Organizations Books

Apart from being a great book on working with RSS, this is a great Python book. The running theme in the book is extracting information and presenting it in RSS form. Since you have to get the information from somewhere the non-RSS code provides a wealth of documented examples that you can put use in your own projects. It's worth getting this book just for the code samples.

So if you are interested in getting started with Python or you are a competent Python hacker you will definitely learn something by reading the code and be able to add more tricks to your Python toolbox.

The book is very logically arranged into 3 parts. For using feeds, making feeds and mixing feeds. Most readers will probably deal with the first part and maybe the third part.

Using feeds is explained as being able to aggregate data from websites offering these using RSS or Atom methods. From which, you can see how to recast the output into HTML pages for your website. Or maybe send it to your mailbox. Actually and more realistically, to the mailboxes of those who visit your website and ask for this feed.

Orchard deliberately does not go much into the fine distinctions between the different and incompatible RSS standards. Or likewise with the various Atom formats. More technical books can discuss these points ad nauseum. But Orchard is aiming this text at a programmer who just wants to put together a news feed, and does not really care about lower level details.

Making a news feed is the second part of the book. Only a fraction of readers will head here. It's not easy to produce original content, after all.

The last part of the book is essentially an advanced continuation of the first part. You are shown how to embed higher level logic into processing the feeds. With an extensive example on using a Bayesian to try to identify news articles that might be of interest to your readership. Be aware that the Bayesian method is not perfect. Occasionally, you might get an incongruous article.

Definitely, Orchard has produced a nice programming book. (In Python.)

Often times there's information somewhere on the web that you want to use in your own computing. Perhaps you want to look at news stories and display the headlines of what's happening today with a link to the site of the story. In the early days of the web, when you wanted to do something like that you had to do it manually or do some kind of hard coding to parse the information you wanted out of the HTML. Tedious, and if they ever change their web page you're re-doing your code.

This is the problem that RSS/Atom are intended to fix. These are standards that, when followed, present the information from a site in a standardized manner that makes it easy to parse.

First, what this book is NOT. This book does not tell you all the details about how to put RSS/Atom information up on a site. Instead, this book is on taking the information from an RSS/Atom 'page' and getting into a form you can use.

The book is broken down into three parts: Consuming Feeds, Producing Feeds, Remixing Feeds. In each part the author programs a few simple applications to show you what can be done. The programming is in Python, the operating system he uses is Linux.

The only complaint I could make about this book is that it would help the newbie to have another chapter at the beginning that talked about some common feeds and the nature of the tags they use to encapsulate their data.

Rather than just read RSS feeds, would you like to *do stuff* with RSS and Atom? I received a copy of a really good book that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of RSS formatting... Hacking RSS and Atom by Leslie M. Orchard.

Contents:
Part 1 - Consuming Feeds: Getting Ready to Hack; Building a Simple Feed Aggregator; Routing Feeds to Your Email Inbox; Adding Feeds to Your Buddy List; Taking Your Feeds with You; Subscribing to Multimedia Content Feeds
Part 2 - Producing Feeds: Building a Simple Feed Producer; Taking the Edge Off Hosting Feeds; Scraping Web Sites to Produce Feeds; Monitoring Your Server with Feeds; Tracking Changes in Open Source Projects; Routing Your Email Inbox to Feeds; Web Services and Feeds
Part 3 - Remixing Feeds: Normalizing and Converting Feeds; Filtering and Sifting Feeds; Blending Feeds; Republishing Feeds; Extending Feeds
Part 4 - Implementing a Shared Feed Cache
Index

This book starts with the assumption that you either already understand all the details of RSS/Atom formatting, or that you're willing to learn the details on your own as you go. This is *not* a reference book on RSS standards. Rather, Orchard answers the question "what can you *do* with RSS that's cool and useful?". Using a series of projects, he starts to get you thinking about how you might use RSS technology in ways you haven't considered. For instance, having your log files report things via RSS feed could give you immediate notice of unusual situations. Or perhaps having RSS feeds go to your IM client would allow you to react quickly to news and information. The possibilities are endless, and Orchard does a good job in getting you to think.

