Professions Books

The introduction sums up very nicely this book's raison d'etre.

Unfortunately, most law schools are the rule - they are "traditional" in attitude, and in structure. (Most books about law school thus take the same approach.) Law schools generally have made little effort to cater to the unique needs of the significant nontraditional segment of their student body. Other law school books focus solely on largely irrelevant factors such as rankings and employment in "prestigious" law firms. In short, while a large fraction of law students today would be considered nontraditional, there is little accurate, relevant material to help non-traditional students navigate the admissions process and ultimately succeed in law school. And that's where this guide steps in.

Thish book is the collective wisdom and experience of thousands of law students and applicants....

And this is my favorite part:

For many applicants, there is no worthwhile reason why they chose law. If you're one of these people and you do not have a good reason to choose law, then don't choose it. Take time off, figure out what you want to do with your life. Law is too involved, too expensive, and too tedious to jump into without a good reason. Become a teacher. Try banking. Travel for a while. But until you have a good reason to study law, forget it. There is absolutely no excuse to dump what will probably amount to a hundred thousand dollars into three years of your life without thinking it through and coming up with something more adequate than "what else can I do with a history degree.?"

This is why I like this book. There is no candy-coating because so many people are talking honestly and frankly about law school realities.

The first half of this nearly 300 page manual is devoted to "Getting In," the logistical and emotional challenges facing those who choose to go back to school after a period of time in the real world. This is very valuable information discussed honestly and peppered with dozens upon dozens of great comments from other non-trad law students like studying for the LSATs, how to figure out the best school for you, what do rankings really mean, scholarships, financial aid and more.

The next hundred pages is devoted to all the trials and tribulations of the First Year, followed by the Second Year and Beyond covering everything from housing to dating to wanting to quit, moot court, law review, managing the confusion, failing exams, on campus interviews to whether or not to get a rolling book bag and looking 'uncool' but saving your back.

It really is an incredible read filled with valuable information to make you feel less isolated through the experience because it isn't one person's voice...it's hundreds in a very well calculated presentation. And in this regard, the book is priceless. And I would highly recommend it to traditional law students, too.

I have to say, when I came to the end of the book it left me wanting to know about the bar exam, what to do between taking the bar exam and finding out if I've passed, experiences as an older student looking for a job and beyond. Granted, it is a book for students....but I wanted the next installment right then and there.

So, if you are considering law school, non-traditional and traditional applicant alike, this is a must read because it is so well written and in voices you know ring true.

Susan Cartier Liebel, Esq.

"You were born an original; don't die a copy. " John Mason

Build A Solo Practice, LLC
Newly Minted or Well Seasoned,
Teaching You How to Create and Grow Your Legal Practice
http://www.buildasolopractice.com

This is a very thorough, conversational look at all things law school, particularly for those going in as a second career, already married with kids, or otherwise with some life experience under their belt. It has a comprehensive look at applying and getting into law school as well as how to succeed once you're in there, that is useful for everyone headed in that direction.

Using a format that resembles FAQs, the book is an easy read no matter which chapter you open up to. What I appreciated about this book compared to some other know-it-all law school guides was its willingness to let the reader hear varying viewpoints on topics ranging from how to pick a school, how to maintain your sanity (and humanity), to how to steer towards a job you'll like. The book doesn't approach the subject as if you will be screwed if you don't take its advice; it's more a gathering of intelligent, thoughtful comments from a large number of people who have presumably made it through to the other side of law school.

I highly recommend adding this book to your library of pre-law school reads. You'll probably find, as I did in my first year of law school, that when I have a question about something (outlining, case briefing, interviews, grades) I pick this one up first to see what it has to say on the subject. It typically has the best, most honest and straightforward advice of all in the genre.

I am out of law school now, but I wish I had this resource before applying. Though it's of particular interest for those who are older, changing careers, have children, etc, there's something of use for everyone here.

The book has some good advice, and lots of real anecdotes from the [...]. This book will help you select a school, apply, and handle it all once you get there! Highly recommend.

This is the best pre-law book out there! Though it is geared for non-traditional students, much of the advice applies to anyone considering law school. The author takes the reader from thinking about law school through the application and admissions process to beyond 1L. The author goes in-depth about issues only briefly mentioned in other pre-law books: avoiding misery, choosing a major, having skeletons in your closet, when to apply, application addendums, part-time vs. full-time, the truth about rankings, where to apply to law school, getting help during the admissions process, dealing with rejection and waitlists, the competitive nature of law school, the workload, the grading curve, exams, class participation, outlining, study groups, law review, handling the stress, having thoughts of quitting, and the likelihood of transferring.

Throughout the book, the author uses quotes from former/current law students to back up his advice.

Going back to law school at the age of 35 can be daunting, more so if all of the law school advice books out there are geared for the average 22 year old. Fortunately, I found this book just at the point where I was starting to feel isolated as a later-in-life law student.

