Organizations Books

Hesselbein and Cohen have assembled and brilliantly edited "enduring insights on leadership" from the Drucker Foundation's award-winning journal. What a superb selection of essays they offer! The Introduction by Hesselbein (all by itself) is well worth the cost of the book. As for the 37 individual essays, they are organized within seven Parts:

I. On Leaders and Leadership (eg Peter Drucker, Max DePree, and Herb Kelleher)

II. Leading Innovation and Transformation (eg Peter M. Senge, John P. Kotter, and Douglas K. Smith)

III. Leadership in the New Information Economy (eg Esther Dyson, Margaret Wheatley, and Kevin Kelly)

IV. Competitive Strategy in a Global Economy (eg Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ann Winblad, and Keniche Ohmae)

V. Leading for High Performance (eg Steven R. Covey, Jim Collins, and Noel Tichy)

VI. Building Great Teams (eg Warren Bennis, Jon R. Katzenbach, and J. Richard Hackman)

VII. Leadership Across the Sectors (eg John W. Gardner, Regina Hetzlinger, and James E. Austin)

I know of no other single volume in which so many great business thinkers are represented by so many of their landmark essays. The editors are to be commended for the selections; also for the structure within which those selections are organized. This is "must reading" for leaders and, especially, for whose who aspire to be leaders.

"People both in this country and around the world also have an enormous hunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the Drucker Foundation launched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders for leaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "this hunger among millions of working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and a commitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkable leaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors, spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universal hunger."

In this context, I partially summarized only five of the thirty-seven essays written by thirty-seven talented thinkers.

I. Peter F. Drucker writes: "the three people from whom I learned the most in my work were all very different. The first two were exceptionally demanding; the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me a lot...Five lessons I learned from those remarkable men still apply today:

1. Treat people differently, based on their strengths.

2. Set high standards, but give people the freedom and responsibility to do their job.

3. Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral part of the job.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effective leaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris Kearns Goodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy, and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations:

1. Timing is (almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3. Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about building connections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-not just in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnership require devotion to one's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must be talent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. John P. Kotter argues: "No organization today-large or small, local or global-is immune to change. To cope with new technological, competitive, and demographic forces, leaders in every sector have sought to alter fundamentally the way their organizations do business. These change efforts have paraded under many banners-total quality management, reengineering, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds. Yet according to most assessments, few of these efforts accomplish their goals. Fewer than fifteen of the one hundred or more companies I have studied have successfully transformed themselves." Hence, he lists eight critical steps to transform your organization:

1. Establish a sense of urgency.

2. Form a powerful guiding coalition.

3. Create a vision.

4. Communicate the vision.

5. Empower others to act on the vision.

6. Plan for and create short-term wins.

7. Consolidate improvements and produce still more change.

8. Institutionalize new approaches.

IV. Warren Bennis argues: "I believe that behind every Great Man is a Great Group, an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is a unique construct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the question for organizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, often arrogant, incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggests ten principles common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of every Great Group is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoning individual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected from the "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. They view themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personal price.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are the product of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usually young.

10. Real artists ship.

V. J. Richard Hackman identifies a number of mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading work teams.

Mistake 1. Use a team for work that is better done by individuals.

Mistake 2. Call the performing unit a team but really manage members as individuals.

Mistake 3. Fall off the authority balance team.

Mistake 4. Dismantle existing organizational structures so that teams will be fully empowered to accomplish the work.

Mistake 5. Specify challenging team objectives, but skimp on organizational supports.

Mistake 6. Assume that members already have all the skills they need to work well as a team.

I highly recommend this excellent collection as a whole.

This is a collection of outstanding contributions from the Journal of the Drucker Foundation, by leaders and thinkers. Key sections focus on: leaders and leadership; leading innovation and transformation; leadership in the new information economy; competitive strategy in a global economy; leading for high performance; and building great teams.

A few of the contributors include: Peter Drucker, Charles Handy, John Kotter, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Steven Kerr, Noel Tichy, Stephen Covey, Warren Bennis and Peter Senge. This book offers an enormous amount of rich content. Recommended. Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, Managing Partner, Stern & Associates, co-author of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.

"People in both in this country and around the world have an enormous hunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the Drucker Foundation launched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders for leaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "This hunger among millions of working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and a commitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkable leaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors, spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universal hunger."

In this context, I summarized partially only four of the thirty-seven essays written by talented thinkers as follows:

I. Peter F. Drucker writes: "The three people from whom I learned the most in my work were all very different. The first two were exceptionally demanding; the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me a lot...Five lessons I learned from those remarkable men still apply today:

1. Treat people differently, based on their strengths.

2. Set high standards, but give people the freedom and responsibility to do their job.

3. Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral part of the job.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effective leaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris Kearns Goodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy, and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations.

1. Timing is (almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3. Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about building connections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-not just in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnerships reqire devotion to one's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must be talent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. Warren Bennis argues: "I belive that behind every Great Man is a Great Group, an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is a unique construct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the question for organizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, often arrogant, incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggests ten principles common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of every Great Groups is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoning individual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected from the "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. They view themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personal price.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are the product of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usually young.

