Resources Books

I've read other books about finding life's purpose and calling, but they often do not give you the tool just to do that. This book does!

I've been using the Calling Card exercises to help my family and friends discovering their life's callings. It's a very easy and effective tool to find life's calling.

Books like this do everything in their power to get your drive going. And every time I read one (which isn't often), I do feel good about myself. But in the end, I'm back on Earth a few days later. OK, I am sounding pathetic, but the truth is, there isn't a whole lot of practical advice here, just motivational anecdotes. To be frank, there is nothing wrong with that. It just needs more to distinguish itself.

It starts out promising with the part about choosing the characteristics you most want in a job. However, it goes downhill with the straight out of "Touch By an Angel" cabbie stories that start every chapter. What I really did like about this book is that it makes you reevaluate the situation you are currently in to make the most of it. It doesn't preach dropping everything and chasing after your dream because not all of us are in a position to do so. Another thing I liked is that it keeps the message short (under 200 pages). There is no need for a book like this to be 300+ pages. All in all, it's a good starter book for those looking to make a career change.

This book helped me put a Name Tag on my life's calling.
I also found out how often I am able to use it in my job (only 10% of the time).
Now I need to know what jobs I could get that would maximize my use of my gifts - so I will never have to 'work' another day.

There are 52 transcendant calling cards from which everyone can pick their gifts. There were not enough examples of how people use their callings appropriately. I would have at least wanted to see a list to match jobs to calling cards.

I highly recommend this book. I've been trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up for a long time. Now I finally am able to put a name to it.
I got the book from the library, I wouldn't recommend buying it.

Get control of your career and your expectations of what career means in your life. This book does a great job of guiding you along as you question where you are in life and where you want to be. Redundant at times and interactive "take control books" usually don't appeal to me, but this one is an expection.

Davey is a great guy. He rides his bike all over Seattle. He wears really cool glasses too. I'm honored to be mentioned in the book. Dave is a great writer and philosopher. Everyone should buy this book and give copies of it as gifts to their friends.

This is an excellent resource. I wish I'd had something like this early in my career. Not only is the book an excellent collection, but it is all on the accompanying CD to help you prepare bulletins, text for Sunday service, etc. Superb! A good investment.

This is the finest resource for worship planning I have read in years. The essays are very helpful. The prayers are written in good English. The inclusion of a CD makes the book especially useful. Although I am a United Methodist Pastor, I highly endorse this Reformed Church resource.

Excellent resource for worship leaders! Great selection of corporate and responsive prayers and readings, also includes lectionary in appendix.

very usefull. a good gift for persons who find themselves in the position of worship coordinator.

This is an excellent resource! Any pastor or worship leader who incorporates litanies, corporate prayers and unison readings in their worship services should have this resource. It is also a very helpful resource in providing written prayers and liturgies for lay readers.

I have seen a lot on the internet and read a lot concerning Y2K. You are the only one I have seen put together checklists -- a very valuable piece of information

I liked the book but i mean, I'm 13 and I need a lot to understand these tihgns... I'm a quick 13 yr old and i didn't even learn about what Y2K means...

This book is worth buying for the resource guide alone! It has the most complete listing of "Y2K preparedness" supply companies that I have ever seen. The authors have clearly done exhaustive research and they do a superb job of distilling the information into plain language. One does not have to be a computer science scholar to utilize this book! The "what-if" scenarios are sensible, not sensationalistic, and the suggestions for appropriate action are thoughtfully presented.

If you are serious about y2k and want one book that covers the subject, Resource Guide" by the Millennium Information Group and published by Sun Publishing, is the book for you. The first section covers what the computer bug is, how it happened, and how it may personally affect you. The second section covers what we can do to prepare for the unknown that y2k may bring. The book emphasizes preparedness, not fear! It includes many web page references for those with Internet access, worksheets for the many different areas of preparedness, and sources for additional information and supplies. Although the price of the book may seem a little high, it would be a small price compared to making a mistake in your preparation planning and implementation

Written in an easy to follow format. A must have resource for anyone concerned with getting it together in time for Y2K. No where else have I seen such a complete list of references regarding this subject.

we bought this and 2 other related books to help my wife with her employee performance reviews. before i use to just help her out but since her team grew and our schedules were just to hectic, i didn't have time to help her out. so this and the two other related books helped a lot.

