Senses Books

The subtitle is a very accurate description of the contents: A Common-Sense Guide to Awareness, Mental Prepardness, Tactics, Skills and Equipment. This is also how the book is organized, with chapters on each topic.

Wenger offers a significant amount of information in an easy to read format that is not tied to a particular "school" i.e. Cooper, Ayoob, Smith, etc...

He approaches several topics in a very unique way. For example, when talking about Mental Awareness, he compares it to the training most people received in Drivers Education.

A great introduction for a new shooter, but also could significantly benefit those who have many years of training. Early in the book, he offers a question that should be on the mind of every person attending a firearms related class..."Is this going to do me any good once I get off your range?"

Defensive Use Of Firearms: A Common Sense Guide To Awareness, Mental Preparedness, Tactics, Skills And Equipment by firearms enthusiast Stephen P. Wenger is the ultimate guide to self protection with a firearm. Defensive Use Of Firearms methodically carries the reader through the step-by-step lessons of an easy-to-follow self-defense system applicable to any manner of personal firearm in any kind of situation likely to be encountered. Hallmarked with a common sense approach easily understood by the non-specialist general reader (even those with no previous firearms experience), Defensive Use Of Firearms is confidently recommended reading and a "must" for those who are unaccustomed to handguns and rifles and the possibilities of lethal force in self defense.

I know several people that have a gun for self-protection. A small portion of those people have a concealed carry permit. What the overwhelming majority of those people don't realize is that there is a lot more to using a firearm for self-defense than just buying a gun. To make matters worst, there are a lot of myths surrounding this subject that seriously mislead people.

That is where this book comes in. The "Defensive Use of Firearms" is a common sense, straight to the point book that arms its readers with the facts about using a gun defensively.

Unlike most books, this book doesn't start off discussing equipment. After going over the five rules of gun safety, the author goes over the most important aspects of self-protection: Mental Awareness and Mental Preparedness. The author emphasizes that trouble can very often be avoided by being mentally aware. This vital aspect of defensive shooting is commonly missing in many introductory books.

The book then goes over some basic tactics such as where to aim, cover and concealment, and low light situations. The next chapter covers skills. Skills such as long gun and handgun shooting positions, drawing a concealed handgun, and proper carrying of a long gun. The sixth chapter is on equipment. This part is mainly on the selection of a suitable handgun or long gun. The final chapter is on legal issues. While not a legal guide, it discusses the basics of when you are justified in using deadly force.

Over all, this book is a great introduction to a complex subject. Its brevity is its strength. With only a 100 pages, it is quickly read by someone who isn't heavily into this subject, but would rather learn the basics of using a gun for self-defense.

Many of life's pleasures are dubbed "fun for the entire family." Sure. How many really are? Likewise, just about every gun book is advertised as ideal for the beginner but also containing material for the advanced shooter. How many times have we read that? So let's be clear--THE DEFENSIVE USE OF FIREARMS is an excellent book for beginners, but it does indeed contain pointers and insights from which even experienced shooters can profit.

Wenger's most vital point--not unique to him but reemphasized here--is the inverted pyramid of importance of the various aspects of firearms use, with equipment occupying the tiny spot at the bottom. As we all know, gun rags--to the delight of their advertisers--talk about little other than equipment. Members of firearms forums are likewise obsessed with this sort of nonsense--"What caliber for concealed carry?" being the endless, desperate question. That sort of mania is doused here with ice water. Wenger's quadrad of awareness, preparedness, tactics, and skill should be etched into the brain of everyone who carries a firearm. And, of course, a book like this with no photos of ballistic gelatin should be considered a gift from the brow of Mars.

Two of the best features of this slim volume are its clarity and its brevity. These two qualities are not to be airily dismissed. Prose that is crisp, precise, and accurate is not easy to come by anywhere, especially in firearms publications. The late, lamented, and literate firearms expert Dave Arnold was a very rare man. In a recent article, a well known gunwriter intended to say "the vagaries of war" but instead referred to "the vagrancies of war"--evidently a war without a job. Well, perhaps it was a Spell Check error. Yet he is not alone. Far too many gunwriters display only a nodding acquaintance with the English language, and their editors seem to have lost their blue pencils. Not so Wenger. Like Cicero's evaluation of Caesar's COMMENTARIES, Wenger's prose is like an athlete, lean and spare and stripped of ornament. Furthermore, the very shortness of this book ensures it will be read, rather than nibbled and tossed aside. Ruminations on John Browning or Fritz Walther or dissertations on the chemistry of gunpowder can be found elsewhere.

