John Books

I'm reading all the Bond books in order and I'm on Thunderball now but Doctor No is the best so far. The characters are great with Quarrel and Honey Rider. M thinks hes giving Bond a break with an easy case but its probably the toughest adventure ever for Bond. The book is unputdownable from the very start when Bond's friend Strangways is kidnapped. When Bond is on "Crab Key" the book is great with all the obstacles Bond has to go through. The dragon, Dr. No's obstacle course and the animal at the end of it and the final showdown with Doctor No and the way he dies is pretty funny. Great book my favorite so far.

This book is supposed to be the sequel to "From Russia with love", in fact it begins with Bond in hospital due to a life-threatening injury obtained in "From Russia with love" but recovers, M(Bond's boss) decides that there is no better way to get Bond back in shape than give him a "simple" mission in the island of Jamaica where the representative of the British Secret Service(John Strangways, who also appeared in Fleming's Bond novel "Live and let die") has disappeared, Bond's mission is to find out what happened. This "soft option" leads Bond to his most dangerous and thrilling mission yet and leads to him to do an "obstacle course", to a fight with a squid and a fight with a "dragon"! I thought this Fleming's most suspenseful book as I never could tell what would happen next and this kept me hooked, so much so that I read it all in one day! Unfortunately, this is also Mr. Fleming's most far-fetched. It was far-fetched in the sense that I don't think even Bond(who at that point was supposedly half-dead) could have defeated a 60-foot squid with just a dagger. That apart it's a great, great thriller. Read it, wonder in awe at it's elements, then read it again just to savour Fleming's writing. Unfortunately, the movie never did the book justice. I heard that in "From Russia with love" Fleming planned to simply kill off James Bond, thankfully he didn't and produced a marvellous book in Dr. No.

Dispatched to the Caribbean to investigate another British Agent's disappearance, James Bond discovers far more than he bargained for. On a forsaken island, he meets a wild woman, fights a flamethrowing "monster", and finally matches wits and will against the incredible Doctor No, a self-made genius with steel claws for hands, an army of thugs, and a clinical curiosity regarding the limits of human pain. Bond is put to perhaps the toughest phsical test in his career in this hair-raising sequel to From Russia, With Love. This is another great 007 book to read. Buy this book when it is back in stock!

Doctor No is one of the better Bonds but the ending was quite confusing. The ending told very little about how Doctor No died, and when he did infact die, I didn't understand why Fleming would kill the bad guy in such a stupid way. I thought the squid part was one of the worst because it was hard to follow and didn't explain the squid's death very well. There were parts that I did like, however. I enjoyed the introduction to Honey Rider and the dragon part, but I didn't like the fact that Quarrel died. Despite some confusing parts, I still consider it one of the better Fleming novels.

This is my favorite James Bond novel. Ian Fleming created a character with a gargantuan appetite for the more worldly pleasures. For a land that could supply our hero with such an appetite Fleming chose his own beloved Jamaica. The melding of the story with the setting is Fleming at his best. Jamaica was a land of beauty, mystery and intrigue. Fleming captured this so well and gave us a remarkable villain to reflect that esoteric quality of the island.

The author is well-known in the military and academic environments. With the last FM-100, it was supposed that everything was now mentioned. But, not. A tradition, inherited from the Civil war, exists in the USA, of saving grunts lives, avoiding the combats at close distances and using with profusion the heavy fire support to win always.
It does not serve to gain the hearts and the minds of the people, intermingled with the rebels in cities or open land, thanks to a degree of constraint that always exists from the rebels. Henry Poole offers a heap of counterinsurgency tactics. He also speaks about the own character of the possible rebels. And, especially, he creates the mixed units, at a very low level of action, of proffesional soldiers, self-defense forces and civil elements of construction, promotion and education. With them it is possible to interpose a "swarm", more active, effective and professional of loyal units, to the swarm of the guerrilla units. And to go isolating them slowly, reliably and progressively from the people, of their bases and of the rest of their operational and strategic goals.

