Professional Resources Books

This book was one of the required reading assignments for a Christian class I took last year. The book is great for just that. Although the lists are quite extensive (and you may become wary after reading #15; 25-26 in all!!)from the lessons that they point out that Jesus taught while here on earth, it is still interesting to read how the two authors managed to extract from the four gospels and compiled a list of what they thought to be the most important lessons Jesus demonstrated through His actions. It is a great comparative piece and I love how the authors have allowed the reader to see the differences yet similarities between each other. Great book for a class discussion.

Having bought this book at my local Clothing Sales on Fairchild Air Force Base, I can tell you that this book, in no way abuses the lessons of Christ.

A follower of Christ is called to glorify God in ALL he/she does. Not just when they are in church or when they are talking about faith issues, but in everything we do. This book takes on a certain aspect of people's lives...leadership. The book doesn't focus on the business world or the CEO of major companies..those aren't the only leaders. Leaders can be in pastors, church group leaders, or even the leader in a group of friends. This book gives a lesson on leadership using the the greatest example of all...Jesus Christ. How one could be offended by this is beyond me.

The authors point out some intersting facts in the Bible. In answer to one of the rewiewers who gave this book a one for "abusing" Jesus' teachings, there is nothing in the Bible that says it is abusing anything to pull out truisms and helpisms from Scripture to help yourself in life for a purpose other than getting saved. And although the authors' focus may have only been to help a person becoming a good leader or better, regardless, their use of biblical principles still may encourage pagans (non-christians) to see that the Bible is not valueless or teaches only on certain subjects (salvation, sin, and hell, etc.) and that if it is valuable in that way, then it is not simply a book made my "drunks" or simpleminded persons whose only goal was getting money out of people.

Some things in this book I did not like were the authors' endorsement of Martin Luther and Billy Graham, which could give people the wrong impression that these were good Christian men, and knew what they were talking about when it comes to salvation (the didn't.)

Another error they make is saying that it is necessary to be tempted to become a better leader, (because Jesus was.) That is obviously stupid logic. You don't need to be sinned against (including deliberately tempted to do something wrong) to become a better anything. Imagine a unsaved person actually believing that advice and deciding to use it to improve their son or daughter...

This book neatly identifies major themes in leadership theory and illustrates their being practiced and taught by Jesus. While it is somewhat thin, I consider this perhaps the single best leadership book ever written nevertheless. In 200 years this book will enjoy just as much applicability as it does today and it did 2000 years ago. Few other volumes can make such claims. Regardless of whether you are (or hope to be) a military, business, political, ministry, athletic or social leader, this is the first book to read.

After that I know a few hundred you might want to read. For starters you might want to peruse my Leadership Classics list.

I normally shy away from the platitudes and punditry of self-help and business "rules, tools, & tips", but I saw this book in the uniform sales shop that serves the US Special Operations Command,right next to War of the Flea: The Classic Study of Guerrilla Warfare, and I could not resist.

This little volume will join The Astonished Universe, a French-English side by side poetry book that celebrates life, in my travel briefcase.

I write this sitting by the window of an old estate in Provance, France, while attending a retreat with four others active in the Collective Intelligence movement. I bought it primarily because it was on sale in the bookstore that serves the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Written by a sports writer and producer in partnership with a pastor, it provides the reader with 52 segments, each consisting of a quotation from scripture, and then a two page double-spaced discussion. I found this book over-all to be thoughtful and practical and not at all "preachy."

The authors immediately drew me in, non-practicing believer that I am, by stating up front that this little guide was a means of discovering and/or reintroducing Jesus to your life. That did it for me, I'm ready.

The book opens with an emphasis on truth as the most important element of both faith and performance, then surprised me by emphasizing that how a leader is perceived is something the leader can never hear too much of.

The authors are at one with Peter Drucker is saying that the best lives are those in which the person is deeply enmeshed in a "calling" and striving to please and serve God while being faithful to their own talents and visions, accountable to others, but never subservient to others.

