Edward Books

My knowledge of the Rubiyat came from reading it in Poetry Anthologies .The hypnotic rhythms , the combination of life- philosophy and striking poetry seemed to naturally lead to the memorization of many stanzas.
There is the 'seize the day' enjoy life now, ' a jug of wine a loaf of bread and thou/ kind of hedonism. There is also a certain skeptical and realistic attitude which as I understand created problems for Omar Khayyam in a Muslim society.
How I wonder is this treasure of world - literature taken, or perhaps censored in the radical Islamic Iran of today.
In any case Fitzgerald's is one of the great translations of world- literature one of those cases, some experts say, in which the translation surpasses the original.
A poem to be enjoyed .

Whether at Naishapur or Babylon,
Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run,
The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop,
The Leaves of Life keeps falling one by one.

Omar has contributed so many phrases to us that for the most part, people are unaware of their origin.
"Eat drink and be merry."
"The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on. nor all thy piety, nor all thy wit, can lure it back to cancel half a line of it." Nothing ever written captures the inexorable one way march of time better than that single sentence by this master. But is it Fitzgerald, or is it Omar? What the hell... who cares?
Just wallow drunkenly in the rapture of his prose. Only Rumi approached this writing. But wait.. was it Barks, or was it Rumi? LOL.
Few books, excepting perhaps the Bible, have so many exquisitely crafted and picaresque sentences in them. A little tid bit from the book, unrelated to his prose:
The word Assassin, was associated with the life and times of Omar and two boy hood friends of his.
If you have not read this book, I envy you. You have before you, a stunning feast of prose by an unknown famous writer. Two of them. Omar and Fitzgerald. Although at one time Fitzgeralds star was burning bright.

"We are no other than a moving row
of magic shadow shapes that come and go,
'round with the sun-illumined lantern held,
at midnight by the master of the show.

But pieces of the game he plays
upon this chequer-board of nights and days,
and hither and thither moves and checks and slays,
and one by one, back in the closet lays."

Khayyam's Rubaiyat is a great work of amateur philosophy, as well as being one of the literary greats of all time. It combines a deeply poetic, resounding tone with ideas and images so vivid and sophisticated that one has to admire the genius of the work. Khayyam's view of the world runs back and forth, from religious to agnostic to atheistic. His central thesis, though, remains the same, that man's time on earth is limited, and he should drink the wine of fulfillment while he can, before it's too late.

"The moving finger writes, and having writ,
not all thy piety nor wit,
can lure it back to cancel half a line,
nor all thy tears can wash away a word of it."

. . . visit ministryofrum.com (Edward Hamilton's website). Or travel to Culebra, Puerto Rico (a beautiful, sleepy, non-commercialized island off PR's east coast) and pick up a copy. Life's an adventure - this book will help ease you along the way!

My wife and I spent 6 years sailing our Bristol 45.5 in and around the Eastern Caribbean between 1996-2001. We bought the 1995 copyright edition at a boatyard in Trinidad and went to most of the distilleries between there and Guadaloupe. Most of the small distilleries had never heard of the book and were surprised to see it. It was a wonderful adventure for us and we still use the guide as a reference. Jim and Kathi Hancock, Oakland CA.

Mr. Hamilton's in-depth research is evident as he takes the reader by the hand to visit rum distilleries, both large and small, throughout the islands. Details on the methods, contents, and history of each rum is finely detailed. One of the finest touches this book has is an almost complete visual listing of most of the rum bottle labels used. For the serious rum collector/taster, I found this guidebook to be indespensible when shopping for pedigreed rums in the Indies. I collect and display the artful bottle labels of these glorious and hisotical spirits and wouldn't dream of rum-shopping in the Caribbean without this valuable reference!

A great resource for the rum lover planning a trip to the Caribbean. The brief introduction to the history of rum and its distillation process can serve rum enthusiasts and neophytes alike to better understand and appreciate this wonderful spirit.

The book is divided into sections, each one dedicated to one of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Within each section, readers will find a complete listing of the local distilleries, along with pictures of the labels produced and a brief descriptions of what makes the particular rums unique.

While some rum connoisseurs may be disappointed by the lack of detailed tasting notes for each rum, they will certainly be delighted by the otherwise generous amount of rum-related information for each island, such as distillery tours and rum shop locations.

