X Books

This is a helpful reference manual for the new I-Photo program. I would recommend this book to anyone new to I-Photo.

Ain't gonna do a bang up job with out it.

Walt

This book has saved me a ton of time and answered a lot of my questions about iPhoto and I am only about a third of the way through the book so far. It is a real joy. Questions that Apple staff in the local Apple store were unable to answer to my satisfaction are amply covered in this book. While the first section on fundamentals of digital photography is more basic than I need, still I got some useful information out of that section. I gained an understanding of the workings of the iPhoto image files - original and modified - and on how iPhoto interfaces with Elements 6.0. I also bought the Missing Manual for Elements 6.0 and find the two albums play well together.

Things that I previously was unable to figure out became clear within a short time thanks to the Missing Manual for iPhoto '08. I feel more confident that I am going to master the photo processing software and spend much less time at the iMac while doing a better job of editing and printing my images. A great value because it translates right into time saved. Much easier than using on line help and tutorials because the manual asks the questions that I was unable to even think to ask - and then proceeds to answer the questions. I am very pleased with this book. I have over 15,000 images in iPhoto now and feel that I will soon be in command of the images and not the other way around.

I have learned so much from this book. The book is very well written and gets to the point in a simple and easy way to follow.

Had to consult the manual only once and found what I wanted. This manual is just about the only option should anyone need any help and prior to any calls to customer service.

On my top 2 list of favorite Holt books. This was great! I couldn't put it down! The entire plot was fascinating, and I loved it from beginning to end. A must-read!!

I may get bashed for this but , I think this book is really pathetic . I really books when girls get seduced and the guy just runs off. And how he is next in line to be king really makes me made.It really was good book and probably a really good fairy tale story but just not for me.

This book was the best of hers that I have read so far! i have read 10 of her books and i have been pleased with every single one of them! This one i liked becasue it keeps you waiting the whole entire book to find out whats going to happen next! i couldn't put this book down i kept on trying to predict what was going to happen next and than you would be surprised with something else! When I read this book i felt like i was actually their watching everything take place! Its a great book taht i think everyone would enjoy! i let some of my friends read it and they thought the exact same thing!

Of course, Victoria Holt never disappoints, and this book is no exception. While it is not my favorite novel of hers (On The Night of the Seventh Moon and Bride of Pendorric are) this is a wonderful book with an interesting, intelligent heroine. Worth reading for the elaborate descriptions of the Bavarian forests, the mysterious secondary characters, as well as the romantic hero Conrad. This will sweep you off your feet -- like a fairy tale for older readers...enjoy!

Victoria Holt truly lived up to her reputation as the queen of romantic suspense. This story combines nicely a romance with political intrigues and murders. What i like about a VH book is that the setting is always done so well i can even feel the real world in the book.
Some complaints about the story, though.(1) Conrad professes to love Philippa, yet never shows any hint of trust in her in the matter of her sister's marriage. (2)Only after seducing her does he let her know he can only keep her as his mistress and never even ask how she feels about it. That looks like cheating to me.(3)The story gets very redundant and repetitive halfway through. Whenever they meet, Conrad is forever whining that he loves Philippa, that he can't live without her; and Philippa is always busy thinking of how she is affected by him and whether she should stay with him or not.
Despite those problems, overall this book is still very enjoyable.

For those who are interested in the assassinations of the sixties this book is a must have. The essays are well-written and give the reader insight into not only the murders themselves, but how our government and their surrogates behaved prior to and after these murders. Reliance on the use of declassified documents helps to fill in the blanks or reveal how some stories circulated at the time of the murders were deliberate propaganda.

John Armstrong's two-part essay documenting the existence of two people using the "Lee Harvey Oswald" identity a decade before JFK's assassination is at once so well-documented and so shocking that it's impossible not to see the fingerprints of certain federal agencies on JFK's murder. Armstrong has his own book on the subject, HARVEY AND LEE, self-published, and if you can hunt down a copy you will be amazed.

Until then, grab this book. You will read it over and over.

