Ethics Books

"Just Be Honest" is a great resource for home and for work. It's a little book that provides a punch right from the start. You don't have to read page after page of filler. I found it useful immediately.

The company I work for paid for our entire division to attend his seminar. It's simply amazing how much we don't know about effective communication. Just last night I utilized his strategy and it worked flawlessly. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this!

Steve Gaffney has captured the essence of communication and he shows, in simple terms, how to effectively deal with the most common problems that affect our professional and personal relationships. His vivid examples and practical suggestions come together in an easy-to-read book full of helpful information. I would recommend it to anyone who regularly communicates with others!

This book is awesome!
We'd have a lot less problems in this world if everyone read this and implemented the simple steps Steven points out.
The book will help you in all facets of your life!

With this new book Steve Gaffney takes a quantum the leap from run-of-the-mill, motivational, cheer-leader to foundation shaking visionary. The chapter on Columbo should be required reading for anyone interested in succeeding in corporate America. Using Mr. Gaffney's easy to understand strategy I was able to obtain a position in my company that I was woefully underqualified for. As an added bonus I have been able to parlay Gaffney's "Authentic Communication Strategies" into a very active sex-life. Needless to say my "calendar" is full...With quite a bit of variety...If you know what I'm saying.

A very moving book. I knew Joel from a distance, all we would say is "Hi" to each other. Nothing more. Reading this book should be a school requirement. It does not get any better. What a fascinating man he was. He will be MISSED!

Who ever suspected Joel Siegel led such an interesting life? I couldn't believe all of the experiences he wrote about and the funny insights into his family. He included a chapter on Yiddish words which was informative and amusing. Of course throughout the book was the touching message to his son.

A man, approaching fatherhood late in life finds that he has cancer. What can he give his very young son that would impact the child's life. This book is Joel Siegel's legacy to his young son.

It could have been overly-sentimmental or morbid. Instead it is funny, profound, and deeply moving. Those of us who have faced the same eventuality that Joel Siegel has faced, will find great wisdom here, and solace.

The only quibble I have with the book, is that there are a few chapters that seem to have been added to flesh out the size of the book. A chapter on Yiddish phrases, for example, seems a bit "fluffy," though quite funny.

In all, a wonderful legacy for Dylan... and us all.

This book is a treasure in the fact that a man who has a young son (who should have been his grandson) at that age realizes that he may not be around to share all of these stories and this valuable insight to Dylan in person, and he put in print the things he would have told him (maybe) had he been a young father. The last twenty-five (27) years were a trial for him, as they were for me, as a divorced woman with a son the same age at the time of the divorce. You feel that you've just got to be there to see that son grown, then get on with your life.

He is funny. The Jewish jokes were okay, and the one he had Bobby Kennedy tell about the price of meat was okay, but this whole book is written in the joking way he thinks. Serious times about lowering the flag to half-mast on the UCLA campus the day JFK was assassinated. He was there when brother Bobby died and heard the shots. He and Dylan's mother lived in an area of New York where they were able to watch the Twin Towers burn on 9-11. This is history he passes down to his son in intimate terms.

He writes fondly "some of my best memories of my father are of him laughing while he and I watched TV. We didn't go to movies much; most families didn't in the early '50s." My sister Evelyn took me to my first movie about that time (before she ran off and eloped, ending up spending the rest of her life up North) and I marveled at the beauty and splendor of Tennessee Theater. I don't remember the movie, but I will never forget how I felt looking up at the mural on the interior dome. In the middle and later Fifties, I went to many movies there and even sang in a local talent show on that stage. It was no big deal.

As a film critic, he explains that movies are a fraud and goes into detail about how they are made. But, those he chose for viewing with Dylan were a varied and motlely group, not my choices at all. He tells how old he was when he saw them and how he felt. He dishes the dirt about some of the big movie stars. The index is full of big names. You think of one, he has met him or her and has a funny anecdote to share. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, I can understand why he would want to explain to his son what is happening and why. Since he is such a funny man, I guess he would choose the Marx brothers' films. I did enjoy Groucho on the t.v. game show!

Of course, he wants 'I Love Lucy' and 'The Honeymooners' to be available for Dylan to enjoy and share a few laughs. His remembrance of live t.v. in Los Angeles, 'Time for Beanie,' brought back memories of 'Your Startime' hosted by Bob Lobertini for me as I was one of his regulars, and later he had a 'Popeye' show in Nashville where I took my sons. He told them on the air that he and I had appeared on t.v. together in Knoxville; that was stretching it -- he was the star, I the adorer.

