Organizations Books

When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church is Biblically solid and has the potential to revolutionize the way we do church...if we will apply them. Russell is easy and entertaining to read and will connect with anyone who is in the trenches trying to allow God to lead them in ministry and church leadership.

Our church purchased 40 copies of this book for an adult study group. We wanted to take a close look at the principles for growth as outlined by Mr. Russell and compare them to our local growth potential. We have been pleased with the discussions and results of that study. We have been encouraged by some of the things we have been doing and challanged to do better in some areas. We recommend using this book as a base to take a look at your local church and see how God might use you to reach others more effectively for His kingdom.

This book reminds us that a church can grow with out compromising spiritual values. This book is not a management book. It provides 10 principles that have worked for South East Christian Church, and can be adapted and used by any one. In fact we are encouraged not to try to use a cookie cutter approach. If I were to recommend two books for church growth, they would be The Purpose Driven Church, and When God Builds a Church.

This book, "When God Builds a Church," contains biblical principles and real-life examples for building a strong, evangelistic church. Although I am opposed to the mega-church model and much of the church growth movement for doctrinal reasons, I recommend this book because the general principles it advocates are sound and can be adapted for use in congregations anywhere, without necessarily embracing the big church idea. As a missionary in Brazil, South America I found this work to be encouraging, and hope to implement many of its ideas in a new church work here.

In this interesting and highly readable book, the author identifies and discusses "ten principles for growing a dynamic church." They are:

1. Truth: Proclaim God's Word as Truth and Apply it to People's Lives
2. Worship: Worship God Every Week in Spirit and in Truth
3. Leadership: Develop Christ-Centered Leaders Who Lead by Example
4. Excellence: Do Your Best in Every Area of Service
5. Faith: Be Willing to Step Out with a Bold Faith and Take Risks
6. Harmony: Maintain a Spirit of Harmony
7. Participation: Expect the Congregation to Participate in Every Area of Ministry
8. Fellowship: Continually Practice Agape Love for One Another
9. Stewardship: Give Generously of God's Resources as a Church and as Individuals
10. Evangelism: Commit Enthusiastically to Evangelism as Your Primary Mission

The author devotes a separate chapter to each of these principles in which he describes its scriptural basis and discusses its implementation in real life settings. This discussion includes a wealth of very practical information and advice on how to apply the principles effectively, and how to avoid or overcome stumbling blocks and problems.

Although one may disagree with the precise way in which the principles have been applied in the author's own "mega-church," the principles themselves appear fundamentally sound and can profitably be adapted in other congregational settings.

This book is very helpful if you are going through the interview process and have not done so in a while. Very insightful and real world.

I've been on both sides of the job interview process: as someone doing the hiring and also as a candidate for a job. It is amazing how being on the job hunt alters your view of the interview process. Did I develop some kind of "interview fever" which made me overly nervous and forget what it was like to hire someone? Maybe. But reading Winning Job Interviews allowed me to step back and put it all back into proper perspective so I could ace the interview and get the job. How cool is that?

Clear, direct, concise.

The first 40 pages will tell you what you really know: how you feel. And how to deal with it. With an upbeat language helps you decrease your anxiety and depression. And further, MOTIVATE you.

Then clear clues on how to behave, conduct, and win interviews.

I wish he could avoid some areas of job searching and closing to have more material on the topic.

But IT IS A MUST READ.

I'm getting ready to retire from a successful military career. To be honest, before reading Dr. Power's book-the thought of joining the rat-race of the whole job interview process was more formidable than facing another deployment to the desert! At 40 years old I haven't had to go on a job interview in over 20 years! This book was not only fun to read, but offered great tips, warned against common pit falls (I was sure to fall into) and helped me plan out my strategy to attain my future career. It's hard to imagine, but after reading this candid, well-written book I feel not only self-confident but actually excited about my upcoming interviews!

