Grant Books

Japzon's Consulting Book provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to get started as a consultant. The checklists and examples are useful and the anecdotes provide a realistic view of what really happens when you are a beginner.

Although I am not a consultant, I find the information contained in this book as a good guide to follow if and when I embark into this business. Hope others who will read and buy this book will share my same view.

This book is a perfect book for new consultants or consulting services. This book offers tips and Guidlines for any starting consulting business or services. This book is highly recommended for new consultants.

Cunsulting today by Letty Japzon I feel is an awsome book. It's really great book for anyone opening there own consulting bussiness. This author is very well educated in this topic matter. I highly recomend this book.

I would highly recommend this book to those who want to begin their own consulting organization or business. It's well written, clear and full of helpful tips and suggestions. The author has surely succeeded in making the topic interesting to her readers.

Once I picked up this book I didn't want to do anything until I figured out the mystery. I was in a room with dim light at the time. I didn't even bother to move to another room for less strain on my eyes-- I didn't move for 4 hours until I was done.
I like this book so much for three reasons:

1) the mystery aspect - mccrea throws in new "mini mysteries" along the way, while the whole time keeping your attention grabbed by main question of "who did it??"

2) the characters - each character is introducted with great precision; you really can tell the characters are well thought out and you can understand them. There is so much in this book- from problems at the workplace to problems at home, and it is all played out wonderfully through the mind of Rick Redman.

3) the dialogue - especially pay attention to the dialogue between Rick and Dorita. The humor is subtle yet simply fantastic.

Anyone who loves mystery with a dose of wittiness and class, will love this book.

A-

McCrea takes us into a world that he knows all too well, 21st century New York City lawyering. Our man Rick is a world-weary attorney for a more or less politically incorrect firm. He's thrust face first into a criminal case, an affair that looks very much like he's been politically set up for a goose chase. In the meantime, a lot of amazingly literary-type stuff happens-- don't get me wrong, not too much, the grit is real-- but this story takes us into all kinds of situations, some of which are the stuff of the more conventional novel, such as parenting, co-habitation with an addict, and other unusual forms of amusing dysfunction I'll leave you to discover. McCrea manages to get the hardboiled tone and the breezy lines just right ("Raul looked at me like a lizard looks at... well, like a lizard looks at just about anything") yet the best stuff here just good storytelling: the characters actually change and even, gadzooks, mature as a result of their discoveries! And these are full portraits, from our slightly roguish, alcoholic hero, to his sidekick Dorita--who supplies some decent quips and distraction--to the overburdened daughter, to the bleary-eyed poker-player pal. Of course our flawed hero and his sidekick end up catching the goose-- geese, in fact --but I don't want to spoil it for you, do I? Rest assured, though, McCrea pulls off some nice feints in the process-he's a poker player, right? Looking forward to sequels!

that to buy this book you need to go to Amazon.ca. Thanks.

-the author

I was reading it while walking down the street and waiting in line at the grocery store. The plot is filled with twists and turns and characters you won't soon forget.

Even without understanding any of the poker references, Dead Money is a fun read. The dialog reads easily. The story keeps you guessing until the very end and wanting more when it's over. I didn't go looking for this book. I'm not interested in poker and that probably would have resulted in my passing over this one. Nevertheless, it found me in the form of a gift. Before I needed reading glasses, I had a two novel a week habit. Wearing those things on my face seemed to suck the fun out of recreational reading for me. In spite of that, I plowed through Dead Money in three days and I'm already halfway through another book. I guess you could say that Dead Money brought me back to reading novels again.

I liked this book. I purchased a copy back in 2005 when I was learning everything I could about fundraising. It certainly covers many of the things I had learned (and was learning) during my stint as a consultant to nonprofits regarding capital campaigns. I found this book to be a marketing vehicle for the authors' Internet-based fundraising consulting firm. It has the feel of a blog since most of the book is written in question-answer format. And the questions and answers are lifted from work product produced by answering questions of patrons of the firm's Web site.

This book was a very easy read for me. It covered its topic well and flowed pretty good from beginning to end. It explains that successful fundraising requires the mastery of three key concepts:

1. Develop a Case Statement
2. Develop a Campaign Plan (Fundraising Plan)
3. Identify the strongest possible campaign leadership

Since I visualize a Campaign Plan as starting with an annual effort (annual campaign), I would have liked the book better if the chapters were reordered as follows:

5. Annual Campaign
4. Prospect Research
6. Direct Mail
11. Grants
12. Corporate Dollars
7. Special Events
8. Major Gifts
10. Planned Giving
9. Capital Campaigns

I'm used to the Range of Gift Table to be referred to as a Donor Pyramid (DP). And I didn't see a reference to DP anywhere in the book. This surprised me. I found Chapter 1 to be pretty good. I found Chapter 2 to be lacking in substance and good organization. There was content there, but it just did not help pull the book together. Why jump into capital campaigns at the outset? I would have liked the book much better if Chapter 2 were to be expanded and broken into 2 or three chapters. And it seemed like the blurb on prospect research was out of place by being included in Chapter 2.

I loved Chapter 3 about Nonprofit Boards. I thought it covered its topic very well. I think I would have liked the book better if each of the chapters had better introductions and conclusions. Since most chapters are not very long and the "blog entries" that filled the book were each headed by a boldfaced question, I don't think the chapter intros needed to include bulleted lists of the blog entry headings. All in all, this was a good book. And I recommend it for any fundraising expert's resource shelf. 4 stars!

