Publications and Media Books

The crucial importance of Krug's book for me was how it managed to merge my personal experience of contemporary life with the highly stimulating intellectual work of analysis, social and political theory, and philosophy. As I traveled through the book (which indeed was a journey covering history and many developments in 'media' that have affected human beings), I found myself integrating and deepening my thoughts and reactions to life. This is a precious and euphoric experience which few books can provide. The book confirmed many of my gut responses and hunches regarding our 'mediated' realities, especially the internet and the use of email. Krug pulls together so many fascinating thinkers integrating "place," "social space," "letter writing," "censorship," "surveillance," "pornography," and our society's response to 9-11. It is a brilliant book that I will use as a reference for years to come. Krug proves through his astute, politically constrained yet equally politically pointed thoughts that the internet isn't what it's cut out to be and that communication and community truly begin and end with face to face contact situated in a physical space.

This book provides an in-depth explanation of the Comprehensive Conflict Coaching model with a strong foundation built on research and theory from a variety of ADR practitioners, authors and theorists. The great thing about this book is that the text provides practical tools and methods to take your skills and awareness to a deeper level and share them with those we serve. Jones and Brinkert offer example case studies illustrating the subject of each chapter, scholarly research throughout, a wonderfully approachable text and a companion CD of tools. Not only is this a terrific resource for a Long-Term Care Ombudsman like me, but also for Organizational Ombuds and other ADR professionals and practitioners seeking to clarify the whats and hows of empowering those we serve to more effectively respond to the conflicts they face.

Drew Strayer, Long Term Care Ombudsman
MA, Organizational Leadership and Conflict Transformation

Maybe you noticed it too: Why is "civilization" so screwed up, decadent, spiritually vapid?

When I was 17 years old, I was questioning whether it was me or the environment I was living in that caused me to feel so unconnected.

I was "praying" to God for answers (god knows our needs so preying is superfluous -- god knows our prayers before we ask), when I miraculously found "The Crisis of Our Age" in a pile of books by a garbage can.

This book became my bible for explaining why things were the way they are and where we as a people could go -- how civilization could evolve, mature.

We need a new, fresh, rational ideology that will inspire people to their fullest potential. To create an environment that nutures Peace & Love.

This got me to thinking: We Must Abolish Money, Law & the $tate (international boundaries) if we are to evolve.

(...)You can read quotations from this book here:
http://www.newlife.ca/252/grn-psty.htm

And visit my website for more info on The Way:
http://www.666ismoney.com/index.html(...)

The book arrived in a timely manner and was in brand new condition. I am highly satisfied with my purchase.

This is an excellent book for beginners who want some sort of a road map into the intricate territory of cultural criticism.Not only is most of the critspeak that is around almost intractably obscure,at times you almost wonder if these chaps write in English at all. For those of you who have thrown up your hands in despair after your fortieth attempt to read Derrida and his ilk.. and you have no clue at all as to what these guys are talking about..(Of course,with Derrida one can't loosely use such words as 'Talking' unless you want to be deconstructed within an inch of your life) Do not despair!You can atleast begin here. With extraordinary lucidity and sparkling intelligence,Berger takes us on a guided tour of the whole crit theory pantheon....Marxism,Semiotics..to mention a few.A stimulating read. A must-buy for beginners..Run out and get your copy!

Although this book (series) is geared towards high school students, there is something in here for everyone. The essays vary in their subject matter and style, and anyone can learn something from reading them.

I highly recommend this series if you are at all interested in the history and current situation of our relationship with the Middle East, and why 9/11 and the 2 Iraq war(s) occurred.

This is one of the nmost readable treatments of the subect of EPSS I've come across. Designed as a practitioner's guide, it also provides an introduction for business executives and decision-makers to orient them to what EPSS can, and cannot be expected to accomplish.