During the 1958 Winter/Spring, one of my best friends was the young Jewish usher, Joe Feldman, at the Tennessee Theater. I had moved to the YWCA to finish high school and, that Easter, he took me to eat Easter dinner at the S&W Cafeteria on Gay Street. I still have his senior picture from Young High School.

Dylan is a darling child and so much like Ken Young when he was younger. I sincerely hope they will share many good times as he grows up -- and away. That time will come before you know it.

There are no athiests in foxholes or in an oncologist's office. Siegel, an entertainment critic for ABC's GMA, faced a terminal illness, and created this story of his first 58 years of life. (He passed away on June 29, 2007 at the age of 63).

At the age of 54, Siegel became a father for the first time and learned that he had cancer. In "Lessons for Dylan," Siegel shares all the things he wants his son to know, in case he is not around to tell him, things about his family history and Jewish heritage, life's pleasures and disappointments, the challenges of growing up (at any age), and, most important, who his father is and what Joel values. As Joel and Rabbi Larry Rafael discussed, Joel wants his son to be normal (but not average).

Siegel was born in East Los Angeles in 1943. His Romanian Jewish grandmother survived the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in March 1911. (Her father banned her from going that day.) His father, a Levite, was an electrician, and he got the first African American and the first Mexican American into his local IBEW union. In 1965, Joel delivered a bag containing $800 in cash to a minister named Martin Luther King at a UCLA luncheon. ("Dr. King, I've come with dessert.") He ended up spending the Summer working for King. Siegel says he invented the names of several Baskin Robbins flavors, including German Chocolate Cake (my favorite) and Pralines and Cream. Siegel was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on a musical about Jackie Robinson. Siegel was a joke writer Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, and witnessed Kennedy's assassination in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He is co-founder (with Gene Wilder) and president of Gilda's Club, a non-profit support facility for cancer patients.

Only Siegel can make the story of his chemo sessions and a colostomy funny. Siegel candidly writes about the end of his marriage (his third) to Dylan's mother and the experience of having cancer. The famous ad man and partier Jerry Della Femina bought pot for Siegel during his chemotherapy. Siegel also shares great stories from show biz (featuring Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Paul Newman, Brad Pitt, Stevie Wonder, all four Beatles, and more); lays out the History of the Jewish People in Four Jokes ("Why make trouble?"); and offers fatherly advice on sex ("ask your mother"), work, what to cook for Rosh Hashanah (recipes included), and a list of movies he would like to see with his son.

One of his letters:
Dear Dylan,
One day you might remember--maybe triggered by a photograph, or a sense memory of a texture or a color--the soft, grey cashmere sweater I bought for you for your second birthday. As an adult you may wonder, "What kind of schmuck buys a cashmere sweater for a two year-old boy?"

The answer is: A schmuck who tempts fate.

The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start

Mr. Rogers was always a soothing voice on TV. My children watched and enjoyed his programs. Now I have the privilege of reading his books. You can almost hear his soothing, calm voice in each passage. I love the insights and candor of this man and recommend this book.

Just a great book to have to thumb through. Just neat thoughts from a great person.

I have been gripped recently, nearly 5 years after his death, with a wave of Mr. Rogers nostalgia. After reading Tim Madigan's wonderful "I'm Proud of You," about his friendship with Fred Rogers, I wanted more. It seems that this 1-CD tribute would do the trick, slaking my thirst for words of wisdom from this warm, sweet man, while perhaps not overdoing it. I was disappointed. The CD consists of a series of short snippets gathered from Fred's writings, read by Lily Tomlin and others. This sounds like a wonderful way to pay tribute to the man, but comes off wrong. Fred had a way of making even the most treacly saying seem profound. Then there was his stance of complete acceptance, non-judgment and kindness that made his words seem salving and utterly non-threatening. In the voices of others, these sayings lose their power and become simply "nice," and even trite.

The best parts of the CD were where Fred himself appeared, in recordings of music from his shows ("I'm Proud of You, "I'm Still Myself Inside") and in his words to the graduating class of his alma mater, Latrobe University. Here, in extended segments, Fred's warmth and humanity had time to take root.

