Organizations Books

Fascinating book. It is an amazing story and very well written. I recommend it highly.

Very well written narrative, exploring the struggles understaffed, overworked, and in a lot of cases under-educated doctors who risk there lives to treat there patients during a time of war, often in EXTREME circumstances. It is a very striking story in that some doctors join the fight, some stay neutral, others just get lost in the horrible world that there previously beautiful home has turned into. It really make you think what you would have done in there position and question ones own moral fiber. It also makes one question governments and there priorities. In some places the book digresses into too much history which was hard in some places to get through, but it was necessary for the overall picture for this true story. I good read for anyone who is interested in medicine, ethics, history or a great dramatic narrative.

This is an important, gripping book about doctors in wartime. And it is an impressive, beautifully written first book by Sheri Fink. War Hospital is a powerful, haunting narrative presented in fast-paced, present time, first person narrative that unfolds like a Greek tragedy. This is the story of a group of very young, inexperienced doctors amidst the siege and eventual fall of Srebnenica that ended with genocide in Europe as the world stood by. The very fact that our protagonists - humanitarians and idealists-are trapped in the midst of the eventual ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims by Bosnian Serbs poses the book's central questions. Is the traditional role of humanitarian medicine -- neutral, unarmed, detached - sufficient in the face of looming massacre? And are the similarly evolved views of sovereignty and non-intervention in the international community outdated? If so, how and where does one choose sides, decide to intervene, offer medical care, or seek armed protection?

But the strength of War Hospital ultimately lies in Fink's brilliant structural choice to save the analysis, the conclusions, the politics and policy dilemmas for an epilogue thus allowing the reader to become engrossed with the stories of Drs. Ilijaz Pilav, Eric Dachy, Fatima Dautbasic and a handful of others who serve as the only doctors for the 70,000 or so Bosnian Muslims surrounded in enclaves in eastern Bosnia. From the opening scene where Dr. Ejub Alic, a 32-year old pediatric resident with no surgical training, performs an amputation with a razor cleaned in hydrogen peroxide, you will find yourself caught up in a swift, compelling novelistic reconstruction of events worthy of a future film or television series. Like a special episode of ER, but with our cast operating in a very real dilapidated hospital without adequate equipment or supplies, War Hospital makes you care about Bosnians, makes you feel, see, and smell the fear, despair, humor, bravery, betrayal, and confusion that permeate war.

When Dr. Alic finally gets a surgeon to help him out, the new arrival turns out to be the even younger, 28-year old general practitioner, Dr. Ilijaz Pilav, who has no surgical training either. He must brush aside questions on his past and training if he hopes to avoid creating despair or panic in Srebnenica. And so it goes. As our cast of young doctors is fleshed out, we watch their surgeries, their witness to massacres and gas attacks, their love affairs and infidelities, their arguments, and above all, their moral and ethical dilemmas as they try to live up to their calling to "do no harm" and to remain neutral as it becomes clear that active involvement, interposition with imperiled citizens and soldiers, and even occasionally taking up arms may be essential to survival and carrying out their medical missions. In this sense, War Hospital, in the best sense, resembles a high-toned TV survivor series where the outcome actually matters. As you watch some of our doctors join in fighting with Muslim forces, escape to rejoin families, get caught in ambushes, or leave overwhelmed and disillusioned, you will find yourself, if honest, frequently identifying with and then rejecting a number of moral stances and options. There are no easy answers here.

This combination, then, of vivid narrative with a setting and structure that raises the most important ethical questions of our time for doctors and civilians alike makes War Hospital indispensable reading not only for medical students, physicians, nurses and other health professionals, but also for ethicists, historians, psychologists, journalists, foreign policy analysts and more. I can see it used in many, many university courses and, with decent publicity, selling well and giving rise to that movie.

So. Go get War Hospital and read it now. If we had had it in 1992, genocide might have been averted. But its prose and powerful human insights and ethical engagement are as fresh and relevant today as the daily headlines from Iraq.

Whether you are interested in contemporary history, war, medicine, morality and hope, you should read War Hospital. This nonfiction book about the siege of single town is an inspiring chronicle of true heroism by physicians and nurses in the face of war and its assorted horrors including internecine carnage, genocide and malign indifference. However, I first looked at this site not to see whether others enjoyed reading the book but because I wanted to see whether War Hospital had affected anyone else as much as it had me. I see that it has, and so I feel it's important to acknowledge the achievement of this book because I want everyone to have the experience I had.

