Controls Books

I am the system administator at my company. Out of frustration at many problems we have been having with the MRP module of our integrated system, I looked for a good source of knowledge about how MRP *should* work. In Orlicky's MRP I found that source. Orlicky's MRP is probably one of the best written books on the subject that I've seen. I had no trouble at all understanding the complex concepts that were presented, despite my lack of MRP knowledge and experience. Indeed, during the time that I read the book, I discovered that there were several things we were doing wrong because we didn't have a good understanding about the way MRP should work. For example, for a long time we had been laboring under the fallacy that a released work order should increase allocations not only for the primary components of a parent but also for the components of those components! Orlicky's MRP set me straight, stating that mistaking the Planning phase of MRP for the Execution phase (or vice-versa) was a common problem. I will never have that problem again thanks to this book. Another thing I learned from this book was how the bill of material, MRP, and backflushing were interrelated. This book is an excellent manual for those who wish to learn more about MRP, and it's a good source to refer to when looking for answers about why your MRP system isn't performing well.

Without question this is the classic MRP text. Originally written in 1975, this 1994 updated version covers the basic logic and setup of MRP. Though most production and inventory management books cover MRP, they tend to cover it so quickly that if you didn't already understand MRP, you probably still won't after reading them. Orlicky's Material Requirements Planning moves more slowly and provides much more detail. It's also written in an easy to understand style that makes it great for beginners.

The book is not perfect, however. I would have liked to see more details on some topics such as planning bills and phantom bills. Also the structured approach that would lead you to believe you must have a formal Master Production Schedule (MPS) to run MRP is misleading (this is a common problem with virtually all MRP books). MRP can run fine being fed directly by the forecast in certain environments.

Probably the most important reason to read this book is the simple fact that it is likely the people that designed your MRP software used this book as a roadmap.

Everybody interested in MRP has seen Orlicky's book as a reference work. This book compliles it's work plus all the developments of this technique since its issue in the fifties. The beauty of this work is that it gathers all the pitfalls, successes and fails encountered by the "MRP crusades". It also contends about the realationship between MRP and JIT and it's possible combination.

I want to study "The detail logic of material requirements planning".

When I got a copy of this book - having forgotten about Dr. Szasz's breadth of outlook and singular erudition - I thought I was going to read a nice little political tract condemning the current American Drug Prohibition. "Our Right to Drugs" is that, of course, but it is so much more - it is a call to intellectual and political arms.

The War on Drugs, as Dr. Szasz so carefully shows, is nothing less than a Jihad, a Holy War waged by the forces of reaction and restriction in our society against all those who think that there should be peaceful choice, or self-ownership, or genuine free thought. And like all Holy Wars, this one permits the worst atrocities to be visited on the unbelieving because they are not just wrong - they are evil.

Like many libertarians, Dr. Szasz has little use for compromise; in this case, by those who favor "decriminalization" or "medicalization" of psychoactive drugs. Such people, the author shows, will only end up replacing the current Ayatollahs (cops and ex-generals) with a new Inquisition lead by doctors and psychologists. In the world of physician-monitored drug usage, instead of being evil, anyone who wants to alter his or her own mood will be labeled as "sick" - and instead of being sent to jail, they will be forced into "treatment".

In trying to think of some literary comparison to "Our Right to Drugs", I can only think of Plato's records of certain iconoclastic dialogues about ancient Athenian closemindedness. Truely, Dr. Szasz is our Socrates.

This book is a supremely courageous and truthful book written by one of the great luminaries of the age(s).
This book "cuts to the chase" as regards fundamental constitutional issues raised by laws regulating
the procurement, possession, sale, and use of drugs.

The book's most striking charge (a correct one, at that!) is that a fundamental tyranny overtook this nation about
90 years ago when "Americans" lost their property rights over their own bodies--all in the name of governmentally-controlled "truth in advertising" for drug sales.

