Condon Books

To review this book I will divide it into two parts.

The first part is the story of Charlie's Angels from it's very first inception when it was about three "freelance crimefighters" calling themselves The Alley Cats to the final days of shooting when the show closed it production for good. There are a lot of interesting backstage tell-alls going on here featuring just about everyone connected with the show. We also have some pretty objectionable opinions on storylines and the direction of the series, as well as some pretty honest quotes from those that were involved. Very little was held back which makes this book an interesting read, but on the negative side there were a few cases which, unfortunately, sounded like one-sided gossip.
Example #1: the book, of course includes the story of Farrah Fawcett's abrupt decision to not return for season 2 and her subsequent lawsuit settlement which required her to make six more appearances. When she returned to film those episodes, she was "not warm to anyone," according to Cheryl Ladd. "She did not want to be there." Unfortunately, Fawcett was not interviewed for this book, therefore her side of the story was not included.
Example #2: Kate Jackson became increasingly unhappy with the direction of the show and by seasons 2 & 3, she started making a lot of demands which added a lot of tension to the set. Additionally, she apparently was not happy with the hiring of Ladd and the two actresses did not get along very well throughout the two years they filmed the show together. However, Jackson was not interviewed for this book, therefore her side of the story is not included.
In fact, one of the authors admits to having been friends with Jaclyn Smith for many years, and perhaps that is why the book is full of current quotes from Smith and Ladd, while anything from Jackson and Fawcett were lifted from previously published interviews printed while the show was still in production. Suspiciously, the story of how the network wanted to fire Smith after the pilot episode (and Aaron Spelling's fight to keep her on) is missing.
Anyhow, the book is still an interesting read, including the sections featuring Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts. There are also brief resumes done on everybody associated with the series in their respective chapters. Kudos to that!

The second part of the book is an episode guide followed by commentary featuring small trivia and tidbits. The description of the episodes read more like an extended description you'd see in TV guide: enough to set up the plot but leaving enough out to not give anything away. In this case, I think that was wrong and made this section a very boring read. The authors should have included full synopsis from each episode (from beginning to end) - there'd be no need to fear that they would be spoiling anything since anyone who buys a book like this would've seen all the episodes anyway. Still, the commentary is interesting, making notes of notable guests stars and small little tidbits that you never knew, like: only in ONE episode of the entire five year run did all three angels appear in bathing suits together in one shot. Now that's trivia for the thinking man.

The bottom line is that the book should probably be taken for the same amount of entertainment that the TV show should be taken as - some shallow storylines mixed with some really good ones making for some guilty pleasures.

This is a great book. I'm a huge fan of the series and Farrah Fawcett. It's a great book for fans of the hit TV show,from the actresses profiles to the series episode guide and commentary. Great pictures too!

If you are a Charlies Angels fan, then this book is a must. It is full of everyhting you need to know about the show and the beautiful ladies that made the show a hit. Oh and let's not forget Bosley "David Doyle". I loved this show from the day it debuted til the last episode. I have also been a longtime pen pal to one of the authors Jack Condon Who I know for fact has met each one of the Angels personally and is friends with Jaclyn Smith. So I truly recommend this book to all Angels fans because, trust me Mr. Condon knows his Angels.

Ok I love Charlies angels as much as the next... but this book is lame. Just as I watched each week enjoying yet hoping the plots would get better this book is the same. Just reading and waiting for it to get better.
Basically there is nothing you havent heard before. I would sell my copy for a buck plus shipping.

This is such a fun book! Lots of rare photos of all cast members. I really enjoyed the stories and anecdotes from all the personal interviews with the different cast members. This book obviously took lots of time and effort to compile.
I was won over in the first few pages where proper hommage is paid to the Angels' predecessors in female crime-fighting : Anne Francis as Honey West and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel. Charlie's Angels was perhaps ground-breaking but these 2 women broke the ground for the Angels in the previous decade. After this bit of history, it was evident that the author really knows his subject matter.
Just tons of fun facts in this book! Nice filmographies of each cast member and a very cool reference section on all the merchandise created for the show.
There is also a review of each episode of the show. This may be my favorite part as the author points out various bloopers or script inconsistencies that make the show all the more endearing. I didn't know that Rossano Brazzi was an Olympic athelete! The only drawback about his book is that it's so much fun to read that it leaves you wanting more! Thanks for a job well-done Jack!

This book probably presents every scenario you can think of if you want to protect your estate. Reading this book will provide you with intelligent questions while you discuss your estate planning with your attorney.