The quest for funding is a high-pressure, never-ending process for nonprofit organizations large and small. Authors G. Douglass Alexander and Kristina J. Carlson break the process down into manageable pieces while covering each major avenue that fundraising professionals travel in the search for financial support. The authors use a question and answer format to explain and illustrate the premise outlined at the beginning of every chapter. Packed with useful, applicable information from cover to cover, this book deals with a range of topics including the basic principles of fundraising, annual and capital campaigns, special events, major gifts, foundation funding and stewardship. Such a comprehensive, well-organized analysis of any one subject is rare. We strongly recommend this book as a primer for any individual or group seeking guidance for a strategic approach to raising funds.

I've served on the boards of a number of organizations that have developed very strong fundraising capabilities -- and some that have not. The latter group could catch up quickly by reading this book. Authors Carlson and Alexander have covered all the key topics in an easy to read and easily referenced format. Their depth of experience is evident throughout. Anyone involved in nonprofit fundraising should invest the time to read and appreciate these "essential principles."

I just finished reading the book. After serving the non profit sector for over 20 years it is nice to have an easy to read, yet comprehensive publication for everyone to learn from. It will be required reading for all of our new hires at my organization. I cannot think of a better way to learn how to properly raise money in a variety of manners.

Jay

Although others will be doing fund-raising for Earth Intelligence Network, to fill in whatever our parent sponsor cannot provide, I found this book to be extraordinarly useful to me, so that I could understand in detail what is expected and required.

Bottom line: Fund-raising is a *professional* *year-long* orchestrated, documented *demanding* endeavor. It is neither easy nor an after-thought.

Over-all this book is a best in class offering that is superbly organized, superbly presented, and clearly authoritative. I noticed right away on the jacket blurbs that both givers and seekers of funds were represented.

The quick summary (there is no substitute for reading the book in detail, and probably annually as well), is found in the 9 principles on page 6:

1) Face to face solicitation is the most effective means
2) Individual giving (not foundation or corporate) is the greatest return
3) Money FOLLOWS involvement
4) Challenge gifts can solve most fund-raising problems
5) The board must lead if others are to follow (in giving)
6) Make it personal
7) Believe in volunteers
8) Offer opportunities
9) Practice sequential fundraising, starting at the top (the big gift)

A few highlights that stayed with me:

+ Range of Gifts table very useful device for planning and presenting
+ Core concepts credited to Ms. "Be" Haas--the authors are respectful
+ Key ingredients are the case statement, sequential fundraising, and the strongest possible campaign leadership
+ Connect to donors (DEVELOPMENT) first, ask LATER
+ 80% of giving is individual
+ Board membership (another book, not this one, says put them on the stationary) is the most powerful signal
+ Focus on personalized, face to face wherever possible
+ Volunteers are both a form of giving, and a form of connecting to others
+ MAKE YOUR CASE--"Need" is NOT a case, "Impact" is...
+ Prospect research is a sub-discipline now
- Helps find donors who are both able to give and passionate about the cause you represent
- Philanthropic history is more important than total wealth
- Websites exist for "conducting prospect research"

The authors shy away from recommending specific individuals or institutes but they are very professional and provide more than adequate pointers to specialty websites that I would not have been able to find myself.

+ Ethics matters
+ Annual campaigns are life-blood of the organization
+ November-December are the hot months for end of year deductable giving
+ Philanthropy 400 is a key reference
+ Capital campaigns every ten years or so
+ Planning giving is a long-term strategy but hugely promising
+ Foundations are NEXT TO LAST with Corporations LAST.

The chapter on technology is excellent, and covers the basics:
01 Website including "donate now" button
02 Fundraising software, one size does NOT fit all
03 Avoid spam, know the STATE law, quality matters
04 Email delivery of newsletters or other value is good

Stewardship is its own sub-dsicipline, the nurturing and appreciation of those who give and cannot be forgotten or taken for granted.

I have a full two pages of notes, not for this review, but really great ideas tailored to our program that I would never, ever, have thought about without reading this book.

This is a great book, a serious book, one you cannot do without (IMHO).

Getting Science Grants provides readers with a complete introduction to the grant writing/submitting process.

It is important to move beyond the perspective of being the salesperson of your research. You need to know the perspective from the other side of the granting process and what will impress your program manager in your proposal.

Thomas Blackburn is an experienced grant writer and as well as having significant experience on the other side as an assitant program administrator. Here he provides researchers with the skinny on finding funding agencies, writing excellent abstracts and proposals, preparing budgets and moving beyond very good to excellent and super proposals.

Buy it, read it and share it with your colleagues!

I found "Getting Science Grants" to be a thoroughly readable, no-nonsense little book that demystifies the grant making process. Blackburn's experience both as a researcher and as one charged with the responsibility of reviewing grant applications shows through. His book provides a step-by-step approach that, if followed, should lead to a higher probability of success and avoid wasted time and frustration occasioned by poorly prepared and submitted applications. Those just entering the sometimes perilous fight for funding will find this book indispensable, and even old hands will find it provides handy reminders of all of the points we think we know by heart, but sometimes forget to apply. This little book is a "must read" for anyone whose professional life depends on getting funding for his or her research. You simply can't afford to ignore it.