This book is literally brimming with sensible advice from non-trads like me, from how to study for the LSAT to how to get accepted at the school of your choice, to how to hold down a job, maneuver through study groups, and balance your family life without losing your mind. From people who have been there, its nice to know I'm not alone and am in good company.

The section that hit home the most for me is on "Handling the Stress." According to Cooper (as well as other non-trads I've come across in class), "it all boils down to maintaining balance and perspective (a.k.a.: time management.). 1L is important, but not more important than your health, your family, and your general well-being. Keep it in perspective - it's just law school." Definitely food for thought when you start to feel overwhelmed in the face of balancing your family life, a job, and law school all at the same time.

Simple, straithforward and to the point (hitting the mark). Good advice that does not just sound good, but is being presented in a very practical hands-on way. Very well written, very practical to implement (take your own step-by-step actions). A definite good buy and destined to become a classic.

As someone who coaches independent professionals on how to find new clients, I especially like the advice in this book on targeting. If you don't have a target you spread yourself too thin. There is much to be gained from this book. -- Henry DeVries, founder, New Client Marketing Institute

It's difficult to market a service - you're marketing the invisible. It's even more difficult to find a services-specific book on marketing. Anthony Putman cuts right to the bone with his ideas, approach and presentation. This is the best marketing book I have ever read. And, I have bought dozens to give to my friends in the service industries.

Of all the books I've read on "Marketing Your Services" this has to be the best. The reason is that Putman gives the most comprehensive, in-depth and holistic view of marketing I've ever seen in print. He looks at marketing your services not as a chore you need to get through but as a fun and challenging activity to improve the success of your business. Everything is covered here, from finding your niche to taking care of clients. The style is fun and informal and includes many stories and real life examples. This is a "must have" book if you want to attract new clients.

I read lots of business start-up books since I help people start successful businesses for a living. Finding a book written by someone who has something new to say is rare. This is a book which is not just a recycle of someone else's work.

Most books are written for product-based businesses so the 4 p's of marketing are applicable, but service businesses are really different. You can't taste, touch, or otherwise inspect a service before you buy.

Putman's chapter on pricing justifies the price of this book by itself. The book is also helpful in dealing with price objections, a critical part of any business. While it's pricing component is not new, the method provides a great baseline for your business.

I particularly liked the method by which Putman helps entrepreneurs creates benefit statements. People don't buy based on a feature list.

Levy's book is an overwhelmingly good source of information on the intent of the framers of the Constitution and on the idea that original intent is not something we should rely on. Levy uses exhaustive examples on many topics ranging from jurisprudence, the Bill of Rights and the 1st, 4th, 5th and 9th Amendments. I do have a few critiques on the book though.

1- This book appears to be more a collection of essays. Many of the chapters repeat what was previously and exhaustively discussed in other chapters as if the others chapters did not exist.
2- Levy does not delve into the issue of why the founding fathers feared establishments in regards to religion. England used the Anglican church to get a tighter grip on the colonies. Many Anglican parsonage positions were given as rewards (or punishments) to members of the English government. Taxes went to pay for salaries of these appointees while they did no real work. Many were never seen in the church at all. Also, England used the church to excise taxes from the colonies. None of this was discussed in the section of the establishment clause.
3- Many of the terms are discussed before they are defined. This causes confusion while reading. One such term is ex post facto laws. This is discussed at length early on, but not defined until the 5th or 6th chapter. For someone with little legal background, this is troublesome.

Despite these critiques, this was a superb addition to my library. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the ideas of the founders and what they were thinking while they were at the Constitutional Convention.

Leonard Levy's book titled ORIGINAL INTENT AND THE FRAMERS'CONSTITUTION is a well written account of U.S. Constitutional History and a solid refutation that somehow the Framers had an original intent which in fact they did not have. As one reviewer commented modern critics have more confidence of the Framers original intent than the original Framers ever thought of when the Constitution was debated and written. Another reviewer had a good point when he posed a question of whose original intent. For those who claim that the U.S. Constitution was written and ratified in a historical vaccum, Levy's book disproves such bad thinking and bad history.

Levy's early comments dealt with the U.S. Constitution and U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy. Contrary to popular notions of an imperial presidency whereby the President is supposedly the sole arbitrator of foreign policy, Levy's historical probe demolishes this notion. Levy was clear that the Framers wanted members of Congress, especially the U.S. Senate, to handle diplomacy. Levy cited James Wilson of Pennsylvania whose comments on the Senate's dominant role regarding U.S. diplomacy. Among other sources for Levy's view, he cited THE FEDERALIST PAPERS number 69 regarding treaties and foreign policy. Article Six of the U.S. Constitution makes the U.S. Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land including honoring treaties. This inclusion in Article Six was in part a response to the Treaty of Paris, 1783 whereby the U.S. diplomats agreed to compensate the British Loyalists for wealth and property confiscated from them during the American Revolutionary War. Some state authorities tried to renege on paying these claims in violation of the Treaty. This may have been a smart move to keep the British from an excuse not to honor U.S. political independence.