However, this "seemingly benign" governmental goal created untold danger for the very people it was meant to
protect. Szasz rightfully puts America's so-called "drug problem" in proper perspective by suggesting that the
admonition "buyer beware" should have sufficed--for drugs, as for almost everything else.

In the most general terms, this book demonstrates that there are no shortcuts to a thorough-going approach to American Liberty and Freedom. Dr. Szasz very clearly, and effectively, corrects those who claim that drug laws be summarily repealed for any reasons other than their moral unacceptability in a free state.

Making proper analogy to the wrongful justification of the slavery of blacks in America (owing to their mischaracterization as property), Szasz makes it clear that the infringement of property rights (both of your body, and substances you might possess) lies at the heart of America's despotic and tyrannical so-called "War on Drugs."

Although he does not (if memory serves me correctly) directly cite the 9th Amendment in defense of all those who would fight this indigenous, governmentally-sponsored terrorism, he could have:

"THE ENUMERATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS, IN THE CONSTITUTION, SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO DENY OR DISPARAGE OTHERS RETAINED BY THE PEOPLE."

"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms, remedy is set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is nature's manure." Thomas Jefferson

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Good arguments for drug legalization (and deregulation of prescription drugs), but a little outdated as far as some of his allusions and political terminology go, and not precise enough in his use of the term "legalizers".

He ignores the distinctions between "decriminalization" and "legalization", and lumps all "legalizers" into a single category, as not being "good enough". He does not seem to realize that there is a wide spectrum of beliefs on drugs, ranging from his position, to the position that all drugs should be banned everywhere.

He is uncompromising, and this is politically defeating. Nonetheless, his position is admirable, and his idea of drugs as a "right" similiar to all other "rights" bandied about in political discourse today, is a good one.

Nice philosophy, and one I wish more accepted it, but he's too radical for today's politicians, who are still in the dark ages of social medicine.

Fear of people committing suicide easily, is Szasz's main hypothesis for why we regulate prescription and illicit drugs the way we do in America today.

This book is good for convincing one that drugs should be legalized, but it is no help for accomplishing that feat politically.

This is a fine and brilliant book. Szasz manhandles any pretext for government intervention in medicine and the market for drugs. This is by far the best book on the subject.

This novel takes you into the world of spies, thieves, and deception as only G.Gordon Liddy can. Characters from the novel are drawn from Liddy's own experiences, from the CIA and FBI agents to the Chinese Red Belt Master that taught Liddy the secrets of his arts in prison! You won't know when the fiction ends and reality begins!

The CIA knows that Gregory Ballinger, a high-stakes financier, is actually a KGB agent, but they don't know what he is up to. And so they call in Richard Rand - a playboy, associate of the several crime syndicates, business guru, and man who is used to making his own rules. But, Ballinger plays for keeps, and very quickly the situation turns into a fight to the finish. Rand has more to worry about than just Ballinger, though; the CIA has long range plans of their own, and they are not about to let this all go down without their hand in it.

This is a fun and exciting spy story! I tripped over this book recently, and boy am I glad that I did. G. Gordon Liddy spins quite an exciting tale, with lots of action, adventure and sex. As a teaser I'll mention that this book has murder, gunplay, unusual weapons, a martial arts fight scene, and a Bf 109 (Messerschmitt) fighter plane - what more could you ask for? This is a fun an exciting book for adult readers, one that I highly recommend.

I've been getting into reading spy fictions and the like lately, and a lot of times I am disappointed. I figure out what is going to happen next too easily, or there just isn't that much going on in the book and it's better for lulling me to sleep than anything else. Not so with this book. It is really very interesting, full of surprises, and really written for someone with a higher IQ than myself -- or at least with more knowledge than I have. But that's okay. The book doesn't talk down to me, and the parts I don't understand involved details that are not essential to my still totally enjoying the book. People with lots of knowledge and higher IQs will I think especially enjoy this book. Let's put it this way: If this book were made into a movie, I think I'd have to purchase a copy just so that I could watch it over and over and over. I didn't expect to like Liddy, but now I am very curious about him and have to say I respect his writing tremendously. You won't be disappointed!

