Organizations Books

The key concept of this book is that every organization could evolve trough several status. There is no a suggested preeferred status. Winning organisations are those which could find the right 'alignment' between market needs and behaviours and the internal organization. The evolution of the organization is only driven by the market change. The book focus on transitions between these different stages, analysing the impact of these changes through the entire Value Chain. Invented Here is a milestone for those people which needs to manage transition also in a turbulent environment. It helps managers to think about the actual company positioning and to build a framework helping to identify market changes and relevant organizational needed impact. Simply great!

The importance of organization design on the success of a business, be it that of a service company or a product supplier, is often underestimated. Strategy alone is not enough.

The great value of this book lies in 3 areas :

i) Use of illustrating failure as well as success - better to learn from someone else's mistakes so that you can, hopefully, avoid them.

ii) Identifying in meaningful terms where to position your organisation for your product/service e.g. if you need a great mass production machine, that is how you should organize; when your customers need more, don't hide from it - just do it well.

iii) The style is refreshingly alive. You feel you can relate to real people solving real problems. Too often, books like this feel like they belong only in libraries - this one offers genuinely practical insight. It's up to you to apply it.

If I have one (minor) criticism, it is the title. Don't let it mislead you. This book is a very helpful guide to many aspects of organizational design and a better title, in my opinion, would be something like:- "Optimizing Your Organization For Your Customers"

A well written book to help you understand how to develop your company's business along the "right path"to deliver higher customer value. The format and language of the book make it a joy to read. The concrete examples from both service and product industries are very useful.

Too many managers look to external consultants to provide the keys to their organization's success. Was it quality circles, TQM, or re-engineering you last tried as a way to rejuventate your struggling organzation? Victor and Boynton suggest you save your money and focus within. Their logical process of analysis and implementation will help your firm on the "right path" to organizational success.

The process demands that firms think clearly and carefully about who they are and what business they are in compared to what their customers really want. This analysis helps a firm determine if it should compete on the basis of novelty, commodity, quality, or precision. The choice made suggests that craft work, mass production, process enhancement, or mass customization provides the best strategy to meet those customer demands. Achieving these strategies can only occur as a firm moves from craft work, through mass production and process enhancement to mass customization via the "right path."

In an engaging combination of personal insight and case examples, the authors lead the reader along the "path." They offer numerous stories of organizations around the world that have followed this "path" to organizational success.

Don't let the reletive brevity of their effort mislead you. The ideas they propose should force the thoughful manager into careful and thoughful consideration of the firm's current structure, products, and processes. If the analysis suggests that changes are warranted, then Victor and Boynton's guidebook along the "right path" will prove well worth the initial investment.

A thoughtful, creative tour de force in a field littered with lightweight, feel-good competitors. Enjoy!

This book reveals how to use knowledge residing in the company to transform organization and manage growth. It presents a model of organizational learning and development with four steps: craft, mass production, process enhancement, and mass customization. It explores the leveraging of four associated types of knowledge and presents a learning system for developing organizational knowledge. Provides important insights the learning organization.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

This was a book thrust upon me, on a subject that sounded genuinely boring. I was spring-loaded to rapidly skim through it and put it down, never to consider it again. I was truly prepared not to enjoy it.
Almost immediately, however, I found myself regularly agreeing with the author and examining, in my own mind, how the issues of learning related to my individual educational experience and those of my children. By the end of the book I was mentally prepared to start handing out copies to all the educators I knew and all politicians I could access. With luck, maybe my grandchildren will derive benefit from a reformulation of our system of public education.

Finally some new ideas! I think parents (I am one)feel beaten down by the educational system that hasn't improved since our own school days. This entrenched methodology has to be replaced by a system that will do justice to our children and give us the well-educated adults we need for them to become. Davis's book is revealing and puts the issues into a greater context that goes beyond merely tweaking the status quo, and gives us a look at what we could accomplish with fresh thinking. I highly recommend this book.

Not only have I read Mr. Davis' book, but I have been fortunate enough to communicate with him about it. I believe this is the ultimate look at a progressive, forward thinking view of where education needs to go. It has inspired me to be more vocal with policy makers in my state, and to be a part of a necessary revolution in the field of education. This book is a MUST READ for anyone in the field of education who is serious about what they do for a living. I would like to thank Mr. Davis for this work and look forward to the next.

As an educator and single mother of two accomplished young adults, I found Mr. Davis' incredible historical expose and proposition for change absolutely affirming.