This book was definitely money well spent. I have interviewed and accepted jobs previously in my career (10yrs in my profession), but have never been as prepared as I was after reading this book. I used it from the start of the job hunt process to accepting the best overall offer. Reading the book helped ease pre-interview anxiety, and also helped me prepare for interviews by providing a good idea of what to expect, how to prepare, and how to answer difficult questions, etc. The sections I found most helpful were on generating multiple offers, and negotiating after the initial offer. I used Dr Powers advice on both, and was able to generate multiple offers and negotiate significantly higher salary and vacation time. Well worth the money and I would recommend this book to anyone currently on the job hunt.

a friendly and ever-illuminating exploration of the founding tenets for success within a special company. From the tenets explored, one gleans practical and proven methods that can be employed within a variety of organizations.

The message is resoundingly clear: though the methods are not complex, it is crucial that organizational members consistently apply them (methods) on the road to success. Success will follow. There is a lot of competition out there, so DO IT RIGHT!

The author writes with a flair for personal stories, which makes the message easily digestible and subsequently applicable. He endears us to the characters in the story. I call it a story because it evokes a mystery: who was Brennan Frederick Newell, 1974-2000; how did he possess such wisdom at a relatively young age; and what company is Diamond?

After reading such an intriguing book that offers so many valuable tips AND evokes such mystery, the reader feels compelled to hire Bud Bilanich as the consultant for her/his company and ask him all the relevant questions. Tip to CEO's out there: read the book and then hire Bud to come out and revamp your company. Ask him the aforementioned questions for me and e-mail me the answers!!!

Bravo to Mr. Bilanich for offering us a highly readable and engaging book that imparts truly valuable lessons. Best book I've read from this publisher.

Doctor B has done it again! This is the third of his books that I've read. In each one, he has demonstrated a complete and thorough understanding of his subject, boiled the concepts down to the core ideas and presented those ideas in an easy to understand (and easy to enact)manner. His common sense approach, both in his books and in person, plays well in all settings, from corporate headquarters to the factory floor. And more importantly, it drives business results!

Mr. Bilanich's book says it simply and with useful tools for any size organization. Not the latest fad, just practical and easily incorporated 'secrets' that are the fundamental basics of achieving a high performing organization.

This book was easy to ready yet full of very good suggestions that can be used on a daily basis. I found myself trying his methods before even finishing the book! It's concise, practical, and a sensible approach to the many issues that face us in our daily business lives. I would recommend it to any manager that wants to increase productivity and motivation with their staff.

I have known Bud for 20 years and we have worked on projects together, discussing why things worked and why they didn't. This book shows that he's been tracking his own organizational learning and is making that body of knowledge available for others to shorten their own learning curves. If you are a manager, consultant, or trainer, I'd take advantage of the real-life experience reflected in this book. It's an easy way for you and your people to gain a personal edge on high performance through a relaxed, storytelling approach; and, all of the situations will look and feel very familiar to managers and supervisors everywhere.

Like many of the people taking a retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani, I went in search of finding the "Heart of Thomas Merton [Father Louis O.C.S.O.]" and I found so much more than I ever imagined. I spent part of the retreat reading this wonderful book and I found more. This is a book about the Heart of Gethsemani, the Heart of Peace and the Heart of God. An excellent read which will be read again and again and again ......

This coffeetable book about the history of the Abbey of Gethsemani, the nation's largest and oldest Trappist monastery, is a marvelous resource for anyone interested in the monastery's history. Aprile puts a human face on that history, looking at the human people who built and loved the Abbey from its inception. We hear tales of tremendous courage and faith, but also read about some of the all-too-human flaws of Gethsemani's leaders, including a turn-of-the-century sex scandal involving the Abbey school (now defunct).

The photographs and illustrations are wonderful, stretching back to the monastery's earliest days in the 1840s. These photos give readers access to areas of the Abbey that are off-limits to visitors and retreatants.

