want to do a good job; they will make extra effort to learn and accomplish more; they have the potential to much more; and it makes great sense to get everyone involved as much as possible. At the time, it seemed like the first breath of fresh air in the stale world of corporate bureaucracies. Although I haven't thought much about McGregor in over 20 years, I realize that I was profoundly influenced by his thinking.

Reading this fine book gave me a valuable new perspective on McGregor -- that a central weakness of many companies and managers is that the comapny's leadership is not consciously aware of what it assumes about its employees. While almost every company espouses humanistic and empowerment ideas and ideals, many continue to operate in the same old command and control way. Most of the focus is on creating carrots and sticks to manipulate behavior.

Why don't people get it? McGregor had figured out that managers don't think much about their assumptions about employees. McGregor made the important point that everyone needs to determine what those assumptions are (Can people be trusted? If yes, use Theory Y. If no, use Theory X). What happens now is that many people hold Theory X beliefs that employees cannot be trusted and but try to use Theory Y methods (that they can), and the mixed messages keep everyone confused. 'I want you to take full charge of this project, but check with me before doing anything.' Sound familiar?

In particular, managers don't really understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs. As simple needs are fulfilled, psychic needs become more important such as working on something that will make a difference. Chapters 6 and 7 are especially good on how intrinsic personal motivation is created.

This book is excellent in that it contains a retrospective perspective on McGregor as well as some of McGregor's own key essays. I especially enjoyed Warren Bennis's essay on the weaknesses in McGregor's argument: How do managers get their needs served if they are always servant leaders (see Joe Jaworski's excellent book, Synchronicity to get an answer to that) and what is the role of the environment on the needs of the worker in the workplace? Clearly, the Internet is one example of a new force that irresitibly is creating Theory Y contexts for accomplishment, independent of what managers do.

The main weakness of this book is that it does not point out that the limit to Theory Y was that McGregory did not give enough detail to make it possible to know exactly what to do. See Bill Jenson's book, Simplicity, for the significance of this mistake by McGregor.

Whether you believe that employees cannot be trusted or that they are your first line of offense and defense empowered on their own, you will benefit from reading and thinking about the questions and topics in this book. It can be an important step forward toward helping you build an irresistible growth enterprise.

This book is a real gem. The 140 pages or so of outline on McGregor's ideas is invaluable. I've read Human Side Of Enterprise, but the way the authors explain theory Y brought a lot of light to my understanding of McGregor's ideas. McGregor's ideas reach much farther than I realized, and the authors are virtuosos at explaining the real profundity in the Human Side of Enterprise. I recommend this book highly, even to those well versed in this stuff. I also learned a lot by the modern examples (like Lincoln Electric and Herman Miller) of companies which follow theory Y. Douglas McGregor does not have all the answers. But even if McGregor is not the last word on management, all future thinkers will have to grapple with the ideas and the questions (so many!) that he put forth.

Douglas McGregor's seminal works, The Human Side of Enterprise and The Professional Manager, debunked Taylorism and described a revolutionary way to manage people. He was the first to apply the findings in behavioural science to the world of business. Based on what had been learned about human behaviour, McGregor explored the implications of managing people in a different manner than tradition dictated.

Authors Gary Heil, Deborah Stephens and Warren Bennis assert that the nature of work today makes McGregor's ideas more important and relevant than ever before. This book revisits in a contemporary manner the most important question facing management today: given what we know about human nature, how should work be managed so as to unleash the vast creative potential of human beings? It applies McGregor's thinking to today's business world, proving again that the human aspect of work is crucial to organisational effectiveness. It also suggests how you can change your thinking and implement his ideas in your own business and workplace.

The authors carefully outline how to put McGregor's thinking into practice in your own business so you can devise a better performance management system, form and supervise effective management teams, build cooperation instead of internal competition, cultivate an intrinsically motivating, values-driven workplace and create a cause worthy of employee commitment.

Just what I needed to organize my thoughts on starting a drama ministry at our church. It gave me the confidence to go forward.

Great book, full of great ideas to help you start or revive a dram ministry.

I'm my churchs first drama director and I needed a resource to help me get our drama ministry off the ground. This is it. It is very well written and covers everything concerning a drama ministry. It includes many different kinds of acting exercises and the cd shows different blocking techniques that can be used on the same sketch. There are a number of recommended resources at the end of the book. It is a very interesting read from cover to cover and several scripts are included to explain various details. You won't be sorry you bought this book.

This book is just excellent and the best book for a drama ministry in the church that I know! There are a lot of helpful tools. This is a book, that everyone involved in Christian drama should read. You won't be disappointed!

