Resources Books

Leadership is something to which many aspire, but few become adept. James Kouzes and Barry Posner assert that anyone can become a good leader if they will pay attention to certain key aspects. They explain, "Leadership is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best from themselves and others." This process involves modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and encouraging the heart.

Regarding leadership modeling, there are two main premises to consider, "First Lead Yourself," and "Values Are Guides." Jesus warned, "First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Similarly, John Maxwell exhorts, "Work on yourself before you work on others," and "Work on yourself more than you work on others," because followers are always watching to see if actions correlate with their leader's rhetoric. As Maxwell points out "Powerful leadership emerges when your life matches the message." If leaders want their followers to perform in a particular manner, they should strive to exemplify that same level of performance.

In order to inspiring others to follow, a leader must have a bold vision of where he and his followers need to go. He must also be able to relate that vision in such a way that others will believe they can get there. For the church, this involves a "pure and urgent sense of divine call." Once leaders have inspired others to share their vision, they must learn to truly hear and understand the group they are working with in order to help them along the path and together see the vision come to reality.

Reflecting on the idea of "Challenge the Process," Patrick Lencioni presents two important questions: "Who am I really serving?" and "Am I prepared to suffer?" For Christians, the first answer should be obvious, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." The best leaders are willing to endure personal hardship for the sake of others, "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps."

Servant leadership involves enabling others to participate in the work of the ministry. Nancy Ortberg points out, "Jesus embodies the ultimate example of someone who fostered collaboration and strengthened individuals," but she also indicates, "Teamwork and collaboration can only happen when people trust each other." Leaders must prove themselves trustworthy and learn to trust others to effectively use their God-given talents and abilities as well. Good leaders will constantly watch for gifts and talents evidenced in others and then strive to foster their growth.

Humbly encouraging the hearts of others helps them grow, but Ken Blanchard says leaders must first answer the question, "Are you a servant leader or a self-serving leader?" The key to the proper answer is humility. Leaders must humbly communicate a heartfelt sense of people's worth accompanied with a well-conceived mission, vision, and values system. In this way, both the heart and the head will be able to guide the work of the hands as leaders encourage the development and commitment of their followers.

With Christ as the Head of the Body, believers must understand their relationship to the Leader and to others. Within the Body, God calls individuals to positions of leadership under Christ, but everyone works together as one body. No one can be a leader if no one follows. As Kouzes and Posner conclude, "Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow."

Jim Kouzes en Barry Posner schreven in 2002 de bestseller The Leadership Challenge, 4th Edition , waarin ze 5 practices beschreven voor voorbeelding leiderschap:
1. model the way
2. inspire a shared vision
3. challenge the process
4. enable others to act
5. encourage the heart
In Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge graaft het duo, maar ook een aantal andere bekende christelijke schrijvers over leiderschap een spade dieper en reflecteren hun eigen geloof en observaties aan de practices. Het initiatief hiervoor kwam van John C. Maxwell (INJOY), gevolgd door Ken Blanchard (o.m. The One Minute Manager), Bill Bright, Kevin Myers, Nancy Ortberg en Andy Stanley. Na een introductie van de vijf practices door Kouzes en Posner pakken de anderen een practice bij de kop, diepen die uit met bijbelteksten, voorbeelden uit de christelijke praxis van kerk, gemeente, liefdadigheidsinstelling en bedrijfsleven. Vele mensen werden geïnterviewd, zodat een field guide for leaders ontstond. Christian Reflections ontnuchtert menig ingesleten paradigma van seculiere leiderschap-auteurs en brengt leiderschap terug naar haar joods/christelijke wortels.

I had to read this book for a class. I am glad that I did since it has been an amazing book. Great stories and a real easy read to help you understand the ways of being a leader.

Having read and reread dozens of books on leadership, I've always found The Leadership Challenge to be among the best. I was certainly intrigued to see Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge and my curiosity paid off in a delightful read that contains both inspiring stories and introspective challenges.

As I read about the Willow Creek Axis group donating hundreds of pairs of shoes to the homeless in Chicago, I wept.