All fundamental technologies of EPSS are describe in plain English, followed by implications for instructional designers and performance technologists who will be defining functionality, information architecture, navigational and interface designs and assessment of applications. Sample code and design templates, along with over 3-dozen planning and implementation job-aids, and a side-by-side comparison of development tools and technologies make this an invaluable addition to one's library.

this is the best book I have ever read after reading this book I've made aroud $1500 it brings you throgh step by step until you can understand how to really draw farley well I was probaly the worst drawer ever until I picked up this book.:-]

To begin, this book helps explain the first 3 degrees in Freemasonry (and more, Royal Arch degree etc.). It gets 5 stars for its concise account!

My review should be helpful because my reasons for purchasing this book are likely similar to many.

I purchased this book before becoming a mason and was intrigued to learn about what exactly goes on within a lodge. At first, Duncan's gave me a superficial understanding. Though admittedly, it was rather dry and boring to read, as I will expect most non-masons will find.

However, having entered a lodge and re-reading Duncan's Ritual, it becomes a fascinating book. This is because it provides one with an account of the experiece he just went through. For this reason alone it is fascinating.

With that said,

1. if you are a non-mason and have no intention of ever becoming one this book probably isn't for you. You will just become bored (in my opinion). Although, it should satisfy your curiosity of what goes on inside a lodge.

2. If you're a non-mason and are considering joining a lodge I don't recommend this book either. Like the prior example, you'll likely find it boring. Further, you might spoil the mystery when you do get your first degree. I can vouche for this myself.

The following analogy might give you an idea of why this book will be boring to the non-mason.

It is like reading a finely composed musical score on paper, for instance Mozart (a mason, if you didn't know). The music doesn't really come alive until one hears the experience. The same goes for receiving your degrees in Freemasonry.

3. If you are a mason, and especially if you have just gone through your three degrees, this book is invaluable. It will help you reflect on what you just went through. You'll be able to put a face (from your own lodge) to the officer positions described in this book. Wow! To me that is half the fun.

-----

Overall, this book is most useful to masons looking to reflect on their own experiences in the lodge. Non-masons probably won't find it exciting.

There are, give or take, some small details that are specific to the time and location (New York 1920s?) when this book was first published. Nevertheless, 98% of the book should remain accurate.

Another book I recommend to masons is "The Meaning of Masonry" by Whilmhurst. Its a bit antiquated in its style, but its lectures provide deeper insight which I found enlightening.

McCoys Dictionary of Freemasonry was also helpful in self-study. Mackeys is good too.

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (3/08)

This book is not just another book on why Lean Enterprise works; it is more of a how-to manual. It became clear very quickly that the authors have expertise in Lean through working with many, many companies. The book is heavily focused on manufacturing in the beginning but moves to non-manufacturing and healthcare later in the book.

What is Lean Enterprise? The authors answer this question in Chapter 1, "Lean is a process improvement strategy comprised of Elements, Rules and Tools. Lean focuses primarily on the elimination of waste from all business processes. A smaller, yet no less important portion of Lean, involves specific concepts that are intended to provide excellent quality products, delivered on time, at the lowest total cost, and only on the specific demand of the customer." Or, I like the way that the co-author Keith Gilpatrick describes Lean on page 43 "Some say the glass is half full; others say the glass is half empty. Lean thinkers challenge the size of the glass."

I found this book to be an easy-to-read, no-nonsense approach to Lean. The authors have found that many companies that claim to be Lean are not and attribute this to the management. They start the book comparing the difference between Leaders and Managers. Guess which one works best in Lean? They explain why all people in the company need to be involved in Lean to make it successful and not just the management level.

I especially liked the description of successful Standard Work (page 80) that the authors used. "Albert Einstein quotes `To repeat the same thing over and over and expect that the results will change is insanity.' We use this quote early in our introduction to Lean to make the point that management cannot expert different results if they do not change the way they do business. The quote also applies in reverse: if you create a process that is repeatable, the results will not change."

Other chapters include how to institutionalize Lean, Lean math and the 7 habits of Lean people, just to name a few. As a business owner, I found "The Elusive Lean Enterprise" to be full of translatable information that would work in almost any business. I highly recommend it for leaders who are considering Lean in their company or companies that have not successfully implemented Lean in their enterprise.