Resources Books

This fantastic workbook is a labor of love and full of great solutions to complex business problems using the arts to facilitate collaboration at work. I bought this book to learn how to begin to facilitate corporate workshops using the arts for The Bite-Size Arts Ensemble, an organization I have created devoted to entrepreneurial growth for artists. Not only will it provide a platform to build on, but it will serve as the model for using arts based learning as a change agent in organizational development. Don't let the price of this book stop you! Buy it.

This is a great resource. It's a great collection of exercises that draw upon a wide variety of arts modalities. Each exercise is described in enough detail to be able to easily implement them.

This book was one of the first and best to explore using arts-based techniques and processes to address organizational issues. The introduction is a superb distillation of some of the reasons why the arts work in the business context and the exercises themselves are generally well thought-out and easy to use - they should be, as they come from some of the leading practitioners in this ever-growing field. The book may be expensive, but it is worth every cent for any trainer or facilitator who wants to take a more creative approach to their work.

I have discovered the power and the simplicity in finding/applying a wide variety of experiencial excercises that spark creativity and imagination in groups. The beauty of this valuable workbook is that it unleashes our hidden potentialities. I have successfully used these activities in private business and in non profit organizations and in every ocassion the results have been the creation of high energy and relevant discoveries among participants.
Thank you Arthur and Linda for your valuable contribution.

Arthur VanGundy has already given us just about every conceivable aid to creative work--from "Brain Boosters" to "101 Games" and "101 Activities." Now with Linda Naiman he delivers the most comprehensive and accessible creativity and innovation resource for groups I've ever seen.

And it's about time someone got business people to start thinking like artists. Anyone in business creativity, ideation, and new-product development will find the VanGundy-Naiman approach not only inspiring and fun but incredibly effective.

This binderful of brilliance would be a bargain at $900.

Ani Hurwitz, NYC PR pro and another grammar brat, recommended this book with glee in her voice. Professional writers enjoy having a few of these things around, for instant rulings on commonly encountered knots such as "which vs. that." Bryan Garner's American usage rule book is an uncommon delight. It does its basic job with panache, but there's so much added linguistic pleasure between these covers. When you find yourself (as I did) reading random entries for their wit, precision, and style, you have a winner. A distinguished, modern addition to your "how should I properly put this?" reference shelf. Excellent casual reading material for the guest bathroom, too.

If you're ever afraid that you've mistaken "it's" and "its," or if the sight of everyone reading "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" makes you terrified to write a note, you'll want a copy of this book on your desk. Although a good usage manual depends on the reader having some sense of style (enough to look up uncertain techniques or phrases), too many treat you either like a child or an English teacher, scolding you or explaining their advice in impenetrable jargon. (Many such books don't seem to have taken their own advice about simplicity and clarity.) "The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage" is the exception, a book about language that's well-written and inviting, one that doesn't make you feel like you're back in your grandmother's parlor having every sentence corrected. As one of the other reviewers notes, the range of sources and examples is phenomenal--one way you can double-check your phrasing is to see if you'd want to sound like the writers in Garner's citations. But I'm even more impressed with the simple organization and headings. I sometimes have trouble finding advice in a writer's reference because I can't recall the technical term for what I'm trying to do, but entries in Garner's book are easy to find and richly cross-referenced. Most important, Garner's ear for English is impeccable, and you'll want it listening (as it were) over your shoulder. He acknowledges long-held rules but--where applicable--demonstrates their obsolescence; he also recognizes new usages and gives fair warning of the connotations you risk if you use them before they've become standard.

Concise, clear, well-developed, and engrossing entries show Bryan A. Garner employs the annotations he presents in The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style. Not only is this abridged version of Garner's Modern American Usage fun and interesting to read (and shorter than the original, obviously), it covers the fundamental (all 360 pages worth) details of American English that anyone truly serious about the language should pay attention to.

Garner writes in the preface, "Although there are good, clarifying forces at work on the language, there are also bad, obscuring forces. And these bad forces tend to work most perniciously on people who are heedless of their language. It's hard to know such a thing, but this segment of society may well be on the rise.
"This book could never reach those people."

This dictionary makes one aware of those bad, obscuring forces and their effects. But it also effectively explains those misconceptions, misused forms, mispronunciations, needless variants, useless words, and, in many cases, how the "mistakes" evolved. Garner also gives longer essay entries confronting usage and style questions based on topic rather than word.

The over 2,000 quotations from publications (usually newspapers and books), serving as both good and bad examples, paint the objects of Garner's entries into a vibrant mural embodying effective American English. This visualization, combined with Garner's strewn-about humor, takes dry topics and makes them flow more easily for the average reader.

I find myself constantly going back and looking up things in this dictionary, because while few are going to remember everything in it, there's at least the chance of remembering there is a question on the word or subject. If you want answers, keeping The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style handy will likely help you find what you're looking for. (And yes, "Perfectly natural-sounding sentences end with prepositions, particularly when a verb with a preposition-particle appears at the end.")