They distinguish between management, which pays people to follow orders, and leadership, which inspires others to work selflessly in harmony with others. They emphasize that leadership is personal, not at all removed or elitist. One segment stresses the importance of breaking bread with those you seek to lead. At this retreat that I am on, the food--vegetarian and the basics--bread, oil, fruit--is being treated as a spiritual celebration in its own right, so I would add that it is not just breaking bread, but doing so in communion with the Earth that gave us the food, and with one another who seek to save the Earth for future generations.

Among the many bullets that I noted:

* Leaders are disciplined in time management
* Leaders use prayer as reflection
* Leaders are teachers, and can teach under all circumstances including hostile
* Enduring leaders are compassionate
* Diversity is good for team building
* Core values are enduring, but in practice adaptation is essential
* Speak to the masses but nurture an inner core of future leaders
* Understand the importance of strategic withdrawals and pauses
* Setting for major announcements or intense dialogs are important--airport hotels are pedestrian, retreats with memorable environments enhance and nurture the intentions and goals
* Chapter 23 was special for me, after 20 years of dealing with opponents who refused to acknowledge the importance of open sources of information that could be shared: the chapter tells us that visionaries *will* be considered lunatic, even within their own families. This is precisely what happened to me in 1992 when I published an article in Whole Earth Review on the need to create a new national intelligence paradigm that was ethical, ecological, evolutionary, and based on open sources of information instead of stolen secrets. The chapter tells us that the price of leadership (whether direct, of men, or indirect, of ideas) is the willingness to bear with persistent pain and rejection in the face of disbelief and constant attack.
* In a separate chapter, the authors tell us that many will know *of* the leader, but very few will really know who the leader truly is.
* Expect to be unappreciated, but avoid sharing too much too soon.
* Know when to move on, and prepare your successors, encouraging them to move into the world "two by two" so they can reinforce one another and learn from one another.

The book ends with the observation that to be strong is to be in faith, and that in praising God, we should be all we can be within his larger framework.

There are many other lessons and anecdotes in this volume, and I recommend it highly.

Other leadership books I have read and reviewed:
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World
The World Cafe: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter
Building a Knowledge-Driven Organization
The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present
The exemplar: The exemplary performer in the age of productivity
Leading Minds: An Anatomy Of Leadership
The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future

I was expecting more tables and equations especially for natural convection external flow. There is also very little useful information about forced convection external flow. I also would have liked to see some sample calculations to demonstrate how to use this book better.

There is plenty of theory despite the product's description and most of it is probably unnecessary for a handbook. It's more like a big, expensive text for heat transfer than a handbook. A person would have to be an engineer, mathematician, or physicist to deal with the level of mathematics presented in this book.

There is a fair amount of information about internal flow for both forced and natural convection, but this book's value is quite limited. I am dissappointed with this book and would not purchase it again if I lost it.

This book is a resource for understanding/solving complex heat transfer. There are no pages wasted on useless information, just vital information pertinent to the topic. The book is well laid out and well referenced. The chapter on heat pipes is a bit lacking. Overall an excellent heat transfer reference.

I found very useful the way thermal conductivity was approached. I was used to solve simple problems by means of "Temperature response charts". Now it is possible to use formulas instead of graphs.

This is not an introductory book on heat transfer! Instead it is a thorough treatment on heat transfer in a stringent an extensive manner. This book places greater emphasis on correctness than "easy-to-understand-ness". However, if you do read it, you gain a lot compared to most introductory heat transfer books. If you are interested in forced convection heat transfer, this book gives well documented equations and charts for a great number of shapes, though mostly internal flow. This is a very serious book for serious engineers!

You could spend the rest of your life reading this book! It would be useful for any professor or A student or other intellectual studying the material in depth. But for a practicing engineer who has little available time to ponder the specifics, it would take a "lot" of effort to find material that could be put to work in this text. If you are interested in deriving the equations you need yourself, or if you're analysing a unique design, then this is the book for you. But if you are busy with standardized systems and technology, find another reference.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms (Dictionary) (Purchased on 09/03/2008) it is very helpful to me.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms is an interesting research - and I dare to say: entertaining - resource. Because, contrary to what some might think, this is not a thesaurus, but a book which groups words of similar meanings into a topic and explains in a very didactic way and with examples what distinguishes in nuance one from each other so you can use the most appropriate words depending on the situation.