As I read about John Maxwell writing out his "I am what" so "I do what" which results in "what", I was challenged and did the same myself.

Having just read the book, 7 Triggers to Yes, I was inspired to read that, "Leaders keep hope alive... Hope is attitude in action." As 7 Triggers showed that inspiring hope is a powerful trigger used to influence and presuade and isn't that what leaders do.

The book is a quick read (one night for me), but I do believe that the reminders of the principles in The Leadership Challenge are excellent and the inspiration coming from these varied individuals is uplifting. I think you'll enjoy this book.

James Kouzes and Barry Posner are business professors at Santa Clara University, but are better known for authoring what has become a cornerstone in business and leadership theory: "The Leadership Challenge." The book has enjoyed numerous printings, leading to "Leadership Challenge" seminars, "Leadership Challenge" based consulting, and spin-off books on "the Leadership Challenge." "Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge" is a book that revisits the time-tested leadership paradigm, and features prominent practitioners of the Christian faith musing on what the five dimensions of leadership look like in a Christian context.

The book is divided into seven chapters. The first--and lengthiest--of the chapters is authored by Kouzes and Posner and is an introduction to "The Leadership Challenge" for those who have not read it. Yet, even thought the basics of the leadership paradigm are introduced, the faith component of leadership is heavily interwoven throughout this chapter. The examples of people who have successfully displayed a characteristic of successful leadership were all active in parish ministry, faith-based charities, or secular business-people whose faith influenced workplace decisions. This chapter was well-written and served as a valuable introduction to the remaining chapters.

Each of the following chapters is authored by a prominent Christian and gives his/her reflections on how a leadership skill and faith interplay. John Maxwell (former pastor and author of numerous leadership books) reflects on "Model the Way," the habit of (a) determining your own personal values and (b) aligning your actions to reflect those values. Maxwell provides a very well-structured chapter in which he demonstrates not only a thorough understanding of aligning values and action, but lays it out in such a way that it is clear that he has made the concept his own. Showing pastoral concern for the reader, Maxwell organizes his chapter around five objectives that will aid the reader in exploring his intrinsic values and how to allow these values to surface in the workplace.

The next chapter is authored by David McAllister-Wilson (president of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC) and concerns "Inspire a Shared Vision," the habit of (a) discovering your vision for the future and (b) communicating that vision in an inspiring way. For a well-respected academic, this reader was surprised at the abstract and emotional the chapter was written. Granted, the subject matter deals prominently with relationships and inspiration, but there was surprising little in the chapter that was concrete. Amidst musings on the personality of Jesus and anecdotes that went for the "you-had-me-at-hello-effect" were genuine gems of practical wisdom I wish McAllister-Wilson would've fleshed out more. Reading this chapter felt like a wasted opportunity to learn from one of the best; instead this reader felt "talked down to."

Next, Patrick Lencioni (businessman and author) illustrates what it means to "Challenge the Process," that is to (a) embrace changes to internal functioning and external opportunities and (b) experiment, risk failing, and learn from these events. Lencioni provides the best-written, most concise chapter of the book as he out-right challenges the reader to examine his motivations for leading, challenging processes, and intrinsic determination. He is not abusive toward the reader at all, but makes it clear that leadership is often sought out for the wrong reasons; the reader is advised to first see to it that pride is sufficiently restrained. Once it is, challenging the process is a natural by-product of passion and courage. Helpful illustrations of Lencioni's successes and failures in challenging the process illustrate larger points and make the author more relatable.

Following Lencioni, Nancy Ortberg (member of the pastoral staff at Willow Creek, suburban Chicago's most prominent mega-church) shows how "Enabling Others to Act" has played out in her life. This is the habit of (a) building coalitions and teams and (b) giving power away to trusted team-members. This reader felt it necessary to read Ortberg's chapter multiple times. At first, abstract emotion and pointless (yet heart-warming) anecdotes appeared to prevail; after several readings, the chapter proved to have more depth than originally thought. Like McAllister-Wilson, Ortberg provides helpful advice on leadership through team-building, but finding these gems requires a lot of digging.