Levy disproved the notion that somehow modern U.S. Supreme Court Justices have been activists (whatever that term means) while the Supreme Court Justices during early National U.S. History were not. In fact, Levy is clear that, from the historical record, early National History U.S. Supreme Court Justices were very active. Levy cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions as early as 1791 whereby the U.S. Suprmeme Court issued a series of decisions that demonstrated a very active Court. There were cases in 1791,1797, and 1797 that showed the U.S. Supreme Court was as active if not more so than the modern Supreme Court.

Levy not only dealt effectively with an early "activist" U.S. Supreme Court, he has good sections on Judicial Review. Many Americans thought that an unconstitutional law was null and void. However, the question was who was going to say so. The U.S. Supreme Court Justices said so in a badly written opinion in the case titled MARBURY VS MADISON (1803). While this was a badly written opinion, Chief Justice John Marshall (1755-1835) and his associate justices managed to set an effective legal precedent with a poorly reasoned deicison. The early U.S. Supreme Court made other important decisions involving civil cases regarding land disputes and the states. These cases showed a very active Supreme Court.

Those who argue that the U.S. Supreme Court did not have a good legal case for judicial review display a lack of knowledge of history. Levy mentioned very old historical documents limiting the power of kings and executive authority while protecting rights. Levy mentioned Magna Carta (1215), the English Petition of Right (1628), The Habeas Corpus Act (1679), The English Bill of Rights (1689), and the Act of Toleration (1689)as examples of historical documents that challenged the legal status quo while placing limits on what may be called unbridled excutive authority. Levy could have mentioned Henry II (1154-1189) who is known as the Father of the Common Law and started the grand jury system. Levy could have mentioned the layers of courts in Medieval England whose decisions along with the royal courts developed a body of law. Mention could have also been made the Catholic Canon Law with its concern for due process and start of a trial jury during the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). Levy also made a good case that early National state courts and jurists were very familiar with Judicial Review. These sources are clear that a concept of Judicial Review is old, tried, and true.

Not only does Levy deal with ratification of the U.S. Constitution and constitutional history, he also had good commentary on civil liberties. Levy was surprised that during early ratification arguments re the U.S. Constitution, little mention was made of civil liberties and due process. Such issues got attention only when the Anti-Federalists, those who opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution, called attention to the lack of a Bill of Rights. Yet some of the state constitutions did mention civil liberties. Levy credited those who wrote the Constitution for Pennsylvania who substituted the words "shall not" for the "namby pamby" "ought not" regarding what state authorities shall not do in violation of individual rights. What corrected abuses re unreasonable searches and seizures was the use of civil law suits when legislative efforts failed.

The last two sections of the book undermine the notion that the Framers themselves were obsessed with Origianl Intent. The facts are that the Constituion Convention in 1787 was often poorly attended, and James Madison's NOTES are the only incomplete record of the debates. Readers should note that a few others made a few notes. Whatever the debates were, Levy was clear that we have at most one-fifth of the complete record if that much. Those who rely on Madison's NOTES should be careful. The fact is that James Madison did not want his NOTES published until much later as he did not want his NOTES to be taken as Original Intent. In other words, the Framers thought of the U.S. Consstituion as a guide rather than a legal document "etched in stone."

Thsi reviewer has little disagreement with Levy's book. As mentioned above, Levy could have mentioned Henry II's legal reforms in Medieval England and the legal reasoning among the Medieval Catholic Canon Law jurists. Levy's book is scholarly without being pedantic. Levy had no political ax to grind, and his book is important for anyone who has a serious interest in Constitutional Law and the Rule of Law as opposed to arbitrary will.

`Original Intent and the Framer's Constitution' is a collection of essays shoddily fitted together to make what are essentially two books. The first, discusses the Framer's (specifically, the members of the Constitutional Convention and the State Ratifying Conventions) ideas about various constitutional issues, including the President's powers, the Institute of Judicial Review, and the Bill of Rights. The second book is an attack on Originalist Jurisprudence, and particularly of the right-wing Originalists like Robert Bork and Edward Meese.

The essays about the original intent of the Framers are frankly quite dull. I don't think that's Levy's fault. What he does is collect basically every recorded reference about every issue he raises. That means we get endless citations from Madison, Mason, Hamilton, Jefferson, and scores of lesser known luminaries. The approach, mostly devoid of a narrative, does not make for lively reading.

Most impressive for me was the insight into the inner working of the Constitutional Convention. It is striking how much attention the Framers devoted to some issues (such as the President's powers on foreign relations) and how little attention was spent on some other parts (such as the clause forbidding the various states from interfering with Contracts). When reading about the Convention, one is again amazed how a handful of men - 39 finally signed the Constitution - created one of the most enduring, workable schemes for a government. Today, the equivalents of Madison and Hamilton would have had dozens of assistants and specialists about any issue under the sun - but in 1787, they wrote the entire basic law of the United States by themselves.