I very much liked the way Aprile weaves her own experiences with the Abbey into the book. It's obvious that she is not only a researcher but also a pilgrim who loves the place and its people. She writes with a journalist's eye for detail and a historian's careful depiction of change over time. (In the case of this monastery, the changes over the last 150 years are astonishing.)

Another thing I liked about the book is that while Thomas Merton is certainly discussed, it's not the all-Merton-all-the-time approach that some other authors have taken to Gethsemani. She puts Merton in historical context as part of the postwar Catholic boom, discusses his writings and his complex relationship with his abbot, and leaves it at that. Merton would have liked this: to be one among the many monks who is billed as making a contribution to Gethsemani, but who is not singled out as a lone star.

A terrific book for those who love this place.

History of the 150-year-old Trappist Monastery in Kentucky, just 40 miles south of Louisville. Made world-famous by its most famous monk, Thomas Merton, who died in Bangkok. Full of archival pictures. Beautiful, coffee table type book, but not too well-written. Confusing at times. Aprile tended to not always be cohesive; she rather jumped around a lot. Am so sorry they did away with the farm. Poignant remark by its current abbot, that the celibate life needs something to care for. It did propell me to spend a week there last summer, and what a wonderful place it is. I need not worry about its survival; you must call four months in advance to go there on retreat.

A great book! Not at all a "book about Thomas Merton", as the person casually acquainted with Merton and Gethsemani might expect. Rather, this book tells the history of Gethsemani, of which Merton was just a part. This book works well as a coffeetable book, a bedtime read, or a material for quiet contemplation. All in all, a beautiful book, well made, well written, and fun to browse or read.

About a month ago, I visited The Abbey of Gethsemani for what I officially said was a retreat, but like so many people who have visited the abbey, I loved THE SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN and wanted to see where Thomas Merton lived and wrote. The tourist in me wanted to see Merton's hermitage, which I did not see. It was in use at the time-the nerve of those monks for actually using it for the intended purpose. Well, I didn't have to see the hermitage to experience the special qualities that make Gethsemani a place like no other. History, tradition, beauty, simplicity and complexity all combine to create the spiritual life at Gethsemani where God's presence is found.

Dianne Aprile's book is a coffee table sized book that tells the story of Gethsemani, the good as well as the not so good. We see a monastery that survived against the odds, hit its peak during the years of Thomas Merton, and still has a mission and purpose today. The book is somewhat sanitized in comparison with other works available, but unlike many of the other works which tell of visits to Gethsemani, the author was writing an official history of the Abbey for its one hundred and fiftieth had unprecedented access to photographs and documents which makes this book indispensable for anyone interested in Trappist life in general and especially to people interested in the Abbey itself. The book begins with a general introduction to the Trappist life and then tells the history of Gethsemani during each abbot's governance of the abbey. We see how the life in the abbey in many ways reflects life in the United Stets and the fabric of Catholicism in America.

I read most of the book while I was at Gethsemani so I could ask questions and discover the behind the scenes story. I finished it when I got back home and since that time I've reread passages as a means of revisiting the monastery, if not in person, at least vicariously. I'm sure I'll treasure this book in years to come and encourage anyone with even a remote interest in Trappist life to consider this book.

I had the honor of working with Ole Carlson at a recent workshop. At first I didn't really connect Carlson with the book I had just finished reading prior to the workshop. About an hour into the meeting I realized that the speaker was advocating some of the very principles from the book that I had so heavily marked up and reread several times.

What a delight! And what hard work - Carlson walks the talk, and he definitely put us through our paces. And this book will do the same for those who take the time to read it. Beneath the Armor is filled with straight forward talk about the leaders at the top of Business. At the end of each chapter is a review and a list of actions to take based on the information we just read. It is a practical, put it to work book for CEOs.