Finally, Ken Blanchard (businessman and author) reflects on "Encouraging the Heart," that is, the habit of (a) showing genuine appreciation for good work and (b) strengthening bonds by celebrating achievements. While the subject matter lends itself well to emotional sentimentalism, Blanchard resists that temptation and provides a nice balance between inspiration and practicality. Structuring his chapter to argue that leadership is an "inside-out" art, Blanchard provides practical day-to-day tips while holding up Jesus as the ultimate "One-Minute Manager" (what would such a book be without a cheap plug?).

Finally, Kouzes and Posner close out the book recapping leadership and the importance of credibility. This final chapter whets the appetite for more wisdom and practical advice.

As with any anthology, "Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge" contains the good, the bad, and the ugly. Fortunately, the reader will find a great deal of the former and not so much of the latter two elements. This book is recommended for those who find themselves working in a church/faith-based not-for profit, but is also applicable for those who hold to the Christian faith and desire insights on how that faith can manifest itself in the secular workplace. Also, those who would like a taste of "The Leadership Challenge" in under 130 pages will also find this book beneficial. In all, recommended.

Wonderful tips and insights in this book! A great resource for both beginners and professionals alike. It's fun, engaging, and informative. The best part of the book is that it centers around real-life stories and examples, so you not only pick up some "theory", but see how it works in practice. Describes many simple techniques that work! I think it can be helpful not only for coaches, but for managers, as well. Highly recommended!

You will not be disappointed with this book. Whether you are a consultant/trainer, supervisor or simply would like to better manage your personal relations, this is the book for you. Great exercises - excellent definitions and insights. This is a super buy!

The book conveys the author's approach and techniques for effective coaching, starting with a model to help an observer see the big picture, followed by eleven stories to examine coaching in action, and twelve coaching tools used with success in the field. A highly useful and insightful book that brings the reader, to the extent words permit, into contact with the coaching process. Very highly recommended.

The practical and innovative tools contained in this very original book are described in an authentic and engaging manner. I recognized many of my own clients in the deft descriptions and stories provided by Thier. I often felt like I was in the midst of a lively coaching tutorial. Creative applications to my own coaching practice were sparked for me as is evidenced by the numerous folded-down page corners on my copy! I know that I will return to Coaching CLUES to refresh my thinking and practice. Thier is an artist.

There has been a lot written on coaching. What sets this book apart are the compelling stories and practical tools for getting results. Thier's wisdom and experience come through on every page. Anyone engaged in coaching (as a coach or client), or anyone who's just interested in self-improvement, will benefit.

You have to keep in mind that this is written by a real estate agent, so he really has an agent's best interests in mind, not yours as a buyer or seller. That said, the book does contain a complete survey of buying/selling homes (mostly buying, actually), assisted by online websites. I found the text too verbose, and I wonder if the publisher or author gets paid for the sites they recommend, for a lot of other useful sites aren't mentioned at all.

Over a year ago I borrowed this book from a friend, and read through it during the entire process of my first purchase of a house. It helped very easily to follow all that was happening, all the terminology, etc. and in some cases, to be ahead, and expect the next steps.

It was so helpful, that I decided to buy it for myself this year, as we're considering the sale of our place, and getting us a larger house.

If you're going to buy or sell a house, you have got to read it: it'll be of extreme help.

This book made my life so much easier by explaining in easy to follow steps how to do everything i needed to sell homes and purchase a new one. It is very thorough, covers all topics from A to z and the recommendations on web sites were right on. The author knows his stuff. This is the first Idiot's Guide book I've bought and I'm so glad i did.

I had to take the time to review this book because my husband and I almost lost our dream home. This superb book helped us save our transaction at the last minute and avoid a horrible lawsuit. Thank God a friend referred us to this book or we wouldn't be living in the perfect home for us. We were buying a home For Sale By Owner and were working with the most difficult seller imaginable. With the help of this guide we not only salvaged the deal, but got better terms and more repairs made to the home. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for writing this book-it's phenomenal. The negotiating chapter is worth thousands of dollars. And to all those buying or selling homes By Owner or even with Realtors-don't do anything until you buy this book. You will be so glad you did.

