Services Books

This is a well written book about a hero of WW II who was given the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Service Cross. The book reveals his patriotic character as a Christian missionary and a captain in the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers intelligence division and the OSS. John Birch's story is an inspiring account of a man committed to his ideas. It also reveals the political intrigue between the Nationalists, Communists, and America forces fighting the war in China and furthermore contributes to a deeper understanding of the political intrigue that occured in the U.S.A. during the waning yeas of the war. It's a book that can be easily read aloud to elementary aged children.

It was amazing to read this testimony of a Christian. I can only agree with so many of John Birch's convictions and views whether it is his stand against liberalism in American colleges and against communism abroad. If the message of John Birch had reached all of America in time, China would be a different nation today. There was a chance back then to defeat Chinese communism. It did not happen and look what a tyranny China is today. Most of all I like that John Birch stood squarely for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the inerrancy of the Bible, for salvation by grace through faith, for soulwinning, for world missions. He must have had some strong dispensational, premillenial views. This book encouraged me greatly and I do recommend it esp. to college and high school students as well as those interested in Bible-believing mission work.

While there could be better books on John Birch, more than likely this is the only one that will ever be published. With this in mind, it is an excellent account of one of the true military heroes of World War II and a Christian as well. Birch's name has been sullied by its use for the right-wing political organization and few are aware of who he really was. Although he is slightly known in the fundamentalist Baptist circles that produced him, even then very little is known about him other than that he was a missionary in China who became an intelligence officer and was killed by Chinese communists at the end of World War II. The authors have done a good job of documenting his life. Every American, Christians especially, should read this book.

I found it difficult to put this book down before had I finished it, and I can't say that about many books that I have read.

The Hefleys did a superb job "painting a picture" of the short life of this incredible man. Birch was a very "intense" character; I got the impression he was always working on something, he was non-stop...whether it was the rescue of the Doolittle crew, or setting up an intelligence network across the entirety of China or most importantly, bringing Chinese brothers and sisters to Christ, John never let anything stand in his way.

It has been said (in this book and in other sources) that John's death was a result of his "irrational behavior" which in turn, was a result of 3 years of his non-stop activity behind enemy lines. But from what I read, I understand that John knew something that the rest of these people did not understand. You see, John was a very intelligent man...how many English-speaking people do you know are capable of mastering several Chinese dialects in 6 weeks?

John saw something about these "agrarian reformers--" he saw the pure wickedness within them. So John, at the very end of his life, was willing to sacrifice himself, in order to make a demonstration as to whether the Communists were our friend or our enemy. This very nearly became a tragic mistake--you see, John assumed that if the Communists killed him and thus demonstrated themselves to be our enemy, then the United States would immediately seek retribution and demolish the Communists, at least those in China. This turned out not to be the case. In fact, our US Government sought to cover up John's death. This the government did by listing the murder of Birch as an "accident--" that is, "he was killed by stray bullets" was the lie. And what was the reason for this cover up? Well, the Truman administration and their allies in the press did not want to make the murder public, lest there be resentment held by the American people against the Communists! And why would these conspirators care about something like that happening? Take a wild guess.

In spite of all this, a miracle did happen. A Chinese companion of John Birch, who was left to die with Birch, and who suffered nearly the same wounds as Birch, lived to tell his story. And the truth became known. Not by many people at first, but thanks to the loving dedication of Mr. and Mrs. George Birch (John's parents) and Mr. Robert Welch, the life and death of John Birch began to become known to millions of Americans. If it were not for the work of these three people, I guarantee you you would never have heard of this man John Birch, and neither would I be writing this review.

Unfortunately too many well-meaning Americans (some are even characters in this book) chastise Robert Welch for naming his Society after Birch. They say "John would never approve." From what I read in this book by the Hefleys, I get the impression that John would approve. (John's parents certainly approved!) John may not ever have joined the John Birch Society, however I know that he would have approved the hard work and dedication of Mr. Welch and members of the Society in "getting the word out." This is exactly what John wanted to have happen.

Forget about the society that bears his name and read the Real Story of an unusual Christian hero. John Birch, soul-winner, soldier and patriot is a man you would do well to read about, and Hefly-- a foremost Christian biographer-- does a great job presenting his story and the decisions of his conscience in the light of God's Word.