I have read about thirteen books on the JFK assassination, and I found this book incredible. I learned all kinds of new material, and understood long sprawling arguments for the first time because of their concise summaries in some of these articles.

The articles are especially good on the Corporate Media and in this sense are more relevent to today than almost any current event. The level of detail that is provided about the relationship between the media and intelligence agencies, really makes one think even more profoundly than Chomskys writing, about the implications of this centralized media power for today's news.

I disagree with Vince Palamara. I think this book is much more valuable than Ultimate Sacrifice. This book says what the evidence in that tomb wants to say, but the authors are too cautious to write.

I should mention that this book features two articles by John Armstrong. The hypothesis presented here, at first seems incredible. But it is very well argued and it sure does tie up loose ends and makes impossible timelines seem quite plausible. Armstrong makes his case for a Harvey and a Lee, quite convincingly.

Deserves ten stars.

In the late 1960's, the Hollywood producer Robert Evans premiered the movie "The President's Analyst". It was, in many ways the touchstone movie of that period. Edgy, subversive, with a sense of creeping paranoia, it was nevertheless a funny and enjoyable couple of hours.

Jumpcut to the subject of this review. Take out the funny and enjoyable part, and you get a very serious treatment of the seminal events of this very turbulent decade. The assassinations of John F Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy are covered here in a series of expose's printed in Probe Magazine. The scope is ambitious. Collusive conspiracies are indicated in each of these events.

The lion's share of the book is devoted to the murder of JFK. The single bullet theory has been assailed for forty five years as of this writing. However, the authors go further than taking on this concept. They find that there were actually two Oswald's. One they call Lee, and one Harvey. This gets to be a stretch, as they trace them both back to their high school years, as if they were both born, bred and fated to play a crucial part in one of history's ultimate dramas.

Special animus is given to the establishment figures of the time, J. Edgar Hoover, Richard Helms, and the super-spook, James Angleton. Inconsistencies in the Warren Commission are detailed, and the findings of Jim Garrison, the New Orleans Prosecutor whose ideas Oliver Stone based many of the ideas from JFK on are applauded.

I found fault in the final chapter of the writing of the JFK portion in which they write about the assassination of JFK's character after he died. The author seems to find conspiracies in the fact that people wrote about his infidelities and recklessness, as if it never happened, and JFK was really an innocent who just liked the company of women to make small talk with. I think this argument took credibility away from the rest of the writing.

The most shocking subject was that regarding Robert F Kennedy. I had always believed that this was an open and shut case, with Sirhan Sirhan being a lone, deranged, Palestinian gunman. This book makes a convincing and eye-opening case that this was not the case. There were at least ten bullets fired, Bobby had four wounds, and Sirhan's gun only fired two shots. This is an appalling gap in what has been reported in mainstream news. There is the Manchurian Candidate angle presented here, which now looks astonishingly viable.

The treatise on Martin Luther King takes on a new light as well, given the information that his own family asked for a new trial for James Earl Ray, the convicted (presumably innocent) killer of the former. There is ample evidence of a large scale cover-up after the murder. The author's lose some credibility when they attempt to speculate on why the conspiracies and cover-ups occured. They would do better to merely present the facts, which they sometimes do. However, free press reigns, and they are entitled to their opinions.

However, there is shocking evidence of wide scale and well coordinated cover-ups and conspiracies here.

Malcolm X story is presented more as an informational timeline of the harrassment of him and his family, his falling out with the Nation of Islam leadership, and his premonition of his own death. There were five gunmen who killed him, but only one convicted.

At this writing (2008) there is a new re-examination of the the 1960's decade. Tom Brokaw's book "Boom" talks about the influence of the actions and political climate of the times, and today's leadership.

For anyone who wants a thought provoking, albeit dark look at this decade, this book is required reading.