What was that?

Well, as a social worker I was always quite skeptical of people who complained of `compassion fatigue' or bemoaned their inability to care deeply about the unspeakable assorted cruelties and human rights abuse that scar the globe. I looked at such complaints as little more than excuses for choosing not to care. Yet I couldn't ignore the fact that I was becoming inured to the news of genocide in the Balkans, especially because it was being rapidly supplanted by genocide in other areas such as Rwanda. Although genocide is equally evil throughout the world and suffering itself has no color, I resented the fact that Africans were getting less press and global outrage. and because journalists were also tiring of the Balkans they began to desert it for the next hotspot du jour. In the age of information overload these were all competing for our attention and the surfeit of shocking details were producing a sort of ennui. I would never have admitted to compassion fatigue, but it was becoming harder to access my outrage and easier to fall into a melancholy desire to not know more.

War Hospital proved just the medicine for this sense of paralysis.

First, the book is no preachy lecture: It is entertaining and a gripping story, very well told, that quote effectively puts a human face and universalizes the experience of genocide. And this face is a heroic face, an inspiration. This taut story is as powerful and intoxicating as any mystery novel. It is the story of a group of heroes, but heroes not in the diluted newspaper sense of a fireman saving a child but heroes in the classic sense of people who survive seemingly impossible personal tests as they mature from naïve, idealistic youths to flawed but ultimately successful saviors.

A small corps of very inexperienced young physicians including Drs. Alic, Dachy, and Dautbasic find themselves trapped in the besieged city of Srebnenica, where they must care for an unstemmed flood of Bosnian Muslims. Worse, their patients are brought in suffering from gruesome traumatic war injuries-- shredded arms and legs, and devastating head injuries for which the pediatricians and internists are ill prepared to cope: There are no surgeons. Even anesthetics and disinfectants are in short supply. When the eagerly awaited surgeon finally cheats death through a hazardous odyssey to join them, he is revealed as just another young general practitioner, Dr. Ilijaz Pilav, without surgical training. This ill-equipped band faces the challenge of providing medical and surgical care, hope and inspiration to the remaining residents of the Eastern Bosnia area, including Srebnenica, a former resort town now physically ravaged by war, haunted by snipers and tottering on the brink of despair as it is seemingly abandoned by the world. And outside, the world remains mute as genocide overtakes the country and the city: When the former resort town falls, 8,000 people are massacred .

All this is just the beginning. As Dr. Fink takes us on the roller-coaster descent of Srebnenica's fortunes, she fully fleshes out the individuals, telling their stories and illuminating their characters, warts and all: We know and care for them all by the end of the book. One man stumbled onto medicine because the engineering program he initially wished to attend was in a dull area that would not give him, a village boy, the urban experience he craved. Another must battle his own professional crisis of confidence-- is he really skilled enough to help all these people?-- as he seeks to allay the skepticism of others.

Because we know and care about them, Fink's subtle gradual introduction of ethical and moral issues as the doctors and nurses confront them is very powerful. She avoids the pitfalls of introducing thorny medical ethics issues too early and in too much depth. This means that when characters with whom we empathize ask themselves how to triage the young vs. the armed, when they ask whether they will save more lives by arming themselves against aggressor or how they can morally justify treating an enemy soldier who will turn to genocide or massacre again these concerns become immediate moral crises, not abstractions. When some doctors decide that medical measures are not enough and they decamp to take up arms to rejoin former comrades or simply to abandon their work in the clinic as hopelessly inadequate, this becomes more than a political or ethical argument.

An unexpected virtue of the book is its luminous language. It is written in a clear forthright voice that eschews semantic tricks but unerringly chooses each perfectly apt word in fresh combinations that are at once lyrical and evocative of a disturbing atmosphere: For example, a ravaged leg is `filleted' by a young surgeon in preparation for amputation. A hazard-fraught nocturnal trek to freedom by the survivors is rendered in language that contrasts brute violence with wondrous depictions of the wondrous nightscape.

In the hands of a capable writer this gripping story would have made a rousing book: In the hands of this writer who achieves rich characterization, keen ethical insight, and lyrical prose, it is an inspiration, and the cure for compassion fatigue.