Nothing is more vital to the success of an organization than the contribution of each of its employees, but managers are usually experts in fields other than human resources. "199 Pre-Written Employee Performance Appraisals" takes the pain out of the performance appraisal process. Stephanie Lyster and Anne Arthur have written a well-organized, easy to read book that will enable managers to provide performance appraisals that keep employees motivated and striving for defined goals and objectives that benefit both themselves and the organization. No longer do you have to worry about what you can or should say and how to say it. This book addresses every situation from problem employees to executive appraisals, telecommuting and seasonal employees. It even shows managers how to easily design new performance appraisal systems. Get this book and get back to business with improved morale, drive, productivity and communication. Don't make it a goal, make it a reality!

Lyster and Arther outline the entire process of how to start, use, and maintain a performance appraisal system for your employees. The book has specific, concrete examples of what to do, as well as what not to do. I found the section about potential errors that managers can make was especially useful, since I have made some of those errors in the past without realizing it. The book also comes with a CD that contains useful forms and checklists for the entire process. This CD alone is worth the price of the book.

If you are working for a company with an already established performance review system, this book will help you figure out how to deal within the system, make improvements to the system as needed, and ensure your employees are provided with quality reviews. It was also helpful for figuring out how to talk to under-performing employees.

This book is probably most useful to new companies or companies who don't already have an established system in place, since this will give you step-by-step instructions on what you need to do (including checklists and examples).

I recommend this book to anyone who is a manager (new or experienced), anyone in HR, or anyone starting their own performance appraisal system within their company.

Plenty of books include mention or discussion of the performance appraisal in surveys of managerial success; but how many offer examples of successful written performance appraisals - much less nearly two hundred examples? These pre-written employee appraisals provides reviews of all issues, from performance evaluation structures and legal ramifications to handling problem employees. Chapters survey all angles and provide managers with plenty of concrete references for building concrete performance appraisals. Both business reference libraries and company managers will want this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This easy-to-use book is a good resource for any manager who needs to write or conduct employee performance appraisals. From defining the employee performance appraisal to detailing pros and cons, this book covers it all in clear, concise, easy-to-understand language. I especially liked the chapter on Special Circumstances Employee Performance Appraisals, which covers telecommuting employees, an ever-increasing portion of the workforce. The companion CD provides excellent templates that managers can adapt to fit their needs.

This book is an ideal source book for environmental studies programs at the university level. It provides objective, largely dispassionate discussions of a broad range of human activities that have fundamentally shaped and degraded the natural landscape of the American West. These activities include: logging, mining, minerals exploration, oil and gas production, road building, military training, chemical and nuclear weapons manufacture and testing, waste disposal, water diversion, grazing, and motorized recreation.

The authors provide comprehensive discussions of the more significant environmental impacts of each of these activities; general scientific background for understanding the nature and interrelations of these impacts; and historical/political insights for understanding how these adverse environmental situations have developed through time. Each discussion attempts to provide an even-handed treatment of these complex and often controversial issues. Moreover, the book is very well documented. It includes a 23-page glossary of terms, a 25-page index, 45 pages of factual appendices, and 150 pages of clearly referenced footnotes.

In summary, The American West at Risk is an excellent guide and text for the serious study of environmental issues in the western United States.

The authors bring science into the political discussion of our consumptive use of the arid West and spare no sacred cows. We are carelessly and systematically using up and destroying the natural resources that make the West the unique and wonderful place we love; replacing wildlife with domestic animals and off-road vehicles; making sacred places into dumps and mining the water that provides life to both the desert and ourselves.
This is a must-have book for conservationists, teachers and anyone who cares about understanding our impact on these rugged but fragile lands.

'The American West at Risk' never made it onto my bookshelf. It is still on my desk, months after buying it, and I expect it will remain there for some time as my frequently referenced, easy-to-understand guide to the environmental problems facing the American West. What's truly valuable about this book is that the information that the authors distilled into it is so pertinent and relevant yet usually impossible to find in one place with such clarity and detail. The average person usually has to grapple with lengthy, convoluted and sometimes misleading environmental assessments and impact statements regarding the extent of damage that projects of the DoD, DoE and other federal agencies have caused or may cause the land and health of peoples in the West. Wilshire, Nielson and Hazlett have distilled the thousands of pages that the beginner or amateur researcher - whether farmer, rancher, downwinder, transplant or even politician - would normally have to page through to get a handle on a controversial Western land-use issue. The authors, deeply concerned about land abuse in the West, have taken the time and effort to put together this themed-reference guide that no one else has done. They did a 5-star job at it.