Probe Magazine has always fascinated even lone nut theorists.
The reason why is because it was an extremely investigative Magazine.
James DiEugenio, Lisa Pease, etc have been known for their tireless investigative research into the true circumstances surrounding the death of America's 35th President.
Now, you can read the wonderful articles that the Probe writers worked on concerning the conspiratorial Assassination of not only John F Kennedy, but also the suspicious assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Some have said that perhaps these assassinations werent merely isolated events, but that they were all connected in some way.
This is not far fetched when one considers that Bobby Kennedy was shot within a week after he said "Only the powers of the Presidency will reveal the true circumstances of (JFK's) murder" or words to the effect.
Also J Edgar Hoover, who clearly must atleast be suspected in the murder of Martin Luther King Jr, was THE man in charge of the "investigation" of JFK's death.
Also Hoover hated Bobby Kennedy with a purple passion.
It may be true that the same establishment that felt threatened enough by JFK that they decided to kill him, may have killed his Brother to remain in the shadows that they had hid in since '63.
And Martin Luther King Jr, had, at times, made the same enemies, that the Kennedy brothers had.
One cant help recognize the eerie similarities between Lee Harvey Oswald and James Earl Ray.
Whether these assassinations were related or not, this is for certain: This book will really make you think about these assassinations, if you havent before.
This book is so interesting, you will want to read it and reread it again and again.

Good, but ULTIMATE SACRIFICE the best book ever
While I thought this book was worthwhile in many respects, ULTIMATE SACRIFICE is simply the best book ever on the JFK assassination.Still, worth your time.

Vince Palamara-JFK/ Secret Service expert (History Channel, author of two books, in over 30 other author's books, etc.)
Pittsburgh, PA

Another outstanding book for X-File collectors, great behind the sceen stuff as well as pictures and interviews.

The End and The Beginning is just another great book in a great collection. It is one of the most descriptive guides yet, with great color photos and a play by play look at each episode from season 6. If you are a true X-phile, this book is a necessity. This is a great look at the series while Scully and Mulder were still on the same planet, so to speak.

I love these Official Guides for the X-Files. They tell the entire episode in just enough detail if you may have missed something or have not paid enough attention. They also have the "Backstory" so you could find out information you ay never have even heard of. They have quotes from the fabulous stars. I just wish they would have had more from and about the stars. Bt other than that they are fabulous. I have my rating as 5 stars but because of this I would pick four and a half if I could. They tell everything you need to know and more about the greatest show to ever air!

I admit to being a X-Files addict, and so this was necessary to try to understand the show. It, and its previous 1 through 4, have made my interest in the X-files grow as I finally got clues and tremendous answers in reviews and stories from many missed episodes. A lot of work obviously went into these books, and I wait eagerly for volume 6.

This is definitely a must-have for any X-Phile, especially if you missed an important episode of Season 6. It contains a detailed summary of every episode in a mini novel-like form, with commentary about that episode. It's also great to have if you desperately want to view a Season 6 episode, but you didn't tape it. In this book, you can READ the episode. I know it's not the same as watching it, but it's something. And for all you 'Shippers like me out there, you can re-live all the greatest 'Shipper moments, like in the episode "Triangle."--the famous kiss, and Mulder's famous "I love you" line to Scully. And let's not forget the part in "The Unnatural" where Mulder teaches her how to play baseball, or in "Dreamland" where Mulder dances in front of the mirror while in the body of Morris Fletcher.

The book also contains colorful photos commemorating every unforgetful moment of the season. Now I can't wait for the next volume. I'm one of the unfortunate people who missed the Season 7 finale, where Mulder gets abducted and Scully announces to Skinner that she's pregnant . . .

this is my actual message to the author over IM:

finished your book a couple nights ago (the day after i got it) i like it a lot, very well done

i actually had certain kids in mind that played the dif roles

also strange, i pictured my jr. high caf for the caf scenes even though in the book it was hs

Christopher Null- please write another book! Wow. This book is amazing... Don't hesitate to be one of the fortunate people to read this book.

This is a book to treasure - exceptionally well-written. A solid plot with a troubled yet engaging lead character - I have no negative comments about this book. It is simply AWESOME.

In brief, this story is about a teenager, who after several years of torment (though "torment" is an understatement) at the hands of a bully/school football star, decides to get even in the most drastic way you can.

