Organizations Books

I ordered the book for a class I'm taking. I find the book to be very interesting and it keeps my interest. Key points that I need to know are included in the text. Excellently written.

The book's content is precise, to the point and not repetitive in hard to understand grammer. The context was really reliable for the course I am currently taking. The chapters are not long and drawn out yet the examples the author uses are up-to-date, on point and target. I truly liked this book because it is a great read outside of higher education.

Kim Klein is a nationally known expert in the area of fundraising, and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of fundraising in the book. She presents the information in an easy to understand format, and shares her expertise in a motivational manner. I highly recommend this book, even if you have been in fundraising for a number of years.

This is a must read for any staff member of a small not for profit organization. It's a bit freeky how she knows so much about my group, and then cuts to the chase on how to address the problems identified.

I love this book. It's been around for a while in one form or another. Currently it is in its 5th revision. And with each revision the author has refined it. As a result, it is very well written and outlined. It is also really good because the author is a fundraising practitioner and teaches what she does. She really knows her stuff when it comes to fundraising. At least that's the impression I get from reading her book.

Fundraising at a nonprofit, whether large or small, is basically a profit center. It's a business! This book treats it as a business and has the feel of a startup guide for that business. As a SCORE volunteer believe me when I say this book has the feel of a startup guide; I've read my fair share of startup guides for for-profits and counseled enough wanta-be entrepreneurs on how to start a business. This book is a startup guide.

So how is this book a startup guide? Well, it advocates preparing a written fundraising plan BEFORE you put together your fundraising office and start raising funds. It describes a "fundraising framework" that you must understand before you can prepare a sound and successful plan. Then it tells you about time-tested strategies for acquiring and keeping donors - the strategies that will enable your nonprofit to build a foundation or base of donors from which all successful fundraising will emanate. And next it tells you about the time-tested strategies for upgrading donors so they will (or can be expected to) give larger gifts as time moves forward. There are also sections that explain how to setup and manage a fundraising office, and how to prepare a budget and write a fundraising plan.

The book could have stopped there. That's all that a startup really needs to know and do to be successful at raising sufficient funds to provide its services and distribute its products. However, the author tells us more. She talks about feasibility studies and capital campaigns. And she talks about actually being a professional fundraiser, and about special or unique circumstances where traditional fundraising methods don't always work well.

I really have only one problem with this book. I would like it so much better if the author would change its title to something like - A Fundraising Startup Guide: The Nuts and Bolts to Building a Successful Fundraising Profit Center. I realize the author's background is in helping cash-strapped nonprofits that advocate social change, and that this book was initially created to help her help those organizations (and herself). But the book is not merely about nonprofits that advocate social change. And I wish the title would properly reflect what the book covers. 5 stars!

Berkley and Economy have summarized, in a very simply fashion, how regular people with a vision and sense of purpose can step in and make things happen when others, like the goverment or agency, fail. This is a tale of ordinary people mobilizing others to do extraordinary things. It's both inspirational as well as reassuring that people like Bert, Peter and the others in the book are there to take action. We should all follow their lead.

This book brings to light the real impact a business can have on a community. How can we get this message to more business and corporate leaders. The book will jump start your enthusiasm to give back to the community and become involved.

This is in inspiring book! It made me reflect on how I could elevate the contributions of both myself and those I work with to help others in the community. As a company, we are faithful participants in Kansas City's Day Of Caring, the Susan B. Komen run, and multiple other community activities, but based on what others have done, we can clearly do much more.

I encourage everyone to read this book!

This book provides truly inspirational stories of incredible individuals (certainly including Bert Berkley himself) who are doing great works to make a difference, each in their own way. In addition, the interviews are really helpful getting into the motivations and challenges faced in these endeavours, and there is a very practical, 'how to' sense about it all. A MUST READ!!

The authors know what they're talking about; they have spoken to some of the most visionary leaders in the business world and brought us their stories of why giving back has made extraordinary changes in our communities. The authors hope the book will become a catalyst of change for businesspeople who want to make an impact on the world around them - a blueprint for doing just that is contained in these pages. There is much we can all learn from this book.

Hannah's Art of the Home doesn't break any new ground. Clutter is bad and organization is good. We all know that. But what I like about this book is her warm, funny and genuine writing style. She doesn't strive for (or even want) perfection - from herself or her readers. She doesn't make me feel bad for not having a home out of House and Garden. Hannah breaks down personality types and gives methods and advice to help each category develop the home that is truly a Home for them. What works for Creative Spirits won't necessarily work as well for Mother Hen types. Again, not rocket science, but presented well.

