Resources Books

this is the best book i ever read, even though it has the part about the icky racoon!

There are already some very thorough reviews on this book, but I just had to share how much my 7 year old daughter and I loved this book. Our cat was a rescued feral kitten, so this is an issue close to our hearts. This book does a great job of talking in language my 7 year old could understand, yet I never felt like the issues were "dumbed" down for kids. I look forward to reading more of Anderson's books.

Eleven-year-old star student, Sunita Patel, has longed to share her home with a cat for as long as she can remember. She wants nothing more than to wake up to a furry friend every morning, and bask in the sound of a feline purring. But, alas, her mother, Dr. Patel, refuses to make Sunita's dreams come true. An orthopedist, Dr. Patel is frightened of cats, and doesn't want to share a home with one. Luckily, Sunita receives her fill of feline love by volunteering at Dr. Mac's Place - a veterinary clinic that treats animals of all shapes and sizes. At Dr. Mac's Place, Sunita works alongside four other animal-obsessed friends - Brenna, Maggie, David, and Zoe. While each and every day at Dr. Mac's Place is full of laughter and tears, Sunita finds herself more attached to the case at hand, than any other previous cases she has seen in the past. When Dr. Mac's cat, Socrates, disappears after a cat fight, the vet volunteers begin a search to locate the beloved orange boy, only to stumble upon a place called Cat Land. Cat Land is located in a wooded area of a local neighborhood, where cats of all walks of life have taken up residence in an abandoned boxcar. Noted as a feral cat colony, Sunita is convinced that, with a little love and attention, these cats can live healthy, happy lives in homes with humans. But Cat Land is in danger. Local residents have become fed up with the overpopulation of wild cats, and are frightened of the oft-times aloof creatures. So, taking matters into their own hands, they contact Animal Control, and plan on having each and every one of the animals captured and destroyed. Sunita is devastated to learn this news, and is determined to find justice for these felines. Putting her head together with Dr. Mac, the two come up with a plan to use a widely-effective program called TVSR - Treat, Vaccinate, Spay, and Release. Sunita is thrilled to have the chance to help these homeless animals. But before the program is even well underway, tragedy strikes when Sunita attempts to tame one of the wild cats, and ends up in the hospital. With Sunita sick, she believes that the cats are destined for tragedy, unless she can convince her parents, as well as her neighbors, to have a little compassion, and save these cats before it's too late.

As an animal lover, I have found myself absolutely falling in love with Laure Halse Anderson's VET VOLUNTEERS series. And, after reading FIGHT FOR LIFE, I decided that Sunita was certainly my favorite character out of each of the five volunteers. So I was thrilled to learn that HOMELESS was predominately about her. Anderson has painted a more in-depth picture of Sunita within HOMELESS. While, in FIGHT FOR LIFE, we learned a bit about her character; in this installment, readers have the opportunity to get inside her head, so to speak. We have the chance to see what an intelligent, smart individual she is; and get a close up view of her compassion and determination. The fact that Anderson gives us the opportunity to learn more about Sunita's family life, and learn why she is so crazy about cats only adds to the story. As with FIGHT FOR LIFE, Anderson has targeted a very important issue surrounding animals today: pet overpopulation. However, she also provides readers with facts about feral cats, and gives us the chance to learn more about programs that are being used throughout the country to help feral cats survive and thrive in the wild, without producing more offspring. Anderson continues to shed light on serious issues regarding animals that many authors are too intimidated to touch. And, by providing this information within such an interesting, fun series of books, she gives readers the chance to want to make a difference in the world for animals today, and gives us the information we need to be pro-active in society. The article she provides at the end of the story - told in Dr. J.J. Mackenzie's voice - is interesting, and sheds some light on what cats mean when they purr, knead, and so much more. This article is a fun addition to the tale, and provides an interesting conclusion to the story. A sequel that leaves you purring.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