The book is not only informative, but also entertaining and easy to read. No legaleez to wade through. I highly recommend it.

I felt the book was easy to read. Not one to be read in one sitting, however. I have done extensive estate planning, will preparation, and will updates. However, this book presented some options that I am considering. It also showed me a couple of loopholes that I thought I had closed, that I probably don't. Well worth the money and time to read. I expect to go back to this book several times. I will be taking it with me to an attorney appointment.

Estate planning is so important if you don't want your son in law running off with half your estate in the event of your kid's divorce. This book was a great asset to me ... and a real eyeopener as to what can happen at the reading of your will if you haven't equalized everything. the author even gives you his phone number that readers can call and ask questions free. The book is so good I bought 4 extra copies for friends.

Only estate book I've seen written in an easy-to-read, mini-case-study format. Very practical and thought-provoking advice. Tends to focus on little worst-case scenarios in an attempt to get people to plan properly for all the things that can go wrong in an estate.

For what it's worth, I thought the book was generally best-suited for estates with $100,000 to about $2,000,000 in assets. Don't get me wrong, there's something in here for all estate sizes - especially for people just starting the process of developing a plan. However, don't buy this book looking for technical discussions of advanced tax-minimizing strategies. If you or your clients have estates over this $2MM mark, this book can be a great thought-provoker, but some of the advice isn't really suitable for larger estates.

I have several estate planning books...the "how to" type and they are great. This is the book you need to read before you start filling in the blanks. I wish my parents had read this book. It would have saved my family relationships. This book gives you the basic information you need before drawing up your trust. Protect your beneficiaries and prevent family conflict by reading this book!

Nadine calls it like it is in this excellent guide to making your way in the music business. Fantastic reference for musicians with mainstream ambitions and those representing them.

This amazing book will show you the darker sides of music producing and recording, things you will not see in other book, in living colors and with dozens of photography and along the good side, it presents the failures in music industry and details the motives for the fall. Real life cases are presented and the evolution is followed from the first demo tapes up to stardom, the process and steps that the musician must take to become noticed, almost all of these steps taking years to complete .

It's not often you come across anything related to the music industry that is practical and insightful at the same time. "Hot Hits, Cheap Demos" is a must read for musicians at any stage in the game. Nadine's an insider who shares stories of how successful bands broke through from the inside perspective and in doing so offers opportunities to compare your own progress to the biggies. But what I found most helpful was the "band timeline" that explicitly maps out your career from garage to arena with amazing accuracy! Highly recommended.

Justin
Smith Point
[...]

This book is simply amazing! It is not a boring hard to understand piece of literature. The author Nadine Condon, has many years of experience and has helped the come up of some of our favorite artists ( third eye blind, stroke 9 , mellisa ethridge etc). She breaks down the buisness and how to take it by the horns step by step in a fun and educational process. she provides excellent features like band timelines, How to book a gig - PROPERLY! and how to send press kits. This book is very very usefull, it explains lawyers managers booking agents producers engineers just about everything you ever wanted to know about the buisness she explains in a very user-friendly way! i highly recomned this book to everyone musicians producers engineers a&r reps anyone. if you want any form of future in the music buisness , once you read this , youll wonder how you would of made it with out!

I, too, have read a handful of music industry books. Nadine's has something more than most, though. There are first-person anecdotes chronicaling Nadine's experiences with artists we've all heard of. There are checklists of tangible goals. There is a wealth of constructive advice for artists looking to get out of the "Local Band Ghetto". There is an honest spirit to the book--you can feel that the author is just as passionnate about music today as she was when she first started in the industry.

Nadine's book serves both as inspirational literature and a road map to career goals, no matter what they may be. Seriously, this is the book you need.

I received this book as a gift and I loved it then and still love it now. After seeing the PBS (television) show on this subject I became intrigued and wanted to learn more.
This book does not disappoint. It goes into great detail as to what really happened in 1906 (whether it was reported by the Media or not).

During the 1906 S.F Earthquake (aka: "The 1906 FIRE") the media was influenced by the politicians (& other institutions) , and this book shows what might have truly happened. Well researched.