I don't think I really understood what the war in Bosnia was all about before reading Dr. Sheri Fink's fabulous new book. She has a marvelous narrative gift. This book reads like a compelling screenplay, yet is marvelously researched and documented. As Chris Hedges wrote in his glowing review in the December 22, 2003 New York Times, Dr. Fink dramatically tells the story of the war by focusing on a small group of brave young doctors trapped in the beseiged city of Srebrenica with about 50,000 civilians. Without access to supplies, equipment and even electricity, we struggle along with them to deal with the frustrations, ethical dilemmas, rivalries and romances of their lives, while the larger picture of the war, the shocking failure of the UN and the West to intervene, plays out. The targeting of medical aid workers in Iraq (Dr. Fink worked there recently, I have read) takes on new meaning after reading her book and seeing how aid is often another (albeit deplorable) weapon of war. This book deserves wide notice.

This is an excellent resource. I wish I'd had something like this early in my career. Not only is the book an excellent collection, but it is all on the accompanying CD to help you prepare bulletins, text for Sunday service, etc. Superb! A good investment.

This is the finest resource for worship planning I have read in years. The essays are very helpful. The prayers are written in good English. The inclusion of a CD makes the book especially useful. Although I am a United Methodist Pastor, I highly endorse this Reformed Church resource.

Excellent resource for worship leaders! Great selection of corporate and responsive prayers and readings, also includes lectionary in appendix.

very usefull. a good gift for persons who find themselves in the position of worship coordinator.

This is an excellent resource! Any pastor or worship leader who incorporates litanies, corporate prayers and unison readings in their worship services should have this resource. It is also a very helpful resource in providing written prayers and liturgies for lay readers.

This book sets out and reasserts the moral compass that all companies - and individuals - need to be successful, not only in business but as humans and partners. It's beautifully written, compelling and should be required reading for all executives and managers of companies. It may seem basic but the more sophisticated we are - or think ourselves to be - the more likely we are to neglect these lessons. A book to remind us of our essential fallibility - and our essential goodness, if only we care to care.

This is the best current work on honesty and leadership. It is well-written and enjoyable to read. Johnson is a consultant and speaker. Phillips was in human resources for 30 years with several known companies. Their ideas come from their work and consulting observations. Their six laws are good points we all could inculcate in our lives and leadership.

This book is outstanding. Bob has extensive experience in Intel, Tektronix and other technology companies as a senior HR executive and has captured the power of honest communication. There are so many things that get in the way of honest commination and working towards this end can be discouraging if your culture does not support it. However, using the principles that Bob outlines will provide a powerful bottom line impact and should not be ignored. Very powerful book. Now if only every one followed it.

This handy guide endeavors to reduce the complex challenge of ethical leadership - with which great minds have struggled for thousands of years - to six simple and absolute rules of honesty. The authors, Larry Johnson and Bob Phillips, clearly explain each rule of absolute honesty they have derived and provide many illustrative anecdotes and examples drawn from daily life. There is a fascinating, moving story of one co-author's unforgettable experience as a high school track star, and another account about a couple whose marriage ended in divorce after the wife insisted on acting dishonestly. Perhaps the authors believed that this volume would move even the greatest crooks to resolute and unswerving honesty. Alas, that is beyond their scope. However We find that ordinary businesspeople seeking general guidelines might find useful counsel here. Hey, at least it's a start.

I enjoyed reading this book because anyone can relate to it. There are always "real" stories in each chapter which is an excellent way to describe what the writers are trying to emphasis. "Absolute Honesty" is also a wonderful book for women. Many times women find themselves in situations where they want to be honest, but are extremely uncomfortable or fear they won't be listened to. "Absolute Honesty" has great ideas on how to approach people allowing them to be sincere without the fear.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has been retrenched, made redundant, involuntarily exited from the workplace or simply disillusioned with his or her workplace. A step by step manual on how to transition or transform yourself and make a comeback. Full of tips and suggestions, if you are a career hunter, it would be useful to have this text handy. Its got some stories of individuals' experiences and therefore this should be helpful in enabling you to make a move, if you are hesitating.

I found this to be an excellent read - a real motivational book, especially for someone coming out of the .com craze. This book told of all the mood changes and feelings of anxiety that come from being downsized or from a company that has gone out of business. It also contained a good list of resources relating to where you were in your search for a new career.