Beautiful as the sentiment may have seemed to the participants, the essence of Fred Rogers cannot be removed from his slow, gentle delivery or his meek and inviting persona. I would NOT recommend this product for anyone who wants to experience the extraordinary person who was Fred Rogers. Madigan's book helps, but as for me, I am still seeking a relatively short volume or CD that lets me experience the affirming and healing grace of God that was Mr. Fred Rogers.

I was a bit apprehensive when I first picked this up at the library because I was afraid that Fred might concentrate more on the religious side of things.actually,he only mentioned god a few times in it and each of those times he mentioned god unforcefully,which was both smart and caring of him.I liked it so much I'm going to buy a copy!it was uncanny to see that his writing style(although compiled by others)in this book was very simmillar to that of david lynch in his "catching the big fish" book--short and to the point/abstract for a purpose:I love books which demand that the reader think things out themselves rather than have it served up american-style on a big silver platter!

Such joy in living simply. Mr. Rogers had a way of bringing people in with his ordinariness. His philosophy is one of love and positive thinking. He separates true happiness from temporary satisfactions. This is a must read.

Intended for popular consumption, Zitrin & Langford provide a riveting, accessible exploration of the ethical ambiguities posed by the adversary theorem in legal practice.

The adversary theorem, the core of American legal practice, asserts that zealous advocacy on behalf of clients will serve the ultimate cause of justice even if lawyers engage in otherwise questionable behavior because the competition between lawyers who engage in the same practices ensures that justice will ultimately prevail.

Folks looking to denounce lawyers lightly will find little sympathy for lawyers by reading the cases in this book. Rather than consider the implications of the billable hours or the justifications for Frank Armani's interpretation of confidentiality, they'll rush to denounce. It's always easy to pre-judge. That's why lawyers exist.

Zitrin & Langford are less interested in denouncing the adversary theorem than in examining its effect in the real world. The proposals they offer mesh with developments that occurred after their book. The American Bar Association revised its model rules in 2002. Harvard Law School added a pro bono requirement for all students. Law firms tout their pro bono service prominently on their websites, sometimes more prominently than they tout their client list.

Zitrin & Langford add considerably to serious discussion about the application of ethics to legal practice - a perpetual discussion that will last so long as humans disagree.

The only moral compass I've seen yet is whether or not they can get away with justifying their acts with regard to clients. Much of that depends upon the nature of their confidence and where they sit in the "pecking" order of human beings, a.k.a., to whom they were married (denoting family power), where they went to school (usually denoting family power), and what firm they are with (often denoting family power), or who they know (as a result of family power). Therefore, the ethics displayed say a lot more about who's who in family power than about the topic of morality - since it is family power not God who governs the universe. For example, if you come from the right family, you can be a judge, and many have, or even a President, provided you are not a woman. This has been the history for most professions since the nation was founded.

I am a paralegal, and have worked in the legal field for 23 years. I could not put this book down. I have been talking about it since I turned the pages of the first chapter. I recommend it to everyone; I plan to read it again, and when it is not in use, I place it in plain sight of the lawyers with whom I work. Langford and Zitrin have written an important commentary about the practice of law that is easy reading for non-lawyers without being condescending. But their book should be required reading for every lawyer. It is as if someone finally mentioned the elephant in the center of the room.

How did the profession get this far afield? Clients are served less and less while more lawyers are churned out of law schools, and competition is fierce. Money talks; clients at the lower end of the economic scale get less effective counsel or simply try to solve problems without representation. The legal profession has evolved into a business to survive; but, along the way, its vision has deteriorated with regard to justice, public service, and what is morally right.

The fact pattern presented at the beginning of each chapter had me guessing about its outcome as I read on regarding actual, related cases. The anecdotal evidence of injustice and moral dilemma is overwhelming. These are not just occasional news items. They are things that happen every day to lawyers and ordinary people.

I loved their straightfoward and common sense proposals for solutions to make the practice of law better for everyone involved. If only the legal profession, which, as they point out, largely regulates itself, had the courage to implement them.

Just read it, okay?

Richard Zitrin and Carol Langford have written here a book that will not only introduce the law student to the sleazier side of law practice, but also warn the "law consumer" what to watch out for (or perhaps what to look for by way of "zealous representation").

But this is not only a catalogue of egregiously unethical practices by real-world lawyers. It also contains interesting tidbits of great relevance to those who want to know what's wrong with the legal profession.