Ten years ago, I discovered Denial of Disaster and was floored by what I read. This is the definitive historical work on the greatest natural disaster in U.S. History. The research by Gladys Hansen and her team, former Fire Chief Emmett Condon and the superb journalist David Fowler, forever destroys the official lies that have lasted nearly a century. The official death toll is 478: Gladys has proven that more than 3,500 died. The death toll is easily over 6,000. The photographs are superb, the text strong and inviting, the eyewitness accounts are breath taking. Yes, I may be biased: my novel, 1906, is a fictional account of the last, great days of the city of San Francisco as it once was. But my response to this book was immediate and dramatic, long before it inspired me to write my novel. Periodically, I revisit it like an old friend. There is nothing quite like it in the entire book world. It makes history come alive. James Dalessandro

I got this book because it was so highly recommended, after I had finished reading the fiction, 1906. That book gave a lot of information that was new to me, even though I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and my father worked in SF. This book is simply incredible. The amount of photographs of all kinds, including panoramic scenes meant for stereotopic viewers that were popular at that time, and postcards that were 'colored' made this book an incredible find. Not only have I been through it several times, but also I brought it back to my father and mother who were in awe of the detail and the photography provided by the author of this book. Her information concerning individuals, concerning the inability of the fire companies to successfully fight any of the fires (water pipes were broken as were roads made inaccessible)...intrigued me and my father who was a civil engineer.

Then my nephew who is studying at a nearby college came and went through the book, as he is studying urban planning. He was very interested in the modern day SF and the author's explanations of why SF is in an even more precarious position should another quake as strong as the 1906 quake happen, due to continued ignoring of the need for quake proof buildings and water lines, breaks between houses, the fact that SF actually has less fire departments now then in 1906 and other major problems.

I love San Francisco as a city and where I grew up, but quite frankly, I would never dream of moving back there, partly because of this book. Yet there are other cities equally at risk over poor urban planning (new Orleans for one), and this book would be a good required reading for those going into urban planning and environmental impact on human populations.

A truly great book...

Karen Sadler

As somewhat of a history buff, this book fascinated me. The photos are simply astounding and easy to get lost in. If you're interested in the real story of the quake, check out the DVD documentary "Disaster by the Bay", also available here. I've seen all the documentaries on this subject and "Disaster" is the best by far.

This book is the must have for anyone interested in this history of San Francisco. As a fifth generation native of the "City" who had reilitives who lived through this natural disaster, I can wholeheartedly say that this is the the quinticental book on the subject. It is filled with never before published pictures of both the distruction and the notiable public figures of the day. and dose a very good job of correcting some of the misinformation attributed to the original official record of the earthquake and fire. Simple a great book.

A mendicant bush father ends up with his young daughter, something that he really doesn't want to have happen.

The daughter, of course, needs a parent, although a tough and independent kid. Gradually, she grows on him, even though he sees her as a burden to start with, etc.

This 1955 Australian literary classic is hardly known at all in the US. And for a good reason: no publisher has seen fit to publish an annotated edition that would put translations of the copious "Strine" expressions (Australian slang) at the bottom of each page. Some geographical and cultural annotations would be a big help too. As it is, the reader is obligated to have an Australian dictionary at hand at all times to get through the story.
Why bother to publish an annotated edition? Here's why. Out of hundreds of novels dealing with the important topic of parental kidnapping ("PK"), this is the finest (in English at least). Not only is this a masterpiece of the PK sub-genre, it is a profound and poetic evocation of parenthood, fatherhood in particular. It's the sort of book that one might choose as required reading for high-school and college students if the topic of fatherhood ever overcame educators' lack of interest in fatherhood.
Like Joyce's "Ulysses," "The Shiralee" is inspired by an ancient epic, "The Odyssey." Unlike Joyce, Niland is spare with words and wears his learning so lightly you might not even realize you are reading an epic studded with symbols Melvillesque in scale. Like the Homer's hero, Niland's is a physical, not merely mental, wanderer.
Niland's hero is an Everyman who evokes another precursor as well, the voyager of Pilgrim's Progress. The Shiralee's pilgrimage is, however, the progress of the soul of fatherhood itself.
There is so much to be read "between the lines" (the place from which the story's real power emanates) that the book virtually demands a prompt second reading.
How many copies can sell in the US market? Just count the number of fathers in this country and add all their coming-of-age sons and you'll have that figure.

My mom recorded the Shiralee on tape some years ago. I love it! It is such a good story. They really need to get it on DVD.

I was fortunate enough to have recorded the movie, The Shiralee, when it was on Masterpiece Theater all those years ago. Actually, my grandparents taped, it as I about 10 years old. This film moved me in a way, even then, that I can only describe as profound. When I watch it today, it brings me something different each time. I only wish I could get my hands on the book!

I loved the book. My husband saw it on Masterpiece Theatre the same 10 years ago as other readers. I would like to know if the video is available to purchase or if it will air again soon. I've tried desparately in the past 5 years to locate the right people that might air it again-No luck. please help. Thanks

I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT'S COOL HOW THEY PUT THE SCRIPT IN THE BOOK.
I've seen the movie 5 times, and I can't wait until August 19th when it comes out! I'll be sure to be it.

