Travis Books

I was given this book in a training program and, to be perfectly honest, I don't normally read the books they give us. My company does a great deal of leadership training, and sometimes it's just too much as we're in the financial industry (the better part of it!) and working hard these days. Anyhow, this book sucked me right in. The anecdotes and stories are powerful illustrations of emotional intelligence at work. The book teaches you what EQ is and then it shows you emotional intelligence in action in the real world. This is quite motivating, and it's nice because the book follows with strategies you can use to increase your emotional intelligence and a test you take online that shows you what your EQ is, what your strengths are, and what you need to work on.

A great book with very useful information for everyday life. It can be extremely useful if implemented into your life. Highly recommend!

I'm a big fan of the Dalai Lama and noticed that he liked this book and wrote a blurb for it. So, I gave it a try and got a lot out of it. It's a very practical book that shows you how to understand and manage your emotions, how to read other people, and how to connect better with those you care about and those you work with. It's the kind of book you go back to and reference after you read it. Highly recommended.

Wow! Emotional intelligence really packs a punch! It is an amazing skill set that has a tremendous impact upon what we do and say each day. I learned a lot from this book about how emotional intelligence works and also how I can improve and use it to my advantage. The online test that comes with the book is outstanding! Very informative and such a nice addition to provide with a book.

I came across this book when I read Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results by the same author. I enjoyed Squawk! a lot (it's about leadership) and really see the connection to emotional intelligence. They are very complimentary and both very helpful books. Highly recommended!

This is a special book. In addition to illustrating how emotional intelligence works and why it is important, it showed me how I can identify my emotions accurately in the moment and respond to them more effectively. The techniques are quite easy to apply, and I am already managing the destructive emotions better. A must read for people who are looking to get ahead at work and/or get along better with a spouse or loved ones.

I have read both of their books , i am doing the same life changing leave it all behind trip in 2010, the stories are interesting and easy to read but i do agree with the others who say that there is a lack of detail, it is in the details that we as the reader are swept away to the places and times they are writing about. i have to visualize in my own colors some of the stuff Tim is trying to convey. I would however recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to get a glimpse of life outside of their bubble of a comfort zone.

I have just finished reading Tim and Cindie's book, and would like to make a few comments.

First, they do a great job of describing the events and preparations leading up to the trip, the daily road conditions and its effect on their ability to cycle, their battle with the weather, and certain people they encounter along the way. Also, the pictures in the book are a marvelous idea!

Next, there are a few things that would be nice to had added or taken away in the next book.

As someone who is planning on doing this kind of a trip themselves in the next five years, it would be extremely helpful to have an itemized packing list of everything that was taken. It would be great to have it in the second book because the authors would have had a chance to work with the gear that they have and compare what they have now to what they began with. Additionally, it would also be helpful to write more about the exact prices of accommodation, exact prices of food when eating out, where and what kind of food was bought when cooking for themselves, how much it was, and how often it was done. I think one of the most pertinent parts about cycling around the world is the day to day living and "hunting" for food that does not occur back home in prosperous nations.

I do think that the writing is a little simplistic. The good part about this is that it makes it easy to read for every level, but the bad part is that it does not leave much room for description. It would be great to hear more about smells, sounds, specific colors, the layout of certain interesting towns, etc. Additionally, phrases such as "I am sure" and "I believe" should be eliminated. They lead to statements of pure specualtion and since there is so much these two have experienced and seen, speculation is not necessary to add.

Moreover, many things in the book state the obvious. For example, on page 70 there is a picture of a little boy named Francisco. The picture accurately describes his position and what he is wearing, but the authors describe the picture in detail on the same page. The picture could have been enhanced with more description of Francisco and his mother, and where he led them around the town.

Overall, it is a wonderful book and a must read for anyone interested in doing major cycling, however, these suggestions would (for me) improve the second book.