For being small, you will certainly not find about everything you want and when you need, but however, this has a reasonable scope of words that is worth the purchase. In the worst case, you can perfectly take this as a regular book that you could read in your spare time since is pleasantly organized and well written. Trust me, it is not as boring as reading purposeless a regular dictionary.

This book is compact and you can take it to school with you. This book saved me on plenty of essays.

Book recevide is very well but it took about 2 weeks to receive this order.

This is a good rendition on classic synonyms and antonyms. It would be very helpful in augmenting vocabulary for standardized tests in high school or college.

Classic word definitions are provided. i.e.
- abate means to reduce -lustrous means bright
- boorish means rude -nonchalant means cool
- caustic means "a biting wit" -pensive means thoughtful
- chide means to criticize -preponderant means dominant
- consonant means agreement -scabrous means rough
- decorum refers to proper conduct
- eccentricity refers to singularlity of behavior
- estrange means to alienate
- fawn means to seek favor
- forestall means to prevent
- gauche means awkward
- implore means to beg
- inconstant lacks firmness
- melodorous means unpleasant
- munificent means generous
- slatternly means rundown
- sojourn means to reside
- suave means well-mannered
-temerity means boldness
-vociferous means to load

This rendition would be very helpful for a wide constituency of
students , editors and school administrators.

Ought to make it clear that I bought this book in order to help me advance my business career, and I have a technical background. People with different backgrounds will probably form different impressions...

There are a lot of good ideas held in this book, and modelling can certainly help you be successful in a lot of areas but...if you are looking for an outsiders or layperson's guide to the subject, this ain't it. On the one hand, it didn't have the level of intellectual rigour to make you sit back and think "ah - what a good idea, I can see that" - on the other hand it didn't seem to give you practical tips of the kind that make you more effective at work straight-away. For the tecnically minded trying to make it in business - try "How to Win friends and Influence People" and "Influence - the Psychology of Persuasion" and leave this on the shelf. If it's NLP that interests you, there are a lot of better books than this.

Are you ready to go beyond the basic skills to the heart of NLP and learn how to model? In reading NLP Solutions Sue Knight guides you on a journey of discovery. Sue brings to life the fascinating experience of how you too can become aware of the difference that makes the difference in successful businesses today. NLP Solutions is accessible, well written and jargon free. Sue offers real insights into how successful organisations have translated the concepts that many of us have learnt in our training and applied them to the real needs facing many businesses today e.g. High-performance Coaching, Personal Selling Skills and Managing and Improving the Relationships. Sue shares her discoveries of patterns of experience and behaviours in ways that are easily understood, encouraging you to think about your own patterns and choices. By reading NLP Solutions you will quickly grasp what already works in other businesses today. Prepare to have your own learning accelerated and your confidence raised in knowing how you can expand on the models presented to create exceptional performance in your own life and the business in which you work.

Most business leaders are acutely aware that the quality of their leadership is increasingly crucial, not just in strategic terms but as role models of excellence for every member of their team. Leading edge organisations of the future will be those so called 'Learning Organisations' where every member is organically adding increasing value to the business daily. And if you really want to know how to get there, this book captures it beautifully. Sue explains how NLP is currently being applied in organisations in many different ways and contexts and with exceptional results. She does this with amazing ease and pragmatism despite the fact that she is describing a revolution in the development of our organisations. If you want to know how to make giant leaps in the development of your leadership, your people and your business, this is a must.

It is not that I didn't like this book, as I always find tidbits of information in most books I read. As far as NLP books go, this one swims through some fresh ideas though never reaching shore. It is suppose to cover how to model what works in business, though I doubt I could model one after reading this book with out getting lots of additional information elsewhere

No citations, no references, few concrete recommendations or techniques...just one big warm and fuzzy "sell job" on NLP. A weak, weak book.

This manual is a MUST for practicing land professionals. This is considered a "bible" for anyone who works with the land. As you know this field is constantly changing but this book is fundamentally sound and thorough.