In my own parenting experience, very early on it was easy for me to clue into and begin nurturing my daughters' inborn curiosities and talents. Understanding infant and early childhood development as well as that of the human brain, perhaps I had a bit of an edge. Nevertheless, as soon as "we" (the girls and I) entered the public schools, it became immediately clear that "the institution", by its design, was hosing the fire for learning -- a fire that is essential to healthy, successful individual and community life.

My zeal to continue nurturing my children in a way that allowed them not only to remain eager life-long learners and grow into good citizens, but to also become (within their abilities and interests) all that they aspired to be, put me (and other families with similar concerns) in direct opposition with the system ... this challenge drained large amounts of valuable time, energy and resources that could have been invested in families and community life in other areas of tremendous need!

In my professional life over the last 25 years, I have also witnessed the consequence to many communities of the "dumbing down" process. It is a design that, if not replaced by an education architecture such as that so expertly set forth by Mr. Davis, will take us into the abyss.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ...

"Lessons for Tomorrow" should be required reading of every educator, parent and community leader. Please read this book and share it with others.

Thank you, Mr. Davis, for bringing this critical discussion to a new level and providing a workable architectural plan that can meaningfully replace what has long been obsolete.

Coming from the angle of layperson and concerned parent of two young Montessori students, this book was spot on. The history of educational philosophy, from ancient Greece through Colonial America, to the modern age, gives the reader a strong understanding of educational goals and methods throughout history.
The idea that student initiative and interest is essential for true learning blends well with what I believe and have experienced in my short exposure to the Montessori method. Mr Davis is thorough in his documentation of our educational shortcomings (shockingly so I might add), and explicit in his model for education in the 21st Century and beyond. Let's just say, the teachers union will probably argue with many of his suggestions. While the reading can be "heavy" at times, it is approachable for the layperson, and hefty enough for the policy wonks and academics to sink their teeth into.
Buy 2 books and give one to your local school principal! Change can only begin with a debate at the local level...

Great introduction to one of Russia's most beloved spiritual masters. Contains an good introduction by Fr. Seraphim Rose, the famous dialogue with Motovilov about the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, spiritual cousels of St. Seraphim, the Diveyevo mystery and more.

This first volume in the set of 6 (I sincerely hope that there will be more to come) is, in my opinion, essential reading for every Christian.

We in the USA need to unlearn everything that we were told about "the big, bad, Red Russians"... This set is a good start in introducing westerners to the amazing and profound depth of Russian spiritualism!

While preparing a lecture on Surat Shabd Yoga, I came across the Philokalia and thought it might be useful in my talk. "Surat" is a Sanskrit word for "Soul", "Shabd" is the Sanskrit word for "Holy Spirit". "Yoga" simply means "To Yoke". Hence, Surat Shabd Yoga is the process of connecting the soul to the Holy Spirit. In the "Little Russian Philokalia", Saint Seraphim of Sarov taught that the main aim of Christian life is to acquire for oneself the Spirit of God. His amazing and supernatural conversation with N.A. Motovilov on "The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit" is included in this volume.

Simple, elegant, uplifting, and profound.

I am glad to see that we now have a Russian companion volume to the traditional Philokalia.

I found that the pictures of St. Seraphim spoke to me too.

I've been really enjoying the Russian Philokalia series, more so, even, than the original Philokalia and the sayings of the Desert Fathers.

From an evangelical perspective the Desert Fathers can often come across as legalists whose religion has less to do with a Christ centered faith, than it does with trying to outdo each other in their rules of piety (ie: the argument about whether a true monk would (a) never lay eyes on a woman or (b) be able to look at a woman and not even recognize her as being of the opposite gender).

The original Philokalia, on the other hand, reads more like a text on Hindu meditation: weird mystical concept and breathing techniques mixed with Christian references and other rules for achieving enlightenment (or seeing the uncreated light of God).

The Russian Philokalia series, on the other hand, especially this volume of the writings of St. Seraphim, are far more "down to earth" or at least more familiar. Seraphim's sayings, for example, are generally rooted in a Spirit-centered faith, and hence, more accessible to evangelicals and others looking at Orthodoxy for the first time. I don't know what makes them more accessible. Perhaps its because these men lived closer to our own time; perhaps its because the Orthodox church in their day had been influenced by Western thinking; or perhaps its because they were simple Russian peasants. In any case, I really enjoyed this series of books and would readily reccommend them to interested readers.

This is one of those few books that cuts straight to the facts and lays out a plan you can duplicate in minutes. Loved it and use it all the time! Carole Baskin, Founder of Big Cat Rescue 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 813.920.4130 Info@BigCatRescue.org

The publication of this new book about email fundraising by Madeline Stanionis should be welcome news for nonprofits of all sizes that are trying to harness the Internet to grow their lists, engage constituents and raise money.