Good reading for any Christian and especially any Independent Baptist.

Okay, perhaps I'm a bit biased because I'm in the book. But I spent 3 hours on the phone with Zsa Zsa being interviewed, and I never got the sense that she was "injecting her own opinions into the interview." I thought it was one of the most affirming conversations I'd ever had. I felt that her expressions of sentiment were merely a way of drawing me further out of myself. I found the interview such a positive experience that I referred her to several friends of mine who are also featured in the book, including the incognito "Major Maureen" (who, incidentally, has since retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel). After "Major Maureen's" interview, "Maureen's" partner actually thanked Zsa Zsa for making it such a positive experience for her. They must have spent 4 hours on the phone, and it was clear that "Maureen," a naturally very taciturn individual, had a lot bottled up inside that needed to come out. All of us who were in the book, that I know of, were very happy with the final version and felt that we had been treated very well and fairly.

This book is well written and very informative into the world of gay people in the military. What they go through to hide their true selves is extraodinary. Heterosexuals could never do it!
These are people just like you and I that love the job that they do, yet are forced to hide their personal lives for fear of persecution and job termination if "found out". Interesting how in the private sector this is called discrimination and there are tough laws to back it up, but not in the military?!
Read this book!

This book is very insightful. Even though I was never in the military, the author presented the interviews in a way that I could really relate to. Anyone that is interested in the issues around the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell" should read this book. We should send a copy to everyone in the House and Senate.

You won't be disappointed in this book. It's an entertaining read that I couldn't put down.

Come along for a journey with the gifted author Zsa Zsa as she humbly and respectively provides the space and gentle nudge with just the right questions to open a world not often seen or heard from. In this book Zsa Zsa guides us into the lives of many Lesbian military servicemembers (both currently active duty and veterans) who reveal stories that stir the soul, bring tears to your eyes, laughter and tugs on the heart. These stories leave no emotion or sense untouched as you live a life in the moment of what it was like for these Lesbian women in the U.S. Military. As a U.S. Air Force veteran I found these stories to be compelling, thought provoking and emotionally engaging. Zsa Zsa has a brilliant talent for interviewing that allows the participants' stories to shine. A phenomenal journey that you will enjoy immensely!

"Secret Service: Untold Stories of Lesbians in the Military," by Zsa Zsa Gershick, is a compilation of interviews with lesbians who have served (and, in some cases, were still serving when interviewed) in the armed forces of the United States. The book features a foreword by Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, the lesbian Army nurse who challenged the military's policy on homosexuality. Gershick presents chapters on 31 additional military women. Some do not use their real names, and some of the interviews feature photos of the women. The chapters alternate between two formats: (1) full-length interviews that consist of exchanges between Gershick and the women, and (2) short, one-or-two page first-person narratives from the women.

Gershick has brought together the voices of a very diverse group of military women. Both officers and enlisted women are featured. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are all represented. The women's service spans many decades. Gershick includes women who have made successful careers and retired with at least 20 years of service, as well as women who spent only a short time in uniform. There are women who successfully navigated the military's restrictions on homosexuals, as well as women who faced investigation and discharge.

The women featured in the book address many significant issues: survival tactics used by lesbians in the military; the question as to how the military's policy on gays affects officers and enlisted personnel differently; paranoia and the psychological toll taken on closeted military lesbians; the danger of surveillance and anti-lesbian "witch hunts"; facing sexual harassment from male military personnel; the challenges involved in maintaining a romantic relationship while in the military; facing interrogation; the public "coming out" of prominent gay military personnel; and former President Clinton's controversial attempt to change the military policy on homosexuality.

The women featured in the book really put compelling human faces on the very controversial gays-in-the-military issue. I especially enjoyed the interview with retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Shirley Geiling--it's a funny, sassy exchange that is often interrupted by Geiling's laughter. Also noteworthy are the comments of Air Force nurse Caroline Riso, who recalls service in Japan during the Vietnam era. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Brenda Vosbein recalls being part of a 1994 case, _Jane Able et al v. United States of America_, that challenged the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. In another powerful exchange, an Army officer discusses her concerns that her partner has access to neither the military health care system nor the officer's military retirement benefits.