I have always found this book to be cumbersome, difficult to navigate, poorly organized, and lacking in sufficient detail. But of course for years it was basically the only game in town, so everyone relied on it. Those days are over. I recently purchased Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards, and it is an outstanding book. If you're trying to decide which one to buy, definitely get Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards instead. And even if you already own Time-Saver Standards, do yourself a huge favor and buy Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards anyway. It covers everything that Time-Saver Standards does plus numerous other topics, all with much better explanations and details. To top things off, it has FAR more graphics and the entire book is better organized an easier to navigate than Time-Saver Standards.

As a practicing L.A., I have bought several McGraw-Hill Construction Books. I get a similar result each time: They seem on first look to fulfill the promise, but I found they don't well serve the need in real life. I get far better use out of Architectural Graphic Standards, and I'm looking forward to Wiley's Landscape Architectural Graphic Standards.

Landscape Architecture is a young and emerging profession. It is also a marginal discipline that borrows heavily from other disciplines like Horticulture, Architecture, Ecology and Civil Engineering, etc. The boundary and standards for Landscape Architecture has not been finalized yet. "Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture" can help to set an industrial standard for Landscape Architecture.

"Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture" is separated into 9 divisions (please note these are NOT CSI Masterformat divisions, just divisions used for this book only), including process (construction documents and specifications, site construction operation), standards and guidelines (spatial standards, energy and resource conservations, outdoor accessibilities, natural hazards: earthquake, landslides and snow avalanches, land subsidence, expansive soils), techniques (site grading, stormwater management, pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular circulation), structures (retaining walls, small dams, surfacing and paving, fences, screens and walls, wood deck and boardwalks, pedestrian bridge), improvements (site furniture and features, recreational and athletic facilities, pools and fountains, outdoor lighting, plants and planting), special condition (deck and roof landscapes, interior landscapes, disturbed landscapes, sound control), site utilities (water, sewer, irrigation, and recreational water bodies), materials (soils and aggregates, asphalt, concrete, masonry, wood, metals, plastic and glass, geotextiles), and details and devises. There is also a list of agencies and organizations and a list of reference after each section.

"Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture" has 928 pages and many line drawings and interior black-and-white photos. It is a good reference book for landscape design professionals.

I've got the book and was hoping the CD-ROM would enhance using the book, but it doesn't. The content is very slim compared to the book, and the CAD drawings that are included are also of very limited use. Don't bother with the CD-ROM version of TSSLA.

I expected more from this book. I suppose this book would be great if I had never worked with DOS or Windows before. It has some good information but lacks solid details when it comes to using Windows 95 in a Windows NT domain.

This book is not about Windows 95. It is about how to get your organization to buy into converting to Windows 95. Total waste of money.

Great to solve problems through helpdesk and to trouble shoot, also is very useful as a reference to have when a user calls with computer problems or questions regarding their computers

As a student technition, I was required to read portions of this book, as part of my training. I have found it more and more useful as my time spent with computers has increased. As I encounter more complex problems, I have found that it is an invaluable asset to have on my side.

Invaluable resource for those of us who have frustrated clients trying to configure their systems. This resource has saved me numerous hours, and made me a few dollars to boot. The synopis is slightly incorrect ... the tomb comes with a CD-ROM, not three disks.

useful reference book on CDMA standard, networks, handsets and applications

This book has a decent amount of information and the authors appear to know the subject matter but unfortunately the typographical and grammatical errors make this book a chore to read. There are mistakes (spelling, missing words, grammar) on the order of one to three per _page_ through most of the book. Very frustrating. This book needs to desperately invest in an editor and try again.

The first thing I want to write is that there are about umteen thousand spelling/gramatical errors. I am not some english freak either. They just slap you in the face. Anyways... The information presented is a good intro into the CDMA world. Easy to understand.

As an engineering graduate (BSEE) who recently entered the wireless communications industry, I found this to be a complete book that's easy to read & makes a complex technology understandable. Its my CDMA "bible". I highly recommend it!

Good book , especially for those beginners in this amazing field.The book is easy understanding but there's missing the mathematical fundaments. I'ts like reading a magazine , i mean, it's a pleasure to read it 'cause you will never get bored ... it's really interesting. CDMA concepts are introduced in chapter 3 , while in chapter 2 you can see the AMPS system. You can also take a look in CDMA network design , CDMA handset characteristics , .... It's a complete book , but not too deep , that's my unique complaint. If you like acronymes , you can see at the end of the book , one of the most complete CDMA acronymes dictionary i've ever seen.