I have found this not only to be very useful, but also it is ver readable. This book consists of enteries of common style, grammar, and word choice mistakes. It's ver easy to find what you are looking for because the enteries are in alphabetical order.

The enteries are quite fascinating to read. For example, is "data" plural or singular? What's the difference between "flaunt" and "flout"? Can you end a sentence with a preposition? Is the plural for octopus "octopi" or "octopuses?" The list goes on and on. This book is not dry at all. If you have any interest in language and writing, this is a necessity to have.

Fowler's guide is too British. Merriam-Webster's guide is much too descriptive and seeks the low ground too often. Garner strikes just the right balance between descriptive (what most people actually say in common practice) and prescriptive (what good usage should be). The result is that his guidance is high toned without being stuffy. He also gives excellent counsel on proper pronunciation of words that confuse many. This is also fun to read!

Having a close family member recently diagnosed with Panic Anxiety Disorder, I found the book extremely useful in both understanding the illness and knowing how to support this person. The author provides easy-to-understand details about the illness and solid ways of supporting loved-ones. Now, I feel like I can talk to my family member and no longer have to side-step the discussion. A must-read for anyone who has loved ones with this condition.

Having personal experience with an anxiety disorder, I found Linda's book to have practical, reassuring information that I have been searching for for a long time. No one can really understand an anxiety disorder unless they have first-hand knowledge of it. The author speaks from her heart. Many of the mental-health professionals I have spoken to do not have this level of insight.

I'd heard about Linda's upcoming tips book on Panic and Anxiety Disorder, but wasn't really interested in reading it, mainly because it was a "tips" book; I've seen those booklets in the check-out line, and always considered them vague and rather gimmicky. So, when I first picked up "Panic and Anxiety Disorder, 121 Tips, Real-life Advice, Resources & More", not only was I surprised by its book-like appearance, I was also drawn to its calm, down-to-earth approach to self-help. Yes, there are numbered tips, but as I read, I realized this wasn't implicitly for someone coping with anxiety disorders; Linda has written to everybody. Her tips, while pinpointing individual aspects of anxiety, actually address the very simple, basic, moment-by-moment steps to follow in order to successfully survive just about any stressful inner conflict. From digging in the earth to truly relearning the art of breathing, Linda's guidance is straightforward and simultaneously profound. Not leaving any stone unturned, Linda has dedicated an entire chapter to folks who've found themselves in the challenging role of support, and included numerous sources of additional literature and information.

Linda Manassee Buell has written this book with the compassion and personal landscape of someone who's lived in the cave of fear, and who's triumphantly emerged into the sunshine.

'This is a little book.......filled with
amazing tips....in order to overcome anxiety
and panic attacks....I am majoring in Clinical
Psychology at the University.....and I am too
suffered from panic attacks since 17 years old..
so the advices she give us in her book....are so
simple and practical..coming from a wonderful
woman who also knows how to experiment a full
panic attack...I recommend this book to all
people who is feeling alone.......who feels that
nobody understands.......you will connect with
the compassive Linda...who shares with us....all
the tips available to handle this uneasy condition...
Buy this book....you will not regret.......the message
there is.....THAT YOU CAN LIVE A FULL LIFE EVEN
WITH THIS CONDITION...like everyone else!!!

This book is a valuable addition to the others on the subject. Written in a direct and compassionate voice, it provides great insight and assistance to anyone connected to this disorder. I myself do not suffer from it; however, I'm close to a number of people who do. This book is a tremendous help to those of us who must learn to cope with a loved one who has a panic/anxiety disorder. And it provides an excellent tool to begin safely discussing the topic with that loved one. Lastly, I've had the privilege to meet the author on a couple occasions and talk about the issue -- she is truly knowledgeable, sensitive, and passionate about it.

Finally! A simple, informative perspective on the complex office dynamics that so many of us face. The scenarios are well laid out and the examples easy to relate to. While other discussions of office dynamics tend to over-analyze situations, this book provided me with a straightforward roadmap to recognize and deal with daily personnel issues.

In an easy-reading format the authors have pointed out many office situations that relate to family situations. They give practical and useful suggestions for handling these problems. Worthwhile reading for anyone who works in an office setting.

This book is a must for anyone who has to manage people in an office, organization, and even on a committee. It is easy and interesting reading and a MUST to understand why the people you manage behave as they do.

Many of the issues raised in the workplace are also common to family life, from the desire of the youngest to rival the oldest child to bullying and rivalry. Parenting The Office equates these lessons learned from children to business and family life alike, using case histories to discuss applications and clarify problems.

I thought the book was a very fun and informative read!! I thought the best thing about the book was that it gave a model to understand and apply real-life management techniques in my office. The book caused me to think about the myriad of situations that happen in my office and how I can handle them better. My wife read the book as well. She was fond of it as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who deals with people in a business situation!!