(For example, here's a point libertarians will enjoy. Lawyers once tried to get around the silly practice of accounting for everything in "billable hours" by settling on standard fees for certain common legal tasks. What stopped them? Antitrust law. It seems adopting industry-standard fees is a form of collusion in restraint of trade. Thank heavens; the current system is _ever_ so much better.)

Not long on solutions, this volume is still a solid overview of the sort of nonsense engendered by the adversarial system. It's also a list of good reasons to look into alternative dispute resolution the next time _you_ have a legal problem.

For law students, I'd personally recommend supplementing it with any or all of the following: Mary Ann Glendon's _A Nation Under Lawyers_; Deborah Rhode's _In the Interests of Justice_; and Philip Howard's _The Death of Common Sense_.

I am afraid that I don't share other reviewers' enthusiasm for this book. Others have noted that it is rather short on solutions to the problems that it outlines. However, it seems to me that this book doesn't know which audience it is aimed at.

My instincts tell me that it is aimed at the general public - not least because of the breezy, senasationalist tone it adopts. There's an awful lot of scaremongering of the "Gee - isn't it awful what these lawyers are doing?" variety. Indeed, I don't take issue with the factual accuracy of the behaviors instanced by the authors. However, my gripe is that the authors do not put these acts in proportion - the lay reader will come away from this book without any idea at all as to how common are these practices that the authors catalog.

The reputation of the legal profession in the United States is at a pretty low ebb. This book will do nothing to improve public perceptions of it. I do not claim that all is well and the public has nothing to worry about - however, the public does deserve to know just how widespread are the practices that the authors describe. The subtitle for this book might just as well be "lawyers are bad for your wealth" yet the public cannot do without legal services. We can expect those who read this book to view their visit to a lawyer's office with as much enthusiasm as a visit to a dentist or a proctologist. Frankly I think the public deserve to be better informed than this on the issues raised by this book.

Lawyers will find little surprising here - other than the impression that the temple of the law is falling about heads and we know nothing, or care nothing, about it. Zitrin and Langford produced a useful casebook on legal ethics - although not as good as Professor Rhode's - but their legal scholarship has taken second place to legal journalism with this book. The book is short but its scope is all encompassing. The inevitable result is a superficial treatment of important issues and a general lack of reflective insight.

If lay or professional readers want to know just how thought provoking and readable a good reflection on the "state of the profession" can be, I urge them to read Michael H Trotters's "Profit and the Practice of Law: What's happened to the legal profession?" and compare that with Part Two of this book.

Don't let the strange title throw you off, this is a great book by one of the best Christian thriller writers of today, James Scott Bell. Janice Ramsey is shopping in a grocery store when a man runs by and steals her purse. AFter briefly chasing after the man, she returns to find that her ten-year old daughter, Lauren, has been kidnapped. Janice is convinced her ex-husband, Sam, is behind it because they are involved in a custody battle.

A bounty hunter named Jed is searching for the killers of his brother Sterling Brown. Jed finds the man who killed Sterling and finds a connection to Sam on the killer's computer. Jed hooks up with Janice and they begin a trip to the East Coast to try and find the truth behind Laurnen's dissappearance and Sterling's killer.

That "thruth" is Bentley Davis, a Harvard Professor with designs on controlling the world through genetic engineering. Davis has designed a gene, the Nephelim seed, that can cause people to lose all emotional thought and to even doubt the existence of God.

The novel is basically a race agains time. Can Janice and Jed rescue Lauren before it is too late? While the plot was engaging, I found the characters to be what kept me turning the pages. Janice has faced the ultimate horror, having a child kidnapped. Lauren is the innocent child who constantly prays to God for guidance. Jed has fallen away from God after he felt God abandoned him in times of trouble. Bentley Davis hates God and thinks he has found the answer: an injection that takes away the need for God and emotion-based thought.

The religious message of the novel is hit and miss. Bell hints at spiritual warfare covered in his later novels. Characters also send mixed messages about why bad things happen. In one scene, when her father is threatening her, Lauren wonders "Why is God letting this happen?"

This is a fun novel full of riveting characters that have the depth needed to make this a page turner. Fans of Bell shouldn't hesitate to read this book.