One reason I have long suspected that the author is the infamous Deep Throat is because of the protagonist in this story. What are the other reasons? You have only to follow the shadows. You might take another look at All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. They could not exclude Liddy, but they sure wrote him out of the picture.... There's more.

Another great book!! I love the Super Mysteries!! It's so much fun to have Nancy and the Boys together. Keep them coming!!!

Joe gets to take a spin in Robbie MacDonald's race car and Nancy saves a fashion model shoot from disaster.It's really exciting!!!!!!

Good book especially if you like the indy 500 and enjoy a good mystery

I was a Hardy Boys fan, coming into the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew supermystery series, and seeing it was written by the Nancy Drew mystery series author, I was afraid the Hardys would get left out. Not the case! The author get's a perfect balance, and takes two, seemingly unrelated mysteries and binds them together to form a...SUPERMYSTERY! It's very well written, with all the excitement of Hardy Boys books that I enjoy. If you like Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew mysteries, you'll like them together.

Note: If you've been reading Hardy boys (or Nancy Drew) books only, this is a pleasant change, and if you're getting a little old for 150 page books that you finish in a day, these manage to add a little more pages, with nothing sacrificed, only a better book. You'll like this book!

There are a bunch of reasons to outsource information security. You can get specialists who have a broader range of experience than your own company. You can get an outside view of everything from how to read the various logs your system puts out to what anti-virus program to install. There may be a cost savings to have someone else be monitoring your systems along with several other companies at the same time.

There are a bunch of reasons that you don't want to outsource information security. When it hits the fan, you are still the one responsible (especially so now with Sarbanes-Oxley in force, the real rules of which we still do not understand and won't until it's been to court a few times). You have more control over your own people, and you can much more carefully monitor them. This is especially true if the outside company has reduced its cost by establishing the monitoring center in some place like India. You can much more easily check to see if your new employee has just come from a few years vacation in Marion, Illinois.

It would be interesting to see how outsourcing information security would be treated by upper management. It's a cinch that they wouldn't understand enough to make a valid decision. You have to make the decision yourself, and unfortunately then you have to live with it.

This book is just about the only one on this subject. The author reports on some good situations, and some that didn't turn out so well. If this is a decision you have to make, here's at least a good start.

When it comes to the outsourcing of information security functions specifically, the situation is even worse. Far too few organizations know the inherent risks involved with outsourcing security, and don't properly investigate what they are getting into. The same company that makes it nearly impossible for an employee to enter the office supply closet to get much needed toner cartridge will outsource their intrusion detection, email and firewall systems without a blink.

One of the many reasons companies turn to security outsourcing and managed security services providers (MSSP) is to use their limited internal security staff for more interesting areas such as web development, VPN and e-commerce applications. They will then outsource the boring activities such as firewall and IDS monitoring and maintenance to a MSSP.

Given that activities such as firewall monitoring and administering an IDS in large enterprise requires 24/7 support, it is not unusual for a company to want to outsource such activities; monitoring and administering are not core functions of most organizations.

The trouble comes from the lack of due care often given to choosing a MSSP. With that, Outsourcing Information Security is a long-overdue book that asks the questions that are necessary before an organization decides to outsource any information security function.

The author's general tone is against the outsourcing of information security; but provides readers with the various benefits and risks involved in outsourcing security, and let's them ultimate decide if outsourcing security is right for their organization. It is the reader who must define, evaluate and manage those risks and determine if outsourcing is a viable solution. These include technology, business and legal risks.

The book comprises nine chapters and three appendices totaling a bit under 250 pages. The first two chapters provide a good introduction to and overview of outsourcing and information security, and the associated security risks.

Chapter 3 details various reasons why outsourcing information security makes sense. The chapter includes various tables and references to the many reasons why a company would want to outsource security.