10. Real artists ship.

IV. J. Richard Hackman identifies a number of mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading work teams.

1. Use a team for work that is better done by individuals.

2. Call the performing unit a team but really manage members as individuals.

3. Fall off the authority balance team.

4. Dismantle existing organizational structures so that teams will be fully empowered to accomplish the work.

5. Specify challenging team objectives, but skimp on organizational supports.

6. Assume that members already have all the skills they need to work well as a team.

Not only these essays, but all of the book as a whole is strongly recommended.

The Leader to Leader magazine, from The Drucker Foundation, is consistently one of the best magazines for insightful leadership thinking. Now the 'best of the best' has been gathered for this handbook. Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter's insight into the four most common mistakes that cause change efforts to fail are superb and right on the money -- and his chapter is just one of thirty-seven. I wish this book had been available when I started my leadership journey many years ago! Whether you are just beginning your leadership journey or you are well on your way to becoming a SmartLeader, this book is a resource that you will benefit from today and in the days ahead.

This lovely, charming book gives us the life of St. Benedict in the format used by ancient biographers to tell the life of a saint. Each chapter is a small story, an episode in his life, that has a lesson for us embedded into it. And like all ancient saint biographies, there is an air of "magical realism" in that whether or not the miracle actually happened as recorded doesn't really matter. A lesson is imparted to us that holds a higher truth. It is strange that this man, Benedict, who lived 1500 years ago can seem so contemporary in ways. His rule of life has certainly remained meaningful and is lived by many people today, both monastics and lay people. The author well describes Benedict's sense of spiritual and psychological balance, his kindness, and gifts as a spiritual father. I recommend this fine book to anyone who practices lectio, or just wants to learn more about Benedict.

Butcher describes Benedict's Rule, writing, "Its honest voice and kind simplicity draw the reader in completely." However, this does not only describe Benedict's Rule, but also characterizes Carmen Butcher's book, Man of Blessing. I thoroughly enjoyed every word, right down to the appendix where Butcher summarizes the 73 chapters of the Rule. She makes this ancient text accessible to anyone lucky enough to pick up her book. Butcher's investigation into who Benedict was and how he got that way is intriguing and enlightening. The constant delving into word history brings us closer to the heart of Benedict and the words he would have used to communicate with those he loved: his followers and his Leader. By defining Benedict's rule as "...a spiritual guide designed- not for mystics or superhumans- but for the average person wanting to commune with God and enjoy a more meaningful life," Butcher gives a picture of Benedict's Rule, while at the same time defining her own book as well.

As a Catholic law student currently taking a course on Western Legal Tradition, I found this book to provide a wonderful supplement to my course. St. Benedict's compilation of the Rule is an admirable life endeavor and an incredible process of perfecting "laws" applicable to living a faith-filled life. His life story written with an eye to the academic reader, as well as those readers seeking knowledge of his life given our current Pope's namesake, is an easy, informative, and inspirational read.

MAN OF BLESSING is a delightful account of the inspiring life of St. Benedict. Carmen Butcher's gift for language and love for etymology shine through this book and make it both enjoyable and informative. The dramatic story of the transformation of Benedict from the humble hermit of Subiaco to the gentle abbot of Monte Cassino offers a unique glimpse into the often secluded world of Benedictine monastic orders. This book also details the context in which Benedict develops his continuously refined "Rule", which becomes the definitive guidebook for future monastic societies. The value of charity, humility, and poverty personified in this saint of old, still has relevance today. Once again one is reminded that less is always more in the Kingdom of God, and that there is no limit to what God can do with a life that is totally yielded to Him. The impact of such a man of blessing truly is incalculable. Butcher makes this quiet figure of history sing praises once more!!

"Benedict's life was a series of risings in the dark." This
is the opening sentence of the Introduction, and it sets the
stage for all the risings we will read about regarding this
amazing saint.

Carmen Acevedo Butcher has written a book that vividly portrays
a man born about 480 AD. whose life was about rising above many
different kinds of challenges in his world and whose RULE
was to become the foundation of Western monasticism as well
as a spiritual guide for believers.

About half-way through the book is the best lesson of
Benedict's rule: "There is always more to learn. We are all
always beginners. Kindness is never complete." (A summary
of Benedict's RULE is in Appendix A.)

MAN OF BLESSING is full of information told in an engaging way. At the end of the book I felt I had spent time in the
presence of this saint--and that the time was well-spent.

Dr. Butcher's writing style is inviting and her expertise in the
Middle Ages makes MAN OF BLESSING an interesting and
informative read.

MacArthur's plan for the "church" is extremely sound. His preceptions are based on origional language of the Bible and will work for anyone committed to establishing a God honoring body of believers.

John MacArthur has done an excellent job explaining from the Scriptures the plan that God has ordained for the local church. He teaches what the Bible says about elders, deacons, women's roles, church discipline, preaching, etc. Very scholarly without being dry. Excellent exegesis.