Chapter titles give us an idea of the clarity this book will bring to the serious leader: 1. Be Authentic - it is easier to Remember; 2. Take Care of Yourself First - then others; 3. Lead the Organization - Let Other Manage it; 4. Value Resiliency over Brilliancy; 5. It is All About the People; 6. Understanding Your Numbers is Not Optional; and 7. Have a Well-Lubricated Reverse Gear. Written in deceptively easy and conversational style, each chapter turns out to be chock full of solid strategy and finishes with a call to action. Reading this book did in fact change the direction of my consultancy.

More importantly, this book in conjunction with spending four days in a workshop with Ole Carlson changed my life - for the better. This is a must read for leaders and those who coach and/or consult with business leaders. To quote Mr. Carlson, "The message in this book comes from you and your peers and I am simply paying it forward."

This is a great book, and it is a must read for all CEO's of small to mid-size companies. The author is at home with the subject, and the reader will feel as though Ole is writng directly to you. His message is simple, but the simplicity is its magic. This book made me laugh, think more deeply about my role, and shed tears of joys and struggles as I reflected upon my own journey.

I will read this book annually to keep myself fresh and to remember my role as a CEO.

Ole's book really underscored, for me, the primary lessons of leadership. I especially appreciated his writing style and approach that actually made these seven strategies seem do-able for once. The stories about how these played out in real life companies has the recommendations really hit home. I plan to give Ole's book as a gift to my clients and busines associates. I feel certain this will be one book gift they will actually read and put into action!

A very credible and practicle book which is fortunately based on real experience with multiple CEOs of medium size companies throughout the world. I learned a great deal, enjoyed reading it and bought several copies as gifts for my friends.

Very much recommend it!

Ole Carlson's `Beneath The Armor' makes running a business visible. Finished reading the book about 5 weeks ago- started putting to work the sage perspective, real world experience and relevant challenges for life, leadership and making a difference. Seems to me this is an owner or CEO handbook for the new and tenured- however it readily applies to any person seeking to become more effective in life, business, in the role of leading. Make sure each of your key reports reads a copy and start transforming your organization by putting the key points that resonant to work in your culutre and behavior. Each of the seven chapters clearly presents the focus, the key points, supports with 'believable examples and stories', and concludes with a key point summary and specific steps to put the points to work. `Armor' is like having seven 1 to 1's with a skilled, experienced mentor. Read it to learn, to remember, to set the bar higher, to refresh, to put into action. Clearly written- like having a conversation that really matters.

Hopefully, you have already read some (if not all) of Quinn's earlier books, especially Deep Change which serves as an excellent introduction to this one. In the Preface, he explains that this book "is about changing the world. It is about coming to a deep understanding of human beings and human relationships." He then adds, "The book focuses on vision, unconditional confidence, and profound impact. It is about the mastery of human influence, transformational power, and the capacity to accomplish extraordinary things. It argues that everyone of us is a change agent." It is important to add, that Quinn advocates "deep change" as opposed to "incremental change." Moreover, no organization can achieve deep change unless and until those within that organization achieve deep change. So as I understand it, each of us must assume full authority as well as responsibility for (and have control of) our personal development. "There is a language of transformation. Yet most of us are cut off from that language. All our lives we have been explicitly taught to see human influence as an exercise in domination." Even the most sensitive among us is shaped by this paradigm or worldview. But this outlook prevents us from seeing more deeply into the actual workings of human systems. This book demonstrates an alternative system."

Quinn recalls the remark by Oliver Wendell Holmes that he placed little value in simplicity that lay on this side of complexity but a great deal of value on simplicity that lay on the other side. The framework within which Quinn presents his material comes from the "seed thoughts" of people who have mastered "the language of transformation." By "seed thoughts" Quinn means some of the "core notions that masters of transformation hold in common, the simplicity they send us from the other side of complexity." Specifically, Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quinn focuses on eight (8) "seed thoughts" (eg Envision the Productive Community, First Look Within, Embrace the Hypocritical Self), providing brief quotations from each of the three "masters of transformation" which he correlates with each of the eight "seed thoughts." His objective is to explain how Advanced Change Theory (ACT) can enable individuals to achieve deep change in their own lives and then within their organizations. The title of this book (Change the World) may be somewhat misleading. I wholeheartedly agree with Quinn that "ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary results", both individually and as members of a group. I also agree that Jesus, Gandhi, and King were "masters of transformation" within their respective spheres of influence as were Carnegie, Edison, Ford, Morgan, and Rockefeller within their own. Quinn's basic idea is sound. He and I may differ only when defining terms such as "change" and "world."