I got this book for my dad for Father's Day because he and my mother are planning on selling their home and buying a smaller home. the For Sale By Owner comments in some of the other reviews caught my eye because my parents want to sell their home themselves. I started looking through the guide out of curiosity and found myself reading more than half the book. Besides being informative and detailed, it's actually interesting and somewhat funny. i ended up giving it to my father early and he read the entire guide in two days. he said it was the first time he's ever read a how-to book from cover to cover and he's bought over 50! i recommend this book to all people who are planning on buying and selling a home in the future (which is just about everybody) because it is exceptionally clear, informative and jam-packed with advice, facts and data. And it makes a great gift. My dad loved it and is using it to get their home ready to sell By Owner.

In this book Erdman strings together a series of meditations on the process of preaching, including philosophical and theological reflections, practical thoughts on preparing to preach, the art of preaching, and prayerful reflection on Scripture. I like the variety of expression this book has. Instead of being a string of "how-to" tips and tricks (though there are some in it), it avoids that kind of simplicity by broadening its scope to questions about why and how we prepare and preach in the real world.

On one level I am torn about how to rate this book. From time to time the things Erdman writes are insightful, helpful, and outright wonderful to read. His encouragement for pastors to be pastors and keep their own souls and congregations rooted in the Word of God is a sorely needed corrective for the self-help pop-psychology that passes for most preaching today. There are several chapters I will keep with me for future encouragement, and several have already influenced my own preparation (to its benefit).

On the other hand, there are ways in which the meditations don't deliver the kind of direction and insight they could have. I don't think it helps pastors very much to be encouraged to not take moral stances when clear moral issues rise to the surface of culture and church. I agree that one of the more important jobs of a pastor is to listen and listen and listen (pg. 103), but another job pastors have is to speak clarity into cultural confusion where it can be spoken. Then there are moments that seem more to be a result of a fairly tinted political view of the world rather than a biblical reflection on things. At times even prophets like Jeremiah seem to be snatched out of context to support a hesitancy to proclaim God's Word into a broken and rebellious world.

As I read I wavered between genuinely appreciating Erdman's insights and writing style, and being irritated. Sometimes irritation is good for the soul as it exposes our own shortsightedness, but I am not sure that's the kind of irritation I felt. Overall, however, I am glad this book is on my shelf.

This is a book that all who call themselves preachers should read. It confirms those things which we know to be true about preaching and at the same time challenges the task of sermon writing. It reminds the reader of what the task of preaching is, which is bringing the Word of God to God's people, not God's people bringing a Word to God. As Erdman writes, it is more than a how to book on preaching. It offers the reader a new way of looking at the Word and how it frames our lives. As one who dares to preach and teach regularly it reminds me of the true frame of all that ministers are called to do and that is scripture. This manuscript is a challenge and a joy all wrapped into one.

"The best way to be a really good preacher is by not trying to be good at all."

"Go ahead, preach as badly as you can. You can't do it."

If I could just keep those two great bits of advice in healthy tension, I'll be a much better preacher this Sunday.

Knowing Chris Erdman and his giftedness, I was prepared for a great read on the "countdown to Sunday." Not only was I not disappointed, but I feel I am somehow far more prepared for the rest of my Sundays; and far more prepped to engage life and God in a number of ways. Yes, it is officially a practical book about preaching (but far from a cheesy formula or bad sermon itself), but unlike any book in this genre since Dennis Kinlaw's "Preaching in the Spirit," it is far more....it is spiritual formation woven into the stuff of daily life and world events; with a special focus on sermon preparation and preacher preparation.

Of course anyone who grasps the implications of:

1)our living "in modernity's last gasp"
2) U2's "inhabiting" their songs as an encouragement for us to inhabit the text
3) working your week so one can actually spend time with loved ones and sleep well on Saturday, and actually worship with, and enter sabbath with, the congregation
4)"our fear of each other... is at bottom, fear of death"

is a genius in my book!