John Poole knows how to combat Islamic and Chinese-backed insurgencies by blending in both measured military & police actions. In his newest & my personal favorite book, "Dragon Days" Poole weaves in various apsects of unconventional fourth generation warfare, to include how aspects of police anti-gang operations would serve the infantrymen to disrupt the IED networks that are causing most of US casulaties. Operations in Iraq must become focused on investigating the various "networks" (terrorist & criminal) to disrupt them & turn the people against the behavior that does not allow them to return to a normal life, and their children are not killed by US forces in an attempt to dislodge militants. Police operations focus on identifying & eliminating the "bad guy" from the neighborhood. Use of force is used only IF the suspect(s) do not comply & actively resist. As in gang "hoods" in the US, even if the police are right & kill a suspect, the residents blame the police. As Poole states in the latest edition of his great books on unconventional warfare, this condition also exits within Iraq or Afghanistan. We are still considered the Great Occupiers in Islamic lands & all bad things come with this title.
Poole's book also goes over how to improve multiple counter-insurgency fucntions & methods & what has not worked in the past & why. All of his book are great reading,and full of very useful information for military & law enforcement professionals involved in 4th GW. My advice is to recommend Poole's book to fellow professionals, and buy an additional copy for yourself since once your copy is "loaned" out, it'll be passed on to others, which is how all great knowledge should be treated. Pass it on!

John Poole see's the cycles of "modern" warfare well before even the military services and three letter agencies are willing to shift focus of effort; especially in pre-deployment training programs. I used his "Tactics of the Crescent Moon" as a primer for my team before we deployed into Ramadi in 2005. It was extremely accurate and my men were able to operate without delays as soon as we arrived.

"Dragon Days" brings us around full circle to meet an organized and nationalized global threat that has proclaimed "total war against the U.S." and allies itself with insurgent and terrorist organizations as its surrogates. It won't be long before the State Department has to admit the DOD will be needed for other "troop deployments" as the Chinese continue to shape the world through asymmetric warfare. This book of Poole's has it all in there. Open source intel to study and verify and the proper tactics, techniques and procedures to meet the variety of threat we should expect to encounter once our infantry and SOF operators are distributed on the ground.

Mark S. Mosher
MSgt. USMC (Ret.)
Program Manager
Combat Training Systems Division
BMI Defense Systems

I think that John Poole set a good example for us all to follow.
If we all were as productive and current in our analysis, and furthermore managed to put out tactical and technical advice to our troops in the field, the current conflicts would end sooner with much less casualties.

But wait, we don't need to do that. Because John Poole does this for us. We only need to pick up his latest book and start to apply the tactics that he describes.

I think that John Poole's later books are improving in readability but they still keep that cutting edge of current and life saving advice.

I urge you all to pick up this book and learn.

We need to submit this brilliant book to the Army Chief of Staff's and Marine Corps Commandant's reading lists! John Poole has marked himself as an authority on 4GW, but more specifically and importantly, how to prepare our leaders and units for unconventional tactics which is subset, yet important one, of 4GW. In my day job as a consultant to the U.S. Army on leader development, I get to stay in touch with "the field," leaders that are engaged in this 4th GW struggle, and the ones that have discovered John's Dragon Days (as well as the other titles) have nothing but praise for how it assisted them and their units. I wish we could find a way for the next President to have a session with John Poole on warfare.

If you are interested in becoming a Druid Revivalist or a member of the AODA this book is a must-read. If you are not sure which path you want to trod, this book will be very helpful in explaining just what exactly it means to be a Druid Revivalist. Remember, if Druid Reconstruction is your cup of tea, then forget about this book. The only reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5 is because the book can be a bit dry at times.

This book was quite useful into explaining, what it means to be a modern 'Druid'.Ross Nichols wrote the book,'The Book of Druidry',some thirty plus years ago.Eventhough Nichols' Druid book was interesting reading,Greer's book is one of the best modern intrepretations of Druidry around today.Greer's book is the best facilitative druid handbook for daily ritual and spiritual practices.In this age of fatalistic attitudes,this book is empowering and enriching for one's soul.When one accepts one's connection to Mother-Nature,then one can live a positive life rather than a self-destructive morose one.This is not a persiflage prattle on Druidism.It's a fresh serious introduction on what a real modern Druid believes,observes,connects and practices during the turning of the Earth's seasons.An excellent start for everyone earnest about being a modern Druid,honoring and sharing the surrounding all-powerful Mother-Nature.

Mr. Greer, once again, provides the reader with an in-depth look at Druidry as a way of life and a religion. His information comes from a long history within the path that he writes about. Excellent information, well thought out and well laid out.