Anyone with even the remotest fondness for the "wide open spaces" of folklore and song will be rewarded by time spent with this indictment of our culture's wastage of a rich patrimony. I know of no better exploration of the themes sounded so well 40 years ago in Garrett Hardin's prophetic "Tragedy of the Commons." Degradation of the West's fragile land, its scarce water, and the biota they support, plus the links to resource extraction and waste disposal, are all here, and the many interwoven issues are inescapably documented. The book is at once passionate and sober, clearly written, and founded on solid research by authorities qualified to render an opinion. Given the host of environmental ills growing with our expanding population, I can't imagine a classroom in the country without this volume and its clarion call for the political will to act. Copious notes provide a sourcebook of material for those roused to explore further. Perhaps best of all, the nudge toward good stewardship of the natural world--so convincingly delivered here--is not unique to the American West, but will ring true in many another region across the globe. My sole reservation is that the publisher missed a bet by rejecting the book's snappy original title, "Losing the West;" indeed.

The book is clear and easy to read. A surprising range of topics are covered. Among these topics are water, drought, timber harvesting, agriculture, grazing, mining, waste disposal, erosion, roads, ORV damage, and energy resources. Science concepts are presented to clarify the problems and possible solutions; the science presentations are accompanied by many clear illustrations. Discussions of history and politics help in understanding how and why the problems have developed, and how we might solve them.

Chapters devoted to environmental problems occupy the first 375 pages. These chapters are both easy to read and convincing, in part because many details and much documentation are presented in following sections. These following 218 pages contain appendices, a glossary, and detailed footnotes, easy to access. A valuable index follows. The extensive documentation alone makes the book of great value.

In the coming elections and for years to come, climate, energy, land use, and population will be crucial issues to consider. This book provides many insights into these issues. Whether or not readers will agree with all the points emphasized in the book, they are likely still to treasure it as a source of information impossible to find in any other compilation. Particularly, it should be read by all concerned with our west.

This is a great book for anyone interested in collecting books, or who likes books, or even anyone just interested in what makes a book collectable. Different people adopt very different approaches and strategies to book collecting and Basbanes documents a number of them. The eccentric madness of it all is what makes it entertaining and I found that this quickly became a hard book to put down. After reading this I suspect that I will never look at books the same way again. The fundamentals of book collection are not unlike other forms of collection, so people who are self confessed "collectors" (You know who you are!) are likely to find this an exciting read. In among all the entertaining yarns is a pretty good starters guide to book collection, and this book contains a number of practical pointers to web sites and book sellers to get the novice started. Overall it was really enjoyable to read and very much a page turner.

Reading Basbanes is like engaging in a long, relaxed conversation over coffee in your living room with a very knowledgeable friend. In this third volume of his slightly rambling but always fascinating and well-informed discussions of books, book collectors, booksellers and dealers, and all the periperal subjects they engender, he combines advice on bibliophily in the age of the Internet with reminiscence on how collecting used to be done, and what the old and the new still have in common. As a small-time collector of limited resources myself, I enjoy reading abut the fabulous collections built up by those who not only have money to spend but also the intelligence and passion to add value to what they hunt down and acquire by adding to the accretion of knowledge. In fact, as Basbanes makes clear, becoming personally involved with books and other "stuff" is what separates collectors from mere accumulators. In fact, I find I have also become a collector of Nick Basbanes. . . .

In "Among the Gently Mad," Basbanes declares, "the more you read or read about reading, the more you will uncover about other books." And, the more, it seems, you will get to know an ever-expanding circle of people who collect and/or sell books. All their stories are here...what they collect, how they collect them, how much they spend and on and on until the value of this book is almost hidden under their weight.

However, if you are serious about book collecting, "Among the Gently Mad" is a tremendous resource. Reading between the lines of other book collectors' stories, you will find out which web sites, bookstores, dealers, book fairs, organizations and other sources can help you fill out your collection. By the way, this is not just a book for those who collect rare books. An antiquarian book is simply described as any book that is worth more now than when first published. Basbanes's first rule of collecting books is to focus on subjects that hold your interest and, in fact, your collection should contain books you actually want to read. If you are gently mad, that is "taking delight in the pleasant touching of books long coveted," this book is an indispensable tool to fulfilling your own madness.

In rapturous, elegant prose, the author envelops the reader in his consuming passion for books and the people who love to collect them; as the hours flew by while I curled up with Basbanes, I assuaged my guilt at forsaking mundane tasks with the right-on lines that end the book's first chapter: "... a sentiment that I confess I savor on a daily basis: Books are not Life, But then what is?"

