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Joyce Barrows, This book is an in depth detailed account of child molestation/incest and the ramifications of the act and the future of the child put under such a devestating stress. I personally am a fan of memoirs, enjoying the real more so than the imagined. This book offers the real life accounts of people when they were children and the pain that they must have had to endure. It is also a moving book, similar to that of Nightmares Echo by Katlyn Stewart and Beauty For Ashes by Joyce Meyers. Though this book is a bit more clinical

I think that there are three separate (and possibly overlapping) audiences for this book.

First, those professionals who work with incest survivors will find the results of knowledge gained from Dr Herman's experience studying this particular field of sexual abuse and working with those directly affected. Secondly, those who work with abuse victims in any care-giving capacity will find some guidance through the minefield of taboo and denial that tends to accompany this topic. Thirdly, this book is invaluable to some of the survivors who themselves can deal face the reality of the past while trying to understand that it isn't their fault and they are not necessarily alone in the conflicting feelings they have experienced.

Dr Herman's work in this area is well-presented and relatively easy to follow. By relying on facts, by incorporating case studies, and through referring to the history of the various incest taboos and practices, Dr Herman makes it easier for sufferers and caregivers alike to discuss the undiscussable.

One could wish that such studies were not necessary, and that no parent ever abused their position of power and authority. One could also wish that care and help was readily available to each child who has suffered at the time that the abuse was first experienced. By opening the topic to discussion and through publishing books which deal with behaviour in context and the consequences for individuals, families and communities, society is better equipped to help sufferers become survivors. Or so I hope.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Probably the best book there is on Father-Daughter incest. Highly recommended for all interested in the subject.

Joyce Barrows,
This book is an in depth detailed account of child molestation/incest and the ramifications of the act and the future of the child put under such a devestating stress. I personally am a fan of memoirs, enjoying the real more so than the imagined. This book offers the real life accounts of people when they were children and the pain that they must have had to endure. It is also a moving book, similar to that of Nightmares Echo by Katlyn Stewart and Beauty For Ashes by Joyce Meyers. Though this book is a bit more clinical

THe only flaw I found in the book is in her treatment of the Bible. On Pg 60-61 she repeats the text of the prohibitions of sexual relations found in Leviticus, and notes that it doesn't say explcitly 'not with your daughter'. What it does say, is "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter' which in fact does cover the daughter of your wife, (and the mother of your wife) so it covers not only a man's biological daughter but step-daughters and half-daughters as well. While she notes the father-daughter incest prohibition is by implication, the "patriarchal Gd" is far more inclusive than she gives credit, especially considering how far the text goes in explicitly forbidding sexual relations with almost any woman other than a wife (or unmarried mistress).

That said, the rest of the book is excellent.

I feel really bad for the person who said she listened to this product for a few days, then trashed it. Most programs don't work in a few days; in fact, I don't know of any that do! In my experience, it takes around of month of daily listening before change takes place.
For nearly 30 years, my favorite hypnotist has been Barrie Konicov, who was skillfully combining guided meditation trance states with subliminal programming to produce powerful results in his listeners when most of the others on the market now were still in their diapers! However, Konicov, excellent though he is, lacks a deeply shamanic, extremely mystical aspect to his methods of facilitating transformation in others. I feel that Janet Decker is extraordinarily skilled in that aspect. She's even better than Dick Sutphin--or really anybody else doing these sorts of self-programming/self-transformational programs.
Whatever "it" is that makes a hypnotist rise above the rest and be truly excellent, Janet has it. But remember, it still doesn't happen in a few days!!! Give it at least a month. You're worth the time. And so is Janet Decker. Definitely.

what happen they were a bunch of bull i got nothing out of this disc i followed all the rules and listen several time to make sure i was doing everything right. I hope that when you right a review i am happy that some got something out of it my copy is a in a dumpster some where. A BIG WASTE OF MY TIME.

For those of you who wish to make contact with their spirit guides, angels, or loved ones this is the CD for you. I've been able to make contact with my spirit guides for messsages to assist me with my personal life. This CD will assist you in improving your visualization.

This is a professionally done CD with clear steps to produce the results that you may be looking for. The relaxation program, program 2, is just that. I use that to relax during the day and found that I am feeling energetic and rested after the session. Janet's voice is soothing.

Usage is safe. There is nothing to be afraid of. Please try this CD and become more balanced and centered and perhaps prevent illness.

I've found this CD to be a wonderful way to induce a trance. I've noticed that I do feel different since using it, lighter and less tense somehow.