One of Wenger's greatest strengths is his lack of dogmatism. He offers insights and suggestions, not articles of faith, and he says that what works for you is what's important. The text is also blessedly free of fire-breathing exhortations to develop "the warrior mindset"--a useless piece of advice if ever there was one for the average middle class guy or gal packing heat. The steroidal authoritarians--"My way or the highway"--swaggering through gun rags and web sites should take note.

My only quibble is its brevity. But, you say, I thought that was one of its virtues. Alas, true. Yet I was sorry to see it end. There are many firearms publications that one could and should read after this book, but I can think of none that one should read before it.

A view of the world in alignment. For those who have always felt at odds with this culture, and this place in time, who see the world through different eyes.
Daniel Dancer has so beautifully articulated so many of my own thoughts and perceptions. If you are a lover of beauty and life, and you feel connected deep down to the rhythms and patterns of the natural world, you will feel the same way. As I read, I kept having this feeling that we were of one mind. Page after page, Dancers words triggered sacred memories of deep impressions that live inside me, from my own experiences. It's comforting to know that there is someone else who sees and feels the world the way I do. Dancer is possessed of a rare strength of spirit, and a huge loving heart. In this book, he shares his soul, and the depths of his insight with the world.
The work he is doing, is an elegant merging of awakening consciousness, creating real community, and Art-making, all in the context of a humble reverence for nature.
Simply put . . . well, it's brilliant

in deep respect, dancingwater (artist/ educator)

This book changed my life.
I read it nearly 3 years ago and still it is impacting me. Page by glorious page, insights flooded me and tears welled in my eyes over and over. I was astounded at what I was reading...the earthy brilliance and heartful awareness that was given as beauty to the unsuspecting and open mouths of the spiritually hungry. Most certainly this author must be gifted, to have his feet rooted so sweetly in this wild earth while still capable to having the vast perspective of a soaring bird. This is rare.

Something spilled from this book into me, telling a story beneath the stories, which, in themselves were mind-opening and beauty provoking. What I heard underneath it all was a story of a man curious enough in mystery and keen in his vision to dive into a world seldom seen...a world that is calling desperately for our attention now...an invisible, Holy world that feeds on beauty, ceremony and tears. To allow this powerful understanding in, opens hearts and breaks into long held patterning. It can change the world. I am forever grateful that this book is here to feed us through perilous times with it's luscious and cohesive expanse.

Anyone who has been moved by David Abram's "Spell of the Sensuous," is sure to feel the same about this gem by environmental artist Daniel Dancer. Here ecopsychology is demonstrated - vividly, authentically - rather than simply being talked about. Dancer's stories of immersing himself in landscapes, and then assembling found objects into art forms as gifts, as expressions, as spontaneous shamanic undertakings invites readers to reflect not only on their own ways of communing with the vibrancy and brokenness of the natural world but also of how we all can deepen the ways in which we open our hearts to the healing powers of nature.

It has been several months since I read "Shards and Circles", and yet without even opening the book, powerful images come to mind - vignettes of stories I shall never forget. I remember how, in contrast to Dancer's usual style of composing his art in the same episode in which his encounter with objects begins, one story reveals that it took him several years of returning to a particular place before he was moved to express a resolution to the mystery initially posed to him by a half-burned shard of paper. The psychological cleansing that came for him by waiting was powerful and suggests to me possibilities for my own recurring visits to special spots.

I was brought to tears by a chapter in which the power of place and simple acts of releasing feathers with his young children in a ritualistic manner gave Dancer a chance to transform the pain of divorce and home-leaving into an intimate moment of wonder and bonding that his children, surely, will never forget.

Finally, I applaud the author for presenting his stories so truthfully that even his mis-steps became learning experiences for this reader. Sparely, beautifully written, Daniel Dancer's words are windows of possibility for wounded souls in a wounded world.

Daniel Dancer gives a revolutionary new meaning to both art and ecology, and he does so by melding the two in a way that is inviting, thought-provoking, consciousness-raising, and inspiring. A photographer who has documented many endangered lands, he seeks out the wounded places on the earth. In clearcut forests, beaches clogged with litter, a stretch of the Columbia River that faces the Hanford Nuclear Plant, and other places, he gathers waste left by human presence and recreates it, then and there, as art. His book, written with humor and playfulness, a naturalist's attention to detail and a philosopher's sense of the broader picture, tells the stories of these places and the works that arose from them.