Although the "Master's Plan for the Church" (MPftC) came out before "Ashamed of the Gospel" (AotG), I recommend reading AotG before MPftC. AotG presents a broader base for what problems exist (e.g., watering down the gospel) and why they exist. MPftC is more of a practical application -- now that AotG has shown what to avoid, MPftC shows a better way to implement things in your church. Our denomination (CRC - Christian Reformed Church) has most of those things in place and does a pretty good job of staying true to how a church should be run. MPftC helps keep our minds in line with doing the right things and not just things because "we've always done it that way". Most of the chapters and appendixes are taken from sermons at the author's church. The format is easy to read and well organized. The appendixes fill the final one-third of the book and are required reading. I recommend getting both books for your church library (we have AotG and probably will get MPftC soon).

Very thorough and to the point in so many aspects of the church. From backing up why a plurality of elders to church discipline. A very good read that will point the reader of what God truly wants from His church based on the biblical model set forth in the New Testament. I extremely liked the area describing the elder; his qualifications and disqualifications based on what the Greek text provides.

In the back of the book in the appendixes he then tackles questions regarding different aspects of the church, such as major questions regarding elders and deacons. He defends many topics including having one of the elders being the lead (teaching pastor) to why the elders can, but not as a rule, be paid.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting to reconfirm what the Bible teaches on the church and not our traditions passed on generation upon generation. Very big help!

To many churches focus on entertainment and people pleaser messages as their means of increasing their numbers. Churches forget that it is not our job to grow the church, that is Jesus' job. This book does not waste time going into concepts and strategies that will increase the size of the church. But instead focuses on what the Biblical structure is for the body of Christ. John MacArthur does not focus on how to increase the width of the church, but the depth. There is not a single church in the Bible ever commended for it's size. Excellent Book !

I'm often daunted by how much there is to master in running a nonprofit organisation. What should I be an expert in? What niche publications should I be reading? What training do I need?

The thing I love about John's book is that if I didn't read anything else, but just mastered each of the 20 buckets he talks about, then I'd be in the top few percentile of my game. I can't think of anything of substance that is missing from the book, it covers such a wide range of practical topics. But it somehow covers them in enough depth to be really helpful.

I wish I had come across this earlier - but since I'm still relatively young, there's hope for me yet that I'll have time to integrate the good common sense that John outlines! The book is easy to read in its style, bite-sized and practical in its format, and one of the very best books I've come across for nonprofit leaders.

Only John Pearson could pour the insights gleaned from twenty five years in chief executive roles at three different associations into twenty management buckets: six buckets focused on The Cause, seven buckets for The Community, and seven buckets for The Corporation. The language of The Cause is purpose driven. The language of the Community is warm affirmation. The language of The Corporation focuses on operations, systems and fiduciary responsibilities.
Chapter by chapter each of Pearson's twenty buckets gets filled with "strategic balls" that leaders can utilize to enhance their management of each bucket theme. The chapters are filled with anecdotes about real life experiences in the workplace.
My favorite is The Hoopla! Bucket. Spring-boarding from Dennis Bakke's Joy at Work, Pearson articulates a value proposition for Hoopla as a way to relieve stress and build team spirit in the workplace. This is a critical concept for the great number of nonprofit organizations that have squeezed the pennies so tightly that they have made their workplaces blatantly undesirable and unhealthy.
Mastering the Management Buckets is a straightforward refresher course in critical competencies critical for successful leadership in organizations of all kinds. The book serves it up straight, consistent with Pearson's persona as a straight shooting leader, a man of integrity and a follower of Jesus. If you're looking for ways to enhance your management skills, built on a Biblical platform that views leadership as a spiritual exercise, this book is for you.

After starting to read this book my reaction was WOW! I've never seen so many practical ideas for leaders in one book. John Pearson draws on a vast array of sources that he came across over his long career including time he spent with Peter Drucker. The book describes 20 critical competencies are broad and include topics you don't usually find in books on leadership such as systems, board, budget, operations and crisis.

The competencies are what Pearson calls "management buckets." Some people will like this description, others may be tempted to dismiss the bucket metaphor as lite. That would be a mistake. The book is jam-packed with substantive ideas and insights. I was glad to see that Pearson covers the "hard" issues such as being results oriented to the "soft" issues such as caring for employees. I'm recommending this book to leaders as one to take their leadership team through. It will surely stimulate a list of actions that will benefit their team and organization.

The book does have a lot of references to Christianity because John is a Christian and he has primarily worked for and with Christian organizations. If you work for a Christian organization, this is a must read. If not, or if you are not a Christian, you will still benefit from the ideas and practices described in the book. Because social sector organizations rely so much on volunteers they have learned much about motivating them and for-profit organizations can learn a lot from effective social sector leaders such as Pearson.

I also want to point out that the book is well-organized into short sections so it's ideal for most leaders who prefer bite-sized readings. Too many books these days fail to include end notes and I was glad to see that Pearson provided extensive endnotes that will allow readers to dig even deeper into the many sources he drew upon to write the book.

Bottom line: I highly recommend this book!

John communicates his approach to managing literally hundreds of details in this easy to understand book. I wish I could have read the book before joining him on the management team at Christian Management Association; I would have been far more productive from my first day on the job. It took me a full year to learn to comprehend how John kept all the plates spinning day after day, year in and year out.