Chapter 4 takes the other side and analyzes the risks of outsourcing. The chapter details the traditional risks, in addition to other factors such as hidden costs, broken promises, phantom benefits and more. The book shows that while many organizations hand over information security responsibility to their MSSP, when things go wrong, they can't effectively blame the MSSP. When things go wrong -- and they will -- all of the fingers in the world can be pointed at the MSSP, but the ultimate responsibility falls on the organization itself. With outsourced security, if something goes wrong, those fingers will point back to the company's security manager, not the incompetent firewall administrator in Bangalore.

The chapter provides a balanced look at the risk of outsourcing, and while calm in its overall approach, the chapter should at least make the person considering outsourcing information security think twice. In fact, the author concludes the chapter by stating "when all of the risks of outsourcing are considered, one wonders how anyone ever makes the decision to use a third party." Nonetheless, there is plenty of evidence that many security activities are indeed outsourced to MSSP, and are often satisfactory from both the buyer's and seller's perspective.

Chapters 5 and 6 provide a thorough summary of the costs and benefits of outsourcing, and provides a method with which to categorize them. The chapter is well suited for a CFO with its discussion of direct vs. indirect costs, controllable vs. non-controllable costs, and much more. These two chapters show that creating meaningful financial numbers to see if outsourcing makes financial sense is not such an easy task. It is important to understand that outsourcing sometimes makes financial sense, but certainly not all the time. For those organizations that don't crunch the numbers seriously at the beginning, these costs can later come back to haunt them in a big way.

Chapters 7 and 8 detail the processes involved in commencing an outsourcing project, from requirements gathering to placing policy against the outsourced company. A mistake many organizations make is failure to ensure that the MSSP is abiding by the client's information security policies, rather than their own.

Similarly, one of the most overlooked areas of outsourcing information security functionality is regulation. A U.S. company may be under numerous regulations, from HIPAA to Sarbanes-Oxley, GLBA, SEC and more; when they outsource their security functionality, the remote technician may not be under the jurisdiction of the SEC; but the corporate data still must be protected according to those regulations.

The main part of the book concludes with chapter 9, which provides a 20-step process to determine if an outsourced security solution is appropriate. In seven pages, the author specifies the various events, tasks and steps that make up the typical outsourcing project.

Appendix A provides a breakdown of the various services that can be outsourced, with Appendices B & C providing brief histories of IT Outsourcing and Information Security.

The only downside to the book is its $85.00 price, which is at the high-end for technology and business books. While the price is high, the book is a huge value for anyone considering outsourcing security. The book asks the questions that are often never asked, and details how the outsourcing of information security is not the slam-dunk that the MSSPs often portray it to be.

For those who know what their security issues are and look to outsource their security functionality to a trusted MSSP, Outsourcing Information Security shows how it can be done. On the other side, for those who are drunk with the panacea that outsourcing security is supposed to provide, Outsourcing Information Security will be a sobering wake-up call.

There are a bunch of reasons to outsource information security. You can get specialists who have a broader range of experience than your own company. You can get an outside view of everything from how to read the various logs your system puts out to what anti-virus program to install. There may be a cost savings to have someone else be monitoring your systems along with several other companies at the same time.

There are a bunch of reasons that you don't want to outsource information security. When it hits the fan, you are still the one responsible (especially so now with Sarbanes-Oxley in force, the real rules of which we still do not understand and won't until it's been to court a few times). You have more control over your own people, and you can much more carefully monitor them. This is especially true if the outside company has reduced its cost by establishing the monitoring center in some place like India. You can much more easily check to see if your new employee has just come from a few years vacation in Marion, Illinois.

It would be interesting to see how outsourcing information security would be treated by upper management. It's a cinch that they wouldn't understand enough to make a valid decision. You have to make the decision yourself, and unfortunately then you have to live with it.

This book is just about the only one on this subject. The author reports on some good situations, and some that didn't turn out so well. If this is a decision you have to make, here's at least a good start.