This book is based on the Revival Druidry of the 18th & 19th centuries, including many of Iolo Morganwg's fraudulent inventions & the Albans as holidays (there's not much evidence that any but the Summer solstice were celebrated by the Celts.) Of course, the foreward by Philip Carr-Gomm is written in a way to romanticize Revival Druidry, but he has a clear agenda in doing so (to help sell books.) The author states that "ogham served as a magical alphabet," but this is nonsense. Most frequently, archaeological evidence of ogham writings tend toward mundania; boundary markers, gravestone inscriptions. Although there are some good things in the book, the title should have been "The Revival Druidry Handbook," in which case I wouldn't have purchased it.

The Druidry Handbook is a beginner's text for those interested in finding out more about Druidry (past and present) as well as those individuals who think they might want to become a Druid, either as a solitary or part of an organized study group. This book is divided into three parts.

Part one looks at the history of Druidry. I was quite impressed with this section as the author was not intimidated to discuss the lack of substantial resources about the Druids of ancient times nor did the author shy away from discussing the complexities associated with the Revival Druidry period. I was also pleased that the author looked to the Celtic myths for answers as many scholars tend to ignore these important resources completely.

Part two and three of this book look at specific aspects of Druidry. Part two introduces the reader to basic concepts such as the importance of triads in this belief system. Part three goes into more detail on general Druidic beliefs including a very good explanation of proposed calendar cycles and their associated ceremonies. The author also includes a very well thought out initiate program for those wanting to try on the Druid lifestyle.

Wow! I'm so glad this book is still a hit. I still have the one that was issued to me in 1975 in ninth grade English. I have used it ever since, including for my bachelor's and two master's degrees. The spine is faded pink from sitting in the sun on my reference bookshelf for the last 33 years. This book is single best source you can find for grammar specifics; language structure; expository writing; or tweaking your writing for the essay section on the SAT or a back-to-school paper. A true treasure that is as useful today as it was long ago.

This book was issued to me in my senior year in high school in 1976. I have kept it by my side, has helped me through my college years and then with my children, and now that I have decided to go back to school and am studying translation, I have taken it out of the bookshelf once again because the books we were assigned do not even come close to the perfection (in my idea) of this book. It has traveled with me through the different countries that I have lived in. It is truly a jewel of a book as far as how it is organized, explained and the exercises are very helpful to reinforce what you are trying to learn.

I purchased this book to add to my library after reading several reviews on Amazon. The book has some valuable information, but you can obtain most of the same information from Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style."

I have the 1965 (!) version of this book! I used it in GRADE SCHOOL. I used it as a reference in HIGH SCHOOL. I used it as a reference in COLLEGE. I used it as a reference in GRADUATE SCHOOL. My daughters used it (as a reference) in GRADE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE and now GRADUATE SCHOOL. My son is now using it! During homework, there was always a call for "Dad, can I borrow that red English book?" There isn't anything else like it, not today. It explains, illustrates and gives practical examples of English like no other textbook. it's built as a REFERENCE TEXTBOOK, something few books do today. Textbooks used to be like this once. I was on Amazon and wondered by chance if it were still available, I'd like to get an updated copy. I was stunned to not only find one, but find that every single reviewer felt that same way about this book! You absolutely MUST have this as part of your personal reference along with you home medical books and such! When your child asks, "So, dad, mom- is it "lay" or "lie?" - you'll go running for this book, I guarantee!

I picked up this book after it was recommended by Stephen King in his book "On Writing" pages 121-122 (hardback). Mr. King was right, this is a good book and it has everything you need to become a good writer. I have not reached that point yet, but I know I will eventually get there with the help of this book.

This book contains up to date information in relation to the ketogenic diet and other seizure control options that is also easy to read and understand by non professional people.

A great book for healthcare professionals and parents who are planning to use this diet for epilepsy treatment.

I'm interested in unusual therapies, and know someone who has a child with multiple disabilities including a seizure disorder. I found a videotape about this diet at a rummage sale a few years ago, and while it makes the diet sound relatively simple, this book says otherwise and goes into detail about people who are good candidates for the diet and those who are not. Many testimonials and case studies are presented as well.

The woman I know was given this option and said, "We don't want to starve our child." After reading this book, I can see where she was coming from. The restricted calories don't concern me as much as the fluid restriction, which could potentially be very dangerous and the book addresses this problem as well.

For the proper person, this diet could potentially be a lifesaver and it's worth trying if all factors are appropriate.