This is a terrific adventure story. Tim and Cindie Travis have one adventure after another touring the world by bicycle. Unlike travel books that gloss over much of the trip to focus on a few highlights, this book gets you into the day by day travel adventure frame of mind. While several days might go by without a headline event, I loved following along and wondering what was around the next bend. The descriptions of people met along the way, and how they relate to Americans and foreigners in general are wonderful.

I have to agree with other writers who have complained about the quality of the writing. I enjoyed reading it because the subject interests me. If you want to read some excellent books about bicycle touring in other countries try the following: "Spokesongs" by Willie Weir, "The Masked Rider" by Neil Peart, "Metal Cowboy" by Joe Kurmaskie, Odysseus' Last Stand" by Dave Sumboulis, or the classic "Miles from Nowhere" by Barbara Savage. Having commented on the less than stellar writing of this book however I would recommend going to their website where there is a wealth of information about the equipment they have used.

A fascinating couple who have risked it all to step outside of the box and launch an adventure of a lifetime. An interesting perspective of life on the road on bicycles and the challenges met in countires across the globe. Worth the time to read even if you never leave your easy chair!

Travis's book certainly provides hope for fathers who are struggling to gain custody of their children as a result of divorce. I couldn't put the book down as I wanted to see where all of Jason's travails and frustrations would end up. Fortunately, Jason hung in there and although the outcome was late, all dues were paid in the end. I definitely recommend that anyone (male or female) who are having problems with gaining custody of their children read this book. It is eye-opening and sometimes, frightening.

Travis has written a book which effectively challenges the
traditional American legal approach to child custody matters.
The fact is that society has moved faster than the courts in
grasping that fathers are equal partners in child
raising. Travis provides us with a real, and disturbing,
account of just how far afield the legal system is when it
comes to understanding the dynamics of marriage, divorce, and
custody matters.

This story will touch anyone who is a parent. It is a must read for anyone with child custody issues. I could not put the book down.

There is the warmth of love and the heartbreak of divorce. I felt anger at the system that should be protecting the child, but has their own agenda and greed blinding them to human decency. There is despair that Jason felt when everything he tried seem to fail and the pain Jason felt as Brandon was neglected. The poignant ending bought tears to my eyes.

After reading this book, which shocked me into awareness,I feel that it should be required reading in many disciplines. Any couple who contemplates divorce and has dependent children should be made aware of the shortcomings in the court and Friend of the Court systems and also the judiciary involved in custody. There are victims who can hardly escape and as usual have little voice in their own futures, and as usual the children are the main sufferers. A revealing and well structured book. A painful history with,this time, a reasonably happy ending.

Gantlet is a story to be read by anyone who was a child of divorce or who is thinking about going through a divorce. As a family law lawyer I can say it is an accurate representation of a court system that has not changed that much since the time of the story. As a child of divorce, I was greatly moved by the story of a man who fought so hard to save his son, not from his mother, but from avaricious relatives bent on keeping him for pecuniary reasons only. In a country where more than half the marriages end in divorce we have got to start caring about the impact on kids of taking away the stability of having both parents in their lives. Read this book with an open heart, and let it change the way you see the so-called legal "battle" for custody.

I teach middle school and use picture books frequently. This one is a LOL delight to read, for both my students and me. All books of this series are good, but I find this one particularly charming. Buy it, read it, laugh and enjoy. Life is short, have some fun!

My two sons (4 & 2) get a kick out of this book. They think it is funny and I do too. Highly recommended.

I bought this book for my daughter's second birthday after reading some reviews about it and also for the fact that my daughter is so big into cows right now. I was under the impression that this was a sing songy kind of fun book.... altough it's a cute enough story, it's not really sing-songy and is kind of awkward to read.

We received this book as a part of a book-exchange. I was already familiar with Cronin's work on Click Clack Moo, so I knew it would be good.

Little did I know that it would be the one book my son would request over and over. He brings it to me and says "dooby dooby". Not bad for a speech impaired kid who only 8 months ago had a verbal vocab of 8 words and now it's well over 75, could be closer to 100.