I have been in drama ministry for about 30 years now and I've bought dozens of books. The Christian books have always been lacking in help developing the craft of acting. The secular books can be filled with techniques that aren't very wholesome.
"Drama Ministry" by Steve Pederson is a great no nonsence, nuts and bolts drama guide without all the worldly trappings. Steve is my hero. I'd love to meet him someday.

I love the art of Bev Doolittle. This is just a great book to add to my collection.

When I first looked at this book, I rolled my eyes. The Earth is My Mother? But when I opened the book, and I began to read, something made me want to cry, and make a difference. I understand Sarah's love for nature, and the inspiring tale of her makes me want to stand up and save the world. The way all her snapshots oddly made one picture of a mother, HER mother, OUR Mother, it just made me so happy. This book looked so..well..stupid, and right now, I can hardly believe my previous thoughts about it. I practically hugged this book. The next day, when I almost littered, I stopped myself, because I remembered this book. A life changing tale about a girl who makes a difference...all for her dead mother, and though she didn't know it, for herself...to protect Magic Canyon.

Another "earth" book I love for the illustrations is:
Dear Children of the Earth.
I also love a novel about how hope can work miracles, that is an all-time FAVORITE of mine:
The Secret Garden

This is a beautifully written adventure story set in the Southwest which my son and daughter, ages 10 and 11, both loved. It made a terrific family 'read aloud' for all of us. Like most kids today, they are conservationists and lovers of nature and Native American lore. The author artfully sets forth an important environmental issue, destruction of habitat, in an adventure-story format. The 11 year old heroine, Sarah, is brave and delightful, wrestling not only with saving the earth but family difficulties my kids empathized with. The illustrations by Bev Doolittle -- 'camoflague' art the kids loved to piece together -- are gorgeous. We loved it! I'm ordering a few copies for friends -- it's a great summer read for kids.

THE EARTH IS MY MOTHER is the tale of a girl named "Star" -- a spunky 11-year and a true heroine. EMM has been beautifully illustrated by Bev Doolittle--known for her "camouflage" Native American and wildlife artwork. Since millions of dollars from the proceeds of Ms. Doolittle's works have gone to support the National Wildlife Federation, you can imagine the major theme of this book is the preservation of the wilderness. The storyline is based on Ms. Doolittle's concept but the text was actually written by Elise Maclay, author of two books of poetry, "Approaching Autumn" and "Green Winter." EMM is a feast for the ear and the eye.

I cannot praise this book enough as it reflects all my core beliefs--that girls can be strong, brave, and caring individuals, that traditional cultures have much to teach us, that we are all part of the great circle of life, and that we are made from stardust and the earth is our mother.

As a childhood fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories, Thorton Burgess' "Old Mother West Wind" tales, and fan of American Indian traditions and lore as well as a lover of the great outdoors, I was pleased to discover a book I could hand to my granddaughters with these words, "You want to know what life is about? read this book."

If you and your children love nature and the outdoors, give yourself a treat and read this book together. I read this with my 10 year olds, and all three of us loved it. There is enough adventure to spark a child's imagination, and the tale provides opportunities for teaching one's children about important conservation issues. The artwork is wonderful, and we had the poster which is included with the book matted and framed. My girls love to look at the poster, and discuss again the details of the story that are depicted in this wonderful artwork by Bev Doolittle. This is a book that your children will remember and return to again and again.

Extremely useful set of forms and ideas for use in the restaurant industry. It is skewed towards full service restaurants; but still has lots of useful stuff to apply to QSR. Do not expect to find a treatise on training, though. The CD ROM helps to take advantage of the material because it has the full text on pdf format and several of the sections in MS-Word format.

Douglas Robert Brown's excellent reference tool is worth every penny and should be in every food service operator's reference library. I have recommended his book for my tea students for the last five years and am pleased to endorse the revised media. From the small tearoom owner to the chain restaurant, Mr. Brown's resource is a valuable tool. Carnelian Rose Tea - Tea Business School - Jennifer Petersen

There is not one page of information in this incredibly handsome book that is not useful. The book includes every possible form I can think of, and many many more I never thought about which would be incredibly useful to our business today! The companion CDROM of forms allowed us to use this book from day one. Highly recommended!!!