I found the checklists in Virtual HR to be valuable in assessing a traditional HR department preparing for transition. This assessment process serves as a key initial step in transforming itself from a brick and mortar business into an e-business capable of surviving today's market realities. This book is ideal for non-technical professionals who need to reinvent themselves and their companies for the internet age.

In the next millennium, information technology, process reengineering, high-speed management, networked organizations, knowledge workers and globalization must be addressed by HR departments that want to continuously increase their value while reducing costs.

In this context, J.W.Jones says " Virtual HR is typically defined as the use of computer systems, interactive electronic media, and telecommunication networks to carry out the functions of the human resources department. Virtual HR managers always strive to provide a seamless integration of all HR services with a common goal of employee satisfaction. This technology-assisted model of HR is often begun as an efficiency program, but it soon evolves into a major source of competitive advantage. In addition, while some HR departments utilize a few virtual HR applications, others strive to reengineer, automate, and integrate nearly all of their HR functions."

I highly recommend this invaluable study to all HR professionals.

See also "Work & Rewards in the Virtual Workplace/F.Crandall & M.Wallace", "Technology-Based Learning/M.Marquardt", "Virtual Teams/J.Lipnack & J.Stamps"

After having seen the glowing reviews for this book, I purchased this book hoping for something really eye-opening. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed when I saw the book since there really isn't that much in the way of content. Rather than a book with detailed examples or case studies, what is presented is something that looks more like an outline of a book

First, a bit of background. I am a professor, and I will be teaching a new class on the interaction between information technology and HRM, and I bought this book hoping that it would make a good textbook for my students. There are a number of good books on Human Resource Information Sytems, but they mostly focus on the IS aspects rather than the HR aspects, and none look at anything other than information systems.

What is lacking are good books on how information technology is directly changing HR, as well as how work is being changed by IT (and thus, indirectly leading to HR changes as well). That is what I was hoping to find from "Virtual HR."

Instead, what is presented are a bunch of generalities and other fairly obvious observations without a great deal of insight or analysis. An example of something I found particularly irritating was some reviews of internet sites related to HR. I don't know about most other readers, but I had found all these sites (and many, many more) using the popular search engines on the internet. I didn't need to purchase a book for this.

Other xxamples of generalities without insight were the sections on the "touch screen" kiosk model and computer scoring. The section on computer scoring (What! I can use a computer scanner to score tests? Amazing!) reminds me of the news several years back of former President Bush's visit to the supermarket when he was amazed by the checkout scanners -- obviously the President hadn't been shopping in a while.

Instead, I would have liked to see something of substance. For example, if you are going to do the touch screen kiosk model of employee access, just how should it be done? Obviously, it could require some substantial changes in the whole organizational culture, since this might lead to a culture where employees have much more responsibility for managing their own jobs and careers, rather than have HR play the police/nanny role.

How about a lot of detailed information on telecommuting and the virtual organization? What sort of people and jobs are best suited for this management model? How do we get line managers to change to this new way of thinking?

The one point of this book that I did like was the fact that specific software applications were not covered. Things are changing so rapidly that any such attempt would be outdated very rapidly.

In summary, what this book presents is a not particularly insightful overview that is too basic except for the most beginning level. The coverage of technology topics is perhaps suitable for people that rarely use computers or bank machines, while the coverage of HR topics is only suitable for people with very little experience in HR.

Review of Dr. John Jones' book: Virtual HR: Human Resource Management in the Information Age.

This is a well-written, future-looking book about the leading technology drivers that are revolutionizing human resource management programs in both government and private-sector organizations. The author does a good job by defining "Virtual HR," discussing key platforms and applications that are reshaping the human resource landscape. Human resource professionals, consultants and managers that want to be successful in the 21st Century should make sure they read the insightful thoughts contained in this book.