My wife needed this book for an Astronomy class. She wanted a book with a two cds and not all marked up. I got it for a good price and it looks like a new book with no extra marks. I am very impressed with the quick delivery time, the ease of ordering and the condition of the book. I was also kept posted on the sent date and anticipated delivery date and it was accurate. This was very much appreciated, especially during the holiday season. Good Job!

I received this book through Amazon way before my class started. I saved quite a few bucks and it came in mint condition.

This book is very thorough and not too grotesquely boring. Accounting textbooks can seem to drag on and on but the information in this book seems to all be relevant and pertinent. There are plenty of review questions and problems at the end of each chapter and the chapters do build on each other well, so the further into the book, the more questions from previous chapters. Some other nice things about this book are the continuation problems that utilize the posting of payroll accounts and ledger pages to further help the student grasp the content.
The CDs included are wonderfully useful, too. There doesn't seem to be a relevance issue with this text as I have experienced with textbooks in the past.

Good book, but the problems in the chapter reviews could be more discriptive as to what answer the want.

I have found this book to be very helpful in gaining a practical understanding in the workings of a Payroll function. This book has helped the entire department which has recently started performing the US payrolls for our organisation. I hope that a listing of courses that currently use this book as a recomemded text is included in its next edition.

Wally Bock's Performance Talk is a must-have for managers of all levels, in all industries. I currently am in management at one of the largest financial institutions in the world, and have truly valued Bock's down-to-earth, story telling approach to management. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about, as well as striving to improve, his/her own management style.

10 May 2006:

Performance Talk is, in my view, a minor masterpiece, maybe even
a future classic.

For years I trained supervisors and first line managers all over the USA. So, I know whereof I speak.

Wally Bock capture, engage, and reveal every possible point of friction a new manager faces.

He clarify the challenges all new managers endure.

He delineates principles, postures, and practices that yield more effective performance. Performance by the manager and performance
by subordinates.

Burt Dubin, president,
Personal Achievement Institute

____________________________________________________

Managing people is difficult. Through story dialogue Bock's book introduces the reader to topics which strengthen management skills. Key points are absorbed without having to take notes or study the material. Reminders and resources highlight concepts and are located throughout this concise book. For in depth study, workbooks and learning aids are conveniently available on the web site. Performance Talk supplements other courses on management and self-development with a painless and easy to read format.

I normally stay away from (a) books on leadership and (b) business books written in story form. But Wally is one of the smartest guys I know, and this little book is surprisingly entertaining and useful. Unlike other books on leadership which are ponderous and dull, this book is fun and motivating.

If you are in the business of managing people then this book is a must read. "Performance Talk" is easy reading, a little over a 100 pages, and a book you will not want to put down. This book needs to be in every Manager's tool box and should be required reading for ALL Supervisors regardless of the industry or profession they work in. "This stuff really works!"

A thoughtful, accessible plunge into the subject of human nature and our impact on biodiversity.

Russ Finley, evoking the wit of Studs Terkel, the scientific eye of Jacques Cousteau and the wisdom of Dr. John Gray, takes the reader on a free ranging tour through the historical and current debates on population, biodiversity and the male-female dynamic. Entertaining, educational and always insightful, this well referenced work will have you chuckling as you reassess commonly held beliefs on the environment, politics and the choices we all make in life.

"Poison Darts" is really two stories in one. Volume I, a quick read, is an entertaining fictional story. It illustrates a world where a clever think tank of specialists, each devoted to protecting the environment in their own special way, basically save the world from certain environmental catastrophe. It all revolves around the "TIFIC" or the "Take It and Forget It Contrapceptive" as it is named in the book, and the effects our ever growing population has on the environment. The story lays out in detail Finley's theory on why our environment is being destroyed and his solutions to many of the most challenging problems our world has ever seen.

Finley, is more realistic than many environmentalists I have ever read the work of. Working on the proven but unaccepted idea that the "noble savage" is a myth, Finley bluntly tells the story of future environmental degredation at human hands. His solutions to the difficulty encountered in preserving the environment are quite different. Instead of the all too familiar approach of just roping off the wilderness, and making laws against environmental damage, Finley proposes that the reason for the destruction of our eco-system is mostly because of the amazing growth in world population over the last 100 years. His pushing for the development of the "TIFIC" is a main theme in this book and he continually discusses the connection between a rapidly growing world population and environmental destruction. His theory of reducing the world population by all but eliminating unwanted pregnancies (using the TIFIC) is the key to saving the environment from human destruction. If there are less people, they will not use as much of the Earth's resources, and thus there will be far less environmental damage. Volume I is a witty, interesting story that gives the reader hope that a solution to the problems that come with preserving biodiversity are possible to impliment.

Volume II is downright scary. Instead of taking place in a fictional world, Finley is dead honest in describing what is happening in our world and why we must act quickly to save the Earth. Finley doesn't tree hug, or say we shouldn't destroy eco-systems because they are beautiful. He explains point blank why the destruction of the eco-system will really hurt human kind and the environment alike, and will most likely lead to irreversible destruction. Finley, and engineer, takes a more analytical look at the problems we face as a planet, and the difficulty caused by not making any attempt to solve such problems.

