Stack Books

Easy to read, concise, and well written. Main points are well organized and put into a story fashion to keep your attention. It provides good insight into how to run a business openly to fully utilize every employees' talents. It makes a good case for not keeping people in the dark. It has good insights into the motivation of employees. Caution, these principles would be very hard to implement in a large corporation, unless top management "buys in". The book shows the value in making work challenging and fun and more like a "game" with healthy competition. It identifies what "healthy" competition looks like, as opposed to keeping secrets, deception, threats, or games where nobody understands the real rules, which is destructive.

Incisive and inspiring....a look at what makes people work, as well as businesses

This is a great story for everyone in your organization whose response to innovation is - "Well, sure it worked at that company, but it could never work here." Jack Stack took a "get your hands dirty," product line and turned it into one of the more innovative companies in the U.S. The numeric examples are a bit dated at this point, but the philosophy is as strong as ever.

A masterpiece. We use this book in our consulting practice as a textbook of sorts - as an illustration of why and how to develop a cohesive management team and then manage "by the numbers". Stack had to learn the lesson the hard way when his company underwent an employee buy-out. Long-story-short, he figured out how to bring the management team (and the rest of the employees) into the critical reporting metrics by turning it into a "game" similar to a sporting event everyone could follow.. thus the title. It's all about "organizational readiness" and moving your team down the field together. It's also a quick read - good because you can put the ideas to work right away.

I was recommended to read this from a
good friend and mentor. I fell in love
with the concepts and even hired them to
implement the things inside this book!

If you are in business and want to take
it to another level. I could not tell you
a better book to read then this!

Matt Bacak
Author of Secrets of the Internet Millionaire Mind
and The Ultimate Lead Generation Plan

I USED THIS BOOK FOR YEARS, MAKING ALMOST EVERY PATTERN IN THE BOOK AND LOANED IT TO "SOMEONE". I FELT I WAS IN WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT IT SO I PURCHASED ANOTHER. THE PATTERNS ARE SO VERSATILE AND THE TECHNIQUE CONTINUES TO BE MY FAVORITE TO TEACH AT THE LOCAL QUILT SHOP. EVERY STACK-N-WHACK I ENTERED IN A COMPETITION HAS BEEN AN AWARD WINNER. BETHANY IS A GENIUS TO HAVE CREATED THIS DRAMATIC TECHNIQUE AND TO ALLOW US TO REALLY APPRECIATE OUR LOVELY FABRICS.

I purchased this book to go with the companion book. I received it the day before I got the companion book from a friend who went to town and purchased it and brought it back.!! Speedy delivery.
Thanks

I decided to tackle a stack-n-whack for my second quilt and loved this book! The beginning couple of pages did a great job of explaining the basic process. I found that cutting out the pieces was the hardest part and once that was done, the blocks went together so quickly. I can't wait to make the same quilt again in different fabrics and compare the two results! The illusions in this book are also so amazing that it makes my quilts seem so much more professional because the design appears so complicated to a novice quilter!

I decided to tackle a stack-n-whack for my second quilt and loved this book! The beginning couple of pages did a great job of explaining the basic process. I found that cutting out the pieces was the hardest part and once that was done, the blocks went together so quickly. I can't wait to make the same quilt again in different fabrics and compare the two results! The illusions in this book are also so amazing that it makes my quilts seem so much more professional because the design appears so complicated to a novice quilter!

If you are just getting into Stack and Whack, get Karen's first book. If you really love it and want more ideas, this book will inspire you. It's such fun to see what Karen makes using today's large scale prints - she deserves a quilter's hall of fame award for inspiring many to play with prints! The mirror-image variations in this book are interesting, but I've had a hard time finding fabrics that are appropriate for them (the color saturation on the back needs to be almost as rich as the front for these to be effective since you are using both sides).

Excellent, funny book full of truth for Martha-type perfectionists. My only critique is that it spends MOST of the book outlining the problem and very little time talking about the solution. And when she did get to the solution it was only in vague terms. But over all a wonderful book that had me thinking a lot. It is helpful in identifying bad habits and tendencies that we might not even be aware of.