Hannah's anecdotes about her own life are amusing and inspiring. She operates a business, has six kids (which she homeschools) and manages her home. She doesn't come across as a guru but more like a friend you could ask for advice without feeling embarrassed.

For those of us with clutter issues, Hannah's book is worth checking out.

One of the best books I have purchased. Gives you direction and instruction right away. Hannah has a great sense of humor and is very insightful. You can start applying it to your crazy life the very same day. Excellent buy. Be sure to get one for you and one to loan out to friends because you will be telling everyone you know about it!

Ok, I confess. I am not a natural housekeeper. In fact, I do everything I can to avoid all things homemaking as long as I can.

I'm getting better, but I'm still struggling. My dream is to hire a housekeeper/cook - sort of like "Alice" from the Brady bunch - remember her?

Well, if you're like me, and can't afford an Alice, this is the book for you. It's very practical, and laugh-out-loud-funny (just ask my teenage son who was startled and embarrassed by a loud guffaw bursting from his mother in the waiting room at the dentist's last week!)

Darlene Hull
the Mom-Defrazzler

Written by the publisher of "HK Magazine", an online magazine geared toward families, Hannah's Art Of Home: Managing Your Home Around Your Personality is a straightforward guide to organizing and decorating a home that suits one's personality tastes. From learning how to de-clutter chaos, to top techniques for keeping things clean with less effort, to decoration formulas for success and more, Hannah's Art Of Home is filled cover to cover with tips, tricks, and techniques to make one's domain appropriate for one's spirit and family. Highly recommended.

This book looks at homemaking with new eyes. Rather than approaching it as a chore, Hannah Keeley uses her background in Psychology and her love of homemaking to inspire and organize the daily household routines to compliment your personality. She focuses on how your personality affects your home environment and takes homemaking to a realistic, fun, and energetic place. Take a moment to determine your homemaking personality and see how to find time to enjoy the rest of your life.

I have been using The Heart of Change book in my consulting practice. Dan Cohen's Field Guide adds a new dimension to the useability of the model. In this book Cohen has brought his extensive experience with Deloitte Consulting's Large Scale Change Practice to bear in delivering tacit knowledge of how successful change initiatives using the Heart of Change model really happen. There are ample insights, tips and tools. In addition he very successfully integrates the the theory behind the model with key challenges, diagnostic tools, stories to remember and other helpful resources.

This is a strong practical guide to organizational change. It's foundational with tools well integrated and clearly defined. Brilliant. Thanks for this practical guide.

Dan S. Cohen's The Heart Of Change Field Guide: Tools And Tactics For Leading Change In Your Organization is a follow-up to the 1996 John Kotter best-sellers Leading Change, which outlined an eight-step program for organizational change which was applauded and followed by businesses around the world. Here leaders and managers receive tools and frameworks for bringing these changes to life within their own companies, teaching how to implement each step in the process and packing in checklists, commentary, tips, and practical application methods throughout. From communicating for buy-in to creating, shaping and imparting a vision for change, The Heart Of Change Field Guide takes idea and applies it to real-life situations.

The Heart of Change (2002), co-authored by Kotter and Cohen, hit a chord in the marketplace because it told stories that leaders could relate to (based on the eight steps of change) about project successes and failures. Cohen's Field Guide (2005) takes those winning principles and translates them into practical tools to help monitor and measure success along each step.

As a consultant, I use these principles and tools on a regular basis to help my clients achieve lasting change. The diagnostic tools for each step are a great way to identify barriers and risks so you can bust through those barriers and mitigate risks.

If your organization is undergoing significant change, this is a book that you MUST have not only in your library but on your desk for regular use.

I was initially skeptical when this book was recommended by a coworker. But wow! The two most outstanding points are:
1.The change management insights to be gained from the real-life case studies. It's reassuring to know you're not alone in facing these challenges.
2. The dignostic tools are very helpful in identifying similar issues to be resolved in my company. Great not to be "insulted" by cookie-cutter solutions.
This is information and guidance that I can put to work immediately. Would recommend to any executive currently facing change management issues.

Excellnt book for new comers. It really informs you of the proper procedures for starting a consulting business.

The first time I've read Tom Lambert's book, I did it because I was reading a book called "How to Read a Book", and needed a good piece of writing which would also justify my time spent reading it.

The initial objective was simply to see what the book was about, identify the main ideas and finally decide whether to buy the book or leave it where it was. I am glad that my choice was to take the book home and read it, and then apply what I'd learned from it to my personal business of being an employee, who's an internal consultant to my clients, in the various divisions of the business.

