Resources Books

The best thing about the Rock On books is that they don't *just* cover the hits, like the BillBoard books --- which cost ridiculous amounts of money and don't properly represent alternative music influences in most of the '80s, '90s, and beyond. Only problem..... the data ends in '92 in the second edition and '89 in the first.

NORM, WHERE ARE YOU WHEN WE NEED YOU??????????????????

Norm N. Nite who is or was an employee at New York's FM radio station,WCBS,compiled so much useful information regarding the rock 'n roll era,which continues today. For instance,in July 1940,Billboard magazine began charting popular songs,and back in the era of swing! The first 33 1/3 long play album(microgroove) debuted in 1948,but then there was no stereo. Ten years later,the first stereophonic album debuted. Longtime pop music mogul Dick Clark also contributed to this book. The book begins its listings of hits debuting each month starting with January 1954(earlier years don't list months). This continues through May 1989(this book went to press immediately afterward). There are also lists of musical artists with their debut years and singles. However,some of the photos were taken long after some of the artists' debuts. For instance,the Bee Gees debuted in 1967 in the US,and the photo of the band was taken years later(late 70's or early 80's). This book was updated only once,containing monthly listings from June 1989 to July 1992. There are also lists of the top albums,hits,movies and television shows every year. Music and news highlights also.

An absolutely indispensible reference for anyone trying to build a collection of oldies or just settle trivia questions. My only regret is that the book was published in 1989, so no information on later songs and artists is available. Maybe someone will update it. Meanwhile, this book is a great asset to our library.

This an outstanding reference if you are a fan of rock and roll music. I frequently use it to orient me to popular culture for the period of the sixties and seventies as I do research for a book. It addresses not only music but other areas, such as movies, as well. If you can find a used copy, it is well worth your trouble.

The best reference book on the subject of Rock and Roll Music. The reader or researcher is informed about members of groups, time lines, and record labels without being served up up too much un-necessary knowledge.

When I first saw this book I was amazed that there could be so much information on the subject of rubies & sapphires. This is way beyond Ph D Thesis. If the author has not been awarded a Ph D (H.C.) for this huge book it would be a crime. Amazing creation (with a wise-guy attitude that makes it twice as good). Wow!!!

Ruby & Sapphire by Richard W. Hughes is quite expensive.

If you don't value what you'll get.

As a professional who has been for quite some time now in the gem business (>25 years now. Wow, time goes by...) and who has seen quite some books about ruby and sapphire I would rate "Ruby and Sapphire" the best of its kind.

Written by a ruby/sapphire addict full of high class photo footage and excellent text, you'll love what you get.

Great for professionals and also great for owners. lovers, potential buyers of those little red and blue wonders of nature.

BTW: this book costs a tiny fraction of a single heat treated, coated, crack filled ruby/sapphire. I won't offer my copy for sale not even for the double price I paid for. So you'll have to rip my copy out of my dead, cold hands.

Enjoy!

Wow. What a sparkling mix of erudition and irreverence. Everything you might even begin to wonder about ruby and sapphire is here, in detail, packed with fact, lusciously illustrated, spiced with attitude and wickedly opinionated in the manner that only the truly expert can properly carry off. What's even better, the man can write! Consequently, the knottiest technical subjects are lucidly laid out, while the history, the legends, the myths and the gossip are offered up with all their zest and spice intact. We're talking "encyclopedic," here - but encyclopedic in the 18th Century French Enlightenment sense, before the Germans came along and dried us all up with their only-the-facts-ma'am pedantry. Hughes is omniverously curious about his beloved gems and unashamedly passionate in his devotion to them. Thus, nothing is beyond the scope of his interest or scholarship, from the hardest of hard science to the most romantic of Arabian Nights-type legends. And in the unlikely event that there might be something he's left out, [Hughes] supplies bibliographies of altogether stupefying dimensions, and in several languages to boot. Diderot would approve. There are all sorts of ways to read this book, each of them satisfying. You can of course dutifully do what the White King told Alice: begin at the beginning, continue until you get to the end, then stop. This means commencing with the chapter on History, working your way through the dense scientific chapters (e.g., Chemistry & Crystallography, Inclusions, Treatments, Geology, etc.), and concluding with Hughes' world tour of every known source of ruby and sapphire on the planet, its history, detailed characteristics of its gems, and oh yes, a huge bibliography specific to each one. That is what I did and it is undeniably satisfying. But it is by no means the only available way to enjoy this Gargantuan feast. You could also just cruise your way through the dozens of intriguing, sometimes quirky and often gleefully opinionated sidebars, and you will have a splendid time at that, too. Or you could just page through, looking at the pictures, because the illustrations alone are an education. In addition to everything else, this book is a wonderful history lesson and so, in addition to the dozens of luscious photos of glorious gems you would expect, there are scores of fascinating pictures and photos of long-lost mines, legendary personalities, gem cutters past and present, and my absolute favorite, a be-turbaned, leather-skinned old Burmese gal with a twenty megawatt smile, chomping on a mammoth cigar. Then, again, if you absolutely do not wish to indulge your sense of fun, curiosity and wonder, you can simply station the book on your essential reference shelf and refer to it only when you need a detailed rundown on, say, typical inclusions in rubies of the Thai/Cambodian border. Many of the sidebars are in the form of detailed tables summarizing the facts in the text (example: `Fluorescent Reactions of Untreated Corundums') so if you're in a hurry, you can use the book as a technical handbook without searching through the text for the information you want. I'd say that was rather like eating all the spinach at the buffet and passing up the chocolate eclairs, but there's no accounting for taste. Particularly when you open the book more of less expecting a dry-as-dust, edited-to-death textbook, encountering Hughes' damn-the-torpedoes attitude is gorgeously refreshing. Incidentally, be ready for Hughes' ardent, peppery opinions on the issue of treated vs. untreated gems. He has no objection to heat treating otherwise dim or badly included gems to bring out their potential beauties, but he absolutely and positively insists that such gems are not - repeat not! - to be considered the equal of their natural, untreated sisters. Whether you agree or not, it's hard to resist the verve with which Hughes states his conviction. Indeed, for this reviewer, the book's unapologetic opinionatedness was one of its major delights. So whether you need a complete reference guide, a stroll through history with a lively, expert guide, a survey of sources and markets, or a guide to everything that would ever seem to have been written about either of these two lovely gems, this is your book.