Like the artist Andy Goldsworthy, Daniel Dancer's work uses the elements of a place and arranges them in the context of that place. Both make three-dimensional art that is meant to be ephemeral. Ultimately, however, Goldsworthy's pieces are exquisite creations that are only about themselves. Dancer's work, on the other hand, springs not only from a particular place but also from the ways that humans have interacted with that place. These fascinating works involve the artist himself and us, the witnesses/readers not only in the sorrowful reality of What Is, but in the attitude that transformation is possible. They invite us to bring attentive presence to beautiful, damaged places and to find what is sacred and meaningful everywhere.

Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 11) for Reader Views (10/08)

"The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine" by Mark Wilensky is a kid-friendly book about Thomas Paine's 1776 pamphlet "Common Sense" and the situation of the colonies at that time. The author's goal is to teach kids about history without condemning them to picking through the lengthy and archaic language of the original text without really understanding it. He breaks down the original document section by section so that it is easier to understand.

Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense" to convince the colonists to turn against the king and become independent. He also tried to prove to them that they could win a war against England.

The first hundred pages of this book provide biographical information about Thomas Paine and summarize "Common Sense." It also includes information on coinage and some of the petitions against and from the king. At the end of each chapter the author summarizes the main points of that chapter. The next fifty pages are classroom activities. The last quarter of the book is the original text of "Common Sense." This book also gives the reader access to more information online.

I would recommend "The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine" by Mark Wilensky to history teachers because it includes a lot of classroom activities. The book is easy to read and provides definitions throughout, but I don't think most kids would find it very entertaining or fun reading. The book was interesting and I think that people who want to learn more about the colonies and other historic events of that time may enjoy reading this book.

This was recommended to me by my local book store as I was recently trudging through an on-line college American History class, and was required to read Paine's Common Sense. It has been years since I've been in school and this was perfect for a quick and easy to understand reference to the document. Plus the original was included too. It was a life saver.

What? Paine's Common Sense adapted for all ages? That was the question I asked myself when I came across this book for the first time. I was one of the first reviewers on the last edition (5 stars) and became extremely curious on why a larger publisher had picked it up. Happily, and even surprisingly, the new version is a stunner. Clocking in at 216 pages (Amazon shows it at 192, which is wrong) the original version was a mere 100 pages. Philosophically, this new book is much more expansive and ambitious, adding in adapted versions of The Boston Port Act, The Olive Branch Petition, and King George III's Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition. Every one a major contributing factor to the start of the American Revolution. Brilliant inclusions, because these documents are subtly referenced in Thomas Paine's rant against the Monarchy in his Common Sense pamphlet. I had never read the Olive Branch Petition or Port Act before, mainly because of "Olde English"...although, I had read about their tremendous effect on the colonists. All are fascinating, in their purpose and historical context. Next, I loved the humorous illustrations in the book, and happily--there are more of them in this edition. They clarify much of the text in key areas. (Look for the logo on the chamberpot in the Quartering Act cartoon, I'm still laughing.)

A stranger and more entertaining history book probably does not exist. But I can't imagine any age group not learning a lot about American History, and the effect of Paine's Common Sense on galvanizing revolution, through these adaptations. This book adds more depth to the understanding of early American documents, and history, than most others I have ever seen. And, like Paine's purpose in 1776, this book too is written in language for everyone. PLUS, the original Common Sense is included as well...so you can compare the two and better understand the original.

PS: The website that goes with the book has a game where you get to be a Colonial Police Sketch Artist and design a King George III Wanted Poster. I have no idea how to critique it, nor should I probably try, but I was very entertained.

As a 5th grade teacher that has to teach all subject areas to a self-contained classroom, I am always trying to find a way to link lessons from various subjects together.

For Social Studies I am required to teach American history from the early colonies through the Revolutionary War. I ran across this book and asked my school librarian if she could buy a few copies to see if I could use them for guided reading discussions during my students' literacy time (by the way, the book includes guided reading questions after each chapter). I was amazed at how well it made the issues we were discussing in Social Studies come alive.