This book (Volumes I&II) is essential reading for those who care about preserving the planet's biodiversity, and are interested in solving the problems caused by its destruction. This book does not do much finger pointing, just analyzes the main causes of environmental destruction, and presents solutions to such problems.

Finley's analysis of our world and human kind's effect on the environment is well written, descriptive, and realistic in its attempt to solve the problems we will face in the future. This is a great book, I recommend buying this book, and circulating it among your neighbors and friends after you finish reading it.

Enjoy!

This is a two-volume book about a hypothetical contraceptive, the "Take It and Forget It Contraceptive" (TIFIC) which Russ Finley believes is just what the world needs in order to stem its population and prevent the loss of biodiversity.

Here's how a hypothetical TIFIC might work: a vaccine is made that "creates antibodies that deactivate sperm cells by interfering" with "the operation of their little tails." (Vol. I, p. 20) This works for both men and women. Fertility would be restored by having both prospective parents take a daily antidote pill until conception is achieved. Finley's idea is that nearly everybody would want to have the vaccination so that they wouldn't have to worry about unwanted pregnancies--the "take it and forget it" aspect.

In Volume I Finley writes a novel in which a rain forest frog and its tadpole supply the contraceptive and its antidote. The problem with the novel is that it lacks tension and is rather flat emotionally. The characters and the story are primarily vehicles for the dissemination of Finley's ideas. However, Volume Two, which is a collection of Finley's writings on overpopulation and allied concerns, contains some of the best writing on this subject that I have ever read.

Finley's main point, and one that few in the environmental debate seem to get, is that we are NOT going to save the biodiversity of the planet by good intentions or any combination thereof, simply because human nature is such that we will always look out for our own welfare first while the welfare of other beings, especially if they are distant, will be of secondary importance. I once asked a student of mine who wanted to have half a dozen children, if she would be willing to forgo having one of them to save the tigers. She said no.

At least she was honest. Most people would not even give up the convenience of their SUV for the tigers (if such a thing were possible). Indeed, another one of Finley's points is that "There is no mechanism to shift resources" from those who have them in the US to those in, say, Africa, who do not. He believes that the profit motive and status-seeking behaviors of humans override "most ideologies that do not have those drives as part of them." (Vol II, p. 16)

Note well that Finley wants our population to stop growing immediately because the more people there are, the more they will expand and bring about the extinction of other forms of life. Indeed, Finley believes we already have too many people on this planet. I agree with him and his assertion that both Malthus and Paul Ehrlich will ultimately be proven right, and that sophists like the late Julian Simon will be proven wrong.

Here are some examples of Finley's insight and his considerable expertise (page numbers are from Volume II):

"...[O]verpopulation has always been a local problem...When the people of Easter Island were starving to death, the planet was far from overpopulated. The archaeological record is rife with example of populations that have crashed because of overpopulation..." (p. 24)

"I prefer a definition that says you have overpopulation whenever you have people living at the subsistence level. If you assume that people who live on less than $2 a day are at the subsistence level, then roughly half of the people in the world are living in overpopulated boundaries." (p. 53)

"Once a Chinese peasant can afford a scooter, he will obtain one, and when he can afford an SUV, he will obtain one of those too. The instinctive urge to continuously seek higher status does not satiate itself." (p. 56)

"The economic systems available to us fall into a spectrum. At one end, you will find unbridled capitalism and the use of slaves...As you move toward the middle, you will find regulated free markets. This is capitalism with rules in place to limit how badly people with power can abuse those who are making them rich." (p. 76)

"Attempts to reduce CO2 levels are treating the symptoms of what ails our planet, not the cause. The cause is overpopulation--the needs, and the desires of billions of people...Giving aspirin to reduce the discomfort of a fever--global warming--is not as effective as prescribing an antibiotic--the TIFIC--that would reduce the number of agents that caused the fever--us." (p. 92)

"...[T]he people in China and India have an average ecological footprint that is many times lower than yours or mine...[Yet] China's and India's destroyed ecosystems are the perfect experiments showing that lowering one's ecological footprint all the way down to that of a rice eating peasant will not save the planet." (pp. 113-114)

Finally, let me quote from the Prologue to Volume I: "...[How] do you allow people to satiate their status-seeking urges (which are closely related to sexual urges) without allowing them to advertise their prowess with trophies--books, published papers, houses, remodels, or cars? The answer is revealing--you can't. Tell people that they must stop having sex and seeking status is no different than telling them that they must stop walking upright. You couldn't call yourself a normal healthy human if you stopped doing all of those things. You cannot change human nature." (p. iv)

This work would be more effective if Finley would publish the second volume (with the prologue to Volume I) separately. It would also help if he would hire a professional editor. His writing is incisive and persuasive, and what he says needs to be heard. His refutation of Julian Simon was especially instructive. His metaphor that frogs are the canaries in the coal mine that is our planet (and that frogs can save us) is well taken and alarming. Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a frog?