Importantly, a good amount of time is spent providing information on how to get the most out of every single employee. Examples of Internet-based training, self-development, and state-of-the-art assessment technology are provided to the reader. New human resource techniques such as "touch-screen" kiosks, web-based training and assessment, computer scoring and reporting of personal portfolios are discussed. The author provides new innovative information on other HR subjects such as: contemporary recruitment, pre-employment assessment technologies, leadership development, 21st Century management skills, continuous learning, enhancing project management skills, and competency-based assessment systems that can be implemented to improve organizational performance. In summary, "Virtual HR" by Dr. John Jones is a must read for HR managers and executives who want to improve their human resource management programs, competitiveness and long-term viability. Excellent book!

by Greg Farrell (greg_farrell@ncs.com) Director, Washington Sales National Computer Systems Arlington, VA

I was disappointed. I'm a programmer working on an HR information system and I was looking for a programmer's introduction to Human Resources. The book is more of an HR professional's introduction to information systems. It contains a "workbook" approach that I found annoying, but perhaps HR people (the folks who brought you "teambuilding") like that sort of thing. It contains case studies of companies that have implemented HR information systems to good effect. It would be a good book to get your boss to read to convince her that you can save money by putting your HR functions on computers. But it won't tell either of you how to do implement the system.

This book is edited by Robert Hsiung, and authored by more than a dozen researchers in the field of Online Counseling. Hence, I would very much recommend this book to someone interested in the topic.

The book covers the basics very well; explaining what Online Counseling is, as well as what it is not. The book also provides a well-written history on Online Counseling (which is very helpful--and even surprisingly interesting!).

Dr. Hsiung is a remarkable writer, and adds a bit of whimsy to the book with the stories he crafts, and the way he organizes the technical information.

The one weakness with the book is its age. It has not been updated since its publication in 2002. This doesn't sound like a long time (6 years), but in terms of the online counseling field, and the changes that have taken place, it is quite a long time.

Still, I highly recommend this work!

Final Note: Also look at this Clinical Training Guide for Online Counseling and Telephone Counseling. It tells the reader everything he or she needs to know to get started providing Online/Telephone Therapy: The Therapist's Clinical Guide to Online Counseling and Telephone Counseling: The Definitive Training Guide for Clinical Practice

This book covers more than just e-therapy, but every chapter is full of valuable information. Generally, the term e-therapy refers to a helping relationship between a psychotherapist and patient that takes place entirely on the Internet (they never meet face to face). Two chapters in this book - the ones by Stofle and Ainsworth - cover e-therapy in depth. Stofle discusses practical e-therapy techniques for professionals. Ainsworth outlines the consumer's view, both relating her own touching and engaging personal experience, and giving advice to professionals and consumers on how to do e-therapy safely and responsibly. Contrary to what one reviewer reported below, there is copious information in this chapter to help e-patients learn how to make sure they get adequate care and how not to get ripped off.

Other chapters are more geared toward hospital and clinic-based telepsychiatry, where distance technology is used to supplement, rather than replace, traditional in-person psychiatric care. The chapter on legal issues rehearses the current legal landscape (which most industry insiders agree is obsolete) but does not offer insight about the widespread movement to update telemedicine law.

If you are a therapist interested in doing e-therapy, you may have to add other books to your library, but I would buy this book for Stofle's and Ainsworth's essays alone. They are worth reading.

The problem with an edited book of this nature is that the quality widely varies. Some chapters of this book come highly recommended, while others shouldn't have even been included. It's too bad, too, as some of this information is valuable for both therapists and potential online clients. Some of it is readily available, however, online already.

The editor's own chapters leave a lot to be desired, with a myopic and narcissistic view of the online world and his contributions to it. While using one's own experiences to help illustrate a point can certainly be helpful, I found all too often the editor going overboard in his chapters. He spent a lot of time describing his experiences not so much with e-therapy, but with things only marginally associated with therapy. I found such chapters to be book fillers, as though there wasn't enough to actually write about this topic.

Overall, a disappointing book. Given some of the professionals involved in it, I would've expected a more balanced review of the challenges facing not only professionals, but consumers as well. Instead, I felt like I got a warmed-over, half-baked idea for a book filled with inaccuracies and irrelevant content.

This book is well written and I highly recommend it. It gives excellent examples of how to intergrate e-therapy into a practice that involves mental health. It DOES discuss the legal ramifications as well as ethical issues in e-therapy. For those afraid that technology will replace the human, please don't read. But for the rest of us, who are looking to make our jobs more efficient this is a great resource.