If you have or know a child with epilepsy, THE KETOGENIC DIET: A TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS WITH EPILEPSY is a 'must' for your consideration: it offers a solution beyond medication which provides a doctor-supervised diet high in fat and low in carbs and proteins, which limits calories - and is proven to control seizures. There've been many advances in the field, so this updated 4th edition is essential even for library holdings with prior editions. Besides the latest research, this book includes a new section on the Atkins diet and other alternative nutritional therapies. Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I bought this book for my daughter who has a child with epilepsy. It was very imformative and helpful. Reading the case histories and the mistakes that were inadvertently made, diet-wise, helped us lookout for the same pitfalls. I would highly recommend this book.

Fossil Hunter is one of those books that not only entertains (and believe me, it does!) but it also educates. This is not a mindless story laden with drivel and rhetoric, but is an intelligent work of art, and it's full of depth and intrigue. I was impressed with how well the author developed the setting. I felt like I was on the run and hiding in the hot desert right along with Nick and Katie. And all that dust! Oy!

I'd heard the author was an expert at writing from a woman's point of view. That is definitely the case. The main character, Katie, was very believable and strong, yet enticingly vulnerable at the same time. The tension between Katie and Nick was exhilarating, too. I loved that. And unlike many high intensity novels these days, this one had a spiritual element that was subtle, yet genuine and clear.

In short, Fossil Hunter is a must-read. If you love action and adventure with subtle romantic elements you will love this story.

"Fossil Hunter" is a wonderfully written adventure that spans the globe! Katie James is a brilliant and beautiful paleontologist trying to save her career by accepting a position on a team looking for the fossilized remains of an ancient whale. Nick Murad, Katie's long-time rival, is after the same prize.

This novel is a brilliant work of intellectual fiction with a Christian backbone. There's plenty of suspense and tension because of the rivalry between our two leading characters. The Iraqi setting of the dig adds to the volatility and intrigue of the story. The author has obviously done his research to make this work of fiction believable. The foreign phrases and scientific terminology add depth and credibility to the story. Although I would have appreciated a glossary in the back of the book so that I would have had greater understanding while I was reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Looking for a fun summer read that also engages your brain? Fossil Hunter is the book for you. It has plenty of action an adventure, entertaining characters, and a creative plot that revolves around two teams racing to find (and keep) a paradigm-shattering fossil in the Iraqi desert.

But for all its fast-paced fun, Fossil Hunter is surprisingly thoughtful. Whether you're a young-earth Creationist, an atheistic evolutionist, or somewhere in the middle, Fossil Hunter will get you thinking. John Olson does a good job of putting the "intelligent" into intelligent design.

Well written and easy to understand, even for the scientifically challenged. Could not put this page turner down. I enjoyed every bit and it created several debate filled lunch hours for my family. Thanks for another brilliant book, John!

I initially balked at the opportunity to review Fossil Hunter because on the back of the book there's an advertisement proclaiming the book is part of the "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed campaign." Oh no...the dreaded threat of agenda-driven fiction! Thankfully, my concern has proven utterly unfounded. Fossil Hunter is a thoroughly absorbing thrill ride that takes readers from the halls of academia to the deserts of Iraq. Katie James is a renowned paleontologist who suffers from demophobia - a debilitating fear of crowds. That, plus her Christian faith, has caused her academic creditionls to come under fire. Believing her work and her faith can go hand-in-hand, Katie is desperate to prove herself and secure the funding her university needs in order to continue her research. She's sent into Iraq with the task of finding a potential new species of whale which could prove to be a new link in evolutionary theory. She finds herself in a race opposite her arch-rival Dr. Nick Murad. However, when a new fossil is discovered, Katie and Nick are forced to collaborate in order to survive warring factions in the Iraqi government and agenda-driven academics only interested in fossil finds that support popular (and evolutionary) scientific theories.

The action is briskly-paced and the characterizations are wonderfully rich and well-drawn. Olson puts his scientific background to good use (he has a background in biochemistry), but he never drowns the novel in incomprehensible lingo - all of the science is presented in such a way as to be fascinating and comprehensible by even the uninitiated reader. The inclusion of the present geo-political realities Katie and Nick face add tension and credibility to the storyline. Fossil Hunter packed with enough action and humor (and just a dash of romance!) to be worthy of a chapter in the adventures of another famous academic adventurer - Indiana Jones. What sets this novel apart is its intelligent, thoughtful, engaging discussion of the intersection of faith and science. Fossil Hunter is a action-packed thrill ride that begs for a sequel - I'd love to see the further adventures of Katie & Nick. Highly recommended.