If professional editing is indeed what this book needs to ensure that its message is heard, as some of the reveiwers seem to think, then let us hope a professional editor who cares contacts Russell soon.

As a relatively undemanding reader with a quest to know more, I simply found it easy to read, funny and refreshingly down to earth, realistic and human. I was looking for solutions rather than problems, and solutions that recognised that what drives most adult humans, for better and worse, is greed.

I am someone who has happened rather belatedly upon a concern for the environment, and the critical importance of maintaining bio-diversity, due to finding out about Peak Oil. Having grasped the implications of resource depletion, I immediately fell into a doomsday depression, coupled with a burning desire to impress upon everyone the urgent need to restrain their consumption and live a simple life. Not long after that, I realised the futility of "rioting for austerity". I therefore decided to be optimistic, and place my faith in human ingenuity, like my father's hero Paul Simon, despite mounting evidence that the Ehrlichs were right in all but timing.

One of the many encouraging points that Russell makes in this book is that both Simon and the Ehrlichs were right, and what is more, Simon's point about the potential of human ingenuity to overcome problems means that one plank of Russell's solution - creating well protected reserves of bio-diversity - simply gives humans the opportunity to demonstrate that ingenuity sooner rather than later. (Unfortunately, just to prove how urgent the message is, since publishing the book, the agreement to develop ANWAR has gone ahead - enough oil to last the US 200 days in exchange for an arctic wilderness of inestimable value to future generations. Go figure).

As a former marketing professional, I can quite see how the other plank of his solution - the Take It and Forget It contraceptive (with antidote), for men or women, is a winner - and worthy of investment in research.

When I understood that the likely investment to bring this contraceptive to reality (it is already a partial reality for animals), coupled with the costs of preserving 70% of the world's current biodiversity, is less than the cost of a few days war in IRAQ, I wished I was Bill Gates.

Humans are a very successful species. They are so successful that they have circumvented evolution and ecology to a point where significant selection pressures applied to the human population have been nearly severed. With the simple act of passing along DNA, the human population has exploded to an unprecedented level. Over the past several thousands years of human existence on the planet earth, several major technological events occurred that have bumped up the carrying capacity of the population.

For thousands of years, humans were supposedly hunters and gatherers - but, if the truth were known, they were probably more like gatherers and scavengers, since some recent evidence has debunked the image of the "mighty human hunter." At any rate, this lifestyle can only provide support for a limited number of people - and as a result, the human population remained low for thousands of years.

Agriculture was invented around 8 to 9 thousand years ago, no fewer than 10 times by various cultures. Along with this paradigm shift in food management, came stabilized living areas (as opposed to a nomadic existence) and the domestication of animals. The invention of agriculture bumped the carrying capacity significantly - a population increase began.

With the stabilization of humans came cities, industrialization, and manufacturing of goods - first with simple metals, initiating historical periods, like the Bronze and Iron Ages, to the Industrial Revolution, that allowed the population to grow even more.

The Industrial Revolution gave way to the Age of Medicine, and the Space and Computer Ages. These later periods led to the greatest human population explosion ever witnessed. These historical events were the necessary paradigm shifts that allowed the short-changing and short-circuiting of evolution and natural selection.

As a result of this snow-ball effect of passing DNA along from generation to generation, and the lack of a natural "check" on the population that can significantly keep the population to naturally manageable numbers, the environment on earth has experienced a catastrophic and detrimental decrease in biodiversity.

In order to support such a massive and "out of control" human population, natural resources need to be harvested, mined, gathered, and processed at a phenomenal rate. Most of these materials are not renewable, and those that are, cannot be renewed at the rate the human population is growing. With the gathering of natural resources by an irresponsible species, with a lack of understanding of basic biological principles, ecological doom is soon to occur. The earth can handle only so much manipulation. The organic and inorganic cycles of the planet can only function to a certain limit - the biogeochemical cycles have their thresholds - and humans are pushing these cycles to their limits.

Not only is the harvesting of resources detrimental to the planet - but so is the destruction of natural ecosystems to make room for more humans - urban sprawl, city growth, and the development and construction of canals, dams, highways, and related infrastructure are only a few examples of how the environment is being manipulated and fragmented for the benefit of humans.

The past few years have witnessed the explosion of the "Information Age" - the invention of the Internet and the ready exchange of ideas via electronic means. People have the ability to access tons of information that they otherwise would not have access to. Using this to their advantage, environmental groups are reaching out to an otherwise ignorant population, and educating them on the perils of human meddling in the natural systems of the planet. A faint cry can be heard - a cry of concern, shame, and worry. The environment is falling apart, and a crippled scramble is manifesting an attempt to address the environmental damage created by humans. But is it enough? Will humans maintain the status quo of being a creature that doesn't react to a crisis until the 11th hour?

Enter Russ Finley. No doubt he has fretted with these questions throughout his life. What is the solution to this looming "end of the world as we know it?" He is rich with ideas, and he successfully created a means to communication his ideas for the greater good - he wrote a book entitled "Poison Darts."