My only quarrel with the book is that Gershick inserts her own opinions into her exchanges with the interviewees too often. I found some of Gershick's statements to be a distraction from the interviewees' compelling stories. Still, Gershick's instincts as an interviewer are mostly on target; consequently, the exchanges between Gershick and the interviewees are, on the whole, illuminating and powerful. "Secret Service" is an excellent contribution to American military history, and an essential resource for all those interested in the gays-in-the-military issue. As a military veteran myself, I thank and commend Gershick and all the women who contributed to this important project.

In a word, awesome! This is a practical guide to actual assembly techniques. Little time is spent discussing when or why someone would do what the author tells you how to do. Other books cover those tasks quite well. I'm sure all this info is dated, but it's still quite informative.

I really did like this book, it does have a wealth of information which can be APPLIED to more modern techniques, and generally just gets you thinking in different directions as a book like this should. But given todays climate and the fact that every state has improved security tremendously around IDs and ID cards and even birth certificates, unless you want to try your hand with a laminated Maine ID and or birth certificate printed on improper paper (and probably end up in jail), this may not be the best resource to follow word for word any longer. I didnt like the fact that he barely delved into the new world of teslin and pvc credit card hologramed high quality state IDs (if at all actually) as I feel that you would have to in a book of this nature today, but overall there are some worth while "ideas" in this book that have helped me get a bit better in the real world. Id recommend, but with a bit of caution depending on what your planning on doing, or not doing (*wink*).

This is an excellent book for someone wanting to delve into id replication, and techniques. The author is very knowledgeable on the topic he discusses in this book. From start to finish, it leaves you with a very clear understanding of the methods used to create a means of identification. Fair warning, and as he states in the book, it isn't meant for someone attempting to purchase or obtain alcohol. The book does not go into detail on every state, better yet, it focuses on information that will actually help you make an id. Full of resources and techniques, this book is an EXCELLENT guide for someone with the incentive of making an id.

Finally. A novelty ID construction book that deals with the meat of ID construction. Refreshingly, two chapters WERE NOT dedicated to lamination. I think we all know how to laminate.

MUCH ATTENTION was paid to creating holograms (something we actually need to learn).

The research was obvoiusly thorough and comprehensive. The author does not take credit for ideas that aren't his. All his sources are properly credited (though usually anonymously by request of the source). But, hey, it shows CLASS.

VERY REFRESHING slant for a genre that has of late been falling into the trap of selling titles. This book as REAL SUBSTANCE.

An excellent reference source for anybody interested in this art. Also great for writers who need to research underworld maneuvers for their "villain" characters.

Thank you, Mr. Charrett!!!!

I just finished reading this book, and I loved it! I must admit I was skeptical before I ordered because we have all been scammed at one time or another. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had NOT been ripped off this time! This book lives up to the hype and does not disappoint the reader. The knowledge of the author is complete on the subjects discussed, detailed instruction is given, and (most importantly!) common pitfalls are exposed. I found myself exclaiming out loud "Wow, THAT little tidbit alone is worth the cost of this book." about six or seven time throughout my reading. I also would like to add that if you are interested in this kind of thing, this book is a great learning tool, a good place to start. Thanks Sheldon, for a well written, (often hilarious) informative, eye-opening book.

I own an IT service business. This book is literally on the money. The author discusses essential financial concepts that are applicable to all IT services companies. If you own an IT business I highly recommend buying this book and using it as a reference.

This is a valuable "how to" book. Do yourself a favor and have this book recently read before you start the process.

Bob has done a masterful job of presenting a step by step approach to selling a business. As usual, he brings twenty years of real world experience to the process, demystifing a difficult process. An invaluable addition to your library.

In "Selling Your IT Business" Mr. Chalfin has a rare accomplishment for a book of this kind; knowledgable, informative and a "good read". Jacob Weingarten

I have had the pleasure of getting to know Bob and had him as a professor at Wharton. He applies the same level of energy and enthusiasm that he brings in the classroom to this very practical book. I have had many people come up to me and tell me if they had only known Bob or read his book before they sold their business, they would be in a much different and better situation. His knowledge of the topic is unbelievable and he brings so much practical experience to his latest book. I hope everyone gets to experience the wonderful work Bob does by reading his new book.