Yet, I keep falling asleep during it, so I haven't yet (consciously) been able to follow the instructions to make spirit contact.

I do have confidence though that it will prove as useful as her Sleep Deeply CD has been to me, once I manage my attention better.

I have used some of Janet Decker's other Hypnosis CDs for more utilitarian purposes and they worked so well that I decided to branch out into some areas of personal interest. Like most people, I have lost friends and family over the course of my lifetime that I miss terribly. This CD has helped me to open myself up to a world of possibilities that I didn't even know existed. I would recommend this CD to anyone who's lost someone they love.
A Reader In Palm Desert, CA

A truly great book. NYPD is an amazing agency and after reading this book, you get to see just how amazing they really are. A true eye opening book.

This book is a story of the bombing that almost was, and the heroics of the NYPD officers who, in literally a few hours, staged a raid that saved probably hundreds of lives.

Thanks to an Egyptian immigrant, two officers were alerted to a plot that was to be carried out the very next morning. These two officers could have dismissed the immigrants story as the ramblings of a drunk, but didn't. Thanks to them and the other brave officers, the plot was thwarted hours before it was to be executed.

It was interesting to read of the inner workings of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit (ESU). As a cop myself, my hat is off to those brave officers who risk their lives daily in the performance of their duties.

What really disgusted me about the story was the aftermath in which the NYPD "brass" acted in such a ridiculously childish way in denying the officers who participated in the raid the full honors due to them--even sending one on an assignment to the Dominican Republic so he'd have to miss a national award ceremony in Washington! While this type of behaviour may be limited to a few individuals, unfortunately those individuals are at the top of the pecking order, and make the whole administration look bad.

And yes, this is an excellent example of why we should crack down on if not eliminate illegal immigration and deport all the illegals/criminals.

Katz writes a story about his friend and his friend's colleagues who bravely stormed the apartment of two suicide bombers in Brooklyn the night before the bombers planned to self-destruct and in the process murder innumerable innocent commuters on a New York subway. The event took place after the successfully thwarted terrorist attack in lower Manhattan and several years before 9/11. That Katz has decided to tell the general public about this incident is admirable, however, a better writer would have related this story in a much more concise, objective and gripping manner. Katz does not allow the facts to speak for themselves but insists on adding his critical and at times cynical opinion. He also uses his book to vent about his friend's superiors and parts of the police administration. A better book would have tried to present the facts as objectively as possible and allowed the reader to form his or her own opinion.
For example: there is no doubt that the general public is indebted to the officers who selflessly and with immense courage prevented the terrorist bombers from realizing their heinous plan. The fact that these courageous men were subsequently only given one day off after their close encounter with death is deplorable. We do not need Katz to tell us this.
Another shortcoming: on the one hand Katz criticizes the administration and politicians for sharing the names of the brave officers with the media and thus drawing the wrath of the Jihad to these men. On the other hand, Katz makes no attempts to prevent further publication of the officers' names. The author could have covered up their identities with false names in this book.

I get the impression that Katz stretches the meager amount of material that was made available to him to the utmost. A better writer would have delivered a more comprehensive story. We know little of the evolution of the terrorists once they entered the United States. Where is the link with Jihad? The story leaves the reader with the impression that these two nutcases operated independently. Once the more fanatic of the two terrorists is taken to hospital, we are left to wonder what he told authorities subsequent to his interview with the intelligence officer. Katz' story is disjointed. He seems to tell us what he knows, even if not directly relevant, and leaves us guessing about the rest.

In summary, while this story needed to be told it could have been told more subtlety, with more finesse, and with fewer gaps.

Although the plot was broken by a legal immigrant seeking the American dream, and the police responded with proper degree of speed and understanding, the real lesson learned here is that the problem was created by turning a blind eye towards illegal immigration.

The U.S. is a haven for immigrants and races from around the world, but by no means does this make illegal immigration okay - it is not.

Doing the right thing means respecting our existing laws, respecting the people who live here and came here legally, and respect for the people that enforce our laws. Support legislation to enforce our immigation policies... we may not be so lucky next time.

This book was very good. It depicts the step by step process of how the middle east (mainly palestine and israel) is peaceless. It explains the entire process that the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit, or ESU, took to thwart the terrorist attack that would have occurred in Brooklyn. They portrayed the bravery of the NYPD and all Police officers within the United States. Not only does the ESU do there job well, but they do it with professionalism. This is a Must Read for anyone who would like to join any elite police units such as SWAT or even the NYPD's ESU.