Falco is a master of a writer, forging character and plot into engaging stories. Many of the stories of this collection involve teens involved in precarious, often sexual, situations. Falco exposes the minds of these teens as he leads them into dark predicaments and then takes them back out again. In one story, "Sweet", Falco discribes a pot-bellied middle-aged man's lust for a teen-age girl almost as well as Nabokov; but he does it differently. Without the paint and wordplay of Nabokov, Falco does it straightforward, and in his own realistic, believable manner.

In "Instruments of Peace", Falco puts the father of a sixteen year old girl into a morally challenging position. At the end, the reader is left just thinking, "Wow!". This story was originally published in Playboy. Who says that magazine is only for the pictures?

SABBATH NIGHT... has a lot of conversations in cars, a lot of teen sexuality, a lot of family men taken out of their traditional roles and plopped down in the middle of a moral predicament. Falco handles plot, characterization, point-of-view, pacing, all the elements of fiction like a master. It's amazing that this guy is not better known.

The press release accompanying this book of short stories states that Edward Falco has been quietly establishing himself as master storyteller for years. His stories have appeared in Atlantic Monthly and Playboy as well as prestigious anthologies. His fans will relish this collection. Readers
unfamiliar with his work, like me, will remember Edward Falco's name from now on.

Each one of the sixteen stories in this collection is distinct. Falco gives us mysteries, unexpected salvations or revelations, and forces us to examine the sacred and profane with fresh eyes. His plots are gripping, woven from threads familiar to us all: dysfuntional families that somehow work; people who wear their human vulnerabilities like a badge of honor as they flounder; lives derailed or hopelessly wrecked by choice or circumstance; hapless mortals forced to deal with the unthinkable and horrible; and unacceptable but inevitable compromises made amidst chaos. Characters vary, from
peaceful people just trying to survive, to teenagers struggling to find their own identity, to dangerous or pathetic human animals at heart. Regardless of the milieu in which the author places them, each character is solid and memorable.

Falco reveals the rage and fear that often trembles hidden at our core. His prose is alternately haunting and tender, comforting and disturbing. Edward Falco's writing beautifully explores the lights and shadows of human existence.

This sixteen short story anthology is a great collection starring individuals with flaws that lead them into precarious situations often not of their direct making. Each story is loaded with unbridled suspense as the prime characters find themselves going from the frying pan into the fire as the heroes struggle with dark forces that seem overwhelming to the protagonist (and the reader). Interestingly in spite of these being shorts, in most cases the beleaguered hero seems developed enough to star in a novel. The audience will appreciate the genius of Edward Falco, as in almost every entry, a reader can picture themselves falling into the same type calamity that beguiled the respective lead character. Title aside since it is taken from one of the tales, courage comes from within, but that does not guarantee the outcome as piranhas feed on nice innocent victims too. This novel is worth reading but readers should keep the lights on or better yet peruse it in daytime.

Harriet Klausner

As a writer, some publishers have told me that the platform of short stories is slowly becoming a thing of the past with readers. Edward Falco is here to prove that theory wrong. Here we have a fantastic collection of 16 unique stories reflecting the uniqueness that Falco possesses. The story lines are familiar as we play witness to characters that don't quite fit into the world around them attempting to struggle with the intense situations they find themselves in. The reader finds themselves able to relate to some aspects of each character and are quickly consumed into the story. A noteworthy read that should not be passed up by anyone.

Frederick A. Babb

Edward Sheriff Curtis dedicated his life's work to documenting the customs and lifeways of the Native American peoples of North America. This extraordinary book includes some of the best photographic examples from Curtis' twenty volume masterpiece, "The North American Indian," one of the most significant representations of traditional indigenous culture ever produced.

Curtis was one of two official photographers for the 1899 Harriman expedition to Alaska. On his return, he stopped in northern Montana, accompanied by George Bird Grinell, editor of Forest and Stream. There he witnesses the deeply sacred Sundance of the Piegan and Blackfoot tribes, a sight which transformed his life. Grinell said to him at that time, "Take a good look. We're not going to see this kind of thing much longer. It already belongs to the past". It became clear to him then, that he was to record, with pen and camera, the life of the North American Indian. By the time the last volume appeared in 1930, little remained of the ancient traditions of the peoples he photographed.