Despite the widespread controversy surrounding the outsourcing of information security, organizations must understand and consider what costs and benefits are incurred and gained, respectively. Author C. Warren Axelrod has done an outstanding job of presenting the controversy surrounding the intersection of the two most dynamic, difficult, and controversial areas of information technology today, namely, outsourcing and security.

Axelrod begins this book by defining the scope of the treatment of the joint topics of outsourcing and security. Next, the author lays out the range of information security risk that are confronted daily, whether an activity is outsourced or not. Then, he looks at the risk of outsourcing. In addition, the author describes in detail the categories of costs and benefits. He also describes how the outsourcing costs and benefits relate to the Request for Information (RFI) and Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. Then, he looks at the outsourcing evaluation process that takes place once the information has been collected and sorted. The author then delves into the specific security considerations that affect the outsourcing decision and how they should be handled. Finally, he summarizes the full flow of the outsourcing evaluation and decision processes.

With the preceding in mind, the author has done an excellent job of presenting how outsourcing opportunities have become a continuous process as new services become available, new services of those services appear, and business takes on more of a global aspect. At the end of the day, it behooves a nimble organization in a competitive market to keep its outsourcing options open and its ability to evaluate choices finely tuned..

I sat down and read it through completely, and was amazed at the knowledge, and well researched detail that you have presented. Notable, are the medical and technical knowledge together with the care and real concern for Parkinson's sufferers, which is shown by compassionate practitioners in many fields.

This has to be the definitive book on this subject, giving hope, support and the tools with which to live as creatively and with as much dignity as possible. I do not just wish you well with it's publication, but am lost in admiration!"

This may not be as headline-grabbing or sensationalist as foetal grafts or human cloning, but has the advantage of markedly improving the lives of those with this unfrotunate illness.

This resource book is an essential user-friendly compendium and tool-kit. By following the various practical strategies described patients with PD can be helped and encouraged to improve their quality of life, function as best as they are able, reduce symptoms and minimise the distressing side-effects of drugs.

I have read the whole book, which I found a super help for both Doctors and Healthcare Professionals as well as for Patients and Carers. Honestly I haven't read such a detailed and multidisciplinary book so far. Eminent medical and allied healthcare professionals have contributed to the information in the book and all statements are backed up by scientific references.

This is just a brief overview of how I see the whole book which is modern, comprehensive, practical and I think it really is "The way forward!"

There are all the possible medical chapters involved including diagnosis, the difference between young and older onset, treatment (very comprehensive and good).

I find it wonderful that all the chapters are also translated into non-medical language in addition to medical text, with practical aspects given for and by Patients, Carers, Nurse Specialists, etc.

All possible Tests are explained including PET and SPECT and other (Biochemical) laboratory tests.

Surgery is written in the best multidisciplinary and complex way I have ever read. Super!

Even Anaesthesiology and Podiatric Surgery are involved.

I very much enjoyed how much stress and volume is given to Nutrition, which even included recipes and dietary recommendations for healthy food, gaining or losing weight, overcoming problems with chewing, swallowing, etc. I didn't know about Glutathione, which is mentioned, with the references too.

A lot of space is given to sexual life in PD. This is great and provides a lot of information, which is very useful and new for me too.

Also Traditional Chinese Medicine aspects are mentioned including Acupuncture. I found this interesting since it is not my field and I appreciate it.

Depression and other psychiatric problems are explained and ways for management provided, not only medically but also from the psychologist's point of view.

All the health care professionals including PD Nurse Specialist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Occupational Therapist, etc. have their brief articles. Their role is explained and the need for them pointed out. Aspects such as communication are nicely written.

Other problems such as Osteopathy and problems that occur especially in Older People are mentioned, which is very useful.

A lot of Exercise is described with pictures, which is very practical.

Even Patients' and Carers' Points of View are not omitted!

To repeat what I said before - this is just a brief overview of how I see the whole book which is modern, comprehensive, practical and I think it really is "The way forward!"