I urge you to read this book, to consider very carefully what ACT offers to you (personally) and to your organization, and then to select whatever is most appropriate. Quinn provides an eloquent and convincing argument in support of his concept of deep change; better yet, he suggests all manner of strategies and tactics to achieve and sustain it; even better yet, almost anyone who reads this book already has the resources required. If you need help to organize and allocate those resources, and truly powerful encouragement to support your efforts in process, look no further.

"Typically a top management team goes off for three days," writes the author Quinn. "They hole up in a room with lots of flip charts and go to work." Then he says that when they're through they typically write words on small cards and pass them out to employees. Sadly, he observes these cards are "ignored and things go on as before." The premise underlying this book is that Quinn would have us care enough to change this way of thinking. The key, he says, is to stop doing things out of self-interest and start identifying and going after the shared goals of the group. He does a nice job of working good examples into his text. He also points out how risky it is to be a true leader since it involves overcoming a fear of failure when trying something new. He also does a nice job of making clear that hierarchy in itself is not a bad thing; it's only bad when they're perceived as mechanisms that result in getting nothing done. "Hierarchies become frozen bureaucracies due to the failure of human courage." He makes a compelling case for why it's crucial to skip the hollow words and dare to lead toward change. Only then can organizations hope for real change.

This, more than any book, has had a profound influence on my life. Quinn helps us understand why our lives are so frustrating. The basic notion is that we are hypocrites. We believe or think one thing but we act differently. This integrity gap is what causes us to continue to accept the ordinary, or transactional, world as it is. He challenges us to reduce our integrity gap, and thus transform ourselves from ordinary to extraordinary human beings.

Quinn uses three historical figures to illustrate the power of transformation - Gandhi, Christ, and King, Jr. He also gives examples from his personal life and from his work as an organizational consultant of moving from the transactional to the transformational world. If you are willing to do the work Quinn challenges us to do, you will find yourself much more in tune with your highest ideals. By transforming yourself, Quinn argues, you can change (or transform) the world around you - your family, office, organization, and ultimately, the larger world.

Please read this book. Give it to friends and family. We (and they) are all hypocrites. Let us close our integrity gaps together.

If you want to be effective at influencing others, study this book. This is one of my favorites. It also has many lots of valuable references and a great bibliography.

Bob Quinn is definitely one of the most profound writers on change in this era. But his work is not for the faint of heart because he challenges each of us to start change initiatives in the place we'd least like to go -- inside ourselves. I found this an incredibly powerful book. I've used sections of it with my "change management" classes for several years and I know it has a tremendous impact on students, who like most managers have grown up unconsciously believing that change always needs to start with the other guy. If you want a simple formula for change, don't buy this book. Although it is full of practical, actionable ideas, "Change the World" addresses change at a profound level that asks readers to reflect seriously on what they stand for. It's a very difficult but rewarding assignment.

This book is a must have because it gives the minister ideas for almost every situation a minister can face. If you can find a copy, it will be priceless addition to your ministry library.

This is the perfect handbook for wedding, funerals, and so much more. It's exactly what I needed and for an affordable price.

Out of all the service manuals that have passed across my desk this is by far one of the best all inclusive book's for Ministers around. For 255 p.p. this manual covers every topic relevent today.

Ministers both starting out and having been around for a while, will find this easy to use and handy for many situations.The quality of appearance is very satisfactory.

This little book is a great tool for any minister. The book is very attractive. There are a great number of helps for weddings, funerals, prayers for the sick, and the memorial helps are a good fast reference for appropriate scriptures, poems, and readings. I highly recommend this tool.