While this book goes to great lengths to describe the advantages of finding and working with an online therapist, it doesn't seem to bother getting into the nitty-gritty of what can go wrong with trying to have a deeply emotional relationship with anyone, especially a therapist who you can't see, when upset and talking in email.

It also doesn't seem to be concerned with consumer rights, such as what to do if your therapist is just someone pretending to be a therapist, and what to do if you want to report someone but they aren't licensed in your state or country. It doesn't explain what a consumer ought to do if the therapist doesn't act responsibly, short of quitting therapy with them. The consumer is left holding the bag when the therpist is a phoney or clearly isn't the brightest bulb in the pack.

This book's enthusiasm is premature. It is obvious that people can and do benfit from getting information online, but developing relationships with therapists exclsuively online and in email is a bad idea if you haven't met them and can't be sure they are who they say they are, or can't be sure they are trained in what they say they know.

Most of these online therapists don't put a limit on the kinds of problems they will address - they will take your money regardless of their training. How many of them have had training in e-therapy? E-therapy doesn't even exist as a graduate course in psychology training schiool - so how well trained can these therapists be?

Real therapist usually have a few areas of specialty - not everything from schizophrenia to relationship breakup, or pediatrics to gerontology. Many of the larger websites discussed in this book no longer exist - they've gone bankrupt because consumers aren't buying these so-called "services".

These authors are not thinking things through from the perspective of what dangers might be involved for consumers. I'd advise readers to stay away from such one-sided books.

What a great read. I found it very helpful to have a great set of references that are organized by topic. This book would be an ideal one for the Kindle--especially if it could be continually updated (the references stop to the year of publication). If you are eager to expand your coaching horizons, I think this is an excellent resource. Also, chapter six is a fabulous model for framing coaching issues. So far, one of my favorite books!

Frederic M. Hudson wrote this exhaustive reference manual and survey of the field of coaching primarily for coaches and aspiring coaches. He focuses on teaching the best practices in coaching and conveying knowledge, extensive resources, thorough book lists and professional programs. The real message underneath all this data is that a good coach is the ultimate human resource. If you're a coach, you'll benefit from the book's thoroughness. If you're unfamiliar with the field, it's a textbook for understanding many facets of professional coaching and its impact on people and organizations. We recommend Hudson's book particularly to coaches, and also to those who want to learn more about coaching, human resource managers, business libraries, and executives who are recruiting coaches or team leaders. Just forget the idea that all you need to know you learned in kindergarten; to thrive, you need to keep learning continuously. Just ask a coach.

The author has been working with adult developement and coaching since earning his PhD in the 60's. Hudson shows us how the field of coaching relies on the work from a variety of disciplines. He provides many sources from these disciplines to help aid coaches when working with specific groups or specific problems. For anyone building a strong foundation in coaching, this is a great reference book to have handy on your shelf. It's especially useful for newly-trained coaches who might need a deeper understanding of their profession or a good way to avoid reinventing the wheel.

I have read several books about coaching and generally enjoy them alot. This book however was a big disappointment. Really it only contains list after list of suggested reading. That is all it is. I would really estimate that no less than 75% of the book is made up of "Basic library suggestions". Terrible.

As a Life Skills Coach, based in Melbourne Australia, I am always on the search for coaching texts that will enhance my professional skills and coaching knowledge. 'The Handbook of Coaching' is with out a doubt I believe one of the most valuable coaching resource materials I have discovered. Hudson has covered a great deal of material, yet the insights into the various areas of coaching, methodologies and foundations of coaching, are supported by an excellent bibliography section, relevant to the end of each chapter.

The author's writing style is clear and only uses jargon relative to the context, ensuring a novice to the coaching practice feels immediately able to grasp key concepts. This is the value that managers, HR personnel and coaches alike will gain from the book...ease of understanding and practical.

It is a how to book and refernce guide that sets out to (and I daresay achieves)to establish a relationship with its reader; as a handbook of this nature should.

The life transition model that Hudson introduces, acknowledges the validity of adult hood problems, as being more than mere extensions of our child hood challenges. It acknowledges also the process of transition versus the static nature of a changing event.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.