A wonderful read about the world of books by one of the preeminent writers on the subject of book collecting.Using the word 'subject' to describe the passion of books is akin to using 'subject' to describe love or any other passion.Blame that on me,if you will,not Nicholas.
It seems I never get enough of these books about books and this is one of the best.Here we are given a look in on the wonderful life the author has in the world of the High End Collectors.Those like me,and that means all but a very miniscule number,who can only dream of attending and partaking in those auctions,where single rare books sell for tens of thousands,and lots or even complete personal libraries sell for sums equalling the national treasury of small countries.That doesn't mean reading about that sort of thing isn't very interesting;and the author has the ability to make one feel they are part of that activity.What one gets from this book is that anyone can have the same desires,same enjoyment,and all the rest of what comes along with having a passsion for reading,collecting,owning,sharing,arranging,their personal collection whether it is a small number of favorite volumes or some huge ammassment--it's their collecion and is what they have the ability,desire and resources to call their own.I suppose many who work with books like booksellers or library staff can even imagine the books around them are their own.I remember once reading somewhere, something to the effect that nobody ever really owns a book,but only has the privilege of being its caretaker for a while until it eventually passes on as its "owner" is sure to do--it's only a matter of time.This idea comes through very clearly as the author shows how collectors spend lifetimes searching for books that eventually end up in university,library and other collections.
The author describes the personalities he encounters and we can identify with all of them as we pursue our passion with books.
In a nutshell you'll get from this book that the only real difference between your collection and the world he writes about is a matter of scale
A great read and highly recommended to anyone who loves books and reading.

If you are interested in developing new skills in how to do the relationship dance, this is the book for you. Fearless Loving is a must read. It doesn't matter whether you're currently in relationship, whether you would like to be in a relationship, married, single, recently split up, or divorced. Rhonda has a talent for bringing together concepts and distilling them into bit size, chewable skills for taking action, which most any one of us can implement, given our commitment.

This book is a valuable tool for me, personally and for my sixteen year marriage/partnership. I'm finding new ways to really listen, communicate, to set boundaries, to clarify perceptions, to honor my feelings and to play.

Fearless Loving also offers an insightful and helpful protocol for people who are interested in a new way to date. I highly recommend this book to my friends and anyone interested in Love.

Rhonda Britten just gets it. This book is so wonderful. She can guide you along your path to loving in a way you never thought you could, but always wanted to. The most poignant truth for me is that everyone is innocent. That's so hard to think and act on, but she's so right about it. I would have everyone believe me innocent until proven guily, so it only seems fair for me to believe that about everyone else. This book will help you with understanding any type of love and how to do it best! She never coaches you to be someone you're not, and even highly discourages behaving as if you were playing a game. She teaches you how to test your prospective partner, or current partner so you can hear what they're not saying (which is more insightful than what they are saying). Rhonda will fill you full of courage and you will feel that you can love confidently without ever sacrificing who you are, or ever compromising what you need from a loving relationship.

Fearless Loving is well-written and packed full of useful tools that if followed will send you on your way to building new love relationships, enhancing the one's you already have and uncovering and discovering the ways in which we block or deny ourselves love. The author jumps into the trenches with you as she reveals her own personal experiences. This approach made it feel real and tangible. The best self-help book I've read in a long time!!

If you've ever been through divorce -- if you've ever had a failed relationship and aren't quite sure why things couldn't have worked out better -- if you're tired of playing relationship roulette -- READ THIS BOOK!! It's the guidebook for finding and keeping love that you've been looking for. And don't forget to read Fearless Living, too! It's your ticket to freedom and to the real YOU!

ok, i only first heard of Rhonda by watching the TV reality show "starting over" + then got hooked onto watching the amazing clarity with which she brought women from all walks of life to.
so my roomate bought this book to assist her from dating another jerk, and boy, is this book stellar! its not thick, not complicated, but really packs an emotional + mental punch. i have even more respect for this woman, who has been through so much + has found a way to positively help others. i've been telling all open-minded pals of mine who really do want to change any "failures" they have to read this. its really good stuff!

This is a great book to make sure you a creating a legal a measurable IEP. I am actually using it for a Master's program. It is a great review and I will use it for a reference during the school year.

This is a great reference source for teachers who write IEPs. My professor actually recommended this book. I am earning my graduate degree in Special Education after earning my undergraduate in Business Education so obviously it is a much needed resource for me personally. I find it to be well worth the money.

I ordered this book for a class I'm taking. When the book arrived it was bound backward. I contacted the publisher and they rushed me another copy. It was fine, until page 150, then the remainer was again bound backward. I contacted the publisher again, and again they rushed me another copy, this one in good shape. The book is great, but the process was frustrating.