The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training is a no-nonsense, thorough resource covering the necessary training for all positions in the food service industry, from professional chef to maitre d to bartender and much more. Written in clear, easy-to-understand terms and charts spelling out explicit training instructions, and illustrated with some diagrams (such as a picture of how to properly set a formal table), The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training spares no effort to be as understandable as possible. No background knowledge in any trade is needed to grasp explicit instructions ranging from a step-by-step breakdown of the hostess job to the proper order of service for a luncheon handout to how one can go about creating a memorable presentation to food service employees, and much more. A CD-ROM accompanies this absolute must-have for anyone preparing for a career in food service, or charged with the responsibility of training food service recruits.

As a long-time user of The Restaurant Managers Handbook by Douglas R. Brown, I have found The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Forms and it's CD Rom to be the most complete and comprehensive selection of forms and ideas for every day and every situation that can or will arise in the food service business.

This book is job security. Fully loaded and easy to read. It even references actual cases for further research. If I had this book some time back I could have saved the employment of friends and family. GET THIS BOOK !!! Its like having armor.

Excellent, informative and enjoyable read. This book is extremely well-written. It offers a wide spectrum of Employment Law. I usually keep books like this on hand to skim through, as reference material. However, this book was such an enjoyable read, I didn't want to put it down!

Many thanks to the author.

pstroe@nac.net

I purchased an older edition of this book back in the early 90's and it has been my "bible" on the job ever since! This book is in a straightforward, easy to understand format and contains invaluable information for anyone who works.

Excellent source of information for the lay person. Covers topics which apply to situations encounterd daily. Must have background for all supervisors and anyone who prefers to avoid problems instead of solving them.

I have been in the Labor Movement for 32 Years and this is the MOST infomitive book I've read on Labor Laws. This book is Reader Friendly and in layman's terms, with references to just about Everything Workers need about Labor Rights. If your having legitament problems at your Workplace, GET this Book!!!

"Comprehensive" starts the subtitle, and Comprehensive it is! Too many print-handicapped people are forced to stumble through the multi-layered service system, picking up clues almost by accident until they "strike gold" in the person of a skilled counselor or librarian. Here is a full set of Tools for Learning, along with a user's guide! Important for every visually impaired student and family, vital for every school or school system's Special Education department. No less useful for those with serious learning disorders like dyslexia, or with challenging physical disabilities that prevent the easy handling of printed material. Yes, addresses and phone numbers may change; new organizations may develop; but this is a book that will be USED and that will repay its purchase many times over.

A volunteer at VISION Community Services, A Division of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, a lovely 85 year old who is legally blind and severely hearing impaired, mentioned that she was interested in the Guide (as the result of reading a review in our newsletter). I loaned her our library copy and here's what she had to say: "Spent several hours with the Field Guide. Every low vision person should have access to it. One bonus I reaped was a comprehensive description of major suppliers, what they supply and differences between them. Also, Leibs gave a useful assessment of assistive devices. This is bewildering to the newcomer to the field. In the end, I copied out several titles of Great Books to improve my mind. Several times I've tried Huckleberry Finn and quit in boredom. On the other hand, the Toni Morrison title caught my attention, I've been meaning to sample her. Don't expect to like it, but I might be surprised." She adds that it was also good to know the approximate cost of having a book reprinted in large print, and the major LP companies. Despite being legally blind, her vision is better than her hearing so she reads large print books. Her vision loss is due to glaucoma, so she retains some decent central vision.

This book is the "needle of a compass" for the blind and dyslexic. Kudos to Leibs for providing the best resource guide for the blind and dyslexic I've read! He's not only gathered countless resources and provided those in an easy to navigate format, but he's added his own personal struggles and discoveries that finally lead him to experience the sheer joy of reading. I've placed this book in a prominent location in my office and will refer to it often as it's truly the work of a research genius. Special attention should be paid to the Introduction as Leibs takes you on a poignant journey to his discovery of reading and shares his excitement as well as disappointment while uncovering the bliss of reading. Additionally, Leibs provides a "suggested reading" list with contact information on how and where to acquire these books. Truly, his passion for reading will no doubt inspire your own, whether you are a fully sighted reader or not. Kudos to Leibs! A gem of a book, and long overdue!

I picked up this book for the first time a few nights ago and was immediately hooked. As a legally blind consumer and as Director of Rehabilitation Services at an agency whose mission is to empower blind and visually impaired individuals, I was immediately moved by the significance of Mr. Leibs' work. I read late into the night, and my last thought before drifting off to sleep that night was that I wished that this book had been around 30 years ago -- it would most certainly have saved me and a lot of others who live with severe vision impairment or blindness a whole lot of struggle and grief!