The caveat here is that he assumes a particular software language and platform for building these hacks. Python is the language used, so this book would be most helpful if you already knew the language (or were willing to figure it out on the fly). Likewise, he writes for the Unix platform primarily. You can use Unix emulators like Cygwin to run Unix-like command in Windows, or you can mentally adapt the concepts to whatever hack you want to build. At first I was thinking that single focus might be a liability for the book. But after thinking about it, I don't think it's that bad. It maintains the focus on the hack instead of on how every different platform needs to be coded, hence the book is more concise. Also, his goal is to get you to hack and experiment, not to teach you a technology via a tutorial. Since hacking is experimenting, you may end up hacking these ideas on a couple of different fronts...

Excellent idea and application book... If you're interested in going beyond simple feed readers and building stuff for yourself, this is a definite purchase you want to check out...

I'm a massage therapist and used part of this book to study for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). This book is really helpful for showing you how to take a client history. This book is needed because it shows you the legalities and proper way to run a massage business. Documenation protects you in cases of audits and also is a source for assessing the client's progress and contraindications. I also studied the following for the National Certification Exam:
The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers (Volume 1), (Volume 2), and (Volume 3)
(Author: Patrick Leonardi)
The last 3 books helped me to prepare for the type of questions encountered on the national certification examination. I highly recommend all 4 books. I passed the first time with the help of these books

Very thoroughly explains why to document manual therapies, professionalism, and how to document effectively. Diana Thompson has lots of experience and know-how to share!

Her first edition of "Hands Heal" was a collection of forms used for charting massage therapy sessions. When I saw the new book on the shelf being three times as thick as the first I thought "Oh my what more can be done with charting!" I now understand her obsession with charting. It is not just charting your sessions, but learning to communicate what you do, so the medical community and the public will begin to understand massage therapy as a healing modality. Communication starts with the therapeutic relationship with the client. Healing begins when the client becomes involved in the process. Then you can pass the information along to all parties involved - the lawyers, the doctors, whoever. If you document every treatment, you will be able to find out what is working and what is not with each individual. Documentation can assist you in builing your practice and support the massage profession as a whole. I particularly liked the section on ethics as she supports the idea of peer groups, mentoring and supervision as a means of development for the practitioner. I believe the future of the profession lies in those areas.
If you are a massage therapist in any state, this will guide you to a successful practice whether you are involved in billing insurance companies or not.

I've watched this book evolve over a number of versions. Each one gets better and better. Yes, at times Dianna Thompson appears obsessive but on the other hand, that's what makes it great. Recently I was asked to write a detailed case summary that will be used as evidence in a lawsuit for a client I saw over a year ago. My SOAP notes are what saved the day for me. Thanks Diana. This book is essential for anyone working in a therapeutic environment.

I have read this booked and really wished I had come across it earlier in my Masonic career. The author has provided us with an excellent and authoritative explanation of the esoteric meaning of Freemasonry, albeit from a Co-Masonic and Theosophic perspective. I will strongly recommend the book to all Master Masons and above who are desirous of having the true explanation of the esoteric meaning of Masonry, as well as its true origins in the Ancient Mysteries. Unfortunately it will not be as meaningful to a non-Mason who does not possess the Masonic keys to unlock the numerous abbreviated key words in the book. The book takes account of and drills deeper down than the equally excellent explanations provided in THE MEANING OF MASONRY by WL WILMSHURST. I rate it five stars. Highly recommended Masonic reading.

Being a Mason for years, and having read many books on the subject in search of what Freemasonry was really all about, I could not help feeling, when I had finished this book, that this was it. Yes, This is Freemasonry from a Theosophical perspective. I Think it is the true perspective.

An excellent resource guide for the serious Mason who wants more than superficial rah-rah and to really understand the esoterica their lodges were based upon. Leadbeater does a fine job at bridging the gaps. Good reading!

Leadbeater being a Theosophist had a very deep knowledge of the inner workings of a Masonic Lodge. A very interesting book.

Coaching is a concept that is being utilized in a wide spectrum of human activity. It is however essential for cell churches. Proper coaching can spell the difference between successful cell leaders or those pushed to the edge and ready to jump ship. Joel is a coache's coach ready to impart a lifetime of experience in the cell church arena. Why did you ever think of not having one? Buy, buy!