How I wish I could have read this book thirty years ago when I was in the throes of being a stay-at-home mom of three, a wife, a PTA president, a Sunday School teacher, a Bible study leader, a volunteer at my children's high school, and a mentor. Stack not only tells the "Marthas of the world" that they need to say NO, but she shows us how to priortize our assignments . She also clarifies that Mary's choice was not to simply sit at Jesus' feet, but she had learned to Love the Savior, others, life, and herself. This book should be read by all who get overwhelmed with the busyness of life and all of those who get totally frustrated with those who try to do everything.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone dealing with the burden of to do lists! I found so many surprising things in the book. The author's research on Martha of Bethany was really eye opening. I hadn't considered how they may have met Jesus or that they may have been wealthy. And she answers the question..."Why is Martha so bent out of shape?" The stories from the author's life, and those of friends, made people stop and ask me why I was laughing so hard. My two favs, the young couple preparing for the family BBQ and Milly's cats "swaggering through the food encrusted dishes, like tiny Cleopatras walking through piles of gold." I must have read that part to 10 people and I cried with laugher ever time! Awesome book!!!!!!!!!!

This book gave real world examples that made me chuckle when I realized how accurate of a description they are of me. I would recommend this book for Type A Christian woman who think they can do it all, but need to remember where our focus should be.

Okay, I admit--I'm not a perfectionist, at least not in the usual sense of the word. So, as a bona fide, card-carrying, clutter-oriented messie, I was surprised at how much I identified with the author's struggle. Perfectionist parenting and post project depression are common for many of us! Thanks for the reminder that an out of balance life doesn't honor the Lord, regardless of which side we fall on.

My family has southern roots so we occasionally cook southern dishes that my mother prepared.However, my mother has passed-on and now and then, I find myself saying,"Gee, I wish I could ask Mom how she did that."
This cookbook has solved that problem. I have glanced at many so-called southern cookbooks and ended up being disappointed with their recipes.
This cookbook is the "real deal". Lundy knows the towns and the people my family came from.Her chili-bun recipe is dead-on for a recipe my husband and his family raved about for years after the restaurant closed. I have found other recipes here that were similar.
The real surprise is that not only are her recipes familiar ,they are very good in quality.Her crab cakes, while not native to area, are just plain excellent.I trust her recipes as much as I trust Julie Childs.
I have given away 4 copies of this cookbook to delighted family members. My own copy is dog-eared and stained from use.This is a "keeper".It won't gather dust on the shelf.

This just doesn't have good old recipes, it has wonderful stories to go along with them. Makes a person homesick for that period of time when there were good cooks, good stories, and a loving family.

Anyone from Kentucky will love it

I spent my first 58 years in Dayton, Ohio, my mothers' people hailed from Georgetown/Lexington Kentucky- tobacco farmers for the most part. My materanl grandmother could have written this cookbook. It is the best regiional cookbook, authentic. I have ordered 4 more to share with my children.

This is the best book on southern cooking I've ever found. It doesn't need the first part of the title. "The Heart and Soul of Southern Country Kitchens",is however,quite appropriate. These are the foods I grew up with and have missed for years. Thanks to Ronni Lundy's book I've found them again.

This cookbook is an absolute delight to read and to use. I grew up on this food in Louisville, KY. My Dad was a city boy and a firefighter and my Mom was a country girl. We lived on a combination of firehouse/country food and there is no more delicious combination of cuisine. Like a prior reviewer, the excerpt about the Cozy Theatre and the Suburban Fish Fry brought back some powerful memories. That fish was the best I have ever had. Ronni Lundy's book is the epitome of real regional food.

I bought this in 2003. Is vertical food out of fashion? Not so trendy anymore? Who cares. I think everyone likes a beautiful presentation and the recipes in this book are not only lovely to look at, they are actually good. The recipes would be good even if they weren't "stacked". Plus, the book inspires you to be creative and think of variations. I still love this book and refer to it often. I wish there was Volume II.

This book has some fantastic ideas to give your food life. I loved it!! I first saw this book on Food Network's "Top Five" vertical foods. After seeing what the book was about, I bought it right away!