Dr. Chiou is to be commended, and thanked, for putting together such a timely and exciting volume. This is a landmark volume for the contaminant fate and transport field, and will be widely used and referenced in years to come. As one that has published in this area, I found the volume to be very thorough and complete, and a pleasure to read. It has become the one volume that will be required reading for all my students working in this area.

Dr. Chiou is to be commended, and thanked, for putting together such a timely and exciting volume. This is a landmark volume for the contaminant fate and transport field, and will be widely used and referenced in years to come. As one that has published in this area, I found the volume to be very thorough and complete, and a pleasure to read. It has become the one volume that is required reading of all my students working in this area.

Dr. Chiou is to be commended, and thanked, for putting together such a timely and exciting volume. This is a landmark volume for the contaminant fate and transport field, and will be widely used and referenced in years to come. As one that has published in this area, I found the volume to be very thorough and complete, and a pleasure to read. It is truly exciting to have all this information concentrated in one volume, and explained in such great detail. It is the one volume that will be required reading for all of my students working in this area.

This excellent monograph represents a carefully documented and well-written summary of decades of research regarding the interaction of synthetic organic chemicals with naturally occuring soil and sediment materials. Researchers and practitioners will appreciate finding Dr. Chiou's very many seminal contributions to this subject nicely organized and summarized in a single volume, while students who are new to the subject will enjoy a well written and succinct introduction to many of the more important principles that govern the environmental fate and transport of organic pollutants in natural aquatic environments.
This work should be required reading for any engineering consultant or environmental regulator responsible for understanding, controlling, or remediating environmental occurrences of man-made organic chemical contaminants (e.g., chlorinated solvents, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). I will certainly be recommending it to students in my own graduate courses related to physical/chemical processes in the environment.

Excellent Excellent Excellent, its been a long time since I actually read a hard cover book ( I usually prefer them in paperback or on audio tape) but I read Patriot Future and I couldn't put it down. It was like reading the Hunt for Red October before Tom Clancy got famous

A timely, prophetic vision of America's possible future. Filled with heart pounding action, the book's characters are 3 dimenionsional. Matt Sheridan's pain,anger,love are made suprisingly real to the reader. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for Johns' next book

It's one of those books that, once you start, you can't stop reading. I found the setting to be all TOO plausible. Sheridan's character is a cross between Bruce Willis in Die Hard and Keanu Reeves in Speed. Lots of action, but with a human element that I also enjoyed. A great beach book, but it only lasted one day!!!

This book is a great read with very interesting characters and a storyline lifted from the front pages of today's papers. Regulated political correctness in this alternative history society (a la Robert Harris) is an all too believable phenomena, and "jazz" another name for any of the number of trendy drugs that are sold on our streets today. Matt Sheridan is an interesting (and slightly quirky) character. He's not quite your regular tough cop character, he has a strong presence without being stereotypical. I'm not going to ruin it for you or anything, but the ending is really terrific.

The five stars rating is not enough. No need to say more words after all the previous reviews.

An excelent help for managing a business. Very practical, proven in real businesses and related with high level strategy

I rarely get excited about textbooks, but this particular treatment of strategy, balancing leading and lagging indicators with a view of past, present and future, was enlightening. This book should be a "must read" for any mid- or senior- level manager. It shows how to make your decisions more fact-based and less 'art'. With the coming of age of "management of knowledge" this is a great tool to use to improve business processes. Definitely worth every single penny spent - but especially if you are interested in learning tangible methods!

WITHOUT QUESTION this book is the best practical business text I have ever read. Thank you Robert for unequivocally adding value - in a meaningful and tangible way that can be taken to the market and capitalised on. It's books like this that inspire me to invest (what would otherwise be leisure) time in learning & continuing my education.

The book is clear, concise, comprehensive & practical, and helped wrap together many general strategy concepts into an effective action based set of implementation tools. VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

"Leadership is an active, living process. It is rooted in character, forged by experience, and communicated by example." Those are the opening sentences of this book--and they capture this author's message perfectly.