It took 10 days for it to arrive, but it was worth the wait! I ordered used. But it was in perfect condition.

I've seen this movie 8 times, so it's just natural that I bought this book. The book cover was damaged, so I told amazon, and they sent me a new one, free of charge, within days! I love the pictures, they are amazing, and I love how the lyrics and script is included. This book tells the story of the movie with pictures. I also loved the behind the scenes information they had. This is a must-have for any die-hard Chicago fan.

If i could i would give this book more stars. This really captures the movie well. You need to buy, The Soundtrack & of course The Movie if you are a fan of the movie! Im only on page 37 and i just LOVE this book! To anyone who has not seen Chicago yet i say this to you "what the heck are you doing on your computer you chould be out going to see it"

I've been dying for this book to come out! Finally, I get it. I love it. I have to express my feelings for this great film, play and book. First of all...this is probably one of the most lavish musicals ever made. Second of all...if you have never seen the film, Do! Third of all...buy this book! It includes the complete screenplay (with some cuts from it) and an in-depth behind the scenes section with picutures of the 1975 Broadway play, the making of the film and real life "murderer's row."
If you love Chicago, buy this book! It rocks!

If you liked the movie (and, didn't we all?) you'll love this lavish, razzle-dazzle book. Some 183 eye-popping full color photos and illustrations are reminders of what a treat for the eyes this film is. It's hard to believe that pages can contain those glamorous larger than life screen figures - Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah - but, they do with photographs that sizzle.

In his intriguing introduction Director Rob Marshall relates his fascination with Chicago: "I was fifteen when I first saw Chicago on the New York stage. After seeing the performance, I listened to the album over and over and loved this musical more than words can convey. For me, Chicago was Broadway. So it's a dream come true for me that I've come full circle, going from that little kid, the 15-year-old at the stage door, to directing this movie. Please forgive me for believing it's destiny."

Marshall goes on to explain both the difficulties and joys of adapting Chicago from stage to film.

An especially absorbing section of this volume is devoted to the genesis of Chicago which was originally based on a real murder which took place in the city of Chicago in the 1920s. A man was found shot to death in a car owned by Mrs. Belva Gaertner, a cabaret singer with two ex-husbands. At first the woman denied any knowledge of the crime but later admitted that the gun found in the auto was hers. To every question asked of her she replied, "I don't know. I was drunk."

It comes as no surprise that she was acquitted. Following this announcement she laughed, hugged her attorneys, and thanked the jury. You know what they say about truth being stranger than fiction!

Remember Ginger Rogers? She came on screen as Roxie Hart in 1942.

The book Chicago is filled with little known facts, such as for the film's closing number when Roxie and Velma shoot out lights to spell their names over 10,000 light bulbs were used to create the 20 by 30 foot wall of bulbs. And, find out how and where Rob Marshall auditioned Renee Zellweger.

There's no place like Chicago that toddlin' town, and there's no book like Chicago!

- Gail Cooke

How can any little book presume to be 'complete' when it comes to Alfred Hitchcock?

He practically invented a cinematic language, used his commercial success to at once deflate pretense in others and experiment most boldly with cinematic form, and, in the process, scared the pants off us.

What is complete in this book? Each film is given its own section, which concludes with a "Final Analysis" section. Here's a quick cut from the final "Final Analysis" [Family Plot]:

"Hitch's last project was the most important one he ever undertook, for trying to get this spy story to the screen allowed him to entertain the fantasy that he was both still working and well enough to work, despite evidence to the contrary."

Complete? Even in the last sentence, the authors admit that death cut off what could have been even more from a great twentieth century artist.

As a novice Hitchcock fan, I find this book extremely informative. It gives a good summary of all of Hitchcock's movies as well as a good analysis of the films. It also includes where Hitchcock can be spotted in the movies and little tidbits on the actors and actresses who were casted in his movies as well as behind the scenes information. I would recommend this book for those who are starting to discover Hitchcock.