This "simple" little book is powerful and to the point. The author writes with an openness, humor and generosity that imbues the book with a sense of "You can do it!" And do it with grace and ease. It is easy to read, easy to engage and easy to absorb the concept of not being STUCK! There is a humility in the writing that includes you in the life of the author, letting you know that he comes from experience and not just intellect. It is real and deceptively profound.

Thank you John Seeley.

If you are considering a personal coach, you may want to read this book first. I read Get Unstuck in one day, and through this easy to read book gained some valuable insights. Each of the 12 chapters contains practical steps you can take to improve your life. The author talks to you, not at you!

I read the book in one sitting and thought it was a great way to reinforce the tools needed to re-evaluate your life and move on. The questions at the end of each chapter really makes sure you're focused on the goals. Great for someone like myself whose always on the go.

In 12 short, easy-to-read chapters John Seeley presents powerful tools to help you get in touch with what you have in your life, what you want more of and what you want less of. Each chapter opens and closes with a famous quote, includes anecdotes, short exercises, and thought-provoking questions that will guide you toward greater awareness and more effective action.

I have read many personal growth books and found this one helpful. I recommend it for people in the healing and helping professions, including life coaches, therapists, and pastors, and anyone who wants to enjoy more and worry less. People seeking coaching could use this to help themselves navigate the challenges of life with greater ease. Great book, inspiring reading!

Rachel Albert-Matesz, Nutrition Educator, Cooking Coach, Personal Chef, and co-author of The Garden of Eating: A Produce-Dominated Diet & Cookbook

Wow! If you learn eighty percent of your "programs" (your unconscious behavior patterns) by the time you are 8 years old and another fifteen percent by the time you're 18, you definitely need this book to help you use the other five percent to change the first ninety-five percent. Otherwise, you will often find an 8 year old running your life (this isn't always the best idea). Seriously, pick up this book and put it into action. My copy is so highlighted some pages appear to be printed on yellow paper. Enjoy!

I too read this as a young child - maybe 8 or so. We've just moved into a new home and I KNOW I have this book in one of our boxes, but I haven't found it yet. My son, age 9, was asking me for a really spooky book to read - he thinks Goosebumps books are highly overrated. The first thing I thought of was, "It's time. It's time to get out The Ghost Next Door."

I remember this book as very clever and spooky - and also quite melancholy. Wonderful, magical writing - perfect for the child who wants a more frightful tale - without adding gore to the mix.

This story is great - but it is so hard to find now.

this is one of those books I found while searching for something different at the library. It was a page turner in my youth and an old favorite now. This is definitely a great read for young readers looking for intrigue and mystery. I can still picture images from the book and the movie. It's definitely on my children's list of books to read when they get older.

I think I was 12 when I first read this book and I have never forgotten it. I tried to find it for years and I was so happy when I finally found a copy online! The cover was different from the one I remember as a kid (it was a ghostly image of Miranda's face dominating the oover). The book I received shows the haunting Miranda in a white dress. Wonderful cover just the same. Like the two heroines in the book I too could also not wait to find out how the green owl got 'love in it's eyes'.

Simply enchanting. :)

I adored this book when I was in my pre-teens. I still have my old paperback copy - it's very battered from being read so many times! This is a wonderful and scary ghost story with lots of unique and spooky details. It would be great to see it back in publication today. The setting of the book feels removed from the "real world" and timeless, so there is very little that would date it - just a few things like the girls playing records. If you like this kind of book or have kids who like spooky books (and you want to introduce them to something much better than the "Goosebumps" variety) pick up a second-hand copy of this book and enjoy!

Ok, I will be honest, I don't remember a lot about this book. I am 32 now and read this book around 6th grade, (I remember our house then).

ALL I REMEMBER about the book was it was spooky which I loved, the girl's name was Miranda, which I also loved, and there was an OWL WITH LOVE IN ITS EYES. :) I also remember something about them finding notes. I remember when I finished the book, I actually wrote some sort of note and stuck it deep inside my mother's antique chest of drawers hoping someone would find it one day and know a little bit about me. ha ha! Now if I could find THAT!