Beginning in 1900 and continuing over the next thirty years, Edward S. Curtis, sometimes called the "Shadow Catcher" by tribes' people, took over 40,000 photographs and recorded ethnographic information from over eighty American Indian tribal groups, ranging from the Eskimo or Inuit people in the North to the Hopi people of the Southwest. In the end, the work comprised twenty textual volumes and twenty portfolios with over 2,000 illustrations.

"Sacred Legacy: Edward S Curtis And The North American Indian" was compiled and published to honor the 100th anniversary of Curtis's project to photograph the North America's indigenous peoples, and is a sacred legacy. This impressive volume beautifully reproduces in luminous images 200 of Curtis's greatest photographs from the finest source materials available - a significant number from platinum, gold and silver prints. Christopher Cardozo, an authority on Curtis, carefully selected the photographs for publication and for the accompanying exhibition. Writers who contribute their work here include: Joseph D. Horse Capture, N. Scott Momaday, and Anne Makepeace.

The photographs are organized by tribes and culture areas, encompassing the Great Plains, California, the Southwest, Plateau Region and Woodlands, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. These reproductions represent an artistic masterpiece worthy of any collection. This volume is a fitting tribute to Curtis's genius.

"The passing of every man and woman means the passing of some tradition, some knowledge of sacred rights possessed by no other." Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952)
JANA

I absolutely love this book, the photagraphs are stunning. As a Native American of the Plateau Tribes, I love to browse through the photographs and see the images of my ancestors. My family consists of many different tribal Nations, from Coastal to Plateau and Plains, so it is nice to see the faces and the land as well as the clothing during the time these images were taken.

The many photographs have a hazy sepia tinge that somehow adds to the distancing from us, the present day readers. Curtis did an amazing and sympathetic photographic survey of native Americans in the early 20th century. His collection epitomises the changing view of natives, to the broader American society. No longer were they portrayed as bloodthirsty savages. Instead, Curtis took care to show many natives in peaceful surroundings. Often, getting on with everyday chores. A distinguishing aspect is that few of the photos show them brandishing weapons.

Keep in mind that even by the earliest photos, there were very few "wild" natives left in the US. Years earlier, they had been defeated by the US army, and the survivors often relegated to reservations. So what the photos show are domesticated peoples. Nomadic no longer, even if their forebears had been so just a generation ago.

In this sense, Curtis was a generation too late. Had he been a contemporary of Matthew Brady, he might have given us a visual legacy of peoples that were more unassimilated. Though of course he would have risked real injury to himself, in doing so. Still, we should not complain. Curtis did well with what he had, in the era he inhabited.

The works of Edward S. Curtis are monumental and beautiful. This book reproduces them with stunning clarity capturing the luminescence of his orotones remarkably well. The text serves to convey the rich meaning behind the photographs. For anyone interested in photography, art, or the story of the Native Americans, this is a treasure not to be missed.

Do you like books about dogs? If you do read Santa Paws Come Home and find out how he saves city people from every day mistakes. Huh? You may ask. He's a sensitive dog who helps people. But when the Callahans go on a vacation, he gets stolen by...... I'm not telling! They plan to drug and sell him! When he escapes he's in an unknown city! Will he get home? Will he get caught? Will he escape? Find out in this book. Use your mind and go on adventures with Santa Paws. Recommended for dog lovers.

by
Mickey

Santa Paw's rescue of a little boy is the top story on the news, but who ever knew it could lead to trouble?
When two local criminals go to drastic measures to steal Santa paws from his family's car the news programs go from reporting his amazing rescue to his horrible disappearance. Then Santa Paws wakes up in a strange car and, knowing he has to get home, escapes in the middle of a highway in New York City.
What with the dangers of cars, trains, and a few mean people, it's hard to believe that Santa Paws will ever make his way home by Christmas. But even when he's injured, lost, and fighting to get home he can't avoid helping many more people on his way.
With the help of a little black kitten who befriends him, will Santa Paws make it home for the holidays?

Santa Paws Come home, by Nicholas Edwards, is a very good book to read around the holidays, or just if your lounging on the beach. When the hero dog Santa Paws gets stolen and escapes, he finds himself in busy New York City. To make matters worse, Christmas is right around the corner! Can the beloved dog return to his family in Oceanport in time for Christmas?