Brenda Forman, GIA Alumni Association, Washington, DC Chapter

EXCELLENT BOOK (both for interest and research)-- Reading this book by Richard Hughes, you can feel the decades that the author spent both in the field at mine sites and in the lab (Hughes was head of AIGS in Bangkok) researching this monograph. Some of the chapters bring the gem business to life, especially the chapter on Burma. The photos are accurate, dramatic or beautiful and go well with the written text. The maps are good, some being quite rare. Perhaps the greatest research went into the extensive bibliography (over 2500 entries!). As president of Pala international, an import-export firm dealing in colored stones for over 30 years, I would rate this book as one of the very best in the gemological field!

This is the most comprensive book ever writtten on rubies and sapphires. It will answer any question you might have about sources, treatments, history, great specimens, cuts, and colors. Seldom can one say that the definitive book has been written on any subject. This one is.

I heartily recommend this book. It gives plenty of tips & tidbits on how time spent with your child on the Internet can be a top-notch experience for you both. Tonight, while exploring sites recommended in this book with my 7-year-old daughter Hannah, we came upon a science site with a geography game. We clicked "Easy" and saw a map of the United States with one state highlighted and 4 clickable possibilities from which to choose. Hannah called, "I'll get the globe!" hopped up out of her seat and retrieved the globe. She delightedly located the correct answer, time after time. I was impressed with how the game on the Internet sparked her interest and, just as author Evelyn Petersen says, inspired the child to connect with the world around her. Plus, it was a fun time for us both! What's more, Petersen organizes the book in a way I gratefully appreciate. Her numerous web site recommendations are listed in the back by chapter for easy reference, a nice touch. This feature alone is well worth the price of the book. In all, a five star report from this family!

What a clever, and important idea to write a book about e-parenting. The Petersens give us enough information and enough resources including important web-sites to find anything we want to know -- from discipline and other parenting issues for parents to stimulating and thought-provoking games and exercizes for their kids. In addition to the wealth of information given, we are helped to sift through and evaluate choice of existing web-sites so we can make responsible and informed choices of our own and help our kids learn how to choose and evaluate from the array of information available to them on the web as well.

I especially like the way the Petersens relate the child's e-world to his or own real world and how, for example e-friends, while important, must not replace school friends; e-homework help should not replace the library, a real book, or personal parent support.

In short, parenting by internet, while a tremendous addition, must not be a substitute for our personal and interpersonal worlds. The Petersens help us do that. Nice touch.

People who write about technology come in two varieties: the technophobes and the technophiles. The t-phobes argue that technology is diminishing the quality of human life. The t-philes assert that technology will bring us a new state-of-the-art paradise on Earth.

The tech-haters include heavyweight social thinkers such as Neil Postman (The Disappearance Of Childhood and Technopoly); Sven Birkerts (The Gutenberg Elegies); and Jane Healey (Endangered Minds and Failure To Connect).