The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency is just that, how to get the best from a small garden, or a large farm, and everything in between. It is all covered, raising crops, and livestock, cure a ham, pickle onions, keep bees, generate power,and sink a well. The book is well written and I find myself refering to it constantly, it also makes a darn good read. The book is available in soft cover from Amazon.co.uk

The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency is just that, how to get the best from a small garden, or a large farm, and everything in between. It is all covered, raising crops, and livestock, cure a ham, pickle onions, keep bees, generate power,and sink a well. The book is well written and I find myself refering to it constantly, it also makes a darn good read. The book is available in soft cover from Amazon.co.uk

First read this book while working on an organic farm in New Zealand,it changed my way of thinking completely.10 out of 10.

It would be difficult to improve or even to add much to a book which covers so many aspects of not just self-seffiency but the basic tenents of good land husbandry. Every aspect of what you may require to manage a 5 acre or 1 acre property with the minimum of outside influence is here. Managing your own small holding is a life-time affair with the land. All the advice on how to go about it is written in this book. I live on seven acres and it is indeed my bible for the land. It also makes very interesting reading even if you cannot be self suffient.

I first ran across this book in, of all places, a small bookshop in Florence, Italy during a "backpack tour" of Europe in the late '70's. As I paged through the book in that stuffy little store I began to sense that I was on to something very important. I ended up carrying that book all over Europe for 2 months and reading it over and over again and memorizing everything. Prior to the purchase of this book, I was a confirmed techno-geek, with the conviction that high technology would save the world. John Seymour changed all that. His step-by-step descriptions of everything from growing food to understanding traditional crafts and skills convinced me that there was a better way to live your life than what my professors were telling me. It's safe to say that almost every aspect of my life has been influenced by Seymour's book. It occupies a special place on my bookshelves, and I still take it down regularly and refer to its detailed drawings and lively text for inspiration in my gardening and woodworking. It's been a wonderful guide to "the big picture" of my life, and I believe its timeless message of sane and rational living belongs in every home.

If you are new to Children's Liturgy of the Word, this is a great book to start with! It is easy for anyone to use to facilitate Children's Liturgy of the Word, and it has all the Sundays for all three cycles. My parish has been using this book as a resource for two years.

A wonderful resource to use for Children's Liturgy of the Word or for catechesis.

I have been in charge of the children's mass at my church for a few years now. We had some old books from the 1970's that we were using, but they had inadvertantly got recycled during a clean out that I missed at our church. So, I went on several sites trying to find a replacement. When I found this book, I was apprehensive about what might be inside. I was very happy when it arrived. Not only does it cover the gospel for each week, but it has a suggested activity to go along with it that you can photocopy. I have requested that my church order one to keep with the children's mass supplies as I plan on keeping this one for myself to use not only for the mass, but also as a reference for the sunday school class I teach. This book will help anyone who wishes to teach a child about their religion in an easy and fun way.

we bought this book this summer, as a workbook/instruction manual for our church's recently re-introduced children's liturgy program. it's perfect! completely scripted, any one of the 4 couples who take turns leading, can just pick it up the night before, read over it and be ready to lead the next morning. in years past, the leaders spent so much time preparing and planning that they could offer only ONE children's liturgy a month! but with so much of the work done for us, in this book, we are happy to offer it EVERY sunday. the gospel is kid friendly, the discussion questions are very helpful and the kids love the activity pages....we love that they directly correlate to each sunday's gospel reading. 5 STARS! highly recommend!

This book is a wonderful resource for RE teachers and catechists. I teach 2nd grade catechism and use the readings in this book at the beginning of each lesson (once a week). The kids love to hear the stories and have told me that it makes "Father's readings more interesting!" The activities are very relevant and complement the readings very well.
The only problem I've had, is that a couple of the readings were too condensed and left out some key details. Therefore, it took a little more effort and time to explain them, and they left the kids a bit confused. But, with careful research and comparison from the readings at Mass, I've been able to clarify any uncertainty.
I highly recommend this book to catechists working at the elementary levels! It is a great addition to the curriculum and helps the kids get more involved in the Mass.