I bought this book about a year ago and have had more fun than anything making these wonderful "tall food" dishes. My friends think I've taken some kind of a chef's cooking class or something and can't figure out how I became such a good cook in such a short time! It is just a wonderfully fun and exciting book for anyone who loves to entertain!!
Now...here is the problem...I have been looking ALL OVER THE PLACE for a copy of this book and can't find it!!! I want to give it as a gift. What is the problem? Does the publisher have any? Where can I get it? Why have such a fun book on the market and not have it available on Amazon?? Doesn't make any sense. Please, please, please let me know where I can find a few copies other than "used" ones. thanks so much!!!
Big fan of "Stacks"

This cookbook delivers the home chef who want to spice up the appearance of food with this new vertical style.

Fabricant has done all the trial work for us and now gives recipes for each entree plus has available from her web site and others all the necessary "stacks" etc., you'll need.

This is also supplamanted in most cases with great color photogrpahy that show the recipe served, which is so helpful in this case.

I've not tried all, but several main dishes and desserts and my guests and I found them so appealing visually, but the portions were large and the food rich. So, who can complain!

Unique and wonderful for us fledgling gourmets!

When I first saw a picture of a "stack", I was drawn to it immediately. I had to buy the kit and soon realized I needed more ideas, so I bought the cookbook. If you are a "foodie" who likes to experiment and make more than meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner guests, this is a great tool. The ingredients are fresh (and the author offers alternatives if you are just too busy to make your own pesto!), colorful and flavorful. This book is a great value, as well. You can use the recipes as a guide to being creative. Enjoy

This is a great book for the beginner(which I am) all the way up to advanced. I love the choice of colors that Jan Mullen uses, as well as her ('ish') method. For instance in this book, no 1/4" seam allowance . . . it is 1/4ish" seam allowance. It is fun, and takes on a whole new approach on quilting, no straight lines, everything is 'askew' but ends up a straight square.

Nothing but Fun/bright quilts in here!

I have made 2 of the Milky Wayz quilt from the book and they are so fun and easy. Jan's directions and pictures were very easy to follow. This would be a great technique for a beginner since you don't have to worry so much about matching. The best thing about Jan's method is that the cutting part (which I hate) is much shorter since your pieces are all 4"-ish or 5"-ish and so on. Plus it's fun to just cut at wacky angles and it gives your quilts a quirky fun element. Great for quilts for kids.
I can't wait to make another quilt from the book.

I saw Jan Mullen's booth at a quilt show and was bowled over by her quilts! Her combination of eye opening color and wacky style was a refreshing break from booth after booth of corner-matching, precision cut handiwork. I bought this book on the spot and made two quilt tops the following week! Mullen's instructions are incredibly clear and simple to follow, and though some designs are easier than others, her "stack and whack" method makes for quick piecing. Give it a try and let loose your "wicked wayz"!!!!!

Jan really shows you how to step outside the box. If you ever get the chance, attend one of her seminars if you like colour and attempting something new. She is a great teacher and she also likes purple.

I have owned this book for several years and go back to it all the time for inspiration. I have about 10 quilt books and I use this one the most; the colors and patterns always give me lots of ideas, especially when I find bright and fun fabrics to start with. I also love not having to be so precise with seam allowances during block assembly.

As the author of this book, I am admittedly biased ... but in all candor I do believe that it is the most comprehensive book available on the subject of air pollution dispersion modeling. I would also like to point out that the book is not out of print nor is it limited in availability. It is completely available at www.amazon.com (but not at www.amazon.ca).

.
This book book is an excellent reference source and working tool for any engineer interested in learning about air pollution dispersion modeling.

It offers easy to understand explanations of very complex subjects and is very well organized. It starts from basic fundamentals and takes the reader through the different aspects of dispersion modeling in simple, easy to understand terms. There are also a good many example problems, worked out in complete detail, which are excellent learning tools.

I recently purchased a new copy of this book from the Market Place at www.amazon.com and it is, by far, the best book I've seen on the subject of air pollution dispersion modeling. I highly recommend it.

I recently purchased this book from www.amazon.com (it wasn't available on www.amazon.ca for some reason) and it is absolutely the best technical book that I have ever read. Everything is explained very simply and very clearly. The example calculations were very helpful. The shipment was very prompt and the book arrived in excellent condition.