The Nephilim Seed is one wild ride through Scott Bell's illustrious imagination. I gave it 5 stars because I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do than race to the finish line of The Nephilim Seed. I was hooked on the first page; swept into every scene by characters so well imagined I'll remember them forever. I wanted to protect Lauren, hunt down her father, encourage her mother and go to the police academy so I could personally arrest Davis and all those involved in UniGen. If this isn't a movie--I don't know what is. Man! James, where's the sequel? Facsinating! P.S. Circumstancial Evidence, Blind Justice are great reads too.

This was my first experience with James Scott Bell. If his other novels are as exciting and fast-paced as this one, then it will definitely not be my last.

As a former fan of James Byron Huggins who has been turned off by his recent nonsense which has been passed off as readable fiction, I was refreshed to read a Christian sci-fi thriller that was believable, enjoyable, and lacking in space wasting sentimental drivel.

The idea of the Nephilim has intrigued me ever since my first year Biblical Hebrew class when we studied Genesis 6 and the idea of the Nephilim. A friend and I in that class discussed a Christian sci-fi novel based upon the Nephilim, but not in the manner in which Bell did it here.

"The Nephilim Seed" touched moral themes which are ever encroaching on our post-modern society, and I believe that Bell addresses those issues in a laudable, conservative manner. As science and technology continue in their present course, Christian values and morals will likewise continue to be attacked as outdated.

Jim Bell has knocked one over the far fences with this one! The characters fairly leap off the pages and the plot is, as in all of Jim's books, relentless. His theme is torn right off today's headlines as he has explored areas new to Christian fiction. Can a movie treatment be far behind? Get the "Seed", and bring it home. But a caveat...prepare to lose sleep for a few nights; it's that good.
So move over, Grisham..."The Nephilim Seed" cooks!

I'm blown away. I just finished reading it seconds ago. I am completely blown away. "Christian Futuristic Mystery/Thriller" is how I'd classify it.

you know how you listen to a milestone of a music CD (something by Elvis, the Beetles, Led Zepplin, Iron Maiden, or Metallica - you know, something of that nature) and you wish you could give it about 10,000 stars on amazon? I wish I could do that with this book.

I'm not about to tell you about the story itself. I'll tell you that this author utilizes every word in the English language that he features in this book to perfection. The reader is left shocked countless times (ex. page 360 of the 375 page version - this shock is about as big as if... ... I really can't think of anything on that scale). I compare the first 90 or so pages to a "combination of My Cousin Vinny and Big Daddy." That'll give you a sense of what the plot is about. But the aforementioned page 360 is one of the biggest shocks I've ever seen in my life, turning a phrase said often throughout the book into... not what the ending deals with.

One surprise after another. Written to perfection. The last book I read was one a lot like this, so as I was on about page 40 of this book I was saying to myself "good move, moron - read the same kind of book back to back and automatically, the 2nd one sucks." based on what you've read thus far of this review, you think that's what happened?

Humor is intertwined in a way I've never seen it before. I never burst out laughing at the wrong times, though. In other words, if there's a gun in the current scene, expect dead seriousness. But if the characters are on a boat ride (something that actually DOESN'T happen in this book), expect to fall on the floor laughing.

Its a story for the emotional just as much as it is a story for one who's passion can drive them into dangerous situations (and I mean DANGEROUS), one who is interested in the everlasting battle between Christians and evolutionists, or someone who just wants a book to read. as long as you don't think you'd be offended by the Christianism (but you're not exactly going to feel a dying urge to become super-religious upon completion of the book, though such thoughts may appear suggested, particularly at the very (somehow and somewhat happy) ending.

bottom line: ask me if you think you should read this book and other than the hesitation with the whole Christian aspect, I will tell you: "Go read it." There's a lot more than just Christianness in this book.

What better antidote to toxic news about Wall Street greed and corruption than to read one story after another of people helping one another. This book is not about the how of giving, but about the why of it all. It wonderfully delivers on the promise of its (two!) subtitles: "How giving back enriches us all - Creating abundance in your home, at work, and in your community."

Creating abundance, for example, can mean joining a babysitting co-op, thereby affording busy parents a bit of time for themselves. Though elsewhere in the book it's evident that the authors, professional fundraisers Jamal and McKinnon, work with very high-income donors indeed, this book is for EveryCitizen. The authors intersperse funny personal stories from their own lives with poignant vignettes, quotes of wisdom from the ancients, helpful web links, and so forth.