This is an excellent sequel in the series of Santa Paws. The book starts out with Santa Paws' usual helpful rescue. This time the rescue is of a small boy, which in turn ends up on the TV news program. Santa Paws usual act of heroism gets him stolen by 2 local thugs, who are acting on the part of a rich man. Santa Paws manages to escape, but is bumbarded by traffic hazzards and the lost scent of his family and home. He continues to try to locate his home berrings, but as he does, he finds himself in one problem after another helping and saving a variety of different people along the way. Tired, injured, and hurt, Santa paws continues to scense his way home coming across and meeting a black kitten. This young kitten chooses to befriend Santa Paws and follows him until he finally mades his way home to the Callahans.

Simply a masterpiece of American theatre. I don't think this play will ever be revived on Broadway because it really asks the audience to think throught the entire play.

"Seascape" is a literate and eloquent rumination on evolution and the meaning of life. Albee's use of language both impressive and economical. As is his want, the author provokes his audience to challenge prescribed ideology. How rare and refreshing to find an author willing to demand that his audience participate in the theatrical experience by requiring them to question, explore and contemplate.

It has characters and a plot, and you could compare it with Wallace Stevens's "Arrival at the Waldorf" or Valéry's "Graveyard by the Sea," but all there is to its two acts is an evocation of the seaside---coming from town, spending the day, leaving with the tang of iodine in your nostrils.

This play, about the questions and answers of human evolution, is fascinating. It won the Pulitzer for a reason, and I highly recommend finding out that reason on your own. It's too bad this play has fallen into obscurity-- I think it is one of the best American dramas thus far. Brilliant. Read (or watch, if you get the chance) this play and shiver.

A blend of fiction and non-fiction that make the reading very believable. It show the trials and tribulations that this little band of people face on a daily basis just to survive and find the courage to keep on going.

A must for all age groups.

Once started I could not put it down. The relatiionship of the man & woman slowly evolve and grow beautifully.

I related to the feelings of the man (Anbessa) and the little girl (Caraga) and the troubles they faced as she grew and matured.

Can not wait to see if there will be another one.

It reminded me a lot of Jean Auel and her book"Clan of The Cave Bear"

WONDERFUL STORY...WORTH BUYING AND READING....I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN...WELL WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED...VERY FACTUAL AND BELIEVEABLE FICTION...HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY AN AVID READER....

Have you ever wondered about things like love between a man and a woman, a father's love for a child, or modern positions for making love? In the book "The Second Peoples: The Beginning," those questions and more are answered. The two main characters are Umfazi and Anbessa. Anbessa's name is Amharic and means lion, and Umfazi's name is Zulu word for woman. It should be noted that the names used in this book are real names or are derived from real names. Umfazi, a very young woman is about to give birth to her first child. She is alone and afraid, she has just lost her entire family and tribe in a horrible fire. As the book opens she is hanging in s tree and is experiencing some very painful contractions. Anbessa, a young man who has witnessed fire and smoke coming from a mountain has ventured away from the safety and security of his tribe to find out where the fire is coming from. During Anbessa's travels he hears moans coming from the direction of a tree and at first he thinks it might be an animal, but upon further inspection he sees Umfazi. She is obviously about to give birth. At first Anbessa just watches Umfazi but she is in so much pain that he decides to help her.

This is a highly unusual action for a male to take, a man witnessing the birth of a child let alone assisting in that birth because it is considered offensive to the spirits. Men were never around women during birth or when they had their monthly cycle. The birth of Caraga, Umfazi's daughter, is the first of many different or unnatural circumstances that happened in this book.

Anbessa and Umfazi are two people alone in the wilderness, with a newborn baby, battling the elements and wild animals. They often are forced to move from place to place in seach of shelter, safety, food, and clean drinking water.

During their travels they do some things that are definetly considered different. One of those things is that they fall in love. This is highly unusual since women were basically used for mating (sex) and for men's personal pleasure; there was to be no pleasure for the woman. Anbessa and Umfazi develop feelings and make love to feel closer to one another.

Another thing that the couple did differently was the way they made love. The traditional way was for a woman to get down on her hands and knees and the man would could from behind and do his business. One night as they were mating Umfazi decides that she wants to look at Anbessa while they mate, thus the beginning of a new sexual position. Caraga was the apple of Anbessa's eye which in modern times would not be unusual but at the time when the story takes place men did not associate with children. Yet, Anbessa played with Caraga and loved her like she was his own child, even though she was not.