I bought this book sight-unseen, knowing absolutely nothing about it (which is why I'm now writing this review; maybe you'll be more willing to try it once you know what it has to offer). It's a thorough, well-nigh encyclopedic look at Hitch's work, with a brief chapter (averaging about 4 pages) on each major film. The chapters include complete cast and credits --including "uncredited cast" -- plus a synopsis, and sundry comments on each film under such headings as "cruelty to

animals," "mysogyny," "ice maidens," "roots," and a "final word" with a critical appraisal including a rating on a scale of 1-10. While examination of each film is necessarily brief, it's quite thorough and absolutely chock-full of cool trivia. Every now and then there are sidebars on stars with whom Hitch worked; there's also an amazing appendix listing every single episode from Hitch's TV shows (not just the ones he directed -- but ALL OF EM). Only negatives: could use an INDEX, plus I noticed several careless spelling errors (actors' names and so forth) of the type that tend to make one a bit suspicious. On the whole, however, this is THE place to start for the Hitchcock novice, and a real treasure trove for the seasoned fan like me. Highly recommended.

I see that the other reviewers have pretty much said all there needs to be said about this book and I doubt I will say anything new here. All I want to emphasize it that this is truly THE book to get for a quick, easy, complete understanding of Alfred Hitchcock's movies. I have read other,longer, deeper books on his films which were very good, yet this one is nice when you are new to Hitchcock or just do not have the time to devote to much reading. These authors have a good sense of humor as well, and it always is fun to read a book where you can get a few laughs. They have some good trivia in the book, spotlights on certain Hitchcock actors,a few pages of pictures showing some poster art and movie stills, and they tell you where to find Hitch in the movies where he had cameo appearances. Hitchcock's movies are among my favorites, and this book is among my favorites about them. Get it and read it, you won't be disappointed.

After having read this book from stem to stern I would recommend it to new Hitchcock fans and more experienced fans alike. For the new fan it offers a clear synopsis of each film as well as offering many interesting points to look for. For the more experienced it makes for a convenient "turn to" source so as to better avoid the mountains of heavy, sometimes overly self satisfied observations that many resources tend to become, thereby saving wading through chapter upon chapter in order to reach simple facts.

I must respect the authors for their understanding that an enjoyment of film does not require a degree. I always commend a person for having the ability to transfer complicated observations in the simplest of English without the use of parables and without patronizing tones. Paul Condon and Jim Sangster have managed just that and not without the occasional bit of side splitting humour. Even if you are not watching the films in question it is more than a worthy read. That said, it may help to be familiar with some English terms such as "send up" as the average American does not know what it means to send something up so may be left wondering.

However, with the authors sardonic senses of humour being clear I would have liked to have seen further elaboration of the "goofs" section. There are so many Hitchcock bloopers worthy of a mention. I am certain it was a deliberate omission (perhaps for the next book) but nonetheless I was left wishing that they had made note of the obvious ones if only to give the new viewer that added bit of fun and sport.

Despite taking umbrage at the use of the phrase "just a smathering of dull brunettes" ahum, I would gladly purchase any other offerings from either or both authors and very much look forward to a second volume of "Complete Hitchcock," contradiction that it may be. Hopefully with an eye to the slip ups and perhaps more production details (locations, circumstances, first hand anecdotes, etc.) If that isn't a hint to get writing I don't know what is : )

In short I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would not only recommend it but have already bought several other copies for friends and family. Enjoy.

Steve Saint shares some compelling stories regarding missionary work. This book is a wonderful read and very inspiring. We Christians need to prayerfully consider the insights in this book. Steve Saint uses scripture and the model of Paul to validate his perceptions. I highly recommend this book.

Steve Saint is the son of the martyred missionary, Nate Saint, who was killed by the Waodani Indians (formerly known as Aucas) of Ecuador in 1956 along with Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming. After his aunt, Rachel Saint, and Elisabeth Elliot successfully planted Christianity among the Waodani, Steve spent some of his childhood among these Indians who murdered his father, even being baptized by them. In 1994, when his Aunt Rachel died, the Waodani called him from his business career in Florida to live among them again.

When he arrived in the Amazon jungle, Saint was shocked by the state of the Waodani churches and Christians: "I was dismayed to find that the Waodani church was less functional than it had been when I lived with them during school vacations while growing up" (p. 18). What was the cause of this sad situation? Beside the fact that non-Christian outsiders were increasingly dominating their lives, the Waodani "also felt threatened by all of the benevolence they were receiving from Christian missions and relief organizations" (p. 18). Initially, the Waodani churches had been self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating, but now they waited for outsiders to build their church buildings and to conduct their Bible conferences.