In this brilliantly written book, divided into two sections, Russ Finley addresses the looming doom head-on. Although part I of the book is science fiction in nature, it presents plausible and reasonable solutions to the human over-population problem. Once the speeding human population freight train is under control, the rape of the earth can stop - and the healing can begin. Part II contains a series of essays of an intellectual character that concentrates on many of the issues discussed and explored in part I.

The first section is about a non-profit group that engineers a pill to neutralize sperm cells and switch the cells over to a non-viable form. This allows the prevention of un-planned pregnancies. It's a clever strategy and if distributed properly, can be very effective in inserting a "check" back into the human population. In addition, the group also starts to set aside and preserve the last undeveloped tracts of land throughout the world. Of course, the group also ensures the properties are protected from poachers, loggers, etc. with an elite team of soldiers, trained to keep the peace and the land safe from unscrupulous people.

As a result of placing a control on the human population, many of the environmental problems and issues have a chance of being reversed. But, it will take a tremendous effort to maintain this new "way of doing things." Russ Finley has thought of nearly everything when writing this fictional account. The story provides plenty of "food for thought" and allows the reader to ponder the fate of the human species, and the planet earth.

The book is sprinkled with scientific facts, which makes it interesting reading. Also, the book is supported by a web page. Uniform resource locators (URLs) are cited throughout the text, and the reader can refer to these URLs for updated links and information. This allows for the text to never be out of date.

The essays in Part II continue the discussion with focused queries into the many environmental issues facing the planet today. The essays can be read independently from Part I and can be read in any order. If you are avid student of the world with an environmental twist, this book is a must-read.

Before MLK, Gandhi, Tolstoy, or Thoreau, there was the brilliant Etienne de La Boetie, who explored civil disobedience, resistance to tyranny, and the brutal exploitative nature of the state.

Murray N. Rothbard's insightful introduction places this pioneering work in historical context and in the pantheon of Libertarian classics.

Boetie wrote his "Discourse" around 1553 when he was about 22 years of age and a student at the University of Orleans. This libertarian essay, two centuries ahead of its time, was never published by the Catholic and soon-to-be conservative Boetie. Huguenots published it anonymously in 1574 and fully credited it in 1576 (Boetie died in 1563 at 32 years of age).

The "Discourse" is an abstract, universal, naturally reasoned argument passionately calling for widespread civil disobedience to tyranny. Harold Laski later made the observation that "A sense of popular right such as the Friend of Montaigne [Boetie] depicts is, indeed, as remote from the spirit of the time as the anarchy of Herbert Spencer in an age committed to government interference" (see his "A Defence of Liberty Against Tyrants, p 11). Boetie appealed to man's universal nature rather than presumed or real historical precedents resulting in a timeless document that speaks to all ages.

Boetie begins "I should like merely to understand how it happens that so many men, so many villages, so many cities, so many nations, sometimes suffer under a single tyrant who has no other power than the power they give him; who is able to harm them only to the extent to which they have the willingness to bear with him . . .". He asks "Shall we call subjection to such a leader cowardice? . . . If a hundred, if a thousand endure the caprice of a single man, should we not rather say that they lack not the courage but the desire to rise against him, and that such an attitude indicates indifference rather than cowardice? . . . What monstrous vice, then, is this which does not even deserve to be called cowardice, a vice for which no term can be found vile enough?"

Boetie made a profound insight into the nature of the State - all states, including tyrannous ones, are based upon general popular acceptance.

Boetie continues "If we led our lives according to the ways intended by nature and the lessons taught by her, we should be intuitively obedient to our parents; later we should adopt reason as our guide and become slaves to nobody". He says ". . . there can be no further doubt that we are all naturally free", and asks "what evil chance has so denatured man that he, the only creature really born to be free, lacks the memory of his original condition and the desire to return to it?"

"He who thus domineers over you . . . How does he have any power over you except through you? How would he dare assail you if he had no cooperation from you?", he asks, ". . . you can deliver yourself if you try, not by taking action, but merely by willing to be free. Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed".

Boetie is saying that tyranny dissolves when the majority of the ruled withdraws its consent and thereby deprives the ruling minority of its support and grudging acceptance. Yet, the ruled seldom accomplish this. Boetie tells us the reason is "habituation":

"It is true that in the beginning men submit under constraint and by force; but those who come after them obey without regret and perform willingly what their predecessors had done because they had to. This is why men born under the yoke and then nourished and reared in slavery are content, without further effort, to live in their native circumstance, unaware of any other state or right, and considering as quite natural the condition into which they are born . . . it is clear enough that the powerful influence of custom is in no respect more compelling than in this, namely, habituation to subjection. It is said that . . . nature . . . has less power over us than custom."

Boetie made a second profound insight into the nature of the State - all states are in essence a hierarchy of privilege that benefits a limited minority. In his illustration of this point, Boetie employes the language of natural law and natural rights.