One can feel sick at heart and powerless to do anything effective about huge disasters like hurricanes, or gang violence, or homelessness in a rich country - or even about "smaller" problems in the neighbourhood. American Trappist poet and social activist Thomas Merton captured this malaise well: "To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to the violence of our times."

Jamal and McKinnon have spectacularly not "succumbed to the violence of our times."

Each page seems to have been written with love and laughter. Even though all my life I've donated time and money to various causes; have worked as a fundraiser for non-profits; and know the many benefits of giving, I love this book because it's an invitation to everyone - not just the fundraisers - to experience the happiness and the health we create - and the meaningful relationships we build - when reach out to others.

The subtle design of the book helps you slow down a bit, taking pleasure in the relaxing act of turning the well-printed pages... of considering how the next idea might play out in one's own circle of friends.

This immensely compassionate book could make an eye-opening and inviting gift for anyone in your life - including the friend who "has everything."

From the pauper on the street to those in the arena of Bill Gates this book should be a "must read." We can give in thousands of ways. I have given in many of the forms mentioned here. I like the way the book is organized. Now as I share my ideas for giving with others I have a book to back up and expand my thoughts from.

Thank you for sure an insightful book on giving from the heart. I practice random acts of kindness daily; WHAT FUN!

This should be required reading for everyone. Give it to your friends, your family, and your co-workers. It will inspire you to do what you have always wanted to do - make a difference. And Harvey doesn't just tell us, he shows us. All the profits from book sales are being donated. A great read with great ideas that you can act on. Buy it by the dozen.

Congrads and special thanks to Azim and Harvey for giving us a deeper understanding and reminding how powerful GIVING and sharing is. The Power of Giving has helped me solidly in 2 areas:

1) It gives a wider definition of giving and envisioned me for learning to give beyond money. When I think of all the opportunities of giving I have throughout my daily life, I started living more fullfiling days. There are so many opportunities everyday for giving a smile, a compliment, valuable knowledge...Giving and sharing, thus serving, helping each other is part of purpose. It's great to be reminded this and shown the way.

2) I have read so many books on personal development, self-help etc. Of course it is vital to know what you want in life, learning to manage your thoughts, thinking positive, keeping a high motivation etc. But very few books talks about the actual POWER of giving. Giving truely creates a POWER within, it makes you feel more abundant, more connected, definetly much better.

Good book showing you all the benefits of giving but I recommend another book that deals with giving and getting back through the Law of Attraction. The book is entitled Living The Secret Everyday: My Secret Workbookand a must read if your concerns are for a happier life through gratitude and giving.

This book is an excellent modern satire. From the cover illustration onwards, it's laugh-a-minute.

And it's not all blunt jokes - the genius of Bonacci is in the little touches, such as referring to women who have had abortions as "aborted women".

Whether you are a teen, adult, married or single, there is so much in this book for you.
Mary Beth Bonacci does a superb job answering questions regarding love, dating, flirting, living together, guilt, healing the hurt, forgiveness, sexual attractions, healthy relationships, holding out for the right person, knowing when you've met the right marriage partner, living the single life, fear of loving or being loved, staying married, and more. All topics are handeled in the context of authentic Catholic moral teaching.
Mary Beth explains the reason for her book by ending with Christ's words to his disciples, "You live in My love when you keep My Father's commandments and live in His love. I tell you this that My joy may be your joy, and that your joy may be complete" (Jn 15:9).
This book is so complete and valuable for anyone who wants to find true joy in their relationships and in life.
Get this one for friends, siblings, parents and yourself!

This book is for all, those who are strong in chastity, those who struggle, those who dont know if its what they want, and I can go on. It had questions I asked myself and had searched on various sites for the answers, and it answers so clearly there is no doubt as to the message and anyone from any background can relate and understand its meaning.

I commend the author on her research and wide range of questions, keep up the good work.

This is one of the most awesome books I have ever read. I teach a Catholic Youth Group-high schoolers, and have been reading the book to them. I can't just tell them what it says because very word is so great. I think every single person in America should read this book. There is so much truth in it. Even though it was written 10 years ago, everything she says is still relevant today. Everyone deserves to know the TRUTH about sex and dating. She talks in a language that is so respectful and loving, never judging. I wish I could have had this information when I was in high school and dating. Even though I have been married over 25 years, it helps me to see what went on when I was dating. This is a book about REAL love, the love we all want and need in life.