Mastering the Management Buckets provides invaluable guidelines, profound insight, and clear direction. There's more solid, practical advice for managers and leaders than can be received in many of the books I've read in my forty-years of ministry. I'm a visual guy. So the illustrations of the 20 buckets concept really rivots my attention. This book is a hands-on resource, it transforms my leadership thinking. I only wish I had this resource in my hands ten years ago!

It's all been said - and better than I could.

Mal Warwick is simply the best results-oriented writer in the field of nonprofit fundraising today!

The genuis behind Mal Warwick's incredible success lies in his ability to marry tried and true marketing techniques with the oftentimes straightlaced field of nonprofit development. You simply can't go wrong with his approach.

Today we are inundated with so many ads and appeals by unknown non-profits (usually on the phone during dinner time), that it is remarkable that any fund raising efforts are successful.

This book, written by a professional fund raiser and head of his own fundraising and marketing agency since 1979, gives several examples fund raising efforts that have not only been profitable, but have raised large amounts of money from relatively few doners.

The book is a combination of tutorial with descriptions of various campaigns that have been successful. The techniques of raising high dollar amounts from few contributors requires a different mind set, different techniques than the standard #10 envelope, bulk rate, and mass mailings. Instead the appeal package is usually more expensive ($5 each - no not a typo), and the mailing list is very selective.

Not every organization is ready, or even capable of raising money in these kinds of appeals. But when the right appeal is made to the right audience, the rewards can be great.

This book was a little shocking, to be honest. I raise money through the mail practically every day, but this book lays out a completely different approach that I am definitely going to try. It takes a lot more work, and I think it should only be used for very special programs, but it sounds like the high-dollar approach promoted in this book could work for just about any organization.
The book, unlike most fundraising books, is very easy to digest and written in a breezy style that makes it easy to get through. You can finish it in one sitting, easily. There are a lot of illustrated ideas from successful campaigns, and the author makes it sound easy. It's not, I don't think, but the book certainly encourages you to try.

As someone who has been raising money for many years, I was dubious that this book would tell me something I didn't already know. I was right and wrong. Much of what Mal says in his latest book on fundraising is not new to fundraising professionals. BUT, the book presents everything you know in a new and useful way that is focused on high dollar fundraising. It is well written, easy to follow, and provides great examples and techniques that will challenge even the long-time fundraising professionals to rethink their fundraising programs. I'm making it madatory reading for my fundraising staff!

Fundraising is an art and a science, and Mal Warwick is a master of both. Warwick has been helping non-profit organizations, charities and political parties raise, collectively, billions of dollars for more than 40 years. As Founder and Chairman of Mal Warwick & Associates, in Berkeley, California, Warwick helps clients raise money by mail and, through his other companies, by phone and the internet. He has authored 17 books on fundraising, and his most recent, The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to . . . Raising $1000 Gifts by Mail gives up the secret he has known since he started his company in 1979: charities can raise
gifts of $1000 or more through the mail.

Warwick stresses his methods are different than those of typical direct mail fundraising. High-dollar donors, as Warwick calls them, are well-educated, wealthy, rational thinkers who want to invest in solutions. Warwick has crafted direct mail packages for them that are masterfully written, with personalized proposals akin to those used in major gift fundraising. He invites donors to invest at a level that's higher than their previous gifts, in special projects that will have a significant impact on advancing the charity's mission.

He insists that charities, in turn, must do their part in adequately acknowledging, informing and engaging the donor in the cause. This special treatment and the initial higher investment in the smaller print runs of more specialized direct mail packages and information pieces pays off, big time, according to Warwick's results. The effort creates long-term, loyal donors, who will be ready and willing to make more generous major gifts and planned gifts in the future.

Raising $1000 Gifts by Mail is indeed mercifully brief - and non-technical. It is a must-read for fundraisers who know their donors deserve more than the standard ask that arrives in the mailbox. Warwick has done philanthropy and the charitable sector a great service by sharing the art and science of high-dollar fundraising my mail.

After all the shouting that the MYTH OF GOD INCARNATE gave rise to, this is a considered response, preserving the view that "God Incarnate" is not a meaningless idea, but that one needs to be very careful just how the term is to be understood. The original authors have a chance to talk back to their (hysterical) critics.

In this follow-up to his controversial 1970s compilation, "The Myth of God Incarnate," British philosopher John Hick fleshes out his own critique of the Christian dogmas of the Trinity and the Atonement, and offers alternate ways of understanding the message and meaning of Jesus in today's pluralistic world.

Although Hick overstates the degree to which the doctrines of the Trinity and Atonement are no longer believeable (millions, in fact, still fervently believe those doctrines), he persuasively argues both that (1) neither Jesus nor his earliest followers regarded Jesus as God incarnate, and that (2) the doctrine of the Trinity is in fact intellectually incoherent and - paradoxically - cannot even be explicated in terms which do not violate Christian orthodoxy. Hick shows that all attempts to explain this doctrine either implicitly deny that Jesus was a human being like other human beings or redefine God in such a way that God is no longer God.

