Resources Books

The combination of a book that summerize skills and a DVD that shows how to do in details, is the best I know to learn any skill.

I watched the video last night and it was excellent - very professional production and content. I don't normally write reviews but was inspired to do so on this occasion since my expectations were far exceeded.

It was so helpful to be able to see how to build a green home from start to finish. It gave me so much hope that I will be able to do this for myself one day.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is something everyone should see.

DVD shows how to build a straw bale house step by step. This DVD and guidebook make me easier to understand the process of the building.

This is one of the TOP 2-3 resources I have come across for an owner/builder that wants to see ALL STEPS of the construction of a house using adobe and/or straw. While the primary envelope of this small house is straw bale, it includes a mass wall of adobe and the project included a workshop built with adobe. It is disappointing that they did not include the construction of this workshop from the ground up in the detailed video presentation.

The video and the small format book (the size of a DVD case) are packed with information and detail. From the layout of the foundation, digging, forming and pouring of the grade beam and ALL other parts of the construction of the house this is a great way to get a complete understanding of all the parts of building a house. Straw bale builders will probably get more info from this since you see the post and beam structure of the house raised and framed the infill of the walls with bales, wiring, and scratch and finishing color plaster ideas. They show the construction of a rain collection system using a buried plastic septic tank for non-potable use (don't know why this limitation).

For the price ($24 at the time of this writing) this is better than 99% of other resources I've come across. For adobe construction, Tibbets' Earthbuilders Encyclopedia CD has much more detail on adobe construction, but does not have any video like this item. FIVE STARS only because I can't award six!

This information-dense book will give you an important start on dealing with any security issue likely to arise in your business. Had a mugging in your parking lot? Here's how to make your employees and customers safer. Had a customer skip out on a large debt? This is where to go and what to do to get your money back. Want to do a background check on someone? Look here and find out how.

I have been dealing with keeping my companies' employees and funds safe for decades. I still learned a quite a bit from this book, and will be keeping it handy for future reference. Buy it. Read it. Apply it. If even one technique is needed, you will have more than repaid your time, money and effort.

Having been in the pool business for 25 years, I know how busy and hectic daily routines can be. Reading a book is the last thing I have time to do. Business Security is loaded with great subjects that I can look up and read only a few pages to learn what I need to know. I feel safer with the knowledge I've collected from the many different articles offered in this realistic, post 9-11 based book. I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether business related or not, to use as a "security dictionary" whenever the need arises.

As a security consultant and author, I found this to be a great reference that I refer to again and again. This is a great read for both large and small business owners who understand their responsibilities in a post 9/11 world. Nice Job!! Robert Siciliano

The scenarios in this book are very helpful in protecting yourself from a lot of grief. Things you don't ordinarily think about is pointed out to alert you of potential safety risk. It my be titled Business Security, but some of the safety measures can be taken for the individual and ordinary person. The book is an interesting book to read and entertaining. Some items are even good for group discussions. I gave it 5 stars because the book is easy to read and there is useful informantion in it for everyone whether you own a business or not.

This book can be regarded as a very useful manual for business
persons, especially also working international about avoiding
problems in their daily activities, also using modern media,
incl. the Internet.
M. Enchelmaier

I can do no better than the hydrogeologist Syndnor in summarizing the utility of this introductory work. My only critique is that Mount needs to revise the chapter on climate and consider projected impacts on CA's surface water based on what we now know after 13 years of data collection.
Just as Knox needs to revise his primer Global Climate Change and California (1992).

California Rivers and Streams: the conflict between fluvial processes and land use, Dr. Jeffrey F. Mount, 1995, University of California Press, 359 pages

California geologists, engineers, environmental planners, and the general public will enjoy reading this comprehensive book on California rivers. The author is Dr. Jeffrey Mount, who holds the Roy J. Shlemon Chair of Geology at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Mount is the Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis. He has formerly served on the Reclamation Board within the California Resources Agency.

With a heightened sense of public concern about flooding, water supply, levee repair, fish habitat, and river restoration, this book on California rivers is the best general primer that is currently available. Although not designed as a textbook, California teachers may find it suitable for introductory courses because of its comprehensive scope and highly readable narrative.

The book is divided into two parts. Part 1, How Rivers Work, includes: Chapter 1, Introduction to the rivers of California; Chapter 2, Water in motion, Chapter 3, A river at work ¯ sediment entrainment, transport, and deposition; Chapter 4, The shape of a river; Chapter 5, Origins of river discharge; Chapter 6, Sediment supply; Chapter 7, River network and profile; Chapter 8, Climate and the rivers of California; Chapter 9, Tectonics and geology of California's rivers.