When Sunita finds a group of cats in a neighbborhood, she becomes determined to domesticate them, despite warnings that these cats are not domestic cats but feral cats--cats that have been allowed to grow wild and of which have come into contact with very few humans. Sunita convinces Dr. Mac of the Wild at Heart Clinic to take the cats to fix them, give them shots, and check them for illnesses, since the alternative is that the Animal Control people come and take them and euthanize them. But Sunita learns, finally that you can't domesticate a feral cat after she gets bitten and has to undergo rabies shots herself. But trouble comes when her plan to send the treated cats back to the wild backfires. The nieghbors don't want the cats at all--even if they have been treated so they cannot breed or carry rabies. Was Sunita's plan in vain? Another good book in the Wild At Heart series. I thought that this one was better than the first one.

I think this was one out of the series that was one of the most exciting books. It's about Maggie's friend, Sunita Patel. Sunita loves cats. She works as a vet volunteer at Dr. Mac's clinic. One day Sunita and her friends are walking home from school and they come across an open field with a ton of cats walking around. One of the cats are feral and hurt. They take him to Dr. Mac. The only trouble is, the two kids that were feeding the cats before Sunita got here is that their mother is raving mad about the kids being around feral cats. Sunita must persuade the kids mom that not all cats are bad. Will Sunita change her mind after she is bitten by one? Find out in Homeless.

This is a great feat - to take such a complex situation as a disfunctional church and explain clearly and simply the dynamics that may be at play. A few things I thought were very helpful:
* a discussion of the brain's capacity to function at different levels according to stress and anxiety levels
* the nature of anxiety and its role in a family system/congregational system (particularly when shared around)
* ways to reduce anxiety so that we can function at our problem-solving best
* the role of pain in moving us forward in better directions

So much of what has happened in my past and present congregations was resolved in me by reading this book. It is helping improve my leadership greatly.

I would hightly recommend this book because it gets the the heart of the issue about how conflict develops between church members as a result of our family background. Steinke gives practical insight into our own ways of looking at church situations through the lens of the family systems theory. Even though it is a short book it is packed with good things and definitely a must read, especially for church leaders.

I was the pastor of a troubled church and was relocated after 20 months. This book provided me with much understanding of the dynamics of church life. I wished I had it when dealing with my struggles. Now that I am in a new church, I am writing a thesis based on my former church using this book and others to do a case study.
A great read for clergy and lay alike.

Murray Bowen caused a stir in the fields of psychitry and psychotherapy when he suggested that families were emotional systems, and that only by stdying the system could one begin to understand the behavior of individuals within the system. Now that his ideas have gained wider acceptance, many thinkers in this field, like pastor and psychologist Peter L. Stienke, have begun to explore the application of systems theory in other contexts. This book presents an excellent introduction to systems theory in the context of a church or synagogue congregation, which function as their own emotional systems much like extended families. Steinke does an excellnt job of introducing systems theory for pastors, church leaders, and others who may want to better understand the way that emotional reactivity influences not just individual congregants, but the whole congregation. Those who have little background in this area will find Stienke's book clear and approachable.

Peter Steinke is a Lutheran pastor and director of the Interfaith Pastoral Counseling Center in suburban Chicago. His career has been one of studying and advising the dynamics of disfunctional churches and counseling pastors who have been hurt by said churches. "How Your Church Family Works" is an introduction to systems theory as it relates to interpersonal dynamics within a church and has been very helpful for this reader.

Steinke begins by introducing the concept of systems--that every unit in a system effects and is effected by every other unit in that system. He then covers how systems work--always seeking to remain stable, even if that stability harms most or all the people in that system. He then moves into a discussion of forces that stabilize or change a system (anxiety, closeness, etc.). Finally, after weaving theory and example to the point that the reader has a fuller understanding of systems theory, Steinke shows how individuals within a system can effect change for the better.

The overriding theme in in "How Your Church Family Works" can be "knowledge is power." Steinke accurately describes the "tunnel vision," the pressure to conform to others' idea of what your role in a system should be, and the tendency of people within a system to focus on other people in that system and blame them. However, through understanding systems, the way they work, their flaws, and how to be an angent of change, one can make an ineffecient, stifling system a productive, nurturing system. They key is knowledge and "big picture" thinking, and defining one's self.