Some of the theological argumentation is a bit technical, but with careful reading it is quite intelligible even to the non-professional. I found the critique of the atonement (the idea that Jesus' death on the cross was necessary for the forgiveness of human sin) to be particularly cogent insofar as Hick quotes from the sayings of Jesus himself to show that a sacrificial death is not necessary to effect divine forgiveness. (In this context, Hick quotes both the Lord's Prayer and the story of the Prodigal Son.)

Traditional Christians might think that Christianity is utterly destroyed if shorn of the doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement, but Hick disagrees. He proposes an understanding of Jesus' life as a metaphor for the action of God in the world, a metaphor all the more potent because it is grounded in the real-life example of Jesus. Hick also believes that the Eastern Orthodox concept of human "deification," the transformation of the human personality through the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit or Divine Energies, provides a potentially fruitful basis for a future Christian theology.

Although Hick is critical of orthodox theology and of the crimes of Christian civilization, he is not polemical in a rude or crude sort of way, nor does he ignore - as many critics of Christianity do - the deficiencies of other religions and the cultures they produced. (However, one might disagree with his claim that all religions have had pretty much the same effect on culture, and that the advantages and disadvantages of the various religions ultimately cancel each other out. In my view, that is a highly debatable proposition. I think different religions effect culture in very different ways, and develop in different ways because of ideas present at the core of each individual religion.)

One might have wished that Hick spent some time discussing the doctrine of the Incarnation as it is found in Hinduism, which believes in successive divine incarnations throughout history. Perhaps some insight into the Christian doctrine of Incarnation could have been found there, just as an analysis of the Buddhist understanding of "taking refuge" in the Buddha might shed some light on the Christian doctrine of the Atonement. As it is, however, Hick does not delve into the theological or philosophical nuances of any religion other than Christianity.

Traditional Christians will likely be offended or alarmed by this book, but Hick's sincere challenge to Christian orthodoxy is what the times demand. In a world where Islam has once again become (or remains) militant and agressive, Christianity must regroup on a firmer moral and intellectual foundation if it is to survive the clash of civilizations that has already begun.

John Hick is one of the leading advocates of religious pluralism today, and identifies himself as a Christian. In the above work, he sets out to criticize the following tenets of traditional Christianity, expressed above all in the Chalcedonian ecumenical council, established in 451 CE, which is for most the sine qua non expression of Christian Christology. He is a very honest writer, and lets the reader know from the outset his agenda. For one to uphold the doctrines of Christian pluralism as he does, one cannot simultaneously hold to the traditional understanding of Christ. He explains: "If he was indeed God incarnate, [then] Christianity is the only religion founded by God in person, and must as such be uniquely superior to all other religions" (ix). As one who does not believe Christianity is superior to all other religions, Hick must justify his pluralism by a reconsideration of the doctrine of the incarnation. In a nutshell, for him it is not a metaphysical reality, but a metaphor which depicts the God-centered life of Christ. In this book Hick criticizes 6 sets of ideas common to Christianity, traditionally understood, and puts forward an alternative for a Christianity of a pluralistic age. He avers that:
(1) Jesus himself did not teach what was to become the orthodox Christian understanding of him;
(2) that the dogma of Jesus' two natures, one human and one divine, has proved be incapable of being explicated in any satisfactory way;
(3) that historically the traditional dogma has been used to justify great human evils;
(4) that the idea of divine incarnation is better understood as metaphorical rather than as literal;
(5) that we can rightly take Jesus, so understood, as our Lord, the one who has made God real to us and whose life and teachings challenge us to live in God's presence; and
(6) that a non-traditional Christianity based upon this understanding of Jesus can see itself as one among a number of different human responses to the ultimate transcendent Reality that we call God, and can better serve the development of world community and world peace than a Christianity which continues to see itself as the locus of final revelation and purveyor of the only salvation possible for all human beings (ix).
Before I began reading this book, I had already a background in historical Jesus studies and early Christianity, as well as proclivities toward Christian pluralism. What this book did for me was to nourish a pluralism that, quite frankly, had already been born in my mind. For me, therefore, it was confirmation of an already existing belief, and a helpful articulation of why I had begun to lean in this direction. For some (and for me about 5 years ago), this book would seem to stink of liberal scholarship, and of the inspiration of Satan himself. Thus, it will not be persuasive in the least to some. I don't believe those who believe this are foolish. However, I would still encourage this book as a fine example of irenic scholarship which puts forward a different persepective, if for nothing else than to understand and foster dialogue. The author is respectful and painfully honest, while making gentle criticism and proposing a new direction in a spirit desperately needed in this intolerable age. One can only hope for an honest reading, and a sympathetic disposition.

Writing in a wonderfully lucid, ego-free way Hick subjects the traditional, literal understandings of the Incarnation to a searching philosophical analysis and concludes that there is no way to make sense of the idea except as a Metaphor. This realization he hopes can liberate Christians so that they can embrace the rest of believing humanity instead of excluding it from their unnecessarily narrow notions of salvation.

John Hick makes a compelling case for why we should rethink the traditional theological belief that Jesus was 'God the Son', second person of the Holy Trinity. Hick critically examines this doctrine and attacks it from all sides.