He puts his plan in action a month or so before his tormentor is about to graduate and presumably leave his life for good. I was reminded of the Columbine shootists, who performed their unforgettable carnage shortly before they were to graduate, too. You might wonder why they couldn't hang on a little longer, but I think the book does a superb job of showing how each act of bullying piles up until you start seeing things in either/or terms.

Some of the bullying seemed so extreme and unbelievable, but I'm willing to chalk that up to the fact that I've never been a teenage boy. I also had some trouble with how indifferent the protagonist's parents seemed - even when the evidence that there was something seriously wrong going on in their son's life was staring them right in the face. What happened to the protagonist seemed to go far, far beyond even what the most indifferent would chalk up to "boys being boys."

Kudos to the author for resisting the urge to make his protagonist and his friends wealthy and famous while all the baddies got their comeuppance.

The next time something like Columbine happens, those who are looking for at least a few answers to the question of "why?" should read this book. Better yet, they should go talk to their kids.

A very tight, well written story about bullies, victims, and high school that kept me turning pages well past bed time. The victim, Alex, is a completely believable recreation of an teenage kid pushed well past his breaking point. The story was so convincing I was flashing back to high school the entire time I read it.

I think the best part of it was that author didn't take sides in the book. Because of that you are left thinking about the characters and the story well after you have finished reading it.

I just finished reading Postal Blues. Vincent Alexandria did it again. His descriptive phrases are exceptional and his surprise ending was a surprise! I am anxious to read the third book of the trilogy.

The second time around was just as good as the first!
Vincent Alexandria has done it again! His style is so visual
and emotional. Haven't read anyone similar except Eric Jerome Dickey.
The characters could be someone you know. He makes you feel just that close to them. He draws you into the story and makes it hard to put down.
The storyline keeps you guessing, with twists, turns and surprises.
Be prepared for an exhilirating ride!

This follow-up mystery to If Walls Could Talk deserves no less than five and a half stars in my opinion. As with the first book, these characters are so real. The situations are so not what I would experience on day to day settings, but I feel I'm right there in the mix. Vincent puts us in the character's heads, and I like that! I can't wait for the next book, and I would really like to see these series turned into movies... soon!

Mr. Alexandria does it again... taking us back to Kansas City... this time he welcomes us to his beautiful city with his creative description, comparing it to Paris, New York, and a country town. Detectives Johnson and Brown return to the scene with more love for family and friends, more laughs, and more respect and admiration for one another. Johnson and Brown have been promoted to Sergeant and assigned to assist the FBI. These men became my heroes!

There is nothing blue about Postal Blues. The author begins distracting us with scenes of a disgruntled postal employee within the walls of the post office. Meanwhile, a serial killer is loose just outside. As each character is introduced, you will begin to feel compassion for the innocent victims, admiration for the strong men, and anger for the criminals.

The author graphically details the crimes commited against 'ladies of the evening'. As the mystery unravels, you are sure to scream with horror and even ecstasy as the author adds his sensual flavor to soften the blows (and they are vicious). There are also amusing blows thrown into the mix that will surely entertain you. Mr. Alexandria makes mystery so suspenseful, romantic, and hilarious!

As you read this sequel, you will experience a myriad of emotions as the author takes you on a wild rollercoaster ride - making you afraid to continue, yet afraid to stop. When you decide to read on (because you can't turn back now:-), you will be glad that you boldly went... into the dark... into the river... into the pain.. and into the light as the mystery is solved and the perpetrators are found.

I highly recommend this romantic mystery!

A very enjoyable read. I can't wait for Detectives Johnson and Brown next case.

Simon writes wittily and intelligently about a number of subjects, all of which have been dramatized on the hugely popular television show "The X-Files." There have been other books about the show, episode guides and the like, but for my money this book is best.