Among the tech-lovers we should name Harley Hahn (Harley Hahn Teaches The Internet); Esther Dyson (Release 2.1); and two authors who I've just discovered, Evelyn Petersen and her daughter Karin. Their new book, Sams Teach Yourself E-Parenting Today, explains how using computers and the Internet can enhance our parenting skills.

Petersen and Petersen have set themselves two difficult goals: to counsel about parenting in general, and to explain how the Internet can help to forge a friendly relationship between parents and kids. In both these areas they have succeeded admirably. The person-to-person sections contain parenting advice which is savvy, compassionate, and sensible. The chapters about computers are clear, balanced, and written expertly.

The book contains excellent sections about many issues, some well-publicized and others little-known. How can children use the Internet to make friends worldwide? What does every parent need to know about the various aspects of Internet safety? How can using computers build family togetherness? Which web sites offer the most pertinent parenting activities and advice? ... I was especially impressed with Petersen's 40-page Appendix titled 'A Brief Guide To Child Development.' This section is eminently useful as a gage for helping us to understand what is "normal" (and abnormal) for children at various ages and stages of growth.

Ready or not, the Internet is here in our schools and homes. Computers are powerful tools, and -- let us not forget -- potentially dangerous ones. Children unsupervised, or children who receive poor computer instruction, will become at best technologically illiterate, and at worst harmed by misuse and over-use of these tremendous tools. Fortunately, for kids are who receive the right training, the Internet offers many remarkable benefits. The great virtue of Sams Teach Yourself E-Parenting Today is the way it teaches us to use technology well, while reminding us that creating a caring and enjoyable relationship with our children is the most important parenting skill of all.

Michael Pastore, Reviewer

The multi-generational authors deliver an insightful, obviously exhaustive work, which introduces the concept of e-Parenting with clarity and sensitivity.

For those of us facing the responsibility of raising children in the new millennium, this book is a treasure trove of helpful guidance. A wonderful combination of information and advice that is concise and practical while at the same time is on the cutting edge of our information age.

Using technology to enhance the parenting experience, while it would probably give our grandparents a coronary, is as practical today as Castor Oil must have been at the turn of the previous century. There is a misconception that e-Parenting means less hands-on involvement and interaction between parents and children. The authors shatter this myth by emphasizing that his brave new e-World is one to be shared, embraced and celebrated together.

The wealth of information and resources included here makes this book an invaluable tool. The care and enthusiasm of the authors makes it a pleasure to experience. It's scary to think of the hours the authors must have spent crawling around the Web for worthwhile sites to include and review. Lucky for us they did! It is their thorough work that makes this book one you'll want to keep handy the next time you log on.

David Katzner, President, The National Parenting Center

What a clever, and important idea to write a book about e-parenting. The Petersens give us enough information and enough resources including important web-sites to find anything we want to know -- from discipline and other parenting issues for parents to stimulating and thought-provoking games and exercizes for their kids. In addition to the wealth of information given, we are helped to sift through and evaluate choice of existing web-sites so we can make responsible and informed choices of our own and help our kids learn how to choose and evaluate from the array of information available to them on the web as well.

I especially like the way the Petersens relate the child's e-world to his or own real world and how, for example e-friends, while important, must not replace school friends; e-homework help should not replace the library, a real book, or personal parent support.

In short, parenting by internet, while a tremendous addition, must not be a substitute for our personal and interpersonal worlds. The Petersens help us do that. Nice touch.

Every book in the Shiloh Legacy series was wonderful. They are full of American cultural and political history and offer a deep spiritual story, weaving in meaningful characters within realistic situations. They bring the early 20th century alive!

This is the third in a series of books beginning post World War I and up to 1929 and the stock market crash. It gives a great perspective on the effects of the manipulations of the bankers and stock brokers on the average family. Typical for Thoene books, it's wonderful historical fiction and a great way to enjoy a book and learn at the same time. I was sorry when it ended.

The book was received on time and in excellent condition. The book was inspirational and well written for the time frame in history that was covered.

THE THOMES HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!!! THIS BOOK IS PART OF A SERIES AND YOU WILL WANT THEM ALL!! YOU WILL LOVE THE CHARACTERS AND THE HISTORICAL RESERCH IS EXCELENT!! YOU FEEL AS YOU WERE THERE. FIND YOUR FAVORITE READING SPOT AND GET READY TO ENJOY!!!
EMILY SIMPSON

I love books by the Thoenes, but any book from this series ranks right at the top of the list. *Say to this Mountain* is real. It deals with what was reality in America in 1930. Doctors forced to imagine illnesses in employees of a factory in order to keep their jobs. Black men arrested and losing their property to [...] sherriffs. A man and his son chased by a mafia member who desired nothing more than to execute them both.

I can imagine that some people might read those things and think that it sounds too sad to read for pleasure. Please don't assume that. There is so much beauty to the people and the stories that it is enjoyable reading.