In all, this book has been incredibly helpful as I continue to reflect upon my experiences at a church with a dangerously crushing emotional system. Steinke's book empowers one to be agents of positive change in situations that may be difficult to understand, let alone control. Highly recommended.

I heard the author on NPR and got a copy. It's a good read -- it gives you the full range of companies out there -- and why you should work there.

I was looking for a job, and now I found one thanks to this book.

I liked it. It's helping me narrow down my job search.

Just got a copy. It's a nice job -- very original.

I picked up the Job Vault, hoping I might be able to glean a bit of information. Not only was there EVERYTHING I could ever hope to wonder, there were even useful bits of information you never think to ask about until it's too late. I would very much like to talk to the authors of this book--to express the praise they so rightly deserve.

Robert White's book should be issued as standard equipment as you exit the womb and referenced every day for the rest of your life.

We tend to think that living an extraordinary life must be complicated and difficult - but it's easy. It's far easier than living a difficult and mundane life. It's all about perception. I wish I had learned his lessons long ago.

This is the most powerful book I have ever read about accepting responsibility for every thing in your life and the power that it has to change your attitude in so many ways. I was impressed with Robert White's no nonsense style and the ability he had to cut through all of my distorted thinking habits.

Extraordinary Book. It personal and heartfelt and has something for everyone. I love it.

I loved this book because of the real-people stories. This book is a down-to-earth guide on how to live in the moment and what it takes to live responsibly--and, therefore, successfully. Thanks to Robert White for sharing so much of his expereince and lessons.

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (7/06)

"Living an Extraordinary Life" was written to help you find happiness and fulfillment within your life. It is written around a framework of three concepts that need to be worked on in order for us to achieve our goals. These concepts are: Awareness, Responsibility and Communication. White teaches you how to apply these concepts into your life so that you can find your true purpose and achieve your goals. White uses eye catching chapter titles, lists of the differences between ordinary people and extraordinary
people, and meaningful quotes to get you thinking about what is coming in the chapter. White also points out behaviors and thought patterns that we tend to have that keep us just "ordinary" and not very happy. He discusses what extraordinary people do to keep themselves at that higher level. A lot has to do with how we deal with a situation. An extraordinary person can be going through a rough time, like us, but how they process what they are going through tends to be very different from what we are processing.

Everything that he writes makes so much sense. This is the type of book that will take you some time to read. It is also a good to time to be journaling what you are thinking and feeling. I know that this book has changed my life. It is up to me to continue to
work on what I need to, so that I stay at this higher level.

"Living an Extraordinary Life" is a keeper, do not let this book out of your hands. You will want to read it again at many points in your life. If you want a friend to read it, which you will, buy them a copy and hold on to yours!

very efficient delivery.
product in very good state.

This is the standard by which most other Cardiology board review texts are measured. This new version is not as readable in my opinion as its previous version. The whole reason I bought it was to avoid the Brunwauld-esque style, but alas I think this text book is becoming like the Braunwald text which certainly is not a review book. On the other hand, the ECG section in outline format was too bare bones. All in all, not the greatest review book in the world but not too many viable alternatives when trying to review for Cardiology Boards. I guess it's the only game in town.

I bought this book as a resident transitioning into a cardiology fellowship. The content is between a board review book and a more comprehensive text, i.e. Braunwald. It is an excellent resource for a focused, yet thorough, review of most cardiology topics.

Strenghts are that it is very readable, has key points emphasized in outline format throughout text, is sufficiently detailed to learn a topic relatively well, has pertinent cardiology trials integrated into the text, and a nice very focused key point review at the end for last minute board prep.

One con is that there are no references to journal articles for more detailed reading.

I would recommend this book to any resident wanting a good cardiogy text or for fellows in training. Also a nice review for practicing cardiologists.

Excellent resource book that is written clearly enough for people who are not necessarily medically trained. Reading the chapter on my own heart condition allowed me to have a great conversation with my cardiologist that went beyond the usual "this is what you have, take these pills, see me again in 6 months....". This book is great!