Among the relatively few books available that focus on getting science grants, "Getting Science Grants" is unquestionably the very best of the bunch. Blackburn has the perfect mix of credentials (college professor, research scientist, grants officer) to craft this concise treatment of the whole enchilada, from concept development through proposal writing, revision, submission (and resubmission), and grant administration. Giving frank, qualified advice in friendly prose, the author succeeds in creating more than just a "how-to manual" for scientific proposal writing. In roughly a hundred pages, this book shares insight on the science research funding process that would only be acquired by a decade or more of study in the school of hard knocks. As one whose career success is significantly influenced by external funding success, I couldn't recommend Blackburn's book more strongly.

For those of us who indulge ourselves in the pursuit of science, the constant quest for funds to support our habit can occupy more time than any actual "hands on" research. Justifying ones existance to a beaurocratic body, and begging for money is at best embarassing (over here, pick ME, I'm better than all those other tossers who want your cash), and at worst, downright terrifying.
At least, that's how I felt recently as I was faced with the prospect of submitting my first ever grant application. Not only did I struggle to convince myself I had ideas and skills worth selling, I had no idea of how to go about it. Sure the application form gave a vague idea-title, abstract, background-what did they actually want to KNOW? How was I supposed to sound confident and competent without sounding like an egomaniac? How should I present a solid, reasonable proposal without it being deathly boring or promising unachievable breakthroughs?
Finding Thomas Blackburn's "Effective Strategies for Funding Sucess" was a real stroke of luck. It not only answers questions such as these in an entertaining and easily read style, it includes a series of exercises that allow you to give good (and bad) strategies a go BEFORE you face the real thing. It gives a detailed description of what most funding bodies want to find out from each section, a discussion of how these criteria can be met, and descriptions of what differentiates a bad from a good from an exceptional application. It also contains many sensible (but often overlooked) reminders such as "read the abstract again after finishing the detailed proposal section to make sure they agree with one another".
I read the book before starting, and then used it to guide me as I wrote each section, and found that I was much more confident the way I wrote than I would have been otherwise. I also found that I felt better about my own abilities as a scientist, and much less of a fraud, because the final product looked and sounded very professional. I would recommend this book to anybody who is contemplating their first application, or who finds grant writing a harrowing or unsuccessful occupation. I also think that working through the steps outlined in the book could also be used as a self-assessment tool, because having to examine ones own research in terms of funding application is a great way to check the direction and focus of what you are doing right now. I thank Dr Blackburn for providing such a readable, comprehensive and timely guide. I hope it helps many people as much as it helped me.

This book is GREAT!!!! Why do they make us learn all this by trial and error with tenure and support for our graduate students at stake!!! They should be training us in this kind of stuff in graduate school!!!! I now know why my proposals so far have not been very successful, and, better yet, I now know what I can do about it and I actually can hardly wait to get started!

You can tell from what's in the book that it was written by a real funding insider and I learned more about grant writing in the few hours I spent reading it than I have from all my previous proposal-writing efforts and discussions with colleagues and friends to date. I now understand that a successful proposal is not just about the science, as much as all of us would like to think it is. The author makes clear all the elements you really have to take into account, on top of the science, to have the kind of proposal that can compete successfully at places like NSF and NIH. He even demystifies budgets, how to interpret and handle reviews (the good, the bad, AND the ugly), networking with agencies, and what it is that a successful proposal needs to emphasize and where. He even gives you advice on how to find agencies where you have the most success so you can build a strong funding track record quickly. Lots of good insights that I never would have thought of (and I am going to take his advice!).

On top of all the excellent information in this book, like it says above, it is an EXTREMELY easy read. The author has a way of talking about the subject that makes you feel like you are chatting with a friend at the bar who is giving you the inside scoop on everything. I read it in two nights in about an hour or two each night. It doesn't get much better than this! I highly recommend everyone who has to write grants to fund their science to read this book. It will be the best investment in time and money you will ever make!

I did not buy this at Amazon. I wasn't even looking for it necessarily, because I didn't know that it was even in existence. I stumbled upon it for $5, but this collection of devotions, based off of the historic lectionary is worth far more than $20. Dr. C.F.W. Walther had a way of making the Gospel fresh again. I recommend, no I urge you to buy this product if you haven't already.

I regret not having reviewed this work before. I thought I had and confess that I did contact the translator,Grabenhofer, shortly after its release by CPH, St. Louis to thank him for this great work of translation of a devotional that is centered on the historic lectionary and God granted exegetical insight of Walther. I consider this and "Luther's Family Devotions for Every Day of the Church Year" originally edited in the late 19th century (found in many German-American Lutheran homes)and translated by Joel Baseley as two "must have" tombs. We often fall short in our time in daily devotions, but both of these works are a blessing to help keep one centered in faith and hope based solely upon Scripture.

If you are tired of the insipid power point material that makes up most devotions (and sermons) today (and many appear to be nothing more than thoughtless rush jobs on a word processor by pastors and evangelists needing to pay some overdue bills), sink your teeth into the nearly 1,000 pages of selections from C.F.W. Walther's sermons that fill this book. Walther had a razor-sharp theological mind deeply grounded in classic Lutheran/scriptural teaching , an excellent pastoral sensibility, and superb expressive abilities. If you love Luther, you will love Walther. This man was the real McCoy and this book is an excellent devotional.