If you like the show ER, you'll like this book especially if you're interested in th technical aspects of it. The way the book combines the show "ER" with reality is great. The characters in ER pertained to when the book was written so it's like the season 2 cast I believe. Anyway, it's a great book that is definitely worth reading. I read it last year (I was 13) and it gave me a great insight into the reality of an ER and how TV isn't always true.

If you have ever wondered what all of that medical jargon meant when you watched ER, this is the book for you!! It tells what everythting means. It even gives episode summaries of the shows most gripping episodes, and then tells the medical procedures that were done on that episode, and how they were performed. In my opinion, this is the best ER book out there.

this is such a great book it explains all of the medical procedures we see on ER. It takes a scene of Er and explains what would happen if ER was real. From reading the book i learned, all of the prices of the medical procedures, what a medical student does,all of the things a doctor does(resident, intern etc)
bottom line: This is a great book even if you have never seen the show and want to learn about medicine...plus its and easy read.

I think that the authors of this book really outdid themselves with this one. Having worked in a busy ER for sometime now, it is interesting to hear/see the ideas and beliefs of patients that they have learned my watching medical drama shows like "ER" and such. I wish that hospitals everywhere would buy millions of copies of this book and have them laminated and secured with metal cable to the chairs in the ER waiting area. The authors really "hit the nail on the head" with this piece. It pays omage to the millions of men and women who work their fingers to the bone in the ER's around the world. This book is a must for any students wanting to pursue a career in any field of emergency medicine.

I loved this book! I'm a die-hard ER fan, and I just wish that I'd found it sooner. It explains almost everything medical on ER from what a resident does to what the heck a crit is! Now I know what's happening on my favourite show!

Postpartum depression (PPD)is a common illness, yet it is often overlooked and undertreated. This book is a challenge to physicians to consider PPD a significant disorder and an alert to new mothers and their families to recognize and seek professional help for PPD when it occurs. Huysman, a clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders, provides a basic look at PPD:its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and therapeutic interventions. She extends the current thinking to suggest the existence of Progressive Postpartum Depression(PPPD), which affects mothers months or even years after childbirth and can be debilitating and dangerous. The book offers case histories of women who have overcome PPD and PPPD and of others who tragically harmed their children or themselves because their illness was never diagnosed. An important chapter by a clinical social worker with specific suggestions for getting help is also included; recommended for public and health sciences libraries.Linda M.G. Katz, Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia.

I wish I would have read this book DURING my pregnancy! To understand the NATURAL hormone and emotional changes that occured after delivery of my child could have saved me so much heart ache! Dr. Huysman describes her own experience with Postpartum Depression, who is at risk, the warning signs, true stories of loving mothers who have suffered this illness plus treatment options. READ THIS BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR BABY!

This book is excellently written, authoritative and easily read, and will appeal both to the practitioner as well as expectant mothers and their families. The footnotes and bibliography are well done. If you are unaware of the extent of PPD, then it will open your eyes. It explains exactly what it is all about. Any technical jargon is footnoted at the bottom of the page with clear definitions. What bothered me is that it goes on and on with saddening case stories of infanticide, some of which seem only questionally related to a PPD background. After the first 100 pages, I felt that I was reading a compendium of child killings, rather than how a mother and her family should handle her depression. An important topic as it is, especially for practioners and husbands to know that they should look after the new mother with devotion and TLC, it goes a little too far with all the bizarre tales. Although it includes a list of resources to turn to, the book as a whole is more of an eye opener than a guide. Also, for a 190 page book, it's a little pricy.

Postpartum depression (PPD)is a common illness, yet it is often overlooked and undertreated. This book is a challenge to physicians to consider PPD a significant disorder and an alert to new mothers and their families to recognize and seek professional help for PPD when it occurs. Huysman, a clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders, provides a basic look at PPD:its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and therapeutic interventions. She extends the current thinking to suggest the existence of Progressive Postpartum Depression(PPPD), which affects mothers months or even years after childbirth and can be debilitating and dangerous. The book offers case histories of women who have overcome PPD and PPPD and of others who tragically harmed their children or themselves because their illness was never diagnosed. An important chapter by a clinical social worker with specific suggestions for getting help is also included; recommended for public and health sciences libraries.Linda M.G. Katz, Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia.