Loved it. Recommend it to anyone on the edge.

Are You a Corporate Refugee? is an excellelnt resource for people who are being downsized, EAP professionals, and Outplacement experts. This book proves to be a guide for preparing for an imminent layoff and describing steps to take after the layoff. The author, Ruth Luban, does an excellent job in not only presenting a very practical guide, but addressing the full range of emotions attached to such a major life changing event.

As a career counselor, I am always searching for resources that are both informative about the psycholological impact of change and pragmatic enough to provide concrete guidance for persons navigating a career transition. This is the book I most often suggest to clients who have been laid off or are otherwise in the middle of a job change under challenging circumstances. I highly recommend this book.

On the brink of layoff, I found this book at the library among the usual collection of books on resume' building, interviewing and job search. Reading the first chapters about downsizing I could see that this book was about my story, starting with the "On The Brink" experience of knowing something drastic is about to happen soon. Turns out the book is about the internal challenges and transitions involved in loosing a job, dealing with "what to do next" and how to make the journy to the next job a rewarding one.

Now I have my own copy from Amazon which I use most every day. It is very helpful.

Although this book is required reading, not only for ARMY OCS, but also for other applications, it is quite possibly the most BORING read ever.

While the information is quite valid *and* genius, basically the ARMY's system on leadership, it is just plain boring... Sorry, it's the truth.

For the price, the information is golden. In fact, even if the price were higher it would still be worth what you pay. But even still, this was a painful 171 pages to read!!

BUY IT. READ IT. GET IT OVER WITH...! :)

This is a great resource for individuals looking for some leadership pointers.

The world's benchmark with respect to leadership is the market driven capitalist company, however it seems they have lost their way when compared to the US Army. After you read this book you will be shocked to find out how far ahead of private business the US Army is in the area of Leadership.

Ultimately the US Army has determined that in some fashion everyone that reports to you is also a leader and needs to be trained and respected as such. The US Army's leaders are actively developed at all levels so that they can lead and develop others - no lip service here.

Since I became a civilian a few years ago, I've struggled somewhat with explaining to my team how to adapt what I "know" about Army leadership into terms they can understand.

This book does a great job of putting the fundamentals of Army leadership into terms civilians can understand, and better yet, implement or integrate into their leadership experience.

The fundamentals apply to every organization, and I highly recommend it to any student of leadership!

I recently re-read this book, curious to know to what extent its content remains relevant. My conclusion? It is even more relevant today than it was when first published in 2004. In Richard E. Cavanagh's Foreword, he recalls a discussion during dinner with Peter Drucker and Jack Welch who shared the same opinion that the United States military services do the best job developing leaders. What we have in this volume is an adaptation by Frances Hesselbein and General Eric K. Shinseki (USA Ret.) of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, with assistance from Alan Shrader. Hesselbein and Shinseki also wrote the Introduction. The material is carefully organized within seven chapters, followed by a Conclusion that reviews the most important points, correctly noting the unique and compelling role that the U.S. Army has played since June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.

With regard to the book's title, "Army leadership begins with what the leader must Be, the values and attributes that shape a leader's character...People want leaders who are honest, competent, forward-looking, and inspiring...People willingly follow only those who know what they are doing. One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose trust and commitment of followers is to demonstrate incompetence...Character and competence, the Be and the Know, underlie everything a leader does. But character and knowledge - while absolutely necessary - are not enough. Leaders act; they Do...They solve problems, overcome obstacles, strengthen teamwork, and achieve objectives. They use leadership to produce results."

I realize that these concepts seem simple. In one sense they are. However, in this context, I am reminded of what Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: "I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." The challenge to any organization when developing leaders is to guide those involved to the other side of complexity." The composite of excerpts from Be-Know-Do identifies core concepts, to be sure, but it also describes the character, competence, knowledge, and results-driven initiative that the U.S. Army seeks to develop within every one of its soldiers, regardless of rank. "No one is only a leader; each person in an organization is also a follower and part of a team. In fact, the old distinction between leaders and followers has blurred; complex twenty-first-century organizations require individuals to move seamlessly from one role to another in an organization, from leadership to `followership,' and back again."