Life can be good to live even when one goes through awful things. The same is true in the books that we read. Even though we may ache for the people in the stories, we love them. We live along with them.

This book, along with the other books in the series, is excellent, because it gets you to live right along side those in the books. You don't just learn about their lives. You participate in them in a very real sense.

Although this book was short in length, it was long in content. The seldom addressed theory of systems was easy to understand. The author takes such seemingly unrelated analyses of golf and symphony orchestras to demonstrate the wholeness of systems theory. The first half of the book was jam-packed with management concepts and ideas that evolved from the theories of the late W. Edwards Deming. The second half was comprised of actual examples of these theories in successful practice. Overall, this was a marvelous learning book.

Dr. Baker's book is an excellent contribution to the Deming legacy of systems thinking. Our mental shift from mechanistic to social, interactive concepts is well served in "Scoring a Whole in One". I strongly recommend that educators as well as managers in business take this book seriously. Systems thinking is essential to re-thinking education. Dr. Baker adds substantially to this task.

Dr. Baker has given us an excellent reflection on the theoretical and practical aspects of systems thinking. Drawing us from a strictly mechanistic view of organizations, he leads us to a deeper understanding of the social, interactive organization, and the differences such thinking will have on our managerial actions. Second, this is an important book for educators. If we are to reform education, we must do so by return ing to a theoretical basis for ensuing dialog. Dr. Baker offers us an invaluable contribution in this task.

Dr. Baker has managed to create a very portable and accessible volume that gets to the heart of management theory. It is no secret that the issues associated with managing the modern enterprise have multiplied in complexity in recent times. Dr. Baker's experience in consulting and with Ford comes through in relevant examples. His examples of short sighted decisions and their impacts will feel familiar to many. The power of the book comes in the discussion of how such problems occur, the theory of how to solve them, and practical solution tools to use. This level of completeness sets this book apart. Dr. Baker's theories on management and systems are aligned with those of the late Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Baker condenses concepts which have troubled many in Dr. Deming's books into easily readable and practical format. Particularly for those intimidated by Senge's "The Fifth Discipline", Wheatley's "Leadership and the New Science" or Deming's "Out of the Crisis". Scoring a Whole in One is a great place to start.

Like much of the writing of the author's mentor, Dr. W. E. Deming, this book is deceptively simple and straightforward, but contains some basic principles of leadership that have profound implications for the management of any enterprise.

Before proceeding, I have to reveal my bias. I have to good fortune to be friend of the author. Dr. Ed Baler. He and I co-facilitated several Deming 4 day seminars and have kept in touch over the years. It is doubtful that there is much that Ed would say about the subject of Deming's teachings with which I would disagree. This book, however, clarifies and extends those teachings considerably.

A variety of metaphors are used to present the basic concept of systems thinking and the implications of these insights for managers. Of those used, I thought the illustrations using the metaphor of the symphony the most helpful. Ed continually points out that it is the coordination of the talent contained within the orchestra that produces the sound. The interactions of the players produces an effect over and above the sum of each's individual efforts.

It is this concept of interaction that I think is made particularly clear. Some people use the word interaction to mean inter-relationship, but in the sense used here (and by Deming), it means more than that. The interaction is an effect over and above the sum of the parts. This is an important distinction as this book points out clearly, because the interactions must then be considered in any attempt to manage the enterprise as a whole.

The first part of the book is given over to some clarification of the nature of systems generally. They operate over time, they are far-reaching, they are nested within other, larger, systems, and, as pointed out above, a system is more than simply a collection of parts. As someone once pointed out to me, if you divide a pile of sand (not a system) in half, you have two piles of sand. If you divide a cow in half, you are not left with two cows.

The book then draws out the implications of these principles of systems for the human enterprise that operates at the core of any organization. It is disheartening to hear some managers continue to divide organizations into `people problems' and `technical problems'. Surely we know by now that these are all people problems and the technical state of the art at any point in time is usually given.

There is, in Chapter II, a discussion of the interaction between the individual and the enterprise which is right on the money and shows clearly one of the major problems with any policy of pay raises or advances based on individual rating and ranking. Separating the contribution of the individual and the enterprise is virtually impossible. The authors description of the `Enterprise-in-the-Individual' shows clearly how the enterprise molds the activities of those who work in it, and the `Individual-in-the-Enterprise' shows the converse.

More than half the book is taken up with a fairly specific discussions of the requirements of leadership given the foregoing. There are some general points made such as the echoing of Deming's caution about managing by visible figures, and there are some very specific suggestions such as the Interactions Matrix and it's list of "do's and don'ts".

Finally there are some specific examples of enterprises that have operated to one extent or another with these some of the principles as a basis.