Very good review for Cardiology Boards. Not necessarily an easy read but the review books which are as such tend to be too simple. This is probably a good happy medium between the quickie review books and a Braunwald's

I've been a virtual assistant for the last two years and had no help or info available to me to get started. This book will save others from the daily struggle I faced then. People will no longer look at you as if you don't want a "real" job with the popularity that this book will bring to the VA field. It's jam-packed with helpful advice for both sides, employer and VA. It contains real life stories of successful VA's and employers who are now more willing to give us a chance!

It took me 3 months to read this book. Oh, it wasn't because it was difficult to read or understand. It was because I was too busy dealing with the very issues this book addresses. As I made more money and became more productive my employees seemed to be entitled to a piece of MY pie even though I was already giving them their own piece. They knew they were holding me hostage and so did I. This wasn't fair. But I had no choice until...The Obsolete Employee.

Even as I sat at my desk and read the book, the atmosphere in my office changed. It was as if my employees already knew what was in the book. Suddenly they became more proactive, more willing to work and generally nicer to deal with. But, they still knew that without them I couldn't get the job done.

Well, I can't believe how wrong they were, and that I took 3 months to read this critical book. Since I have started reading the book, I have gone from 3 employees to one part time onsite employee and depending on the day 5 or 6 Virtual Consultants. My production has almost doubled, my costs have been cut in half and I stopped growing gray hair. I've taken 2 vacations and am going on a third in a week. Incredible.
Oh, and let me say that this book is not about eliminating the good and necessary onsite empolyees. For me it clarified simply how to better make use of that resource.

I'm just a one-man show but by the end of this year, my clients will never know it because of the resources that are now at my disposal.

I have a shelf where I put all my important books. On that shelf sits, Think and Grow Rich - Napolean Hill, The E-myth Revisited - Michael Gerber, Chicken Soup For The Soul - Mark Victor Hansen, The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing - Al Ries/Jack Trout, The Obsolete Employee - Michael Russer and sitting next to it...The Holy Bible - God

My speaking, coaching, and writing business was booming -- and I knew I needed to get more support -- fast -- or I'd have to start turning business away. This fantastic book was given to me at just the right time, and I read it in 48 hours. I couldn't put it down!

I had just tentatively dipped my toe into the virtual outsourcing ocean and had a great experience. I sent an audio to India to be transcribed, and they did it while I slept at 1/4 the cost of a local outfit. Inexpensive. Professional. Fast. What's not to like?

Still, I had a lot of questions and concerns. Michael Russer answered all my questions and gave me a step-by-step process for how to proceed confidently down this new frontier. Implementing what I learned in "The Obsolete Employee" will likely save me $100,000+ over the next few years. More important, Michael Russer has given me the keys to expanding my business 2x as fast for 1/4 the cost.

This is book is a must-read for any speaker, coach, author, or small business owner.

As a Virtual Real Estate Assistant, this book really speaks to those who are trapped in the old fashioned business world of onsite employees. The Obsolete Employee has great advice on how to run a successful business by outsourcing all of your work. It also gave me a wonderful insight how to help potential clients understand why they need my services and how it can help them financially in the future. The Obsolete Employee is a must for anyone who has never used virtual outsourcing.

As a business manager, I have tried numerous times to hire productive assistants and employees. Only to find out that they slack at their jobs, waste my time and money. Not anymore! With the advice from Michael Russer you can learn how to succesfully manage vitual employees and only pay for the time you need. If you have lost hope in the hiring process, this is the book for you. I strongly urge you to read this book. Like me, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Passion at Work causes me to think about what is not only important in my career but in my life. Lawler poses some thought-provoking questions and then provides a practical and useful process to help us create focus in our career efforts as well as life. The approach has helped clarify for me the next target in my career. I highly recommend it!

Passion at Work is transforming my outlook on work, life and the future. Thich Nhat Hanh -- "We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize". Lawler Kang demonstrates this principle throughout his compelling analysis of how we settle, how we change, and the process that can assist us as a catalyst and a companion on the journey. A must read!