I owned this book for a couple of years before actually reading it. I didn't want to bother with the silly nonsense but after the ending of a unhealthy five year relationship I opened it up and read it. It touches the heart and helps to heal the pain and covers just about everything associated with sex and relationships, no matter the age. This book talks directly to you and is never condescending. At times it seemed as if it was written precisely for me. I am rereading it again for the second time...another relationship has ended and once again I have found reprieve within its pages. I recommend it to men and women of any age in a relationship or not.

Excellent, fast-paced, thought-provoking novel. Dr. Kerns provides an insider's look into the state of our healthcare via a very personable set of characters and a story that kept me entertained cover to cover.

This was a very interesting book, highlighting the changes in medicine today. The for profit hospital is very different than non profit and the story guides you through the changes. I think if you are in the medcial field ,this is a good read.

I enjoyed this book tremendously and had to ration myself so I didn't gobble it up in one sitting! As I completed it last evening, I had two distinct experiences: As a critical event began to unfold, I had an adrenaline rush as though it were happening to me! And when a disclosure comes that explains one thread of the story, I got a lump in my throat. It was one of those situations where I had to remind myself it was a fictional story yet my physical reactions were quite real. David, thank you for a lovely reading experience.

From mourning the tragedy of little Kerry Jameson, a child whose life as we know it was cut short by medical error/understaffing, to identifying with the ethical dilemma of finances versus care faced by Dr. Dan Fazen, "Standard of Care" brings to life in fiction, the real-life circumstances faced daily in todays hospitals. This book would be enough as a can't-put-it-down read that reaches to the core of human values, and reminds us that right can prevail through the compassion of a single individual, but it goes much further.

Reading this book, one can envision a country where the medical system works! "Standard of Care" should be read and re-read by anyone who hopes to make a difference in the health care of Americans. Though I longed for a sequel the moment I finished the book, Dr. Kerns has a gift to put forth the solutions that could repair our ailing health care system. I hope he pens it!

Full disclosure: I have the good fortune of knowing Dr. Kerns both personally and professionally. He is an amazing, talented and inspiring character --- and he has written a remarkable first novel.

I recently finished reading Jerome Groopman's excellent non-fiction "How Doctors Think". Groopman discusses medical errors often referencing the effects of the medical establishment. In "Standard of Care" Kerns personalizes that discussion through the conflicts of Dr. Dan Fazen. Faced with the very real-world challenge of being the physician he wants to be and the physician he is expected to be, Fazen reaches deep into himself and deep into his own past to find answers.

From the artfully crafted prologue to the powerful conclusion, this book will grip you. With characters you can care about, dialog that flows naturally, and some of the most important ethical questions of our times in the balance, you will not want to put this book down.

I thoroughly enjoyed it (twice) and highly recommend it.

Item was received in the condition as stated. I am very satisfied with my purchase!

Street-Smart Ethics by Clinton W. Mclemore is a book that should be read not only by people who aspire to be involved in business, but also by anyone who wants to make ethical decisions in the gray and complex areas where we function in everyday life. The book is divided into three parts, part one is "A non-Nonsense Premier on Ethics," part two is "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Time," and part three is "Testing Your Mettle." Each part is divided into several subsections with a lot of real life example, making it easy to grasp the author's point.

The first part begins with an analysis of what now have become the classical study cases in corporate ethics, Enron and WorldCom and the new ethical implications for people holding MBA and CPA degrees. In the next section, the author analyses the relationship between law and ethics and the implications for individuals. Breaking the law is clearly identified as being something "bad." However, there are other circumstances where "ethical dilemmas" are not clear (such as when an act or behavior may be accepted within the legal framework but may be unethical). According to the author this gray area is where many people fail to behave correctly. Ethics tell us what other members of society perceive to be our moral obligations. That is why many professions such as doctors and lawyers develop their own ethical codes that should guide them in their practices.

In this first part Mclemore also presents some suggestions as to how to avoid getting involved in unethical dilemmas. His recommendations include leaving a company one works for when one discovers that the values of the organizations are not as one expected. The author also presents some recommendations for those employees who decide to "blow the whistle," which include consulting an attorney before taking any action as well as making sure one will be able to withstand the hostile attacks that "blowing the whistle" often entails.