This is truly an excellent daily devotional, for it is uplifting as only true and correct Scripture expositon can: rightly dividing Law and Gospel, and at such a wonderfully low price for buying as gifts, etc.

Here is an avid student of doing just that, C.F.W. Walther and a sermon exerpt of his for every day of the year arranged around the One Year Lectionary. The Sunday's sermon is exploding and explored for each day accompanied by a select hymn verse, which easily can provide the closing prayer that many like in a daily devotion format.

I've been through now around one third of this, and am truly impressed with the selection of Walther sermon exerpts and am refershed, inspired and daily motivated from this man's interpretation and application of God's Word. He is truly a master at interjecting human psychology and thinking into the equation, which makes perfect jumping off point into pool of Law and Gospel. As but one example, this from Sunday of 14th Week after Trinity: "Each person is surrounded and covered by God's blessings even more than he is by air. ... It is, therefore, impossible for a person to count the blessings God shows him during even one hour. ... If, however, the bodily blessings of God are for the most part unrecognized by most people, the spiritual blessings are even more ignored. ... They regard spiritual things as a yoke they must bear in this world and they would prefer it if there were no God they should serve, no Word of God they should hear and obey, and no eternity about which they should worry."

To God be all glory!

I was surprised at how relevant and lively Walther's writings are in this context. The book is organized around the historic lectionary, but one could use this quite profitably in any case. Many of these "devotions" seem to come from his sermons, and they are just as useful today as I'm sure they were when written. I didn't expect much from this book (bought it purely on the recommendation of a friend), and it has completely "overperformed." For this price, it's the best bargain you'll get all year.

This is a well-researched account of the last two years of the Civil War (1863-1865). The harsh realities of the battles and living conditions are especially given great detail here. The final days of the war and the surrender of General Lee are extremely poignant as the author examines the tattered remains of the once invincible Army of Northern Virginia. The exchange between the victors and the vanquished at Appomattox is the highlight of the book. The author also takes pains not to overlook any of Grant's military blunders such as Cold Harbor and gives an even-handed viewpoint throughout. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the darkest days of our nation's history.

In this superb second volume on Grant's war-time service, Bruce Catton shows how Grant devised and executed the grand strategy that ensured we'd be one country.

Beginning at Chattanooga, Catton chronicles Grant's successful battle to save a beleaguered federal army there and his selection as head of all of the armies of the Union.

The strategic plan, the overland campaign, the investiture of Petersburg and the finale with Lee at Appomattox are chronicled well.

What Catton does very well here is focus on Grant the General-in-Chief. We see how Lincoln and Grant are drawn toward each other through a shared and fundamental understanding of what it would take to win the war and the will to do it -- incredibly a trait Lincoln could find in no other General selected to head the Army of the Potomac.

The actual management of the Union's armies and efforts is given great attention. Even the Civil War devotee who knows a lot about the battles of the war will appreciate this focus on grand strategy, army management and the particular and singular attributes possessed by Grant to manage the affair to a successful conclusion.

A wonderful book, as is it's predecessor, "Grant Moves South."

"Grant Takes Command" is the second of two volumes by Bruce Catton on Grant's Civil War service and the third volume of a trilogy on Grant's military career (beginning with Lloyd Lewis's "Captain Sam Grant"). However, this volume can easily be ready by itself. Catton picks up the story in the fall of 1863 with Grant's successful raising of the siege of Chanttanooga, following which President Lincoln picks him for a third star and command of all the Union armies.

Grant is the latest in a long series of Union commanders, most of whom have been badly beaten by General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, and none of whom have been able to bring superior Northern resources effectively to bear on a slowly weakening Confederacy. In fact, as Grant takes command, the war has not yet been won and could still be lost.

Grant will be the commander that Lincoln has long sought. Lincoln's telling exchange with an aide, repeated by Catton, lays out why. Grant is the first general to take the supreme command who will work in harness with Lincoln and in full acceptance of Lincoln's constraints as President of a democracy in the midst of a civil war. Grant is prepared to take full responsibility for the conduct of the missions of the armies, and without setting up an alibi in advance for possible failure. And as it becomes apparent in the course of Catton's absolutely superb narrative, Grant understands the terrible math. Lee and his army are too proficient to be easily beaten; great persistance will be called for. Grant grasps the essential truth that Lee's army is the Confederate center of gravity, and the corallary that Lee's requirement to protect Richmond ultimately limits his ability to maneuver. Further, Grant is able to cause the Union armies to work at a common design, denying Lee the ability to reinforce Virginia by drawing on other theaters of war. The result will be a long, grinding, and exceedingly bloody campaign stretching from 1864 into 1865, as Lee's army is slowly bludgeoned to death.

Catton's narrative does not spare Grant his errors; in the 1864 campaign, Grant underestimates both Lee's abilities as a general and the difficulties of conducting campaigns on such a huge scale. Grant has to learn the job of Army commander in chief on the move; the unnecessary casualties of Cold Harbor and the repeated failures to flank Lee out of position in Virginia are proof of the learning curve. But Grant's great gift is his refusal to be deterred from his objective; he pins Lee at Petersburg and uses the Union armies of Sherman and Sheridan, among others, to destroy the Confederacy's means to make war.