I am a small group/cell group coach in my local church and this book has helped me a lot. If you have not read it, you should get it and apply what Comiskey recommends.

I see Joel Comiskey is sincerely want to inform anyone who wants to lead the cells of the church effectively. I think it's a good book. The only thing is it replicates some of the points of the author's other publications.

This book not only explains the importance of the cell coach, but then goes on to explain the practical things a cell coach should do. If we did not read this book, we would not be putting an emphasis on coaching, and our cells would be dying off. Instead, our cell leaders are being challenged.

Fast read, easy to understand concepts of church leadership being presented, seems to speak mostly to ministers. Probably could have been done in half as many pages.

This book leverages the "Leading Change" model of John Kotter in a highly effective manner within a ministry context. Paul speaks as a real leader with successful experience in coaching, equipping and releasing real leaders in the mission field.

If you have never visited an organic church this is the place to begin! And even if you have visited or belong to an organic church this is the book to help you better understand and implement the effective, yet fluid, approach to ministry that is producing so many fruitful disciples and churches. Dr. Whitesel gives an academic, practical, and applicable introduction to twelve emerging organic congregaions from across the U.S. with examples from England and Canada as well. As a pastor and former youth minister and Christian school teacher, I greatly appreciate the author's insights into philosophic background, worship style, and church growth mechanisms of these multi- and younger generational churches that are effectively reaching the post-modern thinkers. Having just spent a week with thirty other church leaders in the San Franciso area of California studying and experiencing emergent worship and ministry with Dr. Whitesel, I can say this author lives out and teaches with an authentic passion to help all Christian leaders communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way without marginalizing the Biblical message of redemption. Everyone interested in growing the church in a post-modern and often, post-Christian society needs to read this book!

Few in the North American church scene have as much experience with local church turnaround as Paul Borden. What makes Direct Hit so useful is that Borden addresses why turnaround is so often talked about, but so rarely achieved. He gives very clear rules about: the timing of turnaround, the role of pastors and leaders, using outside help, and the necessity of mission. Many congregations do not look to the deep issues behind why their church is the way it is. Not so with Direct Hit. Borden is up-front and passionate about his subject. A previous reviewer has put in this space a review of some other book about "Organic Church", not by Borden. There are a few typographical and syntactical errors here, but a lot fewer than his previous book Hit The Bullseye. The Appendices are worth the purchase price alone. Five stars.

I've been a grantmaker for approximately five years now. During the course of my on-the-job training, I've heard certain maxims over and over again until they've become ingrained in my mind and in my responses to applicants for grant funds -- now, after reading this book, I actually understand the philosophies behind them.

Every grantseeker who bemoans the fact that foundations don't want to fund ongoing operating expenses should read this book simply for the explanation of the difference between charity and philanthropy and where foundations fit in.

Likewise, the tips on meeting etiquette, attributes of a good grant proposal, and top four reasons proposals are denied will benefit professionals on both sides of the proposal.

Had the opportunity to see the author speak -- if you get the same opportunity, don't pass it by.

Dr. Joel Orosz continues his tireless efforts on behalf of philanthropy and those interested in philanthropy in his current book.

The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in seeking funds from a foundation, or anyone interested in a career in a foundation. His years of experience give both experienced and inexperienced readers a window into a sometimes-shadowy world. Orosz lets the light shine in a way that is understandable and justifiable.

This long over due body of work is a must have for everyone in the third sector and especially should be required reading for those working in and leading foundations.

It's an art, it's a science, and it doesn't need to be a mystery -- since there's no academic training for a career in philanthropy (it's harder than you think!) Insider Orosz bridges the gap with this warm and rewarding User's Guide.

Outsiders will read it for its clear-cut description of philanthropy worklife and practice; insiders will find themselves affirmed or inspired. Both will enjoy the author's mix of humor and scholarship. Sure to be a classic in its field.