I know I will share this book with many of my clients who are contemplating selling their businesses. Bob's work makes all of us more educated and provides yet another resource that will add value to our clients.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (3/07)

"The Senior Organizer" is a vault of information that will help in times of crisis. This book should be completed while "you are healthy and strong so you can get peace of mind, knowing that you're organized and equipped to handle all situations." None of us know what lies ahead. Accidents and illnesses come when least expected. Once filled out this book will contain essential information that will assist you or someone you love when need arises.

"This book should be filled out in pencil so that it can be updated as need."

There are two parts to "The Senior Organizer." Part one contains personal and medical information. There is a place to list prescription, pharmacy, and herbal medicines. There is a place to record doctor visits. How many times have you gone to the doctor and they want a medical history? There are specific pages to keep a record of this. There are pages to record insurance information. We each have a daily routine but does anyone else know our routine? There is a place to record you routine.

Part two contains legal and financial information. There are certain pages that should be kept confidential. Those pages should be removed from the book or copied before filling them out and copies kept in a secure location.

"This is an all-in-one-source of personal, medical, religious, legal and financial information that can save you time and money and maybe your life."

"The Senior Organizer" by Debby S. Bitticks, Lynn Benson, and Dorothy K. Breininger is a must for everyone, not just seniors. I think filling out this is the most important thing you can do for a loved one. I was impressed that the authors even included a section for the names, address and phone numbers of friends. I intend to use this book and to purchase at least three more - one for my husband and one for each of my parents. I highly recommend this book to everyone; you never know when the need for this information may arise.

As our population ages it has created a whole new market for items related to care of the elderly. The Senior Organizer was written for just this target audience- the elderly and the family members who care for them.

At first glance The Senior Organizer seems too basic for publication. It appears to be a book of fill in the blank forms. And, on closer examination, that is what the book really contains. But the beauty of the book, and what makes it a great investment, is its absolute comprehensiveness.. The authors have thought of every possible aspect of life that need tobe tracked, organized and maintained. The sections are personal,/medical and legal/financial. They include everything from forms to fill out on all medicines, eye glasses and doctors to where in a house the emergency shut off items are. It is impossible to think any information that is not covered. If a family takes the time to thouroughly fill out each form, they will be ready for any situation. Ideally, every family should have a copy of this book and its forms completed in case of an emergency. While it was created for the elderly it is a great organizational tool for every adult, regardless of age.

The Senior Organizer can be ordered as a bound paperback or as a set of 3 binders. but, by using the access code listed in the book, readers can download and reproduce as many copies of the forms as needed. That is definately a huge bonus for this publication. The download requires personal information but site assures it will not misuse the data given.

I am a legal aid attorney who spends alot of time helping seniors and am also the as owner of an online medical supply and equipment business. So many of the seniors I talk to struggle to locate important information and documents. This can often add confusion and stress to many of the difficult issues seniors already have to face. This book can help enormously and is an excellent, well designed organizational tool. It will save time and offer peace of mind to seniors and those who help care for them.

The Senior Organizer is an all encompassing A to Z guide of all the information anyone would ever need to collect regarding the ins and outs of any senior's life. Everything is covered. This guide will help you gather life-saving and personal info with regards to your senior. Bravo to the authors for providing us with all the essential questions to ask - I wouldn't have known where to start! I achieved great peace of mind knowing all there is to know about my Mother from her health care needs and her daily life, right the way through to her last wishes. My mother is also comforted by the fact that I know all there is to know about what is going on in her life. Every household needs this incredible book - we owe it to our loved ones.

This workbook provides forms to record any piece of vital information that you could possibly need to keep track of. Or you can write down where you keep an important document so that your family knows where it is in a medical emergency. After the whole Terry Shrivo thing we wanted to make sure we were prepared for anything!