Part 2, Learning the Lessons: Land Use and the Rivers of California, includes: Chapter 10, Rivers of California ¯ the last 200 years; Chapter 11, Mining and the rivers of California; Chapter 12, Logging California's watersheds; Chapter 13, Food production and the rivers of California; Chapter 14, A primer on flood frequency ¯ how much and how often? Chapter 15, The urbanization of California's rivers; Chapter 16, The damming of California's rivers; and Chapter 17, The future ¯ changing climate, changing rivers.

Review by Robert H. Sydnor
California Certified Hydrogeologist #6
LM-AEG, LM-AAAS, LM-AGU, M-GSA, M-AGWA

This book will answer any questions you have and then answer all the questions you are too dense to think of. Anyone living in California should be forced to read this. River runners also benefit from this book that shows the correct fleuvial processes, unlike many kayaking/rafting books. Read it, get on the water and then fight for the rivers!

This is a subperb review of how rivers systems work and how man-made changes effect these systems. Perfect for the interested layperson interested in earth science. The second half of this book covers the major watersheds of California.

I am a hydrologist and a water lawyer practicing in Washington DC -- this is the book I give to clients and friends to explain how rivers work and what people do to them. It assumes an intelligent reader but no background is required to get the main points. While its title and focus is California, the lessons are applicable throughout the country. Great book.

Advice...get this book if you ever think you will need to deal with serious change. Complex or simple in nature. Business or social. Large or small groups.

The books includes great case studies, and examples. It's written in a way that allows you to even customize where needed (if needed).

A must have reference for those wanting to deal with change and come out on the other end better.

This text is thick but it is easy to read and understand. It lays out many change methods in a clear and concise manner that allows even a change novice the ability to evaluate and choose an appropriate change method for use in their situation. It is excellent as a college text as it enables the student to understand change methods in good depth with references as to where to find more information.

EDIT of 9 Feb 09 to add links (capability not available at the time) and to commit to attending NEXUS II in Bowling Green, OH 30 Mar - 1 Apr 08.

I could spend the rest of my life trying to learn, use, and share each of the methods in this book, and never finish. When it was first published in 1999, it was before its time. Now, in 2006, this is a book made for our times, when Burning Man is now Green Man, Al Gore is a rock star, and even the greediest Wall Street CEO is starting to realize the party is over and we have to get real, real fast.

I have been an admirer of Free/Open Source Software (F/OSS) and a champion of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), and have gradually learned about other "opens" that are coming to the fore: Open Spectrum, Open Access, Open Culture, Open Innovation, and of course George Soros' Open Society. From this book I now add Open Circle, to complement the Open Space concept I learned recently in Seattle's Town Hall while listening to Paul Hawken talk about the World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility.

I have to confess that this book is over-whelming, and I can barely scratch the surface. This is more of a book where you should read one author, one segment, each night, and fall asleep thinking about how to implement that one small section, how to embrace someone else and engage them with that one method.

Having three teen-agers, all three of whom have completely rejected the prison/child care format and the rote learning objectives of the current school system (even as good as it is in Fairfax County) I will go so far as to say that this book, combined with serious games/games for change, is a complete one-to-one substitute for our current educational process.

Everything in here is what we *should* have learned in school, what we *should* be practicing in fulfilling our civic duty (what we *actually* do is described in "The Cheating Culture," "Confessional of an Economic Hit-Man," and "Rogue Nation").

I am moving quickly and heavily into the intersection of Collective Intelligence (see my reviews of "The Tao of Democracy," "Smart Mobs," "Wisdom of the Crowds," or my longer list; and Natural Capitalism with its "true cost" meme. See my reviews of Paul Hawken et al, "Ecology of Commerce" and "Natural Capitalism," of the varied books by Herman Daly, and soon, my reviews of "The Great Turning," the "Omnivore's Dilemma," and others. For a broader sense of the possibilities, check out "Earth Intelligence Network" online.

I still have the 1970's operating manual for spaceship earth someplace in my lower library. This book is the manual for spaceship earth for our children and those of us recommiting ourselves to the joy of learning and changing in our later years. It's not over until *we* decide its over.

See these other books that have also inspired me and given me hope:
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, Updated Edition
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
Escaping the Matrix: How We the People can change the world
One from Many: VISA and the Rise of Chaordic Organization
All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (BK Currents)
The Average American: The Extraordinary Search for the Nation's Most Ordinary Citizen
Running On Empty: How The Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It
The Soul of Capitalism: Opening Paths to a Moral Economy

My lists are also a fast path to collections covering the ten threats, twelve policies, eight challengers, and various other aspects of saving humanity and the Earth from outselves.