This type of dependency concerns Saint because it causes what he calls "The Great Omission," that is, it eliminates the contribution of indigenous believers like the Waodani to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Saint emphasizes that the model of missions that creates dependency in indigenous believers will never be able to complete world evangelization. He believes that dependency ends up sapping the strength and patience of both donors and receivers, and it is difficult to cure after it becomes established. The real goal of missions is to plant healthy indigenous churches that can do their own part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Yet many indigenous believers are so smothered by the good intentions of western Christians that they feel incapable of matching up to the task by comparison. They sit on the sidelines, waiting for more sophisticated Christians to minister to their needs.

How does this dependency happen? Saint explains, "Anyone of superior education, superior technology, and superior financial ability who is attempting to help people of inferior capability in those areas has to guard against creating dependency" (p. 56). Furthermore, North Americans assume that "more is almost always considered better when it comes to money" (p. 126). Saint likens money to medicine which must be administered in the right dosage to effect a cure. Too much money, like too much medicine, can harm more than help. In missions, if imported systems are too expensive for the local Christians to afford, that will tend to make them dependent on outsiders. Thus, less funding can help overcome "The Great Omission," by prompting local believers to exercise their own faith and use their own resources for evangelism.

North Americans tend to make the common mistake of thinking that worldwide standards must equal theirs to be valid and effective. For example, we may assume that pastors among the Waodani need the same training as American pastors, or that church buildings in Africa should have the same specifications as those in the U.S.A. In his efforts to help the Waodani overcome dependency, Saint adopted technology appropriate to the jungle setting. In this way, he helped the Waodani cope with modern needs by training them in both dentistry and aviation, but in a form they can afford and use without depending on outsiders. Thus, the Waodani use portable dental chairs and solar-powered drills that can be carried in a backpack, and they fly what he calls "a powered parachute." Such innovations appropriate to the Waodani lifestyle have helped them to become self-supporting once again.

Saint concludes with a comparison between modern missionary methods and those of the Apostle Paul. In contrast with Paul's method of turning over responsibility to his converts at an early stage, modern missionaries tend to stay too long in leadership over their converts, expecting them to attain the same qualifications as the missionaries before assuming responsibility. Saint advocates the Pauline method to avoid dependency, characterized by the four words "Know-Go-Show-Blow." This signifies the necessity of knowing God personally, going where He is not yet known, showing the people there how to follow Him, and "blowing," that is, leaving that place soon in order to start over in another place. In this way, missions would be able to incorporate all their converts into the evangelistic work force and so fulfill the Great Commission.

The Great Omission fills a gap in missions literature, since Steve Saint has shown how a well-known missionary success story became a tragedy through dependency. In addition, he shows how he struggled to help the Waodani overcome this debilitating disease through appropriate use of technology. By restoring the Waodani churches to health, Saint has enabled them to participate as equals in world evangelization. Without people like the Waodani in the missionary force, the Great Commission will never be fulfilled. Dependency causes "The Great Omission." In plain language, Saint explains how mission methods need to revert to those of the first century if they are to be effective. The goal of missions must once again be the formation of healthy indigenous churches in every culture. Then, and only then, will God receive the glory when His churches reach every unreached group, with all the churches helping to reach all the world.

Saint's book caused me to ask myself, "Am I doing what God has called me to do in the way that He wants it done?" After reading "The Great Omission" my wife and I re-evaluated our ministries, using Saint's criteria, "Are we producing believers that are dependent on God or us?"

Saint provides a sound discussion of on overlooked missiological theme in The Great Omission. This is a "must read" for anyone involved in either long-term or short-term missions. Two of the greatest mistakes missionaries make are addressed in this little book: not developing national leaders and creating dependancy among those to whom we minister. Saint writes in a very engaging, readable manner and uses real life examples to illustrate his points. I distribute it to all my mission leaders.

Ok. This is a great book. Steve picks up where my knowledge of the Auca tribe left off. He describes going back to the tribe as an adult after his aunt died and what he saw as an adult: "Where are the elders? Who is the pastor?" He talks about breaking financial and spiritual dependency between the church and western missionaries. Since Steve lived in both our culture and theirs he has a unique perspective on how to effectively love and minister to this stone age tribe as brothers and sisters in Christ.

He also includes some funny stories (imagine taking someone who doesn't have a word for "3" to a conference of hundreds of people) and more personal illustrations as well.

It has always amazed me how many people really seem reluctant of maybe fearful of asking. Kathy Condon has used clear communicaton to help those of us who at any time seem hesitant to ask. Her stories are an evidence of her understanding that the very best communication is through stories that make it easier to remember. The subject is clearly transmitted and is evidence of why she is successful in her avocation of coaching.