The story of how The United States got a Bill of Right is also interesting. A Bill of Right was left out of the constitution for no particularly good reason. Its absence proved the best argument against the constitution from the anti-Federalists. But there was a twist - the anti-Federalists didn't really want a Bill of Rights. Their real beef was with the Constitution's power over states, not over people. So when Madison actually brought forth a Bill of Rights, the Anti-Federalists did a volte-face and opposed it, realizing that its passage spelled the end of their states' rights platform.

Levy's other book is a strong attack on the new, Conservative Originalist movement. Although Levy can be harsh with Liberals - he accuses Justice William Brennan, the Liberal Icon, of "arrogance beyond belief" (p. 372) - his real targets are Conservative Originalists, particularly Robert Bork. Originalists claim that the Constitution has one, fixed meaning, given to it at the time of ratification, and that judges have to decipher what that intention was. Levy sees them as hypocrites, who promote sectarian agenda in the guise of impartial, Originalist rhetoric.

Levy makes some strong attacks about Originalism: First, he notes that Originalist Judges do a really bad job at it. What he calls "law-office" history is merely a collection of quotes, often taken out of context, to support one's position. As West Virginia's Chief Justice noted, people who believe in "historical scholarship as applied to the Constitution also probably believe in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny" (quoted on p. 320).

Furthermore, it's not clear whose opinion we should take into account. The Framers in the Philadelphia convention? The various ratifying conventions of the original 13 states? There are numerous problems with accepting each of these as authorities - for start, they rarely if ever had one mind on any question. Additionally, the documentation of the debates and discussions are very incomplete, so a full appraisal of the participants' views is impossible. Beyond that, the very act of searching for answers to specific questions in the historical record politicizes the Historian's quest. The result would make real history into "Law Office" history - marshalling evidence to support one's preexisting conclusion. This happened to first class historians while making their brief for "Brown vs. Board of Education". The idea that the judicial process is able to discover historical truths is doubtful.

Furthermore, it seems that at least some of the Framers of the Constitution wanted future generations to give their own text new meanings. Indeed, if one accepts Judicial Review of Federal legislation (as the Framers did not consistently do), then reading new meanings into such imprecise terms as "due process" and "cruel and unusual" is practically called for.

Finally, what we know about the Framer's intent envisions a United States radically different from modern day America. The changes cut across the Conservative/Liberal divide. The Framer's United States, 230 years out of date, imagines a completely different world, one that neither Liberals nor Conservatives could live with.

But Levy's attack is incomplete. First, Levy ignores attempts to read the constitution based on "Original Meaning" rather then "Original Intent" - that is, the meaning the constitution would have to a reasonable 18th century American Citizen. There are problems with this approach, but Levy hardly mentions it. Furthermore, Levy's description of the failures of Originalism in practice does not mean that it must fail in theory. To prove that all proponents of Originalism fail does not necessarily mean that Originalism as a doctrine must fail, at least for some cases.

Worse of all, Levy doesn't offer an alternative to Originalism. Do we really have to have completely unconstrained Justices? Are there no bounds to possible interpretations of the US Constitution? Levy hints that there may be, but fails to offer a positive program. I think that various approaches, including Ronald Dworkin's Rights based jurisprudence, Ely's ideas about securing democratic rights, and Israeli Supreme Court Justice Aaron Barack's Contextualism offer alternatives to Originalism, which may be more effective at constraining judges. As someone who leans towards Pragmatism, I think it may also effectively (if imperfectly) constrain judges. Regardless of what path one may chose, it is necessary to counter Originalism with more then nihilism.

There are a few books on strict interpretationlist theory about the Constitution by authors with historical credibility but Levy is a constitutional scholar so this is a respectable opinion.

This book was an exciting find. "A jurisprudence of original intent" is finally discussed here in an historically and compelling way. The author draws conclusions that are pragmatic and understandable. There were so many individuals who contributed to the authorship of the Constitution that there are as many different intents as there were contributing authors.

I think one unequivocal, absolute about our brilliant founding fathers is that they believed in freedom of speech and imagination free from oppression. This book demonstrates that there are two sides to this never-ending debate on jurisprudence boundaries. If you have read books and articles that seem compelling regarding "strict interpretation" then treat yourself to this book. The author digs into to the document to find answers on intent. His essays provide a well rounded tour of prevailing opinions during the historical infancy of the U.S. The book can help any one interested in understanding the issues of the debate make an educated decision based on both sides of the issue.

It has always seemed bizarre to me how the best arguments against original intent are made by...historians! This book does many things, the least of which is to offer a very penetrating argument againt original intent. It is a book, first and foremost, exploring the history of American contitutionalism. Was judicial review intended? How do we make sense of the limilts (if there are any) of the contract clause? And what in the world does the ninth amendment actually mean??