First he talks about the metaphysical problems inherent in trying to stipulate how someone could be completely God and completely human at the same time. He does a good job at examining all of the major attempts at doing so and explains why each such try has been inadequate. He goes on to describe how New Testament scholars have concluded that Jesus' divinity cannot be ascribed to Jesus' own teachings. I'm not a New Testament scholar by any means, but apparently they have thrown doubt on many of the biblical passages where Jesus alludes to his own divinity. New Testament scholars apparently attribute such sayings to later writers of the bible who were just reflecting a current belief in the Christian community at their time. Hick goes on to discuss how the 'God the Son' doctrine implies the superiority of the Christian religion, being the only religion founded by God himself. He discusses the problems inherent in believing so, all of the evils committed based in part on the belief of Christian superiority, and the problems and illogicalities inherent in the overall belief that Jesus as 'God the Son' was needed as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

His own theory is that the incarnation doctrine should be taken metaphorically instead of as literal truth. In short Hick believes that "In so far as Jesus lived a life of self-giving love, or agape, he 'incarnated' a love that is a finite reflection of the infinite divine love" (105). Furthermore, "In so far as Jesus was doing God's will, God was acting through him on earth and was in this respect 'incarnate' in Jesus' life" (105). I'll let you read the book to find out more about this theory and how it fits into the overall schema of religious founders and saints who also reflect, although not necessarily to the extent that Jesus did, the divine love on earth. In theory then we could suggest that Jesus was a normal human being who was so completely open to God that he was spiritually perfected.

As I said in the beginning, this book provides a very compelling case for why we should at least rethink the traditional doctrine of 'God the Son' as opposed to 'Son of God', spiritually perfected, which in theory we could all be. However Hick does not prove anything in this book. At the end of the day I think Hick has to accept that it's a dispute over theory, not something we can prove either way. Just because we cannot, as of yet at least, adequately stipulate 'God the Son' metaphysically does not mean that it is not possible. Just because we cannot find a way as of now doesn't mean that we will never be able to do so. However, it may just be beyond human conceptualization. Furthermore, you can throw doubt on any passage in the bible you want, but even if we can't attribute Jesus' divinity to his own teachings, this doesn't mean that Jesus was not 'God the Son', second person of the Holy Trinity. In other words, even if Jesus didn't teach it, it could still be so. And the superiority problem is only a problem for religious pluralists. So in essence, Hick explains all of the very compelling reasons why he thinks the incarnation should be taken metaphorically instead of literally. However, whether Jesus was 'God the Son' literally or metaphorically cannot be proven either way. He does provide very compelling reasons for his position on this issue. I commend Hick for this wonderful work on the issue and think that all Christians should read it.

I definitely recommend this book to worship leaders and pastors. It's a smooth read, interesting, and very useful. It's not very expensive and the author himself is very qualified and has a great humble heart. I think this book could help a lot of churches with some problems they face weekly between worship leaders, pastors, and their congregations. Read it.

This book is a real treasure trove of information. Great insight on many different styles of worship without any favoritism towards any one style. I recommend this book to anyone whose plans, or assists in planning worship.

This is the author, Barry Liesch, writing. Just a note on the changes in the expanded edition. Chapters 1, 2, 6, 10, and 11 are new or virtually new. All the other chapters (16 in all) are enhanced too. This version is much stronger, both theologically and practically.

It has a greater appeal to college-age worship leaders. It's more incisive. It also links up with the web site I've partnered, offering many supplemental materials with ongoing updates--see worshipinfo.com. Baker Books has done an exemplary job with the layout--lots of diagrams, tables, illustrative drawings for the eye. In short, I'm pleased with the result and hope you will be too.

This book is timely. Carifying of my own opinions and experience while offering new insights and practical application. Obviously established on experience and observation as well as Biblical principles (I also read the author's other book, People in the Presence of God, for more theological background). An insightful resource, easy to read and understand.

Barry has now written 2 good books on worship. The heart he has for worship, and his attempt not to alienate anyone truly seeking God are outstanding. It is a shame he has to bend over backwards to keep some from getting upset, but he is willing to do it for God's sake and he is good at it.

There are many practical helps here as well as a good basis for trying new forms and methods. I find his style honest and inviting. I can also personally testify to many of the recommendations given on contemporary, flowing worship styles.

Get this book and have fun exploring God's greatness is worship!

This book provides an excellent overview and details of the various types of funding for endowment plans - what to do, how to do it. It's useful for 501(C)3's even if there are no plans for an endowment.

This book is essential. It is easy to read, and you can use it as a reference for when ever the hard questions come up. Everyone on your staff will need a copy by their desk. Diana Newman has done it again, I loved Opening Doors-- and this is just a great addition to my understanding of nonprofits.

Diana Newman has written a wonderful book on endowment, appropriate for the thousands of non-profit organizations who deserve to live in perpetuity, and yet don't have large fund development programs. I ordered it March 2005, and have since included it in curriculum for educating my nonprofit clients. Their feedback? The book is easy to comprehend, and full of useful information.