The book is a model for how to work your week as the sermon grows. Interspersed among the daily guidelines are powerful prayers and fantastic theological and cultural insights. Erdman's eminently helpful suggestions and his engaging conversational tone dovetail with his loaded prophetic statements about (for example) the subtle insidiousness of extreme nationalism. He must be wrestled with.

His four page chapter on hospital visitation shines. I don't dare give it away, but I dare say it changed almost everything about the hospital visit I made today. And probably my sermon this Sunday.

And coming to view funerals as "dissent from death", as well as coming to terms with the fact that "Death would love to help us write our (funeral) sermons" refill me with the hope and life of the gospel.

I particularly enjoy that many of the author's suggestions I have stumbled onto over the years; and several of his ideas I can now incorporate and test-drive. But how I wish I had this book, and Chris Erdman as my preaching professor, twenty years ago.

But if I could eventually say with him that"I nearly always come out of my Fridays with a much clearer sense of what the Word wants to do among us come Sunday," it's not too late.

And I am already drawing from it as I teach preachers in our network.
Maybe I'll eventually practice most of it, and not just preach it.
Let the countdown begin.

This is a great pastoral tool designed to help a pastor preach more faithfully and realistically. The author encourages the reader to preach their own sermons using their own life experiences, not the experiences or words of others.
The book is broken down into daily "spiritual formations" which help the minister focus on the sermon at hand that they will be preaching on Sunday and live the principles in that sermon.
Countdown to Sunday helps the preacher to peel off the mask they often feel forced to wear and to and be themselves. His best advice? You have to be real. It's only then you can be useful to God.

This is a good book for every new pastor to read. It should be required reading.

Mr. Erdman is a preacher. He gives a simple outline on how to prepare sermons through the week. The book was strong in slowing down the preaching preparation. I tend to develop a sermon in one day. Maybe this is done because I preach twice and teach twice, where Erdman seems to develop one sermon a week. His book also gives a lot of grace to the minister as he encourages us to try to fail. He implores to allow the Biblical text to be the highlight of the sermon and not the illustration. He makes a good point in stating that we are too concerned about making the great sermon or making the top delivery of the material. Instead we must focus on allowing the text to mold us. The book is good as a counteraction to the success mindset in the church. It is not the best book on preaching, it is more of a book on some of the poor practices within the Christian world when it comes to preaching. If you are looking for a book to help you develop sermons, this is not the book for you. If you are a perfections when it comes to sermons, this is the book for you.

What a wonderful book! I have just started using this in my third grade classroom and only wish I'd discovered it sooner. It can easily be used in a variety of ways as an activity for early finishers, a whole class exercise, or a centers activity. Sometimes I have my students complete it in groups and we have word ladder races. They're always begging me for just one more. Money very well spent!

Recieved item on time, right when we were told it would arrive. Book in very good condition.

My students enjoy these word puzzles. It's great for improving their vocabulary. They get to play with the language!

This has been a big hit in my second grade classroom. We are learning new vocabulary each time we use on of these sheets. It has been a good buy for me!

This is a solid book for building elementary vocabulary. It has 100 reproducible word study lessons that help kids boost reading, spelling and phonics skills independently. Among the many activities, kids read clues on each rung, then change and rearrange letters to create words until they reach the top. All the while, they are boosting decoding and spelling skills, broadening vocabulary, and becoming better, more fluent readers. Lesson by lesson, kids can "climb" to new heights in reading and writing with these engaging word-building games.

The workbook is not thick (about 100 pages). My child finished it in 2 months with a lot fun. His vocabulary improved significantly. In Beestar online assessment, his reading has rised to the next grade level largely attributed to this workbook. Highly recommend.

As a local of Baltimore, I enjoyed reading a local author's input. As a past Orioles fan of our baseball team, Ron Shapiro was one of the few people I still admire and trust, from a "press" or "in the news" standpoint.

As a professional, I test hardware. I am new to this line of work and needed a base from which to learn. This book helped outline a gameplan for me to approach my day-to-day work load and also look long term at where I want to be as an employee of a Fortune 500 company.