There is no doubt that Tom's work is making my life easier, the more I learn and apply the knowledge acquired from it. His work is easy to read, detailed and informative. It has been written by a Master in the art of consulting. If there were black belts awarded for this craft, Tom would be the one handing them out, so much has he know about the business of consulting.

The way I see the book is like a detailed map you would take, prior to going exploring a new and exciting land, a type of adventure that would be very rewarding, but would present a certain degree of risk if approached without appropriate preparation and with the right attitude. It has significant details in each of the 16 chapters, and caters to all consultants, from beginners to advanced.

The book opens your eyes for the perils and tribulations that are likely to lurk around the corners, and it helps you decide what to do. Personally, I liked the parts where Mr. Lambert helps one to decide whether becoming a consultant is a good idea or not; having decided to take on the profession, should you be a specialist or generalist and the pros and cons of each, and what to do to avoid trouble.

I wish I was more fluent in writing reviews. Since I am not, the best thing from my point of view is keeping it simple: If you are interested in consulting - either as someone about to begin in the profession or a seasoned professional, buy the book. Regardless of where you may be in the profession, it will be of benefit to you. Chances are that you will be entertained and educated at the same time. It is a book that is very likely to save you money in many ways, by teaching you how to market your services the right way, and what works and what doesn't when marketing your practice.

For the price you would pay for the book, there probably is not a more cost effective piece of reading, if your objective is to start well, or keep yourself on track or improve if already an old pro in the game of consulting. I believe that Tom Lambert's book is a present, a gift to be taken and used. I for one am grateful to have come across this book and refer to it often, to my great benefit.

This book is not only a valuable tool for a consultant but also it is a useful book for everyone that involves in business. Tom Lambert is a wellknown consultant with great experience in business. Thus, his book is an excellent resource about everything related to consulting. It is absolutely comprehensive and practicable book, with many useful examples from his experience and inside its pages you can find the solution for everything that you meet as a consultant. Great book!

High Income Consulting offers a comprehensive practical guidance on how to become a successful consultant. Consulting is multibillion-dollar business that is growing at a good rate. There is however a great different between good consultants and successful ones. This book put emphasize on becoming a successful consultant by teaching on how to build your practice from writing winning proposals, setting up your fees professionally and working to a contract. It further narrates low-cost yet effective techniques of marketing your practice.
It is a book for both beginners and experienced consultants as it offers advanced skills on consulting roles, strategies for each stage of consultancy assignment and how to avoid problems while maintaining good relation with the client. Thanks to the Consultant's Toolkit part, which is the action-based summary of the skills taught in the book and it can be used as a quick reference guide to both beginners and gurus.

The author of High Income Consulting, Tom Lambert, is a renowned international consultant and writer with several years experience in consulting. His book provides a practical guide to newcomers and experienced professionals on how to build and sustain very profitable, high quality professional practices that consistently provide high and secure income, irrespective of the state of the economy. The book is based on exhaustive research on what is actually done by top earners in Europe and America.

The author explains about how to develop and sustain a high income consultancy practice. He explains the tools and techniques of the profession as well as its ethics. The book teaches about being a good and successful consultant. It is an important reference book that will help the reader to develop an effective business strategy to attract and retain clients.

I have done some part-time consultancy services in the past. I was a good consultant but not a successful one as I tended to charge low fees. I had no guidance on how to price my services properly.

Having read the book, I learnt how successful consultants build their reputation, status, practice and income. I now know how to maximise my income and avoid giving my valuable services away with little or no payment.

My organisation sometimes hires consultants when the knowledge pool in the organisation has run dry. By understanding how good consultants work, I now maximise the chances of a successful relationship.

If you've been fortunate enough to experience a workplace that crackles with creative energy and productivity, you know all about "Hot Spots." College professor Lynda Gratton has spent more than 10 years studying the internal corporate junctures where innovation, excitement and collaboration meet. She found that organizations that create the fertile conditions in which Hot Spots emerge and flourish are rewarded with exceptional value and growth. In fact, she demonstrates that leading companies, such as BP and Nokia, cultivate Hot Spots as an integral part of their corporate cultures. If your company is stuck in the "Big Freeze" - the opposite of Hot Spots - you won't be able to turn things around overnight. But don't give Gratton's slightly overwritten yet intriguing book the cold shoulder. getAbstract thinks it might light a fire at many companies.