Passion and rage are among the most powerful of human emotions and each is obviously capable of producing extraordinary results, either positive or negative. The happiest people tend to be those who are passionate about both how they earn a living and the quality of life their efforts provide. Conversely, the unhappiest people are those who continuously rage against real (or imagined) grievances in any or even in all of the areas of their lives. In this book, Lawler Kang addresses these and other issues. Specifically, he suggests answers to questions such as these:

1. When am I and/or when have I been I happiest? Why?
2. Doing what?
3. Not doing what?
4. With whom am I and/or with whom have I been happiest? Why?

One of the greatest benefits of this book (and there are several) is the assistance Kang provides so that his reader can measure the gap between where she or he is now, and, where she or he would much prefer to be. He then provides sound, practical counsel on how to close that gap.

At this point, I presume to suggest (and presumably Kang agrees) that many of our wounds are self-imposed, that in our daily struggles to achieve whatever desirable objectives we may have, Pogo was right: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Hence the importance of taking full responsibility for the consequences of our decisions, both past and recent, so that we can then make better decisions henceforward.

Kang carefully organizes his material within seven chapters. Throughout the narrative, he inserts appropriate real-world examples of his key points. I appreciate the fact that, unlike so many other authors of books which address many of the same issues, Kang resists the temptation to be a sophist or evangelist. He correctly realizes that people can sometimes be inspired by others (who are by nature passionate) but only they can motivate themselves. At one point Kang observes, "The most important source of competitive advantage in the twenty-first century will come from individuals and organizations that unleash the power of passion." Quite true, but it should be added that -- more often than not -- individuals and organizations which find themselves at a disadvantage are those which compete against themselves. This is especially true of many of those involved in sales: They are preoccupied with reasons why a prospect could be resistant and are, therefore, reluctant to ask for an order. In effect, they sell against themselves. Of course, there are others (not only ) in sales who seem convinced that "enthusiasm" can compensate for insufficient understanding of a prospect's needs and interests. They demonstrate passion without competence and, on occasion, passion without integrity.

Throughout his book, Kang leaves absolutely no doubt whatsoever that what he recommends must be guided and informed by three "priorities": Passion, of course, but also proficiencies and principles. He insists that two other "priorities" must also be served: a plan which accommodates both one's organization and one's personal life, and, various means by which to verify and validate (i.e. prove) the appropriateness and effectiveness of that plan. These last two "Priorities" (plan and proof) are discussed with rigor and eloquence in Chapter 10. This chapter, all by itself, is worth far more than the cost of the book but should not be read until after the previous nine.

In the next chapter, Kang responds to a question many readers will pose after absorbing and digesting the material provided to that point: "Now what?" Let's assume that his reader is determined to begin a new (albeit perilous) "journey" to achieve career and personal goals once assumed to be unattainable. Much of the preparation has by now been completed but Kang correctly alerts his reader to the fact that several "canyons" await and one's "journey" through and beyond them can be completed only if unnecessary "baggage" is cast aside along with any guilt associated with it. Kang: "Make friends with your past." Only closure can release the emotional energy needed to continue. Next, the canyon of finances. Kang offers several suggestions as to how to "make friends with your future." That is, financial as well as emotional "baggage" must be eliminated. "The thought of working your passion, however you define it, without having [BOTH] a tactical [AND] a financial plan in place is simply unthinkable." With regard to third and last "terrifying, dimly lit, and dust-ridden corridor called `The Unknown,'" having a sufficient and sustainable commitment to completing the journey is absolutely essential. I suspect (only a suspicion) that, for most people, this last "canyon" is the most difficult.