Per the title of my review, the anecdotes Ron uses are from cool people, some everyday "Joe's" and some superstar, living the high-life people. The anecdotes apply to each idea he presents, which make them relevant. However, some of these anecdotes are very high-level and don't hammer out many details. For instance, one person might say, "You have to make a plan and stick to it!" That's great, but what was your plan and how did you execute?

I recommend this book for anyone, as the material is transitive and can be applied to any situation in life.

I am not a natural leader, but "Dare to Prepare," by Ronald M. Shapiro, gave me great insights on how preparation can create success. Following his outline minimizes time spent in the nebulous world of ideas; instead, he gives practical information to make those ideas a reality. Easy to read, well organized, practical advice that almost anyone can use. I stumbled across this book in the local library, and as I read it, I realized that I had to have my own copy. Now I refer to it as I plan meetings and projects for the workgroup I chair at church. I can't believe how much more efficient I am as a result of following Shapiro's suggestions. Business settings, civic/religious groups, social groups, even personal life decisions can all benefit from your reading this book.

I loved this book. I wish I had read this book back when I was a teenager. Better yet, I wish I had remembered to apply its messages when I tried to start my first few businesses. As a SCORE counselor I find myself preaching, yes preaching, to most of my clients about the importance of researching and writing a sound business business plan BEFORE they file for incorporation or register an LLC, get a bank account in the company name, and start generating revenues. And I read this book last night in order to see if I should recommend it to my clients so they MIGHT get the message that a sound busness plan will be their key to success. Now that I've read it - Yes, this is the book a wanta-be entrepreneur should read in order to KNOW they need a sound WRITTEN business plan.

This book has 14 chapters and an appendix:

1. Put me in coach
2. I would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ and Eric Mangini
3. What's your destination? Understand your objectives
4. Someone, somewhere has done this before. Plan with precedents
5. What's the forecast? Know the alternatives
6. It's in the best interest to know their interests. Define the interests
7. Look before you leap. Set your strategy
8. When the rubber meets the road. Do a timeline
9. The right parts for the right people. Pick your team
10. What you say and how you say it. Write the script
11. The constant preparer. Adjust and learn from your mistakes
12. Confidence
13. Prepare and conquer. A mantra for effective people
14. You can get some satisfaction
Appendix: The preparation principles checklist

Chapters 1 and 2 are kind of an introduction to the book. Chapters 3 through 11 are the various preparation principles that one follows in order to hedge their bets at being successful. All these principles are important to consider when writing a business plan for a new business or doing strategic planning for an existing one. And chapters 12 through 14 cover the benefits one receives from doing the proper preparation.

The material contained in this book is obvious stuff. It's unfortunate that most of us need to be reminded that planning and preparation for a game, whatever game that is, is necessary if we want to do well. Is it a sporting competition? A test in school? A job interview? A management meeting? A contract negotiation? A closing? Qualifying for a loan? Starting a business? Or selling a business? All the big things I have accomplished in my lifetime I planned for and done the required preparation in order to succeed. Read this book and be reminded that you too must plan and prepare for the things that are important to you. 5 stars!

Success stories from the people interviewd by the authors are what makes this book really come to life. Even though the people profiled in this book are from so many diverse professions, the power of preparation carries each of them to the top. I especially like the book's core philosophy - preparation is the only aspect over a situation that one has control. Shapiro and Jordan have cleanly mapped out a systematic approach to preparation that everyone can put into place immediately after finishing this book. They even give you the preparation checklist as an appendix. I use it for every one of my sales calls, and I have noticed a BIG increase in confidence, which has allowed me to close more deals.

Dare to Prepare is probably the single most useful how to book I have ever read. And the stories are entertaining, so in addition to the tangible tools the book lends, it is also a quick read. If you're looking to improve upon your confidence so that you can perform at a higher level, check out this book.