This book is the only of its kind I've encountered. The information, both concisely and engagingly presented, opens a breathtaking vista of literature and learning to the lives of the visually impaired in providing guidance to independent access of the printed word!

This book is NOT another "how to live with a disability" book. It focuses on a very important aspect of life, the ABILITY to read, to INDEPENDENTLY access the written word. Leibs has put together an extensive listing of resources to empower the visually impaired reader. In addition, the personal experiences he shares in the book brought back a host of memories of my own educational odyssey. Like Leibs, I and many others with low vision have experienced much hit-and-miss in the process of learning what we needed to know to gain the access we desire and need to succeed. Leibs has put together all the pieces of a complex puzzle into a user-friendly guide that paves the way for others to learn the rudiments of what it takes to access our literary world!

In my opinion, this book should be put into the hands of every visually impaired child in this country. Leibs also targets librarians with this work, as their awareness of these resources may enhance their own knowledge and skills in providing support for visually impaired consumers. I would additionally recommend this book to seniors who constitute, by far, the largest population of visually impaired readers.

Many thanks to Mr. Leibs for a significant contribution to the education and quality of life of blind and visually impaired people!

This book should be in the hands of every sight-impaired student no later than age tweleve. Leibs has completely overhauled the orientation for reading among the blind from one of dependence on teachers and organizations to one of connecting INDEPENDENTLY to a really vast array of resources. This hardcover volume is quite easy to navigate - well designed and quite "user friendly".

We use this book on NOLS expeditions specifically because it treats conservation as a dilemma of competing moral values. It really helps our students, whether they are greenies or industrialists, to see all sides of an issue. And if we choose to carry a book like this at NOLS, it means we literally carry it in a backpack for the entire 30 day expedition, which speaks highly for the value of this book.

"I hope you read it [the book] for whatever understanding it provides. Then, when you get a chance, go and read the living things that it came from."
This, the last sentence in the book, powerfully wraps up an engrossing examination of both sides of the controversy on logging old-growth forests. Always on the side of the environmentalists, I came to understand and sympathize with the loggers who cut them down. Not an easy task for any writer to undertake. But Dietrich has done it, and done it well. No wonder he won a Pulitzer Prize. The writing is clear and sharp, and at times, poetic in imagery. Yes, I have been to the Olympic old-growth forests of which he speaks, and he is right when he says that the minute you enter them, there is magic. Even the loggers feel this. The stories of individuals, both on the side of timber and the side of trees, eloquently speak of passions and lifestyles, battles won and lost. Anita Goos is not someone I will soon forget. Dietrich tells of men and women who choose their battles, sometimes unwillingly, but who enter the fray with hearts and minds wholly in the cause.
It is well to follow this book with "The Hidden Forest" by Jon Luoma, written seven years later.

I read this book for my research paper on old growth forests. Originally I was going to just try to fly through it and take out the information that I needed for my paper, but as I read it I got really into it and almost forgot about my paper altogether! I think the best thing about this book is that it represents all sides of the issue. William Dietrich talks to cutters, truck drivers, biologists, environmentalists, foresters, and the community itself and tells all sides of the situation in his book. When I originally chose to do my paper on preservation of old growth forests, I was completely against cutting down of trees, and even though I am still not exactly for it, this book really helped me to be more open-minded and understand the different point of views...

I gained a deeper understanding of the conflicts surrounding forestry in the Pacific Northwest. The stories told in this book could never be explained or understood in a 30 second television news broadcast. And while much of the news is depressing, this book offers hope for a brighter future where science, conservation, forestry, and consumer interests can meet for the future use of our forest resources.

Natural resource management, like abortion, is one of those enormously complex political issues that too often gets reduced to dueling slogans and sound bites. William Dietrich does readers a great service by letting people from all sides of the issue (there are many more than two) speak at length, and by juxtaposing their views in ways that highlight similarities as well as differences. One of the book's running themes is that both loggers and environmentalists love the forests, but that each group has great difficulty seeing that quality in the other. Their mutual incomprehension is rooted in their utterly different ideas of why forests are important, and how humans ought to relate to them.

This deep philosophical difference is at least as old as the 20th century. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, and Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the US Forest Service, fought battles similar to the ones Dietrich describes back at the (last) turn of the century. Dietrich, a journalist writing about a present-day controversy, says very little about that history, and that choice makes the book less informative (and less helpful as a means to understanding the problem) than it might be.

Still, _The Final Forest_ is a valuable, well-balanced piece of journalism. It's a great resource for open-minded people on either side of the preservation vs. development debate, and a superb introduction for anyone coming to the issue for the first time.