As I read the final chapter "Looking for Your Life's Work," I was reminded of the marathons in Boston and New York which also require rigorous and extensive preparation, both psychological and physical. Hopes are high as the race begins. As it proceeds over time, most participants drop back and some drop out, exhausted and discouraged. Those who complete the course may feel exhaustion but also a sense of achievement, whatever their final standing. Another marathon awaits. In so many respects, our lives consist of a sequence of cycles as does marathon competition. Kang seems to be suggesting that getting through the three "canyons" and then locating one's life work is indeed admirable but by no means the end of the "journey." New "baggage" will be acquired which must eventually be discarded; new financial issues will emerge which must be resolved; and we will encounter new "canyons," hence the importance of passionate and thorough preparation as well as passionate and total commitment to proceed through each of them.

As Kang concludes his book, he shares a Japanese saying, shoga nai, which literally means "There is no other way." As he explains, it is usually uttered with the guttural seriousness of a Samurai warrior and the existentialism of a kamikaze pilot. By now Kang has stressed the importance of sharp focus, strategic timing, constant iteration of core principles, "and most importantly, patience. There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going. It is this undercurrent of patience to which you must fundamentally commit as you start edging closer to living in the prime of your life." To those about to begin this journey, I join Kang in wishing them bon voyage!

I also highly recommend Michael Ray's The Highest Goal, Jim O'Toole's Creating the Good Life, and David Whyte's The Heart Aroused.

Lawler Kang is here to help if you're feeling unhappy or unfulfilled in your career. His "Five Ps" self-examination process arises from his philosophy that, since "you don't get nine lives" like the fabled feline, you must live each moment to the fullest. Life is too short to stay in a boring job. You've probably heard these ideas before, but Kang's exercises and checklists may help you to act on them. His style is sincere, but overeager and jargon-ridden, and the peculiar, hard-to-read typeface exacerbates his confusing tendency to trip on his own clichés. We suggest that people who are feeling inextricably stuck in unsatisfying careers will find it worthwhile to transcend these drawbacks. Kang may be able to start you on a journey to fulfillment and happiness.

Looking for inspiration, I picked up this book and found much needed encouragement to enjoy my latest job search. Now I look forward to what I might discover, find, and/or create. Mr. Kang has helped me expect to find more than a "job" and to get out there and find a "life" and I have to say the journey just got a whole lot better.

The pray and Play Bible has a great lessons for preschool age children. All of these lessons can be used in whole or in part. Great resource for anyone in christian education.

The art is fabulous. The Bible stories are entertaining and age appropriate for preschoolers. The songs, games, prayers, and activities that go along with the Bible stories make it so easy to have a lesson that engages every preschooler in REAL learning. I am so thankful that I have this amazing resource because I use it all the time.

This is a preschool Sunday School leader's dream resource for those days when you need a little something extra. It is also PERFECT for a substitute leader! The bright, colorful pictures totally capture the children's attention and each story is followed with many easy to learn songs, prayers and lessons that anyone could lead at the spur of the moment. The activities are very interactive and designed specifically with preschoolers in mind.

Our Play and Pray Bible arrived today, and we are already enjoying it very much! The large size of the book is appealing, as are the brightly colored illustrations. There are activities to extend each Bible story, and we have been singing lots of the songs tonight. (These are sung to familiar children's tunes, and they caught my daughter's attention right away.) I also teach 4-year-olds in a Christian preschool, and I teach 3's and 4's in Sunday School - I'm looking forward to using this book in those settings, as well as at home!

I liked this so well I bought the second one (Pray and Play Bible 2).
I am a Sunday school teacher for young children and was looking for stories that kept the children's interest. So often the Bible story books say they're for young children, but are either over their head or very boring.
I also bought this for my 3 yr old niece and it's one of her favorite books.
A quality product I don't think you will be disappointed with.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, at the end of the stories are suggested songs and activities that are very do-able.

This book is EXCELLENT. It is so good in fact that it showed me why a retreat is not for us. Instead, I am using the activities it describes to create a series of training sessions for our senior and middle managers, or what you might call a series of mini-retreats, a couple of hours each once a week over several weeks. The activities contained in this book are intelligent and fun, unlike several others I've read. I highly recommend this book for the activities section alone -- and if you do want to do a full retreat, it will prove even more valuable. Also, the sections on pre-interviewing participants and retreat design components were very helpful, and I am putting them to good use.