"Grant Takes Command" was first published in 1960, and the details of the history of the Civil War have evolved since then. However, Catton's prose has stood the test of time. This is a truly magnificently told story on an epic scale and a highly recommended treat for the Civil War enthusiast and the casual reader alike.

A change in Focus--Grant takes the Reins

Until 1864, the Army of the Potomac had never won a campaign. Each Union attempt to capture Richmond drove south, was repulsed, withdrew to Washington, found a new general, and tried again. After his successes at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, Grant came east to a promotion, to general in charge of all Union Armies.

Grant brought a different focus, and Catton defines this superbly in this book, drawing on many of Grant's memoranda to other officers, as well as President Lincoln. Catton captures the essence of a Grant campaign: hold on to the enemy, grasp and retain the initiative, and always move your logistics aggresively forward.

Catton also tries, albeit weakley, to show that Grant was not a "pure" attritionist. He offers examples of Grant's desires to push west and sever Richmond from the Shenandoah. Catton explores the political reality of uncovering Washington to a Confederate thrust, while attacking the logistics that sustained Confederate armies, while Sherman simultaneously attacked Atlanta and its strategic railhead. Catton states that after the battle of Cold Harbor Ggrant's numerical superiority was at its lowest level, but he does not provide the hard math to support this stance. On the other hand, Catton shows well the manuever warfare used by Grant to slip away after Cold Harbor, steal a march, and get across the James River before Lee, stripped of his cavalry, could discover the move and react.

This book does a very solid job of capturing Grant's determination, his unyielding efforts to impose his will on the leaders and staff of the Army of the Potomac, and to integrate the political realities of volunteers, political appointee generals and a presidential election with the cold hard reality of constant campaigning.

A good read not just for students of the martial art, but for any leader who must address the Sisyphean task of invigorating old "we've always done it that way" people with a new ethos and drive.

It is almost amazing that even after nearly 40 years, this book still stand the test of time as one of the best studies of General U.S. Grant's tenure as the military commander of all Federal forces. The book starts off from the Chattanooga campaign in late 1863 and moving on to his promotion as overall commander and his attachment to the Army of the Potomac for the rest of the war. By this move he clearly determined that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia will be his primary target and a key to overall victory for the Union. Bruce Catton does a wonderful job in narrating each event in a clear and colorful way that make this book a joy to read.

Best part of Catton's writing is the way he make individual characters stand out in a way that most pertaining to the event at hand. We understand how Lincoln and Grant bonded so well, how even Meade and Grant worked well on surface and why Grant kept his eye on the ball when grinding Lee down to earth.

This book is a follow-up to Catton's earlier work, Grant Moves South which was published 7 years prior to this book and captured Grant's military activities from the beginning of the war to end of the Vicksburg campaign in 1863. As part of the two book set, Bruce Catton continued to captured the essence of Grant's military chronicles with clarity and understanding that any reader can appreciate.

For anyone interested in the American Civil War, this book is sure to be part of your mandatory reading material and the best part is that its really is a great reading book.

This book is priceless when it comes to accessible, detailed, and critical how-to information on how to write grants. I highly recommend Grassroots Grants as a vital resource for any progressive activist who needs to raise cash for the movement.

As a staff member of a community foundation, I am called upon to give numerous presentations on how to get grants. I never fail to suggest buying Andy's book. It will pay for itself--and it's a good read besides. Virginia Martinez

Andy Robinson is one the best grassroots grant writers in the country. His book and a class I took from him helped us triple our budget from grants. The new edition is even better with excellent examples of winning grants from across the country.

I have long been a fan of Andy Robinson's writing and this is his best book to date. Useful for both new and experienced grant seekers. This book will now be number one on my list of recommendations for participants in my grant seeking workshops and I will make sure that each of the new fundraisers that I coach have a copy.

I'm the author of another book about "grant writing" for nonprofits, but still I heartily recommend this book. In fact, Grassroots Grants is the only other book about grant seeking I recommend. Here's why.

Grassroots Grants demonstrates on nearly every page how grant seeking can be compatible with the idealistic nature of small nonprofits. Though it is unquestionably and unapologetically written for what might be called the "progressive" movement in the US, its principles apply to activist organizations of any stripe. In the sometimes cynical world of fundraising, it's refreshing to see values so consistently applied. The author leaves no doubt: fundraising isn't just a game played with money and ego, it's about changing the world. The author's strong sense of purpose resonates warmly with the reader's.

Second, the book has an abundance of examples -- proposal narratives, budgets, etc. -- that very effectively demonstrate some basic principles of good writing and good grant seeking. For beginners these examples do a lot to demystify the job of grant seeking; they help the beginner get off to a quick start. For experienced fundraisers, they provide new ideas about style and presentation. I admire the numerous examples in this book enough to wish there were more in mine!

In contrast, I do think that one kind of advice is treated a bit lightly in this book: the task of managing the creation, submission, etc. of many proposals simultaneously. That topic has implications for the bottom line and for organizational values, and is a big topic in my book. But I have to admit, it is not terribly relevant for someone who is trying to write their first grant or two or three.

True to its title, Grassroots Grants keeps its focus on grassroots topics, and very much succeeds on that basis. It is authentic and helpful.