A good support text for the change agent, consultant or practitioner. Over 60 different types of interventions with clear descrition for when and how to implement.
The Change Handbook: The Definitive Resource on Today's Best Methods for Engaging Whole Systems

We have been waiting for that book for a long time. Peggy Holman's Change Handbook is now available in its second edition. Since its first edition in 1999, it has increased in volume and in significance. Holman and her co-authors describe 61 collaborative methods that can be applied for working with large groups in private corporations, the public sector and for the development of democratic institutions. The book provides more than a thesaurus and an encyclopedia of change - it contains probably more than 90% of the current world knowledge on whole systems change applications. Beside the well-known methods and frameworks such as Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, etc. there are a lot of new methods that I have never heard of. Unfortunately, there is no article on Worldwork and the Process Oriented Psychology Framework. Next Edition, please?

The Change Handbook is very well organized, methods are categorized and there are good hints for when to apply the different methodologies. It is a must for Change Practitioners. If you are keen on The Standard Reference, you need to buy The Change Handbook.

My rating is a definite 6!! This is more then your average study Bible. It has more than 100 outlines for lessons. It takes the power of a Bible story and links eternal truths and applications for every day living. Also it shows how the gospel relates to many Old and New Testament stories. Many years,I carried a small Bible with me. Now I carry "The Children's Ministry Resource Bible" because you never know when a group of bored kids will want to hear an old, old story...

The Children's Ministry Resource Bible is the best. With all the helpful lessons in it, right with the text, anyone can easily teach an evangelistic or discipleship lesson for children. There are more resources in in that I have ever used and I have had one for over 10 years. A constant friend and companion for a Bible teacher for children, my Children's Ministry Bible is the totally the BEST!!

This resource is the best resource that I have seen. It is a great resouce for studing the bible as well as a resouce for teaching children.

This book is simply the New King James Version of the Holy Bible with a lot of extra's like good study notes, dozens of lesson plans, job aids, teacher training lessons, and other resources. It lives up to its title. I have used it for four years and have shared it with my Christian friends. A must have if you're a Sunday School teacher in a scripturely based church. Also a good tool for Christian Home School teachers.

This Bible is such a great resource! It's NKJ so it's a literal translation and there are footnotes for all the words kids might not understand. There are lessons throughout it that each present the gospel message in a way that both ties into the lesson and is clear for even very young children. I can't say enough good things about this Bible, even if you don't teach children, it is still an excellent resource. Anyone who has kids in their home or anyone who knows a kid should have this in their library.

A clear, concise explanation of best practices and pitfalls for those
who would offer caregiving in a compassionate and Christ-like way.
This is no sappy, do-gooder book... and it's no "fix-it" message
either.

This is an excellent book that we have used to teach Christian Care Giving in three churches. It also serves as a text book for the Stephens Ministry basic course. The book is good on its own, but works best when its contents are discussed in a class seting.

I am a Stephen Ministeries Leader and this has proven to be a vaulable tool to use in our continuing education time of our meetings. WONDERFUL!!!

It is a must read for every Caregiver that is in the business or volunteering to help in the "Care Industry".

The world needs people who care. This book is a practical manual for anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable comforting a friend or acquaintance.

Kenneth Haugk has written this book to address the real-life issues people confront when caring for others. Many find it easier to discuss sex than to discuss issues of their faith and religion. Even if we are comfortable sharing these matters, those with whom we deal may not be.

This practical, well-written book takes the reader beyond theories about the integration of psychology and theology. It strengthens and re-enforces your call to care for those about who you care.

Homeschooling has become a big business with lots and lots of choices. It is hard enough sifting through the curriculum, let alone figuring out what learning style your child is, how to keep records, how to prepare for college. Well Mrs. Duffy covers all this and more in her organized, indexed, easy to use curriculum manuals. Every time they have been updated/revised I purchase them. I love her writing style, her personal experiences and her honesty in the features of a curriculum.
I could not have navigated through home schooling without these and definitely needed the JR/Sr. high manuals to get through the high school requirements.

When we moved overseas and had to be very selective on which items to take along on the plane, I selected Cathy Duffy's " Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manual 1997-98". It was the key to all the other resources we needed to continue to homeschool our children in Junior and High School, with very helpful comments, addresses and phone numbers of publishers. I understand the new edition is even better! I am buying it right now just to update the information.

When we moved overseas and had to be very selective on which items to take along on the plane, I selected Cathy Duffy's " Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manual 1997-98". It was the key to all the other resources we needed to continue to homeschool our children in Junior and High School, with very helpful comments, addresses and phone numbers of publishers. I understand the new edition is even better! I am buying it right now just to update the information.

Cathy Duffy is not only a gifted author, but she also knows how to review things. Sometimes it is hard to be objective, especially if you have books or material you love more than others. But Duffy tells you what is out there, what is good for different learning styles, and also what is good for your teaching style. (And gives you tests on how to discover each.) Plus there are forms in the back that help you keep records for this most important time in your student's life.
I work at a homeschool bookstore, and when people ask about a curriculum, or just how to survive high school, we grab this book!