Creativiteit, inspiratie, leiderschap en innovatie zijn woorden die iets hebben met het overspringen van vonken, vlammend vuur, enthousiasme en flow. Je zou dergelijke fenomenen zo graag tastbaar, meetbaar, stuurbaar willen maken. Slecht nieuws: dergelijke hot spots zijn niet te plannen of op te leggen; de maakbaarheid valt tegen. Goed nieuws volgens Lynda Gratton : ze kunnen wel gefaciliteerd, gekoesterd en ontwikkeld worden. Slecht nieuws: ondanks de in het boek beschreven succesverhalen van Linux, BP, Nokia, Toyota, en dergelijke, is de auteur wel zo nuchter om aan te geven, dat allerhande oorzaken voor het afkoelen, uitdoven of afsterven van hot spots kunnen leiden. Handle with care, dus.

Hoewel een literatuuropgave ontbreekt, Lynda Gratton wel de interdisciplinaire aanpak voor haar onderzoek en achterin in een appendix de gehanteerde inzichten uit de psychologie, economie, etc. aangeeft, kun je Hot Spots goed plaatsen in het verlengde van Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline (met name het systeemdenken is ook in Hot Spots uitgewerkt in diagrammen en toelichting), Meerwaarde-innovatie en de ideeën van Robert E. Quinn over de productieve gemeenschap. Kapstok om hot spots te kunnen laten ontstaan zijn - niet verrassend - aanstekelijke visie, doel en vragen. De conversatie aangaan (Peter Senge zou dialoog gebruiken).

Het ontstaan en voortbestaan van een hot spot is afhankelijk van de combinatie van vier factoren:
1. een `coöperatieve mindset': een geheel van overtuigingen en daarbij passende denkwijzen en houdingen dat de wil en het belang van hechte samenwerking tot uitdrukking brengt. Het eigenbelang of najagen van eigen succes, de basis van veel (andere) business en management modellen, is dodelijk voor een hot spot. Al te sterke individuele beloningstructuren ook. Terug naar de samenwerking.
2. Grenzen overschrijden: hoewel grensoverschrijdende samenwerking in de praktijk uiterst moeilijk valt te realiseren (tijd, competenties, andere werkzaamheden, work/life balance), geven succesvolle praktijkvoorbeelden (BP en Nokia) aan hoe belangrijk een dergelijke samenwerking is voor het ontstaan van innovatieve projectgroepen en Communities of Practice.
3. Aanstekelijk doel waar de participanten zich in herkennen en voor willen gaan, in woord en daad.
4. Productief vermogen: er moet wel wat uitkomen, en dus zijn afspraken over tijd, opleveringen en resultaten noodzakelijk. Conflicthantering is daarbij een noodzakelijke competentie.

Waar andere modellen de adoptie van best practices benadrukken, gaat Gratton een stap verder, namelijk erop wijzen, dat de 'signature processen' nog belangrijker zijn: de binnenwereld naar buiten brengen. Andere auteurs zouden het in dit kader hebben over organisatie DNA, het wezen van de organisatie, de missie, organizational story telling. Hierbij past leiderschap die inspireren, faciliteren, coachen en bruggen bouwen. De auteur biedt een aantal vragenlijsten aan om de as-is situatie rondom hot spots en de bijbehorende cultuur in de eigen organisatie inzichtelijk te maken. Natuurlijk worden zowel de lezer als auteur enthousiast bij het (h)erkennen van hot spots in 'echte' organisaties, al blijft het 'hoe dan' in de praktijkverhalen naar mijn smaak nog onderbelicht.

Zonder het boek of Lynda Gratton als zodanig op een voetstuk te willen plaatsen, bevestigen de onderzoeksresultaten het uitgeput zijn van modellen die alleen voor management van middelen, efficiency maatregelen, de harde kant van de business gaan en onderkent ze de noodzaak mogelijkheden voor innovatie en productiviteitsverbetering te zoeken bij de mensen en de eigen organisatie. Het sociaal en relationeel kapitaal is zeker bij de grote, internationaal opererende, uit diverse fusies en overnames samengestelde ondernemingen, of uitgebreider in het ecosysteem (allianties, partners, etc.) veel groter dan tot nu toe benut.

If you are contemplating to make your unit, your organisation and your environment more innovative, exciting and stimulating then "Hot Spots" is a must read.

The author, Lynda Gratton, a professor at the London Business School and a renowned authority on HR Strategy presents a concise yet compelling framework for promoting greater levels of cooperation towards the creation of positive energy, more productivity and innovation in the workplace.

The core of the book is most effectively presented in chapters 3 to 6 which dwell upon the four elements, the essentials to create a "Hot Spot" as under:

The first element towards the creation of a "Hot Spot" is towards "developing a cooperative mindset (where trust and a helpful attitude are a must).