Ms. Newman's understanding of the issues, and her practical suggestions, are right on!

Endowments really make the difference in which non-profits are going to survive for the long term. The steady income from an investment portfolio provides a base that can sustain the existance of the non-profit during bad times.

The techniques needed for obtaining endowment funding are quite different than those used to secure funds to answer immediate needs. The author has been a professional fundraiser for many years. Yet, when she started she was assigned a series of tasks including fundraising, a membership program, a volunteer corp, and "Oh yes, establish an endowment."

As she says, this is the book she wishes she had had to start her fundraising career. This is a combined how-to book and a how-to-think book. It talks of every aspect of endowment funding from what is an endowment to measuring the success of your efforts. Inbetween are stories of projects that have been conducted by successful fundraisers.

There are very few books on endowments, this is the most recent and reflects the current state of the investment marketplace and what has been successful lately.

Easy to read and practical ideas to get your organization started or jump-started again. Do yourself a favor, buy this one for yourself and your new staff. It's a handy reference guide for anyone serious about the topic.

If, lets imagine, the library of Management Literature would be destoyed tomorrow, there's three treasured books I hope will be preserved somewhere, safe and sound. This is one of them.

Dee Hock's book transmits an extraordinary passion for human growth, organisational transition and hope for a better future. Why are organisations increasingly unable to manage their affairs? Why are individuals increasingly in conflict with the organisations of which they are part? Why are society and the biosphere increasingly in disarray? The answers (please do not expect to receive simple ones) to these questions spring from a powerful vision of what makes us humans both passionate and creative. A vision that has inspired the creation of VISA.

Dee Hock has been recognised as one of the eight individuals who most changed the way people live in the previous quarter century. I really hope this book will have equal impact on how we manage our lives and businesses. Essential reading.

No, it would not, by the way, be usefull to hand you the two other titles I hope wouldn't be lost... Just read this one and enjoy!

Loved the subtitle on this book enough to pick it up blind and was not disappointed. Hock delves into leadership at a level that leaves you feeling invested in his -- VISA -- and reflective of yours.

Edit of 30 Dec 07 to add comment and links.

New comment: something big is happening, in both politics and business. Moral green open transparent memes are in overdrive. See links.

I read a lot, a solace and a life line out of the madness of today. I finished up my week-end with this most unusual gem, and it is with some emotion that I put it down and take the time to write this review.

In my lifetime, there have been fewer than four individuals able to understand me and manage me, and Dee Hock now joins that number, sight unseen. This is one of the *good guys*! If he and Bill Bradley and Jim Turner (Transpartisanship) can come together, we can remake the world.

The book benefits from a Foreword by Peter Senge, who notes that VISA as it emerged was a disruptive concept that threatened traditional powers. Senge also notes the importance of distinguishing between enabling technologies, such as the Internet, and what is enabled, such as democracy or equitable wealth creation and sharing. Finally, Senge observes that global complexity requires distributed democracy, to which I and the author would both be quick to add: "and moral capitalism."

The book is at root about the failure of all of our instititutions, and the need to find a third way between over-bearing centralization and anarchic decentralization. The author coins the word "chaordic" to deswcribe an even-handed and often-changing balance between the two.

Dee Hock is a philosopher-king, and I am reminded of "Voltaire's Bastards" and "Consilience" as I read his denouncement of the Western concept of separability and his own understanding that complexity is about never-ending and alway-changing relationships. In one example with the US Army, he explores how rules-based organizations waste 45-85% of the time and value of their employees. He specifically notes that human ingenuity is the ultimate resource and is abundant, but too often constrained if not crushed by schools, armies, corporations, and so on.

The author's morality shines forth as he describes non-monetary exchanges of value as the best possible foundation for what others call reciprocal altruism. At one point he observes that "leadership is not necessarily constructive, ethical, or open."

The entire book is about the creation of an organization in which participation is the primal element, agreement is dynamic, and trust and tolerance are the prevailing values. He states that organizational heaven is purpose, principle, and people. Purgotory is paper and procedure. Hell is rule & regulation.

He realizes early on that fraud and theft are major challenges, and that information is, as he quotes Gregory Bateson, "a difference that makes a difference."

I have a big note: this is a smart, ethical, practical, inspiring person--one of the good guys!

The author is deeply and empathetically aware of the discord between our industrial era understandings and perceptions, and the bio-cultural realities of the Earth and all its processes. He sees clearly what the "true cost" or natural capitalism literature seeks to teach.

A line jumps out, in which the author is lamenting that we have such a wealth of information, yet have drifted into "collective madness."

He clearly sees that our current form of predatory immoral "bandit" capitalism specializes at the socialization of cost and the capitalization of gain, which is fancy wording for looting the commons and stealing the profit. He also points out that we are putting the debt on to future generations.

He clearly describes the current form of corporations as inimical to the commons.

The book concludes strongly, lionizing the will to succeed when joined with the grace to compromise, placing VISA on a par with the Internet and LINUX as an organizational model for the future, and noting that growth comes from failure.