He loves pointing out the animals. He just stares at me while I read because Mama knows the story by heart now.

I suggest that anyone about to read it to their child, read it first. There's a rhythm to the animal sounds and if you know the story, it's easier that way.

If you are a fan of Doreen Cronin, this is a great buy! Very funny. Enjoy the colorful pics.

This book was very fast paced and straight to the point, which is just how I like it. Travis hunter did a great job with this novel and I really loved how he brung back other characters from his previous novels into this one! Way to go Mr. Hunter!Cant wait for the next one!

I was apprehensive about reading this book by looking at the cover, I thought to myself this is one of those corny romance novels....boy was I wrong! This book was action packed from start to finish; do your self a favor and pick up this gem!

This is a great read, I've read all of Mr. Hunter's books and have enjoyed them. Keep up the great writing.

I really enjoyed reading "Something to Die For." It was a real depiction of how good guys CAN finish first. Hunter is a master at his craft. He creates a page turner with a story line that sends your imagination and emotions on a roller coaster. The reader is left with "Tears of Joy."

College basketball star Nasir Lassiter was imprisoned for life, for a murder he did not commit. Nasir didn't want his loved ones to see him locked up, so during visiting hours he refused to visit with them and after awhile they eventually stopped coming. The only exception to the rule was his Granny, because she was very adamant in her decision not to leave until she had spoken with her grandson. It was the visits from Granny that sustained and enabled him to make it day in and day out. Mysteriously free after five years, Nasir returns home to find a daughter he didn't know existed, his girlfriend shacking with an insecure, possessive man and his mother strung out on drugs. Nasir feels guilty for shutting the people who needed him the most out of his life. He is determined to right every wrong his family has endured.

SOMETHING TO DIE FOR is Travis Hunter's fifth novel to date. Readers who have graciously awaited its release will not be disappointed. In true Hunter fashion, this is an awe-inspiring novel that depicts men in a positive light. He touches on child abuse, molestation, substance abuse, prostitution and the consequences we face when hanging out with the wrong crowd. Nasir was a positive role model to the people of his community, but in the blink of an eye being in the wrong place at the wrong time, cost him his freedom. SOMETHING TO DIE FOR was well-written, extremely engaging and witty at times. I highly recommend you read this novel.

Reviewed by Pamela Bolden
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Undead. The very word makes you shudder. Cold, lifeless bodies somehow still moving, running solely on instinct with an all-consuming hunger for human flesh. A horde of walking dead that don't stop clawing at you, don't stop chasing you, don't give up...until they have you.

The Undead's collection of zombie stories is just like that: unrelenting, non-stop, the-dead-keep-on-coming action, nearly each story gripping you hard and sucking you into a world of never-ending night.

Some of the stories in this book are simply exciting tales of flesh-hungry gut-munchers, where others are more atmospheric, and yet others more character-driven than zombie-driven. For me personally, it's the latter that I enjoy most (though I'm never opposed to a good old-fashioned zombie romp either).

My favorite character-driven stories for this anthology were, "Home" by David Moody and "Ann at Twilight" by Brent Zirnheld.

"Chuy and the Fish" by David Wellington is also a huge favorite. So very original, in this reviewer's opinion.

Other cool and well-written tales I thoroughly enjoyed were: "Hotline" by Russell Calhoun, "Graveyard Slot" by Cavan Scott, "13 Ways of Looking at the Living Dead" by Eric Pape, "Undead Prometheus" by Rob Morganbesser and "Pale Moonlight" by D.L. Snell.

There were a few stories that fell short and one in particular that I remember reading and going, "Okay, not really sure what that was supposed to be."

There are three more books in Permuted Press's Undead Anthology series.

They're on my list.

This first volume got me hooked.