Using clear language, simple stories and examples, Kathy Condon illustrates the vital role that attention to details play when interacting with others. Her emphasis on the importance of people, rather than ourselves, is key. We live in a fast-paced, technology-dominated society and Kathy's valuable tips will teach you how to build relationships and make others feel important as you empower yourself to learn from your challenges and augment your communication skills. A comfortable, engaging read, this book will benefit anyone who is interested in reaching beyond the "every day" approach to conversation and wants to find ways to truly connect with others.

Kathy's book contains many common sense ideas that will remedy current-day communication pitfalls. It also includes her own personal growth stories that will inspire you to continue learning, grow beyond your comfort zones, and set clear goals.
Kathy writes in a style that makes you feel you're sitting down with her chatting over a cup of coffee. Her friendly prose is uncluttered, and the book is typeset for a quick, easy read. I found it simple to jump in for a few moments during a busy day and grab a very usable idea or suggestion, then come back later and pick up where I left off.
Kathy's book is just what we need to remind us it's still important to know how to communicate with each other. Her ideas will help anyone at any time in life. Her book would be a great graduation gift for any student getting ready for that next important step forward.

I was struck how spot on this book is for people of all ages as we look to differentiate ourselves and build meaningful relationships with customers, friends and family in today's wired world. I recently watched delegates at a conference type away on blackberries, paying no respect to presenters or peers sitting next to them and all the while - missing the opportunity to learn valuable new information (their companies paying their expenses to go to the conference by the way). Those reading this book will surely identify with the author on many accounts and will take away important reminders that will help them in all aspects of their lives. It is indeed 'the little things' we have come to lose sight of - and if we all make an effort to try some of the tips in this book (which by the way are easy to do!), we'll all be the better for it. This is a book for the people you want to help get ahead: respected colleagues, young people and most of all, friends of all ages.

A necessary book for you, and your kids, friends, classmates, parents, and anyone you care about. Written in simple, but poignant, language by a woman who knows what she is talking about. Information funneled down through years of experience is ours for the asking. In one hour of reading you will detect your own areas of weakness(yes you have some), learn how to easily correct these, and then be armed with information to help those around you communicate comfortably and effectively with each other. This is a personal library book must, and one that will be a truly appreciated and remembered thoughtful gift.

In today's world, the only constants are change and uncertainty. With change and uncertainty comes risk. Since risk can only be mitigated, never eliminated, everything has a downside. How low or deep your downside exposure will be depends upon your level of resilience. If you are self employed, a solopreneur, a small business owner or an independent professional - Read This Book.

In today's complex, uncertain world, a lot of things can happen to disrupt your business or livelihood. This book is all about helping you to create resilience by design. By being resilient, you are likely to be impacted less by any unexpected event or disruption. During a disruption, with resiliency, you are likely to fall a shorter distance before being able to once again gain some traction.

This book contains two distinct parts. The first contains a series of essays written by selected members of Mike Jay's 2007 Resilience Program. Each member wrote about their own experience with the concept of resilience. In the second part, Mike Jay identifies 64 elements and then offers 64 strategies the small business owner and independent professional can undertake to increase their resilience. For each element, there is a survey question for the reader to answer. Your answer to each question can be computed into a numerical score which you can use to help you prioritize which strategies you to address and in what order. As you move up through the elements, they become more complex, obscure and theoretical. But don't let this intimidate you.

To build your resilience, work on your priority elements first, followed by those you understand. Since we cannot predict what the next problem, crisis, calamity or unforeseen issue will be, the future requires you to be resilient and adaptable. The more vulnerable you are, the greater the event or crisis will impact you.

Developing your resilience will up you downside. Use the elements in this book to increase your professional/business resiliency. When the s___ hits the fan, you'll be glad you did.

'Good times' don't last forever....yet, people want to believe they do.

Like the turkey who believes good times are common place until the third week of November, most people expect the good times to roll on. And so, they only see what they are looking for. Even their stockbroker won't tell them that "when in doubt, get out."

Yet, if you understand that there are business cycles, you look for the unexpected and thus see the unexpected when it surfaces....long before others do.

Mike Jay is a futurist and makes his living by helping others see what they are blind to. In his new book, Jay answers the question: In tough times, what risks should we avoid and which should we snap up?

Our ability to recognize and react to today's unexpected events is key to both our growth and survival. As business entrepreneurs, we must have enough knowledge to plan and anticipate, yet enough street savvy to know when things are going unusually right or unusually wrong.

We're talking here about really big surprises -- like discovering that one of your products is selling much better than expected -- and you don't know why ...or... discovering that you are selling to the wrong customers ...or... that your product or service needs to be revamped from top to bottom ...or... even discovering you are in the wrong business.