This book is an easy read for my students and I love it because it gives them access to what I have always thought to be one of the most important pieces of writing from early American history. After having several of my students read the book, two of them actually went online and downloaded the audio-book of Paine's original version (these kids and their iPods!) and three others became so excited and inspired by Paine's arguments that they wrote their own version of Common Sense and presented it to the class during one of our Revolutionary War simulations in Social Studies. Paine, one of them said, was a true American hero for standing up for what was right even if others disagreed with him. Almost all of the students who read this really got into all the activities this book offers online (there is an icon on several pages that asks readers to go online for interactive activities that correspond with the text on that particular page) and for the first time in a long time, I had students getting on their computers at home to - get this - READ HISTORY.

Wow. All of that from bringing this book into my classroom. I have since ordered a classroom set and it will be a part of what I do for years to come.

If you're a teacher of early American history, this book is a "must-have" in your classroom. It teaches, it enriches, and it inspires. Wonderful.

I found this book extremely useful as a graduate student to understand people's feelings. There is quite a lot of information in this book than what it is covered about sharing/showing feelings in my graduate counseling courses.

In a culture where we often unleash our emotions based on entertainment cues (which too often means we act like spoiled children rather than mature adults), it's wonderful to come across a book such as Dr. Nagy's "Emotional Awareness Made Easy." His book truly does make easy what too many chronological adults lost track of long ago.

Nagy starts with the most prevalent misconceptions about emotions. "Most people have one basic emotional paradigm," Nagy writes in Chapter One. "They believe emotions are energies the dwell within, they have a mind of their own and there is little that one can do about them. Based on this paradigm, many actions people take are usually done to minimize the damage emotions cause and to have these energies on their course in the hope that things may eventually return to 'normal'."

Nagy's book offers a better - and far more accurate - map to "challenge and hopefully transform your preconceived notions about what emotions are and aren't, what they do and don't do, and why and how they do the things they do."

From there Nagy takes the reader through the components of emotions (Mental, Physical, Behavioral), the various emotional illusions and then sets out to help the reader know what emotions actually are (and it's not "feelings"). From there, the reader comes to understand and, hopefully, mature in the understanding, and take ownership, of their emotions.

For the careful, thoughtful reader, Nagy's book is a guide to undoing the dysfunctional emotional acting out so often encouraged by popular culture; and maps a way back to the adult, emotional maturity required to make the best decisions in life.

As a student of philosophy, I found this book to be an excellent edition to my arsenal in the great quest in life: Know Thyself. I heartily recommend it. Read it for yourself. I guarantee, once you've read it, you'll keep it as a reference when you need this map again. With careful study, you'll soon be able to recognize others who also need to buy and read this book. Or, maybe, you can gently nudge them in the right direction by purchasing a copy for them.

Good luck on your journey.

I just finished ready Dr. Nagy's book Emotional Awareness and I'm looking forward to reading it again. There are short exercises at the end of each section to help the reader further develop their understanding of the material. I did not complete the exercises because I didn't want to stop reading. I learned so much from the material that the next time I read it I plan to take the time to work through the exercises because I believe they could very well provide me with some important insights as to my own perception of my emotions in addition to those I have already gained just from the reading.

Prior to reading this book I believed that I was pretty much in touch with my emotions and feelings. Although I felt that I still had some work to do I felt that compared to where I was earlier in my life I was doing very well. However, after reading this book I became aware that some of the ways in which I was dealing with situations were still being governed by old habits and social conditioning.

Reading this book has motivated me to evaluate how I react to situations in my life experience and take a moment to think about how I am feeling and why, and then think about the some of the possible ways that I can respond. I have had some positive experiences recently by deliberately choosing different emotional responses to some events other than the habitual/default emotion I would normally have exhibited. I felt some resistance to choosing a different pattern of thinking but I stuck to my guns and decided it was time for a change. Although the reality of what happened did not change, I found that my new reaction to this familiar situation resulted in a wave of positive responses from all parties involved. I have been able to easily maintain a positive attitude and accept the situation for what it is without carrying an unnecessary emotional burden around. It's behind me and I'm moving on! I know I made the right decision.

I did not give my emotions or feelings much thought up until now. They just happened and I dealt with them in the same ways that I had always dealt with them in the past. Deep down I feel that I knew there was more to it and reading this book helped me to re-think my perception of my reality and how my emotions provide important messages about my experience.

If you want to know why you are getting what you are getting out of life and how to get something different, something better, this book is for you.