This book should be required reading for every parent who has a child on an IEP. Assessment generates services and IEP goals, and goals inform the parent whether the services are remediating the child. Schools must follow the Law (IDEA) on how to write goals, yet, poorly written IEP goals is one of the biggest non-compliance areas. If a child's progress can not be objectively measured by correctly written goals, how are we to determine the effectiveness of the schools intervention? If you want to hold your school accountable for remediating your child, Bateman's book is a must. This book will help you be an active participant in developing your childs program for the individualized instruction they are entiltled to and help you assess if your child is recieving an appropriate education. Knowledge is power and this book will empower you!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any parent who has a child in special education. If you are looking for a book to understand and even draft IEPs, this is debatably the best, clearest book out there.

Reviewing and drafting IEPs can be very daunting. This book helps the reader (whether parent, school official, or legal professional) understand the IEP process. After reading this book, any parent will be able to better understand their child's IEP and even be able to write them.

This book was purchased to get a better understanding of the biodiesel production process and industry. It also goes into great detail in how to build your own quality biodiesel plant. The author also dispells the fact from fiction involving quality biodiesel production. It is a good book for the person very interested in building a plant and is wanting to make an educated decision before he builds the plant. Overall, Great Book!

This book was very well written and researched. The book is detailed but still very interesting. I felt lead by some suspense. I was thinking, "Given all the hard truths, Can he really make it work for the home scale producer?!?" - and in the end, he does.
I wish he'd said a little more about using SVO but that's not what this is about.

After researching most of the books available on the market on the subject of BIO-DIESEL I eventually settled for this book.
It is well-written and covers every aspect of the manufacture of bio-diesel that the smaller-scale individual would look for in a book. The author is well-versed in his subject and is a definate must-have book if you are looking to get into this field.
Definately worth 5/5 stars from me.

This book is great and details exactly how to make and use your own biodisel. It also covers saftey and logistical aspects of creating it which I thought was quite nice. The only reason though that i gave it 4 stars was becuase it is a bit wordy. There is a lot of information in this book and it can be overwhelming but overall it is very good and useful.

WOW!!!

I've been looking on the web at making fuel for some time and never felt I was getting the whole picture. This is ALL the info you will ever need on the subject. From system setup throught dealing with waste, this book explains it all in laymens terms. It shows that making fuel is not going to be the easyest thing you ever do. In the same breath, it shows that its within reach of us "normal" people.

It really a very informative but light read. Not only the process is reviewed, but also the economics and history. Definitly worth the read weither you want to make fuel, or just learn more about the subject.

As a pastor in a church that recently reworked its structure, I like this book because it really makes sense, not to mention it honors God! It is a very thought-provoking needed assessment of executing church affairs in a way that stays true to biblical precepts. The practical application throughout the book is a bonus for every pastor and church leader who desires to see a living example of how this structure actually functions. It's not just a list of ideals, but a real tool that can be modeled now. It's definitely worth your time to read so that you can discover how these principles can fit in your church.

I have experienced shameful power struggles in previous churches and then had the privelege of being a member of the first church in which Dr. Blanchard implemented this structure. It was a hugely beneficial move for our church and is still reaping benefits. This book exactly describes how it was implemented - and it works! I appreciate the concise, scholarly presentation, and the fact that it is solidly Scripturally based. By the way, I also enjoyed reading it!

I am currently pastoring the church where Dr. Blanchard first introduced the principles that you will find in "Church Structure That Works." In short, I would say that "yes, it really does work!" I cannot express how grateful I am to Dr. Blanchard's leadership as he paved the way for my own tenure as pastor. I have experienced a biblically solid, comprehensive, and a very natural church polity that has allowed me to truly pastor this church. This book is not just theory, it is born our of "on the field" practice.

In the past we've seen too many examples of how not to structure churches - now we finally have a book that guides us in how to structure a church Biblically. In his book, Dr. Blanchard gives a solid Biblical analysis of church structure, follows with abundant practical advice for pastors and church leaders, and demonstrates that God's people can indeed "dwell in unity." As an attorney, I can appreciate the value of having a carefully constructed constitution and bylaws to protect the church, and I believe that the book's model constitution would be helpful to any church. This book is "must" reading for anyone in church leadership, or who aspires to be.

This is a must read for all Christians who are leaders or serve on ministry teams (committees) in their local church. Dysfunction is the perfect word to describe the state of most of our churches today. Who has not sat in a business meeting that more resembled a debate on the Senate floor than the house of God? Who has not left meeting after meeting feeling like you just wasted precious hours of your life & accomplished nothing? Dr. Blanchard's book is not only well written and easily understood by the lay person but it's challenging & encouraging as well. James 1:22 tells us to not merely listen to the Word but to do what it says. I'd say the same thing about Dr. Blanchard's book - read it and then do it!