Hesselbein and Shinseki are to be commended for their skillful adaptation of Field Manual 22-100, Army Leadership, but also for the inclusion within the narrative of relevant material from sources outside the U.S. Army organization. For example, they quote prominent business thinkers throughout the narrative: James Kouzes and Barry Posner on leadership by example (page 24), John Gardner on the importance of a shared vision (page 30), Patrick Lencioni on teamwork (page 86), and John Kotter on a leader's "quest for learning" (page 132). Readers will also appreciate the provision of various "Exhibits" such as 5.1 that provides a brilliant illustration of Team-Building Stages.

Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Frances Hesselbein's other works that include The Leader of the Future 2: Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the New Era co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith, On Leading Change: A Leader to Leader Guide co-authored with Rob Johnston, and Leading for Innovation: and Organizing for Results co-edited with Goldsmith and Iain Somerville. Also, I highly recommend the wealth of resources available at the Leader to Leader Institute (http://www.leadertoleader.org/), a non-profit and tax exempt organization that includes a subscription to its magazine among several membership benefits.

If you are a fan of Good to Great and Built to Last, you will think you found a precious gem. We all know that a vision is the cornerstone to success. If you don't know who you are, what exist for and where you are going - how could you ever be successful. This book spells out why vision is the critical point, in clear language.

Beyond Entrepreneurship is an excellent book. Why? Most business books cover how to start companies, this book goes further. Collins & Lazier show you how to create a company that has a passion for what it's doing. They give guides on how to build a company from the ground up with ideals, beliefs, and goals. You learn why vision is so important to the overall goals of the company. Some of the things you'll learn in this book: How Sony stays ahead of the curve with its innovations. How 3M allows innovation to drive strategy. How Sam Walton used similar tactics but overtook his competition.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to build a great and enduring company.

The problem with this book, and many books of this type is that it is a clearly organized exposition on intuitive principles. I have read many books that resemble this one. They tend to be motivational and easily conceived, but the downside to the ease with which they are digested is that you don't really learn anything. This does not mean the book should not read, in fact the examples and organization clearly illustrate the basic structure of strategy. However, anyone familiar with the ideas should probably look for something a little more weighty.

All of that being said, this is how the book is organized thematically:

Chapter 1: Leadership Style
Chapter 2: Vision
Chapter 3: Strategy
Chapter 4: Innovation
Chapter 5: Tactical Excellence

The key topics of chapter 1 are the multiplier effect of leadership, the different style of leadership, and the elements of leadership (Ever Forward, Communication, Hard/Soft People Skills, Personal Touch, Focus, Decisiveness, and Authenticity).

Chapter 2 covers the benefits of vision, and the framework for vision (core values and beliefs, purpose, and mission).

Chapter 3 discusses the Four Basic Principles of Setting Effective Strategy, Setting Strategy, Internal Assessment, External Assessment, and the Four Common Key Strategic Issues that Face SMEs.

Chapter 4 is on the Six Elements that make an innovative company, and 8 managerial techniques to stimulate creativity.

Chapter 5 discusses how to take vision to create strategy which can then be used to formulate tactics, how to create an environment where people consistently exhibit tactical excellence, and a six part process to ensure excellence.

This book also periodically presents frameworks, models, and case examples to help illustrate key points.

Overall, it is a quick and easy read, that will illustrate basic tips to run a business. I would recomend anything written by Michael Porter or Peter Drucker for more conceptual ideas. For more books like this, the Harvard Business Review series should be considered.

This 'easy to read' book is great! It should be the bible for SME companies and entrepreneurs who want to excel in real-life business. It's full of great insights and a 'must have' for anybody who cares about practical business management.

I have read a number of books on strategic planning. They all generally follow a very similar approach. However, Jim Collins has done a masterful job putting the theory into a format that is easily understood and easily applied to solve real problems. I initially used the book to lead the strategic planning process for the technical support department of a major software company. The results were astounding. I have since used the book to help many other organizations and have found the book equally appropriate for each engagement. Using the concepts in this book will dramatically help your organization.

I AM VERY PLEASED WITH MY BOOK AND HOW FAST IT CAME TO ME. I RECCOMMEND THIS ITEM TO EVERYONE.

This book Is original,and It makes everyone feel they have a chance regardless of their situation.