This is a much needed look at life in foundation grant making. As a retired executive director of a corporate foundation,books such as The Corporate Contributions Handbook and Corporate Social Investing were extremely helpful to the corporate grant maker. This book is a well-thought out look at foundation reality. While it is not meant to help those seeking grants, it certainly gives the donor a window on the inside process. It will serve as a good reference for those who wish to enter this field and provides sage advice to those who have been there for some time. The historical research was a plus.

This book was a wonderful resource to me. I had been asked to install the officers in an organization to which I belong, and I was searching for the perfect ceremony. I came upon this book by chance, and it proved to be a lifesaver. All of the ceremonies are easy to follow and complete, and I had many rave reviews over my clever ceremony. Thanks for writing this book.

I have found this book to be an excellent resource for non-profit and volunteer organizations of which I am a member. With 26 different installation ceremony ideas offered, it's easy to find something relevent to your group or organization. The ceremonies are set-up for a standard grouping of officers, but can be easily adapted if your oganization does not have the same positions. I have been present when at least 6 of the different ceremonies were used, and they have worked well. It can liven up a portion of a meeting agenda that can become dry without something to add a spark.

After hearing the same two installation ceremonies for many years, it was a delight to find this book with its many unique and easy to do services. It's just what every organization needs. Each ceremony is complete from start to finish.

A good addition to church or public libraries, as a well equipped resource for civic clubs, religious and women's groups. Instructions for ceremonies are simple and complete from start to finish, providing creative ideas for installations of all kinds. Everything you need for an innovative and meaningful installation ceremony.

Despite the downturn in the corporate business world, the Internet still exists as a means for enterprising people to market their business ideas to make a living. Opportunities are boundless and growing numbers of people continue to give the Internet a try. There are plenty of resources available to help them succeed.

Internet Prophets offers readers an excellent collection of business concepts, strategies, and instruction to help them start online businesses. The book features information about creating sound business plans, managing businesses - including money matters, creating effective Websites, marketing business Websites, online resources, and general business information that will make an impact on the way people do business - while being mindful of operating budgets!

Throughout the book readers are reminded about setting clear goals and objectives. Planning every stage of one's business is of paramount importance - the business plan, the Website, marketing, search engine strategies, and knowing what the competition is doing are all aspects of a business that demand close attention to detail and determination to carry out.

Most fascinating about the book - in my opinion - are the business strategies provided. Readers are exposed to some exciting and very practical ways to draw attention to themselves and to maintain professional and profitable business-client relationships. Strategies include establishing online communities, setting up auction services, creating portals, providing visitors access to information, joining e-marketplaces, adding interactive tools to Websites, hosting live online events at Websites, adding dynamically updated content to Websites, and thinking globally when planning the action.

The tone of the book is serious and the rewards for gleaning from it are enormous. The strategies are sound and the resources provided will put people in touch with the companies, products, and services they need to develop a meaningful online business presence that will produce positive results for them. The book is ideally suited for start-up business operations and those existing businesses that want to and probably should make the move to the Internet to promote themselves. Essential reading!

Innovative business ideas for the internet range from products to services and provide advice which will enable executives to conduct more business successfully on the web. Internet Prophets is the first to assess proven e-commerce strategies, matching techniques with budgets of large and small companies alike and presenting 'Internet Prophets' for four different budget ranges. Covers both strategies and marketing costs; rich in specifics.

This book was invaluable in figuring where to begin in the sea of e-commerce choices. The four internet prophet business strategies helped me figure out where my business was... and where I wanted to to go in designing an e-commmerce plan for selling online. I wish this book had come along years ago. But I'm glad it's here now.

This is a book for any small business that's thinking about how to use the Net to build their business. Thank goodness, this book is past the Internet hype and on to what really works in the real world. Chapters cover topics such as online shopping, digital delivery, "think globally, click locally", and (hello!) customer service.

Although it purports to apply to small, medium and large businesses, it's most appropriate to smaller businesses who need a practical guide to moving their business on the net. I especially liked the chapters on "Marketing Your Web Site" -- practical, spam-free advice on raising your profile online...

This approachable book by leadership consultant Stever Robbins is packed with real world examples and practical tips about the people side of leadership. Written in chatty sound bites, it's like having a conversation over coffee with Stever to tap into his insights about how CEO's can do a better job at leading.