Books on leadership are plentiful, but Baldoni makes his leadership message personal. He's chosen a great title, of course, and the book itself is an easy read. All of the vital points concerning leadership are here. But to me the second half of the book is the most interesting section, as the author gives examples of outstanding leaders from all walks of life. These real-life stories bring to life the concepts we've heard about so often.

One other thing I like about Personal Leadership: the author includes an "Action Planner" at the end of every chapter. The questions he asks (for which the reader has to supply the answers) provide an excellent opportunity for a self-evaluation of one's personal journey along the leadership path.

I found this book to be practical and chock full of useful stories that bring home leadership points in the book. Personal Leadership is an excellent book for front line supervisors. It provides many useful frameworks for things leaders may already know but don't have a way to be systematic about. It also brings out issues new leaders may not have even considered but are important to their success. As a trainer in leadership I have seen many books on leadership but few that I feel would be as useful as this one in helping new leaders hit the deck running.

Despite how common the word is in business lexicon, `leadership' can be perceived and defined in many ways - from an executive title to behavior that influences others. What's not in question is that many of us aspire to become leaders, and aren't sure where to start.

In Personal Leadership: Taking Control of Your Work Life, author John Baldoni cuts through the intellectual theory of leadership, and shares with readers the inspirational essays, stimulating questions and practical tips that can help anyone cultivate valuable skills on his or her journey towards leadership. His blending of down-to-earth wisdom and powerful anecdotes (all presented in bite-sized pieces) make for an easy-to-read book that's a good addition to the reference libraries of businesses large and small.

Rather than falling into the traditional trap of citing only corporate executives as leaders, Baldoni provides examples from the spectrum of life - including Swiss watchmakers, educators, film directors and U.S. presidents - allowing readers to notice the leadership skills within, rather than see leadership as simply a title assigned by a corporation to a select few. Each chapter of Baldoni's book also includes exercises and action planners that transition concepts into action, which is the foundation of any successful personal-development practice. (As Baldoni writes, "Leadership begins with the individual!")

The "stories from the front lines" make a lasting impression, serving as windows into the world of leadership that showcase the challenges and triumphs, and the required mindset and mettle. Curiously, all but one of the featured leaders is based in the Detroit, Michigan-area, making one wonder if there's something extra-special in the water supply out there, or if Baldoni's reach extended only so far. This is not to diminish the information that he generously offers in the book, but an element that stands out as unusual in a book that otherwise features a nice depth. Some prospective or actual readers of Baldoni's book might see this as credibility-busting, but that would be a self-limiting mistake.

Any current or aspiring leader - regardless of organizational title - will find gems of new information or poignant reminders in this book, and will return to its pages for inspiration and fine-tuning.

Bottom line: Personal Leadership is recommended reading.

My first response was, "Not another book about leadership!" But I was surprised to discover a very special book with an amazing amount of practical and inspiring information packed into 219 pages. His framework of insights for leaders is coupled with a selection of leadership profiles of real-life leaders.

Most leadership books stay at 30,000 feet. Baldoni brings us down to ground level. He tells us what we actually have to do to be effective leaders at work, at home, or any other place. He hones in on the values, beliefs, and personality that are found in effective leaders, making a distinction between constructive leaders and destructive leaders.

The stories about leaders provide a wonderful variety of types of leadership and kinds of organizations. In the profiles a CEO of a Fortune 100 business, two startup entrepreneurs, a school principal, a college coach, and a military commander, we see the same basic principles applied over and over again. It is a pleasure to have the nuts and bolts of day-to-day leadership and real-life examples together in one easy to read book.

Adding to the book's appeal is the way Baldoni has embedded the process of reflection into the book. He explains it as an essential leadership skill and then he demonstrates the skill by asking the reader reflective questions at the end of each short chapter. These questions had me thinking about what the chapter meant to me and what I could learn about leadership.

The author's engaging writing style is not often seen in management texts. The mix of advice and stories is done with humor and flows easily from topic to topic and chapter to chapter. I recommend this book highly.