Well, I have known John Nagy for years. When my husband passed away he came along and has been so very helpful. He has used his emotional awareness techniques to make me understand where all my emotions were coming from. This book is just the icing on the cake, it is exactly what I needed. I now know that my emotions are my own. I no longer have to dismiss them. I can make a change. When you have the ability to listen to your body's sensations to understand your emotion then you can link into what thoughts were going through your mind. John teaches that you have the ability to change and make life your own. Since I am finished with this book I am going to keep it right on my desk in case I ever need to turn to it again. Life is definitely empowering now!

Sense Ability is a wonderful book that changed my life for the better. As a graduating college student, this book has better prepared me for the changes in life that I am about to encounter. I recommend this book to all people who would like to make the necessary changes in life to eventually become better people.

All I can say is I will do my part to recommend this book to as many people as I can. Even if a small portion of this book is taken to heart, it will make a substantial difference in the lives of the readers. I can only hope it reaches millions of readers around the world, and they tell two friends...and so on...and so on...

If you want to be a good person -- responsible, moral, ethical and enjoy all God and life has to offer -- you'll want to read and reread this extraordinary book!

Learning to be more aware of ourselves allows each of us to be more autonomous, notes Doris Wild Helmering in "Sense Ability", her most recent book. She uses her vast experience as a therapist with individuals, couples, and groups to identify practical strategies we can each use to expand self-knowledge and tackle tough issues.

Whether you've wondered how to control your anger or how to be less critical, how to cope with disappointments or conquer depression, how to be more successful at work or how to improve relationships with those you love, "Sense Ability" will provide methods and techniques for thinking about life differently. The stories and anecdotes help bring the theory alive, while questions, quizzes, and suggested activities challenge you to analyze your thinking and try something new. This book will provide support, information, and guidance to anyone interested in journeying to a new level of self-awareness

This expertly researched tale is a terrific mix of history and fiction that will keep the reader engaged right up to the very last page. The author has created delightful characters in a turbulent time and the reader will not only enjoy the story but may learn something too! This is a top-notch recommendation for all adult and young adult readers.

Eyes of Garnet has been wonderfully descriptive, making it easy to picture the surroundings and put yourself in Catriona's shoes. Thanks to the author for including a glossary in the back. I am anxiously awaiting a sequel!

Mary Duncan's thoroughly researched historical novel of 18th century Scotland takes us on a journey of intrigue, family unrest,Scotland's friction with England AND the heroine Catriona's gift of the "Sight"! A bit of the feel of Camelot, and the strength of the peoples to survive any and all tyranny. Well Done!!!!!

This book is wonderfully written. You can tell the author put a LOT of time researching the historical facts and making them relevant to the storyline. A very easy read book. Even with some of the Gaelic terms it is very understandable. The glossary helps as well. My 13-year-old daughter is reading it for the 2nd time, and absolutely loves it. We both cannot wait until the sequel comes out.

I am a very happy father of a five year old and three year old. Being a father has been a life long dream that is far better than anything I could have ever imagined. This book stoked the fires of my passion to be a father like my Heavenly Father. It his written with insight that will make you a better Dad and man. I am starting a Bible study in a few weeks with fathers and we will go through this book. Do your kids a favor and get this book.

This book is a very good work on the important role that a father plays in the life of his child or children. I like the reflection, discussion and action section at the end of each chapter. I also like the "I want to be the kind of father my Father is" repetition at crucial points throughout the book. There were points where the author referred to we but the we was not clear. However, the use of practical examples and research findings made the book relevant. The use of Scripture was faithful to the context of the passages. The book is well organized. It is a significant contribution to building healthy families, especially father child relationship. It even offers hope to step-fathers. The author augments his claim on the premise that one's ability to be a good father is grounded in being in a good relationship with one's heavenly Father. The principles set out in Breaking Free: The Key to Empowerment, Happiness & Fulfillmentcan help one to deal with issues that may prevent him from becoming the kind of father his Father is.

You will not know how important you are as a father... until you read this book....

As a single woman without kids I found that I still got a lot out of this book! The book is excellent for ANYBODY who deals with kids, whether it be dads, moms, aunts, uncles, etc. The book covers a broad range of topics including, divorced parents, step-parents, and single mom families. This book would be a blessing to anybody who read it.

In "Fixing Performance Problems," Bud Bilanich targets, among other things, a sensitive area for attention: Giving Feedback. His six steps of preparing, opening, information sharing, closing and post conversation analysis give you a roadmap for making these difficult conversatins more likely to occur.
My experience supports the need for practical tools to give the manger the confidence to initiate these conversations.
This and the other extremely usable ideas in the book make it fast and impactful reading.