I had been reminiscing about books I remember as a child and just looked at the "Sweet Pickles" series of books, which I loved. Then I remembered and searched for "The House with a Clock in its Walls," (found it because the subject was the title), which my 2nd or 3rd grade teacher read aloud to us. Then I vaguely remembered this one, but had no idea of the title. I even mentioned it to the librarian last time I was at the library in hopes she would be familiar with it. I did a search and this site came up: http://www.loganberrybooks.com/solved-g.html
What a treat to find one of the books I enjoyed so much 20 years ago! I can't wait to order this and other books that I read back then.

You owe it to the young reader in your life (or in your heart!) to give this one a try. From the site I found it on, it was well remembered by lots of readers!!

This is a great book about great sales people, but offered in a way that should be able to pick up on the traits and habits of these pioneers. A must read for anyone who is in sales or manages sales people.

This is one of the best books that I have read. I will venture out to say that it should be a must read book for any one who wants to sell anything, even if it is an idea to your boss.

I believe the title of the book gives the perception that it is a historical book of four great sales persons. People looking for sales improvement books may perceive this to be a book that is more historical in nature (because of the title) than a book that will lay out ideas of great sales person who saved their companies and themselves from going bankrupt.

Unlike other quick fix sales book the author is telling us how the great sales person of yesteryears improved their sales and how we can take those lessons and apply to our situation. Here too the author helps us in making it clear that the techniques espoused in the book are not one size fits all. He lays out the type of industries and type of services that could use one technique over the other.

The other benefit of this book is that it will be very easy for you to ask your boss to implement some of the ideas laid out in the book. The reason your boss would want to listen to you is because you are suggesting ideas that have been used by giants like John Patterson, Wheeler, Girad and Dale not some new sales guru.

This is a book all sales professional would enjoy reading. It contains enough information for a green peel to act as if an old dog.

One of the best books on sales that I have ever read. Very well researched and a fine examination of of each of these sales giants' contributions to modern day selling. I would definitely rate it as a cornerstone book on sales and should be in every salesperson's library.

Sir Isaac Newton reputedly explained that if he could see further than others, it was because he "stood on the shoulders of giants." (Actually, centuries before him, Bernard of Chartres observed that "We are like dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.") When John Wooden began to coach basketball at Dayton High School in Kentucky, he began to formulate principles for a "pyramid of success" for himself and the players he coached. Throughout Wooden's career, these principles focused much more on development of character and quality of life than they did on victories on the court, although his U.C.L.A. teams won 10 NCAA titles during his last 12 seasons, including 7 in a row from 1967 to 1973. His UCLA teams also had a record winning streak of 88 games, four perfect 30-0 seasons, and won 38 straight games in NCAA Tournaments.

I mention all this by way of introducing the remarks that follow. Thanks to the author of this book, Tom Sant, his readers are able to stand on the shoulders of four "giants" in salesmanship: John Henry Patterson, Dale Carnegie, Elmer Wheeler, and Joe Girard. As did John Wooden, each thought of success in terms of a pyramid that has a broad base of participation and (yes) opportunity at the point of entry but a severely limited area at the summit. In fact, the favorite greeting of Zig Ziglar, another giant of sales, is "See you at the top!"(In fact, he likes the expression so much that he used it as a new title for one of his books, Biscuits, Fleas, and Pump Handles.) Sant examines the career of each of the four men, then explains what he thinks can be learned from their quite different approaches to sales...and to life.

For example, Sant credits Patterson (1867-1947) with being the first -- or at least among the first -- to institutionalize the process of selling as a standardized system. As a result, by all of them following his brother Crane's four step process, CEO Patterson and his sales force enabled their company, National Cash Register, to continue to growth profitably throughout the Great Depression in the 1930s. Sant characterizes Carnegie (1888-1955) as "the apostle of influence" because Carnegie's original "six ways to make people like you" continue to guide and inform sales planning and initiatives more than 50 years after his death. According to Sant, Elmer Wheeler claimed there were no magic words but understood "the magic of words" which he formulated in his original five "Wheelerpoints" (e.g. "Don't sell the steak, sell the sizzle!"). As for Joe Girard (1928-present), he used various strategies and tactics for "priming the pump" to become (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) "the world's greatest salesman. Sant devotes considerable attention to how Girard developed his "Law of 250" (i.e. "Most people have about 250 other people in their lives who are important enough to invite to a wedding or to a funeral") which serves as the basis of his continuous cultivation of past, current, and prospective customers.