Having seen Dr. Randal Pinkett's impressive performance on "The Apprentice," I was naturally curious about his appearance recently on a television program. (I forget which one.) He was promoting his book "Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business." Since I need all the help I can get when it comes to building a business, I ordered the book, simply on the strength of my impression of him from "The Apprentice." He seemed like one of the few contestants on that show who ever really listened to other people. He was genuinely interested in where the other person was coming from.

Having received the book, I can say that it is by far the best nuts and bolts start-up business building book that I've ever read. And, since I have such a very powerful offering myself, I need a great deal of help to harness and unleash its power, and so I've read a great deal of books to help me along my path.

Dr. Pinkett's book is filed with vital best practices, some of which I'd already completed, and thus I can say it's just spot on about what to do, in very concrete terms to make a big difference with people who are your clients, and to do so in a way that is profitable. It is filled with both practical and scholarly references so that one can find more in-depth information on just about any of his topics if one should so choose.

I can not recommend this book highly enough for anyone who does not have an MBA and who wants the next best thing.

Sincerely,
José Angel Santana, Ph.D.

"The final frontier may be human relationships, one person to another."
-- Buzz Aldrin, Astronaut

This book is FABULOUS! I am just starting my first business and this book is full of suggestions and strategies on how to make your business a success. He speaks a lot about his own venture, which he started in college, and it got to be the multi-million dollar business it is today. I think the best part about the book is that he gives links and references on where you can put some of his suggestions into action, like finding a mentor, or applying for grants. Of course the book does give info specifcally for students, ie. expanding your business by leveraging one's professors. Overall, the book was great, highly recommend.

I found this book to be a relatively fast and easy read. First and foremost, Pinkett does a great job of instilling entreprenurial confidence in his student readers. Beyond that, the author ties in his own past experiences well with each chapter. This real world dialog greatly aids in the books overall credibility. While the book does not provide all answers, it does not attempt to. Pinkett gives just enough information to get the reader's wheels turning. From there, the entrepreneur within is supposed to take over. While the contents of the book apply to all business enterprises, the author does a good job of really hammering home the unique opportunities young student entrepreneurs hold (particularly in the later chapters). For aspiring campus start-ups, I would recommend a combination of both Campus CEO and a more comprehensive entreprenurial MBA style of book.

Peter Cicero use of storytelling to get across a thought provoking and very simple process of changing a business is exactly what every manager and business owner needs to read whether he believes his company is perfect or far from it. His ideas are simple and straight forward but I believe can make a difference when used. I am passing this onto my education department at work and my bosses because I believe his ideas can make a difference.

I enjoyed how this book uses narrative storytelling to explain key concepts. I also liked that the author provided a simple summary of the key concepts along the way. I remember thinking there is a very Chinese Kung Fu-like element to this book. As you might know, the Chinese kung-fu masters studied nature to design combat styles. Paul Cicero uses a similar technique to develop a busines philosophy. I really think Cicero is on to something. I think the MOOSE might just be the next big management concept.

This is a great business book. It is a wonderful read and teaches people how to transform their lives and their workplace. I love how Cicero takes what we can learn from nature (the moose) into the workplace. It is a great new way to think about your life!

Choose the MOOSE! is an excellant business book. I love the way that Cicero takes what a moose does in the wild and translates it to what we can do to thrive in any situation. Cicero hits the nail on the head when he says that corporate america is only focusing on the numbers. After reading Choose the MOOSE! I actually ENJOY going to work.

If you are looking to better your working conditions then this is the book for you. In a great story form, Peter Cicero works magic in the way he helps businesses transform themselves by growing their employees. I have read most of the business books out there today and Choose the MOOSE! beats them all.

OUTSTANDING!!!!!! Poisant's strong belief in and commitment to superior customer service is evident in every page....... BRILLIANT!!!!!! His personal insights, attitudes, and behaviors exude true and honest caring for all human beings......
TRULY UNIQUE!!!!!! Fresh, practical methods for fostering a caring work environment. Incorporating his overall philosophy into my personal management style has made me a better, more effective manager.

Finally, clear, direct words on positively transforming people and environments. Poisant's style is warm and simple; the power of his words, however, cut to the chase--either you're doing it or your not. It's that simple. This is a book that can be easily read in one sitting--and change your way of behaving forever!