What comes next could be scary. When the social mood trend changes from optimism to pessimism, creditors, debtors, producers and consumers change their primary orientation from expansion to conservation. As debtors and potential debtors become more conservative, they borrow less or not at all. As producers become more conservative, they reduce expansion plans. As consumers become more conservative, they save more and spend less. A downward "spiral" begins, feeding on pessimism just as the previous boom fed on optimism.

The resulting cascade of debt liquidation is a deflationary crash. What better reading material is there than "Upping the Downside"....as we in the U.S. begin the long climb out of a period of depression, or at the least a few years of recession?

As our economy is slipping into recession, this book is truly being released at the perfect time. When the economy is strong and times are good, resilience can be somewhat automatic. When times become tougher, what protects us is the resilience we have designed into our life. This book will help you identify the areas of your life that leave you open to problems and help show you ways to design a life that is more resilient and can help you weather most anything this economy or your life brings.

"Take various ideas like Gallup's strength-based development, a world of uncertain economic outlook, and a healthy dose of slack. Mix in the brain pan of a professional's professional. Marinade for 10,000 hours of business and executive coaching. Toss with essays from eleven authors. Pour into the metaphoric mold of professional resilience. Serve Upping the Downside warm."

What I have typically been missing from personality tests in the past is the next step, the application of this new knowledge to affect my behaviors. While I wouldn't quite consider Upping the Downside to be a personality test it does encourage self-reflection around the 64 strategies and more importantly it guides and encourages changes in your systems and network rather than attempting to change your personality.

I've been working my way through a digital pre-release copy and am consistently impressed by the depth of the chosen metaphor of professional resilience. The book is split into two distinct, yet interrelated, sections. The first section is a collection of essays from eleven other authors on the topic of professional resilience. The second section is Mike Jay spiraling us deeper into the rabbit hole of self-reflection -- all the while maintaining the focus on resilience and how to develop it while maintaining our own identity, talents, and strengths.

So what is resilience? Resilience is the ability to continue in the face of unexpected challenges. This is different than planning for every eventuality by virtue of the unexpected aspect. One of the keys presented in Upping the Downside is slack, and not the lackadaisical avoidance of responsibility popularized by the Church of the Subgenius. Jay presents the concept of slack in more of an engineering frame: the difference between the level at which a system is operating and its current maximum operational capacity. If you are running near your maximum capability then you don't have much slack left in order to respond to unexpected situations. And the more efficiently a system performs the more likely there will be enough slack to respond appropriately.

I have not yet reached the full depths of my own resilience rabbit hole, especially considering this is a lifelong mindset change rather than a single event. Even with only having made it through five of the eight sections in the survey I have identified several areas of improvement in my own systems -- not my self. I'm quite excited to fully experience working within my strengths and talents. I've already begun developing my systems and leveraging the resources of others in my network to shore-up the areas that are not my strength or talent.

How much slack do you have in your life?
Where could you use more support in order to live your life more fully?

Mike Jay's UPPING the Downside contains a rich body of specific steps, strategies, and resources designed to help you literally be ready for ANYthing! That's what true resilience means. This book should be on every professional's desk and in every couple's home. It really is the definitive guide on resilience.

I'm deeply grateful for the day a girlfriend introduced me to Mike Jay in early 2006. She told me of his profound mastery of assessments and unique style of developmental laser coaching.

I'd been a coach for a big name speaker for a few years before that, and had become real disillusioned with the world of coaching. (I couldn't understand why so many of my clients didn't do what I told them to do! I later learned this was prescriptive coaching, which is really consulting).

And, even as a Success Coach, I was having financial, career, and relationship challenges. I kept trying to fit myself into a mold that I thought society (my family, husband, peers, friends) had made for me. Not very resilient, right?

It wasn't until I immersed myself in Mike's trainings and array of assessments that I discovered and began to really own my true strengths. Through this newfound self-knowledge that both my husband and I engaged in, we were able to dramatically increase our acceptance of ourselves and each other, and to then design ways to transcend our differences. We literally transformed our marriage.

I went on to attend Mike's yearlong Resilience Club and, as a result, I'm proud to be a contributing author in UPPING the Downside. My chapter is called "The Hardy Couple" and is specifically about relationship and marriage resilience.

When we're faced with more challenging economic times, the marriage and family unit can suffer from untold severe stresses and pressures. Now more than ever we need to stick together, rise to the challenge, and create resilient relationships. I believe hardiness in the home begets hardiness in the workplace.