I also like "101 Games for Trainers" by Bob Pike, and "Games That Teach Teams" by Steve Sugar. I think these three books together are the best place to start -- there are a lot of other titles out there that are, in a word, garbage, and should be avoided.

This book gives examples of various kinds of retreats and includes sample exercises for each that are simple, creative, and effective with no hint of the flaky factor that makes some retreats go offtrack. In fact, I'd say that the section on "Reasons NOT to hold a retreat" was alone worth the price of this book for its value in clarifying what a retreat can and cannot do.

As a communications trainer with my own non-profit board to deal with, I was most impressed by the fact that the chapter on non-profits identifies as a "most common concern" exactly the thing that causes my board trouble -- complaints of micromanaging on details while sidestepping needs for fundraising. The insight that this is a structural problem rather than a personality issue has been extremely helpful to me -- even without a retreat -- and convinced me these authors must know what they're talking about.

Retreats that Work (Jossey Bass, 2003) is highly readable and valuable resource is a comprehensive guide to retreat planning. Authors Sheila Campbell and Merianne Liteman address medium- to larger-sized organizations in the for-profit, nonprofit and government fields. Campbell and Liteman offer both a "how to" for planning and conducting a retreat and a fine sampling of facilitated group activities for different kinds of retreats.

The overall message is that the top decisionmaker should hold a retreat only for important purposes, he or she must be truly ready to hear divergent views and to be open to real change, including change not anticipated by the decisionmaker. CEOs, boards, division directors and other "head honchos" that are not ready to share control need not apply. For instance, Campbell and Liteman recommend confidential pre-retreat interviews conducted by the facilitator. One of their retreat design principles is that at least some of the participants should contribute to formulating the goals of the retreat. To do so, they believe it is essential for employees to feel safe to share their views in planning the retreat as well as at retreat. Thus, Campbell and Liteman call for anonymity and non-attribution of pre-retreat views and assurance of no negative actions for expressing views candidly during the retreat.

A key strength of the book is the attention to pre-retreat and post-retreat concerns. Pre-retreat matters extend well beyond choosing the meeting facility and menu [although their retreat logistics chapter is first rate] to the more important question: "Why have a retreat?" Campbell and Liteman specify nine reasons to hold a retreat and ten reasons not to hold a retreat. Both lists are enlightening and are foundational to further pre-retreat work.

A retreat is not a conference and not a regular meeting. Campbell and Liteman believe a retreat is best served "off-site," that is, at a location away from the workplace. They do cover the challenges of time and money in choosing an appropriate facility, and the discussion reinforces two more of their principles of retreat planning - designing a retreat to result in action for change and ensuring whatever happens at the retreat relates to the day-to-day work of the organization.

Other pre-retreat elements are: setting the goals, deciding on the format, and inviting people; defining the roles of convener, facilitator, administrator, participants (and non-participants); and a review of fixed-format retreat designs (such as Future Search, Ropes courses, and Appreciative Inquiry). Campbell and Liteman do a fine job discussing the tension between having a small enough group for good interaction and the group being large enough to be inclusive of the key players. In particular, they offer eight common criteria for how to choose participants. I think the criteria are especially helpful as an organization thinks of board-staff concerns, clients or customer involvement in a retreat, and inter-organizational issues.

A logical, but often overlooked, planning proviso is to design the retreat backwards-What is the outcome you seek? Instead of holding a retreat because its done annually, or because someone likes a particular format, or to "boost morale," Campbell and Liteman forcefully highlight the need to have retreats only for special purposes, and to work from the question "How will the day-to-day workplace be different following the retreat?"

The structure of the book opens with coverage of the why, goal-setting, logistics planning and role of leaders at the broadest view of a retreat. From there, most of the guide is devoted to facilitator assistance. Campbell and Liteman cover design issues ranging from pre-retreat work for participants to having "unprogrammed time" as an essential part of a successful retreat. They offer tips on ground rules, giving feedback to the group, and decisionmaking. For in-retreat concerns, general facilitator principles are leavened with brief guidance on how to respond to over a dozen glitches (such as repetitive discussions, disruption by a participant, a participant walking out, or a senior manager violating the ground rules).