The Second People: The Beginning, was a very different type of book for me. It interwove love and anthropology, two things that I did not think could be linked together. This was a beautiful story and on the RAW scale it is a 4.

Simone A. Hawks

The book is an easy read upon the concepts of Theosophy, which is a complex subject, indeed. The author's personal way of writing conveys the material in an easy to read, but correct and direct way.
Excellent book!

One should watch the video production from the theosophical website as a company product for this book. That is how I have started it. The book is just a hardcopy version as a reference to the wonderful production. The problem is with Madame Blavatsky's books and other esoteric works is the Oxford English used that most ill educated Americans either have hard time reading and/or understanding.

Theosophy and ancient wisdom are fascinating subjects. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of good introductory reading material in the field aimed at the armchair philosopher/theologian. The few introductory books I have explored through the decades seem to presume both previous knowledge and the readers desire to decode a lot of arcane thinking. Or the subject is downgraded into New Age self-help.

"Secret Gateway" is a book I suspect many have been waiting for. It is by far the most clear and practical introduction to theosophical theory I have seen. Using illustrative examples that are easily grasped, the author gives a no-nonsense introduction to esoteric principles reflected in worldwide wisdom traditions, and demonstrates many possible connections to modern scientific theory as well. Chopra is probably more marketable, but for clarity and accuracy "Gateway" is as good as it gets.

Members and friends of the Theosophical Society have long benefitted from Ed Abdill's lectures and classes. With this book, his perspective on the inner tradition as presented in Theosophy is finally available to a wider audience. In his accessible style, Abdill ranges across topics from the metaphysics of Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine to the founding and history of the Theosophical Society to instructions for meditation. For anyone interested in Theosophy as a spiritual path, Abdill's book is an ideal place to start.

This was a fantastic collection of stories. The standout one for me was at about page 100, the story of a woman in a SE Asian country who - as a 40-year "veteran" of the ex-pat experience - deigns to share her knowledge and experience with the newcomers... until the day she learns how little she actually knows about the culture in which she uncomfortably resides. Brilliant stuff.

After each story I read, I was overwhelmed with emotion and awe. These stories are amazing and beautiful. Wow is all I can say. I read Kim Edwards' novel Memory Keeper's Daughter and really enjoyed it, but this book of short stories is simply phenomenal for the way it challenged my mind and stirred up emotion inside me that I can't explain. Definately read it!

I read a lot of short stories, and this collection really knocked my socks off. Totally amazing.

Ms. Edward's book contains fascinating stories about outsiders in "normal" society. The stories really grab you and you won't be able to easily put the book down.

Most of us have a very different view of ourselves than others have of us. Whether we have a positive or negative view of our appearance, demeanor, or personality, we do not have the right or ability to have others see us in the same way. How they view us depends on which aspects of our lives they see, their own life context, and whether they have interacted with us personally for a length of time or have just heard about us from others. Yes, first impressions do matter and most of us have no idea how we come across in those instances.

Carol Keers and Thomas Mungavan have provided a very helpful guide to understanding this important part of our interactions with others. This book provides techniques and exercises that help you change those perceptions in ways that allow you to manage this important key to your professional and personal success.

The book has nine chapters and I found each of them to be valuable. The first is an introduction to the idea of perception and its very real power to affect our lives. They introduce the first of their acronyms - CLEARLI, which helps you remember what you need to project to have what they call Authentic Executive Presence. The acronym stands for Command, Leverage, Expectations, Audience, Relationship, Listening, and Inspiration. Reading this section and applying it will more than repay you for the book all by itself.

The rest of the chapters take you through the pieces of CLEARLI in detail. Chapter 2 talks about the power of communications and helps you develop a solid style. Chapter 3 is about Charisma and the use of your voice and keeping control of your body, voice, and nerves under stress. Chapter 4 helps you see your opportunities for influence and how to start with the `low hanging fruit' in your life. They also offer a nice primer on politics. Not to make you Machiavellian, but to help you be more aware of what is going on so you don't step on land mines and can use situations to help you rather than get hurt by them.

Chapter 5 provides valuable insights on how to properly set and manage the expectations of others - both at work and in your personal life. I liked the section teaching you how to learn from your anger rather than feeling the need to express it or getting into trouble by losing control. Chapter 6 teaches you how to make a compelling presentation and how to connect with your audience. For many people, making a presentation is something to get through, but these authors show you how to make it an opportunity to build your credibility with those in your audience.