All in all, a book well worth reading not only for those who manage enterprises, but also for those who help them. It would be nice to see similar, companion pieces on some of the other aspects of Deming's teachings such as variation and his Theory of Knowledge.

When I read this book, I loved the ideas more than the excecution of them, in the literary sense. I guess I expected it to be more eloquent, with better excegetics, but I realized that it was not needed.

Some times as a painter, I would keep working on a painting too long, and really make it worse than better. What I was looking for was not needed, it would have muddied the colors Michael was trying to communicate to us.

Thanks for giving us your thoughts, and being willing to share those of others with us in the persuit of excellence in our gifts.

I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed with Scribbling in the Sand at first... It's not that there was anything wrong with the book, but it struck me as being longer than it needed to be for what it had to say. The book had many good things to say, but it felt like a light read, and I was hoping for something more deep and incisive.

Then, however, I ran across the chapter with letters from various artists and theologians, and it provided just what I was looking for. They were a great contrast with Michael Card's simpler writing about faith and art, rounding out the content of the book with some insightful and challenging thoughts on art as worship.

All in all, this is a good book for someone new to the topic of the intersection of art and Christian faith, and the letters especially are worth reading and re-reading.

Yes, okay, Michael's book is great and I had quite an eloquent review in mind. Then I got to the letter by Harold Best at the end of the book and forgot all about it: get this book for those pages alone. And for Calvin Seerveld's letter, and for the letter from the art guy from New York, and from the Dutch guy. Mallowcups will of course be credited to Mike's account because he had the--what? generosity? halacious acumen?--to include them.

This book should be a textbook companion in the life of every writer, poet, artist, whatever, who belongs to Jesus and wants a clear slant on the creative responsibility. I haven't read another book of its kind, and didn't know I was wistful for it. There are some books that should never be loaned out, and this has joined those few on my shelf. I'll slobber and rave over it, and will remain cheerfully selfish with my copy. I'll buy it for someone else before I loan it, because it will be taken from my shelf again and again for reference.

Having gushed, I will say I'm not sure how I feel about Mike's take on this "getting together" thing, this accountability thing with other artists. I've seen that side, have been there, and the accountability rap can get icky. Stormy solitude is a more compelling place; but I will say, I'm cautiously checking out his ideas and I'll get back to him on it.

Oh, and Mike: the appendix, which you wrote "reluctantly" on the advice of some friends, wasn't needed. You should have taken a bullet on that one. If someone didn't get it before then, how could a didactic play-by-play stick 'em in the guts? I loved it when you said "For their sake, here, reluctantly, are a few ideas." What cheering honesty.

Mallowcups for Mike, the whole package, points and all.

Why should a doctor who can't carry a tune in a bucket and can't draw a stick figure love a book about the nature of art and creativity written by a musician? But I fell in love with this book from the first chapter, for it beautifully and eloquently puts forth a vision of Christianity that everyone needs to hear and embrace. As Larry Crabb describes the book, "Every Christian needs to meditate on Michael Card's message...the result will be a thrilling release of the Spirit from depths you hadn't before realized were there.." I had the pleasure of hearing Michael discuss the themes of this book in a coffee-house: he is a humble and wise servant of Christ, and his writing reflects it.

Michael Card is well-known for his music, and as a Christian author he reaches down deep into the heart. Scribblng in the Sand will challenge artists of all types to use their gifts as worship to God. This is not a how to book. No advice on getting published or how to write better or how to paint or how to improve your talent.
The middle bogged down a bit for me, but the first few chapters and the last few were excellent. Great teaching. Great reading. He includes letters written to artists from other artists. These provide very good advice and were poignant. If you are an artist of any type, get this book and keep in your library.

Innovation is an overwrought, overused word/topic with many books written about it. You are reading this review because you are seeking thinking tools and techniques to apply to your version of Innovation, whether for an organization, community, or to be used personally. This book provides you, the reader/user, with an excellent and sensible framework to define, understand, develop, and implement processes that empower and support environments where "innovation" can happen (you still need to do the work). Dundon defines innovation as "the profitable implementation of strategic creativity." Whether your "profit" is quantified in money or good will, this book gently instructs you in the finer arts of achieving real innovative results by taking a holistic 3 innovation-dimension views on your challenges. I have purchased 20 copies of this book and given them to professional colleagues, the book is that rewarding. Innovation is not creativity, which is a very common misperception. More information can be found at www dot seedsofinnovation dot com I higly recommend this book as one of the most important books in its field ever written.

Innovate or stagnate. Or, put another way, innovate or stand helplessly and watch your competitors eat your lunch! Wise leaders stimulate, encourage, reinforce, and reward innovation. If you're not doing this in your organization, now is the time to start...and this book will show you the path.