A large section of the book identifies activities appropriate for four kinds of retreats: a) strategic planning, b) culture change, c) relationship-building and teamwork, and d) creativity and innovation. Each activity offers a clear description, steps and facilitator notes. Equally valuable are accompanying sidebar notes on the experiential elements, set-up, special supplies and degree of facilitator experience to conduct the activity effectively (easy, moderately easy, or only for experienced/specialized training). While retreat facilitators will probably eat up this part of the book, I hope they don't overlook the earlier "menu-setting" essentials of effective retreats.

Campbell and Liteman know that typically the worst part of a retreat is....after the retreat. Does the great thinking from the retreat get lost in the daily grind or new crises? Do non-participants not support the outcome? While a retreat's impact depends on organizational norms outside of any retreat's reach, Campbell and Liteman nicely select a few post-retreat points. In brief: announce the outcomes to everyone affected, not just the participants; move briskly into the actions steps identified at the retreat; and avoid a letdown by offering a memento, having periodic updates, or celebrating milestones. They highlight "critical leadership actions" for retreat follow-up.

Campbell and Liteman know that retreats have a purpose within the larger context of an organization. They provide a fine guide the knits together the earliest hints of whether to hold a retreat to effective planning to post-retreat steps to offer the best possible assurance that the change initiated by the retreat is converted into a better organization. The book is a must-have for both the senior management and for internal and external facilitators. (...)

This is a terrific handbook for anyone who wants to (or has been assigned to) organize or lead a retreat for their company or non-profit organization. The authors describe the guiding principles for designing a retreat, they outline the logistics in detail, and they provide all kinds of good advice about how planners and facilitators should work together to get the most out of an offsite meeting. The checklists alone are worth the price of the book, and the activities sections are priceless!

"Retreats That Work" could be subtitled "Everything you ever wanted to know about retreats." Just a look at the table of contents told me that there was going to be an answer to any question I might have -- from the basic who, what, when, where and why, to the types of specialized retreats.

I am in a related, but quite different, field. As a qualitative research moderator, I am often asked to facilitate meetings or retreats by clients who are unaware of the differences -- hence, my interest in this book. But, whether you are working for a small or large company and want to hold a retreat, or you are someone needing to actually facilitate such an event, this book is a wealth of information. And for anyone thinking of facilitating a retreat or just understanding what a facilitator must be able to do, they would be advised to read the "definition" or role of the facilitator on page 116!

I found this book very well-written, easy to read and follow. It's filled with lots of practical information and tips, valuable time estimates for the various activities, and additional resources given.

The creative thinking section was particularly interesting to me. As a "left brain" person, I am usually skeptical of these kinds of activities. But the authors' examples and explanations of each exercise gave me a new appreciation for the value of this type of retreat.

I also visited the authors' or book web site, which is a nice accompaniment to the book, including additional resources.

Another great study by Beth Moore. the shorter 7 week legnth was perfect for us to do over the summer and many in our group are new to Beth Moore so 7 weeks was a great intro.

Beth Moore Studies are absolutely wonderful. Our all-women Bible Study Group are almost Beth Moore junkies. We have done several of her studies and have never been disappointed. Amazon.com was really quick to send it to me as well. I received mine before others that ordered else where but on the same day. Thank you Amazon.com for the great transaction. I will only order from Amazon from now on and Thank you Beth Moore....keep them coming. The Daniel Study was fabulous too!

Another great Beth Moore study. Not as long as the rest of her studies.

I got so much from this study of the feasts of the Lord as told in the Psalms of Assent. I also loved writing the Psalms in my own words. As always Beth was so on fire in the videos. You cannot help but grow in your love of God thru this study.

Excellent study. Very easy to follow. No matter where you are in your faith, you will grow as a result of it. Touches on every emotion you could have. Especially great if dealing with difficult people in your life.