A must read book if you are working in the service industry. Heskett, Sasser and Schlesinger all from the Harvard Business School, have put together a great book. The service profit chain model at first glance seems simple enough. Make employees happy, who in turn make customers happy, who in turn give you more business and you have a great top and bottom line. Simple? Yes, but the book takes you on a journey, using similar methodology to the balanced score card to show how to design service delivery processes, which targets to target, and most important of all, how to deal with service failures. Numerous other models and their use are depicted. To top it of, there are numerous examples from the airline, hospitality, insurance and other industries. Exec or MBA level readers will really appreciate this book. Jim Kayalar is a certified management consultant and has consulted for tourism development organizations, hotels and resorts. His corporate web site can be found at http://www.biztuneup.biz

This should be everyone's bible. 6 stars! It is the best business book available . . . If you're going to read one book this is it...forget "one minute manager" or "good to great", "freakonomics" or "world is flat". Read this and know it and undersand its implications.

In "The Service Profit Chain," the author uses extensive case studies and empirical data to demonstrate how successful companies can achieve customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and at the same time, profit and customer growth. Too many companies are focused on the next quarterly earnings release that they don't ever see the lifetime value of their customers. Finally, managers at service industries won't have to keep trading off employee satisfaction in order to achieve customer sastisfaction, and customer satisfaction won't be viewed as a cost factor and a drag on profit growth. Service companies that just don't understand these concepts won't be around for long! As we embark into the e-commerce age, service and technology companies that can quickly apply these concepts within their business models (where there is no direct, face-to-face, contact with the customers) will build a truely competitive advantage. Let's review the successful ecommerce companies in 5 years, and see how many have adopted the principles in "The Service Profit Chain."

I think the authors provide a powerful and empirical approach to designing and analyzing a service organization for success. The recommendations are not always intuitive nor easy to implement, but, based on my experience in several industries, I think they are nearly always correct. With a partner, I am starting a own company and have read this book twice very carefully, with lots of notes in the margins, to make sure we do the important things well.

This is the type of book that can change an entire corporate vision. The authors are meticulous in presenting their philosophy, and back every word with carefully researched examples from best practice companies. Unlike many of the "quick read" publications that present a superficial view of service (particularly from a marketing perspective), this book is clearly the result of several years work in the field. Every corporate manager who is serious about customer value management needs to take some time out to study the Service Profit Chain.

Ellen Feld brings us the delightful story of an intrepid foal named Shadow, who has fantasies of life beyond her pasture fence. This wonderful adventure comes alive with illustrations by the talented Jeanne Mellin. Both author and artist have a terrific way of enticing a reader, not to mention capturing the inimitable spirit of the Morgan horse. Two hoofs up!

My daughter loves these books and looks forward to each new edition. Any young lady would be happy to receive a copy. The books descriptions are so vivid, one can place themselves right into the story.

Author Ellen Feld and artist Jeanne Mellin present Shadow The Curious Morgan Horse, the latest in an award-wining series of children's books. Shadow The Curious Morgan Horse is a picturebook with warm color illustrations and a fair amount of text, especially suited for young horse lovers who are almost ready to make the transition to chapter books. When Shadow's curiosity leads her to explore the woods beyond her pasture, she encounters a wonderful variety of forest animals, but what is she to do when she becomes lost? A new canine friend saves the day in this gentle adventure recommended for young horse lovers.

Once again, author Ellen Feld relates a wonderful story. My grandchildren are 6 and 8, have their own horse, and were totally enthralled with the little Morgan foal "Shadow" and her escapades. The writing is large and easy for young readers to read and the illustrations are colorful and eye catching. A must have for every child in this age group!

D.Boies

My grandchildren love this book. The illustrations are beautiful, the story wonderful. This is a great book for parents (or grandparents) to read to 4- 6 year old children, and it's also a great read for 7 and 8 year olds on their own. Short sentences and paragraphs hold the children's attention, and the story is delightful. A great buy!

This is a great book for anyone interested in neural prosthetics and neurostimulation. It goes over the technology and also patient and doctor stories of how these devices were developed.

This book takes you on an amazing journey into the lives of not only the medical pioneers developing these complex systems, but the recipients of them as well. It gives a layman's understanding of complex medical terminology and applications and also rivets you with the true human spirit of the people receiving these modern miracle implants. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about the individuals profiled and highly recommend this book.