I bought this as a bargain book but it is worth the full price! The author writes in a knowledgeable yet humourous style which makes absorption of the subject matter easy for non-scientists, and less than 40 pages into an information packed book I have learned such a lot already. I rated it 4 star because I would have liked to see a glossary at the back and colour photographs would have made a very interesting book moreso. For example, what do the sea slugs that prefer to try to eat each other before taking the alternative option of having sex look like? Other reviews here tell you that the book is based on science fact and fiction touched upon in the X-Files so I don't need to go there. Read it, learn, and laugh. There is nothing funnier than real life.

I came upon this book at the house of a friend and couldn't put it down.

It is a wonderful read and, to a non-scientist, an entertaining and clear look at some of the scientific mysteries of the universe.

This is a perfect book for a graduation present and for anyone with an interest in brain-sucking worms, aliens and mutating organisms. I recommend it highly.

I love the X files and I'm a mixture of Mulder and Scully with regard to their beliefs. But after reading this book, I think I have become a scully!This book is so lucid and simple in its explanation of certain "paranormal" phenomenon. The author does a wondeful job combining biology and humour to explain to the lay person that not all things are paranormal and that if you do a little scientific research most of the things out there will make sense. All my knowledge on DNA, chromosomes, cancer comes from this book !Though she herself admits that not everything you see on the X files can be explained by science, most of the things that happen on a macro scale in the X files happen on a micro scale in real life. Genetic mutation is a reality, a virus surviving an cosmic travel is plausible, and so on. Finally, for those of you who are deceived by books written by the layperson/idiots/quacks, read this book and you will become fascinated as to what science has to offer.

Sexual tension aside, the coolest thing about this show seems to be the questions it poses about nature and science as we know it. And being a molecular biology student, I always get a kick out of shooting down the supposed theories that the show's characters spout out. It's hard sometimes to figure out if Chris Carter and the powers that be are really serious about certain phenomenons/ideas. This book clears it up nicely. Dr. Simon is completely knowledgeable about these topics and presents the information with much more gusto than your typical molecular biology textbook. I'd rather be tested on her book come final exams, but such is life! :)

This is an awesome book. It helps you to see God's Love and Patients for his people. We all fall short of his grace. This book helps you to realize that, and that even though we do fall short, he is there waiting for us.

I have to admit, I did not start reading this book voluntarily. However, once I began, it was so good that I finished it a day sooner than I needed to have it finished. I found the story to be very interesting for a few different reasons.
First, I have lived in Montana for nearly all of my life, and I have been to many of the places mentioned in this book. I have even been inside the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, where Monty served some time. Because of this, I found that it was a little easier for me to connect with the story.
Second, I am a Christian and thus was able to connect even better. It was very interesting reading about Monty's struggles with his faith and his repeated backslides. The book even gave me some information that I think will help with my own Christian walk.
For these reasons, and other more minor reasons, I really enjoyed reading this book. I cannot stress enough how true and how important its message of God's unfailing forgiveness is.

Overall, I did not find anything in this book that I would call a problem. It is a true story told from the heart with no motive other that to tell of God's forgiveness. It is very riveting and I highly recommend this book, especially to those who are or have been involved with drugs or are or have been in jail, as well as those with family members or friends in jail. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book can be very helpful in such situations. Please, if you are in such a situation, get this book and read it. It might change your life for the better.

Seventy Times Seven is a great book. The fact that it is a true story makes even better than if you thought it was realistic fiction. It is a great story about how the author, Monty, repeatedly makes horrible mistakes, trusts God to get him out of the consequences, and then turns his back on God again. The point of the story is to show us that no matter how bad we are, no matter how horrible the things are that we have done, God is waiting and willing to forgive us and to give us better lives. He finally gave in and decided to stay with God in the end and obviously he doesn't spend his time in jail or prison any more (unless preaching their) but instead in churches and such places to teach people that they can be forgiven for their mistakes and change their lives. Like most people who read this book I started reading it and didn't put it down. I finished it the day after I got it only because I started to read it at 12pm and I fell asleep at 3 something. It is a little redundant because he keeps getting in trouble, then preaches and has a good life, then gets in trouble, then preaches and has a good life, etc. But then again, we can be very redundant in our life too. We repeatedly ignore God and make decisions based on what we think is best for us (not others and not based on what God knows) and we end up in a mess. This book is about getting out of that mess. I strongly suggest reading Seventy Times Seven.