Boetie also noted the State's use of propaganda and techniques of information warfare (IW) employed upon its subjects to maintain servility. He says "it has always happened that tyrants, in order to strengthen their power, have made every effort to train their people not only in obedience and servility toward themselves, but also in adoration."

In conclusion, Boetie should be considered the first "Gandhi" or advocate of civil disobedience and it should be noted that he grounded his notions in man's natural right to liberty as dictated by natural law. His insights into the State ring true today. Modern Americans allow themselves to be regulated, taxed, and shipped off to invade and bomb their global neighbors to the same extent as their "cousins" across the pond in the United Kingdom - a phenomenon that no doubt has their liberty-loving forefathers rolling in their graves. Boetie hoped education would induce the withdrawal of consent, but as his turn to conservatism lays tribute, it is the weight of the yoke that prompts any reaction.

"...And you are at once free. I do not ask that you place hands on the tyrant, but merely cease to obey him, and you will see him, like a colossus, fall of his own weight and break into pieces." So begins this short classic. It reads as if written with words of fire. Astonishing clarity and moral certitude bathe the ideas expressed. There is no room for temporarizing in La Boiete; the breathtaking clarity of his ideas blew cobwebs from my mind. It was like learning to walk on two legs instead of four. Some toung in cheek references to how his rhetoric does not apply to the France of the Capetian dynasty merely add flavor and wit to his insights. Non-violent resistance and civil disobedience both trace their modern pedigrees to this work. This is a book for the ages, and it is a shame that it is not widely available in English. (Knowledge Products excerpts it on tape in their, "Giants of Political Thought" cassette series.) I wish every student could be given a copy of this book; then, our liberty would face a brighter future than now appears to be the case. -Lloyd A. Conway

"The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude" has influencedsome of the world's greatest social thinkers; from Leo Tolstoy toMohandus Gandhi to Ayn Rand. Written in the 1550s, as something of an underground tract or pamphlet by a young French student and friend of essayist Michelle de Montaigne, this short work remains a timeless expose of the psychology and inherent corruption involved in social or political power. The work has been in and out of print in English (Some of its various titles over the years were "Slaves By Choice," "Anti-Dictator," "The Will To Bondage," and "The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude"). In North America it has been out of print for some time now, unfortunately. Since its original circulation in the early 1550s as "de la servitude volontaire ou contr'un," this short but powerful work seems to find its way back into print whenever the winds of social change began blowing toward tyranny.

Etienne de la Boetie's THE POLITICS OF OBEDIENCE has also been named THE WILL TO BONDAGE edited by James J. Martin. The focus of the Boetie's book is the fact that the "Terrible Tyrant" is often a wimp and a coward and only survives because of the sychophants who readily obey him and betray each other to prove their loyalty.

Boetie cites historical examples of tyrants who ruled large populations due to the fact that their immediate supporters and the masses of people were immune to thinking that they could do better if their changes or regime changes. Yet, history provided very few examples up to the time of Boetie(the 16th. century). Boetie witnessed some of the excesses of the Reformation and Counter Reformation and the fact that tyrants were only too willing to take advantage of religious hatred to exploit their subjects.

Boetie's work is relevant in the 21st. century. The game of politics has not changed much except for the fact that The State has expanded exponentially since the 16th century. Boetie's argument that thinking only have to withdraw their support to bring the State to its knees which Ghandi did in India. Yet, there are so few surviving examples of this political ploy to expect too much except to write for the record.

What has made the situation worse is that the State has layers of burcaucracy with brainless bureaucrats who staff these powerful offices. These bureaucrats are basically useless and stupid and easily fit James J. Martin's description as "The New Stupid." They are useless which is why the State has made them indespensible.

This book has been reissued only a few times since it was first published in 1577. Yet, the reappearence of this book is a good sign that some people still consider it an important study in understanding the State

I strongly believe in the power of prayer and credit it for helping me in my low-carb weight loss journey back in 2004. God gave me the strength to stay on plan even when I felt like giving up and He rewarded me with a 180-pound weight loss in just one year. So naturally I am supportive of anyone who wishes to implore the Almighty as part of their weight management plan.

The Prayer Diet espoused by Dr. Matthew Anderson is focused specifically on making prayer the central focus of your weight and health plan. By taking the focus off of food, your weight, the health problems you may be facing, and all those other issues that tend to dominate the discussion regarding your diet, Dr. Anderson shifts the focus to God where it belongs and His sovereignty to make the necessary changes in you to bring about weight loss.

If you're not a Christian, then you probably won't understand why this diet could possibly work for you. But any believer who trusts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will tell you how essential prayer is to a healthy spiritual life. And The Prayer Diet simply extends this to your physical life, too. Specific prayers for yourself and others are included in the book to help guide you towards God's will regarding the weight and health of you and your loved ones.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to face the underlying causes of compulsive overeating. This book was the first step on a journey of making changes in my relationship to food. I wrote down many of the prayers and carry them with me. I believe the prayers made me aware of and receptive to the "compassionate and wise sources of healing" that are available to everyone.