As a professional clinician, I found this book to be clearly very informative on the signs and symptoms of PPD/PPPD. As a mother potentially suffering from PPD, I found this reading quite disturbing as far as the potential extent that PPD can be manifested in some individuals. The author seems to reach conclusions about mothers who have killed their children and covered up the murders that becomes scary. If these seemingly sane mothers could kill their babies because of a disease that is so common, then why aren't stronger measures being taken to make sure that mothers in this country are more supported by families and the medical profession. The author makes this point quite clear and as a professional this book will change some of my clinical assumptions about new mothers. However, as a new mother, I would consider this a loud wake-up call. I would recommend this book highly to professionals who deal with pregnant and/or postpartum women and their spouses, especially those who might be in a position to suggest treatment plans or refer anyone exhibiting symptoms. As a PPD mother, I wish my OB/GYN or pediatrician had have read A Mother's Tears, but I was not prepared to consider suicide or murder as symptoms of PPPD. The suggested books and videos and organizations are worth the price of the book for a referral source.

This book is very informative and forward thinking. It goes beyond the 12 Step Program which is not effective for most people. Once you read the book, I suggest you contact Dr Gracer in San Ramon for a personal interview. Prometa has been a gift to our family.

This is an excellent book with facts on addiction and drugs that cause addiction. I would recommend this book to anyone that knows or has an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

This is a page turner for anyone that has or thinks they have an addiction problem, has a close family member or friend that has an addiction problem, wants to know the truth about addiction and how to get help. You don't have to go to a clinic or 12 step meeting to kick the addiction. Private & caring help is just a book away.

I didn't put the book down until I finished it. The book is informative and easy to read (not full of complicated medical terms). It gives hope to those that think they have tried everything to kick "the habit". It helps understand addiction and explains that it's a disease (and often times inherited) and not a condition.

You may find yourself relating to a patient's story.
You may find a patient's story relates to a family member or friend.

If you have an addicted Mother, Father, other Family Member or a friend or a co-worker...share this book. Dr. Gracer and his staff have helped hundreds and after this book, will help so many more people that were afraid to come forward because of shame or embarrassment.

I truly can't say enough about the book or Dr. Gracer & his Exemplery Staff! Help yourself or help someone else...read the book.

This book seems more like an info-mercial for a licensed drug protocol than a researched-based factual presentation.

Dr. Gracer clearly explains how addiction happens and why it is a medical condition that REQUIRES medical treament. Written in laymen's terms, it is easy reading and the diagrams and analogies are a great help! If you know someone suffering from addiction, the best way to help might BEGIN with reading this book and SHARING it with that person, as well as family members, friends, and physicians.

Outstanding first novel from a writer with a great eye for detail. I can't say that I've ever read anything quite like it...Jeff Parker really nails his characters and sense of place from the first page. The writing is tight, dark, propulsive and very funny...I finished this in one sitting. Can't wait for the next one.

A gritty slice-of-life from a young skateboarding punk living in Florida in the 90's. Everything about When Thinfinger is idiosyncratic, starting with his name and moving to his badly tattooed arms and penchant for writing post-it notes to himself when he's drunk.
Fairly quick moving and insightful, well-written novel.

Ovenman is no superhero, but he's a great character. Parker excels at quirky, funny characters: Shaka Bra scarring himself before going off to war; Blaise hunting rattlers for a skateboard stunt; Marigold dreaming of murder as she sleeps holding a baseball bat; and the title character Ovenman, overlord of the nightshift at the local pizza joint, just trying to figure his place in it all. It's not Tolstoy, so 5 stars would be overstating it a bit, but rarely have I laughed out loud so often while reading. Solid, literate fiction, a well told story and fun, memorable characters...like I wrote on the post-it note I put on the cover "read it again!"

I laughed, I cried, I immediately grabbed my Huffy with the orange banana seat and tried popping wheelies...you know, cause that's a turn-on. I look forward to the next one!

A very enjoyable, quirky novel. Nearly every line in the novel is entertaining, nicely spun, with unusual word choices. This is a sort of updated Catcher in the Rye in terms of current intense youth jargon. The characters are zany, and full of strange energey and surprising thoughts and offhand remarks that contain quite a bit of provocative truth--for example, ". . . it tasted like generic industrial laundry detergent, the kind that really cleans."

Walter Macken, a native of Galway, was born in 1915 and died in his home city at the age of 51. A writer, an actor and a playwright, he is perhaps best known for his novel "Flight of the Doves" - which was adapted for the cinema - and his "Irish Trilogy". "Flight of the Doves" is one of the two children's books he wrote, and was first published, posthumously, in 1968.