The second element relates to the concept of "boundary spanning" (people working in and across groups, functions and business units for the sharing of knowledge through close/familiar colleagues/friends as well as acquaintances/associates.

The third element relates to an "igniting purpose" (working for an ambitious and overreaching goal/task - here the role of the leader, be it the CEO, the unit head and the team leader to inspire and motivate through asking difficult and purposeful questions is a crucial element and is further explored in Chapter 7).

Productive Capacity i.e. the fourth and final element is really about managing these groups and teams in terms of appreciating talents, about making and keeping commitments and in managing conflict and time.

The book also contains an excellently worded appendix that acts as a resource guide complete with diagnostic surveys for the creation of "Hot Spots." This section is in essence a mini workshop on "Hot Spots" and is a must read to be used by teams and colleagues alike.

The book's underlying message is crisp and most relevant yet seemingly difficulty to apply in the real world of organisational life i.e. for organisations to flourish and create value, processes need to be created and fostered towards the building of partnerships and alliances; an essential prerequisite being an collaborative mindset existing amongst it's people.

Professor Gratton's treatise on "Hot Spots" makes for a very interesting read and is quite inspirational backed by a decade of research on some of the top-performing organisations the world over (BP, Goldman Sachs, Nokia, Ogilvy One to name a few).

Readers are also urged to read two of her earlier excellent and inspirational works - Living Strategy (2001) and The Democratic Enterprise (2004) which complete this trilogy (wherein Hot Spots is the third).

A highly recommended read for all in the corporate fraternity.



*******

The fundamental equation "Hot Spots = (Cooperative Mindset x Boundary Spanning x Igniting Purpose) x Productive Capacity" is the organising principle of this book. All material is very well organised to illustrate and support this insight. The style is conversational and authoritative. There is a lack of pretension that is refreshing in business literature. The material is supported throughout by real life examples. My favourite is the `Truffles' initiative at OgilvyOne. There are many other examples across many industries.

Professor Gratton uses language in a way that reinforces the main messages and makes concepts memorable: `Signature Processes' describe activities that powerfully convey a company's character and passion; `Boundary Spanners' move in many worlds, share information and connect people. `Big Freeze' and `Country Club' describe sub-cultures unlikely to produce hotspots!

Appendix A contains some fabulous material to help readers interested in creating their own `hot spots' - including many diagnostic questions and ways to map your system. Go on......treat yourself....... you deserve it!

In this volume, Lynda Gratton explains how and why "boundaryless cooperation fuels innovation...why some teams, workplaces, and organizations buzz with energy - and others don't." The business model she recommends is an "open" one. In fact, it is precisely what Henry Chesbrough brilliantly explains in Open Innovation and in his more recent book, Open Business Models. What is a "boundaryless" organization? GE is probably the most prominent example. (Curiously, there are no references in Hot Spots to Chesbrough, GE or its former CEO, Jack Welch.) According to Gratton, a "boundaryless organization" is one within which people are engaged in "purposeful conversation"; there are no barriers to communication, cooperation, and collaboration; and the organization has an ever-widening "net of involvement."

Those whom Gratton calls "boundary spanners" are very important because they break down the "walls" between in-groups and out-groups. They have a network of relationships that form a natural bridge between the two groups. (Chesbrough calls them "innovation intermediaries.") In a boundaryless organization, people feel energized and vibrantly alive. Their brains buzz with ideas as they share with others the joy and excitement of "exploiting and applying knowledge that is already known and genuinely exploring what was previously unknown." Relationships between and among those involved create a Hot Spot.

"One of the most profound insights about Hot Spots is that their innovative capacity arises from the intelligence, insights, and wisdom of people working together. The energy contained in a Hot Spot is essentially a combination of their individual energy with the addition of the relational energy generated between them." Hence the importance of (a) having a "cooperative mindset," (b) "boundary spanners," (c) "igniting purpose," and (d) sustaining sufficient "productive capacity." Gratton acknowledges that there is much of substantial value to be learned by examining best practices in exemplary companies (e.g. BP, PgilvyOne, Nokia, and Linux)but also other types of practices, notably what she characterizes as "signature processes" which embody a given organization's character. They arise from passions and interests within the organization. Whereas best practices "bring the outside in," signature processes "bring the inside out."