The book is organized into three parts: The Seeds of Creative Thinking, The Seeds of Strategic Thinking, and The Seeds of Transformational Thinking. Dundon, a consultant and speaker on innovation, takes us out of the proverbial box. The process starts with an introductory chapter that delivers an introduction to innovation management. In this presentation, the author sets the stage nicely for the value of the balance of the book.

Each aspect of thinking is essential to making a difference in an organization. Dundon explains the what, the why, the how, and provides examples in a very instructive text. Each chapter addresses skills and strategies to generate creativity, a strategic approach (big picture and visionary), and practical how-to ideas to support innovation in organizational settings. Reading the chapters alone is worthwhile, but we're not done yet. Following the eleven chapters are five appendices, a recommended reading list, and an index.

The appendices provide an explanation of the nine step innovation process, a list of probing questions to energize innovative thinking, 99 innovations and 99 trends. Readers will find it valuable to go through the list of trends and consider their influence on how their organization does business...and will do business in the future. As a futurist by profession, I can vouch for this being a comprehensive and highly usable list. The additional criteria section, while not too long, offers even more thought-provoking insights to check your work, stimulate more discussion, and refine the product of your synergistic thinking.

Readers will find this book valuable as a cover-to-cover read, but then highly effective as a tool to achieve significant results.

The Seeds of Innovation: Cultivating the Synergy that Fosters New Ideas comes at a critical time in the quest for new ideas and breakthrough efficiencies by corporations, small businesses, universities and governments.

It is a tour de force of how to inspire and manage innovation. And this is the great value of Elaine Dundon's work -- she presents "how" to inspire and manage innovation based on real experience and valuable research. I highly recommend this book.

In her book, The Seeds of Innovation, Elaine Dundon shows how companies can foster and grow this innovation. Dundon founded a company called The Innovation Group Consulting, Inc. This is a consulting group that works with individuals and corporations to help them with innovation.
Dundon focuses on three major types of innovations: Efficiency Innovation, Evolutionary Innovation and Revolutionary Innovation. All new innovations within an organization can fall into these three categories. Which type of these three innovations the organization chooses is dependent on what goals the organization seeks. Efficiency Innovations deals with making a product or service faster or more efficient, such as extending service hours of a fast food chain. Evolutionary innovation deals with making an already existing service or product "distinctly new and better," such as the ATM for 24 hour banking. Revolutionary Innovation focuses on introducing a radical new change to the marketplace, such as McDonald's did with fast food. All organizations need to decide on which three of these innovations to focus on.
In The Seeds of Innovation Dundon also focuses on individual innovation as well as organizational innovation. She creates a nine-step method for improving innovation within organizations. In order to implement these steps Dundon first focuses on the ability of the individual to be creative in an organization. This creativity can come from a number of tools Dundon offers, such as mind mapping, brainstorming as well as different ways of thinking and asking questions.
I did not like a few things about the book. I felt it was overall interesting and informative, however I don't think it broke new ground on the subject. A lot of the most powerful ideas found in the book were paraphrased from others, such as Michael Ray's "voice of judgment". It's good to explain such ideas clearly because they are important in innovation, however I didn't feel Dundon brought enough of her own ideas to the table. All her ideas are very intuitive and mundane. She seems to be just saying essentially the same themes from different angles. The book could be easily boiled down to a handful of key points. Moreover, I don't think managers will learn a whole lot from the last two sections of the book. These seem to go over very basic concepts of innovation within an organization.
Anyone who has little backround in the world of buisness will find this book informative. CEO's or other people with buisness experience may find parts of the book simple, however their are a number of techniques all people can benefit from. This is a clear, simple read but i just think there are better books on the subject out there.

Dundon makes it clear that "innovation" is not the same thing as creativity. Importantly, she establishes that the work of innovation requires discipline with an explicit focus on results. Indeed, her book should be required reading by anyone who is serious about personal and organizational performance. In a very practical and readable way, The Seeds of Innovation provides essential guidance for dealing with change while adding value on a sustainable basis. It's about time that someone demonstrated how real innovation can and does work! Now it's time to plant, cultivate, and harvest the "seeds of innovation" by reading and practicing the essential wisdom in Elaine Dundon's book!

I loved this book! I enjoyed Ordinary Wolves, so I waited very anxiously for Mr. Kantner's next book. It was well worth the wait! The first thing I did was go through all of the pictures in the book. So THIS was the Alaska Mr, Kantner writes about! Far from the tour buses and sight seeing trains. The pictures themselves told a wonderful story! The written stories were perfect - done in a way that not only entertained me, but made me feel the Alaska Mr. Kantner describes. I felt the cold, I heard the wind and could feel the hide of a bear. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and at times even envied experiences of a life spent in Alaska's Wilderness. The Alaska Mr. Kantner writes about is a world fast slipping away - native ways, unmarred land, plentiful animals. I am so grateful that he wrote about a lifestyle - a world - that I would never have had the chance to experience, had it not been for this book. I plan to buy more copies for gifts and would recommend this book to anyone!