One person in a review above gave one star, saying she didn't have the book, that everyone raved about it, but didn't say how much they lost, how long it took and if things in the book helped them keep it off. This misses the point of the book. I was drawn to it because I know prayer works for other things and I thought, why not for weight loss? But there are so many more gifts in the book, or actually, ways to give yourself gifts. The book is very well written too. Dr. Cooper manages to gradually add, in each succeeding chapter, more depth to what he had written in the chapters before. It is a book I will refer to again and again.

Anderson is no Billy Graham type. In his introduction you will find out he is definintely a different kind of Christian Minister. His writing and beliefs sounded New Agey to me but to my surprise, by page 162 Anderson was criticizing the New Age movement for its lack of depth and discipline of mind and heart. He says the New Age movements cannot provide guidance into the dark areas of life such as grief, self hate and self sacrifice. I agree with him on this point.

Anderson's ideas about weight loss are based on two assumptions: first, that man is instinctively spiritual and secondly, that Americans are spiritually deprived.

Anderson's solution to overweight is not so unique. He takes the perspective of Overeaters Anon that people can be addicted to food and that they are powerless to end the addiction on their own. They need divine intervention and must be in constant prayer. Interestingly Anderson says we are not to ask God to reach a specific target weight. Our ideal weight should be left to the will of God.

The highlight of the book is the Dieter's Prayer to be said before each meal. There are other prayers as well to deal with the difficult emotions that contribute to over weight.

It was a very interesting and motivational book. Easy to read and easy to follow. Throw away those diet books and take on Anderson's prayer challenge

What a great book! I couldnt put down this book and read it in less than one week. I am a Jewish man who has fought the battle of food addiction my whole life. After OA, hypnosis, therapy, medications and a lifetime of frustration, Dr Anderson has opened up my eyes to the world of prayer in fighting my weight problem. This book has released me from the self-imposed restrictions of asking God for help and believing that I was not worthy nor capable of receiving it. Dr Anderson is upfront and personal in his style. You get the feeling that he really does understand the pain of repeated weight gain. The basic prayers that are layed out are simple and can be offered by those of any faith or belief without causing any religious conflict or discomfort. Just basic spiritual truths that make a connection with God easy.
This book may truly be the missing link for those of us who are searching for peace and permanent weight loss. Whether rebel or visionary, Dr Anderson has earned his place among the great spriritual teachers of our time.

This book was a delightful read! It gives an up close and personal view of what the priesthood is like for so many that have answered God's call for their lives!

I no longer think of the priesthood as a "lonely" life.....this book has proven what "fulfilled" lives these men lead and that they truly do have lives in addition to their ministries of preaching, counseling, administrating parishes, performing weddings,funerals, baptisms, Holy Communions and Confirmations!
What an inspirational read, especially for those interested in vocations, young and old alike! Tom Kane is to be applauded for his work!

This book is a delightful compilation of very heartwarming stories depicting the human side of priests. With all the recent scandals surrounding the clergy in the Catholic Church, it was a pleasure to hear from the "silent majority" of good priests. If you ever thought priests were "holy" all the time, this book provides a refreshing look at the human and often humorous side of our church leaders.

THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK ..WHILE WELL WRITTEN AND ENTERTAINING..WAS A
COMPILATION OF SURVEY REPLYS THAT SHOWED SOME VERY SINCERE MEN AND... LIKE ALL HUMANS...SOME PRONE TO THEIR OWN EGO...
THE BOOK WAS WELL PACED AND KEPT YOU GOING...HOWEVER..SLOWLY...SOMETIMES !!
I HAD THE MOST FEELING READING THE HILTON RIVET SJ.SECTION PG 167 AND DONALD KANE PG 139...THEY WERE UPLIFTING FOR ME !!!
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE...IT WOULD BE A WORK THAT ANY YOUNG MAN SHOULD READ IF HE IS PROSPECTING FOR A LIFE STYLE.....AND... THE BOOK SHOULD BE IN EVERY RELIGIOUS ARTICLE STORE..

As a young man considering the priesthood, Mr. Kane's book answered many of the questions and curiosities that I had concerning many aspects of the priesthood including: celibacy, the many aspects of their job, and their temptations. After reading this book I am more enthusiastic about answering my call from God than ever before. Mr. Kane's book truly lives out the vocations slogan in my diocese that "A priest is an ORDINARY man called to do EXTRAORDINARY things." How true that is now. Any young man, even those who have never considered the priestly ministry should read this book and learn the awesomeness of being ordained and all of the amazing works of the spirit that priests perform. It is a great book to discover oneself and also to learn that everyone has theor own vocation.

This book is a must read for Catholics and others interested in the continued viability of the Catholic priesthood. In a time when priest-bashing has become a cause du jour, Mr. Kane has filled the need for a positive report on the priesthood. His entertaining and uplifting account of the daily lives of priests is a welcome tonic to the bad news we seem to be bombarded with every day. A great and easy read that made me laugh and cry. I hope we will see more from this author.