Each of Stever's stories illustrates an important lesson about how (and how not to) lead. He reveals how one CEO went on vacation while her staff was working overtime on a product launch, while another kept his staff on full pay after a fire leveled the business. His examples communicate essential leadership principles like accepting responsibility, sharing your vision, and creating a culture of mutual respect.

As a business coach myself, I found this book filled with valuable material for working with my executive clients. I recognized many of their management faux pas in Stever's pithy stories, and have been able to pass along much of his sage advice to people who badly needed it.

Written in a crisp, clear and straightforward style, this book pulls no punches when it comes to defining the moral and ethical responsibilities of leaders.

Amongst other things, Stever is an executive coach, President of Leadership Decision Works Inc, entrepreneur and executive trainer at Harvard Business School. He's therefore well qualified to comment on what makes a good or not-so-good leader. He uses real life examples throughout to illustrate key points and to drive home the messages.

While other leadership books often give only conceptual information about leadership, this book goes much further and deeper by identifying specific, practical steps you can take to become a better leader. In addition there are thought provoking questions to challenge your current paradigms and down-to-earth recommendations for improving how you lead so that you can get the best out of yourself and your team.

I particularly enjoyed Stever's conversational and humourous style of writing. It flows well and his focus on total leadership responsibility means there's no place to hide if things go wrong. The buck stops firmly with you.

Stever's holistic approach to both organisational and individual development and learning is like a breath of fresh air to those of us who believe that helping people to stay healthy is a key to organisational wellness.

I believe the book will be equally useful to developing leaders as well as those in unofficial leadership roles. Applying the recommendations to how you might "lead" your life or any community or sporting body is also valid.

With 3 parts, 30 short chapters and 163 pages, it's easy to find your way back to those things you've decided to work on first. And no doubt you'll dip into the book regularly to support your journey to leadership excellence.

This book reads very much like an advice column, which is refreshing because the other leadership books I've bought read like science journals. What I liked most was that Stever left the boring case studies out and provided a lot of short but enlightening examples from his experiences as a start-up entrepreneur, technologist, and executive coach. You can pretty much skim this book and learn something about leading people you didn't know before. As someone who makes a living helping people stay organized and focused, I particularly liked the part of the book where Stever offered tips for keeping your head cool and clear when faced with a million deadlines (and Post-it notes). I recommend this book for anyone who runs a company, or plans on running a company in the near future.

I purchased this book after having read several of Stever Robbins' columns on leadership in a Harvard Business School newsletter. His approach had struck me as practical and on the mark for his audience of (aspiring) effective company leaders.

The book is an extension of the newsletters, synthesizing Robbins' learnings from his years of executive counseling into a well-organized and comprehensive how-to approach. Robbins draws on his experiences in a variety of industries and contexts to illustrate his points with real life examples. The book is a good resource for either young managers who aspire to become leaders, newly promoted execs, or those who have been at the top for awhile but feel they could be doing a much better job at it.

One caveat is that the book includes quite a lot of material. I think managers should focus on one chapter at a time, incorporating the recommended approaches into one's work week before taking on another chapter. For most readers, this means proceeding in a linear fashion starting with "The Rights and Responsibilities of Being at the Top," then tackling the action steps contained in "Leading with Vision - Getting Things Done through Other People," and in "Staying Organized, Focused and Sane."

I have been a development professional for over twenty years, but Mr. Poderis' book has been, and continues to be, right at reach on my desk as his insights and encouragement have been key to my success as a developmen director of a large arts organization.

A more than handy, practical, reference tool which is timeless and always relevant.

Often fund-raising experts understand an organisation's structure well enough to keep it
a float. Tony Poderis, understands the passion and personalities behind the story of each of his non-profit clients / institutions. Tony's insight positions him to get inside their mission as well as the motivations of prospective funders. It helps FUNDERS to GIVE in a way that catapults the financial futures and visibility of non-profits.

"It's a Great Day to Fund-Raise" is utterly brilliant in several ways:

A manual for Trustees.

A companion to non-profit directors.

A crucial first step for prospective board members.

A guide for current board members.