Ordinary Wolves is an outstanding first novel, and Shopping for Porcupine is an excellent nonfiction follow-up by Seth Kantner. If you're like me while reading Ordinary Wolves, you were wondering how much of it was fiction, and how much of it was drawn from Kantner's experiences. Shopping for Porcupine gives a great deal of insight into Kantner's personal life and upbringing. It's humorous, it's moving, it's lyrical, and I highly recommend it.

An unexpected bonus of this book is the beautiful matte photography that accompanies the text. Kantner is a talented photographer as well as a gifted writer, and his shots are sprinkled liberally throughout. In addition to these, there are many family snapshots taken by Kantner's parents and their friends.

All in all, a fascinating and well-written book that portrays parts of one man's life in Alaska without the lens of romanticism that often colors Alaskan literature.

Seth Kantner's book, Shopping For Porcupine, is a viscerally real collection of portraits and recollections of life on northwestern Alaska's Kobuk River, from the late 1950's through to the present day. Kantner's folks were 'outsiders' when they settled on the Kobuk, to be followed by many more. Most have moved on, but Seth - who was born in his family's sod iglu - has remained for over 40 years. His dad's connection to the land, the Inuit culture and unfettered subsistance lifestyle rubbed off on Seth, and he has carried on those traditions while coping with the inescapable intrusions of modern Western life.

I especially appreciated the honest and literally wrenching descriptions of the changes in the land, the people, the culture and the climate, that over time serve to remind us of the impermanence of anything in this world. Yet Kantner shows us that not all change is beyond our power to control or at least influence -- although simply living by example is not always enough, and speaking up can be a little like banging a pot to scare a bear away: now he knows where you are.

I have a snapshot in my mind of the upper Kobuk during the years I lived there - many of the same people and the same lifestyle that Seth describes here so accurately. Coupled with the stories and lore from before my time, that's how I see the place and that's how I wish, in a perfect world, it could remain. The changes I hear and read about are confounding and upsetting even to me, who spent a relatively short time there. The more so for Seth Kantner, whose whole life is invested in the place. Clearly the conundrum is to decide what change to accept gracefully and what to challenge, vocally and adamantly.

Wilderness living is not for everyone, and can be almost unfathomable if you haven't done it. Hudson Stuck once said, of wilderness travel by dog team, that the greatest gift one man could give another was a trail. With his writing, Seth Kanter breaks trail through the heart of the last half-century of life in northwestern Alaska as only someone who lives the life could do. Those who find it and follow will be infinitely richer for the journey.

When I saw that Kantner had a second book, I was skeptical. It seemed to come too hard on the paws of "Ordinary Wolves." I felt there'd be no way it was as good as "Ordinary Wolves", his first book and an instant Alaskan classic, that "Porcupine" would be just cashing in on the critical acclaim of "Wolves".

How wrong I was.

The non-fiction account of "Porcupine" gives Kantner both more and less latitude with characters and stories than "Wolves". In "Porcupine" he provides us the true backstory to the amazing story-line in "Wolves", in many ways both more satisfying and more interesting than his fiction. Here we can read the real-life version of living in a sod igloo as a youngster, the real people that inspired the cast of characters in "Wolves, real landscapes and interactions with them. After reading "Shopping for Porcupine" I had to re-read "Ordinary Wolves" and found it even better the second time.

The photos are stunning, but I like the writing more as Kanner's words convey non-visual emotions that photos miss.

I look forward to his next book, whatever it might be, as his bush upbringing offers us all a simultaneously fresh but surprisingly shared perspective on all things.

"Shopping for Porcupine" is well worth $30, if for no other reason than it will prompt this wonderfully gifted artist to write still more.