To Gratton's great credit, after identifying the "what" in the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2, she focuses most of her attention on "how" and "why" in the remaining six chapters. I also appreciate the provision of information in three appendices, especially in the first ("Resources for Creating Hot Spots"). And I especially appreciate Gratton's decision to want until the final chapter before explaining how to design (or re-design) an organization in which Hot Spots "emerge." The process consists of five phases best revealed within Gratton's narrative (i.e. in context) but I do presume to suggest that Hot Spots are inevitable and can exist anywhere, both physically and electronically. The challenge is to encourage and support them without institutionalizing ("housebreaking") them. That is a very real danger, one which Bob Taylor obviously recognized when he insisted that the Xerox Corporation allow him to establish - with unlimited funding -- the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) which those at Xerox's corporate headquarters (in Connecticut) viewed as a "renegade" think tank. In fact, Taylor and his associates conceptualized the very notion of the desktop computer, long before IBM launched its PC, and it laid the foundation for Microsoft Windows with a prototype graphical user interface of icons and layered screens. Even the technology that makes it possible for these words to appear on the screen can trace its roots to Xerox's eccentric band of innovators. It is possible but highly unlikely that any of this could have been achieved, had the research center been absorbed within the Xerox corporate culture in the 1970s.

Guided and informed by Gratton's observations and recommendations, senior-level executives will be well-prepared to provide the leadership needed to avoid or overcome barriers to innovation within their organizations by nurturing a cooperative mindset, encouraging and supporting those who are "boundary spanners," igniting purpose at all levels and in all areas throughout the given enterprise, and - as a result -- sustain sufficient "productive capacity."

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out two of Gratton's earlier works, Living Strategy: Putting People at the Heart of Corporate Purpose and The Democratic Enterprise: Liberating Your Business with Freedom, Flexibility, and Commitment. Also When Sparks Fly: Harnessing the Power of Group Creativity by Dorothy Leonard-Barton and Walter C. Swap, Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration by Warren G. Bennis and Patricia Ward Biederman, and Juice: The Creative Fuel That Drives World-Class Inventors by Evan I. Schwartz.

I did like this book because it offers a "battle plan"-you feel empowered just reading it. Some of the ideas in the book are very very practical and I would have never thought about them. However...not all the ideas are all that original, and I was doing lots of the things described anyway. Another problem is that the author, instead of showing more about organizing paperwork, refers her readers to a different book... Overall, it's a pretty nice read, but for the organizing freaks out there-don't expect an epiphany!

I like the author's use of humor as well as the included lists for organization. It is possible to organize one area at a time. I have read Alexandria Stoddard in the past and like how this author incorporates her ideas especially for the Decompression Chamber. I live in a one room apartment so I can develop my own Cozy Corner.
This book is more an advanced course in organization than other books I have used in the past. This previous knowledge is often assumed. The book also has another problem common to books on organization. Many of us rent and for that reason cannot add built-ins to where we live.

Household Winners For Working Women: Your Personal Organizational Tool Kit To Declutter & Design A Comfortable Home is a highly practical and "user friendly" guide for keeping one's home free of useless encumbrances and enhancing a cozy, liveable space in which to better enjoy life. Written specifically for working women with limited time for housework, individual chapters address everything from an easy-to-access closet, to choosing groceries that offer maximum nutrition and delicious preparation with minimum fuss, to car cleaning and car jacking prevention tips, Household Winners For Working Women is packed cover to cover with solid, useful, and highly recommended ideas, suggestions, and advice.

I purchased this book as a gift for my wife. She is a fairly well organized person but she said that she needed to be better about certain tasks. So anyway, I gave it to her and she said it was perfect. The fact that she was able to read and zoom in on the relevant chapters to her pleased her to no end. I highly recommend this book. It is a great gift idea.

Written in a conversational style, Dr. Bishop guides us through a delightful process of decluttering and organizing our home environments--to Assess, Zone, Unload, Rearrange & Enjoy. Chapters address creating organized rooms and work and storage spaces throughout the home. This comprehensive manual is especially valuable for the numerous checklists for project planning and for documenting important family and household information. Also includes extensive, useful Resources, Apprendix, and Bibliography sections.

If reading from beginning-to-end is not your style, start by learning Dr. Bishop's philosophy of AZURE-ing (p.340-41) and move to Chapter 4 to create your own Personal Decompression Chamber. Then, in your personal care retreat, read the remaining chapters that will guide you in the process of organizing your other home environments, and simplifying your life to enjoy it more!

I was impressed with the chapter by Charlotte Laws on Jainism. I have spent years searching for information on this elusive religion and found very little. Jainism has much to offer the environmental movement, both radical and mainstream. As a novice Jain, this chapter made me think about my own habits and realize I need to make some major changes. I can lend a hand to the environment and animals and plan to do so from now on.