Mr. Beychok's book is an excellent reference source and working tool for any engineer interested in stack gas dispersion. I have had occasion to use this book for unusual problems such as flare upsets with aerosol release and found it to be easily used. An especially valuable aspect of the book is its careful development of all data and equations for dispersion models. I highly recommend this book for anyone performing or interested in understanding dispersion.

I'm currently looking at a compensation model with the company that I am working with. The book was helpful, and I enjoyed the read.

Jack Stack has become well-known in some circles as the poster boy of open book management. He and his colleagues at SRC (Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation) have built a company and set of business practices (Great Game of Business) around the concept of sharing numbers with your employees. Yes, it's more than just sharing numbers, it's empowering the employees to be true team members, enabling them to take personal and collective actions to influence the numbers and to share in the profits.

Open book management is a great concept that has made a significant difference for a lot of companies, and even the U. S. Coast Guard. Stack presented the concept in his 1992 book, "The Great Game of Business" (Currency Doubleday). That book was a valuable how-to package.

"A Stake in the Outcome" is more of the story of the transformation of a remanufacturing plant owned by a large corporation into a thriving independent business. In the midst of the text, the reader will find some advice, some brief case studies of other companies, and some experience descriptions that may be instructive. But, when it all shakes out, this is the story of the growth of a business. It's an historical review with plenty of detail. It's Jack Stack's story.

If you're looking for an instruction book of how to build an employee-centered open book management company, this isn't it. If you're looking for an instructive report of what one company went through, from the leader's perspective, this book fits that description. It's Jack Stack's book, even though Bo Burlingham, an editor-at-large of Inc. Magazine, is shown as co-author. Burlingham's photo doesn't appear on the dust jacket, just Stack's.

Reading the book is like listening to Stack telling his story, with the emotion, the ego, the pride, and the rough-and-tumble. It would be interesting to hear this story shared by others. You can gain that experience by visiting SRC in Springfield, Missouri, but you can't get it from this book.

I found the Great Game of Business to be uninformative.
However, A Stake in the Outcome made up for it! If you've ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, READ THIS BOOK!

While this book does go into details about the author's amazing success with his company, SRC, the advice is tailored to senior executives who are in the position of founding or leading young companies. The author candidly admits that personal experience in leading a company is the only real way to learn, because each company has its own unique challenges, and because situations look quite different in the heat of a tense moment, rather than in the comfort of a book. Nonetheless, this book does give the reader plenty of areas to think more about, and tells a great story in the process.

A lot of "business management" books are all fluff; not here.

There is not one wasted word in this wonderful book, which should be mandatory reading in every business in America.

Inadvertantly, Stack addressed the issue of a "culture of ownership" just in time to face a generational shift in the work force.

"Theory X" worked for the veterans of WWII; "Theory Y" worked, to a degree, for the Baby Boomers.

"Generation X," and "Generation Y," see the cultural climate of business in an entirely different light; yet, they must find a voice in working with American business, for the good of all.

Incredibly distrustful of authority, and poorly served by the education system they have left, something new is needed to bring order out of the chaos of their perceptions.

If you are looking for silver bullets, look no further than Stack's books (and Ricardo Semler's "Maverick").

In "The Great Game of Business," Stack discussed the restructuring of Sprinfield Remanfacturing, starting with a debt/equity ratio of 89 to 1.

Success brought a new, painful awareness of two basic issues: one, growth leads to conflict arising, and must be resolved; and two, businesses do not scale very well.

A larger business requires a qualitatively different framework to resolve conflicts in; the price of the necessary knowledge is very high, indeed.

Good news!

Stack and the people at SRC Holdings Corporation - the name should give you a hint of the magnitude of change required - have done the heavy lifting for you!

The best accompaniment you can have as you try to apply his principles is a good primer on economic value added (EVA) accounting.

Incidentally, Chapter 10, "Crossing the Great Divide," includes a great story about "The Secret of the Chinese Firecracker Factory," where the issue of scaling the business model is addressed following an insight gained from the manufacturing process of Chinese firecrackers.

The same insight was expressed in Chapter 15 of "Maverick," by Ricardo Semler. Called "Divide and Prosper," Semler addresses the issue of the appropriate scale and structure of the business in the same light as Stack. Semler also addressed a good many of the issues Stack faced from an invaluable perspective, particularly management structure (see Chapter 21 of "Maverick.")