Larry Dressler has produced a mighty punch in a small package. I've used his Consensus through Conversation with college students wanting strategies to make inclusive decisions in a public arena, to work teams wanting to suspend judgment while viewing conflict as creativity. Don't be fooled by thinking this is an old topic that you already know. Larry's brilliance helps us illuminate the critical conversations that lead to major breakthroughs in thought and action.

Marge Mohoric, Ph.D.
The Evergreen State College

This book offers both a thoughtful and pragmatic approach to consensus decision making. Dressler is particularly adept at inviting leaders to explore their goals, values, and beliefs with regard to a given issue while then guiding them through a clear methodology. He is careful to describe consensus decision making as one of many choices, not a one size fits all approach. The brevity of the book, his depth of knowledge, and the icons he uses (key point, tool, case examples, and sounds like) all add up to a clear and crisp reading experience--not unlike a great wine.

Effective, collaborative decision making practices are key in supporting organization effectiveness. Larry Dressler is an expert facilitator. He has successfully translated his art into clearly articulated strategy, highlighting the dimension of consensus decision making. This book is focused, clearly written, and a very quick read. It will be a great resource as facilitators refer back to the book for assistance. Wonderful work communicating the balance of art and science in group process!

As a consultant who works with coalitions and partnerships of people from different organizations and community sectors, I am very appreciative of the systematic approach Dressler provides for achieving consensus in decision-making. It is important that groups feel that the process they engage in to think through problems and make decisions is inclusive of the diversity of perspectives in the room, and is also effective at achieving results that facilitate progress. This book provides the framework and methodology to produce both those outcomes.

I began this book with a healthy dose of skepticism. On more than one occasion I've been involved in "consensus" decision-making processes that were less than stellar. (As an employee, a board member, a community member and business owner.) In the hands of an unskilled, or manipulative, or misguided (or worse, downright deceitful) facilitator a so-called consensus decision-making process can leave you feeling like your pocket has been picked. You know exactly what I mean. When you finish the "process" and feel like you've been hoodwinked into agreeing to something because:

- You didn't fully understand the scope of the issue you are supposed to be dealing with.
- People with important information about the issue weren't in the room.
- A manager who is worried about his ox getting gored has set the whole thing up to "share the blame" for some no-win problem he doesn't know how to solve.
- You could never get a word in edgewise after your first stated concern stamped you as "not a team player."
- And it was clear the boss wasn't going to go along with the decision the group made anyway!

Well, the author not only educated me about what real consensus looks like, I feel like I've been inoculated against the toxic variety. The book, as mentioned in another review, is lean and mean. But there is plenty of substance to chew on, including:

- A useful comparison of different decision making methods, along with their strengths and weaknesses.
- A clear explanation of the considerable power of a consensus process. (Not the least of which is accelerated implementation of a decision.)
- Succinct guidelines on how to start a consensus meeting off on the right foot.
- Clear suggestions on how a multi-stage consensus process can be organized.
- Specific strategies for dealing with people who engage in unproductive behavior. You know them as obstructionists, grandstanders, and those who sit silently waiting to strike with critical comments just when it seems the group is making progress.

Perhaps the greatest value I found in this book is that it will steer me away from making the same mistakes I have seen other well-intentioned decision facilitators make time and again. Like not paying attention to simple and obvious things such as laying down ground rules for how people will communicate as they work toward a consensus. The author even puts words in your mouth by giving you on-point language to use just for this and other such occasions you will encounter while leading or participating in a consensus process.

The information is so accessible and useful beyond the topic of consensus that I have no doubt that I will wear this book out in no time. The pages are already dog-eared and the spine is creased. Thankfully I haven't dropped it in the tub yet.