It would be unusual for a typical pentecostal to read this kind of book. I know because I teach at a Pentecostal university. But it is interesting that Pentecostals do not think that an outsider would see their life as heavenly, and this paricularly true of Pentecostals who maintain strong standards for holiness. It would enlighten these people to see how Grant Wacker sees it as such a joyful experience. Pentecostals who think that those Pentecostals who lived in the 10's and 20's were barely litterate and extremely poor might be suprised by this book's careful analysis of the economic condition of early tewentieth centruy Pentecostals and how they viewed edcuation.

The book is extremely careful and honest. Some Pentecostals will be taken back by the authors perspective which is very different from theirs, but that is exactly what makes the book reliable. The author has no stake in misreperestenting truth. Most people who would read this type of book are comfortable with established professors in major universities having a reputation for strong honesty, but I have to report that most Pentecostals are not, but broadening their perspective to include such ideas might be very valuable.

Grant Wacker has written a wonderful book. His scholarly treatment of early pentecostalism (1900-1925) is matched by his ability to write for a general audience with insight, sympathy for his subject, and a tremendous wit and appreciation. His views are balanced, his anecdotes are well-selected, and his writing is first-rate. He covers all aspects, races, and gender issues in early American pentecostalism. Anyone interested in American religion in general or penetcostalism in particular MUST read this book. A professor told me in grad school that the explosion of new books would only get worse. He advised me to buy only those books that would either change or advance my life: this is such a book.

In "Heaven Below," Grant Wacker takes the reader on an exhilarating and informative romp through the early years (1900-1925) of American Pentecostalism. Through extensive research and superior storytelling, he demonstrates how these religious pioneers brought together the clashing impulses of the "primitive" and the "pragmatic" to "capture lightening in a bottle" and launch an explosive movement. Potential readers need to be warned in advance that the author is a social historian and academician. If you are looking for stories of romanticized heroes of the faith or glowing partisan historiography, you'll be disappointed. What you will get is a consistently fair, sometimes surprising, and always interesting account of the early Pentecostals.

In the book's fifteen chapters we get a glimpse into the character, temperament, and daily lives of these adventurous and hearty souls. You'll discover the keys to their effectiveness and the areas where they stumbled. Included among many subjects covered are the movement's leaders, the theology and practicality behind the prominence of women, their changing views on war, the persecutions they faced, and even the "gift of tongues" that helped make their faith distinctive. The stereotype of the poor, illiterate, and disinherited Pentecostals is dismantled. Instead you will meet a representative slice of early 20th century America. They were a people genuinely sincere, deeply committed to their beliefs, and fully convinced that they were instruments in the hands of Almighty God, empowered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

"Heaven Below" is made up of 269 pages of fascinating reading, followed by an appendix, and 82 pages of footnotes. It also includes a valuable index. I had some difference of opinion with Wacker's conclusions and occasional qualms with his assumptions, but as a social history, I highly recommend "Heaven Below." Grant Wacker is Associate Professor of the History of Religion in America, Duke University.

The first generation of American Pentecostals is presented by Grant Wacker's "Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture" (2001, 367-page paper back). This well-documented (with 79 pages of endnotes) and somewhat technical book introduces Pentecostalism's originators while informing about their early Holy Ghost doctrine and theology.

Much of Wacker's engaging discussion documents long-held views appreciative and critical of Pentecostals. He speaks to the Pentecostal origins for Holy Spirit baptism, glossolalia, xenolalia, graphalalia, blood atonement, biblical literalism, fear of insulting the Spirit, primacy of Jesus, yieldedness, and much more. Founders' anathema for intellectualism, in particular their distrust of colleges and seminary learning, is also reviewed.

Of equal interest is Wacker's name list for themselves prior to the adoption of "Pentecostal": "saints", "believers", "Spirit-filled", "enthusiasts", "Trinity-filled", "Holy Ghost Movement", etc. Additional lists for various taboos are presented.

Earliest Pentecostals disapproved the usual sins (lying, swearing, smoking, dancing, drinking, etc.) and they constantly frowned on feminine short hair, eating too much, jesting with friends, chewing gum, using medicine, eating ice cream, and many more pleasurable activities taken for granted today. Wacker's is a fascinating discussion for the development of Pentecostal salvation process. His presentation is interesting and informative.

The author assumes reader Pentecostal fluency. This book is intended to analyze early Pentecostals for contemporary believers. Therefore, much of the book is anecdotal reviewing the personal development and lives of Pentecostal patriarchs and matriarchs. Portions of the text, however, require familiarity with early 20th century American religion and theology.

This book is recommended to those interested in early Pentecostalism, early 20th century American religion, Holy Ghost theology, and America's first "charismatics".

My sister speaks in tongues and so does her husband; they make me nervous. I have vague recollections as an immature teenage Christian of being schooled to speak in tongues, failing the test, and then feeling guilty that I was not as spiritual, as closely in tune with God as my tutors. But considered globally, as a non tongue-speaker, I will soon be in the Christian minority, if I am not already.

From obscure beginnings at Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas in 1901, and at 312 Azusa Street in an industrial section of downtown Los Angeles in 1905, what is broadly known as charismatic or pentecostal Christianity has grown today to include some 525 million believers from virtually every denomination and country the world over. Apart from Catholics (and many Catholics are charismatic), they constitute the single largest distinct group of Christians, and they are getting larger. Social scientists predict that in fifty years they will number one billion believers.