Stack has given one and all an invaluable guide to The Next Step after Open Books; keep it close to hand, give it to all of your people, and let people who wonder about "who moved their cheese," keep wondering!

Coach Vanderlinden describes his Eagle and Stack concepts in great detail in a book that is both entertaining and informative. I found this to be an easy to read description of solid defensive concepts that could be applicable to almost all levels of football. The book gives thorough descriptions of each positions responsibilities including alignment and assigment. There are numerous helpful diagrams and illustrations that round out each chapter. Coach Vanderlinden does a decent job of explaining the process of how he pairs coverages with his fronts and pressures. It is possible that this book could be used as a stand alone playbook for a high school football team.

I purchased this book on the eagle and stack defenses and found it to be very informative. It reads easily and I will be using alot of the schemes in this book in my defensive package.

Without question the best defensive book on the market. This book contains the elusive answers that are so difficult to find. Ron teaches his philosophy and principles of successful defense and does it in an easy to understand format. This is a great resource, and should be included in every coach's library. My entire staff has a copy and it has been an instrumental tool in implementing a new defensive system at Helix High School. The secrets are in this book!!!!

Troy Starr
Head Football Coach
Helix High School
San Diego, CA

As a young coach and an avid reader I am always looking for new football books on the market. I picked up Coach Vanderlinden's book and couldn't put it down until I had absorbed everything in it. Coach Vanderlinden does an excellent job of teaching the intricate details and complexities of the Eagle & Stack Defenses in a simple language that any coach can understand. The detail included in this book is exceptional. It really is a must read for every coach from the high school level to the BCS. Offensive coaches would benefit from reading the book to gain a better understanding of the manner in which Eagle & Stack defenses choose to attack, and Defensive coaches will learn the not only the schematics, but the thought process behind using all of the calls in certain situations. Reading the book is like being able to sit in on a staff meeting at Penn State surrounded by coaches with 20+ years of experience at the highest level.

Brian Fleury
Defensive Coordinator
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CT

This book is the best, most informative book for any football coach that I have ever read, and I have been studying the game for thirty years.

The book "Letters from Vinnie" is about a teenage girl who follows her dreams. She started sculpting and knew it was what she wanted to do in life. After sculpting a brilliant bust of President Lincoln's head, she entered a contest to sculpt a statue in remembrance of Abraham Lincoln. Though her lover Boudy wants her to stop sculpting and, marry him, she rejects the proposal because of her passion for sculpting. By winning the contest she gets $5,000 and decides to use it on a vacation to Europe with her parents. When things go wrong in Vinnie Ream's life she stands strong and fights her way through them.

THis is a great book for lovers of art, romance, and Civil War history. Vinnie is an intriging person that draws you in from page one- worth your time

I recentely finished "Letters from Vinnie" , a story of a young girl's letters from herself to her Counsin Regina. The time period is the time of Abraham Lincoln , and the subject on everybodys mind: Whether this war will end. Vinnie Ream , finds herself falling in love with sculpting and Abraham Lincoln himself. When she finally gets a grant to sculpt Mr.Lincolns head after his faitful death , all changes for Vinnie Ream. This book is based on true accounts and true characters.

I recentely finished "Letters from Vinnie" , a story of a young girl's letters from herself to her Counsin Regina. The time period is the time of Abraham Lincoln , and the subject on everybodys mind: Whether this war will end. Vinnie Ream , finds herself falling in love with sculpting and Abraham Lincoln himself. When she finally gets a grant to sculpt Mr.Lincolns head after his faitful death , all changes for Vinnie Ream. This book is based on true accounts and true characters.

History has always been fascinating to me.When I picked up the book, Letters From Vinnie by Maureen Stack Sappéy, I was transported back through time to Washington D.C. during the Civil War. There, through a girl's letters to her best friend, Regina I learned about Vinnie Ream, a high spirited, stubborn, head-strong individual. In the year 2000 with the advanced computers, e-mail, chat rooms, cell phones, and overnight rush delivery services, it's pleasant to read an author's version of a letter from a time period over one hundred years ago. The letters were composed so well that I actually began to believe that those letters were real and that I was Regina! You may not agree that learning about the hard life of an unwanted sculptress isn't the best plot for a book, but guess what? To me it is!