A conclusive resource for FUNDERS helping them to identify non-profits in key areas mentioned in this book.

"It's a Great Day to Fund-Raise" helps non-profits raise more than funds, they gain and raise genuine friends, who will love and care for them through thick and thin.

Wendy Cheltenham

Tony Poderis reminds all of us who have ever been development officers that it's not rocket science. In his words, "It's just hard work." He's right.

Poderis's "Nine Basic Truths of Fundraising" are worth the price of the book alone. But then he goes on to tell us chapter and verse just how to organize a development department, run a fundraising campaign, and work with volunteer leadership.

With over 30 years of fundraising experience, Poderis knows what he writes about. He's done it all and run a major operation as development director for the Cleveland Orchestra.

Newcomers and old hands alike will derive tremendous benefit from this book, and every board member should read the Nine Basic Truths.

This just could be the best book ever written on fundraising.

The problem with Tony Poderis is that he is terribly tardy in writing "It's a Great Day to Fund-Raise!" If I had read it 20 or so years ago, when he should have written it, I would have avoided some of the blunders he warns against. I wouldn't have taken nearly so long to become effective as a fund raiser. And I wouldn't have quite so many gray hairs today, each earned in the hard school of "experience." But (sigh) he wrote it only recently. Of course, there is a good reason for the interminable wait: Tony first had to rack up an incredible 20 years as director of development for The Cleveland Orchestra, where he was responsible for the largest annual institutional fund-raising campaign in Cleveland. Oh, and toss in another four or five years subsequent consulting experience, as well. I note, with some satisfaction, that the author has even more gray hairs than do I -- each one earned, no doubt, in the same "school." As evidence, I present Exhibit A: the picture on the cover (there's Tony standing before, of all things, an open bank vault!). That experience shines through in the book. His simple, pragmatic writing style patiently mentors the reader in the art of effective fund raising. The reader may be new to the field, where a book like this is invaluable and where I suspect Tony directed his focus. Or the reader may be well-experienced, where the book reaffirms lessons learned and truths well tested. Did I use the word "pragmatic"? "It doesn't take a genius to raise money," he states early on. "The process is a combination of common sense, hard work, preparation, courtesy, commitment, enthusiasm, understanding, and a belief in what you are selling." See? As expected, the book starts with goal setting and leadership (Chapter 2). But this is not an academic "text." Rather, the author reaches into his bag of experiences and pulls out the time a board trustee got up and announced, "What we need is more endowment. We ought to have a $50 million endowment campaign." Gulp. Wasn't his hair dark brown just before that? This guy has been there. Done that. That's where mentors come from. Well, actually, Tony starts even sooner than goal setting and leadership. Chapter 1 covers the Nine Basic Truths of Fund-Raising. Here's one: "You don't wait for the 'right' moment to ask; you ask now." I loved that one. How many fund raisers are captivated by the word "cultivation," so much so that they don't seem to understand that fund raising also requires "reaping," too? I often wonder how many fund raisers, were they farmers, would leave their carefully cultivated crop to wilt in the field, season after season? Tony's "Nine Truths" are as close to "theory" as he gets. After Chapter 1, he moves methodically through what it takes to succeed. Chapter 2, on goal setting and leadership, is quickly followed by an admonition to "know your organization" (Chapter 3); creation of a general development plan (Chapter 4); funding sources (Chapter 5); prospecting for donors (Chapter 6); rating and evaluating prospects (Chapter 7); annual campaigns (Chapter 8); endowment campaigns (Chapter 9); capital campaigns (Chapter 10); sponsorships and underwriting campaigns (Chapter 11); developing a campaign plan (Chapter 12); preparing for a campaign (Chapter 13); managing a campaign (Chapter 14); assessing and reviewing a campaign once it's over (Chapter 15); and developing the development team (Chapter 16). Clearly, this is a useful book that I'd wholeheartedly recommend for the fund raising professional -- new or seasoned. But it is also ideal for any other person involved with an organization's fund raising. Tony's simple, straight-forward, no-nonsense style will be welcomed by board members, volunteers, and others who will appreciate being able to get through it over a couple of evenings or a weekend.