Shopping for Porcupine is a beautiful, thought-provoking book that defies genre.
It is more than an autobiography of Seth Kantner, who was born and reared in a tiny, mouse-infested sod igloo on a bluff above the Kobuk River in arctic Alaska. It is also a collection of essays and articles Kanter has published elsewhere. The result is a wonderful story of a boy growing into a man in one of the remotest places on earth, but it is also a glimpse into the lives and society of old-time Alaskans, both native and white, and how the 21st Century is warping the old ways. The book is a passionate statement about an environment in flux and in peril. It is also a love letter to an impossibly beautiful, brutal and unforgiving land.
Kantner's splendid photographs add greatly to his colorful and sensitive stories about pioneers, trappers, hunters, and the creatures he encounters in the far north. The striking images and Kantner's own gentle humor and insight seem to soften the often hard realities he writes about.
After reading Kantner's excellent novel, Ordinary Wolves, and this non-fiction work, Shopping for Porcupine, it became apparent that to call one fiction and the other real is plain silly. Kantner tells the truth in both. Sometimes his truth is hard to take, as when he describes "hunters" who fly onto the remote tundra to slaughter wolves from speeding snowmobiles. Sometimes it is honest and endearing as when Kantner flies with his wife and daughter to a gala event in New York City to receive a prestigious literary award and the best he has to wear are clean jeans and a Banana Republic T-shirt.
Kantner is modest about his own skills and toughness. He is more giving, more complimentary to others. The result is that Seth Kantner is a man you want to know better. A good beginning is to read his books, visit his website. You'll be glad you did.

--Dave Gilbert

Lynne Twist challenges us to think about our culture of scarcity and "more is better" and the impact that has on our lives and our environment. She challenges us to evaluate the self-imposed value we place on money, the impact on our happiness and the power in using money in an intentional way to align with our values and life purpose. This book can be transformative if the reader approaches reading it with that possibility in mind. Highly recommended!

Lynne....please make this an unabridged book on tape/CD! Not only could my blind boyfriend then readily access it, but I could listen to it in my car.

We as consumers are brainwashed into thinking we need more to be of value. This book brought to light the many ways we devalue ourselves and our gifts. I appreciate that Ms. Twist has given the tools to reformat our thoughts on this critical subject. Willetta S BaCote

A whole new way to look not just at money, but at life itself! Worth reading over and over again!

Well worth the effort in trying to get this book - a very forward thinker and ideas are articulated well. The world needs more thinking like this.

Spirituality And Health: Multidisciplinary Explorations, deftly co-edited and complied by Augustine Meier (Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario), Thomas St. James O'Connor (Delton J. Glebe Chair, Pastoral Counseling and Director of Pastoral Counseling Programs at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario), and Peter L. VanKatwyk (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario) is an in-depth collective study of the connection between a healthy well-being and a spiritually attuned existence. Acting as an exclusive documentation of the history and modern comprehensive understanding of the influential attributions one may have for the other, Spirituality And Health presents an invaluable reference for all readers seeking an understanding of their spiritual-self's contribution to their physical wellness.

Spirituality And Health: Multidisciplinary Explorations, deftly co-edited and complied by Augustine Meier (Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario), Thomas St. James O'Connor (Delton J. Glebe Chair, Pastoral Counseling and Director of Pastoral Counseling Programs at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario), and Peter L. VanKatwyk (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario) is an in-depth collective study of the connection between a healthy well-being and a spiritually attuned existence. Acting as an exclusive documentation of the history and modern comprehensive understanding of the influential attributions one may have for the other, Spirituality And Health presents an invaluable reference for all readers seeking an understanding of their spiritual-self's contribution to their physical wellness.

Spirituality And Health: Multidisciplinary Explorations, deftly co-edited and complied by Augustine Meier (Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario), Thomas St. James O'Connor (Delton J. Glebe Chair, Pastoral Counseling and Director of Pastoral Counseling Programs at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario), and Peter L. VanKatwyk (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario) is an in-depth collective study of the connection between a healthy well-being and a spiritually attuned existence. Acting as an exclusive documentation of the history and modern comprehensive understanding of the influential attributions one may have for the other, Spirituality And Health presents an invaluable reference for all readers seeking an understanding of their spiritual-self's contribution to their physical wellness.

Spirituality And Health: Multidisciplinary Explorations, deftly co-edited and complied by Augustine Meier (Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario), Thomas St. James O'Connor (Delton J. Glebe Chair, Pastoral Counseling and Director of Pastoral Counseling Programs at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario), and Peter L. VanKatwyk (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario) is an in-depth collective study of the connection between a healthy well-being and a spiritually attuned existence. Acting as an exclusive documentation of the history and modern comprehensive understanding of the influential attributions one may have for the other, Spirituality And Health presents an invaluable reference for all readers seeking an understanding of their spiritual-self's contribution to their physical wellness.

Spirituality And Health: Multidisciplinary Explorations, deftly co-edited and complied by Augustine Meier (Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario), Thomas St. James O'Connor (Delton J. Glebe Chair, Pastoral Counseling and Director of Pastoral Counseling Programs at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario), and Peter L. VanKatwyk (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario) is an in-depth collective study of the connection between a healthy well-being and a spiritually attuned existence. Acting as an exclusive documentation of the history and modern comprehensive understanding of the influential attributions one may have for the other, Spirituality And Health presents an invaluable reference for all readers seeking an understanding of their spiritual-self's contribution to their physical wellness.