I desperately needed this book. Not because I'm not successful; I've won many awards in my field and the last time my employer made me take a cognitive test I astonished them by getting a perfect score. No, I needed this book because I want something more. I want the next level up, the bigger stage. You know the level I'm talking about, the big-gun level. And on that level, as one person in this wonderful books states, "EVERYONE is talented." You have to be more than just talented, you have to be prepapred.

And so we have "Dare to Prepare", a brilliant distillation of the anatomy of success. The book urges to you to prepare until failure is not a possibilty, and to not waste time in the wrong types of preparation. I will not outline the tips here, as they so beautifully intergrate into the whole. People from all professions are interviewed, people with nothing in common except wild success and serious, serious preparation skills. The steps to being fully prepared for opportunity if it comes knocking and even if it doesn't flow perfectly into one another; I can safely say there isn't anyone who wouldn't benefit from following them, no matter how good you may think you already are.

That's pretty much it. A short review for me, but there isn't much more I can say. I picked up the book on a whim, began reading before bed in an effort to fall asleep, and ten minutes later was wide-awake, completely wired. Shapiro's little masterpiece will excite you, inspire you, and guide you like nothing I've read in a very long time. And in the Codemaster's book, that gets "Dare to Prepare" the rarely bestowed-

GRADE: A

I ordered this book because I saw it associated with some training and wanted to check out the content without attending the class. This was a quick read (approx 45 min). What I liked best about this book was that it offered practical, simple suggestions for action. I gave this to my boss to read and she asked me to order several more to share with others. This is a quick, simple book that is worth taking the time to read.

There were many things in the book I was already aware of but it offered some new insights as well. It was short and a quick read which I appreciate when trying to read business related materials.

This is the the most practicle book on employee retention we have purchased. It's short, straight forward, and gives you a plan of action.. rather than just pie in the sky ideas. We were able to implement several ideas from the book within the first 7 days. Our managers were each given a copy, and they also implemented specific, trackable policies within the first 7 days of receiving the book as well.

As my company grew into the hundreds, my old leadership style didn't work anymore. The common sense techniques in Mark's book make my life easier, my employees happier, and my business more successful. The Deadly Sins of Employee Retention is mandatory reading for our managers. I learn more every time I pick it up. -- Dennis Hoffman, President, CashBox

This is a superb book for some one who is just starting to investigate the subject of employee retention. It is short, easy to understand, and flows well. The information that is provided is practical and timely. A quick read on the subject of employee retention for those who do not have a lot of time to find, read, and analyze the multitude of books available on the subject.

Here's the deal. I'm not going to get very deep in this review. Jim Walker has been my pastor during the time I've lived in Pittsburgh for the past two years. He has some great visions on what could be changed about the church to make it more about community and more about Jesus and less about individual people and less about a building. A prophet isn't someone who tells the future, a prophet is someone that calls people out to live a life closer to God, and that's what Jim does in this book. It's a good read....pick it up.

I began the book a bit skeptical-what was going to be offensive about the kingdom of God? I soon realized that the church, as we know it, is not what the kingdom of God is about. Dirty Word is a manifesto by a true reformer. Jim Walker stands in the line of Martin Luther, John Wesley and dare I say it, Jesus. If you don't want to feel like a hypocrite, as Jesus caled the Pharisees, don't read this book. But if you know deep down you're not satisfied with the status quo...If you secretly wonder if the church even matters, then by all means, read it. You won't look at your church or your denomination the same way, anymore.

Jim Walker shows that he has a lot of insight into the Kingdom of God. The first chapter was a real eye opener for me and showed me how much of church as we know it really stinks. Jesus didn't hang out with the "religious" people, he hung out with the one's who needed Him -- the hurt and afflicted. I got a little bored with the redundancy of the term koinonia, but the book is excellent and gave me much food for thought.

The book contains concepts that I didn't want to hear, but needed to hear, and ultimately had always longed to hear. My boxed-in ideas about how heaven, hell, salvation, and relationships with God and with others -- ideas that I thought I had so cleverly packed up into my own nice little comfort zone -- were flipped over and turned sideways to be seen in an entirely new light. It's not often I find a book that makes me laugh out loud, cry tears of both joyful and painful self-reflection, and stare at the pages with my eyes widely bugging out of my head in ground-breaking understanding. Once I picked it up I could not put it down until I was finished, and it is sure to be read many times over in my life. I expect that many more to come upon this book will be just as deeply offended and inspired by Jim's life-giving description of God's kingdom.