On page 284 he lists the following ten attributes from a living organization in Spain that represents the best of the chaordic model:

01 Open membership
02 Democratic organization
03 Worker sovereignty
04 Instrumental subordinate nature of capital
05 Participation in management
06 Wage solidarity
07 Cooperating between cooperatives
08 Social transformation
09 Universal nature
10 Education (he might have added, life-long, unconstrained, free of the prison-rote we now suffer, and teaching sharing as well as learning)

He ends with the story of his recall from his wanderings in the wilderness, to explore examples, models, the intellectual foundation, and organizations by which we might save the Planet and our species, to include the necessary means of mind-crafting for the future.

I actually had goose-bumps as I put this book down. I felt, very strongly, that I had been within the aura of a great leader, a gentle person, a world-class humanitarian, a capitalist Dalai Lama if you will (don't laugh--this author strikes me as quite amazingly special).

I cannot say enough about this book. It joins the very short list of books I have posted on moral leadership through open source intelligence, and it places Dee Hock up there with Buckminster Fuller, Margaret Wheatley, Robert Buckman, and a tiny handful of Senge's and Druckers.

I hope I meet him one day. Right now, he joins Bill Bradley as one of just two people I'd be willing to leave my mink-lined bunker to follow into battle. This book and this author's mind and clarity of communication have simply blown me away.

See the two images I have loaded here to illustrate concepts that I share with this author. You can see other images at Earth Intelligence Network, where you can also use the Amazon Base Page to get access to my 30 lists of books for each of the ten threats, twelve policies, and eight challengers. I am also creating Amazon discussion pages for each of these.

Related books:
The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World
The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom
The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits (Wharton School Publishing Paperbacks)
The Politics of Fortune: A New Agenda For Business Leaders
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming

When I saw this new recommendation from Amazon, I was thrilled. I loved Birth of the Chaordic Age, and was eager to learn what new wisdom Dee has to share with us. I checked out the reviews and table of contents and was disappointed to see that One from Many ... is the same book under a new title. Too bad.

Dee Hock, Founder and CEO Emeritus of Visa, not only recalls the intriguing events that led to the creation of Visa, but shares the roots of his personal journey that took him to that place and time. This book chronicles Hock's exploration of the nature of organizations that go well beyond anything that had been done to that point in time. As a byproduct, he helped save a credit card industry that was bleeding money across a sea of large and small financial institutions.

Shelby Stanton's 1991 book "Order of Battle, U. S. Army, World War II" is a reference you can't get along without if you're serious about researching the history of the major tactical units of the Army ground forces from battalion through division. Within this framework are included all armored, cavalry, tank destroyer, coast artillery, antiaircraft artillery, infantry, chemical mortar, and engineer units. That's not everybody that on occasion served in a frontline rifleman capacity, Stanton acknowledges, but he had to limit the work to keep it manageable.

Stanton's "Order of Battle" is every bit the equal in scholarship (and size, too!) of the volumes known collectively as "U.S. Army in World War II", the official record published by the U. S. Army Office of the Chief of Military History and its successor, the Center of Military History. One has to wonder why Stanton's book was not published as one of the volumes of the widely-known "green books" series.

But it apparently is claiming a place among the minutely-detailed and factual histories of the Army in World War II. If you're into that sort of thing, you see Stanton's book cited ever more frequently in discussions of fine points.

"Order of Battle" is likely in fewer libraries than the volumes of the official "U.S.Army in World War II". But it's worth looking for.

Shelby Stanton, an attorney, was born after World War II, in 1948, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, graduated from Louisiana State University, and served in Vietnam as an infantry captain.

This book sets what should be the standard for all order of battle books. Units down to battalion level are detailed. Not only the composition of the units is given but also the location of the unit and campaigns participated in are listed. I have yet to see another o/b book this detailed.

I found this book to be the most helpful source of information on unit histories for all ground troops in World War II for the U.S. Army. If you are a World War II history buff, and you really want to know the facts about how each group won the war in the European Theatre, this is your book. It also gives some general history for each unit before and after the war.

Oder of Battle: US Army, WWII is the way to start from. Covers all major formations during the war and covers the Combat regimental assigments during this period. As a general source of information this book can not be rivalled. This also gives the reasearcher a start on working on a day by day OB for the US Army in WW2. I highly recommend this book to all students of military history.

I found my copy of this large (9 1/2" x 12") and somewhat heavy (4 lbs or so), well-made, well-organized book in a military collector store in Pineville, NC for $20. I see now that it is out of print and is bringing $120 used. My copy is in excellent condition, save for a small tear on the dustcover jacket. Anyway, to the review.......... This book is the main staple in my enormous WW2 collection. At 604 pages, it stops at nothing to give you in painful detail the US Army organization in WW2. It's all here - divisions by number, infantry, armor, cavalry, tank destroyers, field artillery, coast and anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, campaign key codes, ghost and deception divisions, and color photos of infantry and armored shoulder patches. Every unit is broken down into unit history, camps and forts activated and stationed, casualty numbers, commanders (generals) and their service dates, and a play by play timeline of campaigns, areas of battle and battles fought. I'll never give up my copy of this book. It is my side-arm for knowledge. If you can find a means to pick one up, I strongly suggest it.