The book is written for and about nonprofits though it will be of interest to a wider range of institutions interested in online fundraising such as universities, hospitals, faith-based groups, and political campaigns.

There are several things about this book that make it a standout among recent efforts to cover this topic.

First, it deals unabashedly with what was once the most controversial aspect of online fundraising, namely email appeals. As recently as a few years ago, email fundraising appeals were seen as a type of nonprofit spam, even when supporters and list subscribers had opted in to receive communications. Several pioneering organizations have turned this on its head, and Madeline chronicles the experiences of nonprofits such as Human Rights Campaign, Humane Society of the United States, and Earthjustice, who have used passion, good writing, creative design and opportune timing to conduct successful financial appeals from supporters via email.

Second, Madeline writes as an insider about many email fundraising campaigns that she has personally worked on. Madeline is the President of Donordigital, one of the leading firms that helps U.S. charities raise money online and mobilize constituents for progressive causes. Considering her day job, she really gives away the store in this book. The book is filled with specific nonprofit examples, real-world case studies, email and Website screen shots, strategy ideas, analytical techniques, and other professional insights.

Unlike previous books that were edited compilations of articles from experts in the field, Madeline's book has a cohesive and linear narrative that leaves the reader with a clear roadmap to translate her insights into action.

The one critique that I will permit myself is that all the examples in this book are from multi-million dollar nonprofits with communications staff. To Madeline's credit, she acknowledges this point repeatedly, and goes out of her way in the narrative to offer advice to smaller organizations on more limited budgets.

Third, and most importantly, Madeline offers truly useful material on raising money online, built around real-world examples and screen shots to help illustrate her points.

The chapter entitled "It's all about the list," discusses how much online fundraising is really a numbers game, and covers five different strategies for growing an organization's list. The chapter entitled "It's all about the timing," brings the numbers game into the real world. "If you take no other lesson from this book, remember this one," writes Madeline. "To be successful with email fundraising, you must send the right message to the right person at the right time." With the backdrop of September 11, the Asian tsunami and the Katrina hurricane, Madeline reinforces how important timing is when appealing for funds. Other chapters cover email subject lines, how to get through the clutter of supporter's inboxes, good writing, how to craft email fundraising campaigns, how to coordinate email appeal with direct mail and telemarketing, and how to mine email messaging data. At 100 pages, there's no wasted space, and you'll wonder how she packed it all in.

Finally, the best thing about this book is how easy it is to read. This is not a technical book, it is not boring. It is filled with Madeline's verve and an infectious attitude that says, "here's how we've raised money online for charities across the country."

After you've read Madeline's book, you'll be convinced that you can do it too. What are you waiting for?

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.

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.

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.

This book makes so much sense! The author brings you back to basics and what really matters by explaining very complex ideas in a simple, interesting and fun manner. "Naked Idealism" helped me put my life and goals in perspective. Mr. Wheitner's personal examples made it so easy to relate and make connections. I "saw" things more clearly while reading this book. I will likely read it once a year. It was a nice retreat for my thoughts! It is chock full of great resources as well.

Here Dave Wheitner has created a rather offbeat combination of a fairly typical self-help manual with a much stronger treatment of what it takes to be a truly committed sustainability activist. And that's "sustainability" at both the personal and community levels. One of the strengths of the book is that Wheitner certainly practices what he preaches, with plenty of experience to offer thanks to his accomplished counseling career and his own sustainable lifestyle. He's got exceptional advice on improving one's own self-image and inner sincerity in order to become a successful activist, and how an activist can overcome occupational hazards like compassion fatigue, self-righteousness, and unyielding political correctness. Wheitner also has some unique and insightful things to say about escaping the power of money and high-consumption lifestyles.

The only real problem with this book is that much of the text in its middle sections is based on very typical self-help trends and buzzwords, which mostly operate as predictable filler here and which could be applied to any old undeveloped personal philosophy. Wheitner's writing style also relies too much on sentimentality and awkward humor, and watch out for the overused exclamation points. The beginning and concluding portions of the book are much stronger, because this is where Wheitner focuses on the fundamental goal of his philosophy - sustainable lifestyles that will help one's community and the planet while also providing personal fulfillment for the unselfconscious and focused activist. And most importantly, Wheitner provides a useful new conception of idealism, an oft-misunderstood line of thought that can be made more powerful when activists most effectively internalize and externalize their personal ideals. [~doomsdayer520~]

Life is not something that is meant to take with stone cold seriousness. "Naked Idealism: Expose Your Authentic Side and Create a Sustainable Life and World" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide to being oneself and taking life how it should be taken - with a grain of salt and a dash of humor. Getting in touch with oneself is clearly the key to being content with one's existence. With a fresh touch of humor in his lectures, Dave Wheitner's "Naked Idealism" is a highly recommended addition to community library Self-Help reference collections, and a 'must read' for anyone seeking to improve their emotional well-being and enjoyment of life.