This collection should be given a miss, not even really one compelling story among the lot. I have read about half the stories and am a bit disapointed. Anyone want my copy for 5 bucks? :-)

Worth the money and the best of the three. Liked the different takes on the Zed's but the art work was cheesy. With all due respect to the artists it was a distraction to the writing.

Many different genres and styles represented. A great read. It was over much too soon.

I really liked this book. There were a couple of stories I didn't care for, but it really scratched that itch I have for the zombie genre. There needs to be more of these!

I loved this booK! Sure, it was a bit grim, and it wasn't for anybody, but it was put together in an extraordinarily versatile way. It allowed you to be literally anybody, and anything, you could imagine, unlike a few RPG's I could name *Vampire: The Requiem*. The Seeming/Kith mechanic is superbly adaptable, covering almost any faerie type that you could find in any book. If you can't, there's always Winter Masques, but I don't know about that yet. The Contracts system gave it an Faustian light that emphasized the idea that everything comes at a price in this strange little world. The only problem with pledges is that they don't make any immediate sense until you suddenly figure it out. Of course, it has a way to blend any kind of story you want into something playable and fun.
I would have ranked it higher, but the rating system wouldn't allow it.

This is not a game about fairies.

This is a game about people who have been pulled into faerie, changed, and escaped. Sadly, the prcess has changed them into something that is not quite human any more.

Comparing it to Changeling: the Dreaming is a lot like comparing the most recent Batman movies to the earlier ones. There's still the scope for melodrama and cool SFX, but there seems to be more focus on character depth.

Also, proper fae are now alien and ultimately unknowable, their world one of constant peril to unwary mortals, which is as it should be.

This is the first White Wolf product to actually entice me into the World of Darkness. Accomplishing that was done by making the setting truer to the myths of changelings.

If you're like me, and like to get a basic understanding of the whole book before you attempt to run or play, be warned: it's long, and it's heavy; armchair reading it ain't. Knowing that it was part of limited run series, I understand White Wolf had to cram a lot of information into only a few books.

Although I understand why role playing books do it, I don't like seeing things I already understood re-explained ad infinitum. The largest problem with this book is that certain words are missing from sentences, and in one case, the whole first part of a paragraph is missing. Sure, I can tell what is intended, but it's more distracting than simple typos.

Overall, a good buy, maybe they just need a better editor?

My friends and i were huge fans of VtM, and were sad to see it go, but optimistic about a new WoD line. I liked VtR, but it lacked the ability to captivate me or anyone i played it with. Some time passed without much playing, then when we decided to start again, i came across this game.

i never played the old changeling, but its unfair to compare the old and new WoD games anyway. they aren't different versions of the same game, they're completely separate entities. this game has however, stood out to me as the current masterpiece of the NWoD lines. take this with a grain of salt though, as i havn't played mage, werewolf, or Promethean, just read about them and the nuts and bolts of each game.

as for the game itself, its theme of wonder and horror rolled into one works wonders alone, especially since it does so naturally, without having to exert much brain power into theme when creating a story.
I'll spare the details most reviews hang up on and mention the highlights of the game. character creation is more in depth for CtL than in any of the NWoD lines, with even more options being available the the other books of this limited run. the powers and abilities available are numerous, but balanced by their very nature, so it comes across as making sense rather than a laundry list of things a changeling can do. the political side of the game can have as much or as little with gameplay as desired, but the court systems still come across as more logical than those of VtR.

IF you're thinking about this book, but can't decide, I would recommend this title over any WoD line. it can make your head spin at times with just the sheer amount of possibility in just the core alone, but it all fits in a way that makes it just work. this title is at this time up for numerous awards and is becoming a favorite among WW gamers, so the numbers alone should balance out the negative reviews of bellyaching fans of CtD. changeling is the game of beautiful insanity and endless possibilities, and has been worth every penny.