Chapter 7 is about managing relationships including those that happen at a distance. They also talk about healthy conflict versus the poisonous kind most of us experience and the benefits of forgiveness and letting go of the stuff that isn't going to get better anyway. Chapter 8 teaches one of the most important tools any executive can have; the ability to listen and listen much more than you talk. Chapter 9 teaches you how to inspire others, how to give praise, and even how to ask for help in ways that make you stronger rather than floundering in weakness.

Excellent and helpful information that I am sure you can use. I know I can.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Trying to figure out how others perceive me in the workplace is something that's very high on my list of concerns. The book Seeing Yourself As Others Do: Authentic Executive Presence At Any Stage of Your Career by Carol Keers and Thomas Mungavan goes a long way in helping to clear away those misconceptions and blind spots. It also gives you the tools you need to come across the way you need to in many different situations.

Contents:
Introduction - Perception is Reality; Communication Foundations; Command of the Room with Charisma; Leverage Influence and Power; Expectations, Strategic and Tactical; Audience Connections; Relationship Competence, Locally and Remotely; Listening Engagement; Inspiration, Motivation, and Praise

Based on the title, you may think this is focused more towards the executive branch of your organization. Not true... There's plenty of material here that pertains to the way you interact at any level and in any situation. Executive presence is the ability to be viewed as one with authority and presence, someone who is authentic in their personality and who can connect with and inspire those around them. The acronym CLEARLI is used by the authors to explain that quality - Command, Leverage, Expectations, Audience, Relationship, Listening, and Inspiration. Once you understand that your impression of yourself is not reality, that the reality is perception that others have of you, you can start to build up those skills and remove those blind spots that are holding you back.

For me, I took a lot away from the chapters on using your voice effectively as well as becoming a quality listener. Communicating effectively with others is far more than just the words you tell them. It's the pacing of your words, the emotion and variation and body language. I need to understand how to control that much better. In addition, my skill at listening to others can stand some significant improvement. So often, you can communicate at a much higher level by shutting up and listening to the other person. Instead of trying to figure out what you're going to say next, focus on what the person across from you is trying to say. I need to work harder to get past that superficial level of understanding that comes with not completely focusing on that other person.

This is an easy read, well-paced and completely applicable to where you live. Time spent thinking about these concepts can have a dramatic effect on your personal and professional relationships.

One of the hardest things for humans in authority to do is to examine themselves from the perspective of others. Doing so makes you vulnerable and leads you to unknown territory, both of which can be unsettling if not outright scary. However, it can be critical to the functioning or even survival of an organization, as any form of self-delusion on the part of a high level executive can be devastating.
As the authors point out so well through statements and case histories, the key to success in modern business is the quality of your professional relationships. If they are sound, based on mutual trust, respect and honesty they are the fundamental currency that buys you effectiveness, loyalty and the continuation of those relationships. This is often equivalent to the continuation of the business. The good news is that most of those relationships can be created and nurtured in relatively simple ways. Taking an interest in the personal lives of others, expressing concern for their feelings and giving out compliments on a job well done all build the business equivalent of "street cred", a commodity that is critical to high performance.
Unfortunately, many executives believe that effective managerial performance is achieved only by being authoritative to the point of dictatorial. That is a false premise; respect is not developed by inculcating fear, as that is a path to weakness on the part of employees. From that point on their first thought is to make sure they don't make the boss angry. In this book the authors debunk that premise and focus on the need for the honest and frank exchange of ideas. The best leaders are willing to expose themselves; the person that claims to always be right is the most unbelievable person of all. I strongly recommend this book as a tool in the education of all rising and potential executives.

This book is the result of years of practice the authors, Carol and Tom have helping people become effective communicators and great leaders. They are the founders of a unique communications company called Changemasters, where people like me experience communications "bootcamp". The process is intense and includes watching oneself on video and it is a powerful way to quickly make big improvements. The key is learning to see yourself as others do and speaking from an authentic place inside. This program worked for me and for several other leaders that I know. The book takes you through the bootcamp for a fraction of the price. It is full of tips, stories and practical instruction that really work. Anyone who is interviewing for a job, aspires to become a better leader or is having communication challenges at work or home will find this book exremely useful.