What else would you expect from "The Common Sense Guy" then a practical approach to solving performance problems. Bud's writing style is straight forward and to the point. The ideas he shares are full of wisdom and insight. More importantly they are easily applied. I always have an "aha" moment when reading Bud's material. Bud Bilanich is truly a gifted writer, trainer, mentor and communicator.

Bud Bilanich has done it again! He's taken a die hard cynic - when it comes to "self help business books" - and made a believer in him. What makes Dr. Bilanich unique is his adept storytelling ability. This book is not some dry and pedantic journey through the labyrinthine and often bureaucratic laden realm of business buzz words. Fixing Performance Problems is an intelligent and fluid play-by-play of how to motivate your employees to the best they possibly can be. With the author possessing a doctorate degree from Harvard and many years of worthwhile hands on experience, it's a bleeping wonder that one of the larger presses has not picked this book up. Bilanich elegantly synthesizes the important steps toward increasing productivity and happiness in employees. He dispenses with micromanaging techniques and goes in for a much more humanistic, and effective, technique of treating employees like human beings and not numbers.

This high impact and user friendly tome proves substantial; but also economical, in terms of being able to take it on the plane or read between meetings for maximum benefit without wasting a lot of time.

Definitely keep an eye out for all the books by Bud Bilanich, the Common Sense Guy with the great insights!

Fixing Performance Problems, by Bud Bilanich (AKA "The Common Sense Guy"), is one of those books that every leader should have, whether they think they have performance problems to fix or not.

Subtitled "Common Sense Ideas that Work," that's just what the book offers. And we all know how uncommon "common sense" really is. As others have noted, it's refreshing that someone with multiple degrees, including a doctorate from Harvard, can sidestep the usual consultant-speak and get right to the heart of the matter.

In addition to being packed with relevant quotes (there are some real gems there, including General Pershing's "A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best of troops" or the Chinese Proverb, "If you are patient on one moment of anger, you can avoid a hundred days of sorrow"), the book offers plain answers to eleven key problems, with a handy summary chapter at the end.

The eleven problems are:
1) People don't know what they are supposed to do.
2) People don't know why they should do what they are supposed to do.
3) People don't know how to do what they are supposed to do.
4) People think the prescribed methods will not, or do not work or believe that their way is better.
5) People think that other things are more important.
6) People think they are performing in an acceptable manner.
7) Non-performance is rewarded.
8) Good performance feels like punishment.
9) There are obstacles to performing that the individual cannot control.
10) There are no positive consequences for good performance.
11) There are no negative consequences for poor performance.

Most of all, I like the fact that the book focuses on the things leaders need to do differently, and doesn't jump to conclusions that performance problems are the fault of the employee. In fact, in many cases it's not, and issuing negative consequences for poor performance is only suggested as a last resort (#11 in the list). Even in that case, Mr. Bilanich suggests that a gentle nudge will often do the trick.

Rather than a book on "correcting bad employees," it's the ultimate handbook on motivation, positive reinforcement, goal setting, communication, and all the things we need to do to proactively avoid poor performance. I highly recommend it to leaders at all levels.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Shawna Lee Coronado, an amazing person who shared with me her love of nature, and who also was kind enough to forward me a copy of her book, Gardening Nude.

Don't let the title fool you!

Gardening Nude, is a fantastic example of someone following their intuition and sharing their story.

Shawna recounts her journey to improve her mental and physical health. More importantly, she explains how getting in touch with nature helped her not only redefine herself, but completely reshaped her life. Its these life lessons that she shares with the reader - who she encourages to achieve the same goals.

Shawna's passion and dedication to increased exposure to nature, better health practices, and community has built the foundation of her Go Green Health Plan:

-Exercise aerobically - outdoors in nature, at least twenty minutes a day, breathing deeply

-Be exposed to sunlight, without sunglasses, for twenty minutes a day.
Take multi-vitamins

-Eat nutritionally - between 3-5 meals/snacks everyday. Be sure to include high quality, low-fat protein and whole grain carbohydrate.

-Get a regular message (my favorite)

-Regularly do helpful things for others and/or for the community and environment

This plan is the foundation of her book - stressing that cultivating a healthy life style will improve a person's mental and physical health and strip away the toxic living cycles we have found ourselves trapped in.