Levy has a true historians eye and quite simply, is great at what he does. In this collection of loosely connected essays exploring the histories of these and other problems in our constitution's history, he points out what judges should've known all along; there are as many intents as their were framers, ratifiers, and Supreme Court Justices. What's more, much of the 'history of intent' is simply a jumbled mess; ambiguuos, imcomplete, and imprecise.

The best essays of course are those focusing on whether original intent is a.) what was intended by the founders (isn't that ironic?) and b.) the doctrine we should actually be using. One thing I've learned in my study of the Constitution is that judges, as smart as they are, are simply bad historians. From Dred Scott to Bowers v. Hardwick, judges have botched history - whether deliberately as in Scott, or not, as in Bowers. One Justice Levy is particularly hard on is (one of my judicial heroes) Hugo Black - and for good reason! Black's history is narrow, reflects an overconfidence in the founders that they never even had of themeselves, and simply (particurly with the fourteenth amendmen) gets a lot of it wrong. He is hard on Robert Bork for just this reason.

In summary this is a great book. Levy doesn't take too many sides here, but is probably something akin to a Jeffersonian Democrat. He is rigorous, mindful of the burden of his task as historian, and illuminating. For another great argument by a historian on the difficulties of original intent, read Rakove's "Original Meanings". For an argument in favor of OI, the standard is Bork's "Tempting of America". Enjoy!

If you are wondering why the Black woman in your section of your company doesn't seem to want to socialize with you or seems guarded around her White co-workers or why the White women in your organization get all riled up about sexism but are silent when it comes to racism this is the book for you. I recommend this book along with Divided Sisters for those who really want Black and White women to unite in the workplace. These two tomes will give you more than a clue. They'll give you guidelines as how to build a truly "diverse" workplace where everyone is welcomed AS THEY ARE and not as stereotypes others want them to play out. If you are a Black woman, you'll understand why you see your work status merely as a "job" and not as a career and why you feel so much like an outsider looking in at your organization.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that I wanted more in-depth analysis of how the White female managers confronted the idea of Black women as equals (and not just on the job), something I've experienced that White women have a difficult time doing in the workplace.

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the career paths of women in the corporate world. That would include spouses of, grown children of, and parents of women. It is based upon Harvard research including in-depth case studies of both white and black women from childhood to the present day, career journeys one will find fascinating. When the reader returns to his/her workplace after completing this book, diversity will take on a more significant meaning. This book is also a useful tool in college career development classes. Rather than a dull read, it keeps the reader coming back for more.

GOOD BOOK. BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD AN INTERRACIAL FRIENDSHIP WITH A WHITE AMERICAN WOMAN. MY FRIENDS WERE EITHER EUROPEAN, ASIAN, AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN, SOUTH AMERICAN, OR BLACK. IM NOT EVEN INTERESTED IN CLOSING THE GAP WE'VE HAD BETWEEN EACH OTHER SINCE SLAVERY. AND EVEN IF WHITE WOMEN AND BLACK WOMEN ARE FRIENDS IN CORPORATE AMERICA, BLACK WOMEN STILL GET PAID LESS. ITS UNFAIR AND I DONT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH SOMEONE WHO THINKS THE WORD WOMAN, FEMININE, OR LADY MEANS WHITE.

If you are wondering why the Black woman in your section of your company doesn't seem to want to socialize with you or seems guarded around her White co-workers or why the White women in your organization get all riled up about sexism but are silent when it comes to racism this is the book for you. I recommend this book along with Divided Sisters for those who really want Black and White women to unite in the workplace. These two tomes will give you more than a clue. They'll give you guidelines as how to build a truly "diverse" workplace where everyone is welcomed AS THEY ARE and not as stereotypes others want them to play out. If you are a Black woman, you'll understand why you see your work status merely as a "job" and not as a career and why you feel so much like an outsider looking in at your organization.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that I wanted more in-depth analysis of how the White female managers confronted the idea of Black women as equals (and not just on the job), something I've experienced that White women have a difficult time doing in the workplace.

Bell and Nkomo dive straight to the heart of the matter. They base their findings on comprehensive personal interviews of African-American and white women working as managers or executives. Ultimately, the authors hit the reader over the head with the obvious: People from strikingly different backgrounds bring profound personal differences to the workplace. Too often, organizations stupidly attempt homogenizing everyone into minor variations on the existing (typically---older, white, and male) leadership theme. Unusually (Bell and Nkomo cited no such cases), organizations may wisely embrace the differences so that the organization and its people benefit from a more perceptive and inclusive world view.

Folks who need not spend their working hours "fitting in" contribute (A) more (B) less to the organization. Leaders who accept their people for who and what they are get (A) more (B) less from their subordinates. Guess where the authors suggest the readers take their outfits.

This is a book written with courage and conviction. It addresses the potential for harm in the supervisory experience in a way that raises awareness of this dynamic, and names the experience and resultant trauma for those who have been mistreated in these important and powerful relationships. Our human desire to possess certainty, which is illusion at best, is part of what fuels these abuses of power. This book brings such issues to light, using both personal story and professional, theoretical understanding. It will be helpful to anyone in any role of the supervisory relationship.