The Doves of the book's title are two orphaned children, Finn and Derval Dove. They live in England with their "Uncle" Toby, who is actually their step-father. Toby, once the family's lodger, married the children's mother after their father died in an accident. Unfortunately, as the book opens, the children's mother has been dead for two years - and Toby has not been treating the children at all well. When Toby comes home from work, he expects the house to be clean and tidy and his dinner to be on the table. Once eaten, he'll head out to the pub and won't return until the children are in bed. He appears to have a particular dislike for Finn - a twelve year old boy with red hair who regularly gets beaten by his step-father. Derval, the younger of the pair, is a seven year old girl with blonde hair. When Finn becomes afraid that Toby is going to start beating his sister, he decides it's time to run away. Although he does have a destination in mind - his Granny O'Flaherty's home in the west of Ireland - he isn't too sure exactly where she lives. The journey across the sea isn't made an easier by a notable lack of funds - but the children take off as soon as Toby goes out to the Red Dragon.

When Toby discovers the pair missing the following morning - and realises he'll have to make his own breakfast - he falls into the depths of despair. Nevertheless, he believes the children will soon return of their own accord and doesn't notify the police. However, things change when he arrives at work and discovers the children are due to inherit a tidy sum from relatives in America. He realises Finn and Derval may have gone to Ireland, and soon the runaways are being hunted onboth sides of the Irish Sea. Although the children aren't long in making friends, their journey to Granny O'Flaherty's isn't going to be easy - not with the newspaper coverage and a bounty of their heads...

A very easily read and enjoyable children's book.

Walter Macken is one of the greatest Irish writers of all time. This book is a classic yet still has relevance in today's day and age. I loved this book as a child and reread it recently with one of my children. We enjoyed it as much as I did 25 years ago. Easy to read and adventuresome.

I had to read this many, many years ago in my sixth grade reading class. I remember enjoying it thoroughly, because it reminded me of the Disney movie"Escape to Witch Mountain." I don't remember much else about it, but last night I was thinking about it and figured it was out of print. I was glad to find it today here on amazon. I will be rereading it soon!

On the surface, this book appears to be the standard 'orphaned kids with the mean step-uncle run away to grandma's' but it is much more than that. With MacKen's laying this tale subtly over the Irish rebellion of the 1920's, we see England-born Finn also rediscover his Irish heritage. On his journey, we find ourselves realizing along with him that sometimes what is 'right' and what is 'legal' don't always coincide. [Note: sometimes this book is compared to Disney's 'Escape to Witch Mountain'. Please keep in mind that, unlike Disney, and aside from a brother and sister as main characters, the characterizations in this book are deeper, the writing is better, and nobody gets married and sings at the end.]

This book holds fond memories for me. It has whispered to me over the years and now I am happy to know that, through technology, I will hold it in my hands and read it to my children! Read this to a child... they will benefit!

A great book for anyone wanting to better understand the reasons people give. I was taught that tax savings was the primary reason people give; how wrong I was.
Thanks to this book, I feel far more confident to talk to my clients and prospects about giving.
A great read.

This was the text for the Fundraising course I am taking in non-profit management. I found it clear, concise and easy to read and retain. Just reading it gave me more confidence in my success at "the ASK". One of the most helpful parts was the inclusion of research on how certain "philanthropic personalities" want to be thanked once they have given. I actually began immediately to apply it to my work.

I use the concepts in this book for training board members in getting comfortable with gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. It helps them to understand that giving is, in the end, about the donor's motivations, not those of the solicitor. After presenting the concepts, I divide the board into small groups and have them discuss various scenarios developed for their organization, asking each group to identify the types of individuals who would respond to this need.

I have found the Seven Faces material to be an excellent study on the different type of donors and their motivation. A great learning tool.

I loved this book! The Seven Faces of Philanthropy offers a very helpful donor-centered approach to interacting with donors.

Although thoroughly researched, the authors' humility is also refreshing. Prince and File specifically say they are not offering a framework that supplements, not replaces, the strategies and techniques our offices are using. Later, they acknowledge the limits and constraints with this framework but affirm that the strength is in the process.

Throughout the book, actual comments from donors illustrate the points the authors are making. I could almost hear donors I know talking to us through those quotations! As I read The Seven Faces of Philanthropy, I found myself scribbling notes in the margins about how I could implement the framework in my daily work.

I was disappointed that this reprint merely had a new introduction. Part Two is laden with statistics and I found myself wondering how they have changed in the last ten years. Nevertheless, this book is well worth reading and implementing.