This is not a view of the church from the air conditioned, theatrically-lit, four-hundred dollar ministry conference mountain top. No, this is the church in the trenches. This is the church caring and loving and pleading one soul at a time in the alleyways, bars, and tattoo shops of the city. You remember the city? That place where the church used to thrive before she high-tailed it to the cul-de-sacs, Hummers, and drive-thru Starbucks of the suburbs because that's where the money is. Was that harsh? I just appreciate a book that uses real stories and experiences to remind us that, ultimately, the kingdom of God is not about strategic plans, million-dollar auditoriums, or "church growth," and that holiness is not about clean living and keeping yourself pristine and pure. It's about being Jesus...dying to yourself (even if it means you get a little dirty) to love that one person God puts in front of you--especially if they are lost, forgotten, and unloveable. This is a book every ministry leader should read.

This is the best book available on making diversity work!

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

Each chapter begins with a question: "What is diversity in the workplace?", "How do I begin to improve my understanding of people different from me?", "In today's environment of political correctness, it's too difficult to know what to do. Isn't it easier just to treat everybody the same?" After every heartened answer, she ends the chapter with practical tips.

I recommend this to everyone migrating or moving into North America.

I just read The Diversity Advantage. It was packed full of great ideas and easy to read. In a short time I gained useful knowledge and ideas for diversity training activities.

A short and concise guide to learning about the diversity that makes the United States the richest country in the world in more ways than monetarily. The excercises help to learn about diversity. Enjoyed the chance to read it.

This book represents a conversational approach to sharing critical information. Common sense steps to digging into our head regarding the value of tolerance and inclusiveness. I had the feeling of "being there" in a true teaching session. The analogy of The Wizard of OZ was delightful. The exercises are thought out and well organized. Thank you for providing steps on "how to make a difference"!

This book gave me insight into the methods, trials and tribulations of early precious metal miners in he US. Great Photographs! Fascinating page after page because the writer expressed himself in a way that an interested novice could understand. I read the paperback edition, known as the second (revised and expanded) edition, first printing 2003, purchase price $30.00 new.

As someone with very little mining knowledge, I greatly appreciated the explanations of the various mining techniques. The author's obvious enthusiasm for the subject made the book a joy to read. Highly recommended for both mining experts and for those simply wishing to understand more about mining in earlier years.

A very comprehensive book that is compelling and fascinating. I learned many unusual and intriguing facts. I thought that I was familiar with historical mining technology, but this book covers many topics with a new and different perspective. The chemistry of precious metal recovery is explained in such a way as to be informative and educational. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book that is informative while still being lively and entertaining with great references.

Great Resource

I thought this book was very well written and researched. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about precious metal mining in the old west. This book covers many subjects in detailed chapters that include the Gold Rush, Hard Rock Mining, Timbering, Pumping, Explosives, Machine Drills, Transportation, Power & Fuel, Fire Assay, Mills & Smelters, Mill Machinery, and an appendices that includes Mining & Milling Hazards. The many photographs, illustrations and tables were interesting which added to the pleasant reading experience.

Drills and Mills, which covers the history of mining, milling and smelting from the 1848 gold discovery in California to the late 19th century is a wonderful, well researched book.

Loaded with pictures,tables,illustrations,chemical formulae and many interesting side notes (factoids),the author covers the gamut in the machinery used to win the metals from the earth.
Excellent review on the evolution of the rock drill,explosives, crushing equipment, pumps, timbering, etc etc.

Also included within the 250 plus pages of good reading, is an excellent 10 page bibliography which is referenced to the chapter footnotes, to assist those who may have a futher interest in any of the subject matter. This is a must have book for the mining historian and for anyone interested in 19th century mining. In short a great book.