Grant Wacker, professor of history at Duke University, grew up in a Pentecostal family and so brings to this volume the critical detachment of a scholar but also the empathy of the consummate insider. Heaven Below focuses on the earliest years of the movement, from 1900 to 1925. Wacker's goal? "To rescue Pentecostals from the shadowy fate that EP Thompson once called (in another context), `the enormous condescension of posterity'" (p. 266).

Scholars have struggled to explain how such a wildly enthusiast, anti-intellectual, counter cultural and divisive movement could not only survive and flourish but explode. Wacker offers a very specific twofold thesis. Early Pentecostals did two things extremely well. They encouraged the primitive impulse of a deeply felt and experienced relationship with God, and then devised pragmatic ways to "bottle the lightening" without "stilling the fire or cracking the vessel." They held emotional prayer meetings and built hospitals. They begged God for healing and founded colleges. They could be both credulous and shrewd.

The pentecostal movement now enjoys a burgeoning scholarly literature. Charismatics have been good for the church, and this new literature should be good for the movement.

I liked this one quite a bit. Very good story, but there were some things that got past the proofreaders. I picked this up hoping it would be like Karen Moning's novels since this book has on the cover "Paranormal Medieval Romance" (whatever that really means).

It takes place in Scotland. There are faeries, fae, and druids. There's a bad guy, a good guy, and the girl.

I won't go into a synopsis as other people have done, but I like to think that when I go as far as to Google the author and see what else they've written, that's a very good sign. It means I'll buy their next book without reading the reviews.

Very good story, has a plot, has some twists and turns and some good juicy parts. I read it over a weekend.

Being raised as the daughter of the MacNeil was pure hell. Her father and his kinsmen had shown her nothing but hatred all of her life, hatred that she didn't deserve. Glenna was often ashamed of her father's actions and cruelty, and constantly craved her freedom from him. One day Iona came to the castle without warning, brought to Glenna to be her teacher. It was a relationship which soon bloomed into friendship. After repeatedly questioning Iona about her past and never being told a thing, Glenna gave up asking. Too soon Iona left, but she left Glenna with the hope that a man would come to take her away from her father.

Conall MacInnes is torn between the vow he made to his mother upon her death bed and the vow he made when he became laird of his clan. The Druids that he has sworn to protect have refused to help him search for his taken sister with the only explanation being, she needs to follow her destined path. He's sure that the MacNeil has taken Iona and when he goes to MacNeil castle, he's convinced of it. As he and his clansmembers are attacked within the hall, Conall sees a woman abovestairs that he feels a connection with. She turns out to be the MacNeil's daughter, Glenna, who offers herself to him to help in getting his sister back.

Instant attraction is felt by both Conall and Glenna, but between the MacNeil, the Druids and Conall's clan's hatred of anything MacNeil, will there ever be anything between them?

Highland Mist is a wonderful Scottish historical that weaves love, hatred, passion, magick and war seamlessly into a very satisfying whole. Glenna and Conall are wonderful characters that truly belonged together and watching their relationship evolve was enchanting. I'm looking forward to reading Highland Nights.

Lyonene
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Connall MacInness is Laird of his clan--a clan that has been charged with guarding the druids, a duty he honors but wishes at times he could shed since the abduction of his beloved sister. He feels the druids play games at time and when he has needed them the most, they have forsaken him. They will not help him find her, so he must take matters into his own hands. He will abduct the daughter of the man who took his sister. Surely this will return his sister to him. But, he didn't counting on liking Glenna or feeling protective of the lass. She is so different then her warring, evil sire. But there are secrets there and he's afraid to find out what they are or what they mean to his quest at finding his sister. Can love grow from revenge and will they be given a chance at happiness they both long for?

This is the first time I've had the privilege of reading Ms. Grant and she captivated me with her voice. This is a very romantic story with magic, evil, and of course romance peppering the pages. This was a well paced story with no single element being ignored. This is one read that I highly recommend and one author I think you should add to your "must watch" list.

Whenever I pick up a book with Olde Scotland as a backdrop, I want to see druids and faes and magic thrown into the mix, along with strong characters and plots. The good news is that Donna Grant's romance novel Highland Mist throws it all together very successfully, giving the reader a lively treat for the brain. Even better news is that there's more to come. Highland Mist is the first book in Grant's five-book series, Druid's Glen.

But one thing at a time. Highland Mist, set in the 17th century Scottish highlands, centers around a prophecy, a rescue and revenge. The story opens as Glenna Sinclair, the third daughter of a spoken prophecy, narrowly escapes death as an infant at the hands of MacNeil, an evil man bent on pillage and destruction. To further his aims, MacNeil adopts Glenna as his daughter, using her fire-starting powers as a frightening weapon to cow others into submission.

The rescue comes 18 years later in the form of Conall MacInnes, a Scottish laird, who rides to MacNeil castle to rescue his kidnapped sister Iona. The sister is missing, so Conall instead takes the 18-year-old Glenna as hostage. But as they return to MacInnes lands, Glenna doesn't feel shackled or kidnapped, recognizing that Conall is to become an important factor in her life.