People in and around mainstream environmentalism have spent the last year mentally masturbating about whether or not environmentalism is dead. Igniting a Revolution is a thoughtful, noisy, cantankerous, and courageous collection that should serve as a conceptual prophylactic that ends that debate once and for all. During a time of Green Scare when federal authorities are infiltrating activist groups everywhere, decrying "ecoterrorism" in the hollow halls of government, and carting earth and animal liberationists off to prision as quickly as possible, Best & Nocella (along with the AK collective) have edited/produced a roof raising howl of tremendous defiance and disgust. Only time will tell if the book is prophetic and ecologically mindful revolutionary forces materialize to play a role in transforming society such that a verdant peace grows out of the shorted-out circuitry of the mega-war-machine. In the meantime, however, the diverse range of essays included herein should be more than capable of setting fire to readers' imaginations as they generate ideas of how a more just, peaceful, and beautiful world might be achieved. A must read I would think for anyone with even the slightest concern for the state of the planet...

In a time when apathy is no longer a luxury we can afford; this book delves into the deep social-environmental issues that involve us all. This book has an underlying message that hyper-individualism is not at all in our best interest, we should be practicing social responsibility for even the slightest hope of a sustainable planet.

Much of the environmental struggle reminds me of the idea that the means of resistance is not determined by the oppressed; rather the oppressor.

Are the "eco-terrorists" fighting fair? Well, how about their opponents; big business with seemingly endless financial resources and legal sway?

This book is a great read and a real motivator.

I have read this book twice and find something amazing everytime I read it. With so many authors talking about so many amazing and important topics, this book is perfect for anyone interested in social change, - from feminism to veganism. This book is a must read!

I've been a member of the friends of AK press for about six years. Every month or so I get a package filled with books, videos and CDs. It is a cool deal, for twenty bucks a month you get everything AK press produces plus stickers and random zines.

Today I opened an AK press package and found a book with my writing in it. It was pretty cool. Igniting a revolution: voices in defense of the earth is a pretty intense anthology with a nice rant from King Maxwell. It was cool enough to be in an AK press book, but this book is filled with some serious radical stars and takes up where most of the other radical ecology books of the nineties finished.

The alliance-orientented big tent approach is worn on most of our sleeves. Queers, radical labor peeps, "take back the land" indigenous activists, eco-feminists, animal liberationists, anti-civilization roughnecks - y'all are included in here. This ain't your Dave Foreman radical ecology.

Despite being in the book, I had no idea who else was going to be included. Poems from anti-imperialist political prisoner Marilyn Buck help to set the tone of the text as open but SERIOUS. A few poetic words are included on being imprisoned by Little Chairman Fred Hampton - POCC. The book includes a nice essay from Robert Jensen who seems to agree with the 100-mile diet as a revolutionary ecological tactic and a piece by Derek Jensen on his own direct action. Adam Weismann, a dedicated NY activist who is serious about freegan scavenging and helps to articulate a feral city-based life style in his chapter. L. Kimmerer offers a strong argument about faith and liberation.

I'm kind of excited that there is a fervent discussion on the contribution of the anti-civilization movements to earth liberation activities. John Zerzan drops a brief tribute to liberation. Imprisoned activists Rob Los Ricos and "Critter" Marshall get seriously hardcore on folks while Jeff "Free" Luers tells his story of radical activism.

Igniting a revolution has a great section on repression with words from a dozen folks who've done time for earth, native, and anti-imperialist actions. Sara Olson, the symbionese liberation army underground activist who was captured in 1999 calls for Armageddon. Rik Scarce writes about the repression of authors and activists. Anne Hansen also provides a chapter reflecting on her own contributions to earth liberation and the continued value of direct action.

The two highlights of the book in my opinion are former Black Panther and former BLA activist Ashanti Alston's essay on the cross-fertilization between militants called "Mojo Workin'" - an awesome dialogue. The other piece which brought me to tears was pattrice jones' "stomping with the elephants" which documents how humans can learn from animals about liberation. Both should be required reading, and soon will be in my classes . . .

Closing with a poem from BLA coordinator Jalil Muntaqim on Katrina, the book stands as an incredible testament to the power and diversity of the struggles for the earth. There is no other text like this - certainly nothing as diverse or as militant.

The book is awesome and worth your attention. Support AK Press, get your learn on and buy one now!

Geoff Surratt and team provide an amazing resource for any church considering a multi-site strategy. This book is extremely informative, asks probing questions to help you think through why you want to go multi-site, how to do it, etc. They provide great tools to help you create timelines and budgets. It has been a fabulous resource to help my church start moving aggressively toward our vision to go multi-site. Before reading the book, I didn't know where to start. Since reading the book I feel like I have a much better understanding of the challenges and opportunities and I have a better idea of how to get our church moving towards this goal.