In the model of corporate whistle blowing, Richard Raubolt tells his story of psychoanalytic training; exposing abuses of power, authority, status and control. In Power Games, he brings together respected analysts who weave a pattern of similar training experiences told with personal angst along with professional theory. Together, they identify the areas of training abuse and propose an alternative method of training that incorporates democratic principles of empathy, and respect for subjective experiences. This is a must read for individuals, like me, who are outside of the professional community of clinical psychotherapy. With an "insider's" help, the shroud is removed and we begin to understand the inner workings of this mental health profession. Collectively we should support the evolution of training practices that will inevitably develop therapists with greater self-understanding, knowledge and a voice of their own.

Richard Raubolt has authored a unique book. The perspectives of the prominent contributors to the book regarding the potential for abuse in psychotherapeutic training and supervision are diverse and eye-opening. The pitfalls of ego and authoritarian teaching on the part of trainers can be devastating and demeaning to potentially talented students of psychotherapy. Dr. Raubolt's courage in his documentation of his own toxic experience in clinical supervision is to be commended. He demonstrates in a very personal and powerful way, the potential for the misuse of power in the very institutions that are mandated to educate and support clinical excellence. This book is well written, informative and boldly honest. It is a "must read" for anyone that is involved in training; educators and students alike.

This is an original,brave book, which does what so many mental health books fail to do: it is unflinchingly honest and personal. Most books on psychotherapy discuss the dynamics of the patient or patients in intricate detail in order to support the author's or authors' version of "Truth"or at least what has been defined as Truth by instructors, supervisors and training analysts. The person of the therapist is homogenized and relegated to a "Stepford" professional existence in far too many training programs. As a result, both psychoanalysis and good writing are dying.
Well, this is not the case in this refreshing and frank discussion of training. While a number of theories are presented that are well articulated they follow rather than diminish the deeply personal experiences of those seeking advanced training and supervision. Complex, ornate and rarified theoretical nuances are not allowed to interfere with descriptions of effective, respectful and democratic training.
Senior supervisors, instructors and training analysts should be among the first to read this book. Candidates may also do well to study the experiences of other professionals before selecting a program of training. Honesty and learning go together best when done hand in hand for both student and teacher. -Dr. Becki J. Telford

In paper after varied, interesting paper, this book stitches together a picture of the painful underbelly of life in psychoanalytic institutes. Even where the best and brightest gather at the pinnacle of mental health thought and treatment, power corrupts as deftly and unconsciously as it does anywhere else in the human species.
For all our scholarship and dedication and aspirations to facilitate healing insight in our patients, it turns out that we have trouble walking our talk with each other. And worse yet, our candiates develop in our shadows.
As Raubolt demonstrates in this relevant and riveting collection of psychoanalytic experience, at least we have the wherewithal to turn an
analytic eye to our own fragility and our possibilities for reform and redepmtion. Both 'cult' and 'culture,' after all, derive from 'cultivation' ---of our own human soil, in this case. Luckily, we keep on tilling, often with humor, courage, resolve. This book speaks deeply to the task before us.

Nancy Spohn, LCSW, May 15, 2007

I have twenty years of investigation experience in both law enforcement and the private sector. Never have I seen such a well written and insightful book on the art of investigative interviewing. Drawing on sound psychological theory and good old fashion practical nous; this book fully explains and provides an investigator with a solid foundation to work with, but the flexibility to move in any type of interview or interrogation setting. Sadly, Australian courts and those in the UK would render any confessions (criminal prosecutions) using this technique inadmissible, due to what some critics say is psychological thuggery. However, the technique has seen an increasing use in the private sector with excellent results, especially in the investigation of insurance fraud. Much like the Reid Technique, but more open and flowing - learn this excellent interviewing system and benefit from reading this investigative masterpiece.

I went to the Wicklander seminar recently. The book was just as great as the class, I'm very fortunate to have been able to go and receive the book. Thanks!

This is an excellent referecne book for anyone involved in both private and public sector interviews.

I found this book to be very informative. A big part of my job is interview and interrogation. This book was able to put into context what I have already been doing for a number of years. I found that I was referencing the book in my head as I watched the people I was speaking with and knew by their actions how truthful or untruthful they were being. If this is the type of work you do the book is a very good read.