Had Sant limited his attention entirely to the four "giants," I would still rate this book Five Stars but hasten to point out that that there is a substantial value-added benefit which I did not anticipate when I began to read this book: Sant correlates all of the "lessons" to be learned from Patterson, Carnegie, Wheeler, and Girard and then suggests to his reader how to select the most relevant material from among the abundance he provides. Here are key points he stresses:

"1. The sales method matches the customer's preferred mode of buying.

2. The sales method is flexible enough to be self-correcting, incorporating lessons."

3. The sales process itself creates value, usually in the form of intellectual capital, for both the customer and the vendor.

4. The methodology followed increases the efficiency of the sales process, making the sales cycle shorter or enabling the salesperson to handle a larger volume of accounts successfully.

5. The methodology should be transferable across all skill levels.

6. The methodology is based on objectively measured events or tasks."

Also in the final chapter, "Looking Back to Look Ahead," Gant observes that "all of the sales methods we have looked at have one thing in common: They work...But they work only if you work them." Therefore, "Chose one. Use one. Do it every day. Keep at it steadily persistently, consistently. The bottom line is that you just need to do it." Of course, the methodology selected could be a "hybrid," one which combines some of Patterson's ideas about process with Carnegie's insights about influencing others, Wheeler's focus on "the magic of words" (as opposed to "magical words"), and Girard's "Law of 250." It remains for each reader to decide what is most relevant to her or his own circumstances. Whatever they may be, "you just need to do it."

Thius cookbook has so many great recipes even my boyfriend has started enjoying cooking!!!

This collection of cookbooks from Williams-Sonoma rocks! With over 40 recipes in this one book alone you're set for the casual backyard BBQ with friends or a more intimate dinner with the one you love! The pictures alone are reason enough to buy this book. From grilling vegetables to pears with raspberry-Grand Marnier sauce this book covers a wide spectrum of mouth-watering recipes. **The baby back ribs with honey-jalapeno marinade are to die for***.

Be sure to add this to your cookbook collection -- and don't stop here... there's nine more on this website and even more at Williams-Sonoma stores to make your collection complete!

Happy Grilling!!!!

This is a truely wonderful addition to any cookbook collection. Unlike most cookbooks that require you to spend a lot of money buying ingredients you most probably will only use once, these recipes mostly require olive oil, garlic, onions, peppers, the basic seasonings (e.g., oregano, salt, black or lemon pepper, etc.), and occasionally one more fancy addition (making the dishes MUCH less expensive, and allowing the true delicious taste of the meats and vegetables to come through). The book also offers a nice variety of dishes. It includes recipes for grilling chicken, fish, meat, mushrooms, AND deserts! (Did you know you can make a desert on the grill?) As a last point, these simple dishes can look fancy enough to impress anyone. I made a whole dinner for my husband on our two year wedding anniversary. I served the Shrimp with Lemon-Garlic Butter and Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Basil Oil over rice, the Grilled Red Pepper, Sweet Onion, and Tomato Salad on the side, and the Grilled Pears with Rasberry-Grand Manier Sauce for desert. It took me about 45 minutes to prepare all the rubs and sauces (just because it was my first time putting it all together), but about 10 minutes to cook everything at the same time, and 3 minutes to serve. The meal was such a hit that my husband wants to make a new grilling dish every Wednesday night! By the way, for the novice grillers, the book also offers a glossary and an instructional section discussing types of grills, preparing the grill, checking for doneness, etc. I hope you enjoy the book as much as we do!

This book makes me pumped for summer! The recipes for the marinades and sauces look and sound really good. They are also explained very easily. One thing that I really liked about this cookbook, among others, is that the variety of meats, vegetables and all that good stuff is pretty big. It's not your 'regular old down home grillin' guide'. It's got pizazz, and I like that. I would recommend this cook book to anyone who likes grilling. Or, if you don't like grilling, get it for someone who does.

Wow. what a find. I was hesitant to buy the Williams and Sonoma book because I thought that the recipes would be too complicated and require expensive ingredients and be too fancy for the way I like to cook, but the dishes are easy to prepare and extremely elegant - without being too time consuming. I love this book. Got this book in the mail two weeks ago and have used it half a dozen times so far.