I first read Monty Christensen's 70x7 and Beyond soon after moving to Billings, Montana and receiving this free book from a fund-raising dinner the author spoke at. The fund-raiser was put on to raise money for the completion of the new Montana Women's Prison chapel that had just been built. This book is down-to earth and comes directly from one man's life and death struggle with alcohol, drugs and crime. The beautiful part of the whole book is the honest flavor of grace Monty is able express, proving to the onlooking world that God's grace is able to forgive even beyond 70x7 times. I just looked up this book on the web because I will soon send it to a friend who is now incarcerated. He, like me is not even 25 yet and he needs to know that his life is still just beginning and there is hope. I have been blessed by this book and recommend it to all who may be looking for a truthful dose of hope.

I read this book in one day while I was in jail, I really could not put it down. This book has really helped me see things alot clearer.

... and now I am considered the coolest uncle ever!

Who knew one spritely hedgehog could mean so much to the world? Evidently, one Charlotte Fullerton did!

Charlotte Fullerton rocks. She is the voice of blue generation.

First groundhogs, and now hedgehogs - clearly the author has a firm grasp of the intricacies of porcine life. I have avidly followed the author's professional career, and consider this a fine addition to her resume. And can only hope that this gem will be closely followed by a tome detailing the mental workings of an evil, genius, megalomaniac lab mouse and his idiot sidekick!

The Sonic books by Charlotte Fullerton are real knuckle-biters! She writes thrillers and keeps your full attention----each page is a cliffhanger! My son has never seen the television show-LOVES her books!

I think the title of my review sums it up. If you took War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series and mixed them together, you'd get the sweet words of Charlotte Fullerton.

Ordinarily, I'm not a big fan of the management genre. More aphorisms than pages is not a good combo.

Tim Warneka's *Leading People the Black Belt Way* takes its time to do the job right. Not surprising, perhaps, given how Aikido -- the martial art that provides this book's philosophical center -- rewards patience. Yes, the author provides schemas to help us remember key points, but he never races through them as if prepping Intro to Management students for an upcoming quiz. His goal for his readers is genuine understanding, not rote memorization of bullet points.

Tim's prose is extremely accessible. He talks of problems that managers and their teams actually face. When he introduces concepts from the management canon, he defines them in phrases that don't demand an MBA.

Each chapter begins with a brief "story" that illustrates the upcoming topic. Don't be surprised to find that you've stopped to reflect for a few minutes before you move on. It is the nature of stories to invite readers to contemplate meaning. Far better that you start to grasp these principles organically, rather than have the author bludgeon you over the head.

Tim brings a truly fresh perspective to the management text. I honestly believe that his mission is not simply to make managers get more from their workforce, but to actually improve the world. It's not just that happy workers are more productive workers, but that happy workers are happy. So are happy managers. What's refreshing is that he doesn't consider this naive. It's a worthy common cause.

Perhaps most indicative of Tim's take on both management and the world is his assessment of Ebeneezer Scrooge. We've heard this one so often we can recite it by heart: warm and fuzzy Bob Cratchit, good; cold and calculating Ebeneezer Scrooge, bad. What a refreshing take to see Warneka focus upon Scrooge's redemption. How the Scrooge at the *end* of The Christmas Carol literally embodies the managerial lessons that Tim tries to teach throughout *his* book. We should all be like Scrooge in the end: a good man and a good manager too.

Full disclosure: I have worked with Tim on a business project and know him to be the real deal. But so is his book. Stop enumerating habits and move your darned cheese -- *this* book can teach you a lot.

Leaders must tap into the tremendous emotional power of those they lead. Yes! In a field crowded with many good books on leadership, Tim Warneka has authored one that is fresh, unique and valuable. He dips his consultant and writer's ladle deeply into pools of both leadership and Aikido wisdom, with wonderful results. Having worked as an organizational change strategist and coach for two decades myself and having practiced the Japanese martial art of Aikido for over half that period, I can tell you that you're in for many surprises and bonuses in this book. By this I mean you will come away from your reading investment with many inspiring new ideas and lots of practical tools you can immediately put to work.