As a practitioner in the field of investigations, it has been my experience that there are two excellent choices for investigators when deciding on what type of style they will employ. W-Z (Wicklander Zulawski) and Reid. I "grew up" in the W-Z system and employed it with great success. I found it to be flexible and able to approach a wide variety of scenarios thanks to the variety of interview styles it employs. Unfortunately, I also noticed that the variety of interview styles it employs generates a steep learning curve, and an expert at one style may wander into an interview that needs to turn an unfamiliar direction and find themselves drowning as they try to keep up with the change in style. I recently attended the Reid seminar and joined their association immediately. Reid and W-Z differ in a distinct area. Reid interviews and interrogations are always the same, only the *theme* changes, whereas the entire interview or interrogation changes under W-Z. Under both systems, a mistake can be fatal, but the consistency of the Reid technique introduces fewer areas to make mistakes in, and allows quick mastery of the styles needed to successfully interview. Both systems provide good (but not perfect) methods of detecting dishonesty and between the two systems, W-Z is slightly more flexible. That said, if you want to become very good, very fast, Reid is a better choice. Practical Aspects of Interview and Interrogation is a good book, and serves as a great reference for those who have already attended a W-Z seminar. If you are looking to get into investigations, are newly hired into an investigations position or just want to know more about what to expect if you're ever investigated, this book is not a good choice for you. You should be familiar with phases of an investigation, interview and know the difference between an interview and an interrogation before you pick up this book or you could be easily confused. That said, if you are familiar with investigations, this is a good resource to have on hand for both review and pre-interview or interrogation preparation. 4/5 stars because Reid's Investigator Anthology provides easier to read and more concrete, repeatable insight and experience.

I could not put this book down. If you are interested in learning how the system can help, or hinder, this is the book to read.

This book kept me up every night for the past week until I finished it. A fascinating and thoughtful look at the juvenile dependency and delinquency systems, the authors get it right. Told mostly through vignettes of families representative of typical child welfare families, the authors deftly illustrated the complexities of "the system," fairly documenting the strengths and failures. Considering that child welfare is what I've been doing for 5 1/2 years, I wasn't bored with the book or angered at any misrepresentations. Rather, I was pleased to see how well-researched and unbiased the piece was. Further, it reminds me that the complexities are what have kept me in the field so far.

The book is a bit dated -- methamphetamines have overtaken crack cocaine as a drug of choice for most child welfare families, and timelines for reunfiication have shrunk. Further, Monterey County (where I work), at least, has greatly improved how it does sexual abuse forensic interviews. I got a bit bogged down in the delinquency section when it became less vignette-based and more pedanctic, finding that the vignettes were better conveyors of information. Overall, though, this was an outstanding book and one which I will give to my boyfriend and parents to read. Anyone interested in child welfare should read this book for an understanding of a system that will never and cannot be black or white.

This is a textbook of the juvenile dependency system that reads like a page-turner novel. I was unable to put it down for 2 days. The authors' treatment of their material is even-handed and true-to-life. I have worked for the past 4 years as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem for these children in my local juvenile court and the cases featured in the book closely mirror the actual cases I've seen over and over again in the courts. The book raises problems in the system to which there are no easy answers, and the authors don't attempt to offer any simplistic solutions: What does the system do with severely emotionally disturbed kids who blow through one placement after another? How do you know when to give up on parents and terminate parental rights? Do you wait until the child's crucial childhood years are mostly over, waiting for the parents to get their act together? How do we place children in good homes when there is such a shortage of foster and adoptive families? I urge anyone interested to get involved with the system as a volunteer. There are over 700 advocate programs around the country and the minimum time commitment is only 12 hours a month.

I have been in the field for over 20 years and this is the most accurate account of the Juvenile Justice system. The stories are real and moving. I could not put this book down. I did not agree with everything in the book, however, if you want to know the real story then this is a must read.

I randomly came across this book in the library while looking up something else. I thumbed through it a bit and then ended up checking it out and taking it home, where I have proceeded to read it almost constantly over the last couple of days (with occasional breaks for comparatively less compelling things like eating, sleep, class, and hanging out with friends). I'm always a bookworm and am used to becoming absorbed in what I read. However, this is the first time in quite awhile that I've been so caught up in a book, particularly a non-fiction book.

I like this book so much because the authors worked hard at giving a thorough and unbiased look at the juvenile justice system and the kids stuck in that system. Of course, remaining completely unbiased is impossible; however, they tried to give a variety of points of view. They also tried to keep from vilifying any one group (parents, children, social workers, judges, police, the community, and so on), while still indicating the complexity of the problem. Case-studies were carefully chosen not to be sensational, but rather to exemplify the typical issues dealt with by kids in the justice system. Finally, they interspersed the information from the case studies with general information about the law, the way such cases are usually handled, and so on, then applied this new information that they had given back to the case study. This made it possible to learn a great deal about the system in general, while keeping it interesting because you could see the immediate application to one particular kid that you had learned about. This added to the book's general readability. All in all, this book is an excellent, well-written book that has the possibility of moving us a long way towards an understanding of these complex issues.

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

I got more information out of Rich's book than any of the criminal justice texts I've read over the years. Having worked for companies with good loss prevention programs as well as companies with poor programs I can relate to the "Policy B" stores talked about in the book.

Rich- Any tips for dealing with companies that pay lip service to LP but balk at using anything other than 1950's technology that you can include in the next revision?