The second in White Wolf's limited run RPGs for their World of Darkness gameline, Changeling takes you into the world of the fae. Not your white-washed Victorian fairy tales for children, but the darker stories of trolls that lurk under bridges looking for mortal flesh, goblins who kidnap children, and dark things hiding under beds; creatures born of nightmare and madness. Like I said before kids, its the World of DARKNESS. It's all about Gothic horror!

Whereas in it's predecessor, of sorts, 'Changeling: the Dreaming' you took on the role of a human with a fairy soul, Changeling: the Lost goes back to the original folklore. This time around, you take on the role of a human who was kidnapped and abused by the Lords of the Fae, warped by the very nature of Arcadia, yet somehow, through sheer force of will, escaped and made your way back through the Hedge to find your old life gone. Changeling is a very intense game, but thats part of what makes it so appealing. If thats not up your alley, though, you might want to consider looking for a different game. I've found that theres not necessarily any correlation between fans of Changeling: the Lost and Changeling: the Dreaming. Some fans of C:tD absolutely LOVE Changeling: the Lost, others hate it with a passion. For that matter, some people who hated the old C:tD love the new C:tL. Go figure.

This book is the core of the gameline. Although it contains everything you need to run a Changeling, you still need the 'World of Darkness' corebook in order to play the game (for the basic rules). This book expands upon the life and society of the Changelings - it gives full details on the different Seemings and Kiths, the four Seasonal Courts of the Changelings, the basic Contracts (Changeling's 'magic'), rules for Oneiromancy, information on the Fae, Hobgoblins, Arcadia and the Hedge, sample Tokens and Pledges, systems for Wyrd and Clarity and even a number of sample Entitlements for more advanced characters. Of all the gamelines in the new World of Darknes, Changeling is perhaps the most rich, evocative and inspired. Almost every part of the book will give both Storytellers and Players new ideas. In addition to giving all the details necessary to run a Changeling game, it also includes the sample Freehold of Miami (Changeling's signature city) and several NPCs. This is great for ST's planning on running a game set in or around Miami.

If you are a fan of White Wolf's World of Darkness, then you have to check out this gameline. Its a perfect fit for anyone who wants to incorporate the darker side of fairy tales into their games, or just add trolls, bogeymen, goblins and other creatures from folklore and nightmares. And the book has several supplements available as well: Autumn Nightmares (which expands on the True Fae), Winter Masques (a book for customizing Seeming and Kith to fit your favorite myths), Rites of Spring (all about Changeling magic) and Lords of Summer (covering the politics of Freehold, Court and Entitlements), all of which are brilliant, as well as the forthcoming Equinox Road. However, you can run Changeling with just this and the corebook. Either way, you'll definitely want to pick this book up.

I have enjoyed the series and read the last book in one night!! paid for it the next day, but worth it. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

This book, like its predecessors, is an utterly ridiculous space blast-em-up with aliens, spaceships, power armor suits, and a thin veneer of science to make it seem like you're learning something in the process.

It's still an entertaining read though. The action is good, the dialog is snappy, and the ideas are novel enough that the book isn't as predictable as some in the genre.

Thing I didn't like were the not-swear-words in the book, the wholesale importation of characters and language from other series ("Shiny!", from Firefly, and Portana, from the "Down to the Sea" series"), mainly because they were obvious nods to fandom.

The way the book ended on an anti-French note, of all things, after cool action sequences was just jarring. The crew of the Blade informing the President of the US that the French aren't allowed to defend the planet, because, they're, well, French, was ridiculous. Chinese? Ok. Russians? Sure! French? Hell no! They aren't allowed to contribute to the defense of the planet and help prevent the extinction of Humanity! (Except the French Foreign Legion!).

David Weber's Armageddon Inheritance did an excellent job of presenting a fairly reasonable and interesting look at the gearing up of Earth to fight alien invaders to-the-death, without falling back into right-wing hyperbole. I've read more than a few rah-rah-America technothrillers in the past, but there's a line at where it becomes just silly and detracts from the book, and this book managed to just cross that line at the end.