Whether you are looking to switch careers (or jump-start your current one), inspire healthy change in the world, or freshen up your relationships with family and friends, this is a book you should check out. It provides easy-to-follow processes that can be applied to many situations and is jam-packed with activities that are not only effective, but dare I say fun. Dave Wheitner shows us that although change can be scary - it doesn't have to be - and this book shows you how to begin taking steps toward a more fulfilling life.

Do you want to live a better life? Do you want to make the world a better place? Are you a frustrated activist? Do you ever feel conflict between what you want to do and what you feel you should do? If any of these apply to you, this book is for you.

Naked Idealism is an excellent book for fledgling or struggling idealists. Dave Wheitner helps you figure out how to balance your external goals with your internal desires, and how to take your wishful thinking and bring it out into the world. His material is drawn from many useful and informative sources, and he provides a bibliography so the interested reader can find more.

As I read Naked Idealism, I marked up the margins on the parts I found particularly good. I ended up with 124 "Cool!" marks, 61 "WOW!" marks, and 6 new books on my to-read list.

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!

The author breaks down each possible career path within the nonprofit sector, explores each career, and offers advice for obtaining each job.

The jobs go from the bottom rung all the way up to executive positions. This book is thorough and is a must have for anyone new to the nonprofit world who wants to be informed and has a desire to advance.

Great Book.

The nonprofit career guidebook was an easy to read manual and would be helpful for any student or recent graduate who is interested in exploring the nonprofit sector. The guidebook did a great job of providing a general overview of the types of nonprofits, included details about the various positions that exist in the organizations and testimonials/advice from professionals who have worked/work in the nonprofit field. The book made me realize how a variety of my interests and skills can easily be used in the nonprofit field and also gave me great tips to use when applying or interviewing for a job.
I definitely recommend this book, especially because even after a full read, I still use it for a quick reference when I am applying to jobs or wondering what a specific position entails.

The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job That Makes a Difference

For anyone interested in learning about or pursuing a career in a nonprofit organization this is a must reading. The book is clearly written and provides a wealth of information about the nonprofit sector. Most people would be surprised to learn about the wide variety of fields that nonprofits serve -- from the traditional role of providing services to the underserved to developing affordable housing for the poor and groups with special needs to the Arts and Cultural Affairs to health care organizations and organizations involved in promoting social entrepreneurship. A nonprofit organization may be a one person effort to help their community or a mega corporation like the United Way or the College Board.

This guide is useful for college students who are exploring career choices and for more seasoned professionals who may be considering a career change. It is also useful for individuals who want to remain active after their primary career is over and "give back" through service and are looking to learn more about the nonprofit sector.

The book reminds us of the importance of service and serving others. It highlights how important mission and purpose of organizations that make up the nonprofit sector in the US.

I will be using it as part of my course on nonprofit management for undergraduates to help them gaining a deep understanding of the organizations they will work at while completing a 150 hour field work requirement.

At $16.50 this book is a great bargain.

Shelly Cryer has compiled a useful tool for college students who are examining their options following graduation. The Non-Profit Career Guide - how to land a job that makes a difference, serves as a nuts and bolts directory that can prove useful for entry into the world of Not for Profit organizations. This manual is laid out logically and is easy to use. The appendix and endnotes are of particular help to first-time job-seekers or even those making a career change. A must have for your Career Guide Reference Collection!

Gabriela A. Cipollone
Reference Librarian, Iona College

I never thought I would review a career guide, but this one deserves it. As a student, I found this guide to be indispensable. Not only does it thoroughly cover the non-profit sector, but it also offers advice and insights that can be applied to any sector.

Cryer begins by profiling the sector and highlighting future trends. Notable is the observation that salary in the nonprofit sector depends on field of work and size of organization--in certain fields, nonprofit pay is higher on average than that of their private or public sector counterparts. Furthermore, as the sector grows in prominence, more attention is being paid to salary as a means of recruiting talent. Other trends include a growing need for leadership and increased diversity. The meat of the book is in lively chapters covering sector subsections (arts, education, health international, etc.) and job functions (management, communications, development, consulting, etc.). Its snapshots of different people working in the industry provide a good sense of what to expect from the different avenues the sector has to offer.

This book made me see my career options in a new (and organized!) light.

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.