In the last section of part I, the author makes a good job in distinguishing simple versus complex ethical dilemmas and the way to approach them. Simple dilemmas involves straightforward question of right and wrong. The general approach suggested by the author to simple ethical dilemmas are to consult knowledgeable and wise colleagues who may have faced similar dilemmas in the past and to consult whatever codes of conduct that may apply. Complex moral dilemmas emerge when we have to choose between two or more evils or two or more goods. The author makes this comparison clear by using a series of examples both in business and personal context. However, at the end of this section, I think the author fell shortly in explaining two approaches or theories to solving ethical issues: duty-based (deontological) theories that focus on duties, and consequence-oriented (teleological) theories that focus on consequences. Although the author makes it clear that the purpose of this book was not to explain these theories in detail, he does not link this section of the book with the others. Then, he should have either explained these theories in detail or leave this section out of the book.

In part II of this book, Mclemore takes 50 proverbs from the Bible to develop a guideline for Christian people that could serve as a guide to staying out of troubles and to use it to enhance our wisdom, integrity, judgment, and many other "virtues" that are valuable to society. Every proverb is followed by a short explanation on how to apply it to everyday life, as well as provides questions for reflection. I found this to be a good technique in presenting the material because most of the questions for reflection are straightforward, making it easier to remember and apply the material presented in the book. Furthermore, the author uses his psychology background to make excellent recommendations as to how to learn the most from this section and from the entire book, which is something that many books lack.

In the last part of this book, the author provides a series of questions and problems that should help the reader to test the material learned from the book. He does a good job in breaking down the questions and problems into simple and complex ethical dilemmas. Simple ethical questions are presented to be answered as true and false, while complex ethical questions are presented in short cases.

I think Mclemore does a good job in expressing in simple words (160 pages) the challenges involved in ethical issues both in the business and personal arenas. This will be an excellent book for those students who have not been exposed to ethics readings before because it is a straight forward reading.

In this time of history repeating itself and major corporate scandals being splashed across the media again, Dr. McLemore's book is a refreshing primer on developing and maintaining personal integrity in the workplace. Whether or not the reader is a Christian, he or she will enjoy the engagingly-written Proverbs-based section in Part II of the book. This fine little tome is well worth the time investment!

In this time of history repeating itself and major corporate scandals being splashed across the media again, Dr. McLemore's book is a refreshing primer on developing and maintaining personal integrity in the workplace. Whether or not the reader is a Christian, he or she will enjoy the engagingly-written Proverbs-based section in Part II of the book. This fine little tome is well worth the time investment!

Dr. McLemore wrote a wonderful book to help people make good ethical choices in murky situations. This book will interest several types of readers. For those readers who need the occasional reality check, the two page summary on prudent conduct will fit the bill. I recommend business professionals read the summary at least once a week. For professionals wanting a practical course to improve their people skills, McLemore's 50 Guidelines with the accompanying Questions for Reflection will not disappoint. For graduate MBA students taking an ethics course, the provided case studies will stimulate lively discussions and challenge the most thoughtful reader. What pleased me most was how McLemore took King Solomon's 2,500-year-old Jewish leadership manual (the Book of Proverbs) and weaved it into a practical 21st Century business handbook. In whatever way you read this book, you won't regret your investment of time.

In Dec of 2003, I gave this book to the seventeen CEO's that I mentor. By Mar of 2004, many of them had already implemented a process to create values in their companies based on this book. I highly recommend this to CEO's of new and old companies.

The parable in this easy to read book is also summarized nicely into concise guidance for managers. The parable itself is modern, but the leadership values learned are timeless.

The process that Ken so interestingly describes in his book has been very effective in getting the members of my organization aligned with our mission and goals. Since we used Ken's process, I've seen them take initiative and emphasize what we're all about. In short, they now "walk the talk", and its made a big difference. Thanks to Ken for helping us lead the values way!

Kenneth Majer's message is so simple that most business leaders do not think about it. But they need to understand his point if are they are to have followers - the real attribute of a leader.

Why should members of the team follow the dictates of the would-be leader if (s)he does not acknowledge and respect the values that they hold dear? Of course they won't. So why not encourage the team to articulate their own values and then harness those ideas appropriately?

Kenneth Majer's message is that simple.

I thought the "parable style" business book format had run its' course. I WAS WRONG. This book is not only easy to read but also sells a much needed message of honesty and integrity. Unlike so many others, this story is long on practical solutions that can engage any manager at any level. Ignore the message in this book today and be a feature story on "60 Minutes" tomorrow.