The crew of the Vorpal Blade has barely returned from their dangerous and challenging first mission before they are called back into action in "Manxome Foe". When word reaches Earth that a gate colony has been destroyed, investigation soon shows not one threat but many. The Marines and sailors of the Vorpal Blade find themselves on an impossible mission to stop a dangerous Dreen enemy in this exciting, involving military fantasy, recommended as a top pick for any lending library where military science fiction is popular.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Well, the author pretty much put his foot in his mouth in his wrap up chapter in the previous book. He basically stated "The heck with critics. I'm going to teach physics!!!" That did not last long, or work out well. Hard SciFi is great - but not over the top. This book treats the physics and science as it should be - part of the story, not damn boring lectures. The action was much improved, the pace was faster, and overall this was a much better book. Miriam Moon in getting interesting, interesting, interesting - and hot.

The title of the book "Manxome Foe" - like Vorpal and Looking Glass, is right out of Lewis Carroll...

"Jabberwocky"

"He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought..."

It's also unusual for so many hard cover titles to come out in such a short time for the same series - that's what comes from jobbing it out, and the publisher having confidence in the books.

Great SciFi, decent writing, another interesting plot, and a new alien race.

One part of the book that was really, really poorly thought out was the final page. I won't spoil it. My analogy (from memory) was from "Fail Safe." Two airmen are in the computer room when a circuit fries. One of the guys smells the burning electronics and comments on it. The other twit basically answers that it's him burning up because he's mad. No followup, nothing. Why have all that security, checking, testing, etc., just to totally ignore the results? "Fail Safe" really FAILED on that point, and the book does as well.

The two well known characters that are missing from this book, well, have no place in this book. Come on, they hardly had a place in the previous book!

The final battle in this book - a page turner!!

Manxome Foe (2008) is the third SF novel in the William Weaver series, following The Vorpal Blade. In the previous volume, the converted submarine flitted around exploring various planets with little luck and numerous casualties. Then they reached the forested moon of Endor. There the crew were attacked by various types of demons, including spacefaring dragonflies with laser emitting eyes.

The Vorpal Blade crew also found nonhostile sapient aliens who looked like oversized chinchillas. The locals were also being attacked by the demons and asked for assistance from the crew. Eventually, the locals -- with a little help from Mimi -- saved themselves and the humans from the demons.

In this novel, William Weaver is enjoying a little vacation after the refitting of the Vorpal Blade when he is recalled for an emergency meeting in Norfolk. A scientific expedition had been sent to an interstellar planet via a Looking Glass Boson gate. Apparently the base had been attacked with kinetic missiles.

A major explosion had been detected from Earthside and a response team dispatched to the site. The team found the base destroyed, but did not find any living thing -- human or alien -- on the other side. As usual in a Dreen attack, even the bodies were missing. The gate was then destabilized with a small nuke and moved to the Antarctic secure area.

The Vorpal Blade is being sent to conduct a more thorough investigation of the incident. Unfortunately, the warpship will take up to thirty days to cover the five hundred and fourteen lightyears to the planet. All personnel are recalled and the ship is secured for takeoff.

In this story, the lost crewmembers have been replaced with more of the same type. William Weaver is still the Astrogator on the Vorpal Blade. He is also the science officer and general font of information on spatial affairs. Captain Blankemeier -- Spectre -- remains in command, but a new Executive Officer and Commander of Space Marines have been added. Other crewmembers have been replaced and several have been promoted.

Only five marines survived the first voyage. Eric Bergstresser is now a Sargeant and has received the Navy Cross. Two Guns has become a legend among the Space Marines.

Berg also has a new girlfriend. She knows about the casualty rate on the first voyage and is concerned for his safety. He is reluctant to become involved with anyone because of his risky profession, but what can one do when true love hits?