A wonderful book that gets you thinking about a vital growth barrier- your facility. There is no one way to go multi-site, and I really like how this book shares the various different ways of expanding our church without either building a larger facility or starting another church altogether. A great win-win! We will definately be going multi-site and my leadership will be reading this book as a next step.

This book is right on and I believe completely that this is the way the Lord is moving His Church. In a time of mega churches, it takes mega dollars to make them happen. I see the multi-site church revolution as being a way where God takes awesome churches, doing awesome things and allowing them to grow horizontally vs. vertically for a fraction of the dollars. Our church is moving in this direction and it is so much more strategic than to build a bigger building. Thanks for the inspiration! Todd - Horizons Community Church, Ham Lake, MN.

I love this book. Here is why!

* It's original. I have not found another book that discusses this model of reproduction.

* It is full of relevant information. These guys have done their homework. They have researched the issue thoroughly.

* It's short. 200 pages.

* It's full of stories. The book is full of stories of real life churches and leaders who have listened to God and are pioneering this model. I learn a lot from stories.

* It focuses on application. At the end of every chapter there are workouts that will help you apply what you've read. There are assessments, checklists, charts, and graphs to help you wherever you are at in the process.

* It is written for all kinds of churches. Churches of any size and any age. It's written for rural, suburban and/or urban churches. This book does NOT say that multi-site is the ONLY model and it does NOT say there is only ONE WAY to do multi-site. It is full of principles that can be applied whatever your situation.

If you are even thinking about doing church in multiple locations it would be beneficial to invest a few dollars and read this book.

The book is good, but comes across as a "how-to" manual, rather than as an opportunity to give testimony of the Lord's faithfulness. I'm sorry if that sounds cynical, but I'm not convinced that as Christians, passionate for the Lord's glory, we need that kind of approach as we seek new ways of creatively sharing the good news about Jesus.

Positive Turbulence is a very practical guide to keeping your organization moving at a healthy pace and continuing to innovate in order to compete in today's ever-changing marketplace. The theories included can be easily applied and related to any organization with Positive or Negative turbulence. It's a fluid read that's over before you know it.

Positive Turbulence is helpful for leaders at all levels of an organization. With theories and examples, the author promotes the need to see the world of work with fresh eyes and to learn from unexpected situations. As a well-known authority on creativity and innovation, Dr. Gryskiewicz provides convincing information about the value of using changing, often turbulent conditions, to shape a flexible organization, open to new ideas. A good source of practical approaches and lots of resources in an easy-to-read format--this is a good book to include in your leadership library.

C.M.Steward Managing Director The Crossland Group

Stan Gryskiewicz has a gift for telling a story. This makes his book, Postive Turbulence, a pleasure to read. More important, he has years of experience in helping organizations, teams, and individuals become more innnovative. This makes Positive Turbulence truly useful.

This optimistic, upbeat book stands out because of Gryskiewicz's ability to show how his ideas can be put into action. Pragmatic and practical, he shares his ideas and experience generously. Strategies such as "Focusing on the periphery as a source for innovation and renewal" come to life as a way of spotting technology shifts and marketplace trends.

As a psychologist and consultant, I work with R & D teams and with managers who need to become more effective, forward-looking leaders. This is a book I can and will recommend to my clients and to my colleagues.

As a business man and entrepeneur for more than 40 years, I am forced to confess that this is the most "down to earth" high quality thinking book that came into my hands in many years. It shows from the very begining -and in each page- what real innovation is and should be in any organization operating in any country. It is written out of a life experience which obviously includes knowledge and hard extended atentive work (a good life!). It is not an "instant happening", like instant coffe and other much popular approaches to delicate and far reaching issues, accompanied by an extensive and highly practical "how to" hints and tools for each managerial level and position. Mr. Gryskiewicz, if you intend to keep on writting on the subject, it is not going to be easy to surpass this "Positive Turbulence" you generated. Angel Sanhueza, Executive Director, CPS International.

POSITIVE TURBULENCE is enjoyable to read, logical in its structure but not stiff, and it really reflects the essence of 30 years of top-level insight into major organizations around the world. The author provides us with the best of this experience, and not all writers do this-they often try to withhold a few gems for the next book, making the current product less than it could have been.

It is our good fortune that the author has avoided this temptation. Rather, this book is a sincere sharing of a breakthrough experience that has lessons of value the reader can immediately put to productive use. I am one of those that tries on a lot of books, and few seem to fit; but POSITIVE TURBULENCE fits perfectly and, like a favorite, it will be enjoyed and appreciated for a lifetime.