Dale Biron
Principal
Core Action Assoc., Inc.
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Leaders are sometimes hard to find. Sure, there's loads of folks that have been to leadership workshops and programs to be indoctrinated with yet another leadership system. But as Warneka points out, "The world does not need one more leadership system. What the world does need is great leadership that draws on the wisdom of the body and recognizes the treasury of emotions waiting to be tapped within every organization."

Using references to the lovely and efficient Japanese martial art of Aikido, Warneka shows us the importance of the above statement. In a text that flows much like a well trained martial artist, we receive epigrams from a well known swordsman, the Tao, today's best and brightest leadership coaches and the ever important thoughts of Ghandi and Einstein. Along with all that we get examples of Warneka's tried and try methods, his well thought out "learning experiments", helpful Author's notes and an extensive bibliography/webography. And while you'll have loads of folks you'll want to buy a copy for, this book could stay in your briefcase or backpack for months and in your library indefinitely.

I could list the 5 core problems that face leaders today, the 4 tools of conflict management or the 7 solutions of black belt leadership that Warneka expounds on and offers solutions to, or I could tell you this:

Whether you're the president of your garden club developing your next fundraiser, a teacher dealing with stubborn union issues, or a Fortune 500 CEO, this book can help.

Heck, it can be helpful in issues that arise every minute of every day in every country on this planet. Working together and living together is what we do as a species, using techniques that borrow from the philosophy of yin/yang, the Gestalt Cycle of Experience, and the teachings of Joseph Campbell, just may help us become those leaders we so desperately need.

If you're looking for a goldmine of timeless leadership treasures, you'll want to add Leading People The Black Belt Way to your collection. This book is unique because Warneka weaves his vast knowledge of eastern philosophy through the basic principles of emotional intelligence. It's thought provoking and loaded with plenty gems of wisdom. He highlights key points with bolding, for easy reference later. Each chapter ends with a summary and a learning experiment to help you implement the key concepts.

The book's content is written around the framework of The Seven Solutions of Black Belt Leadership:
1. Know the Five Core Problems of Leadership
2. Understand Leadership as a Relational Process
3. Seek Harmony in Leadership
4. Lead People Rather than Pushing or Pulling Them
5. Cultivate Emotional Engagement
6. Practice Embodied Leadership
7. Follow The Black Belt Cycle of Leading People

Don't worry if you don't really understand the meaning from this list. Warneka thoroughly defines "what is meant" at the beginning of each chapter.

This book is a great investment because it's jam packed with hidden gems. It's so content rich that he could have easily broken it down to several smaller, simpler books. Warneka clearly put his heart and soul into this piece of work.

I'm an avid business book reader and I have to say that I found it to be on the difficult side to read. Each chapter is prefaced with an eastern philosophy based story, which I personally found a bit distracting. If you're going to read it cover to cover, consider taking it in bite-sized chunks to maximize the benefits. Read one chapter every 2 - 4 weeks, complete the experiments at the end, and give your self plenty of time to sift, sort, and learn from the material.

If you couldn't put down Daniel Goleman's books on emotional intelligence, you're likely to be thrilled with this book. On the other hand, if you found Goleman's books to be great reference material versus engaging and inspirational, you'll likely feel the same way about this one.

Regardless, it's a great addition to your business book library.

So begins Tim Warneka's excellent book on leadership. As a practitioner and teacher of aikido, I appreciate Tim's use of aikido as a metaphor and teaching tool. How can we acknowledge and make use of emotional energy? As leaders, we can no longer afford to ignore this question. In "Leading People the Black Belt Way," you will learn core problems facing today's leaders and how to engage and manage them. Through theory, parable, learning experiments, and real life examples, this book offers easily grasped, yet innovative concepts. Read, learn, and enjoy!