The reader recognizes this, too, as the hot attraction between these two is almost instantaneous, complete with a fiery encounter at Beltane. But Conall is a man with a few axes to grind, namely his anger at the druids for not protecting his sister or clan, not to mention resentment of his own druid blood. Then there is Conall's resentment of the druid blood flowing in Glenna, which dampens his attraction to her -- at least temporarily. Will Conall's stubbornness prevent the prophecy from coming to fruition? Or will Scotland suffer under the evil MacNeil's yoke because of Conall's refusal to face facts? On the other side, will headstrong Glenna's guilt and anger prevent her from realizing her own powers and potential?

The plot here is intriguing, as are the characteres. Despite Conall's heard-headedness, a reader can't help but like him for his honesty, his dedication to family and clan and sense of honor and fairness (the fact he's a good-looking hunk with dark hair and gray eyes doesn't hurt, either).

Despite her rescue early in the book, Glenna isn't some helpless, dewy-eyed clingy heroine. Grant paints Glenna as a woman unafraid of making the sometimes painful decisions necessary for survival. Glenna is also a wonderful helpmeet for the stubborn Conall, working with him to solve his problems, rather than being the author of them.

While Grant does tie some loose ends by the end of Highland Mist, more are left hanging, to be answered in the next book and presumably, books beyond. But judging from this first book in the Druid's Glen series, Grant is well on her way to penning -- and relasing -- an enjoyable and memorable collection.

Highland Mist is an amazing love story with something for everyone. Her hero and heroine, Conall and Glenna, are strong and passionate and face tough odds to be together. Her bad guys (and girls) are mean and nasty. There's romance, betrayal, evil, mystery and plenty of ancient Druid rituals and Fae magic to keep any reader spellbound. Donna Grant's descriptions of the Highlands and her writer's voice made me feel I was in Scotland the entire time. I'm so glad there are more books to follow because I HAVE to know what happens to the other characters, both good and bad, whom I grew to love (and hate) in this book.

One side-effect of the common lectionary used by Catholics, Episcopaleans, Lutheran, and various mainstream Protestant churches is the development of some excellent lectionary based resources. (A lectionary contains the Biblical readings for a given Sunday).

This series of three volumes for the three year lectionary cycle (each year concentrates on a synoptic Gospel - Matthew, Mark or Luke) contains music, poetry, art, etc. that in some way reflect on the Scripture for a given Sunday. The volumes are carefully multicultural.

An example: for the first Sunday in Advent, there are poems by Philipp Nicolai with Carl P. Daw Jr, and Alberto Taule; a photo of a cross of the community by the artisans of La Palma, El Salvador; a responsory reading by Miriam Therese Winter; and a painting by Glen Strock.

Each Sunday is equally diverse. You should always be able to find something that meets your needs and/or challenges you to reconsider your needs. Highly recommended.

One side-effect of the common lectionary used by Catholics, Episcopaleans, Lutheran, and various mainstream Protestant churches is the development of some excellent lectionary based resources. (A lectionary contains the Biblical readings for a given Sunday).

This series of three volumes for the three year lectionary cycle (each year concentrates on a synoptic Gospel - Matthew, Mark or Luke) contains music, poetry, art, etc. that in some way reflect on the Scripture for a given Sunday. The volumes are carefully multicultural.

An example: for the first Sunday in Advent, there are photos by Paul Chesley, David Austen and Dennis Oda;excerpts from Robert A. Raines and Jospeh Wood Krutch; poetry by Dom Helder Camara and Thomas John Carlisle; and a detail from art by Naul Ojeda.

Each Sunday is equally diverse. You should always be able to find something that meets your needs and/or challenges you to reconsider your needs. Highly recommended.

This is a thick soft cover art book that accompanies Biblical passages with art objects - paintings, sculptures from all cultures, Italian Renaissance to Modern Chinese water-colour that attempts to IMAGE the WORD - the gospel, and puts the love of Jesus in Christianity into a non-preachy, very emotionally and aesthetically moving document that appeals to the modern, intellectual, sophisticated, sensitive, cultured but atheist reader. It makes the Bible come alive in a fantasy of visual ecstasy. A marvellous gift for those who are hurting from a lack of understanding God's love. A spiritually soothing gift in a coffee-table book format.

One side-effect of the common lectionary used by Catholics, Episcopaleans, Lutheran, and various mainstream Protestant churches is the development of some excellent lectionary based resources. (A lectionary contains the Biblical readings for a given Sunday).

This series of three volumes for the three year lectionary cycle (each year concentrates on a synoptic Gospel - Matthew, Mark or Luke) contains music, poetry, art, etc. that in some way reflect on the Scripture for a given Sunday. The volumes are carefully multicultural.

An example: for the first Sunday in Advent, there are poems by Czeslaw Milosz, Sandra Cisneros and Janet Morley; a photo of a festive cross by Claudio Jimenez; quotations from Lamar Williamson Jr. and the Gelasian Sacramentary; a song by Arthur G. Clyde (contemporary); paintings by Rodolfo Abularach and Salvador Dali.

Each Sunday is equally diverse. You should always be able to find something that meets your needs and/or challenges you to reconsider your needs. Highly recommended.

Gorgeous book of art tied to the Christian lectionary. Poetry, paintings, photographs, sculpture, scripture quotes. A real treat!