This book gives very thorough reviews of the major publishers of homeschooling books, ie, BJU, Alpha-Omega, Christian Liberty Press, School of Tomorrow, Beautiful Feet, Greenleaf Press, A Beka - the list goes on! All the addresses, websites and phone numbers are provided in the back. It even reviews correspondence schools. Then it describes unit studies and reviews some of those suppliers. Then the best part--it describes in detail, subject by subject, various books, CD Roms, and videotape programs for teaching every subject a homeschooled student needs! All the reviews are from a Christian viewpoint and thoroughly researched. The author doesn't just pick one favorite supplier in each subject, either. She points out the pros and cons of each as well as letting you know when you don't have to buy all the teacher's manuals and extras that the publishers sometimes push. I consider this book indispensable! When a new edition comes out, I'll be first in line to buy!

Very Good Textbook! The diagnostic assessments were easy to follow. The textbook is written with professionalism and expertise. I had to take a reading diagnostics class for my graduate program. I am so glad that my school decided to use this book! I refuse to sell my book and I will use the text in my future classroom! If you plan on selling your textbooks, I would not sell this one. I would reconsider selling this book because it will become handy in the classroom. I guarantee you will use it again!:)

This is a great diagnostic tool to get a grasp on a student's reading skills and deficits. I like how it gives their frustration, independent, and instructional reading levels.
I would recommend this informal inventory to tutors, teachers, and mentors.

I needed this book for a class I was taking. It was mandatory so I guess it was helpful. I won't know to the full extent until I begin teaching and using it as a helpful resource. Looking through it though, it seemed very helpful for assessing K-8 students with various assessments in order to keep assessing with different tests.

The grade level assessmenta are very concise and easy to administer, enabling users to quickly assess reading comprehension levels and listening comprehension levels. Because it is easy to use, it helps provide a starting point in grouping students for small group instruction, reading groups and guided individual reading.

This reading inventory kit is great for all students from elementary level to adult. The inventories in this book allow us to make instructional decisions according to the results. The format is easy to follow, and the cd-rom gives a clear idea on test administration. The classroom reading inventory is an individual diagnostic test, and this text explains the process, making you feel comfortable in administering it.

karen's aunt peaches is expecting a baby and is moving back to stoneybrook and stays with claudia's family. Claudia and peaches are the closest and they do all kinds of things like going shopping for baby stuff, watching old movies, cooking delcious dinners and dressing up in funky costumes, you can really see where claudia gets her creativity from. But then claudia and peaches go out for pizza at night, come home late and claudia's mom makes it a big deal that they went out at night, BIG DEAL! And since then peaches and claudia were not speaking to each other but then things work out at the end after peaches lost the baby. On the side, claudia is getting mary anne to teach her how to knit a lavender baby blanket for the new baby, and natalie springer from the little sister series makes appearances in the book too, interesting read.

Claudia is happy that Aunt Peaches is back in Stoneybrook. They love to eat junkfood, play pretend. But one day it stops. Aunt Peaches gets Claudia in trouble!

In my opinion, this is one of the best books in the Baby-Sitters Club Series! Great job, Ann!

Claudia can't believe her luck--wacky Aunt Peaches, one of her favorite people on the planet, is moving back to Stoneybrook...and she's going to have a baby! Claudia's sure that life with Peaches around will be nonstop fun. At first, it is. But then one of Peaches' crazy adventures gets Claudia in trouble. Claudia's really mad--so mad that she blows up at Peaches. And before Claudia can apologize, something awful happens. Claudia would give anything to take back her angry words now. Is there any way she can make things right again? Read this book and find out!

This was a very good BSC book. I thought it was funny. I was o happy that Claudia's aunt Peaches was going to have a baby! This book is also sad too. After reading this, I recommend that you read Claudia and the World's Cutest Baby. It's also about Peaches. Also the part about Natalie Springer was good, too.

claudia's aunt peaches is expecting a baby and is moving back to stoneybrook and stays with claudia's family. Claudia and peaches are the closest and they do all kinds of things like going shopping for baby stuff, watching old movies, cooking delcious dinners and dressing up in funky costumes, you can really see where claudia gets her creativity from. But then claudia and peaches go out for pizza at night, come home late and claudia's mom makes it a big deal that they went out at night, BIG DEAL! And since then peaches and claudia were not speaking to each other but then things work out at the end after peaches lost the baby. On the side, claudia is getting mary anne to teach her how to knit a lavender baby blanket for the new baby, and natalie springer from the little sister series makes appearances in the book too, interesting read.