Those are the tenets of the corporation I work for, and this book is a perfect addition to a library for anyone who wants those results.

Rich has communicated effectively the steps and tools necessary to reduce loss in your retail location and NOT GET SUED.

Many self help books can be dry reading. Not this one. Every point made is followed up by a story or anecdote that assists the reader in visualizing the problem and how solutions can be applied.

Whether you are a loss prevention professional, a private investigator, or a store owner/operator this is a must read if you want to reduce your losses.

This book really captures the issues in the legal profession and gives useful advice on how to deal with it constructively.

Initially I thought this book might be too touchy feely for lawyers - like many other books on this topic. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

I think the author's experience in NY law firms makes him well qualified to address this topic. I found it had helpful questions and that doing the exercises was very revealing. Net net, it helped to identify the sources of stress and makes it very clear that if the lawyer is honest about his/her values, what changes need to be made.

Following the suggestions in this book it makes it almost impossible for a lawyer to claim that there is nothing that can be done to improve his/her situation.

Even though this book was published in 1997, it is still very timely. After all, the type of stress that lawyers endure hasn't changed and neither have the techniques used to overcome it. I recently re-read it and gave it to a friend (another lawyer) to read- both of us were very glad that we did. It's the kind of book you read every time life seems overwhelming and too complex. The book simplifies things. It helps you understand precisely why you are stressed out and what you can do about it. It is easy to read, very practical and at the same time very profound.

Do you wonder if you are the only person crazy enough to think that your law practice is destructive to your spirit? Take heart, the book tells you that you are in good company. You must find a way to change your reaction to the stress, your path to sanity. This book offers a veriety of starting points

This third edition is destined to be the classic authority on stress management for lawyers. It's not one of those touchy-feely books with no substance. It is very substantive and perceptive, as well as succinct and pragmatic. The author obviously understands lawyers and has written a very readable, logical and well-documented guidebook. In some sections, the author even manages to be inspirational and humorous.

The book covers everything you would want to know about stress and lawyers. The most helpful sections for me were the ones that deal with how lawyers can develop more effective thinking habits, be more in tune with their own and others' emotions, and be more true to their own values. There is also a section on how to apply all of these new skills to improve your time management habits, law practice management skills, and even family life. I recommend it enthusiastically.

A family (divorce) mediator, I encounter many women who are painfully unprepared for the range and scope of divorce. This book is an excellent prep course and/or wake up call. It goes on my "recommended reading" list.

is Marilyn Barrett. She has so much valuable information to give, and she does it in such an easy way to understand.

Legalistics, to me, always had sort of a frightening tinge, because I thought I wouldn't be able to absorb everything, and therefore I'd get screwed somewhere. But Marilyn has made the most complicated problems easy, and then she gives you examples that are also simple to identify with -- so I was quite able to follow all her practical suggestions.

This book is for all women -- because all of us will find ourselves in at least one of the situations in her book before too long. I'm a small business owner, plus married for a second time, plus I took care of my mother during a long-term illness until she died recently. Marilyn's book brings up all of these aspects of living, offers solutions to problems I didn't even know I'd encounter, and is a book I'll keep on my shelf as a reference every time I have a legal-type question.

Thanks for writing it, it was great. Jennie

This book is not only informative to women, believe me. I picked up my wife's copy, more to see what she'd be doing to me after our next argument, and was totally unable to put it down. My wife was quite surprised to find me still reading it the next AM. I think the information MS. Barrett provides is applicable to all sorts of legal, or potentially tricky, legal situations, and NOT all are gender-related. Although I'm in a good marriage now, (I think), I wish I had known some of the tips she's offering TWO wives ago!

Sincerely, Ed Philhower, Los Angeles, CA.

Here is a book which should be a trusted partner when you have to make decisions which affect your life and security. This book gives you the tools necessary to step back and analyze the pros and cons of situations with much more than the usual emotionally-based outlook. Throughout her book, Marilyn Barrett stresses the joy of taking care of yourself will be worth the extra effort in the beginning of any new venture, be it in business or relationship.

This is a great book! Being a young, modern and relatively "hip" married woman (one who now co-ownes a business with her husband), I decided it was time to educate myself about all the legal stuff I'd been ignoring for years. I was especially intrigued by the author's approach to the legal aspects of marriage/children, property and taxes. These were topics I would not typically view in a "legal" light (hey, my husband handles the legal stuff), and I would certainly never have considered myself at legal risk. Reading this book really opened my eyes about where I stand as far as the law is concerned - Whaddyaknow, I'm considered a responsible, accountable adult! While this may seem like a no-brainer, the stories and information in this book really brought it home that I had better step up and take responsibility for myself. Thanks to this book I now have a clear understanding of the potential legal and financial hazards to which I may be exposed, and I also have the tools to avoid those dangers and make sound decisions that will protect my family from legal and/or financial peril. This is a truly informative and helpful book.