Since the mission doesn't involve spatial exploration like the first voyage, the scientific team is left behind. Only the Special Forces team and Miriam Moon -- the linguist -- are going along. The outward flight is very boring to Mimi, so she wrangles herself into the maintenance crew, doing low priority repairs. The crew already had a high opinion of her talents, but these newly demonstrated capabilities won their hearts and souls.

The nonmaterial hitchhiker in the waste-heat system finds a new home on the outward trip. During a chill cycle, it detects the mind of Mimi and moves into her brain. She starts hearing a voice in her head, but works harder to distract herself. Then it starts making sense.

This tale takes the Vorpal Blade to the destroyed camp, where they find one survivor. Then they begin looking for the attacker. In their investigations, they come upon evidence of a spacebattle and three stranded alien survivors. They also find the remains of Dreen ships.

The previous novel was a story of space exploration, but this story is more space opera with a hard SF background. The Vorpal Blade crew finds their ship to have definite deficiencies in their battles with the Dreen foe. Fortunately, the friendly aliens have some equipment which increases their effectiveness.

The next volume in this series is Claws That Catch. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for Ringo & Taylor fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of space battles, alien contact, and a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Let me start by saying that this book does have a few good ideas in it. In fact, implementing one or two of their clever plans might be well worth the cost of the book. So why do I rate it so low?

First, many of the other reviewers have hit the nail on the head when they say that this book is primarily material repackaged and not so well disguised from other books...many other books. If you're a savvy consumer, you already know most of what they have to say.

Second, but perhaps more importantly, most of their concepts revolve around shady-to-unethical tactics at worst, and unsavory intentions at best. Today's consumer is smarter than ever and is looking to do business with ethical types. If you trick people into opening your direct mail piece or lure them in with big promises and then fail to deliver, they'll flee!

Some of their suggestions break the Cardinal Sin: they waste people's time. Here's free marketing advice: NEVER waste a potential customer's time. And whatever you do, don't make them feel foolish for believing in you for one second.

I won't tell you not to buy it, but I can say that I won't be keeping my copy.

Overall a easy read with good ideas and useful strategies that any sales rookie should be able to implement.

The primary strategy detailed is based on foregoing cold-calling, door-busting tactics of 'pushing' prospects to you and using expert building status to 'pull-in' prospects eager to do business with you.

Good strategy, and worthy of testing for any business operation.

Another very good look at this strategy is in a book written by my long-time pal Eldrige Elsom. It's called "The Obvious Expert" How to Position Yourself As the Obvious Expert: Turbocharge Your Consulting or Coaching Business Now!

Check it out, you'll like it...
Until the next time, may all your failures be lessons learned and your successes runaway hits!
Edward Thorpe http://www.LazyDudePublishing.com

I enjoyed the book immensely - it was almost one of those books you can't wait to pick up and read some more. That is excellent for a 'marketing' book. I am now re-writing my marketing plan and will be measuring the results of every campaign.

Yes, I'd recommend the book to anyone in business, or in the marketing or promotional field.

I am looking forward to owning a business that is enjoyable, simple and prosperous!!!!

I am using the techniques listed in this book to work my business in the most efficient way possible. This book has aligned me with working with my inner guidance to attract the clients that are a perfect match for me and what I am offering. Thank you.

Gravitational marketing is as step-by-step marketing primer that a business owner or sales rep can use to create a pull-marketing system for their businesses that is both easy and a lot of fun to read.

As noted in an earlier review, a lot of the and concepts in this book are not new and students of Dan Kennedy and Jay Abraham will recognize them. In my opinion, this is a strength of the book because the "renaming old concepts" is in and of itself an excellent example of putting a new spin on an old idea in order to successfully promote and sell it. As Earl Nightingale says in the Strangest Secret, "If you want to succeed, look at what everyone else is doing and do it differently."

However, it is good to remember that proven concepts presented in a new format will have the reader thinking of new and unique ways of implementing proven strategies.