A book that inspires to do things the right way from the beginning in this new world of ours. Personally I consider it a guidance to my new emerging company. Thank you for reminding us all what a business is there for, to serve our clients the best way possible.

Today's world has changed. If you want something that can help set your business apart in today's environment, this is THE Book for you. It has radically altered the way I view my employees and my customers. This guy is good.

Drawing on his real world experience, Poisant explains to managers in clear and simple language a way to gain a competitive advantage in any industry where company employees interact with the customer. His book taught me that, by management treating the people that serve as the interface to their service organization as their top priority; performance, productivity, and customer satisfaction goals will fall right into line. This serious, yet heart warming read, could serve as a quick reminder to all levels of management about the value and treatment of the front line. I place this book in arms reach beside Blanchard and Bowles' "Gung Ho".

This is one of the very best all round books you can own. It has unit break downs, ranks, what regiments are in what divisions, dog tag information, research information, just about anything you would need to know to research most any unit or someone in the family. All the information in it, for the price, is one heck of a deal. All the books I've ever seen by Jonathan Gawne are outstanding, especially his 'Spearheading D-Day' book. This book 'Finding Your Father's War' is outstanding.

Ever ask 'What did you do in the War, daddy?' Ever wonder what all those patches, medals, etc represented? Ever wish you still had them???

I could never get my dad to talk about his experiences while in the US Army during WWII, outside of a comical happening or two. All I knew was that he had served in the retaking of the Philippines and briefly in the occupation of Japan. I'm proud of what my dad/the USA did during the War and very interested in what he did or went thru. Are you in the same situation?

Then this is the book that you need!!!!

Most importantly, it gives the places to search for & to obtain information and how to read the documents.

But wait! That's not all!! (as they say in infomercials on TV. LOL)

It gives an excellent breakdown of the units and their sub-units in size and organization (T/O) and the associated abbreviations for each. As a military history buff, I thought I knew how the Army was organized but boy did I learn a lot more about it.

This book covers campaign dates, T/O, how to identify a vehicle's assignment, badges and just about everything else you could want to know and I highly recommend it. Even if you're just a WWII history buff.

The only thing I've not been able to find in this book is a breakdown on how to read the ribbon bar(s).

"Finding Your Father's War" is a fantastic reference guide! For relatives of U.S. Army veterans, it is a straight forward guide to the resouces you'll need.

This is an amazing resource on the composition and structure of the US Army during WWII. There is detailed information on how the Army was organized at the time, including an appendix on the Army Air Force. There is no information on the Navy or Marine Corps: the focus is fixed on the Army. The book is packed with photos and illustrations of insignia, badges and medals worn or awarded during the war. What this book is not is a reference on the armament, equipment or gear of the period; nor does it discuss battles or unit losses.

Contents

Introduction

The War in a Nutshell

Section 1: Introduction to Army Units
Background information on the composition of the World War II US Army

Section 2: Individual Records
The various Army records pertaining to an individual soldier

Section 3: Organizational Records
The Army's record of what a man did during the war

Section 4: Finding Records
Places around the country where you can find records of your soldier's service

Section 5: Introduction to Army Units
Identifying what you may already have and what it can tell you about your relative's service

Appendices

Appendix A: The Infantry and Airborne Divisions in World War II

Appendix B: The Armored and Cavalry Divisions in World War II

Appendix C: Army Groups, Armies, and Corps in World War II

Appendix D: Major Army Commands of World War II

Appendix E: The Army Air Forces in World War II

Appendix F: Vehicle Markings in World War II

Appendix G: The Campaigns of World War II

Appendix H: Official Abbreviations Used in World War II

Appendix I: The Green Books and Select Bibliography

This is an outstanding book! It brings together information on so many aspects of a search for WWII information it has become invaluable to me. I found the most helpful aspects included the many full color pictures, the charts of organization, and the explanations of the many documents I found in my father's papers. Some of the sample documents and forms were small reproductions and did require a magnifying glass to see clearly but the information was so helpful, I didn't mind. The book also gives clear information on where various documents are located and how best to access those sources. Having this book months ago would have saved me hours of time.

My only disappointment is that there is no index. When I go back to the book to refresh myself on a topic, it is not always easy to find what I am looking for through the Table of Contents. I would hope any future editions would include a good index. That one complaint aside, I think this is an excellent book and I would recommend it highly for anyone searching for records.