The biggest message I took from the book is that being with nature is what we as human beings, are meant to do. And the more we build our lifestyles around the 9-5 schedule, rush hour, fast food, and conveniences of modern living - the more we loose ourselves.

Needless to say I relate 100% to what Shawna talks about in her book - that spending time in nature can truly heal the soul.

Congratulations Shawna - you surpassed all expectations of this reader!!

I found this story inspirational. The author tells about how she overcame adversity in her life and it made me ideas on how to address issues in my own life. Nice book.

We are constantly bombarded with "go green!" but I believe most of us truly scratch our heads and wonder how we can do that other than taking the commuter train to work, pitching plastics/glass/cans in the recycle.
Shawna sheds so much light on how we CAN go green, have fun and enjoy our world while caring for it. It is a change of attitude that we all need.
Shawna is a breath of fresh air! Read her book and check out her blog, it will give you food for thought and a daily smile. =)

From the first few lines to the final sentences, Gardening Nude by Shawna Lee Coronado is a non-stop motivational and inspirational guide to getting your life on track. It gives hope to those who are sick of medicating the symptoms and not the problem, those who are sick of feeling unsatisfied with their life, and those who are just sick of being sick. Shawna's six step Go Green Health Plan is a breath of fresh air where self-improvement plans are concerned and is composed of simple actions everyone can take that will have big results, from just getting outside to strengthening community bonds.

Unlike so many other books that try to pass the blame of unhappiness off to other people and circumstance, Shawna gently asks the reader to take personal responsibility for their own happiness and gives the power of self fulfillment back to the individual. Her plan is all encompassing, and encourages the reader to seek satisfaction on the natural, personal, and community levels. With grace and factual evidence, Shawna explains one of the greatest simple truths: a person can't be whole without a connection to their community and the natural world.

Written with humor, candor, and poise, Shawna's book is truly a gem, and I can't wait to see what her next project will be. Full of can-do attitude, confidence, and honest self-reflection, Gardening Nude is a must-read for everyone. If we all followed Shawna's philosophy the world would be a much better, much happier, and much greener place.

My favorite part is the point that when change initiatives fail, things never go back to the way they were before. This book makes you think about your blind spots, and how to not let them get in the way of making change work. The authors come off credible, with a "in the trenches" perspective. A good reality check.

Having endured three acquisitions with one company, two down-sizings with another, being subjected to two subsequent layoffs with two companies, and forming my own consulting business, I found "Getting Your Shift Together" a very accurate outline of what is missed during critical times of change. It is refreshing in that it clearly identifies not only what is overlooked but also why we so often ignore what is squarely in front of us. While the book is actually a quick read, I read it slowly (some text repeatedly), often finding myself pondering its insightful truths. Getting an accurate picture of an organization's culture is critical to its longevity. Reading this book should be anyone's first step in gaining such a focus. The book gives the reader pause as it clearly shows how and why we hide from the truths that surround us. I reflected back to the line in "A Few Good Men" when Jack Nicholson says to Tom Cruise, "You can't handle the truth!" While truth may be hard to handle, in business we can't survive the lies and denial! Honesty rings through this book, moving the reader to examine his/her own world. What are the reigning values? Where is the trust? What's next? Take the Culture Health IndexTM and find out what your organization's culture really looks like. Be advised - this is not for the faint of heart, but it's also for anyone who still harbors any hope for surviving an upcoming change (and emerging as a leader) in his or her organization. "Getting Your Shift Together" is one of the best books I've read in a long, long time.

The writers (Lizz & PJ of EMERGE) have taken an unknown, amorphous concept and developed it into the leading organizational management tool and process, Cultural Due Diligence (tm). This book explains the Cultural Due Diligence (tm) process, its importance to all business organizations and its implementation and review. Lizz & PJ of EMERGE are well-known for their seminars on Cultural Due Diligence(tm) and the book is a wonderful desk reference. It has also been picked up by several universities as required reading in business curriculum.

This book contains a great analysis of American business today. In an everchanging and fastpaced work environment focused on the bottom line, Pellett and Bouchard suggest that it is an organization's culture which will have the biggest impact to profitability and success. In a well written and easy style their narrative captured my attention with real-life anecdotes and solutions to business problems and challenges. Their cultural due diligence model is one that should be embraced by all companies wanting to improve productivity, quality, customer satisfaction and profits. Read it and give it to every CEO, Board Member and VP you know!