What is particularly enjoyable about the book is the conversational tone and the loads of examples of how the authors implemented these strategies for themselves and their clients. You will find dozens of samples that are good reference points for creating your own marketing materials. They cover the creation and implementation of a marketing system that can benefit any business (or non-profit).

Will everything they recommend work? Not likely but remember that your business is better off having dozens of strategies that work occasionally than one that works most of the time because, as things change, that one thing may fail and you are very vulnerable. Follow the program recommended in this book and your business will be supported and growing on multiple pillars

If you add this book to your library, and you should, you will find yourself referring to it repeatedly to stimulate your marketing system.

I think what sets this book apart from other literature about solar energy (or renewables in general) is that it seems the author has managed to separate emotion, political bias, environmental guilt-trips, and ulterior motives from the argument he's trying to establish - that solar energy dominance is inevitable. And no wonder - the author is said to have been a fund manager and corporate buyout specialist, which require discipline from one's own emotions to be successful. He manages to do this strictly on the principle of economics and self-interest, which if you think about it, are the primary drivers for market acceptance and policies.

The book is very insightful, especially about the history of civilization and how energy figures into the picture (e.g. environmental problems forcing the Roman Empire to expand, Germany and Japan forced to make moves based on the lack of oil [I always wondered why Hitler chose to go for Russia when he nearly had Western Europe taken over and why Japan bombed Pearl Harbor when the US was mostly on the sidelines], etc.).

I felt the author never strayed from the principle of economics and self-interest to establish his arguments throughout his book. Moreover, Bradford was very meticulous in providing references for the inquisitive reader to follow up on where there may be some doubt about where certain claims came from or who said what. I'm sure such details would've detracted from the main arguments of the book had they been explicitly integrated, which is why I suspect he had put in all those annotations in the first place.

Indeed, all things considered, it's no wonder why I found Bradford's case for solar very convincing (and personally reassuring somewhat for our future).

As for criticisms, I'm sure this book may have some flaws regarding certain assumptions that were made (though the author seemed to have done his best in being worst-case for solar by being very conservative with solar numbers while being very optimistic for status quo energy), but such is the nature of predictions. Besides, if all the information was readily available to make a bullet-proof argument for solar, it would've already been done. But we all know that there are political forces (mainly from Republicans) wanting to keep the status quo to protect their wealth, and they're stopping at nothing to ensure that's the case from misinformation, delays, or even going to war!

I've read some of the critical reviews, and I question whether they're written by fossil-fuel apologists or Republican sympathizers who want us to remain dependent on some monopolizable form of energy (if not fossil fuels, then maybe nuclear, or some other centralized contrivance; all of which Bradford debunked, by the way).

But seriously, read the book and see for yourself. And if you're real skeptical, follow up on his references and annotations of which there are plenty!

This is a great read. Unlike many authors who've written about solar in relation to other forms of energy generation, Travis thoughtfully analyzes why solar will be a big part of the solution. He considers issues of changing energy costs, cleanup costs (carbon), and solar's declining costs in parallel with those. He explains why distributed generation will be increasingly important for energy delivery compbatibly with centralized generation. A compelling and thought-provoking book.

What is unique about this solar proponent is that even without the usual social/environmental arguments, the author still makes a poignant, richly data-assisted projection that the paradigm energy shift from fossil fuel to solar power will be inevitable based on economic rewards and fossil fuel supply. In addition to the economic aspects he gives an overview of the main alternative energy sources.

Great book. The problem is this technology requires fossil fuels in silicon raw materials and production. While newer solar thermal power may be better, cutting edge technology from companies like Nanosolar which use printing techniques and lighter thin surfaces for broad commercial use, will likely take lead.

The simple economics and lower capital cost make it like to dominate alternative energy options.

This is a great book. It talks about the Photovoltaics industry in a way that avoids traditional cliches. The authors approach the subject from a strictly economic point of view, preaching the inevitability of "the Solar Revolution," and supporting it with a series of logical arguments. Props to the authors.