In addition to a preface, two introductions, and a research appendix, the chapters include:

Part One: Profiling the Seven Faces of Philanthropy
1. The Communitarian: Doing Good Makes Sense
2. The Devout: Doing Good is God's Will
3. The Investor: Doing Good is Good Business
4. The Socialite: Doing Good is Fun
5. The Altruist: Doing Good Feels Right
6. The Repayer: Doing Good in Return
7. The Dynast: Doing Good is a Family Tradition

Part Two: Cultivating Major Donors with the Seven Faces Framework
8. Making Connections Through Charity Networks
9. Building Relationships with the Seven Philanthropic Personalities
10. Identifying Appropriate Giving Strategies
11. Sustaining Relationships Through Donor Centered Strategies

Conclusion: Applying the Seven Faces Framework

Pollard offers us an example that the old adage - Treat others as you would like to be treated - can work in a service business and be very successful (read billions of dollars). Its no harder than any other business model and you are left with the idea that all companies should work this way. He begins by examining the need to work and then the wisdom of the choices business leaders make to address that need. Self worth, dignity, honoring God and bettering yourself and peers are woven into the business' objective to pursue excellence and make a profit. His wisdom built through personal choices, experiences and constant learning is clearly detailed in the pages and is a must read for every level of management.

This book describes a rarity in the modern Western corporate arena; a company that operates in the marketplace of publicly held companies led by a set of core values aligned to putting people before profits. The values espoused by the ServiceMaster Company include; "To Honor God In All We Do, To Help People Develop, To Pursue Excellence, and To Grow Profitably."

As stated by the CEO, C. William Pollard, "the first two are 'ends', the second two are 'means'. Few find fault with our commitment to a set of principles, it is the God language that raises some eyebrows." That is not the only thing this Company has done to raise eyebrows, meeting the numbers, delivering consistent world-class service, and delivering profits to shareholders also gets attention.

This book is a great look into a Company with values all organizations could benefit from. Among them is the concept that "employees want to work for a cause, not just a living". When you think about what ServiceMaster actually does (not the most glamorous or well-paid work) we can understand how difficult this would be to execute.

The book itself is a quick read, and full of some good insight. It is not as in depth as I would have liked, but overall provides some outstanding ideas on how to prioritize values, and remain true to one's principles. The example set by the Company and the CEO demonstrates that not all of Corporate America places greed as their highest priority.

This may be the best management book I have ever read. Rarely does a book come along that teaches that following a high moral threshold is the way to be successful. It is sad that more books are not written like this and is sadder that this is not a huge best seller.

In an time when "cutting corners" means squeezing everything you can out of employees, this book is especially important. Pollard makes it clear that people are what make a company great, and if you want to succeed you have to think of people first.

"Soul of the Firm" is, unfortunately, just another anecdotal essay written by a top CEO. Pollard's achievements are incredible, and a reader should expect an incredible book from him.

Pollard's history involves running one of the most impressive service companies ever, ServiceMaster. He took it from an already solid company and helped it become a great company through buyouts, aggressive expansion, and managing with integrity. He deserves to be hailed into a management hall of fame. His book, however, lacks depth.

We read what he thinks, and this is good stuff. In fact, everything in here is good stuff. His views on God, what his faith means in the workplace, how to be a servant leader. I'm nodding my head saying "Preach it!" as I write. But give us more, Mr. Pollard. Give us details of a businessman's business, not a book for upper mangement to give to middle managers on a work retreat to read on the train commute.

Don't repeat Carnegie, Drucker with a Christian backdrop. We've read their books. Give us meat. ServiceMaster has had some complex issues they've struggled through. Did overexpansion complicate stock prices? As society continues to secularize, what does this mean to a once faith-based company? Will it go the way of the YMCA, with its roots merely as its history, or will it hold tight to the core principles and God which wrought those principles?

Challenge us, Mr. Pollard. How does a Christian who is a top manager deal with underpaid staff workers who can barely pay their rent? Give them raises? Bonuses? If their valuable service defines the company's value, how are they to be treated? How does the leader of a huge company deal both corporately and personally with world economic issues, as it affects the microworld surrounding the local office? How does a Christian leader avoid bias in promoting staff? How do top leaders accept long hours and responsibilities, while yet having a family?

None of that is adequately addressed in "Soul of the Firm."

So much is not being said in this book that I was disappointed. Pollard could've taken another 100 pp and filled it with real direction. Instead, we are given a rehash of the generic "run the company with good old fashioned values" story.

Anthony Trendl