Shattered Nerves: How Science is Solving Modern Medicine's Most Perplexing Problem explores a new and blossoming medical frontier: that of neural implants which are enabling vision, hearing and movement in patients who have been blind, deaf and even paralyzed. Personal interviews blend with research to draw important links between the science involved and the lives of those affected, with chapters exploring boundaries between restoration and enhancement and considering both physical and psychological consequences of restoring damaged brain functions. This outstanding survey of brain research frontiers is not only a top pick for health collections, but for many a general-interest lending library.

Victor Chase's history and up-to-date story of prosthetic implants is riveting. I found it to be a wonderful read for its selective history of prosthetic implants, cutting-edge science, and for the in-depth human side that he presents. The author's care and concern for the patients he interviewed comes across as much as his intimate understanding of the science he helps his readers to understand and appreciate.
I'm saving my copy as a reference for when parts of me decide to head south...without passports.

Shattered Nerves does a great job of providing a layperson's explanation of the fascinating advances medical science is making in the field of neuroprosthetics. It nicely blends the human stories of the researchers and the subjects with clear descriptions of the technical advances--and the science that underlies the technology--all without becoming too complicated for the interested non-scientist.

This book tracks the development of implants and aids that help take the place of damaged nerves in the human body. From cochlear implants that help deaf people hear, to hookups that allow people to operate computers just by thinking, reachers are successfully combining medical science, engineering, computer technology and great personal committment.

Be sure to get to the last chapter, which discusses ethics and the issues that confront the researchers and technologists in this field. This is a good book for anyone interested in how technology advances and how real people make the individual steps that add up to giant strides for medical science. It provides great insights into the personalities and the processes involved.

This is a great book for SP rookie fans. Loaded with info. Become a bigger fan than me. :) (the cd is great too.)

This book Rocked ! This book answered all of my misterious questions of the band. This book was really worth the money. I respect the pumpkins way more than what I did before. They are my favorite band.( beacuse of the book !) If You're a pumpkins fan, and you didn't read this book. YOU SHOULD, YOU WILL LOVE THEM, ALSO YOU WILL RESPECT THEM AS WELL AS i DO ! ROCK ON MY FELLOW PUMPKIN FANS - - - -

I loved this book it told in detail everything to the lives of the samshing pumpkins provign they are a very well organized band and work very hard

I think this is a great interview with the Pumpkins (well, only half of them) and the book is pretty rocking, too. Two thumbs up.. :)~

great Cd and book! It covers all the things that you want to know about the smashing pumpkins. listen up, want to know more about the smashing pumpkins? buy this cd/book. ;-)

I purchased the Desk Reference to study for my MSW licensure exam. It's filled with the entire scope of social work practice and it's organized in a way that the subjects connect and related well to each other. It's easy to investigate the many aspects of social work. A few more specifics and slightly more detailed articles would have been great. But those are small complaints. Overall, a great resource!

This is an invaluable compendium. Many mini-articles about subjects relevant to those of us in social work. Also great for use as a study guide for the LCPC. Worth every penny.

I have already used this in my beginning clinical social work practice when I needed a refresher on theory, assessment tools, etc. Easy-to-apply reference book.

An impressive, professionally prepared practice guide was born in 2002 for social workers. Professors Roberts and Greene include 146 topics that are relevant to social work practice in this desk reference. This exciting guide, that is divided into sixteen parts, not only provides the essential components for social work practice, but also presents the most informative discussions about how to enhance knowledge, skills and values for use in social work education. This book is also an encyclopedia for social work practitioners. It provides a clear picture of how skills are applied in different situations with contents and describes the use of case studies that are devoted to vulnerable populations, as well as to children and families with special needs. It addresses the technological, ethical and cultural issues of skill applications in direct practice and research. It also analyzes past issues, current state of practice principles, and future of social work development. Its comprehensiveness makes this guide book a social work treasure.
Monit Cheung, PhD, LMSW-ACP
Professor of Social Work
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77479, USA

The desk reference is a good compilation of write ups on all facets of social work theory and practice. It appears to be of equal use to a social work professional or student. I bought it for my licensure exam. But it has information that will help me beyond the exam.